by Jeremy Finn
“Ok,” Lomas sighed regretfully, “but just remember that…“
Lomas suddenly fell silent as all the lights in the restaurant instantly went out. James could not see anything but black before his eyes. Then, several things happened in dizzying succession. First, a woman’s scream penetrated the silence, followed instantly by Lomas’ voice in a forceful whisper instructing him to follow. Before James could reach out and try to find Lomas, though, someone grabbed his upper arm with such strength that he let out a painful cry and instinctively tried to pull away. It felt as if sharp knives were digging into his skin, and his muscles burned with pain. As soon as the cry left his lips, James was blinded by a brilliant flash of light that lasted for a mere second. During that second, James caught a still picture of a scene just as if someone had taken a flash photograph in a dark room. He saw Lomas raising his arm upward in an arcing motion, the source of the light extending from his hand in the form of a burning white blade. At the other end of the blade he saw a horrible mass of black hair covering what could best be described as a mutant gorilla with fangs the size of steak knives and a knotted black face with sunken eyes. Those eyes glowed red in the white blade’s light, and a slimy black substance ran down its contorted face.
As quickly as the flash of light appeared, it disappeared. James heard a screeching wail as if one hundred nails were being forced across a pane of glass, and the vice-like grip on his left arm suddenly loosened.
“Let’s go!” Lomas yelled as he grabbed James’ right arm and pulled him through the darkness.
“Wha-, who…I…” James stammered as he allowed Lomas to lead him through the dark halls of the restaurant to what was probably the kitchen in the back.
James heard a loud clang of metal dropping onto the tile, and Lomas pulled him down into a hole in the floor. As soon as they were underground, Lomas grabbed the metal grate he moved and pulled it back over the hole in the ground. Just as the grate fell back into place, James heard the door fly open and slam against the wall.
A steely voice that reminded James of someone running their fingernails across a chalkboard hissed, “I want the servant dead. Bring me the other so I may have the honor of killing him myself.”
James felt Lomas put a hand over his mouth in an attempt to communicate to him the need to remain silent, as if he had not already figured that out himself. One of the creatures stood above the grate smelling the air. Black goo dripped off his body and hit James on the hand. It stung like alcohol on an open wound, but he dared not move to wipe it off.
After what seemed like an eternity, all but one of the creatures left the kitchen to spread out their search. James heard some screaming in the distance and jumped when Lomas touched his arm. He motioned for James to follow, and James suddenly realized they were at the head of an underground tunnel. After carefully feeling their way through about twenty meters of dirt and rocks, they came to the end of the tunnel, which opened into the sewers. The visibility was slightly better here as the nearly full moon shed light through storm grates along the ceiling of the sewer tunnel.
Lomas pulled James against the wall and whispered between gulps for air, “Well…do you…believe me now?”
James didn’t know what to believe, but he was no longer able to convince himself that his incident on the boat might have been a hallucination or the result of stress.
“Ok,” James muttered after a moment of silence, “I guess I have no choice but to believe that something weird is going on. What can I do? Are these things going to be hunting me at every turn?”
“Well, it sure looks like they have a reason to want you dead.” Lomas postulated, “All I can do is offer to take you to the Intercessor. He is wise and strong in the Light. He may be able to advise you.”
James could not believe this was happening to him. He could not believe he was agreeing to go deeper into this web of confusion with Lomas, but he felt he had no other option, so he said, “I will go, but how do I find him?”
“Only servants can find the way to Hanasan Hold,” Lomas explained. “I am a servant, so I will take you. I want to keep a close eye on you anyways. I mean, that restaurant was a safe house for the order. It has been for decades now. I don’t know how the dark ones found us there, so I’m not going to trust you in anyone else’s hands until we figure out what’s going on.
James was still grasped by unbelief over his current situation when Lomas motioned for him to follow as he began to trudge through the sewer.
After about twenty minutes of walking through endless corridors of filth and garbage, both men came to an opening where the water drained out into a rocky stream about seven meters wide running along the base of a hill covered in leafy, deciduous trees. They both squeezed through a narrow opening where one of the bars blocking the sewer mouth was broken off, and Lomas turned right to head uphill along the side of the stream.
They continued to trek along the stream heading uphill past small rice fields on terraced ground. James could see the farmers’ houses in the distance, some lit with an orange glow, some dark as the inhabitants had obviously settled down for the night. The moon had nearly risen overhead now, and it cast a pale light across the countryside, illuminating their journey into increasingly unpopulated areas.
After traveling for some time, they came to a wooden bridge stretching across the stream. It was carved with ornate patterns of local animals and traditional designs. The colorful paint which must have covered it long ago had chipped and faded, making the bridge look antique and almost dangerous to cross.
Just as they were about to cross the bridge, a voice issued out of the darkness behind them, “Could you use another partner on your journey, old friend?”
Lomas wheeled around instantly and his right hand went to his left side instinctively. He froze there, however, and a smile slowly spread across his lips.
“Senagi, is that you?” Lomas asked, “Joe Senagi?”
