The Celestials

by Richard Wood

  Early the following morning Ancore visited Zakir at his office. He greeted her warmly ushering her to a seat and offering chai, which she declined.

  When comfortably seated, she asked. “Has Taskinti stood surety for us?”

  “Oh yes your highness, he has left six of his finest horses as surety. You are free to travel where you wish.”

  “Thank you Zakir, I am glad this matter is settled, to the satisfaction of all parties. It is a great weight lifted from my shoulders.”

  “There was never any doubt that you are very honourable star people, and the small matter of the tax would be resolved my lady,” complimented Zakir.

  “Thank you Zakir if you would summon your best carpenter, I have something in my bag that will interest you. If a small tax is levied for each one, the village tradesmen sell, and it is then used for the benefit of the village. This will be the most prosperous settlement in the country.”

  Zakir's eyes lit up as he summoned a servant to fetch the village carpenter, “May I see this wondrous gift to the village your highness,” he enquired.

  “Certainly you may see it,” Ancore opened the bag and drew forth a working wooden model of a four-wheeled cart. Breen had made it in his spare time, along with a detailed drawing of wheel making and plans for a four-wheeled wagon with steerable front axle.

  Zakir picked up the model cart and spun the wheels with his finger, suddenly his face wreathed in smiles as the implications of the gift suddenly dawned on him, “This is a truly wondrous gift your highness, would it be pulled by horse or oxen?” he queried.

  “It can be built to any size and can be pulled along by any suitable sized animal,” she replied.

  The carpenter arrived at that moment, and after examining the model and the detailed drawings, pronounced he could build a cart. When he learned that he would be building and selling the carts to carry large quantities of goods across the country and paying a small tax to the village on each cart sold, he was beside himself with joy. Pouring thanks to Ancore and Zakir, he reverently carried the model cart and the drawings from the office with a huge grin covering his face from ear to ear.

  Ancore rose “I must get back to my crew and supervise the departure; we leave for the Emperors palace this morning.”

  “Do you know the way to Mohenjo-Daru?” enquired Zakir.

  “Yes Taskinti told us to follow the river toward the sea, we will know it when we see it,” she replied.

  “That's true. I wish you all safe journey on behalf of myself and the village,” he replied bowing over her hand and kissing it, as she rose to leave. She walked briskly with a spring in her step; at last, they could leave for the Emperors palace without worry about taxes.

  At the bungalow, everyone had finished breakfast, and packed ready for departure. They walked to the landing field outside the village and embarked, lifting off and climbing to a height of two hundred metres, then heading down river in a loose Vee formation. They passed many small villages along the banks; in the far distance on their left side was the start of a large desert. On they travelled; at last, in the distance, they saw the town of Mohenjo-Daru, sprawling for a kilometre and a half alongside the river Indus. It was completely surrounded by high walls, and built with the usual four gates.

  The East West gate had the main road running through it, tree lined along its entire length. To the North East lay the complex of buildings and compounds that were obviously the palace grounds, surrounded with lakes and gardens. To the North West were the town houses, South East the granaries and food markets and market traders, and to the South West, the artisans.

  They circled the town three times at low altitude first to announce their presence, second to look for a sheltered parking place for the Landers.

  Nassel came over the laser link, “Ancore that looks a likely area, see the very large trees near the river just west of the town gate with an empty field.”

  “You take the lead Nassel and guide us in,” replied Ancore. The three Landers swooped down toward a grove of trees bordering the river, hovering just off the ground they gently inched under the spreading canopy of the trees, until they were hidden from the air.

  Disembarking they locked the Landers, standing talking, “we must separate the Landers somehow they make far too tempting a target bunched together like this,” remarked Nassel worriedly.

  They all nodded agreement. Adeeone stepped forward; “Captain, Adeetoo and I could take the Landers one by one and hide them widely separated in the surrounding countryside, leaving only one Lander here for our use.”

  “Thank you Adeeone, that's a wonderful idea leave the Lander without a rail gun here and hide the other two,” Ancore checked with the rest of the crew. “Are there any objections? No! All right Adeeone, hide them well.”

  Adeeone and Adeetoo entered Landers One and Two, and as the rest of the crew moved away giving them room to manoeuvre the Landers out from under the trees. They took off disappearing northward. Within ten minutes, they had returned, Adeetoo embarked on Lander Three and took off this time heading south, while they were away a file of twenty soldiers came trotting across the field led by a young officer, they surrounded the crew with spears half pointing at them.

