We woke up to the artificial sunrise in the Palace. I don't know which of us was happier--me, or Gee. He ran around in circles and jumped up on my chest. We both laughed, well I laughed, and Gee thought-laughed. I was getting used to his brilliant chrome colored skin. It seemed normal now. It didn't make me want to squint. "Good morning Gee!" I thought to him. "I'm so happy you're here. Yesterday seemed so fantastic that I was afraid I had dreamed it all."

Gee thought back, "It's no dream. Now that you have returned, even if just for a little while, I feel that everything is going in the proper direction."

"What do you mean by the proper direction?"

"Well Wishes, you've brought new hope to all of the keepers. When you left with your daddy to be raised Topside it was done with the understanding that you would return some day. We didn't expect it for a few more years, but the recent unease among the lair-beasts and some other possible troubles in other in-worlds have been on our minds as of late. That's led to a general malaise in the Kingdom.

"There is something very special about you. It is in the connection between the two of us. Haven't you noticed that every time you have wished for something it happened? Maybe not in the way you thought it would, but your fervent wishes have always been granted."

I thought back, "Grandma Chrys told me about that."

"I'm sure she didn't tell you why, other than you kissed me on the head when you were just a baby. Before you were even born, we were connected mind-to-mind. That has never happened to me before, or anyone else that I know of.

"Your momma liked having me around. My presence made her feel safe. It was about three months before you were born that I heard you reaching out to me with your thoughts. You said, 'Gee.' I was thrilled and told your parents about it. They expected to do it too, but as much as they tried to tune into your thoughts, they couldn't. When they got discouraged they doubted me. It didn't matter what they believed; we were locked. We didn't have to be in close vicinity either. If she went to the hospital for a checkup, we were still able to talk. Regular human babies have no idea of what is going on on the outside of their watery home, but you were different. You could see through my eyes and knew that you had nothing to fear. If you had a question, I would answer it.

"When you went topside with your daddy, the connection weakened, but never disappeared. I'm sure that there were times when you confused my communications with your own thoughts. I know that people told you that you are extra lucky. That's because you are. The luck that flows through me flows through you too but to a lesser degree."

I didn't know what to make of all this. Gee said that we could talk to each other even before I was born. I couldn't remember that, but then again, I'd forgotten all about Gee too. The Whistlin' Salamander was a legend that people told kids. Part of me always wondered if it was  true. He made a believer out of me that day I wished I wouldn't have to face discipline from my daddy over the spider incident in school. "Gee," I asked "I'm confused about the magic. Does it mean I can pull rabbits out of hats and things?"

He snorted out a thought-laugh, "Those who do stage magic use trickery. They fool you into thinking that it is magic when it isn't. Real magic takes a concentration of will. Anyone could do it if they could focus strongly enough. Have you ever played with a magnifying glass?"

"Sure I have. Lot's of times." I replied.

"If you are looking at things through the glass it makes them appear bigger. Their size doesn't change, but it looks like they did. That's what stage magicians do. They make things appear to be different than they really are.

"If you took that same magnifying glass outdoors and focused it so the light from the sun was concentrated on a tiny spot, it would generate enough heat to start a fire. The energy from concentrated focus of the sun through the lens actually changes the amount of heat generated. It is the same tool. When used differently it creates two different results. We call true magic--cigam (that's magic spelled backwards). Cigam can alter the elements. To change nature takes concentrated focus. Most people will never come close to performing cigam. They don't understand that their minds are the magnifying glass. If they could focus all their will, it could happen. Few can keep a pure thought in their heads without it getting tangled up with a dozen other thoughts and it dissipates like morning mist. Cigam takes both time and focus to master."

"Gee," I thought back, "can you access cigam all of the time?"

"Certainly. I was made by the Gardner to have perfect focus to assist the Keepers. That's one of the reasons they give me such respect. One way I help them is by teaching them how to access their innate abilities."

"Ren told us when we first arrived in the Kingdom that he practiced everyday to master cigam. Mrs. Anderton asked him if he could produce food out of the air, because she was hungry. He said, "Not yet." Could you do it Gee?"

"Yes, Wishes, what would you like to have me bring into reality?"

I told him, "How about an apple?"

He said, "Hold out your hand."

As soon as I did an apple appeared in my palm. It looked real. It felt real. It smelled just like a real apple, so I took a big bite. I wasn't disappointed. The apple was perfectly tree ripened and juicy. It was like we were strolling through an orchard on a warm day and stopped to pick the reddest apple off the tree. It doesn't get any better than that.

"This is amazing, Gee. You said that I have cigam running through me too. Does that mean I can pull apples out of the air like you just did?"

"You will be able to do that and many other things, but it will take time, and like I said, you will need to learn perfect focus. Don't worry. I will teach you. We will take it one step at a time and I promise you will access all of your abilities someday. When that day comes you will be as powerful as a Keeper."

"Will I be on the Keeper's Council."

Gee said, "You will when you learn wisdom. That is a skill I cannot teach. You can only learn that through experience."

"How long does it take to learn wisdom?" I asked.

"Everyone is different. Some are wise at a very young age. Some never achieve wisdom. When you have it you will know. Be patient. Patience is one of the hallmarks  of wisdom and one of the most difficult attributes to acquire."

        *        *        *

After breakfast, Momma, Gee, and I went to the hospital. We were greeted by the same keeper who looked and sounded so much like my Gramma. She removed my bandages while I was relaxing on the recliner. I could see that my wound was already looking much improved.

