First Light: Book one of the Torus Saga

by Berg, Michael

  He leaned over a little closer to her and she turned to face him. They looked at each other for a moment in silence and he was sure her feelings were being projected towards him. Within a short time, they had developed a relationship where they were both perfectly comfortable with each other and silence between them was not an issue. She smiled, as she knew where he was in his mind and heart, and she felt confidence with her intuition and in sharing these feelings.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said whispering to him and turning her eyes back out the window. “Seeing the gold ocean beneath us, with the arc of space almost close enough to touch is enchanting. And see the clouds? It is like we are floating in the heavens.”

  “I see them. We are floating in the heavens.”

  They both continued their gaze out the window for a few more minutes in silence. The only sound was a faint swish coming from the four rocket engines on the wings of the aircraft. It seemed like all the passengers inside the HyperJet were taken with this view upon and over the world they knew, as a general hush was evident throughout the passenger cabin.

  Jake and Raynie were sitting opposite to them, both also gazing out the window. “Hey Lyle, come and see this,” Jake said breaking the silence. Lyle left his seat and went to see what Jake was talking about. As he did, Raynie went to join Jenna.

  Both men peered upward out the jet window to see the space station way above them - its lights giving away its location. It was an immense mass of modules joined together to form a structure one mile in length and half a mile wide. The lights located all over the station made it the brightest object in the sky, even visible on some days around sunrise and sunset. As they stared at it, they noticed some smaller lights moving about next to the station.

  “Some traffic up there today,” Lyle said.

  The captain of the jet interrupted him, “Ladies and gentlemen. If you take a look out the left side windows, you will see the Conglomerate Internationale space station. We are currently about two hundred and seven miles below the station, but its lights can clearly be seen.” They continued to watch the station seeing it gradually fade from view as the jet moved more and more into stronger sunlight beyond the line of sunset.

  Jenna and Raynie had joined them, leaning over to catch a view of the station, but had since returned to their seats. Now they sat talking quietly, careful not to be too loud so as to avoid the men catching a hint of their conversation. Jake and Lyle turned back to look at them after the station had faded from view, and when they noticed their attention, the two women gave them a smile.

  “You can only guess what they are talking about,” Jake said quietly.

  “What did you say?” Raynie asked.

  “Oh, he just said we can only guess what you two are discussing,” Lyle added.

  “Guess all you like,” Jenna said looking directly at Lyle. “Women’s talk.”

  The two men left the women to their conversation, turning their attention to matters that lay before them during their trip to China. They went over the logistics of traveling on land to Dunhuang, and of the traits and customs they might find from locals along the way.

  “Mostly they are helpful, but as in any place, there are those amongst them who are not worthy of trust,” Lyle said.

  “Yeah, my only trip to China previously took me to the old parts of Shanghai and I was unfortunate to come across a gang of thieves who were intent on stealing some of my tech hardware. There is a thriving market in the old city streets for parts.”

  “As always. So many people struggling to live, you can reckon on why they would be looking out for any targets to make some cash. Wait until you see the central city in Beijing. I was researching it just before you and Raynie arrived. It is a city to behold with all the development there, particularly with such a high population. The network of sky towers is amazing and covers an area the size of Manhattan Island.”

  While they talked a while later, the nation of Korea was receding into the distance below them as the HyperJet began its descent stage into Beijing. Still traveling at just over mach three, it was not long before they had crossed the Yellow Sea and the coastline of China appeared below.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen. Our flight is on approach to Beijing. We will be going sub sonic in eleven minutes. Please remain in your seats,” the captain announced. All one hundred and twenty passengers aboard the jet took to their seats and fastened seatbelts.

  As they crossed the low coast to the east of the great city, they could see the city itself rising in the haze ahead. Two sonic booms indicated they had slowed to sub sonic speed as the jet took a steep pitch descending to line up with the main runway at Beijing. Details of the city became clearer as they came into land, its’ towers truly astounding in height and complexity.

  There was a huge central sector located mostly above the ground, surrounded by the sprawling elements of the old city. Many of the old buildings were gone having surrendered to both age and to the rapid expansion and development of the city since the early twenty first century. Now the city was mostly a mixture of traditional Chinese styles decorating the enormous buildings and ultra modern architecture. Moments out from touchdown, the buildings loomed high around them almost swallowing the airport as their flight course traveled between the outskirts of the center. A slight bump brought them back to earth and the jet then taxied towards the main terminal.

  After passing through customs, the four passengers went to the lounge area to wait for their connecting flight to Lanzhou, due to depart in ninety minutes. “Perhaps we could take a quick JetCab flight around the city,” Raynie suggested. “It looked so magical when we were flying in. I suppose if we just take a half hour flight or so, then we will have sufficient time to get back and make our connecting flight.”

  “Great idea,” Lyle responded. “It would be good to see this place in the flesh as opposed to just a holographic view.” They checked their luggage in for the connecting flight and ten minutes later were boarding a JetCab.

