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The Red Skull of Aldebaran
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GOR- KUAL: The Red Skull of Aldebaran; Chapter 3
Nihu peered warily at the object that lay half-hidden in the dark shadows. She couldn’t distinguish it clearly, only that it was smooth and rounded with a polished surface that was evident even in the gloom. It hadn’t been here on her previous visit, of that she was certain. So how was it here now? Where had it come from? Who had left it here? And why?
Few came to this place, and seldom. It was an inhospitable place: a high dry, plateau of stony, infertile ground in the midst of which a soaring column of black rock pierced through to the sky like a Titan’s spear point – the Finger of the Gods. This black rock was hard, durable, the remnant of long ancient volcanic activity. Over the hundreds of thousands of years since it had exploded from far beneath the Earth’s crust, the softer rock around it had been eroded to leave behind a single, sinister black finger that towered over one hundred feet into the air and was visible from a vast distance away. Since the people had first arrived here they had considered it sacred, a world between worlds.
It was indeed a sacred and special site, a magical site where the energy lines of the Earth converged to create a vortex of power. Unlike many of this planet’s other energy hubs however, the Finger of the Gods’ forbidding atmosphere did not welcome idle visitors. No-one would come here by choice. No-one that is except Nihu. Nihu loved it. Loved its solitariness and uniqueness. Loved the barren isolation of the high land from which it emerged. Loved its natural power as it stood tall and unmovable, withstanding all that assaulted it.
She peered more closely. Despite her irresistible fascination for this place, the girl was still fearful of the spirits that lived here and of their capriciousness. The rock towering above her leant at an angle of over forty five degrees and looked as if at any moment it could topple over and smash to the ground, crushing anything beneath. It was an irrational fear – the pinnacle had been here like this since times before memory – yet still it remained steadfast within her. She knew from experience that the spirits were quick to anger and that once they were roused anything could happen.
‘What do you see, child?’ It was her grandfather approaching, his footsteps silent upon the stony ground.
‘There, Grandfather. Do you see it?’
The old man peered in the direction of the child’s outstretched arm. His fading eyesight registered nothing unusual. ‘I see nothing, Nihu. Where do you look?’
‘There. Beneath the Finger of the Gods. Do you know what it is?’
The old man looked more intently, straining his eyes to see what his granddaughter had noticed. His sight was not what it had been, he mused sadly to himself. At one time, and not so very long ago, his vision had been as keen as that of the vultures that soared over these hills and valleys. Now he found it difficult to see much beyond a few paces. By concentrating hard, however, his focus cleared a little and he saw what appeared to be an unusual reddish coloured rock tucked in the narrow gap where the slender finger pierced the ground.
‘I’m going to get it.’ Gathering her courage, Nihu dropped flat on her stomach and wriggled into the narrowing gap at the very base of the rock where the object lay half buried. She stretched out her arm to hook it and draw it closer, squirming backwards to bring it out into the light.
Few came to this place, and seldom. It was an inhospitable place: a high dry, plateau of stony, infertile ground in the midst of which a soaring column of black rock pierced through to the sky like a Titan’s spear point – the Finger of the Gods. This black rock was hard, durable, the remnant of long ancient volcanic activity. Over the hundreds of thousands of years since it had exploded from far beneath the Earth’s crust, the softer rock around it had been eroded to leave behind a single, sinister black finger that towered over one hundred feet into the air and was visible from a vast distance away. Since the people had first arrived here they had considered it sacred, a world between worlds.
It was indeed a sacred and special site, a magical site where the energy lines of the Earth converged to create a vortex of power. Unlike many of this planet’s other energy hubs however, the Finger of the Gods’ forbidding atmosphere did not welcome idle visitors. No-one would come here by choice. No-one that is except Nihu. Nihu loved it. Loved its solitariness and uniqueness. Loved the barren isolation of the high land from which it emerged. Loved its natural power as it stood tall and unmovable, withstanding all that assaulted it.
