by Gene Curtis
He was pleased that Cap’n Ben had selected Steve as one of his lieutenants and that LeOmi had selected Shirley. Salina was rather tickled with what she thought was the most creative applicant for her ‘paper warriors’ as she called them. For her, the first to succeed was Sonja Hall, a Beryl Tribe senior at The Seventh Mountain. The task was to transport ten thousand sheets of paper from one room to another using only a pencil. Sonja stabbed her pencil into the box of paper and dragged it across the floor. Most others used the pencil to carry the paper ream by ream.
In actuality, Nick probably had the most creative one to finish first; it was Shana no less. Nick had given the order by simply saying, “I need ten thousand green stones.” Shana remanifested out and ten minutes later reappeared with a rake and several cans of green spray paint. She raked up a ten foot square of rocks, painted the tops of them green, raked them over and painted the bottoms. She finished a full three hours before anyone else.
Now Mark was sitting in The Oasis waiting for assembly to start. His body was fatigued and he noticed how cool it seemed. He’d spent a lot of time out of doors this past week where it was generally warm bordering on hot. He knew the temperature was the same as it always had been in here and that his body had just gotten used to the outdoor warmth.
He hadn’t realized he’d fallen asleep until Nick jostled him awake and whispered, “You’re snoring.”
He heard Mrs. Shadowitz say, “Well, it looks like Bruce Spencer may have earned another ten points for a practical joke.”
Bruce stood and said, “Mrs. Shadowitz, I didn’t do it.”
A few people chuckled.
Mark stood and said, “I’m sorry ma’am. It won’t happen again.”
She nodded at him and when he sat she continued, “As I was saying, we have not located the sunstone as yet so please report anything that even has the remotest possibility of being it. Unless there are any more announcements, that concludes this assembly.” She looked around at the people behind her. No one moved or said anything.
“Mark Young, please come up on stage.”
He’d already been briefed on what to do and what to expect. He walked up to the podium and addressed the audience. “My friends, I do not accept the rank of general lightly. In fact, I don’t want it, but I accept it because God wishes it. Many of us are going to die in the coming battle. Raphael told me that by accepting this rank and using it to command that the number that will die will be lessened.”
He turned to Mrs. Shadowitz. She handed him his signet, which had a small star added to each side of the band. She said, “It is my honor to award you the rank of general.” She stepped back and drew her sword in salute. The entire assembly followed her lead by standing and drawing their swords as well.
He returned her salute, turned and saluted the assembly. “My captains are: Captain Chenoa Day, Captain J. Benjamin O’ham, Captain James Young, Captain Jamal Terfa, Captain Nikola Poparov, Captain LeOmi Jones, Captain Salina Hawthorne and Captain Mary Anderson.”
Mark had selected Mary, the healer that had tended him on his several visits to the healing ward, to oversee medical operations for his army.
Each stood, walked up on stage and formed a line behind him. He turned and handed each their new signets. “It is my honor to bestow upon each of you the rank of captain.”
They each drew their swords in salute to the general and he returned it. “It is my understanding that each of you are ready to name your lieutenants.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Return to the Lake
It took almost six weeks of watching by Spirit Sight before Mr. Diefenderfer and Mr. Young felt it was relatively safe for LeOmi, Mark and Nick to venture to the shores of Lake Iznik on the outskirts of Orhangazi. They felt it best to wait and monitor the efforts to capture LeOmi until the intensity of their search simmered down. They left on a Friday night, which made it Saturday morning in Turkey.
Once there, LeOmi recognized it immediately, “This is the lake in my dream, almost the same spot.” They were standing on a small, triangular peninsula that jutted into the lake about fifty yards. She pointed to the tall hills about ten miles to the west. “Raphael said that’s where I’d have to fight Ruby. It’s probably near where the sunstone is hidden.”
Mr. Young took out his tablet and checked, “That area has not been searched.”
Mark took out his binoculars and looked, “It’s hard to see anything except trees.”
The others took out their optics and examined the area. None saw anything more than Mark had.
Mr. Diefenderfer sat on the sandy ground and said, “You may wish... to get comfortable... while I look... around.” He closed his eyes.
They all sat and after a moment Mark asked, “How did the Ninevites determine there was anything up there? I mean, they didn’t have aircraft four thousand years ago.”
Mr. Young answered, “Dream stone.”
“Like Jacob’s ladder?”
“That’s what the legend tells us. Curiously, we’ve never found one. I’ve no doubt that at least one has existed and various legends tell of others, but we have no empirical evidence that any still exist, hence we’ve never been able to study them.”
Nick said, “Let me understand this; you’re saying that they plan to reconstruct the Tower of Babel, the largest manmade structure ever built, based on legend that itself is based on a dream that is likely pure fantasy; or am I drawing the wrong conclusion here?”