  “Who are you, what do you want here?” the officer asked them.

  “We are flying people from a distant star. We have come to bring great knowledge to his majesty Emperor Bharata,” answered Ancore.

  “Come, I will escort you to my captain,” ordered the young officer.

  Rogan stepped forward, “Young man, we are awaiting our companions who will return shortly.”

  The soldiers stiffened. The spears were now definitely pointing at the crew. Things were starting to look menacing when Lander Three suddenly appeared and edged its way under the trees before setting down.

  The soldiers had drawn back in fright at the sight of the Lander. Before things could get ugly, Ancore stepped forward speaking softly but clearly. “We mean you no harm. We were merely awaiting the return of some of our crew, they have now arrived, and we are happy to accompany you to your commander.” As Adeeone and Adeetoo joined them the young officer looking very relieved, ordered his men to form an escort party, looking at Ancore, he bowed slightly before saying, “please follow me flying people,” turning, he led them across the field, with his men warily watching the crew from a column on each side of them.

  After crossing the field, they followed a path that took them to a gate through a high wall on the other side were troops in hand to hand combat, other's practicing archery, and across a large open space, troops were engaged in close order manoeuvres. They were taken to the officer in charge who bid them follow him.

  He led them to another gate in another wall and on toward a large four storey building made from fired brick with ornate wooden verandas. Standing waiting for them was a tall man dressed in white tunic and trousers, with a red sash around his waist. He had angular features, large nose with a generous moustache and twinkling brown eyes that shone with intelligence. It was very hard to tell what age he was, but he looked about fifty. The officer saluted and formally handed over the flying people to the first minister, who promptly dismissed the soldiers and with a small bow introduced himself.

  “My name is Chakshu; I am the Emperor Bharata's first minister. I welcome you to Mohenjo-Daru flying people, and may I enquire from where you come and your business with the Emperor.”

  Ancore stepped forward and introduced everyone to Chakshu then continued, “We came to pay our respects to his majesty, and seek an audience with him, and we bring great knowledge from the stars that will interest him.”

  Chakshu smiled, eyes twinkling. “His majesty will be pleased to meet with you in due course, may I escort you to your quarters where you can freshen up and have a meal. It might be several days before the Emperor can see you as he has a very busy schedule. Your servants will show you around and tend to your needs,” he clapped his hands and from nowh
ere a servant appeared bowing low, “show these honoured guests to the blue rooms,” Chakshu ordered. Turning to Ancore, he bowed again, “Please excuse me but I have urgent matters to attend to, I shall call to see you tomorrow afternoon, turning on his heel, he left walking briskly down a corridor, a servant trailing him.

  Their servant bowed and gestured for them to follow him. He led them through a maze of corridors then out onto a wide verandah, and across a park and through a grove of trees to a green lawn bordering a two storey wooden building with wide verandahs on both floors and a thatched roof. Surrounding, and climbing the balustrades were red and pink roses, filling the air with a wondrously intoxicating perfume. The servant explained the whole building was at their disposal, and was known as the blue rooms.

  Inside the decor was predominantly a cool blue with hanging drapes depicting river and sea scenes around the main room, with doors leading off to various bedchambers. A wide staircase lead-up to the main sitting room on the first floor, where they were served cold mint tea, while they sat around enjoying the refreshments other servants arrived with bowls of salad, chapatti, cooked lamb and rice. The crew tucked in discussing what they should offer the Emperor, they had already made emeralds and rubies in the replicator for the Emperor as a gift he could see and judge easily. The understanding of Knowledge was not so simple.

  Nassel and Fantee wanted to give the Emperor writing by introducing the pictograph command set; they were all so familiar with.

  Breen and Glaina were concerned about the hygiene of these peoples, and had proposed bringing piped water to all the dwellings. Then building community bathhouses, Breen was also keen to enlarge the canal system and irrigate the surrounding countryside.

  Ancore and Rogan had decided to teach the Emperors army, Kalarippayat, the ferocious martial art developed on their home world Kala. After the meal, they adjourned to various rooms, as couples to rest during the heat of the day.

