***
[The following story was originally published in the Lunar Journal on September 30, 2436 A.D..]
After much consideration, I have decided to write a travelogue detailing my time in Lunaria, a fantastic realm full of beautiful rabbit girls far below the surface of the Moon.
I do not want the reader to get the impression that this is the outlandish work of some unhinged mind, so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Philip Cunningham. I am a descendant of George Cunningham, the first King of Iowa. He joined John Brown Jefferson’s campaign to reunite America; he participated in the sieges of Chicago, the District of Columbia, and New York City; he helped rebuild America’s industry; he established the Iowa Technical College; and he was one of the main contributors to the American Empire’s space program. My ancestors were among the first to colonize the Moon. We helped turned Armstrong into the largest and most prosperous Lunar colony, and we spearheaded the construction of its starport. We also contributed to the construction of the Yeager Rail Gun, which drastically lowered the cost of transporting raw materials to Earth. I assure anyone reading this that with God as my witness, everything you are about to read truly happened.
This series of events began on August 16, 2424. One of our surveyor drones, while on a mission to find new mineral deposits, spotted a cave in a hill to the south of Glenn Rock. All the scientists and engineers in town were skeptical upon learning this. They knew that caves are formed by either water erosion or volcanic activity. Since the Moon was a tectonically inactive and almost entirely dry celestial body, they initially assumed that someone was illegally mining in the area. The hill was 12 miles away from the border of the Chinese Lunar Territory, so that was a distinct possibility. They had the drone investigate the landscape in greater detail, but they were shocked to learn that there were no footprints or tire tracks around. If this cave was not the work of nature or human hands, then what created it?
They shared their findings in a public meeting they held in Glenn Rock’s town square. 300 people, almost the whole town, gathered there. One of the laborers present suggested that rabbits dug that cave. The scientists told him to stop being dumb. After a brief discussion, it was decided to investigate the cave in-person. Having recently completed my STEM training and eager to prove myself, I immediately volunteered. They appreciated my enthusiasm. I was soon joined by Clark Starnberg and Ralph Jones.
After I had donned my spacesuit, my father Paul and mother Olivia wished me luck. Clark approached, and after having a short conversation with my father about some old fantasy books he had been reading, he turned to me and asked, "Are you ready to head out?"
I nodded eagerly.
He called out to Ralph, who was conversing with his portly wife Wanda. After lumbering over, both he and Clark proceeded to the buggy.
Clark was 68 years old at the time, but he still retained some of his youth. His dark brown hair did not have a single hint of gray in it, the few wrinkles he had on his forehead were minuscule, and his bones had yet to grow stiff and brittle. His wife Brenda, who was a year younger than him, also looked quite youthful. Ralph, who was 20 years younger than Clark, was a descendant of Alex Jones III, the first King of Texas. He was a broad-shouldered man, but in stark contrast to his relatives, he was also quite tall. After developing male pattern baldness at a young age, he shaved off all the hair on his head, giving him the appearance of a peeled potato.
My wife Denice rushed up and clutched my arm. "Please don’t go."
"What’s wrong?" I asked. I knew she did not normally act like this.
"That cave gives me a bad feeling. I’m afraid you’ll fall down a hole in there and never come back out."
I put my arms around her slim waist and looked into her eyes. "Don’t worry. I’ll be back."
She kissed me and I waved her goodbye. I put on my helmet and hopped into the buggy with Clark and Ralph. Together we drove out of the air lock and onto the Moon’s surface. I watched as the domed town of Glenn Rock and the large hill beside it receded into the distance. The Moon’s vast gray landscape stretched out before us. The Earth and the Sun looked down upon us from the black sky. We avoided the many boulders and drove around the high rims of almost perfectly circular craters. Clark had operated buggies for so many years that he could dodge such obstacles by instinct.
"You know," said Clark, "that one guy’s comment about rabbits reminded me of this one story Nathan told me." He was referring to Nathan Davenport, the son of Neil Davenport from Aldrin. "He said this rabbit girl tricked him into wandering off and got him stuck in a hole."
"Rabbit girls are definitely real," said Ralph. He still retained the Texan accent of his ancestors. "My cousin Ed told me all about them. He said he saw them dancing inside a stone ring. When he tried to snap a photo of them, they ran away."
Clark turned to me and asked, "Hey Phil, do you believe in rabbit girls?"
I shrugged. "Many others have said they’ve seen them, but until I see one for myself, I’m not sure."
It did not take long for us to reach our destination. We parked on the north side where the cave was located. The flat-topped hill was 200 feet tall and twice as wide. Several craters scarred the land to its east and northeast, and a few smaller hills rose near its south side.
"Looking at this thing makes me want mashed taters," said Ralph.
"Don’t start thinking about food now," said Clark. "We have a job to do."
We walked 20 feet up the gentle incline to the cave, the entrance to which was ten feet in diameter.
"These dimensions," said Clark, "look too perfect to be naturally made." He got closer and turned on his helmet’s flashlight. He immediately noticed a series of vertical marks just inside the entrance. "See that? Those are pickaxe marks."
"Who do you think made them?" asked Ralph?
"I don’t know, but they’re either light-footed or they’re really good at covering their tracks. Perhaps we can find more answers inside."
The long, narrow cave sloped slightly downward. Ralph and I activated our flashlights and followed Clark into the depths. The vertical marks on the walls reminded me of wainscoting. Whoever mined out this passage seemed to do so with a sense of artistry.
"Hey Phil," said Ralph, "you ever heard of Agartha? It’s this magical city located deep within the Earth. Its inhabitants are ancient and wise. There were even tales of them advising Buddhist holy men. Maybe this cave leads to a similar place."
Clark assumed that comment was meant to lighten the mood, but Ralph seemed to seriously believe it.
Eventually we came to a dead end. When Clark put his hand upon it, he noticed something peculiar. Whereas the rest of the cave was composed of hard rock, the dead end was composed of loosely packed material. Light gray clumps fell to the ground when he brushed his palm across the unusual wall. Doing so revealed something purple and glittering. Remembering that he brought a small spade with him, he pulled it out and started digging. The loose rock fell away easily, revealing a piece of amethyst. As he continued his work, Clark was surprised to discover that the crystal was much larger than he had anticipated.
"Let me try something," said Ralph. He grabbed the crystal with both hands and started pulling. It was not long before it became dislodged, and with one last mighty tug, he freed it from the wall. It was revealed to be ten feet long and as thick around as a man’s arm. For a moment we stared at it with astonishment. Speculation swirled in my head. I was aware that amethyst is a type of quartz, which is a type of igneous rock, which is a type of rock formed by the cooling and solidification of magma. I was also aware that the Moon was molten billions of years ago, so it must have formed back then.
