Destination Eden

by Jim Payton

  Chapter 17

  They had travelled less than a mile when a helicopter circled above them and then carried on into the distance, apparently following the Tigris River.

  "That's the first one that's taken any interest in us since before the earthquake," pointed out Janet.

  "Yeah," agreed Eti. "I imagine most of the choppers would have been involved in Search and Rescue and such until now. They knew where we were so probably knew we would have been staying put for a while. Probably hoped we had been killed. Oops, bit judgmental don't you think?"

  "Maybe. How far along the Tigris are we going to go?" questioned Janet.

  "Not far actually," said Eti. "A bit further along here the river makes a big 'dog leg'. It circles back upon itself. There is a large fertile valley as a result. On one side of the valley is a place named Kiziltepe and on the other side two tributaries join the Tigris. One comes from the mountains to the South of Lake Hazar, and the other comes from the Drejfatih Dam.

  "I want to have a bit of a look around the valley and talk to a few people. It's a very fertile area because over the years erosion from the mountains and hills has been carried down and deposited there. While it is probably unlikely that anything of interest to us would have been carried down, I believe it is worth a check and a bit of a chat."

  The sight that met their eyes as they entered the valley could have been mistaken for a New Zealand valley dated in the 1950's. The canals providing water were the only incongruent things. As regarded the rest, the paddocks were planted in different varieties of grass, vegetables and crops. Orchards and vineyards rubbed fences with paddocks of cantaloupes or walnut trees. Donkeys competed with tractors and cars. On house roofs, satellite dishes competed with solar heating panels. Elaborate houses and buildings competed with corrugated iron lean-too sheds.

  Janet and Eti located the local person in charge, or spokesman, for Kiziltepe. In New Zealand, the person would have been the Mayor or local Councillor. He spoke with passable English. In response to Eti's questions, he directed them to an old man regarded as the local historian. His name was Muhammad Hakim. Mr. Hakim turned out to be a well-educated and erudite gentleman who had studied in America and obtained a degree in Political Studies at a Mid-Western University.

  Over a bottle of local red wine, drunk by Mohammad and Janet because Eti did not touch alcohol, and a substantial meal prepared by Mrs. Hakim, they gained the best insight into the region they could have asked for. It appeared Hakim had little time for the current political regime, but even less time for the terrorists operating in nearby parts of the Eastern Anatolian region. He discussed the P.K.K. or Kurdistan Workers Party rebels who wanted autonomous rule for their part of Turkey. His advice was to stay clear of them. It appeared that generally they operated close to the Iraqi border but also the Syrian and Iran borders. They claimed that the greater part of Eastern Turkey was theirs.

  Hakim was a nominal Muslim. He appreciated the close relationship of the Christian and Islamic faiths but preferred to acknowledge neither.

  One room of his house was a mini museum. It contained photographs and artifacts of objects found and/or used in the area. Eti found only a couple of items to interest him. They were both pieces of rock. Imbedded in them were trilobites. Janet and Hakim listened while Eti explained how the pieces of rock originated in that period of the earth's growth known as the Cambrian period. He explained that most, if not all, early life appeared in the Cambrian period. Prior to those signs of life, rocks showed no evidence of anything other than rocks. Evolutionists, he explained, have a problem with those signs of life. For the trilobites to have reached the stage they had, there should have been examples of a 'lead-up' life form in pre-Cambrian rocks. Eti's summary consisted of three words: Problem for Evolutionists.

  Eti and Janet declined to stay the night as they had already set up their campsite. They agreed to stay in touch. Back at the campsite, Janet was keen to hear if Eti had seen or heard anything of use to their quest.

  "Not really Jan," said Eti. "It was all as I would expect. The Cambrian period rocks were interesting, but the Garden of Eden won't be proved by Trilobites. Besides, the rocks could have come from anywhere. They need not have arrived via erosion in the mountains. Some hunting dude could have picked them up somewhere and dropped them in this area. Still, we will note it any way."

