by Cara Charles
D watched Shanti breathe.
‘Giving herself up, like that. Their rumor was alive and real. There she was a true miracle of Nature, three feet away.’
Even when he couldn’t look her in the eye, he had been struck by an overwhelming feeling. Watching Shanti sleep, so beautiful, so vulnerable, and so heroic. Made him sad.
Their ironic luck would make Mavra laugh. Now Mavra would feel justified in torturing the rarest, living being on the planet for her own personal gain as if destiny had sanctioned coincidence. Shanti would be exploited completely. Winning at any cost was the M.O. of Mavra Kimirov.
Their scenario reminded Dimitri of the dubbed Hollywood B movies from his childhood. Now he, himself was a major part of so much pain. Shanti’s face broke his heart now. Shanti was like a peaceful, captured alien that the stupid, selfish humans were going to probe to “understand.” She had sacrificed her very freedom to save others. The thrill of the hunt was over forever for him now. He was disgusted with himself. Dez was right. He’d been a partner in murder. The look in Trevor and Kate’s eyes, especially Desiree’s, haunted him. Had the Old Man been there? Had he imagined him? He’d felt him. Not possible. He was long dead, leaving a hole in all of them, now filled with greed and regret. When they’d lost Sid, they’d slowly lost their souls. When had he lost himself, all their eyes had wondered? D dropped his head as his tears fell on the pretty beige carpet of the luxury jet.
Kenny watched Dimitri from the galley looking at this exceptional woman, hoping D was coming to the same epiphany he had had, the moment he touched her and she’d looked into his soul with those hypnotically beautiful, so very wise, ancient eyes.
‘God, the woman was an incredible beauty and so like a beautiful, benevolent queen accepting her death sentence.’
Kenny’s surrender had been so simple. He felt he was doing something morally wrong, taking her blood, and hooking her to the IV, for what was to come. She had a captivating quality about her even in her sleep. It clung to him now, like perfumed air. Now, D felt it too. There was something undeniably exotic, regal, and timeless about her, that was now touching D. Something inside him recognized her significance. Her truth was now in D’s eyes, and in his shoulders. He was almost sure D would give in otherwise he’d decided neither D nor Mavra would survive to hurt her.
Kenny watched, as Dimitri moved to the seat opposite Shanti to study her and piked up her hand.
D studied her hand. Had these long delicate fingers created history? Her warm soft hands intrigued him. Had they really witnessed all the ages of man? They’d know soon enough. He secretly hoped they were wrong. In fact, he prayed they all were wrong. Dimitri held her hand while Kenny prepared more breakfast, watching.
Kenny tapped D on the shoulder. Kenny held up his five fingers. The six-hour mark was up in five minutes. Kenny went to Carlos and told him to sleep another hour. He nodded and rolled over. Kenny covered Carlos with another blanket, assuring he’d sleep another two. The pilots would soon take a stretch your legs/pee break, and switch seats. Kenny knocked on the cockpit to tell them brunch was served.
One by one, the pilots walked through, admired Shanti, had their pee break, grabbed the breakfast burritos, fresh coffee then went back to their cockpit.
Kenny brought over D’s breakfast so they could talk before they woke up Mavra. Kenny and D had a secret all special ops guys had.
Kenny asked D in American Sign Language -- ‘Are you sad? Having regrets?’
D signed, ‘I feel like the biggest shitheel fucker in the world. If they confirm who they think she is, she’s doomed to a life in a cage. She’s our mother, amigo. I feel it somehow, don’t you?’ Dimitri’s teared up. ‘Wow’ he thought ‘I still have a heart.’
Kenny grabbed D’s hand and shook it smiling and signed, ‘Good, I feel it, too. I say I feel she has awakened my heart. That’s what is happening to you right now. Our hearts are not a cold piece of steel in our chest any longer because of her, and because our old friends are protecting her. It is not her beauty that touches me. It’s her soul. Let’s you and I let her go, help her get away, when we get the opportunity. What do you say? Miraculously, she’s made me tired of selling my soul for cheap thrills. Dr. Richards, Trev, Iain, Kate, and especially the Old Man, could have killed us both. Do you realize that! She is the last ‘good thing’ in this world worth fighting for.’
