The four told their story, revealing everything except Spence’s Enki encounters. None of the others volunteered if they had had similar contact. Tom listened with his face unreadable. He didn’t appear surprised or shocked by any of it. He only raised his eyebrows when they spoke of Spence’s cured paralysis.

“That’s pretty amazing. I’m sure having four young people knowing how to play helps. Our ‘wizard’ never did get the hang of his wand. The others were mostly ineffective with their weapons too. I’ve gotten fairly good with the bow and my daggers. You guys have worked well together, too, and began planning your battles. We stuck together traveling but were more every man and woman for themselves in the fight scenes.”

“Have you figured out what this place is? I mean, different races, monsters, gods, and quests….” Spence said.

“Well, I had similar secret conversations along the way with the races' leaders. They didn’t speak of a war, though. That must be new. But I think it’s pretty easy to see the gods or someone created the races and monsters. It looks to me mostly through genetic manipulation. I mean, even on Earth, I bet scientists could create some pretty freaky stuff if they didn’t have rules and ethics holding them back,” Tom said.

Spence suddenly thought of something. “Hey! That could be why the races don’t have any children! They could be like mules on earth and can’t reproduce. Then the gods just create another one anytime one of them dies.”

Tom scratched his beard. “Good point. Or the gods just made them sterile for population control.”

“Do you think the gods might be scientists?” Caleb asked.

“Everything here reeks of technology and not magic. I mean, our party’s wand had push buttons in it, as does Spence’s staff, I’m guessing.”

The others all turned to Spence, expressions ranging from surprise to anger. Spence considered denying it but now wasn’t the time. This was the first chance they had to really try to figure out the true nature of Nibiru. He struck the butt of the staff on the ground. Once the compartment slid open, he turned the staff to show the others.

“Why haven’t you told us about this?” Trey asked angrily.

“Uh, you didn’t ask?” Spence stammered.

“Why did it shock me when I tried to take it?” Trey said.

“The wand did the same thing. Probably fingerprint recognition, causing a loss of grounding and electric shock if the prints don’t match.” Tom turned from Trey to Spence. “Three powers?”

“A small ball that locks onto the monster and explodes into fire on contact, a lightning bolt, and a shock wave,” Spence said, looking away from the glowering Trey. He struck the staff on the ground again and deactivated it.

“See, none of that is out of the realm of technology. The military has already experimented with lightning weapons and shock waves made from sound. I’m sure they could make a similar fireball—possibly a miniature heat-seeking drone with napalm or C4.”

“What about the monsters?” Morgan asked.

“Well, you discovered the Cyclops was at least part robot. The wolfosaurus was most likely the cloning of a dinosaur and then further splicing with wolf DNA. The spider mantises, other than being massive, are obvious. I think these gods are more advanced than the scientists on Earth. But look how far we’ve come in fifty years. They wouldn’t have to be that far ahead. I’m sure fixing spinal injuries is not too far in our future, either.

“The gods appearing are probably simple holograms. They could have cameras and listening devices everywhere to keep an eye on everything. On Earth, we’ve already created insect-sized drones with cameras in them. You know what this reminds me of?”

“The Hunger Games,” Morgan said, her eyes wide with the revelation.

“Exactly. The Capitol could watch and influence everything in The Hunger Games books and movies.”

“But why?” Caleb asked. “Why would the gods do all this?”

“The same reason…entertainment. You bring a bunch of strangers in, give them weapons, and let them fight monsters. It’s like Survivor on steroids,” Tom said.

Spence and the others all leaned forward. He recalled their conversation in the forest regarding Nibiru possibly being a game. “But who is the audience?” Spence asked. “It doesn’t seem like the races are in on it or have any devices to watch it on.”

“I’m not sure. But I have realized something.” Tom got off his stump and went over to a nearby pile of branches. He broke off several handfuls of sticks and then gathered some small rocks off the ground. He returned to the center of the tarp and dropped to his knees amid the four.

“OK. Follow along. Here is the arena.” He placed a rock on the tarp. “We headed east to Argos, here.” He set another stone for the town. “Here is the Styx River. You cannot cross and go further to the east.” He laid down several sticks, making a straight line beside the rock. “We headed north to the Forbidden Forest. The forest was too thick to pass further north.” He placed another line of sticks on that side. “Then we headed west to the Desolate Peaks. The mountains also become impassable further west.” He made a line with small stones on that side. “None of us has been there, but here is the Forsaken Swamp to the south. I’ll bet all our lives it becomes impassable further south.” He laid the remaining sticks on that side.

“Dang,” Caleb said. “I thought something was weird.”

“What?” Trey asked, staring at the shapes on the floor.

“This world is completely boxed in. Or possibly a circle, since we don’t know the exact border shapes,” Caleb said.

“And a fairly small one too. Think about how long it took you to travel each edge. What would you say, Caleb, twenty or thirty miles on each side?” Tom asked.

“Pretty close, depending on how far the actual border is,” Caleb replied, still studying the layout.

“Then what’s outside the borders?” Trey asked.

“Oh my God!” Morgan said. “Think of The Hunger Games again. They were in a circular arena with an invisible dome over it. The rest of the world lay outside. The Gamemakers could change the environment inside for each game.”

“So, we could just be in one big arena, and the rest of the world, Nibiru, is watching all the questers and us on TV at night!” Spence exclaimed.

“Or something like that,” Tom said.

“Then that would explain why there is no wind or birds and how the sky is always overcast, but there hasn’t been any rain or snow. Maybe you could see the dome with blue skies and sun behind it,” Caleb said.

“And I bet they somehow heat the forest and swamps, like the tropical habitats in the zoo,” Spence added.

“Good points,” Tom said.

“I wonder if the Styx runs beneath the dome, or what happens to it?” Spence asked.

Tom appeared thoughtful for a moment. “The Forsaken Swamp! I bet it forms the swamp.”

“I wonder why everyone speaks English?” Caleb asked.

“Good question. And have people other than Americans been here?” Tom said.

“How do you think we got here?” Morgan asked.

“Not sure. A lot of scientists have speculated that there are multiple dimensions. And there are wormhole theories. As we’ve said, these beings are more advanced than we are. They must have some way to see into our world and open doorways to bring people into this one,” Tom said. “Hey, before we talk all night, you wouldn’t have any food to share with a fellow earthling, would you?”

***

“They have been in there for a while,” Ra said.

“What if the masks did not work, or they removed them?” Enki asked.

“They would have no reason to doubt the terrible monster facing them. I am sure the wizard ended it quickly. It is nearly dark, and they are just spending the night inside,” Odin said calmly.

“How have you allowed these places in your mountains where we cannot see or hear?” Artemis asked.

“The last earthquake must have opened some long-sealed passages. Somehow, the rogue human managed to stumble upon a few. But it is no matter now. They will have to come out eventually. And we have finally pinned down where the missing one is hiding, so he will not sneak out in the dark again.”

“Has anyone had any luck recruiting their champion yet?” Enki asked.

“I think mine is close to breaking. We shall soon see. And if he goes, then so will go the others. No one will want to be last.”