Merisuwyniel ran through the subway cars to the back of the train, ruthlessly tearing the connecting doors apart, since the automatic openers were not fast enough for her. The others, realizing that something had happened, though not all knew what, followed, with Halfullion immediately behind the Elf and Vogonwë at the end, being pulled by Pimpiowyn. Merisuwyniel reached the last door together with Halfullion, who (secretly pleased about having an opportunity to demonstrate his strength and importance for their mission) broke it open with sheer brute force.
Without hesitating, Merisuwyniel jumped, landing lightly and gracefully. She ran back toward Chrysophylax while the others were struggling to their feet – except for Vogonwë, who had executed a double somersault, throwing in a cartwheel for good measure before catching Pimpi. No one saw how Pettygast had managed to persuade his donkey to jump, but the two of them were even ahead of the noble steeds, who followed their masters and mistress. Soon they had reached the prostrate Dragon and the concerned Dwarf.
The pale pink light of the Wizard’s staff was reflected most eerily by the myriad moving mice. The company stood spellbound, aghast at the sight of the metallic menace approaching from all sides. Swords were of no avail here, even Etceteron recognized. What were they to do?
Merisuwyniel felt more than heard a humming behind her back. Sing! the Bow urged. And sing she did, the melody rising ever higher, climbing sheer precipices and lifting the hearts of those who heard it with its beauty. The heroes took courage hearing those notes, Chrysophylax lifted his head and arose, Kuruharan felt an emotion that had nothing to do with profit, and Pimpiowyn forgot all thoughts of food. The light of Pettygast’s staff grew clear and strong, reflecting in all colours of the rainbow from Orogarn Two’s crystal, brilliant sparks of light that blinded the miniature foes surrounding them.
The sound grew louder and louder; suddenly, they realized that it was not merely the echoes of the Elven melody that they heard, but the resonating of metal, like unto the vibrating of a thousand tuning forks. The walls began to shake, the ground rumbled, and after a moment of petrified motionlessness, the Questers and their creature companions dashed back toward the centre of the labyrinthine tunnels from whence they had come.
They escaped just in time; the ceiling of the tunnel behind them crashed, burying the ruffian rodents under tons of rubble.
“Now what?” Pimpi, practical as always, was the first to ask. “Is there another way to this Shepherd’s Bush we are trying to find?”
“Seek for the map that was posted,” Pettygast proclaimed.
“What do you mean by that?” Halfullion demanded.
“I do not know – I can only say what I divine, the interpretation is up to you,” the Wizard answered.
Baklava neighed suddenly, and Tofu spoke up: “There was a map near the entrance, says my equine colleague. Let us seek it and hope to find help there.”
“Stay on the left track,” warned Merisuwyniel. “No trains can come from that direction anymore.”
“You mean the right track, dear,” Halfullion admonished. “Traffic comes from that side here.”
“Whatever,” said Orogarn Two. “Let’s just get moving!”
Baklava led the way proudly, and soon they stood in front of a plan with brightly coloured lines. Whither should they go?
[ January 27, 2003: Message edited by: Estelyn Telcontar ]
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth.. .'
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