Title: Crossing the Divide
Chapter: 2
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Archive: Let me know where, please.
Feedback: always welcome and adored
Disclaimer: owe it all to IA and the actors,

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Their descent into the lift proved easier than expected with all three reaching the floor and hiding, before the storeman returned to take the elevator back to the basement. Hidden under the metal kick bar, Mark, Valerie and Dan had a unique view of the storeman's much worn boots. Squashed on their stomachs wasn't exactly the best way to ride the lift but it reached the bottom quickly and the storeman exited, none the wiser to the company he'd kept. He was quickly back with another load on a pallet and this time the Little People were able to climb aboard the trolley and find a secure purchase before the lift reached the top floor. A jolt and a thump signalled their arrival, then the storeman heaved on the handle and the pallet started to trundle out, bumping over the lip of the lift and onto the smooth vinyl flooring of the corridor. From what they could see from their concealed position, they were still on a maintenance floor, and heading for a store-room, which suited them fine. Mark signalled for Dan and Valerie to hold tight until the whole conveyance stopped moving. They passed through several swing doors and travelled down a long corridor before reaching a door that the storeman had to unlock, using a key from a whole string of keys suspended from his belt. After unlocking the door he pushed the pallet on the trolley into the room, slotting it beside several identical stacks and left it there. Never once did he suspect he had conveyed the stow-aways to their destination. The storeman switched off the light and shut the door, locking it behind him. They could hear the sound of his boots echoing down the deserted hallway. Dan had found his torch and shone the light around to assess their accommodation.

" Just as well these boxes didn't hold perishables, we'd be in a cold room if they did," Dan commented, dryly.

" Well we're a heck of a lot closer to our goal than an hour ago, so quit complaining," said Mark, rummaging in his own pack for a torch.

" Lets find a way to the shops, we can't be that far away," said Valerie, jumping down off the pallet to the cool, dark floor.

Dan and Mark followed. Using their torches they did a quick recky of the room, finding nothing of any interest except the multiple stacks of boxes.

" I can't make out these markings, any idea what he's been hauling into this room ?" Dan asked, shining his light on one of the brown, cardboard boxes.

" No idea, but we can soon find out," Mark replied, taking out his knife and approaching one of the boxes further back from the front.

He cut into the box, making a small hole with a flap, enough to see what was contained inside, but also so it could be made to look intact.

The first box contained ornaments of differing types, some figurines and some vases, all in a heavy china. The next box contained costume jewellery, which made Valerie itch to take a set of earings, set with semi precious stones, back to show Betty. They did find several packaged length of fine chain, that Dan suggested could be useful. Mark pulled them out, plastic bag and all and they inspected them. They were only base metal dipped in a gold coating, but Mark took two lengths and packed them into his backpack. The next box, in the adjacent pallet, contained giant men's shirts, smelling of starch and finishing. The last box they opened proved the most useful, as it contained brochures advertising the shopping centre. As part of the promotion, they featured a simplified map of the mall's layout, complete with a list of the shops and services. Dan let out a whoop at seeing the treasure, and immediately started to cut the relevant parts out.

" I suggest we all get a copy of this map, in case we get separated," said Mark.

" If we do get separated, we could use the central information kiosk as a meeting place," Dan suggested, pointing to the illustration.

" No, it would be too exposed and busy, what about this stairwell, there looks like a plant display there, it would be readily visible from nearly anywhere, and it provides plenty of cover,"

" I think I prefer Mark's alternative, if we get to this central area we could use that as our base of operations," said Valerie, folding her copy of the map and stuffing it into her pack.

" I want somewhere a bit more comfortable for the night, see, there's a furniture shop across the way, that would make for a pleasant night, plus there's a bakery just two doors down, so that's supper taken care of," said Mark, pointing out the relevant shops on the map.

" I like that idea even better," Dan agreed, the thought of food reminding him how long it had been since breakfast.

" The only thing the map doesn't show, is where we are right now," said Mark, " we won't be able to orientate ourselves until we can pinpoint where we are in the complex. Look around behind these boxes and see if you can find a vent, or duct for us to use. I don't want to have to traverse that exposed corridor unless we have to."

The others nodded their agreement and immediately set out to explore the rest of the small storeroom. Dan gave a shout and Mark ran over to where he crouched next to a mesh covered grill. Valerie ran up and joined them, shining her own torch to show the entrance.

Mark used the hatchet to cut the wire and they folded it back from one corner. Dan went in first, then Valerie and finally Mark, who bent the mesh back to conceal their passage.

Dan had already gone a way ahead when Mark called out to him.

" Hey, see anything ?"

" Not see, hear, listen."

