Yet, on the next morning, when our three travelers were planned to leave, and peculiarly, for such a thing had never happened before, not in anyone’s memories, nor in stories long past, the Queen returned.
Which, as you might imagine, threw the city and its elders into a panic. For they had previously given their word, during the sentencing, that she could live if she was able to return that next morning, never thinking that such a thing might actually occur (for as I’ve said, it had never happened before, and the mere promise of returning was only ever given as a formality, or as tradition, so to speak.)
The city was in turmoil, and there were many who called for her immediate execution. That was until Barbara came up with an idea, and made her statement before the elders, and captains.
���Justice, my lords, is knowing when to kill a life, and when to save it,��� she said, and went on to explain her idea, which was actually a byproduct of something that Timothy had said in passing, much earlier on in the process.
On the first day of Ilayda’s initial trial, Timothy had said, ���Too bad they can’t just strand her on some island somewhere, where she can’t be Queen of anyone.���
These words stewed in her head, and eventually led her to come up with the idea of taking Ilayda back with them to Earth, where she would never again have the chance to be Queen, and would live out the short remainder of her life, by their standards, as a commoner.
It was a decent proposal, and far better than the former Queen deserved. And it was quickly accepted by the judges, after being first hesitantly accepted by both Timothy and Ata, in private conversation.
And so, it was because of this, that around midday, the three travelers from Earth and the former Queen, stood around the edges of the globe, and held on tightly, as a circle of light wrapped around them, and they were lifted into the sky, above the now floating city of Aden, as their orb was shot through the expanse of space, away from that world entirely.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Back in Gleomu
As it turned out to be, none of them needed to worry in the least, for the Wolcott’s, nor for Ata’s father, for they were all in splendidly good care since just after their second night in Gleomu. And this is the story of their rescue as it happened:
As per her habit, it was most uncommon for Her Majesty of Earth, Matilde, to be no less than precisely on time when arriving for a scheduled visit to Gleomu, and to be more than a few hours late was unheard of. So that, understanding this, Queen Delany was gone before breakfast, to seek out her friend, who was most certainly in trouble.
And using Timothy’s luminometer, that he’d left there in Gleomu, and having a general notion of where to begin her search, by late afternoon, the Queen found an unassuming hole in the ground, near the edge of a waterfall, and saw below her an expansive cavern. It was significantly darker there in the cavern, but once her eyes adjusted she saw armed henchmen, and a man in a gray tie and slacks, who was threatening to kill someone for the sport of it, the following morning, and saying further that he did not care whom it was.
And in that manner, night fell upon them, and the late hours of the night:
���Did you hear that?��� Wilbur asked, when the cavern was at its darkest.
���Shh…��� Matilde hushed quietly, holding up a partially sharpened rock that she’d meant to use as a knife, if needs be.
���Oh, I know about that,��� Wilbur answered, not so quietly.
And he strained to hear above the subtle sound of his wife’s slowly scraping stone knife. There it was, something faint and almost indistinct, in the darkness, like a sound someone might make in their sleep, or a muffled groan.
���See, there it is,��� Wilbur said.
Though this time Matilde heard it as well, and she knew the sound immediately.
���There is someone here,��� she said, in a low breath, and trying to focus on any bit of movement in the heavy shadows.
���I told you there was,��� Wilbur answered.
And since there were only so few people who would have been able to find this hidden cave, and only one of them who would have tried, Matilde had the gall to speak up, in the pitch black darkness, addressing their intruder.
���Delany? You aren’t hurting them are you?��� she said.
���No, of course not, dear. Not anymore than would be proper,��� came a woman’s elegant voice, from out of a lightless corner of the room.
And immediately, from across the room, they heard the muffled sounds of another man being bound and gagged.
And though there is much that could be said about their rescue that evening, when the hours were at their darkest, yet in the spirit of good taste, it should be sufficient to say, that even well armed these guards were not as vigilant as they should have been; But that it should also not be a permanent mark against them, considering that they have since fulfilled the terms of their sentences for crimes committed while on Earth, with most of them going on to lead respectable lives, as decent men.
So that, when the daylight came the following morning, the man in gray and his henchmen were taken as hostages for questioning: As well as Professor Asim, who had really taken such great care to infiltrate the ranks of the Illutu-��mu that he did not want to ruin his cover. Therefore, they were all delivered to the King’s prison, though secretly Asim was given a solitary cell with books, and a comfortable cot, and all the best food from the palace kitchen.
When Barbara, Timothy, Ata, and the former Queen Ilayda came into the city of Ismere, after a day’s walk from the area near their secret cavern beneath the waterfall, King Corwan held a massive banquet to celebrate their safe return. During which, Timothy and Barbara hardly had a chance to eat, being bombarded continuously with questions, from the first course until the last dessert: About an empire built upon the ocean, and a city that was made to sail in the sky, and the unbelievable civilization of fish people below the waves, and the monstrous sea serpent. But through all of it, they were careful not to implicate the former Queen, nor to treat her as their prisoner, which she was. So that in the end, only the Kings and Queens of Earth and of Gleomu knew their full story in its entirety, while the rest of the noblemen and counsel members, generals, and honored guests had assumed that Ilayda, who could not join in with the banquet because of her ���land sickness���, they assumed that she was some visiting dignitary.
