"That's right," Rafe said. “The full moon in March or early April is a very special time when we celebrate the beginning of spring and Osteria."

"What's Osteria? What’s that mean? I’ve never heard of anyone celebrating Osteria before."

Rafe answered, "When we live in the woods we try living in harmony with nature. We try to understand the tides and energies of the seasons. Have you ever felt the energy of spring before, the energy of the spring thaw? Have you felt nature coming back to life again after the cold winter? When you tap into that energy it makes you feel alive and great! We study the natural forces of nature and how to adapt to them.
The yearly cycle has major festivals to celebrate the energy changes that are important to us. There are eight major festivals in the year. Four of them are solar festivals and four of them are lunar festivals. You will learn more about them later."

"Consider yourself lucky to have your initiation during Osteria because it will give the added power of spring."

"Anyway," Rafe continued. "We are going to the gathering spot for the celebration and for your initiation into the clan. That way you’ll get to meet everybody. The gathering place is about 30 miles north of here."

"What initiation?"

"Your official initiation into our clan as a brother. It is when you will be introduced and welcomed to the other members of our clan."

"Our clan?"

"Forget it for now. We’ve got to get moving." Rafe pulled out his map and laid it flat on the ground. He showed Tobal.

"You remember last night? You said we were right here," He made a little mark on the map with his pencil.

"Oh, by the way, don't forget to make marks on these maps. Mark all of the places you want to remember."

Then he pointed to a spot on the map Tobal recognized as the campsite. Tobal nodded.

"OK," said Rafe, "We spin the map around so it's facing north just like before," he spun the map around.

"Have the string straight north like we did before. 30 miles is how far on the map?"

Tobal looked at the gridlines and did a quick calculation. "30 miles will put us right about here." He pointed to a spot on the map about 3 inches north of their campsite. He noticed there was an "x" marked on Rafe's map at that spot.

"That's right," Rafe chuckled. "What can you tell me about getting there?"

"What do you mean?" Tobal asked.

"Look at the map. Do we go in a straight line or what? Describe the terrain we need to cross."

Tobal looked more closely at the map and noticed something strange. "What's this," he asked suddenly?

Rafe looked smug. "What are you talking about?"

"Well," Tobal continued, "the lines get real close together and then there is just one thick dark line. It must be a cliff or ravine. Do we have to climb down a cliff?"

"That's right," Rafe grinned again. "We can't go in a straight line to the gathering place. We can almost go in a straight line until we get to the cliff but then we need to find a way down into the valley from above. Fortunately I know the way down. It’s not too far out of our way and for all practical purposes, we will just head straight north today."

"Now," Rafe said, "take all the knots out of your cord. You will be tying new knots today."

"New knots?" Tobal said blankly.

"That's right, we don't keep knots in the cord forever. We're already where we wanted to be. The cord is a tool to get you where you want to be, not to tell you where you’ve been."

"Oh," Tobal said sheepishly.

"30 miles is how many knots in the cord?"

"60 knots," said Tobal.

"Right and we've got a day and a half to do it." Rafe got up. "Let's get going."

Three times Tobal saw deer in the distance. They were still herded and eating the browse on the smaller pine trees and scraping for fodder underneath the snow. They looked thin but Rafe told him they would start gaining weight soon when the last of the snow left.

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"We'll let that burn for awhile," said Rafe with satisfaction. "Now we've got to get our beds made. Got your knife? Cut some small branches from these pine trees to sleep on. No one in their right mind sleeps on the ground if they can help it. Make a mattress about one foot deep. It will create an air cushion underneath so you won't get so cold. If you do it right, it's like sleeping on a bed."

Tobal had never heard of anything like that. He had his doubts but went ahead following Rafe's lead, cutting pine boughs and lacing them together into an enormous mound that smelled of fresh pine.

"Now take the blanket you are using as a poncho. It won't matter if it gets dirty. Lay it down over the pine boughs to keep the pitch from getting on your clothing and sleeping bag. Put your sleeping bag on top of that and use your last blanket if you need to."

Tobal did as he was told, sat down and stretched out over his blanket and sleeping bag. An incredulous smile raced across his face.

"Hey, this is great!" He bounced up and down. "This is just like a bed."

Rafe chuckled and started fixing the evening meal. He took both canteen cups and filled them with water. Then he put some jerky in them and made a stew adding wild onions, wild potatoes and other herbs that he pulled out of his pack. The smell of cooking stew made Tobal crazy with hunger. All in all, Tobal thought as he finished the meal, licking the last drop out of the canteen cup, it was one of the best meals he had ever eaten. It was filling and really hit the spot as well. He thanked Rafe for sharing his rations.

Rafe said, "Tomorrow, you’re going to find your own food. The next meal will be on you, but we did enough for today. Better get some sleep."

Tobal crawled into his bed. It was against the rock face and heat from the fire reflected back from the rock and warmed him from both sides so he was toasty warm. The melting snow lay somewhere hidden beneath the thick pile of pine boughs. His eyes closed and he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pack. He sank into a deep dreamless sleep.

The smell of baking fish woke him up. Rafe had gotten up ahead of him and managed to catch some fish.

Tobal laughed and asked, "How did you catch fish?"

Rafe just shook his head, grinned and said, "I set some traps last night and checked them this morning. We got a good batch of fish for breakfast. You got lucky today," his eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Will you teach me how to catch fish?" Tobal asked.

Rafe looked soberly at him. "There is only so much you can learn in a day. Relax a little. It will come at its own pace. We've got to take it easy, but we will get there. The way I figure, it will take a month to learn what you need. Then you can solo for a month. We're doing pretty well right now. You go ahead and enjoy your breakfast.

The first week of being in the woods will wipe you out. It will take awhile to build your strength and stamina. So these first few days I'm going to take it easy on you. After that, you better look out."

The fish were wrapped with herbs and baked in the fire. He tore into the trout and washed it down with water from his canteen. He couldn't remember anything that tasted so good and he really felt alive. The morning air felt crisp and chill with a slight breeze. It was going to be a good day.

"What are we going to do today?" He asked.

"Well," said Rafe, "I don't know if you noticed last night but it is almost the full moon. Every full moon we have a big get together."

"How many of us are out here?" Tobal interrupted.

"Oh, it varies. There are somewhere between 150 and 200 of us out here. Sometimes we see each other and sometimes we don't," Rafe answered. Then he continued as if Tobal hadn't said anything, "We have our meetings, social time, get-togethers and parties. We share stories and connect with each other. We also share the latest gossip." He laughed. It's also when we initiate newbies like you."

"You know what time of year it is don’t you?" He looked over at Tobal.

Tobal was puzzled, "It's April."

