by Gene Curtis
“That pretty much sums it up.”
“Well, taking on an apprentice from the ruling house is so standard it’s almost cliché. It’s a way of influencing the ruling house to the point of coercion. Powders and potions are standard fare in Chinese magic. Most of what they use is narcotics and hallucinogens. You say the granddaughter is in danger. Did she betray the sorceress?”
“Yeah, pretty much. She married someone not approved.”
“That’ll do it. I’d say the granddaughter is in mortal danger. So is her husband. I’m afraid the only way to prevent that is to kill the witch.”
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do that. There is something else. They both learned how to levitate by reading a scroll.”
“The Eleventh Scroll! It was stolen centuries ago. She has it?”
“Apparently, what is it?”
“During the Burning Times, The Fourth Mountain learned of the Shaolin monks’ persecution by the emperor who thought the monks had magical power. They sent a delegation to the monks to deliver twelve scrolls. The first ten taught Magi fighting techniques, bow, staff, sword, spear, hand-to-hand, that sort of thing. The eleventh and twelfth scrolls taught spiritual techniques. Not long after they were delivered, the eleventh scroll was stolen and never recovered. If she has it, it must be recovered.”
Mark said, “Salina, I’m promoting this man to corporal. Assign him under Ricky. I want him close at hand in case I need to consult with him again.”
He turned to Tony. “That is, unless you don’t want the position.”
“Yes sir! I want the position.”
“Drop the sir.”
Ricky said, “Are there any myths involving a place where Benrah might be holding our people?”
“Well, there are some lost labyrinths: Greek, Roman, Russian, Chinese, South American and a few more. Not to mention the hidden gates to hell and the doorways to heaven. Then there are lost catacombs and forgotten burial mounds. Atlantis might be a possibility.”
“Okay, I get it. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. I usually get to my office at about five in the morning. I won’t expect you until seven, but you can come earlier if you like.”
After they ate, Mark brought what remained of his team, including the new member, into his office. They sat in a circle on the floor, held hands and entered Spirit Sight. He led them to the skyscraper and straight to the top floor.
Inside the office was bare, save for the carpet on the floor and a single painting on the far wall.
Mark said, “I don’t think this is his temple, there’s no throne and it isn’t big enough.”
Salina said, “From the reports I got, this must be just the entrance. There has to be a door somewhere.”
Mark held his arms out. “Don’t bother looking for it. Grab on and we’ll go through the wall.”
Tony asked with a bit of surprise, “You can do that?”
Ricky answered, “Our general has many remarkable abilities, all of which are classified.”
“Understood, sir.”
They passed through the wall into a huge room. The room appeared to be five stories or so tall. The throne was made of bright-stones and sat atop a large square room amid a six sided arch formed by massive clusters of bundled pipes arising from the floor and coming together near the ceiling.
The major said, “I’ll bet this is the mechanical room for the top elevators and air conditioning.”
Ray said, “Bundled tubular steel core, it’ll be hard to take down if we decide to go that route.”
Samantha said, “You’re thinking old school. If Mark wants this building down, he won’t have to break a sweat to do it.”
Mark went to the ceiling and, using the sword from the staff, carved halfway around the pipes where they entered the ceiling, LET MY PEOPLE GO.
He came down and considered picking up the debris that had fallen to the floor and decided to leave it, insuring someone would look up and see the demand. He moved to the throne and carefully sliced through the back legs leaving them in place so they’d tumble away when Benrah next sat on it.
“Okay, I’m done here. Let’s head back.”
Ricky said, “Should we take that painting? I’m pretty sure it’s an undiscovered Da Vinci.”
“We’re not here to steal and I see no strategic significance in taking it.”
“I figured it would make him madder and that’s what you’re trying to do.”
“I want him to know that I can get to him. I’m trying to make him fearful; mad will be a side effect. Caution will be the main effect. He’ll know that I’ll be back if he doesn’t release them.”
LeOmi said, “You expect him to release them.”
“Not a chance. I don’t think there is anything we can do to make him release them. However, he will have more incentive to accelerate his plan now, before we can throw in many more kinks.”
He held his arms out. “Let’s go.”
* * *
The next morning, Mark walked into the officer’s mess and sat between Ricky and LeOmi. Almost immediately, a waiter set a steaming hot cup of coffee in front of him. Across the table were Salina and Tony. His guards sat at another table.
He looked at Salina, “Do you still have Jamal’s Journal?”
She produced it and handed it to him. “Are we going after the ifrit before the others are rescued?”
“Last night, when I asked Raphael about it, he asked me, ‘Do you think you should place a fleece before the Lord? Maybe cast lots, or use the Ummim-Thummim Stone?’ That’s all he would say about it.”
Ricky said, “That’s about as clear as mud.”
“Actually, that’s the clearest thing he’s ever said to me. God has already shown us which path to take.”
Salina asked, “How are we going to find this place?”
