Proximity
Page 14
CHAPTER 14
The drive home seemed to take far less time than it ever had, as we scrambled to think of the best way to bring our father up to date on the situation. It wouldn’t help that it was already well past his usual bedtime. Father was as mentally sharp as he had ever been, but physically he was aging more rapidly with each passing year. Combine that with an emotional fatigue (so to speak) brought on by many years of being solely responsible for the protection of the only family he had in this world—and his sleep was critically important. But we had no time to waste. We resolved to wake him with a phone call first. Somehow barging into his house and startling him awake just didn’t seem wise.
Sabela stepped up to the plate and pulled out her phone. She dialed, then paused and listened for a good while, waiting for Father to pick up at the other end. Finally she spoke gently, “Father…it’s Sabela. Yes, I’m fine…Yes, she’s here with me. We haven’t had an accident, nobody is hurt…But there is something very important we need to discuss with you tonight. Can we come over?” Our father obviously responded in the affirmative, and Sabela assured him, “We’ll be there in just a few minutes. Yes, I promise we’re okay. Don’t be distressed, we’ll explain everything when we get there.” She hung up the phone and closed her eyes, already regretting we had to get him involved in this.
Despite our swift arrival at his house, our elderly father had somehow already managed to dress himself and make his way downstairs to meet us anxiously at the door. Sabela, Dominick, and I filed through the doorway, each stopping to give Father a quick hug and greeting.
We gathered around the kitchen table, taking care to make sure Father was settled in his chair before Sabela began. “Father, we have recently become aware of some important information regarding Onontí.” She kept her voice calm and even. “It is of a time-sensitive nature.”
“Proceed.” Father was always succinct and to the point during a serious conversation. His face was surprisingly impassive.
“Onontí has recently fallen into a state of global war—the war you feared when you brought our family here,” Sabela continued. “We are told that peace was restored shortly after our arrival here. That peace was maintained throughout the intervening years…until recently.”
“How recently?” Father probed, still emotionless.
“Approximately three and a half Earth years ago,” Sabela responded. “Apparently Bito Obo had managed to keep in contact with his supporters from prison, and it was then that they mounted another rebellion.”
“How did Kenami respond?” came my father’s question. I didn’t recognize this name at first…but Sabela seemed to. “He didn’t have time to respond,” she replied. “The first sign of the rebellion’s reawakening was his murder…along with his wife.” Sabela’s voice trailed off mournfully.
Now I recalled—Kenami Omuran was Aeron’s father. I didn’t realize my own father was on a first name basis with the king. Judging from the look on his face—the first sign of emotion since the conversation began—my father knew him better than your average loyal subject.
It took but a moment for Father to regain his poker face. “Who succeeded Kenami?” he asked Sabela. It occurred to me that as of my father’s last knowledge, Aeron and Ewenami had not yet been born.
“His son, Aeron,” Sabela explained. “He and a twin sister, Ewenami, evaded the enemy…barely.”
“How have you acquired this knowledge?” Father asked calmly.
“From the daughter, Ewenami…We have just spoken with her this evening.” Sabela considered her next statement carefully. “She and her brother are here on Earth…Here in New Mexico.”
My father maintained his impressive showing of stoicism. The pattern continued as he would ask a specific question, my sister responding in turn. She related the history as detailed by Ewenami earlier in the evening—including the disturbing piece of information that enemy forces were now among us, exact numbers and whereabouts unknown.
Father kept up his calm demeanor flawlessly—right up until the moment Sabela mentioned my involvement in Aeron’s rescue. Suddenly his eyes flashed toward me, as he struggled to conceal the look of terror building in them. “There was an Onontian assassin at your workplace?” He addressed me for the first time, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly.
“I never saw him.” I tried to sound reassuring. “By the time I arrived, he had already fled the scene.”
Not surprisingly, this didn’t seem to bring him much relief. Not giving him time to dwell on his fears, Sabela picked up the conversation again. “It was by chance encounter that we came across Ewenami this evening. She and Aeron have remained here in the area. They are seeking you specifically, although she didn’t explain why. They are on their way here tonight.”
By the conclusion of her statement, Father’s expression was once again eerily tranquil. “Then we will welcome them when they arrive,” he said plainly.
“How can you be so calm?” I blurted out, almost annoyed with his apparent lack of concern.
“I am anything but calm, my darling,” he responded softly. “I have dreaded this moment since the day you were born.”
At that moment, I saw in his eyes the immeasurable love only a parent could feel. I understood immediately that my father had but one fear in this world…that his children would come to harm. He sighed deeply, then added, “I have known from the beginning that this day would eventually come. Yet somehow I held out hope that it never would. I suppose I am grateful, in a way, that at least I am still alive to offer you whatever protection I can.”
We sat in silence as the minutes dragged on. Finally, there was a soft knock at the door.