The Wizards of Xitt

Hale Maka’i

CHAPTER NINE

Hale Maka’i

Hale Maka’i was one of those most dreaded places in all of Honolulu. Located at 801 S. Berentania Street, Down Town Honolulu, the five-storied building stirred both dread and courage in the hearts of young ones and adults alike. For some, it was like the devil dwelt there. Others saw it as a place where gods and goddesses primarily concerned with finding justice dwelt. Even those who had cause to intimate with the building still felt awed by it.

Most importantly was the fact that a high priority criminal was in custody in the early hours of the day. A man charged with the murder of two police officers, involvement in the k********g of the Police chief’s daughter and involvement with a terrorist group. The atmosphere could never be more charged than it was in Hale Maka’i. Even officers who were not on shift or were on holidays found means to justify their presence in Hale Maka’i.

In truth, if things went as planned, they would be able to link the suspect with all the recent mishaps in the past few days. The crash-landing of the Delta 757 airplane, the laser attack at the Capitol building, assassination attempt against the police chief, the death of two police officers, and the disappearance of the Police chief’s daughter. All what remained was to start building evidence against the suspect before court hearing in twenty-four hours time.

The dark side of it was that what the suspect had to say during interrogation did not really matter. Not if the current Police Chief’s method of crime solving was to be followed. First, get a suspect, then build evidence against him by hook or by crook. That way, a suspect is almost always guilty.

To make matters worse, the suspect in question was not in the good books of the Police chief. Everyone knew it would just be a matter of time before the police chief found means to sent him behind bars forever. This looked like the perfect opportunity.

Kaila stirred; he was seated across from Susan Graves in the examination room. He was the damned suspect and they were ready to blame every recent case they could not solve on him.

“You know what Mr. Maentel, you’re gonna talk eventually, one way or another.” Susan said acidly. She was looking as serious and cold as she could manage.

Kaila looked up at her; he had not yet said anything since they brought him in here about six minutes ago.

Susan shrugged and motioned in a huge fierce-looking cop. The cop walked in and smacked Kaila across the face. The force of the impact pushed Kaila from the chair, spurted blood from his mouth and toppled over the chair he was sitting on. The cop went on rampage, kicked Kaila repeatedly with his heavy boot until Susan stopped him.

Kaila whimpered on the floor, all his body ached.

“Who the hell are you working for?” Susan rasped.

“No one!” Kaila shouted back.

Susan smiled. “At least that’s a start.” She mused. “Help him up,” she said to the cop.

The cop erected the chair and helped Kaila to the chair. Kaila was bleeding from his nose and mouth.

Susan passed Kaila a handkerchief, but he refuse to use it. “I could believe you, but he doesn’t,” she nodded towards the fierce-looking cop. “Behind me, I’m not sure they do either. So you see, the earlier you really start talking, the better for all of us. We could keep doing this all day,” She indicated the floor where a few drops of his blood were still visible.

“Sure you could, but unless you want to build ideas into my head or provide me with new memories. Then, I suppose you will always have the same answer. I’m not working for anybody, I didn’t kill those cops, and I don’t know where Malena Spars is.”

Mrs. Spars wheezed into the room. “Where is that scum? Where is he?” She came to where Kaila sat and bore down on him. Her nostrils were ejecting gaseous hatred like the exhaust of a scrappy car with each breath. Her eyes were stony and her nose had metamorphosed into some gemstone. “I give you and your people four hours to release my daughter cop killer, or you’ve just stepped beyond the gates of Hades.” She forced the speech down on Kaila. “Am I understood?” She added slowly, then turned to leave.

Kaila exhaled as if his lungs had just been released from a deadly grip.

On her way out Mrs. Spars turned to Susan. “Miss Graves, for the first time, I think you’re being too soft.”

Susan seemed to be deciding on something as Mrs. Spars left the room. She turned to him. “Mr. Maentel, I would believe that any human being would prefer a chitty-chatty conversation to a crunching painful monologue. Do weigh your options well, we’ll continue this soon.” She said coldly. “Take him away.” She said to the cop. “And Mr. Maentel,” she said as the cop hauled Kaila to his feet. “Do grab a good round of breakfast, might be very helpful.” She added and left the room.

Kaila was led back to the cell where he was held since arriving at Hale Maka’i. It was solitary. For a notorious criminal, Kaila thought. He lay down on the single bed provided inside the cell and tried to replay the events of the previous day and night.