‘You saw the Old Man? Where?’
“I felt him man. I never said I saw him. Maybe it was seeing Dr. Dez again. But if he was there by some miracle, he wouldn’t have missed you or me, Mate.’
‘Oh, Dos Mio. She is worth dying for, yes. Yes, she is. And you’re right. I realize now, if he was there maybe the Old Man gave us a chance to redeem ourselves. Then I say, Compadre. Glad you are in too.’
Dimitri put his head down and sobbed. When he was spent, D wiped away his cleansing tears and felt happy for the first time in a very long time.
Kenny was crying and smiling. He offered Dimitri his brotherly handshake.
They shook, sealing the deal. They stood and hugged each other, relieved and cried and laughed.
Dimitri wiped happy tears and signed, ‘Virtue and sacrifice are liberties worth dying for. For our Mother and the Old Man.’
Kenny signed back. ‘Virtue and sacrifice are liberties worth dying for. For our Mother and the Old Man.’
Dimitri smiled. He took Kenny’s hand, then Shanti’s hand while Kenny took Shanti’s other hand. They were now a bonded circle. Dimitri touched Shanti’s forehead with his and Kenny did the same. Dimitri kissed her on the cheek and so did Kenny.
‘I feel like a Knight,’ Kenny said, his fist to his heart.
Dimitri put his fist to his heart, too. ‘Feels fantastic! Like being in love.’ Dimitri smiled and slugged Kenny in the shoulder.
‘Damn! So it does, man. What a feeling. What about Carlos?’ Kenny signed.
‘When the time is right, we will have to let him choose. We have a new mission with a very sacred objective,’ Dimitri signed then looked at Carlos. He looked at Mavra and Shanti to make sure they were still sleeping, then when he looked at Kenny, who was lost in thought looking at Carlos.
Kenny looked back at D. ‘It will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done,’ Kenny was shaking his head at the mental image of Carlos’ future sanction, a real possibility.
‘For the greatest cause of mankind, it’s a small but strategic sacrifice. He’ll bow out before then, I know he will.’
‘Agreed.’ Kenny pledged with his fist to his heart.
D returned the pledge, then he stood. He took a vial from a bag next to Shanti, loaded a syringe with an antagonist to reverse Shanti’s unconsciousness, and handed it to Kenny. Kenny pushed the med into her IV. They both waited to be the first one Shanti saw with those magnificent eyes of hers.
Her breathing was changing. She was floating up to consciousness. She was moving. Shanti opened her eyes and looked at Dimitri.
Dimitri took a chance and signed to Shanti.
‘We, Kenny and I, have decided we are not with Mavra. We are with you, whoever you turn out to be. Mortal or immortal. We feel in our re-discovered hearts, we know. We’ve just sworn to each other, to protect and defend you. To the death. Is this acceptable to you? Sign back, what I just said.’
Shanti signed back verbatim.
Kenny hugged her, nodding ‘yes.’
‘What changed your mind?’ Shanti signed back.
‘The overwhelming essence of your soul, Mother.’
Shanti hung her head. ‘Mother?’ She had not been called that in thousands of years. Tears caught her unprepared. She nodded keeping her face down, her vulnerability private as they both took her hand and kissed it.
Dimitri raised her chin to look at her beautiful face, and smiled.
Shanti looked into their eyes and saw their truth. She kissed each of her new protectors on the forehead.
They were moved by her acceptance of them.
‘How do I prote
ct you from METAPHOR who is following in their plane?’ She’d figure it out. She signed, ‘Are you sure, you’re ready for my truth?’ Shanti was measuring their sincerity.
They both signed, ‘yes.’
She signed, ’I will continue to cooperate with her, her doctors, and scientists. It will be entirely up to you, and METAPHOR to destroy the lab, and all evidence of me. Are we clear?’
Shanti’s expressive eyes were yearning to trust them.
Dimitri and Kenny nodded, yes.
‘Good. Wake her. Tell her you have me. It’s time to continue our charade.’
On cue, Carlos’ wristwatch vibrated. He woke up, stretched, and looked at Shanti, who was waking up.
