The Right Choice

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            Martin lay on his back, dazed.  He got up.  Looking around, he saw that he was in a desert.  The horizon seemed to be very far away, as if he could see farther here than he could in the third dimension.  Unfortunately, other than sand and sand dunes, there was nothing to see.  Slowly, Martin began to realize that all of the sand dunes were part of a pattern.  The dunes were always parallel to each other and every dune was an equal distance away from every other dune.  And he could see none of the usual desert wildlife.  For that matter, there was no life at all.  Not even the occasional roots to hold the sand dunes in place.  He couldn’t feel any wind and the sand dunes were perfectly still.  It all seemed so blank, so desolate and dead. 

            Martin tried walking.  It had a terrible effect on him.  Everywhere he walked was the exact same thing, so he couldn’t even tell if he had been walking.  It seemed as if the whole desert was staring at him, like a cat would before it pounced.  Martin sat down, overwhelmed.  There was no movement, no actual change occurring, but still it seemed like everything was getting smaller, closing in around him.  It was as if the desert were alive, as if it was a large creature that looked like a desert, and it was staring right at him with hungry eyes.  Martin looked up.  He wished that he hadn’t. 

            Above him there were two suns staring down at him and he couldn’t help but think of two eyes, burning with desire.  It probably hasn’t eaten in quite some time, thought Martin.  Oh stop it, he nearly shouted at himself, it’s just a desert.  Nothing is changing.  You’re doing this to yourself.  He was.  Maybe that is what this dimension is supposed to do to you, he thought, trying to intimidate its visitors.  He couldn’t help but think that it was working.  He sat there for a while becoming more and more paranoid, and he began to shiver although it was not cold out.  Nor was it hot for that matter. 

            Martin reached inside his pocket, and felt the Connector against his palm.  He wanted more than ever to leave this place, to go home.  But he forced himself to let go of his Connector.  Somehow, he knew that he was going to get some answers here.  Color slowly returned to his skin.  He stood up.  He was trying to prove, to himself more than anything, that he wasn’t afraid.  His hand stopped trembling.

            “It didn’t work,” Martin said, to no one in particular.  “I’ve won.  You didn’t scare me,” he said, gaining in volume as he began to believe it more and more.  He shook a fist at the sky.  Then he smiled, and he felt as if his body temperature was warming again.  “Whatever you are, I want you to show yourself!  I need answers, and I know somehow, that I’m going to get them here!  Well, show yourself!”  Martin shouted this last demand, the power of his voice seeming to stretch out forever.  It broke the dead silence, even shattered it perhaps.  He could feel the desert staring at him again.  He stared back. 

            Then he heard a noise, it was louder than his, much louder.  “I’m surprised that you passed my first test.  However, I’m afraid that I can not allow you to go any further.”  Martin spun around.  He could see nothing.  Then, it hit him.