Other Side

By Gene Olsen

Inside the old dark tower, the gray-hooded men kept up the ancient chant. Hour after hour they have been repeating the same five words: Stone, draw the stranger in. The stress of maintaining the required intensive concentration filled them with mind-numbing pain. But they could feel something, someone, a lone male, walking straight toward the ancient circle of stone. Feeling the presence, they raised the volume and speed of the chant. Any moment now and the prey would be inside the tall stone-ringed pit. They looked down in anticipation; this was their reward. They were gray men of great power; dark men in dark robes, the brotherhood of the Gray wizards.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483699721

Gene Olsen

Gene has been a lifelong reader of Science Fiction and Fantasy. As an author he, of course, writes the type of story that he likes to read. He believes that the story should be straight forward without too many characters or too many side- plots. Any story should have something that the reader never considered, something they can connect with and a few things to laugh at. He hopes that you enjoy his latest offering.

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Copyright © 2013 by Gene Olsen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 09/16/2013

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Inside the old dark tower, the gray-hooded men kept up the ancient chant. Hour after hour they have been repeating the same five words: Stone, draw the stranger in. The stress of maintaining the required intensive concentration filled them with mind-numbing pain. But they could feel something, someone, a lone male, walking straight toward the ancient circle of stone. Feeling the presence, they raised the volume and speed of the chant. Any moment now and the prey would be inside the tall stone-ringed pit. They looked down in anticipation; this was their reward. They were gray men of great power; dark men in dark robes, the brotherhood of the Gray wizards.

* * *

Like a good portion of the population of the earth, Logan was trapped in the daily grind. He might have hated the job he had, but it paid too well to quit, and besides, he was the head of his own small department. The trick was to get through the Monday-morning-to-Friday-evening ritual and pray no one called a meeting he had to attend. The work day was made worse by the train ride he had to take in order to live outside of the city but work inside, where the real money was. His only true pleasure in life was hiking, and he took every opportunity to do it.

It might have been ridiculously too far to hike to into the city, but it wasn’t a problem to get on and off the damn train one stop farther from his isolated log home. There was actually a station near his home, but every day he gladly hiked the four miles to a stop closer to town, and every night he got off at the same station and walked the four miles through the woods to get to his home. This evening was no exception. He counted the stops until he reached the magic number of seven, and then he jumped off the train and started walking, sucking in fresh air and enjoying the feeling of his feet on the ground.

He often thought about finding a job he could walk to, but try as he might, he could not find anything close that would pay enough to keep him alive. He also loved to travel and hike in foreign countries, and that was not a cheap hobby. Oh well, he mused, I guess I should be happy to have what luck has given me.

He chose the longest of the several paths he knew of, the one that went through the woods. It was an old game trail back when there had been game in these woods. Too many hunters, he thought, and they shoot anything that moves. Oh well, there is nothing I can do about that, so I’ll just enjoy the trees while they are still here. He was hiking uphill along a series of switchbacks, when he noticed he felt suddenly chilled. This is strange, it’s not late, and the sun is still up. As he reached the crest of the hill, he stopped to take a long look at the surrounding country. It was a beautiful view and he felt wonderful as he stood there looking down on the green fields and small groves of trees which dotted the landscape.

* * *

The Gray high wizard sat in an iron chair located on a flat stone that projected out over the stone pit. He was always watching the lesser wizards below him and the area inside of the ring. Feeling the presence of the approaching man, he now added his gravelly voice to the chant and lifted his long gray staff a foot off the stone. The target: a lone male entered the ancient ring of stone, and with a cry he slammed down his staff to seal the spell. The lone human was trapped inside the pit. The long hours of effort had not been in vain.

* * *

Everything seemed normal as Logan walked up to the small clearing ringed by tall pines, except when he tried to look into the clearing he had so often walked through, the grass was out of focus and the trees on the other side were sliding in and out of view. One moment there was the normal view of trees, but the next moment he could only see a tall, circular rock wall. I must be getting sick, he thought. I guess I better get home and lay down. He took three full strides forward, and then he was not there.

