Part 5: Curtain call In the actual world, the detectives were still in the hotel room. "Another seizure and no explanation," Valerie observed. "Maybe we should get her to a hospital." She was interrupted by Ivy. "Look at this!" On the floor, in a long box, lay the assembled suit of armor. Next to it was a glass bottle. The bottle contained a flower that looked like a cross between a rose and a begonia. It was the Willis Hybrid! ********************************************************************** Carmen was still stuck in Shakespeareland. After wandering the courtyard, she picked up a scrap of paper from the ground. She began to quiver uncontrollably. Her line of vision began to blur again, and soon, Carmen found herself in a new scenario. It was an island somewhere. Carmen heard voices. She walked into a clearing and saw.....the Chief! At least it looked like the Chief. He was human. He also spoke with the same voice. Carmen didn't bother puzzling over how the Chief had gained a body. A lot of things here couldn't be explained. For instance, why had Ivy recognized her when no one else did? "Well, my brave spirit," the Chief said. "How have you performed your task?" An unfamiliar voice answered, describing a large storm. Who was he talking to? Carmen wondered. What play had a spirit? Who was the Chief? Storm? This could be 'The Tempest'. The spirit could have been Ariel. Carmen remembered something. Ariel was invisible to everyone except Prospero. If the Chief were Prospero, then who was his daughter, Miranda? Or the wicked king of Naples, Alonso? Or Prospero's usurping brother, Antonio? One of Carmen's questions was answered. Detective Tatyanna came in. She addressed the Chief as Father, and was asking some questions. Carmen was too far away to hear, but she knew they were questions about Ferdinand, and humans in general. It figured, since Miranda was a young child when she and her father were banished. She had only a few scarce memories of other people. Carmen debated approaching the Chief and Tatyanna, or rather, Prospero and Miranda. It wouldn't help "twisting the play's plot", since 'The Tempest' had a rather happy ending. Carmen decided to take another route through the island. She soon stumbled across another clearing. Standing there were Maelstrom and his henchman, Bilge. They were complaining loudly about a banquet that vanished whenever they tried to eat. "It's like the Greek myth about Tantalus!" Maelstrom snapped. "At least you didn't lose your son in this storm!" Bilge yelled back. Carmen chuckled softly. Maelstrom was Antonio, and Bilge must have been Alonso. At least those two were getting what they deserved. A while Carmen fingered a leaf on a tree. She began to quake again. The surroundings had changed. Now it was a forest. "Are you all right?" A familiar voice asked. Carmen turned around. "Suhara!" "I beg your pardon?" Suhara asked, looking genuinely surprised. "Where am I?" Suhara looked puzzled again. "You're in the Forest of Arden." The Forest of Arden? Was this 'As You Like It'?" If so, Suhara must have been the banished Duke Senior! "Are you all right? Might I offer you a cup of water?" "No, thank you." Carmen said quickly. She had an idea. "Aren't you angry that your brother banished you?" She knew Suhara would reveal himself, depending on the answer he'd give. "The seasons' difference,-as the icy fang And churlish chiding of the winter's wind, Which, when it bites and blows upon my body, Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say 'This is no flattery: these are consellors That fleetingly persuade me what I am.' Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life exempt from this public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything." was the reply. Carmen was relieved. 'As You Like It' ended happily. The more she thought about it, the more she remembered that Suhara did act something like Duke Senior. "I need to go now," she said. As she walked through the forest of Arden, Carmen soon crossed paths with another figure from the real world. This time it was Valerie, who was dressed like a shepherdess. "May I help you?" Valerie asked. "You seem lost." Lost? "Who are you?" "I am Aliena." Carmen nodded. Aliena was the alias of Duke Senior's niece, Celia. All of a sudden the pairing seemed to make sense. Valerie, like Celia, was warm of character and supportive of her friends. In fact, Celia nearly stole the show in the play. And Valerie's swordfighting in the costume shop was certainly worth a glance. A few minutes passed. Valerie and Carmen walked together down the overgrown forest path. Soon the road ended, and Valerie was gone, probably searching for her friend, Rosalind. The road led into the courtyard Carmen had visited. She heard a twig snap behind her. She turned around. Standing there were Nigel and Sara. Or rather, Macbeth and his wife. Before anyone could say anything, Lenore and Zack came in. Ivy walked in. "It's your choice, Carmen." Carmen knew the answer. "I just want to leave this whimsical escapade." "Fine, then." Ivy said. "Simply squeeze my left hand." Carmen did so. "Now squeeze my right." The order was obeyed. ****************************************************************************** ** "She's squeezing my hand!" Ivy cried in surprise in the real world. Carmen bolted up in the bed. She quickly glanced at the astonished detectives. "It was all a dream, wasn't it?" Or was it? Carmen got off the bed and picked up her coat, which lay beside her. She reached into the pocket and pulled out a grappling-hook gun and, to her amazement, something else. It was the handkerchief from 'Othello'! Carmen tossed the handkerchief to Zack. She then put on her coat, picked up the grappling hook gun, and fired it in the air. The master thief began to rise. "Carmen! Get down from there! You don't realize what you're doing!" Valerie cried. "I appreciate your concern, Valerie," Carmen answered. "Maybe you should consider medical school. And as for you, Nigel, I could send you Sara Bellum's phone number. And would you mind telling me how the date goes afterwards?" With these words, she made her exit. Ivy turned to Nigel. "You like Sara Bellum? The craziest professor in VILE?" "I do not!" Nigel retorted. Valerie laughed. "What would the Chief have to say? Or Jacob, for that matter?" "Who's Jacob?" asked Zack. "The head of the EMT department at the hospital. Nigel's deathly afraid of him." Nigel turned red. "I am not!" "Then why did you talk of 'taking the last train to Clarksville' on our second day of training?" Valerie teased. She began to walk around the room in an assured, all-business way. "Remember, screw up, or break a rule, and you're gone!" She said in a booming voice. "These are lives you are dealing with and if I have to-" Valerie was cut off by Nigel's laughter. "Stop it, Val! You imitated his walk and voice perfectly! Stop! Please stop! I'll never be able to look at him with a straight face again!" Valerie grinned at Zack and Ivy. "And that's when he's in a good mood." Ivy chuckled. Zack shuddered and contacted the Chief. He explained that Carmen had gotten away and that the stolen items had been recovered. Then, looking amused, exclaimed, "Nigel is sweet on Sara Bellum!" Nigel turned red again. "I am not!" The Chief grinned wickedly and began to sing. "Nigel and Sara, sitting in a tree.." Nigel picked up the pillow from the bed and threw it at the Chief's screen. Zack, Ivy, and Valerie all howled with laughter. Nigel frowned, then cracked a smile. He was going to get Valerie for this. And how did Carmen get the impression that he wanted to date Sara Bellum? The End.