Keepers of the Realm - first 9 chapters

KEEPERS OF THE REALM 

Lyn Willmott

 

Smashwords Edition
Keepers of the Realm
Published by Lyn Willmott on Smashwords
Copyright © 2010 by Lyn Willmott
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

 

 

Dedicated to the memory of my father.

Chapter One

 

They’re coming!

The human’s are coming!

Even before she saw the sky-craft Chaldee was shocked by its raucous sound. What monstrosity could these barbarians be using? Shading her eyes she peered to the south, knowing that the thing thumping through the sky toward her was what she had feared the most - they were here.
Ever since that terrible day when her young Earthling friend Rod had died in the cave collapse realigning their two worlds she had known this day would come and although the sky machine was little more than a menacing black dot in a blue expanse, Chaldee had no doubt that this craft would be carrying the enemy predicted in the scrolls.
She trembled as she watched the black speck grow.
Weeks of consultation with her ministers had alerted them all to the dangers of such an invasion; still, she had not planned for them to arrive so soon!
Chaldee’s panic was so overwhelming that for a brief moment she could not move. The approaching threat seemed to numb her whole being. Frantically she broke free of her fear and scrambled up the stone steps leading into the palace.
“Master Speaker,” she called as she ran down the wide corridor. “I need you immediately!”
The two guards standing before her chambers were jolted into action by the panic in her voice.
“Find the Master Speaker quickly. Tell him the Earthlings are coming.”
Both soldiers bowed in acknowledgment, but before they could move a tall, gaunt figure came hurrying towards them.
“You called, Your Highness?”
Chaldee paused briefly choking back her anxiety. “They are here Zell! The humans are here!”
“This can’t be!” the Master Speaker protested. “Surely it is too soon!”
Chaldee tried to quieten her voice as she saw the flash of deep concern in her minister’s eyes. “Maybe so, Zell, but we have miscalculated. Their craft is approaching the palace now.”
“Then you are correct Madame, we must prepare.” The Master Speaker paused, watching quietly as he waited for her next command.
Chaldee was pleased by his mental forbearance. She had faced the wrath of the council when she made this appointment, for Lord Zell was new to the post, but knowing he was a former advisor to her father she had taken the risk. Until this moment his strength had not been adequately tested, but Chaldee could tell he was responding well to this emergency. He understood the danger the Earthlings posed.
“We are well organised Madame,” Zell said quietly.
Chaldee was soothed by his calmness. “Yes of course, we simply need to follow our plan.” Her panic eased a little. “You must spread the word quickly. Make sure everyone obeys without question.”
“Yes Your Highness.” The Master Speaker turned, but Chaldee caught his arm, reinforcing her command.
“Be very clear Zell! Tell all those who are not needed here at the palace to hide in the bunkers. Make them understand that this is not an exercise! It is a critical time for everyone!”
The minister bowed slightly. “Yes Madame.”
Chaldee paused staring intently at her Minister; outside the approaching sound was so crushing she felt a sudden urge to scream but she kept her tone soft and controlled: “Zell, I am placing my people’s safety in your hands.”
The Master Speaker gave a curt nod turning away without a word.
Chaldee tried to remain silent as she watched him hurry down the darkened corridor but she could not help calling after him: “Everyone must abide by our plan… right down to the last child. Make sure they obey you, Zell!”
The Master Speaker turned with a brief salute before heading out towards where a series of well-provisioned, underground bunkers had been built under the army barracks.
She hoped her people understood the approaching danger. Surely everyone had heard the pandemonium in the sky? They should already be heading towards the bunkers. Over the last few days the entire township had practiced this drill, but having to face a real human threat was vastly different to play acting.
Chaldee’s attention turned towards the two guards. “It is as we expected. The Earthlings have arrived, but we are well prepared so there is nothing to fear.” She tried to smile. “We will prevail.” She hoped her words gave them courage. Everybody in the kingdom knew how violent and uncontrolled the humans were, but for these soldiers to have to face such a fearful enemy must be alarming.
Both soldiers bowed ardently as she stepped past them into her private apartment. She tried not to appear hurried or flustered but time was rushing by and she still needed to dress. She knew her first appearance before the barbaric Earthlings had to be impressive. An outward show of authority was the only way she would maintain control. Indeed she had been preparing for this confrontation almost from the moment her dear friend had given his life to reunite her kingdom with the surrounding landmass.
During that terrible time, just after Rod had perished in the landslide, she had been startled to see a line of Earthlings dotted along the ridge above the newly forming waterfall. As they peered into the dust and gloom she half expected them to try to scramble down over the unstable rock-fall in an attempt to enter her domain. Obviously they recognised the danger though, for after about half an hour the Earthlings disappeared - but she knew they would return. Without doubt, as soon as her people’s presence in this area became known, these humans would want to control them by taking her land.
Many times since the unification Chaldee had wondered if this danger had been fully explained in the section of the Prophesy that she and Rod could never find. She puzzled over why this had to be, asking herself the same question she had been asking since the catastrophe began. Why did the prophecy demand that her people be exposed in this way? Why so much pain? Why must they unite with the race of humans? Although a great deal had been written in the scrolls about the danger of the coming earth changes, she still did not understand why she had been forced to place her people in such peril. There was never a question about doing her duty. With Rod’s help, she had followed the instructions laid down by her forebears; in fact Rod had died helping her honour her word as the monarch of this realm. He had managed to destroy the mechanism that for eons of time had kept the harmonics of her lands slightly out of phase with the frequency of the rest of the planet, but never in any of the scrolls so far discovered, had she found guidance as to how to deal with the inevitable situation now looming.
Pondering these questions Chaldee walked across to her dressing room. Her robes were in readiness. Wistfully she fingered her gown. If only this could be a happier moment. In the past she had loved the joyous occasions when she was able to wear such silken finery. But those days had vanished when her father had been murdered. He had protected her so well, allowing her to remain a child, to play her fantasy games, to enjoy a life overflowing with happiness, to eat with him at banquets, to play her flute for their many guests, to laugh, to dance, to live an idyllic life.
She sighed as she grimly began to dress. Now was not the time for regret. This precious realm, home to her people for thousands of years could become be the subject of plunder and rape.
Why?
For a long moment Chaldee stared through the long windows at the end of her chambers then slowly a strange knowing began to surge to the surface of her awareness. A tiny voice inside her mind whispered words she felt rather than heard.
“HH uman consciousness is expanding… you can be of great help…”
Chaldee was stunned. In what way could she help? She was an unknown ruler of a tiny kingdom. Such a thing was not possible.
Shrugging off this strange enchantment Chaldee dragged her mind back to the present. The sky machine was getting close. Watching through the window she could see by its outline how awkward and primitive it was. She felt its violence. Surely her people would realise they must flee from its path
Moving from the window she forgot the strange, whispered message as she returned her attention to the matter of appearance. Hurriedly she straightened her white gown. Made from the finest silk, it was heavily embroidered with gold and silver thread. Its weight reminded her of another occasion - the first time she had worn this official gown. It was when her father had presented her to the Kingdom. The people had embraced her, knowing that in some distant future she would become their queen. No one could have predicted at that presentation ball such a time was almost upon them. Tears welled as she remembered her father. How proud he had been of his young princess that night yet within weeks he was dead.
She straightened her shoulders, glaring into the mirror. This was not the time to allow the weakness of memory. Loosening her hair she felt the halo of fine, blonde strands fall softly across her wide brow. She knew the intensity of her eyes would unnerve the Earthlings so perhaps it would be beneficial to allow her hair to partly hide their almond shape. Staring with concern at her reflection she nervously pressed her teeth into her lip. Would her appearance trouble these human creatures? This was profoundly important because if she was to have any influence at all she knew she must not frighten them.
Rod had not been shocked by her appearance. Indeed he had seemed pleased when they first meet, but would other Earthlings find her appearance agreeable? And even if she passed this test would she have the ability to plead her case, to convince them that she was not a threat and that they must leave her people in peace?
She wet a finger tracing the width of her brow, her thoughts slipping back to Rod’s initial reaction in those early days when he first saw her. He had always acknowledged her power but had never seemed afraid. This gave her confidence. Rod had been the only Earthling she had actually spoken with and although she was intrigued by how different he was, she had been very distrustful until she saw the admiration brimming in his eyes. At that moment she knew he meant her no harm - but then Rod was special. The prophecy had forecast that the Earthling who would be part of the unification would be a unique being and he certainly proved this to be correct. She had been taught that Earthlings had very little sense of self, yet in Rod she found quite the opposite. So if he could tap into the richness and courage of his inner life then perhaps other Earthlings might have this same gift?
For a brief second the thought excited her. Would their arrival kindle a wonderful alliance? Could she bring about some type of unity? Was this what her inner voice meant? Was this how she could help?
Her mind returned to the hideous sky machine. The noise reached inside her head making her want to run. It seemed the craft was about to land just beyond the palace walls.
Chaldee’s hands trembled as she tried to clip a spray of pearls and diamonds to her silver wristband; her ability to manage these next few hours was pivotal. The entire Kingdom depended on her.
She stood before the mirror: a pale, willowy figure, in regal white, very tall, very fair, yet with enormous, almond shaped dark eyes - and right now, a frown of anxiety wrinkling her wide brow.
Would they accept her?
She twisted in an effort to see her full shape, giving a nervous tug on her carved wristband.
Would she frighten them?
Would the intensity of her eyes cause difficulty?
Though fear stirred at the thought of the forthcoming meeting Chaldee turned towards the door - then as an afterthought she reached for her comfortable calfskin boots. Although they seemed a little incongruous beneath the purity of such a regal gown, she knew her plan might fail. She may need to run.

Chapter 2

 

