Spring Showers Box-set
Page 37
such a great distance.”
Beacon of the Night looked at him and then slowly nodded. “Yes, this may be so,” he said
gloomily. “Yet we shall not be deterred!” he said determinedly as he turned and prepared to leave
the dark room. “Let us not forget our many successful attempts, and continue striving for success
in distant and more difficult situations.”
Rhuna opened her eyes and realized that she was thoroughly exhausted all of a sudden. She
let herself flop onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
Some days later, a messenger from The Reigning One’s residence appeared in front of
Rhuna’s house, beckoning her to attend.
“To escort Queen Uxbana on a viewing tour of Safu,” the messenger told her, taking Rhuna by
surprise. She decided to dress more appropriately, then kissed Shandi and Aradin before walking
briskly behind the messenger. As she walked, she noticed that the gardens were being tended
everywhere, in preparation for the warmer seasons ahead. The Safu garden arrangements were
so different from those in Atlán, but their simple geometric shapes and straight lines suited the
style of buildings in Safu.
“See The Reigning One first,” the messenger said as he directed Rhuna towards one of the
Attendance Halls in the grand stone building. The high ceilings and columns gave the rooms a light
and airy feeling instead of the heavy and oppressive atmosphere usually created by large stone
blocks.
Rhuna stepped inside the Attendance Hall where The Reigning One was seated, stiff and
motionless as usual. Several attendants stood around him, one holding a drinking vessel and ewer,
and another approached Rhuna to usher her to the visitor’s chair.
“My soldiers have reported unnatural occurrences and physical afflictions when
accompanying Ubanti traders into Safu,” he boomed. “Certain Atlans appear to be responsible for
these events.”
Rhuna nodded in acknowledgement of the blunt statement, and then explained that a new
Atlan Council was on its way to Safu.
“The Atlan Council has the responsibility and authority to sort this out and make it right,”
she told him.
“Hmm,” he responded brusquely, and then waved the subject away with a quick gesture of
his fingers.
“Queen Uxbana desires your company on her tour of Safu,” he said in the same tone. Rhuna
answered that she felt honoured by this privilege, and then followed one of the attendants to a
stately room where Uxbana was waiting.
“Ah! You have the wonderful textile!” Uxbana gushed when she saw what Rhuna held out to
her as she approached the Queen of the Ubanti people. She immediately began to feel it with her
long slim fingers, then unfolded the fabric to view the pattern and colours. “Splendid, splendid!”
she said with a wide grin.
After bombarding her personal Ubanti attendants with instructions in their own language,
Uxbana indicated that she was ready to view Safu, and together they fol owed The Reigning One’s
attendant to an elaborately decorated carry-seat.
Uxbana sat tall and regal in all her finest regalia, making Rhuna feel small and ordinary.
They proceeded along the wide, tree-lined street from The Reigning One’s residence to the Atlan
part of Safu, where Rhuna’s house was located.
“The roads are so smooth and exactly straight!” she exclaimed, making Rhuna smile. “How is
it done?” she demanded to know.
“When there is no rock to quarry nearby, we can transform either sand, soil or even water
sometimes,” Rhuna began. “Usually, we make moulds for the sand or water so that we get the
same size of blocks or paving stones.”
“But everything is so accurate and straight! How is it done?”
“Simply a string held tight at both ends,” Rhuna answered.
“Aha!” Uxbana said exuberantly. “Not with the mind power, but with string! Even we Ubanti
can do that!” she laughed heartily.
“Now, the buildings with very big stone blocks,” Uxbana said pointing to one of the grand
homes with large courtyard gardens.“It is not possible to lift such heavy stones. How?” she
demanded to know.
“With our mental powers we can transform the magnetic earth energies that are all around
us, and that makes anything in the area we focus on become weightless or at least light enough to
lift easily.”
“Oooooh,” Uxbana said, fascinated.
Rhuna directed the attendants along streets where other buildings for production could be
viewed, explaining which one was a granary where wheat and barley were prepared and ground
into a fine meal, and which one was for slaughtering and preparing meats. When they neared The
Great River, Rhuna showed her some of the irrigation and dam walls, and then pointed across to
the far shore where irrigated fields of crops and vegetables grew.
“We can learn a great deal from Safu,” Uxbana said with a firm nod of her head.
After viewing the part of the river set aside for swimming, then the large and flat grassy plain
used for a variety of games and physical agility competitions, Rhuna directed the attendants to take
them to the pyramids.
“Aaaah! The pyramids! So tall, so high! The gold on top of this one – how?”
Rhuna smiled again and realized she enjoyed explaining the skills unique to Atlans.
“I don’t know all the details, but there is a very knowledgeable Atlan man here who knows all
about the Pyramids,” Rhuna said, thinking fondly of Possessor of Discernment.
“I want to meet him!” Uxbana stated promptly.
