LeOmi's Solitude (26 page)

LeOmi’s frown prompted Leah Jefferies to say,
“Well perhaps you will notice that more-so in the future.” Then she
began. She didn’t sing like Mr. Diefenderfer. She closed her eyes
and bowed her head and then–it was kind-of like a list being
read:

“You search for mother’s Journal…

“The six woes have plagued your family…

Covetousness

Desolation

Excess

Captivity

Iniquity

Destruction

“Beware. Your mother desired contrasting
freedoms.

“Avoid the fog of war.

“There is danger in your future. To you, your
father and Mark with the staff.

“The Ruby Knife is yours.

“Betrayal and death.

“Remember David’s Copper mines.

“Mark this, you are wise, The Eternal deals
justly….

“The upright fares well under Him but sinners
fall.

“In the end, invasion is unavoidable.

“Success isn’t sure, in fact failure is
likely.

“One additional thing you must know. Time is
running out.”

She opened her eyes and looked at LeOmi, “But
I believe you already know that.”

* * *

Bekka and the coneys were waiting for LeOmi
at their regular seat at The Quarters.

“Well?”

LeOmi had taken out some paper from Aaron’s
Grasp and started drawing a circle with spokes like a wheel–like
Henry’s Wheel of Four Ages, his Wheel of Life. She could see it was
time for her to face her wheel also.

“My teacher from New Orleans had a wheel
above his mantel at his ranch. I am sure that you have seen things
like that before?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Well, Henry’s Wheel was a remembrance of the
path that he took throughout his life. His father had one and I
suppose his children will carry on the tradition. Anyway, it was
big, about the size of the table tops at The Quarters. It was like
a carriage wheel, delicate yet sturdy. It had twelve spokes that
represented divisions in his life. Four of the spokes were bigger
than the others and they represented infancy, youth, middle age,
and old age.”

Bekka watched as LeOmi drew a crude shaped
wheel on the paper.

“Each quadrant had two smaller diameter
spokes that divided each quadrant of the wheel into three more
sections. Henry divided them by seven so that the large spokes
represented ages zero through twenty-one which was infancy,
forty-two which was youth, sixty-three which was old age, and
eighty-four which was death. Full circle. A vine was woven in and
out of the spokes which represented the ease and difficulty of the
paths that he took.

“
I wanted you to know that these flowers
near the end—they represent you.”

In the center, she put Anti-Empath. From
there LeOmi labeled four of the spokes–two major and two minor:

Infancy.

Mother’s six woes… journal… mother desired
contrasting freedom.

Ruby Knife… fog of war…danger...father and
Mark…betrayal and death.

Youth...David’s Copper mines…you are wise,
The Eternal deals justly.

“Lydia also said, ‘In the end, invasion is
unavoidable. Success isn’t sure, in fact failure is likely.’ In any
case, time is running out.”

“I have to go to India.”

* * *

Bekka had been only to certain parts of India
before so there would be a bit of travel time involved, and they
would need money, and the papers that her mother had left for her.
A letter to her father wouldn’t be enough for this.

“We’ll plan to go to Calcutta on Saturday,
the beginning of Christmas vacation. We could just make it a short
visit to Virginia after school tomorrow if you think your dad is
going to be home.”

The next day, there were just a few things to
do after school, and they reached the Naval Base just about the
same time her father finished at his office. They met at his
door.

LeOmi was explaining, “We need the receipt
and the other papers.”

“Sure, they are at the office, anytime…”

The sound from the kitchen made everyone stop
in their steps. She held her hand up and pointed around the corner,
and for Bekka to go around the other way. Her father was given the
stay put sign. He nodded.

LeOmi took her sword from Aaron’s Grasp and
went around to the dining room and saw…her mother preparing coffee,
her long curls hanging freely down her back.

“Mom?”

The woman sharply stopped her action, not
turning.

Her father yelled, “No!” He then put his hand
on LeOmi’s shoulder and went around her to open the porch door for
Bekka.

