by Robert James
Commanders Richards and Davis, who had been strongly against us going out in the first place, were in a total state of shock. They had more shocks to come. Keeping below a hundred kilometres an hour, we moved further inland and despite our infra red heat seekers confirming the thick jungle below was teeming with sizable wildlife, our searching eyes saw nothing. We did pass three very large cleared areas, one even had obvious signs that it had once been a human habitat, but not any longer. It wasn’t until just on an hour, when the jungle had gradually given way to more forest-like vegetation, that we finally saw small herds of deer, though the animals themselves were extremely large.
Now able to see what our heat seekers had seen, we saw family groups of very large cats, huge bears and packs of dogs. Compared to my super large lady bear, they may have seemed small, but in fact, they were the size of a small horse! It seemed safe to assume that the occasional hordes of monstrous rat-like creatures we passed over were the ‘rodents’ the bear had mentioned. As the ground started to rise and the shrubbery beneath the trees became lush bright green grass, we saw our first evidence of the proximity of human beings.
“That is not the work of savages” Zoran stated matter-of-factly, as the crew, Commanders Davis and Richards, Zoran and I looked down on a whole hillside that was being systematically harvested.
There was still a third of the hill covered with obviously planted rows of various aged trees. This was a carefully managed, sustainable timber plantation. Despite the sophistication of the harvesting, there were only pathways around and through it, nothing wide enough for any kind of large trunks. Commander Davis looked decidedly uncomfortable.
“This has nothing to do with the New World, Lord Robert, I think we should go back” He told me anxiously.
“Aren’t you interested in finding workers” I asked, surprised by his sudden change of heart.
“These people are obviously skilled to some degree” Zoran pointed out “That’s unlikely to be fire wood they’re harvesting” He added chuckling, enjoying the Sentorians’ discomfort I indicated to the Captain to proceed.
“Take it really slow and stay as low as you can safely fly o.k.?” I instructed. We moved over the plantation and saw several more ahead and on both sides, but still no roads, only dirt tracks, which gradually converged on a larger hill across a deep valley. Now over two hundred kilometres inland from Sentoria, we slowly rose up the side of the steep, naturally vegetated largest hill. The tracks came together halfway up and, for a hundred metres or so, there was a three metre wide, flat surfaced roadway. Then it went into a huge natural cave. With still no sign of life and unwilling to go into the cave, which would have been a very close fit anyway, we moved on up the much steeper hillside.
When we crested it and saw what lay before us down below, we were all struck absolutely dumb, no one said a word. Down in the well protected valley, surrounded by cultivated fields, was a city! But not one with tall buildings, streets and that sort of thing. This looked more like an ancient Inca style civilisation, with a kilometre square centre, built of huge sandstone blocks, with stepped sides all the way to the top. Each farm in the valley had its own house-sized sandstone block dwelling, and they were all laid out symmetrically on a circular network of paved pathways that connected all of them to the city centre. Still there was not a soul in sight, so I instructed the Captain to land in a clearing, high on the southern side of the crater-like valley.
Zoran, Commander Richards, four of my guardsmen and I ventured out onto the grassy hillside. I motioned to stay quiet as we moved toward the nearest dwelling. The solid door was unlocked and, as no-one answered my knock, I entered, motioning for two of the guardsmen to stay outside and keep their eyes open. Though clean and tidy, the place had definitely been lived in. Illuminated by cleverly designed skylights, the large main room had animal skin covered chairs, a large dining table and led to a small kitchen. All was as if one minute they were there, then, suddenly, they weren’t. Just as I was beginning to fear the worst, we all distinctly heard a child cough, then again. It came from below us! The floor was carpeted with a finely woven thatch.
I scanned it for signs of a trap door, while Commander Richards grinned, as he pulled his elaborate hand gun from its holster. He
switched on the heat seeker sighting, pointing it around the floor. And there they were! Four of them, huddled together in a cellar accessed from the alcove, between the main room and the kitchen. Richards holstered his gun and pulled open the hatch.
“You are honoured to have Lord Robert of the Divine House of Red in your home” Intoned Zoran, then added more warmly “We are not here to harm you, please come out of there and be not fearful”. The Father, a well built Indian around forty, led the way up, his wife, an attractive woman around thirty, followed, then their teenage daughter and small son. Despite Zoran’s words, they were all absolutely terrified.
“You are safe believe me” I assured the four, still silent, tightly grouped family “We are here to explore your world, not harm it” I told them gently. The man, dressed in a woven work shirt and pants, looked at me defiantly.
“Why do you need to do that?” His deep voice was sullen and resentful “Haven’t you taken enough from us?”.
“I have never been here before” I told him “Of whom do you speak?” I asked him
“Why do you lie? To deceive your companions?” The man growled at me, then put his arms around his family, as if to protect them from retaliation. I sensed the truth of what he said.
“I do not doubt your word good Sir” I told him sincerely.
