Longevity- the Wardens of Time

by Caleb Smith

  His two elders sat back and looked at each other in contemplation.

  “What did this boy look like? Were there defining features? Anything that was remarkable, other than the cat?”

  “He appeared to be just a small, frail boy. He wore a sweatshirt, glasses, jeans, and sneakers. He donned no special articles. If he knew what had actually been happening aside from the biological murder, he didn’t seem to show it. He never looked away, even as the bears ripped apart their victims and gorged themselves with flesh and blood.”

  “How close did you get to this child?” Amducaius asked.

  “Probably within a few hundred yards.”

  “And why not closer?” Zabos followed up.

  “The presence of the light was too strong. Guardians were close with strong shields of protecting light, and I felt the twins were on the way. I wanted to return to give you my report immediately.”

  They couldn’t hide their respect for this and quickly snapped into a course of action.

  “Good eye, Furfur,” Amducaius finally admitted. “Go back and set up the next assault with our renegade group. Link it to the boy, somehow, or some way. If you see anything that threatens this plan, extinguish the boy and cat and bring the boy’s soul to us.” Amducaius looked at Zabos, who nodded in accordance.

  “We can’t afford to let anything get in the way of our plans. You know how important it is. We have worked so hard to put everything in place.”

  “What of the twins?” Furfur asked, timidly.

  “These stories sort themselves out. The twins only show if there are complications. Make sure there are none,” Zabos replied.

  “Yes, Grand Duke. I shall do my best.” Furfur bowed his head in acceptance of their orders and left the room and residence. He made his way to the high cavern wall and found a perch there like a giant crow. For a while, he watched the never-ending production far below and contemplated his next move. Eventually, he spread his wings and flew off high above the eyes of the enslaved, back to the surface.

  Chapter 45

  Following his outing to the book shop, after the police precinct slaughter, Noah finally made his way back to his home, it was just two hours later.

  The house was still. He poked his head in on his mother, who was still sleeping heavily with both arms tucked under the pillow, cradling her resting head. Keeper found her way to his room and to her place on his bed.

  Amazingly, he was hungry, but he couldn’t be bothered with food. His mind and appetite were focused on what was now strapped to his back and hanging around his neck.

  He entered his room and shut the door firmly behind him. Keeper kept her eyes on his every move as he unzipped his gray sweatshirt and set the sword on the bed. Noah grabbed its handle, sliding the weapon from its sheath, and raising it above his head.

  He wasn’t exactly coordinated, and he knew he would need practice in mastering his technique. He waved the blade in front of him, and then back and forth. It felt flawless and perfect in his hand. Holding the blade close enough to see his facial reflection in the metal, he also saw the flames burning and alive. The handle was also perfectly crafted to fit his gripping knuckles. It occurred to him that the sword was the same size as that of samurai warriors.

  He grinned and practiced a lunging attack and stabbing pokes. Keeper’s eyes grew large at his offensive assault, mostly because she was worried for his safety and what was coming. Noah needed real practice if he was going to stop the evil he had witnessed earlier.

  After a few minutes indulging his warrior self with the sword, Noah gently placed the weapon on the bed. Keeper backed up and found a more suitable resting place. He then unfastened the leather straps tied around his shoulders, holding the metal sheath in the center of his back. The shoulder straps fit to his body, and the metal sheath ran precisely down the center of his spine. Much like the sword, the sheath posed no uncomfortable challenge. Taking it off, he laid it next to the sword, noticing different tribal designs in the leather straps.

  He next unlatched his necklace and studied it. The chain was comprised of thick, steel links, with a circular medallion in the center on which was the imprint of a flaming star. It was a tetragrammaton. The metal looked different than that of the sword. It was shiny and polished, and it was hard to withstand its bright glare. Noah wished he knew more about it, other than the fact that it would be useful for his protection. He set the necklace beside the sword and sheath.

  His mind jumped next to the wooden statue carved by the twins. It was in his dresser. He sprang up and opened his sock drawer, rifling through the contents like a mad man. Unable to find it at first, he started dumping socks and underwear on his floor, but then he saw it. It was tucked into the corner, and he dug it out and put in his palm.

  Remarkably, the figure seemed to have changed shape. It was the same size, but now it resembled a totem pole with heads of animals and gods carved into it. There was an eagle at the top and bear at the bottom. Bronze faces were in between, looking like ancient warriors. The wood gleamed. Noah didn’t know what to do now.

  He wanted to slam the carving down on the ground and demand that the mighty twins come to him. He had many questions about everything: the sword, the necklace, the book shop, and the evil. And why? Why had he been chosen? He was just a kid who loved books and the softer things in life. He avoided fights. Any burgeoning faith he had in himself began to fade. He had seen what those men did to the armed police officers. He was just one kid. And he was scared.

  How would he find these demons? How would he begin to attack or capture them? Maybe the twins were mistaken in counting on him for such a task. This was all getting too real, and he began to panic. He started to fall apart until he felt a large gentle hand upon his left shoulder. He looked over, and it was sparkling.