As the helicopter crested the ridge Joe could see the waterfall. It looked somewhat smaller than the day he witnessed the landslide but raw debris still scattered the area showing how the collapsing rock had re-routed the riverbed. Away from the falls Joe could see a narrow, heavily treed valley, studded by a number of buildings. This rich, green landmass gradually flattened and curved with the river as it emptied downstream into vast marshlands. Although he had never been here before Joe guessed these wetlands would swell into one enormous floodplain in the wet season, feeding rivers that emptied into the Indian Ocean.
It was an unusual tract of land. In fact there was nothing that resembled this topography anywhere in the surrounding ranges. Joe knew because he was very familiar with this region of Northern Australia. It was the place of his ancestors, going deep into antiquity. He shivered, overwhelmed by the power of the land’s presence. This land had always been central to his life, supporting and cradling his very existence. It felt as if the earth itself was watching over him. This is why he felt so dislocated in the city; why his university studies had always taken second place. Earnest career advisors, fearful his aboriginal background might restrict his career, insisted that geology offered an excellent opportunity to become part of the mining industry; eventually though, his longing to return to the land triumphed.
Now the helicopter was skimming the treetops and as he stared down Joe started to really query the terrain. It seemed impossible that this could be a rain forest - not here! Still he felt sure that as soon as they landed the whole thing would be explained; all he really was interested in was finding Dr Gordon Oaken and his son, Rod. They were two people Joe really cared about and had been missing for weeks. This meant that right now searching for them demanded his full attention, everything else was secondary.
The chopper swooped low over a large complex of buildings causing the scream of turbines to echo against the high stone walls.
“Hey… that’s some place!” Although Joe was impressed by the massive walls that protected the buildings, he was mystified. He had never heard of the existence of a homestead up here.
“Yeah,” Sergeant Williams agreed. “It’s big alright”
“Did you know this place was here?” Joe asked as he stared down.
“Nope, but there tons of stuff up here I don’t know about.” Williams’ reply was offhand telling Joe the sergeant really did not care.
“Put down outside that wall mate…don’t want ‘em thinking we’re invading.” Williams’ harsh laugh spluttered into a heaving gasp.
Joe glanced at him. “You okay?”
The police sergeant was still trying to get his breath. “Yeah…yeah…must be the dust.”
Joe felt uneasy. William didn’t look good. His wheezing seemed to be getting worse and sweat beaded his pale, fat face. Joe shrugged inwardly as he turned his attention back to the landing. It wasn’t up to him to fret about this overweight police sergeant.
As the craft touched the ground the force of the downdraft churned out clouds of red dust then as Ben, the pilot, cut the motor the bush-silence descended like a blanket.
Slowly Joe climbed out after Sergeant Williams, pleased to be back on solid ground, but disappointed to find there was no sign of Gordon or Rod. He’d been hoping that by some miracle they might have heard the helicopter’s approach and come rushing out to make contact.
Ben checked the radio then clambered out and the three men stood next to the craft uncertain of their next move.
“So! Where is everybody?” Williams spoke too loudly.
Joe shrugged. The man was a fool insisting they barge in this way. Joe was sure that if they had been able to approach the place on foot they would have got a better feel for the area. Roaring in like this was a wasted opportunity.
Joe moved away from the helicopter, wandering towards the stone wall. From here the white buildings they had seen from the air were hidden behind this towering wall. Suddenly he felt uneasy. Nothing felt right. It was as if some unseen danger was hanging in the air; something that he did not understand.
Ever since the cave-collapse Joe had blocked out any suspicion that Gordon or Rod might have been caught up in the landslide, blindly holding onto the hope that the archaeologist was alive and had found his son, and that somehow they would be here to meet him; instead this dark foreboding was beginning to wrap around his heart. It was unnerving to think that maybe he was wrong, but if he went any further with such thoughts he would have to face something intensely painful.
No! There was always hope!
Refusing to listen to his instincts, Joe idly ran his fingers across the stonework. It was unusual to see a dry stone wall up here. Its height and expert construction told him it was an impressive pierce of engineering. He peered closer. The stonework was perfect with hardly a space between the smooth, oddly shaped stones.
“Hey! Take a look! This wall is really something!” The more he studied the detail the more impressed Joe became
Although both men looked across when he called, neither bothered to come any closer so Joe shrugged them off and turned his attention to the height of the wall. He’d seen the size and spread of the buildings behind this fortification and again dark misgivings crowded his thoughts. It was more than he was able to understand. Who had built such a place way out here? He’d never seen this type of marble-like white stone before and he could tell that the wall was very old, probably built long before they used aircraft to ferry in equipment. So how did the stones get here? Anxiously he rubbed his hand over the smoothness. It was adding to the mysterious pieces of jigsaw surrounding Gordon and Rod’s disappearance and he did not like it.
Pondering the strangeness of the whole situation Joe wandered back to the other two. “Well… what’s the plan?”
“I reckon the boss lives in there.” The police sergeant aimed a thumb towards the wall. “You saw the size of the damn homestead.”
“Yeah, and think I saw some small houses down there.” Ben nodded at the thick expanse of forest beyond the clearing. “Sort of… hidden under the trees…maybe we should check them out too?”
“Yeah, I saw some type of housing further up the valley.” Joe added.
“Okay… maybe we’ll check them later.”
The disinterest in the sergeant’s voice caused Joe to suddenly suspect that Williams had another agenda. Why was he discounting what looked like a village? Rod and Gordon could be there. But then everything about this trip was odd. The wall, the way those houses were hidden, even the lack of people! Nobody had come to greet them. No excited kids staring and yelling. It felt wrong. A helicopter in a remote area like this always attracted people - yet this clearing was deserted.
Joe looked from the sergeant to the pilot. Neither of them seemed concerned, yet to him the situation was more than unusual - suddenly he knew without doubt they were facing something unknown and very dangerous.
“What is it with you two?” Joe demanded. “Don’t you care that neither Doctor Oaken or Rod are here waiting for us?”
“How do we know where they are… for-cry’n-out loud!” Williams sounded peeved. “They could be anywhere… I mean… people wander off… and who knows if they’re even together.”
“They could be a few hundred clicks away.” Ben chipped in.
“Then why come here? Why not do a full area-search?” Joe could not help letting his anger show.
“Look mate…” Sergeant William wheezed. “I’m here to establish whether or not we have a missing person. That’s all!”
“Two missing persons,” Joe corrected.
Williams breathed heavily then paused to wipe sweat from his face. “Yeah…I know…that’s why I’m here. They might be friends of yours but I’ve got a job to do, so calm down and let me do it!”
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Ben had cut across their argument and Joe’s anger faded as he saw how ill the officer looked.
But Williams ignored their concern. “When you left Dr Oaken in the caves you said it was near here so this’s the obvious place to start… right?”
“Okay” Joe shrugged. Maybe he was expecting too much, but as he stared around the empty clearing doubt closed in again. They were miles from any known landmark; in an area that up until last week he had not known existed. That was weird enough but now they were standing outside a huge building complex in front of a wall that looked better than anything he had ever seen in Sydney!
“Reckon we should be finding a way into that joint.” The sergeant looked directly at Joe. “What’a'ya think?”
Joe shrugged trying to hide his frustration.
Wordlessly the three men turned away from the helicopter.
Sergeant Williams paused trying to catch his breath, and with an apologetic frown he turned back to Ben. “Mate…I reckon you should stay here. It’s your chopper and I wouldn’t want anyone messing with it.”
Ben grinned, throwing out his arms at the empty clearing. “Who’s’ here to mess…?”
“Best stay though,” Joe cut in. “They could be watching. That thing is our only way out!”
“You make it sound like we’re in the middle of the Amazon! This is good ol’ Australia. Who can hurt us here?” Ben question was more of a protest.
“There’s something strange here Ben,” Joe said quietly.
The police sergeant nodded in agreement and a cressfallen Ben turned back.
Joe and Williams moved into the shadow of the wall and with Joe in the lead they shuffled towards the corner.
“I saw a gateway down here when we were coming in to land.”
“We shouldn’t be long.” William’s called back over his shoulder to Ben who was watching from where they had left him.
Joe snorted softly. ” Famous last words mate!”
“Yeah…well this shouldn’t take long. We just need to find out if anyone’s seen your mate Gordon.”
“Or Rod.”
Yeah…yeah, or his son… that’s what I mean.” The Sergeant paused again wiping his face with his sleeve and Joe could see the other man was getting worse. Drops of perspiration trickled down his face and his colour seemed almost grey.
“You don’t look good mate!”
“Just a bit tired…that’s all… been a long coupla’ days.”
Joe stared. He knew the police sergeant had recently returned from a Perth hospital, and was not supposed to be on active duty, but he had never asked why. Now he was starting to worry.
“Do you want to go back to the chopper? I can find out what’s going on here.”
“Nah…I’m fine.” Williams wiped his face again. “Let’s go.”
They trudged on in silence and within minutes found themselves in front of a large archway.
“This must be the gate you saw.”
“Yeah.” Joe peered through the arch into what looked to be a lush, formal garden. He shook his head in disbelief as the scent of roses drifted towards him. This place was getting stranger by the moment. Out here, in this heat and dust such a magnificent garden simply should not exist.
“Wow! What a place!”
Both men stood transfixed then Joe heard the soft sounds of a gong reverberating around the garden. As the sound rippled across the air the flowers seemed to respond, the colours glowing brighter.
“Did you see that?” Joe was overcome with delight. “It’s as if the sound is sort of refreshing the flowers somehow…amazing!”
A fine spray of water was now drifting across the garden and as the sun shone through the mist Joe’s focus became lost in a shimmering haze of colour. The dust and heat were forgotten. He felt a powerful charge in the atmosphere. This place was paradise.
In unison both men moved into the damp coolness.
Joe wanted to pause for a moment, knowing the garden’s peace would help him sort through his confusion, but Sergeant William had muttered something incomprehensible and seemed to be choking.
When Joe followed the other’s startled gaze he saw an extraordinary young woman coming along the stone pathway toward them
Joe moved forward, almost as dazed as the sergeant.
Standing before them was a tall, willowy young woman dressed so majestically that Joe knew immediately he was in the presence of nobility.
“I bid you welcome.”
Her voice was low, tinged by an accent he could not place.
Nothing made sense. How could this be happening, here in the remoteness of the Kimberley Ranges?
“Who are you?” Joe asked hoarsely as he reached out to grab Williams in a silent command to be still. He knew the police sergeant would not have an inkling of what they were dealing with.
“I am known as Chaldee. I rule this kingdom.”
Her voice was deeply toned, yet soft, and Joe was fascinated by her appearance. Lithe, as tall as he was, with an ethereal quality that belied the strange power he could see in her oddly shaped eyes.
“Sorry lady.” Sergeant Williams had pulled away from Joe, and was now stepping forward belligerently. “Nobody rules nothin’ out here! This is crown land!”
Joe saw the young woman pull back in shock. Inwardly he felt angry at his companion’s arrogance but he knew that if they were to discover anything about Gordon and Rod he must keep the situation calm.
“This garden is beautiful,” he said quietly. “Is it yours?”
“These gardens are part of the palace.” She gave a slight bow of her head looking directly at him and Joe was pleased by her intelligent response. She was acknowledging his effort, meaning they were still able to communicate.
“What palace? What are you are doing out here young lady?”
This was Police Sergeant Williams at the peak of his officialdom and Joe winced, watching the girl’s face but she showed no sign of emotion.
“This is where I live, where my people have lived since time began.” Chaldee said in the same resonating tone.
As he watched Joe was frantically assessing this strange being. She was beginning to give answers, but they were puzzling and difficult to accept. Without a doubt her home did seem palatial, but he could not fit the idea of such a mansion into this part of outback Australia. He had always prided himself on his ability to see the rational side of any problem and now he was searching for a speck of information that would help him understand what he was dealing with. Joe was about to ask why it had remained a secret, if her people had lived here for so long, when Williams chopped across his thoughts.
The scowl on the policeman’s face matched the reprimand in his voice. “Well I don’t know about any of this nonsense… we are here searching for a man and his son. They’ve been missing for well over a week and they were last seen in this area.”
As he saw a flicker of recognition flash across her face Joe felt elated. She did know something.
“Perhaps we could talk more comfortably inside,” Chaldee said politely as she moved back along the pathway.
Without a word both men followed.
At the far end of the path Joe could see a flight of wide, shallow steps leading up to a low roofed portico. Standing on guard before this impressive entrance were two soldiers dressed in odd leather attire, their swords drawn.
The police sergeant stumbled as he saw the guards. For a moment he seemed unable to breathe. Anxiously Joe reached out to steady him but Williams pushed him away wiping a sleeve across his face as he struggled for his gun
Shocked by this new act of thick-headedness, Joe yelled: “Don’t be stupid
Williams!”
But the police sergeant ignored him. “Tell your men to put down their weapons!” he growled, pointing his gun at the soldiers.
Joe saw the girl fling herself wildly in front of the waving gun. Even in all this madness he could not help but admire her courage.
“Get down on the ground…now!” Sergeant Williams motioned the gun at Chaldee, simultaneously crashing a heavy shoulder against Joe, pushing him out of the way.
Joe stumbled back, momentarily stunned, unable to see what was happening. He was still trying to gather his senses when he saw two soldiers pounding down the steps to Chaldee’s aid. At the same moment he realised that the sergeant was falling forwards, crashing face down into the dirt. Shocked by this sudden rush of violence Joe scrambled over to the unconscious man, trying to feel for a pulse.
“He is not harmed I assure you,” Chaldee was unruffled
Startled by this odd reassurance, Joe looked up at her: “How do you know…what did you do?”
“He is ill. I think you Earthlings call it a heart complaint. I simply tranquilized him. Nevertheless you need to get him to medical help quickly.” As she spoke Chaldee casually reached down and took the gun from the police sergeant’s limp hand. “No doubt this is one of the human-weapons I have been told about.”
“What did you do to him…who are you?” Slowly Joe straightened, shaken by her words and by William’s stupidity. She had called them Earthlings and she had definitely done something to cause the police officer to collapse.
“Who are you? “Joe repeated helplessly
“I have spoken already. I am Chaldee. This is my kingdom.”
She stared into Joe’s eyes and he felt strangely light-headed. He knew immediately that this strange young woman was holding him in some type of powerful web of energy. Then as she turned to the two soldiers standing at attention behind her, he felt the entanglement of her mental power fade.
“Take this weapon to the Master Speaker’s rooms, he knows about such things.” She gave one palace guard the gun. “You both may go.”
Joe realised that she was waiting till her men were out of earshot.
“Earthling, this is my domain, and these are my personal guards. I have powers you do not understand, therefore this kingdom is impenetrable. Please go back to your people and inform them of this. We wish to live in peace but we will not be threatened.”
“Do you rule this place?”
She nodded.
“And you have some sort of power than can …um…harm us?”
“I would not harm you; it is not our way. I can simply cause you to lose consciousness.” She looked down at Williams. “He will wake in a few hours and will remember very little of this. But he is very ill. It is not my doing. I can feel that something is blocking his life-flow. The blood is not being pumped correctly…I think you call this mechanism, the heart?”
“How…how can you know all this?” It was too much for Joe to comprehend.
“He needs help, “she continued. “Your flying machine will take him, but you must hurry. Do you understand?”
“Yes…” Still confused Joe bent over the unconscious man. The officer’s face looked grey.
“My men will help you carry him to your machine.” She motioned and two more soldiers appeared from the garden.
“You have men watching us?”
“Of course…” Chaldee smiled slightly. “We have had many dealing with your people over the centuries. We are very aware of the dangers you pose.”
So many questions tumbled through Joe’s mind, but more than anything he needed to talk to her about Gordon and Rod. “I believe you know the people we are searching for… don’t you?”
Chaldee ignored the question. “You must go…your friend needs medical assistance.”
“But you saw them?” Joe stared into her face begging for answers. For a moment they stared at each other then he saw her face soften.
“Indeed. Rod was a dear friend, but I hardly knew his father, Gordon. That is all I will say on the matter. You must leave. Now! ” Her last words were a command.
Joe’s found his attention fixated on her eyes. He saw them gradually change to a piercing blue, and immediately he plunged into limbo. From a great distance he could hear her speaking but a horrible weakness drained through him and he found his mouth would not form the words he wanted to ask. She was doing something to him again. Helplessly he began to slump to the ground but he heard her command him to stand, to help her men with the police sergeant. Obediently, with no way of resisting Joe struggled to his feet. Had she done something like this to Rod and Gordon? Where had she put them? His thoughts were jumbled and try as he might he could not think clearly.
The solders had lifted Williams onto a long board. Numbly Joe found himself leading them back to the helicopter. As they left the garden he managed to turn his head. The young woman was standing where he had left her, watching, but he felt too dazed to do anything more than stumble ahead of the soldiers.
As they got to the helicopter he saw Ben was responding to what was obviously an emergency. Without bothering to ask the pilot helped lift the unconsciousness police officer into the chopper.
Joe made an attempt but hardly had the strength to help. As he climbed aboard he continued to try to form the right questions. He must find out about Gordon. These soldiers must know something. Slowly he untangled his thoughts, hoping he had slotted them into an orderly question: “Have you seen who we are looking for… the men…the people who are lost… do you know anything?”
Both soldiers shrugged. They did not understand him.
The entire situation was bizarre but Joe did not have the will to argue; besides Williams was obviously very ill. As the helicopter lifted he saw the two solders dodge back against the wall. They watched for a moment then turned and hurried towards the palace. He could not see Chaldee but he knew she would be watching too, possibly with relief, although surely she must know he would be back. Who was she? What did she know? And what she was planning? He could not stop the puddle of thoughts sloshing around in his brain, so he lay back and closed his eyes waiting for his head to clear. There were so many thoughts to process. What had she done? Who was she? And what had she done with his friends? Joe lay back in his seat and against his will he found himself drifting off to sleep. The questions would have to wait.

Chapter 3

 

Thousands of kilometers south of Chaldee’s hidden world, in the small mining town of Broken Hill, an elderly professor was going about his daily routine unaware that soon the questions that Joe was asking and the battle Chaldee that was trying to avoid would become part of his life too.
But today was not that day. Today, as was his habit most days, Professor Egeland was sitting in the hotel’s café bar waiting for his morning coffee. It did not take him long to realise that the man sitting two tables away was staring at him in a most blatant and uncomfortable manner. Moving uneasily in his chair the professor tried to ignore the sudden jolt of anxiety clutching at his stomach. For many years he had accepted that he was being watched. The work he did - struggling with a project his colleagues seemed too afraid to support - had forced Professor Egeland to play a cat and mouse game with the authorities; but this surveillance was so deliberate he felt a strong urge to confront the man. Griping at his coffee cup, he allowed his anger to surge. How dare they invade his life like this! They had no right! It was the very reason he had moved to Broken Hill; to find the freedom to continue his research, but it seemed the authorities had caught up with him again.
Heedful of the danger the professor stared across the rim of his cup, wondering if this man was a new type of secret service officer. He certainly did not look like those who for years had trailed him from Canberra to Melbourne to Sydney, and back to Canberra. No…indeed! This man was vastly different. Large, imposing, with such odd shaped eyes that he was easily marked as different. Not the type one would expect from the government’s secret law enforcement. Even from two tables away the eyes seemed to almost pierce his mind. With the fractious irritability of an old man, Professor Egeland stared back, challenging the man to look away. Instead the stranger stood up and still intently holding the professor’s gaze, moved closer.
Professor Egeland’s discomfort turned to panic. This stranger was exerting such mental control that the old man suddenly knew what a trapped animal must feel like, but then unexpectedly the foreigner leaned forward offering his hand.
“My name is Deucallus…may I sit with you?”
Professor Egeland could detect an accent, maybe Spanish or Latin American, but he was too dazed by the intensity of the man’s eyes to think clearly, so he nodded, watching Deucallus’s fluid movements as he slid into the chair opposite.
“You are Professor Egeland are you not?”
Again the old man could only nod.
“Forgive my rudeness, but I had to be sure you were the man I was seeking.”
The Professor shook his head awkwardly, still unsure if he was in charge of his own senses.
“I have travelled far to find you.” Deucallus smile was expansive.
“Who are…ah…what is it that you want?”
“We have much to discuss, and not much time. I know about your research - about the powerful properties of the material you have discovered, and it is vital that you get your work finished quickly. So much depends upon this energy you are developing.”
“Who are you?” The old man’s voice was little more than a croak. How could this stranger know about the work? Nobody knew about the powder. “How do you know about my experiments?”
“You must trust me professor. I know a great deal about your research. I am here to help… to warn you that people in your government know of your whereabouts.”
“What are you saying?” Egeland stood up abruptly. “How do you know this?” The panic in his voice caused people in the café to stare.
“Please,” Deucallus leaned across the table speaking quietly, “Do not be upset.”
As the tall man reached out to touch his arm the Professor was filled with a gentle sense of calm. He knew Deucallus was doing something to his mind but suddenly it did not seem to matter.
“Let us go outside where we can talk more freely.”
Now quite bemused, the old professor stood up, leaving his unfinished coffee, obediently trailing out after the stranger.
“I understand your concern Professor Egeland, but I ask you to trust me… allow me to offer you assistance, for you are so close to achieving your goal.”
The two men were now meandering along the main street.
With relief the professor could feel the fresh air washing away his confusion. There was so much he needed to understand. This stranger possessed some type of mental power that was beyond normal experience yet he seemed to be an ally. He was offering help, and this in itself was more exciting than the scurry of questions whirling through the old man’s brain.
“I have arranged for Paul, a young compatriot, to join you out here. He is the leader of a group attempting to bring attention to the planetary crisis you Earthlings are facing.”
“Earthlings?” The professor stopped in the middle of the footpath. “Earthlings… is that what you called us?”
Professor Egeland saw a twitch of a smile touch Deucallus’s lips so he allowed the other to slip a hand under his arm, gently propelling him along the footpath. “I think you already suspect that I am different…yes?”
“How different?” The old man held the other’s gaze, demanding an answer.
“My people have lived on this planet for much longer than most Earthlings, but unlike you, originally my ancestors came from a world beyond this planet.”
The professor heard the words but was not able to respond for the implications were too outrageous. Even so he had felt the control, the domination of those eyes and he knew the power was not human.
“Eventually you will begin to understand,” Deucallus said firmly, cutting across the professor’s doubt. “But for now you must simply allow me to explain the details of the plan we have devised. As I say, there is a young man, a human, prepared to come out here and speak with you. He is an environmental lawyer and he is interested in supporting and protecting you. The authorities have tracked your movements. They know you are here in Broken Hill so it is imperative that you remain hidden.”
“Your entire story is too incredible to believe!’
“Yet you have felt the force of my energy have you not?” Deucallus paused, and again the professor felt the intensity of those strange eyes. His attention wavered and he began to feel weak, unable to control any part of his body; then just as abruptly the power ceased. The stranger had released him.
“You felt it….yes?”
The professor nodded.
“Then let us not tarry over useless doubts and questions. I promise, all will eventually be explained…it is this business about getting Paul’s group to come out here to assist you that is most urgent right now. I believe you have recently found a new place for your laboratory? Paul’s people will be able to shift your entire operation out there. It is vital to the project that you not be captured!”
The professor felt his energy draining away. This man knew every secret. How was it possible…unless he could also read minds?
“If you agree to speak with Paul I will be able to pass you safely into his care. I have other very important issues to attend to in the north of your country. There is a group of my people living there, and they are in much danger. I must make myself known to them. They already understand about the earth changes and the crisis that is looming, but they are not aware of me, or that our race has many other communities living on this planet.” Deucallus paused and the professor put a hand out as if pleading for the other to slow his words.
“Sir…I find this all very confusing…”
“I understand Professor, but there is need for great haste. We have very little time and there is so much to be put into place before the entire solar system experiences a vast upheaval.”
“What…are you saying the entire solar system is in trouble?”
“Our ancient writings warn that as this system moves into a powerfully charged section of the galaxy all the planets will undergo change. It has happened many times before and now such turbulence is imminent again.”
Professor Egeland felt a slight jolt as he heard these words. “Every planet! How come I do not know this?”
“Professor Egeland, you have been too busy to pay attention…I understand…indeed, I support your efforts. The energy you are developing is of great importance to your human world.”
“Yes…it is.” The old man’s voice trailed away.
“Anyway there is much planning, and much work to be done. These changes are already beginning to affect life on this planet. I am sure you realise how important my mission is.”
The professor shrugged slightly too confused to even ask the right questions. “I suppose I must agree to anything you suggest. You seem to know a great deal about me.”
“Good! I will let Paul know. He has to come from Sydney so he should be here by Friday!”
“Sir, I beg you to be cautious. My safety is in your hands.”
Deucallus patted the old man on the arm. “I am here to protect you Professor.”
Professor England sighed weakly. “Then tell your friend to meet me here at the coffee shop in the hotel.”
“Excellent.” Deucallus offered his hand. “I will set up the meeting. Expect him around lunch time on Friday.”
They shook hands solemnly.
The professor could feel the fine bones and the great strength in the stranger’s handshake. Another tingle went up his arm. The energy streaming from this man was extraordinary.
Without another word Deucallus turned away and the professor watched the curious gliding movement of his new, very strange, friend as he crossed the road and disappeared around a corner.
For a moment Professor Egeland was unable to move. The entire meeting had taken less than ten minutes, yet he felt as if pages of his life had flicked through about fifty chapters. Suddenly he was in a world so different he had no way of finding solid ground.
Chapter 4

 

