Realms of Eden: Book 5: Hyak Anali

As Sydney ran back to slip Gareth marvelled at how much the big man had gotten around the field. He reckoned Sydney had run the length of the pitch at least 400 times today as he spoke to the nervous bowlers as well as running around the field to talk to almost everyone on the field at some stage of the day. Peter Bond had the same look on his face and Gareth couldn't help the grin on his face as he looked for his spot on the wicket.

Glen Shields moved forward into Gareth's delivery and met it fiercely with his broad straight bat. Dean Paulsen at mid-off had no chance as the ball rocketed to the fence and bounced back from the advertising hoardings with a resounding thump. Glen was startled when he found himself lifted off his feet by both Gareth and Sydney and hugged tightly. Almost every player surrounded him and he could hear the banshee cry of his captain as he ran out onto the field as well.

Weeping Glen found his captain's arms around him as all the players stood and clapped madly and called out their congratulations. The crowd was ecstatic as green and gold, white and pink, and blue, gold and green flags of the Solomon Islands waved madly. History had been seen by not only the forty thousand spectators at the ground but also by the many millions that had stayed glued to their vid screens throughout most of the match.

President Greg Weir was jubilant at the most wonderful sporting contest he had seen in his eighty odd years. He had arranged for a military hover jet to get him to the islands as the match progressed after tea. His eyes had never left the portable screen he carried and he was fortunate enough to be at the ground in the presidential corporate box for the final overs.

Belinda 'Carmela' Douglas presided over the presentations and in excited tones she introduced one of the most avid cricket followers of the world to the stage. The crowd was stunned as President Weir, sporting jeans and a T-shirt stood waving madly as he accepted the microphone from her. "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, have we not seen one of the most exciting games of test cricket in our lives?" he asked to the audience around him.

The cheers and cries of "Yes" came back to the man and he laughed. "I came here as fast as I could this afternoon to watch the last few overs. I missed the fourth last over, the batteries in my portable unit died as I ran up the stairs," he joked. Sydney and the other players laughed loudly as did most of the crowd. "So I am sorry Glen that I missed the six you hit off Caveman. But I have seen the replay a few times."

Glen Shields and Caveman grinned back at him from where they stood together on the ground below the stage. The President took a long look at them before he indicated a vid crew to show the men up on the big screen. "See this!" he cried out as the images were shown, "This is how Oceania will beat anything that comes at us. The fastest bowler in the nation standing beside one of the best batsmen in the world!" The crowd roared their approval as the camera panned around the rest of the players. Sydney stood between Aniki and George and the three men all waved together to the crowd.

"When combatants on the field can stand beside one another off it then that shows the world that we are united as a nation. I am so very humbled to see such companionship and unity in our great island nation," the President said. The crowd hushed as he continued. "For it is not just on the cricket fields and the football parks that we battle. A menace is lurking outside our borders and we will need to be strong and united to combat it. I think we are beginning to get ready. Whirlwind I thank you." Passing the microphone back to a startled Belinda the President stepped down into the waiting players and warmly shook hands with those around him.

"We will do our best Sir," said Ian Creighton as the President stood beside him.

"I assume that all of the players know now?" asked Greg Weir as he watched Glen Shields accept his man of the match prize money and watch.

"Yes Sir, they all do," replied Ian. "Last night was a big one for all of them. He even brought the Kiwis here!"

"I know, Ceridwen told me," whispered the President then he moved off back to the stage at the beckon of the chairman of the national cricket council.

"To present the trophy to the Solomon Islands will you please welcome back President Greg Weir," called Belinda. Explaining to the crowd that the Solomon Islanders retained the trophy because of the tied series the cameras concentrated on the President, chairman and Big George as he took the large cup and held it aloft. The crowd cheered wildly until the captain placed the trophy at his feet and held up his hands for silence.

