Chapter 17
‘When you’re going through hell,
keep going’
-Winston Churchill
I’d been warned such a dramatic shift between dimensions wouldn’t be instant, so this interim period should be spent preparing mind and spirit. One couldn’t expect to arrive back on earth instantaneously. James had been quite clear that at first things would be slow. After that lands and dimensions I may visit on my journey home could only get faster and stranger. He stressed to exhaust all avenues of investigation in each area whenever possible, as it would be impossible to go back.
Training had compromised many areas: Thinking on ones feet, stealth, camouflage, using available terrain to my advantage, how to take in a scene quickly and avoid making wrong decisions.
Reading subtle clues in a character’s body language, and their possible interpretations came next. This encompassed a whole host of phenomena namely: plants, animals, gaseous, water or fire based and spiritual and electrical life forms. James informed me that contrary to popular belief carbon based life was not the be all and end all. Since his passing he’d found that element made up only a tiny percentage of possible life forms out there. Life could spring from any substance, anywhere in any form.
Aliens were classed as anything that wasn’t human in body or spirit. Therefore all they did was likely to be alien and difficult for me to interpret. For instance human morals could not be relied on with these fellows, for who could say one would not betray you, being unable to grasp the fundamentals of friendship and loyalty? The Jolly Japer clearly delighted in such lessons, the way he paced up and down the floor proving theories - he had such a thirst for knowledge and an innate need to pass it on it inevitably became incredibly infectious.
“If you fail, I shall fail Sam. And if that were to happen, it shall be because of a wholly unexpected factor outside the realms of our universe itself, not because I didn’t give you all the ammunition you could possibly need.” His learning was staggering. James Jodphur was a rare genius and an extraordinarily loyal friend.
In a blue flash I arrived on solid ground. As predicted I was back to an awkward, spectral form. Night had fallen. All that lit the way ahead was a pale, gibbous moon. I floated nervously just above a large dirt track. To my left lay an enormous cliff. Ground at its sides appeared cracked, crumbly and highly unstable. Despite opportunities afforded by my current state, a flash of intuition warned me to stay clear. My top priority was to find a way back to my body before it was too late.
To my right rose a steep clay bank, beyond which lay black, menacing nothingness. At the foot of said bank stood thin trees, whose trunks grew crooked and twisted. This was hardly what I expected. I moved forward gingerly till striking the top of a rise.
Thunder roared and lightning flashed, highlighting my vague, bent silhouette against the high sandy banks. Heavy rain followed, passing through me, pounding the muddy ground relentlessly. Dirty brown sand and filthy water pirouetted high into the air. Slamming back down, they created colossal craters passing for giant’s footsteps. Backwash flooded them quickly, oozing out fresh, bubbling mud from deep beneath the surface. Instinctively I shivered violently. Something felt terribly wrong, like my life-force was failing. I continued onwards, hoping for answers.
Down in that deathly deep gulf all stayed dark and dreary. No rain fell there, only a pale, suspicious mist rising steadily. Up here a raging storm begun again without wind. Lightning flashed once more, showing a log cabin not far ahead. Now rain fell horizontally, attacking the sodden bank. Trees creaked unnervingly under the strain. Creeping closer to the hut I brushed aside grimy webs hanging over the stairs. Up four hewn steps lay a thin veranda, just wide enough for a person to stand and gaze out over the landscape, or for someone to gaze in.
Smoke chugged out the chimney, hanging in the air, gathering into large elliptical clouds that jiggled from side to side. Suddenly a single sooty black puff shot upwards, joined by an extraordinarily malodorous smell. Behind the cabin solid rock reached high into the sky. To my left lay a small garden, bordered by thick bushes. Exploring this area tickled my fancy. There was no room to go behind the cabin, so I contented myself to go over it instead! Tumbling over and over I eventually effected a textbook landing. Aha, over in the far corner was a miniature grey gravestone. Fresh cut exotic flowers poked their heads out a crystal vase at the base. An inscription read: ‘Here lies the mortal remains of Charles Dancer Smythe. Passed quietly as foretold in the season of the Great Spirit, aged thirty and two.’ Written beneath lay:
‘When we dream, we will find each other.
