The Eye of Erasmus

by Teresa Geering

  He let out a satisfied sigh. He was happy. No woman had invaded his inner sanctum and none ever would. If he felt like their company, he would go into the village and he was never short of offers.

  Tonight he would work late and then rise with the dawn.

  Feeling a chill about his body he relit the fire, topping it up gradually with the kindling wood. As the fire took hold and warmed him, he began to feel sleepy. He found himself unconsciously focusing on the flames. After a few moments they seemed to dance before his eyes, leaving him almost in a trance. He had experienced this before but not to this intensity, so he allowed his body and mind to go along with it. Suddenly the flames seemed to part slightly and within the smoke a vision appeared.

  Erasmus was mesmerised. He could see a large opulent room which he realised was a bedroom. There were many coloured drapes hanging from the ceiling to floor. On a large four-poster bed, which was covered in a silk counterpane, was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Delicately dressed in sky blue, her tiny feet uncovered, she lay there sleeping. Her long blonde hair was dressed in a plait which lay over her shoulder, bound at the end in blue ribbon and resting on her bosom. Her long blonde eyelashes in sleep were curled but still covered her eyes. As he continued to watch the vision, his strength ebbed from him and he felt weak, a completely new experience for him. He could not take his eyes from the woman. For the first time he was experiencing love and knew he had to possess this woman whoever she was. He would find a way and wouldn’t give up until he succeeded.

  His ability to read minds didn’t hold as much interest these days and it became boring to him. Recently, though, he had discovered, whilst sitting quietly in his cave and meditating, that he could transport his body through time. On one occasion he had decided to visit the village merely by thinking about it. His body was still in the cave but to all intents and purposes his being was in the village walking about holding conversations when it suited him. He cackled to himself at the thought. Whoever this beautiful woman was he intended to have her.

  He sat back and watched the vision slowly fade as Shasta stretched her lithesome body and opened her eyes. For a moment she seemed startled and then the flames replaced all that he had witnessed.

  Chapter 6

  Shasta sat bolt upright in her bed. The dream had seemed almost real. The man was about her age and very good looking. His eyes had transfixed her, penetrating to the depths of her soul.

  She wished he had been real, as her life seemed pretty mundane and she was bored. Men had come and gone in her life but none of them had excited her.

  In the evenings she usually sat at home with her closest friends or, on warm evenings, in her beautiful garden. Flowers grew in abundance and the heady perfume was intoxicating during the hot summer evenings.

  On many occasions, to amuse her friends, she would predict the future for them. However it bored her after a while and many times it tired her too. She had tried to close her mind to the gift but to no avail. She needed a new challenge and the man in her dream looked as if he could possibly fulfil it.

  Rising from her bed, she breakfasted on fruit and sweet meats and decided to visit the market place. As she wandered, she became aware, as always, of admiring glances both from men and women. Some wished her good day while others passed her by with a friendly smile.

  Seeing a woman sitting on the ground casting teeth, she grew curious and began to approach her. She was aware of soothsayers but had never actually met one. Unfamiliar with the practice of waiting until called, Shasta forced her way through, receiving some hostile looks. The soothsayer beckoned her forward, though, and said “Sit with me awhile, Shasta. I have much to tell you.”

  “How did you know my name”? Shasta asked aghast.

  “I have been waiting for you for many years, my child, and finally you are here.”

  Shasta was full of questions.

  “All in good time,” said the woman who by now was casting the teeth again in front of her.

  Shasta asked her what she should call her.

  “My name is Liana,” she said quietly.

  Shasta moved a bit closer so that she wouldn’t have to strain to hear her.

  Slowly the other folk who had gathered to have readings moved away to return another day. They sensed that this woman would be there a long time.

  Liana sat quietly for a few moments and then began to speak to Shasta.

  “You were given many gifts at your birth, Shasta, but this man of your dreams holds your full interest at the moment.” Shasta was startled, unable to speak. “He is called Erasmus and, like you, possesses many gifts. He was born at the exact moment of your birth but in another time. Your paths are predestined to cross when the time is right. He will love you to the point of obsession, and will travel through time to be by your side”.

  Liana stayed quiet for a few moments to enable Shasta to take this in. She decided against telling her too much too soon as she knew that Shasta would return to speak with her again.

  Shasta rose to her feet in a trance but, recovering herself, thanked the old woman and walked further on to gather her thoughts. Her mind was in turmoil with so many unanswered questions.

  Eventually she found herself at the back entrance to her house. Unlatching the gate, she wandered through the garden and sat on a bench beneath the arbour. The heady perfume of the white roses did nothing to deter her thoughts.

  Restlessly she began to walk the garden back and forth, weighing a multitude of questions, the two foremost being who was this Erasmus, and how would he come through time to meet her?

  On and on the questions invaded her mind until she finally accepted the fact that she was excited by the prospect of meeting him. The last thought in her mind as she closed her eyes that night was whoever Erasmus was, he was certainly good looking.

  She fell into a troubled sleep, tossing back and forth amid visions of Erasmus travelling through space and time to be by her side.

