by Eric Black
“Aye, I do. I read of them while in Ethiopia.” Juan told Diego what he knew of the Nephilim. After he finished, he looked at Abuelo. “So, they’re real then? What are Antonio and Miguel doing with them? Why would they come here?”
“Each man comes to avenge what he has lost.” Abuelo told them of Antonio leaving the village.
“How would a man with vengeance in his heart be found worthy by Cherubim?” Juan asked.
“They do not need Cherubim. They only need a Man of Nod.”
“What Man of Nod…?” Then, Juan realized the answer. “Antonio.”
Abuelo explained that Cherubim was only the guardian of the fountain because the fountain led to the garden. The Men of Nod were from the land of Eden and were free to come and go to the garden. Abuelo also explained that when a man came to the fountain, Cherubim merely determined if that man was worthy, it was the Men of Nod who actually conveyed that man to the garden.
“The Nephilim do not have the power to move to and from the garden. But they do have the knowledge of how that power works.”
“Where is their village?” Juan asked.
“Their village lies a few weeks to the west of our village.”
“You know the location of their village and yet you do nothing to stop them?”
Abuelo’s eyes twinkled as if reliving a memory. “We have battled them before. While the Nephilim do not have our power, this does not mean they are not similar. In fact, they might be seen as our cousins; they were created in the beginning just as we were. Outside of the garden, we cannot die. Neither can the Nephilim. But inside the garden we are both mortal.”
Diego imagined a battle between two such people. “So they will come here to draw you into battle and death?”
“Yes,” Abuelo replied.
Juan thought for a moment before he spoke. “If they defeat you, who protects the garden?”
Juan knew the answer before Abuelo spoke. “You do.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Juan and Diego were curious as to the appearance of the Nephilim but couldn’t take the risk of being spotted. Abuelo explained that the Nephilim, although they had never been to the garden, had memories of the garden passed on from their fathers.
Abuelo told them of a location in the garden marked by a gateway. “That is where the Nephilim will be headed. You must beat them there.”
Juan and Diego headed out and words were difficult to craft to portray all they saw during their two days of travel. The terrain turned rocky and in the distance, mountains began growing out of the land. Soon, there was very little plant life and mountains reigned. The tops of those mountains spewed fire.
They began seeing reptiles that increased in size further into the garden. Some of the reptiles ambled on two legs and their bellows were startling. Both watched as a vast reptile with an immense neck and tail strode on four legs towards the mountains. The reptile was at least two miles away but they could imagine the creature up close being larger than the castles of their homeland.
Much to their dismay, the first day grew to and end and the sky darkened; they had no choice but to stop for the night. They looked for shelter but found none and were forced to sleep in the open. Throughout the night, the reptiles growled and called to each other and Juan and Diego could sense them circling their camp.
The next morning they woke surprisingly unmolested and after a cold meal of salted pork, continued their journey.
Towards the middle of the second day, the land began to change again. Plants reappeared and the rocky terrain was replaced with weeds that eventually became a full, long grass. The sky that had been filled with soot now became clear and both men breathed easier.
As evening of the second day approached, a grove of trees appeared, spanned by grass to the horizon in all directions.
Clouds began gathering directly above the grove as they approached and grew thicker the closer they came. Those clouds fell to the ground, producing a dense fog.
They reached the edge of the fog and noticed a hole in an otherwise congruent haze; the empty space climaxed at twenty feet. They recognized the hole for what it was: an archway exposing the grove of trees behind the mist.
Within the arch stood a man. He kept his head down making his face indistinguishable. But as Juan and Diego stepped closer the man looked up and his face and eyes portrayed wisdom and mystery.
His hands remained hidden behind him and a final step brought his hands forward. Clutched within his palms was an ancient sword that burst into flames.
Diego stood his ground and clenched his jaw but then Juan placed his hand on Diego’s shoulder. A smile crossed his lips and he nodded at Diego to let him know that this man would not harm them. Juan allayed the uncertainty with one word, “Cherubim.”
“Cherubim,” the man agreed. He lowered his sword and the flame extinguished. “I am to lead you to Abuelo.”
“Where in the garden are we?” Diego asked.
“The garden is vast, vaster than you can comprehend. This is the oldest part of the garden. The lands that surround here are ancient, as are the creatures.”
“The large reptiles – what are they?”
“Have you not heard of giant bones discovered throughout Spain?”
Diego thought for a moment and nodded.
“All that has ever been persists within the garden,” Cherubim continued. “Men destroy one another. Men also kill animals for survival or sport. Those deaths erase histories of people and traces of animals that are now lost to your world. Yet here they live on.
“The garden was created for life. Death is a consequence of mankind.”
“So there are other people that live in the garden?” Diego asked.
“Those people live but are now among those you know as the Men of Nod.”
Juan entered the conversation, “Where is Abuelo?”
“I will take you to him whenever you are ready.”
Juan looked at Diego and Diego nodded. “We are ready.”
