Forneus swam for the corner, nodding a head to Frac to follow. Frac followed, still unsure if this was the right decision. Every fiber in Frac's body was saying that it was not, but Frac's curiosity was simply overwhelming. Both Forneus and Frac went around the corner. This was Frac's last chance to back out.

"This place is unbelievable Frac," Forneus said with a seductive voice, "The inner chamber is beyond your wildest dreams. As a matter of fact, pinch yourself right now, just so that you know that you are not dreaming." Frac didn't. "Stay close and don't worry about anything. You're safe, nothing can hurt you."

The corner that Forneus and Frac turned, narrowed to a fairly smaller size tunnel. The light that just seemed to be there, changed from a mostly whitish color to a purplish color, casting purple hues over everything. The light was even more rollicking than it had been in the main chamber, skirting off the walls, the ceiling and across the water's surface. The tunnel narrowed a bit more as they continued, and the water became shallower, so that Forneus and Frac quit swimming, and began wading through chest deep water. The water seemed to gently swirl around their bodies in every which way and it seemed as if the tunnel walls and ceiling was moving slightly--as if very slowly letting out a breath of air. Speaking of, there was no air movement whatsoever.

Frac could hear the muted voices of the others not far off. "What will we be doing, Forn?"

"Not much, not today anyway." Forneus stopped and faced Frac, who stopped, as well. "Basically, we'll find out about Dagon's latest enlightenment and discoveries. You won't hear anything too secret--not until Dagon trusts you. Mind you--this is Dagon's domain!" Forneus continued with a lowered voice, "Hey, I'm really glad that you are here. I know you won't, but I just have to say--you can't tell anyone about anything in this inner chamber. Not a word said, nor what you see, or experience. No one! As I said, Dagon rules down here, and Dagon is not one to be taken lightly. It will be my hide that will be on the line, if you do. And yours won't be safe either. Dagon hasn't left this place since first coming down, and knows the most about it, as well as probably knows every inch of it. Dagon also has a lot of loyal people on the surface, too, many who you would never imagine." Forneus whispered, "You know that accident that happened to Barku? I'm not saying it wasn't an accident, but... anyway--just keep your mouth shut."

"No problem," Frac replied, a bit startled as to what was just said.

Forneus looked Frac square in the eye, as if reading Frac's mind, "Alright, are you ready?"

Frac then followed Forneus further into this tunnel-like passage, which got even narrower, so that they couldn't wade side-by-side any longer. Now the walls did seem to breathe--expand and contract as one's chest does when breathing. It dawned on Frac that the smell of this place was most unusual--not bad, rather different, and there wasn't anything that Frac could think of to say that it smelled like. The best that Frac could compare it to was when the Keepers Of The Truth burn incense, but not quite. It wasn't as strong and much sweeter, but not like flowers in a new year either. The gamboling light was even more active than even just a moment ago.

"Frac, we're almost there." Frac could hear the voices of the others much more clearly now. "Be keen. Don't ask any questions, and don't even speak, unless spoken to."

Forneus led Frac around another corner, and the narrow tunnel opened into a huge, wondrous chamber, much higher and larger than the one that Frac first entered through the shaft. Frac reasoned that they must be under the hill outside. It was amazing! Sprites of multicolored light not only danced throughout, but it was as if choreographed, unlike the light in the other chamber that seemed to go every which way. It reminded Frac of a flock of birds that travel in unison, turning left and right, up and down. Not only did the sprites of light gambol throughout the chamber, it came and went into the water, the walls, the ceiling--and through Frac and the others! A gazillion questions, flooded Frac's mind.

"Welcome," Dagon said. Dagon was just over waist deep, as Forneus and Frac were now, on the far side of the chamber. Sprites of light were slowly swirling around Dagon. Tau and Resh were on either side. Olivier, with back turned, was doing something off to the right side. Janax was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey," Forneus replied.

Frac said, "Hello."

"Come in. Come in, join us," Dagon cheerfully said. Frac found this peculiar and uncharacteristic of Dagon, but was relaxed by the friendly welcome, nonetheless.

"Frac, look around," Dagon offered, "Dip underwater, while I have a word with Forneus, before we get started."

