The Ports and Portals of the Zelaznids Read online

  Let me first say something on the subject of those Romans who perished at the dawn of this new age. The people of Rome were not without their own remarkable advances. The Zelaznids readilie admit that the Italians exhibited great skills in construction and government. Could it be that some among them knew of the existence of portals? No man can say.

  Recall for a moment the historie of that conquering people. The Romans possessed a culture full of art and architecture, poetical and theatrical works, a semblance of the democratic, and a pantheon of higher beings. However, these were but counterfeits of those traits found in cultures that had been invaded and enslaved by the Italians. Roman culture, in fact, was nothing but an amalgam of those ideas gleaned from the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Hebrews, the Gauls, the Carthaginians, and the Persians.

  Rome did numerous things well, but she did so by stealing the knowledge of others and calling it her own. This is why the Italians leave no evidence that they were aware of ports and portals - because this knowledge was guarded well by those Greeks and Egyptians who fell captive to the Romans.

  This, at least, is the opinion of those with whom I spoke. Yet, I cannot help but see the wisdom in what they say. How minor Rome seems to me now, a loud but shallow imitation of more revered cultures. But this is not the subject of my missive. I must now speak of those few souls who emerged after the fall of Rome to utilize the knowledge of ports and portals.

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  hen the great and powerful Justinian[92] held sway over the lands of the Roman east, in those days before the coming of the Prophet,[93] there were none who held the power to keep order in the disintegrating western empire. The first lands to descend into chaos were those at the western borders, far from Rome, for these were the first to lose the protection of her armies. The far-flung island of Albion,[94] which the Romans loved for its fine weather,[95] was soon set upon by barbarians from Germania. Few Bretons stood in resistance to their invasions.

  This is how the uncouth Saxon Ǽlah[96] came into power. With his horde of barbarians, the Saxon brute landed upon Albion’s southern shore and descended upon its native residents, bending them to his will. Each village in his wake quailed before the determined warrior, so that his Saxon warriors met little resistance. But at Anderitum,[97] Ǽlah and his son Cissa encountered a stout defense. Valiant though they were, the Bretons could not hold. The Saxons thus took Anderitum and, as a lesson to all others who might resist them, put all of the town’s defenders to death.

  Into this madness came a boy.

  I

  t is not known by what name he was called upon his birth, for the child was a forest foundling and unknown to the tribesmen who discovered him. Yet, a wise man predicted great things for his future, so the Bretons of the village looked upon the child with favour and accepted him as one of their own.

  Having no name, as I have said, they called the boy ‘Aurelius’ after that wise emperor of old. Yet few used this name, for they instead took to calling him ‘Bear’, in consequence of the fact that he had been found in the woods, wrapped in the skins of a brown bear. This designation remained with the boy into his manhood, whereupon he had the wit to grow into his name by becoming a bear of a fellow.

  Indeed, the boy developed into a strong and dependable man, a leader of stature who commanded great respect. As such, the name Bear did not long survive the passing of his youth, but came to be replaced, in the tongue of the Romanized Bretons, by the name Arcturus Aurelius. This they deemed a fine alternative to the uncouth moniker which he had borne for so long; or so thought those who believed that the foundling had fallen from the stars.[98] By this name he was known until much later, when the legends of men dubbed him Arthur.[99]

  Upon reaching adulthood, Arcturus - whose strange origins still inspired much conversation in his adoptive village - acquired a mysterious advisor. He was called Emlyn, a speaker of prophecies and a worker of wonders. He was that same wise man who had earlier predicted such a great future for the foundling before vanishing from sight. Seventeen years had passed while the boy grew, then Emlyn returned to advise Arcturus Aurelius. The young man accepted him at once for - being a fine judge of men - he could see that the aged Emlyn was wise.

