Page 10 of The Space Traveller's Lover
AWAKENING
Welcome to your ancestors’ world, Shaillah.
As Erin wakes up and slowly opens her eyes, an intense glow hurts her pupils. She covers her face with her hands and tries to peer through the narrow slit between her fingers, but she cannot focus on anything.
She takes a deep breath, but the rushing cold air numbs her throat. Next, she tries to get up, but as she does, her body flips backwards, and she realises she’s floating in mid-air. Aimlessly spinning, she cries out for help, but no matter how hard she tries, she cannot hear her screams.
Erin tries to work out how she ended up trapped inside this icy bubble. She remembers standing by Sam’s side, utterly mystified by a mysterious figure flying towards them.
Is he keeping me captive? Am I alive … or dead? And where is Sam? This last thought makes her open her eyelids as much as she can stand it, desperately looking and reaching out for her best friend through the thick haze, to no avail.
As she starts to fear that she’s alone, her despair changes into full expectation when the all-pervading haze starts to dissipate, and the blinding white light progressively fades.
Her body stops spinning but then starts shaking, her heartbeat pounding hard in her aching chest. Still, she tries to control herself to confront whatever she will encounter when the foggy shroud finally clears .
At last, she welcomes the fresh air warming her body as the unfamiliar surroundings gradually start to take shape in front of her.
Erin marvels at the striking view of a startled, bleary-eyed girl floating off the floor and looking directly at her from the back of the room.
I’m looking at my own reflection . She watches herself blink several times while her mouth stays wide open.
The girl on the life-size three-dimensional image looks as stunned as she feels.
To the right of her gleaming body, a bright red heart pounds at the same rhythm as her pulse, and a translucent brain flashes with random blue sparks. Rows of intricate symbols fill the rest of the space, rotating while glowing in different colours and brightness.
Three tall men are staring closely at the ethereal projection while talking among themselves.
She immediately recognises one of them as the one who appeared on the waterfall.
His sturdy body, distinctive white hair, and black glossy uniform stand out against the brightly coloured picture.
Oh, he looks just like the mysterious soldier. I guess I’ll be waking up soon.
She next tries to extend her feet to touch the floor, and as she does, she’s thrilled she can stand up at last. She straightens her back and bends her knees and elbows, crouching and standing up; her newly found self-control brings her some comfort, and she momentarily forgets about the strangers, concentrating on her body instead.
She keeps all her attention on the life-size image of herself. She twists and turns, inspecting her tight white bodysuit and the high velvet boots wrapping comfortably around her feet. Her eyes are shining with a deep purple glow, and her long blonde hair has now turned a glossy silver-white.
Suddenly, the men’s tall bodies block her view, making her shudder. Erin can feel the pressure of their stare as they stand a short distance in front of her. She tries to move away and as she desperately screams, this time, she can hear her shrieks echoing through the high vaulted chamber.
But the men are hardly perturbed by her frightened reaction, keeping a patient guard as if knowing it’s a matter of time before she calms down.
As she instinctively searches for an exit, she notices her vital signs chaotically changing on the holographic projection, her rapidly pulsating heart, her constantly flashing brain.
But then she starts feeling inexplicably calmed; her pulse suddenly steadies, and her sparkling brain signals fizzle out.
Soon, she finds herself quietly staring at the waiting men as if expecting their next order.
One of the men steps forwards while warmly smiling at her. As she slowly makes out his welcoming face, she feels even more sedated.
He goes down on one knee, maintaining his hypnotic gaze as if inviting her to get closer. She feels an irresistible urge to run to him. As she looks straight into his piercing emerald-green eyes, her fascination overpowers her caution.
She feels her heartbeat racing once again. Even if she tries she cannot breathe, as she realises that, in front of her, is the man of her dreams. She desperately wants to touch him, to feel him; she needs to know that he is real.
As she runs towards him, she feels her body breaking through the invisible sheath that has been keeping her captive.
In a fleeting moment, she finds herself leaning against his chest, looking down on him, while he is wrapping his arms around her waist. She breathes in deeply, filling her lungs with his alluring scent; she can taste it.
He keeps perfectly still and allows Erin to inspect him for as long as she wants.
She is intrigued by his exotic looks, puzzled by his magnetic aura.
