The Best of All Possible Worlds

by Richard D. Parker

  Galen paused and smiled lovingly around at the people gathered around him. “You see Christine, I have already been to their world, hundreds of centuries ago, back when it was empty of humanity,” he told her and shot a lovingly look at Avigail, “but I will not be going back,” he told them all. “I have another world in mind…another earth. One that desperately needs my help…our help, if any of you decides to join me.”

  Avigail immediately put her arm through Galen’s. “I will join you,” she said looking up into his face happily. She only wanted to be with him. Galen nodded and smiled down at her.

  “Yes, you’ve always been with me,” he answered and then without any trace of embarrassment he bent and kissed her gently on the lips. It was their very first kiss…in this world…in this time. “My Avigail…my lovely Avigail,” he whispered, their lips still lightly touching.

  “Hell, I’m going if you want me,” Armstrong blurted spontaneously, surprising even himself. He was frightened but also hopeful. The past few weeks had changed him in more ways than just losing a hand. He was done with this earth and eagerly wanted to see another despite his fear. And he finally admitted to himself, he wanted to be with Galen.

  The young man laughed and gazed at Cord Armstrong for a long moment, then smiled and patted his arm gently. At his touch most of the Armstrong’s fear melted away.

  “Of course you may come Cord, I’ll have need of you very soon,” he told the man mysteriously.

  “We’ll go too,” Blue added impulsively then shot a quick look at his wife for confirmation. Camille nodded and Marigold beamed, wanting nothing more than for this great adventure to continue. Heck, all they were losing was a rundown old campground in the middle of South Dakota and an endless stream of bills, not much in the scheme of things.

  “Can we go mother? Can we go?” Buck and Troy Stadler pleaded and surprisingly Lori was tempted for a brief moment, but when she glanced at her husband Arny, she knew the answer had to be no. This was their home…crazy as it all was…this earth was theirs. Arny moved to her side and put an arm around his wife.

  “We won’t be going Galen,” he said and stuck out a hand. Galen shook it gladly.

  “We’ll be staying boys,” Lori told her sons and the two young boys drooped like a pair of water starved flowers. Galen moved over and hugged them all.

  “Don’t be sad,” he told the two Stadler boys. “You never know what life will bring,” but for once his words were of little comfort.

  “You best be getting back to your RV then,” Galen told the family, his voice now shaking slightly. “Even I can’t hold time at bay forever and St. Louis is likely to be in an uproar for quite some time.”

  Arny nodded and Lori gave Galen one more quick hug and then they were off, waving and yelling goodbyes to everyone.

  Vio gripped Adam’s hand tightly as she looked over to him and to her relief he smiled and nodded almost immediately. He’d used up this world; there was little for him here now and nothing if Vio left.

  “We will go,” Vio added happily and hugged Adam tightly to her.

  Avigail turned to her parents and repeated what Galen said, what he was offering and soon there was a great chorus of volunteers, after all Galen Dawkins was a legend in the lands of the Inland Sea and the current events of the day were doing nothing to change that status.

  In a matter of minutes, nearly a thousand of the Temple Knights decided to accompany Galen to his world in need. The others, most with family and loved ones waiting for them back in the lands of the Inland Sea declined. Galen understood and felt no ill will toward any of them.

  “Come with us,” Avigail pleaded, holding Arnot’s right hand tightly in her left. Arnot wanted to; he was sorely tempted.

  “I’ll go wherever you go,” Elin told him simply, forcing him to make the decision, likewise his mother and father were of no help. Gwaynn and Samantha did not even consider the move. If they could return to the King’s Island they would. It was their home and they’d fought hard for it. It was their sanctuary no matter what their children decided to do.

  “If you go,” Captain Gaston told Arnot, “you will leave the Inland Sea without an heir.”

