The Day Paul Lucas Vanished

by Timothy

This tale, in a very small part, inspired by a Richard Matheson story.

The Day Paul Lucas Vanished

"I finished my giant/tiny story," said Paul Lucas to himself. With an excited finger, Paul hit the enter key. "Oh Joy! Another story completed and on the fiction board." Paul sat back in his chair. He felt very good that another story was completed. No, not good. He was full of joy. This joy ran throughout his body---if not his being. He looked over at his bed. Switching his gaze, Paul looked upon his dresser. It seemed to him so strange. Strange beacuse it was like it didn't belong to him. He touched his face.

Paul shook his head. He felt himself again.

At the college, Paul told his friend Benson Myers about his latest story. Benson really didn't get into the whole giant/tiny thing.

During break in class, Paul stepped outside of the school of engineering. Not far from the school stood the skyscrappers of the city. A peaceful wind stired up around Paul. The fragrance was very pleasing to Paul. Instead of the smells of car exhusts or diesel fumes, the air was filled that of a country meadow or field. Looking straight ahead at the buildings in the distance, the buildings appeared to be slowly turning. And the vague outline of an immense person began to form.

"Hey Paul," said a friend. The vaugue outline vanished.

Paul turning to the voice, "Hey, Barbara."

"How's classes going?"

"Ah, very good," replied Paul casting a brief glimpse back at the buildings.

Tilting her head slightly, "Hope to see you again." Barbara turned and walked away.

Paul looked once more at the buildings that stood like silent sentries. "I think I need more sleep," said Paul to himself.

That night after finishing up his studies for the next day of classes, Paul thought, "No story writing tonight. Better get some good zzzzs in."

Paul cleaned up and went to sleep.

During his sleep, Paul had the sensation of being tickled in the nose. A bright light asulted his eyes. Opening them, he was greeted by a blurry blue sky. As his eyes adjusted, in this blue sky were fluffy white clouds. He felt that tickling sensation again on his nose. Waving his hand infront of his face, Paul saw a butterfly speeding off away.

Paul became confused. Turning to his side, Paul found he was no longer in his bed, but on his side among oatmeal colored blades of wheat.

Paul stood up. He indeed was in a field. Far off in the distance, were the blue outlines of a mountain range. He began to pick up the sounds of voices. "Am I dreaming?" Paul said to himself. Scratching his head, "If I'm dreaming, how do I know?"

Paul began to feel a vibration under his foot. It began to increase. Something that sounded like thunder commenced. The thunderous sound changed to one of great kettle-drums. Paul felt a current of air pushing on him from behind. Turning, Paul wide-eyed saw a pair of sandaled feet heading straight for him. Jumping up, Paul turned and found himself jostled on top of the great toes. Rolling around on the warm skin, Paul grabbed hold to a thick leather cord. Hanging on, Paul felt as if he was riding the foot of the Apocalypse.

When the foot stooped moving, Paul looked up. Many stories above, to Paul's disbelief---a giant. From his angle, the giant was wearing a pair of long wool like shorts. On its side, attached to a very thick black belt was an equally huge pouch.

Standing up, Paul began shouting. The youngman and he appeared young, as far as Paul could tell at his low angle, had a hand in his forest of brown hair and appeared to be scratching it. Paul wondered if the giant was lost or something.

Getting no results by his shouting, Paul walked up the small mound that was the top of the giant's foot; toward his ankles. Grabbing hold of a lower strap, Paul began to scale up the tower like leg.

Paul was startled and almost lost his grp when the giant began walking again. Hanging on, Paul watched as bits of wheat and debris flew into the air from beneath the gigantic feet.

Looking ahead, Paul saw he was heading toward a village of sorts. Not any he had ever heard of. It was vast bambo huts as big as office buildings. Among these titanic huts, were dwellings of people Paul's size. When the giant stopped just outside of one of these far-fetched looking huts, several people ran up to the base of the giant's sandal and started pointing and shouting at Paul.

Feeling fear swelling up inside of him, Paul saw a giant hand reaching down for him. Not knowing what to do, Paul jumped off the side of the giant leg. A huge sweeping hand came and caught him. Paul rolled over the thick, muscular pads to the hand. He could feel an upward motion. Paul saw he was ascending past a vest or tunic made of tan colored wool. The hand stopped across from the face. It was hard to gage the age of this giant since his features filled his vision. By the look of the skin. The nose. The giant could be around his age of nineteen.

"Well, my friend. You must have had quit a ride," spoke the giant.

"Where am I?" asked a very confused Paul.

"You don't know?"

Paul shook his head.

"Your home."

"Home?" replied Paul totaly confused.

"I always wondered when my soul companion would come," said the giant whose warm, moist breath rolled over Paul's body.