He had lived a fantasy, now he was living reality. A reality of a lifetime in jail, a reality of unscripted torture in the few hours to come. He wondered what had happened to Malena, he did not want to believe the most obvious; that Malena had been blown to pieces by the explosion. It was the only explanation that made sense, it was why she had not been found. The HPD had not even been able to distinguish her body parts from the rubbles.

“Malena,” the word escaped from Kaila’s lips without much notice. He could give anything now to have her back.

But what became of Kaluka, the high chief, the other chiefs and priests? Kaila remembered that whatever happened did not really happen, Kaluka himself professed to be dead. Maybe, those things did happen, but in a way and manner that mocks mortal explanations.

Then there was the prophecy. The Keeper of Prophecies had said something about being born between the light and dark half of the year, the same thing Malena had deduced earlier. Maybe, she was one of them. But it did not seem likely, she was a very intelligent girls. Perhaps she was murdered...

An idea jumped into Kaila’s head. “What caused the explosion?” He mouthed noiselessly to the empty cell. A small bomb sounded more likely. It was so loud and devastating that it kept him blind and deaf for several minutes.

But who detonated it? Or was it mere accident? It did not seem likely. From what he saw when he regained his senses after the blast, that temple was definitely closed for century. No one would have entered it in recent history, he would have seen the traces or would have heard about it. So far, the only story he had heard of Kukaniloko were the birth stones and a destroyed Holonopahu heiau. And before the temple was closed, it was not likely the high chiefs and priests knew the arts of explosive making. That was not discovered by man until a few centuries back. So it could not have been an accident, someone dropped the bomb. In that case, there was likely another player in the mix. Who know the Wizards even. But he would have been able to see them, like the other two times they had showed up.

Of course, it could not have been the HPD, Police do not go chasing criminals with explosives. There was a different player who was not quite as neutral as his stealth maneuvers made him appear. All these meant there was another option for Malena, she might have been kidn*pped as the HPD believed.

That seemed more likely; one would not expect the HPD Forensics team to miss human tissue in any crime scene.

Kaila jumped off from the bed. Malena could be alive; she could be sitting somewhere hoping Kaila would come save her. But first, he had to get out of Hale Maka’i, he knew it was possible. After experiencing so much wild fantasia, he had now ruled out a measure of impossibility as a major ingredient of human life.

He looked round the cell, it was mostly bricks. The only things that were not bricks were two doors. One was thick and might have been made of an alloy of a metal, which nothing could cut through easily. The door had a small square window, which could barely pass a baby’s head. In addition, the window was guarded by thick round steel or iron rods. The other door was made of wood and opened into a tiny room that could only be a toilet with its ugly-looking steel water closet.

Kaila took a deep breath and eased his way into the toilet. It was dark and stuffy. Without the door staying open one could not see anything inside. Kaila looked around for a possible escape route, everywhere was brick and cement. The only thing close to an escape route was a chucked hole above the sink.

Kaila felt a sharp pain on his neck, and brushed his hand over the spot. It might possibly be a red ant, he thought. But then, he began to feel dizzy, his visions were becoming blurred and before he knew what was happening, he was an untidy heap on the floor.

Kaila could see blurred faces bearing down on him. Among the faces was that of the young man he had met at the Unveiling; Igor Fleming or whatever his name was. The faces of the other men were just as angelic as Igor’s. Kaila thought he was dead and on a cosmic journey to heaven or to hell.

He could see Igor smiling. “All done!” He said to his friends. “Wake him.”

Were they going to return him to the land of the living?

Then it seemed the light went out. Kaila stirred from what seemed like a drug-induced sleep. He felt light and strangely foolish, somehow, he could hear discussions on the background, but he could not understand it.

“Mister?” A croaky voice sounded somewhere from outside his cell.

Kaila rushed into his cell. The voice seemed to belong to a fat man whose face was visible from the door window.

“Move to the wall...” He ordered. “Place your hands above your head! On the wall!”

Kaila wondered why all the precautions but obeyed them nonetheless.

The fat cop opened the heavy door and entered the cell with a partner. They handcuffed him and led him out of the room.

“What now? Kaila asked.

“What did you say Mister?” The fat cop asked apparently confused.

“I said what the hell is it now?”

The fat man turned to his partner. “Did you catch that?”

“Na,” the partner replied. He was stone-faced and had marks across his cheek; relics of a patrol that might have gone bad.