  Arnot considered this and looked to his father; the thought of leaving his parents was like a knife in his heart. Gwaynn smiled grimly and hugged Samantha closer to him. “Don’t let that sway you,” he told Arnot, and Samantha stiffened by his side, suddenly terrified of losing both her children. “The Inland Sea survived nicely before either of us were born, and I dare say it will survive long after we’re both gone.”

  “Come with us,” Avigail pleaded but suddenly Arnot knew what was in his heart.

  “No Avi,” he told her, and his mother let out a huge sigh. “Galen…” he began and couldn’t help but shoot the young man a look of awe…all alone he was holding open the bridge home; and time was still on his command. The only indication that he was doing the impossible was a few beads of sweat on his forehead. “Galen is your dream, not mine,” he told Avigail. “I’m going home; it’s where I belong.”

  Avigail dropped her head, disappointed, but she quickly raised it once more. “I believe for once you’re right Arnot…you’re right. I shouldn’t have asked this of you,” she finished and gave his hand one last squeeze.

  Arnot nodded solemnly, but then looked to Galen. “You know where to find me,” he began and suddenly knew what he was saying was the truth. “Ask me again sometime…when you truly need me, and I might come running.”

  Galen nodded, liking Arnot.

  Everywhere people were deciding whether to go back to their homeland or stay with Galen. Gaston and Laynee, who were expecting, would be returning to their home, as would Lonogan and Jess na Massi. Surprisingly the Zarina Monde decided to follow Galen on and so did the Tars Myson and the Solitary Nyx, but the person who truly surprised Gwaynn with his decision to leave was his old friend and mentor Tar Kostek. He too, opted for the new world.

  “I’m not too old for a little adventure,” he told his King and best friend. He strode quickly over and gave Gwaynn a hug that carried the weight of all that had passed between the two.

  “I will go too Galen…if you’ll have me,” Christine said calmly and Galen took her into his arms.

  “Anything for you,” he whispered to her, very happy. “Anything for you.”

  Before he’d even released her another massive bridge sprang into existence, this one just to the south of the arch, it was just as large as the nocturnal world of the Inland Sea, but it was daylight in this land, either late afternoon or early morning it was hard to truly tell. But like the portal to the lands of the Inland Sea, this bridge also looked out into an open, boulder strewn field.

  All the Tars and Travelers gasped together. The power of the feat was beyond their understanding.

  Everyone else stared at the sight for a moment as Galen released Christine and then with an exaggerated bow, he motioned for her to proceed ahead of him. As he straightened a powerful cramp hit his midsection and he had to fight for control. Sweat was now streaming down his temples, the only real sign of the enormous strain his body was now under.

  “Shall we?” he asked the others in the language of the Inland Sea and a great whoop went up into the still air, but quickly died as if muffled by a thick blanket of fog.

  Without pause everyone began to move down the grassy hill and toward their respective worlds. Avigail glanced over and waved to her mother and father, but most of all she waved to Arnot, wishing them all well as they moved once more to the King’s Island and home.

  “Come let’s go,” Galen said, grabbing Avigail in one hand and Christine in the other, his legs were now shaking slightly, but they held him. Together the three of them left Old Earth behind and stepped into a new world. They were followed excitedly by a host of others.

  †

  The Stadler’s watched from the top of the concrete stairs as everyone disappeared into the world of their choice. For several long minutes nothing at
all happened and then without a sound the bridges winked out of existence and wail of police sirens filled the air.

  “Come on!” Arny said a bit fearfully and pulled his wife and kids down the stone steps. They reached the bottom and were jogging up to their RV just as the first cop car rounded the corner at the north end of the arch grounds.