A microphone hovered over his head as he called Peter Bond up onto the stage with him. Peter moved at the urging of Sydney and Aniki. Standing beside his opposition captain Peter looked out on the faces around and below him. His expression was one of delight as George professed that the Australians had given them the fiercest competition in a long time and even admitted that they should have won the rain abandoned first game. Lifting the trophy up again he handed it over to Peter. "One year in Australia and one year here. Till we play next time. What do you reckon, mate?" asked George as he faked an Australian accent much to the delight of the crowd.

Peter grinned as he nodded then attempted the tone and clipped words of the islanders as he told George that he would be immensely proud to make that arrangement. Clapping and stomping came from the crowd at his words as well as a lot of amused laughter at his attempt to speak like an islander. Peter gave George the trophy back and raising his hands asked for some quiet.

"It has long been a dream of mine to play fierce competition in friendly spirit with all of the cricketing countries of our great nation. And," he paused as he rapidly began to plan his next words, "it has been an honour and a privilege to lead a great and enthusiastic bunch of blokes out onto the fields." Tears escaped his eyes as he continued. "But now it is time for this old warhorse to let the reigns be taken up by someone new. Someone that has inspired not only Australian cricket, but New Zealand and here, to be the best that they can be. I would like to declare that Sydney Whirlwind Douglas will be the new Australian captain for the remainder of the tour." The stunned reaction from the crowd and the players was what Peter expected.

With a wave and blowing of a kiss to the crowd around him he stepped down from the stage and into the arms of Thelma and Xavier who held him tightly as the tears ran unchecked down his cheeks. In her home just outside of Hobart in Tasmania, Shirley Bond wept for the man she loved so passionately. Even though he had told her at the start of the last test that it would be his last as captain, the announcement still brought the tears to her eyes. As she watched her man be held by Thelma, Xavier and then by the man he named as his successor she decided to ignore his request to remain at home. Quickly she began to make arrangements only to be interrupted by the chiming of her door alarm.

When she opened the door a beaming woman stood there. Elegantly dressed in a Daintree Enterprises uniform the woman introduced herself as Bernadette and informed her that she was here to help her pack a few bags to take to the Solomon Islands. Shirley almost collapsed except for the strong woman's arms. "Thelma and Kelsey told me I might get a reaction like this," Bernadette softly told her. "Now come on girlie your chariot awaits." Shirley turned towards her bedroom.

"Oh and you are not to ring him either," the pilot told her as she saw Shirley pick up her phone. She dropped it on the table and tears turned to giggles as she ran for her bedroom and began to pack.

Sydney grasped his former captain tightly. "You bastard," he hissed in the man's ear, "I told you after Fiji!"

Peter chuckled as he hugged the man back. "After last night we both know that they cannot wait. And besides, Whirlwind, I already told Ted before this match started. That's why you did all the running around today. Consider it your induction," he said as Sydney nodded.

Belinda called her husband up onto the stage. Gleefully she kissed him hotly much to the delight of the crowd watching them on the big screen. "So Mr Douglas how does it feel to know that you now have the reigns?" she asked perkily.

"Well, Mrs Douglas," he replied. The crowd whistled and cheered some more. Their favourite sports presenter was married to someone who was becoming their most worshipped foreign player. "I didn't want to do this until after Fiji but I guess I will just have to neglect a few other things now in order to concentrate on the team."

"It better not be one of your wives," screamed out George as he watched the banter between the pair on stage.

Loud laughter came from everyone as Belinda held her hands behind her back and shimmied delightfully in front of the man who made her heart thump madly in her chest with just a look. "Oh no George, never the wives. But I might have to stop staying out all night with you drinking, though!" quipped Sydney as he turned away from the cheeky woman in front of him to face the islander captain.

A few boos came from the players around George. "My wives might prefer that!" yelled big George back to him.

After some more photographs and questions the players, wives and support staff headed back towards the large bar and dining room under the stands. The crowds drifted slowly away still chattering excitedly about all the things that had happened during the match and particularly on the final day. President Weir found himself surrounded by Ceridwen and Thelma as they escorted him into the bar where it looked like there was going to be one hell of a party.