“The one and only,” The voice said as Joe stepped out of the trees and into the moonlight. “I was heading up to the hold tonight and saw you coming in the distance. I thought I’d have a little fun with you. I didn’t scare you too badly, did I?”
“No, don’t be ridiculous!” Lomas exclaimed, “It’s just that we’ve been through some crazy stuff tonight. Of course you’re welcome to join us.”
Just then, Joe glanced at James and recognition washed across his face.
“James, is that you?!” He exclaimed, “What in blazes are you doing up here with Lomas?”
“It’s a long story,” James sighed, “But what’s going on with you? I take it you know Officer Lomas? I’m sorry I never got in touch with you after you left the apartment. I was kind of busy.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Joe said, “I’ve been busy too. And yes, I do know Danny. I mean DaNyang. I just call him Danny for short sometimes. I’m sure he’s told you, since he’s taking you to Hanasan. I mean, he’s told you that he’s a servant, right? Well, I’m a servant too.”
James just looked at Joe with an expression of astonishment until Lomas broke in, “We better get going. The path to Hanasan is only open while it remains dark. And by the way, James, I don’t mind if you call me Danny as well.”
“Oh, thanks,” James said as they walked across the bridge and continued to walk up hill along the stream, “but I’ll just stick with DaNyang if it’s ok with you. I don’t think you should have to be tagged with a foreign name just because your real name might be a little awkward on my tongue.” James was almost certain now he was dreaming and would wake up any minute in his room at the Silver Towers Apartments.
If it was a dream, though, it was the most tiring dream he had ever experienced. The rest of the evening was exhausting. The three men continued to climb along the path that wound through the woods on alternating sides of the rocky stream bed, crossing bridges similar to the first every three hundred meters or so. James spoke little during the trip, but listened carefully to what the other two men discussed. DaNyan
g, of course, began by relating the events of the night to Joe, then explained what happened on the boat, as well. Joe expressed concern over these stories and asked if DaNyang had any idea why the Darkness was after James. Most of the rest of the conversation was small talk like comments on how Joe looked thinner and paler than before, a fact James noticed as well. Joe denied being sick, and just blamed it on the stress of his new job and his inability to get out and exercise recently. As the men walked and talked in the cool night air of the mountains, James began to doubt the wisdom of what he was doing.
I don’t have any idea where these guys are leading me, James thought anxiously. But I’ve known Joe since I came to this country. He seems like a pretty normal guy.
James continued to silently rationalize what he was doing as he followed his old friend and his new friend along the ominous path ahead of them. Little did James know that there was some good reason for his anxiety. In fact, he would never again return from this mountain as the same James Huener who was climbing it this night.
THE INTERCESSOR’S INVITATION
The rocks form a natural defense here.
With the help of the Guardians, we can make it a safe place,
a haven for growth and protection – far enough from below to be separate, but close enough to be involved.
-Journal of the first intercessor of Hanasan Hold
After five hours of climbing, James noticed the stream had dwindled to a mere two meters in width. The sky was beginning to show a dim glow that signaled the coming of morning. Just as he was about to ask how much farther the climb was going to be, he smelled a sweet aroma of pine and spices in the air. He scanned through the tree line ahead, and could make out softly glowing yellow lights popping in and out of view as the screen of trees before him drifted across his line of vision like a tattered curtain.
“Almost there,” Joe said as the trail broke away from the side of the stream for the first time in their journey. The woods around them turned from deciduous trees to tall pines bare of branches until they reached about five meters off the ground. The forest floor was free of undergrowth and covered in golden pine needles. The high boughs of the pines created a canopy overhead that blocked out the sky.
As they moved further under the pine roof, James realized the lights he saw before were coming from small houses spread out among the trees. The houses were rectangular and constructed from planks of dark wood. Four thick square beams rose at the corners to meet the roof, which appeared to be a wooden frame made of the same dark wood and covered with thin black slates of either ceramic or stone. Each house had two doors, one in the center of the front of the house, the other opening onto a small deck on one side.
After passing through a section of woods dotted with these houses, the path led them back to the stream again. Here, there was an ancient stone bridge in the shape of a small gray arch crossing the tiny stream. As James followed the other two men over the stone bridge, he noticed the sides were carved with symbols and ornate scenes of animals. As soon as they crossed the bridge, James looked up and saw an incredible sight unfold before him in an approaching gap in the forest. He could make out portions of what appeared to be huge buildings constructed much like the little ones they already passed, but these were much larger and were several stories high. As the trail came to the gap, it emptied into a large open area, and James stopped in his tracks as the picture before him struck him with awe.
