Legends II : LEGENDS OF LOVE. Part 3.
by Nicole Mayer (destiny@wwdg.com)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Doctor Julia Heller, beloved friend, wife and mother." The
weathered inscription seemed cold and impersonal to the girl
standing by the old grave. The once-ornate headstone had become
corroded over time and now it was only one grey tablet amongst so
many others.
Gillian Brody strained to make out the remainder of the
inscription. She could faintly see the word 'love', but the other
words were too faint to be seen.
A solitary tear trickled from Gillian's cheek. Here was the
final resting place of one of the bravest heroes in the history of
G889 and everyone had forgotten her. Even the legends of Eden
Advance barely mentioned the heroic doctor.
Closing her eyes, Gillian imagined the agony that Alonzo
Solace and Ulysses Adair must have felt when they realised that
they were helpless - Alonzo's futile search at the bottom of the
cliffs, and his grief when he finally found her, while Walman
contacted a fearful Uly stranded near the top of the mountain.
Her mind drifted back in time, and, almost against her will,
the scene replayed itself in Gillian's mind...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Julia!" Alonzo screamed. Frantically, he adjusted the
controls on his gear, but received nothing more than the horrifying
static that had appeared moments before. He had seen her falling,
seen the cliffs rushing past her, seen the look of death in her
eyes...his Julia...
Alonzo tore off his gear, and shouted to Walman, "Faster! We
have to get there...Julia fell!" His voice was full of more agony
and pain than Walman had ever heard, but Walman could not push the
vehicle any more. It was already travelling beyond its safety
limit.
Frantic, Alonzo threw his gear on the floor. A torrential
downpour had begun which blurred his vision, yet the image of
Julia's terrified face was imprinted on his mind. He stared out
towards the cliffs which grew closer with every passing second, not
feeling the stinging rain on his face. Nothing mattered except
getting to her.
He would not believe that she was dead, not until he had found
her, and held her in his arms.
"Julia!" he screamed into the wind. How could he live without
her?
He suddenly realised that Walman was on their original
heading, to a point some way east from where Julia fell. He leaned
down and wrenched the steering away from Walman. "We've gotta find
her!" he shouted. "There's still a chance, there has to be!"
Alonzo felt sick to his stomach as they approached the cliffs.
The ancient monolith had been there for an eternity, and loomed
high above the tiny vehicle. The man realised with horror that no
one, no matter who they were or how much they were loved, could
survive a fall from that distance. Not even Julia, the maker of
miracles herself.
He would never forgive himself for fighting with her. There
last moments together had been strained, ruined over petty issues
and inconsequential debates that Alonzo could no longer recall. If
only he hadn't been so stubborn! If only he'd listened to his
heart.
The wind sheared past the rock, the gale buffeting the vehicle
as if it were no more than a toy. The storm had reached its full
fury, demonstrating the violence of nature. And this particular
tempest had exacted its vengeance.
"Julia!" shouted Alonzo futilely, for the wind stole away his
words the moment they left his lips. "JULIA!" They reached the
point metres below her last know position, and Alonzo jumped from
the vehicle.
In the next few instants, time seemed to stop. Blood hammered
in Alonzo's ears to match the terrible thudding sound of his heart;
each beat reminding him that he was alive in this fury while
Julia...oh, Julia... Life slowed down into a series of stark
images, and Alonzo was reminded of dreaming with the Terrians. But
this was frighteningly real.
A flash of the towering, indifferent cliffs. A glint of broken
gear lying near a puddle. And, to the left, a small, crumpled
form...
Suddenly, Alonzo wanted to run away, to run forever from this
terrible place. The rain obscured his vision, but did not take
away the fleeting image of the misshapen body that was nothing at
all like his wife. If only he could avoid the truth...but he could
never do that. He owed her. More than that, he loved her.
With each step Alonzo took, the dreadful certainty pounded its
way through his body. She was dead...she was dead...yet he did not
truly believe it until he gathered her in his arms.
He did not notice the terrible injuries, the bruises and the
blood. Alonzo's full attention was on the face of Julia Heller,
the woman he loved, the only woman he would ever love. Her eyes
were closed and he gently brushed aside a lock of her blonde hair.
Her face was infinitely peaceful, and the hint of a smile
curved at her lips. But there was no denying the fact that she was
gone.
"Julia," Alonzo whispered. He said her name over and over
again. He brought his lips to hers for one last kiss, hoping
desperately for a miracle, that the power of his love would bring
her back to him.
Yet nothing happened. As Alonzo drew back and took a hopeful
look at her face, he was struck by the finality of her death.
"NO!" he screamed, throwing his head back into the wind and the
rain. He cursed the heavens for taking Julia from him, screaming
forever. "NO!"
Thunder and wind screeched around his drawn out cries, not
caring one iota about the sorrow that had been caused. The rain
poured down, and Alonzo was alone.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No one ever went back to the Valley of Dreams after all. They
couldn't, not after the tragedy that had occurred there. Gillian
could not get the haunting images of Julia's final moments out of
her mind. It was a horrible way to die.
No wonder Bess had alluded to the terrible tragedies in her
life. First Devon, then her own sickness, then Julia. Two of her
closest friends were lost through disastrous circumstances, and now
Gillian wondered if True had survived.
And what of Uly? Gillian had never read a tale of more
tragedy and suffering, even though there were moments -and years-
of happiness.