  "So tomorrow we head where?"

  "Off into the hills Mrs."

  "Because?"

  "Because following the river will tell us little. Any authenticity will have been destroyed, or contaminated, long ago. Even the fish and plant life will have been detrimentally affected. Dams have prevented fish and water-life from travelling upstream to spawn, and copper mining and the like have polluted the Tigris and it's tributaries. No, we need to get up into the hills and mountains. Some of them will have been sea beds, swamps, or lowlands prior to being uplifted. Any positive evidence will be there."

  The next day found them leaving the fertility of the valley behind. They followed a tributary up towards the Drejfatih Dam near Isiktepe. The trip took two days as Eti spent time photographing and checking rocks and vegetation as he had before the earthquake. He said that while he did not expect to find anything of significance, it was just possible that water released from the dam may have scoured out portions of the embankments revealing something of interest. Eti discovered nothing of note.

  Again, they took stock of the situation, and decided to return to where they had been when the earthquake struck, prior to heading further on up into the mountains. Five days later, they were treated like royalty when they arrived at Kaltadere. They spent two days there firming up friendships before resuming their tramp into the hills. During the day, they once again observed what they now referred to as 'their' helicopter. Each time they waved but received no acknowledgement from it. They reached Sarikamis and then cut across to Kashan. Their plan was to travel through rugged mountainous country to Esenlik on a tributary of the Tigris leading to the Dicle Dam.

  The trek across the mountains took two weeks. To Eti it confirmed in his mind and soul God's creation. Janet was likewise inclined to accept the rugged beauty as indicating 'something'. The mountains were rugged, steep, barren, plentiful and more, all at the same time. Spectacular waterfalls tumbled hundreds of feet onto smooth rocks that, to Janet, appeared to have been there since time began. High mountains led to fertile valleys. There were no signs of habitation in those valleys and it was easy to believe they were the first to have set foot in them. Birds sang in languages they had never heard before. Beautiful flowers beckoned. Some of the valleys had wild fruit that they were able to eat. Eti was able to ascertain what family the fruit was from and even discovered domestic varieties that had to have been carried there by the wind.

  It was easy to see where the winter months covered mountains in snow. Virtually no vegetation grew there. The metal slopes were slippery and dangerous. Eti insisted that for safety, they cross those areas roped together.

  In many places, there were caves where they were able to find night shelter, or protection from rain or wind.

  An easy intimacy developed between them. Both felt drawn to each other, as people spending a great deal of time together often are. There was possibly a sexual element to their attraction but neither went there. Janet questioned Eti extensively about his Christian beliefs and he expounded them as best he could. While academically Eti was an over-achiever, he found difficulty explaining the passions he felt inside him.

  The helicopter continued to appear every two or three days, circle them, and then disappear. Neither Janet nor Eti knew how the pilot was able to locate them with such accuracy. They discussed the possibility of an electronic tracking device in their bags, but had no idea of what it would look like. They decided to ignore the possibility.

  During the tramp to Esenlik, they ensured that they did not enter any of the remote villages they encountered. They wanted to be entirely on their own, and therefore open to any super
natural influences that might be at play. Such a desire turned out to be impossible. From time to time they encountered itinerate travelers. Usually they were using donkeys or horses as transport. Conversations, due to language difficulties, were brief. The travelers treated the appearance of two foreigners as nothing unusual. Janet and Eti noted that they all carried firearms.

  About halfway through their journey, as they were bypassing the village of Bozcenak, the helicopter appeared again. Unusually, it hovered in front of them at a height of about one hundred feet. It was not a big machine. It seemed quite lightweight with a glass or perspex bubble in which the pilot and co-pilot sat. The machine turned sideways so the co-pilot was closest to them. Janet and Eti watched as he opened his door. He then picked something up from behind his seat and pointed it at them.

  "What's that?" asked Janet.