  It was Enoch’s hand, and he stood tall and mighty.

  “Enoch!” Noah blurted.

  “Yes. I am here, dear boy.”

  “Where’s Elijah?”

  “He is on assignment, which is where I will be again shortly. I see you are having some troubles, and the problems in this town are growing. I also see you found the tools we made for you.”

  Noah thanked him, water filling his eyes. He lunged forward and hugged the tree of an angel. Enoch smiled and laid his giant hand kindly on the boy’s head. “I’m so confused; I don’t know what to do,” he said, tear drops falling. His emotions had gotten hold of him, something that had been happening a lot lately.

  Enoch saw Noah’s true spirit gleam with special golden light. The angel understood what the boy was up against, and he would do his best to help and guide the boy without interfering too much. The task was Noah’s to complete.

  “I know, Noah. I’m here now to help guide you along. We have always been here. You may not always see us, but we are here.”

  “I’m scared. I saw the faces of hell in plain daylight. I saw what they can do. I’m afraid I don’t stand a chance.”

  “Oh, but you do stand a chance, Noah. You do. But you must have faith and believe that you do, or you will never prevail. This is a test of faith, just like David and Goliath, and Daniel when he was thrown to the lions. This is now your time to prove evil wrong and show that you can’t be broken or fall victim to its plague among men.”

  “But I don’t know how a kid like me can bring down five creatures like that. I saw them, Enoch.” He separated himself and looked up so the giant angel could see his face. “I saw what they did to those policemen; the bears ate them. And the others were shot and didn’t slow down! They have shields, swords, axes and daggers. I just don’t see how I stand a chance. I’ve never even held a sword until today. I don’t know what I’m doing!”

  “Can you use your imagination to create an image of yourself able to complete this task? This would be similar to the times you immersed yourself in the instructional stories. In those instances, you ran and skied at incredible velocity, and you also flew.”

  “I suppose so,” Noah sai
d, unsure.

  “This is no different. But now you are in physical time and space – three-dimensional space. You must use your mind in a way that will allow you to be flawless. It is there; you have it in you. We above have all seen it, and that’s why you alone have been charged with this challenge. No one else your age has a sword and flaming star made of the heavens, forged of its fires and light. We give these articles to you because we trust that you can handle this. This will not get any easier, dear boy. Your path is narrow. But, you are special for your kind. We are depending on you to be strong, and we are all here watching, though we cannot interfere. This is your test; know that you have warm love and light backing your efforts. Your soul cannot be taken by the hands of evil, for you are protected. Keeper will see to that, as well as Elijah and myself.”

  These words helped calm Noah’s mind and restless spirit, though he still lacked confidence in taking on the enemy.

  “I need training with the new tools and more preparation.”

  Enoch exhaled sharply. “Indeed you do; indeed you do. Time is of the essence; you must learn quickly, too. There is no time to spare. They will strike again, more lives will be taken, and souls will be dragged down to hell. You must make haste. Lives are depending on you.”

  Noah took a deep breath, absorbing the urgency of the situation, and then he was given these instructions: “Tomorrow. Tomorrow at three o’clock – you will enter the same room on the top floor of the shop to receive a lesson. This will help you gain the confidence and skills you lack to complete the task.”

  Enoch then put his giant hand on the boy’s head. “You already have the skills to slice the enemy to pieces, but you have forgotten them. They are lost in the depths of your great mind. But this lesson will help you retrieve this information.”

  Noah was confused. “What do you mean I possess the skills but have forgotten?”

  “Just be there on time. Once you access these memories and begin the movements, you will know.”

  Noah was nervous about what was to come. “Well, what do I do until that time? Is there anything I can do now? Can I go today at three o’clock to find out?”

  “Tomorrow!” Enoch said this loudly. “Go tomorrow, and all will be ready for you.” He tapped the boy’s forehead with his finger. “Once you find the past and remember, all will flow flawlessly. In the meantime, get accustomed to your blade and shields – and especially to Keeper. She will be your biggest asset in times to come. You need to calm your mind, control your breathing, and explore your being. But tomorrow you will discover your past, and the most important lessons already exist in your past.”

  Noah pondered this. His past had been uneventful. “Um, OK, I guess.”

  “You will need to ask Keeper to help you; she will bring you to that quiet place in your mind where time is lost and past lives are found. Access the light within. Lie flat on your back, with legs and arms together. Face your head north, with Keeper beside you. Close your eyes and count to ten with each drawn breath. Once you have reached ten, start over, and continue this process until you lose track of counting. At this point, begin your search. This is mental training, and most of the power you need resides in your mind. You will be able to move mountains with your thoughts – just you wait, dear boy. Just you wait.”

  Enoch started to fade away into extra dimensional light, chuckling with his parting words.

  And then there was a commanding knock on the door; Noah opened it and found his mother standing before him.

  “Good morning. I guess I overslept today. With all that happened yesterday, I suppose I was in need of some serious rest.” Noah lunged forward and hugged his mother, who was still only half awake. She hugged back with a fading grin.

