The barrage continued for another minute and during that time Michael discovered the images weren’t simply random flights throughout the car. There was a pattern that actually centered on his brother, with birds circling him and flying in and out of his outstretched palms. As Danny opened and closed his fists, it seemed he beckoned more and more birds to him until finally there were so many, Michael lost sight of his brother again.
It was at that moment a huge bald eagle swooped directly into Michael’s face. He shut his eyes, preparing himself for the inevitable collision. Instead, the most incredible thing happened. Instead of colliding with him, the eagle flew right through him, and Michael’s head was surrounded by light. He swooned as the most glorious feeling of serenity and calm passed through him. He opened his eyes and, for a second, he saw sheer bliss. He smelled the purest of new dawn roses and heard the gurgling of water cascading over rocks from a stream at the bottom of a deep, lush valley. A feeling of tranquility and absolute acceptance filled him for a brief instant. As suddenly as it occurred, the image vanished and Michael was back in the car, straining to return to the place he had seen and felt only moments before.
He opened his eyes and became aware there weren’t as many images in the car as before. In fact, he could now see his brother clearly. The racket was getting exponentially quieter. The birds were leaving. Danny’s eyes were open, and he stared at the machine. As if by magic, the dials slowly turned themselves to the off position and each of the lights went out. With the disappearance of each light, the sounds, the humming, and the images of the birds slowly died out until only one light was left.
As the last light blinked out, Danny turned to Dobber, who smiled proudly at him. “You did great, Danny. Better than ever. Your mother and father will be very proud.”
Michael stared at him, incredulous. “Dobber, talk to me. What just happened? What’d he just do?”
“What did he do?” he asked. “Only the most incredible thing on Earth. He turned on the fourteenth light, is what he did. Your brother’s powers are almost at their fullest potential.”
Danny got up and sat next to Michael, his eyes wide, seeking approval. “Did you like what I did?”
Michael was touched. Even now, after this wondrous display of his powers, his little brother was still looking to him for acceptance. He wouldn’t let him down. “Danny, it was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”
Danny smiled. “Did you see the birds?”
Michael nodded, biting his lip. He wanted Danny to explain to him what he had experienced. “Danny, I have to ask you about something. While the birds were flying around the car, it was like I disappeared for moment, like one of the birds took me someplace. It was an incredible place, but I have no idea where it was. Do you know what I’m talking about?”
Danny nodded. “You saw where the birds are always looking to go. Want to know something neat? I can hear things when I go near it. And I can talk, too.”
Michael was shocked. He was remembering the sound of the waterfalls and the rustling of the wind through the trees.
“There are no disabilities in the light, Michael. Everyone is the same,” Dobber said. “Tell me, what exactly did you feel when you were there?”
Michael tried to express what he felt, but couldn’t put it into words. “All I know is it was fantastic. A place I want to go back to.”
Dobber nodded. “And that’s with just a brief flicker of insight into this most wondrous of worlds. Imagine if you had the opportunity to stay even longer? Your brother is an icon of its power. He sees and feels more of this place than any other living person, and he’s the truest of mediums between these two dimensions.” He turned to Danny. “Danny, what did you feel this time? Was it different than the last time you were with your mother?”
Danny paused for a moment, appearing to weigh the question. “I felt the pull of the light this time. The fourteenth light made the pull much stronger and the birds trying to go there were calling out to me. I tried and tried to turn on number fifteen, but I couldn’t do it. I guess I’m not strong enough yet.”
“Don’t be upset about that, Danny,” Dobber said, patting his shoulder affectionately. “You did fine. More than fine. Your powers are growing each time you do this. Do you feel it?”
Danny smiled and nodded.
“You want to go there, I can tell.”
“I love it there!” Danny exclaimed. “The birds call my name, and they talk to me there. They tell me things, and I understand them. I want to go back.”
“You will soon, Danny. It truly is a wonderful place, but you must be patient and learn all you can so you can help those who can’t get there on their own. What did they say to you this time?”
Danny paused again, staring at Dobber intently and then shrugged. “I don’t know. Just stuff.”
If Michael didn’t know better, he would swear Danny was hiding something.
Dobber didn’t seem to feel that way. He patted Danny’s knee. “That’s okay. What you discussed is private between you and those from above. You don’t need to share it with me. What’s important is you learn what it takes to help those who can’t help themselves.”
“The ones who are lost,” Danny said.
“Yes. For they’re the ones who truly belong there. The rest of us are just visiting until it’s our time to go.”
Michael listened to this entire conversation, enthralled. “Dobber, what happens when he gets to level fifteen?”
Dobber sighed and raised his hands. “To tell you the truth, Michael, we don’t know, but we have an idea. Each level brings Danny and those around him to a higher plane than Earth. Your parents and I believe level fifteen will lead Danny directly to the light, if not to much more. By finally learning how to turn on that part of his power, harness his ability, it should give him the ability to transcend to this level whenever he wishes.”
“But then what?” Michael asked. “What would he do there?”
