chapter 24
CLASPING HANDS
Flames rocketed from the cave entrance. Abraham twisted away and flattened himself against the face of the mountain. “I cannot enter!”
Kneeling close by and holding Listener in her arms, Angel cried out, “What can we do? We can’t give up!”
Listener buried her face in her mother’s shoulder, sobbing, but she managed to squeak out, “Let me go in there.”
Angel pushed Listener to arms’ length. “You talked!” Her fingers trembling, she caressed the girl’s cheek. “What happened to your face? It’s smooth!”
With fire still pouring from the cave, Abraham leaned toward them. “The companion my son took from her somehow carried her frailties with it.”
Suddenly, a fireball burst from the cave, and the flames died away. Carrying his torch, Abraham dashed inside. As intense heat drew sweat from his pores, he stripped away his outer garments and pressed on. The stench of burnt flesh assaulted his nostrils and churned his stomach. Finally arriving at the barrier, his skin drenched and dripping, he pushed his hand against the flexible wall. His own reflection stared back at him, rippled by his touch. In the crystalline mirror, the torch’s flame illuminated the floor at his feet, a floor littered with charred bones.
He knelt and waved the torch across the scattered skeleton. Reaching down with an unsteady hand, he picked up a long bone, mostly white, but blackened at the ends. As he stared at it, a gentle sob rocked his body. He closed his eyes. Grief flooded his heart, and the sobs took control.
He threw the bone and the torch to the floor. Grabbing his thin undershirt, he ripped it at the breast. “My son! My son!” he cried. “My dear son! Why have you done this?”
As the torch lay on the ground, its flame dwindled, leaving only a small tongue of fire lighting the cave. He rifled his fingers through his hair and screamed, “You came back to me after all these millennia, and now you’re gone!” He fell to his backside and wept, his shoulders heaving.
After a few minutes passed, the sound of grinding pebbles popped in the hot cave, drawing closer. Two dark frames appeared, one much smaller than the other. As they crept into the torch’s dying glow, the faces of Angel and Listener became clear. They, too, had stripped their outer garments, leaving them with knee-length leggings and sleeveless undershirts. Their sweat-slicked bare arms gleamed in the firelight.
“Is he here?” Angel asked. “Did you find Timothy?”
Lifting a bone, Abraham nodded. “What’s left of him.”
Angel leaped forward and dropped to her knees. “No!” she wailed. She reached for the bone but jerked back and wrung her hands together. “It can’t be true! It just can’t be true!”
Listener leaned her head against her mother’s shoulder. “I was supposed to die instead of him. I wanted to save his daughters, and I wanted the pain to stop. The girl with white hair said all pain would end after the sacrifice.”
“And what of my son?” Abraham asked. “What has become of his soul?”
“I think he gave it up,” Listener said. “He wasn’t the chosen one, so I think he can’t go to Heaven now.”
Abraham shook his head, his frown deepening as his voice lowered to a growl. “I can believe that my son would give his life for another, but I cannot believe that God would send his soul to Hell in return.”
Angel guided her companion into her palm and held it in front of Abraham. “You have always taught us, Father, that if our companions are destroyed, our anchor in the afterlife is uprooted, and our souls would be set adrift. Listener explained to me that Timothy gave his adopted anchor as well as one of hers to his daughters. Perhaps the key to his destination lies with them. But I also must wonder what has become of Dragon. That companion was first his, and I am again bereft of my Adam’s memory.”
“Maybe I can look through that tube again,” Listener said. “Maybe the girl will come back, and I will ask her what has become of my father.”
Abraham climbed to his feet and picked up his torch. “You may ask her, precious child, but I think this mystery will remain until the warrior chief comes.” He nodded toward the cave entrance. “In the meantime, we have to avoid the shadow people and keep watch for a coming deceiver.”
Angel caressed a bone with her finger. “Perhaps we should collect these and bury them.”
“In the daylight.” Abraham reached for her. “Come. Every second increases our danger.”
Taking a helping hand from Abraham and Listener, Angel rose to her feet. Sweat slickened each pair of clasped hands as they walked toward the entrance.
Angel sighed. “Father?” she said, her voice trembling.
As their footsteps echoed in the tunnel, Abraham waited for a moment to answer as he struggled to gain control of his voice. Finally, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Yes, my child?”
“I loved him.” She, too, paused. Her words came slowly. “We needed each other. I thought he would be my Adam.”
Abraham nodded. “I loved him, too, but I don’t think he was ever meant to be your Adam.” He picked up his outer shirt and laid it over his shoulder. “Perhaps someday I’ll tell you the whole story, but I don’t think you can bear it so soon after this tragedy.”
