Premortal

by Damien Passmore

  Premortal

  Damien Passmore

  Copyright © 2014 Damien Passmore

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 0994167910

  ISBN-13: 978-0994167910

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  All rights to any product, service, music, movie or dramatic production derived from the novel, or the concept of the novel, are likewise reserved.

  Premortal Series – published and promoted by HP Productions, an Australian Registered Business.

  Contact the author – premortalseries@gmail.com

  www.premortal.net

  1 felled

  Michael’s math class had already commenced when three thousand troops from first division entered the classroom.

  Michael detected the nature of the intruders immediately.

  Certainly, this division was a sight to behold. The countenance of each visitor was a moderate shade of grey, and somehow collectively they were darker still, as though their coming together created some form of evil synergy such that together they were worse than the sum of their individual parts.

  Telling them though, that they were anything but the very best of spirits was impossible. They were so far up themselves that they had all but turned themselves inside out. That might have been alright if their inside was any better than their outside, but it was worse.

  Although Michael was well known throughout the Kingdom, by chance not one member of first division knew him. They assumed him to be just an ordinary teacher and strode into his class with all of the confidence and arrogance in the world.

  For a mortal, Michael would have been considered handsome, with brown hair, brown, searching eyes and a square chin. Nevertheless, there was nothing abnormally striking about him, and none of the intruders were discerning enough to observe the brilliance of his countenance.

  Although it was uncomfortable for them to look upon him directly for any length of time, putting two and two together was not their strong point. Accordingly, the nature of the spirit they were dealing with remained hidden from them.

  Michael felt like ordering them out just on appearance but knew that he couldn’t. He wondered what it was they were up to, but it wasn’t appropriate for him to ask the question yet. He recommenced his class, sincerely hoping that he was mistaken and that his visitors were indeed there to learn.

  Being aware of their mission, some of first division pretended to listen, trying to look attentive. Others were less convincing and yet others were entirely unruly.

  Ironically, it was the colonel of first division who was having the hardest time controlling himself.

  On Michael’s side of the Kingdom individuals were selected for positions of authority based upon their virtues, and the likelihood that they could be of service to others. On the other side of the Kingdom, however, they were selected for a position of authority if they were the biggest pig.

  Consequently, the colonel spoke, joked, laughed, pointed, giggled, grinned and at intervals he yelled at one of his troops. If he was mortal he would also have spat, burped and farted, such was his finesse.

  Michael was as patient as he could possibly be, but eventually he could take no more. He walked up to the offender and asked him his name.

  ‘Who wants to know?’ responded the colonel, a tall and thickly built spirit with dark hair, dark eyes and a round, brutal face that looked as though his favourite hobbies were hurting small animals and children.

  ‘You may not be the brightest spirit in the room, but surely you can deduce who would like to know your name when you are being questioned directly by him,’ said Michael, now very annoyed.

  Although he did not intend it, his comment drew laughs not only from his students but also from some of first division. This enraged the colonel.

  ‘Who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?’ demanded the leader.

  ‘I am the teacher of this class and I’ve been charged with assisting my students to progress in the discipline of mathematics. Unfortunately, you are proving an impediment to this aim. You have not been paying attention yourself, and you have also prevented others from doing so,’ responded Michael coolly.

  ‘How do you know I wasn’t listening?’ insisted the colonel.

  ‘It was obvious by observing you but perhaps you would like to answer a couple of simple questions, based upon that which we have learned thus far?’ asked Michael.

  This boxed the colonel into a corner and foolishly he accepted the challenge. Quickly he demonstrated that he had no understanding of mathematics whatsoever, and that he hadn’t been listening at all. Indeed, the class took amusement from just how little he knew, which only added to his outrage.

  ‘That isn’t fair, the other students in this class have attended before and they have probably already learnt some of the material that you just quizzed me on,’ whined the colonel.

  ‘I believe that you make an excellent point. I don’t understand why you have chosen to attend this class part way through the course. I am happy to teach an additional beginners’ class in this region if you would truly like to learn,’ said Michael

  The purpose of Michael’s proposal was twofold. Firstly, he wanted to test whether the group of newcomers had any inclination to learn, or whether they were there for an entirely different purpose. Secondly, he would genuinely have liked to see this benighted group improve themselves and, in some small way, start preparing for the mortal journey that was drawing ever closer.

  ‘No thank you, we like this class. We will continue to attend and there is nothing that you can do about it,’ retorted the colonel.

  ‘You are correct; I cannot prevent you from attending as all are free to attend classes and learn as they will. Nevertheless, until I’m satisfied that you’ve caught up, I will continue to give you a spot quiz every lesson. I’m hopeful that this doesn’t continue to be a source of amusement to the class.’

