Allan Westerfield: Off-World by Anderson Atlas

Author:Anderson Atlas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, fantasy, young adult, steam punk, middle grade, pendragon, parapalegic, alice and wonderland

“Hey Baroon. Come get me.” Allan yells.

The Lithic Fury Baroon turns its massive head to the side and considers Allan. It opens its long, wide mouth and thrusts toward Allan. Allan waits for only a moment. The mouth comes at him, fast. He’s only got a second, only one chance to do this right. No hesitation. Allan whirls the looped end of the rope like a lasso, holding onto the other end tightly.

The loop lands perfectly around the Baroon’s tooth. Just before Allan is snapped up he jumps. The rope tightens, which cinches the loop tight around the tooth. Allan swings through the air. The Baroon turns just as its tooth snaps off. Allan falls, but his metal legs absorb the weight when he lands on his feet. He tugs on the rope and pulls the tooth toward him. He snatches the heavy stone tooth off the dusty ground and holds it tight to his chest. There is an impression inside the rock-tooth that holds the key. The key is rusty and old, has long crooked teeth and has the letter ‘J’ cut out of the round handle.

Allan pockets the key as the stones all around him start to move. The sand under his feet rises. He’s hoisted in the air on a large arching stone. Allan slides down. When he lands on the dirt he runs. Rocks fall all around him. One hits his shoulder, knocking him down. Dust clouds his vision and makes him choke, but he runs faster. He sees sparks, shooting like miniature fireworks, popping from the gears of his mechanical knees.

He finally reaches the end of the dusty field of rocks. The hundreds of Lithic Furies should be chasing him. They might be slow to think, but they were quick in their attack. However, none of the towering rock creatures pursue Allan. They must know they cannot keep up with him so they stand and stare, defeated. The rock towers collapse one brick at a time. They’ve given up. Are they dying? Can a rock thing ever really die? Do they feel the defeat? Were they around before keeping the key or created solely to be guards? As the cloud of dust gets larger and comes toward Allan, he turns and runs. Allan feels a twinge of guilt and sadness.

Is it worth it? If Mizzi’s plan works Jibbawk will be gone for good. A lot of people will be saved. It has to be worth it. The survivors that live in Lan Darr will surely think so.

All Allan has to do now is get the key to Mizzi, and then he can go home. He runs for the pure pleasure of the wind in his face, which spreads joy throughout his body. He circles around the Lithic Fury territory and heads back toward the mushroom forest, hoping he’s heading in the right direction. There are more ruins out here, remnants of a much smaller town. The trees are crispy and burnt and the stones are black marked and crumbling.

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