Rhuna suggested a rest and refreshments as they finally arrived at the base of the pyramids,
and after walking around to view the various produce being traded at the market stalls, she looked
around for Possessor of Discernment. As she had expected, the white-haired Atlan was nearby, his
countenance lifted when he saw Rhuna waving to him. Uxbana saw the elderly man respond to
Rhuna’s wave, and promptly walked towards him.
“Tell me the purpose of these giant buildings!” she demanded of the ageing Atlan man.
“With pleasure,” he said bowing his head slightly. “The First Atlans built the first Pyramid to
establish Atlan Knowledge in this world,” he began enthusiastically. The Pyramid had multiple
purposes in the beginning, and can adapt to function in other ways throughout the passing of
time.”
“Oooh” Uxbana said breathlessly and her slender neck stretched for a better view of the
enormous height and girth of the pyramids.
“In the present time, they serve to harness and store cosmic, solar, lunar and earth energies,”
Possessor of Discernment continued, his blue eyes sparkling.
“And in past times?” Uxbana asked excitedly.
“Various functions were utilized by the First Atlans, such as providing the Masters with
temporary extraordinary powers, enabling them to build the city of Safu and establish the Atlan
colony. Certain chambers inside the Pyramid serve to imbue extra mental powers, if only
temporarily, in order to accomplish certain great feats,” Possessor of Discernment explained.
Rhuna and Uxbana followed the Atlan Pyramid guide around one of the pyramids and then
through a doorway inside the main pyramid. Rhuna felt the solid stone walls envelope her with
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sp; silent strength and deep inner vibration.
“So quiet, but I can still hear things,” Uxbana whispered with awe.
“The frequency of the earth,” answered Possessor of Discernment in a hushed tone which
sounded amplified in the cavity of the pyramid. Rhuna listened and heard the buzz of static
energy. “The Pyramid was built on precisely the correct location, and with the exact dimensions
to allow the entire pyramid to resonate with the earth’s frequency.”
“Ooooh” said Uxbana softly as she exhaled slowly.
“The nature of this stone contains fine, granular elements that generate energy, and therefore
the entire pyramid can be used to harness, produce and store static energy.”
“Mmm,” said Uxbana, as if she were savouring a tasty morsel of food. They walked a little
further in silence until they stepped out on the other side of the pyramid. Uxbana walked forward
in giant strides, stopped and then looked up at the pyramid for a new and respectful visual
examination.
“So, we can harness energy from the earth if we build a pyramid on the right place?” Uxbana
repeated incredulously.
“Yes, but there are only very few places as powerful as this one on the planet,” Possessor of
Discernment said.
“What are those people doing over there?” Uxbana asked, pointing to the New Arrivals’
encampment.
“Making devices to produce the works of the Atlans without the use of any mental powers,”
Rhuna replied.
“Oh! This is what we want!” Uxbana exclaimed excitedly. “Take me there!”
“I am Uxbana of Zambalu, Queen of the land of Ubanti,” she said as she gracefully stepped
out of the carry-seat. The New Arrivals and others in their company watched in silent awe as the
tall and elegant woman approached them, her gold and other jewels glimmering in the sunshine.
“Welcome!” said several of them in unison, and Rhuna recognized Progress of the Wind and
Beacon of the Night among them. She quickly summarized Queen Uxbana’s interest and purpose
in visiting Safu, and then introduced a few of the New Arrivals to the Ubanti queen.
“These devices are intended for use by Atlans only, in order to continue the Atlan tradition,”
Progress of the Wind explained.
Uxbana looked at Rhuna. “She told me that Atlan things are for everybody!” she said
irritated.
“Generally speaking, yes,” said Beacon of the Night stepping forward and giving Uxbana a
respectful bow.
“The employment of Atlan Knowledge and these new devices carries a great responsibility,
and we Atlans are obligated to ensure that the Knowledge is placed in capable hands.”
“We Ubanti are very capable and responsible people!” Uxbana sniffed.
“Of course, My Queen,” said Beacon of the Night, and Rhuna sensed his false politeness and
exaggerated adulation.
“No doubt after further discussions between your leaders and ours, an arrangement can be
reached,” he said. Rhuna noticed that Progress of the Wind scowled at Beacon of the Night behind
his back, and assumed that he did not approve of his leader’s words.
As the sun began its descent, Rhuna directed the carry-seat to the Commoners’ part of the
city, tel ing Uxbana that this was where she had performed many of the great deeds she had heard
about.
“We have such people, also,” said Uxbana lifting her nose into the air as the poor Benshi
rushed out of their homes to greet Rhuna.
“Kagu-Hina!” they called out joyfully.
“That means ‘Star Child’ because a certain new and bright star began to appear in the sky at
the time I first came to Safu,” Rhuna explained to Uxbana.
“Are you come to heal us?” asked one old Benshi men without any teeth.
“Protect us from the curses!” some others called out to her.
“Curses? They are prevalent among the Commoners?” Uxbana asked, suspiciously.
