“The eye in the yeti is what I want removed.”
The word “eye” caught my attention. I set Shira on the chair, but she started to get up. “Wait here,” I whispered.
I edged over beside Daniel to see. The creature had only one eye, a red stone. I had never seen anything like it in a tattoo.
Daniel ran his finger along it. “Who put it there?”
“They said I needed it to return, and since I don’t want to go back, I want it removed.”
“What door did you come through?” Daniel asked.
“Mount Herman. There is a portal there.”
“Where did you enter the portal?”
“The Shiva Temple in Kathmandu.”
“The one that was destroyed in the earthquake?” Daniel asked.
“It was destroyed?” Nidal seemed unaware. “I’ve been here for so long…so I couldn’t go back anyway.”
Daniel glanced at me before returning his gaze to Nidal. I didn’t have the gift of mind reading, but if I had to guess, I’d say Daniel had the same thought as me—what would happen once it was removed? Was it some kind of tracking device?
“You still want Doctor Luke to remove it even though you won’t be able to return?”
“Yes.”
“The stone is what allows you to return?”
Nidal nodded.
“You don’t have family you left behind?”
“Never married.”
“One last thing,” Daniel said. “You said Tariq isn’t your brother. Who is he?”
“I didn’t know him before I came here. The scientists sent him from a different location, and we met up.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Nothing,” Nidal said.
“Nothing at all? You must know something.”
“He’s very strong, has superhuman strength.”
“Anything else?”
Nidal shook his head. “Not really. Except we had a parting of the ways.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. We just went our separate ways.”
Daniel stood. Let me see if Doctor Luke is still here.”
Daniel opened the door, and Shira and I quickly followed him.
CHAPTER 16
“DANIEL?”
He was almost to his room but stopped to let Shira and me catch up.
I whispered, “Did you read his mind?”
He held up his finger to his lips. “S-h-h-h-h.”
“Sorry, I’m anxious to know.”
Daniel checked the hallway in each direction and then unlocked the door. Once he shut the door behind us, he walked over and peered out the window.
“You’re not thinking he’s going to bail on us, are you?”
“I think we need to hurry. He could leave at any moment, and I know he knows more than he’s telling. We need to get that mark out of his skin.”
I felt faint. Daniel grabbed me. “Are you okay?”
I sucked in a deep breath and sat by the table. “It was the word you used—the mark reminded me of the mark of the beast and disturbing dreams I’ve had. I worry about my mom and friends.”
Daniel waved his hand. “That’s not what this is. The mark of the beast is a different thing. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s the eye in the yeti, although it’s kind of strange the tattoo has only one eye.”
I touched Daniel on the arm. “Did you read his mind?”
Daniel sighed. “Believe me, I tried. He knows something about my father, but if he refuses to think about it—I mean, I can’t read what someone doesn’t think. He’s blocking it. He recognizes the name despite what he says.”
“You’d think he would be more cooperative after you saved his life.”
“If he has something to hide, if he feels his life is in danger—the only way to find out is to spend time with him.”
“You know he isn’t going to hang around here once that stone is removed. Maybe you should delay removing it. Besides, if it’s a tracking device and it’s removed, will whoever who is tracking him know it’s been removed?”
“I don’t think it’s a tracking device,” Daniel said. “I think the scientists just said that to make him think that. He’s uneducated. There aren’t any bar lines on it, and it’s nothing like what I’ve seen in computers. Even animal tracking devices have a beep or blink.”
I was unconvinced. “It has to serve some purpose, or why would they have put it underneath his skin?”
Daniel sat on the bed and Shira climbed up beside him. “It’s probably an I.D. chip, like the mark of the beast, a precursor to the real thing. Perhaps it stores information, like a Social Security Number, credit card information, stuff like that, but I can’t imagine the technology would be so advanced they could track him with a rock that seemingly emits nothing.”
I bit my lip. Daniel was probably right. “It sure doesn’t light up like the one I saw on Chumana when the UFO’s landed at school. That was really creepy.”
“I need to find Doctor Luke,” Daniel said.
“I don’t think I should be there with Shira when he removes it. Not after what she’s been through. I’ll take her outside and let her run around. She needs some exercise anyway.”
Daniel wrapped his arm around me as I sat beside him on the bed. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” I reassured him.
He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “I love you.”
I snuggled up closer. “I love you, too.”
“If I spent more time with him, I think I could get him to open up.”
“You could encourage him to stay longer,” I offered.
Daniel shook his head. “You heard what Levi said. Some people want him to leave. I’m sure he’s sensed that already.”
Daniel rubbed his eyes. “Even if I asked him to stay a few more days, I’m not sure Doctor Luke wants him hanging around.”
I tried to think of something positive. “Find Doctor Luke and let him remove it. We’ll figure out something.”
I reached over and grabbed Shira’s hand. “Want to go for a walk.”
“Yes,” she said excitedly.
Daniel opened the door and Shira ran out, skipping down the hallway. I placed my finger on his chest. “We’ll be back within the hour. Come to my room when it’s done, and let me know.”
