Helen double-checked the settings on the machine just as she'd seen her uncle do it.  She checked the headband on Jerry's head and made sure all the electrodes were connected, and then she checked the connections on her own helmet.  She looked down at her ten-year-old cousin, who was eight years her junior.
"Sleepy yet?" she asked.
Jerry lay on the couch, wide awake.  "A little, but it's too early for my bedtime.  I'm not sure we should be doing this, Helen.  If Dad catches us in here he'll ground me forever.  And he'll never let you in here to watch him work again, and that's for sure."
"We agreed that we'd keep this our own little secret," she said.  "Uncle Jim and Aunt Cathy won't be back from Washington until late tomorrow.  We'll be okay. I promise."
Because Helen was doing well in her science class, her uncle, a government research scientist, allowed her in the private lab he'd set up in his basement to observe and  sometimes assist him with experiments.  Her uncle also experimented with psychic phenomena, and this particular machine was a result of those experiments.   His "dream machine" had always been off limits to her.
"If I dream," said Jerry, "will you really be able to see what I'm dreaming?"
"Not only that, but I'll join you in your dream.  I once saw uncle Jim connect Queenie to the machine, and he said he was able to see the dog dreaming of playing with a Frisbee.  He said he projected his psyche into her dream and virtually played with her.  I asked him to let me wear the helmet but he said I should wait until he worked out some of the kinks."
Jerry raised his head.  "Suppose I'm dreaming of a girl or somethin'?"
She laughed.  "In that case, I promise I won't enter your dream.   And also, as I promised, if you're having a nightmare I'll wake you."
After a while, Jerry's breathing grew regular, and she could see that he had fallen asleep.  At the first sign of rapid eye movement, she pulled the visor screen over her eyes and fine tuned the controls.
***
Jerry was walking on a trail going through a forest.  He reached an open area and stopped.  Suddenly a large shadow appeared on the ground, and he looked up to see a human figure astride a winged creature.
He broke into a run, but the figure swooped down and  pulled him onto the winged creature.  Helen watched as the creature rose up and disappeared in the clouds.
Something was wrong.  Helen should be able to follow him in his dreams.  She should be following his experience on the winged creature.  She decided to awaken him and try to figure what had gone wrong.  She raised the visor and looked down at the couch.  Jerry was not there.
Bewildered, she looked down at the empty couch, refusing to believe what she was seeing with her own eyes. In near panic, she pulled the visor down and pressed the button that would project her psyche into Jerry's dream.
She felt a slight tremor going through her body, and then felt as if she were falling.  Feeling momentarily  disoriented, she recovered to find herself on the same trail that Jerry had followed in his dream.  But Jerry was nowhere to be seen.
She surveyed her surroundings.  The forest looked normal enough.  It reminded her of an area where she often went jogging.  A gust of wind stirred the branches of a nearby tree.  Remembering what happened to Jerry, she kept a wary eye on the sky. 
Of one thing she was certain: this was no dream.  She was not a psychic projection; she was flesh and blood.   But the machine had malfunctioned in some way and pulled her and Jerry into this place.  She decided that it must be a world in a parallel universe. 
She felt pangs of guilt about Jerry's predicament.  She had never done anything like this before.  She had always obeyed her parents and she respected her Uncle Jim.  But she had foolishly let curiosity get the best of her, and now she and Jerry were in deep trouble.
She vowed that she would do everything in her power to find Jerry and rescue him.  She also must find a way to return them to Earth.  She reasoned that if they entered this world, then there must be a way out.  But she first must find Jerry, and then seek a way to return.
She decided to follow the trail to see where it led.  She set out, but after only a few steps something began to form before her, blocking her path.  As she watched, the thing formed into a shimmering globe, about the size of a basketball.  The globe moved around her and proceeded to float down the trail in the opposite direction.
It stopped, as if waiting for her.  Not knowing why, she decided to follow the thing.  Perhaps it would lead her to Jerry. 
