Ascension Discovery Page 14
Amanda grew drowsy with the heat of the fire. Instead of looking for more reading material, Amanda opted to take the animal book with her as she made her way up to bed. Once back in her room she let her robe slide to the floor. She slipped her naked body between the silky sheets and rested her head on the perfect pillow. She sighed at the luxury of it all and then became oblivious to everything as she immediately fell into a relaxed and peaceful sleep.
An odd sensation stirred Amanda’s awareness; an intense light was shining in her eyes and warmth was spreading across the side of her face. Her mind did not want to make any sense of it, so she rolled away from the light. It was then she realized she was not in her cot, but a plush mattress with silky sheets. She opened her eyes to verify she was not dreaming but staying in the guest room of Captain Ahn and Barla’s house.
At first, she felt guilty about sleeping so late, but then she recalled Barla’s orders to sleep until she was fully rested. Trying to settle on her level of fatigue she determined a bathroom break would definitely be in order.
She reluctantly left the warmth of the bed and crossed the bedroom to the bathroom. The sunlight filled the bathroom as she took care of her business. She finished washing her hands and rushed back to the warm bedding.
She snuggled into the covers with her body in the fetal position. With her eyes closed, she struggled to fall back to sleep, but it proved elusive. After several minutes she sat up with her back supported by pillows against the headboard. She picked up the book on animals from the night table.
Amanda spent quite a bit more time studying the book than she had in the library the night before. She figured the more she found out about Tuala, the better the likelihood she would pass for a native Tualan, the faster she would be able to find Neal, and then find a way to get home. Get home, get home, was now a regular mantra in her head.
Studying the book provided the needed stimulus to return to sleep. She set the book back on the table and pulled the covers over her shoulders as she lay on her side facing away from the sun-drenched windows. She closed her eyes and drifted back into pleasant dreams.
Sometime later she awoke again. The light had changed in the room since the sunlight no longer came directly through the window. “It must be close to noon,” Amanda spoke quietly to herself as she pushed back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. She looked around, trying to figure out if she should wear the robe still lying on the floor or if her clothes had been returned. Looking from one end of the room to the other Amanda could not find her own personal items so she decided to wear the robe and ask about her things when next she saw Barla.
With the plush foxl slippers covering her feet Amanda walked down the stairs and across the foyer, making her way back to the kitchen. In no hurry, she took more time appreciating the pictures adorning the walls. She stopped to admire a family portrait of Captain Ahn, Barla, a young boy who looked so much like Ahn he had to be his son, and a blonde-haired little girl with Barla’s features stamped on her round face.
Surprised, Amanda stepped closer to the portrait to pick out all of the little girl’s features. She shifted her position from side to side to try to catch different angles in which to view her. The hair on the back of her neck began to rise as Amanda realized the little girl reminded her so much of herself at the same age that it was unnerving.
Just then, Barla walked out of the formal sitting room and noticed Amanda’s interest in the hanging portrait. She came to stand next to her and said, “These are my two children, Gravin and Rasa. When this was taken, Gravin was six anons and Rasa was just four anons old.”
Amanda could only nod as she continued to stare at little Rasa.
“Are you okay?” Barla asked as Amanda failed to respond to her casual conversation.
“I just can’t believe this picture.”
“What do you mean?”
“This little girl, Rasa, looks just exactly like I did when I was the same age,” Amanda spoke quietly. “She and I could be twins.”
“How interesting,” Barla commented as she looked closer at the portrait and then at Amanda to compare. “It’s too bad you don’t have any childhood pictures of yourself to really be able to put side by side.”
“How old are your children now?”
“They are twenty-one and nineteen anons old.”
“Do they still live here?”
“No, Gravin is in his last year of post-study over on Reesun. Do you remember where Reesun is located?” Barla decided to make this an impromptu geography lesson.
Amanda paused to consider then asked, “Cuba, right?”
“Very good,” Barla replied with a full smile on her face.
“What about Rasa? Is she here or still in school as well?”
“Rasa isn’t here, but she’s not in school either. Almost three anons after this picture was taken, an administrator from Jehoban came to us and asked if our daughter could be taught by Jehoban Himself. The honor was so great, we could hardly refuse,” Barla replied.
“You mean you let them take your daughter from you?” Amanda’s shock finally broke her intense study of the portrait to look at Barla in astonishment.
“Oh, no! It’s not like that at all. Our whole family was asked to go along with her, but Ahn couldn’t very well leave his post, and I had all of the orphaned children to look after as well. We talk with her all of the time and, remember, I can keep track of her through her necklace as well. Rasa is an amazing girl. She begged us to let her go, and she’s accomplished so much since she’s been there, we are very proud of her endeavors.
“I must admit, I do miss seeing her grow up and mature. I can only imagine what a handful she could’ve been when she became a teenager,” Barla spoke sadly.
“Does such a thing happen very often?”
“No, it’s very rare anymore; only one or two children are chosen in a declan to be taught by Jehoban,” Barla spoke with pride.
“Where does Jehoban live? Have you ever visited her?”
