tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184642652024-03-12T22:09:39.669-07:00Literature, Art, PoetryLiterature, Art, Poetry, Psychology, Reviews, Short Stories, Fantasy Fiction, Surrealism, Poemskwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comBlogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-89325476816121031142017-10-11T07:57:00.002-07:002017-10-11T07:57:56.535-07:00Knowledgeable Defense <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">what shield<br />
shields<br />
you<br />
from darkness<br />
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dare you <br />
drop it<br />
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and call<br />
the creatures<br />
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kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-27277835398078810832015-12-15T10:13:00.000-08:002015-12-15T14:04:25.310-08:00Mrs. Carroll 1960<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">1960 Mrs.
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And ribbons,
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Overseas, in
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Before coming
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Where there
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">No foreign girls with <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">brown</span> skin and almond eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And bats flew
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<br /></div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-3580848449478490822015-08-04T09:45:00.000-07:002015-08-04T09:49:05.572-07:00ZOMBIES<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-8338404478267960752015-07-23T08:57:00.000-07:002015-07-27T11:44:55.006-07:00Sixty-Three<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Wait, your weight weighs me down</div>
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To mother’s ground, twisting my spine</div>
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Until our faces touch Janus-like. </div>
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Nose to nose, our breath rises</div>
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Like steam off a freezing lake</div>
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As water acting as air evaporates<br />
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Sealing the Eternal Circle <br />
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kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-11636939927515696352014-08-18T14:01:00.001-07:002014-08-19T13:01:50.037-07:00Chapter Six of Gottesland<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">HE FELL TO THE LOFT FLOOR and lay still,
listening; the wound in his shoulder open and bleeding onto the rough wood of
the loft that was covered with grain, straw, and mouse droppings, tiny bones of
the owl’s prey, and the chalk stream of pigeon dung.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the barn below, fighting men, horse
soldiers, were laughing and joking in a rough patois of Swiss German about one
of the serving girls at the cantina that a sergeant fancied. These men were not
Black Robes, he realized, as he listened and absorbed their language, learning
yet another language through the aid of the demon’s gift; they were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Totenkopf </i>and any fight at the clearing with
the Black Robes was over and these men had defeated them through sheer number
rather than prowess. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though they sounded friendly with
their jokes and laughter, a type of prejudicial <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bonhomie</i> exuded from the interstices of their complex syntax, causing
Stern to decide that trusting them would be a mistake; just as he had begun to
harbor a suspicion of Birgit and Bleak. As quietly as possible, he crawled to
the open loft doors and looked out on the clearing next to the cantina,
searching for a way down and an avenue of escape. The horse soldiers had
picketed about two hundred horses in two straight lines near the edge of the
woods opposite the cantina and its outdoor tables. Twenty or so men worked
there with the horses, spreading hay for them to eat and rubbing them down. Across
the clearing, on the opposite side, underneath the wooden arbor with its
lattice top, fifty or more soldiers gathered in smaller groups, resting and eating,
as Carnes’ serving girls scurried in and out of the building, carrying food and
drink to the men and simultaneously swatting away the rough hands that
reached for their hips and legs. Akna was not among
them. He was glad she was not there with the soldiers but he was
also worried she was not present.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From the cantina, Birgit, wearing a
white cotton shirt, open at the neck, gray jodhpurs, and high-top black cavalry
boots emerged with a man he did not know. The man was not in uniform; instead,
he wore riding boots, brown cotton pants, a gray shirt and a black short-waist
jacket, like those worn by the gauchos in the south. They walked close
together, casually bumping together in the intimate way lovers have when they
stroll down the street on a Sunday afternoon, as they moved beneath the arbor
and headed slowly in Stern’s direction. He pulled back from the edge of the
loft, afraid that Birgit would see him, but they stopped at the edge of the
arbor, still below the lattice work of the frame roof above the tables, and
looked into each other’s eyes as if they about to kiss.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But before their lips touched, as they
leaned toward one another, from the open barn door directly below him a tall
man wearing a black sombrero and officer’s tunic called out to Birgit in
Spanish. It was Bleak and she turned at the sound of his voice and shadowed her
eyes with her left hand. She then called out in a sort of a shrill screech,
like the warning cry of an ape, and started running toward the barn. Bleak walked
away from the door of the barn toward the woman, surprised by her reaction, and
noticing her glance toward the top of the barn, turned and looked up to see
Stern. Their eyes met and there was some message conveyed; perhaps, a look of
relief, thought Stern, or surprise. Then he called out to the men in the barn
in German that there was a man in the loft; and, almost immediately, the ladder
rattled, as the soldiers climbed into the loft with guns drawn. Stern raised his
hands, surrendering to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Totenkopf </i>that
now surrounded him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bleak soon joined the men with Birgit
right behind him. Placing his hands on his hips, he sighed, as Birgit pushed
pass him and rushed to Asa’s side. “Gunshot to the shoulder,” she said, pulling
him into a seated position. Probing his back firmly with her long fingers, she
continued: “And it’s still there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bleak moved closer and asked: “How
serious is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She moved toward the ladder and said,
“I’m going to get everything ready. Please get him down without killing
him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bleak turned to the men and ordered:
“You heard her; take him down below.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern said, “If you help me to the
ladder, I think I can get there on my own legs.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bleak frowned and said, “Heinrich, help
him to the stairs.” Then he turned to the young soldier with blond hair,
“Muller, climb down the ladder a ways and help him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With Heinrich’s and Muller’s help he
reached the ground and then walked slowly out of the barn toward to a wooden
tables under the lattice work that Birgit pointed to before she ran toward the
cantina for her medical bag. Upon her return a few minutes later she spread a
white sheet over a table and waited for him with her sleeves rolled up, a black
leather apron on, and her surgical tools lined up before her. Next to her, Akna,
who had somehow appeared without his noticing her and looking extremely
worried, placed a porcelain bowl of hot water and a bar of soap near the end of
the table. With a long white towel draped over her shoulder, she stood at the
end of the table waiting for Birgit to tell her what to do. As he approached
the table, Stern tried to engage her with his eyes but she refused to look at
him and he wondered what had happened to her since he had disappeared into the
dragon’s cage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Cut his tunic and shirt off,” said
Birgit to a young man with dark skin, a thick mustache, and large brown eyes, who
ran to Stern’s side and took his arm away from the soldier, Muller. As soon as
Stern stumbled to the table, the man helped him sit and then instructed Muller
and Heinrich to hold his arms away from his body. The young black man then took
a pair of large scissors and began cutting away Stern’s tunic. Somewhat
helpless and about to faint, Stern looked at Akna, whose eyes where wide with
fright. When he finally gained her attention, she whispered, “I’m sorry,” in
the Argyll language.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I will be fine,” he assured her and
then felt himself passing out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Birgit called his name and then slapped
him, startling him back to consciousness. “Drink this,” she ordered, and he
took the vial of dragon skin she offered him and drained it completely.
Immediately, he could feel the elixir warming his body and he remembered the
dragon curled in the cave beneath the falls at the mere. He wanted to ask
Birgit about the potion and tell her about the dragon; instead, he felt an
injunction arise in his conscious mind, forbidding him from mentioning either
the dragon or the demon. Secrets were accumulating exponentially and he felt a
severe speech impediment foreclosing their discussion to Birgit and Bleak. Had
the demon somehow placed a lock on his mind that would prevent him from
disclosing their discourse or was his sub-conscious mind trying to protect him from
people he did not truly know or trust.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With his clothes cut away, the two burly
soldiers helped him lie on his back on the wooden table, as Birgit washed the
wound and he black man moved aside to allow Birgit to see the damage . </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Drying on her hands on the towel, after
cleaning the wound, Akna moved away and Birgit leaned over him and said, “How
do you feel?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Better, since you gave me the potion,”
he answered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She smiled and said, “You have had a
rough go of it the last few months, haven’t you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He nodded and smiled wanly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She reached into her black medical bag,
which the black man placed near her, and drew out another vial of elixir; one
containing a white milky substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“This is the milk of the poppy,” she said, handing him the vial. “It
will put you to sleep.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He drank the bitter concoction down in
two gulps and instantly felt its deadening effect, as it entered his blood
stream. Conscious, but just barely, he saw Birgit open the wound with her
scalpel and then take forceps and dig out the mini-ball in his shoulder. He
passed out for just a moment and then he awoke to Birgit sewing the wound
together; he was thankful for the poppy because he could feel the tug of the
needle through his skin, not the pain he would have felt without it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Are you back?” the woman asked, as she
worked on the wound. “I’m trying to suture this in such a way that you have
little or no scarring.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone but the black man was gone, who
stood close to Birgit waiting for her instructions. Stern looked away from the
two, trying to distract himself from the ravages to his flesh. A mosquito
net had been hung over him to keep away the flies and through it he spied a large
moth on the outside against the cheesecloth. Was it the demon’s messenger,
watching the surgery?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why are they now trying to kill me?” he
asked the woman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They think you are possessed by a
demon,” she said softly. ‘Pandemonium has wreaked havoc on this realm since the
last war: dragons from Okeanus, death from radiation and germ sickness
unleashed in the far east, then the Argylls, your race, arriving from another
galaxy seeking refuge, and finally complete collapse into barbarity throughout
the civilized world. Only their belief in the Pope and his God has saved them
from total destruction.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She tugged on the suture and handed the
scissors to the black man, saying “Marco, please clean and bandage the wound.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the assistant cleaned the wound, she
sat on the bench and washed her hands in the porcelain basin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why do you act as if you are not one of
them?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What do you mean,” she said with a
knowing look. He read it to mean she knew what he was asking but she wanted him
to guess or to figure it out on his own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He did not take the bait and remained
silent. Finally, she crossed her legs and said, while drying her hands, “Marco,
leave us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The black man tidied up the area and
left. When he was gone she said, “Bleak, Harpo, and I are not one of them. We
are members of the Category.” She paused and he did not say anything, trying to
draw her out and talk about what was going on around them. Finally, she
continued: “Bleak told you that the night he met you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I don’t know what that is,” he said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Bleak was the first one of us selected by
the Valkyries over seven hundred years ago.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He heard what she said about Valkyries
choosing a dead Bleak to serve but he didn’t know what to make of the
statement. Was she really saying Bleak was over seven hundred years old, died
in battle, and then was reborn to serve a god? The Valkyries served Wotan, he
remembered from his early classes on mythology. He was about to say that was
impossible but he thought about Kokabiel, who seemed very real to him. So, he
reasoned, if demons exist, then perhaps so, too, do gods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Bleak died in Berlin in 1945 and was
reborn. The Valkyries came for him and assigned him to track down Herr Wolf,
the leader of Germany. He brought me into the Category in 1992 because of my
husband, Jacques Oiseau, the man who discovered the dragons.” She paused and
then explained. “He didn’t really discover them, they were already here. He
didn’t know that but that’s another story, recorded elsewhere. Bleak needed a
liaison with Oiseau so he brought me back from the dead to work with him.” She
took a deep breath and looked over at him sheepishly. He smiled, as if to say,
“I’m listening. Please continue.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She nodded and said, “Wolf, after his
escape, opened the first portal to Pandemonium with the stone, causing things to
go awry on this plane.” She smiled as if she had made a joke of some sort but
he was unable to follow it. Everything she said was new to him and he was
unable to follow it. It was without context. It was like reading one of those
interminably long fantasy trilogies in the wrong order. He cleared his throat
and tried to lift his head but he was still weak; instead, he turned his head
toward her and asked: “What do I have to do with any of this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She stood and handed him another vial of
the dragon skin. “You are still very weak,” she said. “Rest and we will answer
your questions tonight when the witch arrives.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He drank the vial and closed his eyes. Suddenly
he felt very tired and before he fell asleep, he thought: a witch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He awoke at twilight. Lanterns sputtered
and he could hear the men gathered at the tables, eating and drinking. Unlike
before, he felt much stronger. The dragon skin had performed a miracle yet again.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He sat up and placed his bare feet on
the ground now covered in fresh sawdust; they had cleaned up the blood and
bandages. His mouth was dry and he possessed a great thirst and hunger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of two soldiers who helped him
earlier sat under the arbor near him nursing drinks. He couldn’t remember their
names. Others, not eating, watered horses or stretched out under the tall
hardwoods at the edge of the clearing taking a siesta. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Night descended and cicadas rattled in
the trees and a slight breeze blew across the flowing river. The remnants of
the battle with the Black Robes had been cleansed and purged from the clearing
and an idyllic peacefulness lay upon the camp. Gas lamps hanging from the
arbor’s lattice roof sputtered. Neither Akna nor any of the serving girls were
visible; instead, the patron and two of his sons hurried back and forth among the
soldiers, filling steins, causing Stern to suspect the man was keeping the
girls away from the soldiers now that night approached.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He rubbed his head and wrapped a sheet
around his naked body. He did not feel strong enough to approach the tavern
owner and ask for something to drink. He remained standing and surveyed the
grounds, trying to remember what she had said. It was something important but
now he could not remember it. Something was going to happen tonight, he
remembered that much. Someone was coming to meet him. He licked his dried lips
and took a step toward the tavern keeper. No one seemed to pay him any
attention, which was just as well. If he could have marched out of the camp and
back to the river he would. But naked and wounded he felt he should stay put.
Besides, he thought, someone was coming to meet him. Someone important, she
said. And he was very thirsty and the men were drinking beer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carne noticed him walking through the
tables under the arbor, wrapped in the white sheet, like a ghoul, risen from
its grave. He crossed himself and approached the man, thinking he should reach
him before he fell. Stern saw Carne coming toward him and he muttered out a
request for water. The man nodded and bowed his head and turned toward the cantina.
He had a pitcher of beer in his hand and Stern licked his dry lips again, imagining
the cold beer and wondering why he asked for water when the beer would have tasted
so much better. He bumped against a wooden bench jutting from beneath one of
the long tables, as he waited for the man to return with the water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The soldiers now noticed him standing
there and one of them with corporal stripes on his jacket hurried toward a
large pavilion-like tent pitched beneath a wide willow tree across the clearing
from the cantina and near the horses. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He
is running for Birgit</i>, Stern thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Somewhere in the south thunder rumbled
and he turned his attention away from the corporal and Birgit and, instead, peered
through the thick foliage of the cantina’s arbor to the night sky above. Rain
was coming and something else too, he thought, as he picked up the distant reverberations
of a mechanical hum approaching from the north. And, then, he remembered what
Birgit had said: a witch was coming to see him: one of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">luna bruja</i> from the stone citadel at the mouth of the Big Muddy,
north, beyond the great Anglo wall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He shuffled from beneath the arbor into
the clearing and peered through the darkening haze toward the north to catch
sight of the twinkling lights of a flying machine approaching at a very high
speed. He had heard about the ornithopters the witches flew and even tracked
down pictures of them in an ancient text in the library but he had never
actually seen one. Now, even though he was tired and wounded, his curiosity was
peeked and he desired to see one of the incredible machines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Soon the machine appeared: its running lights
shed enough illumination to reveal the shimmering feathers of its wings in the
night sky. The craft was much smaller than he imagined; just large enough to
seat two, the pilot and a passenger, that were visible through the transparent
carapace of the insect-shaped machine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With a sense of awe, he looked over his
shoulder, back toward the tent, to see if anyone else had spied the tiny craft
approaching the clearing. Birgit, along with Bleak and the other man, the one
he had seen her walking with near the cantina, emerged and moved toward the
center of the clearing, where the corporal met them, spoke a few words, and
then raised his arm and pointed toward Stern, standing beneath the arbor. Birgit
nodded and the waved at him; a feeble salute to acknowledge she saw him
standing near the table where they had operated on his wound just hours before.
Then the four of them moved toward him and he prepared himself. However, as
they walked, he realized Birgit was watching both him and the approaching
craft. As she moved her eyes from machine and then him, he could tell she was
excited as well as nervous at the appearance of the witches. But that did not
explain why she alternated her gaze between him and the little airship with the
diaphanous wings. Somehow, she communicated a certain trepidation for him. Not
many people had ever met a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lunar bruja</i>
and lived to tell their story so he thought she was trying to gauge his reaction
to the meeting. Or maybe she feared he would try to escape. After all, the
witches had a fierce reputation for causing mayhem. Some rumors circulated they
were vampires that murdered indiscriminately and from time to time turned human
men into their slaves, their soldiers, or the pilots of their ornithopters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the craft, shaped like a giant
grasshopper, circled the clearing several times, Stern could see two figures in
the ship’s seats, scanning the clearing and the woods surrounding it. He imagined
they were checking the area for the possibility of an ambush. But an attack by
whom at night, he wondered. Where did the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lunar
bru</i>jas stand with the Black Robes or the Mexican army for that matter? They
were creatures of the north and as far as he knew they had never crossed the
great wall. All the stories he had heard linked the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lunar brujas</i> with the other monsters that existed north of the Rio
Bravo or west of the Rio Concho.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally the craft’s engine slowed and
the pilot brought it down in the very center of the clearing. From the way it
landed softly on the thick grasses, Stern could tell the ship
weighted almost nothing. Only the small engine and the materiality of the
passengers seemed to possess substance; everything else seemed to be fragile
and translucent, illuminated by some inner light and the sputtering gas
lanterns around the clearing. From the ship's carapace, a thin, tall woman emerged.
Barefooted, she gingerly stepped onto the rough grass and then ran her pale
fingers through the thick mass of black hair that hung loosely to her narrow
shoulders in a feeble attempt to bring it to order. At first, Stern thought she
was nude but then he realized she wore a shear sleeveless silk burgundy dress
with a deep V-neck that exposed her pale skin and hung loose from her narrow
shoulders and then was cinched tight by a wide belt at her waist that secured a
scabbard, supporting a long narrow sword. The dress’ material</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> waned</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
and winked, appeared and disappeared, shimmering as she walked: at one angle it resonated
with a deep ruby red hue and then it shifted into a light rosy transparent sheen.
Magically adorned, she walked away from the idling machine toward the pavilion tent but not too
far; instead, she stopped and Stern thought she waited for the pilot to
extinguish the motor, and with it, its running lights. To confirm his thoughts,
the man climbed from the cockpit in one fluid, athletic move. He was tall, like
her, with black hair cropped close to his head and clean-shaven cheeks. Wearing
a semblance of a uniform, which was all black, with a silver dagger as the only
weapon on his left hip, he took up a position of defense behind her, on the
left. But Stern wondered who protected whom: she stood like a swordsman, with a
loose stance, her feet somewhat apart and square on the grass. He imagined her
pulling the sword from its scabbard in one fluid move and performing a riposte.
They appeared an equal match to the blond Birgit and Bleak. Light and dark, he
thought, opposed to one another on a cold night in eastern Mexico.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-22427203536565889522014-07-16T09:09:00.001-07:002014-07-23T07:58:58.184-07:00Will Fullthe urge to speak<br />
lures me<br />
to the podium<br />
<br />
and the darkness<br />
of the hall<br />
absorbs my voice<br />
<br />
desire leaks<br />
like treacle<br />
into the void<br />
<br />
and my fantasy<br />
in repose<br />
on a leather couch<br />
<br />
is<br />
<br />
I lust<br />
for an ear<br />
to hear<br />
<br />
but fear<br />
its reception<br />
<br />
as a frustrated deception<br />
of my inner conceptionkwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-25257296070263629502014-06-27T09:19:00.000-07:002014-06-27T09:19:34.158-07:00Sixty-Two<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
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and wracked </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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away from this husk</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-11621680968440126052014-06-12T09:49:00.000-07:002014-06-12T09:54:45.561-07:00Chapter Five of Gottesland<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">FEET
FIRST and unconscious, he sliced the water and sunk slowly into the depths of
the mere that formed at the base of the range of hills in the northern region
of Puebla.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
mere was deep; formed ages ago by the eruption of the now dormant volcano above
it. Its bottom hollowed out from pitted volcanic rock added a dank darkness
that enveloped him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Touching
the bottom, he burped a bubble of air, the last in his lungs, and then awoke.
Panic filled his mind as he struggled for a way up. And then a tiny fish with
large teeth bit his cheek and his panic evaporated, as the demon’s voice emerged
from the fish’s toothy mouth. ‘No air, no sound,’ he thought but he understood
the voice in his head anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not swim to the surface. Death awaits you
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you want to live</i>.”</span></div>
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fish swam off toward the west and traversed the fall’s foam and bubbles to a
hole in the wall of the mere and he followed, gasping for air but refusing to
panic. The hole was the opening of a tunnel that led upward into a cave above
the water line. He was saved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
pulled himself out of the water and struggled onto a rugged shelf of volcanic
stone. A opening thirty feet above his head allowed enough light to partially
illuminate the cave’s surface. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Out
of the water and now safe, he began to shiver from the cold. His whole body
vibrated and his teeth clacked together. Shuddering and wracked with chill he
stripped off his clothes and circled the floor, waving his arms and lifting his
legs high to provide some warmth to his body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
he moved he began to curse the demon, the Black Robes that shot him, Birgit,
who abandoned him, and God, in particular.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What
the Hell am I doing here?” he shouted and then stopped and looked up at the
opening in the stone. “Idiot,” he sputtered to himself, realizing they might
hear him having his temper tantrum. “Am I the biggest fool, who ever lived?” he
said, sitting down on a stone. Then, he felt the pain in his shoulder. In the
shock of the fall and then cold water he had been numb to the pain but now he
felt it and he shuddered anew. Touching the wound he examined the fresh blood
on his fingers. “Jesus,” he almost cried, “I will bleed to death in this hole
and no one will ever find me.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your father found himself in a similar
predicament</i>,” said a large white moth, emitting a white soft light, as it
fluttered down from the hole above his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
sat on the rock and wrapped his arms around his chest and said, “I know little
or nothing about my father.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
moth fluttered and the demon spoke through him. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The citizens of Camaron sentenced him to death by starvation and
exposure. They then threw him into an abandoned well and left him to die</i>.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
imagined he was hallucinating but he was curious about his father so he asked:
“Did he die there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
moth landed on his knee and slowly waved its wings. Others descended into the
room and a larger one came to rest on his hand and said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He was saved by the god, Coyote. Do you know him</i>?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The
trickster god of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indios</i>, right?”
he sputtered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
moth on his hand did not answer but another one lighting on his foot said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s right; Coyote saved him with his own
rope. He pulled him out of the well but that is only the beginning of the
story. </i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
felt light-headed now and lay down on the stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I will be dead soon,” he thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
moth landed on his head and said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your
father was wounded just as you are now and then he died. But the lunar bruja
brought him back.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
lifted his head enough to see the whole floor of the cave was covered with the
white moths. He licked his lips and then crawled to the edge of the cavern’s
floor and drank water from the mere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He
died?” he said to the moths and they answered: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The lunar bruja brought him back and sent him to Okeanus.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
did not have the strength to crawl back to the rock; instead, he passed out
where he lay; his long blue-black hair floating gently in the water with the
sharp-teethed fish nibbling at the hairs, biting off the ends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
dreamed of Coyote, who asked him if he knew the story of the Elk monster. “No,”
he said, sitting cross-legged next to a feeble fire fueled by Oryx dung. “Oh,
you will love this one,” Coyote said, rubbing his hands together, before he
began the tale. “If you pay close attention you may find a way out of this
cave,” he said with a wink. “I had just died and been re-born for perhaps the
thousandth time when I awoke on the yellow stalk grass of the Dakota prairie,
hungry and horny. ‘Where is Mole woman?’ I asked with a stretch and yawn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
Coyote told the tale in the dream, he acted out the actions. Stern smiled,
pleased with the trickster’s performance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
hallooed out through cupped hands, like this,” he said and then hallooed. “Mole
woman come feed me and then hump me.” The Coyote laughed at this; he had
tickled himself with his vulgar expression. But vulgarity was one of his major
powers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
heard a rumbling and the prairie shook, as Mole Woman tunneled toward me. She
was coming from the south, from the Commancheria, in a great hurry because she
longed to see her mate, the god Coyote.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Finally,
she arrived and popped her head from her tunnel beneath the prairie. ‘Coyote, I
am here,’ she whispered and I laughed in happiness to see Mole woman. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“She
was quite small and I had to struggle to enter her tight entrance to the underground
but I was hungry and a great lust was on me so I forced myself inside.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mole
woman was assiduous and her tunnel was smooth and clean. She fed me tortillas
and beans and then we mated; our love-making was long and furious. Afterwards,
we slept wrapped in each other’s arms in a snug burrow she had carved from the
tunnel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Badger
woke us days later with a tale of Elk monster rampaging hills north of us and I
thought it fortuitous that he had come because I was ready for a good fight. I
rubbed my hands together and told Mole woman to find Elk monster. She smiled
and began digging.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
tracked down Elk monster and found him fighting Grizzly Bear on the side of a
mountain stream. Grizzly Bear had been fishing and Elk monster wanted to take
away his fish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“When
we were beneath them I popped out of the tunnel and hallooed for the two to stop
fighting. Shocked by my sudden appearance they did. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Elk
monster asked: ‘Coyote how did you get here?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
answered: ‘I walked across the prairie. Didn’t you see me? Have you grown so
feeble and blind you didn’t see old Coyote walk up to you?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Elk
monster was confused and Grizzly Bear used the diversion to escape into the
woods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mole
woman appeared in the distance as I instructed her and I said, ‘Look yonder,
people are gathering to attack us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Elk
monster squinted and said, ‘let’s get them.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He
swung his shield onto his back and picked up his bow and spear and we set off
toward Badger woman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“A
little ways down the hill, Elk monster fell into a hold dug by Mole woman and
he couldn’t climb out. I said, “Hand me your weapons and I will help you out.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Stupidly,
he passed up his spear, his shield, and his bow. And, of course, I took his
spear and stabbed him through his left eye and into his brain. We stripped him
of all his possessions and Mole woman covered up the hole.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
awoke from the dream, shocked by the sudden violence , and rolled over onto his
stomach and crawled away from the edge of the water. He raised himself on his
hands and knees and vomited, spewing the vile liquid across the floor, which
caused thousands of moths to flutter upward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
body was feverish and he shook from chills. He sat up and wrapped his arms
around his knees, which he brought close to his chest. ‘Where had that dream
come from?” he asked himself. “Was there any help contained in the story?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
light from the opening far above his head dimmed and he realized that the day
had almost passed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
clothes were still damp but almost dry. He pulled them on, hoping they would
provide some warmth. His wound no longer bled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
moth said, “Remember Coyote.” Then all of the moths rose and flew through the
opening in the cavern’s ceiling into the darkening night, leaving the cave
pitch-black. He could no longer see his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
sat in the darkness, shivering with fever and thinking about everything that
happened to him since the attack in his room. Hours passed as he remembered
every detail, wondering how he could have avoided this mayhem. Many times he
simply shrugged his shoulders and accepted that he might be insane.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
fell asleep and then he awoke to a movement from the water. Above him, first
light of dawn illuminated the mouth of the hole; just enough to allow him to
see forms and shapes in the cave. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Water
erupted and spray doused him, as a pregnant blue-back dragon rose from the
water and climbed the rocks of the cave’s ledge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
weak, Stern jumped back and edged toward the far side of the cave. It became
obvious to him through some unknown sense that although the dragon was aware of
him, she did not intend attacking him. He knew this by the way the yellowish
light emanating from her eyes softened. He relaxed and leaned against the wall
of the cave and waited to see what she would do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
pregnancy weighed the beast down and she had trouble moving on the rough
stones, her stomach large and distended. Stern guessed she was about to birth
her offspring and he did not want to be around when that happened. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
dragon waddled to the center of the cave and lay down, wrapped her body into a
circle with her long barbed tail touching her nose and fell asleep. Stern,
although hurt and weak, edged around the cave toward the water. He decided he
should try to swim to the surface of the mere; a daunting feat for a man in his
condition but better, he thought, than being roasted by dragon fire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Almost
to the water’s edge, he paused when he became aware the dragon was watching
him. He took one more step and the dragon sprayed a line of liquid fire across
the floor, blocking his way to the water. He moved back to his place against
the wall and the dragon closed her eyes and fell back into sleep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Something
was definitely up, he thought. The dragon did not seem menacing but she also
was not going to allow him to leave her lair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
moth fluttered down from the hole above and landed on the floor near him. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Think</i>,” the moth said. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What aligns you with the dragon</i>?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Supposedly,
he thought, his father was on a mission for the Black Robes to discover the
source of the dragons. But that was apocryphal or so he always believed. The
woman, Birgit, had fed him an elixir called dragon skin but that, too, was
certainly metaphorical. Or was it? Could the dragon believe he was one of her
kind? When she sniffed him, did she smell dragon? Finally, it didn’t really
matter what reason the dragon had for not eating him. He could not stay here
much longer. Wounded and cold, he had to find help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
moth lifted up and said, as it fluttered toward the hole in the roof, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Remember Coyote’s story</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
scratched the stubble on his chin and thought about Coyote’s tale. Should he
burrow his way out? Impossible, he laughed. Or should I find the entrance to
yet another tunnel? And then he thought about his session in the library
reading the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire of Shadow </i>and
his entrance into the other realm. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
looked about him and found a small rough stone, which he used to open the wound
on his shoulder. With the blood, he drew the magic diagram and closed his eyes
as he remembered the letters and their place in the magical formula. When it
was complete, he said the word, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exigo</i>,”
and a timeless space, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ein Bezirk</i>,
engulfed him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
was in a cavern still but not the one under the falls. No dragon slept on the
floor nor was the cave dark and dank; instead, torches illuminated the space
and it was warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tall, thin humanoid
stood a few feet opposite him and he noted its strong aquiline features, its
thin pale lips, its nose, shaped like a falcon’s beak, its eyes, almond-shaped
and hazel in color and its pointed ears, very much like his own. The creature
wore only a leather kilt with five or six golden bracelets on each arm and one
on each ankle. Its bare skin was bone white. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Barefooted,
it approached Stern; and, when it was only a foot or so away, it said, “I am
Kokabiel and you are in a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk </i>of
my making.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
are the voice in my head” said Stern, somewhat startled at seeing embodied the
voice that had been helping him since he was twelve.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon bowed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
walked about the room. There were neither walls nor windows. As far as he could
tell it was as sealed container.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon waited patiently as he examined his surroundings and then said, when it
seemed that Stern had exhausted his investigation, “I need your help, Asa.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
boy turned to him and said, “What can I do for you?” he ran his hand nervously
through his thick hair. “I am a helpless mess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon laughed and said with a smile, which revealed his pointed teeth and black
tongue, “You are connected to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire
of Shadow.</i> In fact, on a magical level it is yours. Only you may handle it
now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
boy was confused and said, “I don’t have it.” He paused before continuing. ‘I
never had it. I read part of it but I left it in the library.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kokabiel
nodded and said, “You didn’t read it in the library. You read it in a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i>, a magical space I created from a
spell from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire of Thorns. </i>I<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>opened a space in a monastery library
in a castle on an island in the world known as Okeanus and you opened it and
read it there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
shook his head and confessed: “I didn’t understand a word you just said.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon laughed dryly. “Magic is a combination of words and blood. Many times
wizards, magicians, warlocks write spells down in books, known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grimoires</i>, to protect the spells from
disappearing. Demons never write things down but often we use magic that
mortals concoct.” He waved his hand in front of him, palm down, and a chair
appeared and the demon sat; he crossed his legs and said, “I am a great
collector of magical books. However, from time to time one slips from my grasp.
