The Forgotten Eden (16 page)

“
Numerous windows along its length looked like a million diamonds sparkling in the sunlight. I was so blown away by it, the obvious question again of ‘Why haven’t I known or at least heard about this place before now?’ didn’t occur to me. I couldn’t pry my eyes off the thing as we started down the steep path to the plaza below.

“
Genovene had been quietly observing me, obviously pleased.

“‘
Watch your step!’ she advised. ‘For now, it might be better to pay close attention to your feet so you don’t fall.’

“
I pulled my gaze away from the tower to watch my feet. She steadied me as we walked down the hill together. The air became thicker as we neared the plaza, perhaps from the waterfalls and streams. The gardens were really spectacular up close.

“
Within each one, a wide variety of flowers formed elaborate mazes. Everything from daisies to roses, even my grandfather’s beloved buttercups. Many exotic flowers I recognized but I’m still unfamiliar with the names. A light breeze swirled within the plaza carrying the flowers’ collective sweet aroma.

“
We moved through the plaza’s crowd. So many enraptured faces. Jonesing on joy, man, or maybe drunk…but on what? Were the floral scents that powerful?

“‘
It’s more than that, Jack,’ Genovene explained, intercepting my thoughts. ‘Yes, their excitement seems a little over the top, I suppose. But there’s a good reason for their ecstasy. Today’s Celebration Feast coincides with our ‘Festival of Life’ holiday, which started yesterday.

“‘
Festival of life’?’

“‘
It’s the holiest time my village celebrates. Similar to your Christmas and Easter, everybody brings gifts to the plaza for one another to share. But the best part is when the feast starts. That’s when this place starts rocking, Jack, and it’s set to happen
very
soon!’

“
Every time she got excited, she’d have to look away momentarily. Sort of like that Bram Stoker’s Dracula movie way back in the 90s, when the fiend would have to look away when getting too close to a carotid artery. Only I didn’t think of that analogy until years later. But just like the previous times she did this, when she looked back at me, she seemed more serene…pulling me close and gently clasping my hand with hers.

“‘
There’s still so much to see here and so much I’d love to show you,’ she said, more controlled. ‘Time’s passing quickly and we need to move along. Let’s take a quick stroll through one of the gardens and then we’ll go on up to the tower from there.’

“
She chose the garden on the left side of the plaza. Once we reached its wall, Genovene stretched her hand over the top and waved something very small back and forth. The wall melted away, forming a space just wide enough for us to pass through. When I turned around to look, the wall had already repaired itself.

“
The garden’s unspoiled beauty made the plaza we just left look drab in comparison. Gone for the time being was the crowd’s bustle, completely replaced by the gentle songs of birds and tree frogs, and the rush and gurgle from the nearby stream.

“
So tranquil and serene…. I half-expected Adam and Eve to show up at any minute. Looking around, I noticed some exotic fruit trees I could’ve sworn hadn’t been there a moment ago.

“
Genovene smile widened, obviously amused.

“‘
Both gardens are magical, responding to the hidden depths of a person’s mind and spirit,’ she told me. ‘This particular garden responds to positive thoughts, hopes, and dreams…in a constant flux to match what one loves. The other garden across the way responds to a person’s negative emotions and fears, which can bring dire results. You’ll notice every plant, tree, and the very grass you’re standing on are things you either have a fondness for or bring you peace. Do you see any insects other than butterflies and ladybugs? Or, any vicious snakes or ferocious animals?’

“‘
No...’ I looked around. Simply amazing. The lush green carpet of fresh-cut grass was indeed what I loved to see. It even smelled like it’d been cut just minutes before. I decided to test just how much of a magical garden it could be.

“‘
I don’t see any animals, Genovene. I suppose you’ve figured out by now that I really like animals. So, why ain’t there any dogs and cats around here?’

“
No sooner than I said this, a high-pitched growl emerged from a fern bush I stood next to. A white tiger cub came pouncing out from behind the bush and playfully attacked my leg.