  Michael’s proposal again entertained the class and enraged the colonel.

  ‘You clearly don’t understand who you are dealing with. If you continue to belittle me you will live to regret it!’ yelled the colonel aggressively.

  ‘I think I know more about what I’m dealing with than you give me credit for. The darkness of your countenance betrays you, so I would assume that I am dealing with one who is no longer supportive of the plan for our mortal journey. Due to your rebellion your personal qualities are disintegrating; any talents that you once had are eroding and the peace that you once possessed has entirely departed,’ countered Michael.

  The colonel was surprised at being surmised in this manner, but he was beyond conceding, let alone turning from the path that he had already chosen.

  The battle of wills and words continued for some time, with the colonel taking a fresh wound at each exchange. Truly it was an unfair contest between one of the most intelligent spirits in the Kingdom and one of the thickest.

  With each wound the rage within the colonel continued to build. How dare this teacher get the better of him? He would soon teach him a lesson as to why it was unwise to challenge the leader of first division.

  Michael continued the class as best he could but he was continually interrupted by the colonel and many of his cohorts. By class end it was not just the colonel who had suffered insult at the hands of the teacher, for there were others within first division who had also required a reproof.

  The class ran for two hours, which was approximately one hour and fifty eight minutes beyond the attention span of the division.

  At the close of the class the regular
attendees departed but the members of the rebel military did not.

  ‘Have you remained behind so that I can assist you in catching up?’ asked Michael, knowing that this was not the reason, but not understanding precisely what they were up to.

  ‘No we have not remained so that you can teach us a lesson; we have remained so that we can teach you a lesson,’ replied the colonel.

  His colleagues laughed, but this did little to cool the leader’s temper, or heal his wounded ego. In fact the order had already been given. The colonel had spent the last few minutes of the lesson passing word to his men that the teacher would be attacked.

  ‘How precisely do you propose to do that?’ replied Michael coolly.

  Knowing that two of his friends had been attacked he suspected that he might be in for something similar.

  ‘Let us show you!’ replied the colonel venomously before screaming ‘Attack!’

  Michael reacted quickly, escaping the room before they could enter him, but they were right on his heels.

  He was quick and agile and difficult to catch in flight, however his pursuers were desperate for revenge, and speed and agility were the only two talents that they had been practising.

  At speed Michael wove between abodes and structures.

  Whilst a spirit can pass straight through such structures, to do so reduces speed so dodging them was the best method under the circumstances.

  Clearing the inhabited area Michael entered a forest, slipping between trees and hiding behind bushes. Each time he did so, however, he was spotted by one of the division, who were hot on his heels.

  The division closed in from all angles until it was clear that he was going to be caught. Just as they were upon him however, he took his only option for escape and shot vertically into the air, exiting the forest out into the open air. This caught his pursuers by surprise, and put some distance between him and them, but they soon corrected their course.

  He dropped downwards again into the forest taking cover amongst some shrubbery but unfortunately he was spotted by one of the lieutenants. As he was closed in upon, Michael again burst vertically out of the forest, this time passing right through a number of spirits descending upon him from above. As he did so he felt their hatred for him and it gave him a taste of what he might endure if captured.

  Despite the unpleasantness of that experience, there was something welling within Michael that he was having a very hard time suppressing. The feeling was one of pure rage. While he feared the consequences of being caught, he was absolutely livid. Here he was in the Kingdom, a place of liberty and peace, and he was being pursued and caused to fear for his existence. He knew that he should keep trying to outrun them, but his indignation caused him to want to turn and fight.

  This feeling grew and ultimately got the better of him. As he vertically exited the forest a third time, he simply hung in the air as first division closed in, and as they came close he launched himself headlong into them.

  The action was brave but foolish. Within a moment his spirit had been entered by three thousand spirits who were well drilled in centring all of their combined hatred upon a single victim.

  Immediately, Michael felt as though his entire spirit was about to explode, feeling each of the three thousand attackers personally. He felt the disdain of the privates, the hatred of the corporals, the aggression of the sergeants, the rage of the lieutenants and the captains. He also felt the major with whom he had exchanged a number of insults, and the level of his hatred was as that of a hundred spirits, but most of all he felt the venom of the colonel. The power of his attack was like another thousand.

  Michael tried to escape but they had him in their vice. He felt weak and there was no extracting himself. In addition to their hatred and aggression, he also had to endure some of the filth and gore upon which first division had been feasting. Michael struggled to retain his mind as he was infused with such venom and filth. To draw a physical comparison it was as though he were being stabbed by three thousand men repeatedly, but without the relief of death.