  Massive towers loomed around them as they flew at five hundred feet above the streets. Even in the broad daylight, there was a glittering effect to the city caressing the eye and inspiring thoughts of wonder and mystery. Traditional Chinese lanterns, some over forty feet in diameter were hanging from the translucent pedestrian walkways linking each building at the fifty-story level. Large projectors cast three-dimensional images of culture, news, and advertising into the air, immersing the buildings and the people as if they were transported to a total holographic world. Ancient music mixed with electronic beats and rhythms filled the atmosphere, complimenting the projected scenes. Colours from the entire spectrum filled in other spaces as the immense glass structures caught sunlight and passed it on as if they were all prisms designed to project the light spectrum. It seemed as if the entire place was energized with life from the street below, and up to the tops of the buildings above. The largest of the buildings towered to one hundred and eighty stories and were gathered in the most central part of the city giving it a crystalline appearance. Far below, millions walked the streets, among them musicians, hawkers, shop keepers, restaurateurs, and pedestrians making their way here and there from shop to shop.

  Jenna exclaimed pointing to a sight just above the cab where a floating restaurant could be seen. “Look at that. I have never seen anything like it!” The moving building was traveling slowly along the same route as they were, but some two hundred feet higher. It was a floating palace, decorated in the most traditional Chinese way, reminiscent of the ancient life that was the city centuries before. Diners were treated to the spectacle of this city as they slowly made their way through what appeared as an enormous crystal, filled with effervescent colour and sound.

  Evening would soon come to this great city of the east bringing it to life in ways that had to be witnessed. In the lengthening sun, it was a mere hint of its’ nighttime beauty, yet still astounding to any new visitor and also to many who lived here. Beijing was a city undergoing constant change,
innovation, and development where even its’ residents never grew tired of the sights and sounds.

  As their JetCab rounded the farthest corner of the city center, they were met with the sight of it in its’ entirety. The city was indeed representative of a giant crystal peaking at the center and illuminated almost beyond apparition. It was nearly indescribable and a most rewarding sight to any who were able to see it from the air. “Much better than the holographic image,” Lyle said. ‘Much much better.”

  The JetCab then took a swift arcing left turn and headed straight back towards the airport. When they arrived in the internal departures area, the first call for boarding their flight to Lanzhou was being made.

  “Let’s get on board then,” Jake said as they stood in a group for a moment deciding what to do. “These flights are not pre-booked seats, and I want a good one next to the window.”

  “I’m with you,” Raynie looped her arm in his as they led the way towards the departure gates. Jenna decided this was the best way to go and followed Raynie’s lead, herself, taking up Lyle’s arm as they followed immediately behind.

  Thirty minutes later, they took one last look at Beijing as they flew to three thousand feet at six hundred miles per hour, before the HyperJet quickly accelerated from sub sonic speed to over mach three in three minutes, leaving the bustling crystal city behind.

  China’s Great Wall stretched into the distance, snaking its way over mountains and along ridge tops as they flew at fifty thousand feet during the short flight to Lanzhou. Its’ wonder was equal from the air as it was at ground level with most of the wall now restored to its original glory as a centerpiece of the nations’ attraction for visitors. The flight path took a parallel line to its traverse over the mountains for half an hour before it departed to their right as they began approach to their destination. After touchdown, the four took to the main center of the city where they decided to discuss the next leg of their trip to Dunhuang over some authentic Chinese cuisine. Glimpses of the perilous mountains circling the city could be seen, framed by the city’s avenues as they walked amongst the central towers. Suddenly through these glass canyons, they caught sight of one unique mountain featuring a large white pagoda building atop its’ summit.

  “Baita, White Pagoda Mountain,” Lyle said as they all stood for a moment. “I checked it out on the holographic phone as we came in on descent.”

  “Perhaps we should take a look,” Jake said as he quickly began to contemplate the chance of something interesting and relevant to their journey to be found there.

  “Yes, let’s go and see,” Raynie added, always intrigued by the mystery of mountain top monuments and monasteries of the east.

  “First let’s eat though. That place looks OK,” Jake pointed to a restaurant diagonally opposite across the street to where they stood.

  During the meal they discussed the journey so far, what lay ahead, and how they would get to Dunhuang. “Waiter,” Lyle asked. “How is the best way to travel to Dunhuang? We are touring and wonder if the road is good for driving?” He knew the way after having researched the route, but he thought any insight from a local person could be valuable to them all.

  “Ah, City of Sands. You can fly there. Much easier. Road is good to main highway turnoff, but can be dangerous after that. Bandits sometimes attack road you see. No rocket jets to Dunhuang though. You travel by old plane, but it gets you there safe. You best fly.”

  “I think we will drive as we will really need our own transport,” Lyle said after the waiter left.

  “But he said it would be dangerous,” Jenna said looking a little worried. Raynie too felt the same.

  “We can handle it if we are prepared and travel wisely. What do you say Jake?”

