I Battle a River

[00:00:01] Artifacts of the Arcane, by Jake Kerr Season 1, The Staff of Light Episode 5, I Battle a River

[00:00:16] I explained to Mr. Ali that Grandfather would take me to Coney Island a few times every summer,

[00:00:25] and one time during the previous summer we passed a street magician. I couldn't remember ever seeing

[00:00:31] one before. I quickly found out why. The musicians and dancers were much more popular,

[00:00:38] even the fortune-telling gypsies did better than the magician. As we approached, I could hear that

[00:00:44] the magician was being heckled by several boys my age. I heard one boy say, I'll give you a dime

[00:00:50] to disappear, which generated laughter from his friends. Grandfather changed direction and strode

[00:00:56] directly to the magician, his cane tapping out the warning of his approach. While Grandfather was

[00:01:03] often difficult to live with, I knew he was a good man and couldn't stand injustice.

[00:01:09] I looked forward to him quieting the hecklers with some sharp words or even a thwap from his cane.

[00:01:15] I had experienced both myself. He shoved past the boys who quieted in his presence. The magician had a

[00:01:24] folding table with some glasses on it, and Grandfather smacked his cane onto the tabletop,

[00:01:29] making the glasses shake. So what's your game, young man? The magician was wiry and looked about

[00:01:36] college age. He had black curly hair and a small face that fit his small frame. He was dressed in a

[00:01:43] shabby suit that gave him the look of a struggling poet or other artist. My game? I'm a magician, old man.

[00:01:51] The magician crossed his arms. That remains to be seen. Show me. Grandfather lowered his cane directly

[00:02:00] in front of himself and leaned on it with both hands. The magician rolled his eyes and grabbed a

[00:02:06] pitcher of water from behind him and poured it into a glass. He then smiled at my grandfather and made a

[00:02:13] gesture with his fingers. The clear water turned blue. He moved his fingers again and the water turned red.

[00:02:21] I had never seen magic before, and the change was so fast and complete that I found it rather

[00:02:27] impressive. Grandfather, however, snorted. An illusionist, huh? But what good is an illusion that

[00:02:35] science can replicate? He lifted his cane and pointed it at the young illusionist who backed up a

[00:02:41] step. Sorensen could do that with chemicals. He then stood up straight. Show me a real illusion,

[00:02:49] one that science hasn't ruined. That's the only one I know, the magician replied, anger rising in his

[00:02:57] voice. And I don't know who Sorensen is, but these aren't stupid chemicals. This is magic.

[00:03:04] Grandfather leaned forward, and I could see that he was losing his temper. The magician's audience was

[00:03:10] enthralled, but it was clear that they were more interested in the old man assaulting the magician

[00:03:15] than the magician himself. I tugged on my grandfather's sleeve. He looked down at me,

[00:03:21] and I nodded over my shoulder and said, Coney Island. He nodded and tapped the table with his cane.

[00:03:28] You are wasting your time. He then turned and started walking. The magician didn't reply,

[00:03:35] and returned to turning the water into colorful mixtures. I could tell grandfather was troubled.

[00:03:41] He muttered about never finding a real magician in America, which surprised me since I didn't think

[00:03:47] there were any real magicians anywhere. Sure, the water thing didn't seem very complicated,

[00:03:52] but as magic went, I thought it was pretty neat. Mr. Ali nodded his head as I finished.

[00:03:59] Yes, it would not surprise me that Declan would investigate even a hint of magic if it was put in his

[00:04:05] path. He has seen the decline in magic, and I am sure that your experience was not his only

[00:04:12] disappointment. He folded his hands together, but he understands that magic is coming to an end.

[00:04:18] His comment on science spoke volumes. But that is not what he said at the restaurant, Mr. Ali.

[00:04:26] He said that magic was needed to defend us against the magical creatures.

[00:04:31] That is not exactly what he said, Tommy. He said the staff was needed to protect us.

[00:04:37] He knows magic is dying. The only difference in opinion is how to handle it.

[00:04:42] Mr. Ali yawned, and that led me to yawn.

[00:04:46] Are you tired? Do you need to rest?

[00:04:50] At the mention of rest, a wave of exhaustion hit me, as if it had broken through a barrier

[00:04:56] and was rushing through to my bones. It couldn't have been more than early evening, but I felt like

[00:05:01] it was late into the night. The light on the cane dimmed a bit, and my eyes were heavy with drowsiness.