In front of him was a flat, open courtyard covered in smooth stone tiles. They were arranged in a pattern of squares about the size of pizza boxes and varied in color from jade green, to milky white, onyx black and granite gray. On the polished surface of the stone floor he could see the reflection of a huge building. As he looked up, an immense structure stood before him. It was a building the size of a barn, but not quite as high. It had the same dark wood construction, but the wood was carved ornately and painted in brilliant colors. The roof slopped upward in a curve and protruded at each corner with a beam of wood carved in the shape of an eagle’s head. Large paper lanterns hung at intervals along the edge of the roof, and dark green arched tiles ran in rows to the crest. There were only a few windows, covered with paper screens, but a massive double door stood perched above a short flight of stone stairs in the center of the building. On the right side of the courtyard, James saw a similar building, although this one was adorned with dragons’ heads jutting out from the corners of the roof, and he could hear rapid cracking sounds and staccato bursts of human voices. Most impressive of all was the third building, which bordered the left side of the square. It was actually a set of smaller buildings arranged on top of a wide base about three meters high with a wooden railing running along the perimeter. The largest of the cluster of buildings was nearest to James, and an intricately carved wooden staircase led to it from the bottom of the platform. The building had three successively smaller floors stacked on top of one another like a pagoda, and the same decorative beams thrust out from the roof of the bottom floor in the form of leaping tigers. Beyond the larger building, there was a small but wide one-story building and two other buildings that resembled the ones they passed in the forest, only much more decorative. Behind the impressive building, James could make out the dark form of huge boulders the size of houses stacked in the distance in what appeared to be the peak of the mountain they just spent the night climbing.
“What is this place!” James exclaimed as he wheeled around trying to take it all in through the dim orange and yellow light emanating from the windows and the lanterns.
“Hanasan Hold,” DaNyang said in a whisper. “Well, actually, the hold is in those rocks just beyond, but this place has taken on the name as a matter of custom.”
“Yes,” Joe smiled as he turned toward James, “This is the heart of the Order of the Servants of Light in this part of the world.”
DaNyang seemed to snap out of a trance. “Well, I expect he will desire to talk to you,” He said as he motioned to the building on their left. “Just hang out here for a minute with Joe, ok?”
James nodded mutely as he wondered who he was.
After about ten minutes spent talking with Joe about the beauty of the buildings and asking some simple questions, James saw DaNyang reappear at the stairs to what Joe had explained was the Intercessor’s Hall. He beckoned them to join him.
As Joe and James reached the top of the stairs, DaNyang led them toward the large double doors in the center of the three story building before them. The doors were of the same dark wood as the rest of the building, but carved and painted in dizzying patterns. Instead of opening the doors, though, DaNyang turned to James and spoke in a hushed voice as if he were afraid he might offend someone if he spoke too loudly.
“James, this guy is held in pretty high regard around here. Being as such, it is always best to show respect and follow certain formalities. I hope you understand.”
“Sure,” said James, “I don’t have any problem with that, but what kind of formalities are we talking about?”
DaNyang began to open his mouth in reply, but Joe beat him to it, “Well, it’s quite simple, actually all you have to do is walk in, stand about two meters in front of him and do not look him in the eyes until he asks you to do so, if he asks you to do so.”
“Right,” DaNyang agreed, “and address him as Intercessor. Are you ready, then?”
“Yeah, sure,” James said with a smile that concealed the uneasiness growing inside him. As DaNyang and Joe each placed a hand on one of the doors and swung them inward, James’ eyes widened in amazed shock. The room was grand and dazzled with golden and silver ornaments hung from the ceiling or displayed upon shelves, the kind of which James had never seen before. The floor was covered in a thick, red, silk carpet. Besides the ornaments, the room was practically unfurnished. Only a large pine cabinet ran the length of the wall on the left, and a sturdy wooden chair sat in front of him. On the right was a single, plain door, which probably led to the other buildings seated on the fou
ndation. While all these things were enough to cultivate awe, they were nothing alongside the figure standing in the center of the room just in front of the wooden chair. A simple man stood straight and confident, but without an air of pride. He wore white robes with golden trim, which seemed both simple and fantastic. His long, ivory hair and angular face spoke of wisdom and power, yet at the same time of a character of kindness and concern. James remembered Joe’s advice, and kept his eyes to the floor as they approached the Intercessor. They stopped about two meters in front of him, and Joe and James offered hasty greetings, which the Intercessor acknowledged with a gentle nod.
After about twenty seconds of awkward silence, James felt he should probably say something. Just when he was about to open his mouth, though, the old man suddenly spoke.
“James,” he said, and James felt he could feel the man’s concern for him just by the way he uttered his name, “I have been hoping your path would lead you here. Won’t you join us tonight at the feast of lights?”
“Well, Intercessor,” James stammered, “I kind of have a job, you see, and I’m afraid I’m already going to be late by the time I can get down from this mountain.” I appreciate the-“
“James,” the man interrupted in a gentle, yet firm manner, “look into my eyes.”
James had been very careful to keep up the formalities, and remembered this was his invitation to lift his eyes. He slowly lifted his head and made contact with the man’s deep, brown eyes. As soon as his gaze reached into the old man’s eyes, James physically felt the power this man possessed while, at the same time, experienced a wave of comfort that put him at ease. Just looking into his eyes seemed to open a direct channel to James’ soul. He felt as if the man could see inside to the person James really was underneath all the concealment of politeness and social behavior. Of course, this was unsettling, but at the same time James felt a strong trust for him growing in his heart.
