“Jack!” Leaf exclaimed when he saw Jack following Ilene and Elaine down the steps off the train. The sun glared harshly off of what remained of the snow.
Jack spared a glance at the boy before navigating the loose gravel of the rail bed to the clearing beside the tracks that denoted the start of the narrow trail leading into the woods to Vince and Maggie’s house. Rahlys, who had joined the Bradley family welcoming party gave Elaine a hand down the gravel bed while Vince collected their baggage. When they were clear, the train pulled away. As soon as it was safe, Leaf released Keiluk’s collar and rushed up to Jack before anyone else could reach him.
“Hi, Jack! Guess what I have?”
“My man Leaf, good to see you,” Jack greeted him jovially. The boy had sprouted a couple of inches since Jack saw him last. And the white dog beside him had filled out in proportion to the size of his paws.
“I have chickens,” Leaf announced proudly since Jack didn’t take a guess.
“Chickens and a dog; you are coming up in the world. Do your chickens lay eggs?”
“Lots of eggs.”
“Bear bait, the whole lot,” Elaine muttered.
Soon they were all gathered together. “We are so glad you could come,” Vince said reaching over Leaf’s head to shake Jack’s hand.
“I am indeed glad to be here; thank you so much for inviting me. And look at the lovely female escorts I found along the way.” Vince looked to where Rahlys, Elaine, and Ilene were exchanging hugs.
“I always knew you were a ladies’ man,” Vince said giving his friend a wink.
“Where’s Maggie?”
“To make the trek to the cabin easier, Maggie stayed at the cabin with the twins.”
“Jack!” Rahlys cried coming to greet him.
“How’s my favorite sorceress?” Jack asked squeezing her hard.
“I’m doing great. It’s wonderful seeing you again.”
“We might as well get a head start, Elaine, since we are the slowest,” Jack said gallantly offering her his arm for support.
“I reckon you are right, if you think it’s safe,” Elaine agreed.
“I’ll protect you,” Leaf offered, Keiluk running circles around them.
“I’m sure you will,” Jack said as the four of them headed off together.
Everyone knew the routine. Packs and boxes were stashed on the four wheel ATV for Vince to take up to the cabin. That didn’t leave room for passengers. Vince took off on the packed four-wheeler and the rest of the group headed up the trail on foot. It wasn’t long before Jack, Elaine, Leaf, and Keiluk were forced to step off the trail to let Vince pass.
The trail itself was bare of snow, but some large patches of winter’s revenge still remained. Jack inhaled the warm spring air and the earthy scent of newly exposed forest floor with pleasure.
“Ah…spring…my favorite time of year!” he said.
“They’re all your favorite time of year,” Elaine jabbed, but she understood what he meant. There was something invigorating about spring beyond just a reprieve from winter.
For the most part, Elaine and Jack were able to stay up with the youthful Leaf and Keiluk since boy and dog required frequent stops to sniff and investigate the intoxicating sights, sounds, and smells of the awakening forest long the way. Still the trail’s long inclines quickly took a toll on both Jack and Elaine. Ilene and Rahlys saw them pause again up ahead.
“Elaine probably never realized before how much Quaylyn had helped her along the trail in the past,” Rahlys said in tender remembrance of the kind attention Quaylyn always gave Elaine. The two women easily caught up with the couple. They looked like they had had enough exercise for the day and still had half the distance to go.
“Well,” Rahlys said stepping up to them, “I think instead of juggling you two along, I better teleport you the rest of the way…if that’s alright with you.”
“Oh… ah…,” Elaine stammered always reluctant to go from here to there without all the spaces in between, but before she could offer up a solid protest, Jack jumped in.
“That would be wonderful, Rahlys, thank you; I miss Kaylya in more ways than one.” Rahlys smiled at his mention of Kaylya.
“Go ahead,” Ilene urged, “Leaf, Keiluk, and I will be there shortly.”
So Rahlys gently encompassed the elderly couple in a draw of power and teleported to Vince and Maggie’s yard. Almost instantly Maggie and the twins rushed out the cabin to embrace them.
