The room seemed to glow as James accessed the files he named. Then he spoke, "If I may Madam, I believe I can answer your questions?"
"Proceed" "In form the creatures of Nibaru are humanlike, though there are some obvious physical differences between your races. Despite these differences, it is believed by some that hidden within the dark mists of time there may have been a common ancestry between the species. This conjecture derives from the fact that the conditions that exist there preclude any possibility that complex life could have independently evolved. How then they came to make Nibaru their home is an eternal mystery. The conditions there are such that adaptation has developed in them a unique survival strategy. There on the icy fringes of the solar system their seasons within the cold darkness last many millennia. By necessity then their life cycles are quite different from ours. Through their long dark winter they exist in a state of suspended animation. Therefore in isolation they have evolved a cyclical predatory existence to which the people of Earth have been their quarry."
She turned to Ananda with a hysterical look upon her face and asked. "What does this mean Ananda?" Ananda in his weakened state answered her coolly,
"They feed on us. They drink our blood! They would swallow every drop if they could."
"How could this be James?" "It seems there was a good deal of thought recorded in ancient times to the how. The period while Nibaru resides within the realm of the inner planets lasts only for several short months, before it again recedes into the cold darkness of space. It is during this period then that the raids begin. During the last period of alignment they managed to make a toe hold here that lasted for decades. The ensuing war dragged on until they were ultimately defeated by the armies of the great king Hector."
"Hector from the song of Hector?"
"I do believe that is correct."
"Why haven't I ever heard these versions of these stories?"
"Firstly these are not in the strictest sense stories. But rather they represent factual accounts buried deep within volumes of journals. To our current classification system these stories were not mythology in the classic sense. Not fitting neatly within any one category and being intrinsically insignificant they were sub classified as Archaic and so given little validity. Thusly they never rose to my conscious memory."
"So then, thanks to an error in categorization this and lord knows what else has been sitting dormant in your memory for centuries. Is that right?"
"Essentially that is correct. With all due respect Madam, you are the keeper of the books. If these things were of interest to you, you should have enquired. You must also ask yourself madam, would you have believed such a story?"
"I honestly don't know." As the last of Ananda's spell had worn off he tried to stand without the support of the wall. Before him Xora paced anxiously. Ananda listened while she tried to make sense of what she had learned by engaging James's bodiless spirit in discourse.
"Many an old tale had been told of such adventures none of which that would hold up to any degree of logical scrutiny. However, among our oral traditions there are legends that speak of a creature known as the vampire. Could such legends have arisen from some racial memory encoded into our genes?"
"To this I cannot answer. I apparently never possessed any so called racial memory." Ananda now fully joined the conversation as the fog within his mind had lifted. His voice rose to answer her. "These traditions you speak of, they undoubtedly descend from some hidden ancient voice. They have left upon us an indelible scar. There is no doubt that even as the conscious memories have faded there should raise from time to time, an echo."
Xora was pleased to again see Ananda again amongst the living. "Ananda, come we must go now to tell Landaus and Grunhuf of our discovery here." She took hold of his hand and turned to walk. In an instant she found he was immovable. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"
"Xora please, we must wait. There is still much we must learn before we deliver to them this message they may not be ready to receive. I must ask you to delay this action. In a few days we should hold all the cards we need. Then we can share what we have learned."
"I don't understand. How can you ask me to keep a secret of such importance?"
"For only a few more days, then they will be forcedto believe it. I know you don't know me and that I am a stranger in this land. But I would ask you to trust me." She looked into his eyes and saw there a look of kind generosity. She held no yard stick that could help her see the right answer. She would have to trust her instincts. She felt she could trust him. However she questioned herself, "Am I seeing what I want to be seeing?" After a moment she decided she would take a leap of faith and trust the words of this forlorn traveler over her better judgment. "I know I'm taking an awful chance here but, you have my word. Two days, that's all I can give you. In two days we share what we have learned." Though she felt unease entering in this unusual bargain she none the less agreed to it. She reached her hand out toward him. He looked at it quizzically as she mimicked the shaking movement. Recognizing the gesture he joined together his hands with hers in acknowledgement of their agreement. "You should call me by my adopted name, please if you would call me Hector." She held since childhood a private thought that she would one day meet a man the likes of Hector. She could barely believe that here before her stood the original in flesh and blood.
"Xora, I should like to examine this island of yours would you care to show me around?" "Yes Hector of course I would love to." He lent her his arm and she locked hers with his. Together they walked through the antechamber and past arched entrance into the afternoon sun. A mere second after their departure the oracle sparked back to life as if controlled by some unknown entity from beyond the other side. Unseen by anyone the sphere was manifest. From the void a flickering image of the old woman from the previous day again appeared. No longer in possession of the finery of state, she was an old and broken woman. On her face she was possessed by an abject fear. She called out though no one was there to hear. "Lady Xora, Lady Xora, are you there? I must warn you!" The picture of a poorer quality than before fluttered and crackled and then it was gone, replaced by an empty blackness. James sensing the importance of this message recorded and catalogued it for Xora.
