by Don P. Bick
Chapter 18
Shadows danced on the walls of the cave located deep within the rock covered mountain. He held the torch high as he proceeded through the large cavern down the passageway, deeper into the recesses of the underground maze. The passageway turned and twisted, always sloped slightly downward, the torch light formed eerie shapes on the rock. He didn't notice. His thoughts were elsewhere.
The quest for the bridge had started. The time was at hand, after all the waiting and preparation. Let it begin, he thought, I'm ready.
Light ahead indicated he was nearing his destination. Around the next bend loomed a huge cavern, a couple of hundred yards long and at least a hundred yards wide. Torches and candles lined the ancient rock walls. Hundreds of men and women sat stoically on wooden benches lined up to form rows across the cavern floor.
The men and women on the benches looked like they had been drugged. A glaze seemed to cover each of their eyes as they awaited the coming of their new Master. They were all new at being disciples of the Master Guardian. Some were there voluntarily, but most had been kidnapped and brought to this underground stronghold against their will. There were members from all the different planetary races represented.
Once brought to this underground location all were subjected to an orientation process that included, in part, a technique of brain washing. None of them knew the real purposes of the Guardians. Even the ones who had voluntarily joined did so for promises of wealth and easy living, not to mention the power they expected to wield as Guardians, and were not following any known cause. They looked upon this as an adventure and a way to get even with others for their having to live a lower standard of living. Many had lived in the gutters of some cities with only the clothes on their back. Those were the ones most easily convinced to join the ranks of the Guardians.
The Guardian Master entered the cavern. Immediately his arrival caused an uneasy stir among those waiting. A cold icy fear clutched at their hearts. The passageway he had come out of was higher than the cavern floor. From his position he looked down upon them all.
This was the first time any of the new Guardians had seen him in person. They were shocked and instantly frightened. He was a gigantic individual and completely hooded, they saw no skin or facial features. Two burning white eyes shone in the darkness within the hood of the cloaked figure. Those eyes bore into the depths of every person's being. His empty sleeves rose to convey quiet in the cavern, although it was already so quiet you could hear the water dripping into a pool at the far end of the room.
He began to speak...