“You get more gorgeous every day,” Jack said taking Maggie’s hand.
“You tease; good to see you,” she said kissing him on the cheek.
When they were all reunited with Keiluk barking excitedly, their numbers seemed greatly diminished. The absence of Quaylyn by Rahlys’ side was quite noticeable and Rojaire had come for Kaylya, returning with her to their own world. But even though she was still on Earth, it was the absence of Melinda that left the greatest void. The quiet girl without speech had always made her presence known.
“You’re just in time to rototill the garden,” Vince said indicting a rototiller under a tarp, primed and ready to go.
“Sure,” Jack said.
“No!” Maggie admonished. “He’s only joking. You can help us plant.”
Of course, it was the twins who had changed the most, transforming from stumbling toddlers to a little girl and a little boy. Crystal and Rock held back, too young to clearly remember Jack’s previous visits.
“Who are you?” Crystal asked coyly.
Jack smiled; he could tell she had her mother’s spunk.
“I’m Jack, and if I’m not mistaken, you’re Crystal.”
Crystal nodded tilting her head, “How do you know that?” she asked.
“I’m good friends with your mom and dad. And this must be Rock. Nice to meet you again, Rock,” Jack said giving him five. Rock slapped his hand with more force than Jack would have credited him.
“Why is your nose so big?” asked the diminutive replica of Vince with Maggie highlights.
“My proboscis?” he asked pointing to the center of his face. “Why it is something I am very proud of. A large nose denotes great strength and incredible intelligence.”
“Oh,” said Rock touching his own little button nose with some concern.
A merry party ensued. It was far too nice a spring day to spend indoors, so everything needed as far as food, cooking utensils, toys, and drinks was brought outside.
Everyone participated in a dodge ball game, even Jack and Elaine who were easy targets and the first ones out. Taking their turn tossing, Jack surprised everyone by taking out Vince. Far less ambitious, Elaine focused her ball on Crystal. Opting out of returning to the game, Jack and Elaine gratefully sat down and watched. There was much taunting and squealing as the players ran up and down the yard avoiding Crystal’s throws from one end and Vince’s from the other.
Then unexpectedly, as always, the message came.
ANTHYA APPROACHES.
Rahlys froze. A year has passed since Rahlys has received a message through the Oracle of Light; a year since Quaylyn’s departure ripped her apart. Startled and distracted she felt the ball tap her in the back to the cheers of the others. Crystal was more than pleased with herself.
“You’re out,” she laughed just feet away. Rahlys graciously conceded defeat.
“Anthya’s coming,” she announced to everyone’s surprise. The dodge ball game collapsed and within moments the image of Councilor Anthya wearing a sapphire gown shimmered in the spring sunshine.
“Greetings, Sorceress Rahlys, Guardian of the Light, Warrior Vince, Warrior Maggie, Healer Ilene, Warrior Elaine, Warrior Jack, Sorcerer Leaf, new person Crystal, and new person Rock,” she said naming them all. To Anthya, all of Rahlys’ friends/followers were warriors except for the very young. She made an exception for Leaf, acknowledging his mental strength.
“Greetings, Councilor Anthya. It’s been a long time,” Rahlys said. “How may we serve?” She wanted to ask about Qua
ylyn and Kaylya, but felt it best to listen to the councilor’s message first.
“The High Council wishes to extend an invitation to Healer Ilene to return to the Academy to study. It has been determined it is her right to do so since she is as much a part of our world as she is of Earth.”
Rahlys heard Elaine gasp in response to the announcement, then saw Jack step up to offer Elaine moral support. Jack understood Elaine’s anxiety. If Ilene accepted the High Council’s invitation to return to Aaia she may never see her daughter again. Yet they all knew Ilene wished to return to the Academy to study healing.
Ilene seemed too stunned to react at first, then uttered a heartfelt, “Oh, I would love to.” For Ilene it was a dream come true; Kaylya must have spoken up for her after all.
