Aeonosphere (The Scandari Saga - Book I): The Scandari Saga, #1

By Jo Roderick

Tom Scandari and Annie Wynbergh return in a thrilling, Science Fiction series. This first adventure sees the two intrepid explorers’ team up with Mervin and Albert, in order to unleash the incredible potential of the enigmatic Aeonosphere, which lies hidden, below the city. Tom travels back through time to prevent devastating changes, masterminded by a greedy consortium based in the city of Johannesburg.

Will Tom stop the madman, prevent the earth shattering consequences, and overcome the twist of betrayal? Travel in time with our heroes as they flee through the old mining tunnels, dodge an assassin, and make several daring escapes. A spectacular trip, back to 1941, takes the reader on a personal tour of the City of Gold, in all its glory.

This is a complete novel, standing on its own, although it forms part of a projected three part series. The three books will reveal the story of Tom’s ancestral roots, and the mysteries of the Aeonosphere.

Tom and Annie were first introduced in the novel, Six For Seven. If you are planning to read both, read Six For Seven first, as it does give additional insight and background to the characters.

Other Books by the Author
* The Book of Life
* Happy Now!
* Recycled Thoughts
* Publish It Yourself! (Book 1 of Publish It Yourself!)
* Format It Yourself! (Book 2 of Publish It Yourself!)
* Viral WordPress SEO
* Twitter for Humans
* Six For Seven (A South African Dinner)
* The Scandari Saga - Back To Christmas
* Bermuda Phoenix

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Roderick
• Release date: Aug 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9780987011763

Book preview

Preface

When I originally sat down to write the novel, Six For Seven, I created and introduced several characters that would eventually mature into their own story.This novel is the first of several to follow that story.Six For Sevenis about a dinner party hosted by the Wynberghs and it is briefly mentioned in context.

While it is suggested that you read Six For Seven, this is not strictly required. It will give you greater insight into several of the characters in this story, however. The timelines of both novels are closely intertwined and, therefore, so are the dates. In order to keep a smooth flow of events, I created a fixed timeline. In case anyone needs clarification, I have included it in the back section of this book.

If, like me, you have an insatiable curiosity about things, I have a special treat prepared for you. During the planning, researching, and writing of this novel, I saved a wealth of links from the World Wide Web. These invaluable sites allow the reader to supplement his or her imagination with real life images, facts, and even a little history.

Due to the ever-changing nature and fluidity of the Internet, I have made these links available online. Please use the link provided to access these web resources. From there, you will be directed to informative sites, maps, and even some three-dimensional views of several locations mentioned in this book. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but please come back to continue reading!

I have provided additional notes in the back of the novel in an effort not to distract the reader from the story itself. Where possible, I have closely followed factual reality. Even though the story and the characters are fictional, many of the locations are authentic.

In producing the covers for this book, I used my architectural training to draw up a three-dimensional impression of the Aeonosphere. In the back section, I have included various renderings of the model from different angles. These will help fire up your imagination as you read the story.

As with all my electronic books, it is best to set your reading device to use ‘publisher styles’. You can still change the font size to your preference, but the book will retain its style, and scale everything accordingly.

If you are connected to the Internet, then you may want to take a look at this book's online page before reading the story. It's not necessary, but please feel free to visit the page to get some insight. You can also choose to visit the web page after reaching the end of the book.

Click HERE for the Virtual Tour.

Prologue

The men were dusty and tired. Many of them had put in for several extra days’ labour in order to draw a thicker pay packet for the upcoming festive period. The mining bosses would shut down the mines, and the men would return to their families for the season.

With access from the fourteenth shaft, a new secondary subterranean shaft had recently been sunk. New tunnels were being excavated, leading into the gold reef. They were in an unstable section, deep beneath the city of Johannesburg, and safety levels were high. The men chattered and sang with joyous expectation of the approaching holidays.

As they worked in song, a loud rumble assaulted their ears and the resulting reverberation ran through the tunnels. It was felt far above ground and at the mining offices. Earth tremors underground in the mines were common, but this was above the miners’ comfort level. They began talking loudly amongst themselves, raising the alarm to retreat to a more stable section.

They hastily began clearing out of the new section. The earth grumbled more gruffly this time and with shouts of alarm, the men began running and stumbling for safety. Most made it to the more secure tunnels, unscathed. Some arrived with minor injuries. Three men did not make it back. They were cut off from the main shaft and trapped behind the cave in.

