By Larry Simmons
“It’s not often that anyone from earth is allowed to take this trip,”
a voice said.
“We’ll bring you along, but because you were unscheduled, you won’t be able to make the jump in one stage.”
Alec thought he had been asleep, but this was far too real to be called a dream.
The voice continued:
“Halfway through the trip we’ll have to drop you off for a few moments.
The place where we’ll leave you will appear very strange, but you’ll be perfectly safe. Just be sure that you wait quietly, don’t move, don’t touch anything, and don’t speak to anyone you might see.”
He didn’t really know why this amazing experience was happening to him. He had no idea who these people were, though they apparently knew him. He couldn’t see them. He couldn’t really even hear them. Their words just somehow appeared in his mind. They did seem kindly, though. He also had a distinct impression that they were human.
Thinking back, he remembered the words of his teacher, “Alec, you have a destiny in this life. You carry in your blood and chromosomes the memories of many old masters.” That was old Marguerite. She had literally just walked into his life one day and said she had been looking for him and that he was to be her student! He mused to himself for a moment, picturing that moment so many years ago. The issue at hand demanded his full attention though. He could dwell on old memories later.
Becoming more aware of his surroundings, he realized that there were also two other travelers. As with his mysterious benefactors, he was unable to see them. He did have very definite impressions about them, though. He was quite sure they were not from the earth. He could sense that. He also thought they might be students who had graduated from one school and were moving on to another. That was it! “Like a regular Sherlock Holmes,” he chuckled a bit at that thought.
He also knew he must be in a ship of some kind, though it, too, was invisible to his eyes. He made a mental note that he must notice every detail possible. Since prior arrangements had not been made for him, Alec found himself seated in back, separate from the others. Apparently there was only room for two up front in the passenger compartment. Well, he didn’t mind being in with the baggage. It was enough just to be there!
Reflecting on what he could see and not see, he thought it was as though a sort of selective veil had been placed before his eyes. He could see what they wanted him to see, and nothing more. These people, whoever they were, obviously possessed knowledge and powers which the people of earth did not.
“Alec,” the unseen speaker resumed, “we can see that you are filled with wonder. That is a good sign. It shows that you’re ready. Many others would only know fear.”
He noticed that they knew his name. That made him even more curious about who they were and why this was happening to him.
“For now you must be patient just to quietly observe what is shown to you. Soon all your questions will be answered.”
Those words made him wonder even more about why all this was being given to him. These people had made special arrangements for him. They even knew his name! Someone must have contacted them on his behalf. Otherwise, why would they have changed their plans by including him on this trip? He could only conclude that there must really be a lot more going on in life than what meets the eye. Someone had once said that all of life is a stage. Was it Shakespeare? If that’s the case then there must also be a scriptwriter and a director, not to mention the prop crews and who knows what else?
Before he could speculate any further, it was time to go. For an instant, it felt like he was falling through vast emptiness. Then he was in another world! He found himself in a small clearing in what must have been a forest. He could recognize that he was surrounded by trees and plants, but all the leaves and branches were in shades of dull red and grey! There were no greens or browns anywhere. His first reaction was fear, but then he remembered that he was told he would be safe and that he would only be here for a few moments. He composed himself, putting aside his fear and replacing it with trust and interest.
Then he saw some people! Two or three of them walked by, but fortunately showed no interest in him at all. Perhaps they were accustomed to such brief visits by foreigners. He found that idea amusing. Anyway, they appeared to be human in form, but like the vegetation, were also quite different from what he was used to. Their skin was pure white and they seemed to have no hair at all!
They wore nothing but simple pale grey robes which covered them from neck to foot. If there were two sexes, he certainly couldn’t tell from where he stood. All in all, this place he was in was really weird! Reasoning further, though, he remembered that even on the earth there really was a great deal of variation in the human form. Consider an Indo-Chinese next to a Swede or a Watusi! What an education it would be for earth people if they ever really managed to journey through space and encounter people on other planets!
The next thing he knew was he was back in his compartment on the ship. He began to realise that there were some definite contradictions in what he was experiencing. He had clearly seen his surroundings while in that clearing, yet he could not see whatever kind of ship he was traveling in. It was as if his hosts on this journey could only hide things from him while he was in their presence. That would imply that they had limits and were, after all, mortals. Things were moving quickly, though, and there was little time for reflection.
Once again he briefly felt a sensation of falling through enormous open space, but what he saw next made him gasp with awe. Spread out before him, almost like some enormous pathway of lights, was a vast array of golden stars! Each was as brilliant as the sun of earth, except there must have been hundreds of them!
“This is the Great Stellar Scroll,” the kindly voice said. “Here is kept all the stored knowledge of many universes. Scholars journey to this place from far distant worlds, and their people are enriched by what they learn.”
Alec was bursting with curiosity and had to ask, “How can this be possible? How can such a constellation exist? Who are you people?”
“For now, just think of this place as a great library, and of us as the librarians. We guide those who come here to study. You, Alec, may also return here to study.”
That prospect sobered him up a bit. He wondered what might really be expected of him in return for this gift. After all, it’s not every day that someone gets whisked off across the galaxy to be shown the wonders of the universe!
“Would it surprise you to learn that the complete history of the earth is also written here? Yes, Alec. We know all that came before and what lies ahead. Your people are now entering the time of their awakening. All of the worlds that make up our civilization went through that same awakening. It’s a natural part of the evolution of planetary cultures.
“Your people are now beginning to inhabit the regions just beyond their planet. I’m referring to that which they now know simply as ‘outer space‘. As that process of expansion continues, understanding will also rapidly increase. Access will be gained to the great energy streams that flow like ocean currents between stars. Then, in the course of time, earth will discover our civilization.
“That brings us to why you are here now, Alec. Your people are still too warlike. When confronted with a new culture, they’ll tend to take a defensive posture. They will by then have created powerful new weapons. When they see the apparent simplicity of some of the other peoples, they’ll think themselves superior and try to dominate.
“We will change all that by planting a seed now. That way, by the time earth discovers us,
knowledge of our existence will already be sleeping in her people. They will then react as
a long lost child does when it rediscovers its family.
“Alec, we know that you still have many unanswered questions, but for now you must be content with what you have seen. Go now and return to your home. Sleep and let what you have experienced become a part of your deep consciousness. Don’t worry about what we might expect from you. As time passes, you will know what to do.”
With that, his journey was over. He found himself back in familiar surroundings, comfortably in his bed. The whole amazing experience was still vivid in his mind, though. He knew he would never forget this night. He also knew he had things to do.
Larry Simmons
www.primus.com.au/lsim/index.htm