Chaldee was still shaken by the events in the garden. The offensive behaviour shown by the Earthlings had surpassed anything she could have had imagined. In one breath, in one single moment they had shown their scope for violence. Her father had warned of this barbaric human behaviour but until today she had been unable to perceive the extent of their destructiveness. She was concerned about having to stun that police officer but there had been no alternative. She had been taught to always gauge a situation, weigh up the consequences, perceive every outcome before making any response, but the Earthling had attacked without provocation!
Pacing her quarters Chaldee tried the stop the inner swirl of uncertainty. She must become calm, yet how? Was there any way she could she protect her people from the onslaught that surely would come now that the Earthlings knew about her kingdom? How should she tackle this situation?
She was still pacing when her minister knocked politely then entered.
“I have allowed the townsfolk to return to their homes, Your Highness, but the soldiers are still standing firm. They wish to hear directly from you, Madame.”
Chaldee glanced into the serious grey eyes of her austere Master Speaker. He was providing her with the assistance she needed. With his help and the backing of her soldiers they would probably be able to deal with the next wave of Earthlings, but she knew eventually her people would be outnumbered; eventually they would be forced to submit. This knowledge gnawed at her heart.
“Thank you Lord Zell. I am waiting for guidance.” Chaldee paused hoping her chief minister would comprehend. “I cannot give any command until I feel more confident about our immediate future.”
“Should I call in the Council Madame?”
Chaldee shook her head hoping he understood that until she had a deeper insight into this situation she would not be able to chair such a meeting. The cabinet had been in disarray since the recent civil war, meaning every decision she made must be precise if she was going to offer her Kingdom some form of security. She was her father’s daughter; she must honour him by being fearless yet pliant. “No. I need a sense of direction Lord Zell. These outsiders have infiltrated my realm. Nothing is as it was! My ancestors used a power device to lift their consciousness beyond this reality. It gave our leaders the guidance they needed, but now that power in the War-Room has been destroyed…”
Chaldee hesitated as she remembered the devastation. The loss of that ancient building had been almost as shocking as Rod’s death. Breathing deeply she continued: “Now that all the instrumentation in the War Room has been destroyed I will need to consult the scrolls before making any decisions. I suggest that we wait a few more days before involving the Cabinet. Also I need Kish, and Palatine. Using their ‘mind convergence’ ability may give me the guidance I am seeking.”
The Master Speaker bowed low. “I understand Your Highness, but Lord Palatine has been bedridden since the uprising. He has not got the energy needed to unite with other minds.”
“Has he caught the sickness too?”
“I believe so, Madame.”
Chaldee was appalled. So many people were suffering now that the energies in the forest had altered. “What about Kish? I have not seen him in an age!”
“Can Baron Kish be trusted, Madame?”
Chaldee turned away, trying to hide her dismay. She had not realised the Baron was no longer a member of her staff.
“He is under house arrest,” continued the Master Speaker. “He rallied against you before the uprising.”
“Oh! I knew nothing of this! Nothing!”
“The entire cabinet is in disarray Your Highness. This is why I suggest you speak with them soon.” The Master Speaker moved across to the window, glancing out as if waiting for something.
“What is it you look for Master Zell?”
The gaunt, withered man shrugged slightly. “I was wondering if you have conferred with Cypher since the rebellion. She would be of great help to us now.”
Weakly Chaldee shook her head. “I doubt if the Nature Spirit is still in the forest. I believe she was only here to assist Rod.”
“Ah, I did not realise…” the Master Speaker murmured, showing his disappointment. “I remember the young Earthling’s courage.” He dropped his gaze, as if trying to make a decision then faltered: “Perhaps Madam, you worry too much. After all Rod gave his life for us. Maybe human behaviour is not as bad as you have just witnessed.”
Chaldee saw his nervousness and smiled kindly. “That is true, Zell. But history warns us never to underestimate them.” She paused remembering the many times her father had warned her about trusting any Earthling. “But we move away from the subject. If a mind convergence is not possible then I must try to assess this crisis elsewhere. Perhaps the prophecy in the scrolls may be of guidance.”
The Master Speaker bowed in acknowledgment.
“So Zell….tell me more about the cabinet.”
“The ministers are helpless Madame. They have no idea who they can trust or whether they have any way of dealing with this human crisis.”
The Master Speaker sounded so discouraged that Chaldee wondered how she could inject hope into an authority originally designed to give guidance to the ruler of the land.
“Everything seems quite desperate Zell.”
“If you call a meeting Madame, I am sure it will help.” His voice dropped. “They badly need the clarity of assessment only you can offer.”
Chaldee nodded slowly, trying not to show the apprehension his words were causing. It seemed that she was on her own, without the wisdom or magical knowledge normally available to the kingdom’s ruler. The rebellion had so decimated her people it seemed the only insights available were her own.
“If I must, Zell. But give me a few more hours.” Chaldee straightened, trying to appear in command. “Set up a meeting, but only with ministers on the planning council. I will join them tomorrow morning. We will meet in the small cabinet room beside my father’s chambers.”
“Yes Madame.” With a quick salute the Master Speaker strode across the room then paused at the door. “Do you wish any of the Crows to be informed?”
“No!” Chaldee was alarmed. “They must know nothing of our plans. Those birds are a force unto themselves! I want nothing to do with them!”
“I agree,” Lord Zell said quietly. “Although they have been useful in the past, they have also been the cause of much strife.”
“Indeed. They are too devious to be trusted. They must know nothing of what we are doing, although I am sure they witnessed that flying machine, so they will be aware of our troubles.”
“With the Crow leadership decimated I doubt if we need worry.”
“So where is the Chief Crow? I fear he and the Commander are still a threat.”
“I have search parties out every day Your Highness. They will be found soon I assure you.”
“Meanwhile we have those Earthlings to worry about.” Chaldee sat down heavily. “These are difficult times Lord Zell…very difficult. It seems that adversity approaches us from every angle.”
The Master Speaker moved forward, as if to offer help, but Chaldee waved him away. “You must gather the planning council together. Talk to them Zell; make sure they bring a few innovative ideas to morrow’s meeting. Tell them I am relying on them to speak their minds clearly. We must formulate a master plan that will comfort the people, and make our future secure.”
“Yes, Madame.” The Master Speaker bowed again and silently left the chamber.
Chaldee leaned back in her chair, breathing deeply in an effort to feed energy into her body. She could not remember ever feeling so emotionally tired. She wished Robar would return; her bodyguard knew her so well and was always able to support her. She remember how when Rod re-aligned their world and the rock face collapsed, Robar complained immediately that he could feel a change in the atmosphere of forest. She knew the Ape-man had left her to seek sanctuary deeper in their sacred forest, but she had no idea where he had gone. Chaldee dropped her head in her hands. How she hated this new reality. Nothing was the same. The life her father had offered her as a small child; this place their ancestors had made safe for thousands of years was disappearing so rapidly she hardly knew how to act. She wanted life to return to how she remembered, instead she had the full responsibility of creating a new world for her people. She must keep them safe. Keep the outsiders from destroying everything. The task was unprecedented. No other leader had ever had to prepare the kingdom for an entirely new way of living?
Chaldee stood up, impatiently rejecting her gloom. It did no good at all. Pushing open the tall door between the windows she stepped out into the garden. A soft breeze brushed against her face and she could smell the joyous scent of the roses. She loved it out here. Slowly she made her way across to her old swing, tucked inside the rose-bower. If there was any place in the palace that could ease her troubles it was this arbour.
For a little while Chaldee did nothing but caste her senses into the mass of foliage and scent of her garden, allowing its peace to wash away her anguish. Her father had taught her that nothing positive came from a mind locked in fear, so she drifted, allowing a deeper wisdom to well up into her heart, channelling her thoughts in a new direction. Problems always had answers. It was meant to be this way. Indeed, it kept the world turning. Without death, pain and anguish people would not develop. She smiled a little because she realised that again she was hearing the echo of her father’s words. Problems kept Creation creating, he used to say.
Then her mind touched on the wisdom of the scrolls. Here also was the source of sound judgment. Her father insisted she read the ancient documents before she reached maturity, for many of the Kingdom’s laws and guidelines lay in these prophetic writings. Mentally, as she swayed back and forth on her swing, she began to examine each page, seeing the writing clearly in her mind. There had been no mention of any human invasion. There were many warnings throughout the pages, heedful of the catastrophe that would come as the earth changes began. Other pages detailed the decay that would take place within her kingdom as the population dwindled and in-fighting broke out amid the families of the Nobility; there was even mention of another community of her people living somewhere on the planet although there was no mention of the area; but there was no warning about her kingdom being attacked by the Earthlings. Perhaps the reason why so many questions remained unanswered was because some scrolls were still missing. The directions in the prophetic writing were clear. Their kingdom must be re-aligned with the rest of the planet before massive energies coming in from the Galactic centre rolled through the Earth. Limited levels of this energy was already affecting both the atmosphere above, and the planet’s core and the predictions stated the earth would undergo great changes but there was nothing about a human invasion. In fact the scrolls had actually predicted the coming of an Earthling (Rod) who would help them realign the two lands masses. That prediction had proven correct.
These thoughts brought her mind back to the courage Rod had displayed, his kindness, and his acceptance of the difference between their two races. As they became friends she started to believe that perhaps this might be the time for unification of the two races but it would be a long time before the image of that gun the Earthling had pointed at her faded. If unification was the goal should it always be this intimidating?
Questions scudded through her mind and were gone before she had a chance to focus on them, but she began to feel easier. The soothing rhythm of the swing was allowing a new awareness to open. She slowed her breathing further letting the tranquility of the arbour cancel her fears.
The swing soared higher, pulling her from her everyday consciousness. Suddenly she became aware that someone could help. She felt the flow of a message hinting at untapped knowledge now available; information that would give explicit answers to the questions haunting her. She was being told that here in her kingdom there was specific knowledge of her people’s past.
Chaldee slipped deeper into her reverie, allowing a picture to form. Who held such knowledge? The name Aegeus floated in front of her eyes and she sat up in surprise. She knew of this man! He was a courtier, a man who dabbled in science. His family had always held some importance in the realm for they were the Keepers of the Ancient Scientific Knowledge.
Slowly Chaldee began to return to a more normal state of consciousness. She felt both refreshed and amazed. Who would have thought that such an insignificant fellow would be the one she needed. She did not actually know him, but she knew his father Francis, who had told her his son was a cripple. Until this moment she had no idea Aegeus’s abilities were so profound.
With new energy she hurried back to her chambers, summonsing her guard to find the courtier. Aegeus must be brought to the palace immediately.

* * * * * *

Within a few hours Aegeus was at the palace.
Chaldee received him in the small reception room on the opposite side of the quadrangle to her father’s personal chambers.
Aegeus might be a cripple but it did not take many minutes for Chaldee to recognise his strength of will. He was unafraid, not intimidated by her presence and was answering her questions without hesitation. She liked this and found herself examining him with added interest. He was not as old as she had expected, perhaps five and twenty, and although he wore the robes of the Nobility, she noticed a large tear in his sleeve and grubby marks across his leather vest. Obviously his work took precedence over his appearance. His wide-set eyes were dark and intense and his brow very wide indeed. No doubt he was proudly intelligent, but when he had entered she noticed the withering of his left leg and knew that he was suffering the genetic illness which had befallen many of her people over the generations.
“I believe your family are the Keepers of Scientific Knowledge?”
“Yes, Madame. There are many ancient manuscripts in our vault.”
“And yourself, do you follow a scientific path?”
“I play with numbers Madame. I try to re-create sacred geometric designs but alas my work is totally useless to anyone but me! A sheer waste of time, as my father used to say, for it has no practical application at all!” Aegeus grinned wickedly
“You are teasing, I believe.” For the first time in days Chaldee found herself smiling. “I know the importance of mathematics even if much of the time I do not understand the complexity of a mind that produces such an art form.”
Aegeus bowed slightly. “You are generous in your assessment, Madame.”
“But this is not why I asked for you.” Chaldee indicated a comfortable setting of four velvet chairs. “Please, let us be less formal.” She came round from the desk, noting how Aegeus waited until she was seated before he politely sat opposite.
“I assume you have not invited me here because of my work?”
Chaldee shook her head. “No. It’s about the crisis we are facing. You must have seen or heard the Earthlings’ flying craft?”
Aegeus nodded.
“That visit has caused much concern here at the palace. I am in a dilemma for I know the Earthlings do not understand who we are, or how we came to be here. They are dangerous beings, especially when they face something they do not understand - this is why I am unsure of how to tackle the problem.” Chaldee paused, but the man opposite did not interrupt. He sat passively, although the intensity in his eyes told her he was trying to delve into the meaning of her words. “I need guidance at this time, but those who used to help the kingdom with their mind convergence can no longer assist.”
Aegeus raised one eyebrow questioningly but still did not interrupt.
“And I have recently…” Chaldee paused, trying to find words to explain how she came upon his name. “Ah… discovered that your family maybe able to help me.”
“Help, Madame?” Aegeus was frowning. “In what way?”
“I believe you or someone in your family might have latent abilities which may assist us. I need to understand more about the situation I am facing.” Chaldee paused again wondering why she was giving this stranger information that should only be for the ears of her planning council. “I am unsure as to whether to approach the Earthlings with some type of compromise for I do not trust their judgement.”
“This is a little beyond me, Your Highness. My family are the keepers of knowledge. We do not have the mental abilities you seek.”
Chaldee stared at him trying to gain more insight into the thoughts of the crippled mathematician sitting in front of her. She had been given his name, yet he did not seem to understand what she needed.
“My mother is very sickly and my father died in the uprising.”
“I am sorry. You must have much to deal with right now.” Chaldee frowned knowing that the name she had seen in her mind belonged to this man, yet feeling quite helpless for she had no idea how to present him with such evidence. “I should not be bothering you with my search. It is apparent that you have no idea of what or who I am seeking.”
Aegeus paused. “Perhaps, Madame, I do understand something of this quest. I may know why you have been given my name.”
He waited but Chaldee found she could not speak. Her heart was racing. Suddenly she knew she had been right.
“I feel you must have great powers yourself, Madame…ah… to have been able to isolate me in this way.”
His glance was nervous and Chaldee understood his discomfort. It was to do with her mental powers. In the past this ability to read the thoughts of others had been part of everybody’s psyche, but these days the power to receive and project mental images was sadly diminished due to the decay of her race. It was because of this deterioration that her father had actually banned its use. He decreed it unfair for some to have the ability while others did not. It seemed that this was why Aegeus was hesitating.
“Please… it is safe to speak about these things with me. I am in much need of direction so anything you have to say will be kept confidential.”
Aegeus lowered his head, pausing as if to gather words that would make his position clear. “I have read much about these powers. In the old days we had the ability to communicate without speech, to control another’s physical movement, even to maim or kill when necessary.”
“Yes,” Chaldee said softly. “This is why my father was so strict. Argument and conflict were becoming dangerous; people were using their mental abilities to hurt each other.”
“Yes, my own father too, spoke of these squabbles.”
“Then you understand.” Chaldee nodded kindly. “But I feel we have long passed the time when we would cause harm to each other. Now we are fighting for survival.”
Aegeus nodded.
“I will not harm you.” Chaldee knew he understood. It was good to be able to speak so openly with a stranger. “But Aegeus, you were about to give me a name?”
“Yes Madame. I have done a little research on the mind convergence powers you speak of.”
“This is what I need.”
“But sadly it is not my abilities you seek Your Highness.”
Chaldee could see his strain and the sudden hope in her heart began to ebb.
“But although my family cannot be of help,” Aegeus continued. “I believe I know where you would be able to find such assistance.” He stopped, as if his next words would be too shocking to hear.
“Where?” Chaldee felt renewed excitement. “From whom?”
Aegeus rubbed at his chin, his discomfort so obvious that Chaldee knew he did not want to continue. Normally she would have respected such a position but the urgency she felt demanded answers so she stood up, reaching her full height, towering over him, making her very presence her command.
“Madame, amongst the documents in our vault there are papers that speak of an Oracle.”
“Oracle?”
“A mind that exists across many dimensions,” Aegeus whispered in awe.
“An Oracle you say!” Chaldee threw herself back in her chair; eyes riveted on Aegeus. “Why have I never heard of such a Being? Where is he to be found?”
“You’re Majesty, the documents in our vaults warn about the absolute need to keep science and matters of state separate. Many pages are devoted to the dangers of letting politics influence the domains of science. It instructs that all knowledge of the Oracle be kept secret from the Ruler.”
“Yet you are telling me now!”
“I am not influenced by such secrecy, Madame.” Aegeus paused, his eyes meeting hers. “…for I do not agree with many of the functions within our society. The divisions between Nobility and Commoner have brought us to where we are now. To survive, such segregation must become a thing of the past.”
“Your tongue is slanderous Aegeus.” Chaldee spoke in cold tones as she stared at the hansom, intelligent face opposite her. He showed courage. There were not many in her kingdom who would have spoken to her in this way.
Aegeus stared back defiantly.
For an angry moment Chaldee was prepared to have the man punished, but a mental whisper floated into her mind, telling her Aegeus was right.
She sighed as she gave way: “Perhaps you are near the truth, Aegeus. If our people were unified I would not feel so isolated.”
Aegeus stood awkwardly, bowing low then dropping to one knee. “Thank you for allowing me to speak, Madame.” He kissed her hand, and remained kneeling before her.
Chaldee understood his actions, knowing that in this moment she had forged a most beneficial friendship. “I am grateful…indeed I am pleased!” She smiled. “But be seated. We shall have further discussions on these matters of state later my friend. Right now I must know more about the Oracle. Where can he be found?”
“From the little I can glean from the documents, the Mind of the Oracle is far-reaching. It resides in many places in the Universe. Here in our kingdom there is a gateway where contact can be made.”
“Where?”
” In the caves of the Shadows.”
“Oh no!” Chaldee was horrified. “Not there! Of all places! How can it be there?”
“This is what the documents outline your Highness. If I had known what you wished from me I would have brought them.”
“Ah…there is always a catch.” Chaldee closed her eyes. “To attempt to go into those caves is to ask for death.”
“So I have heard,” murmured Aegeus
Weariness overcame the princess and she slumped back in her chair looking at Aegeus through half closed eyes. There was silence in the room as she tried to make sense of what she had heard. Eventually she spoke: “Bring me all you have on this Oracle. I must know more before I risk such a journey.”
“At once.” Aegeus stood up quickly. “I will be back by evening Madame.” With a quick bow the crippled man hobbled from the room.
Chaldee watched with a heavy heart. To discover that there was someone who might give her direction, instilled hope, but it was so daunting to have to enter the caves of the Shadows. She wondered if she had the courage.
She was still sitting motionless, deep in thought, when the Master Speaker appeared at the door of the antechamber.
“May I enter, Your Highness?”
Chaldee motioned for him to come and as he approached she saw by the gravity of his expression that she was about to face more bad news.
“What is it Zell?”
“Madame, I have just heard that the Bigfoot has been found.”
“Robar!” Chaldee leapt up. “Where is he…is he safe?”
“Sadly Madame, he is very ill.”
Chaldee sank back in sudden despair. She had felt for days that her dear friend was in trouble.
“Soldiers found him wandering along the escarpment near the Shadows caves.” The Master Speaker paused then whispered nervously, “Madame, Robar is blind…and he can barely hear. I fear he is close to death!”
“Oh! No!” Chaldee clutched her hands under her chin, pressing them into her throat as she tried to deal with this terrible news. “He must be brought to the palace immediately.”
“He refuses to come, Madame, and he begged us not to say anything for he does not want you to worry. He also says that he wants to die up there where he has always lived.”
“But here we can nurse him. Save him!”
“No. He asked the soldiers to help him into the caves. That’s where he is now.”
Chaldee felt a sudden chill descend. For the second time within minutes the Caves of the Shadows were being spoken of. She held a firm belief that any coincidence was sacramental. Always in coincidence there would be some hidden, symbolic message. To be faced with such a coincidence at this crucial time meant the caves must be extremely important.
“Where are the Shadows? Surely by now your men would be in grave danger?
“Apparently not, Madame. They report no sign of the dreaded monsters.”
“Really?” Puzzled Chaldee stood up. “Send more supplies up to the caves, we must help Robar. I will go there myself shortly, but right at this moment I need time to organise. Too much is happening.”
“I understand Madame.” The Master Speaker bowed and stood aside.
“I will be in my chambers, Zell. I will call when I need to discuss my plans. We cannot leave Robar up there to die alone and yet I have so many other issues to deal with.”
Chaldee left the small reception room and walked slowly back her rooms, her mind whirling. It would seem that she would have to visit the caves herself for it could not be a coincidence that both Robar and the Oracle were situated in that devilish place - but what of the Earthlings? Was it not a matter of time before they returned? What scheme could she set in place to protect the Kingdom? She knew she must be patient and wait for Aegeus’s return. Perhaps the documents that spoke of this mysterious Oracle might offer solutions.
Chapter 5