  These dreams occurred on a regular basis over the next few weeks and she knew in her heart that she would return to the market place and to Liana to find out more.

  Chapter 7

  Erasmus was pouring over his charts in his cave. Beside him the fire was getting low but he was warm enough and content. Outside the wind howled and the rain beat mercilessly against the rocks which formed the cave.

  Occasionally he would stiffen like an alert animal, convinced that he could hear footsteps, but then he would relax again in the realisation that it was probably a combination of the wind and the rain.

  Stretching his stiffened limbs, he stood and flexed his muscles. In his makeshift mirror he gazed at his profile, turning this way and that. He was proud of his toned body and knew that any woman would be happy to be bedded by him. Erasmus had become vainer as the years had gone by and realised that he also had the ability to attract men when the mood took him.

  He threw more wood on the fire and sat down to watch contentedly as the smoke curled into the air. He knew that he would have another vision if he looked into the flames long enough.

  Sure enough, as he watched, the smoke of the fire cleared to reveal a garden right there before him, with flowerbeds overflowing with beautiful plants whose heady perfume he readily imagined. Further along, beneath a rose arbour and seated on a bench, was the woman of his dreams. He viewed her in profile, her head slightly bent in contemplation, sitting composed with her hands lightly resting in her lap. Her long blonde hair was gently flowing about her shoulders and, as the gentle breeze caught it, wisps of hair moved across her face. She was dressed in an equally flowing red dress and her dainty feet peeped out from underneath the hem.

  Again Erasmus sat spellbound as he watched. Mentally he wondered about her name. As the thought passed through his mind he instantly knew it to be Shasta. Yes, it fitted her perfectly, he thought; she seemed as pure as the white Shasta daisy grown in abundance. He was even more determined to possess her.

  He instantly made up his mind
to transport himself to her time.

  Letting the vision go, he closed his eyes and prepared himself mentally. He could watch everything in his cave from afar and, if need be, return instantly. Time travel has its compensations he said aloud to his surroundings.

  With that, he transported himself but nothing happened. He was still in his cave. Panic set in, as this had never happened to him before. He tried again but still to no avail.

  A deep rage began inside him and standing up he marched to the entrance to the cave. “How could this have happened? I am omnipotent,” he roared.

  Stepping outside to clear his head, he looked about in disbelief. Down below him on the shore were men and women chattering and laughing. A dog was running in and out of the sea retrieving sticks thrown by a young boy of indeterminate age.

  Erasmus shielded his eyes from the strong sun which reflected off the sea, and looked on in amazement and horror. Where had all these people come from and didn’t they know this was his part of the beach?

  The men had rolled their trousers up to their knees and were cooling off in the sea. Women had tucked up their dresses and were playfully splashing the men, expecting the same in return.

  Erasmus could not believe his eyes at first but then realised he had after all transported himself. This was evident by the clothes worn by the people around him and the difference in temperature. He was now in a time of warmth. Shasta he surmised was obviously living in the same place as him but at a time in the future.

  What an extraordinary turn of events, he thought, and began to cackle heinously, which left his face with a contorted look. Very well then, he would explore the area and mentally compare the differences.

  No one took any notice of the man walking by the rocks. His clothes generally weren’t all that different from theirs and they were used to all kinds of hermits and holy men that lived in the caves, so he fitted in perfectly. Besides they were caught up in their own fun and amusement. Why should a stranger to these parts bother them?

  Chapter 8

  During the warm balmy days of summer, Shasta had taken to walking in and around the rocks surrounding the caves above the shoreline. Sometimes she discarded her shoes and paddled her feet in the sea, or sat by the small rock pools watching crabs and tiny fish scurrying about to reach cover away from prying eyes.

  Today was beautiful, and walking barefoot in the sand she sought out her favourite rock which was situated above a cave.

  She had become aware of the cave entrance when she had walked along the shoreline some time ago. On that occasion something had compelled her to look up and she had noticed something glinting in the sun by the entrance. Probably a piece of glass, she had thought, and put it out of her mind. Now, whilst sitting on the rock, she noticed the same piece of glass below her.

  Curiosity got the better of her and she gradually eased herself over the rock to investigate. Picking it up, she realised it was a piece of clear quartz made smooth in all probability by the elements of time. It sat comfortably in her hand and she decided to keep it.

  Returning to her rock she examined it more closely and held it up to the sun. She could see small facets which sparkled in the sunlight and pleased her. She placed it in her lap and then, resting back on her hands, she inclined her face to the sun to enjoy its warmth. Her mind wandered and her thoughts turned to Erasmus and when they would meet. Would it be soon, she wondered. Maybe it was time to go back and talk more with Liana.

  The sun hid behind a puffball of cloud, casting a shadow across her face. Opening her eyes she decided to carry on her walk and take the long way back. She picked up the stone from her lap and held it in her hand. As she made her way home she began gently stroking the stone. It was quite unusual and fascinated her.

  On reaching her home, Shasta went to the kitchen and placed the stone on the windowsill where it could catch the last rays of the day’s sun and she could enjoy watching the prisms sparkle as its energy was recharged.

