The 57th Keeper

by R.G. Bullet

  F O U R T H S E S S I O N

  Alturus breezed into Doctor Baum’s office as she was finishing up a phone call. She held up an index finger to him and mouthed: “one minute...” and continued on the phone, “...he’s doing much, much better. The layers are coming off and we’re making measurable progress. Yes, I am aware of that, Lord Fleury... certainly not, those medicines were banned two decades ago—and with good reason.  Yes... yes... no, not yet... of course.” She smiled. “Naturally. Alright. Thank you for your call. Goodbye.” She hung up.

  Doctor Baum re-stacked the files, placing them in line with the corner of her desk. Then she grouped the pens pointing them all in one direction.

  “SOTS are very persistent, Alturus.”

  Alturus sighed. “I know. After they found me I couldn’t lose Fleury.”

  “Does that mean you tried?”

  “Yes, many times. But they’re like mosquitoes. I know now that I should do to their training. If I’d listen, I’d be okay instead of sat here.”

  “So let’s explore that area—shall we begin?”

  Once under, Alturus relayed how he awoke one morning spread across his bed in the hotel suite. He rolled to the side, covered his head with the pillow and let out a low muffled groan. It was his third straight week of partying and his body and brain ached. However, he rallied just enough energy to call down for room service—who picked up instantly.

  “Get me pills for my headache and a jug of orange juice.”

  Minutes later he heard knocking and dragged himself up, flip flopping in his sandals towards the door. He opened up to see a tall, elderly man with a handle bar moustache. He glowed pink and dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief. Alturus offered cash in one hand and held open his other to receive the pills but the man gripped at it and shook it vigorously.

  “Hello, Alturus,” he said crisply. “I’m Lord Fleury. I have come a long way. I’m head of security at SOTS, We’ve been expecting your call.” He brushed straight passed Alturus and entered the suite. “Please, let’s sit and talk.”

  “Oh! Amazing. I was thinking of calling you tomorrow,” said Alturus, leading the way back into the sitting area. Lord Fleury followed side-stepping the Shroud as he approached the sofa and Alturus glimpsed the concerned look in his eyes.

  “Champagne?” said Alturus.

  “No. Most certainly not. I have to report back and cannot dally. For your own sake I won’t mince words. We’d like you to come to London. I have a plane waiting.”

  “No need. All’s good here, all fine,” said Alturus, spotting Lord Fleury frowning at the oily patch on the shroud. “It’s nothing. I’ll clean it.” Alturus took a napkin, tipped water onto it, and began blotting the stain.

  “Alturus!” Lord Fleury growled. “Please! Did the 56th Keeper not explain to you about the Kurul? I am sure he did.”

  “Yes. Don’t worry, Fleury. I know this type of people,” said Alturus. “I read in Keeper’s Log. They easy to handle.”

  “No, Alturus. They’re not. If the Shroud gets wet in any way they will be here quicker than you can blink—and kill you. If they know your name they will hunt you down—and kill you. If you aren’t diligent they will find you—and kill you. If you don’t keep...”

  “Ya, ya, I get it.” Alturus laughed dismissively. “They kill me.”

  “No, worse. They’ll take possession of the Shroud.”

  “Everything’s okay. Leave it with me,” said Alturus, delicately picking up the Shroud and then folding it on the table. “I’ll visit SOTS in London very soon.”

  “We can help you build a fortress against the Kurul, Alturus.” The tone in Lord Fleury’s voice softened. “We have significant influence across the globe and I strongly suggest you use us to help you protect yourself. Your wish is our command.”

  “What? Like a genie’s lamp?” Alturus laughed, patting the Lord Fleury on the shoulder. “I like you, Fleury. Calming... come let’s not worry so much.” Alturus gestured to the door but then something suddenly struck him. “How did you find me, Fleury?”

  “Easily,” Lord Fleury replied, sending chills down Alturus’s spine. “Easily.”

  Alturus felt no relief closing the door behind Lord Fleury. He tried hard to shake the warnings from his thoughts, yet they seemed to wriggle like worms in his mind. I can buy protection. He assured himself. I can buy body guards and I can but myself with small army. But even as he imagined all this he knew it would bring too much attention. Now he had a real problem, if, like Lord Fleury said, the Kurul were lurking, how could he trust anyone around him?

  His thoughts raked at his already throbbing head, and he opened the window for fresh air. The swaying palm trees rustled in the breeze and the occasional shouts from children drifted up from the glistening pool below. He breathed in deeply once taking in the ocean scent, twice and then he saw a woman pointing a camera in his direction. The inner monologue rose up again. Why is that woman pointing it at me? I should move the Shroud into the safe. No... Relax. No one knows you’re here. But however much he tried, he couldn’t relax. He paced back and forth around the suite like a caged lion.

  Housekeeping finally delivered his pills and the second the maid placed a jug of orange juice on the table he made his decision.