"I'm Camda. You look spent." The giant lowered his hand. Paul with unsteady legs stood up. Feeling light headed; walked to the side of the giant hand and climbed off. The hand returned back up many stories into the air from whence it had come from. Paul looked back up at this colossal being named Camda. The giant appeared so powerful and unearthly. Yet, a sweetness even from the heavens seem to radiate down from him.

Several elderly women along with children dressed like the giant took Paul's hand. Paul was taken to a hut. Looking behind him, Paul saw several other giants walking past and over the village.

Paul was taken inside of a hut. Children came up and stared at him. "Don't mind the children. They always stare at strangers. But your not a stranger are you?"

"I-I don't know anything at this point."

The old woman smiled, "Camda has waited for you. He's a nice lad. Always has been."

"You said he has waited for me?" asked Paul.

"Yes, your his soul comapnion. And you have come back."

Paul replied, "I didn't know I had left."

"Of course you had left. Long time ago. Many of us had left our soul companions. A part of ourselves."

The old women gave Paul food and drink. One small little girl came and gave Paul a woolen vest wear. "Thank you," said Paul. The little girl put a finger in her mouth and ran ran off.

Paul feeling more rested walked out of the hut. Outside, was a strange world. Many giants now appeared both interacting with each other and the tiny people. Several were sitting on the ground holding the very tiny people in their hands.

Paul went up to a very portly looking gentlemen. "I'm new here. Where can I find Camda."

"So you have come. Let me shake your hand." The portly gentlman gave Paul a hug.

Paul, feeling a bit embarrassed from this out pouring of emotion told the portly man,"Yeah, nice to me you too. Can you tell me where I can find this Camda?"

"I believe the last time I saw him, it was near the river. Just take your right on that purple stone walk. That will lead you to the river."

"Thanks," said Paul.

Paul found the purple stone walk and began to follow it. He passed many huts. A few dwellers placing pies out on the window sills, or hanging out laundry and faces that peered out at this stranger.

People passed him by nodding their heads or tipping their straw hats. A few times the ground beneath him rocked as giants walked on by or passed over head.

After a few minutes of walking, Paul saw the glistening of the water. The tops of several rounded hills appeared behind a small forest. When paul emerged from the forest, he found it was no mounds or hills---but a giant. The giant was stretched out away from him. Paul slowly made his way past the thick impressive legs. "He must be at least half a block long," thought Paul with wonder.

The giant youthful face was lost in thought as it looked straight into the water. Paul could tell this was Camda by the shape of the face and the color of the wavy brown hair that flopped over the house size forehead.

Aware of a presence, Camda lifted his jaw off his hands and looked to his side. With a big, inviting smile, "Paul, you have come."

"I don't know why. Only somehow, I am meant to do so. Maybe the stories I had written was a hidden clue."

As he neared Camda, Paul could see really for the first time, the giant's clear, green eyes. And his beautiful young, strong face that seemed to speak of ages. A face which Paul counldn't figure, yet, had always known.

"Come enjoy the beauty of the water with me. Very gently, between two fingers, Camda picked up Paul and placed him ontop of his folded hands. Paul looked out at the clear, fresh water. Leaning back against a knuckle, Paul closed his eyes.

Opening his eyes, Paul looked with confusion and sadness. He was no longer with Camda, he was back in his bedroom. "Was this all a dream then?" questioned Paul out loud.

Putting on his clothes before going to school, Paul noticed something in his bed. Going over to it. He picked it up. Held in Paul's hand was a blade of wheat. He wondered in torrment of heart.

"I tell ya Dick. Something happened to me last night. Something science can't explain."

"Its just in your imagination. Its this Giant/Tiny stuff your spending to much time with," said Dick.

Paul replied,"What about this blade of wheat huh?"

"Oh, you probably picked it somewhere without knowing." Dick placed his hands on his friend's shoulders. "You didn't go to some land populated by giants. You need help."

Paul made an angry and hurt face.

"Look there's nothing wrong in getting help. You have been studying hard and doing those stories. It burnt you out. We now have class. We can talk about it later."

During class, Paul thought about what Dick said. Still, he couldn't get the feeling that it really happened out of his mind.

Dick was wrting down what the professor was lecturing on when he turned to Paul. Paul sat there with a strange look as he touched his face. Leaning over, "What's wrong with you?"

"I don't belong here Dick. I never did. Now I understand it all."

Becoming concerned for the mental health of his friend Dick asked, "Understand what?"

"My stories. They were helping me. Leading me back home. I'm vansishing Dick." Paul stood up. Picking up his books he headed for the classroom door.

"Mr. Lucas where do you think your going? Class hasn't ended," said the professor. Paul didn't respond. He just opened the door and left.

Standing up, Dick told the teacher, "I need to leave class. Something isn't right with Paul."

"Yes, I think your right. You can come to my office later for your assignment."

Dick left the classroom. When he stepped out into the hallway, Paul couldn't be seen---Dick just picked up the sweet fragrence of wheat blowing through the hallway.

Paul Lucas was never seen or heard from again.

THE END