When they finally had dug through the rubble in the collapsed tunnels, the missing labourers had disappeared. There was no trace of them at all. They had simply vanished. After the affair died down, the event was eventually buried deep in paperwork, and neatly forgotten. Management conveniently thought it best that the dangers of mining be kept from the media. The company had enough trouble with the workers’ unrest and regular strikes.

Stories of a wondrous structure deep underground, just beyond the tunnels, began filtering up to the surface. They told of how the three miners had ascended into a large orb of golden light, and had been raised up to heaven. The labourers were repeating the stories with expansive embroidery. These fanciful tales promptly reached the ears of a young ambitious supervisor.

In general, management did not often venture far underground. At the end of the following day, he took a guide and headed below ground. With the fascination of discovery in his heart, he set off to view the site that had originated all the fanciful stories.

With the collapsing, and then the clearing of the mining tunnel, the cause of the fracture became evident. Above the area where they had been excavating, ran an older stone passageway. This intersection of the two subterranean passages had created a weakness in the substrata.

The supervisor and his companion hopped over the rubble and up into the area above. They found a series of passages and stairs that led them to the astonishing site that had brought about so much gossip.

He sent his guide out of the cavern and instructed him to wait for him at the scene of the recent cave in. The massive dark granite orb was covered with etched glyphs. As he reached out to touch the stone, it began to glow brightly. The entire chamber began to luminesce. The glyphs appeared to be projecting and reflecting in the golden coffers of the domed quartzite ceiling of the cavern.

Realising the late hour, and that his guide was waiting for him, he reluctantly returned to the mining tunnel, and they made their way back to the lift at shaft 14. He had no idea what he had just encountered, but he was determined to safeguard his findings. He began to formulate a deception, one of many that he would employ during the course of his successful mining career.

Upon reaching the surface, the young man dismissed the guide, leaving him with a small financial remuneration. It was just enough to let his subordinate depart that evening, happy to have worked late, but not enough to encourage suspicion. He returned to his desk and immediately began preparing a lengthy report. He laboured late into the night, perfecting the tone of the document, and creating the illusion of legitimacy.

His report warned about the extreme instability in the geological makeup of that particular area. It emphasised that the scope for catastrophe was too great to justify pursuing the tunnel any further. The report went on further to suggest some work be done to secure the entrance to the area in order to discourage any further access. In the early hours of the morning, he filed his report, and submitted a copy to his superiors.

The section was swiftly shut down, and secretly, he had some trusted masons come in during the holidays to shore up the collapsed section, and to secure the access to the secret chamber. The alarming instability that he had stated in his report was no longer nearly as grave, but he was the only one who knew the truth. It kept everyone out of his discovery. The miners would avoid the area out of fear, and ultimately, all the rumours would cease.

Within the upper ranks, there was regular talk that the operations at shaft 14 would be shut down in the coming years. Nothing escaped his ears and eyes. There was plenty of gold left, but it was no longer cost effective to continue mining at shaft 14. The reef ran for hundreds of kilometres and held one of the world's largest known gold reserves. Operations would simply move to a new shaft, in another location.

The young supervisor listening closely to all the stories that he heard in the compound, began quietly investigating local folklore, and narrated history. He had great aspirations for his discovery. The Aeonosphere, as he called it, would remain out of reach for now. He knew he would need to be patient, and wait for an opportunity to arise when he could return and make use of it.

At the time, he had no idea just how long it would be. The years rolled into decades. Patiently, he researched, planned, and waited.

1

He took another drag on his electronic cigarette. There was no nicotine cartridge in it, of course, but it allowed him to hang about in most locations inconspicuously. From a distance, it provided great cover. Used in conjunction with a cellular phone, it allowed him to loiter for reasonable periods of time.

Experience had taught him to invest in a few high-tech toys. His cellular phone was no exception. A man standing on the street smoking and sending text messages on his phone was the norm.

He had mastered a simple technique of shooting photographs from the hip with his high-end phone. An individual with a camera would look suspicious, but a nicotine addict sending text messages to his friends or family, was just backdrop to the city life.

Over the last few weeks, he had been watching this office block. It had become a nightly vigil. There were strange comings and goings that were out of character for the area at night.

Tomas Scandari was a reporter for The Daily Star. The newspaper’s offices were located a couple of blocks south from where he stood. The Carlton Centre and Hotel soared high above the city skyline just a few blocks east of his position. It spread majestically across four city blocks.

Johannesburg’s city centre was largely abandoned at night. Very few people lived in town except for the city’s poor and South Africa’s illegal immigrants. They sought shelter in derelict buildings. As these buildings fell into the hands of the slumlords, entire segments of the city became undesirable and abandoned over time.

