by Arwen Jayne
Thex was still unsure of their collective capacity to deal with what was coming but things were sounding sort of plausible. “Okay, but we won’t use the cannon, except for intimidation purposes, unless we have to. I’d like that to keep that ship if we could, it’s an asset that might come in handy. Can we we load the cannon on the back of some kind of vehicle that we could drive up to point it at their front door when we want in?”
Michael nodded “Might take a bit of doing but I think I can rustle up enough guys to set it up on the flat tray of an old truck we can use.”
Thex turned back to George. “And the Major.”
“Ah well, it seems when you were being rescued the Goddess gifted the Major with some real cool powers. Go on show ‘em John.”
The Major sat down and concentrated. Everyone turned, somewhat aghast, as he also walked into the room from the hall outside. “As you can see I can project myself and...” He bent to pick up a coffee cup from a nearby table, “I can also touch and move things in my projected form.” If Sally would kindly come here...” Sally came over. “Now reach out with your hand.” The hand went through him like his projection was a ghost, Sally jerked back in surprise. “Thanks Sally. “They won’t be able to damage me with their weapons like they could Simon or Thex. I’m thinking I can project myself onto the ship once it’s landed. I’ll relay you back intel and cause general confusion on board. It also appears that I now have the ability to sense entities that pose a threat, at least within a hundred meter radius, so I can let you know numbers”.
Thex shook his head in amazement. A more ragtag team he’d never had but he had to give it to them, they showed a surprising amount of ingenuity and resolve. “Sounds like a plan then, a shaky plan, but it's all we’ve got. George can you go and see Ally to see what she can rig us up with as far as communication between teams. Yan, I assume you’ll set up a medical bay that can also take in all non operational townsfolk including the children and elderly and set up a defensible position for them but I’d like you on my team when we board the ship.”
Yan pressed his palms together and bowed his head slightly to show his agreement. “Not a problem.”
“All-spirit be with us” Tyra prayed as everyone left for their respective tasks.
21
As Tyra went to leave Suzukisan lightly grabbed her by the arm. “A moment Tyra.”
Tyra bowed respectfully “Sure Suzukisan”
“Tell me Tyra, have you ever seen how a pride of lions move in for the final kill on a large wildebeest or elephant, without getting trampled themselves”.
“Yes, I’ve seen it on wildlife docos. They circle the animal, keeping out of its reach, nipping at it, drawing blood and wearing it down until it tires so much they can pull it down”.
“There is always much to learn from nature Tyra. If you ever need to fight something very large be that pride of lions. Keep your mind as clear as the sky, free of contention and doubt. Let there be no opponent versus you, only the one. Connect with earth and spirit. Move like a mountain stream, quick and nimble, go around obstacles, wear them down.” He looked down and reached into a pocket, pulling out a small pendant. “Wear this for me, the Goddess of compassion Kannon-sama will protect you”.
Tyra bowed again. “Thank you Suzukisan. I’ll remember.”
Simon followed Tyra out the door, frowning.
Melissa, Rob and her other coven members met them near the grove of Southern Myrtles, Nothofagus cunninghamii, that Rob had planted in his back paddock. The Major had come along too. The now ex-atheist said he had a few questions for the Goddess.
Melissa looked at Tyra, hoping the place would suit. “Will this do?”
“Give me a minute.” Tyra entered the circle and took a seat on the ground near the hearth. It was a damp, tough luck. She closed her eyes and became aware of her breathing then sent her consciousness down to merge with the earth. She felt its resonance, it nearly purred at her mental caress. Tyra opened her eyes. “Yes this will do nicely. Will you guys form a circle or whatever you do?”
Melissa suggested Simon and John stand either side of Tyra. Her coven spread themselves out around the circle. Starting in the east she called to the quarters to witness the rites of the circle and act as guardians. She called to the powers of the elements, in love and truth to share the rite. Being the southern hemisphere, when it came to the elements she called to the element of Earth for the South and Fire for the North. Then she came to the centre, in front of Tyra, Simon and John and called to the Spirit of All. “Now I will call the Goddess
Erce, erce, erce eorþan modor
Hal wes þu, folde, fira modor!
Earth, Mother earth, hail to you, mortals mother.”
Simon smiled to himself, he sure wasn’t mortal but he’d guess his mum wasn’t a stickler for detail anyway, it was intent that really mattered.
Melissa turned to Tyra. “Do your connection now.”
Tyra recast her mind to the earth, becoming one again with the resonance, drawing it up through her being and offering it to the all-spirit. Bright light flared above her crown chakra and came plummeting back down through her into the earth. Tyra’s only thought as she observed this was I guess the all-spirit likes yang sex sometimes too.
“Indeed” came a voice Tyra recognised. The Goddess stood before them smirking, if Goddesses can be said to smirk. Certainly there was a twinkle in her eye. “I know why you are here. Yes Tyra you can offer my grace to any of the enemy that surrender, although I do not think they will like it. If they choose they may experience their karma from all that they have done on this planet and to this planet. They can experience it in a moment in time but it won’t be pleasant for them. Cleansed of their karma they may then choose to die. I will allow them to be reincarnated into a life on this planet and they will keep reincarnating until they evolve. Alternately they may swear to serve me, at my command and I will allow them to have a human form of their own, although they may take their other form in service to me. That is all I am prepared to offer.” She turned to Melissa, I am well pleased with you daughter, your consort and the others here. I have few who honor me in the South of this planet. Will you pledge yourselves and the child you carry to help my son and his mates in their battle? Will you help me to protect and heal this planet?”
