She briefly nods at him, confirming his thoughts, and then points towards the ethereal scenes.
He stares at the shifting shapes constantly swirling in front of him as more defined patterns emerge within the hazy flow. He can’t take his eyes off the hypnotizing spectacle, not even for a second.
Sam starts to discern the edges of a giant translucent bubble floating off the gleaming floor at the centre of a vast white-walled chamber. He holds his breath when the full view comes into sharp focus in an instant. The curled body of a girl starts stretching out in mid-air. As the bubble’s outer layer starts turning more transparent, he immediately recognises Erin’s long white hair floating around her body as she slowly opens her eyes.
Sam is so entranced with the vivid images that he starts to believe they are real. He impulsively runs towards the bubble, trying to break it with his hands in an attempt to reach Erin. He aimlessly slices the air around him with his fists, hardly noticing that he’s only in the middle of a light field.
Shaillah patiently allows him to burn all his anger and frustration until he finally drops on the ground, his resolve crushed. She stands up and runs towards him. As she inspects him, he briefly glances at her but soon looks away, unable to contain his embarrassment and disappointment.
“You can’t get into the time-slice,” she calmly explains.
“Arrgh,” he groans, lying flat on the ground and clutching his stomach, trying to stop the sinking feeling invading his tired body. “I’m feeling sick.”
“Sam, please be strong for me,” she pleads while grabbing him from under his arms and helping him stand up.
“So that’s where he took you, did he? Who is he?” he says, twisting his mouth in ridicule.
“He’s just a soldier,” Shaillah says sharply.
“A soldier … a soldier,” Sam ponders, staring intensely at her as if trying to gauge what she’s thinking. But Shaillah’s emotionless expression keeps adding to his misery.
“How many are there?” he sneers.
“Just three. The others are our supreme commander and our chief scientist.”
“Am I supposed to believe that? A commander with one soldier?”
“The Rom-Ghenshars, we are from another star system, thousands of light-years away … See?” She points back at the images, ignoring his sarcastic tone.
Two diagonal suns hang solemnly on a pink-orange sky. They shine onto a vast multicoloured ocean, its frothy waves pounding off the intricate metallic bases of imposing interwoven sculptures, rising mightily from rocky outcrops and breaking through the high, dense clouds.
“Rom and Ghenshar are the names of our two suns,” she continues, hardly containing her admiration as she points at each star in turn. “The bigger, the yellow one is Rom; the smaller red star is Ghenshar. Rom meanspower; Ghenshar meansglory.”
The vivid image slowly changes into another, like a three-dimensional slide show, each visual setting unveiling a fascinatingly vibrant alien world.
“Immense deep oceans mostly cover our planet. We build our cities on top of the rocky islands, but we also have vast undersea and underground constructions—all interconnected by space-tunnels.” She enthusiastically describes every scene as Sam watches, awestruck.
Height-defying structures linked by arched hanging bridges spread across the vast interconnected cities. The gem-studded shorelines reflect the twin suns’ rays in a multitude of colours. Over the ocean surface, schools of giant lyshars glide majestically in perfectly choreographed zigzag patterns.
“Our land is rich in diamond and precious minerals,” she continues, trying to break into Sam’s perplexed silence.
“This is all very well, but why did they want you? What do you do?” he blurts out as if all his patience has finally run out.
“Well, let’s say, my dear Sam, I’m their messenger.”
“And what do they want? What’s their message?”
“You’ll find out soon.”
“Erin, you’re making it difficult, aren’t you? Why don’t you tell me right now?” he shouts while kicking hard on the ground with his heels.
“All right, all right, that’s enough for today,” she says apologetically, gently holding his arm and making him walk beside her.
As the images disappear in a flash, Sam seems to calm down.
“I’ve come to help you,” she says in a reassuring tone. “Let’s return to your room now. We have to finish this. I’ll go to the hearing tomorrow.”
Sam nods in resignation as he strolls by her side.Somehow, I feel compelled to do whatever she tells me to.He thinks to himself.