She peered more closely. Despite her irresistible fascination for this place, the girl was still fearful of the spirits that lived here and of their capriciousness. The rock towering above her leant at an angle of over forty five degrees and looked as if at any moment it could topple over and smash to the ground, crushing anything beneath. It was an irrational fear – the pinnacle had been here like this since times before memory – yet still it remained steadfast within her. She knew from experience that the spirits were quick to anger and that once they were roused anything could happen.
‘What do you see, child?’ It was her grandfather approaching, his footsteps silent upon the stony ground.
‘There, Grandfather. Do you see it?’
The old man peered in the direction of the child’s outstretched arm. His fading eyesight registered nothing unusual. ‘I see nothing, Nihu. Where do you look?’
‘There. Beneath the Finger of the Gods. Do you know what it is?’
The old man looked more intently, straining his eyes to see what his granddaughter had noticed. His sight was not what it had been, he mused sadly to himself. At one time, and not so very long ago, his vision had been as keen as that of the vultures that soared over these hills and valleys. Now he found it difficult to see much beyond a few paces. By concentrating hard, however, his focus cleared a little and he saw what appeared to be an unusual reddish coloured rock tucked in the narrow gap where the slender finger pierced the ground.
‘I’m going to get it.’ Gathering her courage, Nihu dropped flat on her stomach and wriggled into the narrowing gap at the very base of the rock where the object lay half buried. She stretched out her arm to hook it and draw it closer, squirming backwards to bring it out into the light.
* * * * *
Mesmerised they sat cross-legged on the rough ground, as they had done without moving in the hours since the object had emerged into the sunlight. It lay in front of them, mysterious and out of place. When Nihu had wriggled back out from beneath the rock pillar and shown her treasure to Grandfather, she had been holding in her hands a skull, but unlike any they had ever seen before. This was not the skull of a once-living man or woman. It was instead carved from a deep brick red rock streaked with veins of creamy bone white, and polished so that it shone like the glassy surface of a still pool under the sun’s fierce rays.
Since she was little more than an infant Nihu had been cared for by her Grandfather, the wise man of the village. He had taught her well, so that when the time came she could take his place, though she still had many years of training ahead of her before she would attain the knowledge and skills to become a worthy successor. Even now, at only twelve years of age, her intuitive and extra-sensory abilities were so well-developed as to be second nature, and the moment she had touched this mysterious object she had understood that it was special, a gift from the gods. Grandfather nodded as he picked up her thoughts. This would indeed be a powerful talisman, and his little Nihu had found it.
At last, reluctantly, unwilling for these moments to end but knowing they must, Grandfather rose. ‘Come Nihu, it is time to show this to our people.’
She got to her feet, ready to return to the village. But as she looked up she froze, the skull that still lay on the ground where they had set it for the moment forgotten. Standing before them was a man, dark-skinned like themselves, but whereas their people were short and wiry, this man was tall, far taller than anyone they had ever seen before. Thin arms and legs that looked barely strong enough to hold his weight were just visible beneath his shimmering, bronze coloured robes, while his long, regal face, set with eyes the colour of jet, looked like it belonged to a world other than this one. His raven black hair was tightly braided and twisted into knots that lay close against his strangely elongated skull, and he stood smiling and relaxed under the hot afternoon sun.
Since she was little more than an infant Nihu had been cared for by her Grandfather, the wise man of the village. He had taught her well, so that when the time came she could take his place, though she still had many years of training ahead of her before she would attain the knowledge and skills to become a worthy successor. Even now, at only twelve years of age, her intuitive and extra-sensory abilities were so well-developed as to be second nature, and the moment she had touched this mysterious object she had understood that it was special, a gift from the gods. Grandfather nodded as he picked up her thoughts. This would indeed be a powerful talisman, and his little Nihu had found it.
At last, reluctantly, unwilling for these moments to end but knowing they must, Grandfather rose. ‘Come Nihu, it is time to show this to our people.’
