The Bliss of Lemuria

“Is he okay?  Is he hurt?  Where is he?”  My heart was pounding.

“He looks fine—at least from a distance—well enough to converse with the Specters.”

“What do you mean?”

“It looks as if he were trying to talk himself out of the situation.  The Specters didn’t look very pleased.”

I exhaled in relief and chuckled.  “Well, he can be really annoying when he speaks.  They may give him back to us without a fight just to be rid of him.”   I resumed walking along the trail.
 
“Perhaps,” said Sarika, following behind.  “I saw the Specters arguing among themselves.  I was able to get close enough to catch some of their words.  Nardu wants to let him go—saying something about it not being worth the risk.  Kerzik, the leader, and Moxem, say no.  They want something.  Something you have.”

“You know their names?”

“Yes, everyone in Kerith and many in Lemuria at large know the Specters.”

“Tell me about them.  Who are they?”

“They were once flesh-and-blood women, like you and the other visitors.  Kerzik was a film-maker, Moxem, an artist, and Nardu, a poet of extraordinary talent.  Her poetry was pure magic.”

“You’re kidding.  What happened to them?  How did they become….so vile?”

“They came to Lemuria like all visitors—in search of rest, repose, creative rejuvenation.  But each time they came, they stayed a little longer and became more and more reluctant to go back.   Instead of taking strength and inspiration from Lemuria back with them to continue their work, they became afraid of the Real World.    What they failed to realize is that Lemuria was a gift to them.  It was never intended to be a crutch.  Their creativity and talent dried up.

“That’s so sad.”

“Yes, it is.  The Women of Kerith, the Mudjimbas, even Enchanteur herself tried to get them to come around.  But they resisted.   Finally, the Muses themselves became angry and removed the Bliss of Lemuria from them in hopes that it would force them to leave.”

The thought of that punishment chilled me.  To never again know the Bliss that comes from visiting this wondrous realm would destroy me.  I could not imagine what that would do to a person.

Sarika seemed to read my thoughts.  “After the Bliss was removed, they began to disintegrate, emotionally and physically.  They could find no peace nor gain any sustenance from Lemuria.  It got harder and harder for them to function.  They began preying on residents and visitors alike to regain the Bliss.  Then, Kerzik, in her madness, took hold of the idea that all they needed was the technology that made it possible for Lemuria to manifest to the Real World.  If they controlled the technology, they could regain the Bliss.”

It all began to make sense.  I touched the bag that contained the Mechanism and remembered what the Mudjimba Matriarch had said about the legend.

“Sarika, Lemuria has many legends, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, thousands.”

“Are any of them true?”

“As many as you care to believe.”

I nodded.  This was helpful.

Just then, we stepped through a thick bit of foliage and emerged on the edge of an expanse of barren rock.  Desolation spread before us as far as we could see.

“We’re here,” said Sarika.  “The Kerithian Caldera.”

L.Gloyd.  Text: (c) 2008; Image: (c) 1986