  “Tell front desk to make up my bill, I’m leaving.”

  An hour later he was packed and waiting outside of the hotel’s reception.

  “Where to, Sir?” the limo driver asked, holding the car door open. Alturus flopped into the back seat realising that his high profile days for now were short, sweet and over. He buried his head in his hands. “Take me to airport.”

  As the limo lurched forward Doctor Baum’s voice rang out from the back of Alturus’s mind dragging him to the surface. “Coming up, Alturus... three... lighter and higher... you’re feeling awake... four... and five! He felt tapping on his shoulder.

  Alturus’s eyes opened and he took deep gulps of air and gripped the side of the couch.

  “You were becoming stressed, Alturus,” said the Doctor. “You’ve had enough for today.”

  Alturus tried to focus on slowing his breath. “I need to explain what happened,” he gasped.

  “Wait. Breathe,” said Doctor Baum, handing him the glass of water. He took several sips. “Only continue if you feel comfortable.”

  The control over his breath returned briefly, clearing away the tortured expression from his face. “I stole many things.” Alturus seemed to choose his words carefully, finally confronting his own behavior. “People suffered my stealing. Good and innocent people now have criminal record. Families broken, blaming each other because there’s no explanation. I stole money from hotels, shops, restaurants.”

  “Alright... and how does that make you feel?” Doctor Baum asked.

  “I feel like—like monster had been released, this greedy thing wanted bigger, better, sweeter, shinier taller, faster, biggest, juiciest. I needed to feed monster and it’s always very, very hungry.” Doctor Baum nodded encouraging him to continue. “I was like a wild man with the Shroud. I became a danger. I left Istanbul and flew south to Bodrum. I thought a quiet seaside place away from it all would help. But it’s no better. It actually got worse. One morning, after I took women’s jewelry from shop try to escape but it started to rain. I felt the Shroud not working as usual because it’s getting wet. It wobbled. So I flew fast as I could and low along the beach when I suddenly crashed. I landed hard—eat a mouthful of sand. The Shroud’s power just turned off. I had to walk back to hotel with it on my shoulder.”

  “This is when the danger starts, isn’t it Alturus?”

  Alturus gulped the rest of the water. His eyes wide above the rim of the glass.

  “Let’s take you down again,” said Doctor Baum.

  “No. I don’t need escalator any more, doctor.”

  For the first time Alturus’s voice was steady and his eyes lost the clouded look. He turned the empty glass in his hand searching for the rig
ht words. “Two maybe three hours later the sun came out and I put the Shroud outside to dry because it’s still wet. All this time I have strange feeling going on in my tummy. A feeling like I’m scared.”

  “The Kurul?”

  Alturus nodded slowly.

  “It’s crucial now that you remember, Alturus. Try to be as accurate as possible.”

  “So I heard noise in front of the hotel. I saw a big man. First I thought he’s a celebrity because he has two body guards nearby. I don’t think much about it but later I went down to restaurant and order lunch. The food arrived but I didn’t eat. The big man returned, and this feeling got worse. I never thought they were Kurul first time I saw them, but when he pass by the restaurant he looks in and he sees me... and I see him. Something happened. He knew, and I knew in same second.” Alturus pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes.

  “How did you escape and get to the Shroud, Alturus?”

  “I run! I run up stairs and very fast. I panicked, took the Shroud and ran back down the other stairs. I heard them. There was too much traffic so I ran onto beach. I ran and ran. It’s s very hot.” Alturus began rocking back and forth with his face still buried in his hands.

  “Were they behind you?

  “I looked once. I think I lost them. I had to save the Shroud. I had give it to good person. I find old lady with dog. She could take Shroud, she could be Keeper but she shouts and hits me.”

  Alturus body shook his words now tumbled out without restraint. He lifted his head but his eyes darted as if he were still running.

  “Go on,” Doctor Baum pushed.

  “I found a boy. Children are good. They’re not bad people. I take his things and he takes the Shroud and I ran on. I found a rug seller on beach further up and get rug from him. I don’t know what I was thinking... perhaps the Kurul would think that this is the Shroud. I run and run more.”

  “But wait Alturus. Go back. So it’s a boy. The 58th Keeper is a boy?

  “Yes. He’s from England. White face, white leg.”

  “Don’t fail me here, Alturus... what is his name?”

  Doctor Baum waited patiently. Sometimes silence is truly golden because Alturus finally uttered the name everyone wanted to hear: “It’s Archy... Archy Bass.”

  Will a boy have the wherewithal to handle the Shroud? Will he be able to escape the Kurul? And what becomes of Alturus? Find out in

  The 58th Keeper.

  www.RGBullet.com

  Credits

  This book was art directed by Rebeca Gilling. The cover art was created by Christina Kelly using oil on board. The text was set in Garamond, Trebuchet MS, and Times New Roman.