Far Side of the Universe Read online

  Yet, he hadn’t been completely disappointed. His parents’ greatest fear before he was even conceived was to bring into the world a “happy idiot,” his father’s opinion of anyone content with their average IQ, and who never tried to improved themselves. Their worries grew when Cosmo’s mother, who never slowed down her research for trivial events such as pregnancy, had caught a virus while doing what she loved best, working in an underdeveloped region. Her illness had left her bedridden for several weeks. The doctor warned them that their child in utero could be at risk developmentally. Cosmo was born, and his handicap became obvious. Yet, he was the opposite of an imbecile. A genius with limitations, but a genius all the same. And so his parents never had to force themselves to love him.

  This particular evening started out like any of their other family dinners. A meal, some banal conversation on a light topic, and then a discussion about current events to fill up the remainder of the time. Out of mutual agreement, Cosmo’s parents never brought up their research during dinner. They both knew from experience that the moment they discussed work, their leisure family time would be over. The week prior to this monthly meal, they forced themselves to think of ordinary issues, anything to get a conversation started, even the weather, current events, or acquaintances they’d happened to run in to. It was a lot of work to come up with a something to talk about; they never approached these meals with a light heart. And also because it was hard for them to find any substance in life outside of their work. It would be a bit much to expect geniuses to be equally brilliant at cocktail party chitchat.

  When he guided his wheelchair to the table for the start of the meal, Cosmo had no clue that he was about to completely disrupt his parents’ methodical way of life, sending it into a tailspin. Yet, he had no way of avoiding it. He needed to ask them a question. Too many events had taken place that had challenged his convictions. He needed answers, clear ones, strongly stated, to help him regain a peace of mind. His parents couldn’t have chosen a better name for him; Cosmo needed order in the world. This trip to Lalea made him question a number of fundamental elements that he’d always believed inalterable. If it were necessary to view them differently, he preferred it to be definitive. This was why Cosmo questioned his parents. Obviously unaware of what he would cause.

  It was time for dessert. A red mystery dish. Neither Cosmo, nor his parents could identify what was in it, which didn’t stop them from enjoying its surprisingly spicy flavor. Cosmo lifted up a spoonful, and then set it back down. He coughed, not knowing how to ask the question. He started off by stuttering and trying to find the right words, something that rarely happened to him. Cosmo had become adept, to the greatest extent possible, at keeping his composure.

  “Do you believe that there could other worlds, um, parallel universes? Because, um, what I mean is, uh, Einstein had a theory about that, I think. Right?”

  His parents looked at each other, his mother raising her eyebrows and his father swallowing his last mouthful. They both responded at the same time.

  “No, of course not. It’s totally impossible.”

  “Why not? No one’s proven anything yet, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

  Cosmo didn’t know which one to believe. His mother carried on relentlessly, as she usually did, in attacking ideas that she thought were stupid. Those that were contrary to her own.

  “What in the world are you talking about? Stop for a moment and think. I don’t see where parallel worlds would even be located.”

  “Between atoms. Cosmo is right. Einstein said, ‘Everything is relative.’ And within that microcosmic space, hundreds of thousands of parallel worlds could exist. We already know that when traveling at the speed of light, space between atoms appears to get smaller. Perhaps there is a way to travel in reverse, in which the space between atoms becomes big enough for us to pass through it. Or through another way.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Not any more ridiculous than believing in aliens.”

  “Of course! Nor do I believe in that. And by no means will fake model spaceships change my opinion. If extraterrestrials exist, we would’ve already found them, don’t you think.”

  “First of all, intergalactic space hasn’t been fully explored, as far as I know. And just because we haven’t seen any, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Nowadays on this good old planet, scientists are discovering animal and plant species that we never knew existed. So my dear, little green guys just might have some camouflage tricks.

  “Yes, of course, and the government keeps these things to themselves, carefully guarding the secret, that’s right.”

  The argument between Cosmo’s parents was getting heated. Each one loved proving he or she was right. His mother once confided to him that when his father and she met as students, their idea of fun was trying to prove totally wacky ideas in front of other students hardly older than they were. According to his mother, the worst part was that their audience, after listening to their somewhat unsettling arguments, ended up believing they were right. The more ridiculously impossible their ideas got, the more pliable their audience became.

  Cosmo tried to draw them back to the topic that interested him.

  “Yes, but...what about parallel dimensions?”

  “You’re right, my son, that’s what started our discussion. And the answer is yes, they do exist.”

  His mother shrugged and said, “Parallel dimensions! And how about the fourth dimension while we’re at it!”

  Cosmo ventured to ask a few more questions.

  “If they do exist, would it be possible to...visit them? And how might they be similar to our universe?

  “Son, I don’t think we could get there, it’s—”

  “Of course it’s impossible. They don’t exist.”

  “Shut up, woman!”