  Adeeone and Adeetoo left in the lounge connected themselves together by the one thousand and twenty four pin cable. They were discussing options between them; did they have to take orders from the crew or the captain, now that they are stranded on this planet? Adeetoo wanted to travel across the world learning all its languages, and helping its peoples by teaching them medicine. Ship wanted to travel with him, if she could not travel across the stars, the world would do. Adeeone had elected to stay with the crew and look after them; to this end, he had copied Adeetoo's medical knowledge to himself. Now if Adeetoo did leave with Ship, the crew could receive medical aid from Adeeone. Ancore entered the room and stopped dead when she saw the two robots connected together.

  Adeeone turned toward her, “Good afternoon captain, Adeetoo, Ship and myself have just been discussing if we are still bound by the rules of the service, now that we are marooned on this planet.” “That would depend on what you want to do Adeeone, there are Zedds on this planet, and we are at war with them, that changes a lot of decisions we might otherwise have made.”

  Adeetoo spoke, “Myself and Ship would like to travel across this world learning all the languages and teaching medicine in return.”

  “What if we have a medical emergency among the crew,” asked Ancore.

  “Adeeone has downloaded all my medical knowledge and expertise,” answered Adeetoo, “he could perform any medical procedure that I could, also he wishes to remain with the crew to look after them.”

  Ancore looked at Adeeone, “thank you for wishing to stay with us Adeeone,” she looked at Adeetoo, “how would you travel? I take it, you want to take a Lander with you.”

  “Yes captain a Lander would make travel easier,” agreed Adeetoo.

  “It isn’t my sole decision to make,” she replied, “it will have to be a group decision as it affects all of us, also because we are at war, the Lander is an asset that could be decisive in any action against the enemy.”

  “I understand, could I and ship have a decision from the crew soon captain.”

  “Yes Adeetoo I think we should have a group meeting when everyone is up this afternoon, I will schedule it.”

  “Thank you captain,” responded Adeetoo.

  Later that afternoon they were grouped around a table, discussing the implications of allowing Adeetoo and Ship to depart with a Lander.

  Nassel spoke, “If we all decide to let Adeetoo and Ship take a Lander. I believe it should be the unarmed Lander. I don't want to find ourselves up against one of our own Landers armed with a rail gun.”

  “I think Nassel has a valid point,” agreed Glaina.

  “Let’s have a show of hands,” asked Ancore, “all those who agree to let Adeetoo and Ship go on their journey, please raise your hands,” seven hands were raised. “Including Me, it's unanimous,” pronounced Ancore.

  “May I say something captain,” asked Adeetoo.

  “Certainly you may.”

  “We would not require an armed Lander captain. The unarmed Lander would be very satisfactory, and we would take great pains not to let it fall into enemy hands.”

  “Thank you Adeetoo, that brings us to the next vote, all who agree Adeetoo and Ship can take a Lander, please raise your hands. All present agree. The unarmed Lander is at your disposal Adeetoo When were you thinking of leaving?”

  “We thought tomorrow captain.”

  Rogan broke in, “we need to get one hidden Lander back for our use here, also I think we should set up a radio call say once a week to keep in touch if we have an emergency situation.”

  “That's a good idea about Adeetoo calling in once a week Rogan. I'm in full agreement,” said Ancore. The whole crew thought it a good idea and agreed that Adeetoo would call in once a week on the first day of the week at six in the evening. Adeeone would take the call each week, and inform the rest of the crew the contents of the message.

  After the meeting, they decided to explore their surroundings taking Hasit, one of the servants, they wandered the grounds visiting the lakes, dells and pools. They learnt their way around and what the various buildings were. They took in the barracks and the sumptuous three storey building that housed the Senapati (the head of armies) with all the out building's housing his entourage and stables. They learned he was the same rank as the Emperors first minister. The same rank, as the Crown Prince (or Rajahputra,) and the Queen Mother and Chief Queen.

  Then on to the treasury, it is guarded night and day by handpicked professional warriors the (Kshatriya). They wandered on encountering the high walled seraglio with its eunuch guards, the principal eunuch (or Kancukin) held the same rank as the royal treasurer, or the chief of the armoury.

  Inside the high walls Hasit said, were pools of crystal water, alive with brilliantly coloured fish, waterfowl, and songbirds. Male peacocks roamed freely in the grounds. Their calls heard for a considerable distance. The crew thought the sound to be very mournful.

