“It sounds wonderful!” Grandmother’s eyes glittered and glistened in the calm, pleasantly warm sunshine filtering through the trees, brushing our faces with its silken rays as we bumped along on uneven air thermals. The vehicle stopped in the air a moment, and then sank down to land a few inches from the ground. I stepped out and my three comrades followed.
Water glittered close to where we’d stopped. From the green grass on the shore, a small bridge led to an island which seemed connected to both sky and lake. Shimmering blue above and fading into emerald-green, it appeared as a rare jewel floating on the waves. In a way, it was just that. I padded barefoot across the bridge, less than twenty feet (six meters) long. The green grass sparkled on the other side, too. I had been here many times before, and knew my way in this amazing place.
The small pavilion was surrounded by a sea of flowers. Above it was an arch, carved with the word “Porthologos.” This was one of the innumerable entrances to the enormous library which spread out under Telos. The pavilion was incredibly beautiful, with walls of precious stones, and inside a staircase leading downwards. It had a church-like interior, the stones reflecting and refracting the light in a multitude of nuances. My grandmother, Emilie, stopped, and clapped her hands in a typical gesture.
Nancy looked around like a tourist. “Where do the stairs go?” she asked. “Down to Hades, huh?” I didn’t appreciate the laugh that accompanied her question.
Ellie didn’t know what Hades was, and was hopping around without a care in the world, now and then touching a beautiful gemstone. She certainly didn’t look like someone who had been forced to come here, I thought, as I went downstairs and Titch sneaked past me. He didn’t like going down stairs slowly. I held Grandmother’s hand, although she was as nimble on her feet as a twenty-year-old. I saw Nancy holding on tightly to Ellie, though the child didn’t appear at all scared. Maybe it’s Nancy who is scared, I thought. I was right. Her fear would surface again and again.
It was light and warm downstairs. Mannul was standing in the beautifully-sculptured doorway to welcome each of us with an embrace. Ellie got the biggest hug, and was lifted into the air by the tall man and danced in a circle. She put her arms around his neck as he set her down.
“I like you,” she said. “You and Titch are my best friends!” Titch was already off into the immense archive with his tail wagging happily, way in front of us.
“We’re in the biggest library in the world,” called Mannul, in English, which was mostly the language we used, unless I whispered something to Grandmother in Swedish. English was her favorite language, and she talked and read it fluently.
“We can find out about almost everything here, whether it’s the past or present of our own Earth, or elsewhere in the Universe,” he continued. “Instead of books, there are actors who answer our questions. They act out scenes as answers. Just wait!”
“There aren’t any books here?” cried Nancy angrily. “It’s not a library, in that case!”
“Ask something!” I suggested. “There are books here too, but plays are more common.”
“Was there really someone called Merlin, or is he a myth?” Nancy immediately asked.
“Come with me,” cried Mannul, and he led us up some steps to a wide corridor with doors on either side.
I have to describe what it’s like in our special library, which was originally an enormous cave. There are small stages everywhere, combining film and reality in an endless store of knowledge. There’s a network of passageways and rooms which you need a guide to show you. We have plenty of guides, some elementals, and some holograms.
All our inhabitants are eager to learn. By living in a symbiotic relationship, we benefit from collective knowledge, but this can be transferred to individuals. And questions are welcome — that’s what the library is for.
I tried to explain all this to Nancy as we followed Mannul down the passageways. As we stopped near a booth that was reminiscent of a theater with comfortable seats, Merlin greeted us from the stage. He told us that he had really existed, and had been an important, respected — but envied — wizard. He performed some magic tricks, which made Ellie scream with delight. Suddenly, there was a small, white rabbit on her lap, and equally suddenly, it was gone again.
He described his life to Nancy, who was amazed, then he acted some scenes and showed film clips. The widely-renowned magician concluded, “I am neither invention nor impostor. Nowadays, the world on the surface is ruled by swindlers who, consciously or unconsciously, make it their duty to mislead people.