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They headed toward Old Baldy. It was tougher than Tobal had thought. The terrain was broken and uneven making it impossible to walk in a straight line. The snow shoes were awkward and Tobal's legs ached from the unaccustomed effort. He didn't need the compass but headed as straight as he could toward Old Baldy and tried to keep track of his paces.

Most of the time he could keep the mountain in sight but sometimes there was deep brush and trees so thick he couldn't see. That was when he pulled out the compass and used it as a guide to keep going in the right direction.

Rafe made them both snow goggles to protect their eyes from the fierce blinding glare of the snow. These were simple strips of gray fabric with narrow slits cut in them and tied over their eyes. Without them they could have suffered snow blindness.

It wasn't long before Tobal completely lost track of how many paces they had gone. Rafe told him when they reached the first half mile. Tobal kept better count after that and by the second mile his count was close to Rafe's. He was in the lead so he could use the compass and find his direction. It allowed him to set the pace.

The terrain changed the further they traveled. It had been meadow around the city-state but as they got closer to the mountain it became more forested and rocky. Rafe cut a walking stick for Tobal and showed him how to use it to save his balance and help get over some of the rougher spots.

"Uneven ground like this is really dangerous," Rafe said seriously. "You could break a leg or worse. A walking stick can help keep your balance and test for weak spots in the snow and ice before you step into them. With a heavy pack you are top heavy and the walking stick gives you something to lean against."

They stopped a few times to rest and drink water from the canteens. The water tasted terrible, but Rafe made him drink it anyway.

"It's easy to get dehydrated out here. You should drink about two gallons of water a day when you are living outdoors like we are."

Later Tobal realized he was so thirsty he didn't mind the weird taste. It just felt good having something wet to drink. The afternoon wore on and getting toward sunset. He had just finished tying his eighth knot and looked around uneasily. Theoretically he should be close to where they were going to camp for the night. He said as much to Rafe.

"Hey, shouldn't we be close to the creek? I have my eight knots. I think we've come four miles. Where is the creek?"

"You do, do you?" Rafe said, grinning widely, "Do you see any place that looks like it would make a good campsite?"

Tobal looked around more closely. There was a clearing ahead, a small open area off to the left that sloped down toward a line of thick brush. Then he saw it.

"Theres a creek!" He pointed excitedly toward the line of brush. He could hear the water in the distance.

Rafe chuckled, "Right where the map said it was, isn’t it? You did a good job for a newbie, only a quarter mile off. That's not bad at all."

Together they hiked over to the creek. It was a small creek with clear icy water that was run off from Old Baldy. It tasted fresh and clear. Tobal asked why the creek was not frozen.

"It was frozen earlier," Rafe said. "Now it gets above freezing during the day and just below freezing at night. Because the water is moving so fast it does not freeze anymore. It will remain flowing now until next winter."

They emptied the old water and refilled their canteens. The air near the creek was fresh with the tang of spring thaw but Tobal knew it was going to be a cold night. He felt elated but also tired and exhausted from the day's journey. He was hungry and asked Rafe when they were going to eat.

"First thing is to set up camp," Rafe told him. "Then you can eat. Set up a shelter, get your fire going, and then you cook food if you have it. First we've got to find a good place for a campsite. I'm going to take it easy on you tonight. It's not going to rain so we can sleep out under the stars. Our sleeping bags will keep us warm enough if we set up our fire near a boulder or rock so it reflects the heat back onto us, We will need to keep it going because it's going to get cold tonight."

"This will make a good spot." He said walking over to a rock out cropping on an otherwise fairly level area clear of brush. We build the fire here. First dig a trench in the snow so we are down out of the wind. Use your snow shoes to shovel."

Together they scooped an area clear in front of a rock outcropping and set their packs down.

"Now we've got to find some firewood before it gets dark," Rafe told him. "Look for old dead branches that are not lying on the ground. We need wood small enough to cut up or break by hand."

Together they gathered quite a bit of wood including pieces from a splintered log that had fallen against another tree and not touched the ground. The wood was dry and they were able to break off some of the bigger branches. This would help hold the fire overnight.

"Next the fire," Rafe said, crouching in the snow near a small pile of the wood they had found. "We've got to have tinder to get the fire going."

He pulled some tinder out of his pack and Tobal watched as he skillfully used the fire starter, shaving pieces of magnesium with his knife into the small pile of tinder. Then he struck sparks along the side of the fire starter by rubbing it with his knife blade. Some of the sparks landed in the pile of dry tinder. Rafe blew carefully on those sparks and they brightened and turned into a small flame. Carefully nursing the flame with small dry twigs, he slowly added larger pieces until there was a roaring blaze.

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Tobal felt himself getting a headache as he struggled with the unfamiliar way of looking at the map. Suddenly he saw it. "There it is," he said excitedly. "It's all by itself and lower than the others." He pointed at a spot on the map.

Rafe took a weighted string and lay it on the map so it crossed Hermit's peak. "Hermit's peak is straight south of us so we place our string across Hermit's peak going north and south."

"I get it, that means we are somewhere on that string north of Hermit's peak!" Tobal exclaimed.

"That's right," Rafe grinned. "Now do the same thing with another land mark. See if you can pick out Old Baldy on the map. Old Baldy is on the right of those other three. That means it will be somewhere on the right hand side of the string."

Tobal studied the map carefully. He was beginning to understand the contour and elevation markings. Lines drawn close together meant a sharp rise or drop in elevation while lines far apart meant a gradual slope. Then he saw it.

"Here, this is Old Baldy here isn’t it?" He pointed at a spot on the map excitedly.

"That's right," Rafe said. "Now we take a different string that crosses Old Baldy. Since it is east-north-east of us we will place the string crossing Old Baldy in that direction. We use the compass to make sure our string is lined up right."

Tobal looked closely where the two pieces of string crossed and saw a place marked on the map called Heliopolis. "Well, that's easy," he said.

Rafe smiled good naturedly and said, "Sometimes it easier than others. It will take some getting used to. Now listen up, we are going four miles toward Old Baldy. Where will that put us on the map? Look at the legend, it shows how many inches to the mile. Ok, one inch on the map equals one mile in real life. That means four inches on the map equals four miles. Take your pencil and use it as a ruler to measure four miles and mark it on your map."

Tobal measured carefully and marked the spot with his pencil.

"That's going to be our camp tonight."

Tobal could see there was a creek running near the spot he had marked. He was getting enthused about this map reading thing. It was opening a new way of looking at the world. The map really was a useful tool.

"Ok," Rafe asked, "How do we know when we have gone four miles?"

Tobal answered, "Every 880 paces equals ½ mile and I tie one knot in the cord. When I have tied eight knots in the cord we should be there."

