Archangel Crusader (23 page)

"Hum..." Jennifer's response sounded less than enthusiastic.

"And here," Tori translated further, "'The U.S. is actively negotiating with the Baltic countries to stop the genocide, while international Red Cross hospitals in the main cities treat the wounded of all ethnic groups without discrimination.'"

"Anything about home?” Jennifer asked. “Something a little less boring?"

"Boring? This is so interesting. Here, you may like this better. 'MacDonald's is funding a project to help save the Amazon. Florists from New York buy exotic leaves from the Indians for expensive flower arrangements. This provides some local tribes with a comfortable income, making their survival depend on the forest rather than on its conversion into ranch land."

"That's good." Jennifer's answer could have pertained to the news or to the piece of toast she was chewing.

"Mr. K has a picture in the paper for the inauguration of a new exhibit of rare pre-Columbian art today. Apparently he financed it and most of the pieces come from his private collection. They call him a prince and even wrote his name in full... Truly unpronounceable."

Tori returned to her breakfast. "I really don't understand how that man survives. I have never seen him eat or drink or sleep or work... He's always impeccable, never a wrinkle on his spotless clothes or a hair out of place. He always looks happy. I'd really like to know how he does it."

*****

Krastinios, who overheard, smiled as he entered the breakfast room. "No, believe me, charming beauty, you do not want to know." He walked straight to Tori, took the perfectly manicured hand with long red fingernails, then slightly pressed his lips to the pale fingers. "And how are my chosen doves this morning?" he asked with a winning smile. Turning to Jennifer, Krastinios took her hand in the same gallant gesture.

"We are fine, thank you," said Jennifer, mimicking Tori's intonations.

"As soon as you are ready, meet me in the stables. I shall be with the horses." Krastinios saluted, turned around and left through the French doors, letting the fresh morning breeze play with the white lace of the curtains.

*****

Something in Mr. K’s attitude bothered Jennifer this morning. "Tori, I kind of remember talking to Dad on the phone yesterday, but I'm not sure what he said or what I said to him," Jennifer whispered as soon as Mr. K was outside. "It was like a dream... Did we call him or did I dream it?"

"This is strange," Tori said. "To tell the truth I can't quite remember myself... I think Mr. K talked to him, too. I wonder if there was something in the tea... I remember feeling good, but that's all." She paused, as if reflecting on these disturbing thoughts. “Since rehab, I’ve never lost touch with reality.”

"Well, maybe we can call him again today after we ride the horses," Jennifer offered, proud of her suggestion.

"Maybe we can..." Tori answered with a frown.

"Well I'm ready." Jennifer left the napkin in a ball on the table and rose. She hoped to hide her nervousness by speaking with determination. The black riding breeches tucked in black stiff leather boots made her look very slim, while the lime green shirt tied in a knot on the flat belly added color to the outfit.

"Let's go then, young lady." Tori, also wearing black riding breeches and boots, had opted for a romantic poet shirt from the extensive wardrobe Mr. K made available to them.

So far, Jennifer enjoyed this unexpected weekend at the chateau. She could sense some tension in her mother's attitude, however, but except for a few blank areas in her memories, Jennifer felt great, having a wonderful time.

Although the day promised to warm-up later, the cool morning would be perfect for a ride. They walked out on the flat terrace along the length of the three-story building, built in the seventeenth century by the Count de Saint Germain as a hunting retreat. The curved slate roof housed the servant's quarters while the architecture, quite advanced for the time, provided for vast rooms with fireplaces, oriental rooms, modern rooms, classic rooms, even an Egyptian room, complete with a sphinx. The huge bathrooms, equipped with all the creature comforts and walk-in closets, constituted a more recent addition.

From the outside, however, the castle kept its historical character with white marble columns, Renaissance esplanade, and exquisite French doors and windows that brought in much light, giving the place an airy feel. A short distance from the main building, toward the woods, the freshly painted white stables attested to the owner's inclination for expensive horses. Mother and daughter headed in that direction.

