The Traveller: A World Beyond

By M.R.J. Luscombe

In a magical afterlife realm where wishes manifest, a mature boy comes into contact with dark beasts that no one in their right mind would wish for. A lost soul that believed in the torments of the afterlife collides with this heavenly realm and broods out his menacing creations. Through spiritual guidance and forming strong bonds with the loving creatures of this world, the mature boy must master the powers of imagination and overcome his losses as he journeys to The Land of the Great One where he is faced with an ultimate challenge. Delve into stunning environments and awaken all your senses to the fullness of all that you are, on an adventure beyond a lifetime!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Britain's Next Bestseller
• Release date: Nov 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781910565520

M.R.J. Luscombe

Matthew R.J. Luscombe was raised in South-West Devon with his older sister Hayley. Both his father and mother encouraged his imagination especially whilst on walks in the woods with the family dog. Matthew has always loved bringing his imagined creations out to be seen as painted or sculptural forms and soon enough began bringing them to life with animation. From the time he began writing The Traveller at school, through the years that followed he pursued the vision he had to turn his book into a film experience. This ambition drove him to study film and animation, compose many songs on the piano, gain acting experience on stage and in front of the camera, and travel around the world for friendship and adventure. This is Matthew's first published book and from here the journey is far from over.

Book preview

Manuel.

Prologue

There is a world beyond a dream

Beyond all mysteries unseen

A place of magic beaming bright

Imaginations taking flight.

Strong Gentle Flow

CARVINGS of beautiful and intricate symbols are etched into the sandy, stone floor, which circles out wide beneath a great, domed ceiling. A rosy light fills the wide interior, a gorgeous crimson sun radiates through the decoratively carved dome, and a powerful, sweet fragrance looms in from the luscious forest that rests outside. The domed ceiling begins to rotate slowly, the dappled light on the floor shrinks into the shadows, and a new opening is revealed high up where the evening light exposes a ledge that curves out to the centre of the domed roof. A tall and slender figure, draped in a heavy robe of bronze, strides purposefully across to the centre of the ledge and is observed from below by a gentle and watchful pair of eyes. The opening, from which the robed figure entered, closes up and the entire domed hall is cast into pitch darkness. The gazing eyes smile and squint as a single white flame, falling from up high, cascades through the air in the middle of the hall.

Splashing to the floor, the light traces its way outwards through lines and curves. Spiralling out around the circular structure of the floor and illuminating every symbol, the light courses its way, enchanting the onlooker.

A cheerful, bright, resonating note precedes each symbol as it shoots a column of white light up to the ceiling. Thousands of slender streams of glowing vibration reach up from the ground all around, save for at the very centre where the robed figure can now be seen. It motions outwards with its arm, caressing the surrounding beams, each momentarily breaking with a delightful note of its own.

Prising through with precise steps, almost dancing, the most tranquil of musical vibration is joyfully released by the figure as it approaches, its welcoming and smiling features becoming ever more apparent.

Beautiful! We observe you as ‘Cada-umba’, ‘gentle flow’. The tall, robed being with long limbs and wide eyes welcomes the great creature with long, creamy-white fur, standing on all fours, which had been watching him from below.

We welcome you to the world beyond. This world is your wonder and a wonder for all who come to explore their every desire. Follow me gently, follow me slow, I will share with you how we live and we grow!

Cada-umba is gracefully led around and through the bright shafts of light as every spoken word is followed and observed, carved in the floor. The long, furry tail of Cada-umba softly dowses behind, sweeping across the symbols. The following words are recited rhythmically as the circular floor gradually rises into a staircase:

This is the world of in-between, where life is your glorious dream. All you do is imagine how wonderful it can be. Desires will unfold for you; all your wishes do come true. The magic is your very mind; imagine all the joys you will find!

As the friendly being reaches the middle of the raised-floor staircase, the columns of light retract in spirals. They both step up to the central ledge, which leads back to the opening and to the fresh, warm air. The horizon turns deep purple, and the bold, magnificent face of a grand moon peers to them from above the forest. From here, a vast complex of domes and large, open grounds stretch into the distance, although the brilliant moon has captured the gaze of Cada-umba.

Beautiful – we say, ‘Acunza’, which means, ‘shadow of light’, says the tall being, smiling to Cada-umba, who turns his gentle gaze below where he spies a group of other tall beings standing around a dark, round pool that glimmers in the ground.

The charming being beckons Cada-umba around and down the steps, which follow the curve of the surrounding walls.

And we are the temple guardians; we communicate the ways and harmony of this world as we just shared with you. We love to share through raising the vibration!

The joyous temple guardian theatrically introduces Cada-umba to the other temple guardians, all of whom are wide-eyed and bald with long limbs. They are most welcome to stroke his thick, luxurious fur.

Cada-umba receives long, loving hugs from all around, his admirers filled with glee and excitement for his new, charismatic, and very soft presence. He smiles blissfully.

Nine temple guardians pull themselves away from the delight to share in chanting around the pool, and raising the vibration for a special communication. The dark pool’s surface tears into a flash of light, which then soars up to the sky and fountains outwards with many twisted, radiant branches that spindle into the night’s heavens. Cada-umba, overwhelmed with emotion, finds his voice bellow out to join in the chant, a voice so powerful that the branches instantly strike out to claim the spires atop the nearby domed roofs.

Highly impressed, and slightly shocked, each temple guardian falls silent as Cada-umba keeps the tall column of vibration in formation with his voice alone. As his voice tails off, the tree-like form disperses like dying tornado winds filled with light and returns back down the trunk and into the stillness of the dark pool.

All the temple guardians exclaim at once in marvel, Sal!

