Alicia hesitated only a moment before jogging after the gray creature. It wouldn’t do to lose sight of the only thing that knew its way around this bleak landscape. The creature became harder to spot, a gray blur in the silvery, grassy field through which they ran. She slowed her pace as they approached one of the white trees. She noticed two dark, beautifully carved inscriptions on the trunk: Autarxxx and Anarxxx. “What is this?”
“A tree,” stated the gray creature. In a firm tone, it declared, “A tree is very important.”
“I should think that all trees are important.” She ran her forefinger across the x’s in Anarxxx.
“Yes, they are, but not equally. B tree is more important than A tree, even though both have vital keys.”
“I’m sorry, what? You have bees? I hate bees!” Alicia was alarmed at this news.
“Child, don’t babble. B tree has keys, not bees. A tree had keys…well, both trees had keys, but no longer.”
“What does a tree need with keys?” Alicia sensed that she was missing something.
“You really should learn to listen carefully. A tree had two keys. B tree had many keys.” The gray creature was becoming quite annoyed with having to repeat itself.
Alicia snorted derisively, “I’ll listen carefully if and only if you start to make sense!”
“Oh, dear. Now I’ve upset you. You have made a valid point. I shall explain, but we really must be going.”
The gray creature set off at a rapid pace. As they ran, the gray creature enlightened Alicia:
“A tree reminds us of the extremes of governance. B tree reminds us that moderate governance is ideal. Self-governance and no governance have the same end result: no work gets done. With moderate governance and good rulers, much work can be done.
“Good rulers make good decisions. Good decisions are wise choices. Wise choices are always right. Keys turn either left or right.”
At this point, the gray creature bore left, toward another solitary tree. Just beyond the tree lay a cluster of nondescript buildings. Alicia’s feet shifted gears easily. Mentally, she was totally flummoxed. This business of rulers, trees and keys made sense only as each bit was spoken. She was about to question the gray creature regarding the preposterous conclusion to which it was alluding, but it resumed its monologue:
“Our rulers are in exile. The substitute rulers are not particularly good. However, the Gates are always open and they do have an impressive lobby. It is just unfortunate that they don’t use keys.”
Her bafflement complete, Alicia could stand it no longer. She blurted out, “Why are the gates always open? Are they broken? Isn’t there anyone who can repair them so that the keys will fit?”
The gray creature skidded to a halt next to the tree and turned to peer up at Alicia. “My, you are a curious creature.”
Alicia, taken aback, stopped abruptly and retorted contentiously, “I could say the same thing about you!”
The gray creature, unperturbed, responded, “Me, curious? I’ve only asked nine questions of you, including that one. You’ve uttered a baker’s dozen, three in rapid succession! That’s curious, don’t you think?”
“Certainly not, as I have no idea who you are, where I am or what I’m supposed to be rescuing.” To punctuate her points, Alicia stamped her foot. With each stomp, the poor gray creature bounced into the air.
“Control yourself, please!” The gray creature squeaked piteously. “I will satisfy your curiosity. Only, stop clomping! You are making me ill and you’re likely to hurt the roots of B tree.” It stood between Alicia and the tree, a valiant but inadequate shield.
The gray creature took several deep, calming breaths. Alicia, on the other hand, continued to huff and puff, simultaneously miffed and out-of-breath. Finally, she sighed in exasperation and stomped closer to the tree, which was much larger than the first tree. “Where are the keys, then?”
“The Evil Editor took them. Now, follow me!”
***
Two minutes and another left turn to skirt the buildings, they arrived at the edge of a dense thicket. Alicia was winded, but still managed to gasp, “Surely, you don’t have a name for each of these trees?”
The gray creature raised a dark gray eyebrow archly. “Of course, we do! This is the Nevergreen Forest, home of Sarah and Harris Gate. Follow me!”
Alicia trudged into the dark woods. She thought of Hansel, Gretel and breadcrumbs. In the next moment, she laughed aloud and muttered, “A trail of crumbs will do me no good. I still would be lost!”
Just then, a tiny hut appeared in a clearing. It looked inviting—the bright white glow from the windows held the claustrophobic darkness of the woods at bay. Alicia looked down at her traveling companion.
“Go on, then,” urged the gray creature. “I’ll be returning home.” Without waiting for a response, it retraced its path and disappeared.
Alicia walked timidly toward the hut. She had just reached the door and was about to knock when it flew open. A heavyset, cheerful lady stepped outside. She clasped Alicia’s outstretched hand, pulled her toward the threshold and exclaimed, “Welcome! I am Sarah Gate. Won’t you come in? I’ve baked a pie.”
Alicia allowed herself to be led into the hut. And what an interior! The gray creature hadn’t been exaggerating, for the lobby was magnificent. An enormous chandelier was the centerpiece of this grand entrance. A dozen creatures in white tuxedoes scurried to and fro, entering and leaving through as many doors all around the perimeter. The floor was highly polished, its composition concealed by the reflection of the lights from the chandelier and other fixtures.
Sarah Gate gave Alicia a moment to collect herself. She smiled brightly and gently patted her on the arm. She gestured towards one of the doors on the left. “Come meet my husband.”
They passed through a steel and glass door between two decorative vases. A thin man sat at an impossibly grand wooden desk. Alicia took note of the heavy black drapes, the thick, white carpet and the half-height dark paneling covering the walls. The man stood up.
“Welcome to Chez Nevergreen!” He laughed uproariously, taking delight in Alicia’s widening eyes. “I’m Harris Gate. Pay me no mind, I kid a lot.”
“Hi.” Alicia felt small. The opulence of the hut didn’t match the cheerful demeanor of this big woman and her jocular husband. All thought fled from her mind as she glanced nervously between the two.
“Don’t be frightened,” soothed Sarah Gate. “We are glad to see you. Are you going to rescue us?”
“Erm …” Alicia felt ridiculous.
Harris stepped into the silence. “The Evil Editor has taken the keys and exiled our rulers. We have been waiting for a puzzle master to find one of our desperate clues and follow it to the Gateway.” Despite the apparent gravity of the statement, Harris delivered it with a huge, sheepish grin. He chuckled, “I named it that myself, on account of we’re the Gates.”
“Um, yes.” Alicia stumbled over her words. She wanted to tell them that she knew all about the Gateway, the cryptogram and the B tree. Instead, what came out was, “Okay, I guess.”
Sarah Gate beamed.
“Excellent! I’ll send for some pie, and you get started with Harris.”
Part 3: Terrain of Error