“Jehoban lives on Acaim, Jamaica as you know it, and visiting is not allowed. She’ll come home to see us when she feels her studying is complete,” Barla spoke quickly, as though she were trying to convince herself it might be soon.
“Are you saying you haven’t seen her in person since she was six years old? It’s been thirteen years!” Amanda exclaimed in amazement.
“What she’s doing is much more important than my desire to see her!” Barla admonished. “And, like I said, she’ll come home when her education is complete.”
Clearly, they had reached the end of the conversation, and Amanda felt uncomfortable enough to want to change the subject. She cleared her throat and asked, “I was wondering if you knew what happened to my clothes? I hope it’s not considered indecent for me to be running around in nothing but this robe.”
“Oh, don’t worry about the robe; we’re the only ones at home right now. Yesterday I sent my maid to the seamstress with the measurements I took from your clothes to have a new wardrobe made for you. Ahn and I noticed you only had the two outfits to wear, and they don’t exactly blend in with the Tualan fashions, as you may have seen when we were in the market yesterday,” Barla replied offhandedly as she turned and started walking toward the kitchen.
Amanda followed Barla’s lead and hoped lunch would be offered. They walked into the kitchen, and Barla gestured for Amanda to seat herself on the stool at the island. “What would you like for lunch?”
“You don’t have to serve me,” Amanda replied hurriedly as she jumped up from the stool preparing to make her own meal.
“Don’t be silly, Amanda. You don’t know anything about this kitchen, and you’re my guest! Now sit back down and tell me what sounds good!” Barla replied pertly as she pointed back to the stool and tried to keep a stern expression on her face.
Amanda raised her hands in surrender as she moved back around the island to sit. “What kinds of things do you have to eat which I might recognize?”
; “Would you like breakfast or lunch?” Barla asked as she mentally reviewed the various items available in the cooler.
She considered for a second and then replied, “Lunch sounds wonderful right now.”
“How about a sandwich and chips?”
“Perfect,” Amanda replied, then hesitantly asked, “Can you make it without pork? I don’t eat it for religious reasons.”
“I don’t either,” Barla said as she started gathering supplies to prepare the sandwich. “Do you like tomatoes on your sandwich?” She held up a plump, red tomato for Amanda to view.
“I love tomatoes. Do they taste as good as they look?”
“Better!” Barla replied with a wink. “You won’t believe how much better the fruits and vegetables taste on Tuala—since they’re grown aquaponically, they actually have flavor!”
Amanda closed her eyes and tried to remember what she had read about aquaponics in her studies of Tualan culture. “That’s where they use fish to fertilize the water in which the plants are grown, right?”
“Exactly, Amanda. You’ve really learned a lot from your studies.” Barla smiled smugly at how well her student had learned.
“Why don’t they grow food like this on Earth?”
“I imagine they would if they tasted how much better it was. It also has more nutrition as well as being guaranteed to be organic! If any chemicals were used on the plants, it would kill the fish!”
Barla was efficient and quick with her food preparations. Each time she wondered whether or not Amanda would like something added to the sandwich, she would hold it up and raise her eyebrows in question; Amanda would nod or shake her head to answer.
In just a few short minutes Barla had the sandwich prepared and on a plate. She turned and rummaged in a cupboard until she found the bag she wanted and turned around holding it in front of her as if it were a prize.
“These,” she said with excitement, “are my absolute favorite chips. They are a little different than you’re probably used to, but they are amazing.” She tipped the bag over the edge of the plate and poured out a generous helping of the bright red chips. She picked up the finished plate and placed it in front of Amanda with a flourish.
“Thank you, Barla,” Amanda said. She bowed her head to pray. When she finished, she picked up a chip. She looked at both sides, smelled it, and then took a tentative nibble. Flavors burst through her taste buds, and she instantly craved more. She popped the entire chip into her mouth and smiled as she hummed, “Mmm hmm.”
“They’re wonderful, huh?”
Amanda swallowed and replied, “Yes, but what are they? I thought I knew, but then another flavor came at the end which threw me for a loop.”
“They’re called tocolas and are a corn-based chip, colored and flavored with tomato juice, and the flavor at the end is the lime juice and salt.” She sat with a smug expression as she reached into the still-open bag and started eating them for herself.
Not wanting to appear rude, Amanda forewent the desire to have another chip to then sample the sandwich. She was not sure if it were seasoned with hunger or if it really were the most amazing sandwich ever, but the flavors were exciting.
“I feel like I’ve never tasted food before!” Amanda commented to Barla as she took another bite.
“Like I said, the food on Tuala actually has flavor. Here, let’s try an experiment,” she turned swiftly and grabbed one of the cucumbers from the bushel Amanda had purchased the day before. She held it up and asked, “Do you like cucumbers?”
Amanda could only nod since her mouth was currently occupied with another bite of sandwich.
Barla smiled and sliced off a couple of sections. She picked one up and handed it across the island for Amanda to sample.
Amanda swallowed her bite of the sandwich at the same time as she took the proffered cucumber. She bit into it and chewed. “Oh my,” she said, “I just can’t believe how wonderful this tastes! It’s amazing!”
