Under a Starless Sky

Chapter 50

Looking down on the fortress of Jorvik, provided there wasn’t a Sleeper Tree in the way, you would see

a circle, divided into quadrants. The circle was define by earth and grass. Likely, from a random walk

from outside coming in, you would think it was just a hill that needed to be climb; only when you arrived

at the top you would be looking into a small city, and likely dying of from the wounds of a dozen arrows

before you even realized you were dead. One medium size Sleeper Tree rose from the north of the

fortress, and its canopy shielded the whole of the compound, as if someone had planted a Boa Tree

and attached a roof. They emerged from the gate into directed lights, which left them blind to the room

they were in. Shen and TL had VR of the room, a temple with a single gate. There was a roof

supported by iconic pillars. The entire temple was solid granite.

Shen was unprepared for the cold that hit his face. “Fuck, it’s cold.”

“I will get you proper clothing at my home,” Arne assured him. “You might fit in my son’s clothes.”

“Or your daughters,” Erico said.

Arne laughed.

Someone said: “I recognize that laugh. Arne? Come forwards into the light.”

Arne walked forwards, boldly greeting the group of warriors that had gathered. He boldly collected the

hovering scout-orb.

“Not afraid of a child’s toy, are you?”

While they were talking, Torny noticed Shen. He was pale, as if he had seen a ghost. She noticed TL

attending to him, mystified by what she assumed was silent communication.

“What?” Torny asked. “The cold is that bad?”

“I feel like I have been here before,” Shen said. He and TL silently agreed that he should share openly,

wanting to affirm his vision. Specifically, it reminded him of the place where a character in a story,

Emmitt Sheehan, had experienced his transpersonal evolution, and finally joined with Solarchariot- the

emergence of TL. He had thrown the Torch into the ocean, had second thoughts, dived in, drowned,

and the raised by TL, a fiery, watery Phoenix. “It reminds me of the Faroe Islands. Almost all this island

is elevated away from the sea. There is lake and a water fall that falls into the sea. There is one place,

low and flush with the sea, with a circular compound like this, but bigger, and ships are there, some in

the making. Between here and there are a number of villages, grass covered roofs,” Shen said. He

wondered if ‘Sheehan’ and ‘Shen’ were related, or just coincident.

Arne, the guard, and an elderly woman drew closer, listening to Shen. They brought lights, born on the

staffs of sleeper trees, balancing out the light around the gate. Shen had a sudden flash of anger, and

gripped TL’s arm. Rock and Abby positioned themselves as if there might be a fight.

“We’re going home, now,” Shen said.

“How have we offended you?” Arne asked.

“Wrong question,” the elderly woman said. “What did you see?”

Shen met her eyes. “Your ships are constructed out of Sleeper Trees,” Shen said. “I cannot associate

with people that kill these trees.”

“So, you can’t see everything,” the elderly woman said. She seemed pleased by this information.

“You’re human.”

“Friend, Shen,” Arne said. “No one here would drop a Sleeper Tree. Not even the dragons will burn a

Sleeper. This canopy has likely saved us from having to go war with the Sky People. Yes, our ships are

made from Sleepers. Neither dragon nor levitation will attack a ship made from this wood. Only humans

will do that. And few can take us on with good outcomes. We only use trees that were felled by nature,

not man. Killing a sleeper in any realm we have visited is punishable by death. That said, all people

cherish the wood from this tree. It holds value higher than gold.” Arne offered Shen the orb. “No one

here will stop you from leaving, if you so choose, but I ask you to trust me. I will not betray your trust.”

Shen let go of TL’s arm. His hands were shaking. TL took the orb, pocketed it in her bag. “I am sorry. I

don’t know why I am so shaken.”

“Because no one has taught you how to see,” the elderly woman said. “You are getting bits of pieces

and making assumption and you are afraid. To divine the truth of something, you must not just see the

now of it, you must track the entire world line of it. Even better if you can understand all the vectors of

it, and the influencers of it, from before it’s cradle even emerged. Few can do that much, but it is truly

necessary if you are to discern the greater truth of it. Nothing is what it seems on the surface.”

“I am frequently afraid. And angry,” Shen admitted.

“Then stop wrestling with God,” the elderly woman said.

“Who doesn’t wrestle with God?” Shen asked. “If you’re breathing, you’re engaging in a conversation

with God… Forgive my tone. I am sorry for being so rude to a people who have invited me into their

homes, their hearts.”

“This is reciprocity,” Arne reminded him.

Shen smiled faintly, wiped his tears.

“I like you,” the elderly woman came. “Walk with me.”

The party moved with him.

“No,” the elderly woman said. “Just this man.” She smiled at TL. “I promise, I won’t abuse him. Much.”

“He’s all yours,” TL said.

Shen and TL exchanged a look. Arne laughed.

