Larry and Lee

 

As Larry entered the zendo center, he immediately saw his brother, who was finishing his lunch. He locked eyes with him.  He gave his head a little nod, and Lee knew immediately that his brother needed him.  He pushed back his chair.

 

“I've found Pigmet,” said Larry

“Oh, good,” said Lee.

“Not so good,” said Larry. “Pigmet looks really sick.  He is… well, you need to come and see.”

“You want me to get my bag out of the car.”

“Yahump!” Larry said, and they both laughed. But Larry's face sobered, as he thought of his little friend.

 

Lee met him again, with his bag, outside the temple and they walked in together.  Larry showed his brother the little door.  “Wow, that’s kind of a small door,” said Lee, “Even for us!  I’m not sure I can get through it.”

 

***

 

On the gray planet, they waited before the little door.  Pigmet had awakened again, and drank from the canteen, but his temperature was once again rising.

 

Geo and Shiara heard the voices on the other side of the door.  Larry leaned toward the little door.  “It’s me, Larry again.  I have my brother Lee with  me, and he has his doctor's bag.  We are going to see if we can help." 

 

“I am going to try to come through the door,” said Lee, “but I think I am too big."  Lee lay down on the ground and tried to slide himself through the door.  He came to a stop.  He was just a bit too big, and if he tried to force it, he risked becoming stuck.  Oh god! He thought as he looked around him at the planet.  What a weird place!  But he had no time for questions right now. He looked at Pigmet, who indeed looked very sick. “Okay,” Lee said.  “Plan B. I need you to get Pigmet over here so that I can look at him.”

 

Geo held Pigmet in his arms defensively, and did not want to let him go.  Shiara had gone over to the box that Couch had come out of, and she had ripped off part of the lid.  It was easy to do in her frustration. What kind of a goddess am I? she though to herself.  I can't do anything. And what about Geo?  Is he going to go insane again?

 

She came back to Geo.  He cuddled Pigmet closely.  Shiara said to him, “Put Pigmet on this," she said, as she laid down the piece of cardboard. "And I will slide him through.”  Geo turned away. 

 

“Geo!” she said. “Do it!”

 

He lay the little pig down on the cold piece of cardboard.  Shiara slid it over the rough surface of the ground, and through the little door.

 

***

10:30:10 AM