“A few hours here and he’s already nuts.” The fat cop said shaking his head.

“He’s faking.” The stone-faced cop dismissed. He turned to Kaila. “Listen Mister, it won’t do you any good. This is Hale Maka’i.”

Kaila looked at him with a mixture of interest and confusion. Of course, he knew too well, where he was. The impregnable Headquarters of the Honolulu Police Department. But if they did not understand what he was saying. It meant what he was saying was not English. Or were they pretending?

“Can you hear me?” Kaila said to the stone-faced cop.

“Drop it man. It’s not gonna scan.”

It was true, he was not speaking English. He could distinguish more sounds and hisses, than words in what he had said. Something must have happened to him in that toilet.

The policemen hauled Kaila into the visiting room of the HDP. A man in his early thirties was waiting to meet him. Kaila reckoned him to be the attorney chosen for him by the state.

“You are Kaila Maentel right?” The man began after Kaila took a seat across from him.

Kaila nodded.

“Good, I am Michael Hicks from the Baines Chambers and Consultancy. And I will be representing you.”

Kaila nodded his approval.

“Now you’re gonna tell me exactly what happened yesternight, and...” Michael was reading from a file. “...the nature of your relationship with Mrs. Spars.”

Kaila rubbed his forehead; he just did not know how to convey the message. He had to think of some way to communicate.

“Look, you gonna have to trust me, I’m not the enemy.” Michael said calmly trying to look into Kaila’s eyes. “Fine, don’t tell me all the gory details. I know you may have done it for a reason. But I’m here to help, and we could soft-pedal the law and possibly, the sentence.”

Kaila was furious, so the man already believed he was guilty. “Now you listen Mr. Michael Hicks, and listen very carefully. I did not kill those cops, I did not kidnap my girlfriend, and you cannot represent me as an attorney.” With that, he banged the table and stood up.

The two cops rushed in.

“You should have told me I needed an interpreter!” Michael shouted at the cops who were busy getting a good hold of Kaila. “Has he not spoken a word of English since he was arrested?”

“He did.” The fat cop said casually, he was trying to get an angry Kaila to move.

“Anyway, I’ve gotta run. I’ll be back on the hour. And please get me that interpreter.” Michael said, grabbed his file and left.

“Listen pal, you’re gonna play ball, that’s for sure.” The stone-faced cop said. “Be it soon, be it later. I know you gonna play, and I know Miss Graves too well. It’s gonna be hard ball.”

Well until such a time is come, Kaila thought as he was led back to his cell.

Immediately Kaila entered his cell, he saw about four people discussing beside his bed. He did not say anything, and waited for the cops’ reaction; none came. Apparently, the Policemen did not see anything.

“Face the wall!” The stone-faced cop commanded

Kaila obeyed. He felt the metals of a handcuff leaving his wrist.

“Don’t look back!”

Kaila obeyed. He heard the cops’ footsteps recede until he heard the thick door clink back into the latch, and heavy chains wrapped around it outside.

Igor was accusing a Fasi of not severing a pathway well.

Kaila turned to the visitors.

“What are you doing here Mr. Fleming?”

Igor was startled. “Nothing.” He said in a funny manner.

“He can see us?” One of Igor’s men asked.

“I think so Alvarez.” Igor said looking straight at Kaila.

“But how can he? The realmometer says we are still in the i-realm.” Another of the men wondered.

“We are Fasi, it’s why the cops couldn’t see us.”

“But he?”

“Yes Fasi, he can, he’s a crossbreed.” Igor said and rubbed his forehead sighing. “Why didn’t I think of this earlier. Crossbreeds are supposed to have extra parts of the body. He has an extra lobe sitting on the Hypocampal gyrus.”

“And what would this lobe be doing?” One of the men who had not yet spoken asked with great interest.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Igor replied. “That’s what we just ended up stimulating. It’s an area packed with special abilities, like the X-ray vision, or more accurately, realm-piercing vision, language...”

“Language?”

“None of you heard what he said, did you?”

“None of them was listening.” The one who was more interested in the extra lobe than Kaila answered. Apart from his earlier question, he had been watching Kaila closely. “Which brings me to my next question Suprema. How did he know you, he mentioned your name?”

“We met at the Unveiling.” Igor answered.

“What the hell are you lots talking about?” Kaila shouted at them.

“Nothing important.” Igor replied.

“What did you just say Suprema?”

