“We’re marmots!” said Kanak grumpily.
“Marmota himalayana, to be specific,” said Sonu. “The Tibetans called us snow pigs!”
“Do not call us snow pigs,” warned Kanak.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” said Sonu, waving a paw. “Especially now that you’ve arrived. Here to see the famous gold roads, I take it?”
“Of course?” said Kara. She gave Aru a confused look. “I’ve heard so much about them…. But I’m so excited, I’m blanking on all their names.”
“Ah yes. Well, we have the human-gold-mine road, which connects all known gold mines from the Cortez Gold Mine in Nevada to the Olimpiada in Russia and even the Kibali in the Congo,” said Sonu. “Then there’s our alchemical road, which controls the distribution of magical gold artifacts to Otherworld cities—”
“Controlled,”corrected Kanak. “No one is trading anything these days with that state-of-emergency travel ban. Hmpf.”
Sonu looked momentarily distressed but soon perked up. “And then there’s the road for Otherworld cities of gold…El Dorado, Shambhala—”
“Lanka?” asked Aru eagerly.
“Yes, yes,” said Sonu. “It’s a treacherous, sneaky thing, quite off-limits to tourists ever since one of our sister museums misplaced a tour group back in the eighties. I believe they became mole people. Anyway. Do follow me! We’ll go through our souvenir shop, where there’s a lovely view of all three roads, then head to the galleries, and finish up at the café….”
Sonu scampered happily down the steps.
Kanak sauntered with utmost slowness, muttering about “the scourge of tourists.”
“So, once we see the road to Lanka, we split?” whispered Brynne.
“That feels mean,” said Mini. “Maybe we can buy a souvenir first so their feelings aren’t too hurt?”
Aiden patted his camera and headed down the stairs. “Good work, Kara,” he said.
Kara beamed, flipped her hair over her shoulder, and flashed a smile at Aru. “Come on, Aru,” she said, winking. “No doom yet!”
AruknewKara was just being nice…. So why was it starting to annoy her?
No doom yet!mocked Aru through the Pandava link.
Brynne snickered.
I like that she has a good attitude,said Mini defensively.It’s refreshing!
Ihave a good attitude!said Aru.
Brynne responded:You have attitude, Shah. Big difference.
Aru grumbled and followed them down the staircase.
The shining gold-and-marble staircase spiraled down into a dirt-floored cave.
It was cold and damp; the air was filled with the smell of rain-washed rocks and turned earth. In the half darkness, the marmots’ fur gave off a soft glow, illuminating the rocky walls and high ceiling, which were adorned with roots and cloudy gemstones, rusty license plates, and grimy pennies. A sound like a low moan echoed through the dark, and the hair on Aru’s arms prickled.What was that?
Sonu scampered up to them, handing out brochures.
“Tourists!” it squeaked again. “So exciting! I hear you like things calledpamphlets, so we have a multitude on hand for your entertainment and pleasure!”
Aru took one. Her mom’s museum offered brochures with information about current and upcoming exhibitions, events, and a brief history of the collection. The marmots’ pamphlet was a rectangular piece of paper that read:
this
is
