Jackson did get to ask George how he felt about life when he was on Earth. He said he was too drunk to notice, but maybe that was a part of why he drank in the first place. He didn’t like society. He didn’t like politicians who promised things that never happened. He thought the whole world was just plain wrong to his way of thinking.
Another woman and her sister heard from their mother, Vicky. She told them she was with them and promised them she was always with them and would sing lullabies to her daughter, Angela’s daughter Christina as she lay in her crib at night.
“So that’s why she sleeps the whole night through!” exclaimed Angela. Her other daughter, Theresa wanted to know if her mother was happy. It seemed she had been in a lot of pain for a long time before she passed on. Vicky said she was incredibly happy to be free of that body that had caused her so much trouble, and that now she felt free and healthy and knew she would come back into another body one day, maybe one that was in even worse shape. Theresa asked her why.
“When you see your life from this side it gives you a whole different perspective on the experience of living a human life and what the purpose of it is all about,” she told them through Jackson. “For one thing, an entire lifetime on Earth is a drop in the bucket of time compared to the true reality. To the group of kindred souls I work with here my life was, timewise, as if I’d gone to pick up milk at the store.”
Then it was Jackson’s turn to ask her about her drowning. They had tried to evacuate the hospital she’d been in and she’d been swept away in the current. Vicky said that was such a blessing because she was in such pain in her Earthly body. She didn’t so much hate the way the world was. All she could think of was the pain and how sad her family was for her. He asked her about the time before she got sick. She replied that she had a good life and a good family and didn’t really think about the Earth much at all.
Next Jackson had some trouble identifying the son of a truck driver named Joe. Nobody raised a hand as he tried to give hints about who he was. He wasn’t very articulate sounding. Finally he said his son’s name was J.J., but everyone called him Tonk because he was as big as a truck even when he was little. A man came forward and said, ”Dad? Is it really you?” It turned out he was and they were happy to be reunited.
The night went on uneventfully, except for a couple of spirits who had died from natural causes, not from the flood or anything of that nature. Jackson let them make their peace patiently and moved on to the next person. They got thirty three good interviews that night. The group was very pleased. Hawk wondered if he’d be getting another call from Beckham.
When the last of the people filed out Hawk asked Peter to investigate this Beckham guy. He had a bad feeling about him. He didn’t like anyone leaning over his shoulder, or on him for that matter. This guy had his own set of rules. Hawk and Shauna had scanned the crowd, hoping to see if they could spot anyone who might be one of Beckham’s flunkies, but no luck. Of course he would try to blend in with the crowd, making it impossible to guess which of them was the spy.
“Let’s just try to get a good night’s sleep,” said Shauna. “We’re driving to San Francisco tomorrow and I’d like to get an early start.”
Tired as they were, there was no disagreement, and they all headed to their rooms for the night. Hawk caught Shauna before she went in.
“I wish we could go somewhere private,” he said.
“Hawk, I’m so tired.”
“Me too, but being apart is getting to me. I want to sleep with you in my arms.”
“I don’t think it would be a good idea to put Fern and Rob in the same hotel room. You know she has a crush on him. She’d probably rape him in his sleep!” she giggled.
“I know. Maybe we should get our own room next stop. We’ve got plenty of money.”
“Maybe we should, lover boy, but for now I’m hitting the sack. It’s been a long day.”
She kissed him goodnight and turned to go into her room. He turned her gently back around and said, “At least give me a proper goodnight kiss.” And he kissed her deeply, feeling her body respond. He could feel her heat. Her lips were pressed against his and her mouth was so sweet. She melted into him until she felt dizzy and full of desire.
Then she said, “We are definitely getting our own room, bucko. Goodnight. I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispered in her ear. She could feel his warm breath caress her earlobe. Then they parted and went to their rooms.
– – –
Shauna couldn’t move. She was pinned under the wreckage of a book case. How did she get here, she wondered. Water was spewing out of some broken pipes somewhere. It was slowly rising around her. She tried to scream, but only a hoarse whisper for help came from her lips. Where was everybody? She looked around. There seemed to have been an earthquake. The room she was in was in shambles. Furniture was thrown about the room, pictures had fallen off the walls, the ceiling had fallen in along with part of the roof so that she could see the sky above her. She tried to remember what happened, but her brain wouldn’t take her back in time. Her legs and pelvis felt numb. From outside she heard sirens. She couldn’t tell if they were police or fire engine. There was a phone hanging nearby. Grabbing it, she put it to her ear and heard a dial tone. Then it started to ring even though it was off its hook. She stared at it and tried to say something, but her voice was gone. A voice came on then. It was a woman.
“Get out of there Shauna,” the voice said urgently. “Hurry now. You have to go tell the others. They’ll be worrying about you. You’re their only hope. If you don’t get out of there soon all will be lost.”
Shauna said, “who... who’s this?”
“You know that Shauna. You’ve known since you were seven. Now get going girl.”
Then there was just static. Another part of the ceiling was falling in on her and she raised her hands to cover her head. A small scream escaped her throat. She tried to push the book case off her legs and hips. It wouldn’t budge. Then she tried to pull herself out from under it by grabbing onto an overturned desk nearby. Just then Hawk came in, but he had blood flowing down the side of his face. “I’ll help you,” he said.