“But a new era is coming. The surface is about to undergo a cleaning and a cleansing like never before. There will be pain and innocent sacrifices, but the result will be reconstruction in the name of Love and truth, converting the planet into a carrier of light. I, Merlin, proclaim this in the name of the eternal Truth.” The stage darkened.
We were mesmerized. Then Nancy got up and burst out, “But it’s just a play. It’s not like that in reality. It was the actor’s role to express it that way. Can we see some books now?”
I was astonished, and Grandmother was too, as she pinched my arm and seemed shocked. Ellie started crying.
“It was all true, Mummy. Tell me it was!”
Mannul lifted the little girl up and whispered in her ear. A big smile replaced the tears. I’ll never know what he told her, but it cheered Ellie up, which was the important thing.
It took a long time to see a just small part of the library. Sometimes there were wider galleries hung with lovely paintings, where tables, chairs, and couches invited rest.
We stopped when we were hungry, and refreshing drinks appeared. We didn’t see anybody serving, but Mannul explained that he had arranged for the refreshments on arrival in one of the galleries. Ellie didn’t protest; she just consumed what was on offer with delight. Nancy carefully tried a mouthful before swallowing it, as if scared she was being poisoned.
“We can test it on Titch, if you like,” I suggested spitefully. “He can stomach anything.” Grandmother gave me a warning look, but Nancy took some bread and fed it to the dog. He gulped it down and looked for more. I gave him some, of course.
Ellie was beginning to tire, and I asked Mannul if we could stop. He led us straight to an exit, where a lift took us back outside. Out there, it was as light as day.
The most difficult thing about living here, I think, is the lack of day and night. The friendly sunshine is eternal and unchanging. For surface-dwellers it’s difficult to acclimatize, but in the end you get used to it.
10. A Fond Reunion and a New Acquaintance
Whether it was day or night, Nancy yawned all the way home, and Ellie slept on Mannul’s lap. Grandmother, Mannul, and I decided to go for a walk when we got back home. I have no idea where Mannul lives. He’s always there when you need him. Nancy said a sleepy good-night and carried in her slumbering daughter.
You have to find your own walkways, as there aren’t any roads. I learned fairly soon after coming here how to walk around, or hover around, in Telos. You can go by hovercraft, but you can also hover yourself, only a few inches above the ground, but even so! It’s a great feeling. Grandmother couldn’t do it yet, so we walked arm in arm over the grass, while Mannul hovered a little way in front of us. Suddenly he stopped. We could hear music and boisterous singing. A host of dancing couples appeared, lovely and lithe.
“Gorgeous!” was, of course, my grandmother’s comment. “How wonderfully in step they dance.”
“Feel free to join in, if you want to,” suggested Mannul. “We’ll meet up by that tree over there when you’re tired.”
He disappeared into the whirling dance and Grandmother and I followed closely on his heels. It wasn’t easy to define the dance in words. It seemed as if everyone moved separately to the music, yet there was harmony, as if there was some general plan to it all.
“Hello again!” Behind me
was a voice I recognized and had longed for. My exquisite friend, Sisilla, took my arm and danced off with me.
“Long time no see,” was the extent of my repartee.
“Time doesn’t exist here,” she said, smiling. “Here it’s always just NOW. As long as all of us think positively and devote ourselves to enjoyment and Love, our NOW will continue. On the surface, you lack joie de vivre, and you have turned Love into something profane and unethical. We like working. We like relaxing. We like helping each other. We like walking in our beautiful forests. We like meeting people we love.”
She dropped my hand and disappeared in the crush of dancers. I called out to her and tried to struggle through the veils and flickering hair, in vain. Instead, I bumped into Mannul, who took me over to a large tree. Grandmother was sitting there talking to a man who seemed older than the others around us.
“This man is a relative newcomer. He’s only been here two months, by your time,” Mannul recounted. “We hold meetings for people who haven’t been here long. I can tell Emilie more about that.”
