by S. S. Segran
She listened as Nageau briefed the six men and two women on their task. Once he had finished his part, Tikina stepped forward and looked at a young woman with natural platinum blonde hair held back by a red bandana. “I will be guiding this expedition as much as I can through Akira,” the Elder said, raising a finger in the direction of the eagle circling high above them.
The woman dipped her head. “That will be a great comfort, Elder Tikina. Thank you.”
“Everything is set,” Nageau murmured, almost to himself. Raising his voice, he turned to the search party. “Dawn is upon us and the clouds have begun to lift. There is nothing left to say except we bid you all an incident-free journey and a safe return with our men.”
* * *
Six logs, stripped of bark from years of use, had been placed lengthwise in a row about ten paces from each other. The first log was flat on the ground. Each of the rest was five feet higher than the one before, the highest log being twenty-five feet above the ground. Many of the villagers utilized this course when training in the basics of balance, though few ventured past the fourth log at fifteen feet in height.
Jag had been practicing acrobatic feats that required all of his strength, focus and agility since his training began. Over the past couple of days he’d been unsuccessfully trying to complete a front aerial somersault on the second log, which rested on two crossbars five feet off the ground—and which seemed to want to pick a fight with him. However, unlike the day before when he half wished the log would fall on top of him and put him out of his misery, he was determined not to lose his patience this time. Tayoka continuously imparted sound advice throughout his training, and listening to his mentor was beginning to prove valuable; Jag felt that his focus was keener and his balance was nearing perfection. The beaming face of Tayoka and the proud smile Huyani wore testified to his improvements.
Nearing the end of his training for the day, Jag proceeded to carry out two continuous front aerials on the log, twisting around as he landed, and completed the sequence with a backflip to dismount. Tayoka and Huyani clapped, looking thrilled as they walked up to him. Tayoka patted him on the back and through Huyani, said, “I have never seen anyone learn this quickly. I am amazed.”
Jag couldn’t have been more pleased by the compliment.
“This was a good session,” Huyani said approvingly.
“Thanks,” Jag beamed. “Guess I just wasn’t really feeling it yesterday.”
“To be fair, you had Elder Tayoka working to distract you.”
“Sure, but I understand why he did it.”
Tayoka tapped the pair’s heads from behind and spoke. Jag looked to Huyani. “He is saying that it is time to head to the temple,” she translated. “Elder Nageau would like to speak with all of you about the intermediate stage of your training before you are dismissed.”
Jag wiped the sweat off his face with the sleeve of his t-shirt and followed his mentor and Huyani out of the training ground to the temple. There he met his friends, and as they greeted each other, all the Elders except Nageau left. The teenagers followed Nageau up the stone steps that led to the foyer of the temple, passing by the cauldron from which plumes of bright-colored flames streamed. The fire dazzled the group, just as it had when the friends first saw the hypnotic glow the night they escaped from the valley.
At one corner of the grand hall, three curved benches formed a semi-circle facing a polished wooden chair. Behind the benches were large rocks and ornamental plants placed around two small fountains gurgling with cool, flowing water, giving the area a serene and tranquil quality. As the group sat on the benches, Tegan observed, “This place is peaceful and calming. It’s so Zen-like.”
“An interesting expression—that would be from an ancient eastern culture, yes?” Nageau winked slyly. The friends were startled. The more they learned of the Elders’ knowledge, the more they came to realize that, somehow, their mentors were not entirely unfamiliar with the outside world.
Nageau took a seat on the lone chair. “First, let me begin by saying that I am pleased by what I hear from your mentors about your progress. The speed at which you are learning and beginning to display your skills astounds me. In all my years of training others, I have never witnessed anything like this. I realize that I have said this before, but you each have incredible potential. I have no doubt that the hand of fate has brought you here.”
Jag listened, but his thoughts started to wander. Fate? Not so sure about that.
It took him a few moments to register that Nageau was peering at him intently, and then the Elder turned back to the others. Almost as if he had read Jag’s thoughts, he said, “And here is the funny thing about fate: When some hear that word, it appears to mean that choice has been taken away, as if whatever we are or will be doing is predetermined. The truth is, there is no real conflict between fate and choice; they work hand-in-hand.”
Jag’s brows knitted. “How?”
“I will give you an example. Imagine a boat out in the ocean with its sails unfurled, and you are guiding this vessel. What do you have a choice over as far as the boat is concerned?”
“The sails and the rudder,” Aari said instantly.
“Good. Now, what is it that you do not have a choice over?”
“The current,” Kody answered.
“And the wind and its direction,” added Tegan.
Nageau dipped his head, affirming. “Ah-ha: So here, the wind is like fate—it is what life throws at you, and you have no control over it. It will blow in whichever direction it wants to, but you have the choice to make what you can out of it by setting the sail in the direction you want your boat to take you. That is your destiny.”