Kenny was in the galley.
Dimitri was whispering to a very grumpy Mavra.
Mavra replied, “Luck is always on my side. Give her the drug, I’ll ask the questions,” Mavra said.
With his back to Mavra, D smiled at a brave Shanti.
Kenny had washed his hands then pushed Dr. Arden’s med concoction into the IV med port. He opened up the drip rate a tiny bit.
Shanti closed her eyes, laid her head on the headrest, and went into a relaxed state, her respirations long and even.
While waiting, Kenny offered Mavra her breakfast tray.
Mavra ate a bite, but wasn’t interested, the tranquilizer was still too active. She was slipping back into sleep. Not once did she look at Shanti. Finishing, Mavra looked at the clock. “Turn on the camera,” Mavra said.
Kenny turned on the camera, “Recording.”
“Madam? What is your name?” Mavra asked.
Shanti answered, “Ese.”
“Can you speak British English for this interview?”
“Yes.”
“In what language does your name originate?”
“Ge’ez, the language of my birth people from Western Ethiopia. An ancient language few scholars would know.”
“What is your name in German?”
“Some have called me Herta.”
“What is your name in British English?”
“Iset. It means sacred eternal mother.”
“So you are the sacred eternal mother… of your people.”
“All people.”
“All what people? Ethiopian people? African people?”
“All people are African people.”
Mavra paused. They all looked at each other, wide eyed.
“What is your oldest memory?”
“The flood water from the rains, waking me.”
“Where are you?”
“On a rise in the valley.”
“Why are you there, on a rise in the valley?”
“We were watching the migration.”
“We?”
“My children and I. We were watching for their father to return from hunting.”
“You have children?”
“No longer.”
“Why? What happened?”
Shanti paused, her face sad, remembering. “Lightning.”
“Lightning?”
“Lightning struck us.” Shanti holds out her right arm. A small scar runs down her arm coming from her neck and shoulder. She gently touches it, remembering the pain.
Mavra traced her long thin scar from the top of her head, down her neck, down her torso, down her right leg, and disappearing down her right ankle.
“Lightning from the rains?”
“Yes. I woke up. They were gone. I was surrounded by an ocean of water.”
“Did you ever find them?”
“The water has them,” Shanti began to cry.
“How long have you been alive, Ese?”
“Too long to remember.”
“Turn off the tape. We don’t need anymore. That’s good enough for me,” Mavra rolled over and went back to sleep.
Dimitri and Kenny were stunned, but waited until Mavra’s respirations were steady.
Kenny freshened their coffee, opened his palm, and showed Dimitri the bottle of morphine pills, pointed to Carlos and Mavra.
‘Genius!’ D signed and laughed.
Kenny motioned Dimitri over to the camera, signing, ‘I never pushed record.’
‘Fantastic! What a relief! She’ll be happy to know her secret is safe with us.’
Kenny nodded, ‘Should we ask her questions?’
‘Do you want to?’
‘Yes, but I’m afraid to.’
‘Me too. We’ll stop when we feel it’s wrong.’
‘Good idea, but no recording.’
‘I agree.’
“Iset?”
“Yes?”
“Kenny and I, I’m Dimitri, are your sworn protectors. If you would like to tell us your story, we are anxious to hear about your life.”
“It was no ordinary life.”
“Yes, we believe you.”
“And it is still unfolding.”
“Yes, my Queen. It is still unfolding,” Dimitri said trying to guide her.
‘I was a Queen, many times,’ she thought. Old instincts warned her. Shanti was silent, seeing her story in her mind she said, “I was never just a Queen. I was more.”
“You were more than a Queen?” Kenny frowned, not understanding.
“What happened after the flood waters woke you up?” D asked.
Shanti began to cry. She pointed at the camera.
D was shocked she was fully awake.
She was not under the influence of the drug, she signed, ‘You’d better record this to not arouse suspicion.’
D nodded.
Kenny nodded, pushed record, still worried recording was too risky.
