World of Good - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“...the journey...”

Motioning to some military personnel, Stron called out, “Tragu!” A muscular, olive-green skinned Vlanco jogged over to us and bowed briefly to Stron and our group.

“Yes, Advisor. How can I assist?”

“Tragu, I would like you to take the Earth people to the Ancients. You grew up in the area, and are well suited for the journey. Is that acceptable to you?” Stron asked graciously.

It impressed me how a high ranking advisor would ask a man to do his duty instead of ordering him to do it.

Tragu bowed his head. “Yes, Advisor. I would be honored. I will prepare for the trip immediately.”

I had my own questions. “Who are these ancients, Stron? Are they going to train us in some way?”

“Yes Alex, they are the only ones best suited for this situation. Tragu will guide you to their community. After you leave the periphery of the city, you will travel by Cahu for a couple of days, because standard transportation is not scheduled to extend out that distance.”

“What is a Cahu?”

“It is a very valuable and well-mannered animal, Alex. It assists us in just these circumstances. You will see soon enough. In the meantime, Tragu will help you prepare for the trip, so if you do not have any further questions for me, I suggest you direct all questions to him.”

I looked over at Tragu, who had his hands clasped behind his back, in an at-ease position, with the usual Vlanco smile. I bowed with my hands together. “Thank you. We‘ll do our best, Stron.”

“Alex, you may be surprised for what awaits you, it will take much courage. Your best may not be enough.” Stron bowed and left.

I stood dumbfounded. What did he mean by that?

Tom pulled me to the side by the arm, “Why can’t we just take one of the spherical vehicles...I mean, days? Considering the urgency, going by animal seems a little silly.”

“I don’t know, Tom, maybe they have vehicles allotted for something else, maybe they have some special religious significance in it, I don’t know. But what I do know, is that we have to trust these people. And if they say go by Cahu or yahoo, that’s what we’ll do. Consider this another one of the unpredictable adventures you and I always seem to fall into.”

Tom gave a puff. “Yeah, right, let‘s do that. It better not be like a horse. I‘m not a cowboy.”

“I know, I know,” I reassured. “Let’s go with the flow.”

We picked up our belongings and climbed into a transport pod. There was the typical hiking and camping type equipment—no frills. As we traveled to the outskirts of the city, I noticed a group of people and some animals waiting for us. They were handling some large beasts; sort of a cross between a camel and a horse. As Tragu packed our gear on the animals, we examined the animals. They were very peaceful and gentle…and smart. Tammy had left her pack open on the ground and one of them went over to inspect it. When Tammy tried to pick it up, the animal kept turning around so it could search the pack with its nose, while keeping Tammy at bay. When she eventually got around the animal, it started nuzzling her, while sliding the pack with its hoof. They were curious, sly, and friendly, all rolled up in one.

Tammy showed no fear. She promptly jumped up on the animals neck, with her legs wrapped around its shoulders, and gave it a big kiss. The cahu stepped back in surprise. Shelby was a little repulsed, but the rest of us laughed. Tammy knew how to get the animal’s mind off her pack.

The remainder of the day was used up learning about the animals. In the evening, we made camp and prepared for the next day. Shelby and I sat by the fire and I began to reminisce.

I threw a stick in the fire. “This moment reminded me of the time I camped with my family in a Multifunctional Van. After dad got off work, the family would pack everything into the van and find a distant spot in the desert, and set up camp. Setting up camp went quick, because the sides of the van would hinge out so that the sides became the roof. Then the portable screens would extend from the top down to the ground, so that the vehicle became a durable tent-like structure. Mom and dad got dibs on the bed in the main area, while us kids had the bunks that extended out from the base of the van to the screens. My brother and I would talk till the wee hours in the morning. Mom and dad would shut their section off so they could have some privacy. I can recall looking up at the clarity of the stars to dream of going into outer space, like the first Mars team.”

Shelby smiled. “I was too young to remember the Mars team.”

“Not long after that, they developed the Antimatter propulsion space vehicles. I signed up for training to be a pilot—just like my dad.”

“Did your kids get to enjoy camping with you?” Shelby inquired.