Jennifer pinched her nose at the odor of straw and horse dung as she entered. The place looked clean though, with perfectly ordered white stalls, all bearing names and each containing a magnificent horse. Jennifer stopped breathing altogether when she saw Krastinios petting a tall, shiny black stallion by the name of Lucifer. At her sight, the proud beast reared in the stall in a clatter of hooves, exhibiting a fantastic impetuosity. Jennifer stayed clear of the stallion, eyeing him with what she hoped would be interpreted as only great respect.

"Do not worry, Jennifer, I have a perfectly well-behaved mount for you." Mr. K indicated a small bay mare being fitted with an English saddle by a stable attendant. "Faustina is an Arabian purebred, a little older and extremely docile," he assured her. Mr. K held the reins and offered a hand to help her mount.

Jennifer stood on a little step stool brought there just for this purpose. Too late to recant now, she thought, climbing onto the animal's back. It was the first time. She sat very proud, like a queen overseeing her subjects. The mare did not make any unexpected move. Neither did Jennifer, very careful not to jeopardize her precarious balance.

Tori mounted a young white mare of slightly hotter blood, a little too skittish for Jennifer's taste. The name on the stall said Kalinka, and Tori had to pet her neck to calm her down. Tori, an accomplished rider, could handle a little temper. Finally, Mr. K mounted the black beast from Hell, who calmed instantly and became tractable under the master's control.

The threesome then set out at a leisurely pace for a grand tour of the property. The early morning sun made the dew sparkle on the newly opened roses, and on the white lilies of the French garden. Jennifer inhaled the smells of freshly cut grass and turned up dirt. She especially enjoyed the playful songs of the larks and the trills of the robins as they rode on, exchanging mundane thoughts in the morning breeze.

They turned into the cool green shade of English gardens, then into the woods where the vegetation grew thicker as the trail narrowed. Jennifer's bay, comfortable with a slight rider, took the lead. Much like an old circus horse would do out of habit, the bay led the younger ones on a well-known circuit.

*****

Krastinios, while exhibiting the attitude of the perfect host, seethed inside. His cheek still burned from the jolt the Crusader sent him over the phone line. What an arrogant title. The success of the Crusade irritated him more than he cared to admit. As long as Tanner lived, Krastinios could not feel safe, for as ignorant and uncouth as the upstart seemed, he must have some hidden strength. That worried Krastinios. Although he deemed himself superior, he wished he knew the outcome. Impeding the progress of the Earth Crusade took too much energy from him.

As a result, he did not concentrate enough on keeping his prisoners' memories under control. Already, Tori questioned his motives and Jennifer started remembering. Even though the torture room picture was fake, there was much he didn't want the women to remember. Krastinios also had to maintain the shield to prevent them from contacting Tanner on their own. It scattered the energies, causing the uncomfortable feeling of losing control. Nevertheless, a smile lit Krastinios' dark eyes as he returned his attention to the pleasant conversation of the two enchanting guests.

Suddenly, Jennifer heard the stallion behind her whinny a warning. Out of the thick underbrush, a reckless black boar darted right in front of the bay, who shied and reared. The mare rolled wild eyes, neighing in a frenzy of hooves at the scent of danger.

Jennifer tensed on the reins and felt herself lifted up and backwards. Losing balance, she fell back, sliding in slow motion along the horse’s flank. When she finally hit the ground, right under the frightened mare, she saw a huge hoof coming down on her face. Paralyzed, Jennifer tried to scream but no sound escaped her mouth, then the hoof hit, and all went black and silent.

*****

Krastinios swung off the stallion with the agility of an acrobat, mentally cursing his distracted mind. He calmed the mare and led her away from Jennifer who lay inert in the dirt.

Screaming, Tori dismounted to kneel on the ground beside her daughter. At the sight of bright blood gushing out of the deep depression in Jennifer's forehead, Tori's breathing became erratic. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Krastinios. He found her stunning with raw anxiety on the pale face.