“I said ‘nothing important’ Tory.” Igor replied. “It’s an ancient Ethiopian language; Balungan. It belongs to the Balungan people; a group of people sworn to Primitivity. They’ve been chased around the world by civilization. They now find a home on an active Volcano somewhere in Southern America. And you cannot see or find them except you have ties to them.”

“So he’s one of them?” Tory asked.

“No, but I’m sure he has ties to them.” Igor ruminated then turned to Kaila and spoke in Balungan. “I’m very sorry Mr. Maentel, I made a wrong call.”

“What did you do to me?”

“We stimulated an accessory lobe of your brain. Now it’s discharging involuntarily, and since it contains a primordial speech area. It is overriding your speech cortex.”

“Even if I don’t have any idea of what you are saying. I have a gut feeling, you did not do it for a good reason. What bothers me is, if that is how favours are repaid where you come from. I mean, if not for anything, I saved your life that night. That laser beam was meant for you.”

Igor thought long, Kaila could see guilt or surprise dirtying the parchment of his face. “I guess I owe you a thank you then.”

“You’re welcome.” Kaila replied. He noticed that Igor’s men were flipping their heads from one person to the next, trying to get what they were saying.

“There’s something we can do. It can reduce the amount of discharge and bring it under voluntary control.” Igor offered.

“And my realm-piercing vision?” Kaila asked foolishly.

“We didn’t put it there, so we can’t completely eliminate it.”

“I was hoping not.”

Igor turned to his men. “Where is the endogram?”

“In the train.” Fasi answered.

“Go get it.” Igor ordered.

“Okay Suprema.” Fasi said and turned to leave.

Kaila watched him in amazement walk through the bed, then the cell walls.

“He’s in the i-realm” Tory said to Kaila. Kaila turned and nodded his understanding.

In a few minutes Fasi was back with a chrome finish machine that looked more like a pasteurizer. One part was like a cap and was connected to the main machine by a thick band of wire.

“Thank God for technology, now we can manipulate the body almost at molecular level with our hands.” Igor said. “This is a cerebral endogram or cerebral endocopier Mr. Maentel. Must be curious I guess?” He was speaking in English.

Kaila nodded.

“It performs a kind of invasive brain surgery by a combination of 3-D Holographic and Laser Technologies.” Igor explained, he picked up the cap part. “This is the part that gives it the name; it is changeable depending on what part of the body in question. The rest of the machine is the endocopier; it projects whatever is underneath this part,” he indicated the cap part, “as 3-D holographs. But beyond a typical endogram, this has hands that project an advanced form of laser beam. This type of laser beam can be manipulated by use of this lever.” He indicated the handle. “The lever is touch sensitive and through the wide varieties of nerves in the palms, it is connected to the brain. With the lever, one can manipulate the laser to touch, rearrange, or cut any intended organ in the body.” He took a deep breath. “Enough of this lecture Kaila, are you up for it?”

“You tell me.” Kaila said.

“Turn it on Tory.”

“At least you’ll give me an anesthetics, like the first one.”

“That was Alvarez not me.” Igor said smiling.

“What Suprema?” Alvarez asked, he must have heard his name in the mix.

“He was asking for your sid.”

Alvarez reached for his pocket.

“No Alvarez, I’m sure he can do this open-eyed. I think you’ll soon have to get back to your South American Jungle.”

“sss is not a jungle Suprema.”

“I didn’t name names.” Igor said. “Put this on,” he said in Balungan to Kaila, handing him the cap part of the machine.

Kaila put the device on his head. Tory had already put on the machine.

Soon, a 3-D Holograph came up on top of the machine and they gathered around it. Igor showed them the so-called accessory lobe on the holograph. He then put his hand on the lever.

“Kyle, you gonna have to lie very still. I can’t say you won’t feel anything.”

Kaila saw the hand part of the machine come to stay in front of his left eye.

“That goes in through the pupil... No, no don’t close your eyes, it doesn’t hurt.”

Kaila felt something move continually through his eyes. He did not feel much again except a tingling sensation and pleasure of some kind. Then it was all over.

“That’s it Kyle, you can now take off your hat. We’ve just done a five hour procedural surgery in seconds. Now say anything that comes to your mind.” Igor said, visibly elated.

Kaila thought for a while, then said. “That was such a lousy procedure.”

Igor’s head dropped, what Kaila had said was still in Balungan.

