Chapter 7; A Boat, Ale, And A Nice, Small Town (Click here to access Chapter 7)

Chapter 7; A boat, ale, and a nice small town

/On the brink of dimensions

‘W-w-what the hell?’

Biv frowned, and asked, ‘I di’ something wrong?’

‘Y-y-you broke my wall!’ 

‘Keep quiet!’ Biv said, yanking Adi back into his room, ‘People will see us! They will think we broke wall ‘ere!’  Biv quickly looked to his left, from the edge of the broken wall.

‘Quickly!’ Biv yanked him again. And all of a sudden, they weren’t in Adi’s room anymore. In fact, they were miles away, for they were in Watergate Bay!

Biv started running to the right, with a tight grip on Adi’s arm.

Fekhin hell… Adi thought, confused out of his mind. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend what was going on.

They kept on running. Adi looked back; men were staring at a little hut, a cement one at that, with a hole in between it. They were mesmerised. 

The both of them looked back at the people staring at the little hut, until they turned and walked ahead.

‘What did y-you do?’ 

‘I try not to get us in trouble; that’s what!’ Biv responded. He was panting, ‘Oho, aha…aha!’ He sighed. Adi stared awkwardly at him. 

‘I’ve become old!’ He said, taking heavy breaths.

‘The wall… e-even here it’s broken! How did you get us here?’ Adi said, amazed like a baby learning the ways of life. 

‘Come. We go to beach now. Ask me all these things later!’ He said. They walked back from where they came. They turned and descended down unto the beach. The walked up to the shore—the sea water was sky-blue. Biv’s feet touched the shore, and he buried his toes into the wet sand once the water washed upon the edge. Adi wasn’t interested in anything aside from trying to figure out how this man did everything that he’d done. 

Biv stared at his own toes for a while, seemingly lost in his thoughts, but quickly looked back up and said, ‘Come, this way now.’ They walked and walked and walked, until they reached a dock. It was a normal dock, made of hard wood, elevated off the ground, and had a small wooden staircase leading up to the main platform. They went up the stairs and onto the dock. The planks of wood were not perfectly aligned, and it was dirty; people walked bare foot after going in the water, and so there was salt and water everywhere on the floor of the dock. 

Biv went up to one of the sides and jumped down from the edge of the dock onto a small row-boat. It was a normal wooden boat, but had a long tip, with a small diamond-shaped hole at the end of it. 

‘Come now.’ He said, with his hand raised. Adi went up to the edge of the dock and grabbed his hand. He didn’t know whether to trust this man, but he’d seen him in his dream… and now he was here. Now he was here, right in front of his eyes, taking him on a boat ride. And so he did. Holding onto his hand, Adi stumbled slightly on the wet floor, but finally eased into a jump. He was on the boat. Inside the boat there was a small cabinet, just behind the seat of the one who’d row the boat, locked with some odd, ancient looking lock. It had engraved patterns on it and was made of stone. Biv bent his front knee slightly and put his hand on top of the lock, until it was covered. 

Adi tried to peer, but all he could see was a small, white light. And with a flick of his wrist, Biv opened the lock. The light within his palm flickered and went out—something bright turning into a world of dimness faster than Adi could even blink. Biv opened the cabinet; the small rickety wooden doors swung open with a creaking sound. Inside, there was a leather sack, lace-bound on top, and a rundlet of something which looked like spirit. Biv reached in and took out the leather sack, placing it on the seat, all the while balancing as the rowdy waters gave him a rough time on the smoother side of things. The boat was moving about, the rickety wood almost as broken and terrible as the dock. Biv began to open the lace that kept the lip of the bag shut. It was well interweaved into the leather, with finely cut holes in them, and so it took Biv some effort to open it up.

‘W-w-why did you n-not use a zipper instead? W-w-why lace? O-on your bag?’ Adi asked. Lace was used on sacks very long ago, if Adi could guess.

‘Zipper? What is that thing?’ 

Oh Christ! He doesn’t know what a zip is either? He thought.

