The Pipe

“Sanae,” a voice said out of the gloom. Giro stood over her, worry on his face. He pulled at her red shirtsleave. “C’mon, there’s a city down below.”

Sanae scrambled to her feet and looked around. The sky was pale lavender.

“I wonder if this is a parallel universe,” said Giro, “but things look different here.” He pointed at the tree next to what used to be the parking lot. It had changed. It had no leaves. Instead, its branches looked like roots, as if the tree had planted itself upside down.

“What’s a parallel universe?” asked Sanae.

“It’s hard to explain,” said Giro. “Scientists think there are more worlds like ours in the universe.”

“I guess it could be. I can breathe fine, and things here don’t look that weird.” Sanae looked at her watch again. She wanted to investigate a little longer.

“Well, scientists say the parallel world would be exactly like ours, and there would be a couple of kids just like us, too,” said Giro thoughtfully, “but this place isn’t the same. Look there’s a city instead of Corey Park.”

“Let’s go down,” said Sanae. “Maybe we will meet our twins.” She slid down ahead of Giro, who was grateful that it wasn’t as hot here as at home. At the bottom of the hill, a short road led toward the city. It was made of the same soft, pliable material the pipe had been made of and it glowed soft in the purplish daylight. As the two walked toward the city, a spaceship whizzed above their heads. Its black shape sped toward the city center. The children hurried on wanting to meet the people of this place, but the road stayed empty.

“This place scares me, Giro,” said Sanae. “Maybe we should go back?”

“I really want to know why the sun is purple,” said Giro.

“You go ahead,” said Sanae. “I’ll wait for you by the pipe.”  She turned around and looked up at the hill. She couldn’t see the trail she had come down. She couldn’t see the opening in the rocks where the pipe was, either. The only glow she saw came from the road, not the pipe she had left behind.

“It’s ok,” said Giro, his voice uncertain. “We’ll find our way back. There'll be answers in the city.”

Sanae reached out to take hold of Giro’s hand. Together they walked on toward the glowing city with its geometrically perfect architecture.

(to be continued)