Seth spent the next few days researching the blue green planet. He traveled both geographically and horologically, spreading his research through time in order to get a feel of the history of the beings that dwelled there.
He studied them from both close and far. At times even meeting them. On the whole they would retain little or no memory of him as he became more and more skilled at wiping their memories. But they were a willful species and remembered far more about the little gray men from far away than he would have believed.
After spending a total of nine days in meditational stasis, he returned, ready to report to commander Ammon.
Seth sat on the edge of his bed, sipping a cocktail of distilled mead, milk and honey. Replacing the fluids and energy that he had used up whilst traveling. Commander Ammon sat on a hide-covered stool opposite the mage.
‘It is a world similar to ours,’ said Seth. ‘However, there is much more land. Whereas we have but a few islands they have vast swathes of fertile soil. Thousands of square leagues. I have chosen a particular place that is strong in magiks. An ancient place called Cornwall in a land called England’
‘And will they accept us as refugees?’
Seth shook his large gray head. ‘No. They are an unbelievably war-like people. Since time immemorial they have fought amongst themselves.’
‘Large wars?’ Enquired the commander.
‘Beyond our imagining. Weapons of mass destruction that make our most powerful magiks pale into nothingness. In my travels I saw entire cities leveled by weapons capable of unleashing storms of fire that competed against the very sun itself. Hand held weapons that can kill over many leagues distance. I saw vast prisons that were there for no other purpose than to exterminate the beings that were imprisoned there. Exterminate them in their millions.’
‘So then,’ said Ammon. ‘There is no point in going. It would be the old cliché of jumping from the cooking pot only to land in the fire.’
‘No, not at all,’ disagreed Seth. ‘Let me finish. I am telling you of their past. What they once were.’
‘Ah,’ interrupted Ammon. ‘They have progressed. They have learned the value of life?’
‘The opposite,’ said Seth. ‘Somehow, and I know not why, they have regressed. The flying machines no longer work. Their mechanical modes of transport. Their massive night-lights. None of it works anymore. It is as though the gods have abandoned them, taking with them all knowledge of the past and leaving them as cave dwellers in a broken palace. As a result they are a dying race. Hundreds of thousands of them perish every day. And those not dying of natural causes are being killed by the stronger ones. They are barbaric beyond belief.’
‘And their magiks?’ Asked the commander.
‘They no longer seem to have any,’ answered Seth.
‘It is almost too good to be true. Can you take me there?’
Seth nodded. ‘I have much power. The Life-Light there is so strong that, even in my corporeal form, I managed to fill myself with it. Let me finish my potion and I will oblige.’
The mage continued to sip his nourishing cocktail, not rushing. Ammon sat still and waited. Patiently.
‘Right,’ said Seth. ‘Come and sit next to me. We shall join hands and travel. I must be honest and warn you; this will be a little uncomfortable to you. The disassociation of soul from self can be very disturbing for the uninitiated. But I shall be with you so there is little to worry about. Just remember, do not panic. Breathe deeply and slowly and, relax. Ready?’
Ammon joined hands and nodded. ‘Ready.’
The universe stretched thin. Ammon felt as though his brain had been siphoned out of his cranium and liquidized. Pain scoured his mind like spiders scrabbling on a tiled surface. Light filled his being and exploded. Then all was dark.
‘Commander,’ said Seth. ‘Open your eyes.’
Ammon did so. He lay on his back on a field of rough grass. Above him the sky was filled with the multicolor of the Life-Light. The air was thick and frigid. Heady. His head still buzzed with pain.
‘You mendacious double-dealer,’ he accused Seth. ‘A little uncomfortable?’
The mage laughed. A dry staccato sound. Like the breaking of twigs. ‘Well, if I told the truth would you have come?’
Ammon rubbed his large forehead. ‘Probably. Not sure.’
‘Now, my friend,’ warned Seth. ‘You must remember. You are not here but you are here at the same time. Your physical body sits in stasis in my campaign tent but your inner self has traveled. However, any harm that you incur here will be carried over to your corporeal being. In other words, you die here, you die for real.’
Ammon stared around him. The land was flat and windswept. And as he turned and looked, he saw them. Stones, perhaps six to ten feet high. Standing in a circle around him. Maybe twenty of them. He felt a shiver of fear run through him.
‘Ley stones,’ he said, his voice raw with horror.
‘Yes,’ agreed Seth. His voice calm.
‘But you said that they had no magik. These stones show that they still practice the old ways. The way of the druids. You idiot, Seth. You have lead us into destruction.’ Ammon was literally shaking in terror.
‘No,’ said Seth. ‘Stop. Relax. Feel. Just feel with your mind. Let your thoughts flow.’
Ammon stood still for a while. ‘You’re correct,’ he eventually said. ‘Nothing. These stones must be very, very old. The magik has long since gone from them. They must have forgotten how to control the power.’ He turned to face Seth and bowed slightly. ‘I offer my apologies, friend. You did warn me not to panic.’
Seth’s dry laugh cracked out again. ‘No need to apologize,’ he said. ‘The first time that I landed in them I literally almost soiled myself, so you have done yourself proud to maintain your dignity to the extent that you did. However, as you know, these stones would only be placed in an area of great power. So, this will be our staging post. This is the place known as Cornwall and it is here where I shall form the gateway to bring our people through. It is isolated from the beings that dwell on this planet, there is ample water and, as you can see, large open spaces. Perfect.’
Seth looked at the commander, waiting for comment. But Ammon was staring out across the plain. Approaching from afar was a small, hairy, four-legged beast, running at full pelt. Its oddly long tongue dangled from the side of its mouth and its equally oddly long ears flapped behind its head. Ammon tensed and prepared to defend himself.
‘Oh, don’t worry about those,’ assured Seth as the beast drew closer. ‘They are called Dogs. It probably just wants to lick you.’
‘Lick me?’ Asked Ammon in horror. ‘Why?’
‘Best that I can figure out is that the male beings that live on this planet have bred these animals to be their companions. Their, best friends, as it were. And, as far as I can see, being licked donates the dog’s friendship.’
True to form the dog, a Red Setter, desperate for company now that its master and his friends had all left, ran up to Ammon and licked his face in greeting. The commander let his mind flow into the dog.
‘Love,’ he said to Seth. ‘This dog thing seems to have only two or three rudimentary thoughts; food, water and love.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Seth. ‘They have a saying here; a Dog is a man’s best friend.’
‘I see. And what about the females of the species?’
Seth looked puzzled. ‘Odd as it may sound, from the little research that I have managed, it appears that gemstones are a female’s best friend. I believe the saying goes; diamonds are a girl’s best friend.’
‘How do I stop this animal licking me?’ Asked the commander.
‘Tell him to sit,’ responded Seth. ‘They are very obedient.’
‘Sit,’ commanded Ammon.
The dog sat, tongue lolling out. Waiting for its next command.
‘Very interesting.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Seth. ‘You have to be a little careful of them. Sometimes they try to bite you. And their teeth are
formidable.’
‘Why?’ Asked Ammon. ‘I thought that they were my best friend.’
‘You are,’ said Seth. ‘But they can still bite you.’
Ammon shook his head. ‘What a strange planet this is. I feel that we will be able to improve things a great deal here when we arrive. I feel that some sort of order wouldn’t go amiss. No, not at all.’
‘I agree, commander. Now, should we link hands and return?’
The two fair folk joined hands. Seth concentrated. Light shimmered and they were gone.
The dog lay down and whined for a while.
Chapter 19