Now in cooler air, Angel and Listener gathered their outer dresses and put them on. “Father Abraham,” Angel said, “I think it would be best if you hold on to your secrets. If Timothy and I ever meet again, he can tell me the story himself.”
Acacia clapped her hands together, snuffing the flames. The shining halo quivered and slowly shrank into nothingness. Dropping to her knees, she covered her face and cried, “Father Enoch! Timothy sacrificed himself!”
Enoch laid his hands on her shoulders. “Does this surprise you?”
Acacia didn’t answer. Her body just kept heaving as she sobbed on and on.
Elam drew near to Enoch, followed by Dikaios. “It doesn’t surprise me,” Elam said. “I met Timothy in Dragons’ Rest. I could tell he loved his daughter, no matter how much she rebelled against him. He would have done anything for her.” He nodded at the spot where the halo used to be. “Even that.”
Enoch helped Acacia rise to her feet. He turned her around and pushed her snowy hair from her lovely face, revealing tiny burns that marred her skin. “Your journey is just beginning,” he said. “Is the ark prepared?”
Acacia heaved once more, catching her breath. “Yes … Father Enoch. … I will go and get her.” She walked into the shield and disappeared in a flash of blue.
“Do you mean the ark from the prophecy?” Elam asked. “Are we ready to go on the next mission?”
“You are. The first is complete. The second, a far more complex assignment, awaits. You must leave immediately.”
Elam knelt at Naamah’s body and took her hand. “How will I get her back to Earth? We can’t just leave her here.”
“I will see to her proper burial. For now, you and Dikaios must take Acacia and Paili on a journey.” Enoch lowered his hand to Elam. “Are you well enough to travel?”
Elam accepted the help and pulled to his feet. “I’m pretty sore,” he said, lifting his legs in turn, “but I can manage.”
“Good. Then there is no reason to delay.”
Elam gazed at the restored horizon. Lush trees and grass once again blanketed the Bridgelands. He scuffed his shoe across the grass where the shadows had seeped into the soil. “When I blacked out, Zane and the others were still here, but when I woke up they were gone.”
“They fell victim to their own fears.” Enoch raised nine fingers. “For all but one, their wandering is over. They have gone to their final destination.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Elam stared at the beautiful scenery. In his mind’s eye, he saw Sapphira, wet and trembling next to that giant. Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes. How he longed to be with her again! Friends for thousands of years, yet he had never told her what he really felt about her. If only he could talk to her, tell her how proud of her he was for battling the giant. He would take her in his arms and
Dikaios snorted. “I told you he wouldn’t ask.”
“You were right.” Enoch sighed. “It’s a good thing I’m not a betting man and did not accept your wager.”
Elam swung his head around. “Ask about what?”
“The nine wanderers,” Enoch explained. “Just about every human on Earth would ask what their final destination was, and you did not.”
Dikaios smacked Elam with his tail. “His curiosity wouldn’t kill a sick kitten, much less a cat.”
“And you didn’t ask about the tenth,” Enoch added. “He has gone to yet another land.”
Elam shrugged. “I just assumed it wasn’t my place to know. They weren’t family, friends, or loved ones, so it’s really none of my business.”
“Yet, earlier,” Enoch said, raising a finger, “you asked about Naamah.”
As a new tear welled in his eye, his voice faltered again. “She is a loved one, so I guess I thought …” He turned away, shaking his head.
Acacia reemerged from the altar, followed by Paili. Swinging their clasped hands, they stopped in front of Enoch. “We’re ready,” Acacia said, keeping Paili’s face pointed away from Naamah’s body.
“Does she bear the words?” Enoch asked.
Acacia smiled and patted the little girl on the head. “Her mind is a steel trap. She won’t forget.”
Elam slid his hand into Acacia’s. “So do we just go back the way we came? And what do we do when we get to Earth?”
“You will return to Earth in time,” Enoch said, “but first you must travel to a completely different realm, one you have neither seen nor heard of. When you arrive there, you will learn about the rest of your journey.”
Intertwining fingers with Acacia, Elam smiled. “I think we can handle it.”
“We’ll have lots of help.” Acacia nodded toward Heaven’s shield and whispered to Elam. “I saw Naamah in there. She’s already at a prayer bench, and she has her hologram tuned in right on you.”
Elam glanced at Naamah’s body but quickly turned toward Enoch. “Can I see her for a minute, just to say thank you?”
“No, my son. The time for your departure is upon us.” Enoch waved at Dikaios. “Come now, my fine horse. You’re going, too.”
“With pleasure, good prophet.” Dikaios loped to Elam’s side.
