CLARITY & CONTACT - Part 1 - Viewpoint cont.

Itou Tatsuo turned away from the window; memory and certainty rushing towards each other and melding - like a river in flood - with the adrenaline streaming through his veins, galvanizing him into action.

He snatched up the telephone and dialled a number only his fingers seemed to recognize, and heard a disembodied Japanese voice recite. “You have reached the Dragon Clan Shrine. Tours of the Shrine are held at 08h00 and 16h00 on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please leave a message and we will return your call”. Taken aback, Tatsuo’s heart sank with the knowledge that it was quite likely that there were few left who cared about the Clan’s honour and the debt that it owed the world. Still, clinging to hope, he waited for the beep and spoke, “This is Itou Tatsuo calling from New York. I had the privilege of being tutored by Yogensha-Sama who served the Shrine when I was a boy. I have not forgotten my family’s duty to Dragon Clan. I have located The Gift of Light and will not falter in discharging our debt to her and so, restore the honour of our Clan.” Putting down the receiver, Tatsuo realized with a chill, that he had absolutely no idea how he would set about accomplishing this task.

In his mind, a thought formulated, spoken in an unfamiliar voice. It said sagely, “Only she can tell you what she needs and then, Tatsuo, you will have to find a way to make it so. You have been chosen by fate to represent your Clan. Fate will surely lend you wings”.

The enormity of what he was about to undertake; the risks involved and the consequences of failure almost overwhelmed him, when as clearly as if it were yesterday, he recalled the prophetic words the Seer had spoken to him – “Honour has a high price, which is why it is so valued”. Fueled anew with determination and a sense of rightness, Tatsuo dressed quickly, gathered his belongings and left his apartment.

As the sun rose over the horizon, Itou Tatsuo’s car came to a stop outside the institution where he worked. He was early for his shift, but since he had often used the library at ungodly hours in the past, he clocked in without rousing suspicion. He glanced at the board to see whether Dr Gibbons had arrived, noting with a sigh of relief that his name was not yet chalked on the roster. He snuck down to the lower level, taking care to avoid detection. He peered into the window where Shelley – no, Shaylle - sat in her customary place at the end of the bed. Optimistically trying the door, Tatsuo found it locked. Frantic, he waved his arms in Shaylle’s direction, trying to gain her attention, to no avail. Desperately racking his brains to find a solution, his mind began to play tricks on him yet again.

‘You need to find a quiet place. You will reach her in the Dreamworld, Tatsuo. It will be dangerous for both of you, but it’s the only way to rouse her from this unnatural sleep.”

Blinking uncertainly at the realization that the Voice was not, in fact, part of his own psyche, yet impelled to obey, Tatsuo hurried down the corridor looking for a space where he could meditate in safety, trusting in the authority of the Voice that spoke within his mind.

Tatsuo assumed the Lotus Position on the floor of the large linen cupboard. He inhaled deeply, focusing on his breath as it rushed into his nose and was expelled softly out through his mouth. Slowly and steadily, he slipped into the dream world and was met there by an angry, white female dragon, scales whispering like pebbles in the tide, ready to strike. Though startled and desperately afraid, words flowed unbidden out of Tatsuo’s mouth like an old memory made new, “Shaylle, surely you can forgive yourself this time?” he said softly. “The earth’s need is dire and you must awaken.” For an anxious moment, Tatsuo thought that he would surely perish in a firestorm of dragon breath, then blinding white light obscured his vision and everything went blank.

Back in the room, Shaylle’s pupils contracted in the dawn light. Like the Irish mist making way for bright summer sunshine, her startling blue eyes began to glow and flicker as her mind sifted rapidly through her pasts and then came to rest. She was back in the twenty first century. She had refused to answer the call twice before, believing that she would surely fail, but this time around she had not been able to deny its urgency. But, as providence would have it, she had been derailed from her life’s path yet again, this time through no fault of her own. Still, the die was not yet cast and the Omniscient had sent help. Through the white light cast by the Omniscient’s presence, she had detected a form, little more than a shadow, but it was enough to take in the Oriental features that bore the distinct look of Chang Rui’s genetic heritage.

Tatsuo’s mind slammed back into his body with a jolt. There was no time to explore his apparent absorption into a shining dragon presence in the dreamworld and the close shave with the irate white dragon. The whole situation was surreal but as long as he had the Voice in his mind guiding him, he was committed to doing its bidding. He raced to the door outside Shaylle’s room, still wondering how he would gain entry.

Once again, advice came from within. “Look inside the left pocket of your white coat, Tatsuo. The means to enter is inside.”

Obediently, Tatsuo fumbled inside the fabric of his doctor’s coat and drew out a peculiar looking silver instrument. Suspending his stunned disbelief, he inserted the tip of the flat piece of shiny metal in the lock and the door opened.