"Excellent," Rafe laughed, "You've got it! The first part of map reading is finding out where you are so you can go home. Now let's go. We're wasting time."

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"Oh, Angel, she's a journeyman that got injured and is in here for medical treatment. She's recovering till she can go back to her own camp. She was in the mountains and had an accident. The medics brought her back here to get her leg bones reset and to recover. She’ll be alright but she's kind of grumpy this morning so just leave her alone OK?" Rafe warned him by putting his finger to his lips in a gesture to be silent. "We don't want to wake her up."

As if on cue the hidden figure stirred and groaned under a pile of furs.

"Now," Rafe continued, "have you had a chance to look at your pack yet?"

"Not yet", Tobal muttered.

His things were lying on a cot near the hidden door where he had entered the dormitory. Rafe took his pack and spread all the items out on the cot for Tobal to examine. There were eleven pair of socks to go along with the hiking boots. There was a compass, two canteens, a large sheath knife, a belt, a fire starter, a plastic encased map, a first aid kit, a sewing kit, a toothbrush, comb and some pencils with writing paper.

Rafe pointed to the metallic silver bracelet that Tobal wore on his wrist. He said. "That is a med-alert bracelet. Wear it at all times. It is very important. The bracelets are used to monitor our health and physical location in case of emergency. People are getting injured all the time in these mountains and there needs to be some way of locating them."

Rafe handed him the sheath knife and belt and told him to put them on. It was a heavy duty combat knife and came with its own whet stone for sharpening. The whet stone was in a separate pocket on the sheath itself. The belt was wide and brown with a square heavy buckle.

"This will keep your robe shut." He chuckled. "It might get kind of drafty otherwise."

Tobal commented. "These look like good quality hiking boots."

Rafe snorted, "They will be totally worn out in two months. It's rugged out there and hard on everything. I come back every month or two and get a new pair."

The robe Tobal was wearing reminded him of pictures he had seen of monks in old history books. It was scratchy and drafty. It seemed to be made of dark wool with a large hood. His belt held it tightly closed.

"Isn't there any underwear?"

Rafe laughed, "You've got to make your own." His eyes were sparkling mischievously. "Out here, you want it, you make it. See. I made mine."

Tobal looked at Rafe and eyed his clothing. Instead of a robe, he was wearing a tunic that had been altered and buttoned to form a rough shirt. He was wearing a pair of gray trousers that looked hand sewn out of the same gray material as the robe. While Tobal's outfit resembled a monk, Rafe's outfit made him look like someone from a Ren Fair.

"We've got other things for winter wear," Rafe said.

Then Rafe walked over to a sled lying in the corner of the room and pulled out a heavy fur robe and handed it to Tobal.

"You're going to need this," he said, "and these fur boots too. I've also got a hat and some mittens for you and these snow shoes."

As he pulled out the items he helped Tobal put them on correctly. Then he put on his own furs and snow shoes.

"Wait," Rafe said, "Water is important, we've got to fill our canteens before we go. The first thing you need to do before going on a trip is make sure your canteens are filled."

They went to the water dispenser and filled all the canteens before heading outside. Outside the building Tobal tried walking in the snowshoes without falling on his face. After some practice he got better at it. Soon after that they left.

"See that peak over there?" Rafe said, pointing east at a solitary snow capped mountain. "We're heading that way. That peak is called Old Baldy because it has snow on it year round. We're not going there, but we are heading in that direction and using it as a landmark. One of the first things to learn about living in the wilderness is not getting lost. We find where we are by using landmarks and topographical maps."

"Check your compass and turn north, now turn the dial so it lines up with Old Baldy. See exactly what direction Old Baldy is. We will be heading east-north-east." He showed Tobal how to use the lensatic compass, turning the dial with the red line until it was pointed toward Old Baldy. Then he handed Tobal a cord. "Tie this around your neck and leave two long ends free. This cord is very important."

"How many feet are there in a mile? 5280 ft. in a mile, right? That’s roughly 1760 yards or long foot steps. Can you take a three foot step? Take a three foot step and count keeping track of every mile you go east-north-east. Because of the rough country it will be difficult to always take big enough steps but we need to try. Tie a knot in the cord every 880 paces or so. That will be roughly ½ mile. Now take out your map."

Tobal reached into his pack and pulled out the map.

"Lay it on a flat surface with the top pointing north. North is always on the top of maps. Use the compass to make sure the map is pointing north."

Tobal laid his map on the ground and turned it so the top was facing north. The wind was blowing so he used several small stones as paper weights to keep it from blowing away.

"Ok, now look for some landmarks. The biggest and best landmarks are often mountains or lakes. In the winter like this it can be hard to recognize landmarks because they are covered with snow. Look at the map and see if you can find Old Baldy."

"There are all kinds of mountains on the map, how do I know which one is which?"

"You've got to look for distinguishing characteristics. Is one mountain all by itself? Is it taller than the others are? This topographical map will tell you the elevation. It will tell you if the mountain face is steep on one side or gently sloping." Rafe nudged him, "Look, the first thing you do is find something all by itself. That mountain over there," he pointed south. "That's called Hermit's Peak. It's not that tall and it's all by itself. There is nothing close to it. Can you find it on your map? Look for a mountain that is not very tall and all by itself."

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After two days of wearing nothing but a silver bracelet, Tobal was relieved when a drawer opened containing clothing. There was a gray woolen robe that reached to the floor, folded gray blankets of the same material, a pack, a sleeping bag and a pair of hiking boots with several pair of socks. He was busy tying his new boots when a final door opened with a cold draft and the computer voice said.

"Welcome to Sanctuary."

As the door closed behind him Tobal found himself in dim light standing between rows of sleeping cots. It was a dormitory of some sort. His legs started trembling and he sat down on one of the cots. It was hard and uncomfortable like molded plastic or ceramic. Still shaken by his experience of the past two days, he wondered what he should do now. Sanctuary was not what he had expected and he had not seen another living soul. He was nervous and wondering when he would be getting his medallion back.

His eyes slowly adjusted to the gloom and he heard a noise in the corner to his right. Moving closer he saw two of the cots were occupied by sleeping figures. Against the wall he saw another food and water dispenser. To the right was the restroom and shower area. He walked around exploring each area in the dim light. He didn't see any exits and it smelled like a locker room.

Moving over to the food and water dispenser he tried some of the food and nearly gagged. The machine dispensed soft chewy bars the consistency of glued together oatmeal. It was cold and distinctly unpleasant with a wicked aftertaste that stayed long after the food was gone. He grabbed a paper cup filled with water trying to get the taste out of his mouth. The water had a strong plastic taste and odor that made it just as unpleasant as the food bar. While it was wet, it was not at all satisfying. Again he sat down on the nearest cot and tried to think. So this was sanctuary. Just what was Sanctuary? What had he gotten himself into?