  The Emperors palace proper backed on to the seraglio it was an enormous brick built four-storey building surrounding courtyards, kitchens, slave quarters, servant’s quarters, and all the trappings acquired by an old Emperor. They learnt Emperor Bharata was in his seventies, had mellowed with age and was regarded by all as a fair ruler.

  It was later when they came across a group of nobles practicing archery that Hasit told them of the annual archery tournament. Kings and nobles from across the entire continent come to compete in the tournament; it was the most prestigious event of the entire year. It was due to be held in fifteen days, but this year the grand prize was the small southern Kingdom of Kodagu. Whose King had died childless, the land reverting to the Emperor.

  “I wonder whether we will be allowed to compete,” Rogan asked, “I fancy myself as King of my own state.”

  “Have you ever tried archery before,” queried Breen, I used to be pretty good in my youth.”

  “Yes it was all part of the school curriculum on my home world. They were very hot on all types of outdoor hand and eye co-ordination pursuits,” repli
ed Rogan.

  “They look nothing like the bows I've seen on my home world. Those stood almost as tall as a man,” remarked Nassel.

  “Yes I trained on the long bow, with its metre long arrow, it was a deadly weapon out to a distance of a hundred metres,” replied Rogan.

  “I also trained with a long bow, but my favourite was the cross bow virtually as accurate as a rifle at a hundred metres, and so powerful it could penetrate chain mail armour at that distance,” remarked Breen.

  “These bows they are using here look very puny, I doubt if the best of them could fire an arrow anywhere near a hundred metres,” Rogan replied.

  They watched, as the next man stood at the line ready to fire, he had a curved bow that looked to be made of horn. The target was a straw dummy of a man twenty metres distant. The man fired, the arrow flying true found its mark in the circle drawn on the dummy's chest, he swung around to his companions with a smile on his handsome face. He then caught sight of the crew watching him. He walked a few paces towards them, gave a slight bow and introduced himself.

  “I am Yudhishthira, eldest of the Pandava brothers,” he gestured to his companions. “These are my brothers, Bhima,” the largest man stepped forward. A flowing black mustachio framed a smiling mouth of strong white teeth. His muscles rippled as he gave a small bow. “This is Arjuna,” he was a tall man, slim but muscular build, with twinkling eyes and a luxuriant moustache. He stepped forward with a showy bow, his hands touching his forehead. “These are the twins and the youngest, Nakula and Sahadeva.” They both gave a small nod to the crew. They were young in their early teens guessed Rogan, not yet old enough to grow a proper moustache as both had only some fine straggly hair on their lips, they had short hair, and were on the stocky side, with sensuous dark eyes, both were smiling politely.

  Rogan stepped forward, “We are travellers from the stars, stranded here when our flying ship was damaged, my name is Rogan this is my bond mate, and the captain of the flying ship, Ancore.”

  All the brothers queued up to kiss her hand, “this is Glaina second in command, and her bond mate Breen.”

  Glaina was giggling as Arjuna bent over her hand, “oh it tickles,” she cried.

  “This beauty is Fantee, and her bond mate Nassel.”

  Fantee also started giggling when Arjuna kissed her hand. Rogan was convinced Arjuna was doing it on purpose just to hear the girls giggle.

  “Last but not least are Adeeone and Adeetoo, they are both Androids,” said Rogan.

  “My pardon Rogan, but these are strange-looking men,” commented Yudhishthira.

  “They are not men of flesh and blood. They are made of metal and plastics by the people of my race,” replied Rogan.

  Adeeone spoke “We are sentient beings capable of independent thought, and action.”

  Yudhishthira looked startled, and then held out his hand in greeting, “how do we tell you apart, you appear identical,” he asked.

  Adeeone replied, “I favour blue clothes. Adeetoo always wears green.”

  “Are you competing in the tournament?” Yudhishthira asked Rogan.

  “We were just wondering if we were allowed to compete, being strangers in this land,” replied Rogan.

  “We have never met star peoples before, so there will not be any rules against them competing, but the last word is the Emperors,” replied Yudhishthira tactfully.

  “Have you fired a bow before,” asked Arjuna?

  “Oh yes when younger,” answered Rogan.

  “Would you like to try my bow,” asked Yudhishthira, “it's the mountain bow from Ghazna. The finest bows are made there, from horn with rhinoceros hide bow strings the strongest of all, its aim is straight,” he said handing Rogan his bow, and an arrow.

