The Power of Gnaris

by Les Bill Gates

  Barrow could not contain his rage. “You will not succeed in this madness. The prophecy says so.”

  “I do not believe in your prophecy. I am already the victor. Do you not see how the people here worship and adore me? Soon I will have control over the entire planet.”

  “How did you communicate with them? How did you learn their language and teach them to understand English?”

  “I had no choice. I intercepted messages coming from the communication satellites of this planet long before Forster even knew they existed, and so I was obliged to learn the language. As Kowalski told us, that was the only fault with KEO 3. It used the one language. Although Prehistorics and some Ancients still have their own Ziemian language, English is now the universal language on the planet. I fooled you before by pretending that I couldn’t understand English.”

  She had just finished speaking when a loud roar announced the landing of the Gnaris Voyager on the outskirts of the city.

  “There’s my new supply of blood,” she said, “and my ticket back to Hikon when I have completed my work here. By the way, thank you for providing me with the transport to get back here to Jerusalem when I couldn’t return to our ship.”

  A sudden revelation came to Barrow. “So Sirrow is your accomplice. That explains how he was able to commit his murderous acts on both Arion and Hikon, and travelled freely between them.”

  “What a wise old Savant you are. What a shame that your wisdom will no longer be needed. But it’s not Sirrow. It’s his co-pilot whose face you have not yet seen. He is Joodrow, twin of Jethrow.”

  “Watch them. They will try any trick to fool you and try to escape,” she ordered her disciples. “I’m going to greet my son.”

  “Your son? Joodrow is you son?”

  “No, it is Kuthrow. Kuthrow is my son.”

  Barrow couldn’t believe this latest revelation. “He is not your son. Karavec do not have mothers. We grow from seeds in the Embrycultural Centre, and never know the identities of the donors of the seeds.”

  “I know he is my son; just as I know that Joodrow has an identical twin with whom he was conjoined as an embryo. I have accessed the database that records the origin of all Karavec embryos. Since I am both a lawyer and a member of the Council, it was easy for me.”

  “You are no longer a member of the Council,” Barrow hissed. “You will soon no longer be Karavec.”

  * * * * *

  After the Gnaris Voyager had landed and Lolena had greeted Joodrow and Kuthrow, the sounds of gunfire alerted her and her supporters that the siege on the western side of the city had begun. Most of her Ziemian supporters carried primitive weapons such as spears and arrows, but Joodrow equipped a few of them with the rifles that he had bought from Jesse’s gang and brought with him from the other side of the planet. But the Ziemians of Jerusalem had never before seen or used such weapons, and their use of rifles proved largely ineffective.

  The diversity of combatants, and the variety of weapons, meant that different factions fought the battle on many levels.

  Firstly, the joint forces of Hikon warriors and the Ziemian army had to deal with the ordinary people who supported Lolena. The people of Jerusalem provided easy targets for the guns of General Evans’ men and the ray guns of the Karavec. Pockets of them hid and caused some resistance, preventing a swift end to the conflict. Added to which, a large contingent remained holed up with Lolena, Joodrow and Kuthrow inside the temple.

  However, Lolena, already a powerful member of the Council, also had the goggles that belonged to the Great Savant himself, and she knew how to use them. Using the power of the goggles, Lolena systematically stunned and killed several members of the invading force. The sole limitation to her power was that she could only deal with one person at a time.

  Joodrow’s single ray gun proved no match for those of the thirty Karavec warriors, so his contribution to the defence of the temple was negligible. Effectively Lolena fought alone. However, she had the power to pick off the invaders one by one, and soon she would kill all of them.

  * * * * *

  Leila called Wardrow for a quick meeting.

  “The Great Savant is a prisoner,” she said.

  “How do you know?”

  “The Saviour is using his goggles. They are the only ones that can wield such power. This means Barrow is either a prisoner or he is dead.”

  “How do you know he is not dead?”

