Divine Deception: The Will Traveller Chronicals (23 page)

Zoran’s very much
cooler attitude toward them provided ample notice that we now knew
the whole truth. Both of them were now clearly regretting having
accepted my invitation to join us. Less than ten kilometres from
Karak we found our first Mangelese village. People poured out of
the neat rows of circular straw huts and then went into absolute
panic mode for a few moments.

“We come in peace”
I used the loud voice, but with a gentle tone “Be not afraid, we
will not harm you. I merely wish to speak with you and learn of
your ways” I told them. We landed in an open field, fifty metres
from the edge of the now frozen-in-fear village.

Just as prey often
does, when it’s brought down by a predator, these people seemed to
have just resigned themselves to their fate, knowing they had no
defence, and switched their minds completely off. They were an
Asian people, quite small in stature with jet black hair. The men
wore black pyjama-like outfits and the women wore colourful
sari-like dresses. Unwilling to frighten them, I took only Zoran
with me. We walked slowly down the T.T.V.’s transom and over
towards them. Three, slightly taller than average, well built men
stood looking at us, as we approached. They stood in front of the
largest of the hundred or so huts and, as everyone else looked down
or straight ahead, as if fearful of what they might see, Zoran and
I headed over to them.

“This is Lord
Robert of the Supreme House of Red” Intoned Zoran in his rather
ritualistic way.

“We know who you
are, and what you want” The leader replied.

The angry answer
came from a well built and strikingly handsome thirty something man
who stood in the middle of the trio.

“You have seen me
before then?” I asked the obvious.

“And your two kin”
He snapped back, the anger rising “But you have butchered so many
of our people, so how could you possibly remember all of their
faces?” He was growing nasty.

“I cannot deny
your words and I totally condemn what has been done to the
Mangelese” I told him “Both by my family, my former self, and the
Sentoria government, this I swear to you” I looked deep into the
angry fire which raged in his eyes.

“Do you try to
entrance me?” He asked, turning his head away.

“No, I seek to
feel your pain” I replied sincerely. As we stood there in silence,
I searched for an inspiration. A way to win his trust.

Almost without
thought, I went into silent telepathic action.

“Are there any of
you near here” I reached out to the animal world.

After a few
seconds of silence there was assorted chatter and a lot of “Who is
that?” questions. I focused my thoughts

“This is Lord
Robert. I want you all to come here to me in this village” I told
them all..

“But they are
killers” They chorused back, humans were not too popular around
there.

“You cannot be
harmed when you do my bidding” I promised them “Come now”.

“Who are you?” A
deeper voice queried, adopting a spokesman type role for the
creatures.

“I am sent to
bring peace and justice” I replied firmly, then offered “Show them
you obey my commands and I’ll be able to teach them to farm their
livestock and quit hunting” I telepathed.

“You can do that?”
Responded a dozen excited ‘voices’.

“With your help, I
believe that I can yes” I telepathed back.

“We come” Was
their unanimous answer and I waited to see what would happen. I
focused back on the puzzled but still angry man “Your people have
long wandered in search of sustenance, driven off your land because
you were not strong enough to repel the invaders” I acknowledged
“Persecuted further by those who invaded, with the help of my much
misguided family” I admitted, making my regret as clear as I
could.

“Now, it is time
for you to once again know peace and settled prosperity, if you so
choose” I told him.

“And how many
women do you want, to give us all this?” The man asked, resigned
but still defiant. Just then the animals started to arrive. I let
no-one move. Two giant black bears, three monstrous deer like
creatures, all males with magnificent antlers, and a dozen other
larger-than-life canine and feline animals, came slowly through the
literally frozen Mangelese people and right up to me. Five of them
towered well over me. After elevating myself to eye level with the
ten metre tall bears, I undid the time freeze and the voice
spoke

“These are wild
animals to you, fare for your table, yet, if that is so, how can it
be that they can speak with me? Come when I call?”

I let that thought
sink in. This was certainly a mind expanding idea for these
Mangelese, but would it work?

