They finally reached a section of the tunnel that was clearly an entrance. They found themselves in the cool mountain breezes and inhaled the smell of fresh water. They could hear the voice of the ocean, together with the sound of birds and swaying foliage.
But thick metal bars—shiny and ornate—blocked their exit. The bars were artfully arranged and curved in circular, triangular, and straight lines. Beams of sunlight hit the surface. It was plain that they could go no further—this was just another prison for them.
A-amar tried to pull the bars away, but they didn’t even bend. Then Una-sei joined him, and they both pulled, and still nothing happened.
Knode and Osinthaph could see that the bars were made of Holmium, a type of alloy devised by the Sahaynaivium engineers. Holmium was ten to twenty times the strength of diamond. A-amar’s pride wouldn’t allow him to accept this, so he continued to try. Tenashar tried to get him to stop.
“Is there anything to be done?” Knode pondered. “One of my crew members told me once that these kinds of bars have to be touched a certain way to open them.”
“Yes, there is a code that should open these bars,” replied Osinthaph after a long silence. “But that secret is not easily uncovered.” She lightly touched the bars. A glistening rainbow of colors traveled across the surface. She started making signs with her fingers, as if casting a spell. The signs represented a key that a light beam would recognize, causing it to open the bars. Nothing happened.
Tenashar recalled that Nainashari secretly used similar finger and hand gestures.
Nothing worked, so in defeat, Osinthaph backed away from the bars embedded into the wall of the tunnel and called out to A-amar and Una-sei. “I don’t know the combination to release these bars and permit us through. Go ahead and rip the bars out.”
A-amar and Una-sei did just that, slowly dislodging the bars from their position. Parts of the tunnel began to crumble. A-amar hit part of the wall with a force of a wrecking ball, shattering most of the entranceway and crumpling all the bars.
“A-amar, why didn’t you do this before? A lot of time could have been saved!” Tenashar said.
“We didn’t want to offend Osinthaph. Or Knode. We thought that this tunnel might be sacred to their people,” replied A-amar.
Osinthaph and Siytai laughed. Knode and Marhidium smiled in amusement.
“I am sorry for the confusion!” Osinthaph said, still smiling. “This tunnel is of no importance. It’s just a tunnel, nothing else. I know it was my finger gestures that made you think something else. And I had to give you permission to use your great strength.” Tenashar knew that Sharzeens were guardians and servants and couldn’t destroy things unless told to.
chapter 22
Freedom and Serenity in the Mountains
Now they were out in the open, in the comfort and serenity of the mountain forests, rivers, and waterfalls.
The Ifathulai flowers—a type of flower that lights up at night—were blooming everywhere. In the daytime, the flowers turned a silvery, whitish-blue color that stood out. Tenashar remembered Knode talking about such a flower. Jarviashar picked one and gave it to him. With acceptance, Tenashar smiled at her.
The noise of snapping twigs could be heard in the distance, coming close very fast. From behind a thick growth of vines, two aeronauts appeared. Tenashar recognized the female as one of those who came into the tunnel to bring them provisions. The other was a male he hadn’t seen before—handsome and younger than most of the aeronauts Tenashar had seen so far.
The two aeronauts beckoned Osinthaph to come and speak with them.
While she was conversing with them, Tenashar looked around, noting the flower birds Knode had described. He had never guessed how beautiful they actually were. Tenashar’s feelings grew more distant, and he thought of his past—the past often hurt him.
“Your thoughts are deep. What’s wrong?” Jarviashar gently asked.
Tenashar made no reply.
Osinthaph came back with news. A flying ship was available for their use. But the time wasn’t ripe yet for takeoff. If they wanted to remain hidden from the authorities, the best time for the ship to depart would be at night.
Tenashar felt it was the right time to stay in the mountains for a while—meaning that the legends of Isedium would come to life, and he would be one of the few people from Senetha to see it.
The two aeronauts were ordered by Osinthaph to temporarily hide in the thick forest and to guard the flying ship.
