TE17 Mysterious Montenegro

Thekla Kraußeneck

when the notebook flew out of his hands and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. A playing card drifted back into his hand with a picture of the little red book on it. “Possibly one of the most practical inventions of all time,” Octavian commented.

“A playing card?”

“You will accumulate so many things over the course of time that you’ll be so glad that you have this option available. You just have to click your fingers at an object and you can stash it away.”

Zack stashed the card in his back pocket. “Are we done now?”

“Almost.”Octavianputhishandsonhishipsas if hehadsomething important to announce. “You think that you are prepared, but the truth is that nothing can prepare you forwhat lies ahead. This hall here,” he gestured, spreading his arms out, “is the center of a city that is called Ma’quoia in the native language. We, thewanderers, refer to it as Rooton, Woodville or simply ... the Cocoon City.” He paused for a while, giving Zack some time to notice the things appearing inthehall. Sixglasselevatortubes, ascending toaceiling of cogs in the abysmal darkness. Behind a barricade of fences, an airship the size of a Dublin double-decker bus, in the balloon of which there were rows of padded armchairs for passengers. There was a ramp leading to the entrance of the airship, a ticket counter and a board with departure times on it.

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