  The Zelaznids believe that Emlyn came not from the stock of the Celts, but from the same otherworldlie port which had brought forth the boy. They further believe that Arcturus Aurelius and Emlyn used their knowledge of ports and portals to bring new ideas into the world. These included more effective militarie strategies as well as a secret method by which stronger weapons might be forged. As such, Emlyn came to be called ‘wizard,’ a title later used as an epithet against his grandsons Myrddin and Taliesin.[100]

  As a result of these new ideas, as well as the natural leadership skills of the foundling, the Romano-Bretons quicklie joined into one force under the leadership of Arcturus Aurelius. The Bear then rallied against the forces of Ǽlah at Mount Badon[101] in that year when Father Gildas came into the world.[102] There, with stout forces at his back, Arcturus defeated the Saxons, and forced the cowardlie Cissa[103] to flee, thus freeing the Bretons from Saxon control for a generation.

  For several years, the people followed Arcturus Aurelius, that chief giver of feasts, no matter where he chose to lead them. Yet, the Bear’s valor and Emlyn’s wisdom could not forever counter the inconsistencies of men.

  Arcturus Aurelius married a fine woman called Gwenhwyfar, the fairest maid in the land. Second to her in beautie was her sister, Gwenhwyfach, who possessed a heart as black as pitch. Gwenhwyfach, ever jealous of her more fortunate sister, hated Gwenhwyfar for her marriage to Arcturus Aurelius. Thus Gwenhwyfach, wed herself to Medraut, a dark and ambitious lord.[104]

  Using her wiles, this evil woman instigated a feud between Arcturus and his generals. This quarrel erupted into a civil war, in which Medraut allied with the Saxons, led by that same Cissa who had fled at Mount Badon. At the hill called Camlann,[105] Arcturus Aurelius and Medraut dealt each other fatal blows, thus taking the heart out of both sides. As such, the Saxons took the day and regained control over the Bretons. In this way, the secrets of ports and portals were lost to the island of Albion.

  S

  ome figures from this period of historie conducted themselves in such a way that suggest possible knowledge of ports and portals, though the Zelaznids cannot say with certaintie. For example, one Abdu Amr,[106] an advisor to the Rashidun, had skills which aided in the rapid expansion of Islam. Certainlie the spread of this great faith was swift enough to suggest the miraculous, yet no man can say whether such a miracle came from the hands of man or the will of God.

  It is also said that the ancient peoples of Spanish America[107] knew as much about the building of pyramids as did the Egyptians. Though I have not seen their cittie myself, I have observed drawings. It is clear that these far-off peoples could not have learned such skills from the Egyptians, being thousands of miles distant from them. Given that the people of Egypt learned such skills from another world, is it not reasonable to presume that the natives of Spanish America did likewise?

  Some Zelaznids also point to the career of Joan, the Maid of Orleans[108] as evidence of otherworldlie influence. How else, they say, can we explain the influence Joan had over her king, the vividness of her visions, the extent of her militarie successes, and the zealousness with which her British captors sought her death. These, according some with whom I spoke, suggest the influence of other worlds.[109]

  For all of this speculation, there are two individuals who emerged well after the ‘dark ages’, indeed at the end of the mediæval era, who possessed clear knowledge of other worlds and whose lives followed much different paths.

  First came Leonardo,[110] who embodied the era that came to be known as the Renaissance. This famous artist possessed the skill to utilize portals, knowledge he learned while a member of a certain secret societie founded by learned men. Leonardo used his skills to introduce numerous technologies and discoveries which were previouslie unknown t
o this world. Though these ideas were not accepted in his time, it is nonetheless admirable that he sought to use his knowledge to improve the world rather than for personal gain.

  In contrast to this laudable fellow, and in his wake, came a dark and calculating Frenchman who used his knowledge for no purpose but to enhance his own station in life. He was Michel de Nostradame, known to the world as Nostradamus. A medical practitioner by training, this Frenchman, by some means, acquired knowledge of ports and portals. While visiting another world, he learned to unlock those secret avenues of his mind that God has, in His wisdom, locked away from us.

