The wall that surrounds Dreamland
is of unknown measure. Some find it small
enough to barely fit a cozy village in its circle. Others insist a great and
marvelous city exists within its boundaries, including avenues of skyscrapers
surrounded by miles of two-story neighborhoods. Once, I actually sailed the
ocean inside these guarded walls. You may say impossible, but not so.
I say “not so” because I know a secret. Lend me your ear and I will share it with you. But first, promise to keep the secret, for this wondrous truth must be carefully kept.
Dreamland is an actual place; it really exists!
Oh yes, yes, it truly does! And
the astonishing thing is how this magical world has endured forever in a realm
only visible to dreamers. Hence the name, perhaps.
Bring your ear closer and I will share a better secret. This too must be protected.
Reality in Dreamland is whatever you want it to be.
The details of this enchanted
world are formed in the eye of the beholder. In other words, when you step
through the gates of this marvelous land, whatever you wish for becomes so. If
your desire is to experience life on acres of farmland, that is exactly what
you will find. If you prefer a bustling city, such a reality will appear. If
you yearn to sail the world’s oceans within a gated border, it will be as you
wish. And that is the big secret Gavin, the keykeeper, protects.
It is his job to prevent
wandering dreamers from trespassing the gates of Dreamland. For if they were to
scale the wall, or tunnel beneath it, or find some way across its borders, the
likelihood is great they would never choose to leave such a paradise. That fact
is understandable, of course. If you could have anything you wished
for—anything imaginable—would you so easily turn away from it? Would you
abandon your dreams to wake up again?
It might help to see the truth
in action before deciding. And what better way than to visit the magical land
in question?
The hall of doors where we
last left Gavin happens to end where a dark forest begins. Or possibly the
hallway begins where the forest ends; I’m not quite certain. Either way, the
trees in that timbered area are so congested with leafy tops that barely a
shard of sunlight slips through. Within the woods are hiding places that shield
and shelter the most ferocious of monsters. But their introduction will be
saved for another time.
Having his duties managed for
the present moment, Gavin made his way through the forest toward the outside
wall enclosing Dreamland. He seemed undaunted by a thick growth of ivy that
nearly concealed the wall from view.
Though it appeared to be a
dead end, his footsteps moved forward with confident strides, taking him right
up to the wall. Slipping a hand beneath his shirt, he retrieved his key and
held it in front of him like a warding symbol—as far as the attached chain
would allow. As if fearful, or perhaps respectful of the power trapped within
the key, the ivy and its blue blooms peeled away, opening a narrow area before
the stone wall. The exposed gates glimmered as if sprinkled with pixie dust,
reflecting all available light off a dimpled texture.
Depressed in the stone at
shoulder height was a square groove about the size of a hand. An indentation
appeared like a mold in the center of it. Gavin raised his bronze key, behaving
as if he had performed the same move a million times, and placed it over the
indentation. A perfect match! The walls began to tremble, and he stepped back,
slipping the key beneath his shirt once again.
The gates parted by only a
fraction and then closed behind the keykeeper as soon as he stepped inside. What
his eyes took in was a wondrous view of home; a world shaped to his own
personal liking.
The ground looked like black
crumbs—moist, rich dirt that mashed under every footstep. The soil quickly
disappeared beneath plant life that crowded the landscape beyond. In every
direction a wall of rainforest blocked off any decent view of the horizon. Trees
towered like giants, joined together by drooping swags of moss. Vines as thick
in circumference as plumber’s pipe entangled every sturdy tree branch. The
underbrush stood unusually high as well, extending up to Gavin’s waist, some
ferns stretching to brush their feathered fronds against his shoulders.
The air smelled of fresh rain,
but it was perceptible by feel as well; a heaviness put pressure on the muscles
and sinuses. Jungle sounds chattered in abundance. This way—a conversation of
twittering birds. That way—a panther’s roar receiving a return growl. From high
above fell the laughter of primates. And in surround sound, leaves rustled,
disturbed by creatures that slithered, crawled, and skittered in the shadows.
Gavin stepped forward to be
swallowed up by this animated jungle.
It seemed not long enough to
hold one’s breath before he appeared on the other end, emerging from a curtain
of greenery onto a sandy stretch of beachfront. The bluest crystal ocean
greeted him mere strides away, but Gavin’s focus was not on the clear waters. It
was lifted, peering into a black sky full of twinkling lights.
Stars—or rather, diamonds.
He squinted in the darkness to
be sure of his sight. A frown indented each corner of his mouth when he felt
certain his assumption was correct. Pirates were sailing overhead, flying a
black flag with skull and crossbones. The thieves were en route to steal the
stars and pilfer a fortune in diamonds.
“Bly me!” he grumbled to
himself.
His dark eyes lowered,
glancing over ocean waters. Another ship floated not too far distant in the
bay. Gavin walked across the short stretch of beachfront and waded knee-high
into warm waters. His arms rose in the moonlight, waving back and forth as he
cried aloud, hoping to hail the ship. Miraculously, his ruckus gained someone’s
attention and a rowboat was sent for him. Two unshaven scalawags manned the
oars, both with a great many missing teeth. They wore tri-corner caps as shabby
as their matching rags. Reaching the young keykeeper, they helped him into
their boat and then rowed back to a triple-mast sailing ship designated The
Witchery.