 

The vastness of the ‘outback’ jarred Paul’s senses for there was no boundary to this limitless space. The car had become almost a hypnotic cradle lulling Paul into a vision of the sky and land laced together by an endless road.
Jerking himself out of his stupor Paul straightened behind the wheel. He had not seen a sign of life for over two hours even though this was the main highway to Broken Hill. In one way it was a relief to know he was not being followed, but as he pushed his sunglasses up trying to rub the itchy grit from his eyes, Paul wondered for the hundredth time why he had agreed to come all this way at the request of a complete stranger - just to see some old professor the world of science had shunned.
He had read the articles and knew some people dubbed Professor Egeland crazy, believing the man and his mysterious research were far too explosive and erratic to be of any commercial use. But Paul’s closest friend, Martin, thought it was worth the trip. Paul could not help but agree. If - as the Professor claimed in his paper - he was able to use traces of this exotic material, reduce it to refined particles in such a way that it became a new source of low cost energy then the Professor’s research was certainly of major importance.
That weird guy, Deucallus, had sent an email, informing him of what the professor was doing, insisting that this research would give hope to a world facing tyranny because of the crisis in energy production. Deucallus had not hesitated to remind him that Mankind was teetering on the edge of catastrophe due to the enormous threats of oil depletion, earth changes, financial tyranny, and over population. Paul knew only too well that without a radical new approach the entire social fabric might collapse, that’s why he had agreed to make this journey.
Rubbing an exhausted hand through his hair Paul tried to concentrate on the black ribbon of road as it disappeared into the curve of the horizon, wondering for the hundredth time if this trip would turn out to be another wild goose-chase. Was it going to be a fiasco, like so many of their other failed operations? Over the past few years he had really been tested because so many of his schemes had ended in chaos. He suspected someone was trying to sabotage their efforts but he had no idea who. If this trip became another botched job it would probably mean the end of the group. He sighed despondently. Over these last few months he had begun to question everything. Was fighting for the environment a fool’s game? They were only a small group so really, what could they do to bring about the enormous changes needed?
“Nothing!” Paul’s loud protest filled the hollow silence. Immediately he was embarrassed by the sound of his own voice. He was tired, stiff, and hungry, plus now he was talking to himself. Being out here in this wide emptiness was creating a strange detachment he had never felt before. But what a landscape! It forced one to recognise just how massive the planet really was.
Paul had always prided himself on his mental toughness but earlier this morning - as he had stood next to his Ute watching a huge sun rise over the rim of the earth - he had felt in awe of his own mortality. Even in the predawn greyness, as the delicate light reached out across the desert, he wondered how something so glorious could feel so threatening. It made him feel insignificant, alone; made him want to be among friends, not making a journey that might be a waste of time.
Broken Hill must be close.
Paul rolled his shoulders stiffly and rubbed at his eyes again, trying to clear his sight, simultaneously easing back on the speed. Be a useless trip if he drove off the road now. He had been driving for a straight fourteen hours. It was almost noon, and though it was winter the shimmering heat still created mirages on the road ahead. Even that glorious sunrise could not compensate for how tired he was feeling.
Where was Broken Hill? Surely he must almost be there?
Paul’s mind swung between wanting to get there and the doubt he felt about contacting Professor Egeland. He remembered hearing the news about this rogue professor who had been forced to resign because of a hint of malpractice. Even at the time Paul guessed it was a media beat-up because of the way the Professor Egeland had spoken out about the years of bureaucratic waste and scientific misinformation. This type of smear campaign against an individual who disagreed with mainstream thought was normal; was done all over the world. The bureaucratic machine would simply swing into action, discrediting any information deemed off limits.
A few months after Egeland’s sacking Paul read a powerful internet blog the professor had written outlining various methods of obtaining free energy. Paul was excited. Suddenly he understood why this old scientist was causing the government so much embarrassment. In the article Egeland spoke about the availability of free energy, suggesting that there was a mountain of research just waiting to be put into practice. The blog left no one in doubt - the professor was deeply involved in this research. At the time, Paul had sent the man a congratulatory email. That had been over a year ago, so when Deucallus - a complete stranger - had asked his group to help this courageous old professor Paul had not hesitated …well, not until he found out how far he had to travel!

* * * * * *

Ten minutes later Paul was driving into Broken Hill.
It was a landmark city in of one the driest countries in the world; a neat town, quite old by Australian standards, with a wild history of rebellious labour and hard, tough, miners. Not quite the place one would expect to meet a Scandinavian scientist, but then Egeland was unusual. After resigning from his University post he had completely disappeared and until Paul had received Deucallus’s email no one knew where the old man had gone.
Paul smiled wanly. Obviously Egeland’s rebellious nature allowed him to fit into this mining town.
The arrangement was to meet in The Royal Exchange as close to mid-day as possible and although Paul was unsure of what to expect, he did not want to keep Egeland waiting.
He found the place quite easily and as he ordered a beer he looked around. It was not hard to spot the thin, small man sitting alone reading a newspaper. Old, a little hunched and looking pale against the ruddy skin of other patrons, Paul knew immediately he had found his man. He examined him carefully noting how withered Egeland appeared; the wispy white hair and deep wrinkles emphasizing the man’s fragility.
“Professor Egeland?”
The old man waved in acknowledgement and Paul went across to the table
“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting?”
Egeland smiled slightly, ignoring Paul’s concern. “I see you have a drink young man. It’s always thirsty weather out here.”
Paul heard the slight accent, wondering if it was Norwegian.
“Well sit down!”
Paul did as he was told, carefully placing his overfull glass on the table.
“You are not late…so do not apologize. Never apologize for anything if you have not made a mistake…yes!”
Paul smiled and shrugged. “It’s a habit…sorry.”
“Ah! See! You do it again!”
They both laughed, and Paul began to relax.
“I am pleased you have made this long journey…Mr. James.”
“Call me Paul.”
“Ah! I too am Paul!” Egeland laughed. “So…what to do, eh? What to do?”
Paul was surprised by the brightness of the eyes beaming out under the shaggy white eyebrows. This man was certainly was not as he had been described: tyrannical arrogance had been one reporter’s ridiculous appraisal.
“Of course! I’d forgotten your name is also Paul.”
“Yes. Yes,” the professor laughed. “But I am also known as ‘that crazy powder keg’. Maybe you hear this?”
Paul cocked his head on one side not quite sure if the older man was teasing him.
“So perhaps…um… you call me…ah…Keggy.” Egeland’s frail body shook with laughter.
Paul sat shaking his head, not able to join in.
“You do not see the joke, young Paul.” Egeland paused to wipe froth from his beard. “Your Government believes I threaten them, so powder-keg is very suitable.” The professor laughed again.
This time Paul could not resist the man’s mirth and smiling, he lifted his glass. “To you, Professor!”
The professor’s coffee cup clinked with the beer glass, bonding a friendship that over the next few months was going to be put to the test more than once.
Paul was the first to fall back into the seriousness of the moment. “So…tell me…do you understand who I am…what I have been doing over the past few years… did Deucallus tell you?”
The laughter slowly faded from the professor’s wrinkled face, but his eyes still sparkled and Paul wondered how this cheerful fellow had become snared by the political heavy-weights.
“He said you would protect me against the authorities, so I guess you are part of some sort of underground organisation.”
Paul nodded slightly.
“This does not trouble me young man. Although I do not agree with violence I understand why you young hot heads want to fight. Debate and argument seems useless against the power controlling these terrible times.”
“Good…I’m glad you understand. Although from what Deucallus said, we probably won’t need to use force.”
“So what is this force you speak of….what do you do exactly?”
Paul wriggled uncomfortably, knowing he must choose his words carefully “Not so much force …more like actions of protest which sometimes get out of hand.”
“Ah! Yes, I had a dear friend in Tasmania who was leading such protests.”
“Who?” Paul asked feeling suddenly guarded.
“Bess Lambert. Do you know of her? I was saddened to hear that she died in a car accident quite recently?”
Paul became rigid when he heard Bess’s name. It didn’t really surprise him that the professor had known her, still, hearing her name so unexpectedly caused pain. He had always regarded Bess as his mentor and friend. In fact during the last few of years of her life, Bess and her husband had become like surrogate parents. Paul had listened with admiration to stories she told about the early days, when they were known as Greenies, and had fought in vain to try to stop the logging industry from destroying old-growth forests. But those days were long gone, and with them went all hope, although even in her old age Bess remained an optimist, vowing that eventually the planet would be saved. As a spokesperson for many environmental causes, the courageous old lady had put up with ridicule, forever warning the public of the horrific damage being done right across the planet. She had told Paul more than once that she knew that many ordinary folk agreed with her, but felt too insignificant to fight the power of big business. Later - as an offshoot to these protests - Bess began to support free-energy research. Then because of the wasted dialogue and empty talk, her campaigns exploded into action. She became one of the few radicals who recognised that she must take back control. She formed a militant cell within her organisation. These people (Paul was one) were prepared to fight instead of protest. Long before Paul joined the organisation, the aggressive destruction of plant and equipment had outlawed her small band of radicals. They had never risked a person’s life, maintaining that they were simply keeping the balance - the loss of equipment equalling the loss of the natural environment - but still Bess’s passion put them outside the law and because there were warrants out for her arrest, the group’s direction gradually began to change. These days Paul’s efforts were directed mainly towards electronic warfare, using technology as his weapon of choice. But now Bess was dead, and although Paul knew that for many years she had expected it to happen - had even counselled the group warning them of the dark forces trying to get rid of her - he still found it hard to say the word murder.
“I don’t believe it was an accident.” Paul said quietly.
The professor frowned.
“Many agree… we think Bess was deliberately killed!”
There was a cutting silence.
Paul could see that his statement had not startled the professor. It seemed the old man knew something about this type of action.
“But as it can’t be proved,” he went on. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“These are very dangerous times.” The older man sat quietly for a moment then said: “I can see you have the courage to be able to help me. That strange man Deucallus insisted that I must finish my work quickly - that there was a great need for it.”
“I’ve read your stuff on the Internet and I agree… your work is vital.”
The professor smiled weakly. “I was naïve …about many things, but I expected people to listen.” He paused and Paul saw a look of grief, almost abandonment in the old man’s eyes. “I thought the world would support my work, but…I am alone.”
“That’s why Deucallus set this up…so we can help”
“Hmmm… Egeland nodded. “I need both protection and assistance… scientific muscle as well as physical…if you understand my meaning.”
Paul wiped his mouth, leaning forward so his face was close enough to whisper: “We’ll do what it takes Professor Egeland… but mainly we’re hackers. We use computers to cause as much chaos as we can.” Paul stopped, pondering just how much assistance the old professor needed. “But we don’t cause physical harm. I certainly wouldn’t shoot anybody…if that’s what you want.”
“Of course not! Never! It would defeat everything I have worked for!”
Paul nodded. He had not expected Egeland to ask him to assassinate anybody, but he needed to make sure his position was clear. “And we will need to know a lot more about what you are working on…Deucallus mentioned some sort of powder?”
Professor Egeland shook his head very slowly. “At this stage I really cannot tell you much. I know I am asking a great deal Paul…to take me on trust, but believe me, there will never be any need for harm or damage.” The old man leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands across his chest. ‘Ah… if your group…” His words faded as his attention altered and became focused on a lone drinker sitting on a stool at the bar. “This may sound…how you say? Paranoid … but I always know when I am being watched.” He looked back at Paul. ” See that man at the bar.”
Paul glanced at the lone drinker in a brightly coloured shirt.
“He will be watching me…things are dangerous now because I am so close to a resolution. Deucallus thinks they will stop me any way they can!”
Paul drew a deep breath. He had operated outside the law for a long time and he knew the trouble the old professor was facing.
“I need someone to watch my back, protect me when I take some material to Sydney for further analysis.”
The professor paused and Paul suspected the old man was unsure of how much he could say. If felt odd - having someone even more suspicious than he was.
“At present nobody knows where my laboratory is, but when I show my face in Sydney I will need some sort of help…someone to become my eyes…I must protect the work because these Government people are breathing…as you say…down my gullet.”
“Neck,” Paul automatically corrected.
The professor gave a little smile. “That is where they are, right here!” He rubbed at his throat. “Right on my neck…but I will not be intimidated!” The professor’s voice dropped to an angry hiss. “They will not do this to me again!”
Paul leaned forward. “Are you sure you’re being watched?”
“I’ve had enough coffee… perhaps you could get us a jug of beer…and look closely at the person at the bar. I think maybe he has been stationed here to watch me… now he’s watching you also!”
“Yeah.” Paul felt uneasy. “I’ve got a few ticks against me,” he said quietly as he stood up. “Ever think, Professor that my being here might make it even worse for you?” Paul looked across at the lone drinker, dressed casually in shorts and a bright lemon shirt. “Yellow’s not the normal police image is it?” he quipped as he headed to the bar.
The professor smiled briefly but said nothing.