  Flying in the face of reason and proprietie, Nostradamus used his skills to elevate himself, predicting the future when it would serve his position or his purse. His efforts garnered him much attention, though the servants of the Inquisition began to wonder if the seer was perhaps in league with dark forces. Fearing for his life, and unable to reveal the source of his knowledge without further inflaming the Church, Nostradamus set forth to protect himself while also seeking a life of privilege.

  To this end, he published predictions regarding the royal familie of France, though it cannot be said whether, in truth, he foresaw the things of which he wrote. No matter their veracitie, his words caught the attention of the Queen,[111] who brought him into the protection of the royal household and showered him with luxuries for the rest of his days. Thus he squandered the knowledge that others had used before him, not for the survival of a people, not for the world, but for his own selfish ends.

  ~ 168 ~

  Chapter 9

  The Age of Machines

  O

  ur world has reached the so-called modern era now, the age of machines and factories. I fear that, should the world continue on much longer, “modernists” will need to find a new word to describe the world. Or will the modern age continue on forever? Will this era see the benign use of ports and portals, or will my progenie[112] see more like Nostradamus, who would utilize the knowledge gleaned from other worlds for themselves alone?

  I have hopes that we have not yet seen the best of Mankind, that societie still strives for perfection. For certain, there are places in this world where wonders remain to be found for the benefit of humanitie. Consider the storie of Muhammad al-Hakam, a descendant of that wise and cruel founder of Cordoba.[113] It was this Muhammad who discovered a city of gold in the heart of the Mato Grosso in Portuguese America. The Zelaznids believe that this cittie is the center of a lost tribe of kinsmen who live in secret within the protective grasp of the jungle.[114] The better part of a centurie has passed since al-Hakam’s discoverie, yet none have returned to the jungle to make contact with that lost civilization. What might we learn from such an expedition? No man can say.

  There are suggestions that this new era will bring forth creations that make the world a more united place. Might one such marvel be the new locomotive? It has been centuries since Portuguese explorers revolutionized navigation at sea so that ships could cross the vast oceans in safetie. In the time since, there has been no significant improvement in the speed at which a man might move from one end of the world to the other. Yet, we hear of the locomotive.

  How fortuitous that such an invention should spring into being in one’s own lifetime! The Zelaznids, whilst I was in their midst, had just heard of these new machines, which utilize steam power to carrie goods over short distances of rail.[115] Yet, some of these same Zelaznids claimed to have seen locomotives (though they were called by a different name) while visiting another port several years before. This fact convinced some that the development of the locomotive must have come with the influence of other worlds. To avoid offending my hosts, I did not disagree, but I believe that a locomotive can, like lesser inventions, develop independentlie in different worlds.

  No matter its origin, the locomotive is a tremendous creation sure to bring peace to the world. Can it be long before such machines are able to take persons across the continents of the world? Should this come to pass, how long before anger between nations falls by the wayside? It is easier to seek the destruction of those who are unknown or strange to us than those with whom we are familiar. The Zelaznids have learned this over the vast epoch of their existence. But the locomotive could make all things known, and this is a wonderful thing.

  Yet, not all machines offer such benefits to the world. For two centuries or more, men of vision have sought to design underwater ships. At first, they did so for the benefit of undersea exploration. Yet, it was not long before the Rotterdam[116] took to the waves, intent on the destruction of enemie ships. And it is said that Fulton - of the steamship - built a larger and more terrifying version of his own underwater Nautilus machine, though Napoleon’s navy had little use for the metallic beast.[117] Yet it is clear that these undersea boats will one day change the manner of naval war. If he had commanded a fleet of such vessels, the Emperor might have lived to see his Empire overtake Britain.

  It is said among the Zelaznids that Fulton possesses knowledge that is beyond this world. They further speculate that he might have acquired this knowledge while a student in Paris. Again, there is little other than feeling or intuition to support this claim. If the young inventor did indeed travel to another world, I believe that he did so under the guidance of another, for his later career shows little that is remarkable. I think it likelie that Fulton saw little of other worlds, if indeed he knew anything of them at all.

