Joe Luegers - The Bridge

By Joe Luegers

Copyright 2021 Joe Luegers

All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in anyform or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or otherelectronic or mechanical methods, without the prior writtenpermission of the author, except in the case of brief quotationsembodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial usespermitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to theauthor, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, atjoe@luegerswriter.com

ISBN 978-1-7365411-0-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-7365411-1-1(Ebook)

ISBN 978-1-7365411-2-8 (Audio)

ISBN 978-1-7365411-4-2 (Hardback)

Any references to historical events, realpeople, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters,and places are products of the authors imagination.

Cover Art by Ashley EllenFrary

Edited by Emily Bernhardt

For July Lana Luegers,

our Frost Flower

ChapterOne

Kaija Monhegan had alot to be scared of.

One false step on a wet patch of moss couldsend her tumbling over the edge of the headlands. If the jaggedrocks of the shore didnt immediately kill her, the water mammothsthat lived in the cold depths of the ocean would surely smell herblood and come scavenging. The island was full of dangerous thingsfor a person like Kaija that went far beyond the cliffside. Justthe other day, her father had spotted a hydra vine growing in GullCove and rushed back to inform the villagers. He stressed to hergreat embarrassment that if it had been Kaija that wandered intoits nest, she would have been poisoned within seconds and died anagonizing death.

Kaija was indeed terrified, and yet shewalked along the cliffside with only a vague sense of the perilswhich surrounded her. She had never left the island, and spent herdays fearlessly exploring its every corner from the moment she tookher first unsteady step as a toddler. Kaija was not afraid offalling, but she was afraid of something.

Nothing in the world scared Kaija more thanthe small rock she had clutched in her hand.

Stopping at the highest point of theheadlands, Kaija looked out toward the moon rising over dark watersand took note of its position. About two more hours before itreached the center of the sky, and then it would be too late.

She would be fourteen.

Kaija held up an open palm and squinted atthe stubborn rock in the moonlight. She spoke quietly, not wantingany nearby villagers to overhear.

Do it.

Nothing happened. Kaija concentrated on herbody and felt the cold wind blowing against her face. She tried tosense something deeper, something beyond the physical, and bring itinto herself. This time she spoke with more authority.

I said, do it!

The stone sat there with no perceivablechange, but Kaija was far from done. For the thousandth time shevisualized what she wanted the rock to do. The power of Gaia wouldflow through her, and it would happen. Kaija would rush backto the village to show her father, and he would cry tears of joy.The other Monhegans would stop whispering around her every time shewalked by.

Has it ever taken someone this longbefore?

How could she have not inherited herfathers gifts?

What is wrong with her?

Kaija felt a surge of stubbornness boil up inher stomach. She opened her mind, channeling her anger, and thistime things actually felt different; purpose seemed to flow intoher. Kaija stared ahead, redirecting the sensation inside andwrapping it around the rock in her hand.

Now!

Nothing.

Kaija told herself to stay calm;disappointment was a part of life, after all. Better luck nexttime, island girl.

Die you stupid rock!

Kaija screamed and threw the stone down theembankment, putting her face in her hands and holding backfrustrated tears. Rather than the anticipated splash, there was agreat big whoosh as the rock flew back up the edge of thecliff. Kaija gasped and reached out, but another hand snatched itahead of her.

Jasper Monhegan, Kaijas father, walked upbeside her. He adjusted his glasses with one hand, brushed asidehis long, dark hair, and examined the rock.

Die, stupid rock? For all you know, Mr. Rockhas a partner and kids. Are you really going to make them orphans?He looked at her more seriously. Still no luck?

What do you think? asked Kaija.

I think your mind is still in the wrongplace. Relaying is different for everybody, perhaps you are not anexternalist.

But Ive tried everything! I had Fain hit mewith a stick for twenty minutes this morning to see if I might bean internalist, and now I have bruises all over my back. Its nevertaken anyone else this long, and after tomorrow

Kaijas father held out his palm and thestone gently floated into the air. It hung there, completelymotionless in the wind.

I know youve been trying, but thefrustrating thing is that it often happens when youre nottrying. Being a late bloomer can supposedly be a sign of anespecially powerful relayer. A few cycles ago, Fains parents wereworried that he might lack the relaying gift, and then he blew uphis house in the middle of the night. Now they have to worry aboutthe fact that he is a relayer.

But what if it just doesnt happen for me?Kaija asked. I talked to some traders at the docks the other day,and they said that common knowledge on the mainland is thatrelaying must come before the fourteenth cycle. If Im not doing itnow, I might never be able to.

That is a possibility, said Jasper, puttingan arm over his daughters shoulder. But who cares if you canfloat a few rocks around? That doesnt change who you are. Who youare is ultimately what you do with what you are given; youll stillbe the Kaija I know.

The stone dropped back into Jaspers hand,and he squeezed it tight.

Besides, levitation is boring.

Jasper opened his fist, revealing that therock had transformed into a steaming hunk of crystal. He leanedforward, blowing playfully, and the crystal broke into a millionfragments which were carried off, glittering in the wind. Jaspershivered as bracing raindrops began to fall on his bare arms.

Lets go back to the village, he said. Itfeels like a storm is coming in.

Kaija looked around, observing the smoothwater below and hearing no sound of rainfall.

Father? asked Kaija, trying to hide asmile. Why isnt it raining on me?

Jasper looked overhead to find a smallraincloud hovering just above him. He waved his hand and the cloudburst into water droplets that sprayed in every direction.

Fain! he yelled, his face turning red. Itold you that this isnt funny!

A teenage boy leapt out of the nearest treeand sprinted toward the firelight of the village, laughingwildly.

Fains been showing off his new trick allday, sighed Jasper. He turned and shouted toward the fleeing boy.I should have never taught you evapotranspiration,Fain!

Jasper turned and chased Fain down thewinding dirt path to the village. Kaija wished she could laughbecause normally she found her best friends pranks to behilarious. Tonight, however, his trick did nothing but remind Kaijaof her own situation. Was this how things would be from now on?Staring hopelessly at a part of life that would always be over aninsurmountable gulf for herself?

Kaija closed her eyes and tried to feelsomething, one last attempt to connect with the life-force of Gaia.She concentrated as hard as she possibly could, and when Kaijaopened her eyes, something did happen.

For a brief instant, it seemed to Kaija thatshe was not standing at the edge of a cliff, staring down at themurky ocean. Lights moved far below, and tall structures gleamed inthe distance. Music played somewhere behind, its timbre alien andunfamiliar. When Kaija looked up she saw numbers floating in theair.