Valerie and Mark strained their ears and caught a faint sound, like a distant roar of waves on the beach.

" What is that ?" asked Valerie,

" I reckon it's the sound of a lot of Giants, shopping," said Dan, looking back over his shoulder and grinning.

Valerie laughed and jogged to catch up with him.

" The sound must be echoing down the tunnel, I can't pinpoint anything I'm hearing, its all a white noise," said Mark, a look of concentration on his face. They could see a square of light from another vent up ahead, so they switched off their torches and jogged to the light. Crowding round the grill, they took their first look at the Giant shopping mall.

At first they were alarmed at how close the feet were coming to where they were hiding, but gradually they put the Giants into perspective and were able to see past the feet and see some of the shops lining this arm of the mall.

" See that shop over there, it's Merzaks Jewellery, that's in the south arm of the centre, we need to be in the west arm," said Dan, looking at his copy of the map. Mark peered over his shoulder and confirmed his assessment.

" There's no way we can cross with all these Giants about, we'll have to wait until closing time," said Mark, watching a Giant pram roll by.

" We'll miss the bakery then," said Valerie, disappointed.

" I doubt if the shop will be totally empty, I'm sure we'll find something to feast on," Dan reassured her.

" We might as well get comfortable, its a couple of hours before closing time, so nap if you can, I'll set my watch," said Mark, checking his time with Dan. Before Mark mentioned sleep, Valerie would have sworn she wasn't tired, but the days efforts were catching up, plus their early start. She could feel her eye's closing the more she thought about it. Taking off her pack and plumping it into a makeshift pillow, she lay down on the hard floor and closed her eyes. The roar of the Giants quickly sending her to sleep. Mark smiled to see her so quickly succumb to slumber, thinking to himself that Valerie was fast becoming like a soldier, able to sleep anywhere, anytime, under any conditions.

He wasn't exactly fresh himself, the prospect of a couple of hours rest, even on the hard floor, an inviting prospect. Just like Valerie he used his pack for a pillow, picking a spot near where Valerie slept, Mark stretched out and closed his eyes. Dan had already settled and was fast asleep, Mark wasn't long joining his companions.

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" We're going to attempt to reach the furniture shop in about half an hour's time, the crowd has really thinned," said Mark, speaking into the radio, the antenna extended as far as it would go. Even so, Steve's voice came back faintly.

" Fitzhugh has been monitoring the car park from the edge of the forest, he radioed a short time ago to say that the car's were leaving in droves, it must be close to closing time,"

" That's what we figured, we'll wait until there's very little traffic then start our run,"

" Good luck....call when you get settled in for the night, Steve out."

Mark tucked the aerial down and poked it back into his pack. Valerie and Dan were watching through the mesh at the shops, keeping track of who was still there.

" The jewellery shop-keeper is leaving just now Mark, and there aren't anymore shoppers around, only shop staff and maintenance people," reported Valerie, turning to see Mark hoist his pack onto his back again, ready to move.

" Let me get at the mesh, I'll just cut the corner and we'll squeeze through, the less evidence of our arrival the better,"

Dan and Valerie moved back to give him room, the job accomplished quickly. Dan and Mark pulled back the grill and folded it to keep it out of the way. Mark stuck his head and shoulders out to do a quick assessment of the nearest cover.

" There's a rubbish bin, just to the left of this hole, Dan you go first and head for that, then Valerie. I'll pull the mesh back after I go through," Mark instructed. Dan nodded and went to exit the vent. He got through and immediately ran to the towering metal bin ten feet away. He crouched there and waited for the others to arrive. Valerie jogged over and crouched down, casting looks for any stray Giants, up and down that arm of the mall. Mark arrived a couple of minutes later and they took stock of their surroundings. The mall was brightly lit, and garishly decorated, with large mobiles hanging from the distant roof, slowly rotating in the circulated air. The floor appeared to be made of tiles, laid in geometric patterns but in muted earth tones. Scattered down the length of that arm were benches for weary shoppers and the occasional potted plant, usually a fair sized tree. Most of the shops were now dark and locked up, only the occasional one showing any lights, and those mostly only for advertising purposes. There hadn't been any Giants down that leg of the complex for nearly fifteen minutes so Mark decided to move out, pointing to the vast distance over the floor to the jewellery shop. They would make for the bench halfway over then make the last push if it remained clear. Mark took the lead and started at a ground eating pace, Valerie close behind and Dan in the rear. They had just reached the shelter of the bench when they heard a motorised noise and saw a monstrous rubber-tired tractor, towing a trailer came thundering down the corridor. The trailer had shopping trolleys on board and the Giant was a teenage boy, his weaving progress testament to his boredom. They waited until he'd passed from sight then darted across the open space to the window in front of the jewellery store. A bit further along and they reached the locked door, there was a slot for late deliveries and Dan eyed it with interest.