Tenashar, along with the others, explored the surrounding area. Eventually they walked up to what appeared to be a flat slab of smooth stone, similar to the monoliths. But these monoliths were overgrown by vines of many colors that made them look like something to be worshiped.
They found a high lookout point for observation—a good spot to watch for anyone approaching their hiding place. Everyone looked down from this secure vantage point, surrounded and covered by the deep flowers and leaves. These flowers started to glow as twilight advanced. At the tunnel entrance, A-amar and Una-sei stood guard.
Tenashar did not like the secrecy of their temporary stay in the forest. It was a great disappointment that the leaders of Isedium didn’t turn out to welcome them.
Sometimes Tenashar and the others thought of accusing Seveaha or Leineha of misdirecting them to the north. “Why didn’t the Sovazal leaders order a ship to send us directly to Isedium?” said Tenashar.
“It could be possible that we were deceived,” replied Jarviashar.
Knode looked at everyone. “It’s very strange that everyone is having the same thoughts, without knowing what the others were thinking.”
“Perhaps it’s the magic of the mountains that caused us to have the same thoughts, or perhaps we were unconsciously talking to one another,” said Marhidium.
The sky began to turn a deep blue. The flower birds with their bright, glowing plumage flew in great numbers across the horizon, as if someone tossed a large number of flowers up into the night sky. The people of Isedium called these special birds Saijezif. The Saijezif made calls that sounded like music—music so beautiful that all of Isedium looked forward to hearing the songs. In fact, the scholars and scientists of Isedium recorded the music of these Saijezif.
All around them, the glowing flowers began to show a parade of color that was a delight. As usual, Siytai took no notice. Tenashar understood Jarviashar’s enthusiasm for the flowers, for he had seen these flowers many times before. He sarcastically reminded them that the flowers were poisonous.
Marhidium gave Siytai an equally sarcastic face, saying all one needed to do was look at the flowers—not eat them. Looks and gestures shot back and forth between Marhidium and Siytai that were so funny that Marhidium couldn’t stop laughing. Tenashar and Jarviashar laughed even more. It seemed that everyone had gone insane.
Amidst the fun, the two aeronauts returned to tell them it was time to leave. As they left for the ship, A-amar and Una-sei came from behind to guard everyone. They went walking as fast as they could. Tenashar thought for a moment that he caught a glimpse of a figure and was worried someone had found them, but it turned out the figure wasn’t human—instead it was sculptured of stone with glowing eyes, hidden within the dense forest canopy.
“I saw this thing in the forest back there. It was a sculpture with glowing eyes. It was kind of squat with an almost cone shaped head. Marhidium, are such images common in Isedium?” Tenashar asked as they hurried along.
“I am not sure about the images. I’ve always heard such things were rare,” Marhidium responded.
The images reminded Tenashar of the Sileizan forest.
Finally they reached the end of a confused tangle of vines, branches, and leaves. In a small clearing, a flying ship sat alone. It was smaller than the one Knode commanded and had none of the wing like sails. It had a smooth arrow-shaped body.
On the back of the craft sat the propulsive exhaust engine that drove the ship forward—like a transparent, smoke-colored
, upside-down bowl. The color reminded Tenashar of the monoliths. The Sahaynaiviums had somehow mastered a form of levitation. Ship’s engines used electromagnetic energy or antigravity of some sort.
They all hurriedly climbed into this beautiful flying ship. As they entered, an invisible door opened. Once inside, the two aeronauts went to the pilots’ cabin. They
Put them in the seat of command and made ready for takeoff.
Marhidium instructed everyone in the procedure of what to do when flying—everyone but Siytai, who she knew was a skilled flier.
chapter 23
Flight to the Capital
The ship started to lift off. Tenashar, looking out of the window, was staring down at the mountain and its forests with all the glowing flowers. It was a wonderful sight—like the stars of the night, but in a glowing multitude of colors. Added to this, the lamps that shined in the homes and buildings on the distant ground below made the view even more spectacular. These manmade embers of light, side by side with the natural glowing flowers, brought warmth to his soul.
