million miles away from that. While it is not an over-the-top caricature, and appears to be sadly lacking in big weapons, it retains the same sturdy image you try to portray in your games.’
Ryan flexed his metal knuckles and balled his hands into fists. It made a bit of sense, though why he didn’t just look like himself remained unclear.
‘So what are you supposed to be? Some kind of pilot wannabe?’ he asked, peering round at Tristram’s folded wings.
The man laughed loudly.
‘Not exactly,’ he smiled. ‘Although there may be some truth to it. I studied aeronautical engineering at university, so there is a connection.’
‘What then? An angel?’
‘Closer. I see myself as being more of a guardian; someone trustworthy who people can depend on and look to for support. It’s something inherent to my role here and it certainly helps with first impressions.’
‘Not with me,’ said Ryan. ‘I didn’t trust you one bit.’
‘To be fair, I’m not used to welcoming newcomers in the Nightmare Realm. Your case was a bit of an exception. I had a much smoother time inducting your friend.’
‘Daisy? She probably just fancied you,’ said Ryan bluntly. ‘Though I don’t know that she’s shown much interest in boys so far.’
‘Well, I don’t know anything about that,’ said Tristram. ‘She just seems happy to accept what is put before her with very little need for explanation.’
‘She’s always been like that; open to anything.’
‘It’s a great trait to have, although there is also nothing wrong with questioning that which defies logic and reason. It is the desire to understand things and expand one’s scope of knowledge that makes the mind strong. It is the ability to imagine the unimaginable and accept the unacceptable that makes it broad.’
‘Yeah, yeah, that’s all good,’ said Ryan, feeling that Tristram was starting to ramble. ‘So you said I got here by Dreamweaving, or something. What is that exactly?’
‘As I alluded to earlier, Dreamweaving is the art of manipulating dreams to your own ends. Remember when I jumped off that cliff and you decided it would be such a cool idea for you to do the same?’
‘That was you?’
‘Are you surprised? I was in your previous two dreams as well.’
‘I guess not.’
‘Anyway, when you were in that deep, dark water with the currents threatening to dash you against the rocks, what happened?’
Ryan did his best to recall the dream.
‘I just seemed to be able to swim out of trouble. I don’t know how it happened.’
‘Well, in simple terms, you imagined what you wanted to do and then believed in it enough to make it happen. You knew that you needed to get to the surface and you conjured up a way of doing so. Had you not managed to you would have been pinned to the rock, which is what would have happened to anyone who didn’t possess your gift. Then, just as you would have been ready to give in and die, you would have awoken and it would have seemed like any other nightmare. Through your own intervention you managed to change the course of the dream. Do you understand?’
‘I think so,’ said Ryan slowly. ‘So just now, when I was back at home and the spiders were multiplying like crazy…’
‘… You could have just given up and left them to it.’
‘But instead I came up with a way of catching them and changed the dream.’
‘Spot on!’ said Tristram. ‘I think we’re getting somewhere now.’
‘So basically, I can control the outcome of my dreams?’
‘Basically, yes. Although your gift is raw and untamed at this stage, so you will struggle to make absolutely anything happen. In time though, you will learn to master the art.’
Ryan laughed.
‘You sound like some old Chinese monk; ‘You must learn the way of the Dreamweaver, Ryan-san’.’
Tristram chuckled at his impression.
‘I suppose I do. Indeed, my role here is as a mentor to newcomers.’
‘Your role?’
‘There is a great deal more going on here than it may appear. There is a whole society that has been set up to regulate what goes on in people’s dreams. But I’m really over-stepping the bounds of my remit. Answers to all your questions may be found up there at the Spire.’
‘Where the other Dreamweavers live?’ asked Ryan.
‘Not live. Work, more like, though don’t let that put you off. No-one can sleep forever. Well, having said that… No, best to leave it at that. You’re expected up there so we should get going.’
‘It looks a long way,’ said Ryan as they started walking again.
‘Nothing your legs can’t handle I’m sure. You’re a machine now!’
He was right. Ryan felt absolutely no sign of fatigue as they climbed the twisting valley that wove its way ever upward towards the Spire. His legs just kept pumping away relentlessly and he appeared to have no need to draw breath, though he still went through the motions out of subconscious habit.