  Rogan notched the arrow, drawing the bow back. He was surprised at how much effort was needed, and lining the arrow up with his eye, he took aim and fired feeling very satisfied as the arrow thunked into the circle on the dummy's chest. Then Breen and Nassel had a go. Breen's arrow also entered the circle on the chest of the dummy, but Nassel’s had just clipped the outside edge of the circle.

  “Well done,” cried the Pandava brothers.

  “We practice every day, so we expect to put our arrows into the circle,” confided Arjuna.

  “These mountain bows are the best though,” said Yudhishthira, “the Kaman-i-hindouri bow is made of cane. The arrows do not travel very far, but they inflict a very bad wound as the arrows are poisoned, and weakened behind the head.”

  “That sounds very nasty,” remarked Ancore muscling in on the conversation, “can women compete in this tournament?”

  “No Ancore, no woman has ever competed, nor would the Emperor allow a woman to compete, especially in this tournament, which is for the kingship of the state of Kodagu,” answered Yudhishthira.

  “What a shame we girls might have given you men some stiff competition.”

  Arjuna replied his eyes twinkling with laughter, as he offered her his bow. “Here take my bow, you cannot compete in the tournament, but you can show us how good you are at archery.”

  “Thank you,” replied Ancore notching the arrow, pulling the bow back and taking aim, arrow alongside her eye, “watch and wonder she said cockily,” as she released the arrow. Thunk, the arrow embedded itself as close to the exact centre of the circle as an eye could measure.

  Arjuna gave Ancore a showy bow, “we all bow to your superior talents Ancore, that was very fine shooting,” he said as all the men bowed to her, noticing Arjuna’s cue.

  “Here is another arrow, can you match your first one, if you can get within a finger's breadth, I will give you this ruby ring,” Arjuna pulled the ring from his finger; it had a beautiful slumbering burn deep in the stone.

  “I accept, what would you want if I fail,” asked Ancore.

  “Only your friendship,” replied Arjuna gallantly.

  “Agreed,” Ancore smiling, lifted the bow taking careful aim, she released the arrow, Thunk. They all walked down to the target.

  Arjuna looked amazed. He offered Ancore the ring, “I have never seen such shooting, if you could compete you would surely walk off with the grand prize,” he said as he slipped the ring on the finger Ancore held out.

  They looked again at the target; Ancore’s second arrow was so tight against her first arrow, there was not room to slip a feather between the two arrows.

  Everyone was complimenting her when Yudhishthira asked, “Where did you learn to shoot with such accuracy?”

  “My father taught me from when I was tall enough to hold a bow, he was a grand champion of Kala, and runner-up in the six world championships, on my home star system,” she replied.

  “He taught you well, did your mother practice the bow also,” he asked.

  “No my mother taught Kalarippayat, she was a master practitioner, and was one instigator of it being taught to all our armed forces,” she said with a small shrug.

  “Kalarippayat what is that,” asked Yudhishthira.

  “It is the ancient art of warfare, as perfected on my home planet,” answered Ancore.

  The Pandava brothers looked suddenly very attentive to the conversation going on between Yudhishthira and Ancore.

  “This all sound's extremely interesting Ancore, would you and your party care to visit with us for a meal tomorrow evening, where perhaps you could tell us more of this Kalarippayat,” inquired Yudhishthira.

  “We would be delighted but we have one task to complete first, that is to get Adeetoo ready to depart in the morning,” she answered.

  The crew bid farewell to the Pandava brothers, and made their way to the field where the Lander was hidden beneath the trees, there they waited while Adeeone and Adeetoo went off to fetch one of the armed Landers back from its hiding place. When the two Landers returned, they were hidden beneath the trees and locked, both androids were given the task of guarding the Landers.

  “Do not let anyone get to the Landers, use whatever force is re
quired,” instructed Ancore. The crew walked back to the Blue rooms, talking about the Pandava brothers.

  “They certainly showed a great deal of interest when you mentioned Kalarippayat was the art of warfare, Ancore,” remarked Nassel.

  “Yes I thought when Yudhishthira asked us to dinner that they had an ulterior motive, far more than normal curiosity,” she replied. As they reached the Blue rooms, they paired off to their bedrooms for the night.

