“Grannie, I’m scared. I had no idea our lives were so complicated.”
“I’ve been sheltering you from it for a long time. But now you need to know it all, dear child. Don’t worry, you are not the first one to learn about our Race’s ways.” Jousenne smiled.
The water around them swayed back and forth, splashing violently out of the pool. They looked at each other in alarm. The elegant pool furniture slid around on the tiled floor, some pieces tumbling into the water.
“What’s going on?” Jasmira shrieked. “Another earthquake?”
“Yes, I think so. Quick, out of the pool.”
They tried to swim to the nearest ladder, but the water tossed them fiercely around.
“Jasmira, swim under the surface.” Jousenne shouted.
Jasmira followed the advice. Her strong Shifter’s muscles worked against the ferocity of the water. A chaise longue plunged into the water right in front of her, missing her by a few inches. Another three chaises followed not far from the first one. She caught a glimpse of Jousenne struggling toward the closest ladder.
“Jasmira. Faster. We need to get out of the house.” She heard Jousenne’s voice in her head.
Jasmira reached the ladder and climbed up. Jousenne crawled on her hands and knees to the door that led into the backyard. The tiled floor was covered with water. The loud noise of the earthquake was terrifying. All of the objects that previously stood upright around the pool were either tossed in the water or kept sliding uncontrollably back and forth on the floor.
A small table was tumbling toward Jasmira. She clutched the handrail of the ladder, screeched, and moved to the side. She lost her balance and plunged backwards into the pool. The table bounced off the railing and ricocheted toward the wall.
Jousenne reached the double doors, stood up, and grasped the handle. She looked back, frantically scanning the area. She called with her mind to Jasmira. Jousenne slid and fell, a sharp pain thrusting through her hip. She cried out, gritting her teeth.
Jasmira’s head popped out from the water. A wave hit her in the face. She sputtered, dived in, and swam under the surface toward the pool exit. Jasmira climbed up the ladder, pressing her body to the handrail for support. She dragged herself away from the pool and in the direction of her grandmother. Jousenne lay on the floor, her hair across her face. She panted, squeezing her eyes shut.
The water-slide in the corner of the pool snapped off and fell into the water.
“Grannie. What happened?” Jasmira shouted. She crawled as fast as she could.
“Open the door and drag me outside. There is something very wrong with my hip.”
“Oh, Goddess, Grannie.” Jasmira got up and walked on wobbly legs to the door. She unlocked it and pressed on the handle. The door opened only about a foot. She pushed harder, leaning on it with her body. “Something is blocking from the outside.” She grunted.
“Careful. We don’t know what fell down and what else can fall,” Jousenne panted, her face twisted in pain.
Jasmira pressed on the door again. She managed to open it another two feet. Two large urns fell on the paved patio and shattered into large chunks, blocking the exit. Jasmira pushed the debris aside. She grasped Jousenne around her armpits and over the chest and pulled her outside. Jousenne squeezed her eyes shut in response to the sharp pain in her hip. She didn’t make a sound.
They heard something falling and breaking. It was one of the two granite statues by the stairs. The noise of the earth shifting underneath was even louder outside.
“We are almost out. I’m sorry. I know you’re in pain, Grannie.” Jasmira huffed with the effort.
She dragged Jousenne to the bottom of the stairs which led to the backyard. She looked around. About twenty yards away were the double doors to the kitchen. The patio was littered with shattered flower pots that had fallen from the second floor balcony balustrade. Red geraniums were scattered between clumps of dirt and brown pieces of clay. Directly across the lawn, a large tree at the far end of the yard lay uprooted. A few of its branches were unnaturally bent, like the broken limbs of a collapsed man.
“I have to move you up these stairs, away from the house,” Jasmira said, getting ready to pick up Jousenne. “I will try to do it gently. But your hip will hurt.”