Tenashar found that traveling on a flying ship was similar to sailing on a ship at sea. Tenashar found the experience of lift-off not that different from sailing in rough weather in a Honazalian ship—though there was a greater sensation within his stomach. He overcame this minor problem without much difficulty. Marhidium looked after Tenashar with the concern of an older sister.
Tenashar of course could not take his eyes off Marhidium. She seemed to be deep in thought. He wondered if she was thinking about the other aeronauts who died on the continent.
The ship was suddenly hit by some turbulence that tossed it sideways as it raced through the sky above the tiny islands below. The turbulence gradually subsided, and the air was smooth again. Tenashar relaxed and saw that the islands below looked like steppingstones on their way to Himoicum. He continued to stare in fascination at the islands below with their lighted homes and flowers. Eventually the flowers and their lights faded as the flying ship headed south, replaced by other less exciting species of flowers.
Tenashar’s excitement peaked again as he observed the beautiful ocean unfold below. The seas were glowing a phosphorous deep green, and mysterious beams of lights that shot up from various islands clearly showed the ingenuity of the Sahaynaivium people. The ship flew over many other islands, and Tenashar found each one of them to be unique.
Marhidium told Tenashar that the primary function of this type of flying craft was speed. It was used to get to a destination in a small amount of time. Even before dawn, the ship started descending. Tenashar felt a new sensation as the ship made a sharp decline. Night was rapidly fading, and the ship slowed and then leveled off into a low angle and continued straight ahead. Finally, with a slow hovering descent, it landed.
The island was almost void of vegetation. Only high sand dunes and huge boulders hid the flying ship from curious eyes. Sunrise greeted their arrival. The sky was clear here, but down the incline of the hill below them, Tenashar could make out clouds. It was obvious the ship had landed on a high mountain, or perhaps a dormant volcano. This dome-shaped volcano was made of red sand. It was one of the most beautiful sights the Sahaynaivium islands could offer a visiting traveler.
Tenashar looked at the cloudless sky, which made him feel that he was still flying. The pilots were the first to get up and put the ship in order so that they could help the other crewmembers. Tenashar wanted to be the first to step into the new landscape. Marhidium, Siytai, and the young male aeronaut assisted the others with their seatbelts and other procedures.
A-amar and Una-sei walked out of the door of the ship and were the first to get onto solid ground. Tenashar realized that they didn’t care for the flight—which amused Jarviashar when he mentioned it. A-amar looked away in mock anger, trying to disguise his embarrassment. Jarviashar and Marhidium just looked at each other and laughed. Siytai’s eyes widened with an unaccustomed smile.
The whole mountaintop was a wide expanse of deep red sand, as if painted by an artist. There were also some areas of black sand and larger volcanic rock and ash.
“This place reminds me of the desert world where I met Cadica.” Tears came to Tenashar’s eyes as he remembered the beautiful desert world where he had once lived.
Some of the fading stars were still out, barely visible as the sky gradually lit with the coming day. It was still cool, but the sun would become strong as the day progressed.
“Whoever is trying to stop us will never look here. This island Otal is mainly uninhabited. The authorities shouldn’t find us here. We need to evade them so we can travel to Himoicum without being detected. Then we can find the real reason for their secrecy,” said Osinthaph.
“You’re saying we are hiding here?” said Tenashar.
“True. When the authorities are searching somewhere else, we’ll leave for Himoicum. Then we’ll find the truth without the interference of the authorities,” said Osinthaph.
“We should plan and discuss what to do next. Let’s get going.” Tenashar believed that everything was still unresolved and that getting to Himoicum was imperative. “How will we get down from the mountain and travel to the other islands without using the flying ship?”
“Have no worries.” Knode smiled. “Our ship can travel at any altitude. We can fly very low, close to the water, and land as the ship approaches Himoicum. The flying ship can float on water. It’s designed very well.”
If Marhidium didn’t stop Knode from talking, he would go on forever. “Enough, Knode!”
Knode nodded his head, realizing that he talked too much.