[00:05:07] I feel very tired, Mr. Ali, but I want to know more about magic.

[00:05:12] Mr. Ali shrugged.

[00:05:14] I'm afraid there's not much to say.

[00:05:16] There are powerful magicians in the world, very powerful magicians, but they are incredibly rare

[00:05:23] and becoming rarer with every generation.

[00:05:26] The magician you saw is probably not unlike the other magicians across the globe,

[00:05:33] performing magic to disappointed crowds that no scientist can do better.

[00:05:39] I was not surprised at Mr. Ali's words.

[00:05:42] I hadn't mentioned it to him, but there was a magic club at my school, Phillips Andover.

[00:05:48] The members were the unpopular freaks that no one liked.

[00:05:52] The radio and flying clubs were more popular.

[00:05:56] Heck, even the physics club was more popular, and none of its members had girlfriends.

[00:06:00] More than anything, the magic club was an easy target for teasing.

[00:06:05] I closed my eyes, and Mr. Ali spoke up.

[00:06:10] Lie down and rest, Tommy.

[00:06:11] Let the staff go dark, and I will watch over you.

[00:06:15] I opened my eyes, and Mr. Ali pointed to the floor where my half of his robe lay folded up.

[00:06:21] I didn't even have the energy to reply.

[00:06:25] I unfolded the robe, curled over a corner for my head, and lay down.

[00:06:30] The cane went dark as I closed my eyes and loosened my grip.

[00:06:34] I cradled it in my arms and let sleep overtake me.

[00:06:38] I was back at Andover.

[00:06:40] And for some reason, I was at a meeting of the magic club.

[00:06:43] I was in the front of the room giving a lecture on contemporary magic creatures.

[00:06:47] I was so nervous that I could do no more than stare at my notes and read them.

[00:06:51] I described fiery afrit and flying gin, doing my best to describe them using my own experience of seeing them.

[00:06:59] I glanced up when I got to shadows and saw that I was alone in the room.

[00:07:04] Not a single desk was occupied.

[00:07:08] On one hand, I was relieved as I had never been comfortable speaking in front of others.

[00:07:13] But on the other, I was embarrassed.

[00:07:16] The lamest club in the school.

[00:07:18] And I was presumably the only member.

[00:07:21] I was unsure of this, however, and spoke up.

[00:07:24] Is anyone there?

[00:07:25] The lights flickered, and I felt a deep dread.

[00:07:29] I was alone, and I had to escape.

[00:07:32] The certainty of this was absolute.

[00:07:36] I stumbled down the narrow gap between a row of desks heading for the door.

[00:07:40] I stopped as the lights went out.

[00:07:43] When they came back on, they were now candles,

[00:07:45] and the classroom looked like a stone room in an old castle.

[00:07:49] The flickering shadows started to congeal and form into magical shadows.

[00:07:53] They were all around me,

[00:07:55] and I pushed aside desks as I looked for a gap to escape.

[00:07:59] But there was no escape.

[00:08:01] I shouted for help, but no one answered.

[00:08:04] The blackness surrounded me, and I shouted again,

[00:08:08] screaming for someone, anyone, to help me.

[00:08:10] A voice, metallic and deep and ominous, replied from the depths,

[00:08:15] You are alone.

[00:08:17] Another voice, and then another, repeated the words,

[00:08:21] You are alone.

[00:08:23] You are alone.

[00:08:25] You are alone.

[00:08:26] Alone.

[00:08:27] The blackness was about to overwhelm me when I heard Mr. Ali's voice in the distance.

[00:08:33] I'm here, Tommy.

[00:08:34] You aren't alone.

[00:08:36] I felt someone shaking my shoulder.

[00:08:38] I opened my eyes, and there was Mr. Ali,

[00:08:41] his entire body illuminated in the blinding light of the cane,

[00:08:46] which had never shone brighter.

[00:08:49] Tommy, you had a nightmare.

[00:08:51] Everything is fine.

[00:08:53] I sat up.

[00:08:55] Mr. Ali watched me,

[00:08:56] concerned filling his face.

[00:08:58] The dread of the nightmare was still fresh in my mind,

[00:09:02] but looking upon Mr. Ali scared me more.

[00:09:05] He looked exhausted.

