Thursday, March 10, 2016

OHC Writing Contest Entry

A Short Story I submitted to the OHC writing contest in October. 


The Trip

My insides gurgled with nervous anticipation as my guide urged our group to step through the open door.  I had teetered between excitement and outright fear for the last several months and it suddenly dawned on me that within moments I would arrive at my destination.

I felt the room sway and beads of perspiration popped out on my forehead. 

Was I crazy? 

Maybe I was. All my friends thought so. 

It was customary for a person in my position to take a trip at the end of each work cycle, but most chose luxurious destinations with servants and beaches.

None of that held any interest for me though.  I wanted adventure.

The thought of the frontier niggled and jiggled in my mind until I couldn’t be free of it. I applied for a travel permit on a whim. What could it hurt?  I knew it was a long shot but at least I could say I gave it a try.

I was shocked to learn that my application was accepted with uncharacteristic ease and my visit request was approved. I was delighted to learn that I was one of a handful of tourists allowed to visit. 

My acquaintances back home did not share my excitement.   “It’s so far away from civilization,” they argued, “no modern conveniences.  It’s so dark… so primitive...”

So exotic…so exciting… so unforgettable… I felt my spirit respond every time that familiar doubt crept in.  I had the uncanny feeling that this trip was predestined. Everything had worked out just too perfectly to be pure chance.  It was destiny. It had to be. 

I sucked in a nervous breath as I followed the guide through a brilliant beam of light into a dark and alien world.  

“Stay on the path there,” he warned.  “We must respect all the native species.  It was, after all, their home first.” A movement to our left drew our attention and a female behind me gasped dramatically but I only caught a glimpse of movement in the thick brush.

“They’re harmless,” the guide assured us.  “This planet is filled with them.  For the most part, they are shy creatures that prefer to be let alone. There is a scientific research station not far from here where you can learn more about the native life.  Now, if you’ll …” 

“Stay on the path.”  We answered in unison.  Etiquette dictated that visitors stay in their designated areas on any planet we visited. Our “orientation” on the trip over explained how to use the “paths” and the “rest-stops” where we could enjoy the planet without interfering in the natural surroundings.  We had been warned that any attempt “interfere” would result in the loss of our travel privileges. “Stay on the path” and “Take away only memories” was the motto we lived by. 

            I visited the research center as soon as my initial tour was over.  I was anxious to learn as much as I could from the scientists stationed on this planet.  However, the overly dramatic female from the tour group had chosen to accompany a few of us to the research center and she complained incessantly during the presentation. 

“It’s so dark here,” she whined.  “How do they stand it?”

“Their sun has been dying for thousands of years.”  The scientist informed her as we toured the facility.  “Their bodies have adapted to it so they don’t notice.” 

He took us to see what, on our world, would be called a village.  He pointed out the dwellings but we were not allowed to go closer than the path. 

“Just stand back and watch them as they live their lives. It is all very beautiful.”

The creatures flashed around us, unaware that they were being watched.  We are a patient people and even the dramatic female waited quietly as one of their years passed before our eyes.  Some creatures busied themselves by building dwellings while others took them down.  Some grew and harvested their foods while still others worked at tasks that I could not identify.  I was swept up in their simplicity and contentment. 

“Their villages are so… dirty…”  The complaining tourist stated with an air of disdain. “Why hasn’t someone taught them how to clean up?”

If the scientist was irritated by her questions he never showed it.  “Well, they are a delicate and primitive people. There lifespans are but a breath compared to ours.  You see how quickly they flit about? They vibrate on a completely different frequency than we do.  We are, as some would say, in the same physical place but in two different dimensions.  Some of our kind have contacted them, but I’m afraid it only frightens them even more than normal. Look!”  He pointed for us to watch a blur cross the path in front of us.  Of course, the dramatic tourist screamed.  “They can’t harm you.  Since we are on different frequencies, they could even move through us without harm to either of us.”

            There was a general murmur of disgust.

