“Don’t get me wrong. We are special, I mean … each of us has his or her own talents, natural gifts or skills, but not in the way that the Elders want us to think. I and Miriam have this theory that they … lied to us so that we stay here, in their beautiful City, to dream that we can build a “different” society, a society that they merely want to create for themselves, for their own plans, mainly, with our own help...”
“Ah, Miriam,” Philip mumbled. “She thinks so too?”
“Yes, she does. Before coming here, she was a librarian who happened to be also a small craft pilot. We are archaeologists. Mary from the bakery was just a simple citizen who happens to know a lot about baking goods. Indeed, we have talents, we have gifts, we’re unique, but I don’t think we are that special as the Elders imply. I started to believe lately that we’re just told we are so, so they can create a so-called “society” where everyone feels special, and where they have enough diversity so that they can build up a secluded place, suspended in time and space, that no-one knows about, which is maybe an “experiment” that only the aliens or the Creators that created the Machine are aware of,” concluded Margaret, and ate the last piece of the meat with pasta, dipping it into the remaining tomato sauce, that was in her plate.
“Mmm, these are good, remember to ask for the same thing tomorrow, for dinner,” Margaret said, smiling at Phil.
Philip nodded and continued to look at her, curious about her discourse.
“Hmm, this is an interesting philosophical discussion we seem to have tonight. So ... what is Miriam saying more about these theories?”
Margaret looked at him with a guilty look that said “I shouldn’t have told you that”.
“She doesn’t say much more than that, we also dive into regular philosophical discussions. But that’s her theory about the City. But I do have more of my own theories as well. For example, that … “
Margaret paused and drank a sip of the wine.
“That...?” Philip asked, raising his eyebrow.
“That the Elders are using the Machine to effectively … gather people, if you might say so, from their “known space” so they can fulfill their own dream, their utopic dream of creating a society that they envision. They are actually building a dream-like society based on old alien technology, and for all that we know, these Elders could be the aliens themselves, recommending themselves as old monks from Kriya, which … happens to be a nearby planet. No one knows for sure what is the real story behind this City, right?”
Philip looked for a while at Margaret, weighing her words, and then smiled.
“Well, you got me with this one,” Philip said, showing a curious face. “Go on, I’m listening.”
“Well, for starters, they are taller than humans are, and by their looks, they’re different, even their faces are different, they all look the same, and they’re the only ones having the final decision on everything here, wearing those intricate thick and white robes. They can even be a hybrid between a human and another race, or even another race entirely.”
Philip looked at her, in slight disbelief, but smiled, and let her continue with her story.
“Then, this utopic dream. I agree that the Creators - how the Elders call them - envisioned a great society like this one is, but I bet at some point during their advanced civilization something happened, and the only ones that remained here were these 32 Elders. And they started to look for people to rebuild their society. And humans were their predominant choice, as you could clearly see in the City, but don’t ask me why.”
“Your theories are really interesting, Margaret,” said Philip, with a pensive look.
“I know! I’ve been exploring with Miriam a lot of these ideas while burning the midnight oil at the Financial Council and drinking a dark and sweet beverage that she loves, similar to coffee. At some point, it all blends together, if you look at it with realistic eyes,” Margaret said and looked at him, trying to see if he believes the least anything from what she has been saying.
“And then,” continued Margaret, “there is this force field. Remember while riding our dragons that we couldn’t get much further?”
“Y … yes. I do. That day when we had our dragon training exercise.”
“Well, I spoke to an Elder at some point, and I asked him about that, and he was kind of succinct. I have never seen an Elder act this way before. He gave me a short answer that said actually nothing, or nonetheless, something about protecting the city or something similar. There are no animals, only birds here, and there’s nothing else on the planet to protect us from. What would be the danger that they need to protect us from, here? We are out of time and out of space from the known Universe, and they still want the City protected with a force field? Why protect us? Are we in a constant danger from some unknown race? Are there any other populated cities on this planet that they don’t want us to know about?”
She paused, drank a few more from her glass, and then resumed.
“I think they want to make sure no one escapes the City without their knowledge. Who knows what one can find if we go outside that force field? Or maybe, what anyone can find inside the City, if anyone manages to get on the planet, somehow … ”
“Is that so,” Philip said, looking bewildered. “And he was succinct, you said? I thought Elders were the kindest, purest, and most truthful men around...”
“Well, see, things aren’t exactly what we think they are. If you manage to somehow start to find their secrets, they all seem to become somewhat defensive.”
The conversation he was hoping to have tonight, around this festive and rather romantic dinner, was going down the slope of Maggie’s theories. His amulet was giving him as usual calming waves of relaxation, and he waited to see what Margaret has to say, thinking that, at least, she got to get all these ideas out of her.