" The last time we ransacked a jewellery store we got a good haul of stuff," said Dan.

" Sure, but we also had a Giant to carry it all back for us, just put a cross on the map to show where it is, and lets get going," Mark replied, checking both directions before leaving the doorway and setting off.

They followed the line of shops until they reached the end of the arm and found the central open area surrounding the information kiosk. The ceiling was so high that it was almost lost in the distance, only the light from the setting sun, reflecting off the cross beams told them where it was.

Following their current line around to the left brought them into the west arm of the mall. The smell of the bakery as they approached the front door was almost too much to bear. All their stomach's began to rumble in protest and made them all laugh. Again the door had a mail slot, so access was simple. Once inside the darkened shop they walked past huge glass display cases, now empty and made their way to the rear, behind the cash register, counter and metal bread racks.

" That smell is heavenly," said Valerie, impressed at how clean the floor of the bakery was, no flour, no crumbs, swept bare.

" They must leave the bread to rise overnight, there will be racks of tins with batter somewhere, it's what's producing that smell," Dan explained.

" Well whatever it is, let's find something for us,"

They reached the area with the ovens and baking tins, workbenches and other paraphernalia. Under one bench was a large cardboard box, which had a long bread stick poking out.

" That looks promising, Dan give me a boost,"

Dan stood with his back to the box and extended his clasped hands for Mark to step into. Mark vaulted to the lip of the box and hauled himself up, the thickness of the cardboard allowing him to straddle the edge and look over. He gave Dan and Valerie a big grin and swung his leg over to jump inside the box. Shortly they saw a small bun come over the lip and fall to the floor. It was the size of a small car, but very light.

" Dan, I need your help with this," they heard Mark's muffled voice.

Dan, with a boost from Valerie, clambered to the edge and peered over. Soon he was inside the box with Mark and Valerie saw what looked like a fruit Danish being pushed over the lip and onto the floor next to her. Then both men clambered out and dropped down, flushed with success.

" Supper is served, your Ladyship," Dan quipped in an outrageous accent.

Valerie laughed and clapped her hands at their bounty. Mark took out a large, thin plastic sheet from his pack and spread it out, then using his knife he cut hunks off the bread roll, then the Danish, and piled the pieces into the centre of the sheet. After making a sizeable mound he folded the corners of the sheet over and tied a knot. The remaining bread was thrown back into the box. Then Mark attached a rope to the bundle and they started to haul it out of the shop. By the time they reached the mail slot it was getting quite dark inside the bakery. The main overhead lights had also been switched off, indicating the cleaner's had already been through while they'd been getting their delicious booty.

Dan climbed through first, then Mark and Valerie pushed the ungainly bundle through, following in short order to join Dan outside.

The furniture shop they were heading for had a long, glass frontage and they had to walk some way to eventually reach the front door. The light was almost all gone when they arrived at the entrance. This time the slot was lower down but covered by a wide, hinged flap. Mark held the flap out of the way while Dan and Valerie pulled the bundle after them. Mark jumped through, letting the flap fall behind him. Dan and Valerie had already walked a little way into the shop, holding the bundle between them. Mark clicked on his torch and looked around.

" Let's see what's towards the back, I don't want any of our lights to be seen by the security they're bound to have patrolling the mall,"

Dan was shining his torch on the ground, the light wavering as he tried to negotiate the bundle as well as investigate their surroundings. They were passing a display of cabinetry and chairs, monstrous tables and sofa's. Soon they were passing chest of drawers and mirrors, finally reaching the bedroom furniture.

The beds were made up with pillows and bedspreads, some with ornate headboards and some with awnings over the top. Valerie spotted a particularly frilly childs bed and pointed it out.

" That looks easy to climb, and very comfortable,"

" You would choose one with a pink theme," Dan groaned.

" You have a problem with pink ?" Valerie teased.

Mark was looking at another bedroom set, this time with a very busy patterned coverlet. It had a beside table next to it with a lamp.

" This one, it has the lamp cord for access, and the cover will act as camouflage in case there are visitors. Less likely to spot us up there," said Mark, shining his light over the sheer sides of the bed.

" Okay, but really, the pink is prettier," Valerie grumbled, but without any real dissent.