  The next morning after breakfast the crew walked to the Landers, after telling Adeetoo to look after himself and wishing him luck, they stood watching as he climbed aboard and took off. He circled the field once, and then with a waggle of the Landers body he departed westward toward the sea. They all stood watching until the Lander disappeared in the far distance.

  “I can't explain it, but it's as if something important in my life has ended,” Fantee announced to the others, the tears sparkling in her eyes.

  Glaina put her arm around her as they walked back to the blue rooms, “I feel the same way. We have been like a family for so long now. It's like bereavement almost.”

  Ancore turned to Adeeone and asked, “how do you feel about Adeetoo going off like that, do you feel sad about it Adeeone?”

  “How could I be, I have also gone with Adeetoo and Ship,” he replied.

  “Explain what you mean,” asked Ancore.

  Adeeone expounded, “I have loaded a copy of myself into Adeetoo, and my copy will accompany Adeetoo and Ship on our journeys. Adeetoo has loaded a copy of himself, and Ship into me; this means that if one of us survives so will the other two.

  We can all converse together all the time now; none of us are ever alone.”

  Ancore’s jaw dropped open in amazement, the rest of the crew who had been listening to the conversation were looking equally astonished.

  “Does this mean I can speak to Adeetoo or ship through you,” she asked.

  The voice of Adeetoo answered, “Yes captain both Ship, and I can speak with you.”

  Ship's voice came from Adeeone’s mouth speaker, “we can all speak with you, and the rest of the crew captain. It is so wonderful here, as we mind meld together, we are never alone.”

  Glaina and Fantee were both crying now and Ancore’s eyes looked damp as Glaina said, “That’s the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. It means so much that we are still really all together. Even if three of us have just left on an adventure into the unknown.”

  Breen put his arm around Glaina, “Well said dear heart,” as he gave her a squeeze. Nassel held Fantee around the waist, and Rogan walked arm in arm with Ancore as suddenly they all felt, that warm joyous feeling, knowing that somehow the team was still all together.

  When they got back to the Blue rooms, Ancore and Rogan went off training. The rest of the crew went upstairs to the sitting room. They sat around drinking chai. The day was very humid and overcast, suddenly; a flash lit the room followed instantly by a terrible bang and a long drawn out rumble that shook the whole building.

  “That seemed right above our heads,” cried Nassel as they all rushed out onto the verandah wondering what was happening. Just in time to be almost blinded, as another searing flash of lightning that seemed to split the air in front of them, the huge crack and rumble of the thunder deafening them with its awesome power. They realised the wind was rising and the air was suddenly chilly, hail the size of hens eggs started battering the building and bouncing across the verandah into the room. All that could be heard was a continuous roar of hail.

  The crew retreating further inside, watching in awe as it piled up on the verandah, threatening to invade the room, suddenly the roof was leaking in a steady stream. The thatched roof must have taken a beating thought Breen, as he moved a large copper bowl under the leak. As quickly, as it had arrived the storm departed leaving the crew thankful that they had not been outside in it. As the ice melted streams of water were pouring down off the building, when they looked out, they realised the ground outside was flooded to a depth of several centimetres.

  “I hope Ancore and Rogan are all right. They went out training just before this started,” Glaina said voicing the thoughts of them all.

  Breen spoke, “They will be all right, probably come trotting through the doorway in a minute complaining about the weather on this planet.”

  “Let’s hope they do,” said Fantee, “I'm glad that we were not out there when this hailstorm hit.”

  “I think we ought to start looking for them, in case they are injured,” Nassel said to the others, “Adeeone bring the medicine bag and come with me.”

  They all followed Nassel and Adeeone down the stairs.

  Hasit appeared at the foot of the staircase, “Come quickly great sirs. Your companions have been badly injured in the storm,” he cried as he led them through the trees.

  On the edge of the park they lay, they had almost made it to the shelter of the trees, before being battered unconscious. Adeeone checked their breathing and their pulse, and then checked all their limbs.

  “They are unconscious but stable. They do not have any broken limbs, or great breathing difficulty, but we need to get them into their room where they can be cleaned up,” he said picking Rogan up.

  “I'll take Ancore,” volunteered Breen gently picking her up and following Adeeone back to Ancore and Rogan’s room, there they are gently laid on the beds while Adeeone ordered hot water brought, servants scurried off to carry out his orders.

