Into Eden: Pangaea - Book 1 (43 page)

“Two more down!” Perez said as he ran back to the side window.

“What’s it gonna be?” Jesse yelled into the darkness. “We gonna pick you off all night?”

From the shadows he could see several shapes as they scrambled from behind buildings and an overturned wagon, heading for a break in the wall. He took aim and fired again, but the arrow missed its mark, and the pack scattered and ran for the nearby forest. As he watched their retreat Jesse noted that the stars were no longer out. Dawn would be coming soon.

Chapter 22
Distant Swords

Just as the sun began to creep through the windows and the cracks around the doors on the stable Jesse was starting to lose his battle with sleep again. Perez was, in fact, sitting down with his back leaning up against a post fast asleep, and Jesse fell asleep on his feet and hit the side of the stable hard. Retrieving his bow and wiping the blood from his forehead, he stood back up to keep a watch out the window. No sign of werewolves.

Awakened by the sound of Jesse whacking his head on the log-wall, Enoch stretched and looked around.

“Funny,” he said. “I would have sworn that the werewolves would have made some effort to get to us last night. I guess that I misjudged them.”

Jesse said nothing but shuffled across the stable to Perez.

“C’on, Perez,” he said. “Sun’s up. Time to go.”

Perez looked around himself, “Guess I musta dozed off.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” replied Jesse. “Let’s get the horses harnessed. I want to be on the other side of Prophet’s Pass before our friends know that we’re gone.”

Jesse removed the beams that had secured the main doors and swung them open. Enoch found himself looking out on a world of fresh snow, blood, and dead werewolves.

“Did I miss anything?” Enoch asked.

“Not much,” Jesse replied. “Just the hand-to-hand combat.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Yes, I am. But we did have a bit of a turkey-shoot. They were the turkeys,” he said, pointing to a dead werewolf.

There was no fog hovering over the snow-covered trail that morning, so the three of them set out immediately, bows at the ready. They were not to be used, however, as the werewolves seemed to disappear with the night.

The drive back to the Mountain Road was not that bad, but once they started up again Jesse realized that he had to let the horses set the pace. Little snow that there was, it made the road slippery, and the steep grade and thin air was as hard on the horses pulling a heavy chariot made for an-nef that held two men and a large dog. Fortunately, this time they didn’t lose sight of the road. By midday Jesse thought that they had made enough progress to let the horses take a break, and the three of them ate from supplies gathered at Bastrap. After noon they went on, but by mid-afternoon they had decided that rather than attempt a night descent of the other side of the mountain that they would pay the Prophet another visit. By late afternoon they were at the turn-off that took them to the Prophet’s, and with relief the stone cottage quickly came into view. Jesse brought the chariot to a halt in front of the cottage, and while Perez began to unhitch the horses Jesse knocked on the Prophet’s door.

After repeated attempts to gain the Prophet’s attention Jesse tried the door. It was unlocked, so he stepped inside. Immediately he realized that something was wrong. The cottage, usually warmed by the continual fire that the Prophet kept in the hearth, was cold. Not only that, but the Prophet’s Atlantan Shepherd, Future, was nowhere to be found as well. Jesse searched every room and finally came out through the stable to meet Perez.

“The Prophet’s not here. We’d better put the horses in the stable for the night. I’m not sure that we’re still safe from the werewolves.”

“What about Future?” asked Enoch.

“Your love interest’s gone too.”

“Darn!” Enoch then made a slight whimper and walked slowly into the stable.

“He’s lost the pep in his walk,” remarked Perez.

“Yes. He used to trot along almost everywhere he went. Now he just mopes. We need to get him back to Albion as soon as we can.”

The two boys then put the horses in a stable that could barely accommodate one horse, confining one of the animals outside the stall. But to their surprise there was an ample supply of hay.

“The Prophet must have been expecting company,” Perez remarked.

