Windows on Our World, Part 1: Hope
| trilogy. IN THE TRADITION OF THE EPIC FANTASY NOVELS OF THE LAST FIFTY YEARS THE LAND The first part of the trilogy ‘Hope’ tells of the arrival of Squire in Thorland and ‘The Quest for the Teeth of the Upper Jaw’. THE PROPHECY After many centuries, Squire has returned to Thorland, summoned there by the good Wizard Tobin in order to fulfil an ancient prophecy. THE PEOPLE As the quest begins, the other members of the company described in the prophecy join Squire. They also encounter many friends who assist them on the quest. THE MAGIC Tobin gives Squire a shield to protect him in times of great danger, but warns that whenever he uses it he will also get a glimpse of his own world – an unpleasant experience. THE QUEST Their quest takes the company to every part of West Thorland. Every time they locate one of the teeth, they also receive instructions for finding the next tooth. Throughout the quest, the wicked Wizard Gordeve tries to abduct Squire, destroy his friends, and thwart the quest. Read the first chapter of Hope below the map of West Thorland. |
He awoke to a morning twilight of eerie noises and bitter cold; from a dream, half-forgotten, of a river in flood, rushing waters, cries for help, a fall and a bang to his head. Yet, it had seemed more than a dream. When he opened his eyes, flakes of snow drifting down clouded his vision, but he could just make out the silhouettes of tall, pyramid-shaped trees reaching up high above. He noticed a sharp object, maybe a stone or the root of a tree, pressing into the small of his back and he felt very cold. A thick blanket of snow covered the ground and most of his body. As the man tried to stand up, snow fell from his clothing - clothes that were inadequate for these harsh conditions. At that moment, many thoughts passed through his mind. Where was he, and how did he come to be there? Why was he only wearing a pair of jeans, a thin cotton jacket over his shirt and canvas shoes on his feet? He stumbled and fell down again. Terror gripped him. His teeth began to chatter, though whether from cold or from fear he wasn’t sure. Is this the dream, and the other reality? As he lay motionless, he heard a whisper in his mind, “Squire, it’s me, Quexitoxeri. Soon the time will come for the fulfilment of the prophecy. The skull shall be made whole once more, and you will rule again in the Land.” Is this the reality, and the other the dream? Several minutes had passed since he had awoken. Once again, he tried to stand, but his muscles seized and his bones were chilled to the marrow by the paralysing cold. He grabbed hold of a branch from a small tree nearby. Despite the cold, he sweated profusely from the effort of easing his way into an upright position. The forest remained in dusky darkness, but he noticed thin shafts of light penetrating the thick canopy of trees to reach him on the forest floor, and knew that twilight was giving way to day. In these murky conditions, the only plants he could see peeping out from under the blanket of snow were some ferns and a few herbaceous plants. When his eyes had become accustomed to the gloom, he perceived something or somebody observing him. A pair of green, luminescent eyes peered at him from behind a bush not far away sending a chill of fear through his body, but they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. He rubbed his own eyes and looked once more, but this time saw nothing. It’s an illusion, or another part of this nightmare. I must get away from this place. He jumped up and down a few times to dust the snow from his garments and to try to free his limbs from their temporary paralysis. After a while, he managed to force one foot in front of the other and began to walk. He could see coniferous trees stretching endlessly in all directions and he didn't know which way to head. Southwards the ground seemed to slope downwards a little, so he struck off in that direction. If I can find a stream, then I can follow it and discover a way out of this forest, and maybe find some people to help me. The snow was several centimetres thick underfoot which made progress slow, but he was thankful that it had stopped falling. As he pursued his downwards path towards the anticipated stream, a need for survival took over urging him to put one foot mechanically in front of the other. Whenever he fell down, which happened often, he forced himself to his feet again, and trudged on. He became oblivious to his surroundings. It’s all a dream. An ear-piercing howl aroused him from his reverie. Wolves! The man began to run as panic took over. He could hear other noises now of the wolves disturbing the undergrowth not far behind him. Pushing himself to the limit to escape from the predators, he felt his heart beating faster. A feeling of dread consumed him when he sensed the bloodthirsty animals snapping at his heels. He fell again. With his last ounce of strength, he forced himself back onto his feet. He staggered on a few more metres until he stumbled into a small clearing in the trees. He felt more vulnerable than ever. His head darted around, looking for a place to hide. Cowering, he backed towards the nearest big tree, gaping at the leading wolf charging towards him through the undergrowth. He was a tall beast with a long, slender body covered with a sleek, grey coat and with long thin legs. Saliva drooled from his open mouth displaying a vicious set of teeth and a dark pink, lathering tongue. I’m done for. In desperation, he picked up a stone and threw it at the aggressor. The beast yelped and backed away, but the pain seemed only to