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| Louvre & Pyramid |
Music=
1. Colours To Life
-Temples
"The man of wisdom is never of two minds.."
-Confucius
UFOtext=
I. The Dark Island
One ephemeral minute- Joshua stood at the very edge of a cliff one millennium deep. But time & space are relative things; a trickle of starlight travels the whole galaxy at one moment of eternal time- never changing, never stopping. He stared at Leizu. She stood beneath the shadow of the moon at the small door of an apparent hidden passage, now open. Her intense dreaming eyes implored him to follow. Did he really have any choice? He bolted at once into the dim passage, & she at once locked the hidden door behind him. He stood next to her in the dark. Diffuse starlight trickled from her gown as her bosom swelled up & down in rhythm with her breathing. Then he noticed her fine thin necklace- & a small black key.
II. Paris
The Count knew the many faces of death. He knew that final moment of truth in a duel of honor. Astira raised her pistol but an acrobatic hand reached from nowhere. Astira felt the wiry grip. She felt the infinite strength.
"Astira, you are safe here. I am not the Mule you fear."
The Count breathed a sigh of relief. His arms stretched wide & high to the heavens in a cross of peace. He lowered his arms. He moved closer.
"Please, read my thoughts. They are the extraordinary novel of an ordinary man."
The Count peered into Astira's wildly excited eyes. She calmed. She remembered the oneness of the Dragon. She stood on the bridge of a Japanese garden. She looked upon a Princess of the Far East. She reached to hold her hand, but felt only the small avian body of a vibrant hummingbird. Astria returned to the Pyramid.
The Count appeared disoriented, but then recovered his composure.
"So- now you see Astira. I am not the Mule."
Astira felt relieved. The Count turned to the man of mystery.
"Good man Bosco- you were magnificent! Now please release the lady. It's all just a misunderstanding."
Astira turned and looked at the gaunt spindly figure holding her hand in an iron grip. His lips twisted into a strange smile.
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| The Dark Island |
Music=
1. Soil To The Sun
-Cage The Elephant
UFOtext=
I. The Dark Island
Joshua felt dizzy. Her voice seemed familiar, yet different somehow. Her dreaming eyes drew him in closer & closer.
"I am Joshua. I am pleased to meet you."
He nodded & then looked around. A vast full moon covered one third of the night sky. At its zenith, young deep blue stars burned in a magnificent cluster. Beyond the marble edge of the palace, a vast sea of glittering waves stretched to the horizon, sparkling like effervescent diamonds.
"Joshua, you are in danger here. You cannot stay."
Leizu rose, her translucent gown shimmering in sliding waves.
"Follow me now. There is no time for delay."
Joshua stared at Leizu. Her gown bore the imprimatur of the Emperor Gongsun. He stood stunned, unable to move. One millennium was a very long time...
II. Paris
Morning sun burned through the mist.
"I think your mentor would be proud." said the Count, rising, his dark wings falling from view.
"Mentor? Who you think is mentor?" asked Astira, always skeptical of idle chats.
"That would be Aristarchus." said the Count matter of factly. He looked at her with a curious air.
Astira blinked at the Count in surprise.
"How you know my secret mentor? You a mind reader?"
She started to crack a smile- but then she realized. Her pyramid of thoughts fractured into a kaleidoscope of fear. In a blinding flash she reached for her laser pistol. Time slowed to a deadly crawl....
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| The Dark Island |
Music=
1. One & All
-Smashing Pumpkins
"The trouble is, you think you have Time."
-佛
UFOtext=
I. The Dark Island
Joshua winced.
"Who are you? Or maybe I should say, what are you?"
He stared at the old woman.
Vivienne smiled weakly.
"You are but a cherub. I know the history of the galaxy- personally. You could never understand. Those little diagrams in your brain are just the outline of events. Look into the black jade- tell me what you see, tell me what you feel, don't tell me what you understand..."
Joshua fell into the darkness. He felt the warm air wrap around him like a pair of dark wings. Deeper & deeper, ever more slowly he fell. He saw the sun slowly fade & then die in a flash of golden light. Then darkness.
He opened his eyes. She sat there, a splendid rose open beneath the burning stars.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I am Leizu."
Yin & Yang- he felt warm as the yellow sun rising beneath the dark cool splendor of night.
II. Paris
Astira ran to the Pyramid. Sunday morning light filtered into the starry sky. She stopped, leaned over, put her hands on her knees for support, & breathed deeply in & out. She flipped off her music & recovered gradually- a long half minute passed by. Then, finally, she stood up straight, invigorated, triumphantly placing her hands on her warm supple hips, still breathing in & out, but more slowly now.
"Bravo!" said the Count, gently offering his applause. He stood in front of the Pyramid, the morning light liberating his body from the ancient shadows of night.