Daniel rubbed his forehead. I could sense nervousness in his eyes. “See you in a bit.”
I took off after Shira, attempting to be more positive than I felt. I mouthed back to Daniel. “I’ll be praying.”
CHAPTER 17
LESS THAN AN hour later, Shira and I returned to the inn. I knocked on Daniel’s door. When he didn’t answer, I assumed he was still with Nidal.
We went to our room, and Shira plopped down on her bed. I’d made sure she got plenty of exercise. I opened my Bible, flipping through Psalms, but my heart was filled with trepidation.
Several minutes later, I heard a tap on the door. I glanced at Shira. She had already closed her eyes.
I jumped up. “Daniel?”
“It’s me,” he said.
I let him in and put my finger to my lips. “Shira’s asleep.”
He held up a red crystal object.
“That’s it?” I whispered.
“That’s it.”
“What do you think it is?”
“RF computer chip. As I said before, it’s probably just to store information, lots of information.”
I still worried. “Could whoever put it underneath his skin come after it?”
Daniel turned the small stone over in his palm. “Anything is possible, but I doubt it. As I said before, if it was a tracking device, it would beep or send out some kind of signal. Perhaps it did inside his body, but now it’s as dead as a useless battery.”
“Without an antiseptic, it must have hurt.”
“Ah.” He waved his hand dismissively. “It wasn’t a big deal, not much more than removing a splinter.”
I m
otioned Daniel to the chair. “Did you find out anything else?”
Daniel stroked his chin. “The only other thing is what I told you already. Doctor Luke thought it might be something similar to the Urim and Thummin. He explained how the High Priest wore them on the ephod over his heart. Then when the High priest met with God, if God gave the High Priest a prophetic message, the High Priest knew he should listen. Doctor Luke told Nidal he should pray for wisdom. God might be trying to tell him something.”
Daniel leaned back and put his arms behind his head. “I thought it was profound what Doctor Luke said, but I don’t think Nidal took it to heart. Besides, the Urim and Thummin were on the ephod, not underneath the High Priest’s skin. And we know he’s from the future.”
Glancing up at the ceiling, Daniel continued. “The only thing Nidal cares about is leaving and going back to racing chariots. He wants to win back all the money the thief stole from him”—Daniel’s eyes turned to me—“including my money that was stolen again from him.”
Daniel handed me the red stone, and I inspected the tiny glass bead. Not knowing for sure what it was really bothered me. “Do you think someone could have tracked him with it? I mean, could it have any kind of power? Maybe we should obliterate it or throw it away.”
“No, I want my brother to analyze it. Let’s keep it in a safe place.”
I reached over and placed it in a small side pocket of my bag. “After Doctor Luke removed it, did he say anything else?”
Daniel shrugged. “Not really.”
“That’s it?”
Daniel rubbed his eyes. “Why are you so anxious?”
I crossed my arms. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
Daniel gripped the edge of the table. “Shale, I’m going to take Nidal to Jerusalem, and I want you and Shira to stay here.”
I stared at Daniel. “What?”
“You heard me.”
I nervously tapped my foot. “Without us? Absolutely not!”
Daniel steepled his fingers. “Think about it. First, you would be safer here. Second, I want to visit my mother. Third, I want to witness to Nidal. He’s searching for the truth. I mean, he was a Hindu. Now he’s a Muslim. If I spent more time with him and shared Yeshua, he might believe. I need to build trust between us. Then he might open up about my father.”
“Can’t you read his mind?”
“I did,” Daniel replied. “I told you, it doesn’t work that way.”
I glanced at Shira. She looked peaceful as she lay on her bed, almost like an angel. I knew Daniel didn’t want to haul around a three-year-old. I didn’t want to be left behind. I already felt vulnerable. I didn’t know anything about raising a child, and one of my main reasons for coming back to the first century was to get married. I imagined celebrating with our friends and how happy we would be. Now Daniel didn’t even want to be with me. “I want to go with you. You know how good Shira is. She’ll be fine.”
Daniel shook his head. “I think Nidal will be more willing to talk if it’s only the two of us.”
I persisted. “What about your mother? Why do you want to visit her?”
“The last time I saw my mother here, the Romans hauled me away in chains after nearly stripping me naked.”
I felt tears in my eyes, tears I couldn’t hold back. “How long will you be gone?”
Daniel brushed his hair off his forehead. “A few days maybe, if we can borrow a couple of horses.”
A few days seemed like an eternity. How could I make Daniel change his mind? “When do you want to leave?”
Daniel stroked his chin again. “Tomorrow. If we wait, Nidal may go to Caesarea.”
I still couldn’t believe Daniel was so comfortable asking me to stay behind. “Have you already discussed this with him?”
“Yeah. I suggested he come with me to Jerusalem. He was open to it. I mean, I saved his life, and he’s very thankful for that.”
I could feel my heat racing. “I don’t like this. We’ve got that demon hanging around. The whole country is on edge.”