There had to be a way out. He walked slowly around the room brushing his hand against the wall and in the darkest corner noticed something he had missed before. He entered the darkness and turned a corner that was barely visible. A light was glowing weakly and he moved cautiously toward it in the gloom. The light seemed to be flashing and oddly familiar. As he came closer he recognized it as the terminal he had first encountered on entering the building. At his approach it sprang to life and asked.

"Do you seek sanctuary in Heliopolis, the city of the sun?"

"Hey, what's the matter?" "Everything ok?"

Tobal heard someone come up behind him and start shaking him on the shoulder. He looked up and there was a smaller tow haired boy with a shock of yellow hair grinning impishly. His face full of mischief.

"What's wrong?"

Tobal replied miserably waving his hand toward the hidden doorway behind the terminal.

"I lost all my things. It took my things, my medallion that my parents left me."

"Don't worry about that," the boy said, "you'll get your stuff back after you become a citizen."

"Become a citizen?" Tobal asked.

"Yeah, first you claim sanctuary, then after completing the training you are granted citizenship."

"You mean I can't get into the city right away?" Tobal asked anxiously.

The tow haired boy laughed, "Hey, that's a good one! Didn't your parents tell you anything?"

"My parents are dead."

"Oh," the smile vanished a minute from Rafe's face, then returned. "There's preliminary training you need before you become a citizen. Claiming sanctuary means you are applying for citizenship, first you have to prove yourself worthy by passing through the three degrees of training."

"What are they?" Tobal asked.

"The Apprentice degree is basic survival training," Rafe said, "You need to survive in the woods by yourself for one month."

"I can't survive in the woods for a month!" Tobal exclaimed helplessly. "How do I learn? How do I live with no food or shelter? I'll die!"

"That's right," Rafe grinned. "That's why I’m here. You need a teacher. The first part is your solo, but before you can solo you have to be trained. I'm here to train you. I will help you learn survival skills so you can solo. By the way, I'm Rafe," he said extending his hand in welcome. Tobal shook hands.

He pointed at the chevrons sewn on his jacket. "Each chevron stands for one person I've trained and has soloed. You are going to be my sixth and last. After you solo I go on to the Journeyman degree."

"Then I have to start training people?" Tobal muttered.

"That's right. That is how you prove your mastery in living off the land. You need to train others if you want to be a leader."

"That will take me forever!"

"No. It depends on how hard you work at it." Rafe said cheerfully. "Look at me, you are my sixth student. I've been doing this for only one year. But I work at it. There are people that have been out here for six years and they still haven't trained six people." He winked at Tobal, "Did you notice I was in there sleeping?"

"Yes," Tobal said.

"Well, that's because I've been waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?"

"Well, waiting for someone, not you exactly. I've been waiting for someone to show up. I've been sleeping on the hard beds and my own food is almost gone. I can't eat that brown crap, it tastes really terrible." He grinned again, "Have you tried it yet?"

Tobal nodded and grinned back, "I couldn't eat it either."

Rafe grinned, "That's the idea." He chuckled, "The beds are not supposed to be comfortable. They discourage you from using them. They want you to get away from here, out into the woods and make your own shelter. Same thing goes with the food. They want you to find your own food. The food here will keep you alive, but it tastes terrible and so does the water. I can't think of eating or drinking that stuff unless I am really desperate."

"What about her?" Tobal pointed at the other sleeping figure on the other cot.

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Adam Gardner was very effective in making travel arrangements and in a few hours Tobal found himself with a full stomach, refreshed and once more on an airbus heading toward what he fervently hoped was his final destination.

It was mid April and the sun was shining brightly as the airbus flew east toward the Rocky Mountains. Patches of snow grew the farther they flew until it covered everything in an unbroken blanket. From the air he could see deer sheltered in valleys and herded together for protection against natural predators such as the timber wolf and mountain lion.

Hardwood trees looked like skeletal ghosts as they raised leafless arms to the heavens. There were patches of them scattered like occasional cemeteries hidden within the deep pine forests. The airbus flew low enough that Tobal could make out an occasional fox or wolf. Flying over the wilderness made him realize how far from civilization and the Federation he was going. The pines were dark green and the boughs weighed heavily with snow and blocked all efforts to see the ground beneath. It was almost an hour before he caught his first glimpse of Heliopolis.

From the air the city-state looked huge and modern. He saw one huge complex that must be the living quarters. There was a large open agricultural area and a wooded park. They were all within tall imposing walls that encircled the city itself. To Tobal it didn’t look much different than any other modern city-state he had visited.

As the airbus descended he was surprised the pilot was not taking him into the city but dropping him outside of it into a snow covered courtyard.

"There you go son." The airbus driver told him cheerfully, "Take care of yourself, they're a bit strange here. Don't really see much of anybody. Haven't been here that much and I don't want to either."

The driver opened the door and Tobal stepped outside into the cold winter landscape. It was one o'clock in the afternoon on April 13. The airbus took off leaving Tobal standing in a cloud of snow just outside the high walls.

Tobal began looking for some way into the city. Not finding any, he spied a small building near the edge of the woods about 100 yards away from the wall. He waded through knee high snow toward the windowless dome like structure. There was an arched doorway with a faded snow covered sign.

The snow was so bright it hurt his eyes and he had to squint against it. As he came nearer he made out the word "Sanctuary". He recalled the letter from his parents had mentioned claiming sanctuary. Somewhat reassured, he entered the portal that opened silently at his approach and stepped inside. It was dim and his eyes took time adjusting to the faint light. He kicked the snow off his boots onto the gleaming tiled floor. To the left, he saw a computer terminal. A light on the consul was flashing urgently.

He walked over to examine the terminal more closely. As he neared it, a disembodied voice came from somewhere near the terminal base.

"Welcome, Welcome."

"Do you seek Sanctuary in Heliopolis, the city of the sun?" The same words scrolled across the screen.

"Do you seek Sanctuary in Heliopolis, the city of the sun?" A prompt flashed on the screen "Say Yes or No."

"Yes," Tobal said. "I claim sanctuary."

"Then enter here," an oval door slid open to reveal a small interior lighted room. The door slid closed behind him as soon as he stepped completely into the room.

"What is your name?"

The voice intoned, it was now coming from somewhere ahead of him. What followed was a grueling 70 minute question and answer session in which the computer questioned Tobal about every area of his past and present. There was no place to sit and it was uncomfortable but he was committed at this point. There were questions he could not answer, but that did not bother the computer. Finally the computer turned silent as it processed the information. After a short time it spoke again.

