The Golden Talisman

by J. Stefan Jackson

  “I awoke lying flat on my back upon the floor in front of the game box, shivering in cold sweat and fearing my heart would jump out of my chest at any moment.

  “‘Are you all right, Jack?’ Genovene knelt beside me, peering down into my face. Her eyes revealed what I believed was true concern for me, although there was a glint of amusement as well.

  “‘Yeah, I’m okay,’ I replied, still trying to clear my head of the gruesome images from a moment ago.

  “‘What did you think?’ she asked.

  “‘It was pretty cool,’ I said, not sure how to respond since the game honestly frightened me. ‘But if you don’t mind, I’d just as soon skip anything else like it.’

  “‘That’ll be fine, since we need to leave anyway,’ she said, chuckling softly. She helped me to my feet and then led me to the main exit from the arcade. On the way out, I saw a few villagers playing other games similar to ‘Thunder Knight’. I watched them as they closed their eyes and clung tightly to the handgrips. Immediately, their bodies convulsed until they collapsed upon the floor, just as I’d done earlier. I couldn’t believe the entire experience lasted no more than ten to fifteen seconds.

  “Once we returned to the road, she pointed to a large magnolia just ahead of us, where the road turned sharply downhill. I almost stumbled on account of how steep the incline was. We were several hundred feet above a huge sprawling plaza bordered on each side by two magnificent gardens. High above the plaza was a long marble bridge connecting the gardens to each other, its shadow spread across much of the plaza floor beneath it. The bridge was covered with intricate artwork along its entire length with all of it outlined in gold. Carved serpents seemed to peer through thick dark green vines that hung over the side of the bridge.

  “The bustling plaza was filled to capacity with the men and women of the village. They surrounded what looked like street venders, some who pushed their overloaded carts along while others waited upon the crowd from within small colorful booths. Just beyond the plaza was another grand staircase much larger than the one Genovene and I had climbed together earlier. It rose nearly a hundred feet from the plaza floor up to an extended courtyard. The staircase was as wide as the plaza and sat between a pair of gargantuan fountains that were actually statues of both a man and a woman. Like most everything I’d seen so far in the village, the statues appeared to have been cut from white marble, with strange symbols and designs etched in gold along the edges of their tunics, headbands, and other jewelry.

  “The male statue carried a golden sword held within a sheath attached to its waist, and wore a warrior headdress similar to, what I later learned, the Inca and Mayan warlords had once worn upon their heads. These items, along with the female statue’s headband and waist sash, were further adorned with enormous jewels. Each statue was roughly the same height as the staircase and both cast their gaze down to the plaza from where they stood, near the middle of the stairs. Matching waterfalls descended another fifty feet from atop the marble pedestals they stood upon. Even from where we were, I could hear the crash of the water as it reached twin pools located in the plaza gardens.

  “The courtyard was about the size of a football field. On its left side, near the female statue, sat an imposing step pyramid with a stone table sitting on top of it. A fire burned next to the table, and I could see smoke-streaked flames billowing up into the air. The entire pyramid was made of gold and I figured it was at least two hundred feet in height.

  “As I looked at this pyramid, I became more and more uneasy. Panic threatened to overtake the strange bliss I was presently immersed in. The pyramid seemed very familiar to me, but at the time I couldn’t remember where I’d seen it before. Perhaps I might’ve figured it out if I could’ve only focused my thoughts for another moment or so. But where my gaze landed next took care of that.

  “I can’t adequately describe the tremendous sense of awe and wonder that overwhelmed me once I saw the massive tower glistening beyond the plaza. I’d never seen anything remotely like it, just like the other 99% of mankind, I’m sure. It dwarfed everything in the courtyard and plaza. The tower’s base alone stood several stories high as it rose up from the courtyard. From the base, though, the golden obelisk shot up at least another couple thousand feet into the air.