I helped Ralph carry the huge amethyst out of the cave while Clark continued digging. If there was one giant gem in there, he thought, then surely there must be more. There was no room in the cab, so we pulled out ropes and, after some effort, tied the crystal to the back of the buggy. It was far from an elegant solution, but it was the best we could do with what we had.
When we descended back into the cave, we discovered that Clark had dug through the dead end and uncovered a large circular room with a domed ceiling. Gemstones of every type stuck out of the walls and glowed brightly, painting the room in vibrant colors. I stood in the center and looked all around, taking in as much of the wondrous sight as I could.
"People are not gonna believe us when we tell them about this," said Clark. "Imagine all the metals we can extract from these gems."
"My wife’s gonna love this," said Ralph, pulling a ruby out of the wall.
The floor under my feet began to feel soft. As soon as I looked down, a hole opened up and I let out an involuntary scream as I began falling down a dark pit. Clark and Ralph rushed to the rim of the hole and called out to me, their voices filled with panic. Their helmet lights faded from view and their voices on my earpiece radio dissolved into static as I fell out of range.
As I plummeted down that dark pit, I began thinking of my loved ones and how I would never see them again. I remembered my father teaching me math, physics, and engineering. I remembered how my mother would read me the Bible every night before bed. My mind then turned to my wife Denice. We had been friends since the age of 6 and had grown close since then. Her eyes were as blue as Earth’s oceans, her hair had the color of shining copper, and her skin was as white as marble. Over the years she had grown into a beautiful woman, and as soon as the both of us turned 18, we got married. Barely a month after we said our vows, I went into that cave. I had wanted to impress her by proving how brave and adventurous I was, but in that moment I cursed myself, for I believed with certainty that my death was guaranteed and I would never be able to hold my wife in my arms again.
I then thought of all the people in Glenn Rock. I remembered playing with the other children in the town square in my youth. Tag was our favorite game, but I also enjoyed the one where we tried to jump as high as we could. We were never able to reach the ceiling of the dome, but at least we had fun. I remembered going to mass every Sunday at the little rectangular church. It was not as finely decorated as those on Earth, but I always felt a sense of peace when I sat in the pews. I remembered going to all the Christmas dinners the Joneses held. Wanda grew potatoes in her backyard which she would mash. She also grew delicious yams. Ralph’s crazy ideas and theories were always entertaining. Choruses of laughter and merriment filled their house during those events. My heart sank imagining how everyone would react to my passing, how someone so young and full of potential could be snatched away from them in an instant.
Then I thought of the Lord in Heaven above, and asked him to be merciful to me. Accepting my fate, I turned off my helmet’s flashlight, closed my eyes, and waited for Death to take its toll.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself gazing up at a giant quartz crystal which glowed with a white light. Looking to the right, I beheld a gargantuan rock column that was taller than any skyscraper. For a moment I lied there mystified, then I sat upright and discovered that I was in the midst of a flower field. To my left were lavender bushes, to my right were roses, and in front of me were daisies, daffodils, irises, petunias, and many others. At first I wondered how such plants could grow down here, then I felt tranquil. As I stared at all the colorful flowers, I began to wonder if this was the Elysium of Greek legend. My lips were closed, my breathing was slow, and all around me was silent.
"Hi!"
I bolted to my feet and spun around. Standing before me was a cute pale-skinned little girl. Her simple dress and long flowing hair were of the same white color, and her eyes were a ruby red. I stared into those glimmering eyes for a moment, then I looked up and noticed her rabbit ears. My heart almost skipped a beat. Were all those stories true? Were the rabbit girls real? There was only one way to find out.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I’m Conny," she replied, "and you’re in Lunaria, the realm of the rabbit girls."
My brain began to swirl from the revelation. I put my hand on my temple, then my face turned white when I realized what I had done.
"Where’s my helmet? Wait, how can I breathe? Wait, where’s my helmet?"
She giggled. "Tay took it."
"Who’s Tay?"
"She’s over there." She pointed at a nearby pine forest. In the midst of the tall trees was another rabbit girl with shorter white hair and a dress with puffy sleeves. In her hands was my helmet, which she held like a beach ball. She giggled as she ran off into the shadows.
"Get back here!" I started sprinting after her. During my pursuit, I began to suspect that she was leading me around in circles. She did not try to retreat to her home or any other safe place. She seemed to have no destination in mind. To her this was nothing but fun at my expense. Despite my best efforts, I could not catch up with her. My breathing grew heavy through my exertions. I fell to my knees and thought I would never get my helmet back, but when I spotted some shrubs nearby, I hatched an idea. Instead of chasing her, I would let her come to me and ambush her when she least expected it. I hid myself in those bushes and waited. My patience paid off, for a few minutes later, she walked by with a cheeky grin on her face.
"Space man," she said, "oh space man. Where have you gone, space man? Don’t you want your helmet? Have you given up already?"
Like a tiger I leaped out of the foliage, wrapped my arms around her, and stood up. She squirmed and growled as I tightened my grip on her. I yanked the helmet out of her hands and dropped her. She stuck her tongue out at me and ran away.
After emerging from the forest, I checked my gauges and saw that my oxygen was low. That problem was easily fixed by pressing a button on the collar of my suit. My oxygen tank hummed as it sucked in the surrounding air. Conny was still standing in the flower field. I walked up to her and asked, "Who was that?"
"That was Tay. She’s a master trickster. Sometimes she and other rabbit girls will go up to the surface and pull pranks on people."
Nathan Davenport noted that when he got stuck in that hole, many red eyes glared at him. Was that a prank that Tay had pulled? As I pondered that thought, I looked around. The flower field stretched for a great distance. To my left and right I could see the vertical rock walls. Those vast gray canvases were made more colorful by countless glittering gems. Far ahead of me were rolling hills, and just beyond that was another massive rock column. Giant glowing quartz crystals stuck out of the ceiling at regular intervals, making the whole cavern as bright as day. For a moment I admired the splendor of the sight, then I asked, "So how did I get here?"
"You fell out of that hole up there."
Looking up to where she was pointing, I saw that she was telling the truth. In between the nearest rock column and the glowing quartz I saw when I regained consciousness was a wide hole. After putting my helmet back on, I made my way to the column.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
Ignoring her question, I made my ascent. I was only able to climb about 50 feet up before I lost my grip and fell softly on the flowers. Three more times did I try, but I always fell at the exact same spot. I then remembered that I had a pair of small hooks in one of my suit’s pouches. Said hooks always proved life-saving when an astronaut got stuck in a deep crater, so I assumed they would help me here. I managed to get twice as high as I did in my previous attempts, but then my tools slipped and I fell. Twice more did I try, but both attempts ended in failure. Nothing about the rocky surface implied it would be hard to climb, so I began to assume that the column actively resisted my efforts. I looked up at the hole, then I looked back down at Conny, who was watching me the whole time.