Cherubim led the way into the arch, inside of which was a gate of some intertwined material: a mix between metal and wood. Cherubim slid his sword into a hidden lock and the gates parted to give entrance. Beyond was a path bordered by enormous trees.
“This is your path,” Cherubim motioned with his arm. “On this road, you will find what you seek. I must leave you now.”
Juan and Diego had long ago stopped questioning the garden. They turned down the path before them and walked for many hours.
The light from the sun did not always discern time in the garden and they were not surprised that the sun was still high in the sky despite the hours that had passed. It should have been night.
They reached a place where a single beam of sunlight lit the path. There stood Abuelo and behind him, the Men of Nod.
“I trust your journey was well?” Abuelo offered. “You do not appear to be in the stomach of some beast.”
“You could’ve warned us of the reptiles,” Diego replied.
“Would you have believed me if I did?”
“Probably not.”
Abuelo shrugged and motioned for them to follow. He guided them to a small inlet off the path where a fire was lit and a dinner of a roasted animal was spitted.
They had their fill and afterwards, looked to Abuelo who did not stand but nonetheless seem to grow larger and brought full attention upon himself. “Your journey has just begun,” he began. “Both of you play a bigger part in this tale that you realize. You were chosen not only to find the fountain and the garden but also to be the protectors of both.”
“What about you?” Juan asked.
“Our time has nearly come to an end. We have protected the fountain for many years. Now it’s time for someone else to take our burden. We will always exist, although not in the form that you currently see.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“We are just the holders. Diego and you are the keepers. Plus, more will come and join you.”
“Others?” Juan asked.
“You will see who I mean in time.”
“What about Cherubim? Doesn’t he protect the garden?” Diego asked.
“Cherubim guards the garden but cannot exclude the Men of Nod. We have the right to be in the garden.
“Antonio is one of us and yet, he comes with the Nephilim. The Nephilim are forbidden to enter; although under the authority of Antonio, they may pass.
“Do you know the story of the Fallen Angels? I don’t mean what you have read or heard, I mean what actually happened?”
Juan and Diego shook their heads.
“The Men of Nod have always existed in some form, as have the angels,” Abuelo continued. “Soon after the creation of everything, a group of angels became filled with rage that they were heavenly beings and yet denied the garden. This is the first part of garden created: you could look at is as God’s laboratory. Man was created here. This part of the garden was forbidden to everyone but the Men of Nod. It was our job to guide the first man and woman.
“Envious angels approached us, looking to persuade us to assist their entrance. We refused. And thus, their treachery was uncovered and the angels were cast down to live among men.
“Their leader was the Morning Star, who later took the form of a serpent. When the first man and women began to roam the newer parts of the garden, the serpent gained access to them and his influence led to their expulsion from the garden. We could have stopped it but man was afforded free will and we were forbidden to interfere.
“Afterwards, mankind was once again placed into our care to teach them ways of the world outside of the garden.”
“So where do we fit?” Juan asked. “We’re not ethereal beings.”
“Why do such moments fall on any man? Besides, you’re wrong about not being ethereal.”
“What do you mean by that?” Diego challenged.
“Neither of you can die.”
“What do you mean?” Diego sounded more intrigued than angry.
“What do you mean we cannot die?” Juan demanded.
Abuelo took a deep breath. “Just like Antonio, Diego and you have become like us; but you have also become more. You were chosen as I said, chosen to protect the garden. That is why I brought you here. You had to know the garden as it is. The other parts of the garden are magnificent but here, the origins of the garden, this is this part of the garden that you must protect.”
“From the Nephilim,” Juan said.
“From the Nephilim,” Abuelo agreed. “They will come here and they will kill us. We will fight them but we will lose. They are too strong. We’ll meet them at the gate but once we’re gone, you must keep them from entering.”
“How?” Juan asked.
“You must kill Antonio. The Nephilim can die by your hand but Antonio is different.”
“Different how?” Diego asked.
“Just like you, he cannot die.”
“Great,” said Diego. “So if he can’t die, how do we kill him?”
“The answer is found in the Book of Jubilees.”
“A book?” Diego asked sarcastically.
“I have only seen that book in Ethiopia,” said Juan.
“Then that is where you must go.”
“Well that should be easy,” replied Diego. “It’s only across the ocean, thousands of miles from here.”
Abuelo smiled. “Diego, you are standing where God created the world. Do you think that anything here is in the realm of impossibility?”
Diego did not have an answer.
“Then how?” Juan asked.
“The path can take you to where you want to go.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you do. The path is no different than the garden. You simply want to go there.”
“Why can’t you just give us the answer?” Diego asked.
“That is forbidden.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Find the book and then you will understand.”
“And what happens if we fail to kill Antonio?”
“The Nephilim will enter and challenge God.”
“Challenge God?” Diego laughed. When Abuelo remained serious, he added, “They don’t really believe they can defeat God?”