  “The Great Savant will die one day, as all Karavec must, but he cannot be killed by another Karavec. The gods would not accept such a sacrifice unless Barrow himself has turned against them. It is the Karavec way. This could not have happened, so Lord Barrow must be a prisoner.”

  “What can we do to help him?”

  “I have an idea,” she said.

  “Yes?”

  “The general’s men and the Karavec warriors must play dead. Then the Saviour will think he has the victory, and stop the fight.”

  “But what if the enemy discovers one of them is not really dead?”

  “That’s a chance we will have to take. Wait I have another idea. In my bag there’s a jar of tablets, a drug I can give to each of them. It’s quite harmless. But it will render them unconscious, and their breathing will be so slow that it will be hard to detect.”

  “How can that help if we are all unconscious?”

  “You and I will not drink the drug. We are the ones who must take back the goggles from the Saviour. The Saviour has the goggles belonging to Barrow, and is using them as if he intends to take over the role of the Great Savant. I believe that he thinks he can replace Barrow in the hearts of the gods. He’s deluded, of course. Consequently, he will try to make contact with them once he believes that the victory is his. When Saivrow starts his prayer to the gods, you and I will move in and remove the goggles.” Leila smiled.

  “But how can we do that without his knowing?”

  Leila smiled again. “That’s the easy part. When Saivrow begins his prayer, he will be in a trance, a semi-conscious state that for the short term prevents him from using his gnaris. I have witnessed this once on Hikon.”

  Wardrow nodded with approval. “So when he’s in the trance, we can simply remove the goggles from his head, and his power will be reduced to little more than that which we possess.”

  “Exactly. If we can return the goggles to Barrow, then he will swiftly dispose of Saivrow, and our mission will be accomplished. Let’s go and see Donahue and the general.”

  General Evans, the veteran of many campaigns, had never met such resistance before. “Go on,” he said. “I am open to any ideas.”

  They explained their plan.

  “I have no other good ideas,” said the general, “so I have to trust you on this one.”

  Leila and Wardrow distributed the tablets to the general’s men and to the Karavec.

  “Do not all swallow the pill at the same time,” they ordered. “One person at a time will give them the impression that you have been sporadically shot by Joodrow, or killed by the powerful rays from the Saviour’s goggles. This must be a gradual process or they might catch on to what we are doing.”

  The plan worked perfectly.

  From inside the temple, Lolena saw that all resistance had crumbled, and revelled in her triumph. She glanced sideways at her son who stood by her side, and smiled at him. Kuthrow, a reluctant participant in the proceedings, had no choice but to wait until he could find a way to escape from this mad woman who said she was his mother.

  “They’re all dead,” Joodrow said, “and now you can rightfully take your place as the Great Savant of the Karavec. May the gods bless you. You will rule over all the worlds of the Karavec, and also rule on Ziemia. There is no one left to stop you from conquering this world in the name of the gods.”

  “You are right, Joodrow. Now I will speak with the gods, and present myself as their loyal servant.”

  “Not for long, great and mighty Savant. Soon, with the gnaris you assimilate from drinking t
he blood, your own gnaris will be enhanced and you will become a god yourself. You will wield such power that even the gods themselves will worship you.”

  Joodrow’s words reverberated around the walls of the temple and reached the ears of Leila and Wardrow who played dead in the temple courtyard. Even Barrow and Elena in the dungeon below the temple heard the words of Joodrow.

  Lolena spoke more quietly. “Now Joodrow, you must stand by my side. I am going to pray to the gods, and I will need your support. When I go into a trance, without sight or gnaris, I will have no way of detecting what is happening around me.”

  “Yes, Great Savant.”

  “Oh, mighty gods,” she began, “hear me from across the great darkness. You dwell far away in another galaxy, which is our home. We are waiting for the day you come to claim the Milky Way. Our main purpose, our only purpose is to establish an empire in the Milky Way ready for your arrival. Our loyal warriors and servants, each one of us, are working towards a better future, for a place where the gods will rule.”

  A hologram began to materialise, and the god Kingirow appeared on a raised platform, followed by the other gods; six ancient, wizened members of the Karavec race.