Dobber shrugged. “Hopefully, when he reaches his truest potential he’ll be able to tell us what’s burning in the minds and souls of every person on this planet. What really happens to us when we die? This question is at the core of every major religion. Wars are fought over it. People believe in God and faith because they need to know that once they leave this world, there is something for them to go to. The truth will change everything, our beliefs in religion, our place in the universe. We may eventually all be able to unite under one true belief.”
No one said anything for quite a while. There was no need.
After fifteen minutes the car stopped and pulled over to the shoulder of the highway. Michael heard someone running towards them. The door opened and it was another of the agents who had ridden on the plane with Michael.
“Dobber, we couldn’t get you on the phone, and we’ve got news,” the agent said. “We located one of Herrington’s facilities. It’s an island off of a small coastal town in California. And get this, we found some documents Gary had sent us discussing the huge mice issue they had when he and Maddy were in training. How they had to keep their supplies stored up high so the mice wouldn’t get them. Daley thinks that’s where they are.”
“We’re heading over there now, so follow us.” The agent slammed the door and ran back to his car.
Within seconds they were speeding down the highway towards their parents.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Monday 7:00 a.m.
They had been sitting in the limo, a block from the outside of the marina, for well over an hour.
Michael was getting anxious. “What’s taking them so long?”
As soon as he said it, Dobber’s cell phone rang.
He answered, not taking his eyes off Danny. “Yes…okay, I understand…no. No. Okay, goodbye.”
Dobber shook his head. “They’ve been scouring the area for almost an hour and they haven’t turned up anything. I’m sorry but they don’t think this is where they’re keeping your parents.”
Frustrated, Micha
el slammed his fist against the door. “So what are we going to do now?”
“You, and your brother, are going to remain here in the car where it’s safe,” he said. “In the meantime, I need to go and confer with Mr. Daley to decide what we need to do next.”
“Are you sure they’re not here?” Danny asked. “Are you positive?”
Dobber glanced at Danny curiously. “I know you’re as anxious as we all are to find your parents, but the agents looked really hard and couldn’t locate them. We need to figure out the next place we should concentrate our investigation. Right now they’re looking at other islands or old pharmaceutical facilities and I need to discuss this with them. Don’t worry, we’ll find them soon.” Dobber got out of the car.
“Wait a second,” Michael yelled. “So, you’re just going to leave us here? You can’t do that. Mr. Daley said you wouldn’t leave us alone again, and besides, we want to help. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
Dobber shook his head. “I’m sorry, but it’s too dangerous. We can’t risk the two of you walking around right now. You guys will be safer in the car until I get back. And don’t worry. You won’t be alone. Agent Frank is right up front. Just hit the privacy control panel and he’ll answer any questions you have. I’ll be back soon.” He got out and shut the door. Michael heard the doors lock from the outside and threw himself back against the seat, frustrated he was being treated like a child.
This was just great. Now what were they going to do? He stared at the ceiling, wishing he could punch a hole through it and escape through there. Realizing the futility of the thought, he turned to his brother who was being extremely quiet. The sound of a motorboat sounded outside. Michael turned to Danny. “What are you doing there, Birdman?”
Danny bit his lower lip in concentration. Without Dobber seeing, he had stuck the sleeve of his jacket into the doorjamb when Dobber slammed the door and the lock hadn’t fully connected.
A huge grin spread across Michael’s face. “You want to get out of here as much as I do, don’t you?”
Danny nodded.
“Well now, far be it for me to tell you what to do, huh?” He leaned over and tried to wiggle the doorjamb with the jacket. Taking a glance at the front panel and seeing the privacy panel still up, Michael leaned back and with his legs, kicked the door hard. It flew open and they were out.
“Well, now what?” he thought, waiting for the driver to come out and confront him. He didn’t.
“Now we have to find Mommy and Daddy,” Danny signed and pointed. “They’re out there, you know.”
Michael peered in the direction Danny pointed, staring at a large island about a quarter mile off shore. It was wooded, but a large white building peeked through the trees. While boats moved towards the island and the marina itself was thick with motorboats, no one was on the dock. In fact, it was eerily silent.
Danny pulled on Michael’s arm. “Dobber wasn’t telling the truth.”
Michael’s eyes widened. Never in all his years would he have thought he would have let a six-year-old rule his life, but his brother had proved to him he was not a regular kid. He knew things. Bad things. “Why don’t you think he’s telling the truth?”
“Because when I was at level fourteen I was able to talk to some of the people there. They told me to look at one of the pictures I took from the bad people’s car.” He removed one of the three photos from his pocket. “See? Look at this picture. The people told me this picture is the place Mommy and Daddy are being kept prisoner. This is the place the bad men took them.”
Michael turned it over and saw it was dated approximately fifteen years ago. It was a picture of two men standing in front of big boat, an island in the background. Michael looked up and then back at the picture, startled to see the exact shape of the island in both photos, sans the building. Staring at the photo, Michael recognized his father. He was thinner and had a crazy looking mustache, but it was his dad. The next guy looked exactly the same as he did now, except his cheeks were covered by a thick blond beard. It was Dobber.
Michael was thunderstruck. “Oh my, God. This really is the same place, isn’t it?”