“It’s… disconcerting…like being doused with a blast of very cold air.  It seems to have the same effect on them as well.  Evidently they can sense our vibrations when they come near and it upsets them enough that most don’t venture any closer.  We do our best to stay away.  Our rulers do not look kindly upon interspecies/ interplanetary incidents. I must warn you to be careful when you go out alone.  Though these creatures are harmless, they are not predictable and any contact must be reported to the proper authorities.” 

I returned to the ship with images of this dark and beautiful planet in my mind. I doubted I was tired enough but I found I had the first real sleep I’d gotten since the travel permit arrived.  The following day I packed a few necessities and I embarked on my own journey without guides or tourists.  I traveled to the mountains and found very few of my kind along the path. This planet was exquisite; the mountains were everything I dreamed they would be.  For the first time in years I didn’t feel like something was missing.  I was at peace.   It was strange, for a place I had never seen I almost had the feeling of one coming home. I sat for an entire day on a stone outcropping where I watched the trees change their foliage from green to fiery red and orange then wither away.  I watched the mist settle down in their skeleton arms as a moon peeked above them.  Directly, the ground changed to a silvery white that shone in the moonlight. It took my breath away.

 I waited for the cycle to repeat itself and this time a thick white substance grew from the ground and covered the trees.

It was beautiful.  There were not words enough on any planet to describe it.

“Winter, they call it.”  A voice woke me from my dreams.

I jumped and the male behind me chuckled and I felt foolish for being caught unaware.  I could tell from his uniform that he was a scientist, but his habit was rather ragged and he seemed a bit disheveled.  His name tag read “Jarvis” and he felt no need to introduce himself since it was quite apparent I could read.

Jarvis.  The name sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it.

“This is a beautiful valley.  It is little wonder the natives love it so.”  He sat beside me, even though I did not ask him to.  We watched another cycle begin.  Another year, they would say. 

“I study the indigenous peoples in these mountains. There is the most spectacular dwelling down there. It has always fascinated me.  Would you like to come see?”

A personal tour with one of the scientists that worked on this planet?  Who could say no to that?  Of course I wanted to see!  I wanted to see everything!

I followed him until we stood before building made from natural stone.  It was quite large and the many windows surely afforded a great view of the valley.  My heart warmed to it, almost as though I’d seen it before. 

“Imagine how many of their lifetimes it must have taken to build something so grand!  They must deem it very important for it to stay this long. They are never happy, always building and tearing down.” He seemed to sense my curiosity because he turned to me; a mischievous twinkle in his eye.  “Would you like to get closer?”

It was then that I remembered my training during orientation.  I told him I could not get off the path.

“I have clearance to go inside. You could come with me.  My guest.” 

I shook my head.  It would be too dangerous.  I could get in so much trouble.

“Then you may return and forever wonder. I’m sure you’ll get the chance again- if you ever return to the frontier.” He taunted me.  I knew he was trying to goad me but it turned out to be exactly the right thing to say.  I stepped across the barrier and followed him into the dwelling.

Inside it was dark and stale; I had to be careful not to stumble over the rudimentary furnishings and strange tools scattered about.  Jarvis inclined his head toward some crude steps at the back of the chamber.

“They sleep on the highest level to protect themselves from wild beasts.”  He crooked his finger and motioned me along.  “Follow me.”

The phrase “Interplanetary incident” blared in my head.  I stood rooted in my place.  I had gone far enough.

“Then stay down here alone. It is your choice.”

Stay down here… alone?  I didn’t like the idea of that either.

Despite my misgivings I tiptoed up the steps behind him until we reached the top level. He motioned for me to follow him into a room hewn from the stone. We approached a motionless figure that was bundled in rough blankets on a sleeping platform.   

“Their bodies are so burdensome that they need to rest often.”  He peered at the sleeping being.  “This one’s a female.” 

I approached, eager to see this being that had been, up until now, only a blur of movement to me.  How different they looked when they were still!  I sucked in my breath and stood for several seconds in awe of her untamed beauty; but then the blankets flew aside and there was a terrible shrieking noise. The sleeping female jumped from her sleeping place and in a flash she was gone. 