For instance, I once let a very valuable book escape me. I gave it to a mortal
to achieve access to your world and now it is lost to me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So
what help do you want from me?” asked the boy, wishing that he, too, had a
chair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon read his thoughts and conjured up a chair for him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
want you to retrieve the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire of
Shadow</i> and bring it to me in the Argantine,” he said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why
can’t you just go and pick it up?” asked the boy innocently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon frowned and the room’s heat increased by a few degrees. The boy did not
notice because everything about the encounter was so strange.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
cannot enter a world without an invitation of an inhabitant of that world,” the
demon said softly. “I am not here. I am projecting an image of myself into your
space.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
boy reached for the demon to test his statement and his hand passed through the
image sitting on the chair in the center of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
see,” said the demon, “I am an image in your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
boy thought for a few moments, playing the demon’s word in his mind. He had a
sense the demon was telling him more than he was saying. His words were like a
poem that needs him to perform an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">explication
de texte</i> to reveal its meaning. When he thought he found the points of
obfuscation, he asked: “When you say it’s my space, what do you mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon smiled, as if to support Stern’s request for clarification. “You created
the space from your reading of the text of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire of Shadow </i>and the application of your blood and your
words; consequently, the power of the space is yours, not mine. In fact, I have
no power here at all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So
how are you here?” said the boy, growing somewhat excited by the thought that
he might be able to wield some sort of power.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
have been privy to your mind since I gained access to this world through a
promise I made to your father; a promise to keep you safe. Wherever you are, I
can project an image or an ear to hear.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
have mentioned the promise before,” said the boy, wondering what circumstances caused
his father to bargain with the demon. He was about to ask the question, when
something told him not to ask. He did not know if the warning came from the
demon himself or from some other force. All he knew was he felt strongly that
if he tried to interrogate the demon, he would be truly sorry. So, instead, he
said, “How do I use the power of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i>
to escape the dragon’s lair?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Remember
the dream of Coyote and Mole Woman,” said the demon. “Use the space to create a
tunnel between one known space and another.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
boy thought for a moment and then asked: “Are you saying that I can create a passageway
between where I am now and a place I have been?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon nodded in the affirmative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How
can I do that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon said, “Imagine a place where you have been and then force your will
against the wall of this space and watch the space expand toward that
remembered place.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Asa
had an excellent sense of direction: he always seemed to know the direction of
true north so he pictured his current location and then imagined the barn where
he met Akna. Once he had both places firmly in his mind he willed a passageway
toward the barn and, a few minutes, stepped back in amazement, watching the
wall of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i> elongate and
stretch itself forward into the semblance of a tunnel that inched inexorably
toward the southwest; the direction he remembered the barn and the cantina.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
he watched the passageway that was neither in time nor space, he asked: “How do
I exit the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i>?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon smiled and said, “You must mark the beginning and the end to establish
the tunnel’s existence and then you will call for a gate to open on the command
of your choice.” The demon paused. “All these things and more are contained in
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire of Shadow</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
realized that the demon was giving him a taste of power, hoping that it would
cause him to seek out the book of magic. Very obvious, but very apt, he
thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Principium</i> written in blood at the
beginning and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exitus</i> inscribed at the
end will complete the passage. Choose whatever word you want to gain access or
egress through a portal and write it on the wall in your blood.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
they talked, the tunnel continued forward and he said, “How will I know when
the passage is complete?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It
will stop and a space identical to this will form,” answered the demon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Asa
opened the wound on his shoulder and wrote the word for beginning in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lingua</i> on the floor. As he worked at the
letters, he decided to ask about the dragon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why
didn’t the dragon attack me?” he said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Ah,”
responded the demon. “It is the dragon skin elixir in your body. She thought
you were a dragon.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
know about the dragon skin?” he asked, finishing the word on the floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Of
course, it is in you so I must know it,” he said sharply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
tone startled the boy so he asked: “What’s the matter? Why have you changed
your tone?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon modulated his voice, probably because he did not want the boy to know
anything bothered him. “The one who fed you the dragon skin is a mortal enemy.
She is a member of the Category.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
have heard that word before but I have no idea what it means.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
before the demon responded to his statement about the Category, the passageway
stopped with a shudder, and the demon said, “You have reached your goal. Be
careful and come to me in the Argantine as quickly as you can.” His image then
disappeared and Stern suspected he left because he had said too much and wanted
to escape the boy’s incessant questions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
started down the long stretch of tunnel. He advanced slowly through the
passageway; the shoulder wound had opened again and he felt weak.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hours
passed and he had to stop several times to rest. Once he fell into a feverish
sleep and dreamed of Coyote and Mole woman, making love on a vast prairie. It
was a graphic dream and he awoke covered in sweat and very thirsty. The thought
he might die in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i> crossed
his mind. What would happen to his body if he died in no space and no time?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
day passed within the tunnel. No time passed outside, when he had reached the
end. He drew the word “Mara” on the wall and then he said,”Exitus.” A portal
opened that shimmered and vibrated. On the other side he could see the wooden
floor of the barn’s loft, the place he had hid with Akna. He stepped through
and shivered from some sort of mild electrical charge as time and space
reasserted their power over him.</span></div>
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kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-77541339477921445472014-06-03T12:32:00.001-07:002014-06-03T12:38:17.339-07:00Chapter Four of "Gottesland"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SHE
LED HIM FROM THE BARN, out the back and down a hill, past two corrals, toward
the rushing mountain stream surging toward the sea. Half-way down, they heard the
bark of one of the shotguns and then screams. Gun fire erupted and they halted
for a second, terrified of what was happening to the people in the clearing.
She moved first, her sense of self-preservation stronger than his at this
point; weeks of illness had weakened his resolve. The dragon skin had helped
him, bolstered his health and his sense of being, but even that seemed to be
wearing off now. It was her sense of urgency that propelled them on. Of course,
she saw him as her means of escape. Alone, she would never have the strength or
resolve to escape, but with him, she would be able to do it. She knew she
could. They just had to survive the current mayhem. The question running
through her mind was whether they should both go now or whether he should hide
and she should go back and plan their escape. They needed food and mounts if
they were to escape Mexico and travel to her home in the Maya-tan. This was a
fact and she knew that only she could make it happen. The Black Robes were here
for him: that was clear to her. They would not want her. When they discovered
he had escaped they would leave and then she would be able to steal what they
needed for the road. It was all very clear in her mind. She was surprised by how she saw things unfolding from here on out. It was if she were
experiencing a vision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The water dropped headlong toward
the sea, rushing from the snow-capped mountain. Approximately thirty feet wide,
the flow was so strong that a crossing on foot was almost impossible but a
rocky shelf about two miles downstream provided a way through that only the
people living and working in the clearing knew about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crossing was marked by a cairn of stone
about two feet high, she told him, and he would know it when he saw it. She had
to return to the clearing and on her return she would erase their tracks. He
would have to go on his own. “When you reach the cairn,” she said, “you must
cross the stream and then go north. About five miles into the forest there is
an outcropping of stone and a shallow cave. It is a lovers’ trysting place.
Wait there for me.” He looked into her eyes and held her hand. He had been
alone for so long, separated from his mother’s people, and here was a beautiful
woman helping him. His eyes filled with tears and he felt something he had
never felt before, a feeling of longing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She embraced him and kissed him on
each cheek and then turned away and grabbed a broken branch from a berry bush
that she used to brush away their tracks. He watched her disappear into the
thick underbrush and then followed the bank of the stream down the hill toward
the ford of stone she had described. As he walked he suddenly began to remember
the Argyll words for the plants and stones. Meeting Akna had broken a barrier
holding back the memories of his youth. As he walked, he imagined he still felt
the warmth of her hand in his, a feeling he found quite comforting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The sun slipped behind the mountains
and the shadows lengthened. He was marching east, along the banks of the river,
and soon it would be dark. Akna had said that the cairn was several miles from
where they separated. If he didn’t reach it soon, he feared he would pass it in
the night. He decided to stop and find a place to pass the night if he didn’t
find the cairn soon; he could not afford passing it in the dark and traveling
miles down the mountain without finding the ford. And if he missed the ford and
didn’t go to the cave, then he would miss Akna. This he could not afford to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With night, the temperature dropped
and the trail in the dark became treacherous. One misstep and he could fall and
break an arm or leg, so he decided he had to wander from the trail and find a
place to spend the night. The undergrowth that grew against the clay banks of
the stream and under the pine forest on each side was thick and coarse. He had
no knife or sword to clear the way so he forced himself through, tearing his
uniform, scratching his hands and face until he found an opening under some
wild berry bushes. He pushed his way in and curled up on a bed of dead leaves
and vines and lay quiet, slowing his heart and lungs, trying to discern if he
had been followed. He heard the rushing water, the hoot of an owl hunting in
the woods, and then the rattle of a woodpecker beating against some hardwood
tree. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His life had been spent in La
Ciudad. First, he lived down below the city in the decaying underground in a
tiny cubicle with his mother and father and, then, after his mother’s death, in
the barracks of the military school. Rarely did the cadets make forays into the
countryside; instead, their training was on playing fields behind the school’s
stone walls or in the dank dark gymnasium below the barracks. He was never
alone during those years but always lonely. Akna’s presence reminded him of his
past and he tried to conjure up a memory of his mother. He was five when she
died at the hands of a racist madman, who would have killed him but for his
rescue by an old woman who just happened to hear his mother’s screams. She beat
the man off with her cane until several neighbors came running at her cries of
“murder!” He remembered his father’s face when he found him in the woman’s
cubicle not far from theirs. His eyes were red from crying; his hair
disheveled. His hands shook as he lifted him up and carried him home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tears ran down his face. He had not
remembered that day in a long, long time. And where was his father now? He
disappeared, killed some said by cutthroats near the great wall two years ago.
Just lost said the Black Robes. They never found his body. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
sound of the water and the quiet of the night lulled him to sleep even though
he was very cold, very sad and very afraid. He pulled his body into the fetal
position seeking to maintain his body’s heat, as dreams descended upon him.
Once again he was in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pagyn</i> in his
mother’s arms; their wagon jostling along through deep jungle, heading north
toward Mexico and the papal kingdom’s capital La Ciudad. He opened his eyes and
spied stars through the canvas of leaves and on a gnarled limb of an ancient
cottonwood lay the supine body of a jaguar, its emerald green eyes watching as
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pagyn</i> rumbled beneath it and its
long tail flicking rhythmically to some inner syncopation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
dream shifted, as dreams do, and he imagined he was the jaguar on the limb and
he was watching a large flat-bed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pagyn</i>
covered with Argyll performers fleeing the rape of Maya-tan, the Mayan
city of the gods, in the south and hurrying toward the decaying fleshpots of
the papal city of the north. He felt a deep rumble in his chest, the
deep-throated growl of a jungle cat, and he flared his black nostrils, caught
the porcine stench of a wild boar and awoke. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
smell of rot and musk and sour mud filled his nose and he heard the sound of an
animal rooting near the base of one of the nearby pine trees. He was downwind
of the creature, which he realized was good; otherwise, the wild boar would
attack him and rip him from groin to chest. He could barely make the creature
out in the dark but he could certainly hear it and smell it. As he watched the
creature, he tried to figure out a plan. Movement out of the undergrowth would
be a loud and messy business. If the creature stayed upwind it might move on
without knowing he was here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
beast continued to root away, searching, he imagined, for truffles or other
indigenous tubers until a noise from the north startled him and the pig. Men’s
voices, speaking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lingua</i>, emanated
from the banks of the stream and then a splash and a loud curse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Help me,” called one of the men. “I can’t
get a hold on this damn bank. It’s as slippery as hell.” Then, another voice
called out: “Hang on.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
knew they were searching for him and he squeezed against the earth, trying to
make himself as small as possible. Behind him, he heard the pig snort and then
turn and run deeper into the forest. For a moment, he feared the men would hear
the boar but they were too occupied with the rushing stream and the possible
loss of one of their comrades to hear. He slowly reached out and carefully
pulled leaves over his body, hoping to further hide him from the men and the
pig. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
lay still for a long time, straining to hear any movement that would indicate
the location of the men. At some point, he fell asleep. When he awoke, the sun
was overhead and he could hear birds moving through the trees. A sparrow was
near his head eating berries from the vines that sheltered him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
was hungry, too, and he reached out and plucked several berries and popped them
into his mouth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No
voices could be heard; only the rushing stream and the birds chirping all
around him. A yellow and black snake slithered through the dead leaves and
crawled over his booted leg and black ants nibbled at the detritus near his
nose. He crawled from beneath the blanket of dead leaves and debris and out from
beneath the shadows of the berry vines. He relived himself against a tree and
blew his nose by holding first one nostril and then the other. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
morning was frosty and a pale fog covered the ground, as he found the muddy
clay trail that ran next to the rushing stream. He soon found the spot where
the man had fallen into the water. The bank was scarred with scratches and
breaks and boot prints, aimed toward the east. They were ahead of him, he
thought, searching for the ford that Akna had told him about yesterday. If she
were not involved he would have set off through the woods but now he felt
committed to her to meet her in the cave and travel south to the Maya-tan. The
thought of returning to his home and his people intrigued him. He felt no
loyalty to the Mexicans. The attack two months ago changed him, hardened his
heart against them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
stomach growled and rumbled as he headed east along the bank and the sun
climbed from the horizon and burned off the fog and warmed the air. Dragonflies
and gnats buzzed along the banks and animals moved in the woods around him,
coming to the water to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
the day wore on, he felt the land bend and the descent sharpen; he was leaving
the hills at the base of the snow-capped mountains behind him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
cairn was near a visible change in the land. Two hundred yards beyond it was a
fall. He could hear the water rumbling over the edge and thundering to the land
below it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beneath
the surface of the water, he could see a stone shelf that rose from the river
bed like a hidden bridge. This was the ford that Akna identified. Around the
cairn he could see the tracks of three men and he wondered if two of them were
the Black Robes who had attacked the dragoons. Beyond the cairn there were no
tracks and he suspected that the men had crossed the stream earlier in the day.
‘Had Akna also passed?” he asked himself. All of the tracks were made by boots.
She had been wearing moccasins. He doubted she had crossed yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the tracks, he knew three men had crossed the ford and he suspected that Akna
had not. He could cross and try to find the cave but he might run into the men
or he could leave the trail and head into the woods and continue east to
Veracruz. Akna would never know what happened to him and she might run into the
men once she crossed the river heading to the cave to meet him. He could not
abandon her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
possibility occurred to him. He could go back up-river toward the clearing and
the Catina and hope to meet Akna on the way down but that was also dangerous,
he quickly realized. The Black Robe could still be there. Finally, he decided
to traverse the ford and trek to the cave and hope that Akna would make it
there without running into the men stalking him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
stream rushed downhill at a tremendous speed and he knew it would take all his
strength to cross. But willow-like Akna had crossed so he imagined he could do
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
stepped into the water and found his footing on the smooth stones that made up
the submerged bridge. One step and then another and he was in the water that
rushed around his waist, no higher. Sliding his feet rather than lifting them he
moved doggedly across, keeping the other side in view. And then he heard her
calling him and looked over his left shoulder to see her coming down the path
next to the stream; a pack was on her back and she carried a large stave.
She was calling him and pointing. Something was wrong and then he turned toward
where she was pointing. Three men came over a knoll on the opposite shore of the
stream, running toward him. He recognized the two Black Robes from the clearing
and a third man, not a Black Robe but n Azteca tracker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Black Robes were carrying their shotguns, weapons used at short range. But the
tracker had a long-barreled carbine, favored by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio</i> hunters, and he had stopped and knelt on one knee and raised
the weapon, aiming at Stern, who stood exposed in the middle of the stream.
Just as the man shot, Stern shouted to Akna to run and hide and then the round
hit him in the right shoulder and he tumbled into the water and was swept away
in the boiling rush of the icy swirl. He disappeared beneath the surface and
hit his head on a rock and was unconscious as the mountain waters carried him
two hundred yards to the fall. He went over without a sound and then fell
seventy-five feet into the clear lake at the base of the hill.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-75830808495897254102014-05-28T13:15:00.002-07:002014-05-28T13:15:57.003-07:00Chapter Three of Gottesland<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">STERN SAT at the end of one of the long communal tables. The dragoons were busy with
the horses and Birgit was nowhere to be seen. A few travelers nodded at him and
then turned back to their food. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do and
felt a bit disoriented after his two months in a coma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He noticed several <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio</i> women moving in and out of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">abobe</i> house carrying trays of food and pints of beers but he didn’t
know if they took orders at the table or if he had to go inside, order and pay.
And then he realized he had no money to buy food; all he possessed were the clothes
on his back. Birgit and the dragoons had given him no opportunity to pack.
Suddenly, the momentous undertaking he had made when he followed Birgit out of the
hospital came to him; and, as the magnitude of what he had done became clear,
he felt stupid and afraid at the same time. In a momentary panic he ran the
past few days’ activities through his mind. He was dying and in a coma and then
a woman forced an elixir down his throat and he was no longer in danger;
instead, within hours he was feeling better than he did before he was attacked
and growing demonstrably stronger, fleeing across central Mexico with a
beautiful French woman and a squad of dragoons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
placed his hands on the table palm up and sighed. A white moth settled on a
splash of spilled beer between his hands and unnaturally arrested his attention. Diverted
from his confusion for a few moments by the beauty of the moth, he suddenly
felt a sense of calm. As he wondered at this instant change of mood he realized
there was something familiar about the moth. Then he remembered, like one
remembers a forgotten dream: when he was in the library, looking for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire of Shadow, </i>hundreds of moths
filled the lighted circle during his conversation with the demon. It was clear
to him that the demon and the moth were connected; and, as he made this
connection, the moth fluttered its wings and lifted off the table and hovered
before his face, as if to confirm his suspicions. It was as if it and he were
now in communion with one another. Then the moth spoke to him, as a cone of
silence and brilliant white light that extinguished all other sounds formed
over him and the moth. He could see the people talking and eating outside the
cone but he could not hear them and he suspected that they could no longer see
him. He had the impression, and this was something that the moth seemed to
impart to him, that he had disappeared and entered a pocket world adjacent to
but not part of the everyday world he just inhabited. His understanding from
the moth was that this pocket world was a type of portal into another sphere or
realm; a place where time and space did not exist and he and the moth or its
master, the demon, could communicate freely. And then to emphasize his
understanding of this alternate reality, the moth said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This realm or ein Bezirk is the one you entered when you read the
Grimoire of Stone. It is here that we will communicate until you seek me out.
They will want you to find the Grimoire but it is neither in your realm nor
mine. It is in Okeanus and it is in peril of being found by those who would
misuse it.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern did not
understand a word the creature spoke or the significance of its message so he
asked: “I don’t understand what this all means?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But instead of his receiving an
answer, the bubble of light and silence burst with an audible pop and he returned
to both time and space: he could hear the people around him talking and
laughing; he could smell the food and feel the cool humid breeze emanating from
the rushing stream on his face; and he could sense a tingle in his head and a
steady vibration of his body. After effects, he suspected, from being
transferred from one <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i> to
another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He thought he chose the word “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk”</i> because it felt more alien to
him and yet more precise than the word “realm;” however, the truth was that the word
picked him. The concept was placed, inserted really, in his mind, to work on
him through a subconscious process to build a semantic structure in which a
framework of magic could emerge; it was an idea, he knew, originating from the
moth, an idea growing organically and exponentially as he sat quietly among
these people and that explained through this process first the uses and power of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk </i>to him<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>and then how he could use it<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.
</i>He suspected it was the demon, Kokabiel, that had planted the knowledge of the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bezirk</i> and he now intuited it was part
of his task to unravel it and control it. But then he thought this explanation
too was just another form of manipulation, like a key left in a lock. Birgit,
Bleak, and the demon were all attempting to instill some sort of understanding
of the task or quest on him. He was aware and somewhat angered by the knowledge
that he was not currently acting from his own volition; instead, he was being pushed
or carried along into the fantasies and agendas of other people. And then an
idea struck him; perhaps, he was still in a coma and this adventure was nothing
but a dream. He laughed at this theory and pinched himself to reassure himself
that he was alive and in the hills west of La Ciudad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why are you pinching yourself?”
said a tall, thin Argyll woman with a laugh. He looked up and smiled
sheepishly; his blue skin darkening in embarrassment. She wore the blue skirt,
red apron, and white peasant blouse of the other servers and she was speaking
to him in his mother’s language, not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lingua</i>
of the Middle Kingdom but in Argyll. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He cleared his throat and sat up as
he formed his answer. For some reason it was important he explain himself to
this woman. “I have been sick and I felt as if I were not truly here.” He
stopped and checked her face to see if she were truly listening. “I wondered if
I was dreaming this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She turned her head a bit and a
tendril of her thick, dark blue-black hair fell away from her face. “What do
you mean by ‘this’?” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He smiled at her in an attempt to
convey his feelings. He had not spoken to a woman of his race since he entered
the military academy and her presence was eliciting all sorts of feelings he
could not accurately interpret. Of course, the image of his mother came
unbidden into his conscious mind, as well as sexual feelings that he kept
tightly tapped down while he was in the academy. Unlike his fellow cadets he
did not patronize prostitutes, who were mostly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indios</i> or Mexicans, nor did he have any family connections that
would have brought him into contact with young women of a particular class. The
cadets, for the most part, were either members of nobility or sons of
middle-class bureaucrats or merchants. His case had been unique; he was the son
of a Black Robe engineer, who had proven himself invaluable to the progress of
the Empire. It was only an accident of fate that he also happened to be
half-Argyll. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I mean this lovely spot,” he
stuttered, lying to her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A slight pout crossed her lips and
she said, “I hate it here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His feeble response was to ask
“Why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She looked around her to see if
anyone was listening and then she whispered. “I was indentured to the owner,
Carne, for one year for a fee of five gold eagles; the amount of money my
father needed to get the rest of my family to Veracruz.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His mouth opened a bit, a sign he
was shocked and saddened by her father’s betrayal of her. Stupidly, the only
thing he thought to say was: “How long ago?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Seven months,” she said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At that moment a short man exited
the cookhouse and stretched. His apron stained with blood hung loosely around
his neck. Beneath it he wore a white sleeveless shirt and a pair of black linen
pants. He walked toward them, pulling a cheroot from his shirt’s pocket and
stuffing it into his mouth. “He is angry,” she said quickly. “I must go.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But
I want to order something to eat,” Stern blurted out, as she hurried away from
the table and her boss. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
turned his attention the man. He noticed his thick dark forearms covered in curly
black hair first and then his scowling face partially hid under a heavy black
beard. Stern was inexperienced with young women but he could spot an angry man
a mile away from him and this man was very angry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man stopped a few feet away and pulled the cigar from his mouth before
asking, “Who are you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
wondered if he should stand or continue to sit. If the man attacked him, he
would be at a great disadvantage, his legs trapped under the table.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Are
you Carne?” he asked to buy a time while he thought what to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man blinked and opened and closed his fists, somewhat confused by the question.
“Why do you ask?” he asked. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
was just asking the server what to order and she said I should ask Carne, the
chef.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man’s demeanor changed: his face relaxed and a slight smile gathered at the
corners of his mouth; his shoulders hunched and ready to receive and give blows
straightened and broadened; his clenched fists opened and he wiped them on the
dirty apron before extending his right hand to Stern to shake. “I recommend the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chili relleno</i>. I make it Ciudad
style,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he said, holding Stern’s hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Then
I will have that and a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cerveza</i>,” said
Stern with a grin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man snapped his fingers and one of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio</i>
women rushed to his side and took the order. Carne, satisfied that nothing
untoward was going on between the Argyll woman and Stern, moved on to other
tables greeting his guests and Stern sighed in relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt strong; the dragon skin was evidently
a miracle drug but he still felt a residue of uncertainty in his ability to defend
himself. Lurking in his memory was traumatic pain and agony. Just the thought
of being hit unnerved him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
these thoughts surfaced he began to worry about Birgit; she had disappeared
shortly after they arrived at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">caravanserai</i>.
The dragoon, too, had been in the barn for a long time and he was beginning
to feel deserted. Could something have happened to them?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
as these thoughts surfaced, the squad began to emerge from the barn and head toward the
tables. Munoz saw him and waved and then the men changed course and swaggered
toward him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
had cleaned up a bit, he noticed. Their tunics were buttoned and their hair
combed. Some wore their brown sombreros, while others carried them in their
hands. The dust had been knocked from their cavalry boots and he noticed the
regimental pins on their collars for the first time; the silver hand,
identifying them as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sans Main</i>. Odd,
he had not seen that the night before when they rushed him from the hospital
and then it struck him: they had not worn any service pins or patches because
they did not want to be identified.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sans Main</i> regiment, he remembered,
were descended from the French Expeditionary force that supported the Pope in
the war of 2212 against the Anglo mob fleeing the North and crossing the wall
at Juarez. Those captured had their hands cut off and left for dead in the
desert south of the Juarez ruins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Munoz
was the first one to sit, choosing a spot opposite Stern. The rest moved in
around him. He had not yet learned all of their names but he was beginning to
recognize them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Twelve
in all, they all seemed to be older; seasoned veterans, he guessed. They
probably volunteered for the mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But to do what: rescue him or kidnap him? This he didn’t know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Munoz
called out to one of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio</i>
serving women and she nodded and moved toward them. “Starving,” he said with a
grin. Several of the other men agreed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So
where is the good doctor?” asked Munoz.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
shrugged and answered, “I have no idea. I thought she was with you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of the men they called Oso said, “She headed off to the main house as soon as
we arrived. I thought she was arranging food for us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
looked toward the house and he asked the serving girl if she had seen the woman
that accompanied them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No,
I haven’t seen anyone but you men,” she said and then headed toward the cook house
to fetch beers for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“She
wouldn’t have gone far,” said Munoz, looking over his shoulder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Birgit
had not turned up by the time their food was served and Stern was beginning to
worry. He knew no one in this group but the woman who called herself a doctor.
He had no money and he had no real understanding of why he was fleeing toward
Veracruz, except the woman who had said he was in danger. He was at their
disposal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
men finished eating and then ordered another round of beer. They were beginning
to grow boisterous and loud and the serving women were eying them nervously.
Twelve drunken dragoons was not a pretty tableau. Stern was beginning to feel
tired and the men bothered him. He asked Munoz what their plans were. The man
looked up from his beer and slurred out an answer. “Stay here the night and let
the horses rest and then we are off to the east tomorrow morning at dawn,” he
said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
needed to get away from the soldiers. Drunken humans always scared him because
beat the Argyll would be the next thing on their agenda. Let them drink
themselves silly, he thought, as he stood up and asked: “Where are we bedding
down?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The
loft above the stalls,” Munoz answered. “Find some hay and make yourself
comfortable.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
tables were now in shade; the mountains and the forest blocked the sinking sun.
As he walked toward the barn, he heard bells and turned toward the trail he and
the dragoons traveled from the main road earlier in the day. A large group of
Aztecas in ceremonial garb emerged from the shadows of the forest. Bells on
straps tied to their their ankles tingled as they walked. ‘What the hell?’ he
asked himself. He stopped and watched fifty or so Aztecas, men, women and
children, filter into the clearing. Behind them two men on tall black horses
entered the clearing. They were not with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indios.</i> He recognized the Black Robe out riders immediately.
“Damn,” he said out loud as he scurried for the barn and hoped they had not
seen him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
climbed a ladder to the loft and lay down on the hay-covered
floor, and then crawled to the open doors to watch the Black Robes ride their
horses up to a hitching post near the well. The shorter one stepped out of the
saddle and tied his horse off, while the taller of the two, the one with a
thick black beard, stood in his stirrups and surveyed the people sitting at the
tables eating. He wanted to believe their being here was a coincidence but he
quickly overruled that bit of magical thinking. He could almost read the man’s
mind as he checked each person at the tables. The younger one pulled off his
thick black woolen robe, his symbol of office and authority, and folded it
carefully before tying it with leather straps to the rear jockey behind the
canticle of the Mexican saddle. He wore two Navy colts on his hips, guns that
Asa’s father might have made for the military order, which he slid partially
from the holsters, loosening them to ease his draw, and then reached over the saddle and pulled a
sawed-off double barrel shotgun from a boot designed for the weapon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Asa
looked to the dragoons who were laughing and drinking, unaware of the danger
they were now in. “Where the hell was Birgit?” he wondered out loud. When he
turned back to the Black Robes, it was clear to him that the taller one had
spied the dragoons, as he, too, stepped out of the saddle and pulled off his
robes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
dragoons were unarmed and half-drunk. Any protection they would provide him
would be minimal and quickly over with if the Black Robes decided to fight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suddenly
he heard the ladder creak. Someone else was on their way up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
slid away from the trapdoor toward the shadows looking for a weapon, a hay hook or
fork, to skewer one of the Black Robes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hiding
in the shadows he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the wild thick thatch
of blue-black hair appear above the edge of the loft's floor. The Argyll woman peered
over the edge of and looked around and then smiled when she saw him
crouching in the corner. “It’s just me, Akna,” she said softly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What
is it?” he blurted out and she frowned, disappointed and a bit wounded by his
greeting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
wanted to talk to you?” she said, now a bit shy and hesitant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
was afraid someone would see her standing on the ladder so he urged her to join
him in the shadows. “Hurry up,” he said, hurting her feelings further.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why
are you being so rude?” she asked bluntly. Now she was becoming angry with the
officious young man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before
he could answer the first shotgun blast erupted and then the screams. She
looked panicked and started back toward the stairs. “No,” he yelled and grabbed
her arm and pulled her to him. “Do not go out there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
struggled against him and then a second blast convinced her to stay with him.
He told her to get down and he crawled to the wide doors and looked out. People
were running into the woods away from the communal tables. Four or five
dragoons were down, while the rest held their hands up in surrender to the two Black
Robes who leveled their shotguns at them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Jesus,”
he whispered and backed away from the door. He had to get out and away from
this place. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suddenly
she was next to him, looking out on the carnage. “What do they want?” she
whispered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
think they are looking for me?” he said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
looked at him and asked: “You, what did you do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
don’t really know,” he said and that was the truth. He really didn’t know why
the Black Robes were coming for him. Yes, he thought, he had read a book of
black magic and cast a spell for his own protection but did that make him such
a dangerous character. Maybe he should give himself up before someone else was
hurt but something held him back. The demon wasn’t talking to him now and Birgit
was nowhere to be found but he had a nagging suspicion that if he gave himself
up to the Black Robe he would never to be heard from again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
need to get away from here, now,” she whispered into his ear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
turned toward her and asked: “How do I get past them?”</span></div>
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kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-25627137358828558452014-05-22T09:31:00.003-07:002014-05-22T09:32:41.728-07:00Sobek<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Reside
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bear
witness to their wetness</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Testify
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-84073738552102594632014-05-20T12:30:00.002-07:002014-05-20T12:30:07.590-07:00Prologue to Gottesland<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">GUILLERMO
HARPO awoke to the strident rant of the digital clock built into the ceramic
headboard of his sleep alcove and vigorously scratched the dried skin on his
chest and stomach before kicking off the bed’s synthetic sheet and swinging his
legs onto the faux floor of the cold, illuminated plastic frame of his cubicle.
The refrigerated air of sub-level seventeen far below the central dome of La
Ciudad chilled his naked body and smelt of fried onions, cabbage, cigar smoke,
antiseptic spray and raw sewage. Harpo, responding to the temperature, the
odor, and the chemicals sneezed, not once, but three times. Snot rolled freely
from his sinuses onto his Nietzsche-like mustache, and he coughed, choking on
the phlegm that drained into his throat. He grabbed a corner of the sheet and
blew his nose loudly, clearing his nostrils, before taking six baby steps to
the toilet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Glancing
up at the low ceiling as he relieved himself, he remembered today was his
sixtieth birthday. He was born on July 24, 1999, in Hobbes, New Mexico to
illegal immigrants, who worked as agricultural day workers for AN Corporation.