“Among all kinds of people, but yes, mostly here,” Rhuna confirmed. “They are the most
easily susceptible and superstitious.”
Rhuna looked at the gathering crowd of Benshi and then recognized the woman who had the
pain in her side. She was making her way through the crowd to approach Rhuna and speak.
“Want amulet!” she shouted.
“How is the pain now? Can you sleep better?” Rhuna asked, trying to make a quick visual
examination of her patient.
“Sleep better, pain same!” she said angrily. “Where get amulet?”
“They think that wearing a certain piece of jewellery will make their ailments disappear,”
Rhuna whispered to Uxbana seated next to her.
“And is it so?” Uxbana asked, her elegant face showing a mix of awe and horror.
“No…” Rhuna hesitated, being careful what she said. “Some Atlans have
been…experimenting…with their powers,” she said slowly. “But that has come to an end now, and
the new Atlan Council of Safu will make sure such things don’t happen again.”
“Some of your people do these things? Hurt the poor and vulnerable?”
“Only some! And then they are disciplined, or banished,” Rhuna said adamantly.
“Hmm,” Uxbana said thoughtfully as she frowned.
Rhuna told the woman with the constant pain that she would do something for her as soon
as she could.
“You spend time here, helping these people? They should help themselves first!”
“Most of them need to be shown how to do things, and then they usually improve their own
lives,” Rhuna responded.
Uxbana shook her head and told Rhuna that her uncle and brothers would not agree with
her.
“The Reigning One thought the same at first,” Rhuna answered, and then related how he sent
some soldiers to assist in providing materials to make proper doors and windows, and soon many
of the capable people of the Benshi poor were improving their homes by themselves.
“Hmm,” Uxbana said, looking at everything more carefully. “Our Poor need blocks for
building,” she said. “They live in open spaces, like animals. No house, no roof,” she gestured
energetically with her long arms and graceful hands.
“We have big rock mountains near our land. How can we make building blocks from it? We
are tired of mixing mud with dry grass and baking small bricks in the sun all day!”
“You could use the devices to cut rock,” Rhuna said excitedly. “Then you wouldn’t even need
an Atlan Master to help you.”
“And how to transport the heavy rocks?”
“Roaming the Hills is making a device that changes the nature of gravity using sound. That
can be used to make it easier to lift heavy stone blocks,” Rhuna replied.
“Ah, excellent, excellent,” she said exuberantly, and began to play with her many bracelets and
necklaces in happy anticipation.
“The devices aren’t ready yet,” Rhuna said, and watched Uxbana’s disappointed reaction.
“But I could come visit your land and help already,” Rhuna suggested quickly.
“You would do that?” Uxbana said, eyebrows arched. “What do you want in return? We have
much gold.”
“I don’t want anything in return,”Rhuna said, waving her hand dismissively. “Just like I did
for the Commoners here, I can do for your people. And maybe some other Atlan Masters would
come with me and help make paving stones and building
blocks.”
“Oh!” Uxbana clapped her hands together with joy. “How wonderful!”
The evening meal was lively with conversation at Rhuna’s home that night as she related
all the events of the day. Faleesh had prepared a delicious dish of meat cooked in goat’s milk and
yams seasoned with herbs, and Shandi giggled and chirped ‘black woman’ every time Rhuna
mentioned Uxbana.
“You are proud of Atlan traditions,” Aradin said as he smiled at her.
Tired but satisfied after the long day, Rhuna retreated to her sleeping chamber after putting
Shandi to bed. Her thoughts returned to the woman with the constant pain who had asked her
desperately for an amulet to lift the curse.
Rhuna let the silence of her chamber calm her, and then moved into the position for Inside
Focussing, deciding to summon a vision mentally, as she had done in the past. She was able to
summon visions that could not be summoned by means of the Gazing of the Waters, and they
were clear and undistorted by the hallucinatory effect of the herbs.
She thought about the Benshi woman suffering from the unexplained pain in the side of
her abdomen, then focused her concentration on what caused the pain in her side. She
immediately saw a vision of a figurine with a pin sticking in its side. The image startled Rhuna and
she opened her eyes with a gasp.
After a moment, Rhuna decided to examine the possibility of helping the woman in The
Infinite, and promptly arranged some cushions in preparation for releasing her Extended
Consciousness. She found the release much easier and without disorientation now, and with
continued guidance from her father, she was beginning to understand the colours, lights and
patterns she sensed in The Infinite.
When Rhuna’s Extended Consciousness was afloat and ready to respond to her direction,
she focused her thoughts on the Benshi woman. In an instant, she saw her with a long spear
sticking out of her abdomen, and realized that this was the pin that the Dark Ones had stuck into
the dol representing the woman.
Rhuna examined the spear and realized it was not solid but of a different matter, like Tozar’s
message in The Infinite. It looked like loose grains of sand in a glutinous mass, but did not move or
make a sound. She wondered whether she could destroy it with something, and realized she