"You must go through processing before you can enter sanctuary. Processing will include detailed medical and psychological examinations. These will be automated. The purpose of these examinations is to ensure the current state of your health. In addition, the information will allow us to better understand your needs and abilities. This will aid us in determining how you will best fit into our society. These examinations will take place within this building and last approximately two days."

One wall of the small room slid open and a voice prompted him to enter and begin the medical examination. The wall slid closed behind him and he found himself in a small hallway. Another wall section slid open to the right and he stepped into another small room. A drawer slid out from the wall as the voice continued.

"Please place your clothing and personal items into the drawer. You can not take any items into the examinations. Place your items here for safe keeping. They will be returned to you after you have entered Heliopolis."

Tobal stripped and placed his clothing and boots into the drawer. He carefully placed the medallion under some clothes where it would be hidden and then pushed slightly on the drawer. His plan was to leave the drawer slightly open and retrieve his things after the medical examination. To his horror the drawer kept moving and slid shut with a forbidding "click". Panicking, he tried to open the drawer and failed. There was no handle and it was almost impossible to see the faint lines indicating it was there at all. He pounded on the wall but it refused his efforts and the drawer remained closed.

"Give me back my medallion," He sobbed pounding on the unforgiving wall. His voice echoed around the small room and in his ears.

"You may proceed with the medical examination now. We will be starting with a shower."

A small shower nozzle emerged from the ceiling and began spraying him with tepid soapy water that left his eyes stinging and his lungs gasping for breath. This was followed by a rinse of cold water as distinctly unpleasant as the jets of air that dried him off.

Realizing the futility of further resistance and wiping back an angry tear Tobal finally gave up and concentrated on what lie ahead. He moved from cubicle to cubicle and was given an exhaustive physical exam that lasted several hours. Then he was given a small silver bracelet and instructed to wear it at all times. It was a med-alert bracelet that monitored his physical health and acted as a locating device so he could be found in an emergency.

After the physical examination, he began a series of mental and psychological tests that seemed to last forever. Small breaks were given with food and water appearing out of the wall just like the drawer had. Twice he slept on a cot that slid out of the wall. The first things he learned were the controls to activate the food and water. The bathroom and shower were the next. He lost all sense of time and for two days was moved from one cubicle to another, problem solving, analyzing and doing test questions on a computer screen or taking objects apart and putting them back together again in demonstrations of physical dexterity.

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"This training involved the development of the non-physical body, aura or soul as it is some times called. It was the development of this non-physical body that 'energized' and harmonized with the physical body in a way that allowed the physical body to transform into pure energy and back again without damage to the individual cells."

Adam glanced at Tobal before continuing, "Howling Wolf told us in ancient times this was called 'becoming immortal or God like'. Each culture had it's own name for it. The Taoists called it 'developing the immortal physical body'. Jesus used this technique or something similar when he appeared in a closed room full of disciples after his supposed death. Thomas, the doubter, did not believe until he felt the holes of the nails in Jesus' hands and feet. The ancient Greeks spoke of heroes and heroines that became immortal."

He paused and took a sip of brandy before continuing. " The holy men and women of the earth's religions knew these techniques and passed them on in secret to a select few. The Gods and Goddesses of all religions were once human. After they learned these techniques they became 'divine' and transcended normal human life. Later they were worshipped as Gods and Goddesses.

Can you imagine the military application of such super human abilities? Imagine spies and assassins that can't be stopped or caught. Do you understand what I am saying? Phase III was insignificant compared to Howling Wolf's bi-location process.

Your parents refused to cooperate any longer with the harmful studies because of the mutagenic effect it had on the human DNA. Several volunteers had already died horrible deaths. The Federation found out about our secret group and panicked. They sent in Special Forces and massacred our entire village hoping to kill every one of us."

Adam's throat caught and his voice faltered. "Many innocent lives were lost. Not just those in the sanctuary program. My wife was murdered and my two older children. Howling Wolf's entire family was living in the village and they were murdered too. Only two of his grandchildren survived and that was because they were with us. We were at a secret meeting and had taken you, Sarah, and Howling Wolf's two grandchildren with us. I was taking care of the four of you. The rest were in a meeting when it happened."

"When we came back," his voice faltered and there were tears in his eyes, "When we came back they were all dead. Your father and mother went to find your uncle. He was the Federation officer in charge of Phase III. They never came back. They took you with them. Howling Wolf's son and daughter-in-law were hunted down and executed. The rest of us vanished. Howling Wolf took his remaining grandchildren and I took Sarah. She doesn't know she had two older brothers."

"We went back in secret and buried our loved ones. Several times they almost caught us but we slipped through them like ghosts," he laughed hollowly and without humor, "That's what we were, ghosts burying ghosts."

His fist clenched, "That's what they were too, if we ever caught them. We wanted to stay but the children were not safe and needed protection. We waited for word from your parents but no word ever came. Howling Wolf was going to keep an eye on things and keep our secret meeting place from being discovered. We knew how to contact each other in an emergency. I was going to get money for the supplies to rescue your parents if they were still alive."

"That's all I know," he said wearily sitting back in his chair. "Howling Wolf never contacted me. They must have hunted him down and killed him too. I don't see how he could have survived."

Adam peered at Tobal over his spectacles. "Now you tell me there is renewed interest in your parent's research. I've thought about this for a long time. I've always wanted Sarah to go through the sanctuary program. I'm getting too old to train her myself. Knowing that you will be there makes me feel better about Sarah going. I will send her next fall after the tourist season."

"Can you bi-locate," Tobal asked in awe?
The old man nodded gruffly, "Howling Wolf and your parents taught me."

"Can Sarah?"

Adam sighed and took another sip of brandy. "No she can't. She needs to go through the sanctuary program first for the preliminary training. After that I can train her."

"Will you train me," Tobal asked hopefully?

Adam took a long time before answering. He bent forward and his steely eyes looked straight into Tobal's soul. "Get through the sanctuary program first and then ask me. If it is still what you want, then I will train you. I owe your parents that much. Make sure Sarah gets through her training too."

Tobal was overwhelmed by the information and needed some time to think. He believed the old man, but he also felt the old man was not telling the entire story. He excused himself and said he needed to go for a walk down by the park and clear his head.

The sun was high and it was almost noon when Sarah came to get him for lunch. She was shy and awkward in social situations. Tobal guessed she didn't get around much and was surprised she was being home schooled. To be home schooled in today’s high tech society was unheard of. As they walked back to the shop for lunch he wondered how good her education really was.

Sarah and Tobal spent a lot of time together and became good friends. She was interesting to talk with and certainly knew far more about history than he did. The days crept by and early March brought heavy snows that made a mess in Old Seattle where traffic was foot traffic. Sidewalks were kept shoveled clear but the streets were left to melt on their own. Getting around on foot made travel hazardous. They spent most of the time inside the store or visiting other shops.

