The Gift of Knowledge (The Gifts Book 2) (23 page)

     “That sounds a lot like just going through the motions.”

     “Oh, uh yeah, I guess it does. Going through the motions. Well, I guess I’ll see you in the morning.” Ethan left Emily at her tent.

     Unable to sleep, Ethan’s mind raced. He paced the perimeter of the camp and mulled over what Emily told him.
Going through the motions. What exactly did that mean? Is that what I’ve been doing all my life? Could it be that I’ve missed some part of a much bigger picture here?

     For the first time in years, Ethan wanted his Bible. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for but knew if there were answers to his questions surely he would find them there.

     In the bottom of a well-traveled trunk, he found his Bible amongst books he took with him everywhere. A smile crossed his face. He’d been told many times to get with the program and get all his books on an e-reader. It would make for easier traveling, surely. Having been a life-long bookworm, he was finding it difficult to part ways with his beloved volumes.
Maybe it really is time to rethink some things.

    
Sitting on his cot, Ethan opened his Bible and started reading.  Before long he was asking God some tough questions.

***

     A bedraggled and haggard Lazar slept fitfully in a tree in the dark forest. His clothes were torn and hanging off his emaciated body. He was grimy and covered in sweat and dirt. Still, the demon inside him kept going. Like a wild beast, he watched and waited for Ethan and his team at the base of the lost mountain. Surely they would be coming any time now, and this nightmare would be over. Ariella spoke in his dreams, calling to him to get what the masters wanted from the cave. Then, and only then, could he stay with Ariella forever, and that was the thought slowly driving Lazar mad. The evil spirit lied to him. He just didn’t care anymore. His only hope was in the thought that maybe, just maybe, he would be able to stay in the fantasy world she created for him if he did as she asked. God could take him if that was not the case.

***

     Simon and Matthew stayed close to Lazar. They waited patiently for him to call out to the Lord again. The demonic oppressors that surrounded him by the thousands did not engage in any way with the two angels, as this was their law, one that couldn’t be broken. All men were given the chance to repent, even up to their deaths. The demons could not keep the angels from ministering to Lazar if the man so desired to turn to the Lord. Likewise, the angels could not keep the man from listening to the demons if he entertained them and their ideations.

***

     As dawn broke, angels, demons, and men prepared for the day ahead. Anticipation seemed to drip from every leaf in the rainforest. The battle lines had been drawn and were about to be crossed.

     Emily spent a restless night in prayer. She’d phoned Marta and spoken to Aunt Gemma via email. It was no surprise to her that both of them were already praying for her safety and the safety of the entire team.

     Overhead, the purring of the helicopter could be heard, as Jorge arrived to take them to what the team now referred to as the lost burial site of the giant kings. It was no secret at all that the most sought after prize would be viable giant DNA. Anything else would be secondary. Emily was used to riding in the helicopter now, and while the ride was still rough and made her a little queasy, it was better than it had been that first trip.

     It seemed a lifetime ago when she’d first come here with Ethan, not knowing what lay ahead for her. The team’s goals somehow became hers, and even though the thought of obtaining the abominable giant DNA was morbid to her, she knew she was right where the Lord wanted her to be. As she trusted the Lord implicitly, there was no fear in this for her, only the excitement of waiting to see what He would do.

     As they flew over the treetops of the forest, Emily couldn’t help but think of Ethan. She knew she loved him, but if he didn’t love her back, at least love her back enough to want to stay with her, what could she do but let him go.
This is what poor Seth must’ve felt when I broke up with him. How awful.
She was grateful that she and Seth remained friends and even more grateful he was now engaged to a wonderful woman, but if he’d felt even one ounce of what she was feeling for Ethan for her then she truly felt sorry for him.

     She glanced over at Ethan’s profile, as he sat in the cockpit of the helicopter to help Jorge navigate. A giant lump filled her throat, and she wondered if she would be able to walk away from him, as he insisted his future was uncertain. She understood the need for no entanglements to tie a person down, but the thought left her feeling empty and heartbroken.

     “There, Jorge, there is a clearing. Put us down right there.” Ethan’s voice through the headphones everyone was wearing jarred Emily from her thoughts. In the distance she could see the ever-present cloud formation looming over their prime destination.

     This was it. From here they would begin the long hike into the unknown. God be with them.

***

     Liam and the warrior angels followed the helicopter. When it landed in what had become enemy territory they formed ranks around it. Demons hung from every branch of every tree for miles around. Still, they did not attack only watched with glowing red eyes and barred fangs. This was their territory, as it’d been a cursed and dark land for hundreds of years.

     The angelic commander had the distinct feeling the demons had orders to let them pass unharmed, but it was the return trip he was most concerned about. The battle would come just as he’d known all along that it would.

     Liam needed to communicate with Simon and Matthew to see how Dr. Lazar was doing. It was apparent the man had yet to come to Jesus. Liam knew the success or failure of this mission would hinge on Lazar’s willingness to surrender. Until that time, the angels would keep Emily and the others safe from the dark ones. Liam prayed the man would surrender soon, as he watched the demon horde’s darkness expand and swell in the forest like a living breathing, dragon of doom.

