01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
Steve sighed again.
"I'm not asking for a conclusion. I am asking for your opinion."
"I am not programmed for providing opinions."
Steve's frustration came to boiling point, at the same time, his amusement level increased.
He wasn't sure whether to laugh or scream obscenities. He was surely going insane! He rose
out of the water and left a trail across the floor of the bathroom and the living quarters, before
coming to a stop in the entrance to the main chamber. It was still and quiet. He wasn't sure
what had prompted the hurried exit from his bath. His heart was racing for no apparent
reason. He continued into the great room at a slower pace and walked out on to the
Pentagram. When he judged he was approximately in the centre, he looked up.
The light from the Lynxe star was almost gone, high above him was what they had once
described as a lantern in the architecture of Old Earth. The five sides of the great chamber
sloped inward to meet in a kind of dome. Except, that this dome was not circular, but was in
the regulation five sided shape of a Pentagram. This was the bottom margin of the
architectural lantern, which had the appearance of being suspended below the stars. The top
of the lantern was open to the sky.
Within the aperture was a single, bright star. Steve stared at it. It wasn't part of a
constellation. He watched until it was quite dark and he was stiff and cold in the night air. It
maintained a fixed position in the centre of the opening. Eventually, he turned and walked
back to the living quarters.
He stopped abruptly, the room was illuminated. There were no lamps, the walls provided
the light. It was then that he was quite sure that whoever had created this - Temple to Taxila -
had also created the technology to transport him from a five sided chamber on Mars! The
suggestion - Temple to Taxila - had come into his mind unbidden. Steve knew he was being
manipulated - educated. For what reason and why, he didn't know.
There were further manifestations. On the table, was food and drink. On the trestle bed,
was a clean tunic. He held it up, on the chest was embroidered a Pentagram. This one did not
contain an image in the centre. He crossed to the table and touched the food. It felt fresh and
his mouth flooded with saliva. His ever faithful stomach set up a gurgling chorus of
sympathy.
He looked at the tunic and then at the food again. He shrugged. What the hell! If you can't
beat'em. Join'em. There was a surge of humour from within - now he was beginning to laugh
at his own jokes! He dressed and sat down at the table. The food was as fresh as it had felt.
The drink was slightly acid, perhaps, a wine of some description. One thing was for sure, they
knew nothing like it in the house of Lyot.
With the thought of the Thanehold, the memories flooded back. He hungered for Maia, for
her presence, for her laughter - for her body. He was utterly alone - except for the Bole. He
looked across to where it stood guard at the outer door.
"Where did the food, drink and tunic originate, Bole?"
"They originated from this technology."
"So - this is a technology?"
"The whole city is a power source."
"Are you saying that the food, drink and tunic originated from the power source."
"That is correct."
"By what means - Who brought the products here."
"There was a transference of energy to matter."
"In the same manner as the opening of gates in the walls?"
"It is the same technology."
"Who controls the technology - the Adepts?"
"They are not responsible for the manifestation of food, drink and attire."
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