Gillian felt a sudden desire to run through the small
cemetery, seeking out the fates of all the others she had grown to
know and love. But she resisted. In a gesture of respect, Gillian
placed a lone flower on Julia's grave. It was a brilliant yellow,
the colour of the sun, and it reminded Gillian of the light that
Julia had cast over so many lives. Including hers.
"I hope you're happy, Julia," whispered Gillian. Then she
turned, and wandered away.
Gillian did not notice the figure of Jessie Solace slipping
behind the bushes. Jessie, who was curious as to why this new girl
was visiting one of her ancestors' graves. There were many
mysteries and many secrets that were still held from both girls,
and Jessie wondered if the truth would ever be revealed.
"Come on, Lukas," Gillian called to her brother, who was
reading other headstones with a morbid fascination.
"Listen to this one, Gilly!" he exclaimed. " 'Max Taggart,
age eight. Finally, he is free of the Syndrome.' I didn't know
that kids died of the Syndrome!"
"I don't want to hear anymore," snapped Gillian. Bess had
mentioned that several of the children weren't healed, or couldn't
be healed because their parents were afraid. And what a terrible
cost.
"Let's get out of here," she suddenly declared. Death lurked
nearby and Gillian was afraid. She could feel -something- on the
edge of her consciousness, and it was a presence that she did not
understand. However, she was sure, it was not Julia.
It was time to return to Bess' novel, and learn more of the
secrets of the past. Julia's life was over, but she had touched
the hearts and minds of more people than she had ever imagined.
And the story would go on.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bess' words lasted beyond time, and it was these that Gillian
now read. "I don't know how Ulysses Adair survived after that.
The boy had lost his mother and one of his best friends, almost a
second mother, in the space of a couple of months.
I shall always admire his strength to go on and survive.
Instead of being consumed by his own sorrow, he turned to others,
especially True, to help him get through it. True was his
lifeline, because although we didn't know it yet, John Danziger was
also becoming lost to us.
I watched True and Uly become closer and closer as the years
passed. They had almost always been good friends and when Uly
accepted the opportunity to work and study at the struggling
eastern colony for a few months, True really missed him. He was
only a tunnel away, but we had been warned not to use them
excessively until research was completed into exactly how they
affected people. The Julia Heller Memorial Department was
constructed to continue her groundbreaking work, but they never did
achieve the things that she had.
True used to visit me constantly during those long months and
was loved dearly by my growing family. Her favourite was always
Ariel, perhaps because Ari reminded her of Uly.
I was worried about True. She had a wonderful job in
engineering, but her home was empty. John was silent and still,
and nothing True did seemed to get through to him. He went through
the motions of life, still working, but I suspected he did not
sleep much at all. His eyes grew more haunted, his face greyer,
each year.
I invited True and John to dinner often, hoping to bring some
peace to the troubled Danziger family. But it was not until Uly
returned that I saw a real smile on True's face again."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I'm a doctor, True!" shouted Uly, lifting her in his arms and
whirling her about. "A real, fully qualified doctor!"
"That's wonderful, Uly," laughed True, full of joy because he was
back in Devon to stay. "Your dream came true."
A shadow crossed Uly's face as he recalled the magical time in
the Valley of Dreams, sharing his hopes for the future with Julia.
"Hey, Uly," whispered True, "don't be sad. Remember what you have
achieved." She tightened her hold on him, and Uly felt safe in her
warm embrace. More than safe. He felt loved.
True's cheek was pressed to his, and Uly sensed her long
strands of hair blowing around them. Ever so slowly, he pulled
back a little so he could look into her eyes.
His heart pounding, Uly cautiously leaned in and kissed her on
the lips. True's head was spinning, but suddenly she knew it was
right, and she felt the beginnings of something new between herself
and the man before her. A man who was her best friend, and now,
perhaps something more. It was a new era for both of them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"It broke John's heart when True and Uly got married,"
continued Bess. "He always believed that he would be the one to
marry an Adair, but that option was cruelly torn from him years
earlier. I can picture him now, walking True down the aisle as
Ariel threw flowers and I, the matron of honour, held her veil.
It was a traditional earth-style wedding in every sense. Yale
presided as minister and every remaining member of our extended
family, the original Eden Advance, was present. I suspect that
even Devon and Julia were there in spirit, for Uly looked so happy
and content, as if he had finally overcome all the demons of the
past.
A Terrian vanguard was in attendance, reminding us all that
the links between our two worlds were growing stronger all of the
time. So many children, and now adults, were Transformed that I
often felt quite left out by not being able to reach the
Dreamplane.
Nevertheless, Morgan was by my side, and with him, I always
felt as if I could accomplish anything. Not that Morgan and I
didn't have our problems over the years. In particular, I recall
the time I caught him kissing his personal assistant Mary in his
office at work. That was just before our third child, Wendy Julia
Martin, was born, and both emotions and tensions had been running
high in our house.
I didn't speak to Morgan for three days after that, but
slowly, we began to work through our problems. And then Wendy
joined our family, and she was such a wonderful child full of light
and happiness that everything seemed right again. Even the pain of
realising that Julia was no longer here to guide me through
pregnancy and beyond was gradually diminished. We survived.
And that day, the joyous wedding, was when I realised that we
had all survived to see the brave new future for humanity. We
danced on the beach beneath two full moons and laughed as the waves
crept up to our ankles. I don't know whose idea it was to hold the
reception by the ocean, but it was a wonderful suggestion."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
True drifted as if in a dream, barely feeling the soft sand
beneath her feet. Her mind was focussed on only one thing - her
husband, pressed close to her as they danced to the romantic
melodies drifting across the shoreline.
