by Lee Magnus
Karim ran back to his friend, then said urgently, “I need a boat. Fast.”
His friend replied in a jovial voice, “They are very expensive. You could never afford one in three lifetimes.”
“No. I just need to borrow one. I have to get to Memphis as fast as possible.”
“Why would you go there?”
“I must find someone that can help the boy.”
“What’s the deal with the boy? He was speaking a strange language. You should not help him. The gods would not approve.”
“I don’t have time for lectures, Femi. Please help me.”
Femi regarded his passionate friend then said, “I know someone that may take you to Memphis. Come with me.”
“Thanks,” he replied as they hurried toward the port.
They approached a shaggy bearded man in his early twenties loading items into a boat with a small square white sail hoisted upon a single mast. It was longer than a full-sized pick-up truck. When he saw Femi, he quickly approached with wide arms and a jubilant smile.
“Brother! How good is it to see you today?” said the man.
“It is very good to see you too!” Femi said grasping the man in a warm embrace.
“Adom, my good friend, this is Karim. He needs to get to Memphis in a hurry. Can you help him?”
“It is very nice to meet you, Karim!” he said embracing Karim in a side hug. “I am heading that way now. I just have that last container to load.”
“This one?” Karim asked as he picked up the last container.
“Yes. Thank you for your help. Please set it next to the others.”
Karim loaded the container and remained in the boat made of tightly tied papyrus reeds. Adom bid farewell to Femi then joined Karim in the boat. They pushed off into the swollen river.
~~
Trey sat in the room for what seemed like hours. He became shifty and bored. He drew the sword and role played a pirate in a great battle.
“Arrrg! Ya slimy cuss. How dare ye try ta steal my booty!”
He sliced and jabbed a few times then laughed at himself before he sat back on the sandy brick.
He set the sword aside and tapped a beat on the brick. With both hands working as drumsticks, he sang under his breath, “Whoa- Oh! Livin on a pray-er! Take my hand uh uh-uh uh-uh uhhh-uh!”
After the song he laid on the floor and tossed the gold coin many times into the air – challenging himself to catch it every time.
He heard a commotion outside and sat up. “What was that?” He looked at the carpet draped door. Shadows peeked underneath.
He laid back down but didn’t throw the coin. He sat up again and looked toward the door as someone shuffled by. He stood and moved closer. He edged his ear near the door. He heard voices of several people passing by as he zipped the coin in a pocket.
“Maybe I’ll just take a peek.” He moved closer then said, “No. I better stay in. Karim said to stay.”
He sat back down on the brick and stared at the door. He heard a group of kids run by. “They sounded like they were having fun. I wonder what they’re doing.”
He stood and moved back toward the door. He lifted the edge of the carpet door open, but no one was in sight. He closed it again and sat back down.
He stood again and paced around the room, minding the door each time he passed. The third time around he peeked again.
Nothing was there.
He opened it more to reveal nothing.
He peeped his head around the door to look down the other side of the road which was clear.
He stepped out.
The narrow road was clear. He relaxed as the sun warmed his face. He closed his eyes to passing thoughts of the outrageous circumstances that brought him to this moment.
A startling commotion broke out far to his right. He looked to see an elderly woman with a slender clay pitcher standing with a well-dressed man. She looked right at Trey and pointed as she fervently told the man something. The man seemed surprised at what she said then raised his hand in the air and yelled something in Trey’s direction. Trey looked behind to find no one behind him. He looked back to see the man briskly walking in his direction. The woman stayed behind with a troublesome smile.
“Oh crap! That must be a policeman. What could she have possibly said that would get me in trouble?”
Trey started for the door but remembered he left the sword out in the open. He then casually crossed onto the path across from the door. The policeman yelled again as Trey ducked out of sight.
Trey ran.
He turned down a tiny pathway that opened to a larger road. He turned left and sprinted toward a group of structures. The policeman hollered loudly as he gained on the frightened boy.
Trey hurdled a heavy barrel then turned again down an alleyway. He dodged hanging cloths as three small children watched him pass. The children smiled and chased after.
Trey looked behind at the cackling kids and said, “What’s the deal? Now I have kids chasing me?” “Who else wants to join in on the fun?” he said out loud as he passed a group of people sitting under a wooden shelter.
The policeman yelled again and a man from the sitting group jumped up and joined the chase.
Trey looked back as the new man shouted incomprehensible words at him. “I was kidding! Please stop chasing me!” Trey frantically shouted.
The new man ducked down an alleyway to the left while the policeman overtook the children as he continued to lessen Trey’s lead.
Trey turned left at a T intersection and just as he approached another crossing the new man emerged from the alley on the left and blindsided Trey in a magnificent tackle. They both tumbled diagonally up under the eave of someone’s home.
As the policeman approached Trey said while still on his back, “What’d I do? What’d I do wrong?”
The policeman grabbed him by the sleeve, said some angrily toned words, snatched him to his feet and drug him down the sandy street.
“What have I done? I’ve messed everything up. There’s no way I’ll make it to the village in time.”