  “The tower appeared to be filled with numerous windows stretching along its length. They looked like a million diamonds as they sparkled in the sunlight from where we stood. I was truly overwhelmed—so much so, that the obvious question again of ‘Why haven’t I known or at least heard about this place before now?’ didn’t really occur to me. I couldn’t pry my eyes off the thing as we started down the steep path to the plaza below.

  “Genovene had been quietly observing me. She was obviously pleased and she laughed softly. ‘Watch your step,’ she advised. ‘For now, it might be better to pay closer attention to your feet so you don’t fall.’

  “I pulled my gaze away from the tower and watched my feet, slipping slightly on the road. I reached out for her and she steadied me as we walked down the hill together. The air grew thicker once we neared the plaza, probably due to the high amount of moisture rising from the waterfalls and streams in the area. It was really beautiful, and the gardens were larger and even more spectacular than they’d first appeared from up above.

  “Within each garden, a wide variety of flowers were arranged in elaborate mazes. I saw everything from daisies to roses, even my grandfather’s beloved buttercups. Many of the flowers I didn’t even recognize. A light breeze swirled within the plaza carrying the sweet floral aroma with it.

  “The two of us moved through the plaza, passing through the crowd and the venders who were busy handing out white pastries of some kind. All the while, the villagers laughed and played merrily with one another, the look of ecstasy never leaving their faces. It was like they couldn’t get enough of the stuff. Yet, distribution of this food was so efficient that no lines formed. I was amazed, since it was so much like ants or bees, but so different from how people usually behave. I wondered if the pastries contained something that made them act this way.

  “‘It’s more than that, Jack,’ Genovene explained, intercepting my thoughts. ‘Yes, their hunger is insatiable and the manna they’re eating heightens their senses. However, the reason for their joy and synergy is the Celebration Feast. They’re especially excited since today’s event coincides with our ‘Festival of Life’ holiday, which started yesterday.

  “‘Festival of life’?’ I asked.

  “‘Yes, it’s the holiest time that my village celebrates. It’s like your Christmas and Easter rolled into one event. All of us join in a festive party in the plaza, and each person brings gifts for one another to share. But, the best part is when the feast starts. That’s when this place will be rocking with energy, Jack, and it’s set to happen very soon!’

  “Her excitement got the better of her again and she looked away momentarily. When she looked back at me, she was more serene and pulled me close to her, gently clasping my hands with hers. ‘There’s still so much to see here and so much I’d love to show you,’ she said softly, and more controlled. ‘Time is passing quickly and we need to be moving along. Let me take you on a quick stroll through one of the gardens and then we’ll go on up to the tower from there.’

  “She took me to the garden on the left side of the plaza, passing through the ever-thickening crowd of people—many of whom had the manna’s powder smeared upon their faces. Once we reached the garden’s wall, Genovene stretched her hand over the top of the wall and waved something very small back and forth. It was too tiny for me to make out what it was, but an instant later the wall melted away, forming a space just wide enough for us to pass through. She led me into the garden, and as I turned around to look, I saw the wall repair itself.

  “Almost immediately we were embraced by the most lovely aspects of nature. It made the plaza we just left look drab in comparison. Gone for the time being were the noises from the crowd less than ten fe
et away. The plaza’s fanfare was completely replaced by the gentle songs of birds and insects, the soft breeze rustling through the branches of several willow trees, and the rushing and gentle gurgling of the water as it moved steadily downstream.

  “It was so tranquil. The beauty and serenity in the garden made it difficult for me to compare anything to it. If there had been any animals there, I might’ve expected Adam and Eve to show up at any minute. I looked around, and suddenly noticed a variety of exotic plants and fruit trees I could swear hadn’t been there a moment ago. I looked over at Genovene and she was eyeing me, knowingly. It made me uneasy.

