Race for the Flash Stone (The Anlon Cully Chronicles Book 2)

by K Patrick Donoghue

  Then came the touching vision of her farewell with Mereau. The asteroid had passed and Mereau readied the ships to go help survivors. They stood on the docks while men carried supplies and Tyls onto the ships. That was new information as well. Mereau and his captains set forth with their own caches of Tyls, but Malinyah gave Mereau a copy of the map to share with his captains in case they needed replacements or there was a demand for more. She told him it would be easier to retrieve needed Tyls from the caches instead of coming all the way back to Munuoria. Mereau agreed.

  When Malinyah handed him the map, they embraced. Pebbles felt a rush of warmth flow through her, and then a deep sorrow. Malinyah wore a gold medallion on a golden chain. In the middle of the medallion was a black stone that sparkled. In fact, to Pebbles, it seemed to glow. Malinyah removed the necklace and handed it to Mereau, saying, “Ailta erill, ento ainfa.”

  Mereau received the necklace and slid it over his head. He kissed the stone, and then Malinyah, and repeated the parting words. Malinyah cried; Mereau stiffened his jaw and hugged her. As Malinyah sobbed, Mereau held her tight. In his eyes, Pebbles could see tears. Watching the vision, Pebbles felt Malinyah’s pain. It was biting, deep sorrow. Yet, although it was sad, the emotions transferred by Malinyah were filled with a tenderness that was hard to describe.

  After they separated, Malinyah stood on the dock until the last ship passed from view. Pebbles quietly stood by her side and laced her fingers with Malinyah’s. With tears trickling down her face, Malinyah turned and smiled. Pebbles hugged her and they walked from the dock.

  When Malinyah exited the vision, Pebbles asked what the parting meant. Malinyah said, “Ever apart, together always.”

  That’s when their conversation had turned to the statue, and Malinyah morphed into a different person. Gone were the affectionate gestures, the smiles and the flowing dialogue. Malinyah wouldn’t look at Pebbles; she wouldn’t answer questions with more than a word or two. When Pebbles asked what was wrong, Malinyah just stared straight ahead. After that last go-round, Pebbles told Anlon she wouldn’t ask any more questions about the statue. She was concerned Malinyah would shut down completely.

  So, as she readied to snap the Naetir into its slot on the Sinethal, Pebbles closed her eyes and hoped for a return of the Malinyah she’d grown to love. With a loud clap, the Naetir slammed into place. Pebbles slid her fingers into position and waited for the visions to commence.

  When Pebbles arrived in the vision, she found herself alone in the marble hall. It was the first time Malinyah had not been there to greet her. Puzzled, Pebbles circled around the hall and peered out the sheer drapes. Outside, it was cloudy. Another first. She looked toward the Alynioria field and by the wading pool but found both empty. She grew nervous and called out for Malinyah. There was no answer. Pebbles paced the hall more urgently as a cold gust of wind pushed into the room. She shuddered and warmed her arms with her hands.

  She walked outside and searched for Malinyah. Her gaze drifted up the hill to the Seybalrosa shrine. It was there she spied Malinyah seated beneath the tree. The branches of the tree whipped in the wind. Pebbles looked up to see a fiery glow filtering through the darkening clouds.

  She started up the path, walking at first, but as she drew closer, she broke into a run and called for Malinyah. Her feet sank into the soft clay with every stride. Malinyah had yet to raise her head. It started to rain. Icy blobs of water splattered everywhere. Pebbles could feel the pelting drops trickle through her hair.

  When she arrived beneath the tree, she reached out and touched Malinyah on the shoulder. The contact stirred Malinyah from her daze. The Munuorian peered up at Pebbles and said, “You’re soaked.”

  Shivering, Pebbles said, “I called for you, but you didn’t come. What’s going on, why is it raining?”

  Malinyah closed her eyes and the rain stopped. The clouds began to roll back and, soon, there was blue sky above. She reached to touch Pebbles’ wrist and suddenly Pebbles felt a warm wave pass over her body. No longer wet, she ceased trembling.

  Pebbles lowered herself next to Malinyah. “How did you do that?”

  “Not to worry, Alynioria, all is well now.” Malinyah smiled.