Love always,
Jade.’
Apart from a spectacular display of plants and a healthy wooden bench, there sat a small ornamental fountain which had run dry. Cleverly hidden under a bush against the fence line was what had to be an exit! It proved a small, square shaped contraption, no more than a metre across, soundly locked by thick, twisting roots burrowing their way deep underground. This would prove quite a test of my limited spiritual powers.
I decided to check out the lodge first through the only available window, located low down on its right hand side. Background noise quelled my approach. My training was paying off. Positioned at the far right of the window where the pale moon cared to cast most of its shadows, I took great care to make sure to time quick glances to coincide with intervals between lightning strikes.
Sitting with her back to the door, warming hands over a crackling fire was a lady, clad in a neat brown shawl. Long tresses of raven black hair tied up in neat lengths reached the floor. I suddenly realised she seemed to be staring deeply into the fire, hardly moving. This was unnatural. Yes, by all regards she was just staring into the flames, waiting for something. Every so often I swore she smiled. Then I had it. Of course, she could see me! This shrewd woman hadn’t been staring idly, but cleverly waiting patiently for that extra flicker of flame that leaps from the fiery belly of blazing coals. If one stares in the same spot for long enough, one can sometimes get a glimpse of what is behind you. This requires intense concentration and faultless discipline.
Here sat an adept at subterfuge, toying with me. Fears attacked me from all sides. Again I felt that nervous feeling that something was very wrong here, so I headed clumsily for the exit. I attempted to connect spiritually with the intricate locks on the entrance. Bah, foiled again. My heart plunged hearing a weathered door thrust open, two light footsteps and the scent of honey blossom. I inhaled deeply, receiving a sense of endless meadows, towering peaks and gay abandon revelling in the joy of life and nature itself. One remarkably cheerful voice floated down the steps.
“Leaving so soon? Shame, I thought we may become friends.”
Seconds later a commanding female presence stood at the garden entrance, peering in.
My word she was indescribably beautiful. No one could have asked for more.
“You were doing that wrong by the way,” she laughed, noticing my fixed stare, and throwing her locks away from gorgeous emerald eyes. I noted they naturally expressed a distinct sense of openness. This is a rare look some folk are blessed with, giving an air of trustworthiness.
“Come in Sam. Creeping about in this weather, you’ll catch your death!” she said, sashaying up the stairs.
So there I sat, watching attentively while she stirred up the fire. Fresh flames highlighted hidden lustres in those elegant locks. Jade would make a perfect spy. Folk would tell her anything. I sat with my hands placed on the knees, eyeing the door unconsciously.
“There’s no need to be nervous,” Jade purred sweetly, “You followed your instincts, feeling the one that came before, which was why you fled,” she explained in that sumptuous, heavenly voice, pointing at a heap of clothes and a crude mask in the corner. “We had a nice, polite chat. I told her she had no business here, so she left with her tail between her legs.”
“Oh, introductions. I’m Jade. Welcome Sam.”
“What wa
s Doctor Solomon doing here?”
“Hush, I can only tell you what you need to survive. That amulet around your neck, do you realise how precious it is?”
“No, yes, no, well a bit, a friend made it for me,” I stuttered, feeling terribly foolish.
“Then it was a deeply clever and especially good friend indeed. If I wore such a rare treasure I should keep it exceedingly well hidden.”
“Are you a spirit?”
“After a fashion.”
“I see, what was it you wanted to discuss?”
“How to talk to girls,” Jade teased.
“Why would you want to help me at all?”
“Some of us are like that you know. There is no hidden agenda. We see a like minded soul in distress and we act. My time here is short. I regret I cannot answer many of your questions, but I can tell of things to come, for which fair warning can be given.”