* * * * * *

Professor Egeland sat watching Paul thread his way through the tables to the bar. This well-built young man had clear eyes, a blunt chin, and a steely gaze that seemed to quickly size up a situation. The old man could see toughness and strength carved into those features and it pleased him to know that the boy had risked coming all this way to help. Perhaps he had finally found someone with enough vision and courage to be able to bring the project to a conclusion - though now he was frightened for them both.
So much depended on what he could get done in Sydney. He needed the equipment at the University to verify some of his calculations but he also knew such a move was extremely dangerous. His enemies were tenacious. They seemed to have eyes everywhere. He had been hiding his small laboratory in Broken Hill yet somehow they had found him and although he was sure that they had not yet found his hideout in the desert, he knew it was only a matter of time. He had to complete the work as quickly as possible because there was a good chance that Paul’s people would not be able to prevent the inevitable. It was not that he was afraid to die, but he knew the final development of this material depended on his survival. The importance of his discoveries far outweighed his own life. The world needed many new, clean, energy sources and he was almost ready to offer one.
The professor continued to watch as Paul paid for the drinks. He was saddened by the deep worry lines etched into Paul’s forehead. This young man should not have to shoulder such responsibilities yet it seemed that all hope now lay with people like him.
As the professor swung his glance past Paul he saw the yellow shirted agent slide from his stool, casually moving towards the door, aware he had been identified. Egeland also saw the penetrating glances Paul was casting across the whole room as he came back with the beer. He simply had to trust that this astute young man would be able to offer ways to support him.
As Paul sat down the Professor leaned forward. “What do you think?”…
“You’re right. You are being watched.”
The professor nodded worriedly.
“So what do you want me to do first, Professor Egeland?”
“I have a house and a work area here in town, but they are a facade. I have set up a new laboratory in a hidden place about an hour’s drive out of town. I intend to finish my work there.” The professor paused, looking across to where he last saw the agent. There was no sign of any replacement; nevertheless, they would now be able to report his meeting with this young man. “I would like you to help me take some work to Sydney…mainly I need your expertise with the security problem.”
“You’ll need more than me Professor. I can get some friends here by tomorrow night.”
Professor Egeland beamed - his eyes alive with thanks. “I knew you would help…but we must keep this quiet…so perhaps just you and two others…that will be enough surely?”
“I understand your worry professor, but you must trust me… if they are to come they’ll need to know something about your work.”
The professor hid his prickle of dismay. The more people who knew about his work, the more dangerous life would become. “It has always been my intention to share my discoveries,” he said thoughtfully. “Maybe your people will be able to assist? Have you somebody who understands electricity or metallurgy… perhaps a working knowledge of organic chemistry?”
He watched Paul’s eyes; saw the young man mentally flipping through his knowledge of his friend’s abilities. “Well Martin’s a chemical engineer, and Jake’s a bit of a whiz at everything…you know… physics, law, and carpentry. I am…I mean I was… an environmental lawyer.”
The professor smiled, suddenly excited. He had not considered that having a group who could protect him might also offer assistance. “Ah chemistry…that is good.”
“I’ll ring after lunch. Get things started. I guess they will all need gear, bedding, tools… food.”
“I shall supply everything…just get them to come quickly.”
Paul gave a small sigh. “I wonder what’s ahead…what are we are getting into Professor?”
“It will be hard…unsafe even…but you do a good thing Paul.” The old man lifted his half-empty glass. “A very good thing.”
They clinked glasses and sat back appearing to be two friends having a drink before lunch. No one could guess that here sat a rogue scientist on the verge of a discovery that would challenge all traditional energy supplies and a young lawyer, outlawed and radical, intent on exposing corruption at the highest level.
Chapter 6

 

It was many hours before Joe felt free to focus on the events of the morning for during the ride back to base Sergeant Williams’ condition had continued to deteriorate. By the time they got him into hospital all else was forgotten in the panic to save his life.
Joe hadn’t eaten all day so eventually he made his way to the hospital cafeteria still trying to organise his mind. The place was deserted. The dim light and clinical stillness seemed like a sanctuary compared with the day’s madness. Forcing himself to relax Joe searched for some biscuits then made himself a cup of coffee, loading it with milk and sugar. For the first time in two days he was on his own. He could think. He could overcome the shamble in his head.
Wandering over to an empty table he slumped into a chair and sat holding his head in his hands. Frame by frame a multitude of images slithered through his brain. It was hard to really know what had happened out there. Had that extraordinary young woman done something to Williams, or had the police officer’s collapse been caused by his bad heart? And if it was his heart how could Chaldee have possibly known about it?
Quietly he began to work back through the strange events. It had a dream-like quality until that crucial moment when Williams produced the gun. Joe felt sure the police officer had deliberately pushed him out of the way and this was why he was so baffled. What actually had happened? Why had Williams suddenly pitched forward? At the time Joe remembered thinking the man had had a heart attack so he did not fully suspect Chaldee until afterwards; but his mind had been so dislocated at the time it was hard to sort out anything! Thinking back, he tried to look at every action. Williams had been aggressive, he had shouted something as he pushed against Joe; was it in that confused moment that Chaldee said something that triggered this doubt? Slowly he began to recall her strange language. It had an ancient quality to it, yet he could not really isolate the difference.
Joe leaned back staring across the empty room; his mind still captured by the morning’s events. He knew Williams’ condition had worsened during the flight back, yet was it a heart attack or was he trying to read more into that commotion than had really happened? Joe pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to squeeze more from his memory.
Chaldee certainly had some sort of second sight because she knew the fat man’s heart was failing. She had said the blood was not being pumped correctly. How could anyone know this just by looking at someone? “Definitely peculiar,” he muttered to himself. And even before she diagnosed heart failure she had said something else quite odd. He reached for his coffee struggling to remember the words. At the time he had thought it very strange indeed but now all he could fasten onto was his own reactions. Then there was that other weird thing - she had called them Earthlings! She had even warned them that her kingdom was impenetrable. Such odd language! How could a kingdom exist in Australia?
Joe sipped his coffee and listened to the night sounds. None of this was making sense unless he allowed his understanding of reality to broaden. For a moment he contemplated the idea that maybe Rod and Gordon had stumbled across some hidden kingdom, unknown to the outside world. This would account for nearly all he had witnessed, but he quickly backed away from such an outrageous idea. It was madness, and after what had happened today, he did not want to test his own sanity. Much more sensible to look for a rational explanation, or sleep on it all and take another look in the morning.
He finished his hospital coffee and strolled out into the darkness. The air was crisp now that the sun had disappeared. He had left his Ute at the airfield, but he suspected a night walk might help clear his mind.
Suddenly Joe stopped, riveted to the ground as he remembered her saying that her people had lived here since time began…since time began! Joe shook his head in disbelief. What had she been telling him?
“Joe…need a lift?”
Joe shook his head again still trying to free himself from Chaldee’s words as he squinted into the pitch-blackness. He could not make out the voice until the car lights flicked on and he found himself looking straight into the pilot’s wide, smiling face.
“How’s Williams?” Ben asked.
“Not good…not good at all.” Joe climbed into the car. “They’ve got him hooked up to all sorts of gear.”
“He came back to work to early, that’s the trouble… should have stayed down in Perth a few more weeks.” Ben started the car. “Has he got family down there?”
Joe shrugged. “Dunno.”
“He’s not very old,” Ben said thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t think he’d have a bad heart!”
“Yeah…damn shame.”
“Where’s your car?”
Joe nodded into the darkness. “Over at the field.”
There was a small silence as the car bumped over the unmade road, heading toward the airfield.
“Did you see the other chopper… flew in just before last light,” Ben asked.
“Really. Who’d it bring?”
“Coupla’ senior cops from Perth and another guy from Canberra…oh yeah, and Adele, that kid doing the doco on Doctor Oaken.” Ben glanced quickly at Joe. “She says she knows you.”
“Yeah! I’ve met her.”
“Well, take this as a warning mate, she’s showing a lot of interest in what’s going on up here.”
Joe took a sharp breath. “That’s something we don’t need…the media climbing all over us.” He was irritated. “Why’s she here? Did you tell her to come up?”
“Well, not exactly. Last time I took you and Dr Oaken to Sydney she asked me to keep in touch. Anyway, I phoned her the other day…you know…to talk about them both being missing.”
Joe frowned at the pilot. “Don’t you know Adele’s father runs a TV station, Ben? It’ll be all over the news!”
“Well… maybe not. I mean… she’s a personal friend of Gordon’s. I think she wants to help. That’s what she said anyway.”
“So she hitched a ride in with the cops?”
“Yeah…seems so.”
“I never trust the media, especially when there is a hint of a good story…not even friends!”
There was a brooding, uneasy silence between them until Ben cut in: “Look! I’m sorry about Adele, Joe.”
“Yeah…yeah…me too. I’m just bushed! The whole thing’s really getting to me.” Joe rubbed a rough hand across his forehead. His anxiety had returned. “You know Ben… I think maybe they’re both dead!”
“It’s crossed my mind more than once,” Ben agreed miserably.
There was another awkward silence; neither of them wanting to expand on this terrible suspicion.
“I heard those two city cops are meeting with the local guys tomorrow, then they plan to fly out there Wednesday.”
“Yeah…I’ve got to go to that meeting too. They want a report on what happened.” Joe looked across at the pilot, wanting to say more, but uncertain of Ben’s reaction. Ben was originally from Sydney, and although he’d been up here in the Kimberley for a few years now, Joe still had not got his full measure. He hesitated a moment longer then took a chance. “I wish you had been with us today… in that garden.”
Ben was driving through the gates of the tiny airfield, but he slowed down, glancing across in surprise.
“Williams is so ill he may never remember what happened and because you weren’t there seems everything hangs on what I say. Thinking about this report is sending me nuts!”
“Yeah…well, even when I was flying into the place I could see it was unusual.”
“That’s not the half of it! ” Joe rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to pull his thoughts together. “If I even tried to tell you what I saw you’d laugh at me.”
Ben pulled the car over and stopped. “Try me?”
Joe shook his head.
“Look Joe, We’ve known each other long enough. I know you’re not a crank, not even when you’re drunk!” Ben grinned. “So… what is it? I mean… I know Williams was sick…so if you’re worrying about being blamed… well we’ll just say that when he became ill we had to turn back.”
Joe looked through the gloom at Ben’s open, smiling face. He was a wild kid. A reckless young pilot who seldom took anything seriously, always looking for a new challenge, always taking chances; but Joe trusted him enough to know that if he reported it this way, then that would be the end of the matter. “No! It’s not about blame.” Joe still hesitated. “I dunno…there’s something wrong out there. I think I will have to say something because I’m still looking for Gordon, and Rod. I can’t just abandon them.”
“Yeah…right.” Ben sounded sympathetic.
Joe stared out into the moonless night. Part of his attention was drawn to the hazy outline of two helicopters sitting on the apron in front of the hangers, but the major part of his mind was still focused on the earlier events in that exquisite garden.
“So what happened…what can’t you report?”
“We met this girl…well…young woman really.” A picture was forming. Joe remembered the air of sovereignty that surrounded Chaldee. “She was kinda like something out of a dream!” For the first time Joe was beginning to get a clear picture of what he had witnessed earlier. “She had a strange face…not like ours…beautiful but different!” He shook his head unable to find the right words. “Seemed a much wider face, with sort of flat bones…I dunno how to describe it!” He paused as he examined the image in his mind. “Yes! That’s it! It was her eyes! Big… sorta almond shaped… but not Asian…bigger or wider somehow” He paused again feeling frustrated by his inability to let Ben see what he had seen. “How can I describe something no-one has ever seen before?”
“Take it easy Joe.” Ben put a calming hand on Joe’s arm. “It’s been a rough day.”
“This person…this woman was as beautiful a creature as I have every seen, yet…I can’t even describe her!”
“Was she short, skinny, tall…what?”
“She was a bit taller than me…. yet she seemed so fragile. I dunno…sort of ethereal almost. Her hair was that blondy- pale sort of colour…you know!” Joe was really struggling. Women’s fashions and hair colour were not part of his world.
“Ash blonde?”
“Yeah…right. It was really thick, sort of piled up high on her head,” Joe stopped feeling suddenly excited, as the image became more detailed. “Yeah… that’s right… her hair was held up by combs that were like jewellery.”
“Expensive?”
As Joe thought back over the scene in the garden he realised that this was an important feature. “I reckon they were Ben! I didn’t think too much about it then, but she wore really heavy jewellery. Chunky pink-gold stuff… studded with stones…could have been rubies.” Joe shook his head in amazement. “Be worth a fortune…if they were real.”
“But do you think they were?”
Joe looked over at Ben. “I dunno. I… just… don’t… know! It’s all so odd… and the things she said and did. And the garden! Wow! That garden was really something! There were a range of different sounding gong thingys… and after they rang, sprays of water would come up. It was almost as if the flowers were being treated with a combination of sound and water. I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“Hey! I can see why you don’t want to say anything.” There was a small hint of laughter creeping into Ben’s voice “It sounds like you’re on drugs mate!”
Joe could hear the smile in Ben’s voice. This was exactly what he was afraid of. “Now can you see why I can’t make the report?”
Ben nodded, his laugher fading.
“She said some strange things Ben. She knew what was wrong with Williams just by looking at him, and when Williams pulled the gun…”
“What!” Ben yelled. “He did what?”
“Yeah! I tell you…it was full-on out there mate! That idiot Williams saw two guys with the swords and he drew his gun. It was crazy!”
“Swords? What are you talking about?”
Joe ignored this; his mind still centred on what Williams had done. “But he pushed me aside and next thing I knew he was face down in the dirt.”
“When he had his heart attack?” Ben cut in again.
“Well now…that’s the thing…he was on the ground but she was telling me that he wasn’t harmed…as if she’d done something to him!”
“No! No way Joe!” Ben was giving a definite shake of his head and Joe could see his friend would not accept any more.
“No… you’re tired…that’s all. It’s been a bad day all round. After a good night’s sleep things will look different.”
Joe heard the finality in Ben’s voice “Yeah…you’re probably right,” he mumbled climbing out of the car. “Anyway thanks for the lift. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Joe was more than tired; he was disappointed with himself for not being able to convince Ben. Also he was disgruntled because he had planned to ask Ben to fly him back out there before anything official got under way. Take a lot of talking to get the pilot to fly under the radar now .
As Joe nearer his vehicle a figure moved out from the shadows of the other helicopter.
“Hello …is that you Joe?”
Joe peered into the darkness as he walked towards the female voice.
“Hope you don’t mind…I was just unloading my gear. I left my cameras out here when we landed.”
Now Joe was close enough to see that it was Adele, the university student Ben had warned him about, the one trying to do a documentary on Gordon’s work. She had explained at the beginning of the project that this was a second year media assignment. Even back then he had thought it was too much for a student. They had met a few times while she was filming but he had always tried to avoid getting involved because although Adele was smart, she was too fiery and impetuous for him; a tiny figure with wild black hair and teeth so white they shone in the dark. He remembered how Gordon had commented to him once that she was a real handful.
Right now Adele was the last person he wanted to talk to. “I’ve got nothing to do with the airfield,” he snapped “You can do what you like.” Even as he spoke Joe knew she would ignore his rudeness.
Putting down her equipment she came forward with hands outstretched. “I hoped I’d see you up here Joe. I’d like to talk about Gordon.”
Her voice was casual but Joe knew she was after information so he shook his head hoping to escape quickly.
“Ben said you went out today. Flew over the place you saw him last.” She paused, waiting for the response Joe did not want to give. “It’s so awful! Do you really think Gordon’s still alive?”
Joe could hear that she was genuinely upset. Maybe he was being too harsh …she might be the ally he needed right now. “I’m not sure Adele.”
“Ben said it was bad out there today and not to worry you.” The small girl lifted up her gear. “So maybe I could see you in the morning…would you talk about it on camera?”
“I dunno…”
“I’m here to help Joe. I’ve spent months on this project. I’m certainly not trying to exploit Gordon. You must see that!”
Yeah…I guess.”
“I miss him too…and I hate what’s happening!”
“Hey! Come on…we’ll find them!” Joe was undone when he realised that Adele was crying. “You want a lift back?”
“No…no. I’m going to bunk down in the hanger. I want to be here when those two cops move out. I don’t intend to miss out on the ride. ”
“They’re not going till Wednesday.”
“Oh…really! I thought they wanted to get on top of this fast, before it hits the news.”
“There’s a strategy meeting first.”
“That’d be right…they have to cover their backs these days before they do anything.” Adele screwed a fist into her teary face.
A small smile touched Joe’s lips. From the new tone in her voice he knew she would be okay. Gordon had said it; she was feisty all right.
“Be a cold night…sure you want to sleep out here?”
“I’ll be fine!”
Joe shrugged. “Okay, if you say so.” He watched her heave the camera up. “I might be going out too on Wednesday.”
“With Ben?”
“Yeah…..maybe. These city guys have their own pilot but we already know the place and I think it might be worth another look.”
“I’ll still hitch with those guys, because I want to know what they’re up to. I think it’s more than just a search party!”
“Really?” Joe frowned in the dark wondering what she meant, but the conversation was over.
He watched as she began lugging her heavy gear towards the hangers. He knew that if he had offered to help she would have refused. This was one very self-contained young lady. “I might see you tomorrow then…”
“I hope you’ll be part of my story, Joe” she called back over her shoulder.
Darkness closed over her form and Joe stood in the cold wondering how much he could tell her and whether he should try to hitch a lift with the cops, or pay Ben to fly out there separately. What a mess it was! He knew the fear he held for Gordon and Rod’s safety was the main reason he felt so low but also the memory of the strange events this morning were not easy to push aside.
Joe walked back to his Ute. Nobody would believe him, yet if they went out there unprepared he knew they would strike even more trouble. But what could he do? All he could think of was to convince Ben to take him. They could follow the other chopper; at least try to help if those city blokes got into trouble.
Still feeling unsure of how to approach Ben, Joe reached for his mobile phone. It was just too bad if the guy was in bed because this had to be done. He had to get Ben to take him back out there. Not only to look after the cops, but also to solve the riddle of what had happened to Gordon and Rod.
Chapter 7

 

