From A Distance Chapter 8

There might be an epilogue eventually but this chapter ends From A Distance. I want to thank those who went on this journey with me! The encouragement meant so much to me!


Title: From A Distance Chapter 8
Series: Another Life


Enoch hurried to catch up with Misham as he rounded the cottage. The freezing wind had laid a thin sheet of ice over the snow that crunched as the two walked toward the forest. “Misham, we need to look at the map.”

“Let’s get out of sight before we look at it,” Misham said as he hurried toward the trees.

As soon as they were in the tree line, Misham pulled out the map. Enoch peered over his shoulder, trying to find landmarks. “I’m not sure where the library is at. I’ve not explored as much as I should have.” He felt like he should apologize. When he first came to Gliese, he’d been on the edge of death. He’d healed some, but the small particles of volcanic ash had damaged his lungs beyond repair. He’d have to rely on Misham to guide them.

But Misham was shaking his head. “Gliese is enormous. She has secrets that we’ve not discovered yet. The map shows the library in the mountains.” Misham pointed to the black, rocky mountains several miles away. “The weather is unpredictable there. I’m not sure of this trail.”

Enoch heard the fear echoed in Misham’s voice. He looked off toward the mountains. The dark cliff was large and imposing. But the secrets they held beckoned him. He turned to Misham. “We’ll do it together. If the ground holds any emotions from those who’ve gone before us, I can go alone. As long as you point me the way.”

“We must hurry. We have to be back by nightfall.”

The shadows that the tree branches cast looked like the secret symbol on the map. Circles and lines that resembled two keys entwined. Secret. Hidden. The wind through the bare branches seemed to whisper the words over and over. Enoch looked up toward the sky. He sent a silent prayer that the symbols meant they were on the right path.

Enoch was breathing hard when Misham called a stop to rest. “I’m good. We can keep going.” He didn’t want his friend to think he was weak.

“I know you can. But I need to rest as well. We also should look at the map again. The trail is fading.”

He’d been so focused on the silhouettes on the ground, Enoch hadn’t noticed the trail diminishing. His eyes roamed the forest floor. He could just make out a narrow clearing of trees that must be the trail. Had it been spring or summer the slight change in the forest wouldn’t have been noticeable. As his eyes traced up the line, he wondered if they’d be able to follow the path when the rocks of the mountain overtook the trees. His curiosity spurred him on.

Enoch met Misham’s eyes. “Are you rested?” When Misham nodded, Enoch said, “If you look closely, the trail seems to be through those trees.”

“Yes! I see it now.”

They started at a faster pace with their spirits renewed. The trail gradually started to slope upward. Shadows that had once resembled the symbol for secret became longer, creating a different image. The long shadows of the trees seemed to point the way. Circles mixed with the lines. Enoch blinked. The dark silhouettes were forming the image for library. Three long lines tilted at a slight angle within three circles. Another trio of smaller circles at the top of the lines. He felt the stars were pointing the way for them.

The path beneath their feet became more treacherous as the forest floor gave way to the rocks of the mountain. Enoch and Misham held on to each other as they climbed upward. The shadows disappeared as clouds rolled over the mountain. Day was disappearing as well but the two men didn’t notice. Their only thought was to reach the Athenaeum that was beckoning them.

Steeper and steeper the trail wound up the mountain. Both of the young men were gasping for breath. Enoch’s legs burned with the exertion. When his feet slipped, he reached out to grasp a large boulder. Gripping it tightly, Enoch moved around until he was safely seated. “Misham. A break. Just a few moments.”

Misham nodded. Carefully, he maneuvered to Enoch. “The sun has almost gone. The trail is gone. Maybe we should go back.”

Enoch knew that going back home was the right thing to do, but something was pulling at him to continue on. The stars. Rona. Something or someone wanted the secrets revealed. “Just a bit further. Please? Going back will be easier and faster. We know the way.”

“I feel them too,” Misham admitted. “The ones who came before. I wanted to make sure you still wanted to go.”

“Are their emotions too much?” Enoch knew that Misham was an empath. He felt the emotions around him. Emotions that were left in the soil and plants from people who’ve traveled the same way.