I put my helmet back on and sighed. "Looks like I’m stuck here. Would you kindly show me around your realm?"
"Gladly!" She grabbed my hand and together we walked through the flowers. Though the rabbit girl had no relation to me, holding her little hand made me feel like a father with his daughter. If I ever get out of here, I thought, I would have a daughter of my own.
"By the way," she said, "what’s your name? I forgot to ask earlier."
"Philip Cunningham."
"The other rabbit girls are gonna love you."
After making our way over the gently rolling hills, we came across a muddy field that was just a few square yards in size. A single slim rabbit girl stood in the midst of it, and in her hand was a sickle. She wore short-shorts and a tank top which exposed her midriff. Her beauty was similar to that of a splendid and cheery farmgirl. She reached down, grabbed one of the plants growing out of the soil, slashed it with her tool, and put it into the basket on her back. Quickly and gracefully she cleared the whole field and her basket was full by the time she was done. This was a rice paddy, I realized. Surely one cannot feed a village with farmland this small, but then I watched as a new batch of rice grew out of the mud near instantaneously. My amazement gave way to curiosity as I wondered how such a thing could happen. Was it the product of some highly advanced science, or were supernatural forces at play?
"Hey Pipper," said Conny, "come meet my new friend."
When the farmgirl lifted up her head and saw me, an open-mouthed smile grew on her face. With juvenile excitement, she jumped out of the field and landed in front of me.
"Hi there! I’m Pipper. Glad to have you here." She had an accent that was almost Texan in nature. "You caught me at the perfect time. I was gathering up rice for today’s big meal. Come along and join us."
Not far from the rice field was a bamboo forest. A wide cobblestone path cut through it. Down this path we went, the glowing quartz above lighting our way all the while.
After brief introductions, Pipper asked, "So Philly, where you from?"
"I come from Glenn Rock," I replied.
"Where’s that?"
I told her about my hometown and its people, and how I eventually ended up in Lunaria.
"Oh yeah, now I know what you’re talking about. That cave you mentioned is one of our favorite exit holes."
"Exit holes?"
"Yeah. We use those to go onto the surface. We often mark them by putting stone rings around them."
The forest gave way to vast fields of grass. On the right side of the stone path was a small sugarcane field, and to the left were cotton plants. Beyond these was a sparkling lake. Naked rabbit girls played in the waters. Their long hair was the only thing covering their breasts.
Pipper grabbed my arm and waved at the girls in the lake. "Hey ladies, look who we found!"
The girls waved back. I averted my eyes from their nude bodies. Excitedly they got out of the water, dried themselves off, put on their simple white dresses, and ran up to me. With curious eyes they examined the contours of my spacesuit, then they looked up at my face. They complimented my hair, saying it reminded them of smoky quartz. After introducing myself and exchanging pleasantries, the girls joined us in our walk.
Onward we went until we arrived at rows of longhouses whose architecture was reminiscent of Japanese minka homes. Colorful paintings of rabbits, stars, and gems covered their pine walls. Decorative projections sat atop the peaks of their thatched roofs. The steep overhangs reached close to the ground. Growing in tidy rows along these humble dwellings were strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, red onions, radishes, beets, leeks, and carrots. Many more rabbit girls walked along the stone paths connecting all these buildings. Some carried large baskets of fruits and vegetables, some hauled buckets of water they had collected from nearby ponds, while others conversed with each other.
Pipper guided me to a house which had an image of a rabbit carrying a mallet painted on one of its walls. With a light hand he opened the sliding door and we entered the warm and welcoming interior, which consisted of a single giant room. A stone hearth sat in the center of the structure. Tea was brewing in a pot over an open fire. The brown pine wood floors were carpeted in green tatami mats. Bamboo couches lined the perimeter of the room. Colorful curtains covered the windows. Many scrolls hung on the walls, upon which were painted images of flowers, bamboo forests, and other plants. One dozen rabbit girls resided in the house. Some sat on the couches and knitted new items of clothing with brightly colored cotton. Some sat on their knees on the floor while sipping tea. Others nibbled on celery and carrots.
Conny got their attention and told them of my arrival. They turned to me, rose to their feet, approached me with fascination, and quickly asked many personal questions like a child learning about a topic for the first time.
"You must be awfully stuffy and sweaty in that suit," said Pipper. "Why don’t you make yourself at home?"
A pair of briefs was the only thing I was wearing underneath, but her words and kind tone seemed to cast a hypnotic spell on me. Slowly I took off my spacesuit and let it fall to the floor with a soft thud. Screams and squeals of delight filled the longhouse as the girls caught a glimpse of my bare abdomen. A few reached out and rubbed my chest with their pillow soft hands. For a moment I feared they would take advantage of me, but they tried no such thing. They were more like explorers examining a statue in an ancient ruin. When I asked if I could bathe myself in the lake I had seen earlier, they backed away and allowed me to exit the building.
The lake was about five feet at its deepest. The water was so clear that I could see right to the bottom. Tiny diamonds glittered in the stony lake bed. Some supernatural cleaning agent must have been present in the water, for my presence did not contaminate it. Growing curious, I drank a handful. It had no taste, for it was pure. Nathan once stated that he believed the Moon rabbits were similar to the fairies on Earth: beautiful spirits of nature who sometimes played tricks on humans. The more I talked to the rabbit girls, the more I learned of their culture and environment, the truer his thesis became.
A drop of water fell on my head and interrupted my thoughts. Looking up, I noticed a giant block of ice in the ceiling. Above the rice paddy was another block just like it. Several more were situated above the various ponds in the cavern. I began to wonder if this place was made just for them.
Someone giggled nearby. Turning my head, I spotted Tay watching me behind a rock.
"Hey! Get out of here!" I reeled my arm back and splashed water at her. She giggled as she ran away.
After drying myself off, I returned to the longhouses. Conny ran up to me carrying a folded cloth. "We made this just for you!"
Upon unfolding it, I discovered it was a simple yet finely-crafted white tunic. "How did you girls make this so fast?"
"Dinner’s about to start," she said, ignoring my question. "Let’s go!"
I shrugged, put on the tunic, and followed her to a square dirt clearing, in the center of which was a stone mortar wide and deep enough to fit a watermelon. Rabbit girls stood in a semicircle in front of the mortar as if it were some sort of altar. Near the clearing was a broad rectangular building of fine pine wood which had a gently sloping roof covered in ceramic tile. Two rabbit girls exited the building, both of whom wore white shirts and bloomers.
I turned to Conny and asked, "Who are they?"
"That’s Sarah and Starr. Sarah is the one with the giant wooden mallet and Starr is the one chewing on a stick."
