POWER PLANT

After walking for, what seemed to be, a half hour in the dusky luster of Enlightenment and Illumination they come upon a door to a building with a large sign on it with big bold red letters that reads POWER PLANT. They all enter. In the center of the room is a huge turbine engine whose name is Reactor. He is powered by impulse fueled by rejection, is designed to create negative energy with destructive force. In a small room off to the side is the residence of React and his wife Impulsive. Their children are Knee Jerk, Get Back, Overreact and Revenge. Awareness introduces himself and his company to React.

“How do you do sir.” Awareness says, “We are searching for the Wounded Child. I was wondering could you explain your purpose to us?”

“Well” React thinks for a moment, “We run the Power Plant in Castle Glade. We supply all the energy in the castle for utilities such as lights, heat and fresh air. Although since King My Way has taken over we haven’t had much need for light.”

“And how does that work?” Awareness asks.

“We, of course,” React explains, “being a reactionary system require outside stimulus. For every action given we return an equal reaction.”

“And what happens,” Awareness asks, “If no outside stimulus is directed towards you?”

“O there is never a need to worry about that.” React laughs. “There is plenty to react to.”

Awareness notices a bright yellow switch on the wall behind him.

“And what is this?” Awareness asks as he reaches to throw the switch.

“NO!” React yells, “DON’T TOUCH THAT!”

Too late! Awareness throws the switch. Immediately the room is transformed. Now instead of a huge turbine engine in the center of the room there is a giant solar collector, whose name is Responder. He is powered by reflection, fueled by injection, designed to create positive energy with constructive force. In the residence reside Response and his radiant wife Reflect. Their children are Thoughtful, Considerate and Sensitive. They also have a set of twins whose names are Think First, Then Act.

“What just happened?” Awareness asks.

“You must have thrown the switch.” Answers Response. “There is a switch in each room of the castle that determines out of which kingdom it will operate. The creator installed it in the beginning. It is called Free Choice. Each castle has a choice to React or Respond. The former is impulsive; the latter requires reflective. The former operates out of the Land of Uncertainty and the latter operates out of the Land of New Beginnings.”

“But with you being a solar collector, how do you operation without any light?” Awareness asks.

“Operating from the Land of New Beginning I receive my energy from that kingdom. My light comes directly from the Throne of Amazing Grace. She gives me all the power that I need to function. In all actually my power is limitless.”

“But how can this be?” Awareness asks.

“Origin is the creator of all things,” Response replies. . . Everything originates with him.”

“But I thought Origin was king of the Land of New Beginnings”. Awareness says.

“He is, but he is also the rightful king of the Land of Uncertainty.” Response answers. “It was originally called the Land of Promise until King My Way usurped it from Origin. He renamed it the Land of Uncertainty when his wife Insecurity had taken the form of the very soil of the land making it unstable and subject to many earthquakes. Somehow Origin must have known this would happen because in his wisdom he installed a switch into every room in every castle of the kingdom.”

“You mean to say that every castle has the ability to dwell within the wonderful Land of New Beginnings by choice?” Awareness asks.

“No.” Response corrects Awareness. “I mean that the Land of New Beginnings dwells within every castle, but in order to experience that wonderful country you must choose to.”

“Then,” Awareness asks, “why don’t they?”

“King My Way” Response answers, “has blinded them. When he first enters a castle he removes all light. Next he has his mason Paranoid brick and mortar over all the windows and doors so no light can enter. Then he has his servant Blindness overshadow the entire region. They remain in the darkness and are unconscious of any kingdom other than the Land of Uncertainty.”

Awareness is amazed at the knowledge that he is acquiring. At times he becomes almost overwhelmed. He thanks Response for the information that he has given him and Awareness and his company takes their leave.

Resting just outside the Power Plant in a small park, Awareness sits leaning against an oak tree and notices the faint silhouette of a large building. He makes a mental note of its location but with all he has been through emotionally he decides to take the time to breathe a deep sigh and relax.

“How long have we been in this castle?” Awareness asks.

“I don’t really know.” Enlightenment replies. “It is difficult to judge since there is no day, only night. The division of day and night is the only way I know to distinguish one day from another.”

“I wonder why King My Way hates the light so much.” Awareness responds.

“My Way hates the light because he was once a Minister of Light in the Palace of Origin.” Insightful blurts out.

The others look at Insightful with surprise.

“Yes, King My Way was once a servant to Origin in the Land of New Beginnings.” Insightful continues. “He held one of the highest ranks in the kingdom. I believe only the immediate family of Origin were of higher rank. I’m surprised you didn’t know that Enlightenment and Illumination, being creatures of light yourselves.”

The two sit looking rather sheepishly. “We did.” Illumination replies. “However we were commanded by Victor not to let it be known unless it was absolutely necessary.”

Awareness stares at his two companions feeling somewhat betrayed.

“Victor thought it would be wise if you found out naturally rather that being told before hand.” Illumination explains to Awareness. “He believed you had enough to concern yourself without overloading you with more than you could handle.”

Awareness begins to understand slightly but still feels a little uncomfortable about what else he may not know.

“King My Way’s name used to be Light Bearer.” Insightful continues. “ He was the Guardian of the Light. Many called him the Morning Star. He was most visible of all the creatures in Origin’s domain. The most exposed to view or revealed to public notice.

You could say he glowed in the limelight. He was known to be an outstanding leader, what many would call a celebrity. He contained an immeasurable supply of light”.

“What made him change”? Awareness asks.

“No one but Origin really knows what made him turn. Some say that he grew tired of serving and wanted to be served. Others say he saw the Throne of Origin and it became his goal. It seems he grew jealous of the adoration that Origin received and desired it for him. Whatever the case he left the Land of New Beginnings and took with him one third of the kingdom. When he left little by little the light began to leave him. He grew to hate the light. It reminded him of his former state. His mission is to eliminate all light from the Land of Uncertainty and after that he wants to snuff out the stars in the heavens. He is obsessed”.

“Wow!” Awareness is awestruck.

“Can you see why Victor chose to conceal this information from you in the beginning?” Enlightenment asks Awareness.

“Yes but it is still a surprise to hear.” Awareness responds. “Are there any other secrets I don’t know?”

Enlightenment hesitates a moment then answers. “You will have to trust me to tell you when it is needed to be known.”

Awareness stares at both Enlightenment and Illumination.

“Well I have some news for you.” Insightful breaks the frigid silence. “I will be taking my leave in the morning.”

“O no!” Awareness exclaims, “We so much enjoy your company and your presence is so valued among us.”

“Still my intuition tells me I must leave in the morning.” Insightful says regretfully.

“There is nothing I can say to convince you to remain with us?” Awareness bids Insightful.

“No, I am sorry Awareness.” Insightful replies. “I must be true to my instincts.”

“Then we will respect your perceptive nature.” Enlightenment responds.

Illumination smiles.