“Come, take my hand,” she offered. Glorious pulses of electricity sped up and down my spine, lodging at the back of my skull.
Jade looked deeply into my eyes, searching for some hidden cue. She could have stared into them for eternity for all I cared.
“I can tell you that before this is over you will have been tested beyond virtually all on earth. If you fail there will be no sanctuary this time. The moment you truly give up hope will be your last. Fight to the very end. Never surrender!” she cried urgently. “Ah, I see it now - a dark shadow watches over you.”
“Ian?”
“No. That is all.” She stopped abruptly, sitting back heavily. The atmosphere grew quiet.
“Jade, who’s Charles?”
“My other half,” she sighed.
“This was his house when he lived. I come here once a year to laugh, cry, sing and honour his memory. Imagine my disgust to find his abode sullied with lowly ruffians like her, who’d mindlessly destroyed land he’d tended for centuries.”
“Do you expect him back soon?” I asked quietly.
“Sadly I cannot tell. ‘tis often so with loved ones. A gift such as mine has two sides. He’s been away so much longer than expected. Where he resides now, in a thousand years he has not dreamt. That is the problem.”
“Perhaps this may help?” I said hopefully, pulling the miniature velvet pouch out. Between leaving the village and this moment it had somehow been imprinted with the symbol of ying and yang.
“You’re sure? There’s but a thimbleful there,” the beauty asked doubtfully, gazing longingly at the glittering substance.
“We’ll share. Father taught me you can take the measure of folk if they treat you well when they have no earthly reason to. Please help yourself,” I offered.
“Bless you Sam,” Jade murmured. “This precious dust cannot be found or stolen - it has to be given freely without deceit on the receiver’s part, or its powers are nil. I need a mere third,” she confessed, dabbing a touch into a silver chalice.
“I shall sprinkle it over his grave under a yellow moon and dance amongst the stars,” she laughed, jumping to her feet. “I shall bear his children, each one prettier and quicker than the last,” she swore, dancing round the room. “Soon we shall be together for all eternity. Sam, I shall tell him of you, of my castle on Eikorion, of your gracious gift and selflessness. Now you may join us when you’re ready. Come, take my hand, there is one more.”
Jade looked deep into my eyes, searching through limitless time and space, speaking softly.
“Sam, make haste. There isn’t long - though he’ll die before you do.”
The room partly dissolved, leaving vague, ghostly shapes. Morphing amongst furniture swirled a forest, a crystal clear waterfall and a youth wearing thin night wear, lying on a long slab of rock. Around his pale face hung a ghostly grey pallor, tainting his eyes with an unnatural mix of dirty brown and deep, jet black. I hardly recognised the ailing youth as me.
I watched the scene updating in weird flickering stages, as if certain parts had happened earlier, and others later. Forest animals bounded over two sets of footsteps leading into the clearing, one large, one small and alien. A wide circle around the scene lay green and lush, whereas outside this warming sphere of light hung an oppressive black cloud, swirling ceaselessly.
Good lord! Just then my eyelids flittered rapidly, my chest rose terribly slowly and my lips turned blue. Through the darkness burst a small golden ball. Instantly the shimmering sphere rushed to my chest and started glowing brightly. Trees bent inwards. All within the circle lost its fabulous sheen. A buzzing droned as the sphere grew rapidly to an enormous size and vanished. In a blink it returned, bursting over my body in cascades of golden sparks. My breathing became regular, but the rest of my body seemed the same. Back to its original size, the ball made a final pass, before hanging in the air above the right shoulder.
The nightmarish scene faded away as the lodge slipped back into focus. In the charred grate only a few smouldering embers clung desperately to life. Morning had broken. All was calm, dry and quiet. Sadly, beautiful Jade had gone. I made for the escape route immediately, stopping at the sight of the fountain which was now spouting liquid rainbows high into the clean air. I caught a glimpse of my spirit form in the spray, realising its colours flickered uncertainly like a failing bulb.
