“What do you mean?” she asked.
“According to Chief Halstead’s notes, the fence was strengthened about five years ago after two people managed to sneak into the Preserve and died on the grounds. The Foundation’s search-and-rescue team brought the bodies out. Then they sent an engineering crew to crank up the power of the fence. It’s definitely much stronger now, a lot harder to get through than it was the night I took you inside. But that’s not the only thing that has changed. The Preserve itself feels different, at least in parts.”
“Really? How?”
“It’s hard to explain. There are still a lot of pretty places, but in some sections the energy is darker and heavier.”
“I recall that it was very disorienting the night you took me in,” Charlotte said. “If you hadn’t been with me I would have been hopelessly lost within ten or twenty feet.”
“Back in those days the psi fence and the fear of getting lost was enough to keep out most folks. But now I’m pretty sure that only someone with a heck of a lot of talent and just as much determination could get through the barrier.”
“You said some of the places inside feel different?”
“I spent a lot of time inside the Preserve fifteen years ago. It was an irresistible attraction to a nineteen-year-old guy who had come into a strong talent.”
“I remember,” she said. She smiled, thinking about it. “I felt the lure, as well.”
“The two times I went in this past week I came across some features that were definitely not present fifteen years ago.”
“Such as?”
“Ponds and lakes that seem to simmer with dark energy. Canyons of intense night.”
“Canyons of night?” she repeated, fascinated.
“I don’t know what else to call them.”
“But the beautiful places are still there? That meadow that you showed me that night, for instance. It was like a fairyland. I’ve never forgotten it.”
“It’s still there,” he said. “Still as pretty as ever. But it feels hotter now.”
“Got any theories?”
“Not yet. But I’ve been doing some research online and I’m working on a theory. Ever heard of a paranexus?”
“Sure. According to the Arcane experts it’s a natural geologic hot zone of paranormal forces, a location where there is a confluence of several kinds of powerful natural energy currents. Similar to a vortex, I think. There are records of such places back on Earth and I’ve heard that they’ve found some here on Harmony down in the catacombs.”
“A nexus is more powerful and more complex than a vortex because there are more forces at work. In addition to the energy of the planet’s magnetic field, there are ocean currents and strong tides, as well as tectonic and geothermal forces involved in a true nexus. When they come together in certain ways in certain locations they produce a lot of ambient energy like the kind inside the Preserve.”
“You think it’s a nexus?”
“Yes.”
“How did you do your research on the Preserve?”
“I found some old navigational charts and ships’ logs and diaries from the First Century expeditions. They’re housed in the online collections of the University of Old Resonance. I also turned up a few accounts of the Amber Sea Islands left by smugglers and pirates. I haven’t had a chance to read all of them yet but I can see that a theme is emerging.”
“What kind of theme?”
“Some of the early navigators were convinced that Rainshadow was haunted by ghosts of the aliens.”
She laughed. “Okay, that’s an original notion but I think you can ignore that theory.”
“The first expedition that went into the part of the island that is now the Preserve disappeared. There were two rescue attempts made but in both cases the teams were forced to turn back. The bodies of the first group were never recovered. Later a couple of expeditions were able to get a short distance inside but none of them got far and most of the territory remains unmapped.”
“When did the Preserve go into private hands?”
“Good question. Shortly after the Era of Discord, a corporation called Amber Sea Trading Company claimed most of Rainshadow under the old Exploration Laws that were established to encourage private exploration and development.”
“When did the legal entity called the Rainshadow Preserve Foundation come into existence?”
“A few years after staking a claim to the island, Amber Sea Trading established the Foundation to govern the Preserve. It’s been under the control of the Foundation ever since. Halstead left a phone number to call in the event that anyone else gets lost inside the Preserve. The Foundation will send out a search-and-rescue team.”
“Why do you think you can go into the Preserve without getting lost?” Charlotte asked, very thoughtful now.
“Damned if I know. I have to assume it’s got something to do with my talent.” Or what’s left of it,he added silently.
“There must have been at least a few similar hunter-talents on some of the early expeditions.”
“Which may explain why some of the teams were able to get at least partway into the Preserve,” he said. “But evidently that kind of talent wasn’t sufficient to allow full exploration of the island.”
“Have you encountered anything inside that stops you?”
“Not yet. The night canyons are the most serious obstacle I’ve come across so far. And I sure as hell wouldn’t go swimming in any of the ponds or lakes now. But thus far I haven’t experienced the extreme disorientation that the survivors who have been pulled out by the Foundation’s search-and-rescue teams have reported. I’ve only gone in twice in the past week, though. I haven’t had a chance to do much looking around.”
“Planning on going in again anytime soon?”
He was amused. “You want to go in, don’t you?”
“I’ve never forgotten that first visit.” Her voice turned wistful. “I’ve even dreamed about it from time to time over the years.”
“I’ve had a few dreams about the Preserve, myself,” he admitted. “I’ll take you back inside.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’d like that.”
“But not tonight.”
There was a faint rustling in the undergrowth at the side of the road. Rex went very still on Slade’s shoulder. He sleeked out and his second set of eyes, the amber pair that he used for hunting, snapped open. He bounded down to the pavement and vanished into the woods.
“Ugh,” Charlotte said. “Nature in the raw.”
“What do you expect? Dust bunnies are omnivorous and they are predators.”
“That may be true, but as far as I’m concerned, there’s a reason why grocery stores were invented. Makes things ever so much tidier.” She glanced toward the night-shrouded woods where Rex had disappeared. “I take it he doesn’t have any trouble navigating the Preserve with you?”
“As far as I can tell Rex has no problem at all inside. But dust bunnies get around in the Underworld just fine, too. They seem to be well-adapted to heavy psi environments.”
He stopped. Charlotte stopped, too.
“Something wrong?” she asked.
He aimed the beam of the flashlight at the graveled lane that intersected the road. “This is your driveway.”
She smiled. “Good thing you noticed. It’s so dark out here, I didn’t even see it. If I’d been on my own, I would have kept walking.”
They followed the narrow, rutted drive through the trees and into a clearing. With the canopy of overhanging branches gone, the starry night sky sparkled and glittered in all its glory.
Charlotte looked up. “It’s incredible, isn’t it?”
He watched her face, fascinated. He could have watched her all night long, he thought. In spite of the control he was exerting over his senses, he went a little hotter.
“Yes,” he said. “Incredible.”
“This was one of the things I have always loved about the island,” she said. She headed toward the front steps, fishing her key out of her purse. “Back in Frequency the city lights combined with the glow of the ruins make it impossible to see anything but the moon and the brightest stars. But here the night sky is always an amazing sight.”