Rise of the Mare (Fall of Man Book 2) Read Free Page B

before. Iry
had transported me to the City of the Ancients and to his home
there. That was where I arrived. His home.
    After passing through the realms of
projection, I arrived at his garden and meandered through toward
his huge home. I wandered into a grassy area, and beyond that was a
body of water surrounded by stones with skimpy lounging chairs
placed around it. It was close to the house, and I wondered why
Iry, who could not handle large bodies of water, would have such a
danger so near to his house.
    Approaching, I heard laughter.
    It being only a physical projection
left me unable to feel any temperatures or elements. I could only
assume it was extremely hot, because four scantily dressed human
house mistresses were sitting in the chairs around the water.
    The clothing barely covered their
bodies. Triangles of cloth covered their woman parts and that was
all. Such an indecent amount of clothing would only cover my
calf.
    I felt somewhat embarrassed as I
passed them.
    A few dipped in the water, saw me,
and looked at me peculiarly.
    “Where is Iry?” I asked.
    One pointed to the house, and as I
walked there, I heard her laugh.
    Two glass doors were fifteen paces
from the body of water, and I approached them. I reached for the
handle and my hand went through. I realized again I was just a
projection, a ghostly apparition, and I stepped through.
    Inside, another woman, older and more
appropriately dressed, moved about the kitchen preparing food.
    During my transitional training
to be ‘Angeles City’ normal, I was showed things called television
programs. They enlightened me about human behavior and antics. My
favorite was a moving short show called ALF . ALF was a furry little man with a
big nose and sarcastic attitude. The people on that show looked
like the photos in my time capsule box.
    I loved ALF. He was witty and smart.
In one episode he talked about having a harem. I asked Marie what
that was and she told me it was a group of many wives of a
sheik.
    Stepping into Iry’s home made me
think of a harem. There were so many women. Some glanced my way,
clearly seeing me. I did not know if I was visible to the others,
or if they did not care or notice me.
    Making my way from the kitchen I saw
Iry approaching a double set of doors, stopping to speak to a
woman.
    “You know my rules. I’m not in
here.”
    “I have not seen you.”
    Iry smiled. “Thank you.” He stepped
inside the room.
    Once the doors were clear, I walked
over and slipped easily through. I expected to see Iry. Instead, I
stepped into a large room void of much furnishing.
    There was a desk and two chairs, and
an open bottle of wine.
    However, there was no Iry. Where did
he go?
    That was when I noticed the shelving.
It contained vases and statues. The one behind the desk was
crooked. As I moved a little closer, I discovered it was more than
just a shelf, it was a passageway.
    What I saw when I stepped inside
shocked me.
    The hidden room was huge. It could
have been three rooms. It was tall as well, with a second level.
What was shocking about the room was the contents. Rows and rows,
wall to wall, shelves with books. More books than I saw in Angeles
City.
    “The projection,” Iry said, startling
me from my wondrous staring at all the books, “will only last about
seven or eight minutes. I suggest you say hello before you are
zapped back.”
    Iry stood over a small table, a glass
of wine before him and an open book in his hand. He glanced up with
a smile. “Good to see you, Vala.”
    “All of these books. It is said in
Angeles City that the Sybaris destroyed all the books that they
could.”
    “That’s true. Fools.” Iry closed the
book and stood. “The human race is a fascinating and creative
species.” He had an edge of excitement to his tone as he walked to
a case. “For example, this book.” He withdrew one from the shelf.
“It is a very old story about a little girl who drinks a magic
potion and falls down a hole into some odd