I jumped back as if I’d been struck by something.

Jarvis laughed as my heart pounded in my ears.  “You scared it!”

“I didn’t mean to!”  I stammered as he continued to laugh and it made me feel ashamed.   I hadn’t even wanted to come up here!  I turned on my heel and rushed back out into the hallway.  I made it to the crude stairway before I heard a voice.

“Why are you here?”

“Because you invited me!” I replied before I realized it wasn’t Jarvis that had spoken.  My heart leapt in fear.  It was the authorities and I was going to be arrested for causing an “interplanetary incident”! I had to get out of here and back on the path before I was arrested!

Then I saw it.
The creature.

I stopped dead in my tracks.  A male creature stood on the step in front of me.  He was standing uncharacteristically still. I could see him quite clearly save for intermittent distortions.

“What?”  Jarvis still had mirth in his voice as he bustled down the stairs behind me.  “What are you doing?  What are you looking at?” 

“Jarvis Hollister.”  The male creature said quite plainly.  My eyes bugged and I looked at the scientist in fear.  He seemed to be unaware of their presence. 

“They’re… calling you…”  I whispered, trying my best not to move.

“That’s impossible! They can’t communicate with us!” Jarvis started to take a step but I put my hand out and stopped him.

A brilliant flash of light appeared in front of us.  Two guardians stood with their weapons ready.

I dropped my head in shame. Interplanetary incident. I could see the headlines now.  I was going to jail. 

The male creature spoke again.  “Jarvis Hollister.  We know you are here.  You don’t have to wait on Esther anymore, she has passed…”

My hearing seemed to stop at “Esther”. 

That was my name!

“You need to cross over.”  The male continued and the look on the scientist’s face told me he not only heard- he understood every word.

“Good heavens! You haven’t crossed over?  I gulped, I thought the stories of the rogue ones were only myths!

I was in a forbidden area with a rogue wanderer and I had made contact with a native creature! I wondered how many more interplanetary laws I had broken today.

The guard strode closer but did not scold me. He did not arrest me as I expected.  Instead he looked at me with compassion. 

“He was your husband once.  He’s been waiting for you, Esther.  It was allowed because his love for you was great.”

I looked back at him.  Jarvis.  That name sounded so familiar, but my husband?  I wasn’t married!  I couldn’t be!  How could I forget…?

My husband…

Jarvis? A feeling of familiarity washed over me as bits and pieces of memory knit themselves together in my mind.  It was like remembering a dream.  Could it really be?

An overwhelming grief began to stir inside me. Oh, how could I have forgotten?

“Our world makes you forget,” the guardian said carefully “for who remembers the womb when compared to the world outside?” 

“Go into the light, Jarvis.”  The creature in front of me commanded.  “Go to Esther.”

A familiar beam of white light welcomed me.  I remembered it all now.  I remembered living here and I remembered losing him. Oh, I was so broken hearted! He said he’d wait… but I never held him to it… All this time- he’d been waiting and I had moved on.

And forgotten.

Well, not completely.  There was still a part of me that remembered.  It was suddenly clear what I’d been missing; why I felt such longing to come here.

I felt the love swell up inside me as I held out my hand to him.

“Jarvis.  It’s me!” 

I watched the revelation dawn on his face.  Had he forgotten as well? How long had he waited after I moved on?  Long enough to forget why he stayed in the first place?

“Esther? Where have you been?  I told you I’d wait… But I couldn’t find you...”

I rushed into his arms.  We held each other for what might have been another year.

The creatures around us made a nuisance of themselves.  I tried to ignore their squawking and darting about like a swarm of angry insects.  That only seemed to anger them, for when we paid them no mind they produced a substance that emitted a putrid odor.  My word, they were annoying creatures!  How had he been able to stand them this long?

 “Come my love. You have waited long enough.”

A breath of fresh air greeted us as we stepped into the light. 

I heard one of the creatures sigh in relief as the portal closed.

“This house is clean now.  They’ve crossed over.”