“It didn’t work.” Tory mouthed, obviously disappointed.

“Apparently.” Igor replied.

“So what do we do?” Alvarez asked looking at Igor.

“I don’t know...”

“Relax guys, ‘was only kidding.”

Everyone turned to look at Kaila, his speech was in English. They all smiled and congratulated each other.

Kaila sniffed. “Now, who sprays a blueberry.”

“Your olfaction too.” Igor observed.

“Did you say blueberry, not good. That’s Miss Graves.” Tory said.

“Then guys, it’s time to say goodbye, my doom has come.” Kaila said.

“Why don’t you come with us?” Igor offered.

“Igor Fleming.” Kaila smiled, “I’ve lived in too much fantasy this past few days. I think it’s time I let reality take its toll.”

“If you believe there’s something else beside reality in this world, it is not fantasy. And I assure you, it is not non-reality either. But I truly think you need to come with us.”

“Apparently I can’t. I do think you know where you are; Hale Maka’i.” Kaila informed.

“I am not, you are. Hale Maka’i is in the v-realm, I am in the i-realm... It’s easy, you only need to get into the i-realm and you would have sabotaged the great and heavy fortifications of Hale Maka’i”

“Assuming I want to crossover.”

“And you will. But first, let’s make this look like a real sabotage.” Igor said thinking. “Alvarez, those two cops by the door might need your sid.”

“My utmost pleasure, Suprema.” Alvarez said bowing funnily. He went through the wall, the same path Fasi took earlier on.

“Now listen Kyle, you must understand the basic principles at work. The visible region of this world is made up of four realms, the v-realm, which you are standing on right now, the i-realm, where I am right now, the x- and z-realm. Now they are significant barriers between these realms, they are all continuous with each other. They are only sorted into differing levels based on their different cosmic energies, with the v- and z-realms having the lowest and highest energies respectively. Humans can traverse the v- and i-realms as is witnessed when one dreams, falls into a trance or sees a vision. However, the habitation energy of any living man is not high enough to reach the x- and z-realm.”

Alvarez re-entered exactly from where he had gone out from. “The devil is almost on the floor.”

“To business now. Kaila, you’re going to need a primer, we forgot to bring along the realming machine.” Igor said in a serious tone. “A primer could be anything touchable in another realm. Now, since you can see us, it makes things much easier, meaning, I can be your primer.”

“Hurry, they are on the floor.” Alvarez said.

“Now focus Kyle, clear your mind and see only me...”

Kaila obeyed, but it was not easy clearing a heavy mind like his own. He gave it a good shot though.

“Now reach out and touch me.”

Kaila could hear noises on the floor; he could hear the alarm go off. But he tried as much as he could to put it out of his mind. He reached out his hands and could almost feel Igor’s cold skin.

“Now, move your mind... Not your body.”

Kaila could hear someone by the door; he could hear the heavy chains rattle.

“Welcome to the i-realm Kaila.” Igor congratulated.

There was a loud beep. “The realmometer says, someone is nine percent in the v-realm.” Alvarez was looking at a small device he had brought out of his pocket.

Igor looked around. “Your leg!”

Kaila looked down. He could not see his left leg.

“Move it!” Igor shouted.

Kaila tried moving it.

“In your mind.”

Kaila kept trying, his vision of the cell room was fussy but he could hear the heavy door rattle open.

“It’s in.” Alvarez said.

“Just look at how angry they are.” Tory observed.

“I wish they could see their faces.” Alvarez said chuckling.

“Who are you talking about?” Kaila asked, he was looking fearfully at the single wooden platform they were standing on. Little wonders why Fasi and Alvarez used the path they did when they left the room.

“It’s expected, but for you, I would think an exception should hold. You saw us from the v-realm, which was like moving uphill, against a gradient.” Igor said.

“I saw you because I was oversensitive.” Kaila argued.

“You still saw me after the sensitivity was removed, you did that on a conscious effort... It is however normal, for people exiting a realm to have some difficulties seeing the realm they just left, it usually passes after a while. Now look, concentrate, see beyond these seas.”

Kaila did as told and soon, his cell began to float into view. He could see Mrs. Spars short frame bouncing off the cell, followed by about half a dozen officers.

“Madam, the area has been locked down.” An officer was telling her beyond the door.

“Think of something Cameron, an enticing price or something. We can’t let that son of a b***h walk?” It was Mrs. Spars barking before she was out of earshot.