And King Corwan was gracious (who would normally require a personal invitation for all visitors to Gleomu), forgiving them this breach in protocol considering the unusualness of their circumstances, and welcoming Ata and the former Queen into his kingdom, as if they had been long awaited guests.
In a similar manner, they continued for several more weeks, enjoying the grace and comforts of Gleomu. Yet all the while, held in endless debates and planning within their close company, about the true question, ���What to do with Earth?���; A world at war that had not known they were at war, against an elite tyrannical enemy, who had neither a city to lay siege to, nor a country to declare war against.
As true royalty, and friends of Earth, they knew they must do something to free their people, but how to attack such an enemy, and who could be victorious against such an elusive foe.
Notwithstanding, to save the whole world would have seemed in itself like an impossible task, but it was more than that, and was felt on a much more personal level. If it were not enough, they’d also had to save Timothy’s parents, who’d been kidnapped since Timothy and Ata had first fled Istanbul.
And though it took them in Gleomu, two and half more weeks of careful preparation (for there was no cause to rush something so important), they’d final had a plan, and all that it’d required to be carried out was a bit of science, a transmitter from Asim’s workshop along with a new set of armbands for Ata, and a massive antenna, that would hopefully not cause suspicion.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Clan of Tigers
Paris, France
It had been a full week since they’d marched the prisoners from their cells, Professor Asim and the man in gray (or Casimir as they’d learned was his name during the interrogation); Bringing them back to the cavern beneath the waterfall, with a message, and being mindful to treat both of them equally as rough, in order to disguise Asim’s true allegiances.
And this was what their message had ordered:
That the ���vile Illutu-��mu��� should bring Timothy’s parents, unharmed, to the Eiffel Tower at half past midnight, in exactly one week’s time, and there they would make the exchange, the globe for his parents’ safety. And it was signed, His Majesty, King Wilbur of Earth.
And in the end, after so much planning and waiting, that evening had finally arrived. The nighttime Paris cityscape was grand around them. A soft wind blew through the common area, from beneath the tower supports, wisping around their pant legs, and wafting at the corners of Matilde’s dress. It was just enough to unsettle Timothy’s stomach.
And then the black cars came. They drove over the street curb, and onto the commons, shining their harsh beams into Timothy’s eyes, so that he’d had to use his hand to block the glare.
A gang of coal black cars parked in a half-circle around the globe in the near shadow of the tower. In unison, engines stopped, headlights faded into darkened bulbs, and one by one the drivers came around to open their passenger doors.
Such vicious men in dark gray suits, but the first one to exit Timothy recognized immediately, looking battered and far worse than he had when he’d left the King’s prison.
It was Professor Asim, no longer a comrade-in-arms but a prisoner, visibly shaken and frightened.
Nine men in slithering black gray attire, with their drivers, stood on one side of the globe, while the royalty and the friends of Earth stood on the other.
���Where’s my daughter, and Thomas?��� Wilbur spoke.
Then, one of the men nearest to the globe, with a properly trimmed beard, who’d seemed to be their spokesman or leader, said arrogantly, ���Soon enough, Mr. Wolcott.��� And he smiled like he was contented with the situation. ���But we must first test the globe… We would not want to trade their worthless lives, in exchange for something else that’s worthless. Don’t you agree?���
���I want to see them first,��� Matilde said, and the look on her face was stern. Then she continued, saying, ���…before we show you how it works.���
The bearded man squinted his eyes, as if to examine her, and then turned to say something to his group in an ancient Assyrian language, which no one else but the Illutu-��mu’s inner circle and Professor Asim could understand, a phrase that translates to, ���They are like fire,��� or in modern vernacular, ���They are feisty.��� And the whole grouping of ruthless men erupted in a loud laughter.
���You think you are in a place to barter,��� the man with the beard said, scoffing. ���We have the globe right here, and we have all the guns. You have nothing.���
Matilde didn’t flinch. ���You have nothing. You won’t know how it works,��� she said calmly.
The man with the beard took in a heavy breath, and sighed, like he were arguing with a child.
���Fine. You want to see them?��� he said, and snapped his fingers together viciously. The lights at the base of the tower that had been off, immediately lit with the sound of an echoing switch being thrown.
���Do you see them?��� he asked, and then cupped his hand near his mouth to yell up toward the top of the tower. ���Wave for us,��� he called out.
And from high upon the framework of the structure, standing on the edge of a metal crossbeam, were four people, and only three of them waving: the first being the man in gray, who was not waving, and then Timothy’s parents, Agatha and Thomas Hayfield, and one old man, whom only Timothy and Ata could recognize.