infuriate him further. He let out a deep fearsome howl, his ears pricked up and he prepared for the kill. Cringing, the man hid his face in his hands. His snow and ice-encrusted beard felt cold and hard, and gave him no solace. I’m going to be torn to shreds. Amidst the fear and desperation, he heard another sound – the sound of wings beating – and felt the disturbance of the air around him. Deflated into a state of total submission by this latest horror, he peered between his fingers and was bewildered to see a giant eagle swoop down and carry the wolf away in its talons. He could hear the wolf’s screams as the bird lifted the beast high into the air. A few moments later, the wolf wailed again when the eagle dropped him, and he fell far below to his death. When the other wolves saw what had befallen their companion, they abandoned their prey and loped away. The man remained in his cowering position for several minutes until, realising that the first danger had passed, a foreboding of other unknown perils gripped him. Once more, he began to run for his life. Once again, his heart began to pump as he strained every sinew and every muscle to escape the danger. He kept running, downhill, down, down, and down, picking up speed and losing control. Without warning, he tripped on a sharp rock. However, his body did not strike hard ground or even the softness of new-fallen snow. Instead, he found himself falling through the air down into an abyss. Am I going to die just like the wolf? His descent into the unknown depths lasted only a few seconds, but it seemed like several minutes. Images of darkness, silhouettes of trees, snow, and slathering wolves snapping at his heels passed through his mind. Where am I? What’s happening to me? It’s all a delusion. More images of a raging river, a screaming child, and a tree root. Whispers of a prophecy, a skull. He expected at any moment to wake up from this nightmare. He was free-falling now and anticipated that his body would soon smash into the rocks below. Once again, his fortune changed as someone or something grabbed his clothing from above and arrested his downward plummet. Now he flew like a bird. At the same moment, he lost consciousness. * * * * * When he awoke, he lay in a warm bed. He looked around and saw by the light of a candle that he was in a small room and alone. He didn’t know how many hours had passed, but through a small curtainless window, he could see that there was darkness outside. He tried to call out, “Is there anyone there?” but no sound came from his vocal cords. I’ve lost my voice … or lost my mind. He tried again, with greater effort, and discovered that he could make a hoarse whispering sound. It’s no use. No one can hear me, even if there is someone there. He noticed that he wore strange dry clothes. He lay on a wooden bed, a little hard perhaps, but comfortable and warm, and several blankets covered his body. On a table beside the bed, he discovered a cup of water and some bread. So there is somebody here. After he had quenched his thirst, he stuffed the bread into his mouth, and washed it down with some more water. His hunger was not sated, but he felt more contented and soon drifted off into sleep once more. When morning came and he awoke for a second time, his heart leapt as he heard the rattling of the door latch. He sat bolt upright and inched his body back towards the wall. Wolves! A strange woman came into the room. Of course, it can’t be wolves. I’m inside a house. The woman smiled and he relaxed. She was slim and, for a woman, very tall. He estimated that she must have been in her early thirties. He didn’t think she was beautiful, but her striking features - thin face, sharp nose, thick eyebrows that nearly met above her deep brown eyes, and long black straight hair, parted in the middle – gave her an air of elegance. The woman wore a simple light-brown cloak with a rope tied around her waist. “My name is Helge.” The man relaxed at the sound of her soothing voice. “I’m so glad to see you’re alive. When you were brought here, you were cold and delirious, and close to death. I gave you some dry clothes, put you in this warm bed, and gave you a potion of healing herbs. I’ve watched over you for two days and nights.” With a hoarse whisper, he asked, “Where am I? And who am I? Can you tell me, please?” “We call this place ‘Thorland’ and your name is ‘The Squire’, as foretold in the ancient prophecy.” “What prophecy? I have no memory of these things. How do I come to be called ‘The Squire’?” “The ancient legends of our people foretold your return to Thorland in the following verse: In times to come when things are dire A Saviour will come again to Thorland, His name: ‘The Squire’. From eagle’s talons he will fall, And by his hand - With the help of woman tall, Twins, archer, three others and a mule - He will reunite golden teeth with golden skull Seeking them out in parts of the land Yet to be revealed. And when this is done, all will be healed. “We believe that the time has now arrived for this prophecy to be fulfilled and that you, Squire, are the key to its fulfilment. We didn’t know quite when to expect you, but the signs were that it should happen soon. There is much trouble and forces of evil are at work throughout Thorland. Spies of Gordeve are said to inhabit every town and village.” His brow furrowed. “Who is Gordeve?” he asked. “She is the wicked wizard and sister to the good wizard Tobin.” Squire slumped back onto his pillow. It was difficult to comprehend anything Helge had told him. Good wizards, bad wizards, female wizards? “Is this a dream?” he asked. “I know … you’re