‘I-i-it doesn’t matter.’ Adi responded, and so Biv went back to opening the sack. He finished in about a minute or two and smiled. 

He reached into it and grabbed a small green coloured diamond. 

He grasped it in his hand and walked up to the other side of the boat, all the while Adi observing.

‘So… I need you to come with me. Have you wondered why I need this?’ Biv said.

‘I-it has something to d-d-do w-with my dreams eh?’ He asked.

‘Yes to that things!’ Biv said.

‘Y-you could just say y-y-yes.’ Adi said.

‘Aha! Yes! As I said, your dreams? They are special, you have known this for long have you not?’ 

Adi always contemplated that. He could remember getting these dreams ever since he was eleven, as if something changed within him when he got them for the first time. 

‘On this planet, you the only one who can dream like this!’ Biv said, all the while trying to fixate the gemstone onto the little diamond shaped hole. He was struggling but he kept trying.

Wait…On this planet? What other fekhin planet is he on?

‘And so we are need for your help, understand?’ He said. He managed to fixate the gemstone into the little wooden socket. As soon as it did, it sparkled green for a moment.

‘Who are you? H-how did I see you in my dream?’ Adi asked. Biv began to walk towards the side of the boat, all the while Adi stood idle, waiting for a response. 

‘You see,’ Biv said, letting out a big breath, as he reached over the boat to unhook it from the small attachment hook on the side of the dock, ‘your dream are a special gift. I too have this gift! But your gift and mine? They are not the same things. You are more… different. But we talk on this matter when we reach eh?’ He said. He had unhooked the boat, taking rope and placed it inside the small cabinet.

Adi had the urge to question him further but didn’t. He listened to the man. And honestly, he had no reason not to. There was nothing for him in the life that he lived—this was the most he’d even thought of doing in years. A man from a separate planet who casually carries around massive glowing diamonds. A man who bends light to his will. A man who came in his dream and then met him hours later in reality. Adi could not find the right words to say, but all he knew was that he’d never turn something like this down in a lifetime. 

Biv went over to his seat and grabbed the two oars on either side and smiled at Adi.

He began to row.

‘This journey will be long! Prepare yourself for this.’ Biv said. Adi looked solemnly back at Watergate. 

On this planet… Adi thought, hearing the man’s words repeat in his head. The man spoke as if he was an actual alien. And Adi actually believed him because of his amazing abilities. This man had no reason to lie. Adi looked back sadly, but soon he felt glad. Nothing ever happened in his life. His family never visited, he had no job, and his only way of making money was out of small compensations sent to him from his parents from Scotland. He’d seen what this man could do. Besides, he didn’t think Biv would even give him a choice, and Adi was glad. For the first time in his adult life, he was going to have a chance to change things, and, finally, do something. Adi was willing to take the risk. He let Biv lead him.

***

Far into the Atlantic Ocean, Biv kept on rowing. His smile died down and he looked ahead, frowning. Adi was lost in his thoughts. It had been about eight hours or so since they left, and the sun began to set. Biv looked towards the sun, and then turned back around with a slight grin. He had momentarily let go of the oars and stretched his legs out, over the wooden seat he was sat on, and stretched his arms above his thighs, ‘That,’ he said, pointing at the sun, ‘it’s called sun, no?’ 

‘Yes.’ Adi replied. 

‘Where I am from, it is call the wiola. We have a similar star in our sky.’

‘W-why do you s-say that? Why our sky? Do you not live here? O-on Earth?’ Adi asked. He found it odd to ask, but from everything he’d heard from this man, he felt the need to.

‘Ah my boy! Have you not learnt? Of course not. We go to my planet right now, in fact! There you can see for yourself.’

‘F-from the A-atlantic? H-how do you plan on doing that?’ Adi laughed.

‘But this is where I came from! This is a gem-boat, y’know? No matter what water we go on, but with this, I can take you to Solan, where my planet is. It will take long but worry not.’ 

