The Adventures of Tremain & Christopher BoxSet

by Terry Marchion

  “And you’re not impressed with me . . . may I ask why?” He gestured outward with his hands, “Not that you should be, but still . . .” He flattened his lab coat, goading the woman. “You’re not impressed? With this?”

  Marla sneered at him, the hostility radiating from her.

  “You are testing us. I have listened to you speak as I stood outside the doorway. You question the will of the Gods. Who are you to question so?” She pointed one bony finger at him. “Who are you?”

  “Madam, I assure you, I am human just as you are.” He glanced at the Ka-tahn. “I come from a different place than this. One where there is no wall to keep us from exploring.”

  Marla’s gaze was unfocused, as if Tremain hadn’t spoken at all. “I am curious about the names of your people. Ahnj? Mehdi? Where did these come from?” He shifted in his seat, leaning into the table a little. “And other than spoken stories, how do you record your history? Where are the books?”

  The old men looked in confusion at Tremain, the old woman continued to ignore him.

  “Our names come from old-times.” Jermin nodded as he spoke. “They have been passed down to us from old. Where they came from beyond that? I do not know. But “book”? I do not know this word.” He looked over at the Ka-tahn. “Do you know it?”

  The Ka-tahn pulled at his beard and shook his head.

  “It is unfamiliar to me as well. Maybe the Mehdi . . .” He gestured to Marla, who focused her eyes, not on Tremain, but at the table.

  “There are talismans of power that one can create. Perhaps this “book” is one of those?” She held her hands out, palms upward. “Perhaps only the Gods know.” She folded her hands in front of her and glared at Tremain. He returned her glare, his brow knitted.

  “I do not understand you, madam.” He said at length and stood. “But I do know that this Godswall intrigues me. I think I need to see it for myself.”

  The old Mehdi woman grunted as she raised herself from her cushion.

  “You wish to see the wall? Very well. I will show you the wall.” She turned to the Ka-tahn. “We will see what the Gods make of this stranger who questions our very way of life.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Christopher stood in front of the Godswall, his eyes wide in amazement. After a few seconds, he reached out to it, feeling the cold material.

  It was made of metal!

  He looked up, but the wall faded into mist above him. Stepping back, he looked left and right. In either direction, the wall stretched as far as he could see. He decided to follow it, to his right.

  “I wonder how far this wall goes?” He said to himself. He kept walking, one hand on the wall. It seemed to be pieced together, there were rivets in the seams. He stopped, aghast at what had just occurred to him. He took off at a run, still with the wall to his left until he saw, in the distance, a change in the smoothness. He slowed as he came to it, then stopped cold. Recognition made him break out into a huge grin.

  “I have to find Uncle Tremain.” He whispered, and took off back into the trees.

  He ran as fast as he could, branches whipping at him, which he ignored. He knew what they had to fix! It was so obvious now! If only they had realized sooner. It all made sense!

  He broke out from the trees to see the lake in front of him. Following the shoreline, he quickly came to where they had been fishing just a little while ago. Dorin, Tika and Egger were nowhere to be seen. They must have gone back to the village. Not breaking stride, he kept running, following the same path they had taken earlier.

  Soon he came up on the three of them as they trudged back, the boys each carrying a few fish. They were laughing and comparing the sizes of the catch, Tika walking behind them. She turned as she heard Christopher running up. He stopped. Breathing hard, he held his hands up for them to stop. Dorin and Egger just ignored him and kept walking. Christopher could hear them laughing about a soggy tree or something. Tika stopped and stood there, hands on her hips.

  “Did you see it?” She asked, eyes wide. He nodded, still gasping for breath. She clapped her hands together and smiled. “I told you.”

  He straightened, looking past her.

  “I know what’s going on now.” He gasped. “I need to find my uncle.”

  Tika wrinkled her nose.

  “What do you mean, what’s going on?” She blocked his way on the path. “What’s wrong?”

  He tried to step around her but she kept blocking him.

