The Voice on Wheels

The night air outside the café was still, as though the whole world was holding its breath. There was a certain peace to it, especially after everything that had happened that night. Some part of Maitho hoped that this wasn't the calm before the storm.

He was soon joined outside by the other three. Brigid pulled out a metallic object from her light-blue jeans. It was a circle with a cross inside, with one of the arms of the cross longer than the others. Intricate designs were engraved in its body.

The Celtic cross, Maitho's mind informed him.

Brigid pressed the center of the circle, where the two arms met. The cross changed into an emerald green color and the designs on its body shifted for a quick second, as though a hundred green snakes were moving around.

Maitho heard two horns beep in quick succession. The taillights of a gray modern sedan parked on the opposite side of the road blinked twice. It began to reverse from the parking slot on its own and aligned itself perfectly on the lane. Multiple clicks emanated from the car and the doors opened without any manual interference.

"That's the Sguaba Tuinne," said Bevan, who now stood besides Maitho.

"The Wave Sweeper?" Maitho racked his memory for the relevant bit of information. "I thought it was a boat."

"It can be a boat or a bike or an airplane." Bevan gave a look that showed that he was clearly enjoying showing-off. "It's all about how you want to move around."

"Then hou aboot we start moving?" said Epona as she passed by, directly heading for the gray sedan. She turned around to face the boys and said, "Dinnae want tae waste any more time with present company," before swiveling on her heels and facing away.

"Forgive her," said Bevan. "For that matter, forgive all of us. We are still dealing with some of the things we faced."

"I'll be fine," said Maitho, "and you don't have to take the responsibility of explaining."

Bevan nodded with a small smile, looking grateful. "Let's go. I need to show you what it feels like to travel in a godly vehicle. You can call shotgun."

When Maitho entered the sedan, the first thing he noticed was the interior illuminated by a dim, but comfortable, neon green hue. For some reason he could not discern the source of the light. But what caught his attention next was something that almost took his breath away.

Because above him, there was no roof.

Instead, an opening revealed another space that could not exist in the physical plane. Through the opening, he could see a bright blue sky. He could hear birds chirping and the rustle of leaves. The whole scene seemed so surreal that he had to make certain it was real.

And so, he stepped out of the car and looked at the exterior of the car's top. It was just a flat roof surface, just like one might find on any other vehicle. Impressed, he entered the front passenger seat and looked at the gap in the interior roof.

Brigid leaned forward from the back seat and touched the edge of the roof. "Dùin."

A black fabric appeared from the edge of the opening and closed it completely. Once done, it immediately solidified. When Maitho touched it, he could feel something metallic—the actual roof of the car. The opening had been completely sealed.

"I have heard that Wave Sweeper can carry many passengers." Maitho faced Brigid. "How many?"

When she did not respond, Bevan broke the silence. "Every single person in the world, if required. That roof leads to another place in space and time. A large field of grass that can hold all the humans of this planet."

"Next time, let me know when you feel like sharing something," said Brigid, a slight sting in her tone.

Bevan clamped his mouth shut and faced the road. He pressed the push button next to the steering wheel and the car powered-up. A male robotic voice resounded around the car, as though it was played through every speaker. "Welcome back Guardians. Did you enjoy the coffee? Or do you need some mouthwash to clean the aftertaste?"

"Are you going to get us the mouthwash?" asked Bevan.

"That was a question. You get the mouthwash yourself."

"It wasn't so bad, but we are in a hurry." Brigid said from the back.

"Aren't we all?" said the voice with a sense of solemnity. "Name your destination"

"Nemeton," said Brigid from the back. Home, Maitho's mind told him.

"Home it is. Also, care to introduce me to this gorgeous arrangement of human features?"

A short silence spread throughout the car. Bevan cleared his throat before answering. "This is, well." He looked like he was thinking about something. "Our new acquaintance. A partner, to be more accurate. A temporary partner, to be even more accurate."

"And does this, partner, have a name?"

"Maitho."

"Well Maitho." The voice from the speakers. "You let me know if you are ever in need of," a brief pause and then the voice turned soft, "a ride." It was almost sultry and Maitho caught the innuendo behind the words.

"He's not about to stay long. You might as well bid your farewells right now." This came from Brigid, who was now tapping her fingers on the driver seat's headrest.

"I wonder if there is something on the seat that got stuck up your ass, Brigid."

Without missing a beat, Brigid responded. "Now that you mention seats, I think I want to check its durability with my knife. Shall we do it now?"

"Don't mind her Maitho. She's just jealous that we have a far more aesthetically pleasing person like you with us."

For his part, Maitho let out a quick laugh. He was surprised at the noise that erupted out of his mouth. It was honest. Carefree. It felt like it was meant for a different time and place. "I'll take that compliment. What do I call you?"

The car began to move on its own. The steering wheel rotated to match the turns the car made.

"Wave Sweeper."

"No personal names?"

The voice signed with exaggeration. "If only my masters were generous," said the car with feigned sadness

"We aren't that bad," said Bevan defensively. "Nor had we ever thought of ourselves as your masters. Don't say that."

"See how they command me? The horror."

"Well, thank you for the shift in mood. After what has happened lately, I think I need that." Maitho knew that he was revealing more of his emotions than he should, but he could not hold himself back. It felt good to let it out.

"Don't lose hope, Maitho dear."

"I'm afraid I have little of it in the first place."

"Everyone in the world has only a little hope. It's how they use it that matters. After all, someone on the brink of exhaustion will use their last moments of consciousness to seek help."

Maitho gave a half-smile. "Then I thank you Sguaba Tuinne."

"You can call me Quinn"

"Quinn?" said Bevan, his eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement.

"I like Quinn," said Maitho.

"I absolutely adore Quinn." said the car.

"And ah like tah go home and get a drink. Shall we stairt movin' faster you tin can?" Epona then proceeded to adjust herself until she was leaning against the backrest and closed her eyes.

"Are you ready young Maitho?" asked the voice.

"You know, we have been in this car far longer than he has," said Bevan.

"Unfortunately, that meant I had a full view of your unpleasant facial structures until Maitho's arrival."

The car weaved in and out of traffic deftly. It maneuvered a mile short of the speed limit, but knew how to apply brakes in the most effective way possible. The result was a smooth ride that could have, under different circumstances, encouraged Maitho to lie back and just close his eyes.

"We'll be at our destination in twenty minutes," said Quinn. "Relax until then."

"You make it sound like a dangerous place," said Maitho, allowing himself to relax a little bit.

"It's one of the hideouts of the Celtic pantheon. That place usually attracts danger."