Divine Deception: The Will Traveller Chronicals

by Robert James

  “What if Lady Margaret and the Supreme One choose not to surrender all their authority Lord Robert?” Badang’s tall, rugged leader was trying to provoke an inflammatory answer.

  “Their will is of no concern to me Governor Rand” I replied.

  “You would remove them?” Governor Rand asked, as I had known he would. I nodded “By force?” He finally challenged, clearly, he now expected me to start backpedalling.

  “If my Father and Sister choose not to obey the will of the planet’s people” I replied coldly “I will end their ability to disobey it. As to how, that’s really up to them” I ended flatly.

  “Lord Robert” The young Colonel spoke thoughtfully “May we know who sent you back from the dead?” He asked quietly “By what power do you return to life to accomplish all this that you speak of?” He queried, but I didn’t get a chance to answer, because, from the noise outside, it was clear that the second T.T.V was arriving. The three got up as I went to leave them.

  “Perhaps that will become clear at this conference Colonel Colloway” I told him, as I left them and returned to my T.T.V. This time, the three leaders did see me fly, the first time they had all been inside. Perhaps that might give some emphasis to my earlier words, I thought, as I glided across the park, earning lots of “oohs” “aahs” and wild applause from the enormous crowd that had gathered to witness history being made.

  Zoran took to the landing stage again and introduced

  “Governor Ballon of the State of Astoria” They all applauded, he waved back smiling. A pleasant looking forty something, he turned and went back inside. Then came General Marsoni of Sentoria and Governor Lucas of Alpine Grand looking very studious. After both had been applauded and gone back into Zoran’s T.T.V., a very large man, both in height and weight, with the face of a bully, was introduced as Governor Parker of the State of Brogan. Not pleased by his unenthusiastic reception, Governor Parker turned without waving and went back into the T.T.V. Like dear Susan, fate had left the ‘best’ till last, as my would-be Supreme relative emerged.

  “Lord Denham of the State Of Paterville” Zoran announced, as a tall, powerfully built man, long black hair hanging over the top of his orange kaftan, stepped out and right in front of the old man,

  leaving Zoran no choice but to step back to avoid being pushed.

  “And does not Lord Robert greet his family in person” Challenged the surprisingly high aristocratic voice of ‘Lord’ Denham. Immediately, I flew straight over to our Captain’s T.T.V, stopping just two meters away from and above the welcome stage. The crowd was hushed with expectation. From the corner of my eye, I saw the other three leaders come out onto the transom of Zoran’s T.T.V. My fake relative had to be wondering if he’d bitten off more than he could chew by now. I looked down at him coldly.

  “Would you care to come up and embrace me dear Lord Denham” I invited from over the demonic looking leader of Paterville.

  “Would it not be less of a spectacle if we should do so on solid ground?” He tried to bluff.

  “Oh no my dear Lord Denham” I was teasing him “We of the Supreme Family need to demonstrate our superiority, so as to maintain devotion to the Supreme House” I said, in a really friendly way. He glared up at me, starting to look like a rat caught in a trap already. I levitated him up to me, much to his utter astonishment, and whispered, away from the mics. “It seems you only inherited the title and the ability to wear Lord Pater’s orange kaftan, but not some of the family’s abilities” Then more loudly, I said “Welcome to the New World Conference Lord Denham”

  I lowered Denham, whose confidence was now somewhat shaken, back onto the arrival stage and flew over to my waiting limousine. Minutes later, with Barry and Millwell together behind me, followed by the other eight in their cars, our motorcade moved slowly through the surging throng, on its way to the conference centre. Although all had been invited to bring a deputy or assistant, only Lord Denham had chosen to accept, the others, realizing it would make for a cramped trip had declined. Julia had very professionally organised stenographers to sit in all the other chairs behind the leaders. Lord Denham did not bother to introduce the fifty year old, still stylish woman who took the seat behind his.

  When they were all seated, most sipping from the glasses they filled from the tumblers in front of each of them. Governor Barry rose to welcome all and make as clear as he could that this meeting was between equals, all charged with the responsibility of leading their Nations. He introduced Zoran as ‘The longest serving member of the Supreme House’s staff and the wisest human being I’ve ever met’. Zoran rose, nodding his thanks to our host and the other applauding leaders. Seeing the woman behind Lord Denham for the first time, Zoran inquired of her name. Unembarrassed, Lord Denham introduced her as Paterville’s administration director, Miss Taylor. It turned out she was the Deputy Governor of the State, but Denham had sole control and liked it that way.

  “Leaders of the New World” Began Zoran formally “Governor Carpenter and Governor Ryan send their sincere apologies. The tyranny of distance made their attendance at this truly significant conference impossible” He advised everyone “However” Zoran continued his opening address “Both Governors have agreed to vote for the majority decision by this conference” He announced.

  “It would seem the New World’s largest state and it’s newest state are not concerned about their independence” Denham Challenged.

  “That is not so my Lord, not at all” Zoran responded “Both of them are committed to Lord Robert’s belief that there must be change on our planet…” Zoran went to assure him, but was cut off.

