"TALES OF GHOSTS"
about Love and Death from the Land of Mists
a collection of short stories
in the “Playing Another Reality” series
"DARK TOWER"
0. PROLOGUE. EXCEPTIONS
I walked for a long time somewhere far away, in an endless thick fog, until I suddenly came upon a Man.
«I’m sorry,» I apologized, trying to move on, but realized there was someone there, too.
«Follow me,» the Man said.
«What do you mean?» I asked.
«The queue…»
«What are you queuing for?»
«Everyone gets their own.»
«And how long do we have to wait?»
The Man shrugged his shoulders. The queue moved a little further. I began to distinguish some voices.
«Do you know what is there?» I asked.
«No, I don’t,» the Man replied indifferently. «They say, there is the City of the Sun beyond the fog. However, not everyone can reach it.»
«Are you from the City of the Sun?»
«I don’t think so,» the Man grinned. «More likely, from the Dungeon of the Land of Dreams.»
The queue moved forward a little.
«So, are you an atheist?» I supposed.
«Not anymore,» he sighed.
Suddenly, a girl of about five years old emerged from the fog. She ran between us and immediately disappeared.
«Are the kids in the queue, too?» I wondered.
«I guess so,» the Man replied.
The Girl emerged from the fog again, but from the other side. For a moment she stopped next to us and then turned to me.
«There’s a cat waiting for me there! And who is waiting for you?»
«I don’t know,» I shrugged my shoulders.
«Weird!» the Girl said thoughtfully. «There must be someone waiting for you! If there was no one waiting, you wouldn’t be here!»
I smiled, and the Girl disappeared in the fog at once.
Soon we reached a bonfire on the side of the road.
«Well, we can relax until morning,» the Man said.
A shadow of a woman separated from the fire and approached me and the Man.
«Join us!» she suggested.
The Man and I sat down by the bonfire. How many souls were there? Anyway, I couldn’t count, Mr. Fog clearly didn’t want us to see each other.
«What are they throwing into the bonfire? There is no wood at all!» I asked the Man in a whisper.
«Stories!» he smiled.
«And you both will definitely tell us yours, too,» the Woman smiled, handing cups of tea from a thermos to me and my neighbor.
«What for… tea and thermos?!» I asked the Man, without ceasing to be surprised at what was happening, when the Woman left for the fog.
«It’s more familiar,» the Man answered calmly, and at the same moment a sad female voice sounded out of the fog.
«He told me, „See you tomorrow!“» I heard it and regretted I had nothing with me to write down the stories thrown into the bonfire by ghosts that night, but… if I ever come back…
*****
Suddenly I felt someone’s gaze on me. I turned around and saw an Angel.
«Hello,» I whispered. «Have you come for me?»
«Yes,» he nodded.
«The bonfire stories are still going on,» I tried to protest, as I felt cozy in the fog that hid the faces of the storytellers, and I was about to share my own.
«Don’t be upset!» the Angel smiled as he read my mind. «The bonfire won’t go out for a long time, and stories will follow each other until the last soul leaves the Earth. Now you have to go.»
I looked at the Man. For some reason, I didn’t want to say goodbye to him.
«Well, go,» he patted my shoulder. «I’ll find you later.»
«In the City of the Sun or in the Land of Dreams?»
«Wherever it is written in the Tablets,» the Man sighed.
The Angel held out his hand to me, and we walked away from the bonfire.
«Where are we going?» I asked.
«To the Chancellery.»
«What about the queue? Or…»
«No… however, every rule has some exceptions.»
We stepped abruptly out of the fog and found ourselves on the outskirts of the City, flooded with the Sun, at the entrance to a skyscraper. I noticed several angels bypassing the queue to lead inside the souls guarded by them. We followed them in. The Angel asked me to wait for him on a bench at the ajar door to the Courtroom, next to others like me waiting something out of turn.
«What a pity,» sighed the Boy sitting to my right.
