Our heads were so muddled up with worry, shock, and fear, that we completely forgot 'bout the other Keepers who was here on assignments. I said to Freck, "Do ya think we can get some help from Keepers already here? I'm sure there's some around doin' their jobs gatherin' information."

"Good thinking Wishes. Let's widen our telepathic channel and try ta contact them."

Mind speakin' is usually done between two—like the private communications I has with Gee. It can be adjusted ta include more people by widenin'. It's sorta like a whisper in someone's ear when ya don't want no one else ta hear, or speakin' up when talkin' ta a group. If'n yer tryin' ta speak ta a large group of people ya might hafta shout. So's we turned up the mental volume and did the equivalent of a siren.

I did my best police radio imitation, "Callin' all Keepers. Callin' all Keepers in the Burns area." I figured I had better be specific. There's no telling how far out my call went. "We urgently need your help ta rescue people!"

"Okay. Enough already. Quit shouting. You are giving us all headaches." It was Jant the Keeper who can shift into a June bug, and spends much of his time in the newspaper offices.

"I'm sorry Jant. I'm new at this and didn't realize I was bustin' ear drums."

"Wishes, your mother has already requested assistance. We know about your concerns. You are afraid you might overlook someone, right? We are following behind you. If you miss something we double check. We are reporting to Renna, but now that you have opened a channel you will also be informed."

Freck whewed, "That's great Jant. Yer right, I was worried sick that we wouldn't find everyone in time. I didn't want to feel responsible for someone else dyin'."

"You did not cause this disaster, any more than you can whip up a hurricane. There is no reason at all for you to feel any guilt whatsoever."

Jant was right. What happened here in Burns, and probably the whole world, had nothin' ta do with us. I sure would like ta find out whoever, or whatever was responsible. "Jant does anyone know what caused this?"

"All of our communication channels are open. We also hear what is going on in the Kingdom. Topside is not alone in the calamity. As far as we know, every in-world is suffering. The Keepers are scouring the entire in-world universe trying to find the cause and stop it. Until they do, we must be prepared for the possibility that it could happen again."

Now that was a chillin' thought. How much more could we take? Another jolt or two like this one, might shatter the entire earth.

◽️◽️◽️

"Wishes, Freck." It was Gee callin' out ta us.

"It's good ta hear from ya. We figured ya got called inta a mind-merge just b'fore the disaster hit." I said.

Freck asked, "If 'n ya were mind-merged with the council, how can ya be talkin' ta us?"

"We are certain we have found the source of the problem, so we disbanded for a little while to check on other things. The two of you are my greatest responsibility . I have not even left the circle, yet. Are you both okay?"

Freck told him, "We are scared and confused. We've seen some awful things and 'spect we'll see more. Neither of us was badly hurt."

"Good." He said. "Zahn was keeping an eye on things while I was occupied. Just before I called he told me that you were unharmed. He says you are shaken up with a few bumps but generally doing well. You are not alone in your shock. The entire in-world universe is feeling the same way. The best way to combat this is to keep helping others as much as you can. Losing yourselves in service will make it easier to deal with your fears."

"You said that ya've found the source of the problem—what is it?"

"One of the in-worlds caused it. This particular in-world is much like Topside. They rely on fossil fuels as their primary energy source. They were running out of oil, so they developed technology that would allow them to go even deeper into their planet to pump it out. We suspect that they struck a major fault line, but ignored the warning signs of earthquakes and releases of unfamiliar gasses into the sky. That off-gassing made the strange colored streaks we all saw. Undeterred they continued drilling. The in-worlds, as you know, share almost the same space. What happens on one can and does cause ripples throughout the others. They went too far. The fault split and sheared off a large piece of their planet. The sudden bump you felt was that loose chunk crashing."

"Good Gawd! That's the awfullest thing I ever heard!" Freck was shakin' when she said it.

I didn't know what ta say. How could any sane person do that ta their world?

Momma chimed in, "It is not so much a matter of sanity as it is greed. Although a case could be made that people who are greed centered are by definition insane."

"What do you mean by greed Missus Arthur?" Freck wanted to know.

"I am sorry Freck to have brought this up now. We have many other things to occupy our minds. This discussion can wait for a better time."

Freck scowled, "I don't think I will be able to just let it go. It's gonna worry at me."

"Okay, I will say a little more on it so you can get on with doing what needs to be done. It is like the warrior kings in your history. The more territory they controlled, the richer they got. The additional wealth gave them the means to pay for more armies to get more territory. The king's greed was fueled by power. The insane part is that no matter what was gained, it was never enough.

