Chapter Ten- End of the Road

 

“We need to find Fletch, Dagonet, and Liorah.” I let my crystal hand around my neck again. “Who’s first?”

“Wow, Australia.” Fire Dstany looked around in awe. “Awesome Outback!”

“And how!” Said Starlight. “So much nature, and land marks galore!”

“Damn that Goblin King for sending us here!” sighed Daisy wistfully. “Too many nice distractions.”

“Guys,” Sesana took charge, “Libby wants to know which was we’re headed.”

“Just a sec.” Northstar glanced up from her notepad and at a large cliff, then jotted away. Tawyna pulled the busy Listian back toward us.

“How about Dagonet.” She suggested.

“Sounds good.”

 

*                      *                      *                      *                      *

 

Among flowers and trees we found Dagonet. She was sketching the scene.

We Listians walked to her silently as possible, hoping not to scare her, but she glanced up anyway.

“May I help you?” Dagonet asked, her hazel eyes scrutinizing suspiciously.

“Miss, we’re from the Labyrinth List and we were wondering if you could answer a few questions for us.” Stephanie joked.

“Hey, you guys!” Dagonet jumped up, barely kicked her sketchpad. “What are you all doing here in Australia? It’s a bit late for the Labyrinth of Jareth Ball.”

“We know.” Anakerie muttered. “We’re on a mission. Wanna come with us?”

“You bet!” Dagonet picked up her pad and pencil, then placed herself amid the ranks.

 

*                      *                      *                      *                      *

 

To find Fletch, the Listians and I had to search. My crystal brought us to where she was supposed to be, but Fletch was nowhere to be seen.

“We definitely have to work for this, don’t we?” Rhonda rubbed her tired eyes.

“You said it.” Seconded Labyrinthian.

“Ow! What was that?” Lori squealed.

“What?” I hadn’t noticed a thing.

“I think someone threw a rock at me.”

“Who’d throw a rock at you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was just my-”

A loud sound behind us gave only a moment to process what was happening. Someone jumped out from behind a heavy bush.

And she was laughing her head off at us.

“Are you Fletch?” Inquired an exasperated Lori.

“Call me Krys.” She giggled a bit more. “Are you the List?”

“How’d you know?” Daisy narrowed her eyes in confusion.

“The mind of a goblin.” Krys pointed to her head. “I know when magic is afoot. Let’s be on our way, shall we?”

“Oh, I like her already.” I grinned.

*                      *                      *                      *                      *

 

All we needed to do was get Liorah and we could finally go home.

But it wasn’t so much we just grabbed her and we were done. I’d wished to meet the Listians; so far we’d only solved riddles and fought with each other. Jareth wasn’t going to send everyone home right away, was he?

“You look deep in thought,” commented Beth.

“Hmm?” I shook myself out of my trance.

“What are you thinking about?”

“This whole big adventure.” I admitted. “I really wanted to meet you guys-under good terms. And what do I get? This…journey.”

“You didn’t think almost getting killed a few times was fun?” Beth winked at me.

“Oh, for the most part it’s been great.” I explained. “Riddle-solving is right up my alley.”

“Which way do we go now, Libby?” Anakerie asked from the front.

“Left for about half a mile.” I replied. “Then we should find Liorah.”

“Well,” continued Beth, “we could tell Jareth to give us a few minutes to talk.”

“His Majesty would never give us the chance.” I disagreed.

“Are you kidding? Libby, I have but two words for you: Ziggy Stardust.”

I laughed aloud; Beth giggled. She was right. It wouldn’t be that bad.

 

*                      *                      *                      *                      *

 

“This is it.” Wolfie said.

“End of the road.” Tawyna nodded.

Slowly, I went to the door and hesitantly knocked. Our last tense moment of waiting.

She opened the door and smiled.

“Yes?”

“Liorah?”

“That would be me.” She was tall, with green eyes and piercings.

“Labyrinth List.” I stated simply.

“Wow! How are you guys?”

“Hungry.”

“Tired.”

“Scarred for life.” Raved added. We turned to look at her. “Seeing Bug-woman swoon over David Bowie was nauseating.”

“So’s your wardrobe, Miss R.P.G.”