“And Dobber’s in the picture, too,” Danny signed.
Michael considered this for a moment, biting his lip. “I know, but that doesn’t mean he lied, Danny. He and Dad have known each other for a long time. Maybe he just doesn’t recognize this place.” He thought for a moment. “Forget it. I’m putting my money on your birds. If the FBI can’t find Mom and Dad, then we will.” They crept around the car quietly so as not to alert the driver.
He and Danny inched slowly up to the front of the limo. Michael risked a glance in the front seat and a glance was all he needed. Agent Frank stared blankly at a hole in the windshield, one which was exactly the same size as the one in his forehead. A dead pigeon lay on the hood of the vehicle, its neck broken.
Michael pushed his brother back against the car, his heart beating frantically. “Danny, don’t look!”
“What’s wrong?” Danny asked.
Michael closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe that even when they were in the hands of the FBI, they weren’t safe. He turned to his brother. “Danny, something really bad has happened, and I don’t want you to be frightened. Someone killed Agent Frank, and I don’t want you to see him.”
He tried to think of who could have done this and realized it could only have been Dobber. Michael didn’t want to think Dobber had lied to them. That would have been too much. For God’s sake, Mr. Daley had put them into Dobber’s charge. He had a horrible thought. What if Mr. Daley was against them, too? How many times had that thought crossed his mind over the past few days?
He weighed their options and there weren’t many. It had to be Dobber and Daley didn’t know. If Dobber was a traitor then he must have known about this place all along and led them here alone because he knew the FBI wasn’t in on it. That’s why no one else was around. He probably purposely lost the other agents and then diverted the car to this location. Michael shuddered when he thought of how close they had come back in the car when Danny was under the spell of the machine. Thank God, he never got to level fifteen. Then Dobber would have known the secret. He angrily slammed the car door.
Danny pulled on his arm. “Dobber killed Agent Frank, didn’t he? I knew it.”
Michael whirled on him. “You knew? How? From what the birds told you?”
Danny nodded. “When I got to level fourteen one of the birds told me to be careful. He told me Dobber was hiding something from us, and we had to watch out for him. After the birds told me about the picture, they told me not to try to go any higher or Dobber would see things he shouldn’t, at least until he told us his secret. So, I didn’t go any higher.” He looked at his brother slyly. “You know, I could’ve gone straight to level fifteen. I’m strong enough now to do it.”
“Oh, Birdman, you really are incredible,” Michael said. He stared at the island. “You really think Mom and Dad are there?”
Danny nodded. “I know they are.”
“Then come on,” Michael said. He glanced around and when he didn’t see anyone he moved quickly down the plank and started jumping into different motorboats, checking for keys. “Found one, come on, Danny.” Danny jumped in and Michael, who had gone fishing with his dad on numerous occasions with their own personal motorboat, revved it up, untied the ropes from the posts, and moved out of the marina. “Danny, crouch down. I don’t want anyone seeing you.” Michael saw a hat on the floor of the boat and put it on his own head. “I’m going to steer us to the far side of the island, away from the main dock in front and bring us in on a shallow area so we aren’t seen.”
With that, they moved across the channel towards the island.
The island loomed in front of them and Michael cut the engine, letting the boat drift towards the shore. Tar balls and kelp riddled the small beach. No one was around and, as Michael stared at the tall pine and oak trees along the shore, the only sounds he heard wer
e the shuffling of lizards and mice which hopped and skittered along the sand.
“Come on, Danny,” Michael said, helping his brother into the water. He took off their shoes, dangling them from his shoulder and they waded to shore. They put their shoes back on and moved through the trees.
The island was rocky, wooded and bigger than it appeared from the shoreline. They moved past remnants of old buildings and small abandoned homes, a declaration that at one time people had lived on the island full time.
Through a dense copse of trees loomed a bright building of white marble. It was the same one they could see from the shore, glittering in the sunlight. The front windows were so dark, you couldn’t see inside. As he peered around a trunk he tensed, watching Dobber walk into the building with a group of armed men and holding Danny’s machine. If he had thought Dobber was still on his side, this sobered that thought in an instant.
Michael and Danny inched around the building until they were by an open garage loading dock. It was large, easily able to fit multiple trucks bringing supplies from the mainland. They moved to the inside steel door, opening it only a crack as it was exceedingly heavy, but peeking through Michael could see an empty hallway. He patted Danny and gently pushed him aside. Then, with both hands, Michael grasped the doorframe and pulled. His shoulder muscles heaved with the effort, and Michael felt another tear in the shoulder he had injured, but he didn’t stop. Slowly, the door gave way, an inch at a time. Once he got the momentum going, it gave completely and opened right up. In front of them was a long passageway, brightly lit by fluorescent bulbs, which shined brightly on the white linoleum floors and traveled the entire length of a stark hallway. Michael heard voices coming from the far end of the hall and they moved cautiously in that direction.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Day 8 Monday 7:45 a.m.
A conversation echoed down the corridor from a room somewhere in the middle. Michael and Danny inched closer until they were outside.
Flying to the Light Page 17