by A D Tether
'It has all been foretold, hasn't it', spoke Ralph.
'It has indeed', replied Julian.
The next fresco was of two couples standing in line looking out at the viewer, man and woman then an empty space, followed by another man and woman. The next picture showed the same people but standing in different positions. A man from the first couple and the woman from the second couple were now standing in the centre of the picture holding hands. The woman from the original first couple was now standing alone to the left of the central couple, and the man from the second couple was too standing alone, but to the right of the central couple. Above this picture were images of four guardians looking down and holding hands with each other, in the bottom right hand corner sat the blue haired Shenkan female and the elegant Shenkan man with two children in their arms, one a boy the other a girl; the boy was holding a flowering vine which weaved it's way up the right of the fresco into the hand of the guardian on the far right, the girl held a silver chain, the chain ran along the bottom of the fresco and up the left hand side, finding it's way into the hand of the guardian on the far left.
'That's our answer then', said Veronica, 'all the guardians and Belle and Henderson must be told what is happening.'
'It would seem so', responded Julian, 'I will see to it when I leave here.'
'I think we should travel with you', replied Ralph, 'what do you think Veronica.'
'Yes I think we must, we need to be there for Henderson and Belle, and of course I want to see those babies' agreed Veronica.
'Right let's see if there is any more to be learnt', smiled Julian, relieved that he did not have to face it all on his own, and with the knowledge that whatever happens now is all for a reason, and that reason would become clearer each day.
They turned a corner once more and faced the next fresco, this fresco had Julian reeling, his head spun as he faced an image of himself standing in a Shenkan field of blue herbs and white daises, to his right a woman rested her head on his shoulder, her dark hair was blowing across her face hiding most of her features, at her feet two small children played on the grass making daisy chains, a few feet behind them was a young man carrying a basket of herbs walking towards them, the young man was suntanned and handsome, his face was full of smiles, running behind him was a small black and white puppy.
'Looks like there is a good future ahead for you Julian', laughed Ralph, 'but it must be a little nerve tingling seeing this image.'
'I never, well I have never even thought about love, I never thought I would ever find it, well not the way my parents did', gasped Julian, 'but there is nothing of Grafflin in the fresco is there, so I am at a loss what lies ahead, or what the fates have in store for me.'
'Well I for one would like to see you with someone Julian', whispered Veronica, 'you deserve some happiness, someone to share your days with, so who knows'.
Ralph and Veronica turned their gaze to each other, they had found happiness and it was only right that Julian would find the same, Ralph grasped Veronica's hand and squeezed it gently, they then moved on to the final fresco; and this time Ralph and Veronica gasped. In front of them was a portrait featuring Ralph and Veronica standing in the centre of the Shenkan garden, in the background was the tower and from the top of the tower shone a bright beacon, beyond which the mists between Shenka and Earth threw off shades of pinks and pale blues.
Ralph scratched his head, 'Well what can I say, gosh my heart is pounding', he took a deep breath and exhaling he said 'all that is left here now is to see what secrets lie over there, beneath the glass topped table.'
Now that the dome had been cleaned more light shone over the table making the manuscripts beneath the glass easier to read, a large manuscript dominated the centre display, with two smaller pages on it's right and left. Veronica read out the words on the left hand side.
*
WELCOME TRAVELLERS THREE
YOU HAVE FOUND OUR RESTING PLACE
ALL YOU NEED IS ON OUR WALLS
FOR THE JOURNEY YOU HAVE TO FACE.
*
'Well that sounds very straight forward, what does the manuscript on the right say?'
'I'm closest so I'll read it out', offered Julian.
*
I GUESSED THAT YOU WOULD DO THAT
READ OUR SHORTER WORDS FIRST
THERE IS NO EASY WAY AHEAD
NO DRINK TO EASE YOUR THIRST
*
'Okay, we get it, nothing is going to be easy, better see what the main script has to tell us' commented Julian.
'My turn then, Julian do you have room in your notebook to copy down these words?' spoke Ralph.
'Good idea Lord Ralph, yes I do, if you read out the words I will write them down, one thing I have learnt in Grafflin is how to write very rapidly, so read away'.
