Kidd Dustie's Arc

Chapter 1 of 7

Kidd Dustie traced his claw along the ancient map, stopping at the faded mark of an oasis. His ancestor had been blind until drinking from those sacred waters. The old worm's vision had returned, clear and bright. Now Kidd wore goggles and squinted through cracked lenses at a world he could barely see. He rolled up the map and tucked it into his pack. The desert of Hunky Dory stretched endlessly ahead. Somewhere out there, the legendary oasis waited. The search would take weeks, maybe months. Kidd needed a base camp, somewhere to rest between trips into the dunes. He burrowed deep into the sand, carving out rooms with his strong body. The underground dwelling stayed cool even when the sun blazed overhead. He crawled back to the surface and planted a wooden sign near the entrance. "Welcome Home" it read in crooked letters. A pink flamingo stood next to it, half-buried in sand. Kidd adjusted his goggles and grinned. The plastic bird looked ridiculous in the middle of the desert, but it marked his spot. Tomorrow, the real search would begin. Morning came fast. Kidd emerged from his burrow and studied the horizon. Walking would take too long, and his blurry vision made navigation difficult. He needed wheels. Behind his dwelling sat a dune buggy painted in orange and brown stripes. Little flags fluttered from poles on each side. Kidd climbed into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel. The engine roared to life, sending vibrations through his body. He pressed the gas pedal and the buggy lurched forward across the sand. The flags snapped in the wind as he headed toward the distant dunes. His home grew smaller behind him until only the pink flamingo remained visible. Kidd fixed his eyes on the shimmering horizon. The oasis was out there somewhere, waiting to restore what he had lost. Hours passed under the burning sun. Heat waves blurred the landscape even more. Then something massive appeared ahead. A giant stone head rose from the sand, tilted at an angle. Kidd squinted and made out carved features, ancient and worn smooth. The top of the head held a flat platform. He steered the buggy closer and killed the engine. This rest stop would give him a view of the land ahead. Kidd climbed the stone face, his body gripping the rough surface. At the top, he pulled out his map and looked across the endless dunes. The oasis had to be out there. He just had to keep searching.