Children of the Source (25 page)

    We sat down with the our family.
  Abe, Victoria, Meg and Laith, Helen, and Mike Roseman.  As we were finishing, Carson’s command chopper flew in, landed, and the whine of the rotors died.  I knew there was a reckoning coming, but I had no idea what form it would take.  During the night I’d learned Muldower had a daughter who’d died.  He was so stricken, he seriously considered suicide, even to the point of loading a pistol and putting it to his head.  But his daughter had intervened, and in an audible voice told him to stop.  That she lived and he had work to do.  This was twenty years ago.  Since then he had yearned for her endlessly in his grief. 

    I knew the feeling.  At the age of eleven, I’d lost my older brother.
  The pain was beyond belief and anything physical.  It was almost unbearable.  I cried for a month nonstop.  The experience had forced me into the path I had taken.  I was asked once what I wanted to be when I grew up, but my path was set with my brother’s death.  I knew the only thing that mattered was to find out what really was behind the world and human experience.  How it worked and why.  To this day I’ve never remembered what else I wanted as a child.

    After breakfast Molly joined us with her friends, rolling her wheelchair along with us to see who had come in and why.
  She rolled beside me and reached out squeezing my hand in reassurance.  She knew my trepidation.  I thanked her.

    “What you thinking, Jamie?”

    “Nothing really.  Listening to a song.   It’s going off in my head and won’t leave.  Want to know the name?”

    “Nope.
  Don’t want your song wrecking my head.”

    I laughed.
  “Smart.”  The song
,
They Call the Wind Moriah
, kept repeating itself.  All the mournful words.  I wondered how long that would last. 

    We all wanted to see who had come and why.   We knew the aliens would be along in short order
 as they always arrived in one configuration or another whenever Carson showed up.

    General Carson and Colonel Randolph were already out of the chopper as we got there.
  We shook hands.  As Muldower unfolded to step out of the vehicle, I apologized for my hasty exit the day before.  I explained as simply as possible.        

    “So, Jesse is headed home,” Derek said.

    “Should be here in ten or fifteen days,” I said.  “Has a big family.  Six kids.”

    “Busy man,” Derek murmured.

    I chuckled.  “Not all his.  He and Marcy have a baby girl, but have picked up five kids on the way out here.  Quite a crew.”  Muldower had met most of the people there except Molly.  I made the introduction.  “Mr. Muldower, this is Molly Tinsdale.   Molly, Brian Muldower.”  I saw Muldower suck in a great breath and turn pale, a gathering hope in his blue eyes.  Molly stammered.  Glanced at him strangely.

    “Moriah,” she said.
  Muldower fell to his knees in front of her and began to cry, great sobs of release and buried his white head in her lap.  Everyone stood back stunned.

    I motioned everyone away. and explained in a low voice when we were out of hearing range.
  “Brian lost a daughter twenty years ago called Moriah.  Molly, for all intents and purposes, is that daughter reincarnated.”  We were all stunned by the reunion.  We could see the connection between the two.

    When Brian joined us in the Dining Hall a half hour later with a beaming Molly, he looked years younger.
  Here were the personalities of two Entities who had spent many lifetimes together changing roles and circumstances to learn, to be.  Now, in this time, Molly provided the catharsis - creating the touchstone we needed with Muldower.   Most of it anyway.  There were unresolved issues still.  Understanding the relationship of the Cheshire people to the aliens.  The true intent of the aliens with our system.  Some we didn’t even know, and could only suspect.  Muldower, Carson, and Randolph represented our government, and they at least seemed to have open minds.  We’d see.

    Two hours later Carson, Randolph, and Muldower stood with us under the ramada of the Arms Shack while I introduced Severin and Astera who’d arrived in a small scout ship.
  “We didn’t want to disturb your reunion, Mr. Muldower.  Very special,” Severin said.

   “You were aware of what was going on, Mr. Severin?”
  Muldower cocked his head to one side, eyes narrowing.

    “Not the specifics.
  Just that there was an important event taking place you’d planned.”

    “Planned?
  I didn’t plan anything.”    

