There was no need to station any guards outside the door as the entire estate was a nest of disciples, all sworn to secrecy and carefully chosen for this ceremony. More than seventy robed followers of The Path had been flown in from all over the world for this particular ritual. All of them were high ranking elders who would now swear allegiance to the agenda and Vargän’s ultimate authority.
Vargän was excited; this was now his time and the stage had been set. All the main players were in place. Tomorrow would be the signal they had all prepared for and he could not wait to address the world at the opening of the Olympic Games. There was no force that could stop them now and those blinded fools still opposed to his vision would be silenced, permanently! But first he would usher in his plan to eradicate the old traditions and beliefs of this world and to move the masses forward into a new age of enlightenment. However that would mean that much of the old has to make way for the new, and be destroyed if necessary.
First on his agenda was the Christian dating system. This daily reminder of an even that happened more almost two thousand years ago would have to be abolished to make way for the new. For how can a new age of enlightenment go ahead when every date is set in the Christian calendar? The chosen system he had selected would be implemented. For after tomorrow, after his speech and his declaration, it would officially become Human Era 12028. A declaration to the world and even to God that humanity has broken from old traditions and embraced a new age of enlightenment. The message would be a signal to those who waited.
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games had been carefully planned in the finest detail. Everything, from the lighting stands to the sound and the symbolism. Nothing happened by chance anymore, as humanity had to be kept in check by certain familiar rituals that bound them all to a common purpose. A special satellite had been placed in orbit for this exact occasion; its laser and holographic projection technology would be instrumental in the years ahead.
Vargän had not moved at all. He lay completely motionless on his bed until two of his most trusted disciples came in. Heinrich stood at the doorway; he too was in his satin red robe. At first Vargän sat up in dismay not realizing where he was until a cloud of darkness engulfed him once more. Only then did Heinrich speak.
"My Lord, it's time,"
The aids moved forward as Vargän stood. Quickly, but gently, they undress their master. Vargän felt free at last as he stood naked. Within no time they began to bathe him. He too had to be ceremonially cleansed for the ritual. Finally they took the scarlet robe out of its leather bound case and dressed him. The Grand Master Architect would now complete his task of which they had been waiting two millennia for.
In an empty wine cellar deep beneath the estate, a cleansing ritual in all its details had drawn to a close. Burning incense still lingered in the room as a young woman lay motionless and naked, bound to four metal rings. A pentagram had been etched around her body and at each of the five points a black candle burned. An ominous light illuminated her body sending haunting shadows across her face.
The high priestess stood watch at the doorway, she had selected the offering herself, one form her own womb. Isabella, her seventeen year old daughter would be the sign of her total obedience and commitment.
Chapter 49
"Give me control of a nation's money supply and I care not who makes its laws."
Mayer Rothschild
Kate was still in bed, it was dark and bitterly cold outside and she was in no mood to get up. Glancing over at the alarm clock once again she watched the minutes count down. At precisely 05h00 the alarm sounded for a mere second before she hit the snooze button and sunk down. Boredom and frustration would plague her today, as it did day after day.
Across the room in the single bed lay Nicole who was in a deep but restless sleep. It was painful to see her spirit so crushed, news of Nathan's death had affected her more than she could even imagine. Day by day she withdrew further into her depression which had taken a firm hold of her troubled soul. She had already lost almost ten kilograms since they first arrived at Canyon Creek Safari Lodge six weeks ago.
Her father’s younger brother, Johan Kruger had graciously taken them in. He managed a very successful guest lodge. In exchange for board and lodgings they would help out at the Lodge doing whatever needed done. But Nicole was of little use as her depression gave her no motivation to do anything. Her only escape was to sleep. Kate's however through herself at work, first in building a new website for the lodge, and then as an assistant chef in the kitchen.
The senseless death of their friends had affected all of them in a different way. Nicole seemed devastated almost to the point beyond recovery. She would take long walks to be alone, mostly to the dunes and back. It was there that she found some comfort.
Kate watched her sleep for a minute or two, Nicole almost looked peaceful but Kate knew it was only temporary. It was still a brutal murder no matter how the media portrayed it. The news reports were all false. Kate just knew it, she especially recognized the double speak and carefully selected words and phrases for the broadcast. It was Nathan, they say, who resisted until the final moments, when he was taken out by a sniper.
Reports showed diagrams of the church and how the raid by the UWN task team had played out. Nathan was branded a cult leader who brainwashed his followers with his own religious belief, ideologies that lead to the death and suicide of many of his followers. A detailed profile was displayed; obviously tweaked to portray him and those of the Yeshua Tribe as a bunch of fanatical extremists and a danger to society.
Lt. Colonel Steenkamp had been interviewed concerning the publicized raid. He had now acquired some celebrity status as a result of the media coverage.
News of the raid had spread like wild fire, especially across the PRM network, with Nathan, the leader, confirmed dead. His body propped up against the church wall for all to see: blood-stained and riddled with bullets. Bodies of seven other unidentified followers had also been found at the church. They had apparently taken poison moments before the raid. The evidence was now well documented showing each scene along a time line and as the events unfolded.