[00:09:07] His eyes were red,

[00:09:08] and there were dark circles under them.

[00:09:10] Even his toothy smile couldn't hide the fact

[00:09:13] that he had pushed himself close to the limit.

[00:09:16] How long have I been asleep?

[00:09:18] I asked.

[00:09:19] It must have been hours.

[00:09:21] Long enough, Tommy.

[00:09:23] The staff burns bright,

[00:09:24] and a nightmare is of little concern to those awake.

[00:09:27] He smiled,

[00:09:28] but it appeared forced.

[00:09:30] I need but a couple of hours to regain my strength,

[00:09:33] and then we can talk.

[00:09:35] His eyes closed,

[00:09:37] and I left Mr. Ali alone

[00:09:39] while the boat sped on through the darkness.

[00:09:41] The time sped on as well,

[00:09:44] for I spent every minute examining the cane.

[00:09:47] Staff, I kept reminding myself.

[00:09:49] Not cane.

[00:09:51] There were two forces at work

[00:09:53] while I examined all of the intricate runes and engravings.

[00:09:57] The one was the wonderful feeling

[00:09:59] that I instinctively knew the power of the staff

[00:10:01] that was revealed to me.

[00:10:03] Light.

[00:10:04] Light just made perfect sense at every level.

[00:10:08] I could not say that I understood how,

[00:10:10] but at least I understood.

[00:10:12] It was like understanding breathing.

[00:10:15] You may not know how you breathe,

[00:10:17] but you know you can breathe.

[00:10:19] The other force was one of frustration over everything else.

[00:10:23] I didn't understand how my grandfather blew things up

[00:10:26] or sent out bolts of destruction.

[00:10:29] The concept of a shield was equally beyond me.

[00:10:32] It seemed like mastering the cane was a hopeless goal.

[00:10:35] I vaguely understood the runes,

[00:10:37] but it was like memorizing the notes on a piano

[00:10:40] and expecting to be able to play Rachmaninoff

[00:10:43] the first time your fingers touched the keys.

[00:10:46] Many minutes later,

[00:10:47] or perhaps even hours,

[00:10:49] Mr. Ali stirred.

[00:10:51] He stretched his arms

[00:10:52] and then turned in his seat.

[00:10:54] As he looked at me,

[00:10:56] he smiled,

[00:10:57] but I could see that he hadn't slept well.

[00:10:59] His face was worn and haggard.

[00:11:01] He still looked immensely tired.

[00:11:04] He gracefully swung his legs over his seat

[00:11:06] and slid next to me.

[00:11:08] My dear Tommy,

[00:11:10] how are you?

[00:11:12] I'm a little hungry,

[00:11:13] but I feel good.

[00:11:15] I've been working on the cane

[00:11:16] and it's challenging.

[00:11:18] Mentioning the cane brought a smile

[00:11:20] to Mr. Ali's lips.

[00:11:22] Tommy,

[00:11:23] of course it is.

[00:11:24] I would expect no less.

[00:11:26] Could you maybe show me

[00:11:28] how grandfather used it?

[00:11:29] Show me how he held it or what he did?

[00:11:32] I lowered my head.

[00:11:34] I'm afraid that all I can do

[00:11:37] is make light.

[00:11:39] Don't be discouraged.

[00:11:41] Although learning the staff

[00:11:43] will not be so simple as me

[00:11:45] showing you how to hold it.

[00:11:47] At this point,

[00:11:49] Mr. Ali touched me lightly

[00:11:50] on the chest with his finger.

[00:11:52] But you can do it, Tommy.

[00:11:54] I know you can.

[00:11:55] Remember,

[00:11:56] in all the world,

[00:11:57] you are the only one

[00:11:59] who can unravel its power.

[00:12:02] For the first time,

[00:12:04] it hit home

[00:12:04] that I was perhaps special

[00:12:06] for more than just being

[00:12:07] one of the people,

[00:12:08] archmages

[00:12:09] who had carried the staff.

[00:12:11] The prospect

[00:12:12] was not a little frightening

[00:12:13] and I clutched at a way out,

[00:12:16] not because I wanted to use it,

[00:12:18] but because it was reassuring

[00:12:19] to know it was there.

[00:12:21] But you are an archmage too.

[00:12:24] You can take the staff

[00:12:25] if you want to.

