The Sword of Gabriel: Ten Days on Earth

by Tom Holloway

  We are at the restaurant, which is not fancy, yet it has class; it’s sophisticated—Anna’s kind of place. Having dinner here is a special treat, as the place has a worldwide reputation for superb food. Anna warns me telepathically to be charming and on my best behavior. I smile at her with no reply.

  She beams back, saying one of the guests is famous, and a wealthy actor I met in London, Ed Delaney. She dated him; he is with a good friend of hers, another beautiful, young actress. She says he is in love with himself. Her friend wants to marry him, as she thinks she loves him. He is jealous of me because he’s still hung up on Anna. She does not want me probing his thoughts. For one, it’s none of my business, and for another, he was abusive. Anna is questioning if I can stay calm, as she does not want him dead. Actually I am little surprised, as Anna is serious, not kidding.

  I respond with a laugh, “Anna, I will control myself. I will not harm him.”

  I keep looking at her, and she just smiles back; she is absolutely the most awesome creature I have ever seen. She is perfect beyond words; beautiful inside and out, and I love her. I now dread leaving even more, alone, having to live with the desolation and pain of missing her. I have no clue if I will be able to make the deal with Gabriel. Will he let me retire? As a plan B, just in case, I am having my law firm put her on all my accounts and put all my holdings as joint ownership. All total it is about $9 billion in value. I will tell them she is to be treated like my wife. I hope that becomes true someday. Either way she will own what I own. If I am gone another ten years or never come back because I’m killed in some battle, or if I lose her, at least she will have real wealth.

  When I sit down, everyone is sitting, talking, laughing, and drinking. It is a long, massive table, also wide, so we all see one another. Everyone at the table is impressive, more than very good-looking, really most of them are gorgeous, all smiling, some laughing. At least twenty seats are filled. After Anna introduced me, most of them have ignored me and are busy with Anna. She is in her element.

  We finish eating, and we all have had plenty to eat and drink; the wine is excellent. Then, as if it’s my turn to be examined, they turn on me. Anna’s friend Lisa, another famous actress, asks what I do and how I met Anna. The table grows quiet, not a soul talking, waiting for me to respond. I hear Anna coaching me, hear her thoughts; she says to try to be honest as much as possible without telling them too much. Be charming!

  They are all quiet, looking at me intently. I smile, laugh. “Really, I didn’t mean to cause so much curiosity. I guess I better not tell any of my jokes.”

  They all laugh, although a little nervously. So I say, “OK, you are curious about me. Here it is: this body of mine is thirty years old; my life is a complicated life yet much of it boring; mostly I have a military background, traveled with the military more than I want, seen too much battle, hate to talk about it, been lonely most of my life, not important or famous, done nothing like you with your glamourous lives. As a soldier, honor and duty are important to me. I work constantly, and it is difficult work. Plus, my life has a lot of hardship. I do have a little money, and I live modestly. I do not own a house. I live on a ship, although a big one. And I truly think you are the most beautiful people I have ever seen at one table. I appreciate your kindness by including me tonight.”

  Everyone laughs; Anna is pleased.

  Since that went well, I continue, “Also, I am delighted to meet all of you. Anna’s friends are really important to her, as she is to me.” I look at her and smile. “And I will try to be your friend in every way. I am really a good friend to have. Thanks again for letting me have this evening with you.”

  Everyone laughs again, and Anna laughs, too. She is pleased and looks at me with fondness. I am happy.

  Anna smiles. “Henry is being modest. He is extremely wealthy, and he is actually the most interesting man I have ever met, more complicated than you would ever believe or could comprehend. I think he may be the most powerful man in the universe, and actually I know for sure he is the most powerful man in this world. And yes, I am completely overwhelmed by him. He is simply awesome! He could do much tonight for our evening if he will do me this one little favor. He has given me the gift of telepathy. Maybe he’ll give it to you, too.”

  They all look at Anna as if she is telling a joke and they are waiting for the punch line.

