Art by jiashu xu ©

An unstoppable river rushed forth, its raging water coursing down the tower’s concave steps. Sheridan held on, tucking himself against the tower wall. He could hear it approaching, like a mighty rush of wind. Then it struck, a riot of gleaming waves crashing past with the force of a cannonball. Sheridan held tight, his hands secure, the surging water spilling over the side, soaking him in a rain of liquid glitter. He started to pull himself back onto the stairs when he thought of Kunchen standing in the path of the descending flood. When he opened his mouth to warn Kunchen, he realized he was too late.

His mouth hung open as he watched Kunchen standing perfectly still. The runaway waves burst out of the staircase with Kunchen directly in their path. Then, in a supernatural moment that defied the laws of nature, the charging flood halted, mounting up like a tsunami wave ready to strike. Suddenly, with the wave of Kunchen’s hand, the churning column collapsed, washing across the plaza and back into the canal.

“What the . . .?”

Kunchen tilted up his head to confront Sheridan’s disbelieving stare.

The mystifying sight gave Sheridan pause.

Who is this guy?

Art by Cornelia Kopp aka AlicePopkorn