“Ted Craven!” Pike shouted out and dropped everything to walk over to him.
“Grandmaster.” Ted replied and bowed deeply.
The man pulled Ted into a hug, which lasted a long time, but not long enough. Ted had missed this man more than he could possibly have conveyed, and seeing him healthy and vibrant made Ted ache about the news he would have to give. After a short period of time, he turned to Ted’s companions.
“I am aware of Eric Fine,” Pike said with a curt handshake, “But introduce me to these other…” The Grandmaster looked at Ted and back to the others, “This can only be Cal’s son, Kyle. Boy, you look just like your Dad at your age.”
Kyle gave the long version of the Kenpo salute. “Good afternoon, Grandmaster.”
“Your dad and uncle are two of my favorite students of all time. It is clear they taught you well.” The short man shook Kyle’s hand and clapped him on the shoulder. “Why didn’t Cal come?”
Kyle responded, “My dad passed away.”
“No,” Pike replied, “I would have felt it.”
Ted guessed at least one of Pike’s talents must be a connection to those he knew. It was probably why that man knew Ted was coming. “It happened right after the Event.” Ted offered. “It was before most of us exhibited abilities.”
The grandmaster shrugged like he didn’t really believe Ted, and moved on to the other three in the room. Stuttering out their introductions, he named Theo, Mickey and Brandon and told where they were from.
“Oh! You will have to perform for us,” Pike stated. “I am sure we can come up with some form of payment.” Turning toward Eric, he said, “Mr. Fine, I believe you know my friend.”
One of the men turned around, and Ted saw that it was Eric’s turn to be shocked. The man said, “I hear you are no longer using Shogun, or even Sensei as a name.”
Eric stared coldly at the man, “Coulson? Where are my people?”
Coulson was completely calm when he replied. He clearly was neither afraid, nor angry. “They were never your people, Eric. To be honest, most of them died on the journey. The remainder made it all the way here and the Grandmaster took us in. We are a part of this community now, out of choice, not submission.”
The dig hit Eric and it was clear he was considering his options. Pike interrupted, “You two will have plenty of time to argue out the merits of each one’s case, but for now, let’s get something to eat!”
“We don’t have time, sir.” Kyle spoke up. “Some of our people have been captured. Uncle Ted needed advice, and he said you would be the one to ask.”
Pike placed a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “It will be okay. You can tell me all about it. You have come to the right place, son. But, I am a hungry old man. So, let’s just go get something to eat and a beer to wash it down, while you tell me your tale.”
At this, Mickey sparked right up. “You have beer? Oh, I think we should listen to the Grandmaster.”
A laugh went around the room, as they headed to the tavern across the street. Ted could see the tension in Eric’s shoulders and just hoped the man did not ruin his chance to get advice.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Looking out at the large group forming, Rich could see that there were some in the robes of the Faith, but many were just locals who were there to see the trial. He wasn’t particularly certain why this was needed, since Sal had already sentenced him. He guessed this was a show for the locals. Sal Martino was nothing if not theatrical.
“Gather, faithful!” The cry went out from the podium nearby. Rich looked around, happy for the chance to finally see something, after weeks of basically being blindfolded. He was still gagged, though, so he probably was not going to be asked to defend himself. The people came close. In their looks, he saw many expressions, most joyful at the sentencing of a heretic. In a few faces, Rich saw shock and fear. He knew there were good people here. Across the way, he saw Sal walking toward him and Kim shortly behind and he knew what was about to happen.
Sal was not going to question Rich. He was going to question Kim in front of Rich. It was a clever ploy. The crowd would get the feeling that he was giving a defense when he wasn’t. Rich doubted even Kim knew how she was being used. She had never been the sharpest tool in the shed, God bless her. She was a pawn for a charismatic leader to fulfill his will. Unwittingly, so was Rich.
“Fellow believers,” Sal began and the crowd quieted immediately, “We are here today for serious work and serious consequences. Many of you believe that we of the Faith have dealt with the demons that plague these end times. I am here today to tell you that you are correct! We have found those who exhibit these abilities, who have been indwelt by demonic spirits, and have dealt them the consequences of their choices. There is only one way to send a demon back to hell, and that is through God’s own fire. So, when you have seen the burnt remains of people at a stake, that was us.”
The mumbling in the crowd at first gave Rich some comfort, but the nodding of heads he could see dulled his hopes. Sal continued, “We are a community of believers. We are the remnant of the apocalypse. All of us are. The only question is whose side will you be on? Will you be on the side of God?”
A small agreement, went up in the crowd.
“Will you be on the side of the Enemy?”
The no was a little louder this time.
“I ask again, then, will you be on the side of the Most High?”
A thunderous cheer went up.
“Or will you be on the side of the Devil himself?”
The no was as loud as the cheer this time, and Rich knew he was doomed.
Sal turned and pointed at Rich. “Here before you, we have brought one from the so-called Council in the west. A former man of God, who has turned himself over to the adversary and used his abilities to capture not only the minds, but the souls of the innocents. He allied himself with the worse kind of evil, and we have proof. This woman,” he pointed to Kim as he turned back to the crowd, “is a witness to his heresy, and his actions in league with the Devil. Kim Pile once was a resident of Council Bluffs; she was one of their people. But, she has repented, renounced Satan and his power, and come to the light. Kim do you renounce your former life?”
