Divine Deception: The Will Traveller Chronicals

by Robert James

  By the time the meeting was over, darkness was well on its way. I didn’t want a night arrival back at Carabindy, if I could even find it, so I decided to accept Martin’s invitation and stay for the celebrations which were just getting under way. After a quick freshen up, in the huge all wooden bathroom, next to my equally large, beautifully furnished bedroom, I donned an ornately woven red kaftan that had been laid out for me and joined the party downstairs. My arrival had a dampening effect on the spontaneity of my hosts, until a very brave young woman, in her late twenties, came shyly up to me and invited me to dance. My acceptance and enthusiastic gyrations to the hypnotic rhythm completely broke the ice. We were soon joined by a dozen or so handsome physiques and statuesque figures all looking far smoother than yours truly.

  I reasoned that this exercise was all about participation and not really smooth performance, so I kept it up for a while. Martin and two of his older chieftains looked on patronizingly, exchanging wry glances. Fifteen minutes of that musical workout left me in need of some fresh air, so I excused myself to my delightful and far more competent dance partner and headed for one of the big carved doors that led outside. Surprised that there were no house guards anywhere, I let myself out into the chill mountain air. Cold as it was, you’d have thought it was a warm summer night, if you looked at the many thousand revellers that stretched as far as I could see. They danced and laughed around a hundred or more bonfires, wearing nothing more than short tunics.

  Although I tried to remain unobserved, a group nearby saw me and, within a matter of seconds, I had a mass of screaming humanity before me. Now I knew how rock stars felt, frankly, it was quite scary. Suddenly they went dead quiet, and I saw that Martin and some of the others had come out to join me. The much revered leader walked over to me and lamented.

  “If only you could speak with them all” He waved at the throng..

  “I can, if you wish” I replied, but he looked as if he doubted that. Then, remembering who I was, Martin stepped a little closer. “Then please do so Lord Robert” He softly requested.

  I went to step up onto one of the very solid tables which were all around the building’s broad balcony, but instead found myself floating up to about three metres above the ground.

  There were some gasps and a few in the front tried to move back.

  “My much beloved children” I began “This celebration marks the end of conflict and hardship for all of you” I spoke quite softly, yet, once again, I knew everyone heard me clearly “From tomorrow, you will learn of the true power within the two stone. Within the next few weeks, you will be going home to your lands, to rebuild your villages, replant your fields and live evermore in prosperous peace. This, I, Lord Robert, promise you” The reaction was tumultuous to say the least, then, in time with the pulsating drums, they began to chant. “So long ago, Mother say so, now he comes and now we know” Again and again they repeated the lines. Smiling, Martin and his equally pleased colleagues looked on. Eventually we went back inside to rejoin the party. Intoxicated as much by the auspicious occasion as by the slightly sweet wine that flowed freely, the well built party guests were no longer the least bit inhibited by my presence. On the contrary, though I had chosen not to accept the constant offers to dance, being content to just sit comfortably and watch all the fun, it soon became clear that virtually all the women, whose ages ranged from late teens to late twenties, were making a none-too-subtle play for my attention. Martin came over and sat beside me on a nearby chair.

  “You know Mother asked me to be sure you left your seed” He grinned, despite trying to be serious “There is not a woman here who would not be honoured to carry it” He went on

  “Choose some, I will send them to your rooms Lord Robert” He offered, smiling yet completely serious.

  “Choose some!” I exclaimed “Martin, I have had an incredibly long day, fascinating, but really exhausting” I told him straight faced “Very soon I am going up to those wonderful quarters you’ve provided. Send up the one you choose and I will try to oblige” I told him smiling tiredly, trying to hide my anticipation With all eyes expectantly on me as I rose to leave, I wished them all a good night and a great future, then headed off up the wide wooden staircase to my quarters. Before I had even had time to remove my Kaftan and sit down, there was a light tap of the door.

  “Come in” I invited and in walked a girl who could grace any fashion catwalk in the world.

  Old Martin hadn’t lost his eye for beauty, nor his libido I suspected. I didn’t doubt that he had made sure his seed was well planted. The incredibly beautiful and lithe ebony skinned woman walked over to stand in front of me. With a deft stroke, she undid a small clasp and her thin, already brief dress fell to the floor. Few women are at their best when completely naked, this one was the exception. Though slim, her breasts were perfect and firm, her skin absolutely flawless and her face almost elfin, with generous lips and huge clear brown eyes. As I reached out to draw her to me, she went down on her knees and slowly removed my thin pants. From there on, I was just putty in her hands. ‘Mother’ got her wish and I finally got to get some badly needed sleep.

  I awoke just in time to see the sun reach the top of the highest Eastern peaks of the huge basin. Again, a gentle tap announced the arrival of a deliciously underclad dark skinned cutie, but this one offered food not herself, making it clear she’d be happy to be dessert. Though tempted, I opted to eat, get dressed and seek out Martin, Barain and Muldar; I wanted to get this mission started, even though I felt much had already been achieved. The three men were waiting for me outside the main house’s huge front entrance.