  “Tell me now.”

  “You wouldn’t understand.” He tried to walk around her again, only to be blocked again.

  “I wouldn’t understand what? And why not? Because I’m a girl?” Her hands were on her hips again, indignant.

  “No, of course not!” Christopher stammered. “I know lots of girls who are probably smarter than me. But this is different.”

  “How different?” She wasn’t going to let him off the hook. Dorin and Egger were out of sight now.

  “Like I said, you wouldn’t understand, and I don’t have time to try and explain it.” He took her by the shoulders, moved her out of the way, and then kept running down the path. Tika had no choice but to run after him.

  “What is going on?” She yelled. Christopher ignored her.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Tremain left the house with the Mehdi woman. She kept a good pace, even with her staff. Tremain watched her lead the way, her stride strong and purposeful. So she wasn’t as feeble as she seemed to be. He would have to keep that in mind.

  As they walked into the village center again, she motioned to two men, who were stoking the central fire. Already it was at full burn, the flames reaching high above the pit. The cook pots were lined up in front of it, waiting their turn.

  The two came quickly and slowed once they reached her. She said something to each of them in turn, which Tremain couldn’t hear over the crackling of the fire. They both glanced at him, eyes wide. He wondered what she was saying, when they both came to him and each one grabbed an arm. He started in shock and looked at the old woman, who smiled at him darkly.

  “What is the meaning of this?” He struggled in the grip. “Let go of me!”

  The old Mehdi raised her staff and pointed at him, her glare full of spite and hatred.

  “You, stranger, will not be disrupting us any longer.” She straightened up, placed the bottom of her staff next to her and looked down her nose at him. “The Gods will know what to do with you.” She turned and led the small group into the trees, past the Ka-tahn’s hut.

  “Uncle Tremain!” Tremain jumped when he heard his name. Turning around as best he could, he saw Christopher running up to him, his face flushed and his eyes bright. Tika was running behind him, also breathless.

  Christopher noticed the men holding Tremain’s arms and stopped. “What did you do?”

  Tremain let out an indignant huff.

  “What do you mean, what did I do? Why do you always assume I did something?”

  Christopher said nothing, just pointed at his uncle’s restrained arms. Tremain pursed his lips and looked away.

  “Well, apparently, I offended this Mehdi woman here and now I’m being taken to the Godswall.”

  Christopher’s smile grew larger and he giggled a little.

  “Ok, then. I’ll come with you.”

  At that, the old woman stopped and fixed Christopher with her steely gaze.

  “You do not understand, young one. This is not for your eyes. The Gods will judge this one,” She pointed at Tremain. “You are still innocent. There can be no judgment on you.”

  Christopher stared right back at her, his shoulders square. Tremain noticed he was quite a bit taller than the old woman was. She quailed just a little as he stood over her.

  “I will go with my Uncle.” Was all he said. She didn’t reply, just nodded and turned back to the path. Christopher turned and winked at his uncle. Tremain’s mouth dropped open.

  “Did you just wink at me?” He huffed and puffed. Christopher giggled
and dropped back to walk with his Uncle. He looked at the two men holding Tremain’s arms.

  “You know you don’t have to keep holding him,” he said to the two, “I’ll guarantee he’ll want to see this.”

  Tremain huffed again.

  “What are you going on about, Christopher. Do you not realize what they’re going to do to me?” He fell silent for a few steps. “You should stay in the village and live out the rest of your life. Who knows what will happen to me.”

  Christopher rolled his eyes and waved his uncle off.

  “Don’t be so dramatic, Uncle Tremain. You’ll see in a little bit.”

  “See what?”

  “The wall. Then you’ll understand.” They walked on.

  “You do know what they’re going to do to me, well, us, at the wall?”

  Christopher nodded.

  “I know what they think they’re going to do. But I know better.” He smiled and actually winked again. Tremain blinked in surprise, but kept quiet.