Luckily the escape hatch lay open. Deep down in the tight, dark tunnel my amulet glowed dully, just enough to make out the trickle of muddy water running down dank mossy walls and across a sandy floor. I searched vainly for hidden passages by travelling into the sides. This maze meandered up and down in all directions, yielding many false and real dead ends.
Rounding a steep rise, I floated past an unlit torch embedded in a niche. I grasped it firmly when it spontaneously burst into life. Then there drifted a faint scratching echoing against the walls far to the rear. I continued onwards. The urgent noise increased in volume, accompanied by heavy, excited breathing, like hounds at the start of a hunt. What sort of being made such desperate sounds?
In panic I dropped the torch, which went out. Stifled by the gloomy atmosphere I panicked further. Walls wobbled, pulsated and moved in faster and faster as I flew onwards. Still the wild scratching drew closer, melded to a fevered rasping, choking, telling of increased excitement and malevolent intent. My pursuer kept pace no matter how fast I went, slowly gaining. I screamed in terror as the entity cackled and laughed insanely close behind.
I clasped my chest feeling sharp, intense crushing sensations deep inside. Ahead a tiny circle of light pierced the oppressive darkness. Through the tiny hole I flew, exploding outside into a bizarre world. At first I fell helplessly to an unseen floor far below. At least that was what I imagined was happening. After falling endlessly with no reference point with which to ascertain speed and direction, I heard, nay felt a small pressing crunch at my crown, realising only at that instant the sensation of falling made no sense - if anything I’d actually fallen up.
The small land mass I’d been driven into turned in a series of juddering motions through one hundred and eighty degrees, leaving me still stuck in the same precarious position. Odd, soft, rubbery material wobbled vigorously across its length, like waves on an increasingly violent sea.
Whilst fixed rigidly in the same place I was sent hurtling at increasing speed towards an endless horizon, till three atmospheric tunnels of light opened up, each blinking constantly before gaining final fullness. Two lay below, one above. At the same moment a transparent morphing blob appeared on top of the lands furthest edge, constantly changing size and phasing in and out of reality, slithering mindlessly this way and that.
At one point it dropped towards me, taking no heed of the presence of the cosmic vortices that ran horizontally at a horrendous pace. I wondered whether I was in fact moving at all or maybe the sensations were just happening inside my head, because the only real view I had was through my legs. Then the senseless movements of the blob changed, turning towards me again with deadly purpose.
Globules of transparent partiall
y congealed liquid dripped off the glistening thing when the inevitable happened. The incredible force generated by those energies above built up to such a degree that all I could hear was tremendous howls increasing beyond all measure as my spirit spun out of control, sticking me fast in the smallest tunnel. Naught but screaming turmoil was unleashed within.
Upwards I saw the translucent life form had now gained solidity and changed colour to deep, sooty black. I attempted in vain to reach my golden stash, but was far too late. Now an increasing build up of energy behind spat me out through the horizon in wild showers of super heated sparks and eye watering blurs.
Now the scene before me became deathly deep, booming black. Presently small white flashes lit the area up far and wide, only highlighting random unknown objects. I floated aimlessly around many incomplete ones, whilst others were exceedingly bizarre, alive in some weird sense, exquisitely detailed and throbbing with charged energy from the preceding world.
When I wondered deeper on the meaning of it all the background flashed to an eye melting brilliant white, a far off screeching gained definiteness, never quite fading away, and dozens of different items were now highlighted in pulsing flashes of black. Shapes of incomprehensible character appeared when this new world turned as blue as a rare new moon.
Everywhere started rippling crazily. I stared down at my hands, equally thrilled and vexed while millions of tiny square specks of black and grey fizzed angrily, forcing me to a nauseous, debilitating angst. If I’d been able I’d have retched uncontrollably. Instead I chose to concentrate, closing my eyes and opening them three times in quick succession.
