A Portal for Your Thoughts

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  “Who… who are you?” Cecil suspiciously asked him.

  Steve cleared his throat. “Steve. Steve Miller.”

  Cora gasped. She leaned forward for a better look. Cecil and AnnaBelle quickly glanced at each other.

  “I am their great-great-grandson.”

  “Impossible,” Cecil told him. “They have no children.”

  Steve smiled and looked over at Cora. “Yet.”

  Cora’s hand fluttered to her heart. She stepped over to the closest chair and sank down on it.

  “What – what are you doing here?” Cecil demanded.

  “Honestly? I came here because my wife fell through the same damn portal that brought Luther here.”

  Luther looked over at Sarah.

  “The interdimensional portal? I was told it should have closed by now.”

  “Interdimensional portal? Is that what you call it? Trust me, sport, it’s still there. At least a dozen people that we know of have disappeared through it. We didn’t know where it went and were prepared to seal it off when Sarah accidentally fell through. I went in after her. The problem is it clearly messes with time. I went through thirty seconds after she did but Sarah ended up getting here six months before me.”

  “I’ve been here for three years,” Luther told him. “You were most fortunate the amount of time between arrivals were in months and not years.”

  “We seriously need to seal that thing off,” Steve told his wife. “It’s way too dangerous.”

  Sarah nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  Cora turned to look at Luther. She took his right hand and brought it to her lips.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  Puzzled, Luther looked at his wife.

  “What are you sorry for, love?”

  “I’m sorry for doubting you.”

  Luther stared at his wife in shock.

  “You, too? You didn’t believe me, either? I tried to tell you both that I wasn’t from this world.”

  Cora hung her head and her cheeks reddened.

  “Be that as it may,” Steve interjected, “we have a bigger problem. We need to find a way home. We were figuring you’d probably know how to use that portal, or maybe where it’d show up next. You do, don’t you?”

  Luther slowly shook his head no.

  “You said it was an interdimensional portal!” Steve argued. “That has to mean it can move between worlds! You used it to get here so there’s got to be a way to use it to get back, right?”

  Again Luther slowly shook his head.

  “How do you know? Have you tried?”

  “I was there when Zevern created it,” Luther explained. “The king had found some book about a prophecy and had become obsessed by it. He said that a link to another world must be created so he tasked Zevern with finding a way to do it.”

  “I know this portal jumps around,” Steve countered, “apparently through time as well. However, there’s got to be a way to figure out where it’ll be next.”

  “I’m afraid not,” Luther sadly told him. “I tried tracking it for over a year. The most reasonable explanation I could come up with is that the portal is only one way.”

  Sarah began crying. AnnaBelle and Cora rushed to her side to console her. Steve swore under his breath.

  “Who in their right freakin’ mind would create an unstable portal?” Steve demanded. “Is Zevern that inept?”

  Luther nodded and lowered his voice as if he was somehow afraid the wizard might be able to hear him. “You’d be surprised. He’s not that good. Zevern is very absentminded; some might say batty.”

  “Is that a trait common with all castle wizards? The wizard from our time is just like that.”

  Luther gave a hollow laugh.

  “Our wizard was partly responsible for bringing us here,” Steve continued. “He and a dwarf have an ongoing dispute. They were in the middle of one of their arguments when Sarah was accidentally knocked into that portal. I told them that when I get back they were either going to bury the hatchet or else I’d personally bury it for them.”

  Sarah suddenly stopped sobbing and looked hopefully over at Luther.

  “Wait a minute. Weren’t you supposed to have built a portal? We can go to Lentari. This Zevern fellow should be able to help us. If he created an interdimensional whatsit to bring you here then he should be able to create another one that will take us home.”

  Cora worriedly looked at her husband. Luther’s head had fallen until he was staring at the floor.

  Sarah was confused. “What? What’d I say? What’s the matter?”

  “The portal is complete,” Luther confirmed, using a very sullen voice, “but is unable to be activated.”