She got to her feet, ready to return to the village. But as she looked up she froze, the skull that still lay on the ground where they had set it for the moment forgotten. Standing before them was a man, dark-skinned like themselves, but whereas their people were short and wiry, this man was tall, far taller than anyone they had ever seen before. Thin arms and legs that looked barely strong enough to hold his weight were just visible beneath his shimmering, bronze coloured robes, while his long, regal face, set with eyes the colour of jet, looked like it belonged to a world other than this one. His raven black hair was tightly braided and twisted into knots that lay close against his strangely elongated skull, and he stood smiling and relaxed under the hot afternoon sun.
* * * * *
It was evident that he had been waiting for them to look up and see him, for as they met his gaze he gave waved his hand in acknowledgement. ‘Greetings, my brother. Greetings, little sister.’
With a jolt of surprise Grandfather realised that he was speaking to them in their own tongue. How had he learned this? He had little time to wonder; the stranger was speaking again. ‘I have been waiting for you, and now you are here. It is good to meet with you at last.’
Grandfather was confused. He couldn’t understand. How had this man been waiting for them? He had not known himself that he would be coming this way until Nihu had asked him to bring her here to find some stones for her rituals. Nonetheless they had evidently been expected; this man was here waiting for them.
‘I do not understand, stranger. How could you be expecting us when we did not know ourselves that we would be passing this way?’
‘It was told that you would come, and you came. I am overjoyed that it is so,’ the thin man replied. ‘I see that you have found the gift we have brought to you and to your people. It is a gift beyond all price. Beyond all value. I am Urdh, emissary of those who watch over you. I offer it to you on their behalf.’
He bowed his head to Grandfather once more. ‘You are wise, my blessed friend, wise with the wisdom of your years and of your experiences. You are skilled in speaking with the realms that lie beyond the physical world in which you live. You have a heart filled with love, and the desire to see all prosper, and this gives power to your wisdom. I have come to you because we have foreseen that you will honour our gift and respect its power. You are to be its guardian. Use it with all the grace and love that you hold within you.’
‘But I am old, not worthy of such a responsibility.’ The old man’s voice shook, feelings of inadequacy for the task he had just been assigned rising up from deep within him. ‘I do not have many years left. Surely you would wish for someone younger, stronger, more deserving?’
‘Grandfather, true strength does not lie in youthful looks or a firm body, but in compassion and understanding. You will watch over this treasure for many years to come and, when you are no longer able, its guardianship will pass into the hands of this dear child, your granddaughter, for she bears your qualities. You will teach her your wisdom and your knowledge. Teach her well. Take now our gift to you – Gor-Kual, Skull of Aldebaran.’
With those words, he stepped forward and swept the skull from where it still lay on the coarse grey sand of the plateau, offering it with both hands to Grandfather in a gesture of respect that nevertheless would not accept refusal.
As the skull settled into Grandfather’s hands he almost dropped it, surprised initially by its weight, and then by the fierce pulse of energy that pounded into his palms and rushed up his arms. He had sensed the great power held within this object during the recent hours that he had sat gazing at it in the company of his granddaughter. Just how powerful however, he had not understood until this moment. Nihu had not commented when she had laid her hands on it and, young and inexperienced though she was, she was already skilled in reading energy. Could it be that this man’s simple touch had activated it to another level?
‘Not activated, awakened from her sleep.’ The stranger replied to Grandfather’s thoughts as if he had spoken them aloud. ‘She is ready to teach and guide you, if you will listen.’
‘Teach us what?’ Nihu was curious. She had learned long ago that all objects held their own energy and power, and that they shared this willingly with those who wished to use it. This though was something more again.
Amongst her people, as they were amongst many others, skulls were revered, held as sacred objects of immense importance and magic. The skull was the cradle of knowledge, intelligence, understanding and wisdom, the point where spirit entered the physical body through the portal at its crown, its form the perfect amplification chamber for these forces. Through a skull a wise man such as her grandfather could access the knowledge of the ancestors, of the spirits of the natural world around them, and of the gods themselves. But this skull was different. This was not the legacy of a formerly living soul; it had been created from cold stone. And yet… It felt somehow alive, as if its own heartbeat pulsed within. Nihu’s young mind was struggling to make sense of it all. How could that be? Was this skull really a living entity that could speak by its own will, possessing its own independent thoughts and feelings?