He stood still swaying as he became more and more disoriented and was beginning to fear he was going to black out. Finally, the shifting back and forth stopped and there was only the tall stone wall towering above him. For one of the few times in his life, he was truly frightened and started to stagger as he moved toward what should have been the edge of the clearing. There were many partly covered evil faces looking down at him. Then the blackness slipped into his mind; he lost consciousness, falling hard onto a stone floor.

* * *

A metal door, as old as the tower itself and covered with symbols of power, screeched as it opened once again into the stone pit. Two men in gray-hooded robes walked quickly to Logan’s still body, grabbed him under his arms, and dragged him out of the pit. The unconscious body was searched briefly and then carried by four hooded men to be where the others were and dumped onto the dirt. It was a large flat enclosure surrounded by a short stone wall and had an old half-fallen building on one side. There were five other human men in the enclosure who only watched as this new man was just let fall to the ground. It was still several hours before dark so they left him alone. It was not good to move a new man too early or too much, and besides, he may not live anyway, so they went back about whatever they were doing before he arrived.

* * *

When Logan first felt the jumbled arrival of consciousness, he could not move. He could feel a pounding headache through the thick fog in his mind. I’m still alive were his first thoughts. That was weird. I was hallucinating about a pile of rocks. No, it was some kind of a stone-walled pit. Good grief, but it looked real. He had to wait long frightening minutes before he could begin to function. His mind was trapped in darkness, but then he could feel his own breathing. I’ll just give it a few more breaths and then I’ll try to move a little. Although it was a terrifying exercise, he actually had to find the connection to his right hand. Running through his brain for the correct connection, he tried to move his fingers and actually felt his fingertips drag across the ground. His mind was clearing a little quicker now—all of his body parts, one by one, were registering as being present. It was the strangest thing he had ever felt; it was as if his brain had been rebooted like an old computer. Okay, he thought, now comes the test." He opened his eyes.

He had a slightly blurry view of the sky above him, but there were no treetops. There should be treetops, he thought to himself. He shifted his focus right and then left. He was not in the clearing. He was not even in the woods, and he was not in a hospital. Panic started to flood into his mind; he was somewhere other than where he was when he passed out. He slowly, painfully lifted his right hand to his face and pinched his lips between his finger nails very hard. Damn, he muttered, This is not a dream. Where in the hell am I?

Suddenly from his left and right sides appeared the out-of-focus faces of two men. They looked normal enough. They actually looked concerned about him. With nothing to lose, Logan asked the obvious question, Where am I?

The two men smirked knowingly at each other. The man on the right replied, I’m Sam. Just lie there a second, as if you could move, and I’ll get the professor and maybe he can try to explain it. I get lost after ten words, but maybe you can get some idea from him.

Both faces moved out of sight but soon a new face appeared. Good to see you survived the ordeal. How are you feeling? If you feel god-awful, then that is normal.

Okay, then I feel extra normal. Who are you?

Borg West. I was a professor at a junior college teaching physics before I ended up here. These guys call me the professor but I would prefer Borg.

Okay, I’ll try to remember if mind ever works again, but where in the hell am I?

There was a pause as the man scratched his cheek with his right hand. Now that is not an easy question to answer. You are actually not far from wherever you were before you came here. The stone pit is inside a tower that is about two miles to your right as you are lying now, that is north, inside of a forest. The tower has killed all of the trees around it, so it is one ugly place. You cannot see it from here but I can show you later if you really want to see it again. The last place you were in the old world or our side was inside that stone ring at the same time. You could not see the ring but you had moved into it or it had moved over you. You were not moved here but more like transferred from one physical reality to this one. The tower is connected in some way with our world. We were all picked up in different places so the position of the tower must move around in reference to our side. So, to review it quickly, you were transferred from one physical reality to another. They are pretty much in the same place just not in contact with each other, except through the stone ring.

I think I felt better before your explanation. I was following there for a moment; but how can there be two worlds in the same place but not be in contact?

The man was obviously delighted to go on with his explanation. Well space, even the physical world we thought we were in, is mostly an illusion. Our world is more than 99.95 percent empty space, and the little part that is not empty space does not actually exist in some ways. There is plenty of room for more than one set of illusions. I doubt the matter, or illusion of matter, from our side interacts with the same things on this side, but now I am guessing. They could have different matter-wavelengths or maybe totally different dimensions. In any case, in the short time I have been here, I have determined things work differently on this side than on ours.