  Steve was curious. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why? What’s the problem?”

  “The athe crystal is broken,” Luther admitted. “It has shattered. There is no way to activate my portal. I have no way to return home to get another; therefore I have failed in my mission. Zevern probably could help you, my friends, but without a way to get to Lentari I’m afraid we are all stuck here. Forever.”

  Steve and Sarah both began to smile. Cecil noticed first and became defensive.

  “Why are you two smiling? Their discomfort pleases you?”

  Luther looked up and saw Steve’s smile.

  “Perhaps we should finish our introductions,” Steve suggested.

  Disinterested, Luther shrugged.

  “My name is Steve Miller,” Steve began. “I am from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I am married to this lovely lady, who goes by Sarah Miller. I am a fire thrower, as if you couldn’t tell. Sarah, perhaps you’d like to tell them what your jhorun is?”

  Sarah smiled.

  “I’m a teleporter.”

  Luther’s head jerked up and his eyes landed on hers.

  “A teleporter?”

  “One that’s strong enough to make the jump between worlds. I can get us to Lentari!”

  Chapter 6 – Pesky Powerless Portal

  “Allow me to see if I understand you correctly,” Luther said slowly as he collected his thoughts. “You both have jhorun, yet you’re not Lentarian. You are both able to use your jhorun here whereas I cannot. You also say that you, Steve, are a descendant of mine and live here in this manor, yet that won’t be for over a hundred years? Have I missed anything?”

  “You missed the part about needing us in order to complete your mission,” Steve reminded him. “Specifically Sarah. Her jhorun is strong enough to span our two worlds.”

  “How?” Luther demanded. “No teleporter is strong enough to jump between worlds. Better yet, explain how your jhoruns work here when mine doesn’t? No. Wait. If what you say is true, explain to me how you even have a jhorun in the first place when you’re not Lentarian?”

  Steve returned his ancestor’s frank stare.

  “You are Lentarian, which makes me Lentarian.”

  “Part Lentarian,” Luther corrected. “By at least five generations. That would suggest you should have a jhorun but it wouldn’t be very strong.”

  Steve shrugged. “Our jhorun had a little help.”

  “From who?” Luther wanted to know.

  Steve cleared his throat. “A sorceress by the name of Caladonia.”

  “Why would a sorceress be willing to help you?” Luther wondered aloud.

  “Do you remember what you told us about the king?” Sarah suddenly asked.

  “Aye. Kri’Calin had found a book about some prophecy and wanted to create a link to another world. What of it?”

  “She’s the one who made the premonition,” Sarah answered. “Trust me, it’s a long story. Look, I don’t blame you for having a lot of questions. If I were in your shoes I’d want answers, too.” Sarah was silent for a few moments as she thought of how to best explain their situation. “You said earlier that you were there when that interdimensional portal was created, right?”

  Luther nodded. A look of puzzlement was written across his features.

  Sarah took her husba
nd’s hand and smiled at Luther. “Let’s just say that it worked.”

  “What worked? The portal? Obviously.”

  “No, the prophecy,” Sarah corrected. “You’ve heard of the Nohrin?”

  Luther nodded. “It was in the prophecy. The Nohrin are the offworld protectors responsible for protecting the future prince.”

  Steve spread his arms wide as if to say, here we are!

  “You two? You’re the protectors?”

  Steve ignited his left hand and blasted a jet of fire at his right hand, which absorbed it upon impact. Both hands then snuffed out.

  “Why else would our jhorun work here? It had to be strong enough to protect the prince regardless of where we were.”

  “Prince? What prince?”

  “The young prince from our time,” Sarah told him, deliberately omitting Mikal’s name.

  Luther shook his head in wonder. “If only the king were here now. He’d be ecstatic! My friends, he talked incessantly about you. Where were you from? What was your world like? When would you arrive? He wanted to know everything.”

  “I’m sorry to say he won’t learn anything. At least, not in his lifetime,” Steve said.