Gavin was greeted aboard by
Captain Jimbo Harvey, one of the fiercest pirates known to unlawfully regulate
affairs on Dreamland waters. A stubborn old rogue, he refused to acknowledge
Dreamland as a free nation and claimed the entire area under his rule, calling
it “the scum of Ankergnat” to suit his brigand taste.
A crooked smile glinted of
gold behind his coarse whiskers. His face was masked by a thick, graying beard.
His build was medium stock though rock-solid. On his head sat the widest brim
of any hat ever made, and on his shoulder was perched a lime-green parrot. This
bird possessed the ability to command the crew nearly as well as Captain Harvey
himself.
“Ahoy thar, Matey. And what
sorta hornswagglin’ ideas might ye be havin’ in the middle o’ the night? I’ll
ne’er believe ye be up to much else but dev’lish mischief.”
“Then you believe wrong, sir,”
Gavin informed the captain, “because I’m here to put a stop to the devilish
mischief of others currently underway.”
Narrowing his gaze
suspiciously, the captain asked, “And whose mischief be ye aimin’ on
interferein’ with?”
“That of dishonorable
pirates!”
The green parrot raised its
feathers and squawked.
Jimbo Harvey backed up,
cautious and wary. His fingers curled around the hilt of a sword fastened to a
thick belt that secured his britches. “Ye be a dern fool then, lad. A daft
sprog to think o’ challengin’ me surrounded by me own men. We be nuthin’ but
honorable gents here, content to lay low o’ Jack mischief.”
There was a hushed murmur of
agreement about their innocence, tainted by a few wicked chuckles. Gavin
realized he had been misunderstood.
“Oh, no, no, no, I’m not
talking about you, Captain Harvey. The shameful pirates I’m referring to are
the ones plundering the stars above your heads as we speak.”
Gavin’s pointing finger rose
straight up, along with every eye on the ship. Lo and behold they found the keykeeper
to be right! A pirate ship was indeed sailing through black clouds, netting and
collecting twinkling diamonds right out of the night.
“Shiver me timbers! Those
scurvy dogs be pluckin’ jewels from me rooftop! How’d them thar villains get by
with ne’er a notice?” The captain scanned his crew for a man who would look him
square in the eye. No one dared to meet his critical gaze.
He flailed his arms,
frustrated, while the parrot on his shoulder copied the gesture with flitting
wings.
“Raise them sheets to the
wind! Arm yer stations and prepare for a hearty swashbucklin’! We’ve a rival
Jolly Roger in our midst! I swear on the grave of me dear ol’ mum we be sinkin’
that swaggy and sendin’ every last lily-livered crook to an eternal rest in
Davy Jones’ locker! Tally ho wi’ a vengeance!”
“Aye! Arrrg!” the men shouted,
riled by their captain’s speech.
The deck swayed as The
Witchery’s forward lifted, bowsprit
pointing skyward. All sails roped to masts filled with air and expanded. The
rudder was last to leave the sea. They climbed into the sky on a straight
course for rival pirates who remained unaware of their nearing, too busy
netting and collecting sparkling jewels.
The Witchery fell silent. Every grimy member of the crew waited,
keen and anxious, as they drifted closer to the vessel Captain Harvey planned
to sink.
Gavin patted his thighs. At
each side, a sword in sheath appeared out of thin air. He clutched either hilt,
ready.
It was the rival pirates who
broke the tranquility of the night.
They sounded the alarm, and
immediately Captain Harvey gave the order to fire cannons. The enemy ship was
shot full of holes but remained hovering above the clouds. Again came an order
to fire a second round. Additional ruptures opened up the bottom decks of the
targeted pirate ship. By this time it was on its way around to face off with The
Witchery. Gavin glanced at the name
painted in black, fancy lettering across the stern of the damaged vessel. It
read The Red Dagger.
He gasped. This was a
nightmare ship! A cursed, unsinkable, haunted craft! A legend Gavin had heard
mention of in many captivating bedtime stories featuring the notorious pirate
of greater cunning and fiercer prowess and superior swordsmanship than any
other infamous buccaneer! The captain of this nefarious ship was none other
than… the charcoal-haired Drake Blackmont!
Gavin drew both swords and
steadied himself. This would be a worthy fight for the keykeeper—a challenge he
truly longed for—if fate paired him off with the most aggressive swordsman ever
spoken of in pirate lore.
“Aye.” He licked his lips and
grinned at the thought.
There was a blur of motion on
either vessel as deckhands rushed to and fro responding to Captain’s battle
orders. Cannons fired repeatedly from The
Witchery, and yet The
Red Dagger pulled up alongside its
attacker, communicating a suicidal wish, daring the enemy to gut its belly
hollow. All eyes turned upward, men ducking and cowering from instinct when it
rained on Captain Harvey’s men. Captain Blackmont had ordered an ambush.
