Part 5 is here.
Cliffey was aghast. This was not the magical, dreamlike Joel Fields he had always imagined.
Nor was it the overgrown, abandoned Joel Fields that Goldberg had suggested.
This was a desolate wasteland. No life at all. Just dry, dusty, decrepit, doomed desolation as far as the eye could see.
No grass.
No dandelions.
But thankfully, no monster either.
Really, the only thing there at all was a decaying wooden sign that probably once said 'Welcome to Joel Fields!' but now just said "We come t o l ie s!"
"They should be here by now," said Goldberg, thinking aloud and sounding rather concerned. "I mean they've been walking all afternoon, right?"
Cliffey nodded, his mouth still hanging open.
Just then, a huge shadow fell upon them. There was a flutter of giant wings.
They looked up, and the biggest crow they'd ever seen swooped down to greet them.
And on its back were Sarah and Pete.
"You're okay!" cried Cliffey as he hugged them tightly. "I was so worried!"
But as relieved as Sarah was to see Cliffey again, she simply could not contain her disappointment.
"I thought you were taking us to Joel Fields?" she said, wrestling free of Cliffey's embrace and turning on the crow.
"And so I have."
Sarah went on looking at him, waiting for the punchline.
"Abandon hope, all ye who enter here."
"Sarah," interrupted Goldberg, "This is it. This is all that's left of Joel Fields now."
No, thought Sarah. This couldn't be Joel Fields! Where were the green grass and dandy dandelions? Where were the dreams and visions she'd had for as long as she could remember?
Where was Heaven?
"This...isn't it. We're not there yet."
Cliffey and Goldberg explained everything. They took it in turns. The history, the monster, his teeth, the hundreds of goats that were eaten, the fact that nobody knew where he was now. The lot.
And when they were finished, nobody said anything for a long time. Sarah was silent, trying as best she could to take this all in. Cliffey and Goldberg were silent, wondering if they could go home now. The great crow stood, silent, surveying this whole saddening scene. Pete-
Where was Pete?
* * *
Pete was pleased to see Cliffey too. He had both of his goat friends together again. But he didn't care to hear the story that Cliffey and Goldberg were telling.
He already knew it all.
So while they were filling Sarah in, he wandered off. In search of a monster.
Pete allowed himself a little smirk. Everything was suddenly going according to plan.
TO BE CONTINUED
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