by Gene Curtis
The Eleventh Scroll
Chronicles of a Magi Book V
A Prize Books Publication
Edited by Rick den Haan
Copyright © 2014 by Gene Curtis
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Chapter 1
The desert smelled faintly of the orchards in the next section. The extreme daytime heat in the Wasteland section caused the air to rise, which drew in air from the other sections. Mark remembered how much he liked riding The General in the different fruit forests. It was near sunset now and the winds had died down to a good breeze.
They were only about ten steps in when Jamal said, “This will do.” He sat down cross-legged on the sand and laid his staff on the ground in front of him. “Sit where you can put your hand on the staff and be comfortable. We’re going to be here for a while.” When all seven of them were seated and had their hands on the staff he said, “Spirit Sight.”
Mark entered Spirit Sight and realized they were no longer in the desert; their spirits had been transported into a cave. It didn’t appear to be natural, the walls were rounded smooth and the ceiling was flat. The floor was flat, too, and it was not sloped at all. It had the feel of a room carved out of solid rock. There was an opening in the far wall. It had a large, disc-shaped stone standing beside it. Firelight flickered briefly in the next room.
He moved to look through the opening and saw a dinosaur like the one they had the statue of at The Seventh Mountain, also about three feet tall, chopping up a small creature’s carcass on a stone countertop and tossing the small chunks into a metal cauldron sitting on top of a stone stove. The pot looked like it was made of copper.
The sound of a stone rolling, stopping, then rolling again preceded another dinosaur entering from an opening on the other side of the room. This one put an armload of firewood in a stone bin next to the stove. It asked, “Is our daughter home yet?”
The one cooking said, “I am expecting her for our meal.”
“Why did she want to go to that place anyway?”
“She is young and she wants to explore.”
“I say she is lazy and will do anything to get out of doing her work.”
“You were young once. I think maybe sometime in your life you wanted to play more than you wanted to work.”
The one that brought the firewood in stepped over to the one cooking and put its arms around its chest then nuzzled its neck. “I think I would like to play now.”
“Not now, it is meal time and the boys will be here at any time.”
Suddenly they were in another location. This time it was a valley next to a stone paved road. Wooden carts and wagons were traveling in both directions pulled by what looked like small, plate-helmeted rhinoceroses. The wooden wheels on the vehicles had spokes and the animals were harnessed with ropes. The cargo they hauled varied from produce and stones to one carrying wooden pens confining small creatures within. If the sentient creatures had been humans instead of dinosaurs, he thought it could have been a scene from the late medieval era.
Jamal led them along the road the way the wagon with the caged animals was going. Shortly they were at a spot where they could see a large yellow metal-looking disc atop a tall column. It looked like the one Gerod found in the ocean in Zelandia, except this one was polished to a high shine and glinted in the sunlight. Beyond was a mountain with many openings apparent from where they stood. The road led past the column and up toward the openings.
They followed the road to the base of the mountain. The road continued on around, spiraling up the mountain, but Jamal led them up a wide stone staircase. The stairs were built for the short creatures that ruled this domain, having steps about four inches tall and six inches deep. He was glad they were in the spirit and didn’t have to climb them.
Jamal exited the stairs on the fifth level up and led them into one of the caverns. It was a cafeteria type environment. The wall on the left was lined with creatures carrying two metal bowls: one large and one very large. They put things in the bowls and moved off to low tables where they set the bowls down and began eating with their snouts moving from bowl to bowl much like a dog would eat. He thought maybe their short tails made it difficult for them to sit and they found no need for eating utensils other than the bowls.
Jamal walked up to one of them that had finished eating and was having a conversation with another one that stood on the other side of the table. This one was somewhat larger than the one beside Jamal and its features were proportionally larger than the closer one. He was speaking and his voice was deeper than the ones he’d heard so far.
“I am happy that you like it here and it is sad that you are not yet of age. You are not an orphan are you?”
“I am not an orphan; why do you ask?”
“We have special rules for those with no parents. You could live here if you were an orphan, seek out the work you like and have need of nothing.”
“Food, shelter, medicine?”
“It is a package deal. If you live and work here your every need, your every desire is provided for so long as you work. Even if you choose not to work, you are given shelter and sustenance. In either case, should you become ill, healing is provided. We even open the healing baths to non-residents twice a year.”
“It sounds too good to be true; what is the catch?”
“No catch. Deity is coming soon. By his command, we are spreading peace and harmony throughout the land. This will become a realm of his making, a place where he can dwell among us. To live here you must only work at something you enjoy six days of seven and not break the commandments: use no money, respect Deity above all, rest on the seventh day, be respectful of sub-rulers, do not cause strife, work dutifully, be loyal to those above you, always speak truth, and be humble in all things. These things are easy and I am sure you already abide by them.”