Jacob Jones said to the woman, “It has been a
long time since she has seen you.”

The woman slowly turned, “Yes, it has been a
long time. Hello baby sister, seen any ghosts lately?”

* * *

When the coffee was finished, and they all
had recovered from the shock, they sat down around the kitchen
table.

LeOmi’s father said, “I think I owe you a
pizza night. Can you all stay?”

Everyone agreed with nods of their head and
he went off to call the local pizza delivery company.

“I got both of your letters. I am sorry for
not getting in touch with you right away but I have had
something—well let’s just say it was all consuming.” She turned to
Bekka. “You know what I mean Bekka.”

“Oh yes, of course.”

“Is all forgiven little sister?”

“Of course. I can hardly believe that you are
here.”

After dinner, LeOmi pulled out the
information she had collected regarding the Sumerian Journal.

“I have been searching for clues to help us
understand what happened to mother. Who and why someone would kill
her. The Sumerian Journal is the only tangible clue that may lead
to the answers.”

“Let me think, I have been to India–lots.”
Ruby began pacing back and forth. “I can get us very close, if you
don’t mind me helping.”

“This does concern you too.”

“I worked at The Oasis for a short time and
you know there are always orders for chicken curry.”

“Great. This Journal was important to our
mother, but I don’t know why. The original Journal was written in
Cuneiform. It was transcribed and only partially translated to a
second document. They didn’t have the entire work transcribed
because it was considered a simple family chronicle.”

“I guess that could take a long time to
do.”

“Some people have spent their entire lives
searching for the proper translation of cuneiform documents, due to
differences in dialect and jargon.”

“Well, where is the Journal?”

“Mother left the original in the care of the
Library of India, which agreed to continue to lodge it at its
current location.”

LeOmi produced a printed picture from the
auction catalogue. There were two books, front and back, a big book
and a smaller book. They were both made of leather and hinged with
banded metal latches. The metal inserts of each book were indented
with an eight point star lock. The books’ metal bands had etching
designs that looked like women in ceremonial robes carrying statues
and water urns. The caption explained that they were both locked
and the key’s whereabouts were unknown.

As evening approached everyone said their
goodbyes with plans of meeting again on Saturday at the beginning
of Christmas vacation.

As they walked outside into the evening
breeze, LeOmi said, “Bekka, what does
Interactions between
Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal and Water
have to do with the
Journal?”

“What?” Bekka said with a giggle.

“That night in my Grand-Mère’s library, you
set two books out for me, the first was titled
Interactions
between Earth
and the second was
A Study in Sumerian
Cuneiform
.”

“LeOmi, I only set one book on the table that
night. I thought that you chose the other book yourself.”

“No, I didn’t choose it. Was there already a
book on the table?”

“Nope.”

“Who...Perhaps another Magi?”

“I should have been informed if there was
another Magi sent to your grandmother’s house.”

So what does that leave? Someone else in the
house?”

“Hannah or Grand-Mère could have set it out
before they went to the market.”

“Perhaps. But why
Interactions between
Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal and Water
?”

* * *

Christmas vacation came and the three girls
met outside near the front steps of The Seventh Mountain, in the
appropriate dress for India.

Ruby manifested just down the street from the
National Library of India in a quaint little shack that sold teas
and spices. The smell was incredible. Their plan was that Ruby
would produce next of kin documents, and receive the Sumerian
Journal.

When they arrived at the library the receipt
was produced by Ruby along with proper identification. Everything
was finalized and the curator, Shriman Mishra, released the Journal
into Ruby’s possession with two guards to make sure the Journal
made it to the airport and out of his jurisdiction.

“Oh, no thank you, that won’t be
necessary.”

“Oh but yes, I am afraid I must insist. Once
the Journal and its owner are safely on the plane, it will no
longer be our responsibility.”

Ruby shrugged at LeOmi.

Bekka said, “It would seem that Sergeant
Polaris has made some additional inquiries.”