“No, they didn’t have the opportunity, because they were with me on the first Mars colony and that in itself was camping. Although they saw the stars every night, they couldn’t take in the night breeze and all the smells that it brought with it, like I did when I was a kid.”

“I just now noticed that round scar on your hand, where did you get that...or is it a birthmark?”

“Where? Oh that,” I remembered, as I turned my right hand so the light from the fire would illuminate it. “Man was I stupid.”

“What?” she said, prodding me on.

“When I was about ten, I was playing with a campfire, just like I’m doing now, but there was a difference. I was playing with plastic straws. I would start them on fire and watch them burn that black smoke plastic makes, and drip its melted ooze off the end. As it dribbled off, it had a fascinating sound that was intriguing. Needles to say, it dripped right on top of my skin. I can still feel it.” I rubbed my hand.

She cringed. “Ouch!”

“What about you? Did you camp much?”

“Hardly at all. We did do some hiking, but my dad and mom were both scientists, and their idea of a vacation was going to the latest symposium on our intergalactic travels. Which, in many ways is probably why I went into space. It gets under your skin, sort of like that burning plastic.”

I chuckled. “Good one. Well, I’m glad you did. In my opinion, you’re the best navigator in the solar system.”

“Thanks, Alex.” I could see she appreciated the compliment and decided to see if she would be open to a little scheme I had brewing.

“Shelby? Could you do me a favor and find out what we are in for and where we are headed. They don‘t want to offer any information about where we‘re going, but the Advisor took a shine to you, back at the complex. Maybe you’ll have a better chance at finding out what the mystery is all about.”

“Sure, no problem Alex, I really enjoy being with these people. I‘ll try to get Tragu to open up about it tomorrow.” She re-directed her attention to the night sky.

It was full of stars, planets and several moons, many at different points in the sky, some bigger, some brighter. It was fascinating to see a sky with this astronomical configuration. I looked over at her, wondering what it was that the Advisor saw in her. I’d find out soon enough.

The next day was nothing special. We mounted our animals and were on our way. The cahu knew how to adjust their gait to how we sat. The weather was dry and so was the ground. Small desert animals scurried around us, keenly aware to keep their distance. Tom and I speculated about the Negritee and the possible aggressive responses they may make toward the Vlanco system. We bobbed up and down on the animals. Tragu and Shelby were in the lead. Shelby had made a point to ride next to him and so far seemed to be enjoying herself. I couldn’t make out words, but Shelby moved from a serious conversation at one moment to laughter the next. Good. If anyone can wriggle into someone's life, it’s Shelby.

Tammy and Tom seemed to be bored with our little adventure. Dale held up the rear, trying to spear one of the desert animals with a stick he sharpened the night before. In the distance, some purple and red round hills closed in on us. I estimated we would be there in a day.

That night, while Dale was out setting traps or something, and Tragu was making some safety inspection rounds outside of camp, the rest of us gathered around to hear what Shelby found out.

Shelby’s eyes were wide, as if she were telling a spooky story. “The ancients are very old and fortunate people. The only two requirements to be an Ancient are that you lived through the Great Battle, and that you met the Messenger. They are more than 400 years old and were around when the Great Battle occurred.”

Tammy scoffed. “Well then, it doesn’t sound like we are going to party much, with these old guys, does it?”

“Are they really over 400 years old?” I asked.

“That’s what I was told. Remember, Chip said they controlled the aging process. So that may have some bearing on why they’re still alive.”

I leaned close. “They must have a wealth of knowledge. I wonder what they could know that we couldn’t get back at the military complex? Tragu must be holding something back from us. Was there anything else, Shelby?”

“Tragu didn‘t offer any information about how they were going to prepare us. Most of our conversation was about his life, family, and friends.”

“Alex,” Tom said, “I hope were not going on a wild goose chase, because I still think tactical, military defensive planning back at the complex is where we are best suited.”

“Maybe so Tom, but the Vlancos think this is where we need to be.”

“You better hope so,” warned Tom.

Tammy had moved farther away from the group, huddled by herself. She sat with her chin on her knees, arms wrapped around her bare shins, and starred into the fire. Shelby walked over to her to strike up a private conversation.

