Beyond the Garden

by S. Y. Thompson

  “You have nerve, Lilith. It is the only reason you remain standing.”

  Finally, he spoke. Lil felt a brief sense of elation that Dana could overhear the encounter. It vanished when faced with the prospect of extracting information from God’s messenger. “I thank you for granting me that favor, Samael. You know I hold you in highest regard and I wouldn’t call on you unless I absolutely had to.”

  “I reiterate Lil, what do you want?”

  It was a start. “I discovered the artifact at Gobekli that told me to return to the Garden.”

  “You cannot go back, Lilith. No human can.”

  “Then why should God bother to set me on this path, Samael? Think about it. You said this was a test and that if I passed, I would have that which I desired most. How do you know that you aren’t the one who’s supposed to help me reach that goal?”

  Samael made a show of sheathing Azrael. He glanced over his shoulder as he did, only once but it was enough to tell Lil that he realized they had an audience. “I am not a witless mortal, Lilith. You cannot so easily deceive me. I cannot be misled into telling you that the entrance to the Garden lies between Ad Dayr and Al-Haritah. Look for a boulder shaped like a weeping woman.”

  He vanished before Lil could respond, leaving her feeling stunned that he had willingly passed along a bit of information. Then again, Lil thought it simply another example of Samael’s puckish sense of humor. Very likely, he wanted to see what would happen if Lil reached her goal. He’d probably be chastised for this transgression, but he was one of God’s favorites. The punishment wouldn’t last forever.

  “You did it!”

  Lil turned around just in time to welcome Dana into her embrace. She smiled in shared joy and exuberance. “Don’t get too excited. That’s still a twenty-mile stretch that we must explore.”

  “Yes, but it’s less than two hours from here. I knew we were close.”

  “And we never would have found it if it hadn’t been for you.” Lil kissed Dana quickly. “If you hadn’t brought up divine inspiration, I would never have thought to bait Samael.”

  “He is quite impressive. I can’t believe I just saw a real angel.”

  “Archangel,” Lil corrected. “There is a very important distinction. Most angels are simply God’s messengers. Archangels are warriors, fierce and cold-blooded. They are ruthless and obey only his commands.”

  “Then why did Samael tell you anything?”

  Lil shrugged. “Because duality is part of his nature. I guess you could say, he’s always been a bit of a rascal.”

  “Fortunately for us.”

  “Indeed.”

  ****

  Renting a car was out of the question. They couldn’t find anyone who would lease a car to a woman. Fortunately, a stack of cash to just the right person in a dark alley provided them with the needed transportation. The incident reminded Dana of her first meeting with Lil, when a bribe had greased the wheels of democracy in order for her to get Francene home to her parents. Dana remained grateful that Lil freely employed capitalistic tendencies in order to get them where they needed to go. One day, she’d have to ask how Lil had managed to amass such a vast fortune, but for now it was more important to focus on their destination.

  They passed through a small village, Al-Haritah from the Arabic signage, and Dana perked up a little. The drive hadn’t been long, just enough for her to stiffen up from sitting. Soon after, Lil drove off the paved road and headed toward the Euphrates. Approximately halfway to Ad Dayr, Lil stopped the four-wheel drive vehicle. Dana spotted the marshlands so common directly adjacent to the river’s waterway.

  “What next?”

  “Well,” Lil said as she opened the door and climbed out. “I can picture the rock Samael spoke of and transport to its location.”

  Dana unsnapped her seatbelt. “You can do that just by thinking about it?”

  “If the image is clear enough in my mind, yes.”

  Somehow, Lil’s words weren’t exactly encouraging. Dana refrained from commenting as she exited the truck and moved around to stand beside Lil. The sun stood directly overhead and sweat broke out above her lip from the slight exertion. While traveling in a moving vehicle with the windows down the heat wasn’t so bad. Now unmoving and dressed in long sleeves and jeans, Dana was already too hot.