“You are like the
others in ships like yours that also hunt us” The large bear
telepathed accusingly, and several others joined in the silent
accusations.

“True, all true
I’m afraid” I admitted “But that is all past now. Let’s see if we
can turn these hunters into farmers” I urged them “Then you’ll all
be free to roam at will”.

“I like that idea”
One of the huge felines enthused silently, but purred loudly.

“You are no
ordinary man that you can speak with them, call them at will, and
fly!” The once angry but now amazed Mangelese leader whispered.

“What do they call
you?” I asked him respectfully.

“He is King Du
Lat” Answered the one on the left.

“What is it that
you want Lord Robert?” The King’s commonsense had defeated his
anger.

“That just as you
will never more be hunted” I replied “I seek that you shall also
cease to hunt these creatures” I added, returning slowly to the
ground to face him.

“But we would
starve” He appealed, to me, and to the animals that loomed above
us.

“Not if you raised
livestock and learned to farm” I told him.

“Then you could
build real homes that keep your people warm in winter, cool in
summer and safe from storms” I tried to make the Mangelese leader
see a more settled way of life.

“You ask a bird
not to fly, a fish not to swim I’m afraid” The giant black bear
remarked.

“Perhaps not” I
countered telepathically “Pick him up gently and bring him face to
face with you” I ordered the huge creature. The ten metre tall bear
walked over to the man.

“Fear not King Du
Lat” I assured him, as the huge creature gently placed an armchair
sized paw palm up for the remarkably calm Mangelese leader to step
into.

“When his fear is
gone, so will the need for yours” I telepathed to the bear. “You
must help him to see you as the being you truly are”. The King sat
there, not more than a metre from the giant bear’s dust bin lid
sized brown eyes.

Slowly but surely
the people of the village lost their fear and began to come over to
the terrifyingly large animals and us.

“No-one can harm
or be harmed in my presence” I ordered out loud, knowing the
animals heard and understood just as well as the villagers
themselves. The next hour was such that no-one who witnessed it
could ever forget it. King Du Lat began it all by reaching out and
putting his hand on the big bear’s black furry nose, which was the
size of a family car’s bonnet, and scratching it as you would your
dog.

“That feels pretty
good” The fur clad giant telepathed, a tone of contentment
apparent.

One of the huge
cats walked over to the man who had introduced the King and sat
right in front of him, their eyes were level. The horse-sized cat
leaned it’s head forward and down, then the young man, hesitant at
first, bravely scratched the beast head like a domestic cat. Soon,
every one of the animals was experiencing it’s first non-violent
human contact. Most of the villagers chose to stay a little back,
but those who had the courage, experienced something utterly unique
in mankind’s history. Regretfully, common sense demanded that I
tell all the animals to return to their forests and remain ever
alert. “Humans are not the fastest of learners” I warned them as
they left.

King Du Lat was a
changed man when he turned to me, after watching the last of the
animals leave his village.

“I feel shame that
our lives have been built on destroying theirs” His voice held a
sad new awareness. Then he brightened “You would know what our will
is?” He asked me.

“I would. Very
much” I conceded, smiling warmly at King Du Lat.

“Then give some of
this livestock you speak of and teach us to farm and build sturdy
homes” The King told me, then announced loudly “The Mangelese will
hunt no more!”.

His committed
declaration led to rapturous applause and cheering by his people.
By then, the hour had grown late and, though I wanted to accept his
invitation to stay and celebrate, I felt it best we call it a good
day’s work and get back to Sentoria.

There were things
that needed seeing to back there. King Du Lat offered me the two
most beautiful girls in the village, as thanks, and rarely has a
gift been so hard to refuse. Even without make up, their almond
eyes and flawless golden faces would grace any magazine cover. I
dared not dwell on what treasure lay under their brightly coloured
saris. The King was astonished at my refusal.

“Things certainly
have changed” He laughed, as we took our leave.

They were a
beautiful people, inside and out, and while, from Rama Karak’s
description of the Tartar, they were, in fact, savages, these
Mangelese people most definitely were not.

