The Quest for Paradise

Reaching my hand forward I took Tolak's and as his worried gaze came to mine I asked, "You once told me of portals by which King Solomon invaded this world from above. Where are they?"

Slowly, as if not understanding where I was taking this Tolak responded with, "They were all destroyed, but for one. It lies by itself on a small island of nothing but sand somewhere to the south. I do not know where for sure."

"I know where it is, but why go there?" Eli asked.

Looking around the group I asked at large, "Forgive me, but it would seem that nowhere in this inner world is safe as the worst of society above has even now come down to you, right?"

I didn't wait for confirmation but continued with, "It would seem then that the only thing to be done is to leave this place and go back to the surface."

The group blinked as a collective whole and the Polynesian woman who spoke with an American accent asked, "Is that even possible?"

"It was at one point in time, at least for King Solomon. How far is this remaining portal from us?"

"It's at least a two-week journey at the rate the native boats can travel at towards the southeast. The portal, when I discovered it years ago, appears to be locked. How do you intend to unlock something created by the likes of Solomon?" Eli inquired speculatively.

Quickly doing some mental math for a two-week journey by native boats I reached the conclusion that the distance was an approximate match for something I'd always wondered about. In answer to Eli's question I said, "I happen to be an expert in the field of Biblical Archaeology and in particular the era before and around the reign of King Solomon. As to the portal having been created by Solomon I would have to disagree. Used by him perhaps, but created, no. That's why it's probably still in existence today unlike the other portals."

"Where will it come out at on the surface?" One of the ship captains asked.

"If my calculations are correct it will open out within the original parameters of the plain which the Garden of Eden was located in."

The group stared at me in shock. The big white guy who seemed to be connected to the pretty American said, "I thought the Garden of Eden was located under the Persian Gulf?"

"That's one theory, but I believe it to be wrong. The Garden of Eden is most likely in Africa and it is in a very remote place and if things really are falling apart on the surface right now, as to be suggested by how desperate those from above are to conquer this place, then I very much doubt that anyone will notice the sudden appearance of quite a few exotic people popping up unexpectedly in a remote corner of the world."