‘Indeed she is, little one.’ Urdh smiled at her, again hearing the unvoiced words. ‘She was created with the gift of consciousness and carries within her the divine essence and life force not just of those who fashioned her but of the entire universe. She is a sentient, intelligent being, one who holds you in great love, wishing only to help you to flourish and grow. Care for her, love her in return with the love you hold for your grandfather and your people. Use her knowledge for the good of all. That is all that we ask of you.
‘She will teach you of worlds beyond this one and of those who visited you from those worlds, as the stories of your campfires tell. She will teach you of the movement of the cosmos, of its importance in your lives, and how to read the passage of the stars. She will teach you how to increase the fertility of your fields, the abundance of your crops, and the joyfulness of your lives. She will teach you how to heal all that which is not whole, and to create miracles in your lives using nothing but your natural, inborn abilities.
‘Know also however, that while her power is strong, it can be abused by those who are determined to do so. Power is power, neutral in its essence; its consequences, for good or ill, are determined solely by the intent of those who use it. Do not let this misuse befall your people. Take care of the thoughts and intentions you hold, let them come always from your heart and a place of love, remain conscious, and work with her for the purpose she has been given to you.
‘Before many cycles of your moon have passed I shall return, bringing others of my kind, for it is our greatest wish that our peoples become close friends. We shall visit you often in the times to come if you will welcome us amongst you. For now however, my all too brief time with you has come to an end, and I must leave.
‘Grandfather, hear well what I now say. Gor-Kual has a gift for you. Do not resist it. Until we meet again my friends, farewell.’
With these last cryptic words, the air around Urdh began to shimmer with a silvery light. Nihu and Grandfather watched in astonishment, mingled with not a little fear, as his body grew hazy, then transparent, and began to dissolve before their eyes. Within a few seconds he was gone, the place he had stood only moments before now empty. Nihu ran to it, staring first at the spot, then back at Grandfather with wide, question- and fear-filled eyes. ‘Where did he go, Grandfather? How did he do that?’
‘I don’t know, little one. It is evident that he has knowledge and abilities far beyond that which we hold. Maybe he was a god, come to bless our people, for I believe that in receiving this skull in some way we truly have been blessed, although I admit freely that its purpose and consequences still lie beyond my understanding. Come now, Nihu, we must return to the village and share this news with the others.’
With a jolt of surprise Grandfather realised that he was speaking to them in their own tongue. How had he learned this? He had little time to wonder; the stranger was speaking again. ‘I have been waiting for you, and now you are here. It is good to meet with you at last.’
Grandfather was confused. He couldn’t understand. How had this man been waiting for them? He had not known himself that he would be coming this way until Nihu had asked him to bring her here to find some stones for her rituals. Nonetheless they had evidently been expected; this man was here waiting for them.
‘I do not understand, stranger. How could you be expecting us when we did not know ourselves that we would be passing this way?’
‘It was told that you would come, and you came. I am overjoyed that it is so,’ the thin man replied. ‘I see that you have found the gift we have brought to you and to your people. It is a gift beyond all price. Beyond all value. I am Urdh, emissary of those who watch over you. I offer it to you on their behalf.’
He bowed his head to Grandfather once more. ‘You are wise, my blessed friend, wise with the wisdom of your years and of your experiences. You are skilled in speaking with the realms that lie beyond the physical world in which you live. You have a heart filled with love, and the desire to see all prosper, and this gives power to your wisdom. I have come to you because we have foreseen that you will honour our gift and respect its power. You are to be its guardian. Use it with all the grace and love that you hold within you.’
‘But I am old, not worthy of such a responsibility.’ The old man’s voice shook, feelings of inadequacy for the task he had just been assigned rising up from deep within him. ‘I do not have many years left. Surely you would wish for someone younger, stronger, more deserving?’
‘Grandfather, true strength does not lie in youthful looks or a firm body, but in compassion and understanding. You will watch over this treasure for many years to come and, when you are no longer able, its guardianship will pass into the hands of this dear child, your granddaughter, for she bears your qualities. You will teach her your wisdom and your knowledge. Teach her well. Take now our gift to you – Gor-Kual, Skull of Aldebaran.’