“But I have no recall of ever visiting this place before. Perhaps you can enlighten me?” I asked him politely.
“I thought the old man said you were Lord Robert?’ He queried, looking confused.
“I am Lord Robert” I confirmed for him.
“The older brother of Lord Elton and Lord Edmond?” He pressed.
“Yes, but I’ve no memory of being here” I answered truthfully.
“Perhaps you’ve raided so many of our cities you’ve just forgotten this one” His scorn grew with his confidence. I held up my hand to silence Zoran’s intended rebuke.
“It is easy to feel your anger at my family” I told the man “I would know of what harm we have done you, so that I can make restitutions” I said solemnly.
“Restitution!” The man exploded “They say you are a God, so can you give back the lives of those you’ve killed, return the lives of those you’ve enslaved?” He asked angrily. I shook my head sadly.
“Perhaps you had better take me to your leaders” I suggested.
“That I will never do” The man stood tall, eyes ablaze with defiance. “Kill me, and my son, take them” He motioned to his wife and daughter “And do the same to every home in Karak, but none of us will ever let you into the city” He told me defiantly.
“Then perhaps one of your leaders could come out of the city to speak with me” I offered gently “For I have no desire to kill or capture any of you good people” I assured him.
The big dark man stared at me silently, clearly unbelieving.
“Though I will do you no harm, perhaps if you realise I could enter your city at will, you may more rationally consider my request” I suggested, then ushered the four of them outside. As they stood surrounded by Richards, Davis and the four guardsmen, I drew a ball of heat from the energy rich ground and flung it across the top of the low lying city into an open space, like the one we had just landed in. The explosion shook the whole valley and, as the reverberation faded, we saw two brilliantly polished mirrored discs rise up out of the top of the main city structure.
“Back inside” The man urged, pushing his wife and children back into the house.
Just then, a much concentrated sunbeam was re-directed by one of the convex mirrors. It would have fried my six companions had I not deflected it harmlessly into the sky. It was enough for the man.
“Come in Lord Robert” He called, his curiosity
replacing the resentment “I will call the leaders” He agreed and walked over to a white panel on the main room’s wall, it had an old style ringer and he wound it several times, a light came on.
“What is happening up there Belou?” An old voice demanded.
“It’s Lord Robert Sir. But he says he’s only come to explore and won’t harm us” My new host informed the man, voice still unsure.
“Explore what?” The voice asked dryly “More ways to take from us what is ours?” I stepped forward and spoke at the panel.
“What has been is past, I cannot explain, or return those who have been taken from you” I said firmly “But I bear testimony that it shall never be that way again” I added with obvious certainty.
“What testimony do you speak of?” The old man’s voice queried.
“I could have thrown that fire ball into the city, or reflected your sun beam back upon you” I pointed out “I do not say this not to threaten you” I continued “Only to show you that I have such powers as you cannot defeat” I told the voice “I simply wish to speak with you Sir” I said plainly.
“What benefit to our people can there be from such a talk?” He asked gruffly.
“Knowledge good Sir. The greatest of all powers. That which you need to know I can tell you” I replied, adding “In return, I ask only that you tell me of your people” There was silence for a while.
“You may enter Lord Robert” The old man eventually replied.
I sent the young guardsmen back to the T.T.V. and intended to go in with Davis, Richards and Zoran, but the Sentorian leaders chose very determinedly to stay with the troops.
“This could be a trap” Commander Richards warned “And I’m not as invulnerable as you Lord Robert” He added. Belou fetched himself a dark blue full length cape which fluttered behind him as he led Zoran and I down the maze-like steps, in-between the pathways, till we were outside the massive wooden doorway of the city. Expecting the huge edifice to move, I was quite surprised when a normal sized door which was built into it opened.
Two guards, in shining silver body armour, took their places on either side of the door. The tall thin old man who came out between them had to be eighty plus, yet he stood ram-rod straight and did not hesitate to look me directly in the eyes.
“So you would have us believe that the New Worlders have had a change of heart Lord Robert?”. His voice was strong and clear, and, combined with his very elaborately embroidered long robes, almost waist long grey hair and clear blue piercing eyes, he left one in no doubt that he was a man of considerable importance. Not a person to be taken lightly.
“What do you seek in my city?” He asked flatly, then waited impatiently for my answer.
“May I know to whom I speak?” I asked politely. Zoran and I remained where we stood, which was some distance from the old man, who now looked extremely puzzled.
“You do not remember me?” He asked disbelievingly.
“He said he didn’t remember ever being here Rama Karak” Belou answered for me. The old man laughed heartily.
“So that’s it hey, you forget, so we forgive and you get to feel good about yourselves again?” His voice cynical and sarcastic.
“I know of no way to ever feel good about what my family and I have done” I answered as humbly as I could “It would seem that I did indeed share in their sickening debauchery” I admitted to him.
