It was around 12’o clock when billionaire, Alan Sawner’s private Learjet landed at the Portland International airport. The expensive plane taxied off the runway towards a private slot and came to a halt. Inside the fuselage, Alan and his friend and fellow expedition crew member, Andrew Briston unfastened their seat belts and headed towards the exit.
They were followed by Alan’s secretary, Colin Miller. According to Colin, his employer had visited his friend’s seaside mansion in Jakarta when a tsunami had struck. Luckily, he had been on a high cliff, sightseeing, and was safe when the rescuers found them.
Alan and Andrew shared a secret. They had actually been on the beach when the tsunami had struck the previous day and they had been somehow transported to another dimension where a dragon like creature had told them to find in in the Tenebris Chorés islands. They had already planned an expedition to unravel its secrets before the incident. Even more astonishing was that they had even gained access to each other’s memories.
Now they were here in Portland to meet the third expedition crew member, Dr Delton Kraig. A white Scorpio was waiting to pick them up, just outside the plane.
The driver rushed out to open the door for the two businessman. They got in. Andrew started the conversation, “Where are we heading first?” “My hotel, we’ll stay there for an hour or so and then we can go attend Dr Kraig’s lecture.” Alan replied. He was still a little dull, he had instructed his driver to go back to the Soekarna-Hatta international airport in Jakarta while he visited Andrew’s mansion. The tsunami had killed the driver on the way and Alan blamed himself for it. If they’d just headed to the airport instead of going to Andrew’s mansion, they may have gotten there in time and Jimmy would be alive.
The events of the past twenty-four hours had been extremely tiring and mentally disturbing for both Andrew and Alan.
“Alan, if it’s any consolation, even if you didn’t come to the mansion, you could never have outrun the tsunami. The flyover to the airport was crushed by the first earthquake. You could never have escaped. Both Jimmy and you would have died.” “Thanks for trying Andrew.” Alan said but he made an effort to appear lively.
They headed past Broadway street towards Lloyd Centre mall near which ‘The Royal Group of Hotels: Portland’ was located.
As the car turned left, Alan saw his five star hotel, a tall twenty storied glass structure. They pulled into the driveway and stopped just outside the sliding doors. The floor was white granite. At the centre of the hall was a tall spire that reached up to the top of the building. The walls were glass. The circular black marble reception desk formed a ring around the central spire. The room was circular too with curved white sofas on the sides with glass tables in front of them.
Six elevators lined the side walls. On the first floor were the restaurants. From the second floor onwards, there were twenty-five rooms on each floor. The twentieth floor had only fifteen rooms, but they were luxury class. All of Alan’s hotels had the luxury class suites on the highest floor.
Colin had stayed back in the airport to sort out some immigration issues. Alan and Andrew took the elevator to the twentieth floor.
They stepped out and Alan said, “Here, take this and choose any room you like.” handing Andrew an electronic key, “Except rooms two-hundred and three and two- hundred and fifteen. Relax, freshen up and meet me by the elevator in about twenty minutes.” “Alright.” said Andrew and he was gone.
Alan swiped his electronic card and walked into a suite. The room was fit for a king. It had red and gold upholstery. The hall was huge with a sofa and red carpet that lined the floor. The walls were beige with an original Picasso. The living room had a large leather sofa, with a teak wood dining table with chairs that had leather cushions.
There was a forty-eight inch television with a surround sound system. The bedroom had a four poster, king sized bed and a large wardrobe.
The bedroom also had an attached bathroom. Alan took a quick shower and wore a black suit. He went outside where Andrew was already waiting. As he walked, he thought of the dragon. It had said that they would find it if they were worthy. What if they weren’t?
“You’re late.” said Andrew, he was now wearing denim jeans and a red polo neck shirt. “Ready for lunch?” he asked completely ignoring Andrew’s first statement about being late.
They took the elevator down. The automated voice announced, “First floor.” The two men stepped out. They decided to try Italian and walked into the ‘Taste del Italy’ restaurant and chose a table at the end of the aisle.
They decided to go with something light, caviar, some akme levian bread and fine wine.
While their food was being plated, Andrew asked, “Are you really planning to attend Delton’s lecture? It’s so boring sometimes.” “Delton’s subject for today’s lecture might change your opinion.” said Alan, “It’s a presentation about the secrets of the Tenebris Chorés.”