  "Good Lord," yelled Eti. "It's a gun." He grabbed hold of Janet's arm and pulled her after him towards one of many rocky outcrops. As they ran, little puffs of dirt sprouted up on their left and right. They could hear the crack of gunfire and whine of ricochets. Eti pulled Janet down behind the outcrop. The shots did not stop. The helicopter moved to circle the outcrop and Eti pulled Janet with him to keep the outcrop between them and the helicopter. It circled them twice, continuing to fire shots at them, and then turned and headed back to wherever it had come from.

  Eti held Janet in his arms. She was crying hysterically. Mucus ran from her nose and she was shivering violently. Eti found himself also shaking. They clung desperately to each other. Gradually the shaking eased and the tears and runny nose stopped.

  "I don't think I am ready to die Eti," said Janet. "This place is dangerous. Let's go home. Please, let us go home."

  "Hey Mrs. I hear you. I don't want to be here either."

  "I've never been shot at before,"

  "I must admit I've never had the pleasure before either."

  "I am scared Eti, really scared."

  "So am I Jan, so am I."

  "What are we going to do? What if they come back?" Janet started to shake again. "I am so cold."

  Eti held her close, trying to get some warmth into her. He kept petting her, and making soothing noises, as he did not know what else to do. Eventually Janet calmed sufficiently to disentangle herself from Eti. He stood up and pulled Janet to her feet. He looked around.

  "Let's find somewhere safer to hide while we think this through," he said. He took Janet by the hand, picked up their packs, and led her away from the area. As they left, Eti noticed two small pieces of lead lying on the ground. They were badly mangled. He realised they were probably the bullets fired at them. He picked them up and put them in a trouser pocket.

  They found shelter in a cave. Eti scratched around and located enough wood to start a fire. He hoped the smoke was dispersing enough for it not to act as a beacon for anyone trying to locate them. He mixed up soup and made sure Janet ate enough to warm herself.

  It was some time before Janet regained any colour in her face.

  "Who were they Eti, and why us?" she asked.

  "I don't know Jan. Thinking things over; I have come up with a couple of ideas. I am sure they are the ones who have been following us the whole time. At least the pilot was. I know it's hard to tell with the helmet on, but his movements, and the way he rolled his head and shoulders were the same as previously. I also think they were only trying to scare us. I don't think they actually intended to shoot us."

  "They were real bullets Eti. It was a real gun. It was being pointed at us."

  "Yes Jan," nodded Eti. "We were sitting ducks though. The bullets always went to the left or right of us, never behind or in front. Why did they make us circle that outcrop when they could have just sat right above us and we would have had nowhere to go? No, I am certain they were there to scare us off."

  "They have succeeded. I want to go home. I don't care about Palmer. I don't care about the Garden of Eden. I just want to go home, be able to wake up in the morning and go to work and then go home to peace and quiet at night. Is that too much to ask?"

  "Of course it's not. Right at this moment I am right with you."

  "But?"

  "Oh yes, there is always a 'but' isn't there," agreed Eti.

  "The only but I see, is that but for the Grace of God we would be dead."

  "Perhaps," agreed Eti. "As I said though, I think they were only trying to scare us off. If I am right, then the next question is why do they want to scare us off?"

  "I don't care Eti. I need to get out of here."

  "Okay, okay Jan," soothed Eti. "I hear you. Look, there is little we can do now. I suggest we stay here in the cave and let a little time go past. Maybe we should spend the night here and then reassess things in the morning. Let's face it; there is not much else we can do."

  "Well," countered Janet, "At least let's tell everyone what has happened. We can e-mail them back home and also let KK know so he can report it to the Police. At home they can get the Government and Foreign Affairs involved to stir things up with the Turkish Government."

  "Good idea," agreed Eti. He went to Janet's pack. As he picked it up, he noticed a hole in one side.

  "When did you rip your pack?" he asked.

  "I didn't know I had," said Janet getting up and joining him. "I haven't seen that before."

