Divine Deception: The Will Traveller Chronicals (33 page)

“Lord Denham of
the State Of Paterville” Zoran announced, as a tall, powerfully
built man, long black hair hanging over the top of his orange
kaftan, stepped out and right in front of the old man,

leaving Zoran no
choice but to step back to avoid being pushed.

“And does not Lord
Robert greet his family in person” Challenged the surprisingly high
aristocratic voice of ‘Lord’ Denham. Immediately, I flew straight
over to our Captain’s T.T.V, stopping just two meters away from and
above the welcome stage. The crowd was hushed with expectation.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the other three leaders come out
onto the transom of Zoran’s T.T.V. My fake relative had to be
wondering if he’d bitten off more than he could chew by now. I
looked down at him coldly.

“Would you care to
come up and embrace me dear Lord Denham” I invited from over the
demonic looking leader of Paterville.

“Would it not be
less of a spectacle if we should do so on solid ground?” He tried
to bluff.

“Oh no my dear
Lord Denham” I was teasing him “We of the Supreme Family need to
demonstrate our superiority, so as to maintain devotion to the
Supreme House” I said, in a really friendly way. He glared up at
me, starting to look like a rat caught in a trap already. I
levitated him up to me, much to his utter astonishment, and
whispered, away from the mics. “It seems you only inherited the
title and the ability to wear Lord Pater’s orange kaftan, but not
some of the family’s abilities” Then more loudly, I said “Welcome
to the New World Conference Lord Denham”

I lowered Denham,
whose confidence was now somewhat shaken, back onto the arrival
stage and flew over to my waiting limousine. Minutes later, with
Barry and Millwell together behind me, followed by the other eight
in their cars, our motorcade moved slowly through the surging
throng, on its way to the conference centre. Although all had been
invited to bring a deputy or assistant, only Lord Denham had chosen
to accept, the others, realizing it would make for a cramped trip
had declined. Julia had very professionally organised stenographers
to sit in all the other chairs behind the leaders. Lord Denham did
not bother to introduce the fifty year old, still stylish woman who
took the seat behind his.

When they were all
seated, most sipping from the glasses they filled from the tumblers
in front of each of them. Governor Barry rose to welcome all and
make as clear as he could that this meeting was between equals, all
charged with the responsibility of leading their Nations. He
introduced Zoran as ‘The longest serving member of the Supreme
House’s staff and the wisest human being I’ve ever met’. Zoran
rose, nodding his thanks to our host and the other applauding
leaders. Seeing the woman behind Lord Denham for the first time,
Zoran inquired of her name. Unembarrassed, Lord Denham introduced
her as Paterville’s administration director, Miss Taylor. It turned
out she was the Deputy Governor of the State, but Denham had sole
control and liked it that way.

“Leaders of the
New World” Began Zoran formally “Governor Carpenter and Governor
Ryan send their sincere apologies. The tyranny of distance made
their attendance at this truly significant conference impossible”
He advised everyone “However” Zoran continued his opening address
“Both Governors have agreed to vote for the majority decision by
this conference” He announced.

“It would seem the
New World’s largest state and it’s newest state are not concerned
about their independence” Denham Challenged.

“That is not so my
Lord, not at all” Zoran responded “Both of them are committed to
Lord Robert’s belief that there must be change on our planet…”
Zoran went to assure him, but was cut off.

“So the Supreme
One is already betrayed by two of his Governors” Lord Denham looked
at the others to judge the effect of his words.

“Lord Denham”
Governor Barry said quietly “May I respectfully suggest you let
Zoran get on with his opening, I’m sure Lord Robert will be only
too happy to discuss that, when he joins us”.

“And when is that
to be” Asked Denham scornfully. Zoran answered his question by
announcing

“You have the
privilege of being in the presence of Lord Robert of the Supreme
House of Red, Commander of the New World’s peace keeping force and
Chairman of this conference. All stand please”. Predictably, all
but Lord Denham rose to their feet, and looked expectantly at the
golden double doors. I went to open the elaborately carved double
doors and enter. Suddenly, I was already sitting on my ‘throne’,
looking at ten surprised State Governors.