"Does that help Freck?"

"Yes, but we ain't got kings no more. Leastways not that."

"Freck, kings in these times do not necessarily wear crowns, and sit on throne. Today's kings mostly wear business suits, and use their money to take over companies. That's how they get more territory, and control more people. It looks different, but it is the same."

"I get it," Freck said, "instead of castles they've got mansions. Instead of gettin' carried around on the shoulders of slaves they have chauffeurs, and limos."

"That's right" Momma told her.

◽️◽️◽️

We finished searchin' Fir Street. Momma said ta go ta the town hall park, and see if we could help with anything.Ta get there we had ta go the next street over, which was Main. What a wreck! The downtown buildin's, newspaper office, library, and stores looked like a tornada blew though Burns.

Freck gasped, "If I didn't know where ever'thin' used ta be I'd be lost. See over there! Colonel Higgenbothom's statue fell right off the pedestal. It looks like his sword arm snapped clean in two."

"Main Street looks like it got beat ta death with an ugly stick," I said.

"Wishes do ya think it's ever goin' ta be the same again?

"Prob'ly not the way we remember. Let's face it, the Burns we grew up in is gone."

"Does that make you sad Wishes?"

"Honestly I don't know yet Freck. Since this mornin' we've seen someone die. We found out what caused the crash. I almost fell off my porch, slipped inta holes, tripped on broken pavement, was snagged by tree roots, and I watched ya go inta a house ta save Missus Smith without even knowin' if'n it was safe. I think my mind is plum tuckered out. If ya tol' me up was down I'd prob'ly agree. Nothin'makes sense."

"Lordy I knows what ya mean. If I had my druthers I'd sit myself down and just bawl for a month of Sundays."

We trudged on and shortly arrived at the park. We weren't surprised to see that Town Hall and the bandstand took severe beatin's, but the surroundin' lawns looked pretty good. I guess you can break cement with a sledge hammer, but it would only put a dent in sod. What was unusual was that there warn't much grass ta be seen. Blankets, cots, and injured people were strewn ever'where. Folks were runnin' this way and that.

"Do ya think they have anything ta eat and drink?" I asked. "We've been goin' straight on since mornin' without stoppin'. I don't know about ya, but I'm hungry as a trash can scavengin' rat."

Freck laughed. It was good ta hear that sound. It was a break in the clouds on a rainy day ta me. She pointed to the South Pavilion. It looked like people were gatherin' 'round tables with plates in-hand. She said, "Now that we's this close we better stop mind-speakin' and talk regular."

"Hey kids, come on over!" It was Missus Greenly, the Mayor's wife. She was wavin' at us. Mizzus Greenly took her responsibility as self appointed mother of the town real serious. No one ever passed by unnoticed. She was large and loved bright colors. Even her big hair was vivid red. Ya got the feelin' that you were at a parade when she walked by.

"Hi Mizzus Greenly," I said.

"Have ya had anythin' ta eat?"

"Not yet Mizzus Greenly, but we ain't got no money." Freck answered.

"Oh, no, no, no. Ya don't hafta pay nothin'. Most of this food here was donated by people who realize that it's gonna spoil otherwise. The electricity is out, ya know. When it is gonna be fixed is anyone's guess. With the roads all busted up it's gonna be quite awhile before we'll see any new supplies comin' in. For as long as it lasts, we have more than we can eat."

"What happens when it runs out Missus Greenly?" Freck asked.

Missus Greenly shrugged. "God only knows," she said.

That sent a chill down my spine. I hadn't considered what was gonna happen after today.

"Excuse us," Freck said, "we're gonna get in line for food."

"Oh my, I am sorry to keep you away from your dinner. Please. Go ahead."

I kinda lost my appetite. My stomach suddenly got very queasy. "Freck," I muttered, "thinkin' about what's comin' is makin' me feel sick."

"Me too, but we have to eat sumpin' ta keep our strength up."

Freck was right. If her brain was a thoroughbred in a horse sense race, she'd win by country mile. We got in a line of twenty or so folks. Most was teenagers 'cuz the adults were still too busy ta take a break. No one was talkin'. Usually when teens get t'gether there's lots of horse play. Not now, though. I caught the eye of a classmate. We exchanged half-hearted smiles and quickly went back to starin' at the ground. What was there ta talk about? Nuthin' good—that was for darned sure.