Shaking his head, Misham said, “No. They felt....honored. The respect and care they felt are like a cloak over me.”

Enoch could just imagine the ancient Historians filled with respect as they carried out the orders of the stars. He wasn’t an empath like Misham, but he too could feel their reverence. Looking around, Enoch knew they wouldn’t be able to climb the cliffs. The clouds above separated for a split second. The setting sun casts its rays on a small ledge. The sun was once again covered, and the ledge blended into the dark rock.

“There. A ledge. We’ll go just a ways and see if it’s the path.” Enoch carefully stood up. He took Misham’s hand in his own. Together, the two stepped warily around the rock and onto the ledge.

Side-stepping, they navigated the trail. The cliffs jutted out and then receded again. The edge narrowed. Enoch promised himself that they’d turn around after the next jut of rock. With one hand still holding tight to Misham, Enoch reached out and grabbed the sharp corner. But instead of rock, he felt something wooden.

“What? What is it? Your heart is racing!”

One step more and the ledge widen to several feet. Misham saw what had risen Enoch’s heart rate. A door. Heavy, weathered timber, with metal hinges built into the side of the cliff.

Enoch ran his hand over the door. He couldn’t find the handle. “I don’t know how to open it.” He tried to fit his fingers between the wood of the door and the rock of the cliff, but the seal was too tight. Despite the cold, sweat dripped down his face. As he reached up to wipe the moisture from his forehead, he reached out his other hand to steady himself. His feet slipped when the rock his hand touched moved.

“Whoa!” Misham grabbed Enoch’s arm as the door slid into the cliff.

Stepping inside, they found a short entranceway with another door at the end. Unlike the outer door, this one had a handle. Enoch eagerly reached out and opened it.

The door opened to darkness. Misham stepped inside first. “Just a moment. I can barely make out some shapes.”

Before Enoch could say anything, light filled the room.

“They’d covered the glowing stones with MXene clay.” Misham uncovered a few more stones.

The light revealed a large room with bookshelves. Tomes and leather-bound codices filled the shelves. Row after row of shelves and books.

Enoch slowly turned around. Books filled the shelves from floor to ceiling. A soft sigh brought his attention to his friend. Enoch tilted his head. Misham looked different. He wasn’t shivering. And his shoulders were looser. He was bathed in contentment.

A gentle smile appeared on Misham’s face. “Can you feel them? The Ancients? They are happy we are here. They’ve guarded the scrolls for a thousand lifetimes waiting for you.” He stepped over to a table in one corner of the room. On the table, a book lay waiting. Waiting for them to open it.

“The blue planet that could no longer sustain life healed. As the fields lay dormant through winter, yet welcomes the seed in spring, the once dead world will welcome new inhabitants. And they will be the colors of a rainbow after a fierce storm.” Misham’s eyes danced over the page. Then he looked at Enoch. “You are mentioned.”

“I am? What does it say?”

“A man who walked among the stars will converse with the dark mistress of great power. Enoch of Gliese anew will give her strength which he is unaware. Through him, they will find the means of survival and flourish.”

Enoch reached out to run his fingers down the leather spine of one of the books. Streaks of sunlight filtered down. He looked up to the windowless ceiling. The sun had set behind the mountain. The light ways wavered as blue mist swirled around him. Then he was seeing Earth through the eyes of Rona.


****Earth


The footsteps behind her were slowing, but Rona kept her gaze forward. The rays of the sun were disappearing as a storm built up. The clouds and sunshine played a game of hide and seek. Rona knew she had to find someplace for them to take shelter. Their own place to hide. The wind was gaining speed as the temperature dropped.

She knew the others were tired, but they continued to follow her. She wanted to prove that she was worthy of their loyalty. But Earth was so new, she didn’t know where danger lay. She only knew that something, someone, was beckoning her toward the large hill in the distance.

“Stop. There’s berries.” Miku gasped winded from the fast pace. “We should gather some for when we stop.”

Rona knew Miku was right. They only had a few nuts from earlier in the day. Finally, she stopped. “Let’s gather some of the berries. But don’t take too long. The storm is building. we need shelter from it.”