Although Paul was experiencing winter warmth in Broken Hill, Martin - his compatriot - was still in town, having to suffer the drab, coldness of a Canberra morning. Such extremes in temperature often surprise newcomers to the Australian Capital, but Martin knew the place well. This was his home base, although right now he was annoyed that he had been forced to drive back from his assignment in Sydney. His boss, Lieutenant Colonel Roccia, had insisted they meet in the car park of a small shopping centre out near Chapman, yet the meeting could easily have been held in Sydney. Martin knew it was just another device used by Roccia to maintain control. It was the Lieutenant Colonel’s style; a master game player, he could not help devising schemes that would bamboozle everybody - friend and foe alike. Roccia given him this assignment, spying on Paul’s group, feeding Roccia invaluable information, yet here he was, being treated like some substandard recruit!
The car was fogging up so Martin got out, stamping his feet in an effort to keep warm. If his boss didn’t show soon he would leave; after all he was the one with the information. It was Roccia who needed him.
“Morning, Martin.” The Lieutenant Colonel appeared suddenly and Martin knew the man had been watching him from somewhere close. Roccia always controlled the situation this way.
“You took your time! It’s freezing out here!”
“Tut tut! Are we a little peeved?” Roccia was grinning.
“I’m getting back in the car.”
“No,” Roccia said abruptly. “We’ll have coffee.”
Martin shrugged and without another word the two men dodged through the car park and into the Mall. They were seated and had ordered coffee before Roccia spoke again:
“I’ve been waiting since yesterday for your report. What’s happening…what’s Paul up to?”
“He’s in Broken Hill. Gone out to see a bloke you may know about - a Professor Egeland.”
Roccia’s eyebrows arched. “Interesting… we’ve been watching that old codger for years. His research scares the hell out of some of the people upstairs”
Martin wondered if his boss knew that Professor Egeland’s was trying to develop some type of material that had monoatomic properties. He hadn’t reported the situation because he wasn’t sure whether the professor was a crank, but as he saw the devious grin on Roccia’s face he knew the Professor was of interest. This meant that Paul’s trip out to Broken Hill was indeed important and he felt he needed to alert Roccia that it was he who had orchestrated Paul’s trip. “Yeah…well I thought the professor might be worth checking out. I remembered how they booted him out of university a few years back…that’s why I encouraged Paul to go.”
Roccia irritated Martin by silently sipping his coffee, ignoring the last remark.
“Well…um…” Martin was forced to continue. “A really weird guy contacted Paul asking about the Professor. Paul didn’t really want to go till I sorta forced the issue.”
“Broken Hill’s a long way. Who’d want to go out there?” Roccia quipped caustically.
“Yeah…that’s right. That’s what Paul said.” Martin stared across at his boss. “But I eventually convinced him to go.”
“Is that right? Well…well done you,” Roccia said sarcastically.
Martin knew Roccia was baiting him but no matter what he thought of his commanding officer he had no doubt the man was too dangerous to mess with!
“You need to keep tabs on what Professor Egeland is doing and why Paul went out there.”
“So what’s the go then? What’d you want me to do?”
“Find out what Egeland needs…it’ll be something to do with your group so I want twice daily reports from now on. I want to know what that crazy old guy is up to and why your group is involved.”
Martin nodded.
“And watch Paul closely. Tag them both so we can keep them under surveillance.”
Martin screwed up his face, not liking this idea. Placing an electronic device on any of the group might put him in the frame if the bugs were discovered. “Don’t you think that a bit risky?”
“Do it! We can’t afford to lose Egeland again. I’ll bet his laboratory is out there somewhere… we need the location so use tracers, that’s an order.”
Martin sighed inwardly, not showing his dismay. He was close to Paul - some might say best friends. This was a sentimental but precise description. If Paul found he was being watched it would spell disaster. Martin’s cover would be broken and a couple of year’s hard work would be wasted. So far his infiltration had been an outstanding success. Creating this very close friendship with Paul meant he was privy to every plan his friend created. Consequently, of course, many of the ops had gone awry. His major coup had been Bess Lambert’s death, which in turn had crippled her entire organisation and made Paul’s work almost useless.
Roccia would not admit how successful Martin’s undercover work had been. He had still been in University when the army had approached him so age certainly was a factor but it was also about his high level of success; both aspects seemed to irritate Roccia. Maybe the older man did not like this type of achievement from someone so young.
University had been where Martin first made contact with Jake and Paul. He managed to become very close to them, supplying the army’s special ops with information about Bess Lambert’s group. The scheme had worked so well that those in command had insisted Martin remain totally involved with Paul. It had been a long, dull surveillance. Paul’s delusional ideology of world peace was fatuous yet at the same time, dangerous, because the fool actually believed in it. Martin had had to pretend to hold the same silly views and now, when he was uncovering something important, Roccia wanted him to jeopardize the operation by using a bug.
“I still say it’s not worth the risk.”
Roccia ignored him, changing the subject abruptly. “I need more stuff on Jake’s girlfriend too…what’s her name?”
“You mean Adele Provost?”
“There’s been some sort of hitch in that documentary of hers. The bloke she was filming…ah…I think he’s a geologist….”
“Do you mean the archaeologist Adele is filming? I think he’s name is Oaken.” Martin was puzzled. Why would Defence Intelligence be interested in Adele’s work?
“Dr Oaken….that’s the one! Seems he’s gone missing! I’ve just had a disturbing report from the Kimberley.”
Martin filed away this new information, but said nothing.
“At present nothing’s making sense, but if there is anything factual in these reports, we have something else which needs attention.” Roccia scratched thoughtfully at his nose. “Seems odd that you just happen to know the girl - Adele!…so keep in touch. Tell me the minute Jake hears from this female. I believe she’s gone up there to look for Oaken.”
“You mean Adele’s up in the Kimberley?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Okay.” Martin shrugged. Obviously this was the real reason for Roccia’s meeting this morning. Why the man should be concerned about Adele was beyond him. He was sure Paul and Professor Egeland were far more important. Why waste time on Adele Provost’s escapades? On the other hand, she was very close to Paul’s group. “Adele’s a handful…I’ve no idea what Jake sees in her …anyway I’m sure he’s not heard from her for weeks.”
“You said that Paul had been told to go over to Broken Hill…who by?”
Martin shrugged. “Not sure…this weird guy just walked in as if he knew all about us.” Martin frowned as he remembered the confidence the stranger showed. “I only saw him for a few seconds. Paul wasn’t there so I couldn’t really make out what was happening.”
Roccia stared hard. “You didn’t hear anything?”
“No! Apparently he sent Paul and email, that’s when I got involved.”
“What did he look like?”
Martin took a slow slurp of coffee, watching his boss, trying to hedge for time. Suddenly he realised he’d missed something important. Paul had not been there so Martin had forgotten the whole incident until now. Mentally he went back over the details and realized there were some oddities about the stranger’s appearance. His eyes were weird and his stance was powerful; had an air of authority that could not be questioned. In fact it was as if the strangeness of the meeting had somehow been wiped from his mind until now when Roccia asked the question.
“He looked normal…just a guy in his forties, tall, fair…maybe going bald.” Martin tried to hide his doubt. No good letting Roccia know he’d missed something.
“Well keep me informed! Right now we can’t afford to take anything at face value!” Roccia drained his coffee and slammed the cup down as he stood up. “Don’t follow me out. Give it five minutes. “He started to walk away then stomped back, glaring down at Martin.
“Report in twice daily!”
“Right.” Martin liked the fact they were in a public place so he didn’t have to stand or salute. He just sat there, squinting up at the Lieutenant Colonel, waiting for him to perform his normal disappearing act.
Martin’s work with national security had led him into to some strange places, now it looked like he would be spending time in Broken Hill and he was thankful it would be warmer than Canberra.
Chapter 8

 

It was almost dark when Chaldee and her royal party reached the Shadows’ caves.
The long afternoon wait for Aegeus’s return had been torturous. Chaldee was deeply concerned by the report of her body guard’s illness and was desperate to be with him but she knew it was also important to have the documents Aegeus was bringing to her so she forced herself to wait.
When at last Aegeus appeared he agreed to accompany her to the caves. Ceremoniously he handed over a bundle of documents tightly wrapped in purple silk. Chaldee recognised the significance of the binding but felt she could not devote time to such important reading when her mind was centred on saving Robar. So, placing the precious articles in her soft leather pouch, she slung it across her back, not realising that at last she was in possession of the missing scrolls - the scrolls she and Rod had long searched for before he died; the scrolls that held such vital information.
The royal party made slow progress along the high ridges. The horses found the steep, rocky, terrain difficult, meaning that for much of the time they were forced to walk, allowing their four-legged friends to carefully find safe foot-holds. Chaldee had warned the three soldiers accompanying them about the dangers hidden in the crevices around these ridges, yet the journey had been uneventful.
Now they were gathered at the entrance to the caves.
“There should be other soldiers already inside,” she said. “Early this afternoon I asked that Robar been given new supplies.”
“They were sent, Your Highness,” the soldier named Patch assured her.
She nodded her thanks as she dismounted.
“Patch, you are to come with us.” Chaldee smiled at her favourite palace guard. He was older than the others, a heavily built soldier whom she had known all her life. At some point in his career he had been blinded in one eye so her father had charged him with keeping watch over the small princess. Chaldee had never used him as a bodyguard for Robar had always taken that role, but right now she needed support and she knew Patch would give his life for her. “You two,” she commanded the other soldiers. “Guard this entrance well. Do not let anybody pass until I return.”
As she was speaking, Chaldee noticed that Aegeus was finding movement very painful. The leg must be torturous yet he did not complain. His resolute strength pleased her for she suspected she might need his help in the future.
Once the soldiers were posted Chaldee took a tiny carrying-light from her bag, then turned to the others.
“We must enter this place unseen. Make no noise and show no fear. It will be regretful if we arouse the Shadows.”
As she entered the olive-grey light of the caves Chaldee shuddered. This was the first time she had ever been in this dark, subterranean domain. She knew the Shadows tracked their prey via the vibration of fear and as she struggled with her feelings she wondered how much Aegeus knew about these dreaded elementals - though she was disinclined to warn him in case it added to his fright.
The walls of the tunnel were slimy and the dank smell of rotting earth cut across their breathing causing all movement to slow considerably. The soft beam from their lights showed the way, nevertheless the ground was rough enough for Aegeus to struggle with his footing. Chaldee had no idea such dark, forbidding places existed in her kingdom but the challenge pulled her mind from her fears.
Eventually, as they came to an intersection, she turned to Patch. “Which way do you suggest?”
The soldier indicated the wider tunnel and without being asked he took the lead. Aegeus hobbled along in the rear, dropping further and further behind as the passageway plunged deeper. Little rivulets of water channeled muddy furrows in the clay floor forcing Chaldee to occasionally grip Patch’s shoulder to keep from falling.
“Aegeus…are you alright?” She shone the light back along the route they had covered but could not see him. “We must wait for him Patch,” she whispered.
“You wait, Madame. I will go forward. There must be an ending to this cursed place!”
Chaldee nodded, but watched nervously as the soldier’s hulking shape disappeared into the gloom. She waited another moment then decided to turn back to find the crippled mathematician. It was much harder climbing the tunnel but she managed to retrace her steps to the place where the two passages merged. She was sure Aegeus had been close behind when they took the wider route but now there was no sign of him. Again she forced her attention away from the dark waves of terror threatening to swamp her.
“Aegeus…where are you?”
Standing in the dank emptiness all Chaldee could hear was a steady drip coming from the tunnel roof. There was no hint of Aegeus’s presence. She reached out with her mind, trying to make contact but could feel nothing. She had not heard the Shadows’ howl and she knew they always made a terrible sound before they attacked so she was sure they had not found him.
How could he have vanished?
In despair she retraced her footsteps down the slimy walkway. She was quite alone now. The silence and the heavy darkness were beginning to grab at her. Fear snapped at her heart and she imagined that any moment she would be overtaken by the monstrous Demons. She paused, breathing deeply, remembering the way Robar taught her to visualize a white wall in bright light. This emptied her mind allowing her to focus on an inner stillness. The fear dissipated but her concern for Robar magnified. In any dangerous situation he had always been close, always caring for her, but now she was alone and he was dying.
Chaldee moved on; her thoughts firmly fixed on finding her friend. Suddenly she slipped, falling heavily against the slimy rock-face. “Oh! No!” A spike of pain jagged her side and for a moment she was unable to breathe. Forlornly she sat on the muddy floor, rubbing at the pain. This was worse than any nightmare. To feel such horror, to be so trapped, yet to have to suppress all fear; in her entire life she had never experienced such a thing! She wished Patch would come back. How could she have lost both her companions? For one dreadful moment Chaldee almost gave in to panic then she remembered Rod’s courage. Indeed suddenly she could almost feel his presence. Rod had been trapped in a similar subterranean horror. As Chaldee remembered, her mind quietened and she made a silent promise not fail him. Breathing deeply she struggled to her feet feeling her way forward, being much more careful now, thankful that her carrying-light was picking out the worse of the slippery ground. Then as she rounded a bend she saw a smudge of light. It appeared as a liverish glow floating in the darkness. Surely this must be the end of the tunnel. Eagerly she slid down the last part of the muddy slope to where a natural fissure splitting an enormous boulder formed the pillars of a doorway into a cave.
Chaldee stopped in wonder. She was standing at the gateway of a huge, shadowy cavern. A slight warmth wafted around her and she realised the glow at the far end of the cave was coming from a large, welcoming fire.
Cautiously she moved forward. The place was enormous but it was the soaring height that drew her attention. She looked up into the flickering light, marveling at the geometry of this towering space. It angled up into a natural peak allowing shafts of light to touch the high walls. The space was an acoustic marvel, allowing the slightest sound to resonate through the fullness of the cavern. Even her own breathing was being amplified.
“We have been waiting, Mistress Chaldee.” The words reverberated around the cave.
Chaldee drew back into the passage. What stranger was speaking? Who knew her name? Easing around the pillar in an effort to remain hidden, she stared into the red gloom, trying to get a fix on where the voice was coming from then she saw Patch kneeling beside a dark shape covered by rugs, and her heart quickened.
Was that Robar?
Hesitantly she took a step inside as Patch stood up.
“Madame, Robar is very ill!”
“He will not die yet.” Again the strange voice cut through the cavern and although the words were softly spoken they reached every part of the cave.
Both she and Patch stood motionless. She could tell that the voice had also puzzled the old soldier; then Chaldee saw a quivering movement at the back of the cave. This strange lilting voice must belong to the bent figure, dressed in wine coloured robes mysteriously appearing from behind the glow of the fire.
“But you must follow our instructions,” the cloaked figure continued.
Chaldee gaze narrowed as she realised this must be the mysterious Oracle Aegeus had reported.
As he came closer she saw that even though the Oracle was bent and old he was larger than any man she had ever seen; taller even than Robar, who had always been considered large for an ape-man. The newcomer’s grey beard was trimmed short, and his long, white hair was neatly tied at the back by a knot of leather.
Chaldee stood to her full height as he approached, determined not to be intimidated, speaking in the most haughty tone she could manage: “And what instructions might they be sir?”
“Your personal guard is very ill. He needs revitalizing. The change in the forest’s atmosphere has drained his vital life forces.”
“Oh! No!” Chaldee knelt on the rugs beside Robar as the ape-man moved a massive, hairy, arm in an effort to acknowledge his mistress; but in failure, he groaned and turned his head away.
“You say he has lost all energy?
The Oracle bent over them, the hem of his cloak brushing her shoes. For a moment he paused, peering closely at the ape-man. “The changes taking place in your kingdom have done far more than just weaken your body-guard. They have opened up your kingdom to energies that this land has not known for thousands of years. The forest is changing…is drying out. Quite a few of your subjects have already been affected. Also this energy has caused the Shadows to dissipate which means this important cave system can be used once more.”
“What?” Chaldee stood up excitedly. “Have the Shadows vanished?”
“The Shadows were a type of energetic weapon developed by your ancestors Chaldee, but because of the changes taking place in your kingdom now this weapon has dissolved. It is giving you and your people the opportunity to use this powerful and sacred place.”
Chaldee was dazed. The Shadows were no longer a threat, but now she was being told that not only Robar but many others were suffering because of the re-alignment. As well as this she had not missed the reference to the special powers in this cave. She had already felt its magical qualities and she was sure this was what the Oracle was referring to. She shook her head, trying to sort through her thoughts, knowing that it was her people who were her prime concern right now.
“You say others have become ill?”
“It is because of the alteration in frequencies. Most of your subjects are experiencing the change,” the Oracle continued. “Know that everything is connected my child, so these changes must affect everybody. The brain patterns of your people have had to alter slightly in order to deal with these new energies. In some cases the adjustments will cause an imbalance which you must address quickly. The Ancient Ones understood what they were doing and there are solutions in the parchments Aegeus gave you.”
“You know about Aegeus?”
“The Keeper of Scientific Knowledge…aye… those parchments are of great interest to everyone - Earthlings included.”
Chaldee clutched at her bag, suddenly feeling the need to protect the documents. “So where is Aegeus now? I assume you have him.”
“The tunnel was too difficult for him. He suffers but he is safe. We will adjust the entrance to these caves immediately so it is easier for your people to traverse.”
Vainly Chaldee tried not to be overcome by this welter of information. She turned back to Robar. “How do we heal my dear friend?”
“In our attempt to keep Robar attached to this realm our supply of elixir is almost exhausted, but we know of an Earthling scientist who is creating a similar monoatomic material. For many reasons it is urgent to make contact with this man of science. He needs to return here with you to finalize his developments.”
“An Earthling? Do you mean humans have medicine that can help?”
“This particular human has knowledge that is extremely important to all life dwelling on this planet. Aegeus will help the Earthling finish his task.” The Oracle paused thoughtfully then reached out, taking both of her hands in his long, bony fingers. “There is so much for you assimilate my child. This period in the Earth’s history will be a difficult time for all of us! Our council has discussed this and it is agreed that the burden is too much for one so young.” He smiled into her eyes. “So I have arranged for you to receive some powerful assistance.”
Chaldee stared at the Oracle, unable to steak.
“Come.” He drew her nearer the fire. “Sit…there is much you need to know.”
Chaldee did as she was asked, sitting on a stone bench in front of the fire.
“Chaldee…there are four impending events which will entwine your history with that of the Earthlings.” As he spoke the Oracle held up one hand, wiggling thin finger as he began to mark them off. “First there is the need to bring the Earthling scientist here so he can complete the fabrication of his material. At present the production of this powder is at risk for within his society for there are dark forces working against him. He is creating a source of free energy which will save both his people and your people so it is imperative that you go out into the world of the humans and convince this man to return with you. Your intervention will save his life, but in turn, he will be of great help to you.” The Oracle paused again and looked across at Chaldee “The natural progression of creative life continues.”
“How is this Earthling in danger?” Chaldee ignored the Oracle’s gentle wisdom, frowning as she tried to understand what she was being told. “You say it is from his own kind?”
“Exactly… but then you are already aware of the destructive nature of the Earthling power structure. Often they obstruct their very best people because they have an investment in dominance and control. Also many humans fear the threat of change… no matter the level of inventive brilliance.”
“I do not care about the politics of the Earthlings. Indeed! I am confounded by what you are suggesting - that one of them might be able to help us!”
“You sound doubtful Chaldee. Perhaps it is hard to believe but human knowledge has expanded enormously during this last century. Their technological development has been rapid - which is part of the problem. Also there is much that needs be saved before these earth-changes obliterate a large percentage of their present civilisation!”
Chaldee was not overly concerned by the loss of another human civilisation. Her father’s private writings had named at least seven such human systems which had disappeared due their war-mongering, their human frailty, and the volatility of the Blue Planet itself. “The Earthlings will rise again. They always do,” Chaldee said laconically.
“Ah…you are cynical my child…but as I say…we must consider all events.” He wiggled a finger at her. “The second event we must consider is the global upheaval you have so brusquely thrust aside. This devastation will threaten many lands. Millions of Earthlings will perish, so we must assist… which brings me to the third event. In the past when humans have been threatened with extinction your people have tried to help.”
Chaldee began to protest, for she knew her history well. Her ancestors had never ventured out of the forest.
“Not from here…no…this community has done little to support human survival, but there are other communities of your kind, living in other parts of this planet, hidden almost as well as your people. It is they who have been instrumental in helping the Earthlings right up to this present time. They have managed to delay the forthcoming chaos hoping that Human awareness would accelerate.”
“Really?” Chaldee straightened; her eyes bright with interest. She had heard rumours of a fabled community living somewhere in lands across the sea. “And have these mysterious people been able to create a human miracle?”
“Ah…Chaldee….your sarcasm is a waste. You need to understand about your own people as well as the Earthlings.” The Oracle smiled sadly. “The whole planet needs guidance! One of your leaders - his name is Deucallus - has already begun to offer assistance. He will make contact with you soon.”
“I am sorry your eminence.” Chaldee bowed her head knowing she had been chastised. “I would be honoured if this leader came here….will he?”
“That I do not know. I have simply sent messages asking on your behalf.”
“On my behalf!” Chaldee sat in stunned silence.
The Oracle lowered his tone: “Chaldee, I must make your aware of the fourth event - the most fearful of all.”
“What do…” Her question halted mid sentence although Chaldee was not aware she had stopped speaking. The gravity of his tone was too terrifying to comprehend.
“I suspect you already understand…about this imminent threat to your kingdom Chaldee.”
Numb, almost in despair, she shook her head slowly back and forth, trying to avoid listening to words that confirmed her worst fears. “Do you mean from the Earthlings?”
“Only in part child….the humans will attack your kingdom, but there is an even greater threat forecast in those scrolls you have yet to read. Your people need to be warned that Nature too is about to cause havoc. Ancient tides will return, covering this land. Your people will be forced from the forest. They will need to rise up to form a new kingdom for this State will be doomed.
But Chaldee did not hear the second part of the warning. Her mind was gripped by the knowledge that there would be a war. “You think the Earthlings might attack…with their air machines?” She had feared it would come to this. From the moment she had spied the humans lining the ridge at the waterfall after the rock slide, looking down into her world, she knew they would lay claim to her kingdom. “But why? I do not understand why the re-alignment was necessary in the first place! Why did Rod have to die to open us up to such devastation?”
“Your people can no longer remain in isolation for your numbers are so depleted they have reached a critical low. My child, this tiny kingdom is on the brink of extinction. It is for this reason that your people have been forced to unite with the world beyond. Unification is as much for your people’s survival as it is for the Earthlings’. These are grave times Chaldee.”
“But it makes no sense to place my people in such jeopardy, not if the planet is about to go through another upheaval.”
The Oracle crossed to her, once again taking her hands in his. “It is about unification Chaldee. At the deepest level of consciousness we are all connected, meaning in truth there is no distinction of race. The coming events will reveal your need for each other. As disaster strikes, destiny will entwine you all.”
Chaldee looked up into his face and saw his kindly concern. “If only I could understand.” She gripped his hands suddenly feeling that the weight of her rule was too heavy to bear.
“You are strong my child…and remember… you will not have to do this alone. There will be many people who will assist you.” He let her go and stepped back. “Go! Be with Robar…he also needs you.”
Instantly Chaldee’s attention returned to her sick body guard. Hurrying across the cave she knelt beside him, gently taking his large paw in her two hands, willing the healing energy of the cave to flow into him. He stirred and looked at her through blinded eyes.
“You must get well Robar… if not for yourself, then for me.”
He seemed to nod but Chaldee could feel their contact slipping.
“I cannot help him can I?” She looked up, but the Oracle had gone. Although beings such as the Oracle shifted across dimensions at will, Chaldee found it disconcerting to know that somebody so important could simply slip away from her.
Patch, who had been standing a little way from them, stepped forward. “It was like a breeze flowing unseen through the forest, Madame. One minute he was with you, next he faded to nothing!”
“Remarkable.” Chaldee could not help being awed. Standing she said: “Patch, I need to speak with Aegeus. It is urgent! Search this place thoroughly, and do not worry about the Shadows. Apparently we have nothing to fear from them now.”
The soldier obeyed and Chaldee returned to her vigil.
Although she could not help Robar, at least she could stay with him.
She sat quietly, pondering all that the Oracle had said. How would she be able to find the Earthling scientist? If his knowledge was so advanced then perhaps there were also other technologies that could be of help in this coming crisis. Perhaps if she offered this Earthling the scientific documents that Aegeus’s family has guarded for so long he might be able to help restore many ancient skills that had been lost to her people. Of course if she could get cooperation from her unknown compatriot, Deucallus, it would be more than astounding, it would be bliss. To talk to somebody of her own race who had the strength to support her. What more could she ask for.
After some time Patch returned carrying Aegeus’s worn sandals.
“I found these in a small cave behind the fire Madame. But there is no sign of the scientist.
Chaldee was puzzled, but she no longer felt concern for the cripple. The Oracle had intervened in order to help so she was sure Aegeus was safe.
Slowly she got to her feet.
“Patch, return to the palace and inform the Master Speaker of my welfare but do not mention the Oracle. Just tell him that I am with Robar who cannot be moved and that the Shadows have been eliminated. We will need a constant watch over Robar. The two soldiers guarding the entrance will stay until the Master Speaker rosters their relief. It is imperative that he organize this quickly. When you are done and rested you can come back and guide me through the tunnels. I will wait with Robar until you return.”
“But mistress…you cannot stay here alone.”
Chaldee smiled slightly. “I doubt if I am alone. I am sure the Oracle is somewhere close.”
“Yes, Madame.” Patch bowed low before Chaldee and without another word he left the cavern.
After he had gone Chaldee fell into a strange reverie. She had seldom experienced such isolation. Usually there was someone within call. But here in the bowels of the earth she felt a fluttering of emotion that was new. To be so alone drew her attention to her inner ‘Self’. It felt easier to pay attention to this hidden identity in this sanctuary of quietness. Indeed she felt an element of excitement for solitude allowed her to make contact with parts of her being usually hindered by the movement of those around her. She found the soaring energy of this place very pleasant indeed.

