Flare just looked around nervously, as if Luvo might appear out of the rock. With a magma vein warming my magical feet, giving us all new strength, I knew Luvo couldn't come near this place. Still, after what he had just done, I had to think about exactly what Luvo meant when he said he was helpless. Apparently he and I had two different meanings for that word. I couldn't do anything when I was helpless, but Luvo could… thunder through the earth.
"It" is a "he," I explained. His name is Luvo. Well, that's part of his name. The only part I can pronounce, anyway. He's a mountain. He makes the mountain you're trying to break through look like that piece of granite I put between us. I was doing some really fast thinking now. He's my friend, but I have to tell you, he doesn't like the idea of you and your friends blasting this mountain apart just so you can get out. I don't think he'll let you do it.
The earth moaned. The others were calling, Carnelian and Flare's people.
We can't just stop. Flare sounded shaky. They want us to do something for them. I can feel it.
He may be a mountain, but he isn't this mountain, Carnelian said. He can't stop us. We're going to go out. She didn't sound much more confident than Flare did, but I had the feeling that didn't matter with Carnelian. If she wanted to do something, she would try it even if she wasn't certain she could succeed.
He can talk to the other mountains around here. I was still thinking as fast as I could. If they all get together, they can do something. Trust me. I know mountains. They don't want you to blow them into gravel. Now me, I've been trapped. I know what it's like to want out. And I know a way—an easier way. There's a crack in the world. You won't have to break through anything. The door's already open.
They drifted in the fault where we'd come to a stop, looking at each other. I shut up. There's a time to talk, and a time to keep still. Sometimes I even know which is which.
Finally they seemed to agree.
Flare asked, And where might we find this crack?
Melting
O nce I explained about the crack in the world some miles beyond the hollow chamber, Flare and Carnelian rushed off to tell the others. Luvo had terrified them. They wanted to get away from him, now.
Me, I took hardly a moment to feel smug. For one thing, they might yet wake up and guess I could be lying like an emperor. They weren't stupid, after all, only not very experienced.
For another, I wanted to have a word with Luvo. I sensed him in the earth hundreds of yards above me. He must have reached down as close to the volcano kids as he dared. As quick as mercury on a warm dish, I rose through stone and packed clay. I stopped, drifting, when I felt Luvo's power around me.
LUVO! I shrieked. He wasn't the only one who could bellow.
Evumeimei? He was confused and worried. Why have you left Carnelian and Flare? Are you hurt? Did they escape you?
They're convincing their idiot friends to come with us. You said you couldn't do anything down there! Thanks for saving my life, but you lied to me!
He was quiet for a moment. When he answered, he sounded even more puzzled, though less worried. I cannot do anything so far from myself.
Then what was that? You nearly blew us all apart! You—you almost made us into fish paste, only we weren't fish!
Now he waited even longer. This time, when he spoke, he spoke as he'd heard Lark talk when she handled the very stupid, or the crazy. I was talking.
Talking! You pounded with your voice! They were cowering! Flare was ready to turn to drops again! Who else do you talk to like that? I asked.
Other mountains. Glaciers. Faults in the earth. Things that vex me.
I shook my head. Possibly Luvo didn't know the voice he uses with the great, ancient parts of the world might overpower younger ones. Finally, I said, It was something. Maybe it was talk to you, but it had weight. You helped me out of a very bad spot. Um. Thank you, again. You convinced Carnelian and Flare they want to try the underwater volcano. They'll do anything to get away from you.