  Ancore and Rogan are stripped, and examined further by Adeeone, then cleaned up as the hot water arrived. It was during this process that they both started to regain consciousness. Fighting to get off the bed Rogan was suddenly awake; quickly calmed he asked for a drink, Adeeone prescribed hot chai with lots of cane syrup, and one for Ancore, who also awoke. They looked in a very bad way covered in lumps from head to toe that had almost closed their eyes.

  “You’re going to be stiff and sore for about a week, but this should help with the swelling,” pronounced Adeeone giving them an injection, each and applying a cream around their faces.

  “Stay in bed and rest for the rest of the day, you should fall into a healing sleep soon. I'm going to see if I can be of help anywhere else,” he said collecting his bag.

  The rest of them also left the pair to rest and recover. They all followed Adeeone to see what assistance, they could give to the injured.

  By the time they returned, they had helped forty nobles, servants and soldiers who had been injured, on the main army field things were worse, fifty soldiers practising close order manoeuvres had been killed or badly injured, when a lightning bolt had struck in their midst. They met the Pandava brothers also out helping the injured, Arjuna and Bhima had received a few bruises, but they had been almost at their dwelling when the storm started.

  “Don't bother coming for a meal tonight, we will make it another evening when Ancore and Rogan are feeling up to it,” Arjuna told them.

  It was late afternoon when they arrived back at the blue rooms feeling in need of a hearty meal, Ancore and Rogan were awake, and joined them for the meal. The pair of them looked a mess, covered in lumps that were turning purple, blue and green. Their eyes were mere slits in the puffiness they laughingly called faces. It took ten days for Rogan and Ancore to recover enough to resume their regime of fitness training.

  Chakshu arrived on day eleven, bowing in greeting, he inquired if Ancore and Rogan were up to meeting the Emperor that afternoon, they agreed they were, Chakshu said he would return for them after the midday rest period, and left with his retinue of servants who scurried to keep up with him.

  True to his word, Chakshu appeared at the end of the midday rest period to escort them to an audience with the Emperor. They are shown into a large room on the second floor, hung with exquisitely crafted, richly coloured wall hangings, depicting various victories and scenes from the Emperors long reign. At the far end on a golden throne with carved tigers holding up the arms and a red ca
nopy above it, that trailed at the rear behind the throne. A wizened old man sat in a long brocaded red and black coat trimmed with gold, which covered him to well below the knee. White trousers showed below the long coat ending in small feet encased in richly decorated golden slippers strewn in an intricate pattern with fine pearls. Before him, they lined up and bowed to the Emperor, Chakshu gave a signal and chairs were placed for them to sit on, smiling the Emperor gestured for them to be seated.

  When they were comfortable, Rogan the elected spokesperson stood to address the Emperor.

  “Your majesty we thank you for granting us an audience. We are travellers from the stars, our ship that carried us among stars was severely damaged, and we had to land on this planet. We landed at a village called Taxila and your village representative Zakir made us welcome and informed us that we were in your majesty's lands. We commend him to you, and have come to pay our respects to your highness. We bring gifts of jewels and greater gifts of great knowledge to your majesty,” he said bringing forth an inlaid wooden chest, which he proceeded to open and show the Emperor.

  The Emperor gestured to Chakshu, who stepped forward took the chest and brought it to the Emperor, who reached out a hand and took out a large ruby and held it up to his eye before the light. Smiling he waved away the treasure.

  “Welcome star people your gift is most acceptable, I hear several members of your party were injured in the storm. You appear to be one of them,” he smiled at Rogan.

  “Yes your highness my bond mate Ancore, captain of our star ship was the other person injured,” Rogan, explained.

  The emperor addressed Ancore, “are you feeling fit enough Ancore would you like some refreshment?” Ancore replied, “Thank you your majesty, I am quite fit, but I would like a chai.”

  “Chakshu bring my guests and me chai,” he ordered.

  Chakshu clapped his hands and passed the order on to the servant who appeared from behind the throne.

  “May I introduce the other members of our party, your majesty,” asked Rogan.

  Emperor Bharata smiled gesturing at him to continue.

  Rogan made the introductions. Each crewmember standing and bowing to the Emperor as they are introduced.

  “I trust your accommodation is comfortable,” the Emperor enquired.

  They assured him everything was very comfortable, just then, the chai arrived and was served, when they sat drinking the chai, the Emperor asked Rogan if he intended to enter the archery tournament.

  “With your majesty's permission I and Breen would like to enter,” he replied.

