Tridas (26 page)

"Are you in the right
state of mind for that encounter Aven?" Kava questioned, "Your
response to the TV broadcast was a bit worrisome".

"We have the upper hand
now". Aven stated triumphantly. "I want to make sure we keep
it!"

"If you think it will be
helpful..." Kavani turned her phone for Aven to view. The screen displayed
a view from inside a tent, on the ocean, looking out to a small beach fire.
"Me resting, on your lap here, might be more helpful".

Aven agreed. "Let's keep
the meeting with the monk short. Make sure we know all we need to know and head
home".

A short briefing with
the military revealed that Ambassador Franco was
unsuccessful in freeing his father. Sihamuni would not be offered any extraordinary
rendition. The actual launch, successful or not, of a nuclear strike superseded
any political "get out of jail free card". This calmed Aven a bit,
but he still needed to get a sense of how powerful the monk was in this place.
Kavani drew power from certain objects and special locations and he sensed the
monk was similar.

Sihamuni was ushered in,
shirtless and shackled at the ankles and wrists. His face was covered by a
hood. One of the guards explained, "This one's eyes, scare the other
prisoners!"

Less than thrilled with
that bit of information, Aven still requested the hood be removed. The room was
small. In the close proximity, Kava noticed his blackened toes and fingertips,
presumably from electric shock. Aven had heard the rumors of continued "mistreatment"
of prisoners in Argentina, but in this case, he was less sure of his stance.

Aven looked deep into
Sihamuni's eyes, "You Lost". Calmly trying to incite a reaction, from
the monk.

"You are very
confident for a man who has seen so much history." Sihamuni replied with equal
calm. "Outcomes are rarely as simple as they seem".

"There has been
nothing simple about this event, but prophecy or not, it has unraveled".

"Your own words
betray you. This prophecy has not come to an end. It is simply beginning!"

The clarity in his
voice, as well as his penetrating gaze spoke to Aven. He turned to Kavani
knowing that what Sihamuni had just spoken was true. Kava's eyes confirmed the
fact.

Kava responded. "Tell us
what you know about Tridas".

"The missile was not
intercepted. Its target was below the surface. It detonated in the earth's
mantle. The effects of the blast are in motion as we speak". Aven could
hardly believe his ears, but strangely it was his eyes that were seeking the
most of his attention. The longer Aven listened to the monk describe the Tridas
mission, the more he felt like he was staring into a mirror. With every blink,
Aven's eyes would refocus on Sihamuni's face and each time it looked more and
more like his own, until it was his face, his voice proclaiming the details of
the mission.

In shock, he looked wide eyed
at Kavani. She smiled back, "What is it Aven?"

"He has my face!!"
Aven yelled as he pushed out of his seat.

"Calm down", she
reassured, as she rose to his side. "Come look at your reflection in this
window".

Aven couldn't accept the image
reflected in the window pane, but was further horrified when he felt Kavani
click shackles around his wrists. "I look like him!"

Kavani spoke and the shackles
fell from Sihamuni. He kicked them over to her, as she fastened them around
Aven's ankles. His body was frozen. Aven was unsure if it was magic or simply
his natural reaction from the shock of what was happening.

"Sentry!" Kavani
shouted. Guards flooded the tiny room to safeguard the visitors, as Aven
wrestled under their force. They secured him to the chair and cloaked his face
with the hood, but not before he witnessed Kavani and Sihamuni being escorted
from the facility.