by Mario Routi
I remember once when you came to the lake and we went swimming. You emerged naked from the water and then flew. The water cascaded off you as it does from the wings of a swan.
Not being an Orizon, I couldn’t fly to join you. I took the boat and rowed hard to the middle of the lake, making the oars my wings. Then I waved my arms for you to land there. You came and we went for a romantic boat ride. I told you that every night while you slept I sat by your side, listening to your breaths and counting them. I’d cover you up if your blankets slipped when you turned over. I’d try to guess your dreams from the expressions on your sweet face. When you awoke in the morning, as I prepared food for you, you’d recount - with your mouth full! - the dreams you’d had during the night. Later, when you went to work for the good of our land and its people, I’d sleep for a while and have the same dreams you’d told me about.
My second secret is that, at one point, I began writing my memoirs - all those thousands of years of life! What should I highlight and what should I leave out? I had seen a lot. I had countless cobwebbed, embalmed memories and I dug up even more. In addition, I had read and heard a lot while I was here.
I started with regret about my childhood. I wanted to be like my father; I wanted to perform labours too. But he and Theseus had killed all the monsters and evil-doers and settled everything important. There was nothing left for me to do. I didn’t even face the dilemma that Hercules did - whether to follow the path of virtue or that of evil.
Luckily, I caught the thunderbolt in the Forest of Mysteries. Later, I strangled a few snakes to keep with the family tradition!
A hero must fight against overwhelming evil powers. He’ll either win or die, but in either case he’ll still be a hero, especially when he goes out in search of adventure rather than being compelled to fight.
My father was a taciturn man who rarely offered advice, but once he told me: “If we don’t have anything good to say, it’s better to say nothing. If we can find nothing good to do, let’s do nothing.”
I wrote about my experiences as a child; how the child of a hero sees life. How he sees life as an adolescent and then as an adult. I described the constant suspense and uncertainty - all the wars, the massacres, the enslavement - with human beings sold as chattels in the marketplace - and the forced labour that marred what are now thought of as epic years and showed how little regard people had for one another. The comfortable lives of the rulers and the wretchedness of their subjects were permanent, unchanging realities. High-living kings were succeeded by arrogant, war-loving emperors and bloodthirsty, thieving dictators. I observed all this as a solitary traveller.
I tried to describe the struggle of a man searching for the definition of social dignity in order to stand upright in the world, with all its spiritual misery, worn-out dreams, broken hopes, stale ideals and the dark paths of the soul. My pen wrote and every word bloodied the pages. My writings were a lament for what happens in life. I cannot bear to see another defeat for fading humankind.
I was angered by the historical distortions and chronological inaccuracies that I, myself, had noticed, as well as those revealed by the information brought by the Orizons who visited Earth. The crust was often impressive, but it was always fragile and tasteless. I was doing my best to restore the truth.
This work took me about a hundred Earth years to complete, but alas, all of it - the distillation of my soul - was burned when the Cyclopes and the Porth set fire to my house.
Some nights, while looking at the stars, I wrote about love, friendship and passion - about the strength, depth and extent of those feelings. I believe that the frontiers between them are so flimsy, pliant and open that you can cross from one feeling to another without violating borders.
One evening of majestic silence, a star came in through the window and stood in front of me. How the room glowed! It told me you had sent it to give me a kiss. Then it sat on my desk and said:
“It’s the first time in eternity that this has happened to me. I’ve seen billions of lovers, but nobody has ever asked me to do anything like this. That’s why I escaped at once and came to meet you. Besides, I had her message to deliver - this favour to do for her. Now I want you to describe to me your feelings for her.”
“Thank you for the kiss,” I answered in amazement. “But I can’t do you the favour that you ask because he who can recount his love, loves little. And I cannot!”
“I understand you... and I hope you never can!” said the star happily, and left.
Leiko rested the quill and closed his eyes, falling asleep at her side. In a vivid dream, he saw himself and Felicia walking in a tranquil garden with eyes only for each other.
“When the son of Hercules has a union with an Orizon,” he said, “surely their children will be the finest breed of them all.”
She smiled at him quietly and the scene transformed to a wedding ceremony. Leiko and Felicia were the bride and groom. Guests showered them with white rose petals and harps played. Lord Life walked towards them, slowly, regally. They knelt down and Lord Life placed the Flame around their tightly clasped hands before handing it to Bull and placing his hands on the couples’ heads.
“May the Flame bind you forever!” he said.
The couple rose and Lord Life embraced them both.
In the crowd were Lady Danae, General Foster and even Hercules, himself. The musicians played the White Sun Waltz and the dancing began. Felicia was a fantastic dancer and Leiko looked like he was the happiest man in the universe.
Then they switched partners and Leiko danced with Danae while Felicia danced with Hercules.
“I’m so happy for both of you,” Hercules told her.
When the celebration wound down, Leiko and Felicia left for their new home and, once in the bedroom, they made sweet, tender love.