    “Not consciously, but unconsciously we often gift ourselves as you and Miss Molly did this morning.
  That can be quite rewarding,”  Astera said.  The tall woman stood relaxed, piercing eyes pleased.  A strong feminine aura radiated from her athletic form.  Molly sat in her wheelchair, watching us from the airplane barn.

    “You have questions for us,” Severin said, running a hand through his short
graying hair.

14

 
               The next morning dawned with blue skies, and light fluffy clouds.  I walked with Judith and Laith to the Dining Hall.  The younger children had long since gone ahead.  Greg Lopez showed up with his family and we ate together.  Then at the Meeting House we went over the maps.  I’d sent portions of myself out to check the best routes, and then I sketched these out on the map with distances, water sources, and shelter.   We would monitor their progress, checking for jay hawkers and predatory wildlife like lions and tigers, who’d been released from private and public zoos, and thrived to feed on the local beasties including unsuspecting people.  The soldiers from the fort killed them on sight, so they were few and far between.   Predatory people were our biggest concern. 

    We would check as we did with our community, working out of our bodies, seeking those who might have hostile intent, diverting them through craftily devised dreams, and other devices such as weather, sending ideas and thoughts to aim them in different directions, causing dissension in their ranks, and making them fearful of soldiers and other larger forces.
 

    “I arranged for Burt Clark to lead a patrol paralleling you.
  He doesn’t know it, but we’ll keep him properly close.  I have a feeling this ... Castaway,  they call him the Castaway, is not done with Jesse and his tribe.  He is more deadly than any poisonous beastie in the wild.”

    “What drives the man?”
  Laith asked, heating some tea water.

    “He wants to finish getting Jesse, no matter what.
  It’s a thing of pride,” I said.   “Completing what he sets out to do.  He doesn’t expect to survive the experience,”  

    “A fanatic,” Greg suggested, dark eyes concerned in his heavy face.

    “In the worst way.  Religion has nothing to do with it.  Everything is coldly calculated.  Even to the use of his physical body.”  I shook my head.  “I tried to contact him, but got nowhere.  His will and focus is implacable.”   I could feel the supreme confidence, and utter contempt in the man for Jesse.

    “His Entity?” asked Judith, bringing out a plate of oatmeal cookies, and setting them on the large white linoleum meeting table.

    “Didn’t want to have anything to do with me.” I said, spreading a topographic map on the table.  “Wants to see what this personality can do.  How far it will and can go.  Nothing to do with right and wrong.  We have to protect our own here,” .

    “Why not just have the army patrol go with us?”
  Laith rubbed his chin, and checking the pan of heating water. 

    “Makes more sense,”
  Helen said, handing out mugs to everyone.

    “The Castaway won’t make his move if we have an army with us,”
  I said, bringing out a box of pushpins.  “There’s a third party involved, but I’m not sure how it works.  Someone worse than the Castaway.  Puzzle pieces.  I can’t fit them all together.  One of the children is involved.”

    “What do you have in mind?”
  Judith asked, putting a pot of honey on the table.

    “Burt and his patrol are the key.
  I’ve arranged for Burt to take a sniper’s rifle.  Planted the idea of a tiger seen in the area.”  I looked at my people.  “I’ll be along for the ride out-of-the-body.  I can do more pulling strings from there.  Burt’s Entity is amiable to helping.”  The maturity level of a personality comes from the Entity.  Burt was pretty far along, a mature personality.  We had a good rapport.  I was counting on that rapport.

    “So what about using the Sound Language or recruiting other members of The Thera?”
  Florence asked.  Charles and Mary walked in.  Charles came over to study the map, towering over everyone.  His ancient craggy face focused.

    “It has its limits.
  There are natural blocks that Entities can use to protect their personalities,”  Charles said.  He traced a huge finger over the route,  tapping a point about ten miles out.  “This is a major game trail.  Don’t linger.  No telling what might be hanging around there looking for a meal.”   He turned studying me.   The physical changes with the Sound Language created an ageless physical body so finely tuned and controlled a person could consciously alter anything down to a molecular level.  Charles nodded.  “You have the scientist-priesthood back with extras.  You may well need it.”  He swallowed, essence memories flooding.  “I’m glad it’s not mine.  I will help as I can.”