[00:12:27] Remember, Tommy,

[00:12:28] I was but a messenger.

[00:12:30] I carried the staff

[00:12:31] to your grandfather,

[00:12:33] nothing more.

[00:12:34] Even during that short time,

[00:12:36] I could tell

[00:12:36] that it was not meant

[00:12:37] for my hands.

[00:12:38] I am an archmage by chance.

[00:12:41] You are one by nature.

[00:12:42] So as much as I would love

[00:12:44] to remove this burden from you,

[00:12:46] I cannot.

[00:12:47] No one can.

[00:12:48] And as I did

[00:12:50] for your grandfather,

[00:12:51] I will do my best

[00:12:52] to prepare you.

[00:12:53] I nodded.

[00:12:55] Thank you, Mr. Ali.

[00:12:57] I just can't seem to grasp

[00:12:58] how to control it.

[00:13:01] Yes,

[00:13:01] it is unfair

[00:13:02] that you bear the staff

[00:13:03] in these circumstances,

[00:13:04] but it is not to be avoided.

[00:13:06] Mr. Ali added,

[00:13:09] A voyage along Nar Maratum

[00:13:10] is not the best place

[00:13:12] to teach you

[00:13:13] about the staff,

[00:13:14] its history,

[00:13:15] and the steps

[00:13:15] to learning

[00:13:16] how to master it.

[00:13:17] He motioned

[00:13:19] beyond the boat.

[00:13:19] The magic

[00:13:21] is too oppressive

[00:13:22] for me to concentrate.

[00:13:23] I couldn't sense anything

[00:13:25] but fast-moving water,

[00:13:27] but I nodded

[00:13:28] in agreement anyway.

[00:13:30] All I can tell you now

[00:13:32] is to let the staff

[00:13:33] guide you

[00:13:34] as you investigate

[00:13:35] its power.

[00:13:36] Its voice

[00:13:37] is confusing

[00:13:37] and hard to fathom,

[00:13:39] but it will be

[00:13:40] your best guide

[00:13:41] for now.

[00:13:41] I was about to speak,

[00:13:44] but Mr. Ali

[00:13:44] stood to return

[00:13:45] to his seat.

[00:13:47] He smiled,

[00:13:48] his face again

[00:13:49] full of weariness,

[00:13:50] and said,

[00:13:51] But let's speak

[00:13:52] no more of it.

[00:13:54] The time will come

[00:13:55] when we can.

[00:13:56] I will let you know

[00:13:57] when that time is.

[00:13:59] What I wanted to say

[00:14:01] but kept to myself

[00:14:02] was that the staff

[00:14:03] was not confusing

[00:14:04] or difficult at all.

[00:14:06] The best way

[00:14:07] to describe it

[00:14:07] was that the staff

[00:14:09] spoke to me

[00:14:09] in a myriad of voices.

[00:14:11] What was difficult

[00:14:12] was that I could

[00:14:13] understand only one.

[00:14:15] That voice

[00:14:16] spoke with complete clarity.

[00:14:18] But the others

[00:14:19] were muddled.

[00:14:20] I had hoped

[00:14:21] that Mr. Ali

[00:14:22] could translate

[00:14:23] those other voices,

[00:14:24] but he described

[00:14:25] something much different.

[00:14:27] For the first time

[00:14:29] as the bearer

[00:14:29] of the staff,

[00:14:30] it struck me

[00:14:31] that I would ultimately

[00:14:33] be my own teacher.

[00:14:35] Mr. Ali sat upright,

[00:14:37] his eyes looking

[00:14:38] out into the distance.

[00:14:39] He didn't move,

[00:14:40] but occasionally

[00:14:41] his head would nod,

[00:14:42] and I knew

[00:14:43] that he was not meditating.

[00:14:44] He was fighting

[00:14:46] the urge

[00:14:46] to rest.

[00:14:47] I took to practicing

[00:14:49] with the staff.

[00:14:50] I had by now

[00:14:51] understood

[00:14:52] how to easily

[00:14:53] manipulate

[00:14:53] the magical light

[00:14:54] of the cane,

[00:14:55] and I delighted myself

[00:14:56] by dimming it

[00:14:57] and making it bright.

[00:14:59] Mr. Ali

[00:15:00] either didn't notice

[00:15:01] as he dozed

[00:15:02] or he didn't care,

[00:15:03] for he continued

[00:15:04] to remain still.