  “Hurry Dad!” Buck implored and Arny hoped to God the police would ignore an innocent family of four. Just to be safe however, he threw open the door to the Winnebago and they all piled quickly inside. He locked the doors immediately and repressed a shiver. Once inside the relatively quiet interior, Arny gazed about at his family, very happy they were safe and sound. And before any of them knew what was happening they were all laughing hysterically at the wonder of it all. The police cars were almost on them when Arny pulled away from the curb and began to roll down Sullivan Avenue and they all held their breath as they moved away. To their relief most of the law enforcement vehicles squealed to a stop at the foot of the stairs leading to the arch grounds, but a pair followed, lights blazing, sirens wailing. Arny glanced at his wife with dread, but at that very instant a large bridge opened directly in the middle of the road. Lori gasped, but Troy and Buck squealed with joy as Arny applied the brakes momentarily. It took several seconds for Arny to comprehend what was on the far side of the bridge, but then Third Street came into focus. He glanced over at his wife and then they all stared through the bridge with childish wonder…a miracle sent just for them.

  “There it is!” Buck yelled, pointing through the portal excitedly, and there off to the left was the all too familiar storefront of Stadler Hardware. It shone like a lighthouse beacon, signaling to those adrift the way home. They were looking at Grand Forks, North Dakota. They were looking at their hometown.

  “Hurray!” Buck and Troy cried out together, as Arny looked over at his wife, both utterly amazed. They smiled at one another and then Arny gunned the engine and they tore out of St. Louis and into Grand Forks. They were home…home in an instant.

  The cops trailing the RV squealed to a stop as the bridge popped out of existence. But the confused officers inside, didn’t wait around to ponder the impossible, instead they jumped from the cars and hurried up to the arch wanting answers. But the grounds around the memorial were mostly empty, save for a few bewildered protestors and a host of television crews.

  The authorities would never get a clear picture of what actually happened; even though every eyewitness would tell much the same story, and every camera at the park would record the exact same footage. It was bewildering and flew against the cold power of reason that ruled the modern age. Over the coming years, explanations would be presented, theories introduced, but no one could definitively explain just what took place on that strange day in St. Louis…not the experts in the federal government, not the scientists in their labs, and not the righteous preachers from their pulpits. The events on that day defied reason and logic, the cornerstones to modern society. Who could believe that ten thousand mounted knights magically filled the grounds beneath the arch? It could not be, but they were there, like a renaissance festival on steroids. The mass of horsemen was caught on film slashing and charging about one minute, and in the very next instant they were miraculously gone. They all vanished in a blink, leaving a host of headless dead in their wake, a gruesome testament to their existence. It was crazy and frightening, but every television camera under the arch recorded the exact same thing. It was a total mystery, utterly unexplainable, a complete catastrophe in the age of science. There must have been a city wide malfunction. The events the cameras recorded that day were completely impossible, such things did not happen; such things could not happen…certainly not in this world…not in the world of light and reason.

  Epilogue

  They arrived on their new world in the late afternoon; the day was overcast and quite chilly. Within an hour a cold mist began to, not so much fall, as to hover about in the air, soaking everything and everyone. They only traveled a few miles into the new land before the growing darkness forced them to make camp. They halted by a small grove of trees which supplied enough wood for several dozen fires, even still there were many who bedded down on the wet, cold ground without any warmth or comfort, and some began to question their own judgment.

  The short trip across the countryside was not arduous even for those on foot, but Galen, Christine and their group did not stay afoot for long, almost at once a host of Temple Knights offered up their mounts to the group. Both Adam and Christine were delighted. Christine had never been on anything larger than the pony booked for her ninth birthday party, while Adam had only gone horseback riding twice in his life. Vio could hardly believe it when he told her, but after watching him in the saddle she quickly realized he wasn’t lying. Blue, who was an expert rider, laughed with Vio as they watched the two siblings bounce about on the saddles. Both would be very sore if they rode for long. The two were an endless source of amusement for the surrounding Islanders…even Galen, who was technically only three and had never ridden, had a much better seat than the brother and sister pair.

  As they rode Galen wolfed down all the jerked beef and biscuits the surrounding Knights had on them, but felt only slightly stronger. And when they stopped for the night more of the Knights gave up what gear they had so that Galen and the others could lie under a bit of cover and be as comfortable as possible through the night. They would all do what they could for the legendry Galen Dawkins. But they could do little for the chill in the air, the small fires helped, but not a lot.