He flipped the journal open to the sketch and looked at it. “I think I already have. This looks like the place I marked for the Nazarites to find.” He put the book into Aaron’s Grasp and said, “My usual if they ask. I’ll be back shortly.”
He opened his eyes about fifteen minutes later and said, “The drawing is pretty close to an exact match.” His breakfast was sitting in front of him.
LeOmi asked, “After breakfast?”
“I’ve been all through those caves checking out the routes Naomi and Pei-Pei used. The Nazarites have been exploring them too. The last I heard, no one has found anything unusual. I think I need to check with them first, but it’s the middle of the night there now. We’ll go this afternoon.”
Tony asked, “May I go with you?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He turned to Ricky, “Grab a case of Dr. Pepper and a case of Orange Crush to take with us.”
* * *
That afternoon, his team gathered on the porch of the citadel and remanifested just outside the Nazarite village.
Mark led them to the dining hall. He stopped just outside the entrance, held up the journal so everyone could see the sketch and pointed to the mountain peaks. “That’s the place.”
After they had all looked at the peaks, he led them inside.
He pointed to the left and said to Salina, Ricky and Tony, “If you’d like something to eat, that’s where you get it.”
He looked around and spotted Shimishon sitting with a few others. They walked over and he motioned for Ricky to produce the cases of soda. “May we join you?”
Shimishon’s face lit up with a grin and Mark handed him the drinks. “Yes, yes, please.” He motioned for the others to make room. “You have no food.”
As he was sitting, he said, “We ate just a short time ago and we don’t plan to be here long. I just came to ask if anything unusual was found when you were searching the caves?”
He shook his head, “The only thing unusual is your sword has been stolen again.”
“Pei-Pei?”
“Naomi, we let her take it. She will need it when Pei-Pei finds her. Are you angry?”
“Why do you ask if we have found anything unusual?”
He showed Shimishon the sketch. “God has shown us we must find an ifrit somewhere in that cave.”
Shimishon dropped his plate. The look of shock remained on his face for a moment then faded to a smile. “You have a severe sense of humor.”
“It is no joke. This is a quest given to us by God.”
“God wishes you to face a fire demon? I fear you will not survive.”
“God provides all things.”
“Yes, but wheat does not become bread by itself. You must understand how to use what God has given you.”
Tony said, “God has provided their protection. These are the staff bearers. Benrah’s forces have been commanded not to kill them.” He pointed to LeOmi’s hand. “Besides, she has Solomon’s signet and she knows how to use it.”
Mark said, “The path God has shown us may be difficult, but there is a reason we must take it.”
Shimishon nodded solemnly. “Faith is knowing what God has said and taking action upon it. My friend, your faith is greater than mine. In your place, I fear I would not be able to face this trial.”
“This creature has no power over my spirit. God has a purpose for us to find it.”
“I wish I could be as confident as you are. When the body dies, the spirit is gone.”
“Is it? I’m going to give you a gift. You can’t know your spirit in a real way because your minds are set in what they believe is reality. I’m going to show you what my spirit can do so you’ll understand the spirit is the real entity.” He pulled his staff from Aaron’s Grasp. “My spirit holds this in the spirit realm and passes it to me when I want it.” He put it back into Aaron’s Grasp.
“It’s a rare gift; my spirit can talk to your spirit and any other spirit in close proximity.” He released his thoughts, entered Spirit Sight, moved around the hall and then outside. He saw a couple walking toward the entrance and moved closer to get a good look at them. He returned and opened his eyes. A moment later, the couple walked in.
“The spirit is as real as the body.”
“You sound like Mr. Diefenderfer, and Mrs. Shadowitz also has this gift.”
He smiled, “Indeed she does. I guess you’ll just have to trust me. That creature has no power over me.”
“That is what you believe. I am not so sure. Go with God, my friend. My prayers are with you.”
“Thank you, my friend. I will go with God. May we sit here while I look around? It could take a little time.”
“You are welcome to stay as long as you like. I am anxious to hear what you find. I will stay with you.”
He entered Spirit Sight and went to the cave where he’d laid the ‘X’ at the opening and began searching. Nearly an hour later he found a small room closed off by a cave in. The room was filled with water and near the back wall stood a dark red statue of a winged man.
He passed through the rubble in the blocked opening back into the passage. He looked around to see exactly where he was and began slicing away until the water began trickling through the wall from the room. He widened the hole until the water began flowing like a bathtub faucet before returning to his body.
He opened his eyes and said, “I think I found it. There’s a room filled with water and it has a statue of a winged man made of red stone.”
Shimishon said, “There is a legend about a Nazarite from far away, Gaines of Green Glynn, fighting a demon in the mountains here centuries ago. It is said he was very strong. He trapped it by pulling down the walls. It could be your demon.”
Tony said, “That fits. Genies were often trapped in bottles and lamps according to myth. The water could have been trapped in that room over the years, turning it to stone.”
Shimishon asked, “An ifrit and a genie are the same?”
“There are classes of genies. Ifrits are the highest.”
Mark said, “Okay, the plan is to question it in the cave where it is.”