[00:15:06] Eventually,

[00:15:06] I learned how to focus

[00:15:08] the beam of light,

[00:15:09] and I sent strong beams

[00:15:11] toward the banks,

[00:15:12] the ceiling,

[00:15:13] and into the depths

[00:15:14] of the water.

[00:15:15] I focused the light

[00:15:16] to such intensity

[00:15:17] that its beam

[00:15:18] shone far into the distance,

[00:15:20] but no matter

[00:15:21] how strong

[00:15:22] I made the light,

[00:15:23] I could see nothing

[00:15:24] but darkness

[00:15:25] at its end.

[00:15:26] When I got bored

[00:15:27] of peering

[00:15:28] into the darkness,

[00:15:29] I created multiple beams

[00:15:31] of light

[00:15:31] that shot

[00:15:32] in all directions.

[00:15:34] As time wore on,

[00:15:35] I learned to control

[00:15:36] even these,

[00:15:37] and I playfully aimed them

[00:15:39] at the tops of waves

[00:15:40] in the river,

[00:15:41] trying to hit as many

[00:15:42] as I could

[00:15:43] at one time.

[00:15:43] I became quite proficient

[00:15:45] at this,

[00:15:46] and realized

[00:15:47] that I was moving

[00:15:48] the staff around

[00:15:49] to facilitate my aim.

[00:15:50] It reminded me

[00:15:51] of Grandfather

[00:15:52] using the cane's sword

[00:15:54] as he reflected

[00:15:55] the floodlight

[00:15:55] at the shadows.

[00:15:57] I wondered

[00:15:57] if the light

[00:15:58] of the cane

[00:15:59] would be considered

[00:16:00] artificial light,

[00:16:01] but then immediately

[00:16:02] dismissed the idea.

[00:16:04] If it were,

[00:16:05] then my grandfather

[00:16:06] would have simply

[00:16:07] used the cane

[00:16:08] to disperse the shadows.

[00:16:10] The possibility

[00:16:11] that my grandfather

[00:16:12] didn't know

[00:16:12] how to draw light

[00:16:13] from his own

[00:16:14] magical cane

[00:16:15] never crossed my mind.

[00:16:17] I tired of playing

[00:16:18] with the light

[00:16:19] and closed my eyes

[00:16:20] as I tried to think

[00:16:21] of other things

[00:16:22] I could do

[00:16:23] with the staff.

[00:16:24] One of my first

[00:16:25] disappointments

[00:16:26] was realizing

[00:16:27] that I couldn't

[00:16:28] use the staff

[00:16:28] to communicate

[00:16:29] with or observe others.

[00:16:31] I had tried

[00:16:32] to focus on my grandfather

[00:16:33] to see if he was safe,

[00:16:35] but the staff

[00:16:36] remained silent.

[00:16:37] I looked at the water

[00:16:39] churning behind the boat

[00:16:40] and had a new idea,

[00:16:42] guiding the boat.

[00:16:43] I considered

[00:16:44] the possibility,

[00:16:45] examining runes

[00:16:46] and opening my mind

[00:16:48] to the staff.

[00:16:49] I focused on

[00:16:50] utilizing the staff

[00:16:51] to defeat the river

[00:16:52] and take us

[00:16:53] where I wanted to go,

[00:16:54] but there was simply

[00:16:55] no answer.

[00:16:57] I decided

[00:16:58] to put the staff

[00:16:58] in the water

[00:16:59] and guide the boat

[00:17:00] that way,

[00:17:01] and while I realized

[00:17:02] I had no indication

[00:17:03] it would work,

[00:17:04] I couldn't see

[00:17:05] anything wrong

[00:17:05] with it either.

[00:17:07] I held the staff

[00:17:08] firmly in both my hands

[00:17:09] and turned toward

[00:17:11] the rear of the boat.

[00:17:12] The water thrashed

[00:17:14] in front of me

[00:17:14] as we sped forward.

[00:17:16] I turned

[00:17:17] and faced the river.

[00:17:19] I knew where

[00:17:19] I wanted to go.

[00:17:20] I wanted to go home

[00:17:22] to New York.

[00:17:22] I wanted to save

[00:17:24] my grandfather.

[00:17:25] I would save him.

[00:17:27] I squeezed tight.