Pipper approached and dumped a basket of steamed rice into the mortar. Sarah pounded it with her mallet and Starr mixed it with her hand. They were slow at first, but they gradually went faster and faster until their movements became a blur. I was astounded by their skill and precision. The girls around me were silent, as if in a trance. In less than a minute, they had created a sticky dough, which they then put onto a square plank of wood. Another batch of rice was brought forward and the process was repeated. Over the course of one hour, five dozen balls of dough were made. Sarah and Starr carried the sticky creations into the rectangular building, and I and all the other rabbit girls followed.
The interior was richly illuminated by glowing quartz crystals which sat in paper lanterns which themselves hung from the ceiling. Low tables sat on the tatami mats which carpeted the wood floor. Dozens of rabbit girls passed through the sliding doors, sat on their knees at the many tables, and began conversing with each other. At the other end of the building was a kitchen. Sarah and Starr were in there talking to a third rabbit girl whose white shirt and pink skirt were covered by a kitchen apron and whose white hair reached all the way down to her waist. She turned her head, noticed me, waved, and approached.
"Hi! I’m Raisin, the head chef. You must be Philly. All the other girls told me about you. I would love for you to join me in the kitchen."
I did as she requested. On one granite counter in the kitchen were stone bowls full of food pastes made from strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and carrots. On the opposite counter were the balls of rice dough. Raisin, Sarah, and Starr rolled those dough balls into long cylinders and cut them into portions. Though they had no measuring tools, they still seemed to follow some unwritten science, for all the portions were equally sized. Using wooden spoons, they stuffed each portion with a food paste before enclosing them, creating a dumpling. They then coated each dumpling with granulated sugar to keep it from sticking.
As they prepared the food, I turned my attention to the white walls in the dining area. Written in black upon each wall were characters which looked similar to Japanese, but were more fluid and carefree in their design. Above these Moon runes were many small stars, and below them were simple paintings of rabbits.
Before I knew it, the kitchen counters were almost overflowing with dumplings, and the chefs were bringing them out to everyone in the dining hall. A few moments later, Raisin beckoned me to come with her. I followed her to a vacant spot in a central table next to Conny and Pipper. I sat down and she went back to the kitchen. It was not long before she came back with a silver platter, upon which was a peculiar purple dumpling.
"I made this one just for you," Raisin said with a smile.
The head chef sat down next to my left. Conny got up and sat in my lap, and Pipper inched closer to my right.
"So what are these called?" I asked.
"Mochi," the head chef replied. "They’re usually reserved for special occasions such as the Equinox and Solstice. Your arrival here was a special occasion, for you are the first human to enter Lunaria in a very long time."
"I’m not the first?"
"Anyway," she said, ignoring my question, "dig in."
The mochi was as big as my fist, and its purple color and granulated sugar coating made it look like a chunk of amethyst. Placing my hand upon it revealed it to be soft and squishy. Taking a bite revealed it to be stretchy and chewy. The exterior had the taste of beets, and the interior was stuffed with a paste that combined every type of berry they grew. The fusion of fantastic flavors overwhelmed my taste buds and made me feel like I was floating amidst a sea of stars. As soon as I swallowed, I heaped praise upon the head chef’s cooking.
Sitting a few tables away were a few rabbit girls who had muscular thighs and wore armored leotards which were lavishly decorated with sparkling gems. I asked Raisin who they were.
"Those are the gem crafters. They mine out the gems and occasionally melt them down into their composite metals. That’s how they made their armor."
I sensed that someone was standing behind me, so I turned around. Standing before me was a line of rabbit girls.
"We really like your hair. Can we touch it?"
"I guess."
Over the next several minutes, all the girls in the room got the chance to run their fingers through my hair. The whole time I sat there feeling both flattered and confused. Then my stomach started to growl.
I turned to Pipper and said, "I just noticed that you don’t have anything resembling a bathroom."
"Oh," she said, "we don’t have bodily functions like that."
"You what?"
My stomach growled again. I asked Conny to hop off my lap. After she did so, I promptly excused myself, exited the building, and found a quiet, secluded spot between the cave walls and a line of tea bushes. I dug a hole in the soil with my hands, did my business, and then buried it like a cat hiding its droppings in the sand.
Someone giggled in the bushes. I recognize the voice. When I turned around, my suspicions were proven right: Tay was watching in the foliage.
"Get out of here!" I said before throwing a rock at her. She giggled and ran away.
When I got back to the longhouses, I saw that the rabbit girls were outside playing with each other and crafting works of art, and Pipper was gathering fruits and vegetables from her garden.
"So," I asked her, "do you rabbit girls not sleep?"
"We don’t need any." Then she looked into my eyes. "I see you’re getting sleepy, though. Don’t worry. I’ll get you set up.
She led me into the longhouse and laid a white sheet atop one of the bamboo couches. After lying myself down upon it, she patted me on the head, wished me a good night, then returned to her garden. As I drifted off to sleep, I could faintly hear giggling and other cheerful noises outside. It reminded me of my joyful childhood in Glenn Rock. I was determined to return, but at that moment, I did not know how.
I awoke the next morning to the smell of tea brewing in a pot in the hearth. Noticing that I had gotten up, Pipper and Conny poured me a cup. It was almost as sweet as the mochi I had eaten the day before.
"I just remembered," I said, "that I had forgotten to pay for the food at the restaurant."
"There’s no need," said Pipper. "It’s free."
"I see. Does Lunaria have a leader?"
"We are ruled by Queen Horizon," said Conny. "She dwells in the Jade Palace."
"May I meet with her?"
"You’ll have to talk to the gem crafters first," said Pipper. "I’ll take you to them if you want."
"Lead the way."
I followed Pipper out of the longhouse and past the restaurant. For a few minutes we walked down a stone path which bisected a grassy field until we arrived at a long stone building with a tall sloped roof. Next to it was a smelter made of volcanic rock, and a few feet away from it were strange black bamboo trees. One of the cave walls was nearby. Squinting my eyes, I spotted five muscular rabbit girls swinging down pickaxes. They gathered up the gems and minerals they chipped off, put them into carts, wheeled them to the stone building, and dumped them into a pile. The tallest of these girls approached me, put her hands on her hips, and examined me closely. She was as tall as me and was built like a mighty Amazon warrior of Greek legend. Her armored leotard was made of steel, trimmed with gold, and encrusted with red beryl.
"Hi there, Philly," she said. "I’m Mako. I wanted to introduce myself to you at the restaurant yesterday, but you ran off. You arrived at the perfect time. We were just about to smelt some of these rocks over here. Now you might be wondering: why would you melt down gemstones? The thing is, we have so many that we don’t even know what to do with them, so we melt them down and use the byproducts to make other tools and pieces of art. Just stand right there and we’ll show you how it’s done."