As he flushed the toilet and stepped beneath the shower nozzle embedded in the
ceiling above the room’s single drain, he recalled the day the Anglos expelled
his family from the North; he was a senior at the University of New Mexico,
twenty-one years old, and home on Spring Break. A day or two after he arrived
home, the University of Chicago notified him he had been accepted to study
economics and political philosophy in the graduate school; he had applied there
because he admired Leo Strauss, a 20<sup>th</sup> century professor, who had
taught at the university, and whose followers still dominated the political
science department. As the postman pulled away from their adobe house on a
quiet, tree-lined street in Hobbes, near Carlsbad Caverns, the only home he had
ever known, the emigration police arrived in three shiny black SUVs built in
Shenzhen by a Chinese affiliate of the AN Corporation, the same company that
employed his parents illegally. Without warning, they knocked the front door
down and pointed their submachine guns at his family before handcuffing them
and parading them out through the back yard to an idling Japanese van in the
alley. Although born in Hobbes, he was not an American citizen: a recent
amendment to the Constitution took that right away from him and his siblings. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Harpo
never saw his home again; he spent the rest of his twenty-first year in a
dirty, overcrowded detainment camp in a reserve on the Mexican side of the
Great Wall. The camp, although government owned, was run by a subsidiary of AN
Corporation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The shower switched off at the end of his water allotment
and the dryers commenced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dried and
nude, he examined his close-cropped hair in the mirror; a few strands of gray
seasoned his sideburns and his burgeoning mustache, warning him it was time for
his bi-annual injection of nanobots and hormones. Shrugging off the memories of
the camp, he brushed his teeth shaved his chin, combed his hair, and dressed in
his usual attire--black single-breasted suit, white cotton shirt, and black
boots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He checked himself one last time in the mirror on
the door and noticed his green eyes were sparkling; a sign he was happy. He had
a date to celebrate both his birthday and finishing the book later in the day
with Carmelita Guttmann, his translator of his last book into German, and a
lunch appointment with his agent to handover the flash drive with the final
draft of his new monograph: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doctor Dee
and the Machinicians, </i>the book his agent presold last year to a German
publisher, Wolf Verlag, GmbH, in Munich. This book, he hoped, unlike his
others, might win the Vatican’s approval and garner a small but select
readership; something he had never had before in his writing career and
something for which he most earnestly yearned. If so, if he were correct, he
harbored the silent hope that not only would he have readers but the Mandarins
under the Dome would offer him a professorship at the university.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He commanded the lights off, closed the door, and
thought about the book in which he placed so much hope. His thesis was simple.
In 1583, Doctor John Dee, after receiving a revelation from angels, joined
Adrian Gilbert and John Davis to form a corporation to exploit and develop the
resources of New Atlantis in the North before the Spaniards, who were
exploiting the South, turned their attention toward them. The corporation they
formed by authority of Queen Elizabeth in 1584, he argued, still operates today
under the name: AN Corporation; the very company that employed his parents in
New Mexico and subjected him to imprisonment and forced labor in a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">maquiladora</i>. AN Corporation’s original
mission statement was to influence and control the world for the financial
benefit of the Queen and its multi-national shareholders. AN’s mission
statement continues to be its current mandate and the conclusion is that
corporate man, not Universal History, as Hegel proposed, is making the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As he turned left and walked down the narrow
corridor toward the elevators that would take him to sub-level ten and the tube
station, his cubicle door locked behind him. Except for a swarm of nanobots
scouring the underground, cleaning it of all debris, the corridor was empty; it
was too early for children to leave for school and his neighbors, bureaucrats
like him, who worked in government offices within the dome, pushing electronic
mail through the web, had already departed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When he reached the grimy elevator, covered with
graffiti, it too was empty. His journey to the tenth sub-level to his surprise
was fast and uninterrupted. The platform for his train, however, was crowded
and he pushed his way through the workers toward the edge. As he man-handled
his way roughly through the commuters, he noticed more <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Policia Federales</i> (PF) on the platform than usual. He counted six
quickly without really looking; his two stints in detainment camps had made him
sensitive to their black uniforms and balaclava masks. However, once he reached
the edge of the platform, he let out a long sigh of relief. No PF had grabbed
at him or looked at him menacingly. He was without reproach, he thought,
returning to his good mood and high hopes for the day. He would make the next
train and be at his cubicle in the basement of the library within half an hour.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He leaned over the edge of the platform and felt a
warm, electrical breeze emanating from the tunnel’s mouth, an intimation of the
train’s arrival. He rocked forward on his toes and shook his arms, readying
himself for the onslaught of the exiting commuters, hurrying to make a
connecting train, and the frantic rush forward by the people behind him. He
turned once more to the tunnel. Light filtered through its vague grayness and
he inhaled a deep breath, readying himself to move, when a hand grasped his arm
forcibly and pulled him back into the crowd. A curse slipped spontaneously from
his lips, as he tried to shake off the grip that dragged him inexorably toward
the back of the queued pedestrians. He balled up the fist of his right hand
preparing to swing at the brute that seized him, when he saw the black mask,
the body armor, and the Taser.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The PF was stout and short, somewhat square like a
washing machine. His eyes were dark black and his skin brown. An <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio,</i> thought Harpo, as he relaxed his
body and allowed the man to guide him through the crowd toward the plastic
seats screwed into the cement walls, where a woman, wearing a PF officer’s
uniform, waited. Her face and head were uncovered but she wore the black body
armor that was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">de rigueur</i> for the PF
and carried both a sub-machine gun strapped to her protective vest by a nylon
cord and an automatic pistol in a leather holster on her left hip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bueñas dìas,
Señor</i> Harpo,” she said, extending her right hand for him to shake. “Please
sit down while I explain why we delayed you this morning.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Harpo hesitated. He was very familiar with both the
brutality of the PF and their underlying sarcasm that emerged during moments
like this, moments of courtesy that quickly morphed into horror, torture, and
mayhem. He cleared his throat and then moved toward the plastic bench and sat
next to the woman, who smelled of musk, gun oil, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jicama</i>. He didn’t say a word, knowing from experience that opening
his mouth could easily be seen as an opportunity for one the PFs to close it
with a nightstick. He placed his hands in his lap to show he intended to
cooperate, to follow their lead and instructions. Finally, she smiled and said
casually: “I am Lieutenant Sanchez and I have been asked to escort you to level
five and turn you over to some colleagues. Consequently, I would appreciate
your going with us. Any display of revolt or hesitancy will result in personal pain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He looked into her dark black eyes and knew she
would happily strike him with the black baton on her right hip or stun him with
the plastic Taser, secured in a breast pocket of her vest. He nodded and waited
for her to stand. When she moved he followed her because his role in this
matter was quite clear: he was to obey her every command. They marched together
toward a small elevator in an alcove on the platform. Sanchez punched in a
series of numbers on the key mechanism and the doors slid open and they entered
the car to stand close together. Someone said “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cinco</i>” and the doors closed with a silent sibilant slide, then the
car shot up fifteen floors to a small, intimate, and very clean governmental
pneumatic station five stories above the surface, where a four-passenger
robotic vehicle waited. Sanchez pointed to the car and Harpo climbed in with
her close behind him. The five other PFs remained on the platform as she
ordered the driverless craft to the Swiss Guard headquarters within the walls of
Vatican City. It automatically lifted from the tube surface and hovered within
the vacuum; he felt pressure building in his ears, as they shot through the
tubes with a whoosh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The pneumatic station under Vatican City was
adjacent to the Swiss Guards’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">militarium</i>.
Their car stopped and its glass, gull-wing door opened automatically, as two
Swiss Guards, dressed in pseudo armor, reminiscent of that worn by the
Conquistadores, approached, carrying traditional Roman <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pila </i>in their right hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sanchez climbed out first and then extended a hand to help Harpo exit.
He wrinkled his nose, showing his irritation, and then grasped her hand, which
was dry and warm. Against his will, he felt a slight sizzle of frisson and then
chastised himself silently for being such a fool; this woman would strike him
down at a modicum of provocation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One guard led them to another bank of elevators,
while the other followed. The platform was clean: its walls painted eggshell
white, without a scratch of graffiti; its refrigerated air odorless; the
overhead lights bright. The elevator doors of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">militarium</i> were stainless steel and the floor of the elevator
carpeted. One of the guards said “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fünfzehn</i>,”
and after just a few moments the doors opened onto in a large space filled with
light. One man stood in the center of the space, wearing a black cassock, and
fingering a black rosary in his right hand. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leutnant</i>, I will take it from here,” he said in German, and then
addressed Harpo in Spanish. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Señor</i>
Harpo, please follow me.” The priest set off across the open space toward
wooden double doors, where he paused and then knocked. Without waiting for an
answer, he pushed the door open and entered a library with floor-to-ceiling
bookshelves and several long library tables. Harpo paused before crossing the
threshold and gawked at the floor covered in a dark red carpet, the walls of
leather-bound books, and the arched stained glass windows that contained
illustrated scenes from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Book of</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revelation</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The priest, sensing Harpo was not behind him, turned
and waved him forward with a scowl on his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The library contained only one man, who stood with his arms crossed
across his chest, leaning against a library table. Light from the windows
framed him in a penumbra of white, obscuring his face. Automatically, Harpo
raised his right hand to shield his eyes to better see the man. The room
smelled of incense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The man, seeing Harpo shade his eyes, moved to the
right out of the direct light of the window and shifted into the shadows, near
the bookshelves. He was tall and very thin; clean-shaven, with pale blue eyes
and thick blond hair, parted on the right; coincidentally, he wore, like Harpo,
a black suit and a white shirt open at the collar, which somehow calmed the
writer. The priest began to introduce the man in the shadows but the man held
up his hand, palm open, and said: “Thank you, Father, I will take it from
here.” The priest sputtered and he continued: “Please close the door on your
way out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The priest nodded and then left the room. The man
gazed steadily at Harpo, and Harpo wondered if he should speak. Finally, when
he could no longer stand the weight of the silence, he asked: “May I sit down?”
The man smiled and nodded in the affirmative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Harpo pulled out a leather chair from one of the
long oak tables. He was nervous and intimidated by the situation but he was
also intrigued and awed by the ancient, physical books, the space, and the
light of the room. He placed his hands, palm down on the table, and scanned the
walls, trying to read the titles. The strong odor of the incense, burning in a
golden censor, irritated his sinuses and he held back a sneeze, as he read the
titles of the books on their leather spines. For a moment, he forgot about the
man and his nose; his passionate interest in books overcoming the fear he felt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The spell was broken when the man slammed a book
down in front of him. Harpo jumped, almost wetting himself, and turned toward
the man with a curse. He hated to be treated like an idiot or a pawn and he
suspected that was what was happening. The man, however, simply smiled and
pulled out the chair next to his. “Take a look at the book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herr</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doctor</i>
Harpo,” the man ordered in a mixture of German and Spanish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Harpo gingerly picked up the leather-bound book,
opening it and turning its thin, onion-skin pages to the title page. “I should
be wearing gloves,” he said, as he read the title out loud—“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Liber Mysteriorum</i>, dated December 22,
1581, by Doctor Johannes Dee and edited by Doctor Meric Causaubon.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Correct,” said the man. “Did you have this
available to you when you did your research for your new book?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Harpo, startled by the man’s reference to his book
that he had yet to turn into his publisher and embarrassed because he had not
read the Dee book, blushed, knowing that one of the fatal flaws of his latest
work was the paucity of available primary texts in La Ciudad. Most of Dee’s
important works to the extent they still existed were in the libraries of the
Anglo-American Empire and unavailable to him. So, to answer the man’s question,
he simply shook his head in the negative; and, in response, the man cleared his
throat, as if to say: “I thought as much.” But said instead: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herr Doctor</i>, I have access to many of
Dee’s works, as well as secondary sources on both Dee and the AN Corporation. If
you intend to truly expose its workings to the world, you must go back to the
beginning, to Dee and his alchemical work. You must understand what he did at
the University of Louvain and his relationship to the alchemists.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Forgetting for a moment where he was, Harpo shot
back. “But I did discuss that. I have an entire chapter on Dee’s alchemical
preoccupations, as well as his experiments in the occult.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The man, unfazed by Harpo’s defense, responded: “But
you did not have this book or any others like it when you composed your work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wondering
how he knew what texts he consulted in the writing of the book, he answered:
“No, I did not read this book.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But
you would like to read it?” the man asked softly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Harpo
nodded and touched the book, as if to claim it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right,”
said the man, walking toward the door. “Let’s take a little trip.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Harpo stood suddenly, startled at the suggestion,
fearing that “a little trip” really meant back to prison or the work camp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“I have a lunch meeting with my agent,” he stuttered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Oh, we’ve canceled that. Your book is not really
finished is it? I mean you still have a great deal of research to do before
your work is complete.” He held the door open and gestured for Harpo to follow
him. “Where are we going?” Harpo asked as he passed through the door.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Up,” the man answered with a grin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">They took the elevator to the roof where, on an
elevated landing pad, a silver and gold two-man ornithopter, designed to
resemble a giant cicada, idled. Harpo, experiencing a slight vertigo, licked
his lips, tasting the air of the dome. It was different from that of the under
city, not rancid or bitter, but still artificial. He gawked at the buildings
under the dome and marveled at the hive-city from this altitude; the vision
caused a mild dizziness, as he shuffled across the roof following the man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At the ornithopter the man removed his coat, handing
it to a Swiss Guard, who appeared from a door on the far side of the roof, and
extracted a leather jacket from the pilot’s seat of the aircraft and pulled it
on in one fluid motion. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herr Doctor</i>,”
he ordered: “Please take your seat.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As the man inserted an electronic communication bead
into his left ear, he turned to Harpo, extended his hand, and said: “My name is
Antonius Bleak, and I have been sent to initiate you into the category.” Before
Harpo could respond or ask what he meant by “the category” the man pushed on
the throttle and the wings hummed as the sparkling ship made out of steel and
glass and shaped like a cicada rose from the roof and headed toward the
heliostat and its open storm doors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Before they reached the doors, Harpo repeated his
question-- asked first in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">militarium—
</i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>shouted above the mechanical
clatter of the wings: “Where are we going?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bleak pointed toward the heliostat and said:
“Teotihuacan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Harpo repeated the word and then sputtered: “why?”
But the man did not answer; instead, he piloted the ship through the open doors
and out of the protective dome of the central district into the hot dry air of
summer. Waves of heat roiled off the doom and produced turbulence that shook
the tiny craft. But Bleak calmly guided the ship, turning it toward the
northeast, toward the ruins of Teotihuacan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The man said nothing as they flew, but once the
ruins became visible, he shouted over his shoulder: “Professor, there lies the
road to the gods.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Through a heat haze rising off the ruins, Harpo
could make out the three pyramids. It had been years since he had traveled to
the ancient city and he wondered what madness brought him here today. He took a
deep breath and tried to relax. Surely, Bleak would not bring him here to do
mischief; he could have easily done that in the basement of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">militarium. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bleak throttled back on the engine and turned the
craft toward the Temple of the Feathered Serpent and said: “We will land there
near the Temple.” He then pointed off the starboard side and laughed. Harpo
turned to see a blue-back dragon soaring on the heat waves and thermal currents
maybe five kilometers north of the ruins. “I didn’t know they had migrated this
far,” said Bleak absently. “They appeared in Mexico maybe five years ago,”
answered Harpo, “the blue-backs entered our world through Patagonia maybe
twenty years ago and slowly worked their way north.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Once they landed, Bleak hopped out of the craft and
helped Harpo unbuckle his harness. The heat was dry and almost unbearable and
Harpo peeled off his coat and left it in the seat. As he walked away from the
craft, he rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest.
Standing in the sun, sweat oozed from his pores, wetting his head and running down
his back. “This heat!” he said, rubbing the flat of his hand over his forehead
and flicking away the sweat. Bleak was not sweating. Harpo didn’t notice it at
first but then he did and it troubled him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Why aren’t you sweating? Aren’t you hot?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bleak did not respond; instead, he pointed to the
top of the temple and said: “Let’s climb. I want to show you something.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">They climbed up the crumbling rock in their polished
black, lace-up shoes and their wool pants. Half-way up Harpo panted like a dog,
his tongue hanging out and his eyes bulging. He cursed Bleak and the Pope under
his breath and imagined him killing the man by crushing his skull with a loose
stone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When they reached the top Bleak strolled toward the
center of the building and signaled for Harpo to join him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Professor, as I said at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">militarium,</i> I have come to initiate you into the category. If you
are chosen, then you will join us in our work to balance the world and satisfy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moirae.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Have you lost your mind?” asked Harpo. “Satisfy the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moirae</i>?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Fates, if you would prefer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Prefer? I would prefer to be left alone to write
and study. Is this some ruse of the Vatican to drive me into a mental
institution?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“No, Professor, I don’t work for the Vatican. I’m a
representative of a category, just as Edward Kelley was a member and leader of
a category.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Harpo sputtered and spat: “Edward Kelley was a
scoundrel and a charlatan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“No, Professor, Edward Kelley was one of us and the
magic he performed was real.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“His magic was real? So you’re saying that Dee
actually talked with the angels and the spirits?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bleak nodded in the affirmative. “Professor, if you
join us I will introduce you to Kelley and Dee and others like them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“I’m leaving. This is too much. You’ve really lost
your mind, Bleak.” Harpo started back toward the edge of the pyramid but
suddenly he felt a hand on his left shoulder and then a tremendous pain in his
right side where the silver blade entered his back. The pain was sharp and
exquisite and he coughed up blood and fell to the ground, where he died slowly
in a widening puddle of blood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bleak waited an hour for the sound of the Valkyries
flying in from the far North. When they arrived, Harpo, having passed the first
test of the category, was waiting for them; his immaterial self, barely visible
in the hot Mexican sun, hovered over his now rotting body, covered with flies.
Vultures circled on heat waves emanating from the hot stones and crows cawed
from a ragged mesquite tree that had grown up through a crack in the crumbling
stones. The Valkyries did not speak; they simply enfolded Harpo into their arms
and lifted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As he rose above the ruins in their bronze covered
arms, Harpo heard Bleak say: “When you return, we will begin.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-66291475195106527682014-05-08T13:07:00.000-07:002014-11-11T10:43:30.422-08:00Chapter Two of "Grimoire of Shadow"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IN
HIS DREAM MAYAN-TAN BURNED</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and only
the ancient pyramids, built by the first Argylls to reach earth, seemed
untouched by the petroleum flames called dragon’s breath. His mother stood in
the bed of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pagyn</i>, along with
several Argyll actors, comics and magicians from the city, holding him close to
her breast and watching the glow of liquid fire spread a dome of jaundiced
light over the walled city, while his father was somewhere with the Mexican
army, near the flames, commanding the catapult teams that launched the
canisters of dragon’s breath that burst against the walls and melted the mortar
between the bricks. Eventually, the walls would collapse and a column of
Imperial Lancers would gallop forward to engage any survivors trying to escape
the inferno and pass the ragged column of camp followers and wounded in the array
of wagons, carts and <i>pagyns</i> stalled on the side of the dirt road cut
through the jungle during the Mexican’s invasion of Maya. With the road ahead
clear, the Mayan-tan clown that drove their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pagyn</i>
whipped its six oxen into movement and his mother sat before its jolting
movement caused her to fall. Rocking him in her arms, she cried for her father
and brothers, who fled south toward the Pan-nam with the surviving Jaguar
warriors, and said, while caressing his head, “Your future is in La Ciudad with
your father and the Black Robes.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her
message seemed full of portent and numinous to him, the dreamer. Perhaps, he
should join the Black Robes, he thought. But, before he could explore that idea,
he awoke to such an excruciating pain in his chest and stomach that he
screamed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Within
his room and in his bed, surrounded by the power of the wards he had cast, four
cadets, wearing masks and black pajamas, plunged daggers into his chest and
stomach. Blood splattered and flowed as he screamed. Finally, he passed out
from the pain and loss of blood and the cadets fled into the night; their
clothes drenched in his blood. Unconscious, he entered the dream again and
asked, “Am I now dead?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon answered from far away, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not dead
but dying. The ward will preserve you until the medics arrive</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With
a laugh he said, “Somehow I thought the wards were supposed to warn me and
protect me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
demon did not answer, as he lost all sense of being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then he was on his way back, the pain in
his stomach and chest a dull throbbing ache that seemed synchronized with the
beat of his heart. Slowly, he opened his eyes, fearing the ghastly sight of his
mangled body. But, instead, the room was filled with light and he was no longer
in his room but in the hospital. Birds chirped and a dove cooed in the
ailanthus bush outside the open window, as a slight breeze rustled the silk
curtains. Dressed in a hospital gown of starched cotton he felt the tight bandages
around his chest and abdomen. The ward worked and he was alive. ‘But at what price,’
he thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
hands outside the stiff white sheets were pale blue and when he tried to sit up
he couldn’t. His head pounded and his throat was dry and raw. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
lay still for almost an hour before he fell asleep and dreamed of his mother
and him, sitting in the Garden of the Forking Paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could smell the flowers and feel the
grass. Her face was so beautiful he began to cry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Stern,
wake up. You are crying,” he heard from far away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
opened his eyes and the man the cadets called Croaker stood over him. It was
Doctor Emilio Gomez and he was holding his hand and calling his name. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Croaker,
I mean Doctor, how am I?” mumbled Stern, his breath short and weak.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
doctor released his hand and moved to the end of the bed where Stern could see
him without moving his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
lost a lot of blood from the attack and then the surgeries were touch and go.”
He rubbed his hand over his bald head and looked nervous. “Frankly, I don’t
know how you survived. It is a bit of miracle you are still here.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
he was talking a nurse came in with a tray of hypodermic needles and placed
them on an oaken table in the corner of the room. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Before
I administer your shots, I have to tell you that you have been unconscious for
almost two months.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
pronouncement hit Stern hard. His mind whirled with questions but the first one
was. “What about graduation?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
doctor cleared his throat and looked sheepish. “Come and gone, I am afraid.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘My
class is gone?” he asked, wondering if his attackers graduated and were now on
their way to the cavalry. Where is the fairness in that, he asked himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
doctor nodded his head and then said, “You are on the mend and the Commandant
has assured me that once you on your feet and complete your thesis, you will
graduate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But
I missed the cut-off for the War College. I will have to have to wait another
year before I can even be considered.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yes,
that is a shame but you should be grateful to be alive,” said the doctor with a
weak smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Could
I have some water?” he asked the nurse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“There
is something else,” said the doctor. “A man from the Vatican is here to talk to
you. Do you think you are up to meeting someone today?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do
I have to?” he asked between sips of water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
am afraid they were quite insistent on talking with you as soon as you awoke,”
said the doctor, moving toward the door to call the Vatican’s man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They?”
asked Stern, as he handed the empty glass to the nurse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
tall man, over six feet, with thick blond hair, parted on the left, entered the
room. Gray jodhpurs, black leather boots extending to the knee, black
military-cut jacket, with a skull and bones pen tacked on the lapel, and a gray
shirt with a black tie labeled him a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Totenkopf</i>,
one of the Emperor’s elite. By the look of him, he had probably been promoted
into the upper echelon from the Swiss Guard. The man clicked his heels together
and bowed his head upon on entering the room. “Antonius Bleak, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mein Herr</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
cringed. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Totenkopf</i> were assassins
and inquisitors. Their presence never boded well for anyone—the enemy or their
own troops.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Doctor,
do you mind if I have some time along with Cadet Stern?” said the man softly. “You
may finish your examination after I leave. It will not be long, I assure you.”
As he was asking the question, he draped his arm firmly around the doctor’s
shoulders, guiding him from the room. The nurse, watching the scene with her
mouth open, followed the doctor out the door. It was obvious to Stern she did
not want to remain in the room with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Totenkopf
</i>and the truth was—neither did he.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>The
man closed the door and then picked up a wooden straight-back chair from the
corner of the room and moved it to the end of Stern’s bed. He sat, crossed his
legs and removed a silver cigarette case from the inside pocket of his coat. He
took several deep drags on the lit cigarette and exhaled slowly toward the
ceiling. Stern’s weak and wounded lungs shuddered in his chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It
seems there was evidence of black magic in your room the night you were
attacked.” He paused to let this statement resonate in the room. Although only
eighteen, Stern was no idiot: his father had been a Black Robe and spy; his
mother died under unusual circumstances in the slums of La Ciudad underground;
and he had spent thirteen years in a cesspool of jealousy and intrigue as a
cadet. Lying was almost second nature to him; otherwise, he would not have
survived a year in the school. So he listened with nary a blink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
am on your side, believe it or not; however, as soon as you are on your feet
you will be interrogated by the Black Robe priesthood to determine if you’re
possessed by demons. When they are finished, if you survive their
ministrations, I will send a man to you; a man I think you will like very much
because he is a bit like you. His name is Guillermo Harpo and he is a scholar.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Forgetting
himself for a second because the name Harpo excited him, Stern said, “Is he the
man who wrote <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Machinicians during the
Reign of Elizabeth I</i>?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bleak
laughed and said, “You may be the only person I have ever met that has read
that work. Harpo will be very proud when he hears.” He then took another puff
on his cigarette and continued: “The Black Robes are not interested in knowing
who attacked you. And to be blunt, neither are we. I suspect the Commandant
knows and doesn’t care. He has gotten rid of the little shits by shipping them
off to the lancers. The problem left is you. We have to make sure you survive
through the summer then we will talk about your future.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So
no one will be punished for trying to kill me?” he asked, almost on the verge
of tears. He always suspected no one cared about him but now he knew for sure.
The human officers and teachers of the school were as prejudiced against the
Argylls as were the students. An Argyll really had no place in la Ciudad except
as a merchant or artisan. They were meant to stay out of the way and serve the
human upper-class. In the great societal slurry, the Argylls were no better
than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indios</i> or Freedmen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Survival
means not being burned at the stake as a warlock. Do you understand?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Not
really,” said Stern. “What do you want me to do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man frowned and then leaned forward toward Stern. “I want you to lie your ass
off. Even if you set a ward in your room to protect yourself from the idiot
cadets out to murder you, say you have no idea what they talking about.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But
Cardenas knows about the book,” he blurted out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
slight grimace crossed Bleak’s face. “Cardenas is gone. He was graduated early
and sent off to the War College; part of his reward for keeping his mouth
shut.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What
was the other reward?” asked the boy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“To
remain alive,” said the man. “The same offer we are making to you, I might
add.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
lifted his right hand slowly to scratch his upper lip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So
what spell did you cast?” asked the man, as he stood to throw the butt of his
cigarette out of the window.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Moments
passed as Stern nervously ran all the options over in his mind. Finally, he
cleared his throat and said softly, “the ward of the assassins.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And
how did you learn it?” the man asked as he poured himself a glass of water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
found a book in the library.” He decided he would not mention the demon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“From
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire of Shadows</i>, right?”
asked the man, as he stood at the window and sipped his water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“That’s
right,” answered the boy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
couldn’t find any such book in the library but that is the same thing Cardenas
told us.” He threw the remaining water in his glass onto the ailanthus bush.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But
I don’t understand. Cardenas let me into the lower level, where I found the
book and copied the spell.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man approached the bed and stared directly into his eyes, lowered his voice,
and asked. “Is there something else you are not telling me? Was there someone there
guiding you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trying
to break away from the man’s intensive gaze, he asked: “What did Cardenas say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The
same as you my young friend,” the man said, as he sat. “But I think Cardenas
did not know about the other party to your little caper. I think you are
possessed young Stern, just as your father was?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
took a second for him to digest the last statement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“My
father?” he asked suddenly. “What does my father have to do with this?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man looked him directly in the eyes and said, “Everything.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
stood up and straightened his jacket. “We will talk after the Black Robes
interview you. Remember they will burn you if they find out about the spell and
the demon. So learn some guile.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
started toward the door and stopped. Turning toward the bed, he said, “By the
way I am sending you a guardian angel of sorts. Her name is Birgit and she is a
healer. She will be replacing your doctor by order of the Commandant of the
Swiss Guards. She speaks French but you are multilingual now, aren’t you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once
he had gone and Stern no longer heard the sound of his boots on the parquet
floors of the hospital, he wondered out loud: “Am I possessed?” And then he
asked: “What the hell does my father have to do with any of this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Two
days passed and he felt worst: the fever had returned and he slept more than he
was awake, dreaming of Mayan-tan, his mother, and the burning of the city. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
the third day after Bleak’s visit, late in the evening, around midnight, the
woman, Birgit, arrived, dressed in a field gray uniform of the Mexican infantry.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rain
fell steadily and rushed off the steep roof of the hospital. Awakened by
thunder, he opened his eyes from a dream. A woman stood close to the bed and he
asked her for water. Ignoring his request, she reached out and caressed his
forehead and then gave an order in French to a nurse standing behind him. Another
nurse emerged from the shadows of the room and helped him sit up, as the tall,
thin woman with the cold blue eyes and close-cropped blonde hair gripped the
back of his head and poured the contents of a small glass vial into his mouth.
He struggled a little but he had little strength and he soon gave up and
swallowed the liquid that smelled like almonds and burned his tongue and throat.
“Swallow it all,” she said, holding his head tight. “It will help break your
fever.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
coughed as the liquid drained down his throat. “It burns,” he whispered in
French.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Je sais</i>,” she said softly, as she gently
lowered his head back onto the pillow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
felt warmth spreading through his chest; an unpleasant feeling at first but then
a calming effect. ‘Like eating chilies,” he thought. His mind cleared as his
fever disappeared and he fell into a profound and untroubled sleep. It was as
if a dark void spread through his body, numbing him to all sensations and
thought. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
he woke again, day had come and gone. The window was open and a cool night breeze
rustled the curtains. A nightingale sounded somewhere in the woods in the
surrounding park and he realized he felt good, good enough to stand and relieve
himself in the porcelain bowl under the bed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
hospital was quiet, as he walked to the door, which was ajar, and entered the
hall. Gas lights, turned low, flickered, casting a yellowish glow against green
walls. “It is like being underwater,” he said out loud. His stomach growled; he
was hungry. He could not remember eating and he wondered how he had survived
over the weeks he had lain in the hospital bed unconscious and dying. Had
someone force fed him, while he was unconscious? A nurse opened a door and
light from the room presented her in silhouette. When she saw him, she gasped,
not recognizing him for the dying Argyll. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Don’t
be afraid,” he said, intuiting her fear. “I am just hungry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
he spoke she seemed to recognize him and moved closer see him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“My
God,” she uttered softly, “you are up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
smiled vaguely but did not respond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
must get you back to bed before someone sees you,” she said to herself, fearing
she would be blamed if something happened to him in the night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
am fine,” he said trying to reassure her. “I just need something to eat.”
Suddenly, his hunger was almost painful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Fine,”
she said, taking his arm and turning him toward his room. “I will get you
something to eat but first you have to return to your bed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Later,
he lay in bed, a tray on his lap; a bowl of oatmeal in front of him and another
to the side. He had already finished two and was still hungry. He knew his
return to health was due to the elixir the woman fed him and his body yearned
for more. It was a drug, of course, and obviously addictive. But the feeling of
well-being it produced was overwhelming him and he did not really care it was
probably dangerous. He wanted more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
he had finished the last bowl, the nurse asked, ‘Let me check your wounds.” She
untied the gown in the back and lowered it to his waist. When she removed the
bandages, she gasped. Yesterday, the sores were open and suppurating. Today,
they were closed and pink rather than raw and red from the infection. “I must
call the doctor,” she said, moving toward the door. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Could
you bring me some more food, when you returned?” he called after her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
Gomez and several of his colleagues examined him, the analysis was the same: it
was a miracle and he was on the mend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the afternoon, Gomez entered his room and sat at the end of his bed. “Tomorrow,
I want you up walking.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern,
sat up in the bed, said, “What is your diagnosis, Doctor?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man they called Croaker rubbed his bald pate and sighed. “I have no idea how
this has happened. From the beginning I thought you only had a few days to
live. If someone had asked me the night they brought you here, I would not have
given you a day more to live.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
pursed his lips and said in a whisper, “The Black Robe priests will want to see
me now won’t they?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They
have already been told you are better. They will be here day after tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
announcement unnerved Stern, even though he expected it. “What about Bleak?
