The Land Beyond

By J.H.E. Lim

The Land Beyond is a contemporary fantasy set in the twenty-first century.
This is the second book of The Land series. Readers see Josie, the protagonist, pursuing more unusual adventures in the lands beyond.
Parallel to her adventures is Josie’s interaction with the other characters in the story. She discovers as she grows older, that friendship love and trust are never constant. Attitudes and lifestyles also change.
In her interaction with others, there are moments when Josie realises that she must make choices This causes her to re-think her relationship with some of the people she interacts with.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Mar 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781543756777

J.H.E. Lim

The writer, Janet Hong Eng Lim, has degrees from the National University of Singapore, the University of London, (U.K.) and the University of Leeds, (U.K.) She has done much research in education and communicative strategies. Over the years, she has worked with children, young adults and mature adults in different communities. She has also travelled to many lands. In the writing of her books, she brings in her knowledge and experiences to enrich her stories. The Land Between is the 4th book in The Land Series.

Book preview

ONE

Loud banging and clashing sounds filled her room. Josie awoke with a fright. She looked around but saw no one. The sounds were coming from outside. Yet they seemed so loud within her bedroom.

They were echoes of gongs and cymbals often heard during the Chinese New Year season when the lion dancers performed. But Josie knew it wasn’t the season yet.

What was causing the cacophony? She waited a moment, listening. The volume faded. Then it rose to deafening proportions. Josie immediately went to the window to investigate.

There was a land at the back of her house stretching way into the distance. Unusual happenings occurred there. As in the past, so now in the present.

In her earlier visits, she had experiences which perplexed and bewildered her, sometimes to overwhelming proportions. But they always left her curious.

There was one person who could unravel the mysteries that occurred, but he rarely appeared in the land when she visited it.

When he did appear, he never stayed long to chat. Elusive and always surrounded in brilliant light, he was the Celestial Gardener.

Josie longed to meet him again. But she knew she couldn’t do so at her will. For he set the pace. The timing of his appearance was always his.

The loud crash of a cymbal intruded into her contemplation and brought her back to the present. From her room window, she could see a celebration of some kind. Several figures carrying drums were beating a loud rhythm on them.

Josie also saw dancers leaping up and down. At the same time, they were carrying blazing torches which lit the night sky. She hurriedly changed, exited the kitchen door, and dashed to the land.

However, after she got there, she was surprised to see no one around. Yet from her room window, the scene had appeared so close. As she stood there, her eye caught sight of a procession moving into the far distance.

She chased after it, but no matter how far she ran, the distance between them seemed equal. She just couldn’t bridge the gap.

She stood there, wondering what to do next.

She remembered the instruction of the Celestial Gardener. If you want to enter the land beyond, you have to activate the key earring which I gave you. It is on your left earlobe. Press it between your thumb and index finger.

She tried to figure out the instruction. She was now in the land behind her house. But does that mean the procession was in a land way beyond her own country? And does she hold the key to its entry?

She thought, ‘I’ll try it out’. Then she pressed the tiny key earring between her thumb and index finger.

She didn’t know how, but all at once, she was in the middle of a crowd! One moment she was standing on the land behind, and the next she was standing right in the middle of a land beyond!

It was a remarkable phenomenon. However, she didn’t want to spend any time working out the logic.

The noise rose in a crescendo as she mingled with the large crowd. The people close to her were dressed in long plain tunics and knee-high coloured pants.

The material clung to them like soft silk and flapped whenever the strong wind blew on it. They weren’t the dressing of a present-day person.

The crowd was clapping in rhythm to the resounding sounds of the large acoustic drums. These were of different sizes, the smallest one as tiny as the one for a very young child.

To see whom the crowd was clapping for, Josie squeezed her way to the front. Facing her was a huge image!

It resembled a very large cat. There were several distinct black strips on the top of the head and at the back of the neck.

Josie stared at it fearfully. The animal reminded her of a leopard she’d seen in an overseas zoo. It had a lion’s mouth with long sharp incisors. Its jaws appeared more powerful than a normal leopard’s. The size indicated this.

