"I just had another scary thought." Freck twisted her other pigtail. "Remember when we were surprised by  the Kingdom's lairbeast warnin' siren's?"

"Sure, them sirens 'bout knocked me over." I raised an eyebrow.

"After they blared, they explained that lairbeasts might try ta attach ta a floater by shiftin' inta teeny creatures. Gee said that they ain't bullet proof, but you could only shoot them if'n they was big enough ta draw a bead on 'em. They could pass us right by as a grasshopper or sumpin'."

I hadn't considered that possibility. "Gee," I called to him telepathically.

He wasted no time responding. "I see you two are worked up about something. It is our preparations for lair-beast containment, right?"

I gulped. Freck shuffled her feet.

"I purposely held back some details. I can tell that you are worried about their ability to shift into something small to avoid detection. They could, but probably will not. Ever since their banishment they rely on size to cower their prey. They reason that bigger is scarier. They have lived by that belief for millions of years. Whatever frightens their prey the most is what they do. Unless they discovered your fear of them becoming tiny, it would not likely occur to them.

"Let me explain. They were once highly trained keepers. Over the eons they have kept only two skills. They have bare bones mind-reading capability, and, of course, shape shifting. They are still the best at shape shifting. Hearing your thoughts does not interest them. Exposing your terror is all they want. The greater the level of horror, the more stress chemicals are released throughout the body. Those chemicals in the blood of their victims are a drug to them. It gets them high."

Freck asked, "How do we keep them from hearin' our thoughts?"

"You have been practicing that skill for months now, and I have to say you are doing very well indeed."

Freck and I looked at each other to see if either of us understood what he was talkin' 'bout. Her eyes were as blank as mine. "Gee," I doubted, "I don't remember practicin' any such thing. Do you Freck?"

She blinked her eyes twice and slowly shook her head no.

I reminded her, "You're gonna have to mind-speak it. I don't think a head shake is gonna work."

"I got it. Gee explained, "What she did not voice was in her head. I read her mind. Also, I can see her through your eyes Wishes, and vice versa. Let me explain. There are only two ways to prevent them from knowing what you most fear. The first one comes about through meditation. When you find your center, you have no fear. It is like standing behind impenetrable walls. Not only are you unafraid, but it is the place where Cigam dwells. It is your place of ultimate power."

ROOOOAAARRR! A sudden jet of iced flame surged down my spine. I jumped at the sound of a scream and wail comin' from the South. Those monsters from hell musta terrified and killed sumpin' big. What made this even more frightenin'was that it didn't come from Howlin' Woods. It was always scary to hear those awful screams, growls, and shrieks but everyone knew that they couldn't leave Locci Forest. Now they are free. God save us.

"Wha. . .wha. . . what's the other way?" Freck stammered, obviously rattled too.

"If you are absolutely certain that you are invincible like Tyrone Tiegs believed he was, you would be immune from fear. Tyrone, as you know, took on a lairbeast in hand-to-hand combat and won. It could not discover his greatest fear because he had none. Nothing ever frightened him. His unusually large size, and enormous strength created a deep seated certainty that he could not be beaten. And he never was, until attacked from behind. His son, Butch, is a chip off the old block."

I thought back to what Grandma Chrys told us about the way he died. Not only was he fearless, but he was cunnin'. He could rapidly size up a threat and quickly come up with a successful plan ta battle it.

Gee continued, "The woods were the kingdom of the lair-beasts. They wreaked terror on everything in there for a millennia. As long as they stayed in the woods we did not get involved in their sick slaughters. Nothing and no unfortunate person wandering into the forest could best them, that is until they went up against Tyrone Tiegs. His victory was our blessing. It has accidentally provided us with a great stopgap defense. They no longer view humans as easy pickings. In fact, for the very first time, they have experienced the bitter taste of their own fear. Thank the Gardener.