Have we heard from him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
mention of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Totenkopf </i>seemed to
disturb the doctor and he crossed his legs and looked away for a second, as if
he were preparing a lie. “You must not mention either Bleak or Birgit to the
priests. You and I will both be in grave danger if their visit is known.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern
nodded and then asked: “Who are they?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
doctor shrugged and said, “You know about as much as I do. Bleak is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Totenkopf</i> and, although she wears a
Mexican Army uniform, I am guessing she is, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How
much did you tell them about what happened to me?” asked the Argyll.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
doctor uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, as if he didn’t want anyone to
hear what he was about to say. “To tell you the truth I don’t really know what
happened to you. I know you were attacked in your bed while sleeping by some
fellow cadets and that the Commandant of the school moved heaven and earth to
get certain cadets graduated and out of town before an investigation ensued. I
figured from that the school was trying to cover up what happened. I also know
that four priests visited your room the night after you arrived and conducted
some sort of ritual.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Asa
leaned forward, his eyes bright, and said, “A ritual. What kind of ritual?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
doctor pulled the chair to the side of the bed as near as he could get to
Stern. “If I were to guess, I would say they conducted an exorcism.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
young Argyll’s first thought was that was why he had not heard the demon’s
voice: the priests had cast it from his body through prayer. ‘But into what or
where,” he asked himself, remembering the story of the healing of the boy with
a demon by Jesus. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Tell
me about the exorcism,” he asked; his eyes alight, conscious now he had already
fallen into the hands of the priests of the Black Robes and survived.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They
arrived around midnight, four of them, and drove us all out of your room and
told us not to come back until they summoned us. Later, we heard them praying
in unison and we smelt their incense wafting through the corridors of this
floor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Was
there anything else?” he asked, sensing he could not have lain unconscious
through the priests’ assault. Surely, he made some sound.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
heard nothing,” he leaned back and wiped his forehead, as if the discussion of
exorcism and demons was making him very uncomfortable. “We heard nothing until
dawn, when the men came from your room. They looked exhausted and haggard, as
if their very spirit had wrestled with some power in the room.” He paused,
remembering something. “And they were not happy. They acted like men who been
defeated in battle.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Could
they have engaged Kokabiel in my room?’ he asked himself. ‘And if so, what if
he had defeated them? And where did that leave him, if they thought he was
possessed by a demon?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
he stood to leave, the doctor ordered him to try to sleep. “I will have the
nurses here early in the morning to get you moving.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before
he left, he turned out the lights and shut the door behind him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Moonlight
flooded the room and Stern heard the nightingale in the hospital’s park. His
mind was on the priests and their exorcism. He kept asking what they found and
then he heard the demon’s voice within his mind, so subtle he was not sure if
he had imagined it. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothing</i>,” he
said sharply, somewhat angry in tone. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘How
could that be?’ he thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Easy. You are not possessed. There is
nothing to exorcise</i>.” The demon said. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
promised your father to look after you and I am. In that vein, you should leave
with the woman when she arrives. They are no friends of mine, the Category, as
they call themselves but for now they and I have the same goal in mind: to
protect you from the priests and those inept assassins that tried to kill you</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
was wide awake now and his mind was whirring. And then it struck him, what the
demon had just said. ‘You mean Mendez will try and kill me again. I thought he
was gone.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Use your head for a change. You know who
tried to kill you, even if you were asleep. And they know you know. So what are
they going to do? They will come back as soon as they get the chance and finish
you off. They can’t leave you walking around, talking to the Black Robes and
the police</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
as he was about to ask another question, the door opened and the woman entered.
He knew her immediately from the shimmer of the moonlight in her white blonde
hair. “You are awake, aren’t you?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
asked in a whisper.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Of
course,” he answered in the same conspiratorial way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Get
up and undress. I have a uniform for you to put on. We are leaving immediately.
Our plans have changed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
felt a bit dizzy as he climbed out of bed and pulled the robe off over his
head. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
laid a duffel bag on the floor and pulled out the black tunic of a dragoon
officer and placed it at the foot of the bed. Then she retrieved a pair of
light gray jodhpurs with a red stripe on each leg, an undershirt and underwear,
black socks, a gray collarless shirt to wear beneath the tunic, cavalry boots,
and finally a black trench cap. When everything was laid out, she said, “Get
dressed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
he felt much stronger, the exercise of dressing made him pant from exhaustion.
When he was ready, she ran her fingers through his thick blue-back hair and
pulled it into a queue. “You look like one those wild Argyll gauchos on the
pampas down South. You really are quite attractive in an exotic sort of way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
smiled wanly, embarrassed by her remark. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Now
drink this,” she ordered. “We have to leave.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It’s
the elixir that saved me? He said, as he gulped down the liquid. “What is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Ah,
you already have a taste for it, do you?” She smiled. “It’s dragon skin: a
concoction devised by an alchemist in Paris almost seven hundred years ago.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
didn’t understand a word she said. “What are you talking about?” he asked,
licking the slight residue of the elixir from his lips. Already, the liquid was
suffusing his body with warmth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
will explain it later. Right now we just need to get away,” she said, picking
up the bag and moving toward the door. “The men, who tried to kill you, are
back in the city and Bleak thinks they are coming here to finish the job.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before
buttoning the tunic, he pulled on the boots. “I am a fraud wearing this
uniform,” he said looking in the mirror.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Birgit
approached him and helped him with the uniform. “You are no fraud. I have your
graduation papers in the bag.” She buttoned the top button and then kissed him
on the cheek. “You were graduated summa cum laude and commissioned a brevet
lieutenant in the dragoons.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
moved away from her and said, “But what about the War College?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
ignored the question and once again picked up the bag. “Forget about that for
now,” she said, opening the door and looking both ways. “You have plenty to
do.” As he started down the dark corridor of the hospital ward, she said over
her shoulder, “We have more things for you to do than you will be able to
achieve in one lifetime.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
followed her down the hall, as the elixir worked its way through his body.
Strength infused his limbs, multiplying as he walked. He sensed his muscles
tensing, growing, and expanding, as they exited through a door on the lower
level in the back of the hospital onto a narrow cobblestone covered alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
man, a dragoon sergeant, waited for them at the end of the alley in uniform and
armed with a service revolver. ‘Munoz,” she said handing him the bag, “are we
ready?” He nodded, took the bag from her, and slung it over his left shoulder,
as he blew on a copper whistle hanging from a silver chain around his neck. Two
sharp notes and nine men emerged from the shadows carrying short stubby
carbines used by the dragoons, as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">la <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">diligencia</span></i> drawn by four black horses
turned onto the street running along the south side of the ancient hospital.
Two men sat on its box: one driving and the other sporting a sawed-off shotgun.
When it stopped near them, she pushed Stern into the coach and then followed
him inside as quickly as she could. Munoz stowed the bag away in the rear boot,
as four squad members climbed aboard the coach to join Stern and Birgit. The
others mounted horses being led by a young trooper from a nearby alley. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With
the bag stowed, Munoz called ready and the coach rolled roughly down the
cobblestoned street toward the southeast and away from the school and its
Gothic buildings. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
young trooper led a black gelding to him and handed him the reins. He mounted
in a smooth leap from the ground into the cavalry saddle and then kicked the
horse into a gallop to catch up with the coach, while several others joined him
and took up positions in front and behind the diligence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Inside
the cramped cab, the dragoons unloosed leather shades to cover the windows,
leaving a sole lamp to illuminate their faces. Enclosed and guarded, Birgit
sighed in relief that they had escaped the hospital without being detected,
while Stern closed his eyes and sunk into the leather seat, exhausted but also
relieved to be on the move after both Birgit and the demon had warned him that
his attackers were approaching. He felt much stronger but still the modicum of
physical activity he had just expended exhausted him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
church bell chimed one as they left the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zócalo</i>
and passed the ancient government buildings with their </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tezontle" title="Tezontle"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">tezontle</span></i></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> facades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dozed
for a few moments and then half opened his eyes and studied the men guarding
him. They were as exhausted as he: their clothes were dirty and sweat stained;
and, in the close quarters of the coach, their unwashed bodies and sour breath
irritated his nose and upset his sense of decorum. All the years he had spent
in the military academy had instilled a strict sense of order and cleanliness.
These men looked as if they had been on campaign for weeks and their smell reminded
him of something, something that had to do with his father. He closed his eyes
and tried to dredge up the memory his sense of smell had triggered in his mind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Minutes passed and he fell asleep again. Then
he woke with a start; the coach had run over something, probably a loose stone,
which shook the wagon and threw him against Birgit who was asleep next to him.
And he remembered, he could not have been older than four and they were living
in a small apartment several levels below the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Zócalo.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> They were
forced to live there because of his father’s disgrace and expulsion from the
Black Robes. He had stayed with his mother and not abandoned them. This act was
a direct violation of his vows and he was cast out but the Black Robes needed
his expertise: he was an engineer and a blacksmith and familiar with the land
beyond the crumbling great wall of the north. They called upon him to make
journeys north to explore for relics and technology buried in the ruins of the
great dead cities of the Anglos. He had been gone for a long time once on one
of the assignments for the Black Robes and his mother feared he was dead. He
returned though in the spring, filthy, bearded, and smelling like these men.
Stern remembered his father picking him up and holding him tight against his
chest, his long black beard scratching his face. He remembered saying, “Put me
down, father. You stink.” And he remembered Moses Stern laughing and handing him
to his mother, who held him close and kissed him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
slept again and awoke to daylight shining around the edges of the leather
shades. They were outside the city and he no longer heard the clatter of the
metal-rimmed wheels against the cobblestones; instead, he listened carefully to
the soft sloughing scrapes of a coach wheels spinning through sand. They
traveled now on sandy roads potted and scarred by time and the weather. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
he was fully awake, Birgit handed him another vial of the dragon skin and said,
“Drink it.” He drained the vial and no longer did the elixir burn his throat; rather,
he had an instant feeling of well-being and he wondered at the magic of the
alchemist’s brew. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wiping
his mouth with the back of his hand, he asked: “Where are we going?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
leaned back against the red leather seats of the coach and said, “We are on an
old through the northern portion of the state of Puebla. We are in the
highlands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you feel the change in the
air?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
thought for a moment and said, “It’s much cooler.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
smiled and lifted her booted feet to the bench across from them where two of
the soldiers slept soundly and crossed her legs at the ankle. “We are traveling
on back roads to avoid any patrols.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
admired her long legs encased in the cavalry boots and the jodhpurs before he
asked, ‘Why are we going through Puebla?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
quickly responded, “Not to Puebla to the south but east through the old state
of Puebla to Heroica Veracruz.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
thought of the ancient seaport that almost disappeared with the rising waters
of the Gulf. Only the giant seawall built three hundred years ago saved it from
inundation. He also remembered the stories about the thousands of Argyll and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio</i> laborers that died building it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the dragoons on the bench
directly behind them awoke and drew up the leather curtain. Stern turned at the
sound and saw a snow-capped mountain in the distance and dense forest lining
the side of the narrow worn road they now traveled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We should be stopping soon,” the
man known as Munoz said. “I am sure the horses are nearly spent.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Birgit straightened up and said,
while buttoning her tunic, “I’m sure you are correct and I’m starving.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I could do with a piss and smoke
myself, “grumbled the man, opening another curtain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thirty minutes later the driver took
a fork in the road and followed a narrow trail cut through a dense forest. All
the windows were now open and everyone was awake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Munoz said there was a cantina off the road
near a wide mountain stream, where they could eat, water the horses and rest
before continuing on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Soon Stern could see a stream
rushing through the forest. ‘Run off from the snowcapped mountains in the
distance,’ he thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The air was crisp and cold and smoke
billowed from his mouth; a welcome change from the heat of the city.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The cantina, a rambling building of
adobe and rough logs, rested on a clearing next to the stream. On the far side
of the clearing stood a large corral, a stone barn, and a scattering of small
adobe bungalows spread throughout the surrounding woods. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
Asa stepped out of the coach he smelled roasting meat, emanating from the brick
ovens on the west side of the building. His mouth watered but he walked toward
a lean-to marked “latrine.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘First
things first,’ he thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Exiting the latrine, he saw the
dragoons leading the spent, sweat-lathered horses toward the stone barn and understood
they would not be leaving soon. He looked over his shoulder and saw people
sitting at several long tables under a wooden trellis near the cantina eating. His
stomach growled and he set off toward the food; he had forgotten that just a
few days ago he was in a coma, dying from the vicious attack of his brother
cadets. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>PERCHED ON THE RIDGE</b> of the red tile roof of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Biblioteca Nacional de México</span></i>, next
door to the </span><i><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES;">Real y Pontificia Universidad de México</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, and across the
street from the south entrance to <i>Status Civitatis Vaticanæ </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">or<i> </i>in<i> Lingua, </i>the<i> </i></span>Vatican
City or City of God,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asa Stern,
a cadet major in the Black Robes’ military academy, smelled rain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaning forward over the roof’s ridge,
he watched bruised clouds gather in the north, then roll south toward the
mile-high plateau, where he and the rest of the population of the Pope’s City
of God waited. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A sizzling crackle of lightening and the
smell of ozone filled the air, as he pulled back from the ridge and stretched
out. “I can use the storm to cover my escape,” he mumbled. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Below his hiding place and across the
rough, red cobble-stoned alley, in the lengthening shadows of the three-story
law school, two of his cadet classmates waited with drawn daggers for him to leave
the library and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>return to school before
his leave was over. Sunday was their day to hunt the half-breed Argyll, who
polluted the purity of their school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At an hour before closing, four hours
before curfew at his school, the racist <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aristos
</i>knew from past experience<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>that
the blue-skinned half-breed would be on his way back to school. A victim
of his own discipline, each Saturday and Sunday for the past year, Stern worked on
his entrance thesis for admittance into the War College and then ran the
gauntlet his enemies set for him on Sunday night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He was the only one in their class with
such ambition and it was just another excuse for them to hate him. He knew that
if he were late and missed curfew, the school might expel him or maybe the War
College would refuse him entrance. If things got out of hand and they killed
him, then so much the better for them. For six years they had harassed him,
bullied him, punched him and terrorized him. But time was running out for all
of them. Graduation was a month away and the Argyll would either escape into
the War College as an ensign or into the Army as a Brevet Lieutenant. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Each time over the years when he thought
they had him, something intervened: sometimes he eluded them and sometimes the
school took his side against them. No matter what happened, their anger had now
reached new levels of frustration. Carlos Mendez, the one responsible for the
continued abuse and harassment, had begun to wonder out loud who or what was
protecting the Argyll. “He should be living in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">barrio</i> like all of his kind, not attending classes with some of the
richest scion in all of La Ciudad,” he often said to his schoolmates, loud
enough for Asa to hear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, from the roof, Stern heard Juan
Guttmann call out to Mendez, “Rain is coming. I think we missed him.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We didn’t miss him,” said Mendez. “He
is still in there studying away like the grinding little puke he is.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fat cold drops of rain splattered
sporadically on the cobblestones to contradict Mendez. “Damn,” he hissed,
moving closer to the building to seek shelter under its eaves. He knew, just as
Stern did, that if his uniform were wet when he arrived from weekend leave, it
would be a demerit. And he already had too many of those; he was close to being
expelled from the school, and if he were expelled again, he might not graduate.
And if he didn’t graduate, his father, a colonel in the Imperial Lancers would
punish him severely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Mendez moved out
of the shadows and shook his head, demonstrating the incipient rage he felt
against the Argyll. “This is entirely his fault,” he muttered. “I hate that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">puta</i>.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lightening split the black clouds that
now hung low over the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">zocalo, </i>followed
almost immediately by thunder that shook the tiles on the roofs. Clouds opened
and drenched the three cadets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Asa shivered and pulled his hood over
his head. Unlike the two below, he wore a dark green cape over rough, homespun
Argyll clothing. Unlike his classmates, he had changed out of his uniform upon
leaving the school on Friday afternoon. Wearing mufti was against the rules but
he thought it necessary. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Several months before, when Mendez and
his henchmen almost caught him on the street near the library, he realized the
struggle between them was escalating. They were no longer hazing him in good
fun as they did other schoolmates; instead, the bullying had taken a nasty and
often violent turn. So he changed his routine and viewed the conflict as a real
war that he had to win. Part of that war involved stealth and subterfuge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mendez stamped his feet and signaled for
Guttmann to follow him. Stern remained on the roof, watching them running down
the narrow alley to the main artery leading into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">zocalo</i>, where they would try and find a rickshaw to take them back
to the school. But with this rain that would be nigh impossible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When he was certain they were gone, he
started off over the roof, bending low, watching each step. Over the last few
weeks he had mapped out an escape route from the library to the nearest metro
station. He slid down a drain pipe and then followed a long alley south that ended
in a fence, which he climbed, worked his way through a tenement, then crossed a
wide street and descended into the metro and caught a train to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">zona rosa</i>, the red light district of the
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The back wall of the Black Robe School
abutted the boundary between the zone and the military district. With the help
of his friend and mentor, Markus Raab, a history teacher at the school, he had
rented a maid’s room under the eaves of an aged apartment building overlooking
the school’s gardens. Over the last few months, he entered the apartment house
on Friday evening, changed his clothes, and then exited as an indigent Argyll. On
Sunday, he cleaned up, dressed in his uniform and nonchalantly crossed the
narrow street as a cadet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, he pulled on a black oil-skin
cape issued by the Black Robes to wear in inclement weather and exited the back
door, walked around the building to the school’s front gate and saluted the
Duty Officer before he crossed the threshold. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he entered the school a rickshaw stopped at
the front gate and two rain-soaked cadets—Mendez and Guttman—climbed out and
saw him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Standing under the roof of the guard
house adjacent to the gate, smoking an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Azteka</i>
cheroot, Stern watched as the Duty Officer, Lieutenant David Maldonado, issued
the two cadets demerits. Exhaling a puff of the blue smoke of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio</i> weed, he flicked ash toward
Mendez, who turned toward him and growled. The Duty Officer broke the malicious
spell between the two men by ordering them to their barracks to change into
fresh uniforms. When they were gone, Maldonado said, “Do you think it wise to
taunt them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern reached into his tunic and
extracted a slim box of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio </i>cheroots
and extended it to Maldonado, who smiled and said, “No thanks. I have my own.” Fishing
a pipe from the pocket of his tunic, he asked for a light. Stern lit a match
off the sole of his boot and then moved toward Maldonado and held the match
over the bowl. Maldonado puffed until the sweet pipe tobacco glowed red and
then indicated for Stern to sit in one of the wooden rockers next to the stone
chimney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern removed his slicker and hung it on
a peg next to the door, returned to the rocker, while Maldonado recorded the
demerits in a leather-bound black book on the Duty Officer’s desk. “You know
they will be coming for you soon?” he said, as he finished his transcription. The
Argyll took a deep drag on his cigar before answering and said, “I figure it
will be tonight.” He extended his long legs and crossed them at his ankle.
“Mendez hates me so much he has begun to lose all perspective. I don’t believe
he has the patience to wait.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Lieutenant took a seat in the chair
next to him. “I have made a notation that they were following you today. The
Commandant is well aware of the hazing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stern stopped rocking and threw the butt of his cheroot into the
fireplace. “How do you know that?” he asked, fingering another cigar out of the
box. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We talked about it. I told him I was
concerned the level of violence was escalating.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern leaned forward and turned toward
the Duty Officer and said, “And he chose to ignore it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maldonado pulled the pipe from his mouth
and responded: “He is not ignoring it but there are only two ways he would
intervene: either you file a written request for an investigation and hearing
or they harm you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And if I filed such a request, my
chances of being accepted at the War College would be non-existent.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Duty Officer nodded and added: “You
know the faculty expects cadets to handle their problems. The way in which they
handle these matters reveals their character.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern scratched the skin under his right
eye and then opened his hand and covered his mouth. “What happens if I
challenge them to a duel?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maldonado sighed and said, “You know
that dueling is against the code of conduct. You are also aware that dueling in
La Ciudad is a crime punishable by death.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Not in Leone,” Stern said, referring to
the major seaport of Mexico.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I suppose you could do it there but if
you killed one of them, you would be finished. The army wouldn’t touch you.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What about the Black Robes?” he asked,
leaning back in the chair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Maybe they would take you. You are one
of our best students and an Argyll; a rare bird they probably could use in
their nefarious intrigues.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So you don’t think much of the idea,”
said Stern with a laugh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maldonado emptied his tobacco into the
fire and then began refilling the bowl. “You have to come up with something
else. You only have a month before graduation and then you are off to either
the War College or the army and they are on their way to the Lancers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The Lancers,” Stern repeated. “It must
be nice to be rich enough to afford a string of horses?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maldonado tapped down his tobacco and then
stood next to the boy and patted him on the shoulder. “The cavalry is for
idiots. If you go into the army, you will join the engineers. That is where the
best students end up. And if you are in the engineers they will send you back
home to Maya-tan to build fortifications.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“My father was a Black Robe,” he said
dully.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And so might you be but only as a last
resort.” Maldonado blurted out. “The Black Robes are not for red-blooded men
with a future in front of them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I don’t know,” said the boy. “Sometimes
I don’t think there is a future for a half-breed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“As I said, you are one of our best
students. You speak Argyll and <i>lingua</i>. Your father was a Black Robe and your
mother was an Argyll princess. There is value in that.” He shook his head and
asked for another light.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern handed him a match and then walked
to the open door and watched water cascading off the steep tile roof of the
school. He followed several minutes of silence with a sigh. Then, he said, “a
lot to think about, Lieutenant. I thank you. But I guess I need to figure out
how I am going to survive the night. After all I am just a poor orphan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Duty officer did not say anything.
He just rocked before the fire because there was really nothing he could say or
do for Moses Stern’s half-breed son.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suddenly, Asa turned and pulled his
slicker from the peg.” I will see you tomorrow in class, <i>ser</i>.” Pulling the
slicker over his head he plunged into the pouring rain and headed for the
barracks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As a senior cadet he no longer slept in
the open barracks with his class. Instead, the seniors had their own small
rooms. He felt certain that Mendez and others would attack him in his room
tonight and he planned to be prepared. He could not hide because the Duty
Officer checked the rooms twice each night for head count. He would have to be
there but a thought was planted in his mind as he stood looking at the rain
fall. The embodied voice that had been talking to him since he was
five-years-old said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You can be there
but not be there. Go to the library and find the book I told you about; find
the Grimoire of Shadow</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As he walked through the rain toward the
library, he thought about the voice that guided him. He didn’t hear it all the
time; just at those times when he was in danger or when he had to make a
decision that would be life changing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
first, he thought he was going crazy. Then he had the idea that it was the father’s
voice. But later, when he was twelve, the voice introduced itself as Kokabiel,
a demon from Elysium, the airy plane, and told him that he had been sent by
Moses Stern, his father, to protect him. From then on he tried to elicit
information from the voice about his father but it told him nothing. Most times
it was not even present. Only at times like today did it make itself heard. Nonetheless,
the voice had never failed him in thirteen years; saving him repeatedly from
Mendez and other racist bastards, who hated the blue-skinned Argyll cadet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The library closed early on Sunday and he
only had an hour. Texts on demonology were stored in the basement in a restricted
area. Other than a general idea of its location, he had no idea how he was
going to retrieve it. He simply relied on the voice to guide him. He had faith
in the demon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The library was his favorite building on
the campus. Not because of its architectural beauty but because of what it
contained. That was not to say, however, that the school was not beautiful
because it was. Built over seven hundred years ago by order of Benito Juarez,
it was not only one the oldest buildings on the campus but one of the oldest
buildings in La Ciudad. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before entering he pulled off his
slicker, shook off the rain, then pushed on one of the tall, heavy oak doors
that opened onto a high-ceiling foyer with parquet floors. An attendant, one
of the younger cadets, ran forward and took his rain coat and hung it on a
wooden peg. As he handed him a claim chit, he said, “We are about to close.” Then
he pushed his thick black hair off his face; an obviously nervous gesture.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Time to get a haircut,
Galanos,” said Stern, pulling rank on the young student. “Is Cardenas working
tonight?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Galanos nodded, “Yes, cadet major. He is
upstairs in the science section stacking books.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Would you mind finding him for me?”
asked Stern, walking over to some chairs against the foyer wall to wait for
Cardenas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardenas was one level below Stern but
they had both arrived at the school at about the same time. Both were orphans
and wards of the Black Robes; and, as a consequence, they felt a certain affinity
toward one another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As he waited for his friend to arrive,
he thought about the first time he had come to the library. His father Moses
Stern had been with him; as well as a Black Robe, one of the teachers, who
acted as their guide. If he remembered correctly his father was tense. The
Black Robes wanted him to do something for them and he had initially refused. Something,
however, changed his mind and he had agreed to travel North on the condition they
allow his son to board at the school while he was away. They agreed and his
father delivered him into the Black Robes’ charge. He never saw his father
again. The official record said Freedmen in the city of Camaron captured and
killed him. Asa had no reason to doubt the report until the voice appeared. According
to the demon his father was still alive and someday he would see him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardenas arrived and shook his hand.
“What can I do for you, Asa?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern rubbed his tongue over his very
white teeth and said with a slight stutter, an affectation which told anyone
listening he was lying. “I need to see a book in the restricted area down
stairs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardenas’ eyes widened. And like Galanos
he nervously ran his hand through his hair. “You must have written permission
from the head master.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern shrugged and Cardenas said before
he had a chance to continue, ‘But of course you know that. That’s why you have
come to me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I am sorry Raff,” he said, truly
feeling embarrassed he was putting his friend in this awkward situation. “I
wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t a matter of life of death.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Whose life and whose death?” asked
Cardenas with a slight smirk. He thought his friend was exaggerating.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mendez and Guttmann have threatened me
and I think they intend to attack me tonight after lights out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Those shits,” said Cardenas with a
sneer. ‘Let’s get them before they get you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern smiled and said, “no way I‘m
getting you involved; except, of course, by asking you to break the rules and
let me in to the restricted area.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How in the hell will a book protect you
from Mendez stabbing you in your sleep?” asked Cardenas with a laugh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I know this sounds crazy but I am
looking for a book of spells to set a ward to protect me while I sleep.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Holy Mother,” said Cardenas. “You are
right that is crazy and dangerous.” He looked over his shoulder to see if
Galanos had heard them. “If the Black Robes heard you they would have one of
the Inquisitors down here, twisting your fingers and toes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I know that, but I’m desperate. I just
have one month left and then they are off to the cavalry and I am in the War
College.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thunder shook the stained-glass windows
and the rain began again. “Damn rainy season,” thought Stern. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardenas checked his watch and shook his
head, as he uttered an epithet. “Follow me,” and keep your mouth shut. If anyone
asks what we are doing let me to the talking.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They passed through glass doors to the
ground floor, pass the circulation desk, and headed toward the rear of the
library to the stairs leading down to the lower levels. An iron door sealed the
lower levels and Cardenas used his keys and then held the door slightly ajar while
Stern passed into darkness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“A lantern to your left on the top shelf,”
whispered Cardenas, as he entered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“This is a bit primitive isn’t it?”
muttered Stern, as he fumbled with the glass of a lantern. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once it was lit, Cardenas allowed the
door to close and pulled a lamp for himself off the shelf. Stern handed him a
match and then started down the stair to the first level of the basement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Halfway down the stairs, the demon said,
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Grimoire of Shadows is on the third
lower level</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We must go to the third level. The Book
I want is there.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardenas said, “How the Hell did you
know that? The third level is off limits to all students.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He did not answer; instead, he waited on
the first level to allow Cardenas to lead the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On each level, Cardenas lit gas lamps
that illuminated the floors and the thousands of books stored there. On the
third level, however, there was only one library shelf of books, approximately
two hundred volumes inside a wire cage. The remainder of the floor was empty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardenas lit the gas lamps around the
floor that cast an eerie light in the almost empty space. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A solid oak library table and four
chairs stood near the wire cage. Stern dropped his leather book bag onto the
table and then moved to the cage door, as Cardenas opened it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Now what?” said Cardenas. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Good question,” said Stern. “I only
have the title.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And it is?” asked Cardenas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire
of Shadows</i>,” whispered Stern, not really understanding why. They were alone
several feet below ground in a locked basement. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Well, go look for it,” said Cardenas. “I
am not taking one step into that room.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What are they?” asked Stern, hesitating
at the door in a feeble hope that the demon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>would intervene and point him toward the book and the spell he needed to
protect him from Mendez and Guttmann.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“As I said earlier, they are forbidden texts,
preserved for study by the most holy of our professors. They are not available
to students.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stern took a deep breath and crossed the
threshold of the restricted cage. Suddenly the shelf of books was illuminated
and he could see every title clearly. In the distance, he heard the muffled
voice of Cardenas calling him but when he turned he could not see anything outside
the cage, all but the cage was darkness, blacker than any pit of Hell. He stood
in a sphere of light and silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He scanned the shelves and noticed the
books were in various languages; some he could read—<i>lingua</i>, Latin and Greek—but
many he only recognized-- German, Italian, French, Farsi, Anglo, Hebrew and
Egyptian—and others he could not identify.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He walked the length and breadth of the
shelf looking for something with the title <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimoire
of Shadow</i> but he found nothing with that title. Frustrated, he sat on the
floor in the bright light and stared at the spines of the books until he heard
the demon say, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I can give you the gift
of interpretation and speech, if you but ask for it</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And what will that do for me?” asked
Stern out loud.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You
can speak with every creature in your universe and read every text</i>.” He
paused, as a white moth fluttered into the light and landed on Stern’s knee. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you intend becoming that which you are,
then you must possess the weapons necessary to achieve it</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Weapons?” said Stern. He felt drowsy
and attenuated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magic
is based on knowledge, words really, and blood. To become a shaman or a mage
you must master the languages so as to be able to speak the spells</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I understand that,” said Stern. “I want
that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then
I gift you the gift of interpretation and speech</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do you accept it freely</i>?” He nodded and hundreds of moths descended
into the light and landed on the flagged stones of the floor. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When Stern looked at the shelves again,
he read every title in its own language and quickly discerned that some were
not works of from his world; that some of the texts were from other planes,
other spheres. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And once he knew he could read the title
of the book he sought, he saw it almost directly in front of him; its title written
in the runic language of Niflheim, the underworld, the ice realm of Okeanus,
the watery plane. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Demon, I have heard of Okeanus before,”
he called out, experiencing a sudden feeling of fear and loneliness. “What is
it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
is not time yet for you to know. But you are right. You have heard of Okeanus</i>.”
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The moth fluttered and rose from the
floor, as if his fears disturbed them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Take
the book from the shelf and turn to the spell called ‘the ward of assassins</i>.’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He stood and waded through the thousands
of moths covering the floor, sliding his feet in order not to crush one of the
creatures and pulled the book from the shelf. It was a thin text, leather
bound, with pure white sheets of onion skin paper. No more than a hundred pages
with runic text only on the right side. He instantly loved the way the guttural
language of Niflheim sounded on his tongue and he read a passage aloud, as the
moths’ wings fluttered in ecstasy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The spell he sought was near the middle of the text.
Along with the words of the spell was a diagram of a ward he must draw on the
floor of his room. He sat down and pulled a notepad from the pocket of his
tunic and copied the spell and the diagram. He then returned the book to the
shelf and thanked the demon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The light extinguished and he awoke in
the gloom of the basement illuminated only by the feeble oil lamps. His head
pounded and he felt nauseous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cardenas held his head off the floor and
he felt blood dripping from his nose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He croaked when he tried to speak; his
throat was ragged and raw.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What happened to you?” said Cardenas,
helping him to his feet. “You dropped to the floor, as if someone struck you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I have to get back to my room. I'm
going to be sick,” he whispered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Back upstairs, he rushed to the toilet
and threw up. His head was spinning, as well as his stomach. “Have you poisoned
me, demon?” But there was no answer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He staggered through the pouring rain to
his barracks and up the stairs to the second floor where the senior cadets resided.
Once in his room, he stripped off his uniform and hung the wet clothes near the
coal-burning fire to dry. Nude he caught a glimpse of his tall, thin
blue-skinned body, his long dark hair and almost azure eyes and understood why some
cadets found him so bizarre. Many thought the Argyll beautiful and exotic but
others were repulsed, terrified of their beauty. He quickly pulled on a robe,
embarrassed by his vanity. How many times had cadets approached him when drunk
and made indecent proposals? The military academy was a man’s world and homosexuality
was a norm among the younger cadets. Later, as they grew older, they eschewed
their earlier infatuations and denied the sexual underworld of the
institution. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He opened his notebook and reviewed his
notes. His memory of the book and the spell was eidetic; a new phenomenon for
him. He suspected it was part of the demon’s gift.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before he retired to bed, he secured the
door of his room and then drew a circle on the floor. Within the circle he drew
two triangles to form a six-pointed star; each point touching the circumference
of the circle. At each point he dribbled a drop of his own blood from a
pinprick he made in his finger, as he recited the spell from the book.
