THE GATE KEEPER (8 page)

He
watches over the horizon as if I wasn’t there. As if his mind was trap within
the memories which brought back lost erstwhile feelings. Emotions that should
had been left buried. Deep down I felt an undeniable misery and sadness.

‘Then
what happened?’ I asked as I demand for a conclusion.

         
‘Yes,’ he faces me as if his mind was far away. And his eyes turn watery.

‘Please
carry on.’

‘Sorry,
the feelings, it all seems like yesterday.’ Tears rolled down on his cheek.

The
feeling was mutual but I took my mind off the memories. A connection could be
felt as his story was definitely similar to mine, except that I had not mention
it to anybody.
I needed to hear the ending.

‘Like
I said I took a wrong turn after consulting with one of my childhood friend,
about the one I had a childish crush on. I phone her, told her how I felt for
her and she promised to give me an answer two days later, which was on the
following Monday.’

He
pauses but I was willing to hear the rest. ‘Please, what happened next?’

‘Phil,
you already know what comes next.’

‘I
would like to hear it from you.’

‘Well
the love I’ve nurtured from childhood to my early teen was extinguished the day
she humiliate me in front of the class. Broken hearted and powerless she made
me aware how fat I was. Under stress, disgrace and shame I had to turn my life
upside down after I incorporated changes in my lifestyle, just to boost my
self-esteem for real.’

There
was a pause and I had one simple question to confirm my thoughts. I wanted to
know. I needed to know. Something at the horizon caught my eyes.

‘Who
was she?’ I seek for reasoning as we both stares at the horizon which appears
to be partly swallowed by abnormal darkness.

‘The
truth will frighten you.’

‘I
deserve to hear it from you. Beside, I’m entitled to it after all the unexplained
and bizarre circumstances that link back to you.’

‘Fair
one but the question is, if you are prepared to face the truth and look at it
straight in the eye?’

‘There’s
not a doubt why I shouldn’t be.’

‘
Hai
….,’ there was a pause as he cuffed and carries on,
‘Hailey Lace.’

My
mind went into shocking mode. I felt paralysed with fear as I could not
understand how he managed to get the fact which I had kept so secret. The
embarrassment of my failure and twist turn of my life from an obese child to a
fit individual.

Over
the horizon dark cloud grows bigger and partially blocking the sun. Lightening
flickers uncontrollably into different direction within and outside the dark
cloud. Then two objects appears as the volatile lightening furiously and
ferociously attack the dark matter.

‘They
have found us.’

‘Who
….?’

‘The
gate keeper….’

Confuse
I asked, ‘Who are they?’

‘Time’s
up Phil. Please escape while you can as it’s not safe for both of us here.’

Eventually
the dark matter decreases in size as the unexplained spot like flying objects
move out of it. It travels in extended line as it head towards us. Lightening
from the dark and moody cloud hit the two unknown vehicles as it flickers
wildly. 

Then
the lightening fades as the dark matter agitates and merges at one point over
the horizon. In no time it vanishes without any sound of thunder. The orange
picturesque scenery came back in view. Except for the flying objects which were
left behind to slowly head towards us.

‘Go,
please. The answers you seek for are in the letter I led you to this morning.’

‘Am
I dreaming?’ Tony said as he open his eyes and stare at the unknown moving
machines which were out of this world.

‘You
might be,’ I responded joyfully as I ran for my bicycle.

‘Guys,
guys, wake up.’ Tony said in a low disoriented voice.

I
lift my bicycle from the ground and head for the path. So much unanswered
question but yet I had to leave. I pause and turn around only to found the
flying machines getting closer. Tony had his back facing me as he lays on the
ground trying to figure out the two unknown machines suspends and moving
towards the plateau. He turns on his belly and tries to slowly crawl towards
his three friends.

‘Wake
Up! Harley! Allen! Ryan! Come on wake up guys!’ He screams as he pushes himself
with his elbow while glancing quickly of the moving objects at the horizon.

His
three friends moan as they fight their inner self to reanimate. Joey was awake
but he didn’t seem to either care about Tony or the others around him. He sits
on the ground and stares over the horizon with his eyes and mouth wide open.

I
turn to my opposite side in search of my mysterious acquaintance. There he was
staring at me, smiling, as if waiting for my departure. And yet I could neither
return the same gesture nor understand his motives. He stands at the edge.

‘One
more thing, whatever sort of pressure you may come under, plea…,’ he pauses as
he produces a deep unhealthy cuff.

Then
he carries on, ‘….please do not take the dirty route of dangerous and expensive
habit of smoking. My lungs are at its peak of collapsing. The annual cost I’ve
inserted into it could have gone into physical activities to boost my fitness
and life span.’ 

I
stare at him puzzle. His health has been deteriorated by smoking. It said that
one cigarette being smoke a day depreciate five minutes from a lifespan. Each
cigarette smokes it helps mutate the inside of a body. Mutation for the worse
leads to cancer. I wonder how much had he been smoking per day, weeks, months
and years. My concern was if he needed help and where was he going to
hide.   

‘How
are you going to flee from them?’

‘Do
not worry my young one but inherit the richness of knowledge I’ve shared as
you’re the key bearer of our destiny.’

‘What
do you mean?’

‘It’s
all in the envelope. One last thing, forget about Hailey and do not be afraid
to explore new territories of love.’

‘What
do you mean?’ Playing dumb I wanted to confirm the accuracy of his fact.

‘You
haven’t lost the plot?’

         
‘No, it’s just confirmation of the truth.’

