Episode 22 - Mountains

## Mountains

A red drawing of a round patch is center, with three mountains surrounded by a floral circle. The rest of the images is drawn in white. There are cut sandwiches on top of the patch Underneath, it says "22 • Mountains". The border is made up of mountains, with the moon, stars, a waterfall, and ice caps visible.

### Author

William A. Wellman

Hector comes full circle, Walt makes a plan, and Rick rides for the barrens. The theme of tonight's episode is Mountains.

***Content Warnings:** Static, abuse, violence, kidnapping and abduction, death + injury, blood, gun mention, emotional manipulation, body horror*

## Intro - There Are Mountains

Nikignik speaks of mountains. You grew up with forests, wetlands, and stone, but no mountains. Your parents and grandparents taught you to love and respect the environment. When the black rains fall, you see the pines rise and the forest spread. The land no longer loves and respects you. The wildlife is dangerous, the landscape is threatening, and mountains loom on the horizon to the north. The world is bidding humanity goodbye.

Nikignik is sitting on a sexy motorcycle that looks more old-fashioned than it is. This is a prized possession and a comfort to its owner.

## Story One - The Long Way Down

Hector is relieved to see some plastic lawn flamingos as he walks along the road. He has been foraging for suspicious wild food when he gets hungry. He heads to Zelda's house and hurries to get his rations from his motorcycle. He has been preparing to tell Zelda that her son is dead, and is not looking forward to it. He decides not to give too many details about his own feelings, or about how Jonah came back from the dead twice, but not a third time.

Hector notices that Zelda's red truck is gone and the house has sunk halfway into the swamp. Then he realizes the door is open. He grabs his machete and approaches the house, calling for Zelda.

Inside, Hector notices shleps crawling beneath the wallpaper. The floor is sharply slanted, and the water rising from the basement stairs is beginning to dissolve cardboard boxes. There is a plate of sandwiches on the kitchen counter, beginning to grow mold. A sponge and broken plate are on the floor. There are two pairs of shoes on the floor, and a bottle of superglue and a cloth on the table.

Hector sits down at the table, exhausted, shaking, starved, and grieving Jonah. Now Zelda is gone as well, and he suspects she was taken in her own truck by someone she knew, if she is still alive. He briefly considers selling anything of value in the house and moving on, but realizes he has come to far to return to that way of life. He goes out to his motorcycle, and Heidi and Jackie jump in the side car. Hector follows the truck's tracks to find Zelda.

### Interlude One - The Shuddering Peaks

Nikignik warns the dreamers to avoid the Shuddering Peaks. You may look up at night and notice a mountain that was not there before. It will get closer and closer each night. You will hear a call from outside your window as the mountains get so close that they block out the stars. If you answer the call, you will be climbing forever, passing the bodies of others who attempted climbing the peaks. If you choose to ignore this warning and climb anyway, stay hydrated, wear a helmet, and bring appropriate safety gear.

## Story Two - Make It Better

Walt has been researching ghostly instruments. He marks his place in the dusty book he's been reading, making a note to return it to the library well before it's due. The residents of the Scoutpost have been unsettled since Democracy's visit at the spring solstice. Walt can feel everyone's expectations that he will find a way to solve their problems. They don't know how tired he is, but he has no time to rest, and he isn't the only one hurting.

He goes to the RV looking for Riot, and finds her crying in bed. He lets her know that she can talk about what's wrong, and starts talking about his own experience of loss and life-altering events. When the black rains fell he was a landscaper, and his clients were only concerned about keeping their lawns green. He left his job in disgust. Walter recalls a woman he was dating named Daphne who worked at his favorite diner and had a wonderful smile. She didn't mind that he was asexual, and always gave him an extra pancake. When he left his job he went to get her and take her north, where he thought they could be safe. Before he could reach her, a hallowed neighbor killed her.