Her name was Ili, and she was the eldest of the elderly, and a recognized Shamanka. She led him to

the Tree. There was a gathering of stones describing a circle, the center of which held a fire pit. The

tree itself was huge. Stone steps led up to a door. They entered the tree. She touched amber that was

embedded in the wood and her home was suddenly illuminated. Every shade of amber was

represented. Deep ruby reds. Yellows. Oranges. Swirls. There was even a green amber stone. There

were stairs winding up to another room. This room had the door, two windows to either side of the door,

bench seating that went mostly around the room, interrupted only by the stairs, and hearth that was not

flame, but a pile of illuminated amber. This room was a mere bubble in the tree. The tree, the room, the

amber, was alive- one with the tree.

“Before you ask, the answer is no; no human cut into this tree,” Ili said. “Only a tree spirit can open the

heart of a tree to human. This tree called me. When I am gone, it will call another. That has been the

way of it for time immoral. Sit, child.”

Shen sat where he was instructed to sit.

“Now, lie down,” Ili said.

Shen frowned, but complied. She sat down by him, lotus pose. He was between the hearth of glowing

Amber and her. She leaned into him and laid an ear to his chest. She pushed on his knees.

“Knees down,” Ili said. “Relax. I am not going to rape you.”

“I wasn’t thinking…”

She came up and met his eyes. “I have evidence to the contrary. Or is it an invitation?”

“I was remembering a similar procedure. She kissed me,” Shen said.

“So?”

“It was without warning or asking,” Shen said.

“Asking can change the information received,” Ili said. “I don’t need to taste the flavor of you to sort

you.” She put a hand on his chest, near his heart and closed her eyes.

“What are you looking for?” Shen asked.

“Be quiet. You talk too much. Quiet your mind, too, while you’re at it. Better. Just breathe,” Ili said.

“Close your eyes. Breathe with me.”

Shen followed her instructions. He relaxed. She rocked his chest. Suddenly, he was standing. He was

on a platform at the top of a tree; he supposed it was Ili’s tree. The tree was lit by various glowing

insects, some still, some flying. It was like Christmas. The woman with him was young and beautiful.

“Who are you?” Shen asked.

“You don’t recognize me?” she asked. “I am Ili.”

“Wow,” Shen said.

“Oh, so now you’re interested in an old woman’s kiss?” Ili asked.

“You don’t know me,” Shen said.

“Teach me,” Ili said.

“This age, or older, I would be intimate with you,” Shen said.

Ili drew closer. “Really, now,” she said, flirtatious. “I may test this.”

“I would prefer you didn’t,” Shen said.

“Why, you don’t want me to know the truth of it?” Ili asked.

“Do I have to be inside of you before you accept the truth of it?” Shen asked.

“Are you so bold?” Ili asked.

“Are you so accommodating?” Shen asked. “Keep this up, and there will be a point of no return.”

“Keep this up, I will embrace your return,” Ili said.

Shen tried to change the subject. “Where are we?”

“My space. My tree. It is the platform for seeking knowledge and communicating with others,” Ili said.

“You clearly have wood. Have you not been so elevated?”

“I don’t have access to this,” Shen said.

Ili pouted, because he didn’t continue the banter. “You were called. I have clarity on that,” Ili said.

“I am not from here,” Shen said.

“I don’t understand your statement,” Ili said.

“I am not from this world,” Shen said.

“Oh! Well, who the fuck is?”

“I don’t understand your statement,” Ili asked.

Ili spoke as if quoting something: “My place is placeless, a trace of the traceless. Neither body or soul. I

belong to the beloved, have seen the two worlds as one. I have put duality away. One I seek, One I

know, One I see, One I call. Together we know, first, last, outer, inner- only that breath breathing human

being.”

TL in his suit provided insight. “That’s Rumi.”

“How do you know Rumi?” Shen asked.

“All is available here,” Ili said. “You were called. You have access.” She went into verse: “Notice how

each particle moves. Notice how everyone has just arrived here from a journey. Notice how each wants

a different food. Notice how the (night vanishes) as the sun comes up, and how all streams stream

toward the ocean.” TL explained: ‘original version was (stars vanish.)’ Ili continued “But that shadow

has been serving you! What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle. Your boundaries are your

quest. You must have shadow and light source both. Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.”

“I love you,” Shen said, taking a knee.

She drew him up to his feet. “I love you.” She kissed him.

Shen was suddenly back in his body. Ili’s face was hovering frighteningly close, her eyes closed,

breathing in as he exhaled. Her hair dangled around his face. He brought his hands up to her face,

touching gently, then pushed through her hair, cupped her head, and drew her face to his. Their lips

met. The exchange escalated into intimacy, an eagerness growing, but never going further than the

other was ready, and when she said, “I am sufficiently wet and wanting. Will you prove?”

“I am hard and wanting. Accept my proof,” Shen said.

“Take me,” Ili said.