‘Samantha.’

He
walks backward. The edge of the platform crumbles under his weight. As if the
wind had upset his balance he went backward. Suddenly, he was falling and at
that moment I wanted to scream. Startle by the horrific events I became
speechless.

Nervously
I hold one side of the handlebar apprehensively with one hand. I stretch the
arm which was free from the bicycle, but it was in vain. Rescue was impossible
at this instant. He was too far away. I would not have made it even if I had
run to him. Beside at the horizon they got closer. They produce low and weird
engine sound as they move across stealthily.

Frozen
and shock I stare at the empty shattered edge of the plateau. There was no time
for fear and grief. I knew I had to move on. My new acquaintance would had had
understand it. I ran through the path with my bicycle by my side. Once on the
main secondary road I stop and see what was behind me.

My
bicycle was naturally facing the original route I came from. I was ready to
slip away but the scenery sent gripping fear through my spine. Frozen and
immobilize with instil fear I watch them approaching the plateau. Both flying
machines were in the shape of those latest futuristic cars pen down by those
brilliant engineers in the motor magazines.
Hovering vehicles inspired by
the dreaming scientist of my time.

They
were no longer science Fiction but vice versa. But who would have believed me?

The
exceptional vehicles had rocket engine at each side instead of the tyres. It
produces a combination of yellow and blue flame at its edges. Miles away,
distortion of air could be seen at the edge of its burning flames. The Immense
heat of its navigational engines changes position as it counteracts the forces
of gravity.

The
machines decelerate as it got closer. At its front, sides and back seems to be
windowless. Atop in the middle and across, a rectangle beacon flickers blue
flash light. At its side there was a dark writing which I have to focus hard to
read. Yet unable to decipher the black engrave writing I spots movement closer
by.

Joey
grab Tony by his big arms and rest one of it on his shoulders. He distributes
Tony’s weight evenly before attempting the lift. He fights his way up as the
big boy struggles to stand up as well. They both stare at the flying vehicles
which were in view. Joey and Tony slowly pace themselves backward to their
friends facing the oncoming event.

Joey
kicks one of them and says, ‘Guys! Wake up! There’s something creepy going on
over here!’

‘We
see it clearly….there was no point of screaming.’ Ryan says.

Ryan
quickly got on his legs and watch over the incoming movements. Allen and Harley
sit up while they hold their head. It seems that dizziness had caught on with
them.

‘You
there!’ a loud voice from the flying machine says.

My
mind races information of a possible getaway as it felt threaten. Curiosity was
my only reason for not being a coward. For me it was a spectacular event.
Knowing where they came from was my ultimate goal.
Where they of another
world, another planet or perhaps the future?

‘You there!
the
citizen with the bicycle! Stay where you are!’ A voice
from the flying machine said.

One
of the flying vehicle turn sideways as it approaches the boys. POLICE was
engraved at its side. The gang ran towards the path while looking at me with
fear and confusion. Behind them, one of the machine land on the plateau. I
furiously ride back towards town.

My
mind was racing in different direction. Questions and answers which raise
doubts in relation to what I had experienced. My acquaintance who seems to
shared my memories and stories. Then the flying machines which lead me to
question and test my sanity.

After
all the eyes do not registered lies. The old man was for real and the flying
machine was also for real. My ears were also picking up facts about my secret
past. There was no reason to question what I had witness. Evidence was all
there, either in physical or emotional form. Revealing it to someone who I can
trust and not brand me as insane was another step.

‘Citizen
on the bicycle we order you to stop!’

It
comes from above. I glance up and see the flying machine suspend above. It
adjusts its speed to mine. Then it moves back and forth. Wind gust produces by
its navigational engines made the branches sways and leaves would fall all over
the road. The weird engine sound sent trauma through my body. Scarily I
instinctively learn to predict its whereabouts.

‘Citizen
if you don’t stop we will be force to make you stop!’

I
insert all my energy into pedalling the bicycle. All I could see was the
branches which cover the sky above and the light at the end of nature’s
magnificent tunnel like scenery. At times the flying machine was in line of my
vision above but luckily the trees became my protector.

‘Citizen
we’re ordering you to stop or there shall be consequences to your action!’

         
Ignoring their request was an intentional action. Heading for safety among the
crowd in town was my ultimate goal. There was no stopping at the speed I was
riding. I ride the sport’s bicycle like a professional cyclist on
Tour de
France
. 

‘Citizen
getting away from us is futile and you shall not succeed!’

Closer
I got to the end of the road the more confident I became. The town was just a few
metres away and the weird engine sound of the flying vehicle began to fade.
Expose at the light at the junction I made an immediate right turn as I move
out of the natural tunnel. Atop I was exposed with no cover.

Behind
me I heard a powerful horn of a heavy engine truck. I ride at the edge of the
road, made an emergency stop and a powerful gust inches away upset my balance.
I land sideways off the road with the bicycle on top of me.

‘Get
out of the bloody way you maggot!’ an old driver with long white beard hurled
out insults as his truck move on with the same momentum.

I
lay still among the tall grass by the road. I stare at the blue sky for my
brief flying encounter. They were nowhere to be found. My mind went into its
relaxing mode as I catch my breath and wait for my body to regenerate. Then
there was this strange low noise.

It
wasn’t from the similar danger I had encountered earlier. It was the sound of
rattling which sound like a baby’s toy. Except that I knew that it would be
impossible for a child to be playing where I was. Stuck in between a back road,
a wild field and the back of a small town my sense of consciousness switches on
as the rattling rate accelerates.