Leiko woke as the first morning light streamed through the hospital window and opened his eyes. The dream was so vivid that it seemed real. He leaned over to Felicia, touched her hair softly, and whispered in her ear:
“Did you perchance have the same dream, too?”
Felicia’s eyes fluttered open and her lips parted in a smile.
38
One Week Later
Bull and Rebecca walked side by side through Domus Forest. Suddenly, Pegasus appeared before them - healthy and strong.
“Pegasus! You’ve recovered!” cried Rebecca, running up to him and throwing her arms around his neck. “I was so worried about you! Did you know he was here, Bull?”
“Actually,” Bull grinned, “that’s why I brought you here. Lord Life and Felicia have prepared a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? For me? Why?”
“There are to be no more wars for now. Utopia and Beast have officially agreed to a temporary truce - at least until the Gods decide what will happen with the matter of the Flame. You are among the ones we have to thank for that, according to Lord Life. And now, go for a little ride on Pegasus.”
Rebecca willingly climbed astride the flying horse. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see!” Bull smiled, as the mythical horse spread his wings and took off into the sky. Bull stood watching. There was the crash of thunder and a bolt of lightning before both horse and rider disappeared.
Seconds later, Pegasus touched down in the Land of the Gods - the brilliant, shimmering landscape of the Elysian Fields. To Rebecca’s surprise, he spoke to her in a clear, deep voice and no longer via telepathy in her head.
“Well, here we are!” he said.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Elysian Fields, where anything is possible.”
The sky above them was the brightest blue that Rebecca had ever seen in her life and both the sun and the moon were there, glowing with enhanced colours. The grass that Pegasus had landed on was not just green, nor were the trees
around her. Rainbow colours were spread everywhere, like an intricately woven carpet. Everywhere she looked, she could see flowers and trees that she had never before encountered. She was certain that they would all be able to talk, just like the Wise Tree in the Land of the White Sun. Little pink and white clouds were scudding gently around, creating a fairy-like atmosphere.
“It’s all so beautiful!” she murmured.
“And now,” Pegasus said, “I want you to look over there...” He pointed with his left front leg towards a large and particularly colourful tree. Under the tree, on a puffy, light blue cloud, Julius waited impatiently.
As he looked proudly at his daughter, his eyes filled with tears of joy.
“Dad!” she cried, jumping off Pegasus and running into her father’s open arms.
39
Rebecca spent hours with her father, neither of them able to get enough of one another’s company. As they talked, Rebecca saw the shape of a man approaching from far away. Seeing her puzzled look, Julius followed her gaze and smiled.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “I have promised to let him see you, too.”
“Who?” she asked, but her father said nothing, merely waiting as the figure drew closer and she was able to make out his features. Rebecca felt her heart rate quicken as she realised it was Turgoth who approached. When he reached them, he waited respectfully while Julius hugged and kissed his daughter once more.
“I’ll leave you two for now,” Julius said, “but don’t worry, I shall see you again before you return to Utopia.”
As Julius and Pegasus disappeared, Rebecca and Turgoth were left staring at each other. Neither spoke for several minutes, until Rebecca broke the silence.
“You let me live, didn’t you?” she asked softly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, but his eyes gave him away.
“I thought that those who have the Flame in them never lie,” she teased.
“Let’s speak no more of battles,” he said, his face remaining serious, “since more are bound to follow soon. Fiercer ones, too.”
“What? Why? Aren’t the wars over, at least for now?”
“Yes, between the Orizons and the Sharkans, but only until we see what the Gods will decide about the Flame.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Some dark Gods have rebelled and created an army with all the evil creatures from Tartarus. They want to release the Titans and take over the Elysian Fields. Your father, Lady Danae, Field Marshal Foster and I are trying to help in the upcoming war because the Gods cannot get involved or interfere - not unless the Titans are freed.”
“Oh -”
“And that isn’t all, Rebecca, I’m afraid. Those Gods have given our secret technology to the Titans. They have managed to find a way to travel to the Land of the White Sun and attack Utopia with their army in order to steal the Flame. Then, they will be able to completely rule on Earth, too, and will destroy all worlds as we know them, changing the balance forever.”
“We will crush them!” Rebecca said, bravely.
“It won’t be so easy,” Turgoth smiled at the courage he heard in her voice. “But as I said, enough talk of wars and battles! How are you?”
“I’m much better now,” she said, blushing and quickly adding, “after seeing my father, that is.”
“Yes, yes of course. You must make sure you tell your mother about this.”
“I certainly will. What about you, King Turgoth?”
“What about me, Rebecca?”
“I mean, besides helping the Gods in their battle, how is your life here? Did you... did you find your wife?”
“Yes, I did.”
“And so you are back together and happy?”
“Oh no, she understands that I can’t be with her that way anymore. But we are good friends.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She knows that since I have finally discovered my soulmate, I could not be with anyone but her.”
“Of course... Haruma! So you’ve found her?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Is she here?”
“Yes, she is. Do you want to meet her?”
Rebecca hesitated, feeling a terrible, cold dread running through her. “Well... yes, sure... OK,” she said finally.