Once back in the house they discovered that Enoch had already fallen asleep in front of the cold hearth. Perez started a fire with some wood that was already stacked while Jesse looked around for something to eat. Laying on the sideboard in the cabin’s kitchen area he found a note,

Jesse and Perez:

Sorry, but I couldn’t stay to visit with you upon your return. I have urgent business to the north and must leave in haste. Very glad to see that you have made it back safely. I am saddened by your discovery at Bastrap, but God is with them even now. There is plenty of wood in the hearth for a good night’s fire, and enough fodder for your two hard-working animals to refresh themselves. You will find the larder well stocked, and plenty of potatoes in the cellar (please do not enter my study). There is even a leg of fresh elk hanging in the cellar for the two of you to enjoy. Don’t forget to share some with Enoch. He is quite ill and will need to keep his strength up. Resist the temptation to stay an extra night. The first great storm of the season will hit tomorrow afternoon and you must be off the mountain by then.

Your Friend,

Prophet

Jesse read the note in astonishment. How could the Prophet have known the very night that they would return, and that a storm would hit the following day? But of course…the sphere. No, it was more than that. There was a chance that they would return on this day, the sphere must have shown him that along with many other options for what
might
happen. But the Prophet spoke with God. He told him what
would
happen.

“You know, Jesse,” Perez said, warming himself by the fire he had just kindled, “maybe we should spend another night here. Give the horses a chance to rest up.”

Jesse handed Perez the note and then went down into to the cellar to bring back potatoes and a leg of elk.

Jesse and Perez were up before the sun and fixed a hearty breakfast for themselves and Enoch. Shortly after sunrise they started their descent of the north side of Prophet’s Pass, and by mid-afternoon they found themselves off the mountain and on the River Road headed west. Most of the day had been sunny, and the melted snow made the road muddy, but the level grade made traveling much easier than they had experienced since they had left the Green Highway.

“Can’t wait to spend the night in a real inn!” Perez exclaimed. “Girls. Beer. Girls. Mutton. Girls. Bread. Girls…”

Jesse looked at his brother, “You’re hopeless. I can tell that you’re real tore up over what happened to Merana.”

“She’s fine. The Prophet said so.”

“He didn’t say that they were fine, Perez. He said that God was with them. We don’t know what that means. By the looks of Bastrap it’s not good.”

“What else
can
it mean? The Prophet wanted us to stop worrying, and I’m doing just that. Besides, I think that he may have been wrong on that storm thing. Haven’t seen a cloud all day. Maybe we can spend an extra night in Mountain Shadows.”

“No,” Jesse responded. “We have to keep moving for Enoch’s sake. Tomorrow we head for River’s Bend to catch a boat to Whitehurst. We have to cover as much ground as possible.”

Jesse turned back to Perez, “Perez, why do you only believe the Prophet when you want to?”

“Take a look around you, Jesse,” Perez replied. “Does it
look
like snow? The Prophet may know some things that we don’t from time to time, but I’ll trust my senses over the ramblings of some old man when they don’t make sense.”

Jesse looked at the sky. The clear sky had been replaced by a few puffy clouds—but he had to admit—they didn’t look very threatening. But the Prophet was always right. He had to be. He was a prophet, after all. Perez was wrong. He had to trust the Prophet even when his senses told him not to. That was…faith. Yes. One had to have “faith” in something no matter what, otherwise it could not be trusted at all.

Within the hour the temperature began to drop dramatically. By the time that they had passed the cherry orchard and the statue of their father a strong wind was starting to blow out of the mountains and the clouds that had once looked fluffy and inviting were now gray and ominous. Jesse urged the horses on, now knowing what was to come. An hour more and the snow was starting to fall. In two hours the snow was coming down heavy, and made driving the horses difficult. They were starting to buck and pull at the reins, and Jesse wished that he had blinders for them, but he did not. Instead, he again let them set the pace, even if it meant arriving later in Mountain Shadows than he had hoped.

The three arrived at Mountain Shadows just after sunset, with the wind howling and the snow starting to drift in the streets. They stopped at the first inn they came to, the “Silent Maid,” (the sign over the door was of a headless barmaid with a platter heaped with food) and found room for the night. The innkeeper at the Silent Maid was confident that the boys would find a good night’s rest and that the storm would be brief and insignificant.

“Too early in the season for real snow,” he declared confidently, “but we’ll keep you warm for the night!”

