by Lada Ray
“Children,” said Supreme Elder Alton. “We, your parents, want to give you something special. Since we won’t be able to protect you on your journey, we decided to give you each a piece of the Lemurian Mother Crystal. Each of you will get a crystal point from your parents. These points were carefully chosen and personally broken off the Mother Crystal by your parents earlier today. This is our farewell gift for you. The points are attuned to the frequency of our planet and imbued with ancient wisdom of our people. Also, each of them vibrates to the love frequency of your parents. Because of that, these Lemurian crystals will guard and protect you on your journey. And there is more. These crystals will allow you to communicate telepathically with each other and create a bond like no other.”
With these words, Alton took out of his purse a small crystal point and hung it around his little son’s neck. All other parents did the same. Morf gratefully received his own crystal, imbued with the tingling warmth of his parents’ love.
Mu observed the whole ritual silently. Then she said quietly, “You do realize that this will weaken the Crystalline Engine’s structure, and therefore it will further weaken the planet. After these points leave Catharsis, there will be even less chance of the planet’s survival.”
“But our children will be safe,” responded Ulan simply.
After that, the nine Elders stepped forward, heading towards nine different teenagers, five boys and four girls. With great surprise, Morf noticed Alton heading to him.
“We, the Elders, pass our Elder Lemurian crystals, impregnated with ancient wisdom and spiritual power of our people, to these nine worthy teenagers chosen by the Elder Council, due to their outstanding gifts and achievements,” announced Alton.
He took off his Elder crystal and hung it around Morf’s neck.
“Morf, you have been chosen as the Supreme Elder of the young Lemurians. Serve and protect your people with love, dignity and devotion!”
“I will,” responded Morf solemnly.
Morf noticed Ulan heading to the pretty sixteen-year-old girl from his neighboring village. “Loanna, you have been chosen as an Elder of the young Lemurians. Serve and protect your people with love, dignity and devotion,” said Ulan, hanging his crystal around the girl’s neck.
“I will,” responded Loanna.
The ritual was repeated seven more times, as all nine teenagers received the blessing of the Elders. In groups, fifteen hundred young Lemurians started ascending into the shimmering space ship, some of the older children holding the youngest ones by the hand. The steps under their feet felt nebulous, as if they were walking on air, but with every step they solidified to support their weight. After the children passed, the steps turned nebulous again. As the ship passengers were making themselves comfortable inside, a commotion started.
A group of Catharsians apparently decided to make a break for it and ran as fast as they could toward the ship. No one prevented them from doing so, but when they reached the ship’s base and tried to climb the stairs, the steps wouldn’t support their weight, causing their feet to fall through every time they tried to mount them. They tried, and tried, and tried, until they finally gave up. The steps that solidified to support the ascending Uglies refused to do the same for Catharsians.
The Uglies silently watched Catharsians’ unsuccessful attempts to flee the dying planet.
“It won’t work,” said Mu, looking straight at Catharsians with her huge, mesmerizing eyes. “You need to return back to your homes.”
Catharsians stared at Mu for a moment as if in a trance, and then obediently turned and went back to their huts.
“I will keep your children safe,” said Mu to the sobbing Uglies. She was the last to step inside, as the door closed and the ship took off. The Uglies watched the space vessel getting smaller and smaller, until it was just a tiny glittering star. And then, puff…it disappeared together with their children. The adults slowly turned away and went back to their orphaned homes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morf made himself comfortable in his seat, as one by one the children around him fell asleep. He struggled to stay awake. There were so many questions! How long would their trip last? How did this ship operate? How come it appeared so nebulous, yet was so solid? Where were they heading?
Mu materialized in front of him as if out of thin air. “Not long; this ship is a Divine inter-dimensional vessel, used in Universal rescue missions; it turns solid only for those who are worthy; we are heading to planet Earth. Now go to sleep.”
“Thank you,” whispered Morf gratefully, closing his eyes. He dreamed of the impossibly fast trip through space, of the blinding white light and of the new and beautiful planet. He woke up when the ship gently touched the ground and the door opened.
One by one the children filed out. They stood in silence staring at the unknown land, which was to become their new home. The bright yellow sun shone gently from the clear blue sky above, illuminating the green grass underfoot and the green forest not far away. In the distance ahead they noticed a big body of water. It seemed that they were near a giant sea or ocean.
The children saw small furry Elpets with very large ears briskly hopping toward them. Used to the painful encounters with Elpets on their planet, the children immediately recoiled.
“Don’t be afraid,” said Mu. “They are called rabbits. They are very gentle and trusting.”
“These Elpets seem different,” remarked Morf. “Do they bite?”
“They are not electronic. They are real animals, and they don’t bite. You can pet them.”
“Real animals?” whispered a small boy in awe. “I want one as a friend.”
“Me too!”
“And me!”
“And me!”
Children started petting the little animals, laughing happily. These real animals they’d never seen before were so soft and so wonderful! More animals of larger sizes came out of the woods to greet the new arrivals.
“These are called deer,” commented Mu. “They are also very gentle. You can pet them, too.”
“Hello, deer,” said a little girl, petting a doe. “You are so beautiful.”