[00:17:28] It was just me,

[00:17:30] the river,

[00:17:30] and the staff itself.

[00:17:32] I want to go home,

[00:17:34] I thought,

[00:17:35] and plunge the end

[00:17:36] of the staff

[00:17:37] into the river.

[00:17:38] The boat immediately

[00:17:39] bucked to the side

[00:17:40] and then the other.

[00:17:42] It wasn't enough

[00:17:43] to toss us into the water,

[00:17:44] but it woke Mr. Ali.

[00:17:47] Tommy,

[00:17:47] what is going on?

[00:17:48] He exclaimed

[00:17:49] as he turned in his seat.

[00:17:51] I turned to tell him

[00:17:52] everything was okay,

[00:17:54] but the boat bucked again,

[00:17:55] spilling Mr. Ali

[00:17:56] onto the floor.

[00:17:58] The alarm in his face

[00:17:59] frightened me.

[00:18:00] I looked down

[00:18:02] at the water

[00:18:02] as it thrashed

[00:18:03] around the cane,

[00:18:04] violent and chaotic.

[00:18:06] The force of the water

[00:18:07] tugged at my arms,

[00:18:08] but I held on.

[00:18:10] Home,

[00:18:11] I thought,

[00:18:12] focusing all my energy

[00:18:13] on pushing the boat

[00:18:14] in that direction,

[00:18:15] whichever it might be.

[00:18:17] The river fought back.

[00:18:18] The boat rolled

[00:18:20] left and right.

[00:18:21] It took all my effort

[00:18:22] to keep my balance.

[00:18:24] The water

[00:18:24] where I had placed

[00:18:25] the staff

[00:18:26] was a cauldron

[00:18:27] of bubbles

[00:18:27] and white froth.

[00:18:29] The cane

[00:18:30] jerked back and forth.

[00:18:31] I could hear Mr. Ali

[00:18:33] on the edge

[00:18:34] of my consciousness

[00:18:34] telling me to stop,

[00:18:36] but all I was focusing on

[00:18:37] was keeping my grip

[00:18:38] on the cane

[00:18:39] and getting home.

[00:18:40] The staff

[00:18:41] started to heat up

[00:18:42] and I felt myself

[00:18:43] being pulled forward.

[00:18:45] I set my feet

[00:18:47] and tried to hold

[00:18:48] my ground.

[00:18:49] The boat shook

[00:18:49] more violently

[00:18:50] and any thought

[00:18:51] of controlling it

[00:18:52] left my mind

[00:18:53] as I focused solely

[00:18:54] on stopping

[00:18:55] and getting the staff

[00:18:56] back into the boat.

[00:18:58] I was too weak

[00:18:59] and the pull

[00:19:01] on the staff

[00:19:02] was too strong.

[00:19:03] What started

[00:19:04] as a slow tug

[00:19:05] turned into my body

[00:19:06] sliding toward

[00:19:07] the edge of the boat

[00:19:08] and the water?

[00:19:10] I held steady

[00:19:11] for a moment

[00:19:12] and then I felt

[00:19:13] a horrific wrenching

[00:19:14] as my body

[00:19:15] was thrown

[00:19:15] into the air

[00:19:16] at the same time

[00:19:17] the force

[00:19:18] pulling me toward

[00:19:18] the water

[00:19:19] pulled down.

[00:19:20] I waited

[00:19:21] for the inevitable

[00:19:21] splash and rush

[00:19:23] of water

[00:19:23] over my head

[00:19:24] when a hand

[00:19:25] shot out

[00:19:25] and grabbed my arm.

[00:19:27] I looked back

[00:19:28] and saw Mr. Ali

[00:19:29] one arm grasping

[00:19:31] a wooden plank

[00:19:31] and the other

[00:19:32] holding my arm.

[00:19:33] His teeth

[00:19:34] clenched at the effort.

[00:19:35] The pain

[00:19:36] was horrible

[00:19:37] as my body

[00:19:38] was used

[00:19:38] as the battleground

[00:19:40] between the river

[00:19:40] and Mr. Ali.

[00:19:42] I ignored everything

[00:19:43] but focusing my thoughts

[00:19:45] on the staff.

[00:19:46] I looked for a solution

[00:19:48] any solution.

