Baldur paused to give Hel a significant look.  “Over the past few millennia, there have been a rare few humans born with the ability to sense the Neutrocosm, even manipulate it in some small ways.   But in their greed and ambition for power or fame, or perhaps their wisdom in the case of Merlin, they kept the knowledge to themselves.  In Merlin’s time, the human race was little more than rutting livestock.  Able to speak, make fire, farm and trade, but little else.  Warlike, but only able to damage each other on a small scale with primitive weapons in petty wars for territory. If he had spread his knowledge to the uneducated masses at that time, the race might have wiped itself out.”

“And now, we’re wiping them out!” Loki grinned. “And you’re hoping that the knowledge will save some of them.”

“That is indeed my hope.  Humankind has long been a favorite of mine,” Baldur agreed.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Salvation

Allistor took a minute or two to bask in the glory of his new skill, and then he got back down to business.  This new system now governing Earth didn’t forgive slackers or people who stood around admiring themselves for too long.

Knowing what he would find, but needing to check anyway, he took hold of his spear and dropped down into the manhole.  Producing a work light from his bag, he strapped it onto his forehead and scanned both directions.   He could see the scrapes in the muck at the bottom of the tunnel indicating that the octopoid had come from his left.  Assuming the only way the woman and her daughter could have gone and lived was the opposite direction, he went right.

He caught himself ducking down unconsciously, though there was no need.  The storm drain tunnel ceiling was at least seven feet high, providing plenty of room for him to walk upright.  Straightening his back and gripping his new spear in both hands, he moved down the tunnel to a junction.  Shining his light on the floor, he noted a small footprint pointing toward the junction.   “They’re alive?” he murmured to himself.

Looking left and right again, it wasn’t clear from the footprint which way they might have gone.  He took a chance that, based on only finding one in his basement, octopoids were solitary creatures that didn’t run in packs.

“Hello?  Lady?  Are you there?” he called out once in each direction.  Echoes of his own voice were the only answer he received.   He crouched down low and examined the first several feet in each direction but found no tracks.   Then his gamer instincts took over.