  Luther sat down on the closest chair and gazed up at his descendant.

  “Simply incredible.”

  “What is?” AnnaBelle prompted.

  “That the old fool was right about something.”

  “Who?” Steve asked. “Your king or Zevern, the wizard?”

  Luther smiled. “Yes.”

  Steve smiled back. “Trust me, we were just as surprised to learn about our involvement in that prophecy as you were. It took a while before I was willing to believe. Anyway, what did the king say about us?”

  “There wasn’t a lot of information about the Nohrin,” Luther admitted. “There was no clarification about who the Nohrin were, let alone what world they lived on. Besides, how were we even supposed to contact another world? How were we supposed to search for the Nohrin if we didn’t know what they looked like? Were they even human? The king decided the only thing he could do to facilitate their arrival was figure out how our world could link to another. On and on, over and over, it’s all he talked about. Quite frankly, I was sick to death of hearing about it.”

  “So your job, your mission, was to come here and set up a way for these Nohrin people to find their way to your world?” Cecil hesitantly asked.

  Luther nodded sheepishly. “Aye, and because of my clumsiness, I failed. I allowed a sunbeam to fall upon the athe crystal.”

  “That’s the crystal that powers the portal,” Steve explained to Cecil and his wife. “It’s very delicate. If the crystal is exposed to the sun then it’ll end up breaking apart.”

  “More like shattering,” Luther agreed solemnly.

  “How did you break the crystal?” Sarah asked. “Did you accidentally take it outside?”

  Luther anxiously looked at Cora before he dropped his eyes back to the ground. Steve chuckled.

  “Out with it, grandpa. What did you do?”

  “Don’t call me grandpa.”

  “Sorry. Out with it, great-great-grandpa. Better?”

  “Egads, no.”

  Sarah giggled.

  “It doesn’t really matter how it was broken,” Steve decided as he raised an eyebrow at his ancestor. Both Luther and Cora had blushed and then looked at each other when asked about that crystal. Clearly they knew more than they were letting on. Was it possible that his great-great-grandparents had been horsing around with the crystal? Whatever the reason this wasn’t the time to pursue it. He’d have to inquire later. “The fact of the matter is it’s broken. There’s no fixing it. You need another one. Therefore, we need to get to Lentari. Sarah and I can do it.”

  Luther shuffled uneasily from foot to foot.

  “What’s the matter?” Steve asked, annoyed. Luther’s hesitation and his lack of excitement angered him. Why would Luther have a problem with going back to Lentari to get another crystal? Would that not complete his mission? Shouldn’t he be happy? Grateful?

  Sensing Steve’s unspoken questions, Luther sighed.

  “If I go back to Lentari and tell them I mishandled the athe crystal and need another, what will they think? I don’t want it known that my folly caused this predicament.”

  Steve shrugged. “The only reason you’re here in Idaho is to link this world with Lentari, right? If you, or someone else, doesn’t make it back to Lentari to get another then we, namely Sarah and I, will never make it to Lentari in the first place and all this will be for naught. Suck it up. Everyone needs help from time to time.”

  Sarah raised a hand. “I have a question. Let’s assume you get that portal working upstairs. How is that supposed to help us get home? That portal is not designed to move us through time.”

  “No, but it will get you to Lentari,” Luther pointed out.

  “So what? I can get there without the portal.”

  “I understand, Miss Sarah,” Luther patiently explained. “However, the portal must be fixed to assure your future will not be altered, but in order for you to have a future you must see if Zevern can create another interdimensional portal to return you home. To your own time.”

  “And if he can’t?” Steve prompted.

  Sarah’s eyes teared up again. Luther gave them all a furtive smile.

  “Ask the king for another jorii. I will see if I can do anything from my end here.”

  Steve turned to Luther and raised an eyebrow.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? What would you be able to do with it?”

  “What’s your jhorun?” Sarah asked. “Did you already tell us and I missed it?”

