Page 17 of Captured on Film
“Not far.” Caleb waved a hand. “Alongside the river.”
“Really? I was all through this area. Never saw a thing.”
Caleb offered a rambling description of the movement offigments, ending with the disappearance of the doe. To his own ears, it soundedimplausible, but his brother’s eyes took on a shine.
“Didn’t you follow?” Josheb demanded.
“Isn’t that your job?”
“Every time. So how much farther?”
Caleb waved at the low column. “We’re here.”
“Where?”
Edging closer to the relic, he pointed, his finger mereinches from its surface. “This. Here. Is it invisible?”
“Not exactly.” Josheb narrowed his eyes. “I see a shrub.”
“Give me your hand.”
Switching Nessie’s leash to his other hand, Josheb grabbedhold. “Still shrubbery,” he reported.
Caleb was confused enough to reach for the plinth, which wasreassuringly solid under his hand—cool, rough, and responsive. It thrummed,almost like a purring cat. Grabbing Josheb’s wrist, he pulled his brother intocontact.
“Whoa. I see a shrub, but I’m touching stone. This isbrain-breaking. Possibly also breaking news.” Josheb passed along the leash andexplored the column, eyes shut. “Talk about effective camouflage. Is it thesame as the one you took pictures of before?”
“Almost exactly. The color of the crystal is different, butit has the same glowing lines.”
“Is it just me, or is there a wall here?”
“Is there?” Caleb couldn’t see one, but when he reached forthe area Josheb was pushing against, his hand passed through something odd. Therewas definitely some resistance. It clung strangely to his skin, so he quickly pulledback. But not before Josheb noticed the difference in their rate of success.
“Mystical barrier, confirmed. So who put it here?”
Caleb supposed that was the big question. “Can’t be the figments.”
“Maybe all those itty-bitty figments have bigger, badderbuddies.” Josheb shot him a gleeful look. “Hey, maybe …!”
“Please, don’t say aliens.”
Josheb grinned. “I’m not saying it out loud, but I’m prettysure this isn’t our technology.”
“What about magic?”
“And you’re a wizard?” teased Josheb.
“How else are we going to explain this?”
“For starters, we need more facts. Is there a way pastthis?”
“Haven’t tired.” Caleb was already cringing, because he knewwhat his brother was about to say.
Josheb met every expectation with one word. “Try!”
You First
“What do you think?” Caleb asked Nessie.