  “You slept well Lord Robert?” Martin inquired, as I walked over.

  “My guest insured I did thank you Martin” I replied smiling. My two soon-to-be travelling companions wore western style pants and work shirts. I asked where they had come from.

  “We made quite a few so we could get closer without warning them” Barain explained. They had planned well these ‘savages’. I telepathically summoned the two eagles. When they arrived, the men got onto their perch like transporters and, with a mighty swirl of dust and feathers, they were airborne, both gripping the handrail fearfully, as the ground slipped away from below them. I waved goodbye and lifted vertically up, till I was alongside them. Both men relaxed considerably when I joined them, perhaps bravado, or maybe they just felt safer knowing I could fly without the birds. They soon began to enjoy the fabulous view and often pointed out where villages had once been. Soon these now empty spaces would once again be the home of a thriving rural society.

  As I could apparently only communicate telepathically with non humans, there was no way to tell the folks at Carabindy that we were coming. I wanted to fly ahead but didn’t want to risk some trigger happy fool using the helpless black men or the birds as targets. To say that our unannounced arrival, on the State Building’s balcony, caused considerable consternation is really putting it mildly. There was complete pandemonium. Susan and Jim Carpenter were the first to come out and join us, just as the two black leaders jumped down off their perches and the two huge eagles launched their enormous bodies back into the sky.

  “Lord Robert” Susan came forward cautiously “We were a little concerned when you didn’t come back last night” She said, looking quizzically at my two guests.

  “These two gentlemen are the Chiefs of two of the many tribes who live over in the Eastern Mountains” I told her and Jim, adding “This man is the Chief of Carabindy and this is my representative” I introduced them to the two black men “Jim, can you assemble your main people so I can explain everything to all at one time” I asked him, adding “I’m anxious to see their reactions to what I’m going to suggest”. Jim turned to Susan.

  “I’ll get right on it Jim” Susan automatically responded, then, with a quick, anxious glance at the tall State leader, she ducked inside.

  “You wouldn’t like to try it out on me first would you Lord Robert?” Jim asked, quite understandabl
y trying to maintain his position of overall authority.

  “I would if we had more time Jim” I replied evenly “But with ten thousand well armed and angry tribesmen, just over on those mountains, and more of them arriving every day, even the tribal leaders don’t know when their King will order the attack” I told him. Barain and Muldar caught my drift and agreed.

  “Maybe not much time” Muldar muttered, adding “Maybe none”.

  “But surely you can prevent this invasion?” Carpenter almost challenged, then remembered himself and added “Lord Robert”.

  “That’s what I’m here for Jim and that’s why Muldar and Barain are here too” I added, trying to reassure the Carabindy Leader.

  “They want to come over to our side?” Jim asked me, as though the two black men were not standing there beside me.

  “No Mr Carpenter” Barain’s deep voice was cold and clear “We have not come to surrender to you, we have done quite enough of that already” He said bluntly “The fact is, we have come to offer you a chance of survival” Barain added coldly. The two men faced each other, equal in height, but the black man’s physique was twice that of Carpenter’s.

  “You speak rather well for a savage” Jim’s tone was derogatory.

  “You would call a man whom you don’t know a savage, simply because his skin is black?” Muldar shot back “That does not speak too highly of your wisdom Mr Carpenter” Muldar turned to me “I do not question your good will Lord Robert, however, it is clearly not shared by this man” Muldar’s eloquence quickly brought Jim Carpenter to his senses.

  “Gentlemen” Jim held out both hand, palms up “Old and bad habits die hard, please forgive me” He apologised to the two black men most sincerely. Both of the tribal leaders accepted his obviously genuine apology and shook his offered hand.

  “We do not wish to have war with you” Muldar explained “But our very survival depends on us returning to our lands and our way of life” Barain told Jim seriously. Jim Carpenter looked straight into the faces of the two men and one could sense a growing mutual respect. Unfortunately, before he could answer, Potter, Egan and a dozen others were hustled into the large room by Susan. But it was Bligh, the last one to enter, who caused the chill factor to drop below minus ten.

  Both black men stepped back away from Jim Carpenter and glared, with hate-filled eyes, at Bligh, who visibly paled. Muldar turned to me, trying to control his fury.

  “I will obey you if I can Lord Robert, but I cannot stay in a room with that murderer and not exact revenge for my peoples’ lives”.

  Jim Carpenter stepped toward the two chiefs smiling warmly.

  “But Muldar, Barain, that was so many years ago, can we not find a way to forgive?” He asked the tribal leaders reasonably.

  “This man still leads killer patrols himself” Barain spat back

  “They shot three of my men last week” Barain added, looking menacingly at the increasingly frightened Bligh.

  “You’re lying!” Shouted Bligh, clearly terrified “How could you know was me when everyone is masked?” He challenged.

  Bligh tried to get up, but suddenly found that he could not move.

  “You can hide your face fat one” Snarled Barain “But you can’t hide your bloated belly” The previously passive man raged.

  “I was just following the Supreme One’s orders” Bligh whined out the old standby. With his guilt now irrevocably established, Bligh appealed to his shocked colleagues, who had moved away.