On third glance space cleared back to white and thick black passages snaked from behind, leading in every possible direction. This was when the real confusion truly began. Upon this new board vague shapes and human like figures coalesced at weird angles, still with that terribly unnerving cacophony screeching incessantly, which seemed to drain my spirit and will to continue. For the first time I chose to move towards them, only to discover that curiosity moved them away in equal measure.
Yet again the environment slipped to a blank nothingness for quite some time. Immeasurably perplexed I finally dared to move again, when this existence built itself up in conjunction with my own movements, perfectly keeping up with me faster and faster, but only in the direction I was currently facing. For if one looked away, then those avenues for potential progress were wiped out and closed permanently.
Directly behind stayed highlighted, only not quite as bright as ahead, for what reason I will never fathom, as it also seemed return was impossible that way, because from out those infinite depths spewed unwelcome nauseous blackness. Whereas previously there was no atmosphere as such, there now roared deathly cold, and I shivered involuntarily.
Then the unnerving scratching returned, like dragging nails across a blackboard. This time I couldn’t bear to see my pursuer and immediately used a pinch of powder swinging dangerously from my person. Woe! Far too much spread far too quickly in too much haste in a wide arc all around.
The moment it left my fingers it spread out further and further, each grain pursuing its own agenda, but working together as a whole, almost as if possessed of a single mind, forming a large, golden ring, yet with dangerous, suggestive gaps left. I fretted it wasn’t enough - the circle was incomplete. Just as fresh energy flow passed between each one of them, the golden ring melded together forming a wide, well rounded barrier, which moved me slowly into the scene at odd angles. Spirits were raised here. This was it! Freedom! All lit up as the ring moved slowly past and it seemed the space, while still unfeasibly large was in no way as limitless as one first imagined, ‘twas only the factor of being granted a limited view.
None of the wild imaginings of before followed, only frustrated screams of my maddened pursuer as I drifted away from them unhindered. As those screams grew fainter the protective ring dimmed in definitiveness, moving inwards slowly. When reaching my body’s weak outline it shrunk down to a minute point, taking my consciousness with it.
Extremely difficult to explain further. Will try as best I can. Was asleep, then wasn’t. Was running for my life through our woods, then was standing still, enclosed in perfect serenity. Unfamiliar woods sprang up once more. I would have sworn Ian was there because that tingling sensation ran down the back of my neck, till I discovered an uncomfortable, thick swelling there. I almost threw it off in fear and loathing, till realising ‘twas simply my precious amulet thrown about in the mayhem. Thank god at least that was safe.
Shadowy trees bent and snapped viciously to the grim tune of a dark shadow moving in from the south. In desperation I ran, throwing down some light, shimmering powder which didn’t glow as before. It’s seemed its powers waned with each use, as does the efficacy of drugs upon the human body. Only a few grains remained and I was blowing hard. I didn’t have the strength to jink left or right. I sorely needed rest.
My only escape left was a tiny niche in towering rock dead ahead. I strove onwards hopelessly, knowing my failing spirit couldn’t hope to penetrate further than a few metres through solid mass. The sheer emotion of the chase and the accrued momentum of the desperate flight must have served to carry me through, for thankfully it happened. I felt being held back just near the glow of a greenish light, then delivered head over heels on a dull, sandy floor, becoming completely solid again.
I scrambled forward, discovering all around was dry rock and stone, rising hundreds of feet above. Brilliant, I was trapped, and now I heard heavy breathing and ceaseless snorting as a raging creature forced its way onwards through the wall. If I’d made it, there was little reason to believe it could not. I fell to my knees, feeling the hopelessness of defeat.
Through no fault of my own I’d been thrown on this forsaken plane and been left alone to survive. To have come this far only to be frustrated was the sad story of my entire existence, for now I would unable to fulfil promises, and have no future in our waking world. Would anyone ever find my spiritual remains? Where in God’s name was Ian, and why would he let this happen? What becomes of spirits in these terrible circumstances? And so, in a final act of desperation and defeat I wept bitterly at the ungodly injustice of it all. To be denied liberty at this final hour was cruelty personified.
