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CHAPTER 1
The Beginning
My name is Magnus Muller. I was born on the sixth of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-two — during the emerging science-technology revolution, and sixteen years before the breakthrough that led to the invention of the integrated circuit, also known as the microchip. I was raised in a little community six miles west of the township of Kennymont on a hill located in the southern part of Felixburg County. My parents were well-to-do and highly respected in our community. They had four children: two girls, and two boys. I was the second child born to my parents after the birth of my elder sister, Janet. My brother, Jason, was the third child, and our favorite sister, Katelyn, was the last.
My parents were both raised in the suburbs of the small town Sierramond — one of the industrial settlements in Felixburg County. Life was not easy for the poor settlers in Sierramond. Most of the youth did not have the benefit of education, and my grandparents on both sides, who were neighbors at the time, worked hard to provide a good education for my father and my mother. My parents attended the same institution from childhood through high school. Father was very fond of Mother, but he left Sierramond after high school to attend college in Tangieum — a township over a hundred miles away. After pursuing a degree in engineering and metallurgy, he returned five years later to Sierramond to take a job with a small copper mine in the community, and was thrilled to discover that his childhood sweetheart had still not married. They readily rekindled their friendship which soon turned into a sweet courtship. Within a year, they were married and began a joyful life together.
Father and Mother worked tirelessly to attain a good status in life. They were loving parents who did all that was necessary to make a happy home. We did not lack the necessities of life but were brought up to eschew pride and to esteem humility and charity.
Academically, Jason proved to be the brightest of the children in our family. He was more technically oriented than the rest of us, and pursued his studies with a diligence that pleased my Father. He and I were very close, and regularly spent time together discussing his various academic endeavors. Katelyn, on the other hand, loved the arts. She especially took to poetry, music, and dance. She often thrilled us with her performances, and we all considered her to be very gifted, except for Janet. We all adored Katelyn. Jason and I felt Janet, our oldest sister, was envious of Katelyn. Janet did not feel as comfortable expressing herself as Katelyn did, and did not seem as confident and involved in her studies as the rest of us. Although we accepted and loved Janet as a sister, Jason and I preferred to keep out of her way to avoid her sulky mood and the tight tension in the air when she was around. Then there was me. Because of my poor health and small physique, I preferred to spend most of my time reading. I was an average student, and did well enough to get by. What I loved to do most was spend hours reading wonderful stories about heroes who would go on thrilling adventures. These heroes would use their physical strength and strong moral values to fight against evil and protect the innocent. I often found myself daydreaming about one day becoming just like the heroes in my books.
We were a happy family. We lived in a mansion near the western outskirts of our community, on an estate that was less than a mile from a beautiful beach with calm waters that we called Serena Beach. One could see for miles past the tall walls of our property. The rows of gently rolling hills and vast fields were dotted with sweet-scented blossoms and soaring shade trees. Stretching nearly twenty miles to the north sprawled a dense forest, and, to the east, nestled in the hills, lay the modest homes and tidy streets of our nearby community.
Between our property and Serena Beach, lay a paved road that stretched southward from our iron gate through clumps of thick bushes, then gently turned eastward towards a cluster of small homes. It then led to an overlook of large, well-cultivated farms between the settlement and the forest of tall trees. The road continued through the main township of Kennymont, until it finally snaked northward to link up with the major highway that led to the populated settlements in Felixburg County.
Our community life as a family was wonderful. My father often took us to Serena Beach with our friends and their parents for picnics on the weekends. We would spend almost the whole day at the beach with my family and friends before retiring to our home late in the afternoon. We loved wading and kicking in the water as the gentle waves rolled and broke into a myriad of glittering white bubbles on the shore. We were regularly called by our father or neighbor's booming voice, warning us to stay close to the shoreline anytime we unintentionally swam toward much deeper water. There were times when we would go shell hunting along the beach as far out as Camilla Cove. We would compare shells to see who had found the most beautiful of the day, and Father was always the best judge.
Occasionally, Father would gather our family to the town hall or the park to participate in activities organized by community leaders. Sometimes it was a food festival; at other times it was a welfare service project or a sporting competition. Such activities brought us together as a community to build relationships, work together, laugh, sing, and enjoy the precious things that mattered in life. Mother was well known for her ice cream, and the children would flock, to sample the homemade vanilla and strawberry flavors.