  “Those men had surrendered to you” Barain charged coldly, adding “They were unarmed; they had used all their weapons on the hunt. Yet you and your men shot them several times, laughing while you killed them” Barain’s voice had taken on a very menacing tone.

  “I had to kill them” Bligh protested, adding “We have no facilities to house prisoners here”. As if in slow motion, I saw both men reach behind their necks, to remove short black throwing blades, and launch them with lightning speed at the near blubbering Bligh. I could have stopped them but why? Any court of law would have convicted him and condemned him to death. It seemed far better to let the chiefs see justice done and retain their honour.

  “Don’t anyone move” I ordered, adding “An eye for an eye. We now all know that Bligh was a cold blooded killer” I told them “Now justice is done and honour is reclaimed” I declared. “However” I continued my declaration “There can be no more revenge, justified or not, or I will have to withdraw and let the war neither of you can ever win proceed as planned” I warned.

  “But surely Lord Robert” Protested Egan “You cannot expect us to sit and talk peace with these two savages. Especially when they have just murdered our life long friend in front of us” He added. Jim was about to interrupt Egan when he said savages, but I waved him off. I looked at Barain and Muldar after Egan had finished.

  “When people come to a meeting designed to create peace carrying hidden weapons” I said coldly, adding “Then use them to kill someone. They deserve the title of savages” I declared. That clearly angered the two tribal leaders but they did not move or speak. I turned back to face Egan and the rest. “I noticed you all physically moved away from Bligh, as soon as you realised that Barain’s words were true” I pointed out. Only Jim Carpenter nodded, taking the point, the rest of them shifted uneasily.

  “Would any of you have been Bligh’s friend?” I asked them “If you had known that he hunted down men like these, for whatever reason?” The room was deathly quiet. I heard the gun shot and felt a slight bump on my chest; fortunately I was bullet proof. The young gunman, a look of complete disbelief on his face, stood just ten feet in front of me, the gun still firmly gripped in both of his hands. Suddenly, he swung the gun to point at Barain screaming

  “I don’t care who you are, you can’t pardon these bastards for killing my Father” He tried desperately to pull the trigger. After the tenth unsuccessful try, his arms dropped to his sides, the gun clattered onto the wooden floor.

  He turned, walked over to his dead Father, fell onto his knees beside him and began to cry. But no one showed any pity for him.

  “If anyone else has brought weapons into this peace meeting, would they please put them on that table by the window” I spoke as if to school children. Every one of them, including the three women there, went over to the table and left some form of firearm there. The two black leaders removed no less than nine lethal throwing knives between them from various places on their bodies and put them beside the widely varied gun collection. Jim Carpenter picked up young Bligh’s gun and put it with the rest.

  “It would be a good idea if we all go out on the balcony where we can be seen” I suggested firmly “Perhaps some refreshments too” .

  “In the meantime” I continued “Perhaps this room could be re-prepared, so that our meeting is able to continue” I added, looking pointedly at the young man and his dead Father.

  “A good idea Lord Robert” Jim Carpenter agreed, trying to break the shocked, sombre mood that prevailed “This way gentlemen” Carpenter continued, looking straight at Barain and Muldar as he said it. The next half an hour was as awkward as any I’ve known. The stubbornly determined State leader introduced each of the men and women who made up his executive group to Muldar, Barain and then to myself. A lifetime of beliefs being challenged and a dramatic taste of reality, jungle–style, had all of the white folks thoroughly confused.

  Fact is though, although again, I would not have planned it like that, the morning’s events had served as an excellent preparation for what I had to say to the whites, when we re-started our meeting after eating. I began by pointing out that Barain and Muldar expected certain death for killing Bligh, but that they chose death rather than dishonour. It gave them all thought. I got straight to the point about how things were to be and how that was to be achieved. It was easy to quiet protests, I simply pointed out that the people of Carabindy could either cooperate with their friendly black neighbours, or end up having them as their black masters.
By the end of that very long day Jim Carpenter and his people had come to an acceptance of the realties. They chose Potter and Blake, from planning, as the two who would return with me.

  Both were apprehensive about visiting Martin’s mountain top camp, but I gave them the same assurances that I’d given Muldar and Barain. They also started on an itinerary for showing the two tribal leaders the ‘miracles’ of Carabindy. When they had all filed out, most of them still dazed by the sudden and dramatic turn of events, Zoran, who had very successfully worked the group with me all day, suggested that our two guests might be best staying on the T.T.V for that first night, just to be safe. The four of us retired to the craft, but Susan saying she’d ‘Be along in a while’, went with Jim Carpenter to ‘Finish off tomorrow’s planning’. Despite their weariness, Barain and Muldar were overflowing with questions about our incredible T.T.V.

  When Susan returned an hour later, we left the Captain and Navigator to answer questions, till they too had to get some sleep.

  “I didn’t see Miss Lois around today” I said casually, as we went into our cosy little cabin.

  “I think she and Jim had a bit of a row, only a few hours after you left” Susan answered equally casually, as she removed her much-medalled and glamorised guard’s uniform.