“I don’t know how long I was there, days perhaps. When I awoke, it was raining and dark, the water was lapping at my head. I was in such pain. When I felt this river of pain that ran from the top of my head to my ankle, I knew. I’d been struck down. I called out for my children, but the wind was howling. I knew they couldn’t hear me. I knew they were not with me on my tiny, body sized island on the Savannah. I called for my Sela, my oldest daughter, and my two little daughters, “Sela, Tegena, Negasa. I called for my husband Teka. Teka,” I called until I was unable to speak . At first light, I could see water all around me to the horizon. From out of the trees far away, I saw hundreds of vultures ascend into the skies. I prayed it was not my children. With more light I could see many bloating animals. We were at least a day above the Falls. But all the water flowed that way. I struggled in mud for miles. I searched for days. I found Negasa eventually. It was a miracle, finding her. The rains had washed the mud from her tiny body. I never found my daughters Sela or Tegena or my husband Teka. So I kissed Negasa my joy, pushed her out into the water, and watched her ride it to the Falls to join their father and her sisters. I turned my back on all that had been my happy life to follow the Abay River in its circle, to where ever it stopped in a new land, with new mountains, new animals, new skies, and new sunsets, to never again be reminded of my old life. The drowned animals were all rotting quickly. I ate my fill like a lioness, dried their meat on my pack. I walked down the mountain range into the largest desert I’d ever seen. I stayed with the river for months, becoming a good hunter, traveling at night with the animals. I began to see others. I stayed away from them.”
Mavra was stirring.
Dimitri had an idea. He paused the tape and signed, ‘Can you tell us the rest of the story in Ge’ez?’
Shanti nodded. D started the tape. Shanti continued in Ge’ez for thirty minutes, saying words they recognized from their childhoods, “Sheba, Osiris, Nubian.”
Dimitri signed to Kenny, ‘How much longer?
‘Few minutes. Glad we’re recording. We’ll say we waited for her to convert to English. She never did, so we kept recording, so we can get this translated.’ Kenny signed.
‘OK. I thought she was clear of the drug, but now I don’t think so. I’ll wake our little bitch princess, tell her and get it on tape that I told her.’ D signed.
‘Damn great idea
.’
“Princessa? Princessa?” D shook Mavra over and over until she finally woke up, but barely, then grabbed her face in pain.
“Stop it! What? For God’s sake?”
“Since you drifted off, she said she lost her family in a flood, then she slipped into her native tongue, and hasn’t returned to English yet. We should get it translated.”
“Yes of course, keep taping. Let me rest, please! I’m in such pain, D.”
“Done, here take this,” he offered her more pills and Mavra took them and was soon snoring.
Shanti continued in Ge’ez, as the camera recorded.
Kenny looked up an Emeritus Professor, the Ge’ez authority on his phone.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN -- ZURICH
THE WINTER SKY OF POETIC ZURICH was a patchwork of gray flannel.
Mavra’s jet carrying the spoils of her personal war landed at Flughaten Airport and taxied to the private terminal. A town car and a white passenger van waited for them. Mavra popped more pain pills and watched Shanti.
Shanti smiled mocking her, the message in her eyes clearly said, ‘this isn’t over.’
“Take her to the lab,” Mavra said looking directly into Shanti’s leveled amber eyes. Mavra cackled and said to Shanti, “get over yourself.”
“The lesson is yours to learn, Miss Kimirov.” Shanti smiled, irritating Mavra.
“So we will see. Get her out of my sight.”
Mavra’s eyes were the color of ripening grapes. Talking moved her throbbing nose. She was in pain and wanted her bed. She whispered to keep her face from moving, “Oh my God, that Andersen bitch! Wait until I find her. D? Please hold my hand at Dr. Moon’s after we get the Queen here to the lab. Please?”
“Priorities first, love. Carlos? Take Princessa to her Doctor. We’ll take Professor Larsen to the lab,” D said.
“Why me?” Carlos yawned, stretching his battle weary back.
“You’ve got jet lag man! Look at you, you’re yawning and stiff!” D said.
“Go ahead with Ms. Kimirov. We got this. Get an espresso on the way back. We need you sharp,” Kenny said to Carlos, holding the cooler full of Shanti’s blood samples.
Carlos looked to Dimitri, Kenny then Mavra as he cracked his neck both ways. They paid him no mind. He felt left out.