She turned around to help when she saw Terran stop his partner, Miku.

“Wait. Look at the berries. Red and purple on the same branch. This must mean one is ripe and the other not. But which one?” Terran asked to no one in particular. He reached out and picked one of each color.

Rona watched as he brought them to his nose. His name, Terran, meant Earth. She knew that his strength was in plant life. But the knowledge they had from the Waiting Place was fading from their memories, he was becoming more cautious. There were poisonous plants here. Terran didn’t want anyone to eat anything that could cause harm.

“Can you tell which one is edible?” Rona asked. But her words were drowned out by a large rumble of thunder. “Come. Leave the berries. We must find shelter.”

“There!” Nova shouted over the wind and rolling thunder. “Up, in that hill.”

Rona’s eyes followed where Nova pointed. She saw it. A darkness set in the side of the hill. A cave they could shelter in until the storm passed. Rona let the other’s pass her. She’d be the last one in, ensuring everyone made it to safety.

The muscles in her legs were burning but she continued on. As reached the base of the large hill, the first drops of cold rain started to fall. Just a few hundred yards more and they’d be in the cave. She pushed the others but not as hard as she pushed herself.

When the skies finally opened up and the rain poured, they reached the mouth of the cave. Everyone stopped and stared. Right inside the cave was a staircase descending downward. Not a natural formation. Something that had been built long ago.

The wind blew rain into the cave. She made her decision. “Go.”

Carefully, they navigated down the curving stairs. Moss had grown thick, but a fall would surely mean injury. At the bottom a heavy wooden door greeted them.

Rona stepped forward. As she lifted her hand to the doorknob, she felt a welcoming warmth rise inside her. When the door opened, the pale light from above struck mirrors strategically placed throughout the room.

Relief flooded through her as she saw the room. Shelves and shelves of books lined the walls. The others gasped in delight as they entered.

She watched as Terran walked to a shelf. He tilted his head, trying to decipher the language. He pulled out a book and opened it. The smile that lit his face brightened the room more than weak rays trying to pierce the clouds.

“Look! Drawings! Drawings of plants. And animals. What’s edible. What’s not!” His excitement encouraged the others to search the shelves.

“It’s all here. How to build a shelter.”

“Oh! Mechanical drawings!”

“This animal! We can use its fur to weave clothing and coverings!”

Their voices were light with laughter. Sharing what they’d discovered with each other. Rona let their happiness washed over her.

“You did it.”

Rona turned and buried herself in Nova’s arms. “No. I didn’t do it. We did it. Together.” She lifted her face and kissed the woman who’d never lost faith in her. “Thank you. Wait. Do you feel it? Feel them?”

“Of course, I do. Their voices are echoing!”

Rona shook her head. “No. Not the voices of our people. The voices of the others. The ones who were here before us.” She heard the ghosts of the ancients sigh. Their contentment swirled through the great room. The knowledge they’d guarded would now be put to use. They could rest now.

They spent hours looking at the books. Then they worked together to make their shelter more comfortable. Nuri built a small fire near an air vent to warm the room. Terran and Miku discovered another room and started to make it comfortable for the night.

The rain slowed and then stopped. Rona made her way back up the stairs. Stepping out into the night, she breathed in the fresh clean air. Looking up, the night sky covered her in all it’s dark glory. Looking up at the pinpoints of light, she smiled. She knew there was much work to be done yet, but they’d found their home. The wisdom the ancients had left would help guide them. A secret smile filled her heart. “We’ll take care of her. Of Earth. Your duty is done. Break the strings and live without worry.”


****Gliese


Enoch gasped as the vision broke. He was back on Gliese in the hidden library. An incredible weight lifted from inside him. A small, sad smile drifted across his face. “Goodbye, my friend.”

Misham looked at Enoch. “Not goodbye. A hello. Their stories are written here. We’ll learn how they grow. How they grow and how others from different worlds grow.” His eyes danced over all the books. “So many lives! Recorded so they aren’t lost. They’ll be remembered.”

Enoch’s eyes followed Misham’s. So many. So many people all from a distance, yet so close. Another life to live.

The End.


Read From a Distance from the beginning.