The doors locked behind him and he was surprised when Ceridwen held him tightly to her breast then kissed him deeply. "Cer," he murmured into her lips softly, "I can't stay here. My security team will go into a panic."

"Take a look at the screen over there," Ceridwen softly replied.

"President Weir has made the most of his start to his holidays, the first the man has taken in three years, to watch the cricket at Borden in the Solomon Islands," announced the reported on the screen. Vid of the president waving to the crowd in his jeans and T-shirt was displayed. "Meanwhile Prime Minister, Frank Boise has said that the President's absence will not delay any projects or hold up parliament. The organisational skills of the President and his staff had been so effective that the month long vacation is not expected to have any significant impact. In other news..." Greg Weir stopped listening as Ceridwen kissed him softly again.

"What about Kate and the boys?" he asked when she let him breathe again.

"They are in my realm being thoroughly entertained by several pretty young girls in all manner of things. And for your wife, days of spas, massages, horse riding and," the little goddess wiggled sensuously against him, "several of Jebidiah's robots that have a stunning resemblance to a certain well known cricketer, his dark running friend and her father. Three very strong fantasy figures in her life!"

"I doubt they will miss me at all," the man said as he pressed his hardening crotch against the still squirming realm mistress.

Chapter 8 – A warrior reflects

"Well Charley," Sydney said to the seagull that stood on the railing regarding him as the warrior gazed out over the stormy ocean surrounding the lighthouse. "Things seemed to have changed a hell of a lot since the last time I led them into battle."

The seagull's dark eyes with their yellow ring regarded the human beside him carefully. If it were not for the strong smell of food coming from the human it would have fluttered away minutes ago. Something about the big entity stopped it. There was something about the tall body, the naked chest and groin that held its tiny brain enthralled.

"I know that your real name probably isn't Charley," said the man, "but I guess I just need someone to talk to."

"Squawk! Squawk!" replied the gull. It's tiny head cocked to the side as it answered.

"My gut tells me we are ready. My heart tells me we are still missing a few. I don't really know what to do," said Sydney softly. The gull moved closer to the man as it listened.

Sydney stared out to the storm. His emotions almost reflected the strongly rising waves and seething white capped breakers that crashed into the reef and rock below him. He had been here all day and in that time he had come no closer to resolving anything.

Turning his head to his left he saw the bright lights of the anchors on the Majestic. The beautiful vessel rode the waves easily sitting some 3 metres above the ocean. The mighty waves still kissed her keel but the boat only moved marginally as she let the waves touch her before falling back into the deep water around her. A hundred metres away the Lucy bobbed quietly. She rode the waves as easily as the amazon she was named after rode the body of the warrior that had brought her so much pleasure. Lucinda stood on the open deck of the vessel and watched the man leaning against the railing.

Briefly she considered his tall and muscular form before she turned away and looked to the Majestic. Four women stood around the decks, each wrapped up in their own thoughts. All of them faced the man that stood at the top of the lighthouse. "Someone has to go to him soon," Lucy muttered to herself, "else they are all going to continue like this and people are going to end up very grumpy!"

"Sometimes my sweet that is the only way they can be," said her husband as he sat beside her on the open deck. The wind and rain did not affect him as he watched his wife and mother of his children continue to scan the five people around her.

"But why Jeb, they all love each other and he," she pointed to the lighthouse, "needs to talk to the most powerful women he will ever know."

"That is the problem, Lucinda," replied the man, "they are not. Marlena is but he won't go to her." He stood and placed an arm around the large woman. "At least not just yet," he added as he squeezed her firm buttocks.

"Ah I see," whispered Lucinda as the hand caressed her firmly. "He is frightened that his cock leads him to her, without understanding that it is his current dilemma that he needs to speak with her about."

Her husband's hand found its way between her cheeks under the soft robe she wore. "Jeb why doesn't he just talk to her the way he used to talk to Alfred. Surely Marlena has open interfaces to him that he can use. Seeing her then talking to her would be better than talking to a damned seagull!"

