Chapter 10:

Fade To Black

Inversion


Sedona was left alone with only her thoughts to keep her company while she decided what to do. "Tree, Cat, families, Daisy, fresh food." One picture after another flashed through her mind. Until finally, at the end, she heard only Maple’s voice saying, “You’re in a position to help both cities.”

When Green came back into the room, she was ready with her answer. “Yes!”

Green nodded. “Good. I am so pleased. This is good news for all of us.”

After that, things happened very fast. Green told her that she wouldn’t remember anything at all about the underground city until she heard the code word. But the architects of The Plan were aware she was observant, and they wanted her to continue observing everything, questioning everything. And remembering everything. “Just be careful,” EverGreen cautioned. “Do whatever you need to stay safe.”

“But what’s my code word?” Sedona was worried that she’d forget it, especially if it would be decades in the future before she heard someone say it to her again.”

Green smiled, “Do you remember when Aloe showed you the bushy plants? The ones in the stone planters, those really big ones?”

Sedona thought back to the plant walk with Aloe, but all she could remember was the joy of holding a real cat in her arms.

“That plant is a very old one – a style of plant that was out of fashion long before the Earth fell apart. But it’s very hardy, a real survivor. Its name is a perfect code word because no one alive today would every say it by accident. The plant’s name is Aspidistra. Can you say it for me? Say it like this:  ‘As-Pi-Dis-Tra’. Try saying it a few times so I know you have it right.”

Sedona repeated the word, stumbling over the pronunciation a few times. “As-Pi-Dis-Tra, As-Pi-Dis-Tra, As-Pi-Dis-Tra.” As she said it, Green pulled a chain out of the front of his shirt. There was a shiny disk on the end of the chain and he began to swing it in time to Sedona saying the word.

“As-Pi-Dis-Tra, As-Pi-Dis-Dis-Dis…”

Blackness again.

Makech
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