The Minoan Legacy

by R G Peterson

  Few people knew how deep Thanatos’ reach went into world politics. His extensive wealth made it easy for him to back those who shared his goals and ideology.

  “Well I guess you won’t mind then if we leak what we have to someone who won’t hesitate to make it public?” Terry said with a knowing smile.

  Thanatos shook his head much too fast.

  He recovered and offered, “I see no need to do so. Like I said, I can easily refute what you have, but it is such a nuisance, not to mention an impediment to us moving forward. Time and money, although I have plenty, should not be wasted on such trivialities.”

  Terry stared at Thanatos trying to read his thoughts and body language. He was fairly certain Thanatos was bluffing. The information they had would do irreparable harm to his reputation and image. Terry reached over and picked up the phone and began to punch in a number. Thanatos could tell by the first few digits it was an international phone number. He could hear the ring on the other end. He reached over and depressed the cradle ending the call. Terry shot him a satisfied look.

  Thanatos held up his hands as if conceding defeat before he said, “The reason for my visit tonight is twofold. I wanted to congratulate you on seemingly being The One of the prophecy.”

  “Seemingly? And two?” Terry said without much enthusiasm.

  “I would like to, as you Americans are fond of saying, bury the hatchet. You are young. You have much to learn, especially about the great responsibility that accompanies your…skills…gifts. I can help. Let me guide you. I have been there in a similar situation. Let me share my experiences with you. I can make you the most powerful man the world has ever known.

  “You know, I was not always your father’s enemy. When he was young we had quite a close…relationship. I mentored him in many things. That all changed when the two of you were born. We had many disagreements as to the best way to nurture you. The plan he shared with you for the future was a plan we developed together. The world is in chaos. Wars. Famine. Incurable diseases. Global warming. And our politicians do not seem to be able to do anything about them. Their only goal is to obtain and hold onto power.”

  Terry reacted to his statement with an ironic smile.

  Thanatos ignored it and continued, “I am aware that your father was not a very warm person. Like the politicians, he sought power above all else. In every way, he put himself before others. Including his son.”

  He paused expecting a reaction from Terry and was visibly disappointed he received none.

  He cleared his throat before going on. “It is why I believe you are so uncomfortable when people show you any sort of concern or care. In particular, it shows in the way you cringe when someone touches you.”

  Terry turned away and stared out the lone window in the room.

  Sensing a change, Thanatos added, “I cannot alter the way you were raised, but I can modify how you move forward.”

  Terry’s eyes inched toward Thanatos, intrigued. He asked, “What about the others? You’ve wanted to harm them in the past.”

  “Nonsense, my son. I only wanted to lessen their influence on you. I believe they are way too young to be able to see what is necessary to be done for the betterment of everyone. That is all.”

  “But Nick said…”

  “Young Nicholas sees many things that are not so. He is often more wrong than right, although he is loath to admit as much.”

  Terry gave him a skeptical look.

  “Besides, has he not lost all of his powers, including being able to see into the near future? He is of no concern or threat to either of us now.”

  Terry once more showed his discomfort and looked away.

  “It is clear you have fulfilled the prophecy. You are blessed with possessing all of the Elements. But most important of all, you have surpassed your rival.”

  Terry steepled his hands and placed the tips of his fingers to his lips, deep in thought. Thanatos gave a start, noticing Val’s ring for the first time.

  “Where did you get that?”

  It took a second for Terry to realize what Thanatos meant. Terry lowered his hand and analyzed it, seeing it anew. Without taking his eyes off it he said, “It’s, or it was, my mother’s. She had it with her the night she died. Grandma Gayle gave it to me as a 16th birthday present. Why?”

  Thanatos attempted to hide his eagerness. “Oh, it is nothing, really. I just have not seen it in many years. That is all.”

  “So you’ve seen this before?”

  Thanatos regained some of his composure.

  “No, only pictures, drawings actually, but I have heard of such a ring. I had grown to believe it to be pure legend.” Thanatos continued to stare at it while he asked, “Did your grandmother say how your mother obtained it?”