The next morning they awoke to half a pace of snow on the ground, and travel in the city at a standstill. All over the city men shoveled the snow off the cobblestones with a scratching, grating sound that Jesse found irritating and Perez—nursing a hangover from the night before—unbearable. Inside the “Silent Maid” Jesse and his brother were having an argument.

“We need to wait another day, Jesse,” Perez pleaded. “We don’t have a sleigh!”

“Every day could be life or death for Enoch! Besides, after the first mile or so it’s all downhill. The biggest problem that the horses will have is stopping, not plowing through the snow!”

“Sorry, bro...I’m not going out in that mess.”

“Fine. Have it your way. I’m sure that you can catch a boat to Whitehurst or a coach to Albion when it melts. I’m leaving!”

“Jesse! Wait a minute! At least leave me some money!”

Jesse tossed Perez a denarius and then started to stuff his belongings in his pack.

“How long do you think that I can live on this?!”

“You have work skills,” Jesse replied.

“I wash dishes!”

“Like I said, ‘Work skills.’”

Jesse headed for the door with his pack over his shoulder.

“Wait a minute, Jesse, I’ve reconsidered. I’ll go with you. I don’t want to be stuck in this town all winter! Just give me a minute to get my things together.”

“I’ll do better than that. You’ve got five.”

“Ten?”

“Deal.”

Perez rolled out of bed and stumbled to the washbasin. He hated to shave with cold water, but he didn’t like the thought of having to start over with a beard, either. Within his allotted ten minutes he had shaved and crammed his belongings into his pack as well. Minutes later they were at the stable, hooking up the horses to the chariot.

“Don’t see many of these around anymore,” the stableman said. “Going to war?”

“Not in this, I hope.”

The stableman chuckled. “I think them an-nef learned their lesson a long time ago! Won’t see ‘em coming over the mountains anytime soon, I wager.”

“Not until the snow melts,” Jesse replied. “Have you seen our dog?”

“Yeah. He’s asleep behind the stalls. Doesn’t look healthy. Slept most the whole time.”

“He’s not well,” Jesse said. “We’ll going to take him to a vet as soon as we can.”

“I don’t get that attached to ‘em. I’ll put him down for ya if you like. Some folks just don’t have the stomach for it.”

“No thanks. I’m quite attached to the critter. I feel like he’s my uncle.” Jesse smiled, and then followed the snoring behind the stalls to Enoch. “Enoch! Time to get up, boy! We have miles to go!” Jesse shook Enoch and the dog snorted and then started to snore again.

“Enoch! Need to get moving!” This time Jesse shook Enoch harder. The dog awakened and looked at Jesse.

“I was dreaming about Future.”

“You can go back to sleep as soon as we’re on the road. Have to get to Seth’s by nightfall.”

The three of them climbed into the chariot, but Enoch stumbled on his first attempt and Jesse had to lift him up into it. The dog was getting weaker by the day.

The chariot headed out of town over shoveled cobblestone, but the snow was not cleared once they passed through the city gates. Ahead of them were some wagon tracks, but the horses prodded along slowly until the road to River Bend started its descent. From there on gravity was in their favor, but Jesse kept them at a walk to keep the animals from stumbling. As he had hoped, they had passed the way-station by the middle of the afternoon, and soon found themselves turning down the road to Seth’s estate.

Jesse pulled the chariot to a halt by the veranda, and they barely had time to step down before Seth and Rama came out to greet them.

“Boys!” Seth exclaimed. “How good to see you again! And Enoch! Still as feisty as ever?”

Enoch looked up at Seth and gave him a toothy grin, but made no attempt to get up.

“I’m afraid that Enoch’s a little under the weather,” Jesse told him.

“I’m sorry to hear that, but perhaps the warmth of an evening’s fire will help. Are you hungry? Rama was just getting ready to prepare the meal. We’ll set a couple more places at the table.”

“That would be great, Seth,” Jesse told them. “We were hoping that you’d say that.” He then bent over and picked up Enoch as they followed Seth into the house, and Seth couldn’t miss that Jesse now walked with a pronounced limp.

“Bet there’s a story behind that new saunter of yours,” Seth remarked. “And the horses, fine animals, but not the one that I left you with. The chariot, too. An-nef make, if I’m not mistaken.”