"If it was not so, they would have already overrun Burns. Nothing could compare to the horror they would inflict. Everyone, and every other living thing crossing their paths would be ruthlessly slaughtered. Blood and gore would spill in the streets. There would be no escape, and nowhere to hide. They can sense fear and sniff it out. The emotion of terror is a beacon, it leads the lairbeasts straight to anywhere the frightened try to hide."

Gee painted vivid pictures of the imagined massacre of Burns in our minds. Until then we hadn't fully comprehended the vile ruthlessness. Freck looked like she was going to puke. If she did, I would too.

"What then?" Freck squeaked out.

"They would gorge themselves on the bloodied flesh of your friends and neighbors until just sucked clean mounds of bones remained. Then they would move on to the next town and decimate it too."

For a moment no one said anythin'. Freck and I escaped lairbeasts twice. We were told about Tyrone Tieg's fight and death, but we didn't actually witness it. We had no firsthand knowledge of the event. It must not happen ta Burns, or anywhere else for that matter. But what could we do?

Gee listenin' to my thoughts said, "We have an unseen arsenal. First, there is my good fortune whistle. I plan to make sure everyone hears it, even if I have to go house to house. There will be some that will not believe in the luck, but most will. If they do not believe they will be soldiers without a shield."

That made sense. Everyone has heard stories about how lucky it is to hear the Whistlin' Salamander. I always figured that everybody accepted them as true. I couldn't imagine anyone doubtin'. I never met a kid who didn't believe. Grownups ain't kids though. What we accept as true, and what they do, is often different.

"What else?" I mind spoke.

"You two are what else." There was a tender tone in his mind-speak. "All along we have been telling you that you are special and you are. Yes, you are still children, but even as young as you are, you have shown us a depth of courage, determination, perseverance, and willingness to believe—that is very rare. The fact that you are young is actually an advantage. Your minds are not overcrowded with preconceived notions. To fill an empty bottle is quicker than emptying a used jar, scrubbing it clean, and then refilling it. The Gardener sent you to us at the perfect time."

"Sheesh," Freck communicated, "that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said ta me."

"It was not flattery, but I admit that in your case, telling the truth sounds a lot like flattery. So be it. There are reasons that special people come into the world when they do. It is not necessarily a blessing. You both will be called on in times of great need. The three of us, once you have mastered Cigam, will perform amazing tasks. Even now you have more Cigam ability than almost all of the Keepers."

"But we just barely learned how to mind-read," I said, "cain't most keepers do that?"

"No," Gee replied, "most cannot even operate a water-vator and most certainly have not stopped a panther attack mid-leap. Compared to the panther incident, you Freck, may think you are perhaps less strong. Nothing could be further from the truth. Inside of you lies a great well of power. You can trust me on that.

"Historically Topside has not been kind to Cigam masters."

"Ya mean there have been other humans that could do it?" Freck was surprised.

"Jesus mastered Cigam. He demonstrated Cigam in many different ways, and told his followers that if they could but believe they would do it too. Human Cigam masters, and there have been a few, face accusations of witchcraft and demonology. Anything out of the norm is perceived as dangerous. Telling the truth can get one killed. Truth is too dangerous. Also, Cigam terrifies the rich, and powerful. They lose their grip on the public if people discover the power inside them.

"The Keepers and I will do everything we can to shield you from suffering the same fate."

"How?" I asked.

"As you grow in ability it is vitally important to keep it a secret."

I could certainly understand, "You mean like Superman and Batman?"

Gee thought this was funny. "Well, the idea is the same. If comic book heroes understand the potential danger to themselves and everyone they cared about, you must understand it too. Your enemies will use whatever means they can to get at you. The only humans who should ever know, are your fathers and Emma Anderton."

"What about my brothers?"

"Freck, your father has not told your brothers anything about the Keepers or the Kingdoms. He is a wise man. The more people who know a secret the greater the chances are that it will get out. Your brothers would not intentionally harm you. I am sure you know that. Any of them would feel terrible if a slip of the tongue caused you to suffer. For your sake, and theirs, you do not want to put them in that position.

