| TWO WORLDS COLLIDE By Kelley Wood NOTE: DO NOT REPRODUCE THIS STORY IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM KELLEY WOOD aka HOPEINJESUS1995 This story was posted 30 March 2005 upon this web page |
| Summer - 2002 Northern Colorado A young man sat on a giant boulder overlooking the lake. A gentle breeze was blowing from the north, causing the leaves to rustle in the oak and spruce trees. Ripples danced across the green water of the lake, playing with the breezes that caused them to form. A bird called out from its hidden perch, and its mate answered, singing a sweet song. A squirrel darted across the paths with a rather large nut tucked carefully in his mouth. He paused for a moment next to the boulder to check to see if his treasure was still there before scampering away. The man, or rather the teenager, for he was just seventeen years of age, stared intently into the swirling green waters of the lake, the lake that he had swum so many times. He knew how deep it was, how long, how wide. Today he was trying to figure out how long he would have to stay under the water before he lost his life. He swallowed hard as he contemplated his suicide and what it was that had driven him to this desperate act he was about to undertake. How he loved the lake, especially the times he had come there with his father. There had been no better highlights in his life than the time spent here, swimming, fishing, hiking with his father. He loved every moment of it, because he had a deep love for his dad. But now, Dad was gone, killed in an instant when his car veered off the highway to avoid an elk. The man he had loved so much was gone. Robert had never felt more alone. Sure, he still had his mother and his younger brother to turn to. But they didn�t understand him the way his father did. Jackie was too young to know their father well, being only five years old when he died. And Mom? Well, Mom had already moved on. She was already dating again. Dad had only been gone a year and already she seemed to forget all about him. But Robert didn�t. He missed Dad all the more. Which was why he was here at the edge of the lake in the first place. He had it all planned out. He wouldn�t leave one of those suicide notes behind, because then Mom would be worried that she could have done something better, that she could have saved him, and he didn�t want that. He�d just drown, and when they found his body, they would think it were an accident or something. Nobody would ever suspect suicide. The breeze had turned into a stronger wind by now, but Robert didn�t notice it. Nor did he notice a strange craft hovering towards the lake, so obsessed was he with his pending suicide. He stood up and walked to the edge of the boulder. He took a deep breath, gathering his nerve for the act he was about to commit. Suddenly there was a bright light. Robert became so startled that he involuntarily jumped in fright. His foot slipped off the edge of the boulder, and as he turned to try to regain his footing, he fell off the boulder, struck his head, and hit the water with a loud, large splash. He didn�t even have time to cry out before darkness overcame him. When Robert finally regained consciousness, he was lying on his back on the ground. His clothes were soaked through, and because of the wind, he was shivering. His lungs hurt from coughing up the water that had flooded them, and his head throbbed greatly. He reached up to feel his forehead and found a strange cloth wrapped about it. It was smooth, like satin or silk, but soft and light, as if spun from air. It felt cool to the touch, almost like a refrigerator wall, but there was no moisture on it from condensation. He slowly opened his eyes, painfully aware of every ray of light that streamed into them. It was almost too bright when he opened them, and it took awhile for them to adjust. Robert jumped when he was able to focus them, for a face peered down at him in worry. It wasn�t any face that Robert was used to seeing. The skin tone was copper, much like that of the Native Americans who had roomed the land over a century before, but it shone brightly, radiating light and a comfortable warmth. Its hair was black, but it wasn�t the greasy black hair that his mother�s newest beau sported, but rather a shining ebony in color, the color of the night sky. It was cut short, like a crew cut. A thin, bronze band, with strange symbols carved into it, wrapped around the head. But it wasn�t the skin or the hair of this being that scared Robert the most. It was the eyes. They were not human. They were bright bronze, brighter than the crown that sat on the being�s head. They shone as fiery as the sun on a hot summer�s day. Because he was so bewildered by the face that peered down at him, Robert couldn�t speak for a moment. He finally managed to speak. �Are, are you an angel?� he whispered fearfully. The being looked at him and said something in a strange tongue that though Robert could not understand, he enjoyed hearing, for it sounded like music. �I�m sorry,� he replied, �but I can not understand you.� He tried to sit up to get a better look at the being, but fell back in pain, for his head started to throb even more. He groaned and closed his eyes. The being reached out and laid its hand on Robert�s shoulder. Robert opened his eyes to look into its face once more. It had a sympathetic, almost apologetic look on its face as it let go of the shoulder. �You have suffered a rather terrible bruise on your � how do you say � skull. It�s best if you just take your time sitting up,� it said in English. Robert slowly, gingerly lifted himself up and turned to finally get a better look at this being. It (for Robert did not know what gender it was quite yet) was thin, almost delicate looking, and wiry. It wore a dark purple cloak over a gray tunic and paler purple pants, and knelt on the ground next to Robert. Its fierce eyes were still watching Robert intently as Robert looked over it. �You speak English?� Robert finally blurted out in an astonished cry. �Yes, of course,� the being answered. �Or else you would not be able to understand me now. I learned the language in order to talk to the beings of this planet.