“‘
What?
Whoa—hold on there, boy!’ I cried out, surprised, trying to back away. ‘Uh, Genovene...it won’t bite me, will it?’

“‘
No, sweetie, it won’t,’ she said, snickering while I attempted to climb over the wall. ‘How’s that for a kitten?’

“
She walked over to me and picked up the tiger cub, setting it down a few feet away. After patting the animal gently on its butt, she watched it disappear into the bushes. She then turned her attention back to me, smug satisfaction on her face.

“‘
Do you believe me now, Jack?’

“
I nodded, shyly. She reached out and took my hand again, leading me to a path that ran through the flowerbeds and plants. We followed the path until we reached the waterfall that fed the garden’s stream. We sat down together on a small golden bench beneath a tall willow that overlooked the pool this waterfall emptied into. The roar from the crashing water overwhelmed any other sounds in the garden. Genovene leaned into me again, speaking loud enough to be clearly heard above the water’s din.

“‘
This is our wishing pool. If you’d like, take a look down into the water, but be careful not to fall in.’

“
I leaned over the edge of the pool and saw hundreds of gold and silver coins, and even some copper, steel, and nickel coins from more recent years, including a couple of quarters and a half-dollar lying near where we sat. The water so clear, it looked like I could simply reach in and scoop the coins up with my hands.

“‘
The water’s a lot deeper than you think!’ she warned. She bent down and stuck her arm into the water all the way up to her elbow, but it seemed like she’d barely broken the water’s surface. ‘See what I mean?’

“‘
I would’ve never figured that, everything in there looks really close!’

“‘
Things aren’t always as they seem, or how we want them to be,’ she said. ‘Like this pool…. Some wishes come true for those who make them here, and yet, many other wishes don’t. Perhaps, as some say, it has everything to do with the purity of the heart and soul of the person making the wish. I, for one, believe it’s pure luck. Why don’t you make a wish for something you long for, Jack?’

“
I almost declined to wish for anything at all. Yet, the thing that mattered most to me and haunted every waking moment wouldn’t let me pass up this opportunity. Even if a far-fetched desperate attempt for an answer or resolution to whatever became of my parents, I’d try anything. I needed to know what happened. I couldn’t formulate a true purpose for my life until I did—even if it meant finding out they were dead.

“
I pulled a dime from the deep recesses of a pocket and flipped the coin into the clear water, watching it drift to the bottom. It rested on a pile of other coins, and felt like a futile exercise. It left me feeling more alone and empty than before.

“
Genovene gently massaged my shoulders again, so I knew it was time to leave. She led me away from the stream, heading toward the garden wall nearest the staircase. We walked together quietly through more exotic plants and flowers, and soon found ourselves directly below the colossal statue of the woman. It towered in splendid elegance. I stretched my neck back to get a better look as it sparkled in the sunlight, thinking this must be what it feels like if you’re a bug about to get squished.

“
The feet alone were nearly as big as my bedroom. An amazing work of art, so many minor details, like the striations on the toenails and small lines around the knees were plainly visible from where I stood. Even details I couldn’t quite see must’ve been carved into the torso and head of the statue, because it really seemed to look down at me.

“
From the head, arms, hands, torso, and knees surged jets of water which alternated and crossed one another in a variety of patterns. The affect of the sunlight reflecting off the water and the jeweled statue created a multicolored halo that surrounded it. I figured it took years to construct.

“‘
You’d be surprised at how long it
didn’t
take,’ offered Genovene, nodding proudly.

“
She led me to the garden’s wall and waved her hand above it. As before, the wall melted away and we moved back into the noisy plaza. I looked back to see if I could watch the wall mend itself, but as before, it’d already finished.

“
We reached the staircase and began our ascent to the courtyard. Like its sister on the other side, the warrior stood within its own sprinkler-fed rainbow. The realistic detail frightening, it seemed to stare sullenly at us.

