Dawn by Eleanor Porter (best finance books of all time TXT) 📕

appeared to be normal and made of polished stone. Jessie hesitated at the edge of the last stair step and tentatively extended a foot. If he looked hard, he could see a faint shimmer around the edges of his boot but the nothingness felt solid. Their rings glowed a faint purplish color and they understood why the security was so lax. The rings kept the force field underneath them. A flick of a switch or possibly even a thought from the right person and the ring light would go off. It was a long way to the bottom. He didn’t look down as they stepped out, went through the archway and entered a great throne room that was bathed in light from the clear cap of the pyramid. Powerful looking reptilian guards in full battle armor lounged around and talked. An oversized throne, the only place to sit in the whole room, sat in a beam of rainbow-colored light. Elder council members stood in a small group with robes similar to the man that had led them up the stairs. A three eyed child laughed as she played some kind of dice game with a long haired, blue skinned woman. It was an informal setting and everyone was relaxed.

The man in the robes approached the two and handed the woman the piece of clear glass he held. He bowed to the child but she screeched at him.

“We were playing!” She yelled. “You made me mess up my turn!”

“I’m sorry.” He said. “But I was told this was of the highest urgency.”

They stood near the doorway and watched the temper tantrum play out as the blue skinned woman scanned through the images on the tablet. Maddy leaned over and whispered the translation and told him what was going on.

“So is the blue lady the queen?” Jessie asked.

“I believe so.” Maddy said.

The child stamped her foot and shrieked, swiped her hand at him and the man fell through the floor. He reached out, tried to grab on to anything but only found air. His scream was cut off when the floor became whole again and Jessie watched in horror as he fell out of sight towards the fountains below.

“That wasn’t very nice.” The woman said in an absent minded way as she concentrated on the tablet.

“Who are they?” the child said when she stopped giggling and finally noticed them.

Jessie and Maddy were trying to back out of the door but the invisible floor was gone. His foot found only empty air. There had to be another way. The blue woman looked up and her eyes narrowed. She made a trilling sound and the guards were instantly on alert. Helmets were replaced, lounging reptilians sprung to attention and rifles were shouldered, aimed at the pair trying to sneak away. After a moments clatter of arms and armor, the throne room fell silent.

The child cocked her head and studied them.

“I’ve haven’t seen creatures like you since...” She broke off then asked. “Were you created by a skin doctor?”

Maddy translated under her breath and Jessie shook his head.

“Uh, no. Born the old-fashioned way.” he said in his barely passable universal.

The little girl tittered and the woman stepped protectively in front of her.

“What is your business?” she demanded.

“We’ve come to ask a favor of the Queen of the Outer Reaches.” Jessie said and bowed to her.

He wasn’t sure what the protocols were but acting obsequious and respectful seemed like the thing to do. With a flick of her wrist, she could send him through the floor.

“Queens business!” the girl shouted and ran for the throne. She climbed up and sat, her feet dangling, and lifted the scepter from its place. The elders took their places at either side of the oversized chair.

The guns were lowered by the guards surrounding the room but all eyes were on them. Jessie looked to the blue woman, not sure what to do.

“What are you waiting for? You may approach.” She said, went back to the tablet and wandered off to continue reading.

Jessie double checked the color of the ring, made sure it was still glowing, then strode across the long expanse of seemingly solid stone floor until he came to the base of the throne. He went to one knee, bowed his head like he’d seen in countless movies about kings and queens and hoped he didn’t do something to offend her. He didn’t know if the blue lady was toying with him or if the little girl really was the Queen but he had to play it straight. He’d seen how fast she went from cute and precocious to a stark raving killer.

“What is it you wish?” the child asked regally.

“We have rejuvenation bracelets, your gracious highness.” Jessie said. “I’d like to get them reprogrammed with our profiles. I was told only the great and powerful Queen of the Outer Reaches could accomplish this.”

It took her a long time to answer and Jessie kept his head down but his senses were wide awake and waiting for some calamity to fall. When she finally spoke, her voice sounded old and wise. When he looked up, her eyes were ancient.

“Your words of flattery are strange and unusual but I understand their meaning.” She said. “Where do you come from?”

“The far side of the galaxy.” Jessie said. “I’m trying to get home.”

A slight smile curved her thin lips.

“I know your home, there is much gold is there not?”

“Probably.” Jessie said. “I didn’t have any of it.”

The queens’ smile broadened.

“It’s a difficult journey. Others have tried and others have failed.” She said cryptically

“You know of how to get there?” Jessie asked and there was a gasp among the advisors, armored guards shifted positions and there were throaty rumbles of anger.

“You dare question the Queen?” the blue skinned woman demanded; her eyebrows arched.

The child held up a hand to silence the quiet furor.

“Sorry, your grace. I am unaccustomed to your... uh… customs.” Jessie stammered as he calculated how many of the reptilians he could