  “In that case, I think we should get this show on the road.”

  “I concur.”

  Dana watched as Lil closed her eyes and her brow furrowed slightly. In an instant, Lil winked out of sight and Dana experienced the now-familiar sensation of displaced air. No matter how many times she witnessed translocation, she didn’t feel she would ever find the sight less than remarkable. Dana shook her head in wonder and returned to the cab of the vehicle for a canteen. As she slacked her thirst, she surveyed the region once again.

  They had stopped beside the widest point of the river. Here the water flowed especially strong, a foaming, swirling watercourse that crashed over concealed obstacles and threatened to overflow its banks at certain times of the year. The general climate of the river area was sub-tropical, arid desert, but immediately adjacent to the Euphrates, the land was very fertile. Here, the earth supported aquatic vegetation such as reeds, rushes, papyrus and stunted trees. Water buffalo could be found lurking about while keeping a safe distance from human predators. Locals used the river for everything from land irrigation and fishing to watering livestock and bathing. Dana was pleased to see that Lil had chosen a more secluded place to prepare. There weren’t any people nearby, not even a weather-beaten hut.

  Dana took a long swallow from the canteen as she considered diving the estuary. It wouldn’t be easy. Unlike the sea, diving a river brought inherent complications, chief among them being visibility. Sediment in the water and the flow of the current would make conditions murky at best. She found it highly likely that she wouldn’t be able to see more than a foot in front of her face, even with the very best in diving lights.

  “I found it.”

  Dana started in surprise and spilled water down her chin before she spun around to face Lil. She hadn’t felt the expected rush of air upon her return. “How far?”

  “Only a couple of miles. Shall we?”

  As they drove toward the marker Lil had discovered, she filled Dana in on the details. “It’s amazing, the energy flowing around the rock is something I haven’t felt in centuries. I could feel the power shimmering in the air.”

  “I’d think you could feel something that strong from a distance,” Dana pointed out. “How is it that you’ve never noticed it before?”

  “I think it’s shielded somehow, like you have to know exactly where you’re going before you can find it. Do you know what I mean?”

  Dana sighed. “It makes as much sense as anything else.”

  Lil drove off the roadway again a few minutes later and headed directly through the marshland. Mud splattered the fenders and birds took flight. The swampy area wasn’t large and Dana spotted the rock formation from some distance away. Lil stopped the truck directly beside the boulder and Dana was astonished that it did indeed resemble a mourning woman with her head bowed from grief.

  She climbed slowly out of the vehicle and walked over to the rock. The Euphrates crashed along its course less than two hundred feet past the marker. Dana felt goose bumps erupt on her forearms and her cheeks flushed though not from the noonday sun. Even she could feel the potency that fairly shimmered on the slight breeze.

  “It’s here somewhere,” Lil spoke from beside her.

  “The river supposedly watered the Garden,” Dana said. “We should be standing in the middle of it, but I don’t see anything like what was described in the Bible. Are you sure Samael didn’t lie to you?”

  Lil shook her head. “Samael may mislead or purposely deceive, but he wouldn’t outright lie. There was no reason for him to give us the information unless this is where we need to be.”

  “Okay, I guess we dive.”

  A shiver
of unexpected fear unraveled in Dana’s stomach, causing her to shiver. She wasn’t excited about the prospect of diving these muddy depths. On the upside, if they found nothing maybe she could persuade Lil to give up this dangerous pursuit and consider building a life with her. The thought motivated Dana to get on with it.

  “I’d recommend tying a line between us so we don’t lose sight of each other if these were calm waters, but considering the circumstances I don’t think that would be wise. Tethering us together could cause more of a problem. We might get trapped on submerged debris.”

  “Agreed. The river isn’t very deep, but a person can drown in two inches of water if conditions are right.”

  “Do you want to set up camp first?” Dana asked as she walked back to the truck.

