Beyond the Island
by John W. Steele
Young Brian Mudd is proud of his ability to travel in the astral realms — until he encounters Lord Nagual, who prefers to be called “Max.” Brian becomes Max’s apprentice and finds him a harsh, even cruel master but nonetheless an effective instructor. Meanwhile, Brian is taken with Karen Frost, with whom he feels he has a karmic link. And Brian’s karma is trouble.
Chapter 24
The Lord Nagual spoke. “Beyond the star you know as Betelgeuse, there once existed a solar system of great renown. It was a paradise realm known as the Heaven of Thirty-Three Palaces, and you lived there near the end of its Golden Age. It was a domain of peace and great prosperity.
“All men reborn to this world had acquired extraordinary merit. The rulers there were venerated, angel-like noblemen of wisdom and authority. A lifespan in this paradise lasted for a hundred thousand years, and those reborn there lived as kings.
“They were assisted by species of angels known as the genii, who were created to serve. The genii are lovely to behold. Their greatest joy is in their uses, and they are loyal and good-natured. They excel in the arts and agriculture and all other forms of craftsmanship. Some are musicians and even courtesans. They are perfected beings but they do not posses free will. Their purpose is to serve and be indentured, for their use is their only pleasure.
“Karen reigned as your queen during this cycle. Her name in that time was Tatiana. Together you ruled a planetoid called Darsoom. It was a place of splendor and beauty. The trees had leaves as if made of silver and bore fruit as if made of gold. There were many palaces in this world, and all things in them were refulgent as if made of jewels.
“Children were not conceived with ease, and it was a great honor to receive a child. Tatiana bore you a son who was the supreme jewel in your crown. You loved the boy with fervent fatherly devotion. Your life in Darsoom was one of bliss and luxury. There were few obstacles between your fantasy and reality, but you’d exhausted much of your merit. Your time in this heaven realm was coming to an end.
“Sweat began to appear on your brow, and your robes started to collect dust. The regal splendor of monarchy had lost its charm. You no longer found grandeur in your lofty station. Tatiana sensed the changes in you, and she grew disturbed and anxious. She feared that your time in paradise would soon be over, and the dreadful thought of living without you tormented her mind.
“Lord Mara, the great magician and deceiver, had also discovered the realm of palaces and began to seed it with men of a discordant vibration. The hearts of those he placed there were filled with craving, discontent, and insanity. The heaven realm began to devolve, and the kings had learned from this new race of men how to lie and covet and kill.
“Peace and harmony evaporated from the kingdoms. A dissonant mind-state took root throughout the solar system, like weeds in a garden. Coveting bred craving. Craving bred hatred. Hatred bred war and war bred the new Age of Man. Gone forever was the Golden Age of innocence and contentment. The balance of order was replaced by a militaristic theocracy, and the constant threat of war replaced the freedom of peace.
“One of Mara’s slaves who found his way to Darsoom was a maleficent mortal named Leto. He was a handsome and charming hominid with long black hair and burning green eyes. Leto was an adept of the magical arts. He understood the secrets of the stars and the mystery of the oracle. Words dripped like honey from his mouth, and he beguiled all the ladies of your court.
“Because you were incapable of lying, you did not understand the power of beguilement. You found a friend in Leto and believed that he possessed great wisdom. But Leto was a sorcerer, and his heart was traps and snares. His real desire was to steal your crown and ascend to the throne.
“He selected several ladies in waiting who were attendants of your queen and turned their hearts against you. They formed a coven, and their high priestess was Tatiana’s beautiful handmaiden, Ursula. Ursula held great sway over Tatiana. Through the use of crystals and divination, Ursula convinced Tatiana to join the wise ones. The witches poisoned Tatiana’s mind, and this was her downfall.
“Leto convinced Tatiana that he held the key to eternal life and that he had great influence over the Lord of Death. He brainwashed Tatiana into believing he could persuade the Death Nagual to withhold judgment on you and allow you to live with her in this majestic paradise for eternity.
“One night as you lay sleeping, Tatiana ordered the palace guard to open the gate and allow the troupe of necromancers to enter the courtyard.
“The witches formed a crescent shape before the pillars of the castle. At Leto’s signal, they began to chant. Leto and your queen stood in the center of the half-moon, and Tatiana recited a forbidden incantation that Leto had revealed to her.
“A great ball of fire appeared in the heavens and pulsated with a cerulean flame. Tatiana’s eyes filled with tears because she believed that she’d rescued you from the Lord of Death and that you would dwell with her in the realm of palaces for eternity.
“The sphere of fire grew larger. Leto raised his staff to the midnight sky and in a passionate voice proclaimed, ‘It is I who am the true Lord-Emperor of Darsoom. In the name of Mara, I command you to destroy the infidel!’
“Lightning flashed in the fireball, and a sword of fire sliced through the heavens. The sword cut through the castle and consumed the palace in a raging holocaust.”
Max paused from his tale, and we remained silent. A searing pain burned deep in my psyche, and my body tingled with painful sensations. A memory soared through my mind like a blazing comet and then incinerated in the ocean of the present.
“Karen’s Nagual sent her an omen last night,” Max said, “and I believe you know the rest of the story.”
Copyright © 2009 by John W. Steele
