THE GATE KEEPER by JULES GABRIEL Page A

rolls his sleeve back down. Then he glances at Tony’s
unconscious body. Joey who was still on the ground nearby caught his attention
as he moan.
    ‘He’s
going to be fine.’
    ‘Yes
I know I’m just making sure that they’re not going to disturb us,’ the old man
said.
    Ryan,
Allan and Harley seem to concern him. He shows interest in them. As if he had
sense something wrong. I trace his eyes to them and understand his curiosity.
The three were on top of each other but they moan as they struggle to come out
of the dizziness and unconsciousness. 
    ‘We
don’t have much time.’ He said as he turns and walk away from the injured boys.
    He
head for the opposite side of the plateau and says, ‘Please follow me. Listen
attentively and make sure you don’t touch me.’
    Confuse
and in doubt I needed to know the truth, ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Which
one did you fail to understand?’
    ‘The
reason behind the touching part,’ I seek for reasoning.
    ‘It
shall all come into place in a few minutes but you’ve got to stay with me.’
    His
back was facing me as he strolls along and gaze at the sun set over the
horizon. Glancing over his shoulder to see where I was as I follow. A few
metres to the edge of the plateau he comes to a halt. He glances sideways only
to keep his face still.
    ‘Does
my face look familiar to you?’
    ‘Yes,
of course and from this morning.’
    ‘You
mean that you’ve live with a face that you haven’t figure out how it shall look
like in the future,’ he derisively says.
    What
did he mean? Is he crazy? Does he mean it? No it can’t be? My
mind fought to come to terms between science fact and science fiction. Is he
for real? Who is he really and where did he come from? Or is he a sham.
    ‘What
are you trying to tell me?’ I seek for confirmation.
    ‘We’re
not dumb,’ he pauses and carries on, ‘What would you do if you had the chance
to fix the past and present?’
    ‘I
would try to fix some of my past mistakes.’
    ‘If
I told you that we’ve manage it. We have accomplished the impossible but it’s
in your lifetime in the future. Perhaps I may say in my present.’
    ‘Impossible,’
I curt out in deny. Baffle I defy the truth, how could this be?
    ‘What
would you do if I told you that you are talking to yourself at this instant?’
He calmly persuades as he faces the horizon.
    I
walk towards him speechless and stare at his face in disbelief, ‘I would say
that you’re insane.’
    ‘Insane
is the word use by the ancient fools who couldn’t understand and wouldn’t
accept progressive thinking. The Catholic church even helped to suppress our thoughts
for centuries.’
    ‘What
do you mean?’
    ‘Let
me enlighten you a bit,’ he pause to catch his breath. ‘Have you ever heard the
term scientific revolution?’
    ‘Yes,
I have.’
    ‘So
what do you understand by it.’
    ‘It
goes way back somewhere in the seventeenth century when it came to an end.’
    ‘Partially
correct,’ he pauses and carries on, ‘…from what I have gathered, it is made of
the aspect of facts from a time of renaissance, the age of enlightenment and
the age of reflection.’
    ‘I’m
lost but, what do those events have to do with our meeting today?’
    ‘Patience,
for it all shall fall into place. To be convinced and accept the fact, one must
understand the factual concept ahead of your actual time. May I please move on
with my story?’
    ‘Yes,
please do.’
    ‘Renaissance
has to do with Leonard Da Vinci who was fascinated by flying. The age of
enlightenment promote science and intellectual.’ He pauses, look at me for a
while and slowly move a few steps away from me making sure that I was far
enough.
    ‘Satisfy
with the distance.’
    ‘Yes
I am indeed, it’s for our safety. I shall get to it later.’
    Gap
of two metres was kept between both of us. Doubt clouded my mind as I wonder
about the real reason behind the distance we must keep apart. I had no
alternatives but to come to terms