"Please, get the car, quickly. Where is the hospital?" Tori asked in panic.

"There is no hospital close enough. The brain is damaged and the cervical cord severed. She is dead. They cannot save her."

Tori covered her mouth in horror. "It's impossible. How can you tell?"

"Trust me. I know what to do." The power of persuasion in Krastinios' voice compelled Tori to surrender the child. Jennifer was too precious to Tanner to lose her yet. She was the Crusader's weakness. Krastinios cursed his carelessness. How could he have let this happen?

So, faking an honest look of concern, under Tori's tortured gaze, Krastinios lowered himself to the forest floor and laid one hand on Jennifer's forehead, the other on her heart. Eyes closed in concentration, Krastinios assessed the girl's injuries, then murmured an incantation in an alien language, with hisses, clucks and rattles.

Next to him, Tori fidgeted and twisted her hands even under the spell. Shortly, Krastinios stopped and gave her a serene smile, erasing the seriousness of the accident from memory. Tori exhaled relief when Jennifer opened her eyes and sat up, apparently unscathed.

"Are you all right, Baby?" Tori pressed Jennifer against her chest.

"What happened?" Curious, Jennifer looked fully recovered.

"Not much," Krastinios lied. "You fell from your horse. You better get back on it before it starts back home and leaves you behind."

Jennifer looked embarrassed for a few seconds. Brushing herself clean of the dust, she regained composure to climb back onto the horse with Krastinios' help. As the trio headed back for the castle, Tori glanced surreptitiously at the prince in black leather, a puzzled look on her face. Krastinios caught her confused thoughts and flashed an engaging smile.

*****

When the family retired for the night. Michael could hear Dave and Becky in the next room. They too felt the tension of the gathering storm and couldn't sleep. It smelled like rain. Almost twenty-four hours since Krastinios’ ultimatum. The phone would ring any minute. Despite training and psychic powers Michael found it hard not to let feelings get in the way. He worried about Jennifer and about all those he loved.

All evening, Michael had been reviewing his plan, trying to clear his mind before issuing the challenge. He’d thought of many stages for the duel, away from populated areas, since the destruction might be extensive. Even a forest would be hard to protect. He had first thought of an atoll in the Pacific, the snow-covered Himalayas, the Arctic ice cap, or the Sahara desert. Following Amrah’s suggestion, Michael opted for the Nevada desert. Near some rocky slopes lay the dry sandy bottom of Yucca lake, an abandoned nuclear test site.

Drained by the effort of transporting Maria to the ship, Michael must have dozed off for a while, for something jolted him awake. Gusty winds shook the trees. A squall rattled the TV antenna on the roof. Something else caught Michael's attention, the phone: it was about to ring. He flipped the cover before the ring. "Yeah, I'm here."

"So, my dear Tanner, are you ready to renounce your ridiculous Crusade?" The arrogance in the voice unnerved Michael to no end, but he had to remain calm.

"How's Jennifer? What did you do to her? I want to talk to her right now." Michael didn't feel like playing games.

"My, are we edgy today... I didn't touch her yet, she is too precious."

"So why that torture chamber business?"

"I cannot believe you fell for such an unrefined subterfuge. That was all I cared to improvise on the spur of the moment. I'll show you kindness and put her on."

"Dad? Is it you, Dad?"

"Jen? Thank God. Are you all right, sweetheart? Is Tori there, too?"

"I'm fine, Dad. Tori and I... We had a lot of fun. This morning, we went horseback riding."

"I thought you were afraid of horses."

"Mr. K is very nice. He gave me a very gentle horse. Her name is Faustina." The innocent voice of Jennifer conveyed no fear or anxiety.

“
That’s enough, Tanner.”

"So it's Mr. K now? How cute."

"You hurt my feelings."

"You should be ashamed of preying on a weak child."

"Not so weak, really. I happened to get into your daughter's mind to mend her broken skull this morning, and I saw traces of raw psychic powers. She will be quite a handful when she reaches puberty."