Chapter 9: Greed and Sacrifice
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     "Where are we going again?" Edward asked. After Lukahn
didn't answer him he asked again and then said "Why am I
following you?"
     "I didn't tell you to follow me." Lukahn replied. "I merely
asked you." After hearing this, Edward, tired, walked over to a
rock and sat down.
     "Well at least let me rest for a bit." he said. Lukahn
nodded his head, not only because Edward was getting on his
nerves, but he was tired too.
     "Well, " Lukahn said, "I guess I am a bit fatigued too." He
looked northward, beyond the mountains, and saw a great city.
"Maybe we should get to that city, over there, and rest in the
inn." Edward rolled his eyes and stood up.
     "Okay, okay..." he mumbled. They continued to drudge
northward to the city of thieves and deceit: Zozo. Lukahn held
out his hand and felt rain.
     "Good thing for us there is a city near." Lukahn said. "It
is starting to pour down!"
     Lukahn and Edward continued north for awhile, all the time
the rain getting thicker, and then finally reached Zozo. Lukahn
felt an evil presence as he looked at the beaten up sign that
read 'Zozo: Town of Righteousness'.
     Edward said "At last! People we can trust!"
     "No. " Lukahn said. "We must not go in there."
     "Come on. We need food, supplies, and... this harp is
killing me!" Edward babbled excitedly.  Lukahn shook his head.
"but, but... Lukahn!"
     "Well, I guess we can go in, but only if we are not..."
Lukahn was interrupted by a guard that was standing at the
entrance of Zozo.
     "Move it along..." he said.
     "How come we didn't see him before?" Edward whispered to
Lukahn. Lukahn walked east of the entrance, motioning Edward to
follow him, until they were out of ear shot and view of the
guard.
     "See what I said?" Lukahn gave Edward an 'I-told-you-so'
look.
     "We could sneak in right through these bushes here." Edward
said very enthusiastically. "Come on, Lukahn!  I'm really tired!"
     "Okay... I guess we can go.  But don't say I didn't warn
you!"
     "You didn't. Come on, follow me over here!" Edward shot
through the bushes like a mad cat. Lukahn pushed the bushes apart
with his staff and moved through them. Lukahn noticed how hard
the rain was pouring now.
     "Let us get indoors, fast!" But he looked in the town.
"Guards, everywhere! We must be quiet from now on."
     "Psss!" Lukahn and Edward heard someone say. "Hey! Old man!
Over here!" They looked over in the bushes next to them at a man
that looked like a thief. Lukahn trusted this man, because his
conscience seemed honest.
     "Can you get us past these guards?" Edward asked.
     "No, but I can get you to the land of gold!"
     Edward smiled happily but Lukahn scowled. "No thank you.
Right now, we need to rest."
     "But I have a small ship. It has a few beds in it!"
     "What we need is passage to the north." Lukahn said.
     "Well... uh... the land of gold is north... yeah! That's
right. And I was just on my way there. But if you don't want to
go..."
     "No! We do! We do!" shouted Edward.
     "Sshhhh!" Lukahn hushed Edward. "I guess we will take your
offer.  But we have no money."
     "No money?! How do you expect to make it these days without
money?"
     "I can give you this." Lukahn pulled out the Floater. Lukahn
thought quickly. "It is said that this stone has powers beyond
that you have ever seen! It can unlock treasures beyond your
greatest dream! And it can be yours upon the safe arrival of me
and Edward to the north."
     "What?" Edward said. "How come you never told-" Lukahn
whacked Edward with his staff and whispered to him:
     "When in Zozo..." Edward was puzzled. Lukahn put the floater
back in his pouch.
     "I'll take it!" shouted the man. "Now, follow me!" He lead
them out of the bushes and lead them to the coast. A small ship
sat deep within shrubs. "Come this way."