There was no heaven for me, only hellish emptiness of infinite space, a mindless slave to a demonic spawn who’d... I barely looked up when that foul snorting increased in ferocity, scarcely registering the gold dust dropping at my side. There was no where left to run, the game was well and truly up. Now there was only one thing left to lose. My spirit had nothing left to give. I gazed through a blur, seeing a red haze forming. My head swam, lolling to and fro maniacally. Perhaps this happened when our end is near? I weakly called aloud all the sacred names of God, begging forgiveness.
Red turned to blue haze. An ever shifting amorphous black mass hovered closer, becoming denser, coalescing into a form resembling gigantic boar and many others. Although my senses were nearly gone I knew it circled with increasing menace, watching and waiting till the time was right. It was master here and would dispose of me on its own terms. Evidently it didn’t care one bit for the dust that lay by my side, snorting and wailing terribly, threatening bloody vengeance for battles past. Presently the dull golden shimmering faded into nothing.
Then blinding blurs brought a whiff of centuries of exploding sweat and sand, blotches of dark skin and trailing smudges of white. God almighty, they’d landed plumb on top of the terrible beast! ‘twere only stunned, and in a second it turned to face this new threat and would have run the smaller one through, but for dozens of gleaming flashes of a stubby scimitar from behind. After a terrible moaning and thrashing it was no more.
I’d laid flat out on the sandy floor by now, with those two familiar Egyptians towered over me. I couldn’t speak yet and was unable to attempt sign language. There was still no exit and the taller of the two still held that dripping dagger tightly, looking arou
nd furtively. The excited pair jabbered wildly, roughly pulling me half way to my feet.
Over at the bubbling, stinking mass piercing screeches of unbridled fury interrupted our meeting as a dark orb of energy flew at me with fantastic speed, grazing my amulet as it soared by, hitting the wall behind with a sound thud and exploding into a thousand sparks that shot up through the cavern high above.
I sank to my knees again. Now he was of the opinion that I was no threat, and their enemy was also mine, the rather grimy fellow offered his hand to help me to my feet, yet I was still too weak. When this became apparent, he offered tiny sips from a leather flask. I watched curiously as he checked walls fastidiously for hidden switches. Lighter coloured sandstone was given special attention. Evidently he’d been at this game for a long time. Strange, his dogged persistence reminded me of an old nursery rhyme.
His violent companion had calmed down considerably, sitting with his legs crossed, staring blankly straight ahead - looking into space itself for an answer. His partner wasn’t about to give up so easily. Eventually the hopeful man stopped searching the walls. His face grew grimmer, and he began a new quest for a hidden key or mechanism by tirelessly digging in the shifting sand.
One had to admire such boundless spirit and tenacity - He’d divided ground up into ever decreasing circles. Presently he drew closer, motioning me to move. “Sansi.” For a moment I feared the terrible beast had been magically reawakened, and glanced fearfully over my shoulder, such was the shock at what happened next. He almost leaped out of his skin, staggering backwards violently into the soft sand.
In a moment he was up, his eyes fixed, unblinking, larger than dinner plates and gleaming like erupting volcanoes. This was the look of a devout zealot that finally came face to face with God himself. ‘twas like he figured if his eyes left me, I may fade away to nothing. He crept closer, pointing at my chest. “Ekai, ekai!” This doesn’t look good I thought, unnerved by his singular, obsessive curiosity. I shrank back as he approached. My instinctive movement appeared to have registered some dormant etiquette in his psyche as he stooped in respect, repeating intently, “Ekai, ekai!” his friend bowed and tapped his chest. My word, he meant my amulet! I took it off, gladly offering it up.
He smiled, then grew pale and frustrated. Here he copied my outstretched palms, but his were empty; this was what was made him so sad. Of course, a gift for a gift – ‘twas the standard custom where the solid barter system still ran free. I felt warm knowing folk held such standards, especially given the harsh age he hailed from.