  Looking at the ring once more, Terry answered, “No. They hadn’t talked for a couple of years. And GG said she had never seen it until she and Grandpa Henry showed up at the hospital that night. Again, why?”

  “I am above all else a curious old man, nothing more.”

  When Terry looked up he noticed Thanatos no longer piercing him with his stare but focused on the ring instead. He had a look about him that belied his explanation. If Terry had to guess, he would say at that moment the ring held far more interest for Thanatos than anything else in the room, including him.

  Terry cleared his throat bringing Thanatos out of his trance. He recovered and said, “I must go now, but I would like you to think about what I have said. My council will be most critical in order for you to take your rightful place as a world leader. And to show you I mean no harm to your friends, I will make sure they are included at the highest levels of our organization when it becomes the right time.”

  Thanatos stood, but before he left, he glanced at the ring one more time.

  

  As they rode back to the private airport, Thanatos turned to the person beside him. “We must make plans to rid our young protégé of the influence of his…friends, especially his brother.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Of course it must seem like an accident. Be very careful not to raise any suspicion in our young apprentice. Oh, and we have to figure out a way to reacquire that ring.”

  Chapter 4

  “Listen buster, we’re going to have a talk”

  The Monday after Christmas the Manitowoc Shipbuilders drove to Milwaukee to play in a four-team hockey tournament. Based on their previous year’s success the Shipbuilders were considered one of the premier high school hockey teams in the state. Anchoring the team were AJ and Terry (who had recently been reinstated after serving a suspension) the league’s top two scorers, and Nick, who was considered by most to be the best goalie in the state and one of the better goalies in the nation. Their first round opponent was University School of Mequon, a small elite private school with a long tradition of high school hockey excellence in the state.

  When Nick turned thirteen he acquired the ability to see into the near future. This gift allowed him to transition from the kid who reacted a fraction of a second too slow to one who was able to see where every pitch would be thrown or where every puck would be shot. It allowed him to adjust to the situation ahead of time. On the day Nick anticipated receiving the last element, Earth, he lost his psychic abilities instead. Never enamored with the idea of being The One spoken of in the ancient prophecies, he was far more disturbed by that loss than by what he hadn’t gain.

  He convinced himself that after years of playing goalie it wouldn’t matter, that his experience would take over and very little would change. Nick was the picture of confidence as the first period started. He glided effortlessly in the crease. He moved with the puck, sliding to where he would be in the best position to stop any shots on goal. Seven minutes into the period the Shipbuilders mishandled the puck and a University School forward picked it up and raced to the Shipbuilders end. Nick squared up, moved slightly to his right and forced the left-handed University player to take a shot backhanded. Despite hi
s best efforts Nick was unable to stop the break away. The Shipbuilders were in the unusual position of being down 1-0.

  Nick’s heart and belief in himself sank. Doubt crept into his mind. Maybe he wasn’t any good after all. That experience was a charade. If he couldn’t see what was going to happen ahead of time he was of little value to his team.

  “Hey, buddy, that’s okay. We’re okay,” AJ encouraged him. But when he saw the lack of self-assurance in Nick’s eyes he got pissed. “What? One stupid, lousy goal and you go in the tank? Forget it. Get your head out of your butt. Come on, let’s go.”

  Nick nodded and got ready for the faceoff. Seconds later AJ scored, tying the game. Terry scored a second goal less than a minute later, giving the Shipbuilders the lead.

  Confidence ran high on their team’s bench. Nick had never relinquished a lead once they were ahead in a game. But with less than a minute to play in the first period University School got a two-on-one break away and scored. The teams went into the locker room tied.

  Nick’s teammates and coaches encouraged him in an attempt to lift his spirits, but AJ and Terry shared a knowing look. They feared the worst.

  The start of the second period proved them right. Within the first six minutes University scored twice. For the first time in his high school career Nick was pulled from a game before the outcome had been decided.