Grunhuf had arranged to meet with Landaus in the great hall of the citadel that morning prior to Ananda's arrival there. When he arrived he was surprised to find he was not the first there present. There within the air was heavy with the sounds of activity echoing from the cavernous rooms. Amongst a flurry of activity, crates of all sizes were being delivered and opened on the long tables by the citadel guard. Being that he had not authorized such a usage of the hall for any such purpose Grunhuf became agitated. Landaus had not yet entered his field of sight, so he sought out the next highest ranking officer. There he found Captain Starling and immediately went into a Tirade. "Captain Starling, What is the meaning of this intrusion onto town property. No one but myself, or my designates can authorize such arrangements. Who, and for what purpose has this space been commandeered. In an attempt at intimidation, Grunhuf faced the captain eye to eye. Captain Starling was young but he was an able officer in his own right. He knew his orders and wasn't shy of a confrontation. With an unblinking eye the captain stared back at the mayor and calmly said, "With all due respect Lord Mayor this operation is classified. It is you, who does not have the right to be here."
"I am an elected official. I unlike you rabble found my way to office by the free will and consent of the people of this burg. You have no rights here that aren't given to you." Lord Mayor with all due respect, I do not require a civics lesson from you. I have all I need, my orders. Sergeant, please escort our honored guest from these premises." Two rather burly guardsmen came to attention about each side of him. Just as they were about to grasp onto him, Landaus appeared behind Grunhuf. He was quick to intercede on the mayor's behalf. If you wouldn't mind unhanding our honored guest please, we could get down to business." They did just as he said. Grunhuf wa
s furious with what he considered a serious abuse of power by the Captain. "What is the meaning of this intrusion on our sovereign rights?" Landaus responded apologetically, "Please Grunhuf, try not to over react. The Captain is just following my orders as he understands them. He doesn't know who you are nor does he know that I've asked you here. Now Captain Starling if you would be so kind as to apologize so I can get down to business?" Starling turned toward Grunhuf and said, "Please excuse my error Lord Mayor I as the Colonel says was merely following orders." Grunhuf begrudgingly accepted his apology, but he would not let Landaus off the hook so easily. "I suppose I can accept the apology of one who was doing his duty. As for you Landaus you have some explaining to do."
Despite Grunhuf''s position as lord mayor, Landaus was the de facto head of the citadel's constabulary force. This was due to the fact that the citadel was traditionally a royal palace and the guards answered to the king or his officers. These traditions still held sway amongst their ranks. Landaus being the closest thing in Breideblic to a military officer made him the commander. Upon his father's death he had inherited this position, with all of its rights and responsibilities. His father was the king's second cousin. Landaus though of royal lineage held no title of his own. He did hold on to his military rank of colonel as his one mark of distinction. Though this force's function had once been a military one, they now functioned primarily as a police force. However by his insistence this unit still drilled and trained as they had in days past. Maintaining all of the centuries old traditions and capabilities would be his own legacy, one he hoped one day to pass down to Ibsen.
Of course none of this meant anything to Grunhuf, who quite naturally had his own agenda to follow. "Grunhuf please your objections have been noted but we are having a bit of a crisis here. Let the grand standing go for the moment. I have much to tell you." Grunhuf could tell from his tone that Landaus was quite serious. "Alright let's agree to disagree for now. I have to know what's gotten you so twisted up."
"That's why I've asked you here. Please come with me." They left the large hall and retreated to one of the many smaller rooms that ran up along the corridor adjacent to the great hall. Landaus was careful to close the door behind him. Landaus produced a chair and slid to towards him. Landaus then sat himself down behind a large wooden desk. "OK Landaus, what's going on?"
Landaus rose from his seat behind the desk and moved to a cabinet that stood behind him. He opened the door and slowly removed from it, a metallic box. Grunhuf watched with curiosity as he then placed this tin on the desk in front of him. He returned to his chair without speaking another word. "Landaus what's with all the theatrics?" said Grunhuf as he reached toward the container. Landaus reached out across the desk stopping him, and then said, "Before you look into this box I must warn you. Uponpain of death you must promise to keep what you may see here today under the strictest confidence. Do you agree?"
"Before I do agree I must ask you as your friend, how serious is
this situation that you must make such threats?" "My dear Grunhuf, I have asked you here and made such statements because we may be under the most grave of circumstance. You know I would not make such statements lightly and the fact is I cannot bare this load alone."
"That being the case my friend, then I agree to your terms." Landaus sat back in his chair and nodded to his friend to open the box. Grunhuf stood up and with trepidation unlatched the clasp that held the box closed tight. He lifted the cover. There within he saw what he recognized to be a human skull scarred and blackened by fire. He reached in and lifted it from the box to a position level to his eyes. There to his shock he discovered from the sunken sockets of this skull staring back at him, that it was not entirely human.