"I recommend that you spend most of your free time with Emma. You are at an age when a girl most needs a grown woman to guide her. Your father, I am certain, that when he tells your brothers the truth about lairbeasts they will accept it. At the very least we will have their assistance in fighting them."

Whatever the Keepers were doin' to block the monsters seemed to be workin'. It was mostly quiet in their new place. Because they've hidden in the dark forever, lair-beasts cain't tolerate sunlight. Except for the occasional vicious kill, they musta spent their nights workin' on new deep underground dens. I guess they were plannin' ta stay.

I couldn't escape the thought they was plottin' ta bust out and attack Burns. Before the Great Crash they never left Locci Woods. They didn't even know our town existed. They do now. I'm sure their bloodlust is gonna force them out. When the time comes what're gonna do?

I told Freck what I was thinkin'. She said, "Me too. I've been worryin' aboutthe very same thing. Them evil creatures ain't gonna be satisfied to stay in there forever now that they know about our town."

I don't know why, but hearing Freck saying back to me the same things I was thinking gave me chill bumps.

"Also," she told me, "everyone is sittin' ducks. None of them, except our parents, know what we know. "

I nodded. "And we cain't tell them. It makes me sick to think 'bout it."

◽️◽️◽️

Freck and I completed all of our Pink Panther duties. We scrounged 'round for food in every house the inspectors would let us inta. We was reassigned ta work with the farmers. The Crash broke lots o' things, but the farmer's fields wasn't one of 'em. There was still things to harvest to get us through the winter. We picked, and pulled, and lugged boxes of produce to waitin'wagons. Horsepower had become the only way to get stuff delivered to the town hall park. We were also taught how to milk cows. My hands got tired. Actually everything on my body was tired and sore. Who knew that farmer's work was so hard?

The lucky folks like us were able to get back into our homes pretty quick. Many were still living in tents outdoors while their places were being repaired. Some houses were deemed not too dangerous but still needed a lot of work to be safe.

It was going on into October. The nights were cooler. We now had some electricity. Our clever engineers built some water turbines and the electricians strung lines. There was cheering when the first lights came on. It was good, but didn't produce enough power for everything. There was plenty of work still for carpenters and plumbers. Everyone was working twelve hour days to get folks out of the elements. Headway was being made on all fronts, but would it be in time?

The mayor called another community meeting. He began it by saying, "My fellow citizens, we have much to do, but we have accomplished a whole lot. Let's give ourselves a hand for what we have achieved so far." Wild clapping and cheering exploded. I applauded as hard as I could with sore hands.

After the applause died down he continued, "The community kitchen and dinning facilities are working very well. I don't think anyone has missed a meal have you?" The crowd roared, "No!"

"The bandstand area in the center of the park has been rebuilt to serve as our medical facility. Our doctors and nurses report that they have the essentials, especially since the lights were installed." Another cheer went up. Whether it a was for the doctors, the hospital, or the construction people I didn't know, and it didn't matter. Freck and I cheered too.

"Since not every abode is not yet safe, I would ask all of you to make another sacrifice. We don't want anyone living outdoors during the winter. So for those whose homes are safe we ask that you share quarters with those who haven't been as fortunate. If you see a family in a tent and you have enough room please invite them in."

Right then there was another ferocious scream from the new lair-beasts home. The mayor shouted, "That is another thing we must address! Something has changed. For awhile the shrieks coming from Locci Woods stopped, but now they've started again in another place. We've learned to live with it in the past, but since we don't know if this is a new threat, we mean to find it and silence it for once and for all."

My jaw nearly hit the ground. They didn't know what they are getting themselves into. They didn't know what the keepers were doing to contain the monsters, heck they didn't even know about the keepers. The whole town could be slaughtered if they accidentally freed the murderous beasts.