Susan Graves was still in the cell room, everyone else had followed the Police Chief out.

“I think she saw your leg Kyle.” Igor whispered to Kaila.

“Kyle,” it was Susan who startled all of them.

“She can’t see us.” Igor said.

“I know you are in there... I’m sorry about earlier. Do use the east end of the building; it should be free by the time you get there. My key is in my car.” Susan said, then turned to leave. When she reached the heavy door, she paused and turned. “Good luck.” She said and then she was gone.

“But why is she helping me?” Kaila asked no one in particular.

“She never believed you were guilty.” Igor said.

“Or she has the hots for him Suprema.” Alvarez declared.

“That could also be true.” Igor mused. “Good men, I think the party’s over, time to go.”

“I hope we’ll not miss the Dragon Skiing. I know with Lenon disqualified, Donnelly will have the sky to himself.” Fasi expressed.

“I can bet my head that McNeal will burn him out half way through.” Alvarez challenged.

“Then I’ll have your head for dinner tonight Alvari.” Fasi said laughing.

“Hey watch it Kyle!” Igor shouted. “There is also gravity in the i-realm.”

Kaila’s vision drifted slowly into the i-realm. He realized that he was on the edge of the wooden platform they were standing on.

Tory was nearest, he offered Kaila a hand from which Kaila propped himself onto the middle of the platform. The platform was like a suspension bridge though the suspension ropes were not visible. Beneath, was a calm and noiseless ocean full of somewhat domesticated fishes of all kinds, even strange species Kaila had never seen before.

“’Took us hours to haul this in from the forest.” Tory said pointing to a distant forest. Kaila looked, the forest was unlike any he had ever seen, thick and lush with vegetations and gleaming under the bright sunlight. He could also see a small lumbered part, which he knew they got the wood for the platform.

“This is not my favourite mode of visiting.” Igor said. “Earth’s i-realm is too underdeveloped for my liking. That’s why I prefer the v-realm, though mostly under my invisibility suit.

Kaila wanted to ask where they were going but decided against it. A part of his mind still refused to believe that this was really happening. It was some kind of an advanced dream or trance.

“Train!” Fasi said waving his hand about the air.

To Kaila’s surprise, a two-compartment train appeared. It was so beautifully and sleekly designed that Kaila wanted to touch it. The body was patterned like a Leopard’s skin. The front end sloped forward and was as dark as an animal’s snout. The doors and windows were insets and dissolved as they were approached. There was a huge blue print on the side ‘Leopold 1’, and to crown Kaila’s awe, the train was suspended in the air.

Fasi noted the interest in Kaila’s eye and went on to explain as they boarded the train behind the others. “This is Leopold One. The official carrier of His Highness, the Suprema of the Republic of Atlantis.”

And who else could this Suprema be, Kaila thought. He had heard them address Igor thus. So, the young man was some sort of royalty... But was Atlantis not the mythical Island Plato had described? The very same that had generated great ripples among Archeologists and Historians in recent times? Kaila thought. Could he be headed to the Island believed to have flourished around Twelve Hundred BC and swallowed by the sea some three hundred years later?

“The outer part is made of Cameline, transition metametal. It has immense camouflage properties, as well as light absorption and emission properties... The cylinder pulley engine system is powered by Kralchrum, a naturally occurring energy crystal.”

Inside the train, Kaila took a deep breath and sighed heavily. In his twenty-two years life, he had never seen so much wild splendor.

“Welcome on board Leostantinopold One.” Igor beamed, turning to Kaila.

“Welcome on board your highness.” A pleasant voice said from the front compartment. The door dissolved to admit a lean graceful lady. She was probably, in her teens even though all the right curves were in place. Her teeth dazzled and her eyes lingered on Kaila.

“Lizzy, how’s everything?” Igor replied in acknowledgement.

“Fine, and who’s our guest. ‘Didn’t say you were bringing one.” The lady asked, not taking her eyes off Kaila. The other men helped themselves to the crystal-like chairs in the somewhat large compartment.

“This is Kaila Maentel, Elizabeth.” Igor introduced. “And Elizabeth Fille, Foreign Secretary.” He said gesturing towards her.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Maentel.” Elizabeth said thrusting her hand for Kaila to shake.

Kaila took the hand and withdrew immediately. Elizabeth’s palms were too soft that Kaila felt his hands would bruise it.

Elizabeth took particular notice of his action but said nothing. She turned briskly to Igor. “Evenor called in Suprema.”