  They had decided to forego any sort of crew and had only each other to rely on. Finding the Garden of Eden was an endeavor best kept to themselves. Lil had told Dana about the thief among her dig in Gobekli and neither relished a repeat performance.

  “I think that’s a good idea. Do you want to eat before we start?”

  Dana shook her head, reaching into the rear of the vehicle for the small, two-man tent. “I’m not really hungry.”

  She was aware of the concerned look Lil shot her way, but focused on getting the camp set up. The trees would provide cover from prying eyes. As soon as the tent was in place and a fire ring established, Dana settled onto a campstool and motioned for Lil to join her. She just wanted a few minutes together before setting to work.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. For some reason, I’m suddenly a little nervous about this endeavor. Lil, are you sure you want to go through with this? I think we could be happy together.”

  Lil grasped her hand. “I believe we could as well, but I must see this through.”

  Dana snorted, but the situation wasn’t funny. “You know, I really just wished you’d have chosen me over death.”

  “I want to, don’t ever doubt that.”

  “Then why continue?” Dana pressed, surprised that Lil had admitted so much in such a short statement.

  “Because, as a friend recently reminded me, nothing should live forever. I love you, Dana, but this ceaseless existence must come to an end.”

  Tears threatened and Dana didn’t try to fight them. She allowed the moisture to track down her cheeks as she pulled Lil’s hands to her chest. “Despite what you believe, the future isn’t always what it seems. Just because your immortal existence ends, that doesn’t mean you’ll die. How do you know that you won’t continue to live out a normal life from that point on?”

  “I don’t and if it turns out to be as you say, nothing would make me happier than to live out that life with you.”

  Dana sagged with relief and rested her forehead against Lil’s. The soothing contact combined with Lil’s loving words melted the terror residing in her gut. “Thank you for that. I guess it’s time to plan our dive.” Sniffing back the tears, Dana wiped her cheeks and pulled away. “We’re both experienced divers, but I think we should limit our time in the water. With the lack of visibility, we’re sure to become separated and I don’t want to take a chance on one of us getting injured.”

  “Which is exactly why I wish I could sense you. If you were hurt, I would know instantly.”

  “It’s okay,” Dana assured her. “We’ll be fine.”

  “I’m pleased you’re such an optimist. Regardless, I think ten minutes at a time should prove sufficient.”

  “I think so too. I’d like to make it five, but we’d never get anything accomplished. Getting below the current will be the hardest part. Once we’re below the first couple of feet, the waters should calm enough for our purposes.”

  Dana had dived the waters of Japan during typhoon conditions. On the surface, things could prove quite dangerous, yet several feet down the surroundings became calm and quite beautiful. There was no reason to believe this situation was any different.

  “Also,” Dana added, “I think we should wait until dusk. With the sun filtering through the water, it’ll illuminate every grain of sand and reflect back at us. It’ll be impossible to see much at all. Our best chance is to make this a night dive.”

  “Then we shall wait. I’ll prepare lunch.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Ready?”

  Dana stood at the widest part of the river wearing her wetsuit complete with fins. Once in the fast-moving water, she didn’t think she’d have time to fight with her equipment. She’d be too busy struggling to get beneath the surface before crashing headlong into an unseen obstacle.

  Lil nodded and placed her regulator into her mouth. Both quickly checked their watches before sharing a single glance. It was enough to communicate their intentions. Dana stepped into the water first, holding on to a large rock near the bank. She moved around to the lee side of the stone where she was out of the strongest of the water’s flow. Dana grasped the flashlight in her left hand and clicked it on. One more glance at Lil and Dana submerged.

  Instantly, she was surrounded by swirling sand that greatly reduced visibility. Only the beam of her flashlight kept Dana from being completely blinded by the conditions. The powerful light helped, but she didn’t believe they would find anything at all unless they literally stumbled across it by accident.