Jag observed the veins in his forearm, mentally assessing the Elders words. Throughout his growing years, he’d established that there was no such thing as fate. At first he thought that Nageau was hinting that his belief was incorrect, but after some pondering, he realized that his belief wasn’t incorrect—it was simply incomplete. The wind will blow whichever direction it wants to, but I have a choice over the control of the sail. I make my destiny.
Tegan’s voice reached his ears. “Earth to Jag?”
He snapped back and saw his friends staring at him. “Oh, hi.” He grinned. “Just thinking.”
Nageau waved it off with a slight smile. “I am glad we had a chat about that, because it helps to set the stage for what I would like to speak about next.
“You are each gifted with certain talents and are here for a reason. In the coming days and weeks, your powers will strengthen and you will find yourself growing along with it. I am sure you are curious as to how your individual abilities work.”
“You have no idea,” Aari groaned. “Or, well, maybe you do.”
“The secret of these abilities comes from understanding that the human mind is a bridge between the physical world and the world of pure energy. The mind is capable of channeling tremendous power from that plane to this, the physical world.” Nageau let the friends digest his revelation for a moment. “Allow me to explain this another way. You are all familiar with the magnifying lens, yes? And at some point you may have experimented with using such a lens to focus the sun’s rays onto an object. Now, imagine that the lens represents the human mind and the rays of the sun represent the world of energy, and an object upon which the rays are cast—say, a leaf—signifies the physical world. In like manner, your mind works as a lens that channels the power from the world of pure energy to this world. But it is important to remember this: For the lens to be effective, it needs to be clear of dust and impurities. Likewise, for you to reach the apex of your abilities, your mind needs to be spotless as well.”
“I think I’m beginning to see the light now—no pun intended, of course.” Kody eyed Jag and Aari defensively as the two shot him unamused looks.
Tegan, her chin resting in her hand, nodded slowly. “It’s starting to make sense to me, too. I’ve been struggling to find out how and why I’m capable of what
I am doing.”
“I’m just wondering, though,” Mariah said. “Keeping an actual lens clean is easy enough. But how would I, um . . . wipe ‘dust’ off my mind?”
“Excellent question,” Nageau said. “As you would have noticed, a fair amount of your training is spent on achieving mental clarity. It may have taken different forms, whether through meditation or a range of physical activities, or simply by just remaining still. All combined, it helps to burnish the lens that is your mind. But that is just one half of the equation. The other half requires vigilance in your day to day thoughts and actions.”
Five faces scrunched as the group tried to piece together what they’d heard. Aari, lost in deliberation, was the first to figure it out. “Personal responsibility,” he summarized.
Nageau seemed pleasantly surprised. “Exactly right. Aligning oneself with the universal precepts found in all of humanity’s cherished scriptures and traditions is the key. The more your thoughts and actions reflect these principles, the stronger your spirit becomes. The stronger your spirit becomes, the keener your mind. And the keener your mind, the greater your abilities will be.”
Tegan quirked a brow. “Universal precepts?”
“It is quite simple, actually. These precepts have guided the thoughts and actions of human beings throughout time. Principles, such as the Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, or Nature’s Law as revered and applied by the founding fathers of your nation. These and other similar belief systems have been society’s protection against excesses. Sadly, these have lately been trampled on by the foot of apathy across the world.”
Jag let out a breath. “That’s a bit to take in.”
“It can seem that way, but it is not a concept that will take you long to fully understand. Now, to recapture this discussion, the first thing you need to understand is that the secret to your abilities lies in the keenness of your mind. To attain that keenness, you must remember that the training you are undergoing is but one part of the equation. The other is vigilance in your thoughts and actions. With this understanding, you are now ready to progress to the second stage of your training. Before long, you will step into the third and final stage. It will be a marvelous experience.”
The friends recognized that the meeting was drawing to a close. As they prepared to get up, Nageau held up a hand. “You know”—he gave them a shrewd smile—“one of the things you will be able to do as you sharpen your minds is to communicate with each other without speaking out loud.”
They goggled, wondering if the Elder was toying with them. “Are you . . . are you serious?” Aari stuttered. “We’ll get to use telepathy?”
“In time, perhaps. We shall see. The Elders and I are certainly able to, but not everyone can attain such an ability.” Nageau rocked back on his heels and stretched. He looked each of the teenagers in the eyes, observing the different shades, then raised his head heavenward with a smile, awed by the workings of the universe. Before letting them go, he said, “We will meet again at the end of the second stage of your training, just before you commence the final phase.”
They parted ways, then, and as Nageau watched the group leave, a sense of warmth and pride for them bloomed in his heart as if they were his own family. Just before they disappeared from sight, the friends turned to wave at him with wide smiles.
A lump grew in the Elder’s throat once he was alone in the temple. His knowledge of the relentless foe the five would face in the world outside, as mentioned in the prophecy, was a matter of grave concern. The memories of the decision he made over two decades ago came crashing down again. His speculation of what may be at the heart of the storm outside, and if the decision he made had exacerbated it, burdened him. That he would soon have to inform the younglings of what they were being prepared for also weighed heavily on his mind.
There is so much to do, and so little time.