"Look closer at the gull, Lucinda," the man breathed in her ear then chuckled as Lucy groaned as his long fingers found her moist sex. The pair disappeared from the deck.

"Perhaps Sydney it is time that you simply talked out your worries," said the gull as it rubbed its silver and white head against the man's wrist.

"I am afraid I would bore you Charley," the man said softly then moved his hand to give the friendly gull a light scratch on its wings.

"Perhaps not," replied the gull. "I do not have to understand what you are telling me. But I think warrior that you just need to talk." Hopping down from the railing it walked towards the still open door leading back into the building. Sydney watched it curiously as it entered the doorway then hopped up to the desk beside the bed within.

Following the gull he saw that it had taken a comfortable position on the T-shirt he had left there. Ruffling its feathers it settled before turning its bright eyes upon him. "Sit and tell me what it is that torments you," it said.

Sydney slumped down into the chair beside the desk. "I guess I am not sure what I am supposed to do now, Charley. I am a leader without a plan, that makes me a dangerous leader. But I have no visible enemy, I do not know what is coming next. Oh I know that Fiji is full of the Messiah's minions and by default Elam's. How will I know how to tell the difference between the good, the bad and the indifferent? What if I order attacks against the followers only to find that innocents have also been killed? I will end up with a world turned against me and all the power in the world is not going to be much use then.

"When it is some beast to be battled or the enemy is clearly defined the quest is easy. When they hide in the shadows and infect my friends and defy my warriors then it is so hard to know what is the right choice. Already there is division within my wives. Penny has become something that she never was before and just between me and you Charley, I don't think Jennifer and Serenity like it." Sydney reached for the bottle of water that stood on the table beside them. He took a long swallow as he watched the gull.

"Alison has also changed," he added. The seagull's head nodded. Sydney believed it was in agreement with him.

"Her and Bonnie are close, in both of them I now see Marlena and my lust for them makes me afraid to go near them. I fear that I will call her name as I make love to them. I do not believe that would be a pleasant thing to do." Sydney grimaced as the seagull ruffled its feathers before shaking its head.

"Was it always like this Charley?" he asked the bird. "I cannot remember, and that makes me even more uncertain. Until I found out Marlena was back I had not recalled her. Only remembering the lives with Kelsey, Jo, Wendy and Paul with strong clarity. Thellesera was so many things to me and my angels were always my angels.

"Bonnie, Alison and Marion were my life for a time as was their mother, Freya. Now I have hardly spoken to Marion because she looks the most like Marlena. Besides, her love for Freyr is so strong that I do not want to come between them.

"Penny was ever the bravest and strongest, but this time," he paused and stared back out the doorway, "this time she seeks to put Paul's position of guarding my back in jeopardy. Even now I can feel her watching me from the deck of the Majestic. It is like I have the most impenetrable shield protecting me."

Sydney walked from the room and stood leaning against the railing again. The storm was getting stronger. A quick glance to the boat showed no-one standing on its decks any longer. He was pleased that the women at least had sense enough to seek shelter.

"What about the others?" asked the seagull as it appeared on the railing beside him. The bird teetered comically for a few moments as it tried to hold the wet railing with its feet. Sydney's hands held it gently then lifted it to his chest before turning back into the room and securing the door.

"To various degrees I recall them all. Each of the battles, the long nights and days of love, their deaths," the man said softly. "Belinda was my first woman, I can never forget that day. Nor can I forget how I met all of them in our various lives. However, Charley," he placed the bird back on the T-shirt nest it had made, "I cannot remember a time when Marlena was not somewhere beside me.

"Even from the earliest memories she ran beside me in the realms. Held my hand and laughed with me at the things our uncles and aunts used to do."

"Uncles? Aunts?" squawked Charley.

"Well we called them that. They were, and still are, the realm masters. They told us that our parents had died in a battle with a force so evil that they did not have any soul left to come back to the realms of the dead," Sydney's eyes closed as he spoke and a single tear escaped from beneath his lids.

The gull watched the glistening drop roll down the man's cheek and finally fall onto his naked chest.

"They lied," it said softly.