Her eyes were then drawn to its back, where she saw four wings. She blinked a few times, for she couldn’t believe that a real leopard had wings. When her eyes travelled down to its feet, she saw strong paws with claws that were long and shaped like a sickle.

The sight was intimidating! She shuddered. She’d never seen anything like it before! She stood mesmerised by the image.

Firebrands which the gyrating dancers brandished around, lit the night sky. The whole atmosphere was overpowering and oppressive.

The shouting, chanting, and clashing of the drums served only to increase her uneasiness.

Instinctively, she knew she was seeing something most unusual!

She thought of running back to the safety of her house, but the surging crowds blocked her path. They were closing in on the image in their frenzy. The crescendo deafened her ears.

She plugged her ears with her forefingers but couldn’t stifle the sound. The booming sound was so overpowering that it penetrated deep into her heart!

From out of nowhere, a burning arrow flew straight at her. Her reaction was fast. She lifted her right hand to ward it off. The fire seared her arm. Where it landed, there was a burning sensation.

Just then, she felt burly hands lifting her high up to the level of the image’s face. She had a glimpse of its fiery eyes, before the same hands hurtled her down. She fell onto something like a silken slide and kept slithering down its length before landing on the ground with a heavy thud!

Sparks of fire from the firebrands flew all around. The smoke caused her to splutter and choke. A violent fit of coughing ensued. Her eyes smarted and burned from within its sockets!

Fortunately, tears came to her rescue as they filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. They washed out dust that had entered her eyes. Unfortunately, no matter where she turned her head, more dust swirled around her, blinding her eyes again.

More tears came to her rescue. When the grit no longer bit into her eyes, she opened them. To her amazement, she saw the dust, which collected on the ground, turning it into something looking remarkably like gold. It was shimmering in the light of the brandishing fires!

Just when she thought the dust had settled, to her shock, the large drums and cymbals began to disintegrate into fine gold dust. This was caught up by the strong wind, which blew it in all directions.

Some were caught in her long hair and settled on top of her head. She lifted her hand to touch it. Its shape felt like a crown. Josie didn’t know what to make of it.

Soon the vision began to fade. Josie made her way back to her house. To her consternation, Jeremy was standing by the open door.

He said nothing but stood there with arms folded. He was watching her with a look she couldn’t fathom.

He was her cousin from Sabah who was staying with her family. A first-year student in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), he lodged in a hostel on the campus on weekdays.

On some weekends, he came to stay with her family. She hadn’t expected him home that weekend.

Nervously, she asked, What’re you doing here?

I should be asking you the same question, he shot back. I came back late tonight. I thought you were asleep.

But just before I went to bed, I happened to look out of my window. Saw the bright lights. Heard the drums in the distance. And suspected you might be visiting the land!

Josie drew in her breath sharply. "You mean you saw the lights and heard the drums?" She was stunned at this revelation. In the past, the privilege of such a vision was opened only to her.

She was startled when he added, I saw you from my window going to the land behind. But when I tried to enter it, but something kept blocking me.

Seemed to be an invisible barrier of some kind. How did you manage to enter the land?

Um…um, she stammered. Unsure as to what answer to give him, she took refuge by declaring, I’m tired. I’d like to go inside.

But he just stood grimly facing her, arms folded. Not until you tell me how you got into the land. There’s something odd going on out there. I mean to find out what it is.

His voice was firm, and Josie knew he meant what he said. But how was she to explain a phenomenon which she herself couldn’t understand!

She was tired and hot and felt in need of a cold drink.

Why don’t we go inside? I need a drink. She pushed past him. When he saw her weary face, he yielded. She opened the ‘fridge door, took out a bottle of orange juice and poured some out into a glass.

The cold juice slid down her parched throat, refreshing her. Without warning, his hand shot up above her head. She ducked quickly.

"What is it?" she asked fearfully.

His hand stopped midway. What’s that?

Baffled, Josie asked, What, what?

That thing on your head. Looks like a crown.

She dashed to the mirror. There glittering on her head was a crown of gold threads.

"What’s that? he asked. Um, looks like gold threads stitched together. Where did you get it? He peered at it closely. Did someone give it to you?"