  Come morning it was downright cold.

  “Where are we Galen?” Adam asked as the dawn broke. He stamped his feet and rubbed his hands on the front of his thighs to generate a little heat. Men were already scattering the remains of the fires, so there was no heat to be had from them.

  “England, I believe…or thereabouts,” Galen answered, his warm breath condensing in the cold morning air.

  “England?” Christine asked surprised.

  Galen nodded. “Yes…I’m sure this is the right place. It’s not far….” He added confidently.

  That was the only clue Galen would give them before the entire company mounted up and headed out once more. They rode south for only about two hours before they came across a small cultivated field adjacent to a cozy, but well lit dwelling.

  Captain Olney Hawser, now leader of the Knights, motioned for a pair of his men to check out the place. It was empty, but only recently so. Inside a fire was burning, and a pair of mugs filled with a warm, tart beverage sat steaming on the lone table.

  “They must have spotted us coming,” Captain Hawser reported to Galen and without hesitation requested permission to send scouts out in all directions.

  “To scout only,” Galen instructed. “Do not make contact if you can help it. You will not speak their language,” he added and then looked to Kostek for support. The old Tar nodded.

  “Be careful,” Galen told the scouts once they were ready, “we don’t want to give the impression we’re an invading army.”

  As the scouts rode off, Galen turned to Avigail and smiled. “It won’t be long now,” he told her and excitement rippled through the ranks.

  True to his word, a scout returned less than twenty minutes later. From the way the rider and horse moved as one, Hawser could tell it was Patia, and though she was now over thirty, in Olney’s mind she was still the best damned scout in any army. She raced up to Galen, who was riding between Hawser and Avigail. Patia smiled excitedly and pulled her horse to an abrupt stop directly in front of her new Captain.

  “There’s a large mass of men, riding up from the south,” she informed them and Hawser nodded and shot a worried look at Vio…who turned to consult Master Kostek.

  “How many?” Vio asked unaware that her left hand was caressing the hilt of her kali.

  “A couple hundred, about four miles out I’d say,” the woman replied, “and…most are on horseback, but some are coming in cars over land.”r />
  “Horseback?”

  “Cars?”

  Adam asked abruptly. He could not understand the conversation, but the word “cars” was the same in both languages. Kostek looked to the strange man, surprised. Adam quickly laughed, slightly embarrassed that he’d interrupted, but Kostek smiled, already liking the choice Vio had made for a mate. He was a big man, with clean good looks and he had long arms and legs. He had the body to make a fine Tar, but he was already far too old to get much benefit from any training. Kostek sighed and from what little Vio had said of him, he was no swordsman.

  “We’ll ride out to meet them,” Galen said to Avigail with a smile. She nodded excitedly and her horse, a small but spirited young colt, whinnied and skipped away a few yards until she regained control.

  “We should go as well,” Kostek added, meaning himself, Vio and the Tars of Noble. Nyx, who’d remained very quiet since their arrival in this strange land nodded and continued to eye Galen with undisguised wonder. They were the fighters in the group. They could keep Galen safe.

  “Very well,” Galen answered, “but not too many. We don’t want to frighten them until we’ve had a chance to explain.” He added and then looked to Adam, Christine and Blue. “I’d like all of you to come…and Cord as well, if he can manage a horse on his own,” he said.

  Kostek frowned, knowing the three would be of little help when it came to fighting, though the man Blue looked to be able to handle himself. He said nothing however, and put his trust in Galen as they all waited for the final man to join them.

  Armstrong, the DOE Agent was currently sitting behind a small red haired Knight farther back in the ranks. Hawser immediately sent a rider back to fetch the man and after a few moments Armstrong appeared, bouncing along on the back of a large chestnut gelding. Kostek and a few others smiled at the clumsiness of the man’s horsemanship but no one made any comment, apparently few from his world could ride a horse.