Mako grabbed one of the black bamboo trees and snapped it at the base just as easily as one snaps a twig. A new tree grew from the stump in seconds. Judging by their color and texture, I realized that the plant’s body was carbonized, but through some unknown magic was still alive. This provided an easily renewable source of charcoal. With her hands she broke the tree into pieces and dumped them into the top of the smelter. The other four gem crafters did the same. She then grabbed a handful of gems from the pile.
"You wanna know why we have such strong legs?"
She sat down and began crushing the rocks in between her thighs. Only a few seconds passed before the stones started to crack. With a loud pop they shattered into tiny fragments. Her fellow gem crafters followed her lead. Smiling with satisfaction, they picked up the gem dust and put it in the smelter, and after striking together two pieces of flint, it was aflame. The strong girls blew into a series of metal tubes which stuck out the bottom of the structure. Fire flew out the top and danced in the air, and the interior glowed white hot. Molten slag flowed out a hole near the bottom and slowly cooled.
Mako turned to me and grinned. "Wanna see something cool?"
I gasped when she crouched down and stuck her hand in the large hole in the side. She pulled out a large iron bloom and, like a potter working with clay, fashioned it into an ingot. To my great astonishment and relief, she was unscathed.
"How did the fire not harm you?" I asked.
"We’re immortal," she replied. "If you’re about to ask why, it’s because God made us this way."
"Can you elaborate on that?"
"Queen Horizon can tell you more. She resides with the priestesses beyond the ruby wall."
"May I meet her?"
"If you wish to enter, you will need a jade ring. I can make one for you, for a price."
"And what is this price?"
"The other gem crafters and I want to squeeze your head in between our thighs."
"You what?"
"You’re the first man to come down here in a long, long time. You’re really handsome to boot. Don’t worry. We won’t pop your skull like a watermelon."
Begrudgingly I accepted her offer. She sat down on the ground, and when I put my head in between her thighs, they snapped shut like a bear trap. Her muscles were like steel, but her skin was smooth as silk. I gritted my teeth and stared up at the high cave ceiling. Just as I was about to pass out, she released her grip on me. Then the other four muscular girls took their turns. My neck was sore when all was said and done.
"Alright," said Mako. "I’ll go ahead and make that ring for you."
I followed her through the metal door into the long stone building. The interior was illuminated by the fires which burned in the blacksmithing furnace which protruded from one of the walls. A heavy anvil and a bucket of water sat a few feet in front of it. Sitting on the stone tables were various tools, and underneath them were boxes of gems and metal ingots. Hanging from the walls were metallic arts and crafts, each one lovingly decorated. Some had nature scenes embossed onto their surfaces, while others were shaped into rabbits with ruby eyes.
Mako crouched down, grabbed a chunk of jade from one of the boxes, then began her work. With quick and graceful hands the master crafter chiseled and sanded. Though she did not bother to take any measurements, she seemed to intuitively know what dimensions the final product would be. It was not long before her task was done. An exquisite jade ring lied in the palm of her hand. She gave it to me and I put it on my index finger. Together we exited the building and I followed her to where Queen Horizon dwelled. As we walked, I told her of myself and my home.
"I think I know which place you’re talking about," she said. "Sometimes I go up to the surface and watch the men work in the open pit mines."
A short while later, we reached the ruby wall. Peering through the bars of the golden gates, I beheld a large grassy courtyard lined on each side by sakura trees. Four paths of finely cut stone converged at a central square. The right path led to a longhouse made of marble, while the left led to a temple made of that same material. Directly in front of me was a most magnificent structure. Built in the style of the Osaka Castle, it was made of solid jade. This was the palace of which the rabbits spoke.
One dozen rabbit girls emerged from the longhouse and approached the gate. They were all dressed in white leotards and pantyhose. For a short moment they stared at me with quiet fascination. Mako turned to me and nodded. I lifted up my hand, and when they saw the jade ring on my finger, they opened the gate and allowed me entry. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that in the middle of the central square was a mosaic depicting three gold rabbits running around in a circle atop a ruby field.
After introducing myself, I asked, "Are you the priestesses?"
"We are," said the one whose hair reached down to her waist. "I am Selenia. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Why are you all dressed like that?"
"This outfit symbolizes the fertility of the universe, from the great stellar nurseries to the microscopic creatures thriving in the dirt."
"Do you know of Nathan Davenport? He described a rabbit girl dressed exactly like you."
"Was that his name? I saw him at one of those mining sites years ago."
"What were you doing there?"
"To tell you the truth, I was participating in one of Tay’s pranks. It was all harmless fun."
I held my tongue on that matter. "Is there a high priestess I may speak to?"
"There is. I will tell her you are here." Selenia entered the temple, and a few minutes later she came back out with a little rabbit girl by her side. She was as short as Conny and her long hair was fashioned into twintails. Golden stars were sewn onto her white robes. Her sleeves were a bit too long for her arms. Her buck teeth were prominent, and resting upon the bridge of her nose was a pair of thick coke-bottle glasses.
The little girl approached, raised one of her arms, and spoke in a nasally voice. "Greetings, Philip. I am Pecko the high priestess. It is good to finally meet you. By the way, how do you like my glasses?"
"They are cute and funny," I replied. "So what is it you do here?"
"Every day we gather in the courtyard and pray, thanking the Lord for creating reality and keeping it in existence. Come join us."
The high priestess asked me to sit on my knees atop the rabbit mosaic. After doing as she requested, she hopped onto my back like a child wanting a piggyback ride from their father. The priestesses sat around me in a circle, clasped their hands, and closed their eyes. Not wanting to be rude, I copied them. Pecko whispered in my ear:
"Praise be to the Lord, the Absolute Truth, the Absolute Goodness, the Absolute Beauty. Praise be to Him who created and sustains all things. You, oh Lord, are the fires in the stars. You, oh Lord are the crystals in the planets. You, oh Lord, are the air we breathe and the water we drink. Cradle us in your arms, oh Lord, and bless us forever."
After the prayers were spoken, Pecko hopped off my back and led us into the temple. In the middle of the room was a table lavishly decorated with carvings of rabbits and flowers. A silver tea set sat upon it. To my left was a large vertical slab of onyx, and to my right was a shelf full of various relics and trinkets, including a solar panel and a drone.
After telling her about myself, how I ended up in Lunaria, and how I wished to speak to Queen Horizon, I said, "By the way, I was wondering. Why do you refer to God as a he? Since you’re all female, I expected you to worship a goddess."
"We refer to Him as a he because He interacts with Creation in masculine ways," Pecko said. "God gives, Creation receives."
"Speaking of which, why are you all female?"
"He made us female as a reflection of the Moon’s feminine beauty."
"I see. What can you tell me about that black stone slab over there?"
"I am glad you asked. That is the Knowledge Stone. God created it for me. Observe." With a wave of her hand, columns of white Moon runes began scrolling across the black surface. Instantly I realized that it was a magic computer.