“However, many remarkable events have occurred and, though I am Lord Robert of the Supreme Family, I am in no way he that you once knew Rama Karak” I kept humility in my tone and returned his powerful gaze. As we stood there in silence, perhaps for as long as two minutes, I became aware of people all around us, they formed a semi-circle behind us, about a hundred metres back. It was time to impress. Generating the golden dust aura around me, I floated about two metres off the ground. The crowd gasped, the two guards pointed their spears at me and the two mirrored discs began to turn towards me.
“Rama Karak” My voice boomed out “You and your people have much anger and fear because of what has gone before. Such feelings, however justified, begat no good. They are like acid to the soul” My voice reached not only the hundred assembled.
My unique auto voice also reached every home and every person in the massive stone city
“I have come to tell you that the days of terror and tyranny are over” The voice declared with more confidence than I felt “A truly new world emerges as I speak. All over this planet, once isolated civilisations are re-discovering that, in peaceful unity lies ultimate strength. The fraudulent Divinity of the Supreme One has finally been exposed” That brought startled looks to many faces, including Rama Karak “What is now called the New World will soon be a dozen or so vibrant and free thinking independent Nations, looking for trading and peace keeping alliances” I told them “Will you not allow me to tell you of this planet’s glorious future?” I asked Rama Karak.
“Would you deny the people of your city the right to participate in it?” I asked the ancient leader. Oddly enough, the old man was more affected by my words than the rest of his people.
“I have always believed it was a fraud, you have just confirmed it, but then what is this?” He pointed up at me. Allowing my aura to dissipate, I came gently back to earth, just two metres in front of him, the guards dutifully re-directed their spear like weapons.
“They are of no use against one such as him” Rama Karak scoffed, as he waved the guards off. They turned to re-enter the city. As they did, one tripped, accidentally discharging his weapon.
The fifty thousand volt arcing bolt of electricity that shot out of the spear’s tip would have instantly barbequed the old leader, had I not managed to catch it before it reached him and return it’s energy to the safely of the earth.
“Ha, now I owe you my life as well Lord Robert” He laughed, relief obvious in his voice.
“You are of the Supreme House, but you are not?” Rama Karak was understandably confused. After a moment’s more thought, he bowed from the waist, everyone immediately did the same.
“I would be honoured if you and your colleague would care to join my Council and I, Lord Robert” I nodded my assent and he led the way through the city’s huge sandstone defences into a small cobble-stoned courtyard, there we stopped briefly. While Rama Karak called for various colleagues to join us in the meeting hall.
I looked around at what was a perfect Inca movie set, except these weren’t Inca Indians, they were clearly descendant of the Asian sub continental India. Both the men and women wore colourful tunic tops, under which the men wore Roman style or off the shoulder robes, while the women, mostly teenage or in their twenties, wore a simple, floor length sari wrap. When his six colleagues joined us, Rama Karak led the way into an unadorned room which contained only a huge table and a dozen chairs. There was a murmur of dissent when their high priest, as Rama Karak turned out to be, gave me his slightly larger chair, at the head of the table, then sat Zoran to my right and himself on my left. He looked sternly at each of them, the youngest of the six, perhaps forty, the oldest, a man in his late sixties.
“My friends” He began “You have not seen what I have witnessed, not heard the words of this man, if indeed that is what he is. He honours us with his presence” Rama Karak told them, not realising that they had heard me, and yet they were still unimpressed.
“You are actually Lord Robert of the Supreme Family” An old Councilor challenged.
“I am” I Replied. Then the Councilor turned angrily to his leader.
“You yourself have often cursed the lie of their Divine right” He challenged him “Yet now you say this one is a God?”
The old man’s attitude was clearly held by all except their leader.
“You will understand when you hear him” Rama Karak assured.
“We have heard him” One other Councillor confirmed to the surprised leader “But what can we learn from the lips of one who deceives?” The Councilor asked. Rama Karak held up his hands “You all he
ard him speak? Yet he spoke softly to me at the gate. Do you not see?” He looked around at his colleagues “I have seen him deflect our sunbeams without any shield, and draw a fireball from the earth” He told them, still they remained unconvinced.
“A few new tricks Rama Karak” The oldest Councillor scolded the high priest “This is no God” He turned back to look at me with undisguised anger, about to speak. I decided to act.
“You will speak with respect to those who guide your spirit” My voice was very close to deafening. Then I put on my golden aura and levitated the six doubters to about a metre over their chairs. “Decide men of Karak” I boomed at them, adding “Your future rests in your hands”. Fear wasn’t what I wanted to generate, but sometimes it is the path to gain acceptance, and, eventually, I hoped, enthusiasm for a new and brighter future. Though still innately hostile, Rama Karak’s council told me of the Supreme House’s many, many visits, over the last hundred years or so, after I returned them to the ground. It’s no surprise that they were angry. After eradicating the native populations to the South, the Supreme Family just came and went as they pleased, taking the most beautiful of the women as concubines, killing all resistors.