  Dana and Lil dove half the night for ten minutes at a time. Dana loved the water, but eventually she started to feel exhausted and waterlogged. Fighting the current to submerge took most of her strength and by the time she made her way under the flow, she didn’t have a lot of time to look around. On top of that, the current carried them far downstream away from the rock Samael had pointed out. Dana began to think this was a futile endeavor and looked forward to the sunrise.

  Finally, she and Lil agreed to one more dive before calling it a night. Dana suggested they start upstream this time so that the Euphrates could carry them down toward the Weeping Woman. Lil agreed and they entered the water a half mile upstream. Dana inhaled air from her regulator as the river closed over her head and used her remaining strength to fight toward the riverbed. Once she felt the pull of the waters lessen, she took a second to rest her trembling muscles and then continued downward.

  Again, there wasn’t much to see. Her flashlight battery had begun to weaken and she didn’t expect it to hold out much longer. Suddenly, she caught a movement at the corner of her eye. Dana expected to spot one of the fifty species of fish that inhabited the water. What she saw instead made her flinch away in concern. The shadowy shape reminded her of an octopus, but there were no cephalopods in the Euphrates and certainly nothing of such a massive size.

  Dana shone her light in the same direction and again caught a flash heading toward the bottom. She started downward in pursuit. Though she wasn’t searching for a squid or octopus, this was the only thing of any importance that had happened all night. It was just unusual enough that the incident fit in with Lil and the supernatural occurrences that seemed so commonplace around her.

  The light grew stronger as Dana swam downward. For a moment, she blamed the increase in brightness on her flashlight. Then she realized the illumination originated far below. Dana spotted the riverbed and moved forward toward the light. She stopped abruptly when she discovered a sudden gorge not mapped in any bathymetric chart she’d ever seen.

  Dana looked upward in an attempt to locate Lil, but couldn’t see anything. She considered the terrain in relation to her starting point at the riverbank. The sun hadn’t yet risen, but Dana was convinced she was under the desert sand, almost directly below the Weeping Woman. A quick look at her watch told her time was almost up, but Dana couldn’t stop now. Excitement caused her pulse to hammer and she kicked her fins to propel herself forward toward the drop-off.

  The unexplained illumination grew brighter as she approached, strong enough now to make her wince. When it suddenly vanished, Dana felt blinded. It took a moment for her vision to readjust to the meager glow from her flashlight. She r
efused to move forward until she acclimated for fear of swimming over the edge.

  Finally able to see again, Dana noticed something strange. The area where she was remained just as heavy with underwater sediment as ever, but just ahead she could see an area completely free of floating particles. She couldn’t think of any phenomena to explain such a thing and moved forward in anticipation of a major discovery. Looking down, she noticed a line in the sand demarcating the spot directly in front of the gorge. She didn’t anticipate any resistance as she prepared to swim past the edge. Dana just wanted to hover over the drop-off and try to get an idea of how deep the pit was. She was caught unprepared when she charged headfirst into an unseen obstacle.

  Dana flinched away, pulling her knees under her to assume a squatting position directly in front of the line she had noted before. The blow smarted, but she hadn’t been going fast enough to cause any real damage. The sudden barrier made her consider the time and her air supply. Dana still had twenty minutes of air according to her gauge, but she was past due for resurfacing. Lil would be worried, but Dana was afraid that if she left she’d never find this spot again.

  A few more minutes, she promised herself. If she couldn’t get past the wall by then, she would mark the location with an electronic buoy. The device would emit a signal she could track.

  Dana put her hand out, palm up, and encountered…something. She mirrored the action with her other hand, much like a mime pantomiming a barrier for an audience. But this wasn’t make-believe. An invisible wall?

  Why not? Dana had seen a lot lately that defied any semblance of logic. Why shouldn’t she encounter an invisible wall that defied the laws of physics?

  She sat back on her heels to contemplate her next actions and was distracted by a fish swimming by. The small animal passed her and crossed over unimpeded through the unseen barrier. Dana watched it swim away unharmed. This wasn’t really a wall, more like a screen.