«Pity? For what?» I decided to clarify.
«We are here and not there,» he answered sadly.
«Why?» I asked, not understanding what he meant. «And where is „there“?»
«I want to be an angel,» the Boy sighed again. «„There“ means in the general queue. And we are here… There is almost no chance to become angels from here.»
«Why not?» I wondered, still understanding nothing.
«My grandma used to say that all children leaving the Earth become angels. Outside the queue, only exceptions are served.»
A devil’s head popped out of the Courtroom.
«Shit! What the Hell are you talking about?! Shut up you both, exceptions! In this Hall, the most interesting begins! And I can’t hear a damn thing because of your chatter!»
«I’m awfully sorry,» I whispered apologetically and involuntarily walked over to the ajar door.
The Moonlight Sonata was playing there, the lights were dimmed. Frozen in anticipation, the judges were ready to listen. The left bowl of the Scales tilted almost to the limit, although it contained only one scroll of jubilant demons. Images from the earthly life of yet another soul started projecting on the screen…
*****
What I heard in the Courtroom was shocking, but…
«It’s time to go,» it came from behind me.
I turned around and saw my Angel.
«To the Courtroom?» I asked to clarify.
«No, it’s still too early for that,» he smiled. «Everything has its Time.»
«Is there any Time here?» I wondered.
«Yes and no. Everything has its Time. Besides, we’re in the Border Zone.»
The Angel took me by the hand, and we instantly moved back, into the fog, and I could hardly see another queue in it!
The Angel read my mind.
«This is a different one,» he replied, «for those descending to Earth.»
«But I’ve just come from there, haven’t I?»
«Yes and no. It’s been decided Upstairs that you should urgently return to your body. As an exception to the rule.»
«Is that why you took me out of the queue to the Chancellery?»
«Right!»
«And that Boy who wants to become… an angel, is he also an exception?»
«Yes, he is, as well.»
«So he won’t become an angel. It’s a pity.»
«Everything has its Time,» repeated the Angel.
We approached the house with the inscription «Customs». At the «Passport control» window, I noticed a Black Raven, stamping the passports of those descending. It was interesting that those standing in the queue to Earth differed in their density and… age, and one could guess the profession from the attire of the soul. All types and kinds were there, in that queue!
«So is everything predetermined?» I asked my Angel.
«Not everything, otherwise what’s the point of descending?» he sighed and added, «Wait for me here! I need to arrange something with the Border Guardian.»
I sat down on one of the benches nearby, almost entirely filled with various souls.
«Excuse me,» I turned to my neighbor, «why are you almost transparent while most of those in the queue are dense enough?»
«You seem to be here for the first time,» the neighbor sighed. «I am a restless soul, and they go to incarnate! Being drawn to Earth, we go back.»
«Do you have a passport too?»
«Certainly.»
«Do you need a visa to Earth?»
«Of course.»
«But why?» I was surprised. «Why do you come back?»
«Me personally? I’m coming back to help. And in general, everyone has their own.»
Hearing our conversation, a few restless souls silently flew up to me.
«You seem to be an exception to the rule!» one of them exclaimed joyfully. «Do you want us to tell you our stories? You’ll share them on Earth when you are back!»
«Yes, I do!» I nodded.
*****
I noticed my Angel leaving the Customs. I stepped towards him, but stumbled and… no, I didn’t fall, I flew somewhere down, through a wall of fog, until I collapsed to the ground in the forest.
I got up and looked around. The gloomy forest, shrouded in a thick gray-blue haze, looked frightening. Tall trees stood like idols, absolutely leafless, and there was no grass on the ground, and no one to be seen at all. And yet, I heard owls hooting, snakes hissing, strange voices and even steps somewhere nearby!
I walked wherever I could, understanding neither where I was nor how to return to my Angel, as suddenly I ran into a red-haired girl in a black cloak with a long hooded cap that appeared out of nowhere. She looked like a pretty witch, just the broom was missing.