“I do,” Kim replied in a manner of call-and-respond which was often used in baptisms.
“Do you embrace the life that God has promised you?”
“I do.” Kim replied again.
“Have you seen this man, who purports to be a man of God, using the power of the Enemy?” Sal pressed her for confirmation.
“I have.” Kim responded.
“What manner did this power show itself?”
Kim looked at the crowd, “He is able to change large groups of people’s moods through his singing.”
There was silence. Sal could tell the crowd was not picking up what he was laying down, “Are you saying that he can influence people? Can he get into their minds and sway them to unwholesome thoughts, and control them?”
“Yes.” Kim lied. Rich knew then that she was lost. She knew his power had no control of minds, that it only helped with mood, mostly in a calming fashion. She was painting him in the worst light possible. It was no longer a question of Sal just using her. This was a willful act to kill her friend.
“Oh, my fellow believers.” Sal exhorted, “This must be wiped out. Do you want to be controlled? Do you want this man’s voice influencing your children and luring them to darkness? I should say not! The Faith is here for you.”
Sal turned and walked up to Rich, pointing a finger right at his face, “I condemn you, in the name of the Almighty!”
The crowd cheered loudly all through this portion of the show. And that is what this was, a show. Sal wanted to get the community behind him, so he used the oldest trick in the book. He literally demonized Rich and all of his friends.
“As a demon-possessed heretic, who has given his life over to the Evil One, I condemn you to be cleansed by fire. This will be carried out in full view o
f believers and the others. A notice will be posted all over town, to let people know. It will be a spectacle to all around, so they may know the power of God is in this place. He will defend us from your influence and oppression!”
Although the Lord’s Hammer were standing nearby, dulling his power, Rich began to hum a hymn. In his mind, he repeated the words of the hymn, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper He, amidst the flood, of mortal ills prevailing…” It was quiet and only for himself, but Sal was not pleased. Even though no one could hear his words, Sal knew the hymn. It was a challenge to his authority, just as Rich intended it. Sal motioned to the men standing near him and as Rich looked up, one of them struck him hard in the head with a club and he blacked out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
It had been a long time since they had a beer. It wasn’t very cold, but he didn’t care. There is something about drinking a beer with friends that makes you feel the world will be okay. The world was, of course, not okay. But, he still had the beer. He had finished relating the events of the last two years to his former sensei with a little bit added by Eric and Coulson. Mickey, Theo and Brandon had wandered off at some point to see the rest of the bustling town. As Ted looked around, it occurred to him that things would probably not have developed as well as they had here, if Eric had not closed off access from the more populated areas. If more people had escaped to the west, up the mountain pass, this small town would not have had the buffer to develop their own culture. It reminded him to never assume something was all bad, or all good for that matter.
“These guys seem like old-school assholes.” Pike said, after a moment of thought.
Ted nodded and Eric smiled. It was hard not to like the man. From the outside, he was a diminutive old guy, bald with a long gray beard. In his blacksmith outfit, he sort of looked like a dwarf. But those who knew him, knew a different side of Master Pike. He had served seven tours in Viet Nam, as a Tunnel Rat. Tunnel Rat was a name the army gave to soldiers who would take a pistol and go into the dark cave complexes which were set up by the Viet Cong. They would do intel and return. It was intensely dangerous, a fight with the unknown. Most soldiers hated being assigned to it. Master Pike had volunteered, and he never brought a pistol. He brought a knife.
This jovial, friendly elder had been a stone cold killer in his early life. He was one of the most decorated soldiers in Viet Nam, only missing the Medal of Honor because no one ever considered him in that much danger. He would disappear into those holes and return covered in blood and just tell people, “All clear.” The blood was never his own.
When Ted and Cal had started training with him in the seventies at the age of eight, he had been scary. It was too soon after the war, and what would later be called PTSD had strongly taken a hold of Master Pike. But he brought these two young boys up to be honorable men, who served their country well. And master Pike had dealt with his PTSD through becoming a Master Blacksmith, and the catharsis that brought him. Who knew that blacksmithing would be such a valuable pursuit in the years to come?
“They clearly have abilities, what are they trying to prove?” Pike stated.
“How do you mean?” Eric questioned, leaning in.
“Weren’t you listening?” Pike asked him, “Ted’s mother-in-law has the same power, it is a negating power. It drains away, or dulls other people’s powers. My guess is that all four of these yahoos have the same power. I have done some research on this with the folks around here. The powers are not that complicated. They fall into categories. It isn’t like anyone has particularly unique powers.”
“Cliff always said there were two branches, empathic and kinetic.” Ted answered.
“Smart boy.” Pike replied.
Ted was saddened beyond measure at the loss of Cliff. He hadn’t had time to grieve, and didn’t have time now. “He was at that.”