  Her supplies of herbs were getting low, she noticed, as she prepared herself some broth. She would restock them when she visited the market tomorrow. It would also give her the opportunity to revisit Liana if she was there.

  As she gazed into the remains of the broth, she became aware of a mist swirling around the inside of the bowl. Spellbound she watched as it cleared. A vision appeared of a man with his back to her looking out to sea.

  “ERASMUS!”

  This came out involuntarily from surprise as her heart began to beat faster. Then, as the scene shifted, she realised that he was standing just below her rock in front of the cave. At the same time she felt great foreboding and danger and instinctively knew that at some moment in time she would have to save him. From what, she had no idea.

  Shaking uncontrollably, she sat back in the chair as the scene before her dissipated and the vision cleared to reveal the dregs of broth.

  Sleep did not come easily that night and, on waking the following morning, the bedclothes were a tangled mess around her.

  Maybe Liana would have some answers.

  With hope in her mind she made her way to the market and purchased the herbs she required. As she slowly walked around she took in the natural ambience generated by a busy market on a warm day. Feeling calmer now, she began to smile at people, her smile being returned by women and men alike. She was after all a very beautiful woman.

  Shasta became aware of a gentle sound behind her. Turning, she could see nothing that would make the sound, but there it was again. She chanced to look down and saw a very tiny black kitten which was seated on the ground expecting some sort of attention. As she squatted down beside it, the kitten looked at her with its head on one side. It began to scratch itself behind its ear whilst balanced on three splayed legs. Laughing, Shasta scooped it up and brought it level to her face so she could see it properly.

  “What a pretty little thing you are,” she said as the kitten put out a paw to touch her face.

  Making some enquiries, she discovered that a family who could not afford to keep the litter had left it abandoned. Her soft heart went out to the black ball of fluff and she decided to keep it. She placed it in her basket on top of her soft shawl and the kitten snuggled down and went to sleep with a small sigh of contentment.

  Buying some food and other necessities for her new charge she strode out with the purpose of finding Liana.

  Coming across a small crowd, she saw Liana through a gap sitting on the ground. Shasta stayed at the back, content to wait her turn. Absentmindedly she began to stroke the cat whilst at the same time thinking of Erasmus.

  “Well hopefully Liana can help out there,” she said to none in particular. In the meantime she began to think of names for the kitten. Not knowing if it was male or female proved an added problem. She had never housed a pet before. Eventually the crowd cleared and Liana, seeing Shasta, beckoned her forward.

  “Ah Shasta, I see Merlin has found you, then,” she said on seeing the kitten.

  “I don’t understand,” said Shasta. ” What do you mean?”

  “You will understand in time, my dear, but heed this warning. Erasmus will face danger,” Liana said mysteriously.

  Shocked by this statement, Shasta told Liana about her visions in the cup of broth.

  “So it begins. He is here then.” She carried on talking before Shasta could question her again. “Many times you will come close as ships in the night, until finally ….” Liana stopped there, closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “True love never runs smooth, my dear Shasta, but have patience, Erasmus is Omnipotent, always remember that.” Opening her eyes she said “Now go and enjoy Merlin while you can”. She closed her eyes again and mentally left her surroundings.

  Shasta had seen the soothsayer on two occasions now and each time had come away more confused than ever.

  A scroll nailed to a building used as a meeting place caught her eye. Moving closer, she stroked Merlin’s head. Reading the scroll, she noted that a talk would be given on astronomy and as
trology the following afternoon. One hour would be dedicated to each subject with time for questions afterward. Shasta made up her mind to go. She had spent endless hours fascinated by the stars and this would be an opportunity to find out more.

  Chapter 9

  Erasmus walked along the shoreline for once mingling with the people, more out of curiosity than anything, but it also gave him the opportunity to eavesdrop on conversations. Many times he stopped very close to people on the pretext of looking out to sea. Bits of gossip caught his ears but he wasn’t really interested.

  Coming further inland he overheard two men talking about the tides and stars. Instantly his interest was gained.

  “If only we could get a replacement,” said one man who sounded quite educated to Erasmus.

  “We will never find someone at such short notice to talk about astronomy and astrology” said the second in despair.

  Erasmus introduced himself and enquired after their problem. It seemed that their speaker had let them down and could not be replaced in time as the talk was the following day. Giving a brief rundown of himself and his achievements, Erasmus offered his services which were gratefully accepted. They had no choice but to take a chance on him.

  Receiving directions and the time of the venue, Erasmus bade them adieu and agreed to meet them the following day.

  He cut short his walk and returned to his cave and, with excitement, began to prepare the charts he would need. No rehearsal was needed as his confidence knew no bounds.

  As night began to draw in, Erasmus sat at the entrance to his cave. He was comfortable with his surroundings now that the bustle of the day had calmed, but very aware that he was in his own future which had seemed rather strange at first but he was growing accustomed to the notion. After all, somewhere here was the woman of his dreams and he was resolved to find her. Maybe she would attend the talk he would be giving tomorrow.