  Tim Murphy replaced him in goal and shutout University School for the rest of the second period. Terry scored once more and the Shipbuilders went into the last period down by one goal. Tim allowed one goal in the third period, but AJ and Terry scored two more goals apiece, giving Manitowoc a 7-5 victory.

  After the game, a dejected Nick sat in front of his locker, his head in his hands.

  Everyone came by and offered words of encouragement, including Coach Johnson. “Hey, forget about it. Even Martin Brodeur had a bad game every once in a while. You’ll be back in the swing of things tomorrow. Keep your head up.”

  “Thanks, Coach,” Nick said, but without much conviction.

  The next game proved Coach Johnson wrong. Nick allowed three goals and was pulled once more before the first period had ended. Despite outstanding play by AJ and Terry it wasn’t enough to overcome the sizable lead and the Shipbuilders lost a regular season game for the first time in two seasons. Nick was inconsolable.

  Even Grace, who had come down for the championship game, couldn’t lift Nick’s spirits. “It’s okay. You have way too much going on. It’ll get better. The last month has been really tough. You’ll be okay.”

  Nick, head hanging, was having none of it. “I can’t see what’s going to happen next. I’m a split second late when I used to always be a split second ahead. I suck.”

  Grace reacted like he had slapped her. After she recovered she leaned into him so only he could hear. In a stern, low, harsh whisper, said, “Listen, bub, you stop that right now. I won’t have it. Yeah, you had an advantage before. So what? Now you have to rely on the experience you’ve picked up the last few years. You can’t tell me it was all about your visions. So snap out of it.”

  When he refused to raise his head, Grace gave a loud exclamation of disgust, got up and walked away, leaving Nick feeling as low as he could ever remember. He wanted to call her back and apologize, but it proved to be too much of an effort. All he wanted to do was wallow in self-pity. He gave off such a sour vibe that no one wanted to sit near him when they rode the bus back to Manitowoc, not even AJ. When they arrived at school Coach Johnson waited in his seat at the front of the bus to make sure everyone had left. He stood and scanned the bus and saw Nick sitting in the back disconsolate, as if his whole world had fallen apart. He walked down the aisle and sat across from Nick.

  “Hey, is something going on that we need to talk about?”

  Nick shook his head.

  “Come on, Nick. You had two bad games. Shake it off.”

  Nick continued to shake his head.

  “Come on, what’s with you? You’re too good to let one little setback affect you like this.”

  Nick barely lifted his head and said, “I think for the good of the team, Murphy should start from now on. In fact, I was thinking maybe it would be best if I left the team so you could add somebody better to take my place.”

  Coach Johnson stared at Nick, stunned. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.

  He stood up and said, “I’ll tell you what, take a few days to think about what you just said. Come see me on Monday and we’ll talk about it. If you feel as strongly about it at that time, we’ll see about making a change.”

  Coach Johnson started to walk to the front of the bus, stopped halfway down the aisle, realized Nick hadn’t moved and turned back, “Come on, you can’t stay here. You’ve got to go home.”

  Nick leveraged himself out of his seat and followed Coach Johnson off the bus. He expected to find himself alone. Instead, Grace, AJ and Maddy were waiting for him. As he sullenly approached them, Grace stepped forward, grabbed him by his arm and lifted his head with her free hand.

  “Listen buster, we’re going to have a talk. We’re going to AJ’s house. I already told GG and Grandpa Henry you’re going to be a little late. Okay?”

  Nick nodded, dejected.

  Grace pulled him into her, gave him a warm, secure hug and whispered, “No matter what, even if you were the worst goalie to ever play hockey, I still love you. Now let’s go figure this thing out.”

  Chapter 5

  ”You. Will. Not. Quit. Do you hear me? Never. Ever.”

  They headed to AJ’s rec room. Nick sat in the recliner AJ usually occupied while the other three sat across from him on the sofa. Grace, AJ and Maddy perched themselves on the edge of the cushions and leaned forward with their arms resting on their thighs to intentionally invade Nick’s personal space. Nick didn’t notice as he sat slumped in the chair, his eyes never leaving the toes of his shoes.

