The Search for Gram by Chris Kennedy Read Free Book Online

shut with barely a whisper.
    “I don’t know about you,” said Night, “but I sure liked it better when our way out was open.”
    “Yeah, me too,” replied Calvin, repressing a shudder. “I’m sure they’ll let us out again…”
    His voice trailed off as they came to a doorway about 50 feet along the tunnel.
    “Welcome to the real world of Golirion,” said Foron as he opened the door.
    The Terrans were amazed as they walked through the doorway. The walls of the tunnel were painted with murals of the surface so lifelike that it was almost like being above ground. The lighting was as bright as the daylight above, but there didn’t seem to be a source; no light fixtures could be seen. Looking up, Calvin felt dizzy as he stared into the blue sky painted on the ceiling of the tunnel. He knew the roof was no more than 20 feet above him, but he was unable to tell exactly where it was.
    “That’s amazing,” muttered Captain Sheppard in awe.
    “Do you like it?” asked Foron. “Our craftsmen worked hundreds of years to craft a painting that makes you feel like you are on the surface.”
    “It’s beautiful. Not only does it look like the surface, but it’s almost like I can feel the warmth of your star and smell the scents of the forest as well,” replied Captain Sheppard.
    “Indeed,” said Foron. “With scenes so lifelike down here, why would anyone ever want to leave?” He indicated a small tram sitting at the end of a railway. “This is our ride.”
    Calvin could see two sets of rails leading off into the simulated foliage from beneath the two little cars, but they were camouflaged to fit into the rest of the scene, and he lost sight of them within 20 feet.  Each car could have held four Terrans comfortably, so there was plenty of room; Captain Nightsong got into one of the cars with the Terrans while the two Drow entered the other.
    The cars started moving once everyone was seated, and they rapidly picked up speed. The pictures on the walls were just as remarkable as the cars sped past them; if anything, they were even more impressive.
    “Was that a deer?” asked Calvin.
    “I couldn’t tell,” said Night. “Whatever it was, it looked like it was moving.”
    After the first deer analog, the Terrans glimpsed a number of other life forms; all seemed to come alive as the Terrans sped past. Strange animals wandered through the underbrush; some stopped to look at the passing cars while others ignored them. Birds and other shapes flew overhead, but none close enough to identify.
    All too soon, the tram coasted to a stop.
    “We are here,” said Foron as he exited his car.
    Disappointed, the Terrans disembarked and followed him to a door, which was barely visible in the undergrowth.
    “That was amazing,” said Captain Sheppard.
    “I am glad you liked the ride,” said Foron. His smile seemed more genuine than it had on the surface, but then the smile faded as quickly as it had come. “I’m afraid what awaits in the Council of Reeves may be less to your liking.” Before the Terrans could ask what he meant, he opened the door and walked inside, forcing the Terrans to follow along behind him.
    Without warning, they found themselves in a giant horseshoe-shaped room with a packed dirt floor. The Terrans entered from the open end of the horseshoe to find two rows of elevated seating extending on both sides to meet at the opposite end of the chamber, at least 80 feet in front of them. The seating was terraced, with an eight-foot wall surrounding the floor of the horseshoe. Calvin looked up; the ceiling was at least 25 feet above him.
    Aesir filled both rows on both sides; 15 to a row for a total of 60. Only a couple of seats were empty. Before Calvin could ask, Foron turned to the right and opened a door Calvin hadn’t noticed. Stairs behind the door led up to the two open seats. Foron took the one in the lower tier; Elhael shut the door and mounted the stairs to a seat in the row behind and above Foron.