  She shakes her head. “I’m not joking. I know you don’t believe me; you think telepathy is impossible. You’ll be totally thrilled! I’ve learned from Henry how amazing it is. For example, you know more than what is being said, and you actually feel the other person’s emotions with their thoughts. It is simply wonderful. It would be so comforting for you to feel the warmth and love coming from me and then between each other, the feelings made so clear, as you’d have no confusion, no doubts about our friendship or worry about hidden agendas. Please, Henry, would you do this for all of us?”

  She pauses, looking at me, waiting for a response.

  They are all looking at Anna as if she has lost her mind. I did not see this coming. I should have told Anna the telepathy thing is just for us. She is out on a limb, and she would look foolish if I do not do this. I do not immediately respond, and I can see they are embarrassed for her. I do not know what to say. I cannot have this hit NBC News tomorrow night.

  I have no choice; I need to do this for her. I should have warned her—my fault.

  Finally, looking at her, smiling, then looking around at all of them, I say, “Yes, on one condition, if you promise not to tell anyone. Maybe just a little tonight, for a few minutes, just to introduce you to it, as it can be spooky to have someone in your brain. Perhaps the best way for you to try this, is to have to ask for it, as this is very personal. You may not want this to happen; you may be giving up too much intimate information. If you are game for the experience, just look at Anna and think hard, with a lot of focus, and tell her mentally you want to hear me. When I feel you are really ready, you will be given the ability, as I will make it happen. Please do not fear this. It will not hurt you, although it will shock you at first. After you feel it, close your eyes, as this will help you focus; trust Anna, as she will be your guide. I will try to resolve your fear and reduce anxiety. Remember, it is only temporary, lasting just a few minutes.”

  “Now, please look at Anna if you want to do this. Look away if not.”

  They all look at one another, a nervous laugh here and there, a “Why not?” and a “Let’s try it!” Surprisingly enough, each one looks at me and smiles. Then, one by one, all of them look intently at Anna in absolute silence. The woman across from Anna closes her eyes and smiles, and her face relaxes, with a happy look. Then another woman closes her eyes, then another, and finally the men. Anna is already there. My little slips have been inserted in each person’s brain, and they are activated as they ask for it, one at a time. They are truly telepathic, and I am hoping I don’t regret this later. I let them feel Anna’s true warmth and her love as she mentally talks to all of them. She is amazing! I give her the energy and amplification needed so they feel wonderful, all coming from her love. They know this remarkable woman loves them.

  I push all of them toward better feelings; too, toward the love and friendship they have for one another. I also try to block their fear and negative thoughts, the harmful, critical ones they have learned as adults. They chatter mentally, and I make sure each thought is clear, as are the feelings; the emotions, the visions, and they are absolutely loving it. It is the ultimate mental yoga, three dimensional, called a mind meld, with me as their guide to soothe their anxieties or shyness. I know Anna is wonderful, and I can’t help showing my love for her. Her friends feel it, too, which gives them a real emotional high. This is the best kind of high, as love is very powerful, and it makes them all happy. It is good for all of them, inspirational, maybe spiritual, an awesome experience. All feel secure; they have bonded, and they have reached a higher level in human understanding. I can feel it from them. I feel good, too,
and I laugh, thinking I need to do this more often.

  I pull the telepathy slowly from them, leaving happy thoughts so as to not put them into withdrawal and the shock of losing it, which is a deep, lonely feeling. The slips disengage at the same time, leaving them. They all open their eyes at once, all with wonderful pleased laughs, joy in their eyes. All smile and talk at the same time, looking lovingly at Anna. They all have tears in their eyes, even the men, all saying, “I love you Anna, thank you!” and then thanking me, hugging me, saying they love me, so grateful for the most miraculous experience of their lifetimes. They thank me for sharing my love for Anna with them and opening up the depths of my mind to them. I am not sure exactly what that means, yet it is pleasing to me. Again, it’s good to be human. Who would think?