The sun was setting as the boat was beginning to feel a little more rocky. As the sun was starting to set, Biv let go of the oars once more and got up. he walked towards Adi and politely asked him to shift. They sat together and then Biv said, ‘Now this is the really beautiful part,’ pointing to the horizon. The sun was slowly fading out of sight, and Adi could see the stars. 

Biv quickly turned around towards the cabinet, in which the bag and the rundlet were kept, and took it out. He then opened the lace of the bag and took out two metallic goblets which had oddly distinct, protruding engravings on the outside. He held on to one and handed another to Adi. He then put his glass down on the little seat and picked up a rundlet and placed it besides the cup. He opened the tap at the bottom of it and put some liquid in his glass. The horizon began to become more and more clear and the sun went out of sight. It was dusk.

By then Adi had a glass of what seemed to be ale in his hand as well.

‘Turn around.’ Biv told Adi. Adi did so. They were now far into the Atlantic Ocean, but the night was bright, for thousands and thousands of stars shone bright as day in the sky. It was a majestic sight. There were plenty of shooting stars, the others twinkling. The moon was fully visible, and it was truly beautiful, yet Adi wondered how it became night so soon after sunset? How were so many stars and shooting stars visible? In fact, they seemed far larger than stars ever did. 

As the boat continued, the water began to feel more stagnant, but Adi did not pay heed to that—he just kept staring at the sky, for it was a beautiful sight. The sky was completely filled with stars. Adi looked back at Biv, who was smiling at the wondrous sight. None had taken a sip from their glasses.

‘Drink up.’ Biv said. Adi delicately raised the glass to his mouth and took a small sip. He’d never had alcohol before, but this ale felt soothing and filling, and of delicious barley, and warm, of all things. It was not troublesome to the throat, just calming.

As the boat kept sailing, the water felt extremely stagnant to Adi, almost as if they were… floating, yet he continued staring at the sky. The stars grew bigger and bigger. The boat began to sail slowly. Biv just smiled.

‘My friend! Prepare yourself.’ Biv said. He went back to his seat, and took hold of the oars. 

Adi could see something slightly more odd. Stars of different colours, orange, blue, red, brown. They seemed slightly smaller than the other stars, yet stood out more.
He soon realised these were no mere stars; they were the planets of the solar system. Adi was in sincere shock. 

‘Biv… look! That’s Venus! There’s Mercury. M-mars!’

‘What?’ 

‘The planets!’ Adi said, in excitement. But then again, how? They were on the Atlantic. How were the stars so big? The planets visible? 

Gem-boat… That’s it! This thing. The boat, the diamond. Thats how. He’s taking me to his planet! He thought. The water felt so oddly still that he had to look down, to see how it was so still. The Atlantic was a rowdy ocean, at least on the shore.

He got up and went to the edge of the boat. He got down on his knees and looked over the edge. 

Stars.

Stars every where, below him, above him, to his right, behind him. They were practically floating in space. Adi’s eyes were wide open. What about the low atmospheric pressure, how was he not popping into nothingness, if he was in space?

‘B-Biv… how is t-t-this possible?’ Adi asked, trembling, as if he was expecting to explode.

‘H-h-how have we n-not exploded.’

‘Ah yes… our people begin study about downess. They spoke ‘bout it, but nothing about people exploding! We are safe in boat anyway. No one will make us explode.’ 

Adi understood that by downess, he meant space, yet he was still shocked that he hadn’t exploded, or just popped. Could it be the boat? The gem? After all this man claims he’s from another planet, he bends light to his will and floats in space! Adi had no numbers to describe the amount of questions he had, but instead of asking, he just drank.

***

‘And so the mighty Krilin asked,

where is m’flask?

And the fool said, 

M’lord its right there, in y’arse!’ 

And just like that, the verse ended.

Adi and Biv managed to finish the barrel of ale. They thoroughly enjoyed it. The boat floated through the majestic stars and massive planets, but the scale of it all did not bother Biv, or Adi, in fact. They were just too drunk. It’d been a few hours, and Adi and Biv were singing in delight together, the ballads about Biv’s gods and all that. 