‘Where’s Daisy?’ he asked suddenly, realising he had been on the island for quite a while without being mobbed by her.
‘I sent her on ahead to make herself known and to get ready for the group induction,’ replied Tristram, who was sweating slightly in the bright sunlight. ‘You’ll be going along to it as well, so you will see her soon.’
‘Oh right. Induction into what?’
‘All in good time. You know, you’re lucky to have such a close friend in this place. Dreamweaving is a rare ability and it is uncommon to find two people in the same town with it, let alone the same village.’
‘She told you we’re neighbours?’
‘Among other things. I think she was quite excited about it all and just started babbling. She seems to think a lot of you.’
‘Well, we grew up together and are still quite close.’
‘That’s good. You look like you complement one another quite well. You’ll make an excellent team.’
Ryan stopped.
‘Team? Hey, what is this? What the hell are you getting me into?’
Tristram laughed out loud.
‘Oh boy, you’ve got so many surprises in store. Trust me, you’re going to love this place.’
Ryan eyed Tristram’s back suspiciously as he carried on walking, but there was a growing sense of excitement inside him that compelled his legs to keep moving. They had just rounded a shoulder of land that had been obscuring the Spire from view, when suddenly the body of a large animal came flying out of the river and landed with a clatter of hooves on the slope to their left. It scrabbled for grip on the loose rock and began sliding back down towards them.
‘Whoa, whoa, easy there,’ said Tristram, rushing to its aid. By the time he had reached it, it had given up and slithered to the bottom of the slope in a forlorn heap.
At first glance Ryan had assumed it was a horse, though he’d never seen one with such a brilliant silvery-white coat before. However, as he walked over and looked at its bowed head, he saw a long, straight horn crowning its brow.
‘A unicorn?’ he said, fully aware that he was stating the obvious.
‘All species and breeds, remember?’ replied Tristram, kneeling down next to the startled animal and stroking its silver mane. ‘You all right there?’ he asked kindly.
‘I think so,’ replied the unicorn. The voice was female and strangely familiar. ‘Are you an angel?’
‘No,’ smiled Tristram. ‘But I am a friend. Can you stand?’
‘I think so,’ replied the unicorn. Then she made a decidedly odd movement; sitting back on her haunches and putting one of her forelegs behind her, as if she was trying to push herself up onto her hind legs.
‘Hey, hey, hang on a second,’ said Tristram as the animal collapsed in a rather ungainly manner. ‘Your body is not laid out in quite the same way as in the real world.’
‘What?’ asked the unicorn, looking confused and rather scared.
‘I mean, you are no longer a bipe
d. Ryan?’
He motioned for the boy to come over. The unicorn recoiled slightly at the sight of him.
‘Easy, he’s a friend too,’ said Tristram. ‘Show her what she looks like, lad.’
Ryan held up one of his forearms, which was almost a mirror finish. The unicorn peered nervously into it before recoiling with a startled cry.
‘What the hell?’ she shouted, again trying to scramble to her feet but failing in the attempt.
‘Shh shh shh, easy,’ said Tristram, reaching forward and trying to calm her down. ‘Let’s start from the top. My name’s Tristram and this is Ryan. We’re here to help you. What’s your name?’
The unicorn looked from one to the other with an expression of utter bewilderment on her face.
‘Sophie. Sophie Richards,’ she said.
Ryan’s jaw dropped.
‘No way! Sophie? It’s me, Ryan. Ryan Butler.’
The unicorn looked even more confused.
‘Ryan? Is that really you there? What on earth’s going on?’
‘I thought I recognised your voice,’ he replied, smiling broadly and feeling a great urge to rush forward and give her a hug.
‘Hang on a second,’ said Tristram, who for the first time since Ryan had met him was looking confused himself. ‘You know her too?’
‘We go to school together,’ said Ryan.
‘This is weird,’ said Tristram.
‘Tell me about it!’ said Sophie. ‘Why am I a horse?’
‘No, I mean it’s weird that Ryan here knows more than one person on this island.’
‘That’s what’s weird?’ said Ryan sceptically. If he’d had any eyebrows they would have most certainly been raised.
‘Will one of you please tell me what’s going on?’ cried Sophie.
‘Okay, Okay,’ said