39
The mining site at six thousand feet above sea level and a good four hundred feet below the mountain’s peak teemed with activity. With the delivery of spare parts two days earlier, the crew had managed to repair most of the equipment and machinery, and it looked like the weather would be clearing up for them.
In his office, Ajajdif conversed over the phone with Black and his team in San Francisco. LeChamps was seated on the opposite side of the table, half-listening to Ajajdif’s end of the conversation as he bit the earpiece of his glasses and looked through a page of a report he was yet to upload onto his iPad. The sides of his head were lightly grayed, something he tried to hide with hair dye to conceal the fact that he had just turned forty-two.
The chief geologist for Quest Mining stepped into the office a few minutes later. Abdul, clad in a tight t-shirt that accentuated her frame and her bright red curls tied back in a long ponytail, took a seat beside LeChamps. The smell of cigarettes was strong on her person. LeChamps grimaced. Attractive as she was, he did not find the smell appealing.
Ajajdif looked up. “Nice. We’re all here.” He put the call on speaker-phone and leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed. “As I was saying, we’ve got good news and bad news over here.”
Black sighed over the speaker. “How could there be bad news? We’ve shipped out everything you needed.”
“Yes, and that’s the good news. The crew is feeling productive with the equipment now up and running properly. Within the last twelve hours, we’ve had a dramatic increase in our yield.”
“Already? That’s good. You think we can make up for lost time at this rate?”
Ajajdif motioned to LeChamps. The mining engineer cleared his throat and introduced himself before saying, “We switched the angle of the tunneling machine last night and struck it big. We’ve found a new vein that’s rich with deposits.”
In the background on Black’s end, Ajajdif, Abdul and LeChamps heard a cascade of praises. “Fantastic,” Black said, sounding satisfied.
“It just took a little more digging around,” Abdul piped.
“To answer your question, Adrian,” Ajajdif said, “yes, we should be able to get back on schedule and be out of here in four weeks.”
Dattalo’s voice came on the speaker-phone. “That’s the best news we’ve had in a while, Vlad. Once you guys get the required amount, we’re going to be the only organization in the world to have this quantity—or this mineral, for that matter.”
Black cut in. “So that’s the good news. What’s the bad news?”
Ajajdif rested his elbows on his table and pressed his fingertips together. “The secrecy of our operation has been breached.”
There was silence on the other end. Then Black said acidly, “Breaches are unacceptable, Vlad. That’s what your security team is for.”
“Yes, I know. But these were just natives, not tourists or government authorities.”
“Natives? That place is inhabited?”
“Apparently.” Ajajdif took a sip from the coffee mug on his table. “How do we deal with the intruders?”
“Quite frankly, I don’t care what you do, and I don’t want to know. But whatever you decide, just remember that we need to maintain our cover. This operation must never go public, ever.”
“Understood. I’ll handle it. There is another small matter, though.”
“What is it?” It was plain to hear the impatience in Black’s tone.
“One of my tunneling machine operators was killed in an accident a couple days ago. His assistant was hurt too, and he’s recovering in the medic camp.”
Gasps were heard on the other end .“Died?” Black sputtered. “He died? And you only tell me this now?”
“I have a hundred other problems to deal with, Adrian. I can’t keep ringing you up for everything.”
“Someone was killed! And now we’ll have to compensate the family!”
“Just tell them it was a workplace accident. Which it was.”
A hard bang sounded over the speaker and Ajajdif presumed that Black had pounded his fist on the tabl
e. “Splendid. Wonderful. That’s just great. You know I’m going to have to report this to the Boss, right?”
“Yes.”
“Just to forewarn you, you might be getting a call.”
“So be it.” Ajajdif’s voice remained even, but fear had already begun to gnaw deep within his gut.
“Is there anything else to report?” Black asked.
“No. Well, actually . . . two men from my security team were injured while capturing the natives.”
“You mean to say that two men, trained in combat, were injured by some primitive savages living in a forest?”
“I don’t know, Adrian. You look at them and you know right off the bat that they’re not exactly unintelligent. They even look different. Hell, one of them is blond and another has green eyes. Plus, when I went through the items they were carrying, I found a few interesting things—”
“Whatever. Look, point is, they can’t be allowed to leave, so you’re going to have to deal with them.”
“No problem. Oh, and thank you again for flying the parts and chemicals in. It fired up my guys into full swing.”
“Glad to hear it. Are we done?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. We’ll get in touch later.” Black clicked off.
Ajajdif put down the satellite phone and pointed a finger at the door of his office. LeChamps and Abdul rose to their feet and left. Once he was alone, Ajajdif picked up his radio and called for the head of his security team to come to his office.
“On my way, sir,” Hajjar responded, his voice like thunder over the radio.
Ajajdif picked up his mug and downed the rest of his coffee. He didn’t realize that his mind had roamed elsewhere until there was a knock on his door and Hajjar stepped in. The tattooed giant stood at ease in front of his supervisor’s desk. “Good afternoon, sir.”