With those words, he stepped forward and swept the skull from where it still lay on the coarse grey sand of the plateau, offering it with both hands to Grandfather in a gesture of respect that nevertheless would not accept refusal.
As the skull settled into Grandfather’s hands he almost dropped it, surprised initially by its weight, and then by the fierce pulse of energy that pounded into his palms and rushed up his arms. He had sensed the great power held within this object during the recent hours that he had sat gazing at it in the company of his granddaughter. Just how powerful however, he had not understood until this moment. Nihu had not commented when she had laid her hands on it and, young and inexperienced though she was, she was already skilled in reading energy. Could it be that this man’s simple touch had activated it to another level?
‘Not activated, awakened from her sleep.’ The stranger replied to Grandfather’s thoughts as if he had spoken them aloud. ‘She is ready to teach and guide you, if you will listen.’
‘Teach us what?’ Nihu was curious. She had learned long ago that all objects held their own energy and power, and that they shared this willingly with those who wished to use it. This though was something more again.
Amongst her people, as they were amongst many others, skulls were revered, held as sacred objects of immense importance and magic. The skull was the cradle of knowledge, intelligence, understanding and wisdom, the point where spirit entered the physical body through the portal at its crown, its form the perfect amplification chamber for these forces. Through a skull a wise man such as her grandfather could access the knowledge of the ancestors, of the spirits of the natural world around them, and of the gods themselves. But this skull was different. This was not the legacy of a formerly living soul; it had been created from cold stone. And yet… It felt somehow alive, as if its own heartbeat pulsed within. Nihu’s young mind was struggling to make sense of it all. How could that be? Was this skull really a living entity that could speak by its own will, possessing its own independent thoughts and feelings?
‘Indeed she is, little one.’ Urdh smiled at her, again hearing the unvoiced words. ‘She was created with the gift of consciousness and carries within her the divine essence and life force not just of those who fashioned her but of the entire universe. She is a sentient, intelligent being, one who holds you in great love, wishing only to help you to flourish and grow. Care for her, love her in return with the love you hold for your grandfather and your people. Use her knowledge for the good of all. That is all that we ask of you.
‘She will teach you of worlds beyond this one and of those who visited you from those worlds, as the stories of your campfires tell. She will teach you of the movement of the cosmos, of its importance in your lives, and how to read the passage of the stars. She will teach you how to increase the fertility of your fields, the abundance of your crops, and the joyfulness of your lives. She will teach you how to heal all that which is not whole, and to create miracles in your lives using nothing but your natural, inborn abilities.
‘Know also however, that while her power is strong, it can be abused by those who are determined to do so. Power is power, neutral in its essence; its consequences, for good or ill, are determined solely by the intent of those who use it. Do not let this misuse befall your people. Take care of the thoughts and intentions you hold, let them come always from your heart and a place of love, remain conscious, and work with her for the purpose she has been given to you.
‘Before many cycles of your moon have passed I shall return, bringing others of my kind, for it is our greatest wish that our peoples become close friends. We shall visit you often in the times to come if you will welcome us amongst you. For now however, my all too brief time with you has come to an end, and I must leave.
‘Grandfather, hear well what I now say. Gor-Kual has a gift for you. Do not resist it. Until we meet again my friends, farewell.’
With these last cryptic words, the air around Urdh began to shimmer with a silvery light. Nihu and Grandfather watched in astonishment, mingled with not a little fear, as his body grew hazy, then transparent, and began to dissolve before their eyes. Within a few seconds he was gone, the place he had stood only moments before now empty. Nihu ran to it, staring first at the spot, then back at Grandfather with wide, question- and fear-filled eyes. ‘Where did he go, Grandfather? How did he do that?’
‘I don’t know, little one. It is evident that he has knowledge and abilities far beyond that which we hold. Maybe he was a god, come to bless our people, for I believe that in receiving this skull in some way we truly have been blessed, although I admit freely that its purpose and consequences still lie beyond my understanding. Come now, Nihu, we must return to the village and share this news with the others.’
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