by Joe Corso
“Yes,” she giggled. “Why did time escape us? We should have lain together sooner.”
Lucky looked at her and became a bit serious.
“Last night I had a dream that my mind needs to understand.”
He described his dream to her. He told her that they were floating high in the sky looking down into an ocean with no water in it.
He hesitated a moment and said, “What means these things?”
Then it hit him.
“Halt for a moment. I am happy. The dream, it was telling me . . .” he said and stopped. “We will journey, a short journey. Quick, take something warm for where we go, there may be cold.”
She returned from her room just moments later. Lucky made it appear, the portal that he needed. He grasped her hand and gently pulled her inside the portal. They exited onto the end of a glass walkway five thousand feet above ground. They were standing on Arizona’s Grand Canyon Skywalk, at daybreak, just as the morning sun was rising, all alone, just the two of them, at one of the most majestic times of the day to see this marvelous natural beauty. The sun’s rays reflected off the canyon walls, producing a kaleidoscopic array of colors, as it slowly moved across the canyon walls. It was a feast to the eyes. Krystina was captivated. It was as if she was suspended in air, but once she realized that she actually was suspended in mid-air, five thousand feet in the air to be exact, she jumped into Lucky’s arms, trembling with fear. He held her close as he tried to calm her.
“Have no fear,” he whispered into her ear. “Your eyes are seeing what was once an ocean many millions of years ago. This place supports us and here,” he said tapping the structure a bit, “this affords the eyes to see through it. You are fine, Krystina. My arms provide safety to you.”
“But the ground is well below us. What if we stumble?” she asked.
“We will not, but should that occur, we would then journey to another place of magic that I create, another magical entrance.”
“On what place do we stand?”
“A wonderful new land, one that has yet to be seen by those in your time.”
“Is this your land?” she asked.
“Yes, but my land is grand. I do not live here.”
“Where was your birth?” she asked.
“Far from here. I would show it to you but you may have fear.”
At that moment a jet flew high above, leaving a long tail, a vapor trail that seemed to linger in the sky. Krystina did not take her eyes off of it until it was well out of sight.
“This is what the dreams meant while sleeping – clouds below me with an ocean below the clouds.”
“Have you ever seen a palm tree?” he asked.
“What is a palm tree?”
“Would you like to see one?”
“Are they pretty?”
“You decide. Hold fast to my hand.”
They stepped into another portal and exited onto an uninhabited island. They were now at a place near American Samoa. They stepped out onto a white sandy beach. It was the perfect day. The sun shone down on the crystal clear blue waters as lazy waves brushed against the shore. Palm trees laced the beach and flowers marked a path among lush, green foliage where colorful birds nested.
“Please, let us go into the waters. No one exists here but you and me, Krystina. The water needs no fire. It is warm. I want to show you something.”
Like a couple of school children, they threw off their clothes and inched their way into the crystal clear water.
“Put your face into the water and open your eyes. What do your eyes tell you?”
She did as Lucky asked, was still for a moment and then popped her head out of the water.
“Lucky,” she said excitedly, “my eyes do not believe the creatures that live here. Many, many, like the sands, too many to . . .”
“Oh Krystina,” Lucky laughed. “There is so much to bring to the eyes and your spirit is filled with so much wonder. How beautiful to see my land through your eyes.”
“The colors are so vast,” she continued as she put her head back down into the water and pulled it out again, “like the lines in the sky after the waters fall.”
“A rainbow,” Lucky said.
“Yes, a rainbow, the lines of color. The fish look as though they departed the sky after the waters fell.”
They sat on the beach, drinking coconut milk, under the shade of a swooping palm tree that bent so low it almost touched the sand. Lucky held her close.
“Krystina, I planned on taking you on a honeymoon, but it didn’t work out. I hope this little trip we took today meets your approval. I wanted to see you happy. I hope I have not disappointed.”
“Lucky, you took me to a country that eyes have not seen. You placed my feet onto something that allowed my eyes to see an empty ocean. We journeyed to a land of sand with strange trees and there you took me again, as you did in your castle room. My mind will never forget.”
As the sun began to set, they got dressed. Krystina insisted that they take a moment to collect coconuts for her sister and the King. They then slipped into a portal and returned to the palace.
The Princess described to her sister and King Robert details of her trip with all the mannerisms and enthusiasm of a teenager. And when she ran out of breath and had to rest a moment, the King and Queen spoke.
“Lucky, you must allow us to journey with you. Promise us, please.”
Lucky gave his word. Things finally quieted down a bit and Lucky informed them that he would be leaving in the morning. When he delivered this news, it saddened them. His time here had brought adventure and excitement. He shook the King’s hand, kissed the hand of the Queen and said his goodbyes. The King took Lucky’s arm and looked into his eyes. He put his arms on his shoulders and asked for a promise that he would return.
Lucky spent his last night with Krystina and kissed her goodbye the next morning. Unceremoniously, he and Mickey walked into the portal that landed them back at the compound.
Lucky had business on his mind. There was much catching up to do and he needed to see Jack Kinsey. The men made their way straight over to the hallway a few feet from the door to Jack’s office. Inside, they found Jack sitting at his desk. Startled, he looked up, paused for a moment, scrunched his eyes together as if to question something and smiled.
“Happy to see Mickey and Lucky.”
Mickey, sporting a strange look on his face, turned to Lucky but said nothing.
“What?” Lucky asked.
Mickey just shook his head and said, “I can’t believe what I just saw.”
‘What?” Lucky asked again.
“You just walked through a closed door.”
©Black Horse Publishing
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All of Joe Corso’s books are available on Amazon.
The Time Portal Series
The Old Man and the King
The Starlight Club Series
The Revenge of John W
The Adventures of the Lone Jack Kid
The Comeback