"How did this device obtain all of this information?" I asked.
"It can read from any device that sends a signal," she replied.
"Can you show me something I have never seen before?"
"Gladly." With a twitch of one of her tiny fingers, she conjured up a photograph of three astronauts on the Moon’s surface. It looked familiar at first, but when I squinted my eyes, I noticed the Reichsadlers on their chests. Then I spotted a Haunebu spacecraft in the background.
"Did the Nazis really land on the Moon before anyone else?" I asked.
"They did," she replied, "but they’re not here anymore. They built a great fleet, abandoned their colonies, and sailed to Aldebaran. That reminds me. I have something to show you."
I followed her to the relic shelf on the other side of the room. From it she pulled a Schutzstaffel officer’s hat.
"Truth be told," she said, "you are actually the second person to come down here. This hat belonged to the first. His name was Hans Hagen. I still remember when he first came down here. He went on and on about how he had discovered Agartha. Then he grew to enjoy the splendor of Lunaria. We played and prayed every day. Then he grew old and his body started to fail him. We tried to brew for him an elixir of immortality, but our efforts were in vain. After he died, we buried him in the flower field by the pine forest, and we mourned him for an entire year. He was such a splendid soul. So curious was he."
Slowly I lowered my head. Would I meet the same fate as that man of which she spoke? Would I never return home?
"By the way," she said, "you mentioned that you wished to speak to Queen Horizon. I can tell her of your arrival and she will grant you permission to speak with her, but you must be ritually cleansed beforehand. Follow me."
The high priestess led me to a pristine pond behind the temple. Surrounding it were several sakura trees.
"Disrobe, please," said Pecko.
Instantly I turned my head to her. "Excuse me?"
"It is part of the cleansing ritual. You need to take off your clothes and enter the pond, then I will shower you with sakura petals and recite the purity chant. We do this for everyone who wishes to meet with the queen."
Begrudgingly I did as she requested. One of the priestesses gave Pecko a silver bowl full of sakura petals. As she grabbed handfuls of those pink petals and threw them onto my head, she chanted, "May the Lord make you clean. May He purify you and fill you with His light. May you shine brightly with holiness and virtue."
Once the ritual was complete, I stepped out of the water and dried myself off. After I put my clothes back on, the high priestess led me to the Jade Palace. It was beautiful from afar, but its grandeur was more evident up close. Standing before it made me feel as small as an ant. Its curved roofs seemed to reach up to Heaven. The green walls glistened in the glow of the giant quartz high above. Carved onto its large double doors were Moon runes and stars.
"You stay here and I will inform the queen of your presence," said Pecko. She hopped up, pulled down the lever, pulled the door open, and entered. One minute later she came back out. "Queen Horizon wishes to speak to you. As for me, I must tell Raisin of some important business."
Anxiety seized me in that moment. What was the queen like? How would she react to me? Would I say or do something that would embarrass myself or infuriate her? Taking a deep breath, I passed through the doors into a colossal throne room. A glowing chunk of quartz hung from the tall ceiling by a golden chain, bathing the room in a warm light. Cylindrical columns held up the coffered ceiling. Carved onto the walls were elaborate scenes of rabbits frolicking in meadows, of flowers in full bloom, of stars twinkling in the sky, and above these scenes were long lines of Moon runes inlaid with gold. In the middle of the wall opposite the entryway was a depiction of three gold rabbits running around in a circle, the same symbol I saw in the courtyard. In the center of the room was a dais, and upon it was a golden throne, in which sat a rabbit girl of impeccable beauty. She was dressed in golden robes which reached down to her ankles, and golden slippers covered her small feet. A sash tied around her waist accentuated her voluptuous form. Her hair, white as starlight, reached down to her waist and was fashioned into a hime cut. Her red eyes sparkled like rubies. Her alluring face had a youthful appearance, but it seemed to radiate a wisdom as ancient as the Earth.
With a slow and deliberate motion of her hand she beckoned me forward. My breathing became slow and quiet when I approached. Her beauty became even more pronounced when I drew near. With supernatural grace she rose from her throne. As if compelled by some unseen force, I knelt down before her. Looking up, I noticed that her pale skin glistened like pearls in the light of the quartz. The monarch was Amazonian in height. By my estimate, she was at least a foot taller than me. She smiled as she descended the dais and placed her soft hand upon my head.
Then she spoke with a voice as smooth as silk, "I am Horizon, Queen of Lunaria. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Philip Cunningham. Please, come sit by my side."
I did as she requested.
"Please, tell me about yourself."
After explaining who I was and how I ended up in her realm, I asked, "Could you tell me about yourself?"
She placed her hand upon her heart. "I am the light of Lunaria. I am the one who builds the bridge between the temporal and the spiritual. In the same way the planets orbit the Sun, Lunaria orbits around me. The relationship between me and Lunaria is a microcosm of the relationship between God and His creation. God created me and made me queen of this realm. All the rabbits girls are joyous, for my spirit pervades the land."
Her words reminded me of John Brown Jefferson’s thoughts on emperorship.
The doors opened and into the room stepped Raisin carrying a silver platter, upon which were two pink dumplings.
"Hi, Phil," she said, setting the platter down before me. "Pleasure to see you again. The queen requested I make you sakura mochi. You’re very lucky because this is reserved only for the most special occasions."
After the head chef left, I examined the dumpling in the palm of my hand. A single sakura leaf was wrapped around pink rice dough. The queen looked at me as she nibbled on hers. Not wanting to insult her, I took a bite. Its taste was heavenly and sublime, as if it were crafted with tender love and care by the Virgin Mary herself. After I finished my meal, I asked the queen, "So what exactly are you rabbit girls?"
"We are the spirits of the Moon," she said. "Every one of us has been here since its creation."
"So are you like fairies?"
"You could say that."
"Why did God make you all the way you are?"
"Our forms embody the Moon’s mystic beauty."
"Can you tell me the history of this place?"
"There is not much to say. God created me, the rabbit girls, and all of Lunaria shortly after He created the Moon and we have existed in static bliss ever since. All the rabbit girls you see in this realm are the same ones the Lord created long ago."
"Why does Tay like to pull tricks on people? And why do you permit it?"
"She is a reflection of the Moon’s duality. It is wondrous to look upon, but a Full Moon is also the time when the most trickery is afoot. Do not judge her too harshly, for she is like a rambunctious child."
"Why am I only the second human to have entered this place?"
"It is ultimately I who chooses who is allowed into Lunaria."
"So why did you choose me of all people?"
"You are a pure and blessed soul. You are one who can truly appreciate the grandeur of this place."
"Is there are chance I can go back to my hometown?"
"Why the rush? There is still much more to see and experience here. Come with me."