  This particular insult was one of their favorite inside jokes. It dated back to the time Cosmo’s mother had to fight hard to get any respect from her team of all male scientists. But tonight she didn’t find it very funny. She stood up in a huff and left the room. Suddenly aware of his wife’s anger, Cosmo’s father followed her out of the room to try to smooth things over. Cosmo heard them arguing late into the night. His mother had gotten hold of a new weapon, one that could be dangerous for the advancement of science. She wouldn’t forgive the insult unless her dreamer of a husband admitted that parallel universes didn’t exist and couldn’t possibly exist. But he wasn’t the type to give in so easily on a question related not only to a belief but also to a scientific possibility.

  Cosmo waited a long while for his parents to come back and give him a definitive answer. It would be an ongoing wait. The very next morning, however, his father began to study parallel universes. He wanted to prove that one of them was wrong. He was practically ready to admit that he was the one, as long as his research demonstrated it.

  His topic of study would cause numerous arguments in his marriage. That evening marked the beginning of many nights spent sleeping on the living room sofa. Something new for him. He learned that even geniuses could have mood swings. A discovery that wouldn’t be very helpful for his research.

  CHAPTER 8 IT’S BETTER TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION WHEN TRAVELING SUCH A LONG DISTANCE

  Several days later, Merlin was sending them back to Lalea. He had assigned them two missions: find out the reason for the curfew, and search for Scarface, Merlin’s friend. He had described him as best he could but wasn’t able to provide them his real name. Merlin had never called him anything other than his nickname, which was meant in a friendly way since it was his most distinguishing feature. It was an old scar from what must have been a deep wound that had sliced his face from the left brow all the way down to the corner of his lips. He almost said all the way down to his smile because he had quite a memory of that mean smile, strangely elongated when he was facing someone he planned on killing. The cruelty Scarface was capable of inflicting must have seemed interminable to his enemies. But Merlin didn’t wan
t to worry his students by dwelling on that aspect of his friend whom he had entrusted them to find. The night before their departure, he dreamed that Lalea had turned into nothing but ashes and desolation, a land devastated by absolute evil. He feared the dream would become a premonition if his students were unable to accomplish the mission Scarface needed them to fulfill. Even though he could no longer visit Lalea, Merlin wanted more than anything in the world for it to remain exactly as he remembered it.

  Though they had already been to Lalea, this departure was just exciting as the first one. Adventure, fun, and mystery that they could never experience in their daily lives on this side of the world. The ritual of the circle, the wind grazing their hair, and then they passed through. It was daylight, most likely morning since the sun wasn’t yet high in the sky, Cosmo pointed out.

  They watched every step as they descended the hill. The river trickled out the same tune, but this time they didn’t feel as carefree as they had several days earlier. Perhaps because they now knew they weren’t alone in this place out of sync with their time.

  They reached the village with wooden houses and doors wide open. The plaza was buzzing with the morning activity of merchants setting up their wares to sell, of women calling out to one another from their doorways, and of several men singing in deep, loud voices as they headed towards the woods behind the village. A sense of peace that our travelers had rarely encountered in their gray and soulless town.

  They had arrived at the village center, but still hadn’t come up with a plan on how to proceed. Le Cambraire appeared before them with an armful of clothes, giving them no chance to think.

  “So, you’ve already finished eating? Marie’s a good cook, isn’t she? Oh, but I see that you’ve already found some dry clothes. Where did you get them? Around here, you certainly won’t find tunics like those.”

  They studied his expression. Their clothes weren’t particularly stylish in our time and world. Just jeans and brightly colored t-shirts. And a long, floral dress with short sleeves for Titiana. Normal clothing, yet strikingly different from what the villagers were wearing. There was no way they could travel unnoticed among these people who wore stiff, brown twill pants, coarsely sewn shirts, dresses with aprons. Though Le Cambraire, himself, stood out in his pale linen clothing, our history students were fully aware that they stood out even more.

  Without thinking, Sara glibly replied, “Oh, that’s because we had an extra change of clothes with us. It’s better to take every precaution when you’re traveling such a long distance, right? And the meal was delicious. Marie is an amazing cook. I’ve hardly ever met anyone with such culinary talent. If all your people cook so well, we’ll have a hard time leaving. You know, I think folks from neighboring towns and even farther away need to know about Marie’s talent. She could even open a restaurant. A little advertising is all she needs, and she would be making a fortune in no time. I’m serious, it was beyond delicious.”

  Appeased, le Cambraire regained his kind and grandfatherly manner when he answered Sara. His white mustache twitched as he smiled, and then he continued speaking.

  “Even if you’re serious, you exaggerate perhaps a little, young lady. I must say you use strange words, but I don’t believe you mean any harm. Nevertheless, now that all of you are refreshed and in dry clothing, we should continue our conversation. Many questions remain unanswered from early this morning, and it’s my duty to ask you even more questions.”

  Arthur quickly replied, more concerned about their mission than he was about interrupting le Cambraire. In his hurry, he stuttered before finally articulating a sentence.

  “We, too. We also have questions, sir.”

  “I understand that, my child. I really do. But it would be better if you come to my back office so we can discuss this more freely. Please follow me without getting lost.”

