Danny was hauled to his feet by Mr. Jetson. "Keep running, Daniel!" roared the old man. Danny kept running as fast as his nine-year-old legs could carry him. Mr. Jetson was tall and despite his advanced age, could outpace both Danny and their pursuers.
Pursuers who could not be seen, only heard. Danny could hear the screams of their countless victims, including Sam and Veil and Mr. Gardner and the other friendly workers of Industry. Danny was terrified of the invisible Netters, but the lanky reassuring sight of Mr. Jetson and the thought of being reunited with his sister spurred Danny on.
Dodging, ducking, crawling. Mr. Jetson led Danny through the ruins of the Factory. Pulling levers, repairing moving platforms and the like, Mr. Jetson helped the little boy put distance between themselves and the Netters.
The duo retreated further into the Factory, bypassing it's many basements. Soon they reached it's deepest sub-level. The giant Plant that used to power both the Factory and the troubled city of Kin. Mr. Jetson lifted a panel and beckoned to Danny to crawl in. Danny emerged on the other side and gasped.
Like the gigantic Plant, it's insides were just as big. The gears and turbines rivalled Kin's lost Hotel. Covered in rust and growths, the silent parts were unsettling. Mr. Jetson laid a hand on Danny's shoulder and whispered, "See, the only way out of Kin is to cross the Plant and go out the other side. It's big, it's cluttered with unused parts. I'll get you to your sister soon Daniel." Danny nodded, exhausted. With a huff, Mr. Jetson lifted the boy and hurried down the Plant.
Danny was unclear as to how long Mr. Jetson carried him while crossing the Plant. Through his tired senses, Danny witnessed Mr. Jetson's never-flagging efforts to see him home. With his small toolbox, he whirred long-dead machines to life to make their crossing easier or faster. He activated the Up and Down switches to get them up unreachable heights or life-threatening drops. He jumped from tooth to tooth of massive gears. But yet Danny could hear Mr. Jetson's panting, his ramrod straight posture sagging, his eyes turning unfocused. He was tiring.
They were at the edge of a long and tall platform. Looking out, Danny could only see never ending darkness. Even Mr. Jetson's torchlight hardly revealed what was ahead but more darkness. Mr. Jetson nodded. "This is it, Daniel. The way back to your home." Danny looked at Mr. Jetson, confused. The old man pointed into the darkness, saying, "Believe me Daniel. This is the way back to your home and home to many others. Kin is not a place you want to linger much longer." At this Mr. Jetson smiled gently. "Do you trust me Daniel?" Danny nodded slowly. Then he heard the screaming of the Netters.
Mr. Jetson positioned Danny right at the edge of the platform. The old man retreated to a switch. It looked like an Up and Down switch, but the arrow pointed towards the darkness. Mr. Jetson called, "Ready Daniel?" Danny shouted, "Ready Mr. Jetson! Let's get out of Kin!" But Mr. Jetson shocked Danny by shaking his head. The old man sadly said, "No Daniel. This switch must be held at 'on'. I cannot return." Danny protested, "But you can fix anything! Solve any problem! You can come with me!" Mr. Jetson shook his head more vigorously. He shouted, "Farewell Daniel! Don't worry I'll follow behind!" Before Danny could say anything more, Mr. Jetson pulled down the switch.
As the crying boy disappeared into the darkness, Mr. Jetson smiled and murmured, "I have succeeded. I can return at last." In a blast of light, the old man vanished just as the first Netters invisible feet plodded on the platform.
Danny realised he was home. He saw the cottage and the treehouse he and Annie shared. Annie! Danny searched frantically. There! His little sister was picking flowers while their mother watched from the porch. He ran towards her, shouting her name. Annie looked up but her expression brightened Danny's mood. Danny stretched out to hug his sister.
And passed through his little sister. Stumbling, Danny turned, horrified. He tentatively reached out to feel his sister's blond hair. Danny felt nothing. He grabbed at her hair frantically. He could not find purchase. "No..." sobbed Danny. To come all this way, and some evil magic did not allow him to be reunited with his sister! He watched, tears flowing as Annie gathered her flowers and joined her mother. Danny followed, still attempting to call out to his mother and Annie. They reached the back of the cottage and Danny stopped, dumbstruck at the sight of what lay behind the cottage.
A gravestone. On the gravestone read
Daniel Anthony Masterson
1923-1932
Young you shall forever be
"It's time to go home Daniel." murmured a voice behind Danny. The distraught boy turned and saw Mr. Jetson smiling his reassuring smile at him. "Mr. Jetson. I t-thought the Netters got to you." Mr. Jetson shook his head and said, "I was never in danger. It was my job to get people like you home."
"But I am home." sobbed Danny.
"Your home is not here anymore. You know where we're going." replied the old man.
Danny took hold of Mr. Jetson's hand, not noticing he could grasp him. Together the two retreated far away from Annie laying her freshly-picked flowers on Danny's grave.
Danny tiredly asked his guide to the afterlife, "Where are we going?"
Mr. Jetson calmly said, "Heaven. It's where you should be after being trapped in limbo."
No comments:
Post a Comment