by T5 and TheTimeTrust
Maria led the now-relaxed Chance through the darkness across the windy cliffs and stopped just outside a small boathouse that was amazingly still in one piece. She opened the creaking door and guided him in.
Inside, a lovely garden full of fruit trees and berry bushes was seen. In contrast to the darkness from which he had just come, the sun was somehow shining, and a small stream flowed lazily on his right. His mind was reeling at the wonder he was witnessing. It was like Eden had been described to him as a child.
She sat down in the grass and smiled at him. He got the point and sat down next to her.
"You said something about my destiny?" he asked nervously as she continued to smile to him. She was extraordinarily beautiful.
She replied with a soft voice, "Shhh... Patience, my child. Destiny awaits no longer." And with that cryptic statement, she dug out a small tin bell out of her pocket and shook it.
The sound couldn't have carried far, but it had a lovely, angelic sound to it. He heard a noise to his left, and two men in dark brown-hooded cloaks bowed to the beautiful woman, whose presence was like balmed honey on Kristofer Schanz's mind.
"Welcome, Mr. Chance. We hear you seek a meaning in life. We can provide you with the means to do so. You are the one we have sought for many generations: a man of destiny... a man that can and will make life better as we know it. Welcome to the Circle of the Hoods."
Chance smiled politely and nodded, while inside his bullshit sensor was ringing heavily. All right, I'm willing to play along for now to find out what's behind this mystery, but there's no way I'm going to let my guard down. Already he was wondering why he had allowed himself to be led by a complete stranger into an even stranger situation in the midst of a crisis. And as he continued to think about it, he wondered why he hadn't already left.
"Right. So, thank you, gentlemen, but I'm not really interested in joining any cults today," Chance said, grinning. The men began to protest, but Chance ignored them and began walking around the so-called garden of Eden.
"Very impressive technology you have access to. So, is this an incredible hologram simulation? I saw something like this while visiting MIT a few years back." Chance bent down to smell one of the brightly-colored flowers and frowned. "Hmm. Or perhaps simply some kind of transportation technology? When I stepped through the boathouse door back there, did I step across the world to a sunnier climate, somehow? I know Krauss and some of his boys at Oxford have been working on matter-energy conversion with some limited success..."
"Mr. Chance, we..."
"Please, call me either Chance or Mr. Schanz. Chance is just a nickname."
"Mr. Schanz, you are the one we have been seeking for many generations..."
"Yes, yes, you've said that already. And I must admit, I let the moment get to me."
Chance glanced over at the robed woman who was simply too beautiful to be true, and wondered if she had some kind of empathic ability; could she somehow have manipulated his thoughts and emotions in order to bring him here for whatever reason?
"But I'm far too skeptical to believe something simply because someone told me to believe it. Nevertheless, I'm here, and I'm willing to listen to you, if you can help La Perdita in some way and if you don't delay me for too long. I've got to get back to my team." He folded his arms and stared at the robed men, trying to resist looking at the beautiful woman in white.
"We will assist in any way you deem necessary to rebuild the houses on your island," one of the men said with an encouraging smile. "It's but a fraction of our abilities. if you would try us out, and see for yourself what you can do for the world with the help of our organization, we will assist you in every way."
Of course, this raised Chance's suspicions even more. What was this Circle? "And what would you have me do for you, then?" he said with a skeptical grin.
"Nothing you wouldn't do naturally. Just be there when we need you... to assist in a business transaction now and again."
Chance stood there considering what they meant. Business, eh? Yeah, right. Drug dealers? ... No, too corny-looking... too serious.
"I can see you're doubting our word, child," said the woman with a smile to die for. "Here is a simple offer to ease your mind: a check for one million dollars to help build your island. Take your time. In one week, we will come to you again, and we can discuss this with a bit more wisdom behind us." She gave him the check.
Hesitatingly, he took it and looked at it.