One day they went to New Seattle. It was like any modern city-state he had ever visited. It was lacking in personality and created to satisfy its population with passive pleasures like virtual gaming tournaments and interactive learning terminals linking people from all across the globe. Like many city-states if followed the European pattern of stacking people like sardines in limited living quarters. That was balanced with large parks, recreational areas and gardens where a person could spend time alone in nature without ever leaving the city itself.

Serialadventures Have a serial with your breakfast! This is a listing for new serials being posted on the internet today. If you are an author publishing a serial get it listed here! If you are a reader interested in serials, ebooks, and books in general check this listing out. Serialadventures is a service for authors to showcase their work and find new readers. Books and the internet do go together! This list is just starting and will take some time to grow. We need your support.

Anarchist World Live Join the Revolution today! Online rss community of free men and free women. Let Freedom Ring!

Who knows why one person gives up and dies while another struggles on through overwhelming odds and comes out on top? We all want to survive. But are we willing to do what needs to be done?

Anarchistic Knights-a serialadventure is a fiction story based upon survivalism values and principles. Survivalism is not fiction! It is real and the challenges we face in today's world require self empowerment training.

This book is available as a quality paperback for $12.66 or an email download for $3.00!

OAK:Foundations-a serialadventure gives the basics for modern survivalism and self empowerment techniques. Empower yourself today!

OAK:Tarot of Love and Romance is about the energy dynamics of love and human relationships. Why love sparks and why it sometimes dies. Can any of us really survive without love?

OAK:Magister Templi shows how modern science and chaos theory are compatable with advanced metaphysical concepts. Science is not in conflict with paranormal and supernatural activity.

OAK:Magick,Mystery and Madness is my own personal book of shadows. If you are interested in magick and energy work this is the place!

Alligator Alley:Modern Survivalism places the ancient knowledge of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons into modern context. Universal truths can be restated many ways but remain valid.

Today's suggested survivalism site is:

Visit DragonDoor and discover the latest in non-traditional health and fitness items!

Anarchistic Knights Technorati Tags : adventure, books, books on line, ebooks, outdoors, fantasy, sci-fi, teens, science fiction, fiction, survivalism

"I owe your mother and father a lot," he continued. "There are not many around any more that still remember what really happened."

"Hell," he sighed, "I don't know what really happened and I was there."

"It was during the failure of phase II that I started working with Ron and Rachel. They were brilliant scientists and very much in love." He glanced at Tobal and his eyes softened, "I'm sorry you never got to know them. I remember how excited they were when you were born. They brought you straight to the village from the hospital and showed you off. They took you everywhere they could. When they went on missions my wife, Linda, or I would baby sit you and some of the other children."

Tobal’s head was spinning and he felt completely lost. "Wait please," he interrupted. "What do you mean phase II, I thought there was only one project and why were there other children around if it was dangerous?"

Adam sighed heavily and shifted in his chair, "There were at least three different programs I knew about and more that I didn't. Most of them were heavily classified Federation research. The overall focus of your parent's research involved matter transmission from one point to another."

"But that was done years ago," Tobal said. "At least I think it was."

"It has been done with solid crystalline objects but never with organic tissue or living things. Impurities within the cellular structure cause the collapse of the cell tissue under the stress of intense magnetic field energies. Your parents were trying to find ways to purify the human body enough so it would transform into pure energy and the back into flesh again."

"Is that possible," Tobal asked?

"Yes," Adam replied quietly. "Your parents did this many times. I've done it as well. The entire sanctuary project was designed as the first round of purifications needed to produce this effect in humans and was known as phase I. Its objective was to produce general spiritual, mental, emotional, physical health, self esteem and competence by naturally strengthening the magnetic fields within the human body. It was very successful in producing sweeping changes physically, mentally and emotionally in a positive manner."

"It was so successful the city-state of Heliopolis was forced to assume a 'closed' or 'forbidden' status under Federation supervision. Graduates of phase I were vastly superior to their peers in normal Federation society. Given a chance they would out perform or out compete others while remaining healthy and highly individualized. The main draw back from the Federation's view was that graduates were too independent. They didn't like taking orders from people they didn't know or respect."

"Phase II tried to further purify the human body through mechanical means using high strength pulsating magnetic fields similar to how solid objects have been treated and transported in the past. This is the project that failed. Scientists exposed to these raw magnetic field energies began to experience bizarre side effects and deformities as their human genetic structure mutated. Your parents alone seemed immune to these hazards that were killing others."

"That was when I became involved. I was going through phase I. A handful of us met secretly with your parents and studied natural shamanistic ways of purifying and energizing the human body. Your mother was pregnant with you and didn’t want to do anything that might cause harm to her unborn infant. She was already afraid she might have exposed you to harmful influences and genetic mutations."

He peered at Tobal with keen interest through his spectacles.

"You seem to be healthy and normal though."

He continued. "Howling Wolf was a local Native American shaman that had mastered the practice of bi-location, being in two places at once. He developed this ability through natural means. He was never a part of the official program and the Federation never knew about him.

Your parents met him accidentally one day in the mountains. He gave your mother herbs he said would help her pregnancy. Later they learned he was able to instantly teleport himself from one place to another. This was what your parents were interested in and didn’t involve sophisticated technology. They became his students.

Training started out as a form of mental projection like remote viewing but deepened into the transport of the entire physical body. Howling Wolf was a strong influence and convinced your parents that you would be born healthy and that learning this bi-location ability would not be harmful to you. Your parents convinced Howling Wolf to teach a small group of us and we met in secret.

As our shamanism training progressed it became clear that spirit travel and bi-location could be achieved naturally and safely without the mutagenic hazards of high strength magnetic fields and super conductors.
We didn’t need the money or the machines the Federation supplied. Even more important we didn’t need the strict military supervision and control. Your parents researched the effect of Howling Wolf’s training on the human body and found ways to measure scientifically what was really happening.

They were able to duplicate his training and developed other methods that combined science and shamanism. They created a teleportation device capable of transporting Phase I graduates from one transmitter to another and back. That project was called Phase III.

Phase I graduates had no problems going through the matter transmitter even though non-graduates could not. My theory is Phase I training integrated body, mind and spirit in a way that 'unified' the entire personality.

Howling Wolf taught that these mysteries and natural techniques have always been known to a small group of individuals throughout history. These secrets have been taught in secret mystery schools and handed down individually through oral traditions."