“You dare to claim
membership of our family, yet you do not observe its custom” That
auto voice asked angrily, but ‘Lord’ Denham sat resolute. He was
determined to create some kind of a confrontation, so I obliged him
by whipping the seat from under him. He fell back to land at Miss
Taylor’s feet. The rest suppressed their feelings and watched
passively. Struggling to his feet, Denham, now red faced with rage,
truly did look like Satan’s kin.

“How dare you try
to humiliate me” He shouted at me shrilly.

“You bring shame
upon yourself with your false claims Denham” My voice boomed “The
nearest you ever came to the Supreme Family, was when you shared
Lady Ursula’s bed”. There were a few gasps, but none were more
surprised than Denham himself.

“You know of your
Sister and I?” He finally replied, his words slow, almost slurred
“Then you must know that I will always do her bidding” He shouted
threateningly “And she thinks you should be dead”. He added,
withdrawing his right hand from his orange kaftan, which,
naturally, held one of the black laser weapons.

“Though the
penalty for killing you is death” His voice really did sound as if
he was drunk “I gladly give my life to rid the New World of yours”
He blurted out, raising the weapon and firing it, almost point
blank, at my face. As before, my cupped hand reflected the beam
back to where it had come from and a plate sized, black ringed hole
appeared, where Lord Denham’s abdomen used to be. After a lifetime
of falsely claimed divine privileges, the last word from his
surprised and dying mouth was “But?”.

Lord Denham fell
in a heap at the shocked Miss Taylor’s feet.

“It would seem you
are the new leader of Paterville Miss Taylor, please take your
seat” Zoran invited without emotion. Miss Taylor looked up at me. I
nodded and smiled at her.

“You have long
managed the affairs of Paterville, Miss Taylor, while that
empty-headed fraud paraded around as though it was he who ran the
State so efficiently” I told her with warmth in my voice “Please
take the seat that is yours Governor Taylor” I invited the woman.
Governor Barry gallantly assisted her to her new position at the
table. Within minutes, Julia had the still smoking body of the late
‘Lord’ Denham taken away and a stenographer sitting behind
Paterville’s new Governor Taylor.

Governor Barry and
Julia had seen my laser bouncing trick before, when Elton met his
death, the rest of the Governors, however, had not, though some had
heard of it. Governor Rand of Badang was not one of them. Shocked
at witnessing the death of one whom he believed to be of the
Supreme Family, in the regal elegance of our surroundings, the tall
outdoorsman looked at me thoughtfully.

“So this is how it
goes on” Governor Rand spoke softly, as if to himself, then his
voice rose to a flat, clearly audible tone.

“Your Grandfather,
the first Supreme One, had the skill and the technology to take
control of the New World” He stated, adding “Now you have the
powers needed to take over from your Father”.

He paused and
looked around the table at his contemporaries. “Perhaps that is how
it should be” He added with resignation.

“You are truly the
new Supreme One” The awed Governor Cabot of Mantray declared.

“It certainly
would seem so” Governor Ballan of Astoria agreed.

“Governor Ballan,
I know that you, Governor Parker and Governor Taylor” I paused to
smile at the new Governor “Have not heard me declare, with no
conditions, that this conference alone will decide the future
leadership of the New World” I told them all. Then I looked
directly at Governor Rand “But you Sir, you and your fellow
travellers from the South, you have heard me. Yet you doubt the
truth of my words?” I challenged the weathered leader.

“To do so is to
die Lord Robert” He returned wryly, clearly not seeking
confrontation.

“Look Lord Robert,
with all due respect to your high ideals” Colonel Colloway began
“There are some things which are clearly ordained. That we should
control this planet and that we ourselves must have a leader”
Cabot, Marsoni and Rand all nodded in agreement. “You are clearly
the strongest among us” Colloway continued, adding “If your power
is enough to defeat the Supreme One and Lady Ursula, you are the
rightful leader of our world”.

“Well said
Colonel” Enjoined Governor Rand, beaming at the young Colloway,
along with most of the others.