  “I think driving is best. The road is good he said. I think we should hire a vehicle and drive. We still have some time up our sleeve. A few hours should not make any difference. Plus, it will give us a chance to look around here a bit and as you said, we will have our own transport when we arrive there. This trail from Chan Lee is still pretty sketchy. He told us to seek out one person. We cannot be sure if that person will lead us to another, or direct us to go somewhere else. Relying on air traffic out here could slow us up. Also, consider how we project our thoughts and expectations into this journey. It has been working for us so far when you think about the information we have found, how we met, and how we met Chan.” The two women looked at each other acknowledging Jake’s reasoning, accepting their fate to drive.

  “Well, let’s finish up here and go and get a vehicle to hire in this city suitable for a drive to the City of Sands,” Jenna said speaking for both women.

  “Our first trip is up that pagoda mountain though,” Raynie added. Jenna and her discussed what Jake had said in his last sentence after they had finished in the restaurant and had left to find a vehicle. Both of them decided his idea was right, and how it also contained a level of intuition.

  Twenty minutes later they drove out of the business in a utility type vehicle featuring room for four people and extra compartments at the rear.

  Raynie, eager to see if there were any other attractions here they should not miss, brought up city sights on her own holographic phone. “Five Springs. We can go there after we get back from the mountain. It is supposed to be a beautiful place.”

  “OK,” Jake relied. “Then we set out for Dunhuang.”

  As they wound up the perilous mountainside towards the summit, the white pagoda stood in clear view, gleaming in the late light of the afternoon. When they arrived, the intricate carvings of the pagoda caught the light in a way where the dragons featured at each tier of the tower, appeared to have glaring eyes.

  “A bit eerie,” Jenna said as they stopped at its’ base.

  Just inside the building at the bottom of the stairs leading to its’ top levels, an old Chinese man was sitting in contemplation. He was aroused from his meditative state by their entrance, his eyes following them as they began their ascent. This late in the day there were no other visitors at the site, so they had the entire pagoda to themselves aside from the solitary old man, and this gave them a sense of place not possible when it was full of tourists. The view from the top was astounding, showing them the entire city of Lanzhou circled by mountains with some early evening lights adding a twinkle effect to the scene. More dragon figures adorned the top of the pagoda, their presence exaggerated by the low light. They each silently in turn, looked upon the figure heads of dragons, contemplating their seemingly coincidental run of encounters with such forms. The four of them stood there for a while taking in the view and after breaking the silence of contemplation over the dragons, began talking softly about the prominence of this tower over the city below. They could also smell a sweet scent to the air as thermals carried the many blossoms amongst the city streets, up to their position on the mountain.

  After a while of soft talk and simply smelling the air, they descended back down, their footsteps echoing on the old stone stairs. Upon reaching the bottom, they found the old man still there, standing silhouette in the doorway. “You must see Five Springs,” he said. “You like the dragons of Baita? I know you like, otherwise you would not be here at this time. Go to the springs, you will find more you like.” With this, he left them taking an old walking path down the mountain away from the road.

  “Strange,” Jake said as they stood there watching him disappear into some bushes as the track took a turn.

  “Well, I said we should see the Five Springs, but it is getting late. Maybe they are open to night time visitors,” Raynie said.

  “Let’s get there then,” said Lyle as he turned and started for their vehicle.

  Sunset gave Lanzhou a mystical glow as they descended down the mountain, with the Yellow River a golden ribbon meandering through the valley floor and taking on the reflection of the evening city lights. Jake engaged the heads up map display in the vehicle to show the route for them to take to the Five Springs. “We head north west of Gaolin Mountain
to get to the springs,” he said.

  Ten minutes later they arrived to a wondrous spectacle of gardens illuminated by thousands of tiny lights, creating a scene instantly drawing their intrigue. It was a popular place as they encountered dozens of others who had chosen to experience the site at this particular time. Walking through the crowds was in contrast the serenity recently experienced at the pagoda, but the sheer delight in the spectacle was enchanting in itself. Children could be heard softly laughing, and couples were in embrace swept up in the romance of the evening light.

  “Juyue Spring,” Lyle said as they stood gazing at its silky waters. “Ju is to hold in your hands and yue is moon. Now that is a bit familiar….” He trailed off as the four of them watched the ripples flicker a reflection of the near full moon overhead.

  Suddenly they became aware of company at the spring and turned to see the old man they had encountered at the pagoda. “How did you get here…?” Jake began to ask.

  “The mind travels and so the body follows,” came his reply. “This spring is to hold the moon. Watch and you shall see deep into the light of reflection and beyond. Again, the mind travels and so the body follows.” They all turned back to the reflection to see it was now quite still in the water. Instead of its silvery appearance just a moment before, the moon seemed to have more of a golden glow and Jenna was sure she could see movement within the image despite the calmness of the waters’ surface.

  “The mind travels,” she said softly.

  For a few moments they all stood transfixed in their gaze, captivated by the change in appearance of the reflection. When they had finished gazing at the water, they found themselves alone again at the spring - the old man had slipped silently away.

  “This is becoming a bit familiar. First the moon demon figure in San Francisco, the advice from Chan to seek a dragon head tattoo, this old man turning up like Chan did, the dragons on the pagoda, and now this strange moon reflection.” Lyle voiced what the others were thinking as they pondered the strange connection of events.