“‘
You’re wondering why they look so real, aren’t you?’ observed Genovene. ‘Our personal icons must be believable. We call the male statue Morylan. He represents courage and our desire for excellence. The woman, Lavonia, represents our proud heritage and emphasis on true beauty.’

“
We continued to the courtyard. My eyes were immediately drawn to the golden pyramid, and I’d guessed its height fairly accurate from the hill. But it turned out to be a lot wider and deeper than I originally thought. A long, steep row of steps led to its very top, where the fire’s billowing smoke obscured much of it. Rows of strange hieroglyphs covered the pyramid’s sides.

“
Several fountains dotted the courtyard, each one featuring gold nymphs in provocative poses. The floor tiled in white marble, a crimson carpet fringed with gilded tassels ran from the staircase to a pair of crystal doors in the tower’s base.

“
To the right of the carpet sat a long wooden table covered with serpent carvings similar to the ones on the game table in the arcade. This table flanked on either side by a dozen high-backed chairs, each featured the same designs. At the head of the table near the tower’s base sat a large throne chair, by far the most ornate furniture piece here. Its elongated back covered in crushed velvet of the deepest purple I’ve ever seen, and what looked like diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds had been embedded in the fabric.

“
A long white tablecloth with lavender tassels covered the table, already set with golden plates, utensils, and large goblets. Fancy, with elegant napkins folded and stuffed inside the goblets, and large gold trays overloaded with a wide variety of fruit on each end of the table.

“
To the right of the table stood a row of twelve, tall and narrow, juniper trees—each one decorated with gold and lavender ribbons. They sort of reminded me of Christmas trees that’d been stretched thin and stripped of the usual lights and ornaments.

“‘
As you can see, it’s almost time for the festival to start,’ she said, slipping her arm around my waist. The courtyard was full of busy servants hustling back and forth from the tower to the area surrounding the table. ‘I’ve saved the best for last, Jack! Are you ready for the final phase of our tour, to visit my house?’

“‘
Are you kidding? I’ve
been
ready for that from the moment I first saw it from the woods!’

“
The main thing I’d hoped to do all along was visit the magnificent tower, and now I stood on its threshold. Twelve steps to the colossal building. On the way to the entrance, I heard the sound of horses snorting. Near the far end of the tower’s base on my left I saw Malacai’s carriage and horses. The carriage unattended, its door stood wide open with a footstool underneath. Even from this distance, I could see the carriage’s plush red and gold interior.

“
A high cupola supported by a row of marble columns ran along the length of the tower’s base. Two huge muscular guards stood at attention on either side of the entrance, and as Genovene and I approached, they bowed before her while pulling the doors open.

“
We walked inside the tower and the guards closed the doors behind us.”

***

“
So, now you were inside the tower,” said Peter, who had quietly followed Jack’s tale, only occasionally jotting down additional notes in his journal. All signs of his earlier breakdown vanquished, he seemed refreshed, perhaps enlivened by the fantastic details of Genovene’s world. “From what you remember, please offer as much information as possible about this place. What you’ve related so far has been great, but for reasons I’ll reveal later on tonight, I’d like you to now be as candid as possible. I assure you it’s that important.”

“
Okay, I’ll keep that in mind,” said Jack, wondering why this part of his story would be more important than any other. “It still might be tough to get through the more personal shit I went through inside that place.”

“
I must insist you give me everything you can,” said Peter, seriously, and then he motioned for Jack to pick up where he left off.

“
Well, okay…. After my eyes adjusted to the dimness, I noticed the center of the enormous room was illuminated brightly from above,” resumed Jack. “The walls and floor appeared to be made of some kind of dark granite, and like almost every other surface I’d seen, polished to high-gloss.

“
We stepped toward the light and then I instinctively looked up. The immense base opened up into the hollow spike of gold soaring to dizzying heights. I couldn’t even see the top from where we stood, as if the tower had grown much taller since my last good look at it from atop the plaza.