  “Who calls us?” Kingirow asked. “Where is Barrow?”

  “Barrow was a great and mighty Savant, but like all Karavec he has finally come to the end of his life. Barrow is dead.”

  The gods conferred. They knew that Barrow was not dead.

  “Who presumes to take his place?” Kingirow asked.

  “I am Lolena, member of the Council. I have been chosen by the Council to be the new Savant.”

  “Lolena, why do you lie to us?”

  “I do not lie. See I have the goggles, the sign of office of the Great Savant.”

  “I see that part of your story is true. But why do you speak with us on a foreign planet and in the temple of an alien god?”

  “I, Lolena, have taken this city on behalf of the gods, and soon the whole of the planet of Ziemia will be under my control. I am extending the Karavec Empire, ready for the day when you come to claim the Milky Way.”

  “Barrow spoke to us of the planet Ziemia and the thirst of its people for Karavec blood. What do you know of the crimes committed in the Embrycultural Centres on Arion and Hikon?”

  At that moment, Wardrow and Leila burst through the door. Wardrow thrust a ray gun into Joodrow’s back while Leila snatched the goggles from Lolena’s face.

  “What is the meaning of this outrage?” said Kingirow.

  “Do you not recognise the sanctity of this place of worship?” asked another god.

  “He is the one that killed the Karavec embryos,” said Leila, pushing Joodrow onto his knees.

  Kingirow looked into Joodrow’s eyes. “Is this true?”

  Joodrow snivelled. “Yes, mighty gods. I am the guilty one.”

  “Why?” Kingirow’s boom caused the walls of the temple to shake.

  “She made me do it?”

  “She?” Leila grabbed the Saviour by the shoulders and turned her around. “Wardrow, it’s not Saivrow. It’s Lolena. Lolena is the traitor. She is the one they call the Saviour.”

  “Who dares to interrupt the meeting with the gods?” asked Kingirow.

  “Forgive us, mighty gods. I am Doctor Leila, and this is Sergeant Wardrow, a loyal warrior of the Karavec. We are humble Karavec of no rank, and do not deserve to stand before you. Barrow chose us to come to this planet to help him investigate the crime.”

  “Where is Barrow? He cannot be dead.”

  “We believe that he is a prisoner in the cells beneath this temple. Lolena, the one whom he trusted, tricked him.”

  “Who is the other Karavec who stands with her?” Kingirow asked.

  “I am Kuthrow, captain of the Great Savant’s warriors.”

  “Are you also a traitor?”

  “No. Joodrow brought me here against my will. She ” He pointed to Lolena. “ she claims that she is my mother.”

  The gods rumbled.

  “Another abomination,” Kingirow said. “Karavec do not know their mothers.”

  The god turned to Leila. “Bring Barrow to me,” he said. “You, Wardrow, must keep guard over these two traitors until he arrives.”

  Leila bowed to the gods, turned and exited the temple, searching for a doorway that might lead to the dungeons. She walked around the perimeter of the temple building, but to no avail. She could find no door. She looked around for help, but she saw no one except the unconscious Karavec and Ziemian soldiers, and the bodies of Ziemian civilians who had been supporters of Lolena.

  “Are you looking for something?” asked a middle-aged man with a bushy black beard and a small skull cap on his head. He spoke in English with a strange accent.

  Leila looked for cover and scrambled to shield herself behind one of the temple pillars.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “My name is Moses. I brought Barrow, Elena, Forster and Lolena from the airport at Tel Aviv. I have witnessed all the events of the last few hours. I do not understand the people of your race, but from what I have seen it’s clear that Barrow is a good person, and that Lolena is wicked. She has been duping the people of Jerusalem for months into believing that she is their Saviour. Please tell me how I can help you?”

  Leila came out from behind the pillar, but held her ray gun ready. “I believe Barrow is imprisoned. Do you know the way to the dungeons?”

  “The stairway is over there.” Moses pointed to a spot on the outer temple wall further to the north.