Josie decided to let him know. Um, I remember standing in front of this giant image. It was really frightening to see.

It looked something like a leopard, only it had wings on its back. Its mouth and jaw looked more like a lion’s.

She hesitated when she saw the sceptical look on his face. Her voice faltered. You know, Jeremy, it had feet like a bear’s paw. Its claws were long, sharp, and shaped like a sickle.

Then I felt something hot, like a firebrand searing my arms.

She added disjointedly, Oh yes, and there were several dancers all brandishing firebrands about in the night.

Er, I guess some of the sparks must have flown to my head. That’s what probably made the crown!

From the way Jeremy looked at her, Josie wished she hadn’t given him an account. Josie saw doubt, disbelief, distrust, and even a tinge of anger, crossing his face fleetingly, like grey clouds chasing across a sky!

She knew he didn’t accept a word of what she said. Worse still, he showed her that the same old doubts were still there. In the past, when she told him of her adventures, trust and belief were absent.

Josie’s hand reached up to touch the crown. It felt solid. But when she tried to take it off, it wouldn’t come off.

Do you think there’s glue on it? Um, you know like the one Justin used to paste glass onto his kite strings for his kite fights.

Justin was her cousin who used to fly kites with her. He pasted pounded glass on the strings, whenever he was challenged to a kite fight with his friends.

When she saw his face, she burst out, Why’re you looking at me like that, Jeremy? What I described to you is true. Look, the firebrand seared my arm too!

She lifted her arm to show him, but there was no burnt mark. The pain was gone too. In her earlier adventures, she’d often suffered pain, bruises and even minor fractures.

However, that night the evidence wasn’t there. She went to the mirror to see her face. Its skin was smooth and normal. So were her arms.

Unable to contain himself, Jeremy burst out, You know, you make a good story-teller! Why don’t you tell me the truth!

"Who have you been meeting at night? Every now and then you steal out of the kitchen to meet him in the land. Who is he?"

Josie could see that Jeremy was quite mystified. She knew her account was so way out that it must be difficult for him to accept it, for he hadn’t seen what she had.

The one who saw the happenings was only Josie herself! But by that time, she was weary with trying to convince him that what she experienced was real.

Looking deep into his eyes, she said earnestly, I’ve told you the truth. Everything I’ve experienced. The people I met and even spoke to. But I guess it’s hard for you to believe me, for you haven’t seen what I saw.

Jeremy could see she was quite distressed. In the past, she’d tried hard to convince him. Her voice always rang out in sincerity. He wanted to believe her account. But logic always came in the way of belief and countered his acceptance of her accounts!

It’s true, Jeremy! Her voice burst out earnestly.

He took her hands in his and patted them. Josie, Josie, I’m not stopping you from visiting that land. But if there’re people there who’re hurting you each time, then I think you should stop going there!

Josie felt quite wretched. She knew she couldn’t stop, wouldn’t stop, because deep down inside, her curious nature desired to see the unusual.

That land had become her own special land, a place where only she was given the right to enter, for hadn’t Jeremy tried to enter it earlier and wasn’t able to?

Josie intuitively sensed that there was someone special who owned the land. He’d granted her the privilege of seeing whatever was happening there.

In a past visit, she had met him. He told her he was the Celestial Gardener. His power was great. In his presence, she couldn’t stand up. She had to kneel all the time he spoke to her.

She found him wise but elusive. The huge garden he owned appeared occasionally in the land behind her house. The first time Josie visited it she was greatly intrigued by its creative garden.

In her second encounter with him, he gave her a special key earring that was part gold, part silver, and part wood. He had inserted it into her left ear by blowing into it. Then, he told her that the key would open the way for her to enter lands beyond.

That night, she realised the truth of what the man told her. Earlier, she thought that going to a land beyond meant travelling to it via land, air, or sea transport.

But she came to know that she didn’t need to travel physically abroad to get there. She could enter the land beyond with the use of the key given to her. The realisation was mind-boggling!

Jeremy’s intent stare brought her back to the present. He was waiting for an explanation. She heaved a big sigh.