They used the cord to climb, Dan going first and letting a rope down for the bundle. Mark joined him and together they hauled the food to the bed surface. Valerie made her way up the cord and soon joined the men, checking out their "bed" for the night. The diffused light from the window display illuminated strips of the bedspread, casting deep shadows near the pillow. They would be well hidden from any curious observers outside the shop. Valerie jumped up and down on the bed surface, disappointed when she proved too light to make much more than a tiny dent in the beds cover. Walking over to the pillows, she found them soft and fluffy, but too big and frilly, more like soft sand dunes than useable as pillows for the Little People. Mark and Dan were seated in the middle of the bed, spreading out the cloth with the food. Valerie walked over, her feet sinking only slightly into the cover, and sat herself down, cross legged.

" Bread or Danish ?" Dan asked, holding out a piece of each.

" Both," Valerie replied, her stomach choosing that precise moment to remind her just how long it had been since her last meal. Mark and Dan laughed, passing both pieces over. The two men took sizeable pieces for themselves and the three sat and enjoyed their long awaited meal.

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" So here we are, getting comfortable on a giant bed," said Mark.

" Sound's like you'll have a halfway decent sleep for once, give me a call in the morning, we'll see how the night goes, Steve out."

Mark shut off the radio and put it back in his back before turning and heading back to where Dan and Valerie sat together. Valerie's laugh rang out at something Dan said.

" What's so funny ?" Mark asked, looking at Dan and Valerie's smiling faces and sitting down on the bed cover across from them.

" Sorry, just remembering that last time we visited the bakery, back before the rainy season, you know, when Fitzhugh fell into the flour barrel and ended up flailing around, his flour "angels" were kinda whacked out of shape," Dan smirked, a broad smile on his features.

" It was pretty funny, although then the baker got a cat and it stuffed up our chances of using the place again," said Mark," I'm sure with a bit of practise Fitz could do a fair imitation of an angel,"

" A very fat angel," Valerie giggled, making Dan laugh again.

" Hey you two, it's time to hit the sack, we haven't seen a security patrol go by, so let's make the most of the quiet,"

" Sorry Boss," Valerie hiccupped, trying to suppress her giggles.

Mark gave her a mock stern look and stood up, holding out his hand to help her up. Dan had already risen and wandered off to make up a bed near the pillows, his obvious move a ploy to allow the lovers more privacy.

" Goodnight Dan," called Valerie and saw Dan raise a hand in reply.

" Have you picked out a place for us ?" Mark asked, pulling Valerie towards him, into the embrace of his arms. Valerie melted against him and snaked her arms around his neck. She spoiled the effect by burying her face in his chest and giggling, her whole body shaking with the effort of controlling her mirth.

" Sorry....sorry, I just keep seeing Fitzhugh with angels wings and a halo," she explained, tilting her face up, her eye's brimming with laughter. Mark smiled at her bright eye's and decided to take her mind off the matter with a little distraction.

Some time later, the distraction having worked just fine, they made their way to where Valerie had put their packs and made up a bed for them, some way away from there Mark could just make out the dark shape of Dan.

Mark got himself settled and Valerie snuggled into his side, her head on his shoulder.

" So what did Steve say about your plans for tomorrow ?" she asked.

" I mentioned the hardware store and the jewellers, plus there's a pharmacy not far from here, we should be able to case all those shops and get back to the Windsifter before dark,"

" All going well and we don't get caught,"

" That's being a bit pessimistic, we've been okay so far."

" I just don't like the idea of being among so many Giants, it's just daunting,"

" Don't worry, we can use the airduct system that connects the shops, there's one at ground level and one in the ceiling, we'll try the floor duct first, if that proves too difficult, we'll climb to the upper, either way, this is only a search and report mission, we're not planning on taking anything back with us, just mark the map and get out," Mark explained, rubbing circles on Valerie's back in an attempt to sooth her.

" I know, its just unnerving to be walking voluntarily into what would usually be a no go area. We've never approached a shopping complex before for exactly that reason....too many Giants,"

" You worry too much,"

" And sometimes you don't worry enough," Valerie retorted. Mark just shushed her and went back to stoking her back, the movement soothing and soporific, quickly lulling Valerie into a relaxed doze.

Some hours later, she awoke with a start, briefly disorientated by the strange half light and even stranger shadows around her. Only the steady thump of Mark's heart under her ear a familiar sound, the rest was plain unsettling. She wondered what had woken her up, but hearing nothing but Mark's steady breathing, Valerie decided to get up anyway. Nature was calling and she felt the need to stretch her limbs. The bar's of light falling across the bed provided enough illumination for her not to need a torch. She made her way across the bed to the lamp and quickly slid down the cord. There was still no indication what had interrupted her sleep but she shrugged it off and made her way under the bed to take care of nature. When she emerged she paused, before climbing back up, to look around at the strange shapes and shadows cast by the furniture. Her preoccupation was the reason she didn't notice the shadow that moved behind her, approaching on silent feet. Valerie had turned to start climbing the cord, when she found herself face to face with a man, her indrawn breath of surprise was the last sensation she felt before something hit her hard on the back of the head and she pitched forward, the stranger catching her slumped body before it hit the ground. The figure, who had appeared so silently behind her, tucked his cosh back into his belt and took Valerie's body and swung it up and over his shoulder, then the two figures left as silently as they'd come, stealing away with their precious burden.