After following the globe for about fifteen minutes, she came upon a village.  She crossed a bridge leading into the village and then followed the globe to the door of a nearby cottage.  The cottage door opened, and she was greeted by an old man dressed in a white robe.  He had a long beard and his white hair hung down to his shoulders. 
"Welcome," he said.  "I have been expecting you."
Helen stared at the old man, not knowing what to say.
He spoke in a strange accent, but Helen had no trouble understanding him.  "I am Rolyn, Wizard Priest of Conwie Village and member of the King's Council of Wizards."  He stepped aside.  Please come in and we will talk over tea."
Helen hesitated a moment, then stepped in.  The old man might have information about Jerry.  "Thank you.  My name is Helen White." 
He had been expecting her.  Maybe now she would learn where she was and how she had gotten here.  He claimed to be a wizard; did he have something to do with bringing her and Jerry to this world?
After she was seated, the old man served hot tea and sweet cakes. "And now," he said, "I would ask that you explain a few things to me."
Helen was taken by surprise.  She had expected to receive an explanation, not to give one. Recovering, she said, "I'll try, but I'd also like a few explanations myself."
"That is only fair," he replied.  "A short while ago, my crystal detected a harmonic disturbance in the forest.  I peered into the crystal to see Grinstok, an evil outcast wizard, capture a young lad and fly off with him on his trovin.  A moment later, I was startled to see you appear from nothingness, but it became obvious that you were seeking the lad.
Your attire tells me that you and the lad are from a distant land.  Your sudden appearance tells me that you are a sorceress.  I have two questions:  Where do you and the lad come from, and what brings you to Ingliah?
Helen explained her experience to Rolyn as best she could--about her experiment with the dream machine and how it had gone wrong.
"As I understand it," said Rolyn, "you are an apprentice to your uncle, who is teaching you the art of sorcery.  You attempted to cast a spell to enter the lad's dream, but your uncle had not yet taught you all the elements of the spell.  Your spell went awry and sent you here."
Rolyn stroked his beard.  "This place that you come from must be Erthworld, of which some wizards have spoken.  Some wizards have the ability to cross the void and enter  Erthworld when conditions are right.  It is said that the Fynns can come and go at will.  But I babble.  What are your questions, milady?
"I have several," she said.  "First of all, how is it that we understand each other?"
"Since I do not have the ability to cross the void, I cannot fully answer your question.  But those who have crossed over into Erthworld say that there is a tongue there that is the same as Ingliah, which we are now speaking.
Helen accepted that.  "My next question has to do with Jerry, my cousin.  He is the boy who was carried off by the evil wizard called Grinstok.  Can you tell me how to find this wizard?"
"The lad is your blood kin?"
"Yes, we are cousins."
"Then you are obliged to rescue him.  But by the code of Ingliah, no one can accompany you on your quest except blood kin."
"All I'm asking is that you tell me where he is.  I will do everything in my power to rescue Jerry, or I'll die trying."
"Well spoken.  I don't know the extent of your powers of sorcery, but I must warn you that Grinstok is very evil and very powerful."
"You've got to understand that I am not a sorceress.  In my world I am only a student.  Magic appears to be common here, but there is no sorcery in my world."
"Magic is not common here," said Rolyn.  "Only a few are born with the gift.  But in this world, Helen White, you are a sorceress.  Only one who is so gifted could have seen the shimmering globe that I sent to guide you here.  Your powers are apparently stifled in your own world, but must have been released when you crossed over the void."
"If that's true," said Helen, "maybe I will have a better chance of rescuing Jerry."
"Perhaps.  But it would be wise to first learn the extent of your powers, and then undergo a long period of training in how to use those powers.  But I fear there is not time.  Grinstok probably plans to give the lad to the Dark Ones on the Eve of Spirits, twelve days hence."
"But why would he do that?  What would the Dark Ones do with him?"
"Grinstok must offer a sacrifice to the Dark Ones on every Eve of Spirits to hold his power.  The Dark ones will teach the lad their ways, and he will eventually become one of them."
"Then I've got to set out as soon as possible."