“That is how it
has always…” Began Mantray’s jovial looking Governor Cabot, then
his voice trailed away, as his usually florid face turned white and
his eyes bulged.

Seeing the
astonished look on the faces of everyone in the room, including
Zoran, I looked down at myself. I was black! From my head to my
feet I was now as black as coal.

“And now that I am
a black man, am I still the rightful one to lead you?” My voice
sounded quite different, yet familiar. When I saw my reflection in
the crystal water tumbler, I knew why. I looked like a younger,
smaller Martin, the future leader of that other great Southern
continent. No one moved or spoke, all of them were struggling to
comprehend the reality of a black Supreme One.

“Your world is
built upon a gross and immoral fallacy Governor Rand” The new me
told the Badang leader, who looked at me as though he was in a
trance. I turned to the young Colonel Colloway and Governor Cabot
“You have been led, by lies, to believe your white supremacist
regimes are rightfully so and are secure” I told the two other
totally bewildered Southern state New World leaders.

“But you are wrong
on both counts. The thousands who have died, trying to defend their
homelands, now called Colloway and Mantray have left a ever
continuing ripple of hatred through that continent for both of your
communities” I went on to tell the increasingly nervous white State
leaders “Without change, that tide of hatred will roll back over
you and end your unlawful rules” I predicted confidently. It was
Brogan’s Governor Parker who recovered first

“Where is Lord
Robert?” He demanded to know “And who in the hell are you?” He
asked with his voice very demeaning.

“I am he that you
see” My auto-voice boomed back, echoing around the elaborate
chamber. I watched in the crystal tumbler, as my reflection changed
to a younger Rama Kadek, then the proud features of the Asian King.
When my appearance returned to looking like me, the golden aura
automatically surrounded me. Whoever was really running this show
quite obviously wanted to thoroughly impress. The auto-voice began
to speak to them again.

“Are you all so
blinded by the fear of losing what is not rightfully yours? Can you
not see that the land and it’s properties are rightfully owned by
those who are born, live and die on that land?” The voice asked
them “Having the power to take that which is not yours does not
make it lawful” My voice boomed at them.

The racist leaders
were thoroughly cowed as I continued.

“Should I lead the
world just because my Father and Sister cannot defeat me?” I asked
the gathered Governors. All but one of the slowly recovering
leaders indicated that they thought so. Captain Millwell, steady
grey eyes on my face, neither spoke nor moved.

“You believe that
my Grandfather eliminated corruption and anarchy to build an
efficient, orderly New World?” I asked them, most nodded “Well, let
me show you the real truth about our New World” I told them and
held my hands out over the circular table. A pale blue smoke
started emitting from the centre of the huge marble slab.
Interestingly enough, no one seemed to be alarmed.

Within a few
seconds, the blue cloud had formed into a shimmering two metre
globe and the holographic horror story that I was to tell them
began. First there were the steam/sail warships of Lord Pater’s
colonist explorations and the complete, utter destruction of the
Romani looking folk who once lived on Paterville’s lands. Followed
by the equally murderous takeover of Astoria and then Brogan, all
in three dimensional sickeningly graphic realities. While the
invasion of the North West coast had been as savage as the others
before it, the wanton butchery of one of my late Uncles, when
founding the port state of Sentoria, had many looking away, one of
them being Governor General Marsoni.

After witnessing
what it took for Governor Rand’s predecessors to “tame” the fertile
lands of Badang, we saw the near genocidal slaughter that preceded
the founding of Colloway and Mantray. Finally, we were treated to
the stomach turning invasion of Carabindy, by my Brother and I.
Only Alpine Grand, Centropolis and Arc Island were not seen in the
presentation. As the presentation faded away to nothing, my auto-
voice explained

“Truly forged in
once uninhabited mountains Alpine Grand is well on it’s way to
developing its own culture” That really pleased Governor Lucas.
Then it continued “The capital Centropolis was founded on white
owned land and Arc Island, though also invaded, has been able to
retain it’s dignity and, perhaps most important of all, it’s
culture” There was no arrogant pride among them now, only Millwell,
Lucas and Barry shared a quiet dignity, as we took a break for food
and thought.