Intrigued he held it there for a moment to giving it an objective once over. He took note to how the skull was largerthan he had expected. He imagined from his observations of the points to which the muscles of the jaw connected that they were indeed massive. To make matters worse, held there within this oversized jaw were double rows of long canine like teeth. He shook his head and muttered, "Simply monstrous." After several more uneasy seconds he placed the skull carefully back within the box and closed the lid down tight. Landaus could tell from his complex expression that Grunhuf was not only curious he was also startled and frightened by what this object could mean. Though his mind filled with fearful imagery, he was full of questions, which he now needed answers for. "What is that thing? It's not human. From what nature of creature has this artifact been derived? And I'm almost scared to ask, are there more of them?" Grunhuf, as he spoke rubbed his hands together in a vigorous attempt to rid of himself the contagion. There within was a perceived evil, he had not before known. Landaus waited a moment as Grunhuf gathered his senses. Seeing that he was calm he spoke to him. "Grunhuf, do you now appreciate the nature of my predicament? There is much to tell you."
"Yes there is. Why don't you start with, where inall of Baldur did you manage to find that abomination?"
Landaus rose from his chair and turned slightly toward his right side. There a tall window through which one could look out onto the central courtyard stood. For a moment his eyes wandered there, looking down at the people assembled outside. With hands wringing, he stood cast in the crisp light that shined there, searching for the right words that would not come. "Will you get on with it already?" Grunhuf blurted abruptly and insistently. "Yes of course, I'm sorry." He took a deep breath and began to speak. "Several weeks ago our security forces were called to investigate what witnesses described as a crashed airship high in the mountains. These same witnesses stated that they had watched a fireball streak across the sky and disappear over the mountains. They then described the sight of the bright flash of an explosion illuminating the night sky. The following day with the help of some local guides we began to comb the hillsides. After about a half of a day's searching our team came upon the wreckage. What was found there was like nothing I've ever seen before. There strewn about the mountain side was a debris field hundreds of meters long. Within which were found a good bit of the technology that we have arrayed there in the great room. Eventually this led us to the main section on what can only be described as a craft of sorts."
"What about these creatures? Were they inside the remains of this airship?" "Oh yes, the creatures I had almost forgotten. Well I was not there when they were first located. I was told by the sergeant major that discovered them that they had actually survived the impact and while attempting to escape from their craft they had apparently died. The bodies were brought"
"Bodies, how many were there?" "We don't rightly know. Though we did recover three bodies in the wreckage evidence for any unaccounted for creatures was not found." A somber expression came over his face as he then began to recount the tale of the ensuing struggle. "Shortly after having examined the scene of the crash one of my officers informed me of the find within the fuselage. I at once asked to see for myself what had been discovered. I was then brought into the command tent in which were lain what were presumed to be the three lifeless bodies of the luckless pilots. I must say that I was most unprepared for what came next. What I discovered there, despite the badly burned condition of the bodies, was that all was not as it seemed. For we soon found ourselves in a desperate struggle to survive. Five of my men were killed in our attempt to put down the beasts."
A look of wide eyed horror filled Grunhuf's eyes as the meaning of this tale crept into his consciousness. "How could his be? It is impossible."
"Improbable perhaps, my dear Grunhuf but it is most assuredly not impossible. Take another look into that box if you need to be reminded, and ask me again if it's impossible."
"This is most unsettling." "Tell me about it. And that which you saw in the box was not the only strange feature possessed by these beasts. Before the battle began I had an opportunity to witness that the creatures had sets of rudimentary wings under their arms. It was with these that they used to take to the sky."
"Would you have me
believe these creatures somehow flew around like some giant bird?" "Not exactly Grunhuf, More like a giant bat. Once airborne they struck at us at will with their menacing array of weapons. We stood with our backs together as they bore down on us. Five were killed outright and several more are still in serious condition." "How ever did you manage to survive?"
"My friend, it is only by the grace of God that I stand here today before you." Landaus began to carefully unbutton his shirt. He soon revealed his shoulder and neck on which was hidden the dressed wounds that he had sustained in the fight. Grunhuf could see row after row of still weeping wounds including some that had appeared to have been inflicted by a talon like appendage. "I have seen enough my friend I feel embarrassed for ever having doubted you."
Grunhuf went silent and Landaus began again his recounting the details of the perilous fight. "After the Captain was attacked by the first creature to awaken I thought I had killed it with my pistol and my rapier. I ordered the bodies burned. We built a pyre to burn what was left of these demons. However as the bearers brought the bodies near they caught us off guard by a sudden and vicious attack. In an instant the air around us was alive with slashing claws and biting teeth. In the end we had managed to vanquish and burn this mighty enemy. We may not be so lucky next time." His voice went quiet and he began to refasten his shirt. "Come there is more to show you." He made a gesture toward the door and the pair walked again into the great hall.
A Paradox in Retrograde Page 9
