GABRIEL (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 4)

by Marilyn Campbell

  "Extremely well," Jarad said. "The women are used for too many purposes to be allowed any freedoms."

  Shara had an idea brewing. "Do any of them serve the nobility's meals?"

  "Yes, there are those assigned to the cookfires and meal service."

  Shara cut off Gabriel's automatic objection before he could transmit it. I have to get inside the temple and, since they're at war with the entire civilized world, visitors might be suspected of being enemies. Better that I pose as a household slave.

  "What about male slaves?" Gabriel asked Jarad.

  "There are a few in the temple but most healthy males are put to work on the monument."

  Gabriel was torn between wanting to see and record everything he could no matter what the risk and wanting to keep Shara out of harm's way. When they reached a small wooden shelter with a thatched roof, he helped Jarad dump the contents of the basket onto a large stone slab and spread the tiny chunks out for further drying under the next day's sun.

  "We will share some food and drink with you," Jarad said. "Then we must make our delivery to the temple but you are welcome to rest here."

  "That's very kind of you," Shara said as they all went inside the shelter. While Ester rekindled the fire under the cookpot, Shara communicated with Gabriel. Do you agree with me or not? She felt his concern for her safety. We'll keep the channel between us open at all times.

  What if you're in danger and I'm too far away to help?

  I have my powers to protect me. I know you're dying to get a look at Poseidon's Temple and Jupiter's monument. I'll be fine. And I promise to keep our stay here as brief as possible.

  Gabriel reluctantly agreed and asked Jarad if he could help them get into the temple. "We need to observe more before we can be of any assistance to anyone."

  Without hesitation, Jarad nodded. "We are well known and are familiar with the design of the temple. But I believe the easiest plan would be to take you both inside to the cookery, where we must deliver the potion. There are other slaves as fair-skinned as you but you will need to be clothed as they are."

  Shara glanced at Ester's nearly nude body and inwardly cringed.

  Ester walked over to a chest in the corner and took out some folded copper-colored garments. "We have been ordered to serve in the temple on occasion. These robes must be worn by all servants so that they will blend in with the walls of the temple."

  Shara breathed a sigh of relief as she noted that the robes were full length, with long sleeves and hoods. They would be somewhat short on her and Gabriel but it was much better than the wrapper Ester was wearing. Immediately she saw another advantage to the robe. It was large and loose enough for her to wear the tempometer belt and conceal her microputer and supplies beneath it instead of leaving them behind in her bag. While a large pot of lamb and vegetable stew was reheated over the fire, she excused herself to fetch her equipment.

  Gabriel felt somewhat better knowing she would have the tempometer on her so that they could make an instant escape if it became necessary.

  Suddenly the tin cups on the table rattled. Jarad put his hands over them to stop them from tipping over, while Ester guarded a row of vibrating clay crocks on a shelf above the fire. A thunderous rumble sounded in the distance and grew louder as it seemed to be rolling toward them.

  Gabriel felt the floor beneath his feet begin to quiver and lurched out of his chair. Shara! We're out of time! Run for the raft and program the tempometer. I'll be right there.

  Chapter 20

  "Jarad! Ester! You've got to get away from here now," Gabriel exclaimed, throwing open the door. The entire shelter trembled as if a giant had reached down and given it a mighty shake. A moment later, everything was calm again.

  The couple was completely bewildered by Gabriel's actions. In a polite tone, Ester said, "We find it best to stay in one place until the shaking passes."

  Only a minor earthquake, Gabriel thought with relief.

  Or the local volcano trying to clear its throat.

  Are you all right?

  Just a bit shaken.

  He felt her laughing at her own joke and smiled in spite of the seriousness of the situation. "Jarad, how often is that happening?"

  "A few times a day. That one was mild. Sometimes it is so violent the ground cracks wide open. Noe says it is God's warning that the end is near."

  "Have you made preparations to leave... in case the warnings are true?"