Yah, in what way?

Everything is more chemically active on this side. I can show you sometime."

How do I know I am not just out of my mind? You look real and this ground I am lying on feels very hard; but two physical realities is a little hard to swallow. By the way, my name is Logan.

Logan, your entire body has been shifted brutally from one type of matter or illusion into another by some force inside of the tower and the things, or men, you saw. You feel like hell, and I am sure your head is killing you. When you get up and around, you will become convinced this is all real. Not everyone survives the transfer and some of those who do are not quite the same in the head. You must be a tough guy. I think you are going to be fine.

Okay, for the sake of argument, let’s say this is all real, which I doubt. What about those things or men I saw who were looking down at me? Will I have to see them again?

"Those same ones, no, but you will see some kind of lower servants who bring food, water, wood, bedding and poke around every few days.

But I won’t have to look at the things standing around at the top of the stone ring or stone pit or whatever it was?

I don’t think so. We have not seen them here, but it would be hard to tell as they all look alike. Sully could tell you better than I can.

Borg, could you come back in ten minutes? I really don’t feel well.

The friendly but talkative man left and Logan gratefully closed his eyes and waited for the pounding in his head to calm just a bit before he tried to flex the muscles in his legs. He discovered, after several attempts, he could move each of his feet and his left hand. Trying to turn his head was too painful to try more than once, but at least something hurt, so that was good enough for the moment. Being a systems analyst dictated this careful systematic approach. Staying busy was helping to keeping the feeling of panic down to where he could just go with whatever was happening to him.

Borg returned with a smile on his face and sat down next to him and waited for the new guy to ask more of the many questions he must have. The new guy looked very calm after what he had been through. Usually, new arrivals were in pure panic by now and trashing around trying to gain at least a little control of their life. Logan took in and released four deep breathes and then asked.

Do you have any idea why they are doing this?

I believe they are looking for weapons from our side. They may be trying to pull someone through who has an explosive which will work on this side. There is a lot of power here. You can light a fire by rubbing sticks together in a few seconds but lighting a common match from our side would blow your hand off. They missed a single match in a book of paper matches Sam had in a small coin pocket and we threw it in the fire. It went off like a hand grenade. I don’t think they can control the much greater chemical oxidation well enough to create an explosive of their own. I could show them how to add things to dampen down the reactions but I won’t.

If the time ever comes my brain is working, you can explain it again. How many people are there here?

At the current time, there are four others, making a total of six.

How long have you all been here?

Adam has been here the longest. His memory really can’t be trusted, but he says he has been here for six months. Sam and Tate arrived within a day of each other and have counted the days. So they have been here around four months. I have been here close to three months and Sully just a few days less.

Is there any structure here among you guys? Is anyone in charge?"

We decided some structure was necessary, so we picked Tate to make any decisions that need to be made. Tate is the tall black man over to your left. No, don’t try to turn your head; you will meet him soon enough. He was a sergeant in the Army Rangers before he got here and tougher than nails, so he is the only leader we have.

Thank you, but if you could find me a softer spot of dirt, I think I need some sleep. Maybe I’ll wake up in the real world.

Borg laughed and replied, You are going to be okay. Anyone who can joke at this point is solid. Welcome to other-side. Roll over slowly and crawl over into our ramshackle dwelling and you will find a mat you can sleep on, courtesy of the Grays. We would carry you but it is better if you move at your own speed and ability.

It took Logan several long painful minutes to turn over on to his stomach, which he followed with what he thought was a well-deserved rest. Getting his hands and knees up under himself was painful but somehow rewarding. The short distance he had to crawl was done by moving one limb followed by a short rest. This is not real went through his mind with every movement. This is just the most vivid dream I have ever had, but it is not real. He rolled onto the first mat he found and closed his eyes in defiance.

* * *

Is he going to live, Borg? asked Tate, I saw him speaking and actually crawling, so that’s a good sign."

Yes, his name is Logan, and he must have a tough mind. He asked logical questions. I am afraid I gave him my usual professorial explanation. If he did not have a headache before, I am sure I gave him one.