Finished, he pulled his half-bed from the wall over the drawing and doused the
lights of his gas lamp. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only a red glow
from the coals smoldering in the grate lit the room. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The effects of the encounter with the
demon were passing and he was becoming drowsy. As he fell asleep, he thought
about the war in the Maya-tan and he thought he heard his mother’s voice.</span></div>
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kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-49880908807968819642013-07-18T10:08:00.000-07:002013-07-18T10:08:05.187-07:00Vogel Flies South--Chapter Two (auf Deutsch)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Ich entspannte mich, sobald der Zug Straßburg
verlassen hatte. Es war das Gesicht der Frau gewesen, das mich fasziniert und
zum Eingreifenwollen gebracht hatte. Ich befand mich auf der Rückreise aus
Berlin, wo ich mich mit einigen Investoren getroffen hatte, die sich am Erwerb
einer Firma in den Vereinigten Staaten, die mobile Ölförderanlagen herstellte,
beteiligen wollten. Ich habe Jura studiert und arbeite als internationaler
Unternehmensberater. Bis vor einiger Zeit war ich in der Europaabteilung des
amerikanischen Außenministeriums tätig. Meine Entscheidung, Washington zu
verlassen, hatte mir enorme Angst gemacht, doch hatte ich erkannt, dass ich
dort ein Roboterleben führte. Meine Arbeit verschaffte mir keinerlei
Befriedigung - ich bewegte nur Akten auf einem endlosen Fließband. Ich wohnte
in einem schlecht gebauten Haus und fuhr einen überteuerten Wagen, der einen
übermäßigen Anteil meines Gehalts verschlang. Ich war übergewichtig, hatte ein
teigiges Gesicht und war voller Ängste. Ich war unglücklich und wenn ich geliebt
wurde, dann nur in meiner Eigenschaft als Ernährer. Ich traute auch der
Zuneigung meiner Freunde nicht und hatte mich in mich selbst zurückgezogen,
sodass mein Leben fast ausschließlich aus Arbeit und Schlaf bestand. Ich war
nicht mehr fähig, mich zu amüsieren, weil ich ständig daran denken musste, wie
viel Arbeit noch zu erledigen war. Die alte Weisheit von der Vergänglichkeit
der Dinge war zum Refrain meines Lebens geworden. Autos blieben liegen, Häuser
verfielen, Kleidung bekam fadenscheinig und Schuhe abgetragen. Ich hangelte
mich von einem Gehalt zum nächsten, während meine Kreditkartenrechnungen immer
neue Dimensionen erreichten. Sobald ich das Gefühl hatte, auf dem aufsteigenden
Ast zu sein, war die Welt voller verführerischer Investitionsobjekte, unwiderstehlicher
Designeranzüge, teurer Spielzeuge und neuer Restaurants, in denen ich mein Geld
lassen konnte. Obwohl ich mir der Gefahr, in der ich mich befand, durchaus
bewusst war, konnte ich es nicht lassen, Freunde zum Essen einzuladen, einen
neuen Wagen zu kaufen oder mich nach Kunst und Antiquitäten umzuschauen. Ich
entsann mich der Genügsamkeit meiner Eltern, der Art, wie sie ihr Geld
zusammenhielten, und fragte mich, weshalb ich nicht die Spur ihres gesunden
Menschenverstandes geerbt hatte. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Ich wusste, dass es nur eine
Möglichkeit gab, aus diesem Teufelskreis auszubrechen - nämlich den kompletten
Ausstieg, ohne Übergangszeit und Vorwarnung. Es dürfte keinen Fallschirm geben;
ich müsste einfach springen, auch auf das Risiko hin, dass es mich umbringen
würde. Doch auch nachdem ich die Entscheidung getroffen hatte, trieben mich
Sorgen um und der Gedanke, ob ich es wohl aushalten würde, wenn mich jemand
nach meiner Tätigkeit fragte. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Das war damals. Ich habe
zwei Jahre Zeit gehabt, darüber nachzudenken und weiß nun, dass eines meiner
größten Probleme meine extreme Selbstsucht ist. Ich mochte den Anschein der
Macht, obwohl ich in Wirklichkeit keine besaß. Ich füllte lediglich einen Platz
und produzierte keinerlei handfesten Ergebnisse. In Wahrheit war ich nur ein
Kanal für die Unterlagen, die ich abstempelte und weitergab.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Wenn man ein absoluter
Nihilist ist, hat nichts eine Bedeutung und alles ist letztendlich absurd, und
diesen Punkt hatte ich leider erreicht. Zu dem Zeitpunkt, als ich Washington
verließ, und meine Frau sich scheiden ließ, weil ein Leben mit mir nicht
auszuhalten war, verursachte mir schon der Gedanken, einem anderen Menschen
nahe zu kommen, Übelkeit. Doch nun, da ich die Frau im Zug gesehen hatte,
begann ich etwas zu empfinden. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Ihr Anblick verursachte ein
Gefühl der Beunruhigung in mir. Ich wusste, dass ein Geheimnis im Spiel war
und, dem Aussehen des Mannes nach zu urteilen, Gefahr - doch auch Spannung und,
wie die Franzosen sagen, <i>sensualité</i>. Ich zog ein Exemplar von Goethes <i>Leiden des jungen Werther</i> aus der
Tasche. Bald wäre ich in Paris und würde mit der Arbeit beginnen. Ich musste
einen Geschäftsplan für einen meiner Klienten aufstellen; außerdem schrieb ich
an einem Buch. Das Buch war meine ganze Leidenschaft, das, was wirklich zählte.
Es fiel mit schwer, weiterhin für meine Klienten tätig zu sein - ihr Bedürfnis,
immer noch mehr Geld anzuhäufen, ließ mich kalt. Am liebsten hätte ich meine
gesamte Zeit damit verbracht, an dem Buch zu arbeiten. Es handelte von dem
Jahr, das Sartre in Berlin verbracht hatte; ein Thema, mit dem ich mich bereits
seit Jahren befasste. Sartre war 1933-1934 in Berlin, eine Zeit gewaltiger
Veränderungen in Deutschland. Hitler war gerade an die Macht gekommen, und
Christoph Isherwood unterrichtete Englisch und vergnügte sich mit deutschen
Arbeiterjungs. Deutschland baute sein Heer auf, und in den Straßen trugen
Faschisten und Kommunisten ihre Kämpfe aus. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Der Zug fuhr in den Pariser
Gare de L’ Est ein. Der Bahnhof war voller Touristen. Ich nahm meinen
Regenmantel und meine Tasche aus dem Gepäcknetz und ging zu dem Platz, an dem
vorher die junge Frau gesessen hatte. Auf dem Sitz lagen eine Packung
türkischer Zigaretten und eine Taschenbuchausgabe von Hemingways <i>Paris - ein
Fest fürs Leben</i>. Ich steckte das Buch in meine Tasche und das
Zigarettenpäckchen in meine Manteltasche und stieg aus dem Zug. Auf dem
Bahnsteig betrachtete ich die hin- und her strömenden Menschenmassen und
wartete auf eine Gelegenheit, mich zur Metro durchzuschlängeln. Ich hatte es
eilig, in meine Wohnung im Marais, nahe dem Place des Vosges, zurückzukehren. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Draußen nieselte es leicht
und die Touristen umlagerten den Taxistand. Ich zog meinen Mantel über und
schlug den Kragen hoch. Der Mantel war weit geschnitten und mir eigentlich
etwas zu groß, aber ich mochte das Gefühl, ganz von dem Material umhüllt zu
sein. Mittlerweile rannte ich nahezu. Seit Tagen war ich ununterbrochen auf
Reisen gewesen und konnte es nun kaum erwarten, nach Hause zu kommen. Es ist
schon seltsam, wie etwas, das eigentlich neu und anders ist, zu einem Zuhause
werden, wie man sein Land und seine Sprache vergessen und sich dem Fremden
hingeben kann. Ich war immer von den Europäern fasziniert gewesen, die Europa
verlassen und über die Meere gen Westen gezogen waren, wie in einem
Science-Fiction-Roman, in dem das Schiff der Kolonisten eine neue Welt
erreicht, in der sogar die Pflanzen und Tiere anders sind und fremde Kreaturen
die Neuankömmlinge belauern, um ihr Zuhause zu schützen. Meine Reise führte in
die entgegengesetzte Richtung - zurück nach Europa. Ich gehörte zu jenen
Menschen, die sich nach Europa sehnen, was unter Amerikaner nicht ungewöhnlich
ist. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Ich lief die steilen grauen
Stufen zur Metrostation hinunter. Am Fuß der Treppe hielt ich inne, um ein
Zehnerheft Fahrscheine zu kaufen, mit denen ich mich mühelos durch die grauen
Tunnel unter der Stadt würde bewegen können. Die Metro ist ganz in Grau
gehalten und mit einer blauschwarzen Patina aus Öl und Schweiß überzogen.
Während ich zum Zug lief, hörte ich ein Musiker Schubert auf der Geige spielen.
Leute rempelten mich an und drängten sich vor mich. Wegen des Gedränges
überprüfte ich ständig, ob ich meine Brieftasche noch hatte und griff meine
Tasche fester. Hier drinnen war von der Kälte, die draußen herrschte, nichts mehr
zu spüren, denn die Körperwärme von Tausenden von Fahrgästen erfüllte die
grauen Betontunnel. Während ich weiter eilte, versuchte ich, die Plakate zu
lesen, die mit spärlich bekleideten Frauen und jungen Männern mit wildem Blick
und dem Hauch eines Bartes für neue Filme warben. Ich betrachtete die Frauen in
der Menge. Sie waren kleiner als Amerikanerinnen und bewegten sich geschmeidig
vorwärts, in praktischen Schuhen und leuchtende Schals gekonnt um die schlanken
Hälse geschlungen. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Ich schlief fast im Stehen, während ich auf
meine Bahn wartete. Die Reise nach Berlin hatte mich ausgelaugt. Auf dem
gegenüberliegenden Bahnsteig lief eine in grün gekleidete Frau gelangweilt auf
und ab. Sie war brünett, sehr groß und schlank und trug einen langen schwarzen
Mantel über dem Arm. Ich schätzte sie auf fünfzig. Sie war sehr stilvoll
gekleidet und hatte die typischen Gesichtszüge der französischen Oberschicht.
Ein kleiner Mann mit Dreiwochenbart lehnte hinter ihr an der Wand. Er
beobachtet das Treiben auf meinem Bahnsteig, doch ab und an wandte er seine
Aufmerksamkeit der Frau zu. Er trug eine Lederjacke, und als er nach einer
Zigarette suchte, hatte er auf einmal etwas sehr Vertrautes an sich. Es war ein
Polizist - ich wusste es einfach. Er glich den Agenten, die von Zeit zu Zeit in
der Botschaft erschienen. Er hatte den gleichen geistesabwesenden Blick und die
betonte Schäbigkeit an sich. Ein Polizist kommt niemals allein. Wo war der
zweite, und was machten sie hier in der Station? Ich sah mich um, und dann
entdeckte ich ihn rechts hinter mir. Er stand vornübergebeugt und machte einen
erschöpften Eindruck. Er rauchte eine Gauloise, eine starke französische
Zigarette. Ich tastete in der Manteltasche nach meinem Zigarrenetui und dachte
an das Mädchen, das von den Polizisten aus dem Zug geholt worden war. Ich würde
mit ein paar Freunden über diese Sache reden müssen. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Die Bahn kam, und ich ließ
mich, erschöpft von den Strapazen meiner Reise, in einen Sitz fallen. Nur ein
paar Sitze von mir entfernt ließ sich der Polizist nieder. Folgte er etwa mir?
War es möglich, dass die Polizisten aus dem Zug ihre Kollegen in Paris
angerufen hatten, weil ein Amerikaner mittleren Alters, ein Ausländer, die
Grenzpolizei bei der Festnahme eines deutschen Deserteurs behindert hatte? Ich
hielt dies für sehr weithergeholt, denn schließlich hatte ich nichts
verbrochen. Alles, was ich jetzt wollte, war, zu meiner Wohnung und meinen
Büchern zurückzukehren. Ich war zu alt, um Abenteuer zu suchen, obwohl ich als
Kind von nichts anderem geträumt hatte und meine jungen Jahre zum großen Teil
damit zugebracht hatte, Errol Flynn und John Wayne im Kino zu bewundern. Ich
hatte mich stets selbst im Sattel gesehen und mir abends vor dem Einschlafen
kleine Western ausgedacht, in denen ich der Held war. Während meiner
Teenagerjahre war immer eine Frau im Spiel, doch jetzt gab es nur mich, mein
Pferd und die Indianer. Ich sah mich als Ethan in <i>Der schwarze Falke</i>,
denn wie er wollte oder brauchte ich nicht die Liebe einer Familie, sondern nur
Monument Valley und das Gefühl, unterwegs zu sein. Es war die Reise an sich,
das Sich-Fortbewegen, das mich anzog. Familie bedeutete Stabilität, ein
Konzept, das ich noch nie attraktiv gefunden hatte. Ich lebte mein Leben, als
sei ich Shane, der sich zur Frau des Siedlers hingezogen fühlte, aber nicht
genug, um sein unstetes Dasein aufzugeben. Für sie rettete er ihren Mann bei
der Schießerei im Saloon, aber sie konnte ihn nicht dazu bringen, sich
niederzulassen, um die Hühner zu füttern und die Kühe zu melken. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Meine Fantasiewelt hatte mit
meinem heutigen, sehr bürgerlichen Leben nichts gemein. Die Abenteuer, die ich
nun erlebte, fanden nur in meinem Kopf statt, während mein Leben sich im Sitzen
abspielte. Ich war nicht Nizan, sondern Sartre. Meine Leidenschaft gehörte der horizontalen
Recherche, dem Buch, dem Theater, dem Film. Meine Flucht aus dem Alltag war der
Abenteuerroman, nicht das Abenteuer selbst. Also, weshalb verstrickte ich mich
in Gedankenspiele über eine Frau im Zug und die Polizei? </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">An der Bastille stieg ich aus.
Meine Wohnung befand sich nördlich des Place des Vosges. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Sie bestand aus zwei Zimmern</span></span>,
Küche und Bad. Mein Viertel gehörte weder zu den malerischsten noch zu den
billigsten, doch es war reich an Spuren der französischen Geschichte. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Ich hatte mich zu einer Zeit
für das Emigrantendasein entschieden, da es nicht in der Mode war - noch zumal
in einer Stadt, die sich gerade von ihrer Vergangenheit abwandte, um ihren
Anspruch auf die Rolle der europäischen Hauptstadt anzumelden. In La Défense
wuchsen die Wolkenkratzer, die französischen Unternehmen übten sich in
Übernahmeangeboten und der MBA war zum beliebtesten akademischen Grad
avanciert. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Ich stieg die Treppe zu
meiner Wohnung hinauf. Drei Wochen war ich fort gewesen. Das Zimmer war warm
und dunkel. Als Erstes öffnete ich die großen Fenster, die nach Westen zeigten
und einen Blick auf das ultramoderne Design des Centre Pompidou mit seinem nach
außen gekehrten Innenleben boten. Es war kühl und ich wusste, dass ich die
Fenster bald schließen müsste, doch für den Augenblick genoss ich die frische
Luft. Stadtluft hat etwas Besonderes, sogar wenn sie kalt ist. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Ich sah mich in der Wohnung um, die nahezu
kahl war. Ich besitze eine schwarze Ledercouch mit Sessel, einen Schreibtisch,
auf dem mein Laptop steht, eine ganze Wand voller Bücher und einen Futon. Ich
bin Minimalist; ich hasse vollgestopfte Räume. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Nach der Geburt meines Bruders zog meine
Familie aus der Garagenwohnung in Tyler aufs Land, in ein kleines Haus mit drei
Schlafzimmern, das mein Vater selbst gebaut hatte. Es war ein Haus im so
genannten „Ranch Style”, ganz aus Holz mit einem Lattenzaun drumherum. Der
Garten hinter dem Haus grenzte an eine Weide, und nur wenige hundert Meter
danach begann dichter Wald, voller Bäume und Kletterpflanzen. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Meine Eltern waren Sammler und warfen niemals
etwas weg, sondern horteten alles für schlechte Zeiten. Das Haus war klein und
wurde im Laufe der Zeit durch die angehäuften Kleidungsstücke und Zeitschriften
und Zeitungen und Werkzeuge immer enger. Wir hatten nur ein Badezimmer für vier
Personen und seine Benutzung erforderte genaueste Abstimmung. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Mein Vater liebte das amerikanische Fernsehen,
und wenn er zu Hause war, saß er ständig vor der Kiste. Mein Bruder liebte
Musik. Erst war es Klavierunterricht und dann die Trompete. Später am Abend
kamen Schallplatten und Tonbänder. Als er ein Teenager war und ich mit der Uni
begann, hörte er oft Musik bis drei oder vier Uhr morgens. Meistens ertrugen
wir den Lärm, denn in unseren beengten Verhältnissen gab es die unausgesprochene
Übereinkunft, einander möglichst viel Freiraum zu lassen. Manchmal jedoch
stürmte mein Vater in den frühen Morgenstunden aus dem Schlafzimmer und geigte
ihm die Meinung. Danach erlosch das Licht im Zimmer meines Bruders und es war
still. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Vor der Erfindung des
Kabelfernsehens gab es eine Zeit, in der man in unserer Stadt nur einen
einzigen Sender empfangen konnte, dessen Programm zudem nur zwischen achtzehn
und zweiundzwanzig Uhr ausgestrahlt wurde. Danach kehrte Ruhe ein, denn mein
Bruder war noch zu jung für seine Musik. Ich dachte gern an diese Zeit zurück,
denn damals hatten wir auch noch keine Klimaanlage und ich konnte den
Geräuschen der Nacht lauschen. Die Hühner waren zu hören und die Kühe, die
hinter dem Zaun grasten, und die Hunde, die den am Fuße des Hügels
vorbeifahrenden Zug anheulten, und die Tauben im Schlag. Dann träumte ich von
all den aufregenden Dingen, die ich einst tun würde. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Heutzutage träume ich kaum
noch, obwohl ich manchmal den Eindruck habe, mein ganzes Leben sei ein Traum. Meine
Aufmerksamkeit richtet sich auf jenes eine Jahr in Sartres Leben, das er in
Berlin zubrachte. Berlin war in vielfacher Hinsicht wichtig für Sartre, doch
ich glaube, dass einer der wichtigsten Aspekte darin liegt, dass Sartre
versuchte, seine Sprache hinter sich zu lassen. Er sagte von sich selbst, dass
sein Glück bei den Frauen auf seiner Fähigkeit, sie mit Sprache zu verführen,
beruhte. Als er nach Berlin ging, träumte er von Erfolgen bei dortigen Frauen,
doch sein Deutsch war nicht gut genug, um mit ihnen zu sprechen. Stattdessen
begann er eine Affäre mit einer verheirateten Französin, weil er sich mit ihr
in seiner Muttersprache unterhalten konnte. Diese Vorstellung von Sartre, dem
Rationalisten und Romantiker, in Berlin des Jahres 1934, einer der aufregendsten
Perioden der deutschen Geschichte, Philosophie studierend und eine verheiratete
Frau verführend, während er detaillierte Briefe an Simone verfasst, nimmt mich
gefangen, doch in Wirklichkeit geht es nur um eines, das Wort „Freiheit”. Es
gibt eine Arie in <i>Fidelio</i>, einen Lobesgesang auf die Freiheit. Ich habe
eine Aufnahme davon, die ich manchmal wieder und wieder abspiele, nur um Ben
Heppner von der Freiheit singen zu hören. Für mich ist Freiheit, die
persönliche Freiheit, das einzige konstante Verlangen im Leben, um das all
meine Gedanken kreisen. Sartres Leben stellt für mich den Versuch eines Mannes
dar, einen gewissen Grad an persönlicher Freiheit zu erlangen, und ich war nach
Frankreich gekommen, um mein wahres Selbst zu finden. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span lang="DE" style="line-height: 200%;">Ich packte meine Sachen aus
und räumte etwas auf. Die Concierge hatte mir einen Stapel Post auf den
Schreibtisch gelegt. Ich streckte mich auf dem Futon aus und schlief sofort
ein. Es war gut, daheim zu sein. Es war gut, allein zu sein. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Ich fuhr mit dem Zug von Berlin
nach Paris. Zwischen meiner Lektüre dachte ich über meinen Vater nach. Meine
erste Erinnerung an ihn zeigt ihn stehend, in seine Uniform gekleidet. Er war
damals gerade aus Korea zurückgekehrt und hatte eine Anstellung bei der Polizei
von Tyler gefunden. Mein Vater hatte im Zweiten Weltkrieg in der deutschen
Armee gedient und war nach seiner Übersiedlung in die Vereinigten Staaten in
die U.S. Army eingetreten, die ihn nach Korea entsandte. Jung war er damals und
sehr dünn, viel dünner als ich jetzt. Ich komme nach meinem Großvater
mütterlicherseits und bin größer und dunkler als mein Vater, der aus
Deutschland stammt und die blasse Haut eines Deutschen hat. Seine Augen sind
hellblau, und er lacht viel und gern. Ich dagegen ähnele dem Vater meiner
Mutter, einem dunklen Iren mit hitzigem Temperament. Er war Klempner und
heiratete eine Schottin, die erst kurz zuvor aus Edinburgh nach Amerika
gekommen war.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">In meiner zweiten
Erinnerung an meinen Vater befinden wir uns in seinem Schlafzimmer, und ich
sehe ihm dabei zu, wie er sich das Hemd zuknöpft und sein Polizeiabzeichen
daran befestigt. Das Hemd hatte zwei dafür vorgesehene Ösen, und mein Vater
hakte das Abzeichen dort ein und sicherte es. Seine Waffe hing an der Kante
seines Schaukelstuhls, und die Fenster standen offen. Es war Sommer. Sommer in
Tyler, Texas, sind heiß und schwül. Draußen drehten sich die Sprinkler, und
Wespen flogen hörbar gegen die Fliegengitter. In meinen Erinnerungen ist es
immer Sommer in Tyler.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Ich saß auf dem
Fußboden, mit dem Rücken ans Bett gelehnt. Ich liebte es, meinem Vater beim
Anziehen zuzusehen. Im Gegensatz zu mir und meinem Bruder war mein Vater
äußerst gepflegt. Seine Hemden waren gebügelt, und er trug auch im Sommer stets
ein Unterhemd. Er schwitzte fast überhaupt nicht, was ich der Tatsache
zuschrieb, dass er Deutscher war. Seine Herkunft aus einem kühleren Klima
schien ihm eine besondere Ausgewogenheit zu geben.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Er band seinen
Schlips zu einem doppelten Windsorknoten und kämmte sein Haar mit Sorgfalt.
Mein Vater trug sein Haar kurz geschnitten. Ich selbst hatte damals Haar im
Überfluss, ein Gewirr an Locken, das nicht zu bändigen war. Mein Vater hätte es
gern gesehen, wenn ich alle drei Wochen zum Friseur gegangen wäre, doch meine
Mutter scheute die in ihren Augen unnötige Ausgabe. Daher sah mein Haar oft
monatelang keine Schere und wuchs immer üppiger; und meine Versuche, es mittels
eines Kamms im Zaum zu halten, waren zum Scheitern verurteilt.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Bevor sich mein
Vater seine Waffe umschnallte, trat er ans Fenster. Wir lebten damals in einer
Garagenwohnung nahe der Innenstadt. Draußen sonnten sich die Töchter unseres
Vermieters. Sie waren im Teenageralter und gingen auf die Oberschule von Tyler.
Sie wussten, dass mein Vater Nachmittagsschicht hatte, und ich glaube, dass die
ältere von ihnen, oder vielleicht auch beide, in ihn verschossen waren. Wie dem
auch sei, sie lagen ständig dort in der Sonne, rosig und leicht verschwitzt. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Mein Vater saß auf
dem Bett und starrte aus dem Fenster. Es war still im Zimmer, und ich konnte
ihn atmen hören. Ich spürte die Kühle des Fußbodens und roch das leichte Aroma
seines Rasierwassers. Ich ging zum Fenster. Bis auf eine kurze Hose war ich
nackt. Ich spähte über das Fensterbrett, erblickte die Mädchen und sah dann
meinen Vater an.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Er fragte: „Und,
was denkst du?” Ich dachte gar nichts. Ich war erst vier, und alles, was mir
wirklich aufgefallen war, waren die Bäume. Dann, auf einmal, sah ich die
Mädchen und die Bäume, und ich hörte das Summen der Insekten und das Säuseln
des Windes, und ich roch das Gras und das Rasierwasser meines Vaters. Ich
erschauerte, und der Augenblick blieb mir im Gedächtnis, während andere
Momente, vielleicht ebenso einprägsam, dem Vergessen anheim fielen.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„Wo ist deine
Mutter?” Noch eine Frage, auf die ich keine Antwort hatte. Ich wusste jedoch,
dass meine Mutter bald kommen würde - das tat sie immer. Sie würde erscheinen,
und mein Vater würde sich auf sein Motorrad setzen und verschwinden. Dann käme
der Abend, und meine Mutter und ich würden unsere Wache beginnen. Mit Popcorn
und Schokolade bewaffnet säßen wir im warmen Licht des Fernsehers, wie jede
Nacht. Ich glaube, dass es dieses Ritual war, das mich zu einem Nachtmenschen
machte. Auch heute noch ziehe ich es vor, spät am Abend bis in den frühen
Morgen hinein zu arbeiten und dann bis zum Nachmittag zu schlafen. Sowohl meine
Mutter als auch mein Vater waren Nachtmenschen. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Mein Vater hatte
von sechzehn Uhr bis Mitternacht Dienst und patrouillierte unsere kleine Stadt
auf einer schwarz-weißen Harley-Davidson. Es gab nur zwei Polizisten auf
Motorrädern bei uns - meinen Vater und meinen Onkel Robert O'Roy. Meist fuhren
sie gemeinsam und gaben schon ein seltsames Bild ab, beide groß und schlank, in
ihre schwarzen Uniformen gekleidet. Später, als ich begann, mich für Geschichte
zu interessieren, war ich fasziniert von der Wehrmacht, denn eines der ersten
Fotos, die ich sah, zeigte die deutsche Armee auf ihrem Eilzug durch Lüttich in
dem Versuch, die britische und französische Armee zu umstellen. An der Spitze
der Kolonne fuhren die deutschen Motorradfahrer. Vor meinem geistigen Auge sah
ich meinen Vater und meinen Onkel auf ihren Motorrädern, und ich dachte über
die Männer am Kopf der Kolonne nach. Was sie wohl für Menschen waren? </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Wenn ich nicht
gerade mit meiner Mutter fernsah, war ich mit meinen Spielzeugsoldaten
beschäftigt. Ich besaß Hunderte davon und sammelte sie, bis ich auf die
Oberschule kam. Noch heute komme ich kaum an einem Trödler vorbei ohne
nachzusehen, ob es eine Armee zu kaufen gibt, die ich damals nicht hatte.
Anfangs spielte ich einfach so darauf los, doch als ich älter wurde, las ich
Geschichtsbücher, damit ich echte Schlachten und einzelne Gefechte nachstellen
konnte.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%;">Als wir in der
Garagenwohnung lebten, baute meine Mutter mir unter der Treppe einen
Sandkasten, und mein Vater installierte einen Flaschenzug, sodass meine Mutter
meine Spielsachen zu mir herunterlassen konnte. Ich würde nach oben rufen, dass
ich mehr Soldaten bräuchte, oder ich würde meine Mutter bitten, die Armeen aus
dem Zweiten Weltkrieg gegen Cowboys und Indianer auszutauschen. Was meine
Kriegsspiele betraf, war ich ein Purist. Andere Kinder hatten keine Probleme
damit, Cowboys gegen deutsche Soldaten antreten zu lassen, doch ich war immer
darauf bedacht, Kriege und Armeen fein säuberlich getrennt zu halten. Nur
selten ließ ich beispielsweise einen Araber gegen einen Deutschen kämpfen und
dies auch nur, wenn ich der Meinung war, die Situation historisch begründen zu
können. Rommel und seine Männer waren doch sicher auf Araber gestoßen. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%;"> Meine Mutter
war eine schöne Frau. Tagsüber arbeitete sie in der Redaktion der örtlichen
Zeitung. In meiner Heimatstadt war es in den fünfziger Jahren noch ungewöhnlich
für eine weiße Frau, einer Arbeit nachzugehen, und meiner Mutter fiel es
besonders schwer, denn sie war schüchtern und mochte es nicht, auf sich allein
gestellt zu sein. Es muss sie jeden Morgen viel Überwindung gekostet haben, den
Bus zu nehmen und in die Redaktion zu fahren. Ihre Arbeit für die Zeitung machte
mich zu einer kleinen Berühmtheit, denn wann immer für einen Artikel das Foto
eines Kindes gebraucht wurde, war ich das Modell. Man zeigte mich beim
Versenden eines Briefs an den Weihnachtsmann und bei der Begrüßung von
Besuchern des städtischen Rosenfestivals. Im September stand ich vor dem
Schulgebäude als Vorbote des neuen Schuljahres. Sogar während meiner Pubertät,
als ich Übergewicht und hervorstehende Zähne hatte, veröffentlichte die Zeitung
weiter Fotos von mir.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Meine Mutter war
ein Opfer ihres Vaters, eines herrischen Mannes, der wie ein Diktator über
seine Frau und seine Kinder bestimmte. Mein Großvater war groß und dünn,
rasierte seinen Kopf und trug eine Nickelbrille. Er war bösartig, aber
keineswegs unattraktiv. Er war ein kreativer Geist und der Erfinder
verschiedener Innovationen auf dem Gebiet der Klempnerei. Er sprühte vor Witz
und konnte lange, verwickelte Geschichten erzählen. Außerdem war er Jäger in
der Tradition William Faulkners. Während meiner ersten Studienjahre, wenn ich
einen Pflichtkurs belegte, der mich nicht interessierte, las ich häufig
Faulkner, und die Lektüre erinnerte mich stets an meinen Großvater und seine
Busenfreunde.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Im Alter von
fünfzig Jahren zog mein Großvater sich aus dem Geschäft zurück und erwarb eine
Farm in den Wäldern im Osten von Texas, wo er Hunde und Maultiere züchtete und
seine Zeit damit verbrachte, Farmarbeiten zu verrichten, zu jagen und Anekdoten
über seine Nachbarn zu sammeln. Eine meiner Lieblingsgeschichten betrifft den
Verlust seines Haares. Im Ersten Weltkrieg diente er in der Marine, und eines
Abends, vor der Küste Brasiliens, beschloss er, sich die Haare zu waschen. Weil
das Trinkwasser streng rationiert war, benutzte er Meereswasser, doch nach
einigen Minuten bemerkte er, dass sein Haar beim Waschen büschelweise ausfiel.
Mein Großvater beschwört, dass er von jenem Tag an eine volle Glatze hatte und
dass das Salzwasser aus dem Meer vor der brasilianischen Küste die Ursache
dafür war. Ich mochte die Geschichte aus zwei Gründen: weil er in der Marine
war und Südamerika gesehen hatte, und weil er eine ganze Geschichte erfunden
hatte, nur um seine Glatze zu erklären. Mein Großvater ließ es nicht zu, dass
ihm alltägliche Dinge widerfuhren - alles wurde stets in eine Story verwandelt.