  They accompanied Le Cambraire along a twisting dirt path that led them to a building painted in white. Tall French doors opened up to the outside, providing a full view of the interior. They slipped inside the big opening into what must have been the only room in the building. It was similar to a hall, long with a well-worn floor, yet it was furnished with comfortable-looking armchairs scattered throughout.

  Le Cambraire went straight to what must have been his usual seat. After hesitating several seconds, his guests from a few days before followed suit. As it was during their first visit, they weren’t sure who should speak first. The uncomfortable feeling invading the room got quashed by their usual spokesperson. Sara, after looking emphatically around the room, expressed how much she liked the interior furnishings. This was the signal le Cambraire needed to begin talking. Albin later pointed out the differences in rules of conversation on Lalea. Apparently, the guest or stranger was supposed to speak first, completely opposite of the customs in our world. Good manners aren’t the same everywhere.

  Le Cambraire explained why they had been imprisoned the night before—an event he didn’t realize had happened more than a day ago for his listeners. A curfew had been ordered for the entire region several fairs ago (they would soon learn that fairs took place monthly and had become a way of measuring the passage of time). This decision had been made due to a number of attacks that had occurred at night by strange and unnamable beings, monsters that crept out of shadows, hairy, clawed, and sharp-toothed. No one had ever survived an encounter with one of these creatures. The next morning, cadavers would be found of beings that had been dismembered, torn apart, smashed, barely recognizable with faces expressing extraordinary suffering that cries could never fully express. It was for their own protection that they had been held in jail— the monsters had yet to venture beyond anything considered a gate. The men had jeopardized their own lives to save them, and a second time when they had silenced their cries for freedom that risked alerting the beasts lying in wait at the edge of the dark shadows.

  The five students, now forewarned, were grateful. They realized what their ignorance had almost caused and apologized in unison. Le Cambraire dismissed their words of remorse since their ignorance was due to their coming from a different area, wherever that might be. Besides, he was happy to have learned that the calamity tormenting their land hadn’t reached the entire country. He urged them to be extremely prudent, and to no longer travel after dusk.

  They were listening attentively and respectfully until Arthur exclaimed in a loud voice, “That’s great. Thanks to you, we’ve already fulfilled half of our mission. We’ve got one more question for you.”

  “Pardon?”’

  “Yes, it’s—“

  Cosmo interrupted Arthur before he said too much. He sensed they should keep the reason for their visit a secret and proceed with the upmost discretion.

  “Please forgive Arthur’s eager outburst. Sometimes he can’t control his nervous energy.”

  “But—“

  “Arthur, shut up!”

  “I understand your friend’s excitement. I, too, was sometimes like that in the prime of my youth. Truly not offended.”

  “You are much too kind, Mr. le Cambraire. Here’s the question Arthur was trying to ask you. A friend of our family, who happens to be Arthur’s distant uncle, heard we were going on a trip and asked us to find someone he’d known before getting married. So many years have passed, and he was curious to know what had become of this man. Unfortunately he couldn’t remember his name, but he gave us a brief description. Perhaps you would be able to help us?”

  Le Cambraire pursed his lips to hold back a smile as his listened to such ingenuous courtesy.

  “I would be happy to try, young man. What does this renowned friend look like?”

  “Um...he’s—”

  Albin came to the rescue.

  “—According to Arthur’s uncle, he has a heavy built, is really tall with long, dark brown hair, usually tied back with a braided grass cord. He also mentioned that the most remarkable feature of his friend was a long scar on his left cheek. Would this description remind you of
anyone you know, Mr. le Cambraire?”

  “I’m sorry, my children, but I’m afraid not. However ...wait...”

  All breathing stopped as they waited for his answer, an ordinary second in time liable to escape them. Le Cambraire spoke with care.

  “I’ve heard people talk about a heavy-set man with a scarred face who probably lives two villages from here. He might be the one you’re looking for.”

  “That would be too easy.”

  Albin jabbed Cosmo with his elbow to stop him from griping. Le Cambraire told them how to find the village, making it sound like it was no more than ten thousand steps from where they were standing. They also learned that the village they were leaving was called Clairfilet and the next town was Nonia, bigger and more populated. They thanked him and said their farewells, praising the hospitality le Cambraire had shown them.

  The moment they took their leave, a group of kids led by Achilles encircled them. They had become the target of noisy children approximately six to eleven years of age, each one more frenzied than the next. Hearing the ruckus, le Cambraire came to his doorway. Ablin guessed that Achilles wouldn’t grant them any peace until every single child in the village had gathered in front of le Cambraire’s house, the town’s tallest building with its bell tower that they had spotted from the hill.

  Achilles, the ringleader, raised his arms to silence the crowd. The children moved closer, staring greedily at the strangers who had appeared in their town during the night. When the raucous swarm had calmed down a bit, Achilles spoke. He only had one question for them, but by judging the reactions of his gang, it was an extremely critical one. Achilles turned all his attention to Albin, the one he viewed as the leader of the small group they had encircled. When Albin answered in the affirmative, every child, except for Achilles, gasped and took a step back. Some of the children had their mouths open, staring at them in admiration. In a matter of seconds, the travelers had become the object of admiration they had never imagined possible.