Ralph cleared his throat with a little cough and began,
*
CONGRATULATIONS TRAVELLERS ON FINDING THIS PLACE
FOR MANY YEARS IT'S SECRETS HAVE BEEN HIDDEN
BUT YOU ARE THE ONES WITH HEARTS OF TRUTH
TO SAVE THE WORLDS YOU HAVE BEEN BIDDEN
YOU CLIMBED THIS TOWER AND REACHED IT'S ROOF
AND NOW YOU BEGIN THE LONG HARD RACE
THE MISTS OF SHENKA ARE RED WITH RAGE
THE PEOPLE OF EARTH ARE ANGRY AND SAD
BUT GRAFFLIN AND SHENKA TOGETHER CAN FIGHT
WITH THE HELP OF AN EARTH GIRL AND A BRAVE EARTH LAD
TO CALM A WOMANS CRY AND CHANGE DARKNESS TO LIGHT
THE CLUES ARE ALL HERE, WRITTEN ON THIS PAGE
GO FROM THIS PLACE, AND WATCH THEM GROW
COMFORT THEM WHEN LIFE FALLS APART
IT IS THEIR DESTINY TO BE STRONG AND STRAIGHT
IT IS IN THEIR MINDS AND IN THEIR HEARTS
NO MATTER HOW HARD OR HEAVY THE WEIGHT
HOW FICKLE THE FRIEND OR CRUEL THE FOE
DO NOT KEEP SECRETS FROM EACH OTHER
EVERYTHING YOU MUST ALL SHARE
WITH GRAFFLINS, SHENKANS AND EARTH FOLK TOO
EVEN WHEN THE TRUTHS ARE HARD TO BEAR
EVEN WHEN YOU ARE AT A LOSS WHAT TO DO
TO COMFORT A FATHER AND A MOTHER
GO NOW QUIETLY FROM THIS TOWER
IN LESS THAN TEN YEARS FROM NOW
YOU MUST LEARN HOW
TO GUIDE A BOY
INTO THE RED MIST OF TIME
THERE WILL BE LOSS
THERE WILL BE JOY
ONE OTHER TASK WILL FALL HIS WAY
BEFORE THIS LAST TRIAL IS TAKEN
A PASSER WILL BE THERE ON THAT DAY
TO GUIDE THE WAY FOR THOSE FORESAKEN
*
'These are very old words indeed, see how the rhymes are formed, such old Shenkan poetry, we studied this style at school', mumbled Ralph.
'I have written it all down as you asked', intervened Julian.
'Thank you, shall we go home now, I am getting rather tired and hungry, and what's more I need my pipe', replied Ralph.
'Yes please' yawned Veronica, 'and I need coffee, come on then Ralph, lead the way.'
CHAPTER NINE
AFFAIRS AND FAREWELLS - EARTH YEAR 2009
Marie rubbed her eyes and looked again, she could have sworn she saw something move across the living room, a flash of bright lights, soft sweet smelling perfume, something so beautiful but beyond comprehension.
'Did you say something', asked Jack who was flicking through a sports magazine.
'No', answered Marie abruptly.
'Sorry I spoke' replied Jack curtly.
Marie stared at her husband, how did he have the nerve she thought to herself, how can he just sit there and read that stupid magazine as if nothing had happened, he just doesn't care at all does he.
A voice in her head replied 'Sorry Marie but he doesn't.'
Another voice interrupted 'Don't be so hard, can't you see she is upset.'
Yet another voice intervened 'Please be gentle, she is an innocent in all of this.'
'All of
what?', asked Marie.
'See, now you are talking to yourself' mumbled Jack.
'What are you on about?' asked Marie.
'You Marie, I clearly heard you say something like 'All of what?'' snarled Jack.
'Can you smell something?' asked Marie
'Like what?' questioned Jack.
'Flowers, like sweet smelling flowers' mumbled Marie.
Jack sniffed 'Can't say I can.'
'Oh must just be me then', replied Marie.
Marie gathered her strength, there was something in the room, she felt it's warmth around her, protecting her, giving her comfort.
'You know what Jack, I just cannot believe that you have decided to put work before your son, before his first birthday, it's a bank holiday for Gods sake.'
