enter a dream-like state in which everything would seem completely real. But hypnosis was a suggestive state, and here, in this world, I was in complete control of my actions, or at least I thought I was. And if it was hypnosis then I should have been able to bring myself out at any time because hypnosis is a state of consciousness which has to be accepted by the subject. The hypnotist cannot control a person under hypnosis unless that person is willing. I couldn't remember where I'd learned all this but somehow I knew it to be true.
I could have been asleep and dreaming but this experience was far more real than any dream I’d ever had. From what I could remember my dreams usually consisted of brief imagery with an emotional base. If I were to dream about a beautiful girl she might be an amalgamation of many women, perhaps changing identities as the dream progressed. For a time she might be an old girlfriend or a girl I met at the grocery store then later turn into a baby-sitter I’d had as a child.
Somewhere in the depths of my broken memory, words from an old textbook echoed. As the characters and events of a dream shift, the dreamer continues to feel comfortable because although the dream does not make sense to the conscious mind, it makes perfect sense to the subconscious mind. If a man were to dream of swimming down a river, it might flow through a house he once lived in. He could swim to the edge, get out, and the river would be gone behind him. Regardless of the inconsistencies he would continue to feel right at home in the outlandish twists and turns of his mind.
That’s how dreams tended to work. So, although this place had its twists and turns, there was far too much solidity for this all to be a dream.
I let out an involuntary sigh.
Thana looked back at me. “You okay?”
“Just thinking.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“Not especially. Maybe another time.”
She shrugged her shoulders and turned back to the path.
Even that brief exchange bothered me. Her response was so real. What IS this place?
We walked for well over an hour before the path opened up a bit. Thick tree trunks rose up like pillars, supporting the leafy roof. The uneven ground crunched as we walked. And I could hear the sound of rushing water coming from up ahead. The waning light of the sun flickered through the trees’ gnarled wooden fingers. Soon it would be night again.
A feeling of uneasiness crept over me. I peered into the darkening woods. At first I didn’t see anything. But then the shadows began to move. The movements were subtle at first but soon there was no question. Someone, or some thing , was there.
“How much farther?” I asked in a low voice.
“Not far.”
“Then we should pick up the pace a bit.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” She looked around.
“I’m not sure, perhaps nothing.”
A snarl filtered through the trees.
“Perhaps something.” I nudged her to speed up.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a quick movement low to the ground. The snarling increased, as did our speed. We were now at a slow jog, ducking and dodging branches. I looked over my shoulder to see three enormous gray wolves emerging from the brush. Their graceful forms began weaving in and out through the branches with deadly skill. I was unsure if they were following us or just going about their normal business. Desperately, I hoped the latter.
Thana let out a scream. I snapped back around. Two more of the giant beasts were sitting on the path before us.
“Are these friendly or unfriendly wolves?” I asked in a low voice.
“I’ve never seen wolves in this forest,” she said, her voice quivering.
The wolves stood baring their teeth and growling a deep guttural warning. “I'm going to go with unfriendly.”
I needed to do something fast, or we were going to be dog food. I pulled my pistol from its holster and checked the clip. It was fully loaded. “What I'm about to do is not magic,” I said defensively as I
I could have been asleep and dreaming but this experience was far more real than any dream I’d ever had. From what I could remember my dreams usually consisted of brief imagery with an emotional base. If I were to dream about a beautiful girl she might be an amalgamation of many women, perhaps changing identities as the dream progressed. For a time she might be an old girlfriend or a girl I met at the grocery store then later turn into a baby-sitter I’d had as a child.
Somewhere in the depths of my broken memory, words from an old textbook echoed. As the characters and events of a dream shift, the dreamer continues to feel comfortable because although the dream does not make sense to the conscious mind, it makes perfect sense to the subconscious mind. If a man were to dream of swimming down a river, it might flow through a house he once lived in. He could swim to the edge, get out, and the river would be gone behind him. Regardless of the inconsistencies he would continue to feel right at home in the outlandish twists and turns of his mind.
That’s how dreams tended to work. So, although this place had its twists and turns, there was far too much solidity for this all to be a dream.
I let out an involuntary sigh.
Thana looked back at me. “You okay?”
“Just thinking.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“Not especially. Maybe another time.”
She shrugged her shoulders and turned back to the path.
Even that brief exchange bothered me. Her response was so real. What IS this place?
We walked for well over an hour before the path opened up a bit. Thick tree trunks rose up like pillars, supporting the leafy roof. The uneven ground crunched as we walked. And I could hear the sound of rushing water coming from up ahead. The waning light of the sun flickered through the trees’ gnarled wooden fingers. Soon it would be night again.
A feeling of uneasiness crept over me. I peered into the darkening woods. At first I didn’t see anything. But then the shadows began to move. The movements were subtle at first but soon there was no question. Someone, or some thing , was there.
“How much farther?” I asked in a low voice.
“Not far.”
“Then we should pick up the pace a bit.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” She looked around.
“I’m not sure, perhaps nothing.”
A snarl filtered through the trees.
“Perhaps something.” I nudged her to speed up.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a quick movement low to the ground. The snarling increased, as did our speed. We were now at a slow jog, ducking and dodging branches. I looked over my shoulder to see three enormous gray wolves emerging from the brush. Their graceful forms began weaving in and out through the branches with deadly skill. I was unsure if they were following us or just going about their normal business. Desperately, I hoped the latter.
Thana let out a scream. I snapped back around. Two more of the giant beasts were sitting on the path before us.
“Are these friendly or unfriendly wolves?” I asked in a low voice.
“I’ve never seen wolves in this forest,” she said, her voice quivering.
The wolves stood baring their teeth and growling a deep guttural warning. “I'm going to go with unfriendly.”
I needed to do something fast, or we were going to be dog food. I pulled my pistol from its holster and checked the clip. It was fully loaded. “What I'm about to do is not magic,” I said defensively as I
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