by John White
"The power you seek will only bind you and make you a slave. If you give yourself to me, my power will free you to serve me. You saw this on the lakeshore. I was the one who enabled Wesley to slay the vicious bees, and I was the one who cured your stings."
She started to protest, but her words seemed feeble in the presence of this person who was so kind and wise. She was pulled toward him and repelled by him at the same time. He said, "Betty, I have given you new friends to replace those you lost. Lisa will soon come to you. Listen to her carefully and believe what she tells you."
"Lisa? You mean she got away too?"
Again Gaal laughed. "Lisa was long ago captured by my love. Now I must warn you-be on your guard. There are dangers here. Be careful whom you trust. Believe only my servants in Anthropos."
Gaal turned and walked toward the door. Betty cried out, "Don't leave!" She wanted to run after him. She threw off the bulky covers and swung her bare feet to the floor. When she looked up again, Gaal was not there. The door to the room remained shut, but he was gone.
Wes, Kurt and Lisa hardly noticed the luxury of the room where Swifilope left them. As soon as the door closed, they all said to each other, "Betty's here!"
"Why did Gaal tell us that Betty has to be rescued?" Kurt asked. "I thought he meant she'd been recaptured and we had to rescue her from a dungeon. But that can't be it. Swiftlope said the queen is treating her like a-well, like a queen."
Lisa had an answer: "I'll bet somebody believed her when she bragged that she could make bee stings go away. Now the queen thinks Betty has special powers over the bees." She thought about that a moment. "Then why don't they send her to the island to risk getting stung a million times? Why send us?"
Wes walked across the room to a window covered by heavy draperies. "I feel terrible about Tiqvah being sick. I know we should stick around and find out what kind of danger Betty might be in. But if he needs the honey, we should go to the island."
"What do you think of that priest Hazilon?" asked Kurt.
"I'm not sure," Lisa answered. "Supposedly he's the main priest of Gaal. Somehow I didn't feel Gaal when I was around him. Of course, we don't always feel Gaal." She recalled what she had told Betty in the cell: "In a way, he's here with us right now. Even though we can't see him." She looked around the room and felt a warm assurance that Gaal himself was there. Still, she wished she could see him. He had appeared to Kurt and Wes but not to herso far.
Wes touched the draperies. "Betty has to learn about Gaal if Anthropos is to be saved from great error. That's what Gaal told
His words filled Lisa with regret. "Did Gaal really say that? Gosh, I had lots of time in the cell with her. I could have told her more about him. I did try, but she didn't want to listen much."
Wes peeked through the drapes to see out the window. "It'll be sundown soon. We have to give the king and queen an answer. Are we going on this honey-gathering expedition tomorrow morning or not?"
Lisa shook her head. "Of course not! We can't take off for the Island of Geburah tomorrow. Not if Betty's here and we have to rescue her. I've got to find out where she is. Swiftlope would know. I'll go find him." She started for the door, but Kurt stopped her. "You can't. The queen swore that Koach to secrecy. He shouldn't have told us even what lie did. And we've all seen what justice is like under Queen Hisschi."
Lisa thought of the guard who had drawn his finger across his throat. "They'll have my head," he had said. What was his name? Dominicus. That was it. She wondered what had happened to him and the boys' guard-Andron, his name was. Had both guards paid the ultimate price because that awful light person had talked the children into escaping? Lisa sat at an ornate desk and fiddled with it silver inkstand. "I have to get to Betty somehow," she insisted. "It isn't it dungeon she needs to be rescued from. It's that queen! I don't know what the queen wants from her, but there's a lot of rotten stuff going on in Anthropos."
At the window Wes gave it short sarcastic laugh. "If you ask me, I don't think Betty wants to be rescued."
Kurt and Lisa joined him at the window. "Stay back a little," Wes cautioned. "Remember, this isn't the room where Swiftlope was supposed to take us. So she doesn't know we're in here. Look down there." He held the heavy draperies open slightly so that they could see through it small gap. Their window was high above a garden with a splashing fountain and a pool. Nearby was a tall hedge that fortunately did not block their view of the scene below.