    We finished with our maps, and headed for the animal barn with Judith’s and Laith’s personal gear.
  By the time we arrived the two mules were loaded with food, water, extra shoes, clothes, sleeping bags, and tents.  Three crossbows were tied to the packs.  Shortly, the small pack train with Judith, Laith, and Greg Lopez threaded their way southeast over Mars Hill toward Route 66 and on up to Interstate 40 going west.   I sent a portion of myself with them. 

    Then I went home to concentrate on the many threads that made up this operation.
  Sitting on the ancient couch with a mug of tea, I began to send portions of myself in the many directions I needed to bring everything into focus.  Burt and his patrol were already on the road with one mule to carry their supplies plus a formidable sniper’s rifle. 

   Jesse, Marcy and their tribe were holed up, letting Jesse recover for a day.
  Their food stocks were almost gone.  A thick-set man with a gag and hands bound behind his back sat tied against a pine tree.  The children formed a circle around Jesse as he slept, facing outward, several cocked crossbows lay ready in their hands.  Another man, thin with a scraggly beard, used binoculars to look for the Castaway.  Marcy was nursing Lynn.  A determined but not promising picture.  Their will and positive mental attitude radiated. 

    I found the Castaway dragging himself along with his smashed rifle, knife, and wearing only one shoe.
  The other hung across one arm by its shoelaces.  A smashed bloody big toe on his right foot made walking slow.  A bloody piece of cloth from who knows where was tied around his swollen left bicep.  Infected.  He wore holey faded jeans with a torn denim shirt that was more of a rag than anything else.  The man shivered with cold, hunger, and pain.   Thin bearded face etched with fatigue, eyes red with fever, the Castaway willed one foot ahead of the other.  His sense of direction was impeccable as he closed in on Jesse and his people.  The man’s threshold for pain was not particularly high, but his focus and concentration must have made his Entity proud.

    I tried to fathom the future, but was blocked.
  Not something I like to do.  I knew General Carson was going to hang Hensley.  It made no sense at the time but it happened.  Sensing the future has a flow to it, effortless, like a soft Spring breeze.  It’s just there.  Intuition is an Entity-Soul thing.  Trying to tamper with it doesn’t work.

   I went over to
the Meeting House. Taking out the map I placed pebbles for the various players.  I moved them as they traveled.  Having portions of myself keeping track of everyone helped, but didn’t tell me their thoughts or give any inkling of the future.  Helen, missing Laith, arrived.  Then Victoria, Meg, and Abe.  I tapped the map, explaining my thinking, and asking for any input they might be picking up.

    Toward late afternoon I was summoned to Burt Clark’s patrol.
  Someone was trying to influence two of the soldiers to suggest they head north instead of west.  I followed the influence, and found a personality fleeing the scene.  This personality headed for the alien spacecraft where clever shielding made me lose it.  I headed back to the patrol, making sure of their direction.  The interfering personality was the same one that had helped Ryan shove the knife into me.  Thera.  A scientist-priest.  Intent on destroying me and mine.  This was more than mere mischief, a calculated campaign mounted for one end only - my physical destruction - and to sabotage what the aliens had come to do.  I got a breath of an identity, a partial.  Like part of a fingerprint.  Not much, but something.  I would always keep this and could test it on any personality to see if it completed the picture.

    “You look pleased with yourself, Dad,” Victoria said.

    “Well, I am.”  I explained what had happened and why.            

    “Does this extend to his or her Entity - this desire to destroy you?”

    “Not so much the Entity.  They know it’s impossible to destroy another Being.  But they have intents and interests that can be directed to the personality so I can safely assume there is no love lost between this Entity and mine.  I don’t know why, but I’m the recipient.”

    Abe said, “This life of yours has sure turned into a real can of worms lately.
  Here I thought we were going to live our lives out happily in our quaint community.”  He grinned in that infectious way of his.  “Now we have mischief makers operating in and out of their bodies.  Don’t you yearn for the good old days?”  He laughed.  “But seriously, Dad, we have to make this work.  What can we do?”