He leant his tall physique against the granite shopfront as he took another harmless simulated drag. Accordingly, the cigarette tip produced a realistic amber glow. He made a mental note to charge its batteries that evening, as he had been making extensive use of it lately. He kept a casual eye across the street.

He stood directly outside the Fontana Café, and under the overhang of the building above. It took up the entire city block and rose ten floors above street level. Its elegant cut-stone, ribbed façade was reminiscent of the industrial art deco era.

Tom often stopped at this café to grab some sundries on his way home. Recently his visits had become deliberate. He would now work later, and into the early evening, in order to pass the time before he would take up his usual position.

Diagonally across the street from him, was a slender modern building faced in black granite and glass. The narrow lobby was flanked on the left by a vehicular entrance. This side of the street was comprised of several tall, narrow buildings. This particular one, tightly sandwiched in the middle of the block, should theoretically house offices. It was supposed to bustle during business hours, but it did not. This had caught his attention.

Why was this city block being systematically bought up, building by building, and then renovated? Why the buildings were still standing empty was an even bigger enigma. This address on Commissioner Street held secrets that Tom was determined to uncover.

His late hours at the newspaper’s offices had led him to some interesting research. None of the buildings was owned by identifiable individuals. Every additional property was bought through a series of mysterious trusts and holding companies. Someone — or some group — was going to great extent and expense to remain nameless.

Over the past few weeks, Tom had established a traffic pattern for the mysterious after-hours visits. Wednesday and Saturday evenings were a hive of activity. With this evening being midweek, he expected to see some movement.

As expected, the first car to arrive was a dark executive sedan with tinted windows. It drew up to the entrance to underground parking of the office building. The red and white striped boom was manned by the security on duty. He raised it for the car to proceed. Recessed into the building, a mere car’s length away, was an automatic, fortified roller shutter door.

Tom puffed on his cigarette and took out his cellular phone. He began his usual pretence of sending a text message, all the while capturing images of the vehicle, and specifically, its registration plates.

He did not look up at all, but instead viewed the goings on through the live update on the screen. He snapped copious amounts of photographs. With the poor light and the low angle, he expected most of them to turn out blurry or out of focus. With any luck, a few would be serviceable.

Ordinarily, the guard raised the boom and opened the roller shutter door simultaneously, which made for a speedy entrance and exit. Tonight, however, the car paused for a short while, far longer than Tom expected.

Through the partially opened car window, a brief conversation transpired between the occupants and the security guard. The watchman leant in towards the car window and spoke animatedly. At one point, he cranked his arm sideways across the street.

With the darkened windows, there was no way to view the occupants of the various vehicles. It might be possible, however, to follow the information trail by investigating the registration plates. The first car always arrived a while before the others. Tom wondered if perhaps it was the ringleader, but of what — or even whom?

2

He pressed down on the electric window button and cracked open the car window, What is it?

Boss, started the security guard nervously, you asked me to let you know if anything out of the ordinary happened here —

Yes, what is it, Tendai? the man said from the back seat. I don’t have all night!

Yes Boss! he continued. I’ve seen the same man on the other side of the street a few times now. I’m not always on duty the same times each week so maybe the other guards may have seen him too.

Are you sure? What does he look like? Maybe he is just someone who works nearby.

Maybe so Boss, he is often just outside smoking and typing on his phone. Maybe he is sending messages or something.

What does this man look like?

He is right there, said the guard pointing sideways across the street.

... and you are sure? It’s the same man? he said twisting in his seat to peer out the rear windshield of the vehicle. Tendai, you are not mistaken about this?

No Boss! It is him! It is always him — the same man — when I am working, at least.

All right then, he said, turning back to the side window. Tendai, watch him, but don’t let him know that you are observing. Don’t scare him away. Just watch the man for now.

Okay Boss! I will watch him and report to you when you leave tonight. I will be on duty on Saturday too. I will keep a look out.

He closed the car window without another word to the guard, and motioned for the chauffeur to drive on. The car proceeded down the ramp and into the lower basement. He was not about to take any chances. If this man was actually watching the building, he would have to find out who he was. Anyone messing with his plans was going to regret their involvement.

He turned sideways to his assistant and said, Make sure that Tendai gets a good impression of the man on the security camera. We need to get an identity on him. You know how I feel about coincidence. Nothing must be allowed to interfere!

Yes, Sir, I will see to it once the driver parks the car. I’ll meet you below shortly.

3

Tom was starting to feel a little uneasy. It could be coincidence, but ultimately, no seasoned reporter believed in coincidental events. It was time to retreat into the relative anonymous safety of the small café.