not really here. There is no forest, no wolves, no giant eagle, no … you. Soon I will wake up and know that it’s all been a hallucination.” She gave him a sympathetic smile. “You’re not dreaming,” she replied. “Dreams always come to an end. This will not end until the prophecy is fulfilled.” “Why me?” he asked. “I don’t have any special powers. You say the ancient legends foretold that I should ‘return’. I have no memory of ever coming here before. I’m not from this place … Thorland.” He lay silently thinking for a few moments. Prophecy, skull … Quexitoxeri. “Who is Quexitoxeri,” he asked. A look of shock came over Helge’s face. “What do you know of Quexitoxeri?” she asked. “When I first arrived in this land, I heard a woman’s voice. She addressed me as ‘Squire’ and talked of the prophecy. But I thought that also was just part of the dream.” “Quexitoxeri is the living prophet of the Creator, and the first Quexitoxeri, Sohan, was the daughter of The Squire,” she replied. “What do you mean, ‘the first Quexitoxeri’?” he asked. “I don’t understand.” “There have been many called by that name,” she replied. “The one who spoke with you waits in Kand-e-Har on the far side of the Air Mountains.” “Waits for whom?” “She is waiting for you, and she is also waiting for the skull.” Seeing the perplexed look on his face, she gave him a small, empathetic smile. “I understand you are confused and you don’t think you belong here, but we believe that you are The Squire who lived once before in Thorland, and now you have returned to us. The ancient stories tell that The Squire had a small scar above his top lip on the left side. Do you have such a scar?” Squire hesitated before replying. Why hadn’t she looked for this already? Then he felt the thick growth of hair both on his chin and above his top lip. His face had remained unshaven for several days. “Please fetch me water and a razor. I need to shave.” Helge returned after a short time with a bowl of warm water, some soap and a razor. “I’ll leave you to shave and go to prepare you some hot food,” she said. After he had finished shaving, he stood in front of a full-length mirror and examined the unfamiliar features. A pair of blue eyes stared back at him. Is this me? The scar over his top lip glistened in the sunlight. Despite this, his face looked round and handsome. His hair was sandy coloured, quite short and almost balding in the middle. He must have lost some weight over the last few days, but he appeared muscular and he stood erect. I must be in my mid-thirties. He noticed that he wore a similar cloak to Helge’s, but the one she had given him was coloured grey. Then he saw the woman standing behind him. He hadn’t heard her come back into the room. Although he was not short, he noticed that she was much taller than he was. “You were right about the scar,” he conceded, “and how could you have known this unless what you say is true?” “We are witnessing the beginning of the fulfilment of the prophecy." “If this is a dream,” he said, “then I will eventually wake up. On the other hand, if this is real, then it is my destiny to do as you ask and help save the Land.” * * * * * Squire remained at Helge’s cottage for several weeks until he had regained his strength. By that time, the snow had disappeared and signs of spring were apparent as the days grew longer, flowers began to bloom and migratory birds returned to the forest. He enjoyed the rest, but remained perplexed about the past he could not recall and apprehensive of the uncertain future than he faced. The cottage was a simple timber structure, built in a clearing in the forest and surrounded by a strong wooden fence to keep out the wolves and other predators. Within this compound Helge had planted potatoes, beans and other vegetables. For meat, she relied on her hunting skills and in particular her prowess with the sling that she always carried with her. Every morning he walked around the perimeter of the compound to get some exercise. Helge constantly reminded her guest about the dangers in the forest and cautioned him not to stray outside the protective fence. Despite these warnings, there came a day when he could no longer contain his curiosity to find out more about this new world. On the lower branches of a pine just outside the gate, he spotted a splendid parrot with red and green plumage. To get a closer look, he opened the compound gate and crept towards the bird. He had almost reached the tree when the parrot flapped its wings, launched itself into the air, and flew to the branches of another tree further along the trail that led eastwards into the forest. He pursued the parrot, intending to walk for just a few minutes, but the bird eluded him. However, it was a beautiful, sunny day and soon he had forgotten about the parrot and Helge’s words of caution. Having lost all sense of sound judgement, he decided to go on a little further. After he had walked for about an hour and a half, he heard a distant rumbling sound that attracted his curiosity. As he proceeded further, the noise grew louder and he recognised the sound of rushing water. He had walked for nearly two hours when the trees began to thin out, and the path he had followed came to the top of a small grassy knoll. He stopped in awe when, to the left of his vantage point, he saw cascading down the rocks an enormous waterfall that he estimated must have dropped 120 metres from top to bottom. What a beautiful view! He later learned that he had stumbled on the Veil Falls in the lower reaches of the Moon River. Squire sat down on a small rock to rest. He filled his lungs with the fresh, moist