Queen Hisschi sat on a stone bench by the fountain. The water splish-splashed with a cheerful musical sound. She stared into the swirling pool where a dozen large goldfish swam in circles. Some were orange and white; some had patches of black; some were solid orange or golden yellow. The queen gathered her long velvet skirt about her and settled herself more comfortably. With a graceful movement of her hand she motioned for Betty Riggs to sit beside her.
Betty stood a few yards away, uncertain what to do. She admired the queen, but she had never before been anywhere close to royalty, and she did not know how to act. Flat stones were set into the ground near the fountain. She said, "I'm sorry, but I guess I feel weird sitting next to a queen. Is it all right if I sit on one of these rocks?"
The queen smiled. "As you wish. I hope you will soon grow comfortable with me and not feel, as you say, weird."
"I'll try," said Betty sincerely. She plopped herself down on the stone. She started to sit cross-legged but thought it was far too informal, so she tucked her legs to one side and smoothed her long, white silky skirt. She loved the clothes she'd been given here at the palace. Her impressions of Anthropos had definitely improved.
The queen trailed her fingers through the water and said, "I marvel at the ways of the True One. We had three young Regenskind in the dungeons for rebellion. They escaped but were recaptured. We released them when we discovered their true identity, that they were visitors from other worlds and that they possessed certain powers. There was talk of a fourth. No one knew what had happened to her. Then when I heard of your capture, I realized who you are. Naturally I was delighted."
Betty squirmed. She hoped the queen was delighted with her, not with the Friesens. Queen Hisschi continued, "It would help me greatly if you would tell me again how you escaped being stung by the weaver bees."
"Oh, we were stung! Were we ever! Hundreds of times! But I decided the stings weren't going to be real for me, and they cleared up right away. After the bees were dead, anyway." Then she noticed the queen looking oddly at her. "What's wrong?"
The queen stared at Betty with undisguised amazement. "You say you were stung many times by the weaver bees? How is it possible? People have died under the bee stings." Her eyes became even wider. "Surely you possess even stronger powers than the three Friesen children!"
Embarrassed but pleased, Betty traced a design in the dirt with a finger. She thought it wasn't a very ladylike action and quickly wiped her finger on the grass. "Well, I guess I do have powers, if you say so, your majesty. I believe that anything, I mean anything, is possible. If you believe in it enough, you can make it happen."
"Betty Riggs," the queen said, "surely the Lord Gaal has sent you to us!"
Betty's head snapped up. Gaal! That was the wonderful man who had come to her in her chamber. The one who told her not to believe anyone except his servants. Was Queen Hisschi one of his servants,, Betty thought she must be. The queen was certainly beautiful and smart.
Hisschi appeared not to notice Betty's surprise. Her eyes took on a faraway look. "I have much to tell you, Betty. It is a tale both happy and sad. My lord, Tiqvah, ascended to the throne of Anthropos as a very young man, still unmarried. The governing of the land consumed his time and energies. He was not inclined to marry, although I assure you many young women of Anthropos dreamed of receiving his attentions."
"Was he cute?" Betty asked.
The queen frowned. "I am not sure what the expression means. He was-and is-a handsome man. Scarcely could I believe my good fortune when lie favored me with his
attentions. I am from a noble family of Playsion, the land united with Anthropos by the marriage of Tigvah's parents. On a hunting trip to Playsion the king was introduced to me. I was some years younger and not yet considering marriage. We looked into each other's eyes and-well, perhaps you know how it is."
Betty shook her head. "Not exactly. I haven't ever had a real boyfriend." She thought it all sounded like it beautiful fairy tale. She hoped someday she would meet someone and fall in love like that.
The queen continued her story. "After that, the king took a decidedly increased interest in hunting. He traveled to Playsion often. Eventually he asked me to be his bride and join him here in the palace at Nephesh. We were married and have been very happy together."
Betty sighed. "That's so romantic. Do you have any kids?"
"We keep no goats on the palace grounds."