That's exactly what Frac did--looked around. Forneus dove underwater and surfaced right in front of Dagon, Tau and Resh. Frac was awestruck. This place was what Frac imagined The Great ONE's domain to be like. Frac never felt so at ease, and relaxed, considering how anxious and excited Frac had been coming through the tunnel. The walls of the chamber vaulted into an expansive ceiling. Sparkles of light reminded Frac of a night sky that had come alive. The sprites of light flew all through the open chamber, and as noted before--like flocks of birds. Another thing unique to this chamber was that it seemed as if it was full of music--sweet, entrancing music--not loud, and barely noticable, but it was there. Where it came from wasn't evident, nor did Frac even care, for it was as the sweet melodies that Pronoia would sing to Frac when Frac was a baby. How odd. Frac hadn't thought of that since... ever. How funny that Frac now remembered it.

"Go underwater," Olivier suggested, who was now right next to Frac. "Don't worry about holding your breath. Just breathe like normal."

"No way," Frac thought, "Impossible." But, Frac did as Olivier said--well, went underwater anyway--with held breath. It was truly amazing! Frac had never been one to tend to water activities much, not like Raziel, and certainly not like Forneus who was like a fish when in water, but nonetheless instantly fell in love with this environment. There were all sorts of creatures that Frac had never seen, nor imagined. Frac could see as clear as an end-year day. Groups of fish, swimming about like the lights above. Tiny fish. Fish the size of one's upper body. And, huge fish--as big as even Haniel! One fish in particular caught Frac's attention, it was as long as the height of any Numerican adult, but it was slender--and Frac thought--menacing looking. It had long, sharp-looking teeth that stuck out of its mouth, but it bothered nothing and just sort of slowly glided through the water. The other fish stayed away from it. Frac surfaced, and exhaled, noticed Forneus huddled in a small circle with Dagon, Tau and Resh, right where they were before. Frac grabbed a breath of air and went back underwater. Olivier was there, underwater, as well.

"Just breathe like normal, Frac," Olivier said--underwater, with tiny bubbles of air escaping with the words said. Frac noticed sprites of light dive from above the surface to intermingle with the rising air bubbles. "Follow me."

With held breath, Frac followed Olivier. They swam underwater--with the greatest of ease, as if they were being carried. They went toward the back, and Frac noticed three sets of legs in a small circle, in the water, assuming that was where Forneus had goneŃ and... what looked like a huge fish body! It stood, on a bent fin, straight up out of the water. Frac slowed to examine this in greater detail, but was grabbed by Olivier and they quickly went right by.

"This way," Olivier said, and led Frac into one of several holes in the right-side wall. It was about as big as the shaft in which Frac had slid coming into the Underwater Pool. "This would have to be renamed," Frac thought, "It sure is more than a pool." Frac, with breath still held, began to worry, as now there was no way to surface for a breath of fresh air, and Frac's lungs were beginning to pound. Olivier led the way through the tunnel. It was darker in the tunnel, and the sprites of light seemed to now travel in straight lines to and fro within the tunnel. Frac felt that breath could no longer be held, and became a bit panicky about it, but they entered a small chamber, yet it was still completely underwater.

"This is a Well of Knowledge," Olivier told Frac.

"Frac looked around. It was nothing more than about fifteen feet in diameter, but it went down as far as Frac could see.

"Are we going down," Frac asked, not yet realizing the speech was still underwater.

"Are you ready?"

Frac looked down the well, as sprites of light jetted upward, diverting into tunnels all around Frac, just as the one they had come through. Frac made a mental note of the actual one they came. "What's down there?" Frac asked, then realizing that they were both talking and breathing underwater. This startled Frac, who then reflexly took a deep breath, but this just caused Frac to feel as if swallowing water down the wrong pipe and began sputtering and choking.

Olivier got a chuckle out of that, and said, "Relax. You'll be fine as long as you relax and just breath like normal."

Against all instinct and common sense, Frac did just that, and was fine. Unbelievable! Frac looked around, again making a mental note as to the shaft they came through. The top of the well, with all the tunnels, had a reddish hue, intermingled with the various colors from the sprites of light coming out from the depths of the well. Frac also noticed that the sprites of light going down into the well were basically a dull, whitish color. Comparing the two, it also seemed as if the sprites coming up and darting into the tunnels were much more lively, as if they were really alive. "Let's go," Frac boldly said.