  “So the Supreme One is already betrayed by two of his Governors” Lord Denham looked at the others to judge the effect of his words.

  “Lord Denham” Governor Barry said quietly “May I respectfully suggest you let Zoran get on with his opening, I’m sure Lord Robert will be only too happy to discuss that, when he joins us”.

  “And when is that to be” Asked Denham scornfully. Zoran answered his question by announcing

  “You have the privilege of being in the presence of Lord Robert of the Supreme House of Red, Commander of the New World’s peace keeping force and Chairman of this conference. All stand please”. Predictably, all but Lord Denham rose to their feet, and looked expectantly at the golden double doors. I went to open the elaborately carved double doors and enter. Suddenly, I was already sitting on my ‘throne’, looking at ten surprised State Governors.

  “You dare to claim membership of our family, yet you do not observe its custom” That auto voice asked angrily, but ‘Lord’ Denham sat resolute. He was determined to create some kind of a confrontation, so I obliged him by whipping the seat from under him. He fell back to land at Miss Taylor’s feet. The rest suppressed their feelings and watched passively. Struggling to his feet, Denham, now red faced with rage, truly did look like Satan’s kin.

  “How dare you try to humiliate me” He shouted at me shrilly.

  “You bring shame upon yourself with your false claims Denham” My voice boomed “The nearest you ever came to the Supreme Family, was when you shared Lady Ursula’s bed”. There were a few gasps, but none were more surprised than Denham himself.

  “You know of your Sister and I?” He finally replied, his words slow, almost slurred “Then you must know that I will always do her bidding” He shouted threateningly “And she thinks you should be dead”. He added, withdrawing his right hand from his orange kaftan, which, naturally, held one of the black laser weapons.

  “Though the penalty for killing you is death” His voice really did sound as if he was drunk “I gladly give my life to rid the New World of yours” He blurted out, raising the weapon and firing it, almost point blank, at my face. As before, my cupped hand reflected the beam back to where it had come from and a plate sized, black ringed hole appeared, where Lord Denham’s abdomen used to be. After a lifetime of falsely claimed divine privileges, the last word from his surprised and dying mouth was “Bu
t?”.

  Lord Denham fell in a heap at the shocked Miss Taylor’s feet.

  “It would seem you are the new leader of Paterville Miss Taylor, please take your seat” Zoran invited without emotion. Miss Taylor looked up at me. I nodded and smiled at her.

  “You have long managed the affairs of Paterville, Miss Taylor, while that empty-headed fraud paraded around as though it was he who ran the State so efficiently” I told her with warmth in my voice “Please take the seat that is yours Governor Taylor” I invited the woman. Governor Barry gallantly assisted her to her new position at the table. Within minutes, Julia had the still smoking body of the late ‘Lord’ Denham taken away and a stenographer sitting behind Paterville’s new Governor Taylor.

  Governor Barry and Julia had seen my laser bouncing trick before, when Elton met his death, the rest of the Governors, however, had not, though some had heard of it. Governor Rand of Badang was not one of them. Shocked at witnessing the death of one whom he believed to be of the Supreme Family, in the regal elegance of our surroundings, the tall outdoorsman looked at me thoughtfully.

  “So this is how it goes on” Governor Rand spoke softly, as if to himself, then his voice rose to a flat, clearly audible tone.

  “Your Grandfather, the first Supreme One, had the skill and the technology to take control of the New World” He stated, adding “Now you have the powers needed to take over from your Father”.

  He paused and looked around the table at his contemporaries. “Perhaps that is how it should be” He added with resignation.

  “You are truly the new Supreme One” The awed Governor Cabot of Mantray declared.

  “It certainly would seem so” Governor Ballan of Astoria agreed.

  “Governor Ballan, I know that you, Governor Parker and Governor Taylor” I paused to smile at the new Governor “Have not heard me declare, with no conditions, that this conference alone will decide the future leadership of the New World” I told them all. Then I looked directly at Governor Rand “But you Sir, you and your fellow travellers from the South, you have heard me. Yet you doubt the truth of my words?” I challenged the weathered leader.

  “To do so is to die Lord Robert” He returned wryly, clearly not seeking confrontation.

  “Look Lord Robert, with all due respect to your high ideals” Colonel Colloway began “There are some things which are clearly ordained. That we should control this planet and that we ourselves must have a leader” Cabot, Marsoni and Rand all nodded in agreement. “You are clearly the strongest among us” Colloway continued, adding “If your power is enough to defeat the Supreme One and Lady Ursula, you are the rightful leader of our world”.

  “Well said Colonel” Enjoined Governor Rand, beaming at the young Colloway, along with most of the others.

  “That is how it has always…” Began Mantray’s jovial looking Governor Cabot, then his voice trailed away, as his usually florid face turned white and his eyes bulged.

  Seeing the astonished look on the faces of everyone in the room, including Zoran, I looked down at myself. I was black! From my head to my feet I was now as black as coal.

  “And now that I am a black man, am I still the rightful one to lead you?” My voice sounded quite different, yet familiar. When I saw my reflection in the crystal water tumbler, I knew why. I looked like a younger, smaller Martin, the future leader of that other great Southern continent. No one moved or spoke, all of them were struggling to comprehend the reality of a black Supreme One.