* * * * * *

Chaldee had been sitting quietly with Robar for a long time when slowly she became aware that the Oracle had returned.
“I see that you do have wisdom for one so young Chaldee. You will serve your people well,” he said kindly.
Chaldee said nothing, waiting for his next pronouncement. Already she knew he was someone who did not engage in idle chatter.
“We must speak further of the scrolls you have been seeking.”
“But they are missing!”
“No child. You have them with you.”
“I? Oh no!” she contradicted him. “I have searched the entire palace for those documents. I know nothing of their whereabouts.”
“They were hidden because of their importance, for if either you or that young Earthling Rod had managed to read them you would have realized he had to die to complete his task.” The Oracle paused as she began to grasp his meaning.
“You mean I may have tried to prevent it?” Chaldee whispered as she stared down at her clasped hands. It all began to make sense. The knowledge of the sky map Dr Gordon Oaken had found in the cave system and the methods Rod must have discovered to trigger the ancient mechanism reverting the Hidden Realm back into alignment with the rest of the planet, would have unnerved them both; although she suspected Rod would have gone ahead with the plan anyway.
“Yes,” the Oracle said as he read her thoughts. “Rod would have tried, but you may have stopped him, thereby endangering the entire process. The risk was too great so the scrolls were hidden within the scientific documents that Aegeus’s family protected.”
Chaldee drew a fervent breath as she clutched at her bag containing the scientific documents Aegeus had given her.
“You mean they are with me now?” Chaldee was breathless. “The wonder of it…after all this time…I did not realise they had been returned!” She opened her bag and fingered the silken wrapping. “To have them here at long last… seems miraculous!”
The Oracle smiled at the shine in Chaldee’s eyes. “Unfortunately Chaldee, most of what is in there is now part of history.”
Chaldee cocked her head on one side. “Nevertheless I need to fully understand what took place as we opened up our kingdom to the rest of the world.”
The Oracle nodded his agreement.
“So Sir…. tell me about the Nature Spirit. Would Cypher have known of Rod’s sacrifice?”
“Ah, my dear friend Cypher. She was Rod’s guardian. Yes. She knew. It is why she could not help you more.” The Oracle paused then said softly: “Chaldee, it is important for you to understand that Cypher came to Rod in the last seconds of his life. Be assured child, Rod did not die alone. He was not afraid. He felt no pain for he moved out of his physical form as it was crushed. Cypher helped Rod return to the other side where his father met him. It was not a tragedy Chaldee. Rod was joyful knowing his task was complete.”
Chaldee held her breath, remembering that terrible moment when the land shuddered and the entire rock-face came crashing to the floor of the forest. At the time she was engulfed by horror as she realized Rod was being crushed to death as she watched.
She dropped her face into her hands as the tragedy replayed in her mind.
“You need to understand, Chaldee, the Nature Spirit was there. Cypher helped Rod slip away from his physical body and return to the realm on the other side of consciousness. Death is never a torment child but for Rod it was a celebration. It was his real victory.”
Chaldee lifted her face, tears trickling down her cheeks. “There is much I do not fully understand about death and these other realms of which you speak but I miss Rod. I cannot help but feel pain when I remember how he died.”
“There will be more to learn during these coming months but take heed, any sadness eating at your emotions may one day distort important decisions. It is why it would be beneficial to accept what I am saying. Cypher was there when Rod’s life in this dimension ended - and he did not suffer!”
Mentally Chaldee drew herself together staring up into the concerned eyes of the Oracle. His words, although a little overbearing, helped. It was a relief to know that Rod was safe.
“I know you have not read the documents yet, but those scrolls in your possession predict that you must enter the world of the humans.”
As he spoke Chaldee’s attention returned to the wad of documents she had begun to unwrap. There tucked between large sheets of parchment were two sealed scrolls.
“It is necessary for you to find the Earthling scientist who is manufacturing the special powder,” he continued. “It will alter events in the world of the humans and in your own kingdom. He is very important to the overall plan. The latticework of energy he has rediscovered is a sacred material. Of course the Earthling does not fully understand this yet.”
Chaldee was not completely listening, for as she stared down at the priceless scrolls she knew here she would find the information she and Rod had needed so desperately. They had risked everything looking for these predictions yet Aegeus had simply handed them to her unannounced. “I am overwhelmed,” she whispered. “We looked everywhere.”
“As I said, you were not meant to have them until now.”
Chaldee nodded.
“Compare them with the scientific data Aegeus has also given you. This will prepare you for your journey into the outside world.”
“But how will I find this man you speak of?”
“I will intervene if necessary but remember to look inside yourself for guidance, often this solves the problem at hand. The Earthling you seek is entering a secret war he does not understand. He is an elderly scientist who has made many important discoveries. They can be fully developed here, in these sacred caves. This place will serve as a protective vault if you are attacked or when the earth changes begin to obliterate the land.”
The Oracle paused, looking down at Chaldee with kindly smile.
“Sir! I am not sure if I can do what you are asking of me.”
“I am not asking Chaldee. This is you destiny. Do you understand?”
Chaldee nodded dubiously.
“The old scientist you seek is with friends and they too are also in danger, but I believe your compatriot, Deucallus, has already made contact with them. He will help you immensely. Do not fret, you will have all the support you need to carry out this important task.” The Oracle smiled kindly, and moved back to the fire. “These are times of great trial and great triumph for everybody on this blue planet. You need to understand your role.”
The Oracle paused, watching her for a long breath. When he spoke again his voice was a command: “Come over here Chaldee.”
Tenderly Chaldee stroked Robar’s paw before carefully replacing the scrolls in her bag and following the Oracle to the bench in front of the fire.
“Sit….and listen carefully, for you need to know your own history.”
Chaldee did as instructed and there was another silence.
Then the Oracle began: “The scrolls have been kept secret since they were transcribed thousands of years ago. At that time your forefathers knew that the Sun would soon lead her planets across a very volatile section of the Milky Way. The build up since that time has been slow, but the effect of this movement is now causing turmoil throughout the solar system. Not only has the Earth begun to enter a time of change, but Venus is brighter and the x-rays from Saturn’s equator have increased. The polar icecaps on Mars are shrinking and there are deep internal surges causing Jupiter and Uranus to appear much brighter than in the past. Indeed, everywhere in this Sun’s planetary system, atmospheric pressure is causing change.”
“Are you saying that what is happening here on the blue planet is part of an overall change?”
“Yes. It is cyclic. In a period after these present earth changes there will be another ice age then again a massive flooding as the planet’s crust moves and the ice shifts. Such movement is constant. The planets are always in flux and although Earthling consciousness is involved in speeding up time right now, by their refusal to accept the damage they have done to the planet’s atmosphere, the mammoth changes now taking place here are worse than they should be. Their time will run out sooner. All over the solar system it has always been thus. The sun is a powerful ruler but beyond this solar system other more powerful influences rein. These changes are outlined in the scrolls. In them you will find a warning, predicting the forest will eventually be under water. Meaning somewhere in future your people will be forced to move further inland.
” Leave the forest?” Chaldee whispered.
“Eventually water will cover much of your Kingdom child.”
Chaldee stared in horror. This had been her people’s home for aeons of time. “But my people have lived through many other great planetary upheavals. Those terrible times when natural disaster decimated Earthling societies, when floods washed away civilisations…those events were always a world away from us! We survived even when ice covered much of the world’s surface. Indeed I have been told that some of those disasters still dominate the humans’ racial memory, yet we always remained unscathed.”
“Not this time. Your elders knew of these coming events. They knew that this time, heat, water, and ice would alter Earth’s landmass in a way that has not happened since the last great extinction. This island continent you live on is old land and has survived much turmoil. It will remain safe but your people will eventually have to move inland. That is why you should not stress too greatly if the humans decide to invade the kingdom. The changes beginning to take shape now will alter your perception of life forever.”
“Are you saying that one day my people will live along side the Earthlings?”
The Oracle smiled at her tone of outrage “Those who are left - yes. In future times your people will help the Earthlings rebuild in the desert environment that once was an inland-sea. Earthlings call the land in this ancient epoch, the land of Mu. In the future this area will make a beautiful home.” He leaned forward and patted her hand. “But it is far in the future child. The imminent present is what must concern you now.”
“I find most of what you say very hard to accept!”
“When you get back to the palace read the scrolls. It may take a little time for you to absorb the details, but you will find there is much that has to be done to keep your people safe. The weight will be heavy, but we on the other side will help as much as we dare; although we cannot interfere with your plan, or the overall plan of your people.”
Chaldee rested her chin of her knees, staring thoughtfully into the fire. As the Oracle said, there was much to ponder.
“I feel I have imparted as much as I dare, Chaldee. Have you any questions?”
“You say my people may become ill? I have not seen anything as extreme as you indicate.”
“Unless we can use the powder some will die. Soon your people will experience their first wet season. It can be remarkably hot in this region. Many will suffer.”
Chaldee turned her attention back to Robar “Are you sure this powder will help him? Will you promise that if I venture into the Earthling’s domain my people will benefit?”
The Oracle’s face crinkled into a smile. “We do not bargain child. What has to be done will be done.”
Quietly Chaldee crept back to Robar. She could barely see any movement under the heavy blankets and fear rose unchecked in her throat. For a brief moment she felt faint. “He must not die!” she whispered to herself. “He must not!”
“Chaldee, within hours Earthlings will return to your kingdom searching for Rod and his father. They will not cause much trouble but look for one amongst them who knows of the old scientist. Make contact and this will help your search for him.” As he spoke the Oracle moved across to where she stood, and for a moment they stared silently at the ape-man.
“You say his magic might save Robar.”
“Perhaps….but there is more at stake here than Robar my child. There is a great need for speed. This scientist is under review by a type of human security that does not exist here. They must not capture him or your plans will be in jeopardy.” The Oracle paused then took her hand. “I cannot interfere in your affairs any further child.”
Chaldee bowed her head. “I understand.”
With a gentle hand the Oracle lifted her head. “This is in your Plan …you have strength. You will prevail.”
Chaldee stared into the flecks of light in his eyes, feeling his power. New strength seemed to charge through her and she straightened. He was right. She would not be daunted; she would do what had to be done.
Chapter 9