  “She chuckled and pulled me even closer, her ample bosom brushing up against me once more. ‘You’re actually right about those trees and bushes. Both gardens are magical and respond to the hidden depths of a person’s mind and spirit,’ she said. ‘This particular garden responds to a person’s positive thoughts, hopes, and dreams. The other garden across the way responds to a person’s negative thoughts, fears, and nightmares. If you’ll take a moment, you’ll notice every plant, tree, and the very grass you’re standing on are things you either have a fondness for or bring you peace. Do you see any spiders, or insects other than butterflies and ladybugs? Any vicious snakes or ferocious animals?’

  “‘No...I guess you’re right about that,’ I replied while I looked around. It was amazing. The lush green carpet of fresh-cut grass was indeed what I loved to see. It even smelled like it’d been cut just minutes before. I decided to test just how much of a magical garden it could be. I said, ‘I don’t see any animals, Genovene. I suppose you’ve figured out by now that I’ve always liked animals. So, why ain’t there any dogs and cats here?’

  “No sooner than I said this, a high-pitched growl emerged from a fern bush I was standing next to. A white tiger cub came pouncing out from behind the bush and playfully attacked my leg. ‘What?? Whoa—hold on there, boy!’ I cried out while trying to back away from it. ‘Uh, Genovene...it won’t bite me, will it??’

  “‘No, sweetie, it won’t,’ she told me, laughing while I attempted to climb over the wall. ‘I’m sorry...but how’s that for a kitten?’ Still laughing, she walked over to me and picked up the tiger cub, setting it down a few feet away from us. She patted the animal gently on its behind and watched it disappear into the bushes. She then turned her attention back to me, chuckling softly with an amused look upon her face. ‘Will you believe me now, Jack Kenney, oh ‘ye of little faith’, in the things I tell you?’

  “I nodded silently and smiled shyly at her. She reached out and took my hand again, leading me to a path that ran through the flowerbeds and plants. We followed the path until we reached the waterfall that fed the garden’s stream. Once there, we sat down together upon a golden bench nestled beneath a pair of willow trees. It overlooked a pool which had a waterfall that emptied into it and then forming a stream. As the deafening roar from the rushing water obliterated the sound of anything else in the garden, Genovene leaned into me again, speaking loudly so I could clearly hear her above the water’s din. ‘This is our wishing pool,’ she told me. ‘If you’d like, take a look down into the water, but be careful not to fall in.’

  “I leaned over the edge of the pool and saw hundreds of gold and silver coins, and even some copper, steel, and nickel coins from more recent years as well, including a couple of quarters and a half-dollar lying near where we sat. The water was so clear that it looked like I could simply reach in and scoop the coins up with my hands.

  “‘Be careful, for the water is a lot deeper than you think!’ she warned. She bent down and stuck her arm into the water all the way up to her elbow, but it seemed like she’d barely broken the water’s surface. She then looked back at me. ‘See what I mean?’

  “‘Yeah, I would’ve never figured that,’ I agreed. ‘I mean, everything in the pool looks real close!’

  “‘Things aren’t always as they seem, or how we want them to be,’ she said. ‘Like this pool, for instance. Some wishes come true for those who make them here, and yet, many other wishes don’t. Perhaps, as some say, it has a lot to do with the purity of the heart and soul of the person making the wish. I, for one, believe it has more to do with pure luck. Why don’t you make a wish for something you truly long for, Jack?’

  “I thought about it for a moment, and almost declined to wish for anything at all. Yet, the thing that mattered most to me and haunted every waking moment I had wouldn’t let me pass up this opportunity. Even if it was a far-fetched desperate attempt for an answer or resolution to whatever became of my parents, I was willing to try anything. I needed to know what happened. I didn’t feel I could formulate a true purpose for my life until this issue was known once and for all, even if it meant finding out my folks were dead.

  “I pulled a dime from the deep recesses of one of my pockets and kneeled down at the edge of the pool. I then flipped the coin into the clear water, watching it slowly drift to the bottom until it rested on a pile of other coins. This felt like such an exercise in futility, and I felt more sadness at that moment than I ever recalled feeling before.

