Joshua's Quest

Lightning blazed in a dazzling spectacle, almost never-ending. Thunder virtually blotted out all other sounds. More than once, driven by the squall, he nearly crashed into one of the shopping mall's store windows.

This fierce storm had appeared quite suddenly, completely unforeseen. It made his search more difficult than was desired. In recent days, one of his favored pastimes was the collection of rare manuscripts. He was systematically searching the local bookstores for a particular set of historical texts.

He continued his scouting along the broad sidewalks of the shopping center. Suddenly, he spotted the doorway of an unknown bookshop directly in front of him. He did not remember ever having seen this store before. For some unanswerable reason the wind forced him into the shop's entry, as if by an unseen force. In his mind came a strong prompt,

"This is it, Joshua!"

So clear had this voice appeared in his senses, that he looked about to see if someone had addressed him. Spotting no one, he shrugged his shoulders, telling himself that it was just one of those mysterious things that happen.

He read on the entrance, written in bold gold lettering,

"Books! Your hearts delight, and your souls desire."

He thought this was a very strange title. Truly, this sparked a flare of interest and anticipation within him.

With sudden excitement he entered the shop. As he did so, the warm air of its interior smacked him in the face startlingly. Joshua could not rationally explain this strange sensation. He knew that it was quite cold outside, but this abrupt frightening impact was totally unexpected. Even so, it did heighten his expectations.

As he started to move further into the outlet, in his mind he again heard a voice speak to him. It said,

"Wise decision Chosen. A wise decision!"

Alarmed by the clarity of the voice, he again looked about. As before, no one was anywhere near him. In fact, he saw no one at all.

A faint delicate aroma of something sweet, yet quite pleasing, tickled his senses; try as he could, he was unable to identify it. He reasoned it might be some type of incense, or perfume, or something similar.

To himself he mumbled,

"This is wild! - Weird! - Crazy! How did I ever find this place?"

As he looked about the interior of the store, he grumbled half aloud,

"I am familiar with most of the outlets in this area, but I sure don't remember this one. I wonder if they have the texts needed to complete my research."

With the unexplainable events of the last few moments left unanswered, he continued to look about. Joshua was amazed by what he saw within the walls of this shop. The room in which he found himself was maybe forty feet wide by nearly one hundred feet long. There were rows after rows of book shelves stretching from the floor to the ceiling. These were about ten feet high, and to the total length of the room.

All the shelves were filled with what looked like ancient books with leather covers. To his trained eye, as a book collector, he was certain each was priceless.

In one corner of the shop he spotted an elderly, yet seemingly ageless, gentleman standing near an ancient oak desk. This elder was patriarchal. Seemingly quite old, nevertheless, his age was totally obscure. His movements, his eyes, were those of a vigorous and far younger man.

His intense piercing gaze was of one holding vast knowledge. His face was almost completely covered with a long, carefully manicured sliver beard. This gave him a definite royal look, especially as he was dressed in a long flowing floor-length white robe.

Joshua thought to himself, almost mirthfully,

"I’d guess this person was an angel, if I didn't know better."

Again, he gasped half aloud,

"Where did all of these precious books come from? In all of my research, I can't ever remember a store such as this."

Then looking to the timeless ancient, who was watching him closely, he asked,

"What is this place? How did you come by these priceless documents? This is a book collector's dream!"

Then Joshua added,

"Please, what is your name sir?"

The elder smiled, then chuckled lightly. He responded,

"My name is not relevant, but it is Timekeeper. We have met before, you and I. Do you not remember?"

Indicating with a sweep of his hands,

"All of these are volumes about a time and place for which you search."

Then continuing,

"Joshua, we have awaited and prepared for your visit for some great span of time. Don't you remember? Think of your foresight as a child, as a junior, and when you were away at the military academy?

"Think! Don't you recall the night visions of your visits to this very shop, and to the land it depicts?"

Joshua was perspiring profusely at these questions, and especially at this last one.

"How did this man know so much about him?"

Why of course he remembered the "fantasies" this one spoke about. How could he forget, they were often repeated in his dream mind, over and over again. His mother had assured him when he was but a moppet, that they were only a nightmare of one with a vivid imagination. And later, as just a remembrance of an impressive dream tale. He had accepted this explanation, but not completely. Just so, he had not had these experiences recently.

Of a sudden, like a flash, the periodic misty dream unfolded in his mind. He remembered entering a bookstore just like this. That a fatherly elder within it had given him a bound manuscript that he claimed would reveal his destiny and purpose for being born. Each time, his mind had refused to accept what he thought he saw and heard. Even so, this elder was precisely as he had seen him in these experiences.

In the 'dream,' when he opened the richly leather bound text given him, he could remember seeing swirling hazy clouds in his awareness. Faintly, he could barely remember a compelling voice say, "Joshua, you are the hope and future of this land."