     “To the Lamb, who alone is worthy!” Liam held his sword up to the heavens as he shouted his praise. All the other angels returned his salute.

     “To the Lamb, who alone is worthy!” Their shouting rang out across the Amazon as a message of unity, solidarity, determination, and warning to the enemy.     

***    

     In the forest, Lazar and the demon Armodius became instantly awake and alive, as the shouts of the angels reached their ears.
Ethan has arrived. At last we can take what is ours and leave this place as victors.
Ariella whispered to Lazar and spurred him onward. The two of them ran on all fours as a maddened beast in one wretched body, ready at last to meet their fate.

***    

     The men set up one great tent, as Phoebe and Emily gathered and separated supplies and gear for the hike. Each of them would have a large backpack filled with climbing and repelling supplies, dry rations, water, compass, bug repellant, and a first aid kit, as well as a hand held radio for everyone. Emily noted that Russ kept his backpack with him and didn’t let anyone else stock it for him. Since Russ was the most private of everyone on the team, Emily thought nothing more of it.

     The rest of the day was spent securing this small campsite where Jorge would stay and in preparing for the upcoming hike into the dense, uncharted forest the next morning.

     Everyone gathered around a small campfire that evening. They were all tired from the past few days of preparation but also excited at the thought of venturing into the unknown. Emily sat by herself at the edge of the camp. She saw what the others didn’t, red eyes and fangs hanging from trees everywhere around the clearing. She couldn’t help but suppress a shudder as one thought ran through her mind.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil. For thou art with me, oh Lord.

    
They’d come to a place of great evil, but this wasn’t the first time Emily had been led into enemy territory. The Lord led her to it and brought her out of it before, and surely, he would do the same here.   

     As she prayed and pondered on this thought, the light of the angels around the camp began to glow and became brighter and brighter as it pierced the darkness around her. It was a glorious thing to behold. The angels surrounded the camp with outspread wings and swords drawn, forming a protective canopy over everyone.

     A strong hand rested on Emily’s shoulder. She did not have to look to know Liam was there with her.     

     “Remember, no matter what happens, Emily, the Lord is your protector and strong defender. He is with you always.”

     “Yes, he is.” Before Emily could say more, Ethan’s voice called out.

     “Hey, Emily, who’re you taking to out there? We’re ready to turn in for the night, you coming?”

     “Yes, I’m coming.” Liam was gone before Emily finished her sentence, and the darkness of the night again filled her vision, but she had no fear of it. She knew she was never really alone.

Chapter Twenty One

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the
Lord
, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

     The team was geared up and ready to go at first light. During the early morning hours, Ethan had a conversation with Jorge and Anke. Jorge would remain at camp while Anke acted as a trailblazer leading them into the forest. Anke, however, had other plans. Generations of his ancestors warned of the evil that inhabited the three king’s final resting place. Certain death awaited anyone who ventured there. In Anke’s mind their destination was a place he dared not go.

     No amount of cajoling would convince Anke to come, and Anke’s pleading with Ethan ‘not’ to go also fell on deaf ears. That left only the five non-native team members to take the venture. Ethan led the way in with his machete and compass, followed by Emily and Phoebe then Gary. Russ covered the tail.

     It was clear by midday they were traveling uphill. The further they hiked the steeper the climb became. Ethan grew more convinced they were on the right path.

     The air became dense, as the trail led them through a pale fog that shrouded the group in muggy humidity, soaking them all to the core. On they trudged, hacking out a path with machetes.

     By midafternoon the ground beneath them became rocky and they stopped for a rest. Ethan took out his binoculars and scanned the area. With his first sweep he saw nothing outside of the forest around them, but as he adjusted to scan up above the trees he caught a glimpse of a huge rock formation jutting up to the sky.

     “Look, up there!” Ethan pointed upwards, and everyone stopped and looked up.

     There it was, the lost mountain. It had to be. Everyone began to cheer and cry as they hugged. They’d actually found a mountain in a place where no mountain should be. In their elation, they dropped their guard. No one noticed when a filthy beast came up behind Russ, threw him to the ground and began to pummel him.

     A deafening roar of screeching demons brought Emily to her knees, as she screamed. Phoebe ran to her while Ethan and Gary went for Russ. As the beast beat Russ almost senseless, the contents of his backpack littered the ground. The gun, so carefully packed, clattered across the rocky ground just as the men pulled Russ away from his attacker.

     A long wail erupted from the enraged beast, as it stood up on two legs. Shocked, Ethan recognized the beast was Lazar, and his heart broke for his deranged friend. He scanned the ground for the gun but spotted it too late, as Lazar wrapped his hands around it and pointed it at Ethan.

     “Carmine, don’t!” Phoebe shouted as Ethan held up his hands.

     “Yes, Carmine, you don’t want to do this.” Ethan tried calm reason.

     “How would you know what I want?” A raspy voice full of pain escaped from Lazar’s cracked lips. With superhuman speed, he ran past Ethan, grabbed Emily by her hair and pointed the gun at her head.