  “Um, no. All is not well. What was that all about?” Pebbles pressed.

  The Munuorian patted Pebbles’ knee. “You have more questions. Tell me, sweet flower, why have you come?”

  For the first time in Malinyah’s presence, Pebbles felt anger rise from within. Unwilling to ignore the evasions any longer, Pebbles squeezed Malinyah’s hand to quell her pats. “Why won’t you talk to me? Have I done something wrong?”

  “Why, no. I’m not angry with you.”

  “Then why do you keep shutting down?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Malinyah! You’re doing it right now!”

  Malinyah’s sunny smile faded. She pulled her hand from Pebbles’ grip and slowly rose. Looking away from Pebbles, she turned and walked from beneath the shade of the Seybalrosa. Pebbles jumped up and trailed her around the cactus garden. With head lowered, Malinyah proceeded to the cliff overlooking the ocean.

  A score of orange butterflies leapt from the outstretched cactus arms and fluttered aside her. Confused, Pebbles followed behind. When they arrived at the cliff’s edge, Malinyah halted and inhaled the sea breeze. Most of the butterflies settled on her head and shoulders. Others landed on Pebbles, their tiny legs tickled her shoulders.

  Pebbles was about to speak when Malinyah softly said, “I am worried, Alynioria. For you, and your friends. Some of what you’ve told me, some of your questions — they trouble me.”

  “Why?”

  “I misread your intentions.”

  “My intentions? You think I’ve lied to you?”

  Malinyah turned to face Pebbles. “No. I hear truth in your words and I feel it in your mind. I always have.”

  “Then I don’t understand.”

  “When you asked for my help, you said you sought the Lifintyls.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Why?”

  Pebbles fumbled for an answer. The immediate one that leapt to mind was to prevent the Navarros of the world from using the Stones to hurt others. Then, there was their desire to carry forward Devlin’s research. Plus, it was clear Anlon was fascinated by Munuorian technology. And for her own curiosity, Pebbles craved to know more about Malinyah and the Munuorian way of life.

  “I guess there are multiple reasons, but they’re all about learning more about you and your people,” Pebbles said.

  “Do you intend to use the Lifintyls?”

  Thinking of Anlon’s interest in the Stones’ magnetic properties, Pebbles said, “Well, we’d like to understand them better. Figure out how they work, and how you made them. They’re so different from any tools we have today. They could be very helpful.”

  “Or very hurtful,” said Malinyah.

  “Oh, I see. You’re worried we might misuse them.”

  Malinyah held out her arm and several of the butterflies took new positions along its length. She blew lightly and the butterflies fluttered upward. They hovered for a few seconds and then descended. She puffed again, this time a bit harder. The butterflies rose higher in the air before landing again on her arm. She mumbled, “Such gentle creatures. Curious. Intelligent. Sensitive. Trusting. Have you seen what happens when they get too close to fire?”

  “Okay, I get it. We might have good intentions, but—”

  Malinyah interrupted. “Alynioria, I misled you. We did not create our Tyls for others. Even among ourselves, they were restricted to those who studied long to master their powers. Then Munirvo came and changed everything. Although we avoided the worst of it, we did not escape unscathed, as I showed you.

  “But I didn’t show you all. There was great unrest, a feeling among our people that the Andaers failed to protect Munuoria. So many died from the accursed star-washer. There was a rebellion as well as treachery on both sides. It led to
bloodshed and chaos. In the end, the very tools we created for our enrichment, the ones that saved us from Munirvo, became weapons that consumed us.”

  Suddenly, the ocean waves below began to swell. Dark clouds covered the sky. The ground trembled. The butterflies lifted off in unison and rapidly flocked away. Pebbles felt Malinyah’s rage shoot through her body. Searing pain stabbed her chest and abdomen. She buckled onto the ground and wretched.

  Malinyah screamed, “Deceiver! Murderer! Betrayer! Muran!”

  She collapsed next to Pebbles and wailed. Agony, horrifying agony, rippled through Pebbles’ mind. She whipped her head from side to side and screamed.

  When the convulsions began, Anlon and Jennifer stared in stunned silence. The blood-curdling screams that followed shook them into action. They raced to Pebbles’ side and tried to yank the Stone from her grip. Pebbles’ back arched off the sofa and her legs flailed. Anlon barked at Jennifer to hold her down while he tried to peel Pebbles’ hands from the back of the Stone.

