MANX Enterprises, Ltd.

© 2018 MANX Enterprises, Ltd.

*****     Gravel crunched under hot tires.  Mackov swung the sun faded station wagon onto the driveway and up to the house.  He cut the engine, sighed, and pushed the door open.  He paused briefly, then, pulled his body out, stretched his 6 foot 4-inch frame to its full height, and looked around.  Here was their first home; a cramped, faded, dirt streaked box.  In the back, was the glassed-in porch, its oxidized aluminum frame sagging with age.  And beyond that, what passed for a backyard.  He gazed around with affection as Myrtle came up.      “Dear, I’m taking the children and we’re going shopping.  Be back soon.”     Mackov nodded absentmindedly as the car pulled away, his two children waving from the back seat.  He turned to the house.     “Odd.  An alley?  Don’t remember that.”     He picked his way across uncut weeds to an unkempt hedge and stood staring at a narrow path covered in faded asphalt.  As he turned back he caught sight of a man walking up on his right.  The man was well built and moved with a military bearing.  His strong narrow jaw and straight nose were crowned with short, wavy, dark brown hair that fell across his high tanned forehead.  And then, there were those large widely spaced, deep set, steel gray eyes.     The man smiled faintly, raised his right hand, palm forward, fingers slightly curled, and nodded three times.  Mackov gestured back then, pushed through the hedge in pursuit.  The man smiled openly at him and continued his silent journey.  As they walked along, a row of houses appeared to their right.  The man stopped and glanced between two of them.  Mackov turned his head.  A vast city!  Tall shining towers soared up over countless tightly packed buildings.  Interrupting the crush was an immense edifice of weathered pearl grey blocks that rose up from a plaza paved in dark red stones.  Fronting it were six massive square pillars capped by huge lintels that supported a blackened, low pitched roof.  Between the center pillars stood a giant double door fashioned from dark ancient appearing wood.     The man turned back and continued along the alley towards a low brick building just beyond.  Mackov followed him to a glass lined entrance.  He opened the door and waved his new friend in, but the man shook his head and motioned for Mackov to enter.  Mackov shrugged and moved through into a small atrium set alight by the soft glow of a setting sun.  In front of him were three beautiful flowers.  The iridescent silver petals of the first flickered crystalline light into his eyes.  The second was covered in silky dark blue leaves.  The third, the most beautiful one, was covered in radiant dark red flowers its gentle, intoxicating fragrance teasing his nose.  Just beyond was a sun lit courtyard.  And there was a door.