Part Eleven

How do you get out of a situation that you can't even begin to understand?

This question, or something like it, had been floating around Terry's head pretty much all day. If he ever told any of his friends about what had happened today (assuming he got the opportunity) they would think he was barmy. He was beginning to think he was barmy himself. Though at first he'd thought it was all just a dream.

His recent experiences - falling through the ground, seeing his ex-girlfriend binge eating her way through a mountain of oranges, and being completely invisible to anyone but a green beer-bellied creature and a man from the 50's called Turk in a pub - all certainly had the qualities of a dream. He was sure that Sigmund Freud would have something to say about that, probably relating to his mother and some repressed memory.

That would make things a lot simpler. Unfortunately Terry knew this wasn't a dream. The throbbing pain and red marks all along his arm from pinching himself helped prove this point. That and the fact he was fairly certain that he could see that he was actually awake, walking down a narrow corridor. It was impossible to see what was actually lighting the corridor. Initially he'd thought the light came from the walls, but they actually looked more as though they were reflecting a very powerful light from a source that was somehow untraceable.

BANG

The ground shook. Terry put his hands over his head to protect himself as dust fell from the walls and ceiling.

'What on Earth was that?' asked Terry of no-one in particular.

Turk answered. 'We're not on Earth. And this place hasn't been as stable as we would have liked in recent times. Don't worry, it happens every now and then.' Turk smiled in a vain attempt to make Terry relax. It should have been obvious, however, that Terry was probably a considerable way from relaxing. A few dozen elephant tranquillisers might just remove the slight twitch developing in his left eye, but a vague smile barely left a dent.

Turk went to speak, but Terry interrupted. 'Look, is there any way I am going to get out of this alive? I would like some control back in my life! Since this morning I feel as though I'm on some kind of never-ending trip from one place to another.'

They kept on walking as Terry's rant continued. 'I mean, I never felt before that I was in control of my life, but now I can't even go to the toilet without ending up somewhere completely different... ' Terry thought for a moment, '... and I still haven't been to the toilet! Arghhh!!!!'

'Look calm down, Terry...' Turk said in another futile attempt to get Terry to relax.

'Calm down! Calm down!!! I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown here, and you want me to calm down?!!!'

'Look Terry, at this moment you're very lucky to even be alive.' Turk sighed. 'Come on, maybe the Precogiotee can shed some light on the subject.'

'The Precogiotee?' enquired Terry.

'Yes, that's what we call our leader.'

'Oh, great! Another weird name!' said Terry.

Turk just stared at Terry and said nothing. 'We're nearly there.'

Terry smiled to himself. 'I've heard that somewhere before, today,' he whispered.

'What?'

Terry shook his head and sighed. 'Nothing.'

As Turk had promised, they weren't far from their destination. Round the next corner was the Precogiotee's chamber. When he followed Turk in, Terry found himself in a Victorian-style bedroom, with four-poster bed and all. Lying in the bed was the old woman he'd earlier seen, who'd run off complaining about the state of her make-up.

The room was dimly lit, but he could clearly see the room. Terry felt he should be respectful for some reason. Turk spoke quietly towards Terry. 'For years we've feared that she has been becoming unwell. I'm afraid that whatever went on in the main hall may have been the final straw.'

Terry felt suddenly very calm. He saw the old lady raise her arm as if to signal that Terry should come near. He needed no prompting and went towards the Precogiotee, pulling up a chair next to the bed as she began to speak.

'Terry,' she said. Terry was stunned that she knew his name, and the woman clearly saw this. 'Do not be afraid Terry. I know you, even if you do not know me. Destiny has brought you to this moment. You clearly don't understand what has happened, and I can't imagine what you must have been through to get to this point. You must forgive my reaction before. You have no idea what it means for me to see you again.'

Terry stared at her, unable to comprehend what he'd just heard. 'Precogiotee...'

'Please,' insisted the old lady, 'call me Emily. Emily Horowitz.'

Terry stood up so that the candlelight shone in his face, startled by the revelation of her name. She smiled. 'You don't look any different from when I last saw you.'

Terry looked at Turk, who had an equally shocked look on his face. 'What is going on?' Terry asked.

'Please don't be startled Terry. There is so much I must tell you...' began Emily.

Just then an alarm went off around the base, and red lights started flashing. Turk, instantly focussing on whatever this incipient crisis was, rushed towards Terry and the Precogiotee. 'It must be the Blieg. They've broken through. We've got to move you, Precogiotee.'

The old lady nodded and slowly moved out of bed. Terry, still in a state of shock, grabbed Turk's arm. 'What does this mean?'

'It means we're under attack. And it would probably be a good idea if we got out of here!'

The 168th Greatest Story in the Universe - A Tribute (Archive)

Vercingetorix

22.05.03 Front Page

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