  Eti opened the pack and pulled out the satellite telephone and computer. They were shattered. A ricochet had pierced Janet's pack and mangled both. While he did not want to show it, he was alarmed at how close Janet had come to being seriously injured. They gazed at each other for a while and then Janet began to shake again as she realised the significance of what she was seeing. The shaking became worse and then she started to keen. The wail got louder and louder. She started walking in circles, and when Eti tried to hold her, she pushed him away. In the end, Eti slapped her hard across the face, twice. The second slap was hard enough to knock her to the ground. Eti was then able to hold her. Her wailing had stopped but her shaking and tears had not. The tears soaked into Eti's shirt. Eventually she cried herself out. Eti continued to hold her and rock her as though she was a baby. She fell into an exhausted sleep in Eti's arms. For fear of awakening her, Eti stayed where he was, holding her. Daylight faded and darkness pulled her blanket over them. From time to time Janet jerked and stirred in her sleep but did not awaken. Dawn found Janet still in Eti's arms but with him also asleep. As rays of sunshine penetrated through the cave opening they both stirred. They continued to lie in each other's arms as reality joined them. Eventually Janet pulled herself free from Eti's arms and sat up.

  "Sorry for being such a baby," she said.

  "You were no baby," contradicted Eti also sitting up and wrapping his arms round his knees. "You were scared. So was I. How close you came to serious harm doesn't bear thinking about.

  "Hey, hey it's alright," said Eti reaching out as he saw tears welling up in her eyes again.

  "No it's okay," said Janet wiping the tears from her eyes with her knuckles. "I'll be okay in a minute. What I wouldn't give for a bath right now." She smiled. "Thanks Eti."

  "My pleasure," he said.

  As they set about preparing breakfast, Eti seemed, to Janet, to be turning something over in his mind. He showed all his usual cheerfulness but there was something withdrawn about him. Over their meal, Janet asked, "What troubling you Eti?" He smiled back at her. "Not just this situation," she added. "What is really troubling you?"

  Again, he smiled. "Okay," he said. "I'll come clean." He seemed to relax. "As you know I am a Christian. Not the greatest, but a Christian never the less. How do I know I am a Christian? Because I have acknowledged Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose to life again on the third day. I have tried ever so hard to go where God leads me but finding the correct road is no easy task. I envy those who seem to cruise on through life without a worry. God seems to open doors for them, pay their bills, give them whatever they need, and all that without breaking a sweat. On the other hand,
I struggle. I struggle with all types and kinds of sin. Several things I have tried have failed, and really, I have been wandering pretty aimlessly through university. Suddenly, this opportunity came, out of the blue, to do this research thing with you. It appeared as though God had suddenly said to me, 'This is what I have got for you.' I have thrown myself whole-heartedly into this and enjoyed it, but suddenly now things are spiraling out of control. We are being shot at, threatened, scared and are so very much alone.

  "I have prayed for us to be safe and guided in the right direction. I put on a brave face but as we lay there last night, I felt abandoned. After yesterdays shooting my thoughts were the same as yours, to get home as quickly as possible. I know I was suggesting to you that they were not shooting at us, but merely trying to scare us, but really, I didn't know. I was just trying to be the hero for you.

  "Janet, I think I am losing whatever faith I might have had. I thought God had sent me on this search to do his work, but now I think I did it to make me look good and a bit of a hero in the eyes of Jesse's family."

  Janet moved to sit beside him. She put her arms round him.

  "Hey," she comforted. "I think you are doing a great job. You say your prayers morning and night, say grace before meals and read your bible daily. Surely all that counts for God?"

  Eti smiled ruefully.

  "That makes me a plastic Christian, that's all. Day in and day out, I seem to be just going through the motions. I used to get an idea of what God wanted through my dreams, but I don't remember most of them these days."

  Janet interrupted.

  "You mean God has spoken to you in your dreams?"

  "Yeah. Like, I don't see him on his throne telling me what to do. It is more that I dream a story and a person in that dream is doing something that clicks in my mind and remembering it when I awake makes me believe God has planted that dream in my mind."