Only time will tell; we sure don’t need another Adam on our hands. And speaking of Adam, where the heck he is now?

No idea. He wandered off as soon as the new guy, Logan made it to a mat.

The next time Logan opened his eyes, he was hoping to see treetops or the ceiling of a hospital room, but he was still in the other-side, as the guy who said his name was Borg had called it, inside of an old stone building. Oh no, he groaned, it was not just a dream. Maybe if I get on my feet and walk around, my mind will switch back or adjust to whatever this is. He rolled off the mat and onto his stomach and then up to his knees. There was nothing to grab hold of to pull himself up, so he tried to roll back onto his feet and then stand straight up. It had been a very bad idea; his head started to spin and he was about to fall when a pair of strong hands grabbed him around his waist and held him up.

Hey, easy there, new guy. It took me three days to get on my feet and I am known for being tough. Don’t overdo it or you will get yourself hurt. The stranger then walked backward pulling Logan, with Logan trying to move his feet to help. After a few yards, the man eased Logan onto the short stone wall. Sit here for a while until your head stops spinning.

Thanks, muttered Logan, I was about to plant my face into the dirt.

No problem. My name is Samuel but you can call me Sam. I have been here for, ah, going on four months. I was digging a trench by hand for a foundation of a home when I was suddenly face down on that bloody stone floor of that ugly pit. I am still so scared; I jump every time I see one of those gray-hooded guys. The professor says I am still suffering from the trauma, but my mother believed in evil and I think that is what they are. Sometimes I think I died right there in that trench and have been sent to hell. What do you think?

Who, me? muttered Logan, My head is still spinning. I followed what Borg told me even though it was hard to fathom. What he says makes sense, but I don’t think I can concentrate at the moment. Give me a week and maybe I can tell you what I think. How often do you see those eerie creatures?

A couple of them show up about once a week. They bring food and water and then try to get information out of the professor. But he’s a smart guy and never tells them anything. He warns them that they are going to get blown to hell if they happen to try to transfer a land mine or an atom bomb. I think he is pulling their leg about it, but he always tries to put some fear in them.

Logan turned his head slowly, wincing at the pain, to look at the man he was talking to and realized his eyes were looking a few inched below the man’s left shoulder. This man was very tall.

How tall are you Sam?

I’m only about six foot eight. Tate keeps telling me I am taller, but I at least remember how tall I am.

Logan was feeling dizzy but tried to fight it by talking. So tell me about yourself Sam, is your family all as big as you are?

My ancestors came over from Scotland and we are all really big people. I am the tallest in my family. My younger brothers say I am taller because I ate all of the food, which may be true. When I was sixteen, I figured out I was not gonna be no scientist, so I quit school and got a job working manual construction. Tate makes me work out every day so I don’t go soft. I have lost my beer belly and am in better shape, but damn I would love a cold beer and a plate of ribs.

Has anyone ever tried to escape?

Only one guy I know of. His name was Brian and he came here a week or two after I did. He was gone two days. Then they brought his body back and make us dig the grave for it. The professor thinks they can feel our fear, so running and hiding won’t work. He says they can’t see in the dark any better than we can, but they like darker places. He has some ideas he is working on. You will have to ask him.

One by one, the other three men whom Logan had not met wandered over to say hello to the new guy who had survived.

Hi, said a tall, handsome, muscular man with black skin. My name is Tatum, but everyone just calls me Tate. It is good to meet you. You give us one more person from our side to talk to and find out what is going there. Be prepared to give us a news summary for the last few months including what sport teams won what.

Tate, Borg told me that you are the somewhat leader around here. Anything I should know?

Not much, I am afraid to say. When any Grays show up, with supplies just stay as far away from them as you can.

So you were a sergeant in the Army Rangers?

Yes, I was going to be a lifetime ranger. I loved it and was doing very well until during a training mission, while watching my men, I ended up here. They are probably still looking for me. You look to be in good shape, but tomorrow I’ll start to get you in better shape.

Why?

Because it is good for your mind. Until we find a way out of here, my job will be to keep you alert and ready to move.

What do you guys do around here all day? It must get boring.

"Sam and Sully play cards using flat pieces of wood they cut and labeled