  “Don’t worry, Mom. Everything will be better soon. I promise.”

  Chapter 46

  Noah’s first meditation had come with a learning curve. Right after eating a late breakfast, he had done just as Enoch had advised. But he had been attempting to rush the act – he wasn’t settled, and he was trying to force the results. His mind was busy, and he was unable to slow it into controlled focus. He had closed his eyes and counted to ten, over and over. He saw nothing in his darkness, only spots and blotchy shapes controlled by eager thoughts. He’d been contemplating future tasks, though trying to think about his past and what had led to his present situation. But the recipe for success in the kind of meditation Enoch had talked about was lack of thought and a willful presence in the moment. Even Keeper grew restless at the process, and Noah eventually gave up for the day and moved on to other things.

  When he tried again the following morning, he had too many distractions to make it work. He’d been keeping his thoughts to a minimum this time (although his three o’clock appointment weighed heavily on his mind), but then Wendy had made an early morning phone call. The ring tone crushed any chance of falling down the rabbit hole of great, unknown exploration. He got to the phone in the kitchen just as it rang for the seventh time.

  “Hello!” He shouted in an annoyance.

  “Noah, it’s Wendy.” She said nothing after that.

  “Hi,” Noah replied, knowing why she was calling at eight a.m.

  “What are you doing?” she inquired.

  “I just woke up – just now.” He was gently letting her know that her phone call had awakened him, but it immediately went over her head.

  “Well, I need you here today, if you can make it. With Dad still in the hospital, Josh and I need all the extra help we can get at the garage. It would be a big help if you could lend a hand today. You will be paid, of course.”

  Noah really didn’t want to leave the house, with his mind so focused on all that was happening. But how could he refuse? He had made it clear to her that he would be there for her. He couldn’t retract that. Not now; not ever. What kind of friend would he be if he did?

  He replied the only way he knew how – by holding the truth front and center, sort of. “I can help you, Wendy, but I have to leave at two-thirty. I have to be somewhere at three.”

  “OK, great! But what do you have to do at three?”

  “I just have some stuff to do at the library,” Noah fibbed.

  “Is the library even open then?”

  Noah was growing agitated. “Yes of course. I have the summer schedule programmed in my head. There is information I need to access, and there will be someone at three to help me do that. I just have to wash up and throw some clothes on, and then I’ll be over.”

  His explanation seemed good enough for her, but he knew she’d still be curious about his library activities. He knew he’d better get a good story set in place before he pulled into the auto yard.

  It didn’t take Noah very long to get ready. His mother was already gone – he saw that she had left her bed unmade. She must have taken the morning shift. So, he scooped Keeper up and placed her in the front basket on the bike and then wheeled the vehicle through the front door, locking it shut behind him.

  The morning was bright. The early August morning breeze emitted the sweet scent of fresh-cut grass. Summer was winding down, and school would soon be back in full swing. Most kids despised the thought. Noah welcomed it. He looked forward to getting back to learning and his books, but he wanted everything to be settled by then.

  He would never again be able to look at things the same. Most kids his age pined for Friday afternoons – the start of the weekend and a reprieve from school. Noah was caught up in the worries of tomorrow and missing the joys of the present day.

  The garage door was open when he arrived, and Josh was buried under the hood of a car. Wendy was nowhere visible. Noah parked his bike by the front of the house. He assumed she was inside. He picked up Keeper and held her in his arms while entering the house.

  “Wendy, are you in here?” he called.

  His question was answered with silence. He yelled again but heard no response. Shaking his head, he went back outside and walked over toward the garage. Josh remained busy and
did not look up, but after a few moments, Noah broke the silence.

  “Hey Josh, have you seen Wendy around? She called me to come and lend a hand.”

  Just as his father, Josh did not look up while working. He replied with arms deep in his technical tasks. “I’m not sure. Did you check out in the yard? She might be out there fishing for parts.” The clicking of his ratchet wrench was audible.

  Noah stepped out of the garage and noticed that the gate was open and the Gator was not in sight. She could be anywhere in the vast yard. Had Earl been around, he would have been pissed knowing that his daughter was out there stripping parts without another set of watchful eyes.

  Noah rode his bike through the junk avenues, keeping his eyes open for the Gator. After extensive searching without results, he started to worry. Where could she be? What was she up to?

  He called her name, aiming for the outskirts of the yard, finally coming in sight of the crab apple trees in the back corner of the lot. The Gator was parked to the side. Allowing his bike to carry his weight to the utility machine, he dragged his legs along with feet skipping against the loose gravel. As he approached her, he saw her legs sticking out beneath an old jeep

  “Wendy, are you OK? What are you doing out here alone?”

  “I’m just checking the frame and bones of this old beauty,” she replied, preoccupied.

  “Are you looking for anything in particular? Can I help in any way?”

  “Nope. I’m good, thanks…just taking a few photos for a potential customer who’s looking to refurbish a CJ7. I’ll be right with you, Noah.” She was all business.

  Noah rolled his eyes but remembered why he was there.