Mr. Young drew his legs up, wrapped his arms around them and rested his chin on his knees. “The original tower was actually never completed, but you have to ask yourself the question, ‘Why were they building it in the first place?’ You can almost guarantee that it wasn’t just a mega structure so people could easily find their way back home like the legend says. That may have been what Nimrod told the people, but you can bet that there had to be much more to it than that. Most likely, it would serve as a temple at the very least, in my opinion. At the far end of possibilities, I think it could have been intended as a method to reach a gateway to another realm. The only gateways we’re aware of are the ones that lead to the seven mountains and the ones that lead to the seven labyrinths. So naturally, we’re apprehensive about their motivations for wanting to rebuild the tower.
“We’d been aware of their widespread and focused archeological digs that led them to the original tower site. Once they found it, they bought it and every piece of property surrounding it including the entire town of Orhangazi. Security around the site is now rather tenacious and very well hidden for the most part.
“Now, taking all of that into consideration, one could come to the conclusion that they’re very serious about rebuilding this tower and they have at least one tangible and important reason for going to all this trouble. I don’t think they’re rebuilding it just to put a golden minaret at the apex in consideration of the country that it’s in.”
LeOmi said, “I’ve been pondering why anyone would switch sides and follow Benrah. To me, it just doesn’t make sense.”
Mr. Young took into account the implied question and said, “Ruby, I believe, switched sides primarily to follow your mother. There are likely other justifications in her minds, but following her mother, I believe, was her primary reason. Their Temple to Ishtar has a powerful appeal to women seeking significance. I don’t know if you’ve pieced it together yet; if you haven’t then what I’m about to tell you will come as a bit of a shock. Their head priestess is the only one that can wear the ceremonial dagger. Mr. Compton was viewed as making a profane statement against that religion when he killed your mother with that dagger. When you killed him with it, you rectified the situation in their eyes, but by that act you also became their head priestess—”
“I am not their head priestess!”
Mark felt a wave of anger flood his mind and immediately knew Mr. Young had hit a sensitive nerve.
“I know you’re not, but they believe you are. Now, if I may finish...”
&
nbsp; The anger subsided and LeOmi shook her arms as if she was loosening up before a match.
Mr. Young continued, “Ruby wants that position. The only way she can attain it is to kill you with that dagger, kill the person that killed you with that dagger or go through a ritual for appointing the next head priestess, in which there is no assurance that she’d be chosen. Her only real option is to kill you or have you killed; something we have reason to believe she is plotting.
“The rub lies in the fact that Benrah has ordered her not to kill you. She can torture you all she likes, but you must remain alive. In fact, that order has been given for all seven of the pre-chosen. And he’s well motivated to give such orders. If he directly causes the death of anyone that has embarked on a predestined path then for him it’s game over. He’ll be seized and bound as will his father. Until that happens, he’s free to act as he will. We believe that he will act to circumvent any of your deaths except by your own hand or by accident. Torture, on the other hand, is another matter. His people can be very effective at both physical and mental torment, even to the point of inducing the desire to take one’s own life. Make no mistake about it; he’d love to see you dead, but he can’t do it directly. If you are captured, you are likely to die by your own hand. Ruby will likely allow you to acquire that dagger so you’ll have the means to accomplish what she wants.”
Mr. Diefenderfer opened his eyelids and spoke, “The local constabulary... are approaching our... position.” He stood and held his elbows out. “I think it... wise to relocate.”
He brought them to a wooded area at the base of the hills. “I think we... will go undetected... for a short... time.” He pointed to a hill about a mile to the north. “There is an... archeological dig going... on near a... cave on that... hill. The sunstone is... located in the... cave, about half... way up.”
“Sunstone,” said Mark. “It’s really there?”
“It’s there... pretty far in. Security at the... dig site is... rather extreme.”
Mr. Young asked, “Are you thinking of a diversion?”
Mr. Diefenderfer nodded. “I think if... you and I... visit the tower... site we can... create a ruckus... that will draw... enough of their... forces away so that... LeOmi could remanifest... with Mark and Nick... to the cave... opening without being... noticed.”
Mr. Young answered, “Seems risky. Maybe it would be better to bring some others in on this.”
“There is no... security in the... cave that I... could detect. The hard part... will be getting... into the cave... undetected.”
LeOmi said, “Why isn’t there any security? Sounds like a trap with the sunstone as bait.”
“Could be their... security is the... dig site. No one could... get past them... without being seen.”
Mr. Young shook his head, “I don’t know. It still seems too chancy to me.”
“Bottom line... those constables are... going to make... a report about... not finding anyone. That will alert... them as to... our possible discovery... of the sunstone. Security will be... redoubled. The sunstone will... most likely be... relocated. That will put... us back to... square one.”
Mark asked, “What happens if they find out the sunstone they have is a fake?”
Mr. Young answered, “They don’t realize we have the power source so they’ll want to recover the real one before we can figure out how to power it. They’ll want it as quickly as possible so that means another attack.”
Nick said, “I take it you’ve made another fake for them to steal, just in case?”
Mr. Diefenderfer responded, “No... we believe we... have learned what... we’re supposed to. We’ve put the... sunstone in a... laboratory without its... power source to... make it look... like we’re still... searching for ways... to power it.”
LeOmi said, “Raphael told me that I’ll get into a fight with Ruby if I go up there. He wants me to let her win because it’s the straightest path to the staff.”