Cada-umba wishes to continue singing out the deepest joy; you can hear it in his warm breath as the temple guardians turn to him. The guardian that welcomed him steps forward and with both hands appears to stroke the air about Cada-umba, playing with the space all about him. Roaming about his neck, the temple guardian throws out his arms; Cada-umba rises magnificently onto his back legs and howls a powerful surge of energy.

As instant as a strike of lightning, his voice causes the pillar of light to explode to the sky; it dazzles in its descent as all the temple guardians cheer.

Sal Cada-umba! booms the temple guardian, naming the creature again in full. ‘Sal’ means ‘powerful’, ‘strong’. The words express the grandeur and greatness of the awesome creature. He lowers his voice and Sal Cada-umba relaxes back down on all fours as the temple guardian delicately reminds him of the meaning of the last part of his name; ‘Cada-umba’; ‘gentle flow’.

A tranquil haze drifts through the night with a sweet fragrance as the forest breathes out a spell of calming relaxation. By the light of the moon Acunza, Sal strolls with the guardians about the grounds, passing beneath incomplete archways. Many more dark pools can be seen, and temple guardians sit still around them with their eyes closed. The temple guardians, who walk close by the side of Sal, continue in turn to share the ways of the world.

There are guardians for you, and guardians for me, says one as another continues the thread. There are guardians for all you can and cannot see! Another joins in, From the smallest to the tallest, all that will be, or has been. And then the guardian closest to Sal’s eyeline concludes, Every single thing in this world is cared for; overseen!

Leading the way, turning and slowly taking steps backwards, the robed temple guardian halts the promenade with an almighty bow. Rising up and tossing a single, white flame high into the air, the temple guardian closes with these final words, Sal Cada-umba, explore this world beyond, revel in all delights, and with each wish grow fond, reach for greater heights. Expand your emotions, advance all you can be, and remember, hand in hand, we live in harmony!

The single, white flame that spun as a sphere towards the place where it had been tossed, found the curious gaze of Sal as it glowed bright, before hurling itself down to the floor and splashing into the engraved symbols in the ground, stretching along a path that leads out to the forest. The symbols reach up with their beams of light, a familiar sight, each vibrating with a glowing, musical tone.

Stepping gently through the lights as the melodic sounds glisten through him, Sal approaches the high walls of the temple grounds, each temple guardian remaining like close family at his side until all stand at a very tall, incomplete archway.

Like outstretched fingers reaching to each other, the incomplete arch straddles the walls and casts a shadow that scales up a bank to the forest where a song can be heard being sung, enchanting and pure. The fragrance grows fruitier and more potent as Sal gracefully takes a stride outside the walls, the ethereal singing voice calling his attention. He looks to the guardians whose wide, smiling eyes witness the bud of a new adventurer dream of blossoming. Both the delicious scent and ethereal singing entice Sal in amongst the trees and foliage touched by the glorious moon Acunza.

The deeper into the forest, the darker and denser it becomes. New sounds, quiet and rhythmic, can be heard drifting around, although mostly silence surrounds the diminishment of singing. Still following his nose, Sal finds, to his delight, large globules of voluptuous fruit decorating the warm enclosure of green, leafy plants. As though a miniature tropical sunset was taking place in each bulbous fruit, Sal drools at the spectacle that softly lights the surrounding foliage. As a droplet of water would drip down, and in its place another would form, so does the fruit, which Sal’s large tongue sucks off as though it were an extremely viscous liquid.

A flavour that mirrors and magnifies the aroma all around quenches his thirst, warms his muscles and eases his body onto the floor to drift into dreamy exploration.

The light of the forest curves as its reflection wraps around a droplet of pure, clear water nestled on the spongy, soft moss. The morning sun twinkles as a radiant eye within the droplet, which then appears to gaze up through the gaps of leafy branches that twist and embrace the outstretched arms of finer branches. Leaves caress each other and, if you listen, you can hear them whisper of their love and delight to bask in the sun.

The sun smiles in every droplet resting like myriads of glistening stars over the moss that blankets the forest floor. A delectable, alluring, golden haze swirls about, arising from roots to the fragrant air. Capturing this sweetness within every droplet, Sal’s large, pink tongue takes generous, long, indulging, licks. He slowly makes his way through the forest, each footstep gradual and precise, making not a sound. Observing the presence of the plants all about him, an aura of cheerful recognition sings to his soul. His agile movement and peaceful presence is as tranquil as the enchanting environment, and he stretches out on all fours. Each limb is strong and muscular and by no means slender, as can be seen from the great mass of his outstretched pose. Sal Cadaumba stands up high on his sturdy hind legs, his three large fingers splayed out to the air, and dappled sun rays breathe brilliance into his glossy fur. Swaying lightly in a dowsing motion, his tail sweeps the floor, absorbing the surface moisture.

With his tongue pursed in an open smile, and excitement in his eyes, he can sense something wondrous moments away.

It begins.

Sal stands tall and magnificent.

From tiny pores on the surface of the trees, an abundance of glowing, golden spores are exhaled. They swirl and glide around large bodies such as Sal’s and the surrounding plant life. Sal returns to all fours to follow the spectacle through without having to duck under branches as he walks.

Camouflaged, unnoticed by Sal, moss people stare with their dark, beady, little eyes.

As guardians of the low-lying foliage, the moss people adore the moss most of all; they even appear to be of moss themselves from head to foot. With their small moss-pruning sticks, they tickle the moss, encouraging it to be luxuriously soft. The sparkling spores filled with pure joy follow Sal, his gentle flow, and collect in his fur.

All plants express their joy this way, especially when admired by those who move about them. Observing Sal’s aura and sharing in his loving appreciation, they radiate their joy. The joy from the trees inspire even more joy and appreciation from Sal, and