Shelby stood over her. “Tammy, is everything alright?”

Tammy’s eyes shifted from the fire up to Shelby. “No, Shelby. It’s not you. I heard you talking about family. You had a close relationship with your brother and sisters. I was a discarded orphan, stuck with drug addicted foster parents…not the most nurturing family.”

“But you have so much energy. We’re all envious of that.”

Tammy grunted. “Yeah, that’s me. Most of it is just a cover for what I missed as a kid.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but I can handle it, I’m a big girl.” There was a pause as they looked at the fire. “Don’t worry, Shelby. I’ve accepted my parent’s inadequacies and moved on.”

“Hmm, well, I appreciate you.”

Tammy eyed Shelby. “Oh?”

“No, I really mean it. I wish I had spunk like you.” Shelby was authentic.

Tammy nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate that. And thanks for asking about me. But don’t think this entitles you to have me in your worship group.”

“No, Tammy. Like you said, you’re a big girl. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you when you should come.” Shelby turned to leave.

“What do you mean, when. Don’t you mean if?” Tammy challenged.

“We’ll see,” said Shelby, in a spooky voice. “We’ll see.”

Tammy shook her head and watched Shelby creep back to the other side of the fire.

“Whoa! Look at this, guys!” Dale said, tugging on something behind the bushes, just beyond the flickering of the fire. He tugged and tugged, until his lasso revealed what looked like an eight-legged raccoon. Apparently, Dale had collected sticks to create a makeshift ’rodent trap.’ Little did Dale know, this one would work. As he pulled the creature into view. It climbed up the base of a tree and clung to it. What was fascinating, was how it changed color to match the tree. See what I’m talking about; to disguise itself, it changes color at will.”

“Does it bite?” questioned Shelby, stepping backward with caution.

“I don’t know Shelby? Why don’t you try to pet it and find out,” replied Dale, trying to get control of the animal.

“Ha! I will if you will,” she said, defiantly.

“What’s the commotion about,” said Tragu, walking in on the conversation.

Shelby pointed at Dale. “Dale caught this chameleon/raccoon/spider lookin’ thing, and he wants me to see if it bites.”

“I didn’t say ‘see if it bites,’ I said ‘pet it and find out.’”

Shelby stepped back. “Either way, I’m not going to stick my hand anywhere near that thing.”

“Excuse me, my friends,” Tragu interrupted, “This is a Spamoon. It is truly a harmless creature. In fact I think it is in more danger from us, than we are from it.”

He immediately walked over to the creature and scooped it up from the base of the tree. As he pulled on the animal, it clung tightly with its claws, making it difficult to break it free. Nevertheless, when the creature realized it was no match for Tragu, it clung to his arm instead. It wrapped itself tightly and turned a smooth olive green color. The animal disappeared. It looked like Tragu had a growth on his arm, instead of a spamoon. We laughed at the spectacle, and eventually, walked over to inspect it. Tammy was the first to examine it. As she did, it moved to evade her poking and prodding.

“Hey, quit poken’ it,” said Dale, “you might hurt it.

“I’m not going to hurt it,” she said, shortly.

“Well, I found it, and I think you’re being rough with it.

“Fine, Mr. Expert. See if you can get it off his arm.”

Tragu held it out, like a proud father with a baby, barely containing his laughter at us. Dale stroked it a couple of times, and it started to make a noisy purring sound. In a moment, the animal’s grip loosened and it fell into Dale’s hands. He turned to Tammy pompous grin, and cradled it like a baby.

Tammy scowled. “Oh I can’t believe your luck! I could have done it.”

“Well not this time, babe,” Dale said, with a wink. “Hey, Tragu. Do you think I could keep it?”

“We normally do not interfere with wildlife, Dale. But if it attracts itself to you by the time we reach the Ancients, we could make an exception.”

“It’s not against some endangered species thing is it?” Dale asked.

Tragu shook his head. “We let nature take its own course on whether species, would be considered endangered or not. We take many precautions not to interfere with their existence. We have no particular policy on keeping another species, except to allow it the healthiest opportunity for a healthy, content life.”