The earth under them swayed dizzily. Jasmira had a hard time keeping her balance. She planted her feet firmly on the ground and slid her arms under Jousenne. Carefully, with little effort, she lifted her up and carried her up the stairs. She walked onto the pavers and in the direction of the empty outdoor pool. The water had already been drained from it, in preparation for winter, and the furniture stored away. Colorful leaves from the nearby trees littered the pool cover in a mosaic of vibrant hues and shapes. Jasmira didn’t even notice the beauty of it. She frantically scanned the area, turning her head from side to side.
She put Jousenne down on the grass. They were away from the house and the trees. She sat on her knees and kept looking around. “We should be safe here,” Jasmira said in a shaky voice. She took her grandmother in her arms, as if protecting her from harm. “Are earthquakes always this long?”
“No. This is a strange one.” Jousenne was breathing heavily.
“Oh, Goddess,” Jasmira squealed. “I’m so scared. When is this gonna stop? I’m so cold.”
They both shivered, their clothes and hair soaked with the pool water.
“Grannie, is the house gonna break?”
“I hope not. It has withstood earthquakes in the past. But I don’t ever remember one like this. Homes can handle the short quakes but not the long ones. This is strange, we should have our Goddess’s protection.”
“Protection?”
“Both Goddess’s protect their own Shifters. And the Shifters’ territories. So nothing bad should happen to our home.” Jousenne squeezed her eyes tight in pain.
Jasmira looked at the mansion. Long spidery lines ran up the white Ionic columns that held up the second floor terrace over the outdoor barbecue area. One of the large plush chairs was upturned, and three others were scattered to the sides. A low heavy table and sofa stood unmoved. Two large green-glass flower containers had fallen to the ground, where they shattered into jagged shapes.
Small chunks began to rain down from the columns. Spidery lines started to spread upwards, reaching the bottom of the terrace, and then traveling up several balusters. Jasmira gasped and pointed. Jousenne’s eyes followed her hand. A few of the vase-shaped balusters buckled. Bits of stone dropped down onto the patio. More of the posts crumbled, and large chunks of the top rail tumbled below. They hit the pavers, smashing into smaller pieces.
Both Shifters screamed. One of the support columns broke lengthwise. It split in half. Each part fell to the opposite site, dragging a large portion of the terrace down to the ground. The terrace crashed onto the outdoor furniture and the huge stainless-steel grill. The noise of the destruction boomed over the grinding sounds of the earthquake. A cloud of white dust rose up like a puff from a giant’s pipe, momentarily obstructing the view. The second column toppled on top of the rubble, breaking into large segments. Two other support columns, which backed into the wall, still held the remaining part of the terrace, twisted rebars protruding from it like angry snakes.
“Grandma, you said we have the Goddess’s protection!” Jasmira was crying. Tears ran down her cheeks, leaving streaks in the dirt and dust that covered her dark skin.
Jousenne opened her mouth as if in a silent scream of horror.
“It stopped. The earthquake stopped.” Jasmira whispered in relief. “Grannie, I have to go inside to get the Dasht-e Kavir.”
“No!”
“We can’t leave it. I must go get it. Don’t move. Just give me the key.” Jasmira pulled the key from under Jousenne’s black top and over her head. “That gate opens to my hand and eye scan, right?”
“Yes, but—” Jousenne tried to protest, but Jasmira wouldn’t let her finish.
“Give me the combinati
on to open the safe. Quick.”
She was gone fast, running with the Shifter’s speed. About nine minutes later she returned, dripping wet even more than before. She collapsed on the ground next to Jousenne, panting.
“Here. Take the key.” Jasmira pulled the chain with the key over her head and handed it back. “I have Dasht-e Kavir.” She patted the front of her wet shirt.
CHAPTER 42
Human World, November 18, early afternoon.
The cool wind gusted, flattening Jatred’s t-shirt against his lean chest and shoulders. He inserted a quick draw into the hex in a narrow crack of the massive granite wall. In a swift motion he clipped his rope onto the quick draw and looked down. Tyrrell was belaying him. He held the rope taut, standing at the base of the rock.
“Doing okay?” Jatred heard Tyrrell’s voice in his mind.
“Yep,” he grunted. He looked back at the wall and heaved himself higher.
