Chapter 34

The Guardians

When the darkness was all around, we stopped our chant, now relaxed and at peace within and in this place. Arsenius believed these practices could help all to hear and interpret their own inner voices. He believed Christians and pagans were much more of a muchness than the Church would admit; that most pagans prayed to the same God as the Christians, even if they used different words.

“You might hear the voice within during meditation, a dream or even at an unexpected time. Truth often shows itself when or where distractions are minimal. Tomorrow when you continue to practice the chant, you’ll become more open to whatever the mind may bring.” Arsenius left to choose his own place for sleep or meditation.

“Yarrl, had you heard that the Divine is within before Arsenius told us?” We were sleepy, but I was curious.

“When I was young, Hypatia said that in the beginning God spoke to everyone in a direct way; and people were guided through their days by that voice within. But now, people usually only hear it in times of great stress. She described our loss of that inner voice as the fall from God’s grace. And she often reminded me I could learn more about it in some of the Library scrolls where it was well-documented.”

Good answer, I thought as I drifted toward sleep. At the end of our first full day in the desert, we seemed to be in a good place. We tolerated the extreme heat of midday and didn’t mind the isolation. The small, daily meal was enough and we’d both been surprised to discover we liked this new practice of meditation and chants in the stillness.

The next morning, scrolls were again uppermost in Yarrl’s mind.

“Aren’t we going to look for places to put the Library collections? Are we waiting for someone?” I hoped he wasn’t going to worry again.

“For now, stay focused on the chant and meditation. Everything will happen in its own time.” Arsenius didn’t give him a direct answer.

When we sat down and began; Arsenius stayed a short distance away, also in the cross-legged position. By mid-afternoon we found it difficult to sit still and concentrate on chanting. Arsenius noticed our discomfort and walked over to give us a drink. It was bitter, maybe brackish water from a hidden well or spring.

Our breathing grew calm again and when the sun went down we became more and more relaxed, at one with the desert and the silence. As we floated in an eternal now, we let go of everything; this place, the past, ourselves. All that was familiar was gone. We no longer noticed any thoughts or the passage of time; were no longer aware of our surroundings. We drifted in a gray void; our own forms also gray, indistinct, semi-transparent. We didn’t feel like people, more like pure energy, as we moved toward little points of light that looked like stars.

We’d stopped thinking and knew only pure awareness. Without control of our movement, we weren’t frightened. We couldn’t judge distance or direction; the gray all around slowly became darker and darker. Then a small spot began to glow and grow larger. Was that a thought or were we moving toward a light? By and by, it grew brighter and eventually morphed into three tall, slender figures. Translucent like us, they were familiar animals.

Without fur or feathers, they were golden beings of light. We weren’t surprised to see them and wondered if they were angels or spirits. We seemed to know them in some way as sentient beings, important friends. Up close we knew them to be a vulture, a cat, and a crocodile. They sat down around a gray table; Cat in the middle, Vulture to the left and Crocodile on the right. In solemn faces, their eyes stayed steady on us. We looked back, relaxed and trusting.

I looked at Vulture, sensing she was about to speak. An austere, regal being, her thoughts came to us without sound. It didn’t look like she was talking, and I didn’t think vocal cords would be needed in the spirit world; but we knew she was going to communicate with us. And as we knew that, we knew our individual thoughts were also shared with the creatures and each other. All communication was shared from the heart.

She invited us to join their group as if inviting us to sit down for a simple repast. But there was no food, only feelings of relaxation as we received their intentions of welcome. It all seemed perfectly natural. And as we sat down opposite them at the table, we regained our own motor control.

Vulture began by letting us know we’d been summoned to this meeting for specific reasons. She conveyed their thorough understanding of Yarrl’s work in the library, touching on his training and background in the selection, organization and care of scrolls. They appreciated Yarrl’s work at the Library and I felt included as well.

“Welcome Yarrl and Artemus, we are glad to have this visit with you. As Guardians of Knowledge and Wisdom we watch over the progress of humankind, the evolution of intelligence.” Vulture spoke for the group. “You will each be faced with serious difficulties that will require your dedication and expertise. We are here to provide guidance and encouragement for those future efforts.”

We were completely at ease now, as Crocodile took over and validated Yarrl’s beliefs, and mine, by emphasizing the surpassing importance of knowledge and wisdom in human affairs.

“Even though much of the world seems to be forgetting about wisdom, or is hostile to it; it will not always be that way.” We liked his attitude.

“We plan and work for the good of all peoples. The mission before you is all about the rescue and safe-keeping of many important scrolls and codices until a time when humanity again seeks and follows a brighter path. Everything you are able to prepare and conceal will be discovered many centuries from this day to help people better understand the past as they plan for the future of mankind.

“Humans will always continue to move upward on the evolutionary scale.” Crocodile continued as he outlined the educational process and how various ways of learning would grow and be available to all. “In the future, people will again work together for the enhancement and elevation of knowledge toward the ultimate goal of wisdom. Our work is to help humankind rise above and beyond fear, ignorance and superstition.”

Our interest was held; our beliefs confirmed. Yarrl and I were at ease and grateful for these new friends who had already clarified our mission and given us hope. Suddenly I knew Cat was reviewing and evaluating Yarrl’s drive, endurance and stamina which would soon be tested. I knew Yarrl was ready do whatever was needed to care for and save the Library’s legacy, and Cat must have agreed as all three seemed to draw back into themselves and we had a moment to consider everything they’d presented.

Mesmerized, we wondered what would be expected of us and what would it mean in our lives.

“Living and working with Hypatia and Theon you’ve been prepared for these tasks, whether you realize it now or not.” Vulture let Yarrl know that he had no secrets. “But as the world changes, so must you. The work required is only one part of life. Everything you have learned and experienced will help you plan, prepare for and fully commit to your own personal growth and the future of wisdom.

“Many will know of your work long after your time,” she bowed slightly for a moment. For just an instant Yarrl appeared to hesitate; his original mission hadn’t seemed this huge or complicated. Cat noticed his involuntary resistance.

“This is about more than saving the Library’s knowledge and wisdom for the future; it is also about your own life.” Cat made sure Yarrl understood everything.

“You are well prepared for all of these tasks.” The three angels reassured him. In no hurry, Cat’s green eyes closed and opened, and Yarrl knew he’d accept this mission.

“What exactly am I being asked to do?”

Crocodile responded with moving images of Yarrl deep underground as he selected and prepared documents in much the same way he had on the docks in Alexandria, but this time for long-term storage. The last images were of Yarrl placing scrolls and codices in large clay jars and sealing them for preservation until discovered.

Although many items had already been brought to caves near Baramas, he would have to rescue other important documents still in the Library and soon remove certain religious texts from the desert monasteries in order to keep them safe.

“How long will everything be hidden?” Yarrl tried to take all this in.

“Many centuries,” they replied in unison. “Mankind will reject pure knowledge for a long time, until a thirst for true understanding and education returns.” This final answer came from all three with feelings of encouragement and hope.

“Artemus, you also must prepare for a time in your own future.” Crocodile spoke as they turned toward me. “It will be known as the second dark age. When you return to your own time, your own world, seek us in the desert and we’ll talk further.”

Then they were gone, no more golden light. We sat in the desert under the stars of heaven.

 NEXT.....Chapter 35
Meaningful Messages