The next day aft'a mornin' meditation, Gee took us ta the Keeper's museum. It was amazin' as heck. Each exhibit even more awesome than the last. Some objects definitely came from Topside, some were probably from the Kingdoms, and others, I 'spected came from other in-worlds. We could spend days just explorin' this place.

I said to Freck, "I cain't even wrap my mind around all of this. There's so much to look at. There's way more interestin' stuff than a collection of shiny objects in a crows nest."

"No kiddin'. Wishes have ya noticed that everyone is watchin' us?"

I hadn't, but now she mentioned it, I looked around and no one was lookin' at the displays. All eyes was on us. It kinda gave me the creeps, but then I remembered what Grandma Chrys told us; she said we were celebrities in the kingdom. It was like Shirley Temple herself just tap danced in. They didn't speak to us or approach us. Gee explained that our sea-foam green clothes indicated that we was students. Keepers are taught not to interfere with students in trainin'. We were to be left alone unless we invited them to speak first. They had that down-pat. Even so, it was obvious that they were dyin' ta meet up with us. I kinda felt sorry for 'em.

We turned a corner and Gee said, "Here it is."

I was so self-conscious with all the attention I was gettin' that I'd been starin' at the floor. I lifted my head when Gee spoke, and right before us was my Florida panther just hangin' there. Its muscles taut, jumpin' for the kill, frozen mid-leap with claws extended as if expectin' to sink 'em deep inta the flesh of its victim. In this case the prey was me. It leaped but never came down. It was stuck in the air by Cigam and would stay that way permanently; leastwise that was what I was tol'. What's been Cigamed stays Cigamed until released.

I glanced 'round at the Keepers in this room. Here we warn't the center of attention. All eyes were on the golden beast. I saw some make that same squiggly sign down their chests that Zahn made when he said, "Thank the Gardener." Others were seated on the floor with their heads bowed. I think they was prayin'. It was quiet, and as silent as thin clouds tiptoein' past the moon aft'a a storm.

I asked Gee, "Are they prayin'?"

"Some are, but many use this place for meditation. They arrive in the morning and stay until closing. They all aspire to be one with Cigam. When they are weak, and full of doubt they come to this room. Here right before their eyes is absolute proof of Cigam's power."

I didn't know how to take it. Cigam made it happen. It warn't me. I warn't controllin' a doggone thing. I just yelled "Stop!" out of fear for my life, and this  happened. I was dumbfounded, and more than a little embarrassed by folks makin' such a fuss over a random happenin'.

Gee sent a message ta comfort me. "Wishes the adoration you are witnessing is not about you so much as it s about Cigam. There is no reason that this should make you uneasy. Be happy that many who come to see this miracle find a renewed faith. It is a very good thing."

Freck chimed in, "Hey Wishes this is good for us too. If we ever get discouraged we can come here. Your panther is real-life, actual proof for us too."

I left the room with tears in my eyes. Gee and Freck followed. "Gee, I would like to invite people to talk to me. How do I do it?"

"It's easy Wishes, all you have to do is smile and ask someone how their day is going."

I was puty nervous, but wanted to try Gee's suggestion. There was a blonde Keeper woman with two strugglin' towheaded children beside her. She was in a brown outfit which I was tol' was the color Makers wear. I greatly admire their work. I looked her in the eye, smiled and said,  "It looks like you have yer hands full with those two."

"I do." She looked surprised and asked, "Are you Wishes, and is that Freck?"

"Yes."

"Praise the Gardner! I never thought I would meet, let alone talk to you. Children do you know who this is?" She said with more than a tinge of awe. Both kids hid behind their mom. Each hangin' onta leg. The oldest one, a boy about five, I would guess, peeked around, stared at me and said, "He is Witches, huh?"

She flushed and corrected him, "His name is Wishes, not Witches."

"That's all right. He can call me Witches if'n he wants." I knelt on one knee, and held out my hand. I spoke gently so's I wouldn't scare him, "What's yer name?"