Adi wasn’t stuttering when he was singing. 

’Well, w-what happens to the fool?’ Adi asked, eyebrows raised and eyes wide, and he wore a naughty grin. He spoke in a stuttered and a slurred fashion. Biv barely understood.

‘Well Krilin banished the fool!’ Biv said. Adi and Biv burst into laughter over such a plain thing. A few more hours passed until Biv and Adi were finally knocked out, sleeping on the hard wooden floor of the boat. 

A faint sound started to appear, and there was a bright light emitting out of the tip of the boat. Biv woke up with his eyes slowly opening. Adi woke up right after. 

Biv turned around and saw the light. He scurried towards the seat, still slightly groggy from suddenly waking up, taking hold of the oars. This time he faced the light and began to steer towards a faint light they could see. A few minutes passed and the light was so close that it too was moving towards them. Adi looked back, and Earth was still visible, and the other planets: Mars, Venus, and the rest too.

Biv steered straight towards the light, and in a matter of a few seconds, they were in water again, rowdy water.
The Atlantic? Adi thought. His head was slightly aching, he was hungover.

But no. This was not the Atlantic. It was daytime, and the water was oddly crystal clear. He could see the depths of the water, everything inside! The sand at the base, all the fish. 

‘W-where are we?’ Adi asked, looking at the fish. He looked up and saw the water extend for a few miles, but at the far sight could see a few houses, buildings, trees.

‘This, my friend is the Clear Stretch of Gr’Erhin. It is beautiful waters, is it not?’

‘There is no such…’ Adi trailed off, as the boat approached nearer and nearer to the shore.

‘W-w-we’re not on Earth, a-are we?’ Adi asked. Biv shook his head.

‘This is Erhin. Far from your planet, or, rather close. In fact it is exactly where your planet is.’ 

‘B-but how?’

‘Dimensions, my friend! Your people are not knowing this things,’ He said, as the boat sailed unto the harbour, and the view got bigger and bigger. The houses seemed… old.

‘Dimension. My planet is where your planet is, and yet you not see us, and I not see you!’ 

‘Er…’ Adi said. He’d just heard about humans on another planet, but another dimension?

Well that makes more sense… He thought. 

‘S-so, alternate timeline?’ Adi asked.

‘Somewhat is that thing.’

The boat pulled up on the side of a small docking area, this one was also made of rickety wood, quite similar to where they’d docked before.

Maybe this shore is the Watergate Bay equivalent on this planet. He thought.

Biv stopped rowing the boat and anchored it on to the dock. Adi looked upwards as Biv climbed up and out of the boat, onto the dock. The town looked fairly odd, for it was not modern at all. No concrete buildings, all were made of stone—some painted, some not. The town’s people were dressed in clothes that seemed like they were from long ago. The fabrics embroidered with fine silks, patterns of flowers, and other things for the ladies. The men mainly wore plain, silk over shirts. Most of the men wore long over shirts and a leather jacket tied with lace, whereas the women wore silk gowns and dresses, some even velvet, as far as he could tell. All of the people wore gloves and baggy leggings. The clothes looked like they were ancient to Adi. He couldn’t understand what exactly was going on. Had he been drugged or was everything he’d seen true? What was most intriguing was that all the men and women and animals were more brightly illuminated, as if each of them had a yellow spotlight shining on them.

Adi walked forward and took the help of Biv’s hand to climb onto the dock. He took another glance at the people. They wore cloth-like shoes, at least most, which were probably made out of leather. 

What the hell? They’re dressed like they’re… ancient! He thought. 

He could hear a few of them talking too. Few of them even said, ‘my lord,’ and ‘my lady.’ 

That way of speaking… is it the 14th fekhin century or what?

‘It is very different than what you are used to, I know,’ Biv said, eyeing Adi, who looking at everyone with this frown, ‘Your people stopped being like this long ago, yet we continued.’