*
Although I visited Moderatica on many occasions, in spiritual form, those visits existed in a time warp, leaving me with much time to sit around in my hotel, pondering my fate. I planned to run away many times but as fear materialised, so did Danik, to quell my anxieties with kisses. The rest of the time I swam in the hotel pool and explored the ancient city of Cairo. I marvelled at the majesty of the imposing pyramids, some said built by slaves, others by aliens, the second option becoming more and more probable as my mind was opened up to a plethora of possibilities. The rich, exotic culture absorbed me into its perfume and art. And so it was, over the months, between Moderatica and earth, inhabiting a mocked up body, I became an expert in Moderatican slaymanship and perfected take off on my beautiful, winged horse, Grenus.
The day was growing close. The universal seam was bulging. The army waited to pass between worlds. It was necessary for me to pass first so we could destroy the breach before the Lanarks invaded earth. Timing was crucial. I had grown more confident but as the time drew nearer, fear gripped me and I held onto courage as my only companion.
***
I had no time, Danik had a hire car waiting outside the hotel, I had to leave now. I had already disposed of most of my belongings and had prepared a travel pack for rapid exit. It was important for things to look as normal as possible so no unusual reports could filter back to Perth. As far as everyone was concerned, I was loving my trip so much I had decided to continue travelling. All necessary letters had been written and telephone calls made. I checked out of the hotel and glanced back once, as we sped away. Danik drove us out of Cairo, into the desert. I had no point of reference, lost in a sea of wilderness, curtained by a blackened sky. Light shone through holes in the universe and I wondered if I could leave this world, my world. Danik said once the Lanarks had been defeated, it was possible the universal passages may be opened again and I could return to earth as I wished. I held onto this idea.
Danik stopped the car.
‘We are here.’
I looked around, seeing nothing but as my eyes adjusted, the ominous mouth of a cave loomed. This was it, I must travel alone now. Danik held me, assuring me he would be waiting on the other side of the cave. I was afraid to leave the security of his arms and sensing this, he gently manoeuvred me to the cave’s entrance and pushed me in.
‘Go!’
I ran blindly into the dark as fast as I could, over rocks and rubble, vaguely aware of Danik. I could hear the thunder of hooves coming towards me, I would surely be crushed. The rocks began to fall behind me, urging me forward, no sense of direction perceived. I became aware of horses and I pushed past them on and on. As much in the dark as I, the soldiers pushed in the opposite direction, beginning to bottleneck as they could pass no further. I was exhausted, I could run no longer, I walked and climbed. I did not know Danik’s whereabouts. At any moment I could be trampled by horses' hooves.
Then suddenly I saw light forming ahead. I kept up against the wall of the cave for fear of being seen. As I edged closer to the entrance I saw Grenus standing under a tree. I looked about. There was a confusion of horses and army, I would be seen. I didn’t know what to do. Suddenly Grenus was there at the entrance. I ran as fast as I could and jumped onto his back. He took to flight immediately and we were free. From nowhere Danik arrived on his black steed, wings flapping. Tears of relief streamed down my face.
‘Welcome home, my lovely.’
I looked down. I was all intact. I was still me in a new life, the life I was meant to live.
###
About the Author
Debbie spent her formative years in Kenya before going to an English boarding school, attended by the Bronte sisters nearly 200 years prior. She moved to Western Australia when she was sixteen with her family and has travelled extensively since then. She became editor and publisher of 'Forest Row News', a community magazine distributed in Sussex, U.K. then returned to Australia to follow her dream of becoming an author. She lives with her husband and two daughters in the picturesque Swan Valley and is in her third year of a Bachelor of Writing and Arts at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.
The Universal Seam Page 2