[00:19:50] The cane

[00:19:50] was getting hot enough

[00:19:51] that it started

[00:19:52] to burn my hands

[00:19:53] but I knew

[00:19:54] I would never

[00:19:54] lose my grip

[00:19:55] and suddenly

[00:19:56] it hit me.

[00:19:58] I may not be able

[00:19:59] to direct the river

[00:19:59] but perhaps

[00:20:01] I could hurt it.

[00:20:03] The power

[00:20:03] to control the river

[00:20:04] didn't exist.

[00:20:06] That I knew

[00:20:07] but the moment

[00:20:08] I considered

[00:20:09] whether the river

[00:20:10] could control

[00:20:10] or take the staff

[00:20:12] everything came together.

[00:20:14] Of course it couldn't.

[00:20:15] The idea was preposterous.

[00:20:17] I laughed

[00:20:19] as instinct took over.

[00:20:20] If the river

[00:20:21] wanted to fight

[00:20:22] I would fight.

[00:20:23] I needed to send

[00:20:24] a painful message

[00:20:25] and I knew

[00:20:26] the staff would deliver it.

[00:20:27] The water

[00:20:28] around the end

[00:20:29] of the cane

[00:20:29] turned jet black

[00:20:31] and the force

[00:20:32] pulling me forward

[00:20:33] suddenly let go.

[00:20:34] I hurtled back

[00:20:36] into Mr. Ali

[00:20:37] scattering us

[00:20:38] across the bottom

[00:20:39] of the boat.

[00:20:40] I pulled myself

[00:20:41] to my knees

[00:20:42] as Mr. Ali

[00:21:04] How else would it end?

[00:21:06] Mr. Ali's anger

[00:21:08] again arose.

[00:21:09] To think a child

[00:21:11] could command

[00:21:11] the Nar Maratum

[00:21:12] to do his whim.

[00:21:14] Mr. Ali

[00:21:15] stopped and looked

[00:21:16] at me

[00:21:17] and his face

[00:21:18] softened.

[00:21:19] His voice

[00:21:20] was calm

[00:21:21] as he continued.

[00:21:23] Tommy

[00:21:24] I apologize.

[00:21:25] This is my fault.

[00:21:27] I told you

[00:21:28] to learn more

[00:21:28] about the staff.

[00:21:30] He paused

[00:21:30] for a moment

[00:21:31] and then added

[00:21:33] but it is

[00:21:34] dangerous

[00:21:34] to attempt

[00:21:35] things you

[00:21:35] don't understand.

[00:21:36] In the future

[00:21:37] let me know

[00:21:38] what you would

[00:21:38] like to practice

[00:21:39] and I'll give you

[00:21:40] whatever advice

[00:21:41] I can.

[00:21:43] There were a mass

[00:21:44] of conflicting

[00:21:45] emotions in my head.

[00:21:46] He was right

[00:21:47] that I had

[00:21:48] attempted something

[00:21:49] I didn't understand.

[00:21:51] I knew that

[00:21:52] when I began

[00:21:52] but I also knew

[00:21:54] that if I didn't

[00:21:55] push myself

[00:21:55] I would never

[00:21:56] understand.

[00:21:57] I also trusted

[00:21:58] Mr. Ali

[00:21:59] his concern

[00:22:00] for me

[00:22:00] was always

[00:22:01] first and foremost

[00:22:02] but I was also

[00:22:03] disappointed

[00:22:04] that he still

[00:22:04] didn't seem

[00:22:05] to trust me

[00:22:05] even as he

[00:22:06] was telling

[00:22:07] me to trust

[00:22:07] myself.

[00:22:08] I glanced

[00:22:09] back at the river

[00:22:10] angry that I

[00:22:11] couldn't control

[00:22:12] it in the end

[00:22:12] and gasped.

[00:22:14] In the aftermath

[00:22:15] of my fight

[00:22:16] with the river

[00:22:16] Mr. Ali

[00:22:17] and I

[00:22:18] had failed

[00:22:18] to notice

[00:22:19] that we were

[00:22:19] no longer

[00:22:20] on it.

[00:22:20] The boat

[00:22:21] was slowly

[00:22:22] spinning

[00:22:22] in a circle

[00:22:23] on a small

[00:22:24] placid

[00:22:24] underwater lake.

[00:22:25] The light

[00:22:26] from my cane

[00:22:27] reflected off

[00:22:28] of stone walls

[00:22:29] around us.