  “Your world is built upon a gross and immoral fallacy Governor Rand” The new me told the Badang leader, who looked at me as though he was in a trance. I turned to the young Colonel Colloway and Governor Cabot “You have been led, by lies, to believe your white supremacist regimes are rightfully so and are secure” I told the two other totally bewildered Southern state New World leaders.

  “But you are wrong on both counts. The thousands who have died, trying to defend their homelands, now called Colloway and Mantray have left a ever continuing ripple of hatred through that continent for both of your communities” I went on to tell the increasingly nervous white State leaders “Without change, that tide of hatred will roll back over you and end your unlawful rules” I predicted confidently. It was Brogan’s Governor Parker who recovered first

  “Where is Lord Robert?” He demanded to know “And who in the hell are you?” He asked with his voice very demeaning.

  “I am he that you see” My auto-voice boomed back, echoing around the elaborate chamber. I watched in the crystal tumbler, as my reflection changed to a younger Rama Kadek, then the proud features of the Asian King. When my appearance returned to looking like me, the golden aura automatically surrounded me. Whoever was really running this show quite obviously wanted to thoroughly impress. The auto-voice began to speak to them again.

  “Are you all so blinded by the fear of losing what is not rightfully yours? Can you not see that the land and it’s properties are rightfully owned by those who are born, live and die on that land?” The voice asked them “Having the power to take that which is not yours does not make it lawful” My voice boomed at them.

  The racist leaders were thoroughly cowed as I continued.

  “Should I lead the world just because my Father and Sister cannot defeat me?” I asked the gathered Governors. All but one of the slowly recovering leaders indicated that they thought so. Captain Millwell, steady grey eyes on my face, neither spoke nor moved.

  “You believe that my Grandfather eliminated corruption and anarchy to build an efficient, orderly New World?” I asked them, most nodded “Well, let me show you the real truth about our New World” I told them and held my hands out over the circular table. A pale blue smoke started emitting from the centre of the huge marble slab. Interestingly enough, no one seemed to be alarmed.

  Within a few seconds, the blue cloud had formed into a shimmering two metre globe and the holographic horror story that I was to tell them began. First there were the steam/sail warships of Lord Pater’s colonist explorations and the complete, utter destruction of the Romani looking folk who once lived on Paterville’s lands. Followed by the equally murderous takeover of Astoria and then Brogan, all in three dimensional sickeningly graphic realities. While the invasion of the North West coast had been as savage as the others before it, the wanton butchery of one of my late Uncles, when founding the port state of Sentoria, had many looking away, one of them being Governor General Marsoni.

  After witnessing what it took for Governor Rand’s predecessors to “tame” the fertile lands of Badang, we saw the near genocidal slaughter that preceded the founding of Colloway and Mantray. Finally, we were treated to the stomach turning invasion of Carabindy, by my Brother and I. Only Alpine Grand, Centropolis and Arc Island were not seen in the presentation. As the presentation faded away to nothing, my auto- voice explained

  “Truly forged in once uninhabited mountains Alpine Grand is well on it’s way to developing its own culture” That really pleased Governor Lucas. Then it continued “The capital Centropolis was founded on white owned land and Arc Island, though also invaded, has been able to retain it’s dignity and, perhaps most important of all, it’s culture” There was no arrogant pride among them now, only Millwell, Lucas and Barry shared a quiet dignity, as we took a break for food and thought.

  Then the new Governor of Paterville, Miss Taylor, made what was the most eloquent, simple and prophetic maiden speech in history.

  “It would seem that many things will have to change” She announced, looking around at her colleagues as they rose to leave. In the long hours that followed lunch, there were many questions, many answers and, thankfully, many things agreed upon. Not the least important was the decision to scrap all child birth and marriage laws. The women of the New World would be free. Aware in their hearts that my words were true and that my dire prophesies, if they didn’t change their racist ways, were almost certain to be realised, Governors Rand, Colloway and Cabot committed themselves to rapprochement with
the local populations.

  “Remember to treat their leaders with respect, for they rule over millions while you rule over a few” I warned the three Governors. All now agreed that a New World Order was needed and, with it, compensation, in the form of knowledge and technology, rather than money, to those who have been displaced and/or otherwise disadvantaged by the Supreme One and his family. While it was difficult for most of them to get their heads around the idea that individual human rights were everyone’s entitlement, Captain Millwell and Zoran made excellent and reasonably successful speeches, in favour of adopting a Planetary Charter on that issue.

  It was clear that a far kinder and fairer world would evolve, once the inhumane dominance of the Supreme One had ended. Hopefully, that would be occurring very soon. All but Alpine Grand, Carabindy and Arc Island, had ports and forces and they would each send one hundred, well armed troops to Centropolis. I now had nine hundred men, from nine of the twelve New World Nations, and the electronic and logistical support of two of the remaining three. Just to make it a totally unanimous action, Captain Millwell was to come in person, with twenty of his best men. They would be transported by our four T.T.V.s. A page in this planet’s history had been turned, now it was time for Lord Robert to return to the Supreme House for the second time.