The Fontana had a narrow storefront, with a floor to ceiling glass shopfront. Along the inside of the shopfront ran a light oak bar shelf for patrons to rest against. The establishment provided a handful of high stools for those that lingered on the premises to consume a quick cup of coffee and a snack.

An unadorned serving counter, cluttered with the prerequisite accoutrements for fast food and snacks, ran across the rear of the public area. Above it, at an angle to the customer, was a concise menu advertising the specialities of the tiny kitchen.

The walls of the café were painted a cheery burnt orange with detailing in a deep maroon shade. The floors were tiled in utilitarian white. The entire café was quite small. It did not need to be large, as most people ducked in and out of the café for quick meals or even just a packet of cigarettes.

Seeing that it was nearly closing time for the establishment, Tom ordered a crusty pie and a cup of coffee to go. He sat for a while longer at the window and ate his dinner.

It was not long before another few more mysterious vehicles arrived, and disappeared into the dark building. Tom wondered what kind of clandestine meetings could possibly be taking place downtown at this hour of the evening.

Whoever the parties were, they were meeting underground, it seemed. There were never any windows lit up on any floor, other than the lobby, and they never crossed through it to the lifts.

His probing mind began formulating possibilities, but there were few that seemed to fit with the few facts he had at hand. It was unlikely that these people were in the drug trade. The Nigerians, just up the road in Hillbrow, had a firm hand on that illegal industry.

It was equally unlikely to be that any other illegal or counterfeit product was passing through the building. He had never seen anything other than passenger vehicles pass through the boom. At least, not during the nights he conducted his surveillance.

Who would want to be conducting business downtown at night? It puzzled him. It was not exactly the most desirable or safest of areas in Johannesburg to be holding regular gatherings.

Closing time for the café was arriving soon. He sat indoors, watching the building for the last few minutes. The guard that had spoken briefly with the occupants of the first car was tinkering with one of the security cameras. It watched over the entrance to 111 Commissioner Street, but now he found it was being angled across the street.

With growing alarm, Tom realised this did not bode well. He was trapped inside the café. He would be in full sight of that camera when he exited. There would be no exit from the shop without risk of being caught on the security video.

Tom darted to the small newspaper and magazine stand beside the till. He grabbed the first newspaper he laid his hands on and paid for it before the cashier began to tally up the receipts for the day. It was time to end the evening’s watch and take a run out the door.

4

The last car to come up the ramp stopped at street level before exiting the building. The window cracked open a notch just as it had earlier in the evening.

Tendai, did you capture our mystery man on the cameras? he asked from the dim interior of the car.

Yes Boss! I did, but —

— but what? he asked impatiently.

Boss, he was waving a newspaper as if he was swatting flies. He moved very quickly and then he was gone! There was nothing else I could do.

He did what?

The moving newspaper blurred his face in the video, said the anxious guard. You can see the rest of him, though.

Damn! he said sideways to his assistant. He must know we are onto him. He is going to be more careful next time. This is an unnecessary complication.

We’ll get him next time, said the security guard nervously. His boss did not like to be disappointed. When he got angry, he had a terrible temper. He had seen it in action before, and he really needed this job.

Do your best to get him on the camera. When the next shift comes on duty, make sure they keep watch and don’t fall asleep!

Yes, Boss!

Why don’t we arrange to have a digital still photography camera dropped off tomorrow for the guards on duty? suggested his assistant. It is a far better way to find out who he is than through a grainy, low-quality video.

You are almost worth what I pay you ... that is a good idea. Arrange it tomorrow and let’s get a look at this stranger’s face.

Yes Sir, I will organise it in the morning.

I don’t like people who snoop into my affairs. I have a permanent solution for all of those who do.

He turned back towards the open car window, Tendai, do you and the other guards know how to use a photographic camera?

Yes, Boss. I have one on my cell phone too.

Good, if that man turns up again tonight get pictures or video of him on the video camera.

I will Boss, promise!

A proper camera will be dropped off tomorrow morning for you and the others on duty to use. If anyone hangs around outside for too long, especially in the evening, take plenty of pictures. If you do take any images, call the telephone number you have immediately. Someone will come to collect the pictures.

Of course, Boss! We will do that for you. That’s what we get paid to do!

He closed the window and leaned forward, Driver, head back to head office.

I’m sure this will turn out to be nothing, Sir. Regardless, we will be prepared.

I hope you are right. Complications are the last thing I desire at this pivotal moment. Now is not the time. Sort it out and report back to me when it is done.

Yes, Sir. said his assistant pensively.