Father Joshua, Mother Garalia, Father Mintler, Mother Willoni and Papa all stood at the front of the room. I recognized many people from the tribe. Mother Tal-ya was even there, and waved briefly from across the room. None of the older tribes members looked as if it were their first time being there. Everyone 18 or younger all looked the same: Amazed, excited, and nervous. I spotted Kaisan standing guard near one of the doors, and he didn't look as if this were new to him either.
The murmur in the room died down as everyone got seated. Papa was the first to speak.
“Welcome, and the Peace of the Most High be upon you all.” he began. The room reverberated the greeting in response.
Papa continued, “As you all know, tonight, many of our young men, including my son Aziz, were arrested. It is because the time of the Prophecy has finally arrived. The Houdakin have long known of the Prophecy, but because it was so carefully guarded, they never knew all of the details.”
There were more murmurs of protest. Father went on. “Our allies from Sectors 3 and 4 have been relaying messages that Houdakin spies have been in heavy motion over these last few weeks. Arrests took place on our sister Sectors as well tonight. They are making vain attempts to scare us into giving them more information.”
Nervous whispers broke out in the room. Would the tribe be safe? Would there be more arrests? What were the Houdakin planning to do next? Papa held up a hand, and the room returned to silence.
He continued. “Our young people in the room, 18 and under, do not know much about the Prophecy, and it is with good reason. It was for their own protection. The keeper of the oral tradition will now be asked to share the entirety of the Prophecy with you.”
Papa opened his arm and stepped back as Mother Willoni took her place at the front of the room.
She was a pretty, round faced woman with smooth olive skin. She wore a simple but beautiful dusty blue dress made of soft cotton, and still had an apron tied around her waist from preparing food for the Essentia. Her matching scarf was tied at the back of her neck, and the loose ends dangled in front of her shoulders. She faced the crowd with a warm but serious smile.
“May the Peace of the Creator be upon you all. I want to share the story of our Prophecy with you. My young people, do not be afraid, for much of our hope lies in you. Hundreds of years ago, a Prophecy was revealed on Earth that very soon, it would be no more. It was told that we would receive a new home, but that many of our mistakes would follow us. We were warned of the Houdakin, and how they would selfishly horde resources for their own gain. But Mercies upon Mercies, it was foretold that there would be 5 children born who would help to bring hope and balance to our world, with the help of The Creator. Those 5 children would be born with jet-black hair as a sign that they were the ones.”
“And so, as was spoken, the death of our beloved Planet Earth came to pass. Our ancestors went through the transport to this new planet, Mercia. When they all arrived, the Houdakin immediately set up their caste system, classifying all those who were not wealthy like them Inferiors.”
“They took control of the Aoki plant and forbid anyone else from cultivating it. They took control of Obsidian II, demanding that any new sources be reported to them. They severed our access to being able to use any type of green energy resource, and forced us to buy Obsidian II from them.”
“Who made them the keepers of the Aoki? Who made them the keepers of Obsidian II? Is it not true that access to resources should be given to us all? It is something that has been recorded in every Book of Truth that we have. But greed has made the Houdakin close their eyes to all that is fair and balanced. They want to make sure the class division between themselves and the rest of us is firmly established and never removed.
“The Aoki plant should be available to all. How can you watch others die when a cure is known? How can you steal a resource from a people that could heal their economy, and then force them to mine it without protection, knowing it will eventually kill them?
“We have all taken an oath to love and protect one another for the sake of our Creator. Our Prophecy tells us that the Gifted 5 will stand before the Houdakin on terms of peace and try to negotiate our right to grow Aoki, have access to use natural resources to our benefit, and mine the Obsidian II that is found on our own land.
“We have been waiting on one Sign. A Sign that would let us know that the Prophecy is indeed real and will come to pass. Unbeknownst to the Houdakin, one lone Aoki plant was found growing in the forests of Deloria. This was our sign. We will begin to cultivate this plant. This act will begin our Revolution.