� �This planet? Then you are an alien?� �I do not know what is meant by alien,� the being answered. �I am called Urisalys, prince of the planet Caxarivuem, and am a Imbarumb.� �A what?� �A Imbarumb. Imbarumbav are the �how do you say � inhabitants of the planet of Caxarivuem.� �Where?� �Caxarivuem. It is the third planet of the star Anderan, across the great divide that your, how do you say, science people call �Outer Space.� It is a journey of three days in our craft.� �What are you doing here on Earth, then?� �We were at a � how do you say- ah- conference of peace at the far side of your galaxy when our craft ran out of fuel, causing it to land here on Vitac-Taher, or what you would call Earth.� �We?� Robert asked, looking around. He saw a craft in the clearing on the other side of the lake, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He had never seen such a beautiful craft in his life. It was silver, like the moon, if the moon could be colored silver, except for the wings, which were painted deep, deep purple. It was quite small, and didn�t look like any alien ship that Robert had read about in science fiction novels. It rather looked like a modified stealth bomber. Another Imbarumb stepped down from the controls, holding a strange flask. He was also thin and wiry, and even though he looked petite next to the massive craft, Robert could tell that he was tall. He was dressed in the same style as Urisalys, though he wore all black, save for a belt of silver about his waist that matched the color of his hair. Urisalys called to him, and he came towards them. Robert could see that his skin tone was the same as the other�s, but his eyes were another shock to the teenager, for they were an unnerving silver that was brighter than the craft itself. �This is my advisor and close friend, Aruip Desai.� �Hello,� Robert said. He knew he should stand and shake the Imbarumb�s hand, but he was still very much in pain. �And now, I know that you may have countless more questions to ask of us, but I would like to ask some of you.� Robert felt a sense of dread come over him at that moment. These aliens didn�t seem so malicious a few moments ago, but Robert didn�t know what to expect of them, and he was a little fearful. �What are you called, my friend?� Urisalys asked him. �My name is Robert Hulsey,� he replied. �And, Robert Hulsey, what were you about to do on that boulder just before we arrived?� Robert looked down at his lap, shame and embarrassment flooding his face. He did not want to answer. �Ah, something too terrible for words,� Urisalys stated knowingly. �There�s been hurt in your life then?� Robert nodded, not looking up. �And you were going to do something to end the pain and hurt that has been caused, no? Robert looked at him with an astonished look. How could this, this Imbarumb know what was on his mind? How could Urisalys, who had just met him, know about the deep sadness and anger that had built up around his heart this past year? Urisalys smiled a sympathetic grin. �I can see it on your face and in your heart, Robert. You have lost someone very loved by you, and it hurts you deeply. But taking the path that you have set out before you will not resolve this pain.� �What will then?� Robert asked. �Finding another path to follow. There must be a crossroad that you can take. Choose the other path.� Tears started to flow down Robert�s cheeks as he listened to the calm voice of Urisalys speak. His heart, so heavy for so long, was starting to break free of its bonds, and he was coming apart at the words. It seemed as if the darkness that surrounded him for so long was finally lifting. It was as if Robert had finally found someone who understood him. Aruip, who had gone back to the craft after meeting Robert, called out something to Urisalys in their language. Urisalys smiled and answered him. Robert wiped his tears and watched as the Imbarumb stood. As Urisalys stood to his feet, he grew taller and taller, until he seemed to dwarf the trees to the still-seated Robert. Urisalys extended his hand to the teenager. �Allow me to help you up,� he said with a sincere smile. Robert accepted the hand and found himself instantly on his feet. He gingerly tested his balance and found that he could stand. His throbbing headache had subsided. He turned to once again face his rescuer. Urisalys did not look so tall once Robert was standing, though he was still several inches taller than Robert, who was considered a tall person by human standards. �What did Aruip say?� he asked him. �It seems that are ship is fully functional, and completely fueled.� �What around here do you use for fuel?� Urisalys grinned. �Simple. The root of all life.� �Which is?� �Light.� �Light?� The Imbarumb grinned. �Yes, Light. We are able to collect the sun�s light and store it for use as energy. It is much cleaner than the fuel that you Imbarumbav use here on Vitac-Taher.� Robert grinned as he thought about it. Then a somber thought came to mind. �Does that mean that you will be going now?� �Yes, we must return to Caxarivuem.� Robert Hulsey then did the most impulsive thing in his life. (Well, the second most impulsive thing in his life, if one counted his attempted suicide.) He decided to cast off everything he ever knew, throw away everything he ever owned. He decided to end his earthly life there and now. �Take me with you!� Urisalys looked at him. This time, it was the Imbarumb who wore the astonished look. �Why do you want to come to Caxarivuem?� �There is nothing more for me here,� he replied. �If I stay, I�ll kill myself. You told me to choose the path at the crossroads, and this is the path I choose.� Urisalys said something to Aruip, who grinned and nodded. It was the first show of real emotion from the Imbarumb that Robert had seen, and he hoped that it would not be the last. Urisalys extended his had to Robert with a grin. �Come, Robert Hulsey. We depart once.� That is how the young Imbarumb from Vitac-Taher found himself watching his home planet disappear in a flash of light, and made his way to his future on the planet of Caxarivuem. |
| Prologue |