Sometimes the family would spend evenings outside on our front porch. It was an extended porch constructed around the second story of our three-tiered mansion. We could listen to the faint cries of a variety of creatures that lived in the forest and the hills as they prepared for the night after a busy day. As the sun sank over the hills on the western horizon, its reddish glow made the distant mounds look like they were on fire. As the sun kept creeping down, the sky would slowly turn gray and meet the darkened forest and hills, creating silhouettes of the trees that resembled ghostly armies of giants. The impending invasion of these imaginary giants sent chills down my spine.
Sometimes after our outings, during a full moon, we would retire to the southern side of the porch to watch the sea. I was fascinated by the illuminated waves crashing gently onto the shore. In the quiet of the night, I could faintly but distinctly hear the beautiful sound of the sea. Flashes of very bright light would occasionally come from further up the shoreline. They were peculiar lights, and were unlike anything I'd seen before. When I asked my father what they were, he told me they were electric eels playing games.
There was never a night of absolute silence. Typically, the faint, distinctive sound of the crashing waves was interspersed with sharp cries and squeals made by nocturnal hunters and their prey as they fought for survival in the vast wilderness.
My childhood was a happy one, and I was full of energy and love for everything around me — my parents, my siblings, our neighbors and friends, and nature. All of the experiences I had in my youth created within me a strong desire to grow up faster. I was excited for the day that I would have my freedom to explore the outdoors and embark on an adventure. I believe my father observed this insatiable curiosity in me, and warned all of his children, especially me, to never venture outside the walls of our estate unaccompanied. There was a deep-rooted superstition about undefined territory in nearby communities. This stemmed from oral legends of the deep forests. Many people avoided the forests because of mythical accounts of diabolical beings believed to roam deep within it. According to the legend, these beings are restless spirits who harbor resentment toward the living. Apart from their grisly appearance — including long, grimy knotted hair; odium eyes; pug nose; raspy voice; and serrated teeth — they also have a tendency to bewitch and control those who come under their spell. One rumor claimed that, these beings are both shape and gender changers.
My father, as our family's protector, was concerned about us being exposed to any form of danger, even though he did not fully believe the legends. Unlike the others who took them seriously, he felt they were created to discourage residents from venturing into the unknown. All the same, he took all necessary precautions to ensure that we stayed safe within the walls of our estate or in the populated communities nearby. Since he was often away from home on business, my mother became the one largely responsible to keep us close. Since education was of the utmost importance to my parents, my siblings and I were enrolled in a high-performing primary school in Kennymont. Due to the distance, we had to be transported every day to school and back by our butler, Henry Walder. We were often joined by some other youth in our neighborhood who attended the same school. We made a lot of friends, and regularly studied together in the small local library on the weekends. Henry had taught school for years prior to becoming our butler, so he assisted us and our nearby friends with our school assignments. This was especially important to Father, as it was often necessary for him to be away on business.
In school, I took a special liking to my schoolmate, Jennifer Madna, the daughter of the local baker. We became very close friends, and always sat together whenever we went to the community library. My mother and father were good friends with the Madnas and often invited them to our home for dinner. I could tell that Jennifer liked me as well. She always preferred to sit with me and talk during our breaks at school instead of joining the other girls. Because of this, a jealous bully named Lucas would often pick on me. Although I had my physical limitations, I wasn't afraid. There were times when I was tempted to fight Lucas, but he was a lot bigger than me, and I did not want to lose a fight in front of Jennifer. Even more than that, my instincts and upbringing cautioned me to never be an aggressor, but to seek peace. Jennifer and I chose to distance ourselves from Lucas when he would start taunting and calling me names.
I graduated from high school when I was sixteen, and plans were made for me to continue my education at Cliffsville College. It was very sad parting with Jennifer. I had become so fond of her and wished that someday, after my education, I could ask for her hand in marriage. We promised we would remain faithful to each other and agreed that it was best for me to focus on my education, so I could earn enough income to raise a future family. Then, we could talk more seriously about marriage.