Anthya smiled warmly and nodded toward Ilene. “You have made a wise choice. I am looking forward to instructing you once again. You must be ready to depart in three Earth-days.”
“No…,” Elaine cried softly. I will be all alone, she added silently. But Rahlys heard her and so did Anthya.
“Warrior Elaine, I ask that you be strong. The opportunity Healer Ilene is being offered is a great honor. She has done well, but has much left to learn. Once her training is complete, she will be returned safely to Earth.”
Then Councilor Anthya was gone…her image vanished…and Rahlys hadn’t even had a chance to inquire after their friends. This is not how it was supposed to happen. Anthya had made contact with them and there had been no message from Quaylyn.
The sudden appearance and disappearance of the messenger from across the galaxy had completely changed the dynamics of the day. The children finding the adults too engrossed in the new developments went off to play by themselves. Ilene, jittery with excitement, fought to calm her own elation before trying to console her mother.
“My daughter agreed to return to Aaia; it’s my greatest nightmare come true,” Elaine cried.
Jack put comforting arms around her. “Now, now, Elaine, you can’t keep treating Ilene like a little girl. She’s twenty-five; she has a right to live her own life. She’s a smart woman in need of challenges; just like my son. Our jobs are done; it is time to let them go.”
“It’s not her I’m worried about; it’s me. I don’t know how I can live without her.”
“I will show you how, my lady,” Jack said gallantly.
“Who will help me at the gift shop? I can’t run it on my own; it is too much work for just one person.”
“I will help you and you don’t even have to pay me,” Jack offered. “I will find a little place to stay in town and you can train me. How hard can it be?”
“Plus you already have Angela working full-time now,” Ilene added seeing an opening to plead her case. Her gratitude toward Jack for being there brought tears to her eyes.
“We have a place in town within easy walking distance from the gift shop,” Vince said stepping in to help. “It used to be my bachelor pad.” He grinned suggestively. “You are welcomed to stay there rent free …as long as we can continue to park our truck in the yard and spend the night once in a great while when we need to.”
Ilene could hardly believe it; things were falling into place so smoothly.
“Oh, Ilene, I’m going to really miss you,” Maggie said giving her a tearful hug. With you gone, it’s going to get even lonelier up here.”
Rahlys sensed the truth of Maggie’s words and felt a tightness in her stomach. “I have something for you, Ilene,” she said collecting herself.
“What is it?” Ilene asked. Rahlys conjured a little purple velveteen drawstring pouch to her hand and offered it to her.
Intrigued, Ilene opened the drawstring and emptied the contents of the little pouch into her hand. It was a star stone, the same star stone Melinda had found in the creek and given to Rahlys as a good luck charm before they left for Aaia to join the mission to find the lost expedition on the Devastated Continent …was it only three years ago?
“You better take it with you, for luck,” Rahlys said. Just in case, she added telepathically. She didn’t say in case of “what,” but Ilene understood. If she were to return to the Devastated Continent, the star stone would make it possible for her to draw limited energy from the elemental forces.
“Oh, Rahlys, thank you. I will give it back to you when I return.”
No rush, Rahlys telepathed to her so Elaine wouldn’t hear. If Ilene returned to the Devastated Continent, she could be gone a long time.
“It wasn’t easy convincing their parents to let them go on an overnight camp-out with friends, but in the end they relented. Seth promised to watch over Alice and Alice played down any possible threats by promising never to be out of Seth’s sight. They met up with Justin mid-afternoon with convincing packs that included tents (which they wouldn’t be using) and sleeping bags as well as a small ice chest of food …to contribute to the party. Justin had volunteered to bring the beer. How he planned to get ahold of it, the twins didn’t ask.
It was a hot day in south Louisiana with the start of summer just a few short weeks away. The air in the woods didn’t stir; as a result the captured humid heat was stifling. It was a relief to finally arrive at the old weathered house that had become a secret hangout over the past month. They immediately sought the dark dense shade under the sprawling old oak tree and dropping their gear, stretched out on the cool shaded ground. With hours left before dark the teenagers decided food, drink, and possibly a nap while waiting for the evening to cool was in order.
