Darkness wrapped around Ian’s body, gripping him with its clammy grasp. Was it even really a body anymore? His flesh burned with fever and it felt like putrid liquid was coming out of every cell of his skin. In the few moments that Ian was awake he smelled horrible scents that had never touched his nose. He would fall into fitful sleep only to lurch awake again. Ian heard himself begging for help though the voice did not seem like his own. He vomited.
The worst part of “the cleansing” was that he lost his sight. Thankfully, Cadi was there, washing him and singing soft words that brought a touch of comfort to his otherwise miserable state. Ian was sure he was lying in a pile of broken glass instead of a bed. His skin burned and itched with a thousand unquenchable flames. Ian lost track of time but was momentarily relieved when the vomiting stopped. However, pain began to wrack his body that reached deep into his bones. He thought he might explode. He wished he would. Never before in his life had he wished for death, until now.
After what seemed like countless days, the pain diminished and Ian began to see visions in his mind of things he had done wrong or thoughts he’d had that he now realized were corrupt. Anger, malice and envy—they swirled around in his thoughts with an overlying sense that he lacked the ability to overcome them. Hundreds of things he had done wrong were made known to him during these dark hours—from the white lies he’d told his parents to the time he cheated at school on a test.
Above all, deep feelings of jealousy toward Reese consumed him like fire. He realized that he was sick and tired of feeling tenth best because he was the son of a servant. And with each new revelation of things he had done wrong a fresh wave of stinky slime oozed out of his skin, especially his hands and feet. He felt so sorry, so deeply sorry for even the smallest secret thought he harbored that was wrong.
Ian’s tongue swelled and stuck to the roof of his mouth, but after enormous effort he managed to utter his need for a drink. He was not sure if Cadi could even understand him but sure enough he felt his head gently lifted to receive a delicious, soothing drink. Ian was exceedingly grateful for the enormous dedication to kindness that this stranger was showing him.
Then, as if a miracle had kissed him, sleep overtook him. Dreamless, wonderful slumber glided over his being. He knew that he had been released somehow; he had been granted freedom, and with this freedom a peace that brought a delightful rest remained.
***
When Ian finally awoke it was as if it was the first time he had ever experienced a new dawn. When he opened his eyes he was startled at what he found. It had not seemed possible that he could see more clearly than he had when he’d first come to Mag Mell, but here he was and it was happening to him. It was if he was renewed.
Carefully he swung his legs down to touch the floor and felt a stinging sensation on the bottom of his feet. Ian thought it felt like he had brand new skin. The feeling was a bit over stimulating and he lifted his feet a couple of inches above the floor while trying to orientate himself.
The vision he’d had before today reminded him of looking through dirty sunglasses on a misty day. Now everything was perfectly clear and luminescent. It was even more amazing than when they had first come through the cairn however many days ago that had been. He wondered to himself how long it had been since they had entered this world that was still so unknown to him. In what sounded unusually close to his fantastic new ears, Ian heard whispered voices in the next room. It was Chwillen and Brawd, and they were discussing him.
“I heard he’ll be back with us by nightfall. Is that right?” Brawd asked.
“Yes, I think we still have some time before he awakens. Take a look at this. I expected some of this, but I had no idea how deeply he was affected,” Chwillen sounded heartbroken as he spoke.
“Hmmm, doesn’t look that unreasonable to me. Libby had a good share too, didn’t she?”
“Brother, this is just what was purged from day one and two. I’ve never seen anything like this. Come, I’ll show you the rest. Cadi is gone preparing the other room so we may move him before he wakes,” Chwillen responded.
Ian heard the light scampering sound of the feet of the newid as they came towards the doorway to where he sat waiting for them. Upon entering the room they both let out a startled sound when they saw that he was awake and sitting erect. Ian attempted to stand.
“Son, son, wait. You’re not ready to try out those new legs quite yet,” Chwillen said as the brothers rushed upon him.
“It’s okay, Ian. Everything’s alright,” Brawd said soothingly to him.
Ian was annoyed that they were placating him like a baby and wondered why they were acting this way. That was before he followed the glances they were trying to sneak over his shoulder.
Following their gaze he took in a sight that he would remember the rest of his days. What lay behind him was the most startling thing he could have imagined. A shriek formed in his mouth but got stuck at the back of his throat when he saw it: a perfect cocoon. An Ian replica lay behind him on the bed, and precisely down the center was an open slit from where he had apparently emerged. The realization of what it meant hit him, and a gasp of breath rattled him to his core. Chwillen was saying something he meant to be comforting, but Ian’s new ears were no longer taking the words in.
Then everything went blank again.
***
“Ian. Ian. Wake up.” It was Libby talking.
Though he was awake, he decided to pretend he was still sleeping so he would not have to respond to her. Like usual, though, she was not to be fooled.
“Ian, isn’t it wonderful?” she beamed.
With a jolt, he remembered. Ian jumped up, feeling a sudden need to escape the room and run for his very life back to Winter Haven Manor. There had to be a way back home—to his home, to his parents, to his bed, to his very own body! No, it wasn’t wonderful and he wanted to shout. He had just seen his discarded body lying there like an empty shell.