“No more questions. You must hurry; you have two days until they arrive. We’ll hold them as long as we can.”
Juan nodded and turned to leave the alcove, stepping onto the path. Diego joined him. It took a few moments to figure it out but their thoughts finally tuned into one another’s. Their minds jointly focused on Ethiopia and the garden disappeared.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Secretly, Antonio was pleased Juan and Diego had not been found. They reminded him of himself: they were great warriors; and they were survivors.
He was a survivor.
As a child he had been smaller than the other boys. Often, he found himself at the receiving end of a beating by those bigger and older than him. The treatment molded him tougher, mentally and physically. It also nurtured his rage.
One day, rage incapacitated him and he attacked the young man who was giving torment. Antonio beat the man unconscious and after that, the cruel treatment stopped. Antonio vowed to never be humiliated by another person.
That changed with the Men of Nod. They had humiliated him. But his voyage to Spain had changed that angry young man. It was the time on the open sea that taught him forgiveness.
He had never taken the time to know his enemy’s heart, having been more concerned with cutting it out. With Buono, he found a man who was his enemy but also a man he could respect. He had been Buono’s captive but Buono treated him with decency. Eventually, he came to regard Buono as a brother. The experience demonstrated that he could forgive and even love his enemy.
He thought on the Men of Nod and realized he had forgiven them for what they had done. He would survive the humiliation.
That was his past but it impacted his present. And his present was astounding: he was with the Nephilim in the Garden of Eden.
But while Antonio had forgiven the Men of Nod, there was one constant in his life and that was his word. He had given his word to the Nephilim that he would lead them to the garden and he could not go back on his promise.
He had not however, vowed to partake in the battle that would ensue. The Nephilim would be given their opportunity for revenge and once that opportunity was presented, it was in their hands.
Antonio looked up from his contemplation and saw Miguel watching. Miguel realized his actions and averted his eyes. “Forgive me, Antonio, I did not mean to stare. You just looked at peace and I wondered as to your thoughts.”
“No offence taken,” Antonio replied. “I was thinking of how much I have seen in so little time. This is truly a remarkable place.”
Miguel nodded. “Do you think Juan and Diego know we are here?”
“They know.”
“I agree with you. How could they not know? Where will they go, I wonder? I have no idea of the vastness of this garden. They could be anywhere.”
“Rephaim thinks he knows where they will go. I have seen the place he speaks of in a vision.”
Miguel looked at Antonio curiously. “Where is this place?”
“West of here. It’s the oldest part of the garden.”
“Was the garden not all created at once?”
“No. This place that I speak of is where creation began. The Nephilim are forbidden to enter there and that’s why they need me.”
“When you say where creation began…”
“The place where the first light of creation was spoken. The birthplace of the heavens and earth. The place where man first came to be.”
“And we are going there?” Miguel asked amazed.
“Unless you’d like to stay here warming yourself by the fire.”
Miguel looked at him sharply, thinking Antonio was calling him a coward. Antonio gave him a lighthearted smile and Miguel realized he was joking.
Miguel let down his guard. “I think probably not.”
The two men stared into the fire a few moments and Antonio changed the subject, “There is more to life than revenge.”
Miguel was surprised by the unexpected comment.
“La Florida is a new land with new possibilities,” Antonio continued. “You could leave all of this behind and do well for yourself in so-called New World.”
Miguel considered Antonio words before speaking. “Sometimes revenge is all that’s left.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Juan looked around at a land he had not seen in many years. They were in Ethiopia.
The King of Spain had sent him to Ethiopia many years prior as an ambassador and he had followed a great river south while passing through. The river brought him to Axum, the most sacred village in Ethiopia.
Christianity had come to Ethiopia in the 4th Century AD and it was said that the Ark of the Covenant lay within the chapel of that village. Juan investigated but was not given access.
Also near the village were the ruins of a vast palace. Juan made inquiries but no one knew of its origin. The elders used the word Sheba in describing the palace but could not explain the significance of that word.
Juan finally came to Debre Berhan, the royal capital of Ethiopia and met with the Emperor. As Spain was also Christian, the Emperor welcomed Juan and encouraged him to learn more of his land. He stayed in the capital for two months reading over ancient scrolls that gave history of Ethiopia and its people. It was at the royal palace among the scrolls, that Juan first saw the Book of Jubilees.
Juan had a knack for new languages and picked up the spoken language but the written language proved more difficult. He was pleased to have the assistance of the spiritual leaders in reading the Book of Jubilees, helping with translations as needed.
During those months, he read at his pleasure but time came for him to move on. His purpose was to learn more about the cultures of Ethiopia, not become a scholar.
Juan spent two years with the people of Ethiopia but only his time in the capital afforded him reading the Book of Jubilees. He stopped by Debre Berhan on his journey home but his second stint there was short and mostly formal. By the time he made his back way to Spain, Juan had forgotten the religious text. It was not until his conversation with Abuelo that the book was recalled.