“We have lots to catch you up on,” Jesse told him.

“Then you shall! The guest house is presently unoccupied. You may stay there for a few days if you wish.”

“I’m sorry,” Jesse replied, “but we’ll only be able to spend the night.”

Jesse lay Enoch down in front of the fire.

“Thanks,” Enoch told him, then curled up again to sleep.

Rama disappeared into the kitchen to fix the evening meal and Enoch and the two boys sat before the fire.

“What trouble are you two in now?” Seth began. “Assassination? Grand theft chariot?”

“No trouble, Seth,” Jesse told him.

“Must be something to get the three of you out here in weather like this! And Enoch, as sick as he is, are you sure that is wise?”

“Enoch’s the reason that we’re here in this weather. He’s very ill, dying in fact. We must get him back to Atlantis before his host succumbs. Otherwise, we’ll lose him.”

“I see...” Seth began.

“One more thing,” Jesse continued, apologetically. “I owe you for a horse and wagon...”

“A fine horse, and a sturdy wagon. Made from virgin cypress from the Foothills region of Atlantis,” Seth smiled.

“Let me guess, the horse’s mother and father were both champions. Gifts from Emperor Herculous II himself?”

“How’d you know?”

“Now about the horse and the wagon. I have enough to pay you for both in my purse. But we need to book passage to Whitehurst as soon as possible and I was hoping that I could pay you back with interest next time that you’re in the Foothills.”

“I don’t expect that I’ll be traveling to the Foothills anytime soon,” Seth remarked with a smile.

“I suspect that you will when you hear what we have to say,” Jesse replied.

The smile left Seth’s face, “Go on.”

Jesse and Perez took turns catching Seth up on their adventures since they had fled Mountain Shadows’ jail in the middle of the night over a year earlier, fleeing in Seth’s borrowed wagon. They talked about meeting the Prophet, the bridge construction over the Pishon, the paving of the Green Highway, Canaan’s Secret Police, Anubis’ death, and the military parade in New Sodom—mostly the military parade in New Sodom.

“Gods!” Seth exclaimed at last. “It’s the distant swords!”

“Distant swords?” Perez inquired. “I don’t understand.”

“From the
Prophecies of the Prophet.
A prediction that is sometimes referred to as the Second War of the An-nef. A prophecy yet to be fulfilled. This time the flood will not only sweep away Mountain Shadows, but will rise to the very gates of Atlantis itself. If what you are saying is true, then Rama and I had better pack our carriage and head for Whitehurst. Mountain Shadows will no longer be safe.”

“Whitehurst will not be safe, either, Seth. We’ve seen their legions. They have no intention of stopping at Mountain Shadows, I assure you,” Jesse told him.

Seth stood and began to pace back and forth in front of the fireplace. He ran his hands through his long, white hair. “I still have relatives in the Cardassians...” he said absently. “But it’s been such a long time. Still have some land, in fact...”

“I would go, Seth,” Jesse urged him. “The first snows of winter are already here. But spring will come before you know it. Save yourself and Rama while you can.”

“Yes...yes...the
Prophecies of the Prophet
are never wrong.”

“Seth?” Jesse asked. “When did you become a believer in the
Prophecies
? You didn’t show much interest in them before.”

“Do you remember the wolf-head, Lawrence? He rode with us in the carriage from River Bend to the way-station.”

“I remember him.”

“Well, I couldn’t forget what he had to say. I know...I know...I pretended not to care. Pretended to sleep, in fact. But I listened. Then when Enoch came and told me of your plight at the hands of Sheriff Tubal I traveled to Mountain Shadows to give you a hand. The day after your...shall we say, ‘release,’ I happened upon a street vendor who was selling scrolls. While examining his wares I came across a copy of the
Prophecies
and thought, ‘why not?’ I picked up the scroll and read it end-to-end in a week’s time. An amazing piece of literature. And to think that you’ve met the man! Spent a year with him, in fact! You must have learned so much!”

Jesse hung his head, “I’m afraid that I wasn’t in much of a mood to listen at the time...”

“For a whole year?”

“When you have murder on the mind it tends to make you focused to the exclusion of all else. I’m afraid that I’ve squandered a great opportunity.”