Divine Deception: The Will Traveller Chronicals

by Robert James

  “We were defenceless then” The youngest Councillor said “Now we can...”.

  “We still are Caleb” The old man cut him off “Lord Robert’s power transcends technology” He told them “Were he still the malevolent being we once knew, this city would be dust already” Rama Karak said seriously. No one spoke.

  “Know all of you that your justifiable anger has been caused by the Supreme Family, not by the New Worlders” I told them, only to find out that I was wrong about that too. Sentoria’s leaders had been with my Brothers and I on these raids. After the massacre, they had attacked one of their Southern cities every week. They must have been restocking their newly built houses of pleasure. No wonder Commanders Richards and Davis didn’t want to come.

  As I listened, without defence, to the endless roll call of tragic abuses, it seemed that it had a therapeutic effect on the six old men. Satisfied that I could harm them yet chose not to, which, in itself, seemed to surprise them, we finally got to where I was able to ask some questions about their civilisation.

  “We have farmed these lands and those far North of here, in peaceful harmony with our environment, for over three thousand years” Rama Karak told me.

  “How many cities like this are there?” I asked the old man. After a moment of hesitation the High Priest replied

  “We are not large communities Lord Robert, there are only six as large as Karak” He told me “But there are more than twenty other smaller cities and pastoral groups scattered as far as a thousand kilometers due North of here” He answered.

  “And what are all your people known as Rama Karak?” I asked.

  “We are Shivites” He replied proudly and all of them beat their chest with their left hand, in an automatic salute to their heritage. These people used light as their primary energy source and were socially advanced, but otherwise they were fairly low tech.

  “And what of the eradicated natives” I asked “Who were they? Are they all gone? Are there others?” I asked the oldest Councillor.

  “When the white savages came, they slaughtered all the costal living Mangelese. That was when they established their Sentoria” The old Councillor answered “Until the eradication, there were as many as a hundred thousand living between here and their accursed State” He added bitterly, this man would, most likely, never be able to forget or forgive.

  “And now?’ I asked hopefully “Are there any Mangelese left?”.

  “Oh yes” Rama Karak exclaimed “More than a million of them. They are hunter gatherers and move their villages to new locations every year” He told me “They were here long before us and there are usually some of their villages just North of here” He added.

  “Any others?” I asked the ancient looking Shivite leader.

  “Only the Tartar” He replied distastefully “They are the really savage hunter gatherers, their small tribes are forever at war with each other” The old leader told me, adding “If they keep it up they will soon eradicate themselves” Rama Karak briefly smiled.

  “Do they bother your people?” I asked, and the youngest Councilor laughed.

  “They are primitive savages” He told me “Even when compared to the Mangelese, they can do us no harm” He assured me confidently. After the meeting, with most of the animosity abated, Zoran and I sat with the seven men and dined on fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, they were vegetarian. Zoran explained that we had concocted the Supreme One story and why we had told it to the New Worlders. He tried to explain what had happened to me, but, as neither of us were too sure ourselves, it was more likely confusing for them than helpful. Having heard what their community most wished for, and that was better, clean technology, I promised to send a team of New World technicians to teach them how to achieve it. However, many were still very unsure.

  I knew that they had already received my greatest gift. The peace they had long prayed for. Partly to leave a lasting impression and partly to give my elderly companion’s legs a break from climbing all those steps again, I floated the two of us back up to the T.T.V. By now there were over two thousand men, women and children standing all over the circular valley. None of them waved, all were silent. It would be some time before these people could finally learn to trust the spaceship looking craft, or the men that flew in it. I decided to go further North and see if we could find these much aggrieved Mangelese. The Sentorian Commanders had been content to let the crew ask questions and, once again, strongly recommended that we go back.

  Zoran’s very much cooler attitude toward them provided ample notice that we now knew the whole truth. Both of them were now clearly regretting having accepted my invitation to join us. Less than ten kilometres from Karak we found our first Mangelese village. People poured out of the neat rows of circular straw huts and then went into absolute panic mode for a few moments.

  “We come in peace” I used the loud voice, but with a gentle tone “Be not afraid, we will not harm you. I merely wish to speak with you and learn of your ways” I told them. We landed in an open field, fifty metres from the edge of the now frozen-in-fear village.

  Just as prey often does, when it’s brought down by a predator, these people seemed to have just resigned themselves to their fate, knowing they had no defence, and switched their minds completely off. They were an Asian people, quite small in stature with jet black hair. The men wore black pyjama-like outfits and the women wore colourful sari-like dresses. Unwilling to frighten them, I took only Zoran with me. We walked slowly down the T.T.V.’s transom and over towards them. Three, slightly taller than average, well built men stood looking at us, as we approached. They stood in front of the largest of the hundred or so huts and, as everyone else looked down or straight ahead, as if fearful of what they might see, Zoran and I headed over to them.