He smiled shyly, "Bon."

"Well Bon it's a pleasure ta meet ya. Tell me, what brings ya to the museum today?"

"I want to see the Cigam cat."

"Bon, would ya like to meet my good friend Gee?" I don't know who was more excited Bon or Gee. Gee bounded over. Bon held out his hand as Gee nuzzled under the boy's arm. Bon giggled when Gee ran circles 'round 'em. The girl came out and begun squealin', "Gee. Gee." Over, and over again. Gee gave her a lick on the face.

The commotion caused a crowd ta gather. The Keepers was respectful, but asked a lot of questions.

"How do you like the Kingdom?"

"Will you be staying long?"

"Can you use telepathic communication?"

"What is Topside like?"

"Were you really attacked by the panther?"

"We heard you were injured by a lairbeast. What are they like?"

We tried ta keep up with all the questions, but as soon as we answered one, there was two more. After awhile, Gee moved in front of us, looked at the crowd, and said, "Of course you are all very curious, but they need to return to their studies. I am sure you understand." The adults bowed and moved back. Both children and grownups made the okay sign with their thumbs and index fingers and held up their arms high enough for us to see. We returned the salute, at least Freck and I did, Gee's digits can't make that sign. He's a salamander after all.

◽️◽️◽️

The ground began ta shake as we was 'bout ta board the vator. The curtain of water lurched sideways. I saw two vivid green and purple streaks in the sky. It didn't last more'n a few seconds. Keepers stood stock still as if they'd seen a haint. Freck was flippin' her head back and forth tryin' ta see what caused it. I was kinda sick ta my stomach. Gee reassured us, "We are experiencing odd events in the Kingdom recently. They are occurring Topside too. Unfortunately we have not identified the source, but we are sure that it is not coming from lairbeasts. Or if they are somehow involved, they are not acting alone. The high council has been spending a lot of time in conclave because panic messages from other in-worlds keep pouring in. Usually I would be called into the mind-mesh, but The Grand Keeper believes that your training is paramount."

"Wishes, Freck," it was Grandma Chrys, "I hope you are not frightened. These odd occurrences are upsetting, but be assured that we are doing everything we can to track down the source. Until we know what is causing the tremors and unnatural colored rays in the sky, we are unable to act to stop them. I want you to know that no one has been injured because of them. That goes for Topside as well. Your families are shaken, as we all are, but there has been no physical harm to anyone. The best thing you can do right now for both worlds is to keep up on your studies. Do you have any questions?"

"I do," Freck telepathed, "how can we continue our meditations when we's as jumpy as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs?"

I recalled what Grandma Chrys told us b'fore, "There will always be difficulties to overcome. Such is the nature of life. Those who succeed are those who push past their fears. It is not easy, but what else can you do? You could just lay down. You would not get anywhere if you did that. You would be paralyzed and unable to help anyone let alone yourself. When you face whatever scares you, like you did in Howling Woods, you will find resources inside of you that you never knew you had. Bravery in the face of challenge attracts help. It is a guiding beacon shining out to bring you whatever you need. It is a universal law. In bravery there is power that the timid never know. Both of you have proven yourselves many times already. Now is not the time to weaken."

We stepped inside the vator. Gee looked at me and thought, "Would you take us back to your palace house?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean that I think you are ready to direct the watervator."

"No kiddin'?How?"

Gee mind-spoke ta us both, "Operating the vator is easy. All you have to do is let your mind get calm like you do when you meditate. Then picture the place where you want to go."

I tried, but it didn't work, so Freck said, "Do ya mind if I try?"

"Certainly Freck. Go ahead."

She got kind of a blank look in her eyes like she was seein', and not seein' at the same time. Good golly! It worked! I knew because I was now seeing the side door to my house. "You did it Freck!"