Incredulous gasps were heard around the room. My heart soared. This was wonderful! But fear clouded that same thought. What she was speaking of was forbidden.
When settlers first arrived on Mercia, the Houdakin established the Tribe Codes. The First Code was that Obsidian II could only be mined under the Houdakin government. Any new sources had to be reported immediately. The Second Code was that only the Houdakin could grow the Aoki plant. And the Third Code was that under no circumstances was a marriage between a Houdakin and a member from any other Sector permitted. The punishment for breaking any of these rules was death.
And now we were in possession of a plant? Thousands of sick people desperately needed the Aoki, but how would they we able to cultivate it without fearing for our lives? How would they be able to mine Obsidian II without risking death? Mother Willoni interrupted my thoughts and began to speak again.
“In addition, we have located several mines of Obsidian II which we have not reported to the Houdakin. For now, the location of these things, along with the identity of the Gifted 5 will remain secret. For all of our protection, only a handful of people know these details. The Gifted 5 will begin to train to master their gifts, and we as tribes will do the same. We must prepare to bring about a new balance and peace”
A quiet, excited buzz broke out in the room. Everyone wondered who the Gifted 5 were. If they had all been born with jet black hair, how had they remained hidden I wondered, thinking of my own silver-white hair. What Sector were the Gifted 5 from? Would the Houdakin really let us grow the Aoki plant and have access to Obsidian II? The questions died back down as Papa stepped forward and continued.
“Now, in the meantime, because they knew of the Prophecy, the Houdakin have quietly been developing new Obsilectric weapons. Weapons that are a thousand times more powerful than what we see the Houdakin guards carry today.”
You could feel the countenance of the entire room fall like a cement block. There was no way that anyone could win against Obsilectric weapons the strength that Papa described. It would be an unfair fight from the beginning. I did not envy the job of the Gifted 5.
Papa held his hands up once more. “Do you think that our Creator would close one door and not open a window for us? The Most High has promised that gifts would not only rest on the Gifted 5, but also with each one of us. This information could not be released until the Gifted 5 attained their maturity. This evening, across Sectors 2, 3 and 4, a gift has been released to us that will allow us to stand against any attack that the Houdakin might bring.”
“When our ancestors first arrived, the Houdakin claimed Viakee for themselves. It was thought to have the best soil, the best weather, and the best terrain. We were left to choose from the other 3 Sectors. Little did they know that they were actually opening the window to our blessing. Sectors 2, 3 and 4 alone are rich in vitamins R, U, and X. These vitamins are found nowhere on the Houdakin Sector.
“For the last 350 years, these vitamins have traveled into our food and into our bodies. Over time, the combination of these vitamins allowed new synaptic connections to form in our brains. Because of this, we are able to access a gift. It is a gift that needs to be trained and perfected, but it is also a gift that will give us a defense against the Houdakin and their weapons should it come down to it.”
Papa looked across the crowd with somber eyes.
“I will not lie to you. We may no
t all come out of this. It is your choice to develop the gift if you feel so inspired. If you do not, there will be no hard feelings. But if you do, know that you are standing for your children, and generations to come after you to have a life of balance and peace. It is yours to decide. If you wish to leave, you can do so now. Go in peace, and follow our guards who will lead you safely back to your homes.”
Papa gestured over to Luther, the Delorian Officer Chief who stood next to Kaisan, his first Lieutenant in Command. Other officers stood spaced out around the circular room. The tall, formidable Chief gave a nod in acknowledgment.
We all looked around to see if anyone would stand to leave, but each face was resolute. The possibility of the chance to care for sick and elderly family members kept everyone rooted in their seats. The thought of having enough Obsidian to just run your home and cook dinner placed the decision firmly in each heart. Not one person moved.
Papa smiled and opened his arms to the crowd. “Then that's it. Together we will stand.”