"Count! You are early bird!" Exclaimed Astira, stunned by their chance encounter by the Louvre.
"Young lady, the thieves of Paris never sleep. And neither do I."
And the Count gently took her hand and curtly bowed, his fashionable cloak closing around him like a pair of dark wings.
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| The Dark Island |
Music=
1. Keep In The Dark
-Temples
佛-“Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.”
I. The Dark Island-
"Child, I am 987 years old." said Vivienne matter of factly.
Joshua sat unperturbed. The old woman was obviously crazy. But she knew the Mule in his younger days. She might know something important about him. Maybe a weakness, something the Second Foundation could exploit. He tried to read her mind. He focused very hard.
"He opened his eyes. The mental haze lifted & he could see. He stood up. In the mirror he saw a voluptuous young woman rise from a pool of floating rose petals. Her soft hair shimmered in moonlight, sliding in waves of black jade. He smiled & so did she."
He woke. Vivienne grinned, holding her cane by the handle of black jade.
"So you want to read Vivienne's mind! You are a nasty little boy."
& Vivienne cackled with laughter.
II. Paris
"So, as you can now see Count, your Princess of the East leads a double life. She is a bit Machiavellian, shall we say. It disarms me to break this news, but you must hear it from a trusted source. It is for your own good."
And the outwardly sympathetic Duke put his hand on the back of the stricken Count.
Edmund stared out the window. White jasmine flowers formed choirs of angels. He turned back to the Duke.
"My fair Duke, it is the Devil in you I trust."
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| Freedom Rock |
Music=
1. Cherub Rock
-Smashing Pumpkins
"To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice."
-Confucius
UFOtext=
I. Valloire
Joshua leads Astira to Aristarchus. Joshua decides to not wait any longer & crash the Count's New Year's party.
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| The High Mountains |
Music=
1. Tomorrow Never Knows
-The Beatles
"Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most."
-Buddha
UFOtext=
I. Valloire- New Year's Eve
The Twinkling Star fell from the night sky onto the high mountain. From the warm cabin Astira could see through the invisible walls. A vast snowdrift stretched upward in the moonlight toward the dark peak, interrupting the slide of stars in the Milky Way. Far below to the south, she could see the lights of Valloire shining in the valley.
"Thanks for the lift!" said Astira, tightening the laces on her boots.
"You can see the lights of the Valloire spaceport off to the right."
Astira stood up straight, ready to leave.
"Young lady, will you not join our party at my chateau?" asked the Count.
"I cannot- the Mule knows me & I suspect he is in town. I have a secret meeting with a secret mentor. I must go my own way."
The Count gazed at the young woman. He didn't know her, yet something about her seemed familiar.
"You must take care- it is not safe to travel alone here." said the Count.
"Count- I know that. One is never 100% safe in life. Everything is risk." said Astira.
A door opened. Princess Lei & the Count watched Astira disappear into the cold night.
~
One hour passed. The Count & the Princess walked to the double door of his brightly lit mountain chateau.
"Count & Lady, a Jovian pleasure to meet you. My name is Bosco. Count, I am your new personal companion & valet."
"Indeed," said the Count, somewhat surprised. He surveyed with interest the puny young man.
"Where is my Saint Bernard?" asked the Count, with mild concern.
"Family matters, Count. Please lay down all of your concerns. You may trust my loyal pledge to do my best- a humble & honored substitute in his absence." The puny young man bowed curtly.
"Very well." said the Count.
"I trust the preparations for my New Year's Eve party are all in order?"
"Indeed they are Count. Guests are due to arrive within the hour."
"Magnificent Bosco! Princess Lei, allow Bosco to escort you to your room. Perhaps you wish to rest & freshen up a bit. We face a long midnight vigil to the beginning of the New Year."
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| Christmas Morning |
Music=
1. Neverlands
-Night Flowers
2. Messengers Of Christmas
3. Fum, Fum, Fum
-Mannheim Steamroller
"Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star."
-Confucius
UFOtext=
I. Paris
⏳Christmas Eve-
Thor thrashed till the midnight hour. Then silence. The Count rose from his chair and walked to the balcony window. White jasmine flowers of moonlit snow fell from the cold heavens.
⌛️Christmas Morning-
With some difficulty, the Count pulled open his apartment door. Snow and ice formed a winter pyramid of the Louvre.
"Princess Lei- I am astonished!"
exclaimed the Count, extending his gracious hand and bowing slightly. He stood up straight and noticed her two companions.
"Count- the galaxy is in peril. Time is of the essence." said the Princess.
"Princess, you are wise as the Buddha, who tells us time is not the privilege of the mortal man. But please, spare an hour of repose from your marathon of endeavors. It is Christmas morning- allow me to offer you & your companions a small measure of comfort."
The Count smiled warmly and then held open the door- as if he were a servant of the house.