air and felt invigorated. Above the falls and to the right, a rainbow of myriad colours refracted the sun’s light. At the bottom, a foam of cascading water obscured the rock face behind. Opposite to his vantage point, he could see a ledge that overhung precipitously above the swirling waters. As the river continued its journey towards the sea, torrents of water rushed between rocks of all shapes and sizes. Further downstream from these rapids, where the waters appeared calmer, he could see trout playing near the surface. Even further away, he saw what appeared to be a wild boar wallowing in the mud. Squire sat enjoying these scenes for some minutes before he became aware again of a pair of luminous green eyes observing him from behind a nearby rock. He trembled as he called out, “Who's there?” Once again, the eyes disappeared, and he never saw them again that day. In view of this unpleasant experience and the lateness of the hour, he decided that the time had come for him to retrace his steps to Helge’s cottage. By now, he had been away for almost three hours, and he knew she would be worried about him. He set off with mixed emotions of contentment and nervousness. He had covered about half the distance when he heard again the sickening sound of howling wolves. Since they seemed far away, he didn’t panic like the first time. Nevertheless, he began to quicken his pace. However, when he heard a disturbance in the vegetation a short distance away to his right, he sensed they were coming closer. He glanced over his shoulder, anticipating an attack from behind, but the trail appeared empty. As he turned a corner, he half expected to see a wolf on the path in front of him, baring its teeth and snarling. There was nothing there. He was about to sigh with relief when he heard a loud grunting sound and a wild boar came crashing through the undergrowth, its tusks down as it charged towards him. It had a dark grey coat with a ridge of hair along its spine and a large head with a long, narrow snout. Memories of that dreadful morning several weeks earlier came flooding back to him. Once again, fear consumed him and he stood petrified. Those tusks are short and sharp like a dagger. They look like they could pass straight through my belly and out of my back. He shut his eyes and waited. After a few seconds, he heard a thud, the animal bellowed, and then silence followed. He opened his eyes a slit and saw the animal collapsed motionless in a heap on the path. The next moment Helge appeared from her hiding place in the nearby trees. In her right hand, she held her sling, fresh from doing its deadly work. Squire relaxed. “Am I glad to see you,” he said. “I’ve been following you all day,” she confessed. “I was worried that you may have fallen prey to some danger. I hope that you now realise that there are many perils, not only in this forest, but also throughout this land. I beg you to never wander off on your own again.” After a pause she continued, “Opposite the place where you sat watching the waterfall, there’s a ledge. It’s the same ledge you fell from after your encounter with the wolves on that first morning. That’s where the eagle caught you in its talons as you fell, and brought you to me.” “I don’t remember much about that first morning,” he said, “but I was reminded of one unpleasant incident this afternoon. While I sat near the waterfall, I noticed a pair of green luminous eyes staring at me. I only saw them for a moment, but now I remember seeing them before on the first morning when I was very confused and frightened. It might have been an illusion, but now I’m sure it was real.” “The cougar!” she hissed. “This is very disturbing news. Gordeve’s hand is already stretching out and working its evil in my forest. We can wait no longer. It’s time for us to leave.” “Where will we go first?” he enquired. “First we must travel north to Wellborough,” she replied. “Then we will turn east and journey to Tobin’s castle. There we will be introduced to the golden skull, and receive the instructions for our quest.” One week later, after they had packed provisions and made all necessary preparations for their journey, the two companions set forth on their quest. On a bright spring morning Helge locked up her cottage, secured the gate to the compound, and they set off on the road towards the north and to unknown and unexpected adventures ahead. |
| Windows on our World, Part 1: Hope by Les Bill Gates In the first part of the fantasy trilogy, Windows on our World, Hope, is set in the fictitious Thorland. It is an easy read where Lord of the Rings meets National Treasure with vocabulary not above the average English reader. Squire finds himself in Thorland after being summoned by the wizard Tobin to fulfil an ancient prophecy. Together with a company, selected by the prophecy, he set off in search for the teeth of the upper jaw which belong to the golden skull. The quest leads the company through beautiful descriptive scenes of the country by means of clues hidden with every tooth. But like all quests, there everything in her power to overthrow the company. There is a strong universal theme of good and evil, camaraderie, and trust. At times the dialogue seems unnatural, but does not deflect attention from the story line. There is enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. The characters are interesting, although, except for Squire and Jippers, they do not have any body to them. Descriptions are done with precision, but they lack a certain humanity and you find it difficult to relate to them. My final conclusion is that the first part of the trilogy, Windows on our World, is an entertaining read and I will recommend it to anyone who would like to sit back and relax for a few hours. I am waiting, with baited breath, the next book. Yolande du Plessis |