"As you wish, milady.  The code prevents me from going with you, but I can arrange for a horse, a weapon, a pack animal and provisions for you." 
Rolyn went on.  "As to your question of finding Grinstok, he dwells on the Mount of Shadows in the far northern region of the kingdom, where he has been since his banishment.  He has set a spell of confusion that causes all who come near his hiding place to become lost and wander in the wilderness."
"Why was Grinstok banished from the council?" She asked.
"He was caught practicing the black arts, an evil form  of sorcery, which is forbidden by the council."
"You said that a spell of confusion prevented people from finding his hideout.  Is there a way to counter the spell?"
"None have succeeded so far. But there is a possible source of help that I have not yet mentioned.  The village of the Fynns, The Wee Folk, lies near the Mount of Shadows.  There are some powerful wizards among them who might help you.  But I warn you, the Fynns are suspicious of strangers.  But they are loyal to their friends, and if you can gain their trust they may provide valuable help."
"I can use all the help I can get.  Where can I find the Fynns?"
"Their village can be sighted from the road that you will follow.  It will be on your left.  From there it is but a day's travel to The Mount of Shadows."
"At least I can stop there and ask them," she said.  "They can only say no.  Rolyn, I have a couple more questions.  What kind of creature was Grinstok riding when he took Jerry, and how did he know that Jerry would be there?"
"He rides a very large bird called a trovin, a dangerous beast with a sharp beak and powerful talons.  Grinstok is the only person to have trained one.  He frequently flies the trovin over the kingdom spying on our activities.  He probably came across the lad by pure chance."
***
The next morning Rolyn gave her a map of the route she would follow.  As promised, he provided her with a horse, a pack animal, provisions, and a sword.
"Are you familiar with horses?" He asked.
"Yes.  I learned to ride on my grandfather's farm."  She laughed nervously.  "I know nothing about swords.  This thing will only get me killed."
"You should at least wear it.  An armed traveler will be less tempting to robbers."  He handed her a dagger.  "If you can't use a sword, this may come in handy."
She mounted her horse, bade Rolyn farewell, and set out on her journey. 
***
The journey would take eight days, Rolyn had said.  The Eve of Spirits was twelve days away, so that gave her four days to seek help from the Fynns and then search for Grinstok's hideaway.
She planned to use her travel time to learn all she could about the extent of her powers.  The night before, to the amazement of Rolyn, she discovered that she had a talent for creating illusions. 
As she rode, she tried to remember everything she had ever heard about magic--from fairy tales to movies.  Each time she remembered something, she would try it.  Most of the things she could not do, but she was amazed at the few things that she could do.
She found that she could teleport short distances to any place within her line of sight.  She could move objects with her mind.  She had thought of these things as psi power, but whether psi or magic, the abilities were there.
But the ability that she liked best was her ability to throw an invisibility screen around her and the animals.  She had seen such a screen in a movie once.  She tried it, and was amazed that it worked for her.
She suspected that she could find more magic powers, but time was getting short.  She decided instead to practice and sharpen those powers that she did have. 
She refined her powers of illusion to the point that she caused her horse and donkey to stop dead in their tracks as she created the illusion of a brick wall.  She honed her ability to move objects.   She practiced until she could send her dagger flying unerringly to a target, and then bring it back to her waiting hand.
***
As Rolyn had said, she could see the village of the Fynns from the road.  It was late in the day when she turned off onto the side road leading to the village.  As she approached the village, a group of three came to meet her.
They were about three feet tall, and were wearing acorn-like hats, jerkins, breeches, and soft leather boots.  They halted, and one of the three stepped forward.
"I am Gillem, chief of the Fynns.  What brings you to our village, traveler?"
"I am Helen White, of Erthworld.  My cousin was abducted by Grinstok, and I hope to rescue him and return to my world.  The Wizard Rolyn told me of you, and I am here to seek your help."
One of the two Fynns behind Gillem spoke up. "The Fynns are not in the habit of helping strangers.  Be on your way, traveler."