She was so happy that she jumped up and down, and clapped her hands. This was a moment ta remember. It meant that we could travel ta any place in the Kingdom all by ourselves. If Freck could do it I was purty sure I could too. "Can I try again?" So, b'fore we left the vator I let my mind get still, removed any doubt, and visualized the solvers dock. Just like that we were facin' the hall that led to the dock! Then I repeated the process and took us back home.

Gee smiled his biggest salamander smile. "Meditation has taught you how to clear your minds. You are now on the pathway that will lead you to Cigam. You have only scratched the first level, but it is enough to encourage you in your further pursuit of Cigam. Confidence is the biggest hurdle. I am proud of you."

"How did ya knows we was ready?" Freck asked.

"An observant teacher always knows when a student is ready to move ahead."

◽️◽️◽️

Mizzus Anderton stayed at the Motley house with Freck. She also was learnin' how to mind-speak and gettin' purty darn good at it too. Momma, when she wasn't out on other Keeper business was home with me. It has become so normal that we sometimes forget how desperate we were to find our mothers. This is what we missed in our lives and what drove us to our dangerous adventure.

Our schoolin' didn't take all day. Gee said we needed time ta let the lessons sink in. We was usually back ta home by three o'clock, sometimes earlier. After checkin' in with her momma, Freck'd come by just so we could review.

Short school days gave Gee a break from teachin'. He liked ta wander inta the garden ta see what was good ta eat. He was a vegetarian, unlike topside salamanders. When he was munchin' on a carrot, a beet, or head of lettuce he was in his happy place. Ya could tell by his smile, which was mostly a straight line with a tiny uptick at both corners of his mouth.

That was the way our first three weeks was spent.

By the fourth week me, Freck, our mommas, and Gee was all summoned ta meet with the Grand Keeper. We didn't need Zahn ta take us since all of us, 'cept Mizzus Anderton, could operate the vator. Even still, when we arrived near the huge brass doors ta the high council room, Zahn was there ta politely greet us. It was good ta see him. He was gracious, and acted as if we was doin' him a great honor. The massive doors opened with the fight of a zillion brightly colored butterflies givin' wing. It warn't the first time seein' this, but it was always amazin'. I bet I could see it a thousand times, and not get bored.

Grandma Chrys was waitin' at the bottom of the stairs. I don't know what is more endearin' her warm smile, or bright eyes. Whichever, she exuded energy waves of pure love. Once inside, through her smaller, but just as amazin' butterfly door, she led us us ta her livin' room. There was a long curved table in front of the concaved white couch. Ornate dishes was piled high on the table with yummy lookin' deserts, drinks, vegetables, and a variety of petite sandwiches. She said, "We may be here for a while and I want you to have whatever you need. If there is anything else you would like just ask Zahn." Zahn nodded his head and stepped aside.

The butterfly doors flittered open again. Uncle Ren and Jacob Foster was there. I knows that Jacob's Keeper name is Rotel, but he will prob'ly always be Jacob Foster ta me. Grandma Chrys motioned them in and invited us to sit and partake, if'n we wanted. I choose to sit at the very end of the couch so's Gee could lie on the floor b'side me. He don't like furniture or beds. They's much too soft and give him backaches.

I took a swirly lookin' cookie topped with what looked like a daub of caramel. I didn't see what Freck chose because the cookie held my attention. Gee said ta me, "If it is not too much trouble Wishes, would you mind putting together a vegetable plate for me?"

"Sure thing." I told him, and I did. Best friends do things for each other, right?

When everyone got what they wanted and sat back down Grandma Chrys began by saying, "Thank you all for coming. There isn't another group that I would rather have here. You honor me with your presence. Gee tells me that the children are coming along marvelously with their studies. We believe that they are ready to go on the quest to seek out the legendary lost city of Shambhala."

I gulped nearly chokin' on my second cookie. We's just begun, is this what she calls ready? I don't feel ready at all. Gardener help us all.