  “First off, quit being such a lump. It’s not the end of the world. Even if you’ve lost your powers,” Grace made air quotes as she said ‘your powers.’ “You’ve got too much going for you. You’re smart and funny, even if it’s a dry sense of humor, and you’re tall and good-looking. And did I mention you’re smart. Heck, your brains alone will get you into any college. You can do anything you want with your life. You’ve just gotten so used to having your powers you can’t see yourself without them.”

  She paused and waited for him to look at her. His head came up as if it were an overloaded freight elevator.

  “And now that I have your undivided attention I’m going to tell you something.”

  Nick looked at her, unsure if he wanted to hear what she had to say.

  “I think you are so scared of being the One Spoken of in the Prophecy that you are suppressing your powers.” She made air quotes once more. “Yeah, maybe Terry is The One, but in all the things we’ve read from the archives, we’ve never heard of anyone losing their special gifts. I truly believe your problems are all in your head.”

  Nick gave her a skeptical look.

  Grace became more animated. “How many times did you tell me you didn’t want to be The One? How many times did I hear you say you were afraid of what you might become? The death of Thanatos’ goon when we were in Westford, Massachusetts really, really upset you. You feel guilty, especially about not trying to help the guy once he burst into flames.”

  Nick’s eyes returned to studying his shoes.

  “See. Right there. Even me speaking about it bothers you.”

  He raised his head again. The anguish etched on his face made the others look upon him with sympathy.

  AJ spoke for the first time, “Come on, buddy. It was the heat of the moment. Anthony didn’t help matters by screaming out that he thought Grace was dead. Hell, anyone of us would have done the same thing. I would have tried to tear the guy limb from limb if it had been Maddy lying there. And Anthony would have done the same thing if it had been Terry.”

  “Yeah, I would�
��ve been right there, on top o’ him if he had hurt AJ,” Maddy assured him.

  “I have to admit, I probably would’ve done something to him, as well, if it would’ve been you instead of me lying there,” Grace added.

  Nick looked at Grace not quite believing what she said. “But you’re the one person in the group who always says getting even isn’t the answer. No matter what.”

  “I know, but remember how I confronted Warrington when he hurt my dad? Well, if I could’ve at the time, I would’ve hurt him…bad. I was so furious. And if it would’ve been you, well…”

  Nick tried to hide it but a small smile creased his lips and his eyes showed a tiny spark of light for the first time that day.

  “Okay,” he said, “if what you guys say is true, how or when do I get it back?”

  Grace shrugged, “Haven’t the slightest. Guess time will tell. But ‘til then, this garbage about you quitting the team is just that, garbage.”

  AJ sat up straight. “You’re thinking of quitting? Uh-uh. No way, man. You never quit. I don’t care if you’re the worst goalie in the history of goaliedom. I don’t quit and my friends, if they wanna be my friends, don’t quit. You play it out. If we’re down by a hundred goals, we don’t give up. And you know what else? You play every possession as if it’s the most important possession in the history of hockey lore. They score, you forget about it. The next possession is all that matters.”

  AJ stood up. His hands moved as if he were directing a symphony orchestra. “You stay in the moment. You concentrate with every favor of your being.”

  Grace shot a look at Maddy, who gave a slight shake of her head as if to say – don’t correct him, he’s on a roll.

  “We’re a team. We’ve got your back. But if you quit, you’re nothing to us. I respect the hell out of you, man. But it’s not because you’re a great goalie. It’s because you’ve always tried your best, even before you were able to see the future. When you were on the pond playing broomball and shot after shot got past you, I respected you because you never, ever quit. You tried your best every freakin’ time we played. You may have sucked big time, but you never quit trying. And that’s one of the hugest reasons I’ve always given you props. You. Will. Not. Quit. Do you hear me? Never. Ever.”