Sublimation Falls: Part III

From the back of the salamander Phelps, Abie and Rondo could see for miles around. After quite a long time, they saw their home.

The salamander landed in the tree, which burst into flames, and Rondo got her ball back, only slightly scorched.

"Good thing you didn't throw the ball on the roof of the house," said Rondo.



Abie had to agree.

Even from a distance, Mount Sublime is formidable.

Sublimation Falls: Part II

Having landed their boat and journeyed through countless forests and plains, across the great desert Abie and Rondo ran from tigers, rode upon dromedaries and evaded bandits and brigands.
Abie saw three mirages, and two of them turned out to be real. Oases were few and far between.
At last they reached the foothills of Mount Sublime, where they followed the advice of wise gorillas and sage goats, and came at last to the great mountain itself.

"Too many stairs," Abie complained as they climbed up the side of the mountain.
"1049… 1050… 1051…" Rondo muttered to herself.
When they got to the top of Mount Sublime, the wizard was very polite, but unable to get Rondo's ball down from the tree. They lunched on cucumber sandwiches and pomegranate sherbet.
"But you can ride my salamander Phelps home," the Wizard offered. "Phelps can fly, of course."

Sublimation Falls: Part I

Author's note: Sublimation Falls is a waterfall so high it turns to steam miles above the ground. It hangs like a giant icy stalactite from the top of Mount Sublime.

"Tell me again, why are we here?" Abie asked his little sister Rondo.

"On the other side of the world there is a mountain so tall the top of it is frozen," Rondo replied. "Even in Summer."
"And around the mountain is a desert so wide and so hot that it will melt your shoes like chewing gum," Rondo continued. "Even in Winter."

"And the desert birds fly up, nesting in high aeries behind great waterfalls there, which never reach the ground, waterfalls which turn into clouds."
"The birds feed on salamanders and bugs that swim in the mist. And above their nests lives a wizard who will grant a single wish," Rondo finished.

"But why are we here?" Abie asked again.
"Because," Rondo replied, "You threw my ball up into a tree, and we need that wish to get it back down again. And because we are knights and we are on a quest. And because if we were not here, we would be somewhere else…"

"…playing with my ball."