 

If anyone had told either Paul or Professor Egeland that soon they would be contacted by an alien culture they would have laughed. Indeed as they stood in front of the Professor’s house, draped in the shadows of early evening, waiting for the van to come to a halt, Paul was simply pleased to see his friends - there was no hint of the turmoil that lay ahead..
Paul had been waiting for his friends to arrive in Broken Hill for nearly two days yet in that time Professor Egeland had never mentioned his hidden laboratory. When Paul asked outright about the work the old man said he would give everyone a demonstration of his discovery once Martin and Jake arrived.
Now they were here and amid the chortle of jokes and complaints Paul was relieved to be at last introducing the professor to the two men he most trusted.
“Jake’s the group’s handyman.” Paul slapped a friendly hand on Jake’s shoulder. “He can do anything.”
“Except open this!” Jake grumbled.
They looked on with wry amusement as he struggled with the rear door of the old van.
Jake was still in his early twenties. Seemingly awkward - as large men often are - yet able to tackle anything practical. Always working efficiently and always working alone. He had a broad, tanned face, a terse smile, and a shock of brown curly hair which he hardly ever cut even though it was always in his eyes. He had been with Paul and Martin at university, but academia had not been his style and after a hostile eighteen months where he argued vehemently about the global crisis with nearly every person on campus, including all of his lecturers, Jake opted to drop out. He quit law in favour of becoming a handy man because this little business gave him enough time to concentrate on his passion - harnessing radiant energy.
“This is my second in command, Martin.” Paul explained as the professor shook his friend’s hand. “We all met at university,” Paul went on. “I was almost finished environmental law when both these idiots decided to drop out of their studies.”
Martin laughed along with Paul. “They were hairy days alright!” He was smaller than Paul, dark haired, with a swarthy face which emphasized the sharp blueness of his eyes. “But Paul made his point and made me stay on.”
“Jake didn’t though!”
“Didn’t have to mate,” Jake interrupted. “I knew I’d learn more on the outside than I ever would in that place.” He grunted jubilantly as he yanked the door open. “Here …come and get some of this gear.”
“No! Please…leave everything!” The professor said hurriedly. “I have food you can pack…and some of my work… but I want to head out to my workshop straight away… before it gets too dark.”
“Great!” Paul was pleased. He did not regret the demands the professor was making and now that Jake and Martin were here he felt the urgency to get moving. He grinned at them and slapped Martin on the back. “It’s good you’re here.”
Having his friends with him made Paul’s tiny unit feel complete. Their cell was formed during their first year of university. Paul and Jake had already become involved with Bess’s movement in Tasmania when they met Martin, and it seemed natural that he should join them. Paul had always been the leader, with Martin backing him and Jake doing the practical work. Occasionally they would call on other members of the network but mainly these three worked together.
It had been Bess’s philosophy that her organization should cause as much damage as possible to all sections of the corporate world without hurting ordinary people. This was almost impossible because the finances of the average man were so tightly meshed with the banks and corporations. To bring the whole financial system down would cause incredible hardship so all they could do was nip at the edges. Then when Bess died Paul’s disillusion exploded into a full depression. They were getting nowhere because nothing was working. He had lost all direction. It was so palpable he felt it right through to his bones; his struggle towards a fair and balanced world was losing all meaning. Oddly enough, when he opened up and talked about it to Martin, he found that this time it was Martin who prevented him from quitting.
Paul had a feeling of anticipation as he loaded the boxes into the back of the Professor’s old Land Rover. If this old guy could produce something that threatened the iron grip of the multinationals then they would be back in the battle. Things might change!
As they finished loading, Professor Egeland came out of the house with a few cans of cold beer. “We will be traveling almost two hours gentlemen, so this might help.”
Grinning they took a stubby each and as Jake climbed back into his van, he threw the keys to Paul. “You drive…Martin can ride in the back for a change!”
“Ah…maybe Paul…ah…could drive me.” The professor sounded tentative. “My eyes are not so good in this half light …anyway I have much I need to talk to him about.”
Paul noticed how Martin stood flat-footed, hands on hips, staring at the professor in a strange, silent protest; then with a petulant shrug his friend turned his back on them and marched across to the Jake’s van leaving Paul wondering what that little show of anger was all about.
Dismissing it as the result of Martin’s long journey from Sydney, Paul handed the keys back to Jake then swung up into the Land Rover. He knew the old man was nervous about taking them out to his hideout but Paul was unaware of the old scientist’s look of concern as he stared after Martin.
The convoy moved off, threading its way toward the highway.
“So professor…where exactly are we going?’
“Turn right…soon you will know.”
Paul did as instructed. He understood how cautious the professor needed to be if they were going to avoid being tracked. When he had told Jake and Martin about the incident in the pub on that first day, Jake immediately assumed they were being monitored, but Paul was not so sure. He was aware of the sophistication of the satellite tracking devices and techniques that could photograph and record body heat and sound as well as image but in the two days since he had arrived nothing had aroused his suspicions. He hoped Jake was wrong, that this time they would remain safe, nevertheless as part of their normal routine he and Jake had checked both vehicles but had found no electronic devices.
* * * * * *
Martin was irritated. He had planned to ride with Professor England because he wanted more information from the old man. Still, it would be too risky to push things at this stage, especially as he was aware that the old man did not seem to like him. Martin had no idea why, or what he had done in such a brief time, but the Professor was really on edge. Be safer to keep a low profile. Animal instinct told him to hold still and just watch his prey - so Martin settled in beside Jake hoping that his mobile phone was giving a good signal. Roccia had a crack army surveillance team tracking them, meaning until they reached wherever the old guy was taking them he had very little to do. Still, he was not in the mood to talk, especially not to Jake.
Watching carefully as they headed out of town Martin had made a note of their direction. The light of early evening spun across the land turning it to a carpet of glowing ochre but being city born this open country did not appeal, anyway the trip was not about sight-seeing.
Martin felt vaguely uncomfortable about Paul. Their friendship had served him well and he knew Paul had no inkling of his real job - his undercover work. It would be a shock if the poor guy ever discovered the deception. In fact it was ironic to realise that death would save Paul the pain of learning he’d been betrayed. Martin took a sharp breath, hoping it would not come to this. Death was an ugly part of the job.
Knowing how easily emotion could confuse the mind, Martin switched his focus back to the professor. He was hoping that stock of the material the old man had produced was stored at the hideout, along with the old guy’s computer. That data was vital because the Roccia needed to know what the scientist intended to do with the powder, how it could be used, as well as all the professor’s research notes.
Shifting in his seat, Martin was unable to stop himself pulling out the mobile phone. He needed the reassurance that it was still operating; so much depended on this signal getting through. ‘Surveillance’ would be tracking them, waiting to identify the location as soon as they stopped. Nothing must go wrong!
He glanced across at Jake as he slipped the phone back into his jacket but thankfully Jake was intent on driving. Closing his eyes, Martin allowed himself to drift into a pleasant half sleep. He had no guilt, no remorse. He was a trained professional, almost at the end of a long assignment and it was a good feeling to know he was on top of things.
* * * * * *
Jake dropped back a good half kilometre behind the Land Rover because he didn’t want things to look suspicious or out of place. This was lonely country and two vehicles travelling in tandem might draw unwanted attention.
He tried talking to Martin about what the professor might be doing; whether it related to his own work with radiant energy but Martin seemed to be dozing so Jake floated into his own reverie of hyperdimensional realities, dreaming of the energy revolution he intended to instigate. It was what they had been struggling with for years; one of Bess’s most ardent visions was to have free, clean, constant energy, affordable right across the planet. It seemed from the little he could glean, this was what the professor was on about too causing Jake to wonder how the old man had managed to keep everything safe. The industrial/militaristic powers normally did not allow this type of research to reach such an advanced level of development so Jake wondered how Egeland had managed it?
This thought drew his attention back to the present. “The cops must know we are here Martin.” Jake glanced at his sleeping friend and saw one eye open. “Paul said the old guy was sure he was being followed…so why is it all so easy? I mean… where are the goons?”
“Jake, your paranoia drives me nuts!”
“Yeah…well they must know about the old man, so why hasn’t he been stopped?”
Martin did not answer and there was another lengthy break in conversation.
Jake glared at Martin’s closed eyes knowing it was a sham. The bloke hardly ever slept on an op. and with so much at stake he wouldn’t be sleeping now. So Jake drove on in sullen silence listening to the pounding wheels thinking back over the period he had known Martin.
They weren’t close. Martin had always stuck with Paul and that was fine by him, because the guy made him feel slightly uneasy. What were Martin’s motives for being in the group? The man did not seem to care anything about the environment. He did not even seem to want a more peaceful world! Sure, the bloke was a brilliant tactician. Jake did not question his ability. Martin was cool in a crisis, quick thinking and a real asset when planning an operation, nevertheless Jake had always kept his distance, unsure of the other’s loyalty and motives.
As always when his mind touched on the question of loyalty his thoughts tracked back to the night Bess had died. He was supposed to drive her to that meeting but he suddenly became ill. At the time he thought it was something he ate because the stomach spasms were agony. They had rushed him to hospital, which meant he was unable to drive Bess. That’s when Martin showed up offering to take her to the meeting. Because he had been in so much pain he had not been thinking clearly. He told Martin the route but for some reason that Jake could never uncover, Bess had driven herself that night and some maniac had forced her off the road. She died at the crash site while he was still in the hospitals’ emergency ward so he wasn’t even there to help!
Had Bess died because of him…or was it Martin? How many times had he gone over this, yet he didn’t have the courage to speak to anyone about his suspicions; how could he? It meant accusing Martin of something so hideous it was almost impossible to consider, so in a stupid act of self reproach Jake resorted to blaming himself. Bess was dead, nothing could change that.
Jake tried to stop his thoughts by staring out at a tear-blurred landscape but he couldn’t, his mind was a vortex of whirling guilt. Was this fixation some sort of madness brought on by shame? Everything inside him wanted to scream denial, meaning that his obsession was really the result of a heavy, ugly, suspicion of Martin - outrageous as the implications were! The guy had never given him a good reason as to why Bess had driven herself that night. She had had many death threats which was why they always protected her, why he was going to drive her that night. Martin knew this!
Jake shook his head violently trying to escape his nightmarish ponderings. The implications were too shocking. The alternative was too difficult to accept, yet as he looked across the cab at the dark head lolling against the seat his stomach lurched. Intuitively Jake knew he was right to suspect Martin.
* * * * * *
It was dark when Professor Egeland told Paul to slow down. “Yes…I’m sure it is here,” he muttered as he searched for the turn-off.
Paul peered down along the headlights. He could just make-out a small track going off to their right. “Goats could hardly find this one Professor Egeland,” he teased as he swung the old Land rover across the highway.
Behind them the van had almost slowed to a stop and as it veered across the highway Paul could see wisps of steam hissing from its radiator.
“Is it much further? I doubt if Jake’s van will make it along this track?”
“We’re almost there…this leads into the mine.”
The lights of both vehicles picked out the faint outline of an old track winding through the scrub and although it was dark Paul could a high ridge of rock ahead. Also he could see outlines of the mounds of slag-heaps dotted everywhere. The professor had chosen well. This mine was really well hidden.
As they rolled through the old gates into a large compound Paul whistled. “This is impressive!”
The professor smiled. “It is a good…yes?” He touched Paul’s sleeve. “Take the car into the tunnel. We’ll park inside for tonight.”
* * * * * *
Behind them, the first sight of the mine also impressed Martin
“A disused mine!” He was suddenly wide awake leaning forward with interest watching carefully as the vehicle bumped around a large outcrop of rock and through a dilapidated gateway, noting that the ancient hinges were only able to hold one gate upright.
“Must have been a big operation in its day,” Jake commented as he followed the Professor’s vehicle along the narrow gauge railway track and in through the tunnel entrance.
Suddenly both vehicles were tucked inside a mountain of earth locked between roughly hewn walls with barely room to open the doors.
Worriedly Martin wriggled the mobile phone inside his jacket. Roccia had not planned on him being inside a mine shaft and he knew without a doubt that in here the signal would be blocked. His mind was racing but he could not see a way around the problem. The others had gathered in front of the professor’s car so reluctantly Martin joined them.
“We can bunk over there tonight.” The professor swung his heavy torch towards a set of dirty offices, built into the wall-face a little further into the tunnel. “I’ll get some food.”

* * * * * *
As they sat in the dilapidated shack eating a plain meal of cold meat and salad Paul wondered when the professor would begin to speak about his work.
“So now we are here can we know something about what you are doing Professor Egeland?”
“Soon…soon… when I demonstrate the results of my study I am sure you will want to help. Nothing I have found is new - so really I am building onto unique knowledge that has been known since ancient times. I suspect that in the past this material was considered magical, perhaps used in religious ceremonies.”
“Not the Philosopher’s Stone.” Martin sounded sceptical.
This irritated Paul. Usually he valued Martin’s opinion but right now he wanted his friend to shut up. The professor had taken so long to begin to talk the last thing needed at this point was sarcasm.
“Well perhaps that’s what it resembles…yes.”
The professor was met with a sudden, hard, silence. His comment was untenable for they were disbelievers, fighters, and skeptics, with no trust in anything. This certainly was not the time for superstitious nonsense.
“I think perhaps you all need to see what I have discovered.”
The old man’s tentative words caused Paul to guess that the professor could sense the doubt in the room.
“Words are not enough…you must be your own witnesses…eh?
“If you are building on other people’s work Professor Egeland, why is there so much secrecy?”
“No! No! You must understand…in the past few years I know of at least six other experts in this field who have mysteriously disappeared, or died by accident.” He paused allowing the threat to sink in. “This is why I am so cautious.”
Paul felt his friends doubt turn to aggression. They were back on familiar ground.
The professor paused looking at the three serious faces “I know I am being watched,” he continued. “And because my discovery threatens the world’s energy cartels, oil, coal and nuclear, I believe I am also in danger.”
Paul nodded. They all suffered from this type of paranoia - fearing being hunted, or even killed - this is why the professor’s words touched them. It was shocking that they were actually living and accepting such tension but in reality over the past few years democratic freedom had all but disappeared. Brave men who had tried to bring about change simply died. In these times of chaos it was dangerous to challenge governmental or corporate authority. These dictatorial institutions hid their real motives behind labels such as top secret, treason or sedition. It seemed any person with the courage to challenge their power was labelled a traitor.
“It’s pathetic,” Jake muttered darkly. “To be controlled in this way!”
“I have already had…um…bribes I think you call them…bribes of money and position,” the professor confessed. “Plus threats against my life,”
“Yeah, well…we understand these sorts of problems professor,” Martin said offhandedly. “There’s not many people in power that I trust…it’s why I valued Bess so much.”
“Didn’t we all!” Jake muttered.
“Anyway I have done as much as I can here,” the professor continued. “Now I need more tests…which must be done in Sydney. Then I can begin the final phase. But I need your help…for protection as much as anything.”
“Is somebody helping you?” Martin asked abruptly.
The professor frowned at the question. “No…I work alone.”
“Yeah, that’s what we thought.” Paul tried to smooth the atmosphere.
“I believe you people will know how to avoid tracking devices so I’m sure you will be able to help me.”
“What are you taking to Sydney?”
“Ah…I do not intend taking much at all, mainly the materials I need to test.”
“So this lab will stay?”
Paul was surprised by Martin’s constant questions. Surely getting the professor to Sydney was what this was all about?
“Yes…yes…I am sure my lab is very secure.” The professor’s eyes showed sudden fear. “What do you think Paul?”
Paul smiled encouragingly, trying to ease the professor away from Martin’s cross-examination. “Yeah…I think it’s great… really well hidden.”
Jake nodded in agreement and the meal was finished in an uneasy silence.
After coffee the professor quickly led the way to his laboratory.
Paul could see what Egeland meant about security. He had built a small enclosure within a branch tunnel leading to the main mine shaft and it was expertly camouflaged.
As they gathered around the bench everybody’s interest grew.
“As I say, my discovery is not original. Many people in Europe and in the United States have been developing similar ideas. But even this is not the complete story. The combination of all our work stands on the shoulders of discoveries so ancient I hardly dare to think where they originated from!” He paused, deep in thought. “It amazes me to think that at some stage in our far distant past, a civilisation had the knowledge and ability to develop this type of material.”
His listeners waited politely while the old man pondered something beyond everybody’s understanding - although Paul was entranced by the suggestion that past civilizations might have had as great a technical knowledge as their own.
Eventually Professor Egeland picked up the thread of his explanation. “So you see, this gift which I have perfected does not belong to me - it belongs to everybody.”
“Yet you keep it secret!” Jake’s sharp tone slashed across the room. “Surely anything this good should be released quickly. Gees! Look at our world! I mean… people need help!”
The professor bowed his head for a moment then looked around at their tight expressions.
“It is because I fear for my safety Jake, and for the safety of what I have produced.” He held up a small canister. “The material is not quite ready to be mass produced! Until then my safety is paramount.”
“Professor’s making sense, and remember…this is why we are here… to keep him safe,” Paul said quietly.
“Yes! Yes! I think you all understand me now.” The professor caste a grateful glance towards Paul, “Please, everybody… find a seat.”
There was a shuffle in the room, as they found seats, then a hushed silence as they waited for the proof that their trip to this remote mine was worth the effort.

---

Posted by Lyn on December 20th, 2010 :: Filed under Creative Writing

---