Jack sighed and threw the magazine he was pretending to read on the floor, 'So what do you expect me to do, tell my boss I can't go, you know what it's like these days, when you're told you are needed to work the weekend away then you just have to do it, for as sure as houses if I don't then someone else will; and where will that leave us?' Inside Jack's head he was thinking to himself 'Good acting there old boy, just a few more days then I will not have to look at her any longer, or be tied down to a son who cries each time I go near him.'
Marie got up from her armchair , breathed in, stretched her arms, exhaled and slowly walked across the living room passing Jack on the way, until she reached the open window that looked out onto the front garden. On the drive was Jack's red car, the driver's window was open, she looked up to the sky and eyed the rain clouds overhead, she had a knack of knowing when it was going to rain and hardly ever got caught out, Marie knew within the next hour it would be pouring down. She glanced around at Jack who was now channel hopping looking for some program or other to watch, anything she thought to avoid conversation. She walked back to her chair and sat down, 'well if he can't be bothered to speak to me properly well I can't be bothered to tell him that it's going to rain and his car seat is going to get soaked, serve him right' she thought.
An hour earlier Jack had informed Marie that he was going to be away the following weekend, 'There is a problem with a machine we installed in a factory up North, sorry but it means I will have to leave on the Friday, won't be back until the Tuesday at the earliest, nothing I can do I am afraid.'
Marie was stunned, she could tell by the tone in his voice that he didn't seem too concerned about working over the August bank holiday, but even worse that he seemed to shrug off the significance of missing George's first birthday.
'I don't know what is the matter with you these days, you come home from work late, usually after George has gone to bed, you hardly ever see him, do you know what Jack, do what the hell you want' Marie had raged.
It was some ten minutes or so, before this heated exchange that Julian Speaksafe had entered the Rose's living room, Sydney jumped up from his lying position in front of the television, 'My goodness, this is such a wonderful surprise, my Lord what brings you here, it is such an honour to meet you'.
'And good to meet you too Sydney,' bowed Julian.
Bertie was not surprised, he was relieved, ever since he and Rupert had sent for guidance on the affair he had been waiting for help, 'at last' he thought.
'Thank you for coming so quickly, my Lord Julian, I hope we have not inconvenienced you.'
'Not at all, my friend, you and Rupert did the right thing' smiled Julian.
'What's going on, I am at a loss', enquired Sydney, 'is there anything I should know?'
Sydney listened to the discussion between Julian and Bertie, he was shocked to find out about Jack and Stella's affair, but now everything fell into place, the late returns home from work, and Bertie's discomfort and lack of information about those Wednesday nights out.
Julian told them everything that he together with the Lady Veronica and Lord Ralph had discovered in the Shenkan tower, he described the frescos, showed them his notebook where he had written down the words of the Shenkan verses, the only fresco he didn't describe was the one featuring himself, that he felt was a little too personal.
Sydney told Julian everything he had learnt about Marie and baby George, that George could see all of them and understood all the words his mother spoke to him, both Sydney and Bertie agreed that Henderson was dedicated to George and George in return loved Henderson. They told Julian how George would laugh when Henderson danced around the room, whenever he was upset, how he would feel safest in his mother's arms, but also how he seemed so distant from his father; 'I guess he knew all along that things were not right' commented Julian, 'he is a very special child indeed.'
Julian settled his gaze on Marie, he was at a loss as to how a man could betray her so, she had such a warm heart which flowed into her very being, radiating an aura of goodness and kindness around her whole body. It was then that Marie was sure she felt something in the room, when she first smelt the aroma of sweet flowers, when she first felt comfort.
Ralph arrived with Julian and had made his way upstairs to join Henderson in George's bedroom, after Henderson's initial shock at seeing his Lord Master, the two Shenkan men settled down into deep conversation, Ralph repeating the words that Julian was saying in the room below, George slept soundly and never stirred.
*
Pete shook his head, 'Do you really have to go, you will miss Joni's first birthday.'
Joni who was playing with her bright coloured wooden bricks on the carpet, looked up when she heard her name, she held a red brick in her left hand and a blue brick in her right, she threw them across the floor towards her mother, then proceeded in picking up a green brick and a yellow one, each time she threw them towards her mother.