«Wow!» the girl exclaimed, looking me over from head to toe. «Sorry! I scanned the space, and no one was here!»
«I got lost. Or rather, I fell out of there!» I pointed my finger at the sky. «Sorry!»
«Well, „there“ is an elusive term. Better tell me who are you? And where do you live?»
«I lived on Earth, but suddenly I got here. My Angel says I have to go back. That’s what decided Upstairs. And at Customs, I accidentally stumbled.»
«Ah, you are an exception! I get it! Remember, there are no coincidences! Let’s go, I’ll take you to Customs. If you were an ordinary ghost, we would use the Portal.»
We went into the distance.
«And you… who are you?» I decided to break the silence. «Tell me about your World! I’m interested, really!»
«You know, everyone has their own little world here. In terms you can understand, similarly to the World of Illusions, where the incarnated souls live, we have many countries, for example, the Land of Mists. It borders on the World of Illusions. Any soul passes through it, going down or up. Many souls get stuck there until they solve their issues on Earth. There is the Land of Dreams, a neutral visa-free territory, where all souls can meet without exception. Those who are close to the Creator live in the Land of True Light. Some say that only spirits dwell there, not souls. Spirits, freed from attraction to the Wheel of Time. However, this is just partly true, because in each Land there are several Spheres, or Levels.»
«Is the City of the Sun located in the Land of True Light?» I wondered.
«Yes, it is.»
«And where do you live?»
«Not far from the City of the Sun.»
«So you’re not a witch, are you?»
«Of course, I am not,» the girl laughed. «I’m just used to. In one of my incarnations, I was burned by the inquisition, although I didn’t practice witchcraft.»
«Excuse me… And where do witches and sorcerers live?»
«Down there.»
«On Earth?»
«And there as well. By the way, they can also be found in the Land of Mists, although less often than in the Land of Dreams, but they can’t get into the Land of Light. They shouldn’t, at least.»
«Do you miss Earth?»
«No, but sometimes I return to the chapel… Usually, those who miss earthly things, or are somehow attached to Earth, get stuck in the Land of Mists. Those who come to the Land of Light are no longer particularly nostalgic.»
«And what do you do in the Land of Light?»
«I work in the Mental Sphere. Inventing antidote formulas in the laboratory of one of the first alchemists.»
«It turns out that souls don’t rest, they work.»
«They serve. Just like on Earth. The only difference is that here they serve consciously. Some souls even consider life on Earth a vacation. Someone, indeed, goes down to have a rest, someone has a business trip.»
«Do souls choose themselves where and with whom to have a rest?»
«Almost always themselves, yes. Business trips, of course, can’t be chosen, but, in any case, options are agreed with you.»
«Am I on vacation or on a business trip on Earth now?»
«Somehow, yes.»
«So are the Warriors of Light not a fairy tale?»
«Of course, they are not! And what do you do on Earth?»
«I write fairy tales. For adults.»
«Wow! Sometimes I visit the Library of the Universe for work. I’ll have to find you there and read something!»
«Am I there, too?» I was surprised.
«Of course, you are! Everything and everyone worthy of being is there.»
«Even unwritten yet?»
«Yes. Otherwise, it won’t be written.»
«Why?»
«First everything appears here, and then on Earth.»
«Would you tell me your story while we’re walking to Customs?»
«Something earthly? Or local?»
«I don’t know, but, apparently, the one that is already in the Library of the Universe,» I supposed, smiling, and my companion smiled back.
«Okay! I’ll tell you about my Dark Tower. Although, there are a lot of stories here.»
*****
My Angel was sitting on a bench near the Customs, waiting for me. I thanked my red-haired guide, and she instantly disappeared. I went up to the Angel.
«Sorry, I accidentally stumbled and fell into the fog,» I apologized.
«Nothing happens by accident. Neither here, nor on Earth. You needed that for some reason, and it’s good for you. Here is your passport with the return visa, hold it. All necessary corrections and comments were made in the Tablets. Let’s go!»