  I tell Anna I will pay for dinner. She nods and smiles; I feel her happiness, and she leads her friends out, saying good-bye to each, and each hugging her, crying tears of happiness, thanking her. I pay the restaurant tab by giving the owner a $20,000 cashier’s check I picked up at a bank when Anna was shopping. I say he should keep the change, as this is much more than the tab, and he is more than pleased, maybe a little shocked by my generosity, as the bill was just under $10,000. I tell him I appreciated the private room and to not say anything to the press or anyone else that might ask about our being there tonight. It would not be a good thing, as everyone attending needs his or her privacy. He nods and says he understands, and it’s no problem—nothing will come from him or his staff. He smiles and thanks me again for the money; he appreciates the generous tip.

  Anna and I are now in the back of the limo, the driver’s window closed, heading for some fancy nightclub the rich and gorgeous people frequent. I still feel unworthy of Anna. She went to Duke. I went to a state school: Indiana University. My parents were working class. Her stepfather is a senator. I am not talented or a beautiful person, hardly even close to glamorous. She is a stunning celebrity actress. Everyone at the dinner tonight was accomplished, charming, and beautiful to look at, and they all have real homes. I have nothing to give her; even to help her have a family is a dismal offering. I am also totally bizarre. I am a freak. No matter how lonely it is for me, I need to be fair to her, explain to her that I’m not a good fit for her. The worst of it is I’m leaving in two days. I’m not sure if I will ever be back, for many complicated reasons. And I need to tell her I love her and I am sorry, explain my situation better, and try to make her understand why I will not be coming back. I owe her that.

  We are sitting across from each other. Anna is smiling, looking out the window and acting innocent yet she is very sensual. I know she is teasing me on purpose. Anna’s black skirt is very short, pulled up even higher now, and I see the bottom of her white-lace panties. Her blouse is pure white silk, no bra, her perfect breasts and her nipples hard and pointed, easy to see through her blouse. I feel the effect, amazed by how powerful the human sexual drive is; the push to mate is irrational. I am not sure I can talk. I feel inadequate, for one thing, not equal to her. Even my looks are not enough. In comparison to her, I look plain. She at least likes my clothing, as she picked out what I am wearing. I am wearing gray slacks, an expensive black-leather belt, black loafers, and a navy blue sports coat over a blue silk shirt—not my normal look. Anna bought it all for me, her gift, and all of it fits me perfectly. It’s designer clothing, and the shirt shows my chest muscles. It’s really embarrassing for me, but Anna loves it.

  Anna is looking at me seductively, smiling coyly. “Henry, thanks for that. What you did for me and my friends was awesome, and I know there were a thousand reasons not to do it. It’s an experience they will remember forever, and I hope you are going to get to know some of them well in the future, maybe even love them, too, like I do. They are my best friends, or the women are for sure.”

  Anna smiles and says, “You know we are alone in this limo, and it’s roomy, don’t you think?” She laughs.

  I smile and say in a serious tone, “Anna, I have something to say. Even if it’s bad timing, I need to tell you, as I am not sure how the next few weeks will go. I may have issues trying to retire, and if it goes against me, you need to know why. No matter what, even if I’ve been with you a very short time, I love you with all my heart, and no matter what happens to me or what the future brings us you are the love of my life.”

  Anna’s eyes widen. She smiles; her lips tremble, and tears are coming down her cheeks. She laughs and says, “Henry, I know. I feel the same about you, crazily enough. I love you, and you are the love of my life.” Growing more serious she asks, “Henry, you’re having doubts. What do we do? Have you changed your mind? Can I go with you on the Cyclone, or will you stay? Where do we live? Will you live with me? How do we stay together?”

  I respond, “Anna, I’m not sure about our living together for now. Yet believe it or not, I do have a plan. Hear me out. I have thought about it a lot, and it’s not great, but it’s the only way under the circumstances.”