I felt I needed to explain our situation as best I could. Both fellows watched intently. For myself I feigned sleep, lying flat out, rolling over on to my side, head resting on the back of clasped hands. I rubbed my eyes exaggeratedly and thrust my arms out in front, reminiscent of a horror film. He must have imagined me stark raving mad as I looked ridiculous.
Then I drew the two of them as best I could in the sand, lying flat out on an ritual Egyptian death slab, with their spirits rising above them. They jabbered for a while in shock and sadness, but it was obvious both understood. I placed my amulet in front of them, tracing the ritual I saw them perform earlier. Before I’d even finished the fellow knew what his part of our bargain would be. That winning, toothless smile returned as he proclaimed:“Sli, sli.” The taller fellow talked with more vigour. There was much pointing at the heavens, through walls, recounting energetic tales of strange lands and increasingly stranger experiences.
I surmised they’d travelled this way since their death, hunted by strange, nameless things that haunted these other dimensions. Certainly, filth encrusted dress, pale, pitted skin and crude tattoos spoke of thousands of years past. From what I gathered they lived in the age of powerful pharaohs, and were slaves forced to work on pyramids. By realistic sounds made of rock falling it seems the hapless pair met untimely deaths under heavy stone. Perhaps they reasoned they’d angered mighty gods, this being their punishment. Neither of them had realised they were dead and both were now eager to move on to their final destination.
I bowed low, presenting them the rare gift, which they placed on a nearby rock. One prised a ruby red scarab beetle from his own amulet that instantly absorbed into mine. The new construct buzzed loudly like angry bees, sprouted legs and wings and turned to face its master.
The fellow chanted ‘Slaach da mai,’ drawing strange designs in the dusty atmosphere and touching each of us in turn. Instantly the weird creature lighted on his shoulder, humming agreeably.
Overwhelming happy, the fellow indicated I should ready myself for the final ritual. This began by drawing symbols on floor, chanting, followed by tremendous earthquakes conjuring green pulsing smoke that combined with red dust drawn from deep within the walls.
Then the symbols morphed into a transparent bubble which I stepped inside, watching its hypnotic liquid colours ebb and flow like a gentle sea. Now they took on faster, swirling, clockwise motions, turning the syrupy substance to a light shower.
Three jarring bumps spaced further apart shot through my chest, jerking me forward. In between starts was the strangest sensation of falling backwards continuously, uncontrollably, but free from fear. Faster, faster and faster.
Everything happened so quickly I was unable to shield my eyes from the rushing, rising wind that blasted the scene. Between the blurriness of the scenery the wind carried the most peculiar noises I swear whispered my name, willing me to stop. Once I passed one of such enchantment, a mournful, yearning song of the most gorgeous tones, I should have stopped forever. Thankfully, as was the casters intention, I had no control over speed nor direction for the bubble’s integrity held me fast and increased in speed even more, making more alluring visions frustratingly brief.
At the edges of vision I caught jagged glimpses of a desert island whirling crazily round a bright flashing star. Further down the captivating illusion of an elderly mage, replete with crystal staff sitting atop a high tower. A wooden torch flickering behind oddly lit his long, knee length beard shifting pendulously in the stiff breeze.
Above formed a decadent golden city complete with inhabitants that waved and beckoned from fabulously high balconies, whilst in courtyards and open grassed spaces gay pipers cast sweet, soft melodies upwards on friendly currents of warm air. Below remained a kaleidoscope of twisting, churning, shimmering colour and a queer chomping sound as the bubble picked up yet more speed. This and more are what came to pass during that fantastical flight. I knew these were but few of the infinite other dimensions, all as tempting as any on earth, only infinitely more beautiful.
I felt another bump when sensations, music and voices increased significantly, petering off in smaller waves till a solid, final bump, when my sight ceased into the blackness of deepest sleep.