  It may be that the future will reveal others with the knowledge and skill to utilize portals to explore the universe of ports. Historie shows that ideas never completelie disappear from the world. And yet, it seems that instances of portal use have declined even though the population of the world has increased. It is my fear that we are witnessing the death of imagination; and without imagination, I have learned, there can be no portal use.

  Should imagination fail, should we lose our sense of the improbable, then the ways of the Zelaznids might one day depart from this world, just as Zelaznids themselves have done.

  ~ 168 ~

  Chapter 10

  The Enlightened

  I

  spent two years amongst the Zelaznids, the first month (as I have stated) in the companie of the old man Hooshyar in that small hut in the hills. During those first weeks I saw but few of the Zelaznids, for it was their way to wait before revealing themselves to strangers, to prevent the raising of an alarm by those who could not understand them, thus causing their enemies to seek them out once more. This was Hooshyar’s task: to ensure that I was a friend to the Zelaznids.

  Once it was determined that I was a man to be trusted, Hooshyar introduced me to others of his clan. They were, at first, reserved in their conversations with me, for they no doubt feared a negative response to their incredible stories. But, at last, the time came when their faith in me grew strong. On that day I was taken through a portal hidden in the hills, beyond which lay the land of Luna, a place where I would spend most of the next five years.

  Luna was the name they had given to that glorious port beyond their portal, where the moon in the evening was ever full, and where lush grasslands stretched away as far as the eye could see, dotted here and there by copses of large trees - a paradise emptie of all other civilizations.

  It was the habit of the Zelaznids to keep most of their people in a town which they had constructed near the portal in the land of Luna, a home protected from those in the land of their birth who might seek to do them harm. Other Zelaznids were divided into two groups: those who maintained herds in the valley of Quiqanyu to give support and companionship to Hoosyar the Gatekeeper; and those who set out in groups of four or five to explore the distant corners of the land of Luna. I asked them why they did not abandon this world altogether in order to settle themselves in the peaceful Luna. They responded that it is ever the responsibilitie of those who possess knowledge to share it with others, even at the risk of persecution.

  This is why, when the soldiers came, there were but few of us
in this world to face them. A shepherd boy saw them first, while he was seeking out a stray goat which had wandered away from his herd. The boy ran to Hooshyar’s hovel, carrying his goat all the way, in order to warn us of their coming - hundreds of men, armed with guns, marching up the trail from the river below.

  Most fled through the portal, prepared to wait for the soldiers to pass. But Hooshyar stayed in his hovel in order to maintain the lie that he was but a harmless old man living alone in the hills. I also chose to remain behind, for I foolishlie thought that I would need to protect Hooshyar from the soldiers; I could scarcelie have guessed how little he needed my protection. I intended to tell the soldiers a semblance of the truth should they ask: that I was a student of rural cultures, and that the wise old Hooshyar had intriguing stories to tell.

  The soldiers never revealed how they learned of the presence of the Zelaznids in the valley of Quiqanyu. Was it the off-handed remark of a mountain traveler overheard by an official in some distant courtyard? Were there spies in the hills or in the villages where the Zelaznids sold their goods? It matters not. It is enough now to know that the soldiers came and that they knew something of what they would find.

  “Where is your hidden village?” asked the commander.

  “What village I have sits under this roof,” replied Hooshyar. “Even this fellow with me is but a visitor to my home.”

  At this the soldier moved forward with no good purpose and took hold of the old man. Though I am not a man of great courage, I stood and placed my hand upon the shoulder of the turbaned warrior.

  “Please, he is but an old man, and I am here seeking his wisdom. There is no need to treat him thus.”

  The commander then turned to me and muttered words that filled me with horror and dread. “We know your purpose, poet. You will return with us to stand before the sultan. As for the old man, he will be treated as poorlie as his tenacitie merits.”