She was the most beautiful bride Danziger had ever seen. And
she was his daughter. He smiled proudly from where he sat, knowing
that she, at least, would have a happy ending.
Danziger had decided long ago that he was doomed with love.
First Ellie had been taken from him, and then Devon. There was no
way that Danziger would allow himself to get close to another
person, and now he was ready to let go of True. For he was cursed.
It was his duty to release her from the darkness while she was
still untouched. And who better to let her go to than the son of
the woman he still loved?
Danziger picked up his drink, and took another long swig. He
was sitting at one of the tables erected near the top of the beach,
so if the tide came in suddenly, they wouldn't be swept away.
Wiping his mouth with his hand, Danziger grunted, "Nice night for
a wedding."
Alonzo was the only other table occupant, and another lonely
person that night. He, too, was drinking heavily. The one who
used to warn him against drinking too much alcohol had left him
long ago.
"Never thought I'd see this," commented Alonzo. "I remember
those two fighting like a couple of Grendlers back when we first
crashed."
"Yeah." Danziger's gaze drifted from the happy couple to
another generation of children. Eleven year old Ariel Martin was
telling Ethan Solace about the mysteries of Mooncross, gesturing to
the heavens to prove her point. From the expression on Ethan's
face, Danziger felt sure that he didn't believe everything Ari was
telling him. Children loved to exaggerate.
Lissa Solace had organised a game for the younger children -
John Martin, Starissa and Kevin Baines, and even little Wendy
Martin was toddling around and playing in the sand.
"Life goes on, hey 'Lonz," Danziger said dismally. "You've
done a real good job raising those two kids by yourself."
"Just like you did," replied Alonzo. "Although Lissa and Ethan
better not get any ideas...."
They both laughed mirthlessly, an alcohol-related depression
sinking across the two men. But it wasn't only the drink that
caused the sadness within their souls. It was the loss of love.
"You know," half slurred Alonzo, "I never really appreciated
Julia when I had her."
Danziger looked up in surprise. He'd always assumed that the
couple'd had a perfect relationship. At least they had known they
loved each other, and had nine wonderful years together. Not like
himself and Devon.
Yet Danziger couldn't be bitter towards Alonzo. He sensed a
kinship with the other man, for they had both lost once-in-a-
lifetime love.
"Do you remember the first time we all met?" Alonzo asked
suddenly. "That day on the Advance ship, just before we took off.
It seems a lifetime ago," he sighed.
"It was a different life," agreed Danziger. He cringed as he
recalled his first meeting with Devon - a rude comment on his part
that caused her to look straight past him. How he wished he could
turn back time, so that he could appreciate the few short months
with Devon that he had.
Alonzo, too, was recalling meeting Julia. "I chatted Julia up
the instant we met," he revealed, reaching for his drink again. "I
thought she was just another pretty face, someone for a fling
before I took off again. I never guessed how special she was."
"She was great," Danziger agreed. "I remember your wedding,
too. You were both so happy, even though Julia threatened to call
it off hours before!"
Alonzo smiled sadly. "She could be the most difficult,
frustrating person sometimes. I loved her for it."
"Do you think you'll ever get over her?" asked Danziger,
knowing in his own heart that he would never forget Devon.
"No," stated Alonzo. "A love like Julia only comes along once
in a lifetime. Most people never find their true soulmate."
"You were lucky," Danziger pointed out.
"God, I miss her." And Alonzo's words were so true for the
both of them, two men tormented by the past.
Bess and Morgan danced into view, and Danziger felt amazed by
the fact that it was Morgan Martin who'd ended up with the best
life. When he'd met the man, Danziger had decided that Morgan was
a low, weasel-faced kind of scum who didn't deserve the happiness
he had. But Danziger's opinion had gradually changed, and now he
sensed some kind of cosmic irony in the way events had transpired.
The song finished, and Bess and Morgan broke apart. Noticing
their friends, the couple joined Alonzo and Danziger at their
table.
"Have you danced with the bride yet?" asked Bess, her eyes
sparkling because she knew the answer. No one had been able to
prise True and Uly apart and it warmed her heart to see such a
love.
"No," replied Danziger. "She doesn't need her old man cutting
in."
"Yes she does," chided Bess. "Go on. I'll bet your daughter
is looking forward to it." Under Bess' strict direction, Danziger
finally got up and approached the couple.
"And you, Alonzo," continued Bess, "are going to dance with
me."
His expression was suddenly pained as he recalled dancing on
the beach with Julia so long ago. But he took Bess' outstretched
hand, and allowed her to lead him in a memory-filled dance. He
would never forget Julia, but also, he would never tarnish her
memory by not letting go.
"May I cut in?" Danziger asked gruffly.
"Dad!" exclaimed True, happy to see him.
"Of course," replied Uly to Danziger. Giving his new wife a
quick kiss, he said, "She's all yours."
Danziger gathered his daughter in his arms for perhaps the
last time. He didn't know what to say, so instead he gazed past
her shoulder at the other dancing couples. Now Morgan was dancing
with Mary and the two were laughing like old friends they were.
Danziger was glad to see that Bess was completely comfortable with
the situation as she whirled Alonzo around.
"Well, Dad, aren't you going to say anything?" teased True.
He looked into her bright eyes and sighed.
"I can't believe my baby girl is all grown up."