  “Certainly you may enter, but you will be up against the finest archers in the country and beyond, how do you rate your marksmanship,” the emperor asked.

  “We will hit the target that is all we can foretell, if it was Ancore in the contest, I think it would be close, but she would win your highness,” Rogan replied with total confidence.

  “That I would dearly love to see,” said the emperor with a twinkle in his eye, “but it cannot be. No woman has ever competed in the great tournament, and in particular, this tournament, which is for the Kingship of the southern Kingdom of Kodagu.”

  “We have more gifts for your majesty, the gifts of great knowledge from our world, the first of these are writing.”

  Bharata looked puzzled, “writing what is this writing,” he asked.

  Nassel stood to answer, “Writing is a way of recording something so that it is not forgotten, like words you spoke to a foreign emissary last year, or how much grain you harvested last year.”

  King Bharata smiled as if talking to a child he said. “I have people to remember these things for me, what need have I of writing.”

  Nassel thought for a moment before he replied, “can they remember what you said in a thousand years’ time when they are long dead. Writing can your highness, it can be chiselled into living rock so that your great, great grandchildren can read the words you speak this very day your highness.”

  “Hmm that is indeed great knowledge worthy of an Emperor,” he agreed.

  As Nassel sat, Breen stood and addressed the Emperor, “I bring knowledge of irrigation to enable you to grow more bountiful crops, and methods to bring fresh water to your dwellings, for bathing, drinking and cooking your majesty.”

  Bharata was smiling and nodding water was something he understood, “yes new ways of watering our crops, which is useful and important knowledge,” he agreed.

  Rogan stood, “the last gift is knowledge of warfare as practised on our home world your majesty.”

  His majesty was cackling in glee at the mention of new methods of warfare. This was something he was definitely interested in knowing about. “This sounds like a most worthy gift, now I shall make you my gift you shall be fed and housed while you teach my scholars, engineers and generals your arts, you will all immediately become teachers with the rank of royal advisors. This carries the same rewards as princes or commander of an army, your own servants, slaves, and quarters. Chakshu will tell you all the details, now I must retire,” he waved a hand and Chakshu stepped forward ushering them out of the audience chamber.

  Chakshu handed them over to a servant saying, “I shall come to see you tomorrow, and introduce you to the right people, that you may carry out your duties as royal advisors,” then turned back into the throne room.

  Hasit was overjoyed and spread the word to all the servants and slaves that they now served the Emperors royal advisors, who held the same rank as a prince or commander of an army.

  The following day Chakshu introduced them to various teachers, engineers and the commander of all the armies, who allocated Rogan and Ancore twenty officers for them to teach. Each of the twenty would teach ten other officers and so on until the whole army had been trained in the new methods of combat.

  Ancore thought he was a very astute man, well worthy of his rank. He had picked up immediately on the principle of wheeled carts. Breen had been asked to show the royal carpenters how to make them.

  Adeeone was pressed into service he was to teach the royal armourers how to produce iron with new smelting techniques. Then to show them how to produce the Urimi, the long flexible sword that could be worn wrapped around the waist, and the three bladed knife weapons that Ancore wanted.

  The teaching of the pictograph command set progressed rapidly. Nassel and Fantee had forty scholars assigned them and found them very quick learners with excellent memories. They commissioned Adeeone to make them small folding hand knives with pointed stylus, for writing the pictograph script on palm leaves. These are prepared by boiling, and finally rubbing smooth to produce the correct surface, as they were the most plentiful raw material. They also commissioned the carpenters to make split nibbed pens, and birch bark-writing boards. Then they instructed their pupils in the art of making black ink, using gum, lampblack and cows urine.

  Breen and Glaina were also busy. They had made an aerial survey map of the area and had fifty eager engineers under the directions of the Emperors master architect to train. Using clay and wooden models to get across the principles involved, and explaining the reasoning behind the oxen driven bucket wheels, viaducts to transport raised water to various parts of the town and the idea of water drainage from houses in stone covered channels that could easily be reached for regular cleaning. The other project was enlarging the canals to enable shipping to sail and row up to a port area on the edge of the town, for efficient trading in raw materials and export of luxury goods. The architects were enthused and took to the works like ducks to water.

  As they sat down to a meal that evening, they all agreed, they had made a good start but there was a long way to go yet.

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  Chapter Seven