Melissa bowed deeply, the rest stood in shock but bowed their heads. None had actually ever expected to see the Goddess in person. “You know we will”.
The Goddess walked forward and place a palm over Melissa’s womb. “Then I proclaim you the Adin, those against the Din. You may release your circle daughter, I would stay and have a few words with John as he wishes to know more about the extent of his powers.”
Melissa bowed again went to give thanks and release to the elements and the quarters, who was she to argue ritual procedure with a Goddess. Rob left with the other coven members to go back to Thex for orders. Melissa decided to wait for Tyra as she had much she wanted to ask.
Simon stepped forward and embraced his mother. “I love you Ma, may the all-spirit help us”.
Ma gently touched Simon’s forehead. “I’m with you always, just reach for me in your mind if you have need of me again. Mind you I like it when Tyra sends down the energy.” She smiled at Tyra. “It strengthens me. Some days I feel so tired, but soon, soon things will start to right themselves. Everything comes in cycles. Be well son. Now go and help Thex, the commander needs you and Tyra, he needs the companionship of both of you. It’s a lonely task otherwise that he’s got ahead of him.”
Simon and Tyra bowed and left leaving the Major to talk to the Goddess.
Simon made to leave. “I’ll hurry back to the house Tyra. You and Melissa make your way back when you’re ready”, and then he disappeared.
Melissa just shook her head. “All this is starting to make my head spin”.
Tyra patted her on the back. “You’ll get used to it. Come on, we’d better head back, the afternoon is getting on.”
22
They’d thought to take a quicker shortcut back, following the long disused dunny cart track. The forest on either side was starting to reclaim it but it was still passable.
Tyra casually passed her Walther PPK handgun to Melissa. “Know how to use one of these?”
“Yeah? Not this particular type but I’ve shot a few rabbits in my time. Why?”
“Don’t show that you know, just keep talking to me as if nothing’s up, we’re being stalked.”
“How many?”
“Just the one but I think it’s taken corporeal form, not just ethereal. Their spaceship isn’t here yet so I’m guessing its Steven’s. It must be out scouting while Steven’s off doing whatever he’s up to. I haven’t had a chance to load that gun with any of Thomas’s bullets yet. Unless you’re close you’re not going to necessarily kill it with that. Shoot it in the legs if it comes at you, they’re top heavy beasts, but otherwise, as soon as you see a clear path of escape run for it.”
“What about you? I can’t leave you to that thing.”
Tyra surreptitiously unfolded the karambit knife in her pocket. A gift from Yan it was small but viciously sharp, it also had a saw blade on its reverse edge. She put it in a concealed reverse hold. She leaned down as if to scratch an itch on her leg and pulled a nasty looking Kris knife from her boot as well, concealing it in her left hand. “The boys will have already sensed the danger to me. I only need to hold him off while you make a run for it. Remember there’s two of you to consider. Not to mention that a certain Goddess would be pretty pissed if anything happened to the child she just blest.”
Melissa’s thoughts went to the baby inside her. Tyra was unfortunately right. She reeled in fright as the beast suddenly sprang into their path.
Drool dripped from its teeth. “Ah the prophesied one without her minder or guardian. I knew if I waited long enough the chance would come”.
Tyra fished inside herself for whatever bravery she could find. “I have no wish to harm you. Leave us and go back to your slave.”
The beast roared in laughter then sneered at her. “You, a mere human, hurt me...Not even the galaxy’s finest could stop us all those years ago. I enjoyed ripping apart much of your commander’s team. Sakla was so pleased he gave me this place to watch and stop any rescue attempts on the prisoner”.
Egomaniac, if she could just use that weakness to keep him talking. “Doesn’t seem like much of a reward to me. Sakla sets up a global empire and you get a dead end job as a watchman.”
The beast howled in anger and slashed out its mighty arms. Tyra evaded by allowing herself to fall beneath where he aimed. Okay maybe telling him he’d been duped by his boss hadn’t been the right approach. Rolling and coming up from a low crouching stance she took her chance at a surprise attack and aimed the karambit straight into his balls, slicing a tendon on the way.
Enraged the beast lunged again. As expected it tried to use its arms as clubs to direct a side swipe to her head. Tyra ducked. Flow like water, that’s what Suzukisan had said. Keep outside its circle of reach. Mind as clear as the sky, body connected with the earth. There is no opponent if everything is one. Tyra became one with the dance of death and emptied her mind. The beast would lunge and swipe, lunge and swipe. There was a pattern to its fighting strategy. There was no pattern to hers, she used every multilevel stance and crouch and piece of footwork she’d learnt but without conscious thought. She was just the observer.
The beast had strength but lacked stamina, it began to tire, its moves becoming more ponderous.