  “You know I have to leave. You cannot live on the Cyclone, as it would be terrible for you, and you have your career and a busy, happy life here. I dread leaving without you and hardly want to talk about it, yet it is a reality. The question of me being able to leave the military is the challenge. The ripples are many, with many problems to solve; the ramifications are severe in some cases. No matter. I am planning on leaving the military, retiring or resigning and then coming back. I will also push to get Earth into the Consortium, thus ensuring Earth’s future and its future protection. I have responsibilities across the universe, providing the protection many need. I hope to transfer those responsibilities to a replacement.”

  “Anna, I need to protect you while I’m gone, physically and financially. The physical part is tough, and I will work on a plan. The financial part is easy. I have notified my law firm to contact the bank, and you will become a joint owner of all my assets; a lawyer will come see you next week to sign the papers to give you access to my assets. The law firm will work for you then; they can help you with any problem you have and provide you with as much money as you will ever need or want in the future.”

  “If I return, I will ask you to marry me. I want this more than life itself. If I do not return, you will have everything I have on Earth. No one will question it, as you will be listed as a joint owner of my assets. Of course there is a chance my next time back will be ten years from now, or, worse, I may never come back. I do not expect you to wait, to put your life on hold. Either way, I will notify you as soon as possible.”

  Upset, Anna responds, “I do not care about your assets; I have more than enough now. I will wait for you to arrange your retirement and then you will return to Earth.”

  “Anna, there is more than just retiring. I have never told anyone this. There is a good chance they will not let me go, and you need to know why. I am tied to them physically and mentally. If they say no, I can’t leave, or at least I may not leave alive. As you know I am attached to the Cyclone. Unfortunately it’s more than you think, as the Cyclone’s current identity dies without me, and the same with me. Without the Cyclone—I also lose my identity, who I am, and maybe my life. We are symbiotic, with an obligate symbiosis relationship; think of it as tied together with one shared soul. We have been together now for sixty years. The Cyclone’s personality as you and I know it would expire without me or without installing another me. For the same reasons, I am not sure if I would survive a total separation either, as it was how I was rebuilt. The symbiosis with the Cyclone was part of my mental design.”

  Now frowning, I continue, “Also, even more critical, you and I will both be vulnerable without the Consortium’s consent and protection. I would attract my enemies to Earth, which could cause the destruction of you, me, our children, and maybe the entire population of Earth. I have some serious enemies.”

  I am looking at Anna, and she looks really angry and disappointed—the reaction I had expected and hoped I could resolve in some way. I know I am on thin ice,
and this might be our last moment together.

  “Anna, I’m so sorry. I have no choice. I have to leave in two days. When I reach my home planet, I will request my retirement, then sort out the issues with the Cyclone. I will ask to have the Earth inducted into the Consortium. I hope to come back with the means to safeguard Earth’s future and ours. I do not think it will go well for us as a couple, as they will not understand my request. I must be honest with you. You know I will fight for us, yet I am not optimistic.”

  She is angry, intense. “Henry, your plans are your plans, not really our plans, and yes, you will come back. No other way works for me. We will not tell anyone publicly about us. And I will let you leave in three days, not two. You will be back for the Academy Awards, as you will be my date. This is not negotiable. The awards are in six months. You will be here then, if not before.”

  Anna looks tenderly at me. She comes to me, kneeling in front of me, holding my hands, intently looking into my eyes. “Darling, you are powerful, cunning, a commander of a huge military force, courageous, loving, and resourceful, and you can make it happen. Anything else is not acceptable; do you understand? We will live wherever you want us to live; if necessary it will be on whatever planet you call home. Yet I see no reason you can’t call Earth home. I will retire from movies even if I get the Academy Award, and yes, I want your children, lots of them, and you will protect them. You also will eventually marry me. Even if you have to stay in the military, I can still be your wife. I may be your second wife after the Cyclone, which I accept. I do not accept the end of this relationship, as I believe with all my heart we are meant to be together.” She smiles a very big smile. “You also owe me.”