  “This is Lord Robert of the Supreme House of Red” Intoned Zoran in his rather ritualistic way.

  “We know who you are, and what you want” The leader replied.

  The angry answer came from a well built and strikingly handsome thirty something man who stood in the middle of the trio.

  “You have seen me before then?” I asked the obvious.

  “And your two kin” He snapped back, the anger rising “But you have butchered so many of our people, so how could you possibly remember all of their faces?” He was growing nasty.

  “I cannot deny your words and I totally condemn what has been done to the Mangelese” I told him “Both by my family, my former self, and the Sentoria government, this I swear to you” I looked deep into the angry fire which raged in his eyes.

  “Do you try to entrance me?” He asked, turning his head away.

  “No, I seek to feel your pain” I replied sincerely. As we stood there in silence, I searched for an inspiration. A way to win his trust.

  Almost without thought, I went into silent telepathic action.

  “Are there any of you near here” I reached out to the animal world.

  After a few seconds of silence there was assorted chatter and a lot of “Who is that?” questions. I focused my thoughts

  “This is Lord Robert. I want you all to come here to me in this village” I told them all..

  “But they are killers” They chorused back, humans were not too popular around there.

  “You cannot be harmed when you do my bidding” I promised them “Come now”.

  “Who are you?” A deeper voice queried, adopting a spokesman type role for the creatures.

  “I am sent to bring peace and justice” I replied firmly, then offered “Show them you obey my commands and I’ll be able to teach them to farm their livestock and quit hunting” I telepathed.

  “You can do that?” Responded a dozen excited ‘voices’.

  “With your help, I believe that I can yes” I telepathed back.

  “We come” Was their unanimous answer and I waited to see what would happen. I focused back on the puzzled but still angry man “Your people have long wandered in search of sustenance, driven off your land because
you were not strong enough to repel the invaders” I acknowledged “Persecuted further by those who invaded, with the help of my much misguided family” I admitted, making my regret as clear as I could.

  “Now, it is time for you to once again know peace and settled prosperity, if you so choose” I told him.

  “And how many women do you want, to give us all this?” The man asked, resigned but still defiant. Just then the animals started to arrive. I let no-one move. Two giant black bears, three monstrous deer like creatures, all males with magnificent antlers, and a dozen other larger-than-life canine and feline animals, came slowly through the literally frozen Mangelese people and right up to me. Five of them towered well over me. After elevating myself to eye level with the ten metre tall bears, I undid the time freeze and the voice spoke

  “These are wild animals to you, fare for your table, yet, if that is so, how can it be that they can speak with me? Come when I call?”

  I let that thought sink in. This was certainly a mind expanding idea for these Mangelese, but would it work?

  “You are like the others in ships like yours that also hunt us” The large bear telepathed accusingly, and several others joined in the silent accusations.

  “True, all true I’m afraid” I admitted “But that is all past now. Let’s see if we can turn these hunters into farmers” I urged them “Then you’ll all be free to roam at will”.

  “I like that idea” One of the huge felines enthused silently, but purred loudly.

  “You are no ordinary man that you can speak with them, call them at will, and fly!” The once angry but now amazed Mangelese leader whispered.

  “What do they call you?” I asked him respectfully.

  “He is King Du Lat” Answered the one on the left.

  “What is it that you want Lord Robert?” The King’s commonsense had defeated his anger.

  “That just as you will never more be hunted” I replied “I seek that you shall also cease to hunt these creatures” I added, returning slowly to the ground to face him.

  “But we would starve” He appealed, to me, and to the animals that loomed above us.

  “Not if you raised livestock and learned to farm” I told him.

  “Then you could build real homes that keep your people warm in winter, cool in summer and safe from storms” I tried to make the Mangelese leader see a more settled way of life.

  “You ask a bird not to fly, a fish not to swim I’m afraid” The giant black bear remarked.

  “Perhaps not” I countered telepathically “Pick him up gently and bring him face to face with you” I ordered the huge creature. The ten metre tall bear walked over to the man.

  “Fear not King Du Lat” I assured him, as the huge creature gently placed an armchair sized paw palm up for the remarkably calm Mangelese leader to step into.

  “When his fear is gone, so will the need for yours” I telepathed to the bear. “You must help him to see you as the being you truly are”. The King sat there, not more than a metre from the giant bear’s dust bin lid sized brown eyes.

  Slowly but surely the people of the village lost their fear and began to come over to the terrifyingly large animals and us.