  He began to fear for his existence, and for the future of all of his brothers and sisters. As he did so he thought of his parents and this afforded him some relief. His belief that they were in control, and would ultimately prevail, began to kick in. As it did so he found greater relief. Michael continued to focus on these thoughts and he felt himself strengthen. His pain and his fear began to subside and, all of a sudden, the three thousand spirits exited him and departed.

  Once they had departed he fell limply to the ground. Although spirits did not ordinarily tire, to call him exhausted would be to understate reality. Having fallen he did not rise, his mind completely blank.

  2 to study is not always to progress

  Ten months prior to Michael’s experience, Sarah was serving as a librarian. The library in which she had been asked to work was a large distance from her home, but despite the distance, she enjoyed working there due to her great love of learning. If there was one thing that disappointed Sarah about her current vocation however, it was the fact that this particular library was not well attended. This seemed a terrible shame as the library was no better or worse equipped than the many other libraries that dotted the Kingdom, all of which attracted a healthier patronage.

  On the day in question Sarah entered the library on time, as always. As she walked inside her steps were light and quick, consistent with a being that has an eagerness about life and is totally at ease. Sarah had a bright and beautiful countenance that highlighted her blue eyes, soft features and long brown hair. She was slim and stood five foot six inches. Although Sarah hadn’t worked there long she knew the order in which the books should be positioned, as this was consistent within each library and she had worked in other libraries previously.

  She glanced to her right upon entering and saw that the books of the higher Kingdoms were all in order, and appeared as though they hadn’t been disturbed since last she visited. This disappointed her. She would have rather seen such materials out of order and looking as though they had been utilised extensively. Unfortunately though, those who inhabited this region appeared entirely uninterested in such books, and she struggled to recall anyone ever having disturbed a single book in that section of the library.

  Seeing Sarah, the attendant currently on duty rose to leave.

  ‘Hello Jacinta,’ said Sarah pleasantly.

  ‘Hi Sarah,’ came the friendly reply.

  Jacinta was a happy soul with an attractive round face, infectious smile and cheeks with two distinct dimples that appeared each time her smile was in full bloom.

  ‘Is there anything that needs doing?’ asked Sarah hopefully.

  ‘No, I’m afraid not. Another quiet shift,’ said Jacinta, who also loved to learn and far preferred a busy library.

  ‘Oh well, hopefully that will change,’ replied Sarah buoyantly.

  Jacinta smiled again and nodded before leaving.

  The library was not completely devoid of patrons. On the left side two girls were sitting, each with a book of mathematics open in front of them. They spoke more than they studied but at least they weren’t being entirely idle. Also seated on the left side of the library was a male who was studying chemistry. He, at least, appeared to be interested in the subject matter and was making good use of the materials.

  That left side of the library was devoted to the many disciplines and arts. Accordingly, the diligent student could find materials dealing extensively with mathematics, music, art, chemistry, dancing, drama, physics and many more.

  The back wall of the library held books that considered the many virtues. The keen student could easily locate books, and other learning materials, that provided instruction on such subjects as virtue, modesty, patience, humility and charity. Sadly, this portion of the library was also unpopular in this region. This section was Sarah’s favourite, so the lack of patronage had surprised her during her first few shifts. She had grown used to this phenomenon however.

  T
he line of books on the left hand side of the library came to an end prior to cornering with the back wall so as to provide for the entry to the only separate room in the library. Sarah looked at the door and shuddered. Within that room was held material that each spirit had been cautioned against studying. The subject matter held in that room, as if the library itself were ashamed of it, concerned the earths.

  To preserve the freedom of each spirit within the Kingdom, and to provide access to all forms of knowledge, all libraries carried literature pertaining to the deeds performed on former and current earths. The content of this literature was not all bad, and one might argue that there was profit to be had in its study. Nevertheless, each spirit had been cautioned against studying the earths as part of their preparation for life, as it was not intended that they should be exposed to evil at this stage in their progression.

  After watching the opening for a time, Sarah walked cautiously to the doorway, as she did each shift. While she wished never to enter the room, she felt it part of her duty to ensure, each time that she worked there, that nothing within the whole of the library was out of order, including within that room. On each previous occasion she had found the room undisturbed and entering had not been necessary. Having arrived at the doorway on this occasion, she peered inside expecting to find the room undisturbed, as she always had. She was shocked, however, to find the material a little disorganised. The room was predominantly in order and was by no means dishevelled, nevertheless, there had been enough of a disturbance to indicate that some of the materials had been used.

  Sarah was shocked and many thoughts raced through her head. She wondered who had entered and why, and she also wondered whether there was any justification for her not entering the room and putting it back in order. She had never been in such a room and never wanted to. Ultimately though, she resolved that it was entirely her responsibility to tidy up and she entered.