I was walking in my pasture one sunny afternoon when a pair of hands pulled me into the underworld.

Once I arrived, I relaxed - a bit. Because it was an old friend. Carol. A time-bender and now a Lazurai as well. Meaning she could walk through rock - and other things.

"Hi John. How have you been?" Carol was standing in front of a crystal fire place, warming herself from the magma heat that was channeled out of the earth's core.

"Not bad, Carol. Other than being pulled deep into the earth without a simple request, or how-de-do."

"Sorry about that. Really. But I need your help - because I'm worse than haunted now - I'm being hunted."

"And I'm the only one who can help you?"

She smiled, embarassed, and shrugged. "Yeah, that about sums it up - other than how many people are after me..."

Excerpt:

Just walking along in the pasture, out to check my cows, when two hands reached up and pulled me underground.

I kinda resented that. Because it was turning out to be a brilliant, sunny day. Winter had let go - at least for now. I could get outside with a light jacket instead of a heavy winter chore coat.

The company I was keeping lately probably meant this was another mystery to solve.

Hands had come up from below to grab me before, but these weren't Gaia - that earth goddess I've been working with. This wasn't the same touch. Firm, and female, sure - but not Gaia.

Before I could wonder how I could tell things like that, we arrived.

It looked like Gaia's "bedroom" chamber again. Crystalline though, but feeling like a large cave of crystal. Its walls were slightly different, more orangish thatn the clearer yellow-white interior. But solid crystal, regardless.

We were both "breathing" solid rock again. And moving through it like just so much open space.

I found a bench-like rock formation of "thicker" granite to sit on, and focused on my kidnapper.

She had her hands out toward the rock hearth in the room, warming up from the magma heat being channeled up from somewhere below.

Then she turned around. As I suspected from her simple outfit a light jacket over a simple patterned blouse tucked into some black jeans - all designed to be inconspicuous -it was Carol. Time-bender and Lazurai.

She smiled at me. "Sorry I didn't ask before I whisked you down here."

I had to smile in return. "Better to ask forgiveness than permssion?"

A broader smile. "Something like that - but I knew you'd like a good story. And besides, like the first time we met, I don't know who else to go to. This problem is huge - or at least seems that way to me."

I had to shake my head, like I said - the company I've been keeping lately. They know I'm in it for the story. "OK, tell me this huge problem - dramatic situation first, please."

She chuckled a little. "John, you have a way to make anyone feel at ease. Sal and Jude have told me straight about you."

A few steps across that bedroom suite let her sit next to me on that granite bench. "There's a huge group that has been trying to capture me. They're chasing me through time wherever I go, trying to head me off. Running has been my only option until now."

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