It was perhaps one of the most unoriginal lines he'd ever come
up with, but it seemed to fit the situation perfectly.
True smiled gently at him. "It had to happen eventually.
That's the way of life! And you know Uly, you know he's right for
me." Her voice took on a darker tone. "I'm just sorry you've
never had the chance to be married."
"Me too, True-girl." Her eyes suddenly filled with tears at
the use of the old name.
"I hope you'll be alright without me," she said sincerely. "I
love you, Dad. Please stay away from the darkness."
"Darkness?" Danziger repeated, but he knew what she meant.
True sniffed. "Dad, there's so much out there. You just have
to look for the beauty in life."
"Maybe I will sometime," Danziger offered, gently brushing
away her tears. Yet he knew that he wouldn't, for he could never
let Devon go.
"Please try," True whispered. "I don't want to lose you."
In response, Danziger wrapped her in a bear hug and rocked her
quietly until the song ended.
***
Now, John Danziger was truly alone. His house was empty, and
only the ghosts of the past whispered from behind the doors and in
the corners. More than ever, Devon's face danced before him,
constantly hovering near but forever out of his reach. He knew he
was plunging into the depths of madness, but the love in his heart
would not allow him to let her go.
Every day without fail, he checked the latest medical advances
on G889 and worked even harder to establish a link across the
galaxy with Earth. There were rumours that the Council was
changing, and that soon G889 would no longer be an outlawed planet.
Recent arrivals who had fled the stations brought messages of hope
and free settlement seemed not too far in the future.
Danziger and his work team had communicated with underground
revolutionaries who were sure that a reformation was near. They
were beginning to infiltrate the Council with a high rate of
success, and slowly, things were beginning to change. However,
Danziger's interest no longer lay within the politics of the
stations and their leaders. He spent valuable hours accessing the
most recent medical records, just waiting for the day when someone
was brought back from the dead.
His co-workers tolerated Danziger's actions, sensing that he
had witnessed more pain than any one person should in a lifetime.
Besides, he was supposedly in charge. Yet all to often, they
whispered and laughed quietly about his futile quest. Once someone
was dead, that was it.
The nights for John Danziger were terrible. He had not slept
peacefully since the day they remembered Devon, and after he lost
her again, the nightmares had become worse.
She was *always* there, whether in spirit or just in
Danziger's mind, he did not know. Her essence hovered in a realm
of shadows only able to be reached in the darkest hours before
dawn, but even then Danziger could not touch her. She was alone,
he was alone, and he was dying inside.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"As the years passed," continued Bess, "John rarely ventured
out at all, although True and I made valiant visits and encouraged
him to begin living again. Ariel, too, felt sadness as her Uncle
John grew more distant every day.
I often wondered why Danziger could not let Devon go. Alonzo
had endured Julia's death, and although he never fell in love
again, he lived a fairly happy and successful life in the years to
come. Alonzo even kept up his piloting, and founded the hugely
successful Solace Transport Corporation. Once connections with
Earth and the Council were not only safe, but beneficial, and G889
was open for colonisation, the interstellar transport business
boomed. It was something for Alonzo to do, and a reason for him to
keep living."
- - - - - - -
"I travelled with Solace Transport!" mused Gillian aloud. It was
another connection to the past. She continued reading.
- - - - - - -
"The moment I truly realised that John Danziger was lost to us
was when little Wendy came running home, crying that the ghost was
going to get her. Ari followed soon after, more than a little
upset herself. She, too, had half-believed John's words and that's
how the rumours began."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Uncle John?" called Ariel warily as she stepped into the
foreboding Danziger house. She had vague memories of happy times
there when she was young, but ever since True moved out, it had
become a very dark place.
Ari didn't expect an answer, so she took Wendy's hand and
slowly wandered into the living room. Dust hung heavily in the
air, and dirty clothing was scattered across every available
surface. Dim sunlight fought its way through the grimy windows,
and Ari could see one word scrawled over and over through the dirt.
"Devon".
More than a little annoyed at her brother John for weaseling
his way out of the visit (he seemed to take after his father more
and more every day) Ari followed a muffled noise of tapping until
she reached the door of the back room that had been closed as long
as she could remember.
"Ari," asked Wendy in a tiny voice, "I don't like it here.
I'm scared."
"It'll be alright, Wendy," soothed Ari. "Mommy promised that
Uncle John is a wonderful person. He's just a bit lonely at the
moment."
Wendy's six year old features crinkled into a suspicious
glance at her older sister, wondering if she was telling the truth.
She decided to test her.
"What's in there?" Wendy asked, pointing at the closed door.
Now louder thumps were emanating from beyond. Ari paused for a
moment, carefully considering her answer. Finally, she decided to
tell the truth. "I don't know. How about we knock?"
Nervously, the young teenager did so, then again as there was
no response.
"Uncle John can't hear you!" declared Wendy in a sudden fit of
boldness, and she banged on the door. After a few moments, it flew
open.
John Danziger stood before the girls, tall, frightening and
imposing. Yet his expression immediately softened when he realised
who it was. "Hello, Ari, Wendy," he said gruffly.
"Hello, Uncle John," chorused the girls a little shyly. Ari
strained to make out what was in the mysterious room behind
Danziger, when he suddenly stepped back and motioned them to come
inside. Holding her breath, Ari did so.
They entered another world. This room was immaculate and
completely dust free. Everything was perfectly ordered save for an
object covered with a white sheet situated in the centre of the
room.