"Well Wishes," she said, "It looks like the infection is under control. I'll apply healing ointment once more and re-bandage it in a way that it will look as if you were treated in the woods. Tell me, have you had any more pain, hon?"

"Just a tich yesterday," I told her, "but today it feels okay."

"Since you won't be able to return here any time soon, I'll give your momma some pills you can take back in case you have any more trouble. Be sure you go to your Topside doctor when you get home." She asked me for a little sugar, gave me a hug, and told me to be careful and take care of myself. Then she patted Gee on the head. 

        *        *        *

Freck was already in our Palace house with Jacob and Mrs. Anderton. By the light in the sky (?) it appeared to be mid-morning. There were the sounds of native birds calling, and all the hunched over elms were there shaking their leaves at us in the breeze. Even in the Palace the elms were grouchy like the ones topside. You have to give the Makers credit for attention to detail.

There was still a lot we needed to discuss, and Grandma Chrys said she wanted to talk with the two of us again. Freck raised an eyebrow and asked the question on everyone's minds, "Are ya okay Wishes--with your injured leg and all?"

"Sure, I'm okay. My leg feels much better, and the infection is nearly gone."

An audible sigh of relief went through the living room. Much depended on the four of us being able to follow the plan. If my injury held us up in any way it could ruin everything.

Momma said (out loud because neither Freck nor Mrs. Anderton could communicate mind-to-mind yet), "We need to continue solidifying plans for your return Topside."

Just then a loud siren wailed. Momma and Jacob knew what it was, but the rest of us jumped out of our skins. "Don't worry," Jacob said calmly, "from time-to-time we have lair-beast alerts. It's a lot like your fire alarms and duck and cover drills in your schools. What we do after hearing the alarm is to be extra cautious with every living thing we see. If a lair-beast should penetrate the portal and enter the Kingdom they could fool us by shifting into something non-frightening and slip by unnoticed.

"There is only one way to identify them. On the back of their necks they have a small fleshy antenna. Without it they wouldn't be able to receive the information they require to successfully shift and they would be locked into whatever shape they were in at the time. Once the alarm sounds all keepers go on high alert. We are instructed to look for any signs of those antenna's on anything. We check each other first. Once a beast is found, we broadcast it's location to prevent anyone from being caught unaware. Our Cleaners, much like your soldiers topside, are scrambled to subdue and eject the intruder.

"The cleaners, unlike lair-beasts, never kill. Matters of life or death are left to the Gardner. We have many ways to subdue and contain without ever resorting to deadly force. That is why you do not see guards with guns."

Momma then said, "There will be another siren to let us know when the drill is over."

Sure enough, a few seconds later there was another blast. That was good news because it confirmed that it was only for practice and not a real lair-beast emergency.

"If you are ready, we should leave the guest residences and go up to the Palace floors," Momma said.

When we arrived, the acolyte Zahn, as usual, was there to meet us. He took us to the Grand Hall and through the amazing butterfly doors which dissolved into thousands of butterflies of every imaginable size and color. It was breathtaking. Looking regal as ever was Stuman, dressed in robes of purple and gray. Our assemblage proceeded to the dais which opened up in the center, just like before, to a staircase leading down to Grandma Chrys's place. She was waiting for us with a big smile. She was standing in front of her own entryway. This time she wore only robes of purest white. A bit more subdued than the colorful robes we saw her in last. Her eyes were still the same striking blue filled with the pure joy of love and acceptance. When she looked at me it made me feel like I'm the most special person in the universe.

To the grownups she said, "There is much to discuss and many plans to make. Please feel free to initiate discussions among yourselves while I spend more time with Freck and Wishes."

She took our hands and led us out of the large living area with the enormous white semi-circular couch into another part of her residence. This room was like a botanical garden. There were some flowers I recognized, but many I didn't. One flower was about waist high; it looked like a cross between a daffodil and a giant lily. Grandma Chrys spoke to it when we entered the room. She said, "And how are doing today my beautiful dear?"

I swear it purred like a kitten. She stroked its leaves, and said to us, "You know that plants have feelings just like people. They respond best to love and attention. When well provided for and loved unconditionally they emit healing vibrations. You can't see the vibrations with your eyes, but you can feel them, right?"

Freck spoke, "I understand. When I'm in a place like this surrounded with greenery and color, I feel right at home. It's peaceful. It's safe and smells like a warm earthy hug."

She reached out her hand to stroke the daffodil/lily plant too. "Is it okay Grandma Chrys to touch it?" Grandma nodded yes, and when Freck rubbed its leaves, it purred for her too.

I said, "I feel it too in here. Locci Forest dosen't feel at all like this. It's scary."

"The forest, as you know," Grandma Chrys said, "is largely the domaine of the lair-beasts and other creatures of similar ilk. Those plants and trees don't ever experience tender loving care. They become jaded. They are filled with fear and hide their true essence behind thorns, rough bark, and sharp edges."

"But what about the safe zones?" Freck asked.

"Those special bushes and trees," she told us, "were grown in the Kingdom and transplanted in the forest. We asked them first, of course, if they would be willing to serve in such a hostile environment. We promised them that they will still be cared for and loved, especially by all those who need their protection. We send out retrievers, solvers, and our gardeners, not to be confused with The Gardner, regularly to provide them with whatever they require. It is difficult for them. They live in very harsh conditions. We honor them for their service and let them know by telegraphing frequent messages of support. You can tell when they get those thoughts of love because they glow a little brighter for awhile."

Grandma Chrys, I asked, "Is this what you wanted to talk to us about?"

She replied, "It is part of it, but I need to share something private with both of you and that's why I brought you here."