Drake’s crew swung from high
ropes, falling on The Witchery and those sorry souls aboard. Their faces were painted
red and black, marked like demons. One glance proved petrifying, causing even
the bravest warrior to hesitate. Many of Jimbo’s men were run through,
paralyzed by initial shock before managing to lift their own swords. But a war
cry hit the air and rallied their resolve.
A rabble sword fight engulfed
the only ship not ablaze.
Gavin swung his dual blades
right and left, exchanging blows using both hands equally well. Every painted
figure that came his way met the same fate—cast aside in a motionless heap upon
the bloody deck. He fought his way through the crowd, cutting down the enemy,
exerting his force with precise, effective moves. But his eye kept focused on
the ultimate prize… the captain of The Red
Dagger.
Drake Blackmont fought on the
raised stern, defending his heightened pedestal with a rapier in hand and a
case of bold, grinning arrogance.
Gavin paused when he found it
his turn to contend with the notorious pirate. He stole a moment to gaze in awe
at a legend come to life. Drake paused likewise, swelling with pride at the
look of obvious admiration from another soon-to-be victim of his unerring
blade.
Gavin raised an eyebrow. Drake
raised one also.
“Aye, lad, yer a young one. If
survival be yer wish today, turn tail now and run. Run away, and I shan’t be
forced to cut you down in yer youth.”
Setting one foot behind for
balance, Gavin gripped tight to his weapons and declared courageously, “I will
not run from you.”
The legendary captain crooked
his head. “Then yer a fool. An ignorant, misfortunate fool. For I am
invincible, laddy. I’ve walked through fire, carved my way from the guts of
dragons, sunk every ship rash enough to give me battle, destroyed whole armies,
and cut down countless warriors who believed falsely that a mob had the power
to crush me. I’ve no fear of death, lad. Though time and time again he tries,
the Grimm Reaper cannot grasp me. Death is cursed for my sake, ne’er to have my
soul. And so, I’ve no fear of anything.”
“You don’t have to be afraid
to be defeated, Captain Blackmont.”
“Aye, is that right, laddy?” A
pirate smirk conveyed acceptance to a duel. “Then we shall test yer theory.”
As if generously evening the
odds, Drake Blackmont placed one hand behind his back. He jumped down from the
heightened deck and met Gavin on level ground. The two circled once, weapons
pointed and ready, eyes glued on one another. The captain advanced first. His
moves were swifter than anticipated, but Gavin managed to cross his swords and
parry the drive downward between his feet. His pulse pounded in his ears,
thumping like deep, base drums.
Thank goodness for quick
reflexes.
Captain Blackmont grinned and
struck again, whizzing his blade a fraction of an inch past the boy’s ear. Had
he wanted it, Drake could have held a severed ear in the palm of his hand. Gavin
retreated quickly, unnerved by his awareness of what could have—should have—happened. His rival gave him
no time to consider his luck, but advanced in succession, aiming high, then
low, playing with his young challenger. The expert swordsman punctured a
shoulder, then a knee, and finally pierced an ear. Every prick bled droplets of
red.
Winded and overwhelmed, Gavin
distanced himself from such malicious toying. His opponent allowed him a
moment’s rest.
“I gave you a chance to run,”
Drake smirked darkly. “You should’ve skedaddled.”
Gavin straightened his posture
and tossed one sword aside, holding the other before him like a shield. Perhaps
concentrating on a single weapon would prove a better strategy. He drew air in
and out, working to steady his breathing. Managing a forced smile, he taunted,
“I’m just getting started. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings right off, old
man.”
The captain laughed aloud,
amused by the boy’s boldness. Though minor scuffles continued to take place
around them, the two had drawn a crowd. Only Drake seemed aware of the fact.
He attacked without a hint of
warning—a thrust aimed at a thigh. Gavin parried the blow, scuttling backwards
to avoid a strike. As Drake recovered, he easily deflected a desperate jab
meant for his heart. Then the captain lunged forward again, swift as metallic
lightning. Gavin parried, retreating. It was nothing but a dance for Captain
Blackmont and an exercise in self-defense for the boy.
After barely holding off a
sequence of fancy brandishing, Gavin found himself on his back looking up at
the pointed end of a rapier. He had tripped over a coil of rope while avoiding
his opponent’s blade. It had happened faster than his mind could register.
“Avast! Leave the boy be!” It
was Captain Harvey running to his aide, but there was no need for anyone’s
interference.
Beneath Gavin’s shirt an amber
glow sparked, growing bright enough to catch the attention of onlookers. Its
radiance reached into the darkness.
“It’s my key,” Gavin said. “I
have to go; someone’s near the gates.”
Drake withdrew his sword and
slipped it into the sheath at his side. “Aye! Get along, keykeeper. I’m sure
we’ll meet up again.”
Gavin jumped to his feet. And
so did every other character on board who had been lying motionless as if struck
dead by a rival sword. The Red Dagger was no longer ablaze but appeared whole and solid as
if it had never suffered one blast from a cannon.
Strange? Not really. For that is another secret Gavin keeps. Aye, ya see, me hearties, in Dreamland all lads and lasses and e’en sly ol’ buccaneers ne’er, e’er taste the sting o’ death. In proper words…
No one ever really dies in
Dreamland.
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