As Ari's eyes adjusted to the candle-lit dimness, she gasped.
The room was a shrine. Pictures of a dark-haired woman adorned the
walls and each was flawlessly positioned in a strange, yet
beautiful pattern. In some cases, intricately carved frames
surrounded the portraits, created lovingly for this purpose alone.
There were images of the woman in every imaginable pose and
with so many expressions. Laughing, crying, or standing wistfully
on the edge of ridge as empty plains stretched forever before her.
The flickering light of the candles cast random shadows over the
images and Ari had the sudden impression that this person was
watching them now.
Wendy's attention was caught by a pedestal centred on the far
wall. Boldly she walked over it, and was surprised to see a single
strand of dark hair resting in the midst of a satin pillow. "Who's
is it?" she asked, her curiosity about the strange room now having
overcome all of her earlier fears.
Danziger smiled eerily. "It belongs to *her*."
"I know this face," mused Ari. "It's Devon Adair, isn't it."
She knew the tragic story, for her mother had shared it with her
long ago. However, neither Ari nor Bess ever suspected that
Danziger had become so obsessed.
"Yes, Devon," Danziger sighed. "My angel... Girls, let me
show you something. Something special I've been working on for a
long time."
Wendy looked to him with anticipation. Never had she seen her
Uncle John so animated and willing to talk. Her eyes followed his
movement towards the central piece hidden from view. Danziger
grasped the end of the sheet, and with a flourish, drew it off.
A statue, an elaborate, almost lifelike statue of Devon Adair
appeared before them.
"Do you like it?" asked Danziger, nervous as his creation was
unveiled to foreign eyes for the first time.
"It looks so real," replied Ari. Many hours of work had
obviously gone into the statue as each detail appeared identical to
the features of the woman in the pictures.
Devon's likeness was standing bravely, an expression of hope
and wonderment on her face, just like the photo of her above the
vast prairie.
"She's pretty," said Wendy truthfully. "I like her."
Danziger smiled in satisfaction as he realised that the legacy of
Devon Adair could continue.
"Is it finished?" Ari asked, noticing the tools still near the
foot of the statue and recalling the banging as the girls had
entered the house.
Danziger replied, "Almost. I'm just working on the
inscription now. When it's finished, I'm going to put it in the
centre of town. Then no one will forget her ever again."
Ari leaned forward and slowly made out the words. "This
monument erected in memory of Devon Adair, leader of the Eden
Project and visionary of the future. She will not be -" The words
ended, but Danziger verbally added the rest. "Forgotten." He ran
his hands through his head and told the girls, "Never again. We
won't forget here. Not us, not me. Never!"
His eyes were flashing wildly, and Ari felt suddenly nervous
again. She reached out and found Wendy's hand.
"She's still out there, you know." Danziger leaned close to
the girls. "She's waiting for me. I can feel her spirit."
"There's no such thing as ghosts," declared Wendy, repeating
the words her mother had told her. "Even on the Dreamplane,
they're all real people or Terrians."
"But she can't get to the Dreamplane," told Danziger. "So her
spirit has to hover, just out of reach of the living world, until
I go back for her."
"I thought she died," said Ari bluntly.
"No!" flared Danziger. "Devon's not dead! I will not accept
that! I feel her at night, when she wanders through all the
houses, even yours. She searches for Uly in the faces of young
boys. And she searches for me. She's lonely, and I should never
have left her..." To Ari's horror, Danziger's tirade ended in
tears.
Wendy's eyes were wide with fright and she bolted from the
house. Ari glanced around the room helplessly, not knowing what to
do. Perhaps she could call Uly, but then the doctors might lock
her Uncle John away. Ariel Martin did not want to be responsible
for that.
And besides, she felt a hint of truth in his words. Sometimes
at night, she had felt a dim presence that was nothing to do with
the Terrians. Maybe, just maybe, John Danziger was right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"It's now local legend that Devon is buried alive in the
desert," wrote Bess. "I used to hear my grandchildren scaring each
other with the stories of the ghost, a rumour that the children of
today delight in. There's really no point in trying to tell the
truth that she died long ago. The children like to visit Devon's
statue and dream up stories and John frequently encouraged them.
He told them that we have yet to return for her, that she is still
waiting for him and Uly to come free her from the sickness.
We would have only caused John more pain if we had undermined
his beliefs. And now I look at it with a more philosophical view
- he's getting his wish. Devon Adair is remembered."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hey, look," whispered Alex Danthinore. "It's the crazy old
guy! Wonder what he's doing out of his cave!" He heard the
sniggers of his friends, and felt powerful.
Picking up a stray rock in his hand, Alex casually tossed it
up and down, moving all the time closer to the statue of Devon
Adair.
"He comes here every day," offered one of the other boys. "At
twilight, just like now. I think he's in love with the statue!"
More laughter, and an idea began to form in Alex's head.
"I wonder what the old geezer would do if...I threw a rock at
it!" Alex whirled around and let the projectile fly. Clunk. It
rebounded straight off of the statue's head.
"Hey, hey!" shouted Danziger, wheezing heavily as he tried to
race along. "You kids stop that, you hear? You owe everything to
this woman!"
"Sure, old man," goaded Alex. "And I bet if we don't stop,
the ghost will get us, too!" He made a show of picking up
another handful of pebbles, and threw them viciously.
"I'm going to report you for this!" threatened Danziger. "I
know the Administrator personally!" Maybe that wasn't true
anymore, for he wasn't sure who was in charge nowadays, but
Danziger was searching for any excuse to make the children stop
their vandalism.