The Angel got up from the bench and held out his hand to me.
«Listen,» I said, embarrassed, «I’ve been told there is the Library of the Universe somewhere around here.»
«Not here, in the Land of Light, yes,» the Angel smiled.
«Are we in the Land of Mists now?» I supposed.
«Quite right. You’re already pretty good at it!» the Angel smiled again.
«Well… They say the Library contains even something yet unavailable on Earth.»
«That’s true,» the Angel nodded. «There is absolutely everything there.»
«Is it really possible to read what hasn’t been written yet?» I was surprised.
«You are reasoning from the earthly point of view. Everything has already been written, but not on Earth,» the Angel clarified. «So, of course, you can read it. Some souls have access to the Reading Hall even during their incarnation in the World of Illusions. They can go into the Library and find any book, newspaper, magazine — whatever is there.»
«That girl who helped me not to get lost…»
«Karina?»
«Yes, Karina, she said she would go there to read my books. Meanwhile I don’t have a single book on Earth yet. So I thought…»
«Would you like to visit the Library?» the Angel scanned me.
«Yes, of course, I would! To be honest, I’m scared. What if there…»
«…there are no books of yours?» he finished my thought and smiled.
«Yes… You see, I write just as… Well, ugh… as notes in the margin… in a notebook. Perhaps it will remain in my notebook, in a drawer of my desk, and never see the light.»
The Angel hugged me and led me in the opposite direction from the Customs.
«Nothing happens by accident, my dear soul! You stubbornly refuse to take my word for it. However, since we are still in the Timelessness, nothing prevents us from staying a little longer. Let’s fly!»
We disappeared into the fog, and when we got out of it, I found myself in the corridor of a giant Reading Hall with numerous shelves on both sides. Dense and utterly ghostly souls, dressed in clothes of completely different centuries and nations, were looking for something, climbing ladders or simply walking through the air, periodically hovering over their discoveries, and some were sitting with books at tables by ancient lamps and lanterns and drinking tea or coffee.
I turned to the Angel in confusion.
«There are so many books here! Where should I look for mine?»
«Whatever is truly yours will find you by itself,» he said, and I immediately noticed a shimmering book on the shelf right under the ceiling.
I looked around for a free ladder, but the Angel just grinned.
«Hold out your hand,» he said, and I obeyed, and the book flew smoothly off the shelf, waltzing towards us.
«This book is too big!» I whispered, barely able to contain my excitement. «It must have been wrong! I have a few miniatures as sketches only.»
«Have you already forgotten the stories told you by ghosts today in the Land of Mists?»
«Tales of Ghosts,» I read the title, and the book began flipping slowly.
Yes, the Angel was right. The stories thrown by souls into the bonfire on the side of the foggy road to the Heaven Office; the cases of the defendants in the Courtroom; the restless ghosts’ confessions on the bench by the Customs and the novel of my red-haired guide, who worked with antidotes in the laboratory of the local Alchemist… all that flashed before my eyes!
Only the last part of the book, «Tales from the Land of Mists», partially included my tiny sketches I had already written on Earth.
*****
After passing through Passport Control, on the Border between the Land of Mists and the World of Illusions, I was saying goodbye to the Angel.
«Promise me, that you will meet me here next time and won’t leave me alone in the Courtroom,» I asked.
«I will always be by your side on Earth as well,» he assured me and smiled. «It’s just that all the angels become invisible beyond the Border.»
I was sad and even scared to go back. It felt like an eternity had passed since the moment I had left my physical body in the hospital and ended up there.
«Everything has its Time, my dear,» the Angel whispered and held out his hand to me. «Well, let’s go?»
I took his hand and asked my last question for that time,
«What were you negotiating with Customs when you asked me to wait on the bench?»
«I asked them not to erase your memory,» the Angel smiled.
«So that I would remember you?»
«So that you would tell people about us.»