Dream Wanderers: An Unexplained Rule

Lawson had been running for what felt like forever. The fire was gaining on him; there was no way he could outrun it. His only chance for survival was a small lake that he knew was somewhere in the vicinity. With a little bit of luck, the fire wouldn't be able to spread past the lake. His strength was fading; he wasn't sure he could make it. The fire was so hot he was certain the hair on the back of his neck had burned off. 

"Follow the birds," a soft, comforting voice instructed. Although he heard Gren's voice, Lawson couldn't see her anywhere. He could feel her presence, urging him to go on. "The birds will show you the way to the lake." Lawson took just a moment to look up and saw a flock of orange and blue striped birds flying in formation. To follow them, he would have to backtrack a bit, right to the fire's edge, but Gren had never led him wrong in the past. He ran faster, trying hard to keep up with the birds and failing.

"Don't strive so hard. Just keep your eyes in their direction and you'll be there soon." Lawson took a deep breath and, ignoring Gren's advice, tried to run faster. He fell, ripping the shirt of his blue uniform on a burning bush. Gren gasped. "Are you okay?"
Lawson stood up and pulled on his sleeve, which was still caught in the bush. The sleeve ripped from his shirt and caught on fire. He brushed himself off. "I'm fine, but the birds are gone. Which way do I go?"

Gren's voice was calm once again. "The same direction. You're almost there."
Lawson started to run again, sure he was about to be consumed by the fire. He had twisted his ankle, but he wasn't about to admit how badly it hurt-not even to himself. He was suddenly at the top of a hill; at the bottom was the lake. He was going to make it! He started running even faster down the hill, tripped almost immediately, and rolled the rest of the way. He could hear Gren suppress a laugh. She'd have points marked off for that! At the bottom of the hill he tried to stand as gracefully as he could, brushing himself off a second time.

"Swim to the other side of the lake, and you'll be safe from the fire."
Lawson walked to the water's edge, bent down, and stuck his hand in. "The water's too cold. I'll die of hypothermia."
"No, the water's warm," Gren's voice told him. "Try it again."
Not believing her, he felt the water a second time. It was perfect. He waded into the lake. He glanced around, looking for Gren, even though he knew he wouldn't see her. He walked slowly, not realizing that the water became deep very quickly. Soon he was over his head.

"Swim!" Gren screamed. "You need to make it across to be safe!"
"I can't do it!" Lawson managed to say, fighting for each breath. "My strength is gone." He coughed twice, swallowing water each time. He felt as if he were about to go under.
"Use some of my strength." Gren's voice was calm again. "Do it for me."

Lawson started swimming; suddenly knowing he could make it across. There was no more water in his lungs, his ankle didn't hurt anymore, and he felt as if he could swim all rotation. Soon, he saw where the birds had landed on the other side. He made them his target; he'd follow the birds, as Gren had originally suggested.
In almost no time at all, he made it safely across the lake, the fire a distant memory. He climbed out of the water and lay on the beach, the nearby birds ignoring him. He breathed in the clear air and closed his eyes.

"There were several major mistakes. Who would like to go first? Lawson? It was your dream, I'll give you the first pick."
Lawson sat up and shook his head. He had only been awake for a few seconds; he didn't even know where to begin. He looked at Hutch, his teacher and mentor. "Can I have a micro to get the water out of my ears?"

"There's no water in your ears-it was a dream," Hutch reminded him. "No more stalling. You know as well as I do that it's best to talk about the dream while it's still fresh in your mind. Now, tell me a mistake."

"Gren laughed," Lawson said, glancing at his best friend with an apologetic look.
"You're right. Laughing isn't allowed." Hutch broke a smile. "I almost laughed, too; it was pretty funny watching you tumble down that hill." He became stern again. "People take having their dreams wandered very seriously. If they think you're laughing at them, you'll lose a client. Believe me, you'll see funnier things than Lawson rolling. You need to maintain you composure. Gren, tell me another mistake. A bigger one."

"I cared too much," Gren said quietly.
"Exactly!" Hutch almost screamed the word. "Clients will be depending on you to get them through their dreams. If you sound worried, they'll be worried, and it will only make their dreams worse. You need to be a smooth, calming voice to help them through their problems. I know you two are close-is it too hard for you to work together?"

"No," they said in unison.
"Good. I'd hate to be switching around partners this far into the program, but I will do it if I have to." Hutch took a drink from the mug in front of him. "It's been a long session, so I'll bring up my last point, which goes back to what Gren just said. You can't get personal. Gren, you gave some of your strength to Lawson. You told him to do it for you. That will work for you two, but not for a client. They don't know you or your strength."

Hutch started to pack up his equipment. "It was a good effort, both of you. You lost...ten points. Take the rest of the rotation off. I'll see you again the rotation after next. Lawson, it will be your turn to wander."

A unit later, Lawson and Gren sat under a yellow tree, enjoying its fruit. "That's the worst part," Lawson complained. "I hate having my dreams wandered. It's so embarrassing."
"At least it's just me. If Hutch decided we needed to switch partners..." Gren shuddered.

"I don't mind having you wander my dreams," Lawson said. "Not really. But it's hard knowing that Hutch is doing it too, even if he's just a silent observer. Do you think he ever wanders without our permission?"

Gren looked shocked. "That's against the law!"
"So what's time in a labor camp to a Dream Wanderer?" Lawson asked. "He could just wander everyone's dreams until they do what he wants them to. Have you ever thought about how much power we could have?"

"Shhh!" Gren glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Talking like that will get us both thrown out of the program-and with only one orbit left. My parents would never forgive me! Besides, they'd remove the gift before throwing the criminal into the labor camp."

Lawson placed his hand right above Gren's, as close as possible without actually touching it. "Don't worry, I wouldn't really do it. It's just that sometimes the whole thing is so overwhelming."

"Have you given any more thought to what you're going to do after graduation?" Gren asked, changing the subject. "Where you might want to apprentice?" She carefully moved her hand away; if they were caught almost touching, there would be consequences, and Lawson was too close for comfort. She didn't know what the consequences were and didn't want to find out.

"I've thought about it a lot. I think maybe that's why my dreams have been full of danger lately. The fire represents not being able to go back, but I'm scared of going forward. Does that make any sense?"

Gren laughed. "We're supposed to help people get through their dreams, not interpret them. But I did learn one thing from your dream today."

"What's that?"
"You'll never be able to make it without me!" Gren picked a handful of grass and threw it playfully at Lawson. He did the same back at her, and the two of them were soon enjoying the fight.
Little did they know they were being watched.

Next: Time with Friends

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