“Want more? I can cut up the rest for you if you want it.”
“Gladly!”
In just a few minutes Amanda’s plate was empty, and she looked toward the bag of chips wondering if it would be rude to ask for more.
“Do you want more tocolas?” Barla caught Amanda’s look of yearning and held up the bag.
“If you don’t mind sharing your favorite snack with me,” she replied promptly, and she held out her plate to receive them.
After lunch was consumed and everything cleaned, they retired to the library to resume Amanda’s education on Tualan culture. Barla introduced books by popular authors, others on childhood education, and still more on games.
“I don’t expect you to learn about all of these things because I don’t think you’ll be in Tuala very long, but it’s fun to see what’s important to Tualans. Don’t you think?”
“Do you really think I’ll be going home soon?”
Barla leaned forward and touched Amanda’s arm to lend strength to her words. “Yes, I do,” she stated firmly.
Amanda closed her eyes and sighed, letting hope flow through her like a tonic.
“I was wondering,” Barla began and then paused.
Amanda opened her eyes and saw Barla struggling with some inner conflict and prompted, “Yes?”
“When you go back to Earth, could you please let my family know I’m okay?”
“It would be the least I could do to repay you, Barla. How could you think I would refuse?” Amanda admonished gently.
“Well, you do realize it’ll be difficult to explain to my family. This whole realm would be difficult to explain to anyone, but I’ve been gone so long they may not take it very well if you know what I mean.”
“I can handle it,” Amanda assured her.
“There’s another difficulty as well,” Barla began, “something I haven’t told you about yet.” She did not continue but seemed to be gathering her thoughts.
“What is it?”
“I have heard—but I don’t know if it’s true—when Jehoban created the barrier which separates the two realms, he made it so the people from Earth wouldn’t remember their time here. Because of it, I wouldn’t risk going back to Earth since I have my husband and children here; I don’t want to take the chance of not remembering anything about them.”
“So,” Amanda began slowly, “how will I remember to tell your family about you if I won’t remember my time here?”
“I think if I wrote down everything for you in a letter maybe it would bring it all back. I can’t be sure it will work, but I think it’d be worth a try, don’t you?”
“Sure,” Amanda agreed, thinking her solution sounded reasonable.
“You’ll have to keep the letter with you at all times because you won’t know if you’ll have any advance warning when your opportunity arises to go back.”
“I can’t see where that would be a problem either,” Amanda assured her again. “Do you want to tell me about your family?”
“I’d rather not,” Barla replied rapidly. “I get pretty emotional when I think about them. It’s been so long since I’ve seen them, I wouldn’t know what to tell you about them anyway,” she finished lamely.
“It’s okay the letter will be fine,” Amanda said as she picked up the book on poetry from her lap and pretended to be interested in the passages on a random page.
They spent the next few minutes in companionable silence. Amanda looked through the different books she had pulled from the shelves while Barla stared into the fire and contemplated what to include in the letter to her family. They both jumped when a log shifted in the fireplace and sent sparks flying with a loud crack. The tension left the room as they both laughed at having been startled.
After a couple more hours of reading, analyzing, and discussing various Tualan customs, Amanda retired to her room to take another bubble bath. She was not sure when she would have another opportunity to do so, and she wanted to experience the total relaxation which only the warm water could provide.
Chapter Ten
THE ROOM WAS lit with another kind of light when Amanda opened her eyes. She tried to recall what had disturbed her sleep enough to bring her to full awareness when she heard more shuffling at the other end of her room. She sat up on the bed, holding the sheets to cover her naked torso, and saw Barla arranging various packages on the seats of the now darkened windows.
“What’s going on, Barla?” she asked sleepily.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” she exclaimed excitedly as she turned around and smiled at Amanda. “Come and see your new clothes.” She gestured impatiently for Amanda to leave the bed and inspect her booty.
“Where’s my robe?” Amanda asked as she prepared to get out of the bed, but could not find anything with which to cover her nakedness.
“Don’t bother,” Barla replied. “You’d just have to take it off to try these on. Don’t be shy, I’ve seen women’s bodies before, I have one, too, you know!”
Feeling foolish and self-conscious, she got out of bed and crossed her arms over her chest and walked over to where Barla was pulling garments out of paper boxes. She soon abandoned her modesty in favor of touching various fabrics to see if they felt as nice as they looked. Amanda picked up one dress from the selection and held it in front of herself to try to envision it on her.
“Do you want to try this one on?” Barla asked as she noticed her interest in the dress.
Amanda nodded and started to unbutton the front of the dress.
“Just a minute,” Barla interrupted, and she hastily rummaged through another bag until she pulled out a pair of garments and held them up proudly, “you’ll need these to wear underneath first.”
Amanda took the undergarments and donned them swiftly to help alleviate her self-consciousness over being naked. With new vigor, she finished unbuttoning the dress, stepped into the skirt, inserted her arms into the long sleeves and began to button it back up. The fit was perfect; the color and cut were amazing. Amanda twirled and smiled as Barla looked on with happiness.