The Ports and Portals of the Zelaznids Read Online Free PDF

crumbled before th is attack and I also fell to my knees, certain that I had at last come into the presence of the gods.  My mouth would not move as they took up the carcass of Majumin ; strong hands lifted me as wel l, for I had no strength remaining.  In my weariness, I fell into a deep sleep .
         “I awak ened warm and comfort able , in a soft bed in an unknown place.  W hen I rose and stumbled to the wall in my weakness , I found a window fashioned of smooth clear material, like the flat surface of a windless lake.  And beyond the window stretched vast fields of green, dotted here and there with the multitudinous colour s of flowers.
         “Was it the abode of the gods?” asked a curious soul.
         To this, Zelaznu sat a moment in silent contemplation.  When he spoke, none within the sound of his voice had trouble making out his words, so intent were they upon his answer.
         “You would not think to call the denizens of that place anything other than gods ; and such did I call them , though they insisted that they were no t divine .  For certain, th ose persons showed me things that have never been seen in the land of men.  And their home is in a land so far away that it rests not in this world at all.  In all ways they seem ed like gods.  But , they are not gods.
         “I can see that you are disappointed.  I do not mean to say that the gods of our fathers do not exist ; I can but say that I did not find them.  Recall the purpose of our journ ie across the sands, along the river, and in to the mountains.  We sought redemption for the Ginyu.  Majumin took us to the edge of the great mountains in hopes of giving our people a better life .  I have returned to tell you that I have succeeded.  I know what we must do as a people.”
         The assembled Ginyu did not at once respond, for t here was much confusion amongst them.  Moreover, they felt as though their lives had alreadie improved as much as they dared hope simpl ie by living under the protection of King Xinh.  Zelaznu explained that his time amongst the “otherworlders” had not been carelesslie spent.  He told them that he had learned the ways of another world, that there were , in fact, numerous worlds: countless ports in the vast sea of the universe .  Moreover, Zelaznu explained that he had learned how to loca te and open portals between these ports , to travel from one world to the next .
         Most of the assembled Ginyu feared that Zelaznu, during his time in the mountains, had suffered such privation that his mental faculties had left him .  This is how they explained to themselves how a good man could utter so much nonsense.  One by one the people wandered away from their kinsman, a beloved man whom , though no l onger lost in body, they now believed to be lost to them in other ways .  These folk did not remain to listen to the ravings of a madman , but left t o tend to the ways of the world.
     
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    et, there were those among the Ginyu who were glad to place their faith in Zelaznu, just as they had done for Majumin.  And there were some amongst the Hellenes also who were open to the words of Zelaznu, for his tales of other worlds had stirred them deeplie.  T heir fathers and father’s fathers had spoken with wonder of Alexander the Macedonian, that great leader who had known things that no other man had k n o w n , who claimed to have seen worlds with his mind’s eye that no Hellene had ever seen.   They wondered if, l ike Zelaznu, Alexander had traveled to this strange other world and been privvie to these same sights.   Some believed it so and thus a number of Hellenes entered into the circle of Zelaznu.
         As Zelaznu regained his strength, he began to preach, relating what he had seen and done .  He described , to all who would listen, impossible things ; but he spoke with such clarit ie that some could not help but believe him.  In time, the number of followers began to