'Joni, stop it, if they hit me it will hurt', shouted Stella.
Joni looked at her mother and burst into tears, she then picked up an orange brick and threw it harder, this time it hit Stella's bare leg.
'Right that's it, I have told you once' shouted Stella, 'you can cry in bed.'
Stella stormed across the living room, picked up Joni who was now crying harder and carried her upstairs. Stella put Joni down in her baby bed and drew the curtains, 'Now you can stay there until you stop bawling.'
Joni continued crying until her mother had left the bedroom, she watched as Stella shut the bedroom door behind her, before she stopped sobbing.
'You will have to learn not to be so cross you know' whispered Belle who was leaning over her and gently stroking her blonde curly hair.
Joni smiled and sat up, she reached for her teddy bear at the end of her bed and gave it a hug, but when the Lady Veronica entered the room she stood up and leaned out over her bed rails, holding her arms open wide to be picked up.
Belle listened intently as the Lady related all that had happened in the previous few days.
Stella had made her way downstairs and re-entered the living room, Pete was sitting staring into space, his head filled with with his disappointment that Stella would prefer to spend the bank holiday away with her book group, than with him and Joni, he couldn't understand why she seemed so unconcerned at missing her daughter's first birthday.
*
Bertie and Rupert sat together on the floor of the hotel room shared by Jack and Stella on the last Wednesday before they planned to leave together.
'So I will pack on Friday, Pete won't notice a thing' laughed Stella.
'I'll do the same, I only need some clothes and shaving stuff, we can buy new things when we have settled' replied Jack.
'And I have sorted the bank out, there is now a new account in my name into which I have transferred fifty percent of our saving, nearly twenty five thousand pounds worth' said Stella.
'I can't bring that much to the table, maybe a couple of grand, but I don't want to leave Marie completely destitute' sighed Jack.
'I know Jack, look I have still left Pete lots of cash haven't I, but the house needs to be sold, suppose I will have to give him some of the proceeds, even if it was left
to me.'
'No regrets about leaving Joni?' asked Jack.
Stella laughed again 'that child hates me, I know she does, no I have no regrets, don't think she will miss me at all.'
'George is the same with me, maybe those two kids know what we are up to, I only have to go near him and he screams, he's such a mommy's boy too.'
'And Joni, well sometimes she just looks into thin air and starts laughing and waving her arms around, something not right with her I am sure' added Stella.
'That's nothing' sniggered Jack 'George is a complete nutter, honest, his eyes are everywhere, he laughs at anything, and sometimes just stares into space, I don't know where he gets it from, well it's not me for sure.'
'So roll on the bank holiday, then we are free' smiled Stella.
'Yeah bring it on', laughed Jack.
Rupert grasped hold of Bertie's arm, 'Oh my friend, it is going to happen isn't it' he sighed.
'I am afraid you are right, oh this is too bad, they are going to take us away, I did so much want to be around for George's birthday, poor Marie how will she manage, oh dear I am so very sad' whispered Bertie as he wiped a silver tear from his golden face.
'Me too dear Bertie, I am so attached to that little baby girl, she is funny and sweet, to think after the weekend I will see her no more, because I am feeling these two will just abandon their children' quivered Rupert.
'I don't know about you Rupert, but I have a mind to ask Julian to replace us, after all we only arrived a little over a year ago, maybe it wouldn't be too much to ask, I for one would rather be back in Grafflin, and I am so going to miss Sydney and Henderson too' sighed Bertie.
You have read my soul' replied Rupert, 'for me I will miss lovely Belle and my best friend Denis, it all seems so unfair.'
'Let us do it then, let us ask' confirmed Bertie.
The two Grafflins shook hands, relaxed against the bedroom wall, waited until all the love making had finished, before making their way back to their respective homes.
*
Lord Ralph breathed in the summer air of the Rose's back garden, George's paddling pool lay unused on the sun scorched lawn, a few plastic toys were scattered around as if abandoned, on the washing line hung three pairs of tiny socks and a blue teddy bear that was attached by a single ear. He turned and viewed the house whose windows were all wide open, not a sound could be heard, mother and son were both fast asleep, cuddled together on the mother's bed.