“What is it again?” Igor said in a tone that was full of displeasure.

“Didn’t say.”

“By Poseidon’s head, this is a holiday. These damned Politicians have to understand that.” Igor sounded exasperated.

“Gotta understand too someday Suprema, Politics has no season.” Tory said looking up from the magazine he had dipped his attention into earlier.

“If I haven’t understood that in more than half a millennium, I guess, I never will.” Igor breathed. “What of the Gidden case, any news?”

“’Just got off the phone with Vankin, ‘said the Task Force Chief had a Press Briefing earlier. Bottom line, no foul play suspected.”

“He’s been bought, have you contacted Erin yet?”

“Still dark.”

Half a Millennium! The word rolled back in Kaila’s head. That was a good five hundred years! The idea struck Kaila, could it be possible that these people did not know what aging meant?

There was a gurgling sound from the front compartment. Elizabeth’s eye turned sharply towards it.

“Nymphye? Is that my logbook? Bring it here you lazy fairy!”

The door dissolved and Kaila watched a small pearly white creature with a pinkish glow about it, float into the room. The creature bore an oblong glossy pebble.

Elizabeth snatched the pebble from the fairy and opened it. Kaila was surprised to learn that it was a communication device. The face of some other lady had filled the screen and the voice that emanated sounded real.

Kaila turned to look at the pearly creature, which was inching towards the door but was motioned back by Igor. Igor patted a place beside him for the creature to sit, then run a hand through the fairy’s knotted hair.

The fairy turned bright pink and its diamond-shaped eyes widened.

“Well I’m not around at the moment.” Elizabeth said angrily and slammed the logbook shut.

“I take it, that wasn’t Liam?” Igor asked.

“It was Elise, apparently, sent...” Elizabeth said, the sourness had not yet cleared from her voice.

“It’s been more than half a century since then Liz. Forgiveness is not a virtue meant for only gods.” Igor said.

“It’s just too hard for me Suprema.” Elizabeth breathed.

“I know. Come, sit.” Igor said patting the other seat next to him. “Kyle our comfort is enough...” he said to a still standing Kaila as he pointed to the empty crystal-framed chairs.

Kaila smiled and took a seat. It was so soft and relaxing, Kaila felt he would soon drift into some dreamland. Perhaps, he was already in one.”

“Eh Liz, about Nymphye. Aren’t you being too hard on her, pushing off all your anxiety at her.” Kaila said stroking the fairy.

“She’s getting too lazy Suprema. And sleeps too much.” Elizabeth complained.

“And you’ve found no cause in casual diagnosis?”

“Fairies do not age in years Suprema, if that’s what you mean.”

“Disease could also be found...”

“None that our Priest have found as of yet.”

“Our Priests as you well know Liz, are now busy trying to keep their seat at the Senate Council than working for the benefit of Atlantis.” Igor noticed the disapproving face Nymphye was making and smiled. “No, no Nymphye, not physical disease... Disease is anything that troubles any part of a person’s body, moods, and even the soul.”

Nymphye did not look quite convinced but eased Kaila’s conscience by turning a shade brighter.

“Eh Suprema?” Elizabeth called, she just remembered something. Kaila noticed the other three men’s lack of interest in Igor’s proceed with his Foreign secretary. He just couldn’t understand why. “The Supremese wanted to know when you’ll be back?”

“Now of course, there’ll be no more monitoring to be done.”

“I’ll ring her up then.” Elizabeth said rising.

“No, it’s been a while since I surprised her.”

“Oh Suprema, you got to see this.” Tory said smiling childishly. “They just cloned an animal.”

“They are about a Millennium behind Civilization Tory.” Igor informed proudly.

Kaila realized they were referring to the people of the earth. He just could not wait now to see this their so-called advanced Civilization.

As if Igor read Kaila’s mind. He put on the two way communication system between the compartments. Then, he called out to someone Kaila reckoned, had to be the driver. The Answer Igor got was a long heavy snore. Igor turned to Nymphye. “Go rouse Plutarch, and bid him take us back to the Shuttle Center.”

Kaila saw everyone pull on wide foamy seatbelt and did likewise. He did not notice Nymphye disappear through the door, or Igor produce a glass of whisky from his seat. All he knew was that after a few seconds, he heard a croaky voice shout “Oh!” The two compartment train had jerked to life, straining him on the leash of a seatbelt.