Jatred extended his leg up and to the side, and placed his foot on a small protrusion. He bent his knee and twisted it upwards. He used his leg as a kickstand, pivoting his body to the side, and then pulled himself up toward a small stone ledge.
Despite the cold air, Jatred felt sweat trickling down his chest. Adrenaline rushed through him, and he experienced the pure joy of being outdoors, rock-climbing.
He grasped the ledge with one hand and hooked the fingers of his other hand over a tight crevice. Trying to find footing with the tip of his shoe, he pressed with his body onto the cool rock. His shoe scraped the wall a few times, but there was no traction.
Tyrrell watched Jatred, holding the rope in his hands. Taking care to keep the rope taut, he took a cautious step to his left to get a better look. Jatred’s foot finally found a small projection.
Now Jatred climbed faster, his arms and legs stretched to the sides, constantly grasping onto the crevices and rock protrusions. He paused from time to time, only to insert another piece of gear into the wall, and to quickly hook his rope to the quick draw. Strong muscles in his arms and legs contracted as he ascended.
“I can’t wait to try the Kalymnos next summer.” Jatred shouted with his mind to Tyrrell.
“The limestone is a different experience than granite. It’s tricky. But you know that from the Colorado Rifle.” Tyrrell laughed. “And the view is amazing.”
“Now I’m gonna obsess over this for months,” Jatred said with a chuckle.
“You’re not the only one. I can’t wait either.”
“How come you’ve never climbed Kalymnos? You’ve climbed so many other rocks, why not there?”
“Who said I’ve never been there?” Tyrrell grinned. “It was a long ago. I was a teen when I climbed it for the first time.”
“For the first time? How many times have you done it?” Jatred sounded incredulous. “And how come you didn’t say so when we decided to plan this trip?”
“Oh, come on. I have my secrets too.” Tyrrell shrugged.
Jatred attached his rope into a quick draw, grasped a solid-looking bulge in the rock with one hand, and twisted his head to look down at Tyrrell.
“Secrets, huh? Are you implying something?”
Tyrell shrugged. “Never mind. I’ll tell you later.”
“Geez, Uncle. It’s about a girl, I bet.”
“What makes you think that?” Tyrrell pretended to sound as if he’d been taken-aback, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“For starters, you don’t date. I’ve never seen you with any woman… well, except Katie. But she was a nut case. Now you finally say something about this mysterious girl from your past?”
“I’m not saying anything.”
“It kinda slipped, huh? So who was she? Did she climb Kalymnos with you?” Jatred wouldn’t give up. He was curious about Tyrrell’s past, never before revealed to him. “Come on, don’t clam up now.”
He ascended a few feet higher and glanced down over his shoulder at Tyrell, who was looking into the distance. Jatred held onto the wall with one hand. He put the other arm down and shook it to release the tension in his muscles.
“I’m waiting, Uncle. I bet she was Greek. A Greek hottie,” he taunted. “That’s why you thought about her when I asked about Kalymnos.”
“In fact, she is.” Tyrrell sounded composed.
“Is?” Jatred’s voice carried a note of amusement. “Okay now. I’m all ears. Give me some news.”
“It’s Kaliope Stephanopoulos.” Tyrell said matter-of-factly.
“What?!” Jatred yelled. His foot slipped off the small protrusion in the rock, and he fell off the wall.
Tyrrell jerked his end of the rope, engaging the belay device, and arresting Jatred’s fall.
Jatred dangled on the rope more than four stories above the ground, laughing, his head thrown back.
“Get serious,” Tyrrell murmured with his mind.
“I had no idea you had a fling with Mrs. Stephanopoulos.” Jatred hooted in delight.
“Jatred! Have some respect. It wasn’t like that. I said, I’ll tell you later. I’m not talking about that now, when you’re climbing. Pay attention to the ascent.”
“Sorry. But I hope Pen isn’t your daughter.” Jatred was back on the wall, climbing.
“Has it ever occurred to you Pen’s not half-black?” Tyrrell raised one eyebrow. “Because if she was my daughter, she would have to be, right?”
“Right. Sorry, sorry.”