~~~
By the end of the meeting, I was exhausted. The night had been eventful and overwhelming, but also hopeful. Father Joshua had filled us in on how our tribe would begin to train. There were a few elders and tribes-people who had already learned how to access the gift. They would begin to teach the rest of the tribe to do the same. We were all excited to learn the new skills.
As we all headed home for the night, Papa turned to Aziz and I, and motioned for us to follow him. “I want you two to see something,” he said.
Aziz and I followed Papa to a room down a dark corridor. I wondered if maybe he was taking us to see the Aoki plant, or to see a secret store of Obsidian II. We stepped into a dimly lit room. Joelle, Hantaywee, and Teo were all there, and looked up expectantly as we entered. I looked questioningly at Joelle, but could see from her expression that she had no idea what was going on.
Papa looked each of us in the eye and took a deep breath. “Peace be upon you, Gifted 5. May The Mercy of The Most High be upon you all.”
Chapter 4
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
The Holy Bible, KJV, The Old Testament,
Exodus 1:12
Call me dense, but I didn't see that one coming. The room was totally silent. The heaviness of my father's words slowly descended and settled around us like an ominous fog. We were the ones? How were we supposed to be the Gifted 5? How were we supposed to go before the Houdakin and make any kind of demands? Was the tribe trying to get us killed? Maybe they had gotten it wrong. I mean, we didn't even have the jet-black hair that the Prophecy spoke of.
The reaction on our faces were all totally different. We each tried to process the information in our own way. Did we really believe my father? No one wanted to be disrespectful and immediately speak any words of doubt....Papa sure did seem certain of what he was saying.
Joelle's eyes were wide, and her brows were furrowed, like she couldn't believe what she had just heard.
Aziz was bending his head from side to side, as if he totally expected this, and was preparing for a fight. His lips were pursed though, so I knew he had more questions than he was letting on. Hantaywee was holding her chin in her hand, looking very serious, and Teo had his hands on his hips, eyebrows raised.
My heart was pounding and my jaw was tight. I wasn't sure exactly how I felt. I decided to tackle the most obvious issue.
“Papa, how can we be the ones if we don't have the jet-black hair of the Prophecy?” Maybe this one statement could nip some things in the bud. Defending ourselves alongside our tribe-members was one thing. But being the leaders who would go face to face with the Houdakin was an entirely different matter.
Papa waved his hand in the air, “You can thank Mother Willoni for that one. She was inspired with a prayer of protection to say over each one of you as you were born that masked the color of your hair. When the time comes, your hair will change once again to reveal it's true color.”
Papa surveyed our faces, taking in our reactions. “I don't have as much time with you as I would like. Tonight you all must leave Deloria and set sail for Sector 3, Boralia to meet with the Guided Council. These elders have been waiting until you all attained your year of maturity, and have words of inspiration to help you on the journey you must begin.”
“You will leave with three protectors, your Kulindas, who have been trained specially to shadow you. This time will be the most dangerous because your gifts are totally undeveloped, but trust in your Creator, and in your protectors. They have given oaths to lay down their lives for you. Whatever doubts you may have, brush them away. The future of your people depends on you, and you must be focused and courageous. You are all stronger when you work together. Trust in God, and remember, your Faith is your Power.”
Papa's words had an extremely calming effect on us, and also planted a seed of confidence in our hearts. You could see the shadows of apprehension fade from each face. Furrowed eyebrows smoothed, and they instead straightened with new determination. My heart began to feel full as the realization that I was about to be part of something that could mean a whole new future for humans spread over me.
Papa turned around and pulled dark bags from behind him. “In each of these bags you will find sleeping bags, food, water, and survival items. It should take you three days to reach Sector 3. Your Kulindas will take a route not routinely patrolled by the Houdakin. It will be extremely dangerous, but we have every confidence that you will all make it safely.
