8

Bull descended the crystal steps first, followed by the wide-eyed newcomers.

Rebecca felt strange. It wasn’t just that she was entering a new land, it was actually a different world. The mixture of unease, yearning, anxiety and impatience confused her, yet created within her an intense sense of mystery and expectation. She looked around as she descended the steps, trying to drink in every last detail. The spaceship had landed on a huge expanse of cropped grass, much like a football pitch on Earth. There were a couple of similar ships parked nearby, as well as a huge waiting carriage with a dozen snow-white horses champing at the bit and pawing the ground.

“Okay, everyone, climb into the carriage,” Bull called out to them. “This is the Highlow Cosmodrome. As you can see, it’s quite small and simple and it’s inside the Fortress of Utopia. Now we’ll head to the open-air theatre, where all of our important functions take place. Princess Felicia is waiting for us there, together with your relatives. It’s not far. Enjoy the ride.”

They all clambered into the wooden carriage, sinking into the soft leather seats and exchanging looks of wonderment, but saying nothing. Bull settled himself proudly up front and took hold of the reins, setting the horses off at a trot. He looked as comfortable as a coachman as he had looked as a spaceship pilot. Within a few easy strides he had effortlessly and humbly bridged the past and the future.

The carriage picked up speed as it rattled out of the Cosmodrome and onto a road covered with the same immaculate grass as the landing field. Elegant trees lined the sides of the road, with monkeys swinging through their branches. Brilliantly coloured parrots and other tropical birds swooped around the carriage in a squawking guard of honour. Deer, rabbits and squirrels frolicked in the road and played tag and hide-and-seek among the trees like carefree children.

Other horse-drawn vehicles and riders passed them, everyone looking happy and healthy. It was as if everyone was in their prime, no one stiffened or bowed by age or illness.

Rebecca had expected to see more futuristic architecture, like in the movies, but there were only simple buildings that rolled back the centuries - more reminiscent of Ancient Greece than another dimension. After driving for a few minutes, Bull pulled the horses to a halt amongst other parked carriages and tethered horses before leaping to the ground with the agility of an acrobat.

“Here we are,” he announced.

The young Orizons climbed out and followed him as he strode up a flight of steps and through an arched gateway into what looked like an ancient Roman amphitheatre. Tiers of seats rose up on either side and even over the gate through which they’d entered. The seats above the gateway formed a horseshoe shape, designed to fit Centaurs. This ground was also covered with the same kind of perfect grass the youths had previously encountered.

The bemused teenagers were ushered onto the terraces in a line and from there they could see Princess Felicia standing on a dais with Doctor Afterland and an impressive-looking group of dignitaries. Bull had left them to take his own place beside the Doctor. The Princess looked towards them and, as she spoke, everyone fell respectfully silent.

“I am Princess Felicia. Welcome to your homeland. You should be proud of yourselves. The revelations that you have just been subjected to would have shaken normal human beings, but you have all handled them well, as we would expect, proving that you are true Orizons.”

As she spoke, she walked back and forth along their row of seats. Her presence was so powerful and direct that each newcomer felt as if she was talking to them alone.

“Your training begins tomorrow. Here in the Fortress, we have both classrooms for theory and training grounds for practice. You will have lessons for eight hours every day. Your tuition will be completed whenever your trainers feel that you are ready. War - the Lomani, as we call it - can break out here at any moment but you aren’t allowed to take part until you have finished your training. Only then will you be adequately prepared to fight, if the need arises.

“At your homes, you will learn the customs of our land and you’ll see how simple and easy life can be, if we want it so.

“As you know, we must protect the Flame. It is the source of our great strength - the strength with which we fight to establish the reign of goodness.”

She swung round and pointed to a distant hill.

“Do you see how the Flame burns on that hill? The positive energy of the universe is concentrated there. We will never let it be taken. That place is sacred to us, protected by the Sphinx you see sitting beside it.”

Everyone in the theatre roared their approval and applauded. As the Princess waited for the applause to fade before continuing, Rebecca noticed that behind the group of dignitaries stood a small, but ancient-looking, tree. It had few branches and its foliage was threadbare. For a moment, she thought she saw something move in the middle of its trunk. It looked like a mouth, opening in a gnarled semblance of a smile.

“Now, before your families take you home,” Felicia continued, “I shall introduce you to your main instructors. Long ago a special gift was given to us from the Gods and it has been our wise counsel. It will teach you philosophy. It is The Wise Tree!”

The old tree rustled its branches and Rebecca realised that her eyes had not been playing tricks on her as it began to talk to the startled newcomers.

“Welcome children, welcome! Freedom, truth, honesty - I can see these qualities in you and these are ideals worth fighting for. In your new lives you will face many challenges, some of which can only be overcome by fighting and by holding on tightly to your faith, as faith will always triumph in any fight.”

“Thank you Wise Tree,” Felicia said. “Here is Doctor Afterland, who attended all of your births and gave you your first breaths of the Sacred Flame.”

Doctor Afterland stepped forward and opened his arms to them in welcome. “And, before you take your next breath of the Flame,” he said, “you will learn medicine and the science that explains our lovely world. Ah, and here’s the Amazon leader, General Claudia.”

General Claudia, a curvaceous Amazon woman with intricately-arranged long hair and pale, olive green eyes stepped out of the group and walked along the line to shake their hands.

“Welcome to our beautiful land,” she said to each in turn before swinging round to address the whole group. “I know you’ve all had some training in archery, but I will take you to the next stage, which is learning how to wield the bow as expertly on horseback as on foot. You will develop grace, precision, courage and the satisfaction of using the bow with the greatest imaginable skill.”

The next to step forward was General Hunter, a Centaur. He bowed respectfully to Claudia and Felicia before standing neatly and silently in front of the newcomers.

“The speed of the javelin and the spear,” he said, once he had their full attention. “How to defend with a shield. It shall be my honour to teach you all this.”

“Thank you both,” said Felicia. “And now, the leader of our armies, Field Marshal Foster!”

Field Marshal Foster strode forward, athletic and powerfully built with long, blond hair streaming behind him. The blue-sun symbol blazed across his broad chest and a crystal sword hung from his trim waist.

“Greetings! Along with Bull, who will teach you martial arts and the use of the dagger, I will be teaching you how to fight with a sword. My methods may save your lives one day, so make sure you listen well!”

“And if anyone wants a game of chess or some football? You know where to come!” added Bull.

Felicia gently touched the bark of the Wise Tree, which spoke once again. “Please remember this... Whenever we dare to try, we face the prospect of failure. Because of our wars, we often face the very real risk of death, too. If we do nothing, we will never experience the pain of failure, but neither will we experience the heady taste of victory. Consider my words carefully, for soon, the time will come when you must choose between remaining an Orizon or returning to Earth to live a simple life as a human being.”

They said nothing, mesmerized by the words of the Tree.

“The Gods have given us everything, but we cannot just sit back and enjoy it without giving something in return. I’ll always be here for you. Come to me whenever you feel the need.”

There was a solemn moment of silence as everyone considered what had been said, before Felicia spoke once more.

“And now you will finally meet your families. They will have the pleasure of giving you your first tour.”

A group of smiling Orizons entered the terrace area and went towards their children.

Tony and Lisa greeted Rebecca with tender hugs and kisses. They both were tall, slim and athletic. Tony’s short, grey hair was the same colour as his eyes. Lisa had an ethereal beauty, her long black hair contrasting dramatically with her pale skin. She looked no older than Rebecca’s mother, while her grandfather looked to be only in his early fifties.