“Yes, maybe I should attend?” I wondered.
“No,” replied Mannul, to my surprise. “You came here by a different route and were looked after by Arniel and me. We’ve other plans for you.”
“I hope Sisilla is included in them,” I muttered. “Will I meet her again?” Mannul grinned, but didn’t answer. We caught up with Grandmother and her new friend at the tree.
“This is Lex,” she said, and the man beside her bowed slightly. “Though actually, his name is Alexander.” He was quite tall, with thick, white hair and appeared to be in his 60s. He had friendly, sensible brown eyes and a smile which displayed even, white teeth. His skin was quite brown, like an Indian or Native American. He had quite a prominent nose which suggested Native American.
“I haven’t traveled as far as you have to get here,” remarked Lex in faultless English. “When I heard about Agartha at home in Peru, I knew I had to come. But it’s not the easiest place to get to. It feels like being in quarantine, as I’ve just told this delightful new-arrival. I’d like to show her a little more of this beautiful country, as I’ve traveled fairly extensively.”
“We’ve met before,” said Mannul taking the man’s proffered hand. “I thought my newcomers would like to meet you, Lex.”
“I heard there was a newly arrived young widow and child,” said Lex. “Where are they?”
I greeted him in the ancient Indian way, which he returned. Then we shook hands. “You’ll meet them tomorrow,” I answered. “Be prepared for lots of questions.”
“I’m used to questions,” he observed. “I was a kind of modern Indian chief in a small Peruvian village with ancient traditions.”
“You’ll have to tell us more about that,” I said cheerfully, taking Grandmother’s arm. “If you can find your way to my house, let’s meet after a well-deserved sleep.”
He nodded, and I said goodbye to Mannul. We would meet again the next day, after I’d been out with my friends.
With his help, we planned a scenic tour in an area unknown to me. I had expected Nancy to be delighted with the planned trip. Instead, her face was sulky, with traces of tears. She sank down onto the sofa and asked me to sit next to her. Ellie was playing in the garden.
“I have to get her into school,” Nancy complained. “I can’t cope with her at home all day. I don’t have time for anything else.”
“You don’t need time to do too much,” I said comfortingly. “There’s no school here, as such. Children can be educated at the library if their parents desire it. They learn to read and write, and other useful things, but it’s not education in the same way as on the surface. If they aren’t keen to learn, then the teachers talk to the parents about trying alternative methods, like painting, crafts, singing, and stories. But first you need to talk to a teacher at the library, and introduce your daughter.”
Nancy started crying and threw her arms around me. She actually climbed onto my lap, and I was forced to get up to free myself from her indiscreet advances.
“I thought you liked me,” she sniffed. “I thought we would get together in all this unknown …”
Luckily, she was interrupted by Ellie, who came rushing in with another girl of a similar age. “Mummy, I’ve got a friend who speaks English too. She’s called Wendy, like the girl in Peter Pan, and she talks to fairies. We’re having fun!” Everything was said in one long rush, and then she gave me a hug.
“Ellie, I don’t think we’re going to stay here.” Nancy’s voice was frosty. “There’s no proper school, and I miss so many things. I don’t like this country. I want to go home to Seattle. Our house is just as we left it. I never put it up for sale, just in case! We haven’t been away long.”
“But Mummy, Uncle Tim is my new dad, isn’t he? And he lives here.” Ellie’s voice was tearful and she looked questioningly at me.
“You see,” I said, taking her hands. “Time isn’t the same here as on the surface. You’ve been here nearly a year.”
“I want to talk to Mannul.” Nancy’s voice was full of anger and loathing. She took my rejection very hard. But I wasn’t in love with her. She was just a good friend who had been married to my best friend. I thought I was helping her, as she had asked. Titch liked her, which is a bonus. But love … no way.
“You can do that when we come back from the trip,” I suggested. “Grandmother and her friend, Lex, are going to come, and the scenery will be lovely …”
“I’ve seen enough!” screamed Nancy. “I’m not going on any outing.”