Serialadventures Have a serial with your breakfast! This is a listing for new serials being posted on the internet today. If you are an author publishing a serial get it listed here! If you are a reader interested in serials, ebooks, and books in general check this listing out. Serialadventures is a service for authors to showcase their work and find new readers. Books and the internet do go together! This list is just starting and will take some time to grow. We need your support.

Anarchist World Live Join the Revolution today! Online rss community of free men and free women. Let Freedom Ring!

Who knows why one person gives up and dies while another struggles on through overwhelming odds and comes out on top? We all want to survive. But are we willing to do what needs to be done?

Anarchistic Knights-a serialadventure is a fiction story based upon survivalism values and principles. Survivalism is not fiction! It is real and the challenges we face in today's world require self empowerment training.

This book is available as a quality paperback for $12.66 or an email download for $3.00!

OAK:Foundations-a serialadventure gives the basics for modern survivalism and self empowerment techniques. Empower yourself today!

OAK:Tarot of Love and Romance is about the energy dynamics of love and human relationships. Why love sparks and why it sometimes dies. Can any of us really survive without love?

OAK:Magister Templi shows how modern science and chaos theory are compatable with advanced metaphysical concepts. Science is not in conflict with paranormal and supernatural activity.

OAK:Magick,Mystery and Madness is my own personal book of shadows. If you are interested in magick and energy work this is the place!

Alligator Alley:Modern Survivalism places the ancient knowledge of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons into modern context. Universal truths can be restated many ways but remain valid.

Today's suggested survivalism site is:

Visit DragonDoor and discover the latest in non-traditional health and fitness items!

Anarchistic Knights Technorati Tags : adventure, books, books on line, ebooks, outdoors, fantasy, sci-fi, teens, science fiction, fiction, survivalism

He sneezed again and a blond girl about two years younger than Tobal came around the corner with a smile, wearing a spring colored dress. She was five feet four inches tall and pretty in a plain sort of way. Her eyes were a warm bright blue and danced with humor.

"Bless you!" She said brightly with a smile. "I thought I heard someone. May I help you, oh!" Her hand went to her face and covered her mouth in a startled manner. She was blushing furiously in embarrassment and backing away.

"I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, I was just startled."

He touched his face, relaxed and tried to grin.

"That's all right," the awkward moment passed.

"How can I help you?" She asked again this time a little nervously.

Tobal eyed her. She was too young to know about the medallion and the faded letter. She was younger than he was. Still his instructions had been to take them to this shop. Slowly and uncertainly he took the medallion off over his head and handed it to the girl.

"I would like to know what you can tell me about this medallion and how old it is," he said.

She looked at it, her eyes widened and her face turned pale. She looked sharply and asked in a snappy voice.

"Are you trying to sell this?"

"No, I'm not. I'm trying to find information about it. It belonged to my parents."

"I have to get father. I can't talk to you about this", she said quickly. "Make yourself at home and look around the shop a little bit more. I'll be right back with father in a few minutes."

Tobal watched as she stepped through a curtain behind the main counter. He heard her running up stairs into the living quarters. Suddenly he wished he had taken the medallion back before she had left. He fought down a rising panic. She seemed honest enough and it would be all right. Still he knew he should have never left it out of his hands. He didn't know her or anyone else in this town. If anything happened it would be her word against his and unlikely that anyone would believe him.

Trying to take his mind off the medallion, Tobal wandered around other areas of the shop looking with renewed amazement at finely crafted armor, ornate weapons, muskets and pistols. Some of the metal still had hammer marks from when it was forged and beaten into shape. Leather boots and woven tapestries competed with rich clothing hand sewn from the finest silks. Oil lamps lit ornate desks covered with hand written books and crude scientific instruments whose purpose he couldn't even begin to fathom.

Close examination of some items showed that not all of them were new. Some of the items were not only real and functional but had also been used. Some of the armor and weapons were sweat stained and scarred or repaired. He studied a Roman helmet and noticed the leather lining was soft and pliable with sweat stains on it as if it had been used recently. The bronze buckles were highly polished.

When he touched these used items he felt memories enter into his mind. Perhaps he was reminded of past lives when he had known, worn and used items such as these. Perhaps that was why they stirred such deep and powerful emotions within him and why they felt so comfortable in his hands.

He heard someone coming slowly down the stairs and headed back to the counter. The tread sounded slower and heavier and he knew it was not the girl returning. Whoever it was walked with a pronounced limp. The curtains parted and a very tall, distinguished looking gentleman with old-fashioned spectacles and long gray hair pulled back in a ponytail entered the room. Tobal stared at the spectacles. They were the kind of thing no one wore any more. Corrective surgery had long made any type of eye glasses a thing of the past.

He wondered at the odd affectation and suppressed a smile. Anyone that owned a shop like this would have to be unusual. The man was holding Tobal’s medallion and staring at it with a peculiar look in his eye. Almost lovingly the old man's fingers traced the outer circle and the two figures.

He looked at Tobal and said softly, "Do you have anything else?"

Tobal pulled the faded letter out of his pocket and handed it over. The old man's face paled as he looked at the broken wax seal. He carefully took the letter out of the envelope and began to read. When he was done he looked at Tobal with a new expression on his face. There was steely determination and something that looked suspiciously like newly forming tears.

The old man asked solemnly, "Do you claim the right of blood?"

Not knowing what to say, Tobal just nodded.

"Yes, I do."

The old man smiled widely and stepping around the corner embraced Tobal in a warm hug.
"Then welcome son, welcome! You've come home at last!"

The old man's name was Adam Gardner and his daughter was named Sarah. She was an only child. Her mother had died when she was an infant. She was only one year younger than Tobal. The way she pinned her hair into twin pony tails made her look younger.

Adam called Sarah down to mind the shop while the two of them went upstairs to talk. Tobal related what he knew while the old man sat quietly and listened. He was particularly interested that Tobal's Uncle Harry had been reactivated and there was new interest in his parent’s research. He was not surprised uncle Harry had discouraged Tobal from coming to Old Seattle.

"He was right," Adam told him. "Most of the people that knew your father and mother are dead. I think your uncle and I might be the only ones left and I never met your uncle. Your parents spoke well of him though and that was always good enough for me. It was a foolish idea coming here but I'm glad you did."

Serialadventures Have a serial with your breakfast! This is a listing for new serials being posted on the internet today. If you are an author publishing a serial get it listed here! If you are a reader interested in serials, ebooks, and books in general check this listing out. Serialadventures is a service for authors to showcase their work and find new readers. Books and the internet do go together! This list is just starting and will take some time to grow. We need your support.

Anarchist World Live Join the Revolution today! Online rss community of free men and free women. Let Freedom Ring!

Who knows why one person gives up and dies while another struggles on through overwhelming odds and comes out on top? We all want to survive. But are we willing to do what needs to be done?