His thick dark eyebrows join together over the long thin nose.
When he momentarily blinks, the glow from his pupils flashes through lush dark eyelashes.
His slick silver hair flows over his thick neck and falls over his forehead in a jagged fringe.
Her fingers play with his hair as she strokes his face, pressing hard on his cheeks and jawbones. Oh, he is real!
He moves one arm behind his back and brings about a crystalline pyramid-shaped object, perfectly balanced on the palm of his hand.
The sharp-edged piece shines at the edges with a fuzzy iridescent light, and as it starts to rotate slowly, Erin recognises the letters of the alphabet randomly appearing on each side in a bright red colour.
The man speaks slowly in a gravelly voice. She listens carefully, trying to understand in vain what he’s saying. But then she notices every letter assembling into words on the surface of the pyramid: “Welcome to your ancestors’ world, Shaillah.”
“Shaillah?” She frowns .
“Seij, Shaillah” (Yes, Shaillah), he declares as he withdraws his hand from beneath the pyramid and lets it float while the shiny object slowly rotates with the name “Shaillah” displayed on all four sides.
She tries to touch the pyramid, anticipating a cold sensation from the glassy surface, but the sudden electric discharge makes her jolt.
“No, no,” she protests, shaking her head firmly. “My name is Erin. What is yours?”
The man wryly smiles at her sharp response. He stands up, his broad shoulders rising above her head. He puts one hand over his chest, briefly bowing his head, as he says in a mellow voice, “My name is Rothwen.”
Erin looks up at him, her mouth wide open in surprise as she hears the words in perfect English. “So, you also speak English,” she marvels.
“It’s not a big deal, Shaillah. You’ll soon be speaking our language as well.”
She backs away from him, gathering her thoughts; a lost and bewildered look flashes across her face. Then she realises that the two other men are inquisitively looking at her as well.
“Meet our supreme commander, Kuzhma-Or, and our chief scientist, Athguer,” Rothwen announces, ignoring her baffled expression.
“Kuzhma-Or, Athguer,” she repeats as she looks at each of them in turn.
Athguer is wearing a navy bodysuit with a high open collar around the back of his neck. His trimmed silver-streaked hair and beard are impeccably combed back in straight lines, exuding a zest for perfection.
Kuzhma-Or’s highly decorated uniform gives him a compelling dominating appearance. His thick white eyebrows and rectangular beard stand out against his black glossy attire.
The hefty commander acknowledges Shaillah with a brief nod, while Athguer keeps looking at her, narrowing his eyes in a studious stare.
“Unda ye, Shaillah,” Kuzhma-Or orders while turning around and briskly walking towards the glossy ebony table running through the back of the vast room, in stark contrast with the pure white polished walls.
She reads the translation on the floating pyramid’s side: “Follow me, Shaillah.”
She repeats to herself, Unda ye, Unda ye , and she has the impression that she has heard those words before. Maybe in my dreams? She wonders .
As Kuzhma-Or walks away, the pyramid follows him, floating along and gliding over the table. He lounges back on his tall chair at the head of the table while stroking the glitzy gemstones adorning the golden hand rest.
Rothwen waits patiently by Erin, as she still dares not move. She knows her only option is to obey them, but she buys herself some time while inspecting the strange but intriguing multichromatic view quickly changing in front of her.
Athguer returns to the flickering three-dimensional projection, analysing the packed rows of symbols as he strolls back and forth, totally consumed in his thoughts.
With a sharp glance, Kuzhma-Or orders Rothwen to join him at the glossy table.
Rothwen takes Erin by the hand, leading her to sit opposite him while facing the imposing commander and the colourful images.
Erin sits on top of her crossed legs, stretching out her body to make herself look taller.
She looks up at the men in an expectant pose while checking approvingly on her body’s reflection.
“Seya, Shaillah” (Welcome, Shaillah)! “Your awakening has long been awaited … by us all,” Kuzhma-Or says, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture, his booming voice resounding all around the concave walls.
She starts to read the translated words on the pyramid, but she finds herself understanding every word, even before she finishes. All the while, she keeps glancing at Kuzhma-Or and Rothwen, trying to ascertain their intentions.
The glossy tabletop slides open at its centre, and two tall black goblets rise from within the gap, a bluish effervescent foam bubbling on their rims.