Enoch set his hands on Elam’s shoulders. “Acacia, reopen the tunnel to Second Eden, and let the warrior chief, his two oracles, and his brilliant steed enter the new realm.”
Sitting in an overstuffed chair in a motel lobby, Walter propped his feet on a coffee table as he closed the cell phone. “My dad says that power’s been restored in most places, and”—he flipped the phone into the air and caught it“—obviously cell service.”
Leaning forward to make room for his hiking-style backpack, Gabriel grabbed a French fry from a McDonald’s bag. “Any other news?”
Walter tossed the phone to Ashley, who sat on a sofa on the other side of the table, her head resting on Abigail’s shoulder. “Larry wants you to call him,” he said. “His transmitter got fried by a power surge.” He nodded at the lobby counter. “Dad phoned in his credit card number, so the bill’s taken care of, but we have to find a good disguise for Sapphira as soon as possible. Sleeping in the woods with Thigocia won’t be as cozy as a motel room.”
“Mother will keep her warm and dry,” Abigail said. “You can count on that.”
“We should have gotten a disguise at the outfitter’s store,” Walter continued. “They had backpacks, so they’re sure to have sunglasses and a floppy hat she could stuff her hair into.”
Gabriel raised a finger. “The clerk said there’s a Wal-Mart a couple of miles from our motel. I think that’s closer. If they’ll take your dad’s card, we’ll be in business.”
Ashley keyed a number into the phone. “You’re not taking the truck, are you?”
“No. I can hike that far.” Walter half closed one eye. “Are you saying my driving’s bad?”
Ashley lifted her eyebrows. “Don’t ask me. Ask those chickens you scattered.”
“There was traffic ahead, and I didn’t want anyone to see us.” Walter shrugged his shoulders. “So I had to invent a new road.”
Ashley lifted a shushing finger to her lips. “Hello, Larry. … Of course you knew it was me. Who else would call this number? Any news? … Okay. … Okay. … Anything else? … Got it. … I’m not sure yet. Want to test me? … A fourth root? In my head? … Okay. But no more than three digits. I’m tired. … Seven hundred, seventy-nine?” She rolled her eyes upward. “Let’s see, five point … two … eight … three.” She laid her hand on her head and winced. “What? … No, that’s all the digits you’re going to get. If you hear any news, give me a call on Walter’s phone.”
Gabriel grabbed another French fry. “It looks like you got your smarts back. I only knew it to two decimal places.”
“Really?” Ashley said, her brow lifting again, “I couldn’t do fourth roots until” She caught Gabriel smirking at Walter. “Brothers!” She threw a pillow at him and snatched away the bag of fries, but she couldn’t hide her grin.
Walter pointed at her closed fist. “Does that mean your healing power is back, too?”
“I guess so.” Ashley opened her hand, revealing the crystalline egg. “But I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.”
“I hope we don’t need it,” Walter said, “but if it’s back, it might come in handy.”
Her smile faded. “It’s too late for Karen,” she said softly as she looped her arm around Abigail’s. “I hope Sapphira and my mother can figure out how to get her body into the morgue.”
Walter drooped his head. “Yeah. That’ll be tricky. Maybe they should just bury her themselves or have Thigocia incinerate her.”
Ashley covered her eyes with a trembling hand. “Please. Talk about something else.”
Stroking her hair gently, Abigail kissed Ashley’s cheek. “We will.”
Everyone stayed quiet for more than a minute, nibbling fries and sipping drinks from straws. Finally, Gabriel spoke up. “So, did Larry have any news?”
Ashley wiped a tear and began counting on her fingers. “First, there’s no news anywhere about the giants or Arramos, so it’s a good bet that Mardon’s hiding out with them somewhere plotting his next move. Second, there’s a lot of creepy things going on, weird hairy creatures stalking the streets, sort of like ape men who don’t die when they’re shot, and people who are supposed to be dead showing up at their old homes, even a couple of murderers who were executed decades ago.”
“Wow!” Walter picked up a soft drink cup and loudly slurped the last drops. “That sounds like a bad zombie movie.”
“Tell me about it!” Ashley pointed at a third finger. “Finally, Sir Patrick is coming to the States with Sir Barlow and his knights. If we can get back to West Virginia, he’ll meet us at Walter’s house. Otherwise, he’ll figure out a way to get out here.”
“Why is he coming?” Walter asked.
“Larry didn’t say, but knowing Sir Patrick, I’m sure he’ll be able to help us straighten out this mess.”
Gabriel stood up and adjusted his backpack. “We don’t have much experience separating Earth and Hades. Time to call in the pros.” He stretched and turned to Walter. “I need some sleep. You coming?”