“Then, on the other hand,” Margaret continued, invigorated by the white wine, “this whole City is awesomely beautiful, but in itself if you come to study it a bit like I had the chance to do at my workplace, it is a complete utopia, which replaces the normal actions of a person with inactivity and with the pleasure of having everything at hand. You might have seen people working here, but most of the population is really just enjoying the sun, the flowers, and the beautiful skies. You have food, shelter, clean water, and you can even make credits by creating a few simple things. Everything is carefully calculated, and everyone has everything whenever he or she desires. You have seen how you are just lying around all day doing nothing, and find pleasure in everything. And then there are also our amulets … ”
She paused for a few moments, and then she added.
“And even if all these … theories would prove wrong, everybody can see that the Elders want to create here a certain lifestyle, where everyone would just feel the love, peacefulness, and have all the time in the world to contemplate and meditate, a world built just like in a monastery, where everyone dedicates themselves to reading, meditating, and loving each other. This is not a bad thing in itself, but I definitely feel that … it limits my freedom, and it changes my life from what it was, to what they want. In other words, I don’t think I am prepared for living a life like this, not at my age, not really,” concluded Margaret.
Philip scratched his head.
“I had no idea that you had these thoughts inside of you,” he said, with a low voice. “They must have really been a burden for you ...”
Margaret continued.
“And there’s also our mission, Philip. We’re being sent by the Vatican, and we are enjoying the sun in this hidden city, caring the least about that. I know we’re safe here, inside a time bubble, and that a day here elapses as just a few seconds in our known Universe. Don’t ask me how they did it, but this is true, I’ve seen their Machine and they’re not lying about this. But still, we had a mission to complete, and people are relying on us … it must have been half a day that went away in our Universe in which we did nothing for those who sent us to find the relics.
”
“I know, Maggie, but the Elders said...”
“The Elders can say many things, and if we’re in a suspended time that’s alright, but to be honest with you, we’re participating every day in creating an utopic city … their utopic city, on an unknown planet, with the prospect of living here eternally, in a confined space of roughly 40 squares miles, hidden inside a great forest, and protected by a force field.”
“But … I thought you loved being here,” Philip said with a teenager’s face.
Margaret looked at him, realizing that she’d probably been too blunt, expressing her ideas. She tried to soften up, and smiled, continuing with a lower voice.
“I do. I absolutely do. But being at work, and having a chance to exchange shorter or longer discussions with the people there, being able to be active like I once was, made me aware of a greater plan, of a greater perspective on things that are happening here.”
Philip didn’t know what to say.
“Indeed. Maybe I got fooled by the great feeling of lying around here all day in the peacefulness of our garden, enjoying the silence of our neighborhood, looking with awe at this peaceful haven that they created and mingling through the markets among so many kind and interesting cheerful people, in this almost surreal city … ”
Margaret looked at him, and nodded, with acceptance.
“It is a great place to be when you’re old, Phil. But we’re young. I really don’t think I can dedicate my whole life to participating in creating a utopic place, instead of just exploring my own life and the Universe, by myself, in all the myriad places and possibilities that can happen outside this 40 miles protected area. And even if I have all these theories, and beliefs, I am still somewhere in between, torn between two beautiful worlds, in my mind...”
Philip drank his last sip of wine.
“Do you want some more?”
Maggie approved.
“So, what do you think? Do I have a point, or I am just mumbling stupid things? I may already sound like Mary, who is suspicious on basically every little thing, but … ”
Philip listened carefully to everything that she said. His face turned from happy to a more realistic one and he felt in his heart that Margaret was in a rather heightened awareness state of mind, telling the truth that no one bothered to say about the strange things that happened here.
“Well, what can I say, Maggie. I think you are right in most of the things that you said, and the truth is that I never saw it like that. I actually didn’t give it much thought as you did. So … what do you say we should do, these being said?” he asked.
Margaret took her glass of wine, drank a sip from it, and put it back on the table, quietly.
“I don’t know, Phil. You said you are ready to talk about anything. These are my ideas today. And they’re fueled by ideas weeks old, that kept on gathering inside my mind. There were days when these thoughts were so powerful, that I had to take my amulet off my chest, afraid that any of the Elders would find out about them. The truth is that we are part of a safe haven, where our freedom is limited but exchanged with the promise of having everything our hearts desire.”
“And peacefulness, and kindness,” added Philip.
“This is the Elder’s prototype for local culture. And it’s normal, Phil, they are monks. They feel and breathe love and peacefulness and it is easy for them to teach it to everyone else. I have personally witnessed it in a meditation session with Elder Airie, in one of the days I went by myself at the Order’s meetings. But we … do you see yourself living such a life for the next say ... 3 years? Or even 6, or 9 years? Are you willing to give up your life to pursue a pure spiritual life here? Somewhere on a monastery land, disconnected from everything that you used to know? I personally am not ready to wait for my orange robe.”
“Well, umm, if you put it like this, I don’t know,” Philip answered, with a confused face. “You know I like the Order’s meetings, but I don’t fancy myself too much as a spiritual person … “
“See, that’s the point. You have to look into the future as well, even if they say that time does not exist here. That’s another trap I’m sensing, the feeling that we live in a suspended time,” Margaret said, pointing with her finger in the air, like marking a dot.
