The Binkle and the Catawampus Compass (Binkles and Magic) by Faith [fantasy] Lynella Read Free Book Online

met and I knew—just knew “She’s The One.” And apparently that was precisely when you knew, too. Your love’s the bright spot of my life . Our three years together were the happiest I’ve known—that is, until you came here.
    Now ¼ Don’t go there , he reminded himself. Don’t even think about going there. But he couldn’t stop remembering back—to the good times.
    Chris was fed up with the doctors—irritated, actually. He hated the unemotional way they spoke of Helen’s illness or their predictions about her recovery (“not to be expected”). In the beginning they implied they’d be able to make her better—and then they didn’t. As far as I can tell you’re no better than when you came here. They’re just not trying hard enough.
    The medical experts treating her used technical terms like “catatonia” or “schizophrenia” that really didn’t explain anything. Even though her illness came on quickly they implied there must have been signs—if anybody had been noticing.
    Well—there hadn’t been any. None at all! And until the awful night Helen broke down, neither of us saw it coming. I can’t put much trust in doctors or their scientific mumbo-jumbo. They haven’t fixed you, and it looks like they never will.
    Although Chris started out every visit determined to stay cheerful, it was nearly impossible to keep it up. Before long his tortured feelings would bubble up.
    “I miss you so much. I’d give anything if¼” Once such heart-wrenching emotions spilled out, his self-control deserted him. He had to go right away.
    He kissed his wife goodbye before rushing from her room with tears glistening in his eyes. His visits to her took all the stuffing out of him.
    Sadly, Chris never told Jeep any of this. So the man and the boy each suffered their cheerless grief alone.
     

Chapter 5—
    INSIDE THE CHAMBER OF ANCIENT WISDOM
    When Jeep could walk easily without pain, Grikkl asked, “Ready for an adventure?”
    “Sure, but aren’t I having one already?”
    “Just you wait, Laddie, just you wait... Let’s get going.”
    Grikkl handed the boy one of his heavy woolen robes. The arms were long enough, but it was cut so short it fit Jeep rather like a jacket. Wow! That’s right. I’m a kid but already a lot bigger than Grikkl is .
    Once they got bundled up, Grikkl walked up to a cavern wall. With a flip of his wrist he pulled back a bright tapestry. Jeep saw a door cut into the otherwise unbroken rock—with nothing but a large keyhole on its rough-hewn surface. Grikkl inserted the heavy key that dangled from the golden chain around his neck. The door quietly swung open away from them. Ahead Jeep could see nothing but darkness.
    Cerberus leaped eagerly into the opening. Adah handed a lighted lantern to Jeep and another to Grikkl. After they stepped into the passageway she closed the door behind them with a solid thunk.
    They walked single file—first Cerberus, then Grikkl, then Jeep. The ceiling of the tunnel was high enough for Jeep to walk without having to squat down. The narrow tunnel twisted at odd angles sometimes going up and sometimes going down—shifting direction for no apparent reason. Jeep stumbled over the uneven footing and twisted his ankle more than once. However, Grikkl didn’t have any difficulty and bounced along barely touching the ground. Jeep notice there wasn’t any of the kittens cracking by Grikkl, either.
    Cerberus impatiently led the way, as he repeatedly ran ahead and returned to them before running off again. Jeep’s mood echoed the dog’s high-spirited eagerness . I can’t wait to get there, even though I don’t know where we’re going.
    Although the tunnel was cut through solid rock, in some places the ceiling was shored up with heavy timbers. Tiny rivulets leaked down the rocky walls here and there. Jeep dodged drips from overhead, and a few times he needed to leap across places where water had puddled.
    Every so often Jeep saw unfamiliar letters painted