Sitnalta - Page 9

Rus stood outside the Fougere compound. "Now what? I haven't eaten anything since ending up in this weird place. I am starved." Rus looked around. "This doesn't look a thing like where I entered the compound."

The woman Ellen walked up. "Glad you made it out of the compound without being seen. You understand Elder Jenkins wasn't really angry at me."

"I didn't understand any of that."

"You weren't supposed to understand. I don't expect you to trust me, but I will do my best to protect you."

"Where am I. I thought I exited correctly."

Ellen smiled. "You are still in the same dimension, but it was important for both of us to exit away from where the government was sending the troops in. We are about 50 miles away from the known entrances and exits. The government listeners think I was tipping them so you should be safe at my compound."

"Wait a second." Rus thought. "What about the government listeners? Can they hear what you are saying?"

"The Fougere's incorporated Michelle's sphere technology in the door. Our voices will continue to be at a pitch the sensors can't pick up for the next few hours. Follow me to my compound."

Rus and Ellen had not walked far when they came to a large, tall pen totally enclosed by chicken wire. Ellen opened the gate and waited for Rus to enter first.

Rus said, "After you."

Ellen entered the pen and Rus followed. Ellen said, "The entrance to my cave is on the other side of that grove of trees. You go on there while I gather a few eggs from my chickens."

Rus looked around. "I'll help you gather the eggs."

Ellen said nothing. She slowly walked toward an old shack that Rus figured might be a chicken house. Rus followed her.

Rus asked, "What is your daughter's name?"

Ellen stopped. "Gurdy. Her husband is King of the Nether Isles. He is a great man. Some day he will rule all of Atlantis."

"So what did your daughter have to do with the way you acted at the Fougere compound?"

"Nothing."

Rus looked around and then started running.

Ellen screamed, "Why are you running? Let me explain!"

Rus came to the gate of the pen. He saw it closed and locked. "She didn't lock that gate." Rus felt his head. "If I have to have a goat head why can't I have a full set of horns like a normal goat? These will have to do." Rus began to use his partial horns to try to pull the fence while also using his hands and feet. For ten minutes he tried to create an opening in the fence, but he couldn't. He fell on the ground tired and hungry. After resting he stood up. "I wonder where Ellen is." Rus walked beyond the grove of tree where Ellen said there was a cave. He didn't really expect to find one, but still he thought he'd look. After first he didn't notice the opening, but then he saw an opening obscured by a few fallen trees and a bunch of vines. The opening wasn't large but large enough for most anyone of normal size or smaller to crawl through.