"Oh, phooey. We had the same trouble with those Matmon guys. When I say kids, I mean children." Betty giggled but stopped when she saw the troubled expression on the queen's face.
"I have given birth to three children," Hisschi said slowly. "Two boys and a girl. In that way our family resembles your friends the Friesens."
Betty was tired of hearing about the Friesens. "Oh, them. They're not really my friends. In fact, I don't even particularly like them. Let's get back to your story, if you don't mind. I haven't seen your kids-children-around here. I guess they're grown up by now. Are they away at school?"
Betty was surprised to see Queen Hisschi turn away. The merry splashing of the fountain made a sharp contrast with her suddenly dark mood. The watery sound filled what became an uncomfortably long silence. When the queen at last spoke, her face was still turned away. "I am grieved to tell you that none of my three children lived to see their first birthday."
Betty was speechless. She started to say several things, but they sounded silly and inadequate.
The queen turned around again. Betty expected to see tears on her cheeks, but there were none. Some of her sadness had given way to an attitude of strong purpose. She rose from the bench and beckoned, "Come, my dear child, let us walk it bit. We will go through the garden of roses."
Betty got up from the ground (not very gracefully) and accompanied the queen around the fountain. The goldfish swam after them along the curve of the pool. Betty staggered a bit to think Queen Hisschi had called her "my clear child." She had never thought a royal person would call her by such an affectionate name.
The queen and Betty left the fountain and passed through a white lattice gate into a rose garden of stunning variety and beauty. A narrow path paved with small, white stones wound among the rose bushes. Hisschi told Betty the name of each variety. Betty liked flowers but didn't know much about them, and anyway these were probably different from the roses in Canada. She lagged behind the queen to admire the blooms and sniff their fragrance. Some blooms were huge and deep red. Others were small, light pink and dainty. Some glowed with yellow and gold tones or shimmered creamy white. One entire section of the garden was given over to multicolored blooms. The setting sun bathed the garden in a warm glow. The bushes cast deep-blue shadows.
Betty watched the queen move gracefully along the path. Surely this lovely woman was a servant of Gaal! Betty could never believe that Queen Hisschi was not to be trusted. She caught up with her and said, "Your majesty, excuse me, but could I ask you some thing?"
"What is it, my (fear?"
Again for a moment Betty's head spun. "Uh-What else can you tell me about this person called Gaal?"
The queen did not answer right away but instead touched a bright-red blossom. She stroked its petals and cradled it in her strong yet graceful hand. Finally she said, "Some call him a person. I prefer to think of him as the Mystery Beyond Knowing. He is the True One, the Eternal, the One Who Never Dies. He is the source of life for all-myself, you, the king, these roses. All life traces itself to his power."
"You mean he made everything here?" Betty sniffed a large bloom of deep purple fringed with crimson. She could not recall seeing the color in any rose of her own world. Its fragrance filled her nose with powerful perfume. The scent almost overwhelmed her.
The queen replied, "Gaal not only made all that is. He is within all that is. He is one with all that is. Do you enjoy that rose?"
"Yes, very much. Though it's kind of strong."
"If you enjoy the rose, then you enjoy Gaal, for it is part of him. You cannot say that Gaal and the rose are two distinct things. It is all one."
"I think I get what you mean," answered Betty. She was not sure she understood. However, since the queen already thought well of' her, she wanted to build on her reputation.
The queen became very animated. In one swift action she moved to a bush of exquisite white roses, broke off the largest bloom and extended it to Betty. Betty was in shock. She thought the queen herself was about to curtsy. She reached for the rose, fumbled it and dropped it on the pathway. Before Betty could pick it up, Queen Hisschi stooped to retrieve the flower. The stem had large gracefully curved thorns. Betty took the rose and held it carefully and securely between thumb and two fingers. She was relieved that only a couple of petals had been knocked off.
The queen's eyes shone. "Betty Riggs, you are like a daughter to me. I want to tell you a wonderful truth. Sadly, few in Anthropos are ready to accept it. They have not reached the place of wisdom. But you are different. You are wise beyond your years. I know you are ready for this knowledge." The queen resumed her walk. Betty tried to take in what the woman had said: "You are like a daughter to me." She hurried to catch up.