She grabbed my hand and together we exited the Jade Palace and passed through the Ruby Wall. As we strolled through the vast grassy fields, I thought about what she said to me. If the rabbit girls were magical creatures akin to fairies, then that would explain why life thrived in Lunaria and why I was able to breathe down there. When the two of us reached the village a few moments later, all the girls therein flocked to us and looked upon us with veneration.
The queen turned to me. "This is a special time, for I rarely leave the palace. All these girls wish for you to play with them."
I did as she requested. I joined the girls in dancing and singing while the queen watched me from afar. Many bowls of rice and vegetables were prepared, and I ate until I was stuffed. Pipper and Conny were there, and when they saw that tiredness was falling upon me, they led me back to their longhouse and laid me down to sleep.
The festivities were repeated on the next day, and the next, and the next. As the days passed, I grew more depressed, for I still thought of my wife and Glenn Rock. After one week had gone by, I returned to the Jade Palace and told the queen, "I wish to return home to Glenn Rock."
Queen Horizon gave me a confused look. "Why?"
"I miss my wife, my family, and all the friends I had made there."
"Why not make Lunaria your home?"
"Lunaria is a magnificent place, but my heart is rooted in Glenn Rock, and nothing can change that."
"Do you not enjoy the bounty of this place?"
"The food here is the best I have ever had, but man cannot live by rice alone. He seeks adventure and glory. He yearns for expansion. He wishes to venture off into the great unknown, challenge the elements, colonize the empty reaches, and build new kingdoms in his wake. It is my desire to return home so I can help my people colonize all the planets in the Solar System and reach even further beyond. Do you understand?"
Not knowing what to make of my words, the queen stared at me silently for a moment, then she slowly moved her hands from her armrests to her lap. "You can leave if you can jump to one of the holes in the ceiling."
Accepting her challenge, I went outside and stood in the middle of the courtyard. Looking up, I spotted a hole in the ceiling high above. I squatted down and jumped as high as I could, but I could not go any higher than 20 feet. Several more times did I jump, but I could not go any higher than I did the first time.
The queen emerged from the palace. "Please come inside, Philip." Her tone of voice was like that of a loving and caring but protective mother.
I sighed. When I followed her back into the throne room, I noticed she had laid out a golden blanket on the floor right next to her throne. Feeling hopeless, I lied down and slept. That night I dreamed I was in a black void. A white rabbit with strong legs appeared before me. It jumped high into the air, over the Moon high above, and back down to the ground. Again I looked at its muscular legs. It was then I knew what I needed to do. When I awoke the next day, I told the queen that I wished to help the rabbit girls with their labors.
"The girls would appreciate that dearly," she said.
I went to the village and asked Pipper if I could help her harvest rice. She accepted my offer. Together we walked to the rice fields, baskets and sickles in hand. Work was slow at first, but the pace accelerated after I figured out what to do. Not much time passed before we filled all the baskets. Offering to carry the burden, I took a sturdy piece of bamboo, hung an equal number of baskets on each end, put the chute on my back, and hauled it all the way back to the village. Several more times did we repeat the process that day, and by the end, we had harvested a dozen dozen baskets of rice.
"You did some mighty fine work today," said Pipper. "You sure know your way around a sickle."
On the next day, the girls cooked all the rice that Pipper and I had harvested. Volunteering my aid, I singlehandedly carried all the baskets of cooked rice to Raisin, who, along with Sarah and Starr, made them into exquisite meals.
"Thank you so much for your help, Phil," said Raisin. "The crops you harvested will last us for a whole week."
I took one of those meals to Pecko, who appreciated it greatly. While I was at the temple, I asked, "So does the Knowledge Stone show what happened in Earth’s past?"
"I only see what God allows me to see," said Pecko. "I have seen the extinction of the dinosaurs, the rise of humanity, the destruction of Atlantis, and the extreme barbarism of the age that followed. I have also seen the rise and fall of Hyperborea, and the mass migration of its people. I have also seen the birth of Christ."
Feeling myself unworthy to witness Christ’s birth, I asked her to show me the extinction of the dinosaurs. A video of the Earth appeared on the screen. Parts of North and South America were submerged, but the continents were still recognizable. A bright light came into view. That was the asteroid. It glowed red hot as it fell through the atmosphere. A few seconds later, it smashed into the ground with terrifying force, instantly vaporizing every living thing within a radius of several dozen miles. A tremendous shockwave raced around the planet, obliterating all the clouds in the sky. A mile-high tsunami swallowed up the coasts like some great hungering beast. Superheated rocks and assorted debris rose high and fell back down in great arcs. Those natural missiles exploded as they struck the ground, igniting fires almost a thousand miles away from the asteroid’s impact point. It was not long before the entire western hemisphere was in flames. Global earthquakes led to global volcanic eruptions. Columns of smoke rose, spread, and blocked out the Sun, plunging the Earth into frigid darkness. The dinosaurs that remained either froze or starved to death.
For a moment I stood in silent awe and fear. I thought about the dinosaurs that existed shortly before that apocalyptic event, the herbivores feasting upon leaves and grass, the carnivores pursuing their prey, the feathered proto-birds soaring in the air, the mighty Tyrannosaurus standing tall. All that life was wiped out in just a few short moments, and all of it was God’s will. It is a testament to His infinite mercy that, despite humanity’s wickedness and depravity, He has not annihilated us already.
"Can this thing show the future?" I asked.
"That is sorcery," said Pecko, "and sorcery is a sin. The past has already been written. The future exists only in the mind of God."
Thoughts of the fleetingness of life swirled in my head as I left the temple and went to the blacksmith. Mako was amused by my offer to help her gather gems, but she accepted anyway. Together we went to the mines, pickaxes in hand. With mighty swings, I broke the precious stones free from the wall. Grabbing handfuls at a time, I loaded them into the cart, wheeled them back, and dumped them near the furnace. Several more times did I repeat this process until my thighs began to throb painfully from the exertions.
"Those are some mighty fine muscles on you," said Mako. "You should let me get a closer look at them sometime."
I ignored her comment.
When that long day of work was done, I returned to the palace and slept. Shortly after waking up, I returned to the courtyard, and when I jumped, I discovered that I ascended twice as high as I could when I started. Motivated by this development, I continued my labors over the next three weeks, and with every passing day, I could jump twice as high as I could on the previous. The cave ceiling was soon within my reach.
One day, as I was drifting down to the ground after jumping, I noticed that Conny was watching me from afar. As soon as I landed in the grass, she ran up to me and said, "I didn’t know you could jump like that."
"I didn’t know either," I said.
She extended her hand. "Can I jump with you?"
I smiled. "Sure."