“What happened?” she asked. Hawk pulled the book case off of her with one wrenching tug. Then he smiled, and a beam crashed down on top of him, killing him instantly. “Oh my God, Oh my God,”
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” Shauna awoke in her bed and had sweated through the sheets. She was so glad to realize it had been a dream. But she was still shaking. It had seemed so real, but it hadn’t been lucid. She had thought it was really happening and was still terrified. The clock said it was two-thirty in the morning. She had to see Hawk. He wouldn’t be awake, but she called his room. Hawk answered.
“I’m sorry to wake you, but I just had a very real nightmare. You got clubbed by a falling beam and died.”
“It’s okay. I’m just fine. Do you want me to come over there?”
“No. I’ll be alright. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“What else happened in the dream?”
“You freed my legs. They were trapped under something. There’d been an earthquake I think. I was in this house and it was a mess. I talked to my spirit guide Lily on the phone and she told me to hurry and help someone. I don’t know who.”
“Sounds like it wasn’t lucid, was it?”
“No. I felt I was really there and was terrified. Then when you got hit I freaked out and woke up.”
“We need to get more proactive in our dreams. Lately it seems like we’ve just been pawns. Maybe tonight we should meditate and try to be aware in our dreams.”
“But maybe there’s a reason we haven’t been lately. I don’t know. I’ll write this one down in my dream journal before I forget and try to get some sleep. Sorry to wake you up again.”
“No problem, luv. I’m here for you. Goodnight now.”
“Goodnight.”
Shauna looked over at fern in her bed and saw that she
hadn’t woken up. Her journal was in her back pack, and she wrote down everything she could remember of the dream. It was interesting, she thought, that she and Hawk were having rescue dreams for each other. She thought about the co-dependent connotations that brought up. Their relationship seemed to be very healthy, she thought. It was worth thinking about, though. The last thing she needed was another relationship where you couldn’t tell where one of you ended and the other began.
Sleep came slowly, but Shauna was finally able to doze off. No more dreams for the night.
Chapter Fifteen
By the time Shauna woke up the van was half packed already. Hawk had told Fern and the others she’d had a rough night so they let her sleep. She showered and got dressed as the packing was finishing up. Then they went to the diner for a light breakfast before they left for San Francisco. It would only take an hour or so to get there, so there was no big rush, but Shauna promised her aunt they would stop by for a visit and lunch. Hawk wanted to drop their things off at the hotel first and get that extra room.
Shauna took the driver’s seat once again since this was her territory. Hawk couldn’t imagine what it must have been like growing up in such a big city. Shauna told him she had attended private schools. Her childhood had been very different from his own in respect to money. Shauna had been brought up quite privileged.
When they went past Sausalito Hawk could see the excitement in Shauna’s eyes. She loved this city. She’d lived all over the country, but liked this city the most, except for Six Rivers, of course. She never would want to live here again, but it was nice visiting. And she couldn’t wait to see her aunt, who had been asking her to visit for months. When Shauna told her she was bringing some friends her aunt went all out and said she would have lunch catered when they came in. They were expected at noon.
For some of the group this was their first trip across the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Noah was puzzled. Why was the bridge orange? He’d thought it would be gold. Shauna laughed and told him it was named for the Golden Gate, which was the gate of the gold miners way back when. She also told him that it was a virtually never-ending job to keep the thing painted. Peter was surprised to see people actually walking on the sidewalk across the bridge.
“Yup. It’s a long walk, but it’s beautiful,” she said to him.
She stayed in the right hand lane so they could see the bay beneath them better.
“You’d better enjoy it now because we’ll be taking the Bay Bridge on the way out of here,” she said.
Shauna took the exit that brought them right down Franklin Street where her aunt lived, but she kept going all the way down to where their hotel was. Hawk checked in and was happy to find there was an extra room. This way if Shauna had nightmares he could really be there for her. Or maybe he’d just keep her awake all night so she couldn’t have any nightmares.
“What’s that about?” Shauna asked when she saw the smile on his face.
“Nothing. Not a thing,” he said, still smiling.
“It’s not nothing,” she said, and she punched him in the arm.
“Hey,” he said. “I was just thinking about having you share my bed tonight.”
“Okay then. Sorry I punched you so hard.”
“You’ll have to make it up to me tonight, milady.”
“Maybe I’ll just do that. Now come on. I think everyone’s ready to go.” They walked out of the lobby and got in the van.
When they got to Shauna’s aunt’s house they piled out of the van and walked up the steps to a gate, which was unlocked. They entered with Shauna leading the way and climbed more steps up to the front door. It was a very old Victorian with beautiful bay windows and ornately designed borders and columns. There were flowers and bushes with strange colored leaves. They were green with yellow spots and splashes on them. The house was painted green, with a darker green trim. Some parts had been painted other shades of green to accentuate the intricate design. It was more like a mansion than a house. Of course they were used to old Victorians because that was a favorite style back home in Humboldt County. But this one was a gem among gems.