  Jarad glanced at Ester. "We have a small vessel hidden. But if Rebekah is lost to us, we have no reason to flee."

  Gabriel suddenly realized he had automatically tried to warn them when he thought disaster was about to strike. Drek! He didn't want to feel anything for these people. Whatever happened was done twelve thousand years ago. The girl and her family either survived or they didn't. It was wrong to interfere, even if it felt immoral to ignore their need for help. It was definitely unethical to lead them to believe he and Shara might be their salvation.

  Interesting dilemma, isn't it? Shara reentered the shelter with the tempometer belt around her waist and a soft black bag tied to the side of the belt. Ester and Jarad looked at her curiously but they didn't ask about the items and she didn't offer any explanations.

  During their meal, Gabriel asked Jarad for another favor. "Please contact Noe and tell him that if he hears from God again, to let Him know that two others are here from, uh... the Otherworld. Describe us and where we can be found then have Noe ask God to contact us. It's vital that we have a talk with Him."

  Professor! You're not planning to interfere, are you?

  Of course not. But I can't think of any faster way to get to the truth of what happened here than a personal interview with the one who may have been responsible.

  A loud trumpetlike noise outside the shelter caught everyone's attention.

  "Aah," said Jarad. "He's right on time to take us to the temple."

  "He?" Shara inquired as he and Ester both rose from the table and swiftly cleared the dishes away.

  "Yes. Elo has been visiting us since he was a calf. Jarad trained him to come to the shelter each day at sunset." Ester took a crock off the shelf and peeked inside it. With a shake of her head, she emptied a quantity of light brown powder from another crock into the first then put a lid on it. "That should do it. Put the robes on before we go, in case we are stopped on the way to the temple."

  Shara was more than pleased with the garment. With the hood up and her head and shoulders bent, she could be mistaken for a man. The last thing she wanted to do was attract attention to herself as a female slave in Jupiter's court.

  At least we agree on one thing.

  Her self-confidence faltered the moment she stepped out the door and saw Elo. Shara had never in her life seen a creature so enormous. She knew it was an elephant only because she had seen its image in a children's book on Terran animals that her mother had given her when she was learning her alphabet. It had two dangerous-looking ivory tusks that were longer than Gabriel was tall and gigantic ear flaps that it fanned in warning upon seeing the strangers.

  Shara froze in place as the elephant gracefully extended its long trunk up to her face, made a noise that could have been a sniff or a snort then pushed the hood off her head. The animal gave a mournful squeal then withdrew its trunk and rocked its great head back and forth.

  "He thought you were Rebekah in disguise," Ester explained. "Elo misses her too. Elo, this is Shara and Gabriel. They would like to ride with us today, if that is all right with you."

  The beast took another whiff of Shara, inspected Gabriel then folded its two front legs beneath its body. Though less intimidating like that, it was still frightfully large. Shara was wondering how one actually got on an elephant to ride, even with its permission, when it bowed its head with the underside of its trunk on the ground and its nostrils curved upward. Jarad sat down on the trunk as if it were a swing.

  "Up," Jarad commanded and Elo raised his trunk high in the air, tipping back his head at t
he same time. Jarad stood up on the forehead, walked to the hindquarters and straddled the hump with his knees bent.

  Gabriel went next and looked just as relaxed about the matter as Jarad had.

  "Go on, Shara. I should sit in front," Ester said.

  Shara thought the animal seemed friendly enough but it was so big. "We really shouldn't put Elo out like this. I can walk."

  Don't be a coward.

  I am not a coward! I'm cautious.

  Then get your cautious behind up here.

  "Elo does not mind and it is much too far to walk," Ester told her.

  Shara stroked Elo's trunk and murmured, "I've never been very good at physical things, so don't be insulted if I fall off." Elo's big eye blinked at her as if he understood and Shara sat down as the men had. Seconds later she was wondering why she was so worried about something that was such fun.