Olivier dove head-first down the well. Frac followed. At first they kicked their feet to propel against the buoyancy of the water, then they began to rotate slowly and gently float downward. It reminded Frac of a small feather gently falling on a breezeless day. After a moment they began descending faster. The sprites of light traveling downward with them looked like dots, appearing motionless, whereas the colorful lights travelling upward were becoming streaks. Then, all of the sudden, they just shot downward at great speed, like a hawk who was dazily floating high on the air and suddenly diving downward to its prey on the ground. The difference being Frac and Olivier were also spiralling and Frac was becoming quite dizzy... and scared. The sprites of colored light, tightly wrapped around Frac like long, continuous strings, or so it seemed. The rocky walls of the well seemed to smoothen. Frac threw up and was about to faint, when all of the sudden they just stopped.

Though it was an abrupt stop, it wasn't jolting, and Frac felt fine. Both of them were standing straight up, well sort of. They weren't standing on ground. Just floating, except it didn't feel like they were in water. Frac looked down, but could see no bottom. Looked up, but could see no ceiling. Looked around, but could see no walls. There were no sprites of light darting around, though every color of the rainbow was abundant, yet in Frac's mind, couldn't point to a specific spot and say there's red, or green, or blue--but were just there, recognizable, but not defined. Distinctive, yet vague. The other really odd thing that Frac immediately noticed is that there was no sound whatsoever! Frac tried to speak--no sound came out. The first thing that Frac feared was having gone deaf on the downward spiral, and panicked. Frac heard a chuckling, turned around to see Olivier smiling, just smiling, a closed mouth smile--yet Frac could still hear the chuckling, and quickly began looking all around.

"Relax, my friend," Frac heard Olivier say, yet Olivier's lips moved not, and again began looking all around. "You have to relax, then you will begin to understand," again, Olivier's voice.

Frac looked straight into Olivier's eyes.

"Yes, it's me speaking to you. Well, not speaking, but let's just call it that."

Frac quickly looked all around, past Olivier, side-to-side, behind, up, down, then straight back into Olivier's eyes.

"Look, I understand this hard to comprehend, watch and I'll prove this is me. Left eye closed." Olivier's left eye closed, then after a moment opened. "Right eye closed." Olivier's right eye closed, then reopened. "Wiggly ears." Olivier wiggled both ears. "Tongue," simultaneously sticking out a tongue. Frac silently laughed. "You almost got it."

Frac tried hard to relax, but it wasn't working.

"Frac, don't try so hard. Imagine that you are lying on the beach, eyes closed, and this is what you are seeing, but don't close your eyes."

Frac did as Olivier suggested, and did indeed feel a bit relaxed. Thoughts began to descend upon Frac's mind. Thoughts that never before occurred to Frac--that there is more to existence than what one sees. That there are layers to life that one cannot see. That one lives forever, in some form. Frac then realized that one can see without eyes, hear without ears, and feel without touch. It occurred to Frac that one lives forever, in some form. Frac felt more alive than ever before. Even the colors all around had life. Then it occurred to Frac that life might not even be real, but a long continuous dream--and that startled Frac.

"Relax again," Olivier said. "Don't be overtaken by your thoughts, just absorb them in. Don't think about them, just observe them."

Frac tried again, but couldn't do it. The thought that life may simply be a dream was just too distracting--and utterly sad--dismal.

"Not too bad," Olivier said after a few moments, "At least you didn't freak out and go crazy on me." Frac thought about Cukbiel, who it was rumored had been to the Underground Pool, and had since acted quite odd, often mumbling with no one there, or would break down and start crying incessantly for no reason. Cukbiel has since, spent much time praying at the foot of the Temple Of Truth in the Village Round.

"Let's go. This is enough for today. I don't think Dagon would appreciate it if I brought you back mad."

"Why did Olivier stress 'you'? How odd," Frac thought and looked at Olivier, who simply revealed the slightest of a sly grin. The thought of, "You'll soon find out," popped into Frac's mind. It startled Frac, who controlled the surprise, both in mind, as well as outward appearance. "Can you read my mind yet, talk to me," another thought popping into Frac's mind, then another, "Loser, you ain't what Dagon thought." Frac maintained a controlled composure, acting as if not reading Olivier's thoughts--if that indeed what was happening.