"Quiet!" Gillem shouted.  "Perhaps this lady can earn our help."  He looked at Helen.  "Many years ago, I refused the hand in marriage of the daughter of a king in another land.  He placed a curse that my first born would never laugh.  We do know that a single, brief smile on the boy's face will break the spell.  But with all the magic power of the Fynns, we have been unable to bring the faintest of smiles to his face. Make Kasee smile, Helen White, and we will give you our help."
Helen was discouraged.  If all the magic power of the Fynns had failed to make the boy smile, what could she do?  It would be best, she decided, to stop wasting time and continue her journey.  The Eve of Spirits was only four days away, and she still had a day's travel.
Even if she resumed her journey this minute, she would have only three days to search a vast area for Grinstok's hideout--not to mention the evil wizard's spell of confusion.
Gillem continued.  "We have failed to make Kasee smile," he said, "but perhaps you know of tricks that are unknown to us.  I understand your urgency to reach your cousin, but without our help, it is near certain that you will not find Grinstok. 
"If you can earn our help, I know a way that you can overcome his spell of confusion, and though I am forbidden to accompany you, I can give you the means to at least stand and fight him."
Gillem was right.  She knew that her chance of finding Jerry was almost nil, and even if she did, she would have little chance in a power struggle with Grinstok.  She must have the help of the Fynns.
"All right," she said, "I will do what I can to make your son smile."
***
Poor Kasee was the saddest looking kid she had ever seen.  He had a perpetual mournful look on his face, as if he were about to cry.  She knew that this would be an uphill battle, but she had no choice but to try to bring a smile to his face.
Magic was out. She was sure the Fynns had tried everything.  She tried to remember things that had made her laugh as a child of Kasee's age--seven summers, Gillem had said.  She guessed that the jokes and riddles she had heard as a child would be unknown here.
She knelt down and faced the boy.  "Hello, Kasee, my name is Helen.  Would you like to see a trick?"
Kasee nodded.
Helen pointed out the window.  "See those two horses out there?  I'll bet I can take off my shoes and jump over both of them.  Think I can?"
He shook his head.  "I don't think so."
Helen took off her shoes and jumped over them.  The grownups present laughed, but Kasee face registered nothing.
"Okay," she said.  "Here's a riddle for you.  All the men where I come from wear red suspenders.  Can you guess why?"
Kasee again shook his head.  "No."
"They wear them to hold up their trousers," she said.
Again, the grownups laughed, but Kasee did not. 
She tried several more jokes and riddles, but none had the slightest effect on the boy.  In desperation, she tried to think of something in her repertoire of magic tricks that might make him laugh. 
Nothing funny about making myself invisible, she thought.  Moving objects around, or teleporting herself surely wouldn't get a laugh.  But if she could show him something funny with her illusions...
Helen tried to remember the funniest Saturday morning cartoons she had seen, with animals, bugs, and funny looking people.  She created a screen on the wall and showed her cartoons.  "Look, Kasee, look at the funny pictures."
Kasee looked.  And looked.  At first, he was enthralled by the moving pictures.  His eyes widened and a smile came to his lips.  And then he started laughing and clapping his hands.  "Look, Poppa! Look at the funny dog chasing the bug."
Gillem was overjoyed.   "Helen White, We will help you in every way that we can."
The villagers were overjoyed that the spell over their little prince was broken.  They began to celebrate.  They hailed Helen as a great sorceress and invited her to join in the celebration as a guest of honor.  Since it was already late, and she was too tired to resume her travel, she accepted.
***
The following morning  Helen had a meeting with Gillem and the two village elders.  
"Since we are not blood kin of the lad, we are forbidden to accompany you.  But there are other ways we can help you.  "What are your powers?" Asked Gillem.
She told him of the few powers she had experimented with while traveling, and when asked, she demonstrated her powers for them.
"Your powers are few, but those that you do have are impressive.  We were especially impressed by your powers of illusion, and your ability to teleport is rare, even among the Fynns."