Riot apologizes, and Walt reassures her that it's alright. Riot then starts to talk about Clara, saying that she never expected them to be in real danger. She thinks Clara deserves to be here more than she does. Walt tells her that she needs to be more gentle with herself and that Clara would be proud of her. Life is full of terrible things, but time will pass and it will be okay. Riot responds that it'll be okay when she kills the Instrumentalist.

Walt agrees that they will go after him as soon as they're ready, but that will not make her feel better. Riot disagrees. Walt says they will meet with Diggory to put together their final plan when she's ready.

### Marketing - The American Dream

Lady Ethel Mallory describes the founding fathers' vision of freedom, luxury, and tranquility. The Botulus Corporation has brought America together more than anything else. Joining a Dreaming Box is patriotic, in addition to guaranteeing dreamers life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Oswald Biggs Botulus started the company to bring the American Dream to everyone, and to unite them all in the Dreaming Boxes.

### Story Two, Continued - Make It Better

Nikignik says that they are generally content with themselves, but sometimes they wish they had more destructive power because Lady Ethel makes them irrationally angry.

Walt tries not to think about Daphne as he sits down with Riot and Diggory. While they have tea, they plan out the ground rules for hunting the Instrumentalist down. Walt calls on Diggory to get Riot to safety if anything happens to her. He is only bringing her into this dangerous situation because he doesn't think he could keep her away. They then discuss what they know. They know that the Instrumentalist is a serial killer, they know his last name is Reed, and they know that he lives in the central Hallowoods in a house guarded by revenants like Diggory.

Walt asks Diggory if they know someone named Irene. They ask if she made them, and wants to know more, but Walt steers the conversation back to the Instrumentalist. He has many others like Diggory ready to defend him. There is a barrier around the house that keeps the forest out. Walt plans to take the Instrumentalist into the forest, where he will be less well-protected and they will have a better chance.

Riot asks if Walt knows anything about the key she stole. Percy responds that it's for a cabinet, and that it's used to bind ghosts into instruments. Walt asks if Percy will be okay, since this is his father. Diggory responds that they were the one to burn down the piano, and Percy wants to face him.

Walt suggests that they can bait the Instrumentalist with the key, then surprise him with Diggory. They have to get him out of the forest one way or another, in order to keep the people of the Hallowoods as safe as possible. He plans to attack the Instrumentalist at the Shuddering Peaks.

### Interlude Two - Mountains In Space

Nikignik talks about the mountains in space, made of dust and wind. Humans see emptiness when they look up at the sky, but that is only because it was not made for them. Nikignik used to explore space. They met many people there, including their mentor and one who made them fall into "the sweetest abyss." When this is all over, they may go travelling again.

## Story Three - The Devil's Friends

Rick Rounds sounds the alarm in Fort Freedom, calling his Freedom Eagles to action against the devil. Rick then proselytizes about the devil, and evils in the world. He tells Fort Freedom that after the devil took away the wolf woman they captured, he came back to threaten Rick. Rick claims he drove the devil away, telling him how holy the people of Fort Freedom are, but that the devil promised to come back again and tear them all apart. They have faced many terrors together, and now he calls on them to join him in hunting down the devil and killing him. He notes how sincere each person is as they all cheer, to remember who he can count on in the end, and heads towards the four wheelers when Mrs. Wicker grabs his arm. She tells him that "the devil also comes to visit his friends," but won't elaborate.

Rick takes his helmet from Buck and walks away, thinking to himself that Mrs. Wicker is a problem. As a pastor's widow with eight children, though, he doesn't feel like he can take any action against her.

Buck tells Rick that he wants him back in one piece, and Rick rides out into the barrens in search of the devil and his friends.

## Outro - Mountains

Nikignik ends by saying that mountains are a matter of perspective. Their mountains are not the same as yours, just as everyone has their own challenges to overcome. Even if others never know how great your struggle is, at the end you will stand at the top and look back at the journey you made.