The little girl who had come in with Ellie was standing quietly at the window. “May I come?” she asked finally, and I stooped down to her.
“Of course you may,” I said. “What was your name?”
“I’m Wendy, and I’m from England,” the girl answered.
She was pretty, with waist-length, dark brown hair and big, brown eyes. She had dimples in both cheeks when she smiled.
“I came here with Dad when Mummy died. He works here. I don’t know how long I’ve been here because they say there is no time, but probably not long, anyway.”
Nancy had left the room after her outburst. She returned now with a tray and four cups of the drink they have here instead of tea and coffee. She seemed to have calmed down.
“I guess I’ll come,” she said. “Ellie really wants to, and I might as well, as there’s nothing else to do.”
It was the start of an remarkable journey.
11. A Fascinating Trip
We were all seated in the one hovercraft — Grandmother, Lex, and I in front, and behind us the reluctant Nancy with Ellie at her side, a shawl and cardigan on her lap, in case it got cold. Little Wendy had clambered in beside Ellie, and the girls were giggling and whispering together, which didn’t improve Nancy’s mood.
Titch was sitting bolt upright between Grandmother and me. My dog was scared of nothing, but he wasn’t over-confident either. Everything was new to him, and he liked everything he saw. Strangely enough, his attitude to Nancy had changed. He didn’t growl or appear threatening, but he avoided her. He loved Ellie, and showed it openly and often.
We whooshed through Telos first, and when we got to the harbor the children yelled. It was a beautiful sight. Boats bobbed all around, just like in harbors everywhere, but what boats! Boats like this did not exist on the surface. They were weird shapes, and decorated like houses with chimneys, with colorful sails and loads of veils waving, in a multitude of colors and patterns. The boats themselves were painted with murals. Some looked like animals swimming: elephants, tigers, lions, turtles, dolphins, and dogs and cats. There was even a horse-boat!
I’d seen this amazing harbor before, and I asked Lex, who was at the controls, to loop around again. The wide expanse of sea stretched away from the harbor in an archipelago of islands and reefs fading into an endless blue. The gi
rls hung over the side of the craft, crying out in delight, while Nancy held on to them, pulling them back.
“Isn’t he nice?” whispered Grandmother in my ear, pointing to the back of her new admirer. I nodded and smiled. What else could I do? My grandmother was an adult who knew her own mind, and besides being a medium, she could be clear and decisive. Most people believe mediums are slightly crazy, which my grandmother had laughed at innumerable times. Actually, she was attractive for her age, rosy-hued and unwrinkled, with clear, piercing blue eyes.
As we left the magical harbor, I considered how nice it would be to walk around it with someone special. Below us was a forest with a host of different flowers. Suddenly the vehicle sank slowly downwards to land on soft, damp grass in the forest, next to a small pond and spring. Steam rose from the dark water, spreading an indescribable sense of peace. We relaxed in a ring around the hot spring. I hoped that Nancy was relaxing too. She sighed, gestured towards the spring, and said, “Hot springs aren’t unusual. We have them in North America. Maybe they flow down from there.”
“There’s nothing quite like this on the Earth’s surface,” observed Lex, regarding her gravely. “Have you seen anything like this before? Look around you. Do lovely flowers like these usually grow near springs? This kind of vegetation is unique for what we can call ‘the lap of the Earth.’”
“Oh, that’s a lovely name!” Grandmother exclaimed, and Lex gave her an appreciative look.
“It’s true,” he said, smiling. “You feel that you’re at the end of the world, as if the spring is a mystical entrance to another dimension.”
At this juncture, a great jet spurted from the center of the spring, and everyone laughed and tried to take cover from the splashing water.
“If we all close our eyes and make a wish, it will come true,” called Lex. “When there’s a waterspout from the spring, you can have a wish. It’s an ancient tradition here. Then we have to move on if we’re going to see anything else today.”
Agartha Page 5