Yet, it was the silence of Kate Baxter that confirmed an end to the rebellion; it had lost momentum and leadership. The fierce voice of the resistance soon dwindled. Disillusioned followers of the PRM lost hope and began to accept the reality that they could do very little against the oppressive nature of the UWN.
The snooze button went off again and Kate finally got up to get dressed. She first put on her Canon Creek khaki shirt, its logo in red and green embroidered on the lapel and then her denims and hiking boots. No more frantic mornings trying on outfit after outfit looking for something trendy to wear. Her outfits were the same, day after day.
Kate gently closed the wooden door, leaving Nicole sleeping in the stone cottage and made her way towards the reception office. It was going to be another busy day as a group of German tourists had arrived and wished to have their senses tantalized with all that the lodge had to offer. This would no doubt include the famous sunrise breakfast overlooking the Fish River Canyon. Then off on a wildlife safari hoping to see some of the big five. Finally to end the day off, indulgences at the hot spring and spa bath to finished the day off. Nighttime would include the barbeque and some serious star watching.
Kate didn't hate Germans; she just didn't like them. Perhaps it was her British blood.
Canon Creek Safari Lodge had now become the new home for the remaining six members of the Yeshua Tribe.
Kate had kept Chantel's diary and it was obvious by her entries that the girl was deeply disillusioned about her place in society. Yet, in the end she found happiness and a purpose once again within a group she had called 'The Yeshua Tribe'. There had been no news regarding Chantel at all - she simply vanished into thin air like countless other runaways before her. Chantel would always be remembered for her laughter and her overcooked porridge. According to her entries she had endured much suffering at the
hands of Steenkamp; her tormented soul now sheltered between the pages of her tattered diary.
Kate checked her watch and calculated that she had more than enough time to drive the distance to fetch Emma and Taryn from the staff bungalows before the start of their breakfast shift. It was a special day as it was the start of the UWN Olympic Games in Berlin. Even though she was on duty again, Kate really didn't care.
The Karas region in Namibia was safe and very secluded, with very little ISIS coverage. A haven separated from time and miles of endless open spaces, a window into God's very soul. Yet, they still needed to be careful and to keep a low profile by remaining at the lodge at all times. The UWN had forces everywhere, but Namibia, with a population of just over two million, covered such a vast area, that it was near impossible to patrol.
After two attempts the custom built safari Landrover started, it was a monster of a vehicle that Kate had managed to master without much fuss. Gently easing it into gear the vehicle made its way down the gravel road towards the workers cottages almost two kilometers away from the lodge. The Fish River Canyon was the main tourist attraction within the area with a constant influx of foreigners, mostly British and German frequenting the lodge. They loved the barren landscapes and the wide open space only Namibia could offer with its African sunsets.
Kate tried her best to analyze Johan Kruger, who spoke with a broad Afrikaans accent. He was leaner built than Nicole's pot-bellied father and he loved his whiskey and a good conversation. Yet she never saw him drunk or undignified. The man had an unique class about him regardless of his rough demeanor. and he worked harder than anyone else at the lodge.
He told many stories around the fireplace while they sat outside watching the stars. Johan was an infectious character with a larger than life personality. Many visitors sat in wonder of the man. He could speak fluent German and was delighted that Riaan could also understand the language. They formed an instant friendship.
The lodge had a four micro-light aircraft for aerial tours and Johan had already spent time teaching Riaan how to fly them. He had already clocked up three solo flights over the Fish River Canyon. Kate had never seen Riaan this happy. His grumpy days, it seemed, had all but vanished.
Johan Kruger had settled down in Namibia after his days in the South African Defense Force. Back then Namibia was called South West Africa and it acted as a buffer zone between South Africa and the fifty five thousand Cuban soldiers waiting at the Angolan border. Johan compared the Bush War of those days to the Vietnam War. He related how thousands of white conscripted troops had to serve in the army, which was controlled by the infamous Apartheid Government. If they refused, they faced lengthy prison terms. He too, like many others who migrated to Namibia, had lost faith in President F.W. de Klerk and his National Party, who they felt had sold the country out to the ANC and their communist allies. They had simply turned their backs on the thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their government.
Kate would listen to his life stories for hours and in a strange way his voice began to calm her. Within a short time she had taken on more responsibilities around the lodge, but it was due to the fact that she desperately wanted to forget about her old life and to find a purpose again. But still she lay wide awake most nights as the wide open spaces merely amplified her thoughts. It was the silence that screamed out the most. Since they arrived she had also lost weight; mostly due to the heat and her daily runs to the rocky ledge that overlooked the Fish River below.
She would then sit on her favorite rock in complete silence, taking in the solitude and to gathering her thoughts.
It was perfectly peaceful and safe. Namibia had awoken something deep inside her soul.
Questions about life and God seemed to find their own answers in the vast emptiness of space. Yet nature it seemed always knew the truth.
Snapping out of her daze Kate finally arrived at the workers accommodation; five small round cottages build of stone. She gave a gentle honk and within a minute both Emma and Taryn had come out of their cottage and made their way to the vehicle.
