Inside Out: A Pagan Tale for the Child Within. Heather Brunton
send light in a concerted effort to help those less fortunate than ourselves. In so doing we can all benefit.’
The story concluded, the screen switched to some unknown planet and the announcer continued. ‘Inarda, in Somax sector is the likely candidate to host the next Harmonic Thought Directives, forty light years away.’
The message was beyond Maisey’s comprehension so she switched it off and ate the rest of her food in silence then looking down at her filthy clothes she went in search of a bathroom.
She found it just off the kitchen, decked out with a deep round tub and thick carpeting. While she waited for the bath to fill she looked about further. Checking the cupboards she found shampoo, soap and towels. She supposed she would have to put her dirty clothes back on so she hung them in a long cabinet that had a reflective interior. Closing the door she noticed a thin panel on the wall to the side of it which contained a list: Repair, Clean, Dry-Clean, Air Out. It was a list of probable options so she undressed and hung her jeans, underwear, tee shirt and sweatshirt on hangers, closed the cabinet door and pushed ‘Dry-Clean’ and ‘Repair’. A whirring sound began and continued quietly so Maisey let herself relax into the warm depths of the tub.
Feeling much better after her bath, she had to wait only a moment more and the machine ceased its humming. Cautiously she opened the cabinet. The clothes appeared like new. What a strange place this is, she thought. She dressed and returned to the kitchen just as a knock sounded.
Rendal poked his head around the door noting her clean appearance. ‘You’re up then? I see you found the facilities. We’ll go to see the Councillors if you’re ready, before it gets too light.’
‘Can I grab a couple of biscuits?’ asked the girl.
‘Of course you can. As many as you like.’
Maisey slipped two biscuits into her pocket before leaving the cottage. As they crossed the courtyard their steps echoed in the stillness and she asked, ‘Why before it gets too light?’
‘Better to cross the void before dawn.’ said Rendal. The thought sent a fresh chill up Maisey’s back.
Rendal left the girl at the turret room where the three robed figures sat waiting for the girl to be seated. She found the room even more beautiful by the light of the twin moons and twinkling stars.
‘We trust you are well rested.’ said Thoth.
‘Yes thank you,’ replied Maisey, adding. ‘I saw your news service and it raised a lot of questions. Where am I? You’ve told me of Id and Euphoria but where exactly are they?’
Thoth was slow to answer, choosing his words carefully. ‘This place is but a reflection of Earth, though in a different time zone; a different level of consciousness. We are like a blueprint for Earth. We are here to help you evolve and viceversa. We may not interfere, only guide, in the hope that Earthlings will assume their true power for good. But before I go further, do you still wish to accept the challenge to find the Rock of Strength?’
‘Yes,’ Maisey’s words sounded uncertain even to her own ears but Thoth either didn’t notice, or pretended otherwise.
‘The choice you have made in accepting our task may hold greater meaning if you observe.’He directed Maisey’s gaze to the wall behind him. It swirled and she felt herself drawn into its depths. In a flash she relived her life up till that point, all of the happiness and all of the sadness, all of the events that had joined to make her life what it was. Drawn out of its whirlpool, she found herself back in the room and Thoth was talking.
‘That was your past, recorded in time.’
He indicated to the wall behind Hathor. ‘This next screen is that of comprehension.’
Once again she felt drawn into its depths, though this time she seemed to be viewing her life from a distance, without emotion. She saw all of the decisions that had been made by her parents and her own more recent bad decisions, but more importantly she knew rather than saw, that there was a reason for everything. She saw that wrong choices and decisions could be lessons to teach her, and finally she saw herself giving up the walkathon, and the robed figures making a last ditch effort by bringing her here. She was back in the room again and Thoth was saying, ‘So you see, you are at the crossroads of time. The challenge is really in assuming your power. At the present stage you may forget what we have shown you but for your journey we would give you these gifts.’
He reached across and handed her a watch. The face was a swirling mass of colour. ‘When Doubt comes, look into the watch face.’
Hathor leaned forward and spoke for the first time. ‘This is my gift. Its energies are unique yet are your own.’
The girl took what appeared to be a small hand mirror, both sides reflective; one clear, the other scoured.
‘What does this do?’ she asked.
‘You will know when the time is right,’ replied Hathor.
Uraeus dropped a ring into her hand. ‘This will help to keep your own power. Wear it with faith.’
Putting it on, the clear crystal of its surface seemed to hum with a blue vibration that coursed through her hand.
Rendal knocked, then entered the room.
‘Go now with Rendal to the land of Id and bring back the Rock of Strength,’ said Thoth.
‘What do I do when I find it?’ asked the girl.
‘You will know when the time comes,’ he replied.
‘But?’ She had a million more questions but it was as if an invisible wall had been raised against her so she turned and left with Rendal.
CHAPTER FIVE
It was already becoming light as the pair left the city, crossed the field and entered the forest.
‘Hurry, we must reach the void before it gets too light.’ said Rendal.
‘I’m scared. Can you come with me?’
‘I cannot stay there for long but I will go with you across the void and I can advise you throughout your journey.’
‘How can you advise me if you won’t be there?’ Maisey felt bewildered by his words.
‘You will see.’ He patted her hand. ‘Look within for the answers and they will come. And remember, it’s okay to be scared so long as you face it.’
The pair reached the edge of the void still caught in the last shadows of night.
‘Quickly, Doubt sleeps. Lets go.’ Rendal pulled Maisey with him out over the field but midway across she felt the mirror slip from her jeans pocket and pulling out of Rendal’s grip, ran back to retrieve it. A nearby rock became a doubt soldier that sprang forth to make a lunge at the girl.
So near to the mirror! The girl managed to duck out of his way and made a determined dive. As she lifted it, the first rays of dawn caught its surface.
Clear side out, it sent a blast of light onto the creature who dissolved in a puff of smoke. For a second the girl was paralysed but seeing more creatures break free from the rocks, she ran to catch up to Rendal who stood on the fringes of the void. Taking her hand again, he pulled her into the cover of thick shrubs.
‘We mustn’t stop at the well now they know we’re here… we’ll lose them in the woods.
Running in a zigzag pattern, they eventually exited the woods farther down the hill. From this aspect the toilet block could be seen jutting out of the hill and from their position much lower down, the mountain appeared to be moving. Adjusting her vision, Maisey was horrified to realise that it was in fact, huge armies of Doubt swarming over the gravel.
‘They’ll be warning Fear of our presence even now.’ Rendal was clearly upset