"Sure you do," shot back Alex. "You know every Administrator
that's passed through office!" Alex's friends laughed
hysterically. "You can't stop us!" he continued. The boys raced
off into the gathering darkness.
Shaking his fist helplessly, Danziger then continued his daily
ritual, facing the statue and talking to it. "I'm so sorry,
Devon," he began. "I tried to get them away, but I guess I'm just
too damn old. Funny, you've never had that problem."
His words carried on the wind to Alex's ears. The boy was
lurking around the corner in search of more mischief. He was gang
leader, and it was his duty to find fun things for his friends to
do.
"Wonder if anyone likes that guy," snorted one of the boys.
"Probably only old people."
"Maybe all his friends are dead. Just like that lady."
An idea began to form in Alex's mind, one that would cement
him as gang leader for good if they could pull it off. He gathered
his followers close, an evil gleam in his eyes.
"What do you say, we break into his place and trash it!"
A chorus of "yeahs" followed his suggestion, and they crept through
the darkened streets until they reached the decrepit house.
Lifting his arms in a gesture of triumph, Alex hurled the
first brick that would smash a window. That done, the boys made
their way inside.
"Cool..." muttered one of them, wishing that *his* mother
would let him live in a place as messy as this. Mothers had some
strange idea that a tidy house was the only acceptable way of
living. Obviously, the old man's mother hadn't taught him much.
The boys wandered through the house, but it soon became
obvious that there wasn't much to break or destroy. They threw a
few items around, although Alex guessed that it wouldn't even be
noticed.
"Let's go," he said in disappointment, when one of the boys
shouted, "No, wait! Come see this room!"
Alex followed the voice, and was surprised to see the room
full of burning candles and hundreds of portraits. All of a single
woman, the same one as the statue.
"Told ya he's in love with her," crowed Alex. He sauntered
over to one wall, and tore down a picture. "Whoops..." he said
mockingly. The photograph fluttered helplessly to the floor.
Another boy followed Alex's lead, triumphantly tearing the
image in half before burning it over a candle. Soon, there was a
frenzy of ripping and incinerating of everything that John Danziger
held dear.
"Make a fire!" shouted Alex, caught up in the thrill and
excitement. A pile began to form in the centre of the room,
burning brightly as the hungry red flames devoured Devon Adair's
face over and over. The boys did not realise that the carpet would
catch fire so easily as they hooted and cheered, until suddenly, it
seemed as if the whole room was burning.
Alex stared around him with fascinated horror. He'd never
meant for the game to go this far! As the flames danced higher and
the thick black smoke sunk heavily throughout the room, he
screamed, "Let's get out of here!" Coughing and spluttering, he
ran for the door. And collided with something. A person. John
Danziger.
Danziger's cry of outrage echoed throughout the neighbourhood.
He couldn't believe what was happening - his shrine, sanctuary; his
tribute to Devon, was being devoured by terrible fire.
The acrid smoke burned Danziger's eyes and lungs, but he
ploughed into the room regardless. He could not let her burn, he
could not lose everything he had of her, not when there was so
little left....
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"We found John huddled in the smoking ruins of his house.
Clutched in one hand was the only thing he managed to save - a
single strand of hair. His eyes were full of defeat as I
shepherded him home with me. Now he truly had nothing.
John stared blankly into space all night as we tried to comfort
him, but he wasn't aware of us at all. He just kept repeating one
word over and over: "Devon".
Sometime soon after that terrible night, John disappeared. We
suspected he went out into the desert, in search of Devon, but
could find no traces of him at all. We searched for days, Alonzo,
Morgan, True, Uly and I, hoping that we would find him, and perhaps
help John escape the demons that had plagued him for so long. But
I never saw John Danziger again."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"True," Uly said sorrowfully, "It's time to head home."
The woman sighed wearily, brushing one dirty hand across her
forehead. She sat in the driver's seat of the old vehicle, her
eyes scanning the desert endlessly as the sun began to set. And in
the glorious rays of brilliance, True sensed an understanding with
the planet that her father was gone forever.
Uly pulled his gear from his head. "That was Morgan. He said,
uh, that maybe it's time to accept the fact that we won't find
him." He looked at his wife, expecting to see denial in her eyes,
but there was none. "I'm surprised everyone's stuck out the search
this long," Uly continued. "It's not how most people would be
spending their retirement."
"I'm not surprised that they're helping," True said sincerely.
"They're our friends and they all cared for Dad. Even if we did
lose him a while ago."
"You're right," agreed Uly. He felt the vehicle turn away
from the sun, into the shadows that reached towards the city of
Devon, and sighed. Darkness had claimed his mother, and another
darkness had claimed John Danziger, one of the closest things he
ever had to a father.
They drove on in silence, finally arriving at the Martins'
house where they were staying. True and Uly lived in a town called
Freedom, however True had been in Devon the day of the fire; and
Uly travelled north as soon as he heard the news. Bess had
insisted they stay with her and Morgan, for they had so many free
rooms now that their children had their own children.
Bess held out her arms as True alighted from the vehicle. "I'm
sorry," she whispered, holding the other woman tight. "But he's
gone."
"I know," confessed True. "I want to thank you, and everyone,
for searching so long. I guess Dad just didn't want to be found."
True and Bess followed the rest of the search party inside, noting
the dust that clung ferociously to everyone's clothing. It
appeared as if the colonists would never conquer the desert.