Er war die Hauptfigur nicht einer Geschichte oder eines Romans, sondern eines
ganzen Mythos, den er selbst geschaffen hatte. In diesem Mythos war er
Odysseus, der Wanderer.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Auch nachdem er
seinen Beruf an den Nagel gehangen hatte, verschwand er oft monatelang. Meine
Großmutter erhielt dann Ansichtskarten aus Orten wie Colorado, Montreal oder
Mexiko-Stadt, auf denen meist nur „Bin am Leben. Viele Grüße Ira” stand. Seine
Dreistigkeit und die Geduld meiner Großmutter hörten nie auf, mich zu
erstaunen.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Meine Mutter ist
schüchtern, und Reisen machen ihr Angst. Ich habe in vielen Ländern der Erde
gelebt und meine Eltern stets eingeladen, mich zu besuchen, doch sie sind nie
gekommen. Sie sind zufrieden in Tyler und können nicht nachvollziehen, warum
jemand die Stadt verlassen wollen könnte. Als Kind war ich der festen
Überzeugung, dass die Welt an der Stadtgrenze zu Ende sei. Als meine Großeltern
auf ihre Farm zogen und wir sie eines Sonntags zum ersten Mal dort besuchen
fuhren, war ich starr vor Angst. Ich wusste, dass wir die Stadt jeden
Augenblick verlassen würden, und mir war nicht klar, was dann mit uns geschehen
würde. Meinem Vater verschwieg ich meine Befürchtungen, weil ich vor ihm nicht
als Angsthase und kleines Kind dastehen wollte, glaube jedoch, dass auch meiner
Mutter bei jenem ersten Ausflug nicht ganz wohl war. Mein Vater hingegen hatte
die Welt gesehen. Seltsamerweise schienen seine Abenteuer ihn nicht sonderlich
beeindruckt zu haben, und er sprach nur selten darüber. Ich erfuhr erst später,
wie viel er gereist war.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Das Sonntagsessen
im Hause meiner Großmutter war bis zur „Wiedergeburt” meiner Mutter Brauch in
unserer Familie. Nachdem meine Mutter Jesus gefunden hatte, fanden die
Familienzusammenkünfte mit meinen Onkeln, Tanten, Vettern und Cousinen ein
jähes Ende, und es kam zu einer Spaltung zwischen meinem Großvater und meiner
Mutter, die nie überbrückt wurde. Mein Großvater ging zur Messe, verabscheute
jedoch die lautstarke Gefühlsbetontheit bestimmter, im Süden der Vereinigten
Staaten populärer Konfessionsgruppen. Einer solchen trat meine Mutter bei, als
ich zwölf war, und unser Leben - das meines Vaters, meines Bruders und meines -
wurde zur Hölle auf Erden. Bis dahin war ich in einer Art ländlichen Heidentums
aufgewachsen, untermalt von der katholischen Heiligenverehrung meines
Großvaters und der stillen teutonischen Sinnlichkeit meines Vaters. Nun sollte
ich Bekanntschaft mit all' den Erleuchtungen schließen, die das
hinterwäldlerische Christentum der Südstaaten zu bieten hatte. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Die Ankunft des
Zuges riss mich aus meinen Tagträumen. Ich blickte auf den Bahnsteig hinaus.
Ich war schon des Öfteren mit meiner Frau hier gewesen. Sie mochte die Gegend
nicht besonders; ich liebte sie. Was sie abstieß, waren der ländliche Charakter
der Stadt, das volle, üppige Unterholz und die Spazierwege, die durch den
Schwarzwald führten. Mir gefielen die Bäume, die schnell dahinfließende Oos und
die typisch deutsche Pflege des Waldes. Niemand pflegt die Natur, wie es die
Deutschen tun. Sogar der dichte Wald verriet die Sorgfalt einer ordnenden Hand.
Ich liebte es, im Sommer, auch bei Regen, unter den Bäumen spazieren zu gehen
und dem Kommen und Gehen der Tauben vor ihren Schlägen zuzusehen, die entlang
der Naturpfade aufgestellt waren. Morgens joggten meine Frau und ich auf den
Wanderwegen, abends spazierten wir auf der Suche nach einem Café durch die
Kopfsteinpflasterstraßen. Ich mochte Baden-Baden auch im Winter. Die Kälte hat
etwas Tröstliches. Im Sommer fühle ich mich den Blicken ausgesetzt, im Winter
kann ich mich hinter einem Schal und einem dicken Mantel verbergen.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">An jenem Tag stand
ein Mann auf dem Bahnsteig. Er trug eine Bundeswehruniform, jedoch ohne die
Abzeichen, die seinen Dienstgrad und seine Einheit offenbaren würden. Ich
beschloss, mir etwas die Beine zu vertreten. Während ich den Bahnsteig auf und
ab lief, begann der Mann, mich zu beobachten. Er war jung, um die dreißig, und
wirkte ungepflegt. Trotz der Kälte trug er keine Jacke. Unter seiner
Arbeitsuniform war ein T-Shirt zu sehen. Er war unrasiert, und sein blondes Haar,
obwohl kurz, war verstrubbelt.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„Haben Sie eine
Zigarette?”, fragte er auf Deutsch.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„Nein.”, antwortete
ich. Ich traute diesem Mann nicht. Er hatte sich mir auf zu vertrauliche Weise
genähert, und mein Akzent weckte sofort seine Aufmerksamkeit. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Er fragte mich nach
dem Ziel meiner Reise. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„Paris.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„Sie sind
Amerikaner?” fragte er, nun auf Englisch, mit deutlichem Akzent.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„In der Tat, und
Sie sind Deutscher?” </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„Natürlich.” Er
lachte. „Mein Englisch ist nicht besonders gut.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„<i>Parlez-vous
français?</i>”, erkundigte er sich nach meinen Französischkenntnissen - mit
einem Lächeln, als sei dies der Anfang eines Spieles, bei dem wir fast alle
Sprachen dieser Welt durchgehen würden. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„<i>Oui, et vous?</i>”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„<i>Très bien. Je
vais à Strasbourg.</i>”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Ich fragte mich,
was als Nächstes kommen würde. Warum wollte er nicht deutsch sprechen? Seine
linguistischen Spielchen schienen ihn zu amüsieren. Eine Durchsage verkündete,
dass der Zug zur Abfahrt bereitstand. Ich verbeugte mich kurz als Zeichen der
Verabschiedung und ging auf den Zug zu. Er
nahm eine alte Tasche auf und folgte mir. Ich kehrte auf meinen Platz zurück,
und er ließ sich ein paar Reihen vor mir nieder. Er lächelte und wandte sich
dann der jungen Frau zu, die neben ihm saß. Sie sprachen deutsch miteinander
und waren bald völlig in ihr Gespräch vertieft. Er beunruhigte mich. Ob es nun
die Uniform war oder seine Erscheinung - er beunruhigte mich.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Der Zug
verlangsamte seine Fahrt, als wir die französische Grenze erreichten. Eine
Gruppe deutscher Polizisten stieg zu. Sie trugen khakifarbene Uniformen und
Dienstwaffen im Gürtel. Der junge Soldat erhob sich. Er verabschiedete sich von
der jungen Frau und kam den Gang hinunter, sich von den Polizisten entfernend.
Als er an meinem Platz vorbeikam, hielt er eine Sekunde lang inne und sah mich
an. Dann ging er weiter. Sobald die beiden Polizisten in unserem Waggon ihn
bemerkt hatten, bewegten sie sich schnell in seine Richtung. Der Kleinere von
ihnen rief, dass er stehen bleiben solle. Er folgte der Aufforderung nicht,
sondern rannte zur Tür und sprang aus dem Zug.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Die junge Frau
drehte sich nach mir um und lächelte nervös. Was mir als Erstes an ihr auffiel,
war ihre bemerkenswerte Schönheit. Ich hatte noch nie so ebenmäßige Züge
gesehen. Sie hatte einen Schmollmund, der an populäre Schauspielerinnen aus den
fünfziger Jahren erinnerte. Im Gegensatz zu ihnen war sie jedoch sehr schlank,
mit heller Haut und feinen Zügen - rein und klassisch. Der Blick, den sie mir
zuwarf, war jedoch voller Sorge, vermutlich wegen ihres Soldaten.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Der Zug fuhr langsam
über die Grenze nach Frankreich. Nun stiegen französische Polizisten in ihren
feschen Uniformen zu. Die Franzosen sind sogar dann kultiviert, wenn es um die
Demonstration von Autorität geht. Sie blieben vor der jungen Frau stehen, und
ich lehnte mich nach vorn, um nichts zu verpassen. Es lag mir viel daran, ihre
Stimme zu hören. Sie waren zu zweit, genau wie zuvor die Deutschen. Einer von
ihnen war Anfang zwanzig, der andere vielleicht Mitte dreißig. Der ältere Mann
war dünn und sah aus, als fräße ihn das Leben von innen her auf. Ein Muskel
zuckte in seinem Gesicht, und er machte einen besorgten Eindruck. Der jüngere
Beamte war blond und trank offenbar zu viel Wein. Er war dick, und seine blaue
Uniformjacke war ihm zu eng. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Der junge Polizist
sah die Frau an und schien überwältigt von ihrer Schönheit.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„<i>Bonjour,
mademoiselle</i>.” Er hielt inne und betrachtete sie erneut. Er konnte sein
Glück kaum fassen; derart attraktiven Verdächtigen begegnete er sicher nicht
alle Tage. „<i>Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.</i>”, bat er sie um ihren
Pass.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„<i>Pardon?</i> <i>Je
ne parle pas français.</i>” Ihre Behauptung, kein Französisch zu können,
überraschte ihn. Es gelang ihm nicht, ihren Akzent einzuordnen, und so fragte
er, ob sie Deutsche sei: </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„<i>Vous êtes
Allemande?</i>” </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">„<i>Canadienne.</i>”,
erklärte sie.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Der ältere und
ranghöhere der beiden Polizisten hatte nun genug von diesem Austausch. „<i>Qui
est cet homme?</i>”, erkundigte er sich nach dem Soldaten.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Die Frau zuckte mit
den Achseln, auf eine Art, die Furcht, Ärger über die Unhöflichkeit der
Polizisten und vollständiges Unverständnis zum Ausdruck brachte. Mir war
bewusst, dass ich mich besser aus dieser Sache heraushalten sollte, doch es
gelang mir nicht. Ihr Angesicht hatte mich in seinen Bann geschlagen. „<i>Pardonnez
moi, messieurs, mais je parle anglais.</i>”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Ich weiß nicht, was
ich mit meiner Erklärung, Englisch zu sprechen, bezweckte. Willkommen war meine
Hilfe jedenfalls nicht. Der ältere Franzose drehte sich zu mir um und brüllte:
„<i>Asseyez-vous!</i>”, und der jüngere bewegte sich auf mich zu, wobei er den
Griff seiner Waffe berührte. Ich folgte dem Befehl und setzte mich.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Die Polizisten
forderten die Frau dazu auf mitzukommen, und ehe ich noch etwas unternehmen
konnte, war sie fort. Einige Minuten vergingen. Zwei andere Polizeibeamte
erschienen. Sie überprüften meinen Pass, und dann gewann der Zug an
Geschwindigkeit. Als wir Straßburg verließen, sah ich in einem alten Gebäude
einen Mann am Fenster stehen. Er war mittleren Alters, mager, aber muskulös. Er
rauchte eine Zigarette und war splitterfasernackt.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; line-height: 200%;">Einen Augenblick
lang wähnte ich mich wieder in Tyler. Auch diesmal war es Nachmittag und heiß,
und mein Vater war gerade wach geworden, nachdem er in der Nacht zuvor eine
Doppelschicht gehabt hatte. Er saß auf der Bettkante und war nackt wegen der
Hitze. Dann ging er zum Fenster und sah hinaus. Ich spielte unter der Treppe.
Eines der jungen Nachbarmädchen sah nach oben zum Fenster, und ich wusste, dass
mein Vater dort stand. Sie lächelte und begann, ihre Bluse aufzuknöpfen.</span></span></span></div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-33434786895972424862013-07-03T10:11:00.005-07:002013-07-03T10:11:48.062-07:00Grimoire of Stone: A Romance of WaterIf you are enjoying reading <i>Attis Chapel</i>, as it unfolds, you might also enjoy <i>Grimoire of Stone: A Romance of Water</i>, available on Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/Grimoire-Stone-Romance-Water-ebook/dp/B00D2YM7VGkwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-26364691342296301202013-07-03T10:09:00.001-07:002013-07-17T14:30:21.493-07:00Chapter Four: Vertical Until Horizontal<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Slipping out of
the tower would be tricky, he thought. He would have to concentrate on the
location of the anti-personnel mines and the lancer at the same time he pulled
the door open enough to slip through. The ancient wood creaked and
the lancer fired a tracer from his rifle into the darkened space between the
portal and the door; its flash burning against the stone wall, informing him of
the man’s location. Dropping to the cold stone of the tower floor, he released
a burst of fire directly at the red point of the rifle’s barrel and heard first
the flat thumps of his rounds pounding into the head, chest and right arm of the
lancer and then the skittering, clacking of the reaper’s talons on the stones
of the gorge tower steps as it grabbed the falling body and dragged it to its hole somewhere in the upper bailey. So, momentarily
safe from the reaper, he slipped through the door, pulling it shut as he moved
gingerly through the buried mines. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
In the clear, he rushed
to the stairs in the upper bailey that led to the wide allure on the dividing
wall and worked his way to a point on the south end that granted him the
greatest firing arc. There, he removed the intelligent poncho, freed the sniper
rifle from his shoulder and attached a silencer. He then reloaded the machine
pistol and placed it at his feet before counting his remaining ammunition. Only ninety rounds remained with maybe a hundred for the rifle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He pulled the
poncho back on and became virtually invisible. Now he would wait.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He didn’t see the
first man over the west wall but he felt him slip over the wall south of the
gorge tower, obviously using the tower as cover. He had a direct line of fire,
if he could see him, which he couldn’t. Any shot he took would be a guess.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
His com-cell
vibrated and he fingered the red rune and heard Bleak’s voice loud and clear. “Rover,
we are one kilometer south of the chapel. It looks like we might be able to
scale either the western or eastern wall.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The enemy is
climbing the west wall now. You must try the east wall. It will take some ropes
to get over it, though.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Do the lancers
have ropes?” asked Bleak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“They are using
ropes and grappling hooks.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Any estimate on
numbers?” asked the corporeal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“A hand full at
most.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“And they are
scaling the west wall?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“That’s correct,
corporeal.” Raben paused and then said, “By the way, I saw another column
approaching from the east.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak was silent
but still connected. Finally, he said, “We are coming in. Don’t shoot.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Which way?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raben asked. “Which wall are you scaling?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“We will be coming
over the west wall, out.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben lay the
sniper rifle down and picked up the pistol. Opening his mind, he found the
lancer crouched in the shadows on the south side of the gorge tower and aimed
the pistol at the shadows and pulled the trigger. He scattered ten rounds in a
loose pattern into the shadows and heard the man gasp and fall. His aura paled
and disappeared.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
A burst of rifle fire
from the top of the east wall struck him in the left shoulder and knocked him
back. He felt a searing pain but his armor had deflected and slowed the shot,
minimizing the damage to his shoulder. He gritted his teeth and quickly bled
the rest of the clip in the general direction of the shooter. He heard a groan
from the lower bailey, as he replaced the spent clip and waited for the next
man over the wall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Minutes later a
red and yellow flare illuminated the western wall of the Attis Chapel followed
by a burst of shotgun and pistol fire. With the garish light of the flare,
Raben quickly pinpointed two more targets within the shadows of the lower
bailey but they maneuvered away from the flickering light deeper into the
shadows before he could fire. For some reason he was unable to feel their aura.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As the flare
touched the floor of the lower bailey and extinguished in a sputter of sizzle
and flash, he sensed but could not see the first member of II Squad scale the
wall and drop into the lower bailey. After a minute or two, he recognized
Cioran’s silhouette and called out for him to join him on the dividing wall.
Suddenly, he remembered the lurking reaper in the shadows of the main bailey
and he shouted: “Cioran, a reaper is on the ground. Beware.” Cioran paused for
a moment and then lifted his pistol in acknowledgement and continued toward the
arched entrance of the main bailey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
A second flare
sizzled up into the air and three more men wiggled over the wall
simultaneously. Del Torres rushed to the gorge tower as soon as he hit the
ground and set up his automatic rifle on the ledge of an embrasure to rake the
steep hill with its thunderous fire, while Bleak and Doc moved toward the
spiral tower. Raben warned them to stop. “Don’t go that way: mines.” The two
turned and ran toward the arched entrance to the main bailey and Raben. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
When they squatted
next to him, Raben asked Cioran, “Is that all?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Cioran nodded and
then took up a position on the narrow allure a few meters toward the north.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
When Bleak and Doc
reached them, they squatted and shook hands. The men were filthy and unshaven,
just as he was. Doc noticed blood on Raben’s armor and he moved closer to
examine the wound but Raben pushed him away and said, “It’s all right, Doc. We
can do that later.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The medic nodded
and Raben cleared his throat and asked, “Where is the rest of the squad?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Dead,” said Bleak
in a whisper. “That bastard Drussus betrayed us and we walked into an ambush.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Axel shot off
another flare and del Torres opened up with his automatic rifle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Later, a cool
breeze blew over the chapel walls and Raben shivered. Doc said, “Winter is
coming. We might see some frost by morning.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben asked, “I
thought del Torres was in charge of communications?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“He is or was. We
lost the com in the river. That where’s the CDF caught us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“So we have no way
to communicate with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kaiser Wilhelm</i>?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
‘That’s about
right.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“What do you
mean?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“We might be able
to contact a plane or Imperial Marine unit if we somehow come anywhere near
them.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“What do you think
the chances of that happening would be?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak shrugged his
shoulders.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The flare fizzled
out and darkness shrouded the citadel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“You’ve been here
awhile. What do we suggest we do?” asked Bleak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben rubbed the
stubble on his chin and said, “Axel and del Torres are in a good position. I
suspect the Lancers will eventually try to scale the eastern wall so we ought to
put at least one man in the northeast tower. One man should stay here because
this point provides a covering arc over both the lower and main bailey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“One problem we
have is that there is a reaper loose in the main bailey and we need to get rid
of him. So far he has been more help to me than a hindrance but now his
presence is restricting our movement.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“What do you
suggest we do, kill it?” asked Bleak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I would rather
not,” replied Raben. “I have become quite fond of it and it basically saved my
life a couple of times.” He paused and then said, “I will go down and urge him
to fly away as soon as it is light.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“One thing we must
do is get some sleep,” Doc said, yawning.</div>
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“Maybe you would
like to go first?” asked Bleak with a laugh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I slept a little
this afternoon,” said Raben. “I would suggest three of you go and sleep for
three hours and then relieve us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Why three?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Two men can cover
both walls. If they come in, you will hear the firing and relieve us, if
necessary.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Where do you
suggest we sleep?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The safest place
is the northwest tower. I have planted mines around the entrance. They will not
be able to sneak up on you and cut your throat.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak thought a
moment and said, “Doc, you, del
Torres and Axel go to the tower and sleep. Raben and I will man the walls.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben led Doc to
the tower and showed him the placement of the mines and then returned to the
dividing wall and joined Bleak, who faced the west wall. Raben watched the
east. Later, Bleak loaded a flare gun and placed it on the stone floor of the
allure. “If you hear anything, shoot a flare at an angle over the wall.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben dug half of
an iron ration from his fatigues and bite off a hunk of the stiff bar and handed
the remainder to Bleak, who stuffed it into his mouth. With his mouth full, he
asked, “Have you discovered what all the fuss is about?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“What do you
mean?” asked Raben.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Why did Kavka
make such a big to do about this pile of rock and why are two brigades of CDF
Lancers fighting like hell to dislodge us?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I haven’t found
anything but a stone in the chapel covered with writing I cannot read.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I would like to
see this stone when the sun comes up. I like to know why people are shooting at
me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Don’t you think
it is simply because you are invading their country?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak laughed and
almost choked on the dry iron ration.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
They chewed
silently for a long time and then Raben asked, “Corporal, how do you think we
are going to get out of this mess? I don’t expect the Imperial Marines to
counterattack anytime soon.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Frankly, I
thought we would march in here, set up a listening post, and then wait for the
attack. I mean, other than being high ground, I don’t see any military
significance to this chapel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Drussus gave us
away. That is obvious. Without that bastard, they probably would have never
suspected we were here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I knew there was
something wrong with Drussus. Maybe I should have told the captain.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“How did you
know?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I sensed it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“You sensed it?
They would have laughed you out of the program. You did best by keeping your
mouth shut.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben heard the clank
and scratch of an iron hook digging into the rock wall, leaned toward Bleak and
whispered into his ear: “They are coming over the eastern wall.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I hear them.
Let’s wait till they are over.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben picked up
the sergeant’s pistol and cradled it against his chest waiting for the flair
and he heard the flat slap of a Lancer boot hitting the stone floor of the main
bailey. Bleak angled the flare gun over the eastern wall and fired. The flare
illuminated at least ten lancers carrying carbines. In a blink of an eye, Raben
sprayed the eastern wall of the main bailey with half a clip and Bleak dropped
the flare gun and picked up his shotgun and pulled the trigger, spitting out
hundreds of pellets per second. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flare sputtered out. Bleak picked up the
flare gun and reloaded it and then fired a round over the western wall. They
could not see any intruders in the lower bailey; however, pistol fire erupted
from one of the embrasures on the spiral tower.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The pistol fire
stopped as quickly as it started and Cioran gave the all clear signal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The flares
dwindled and died and they were soon enveloped in darkness. Raben shivered with
the dropping temperature and pulled his poncho’s hood over his head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The Lancers did
not try again that night. At dawn, wet flakes fell onto the chapel, covering
the floor of the main and lower bailey. At sun up the reaper, its stomach
distended, waddled across the snow, sniffed the air, and then slowly took off.
It flew toward the north, relieving Raben from having to deal with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben and Bleak
did not wake the others; instead they remained on watch throughout the night.
At dawn, after the reaper flew away to the north, they crossed the main bailey
and climbed the steps of the open gorge tower and observed a brigade of lancers
camped on the steppes on the eastern side. Hundreds of cook fires emitted
ribbons of smoke into the frigid fall air and Raben’s mouth watered at the
smell of coffee and bacon. They then moved to the western wall and noted white
tents spotting the steppes there as well. Surveying the camp through the scope
on his sniper rifle, he saw several tanks parked to the southwest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“They are making
themselves at home,” said Bleak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben shook his
head in agreement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Let’s wake the
others and then you can show me the Chapel and this mysterious stone.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Did you notice
the tents to the southwest? It seems a tank squad has arrived.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“It is probably
the ones that ambushed us at the river.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
They woke Doc
first, who was wrapped in his poncho, snoring loudly, then the others. Cioran
took Raben’s sniper rifle to the top of the spiral tower, while the others ate
their iron rations and washed it down with brackish water from their canteens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Doc said, “Water
is soon going to be an issue.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, it’s not,”
murmured Raben.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Why not?” asked
Bleak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“There is a well
in the main bailey near the barracks.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Have you tried
the water yet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, but I dropped
a rock in it and there is water there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I will test it
later,” said Doc. “That is good news.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak swallowed
the last of his iron ration and signaled for Raben to follow him. They
descended the spiral stairs and headed toward the chapel, as del Torres checked
the lancer bodies and rummaged through their packs and pockets. He collected
all of their weapons and stacked them against the wall of the open gorge tower.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“These may come in
handy,” he said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Get their
canteens, too,” ordered Bleak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
They passed
through the arched entrance of the dividing wall and hurried to the Chapel.
Raben shoved the huge wooden door open and they entered. Light illuminated the
stain glass windows and Raben led the corporal straight to the large carved
stone, who walked around and around it studying the unknown words. He reached
out twice to touch the stone and then drew back his hand, as if he suspected it
would be better for him if he didn’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben studied the
large stain glass scene above them and felt some sympathy for the Cyclopian
creature being attacked and surrounded by imperial marines.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“You think the
stone is what all the fuss is about?” asked Raben.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Probably the
stone and the chapel itself,” answered Bleak. “It is probably some religious
relic, sacred to the Black Robes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The lancers seem
afraid of damaging the chapel. That is probably why the tanks haven’t opened up
on us,” said Raben.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak turned to him
and nodded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Is this all there
is? Have you found any doors leading underground?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“No. But I haven’t
really looked for any.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“This hill looks
manmade. I bet there is an elaborate underground structure and this Chapel is
just the façade.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I had a feeling,”
said Raben slowly, “that this hill was really a pyramid or a ziggurat.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Ziggurat, more
likely. It fits the culture of the indigenous tribes of this planet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Are they still
around?” asked Raben, running his hand over the stone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“A year ago, when
we were planning the invasion, we received some extensive lectures on the
people, the climate, the life forms, and the history of the conflict.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“What did they
tell you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“What do you
mean?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“What did they
tell you about the indigenous people?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The ones on this
continent were nomadic tribesmen led by Hetmen. They were polygamous and
dynastic. The first thing the Imperium did was to stop their movement, imprison
their Hetmen, and stifle their pagan religions, which was basically nature
magic administered by a shaman.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“So these
tribesmen built ziggurats? That doesn’t really jibe with shamanism.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, the tribesmen
couldn’t even build a house. They lived in tents. A pre-existing civilization
built the ziggurats. The indigenous people call them the old ones and we know
very little about them.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“So who built the
Attis Chapel?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“My guess would be
the first Imperial colonists.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“When would that
have been?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The Seneschal
said the first colonial ship landed here ten thousand years ago.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“This chapel is
not that old?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I couldn’t say
when it was built or who built it but I am guessing it happened during the
falling away?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The falling
away?” asked Raben.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Don’t you know
anything, kid?” said Bleak with a laugh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben did not
respond to Bleak’s rhetorical question as he blushed out of anger and
embarrassment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak cleared his
throat and explained: “The falling away occurred after the great period of
colonization and exploration. The Imperium ran out of steam and money and
failed to support many of the new colonies. The colonies realized quickly that
they were on their own. Many descended into barbarity. Some developed coping
mechanisms and began to support themselves. Because Camarones is so large, one
and half times the size of Terra, the colonists split up in different groups
and developed first city states and then countries. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The Imperium
returned to Camarones a hundred years ago and took back control. The colonists,
however, had become accustomed to self-rule and some of the leaders didn’t want
to relinquish their power to the Kaiser.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The
Administrators faced several problems. There were different countries,
different factions, and different religions. Part of the planet readily
embraced the Kaiser, while other regions resented him. The dictator of this
eastern continent was nothing more than a glorified Hetman or satrap. He
refused to surrender control to the Kaiser and he had to be subdued by force.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“It took several
years to quiet his insurrection but the Kaiser eventually crushed all
resistance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“And the CDF, who
are they?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“When the Kaiser
reclaimed the planet, his administrators built an indigenous army to control
and police the world, when the Imperial Marine moved on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Once the Imperial
Marine left the planet, Stavitsky, a General in the CDF, declared himself
Hetman and began to take over Camarones.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The bark and
rattle of the automatic rifle interrupted their conversation and they ran
quickly from the chapel to the sound of fire.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Del Torres stood
at an embrasure at the open gorge on the western fall spraying rounds in a wide
arc. Bleak and Raben climbed the steps three at a time and took positions on
each side of him, while Cioran, ensconced in the spiral tower, began firing at
lancers pushing a large wagon, loaded with planking toward the moat in front of
the gate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Cioran yelled into
his com-cell: “They have some sort of makeshift bridge. They obviously plan a
frontal attack.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
About two hundred
lancers struggled up the steep incline on the eastern side of the chapel wall,
an obvious diversion to the action in the north, while four tanks started up
the winding black road, their engines coughing black smoke into the air. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Pistol fire
erupted on the east wall and Doc called out that the enemy was climbing the
eastern wall in force.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bleak ordered
Raben to support Doc.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As Raben ran
through the arched entrance between the lower and main bailey, he noted dragons
circling in the northwest. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Doc was on the
open gorge tower firing his pistol as quickly as he could pull the trigger and
replace the magazine. Lancers fell like stalks of wheat on the steep hill. When
Raben reached him, Doc ordered through gritted teeth: “Grab some grenades from
my knapsack.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben dropped his pistol
and pulled out four grenades. He pulled the pin on one and lobbed it down the
hill into a clump of lancers who had taken cover from Doc’s weltering pistol
fire. The grenade exploded, spraying the men with shrapnel, tearing and
shredding their bodies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He searched for
another group and once he found them, he pulled the pin on a grenade and threw
it up into the air on a high arc. The grenade exploded a few meters above the
lancers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Even under Doc’s
withering fire and Raben’s grenades, the lancers progressed slowly up the hill,
stopping and firing their rifles at the embrasures. One burst creased Doc’s
right cheek and knocked him onto the gray stones of the open gorge. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben grabbed his pistol
and began spraying the hill. Suddenly a tank fired and a wedge of the spiral
tower collapsed into the moat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Doc roused himself
from the floor and grabbed his knapsack. “I have to check on Cioran; he was in
the tower.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben touched
Doc’s arm to stop him and said: “I’m out of ammo.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Doc opened his bag
and handed Raben two magazines, sixty rounds. “That’s it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As Doc disappeared
through the opening in the dividing wall, Raben received a psychic jolt so
strong he stumbled off the shooting step. A frenzied wail followed the jolt and
several iron drains on the main bailey flew open and gray steam sprayed into
the air. He covered his ears with his hands in a feeble attempt to squelch the
piercing shriek. The charging lancers and the defending marines also dropped
their weapons and covered their ears. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
of the lancers began to back down the side of the hill, while others collapsed
in a heap on the dead yellow grass. </div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-70453836994039525142013-07-01T13:46:00.000-07:002013-07-01T13:46:14.418-07:00Chapter Three: Horizontal until Vertical<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The lancers retreated
down the black road until they were out of the reach of Raben’s sniper rifle.
He stepped off the spiral tower’s firing step out of their line of sight and
leaned against the merlon’s cool gray stone. From this position he could see
through an interior embrasure into the Attis Chapel’s lower bailey. Outside the
walls of the chapel, four Camaronian dragons circled the dead and the dying on
the black road. Their leather wings snapped over the lancers’ bodies, and he
knew it would not be long until they tore at lancer flesh with their sharpened
front talons. More dragons and several reapers, attracted by the sickening
sweetness of spilt blood, flew toward the chapel, filling the air around him and he
feared their feeding frenzy might soon find him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He unfastened his
rifle’s scope and re-mounted the firing step to survey the surrounding yellow
steppes that spread out in four directions from the stone embrasure. Other than
the lancers at the bottom of the hill, he could not see anyone or anything
else. He tried his com-cell again and received only static. Corporeal Bleak and
his squad were probably dead, he thought. He re-attached his scope and sat with
the rifle--its butt firmly placed against the gray stones-- firmly between his
legs and realized the question now was not how he would escape but how the
lancers would attempt to breach the wall. He had blown the bridge over the
crevice, a natural moat, forestalling any direct attack against the gate’s
double iron doors. He knew, however, they would devise another way in. They
could scale the sides of the hill. It would be difficult but they could do it
with time and ropes but he would have sufficient time to pick them off with his
rifle, if he saw them. Seeing them, of course, was the problem. More likely, he
reasoned, they would position snipers around the hill and hope to hit him when
he raised his head in one of the embrasures in the crenelated wall of the
spiral tower.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
A reaper veering from the road, catching his scent, and hovering
several meters over the tile slates of the tower’s flat roof interrupted his thoughts. He reached for
his dead sergeant’s pistol and blasted a short burst at the beast. Several
rounds hit it squarely in its broad breast, throwing it back and up before its
wings crumpled and sagged. Dead, it fell to the tile floor of the Chapel’s parade
ground in the center of the main bailey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Just mid-day and a
cool autumn wind stirred bits of debris on the roof. Fishing out a half-eaten
iron ration from a pocket of his fatigue pants, he absently chewed, while
watching another reaper alight next to the dead one. The living reaper circled
its fallen kin twice before it tore into its flesh. With its maul full of
bloody meat, it turned its head to watch the scout on the tower wall. They both chewed
slowly, sizing the other up. Out of pure curiosity, Raben opened his mind to
investigate the reaper’s aura. The blazing whiteness of it startled him. Pure
chaos, an antithesis to his ordered blackness, filled his mind. Rather than the
nausea and repulsion he usually felt when confronted with the contagion of humans
tainted with the gangrenous confusion of chaos, he felt an instance attraction
to the bird-like reptile and wondered if there was a natural chaos
symbiotically opposed to his natural order sense. The beast
eventually turned back to its food, choosing to ignore Raben, who continued to
watch the animal from the tower, as more reapers and dragons arrived and descended
on the dead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
An hour later, bored with the creatures, he dozed against the
stone wall of the merlon, his head resting on the barrel of his sniper rifle. However,
shouting and shots soon awoke him and he shook his head, embarrassed he had
fallen asleep. He slowly rose to peer through the embrasure. A squad of lancers
was shooting at the dragons in a feeble attempt to drive them away from the
bodies of their fallen. Raben immediately realized they had advanced within the
range of his sniper rifle. He raised the weapon and aimed at the furthest man
and pulled the trigger. There was a splatter of blood and he slumped down upon
the black road. Raben ejected the round and inserted another. He shot the man
at the back and the others did not notice him fall, as they continued to harass
the dragons. He fired a second round and the penultimate man in line fell
backwards off the road and rolled a ways down the side of the hill to rest in
the dry yellow grass. They still had not noticed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
A lancer mounted
on a tall black gelding galloped up the hill toward the men, shouting at the
top of his lungs, pointing at the tower, warning his comrades that the sniper
was felling them one by one. Raben sighted on the horse and estimated the
distance to be outside his range but he fired anyway. The horse went down head
first throwing the man forward. He lay in a heap, unmoving, while the horse
struggled up with a wound in its broad chest and a broken leg.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The lancers now
knew he was firing at them and reluctantly withdrew down the hill as the
dragons returned to their gristly task.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As Raben ejected
the last shell casing he heard a thud and then a chip of stone hit him below
his left eye. He immediately dropped down off the firing step as several spurts
of automatic fire splattered on the stones of the merlon where he had stood. Snipers
had crawled up the side of the hill, hiding in the dried yellow grass, to reach
a point to fire at him. He gathered up the sergeant’s machine pistol, his
knapsack and his sniper rifle and pulled up the wooden door in the center of
the tower and descended the spiral stairs to its second level. He passed quickly through
the second level to the ground floor and pulled open the thick wooden door that
opened onto the lower bailey. He couldn’t see the reapers on the parade ground
from here but he was now on their level, within easy reach of their fangs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He stepped over
the anti-personnel mines he had buried around the door and worked his way along
the western wall of the lower bailey until he reached the steps leading to an
open gorge tower situated mid-way down the curtain wall of the citadel. The
open gorge would not provide him the protection of the spiral tower but the
lancers did not expect him there and with luck he might be able to hit one or
two of them before they realized he had moved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He slowly climbed
the steps to the top and placed the machine pistol and his knapsack down on the
smooth stone floor of the open gorge tower. He then took a deep breath and stepped
up and peered through his sight. He started with the road and then swung in a
180 degree arc across the steep side of the hill, knowing he had only a few
seconds before the lancers saw him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He made the sweep
and saw nothing. They must be camouflaged, he thought; just as he had been
camouflaged, covered with cut yellow grass, when he climbed the road to the
chapel the day before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He was about to
make another sweep when he heard a scratching static in his left ear. The com-cell
had picked something up. It must have been due to the change in his location.