“If it is so great here, then why are there not more here?”
“The cities have been open less than one cycle of the moon. Word must spread. When you leave here, you will tell of what you experienced. No one will tell you what to say. There are many others like you. Soon more will come, leave and tell what they experienced. Many will want to live in the cities. When the whole world has been told, then Deity will come and dwell among us. How great that will be?”
Jamal led them into another cavern and through its passage to the place where they were quarrying bright-stones. The activity was much like what he’d seen before except the stone blocks were being hauled by dino cart. They went back out and the location was not the same. Now they were on a mountaintop, looking toward a line of dino carts switchbacking up the next peak to the north. Workers were using the stones to build a pyramid on the top of the mountain. The stones didn’t appear to be glowing in the bright sunlight.
Jamal pointed and they turned to see. There was also a very large wall being built in the valley. It stretched farther than they could see.
Jamal led them into the valley and up to a group of seven creatures standing around a small boulder. Empty bowls sat atop the stone and they were having a conversation.
The closest one said, “Bright Morning Star intends to enslave the world. I intend to stand against him. I need to know if you are willing to help me. It is the will of The One God that I do this. It is also His will that I have help.”
One on the other side of the boulder said, “Truth and Justice Warrior, we have traveled with you for many harvests and have learned many things and have acquired many skills in the hidden things, but what you ask is more difficult than anything we have imagined, yet for my minds, I am willing to stand with you and help h
owever I can.”
Without hesitation, the others chorused their agreement.
The one on the other side of the boulder added, “Wherever you go, we will go. Whatever you need of us, we will do.” The creature produced a sword and laid it on the boulder.
Mark said, “Whoa, was that Aaron’s Grasp?”
The creature continued, “I choose... my sword, my skills... my life serve you and your stand against Bright Morning Star who is the dragon that stands against Truth.”
The others followed that creature’s lead and made the exact same oath.
The creature that first made its oath asked, “Has God given you any indications?”
Truth and Justice Warrior produced a staff looking like nothing more than a fat walking stick. He twisted it in both hands and pulled it apart, revealing a sword. He raked the blade across the boulder slicing it in half as it went. “This is a gift of God and will remain secret.”
The sun began moving across the sky at a fast pace giving way to night, into day again, then night and continued for many cycles. The effect was similar to what he’d experienced in the time machine. It stopped overhead and they found themselves standing in a corral for dinosaurs, the young ones were about knee-high and the older ones were head-high. They all appeared to be herbivores, chomping on the groundcover and paying no attention to each other.
Beyond the fence, four creatures were walking toward a boulder larger than a house. It looked like it might even be a house or at least a shelter of some type. There was an oval hole near the base that could have been a door, and there was a smaller hole off to the side that could have been a window. When the creatures got near, another creature exited the hole in the bottom holding some sort of handled tool. Could it be an ax?
The four creatures stopped and one of them called, “Is this where Palm Tree lives?”
“She is not here. What do you want?”
“We met her at City in the Sun. She was very much interested in living there.”
“She is not of age. Go away.”
“We just want to talk. Maybe you would like to visit the city yourself, to see what it is like.”
“I like it here just fine. Go away.”
The creature turned to go back in and a large stone hit him on top of his head. It went down. Mark turned back to the group of four creatures. They were now running toward the house with swords in their hands.
Another creature appeared in the doorway crying, “Shining One, do not die.” It tried to drag the fallen one back into the house, but before the body was halfway across the threshold the four were there and one of the them ran the crying one through with its sword while the other three pushed past them into the house.”
Jamal moved into the house and the team followed.
Inside, two other younger creatures lay on the floor bleeding. Their bodies were not moving. The noise of three of the bandits searching the house could be heard while the fourth stomped three eggs in a nest beside a hole in the stone wall that obviously served as a fire place.
One of the three searching the house called, “No more.”
The one that had destroyed the eggs called back, “She’s an orphan now. I claim first rights.”
Jamal led them out of the house. There was a fierce thunderstorm raging. Mark realized they were back on the mountain looking at the pyramid. It was completed. Below, there was no one working on the wall, but there was a huge crowd of spectators filling the valley below.
Lightning flashed. They looked and four bolts were striking the pyramid: north, east, south and west. A moment later the bolts ceased and the structure shown, seemingly with the brilliance of the sun. The sound of the amazement of the multitude below reached their ears. It was very loud, based on the distance between them and the crowd in the valley.
A brightness appeared in the clouds overhead and the clouds evaporated forming a large hole. Some kind of brightly glowing craft descended through it. It appeared to be seven white dinosaurs pulling a throne. The creature on the throne was a seven-headed dragon.