Philip was silent.
“Indeed, I haven’t seen it that way at all. We have to see ourselves into the future, otherwise, we will live like that forever and … forget about our mission, about our real life, about the things we used to love,” Philip acknowledged.
Margaret nodded.
“We are perfectly fine, and we can live like this forever. The amulets will ensure our happiness and well-being. The question is: is this really what we want from our lives?”
“To be honest, Maggie, I too feel for the life we used to have, from time to time, but not that strong as you do,” Philip confessed.
Philip looked at her, and his eyes glittered for a second.
“Well, just so you know, my plans are shared with you Margaret, so whatever you decide, I’ll be there for you.”
Margaret’s eyes shined, as she let her gaze down.
“Thanks, Phil. I knew you would say something like that. I knew you deeply care about me.” She then paused for a few moments and concluded.
“I propose to continue our wine saga and forget for a while about all these theories and ideas and go out in the garden and catch the glittering stars in all their beauty. One thing I learn here, in the City, is to enjoy the moment and not worry about the past or the future.”
“Let’s drink to that,” said Philip, with joy in his voice.
They went out with their glasses of wine half full and changed the discussion to occasional events that they had in the days that passed. The stars and the two moons appeared in the sky, and they seemed to have a rather violet halo. Margaret was feeling that today, somehow, it was the beginning of something new for them, the beginning of a long-lost freedom, and she was really content that she confessed her thoughts to Philip. She was now seeing things in a more clear way, with her deep, green eyes, looking far away, into the magical sky, trying to catch the mysteries of the stars, from a city that no one knew it existed anymore.
Chapter 16 – The caves
The next day, Margaret woke up with a single thought in her mind: to visit the caves. This thought has been haunting her ever since she heard about that strange cave that Mary described, the bakery owner. She knew that Mary was telling a lot of things, some with less importance, and maybe just a few of them true, but she was really intrigued by what she told her, last time she visited her.
“Philip, get ready. We’re taking our dragons to the caves today.”
Philip looked at her as if he already planned this adventure.
“Even though I thought I had a better plan for today,” he began with a rather official tone, “this particular day should be nice for a dragon ride, and it’s been a while since we visited the mountains. You must have read my mind, Maggie. Just give me a few moments to prepare my backpack, and we’ll be on our way.”
He smiled at her, while he rushed to the dispenser, to order food for the trip. Margaret loved a lot this childish side of Philip, but she had never mentioned it to him. It was the other side of an adult that she’d lost during the time that completed her so well, that made them both get along so well together. Watching him preparing joyfully his backpack for the day ahead, brought to mind that she couldn’t fell asleep last night until about 3 am, thinking about how the Elders let one of their possible biggest secrets that she now knew about, inside the perimeter shield. Anyone could stumble upon it, she thought, and who knows what secrets that cave was holding. Maybe it had huge unexplored chambers inside the mountain, filled with the emerald crystals that they harvest. Or maybe it is one of their other secret places, something like their Machine room. Or maybe it was something that she even could not imagine. She thought it over and over until she fell asleep, and she dreamed of visiting the caves and finding
nothing but empty hallways, filled with a lot of orange luminous dust and cubic stones of all colors, where funny dwarfs, dressed up in flashy colors, were walking joyfully through the corridors, talking to each other in an unknown language. She woke up in a funny mood, but after she took a shower she felt invigorated and ready for the trip. The fresh start of her day made her try to convince Philip to go up there, into the mountains, and that seemed to be an easy thing, as Philip was motivated to go everywhere with her, lately.
They dressed slowly, putting on their blue robes and amulets. In the back of their house, the dragons were playing with each other, making funny noises, and started flapping their big green wings when they saw them. Philip pet them for a while and fixed the soft leather saddles on both of them.
“Off to the mountains,” Margaret said, with a joyful voice.
Philip nodded and buckled his dragon, with care.
They quickly rose up to the air, above the house, and they start flying towards the South East area, where the mountains showed in all their might, bare, naked, with their light-blue color, rising up into the crisp and clear sky. They both had their backpacks with them, and they were ready for just another day of adventure.
Their flight was short, maybe close to 10 minutes, as they rushed their dragons to get there sooner. Margaret knew that finding what she was looking for could easily take half of their day, and she didn’t want to spend any minute less. They arrived maybe 300 feet below the first visible cave and they landed on the dusty path that they knew well, very close to the place where they were brought by the Cube.
“Now this I remember well,” Philip said, descending off his dragon.
Margaret descended off hers and fixed her Mapper tighter onto her arm.
“Remember Philip. We need to go up to the first cave and search from there. Our dragons will stay here, as the path is getting too narrow for them, 300 feet ahead. Follow me and watch your step, I’m sure the path is going to be filled with a lot of sharp rocks, not to mention there’s no protective railing to keep us fall on the steep slope that’s going really deep down there,” she said, pointing to the valley that was going indeed very steep, on their right side.
The Hidden City Page 18