Free The Last Portal by Robert Cole

Batarr was standing next to the three large fishing
boats that were waiting to take the company across the lake. Sasli
fluttered down next to him and immediately engaged him in an
animated singing conversation. Of all the languages Chris had heard
since his arrival, this one still sent a smile across his face, a
man and a bird-creature singing to each other. Sadly, no one would
ever believe him back on Earth.
    ‘Can you
understand what they are saying?’ he whispered to Susie, as they
crept closer.
    She motioned
for quiet. ‘Sasli is giving Batarr news from the town,’ she said.
‘Um… sounds serious,’ she frowned, ‘a few days ago there was
fighting across the lake where we’ll be going. There was also a lot
of smoke and fires.’
    There was a
pause while Batarr considered this information.
    Sasli burst
into song again.
    ‘Also something
about a storm approaching,’ she whispered.
    Batarr called
Altac over, and after a few words, Altac issued the orders to break
camp immediately and board the boats. This was not a popular
decision with Chris or Susie, who were just starting to enjoy
themselves. Joe, who was nursing his sore feet by dipping them in
the lake, was even less impressed, and said so, muttering several
obscenities under his breath.
     
    It was nearly dark by
the time the company set sail. The trip across the lake would take
the night and most of the next day. Batarr had placed them on the
largest of the fishing boats; a wooden-hulled vessel that had both
a sail and an engine. The engine, like the soldiers’ weapons and
most machinery on Cathora, was powered by the same blue crystals
and was completely silent. A fact completely lost on Chris until he
noticed the boat was gliding through the water without any
sails.
    The sea was
calm, almost glassy under the beams of two blue lights situated at
the bow of the boat. Chris, Susie and Joe sat on the deck staring
up at the stars. This was the first time they had seen the sky at
night and the sight left them awe-struck. Not one, but two moons
circled this planet. The smaller one was silver in colour, and
across its surface ran hundreds of what looked like tiny
orange-coloured cracks, which gave the impression it was made of
glass and could shatter at any moment into a thousand pieces.
    ‘The smaller
moon is called Sarous,’ Altac said. He had been watching them as
they gazed into the sky. ‘In our ancient stories it is said that a
huge storm once engulfed the whole planet.’ He walked over and sat
down next to them. ‘The storm was so large and powerful the whole
land was thrown into darkness. Huge hailstones destroyed villages
and towns, and massive lightning bolts started forest fires. One of
these lightning bolts was so powerful that it struck the moon and
shattered it.’
    ‘Yeah, right…’
Joe said.
    ‘It’s
folklore,’ Susie scolded. ‘It’s not supposed to be true.’
    ‘In our ancient
language Sarous means ‘shining path’,’ Altac continued. ‘When it is
full, like tonight, you can walk by its light without needing
lanterns.’
    ‘Awesome,’
Chris whispered under his breath.
    ‘The larger
moon is called Heoans,’ Altac continued.
    Heoans was much
larger than the Earth’s moon, and plastered with impact craters.
Beyond this moon was the reason for its appearance - millions of
rocks circled this planet in a tight glittering ring that spiralled
across the sky before fading into the mountains beyond.
    ‘It’s lovely,’
Susie said softly, not taking her eyes off the sky.
    ‘Any of those
rocks flying around up there ever crash into this planet?’ Joe
asked, somewhat spoiling the mood.
    ‘We have had
occasional meteor impacts,’ Altac replied, ‘but they’re rare.
Although there have been more meteor showers than usual.’
    ‘Many more?’
Chris asked.
    ‘Yes, in recent
years. There has been strange weather too. High winds and more
violent storms.’
    ‘Like the storm
that’s approaching?’ Chris asked, at the same time