Jeremy, we’re back to the same argument and getting nowhere. You ask me to tell you the truth. I did, but you just won’t believe me!

She then pleaded, Can I go up now? Just as she was about to leave him, he stopped her.

Wait a minute, wait a minute! Didn’t the Celestial Gardener give you a tiny key to open the way to the lands beyond? She was silent.

Did you use it tonight? His voice was insistent.

Reluctantly, she admitted, Um, I did, but only after I entered the land.

What do you mean?

Just that, after I entered the land behind, I couldn’t see the performers there. But from where I stood, I could see the drummers and the dancers in the far distance.

Then when I remembered the key earring, I pressed it. That opened the way for me to enter another land.

You mean there’s another land beyond? Incredible!

Jeremy rubbed his hands excitedly. That’s it! There’s the solution! His tone revealed his eagerness.

The next time you enter the land, take me with you.

But Josie was reluctant. But if you don’t believe, then how can you enter? Wasn’t that one of the conditions for entry? Belief?

She went on, Er, accepting the fact that you can have access into the land? And see strange things which happen there?

She saw him pondering over a pertinent point. But Jeremy wasn’t to be dissuaded. Well, do you remember what I told you earlier? Um, that I could see the lights and the activity in that land from my window?

He declared firmly, That means my eyes are opened to the mystery beyond. I am halfway into accepting it.

She knew he was right. He continued strengthening his case before her, All I need is the key. And you have it.

He looked at her almost pleadingly.

She could see the eagerness in his eyes. And she didn’t have the heart to say no to him. The Celestial Gardener’s words flashed through her mind. ‘Those who believe will see!’

Jeremy’s words showed her he believed what he saw - the vision was the same one as hers. Yet after she recounted her experience, he was sceptical. Josie was perplexed at the seeming paradox.

She didn’t give him an affirmative to his request. Instead, she left him and went up to her room.

The hot shower invigorated her. She scrubbed her head well. As she did that, the crown on her head was dislodged. She picked it up from the ground and took a closer look.

In the light, it glittered like gold. However, she wasn’t sure if it was real gold. Its authenticity could be verified only by her mother. But that meant she would have to confide in her mother about her adventure. From past conversations with her mother, she found her more unconvinced than Jeremy!

Worse still, her mother had rationalised her daughter’s experiences with the explanation that she was having nightmares!

Her father too didn’t quite believe her. He tended to dismiss her adventures as part of her sleepwalking!

TWO

Josie recalled the past as she climbed into bed. At birth, she was named Josephine. Later, her name was shortened to ‘Josie’ by relatives. Because of repeated use by them, her parents, Joshua and Ruth Yuen went with the flow of preference.

Behind her house was a land which intrigued her because of the mysterious happenings that occurred mainly at night.

When she first shared her adventures with her parents, they regarded them only as incidents she saw in her dreams. When they were fearful, her mother, Ruth, dismissed them as nightmares. Her father and Jeremy, her cousin, too tended to rationalise them.

In her earlier visits she brought back real evidence from her adventures, but her mother dismissed them as things she found in the kitchen area.

Since her family explained away her accounts with their own logic, over time, rather than get into an argument with them and be upset by their reactions, Josie stopped sharing with them.

That night as she lay in bed, Josie was excited to know she could visit more lands beyond with the key which the Celestial Gardener had given her.

It wasn’t long before she fell fast asleep.

* * *

The next day, by the time Josie went down for breakfast, Jeremy had left for the university, where he was doing a double-degree course in business and computer engineering.

When Jeremy completed his A level study in the U.K., his father, Luke, encouraged him to apply for a place in NTU in Singapore.

Luke was an adopted cousin of Ruth, who was Josie’s mother. He wanted his son to study in a university in Singapore, for it was closer to Sabah. He knew the universities in the country have a high standard.

After Jeremy secured a place in the university, because of the travel time on weekdays, he took a room close to the university, in a hostel in Jurong. He paid by the term only because he spent the term breaks in Joshua’s house.