~~
After several minutes on the river, Adom said, “Tell me, Karim, what brings you to Memphis?”
“How well do you know the city? Do you know many people there?” Karim replied, avoiding the question.
“I’ve been running supplies to the royal complex for twenty years. I began with my father who knew King Ronodan well.”
“He really knew the Great King?”
“Yes! My grandfather was there when Ronodan emerged from the Earth. I still remember his words today after seeing the king in all his splendor. He said when approached, Ronodan asked only for water and shelter. My grandfather took him into his home as one of his own. The king told him, ‘on this day forth, your family will be the supplier to my kingdom. Recognizing he was in the presence of a truly benevolent king, he gave his allegiance at that moment. Our family never wavered to the kingdom until Khaitu came to power. Since then, my business has nearly diminished entirely.”
“You are still close with the king and his people?”
“What do you mean?” Adom asked with a concerned look.
“I need to find someone within the royal elite.”
“Those outside the royal elite aren’t welcome within the complex. I’m not sure I can help you get inside. Who are you looking for?”
Karim hesitated then said, “Olerand. I need to speak with Master Olerand.”
“That’s impossible,” Adom said briskly. “No one sees Master Olerand and he never leaves the complex.” His voice became ominous and deep. “Many say he is a demon that is under the control of Khaitu. They say he is heartless and will kill for no reason at all. Also, if he kills you, you are lucky. He is said to have evil powers granted directly from Set, the god of violence and chaos, with which he will curse your soul for eternity.”
“I have heard those same rumors. Nevertheless, I need to reach him.”
“I cannot help you. Even if I knew how to get t
o him, we would never be able to get through the gates. What in the name of Ra could you possibly need with that evil creature?”
“I can’t say, but I believe I have a very important message that will somehow change the world as we know it. I believe it with all my heart.”
Adom’s stare seemed to last several minutes. He looked down shaking his head.
“I can get you to the gates, you’ll be on your own after that….unless….It can’t be,” Adom said in astonishment. “The gods may be looking favorably upon you, friend.”
Adom ruddered the small boat to the left on route to intercept an inconspicuous boat sailing upriver.
“What are you doing? I am in a great hurry!” Karim said anxiously.
“Easy, my friend. Ahead of us is a royal vessel only used for discrete travel. I have not seen it out since the fall of King Ronodan. The coincidence of your urgent mission and this vessel out today is highly suspect. If you say your message is intended for Olerand himself and is of great importance to our people, then maybe the gods have also placed Olerand in play as they have you, for the specific purpose of meeting on these rural waters.”
As they drew near, two royal guards emerged from the cabin brandishing spears. The guard on the right said in a strong forceful tone while raising the long spear in an aggressive position, “Turn away!”
Startled by the forthcoming attack from the previously unnoticed guards, Adom quickly steered the boat away.
“No! I have to speak with him!” he said to Adom. Realizing Adom’s reluctance, Karim yelled across the slowly moving river, “Master Olerand! I have to speak with you!” “Master Olerand! Trey Roberts needs to speak with you!” Karim cried hopelessly.
One of the guards briefly returned to the cabin before reemerging saying, “Peasant boat! Come to us!”
“What have you done! You imbecile! You have surely killed us!” said Adom in a terrified and angry voice.
Adom pulled the small craft alongside the royal vessel, then pleaded, “Please forgive my passenger. He does not know what he says. He – “
“Hush!” the guard said stopping Adom’s appeals. “You! Master Olerand will see you,” he said to Karim.
Karim hurriedly boarded the royal boat.
The guard said to Adom, “Be gone to finish your duties to the kingdom!”
Adom set off with the command, meeting Karim’s frightened eyes one last time before he disappeared into the cabin.
The elderly man didn’t fill Karim with dread or concern. He noticed a feeling of comfort and welcoming.
“Please sit, young man,” Olerand said.
Karim did as directed.
“Why do you seek my counsel on this fateful day?”
“Master, I met a boy today. A very strange boy that speaks a strange language.” He hesitated then said, “The boy has asked to meet with you.”
“And this boy’s name is Trey Roberts?”
“Yes, Master.”
“You will take me to him.”
“Yes, Master.”
Upon reentering the port, Olerand magically disguised himself to look like a laborer. Pale wrinkly skin turned dry, dark and weathered. Long grey hair shrunk into ridged barely noticeable stubble. His trim beard smoothed away into a square jaw.
They emerged from the boat, then hurried to the building where Karim previously left Trey.
At the door before entering Karim said to Olerand, “Shall I leave you two alone?”
“No, dear Karim. We have much to discuss.”
They entered the room to find it empty aside from the sword lying on the floor. “Trey! Where are you!” Karim said in the local language.
“Master. He isn’t here. I left him just a short time ago. I don’t know where he could have gone. I fear something bad has happened.”
“It is most urgent that you find him, Karim. Go now. Waste no time!”
“Yes, Master.”
Karim burst through the door. He looked both ways before heading toward the busy part of the village.
Along the way he passed a group of people, “Have any of you seen a small boy? Maybe one you wouldn’t recognize?”