He moved to his left and heard the static again. Forgetting about the snipers,
he grabbed his equipment and moved to the spiral tower at the southwest corner
of the main bailey, adjacent to the chapel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He pushed against
the heavy door, which resisted him at first, and then climbed the stairs to the
top. At the top of the stairs, he heard Bleak’s voice for the first time in two
days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He pressed the red
rune on the com-cell and said, “Rover here, over.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Damn you, Rover,
where have you been?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Destination
reached, leader. I am under attack.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Describe attack.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“There is a lancer
brigade with light weapons only.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“We are on our
way. Is there an entrance for us at destination?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Negative, leader,
there is only one way in and the brigade controls it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Any surprises
awaiting us?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The road is mined
past the brigade.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“We will seek
vertical help. Stay available.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The com-cell went
dead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He repeated the
words out loud: “vertical help?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He scanned the
southwest side of the hill one more time and still didn’t see any snipers. He
decided it was time to make a complete survey of the walls. He descended to the
ground and crossed the lower bailey and then entered the main bailey, heading
to the southeast tower. The reaper was lying next to the partially eaten
carcass, seemingly asleep. One green eye was open, however, and Raben felt the
beast watching him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He turned away
from the reptile and continued toward the southeast tower. Once there he
scanned both the south and the east. In the east, he saw a cloud of black dust
maybe five to ten kilometers away. He immediately suspected it was another
contingent of lancers. He opened his mind and felt sure it was a CDF troop
heading his way. He also felt confident they planned to scale the walls after
dark. The question for him was which side would they attack? The south and
north walls were unassailable. They knew he was watching the west so the attack
would most likely come from the east.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He needed a spot
where he could maximize his fire. Because of the wall dividing the lower bailey
from the main bailey, he could not see both east and west walls. If they scaled
the east they could use the dividing wall as cover. If he took up a position on
the stone allure of the dividing wall he could cover both the east and the
west, although he would be unprotected on the east side. He rubbed his face and
felt the thick stubble against his palm. He hadn’t slept in two days and he yawned
as he returned to the northwest tower and climbed to the top. He scanned the
steep side of the hill one more time before he descended to the second level
and rolled up in his poncho. Before he fell asleep he set his watch to wake him
in an hour. He figured he had that much time before they attacked. He was
wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
An explosion woke
him forty minutes later. He scooped up his weapons and ran to the top of the
tower and leaned out on its interior side. A lancer wearing a cloak of yellow
grass lay in front of the door, his left leg gone and blood flowing out of his
wound. Another man, also in camouflage, sprinted toward the Gothic archway in
the separating wall, heading toward the main bailey, seeking cover. Raben
lifted the sniper rifle and drilled a hole in the man’s back just as he was
slipped under the opening. As he fell forward, the reaper sprain onto him and
ripped into his neck with his massive jaws and dragged him to the other side of
the wall into the main bailey.</div>
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Looking through
the rifle’s sight, Raben scanned the lower bailey. He couldn’t see anyone so he
opened his mind, attempting to pick up an aura or a trace of any lingering
lancer assassins. He sensed a third man crouching on the far side of the open
gorge tower. There was nothing to do about him now, he thought. He would wait
until dark. Maybe, if he was lucky, the reaper or a dragon would get him. He
sensed the man was terrified of the reaper and the mines and he suspected he
wouldn’t make a move for awhile.</div>
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One thing he guessed
from the attack was that the lancers intended to scale the western wall. As
soon as the sun set he would find the lancer and deal with him and then take up
a position on the allure of the dividing wall.</div>
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The com-cell
vibrated in his ear. Bleak was trying to contact him but it was impossible for
him to move to a more advantageous position now. He would have to wait until
night fall. He crouched against the stone of the tower and closed his eyes.</div>
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As the sun began
to set, he climbed up on the firing step and gazed through an embrasure facing
the black road. One dragon remained. The others had flown away to their roosts,
carrying parts of bodies in their mouths. Down below, he could sense the lancer
crouching behind the gorge tower. He was not sure if the reaper remained in the
bailey. He thought, but he was not sure, he was receiving a vague sense of the
beast’s white aura near the chapel.</div>
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With dusk, a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cold breeze blew from the north and he could
feel winter’s imminent arrival. He sat down on the firing step, placed his head
in his hands, and closed his eyes. He saw snow falling on the steppes and Kaiser
tanks stalled on snow covered trails. He opened his eyes suddenly, realizing
that time was running out for a counterstrike. If winter fell before the Kaiser’s
forces launched their counterstrike, they would spend the winter dug into the
shores of the Dons River.</div>
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Kavka had
emphasized the importance of Attis Chapel to each member of II Squad. He had
ordered that no one but Black Robes were to be admitted into the chapel. He
scratched his chin and wondered what they would say when they discovered he had
already been inside the edifice. He also wondered what would happen to the
chapel and to him if the marines did not cross the river. How long would the
squad, surrounded by thousands of CDF, be required to hold the chapel? That is
if Bleak, indeed, showed up. He knew what was going to happen to him if they
didn’t. He felt the sheer weight of the mission descend upon his shoulders, as the
sun finally set behind the horizon. </div>
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As soon as dark
fell onto the bailey, the lancer, hiding behind the gorge tower, crawled around
the base of the tower to a point where he could fire at the southern embrasures
of the spiral tower. Raben sensed his movement and his fear. He noted his aura
was a light brown and he had calmed down and was now prepared to finish his
mission. He also felt several other lancers crawling toward the outer wall. If
he was to reach the dividing wall, he had to move now and that meant facing the
lancer hiding in the lower bailey. He swung the sling of the sniper rifle over
his head and then lifted his knapsack up onto his left shoulder. He checked the
magazine of the machine pistol and descended the spiral stairs to the ground
floor. Before pulling the wooden door open he wrapped himself in his
camouflaged poncho that turned a dark shade of gray; its intelligent material,
taking on the color of the night and the stones of the chapel. The hinges
squeaked.</div>
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</span>kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-33627341428767005642013-06-24T13:13:00.003-07:002013-06-25T07:48:26.102-07:00Chapter Two: First Blood<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Sergeant Minor’s head rolled from
his body. Drussus screamed in
the darkness and Francisco del Torres rammed an armored elbow into his face to silence
him. Emergency red lights flickered on and Bleak ordered: “Cioran, you’re
sitting on the manual controls. Open the rear door.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
happened?” asked Cioran, hammering his fist onto the release of his security
belt.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bleak
struggled out of his seat before answering him. “The air brakes didn’t kick in.
We slammed into the planet at full speed and the force broke a supporting beam
that severed the Sergeant’s head right at the point where his neck emerged from
the chest plate.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
other men, shaking off the effects of the crash, began to stir and free
themselves from their restraints, as Cioran lifted his seat and manipulated the
rear hatch’s manual controls. The Heinkel buried deeply in the rich black loam of
the planet prevented his opening a side hatch. But the tail of the plane
projected upward at a forty-five-degree angle from the planet’s surface; so, after
several minutes of wrestling with the manual controls, he freed enough space to
squeeze through and fall to the ground. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bleak
was the last one to leave the ship. As he climbed over twisted metal, he
switched off the auxiliary power and the emergency lights dimmed and
disappeared.</div>
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The squad stood in
darkness. Corbeau pointed at the dense cloud cover overhead and Axel Weise said,
“I just felt a drop of rain.” Then, the clouds opened and rain poured down on
them. The squad pulled on their camouflaged ponchos and gathered up their
equipment into a pile and covered it with two shelter halves.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
he worked, Raben felt Drussus moving away from the squad but before he could
investigate, Bleak said, “Raben, go into the ship and strip the sergeant of all
his equipment, then wrap him in his poncho and bury him.” He handed him a
shovel with a folded metal shaft. Raben, a bit unnerved by the gruesome
assignment Bleak just handed him, shrugged out of his pack and placed it and
his rifle under his shelter half and climbed, with the help of Weise, into the
blood-drenched transport. </div>
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The sweet smell of
the Sergeant’s blood filled his nostrils, as he worked his way to the body. He
could not sense the Sergeant’s aura but he did discern flecks of green light on
the corpse; bacteria was already growing and ingesting the dead flesh. Suddenly
he knew what troubled him about Drussus; he was carrying some sort of contagion
akin to the growing flecks of living decay on the Sergeant’s body. Reminded of
Drussus, he opened his mind, but he could not sense him; he was gone.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
stripped the Sergeant’s body like Bleak ordered and hauled his equipment
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
rain stopped just as the sun appeared on the horizon. Raben climbed out of the
shallow grave he had dug on the side of the Heinkel glider, stretched and gazed
at the sun, as he waited for Doc to remove Minor’s synthetic armor and fatigues.
Then he signaled he was ready and Raben helped him place the Sergeant’s body
and head into the makeshift grave. The men gathered and Doc said a few words
over the body, as Raben covered it with dirt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
had crashed onto Hawthorne’s Ridge, a slight bump that stretched 2500
kilometers to the northeast, all the way to the gates of Forlorn, General Stravitsky’s
headquarters and center of the rebellion against the Kaiser’s rule on Camarones.<br />
Finished with the
burial, Raben surveyed the scene. They had crashed on a prairie of waist-high yellow
grass that undulated from the force of a northerly wind. To the east, two
Camaronian dragons the size of draught horses flew languidly unaware of the
downed glider. The men <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seemed to be
alone, undetected by the rebel forces.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
joined the squad sitting in a tight circle eating iron rations. Most of them
looked exhausted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An hour on the ground
and they were shell-shocked, dirty and wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bleak handed Raben a black bar of chewable ration, as he dropped down
between the Corporal and Cioran.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Del
Torres turned to him and said, “Your buddy Drussus bugged out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
cut his eyes sharply at the man and said, “He’s no friend of mine.” And del
Torres winked, knowing his jibe hit its mark. Bleak muttered with his mouth
full, “If you see him, kill him. Now eat up and let’s get going.” He stood and pulled
out his data plate and made some entries before saying, “Raben, come here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
crammed the last of the iron ration into his mouth and jumped up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
corporal showed him the screen. “I have worked out the route to the Attis
Chapel. Memorize it. You are to take point. I want you two to three kilometers
ahead of us. If you see anything, you warn me on this frequency. It is new
because we have a renegade deserter out there who will probably fall into enemy
hands. You got it?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
nodded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Take
the sergeant’s machine pistol and all the ammo you can carry. Do not turn back
to us; no matter what happens, push as hard as you can to the Chapel. Once you
get there let me know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
walked to the cache of ammunition and supplies and dropped all of his personal
items onto the ground to make room for more ammo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stuffed his large fatigue pockets with
grenades, anti-personnel mines, and clips of ammo. When he had finished, he
swung his sniper rifle over his shoulder and onto his back and picked up the
Sergeant’s machine pistol. The Sergeant, like most of the Black Robes and their
auxiliary marine units, after they had their weapons blessed by the priests, considered
their weapons sacred. Raben didn’t buy it but in a symbolic act of faith and
honor, he bowed down on one knee and pledged an oath to God that he would
respect the Sergeant’s gun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
passed Cioran, who puffed on his cigar and gave him a thumb up, while the rest
of the squad ignored him. He then double-timed it away from the squad, heading
east. Marine training had hardened his body and increased his stamina and he could
run at this pace all day. He needed, however, to maintain silence and stealth,
so he stopped after an hour and cut several handfuls of the tall yellow grass and
wove the strands into his poncho. From here on out, he would walk rather than
run; he was way out ahead of the patrol and that was what he was ordered to do.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t need to run anymore. He ate
another iron ration bar and drank a few swigs of water from his canteen before
he renewed his march. Before setting off, he scanned the horizon. Grasses undulated
with the northerly wind and a Camaronian dragon flew just above the grass,
searching for prey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
stowed his canteen and folded up the iron ration package and stuffed it into a hip
pocket. He stooped, leaning forward so he didn’t stand too high above the tips
of the yellow grass, and started off at a slower pace than before, turning his
head back and forth, keeping the dragon in sight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
noon he stopped in a hardwood copse and took another drink, activated the micro-cell,
and called Bleak, who immediately answered. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
path is clear, Squad Leader, over.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
auspex shows you off course by ten degrees, over. Please adjust south.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Roger
that, Squad Leader,”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>he answered, made
the adjustment and set off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
drop zone had consisted of rolling hills, high grass, and no trees. The terrain
now flattened and turned downwards at a steady but measured decline. He suspected
he would soon reach water and he remembered from the maps that a substantial stream
or river ran between the drop zone and Attis Chapel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
rained again in the afternoon. The rain fell so fast he could not see more than
a meter or two and the yellow grasses bent under the rushing onslaught. His
head down, he pushed onward, slogging through the deepening black mud that encrusted
and weighed down his jump boots. Near
dusk he reached the steep banks of a rushing river and he realized immediately
he would not be able to cross here even if it were not flooded. He opened his
mind to discern a way across and received a strong impression that a ford
existed to the south. He set off through the rain at a trot and after several
hours, he could no longer see well enough to continue. He pressed his micro-cell
to alert Bleak he was stopping for the night but for some reason he received only
static. He found two large hardwoods growing close to the river. They emerged
from the same root system and created a dry niche between their trunks where he
inserted himself. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span>He pulled the
hood of his poncho over his eyes, placed the machine pistol in his lap, and
crossed his arms. Even though his stomach rumbled, he fell asleep immediately. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
woke at dawn. The rain had stopped sometime in the night but the river was high.
Once again he opened his mind and received a strong impression that a ford was
near. He climbed out of his nook, scratched the thick stubble on his face, and
set off. As the sun rose, illuminating the steppes, he reached the ford. Thousands
of horse tracks marked the black mud of a trail that crossed the river. He bent
down, examined the tracks and fresh droppings and concluded a large mounted
contingency heading west had just passed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He surveyed the area and, not seeing anyone,
waded across the muddy, turgid waters, holding his weapons high above his head.
The waters reached his throat twice and he almost slipped but he finally
reached the other side and then ran toward the north.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
After thirty
minutes, he tried Bleak again and on his third try he succeeded. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Enemy cavalry is
headed your way. I estimate regiment size, at least.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Do you have an
ETA?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“They passed me
about an hour ago.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Damn, they must
be near.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“They are
traveling far to the south of you. I had to follow the river south to find a ford.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Maybe they will
bypass us, over.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Good luck, Squad
Leader.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
At mid-day Raben
crossed a ridge and confronted a pyramid-shaped hill emerging out of the steppes.
A bone white chapel surrounded by a rock wall dominated the hill’s summit and he
dug out his binoculars for a better look. Yellow grass covered the hill and a black
dirt road began at the western base and gradually wound upwards around the circumference.
On the northern side, almost level with the broad gate, was a moat and a wooden
bridge spanning the crevice. The stone walls were seven or eight meters tall with
a square crenellated tower, squatting on each corner. The rear of the white Chapel
made up the south wall, while its entrance faced north onto a main bailey. The
Chapel roof was a large copper dome, which had turned green over the ages.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
There was only one
way up the hill and one entrance to the Chapel. A small force, he concluded,
could prevent a large force from entering the Chapel, if they blew the bridge.
Of course, there would not be any escape on foot for the defenders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finished with his examination, he tried Bleak
but failed to reach him. He scratched his chin and then stowed away the
glasses. He set off across the steppes, heading toward the black road. Large
grasshoppers sprang from the yellow grass and glided several meters in front of
him and a cool breeze whistled through the grasses. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
A road began on
the west side. Before he reached it, a crimson lizard, a meter long, with a
scarlet crest, flicked a forked tongue at him. He kicked toward the beast,
which opened its mouth wide to show him several rows of razor-like teeth. He
backed up and waited, his machine-pistol pointed at its head. He held fire and,
finally, with a wave of its thick tail it moved off into the grass.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He started up the
hill scanning the horizon in each direction. There was no sign of the enemy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As he crossed the
bridge, he noted that someone had recently replaced some of the thick planking.
He bent down and leaned over the side to determine the best way to blow the
bridge before he approached the open gates. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Inside
the fortress, he examined the barracks that lined the sides of the walls, the
storage facilities and the towers. Except for some rotting furniture and worm-eaten
grain in the supply bins, the place was deserted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ate his iron rations under the roof of the
northwestern tower; and afterwards, he tried Bleak again to no avail. The sun would
soon set so he decided to wait until morning to investigate the Chapel, whose
heavy wooden doors were shut. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
dusk, splendid copper rays radiated off the Chapel’s dome and four winged-reapers,
birds similar to buzzards, landed on the battlements of the southeast tower. He
climbed up steps that led to the firing steps on the wall adjacent to the
Chapel to get a better view. As he climbed, he caught a glint of light in the
west. He pulled out his binoculars, thinking it might be Bleak and his unit; instead,
he saw a dust cloud with a familiar smudge of green corruption emanating from
it. He knew Drussus rode with them, whoever they were.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
could not estimate their time of arrival but he felt it would be soon;
therefore, he could not rest before he prepared his defenses. He emptied his
pockets onto the stone floor and counted his mines, grenades, and explosives.
He then repacked his supplies into his pack and hurried away from the chapel, through
the gate, across the bridge, to the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He buried the first anti-personnel mine fifty meters from the bridge. He
spread out the rest from the first mine to the bridge’s lip.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Later,
after sunset, he stood in the center of the bridge and yawned, as a thin thread
of silver moon rose. He shook himself and then continued with his work. He fastened
plastic explosives at the four corners of the bridge and stretched two trip
wires: one in the center and a second, three quarters across, as a safeguard if
the enemy somehow missed the first.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
he finished, he leaned against the northern wall and drank several swallows of
water and ate half of an iron ration. The moon now overhead illuminated the
steppes. Using the binoculars, he could see campfires maybe three kilometers
west of the hill. Imagining roasting meat, his mouth watered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finished
with his break, he entered the compound and pushed the massive iron doors shut.
He wrestled four iron cross bars into place to lock it and then wired the doors
with his remaining explosives. He buried his last four anti-personnel mines
around the entrance to the northwest tower as a final defense, then climbed the
stone steps of the tower to the roof, where he wrapped himself in his poncho and
fell into a dreamless sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Waking with the
sun, he peered over the side of the crenellated wall and saw gray smoke rising
from the steppes about three kilometers to the northwest. He decided to eat before
checking the chapel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Later, he pried
open the chapel’s great wooden doors, entered, and walked across slabs of white
slate. There were no chairs, no pews, and no statuary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A single stained glass window, situated
several meters above the floor, shone with morning light. Embedded in its colorful
panes was a gigantic one-eyed creature with webbed feet and hands battling hundreds
of tiny marines led by a Priest in bone white armor and wielding a massive two-handed
sword. A massive square stone dominated the center of a nave at the far end of
the Chapel and Raben guessed it was an altar; however, as he approached it, he
realized that each side was covered with marks, signs, pictographs, glyphs, and
runes. He examined the figures engraved on the side facing the back wall and
recognized them as ancient <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lingua</i>. His
father had been a scholar and he remembered books written in the same script in
their rooms before his mother’s abandonment of them, his father’s death, and
his fall into the slums of La Ciudad. The other inscriptions were in languages
he had never seen or heard. He mouthed some of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lingua</i> words he recognized: <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">lapis philosophorum</span></i>, but he did not understand their meaning
or significance. Suddenly, however, he felt Drussus’ presence and he turned and
rushed from the Chapel to the northeast tower, the one hat overlooked the moat
and bridge. He climbed its stairs, three at a time, until he reached the flat roof,
which he crawled across and peered over the edge. Enemy cavalry galloped up the
black road toward the Chapel in columns of four. They rode with their power
lances raised and their banners snapping in the wind. He estimated their number
at two thousand. He checked his sniper rifle, opened a box of ammunition, and
slipped a round into the chamber then set the gun to the side. He picked up the
Sergeant’s machine pistol and inserted a long magazine, containing thirty rounds,
and laid it next to the sniper rifle. Then he sat with his back against the
white stone and waited. Soon, he sensed, for the first time an enemy psychic,
someone with powers like his, probing the walls, seeking his location. The
man’s aura was not diseased like Drussus, but Raben felt his experience and his
confidence, as he led the column up the black dirt road. He picked up the
sniper rife and checked the scope, released the safety, and lifted it to his
right shoulder. The wind died down and a moth fluttered languidly by as he rose,
stepped up onto the firing step, and aimed at the psychic that foolishly rode
at the head of the column. He rested his left elbow on the cool stone of the
embrasure, centering the crosshairs on the man’s shaved skull and pulled the
trigger.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The psychic’s head
exploded in a burst of red and pinks and Raben felt the man’s spirit whoosh
past his ears like a banshee’s scream. He yanked the bolt of his rifle and
ejected the shell. He reached for another round and then aimed at an officer at
the head of the column, whose horse reared from the turmoil and the panic of
the men and the whining cry of the dying psychic. Raben adjusted his aim for a
second time and fired. The man fell backwards out of the saddle and onto the
road. As he reached for a third round, he felt Drussus fleeing down the hill
and he found him with his sight, the cross hairs centered on his spine. He felt
the recoil of the rifle and then sensed the green corruption flame up into a
searing verdant burst of energy. He had missed. Somehow, Drussus had deflected
the bullet with his mind. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He wiped his brow
and squatted down and rested his back against the wall of the tower. Amid the
screams and shouting on the hill, he imagined a giant black pyramid rising out
of the yellow steppes. He rose and fired again. Then he saw in his mind’s eye the
ages passing as the pyramid’s sharp outlines faded. Anti-personnel mines
exploded, wrenching him back to the present. Gutted horses spilled lifeless
riders onto the hill. A squad of cavalry had charged across the bridge and
tripped the wire. The bridge blew and debris and bodies filled the air and then
fell into the crevice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben raised the
Sergeant’s pistol and sprayed the column. The bullets ripped into flesh, downing
ten men and twelve horses. A bugle sounded, as he ejected the spent magazine
and inserted another one. He switched the pistol for his rifle and took aim.
The slug struck the bugler’s left eye and ripped away the right side of his
face and the cavalry pulled back. He sat and wiped sweat from his face. He took
a sip of water from his canteenand then tried the micro-cell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no answer and he wondered if the
enemy cavalry had caught the squad out in the open on the steppes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He counted his ammunition and knew he could
not afford to waste anymore. At thirty rounds a burst he would soon use up his
ammo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He remembered his
orders. He would hold until relieved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
A Camaronian
dragon circled high above the Chapel. Its nostrils widened at the smell of
blood and it screeched a cry into the air, calling its kin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As the cavalry
regrouped at the bottom of the hill, he fingered his rifle and said his first prayer,
not to God but to the sergeant and to his gun. Suddenly, he understood his kinship
to the squad. It was the first time, since they pulled him kicking and
screaming from the slums of La Ciudad’s lower levels that he felt he belonged
to the marines. It was a feeling steeped in order, a feeling he could embrace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He said out loud,
“I will hold until relieved or die in the attempt, just as the chaplain
preached and the major ordered.” He smiled ruefully at the sky that was now crowded
with screeching dragons, circling above the carnage on the hill. They reminded
him of the marines struggling against the monster in the stained glass windows
of the Attis Chapel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As he waited for
the next attack, he traced his fate lines, spreading and splitting before him.
In response to his vision, he pulled his serrated knife from his jump boot and
placed it next to the sergeant’s machine pistol. “When the bullets are spent,”
he thought, “I will need this knife.”</div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-54444159028369810722013-06-19T08:59:00.001-07:002013-06-19T08:59:30.476-07:00Chapter One: Planetfall<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He wrinkled his
nose at the acrid mix of gun oil, mold, mildew, sweat, backed-up toilets,
cigars, and after shave tainting the air, as bits of rust and dried paint flaked
from the ceiling onto his black synthetic blanket and his olive-drab fatigues. Unconsciously,
he rubbed his nose and then scratched a freshly inked tattoo of a raven with
wings extended on his right shoulder and rubbed his left hand over three healing
wounds, neatly stitched, on his stomach, the remains of the surgeons’ latest
treatment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Eighteen year old Markus
Raben perched on a metallic rack screwed into an interior wall of a Gothic arch
supporting the lowest passenger bay of the Germania battle-barge, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kaiser Wilhelm</i>, cleaning his sniper
rifle. His mates’ mundane thoughts floated up from the adamantine deck,
irritating and intruding upon his order sense.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Experience told
him something was about to happen he wouldn’t like.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben, a marine,
fresh from hospital on the hive-world Germania, had not yet been re-assigned to
a recon squad. In the interim, he trained under the iron tutelage of Sergeant
Mannix, who never tired of reminding him he was teen-age trash from the lowest
level of the acropolis La Ciudad, the largest city on earth, and his conversion
into either a lobotomized android or space detritus was imminent. Raben knew
otherwise. He had measured his fate through the Tarot and rationalized it had a
purpose for him: after all, he had survived fifteen years on La Ciudad’s lowest
levels by using his wits and his knife; and, just recently, he had escaped with
minor wounds from a brief police action on Neu Hessen, his first fire fight. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As expected, he
felt a psychic twinge of pre-cognition and nausea, greater than the usual
irritations, jolting him from his reverie, alerting him that his nemesis from
boot-camp was returning to the passenger bay. Anthony Drussus arrived as
predicted, wearing a black dress uniform and exuding a greenish aura, an aura
Raben could not articulate. All he could say, if asked, was that it, like the
dried paint and the odor and chaotic thoughts of four thousand marines, soaked
in testosterone and crammed in the tight confines of the battle-barge,
disturbed him. What was patently clear to him, however, was that if he had met Drussus
on an elevated passageway in the lower levels of La Ciudad a year ago, he would
have split him from groin to throat with his knife. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As Drussus waded
through the bunks on the deck, Crassus Ancillus looked up from his game of dice
and called out in a rough patois, a variation of Low German: “You been stealing
from the sailors again or selling our weapons to the Kaiser’s Marines?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Drussus turned
toward Ancillus, and his hooded eyes narrowed as he smiled: “Neither, Ancillus;
I have been to see your sister.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Ancillus stood
slowly, scratching some dry skin beneath his left eye and growled, “That’s
impossible because there ain’t no brothel on this ship.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Drussus grinned
and said, “You are right brother; I was gambling with the Ciudad Black Robes.”
He pulled a hand full of Imperial scrip from each of his pockets and threw them
onto his rack. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drussus’ aura immediately
darkened and Raben felt his hatred and fear directed toward Ancillus, who simply
shrugged and returned to his game, oblivious to malice that Drussus felt toward
him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
At that moment, a
boatswain’s whistle sounded in the arched corridor outside their bay and the
men jumped to attention, as Sergeant Mannix squeezed through the narrow
hatchway. Seeing him enter, Raben sprang from his upper rack and landed lithely
next to Drussus, as the sergeant barked: “At ease.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben relaxed with
the others and surveyed the sergeant’s black fatigues covered with sigils,
runic prayers, and unit insignias. He then turned his attention to Drussus, who
stood next to him, and noticed to his chagrin that the man was wearing make-up.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The sergeant
pulled a data-plate from a pouch on his belt and punched in a code with a
minute metallic stylus; and, after a quick survey of the encoded messages
scrolling on the tiny screen, read out loud to the men gathered around him:
“Orders from Command. Drussus and Raben are to report to Major Catullus,
Intelligence Officer, in full dress uniform at Cabin 6363 at 09:00.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
With the message
delivered, the sergeant snapped his computer off, surveyed the room like a bird
of prey, and said with a sneer, “This place smells like a toilet, gentlemen. I
suggest you grab some toothbrushes and get busy. I‘ll be back for inspection at
12:00; and, if you intend to eat in the near future, this place better smell
like a Mexia Rose Garden in spring.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As the sergeant
disappeared through the hatch, Ancillus asked: “a Mexia what?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben shrugged, grabbed
a towel from his locker, and hurried to the showers. Later, dressed in his
black dress uniform, with jump boots shining like polished coal and his ebony
hair pulled straight back and pinioned flat to his head, he waited at the hatch
for Drussus. After a few minutes, he glanced at his watch, shrugged, and set
off alone through the dark labyrinthine decks of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kaiser Wilhelm</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Thirty minutes
later he discovered Drussus sitting at attention in a metal chair locked down
by rusting bolts outside the Major’s cabin. A bead of sweat rolled across his
sallow cheek, carving a furrow in his face powder. Raben, too, wiped sweat from
his brow and examined Drussus’ aura; its green tinge had deepened and he intuited
an incipit fear leaking from the ragged edges of his aura.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Neither man spoke
to the other as they waited.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
At precisely 09:00
the hatch opened and a staff Sergeant in gray fatigues appeared and beckoned
them to follow him into a small cabin. Upon entering, Drussus and Raben quickly
snapped to attention in front of a drab-green metallic desk, where a huge man in
full dress sat behind the desk. Like Raben he had olive skin and thick black
hair, which he wore long and pulled straight back. A tattoo denoting membership
in the Black Robes marked his left cheek and a jagged scar creased his right. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben repressed
his desire to examine the Major’s aura; however, his will was weak and he caught
glimpses of a reddish brown light emanating from the man’s frame. Suddenly, he
became aware that Major Catullus was eyeing him like a crow over a nut and he
suspected he sensed the illegal use of his psychic ability. The Major leaned
forward, raising his left brow, and Raben squirmed, trying to suppress his
powers before the Major caught him in the act of psychic projection and heresy.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Suddenly, the
Major slapped his hands together, which made Drussus jump, and said, “I have
excellent news for you. I think I have found a recon squad for you. As you know
the Kaiser’s Marines on Camarones have been retreating for three weeks. The
enemy performed a brilliant pincer attack at Hawthorne Ridge and enveloped the Governor’s
armor, but, with our help, the rout has ended and the Kaiser’s Marines are now
preparing a counter-attack. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“To assist them
and create a diversion, we will drop behind the rebel’s lines. But before we drop,
our scouts must establish listening posts and gather intelligence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“II Squad lost two
men during the retreat; you two will replace those men.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“The reason I am
talking to you personally is to make it clear that II Squad is reporting
directly to the Black Robes. II Squad is dropping into the Tresor River Sector
to establish a listening post at the Attis Chapel. This location is vital to
our interest and when I say ‘our interest,’ I don’t mean the Kaiser’s but the Black
Robes’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am talking to each member of the
squad to emphasize the importance of our taking and holding Attis Chapel until
relieved. Do you understand?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Raben didn’t
understand but he shook his head in the affirmative.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“All right, report
to your squad, gentlemen, and good luck.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
They snapped to attention,
saluted, and turned on their heels. Once outside the Major’s cabin, Raben
noticed Drussus’ aura had changed from dark green to a bright yellow. He
wondered why and expressed a guess. “Are you happy about the assignment?”