“Your ex-girlfriend, Jasmira, is half-black, you know,” Tyrrell added quietly.
Jatred paused, and then leaned away from the wall, his arms extended. “I don’t even remember how she looks. Is she half-black?”
“Yes. Her mom was from Ethiopia.”
“Must be very pretty then.”
“You thought so.”
“And you?” Jatred grunted. He was high up, getting close to the end of his climb.
“I think she is a very nice kid. You’re almost at the pitch. Hurry up.”
Tyrrell felt the ground under his feet roll. He looked down, his eyes opened wide, and then up at Jatred.
“Jatred!” he shouted with his mind. “Earthquake! Hold tight, son.”
He planted his feet apart to keep his balance. The air filled with a grinding noise. Small pieces of rock rained down at him. Tyrrell ducked his head between his shoulders, as a bigger nugget hit his helmet.
Jatred held onto the wall, his body pressed flat against it. His grip was not secure enough, and he felt his fingers slipping from the rock. He gritted his teeth in pain when a piece of stone hit his shoulder. A few smaller ones bounced off his helmet. Another piece struck him at the nape of his neck, cutting into his unprotected flesh.
Jatred lost his footing and fell off the wall again, yelling in frustration. Tyrrell belayed him immediately. He strove to stay upright on the shaking ground. Jatred bared his teeth. He felt the stinging pain in his neck and warm blood seeping through the back of his t-shirt.
“Jatred, get down! Now.” Tyrrell yelled. “Use a descender. Fast.”
“I’ve got the rescue eight.”
“That will do, son. Use it.”
Jatred fumbled in his belt. He unclipped the descender and, with a speed never seen in humans, wove the rope through it. Pieces of rock kept falling, shattering on the quaking earth. Jatred slid down his rope, as if in a fast elevator. His feet slammed into the ground. He tumbled down, unfastening the rope from his harness.
Tyrrell unclipped his end of the rope. He rushed to Jatred. Together, they scurried away from the rock, staying clear of the trees. Their eyes darted from side to side. One of the trees, no more than five yards from them, toppled down. It hit the two others. Several large branches broke off of them. The tree smacked the soil beneath with a terrifying clamor.
Both men shouted and backed in the opposite direction. They dropped to the ground, scanning the area in search for any immediate danger.
“Why is it still shaking? It’s been over two minutes.” Jatred yelled over the
grinding noise of the earthquake.
“I don’t know. This is weird. All those disasters happening at once all over the planet. This must be the ten-thousand-year mark.” Tyrrell shouted back. “Remember what Bogdan’s parents told you? The destructive powers of the Universe are unleashed.”
“Yeah, but they said it will be later… in December. Something to do with the solstice?”
“Winter solstice. Andy Tornwood also said that nobody knows for sure. The Amulet goes back and forth between the Races every one thousand years, right during the winter solstice. But the ten-thousand-year mark is a different story. Obviously, there is no data from the previous occurrences.”
Another tree fell, uprooted. It took a smaller one with it to the ground and squashed a large shrub in its path. Both Shifters turned their heads to watch. The earth continued to sway, narrow gashes opening in the soil between the trees.
“Look at that.” Jatred pointed to the splitting dirt. He scooted back on his butt.
“Stop. Don’t get any closer to the wall,” Tyrrell bellowed. “The rocks are still falling.”
Jatred froze and looked behind him. Pieces of granite continued to rain down from the wall. A few thin cracks appeared in it, slowly traveling upward.
“The rock is cracking. Uncle?”
Tyrrell fixed his eyes on the wall that Jatred had climbed only a short while earlier. Instinctively, he moved in front of Jatred, as if protecting him from danger.
Two long crevices appeared in distorted bulge that protruded from the rock. They ran parallel for more than thirty meters, zigzagged toward each other, and met right below the small ledge. Another crack ran between them, connecting the first ones in a strange geometrical shape. Huge chunks slid away from the wall, falling forward and tumbling onto the ground with a rumbling thud. They broke into smaller pieces. A cloud of dust momentarily veiled the destruction from view.
Forged by Greed Page 24
