Passing Through the Portal

Outside, the moon rode high, and the air was keen with the scents of earth and night flowers. I looked around for the squirrel but did not see him, so I assumed he had left, his duty done.

Two paths led from the clearing: the one along which I had come, and another, which I decided to take. As I stepped out, the squirrel darted from the undergrowth bearing something in his paws. He squatted in front of me and laid the object on the ground at my feet. At first, I  assumed he had been foraging for food, but the object seemed too shiny to be a berry or a nut. I bent down and picked it up, and to my surprise, found myself holding a perfectly formed acorn made of some kind of stone. I couldn’t make out the color by moonlight, but I could feel the intricacy of each line and indentation of the cap and the nut and even the tiny stem.

The squirrel raised his tail and looked in the direction of the path I had decided to take. As before, he took a few steps, then looked back to see if I would follow, before scurrying ahead. I pocketed the stone acorn and set out along the pathway, in my guide’s wake.

We must have walked a little short of a mile when the squirrel came to a halt. He turned around to look at me, then ran around in a circle three times before disappearing up a tree. I waited several minutes to see if he would reappear, but he did not, and I realised that his task must have be complete. I continued along the path alone.

A few steps along the path, I felt a change take place. The air seemed charged and milky, as if it had grown thicker. Though I could see nothing unusual, I had the impression of silken resistance on my face, as if I were walking through a curtain of cobwebs. The sensation lasted no longer than a few seconds, but it was real enough. I suspected I had passed through a protection of some kind and was close to the portal.

Sure enough: ahead of me, just off the path, the space between the trees took on a glow like the one I’d seen on my ascent to the temple of the Muse. I saw an archway forming, lit from behind, by a dull glow. As I watched, the arch became brighter. From a haze within the arch a landscape shimmered, unfocused at first, then ever clearer. I saw hills a long way off, and buildings, and the glisten of sun on water. I heard wheels rumble on stone, a seagull’s cry, and excited voices. The air was scented with salt and tar and spices. The heat of a midmorning sun reached through the arch and warmed my night-chilled skin.

So, this was the portal. I could see that the pathway upon I stood led through the arch, from this side to that, so I simply took a deep breath and strode across the threshold…

… and found myself on a quayside, with a bustling market to my left, and ships of all descriptions to my right: barges, tall-masted schooners, dinghies, elaborate gondolas, and painted sailing ships that clearly came from lands afar. I was surprised, for I had expected to have to tramp along a trail to reach whatever destination lay next on my path. Instead, I’d arrived in a bright, busy town on what was, judging by the sun, the middle of an early summer day.

I removed my cloak and strung it through one the shoulder straps of my backpack, then I sat on a bollard to get my bearings and drink in the scene.

A woman approached me.

“Enchanteur. Enchanté.”

She had dark, flowing tresses and was clothed the same kind of bright silks and jewelled ribbons that gypsy women wore. I couldn’t tell her age, but she had the most delightful smile and grinned like an imp.

I fumbled for the few words of French I knew and returned her greeting.

“Merci, madame. Je suis enchanté aussi.”

I had no idea who she might be, or what she might want of me and assumed she had probably mistaken me for someone else.

“I see you found your portal”, she said. “Well, welcome to Rainbow Beach. Most of the others left here a few days ago, but you will meet them soon, as you follow their trail in your own time.”

My face must have shown my confusion, for she laughed.

“I’m the journey guide”, she explaind. “I’m here to make sure all travellers arrive safely and proceed in the right direction. Here, this is for you…”

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