“Liorah, meet Raven and Stephanie.” I half-smiled.

“Hello.” Liorah waved.

“We’re taking you with us on our journey.” Sesana announced. “Only…now that you’ve joined the group, we’re pretty much done…”

“Almost.” Jareth walked to us. He was dressed in silver from head to toe, with a long, glittery cape trailing behind him. “Before I allow you to complete your quest, I have one last riddle.”

“Oh, sweet!” Liorah clasped her hands together. “I love riddles!”

“Not these you won’t.” Mollie assured her.

“If you solve my riddle, you can go back home and continue living your lives.” Jareth stopped just in front of us. “However, failing to relinquish the correct answer means I place you all in my Labyrinth…forever…”

“What?!” We shrieked in unison.

“I know that may seem harsh, but it’s only fair that I get paid a price for my services.”

“Snakes, Oubliettes, and rivers. Some services.” Labyrinthian rolled her eyes.

“There’s no way I’m letting you make them miserable because of me.” I told the King.

“ ‘Letting me’?” Jareth laughed. “Dear girl, I am King of the Underground. You don’t honestly think that I take orders from you!”

“I have my crystal!” I announced confidently. “Whatever you do, I can use it’s magic to send everyone home.”

“And where do you suspect that magic in your pitiful necklace comes from?”

I felt my lips grow dry, and my cheeks turn warm. He was right. Without his power, I was helpless to defend myself and the others. The List was doomed if we didn’t solve his last riddle.

“Don’t listen to him,” whispered Anony.

“How can I not?” I queried.

“Because we’ve made it this far.” She smiled.

I slowly did the same. The Listians and I had almost conquered the entire adventure. And it would be no trouble finishing.

“Give us your riddle, Goblin King.” I said definatly.

“Good luck. You’ll need it:

 

What does man love more than life

Hate more than death and mortal strife

That which contented men desire

The poor have, the rich require

The miser spends, the spend thrift saves

And all men carry to their graves?”

 

“That was very poetic,” Northstar spoke softly, as if surprised.

“Indeed,” Jareth nodded. “You may begin.”

“Men sometimes love women more than life.” Commented Collin.

“Show me one—I’ll take him.” I told her bitterly.

“Happiness?” Guessed Michaellah. “ ‘The poor have, the rich require’.”

“Nope.” Daisy disagreed. “Why would men hate happiness more than death?”

“What’s a ‘spend thrift’?” Asked Anya curiosly.

“Someone who squanders their money all the time,” replied Krys.

“ ‘All men carry to their graves’.” Repeated Liorah. “Silence? A secret? I dunno.”

“Well, a ‘contented man is happy with his life.” Raven said. “He’s got everything; what more does he want?”

“Nothing.” I shrugged.

“What did you say?” Stephanie asked.

“I said there’s nothing a contented man wants.”

Stephanie’s eyes grew wide. “And a man carries nothing to his grave.”

“The poor have nothing.” Stated Wolfie, catching on.

“The rich require nothing!” Alex grinned.

“Libby, try it.” Urged Labyrinthian.

With a deep breath I faced the King and said, “Nothing.”

For an eternity we stood there, staring at him. Jareth turned the corners of his mouth upward; another smile. Only this one was unreadable. No, I thought nervously. We truly are doomed.

“Congratulations, Libby Sarah. You and your friends have passed my test.”

At first, we all stood perfectly still, as if not a one of us had heard right. Then, a long, joyful cry emerged quickly through the group. It was reminiscent of our first riddle solved, only with more smiling, jumping, hugging, and obviously, more people. Until—

“Wait!” Shouted Mollie. Festivities ceased. “What about our second half of the riddle?” Realization set in and we looked expectantly at the Goblin King.

“There is no second half.” Jareth explained.

“Why not?” inquired Guenivere suspiciously.

“As with your previous riddles, the second halves related to your answers. As does this one. Since the answer was ‘nothing’, nothing happens.”

“You’re not sending us back now, are you?” I know my voice became pleading. The King grinned.

“No, I’ve got something much better in mind. You see, I realize you’ve not rested and had food or drink for hours, and you’ve not had a safe journey…so I’ve prepared a ball.”

 

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