  “No-one can harm or be harmed in my presence” I ordered out loud, knowing the animals heard and understood just as well as the villagers themselves. The next hour was such that no-one who witnessed it could ever forget it. King Du Lat began it all by reaching out and putting his hand on the big bear’s black furry nose, which was the size of a family car’s bonnet, and scratching it as you would your dog.

  “That feels pretty good” The fur clad giant telepathed, a tone of contentment apparent.

  One of the huge cats walked over to the man who had introduced the King and sat right in front of him, their eyes were level. The horse-sized cat leaned it’s head forward and down, then the young man, hesitant at first, bravely scratched the beast head like a domestic cat. Soon, every one of the animals was experiencing it’s first non-violent human contact. Most of the villagers chose to stay a little back, but those who had the courage, experienced something utterly unique in mankind’s history. Regretfully, common sense demanded that I tell all the animals to return to their forests and remain ever alert. “Humans are not the fastest of learners” I warned them as they left.

  King Du Lat was a changed man when he turned to me, after watching the last of the animals leave his village.

  “I feel shame that our lives have been built on destroying theirs” His voice held a sad new awareness. Then he brightened “You would know what our will is?” He asked me.

  “I would. Very much” I conceded, smiling warmly at King Du Lat.

  “Then give some of this livestock you speak of and teach us to farm and build sturdy homes” The King told me, then announced loudly “The Mangelese will hunt no more!”.

  His committed declaration led to rapturous applause and cheering by his people. By then, the hour had grown late and, though I wanted to accept his invitation to stay and celebrate, I felt it best we call it a good day’s work and get back to Sentoria.

  There were things that needed seeing to back there. King Du Lat offered me the two most beautiful girls in the village, as thanks, and rarely has a gift been so hard to refuse. Even without make up, their almond eyes and flawless golden faces would grace any magazine cover. I dared not dwell on what treasure lay under their brightly coloured saris. The King was astonished at my refusal.

  “Things certainly have changed” He laughed, as we took our leave.

  They were a beautiful people, inside and out, and while, from Rama Karak’s description of the Tartar, they were, in fact, savages, these Mangelese people most definitely were not.

  Once they had the necessary animals, tools and knowledge, I felt sure the nomadic Mangelese would eventually come together and create a Nation of their own once again. On our way back, Zoran and I discussed logistics. We were going to need to get those six old transport T.T.V’s over here We had no doubt that there would be plenty of most knowledgeable New World volunteers to teach the Shivites and the Mangelese their respective sciences.

  “When the whole truth comes out, there will be enormous interest in coming here” Zoran predicted “Sentoria could be the gateway to this vast continent. There are certain to be many more civilisations living on this vast northern continent” He added “Don’t forget, our next visit is to two communities on the North Western coast of this same continent” He reminded me.

  “I believe we still have far to travel and much to see and do, before it is time to deal with the dissolution of Supreme House” I said, feeling a little tired.

  “That’s if the Supreme One doesn’t make the first move” Warned Zoran “He still possesses great power don’t forget Sire” Zoran reminded me, as I went for a nap. Refreshed after my thirty minute power nap, I ordered the Captain to land in front of Sentoria’s Government House and asked Zoran to get Governor General Marsoni on the phone for me. Commanders Davis and Richards were most anxious to disembark, but I insisted they remain aboard till, we were joined by their two superiors.

  “Lord Robert welcome back” Marsoni’s voice was bright “Did you find any usable labour source up North?” His over confident, almost mocking voice set off alarm bells in my head.

  “We found many things of interest Governor General” I replied without emotion “I want you and the Admiral to join Commander Richards and I right away” I told him flatly.

  “But it’s almost ten p.m. Lord Robert” His voice was actually patronising “Why don’t we have breakfast tomorrow morning here at Government House?” He invited. Making sure that Davis and Richards could see me, I motioned to the crew and guardsmen, who had been learning how to use the ship’s awesome weapons, to prepare them. Then I spoke to the Sentorian leader over the phone.

  “If the two of you are not on your way, in ten minutes, I will reduce your Government House to rubble. Just as you did to those who once lived on that hillside” I told him
coldly. There are some that become so enamoured of their own power, that only a display of a far greater power will get them to listen. A ridiculous cavalcade of military vehicles appeared, all quite useless against our T.T.V, of course. It was accompanied by the State’s two top leaders and a half a dozen soldiers as escorts. I let the two leaders walk up the T.T.T.’s landing transom, but I froze the six escorts.

  “You may enter gentlemen” I invited from the top of the steps. They started up, looked back and saw their motionless troops, then they looked back up at me nervously.