Mark said, “That’s not Benrah.”
Jamal answered, “It’s his father.”
The craft descended to the top of the pyramid and the dragon perched atop it. It spread its wings and a thunderous voice said, “I am God. You will use no money for it is the root of all evil. Fear of me is your path to life and prosperity. You will respect my lords and obey them in all things for they are your teachers and your guardians. You will work peacefully with one another and do no evil for it will be repaid sevenfold. Your work will be your passion, therefore work always with passion. Loyalty is a virtue among virtues. Truth is honor, so always speak truth. Humility is the face of the righteous, so be humble in all things.”
A chant began building from below. “Mighty and righteous is the Lord our God.”
Jamal started moving down the mountain into the valley and everyone followed. When they reached the bottom, they came to the stairs leading up into the city they had already visited. Jamal led them up to the top level and into a cavern. The passage was short and ended in a lobby. They passed through a large door into a large room filled with creatures standing in rows. The far side of the room had a raised platform and three creatures standing behind a rectangular carved stone. On the wall behind them was the engraved image of a seven-headed dragon with the caption below it, ‘By the Will of God We Judge’. A good amount of time had obviously passed since the descent of the dragon.
Two creatures roughly handled another creature that was bound hands and feet. They dragged it before the judges and dropped it on the floor.
The judge in the center looked at a document and said, “You have been accused of disrespecting our Lord’s lords in that you refuse to move to the city by their order. Do you have anything to say before your fate is pronounced?”
“I meant no disrespect. My farm has been in my family for generations and I just told them that I preferred to stay there.”
“They explained to you that all your needs and desires would be met in the city?”
“They told me that.”
“And you still refused to move to the city?”
“I didn’t refuse. I just told them I’d prefer to stay on the farm with my family if I could.”
“How do you feel now?”
“I love my farm and would rather live there if possible.”
“It is not possible. Your fate is death, the farm is forfeit and your family of age will work in the mines for the rest of their lives. Guards, carry out the sentence.”
The creature was dragged screaming to a large rectangular stone off to the side, stretched across it and his head was cut off with a large ax.
Jamal started heading out and they followed. They heard the judge call “Next.”
Mark turned to see. Two guards were dragging another creature before the judges. The prisoner said, “I’ll move to the city.”
The Judge said, “Very well, you and your family of age will work the mines for ten seasons. Your farm is forfeit. Next.”
Jamal led them into another room where two smaller creatures were being questioned by an adult.
“What is your favorite thing about being here?”
One answered, “I really like the food and the play area... and my friends.”
The other one said, “I like the food and the play area too, but I really like the story tellers. They tell some good stories. And the singers are good too.”
“That is great. What do your parents like?”
“Our parents are not here.”
“That is strange. You are not orphans, are you?”
They both waved their left hands. “We are not orphans. Our sister brought us here to see.”
“You have been here more than a visit allows. Are you living with your sister now?”
The children waved their right hands.
“Your parents did not come, why? It is so great here. Oh, maybe they thought it would cost too much.”
“No, they know it is free. They just did not want to come.”
“I see. Will they come later?”
The older one said, “Maybe, but I do not think they will. There is too much work on the ranch.”
“Do they know they would only have to work a little here?”
The younger one said, “They don’t believe it. Father said there is no such thing as a free meal. The whole thing has to be a trick.”
“He does not believe God is providing.”
The older one said, “Oh yeah, he believes that. He said it is kind of like how we treat our herds.”
The adult waved her right hand and said, “I understand. I will send someone to tell him it is not that way. Thank you children.” She handed them each a shiny black stone. “You may leave now.”
The older child asked, “Is black the color for today?”
“It is. You do not have to go back to school today. You have done very well and you deserve treats. Please go get what you desire.” The adult turned her head and said, “Bring in the next ones.”
Two adult creatures were ushered in and shown where to stand.
“Good morning. How are you enjoying your time here?”
The taller one answered, “It sure beats busting your toes from early light to late light and beyond.”
The shorter one waved its right hand. “I do not think I will ever get used to not cooking and cleaning. It is great! Thank you, God.”
“I agree; it is great here. I see your children are not here with you.”
The taller one answered, “They were at first, but they decided to leave.”
The shorter one said, “They are of age. We could not stop them.”
“Why would they do that?”
The taller one said, “Too many rules, too restrictive, said they couldn’t have any fun. You know how pre-mature kids are.”
“I remember. That was some tough times, but that was before the cities. Perhaps they have gone to another city?”
“I do not think so, too rambunctious, probably hanging out with their friends.”