  They walked through the trees in silence. The forest grew thicker, the quiet grew more oppressive. Tremain stopped and shushed everyone else. Marla turned and gave Tremain a look that would have withered other men.

  “Why do you stop, stranger? Do you finally feel the Gods turning their attention to you?”

  Tremain waved her off, which made her eyes go wide with surprise.

  “Quit babbling. I’m trying to listen.”

  They all fell silent. Tremain nodded his head.

  “No sounds, Christopher. No birds, no insects, no nothing.” He raised his eyebrows as if to ask what Christopher thought of it.

  “It’s definitely quiet, that’s for sure.”

  They moved on down the path. The trees grew thicker, then suddenly, as if a knife had cut through the forest, they were in a clearing. Tremain could see the hill descend into a valley, beyond were trees, clouds and a mountain range. Tremain gasped at the beauty. He took a few steps forward.

  “It’s breathtak . . .” But stopped as the view melted away and a wall suddenly stood in its place. He grunted and took a step backwards, walking into the two guards who were directly behind him. “Do you mind?” He growled at them. They moved to the side, in surprise.

  Tremain took a step or two back.

  The view returned.

  He took a step or two forward.

  The wall.

  He did this a couple of times, then stopped, turned and looked down the row of trees. He cupped his chin as he puzzled over this. Suddenly he snapped his fingers.

  “It’s a hologram!” He said and clapped his hands together. Christopher stood there, grinning. “Quite ingenious too.” He looked up at the trees, took another step back. “It’s so lifelike!” He walked a few steps forward, the wall appeared again and he stopped. “Now this,” he said, walking right up to the wall, “is another matter.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  The wall was smooth, metallic and cool to the touch. Tremain ran his hands along it. Standing away from the wall, he looked up, but couldn't see the top as it disappeared into clouds.

  "This is no ordinary wall, Christopher." He said as he ran his hands along it again.

  "That was my thought too." Christopher looked smug as he stood next to his uncle. "What do you think?"

  The old woman and the two guards had herded Tremain and Christopher to the only variance in the wall. It was a rectangular area, defined by a thin line that was barely visible in the wall. A window was in the middle of the area, cloudy and dark. The more striking feature was the pile of old garlands to either side of the rectangle.

  The remains of those who had passed before.

  The old woman walked over to the rectangle alone and made gestures at it with both her arms. As she gestured, there was a beeping sound, lights blinked and the wall opened.

  Tremain started as the wall slid into itself, revealing a darkened room beyond. The guards nudged Tremain and Christopher to enter. Suddenly Tremain started.

  "It's an airlock!" he yelled and stepped back to take in the whole picture. “This is a ship!”

  Christopher laughed and clapped his hands.

  "Finally! I wondered if you were ever going to get it!"

  Tremain jumped up and danced around as the realization flooded him.

  "A ship, a ship! Gateway, indeed. Gods, Ha!” He jumped around a bit more, looking like a madman. The guards stared at him as if he had indeed gone mad. He calmed himself, and walked over to the airlock.

  Looking inside, he noted another doorway with windows. Beyond the windows, all Tremain could see was the unending expanse of space.

  "This, my dear," he said to the old woman who stood and looked at him uncomprehendingly, "is an airlock. Gateway to the beyond for sure. But not to any God, to open space. Take a look for yourself, go ahead,” He motioned for her to enter the room. She resisted.

  "I-I cannot. It is not my time."

  Tremain dismissed that with a wave of his hand.

  "Time, shmime. Don't worry, it won't open on you." He opened the control panel on the side where her staff had activated the door. Fiddling with it a bit, he made a noise in his throat, reached into his small pack and produced a screwdriver. He worked it into the side of the panel and then pulled the whole works out. There was a sizzle of electricity and then nothing.

  The guards ran back into the trees, fearing for their lives. The old woman stood her ground, paralyzed.

  "That should do it. Now," Tremain, replacing the screwdriver, gently took the woman by the arm and pulled her into the airlock. She resisted a little, but followed, all defiance gone.

  The doors stayed open.