Since his father wanted him to keep close ties with Joshua’s family, he urged his son to spend weekends with that family. He was also keen to have his son marry Josie because he wanted to use the liaison to strengthen his business ties with her father.

Luke ran a construction industry with business connections in Sabah, Malaysia, and Indonesia. He had plans to expand his business into other countries.

Joshua was very wealthy. He had sharp business acumen and a successful business in technology, not only in Singapore, but also in several countries abroad.

His wife, Ruth, was a fashion designer. She was trained in a top fashion house in Paris. Highly qualified, she ran a business in fashion design in countries in Europe and Asia as well.

Both often travelled abroad on business trips. During those times, their young daughter stayed with Ruth’s older sister Jem and her husband, Don, who was a family doctor. They had a son, Justin, who was older than Josie.

Jem was a professional counsellor. Her husband, Don, ran a private clinic as a family doctor. When Josie stayed with them, she came to learn about kite flying through Justin’s influence and enthusiasm for the pastime.

Through him too, she came to know his schoolmates, Fred and Chin. During the kite fights, Justin always eyed Fred’s kites which were better and more expensive.

Under his guidance, Josie became adept at retrieving the numerous kites her cousin cut during the fights with Fred. She came to be known in his circle of friends as his runner.

Besides flying kites, Josie’s pastimes from a young age included drawing portraits and landscapes; and reading adventure stories.

As she moved into the teen years, her artwork won several awards because of her skill. Her love for novels continued. In school, Josie excelled not only in art but in music as well. She was given a place as a violinist in the school orchestra.

After her cousin Justin went into national service her interest in kites took a back seat. Furthermore, when Fred and Chin took up part-time work in December, there was no one to pursue the pastime with her.

Josie had another cousin from Sabah, Shi Fang. She came out to Singapore when Jeremy came over. But she stayed for only two months after which she left for further studies in the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada. Although she was nearly eighteen, she had worldly wisdom and experience.

In contrast, Josie’s own experience with the world outside her home and her school was limited. She lived a sheltered life because her mother was careful whom she mixed with.

Ruth’s control over the friends she mixed with stretched to other areas. She forbade her from owning a smartphone. When Josie disclosed that all her friends had one, her mother bluntly told her, You don’t need one. It’s a distraction. Too many of your friends only play games on it! They’ll do better in their studies if they spend less time on their smartphones!

That was before Josie reached fifteen.

When she left for school that morning, she was in a happy frame of mind. Her fifteenth birthday was coming soon. She was hoping her mother would allow her to get a smartphone. Like so many girls of her age group she couldn’t wait to grow older so that she could be independent of her mother’s control.

To her, birthdays were special occasions, memorable ones, just like Christmas, Chinese New Year and National Day. She loved special days, especially public holidays. That meant she could sleep in! She recalled last year’s celebration of National Day.

Flags decorated the city; students participated in the march on the day of celebration. Yearly, the people were reminded of the history of Singapore within one evening’s performance. And the city was given a public holiday!

On her way to school that day, she thought through the list of friends she wanted to invite to her birthday.

She was happy too because the December holidays were approaching. It was a month favoured by school children in the city for many of their parents took them abroad for their holidays.

When Josie entered her class that day, she found her friends discussing their holiday plans.

Jin Su, now a taller, slimmer person at fifteen, was telling the girls, My mother is taking us to a ski resort in the French Alps.

Dina, the plump new girl who joined the school in the final term, announced, Mine are visiting Hokkaido. We hear the snows there are good this year.

Adele, with the frizzy hair which covered her forehead like a helmet, shared, We might be going to New Zealand as it’s summer there. My dad doesn’t like the cold.

How about you, Josie? Dina asked. Where’re your parents taking you?

Mm, not sure yet, she said.

After school, she went home intending to ask her parents. But this was interrupted when she saw two cars in her driveway on her arrival home.

Who’s here? she asked Elsa, the Filipina helper.

Don’t know. They’re upstairs with your father.

On entering the living-room, she saw a broad-shouldered grey-haired man with Bobby, her sixteen-year old cousin from Indonesia and his eldest brother, Brandon.