Daniel stood and took me in his arms. “You’ll be fine here, and safe. I already asked Doctor Luke if he could keep an eye on you for a couple of days. You’ve stayed here alone before. There are many women and mothers at the inn that would be glad to befriend you if needed. You are far away from Jerusalem where it isn’t safe.” Daniel sighed. “This might be my last chance to find out about my father. How many more opportunities will God give me?”
“Can we think about it for a couple of days?”
“And let Nidal take off for Caesarea?”
I was out of ideas. I also knew Daniel had made up his mind. “Okay,” I said reluctantly, “if it’s only a few days.”
“I want to take the scroll with me.”
“Why? Nidal might steal it.”
“If he can’t get back, what good is the scroll to him?”
“But why do you want it?”
Daniel smiled. “Well, it’s sentimental. I’ll feel like you’re with me.”
“Oh.” I rested in his arms. “I still don’t like this. How could it make that much difference if we come?”
Daniel rubbed my back. “I want to focus on Nidal without any distraction. Things are more complicated with Shira. We can’t travel as quickly. She needs a schedule, predictability, especially as she’s still traumatized. That’s why she had that night terror. Here she gets home-cooked meals, can take naps in the afternoon—but it’s not just because of Shira. It’s better if you don’t come. Muslim men view women differently.”
“What about the Romans?”
Daniel stroked my hair. “They think I have leprosy. Cynisca returned to Caesarea. They won’t be looking for me.”
I stepped back. “Let me give you the scroll.” I pulled it out of the bag and handed it to him. “Did you learn anything else?”
“Nothing that I can think of.”
“I guess the least I can do is pray.”
Daniel inspected the outside of it.
Feeling defeated, I cast my eyes on the floor.
Daniel reassured me. “I’ll take good care of it. I’ll talk with Nidal about leaving tomorrow. I’ll also check on the horses.”
I begrudgingly nodded.
Daniel walked over to the door and blew me a kiss. “I’ll be back.”
Once he was gone, I shut the door and slid to the floor. Tears filled my eyes. I felt guilty I resented taking care of Shira.
I threw up a prayer. “Help me, Lord, not to be depressed, and help Daniel to find his father.”
I forced myself to get up. I couldn’t let sadness overwhelm me. As I stared out the window, I knew my future would never be as I had imagined before we came.
CHAPTER 18
SPRING BUTTERFLIES DANCED outside the window in the budding garden. I spotted the area where the cobra had tempted me four years earlier. Daniel was so valiant when he rescued me. I closed my eyes. Was that the moment I fell in love with him?
Reminiscing, I pulled the Opobalamum perfume out of my bag. I turned the box over in my hands as longing filled me, longing to smell it once more. I removed the cap as the perfume touched every fiber of my body. I imagined wearing it on our wedding day, admiring Daniel’s hopeful eyes as he’d watch me walk down the aisle. When would that happen now?
I closed the container and put the box in my bag.
I turned to look out the window again and heard Shira’s small voice.
“Auntie?”
Shira’s eyes were half open. She sat up and rubbed them. “I’m hungry.”
I grabbed the hairbrush on the table and sat beside her.
Shira latched her small hands around my waist. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetie. Can I brush your hair, and then we’ll get something to eat.”
Once done, she scurried out of bed and ran towards the door.
“Wait, you need your shoes, and I need to find the key.”
She grabbed the key for me,
and I locked the door behind us.
As we passed Daniel’s door, I knocked, but didn’t hear anything.
“Where is Uncle Daniel?” Shira asked.
“He went to meet someone. We’ll see him in a bit.”
We arrived in the dining hall that was mostly empty, and Shira ran over to a window table so she could peer outside.
“Auntie, I see my friends.”
“You said you were hungry. Let’s eat first.”
The server brought us a light dish of fruits and nuts. Shira stuffed them down too fast and then stood, anxiously waiting for me to finish.
I was glad I wasn’t hungry. I sighed. “Let’s go,” I said, and followed her through the lobby.
As we stepped outside, I kept one eye glued on Shira and the other eye on the lookout for the ventriloquist. I thought about going into town to get more clothes, but I didn’t have the physical energy—or money.
“Ca-ca. Shale, you look sad, my friend.”
I glanced up at the top of a palm tree. Worldly Crow had the annoying habit of showing up when I wasn’t in a good mood.
“Back so soon?” I asked him.
“I never went anywhere. You disappeared for a month.”
In my world, four years had passed, but in the seventh dimension, only a month. I chided myself. How could I hold a grudge against a stupid bird?
“Have you seen Daniel?” I asked.
The bird replied mockingly, “Your lover?”
I stomped my foot. “He’s not my lover, Worldly Crow. He’s my betrothed.”
Worldly Crow tipped his head to the side and crooned. “Yes, I saw him in the last hour.”
I ignored his poor attempt at acting. “Where did you see him?”
The bird fluffed his wings and pointed with one of them. “He went down that road to the leper colony.”
“The leper colony? You’re mistaken. He’d have no reason to go there.”
“Just saying.”
But the element of doubt had been planted. Daniel wouldn’t visit there—would he, after everything that had happened? I had reached the limit of my patience. I gestured towards the bird, showing my disapproval. “Get away from me, you liar.”
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