Tell Me I'm Dreamin' Read Free

trickling from the wound. The immense wrist curved into a large, cupped palm with the tiny god, Eros, lying inside.
    Another gasp rose from the growing crowd. “What’s wrong?” Nadine heard herself ask just as another tremor struck the island. The small statuette of Eros tumbled to the ground, shattering before the horrified crowd.
    Blind panic took over as the islanders ran toward several twisted paths leading up a steep hill. Automatically, Nadine looked for someone she recognized. But of course there was no one. So she ran behind the crowd, her mind a total blank. Her survival instinct forced her legs toward the hill, compelling her to follow the people who knew the island. It said the islanders would know a safe place to go.
    Nadine struggled to keep up with the sure-footed group. But even though she wore flats, the slick bottoms of the department-store shoes were not made to travel so quickly over a rocky area. Almost falling when her foot struck a jagged rock, Nadine caught her balance and realized she was still holding the black slab in her hand. Her first instinct was to throw it to the side of the path, but a little voice inside stopped her. She studied the slab for just a second. It was a work of uncompromising beauty.
    Carved on top of it was a sublime unicorn wearing a decorative medallion about her neck, and a small crown upon her head. The lines were feminine and sleek, and Nadine could not bring herself to discard it.
    She unzipped her fanny pack, threw out a notebook pad, some pencils, and a package of Kleenex, then placed the slab inside. It had taken no more than seconds to complete her task, but when Nadine looked at the islanders in the distance, it might as well have taken half an hour. Determined to catch up, she began to run as dusk embraced Eros.
    Darkness was fast approaching when she reached a hairpin turn in the path and another tremor rocked the island. Crashing and splintering sounds erupted all around, and Nadine covered her ears against the assault. Sheer instinct forced her to her knees, eyes squeezed shut. There she remained, praying, until the awful noises ceased.
    When Nadine found the courage to open her eyes she remained in her protective huddle, and it was more than fortunate that she did. Mere feet in front of her a shower of stones and rocks rained down from the hilltop, completely blocking the foot-trodden path. Stunned, she surveyed the natural barrier. She began to tremble, realizing how grave the situation might have been. Tears stung her eyes. The path was impassable.
    Nadine clutched her cross in a clammy hand. “My God, what should I do?” she cried out to the ghostly silent island, and forced herself to remain calm, knowing she teetered on the brink of hysteria. Should I chance venturing off into the woods to bypass the stones, not knowing what kind of damage has occurred inside the forest or still might occur? She stared at the ancient trees beside the path.
    Nadine thought all of nature appeared to be against her as dusk turned to night. “Damn!” A rare cussword spewed from her mouth. “I should have stayed my black butt back in the States,” she whined, looking at the darkening sky. Nadine tried to calm herself and think of what to do next. Then she had it. The only thing she could do was go back the way she came. She had seen a small cave as she climbed. Yes! She would go back to the cave.
    Forcing herself to stand, Nadine cautiously felt her way back down the footpath. Sheer determination kept her going. One thing at a time, she reassured herself. I’ll figure out what to do once I reach the cave. She kept her left hand against the warm and sometimes sharp rock that bordered the path. But as the sky turned to a midnight blue it seemed she would never reach the opening, and she began to doubt if it ever existed.
    Suddenly, her fingers wavered in midair. Relief flooded inside her. But she hesitated as she turned toward the dark cavern.