Turgoth took her hand and led her to a nearby crystal lake, its waters reflecting the brilliance of the sky above and the colours of the passing clouds. Waterfalls flowed upside down and she could hear beautiful musical sounds coming from the surrounding plants, flowers and trees. It was as if the whole of nature was serenading her.
“Here she is,” said Turgoth, pointing down at the mirrored surface of the water.
“I don’t think I understand...”
“Just look,” he encouraged her.
She did as he said before looking up and shaking her head. “All I can see is my refle...” she paused, aware that her heartbeat had grown even faster.
“Yes,” said the King, “that’s right.”
Rebecca understood. Turgoth reached out his hand and placed it on her head, releasing memories from another life and allowing them to flood into her mind.
“How... how can this be?” she asked in wonder.
“Reincarnation,” he explained.
“Is it possible?”
“Oh, yes!”
“But then... then why are you and my father still here? Why have you not been reincarnated? Or will it happen later?”
“No. We are already advanced, evolved souls and so are you now - that’s why you became an Orizon. The souls are immortal. All they need to do is evolve until their bodies become immortal too, and then their evolution stops and remains in that state.”
Rebecca could find no words to express the mixture of feelings and thoughts that were crowding her heart and her mind. Everything he told her now seemed obvious and true. She reached up and touched his chest on the very spot where she had stabbed him with her crystal sword.
He tenderly caressed her hair and as she looked into his eyes, she felt her whole body shivering with excitement. He leaned forward and they kissed for the first time after thousands of years. Tears of joy wet both their cheeks. She felt complete and cared no more of wars and battles.
40
Turgoth lay on the lakeshore with Rebecca sleeping peacefully in his arms. When Pegasus landed a few yards away and Turgoth saw Julius jump off and run towards them, he gently lifted Rebecca out off his arms and stood up, puzzled at what might have caused such panic in a man usually so calm.
“Julius?” he said, “Is something wrong?”
Rebecca woke at the sound of her father’s name, a little embarrassed to have Julius find her in another man’s arms, even though Turgoth had already told her that her father knew everything about his feelings for her and about their soulmate connection and history.
“Dad?”
“Rebecca! Take Pegasus and leave immediately. Turgoth, she has to go now. At once. No delays! The Tartarus army is soon going to launch an attack in the Elysian Fields to seize the Flame! The Gods are already calling together a War Council in their palace.”
“What? We hadn’t expected that so soon.” Turgoth seemed as perturbed by the news as Julius. “Rebecca, your father is right. You need to go now. Pegasus will take you to Utopia. You’ll be safe there.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “I’ve just found both of you. I’m not going to leave you now.”
“I’m not going to argue about this with you, Rebecca,” Turgoth insisted. “I want you to leave right now. Things are going to become very dangerous here soon and we want you to be safe.”
“But I want to stay and help,” she argued. “You both know I’m capable in battle.”
; “You don’t understand, Rebecca,” Julius intervened, seeing that Turgoth was torn between his desire for her safety and his desire to be with her. “If you are killed here, then... that’s it! Not even the Gods know if the soul will continue to exist.”
“Nothingness?” Rebecca asked.
“Probably, yes,” replied Julius.
“Then that’s one more reason for me to stay here. I’m not going anywhere! I won’t lose either of you again.”
“Rebecca, I’m begging you,” Turgoth said. “It is I who can’t afford to lose you again.”
“Come back to Utopia with me, then,” she suggested. “Both of you.”
“That would be impossible, darling,” her father explained. “Only those who have not yet died on Earth or in the Land of the White Sun can leave this place.”
At that moment, Pegasus interrupted. “It’s too late,” he said. “The Gods have shielded the Elysian Fields. Nobody gets in or out for now, unless via Tartarus.”
Both Turgoth and Julius looked horrified at this unforeseen turn of events, while the young Orizon seemed happy and relaxed.
“There you are,” she grinned at them. “It was obviously meant to be this way.”
“We need to go and see the Gods at once,” Turgoth said.
“At once!” Julius agreed with him.
A shadow in the sky became a black winged horse, which landed lightly beside Pegasus.
“Wow!” Rebecca was amazed. “There are more like you here. I had no idea.”
“Hundreds,” Pegasus said. “This is my brother, Lenus. I called him telepathically to come over and help us.”
While Julius rode on Lenus, Turgoth and Rebecca climbed up together onto Pegasus. Rebecca rode behind, with her arms around Turgoth’s waist, leaning her head against his broad back.
As they soared over the Elysian Fields, she saw other people flying on winged horses and puffy clouds, and still others flying by themselves, just like the Orizons in Utopia. Several people were walking across the landscape below wearing robes in the style of the ancient Greeks. She saw tree houses and other dwellings carved into the magnificent rocks of the mountains, which were thickly covered with luxuriant vegetation. She saw centaurs galloping across fields of brightly coloured flowers and other mythical creatures, including angels and tiny, delicate fairies. She even spotted a pair of beautiful unicorns playing together in the sunshine.