Hello friends,

I’m trying not to be too bummed about missing yesterday’s prompt for #JusJoJan24, but I did leave a comment on Linda’s blog. We had atrocious internet service all day and had to go to town just to make a phone call or send a text. The problem was resolved late yesterday afternoon, but by then I was knee deep in making dinner.
So, here I am today, making the most of Linda’s #SoCS prompt , make the call. I think we left our would-be heroes sitting in an upstairs room in 1800’s Vatican City, puzzling over their encounter with the ‘odd squad’ of soldiers enlisted by the Pope.

”So, let me get this straight,” Dechlan asked their new friend. “There are endless options for leaping through these elusive portals, and not only do they lead to other timelines, they also…” Noni cut in and finished it for him.
“They also lead to alternate realities.” She looked at Parsec, wide-eyed. “That is what you’re saying isn’t it?” They were both incredulous, wondering when things were going to somehow even out so they could get a grasp on how to move forward. Or backward or across, as it were.

Parsec tried to offer a quick explanation, knowing they had to make a decision or die while they tried to figure things out. “Those men, the soldiers, all came from different realms. One made a leap from a dream version of Earth, where anything goes. Another came from my own realm, although he doesn’t know me from there. The last, well, I think you recognized him from your own First Earth history. He may be the worst one of them. Such rigid, ancient desires and a ruthless ego that is unbending.”

“Okay,” Dech said, “ but I still don’t know where we are , right here and now.”
Parsec ran his hand across his face and took a deep breath.

“This, my unfortunate friends, is a stop within the Devil’s Playground.” When they looked at him with confused expressions, he added, “This is where all the madmen come to play, to act out their deepest desires. Some may be as simple as being a doctor in Medieval Italy.” He nodded towards the door. “Others want to express their rage and need to control in a place without consequence.”
“Your pope?” Noni offered, and Parsec shrugged.
“Him… among others.” He leaned in closer. “But many just get sucked in because they don’t know how the system works, good people like the two of you. Most of those come from First Earth. Your world is so… impulsive.”

“We prefer to think we are spontaneous and adventurous,” Dech tried to defend. “But the tickets came with no instructions”

“So you hated your lives so much you would dive off a blind cliff, not knowing where you’d end up?” Parsec asked, incredulous.

Dech and Noni looked ateach other and shrugged, nodding at their knew friend.
“Yeah,” they both answered at once.

A broad grin spread across Parsec’s face and he put his arms around them, pulling them into a huddle. “Well then, let’s get you out of this perilous situation and find a portal where you can leap to somewhere you want to be. Or…” he stood up and shrugged. “We can likely send you back to First Earth in the exact moment you made your leap” He held out his hands.

“But, I leave it up to you two. You have to make the call.”

to be continued…

Copyright Cheryl Pennington 2024

Oh, I thought you ‘foodies’ among us might like to see how the gumbo turned out. Chicken and smoked sausage. Potato Salad, and yes, Louisiana style it gets plopped right in the middle. It is traditional to have rice, but we preferred to keep it simple. Oh, and that’s cornbread cake in the background. New recipe but a keeper. Happy Saturday everyone. 🙂