You will have a few moments to meet your protectors, and then to say good-bye to your parents. We must be quick as the Houdakin guards have raised the Alerts on every Sector.”
We all looked at each other, connected now by something new. I was so glad that we didn't have to make this journey alone, and at least had each other.
A short knock made us jump, but Papa opened the door, and Father Zouadin, Sister Josephine, and Brother Kaisan entered the room. Papa greeted them and gave them a grateful smile. He waived his hand with a flourish. “Gifted 5, these are your Kulindas.”
We took them in. Sister Josephine and Brother Kaisan looked strong enough. Sister Josephine was in her 30s and was a petite but sturdy woman whose ancestry was a combination of Jewish, Irish, and Asian. Her long, thick black hair was wrapped in a tight bun which was secured expertly at the nape of her neck.
I had seen her many times in our city. She ran a bakery in the Aisle. She was very nice, and made the best bread in town. Her delicate mannerisms were soft and gentle. No one would ever had guessed that she would be a protector. I couldn't wait to see her in action.
Brother Kaisan, who was a Muslim of Africa-American and Filipino ancestry, had been trained as a Delorian officer, and so we felt confident that he would be able to handle the task of protecting us. His pack of bows and arrows stood at attention in the pack behind his shoulder blades. He was known to be one of the best Archers and Martial Arts practitioners in the Tribe. I was pleased that he would be joining us on our journey. It was comforting that another familiar face would present on this daunting mission.
Father Zouadin is who I was a little worried about. He was a dear family friend, and had known us from the time we were born. He was like a brother to my Papa, and a Grandfather to us. The reason I was worried was because he was 98 years old. In every day life, you could find him at the Aisle, looking after his little shoe shop, ordering his son about from his perch on a low, wooden stool. His slow shuffle made it impossible not to recognize him. He was a man of medium build, and had a long black braid that reached his waist. He was of Cherokee Indian and Cambodian ancestry, and had quick, shrewd eyes that peered out from under thick black eyebrows. I sure hoped he would be able to withstand the journey, let alone any attacks. Papa's voice broke into my thoughts.
“You will all be traveling under the guise of studying under Father Zouadin with a shoe-making Mandate. The cover story is that you wi
ll be on an apprenticeship tour to learn different shoe making and trading techniques. Remember to stay close to your Kulindas. Should anything happen, I have no fear that they have been well trained for this mission. Remember your Creator and supplicate Him for strength and wisdom. Our hopes now depend on you. We will leave shortly for the boat. I'll take you now to say your good byes to your parents. And then, your journey will begin.”
~~~
After midnight, we all sat crouched and waiting amongst the thick Fiamore bushes that lined the coast to Deloria. We were situated behind the brush located closest to the shoreline so that we could quickly board the boat when it arrived.
Papa was the only one amongst us who would not be joining us. As an elder, he was one of those who had been trained in the gift, and had taught it to Mama. As a result, they were needed to help train the rest of the tribe.
I glanced over at Papa, who was right beside me, his eyes intently watching the dark waters. I had always had a great honor and love for my parents, and the night's revelations had made me see them with new eyes. The image of them in front of the entire tribe teaching defensive moves was one I wished I could see.
I looked up at the night sky which had darkened to a shimmering navy blue, dotted with tiny pin pricks of light. I looked around until I found the Azurean star, the brightest in the galaxy. It glimmered against the dark hue of the evening sky, and it's beauty made my breath catch in my throat. I felt expectant, but I felt something else too. I had been pushing it aside all evening, but I knew, beneath the brave exterior, I was terrified.
I made a silent prayer to The Creator. “Oh, Lord, The Most High, please guide our path. Protect us from every evil. Grant us the courage and ability to fulfill the purpose you have set before us. Fill our hearts with peace, wisdom, and unwavering faith, Amin.”
The Azurean Trilogy (All Three Books: 1, 2 & 3): Essentia, Burgeor & Manifest Page 4