Tenashar paid no attention and went to the side of the volcano. He picked up some volcanic sand. It glistened in the now bright sun like tiny diamonds as he threw down the sand, his attention went to the edge of the volcano, and he looked down over the clouds far below.
“Hey, Tenashar, keep away from the rim of the volcano—otherwise you might fall,” Knode called. “The sides of the volcano can be unstable, and some of the edges suddenly crack and break off.”
Tenashar was being hit by silent, implied questions that he couldn’t hope to answer. He was so confused by all the rumors he heard from the corrupt council. He had no idea what was to be done with the Orbs.
The young male aeronaut, Betaqal, was scarcely out of his teens. He said that his parents often told him, “The eating spheres will gather to envelop the world within their bodies, and all living things upon the earth will be their prisoners. Humans will then have to live in the bodies of the Orbs.”
Tenashar believed that this explanation about the Orbs wasn’t too far from the truth. For Nainashari had hinted that the Orbs, or “eaters of everything,” were actually spherical worlds that had gone astray or crazy. Knode theorized that the Orbs were once machines controlled by humans.
Tenashar recalled that the transparent rocks, spherical worlds, and Sharzeens were all similar in some way, or even related. They were certainly transparent. That was one thing they all had in common. For Tenashar, things started to come together like a puzzle that slowly was revealing a forbidden image.
He wondered if the learned scholars and scientists of Sahaynaivium and Honazal were somehow responsible and were even now trying to hide their error behind silent thoughts and voices. Or could the Orbs have come from another world? Had Cadica and Ilaythesia made a mistake in thinking that the Orbs had made the world a desert? Or was their world inside one of the Orbs?
Then a sudden flash of an image grew in Tenashar’s mind. Osinthaph stared at him as if she knew what he was thinking. “Tenashar, tell them what you just saw. I think they would like to know.”
“I saw a small dwarflike being inside of a sphere, working controls that looked similar to those of the flying ship. It was as if an embryo was controlling the world! Was it some type of symbol, or was it real?”
Then Thitwa, the other aeronaut, spoke up. “I heard similar stories from the people on the streets of Isedium about the Orbs. They said that s
omething like a baby was controlling them.”
Knode dismissed the story as nonsense. But Marhidium challenged Knode to come up with a more rational thought or explanation. He admitted that he couldn’t. She looked at him with disdain. Siytai only shook his head, accompanied by his normal sarcastic sneer.
Betaqal chimed in. “One possibility is always that the planet is simply changing like it has done before, and the Orbs are imaginary.”
“I do not believe that the Orbs are imaginary. Seveaha talked about the Orbs, and her words were accompanied by a deep sadness and bitter feelings. If the Orbs were imaginary, how could they conjure up such feelings of fear?” said Knode.
“And I have seen them and the devastation they leave behind,” Tenashar insisted.
Marhidium and Knode believed what Tenashar said about the Orbs.
“Deep down in my heart, I feel that you are speaking the truth about the Orbs, no matter how strange and unscientific this story sounds,” said Knode.
“Everyone is wasting time just standing around and talking about the Orbs. Everyone has agreed we should continue to Himoicum,” said Osinthaph.
Tenashar didn’t want to leave the volcano because there was something about the crater that left a restless feeling in his heart. This feeling may have had something to do with the rumbling and tremors deep within the volcano or how the surrounding area reminded him of the desert world.
Marhidium warned Tenashar not to be drawn in by its beauty. “The volcano has a strange effect upon people. It seems to draw them to the rim of the crater with its beauty. Once they are grabbed, the volcano doesn’t let go, and they fall in. The souls of these unfortunate people remain as the volcano’s companions for all eternity.”
Tenashar quickly ran toward the ship after Marhidium told the stories about the volcano.
Once everyone was on board, the flying ship lifted off into the sky and made an abrupt turn eastward. Then it descended toward the ocean and flew only a few feet above the water. It was just like sailing on the ocean’s surface. Jarviashar felt at home as if she was sailing on the sea again. Soon there was some midday fog that was all around the ship as it headed eastward instead of south.
Journey to the Grassland and Sea Page 15