Though I loved academics, my yearning for adventure nearly grew into obsession in my early years of college. In my spare time, I would read the memoirs of other adventure-seekers and their bravery and tenacity as they sailed through unknown waters, climbed and conquered high mountains, and explored forbidden forests. I yearned for the opportunity to follow their pursuits, and become immortalized alongside them. I decided that exploring the hills and forests close to my home, despite the legends and myths, would be my starting point. I felt it would be a test of courage to prepare me for future adventures. The urge to explore the unknown was incredibly strong, especially during my visits back home, but I was careful to keep my excitement and desires to myself. Outwardly, I conformed to all the rules and directives given me by my parents in order to avoid suspicion. My thoughts and plans were never betrayed by my behavior or demeanor.
I turned eighteen in the summer of my second year of college, and at the end of the semester, I returned home for summer break. As soon as I arrived, I was informed that my father, who was now working as the chief executive officer of a chain of copper mines, had been called away on unexpected business to attend to a problem in a mine from the Tyresecourt township about two hundred miles from our home. He, my mother, and my sister, Katelyn, who was now in the fourth grade, had left for Tyresecourt, and were expected to be home in two weeks. After having been home for a day, I received word that they were extending their stay through the end of the month.
My sister Janet had gotten married the previous year, and was traveling abroad with her husband. My brother, Jason, was also gone; he lived with my Aunt T'ana in Terrelmont Cove while he attended a prestigious technical institution, Dashonam Institute, located in the twin settlement of Skylerburg and Davisyork, about a mile from Terrelmont Cove. He was a full-time student at Dashonam. Living with my aunt saved money and a long commute.
I looked forward to spending time with Jennifer when she returned home for her own summer break, but that was still another week away. With my sister off and married, and my brother away at school, I was home alone with only our butler, the cook, and the gardener. Though I was now a fairly healthy young man of about five feet four inches in height, I was still slight in stature, with a hardly noticeable limp in my left leg caused by poor childhood health. Because of this, my parents still regarded me a frail and vulnerable child who needed close supervision. They issued strict instructions to the household staff to take good care of me during the period of their absence. I was truly given the best care, but I soon became bored, and once again, anxious for adventure.
My curiosity about the forest and hills grew day by day, and I felt a strong desire rising within me to explore them. Over the next few days, a plan for an exploration trip began to formulate in my mind. I'd convinced myself that an adventure such as this would prove that I could overcome my physical limitations. I dreamed of walking stealthily among the tall forest trees and climbing to the crests of the hills. Admittedly, thoughts of my father's frequent warnings throughout my childhood echoed in my mind. The thought of disobeying him pricked my conscience and hindered my confidence, but I shook off the uneasy feelings. I rationalized simply: I was eighteen, therefore I was old enough to make my own decisions. I talked myself into believing it was the right thing to do, and began to plan my strategy.
Secretly, I began to gather the few things I would need for my upcoming adventure: a flashlight with spare batteries, a sleeping bag, some candles, a machete, a pocketknife, a bow with a quiver of arrows, a pistol, some canned food, fresh fruit, and a few other items. I stuffed everything into a large knapsack and determined how I would slip out of the house early the following morning. The servants in the house did not have the slightest inkling about my intentions. I had bid them goodnight, and went to bed early. I figured that I would be gone for about three days, and would be home before my family returned from their trip.
Before I retired to bed, I called Jennifer. We talked of our excitement over our imminent rendezvous, and we made plans as to places we'd go and people we'd see during the summer. I hadn't intended to tell her my secret, but I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. I ended up telling her, but not before making her promise to keep it a secret. I knew she would be upset, and as I had anticipated, she began to cry and begged me not to follow through with my plans. I reassured her that I would be safe and back home before she returned the following week. After many questions, and some last futile attempts at making me stay, she finally resigned to the fact that I was determined to explore.
I woke up at about four o'clock in the morning, and after a quick wash, I strapped on my knapsack, picked up the bow and arrows, and slung them over my left shoulder. With loaded pistol in one hand, and the machete in the other, I slipped quietly out of the house. By the time I left, it was five o'clock in the morning. I was sure none of the servants would be awake for at least a couple of hours. I made my way quickly to the gate and sat under the big fruit tree close to it. I waited until the birds started chirping and singing, announcing that it was about five-thirty. I quietly opened the iron-gate, slipped out, and closed it behind me. I began walking on a westward dirt path for a while before heading north to the forest.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "The Dome of the Guardians"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Michael K. Andam.
Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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