| Author: Les Bill Gates The ancient prophecy of Thorland is about to be fulfilled as a man known only as the Squire arrives by way of a giant eagle. Though the man does not remember who he is or where he comes from, he accepts the explanation of Helge, the woman who has been tasked with helping him on an important quest. With the help of the wizard Tobin, his apprentices, an archer, and three Luchorpans, Helge and Squire must locate the teeth that belong to the golden skull in order to reinstate its magical powers and protect Thorland from the evil Gordeve. Numerous obstacles stand in their way, for Gordeve has begun breeding a terrible cougar, which carries malicious intentions toward Squire and his friends. She has spies in even the safest of places, and she holds a secret capable of corrupting even the most loyal of men. But even beyond Gordeve's schemes there are dangers, for someone is stalking Squire and his band, and their travels take them into remote, sometimes unfriendly, lands where the threat of war overshadows their quest. Windows on Our World enters into the familiar fantasy realm of quests and wizards and curious creatures. No time is wasted in getting the heroes underway, and by the second chapter, Squire and Helge have already set out to find the rest of their party. In some cases, the action almost seems to move a little too quickly, putting expediency above the development of situational tension or character evolution. Very little is known about the characters themselves other than their present occupation, and their feelings are sometimes lost within the shared point of view structure. • The style of writing might be a little spare for some readers, but others will be pleased by the clarity of unembellished prose. There is no need to search for meaning within the words, as the author's intention is made clear through his choice of phrasing. This helps drive the story forward and, though we reach the ending with many questions, we know that the story will be continued in the next volume, where Squire's party will continue searching for the golden teeth. Les Bill Gates is a teacher, and former principal, at King George VI National Secondary School in the Solomon Islands. He holds a mathematics degree from Oxford University and a Certificate in Education from Exeter University. He has traveled extensively and plans to pursue a career as an author, continuing the Windows on Our World series with the second book, Faith. Reviewer: C. Noël Rivera, Allbook Reviews. |
| Reviews |
New - read articles about some of your favourite characters
and places in 'Windows on Our World'.
and places in 'Windows on Our World'.
| Windows on Our World. Part I: Hope. By Les Bill Gates Similar to the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, the classics of Indian literature, Windows on Our World is a fantasy trilogy in the tradition of fantasy novels of recent era created by Les Bill Gates, the pen name of Leslie William Gates. Hope is the first part and the remaining parts, Faith and Love will eventually appear, so says the author. The story is told in twenty chapters. Squire, the legendary saviour and the expected one, arrives in Thorland. He helps the good wizard Tobin to find out the missing teeth of a golden skull that has magical powers to bring in peace and prosperity for the people of the land. Gordeve, the wicked wizard, sister of Tobin and the antagonist is also after the teeth. The fat and flesh of the book are the numerous adventures of Squire and his friends well equipped with suitable weapons of the time just as the characters of the American serial film 'A Team.’ After having encountered with evil forces the team redeems the teeth of upper jaw. The bone of the story is the eternal conflict between the good and the evil. The story ends happily and beautifully. But the readers may ask for: 'where are the teeth of lower jaw?' That is the magical effect of this volume and a pointer to author's craftsmanship. The book has all the elements of an interesting book such as an ideal theme, good story, beautiful sceneries, life-full characters, fantastic events, fighting and stunts, magical scenes, humorous dialogues, simple and common language studded with elegant phrases and idioms, route maps, happy ending etc. Careful and colourful crafting of those components makes the book wholesome and worthy of reading While J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series have unnatural and abnormal fantasies, Les Bill Gates has reined the imagination and has kept it within the boundaries of logic and reason. Les has made even an animal, mule the Faithful a lively character very unlike of JKR. The book is a pleasant reading for the readers - children, adults and the aged - having leisurely time at hand. While reading the saga of Squire and his company we are reminded of the films: 'Connan the Barbarian', 'Red Sonja', 'Ladies of Amazon', 'Death Stalker.' The book has the potential for being made unto film. We did not feel quite happy with the main title and the sub title. Title given to a book must be crisp, catchy of onlooker's eyes and compassing to the content of the book. Squire as a hero needed little more virility and vitality. The price of the book seemed little high - J.Kaval Reviewer: Joseph Kaval - Editor and publisher of the international literary journal Katha Kshetre. |
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