"Let's go then," Olivier said, once again with a closed mouth, and grabbed Frac's wrist and pushed upward, dragging Frac until both were again spiralling at a dizzying speed. This time, the sprites of colored light were like specks appearing motionless next to them, and the whitish light was spiralling around them. The return trip seemed much shorter, and Frac didn't throw up this time, though felt a bit queasy. They gradually slowed until they stopped, at the spot in the well that diverted into the various tunnels. The sprites of light were still going to and fro down the well from the various tunnels. Frac seen, or maybe just imagined, that colored sprites of light were alive, whereas the whitish colored light going down the well lacked life.

"It takes some getting used to," Olivier said, speaking as normal with a moving mouth--normal as speaking underwater can be. "It may take a few times. The whole trick is simply to relax. Don't force thoughts into your mind--just let them come. You don't choose your thoughts, the thoughts choose you!"

Frac looked into Olivier's eyes and asked, "What is the story with the sprites of light?" Frac tried to read Olivier's mind while listening to Olivier's reply.

"You can see the sprites of light?"

Frac could only read a jumbled thought, like mixed up letters in a sentence of a scroll, but thought they meant, "Wow, I can't even see that." Frac began to think of Cukbiel.

Olivier stared deep into Frac's eyes, and asked, "Forget Cukbiel, what is that you see?"

"Just whitish streaks of light from those tunnels," Frac said, while pointing in a circle to all the tunnels, "Going down the well, and various colored lights coming out, going back into the tunnels. Don't you see them?"

"Of course I see them," Olivier answered rather abruptly, but Frac looking into Olivier's eyes, knew that was a lie. "Those are thoughts--questions and bits of knowledge. Let's go now." Olivier led Frac into the tunnel in which they had traveled before. After a moment they were back in the huge chamber with Dagon, Forneus and Tesh. Rau didn't appear to be there.

"You were gone an awful long time," Forneus said, apparently to the disapproval of Dagon, who gave Forneus a look, then looked at Olivier who went right over to Dagon. Forneus came over to Frac. "Keen wasn't it?" Forneus looked into Frac's eyes.

"Amazing," Frac replied aloud and purposely thought, "I gotta go back there. This is the most amazing thing that I've ever experienced." Forneus seemed very pleased. Frac glanced over to Dagon, who was huddled in conversation with Olivier. "What's next?" Frac asked Forneus--aloud.

"I don't know. I'm sure Dagon will speak with you in a moment."

If anything that Frac was sure of, was that they could obviously read one another's minds, and it was in Frac's best interest, at least for the moment, to keep from letting them know that they weren't the only one's who could. Forneus continued, "Now remember, you can NOT say anything to anyone about this. Not Raziel. Not Haniel. Not Pronoia. And, certainly never, ever tell any Keeper Of The Truth. I wouldn't even tell anyone that you were even down to the Underground Pool, keen as that will make you. But if you do, just say a bit of what you saw in the first chamber. Just say that you felt great, exhilarated and there were keen fish, or something."

"You've got my word, for crying out loud," Frac replied, a bit annoyed.

Dagon approached Frac. Forneus stepped aside, and went to talk to Olivier. "So, my young friend, it's my understanding that you did fairly well in the Well of Knowledge, and even recognized springs of thought?" Dagon looked deep--very deep, into Frac's eyes.

Dagon's stare unsettled Frac, and Frac's eyes averted, "I suppose."

Dagon lifted Frac's head by gently lifting Frac's chin, and stared into the eyes once again, "Tell me," Dagon asked, staring deep, "What were your thoughts?"

Frac felt mesmerized by Dagon, and said, "I thought there was more to life than meets the eye." Frac forced all will to control the thoughts in mind, "I thought that one existed forever, in some form or another." Frac glanced down. "I thought that one can see without eyes, and hear without ears."

"What else," Dagon coaxed, lifting Frac's head by the chin again.

Frac took a brief moment to control thoughts.

"Don't fight me," Dagon said, ever so seductively, "It's of no use. Just tell me what is that you thought while in the Well of Knowledge, and what you are thinking now."

Frac then looked into Dagon's eyes, and was barely able to control the emotion evoked by what was seen in those dark, empty eyes. Frac saw nothing! Not like a nothing when one looks into a pail of oranges after they've all been eaten, or a nothing like when fails to see, or understand something--but like a non-existent nothing, as if there never was anything there! Frac faints.

Continue.




© 2001 John Gnotek