Etaina flitted over to him and placed her tiny, warm hand on his back. She began uttering words that sounded again like the ancient language that Marabah had sung over him. With each word, peace washed over him in waves and he stood, frozen.
“Chwillen, Ian is back with us.” This time it was Cadi who spoke.
Libby got up and whispered to Ian, “We have been waiting for you to come around. I’m so glad you’re alright.”
Chwillen flew in rapidly. It was then that Ian comprehended that he was in a different room then he had been the last time he saw Chwillen. It was much larger than the other and had many openings up high in the wall to let light in. Yet, once again in newid fashion, it was in the shape of a circle. There were several seats along the walls and the bed was much larger and covered in fine cloth, unlike the one he had risen in last. A brilliant, crackling blue fire was in the center of the room.
“Ah, my boy, back in the land of the living once more I see. You gave us quite a shock, well, waking up so early and then leaving us again for two full days,” Chwillen said with a massive grin on his beetle-face.
Ian’s lips tried to form a sound but were frozen in the shape of an “o.”
“Ian, should I change to Mr. McBee? Would that make you more comfortable?”
Ian was able to shake his head in a simple yes. He then turned his head away so he would miss the transformation process. It only took a split second.
“There. How’s that? Are you well, son?”
“Y . . . Yes,” Ian whispered. “May I please have something to drink?”
Cadi brought in that same delicious drink that tasted like liquid sunshine. After gulping it down Ian was instantly revived. Then, remembering what he had last seen that had frightened him so, he searched around the room with his eyes, dreading a view of the Ian-cocoon. Thankfully, there was nothing to be found.
“Can you walk?” Chwillen asked.
Ian gave a quick nod.
“Let’s join the others then, shall we? We will share the welcome cup, and I am sure you must be hungry, my friend.”
Supported on each side by Libby and his old teacher, Ian shakily took his first few steps. With each stride he felt his strength returning and by the time he reached what he knew must be Chwillen’s living room, he felt perfectly fit.
It was lavish living quarters—fit for a king. It was obvious with the deep ochre and mocha colors, beautifully intricate woven tapestries and furnishings, that Chwillen was a man of importance among the newids. Ian smiled at the shape of the room and its matching furnishings that took on this same circular design. The furnishings appeared to be hand carved by a master artisan. Before he could take it all in, Brawd was up on his feet and slapping him heartily on the back.
Reese sat in the finest chair in the room and smiled a bit as he spoke: “Finally, I thought you were a goner for sure. Seven days to cleanse. Hmmm, I think that is some sort of a record.”
As if on que, a line of lovely ladybugs arrived carrying trays laden with what Ian assumed was food. On the platters were bright, colorful offerings unlike any earthly food he had ever seen. One server zipped around the room handing out large, sturdy leaves which Ian took to be plates based on the fact that Libby was receiving offerings of the bright food items onto it. He did the same and instantly drank from a cup filled once again with the sweet nectar drink.
Brawd took a particularly large chalice and hoisted it up in the air, slopping the sweet juice over the side. “And so it begins, my dear friends.”
Ian watched as each one in the room lifted their container in response and said in unison, “So it begins.” Clearly they had dined together in his absence.
The dinner was fantastic, to put it lightly. Never had such rich delicacies entered his stomach. After the first few bites he stopped trying to compare it to anything he had eaten before because he just could not. With each mouthful Ian felt strengthened even beyond his old self. He could not wipe the smile off his face when he stuffed his mouth with a large yellow item with the consistency of a marshmallow that tasted savory instead of sweet like he had expected.
During the entire meal, a female bug quite like a cricket serenaded them with music that came from her abdomen. It was a bit weird for Ian to see her rubbing her arms over her legs and her stomach, moving in the rhythm of the music. He tried to keep his sight diverted and to enjoy the sweet notes of the lyre. The music was happy, but it filled him with a desire for more of something. It was the same feeling as when Mr. McBee had played for him and Reese in the classroom back at Winter Haven.
After several moments of eating, chatting and drinking in the rich music, Brawd cleared his throat. The silence was immediate.
“Now that we have all assembled,” Brawd paused, turned to Ian and said very softly, “Sorry we didn’t remove the . . . the a . . . ”
Seeing that Brawd was at a loss of words and wanting not to bring up the unpleasant memory for Ian, Chwillen spoke up. “Ian, Libby, Reese, the time has come for us to share with you a bit more about why you three are here and to try to answer some of the questions you must have.”
“Yes, since we have all been sitting around wasting time,” Reese snorted, eyeing Ian. “I’d like to find out what this is about and get out of this confounded place and back to my estate as quickly as possible,” he added in a voice that he had heard his father use.
Chwillen gazed stiffly at Reese and, for the first time since the bug man had entered their lives, he responded with a firm quiet voice saying, “You will remember your place young man.”
Reese looked offended but was quiet all the same.