Timothy looked at Ata, puzzlingly, wondering if his friend had seen the same thing he had. Howbeit, by Ata’s similarly surprised expression he knew that he had.
���Pierre?��� Timothy said.
And then, turning to address all of the Illutu-��mu, he said indignantly, pointing toward the tower, ���What do you need him for? He’s just an innocent old man.���
���He is a warning,��� the man with the beard said apathetically. ���That, if you cross us, we will not only kill you, of course, and your families, but also everyone you have ever met.���
Timothy knew better than to argue with people so cruel, so he drew in his lips tightly, fighting back his natural urge to say more, but still the man with the beard continued, staring at Timothy.
���That would be a lot of innocent people, I would think,��� he said.
For several seconds, nothing else was said, until Matilde broke through the tension, looking up from her wrist watch, and seeing that the time was nearing a quarter till one.
���I’ll show you how it works, just don’t hurt them,��� she said.
���We’ll see…��� he said in response, mostly to himself.
And then she began, and impressively, in only a few minutes was able to describe on a basic level, all the mechanics of the globe and how to operate it.
���Would someone like to go with me?��� Matilde asked, looking up from the dials and switches across the rim of the globe, and then reaching down she began to turn its newly polished brass crank.
���I wouldn’t miss it,��� said the man with the beard.
His words visibly unnerving Matilde, who knew as a seasoned light traveler what that had meant, that she’d have to be locked inside an inescapable orb with him as they traveled through distant planetary systems, and more disgustingly it would require her to physically touch him. And trying to be strong in this, she continued to turn the crank until it seemed time to stop. Light spread outward from her body and from the tips of her fingers.
���Hold my hand,��� she said to the man with the beard, more loudly than she realized, as she touched a place on the globe.
���If I’m not standing in this spot in five minutes, kill them all,��� the man with the beard ordered.
And they were formed inside a ball of light, and shot away from Earth.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The Tower
The cityscape of Paris was especially pale after they left. As the other men in dark suits stared at those who’d remained with a cruel detachment.
���Five minutes?��� Barbara thought.
She knew it would not be enough time, and that for her, she’d needed at least seven minutes. But how can you reason, or plead with men so noticeably apathetic to common care and human life.
Her mouth would not even open because of her fright, for fear that they would just kill her then and there. Therefore, thankfully it was Wilbur, the King of Earth, who’d spoke up to plead their case. The nerves in her stomach and tense muscles relieved slightly as she heard his voice.
���You expect them to travel the length of the universe in five minutes? Be fair. We should have more time than that, don’t you think?��� Wilbur said, very calmly and rationally, in his good-natured way.
At these words, any reasonable person might have sided with him, but as I’ve said before, these were deviantly hardened men.
���Would you like us to kill you now?��� one of the Illutu-��mu answered, brandishing a pistol from inside his suit jacket.
Barbara glanced down discreetly at her watch. The time was nearing ten till one, roughly their five minute limit.
���Not enough time,��� she thought.
Wilbur held his tongue. He knew better than to speak another word that might be his last.
The roof of Barbara’s mouth dried beyond relief. She’d wanted to say something to take
the focus away from Wilbur, anything. But what came to mind was not an elegant speech.
���Stop!��� she said, and took several deliberate steps, under the bewildered glare of the Illutu-��mu, toward her adopted grandfather, the King of Earth, and she held his wrinkled hand firmly.
���Please don’t. We’ll leave, and won’t interfere at all. You can have the globe, just don’t hurt him,��� she said.
But the man who’d pointed the firearm at Wilbur, now directed his aim onto Barbara, and an awful smile eased upon his face.
���We would kill all of you regardless, little girl. The five minutes is just a game to play. Would you like to be first?��� he asked.
But she was silent. Her mouth clamped down like a vice, her nostrils flaring with short terrified breaths, and the time slipped desperately close to their five minute mark.
Her eyes darted around the group.
���Why can’t we all have force fields?��� she thought, looking from the corner of her eye at Timothy, who regrettably had the expression he does when he’s about to do something foolish.
He was nearly about to raise his force-shield for an ill-planned attack, when a ball of light came back through our atmosphere, and landed several hundred yards away, on the opposite side of the tower.
���There it is,��� said one of the Illutu-��mu, to the man with the gun.
Though, in the dimness of night, they could only see the vague outline of two figures across the commons, and being partially blinded by the glare of the spotlights that shone upon the tower, they could distinguish very little. And so, the man with the gun kept it raised and trained upon Barbara and Wilbur, while he lifted up his free hand to an almost unnoticeable earpiece, which all the Illutu-��mu had for communication.
���Let’s have a perimeter sweep, and check the pair that just landed,��� he ordered.
The Histories of Earth, Books 1-4: In the Window Room, A Prince of Earth, All the Worlds of Men, and Worlds Unending Page 39