The Traveller - Chaper 12

The Traveller 

A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 12

A Garden Talk 

It was twilight in spring and the colour of flowers were scattered around the mountain garden , Bucko was sitting quietly appreciating the moment when a traveller returned into the garden  . It was a moment when time seemed to  stand still   . The young traveller had appeared from nowhere and sat down beside Bucko and said .

“Does anybody know this life is just an illusion ? .“ 

 

Bucko replied .

“Most of the people avoid looking beyond the curtain that blinds them to the truth . Only a few are able to see through the illusion “

The visitor said ,

“We are those who know the truth and how much longer long will it be until we home again where we are meant to belong ?” 

A light of many colours shone through an opening in the sky as a sweet song of a little bird was heard in the rose garden.  

Bucko looked at the visitor and said.

“When I close my eyes, I see visions of a place that I once knew and those who are there have told me that my last day here on earth is coming soon and I will be home again where I belong “

The visitor replied ,

”The time we are here is a short pause that passes away like a season that comes and goes . Nobody knows the delight of the gardener when he sees the rose in bloom and plucks it from the stem and brings it home into his room to enhance the  beauty and  fragrance in a space where no one but has ever seen “

 

 

They both sat there in silence for a while with the moons still out of sight in a silence that grew .

Bucko broke the silence and said .

“The rose in the garden remains invisible to the world except for the gardener who planted it . No one else has ever seen or smelt its fragrance . It has grown there in silence for all those years :

The visitor got to his feet and said , 

“Would you walk with me a while through this garden for time it can pass by in the blink of an eye and we never get to appreciate the beauty around us “

 

Bucko got to his feet and said .

:You must forgive my slow pace my body is old now and I have some pains that make it difficult to walk at times. “

The visitor replied.   

“ You have been busy for most of your life here in the garden and on missions that have made a difference in the world .Your body is flesh and bones but your spirit is forever young and will never grow old “ 

Bucko replied , 
“ When I am sent on mission’s I feel no pain or tiredness . Are you here with another mission for me . “ 

The visitor said , 
“It’s a little late now for you to do those things don’t you think . You’ve already been said , your body has pains and you find it hard to walk now “ 

The young man pointed to an area and said .

‘”There is a seat here , Let’s sit and rest for a while “

They sat there on the bench as the twilight was fading and stared to talk about life and how the world had gone through changes with war and peace , disasters and discoveries , progress and recessions . ,

“Thank you for the rest . I’m struggling to breathe sometimes now .“ Bucko said.

The visitor smiled and replied.

“You cannot hide the truth and you cannot deny that you have trouble also in your  heart that pains you at times . So, you know why I am here today .“

 

Bucko looked away and said , .

“Why are you here ?“ 

“The truth will always win out in the end . My mission here is to bring you to the truth  that awaits in the rose garden , “ 

There was a silence and then Bucko continued , 

“So, then it must be true , my time here has come to an end and the truth has come to take me home to where I belong “ 

The visitor helped Bucko to his feet and they both walked slowly over to the rose garden . A gardener was there looking at one of the roses . A blinding light was shining all around Bucko as the gardener snipped the rose and the moon rose in the sky above .

The visitor called out to the gardener saying .

“Take him home now where he belongs Master and give him life eternal with you in your kingdom where age shall not weary him and pain shall not hinder his footsteps anymore .“ 

A silence fell down around the garden as another good man left the world . The visitor walked inside the home and tried on some of Bucko’s clothes and then returnedoutside sit in the garden . He spoke as if Bucko was still there saying ,

“I will continue the work you began Bucko here in your garden with the herbs and plants . Your work will not be in vain . I will continue what you have begun” :

As he walked the sound of footsteps made their way slowly step by step over to the visitor , The traveller looked around the garden then said  ,.

“So, like Bucko you also have the gift of healing “

The visitor replied. 

“That’s true but I never knew until recently . Have you come with a mission for me ?“

The traveller said.  

“ Yes, there is someone who is going to need you healing gift . This person is going to implement a cure for dementia in the years ahead , He is currently in prison in a country where the government does not support the work he is doing . You will need to assist him to break free of that prison so that he can continue his work . “ 

“A world without dementia sounds promising . “

Said the visitor . The traveller nodded his head and replied. 

“ There will be many who will benefit from the cure. So,then I’m told that you are going to be the traveller here in residence in the mountain home  “

“Yes . This will be my home now “

The traveller smiled and replied .

‘”Ok ,that’s  good . So, I left your all the information you will need on the kitchen table . Good luck with your first mission “

The traveller disappeared and the new resident made his way inside the house .

 

The End

 

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