  As the elephant lumbered its way north along the coast at a faster pace than one would expect from such a huge creature, Gabriel recorded the beauty of the land. There were steep mountains not far away that were partially covered with deep green forests. The barren peaks had a lavender cast in the twilight. Throughout a good deal of the trip, they were in a meadow with thick grass where herds of animals grazed, unconcerned by the humans passing by.

  He was able to identify many of the species that had been in Zeus's commune on Norona, so he assumed a number of the animals must have survived the arduous trip. But he also saw zebras and unicorns and a few others he didn't recognize.

  Shara spotted the royal city a kilometer away because of the golden glow and the closer they got, the brighter it shone. The entire city was enclosed by a high wall covered with what appeared to be polished brass. The entrance to the city was through a gate of golden bars that was wide enough for a herd of elephants to march through at once. On each side of the gate was a guard tower carved from red-veined black marble.

  Ester waved at a guard and the gates were quickly opened for them. Elo carried them onto a bridge as wide as the gateway and paved in the same black stone. As they crossed over a vast waterway, a sailboat passed beneath them.

  "When we were children," Ester said, "this harbor was filled with vessels of all sizes. We used to sit on the outer wall and watch them coming and going and pretend that we were directing them."

  On the opposite side of the harbor was another wall like the first except that its gate was narrower in size. Again the guard in the tower immediately granted them entrance upon seeing Ester. A paved road led them through a beautifully manicured garden that gradually inclined until they reached another wall and gate. These were coated in a silvery metal and were somewhat less imposing in grandeur and size.

  As they proceeded onto another bridge that took them over a waterway half the width of the first, Shara asked Ester, "Can you go to other parts of Atlantis by way of these waters?"

  "No, only out to the great sea. There are three canals that surround the citadel mound, each a little higher than the one before. When we reach the temple, you will be able to look down and see the five-tiered circles of land and water."

  They crossed another stretch of upward-sloping land and another bridge before they reached the gate to the citadel. This wall had a different glow than the others—golden, but darker, with the reflective quality of polished copper.

  That must he orichalcum, Gabriel told her. It's referred to in the history texts, but nothing matching its description was ever found elsewhere on this planet or any other, so no one could be certain of the existence of such a metal.

  It's beautiful. This whole place is absolutely breathtaking. I can't wait to see the temple itself. She felt Gabriel's anticipation stirring her own and truly understood how he could get so enthralled by history.

  As soon as they were through the last gate, Shara got her first glimpse of the entire temple, since it sat atop a high mound. Around it was a city of glittering buildings, mansions made of a variety of shades of marble, gardens, elaborate fountains and statues.

  But nothing was as awesome as the temple of Poseidon. A copper-plated archway three times Elo's height preceded a spacious courtyard. That open area was surrounded by a gleaming golden wall, atop which was a row of golden statues of men and women dressed in the style of the Noronian Friends. In the center of the wall were double doors, also coated in gold, and a much larger golden figure of a man stood above those.

  Beyond the wall were hundreds of white marble steps leading up to the temple itself. Shara guessed the building covered an area of at least two hectares and the smaller second story brought the buildings overall height to over two hundred meters. The structure and its multitude of columns were entirely coated in shining silver except for the pinnacles and trim, which were gold. It was garish beyond belief and yet the sheer splendor had to be appreciated for the incredible workmanship that must have gone into an endeavor of such magnitude.

  Elo stopped in front of the double doors and knelt down for his riders to dismount.

  "Wait, Elo," Ester told the elephant. "We will return very soon."

  Gabriel and Shara both had to fight the urge to race up the long flight of steps to see the interior but as it turned out, they didn't go up at all. Ester led them around the side to a doorway at ground level.

  A stocky man stood guard in front of the door, holding a spear taller than himself. He was cleanshaven and his brown hair was cut bluntly above his ears. The only clothing he wore was a white girdle and sandals. As Ester and Jarad approached, he acknowledged them with a nod but tilted his spear forward to stop them from proceeding.