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" She wouldn't have wandered off, she just wouldn't do that," Mark stated, worry and fear making his voice sharp. Dan stood beside him on the floor by the bed. It was now morning and both men had been searching for any sign of Valerie since first light, when she had been discovered missing. Mark had shaken Dan awake as soon as he'd realised Valerie was gone, finding her pack and torch still where'd she'd left them the night before. Mark and Dan had checked almost the entire furniture shop, looking into all the corners and under all the beds. They had found nothing to indicate Valerie had ever been there, let alone been captured by a Giant person or animal. It made no sense, and Mark was becoming frantic. They had contacted Steve after they'd cased the whole shop. They hadn't gone outside as that option seemed to be the most unlikely, given Valerie's fears voiced the night before. Plus foot traffic was starting to pick up and the shop's proprietors would be opening up soon, Mark and Dan had to leave. Steve suggested they try the floor duct and visually search the shop's either side. Mark conceded that was their only course, still trying to fathom what could have happened. The two men trudged to the duct and prised the grill off, swinging it to one side and pushing it back into place once they were inside. Mark looked back longingly as if expecting Valerie to suddenly come running up as if nothing had happened. Dan reached out a hand and squeezed his arm, then they moved on, negotiating the turns of the square duct until they reached the shop next door. This proved as fruitless as the previous search with no evidence that Valerie had come that way or found her way into the shop. After giving the shop, a florists, the once over they turned back, crossed over the floor of furniture shop again and found a vent on the opposite side, which lead into the bakery. The smell of new bread permeated the air and made both men inordinately hungry, despite their fear and worry for Valerie's safety.

They still had some of the meal from last night and decided to take a break and eat. Mark was carrying two packs, the food put into Valerie's lighter one for convenience. He rummaged around and pulled out the packet of remains, handing it to Dan. They slid down the wall and sat on the cold metal of the floor.

" Aren't you going to have some ?" Dan asked, biting into the still fresh bread.

" I...I don't feel hungry," Mark stated, his eye fixed on the wall of the duct, his hands hanging lax on his upraised knees.

" Hey, we have a long way to go to get out of this place, I don't need you fainting from lack of food....eat !" Dan thrust a chunk of the Danish under Mark's nose, who took it with every show of reluctance. Despite that, he ate, aware of Dan's worried gaze.

" I just don't get it, Valerie wouldn't have left, so that means something or someone took her," Mark conjectured, " if it was an animal we would have found some trace, surely, and if it had been a Giant, why didn't they take us as well ?"

" What does that leave us ?" Dan asked, puzzled.

" What if it wasn't a Giant and wasn't an animal ?"

" What else could it have been ?" Dan queried, completely confused.

Mark looked over at Dan, raising an eyebrow, " us," he stated.

" Us ?"

" Other Little People, other survivors who live here, in the shopping mall," Mark explained.

" Surely Valerie wouldn't have left with them, without alerting us ?"

Dan saw that Mark was thinking the same thought.

" What if she didn't go voluntarily...." he tailed off, the thought of Valerie hurt or injured too painful to endure.

" Why just take her, why not all of us ?"

" Maybe they didn't want us, just her,"

" But......." Dan tailed off, another thought chasing out all other considerations.

" How the hell can we find them, they would know every trick in the book for evading the Giants," said Dan.

" I bet they do, and we wouldn't have a hope in hell of finding them, or Valerie, not if they didn't want us to,"

" We need to get back to the Windsifter for reinforcements," Dan stated, picking up his pack.

" I'm not leaving here without her,"

" We can't find her on our own, its impossible," Dan reasoned, not wanting to be the one to try and force Mark to leave.

" I'm not leaving, that's final !" Mark ground out, a nerve twitching in his jaw from the tension.

" What do you hope to do, we don't know where to start and the two of us can't cover the ground needed, we don't have supplies. We need help,"

" Then call Steve, get him and the other's here, but I'm not leaving."

Dan gazed at Mark's set face in frustration. He could understand the mans reasoning but it put the onus on Dan to contact Steve and try to explain the situation. Dan pulled his radio out and extended the aerial to it's fullest.

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