Anarchistic Knights-a serialadventure is a fiction story based upon survivalism values and principles. Survivalism is not fiction! It is real and the challenges we face in today's world require self empowerment training.

This book is available as a quality paperback for $12.66 or an email download for $3.00!

OAK:Foundations-a serialadventure gives the basics for modern survivalism and self empowerment techniques. Empower yourself today!

OAK:Tarot of Love and Romance is about the energy dynamics of love and human relationships. Why love sparks and why it sometimes dies. Can any of us really survive without love?

OAK:Magister Templi shows how modern science and chaos theory are compatable with advanced metaphysical concepts. Science is not in conflict with paranormal and supernatural activity.

OAK:Magick,Mystery and Madness is my own personal book of shadows. If you are interested in magick and energy work this is the place!

Alligator Alley:Modern Survivalism places the ancient knowledge of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons into modern context. Universal truths can be restated many ways but remain valid.

Today's suggested survivalism site is:

Visit DragonDoor and discover the latest in non-traditional health and fitness items!

Anarchistic Knights Technorati Tags : adventure, books, books on line, ebooks, outdoors, fantasy, sci-fi, teens, science fiction, fiction, survivalism

The street split in two separate directions. A battered sign said Oak Street and 30^th Ave. Going left on Oak Street he headed down a street more narrow than the others. It looked like it was not used much any more, but then they all did. Looking back he saw the crows following him. They would fly a short way, stop to watch and then fly again to catch up. Every now and then one would squawk and a fight would erupt leaving loose feathers forgotten on the snow.

Old Seattle was a noted artist's colony. It was one of the areas where societies fringe element escaped the rigid structure of moderization. Unique products, specialty shops and services both legal and illegal were offered within the little shops that lined the streets. The owners lived above the shops and owned entire buildings. Some of the signs were broken or covered in grime and unreadable. He figured 2424 Oak St. should be a few more blocks up and on the right side of the street. A couple blocks further he found it nestled between an old bakery and a barbershop.

The dilapidated three story red brick building looked worse for wear than its neighbors and some of the mortar between the bricks was missing. Tobal questioned the structural integrity of the entire building. A battered sign proclaimed "Antiquities and Curiosities". The windows on all three stories were covered with wrought iron bars that looked functional as well as ornamental. They suggested what kind of neighborhood this really was and he nervously glanced around him. The crows hopped a little closer. Stepping up to the door he saw he was too early. The closed sign hanging in the window read the shop opened at 8:00. Glancing at his watch, he realized he still had almost two hours to wait.

Leaving the shop, Tobal continued down the street until he came to a small park area and watched the sun rise over the city. He brushed snow off a battered bench and sat listening to the strange early morning sounds of this old city and watching the crows. One large crow actually flew onto the bench and turned its head looking intently at him. Tobal had the eerie feeling that the bird was intelligent. After a half-hour of sitting in the small snow covered park the sun was up and he was thoroughly chilled.

Going back to the coffee and bakery shop he ordered a cup of coffee and a raspberry scone. It was warm inside and he stayed there until 8:00 listening to the locals and watching as they eyed him curiously. If anyone thought it strange to see a dark haired eighteen year old with a scarred face wandering the streets at this time of day they kept it to themselves.

Tobal took his time and enjoyed his breakfast. There was some foot traffic in the morning streets and most of it toward the bakery. Customers would enter; stomp their snow covered boots on the floor, hang their coats or jackets on a stand and sit down to read the local paper or talk with their neighbors. Most of them looked over fifty years old and dressed in outdated clothing. They were not a part of the modern world as Tobal knew it. At 8:00 he paid for his coffee and scone and headed back to the shop.

This time there was an "open" sign hanging in the window. In better light the shop looked like a fortress. The heavy wooden door had metal bands across it for reinforcement. It looked like it could withstand a battering ram. He tested the latch and the door opened silently inward on well oiled hinges. A small bell rang as he entered.

The smell of burning incense and the glow of burning candles was completely unexpected. A dark shag carpet muffled his steps and he sneezed involuntarily as he stirred up some dust. "Antiquities and Curiosities" was not a normal shop in any sense of the term. He gazed around in awe. It was like being in a museum. The shop was large and divided into several sections, each section set up and displayed according to a historical time period.

He had been expecting to see odds and ends of junk that cluttered so many antique shops. Instead each section was divided not by year but by century. There were complete room like displays of furniture, clothing, weaponry, art, games, toys, reading materials and more. Entering into a section was like stepping into a different world.

He stepped into a display about prehistoric cavemen. There was a replica of a cave painting on a rock. The painting and rock looked like they had been hewn out of the back of a cave somewhere. There was a clay bowl and goblet, three flint knives looked sharp and fairly unused. A hand axe had been used to cut chips out of a log lying in the middle of the display. Admiring it, he picked the axe up, hefted it and gave a couple practice swings. There was a primitive energy and vitality about each item that made him instinctively want to pick it up and start using it. He just knew these items had been made to be used.

A female figure was dressed attractively in furs and armed with a bow and quiver of hand made arrows. There was a small pack on her back and a blanket robe of rabbit fur lying on the ground beside her. She had a necklace of brightly colored bird feathers around her neck and there were price tags on each item. His jaw dropped in disbelief as he looked at a few of the price tags. There was a small fortune in this one display alone.

He realized this shop must deal in specialty replicas. Perhaps theater props. Each item was extremely well made and looked real and functional. The clothing, furniture, weapons and even the leather shoes were all obviously hand crafted. Moving to other displays he could see each item of clothing was crudely woven in the old manner, hand stitched and buttons were hand made. He would have believed he was in some type of museum but no museum carried items in such a perfect state of repair and like new condition.

He wandered for an hour looking at various displays and getting an increasingly troubled feeling that something wasn't right. He could believe one or two displays of meticulous craftsmanship and diversity. There were re-constructionists that studied the old ways of ancient civilizations and tried duplicating them. But this was different. It was as if someone had stepped back into time and brought back these items for sale in this curious shop.

That was absurd of course but the feeling of unease was growing more uncomfortable inside him. He couldn't shake the feeling that these items were real and that was not possible. He felt a chill go up his spine. These items shouldn't exist and this store shouldn't exist. The knowledge and ability to create these things had vanished long ago. No people living today had the knowledge to make these things that were so exquisitely crafted.

This was not an ordinary shop. Dealing in replicas of this quality had to be very expensive and these items very hard to come by. Why would any person in today’s world want to use these old fashioned things or buy them? The only reason Tobal could think of was for theatrical props. In a flash of insight he wondered if Tavistock Educational had purchased theatrical costumes from this place to use at the Halloween dance. He winced and rapidly brought his mind back to the present.