“Children,” said Mu, “welcome to your new home! This planet is called the Earth. The continent I brought you to is surrounded by big water and called the Land of Zee. It’s a place of bounty, where you’ll find everything you need—plenty of fruits and berries in the forest, and plenty of fish in the rivers and sea. I will leave you with knowledge on how to grow crops and build homes. I will teach you how to make fire, clothes and necessary utensils.”
With these words, Mu touched Morf’s Elder crystal. “Morf, I have just transferred to you all the knowledge necessary to survive and thrive on planet Earth. Now, in addition to all the wisdom of your people, your crystal possesses the entire wisdom of this planet. Pass it on to others by touching their crystals.”
Morf went around, touching the crystals of the eight Elders. In turn, the Elders went around touching crystals of the rest of the children. Those whose crystals received the Earth’s wisdom passed it on to others, and soon all fifteen hundred children possessed all of the wisdom and knowledge of their new planet.
“Now you are ready to call this land your home,” said Mu. “I shall be leaving now, but I won’t be far. When you need me, all you have to do is call for me.”
“We thank you for all you’ve done for us, Goddess Mu!” said Morf.
“There is one thing,” said Mu. “I should mention that you have neighbors. It is a very powerful race called the Atlanteans who live in the West, on the continent of Atlantis. They are very intense, the Atlanteans, and I don’t want you to be surprised if they decide to stop for a visit.”
“We have neighbors—how wonderful!” exclaimed Loanna. “So, we won’t be alone in this new land of plenty!”
“Yes…wonderful,” said Goddess Mu pensively. “I do hope you get along with them.”
“Of course we will! We’ll be great friends!” exclaimed several c
hildren at once.
“In any event, call for me if you need my help. Best of luck, my children.” With these words, Mu touched the giant shimmering ship, and the ship dissolved into thin air as if it never existed. Mu’s form started diminishing, until she was just a tiny spark. And then—puff—she was gone.
The children’s eyes lingered for a moment on the spot where the spark disappeared. But soon, their attention was distracted by the smells, colors and sounds of their new home. Birds were singing and the gentle breeze was blowing from the sea. They raced each other to the nearby river to take a drink and have a refreshing bath—an impossible luxury in Camp Ugly. The blue waters of the small river were wonderfully clear and inviting. As the children lowered their faces towards the water, they saw their reflections and gasped. They—all of them—were beautiful, unbelievably and strikingly beautiful. They started laughing and splashing each other with this magical water that made them look so good.
“What a great place,” said Loanna with a blissful smile. “I know we shall be happy here.”
“Yes,” responded Morf, gazing into Loanna’s beautiful eyes. “We’ll be very happy—for many generations to come. And we shall call this land Lemuria!”
THE EARTH SHIFTER
From the Earth Keepers Chronicles
Mankind would never know how close it came to annihilation on June 30, 1908. Somewhere in the murky depths of the Cosmos, a Comet of Karma is born. When all hope fades, it is sent to planet Earth, its sole mission to wipe out a failing civilization. It has happened before, and it can happen again. Except this time, the Earth Keepers would not interfere.
Chapter 1
1908, Vatican
On the sunny morning of June 29, His Holiness, Il Papa Pius X, abruptly announced cancellation of his audiences for the day. All except this one—the very last on the list…
A small hunchbacked man in an overly-long monk’s robe with fraying sleeves, complete with a pair of battered fisherman’s sandals wrapped around his bare feet, shuffled meekly after a tall Swiss Guard who was resplendent in his uniform. The pair passed the Vatican Apostolic Palace’s rich furnishings and priceless Renaissance masterpieces, whose contrast with the old man’s shabby exterior and shy smile was especially striking.
The young Swiss Guard simply couldn't help but shoot occasional curious glances at the guest. The coveted audience was bestowed upon a simple Franciscan monk named Brother Ignatius, who was apparently in such awe about this amazing opportunity that he kept stroking his unkempt beard with a slightly trembling hand. He must be really nervous, thought the Swiss Guard patronizingly, and probably can’t believe his luck. Just imagine: a private audience with the Holy Father—what an honor for a humble monk like him!
The guard ceremoniously opened the door into the sancta sanctorum, the Pope's private study, and said, smiling reassuringly, “Please come in, Brother Ignatius!”
“Grazie, mi figlio,” the monk replied quietly, proceeding inside.
The young guard was about to shut the heavy door before assuming his duty in front of it, when he noticed something highly unusual.
“Father Ignatius, thank God! I'm so relieved you could make it! It is such an honor to receive you!”
This inappropriately excited voice belongs to the Holy Father, registered the guard’s brain with great surprise.
“Buon giorno, mi figlio!” The humble monk’s voice, on the other hand, was no longer meek or quiet, but sonorous and powerful.
The young Swiss Guard was so shocked by this unexpected change that his curiosity got the best of him. While shutting the door, he stopped short, managing to leave a tiny crack through which he could hear bits and pieces of the conversation and even glean some action inside.
“Any news?” He heard the Holy Father's respectfully worried voice.
“The Comet is heading to Earth,” came a quiet response.