Dale looked down at the animal, which by this time, was practically falling asleep. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll baby it a little and see if it takes to me. Otherwise, it was nova to find it.”

“You have quite a report with it,” said Shelby.

“Oh, come on!” Tom blustered. “It’s just a goofy little fur-ball. It’s not a pet. We’ve got more important things to deal with that this.”

Dale gave Tom a scowl and rocked it a couple more times, then gently set it down. “I never had a pet before,” he muttered.

It sat rigidly, while the rest of us gathered around and took turns to pet it. After a moment, it seemed to calm down. The little creature hung around the campfire and searched for food, as we talked. Dale kept one eye on the spamoon, most likely hoping it would stay.

The next day, as we were moving out from the camp, I could see Dale, in the rear, leaving crumbs of food on the ground. The hills we were traveling toward, loomed closer and closer. The first time I saw the hills, they had more of a violet hue to them, but as we neared them, they changed to a reddish brown. There were many boulders bunched up together, like someone had purposely scrunched them into a big pile. Tragu informed me that thousands of years ago, the ground was considered very porous. It was believed that the rocks were spit up from the ground, in globular contours during volcanic activity, much like a kid would blow bubbles from a bubble-pipe.

Tragu was an impressive guide. While the rest of us were riding on the Cafu, he was trotting along on foot. He had the choice to ride like the rest of us, but besides his prayer time in the mornings, and readings at night, he made sure he kept in top physical condition. Tragu is a living example of what Taron called ‘balance between knowledge, physical, and inner host.’

By the afternoon, we entered a series of sculpted stones on each side of a wide pathway. At first view, they seemed rudimentary in quality. However, as we passed by, it seemed that they were intentionally plain, simple, and clean lines.

Tragu looked up to me as I rode. “We will be entering the Ancient inner perimeter shortly, Alex.”

“Good.” I said trying to sound cheerful. I pointed to the sculptured stones. “Tragu, what are those stones all about?”

“They are memorials to the life of the founding fathers of our faith, Alex.”

“Founding Fathers of your faith,” I chuckled. “That’s a mouthful. What did they do?”

“Each stone has a story of its own. Most of them are related to a miracle, giving evidence of the Creator’s existence and power.”

I looked at the long pathway. “That’s a lot of miracles.”

“That it is, Alex. that it is,” he said, proudly. “Alex, as we near the entrance, be prepared for the harmonics. It is an uncomfortable natural phenomenon that will no doubt surprise you.”

“Prepare in what way Tragu?”

“Prepare by being aware of the surroundings, Alex. That is all.”

I instructed the rest of the crew to be prepared. We could see the entrance now and it was immense. It was one boulder with an opening through it, like two thirds of a donut—ten stories high. As we neared the entrance, it sounded like there was a light breeze whistling through the trees, and yet no wind. Tragu suggested we dismount for safety reasons, and we obliged. Walking closer, the volume increased from a mild breeze to a rushing whirlwind...still nothing was felt. Then came the harmonics. It was as if, from a distant, far off place, five different horns could be heard. The closer we cam to the entrance the louder the harmonics were. Soon the horn’s volume changed to large trucks blaring down on us, all mixed with this rushing wind sound. Shelby became dizzy and her legs wobbled. Tom ran to her, and grasped her hip with his arm, his other arm pulling his cafu. The rest of the crew was squinting and squirming and moving as quickly as possible to get through the event. As we crossed the threshold of the entrance it ended abruptly, and we all shook our heads in relief.

“That was the worst harmonizing I have ever heard,” said Dale, giving Tragu the evil eye.

“Ha, Ha! I warned you my friends,” said Tragu grinning, as if nothing eventful happened. “This way, to the receiving area.”

“You can’t just leave us hanging, tell us why this ‘harmonics’ thing exists in the first place,” Dale whined.

“One position holds that it is a Holy Place, where the Creator breaths his spirit to remind us of his presence, Dale. Another position holds that it is the mineral deposits and the geometric configuration of the rock formation, which is the cause. The question we must ask ourselves is. ‘which one do I believe?’” His eyes widened, along with a smile. He then quickly turned around to the receiving area. “Come! We are almost there.”