Once they had the
necessary animals, tools and knowledge, I felt sure the nomadic
Mangelese would eventually come together and create a Nation of
their own once again. On our way back, Zoran and I discussed
logistics. We were going to need to get those six old transport
T.T.V’s over here We had no doubt that there would be plenty of
most knowledgeable New World volunteers to teach the Shivites and
the Mangelese their respective sciences.

“When the whole
truth comes out, there will be enormous interest in coming here”
Zoran predicted “Sentoria could be the gateway to this vast
continent. There are certain to be many more civilisations living
on this vast northern continent” He added “Don’t forget, our next
visit is to two communities on the North Western coast of this same
continent” He reminded me.

“I believe we
still have far to travel and much to see and do, before it is time
to deal with the dissolution of Supreme House” I said, feeling a
little tired.

“That’s if the
Supreme One doesn’t make the first move” Warned Zoran “He still
possesses great power don’t forget Sire” Zoran reminded me, as I
went for a nap. Refreshed after my thirty minute power nap, I
ordered the Captain to land in front of Sentoria’s Government House
and asked Zoran to get Governor General Marsoni on the phone for
me. Commanders Davis and Richards were most anxious to disembark,
but I insisted they remain aboard till, we were joined by their two
superiors.

“Lord Robert
welcome back” Marsoni’s voice was bright “Did you find any usable
labour source up North?” His over confident, almost mocking voice
set off alarm bells in my head.

“We found many
things of interest Governor General” I replied without emotion “I
want you and the Admiral to join Commander Richards and I right
away” I told him flatly.

“But it’s almost
ten p.m. Lord Robert” His voice was actually patronising “Why don’t
we have breakfast tomorrow morning here at Government House?” He
invited. Making sure that Davis and Richards could see me, I
motioned to the crew and guardsmen, who had been learning how to
use the ship’s awesome weapons, to prepare them. Then I spoke to
the Sentorian leader over the phone.

“If the two of you
are not on your way, in ten minutes, I will reduce your Government
House to rubble. Just as you did to those who once lived on that
hillside” I told him coldly. There are some that become so
enamoured of their own power, that only a display of a far greater
power will get them to listen. A ridiculous cavalcade of military
vehicles appeared, all quite useless against our T.T.V, of course.
It was accompanied by the State’s two top leaders and a half a
dozen soldiers as escorts. I let the two leaders walk up the
T.T.T.’s landing transom, but I froze the six escorts.

“You may enter
gentlemen” I invited from the top of the steps. They started up,
looked back and saw their motionless troops, then they looked back
up at me nervously.

“You do not need,
nor can you have, protection from me, have you forgotten?” I smiled
down at them coldly.

“Now come on up
and let’s get down to some truthful discussion.” I told them, then
turned and walked back into the cabin to join Commanders Richards
and Davis. Zoran and I were soon joined by the two now angry,
rather than nervous, leaders.

“Lord Robert”
Marsoni began heatedly “Do you not think you are exceeding your
Supreme authority in ordering the lawful government of this State
around?” He demanded to know. Their newly courageous body language
made everything clear to me.

“So you’ve decided
to go with Lady Ursula?” I asked casually.

“We are
subservient to the Supreme One, Lord Robert, not to any Patriarch,
including you” General Marsoni’s confidence was growing
rapidly.

Zoran stood up
quickly, I had never seen anger on his face before “You fools” He
spat out “The Supreme one can only be heard by Lady Ursula” Zoran
told them “He is virtually senile and barely able to understand his
immediate surroundings, let-a-lone what’s happening in the New
World” Zoran glared at the three men.

“So Lord Robert
kills off his older brother, along with his younger sister” Admiral
Davis accused, adding “In what you told us was a tragic accident.
Then he tries to attack the Supreme House and kill the Supreme One,
so he can become leader of the New World” Admiral Davis glared at
Zoran and I and continued “That didn’t succeed, so you’re now
trying to stir rebellion in the New world’s States, to support your
insurrection” He parroted Ursula.