The three Fynns huddled for a few moments, and then Gillem faced her.  "Grinstok  is very powerful, but his power comes mainly from the Dark Forces.  Fynn power comes from the Forces of Light.  In addition to your innate powers, we shall grant you three powers from the Forces of Light.
"First, you will be able overcome his spell of confusion, and even be able to use your power to seek him out.  Second, you will be immune to bodily harm from Grinstok's demons.  Third, since the Dark Powers have granted Grinstok the power to shape shift, we will grant you the same power.  Grinstok has vanquished several enemies by using his shape-shifting powers, so you can expect him to use them against you.
"You may shift to any creature of your choosing, with but three exceptions:  First, the creature must not exceed the size of your own body by too much.  It may be a wolf or a leopard, for example, but not an elephant. Second, it must be a land animal. And third, it cannot be a mythical creature. 
"Can it be a creature from my own world?"  She asked.
"Yes, so long as it meets the three exceptions that I have given you."
"I have just one more question," said Helen.  "If I can rescue Jerry, can you help us to return to Erthworld?"
"In times past I have visited your world.  I can send you back any time you wish.  Further, I can arrange for you to arrive in Erthworld but a moment after the time you left.  You will not be missed."
"Great!  I won't have to explain to Uncle Jim where we've been."   But first, she would have to rescue Jerry. And even with her new powers, that would not be easy.
***
Later that morning, Helen resumed her journey. By the end of the day, she would be nearing the Mount of Shadows. She would then have two days remaining before the Eve of Spirits.  Since she no longer had to worry about Grinstok's spell of confusion, she should find him well before the Eve of Spirits started. 
Shortly after noon, she came upon a stream.  She stopped to let her animals rest and drink from the stream.  Now would be a good time, she decided, to practice shape shifting.
A fox would be a good test--a real animal, and not too large.  She shifted with no trouble.  Next she tried a wolf.  But she had forgotten her animals; when she became a wolf the animals spooked.  She quickly ran away from the animals, and didn't return  until she could resume her human form. 
Luckily her animals hadn't gone far, and she was able to round them up. She resumed her practice at a safe distance from the animals.
She had no trouble shifting to any animal she could think of except three:  the rhino, the hippo, and the elephant.  She discovered that shifting to another creature was instantaneous, but shifting back to her human form  took time, perhaps two to three minutes.
As she was preparing to resume her journey, she looked up to see a trovin circling overhead.  Grinstok was not astride the creature; it was probably a wild one looking for prey.  It circled low, and again her animals spooked and ran.
Helen was horrified to see the trovin go for the little donkey.  Her dagger would be useless on such a large creature.  She thought of shifting to a tiger, but she would not have time to reach the donkey in time. 
Her mind raced.  She must create an illusion of a creature that the trovin might fear.  But what?  It probably feared nothing.  But she had to try something.  She looked up at the sky and concentrated.
Suddenly, a monstrous, fire-breathing dragon appeared, flying toward the trovin.  It worked.  Squawking loudly, the trovin forgot the donkey and fled the illusory dragon.  Helen kept the dragon on its tail until it was out of sight.
***
The following day, using the powers that she had acquired from the Fynns, she was drawn to the cottage that was Grinstok's hideout.  She immediately threw a screen of invisibility around her and the animals.  She set up camp near the cottage so that she could spy on Grinstok without being seen.  She needed every advantage she could get.
A short time later, a man emerged from the cottage.  He looked around as though seeking something, and then started walking directly toward her.  As he neared, she could see that he had long black hair, a bushy black beard, and a black robe. 
He walked up to her and stopped.  "I have seen through your invisibility screen," he boasted.  "However, somehow you have defeated my spell of confusion.  And my spirit spies have informed me that you routed my trovin with your illusions.  It has not yet returned.  For that, you shall pay, whoever you are."
"I am Jerry's cousin," she said.  "Give me the boy, and I will go in peace."
"If I do not?"  His tone was mocking.
"Then I will fight you."
He laughed.  "I am no stupid trovin, to be tricked by your simple illusions."