Shauna rang the bell and expected to see the maid, but it was her aunt who answered the door.
“Shauna!” she cried as she opened the door and hugged her niece.
“Hi Aunt Caroline. Everyone, this is my aunt Caroline,” Shauna said, and introduced everyone. She saved Hawk for last.
“Aunt Caroline, this is Dr. Hawkins, the leader of our research team. Just call him Hawk.” Hawk extended his hand, but Aunt Caroline grabbed him in a surprisingly strong hug. Carefully he hugged her back. He didn’t want to break anything. She seemed so frail, but apparently was tougher than she looked.
“I am so glad to meet you Hawk. Shauna has told me so much about you. She’s said good things about all of you,” she said, addressing the group.
“Well, come on in everyone. Make yourselves at home. I have lunch all set up in the dining room.”
They passed through the hallway and two huge rooms full of antiques before they got to the dining room. The table was set with fine dishes and plates and flowers on both ends of a ten foot table. They started with a fresh baby greens salad with a sesame tamari vinaigrette. Then the caterers brought out barbecued ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans, homemade bread, and plenty of napkins. There were also grilled hamburgers and salmon. Aunt Caroline sat at the head of the table and watched with joy as the gang dug in. She didn’t eat much herself, but asked a lot of questions about their research.
Hawk and Shauna did most of the answering.
“Do you really think things are getting worse on the planet?” she asked
“Think about the amount of extra earthquake activity you have experienced in this area alone,” said Hawk as he put another bite of salmon in his mouth.
“I have noticed that,” she said. “We have them two or three time a week, although some are so mild I don’t even feel them.” She went on with her questions. “So you think it’s not safe to live here in San Francisco? You know we’ve been through a lot already. We’re survivors here, most of us. We’re used to the chandeliers tinkling here and there.”
But Aunt Caroline,” said Shauna, “you know you’re due for a major catastrophe here. That’s a well-known fact.”
“Oh I know. I just figure when it’s my time to go I’ll go.”
“But by staying here you’re risking your life unnecessarily. That’s not good.”
“Shauna dear, you know how I am. I’m eighty years old. Too old to pick up and move. Besides, is anywhere really safe? Isn’t that what you’re finding?”
“That’s true Caroline,” said Hawk. “You have a point. We don’t really think there is a safe place, although many people have drawn maps showing safe areas versus non-safe. The problem with that is the maps I’ve seen are all different. But the coastal areas are definitely unsafe. The waters will supposedly rise and flood them. You should at least move to higher ground.”
“I just don’t see myself moving away from this old house. I love it here. I’ve lived here since I met my third husband in 1967. I’ll bet you can’t guess what I paid for it...$75,000! Can you believe it?Today it’s worth millions and I don’t even have a mortgage to pay. It’s the taxes that kill me. I had it divided in the seventies into three parts: my main house and two rentals. In the back apartment lives a nice strong man, Mike, who keeps an eye out for me. In the apartment furthest back there are three bedrooms shared by some stewardesses. They keep a dog. Mike takes care of it in case all three young ladies are gone at the same time. I’m very happy here with my weaving loom and sewing and knitting. I keep pretty busy and still have a few friends who come over regularly. Not men though. Not anymore. I’m through with that. I was done with them after my 6th husband died on the bridge. Drunk driver. He was going the wrong way on the bridge. Imagine that! He didn’t even serve a normal prison sentence. He went to jail on the weekends so he could keep his job.”
“Amazing,”
said Noah. “That’s very strange.”
“Now you are the trance channeler, right?”
“Yes ma’am, I am.”
“I’ve been to some people like you. Always had a great time. It’s a great way to clear up unfinished business. I was wondering if you could help me talk to my last late husband. He wasn’t my favorite, but we never had closure before he died. William was a good soul, not very interesting and lied like the dickens, but he was always sweet and gentle.”
“I’d be delighted to help. How about after lunch we find somewhere to sit and we can see if William is around. How long has it been?”
“Twelve years.”
“That is a while. He may have ascended pretty high by now, but it can’t hurt to try.”
“Wonderful,” Caroline smiled enthusiastically. “Let’s have dessert.”
– – –
After the dishes were cleared they all went down to the finished basement where there were a couple of card tables and some chairs. Caroline sat next to Noah.
“Just remember, I can’t promise we’ll make contact,” said Noah.
“Can’t hurt to give it a try,” said Caroline.
Noah sat straight in his chair and you could see his muscles slacken as he relaxed into trance. Then Jackson took over.
“How’s everybody doing today?” he asked. “I hear we’re trying to find a William for you ma’am. Is that so?”
“Yes. If you can that would be wonderful.”
“I have an Edward here.”
“Oh no, I don’t want to talk to him. That was my third husband. Don’t tell me he’s still hanging around.”
“He’s telling me about the time you went to the Palace of Fine Arts together and fed the ducks. Do you remember that?”
“Yes I do. That’s the day he proposed.”
“He says he’s sorry about that. His father made him ask you to marry him. He liked you very much, but Edward says He just liked you for the fun in the sack.”
Somebody giggled.
Quantum Earth Page 11