  Luther smiled and shook his head no.

  “You didn’t miss it as I haven’t revealed it. I am a gatekeeper.”

  “You’re a gatekeeper?” Steve chuckled. “Are you sure you’re not the keymaster?”

  Sarah, standing directly on Steve’s left, punched him on his arm. True to her deadly aim, Steve’s arm tingled like crazy for a few moments. Steve gave his stinging arm a quick rub.

  “Hit the funny bone on that one. Ouch. That smarts.”

  “You watch way too many movies, dear,” Sarah informed him. “He’s not going to have a clue what that means.”

  “Fine. Guilty as charged.”

  Their four companions stared uncertainly at them.

  “It’s a joke,” Steve told them. “It’s from… Forget it. Luther, what does a gatekeeper do?”

  “I can take an unlinked portal and direct it to where it’s supposed to go, all without the aid of any instruments or machines. My jhorun is quite rare. Only a handful of gatekeepers have been known to exist. In fact, most of them were from my family.”

  Sarah nodded comprehendingly. “That’s why you’re here. You can build this portal and link it back to Lentari.”

  Luther nodded affirmatively. “Correct. That’s why I was perfect for this mission. They just had to get me here. I alone could link the portal back.”

  Cecil held up a hand. “Does that mean you can take this portal you’re building and – “

  “Already built,” Luther corrected.

  “Very well, built. So you can take this portal that you’ve built, wave your hands at it, and it’ll send them home?”

  “I’ve never tried to modify a portal to move someone through time,” Luther confessed. “That doesn’t mean I can’t try.”

  “Do you really think you can do it?” Sarah hopefully asked.

  Luther shrugged and held up his hands.

  “I cannot make any promises, my friends. But I would definitely give it my best attempt, seeing how I have a vested interest in getting you two home.”

  Steve whooped aloud, grabbed Sarah, and started twirling her around in a circle.

  “Now that is what I’m talking about! Yes! We have a plan. What do you need me to do? How can I help?”

  Cecil held up a hand.

  “Pardon me, but I have a questi
on.”

  Caught up in Steve’s contagious good mood, Luther slapped his friend on the shoulder and nodded.

  “Yes, Cecil. What’s on your mind?”

  Cecil turned to Steve and Sarah, still spinning around, and pointed at the two of them.

  “If what they say is true, if what everyone says is true, should they get involved? Wouldn’t they be jeopardizing their existence if something went wrong?”

  Steve stopped their spinning and turned to regard Cecil.

  “Way to rain on my parade, buddy.”

  Cecil gave a curt bow as a form of apology. He addressed Steve.

  “What I mean is, how can you be certain that what you’re doing will not somehow be changing something back in your time? I mean forward in your time. I mean… I don’t know what I mean. Hopefully you do. Are you not afraid?”

  “You’re damn right I’m afraid,” Steve answered. “We’d be fools not to be. Back in my time this would be called a damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don’t situation. Do I want to mess with anything that could hurt Sarah or myself? Absolutely not. Look at it this way. If we don’t get involved our lack of action will undoubtedly cause a paradox.”

  Cecil blinked his eyes a few times. “A what?”

  “A paradox. It’s something that is made up of two opposite things, which seems impossible, but is actually true or possible. The easiest way to explain myself is to give you an example. Let’s say I killed Luther right now. Thankfully, I won’t, nor will I ever do that. But what would happen if I did? Think about that for a moment, Cecil. Tell me. What do you think would happen to me?”

  Cecil considered. “If Luther died right now, he would obviously be unable to give any children to Cora, and therefore… therefore you would be in trouble, friend Steve. I understand now.”

  “We are the only ones on this world who can help Luther complete his mission,” Steve continued. “What he needs is simple. His portal needs a power source. The power crystal he needs is on Lentari. Ordinarily, he’d use his portal to get there, however, without the athe crystal to power the portal, it’s pretty much useless. So unless we step in to help, the portal will never work. And if that happens?”