He was mocking her.  It was obvious he did not consider her a serious opponent.  Now was the time to attack, while he was caught up in his boasting.  Abruptly, she sent the dagger flying straight to his heart.
A few inches from his heart, the dagger struck an invisible shield and fell to the ground.  He drew the dagger to his hand before she could pull it back.
"Now, 'Lady of Illusions,' you shall pay for losing my trovin."  He sent the dagger flying toward her heart.
She teleported herself a few steps away and the dagger flew harmlessly through the air to become lost in the brush.
He was unable to hide his surprise, but quickly recovered.  "A good trick, but I weary of trifling with you."  He raised his arms.  "Dragh of the Dark World come to my aid."
A hideous gnome-like being appeared before Grinstok. 
So he was already calling on his demons.  Now he wasn't mocking her--he had apparently decided she was a serious opponent after all.
"What do you wish of me?" The demon asked.
Grinstok pointed at Helen.  "Destroy this woman."
The demon looked at her.  That I cannot do.  A Fynn spell protects her.  I can do her no bodily harm."
"Then nullify her powers and I will destroy her."
"I will nullify her inborn powers, but some of her powers are Fynn-given.  I cannot nullify those."
"Is her power to transport herself Fynn-given?"
"It is not, that power is inborn."
Helen made a decision to teleport herself away before the demon could nullify that power, plus her other inborn powers.  She tried, but the power was gone.
"It is done," said the demon.  "Her inborn powers are nullified."  Then it vanished.
Grinstok laughed.  "Now I have a nice surprise for you, Lady of Illusions."  Suddenly Grinstok was a snarling tiger.  
Helen's mind was spinning.  She knew that Grinstok was unaware of her powers to shift shape.  She wanted to use that to her advantage, as she had when she surprised Grinstok with her ability to teleport.  She had hoped to choose a beast that would be superior to Grinstok's choice, then attack and slay him before he could recover.  But she could think of nothing superior to a tiger.
Helen was surprised that she could read the jumbled thoughts emanating from the man/beast mind.  "You die now.  Illusions no help you." 
As the tiger was ready to spring, Helen abruptly changed shape; she too became a tiger.  Grinstok hesitated, then retreated a few steps.  He was obviously taken by surprise. 
He chose not to attack.  He obviously did not care for a struggle that might go either way.  He wanted a sure victory.  Helen, too, could see no advantage in such a struggle.  She waited to see what his next move would be.
After a few minutes passed, Grinstok came to within a few feet of her and stopped.  He was up to something.  Just as she was stepping away from him, he suddenly became a deadly cobra.
She guessed his strategy.  He would strike, and while waiting for the venom to take effect, he would slither to safety into one of the many crevices of the surrounding rocks.
He wasted no time, striking immediately.  But Helen was  already moving away.  She jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.  The cobra raised its head for another strike.
But his time, Helen was ready.  She changed into a mongoose.  She looked up to see the raised head of the cobra through the eyes of the little mongoose.  Suddenly she felt vulnerable.
She knew that the little animals were usually victorious in their fights with cobras.  But not always.  She wanted to run, but she could not abandon Jerry.  She suppressed her own fears and allowed the mongoose complete freedom to obey its instincts.
The mongoose was probably unknown on this world, for Grinstok seemed unconcerned.  His thoughts were gloating.
"You make fatal mistake in shape shift. Now die."
He thought that she had made an error in her choice of creatures, and she hoped that this would be to her advantage.
The cobra struck, and the mongoose jumped aside.  The cobra recovered, raised its head, and struck again.  Again, the mongoose avoided the strike.  But before the serpent could recover from the second strike, the mongoose pounced on the snake's head.  It clamped its powerful jaws over a vulnerable spot and crushed the reptile's head.  Within seconds, the cobra lay writhing in death throes.
***
Helen discovered that she had recovered all of her inborn powers.  The death of Grinstok must have broken the demon's spell.
She found Jerry in the cellar of Grinstok's cottage.  He was cold and hungry, but otherwise okay.  They embraced, and both wept for joy.
They headed back to the village of the Fynns, and from there, their next stop would be home.