  "I had a dream last night," commented Janet.

  "Oh yeah," said Eti. "You are not going to tell me it was God telling you to tell me that I am on the right track was it?"

  "No. Usually I don't remember my dreams. Can I tell you about it?"

  Eti nodded.

  "Well, I dreamt that I was Joan of Arc. Well, I think it was her. She wasn't her though, she was me, or I was her if you get what I mean. Well, she, or I, was on a mission. I can't recall, or remember, what that mission was, but I was on it. I had an army with me armed to the teeth. We passed many people as we travelled along. Some cheered us on and others threw things at us and booed.

  "We were attacked by, and fought with, numerous groups of bandits. We won all the fights. Then we became involved in a battle that we were loosing. People in my army were deserting and I was certain that we were going to be beaten. The bandits were closing in on me. Then, and you will laugh at this, a hero came out of no-where. He had a group of warriors with him. They attacked those against me and rescued me. The hero and I then joined forces and we headed off, with our combined armies, to complete my mission. We had just met a large dragon blocking our way when I woke up to find you holding me.

  "Do you think you are my hero Eti?"

  "Oh I don't think so Mrs.," laughed Eti. "It is an interesting dream though. Let me think about it. I get the feeling that it is important. In the meantime, let's get packed up and get out of here before anything else happens to us."

  "Without a means of communication, what are we going to do?" asked Janet. "Where are we going to go?"

  "I think we will carry on as we were. We will just have to be careful. If we hear an aeroplane or helicopter, we will have to hide. Likewise, if we see anyone, we will have to avoid them unless they are in a group. If we do meet a group I suggest we join them in going wherever they are going so we get to civilization safely. Sound like a plan?"

  With Janet's agreement, they tidied up and set out.

  The day was like so many of the days that had gone before: hot, routine and uneventful. When they made camp that night, it was as if the previous days happenings had occurred a long time previously. They had not met any human travelers, nor had they heard any human sounds. No helicopters had appeared. They found themselves able to discuss the previous day's events without getting upset or hysterical. They canvassed the possibility that the helicopter was associated with some of the brigand bands of terrorists that were a feature of the South Eastern Anatolian region, but decided that was unlikely.

  "Have you thought about my dream?" asked Janet. It had played upon her mind most of the day.

  "Indeed I have Mrs.," grinned Eti. "Cross my palm with silver and I will interpret it for you."

  "Oh dear," responded Janet. "I seem to have left my purse at home."

  "Okay then," smiled Eti. "Actually it has lifted me up Jan."

  "So it means something to you?"

  "I believe so. I think you realise that it does as well. I think you were Joan of Arc in the dream. Your army was those who are backing you in your search for the Garden of Eden. Those booing you are those on Palmer's side. I am not sure whom you were fighting when you started to lose, but I do have a possible enemy. That possible suspect would be the group calling itself Galapagos Inc. Maybe, maybe not! You should perhaps consider another possibility: that the group you were fighting when you started to lose actually represented yourself giving up. Anyway, your hero then arrives on the scene."

  "You were my hero?" joked Janet.

  "No," smiled Eti. "I was probably one of the crowd cheering you on because I was with you before you started to lose."

  "So who is my hero?"

  "Jesus."

  "Jesus? The Jesus?"

  "Is there any other?"

  "And the dragon?"

  "Satan."

  "I thought he was a serpent?"

  "He was but he can be many things. In this case, I think he is a dragon and that the dragon incorporates Galapagos Inc., Marshall, Palmer and all unbelievers.

  "Janet, I believe your Minister was right. You are being used by God to do great things."

  A silence settled over Eti and Janet.

  "I hope you are wrong Eti," whispered Janet. "I hope you are wrong. I'm no heroine. I am just a silly woman who let her ego and stubbornness get out of hand. If I am doing this for God, then he has chosen the wrong person."