Kiki and Koko had never been up in a mountain so high before. They took each step slowly as it was hard to catch their breath. The path was narrow and difficult, but this was the only way to the great Charlie Lama.
The wind lashed right through Kiki's winter coat. As they turned the bend they noticed the trail went across a wooden bridge. As they got near the bridge they were met with a small troll with a green hat. The troll said,
"If you wish to cross the bridge and meet the Great Charlie Lama you must answer my questions three. First, What is your name?
"I'm Kiki and I'm Koko."
"Second, What is your quest?"
"We are hear to meet the Great Charlie Lama."
Third, What is the original meaning of the Aboriginal word "Dharug"?
Koko asked,
Would that be a Groote Eylandt or a Tasmanian Aboriginal?
The troll then answered,
"I'm not sure."
As this was the wrong answer he began to lose his footing and fall of the steep mountainside. This left the bridge passable for Kiki and Koko. They walked over the steep pass on the wobbly bridge closer to their final destination.
The wind blew across the bridge making it difficult to see and making each step more hazardous than the last. Snow swirled up with each gust of wind. As they inched to the edge of the sky bridge Kiki lost her balance and slipped. With on hand on the railing and the other hand held out to Kiki he lifted her up.
They finally got across the bridge and breathed a sigh of relief. Then the wind stopped blowing. In place of snow was a clear path with a light shinning a head. They followed the light a few steps to a button on the side of the mountain wall.
Kiki and Koko hesitated but figured they had no choice but to press the button. When the pressed the button a door began to slide open in the mountain wall. Inside was a small square room like a box. As soon as they got inside the doors began to close and they felt the floor of the box began to move. Seconds later it stopped and the door opened with a ding.
When they stepped outside they were high above the storm in a cheerful mountain paradise. They no longer felt weak, but they felt happy and giddy. They knew they were near the Charlie Lama. A little ahead of them they saw a Lama sitting on a precipice. They asked him,
"Are you the great Charlie Lama."
The Lama answered with a wink,
"Indeed I am not. For I am only mildly mediocre. What can I do to help you two?"
Koko explained,
"My sister Kiki gets weak in the knees and dizzy and the condition worsens in high elevations. We came to you to find a cure."
"I see."
The lama looked into his bag and found something with the label "acetazolamide" He gave it to her with a glass of warm water. She drank it and felt better. Then he pointed her to the box they had just come out of. He said,
"Push the button that says, 'L'. It will take you to the lobby."
When they did so they found themselves in a luxury hotel on the beach.
Kiki said,
"I wish we would have stayed here instead of climbing the mountain."
Koko said,
"I didn't know the elevator went as far as the Great Charlie Lama. All we had to do was push the button."
They started to walk out toward the beach, but when they turned around to look back at the elevator it was gone. In it's place was a little troll with a green hat laughing.
This story was inspired by the inwell prompt 118. All photos here are property of me and taken with my cell phone @mineopoly. This story is completely AI free.