  Then the unbelievable happened.

  Anlon slid his fingers into the depressions to dig underneath Pebbles’ fingertips. At once, he found himself atop the cliff standing above the writhing women. Through wild eyes he looked up to see a flaming chunk of rock barreling toward the water. He staggered as the ground heaved and gusts of wind battered him backward. Behind him, he heard a vicious crack amid the flaming rock’s deafening roar. He spun to see the Seybalrosa sheared in two.

  Pebbles looked up and saw the top half of the tree flying toward Anlon. She screamed his name and released the Sinethal. The Naetir rolled into her lap and Anlon crumpled onto the floor. In a stupor, Jennifer stumbled back from the couch and covered her mouth. Eyes blinking to make sense of the scene, she gasped, “Christ almighty!”

  Leaning over the sofa’s armrest, Jennifer poured tequila into a glass and placed it in Pebbles’ hand. Without a word, Pebbles lifted the tumbler to her lips and let its contents slide down. Its burning trail coated her empty stomach. She held out the glass for a refill and murmured her thanks.

  In an armchair across the room sat Anlon. His eyes were transfixed on the Sinethal resting on the ottoman before him. Jennifer paced over and offered a drink. Anlon accepted the glass with an appreciative smile.

  Filling her own tumbler, Jennifer curled into the sofa corner opposite Pebbles and anxiously observed her two friends. She desperately wanted to know what had happened, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. The three sat in silence for several minutes. It was Pebbles who spoke first.

  “Are you okay?” she asked Anlon.

  “Uh-huh. You?”

  “I think so. I ache all over, but the tequila’s helping.”

  Jennifer said, “Um, in case anyone’s wondering, I’m not okay. What in the hell just happened?”

  Anlon whisked down his drink and grimaced. With a head shake, he said, “These Stones keep dishing out surprises.”

  His eyes waxed over as he pointed at the Sinethal. “When I tried to grab the Stone away, I connected to Pebbles’ vision. I have no idea what I walked in on, but it was terrifying. It felt like the world was ending.”

  They both looked at Pebbles. Her eyes were hollow and her skin pale. A tear trickled down her cheek. “We were talking and then all of a sudden, kaboom! The world was ending…She’s angry. Very angry.”

  “How did it start, Pebbles? Were you talking about the vaults?” Anlon asked.

  “I didn’t get that far,” she said. “The visit was weird right from the start. Every other time I’ve met with her, it’s always started in the hall or just outside. It’s always been warm and sunny. This time, it was dark and rainy. I had to look all over for her. She was up at the Seybalrosa monument. I tried to get her attention several times, but she was zoned out.

  “When she finally did snap out of it, I tried to get her to tell me why everything seemed different. She wouldn’t answer me. She just dodged my questions again. But then she started to open up…and whammo!” Lowering her head, Pebbles massaged her wrists and sighed. “She came right out and said she had lied to me.”

  “Really? About what?” Jennifer asked.

  Pebbles sighed again. “The whole ‘we went out to save the world’ tale. It wasn’t as noble as she led us to believe.”

  “What really happened then?” Anlon asked.

  “I don’t know for sure. From what little she said before she popped her lid, there was a revolt after Munirvo passed. People were angry at what had happened. They started fighting each other. She said they used the Tyls against each other.”

  Anlon reflected on her comments while Pebbles and Jennifer discussed other elements of the cliff-side encounter. He thought of the array of ancient myths about the fish men. Regardless of Malinyah’s changed story, it seemed indisputable the Munuorians did indeed help survivors of the great flood. How was such a feat possible in the middle of a revolt?

  His rumination was interrupted when he heard Pebbles mention butterflies. As he tuned in to the conversation, he heard Pebbles describe Malinyah’s moth-to-the-flame allegory. She finished the story by saying, “So, basically, she thinks we’ll use the Stones for bad, even though I’ve told her before we’re trying to stop bad people from finding them.”

  Anlon’s curiosity was piqued. “Why would she think that?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the questions about the fish-man statue and her Sinethal,” Pebbles said.

  “What?”