    I grinned.
  “I know what you mean, Abe.  Life would have been easier in some ways.  But if you see or feel anything, especially with any of The Thera, please let me know.  Like unusual interest in life-forms here.  In this case a spider.  The person I’m interested in is a secret eugenicist with an almost overpowering need to change genetics.  They get that from their Entity.  It’s as powerful as any drug addiction.”

    “How many Thera are they among the aliens?”
  Helen asked.

    “Thirty-five, including me.
  Your mother has the abilities but is separate.  Her Entity is vastly old.  But elected to keep creating personalities so to interact with physical reality.”

    “Knew there was something about her.”
  Abe dodged a punch from Victoria.

    I laughed.
  “There is, isn’t there?”  Evening was drawing to a close.  “Let’s check on your mother, brother, and Greg.”

    They’d made camp against a granite rock face and settled in around a small cheerful fire.
   I described the area.  Laith’s energy spread around them integrating with the earth.   A secure relaxed ambience radiated.  Where the energies began and ended was impossible to tell.  Though Laith’s abilities were vast, his Entity chose to keep his waking memories selective.  Laith and Greg had turned in.  Judith took the first watch.  I went home with Abe and Victoria.  Helen said she’d see us in the morning.  At home I told the kids I was going to keep watch with their mother, and went off to the bedroom so I could get out of my body.  Sitting with Judith, I nudged her and she laughed.

    “I should have known you’d be here.
  See any trouble?”

    “Nope.
  You’re home free.  Laith’s energy interfacing with the Earth should keep anyone away.  There is one of The Thera who is poking around.  Interfering with Burt’s patrol.  I chased the beastie off, and have friends who are keeping watch on Burt.  We need him close.”

    “So what are you thinking?”
  Judith nestled in my energy.

    “This personality doesn’t feel confident enough to confront me or is afraid of the aliens’ reaction or both,” I said.
  “It’s particularly knowledgeable about me.  And seems to have Peeping Tom capabilities.”

    “Your new shielding should help.
  It’s only been in place for a couple of weeks,” she said.  “I asked Marta to search her personality banks to see what she can come up with.  Considering that the eugenics wars lasted for over a hundred years, a lot of enemies were made.  How much of those memories are available to you?”  she finished.

    “Some.
  Not all.  We’re dealing with someone deeply affected by the wars.  That’s my feeling.  Someone on the fringe, but bound and determined to change a past outcome to one they like better.”

    “Okay,” Judith said, “We know the personality is a member of The Thera.
  That narrows it down.  But we are masters of deception.  Could this partial identity print be faked?”

    I shook my head. “I don’t think so.
  It happened so fast there wasn’t time for a cover.  It’s almost like I’m being led on until this personality decides to reveal itself in what it considers its best circumstances.”

    “With your physical body being killed.”

    “That’s the idea with the spider.  It could be a ruse, too, but I don’t think so.  Just have to see.  I sense during the eugenics wars the Entity’s personality was a young woman caught up in the excitement of the moment.  I need to do some exploring.”

    Judith was silent for a long moment, then, “This has to be done with great care, my love.”
             

    “Indeed.”
  The smallest part of something also contains the whole which is hard to understand.  It extends in all directions and is connected to the whole.  A personality contains latent within itself the whole of its Entity.  These memories, histories, and abilities can be activated under favorable conditions.  That was what I was hoping to access.  But in a way that didn’t attract attention.  This would take the most delicate of shielding. 

    Plus, I didn’t know what her Entity was like - its interests, concerns, and prejudices.
  Yes, Entities have all these, and to think each one is focused on angel wings, purity, white light, the ascended masters and god is foolish and short sighted as I have found out.  It is true that there are limits to creating experiences and manipulating energy until certain spiritual knowledge is understood and applied which opens more intense concentrations of energy and experience to be used and explored.  Natural blocks are in place, like gravity, which prevents the abuse of energy beyond a certain point, and repeats experience until the Entity learns.  Now, I had to be very very careful.  After Laith had spelled his mother for the watch, I wished them good night and left.