True sat down, Bess beside her. "I just wish," True began,
pulling her hair away from her face, "I just wish that I could have
helped Dad, long ago. His life ended in so much pain and
darkness...I never truly believed that it could happen like that."
"Don't blame yourself," consoled Bess. "All of us saw what
was happening. But we didn't try hard enough, we let John push us
away too often."
"If only we'd tried harder," cried True, feeling terribly
guilty.
"True," Bess gently reminded her, "John made his own
decisions. He controlled his own life, and I don't know why he
accepted the dark path that he did. But it was his choice, and I
know how much you tried to help him. We all tried."
"And we failed," True said dully.
Bess tried to smile bravely. "You have to accept that as a
part of life. We can't control everything."
True nodded, recognising the truth in her friend's words.
"I'm going to miss him," she sniffed. "We should hold some
sort of service, a memorial service."
"Yes," Bess agreed softly, taking True's hand. "We'll do
that."
They comforted each other, feeling glad of the friendship that
linked them and accepting that one part of their lives was finally
gone. Once again, it was time to move on.
***
"Here's to us, the original Eden Advance," toasted Morgan
Martin, holding his glass in the air. The small group of nine
mimicked his gesture and they all drank deeply.
Morgan glanced around at the group of friends, and smiled with
a hint of sadness. They had achieved so much in the half-century
since they crashed, yet it was difficult to accept the fact that
time was passing. Even True and Uly were almost grandparents.
"We should hold a party like this every year," declared Bess,
suddenly breaking the silence. A few months ago, at Walman's
funeral, the reunion had been hastily organised as they met up with
old friends who were now spread all over the country.
Bess was glad that they had all been able to come to Devon,
their original city, to remember the past and enjoy each other's
company.
Yale, who seemed impossibly old, suddenly spoke up. "I, too,
would like to propose a toast. To every member of Eden Advance who
has departed from this world but lives on in our hearts. Their
valiant actions throughout the years helped us build a better world
for everyone here today. And what a world we live in!"
One by one, each person stood up and offered a small speech
about a loved friend. Alonzo, on Yale's right, began.
"I know this might be a little biased, but I'd like to say a
few words about Julia. I never met a more dedicated doctor than
she was. She made so many advances here with the links between
humans and Terrians, and her work formed the foundation of our
understanding today.
"But that wasn't all she was. Julia was also a wonderful,
caring human being. She loved every one of us deeply, and has
saved our lives more than once. We never would have made it
without her."
They toasted Julia's memory, and then Baines continued.
"I'd like to remember my good buddy Walman. He was always there to
lend a hand, whenever something needed doing. I don't think he
ever complained, he was just glad to pitch in. And that went for
his whole life, helping set up the city, running the hydroponics
plant, all of it. He was a good guy."
Magus' face took on a wistful expression as she recalled
dear, departed comrades. "Remember Cameron? He was another great
friend." She paused as everyone thought over the tragic incident
at the power plant numerous years earlier, where both Cameron and
Denner, along with several other employees, had died.
"Many of you didn't know him that well and I know he didn't
say much. What he did say, however, was deep and meaningful. I
guess that's why he and Denner got along so well. Those two were
a wonderful part of the team, doing their best not only to get to
New Pacifica, but also to build our city and then over to the East
Coast to do the same thing there."
"Yes," broke in Matazl. "They formed the backbone of the
initial East Coast team. Living there now is wonderful, but I will
always remember the first hard months." He paused to take a drink.
"Well, since it's my turn to speak, I'd like to mention Eben
Synge. I know we lost her early in the journey, yet she was
another person who gave so much. I particularly remember the
wonderful concoctions she could make out of the few edible grasses
and such that we had discovered during those first months. Besides
that, she was an incredible, caring person. We all missed her
greatly."
Everyone pondered Matazl's words, then turned to Uly. He
smiled nervously at them and then began. "I know you probably
expect me to say something about my mother. But instead, I want to
remind you of Commander Broderick O'Neill. Not many of you had the
chance to get to know him, but he was a friend to both my mother
and I as she tried to get the Eden Project underway.
"Without him volunteering to be the commanding presence on the
mission, it could have taken another few years to get away. Years
that would have meant thousands of more deaths of Syndrome
children." Including my own death, Uly thought silently. "He may
have been a military man, but he always wanted the best for the
future. It was a terrible waste...."
There was nothing more for Uly to say, so he squeezed True's
hand and looked to her. "I, too, would like to remember people
that many of you didn't know too well," she said, brushing back her
greying hair. "The Advance Crew, who escaped in the other pod. A
lot of them were my friends, like extra uncles and aunts as I was
growing up on the stations. More than that, they pledged
their lives to this quest to find a new world just like us. They
were good, hardworking people, and it's just sad that they had to
die the way they did. They were part of it, too."
Bess thought quietly for a few moments as her opportunity to
speak arrived. Finally, she looked up at her friends. "I'm going
to talk about John Danziger. I hope everyone remembers the good
things about him and not just the bad. I know he became a recluse
in his old age and I'm sorry that we were never able to heal his
pain.
"We should think of everything he achieved in the early years.
He was our leader, and our strength especially during the time
after we lost Eben and Devon. He founded this city, and was
paramount in getting it up and running.
"More than that, he was part of the then-underground movement
to assist people escaping the stations before free settlement was
permitted. He was a wonderful leader, and a dear friend. He had
so much love to give, and it's just a pity that circumstances
twisted his life so much. I miss him," Bess finished simply, her
eyes shining.
