Sample

Extract from Chapter One

It was now almost noon, and the sun was approaching the zenith, beating down on Table Mountain. True to its name, the top of the mountain was like a flat round table, as if someone had neatly sliced off the peak. On it, was a raised platform, a few metres high, more like an altar: a circular stone platform supported by large pillars of stone, equally spaced; the gap in between was enough to let at least two people through. Surprisingly there were no trees on the table, except a ring of high bushes and thick bougainvillea like foliage, with the pink and white flowers in full bloom, surrounded the edge of the platform, cordoning off the area.
Quintessence of human craftsmanship, the Pyramid, with perfectly straight and smoothly polished sides, made of natural rock, stood solidly on the stone platform, as a symbol of impending loneliness for the witnesses. There were only two of them: Ophelia—Antares’s wife—and Carina—Achernar’s five-year old daughter. They had come to bid goodbye to Antares and Achernar, who were about to embark on their maiden voyage, in a quest to look for life beyond their world; their destination: two million light-years away, on the fringes of the neighbouring galaxy.
Dressed in pure white flowing robes with hoods covering their baldheads, their robes fluttering in the howling wind, they stood, with outstretched hands, encircling the gleaming pyramid. There were thirteen of them—the Masters—the eventual conduits of cosmic energy. Facing the hand crafted Inter Galactic Traveller (IGT)—the Pyramid—they were directing their energies onto it, with open palms, as if taking oath before a divine inquisition.
It was not just the beaming of the human form, but far more complex—the teleportation of two human beings along with the pyramid. The Masters, from their abode in the Thirteenth plane, had assembled to initiate the teleportation of the two astronauts. They were imparting their energies onto the IGT, facilitating the conversion of physical matter into energy waves. This ball of energy was beamed into interstellar space, travelling at lightning speeds, or probably even faster.
Once in their nascent form, the forces generated during acceleration to such high speeds, had no effect, which, otherwise, would crush the human body and the pyramid into the most miniscule of fragments. On reaching its destination, the IGT would remain energized, becoming a permanent fixture in that region of space, and a home for the two space-farers.
Ophelia and the child watched from a safe distance, from the far side of the table, which lead to a cliff that dropped down to the ocean. The flat and level ground was covered with overgrown grass, a complete contrast to the undulating landscape of the rest of the plane. The opposite side sloped down into the Eleventh plane; a well-defined pathway lined with willow trees, led to it. To the east, the land mass extended far beyond, to a much higher ground, almost hundred metres higher than Table-Mountain, where resided the Supreme Master and other Masters.
There was a direct route to the Thirteenth plane. The pathway was barren and so straight, that one could see the end that disappeared into a steep climb—a rustic Champs Elyse. Looming above, on the hill, was the silhouette of the Palace of the Supreme Master. And in the foreground was a wondrous expanse of a carpet of grass, green as green could be, interspersed with little hillocks rising above the ground, and little bodies of water scattered along, glistening in the sunlight. Achernar was of medium height, dark complexioned, sporting a moustache. His short curly hair was intricately braided. He was already near the Pyramid—their spaceship. He did not want to make an issue of his departure in front of his little daughter—Carina. His wife had stayed home, unable to bear the parting.
Antares had walked down, off the platform, to bid goodbye to his wife. The howling wind was growing in intensity; the blades of grass, tinged with a yellow sheen, were almost kissing the ground. Ophelia covered her ears with a scarf and reached her hand out to Antares, drawing him closer; it was more of an act of maintaining her balance. Her long black hair, neatly tied in a high bun, stayed in place, while her beautiful brown eyes were almost shut to protect them from the wind. They looked a perfect couple; both of the same age and very good-looking, too; so very much in love with each other, though she did look more mature and self-reliant. He stood with his hands on her shoulders. At last he gave his boyish smile, and with his closely cropped jet-black hair, he looked even younger. His big blue eyes looked into hers with the same loving overtures.
“I do not know if we shall ever see each other again,” Ophelia whispered to Antares. “I am carrying our child, my love. Take care.”
She broke down, embraced her husband, and cried—sobbed uncontrollably—like a child in its mother’s arms, her face resting on his chest. He hugged her tight, but only for a moment, displaying no emotions. And then, the low murmur, followed by an ominous rumbling of the drums, signalled the inevitability of the parting. Their love, sacrificed in the hope of finding a hospitable world across the frontiers of space-time.
Antares looked back towards the high ground, and for the last time he knelt down and hugged Carina—a splitting image of her father, Achernar. She had his brown eyes. Her shoulder length curly black hair was neatly plaited into a ponytail.
“We will be back soon,” he reassured her.
Then, he abruptly swung around, and hurriedly made his way to the site, without even a second glance at Ophelia. The Supreme Master Sirius, and the twelve other Masters had energized the spaceship; it was ready for departure. Achernar had already disappeared inside. Antares followed suit, receiving only a brief nod from Master Sirius.
The tableau appeared so ruthless and cold to Ophelia, as her pensive gaze followed Antares into the pyramid, which she now looked upon only as a funerary monument, and awaited his imminent departure.
She swung around to avoid being blinded by the light that was now radiating from the pyramid, and walked away, towards the cliff, with sure, but slow, steps, leaving behind the crimson silhouette. She could now only hear a thunderous roar, and looked over the perilous precipice towards the open sea. A tidal wave was approaching the shores, growing bigger and bigger. From her vantage point, she felt safe. The gigantic tidal wave hit the shores. She felt the ground under her feet quiver, as a spray of salty water dissolved into her tearful face. The beating of the drums stopped abruptly. There was silence; it was as deafening. But the blinding light was gone. The pyramid had also vanished into thin air. She held Carina in front of her and stroked her hair, trying to comfort the sobbing child, who probably was more traumatized by the experience than by the departure of her father. Her Antares, too, had gone forever; at least, out of her life.
Will he ever come back to see his child? Ophelia wondered, heaving a sigh. She felt a flutter in her stomach and placed her hand on it, and felt grateful to him for giving her what she had asked for—a symbol of their undying love.

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