LeOmi said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if it
was the Sergeant.”

Ruby whispered to LeOmi, “We need to go to a
back-up plan.”

Outside, one of the guards bowed and held the
car door for Ruby “I have to make one stop, a short good-bye to a
friend.”

She gave the driver an address of a two-story
brick villa.

Ruby winked at LeOmi when they arrived. Ruby
led them and they entered a gated inner court that lead to the
villa. A galley branched off from the reception rooms. She made
herself at home and offered tea to the guards.

“My friends seem to still be out. LeOmi come
and help me prepare some tea.”

“Good thinking, a visit to a friend is a good
way to lose these guys.”

As they prepared the tea pot and arranged
cups Ruby said, “LeOmi, what is your heart’s desire?”

“What?”

“What are you looking for now-a-days?”

“You know, ever since I was a little girl. To
be the best Magi I can be.”

“Is that your only heart’s desire?”

“Well, I do miss being a family. I never
realized how much until just recently.”

“Well what if I told you that we could be a
family again, even better than before?”

“How? Mother is gone.”

“Well she was never really there anyway; no I
mean you and me, and dad and Jesse too, if you want.” LeOmi’s
gaping mouth and shaking head made Ruby pause, “It can be done, but
there would be a price to pay. Of course you have paid a high price
already. Basically alienated by the entire family, and for what, to
be the best Magi?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you remember that mother used to talk
about being a native of New Orleans?”

“Yeah, but what does that have to do with our
family?”

“Listen, I can fix this. No, you can fix
this. If you want to—Do you want to?”

The water kettle started whistling. “We’ll
talk later.”

They hurriedly went back in to the sitting
area where Bekka sat with the Journal wrapped in a parcel paper,
waiting with the guards. Just as Ruby and LeOmi entered the sitting
area with the tea, there was a noise at the front door. Ruby said,
“Ah, Coleen must be home.”

Before she could get to the door, it burst
open. Three men armed with pistols entered through the busted door.
The lead man grabbed Ruby and he put a gun to her head. The other
two stood just inside the door.

The tallest of the three said, “Give me that
parcel.” His head was covered by his scarf which was wrapped to
cover everything but his eyes. He had a long white robe covering
his street cloths; his expensive sport shoes betrayed his
disguise.

“Ruby, don’t…” Bekka said, “Everything will
be just fine if no one panics.”

The museum guards’ eyes watched the package
as Bekka handed it to LeOmi and LeOmi handed it to Ruby.

As soon as it was in Ruby’s hands, the tall
man yanked her backwards through the door; the other two followed
and closed the door.

“No!” LeOmi was the first out the door.
Quickly she removed her sword from Aaron’s Grasp and followed the
wall into the light of the courtyard. Bekka was just behind and
LeOmi heard her sword ring as it came out of its scabbard.

The guards were right behind them with
pistols drawn. “I know this neighborhood. They have gone behind and
will be traveling the path to the service road.” The two men
rounded the building and came to a small dirt path that leads
behind the elegant villas. LeOmi and Bekka were close behind.

The first shot came as the lead guard started
to jump over a fence wall.

LeOmi saw blood coming from his leg and he
fired three shots.

“No, don’t. My sister.” LeOmi jumped up to
grab the man, but he continued firing until LeOmi heard the gun
hammer hitting spent rounds and she was sure that the abductors did
too.

“Ruby! Ruby!”

Bekka came up from behind, “LeOmi, they are
already gone, with Ruby and the Journal.”

Chapter 14

Do Not Be Reckless

“It must have been Compton’s men. Sergeant
Polaris can help us find the Neo-Phylum, and Ruby.”

To LeOmi, Bekka’s remanifesting always felt
like they had stopped quickly in a fast elevator, but the elevator
went vertical and horizontal. Maybe it was because she didn’t know
where she was going or what to expect.

Bekka brought them to Grand-Mère’s house, out
back at the stables.