Yale broke in suddenly. "I don't think we can mention John
without thinking of Devon Adair. Sorry, Morgan," he amended, but
Morgan held up his hands in a gesture that seemed to say, "Go
ahead, I don't mind waiting to speak".
"I think we all realise that it was one woman who inspired the
dream to come here. Without Devon, I don't believe any of us would
be sitting here now. Her quest to save dying children became more
important than her own life and we now realise that she gave her
life, in a manner of speaking, to save even more people.
"We learn more about life through the death of others," Yale
continued, deviating from the subject. "Devon transcended time for
a while, but revealed to us the futility of trying to save those
who are already lost. John learnt that the hard way."
Yale took a small sip of his drink, suddenly remembering that
he was not teaching, but delivering a eulogy about a much loved
friend. "Devon had so much to give us," he resumed. "Without her
determination and inspiration, would we have ever been motivated to
trek across the planet to New Pacifica?"
The truth of his words hung heavily in the air. "But more
than that, she did everything out of love. Although she didn't
show it, I believe she loved every one of us, our large extended
family. It was love that brought us together, and love that keeps
us together now."
"To love," toasted Bess, and they all raised their glasses
again. Then heads turned to face Morgan, the only one who had not
yet spoken.
"Well, you've covered everyone now, so what am I supposed to
do?" he joked. "I know, I'd like to thank the Station leaders who
decided to try and kill me! If it wasn't for them leaving me on
the Advance ship, I'd be stuck in some mindless number crunching
job back there."
"Seriously," he continued, "I'd just like to say that I admire
every single one of you that came on this journey. We didn't know
what we were heading into, but even when we crashed, we didn't give
up hope." A sparkle lit up his old, tired eyes, and he
mischievously shouted, "Eden Advance Forever!"
The chorus of cheers carried beyond time.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"So that's us now," recorded Bess. "Nine devoted friends who
share more than we had ever imagined. Writing this account of us,
our adventures, our achievements, and our losses has brought back
so many memories of my dear friends.
A lifetime has passed before me, and only now am I realising
just how much has been done. Yet there is still so much more to
look forward to. Perhaps it is not my place to dream of the future
anymore. My children, and their children, and all the generations
beyond them are now the hope for humanity as we enter a bold new
era of interstellar peace and prosperity. There are even rumours
of contact with another spacefaring species!
There will always be mysteries and there will always be hope.
I have learnt so much in my life, but one cannot learn the secrets
of everything. Instead, I have learned to sit back and watch time
pass around me, taking part in what I enjoy, but not being bogged
down by the petty details.
No, we don't know exactly what happened out there in the desert
with Devon. We don't know why Julia took unwise risks while trying
to save Uly. We don't know what happened to John when he vanished,
and we don't know why some of us were granted a long life while
others died early on.
But these are things I can accept. From those very first
hours aboard the Advance Ship, or even the very first time I laid
my eyes on Morgan, my destiny was sealed into a future I could
never have imagined. I discovered the power of love.
So I sit here and think fondly of the past. My friends have
become legends and perhaps I will too someday. Nothing really dies
as long as it's not forgotten, and I pray that this record will do
justice to the memories of everyone I loved.
We made a difference. And for that fact, anything, *everything*,
was worth it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was there that the file ended. The book was closed, the
story was over, and Gillian sat in a quiet reverie. She had so
much to think about. It had such a profound affect on her because
it was *real*. Genuine legends of the people who had lived, loved
and lost on this planet.
"But it can't end there!" Gillian protested aloud. She still
had so many unanswered questions.
Was Devon's body still trapped in cold sleep out in the
desert? It scared Gillian as she realised that the local legends
were probably true. And in that case, was the old ship still
intact?
And what of the Valley of Dreams? If it was truly so
beautiful, didn't it deserve to be shared and enjoyed? For
humanity had finally learnt how to preserve their environment and
even Earth was beginning to recover.
Gillian also had so many questions about John Danziger. How
could Bess just accept that he was gone? Yes, she had searched,
but there was no tangible proof of his death. He could have joined
a Terrian tribe, or even been abducted by aliens! (The latter
scenario was a recent fad along with the rumours of a shadowy new
species.)
Or perhaps he truly had just withered and died of old age,
alone and helpless. Love had destroyed his soul, and it was a love
that became an obsession stronger than Gillian had ever heard of.
Yet her biggest questions lay with the presence she had felt.
Even if it was Devon, even after all she had read and the strange
visions she had seen, the girl still found the concept of ghosts
nearly impossible to accept. Gillian didn't really believe that a
person could leave their body, no matter what their circumstances.
And that was why she was so troubled now, for the traces of some
strange entity hovered out of her reach, and she could never quite
be sure if it was her imagination or not.
And why had she been chosen to be part of the story? Thousands
of people lived in the city of Devon, and surely the spirit could
have contacted one of them before, over the past few decades.
Gillian's head was spinning. She did not know where she could
go to find the answers she sought to solve the mysteries of the
legends of the past. However, she would find the truth someday.
She was sure of it.
"Devon, if you're truly out there somehow, I'll help you,"
Gillian whispered into the wind. "I promise."
Yet the spirit was being battered by the gales of death, too
far away from the living world, too much a part of the shadows that
had consumed it for so long, to hear the words and the hope they
brought. It had accepted the darkness forever.
---
END "Legends of Love".
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