  Fearfully, she glanced around, her eyes darting from side to side, not seeing.

  "Come on, that's it." Tremain cooed at her as he led her to the opposite door.

  Through the window, he could see the blackness of space with distant stars shining. The old woman stared out, her eyes wide. Tremain shook his head looking at her.

  "Frightening, isn’t it? To stare out into the Universe, not understanding what you’re looking at? In a time long ago, human beings like yourself built this ship and sailed it away into deep space looking for a new home. Something happened along the way to cause them to just live here in these gardens.” He looked to Christopher, realization in his eyes. “You know, I wonder how many generations have passed to have forgotten so much about who they were, and what they were meant to do. Now all they know is superstition and ignorance.” He turned back to the Mehdi woman, who trembled as she stared out the porthole. “The Captain became your Ka-tahn. Your people, the Ossrs are the Officers. The Mehdi came from the Medical department. Doctors. Healers. Well, at least you kept part of that. Anhj must have been the Engineers. You have no idea, do you? Not once did you question where you came from or why a wall would be here. You find something you can’t explain like this bulkhead or this airlock and attribute it to Gods. Yet you look with disdain when I come along and question everything.” He wrinkled his nose. “You know nothing.” He turned to Christopher. “We’re not on a planet at all. This,” he gestured all around them, “is a colony ship. The colony ship. The Mayflower. Now I know what we need to fix."

  Leaving the old woman scared and trembling, Tremain grabbed Christopher. "Let's go, Christopher.” As they left the airlock, Tremain started walking backwards and flashed his hands. “Bzz, Bzz . . . FIX ME!” he said. Christopher laughed and followed.

  They walked quietly for a little while, the grass crunching under their feet. Tremain glanced over at his nephew, who looked almost too pleased with himself.

  “So, you knew about this when you met up with our little sacrifice party, didn’t you?” He was met with a nod and another little giggle. “Very good, Christopher. What was it that tipped you off?”

  “The wall itself, Uncle. It had to have been a ship’s wall.” He looked up, back and forth along the wall. “That and the other hatch I found. This must be a huge colony ship. It’s amazing that we found ou
rselves here!”

  “Yes, it is amazing.” Tremain ran his hands along the wall as they walked, deep in thought. “Amazing, but logical. Our little . . . adventure . . . caused the energy wave which then did something to this ship, making it never reach New Earth. That was probably the tremors and the darkness they accused us of causing, which we did cause. Either that, or something happened prior to the pulse and all we did was make matters worse. Frankly, it’s a very overwhelming thought.”

  They walked a little further, coming to another hatch. As Tremain approached, he looked at it quite closely.

  “Hmm . . . No markings at all. But now that I know where we are, I think I know where this leads.” Toggling the switch at the side, he stepped over the threshold as it slid open. “If I remember our histories correctly, this garden is in a ring that rotates around a central hub. The centrifugal force is what causes the sensation of gravity.”

  The door opened into a long vertical corridor, a ladder in front of them. The two climbed silently until Tremain stopped and felt the walls.

  “Do you feel lighter yet, Christopher?” He asked. Christopher gave a little shake or two.

  “Maybe a little. Should we be feeling lighter?”

  Tremain started climbing again.

  “I would imagine we would as we climb closer to the hub. Less centrifugal force, means less gravity.

  They climbed until they reached an opening. The gravity was gone now and they floated in the center of the hub, which spun around them. Tremain moved to a large window that was in the side of the corridor.

  “Christopher look at this . . . “

  “Uncle, I think I may be sick . . . “Christopher whined as he flailed around. His stomach felt as if it was in his throat, his face turning pale.

  “Oh, I don’t think that’d be a good idea. It’s the change in gravity doing that to you. Try to keep calm. If you do throw up in zero gravity, it would be quite . . . ah . . . messy.” Tremain gulped, feeling nauseous as well, keeping himself calm.

  Christopher groaned and held onto the nearest strut, breathing deeply, but pulling himself to the window.