  Pebbles marched toward the Sinethal. “Yep, and I’m gonna find out why!”

  It was nighttime when Pebbles arrived in the hall. Torches lined the columns and bathed the white stones in a golden hue. Malinyah did not greet her, but Pebbles saw her sitting at the edge of the pool, staring at the sky.

  When Pebbles arrived next to her, Malinyah lowered her head and said, “I am sorry, Alynioria. Please forgive me.”

  Pebbles looked up and saw Cassiopeia hovering in the sky. Above it, a small star brightly twinkled. So far away, it looked harmless.

  Pebbles sighed and sat next to her. Wrapping her arm around Malinyah’s waist, Pebbles asked, “What is going on, Malinyah? There’s something you’re not telling me. Something that makes you angry and sad. Why won’t you tell me?”

  “It has nothing to do with you, sweet flower. I am sorry I made it seem as if it did. Your questions caused me to recall painful memories, that’s all.” Malinyah leaned her head on Pebbles’ shoulder and exhaled deeply.

  “It’s my fault, Malinyah. I didn’t know the questions would hurt you, but I don’t understand why they do. Won’t you tell me, please?”

  Stroking Pebbles’ hair, Malinyah said, “We used to sit here and watch the stars on nights like this. Every now and then, a star would streak across the sky. We’d close our eyes and make wishes. Sometimes, we’d walk along the cliff or along the beach. We’d hold hands and talk of many things. If I could, I would stay in those memories forever.”

  A warm sensation washed through Pebbles’ mind. It reminded her of the same feeling that passed from Malinyah when she parted with Mereau. Pebbles imagined the two of them strolling at the surf’s edge, the foamy water tickling their toes. The Moon glowing overhead, the waves rushing ashore. After surviving all the horror, it must have been devastating to say good-bye. Pebbles hugged her and said, “I understand.”

  Malinyah, lost in her memories, continued on. “Then, we’d return here and I would braid her hair.”

  “Huh?” blurted Pebbles. She pulled back and stared at Malinyah. The motion caused Malinyah to let go of her hair. Pebbles looked down and saw blond, curly hair about her shoulders.

  “She was a lovely daughter. A sweet flower, my Alynioria.”

  CHAPTER 18

  CHESSBOARD

  San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

  August 27

  The diamond itself was about the size of a small chicken egg. The surrounding kimberlite added another inch of thickness all the way
around, giving the beacon an avocado-like appearance.

  Lying on the parlor’s white sofa, Klaus Navarro held the beacon up and admired its design. The oblong object was not a natural formation. The outer kimberlite shell had been shaped and polished. The inner diamond was only visible with the aid of an x-ray scan. From this, Navarro could tell it had been cut into a sleek oval with a multitude of facets.

  The magnetic resonance of the beacon actually tingled his fingers like a tiny heartbeat. It was an amazing piece of technology, one Navarro surmised was forged with the aid of the Flash Stone. The unique specimen was likely quite valuable on its own, but nothing compared to the riches possible with the serpent-tooth stone.

  Navarro was extremely frustrated to find the Rio Teodoro vault empty. The chamber had been looted long ago by people who left curious drawings on the inner walls. He was certain the drawings were not made by the crafters of the Stones. The painted scenes were nothing like the intricate etching of his serpent-tooth relief. Yet, some of the drawings showed barbaric depictions of the Flash Stone in use.

  In one scene, sticklike figures lay cut in half while a chieftain in a headdress pointed a triangle-shaped object in their direction. Another image showed a woman lying on a table. Beside her, the plumed chieftain held the triangle to her head. In a third depiction, a group of stickmen ran away with arms raised above their heads. Behind, a dragon-headed warrior stood before a volcano carved in half. Fire coated the triangle-tip object in his hands.

  The Cinta-Larga. That was Navarro’s bet. They must have discovered the ruin long ago and plundered its treasure. From the drawings inside, he reasoned the Cinta-Larga must have occupied the ancient structure for a time. From the looks of it, the chieftain ruled with a fiery hand.

  He wondered if the Amazon natives still possessed the Flash Stone. If they did, it might present an alternative to hunting stone vaults. With enough men and the right weapons, Navarro thought it possible to capture a few of the tribesmen and find out.