“So, it is happening... Did the Keepers... reach... their decision...?” The Pope's voice now sounded strangled.
“We will reconvene shortly for a final meeting. But as of now…,” Brother Ignatius shook his head, “most are for letting the Comet do its job.”
“So all this will perish... the beauty... art... architecture... libraries... science... people…” With every word, it seemed the Pope's voice was deflating, as if someone was slowly letting the air out of a balloon. “Father Ignatius, I know there are many sinners, far too many, but…there are good people, too. Don't they deserve a chance?”
“Everyone deserves a chance. That's why everything is being weighed thoroughly. Dark times are coming to Earth, Pius. Global wars…weapons of mass destruction that will turn to ruin whole cities, countries. Countless millions will die. The risk of the Earth's annihilation is more real than ever. And with it, the planet's souls—all of them—will be lost forever.”
“But what if it's a mistake? What if there is hope?” whispered the Pope, clutching at his heart.
“Yes, there is hope,” Ignatius said significantly. “The original consensus may still change.”
“But…how?”
“Some of us saw the new Key being born,” replied Ignatius enigmatically. The young guard couldn’t understand what this meant, but for some strange reason, the mysterious phrase made him listen even more intently than before.
“Where? When?”
“It is remote, almost a century from now. Still, there is a good chance.”
“But that means the disaster can still be averted!” exclaimed the Pope.
“It all depends on whether those of us who believe can convince the rest.”
“What can I do?” Pius's voice was hardly audible.
“Pray and hope…”
“How much time?”
“Till tomorrow.”
“Bless me, Father!” To the Swiss Guard’s shock, the Pope dropped to his knees in front of a simple monk!
“Peace be with you, my son…peace be with all of the Earth's children,” pronounced Brother Ignatius, laying his shriveled, slightly trembling hands on top of Pius's lionesque head. After that, leaving the overwhelmed Pope in the kneeling position, he directed his steps toward the door, on the other side of which the young man hastily resumed the position expected of a dignified member of the Vatican's Swiss Guard.
The door opened and Ignatius stepped outside, and as he did, his huge brown eyes looked up. The unusual guest peered straight into the guard’s soul and the monk knew: the young man had heard the conversation. For a moment, Ignatius hesitated, but then, apparently deciding that no harm was done, he proceeded along the corridor toward the guest quarters. They moved in silence, and the guard no longer led the monk; now the monk walked purposefully up front, with the guard following meekly in his footsteps.
“Grazie, mi figlio,” Ignatius murmured distractedly, and with surprising strength tightly shut the heavy door into his room. The guard knew he was dismissed, but something inexplicably rooted him to the spot. Despite his best judgment, he quickly looked around to make sure that the corridor was deserted, then crouched down in front of the door and peered into the keyhole.
Inside a modest guest room, Brother Ignatius disregarded the ascetic-looking bed and the wooden chair in the corner, and sat with his legs folded straight on the carpet. He placed his—no longer trembling—hands on his knees palms up and closed his eyes. Then, to the young man’s astonishment, a golden glow started emanating out of the monk's body in expanding waves that enveloped him whole, and he floated upwards off the floor just as he sat, without opening his eyes or moving a finger.
The guard tried to silence an involuntary gasp by covering his mouth, but it was too late. Without changing position, Ignatius opened one eye. The next thing the young guard knew, that eye was staring from the other side of the keyhole straight into his. Another moment later, some kind of invisible force pushed him away from the door and he landed on the floor, hitting his head on the opposite wall. Mad with pain, shame, and confusion, he jumped to his feet and sprinted
away from the guest room door as quickly as his feet would carry him, bump on the back of his head throbbing, ears burning, and a pledge forming in his head to never, ever again succumb to a terrible sin of frivolous curiosity!
Brother Ignatius shook his head with a small smile and re-closed his eye. The glow around him intensified, and as the boundaries of the guest room dissolved into nothingness, eight vibrating golden rays extended in different directions from his body. At the end of each ray, wrapped in the same golden glow, appeared eight different figures, each sitting in the same lotus pose, and each emanating eight golden rays of their own, connecting all nine figures together in one intricate network. The rays kept expanding until all nine floating figures were completely covered in a shimmering golden cocoon.
“Good day to all,” said a deep voice belonging to a tall, wise-eyed man dressed in a roomy Russian peasant shirt.
“Good day, Lev,” responded several voices.
“The final emergency session of the Earth's Council is open. All nine Earth Keepers are present,” continued Lev. “Nikola… Deva… Isabella… Usaama… Ignatius…Tengis… John… Ling… and Lev. It is our duty to make the ultimate decision about the fate of this human civilization.” Lev gazed at each member of the Council. “I remind everyone what’s at stake and trust that all of you were able to carefully weigh your decision. The last vote stands thus: three—for letting this civilization continue despite all the horrors we foresee ahead, six—for letting the Comet of Karma do its job. The new vote and final debate start now. Pro or con?”
“I also saw the Key,” announced Ling, the Keeper of China and East Asia. “However, I disagree with Lev and Ignatius. The Key to be born is male, not female, and he will be Chinese, not Russian. Yet I do agree, there is hope. I have changed my vote to pro.”