Meanwhile, Delton Kraig prepared for his presentation. There was something special about that particular presentation, Mr Sawner would be meeting him today.
His expedition to the Bermuda triangle had been a grand success, publishing rights, movies, why even a nomination for a Nobel Prize. Now another great opportunity to get some money. Not that he didn’t have an urge to discover its secrets too, the fame and fortune were just a bonus that he really wanted.
Delton walked backstage, notes in hand. His assistant informed him that Mr Sawner and Mr Briston had just entered the lecture hall. Alan, he had expected, but Andrew? Delton wasn’t due to see him till they reached Germany. Well it didn’t matter.
Delton was a little nervous, apart from his friendship with Alan, Mr Sawner was still his employer and he had to reinforce Alan’s confidence in him. This lecture gave him the opportunity to do so. He walked onto the stage towards the dais. He placed his papers on the dais and tapped the mike to check that it was working.
Delton began in his most formal voice, “Ladies, gentlemen, friends, how many times has the following question puzzled you? What lies in the Tenebris Chorés islands? Discover the possible answers with me.”
“Not bad, he would make a good businessman.” Alan said as he watched Delton speak so professionally.
“As you know, just over a year ago, I headed the Bermuda triangle expedition. At first a few of our boats and men went missing, but we forged ahead and solved one of the greatest mysteries that mankind faced.
Countless people discouraged us, told us it was stupidity to meddle with other worldly things, but we were successful.
Several hundred years ago people feared comets, thinking they were omens of ill fate. They feared them because they knew not as to what they were.”
It was a good argument. Basically he was saying that people tend to fear what they don’t know. Also, it gave a Alan a bit of reassurance. People like the Sheik had said the same about the Bermuda triangle expedition and it had turned out just fine.
Alan looked at Andrew and said, “Well, we definitely hired the right man.”
Delton began again, “The Tenebris Chorés island is now the greatest mystery of the world. All puzzles can be solved if one has the key and I believe that I do. Mr Sawner has arranged an expedition to the islands. It is my great honor and privilege to be part of the expedition crew.
We shall set out from the coast of Hong Kong, five days from now.
One must dream first to achieve. Today’s presentation shall be based on speculations of the possible causes for the disappearances and unexplained phenomenon in the Tenebris Chorés islands.” As he ended this, he spread his arms wide and bowed ever so slightly. There were quite a few claps and nods from the audience.
“My first theory is as follows. There could be a gravitational anomaly in the islands. That is a sudden increase in gravity at certain spots like in the Bermuda triangle. The cause for these anomalies is not completely clear. But as in the triangle they weaken and disappear completely just before reaching the Karman line, the point from where space begins.
Here are my reasons to support my theory. Firstly the triangle and the Chorés islands share similar incidents. We now know the triangle’s secret. So I can relate to the similarity of the incidents and come to the conclusion that they may have a similar cause.
Secondly, I attached instruments to measure gravity to a high altitude weather balloon. As it passed over the central island, it detected a slight increase in gravity, slight, but an increase nonetheless.
Such a minor increase in gravity is natural in places all over the world, but as I said, the gravity abruptly weakens at a certain point which is pretty uncommon. Somewhere around thirty thousand feet.”
Just as Delton concluded his first theory, a man wearing black trousers and a black hood walked into the hall. Anger welled up within him at the sight of Delton’s smiling face. He would pay for what he had done.
There was something in his pocket, made of metal. It was meant for Delton and he would revive it. Delton was responsible for it. He had convinced everyone otherwise, but no, it was him who had taken his friends and brother to their deaths. This went through the anonymous man’s mind as Dr Kraig blabbered something about a high concentration of dark matter on the island.
“Thank the heavens. Its over.” said Andrew. Alan frowned slightly, “Even a talk about the Tenebris Chorés didn’t interest you?” “Talk? More like torture. He’s giving a lecture on possibilities when we’re going to discover the truth in a matter of days.”
Just as Andrew stopped criticizing Delton, Dr Kraig walked over to them and shook their hands. “Did you like my presentation?” Andrew was the first to reply, “Yeah, fantastic.” There was obvious sarcasm in his voice but Delton didn’t notice and thanked him. “Truly impressive Doctor.” said Alan trying to sound as sincere as possible.
As they walked out of the lecture hall, Delton told them to wait by the entrance of the Kraig University of Astrophysics. He had to get his documents and suitcase before they left.