She was delighted to see her two cousins again. She’d met them in Bali for the kite festival.

When Joshua saw her, he said, Come and meet Zech, your uncle from Indonesia.

When Josie went up to her uncle, Joshua introduced them. Zech, this is Josie, my daughter.

Josie politely stretched out her hand to shake his. Welcome, Uncle Zech.

His very tanned face revealed his delight at meeting his niece. At the same time, Bobby rose to greet her. But Brandon remained seated and just flashed her a friendly smile.

Bobby was grinning widely as he sat opposite her. The first thing she noticed about him were his two front teeth. On her last visit to Bali for the kite festival they were protruding. But now they were aligned in a straight row with the other front teeth.

Although his face had leaned out, his shy, boyish smile was still there. He was taller and slimmer since they last met.

Zech said, Remember Bobby and Brandon? Bobby’s been talking a lot about you and your cousins. He was very keen to come out to Singapore. He spoke with a strong Indonesian accent.

Bobby’s face crinkled into a smile, causing his eyes to disappear between the folds and his whole face to light up.

Just then, the front door opened. In walked Don with a thick parcel in his hand which he handed to Joshua. New device for you.

Zech, remember Don? Joshua asked as he stood up to greet his brother-in-law.

Yah, yah, of course, Jem’s husband! Zech got up clumsily. He clasped Don on his shoulders. When he stood up Josie noticed he was quite tall, reaching up to her uncle’s shoulders.

Don gave him a broad smile. Good to see you again, Zech. It’s been a long time.

He then turned to Bobby and Brandon. I must thank you both for looking after Justin, my son, when he went to Bali.

Zech’s forehead creased in his attempt to recall him. Ah, Justin was the one caught in the North Lombok earthquake?

Yes. Don nodded. He and Jeremy his cousin.

Where’re they now? Zech asked.

Justin just started national service. Jeremy’s probably attending lectures. He’s in university now.

Zech said, I hope we get to meet them before we leave. Heard about them from Bobby.

Where’re you all staying? Don asked Zech.

They’re staying with me, Joshua chipped in promptly. I was just about to tell Zech that he and his sons can stay in the annexe when you came in. As you know we’ve more than enough rooms here.

Zech coughed apologetically. I don’t want to inconvenience you. My family and I can always stay in a serviced apartment. Ah, er, I understand there’re lots available.

Zech, it isn’t inconvenient at all! We’ve more than enough rooms! Joshua scoffed at Zech’s suggestion.

Don too offered, There’s always my place, Zech. Um, I’ve an annexe too. You can stay with us.

Zech smiled his appreciation. That’s kind of you, Don. But I think Joshua mentioned he has enough rooms.

Joshua added, Uh-huh. We also have rooms in the north wing of the main building.

Zech, if your wife, Elsie, and your other two sons are coming out next week, we’ve enough rooms for them too.

Well, let me know if I can be of any help, Don said. He looked at his watch. Must be going now. Have another appointment.

I’m truly grateful to you for your offer, Zech said, as he shook Don’s hand. Um, Don, for the time being, I think we’ll stay with Joshua. When Elsie comes out this weekend, she and Ruth will have a lot to chat about.

As if highly amused by this, Zech let out a deep laugh. Um, when the two women are together, they’re like a house on fire!

As Don let himself out, he heard Zech sharing with Joshua his plans. "By the way, Bang, you might be interested to know Elsie and I’ve been thinking for some time now of letting Bobby study in Singapore."

Um, the education standard here is high. Besides, it’s closer to Indonesia. Er, more convenient for Elsie than sending our son to the States.

Um, I hear some of the schools here have boarding facilities. Bobby can always board with them there.

No such thing, Zech! Bobby can always stay with us. As I said, we’ve enough rooms! Joshua repeated his earlier offer.

Josie felt comfortable with her Indonesian cousins. It was as if she’d known them for several years. There was a silent rapport between her and Bobby, something she couldn’t quite explain.

Both Brandon and Bobby often lapsed into their home language when they were chatting about matters familiar to them.

Josie recalled that Ruth, her mother, who came from Indonesia, had also lapsed into her