Drussus stared at him for a moment and then said between gritted teeth: “I am
ecstatic about getting off this tub and down to the planet.” He turned and huffed
off in the opposite direction of II Squad; Raben, however, chose not to point
out his mistake and set off in the opposite direction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
An hour later,
Raben stood at ease in front of Sergeant Minor’s desk. The Sergeant’s augmented
right hand whirred softly as he inserted Raben’s record chip into the miniature
data-plate on his desk. As the Sergeant reviewed the records, Raben examined
his pale blue aura, infiltrated by flashing burgundy lines that popped in the
ether like tiny bolts of heat lightning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Minor looked up,
catching Raben’s intense gaze, and surmised he was staring at his hand. “I lost
it last year when we landed on Schola
Beach. A rebel wielding a
sword whacked it off before I had stepped completely out of the Heinkel.” He
paused and then said with a chuckle: “I gutted him; and before he died, I chopped
off his hands, feet, and ears.” He opened the top drawer of the desk and pulled
out a dried ear, which he threw across the desk.</div>
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“That is enough
talk about the good old days. We have a new assignment. You have an excellent
record so far but you could fail tomorrow and end up an android. Do you
understand?”</div>
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Raben nodded and
then swallowed. The loud gulp surprised him and the Sergeant smiled. “There are
two things to remember: Our motto is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Victorus
aut Mortus</i>-Victory or Death-and our orders are to hold until relieved. Got
it?”</div>
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He nodded and
Minor continued: “We drop in tomorrow morning at 04:00 so go next door and get
squared away. Corporal Bleak will help you select your gear for the mission.
You have any questions?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He shook his head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Welcome to II
Squad.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
He exited and
turned right toward an open hatch, where several men were talking at the same
time. A dark blue aura with a twinge of green emanated from the cabin and Raben
realized that Drussus was already there throwing off the equilibrium of the
group, adding a germ of instability to the squad’s order.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No
one looked up when he entered so he worked his way to an empty bunk next to the
outer wall of the ship and lowered his synthetic duffel bag and sniper rifle onto
the bed. Ritually, he reached out and touched the metal skin of the ship just
as he did when he lurked through the lower levels of the hive-city from which
the Ciudad <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">policia</i> extracted him three
years ago. Unlike the lower levels of the battle-barge, these walls were freshly
painted and dry. With his hand splayed against the wall, he sensed the ship’s
vibration, which he hadn’t been able to accomplish below, and felt the far
reaching, undulating waves of hyperspace. A shiver ran down his spine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
sat on the bunk and watched nine men milling around the room; members of his
recon-team. Field packs littered the floor, their woven metallic fabric
glistening in the florescent lights of the cabin, along with scattered stacks
of ammunition, grenades, anti-personnel mines, field rations, trip wire,
detonators, Gelignite, a plastic explosive, and a single com-pack programmed for
communication with the ship and the men’s micro-cells. Through the mess, a tall
red head with thick red moustaches, his arms covered with colorful tattoos,
depicting primitive warfare in a primal forest, strutted about the room,
wearing nothing but a pair of government-issued black boxers. A large cigar
hung from his mouth with a few centimeters of gray ash dangling from its end. He
stopped and stood with his legs wide-spread over a case of Gelignite and Raben
swallowed, waiting for the ash to drop and ignite the explosives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
red head scratched his crotch and called out: “Has anyone seen my machine-pistol?
I had it here just a minute ago.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
stout black man, his head shaved clean, wearing jump boots, battle fatigue
pants and an undershirt, held up a machine gun. “Cioran, is this filthy piece
of hardware what you are looking for?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thanks,
Corporal.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bleak
handed him the gun and then turned to Raben: “You had better join the party if
you intend landing with us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
jumped up and opened his duffel, as Bleak continued in his lilting Low German:
“Pick out a field pack and then help yourself to the supplies. Required
equipment includes three hundred rounds of ammunition, six anti-personnel
mines, four sticks of explosives, two detonators, a camouflaged parka, a
shelter half, three days of dried rations, which we call iron rations, a micro-cell
keyed to our com-pack, personal data plate, and an emergency medical kit.
Anything else you want to carry, pick it out. Some of the men carry a shaving
kit, toilet paper, extra weapons, extra ammo, hats, gloves, pictures, you name
it. Just remember, we move on these.” He slapped his legs. “What you choose, you
carry; what you carry, we either bring back or burn it. We don’t leave
technology for the rebels, nor do we supply them with weapons or ammo. Got it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Got
it,” he answered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you have your personnel chip?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
Sergeant kept it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
odd.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
shrugged his shoulders.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bleak
stood up and waved to a thin man with thick brown hair, cut short, that stood up
like iron spikes. “Doc, come here and meet our sniper.” He turned to Raben and
said, “Doc’s been chosen to train as a Surgeon. This will probably be his last
mission with us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man worked his way
across the room. “Doc, give him his shots and then issue him an emergency kit.”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
medic dug around in a black synthetic medical bag and removed five syringes,
each separately wrapped in a clear plastic. Bleak said, “Camarones’ fauna and
flora are tough. The animal life evolved from reptiles, dragons in particular,
so there are scorpions, lizards, wasps, all spitting poison, fire and acid.
Because the insect and reptile population is so tough so is the plant life. The
water is all right to drink in most cases but drop a pill in it first just to
be safe. The first humans that colonized the planet discovered the soil was a rich
volcanic ash that would grow almost anything so the planet has been a bread
basket ever since. The settlers killed off most of the indigenous animal life
but there is still enough around to bury you. O’Connor, our sniper, was stung
by a hornet. He had been hiding in some bushes and he lay down over the beast’s
nest. Killed him instantly; stopped his heart.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bleak’s
micro-cell buzzed and he pressed it and said, “Yes sir, he’s here. I will send
him right up.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Father
Kavka wants to see you on the double.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What?”
He must have blushed because Bleak said: “Don’t you worry, I am sure it is
nothing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
trip to the Priests always meant trouble and Raben dreaded his encounters with them.
He feared he would slip and the Black Robes would discover his secret and
disintegrate him as a warlock. He was not due to see the Priests or the
psychologists yet; he had just undergone some psychological tests two weeks
before, but more troubling to him was the fact he had never met Kavka, a Seneschal
of the Black Robes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He
is on Level Two, Bay 4, cabin 2372,” said Doc, as he jabbed the hypos into his
left arm just below his tattoo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thirty
minutes later he stood before the Seneschal’s cabin and recited a mathematical
litany: “Two plus three is five, seven plus two is nine, five plus nine is
fourteen, one plus four is five--the pentagram.” He shuddered at the conclusion
of his numerology and then whispered a few lines of a High Gothic poem his
mother used to recite:<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> “The
pentagram thy peace doth mar?/To me, thou son of hell, explain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
knocked and a deep baritone called out for him to enter.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> K</span>avka sat behind an anachronistic wooden desk, dressed in
the black synthetic battle armor the Black Robes wore in combat. Tattooed like
the major, a black ink pentagram marked his right cheek and a raven with its
wings extended covered his left. His long hair, black like Raben’s and the
Major’s, was pulled tightly into a knot at the top of his head. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
scanned his aura: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>dark gray, like fog rising
from a frigid lake on a winter’s dawn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
sense you are nervous. Just relax, you have nothing to fear.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
took a deep breath and tried to calm his mind. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
are an interesting one, Raben. We found you in a ruthless gang rampaging at the
bottom of La Ciudad but your aura radiates a darkness, nay, a blackness,
that showed your inherent order and your kinship to the Black Robes. Do you
realize that if a truly corrupt being came close to you, you would retch in
disgust?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
did not know what to say. He was shocked a Black Robe could perceive his aura. They
obviously had discovered his secret, or maybe they knew all along.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Did
you know your DNA reflects a distant relation to the founder of Germania, to Raben
himself? We suspect your ancestors were part of the genetic program Raben
introduced in 2103 to strengthen the genetic matter of his settlers on the Moon.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
stuttered: “sir?” He had not understood one word the Seneschal had said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Amazing
isn’t it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes
sir, it is.” Inwardly, Raben shuttered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Raben,
you have just received your first posting to a secular unit that serves as an
auxiliary of the Black Robes. We selected you because we have watched you
carefully since your induction and we know you have certain psi powers. The Black
Robes, unlike other military orders, do not fear seers; they cultivate them.
Now that you are in the system, we will be spending more time together. Don’t
repress your powers but don’t discuss them with anyone except me. Do you
understand?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although confused, Raben
shook his head in the affirmative.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When
you return, if you return—I can’t quite see your fate lines yet—I will want you
to report every sense or intimation you receive of hyperspace or any sniff of
contagion you find on the planet or within this ship. We suspect there is daemon
interference behind this rebellion; we just haven’t found it yet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Raben
immediately thought of Drussus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
are dismissed and good luck.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
At 03:00, 10<sup>th</sup>
Company stood in formation in Hangar Bay Two before ten ancient Heinkel landing
craft. Flight Sergeant Orlando Kleinthaler in full battle regalia directed the
action of seventy-five androids who rushed about the hangar, making last minute
adjustments and repairs to the machinery.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sergeant
Minor stood before his squad and repeated their orders. “II Squad shall land on
the Hawthorne Ridge at coordinates 6984.7456. They will then proceed southeast
to coordinates 7361.9863. Once there, they will take control of Attis Chapel
and hold until relieved by Black Robe units only. They shall not relinquish control to
the Kaiser Marines or any other authority of the Kaiser.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He,
then, stepped closer to the men, lowered his voice to a whisper, and said,
“Men, you know the chain of command. If I am killed, then Bleak takes over. If
Bleak falls, then Doc and after Doc, Cioran.” He coughed and said with a laugh,
“If Cioran falls, may God guide your steps to hell because you stupid mugs
don’t have a chance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>II
Squad laughed in unison.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
Tech sergeant ordered I Squad into its landing craft. Once they marched inside
and secured themselves into the webbing, an android closed its hatch and a
hydraulic lift raised it onto the first servo-launcher. A Navy tech called out
the coordinates, which an android entered, and the countdown for launch began.
As soon as the launcher belched out a Heinkel, Sergeant Kleinthaler called
out for II Squad to mount up and to enter its designated craft.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
ten scouts entered in a column of two and sat on metal seats, their legs,
shoulders, and arms touching the one next to them. Cioran’s right elbow dug
into Raben’s left side, just below his chest armor, while Jean-Pierre Corbeau’s
knee worked itself into his thigh and his automatic’s barrel bounced off his
crotch. Raben flexed his muscles and willed his body into a comfortable
position.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
command to close the hatch came and he felt the lifts raising and inserting the
ship into the launcher. Cioran’s head lolled against his shoulder as soon as
the pressure valves clicked and the countdown began and he began to snore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
blast and then a thrust preceded Raben’s head slamming against the metal wall of
the Heinkel glider and Corbeau’s machine gun burrowed deeper into his groin.
The fall only lasted a few minutes but to Raben, whose eyes watered with pain,
it seemed to go on forever. At one point in the controlled fall, he looked over
at Drussus, who sat between Minor and Doc. His eyes were closed and he seemed
to be praying, his aura flashing with green and yellow sparks. Raben once again
felt revulsion; it was a physical reaction he could not control. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
shook his head to clear it, as the Heinkel rushed toward the planet. Suddenly,
he had a pre-cognitive vision; they always arrived unbidden and usually at the
most inopportune time. In his mind’s eye he saw Sergeant Minor floating in a watery
grave. To clear his mind of this troubling image, he instigated a technique he
used in the Hive World to sublimate his most dreadful visions; he opened his
mind to all immediate physical sensations. Time slowed for him and he heard
Cioran’s breath near his ear; he smelled Corbeau’s sweet aftershave lotion; he
saw the tanning powder on Drussus’ face; and he tasted the oil in the air and
the ozone seeping into the transport. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Then they hit hard.
The Heinkel slammed into the rich black loam of the planet and something exploded;
steam erupted from a severed pipe and blood geysered into the bay, stinging Raben’s
eyes and filling his mouth with treacle-sweet liquid. Someone was screaming and
someone else was dead.</div>
kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-21165814744653004332013-01-29T21:28:00.000-08:002013-01-29T21:30:09.670-08:00Fünf Null<br />
grackles <br />
figuring an eight<br />
like infinity<br />
<br />
flock together<br />
calculating <br />
a gregarious gang<br />
into grey dusk<br />
<br />
they descend <br />
seeking <br />
their roost<br />
on street lamps<br />
and leaf-less trees <br />
as purple clouds<br />
and imminent night<br />
<br />
fade <br />
<br />
to black<br />
<br />
their wings spread <br />
across the tableau<br />
like slow drizzle <br />
spreading <br />
winter wet<br />
onto macadam<br />
and concrete<br />
<br />
<br />
until no light <br />
only avian rattle<br />
rumbling metallic<br />
<br />
taps <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-84355727089572454692012-12-16T09:50:00.001-08:002012-12-16T09:56:26.763-08:00Ferrets in the Field<br />
his face in shadow<br />
mine yellowed by the moon<br />
we loaded<br />
the ox cart at dusk <br />
<br />
he popped an ox-hide whip<br />
and the cart creaked forward<br />
burdened by a cage<br />
framed in wood<br />
and enclosed by wire<br />
<br />
stepping in worn tracks<br />
watching our way<br />
avoiding turning an ankle <br />
we reached hours later<br />
the wheat field<br />
<br />
embarrassed by the mayhem <br />
to come once I loosed the latch<br />
and the door swung free <br />
he rolled up his whip<br />
and waited in an oak's silent shadow<br />
<br />
alone I opened the cage<br />
<br />
squealing inside <br />
spitting and scratching<br />
fearful of their fate <br />
they emerged <br />
hesitating for a moment<br />
on the lip of the cart<br />
then sprang head first<br />
onto the moon-soaked grain<br />
<br />
with a final look over their shoulder<br />
they gamboled and gyrated<br />
their treacherous way<br />
through dry stalks<br />
below the moon's jaundiced glare<br />
gleefully devouring the rodents--<br />
rabbits and mice--that hid there<br />
<br />
<br />kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-19436453298444842632012-11-03T12:19:00.002-07:002012-11-03T12:19:22.879-07:00Saturn's Dayon Saturday<br />
Saturn's day<br />
<br />
the body<br />
without organs<br />
<br />
explained<br />
its theory <br />
of masks<br />
<br />
my task<br />
it said<br />
is to discern<br />
our disguise<br />
<br />
why perform<br />
today<br />
a Noh play<br />
and tomorrow<br />
the Cisco<br />
kid<br />
<br />
what message <br />
is hid<br />
<br />
within <br />
the stainless<br />
steel<br />
smile,<br />
the iron <br />
brow,<br />
and the copper<br />
chin<br />
<br />
shift<br />
stage lights<br />
to bright<br />
<br />
erase gray<br />
shadows<br />
<br />
and display<br />
tarnished brass<br />
<br />
green<br />
with patina<br />
formed<br />
from rainkwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18464265.post-37296818536360906492012-10-31T13:10:00.001-07:002012-10-31T13:47:36.611-07:00First Chapter of Untitled Urban Fantasy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The lightning didn’t wake him; nor did the thunder. Hail bouncing around him like candy in a gumball machine finally
nudged him from his stupor. Sitting up slowly, he reached for the headstone on
the grave of Malachi Hojah, his grandfather; and, grasping it firmly in his
left hand he pulled himself up from the wet grass. He was a mess: his clothes,
a pair of khaki pants and a white long-sleeved cotton shirt, were soaked and
plastered against his body; his long black hair had come untied and hung limply
down his back; and his Wellington boots, full of water, squeaked and belched, as
he took a few awkward steps. He sneezed and then ran his right hand over his
face, wiping his eyes. Stretching his aching body, he tried to remember how he
came to be unconscious in Greenwood Cemetery in Dallas’ Up-Town in the middle
of the night. But all he could remember was a call from Anna Gregson, a
detective with the Dallas Police Department, asking him to help her on a case.
That was on Friday night. Was it still Friday? He didn’t know. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Scratching his head and running his hands through his
hair was his mechanical attempt to nudge his memory. The first thought returned
was a question: where were his tools--the small drum, the eagle feather, the
crystal from Mexico, his flute, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pouch of
corn pollen, and his silver bells. He surveyed the soggy earth around the grave
and found nothing. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This can’t be good</i>,
he thought, knowing the only reason he would be in the cemetery in the middle
of the night was to contact his grandfather, and the only reason he would try
to contact him was that someone was ill and needed his help; someone’s spirit
was lost in the land of the dead and needed a guide to either escort to them to
oblivion or back to ordinary reality; to life. The second thing that popped
into his mind was fear for his motorcycle. Hail smacked against his head and
his shoulders and he worried about his bike: a red 1952 Indian Chief. Where was
it? Suddenly, he felt bile in his throat and he threw up onto the long grass
around the cement border of the grave, as a wave of vertigo passed through him.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where did I park it</i>? He wondered.
Usually, he parked on the second floor of the parking garage on the corner of
Oak Grove and Bowen, across the street from the cemetery. Habit probably
controlled this time as well because he never liked to park the Indian outside,
especially in the rain and cold. He was nothing, if not consistent. The hail
stopped and then it rained hard and cold. He set off toward the entrance of the
cemetery; his head and his shoulders bowed, as he followed the worn and ragged cobblestone
drive to the entrance that faced McKinney. He stepped over a rusted chain
stretched across the entrance to the cemetery to prevent cars from entering and
crossed the deserted and flooded street. Lights on in the parking garage
illuminated the edges of the building and cast long shadows. The handlebars of
the Indian were visible on the second floor. He entered the garage and counted
fifteen cars scattered on the ground floor. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
bars must still be open</i>, he thought.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He staggered up the ramp to the second floor because he
did not want to enter the stairwell this late at night and have his head bashed
in by a meth addict or a schizoid self-medicating on cheap wine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The garage owner had a deal with the
restaurants and bars in the area but he had never seen a security guard. Homeless
people sometimes took shelter in the stairwells, especially on nights like this
one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
As he approached his cycle he heard the soft plaintive
notes of a flute; his flute most likely. Sitting on his rug spread out next to
his bike was an old Indian; an Apache he knew by sight; an Indian, who had
migrated to Texas from the Four Corners several years ago. He called himself,
Coyote, and he was usually accompanied by a Navajo girl, named Snake. Snake and
Coyote were grifters, who popped up over and over again, as suspects in petty
crimes, usually scams involving Indian artifacts. He wiped water from his face
and tried to dry his hand on his soaked trousers, as he said: “Evening, Coyote.
I see you found my flute.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The man stopped playing and smiled. Placing the flute
on the rug next to his left leg, he answered with a smirk: “Beastly night,
Hojah.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Indeed, my friend.” He stopped about twenty feet from
the Apache and waited, suspecting Snake was somewhere nearby, maybe with a gun
aimed at his back. “So where’s Snake tonight?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The man smiled and waved his right hand vaguely and
said: “Oh, she’s about my friend.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“You wouldn’t know what day it is, would you?” asked
Hojah.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Coyote picked up the flute and licked the mouthpiece.
“Day?” he asked and then blew several notes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“I seem to be a bit confused,” answered Hojah. “Did we
have an appointment to meet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Coyote stopped playing and lowered the flute, saying:
“Fated, perhaps to meet, but no appointment.” He scratched under his left eye.
“It’s early Monday morning, almost two.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Hojah cleared his throat. He had lost two days.
Gregson had called on Friday afternoon. He now remembered that. Someone was
sick. A young Cherokee girl was attacked Thursday night in downtown near the
bus station. She was unconscious and Gregson wanted to know if he could reach
her; maybe bring her back from the spirit world. She was from Oklahoma on the
bus on her way to Houston. Someone attacked her and left her for dead near the
Kennedy Memorial early in the morning on Thursday. Similar to two previous
cases involving young girls near the bus station, Gregson thought she had a
serial murderer on her hands. But this one lived; the other two died. If he
could reach her and bring her back maybe she could describe her assailant. But
that was all he could remember. Then Coyote played a few more bars on his flute
and he recalled some more. She called his office at 4:00 and he invited Gregson
to come to him because he didn’t close until 7:00 on Friday nights and he
couldn’t get away because Josefina Alonso, his receptionist, was off and he was alone. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He sat on the concrete and the water dripped off him
and drained down the garage’s angled ramp toward the street. “You are
remembering now, aren’t you?” asked Coyote. And Hojah nodded and said: “You
play my pipe well, old man.” The Indian smiled around the mouthpiece and played
a mournful tune. “Not so old, my friend,” he grumbled with the pipe still in
his mouth. Gregson showed up around eight, he remembered, carrying a manila
folder with her. He was in his waiting reading the newspaper; his last patient
had canceled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Be gentle with the door Gregson, I can’t afford a new
pane of glass.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
She stopped suddenly and looked a little sheepish.
“Sorry, Asa; I’m in a hurry.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He stood up and walked to the front door and locked
it. Turning off the lights, he said, “Let’s go to the back and have a cup of
coffee in the kitchen.” He poured distilled water in the coffee maker’s reservoir
and retrieved some German coffee he bought at Kuby’s, a local German grocery
story and butcher shop in Snyder Plaza, from the freezer. He had lived ten
years in Zurich and Munich and he had become quite partial to the way they
roasted their coffee.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
She pulled out one of the heavy wooden chairs, hand-made
by a young artist from West Virginia, who lived and worked in Santa Fe, from
the rough-hewn table and leaned forward. Although her blonde hair was pulled
back tightly in a bun, a few strands fell forward over her brow. “We’ve had
another attack.” She paused and stretched her hands flat across the wood of the
table, as if she were caressing it. He liked her hands; she had long narrow
fingers and short unpainted nails. His mother would have said they were hands
made for the piano. Browned by the sun with wisps of pale blonde hairs on their
backs, her hands were always in motion. It was if she couldn’t quite control
them; as if they had a life of their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“When,” he asked, sitting down across from her,
watching her eyes now. They were light blue like corn flowers and they were
open wide. She was pumped up with adrenalin, ready to roll into action. Her
hands were already moving.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Last night near the bus station,” she answered. “She
came in on a bus from Oklahoma City; on her way to Houston.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Did he kill her like the last two?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
She stared at him and whispered: “She’s alive; in a
coma but alive. I need you to go get her. Retrieve her soul and bring her
back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The Apache stopped playing and stood, holding the pipe
in his extended right hand. Even in the poor lighting of the garage, his long
black hair glistened. “Take your pipe, little brother; I have to meet Snake for
a glass of tequila before the bars close. I can’t help you remember any more
tonight.” He shook his head because as soon as the Coyote’s song ended, he
could not remember what happened next. He took the pipe, as the Apache passed
him, walking down the ramp. As he passed, Hojah smelled tobacco, sweat and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jicama</i>, and he felt a cold breeze slide
cross his wet back and he shivered. He shook his head a second time, trying to
free the memories. But nothing came. A crash of thunder and more rain fell. He
walked to the wall of the garage and looked over into the night, watching
Coyote walking down the street; south toward downtown. Several blocks further
south a thin woman waited under a street light for him; he recognized Snake.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He wasn’t going to ride the Chief out into the rain,
so he sat down; his back against the rough concrete wall of the garage and
tried to remember. But he couldn’t pull up a single memory before the meeting with
Gregson. He listened to the steady drone of the rain and began to finger the
flute, hearing in his mind the song of the crow; a tune his grandfather taught
him thirty years ago when he was eight years old and living on the Rez in
Oklahoma. He wiped the flute off with the sleeve of his soaked shirt and began
to play the song slowly. As he played his conscious mind relaxed and he allowed
himself to descend to a lower level of consciousness. He imagined he was in a
cornfield in Eastern Oklahoma, near the Arkansas border; it was the beginning
of fall and the corn was ready for harvest. Crows circled the fields; their
black feathers mixed with the green of the stalks and the yellow corn. He could
hear his grandfather’s drum and then his voice chanting the song of the crow.
Someone was sick; someone was dying and the shaman was preparing himself to enter
the underworld or at least accompany them to their meeting with death. And as
he played the song of the crow, he began to remember Friday night. He was in
the kitchen of his office and Detective Gregson was at the table and she was
telling him about the girl. And her hands were moving nervously over the wood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Where is the girl now,” he asked, handing her a cup
of coffee, which she held in two hands, as if she were cold.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Parkland” she said, sipping the coffee. “She’s in
Parkland.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Do you have any pictures?” He knew she did and he
didn’t particularly want to look at them but he picked up the folder she slid
across the table and opened it. Shaking out the digital prints, he saw a young
girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen with long black hair, brown eyes, brown skin.
Her mouth was swollen and her lip cut. Both eyes were swollen and bruised; the
left one was completely shut. Her blouse was ripped, her bra cut, and her skirt
pushed up high on her thighs. There was bruising on the inside of the thighs.
She wore one black flat shoe; her right foot was bare. Other prints showed she
lay behind the Kennedy monument. Bits of trash—drink cans, paper
containers—littered the ground around her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“This similar to the other girls?” he asked, stacking
the prints and slipping them back into the envelope. Gregson nodded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Well, let’s go see her.” Gregson nodded and asked:
“You want to ride with me?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He shook his head. “No, I’ll follow you on the Chief.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He stopped playing and the memories faded. He had
never experienced such total amnesia. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The rain stopped and he heard water rushing down the
street into the drains. He leaned over the wall of the parking garage and
watched the clouds break and a yellow harvest moon emerge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He shook out his rug and folded it carefully before
stowing it away in the leather saddlebags over the rear fenders of the bike.
The rest of his equipment was there, stored away. Either he had never unpacked
it or the Coyote had returned all his items to the bags. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Hojah lived in Oak Cliff, an old neighborhood across
the Trinity from downtown. The quickest way home was through the town’s center
and that’s the way he went: down McKenney to Griffin and then right on Elm past
the School Book Depositary and through Dealey Park, where they found the girl. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
As he drove through Dealey Park, he slowed and surveyed
the area. No one was around, except for a few homeless men gathered underneath
the underpass, and one or two cars. Why would a young girl come to the Park at
this time in the morning? Why didn’t she stay at the Bus Station that was only
a few blocks away? Did he have the answers already and he just couldn’t
remember them? He shook his head in frustration and shifted gears, speeding up,
heading home: underneath the overpass, past the police station and up the hill,
left on Syvain, then down to Thomasson.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He lived on the corner in a small brown brick house
built in the 20s. A detached single car garage on the corner of his property
had to be open manually; a large stainless steel lock secured it. He parked the
bike and motion sensors activated two flood lights; one on each corner of the
garage. He had been attacked twice at night opening his garage and he didn’t
want that to happen again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He wrestled his keys out of his pocket and unlocked
the door. A light flipped on when the door opened and he pushed the bike inside the garage and parked it next to a baby blue 1968 GMC pick-up. Before
closing up he wiped off any mud or water that he picked up on the ride home
from the bike and emptied the saddlebags, storing the ritual items in a large
double-door safe that dominated the back wall of the garage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He didn’t go through the back gate; instead he walked
around the house on the sidewalk to the front door, taking advantage of the
streetlight on the corner. The house looked safe. The usual lights were on; his
wicker furniture was still on the wide, covered front porch; no alarms were
blaring, waking the neighborhood. He unlocked the front door and rushed through
the living room to disarm the alarm. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The first thing he noticed once he had locked the
front door was that the answering machine was flashing. The machine registered five
un-played messages. The first two were from Gregson, wondering if he had
performed the ritual yet. The second one was from his ex-wife, Maria Sanchez,
wondering where he was; he had custody of his daughter on Sunday. She was mad
as usual. All subsequent calls were from his mother, worried now, because he
had not shown up for dinner with Alicia his eight year-old daughter. After
erasing the messages, he stripped off his clothes and marched naked through the
house to the utility room to wash his clothes. Halfway there the phone rang and
he knew it would be his mother, Dr. Alice Rothberg, PhD, M.D. He dropped his
clothes on the hardwood floor and returned to the living room, where his one,
antiquated, rotary phone was. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hojah,” he said softly, waiting for his mother to
speak. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Where the hell have you been?” she asked; her voice
strident and strained.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Greenwood Cemetery,” he answered, scratching an
insect bite on his right buttocks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Asa, we have been looking for you all day.” He could
feel her calming down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“I’m sorry, mother, but something happened.” He paused,
letting his message sink in. He knew his mother, a Jungian-trained
psychiatrist, would now be thinking and waiting for him to fill in the details.
In her world, every physical phenomenon had a psychological connection or
cause. “I woke up at the cemetery and I could not remember the last two days.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Were you in a fight? Did you suffer a blow to the
head?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“I don’t have any injuries that I know of,” he
answered; unconsciously rubbing his head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Has this ever happened to you before,” she asked, “on
one of your journeys?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, I don’t think so.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
After several minutes of silence, she said: “It
happened once to your father.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
It was now his turn to wait. Being raised by her, he had
learned that silence creates a space that the analysand feels an overwhelming
compunction to fill; and, as a practicing shaman and psychologist, he knew the
talking cure worked. Few people could sit in silence for long periods of time.
They usually felt the need to talk after only a few minutes and often the
psyche would produce unexpected results. His mother had now volunteered to talk
about his father; something she rarely did. After they divorced, she moved to
Dallas and started a medical practice, giving up her social work on the
reservation, while his father stayed and continued his work as shaman and
medicine man.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
She cleared her throat and he heard her sip something,
probably a Pinot Noir, her favorite beverage after seven in the evening. “I had
just arrived on the Rez, setting up my practice with Doctor Carpenter, when
your father came in, distraught and disoriented. He had been on a spirit quest
and he was in bad shape, mal-nourished and dehydrated. He couldn’t remember
anything and he wanted our help. He was frantic because he felt that something
had happened; something he had to remember.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“What did you do?” asked Hojah.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“We examined him and fed him fluids but we could find
no physical reason why he would have suffered a memory loss. He spent the night
with us and then left the next morning.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“Did he ever remember what had happened?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“I think he did but he would not talk about it. All he
would say is that there are some things in the spirit world that we should
never disturb.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“So you think I went on a journey and encountered one
of those things.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“I have no idea but I know that we never forget
anything. Whatever happened to you is there but it was so traumatic you do not
want to remember it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“What do you suggest?” he asked, knowing she already
had a plan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
“First thing you do is get some sleep and call me in
the morning.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
He laughed and said: “Yes, mother.” Then he hung up
and picked up his clothes and marched to the utility room. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The clock in his bedroom said it was three. He yawned
and entered the bathroom. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shower then
sleep, </i>he thought.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Later as he lay on his bed, waiting for sleep, he saw
in his mind’s eye, just on the cusp of unconsciousness, a figure emerging. A
man’s body with the head of a jackal strode into his conscious mind and barked,
waking him suddenly. Rain drummed against the roof and thunder rumbled in the
distance. He was lying naked on top of the covers but it was now cold in the
room. A cold front had passed through while he slept. From outside, he could
hear a dog barking. It sounded as if the hound were on his front porch. He
rolled out of bed and pulled on a cotton robe and walked through the dark
house. The closer he drew to the front door the louder the bark. He paused in
the living room and rubbed the dark stubble on his chin. On the other side of
the wall, the dog stopped barking and growled. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Aware the dog knew he was near, he moved slowly to an end
table next to his leather reading chair and removed a four-barrel COP derringer
then approached the front door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The closer he got the deeper the dog’s growl. When he
pulled the door open he knew it would pounce. He also suspected the dog was not
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<![endif]-->kwhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162153756379884694noreply@blogger.com