"Ages ago our people imagined a great division between the one known as Gaal and a very powerful one known as Lord Lunacy," the queen continued. "People chose sides as children choose sides in a game. But the game had bitter consequences. People's loyalties built walls of hate between them. They fought wars over whose leader was superior. How foolish! I must say the followers of Gaal showed particular blindness and narrowness of view. They were not open to the wider truths. Would you like to wear that flower in your hair?"
Queen Hisschi took the white rose and tucked it into Betty's hair. Betty winced. "Ow, the thorns!"
Hisschi broke off each triangular thorn and put the stripped stem hack into Betty's hair. She said, "It is most lovely! You are most lovely!" She turned away to hide her face and compose herself. Betty didn't know what to say, so she waited. Occasionally she touched the rose in her hair to make sure it stayed in place.
When the queen turned around again, her expression was a heartbreaking mixture of tears and smiles. "Betty, I have told you that King Tigvah and I have no living descendants. If this were merely our private grief, we would bear it in silence. But greater than our love for family is our love for Anthropos. Our childless state is a great danger for the future of the kingdom."
"You mean because there's no heir to the throne?"
"Exactly. The king, as you know, is not well. I shall be a childless widow, perhaps sooner than any of us knows. If the king dies, the weight of my grief may ... may slay me."
Queen Hisschi moved to an ornate wrought-iron bench, sat and put her face in her hands. Even her sadness was a lovely gesture. Betty wanted to sit by the queen and pat the woman on the knee, but she didn't think she should do that to royalty. Hisschi looked up and continued: "I truly believe grief caused the death of Tiqvah's mother, Suneidesis, after his father, Kardia, died. And when I am gone, I fear the kingdom will split into factions, each with its hero, each battling for the throne."
"Like a civil war? They're the worst kind."
"I cannot tell you the pain such a terrible prospect causes his majesty and myself. Since the king's illness came upon him, we have talked much-that is, when he is strong enough-about possible solutions. We have begged Gaal to help us. We feared he would send us no answer." The queen turned her luminous gray eyes on Betty. "Until you came to us."
"Me?"
"Betty Riggs, my heart would be the happiest in Anthropos if yo
u would consent to live here in Nephesh Palace with myself and King Tigvah."
Betty blinked rapidly. "You mean I'd stay here? And you'd kind of adopt me?"
"If you mean that we would be as your mother and father, and you would be our daughter, yes. That is exactly what I propose."
Betty was dizzy. She wanted to sit down hard on the iron bench. Before she had a chance, the queen stood and took her by the elbow. "Let us return to the pool, where you may look at your reflection." They walked quickly while the queen talked in a breathless voice. Now and then she squeezed Betty's elbow for emphasis. "My daughter, if you are to be part of our family, there is a wonderful joy that I must share with you. No doubt in your world people have many misunderstandings, such as the one I describe between the followers of Lord Lunacy and the followers of Gaal. Such quarrels are most harmful. They are based not on truth but on illusion."
"Illusion? What do you mean?"
The queen slowed her pace and turned thoughtful. "It is simplest to say that there is no quarrel between Lord Lunacy and Gaal and never has been. The old ideas of good and evil have now played themselves out like-like a fountain that has run out of water, like a rose bush that has shriveled at the root. Lunacy and Gaal are in perfect accord! Indeed, they are one and the same. To those who are not ready for this truth, we can say they have formed an alliance. In truth, they never were at odds with one another, for there is no division between them."
Betty was confused. She had met Gaal and thought he was wonderful and kind. If this Lord Lunacy was the same as Gaal, then he must be wonderful and kind also. Yet something bothered her. "Are you really sure the two are the same? Wes and Lisa and Kurt made it sound like it was Gaal and nobody else."
"What would you expect them to say? They are fanatical followers of Gaal. Fanatics are most dangerous. Sadly, they miss the very purposes of their own leader. He would never say that it is him or nobody, as you so quaintly put it."