The beer was ice cold. Alice rubbed the cold can against her body, especially her hot neck and forehead. The coldness of it was delightful. Then she opened the can and took the biggest gulp of beer she had ever taken in her life in an attempt to quench her thirst. The guys were doing pretty much the same.
By the time the first cool breeze of evening brought relief from the stifling heat, a pile of empty beer cans had begun to pile up. Already feeling a bit woozy, Alice reached for a bag of potato chips to absorb some of the alcohol in her system. “Do you want a sandwich?” she asked the guys reaching into the ice chest for a sandwich and a soda pop this time instead of beer.
“Sure, I’ll have one,” the boys said in near unison and she tossed out pre-made ham and cheese sandwiches.
“So what do you think will happen after it gets dark?” Justin asked around a mouth full of sandwich, reminding Seth and Alice they were here on a dare.
“Probably nothing,” Seth had to admit getting another beer. “Spending the night was a good idea. It’ll be fun and we can put this evil presence thing to rest.”
“Hey, toss me another one, too,” Justin piped up. The tossing action caused the beer to spew foam when he pulled the tab and Justin made a dramatic effort to suck it all up.
After eating, Alice left the boys to more beer consumption and carried her pack and sleeping bag into the house. There was no evidence of anyone having visited the site; everything was just as they left it. Nothing had changed since they were here last. As the only female in the group, she claimed the empty front room as her own, for a modicum of privacy from the boys if they should decide to actually sleep at some point tonight.
She was headed outside again to join them when Justin startled her. He deftly blocked her way to the exit, crowding her into a corner between the laser-cutting machine and the wall. Oh, crap, she moaned to herself. She hated being caught alone with Justin; she had already turned him down twice for the prom, but he just wouldn’t give it up.
“So how about it, Alice, you and me, stealing the show at the prom next week-end?” He reached up and touched her hair. “I really like red hair,” he said breathing on her. His breath smelled like beer.
“I said no; get it into your thick skull,” Alice said angrily slapping his hand away.
“You know you want me,” Justin sneered. Alice pushed him hard against the laser cutting machine and slipped around him toward the door.
It was then that Seth walked in. “Has anything chan
ged in here?” he asked letting Alice pass before walking into the house, to check it out. To Alice’s great relief Justin followed Seth through the house as though nothing had happened.
The sky remained clear, and as night drew closer they built a fire in the outdoor fire pit to roast sausages on sticks under the stars. The sky quickly darkened and more stars spangled the cosmic dome above them. As the sausages cooked, fat dripped onto hot embers in the fire pit, setting off little flares that competed with the lightening bugs for attention. Alice quickly put the incident with Justin behind her and drifted into a feeling of complacency staring into the fire, the boys’ intoxicated blabber merely background noise. It turned out to be a beautiful night, putting to shame her concerns of something evil lurking around. The cooking sausages’ fatty spicy aroma whetted their appetites. When the sausages were done, they wrapped them in bread and loaded them with mustard.
Washing down dinner with more beer, Justin and Seth sprawled out beside the fire using their packs, which had been retrieved from under the oak tree, to lean their back against. They quickly got into a heated debate about cars which lead to a debate about pick-up trucks. Since neither topic held Alice’s interest, she turned her attention to stargazing.
At first Alice didn’t note anything out of the ordinary; she located the few constellations she could identify, watched the light of a satellite cross the backdrop of stars, and gazed at the faint thumbprint of a distant galaxy. Then she noticed stars starting to disappear. Bats or birds flying overhead was her first logical explanation, but even more stars vanished and the starless blackness continued to strangely expand. Alice’s senses bolted alert.
“Hey, guys,” she said in alarm, “I think something is happening.”
Seth and Justin were reluctant to drop their horse-power conversation, but slowly they relented and followed her gaze upward. They almost turned their gaze away again when the phenomenon of disappearing stars finally registered in their sauced brains. Then unseen tendrils of icy chill brushed against their skin, turning the warm night frosty cold.
Interstellar Ruse Page 10