"Hi”, Emma said as she got in.
“You ok Ems, you don’t look well?" Kate remarked as she got in.
"It's flipping cold that all; last night I almost froze," She replied.
"Best you get a boyfriend then." Taryn replied as she got in.
“You better not be getting involved with anyone ok, it’s too risky” Kate said referring back to Taryn.
Everyone knew that she has already begun a fling with a local tour guide.
After returning to the Lodge, everyone went about their daily duties as the morning sun rose higher into the clear day. Kate however went back to the room to check up on Nicole and to quickly scan her emails. She had linked up Nathan's old ISIS iPad in the room. It still had all the old photos and video from the time at the dunes when Nicole first came to visit.
Nicole would look at them every day, something Kate thought was unhealthy.
After calling up the underground network site, she checked some reports and focused in on a name she had not seen in weeks. It was one of the aliases used by Neliswe.
Urgent Message From: DragonFly97
Neliswe, thank God you're ok, Kate thought.
Kate clicked on the message and began to read. It read more like a telex than a personalized message hidden in a code. Neliswe and Kate had decided on the code format in the early days of the PRM.
Relocated 2 new location?
Confirm ur status.
Rumor report Urgent.
NC alive @ Wynberg/Military/Hos
ADS microwave blast - burns
4U - return 2 CT – Urgent
NC 2B relocated 2 SD
Contact US Embassy
Phase 2
Urgent Response ASAP
DragonFly97
Kate read it all again, just to make sure. If it was true then she would have to tell Nicole that Nathan was still alive. She knew the images on TV had been doctored especially the lineup of dead bodies against the wall. After all she had been an expert at manipulating the gullible masses!
Knowing what had to be done, Kate sprang into action. She replied in code, telling Neliswe to prepare and that she was returning to Cape Town.
Kate sat watching Nicole get dressed before she dropped the bombshell, telling her about the message from Neliswe.
A blank expressionless gaze instantly came over Nicole as her knees began to give, Kate instantly rushed forward to grab her.
“It’s going to be ok; I feel it, his alive Nicole, his alive.” She said as they hugged.
They held each other tight, not saying a word.
Both girls had been through so much together and their friendship and dedication tested to the end.
"But first we have to find out," Kate said. "We just have to."
“This changes everything.” Nicole answered.
Kate explained Neliswe's coded message to Nicole again. It was the line about relocating Nathan to Staaldraad that gave them the greatest concern.
Kate activated the iPad and sent a message to Nathan's father in Seattle, explaining briefly what was going on. He would have to do what he could on that side as Nathan was still an American citizen who had certain rights. If the American embassy in Cape Town could confirm his status, that would at least give him a fighting chance and to put pressurize the UWN. They would have to do everything they could if they wanted to save him.
Nicole had been transformed; Kate saw the change begin as soon as Nicole realized that there was hope. Nothing would stop her faith in that possibility. Now Kate had to follow as Nicole stormed out of the room to go see her uncle.
The Kruger’s believed that family came first no matter what. However this was strictly not a family matter. Nicole’s approach with her uncle would need to be different as he was a difficult man. Yet she had no energy for tack or any subtle approach to the matter as she needed help and she needed it now.
Johan was s
eated behind his large wooden desk when Nicole walked in, without even greeting him she burst straight ahead and asked him.
“Oom Johan, I need your help, it’s urgent and very important to me, I’m desperate. Please can you help me?”
Nicole explained the best she could about what had happened over the last month and the raid on the farm. About Nathan and how he had led them through such a difficult time and how he rescued her from rape. That he had now been captured and would be transferred to Staal Draad.
When she had finished explaining, Johan he stood up and slowly walked around the desk to her.
"You should have told me this before, Nicole. You should have been honest girl, you know I don't like being kept in the dark," he said.
"And you missy, you kept this from me as well," he said as he turned to her.
They all stood there in silence, until Johan spoke.
"So I take it you need to get back to Cape Town urgently?" he said.
Both women nodded their agreement.
"Leave it to me, I will arrange everything, just get ready because we leave first thing in the morning. One more thing, are you all going back or just the two of you?" He asked.
“No it will just be the two of us” Nicole answered.
Kate spent the rest of the day in communication with Nathan's father. She also fired off another email to DragonFly97.
Nicole wanted to contact her own father and brother to let them know that she was coming back but Kate decided against it. However, after discussing the matter with the other members of the Yeshua Tribe, they decided it would be best to remain behind at the lodge.
That night Kate and Nicole didn't sleep at all.
The next morning, bright and early, before sunrise, they were all ready. They couldn't take any baggage along as with the extra fuel tank they had no space. But Kate took Nathan's iPad containing all the incriminating footage of Staaldraad. It was the only invaluable item she possessed.
Both micro lights were loaded with enough fuel to get to Uppington and back. Riaan was excited, but also scared, as Johan told him about the dangers and the risks involved. The UWN still patrolled the regions, so they had to be careful and fly low to keep under the radar. With the additional fuel tanks, each micro light could fly almost nine hundred and fifty kilometers.
Dawn of Defiance Page 39