Mr. Diefenderfer and Mr. Young both looked surprised. “Let me understand this; he wants you to let Ruby kidnap you, and did he tell you the consequences?”
“He said there was only a slight chance that Ruby would kill me; that if I died it would be because of my own choices.”
Mr. Young said to Mr. Diefenderfer, “I explained their efficacy with torture.”
“Are you comfortable... with doing this?”
“I think Ruby doesn’t know that I can remanifest.”
“Your opportunities to remanifest may be slim to none.”
“It’s the path I’ve chosen.”
Mr. Young said, “Mark, what say ye?”
“Ms. Vanmie teaches that speed and accuracy often triumphs. We’ve got a plan with a reasonable chance of success. Let’s do it.”
The woods weren’t that much different from what he was accustomed to in Virginia. There were a lot of tall pine and some broad leaf types that reminded him of oak. Moving up the hill toward the dig site was slow but the trees provided good concealment.
Mr. Young instructed, “Don’t remanifest to the opening until you are sure you won’t be seen. Get inside the cave as quickly as possible, go straight to the sunstone, set the charges, get back to the opening and then blow the charges. If we’re not there when you get back out, remanifest back to the mountain. Don’t wait for us.”
Continuing through the woods, they reached a point where they could see the dig site but stayed far enough within the trees not to be seen. There were at least a couple of hundred people there and at least fifty of them were walking around carrying hand-held radios and submachine guns.
Mark asked, “What could be so important to have so many people working at this site?”
Mr. Young pulled out his tablet and after a minute said, “Our information says they’ve found the original Baal worship site.”
Mr. Diefenderfer said, “The firestone and... the cross of... Ishtar, I would... have thought they... already had those.”
“Apparently not.”
Mark asked, “What are the firestone and cross of Ishtar?”
Mr. Young answered, “Baal and Ishtar were husband and wife. Her symbol was a cross with a triangle affixed to it.”
Mr. Diefenderfer interrupted, “We believe it... to be sixty... cubits tall and... six cubits wide.”
Mr. Young nodded and continued, “The worship of Ishtar occurred first and took place within view of that cross at the spring equinox. The worship of Baal was done about nine months later at the winter solstice. Baal’s altar was the fire stone where newborns were given as a burnt offering.”
“We believe it... to be a... large piece of... volcanic glass shaped... like a furnace.”
“They plan on bringing back child sacrifice? We’ve got to stop them.”
“As reprehensible as that is, it is not our path, as yet.”
Mark frowned and nodded, “Well, let’s get on with our plan before we’re found out.”
Mr. Young and Mr. Diefenderfer remanifested.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Diversion and Capture
The tower site was impressive, at more than a mile across it had a larger footprint than The Seventh Mountain. The sandy soil had been pushed back to the depth of bedrock, which was about a hundred feet deep here. The circular mound that surrounded the site was over two hundred feet tall and it had two chain-link fences, an inner and an outer, with razor wire at the top. About twenty security guards with submachine guns, dogs and hand-held radios walked the perimeter between the fences.
Mr. Young looked up the slope from inside the bowl and said, “They are serious about keeping people out. I wonder what they do to those that do manage to get in?”
“Let’s find out... shall we. A dose of... their own tactics... should work I... would say. I think they... need an opening... in this wall.” Mr. Diefenderfer knelt, stretched an arm toward the sand and a thrall appeared, then another and another.
Mr. Young knelt and stretched his arm toward the same spot. “I a
gree. It will make it so much easier for people to get out.” It wasn’t long before they had a steady stream of thralls forming from the wall soil, running toward the center of the bowl and disintegrating into a pile.
About a half an hour later is when the top of the wall started caving in and that’s when the guards noticed something was amiss. An alarm sounded and the guards began running for the inside gate.
* * *
Mark heard the distant alarm and watched as about half the guards around the dig site began moving to the front and watching the area below. The other half started walking toward the woods with their guns poised to fire. LeOmi said, “This is it,” and extended her elbows.
Instantly they were at the opening and they ran into the cave as planned. The walls were damp and there was the smell of rancid olive oil. This cave had evidently been used for storage in the not too distant past.
Mark said, “I don’t think anyone saw us.” He slowed to a walk and pulled a lantern from Aaron’s Grasp. “This isn’t the cave the staff is in. It’s all wrong.”
Nick said, “How do you know that? Did you dream about it?”
LeOmi said, “He made a promise not to reveal certain information.”
Mark knew he could trust Nick with anything, but he had promised Mr. Diefenderfer and Mr. Young not to reveal information they had gleaned from the real sunstone. He said, “Sorry Nick, but trust me; this isn’t the cave.”
Nick nodded, “We’d better get going.”
About ten minutes later, they rounded a bend and there it was in a little room by itself. Mark removed a detonator, a small electronic box about the size and shape of a domino, from Aaron’s Grasp and handed it to Nick. “Take this. The on/off switch is here.” He pointed to the bottom of it. “It’ll show at least one bar when you’re in range. Press the white button three times to arm it. It’ll stay armed for ten seconds. Press the red button to fire it.” He handed another one to LeOmi. “Hang on to this just in case something happens.”