“Why not take it back to The Seventh Mountain?” Ricky asked. “There are more resources and more people to help.”
Ray said, “Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
Samantha added, “At the worst possible time.”
Rudy continued, “In the worst possible way.”
The major followed, “Causing the most possible damage.”
LeOmi said, “My father is fond of saying, ‘Never attribute to intent that which is adequately explained by stupidity.’”
Ricky nodded, “Okay, bad idea.”
Mark stood and said, “Let’s get started.”
Outside, they remanifested to the opening of the cave. Mark led them through the narrow passage and stopped about a mile in. “This is the place.” The hole he had made was no longer running water.
Salina said, “You’d never know it just by looking at it.”
The wall was damp, but it was damp in most places. The rubble that must have extended into the passage had long since been removed. The stones in the former opening had accreted together from the mineral content of the water seeping through the mountain.
Mark said, “The wall here is about fifty feet thick. I’m going to carve out the rock until we can get through. You might want to stand uphill in case the wall collapses.”
The major said, “In that case, you aren’t going to be the one doing the carving.” He held his hand out.
Mark reluctantly handed him the sword from the staff. “I’ve had a little experience doing this kind of thing. It’s best to cut out cone shapes at an upward angle. They’ll slide out. Then they can be rolled away. And please, be very careful not to cut yourself.” He stepped uphill.
“I’ve had a bit of experience too.” He slid the sword into the wall up to the hilt and sliced a four-inch diameter cylinder. He used his utility tool to lever it down, snapping it at its base. He drew it out and said, “Ray, I’m thinking, shape charge at eight ounces.”
Ray nodded, “A pound might be better if you’re hoping to get all the way through.”
“You’re the expert.”
He handed the sword back to Mark.
Ray said, “You guys head back out. It’ll set the timer for fifteen minutes and be right behind you.”
Ray came trotting out two minutes after they’d made it out. He looked at his watch and said, “Six minutes to go.”
Just over six minutes later, they heard the rumble of the explosion and a small pressure wave puffed from the opening.
Mark sat down and said, “I’ll check it out.”
He entered Spirit Sight and went back in. As he approached, he saw water trickling from the newly formed opening. It was big enough for everyone to get through and the water in the room was only ankle deep. The statue was undisturbed so he examined it closer.
The stone itself looked like red lava rocks he’d seen used in flowerbeds, only it was one piece. The details of the statue were so fine; it looked like Tony could be right. This could very well be a fire creature solidified by water. When he moved around to the back is when he saw it: a very thin silver cord coming from the base of the skull and arcing up about a foot before disappearing. This is a spirit, but where is its body? The cord just disappears. And how can a spirit be affected by water like this?”
He remembered the lessons about fighting in the spirit realm and how a spirit couldn’t be killed, just fatigued; except, he could kill a spirit. That was different, he had a sword given to him by God that enabled him to do that. What he could do that other spirits couldn’t was manipulate the physical world. He wondered if somehow the physical world could affect his spirit. He’d have to test that idea someday, but not now.
He opened his eyes and said, “It worked. Let’s go.”
As they approached the opening, Tony said, “When the ifrit is released, more likely than not, it will be a bit angry. Since it can’t kill Mark or LeOmi, they should be the ones to go i
n. The rest of us should wait outside, out of sight.”
Mark said, “I agree. Everyone, turn your lights off.” He left his light on and took out his staff. LeOmi did the same.
They stepped in front of the opening. Mark put his lantern down where they could see the statue. LeOmi put hers down beside his. She passed her staff in front of her and it trailed a bright rainbow.
Ricky exclaimed, “That’s beautiful!”
The major shushed him and whispered, “Silence.”
The statue was still standing there. Nothing had happened when LeOmi tried her staff.
Mark said, “My instinct is we have to touch it together.”
LeOmi nodded and they approached it.
He held his staff out and said, “On three.”
LeOmi held her staff out and Mark began counting, “One... two... three.”
They lowered their staffs slowly and touched it, one on each shoulder. The stone began crumbling away revealing what looked like a big neon sign underneath.
Mark said, “Plasma.”
The creature jerked, stretched and jerked again, causing the crusty rock to fall completely from its body. It let out an ear-piercing wail and then froze in place when it saw Mark and LeOmi standing before it. Its flaming wings snapped out with the sound of a wind gust filling a sail and it raised its right arm over its head. The top of its head burst into flames and a plasma ball began forming in its hand, growing steadily.
Mark and LeOmi quickly stepped back, planted their staffs on the floor and leaned them so they crossed in front of them.
The creature threw the fireball directly at Mark. It veered away and struck the wall behind them. It raised its left arm and another ball began forming.
Mark yelled, “Stop! You cannot kill us. God has sent us to find you.”
The creature yelled, in Arabic, “Flee dog cowards.”
Mark repeated in Arabic, “Stop! You cannot kill us. God has sent us to find you.”
“I do not follow God. Flee!”
LeOmi said, “God has sent us. We will not flee.”