  “I cannot see a way.”

  “It is hidden by the foliage. Come, I will show you.”

  Leila hesitated.

  “You can trust me,” he said, removing a gold ring from his finger. “See, here’s a ring bearing the seal of the Great Savant. Barrow himself gave it to me.”

  “You must be speaking the truth. There is no way you could have taken the ring from Barrow by force. Can you please take me to him?”

  Moses led Elena to the spot he had pointed to, and pulled aside some foliage.

  “Beyond this door, there are stairs that lead to the dungeons,” he said.

  Leila tried the handle. “It’s locked,” she said. “Stand aside.”

  She trained her ray gun on the lock. With a hiss and a whiff of smoke, the lock shattered. Leila pulled the door open. “You stay her,” she said to Moses.

  She descended the stone stairs in darkness, using her gnaris to feel her way down. She trod carefully so as not to make any noise. The air smelt stale, and felt dank and cold. When she neared the bottom of the winding staircase, a blinding light from a flaming torch stung her eyes. She pulled out her goggles, and quickly put them on.

  At the base of the stairs, two guards sat at a small table playing a game with pieces of stone. Two swift surges of her ray gun reduced them to two lifeless heaps.

  She extinguished the light, and called out. “Barrow, Great Savant, are you there?”

  “Over here Leila,” he replied.

  “Are we glad to see you!” said Forster.

  When she had released them from their cell, Barrow had more questions. “Is the traitor, Lolena, dead?” he asked. “Is everyone else alright?”

  “We have lost a few warriors, but most are alive. Lolena also lives, but the gods are requesting your presence before they deal with her.”

  Barrow was astounded. “You have spoken with the gods?”

  “Yes. Lolena summoned them, but after we subdued her and got your goggles back ”

  “You managed to subdue Lolena despite the extra power my goggles give her?”

  While they climbed the stairs, Leila explained how their plan had succeeded.

  “You and Wardrow are heroes,” said Barrow. “I will speak to the gods of this, and see what reward might be appropriate.”

  When Barrow entered the temple, Wardrow still guarded the traitors.

  Then he noticed that Lolena had fallen prostrate before the gods.
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  “Forgive me,” she said. Her pitiful voice could hardly be heard when she grovelled with her face in the dust.

  Joodrow whimpered in a corner.

  “I have one task for you Barrow, said Kingirow. “Find a knife and cut the throats of these two traitors. Theirs will be the last Karavec blood to be spilled on this planet, and no more Karavec blood will be used to satisfy the cravings of a would-be god. This woman, Lolena, a member of the Council, is a traitor to the Karavec race, and a blasphemer.”

  Forster, who was still outside, searched among the bodies of the fallen Ziemians and found a large curved knife. “I’ve found a blade,” he said.

  Barrow snatched the knife from Forster, and went back inside. Forster and Elena followed.

  “Shield your eyes everybody,” the Great Savant cautioned.

  Lolena watched helplessly as shafts of intense light shot from the eyes of the gods to her own eyes. She felt excruciating pain as her gnaris was exchanged for perfect sight, and it felt like her eyes were on fire.

  Without a second’s hesitation, Barrow cut through Lolena’s neck. She fell in a heap before the gods.

  “She will die in body, but her spirit will not die,” said Kingirow. “As a punishment for her heinous crimes, she will spend eternity in the light.”

  Then Barrow dragged Joodrow in front of the gods and prepared to do the same with him.

  “Wait,” said Leila. “How will we get back to Hikon? Sirrow is already dead. Joodrow is the co-pilot of the ship. Who else can take us home?”

  “I can,” said Forster.

  “Who speaks?” asked one of the gods.

  “It is Captain Forster,” Barrow replied. “He is a human from the planet Earth.”

  “An alien? What is an alien doing in our presence?”

  “He has helped me on this mission. Without his expertise in detective work, the mission would have failed. Is there any way you can reward him?”

  “Captain Forster, approach the dais,” Kingirow ordered.

  Forster obeyed, wondering what fate awaited him.