“But that isn’t all. Think, Theodore!” Pike snapped with a smile. No one had ever called him Theodore except Master Pike, mostly because it wasn’t his name. On his birth certificate, it said “Ted Craven”. Pike continued, “It is all about focus. It is difficult, but one can obtain that focus from the inside. We have tested it with many of the town’s people. It sounds like this Hermit has that kind of focus. We have also tested various patterns, and have created some items in the shop to bolster our focus.”
“So the items give you the focus?” Eric interjected again.
“Of course,” Pike replied. “It probably is the same thing your friend, Cliff, was doing with the gems. These abilities are similar, but tend to manifest in ways that are very unique to the person. It follows their natural abilities, but also their training and interests. You say your old field medic became a healer, and this botanist became a plant grower, or whatever?”
Ted nodded.
“The abilities followed their natural selves,” Pike continued.
“What about the patterns you were talking about?” Ted asked.
“We don’t know why, but some patterns work better with some skills. Light for instance works very well with a focus pattern of regressive, concentric circles. Kyle,” He said, turning to the younger man, “You said your ability is with light?”
“Yes, Grand Master.” Kyle answered respectfully. Ted knew his father would have been proud.
“Here.” Pike reached into pocket and pulled a small disk on a leather chain out. “Try this on.”
Kyle put the necklace on. “Holy shit…sorry, Grand Master.”
“No, holy shit is right,” he clapped Kyle on the back. “When the pattern is right, and we have perfected the light pattern for the same reason it makes up most of the stones you have created, the user is instantly more focused.”
“Does this work on other items as well?” Eric asked. Ted could see the wheels turning in Eric’s mind, it caused him some concern.
“Yes, but the material seems to matter. You can paint, or draw these patterns and it will help you focus when you are in the heat of work, or battle.” He gave a sideward glance at Eric. The older man was fooled by nothing. “But metal, and preferably stronger metals, have a more lasting effect. My knife has been turned over four hundred times, and each time, I carved the three patterns I wanted into it. One, we think means defense. Another is for speed, and the third is a personal focus symbol I use. By utilizing that symbol, I can make sure the patterns only work for me. The strongest material I know is diamond. To embed a diamond with the correct focus pattern, it will take a skill like the one your young friend Cliff had.”
Kyle blurted out, “But he died. How can we use his power?”
Pike looked at him, Ted could see the care he had for a boy he had never met because of how similar Kyle looked and acted in comparison to his father at that age. “Two things, like I said, abilities are similar. Someone else has the same power, you just have to find them. You have already told us of someone who has that power. He is the one who taught it to Cliff.”
“The Hermit?” Ted asked.
“The Hermit.” Pike answered.
“How do we find him?” Eric asked.
“We may not.” Pike answered, “But, we will try.”
“We?” Ted queried.
“If it is alright with you, Council Leader, I was thinking I would winter at Council Bluffs.”
“Yes, of course, sensei.” Ted did not think of title, or of how Eric had bastardized that title, “I mean, I would be honored.”
Standing up, Pike said, “Then I guess we better get moving. I have some items to craft before we leave and I must let Coulson know of my decision.”
Ted hadn’t even realized that Coulson was no longer with them.
“Relax, get a meal. Perhaps one of your friends will let me borrow their mount. They don’t seem to need it.” Pike walked off toward his shop in a manner which did not invite anyone to follow.
“What is he talking about?” Eric asked.
“No clue.” Ted answered. “Let’s go find our group.”
When they walked over, Ted was quick, “Looks like a short trip, boys, they are going to help us. We are headed back.”
Theo shifted on his feet, “About that…”
Mickey cut in, “I think we are going to stay here in Woodland Park.”
“No,” Eric responded, “We are going to need all hands to fight this battle.”
Ted turned to him, “That really isn’t your call, Eric.”
Mickey cut in again, “In all fairness, Ted, it isn’t yours either. We were always just visitors. My family went into the mountains after the Event, and I never found them. It was always our intent to look for them in the small towns up here. We will settle somewhere once we find them.”
Ted reached out and shook Mickey’s hand, “Then I wish for you the best of luck, and good fortune. I know you will find them.”
“Thanks, man.” The hand shaking went all around, before Ted, Eric, and Kyle returned to the Blacksmith shop.
They found the Grand Master and Coulson walking toward them holding some items. “Well, I have others, but for right now, let me present you with gifts for our journey. Kyle, you may keep the necklace I gave you, but you must name it and I will add the name on the back at some point. Ted, you will have to name this,” he handed Ted a metal six-foot bo staff that was capped with an intricate and jeweled top. He expected it to be heavy, but it was light as a broom handle when he picked it up. “Do not assume it lacks sturdiness, my old friend. It has a symbol for both strength and lightness built into it, as well as durability. This will both work for the staff and for you and the powers you already exhibit.”
Turning to Eric, he said, “I pondered your past behavior with the fact that you sought help, and allied yourself with a former enemy to achieve a goal. I will be candid, and tell you that I am still not sure about you. But you came, and for that, we honor you with a gift. This dagger only has a simple focus pattern. But, I have affixed it with three gems. If you continue your friendship with the Bluffs, perhaps they will imbue those gems with other patterns for you. If not, you have a helpful gift, and I feel gracious in giving it to you.”
Fear of Mystics (Saga of Mystics Book 2) Page 10