I grabbed her hand and together we jumped across the grassy fields. The rabbit girls of the village looked up and pointed with amusement and astonishment as we leaped over the rooftops. We soared over the bamboo forest in a single bound. Once we reached the flower fields next to the pine forest, we jumped and hopped back to where we started. She giggled all the while. It warmed my heart to hear such a sound. Once I manage to leave this place, I thought, I would have children of my own and hear their giggling as they played. Conny returned to the village and I made my way back to the palace and laid myself down to rest. I awoke the next day to Queen Horizon stroking my head.
"Awaken, Philip," she said. "Today is the Autumn Equinox. Let us make our way to the village and celebrate."
All the girls in the village greeted us when we arrived. So many were gathered outside Raisin’s restaurant that there was no room for them inside the building, so bamboo tables were set up in the open, and upon these sat baskets of rice and vegetables so freshly cooked that steam still rose from them. The culinary bounty reminded me of the Feast of Michael and All Angels, as well as other holidays held around the same time, such as Higan-e in Japan and the Moon Festival in China. In the middle of the central table I sat, with the queen by my side. Her sparkling gold garments made her appear as the Sun, and all the white-haired girls around her were like tiny planets. Rich aromas hung in the air as we feasted. All around were the sounds of merriment. They all thanked me for my hard work, for the grand feast would not have been possible without me. The queen turned to me and smiled. Once the baskets were empty, Raisin and her chefs brought out plates of mochi. She gave the Queen and I the glittering purple variant. It tasted just as exquisite as the first time I ate it. Part of me wanted to stay in this place and enjoy its pleasures for life, but I was determined to return to Glenn Rock, and now was the perfect opportunity. After I had finished eating, I stood before the crowd and proclaimed:
"Rabbit girls of Lunaria, it has been an immense pleasure being with you all. Your realm is a paradise, one of endless bounty and devoid of all want and suffering. Its wonder and beauty have no equal. I have partaken in all of your jovialities, and in that time, I have learned of your ways. Now I have become like you. Behold!"
I squatted down and jumped with all my might. My hair fluttered as I ascended. It was not long before I was high above the village. A few seconds later, I was able to look down upon the Jade Palace off in the distance. All the lush grassy fields and crystalline ponds were stretched out below me, and above me was a hole. It was as small as a grain of pepper at first, but it grew larger as I approached. The gemstones in the walls shimmered with a greater intensity than they had before, as if they were encouraging my efforts. I reached out my hand and grabbed the hole’s rim. For a moment I held my breath, for I could scarcely believe my accomplishment, then I grinned elatedly. Having proven my skill, I let go and slowly drifted back down. The rabbit girls gathered around my landing spot, looks of amazement in their eyes. The queen stood before me and smiled, but then her smile curled down into a frown and a tear rolled down her cheek, for she realized the implication of what I had just done. That same sense of grief swept across all the other girls. Horizon picked me up and held me close.
"Please stay with us," cried the queen.
"A mother must know when to let her son go," I replied.
She put me down, wiped away her tears, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands together. After she had regained her composure, she said, "You are right. It was selfish of us to keep you here. I spoke to God just now and He told me that He wants you to be with your people, for you and your progeny are destined for great things. Return now to your home, and may God smile upon your work."
All the girls hugged me as I walked away. Pecko in particular whispered words of encouragement into my ear. Tay ran up to me, tears in her eyes, cheeks puffy, snot dripping down her nose. She hugged my leg for a brief moment before running away. I returned to Pipper’s longhouse one last time, looked around, and remembered the day when I first arrived in this realm. Pipper wished me well as I got dressed in my spacesuit. After double-checking the suit’s integrity and replenishing the oxygen tank, I stepped outside, and waiting for me at the door was Conny. She looked down, twiddled her thumbs, then looked back up at me.
"Can we jump together one last time before you go?" she asked.
I smiled. "Sure."
She grabbed my hand, and with one mighty leap, we soared over the bamboo forest, the rice paddy, the lush green grass, the rolling hills, all the way to the flower field, and we landed in the spot where I first awoke in Lunaria. There I stood and reflected on everything I had experienced up until that point.
"Will you ever come back?" said Conny.
"Maybe one of these days," I replied.
Directly above me was the hole from which I fell. Repeating what I had done in the village, I jumped high into the air, and in just a few seconds, I grabbed the hole’s rim and pulled myself into the dark interior. I turned on my helmet’s flashlight and leaped from ledge to ledge with rabbit-like finesse. As I made my way through that tenebrous pit, several questions swirled in my head. Why did the rabbit girls make no attempt to prevent my departure? Was all of this part of some test they had devised? Did God send me down there to test my virtue? I lost track of time as I pondered these thoughts. Eventually I saw a shimmering light high above. It grew larger as I approached. With one more jump, I had reached the cave of gemstones. Looking down, I noticed several more pairs of footprints. It seemed that Glenn Rock had sent a rescue party who then had to abandon their efforts after their failure to find me. I made my way through the passage and stepped foot onto the Lunar surface. Checking my gauges, I noticed that I would not have enough oxygen if I tried to walk home, so I jumped. Exhilaration raced through my veins as the craters and ridges rushed past below me. Glenn Rock rapidly rose over the horizon. Standing at one of the entrances were Clark Starnberg and Ralph Jones. They stepped back in shock and bewilderment when I landed before them.
"Phil?" said Clark. "Is that really you? Where have you been? How did you survive?"
"It would take too long to explain here," I said.
Without saying another word, they led me inside. News of my arrival quickly spread. A few minutes later, the whole town greeted me. My wife Denice hugged me and asked where I had been, and I said I would explain everything later. My family, friends, and I gathered at my house later that day. I took off my spacesuit, revealing the tunic I was wearing underneath. When they asked where I got that, I told them of my time in Lunaria.
"Ed and I knew rabbit girls were real!" said Ralph.
"Everyone in town thought you were dead," my wife said, "but I knew deep down you were still alive. I’m so glad to have you back."
"Well," said Clark, "your story is extraordinary, but it’s detailed and specific enough to be true. You ever thought about writing all of this down?"
"Maybe some day," I said.
On the next day, as my wife and I strolled through Glenn Rock, admiring the church and the town square, I noticed something peculiar on the hill outside the dome. It swayed to and fro in a playful manner. Squinting my eyes, I realized it was a pair of rabbit ears; Conny’s ears, to be exact. I smiled.
It has been 12 years since that incident, and in that time I have sired a son and four daughters. Every year I tell them of my time in Lunaria, and every time their eyes light up in wonder. My son eventually suggested that I write it down and publish it for everyone else to read, so I did.
[One day after the publication of this story, a pair of adventurers named Zed Todd and Huang Chung ventured to the cave which Cunningham had described. Zed Todd died after a giant ruby fell on him, and Huang Chung fled and told others about what had happened. Immediately after this incident, the American Lunar Colonial Government blocked the entrance to the cave with a giant boulder to dissuade future curious seekers.]
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