“Yeah.” Walter said, rising from his chair. “I’m beat.”
“Wait!” Ashley reached out a hand. “Walter, can you walk Abigail and me to our room first?”
“Uh, sure. No problem.” Walter nodded at Gabriel. “You go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”
After helping the ladies to their feet, Gabriel shuffled down the hall in one direction, while Walter and Abigail supported Ashley as she hobbled down the other.
When she stopped at her room, Ashley swiped the key card through the reader and opened the door. “You go on in,” she said to Abigail. “I want to talk to Walter for a minute.”
“Sure. Take your time.” Abigail smiled and disappeared into the room, closing the door behind her.
Ashley took one of Walter’s hands into hers and displayed the egg in her palm. A pained expression wrinkled her face. “I think I figured out what this thing is all about.” She pulled in her bottom lip and pressed her teeth down on it.
Walter caressed her hand with his thumb. “It’s okay. Take your time.”
“I think …” She closed her eyes and tried to steady her voice. “I think my father sacrificed his life for me. What I saw in the sky was him dying so that I could believe.” She opened her eyes and raised the egg higher. “This is his gift, a symbol of faith that I never really had. He opened the sky and showed me a heavenly Father. He painted a picture of God, a father who is willing to die to give me life.”
“But your grandfather explained all that to you. You told me that yourself.”
Ashley nodded. “My grandfather sang ‘Amazing Grace’ to me for years, but I never really listened. Now I finally understand that verse.”
“Which verse is that?”
“Do you mind if I sing it?” Ashley shifted her weight from foot to foot. “One of the last things my grandfather ever said to me was, ‘Maybe someday you’ll sing it with me, even if it’s in Heaven.’”
“So you want to sing it for him now?”
“Because …” Her jaw quivered. “Because I know he’s listening.”
Walter nodded at her. “Go ahead. I’d love to hear it.”
Ashley folded her hands and, tilting her head upward, whispered, “This is for you, Daddy.” After clearing her throat, she sang in a trembling voice.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
She sniffed and wiped her eye. “That’s the verse. That’s the one I finally understand.”
“I’m sure he loved hearing it.” Walter brushed away his own tear. “What made the difference?”
“I always knew what it felt like to be lost, but not to be found. And, worst of all, I had no clue how blind I was.” She lifted a finger and pressed it against Walter’s shoulder. “And you’re the one who helped me see it first.”
Walter stared at her finger. “Me? How?”
“When I saw you fighting that giant, I knew you were willing to die. I’ll never forget your love for Karen, Sapphira, and me for as long as I live.” She opened her hand and gazed at her crystal. “That’s the kind of love that’ll open anyone’s eyes.”
Walter trembled, but he quickly recovered. “Maybe you can wear the egg on a necklace, like some people wear a cross. Isn’t it a symbol of your faith?”
Ashley pressed it against her chest. “It’s more than that. As long as I keep my father’s gift close, I feel like I have a connection with him, like I know his heart and his thoughts.”
Walter nodded. “Then a necklace would be perfect. It would be touching you near your heart all the time.”
“True, but there’s more to it than that.” Ashley tapped a finger on her head. “You remember how I used to talk about people thinking I can read their minds?”
“Yeah. I remember.”
“Maybe it’s more real than I thought. Now that you and my father opened my eyes, I feel like I can see everything a lot more clearly, like I can even imagine what people are thinking.”
Walter closed his eyes. “Okay,” he said, grinning. “What am I thinking?”
“No, silly. It’s not like I can read the words in your mind. I see images in my head and feel emotions that help me know what people are worried about or happy about.”
Walter’s face slowly took on a serious expression. “Do you see any images now?”
“You want to test it? Right here?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“Okay. … I’ll try.” She closed her eyes and concentrated. After a few seconds, she raised a finger. “I see Karen … and that’s making you sad. … I see you standing next to her and holding Excalibur, and that makes you feel strong and brave but kind of useless since she died. And over to the side, I see …” She opened her eyes, now blurred by tears. “I see me, and that makes you feel …” She paused, biting her lip again.
“Go ahead.” Walter cleared his throat nervously. His voice grew soft and tender. “How do you, Ashley Stalworth, make me feel?”
She squeezed his hand. “Loved?”
“Yes.” He touched the crystalline egg. “Loved by my new sister, born today because of her father’s love.”
Ashley lifted her brow. “Just a sister? Nothing more?”
“I wouldn’t say just a sister.” He interlocked his fingers with hers. “You’re my partner. And we have a lot of scary stuff to do together before this is all over.”
Ashley smiled. “Together. That’s what’s important.” She raised their clasped hands. “As long as we’re together, I’m not afraid of anything.”