[00:22:30] The sound

[00:22:31] and violence

[00:22:31] of the river

[00:22:32] was gone

[00:22:33] and we were

[00:22:34] surrounded

[00:22:34] by stillness

[00:22:35] and quiet.

[00:22:36] At the end

[00:22:37] of the cavern

[00:22:38] was a landing

[00:22:39] very similar

[00:22:39] to the one

[00:22:40] we left

[00:22:40] when we entered

[00:22:41] the boat.

[00:22:42] Our journey

[00:22:43] on the river

[00:22:43] has ended.

[00:22:44] The joy

[00:22:45] in Mr. Ali's

[00:22:46] voice was clear.

[00:22:48] I thought back

[00:22:48] to the respect

[00:22:49] if not fear

[00:22:50] that was in his

[00:22:51] voice when we

[00:22:52] first approached

[00:22:53] the river

[00:22:53] and realized

[00:22:54] that we could

[00:22:55] have been in

[00:22:56] for a much

[00:22:56] longer voyage.

[00:22:58] Mr. Ali

[00:22:59] leaned over

[00:23:00] the edge

[00:23:01] of the boat

[00:23:01] and started

[00:23:02] to row

[00:23:02] with his hands.

[00:23:04] I leaned

[00:23:05] over the other

[00:23:05] side

[00:23:06] and did the same.

[00:23:07] Where are we?

[00:23:09] I looked around

[00:23:10] but could see

[00:23:10] nothing more

[00:23:11] than a large

[00:23:12] pool of water

[00:23:13] surrounded by stone.

[00:23:14] We won't know

[00:23:15] until we leave

[00:23:16] this room.

[00:23:17] Look,

[00:23:17] there is our way

[00:23:18] out.

[00:23:18] He pointed forward

[00:23:19] with an arm

[00:23:20] wet to the shoulder.

[00:23:21] I looked ahead

[00:23:22] and saw iron

[00:23:23] footholds

[00:23:24] on the far

[00:23:25] wall

[00:23:25] rising up

[00:23:26] from the floor

[00:23:27] and extending

[00:23:28] all the way

[00:23:29] to the ceiling.

[00:23:30] The footholds

[00:23:32] became lost

[00:23:33] in a blot

[00:23:33] of darkness

[00:23:34] that could have

[00:23:35] been a hole

[00:23:35] or a shadow.

[00:23:37] Those look like

[00:23:38] the handholds

[00:23:39] that lead out

[00:23:39] of a sewer,

[00:23:40] I noted.

[00:23:41] Sewer,

[00:23:42] cistern,

[00:23:43] it could even

[00:23:43] be the exit

[00:23:44] from a cellar.

[00:23:45] The important

[00:23:46] thing to remember

[00:23:46] is that once

[00:23:47] we get out,

[00:23:48] we won't be able

[00:23:49] to get back,

[00:23:50] so whatever we face,

[00:23:51] retreat is not

[00:23:52] an option.

[00:23:53] The boat made

[00:23:54] good progress

[00:23:55] and it wasn't long

[00:23:56] before I heard

[00:23:57] a splash.

[00:23:58] As Mr. Ali

[00:23:59] jumped into the water

[00:24:00] to guide the boat in,

[00:24:01] the water came up

[00:24:02] to his waist,

[00:24:03] but it quickly fell

[00:24:04] to his thighs

[00:24:04] and then to his knees

[00:24:05] as he pulled the boat

[00:24:07] up the landing.

[00:24:08] With a bump,

[00:24:09] the boat came

[00:24:10] to a stop,

[00:24:11] its prow

[00:24:12] grinding against stone.

[00:24:14] Mr. Ali

[00:24:14] took a step toward me

[00:24:15] and held out his arms.

[00:24:17] No sense for both

[00:24:19] of us to get wet.

[00:24:20] I smiled.

[00:24:22] I jumped into his arms

[00:24:23] and he easily carried me

[00:24:24] the few steps

[00:24:25] to where it was dry.

[00:24:27] I thanked him

[00:24:28] and looked around.

[00:24:29] What now?

[00:24:30] I looked at the rungs

[00:24:31] leading up

[00:24:32] into the darkness.

[00:24:34] Mr. Ali

[00:24:35] followed my gaze

[00:24:36] to the darkness.

[00:24:37] The future awaits.