Alan and Andrew walked down the white tiled corridors. The walls were brown in colour. Delton had departed through a door to their right. Andrew told Alan, “I was pretty exited so far, but now that the journey has begun, I’m getting doubtful.” Alan was mildly annoyed, “Andrew we have already informed the press, the world is waiting. Imagine what they would say if we hesitate.”
“Alan, we can’t risk our lives because of a few criticizing journalists.”
“Andrew it’s more than that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
“What if the dragon’s threat wasn’t real?”
“We survived a tsunami after facing it head on.”
“That doesn’t mean we have to risk our lives.”
“It’s obvious that it has the power to make that threat real.”
“You’re right. We have to go.”
They stepped out and just stood there, watching students walking into Reed college just a block away. Woodstock had become very popular since Delton’s college had opened up a year ago.
Andrew turned around and saw Delton walking stiffly away from the college. He pointed it out to Alan and they decided to follow.
Delton was being closely trailed by a man in a black hood. His hand was pressed against the astrophysicist’s back. As they turned left to cross the street, Alan couldn’t believe what he saw…the man was holding a pistol, pressed against Delton.
“Get the cops.” Alan said and bolted after Delton. Andrew wanted to follow but Alan was depending on him to inform the police, so could do nothing for the time being.
Alan followed the man and Delton through the whole of Woodstock.
Finally they walked into a narrow lane. They kept heading further down the lane and Alan would have to start moving if he had to keep up with the men. The only problem was that if he stepped into the lane and the man noticed him, he would have nowhere to hide. The man might even decide shoot him.
The man stopped and Alan leaped away from the mouth of the lane. The man in the black hood whispered something in Delton’s ear and he opened a door to his right. After that, he shoved Dr Kraig in.
Alan quickly head to the spot where the two men had been standing a few seconds ago. The door had a glass window on top. He peeped in. He strained to hear what the man was saying. He kept his hood lowered as he spoke, “Kraig, you’re responsible for my brother’s death and it’s about time that you repent.” Death? Delton wouldn’t kill anyone. Just then he remembered that a few men had died during the Bermuda triangle expedition, maybe this man’s brother was one of them.
Alan felt it again…uncertainty. This was happening more and more since his meeting with the Sheik. Why in the world had he invited him for the presentation.
Now that didn’t matter, his top priority was to save Delton. His mind raced through several ideas. Part of him wanted to just wait for Andrew to arrive with the police.
There was no time and he had to act fast. He was betting on chance, if the man decided to bring the gun, it was game over. He braved himself and knocked.
Alan almost yelped with satisfaction, the man had left his gun on the table. Alan pressed his back against the side if the wall.
The man peeped out and when he turned right, his vision was filled by a fist flying towards him. Alan had punched him right in the nose. It snapped with a crack that made Alan wince. The man tried to fight back, but the pain blinded him and he missed by quite a bit. Alan performed a well executed jab to his stomach and David crashed to the floor.
Delton could solve several equations simultaneously but the events of the past twenty minutes had been too much to take in.
Delton had walked into his office back at the college where he found David Harrison waiting for him with a gun. David was the brother of Ronald Harrison. Ronald had been part of the Bermuda triangle expedition. He and a few of his men were meant to do a quick check before Delton and the others went further towards the centre of the triangle.
Ronald’s boat had sailed over one of the high gravity spots and had been sucked to the bottom of the sea.
After seeing him in the room David had walked Delton out through the back door till they reached the alley. Then he had been pushed into the room that they now were.
“You’re the reason that they’re dead. You’ve meddled in matters that were not to be meddled with and it cost them their lives.” Delton was afraid but he had to reply, “Your brother and his men knew that there was no guarantee for their safety. They knew damn well where they were going. I hope you do remember that it’s a gravitational anomaly and not something supernatural.”
Delton noticed a nerve pulsing in David’s temple. He turned his gun towards Dr Kraig and began waving it around as he spoke. Delton barely paid attention to David’s dramatic words, he was more concerned that the gun might accidentally go off.
That was when there was a knock on the door. David placed the gun on the table with the barrel pointing in his direction.
He peeped out and stared left and right. Delton heard a crack and a while later, saw David crash to the floor with a bleeding nose. Alan stepped in and said, “Dr Kraig, I suggest that we leave.” Delton was more than pleased to do so.