Whistlestop by Karl J. Morgan

arrival with Karl and thought we might rescue you from his
clutches.”
    “ He seemed okay to me. He
said he was going to teach me folding.”
    “ The largest serpent is
very warm and its flicking tongue tickles, but you must never
forget its fangs and venom.”
    “ You think he meant me
harm?”
    The abbot and monks began to laugh.
When he could catch his breath, the abbot said, “He destroyed this
planet and many others, Jeremy. He sent men to kill my dearest
friend, your grandfather, Mordechai Davis Iron-heart. Of course, he
meant to kill or imprison you.”
    “ He said his predecessor
did all of that.”
    “ Jeremy, Karl August
Galantine Armstrong has been the Emperor of Axis for ten thousand
years. He said what he needed to say to bring you here and make you
believe his tale.”
    “ Can you send me home,
Abbot?”
    “ I’m sorry to be the one to
tell you, but your home has been destroyed. One hundred creatures
like those you saw guarding the emperor attempted to kill or
capture your family. The elf rescued them and detonated the house
to destroy the monsters. He took them to a safe place; at least it
is safe for now. We will take you to our temple, where you can rest
and be truly safe from the empire. I will personally teach you
everything you need to know.”
    “ Where exactly is this
temple, Abbot?”
    “ On the highest peak of the
Mountains of Light,” the abbot replied as he motioned toward the
mountains behind him.
    “ Wow that seems pretty far
away from here. How did you manage to arrive here at the exact
time? I was still in my bed when you must have left
there.”
    “ Reality is not as ordinary
as you may presume, young knight.” The abbot walked over to the
obelisk and looked up at it. “I suppose the dear emperor told you
he placed this memorial in honor of the knights who died
here.”
    “ That was another lie,
right?”
    “ The Starlight Obelisk is a
gift from God, young knight. This obelisk and others like it have
stood in the cities and villages of the Knights of Winterpast
forever. It is written that these stones predate the rise of
civilization on the planet. The villages grew up around them. They
began as a symbol of our faith. It was generations before their
real purpose was discovered. I suppose you’d like to know that
purpose, right?”
    “ It would seem I have no
choice, so please do tell.”
    The abbot frowned at him and replied,
“The obelisks connect all of the realms of the universe. They are
the source of the power the emperor calls folding. They connect
this world to the realm of angels, the realm of demons, and every
other realm that exists. If you learn the skill of folding, the
measure of your success will be the intensity of your faith. I know
this is all new to you, young knight. But if you touch the obelisk,
you will be transported to the Temple of Light. Follow us, if you
wish to learn more.”
    “ How do I know you are
telling the truth? What will you do to me if I don’t touch the
obelisk?”
    The abbot grinned. “Well, I suppose if
you wait here alone long enough, either the emperor will come back
for you, or you will starve or die of thirst. If you’re lucky, you
can walk the fifty miles to the mountains and cross a low pass and
arrive in the Valley of Thrace. It is up to you to decide.” He
clapped Jerry on the shoulder and walked up to the obelisk, reached
out his right hand and touched it. He disappeared in a flash of
light. As Jerry stood in shock, each of the monks walked up and
shook his hand, then touched the stone and disappeared as
well.
    Within a few minutes, Jerry was
standing alone on the grassy hill, glancing at the stone and the
crumbled village around him. The temperature was rising and a large
sandstorm appeared from the west. He heard a slight squeak in his
right ear. He focused on the noise and it became louder and louder
until he could hear Jeremiah’s voice say, “Get over there and touch
the damned stone, you stubborn bastard.” He