Tyra paced herself, endurance is a woman’s strength and as long as she didn’t use up all her inner reserves she could keep going like this for some time. “I have no wish to hurt you Din, leave us in peace.”
“And have the boss gut me, I don’t think so human.”
Damn, if the beast thought it was backed into a corner with no option there would be no end to this until one of them died. It was now or never, before she really did tire. She pulled energy from her chakras, as Yan had taught her, she gathered the energy into her gut. Then using a rolling maneuver she made as if to run for it but came up behind the beast instead, visualised herself as a flying monkey and leapt. She landed on the back of its neck and drove the Kris deep into the side of its neck, slicing through nerves and blood vessels.
The beast roared in pain and tried to shake her off but she held until she could safely jump free.
Tyra resumed her dance of goad and evasion, watching the beast. Blood poured from its throat. She felt pity for it as it rolled its eyes backwards and crashed to the ground.
“Can I shoot it now?”
Tyra was surprised, she hadn’t realised that Melissa was still there. “No but don’t hesitate to if it makes any sudden moves.” She walked cautiously up to the beast.
It raised an eyelid, watching her approach. It could feel its essence slipping away. No matter, on death he would return to the between. They wouldn’t be rid of him so easy. “Coming in for the final kill are we, little human? Must say, someone trained you well.”
Tears streamed down Tyra’s face. “I have never wanted to cause anything pain. Forgive me Din, you gave me no choice. This doesn’t have to be your end though.” She explained the Goddesses offer.
“Thanks but no thanks, I will return to The Between, until next time human.”
“Then I think we better reduce your odds of there being a next time.” Simon stepped out of nowhere and shot the beast. It disappeared in a puff of smoke. “A few lifetimes in the lower worlds won’t hurt that one.”
Tyra was not surprised by Simon’s sudden arrival and she breathed a sigh of relief that it was all over but she felt bad for the beast. “He thought he had an easy way out, we just made it that much harder for him.”
Simon hugged her close. “You’re right to feel compassion Tyra, he’s as much a part of us as any piece of the all-spirit is but for now he’s a dangerous piece. He’s avoided his cycles of rebirth long enough, now he needs to purge his karma by realising that there has to be something more than his individual self. The lower worlds will get him to the point of despair with his current path then he will be born into this middle plane to learn just that. Your compassion just now may leave an impression on his soul. It will help him along his path.”
Tyra felt a little better at that but she would make sure to send love and compassion to the Din occasionally when she meditated, to send love and compassion to all the souls yet to find the love and acceptance she, Simon and Thex now shared.
Simon motioned for them to leave. “Come on then you two, it’s getting late and we all need to be in position before night comes.” He glanced down at his weapon approvingly. “At least we know the bullets work.”
22
The sun had gone down two hours ago, there was no moon, it was full dark. Only the council streetlights outside the police station and the shop lit the town. Some light filtered from behind the curtains and blinds of homes. A few dogs barked, breaking the an eerie quiet.
The Major’s spidery senses prickled. “They’re coming.”
Thex yelled into his the two way radio Ally had found him “Get ready George, two shots then get out of there before they return fire on you, is that clear”.
“Aye, aye Commander”, came the jovial but sarcastic response.
Thex spoke again into the hand held. “Teams in position!”
“Teams are ready” came the reply from Michael.
In the sky above what looked like the antarctic lights, the aurora, appeared in the sky, a swirling mass of red and green. As the lights came lower the Narr ship became visible in all its grandeur. Rob, manning the truck with RSL’s cannon, swore. “Cor blimey, the bloody thing’s real”. He’d really hoped the nightmare that Thex and Simon had described was just a figment of their imaginations.
Melissa leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “It’ll be right Rob. It is a fortunate warrior that gets to fight a righteous battle against evil. If an
ything happens to us we’ll have done our bit for the Goddess’s cause and if we win it’ll be a small victory towards a better world. Either way we win.”
“My wise barmaid didn’t just make that up did she?”
“My own take on a line from the Bhagavad-gita, said to a troubled warrior thousands of years ago”, she leaned in reassuringly to Rob. “You’ll be fine my warrior”.
Rob snorted but returned the hug.
Thex turned to the Major. “Looks like Simon was spot on, they’re landing on the football field, not surprising really as it’s the only flat ground around here. I’m heading down to the perimeter. I’ll arm Simon’s security system on the way out. You’ll be safe here.”
The Major laughed. “I’ve been in worse situations” although on second thought maybe he hadn’t. “Good luck.” He watched Thex nod and leave. “Right-i-o Goddess, let’s use what you’ve given me”.
Thex hurried down to the football field. He took cover with the others there, behind the club huts.
A loud voice boomed out of the ship’s speaker system. “Surrender the immortals in your midst or be destroyed. You have five minutes to bring them here.”
Thex took the loud hailer Simon passed him. “Not going to happen. You are surrounded. You don’t realise it yet but your ship is grounded. It will not lift off while a single one of you remains on board”. He turned to Simon. “Now we’ll see how good Thomas’s magic is.”
There was a loud roar of engines and the lights of the ship swirled, its hull groaned and vibrated with effort as it attempted to lift off. It didn’t move.