  "Do you bring the potion?"

  Ester removed the lid from the crock she was hugging close to her body and let the guard look inside. He licked his thin lips in anticipation of a taste.

  "You were almost late. I was going to have to report you soon."

  Jarad kept his head bowed as he replied in an apologetic tone, "We have been ordered to bring more each day. It takes time to prepare so much."

  The guard's attention turned to the two servants standing behind Ester and Jarad. "Why are they with you?"

  Keep your head down, Gabriel warned Shara.

  "They were loaned to us to work in the field today so that we could supply the princes more adequately," Jarad answered.

  "Oh?"

  The guard studied each of them as if he knew Jarad had lied, but Shara felt no mental probe.

  "How is it that slaves were permitted to observe your work? Are they scheduled for execution this eve so that the secret will die with them?"

  Gabriel gave Jarad and Ester a second to give an acceptable explanation. When it was obvious that lying didn't come quickly to them, and with the possibility of a swift execution at hand, he gave the only excuse that came to mind. "Because we know the magic from our homeland."

  "Step forward, both of you," the guard ordered and Jarad and Ester moved aside. The man pushed back Shara's hood. "You are a woman," he said with surprise. "Raise your eyes."

  Change your eye color for him, Gabriel suggested.

  Shara met the guard's gaze and thought of how he and his people would sentence young Rebekah to a brutal death without hesitation. She felt the anger build and knew it would be obvious in her eyes.

  The guard saw the yellow sparks appear in her pupils and jerked back from her. "You are a witch!" He used the tip of his spear to push Gabriel's hood off. "Look at me." Gabriel complied and the guard stared into his eyes. Unable to perform any magic, Gabriel said, "Her power is much stronger than mine."

  "I see." Relaxing a bit, the guard reached up and combed his fingers through Gabriel's blond curls. "You have very pretty hair for one smiled upon by the dark side." His hand skimmed down Gabriel's neck and measured the size of his shoulder and upper arm with a gentle kneading motion.

  Shara felt Gabriel's revulsion at the man's touch and realized the guard was stroking him rather than testing his strength. Gabriel stood immobile as the guard's palm scraped over his chest and began an
exploratory path downward.

  "Why don't you go on, Jarad," the guard said in a softened voice. "I wish to question this slave further."

  Ester held out the crock. "Wouldn't you like to sample the potion?"

  The guard took his hand and his gaze off Gabriel long enough to wet the tip of his index finger and dip it into the powder. He brought a few grains up and placed them under his tongue, then waved Ester away. "Hurry on, now, before they miss you inside." Gabriel started to leave as well but the guard's meaty fingers closed over his arm. "Not you."

  Shara turned back and hurled a suggestion at him. The slave is diseased. Touching him is disgusting to you.

  The guard immediately withdrew his hand with an expression of horror. "Be off! All of you."

  The moment the door opened, Shara's ears were assaulted by earsplitting clanging and a wave of heat hit her face. One glance around the cavernous room lit only by firelight told her this was where all the splendorous metalwork was done. Working over fires and pounding on anvils were a great number of naked, sweating men, whose expressions revealed the hopelessness of their situation. Not one of them looked up as Shara passed.

  As Ester guided her small party out of that room and down a corridor, she reminded Gabriel and Shara to cover their heads again and hunch down.

  "Why are those men working under such terrible conditions instead of outside or at least in an open shelter?" Shara asked.

  "The nobility prefers not to mar the beauty of the city with the sight or noise of labor. In the cooler months, the heat from all the fires on this level is directed into the chambers above but at this time, the vents are closed off."

  They passed another large area where women were weaving and stitching copper-colored serving robes and lush garments in a rainbow of bold colors and farther along pottery was being made. Finally they arrived at the cookery and Shara's first thought was that there were more workers here preparing food than she had seen in all the other areas combined. Surely she and Gabriel could blend in without notice. Now, if only they could get to the nobles themselves.