  “I stared absently into the pool, barely aware of the waterfall’s mighty roar. Genovene soon gently massaged my shoulders, so I knew it was time to leave this spot. I stood back up and she led me away from the stream, heading toward the garden wall nearest the staircase. We walked together quietly through more exotic plants and flowers, and soon found ourselves directly below the colossal statue of the woman. It towered in splendid elegance far above us. I stretched my neck back to get a better look as it sparkled in the sunlight, thinking this must be what it feels like if you’re a bug about to get squished by someone.

  “The feet alone were nearly as big as my bedroom. The statue was an amazing work of art, more so than any structure I’d ever seen before. So many minor details, like the striations on the toenails and small lines around the knees were plainly visible from where I stood. Even details that I couldn’t quite see must’ve been carved into the torso and head of the statue, because it really did seem like it was looking down at me.

  “From the head, arms, hands, torso, and knees surged jets of water which alternated and crossed one another in a variety of patterns. The affect of the sunlight reflecting off the water, along with the marble, gold, and jewels of the statue created a multicolored halo that surrounded it. I figured it must’ve taken years to make something like this.

  “‘You’d be surprised at how long it didn’t take,’ offered Genovene, reading my mind and chuckling softly once more. She led me to the garden’s wall and waved her hand above it again. As before, the wall melted away and we moved back into the noisy plaza. I looked back to see if I could watch the wall mend itself, but it’d already finished.

  “We soon reached the staircase and began our ascent to the courtyard. Realistic battle scenes were skillfully carved onto the side of each step. The scenes featured soldiers and warriors from different eras throughout North American history, as they fought against skeleton-like creatures. The higher the stair, the further back in history was the battle scene. I saw everything from soldiers of the American Revolutionary War to Spanish conquistadors to the North American Indians. As the stairs’ scenes continued further back in time, they soon included Indians looking more like those once living in Central and South America.

  “Once we reached the top of the staircase, the stairs depicted primitive people living in ancient jungles. They fared the worst out of all the warriors and soldiers, and their severed heads and limbs were hoisted high upon the monsters’ spears and swords as trophies.

  “My preoccupation with all of this greatly slowed our progress to the courtyard. She let me linger a moment longer and then pointed to the male statue on our right. ‘This statue represents the brave warriors who have protected my people from the adversaries you see portrayed on the stairs,’ she explained.

  “Up close, the warrior was really something to see. Like its sister on the other side, it stood within it
s own sprinkler-fed rainbow. The realistic detail was frightening, for the warrior seemed to stare sullenly down upon us.

  “‘You’re wondering why they look so real, aren’t you?’ observed Genovene. I nodded I was. ‘With so much that’s magical here, our personal icons must be believable,’ she said. ‘We call the male statue Morylan, and he represents courage and our continual search for excellence. The woman is called Lavonia, and she represents our proud heritage and emphasis on true beauty.’

  “We soon reached the courtyard, where my eyes were drawn to the golden pyramid to our left. I’d guessed its height fairly accurately from the hill, but it turned out to be a lot wider and deeper than I’d originally thought. A long row of steps led from the courtyard to its very top, where the billowing smoke from the fire obscured that portion of the structure. Inscribed along the pyramid’s sides were rows of hieroglyphs.

  “Several fountains featuring gold nymphs sat within the courtyard. The floor was tiled in white marble squares that were bordered in gold trim. A crimson carpet that was fringed with gilded tassels ran from the top of the staircase to a pair of crystal doors in the tower’s base.

  “To the right of the carpet sat a long wooden table covered with serpent carvings similar to the ones on the game table from the arcade. This table was flanked on either side by a dozen high-backed chairs featuring the same designs carved in the wood. At the head of the table near the tower’s base sat a large throne chair that was by far the most ornate furniture piece here. Its elongated back was covered in crushed velvet of the deepest purple I’ve ever seen, with what looked to be diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds embedded in the fabric.