They all shook their heads no.
He hurried toward city center hoping Trey wandered into a populated area out of curiosity. He approached a young mother and asked, “Have you seen a new boy in town? He would be wearing strange garments over his legs,”
She replied no and turned away.
“Argg! Where could he be!”
He turned to find a child tugging on his shirt. It was Aleki, one of his former students.”
“Hey Aleki. I’d love to play but I don’t have time.”
“You’re looking for the boy with strange hair, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Yes, I am. Do you know where he is?”
“He’s in jail,” the young boy said with a frown.
“Jail? Why would you think that?”
“Officer Bacchus chased him through the village. Me and my brother ran with him for a while, but they were too fast.”
“Jail! Oh no!”
The child said as Karim was leaving, “Do you think they’ll cut off his hands?”
Karim quickly turned and said, “No! No. Why would you think that?” He dashed off without receiving Aleki’s answer.
He rushed across the village to the guard house. He entered to find Trey sitting in the corner while two guards and an elderly woman discussed Trey’s predicament.
Trey stood and said, “Karim! Please get me out of here!”
Everyone looked curiously at the boy with the strange language.
Trey watched as Karim entered an intense discussion with the guards. Karim turned toward the woman as one of the guards pointed. The woman lividly responded with words as well as pulled on her shirt and put her hand into her mouth like she were eating something.
The other guard entered by saying something to Karim, pointing at Trey and then back at the woman. The woman nodded as if in agreement.
Karim disagreed with a loud voice and his hands raised forward as if saying stop. He then looked as if he were pleading as he looked back to Trey with soft eyes and then back to the guards.
One of the guards looked as if he asked Karim something then they all turned toward the woman. She replied with eager words and a smile. He then turned back to Karim who pulled a cloth sack from the inside of his pocketless shirt, looked inside then shook his head no to the guards.
As it looked like the conversation had been settled with Karim’s head bowed, Trey finally caught on. He fished for something in his pockets then rushed to Karim. Karim turned toward Trey with sad eyes. Trey then grabbed his hand and placed in it the gold coin that just days ago Karim had given him in Egypt thousands of years later.
Karim’s flabbergasted look ensured Trey read the situation correctly. Karim presented the gold coin to the woman who seemed ecstatic to receive it. She quickly left the building. Karim addressed the guards apologetically. He returned to Trey, leaned over, said a few encouraging words Trey couldn’t understand then led him back to meet Olerand.
“Olearand! It’s really you! I can’t believe you are actually standing here!” Trey said as he entered the building.
Karim quickly looked to Olerand noticing he returned to his former self.
“Yes, Trey Roberts. You have achieved a great deal making it this far. But the true test of bravery awaits, and we are desperate for time.”
Trey picked up the sword, regarded it a moment and placed it the sheath on his back.
Karim looked at them both and said in the local dialect, “I can’t understand a word you two are saying.”
“Yes. Indeed,” Olerand replied. He clasped his hands over Trey’s ears. He chanted a short phrase that was indecipherable to both Karim and Trey. He then said, “That should do it.”
“Do what?” Trey replied.
“You can speak our language. What was that other you were using earlier?” Karim asked to Trey.
�
��No. I don’t speak your language but now you can speak mine. How is that so? I’m talking like I normally do. Aren’t I?”
“You can now understand the local dialect as well as many others,” Olerand said to Trey.
“Really? That’s what you did with the ear thingy?”
“Yes,” Olerand said proudly.
“That’s pretty cool. It sounds just like you’re speaking English!” Trey said excitedly.
“It will be a valuable skill in your future journeys,” Olerand said.
“Future journeys? I don’t think so! I’m done with travelling. I’m never leaving the house again!” he said. He continued in a depressed voice, “That is, if I ever make it back home. What do I do now? This is not the place in our dream. I’m far away. Am I too late?”
“No. You would not be here if you were too late. We still have time.”
“I don’t understand. Is the boy in the dream, me?”
“No. The boy in the dream is my son and the woman’s name is Sharina. She is my wife.”
Karim looked at Olerand in astonishment.
“Khaitu forced me to look upon the ring to the future of his kingdom, but as I said before, it only shows your heart’s greatest desire. My greatest desire is my wife and child. The ring showed me their demise by the fire of Khaitu’s sword – the very one you stow upon your back. I am risking the lives of many, including your life and my eternal damnation to save them.”
Trey unconsciously felt the blade on his back then said, “I’ve seen lots of movies about time travel and they all say interfering with the past leads to massive time distortions or other destructive unforeseen events.”
“But don’t you see, young boy? The future already reflects your actions today.”
“The future already – what? Are you saying…? That’s what you were talking about when you mentioned your family and my ancestors! You’re my ancestor?”
“Yes, Trey. We were able to connect primarily through our lineage. Had my family not survived, you would not exist to save them.”
“That’s some crazy chicken and egg paradox,” Trey said sitting back on a woven rug on the floor.
“Time is not paradoxical. It is as we weave our instances together to form the continuum we experience. Time only exists when we perceive it with our minds and consciousness.”
