by Aiden James
“Whew!!” Jack whispered through his teeth, shivering as he zipped his jacket. “That’s cold!”
“I hope where we’re headed has a fucking Jacuzzi,” said Jeremy wryly.
“Si’, Señor Kenney,” Rafael told him, chuckling again. “We will see to your comfort once we reach our home. Maybe you would like a warm fire to go with that Jacuzzi?”
“Si’ indeed!” Jeremy whispered, grinning as he winked at Jack. He then turned his attention back to Rafael. “I take it we’ve got a ways to go before we get there.”
“Yes, Jeremy, that is correct,” said Rafael. “We should leave now while there is still daylight.” He motioned for them to follow him as he joined the other men exiting the plane. Another ice-cold breeze greeted them.
They stood momentarily at the top of the portable stairway that would take them down to a caravan of four Jeeps waiting next to the plane. Jack glanced at his watch, which read 4:45 p.m. Alabama time. Though winter here, Jeremy told him that Bolivia’s time zone was just an hour ahead, which meant they should still have at least an hour of sunlight left, despite the mountains around them obscuring much of it.
As soon as they were off the plane, Rafael motioned for them both to climb into the second Jeep in the caravan. Once the rest of Rafael’s entourage had settled into the remaining Jeeps, the caravan moved out of the valley, following a treacherous and deeply rutted road for several miles into the higher elevations of the Andes.
The majestic peaks and desolate white beauty enthralled them. Before long, the road turned up a steep hill covered with snow and ice. The caravan followed this road until it ended beneath a long ledge near the bottom of an enormous mountain, the very top obscured by clouds and a bluish glacier. On one side of the ledge was a drop of several hundred feet, and a waterfall poured forth from the rock face of this cliff side, roughly a hundred feet below where the Jeeps parked.
Huge icicles hung down from the ledge above the waterfall. Fascinated by the wintry beauty that surrounded them, Jeremy and Jack ventured up to the very edge of the drop, peering down at the rushing water cascading toward an ice-ringed basin far below.
“So, you like what you see so far?” Rafael asked as he came up behind them, raising his voice to be heard over the rushing water.
“Yeah...I do,” said Jack.
“Me too,” added Jeremy. “This place hasn’t been raped over yet, like much of this continent and our own. On the drive up I didn’t see any signs of anybody else living around here with ya’ll. I imagine a lot of folks wouldn’t care too much for the snow and isolation.”
“What you say is true for now,” Rafael confirmed. “I am afraid a day will certainly come when this is no longer the case. When that happens, we will have to find an even more unattractive and hostile environment to settle in.”
He motioned for them to turn and follow him toward a guarded passageway located in the far-left corner of the ledge, across from where the Jeeps were parked.
“Come with me. Our Superior awaits your arrival.”
They followed him over to a small crevice in the ledge’s back wall, and the pair of guards who stood there stepped aside once the trio arrived with the rest of Rafael’s men. Rafael led the way as he ducked into the open crease in the mountain with everyone else following close behind. Once they stepped through the crevice, the brothers found themselves in a grand cavern.
The air even colder here, the cavern stretched for nearly a quarter of a mile. Along its length were intricate relief carvings of winged angels chasing horrific demons upon the rock walls on either side. The artisanship masterful, a series of thick torches along both walls illuminated the work.
At the far edge of the cavern stood another wooden door, only this one quite large, measuring some fifteen feet in height and at least that wide across. Curiously, it had a large ring instead of a doorknob positioned halfway up the door. When the group reached this doorway, one of the guards standing on either side of it used a pole device to grip the ring and open the door.
The heavy door creaked open and they stepped out of the mountain’s side. Looming directly ahead in the fading sunlight stood a magnificent castle. Stunning in its magisterial elegance, both Jack and Jeremy stopped moving to stare at it. The Essenes directly behind them stumbled in the doorway. The castle’s style similar to a Mediterranean cathedral, yet at the same time it was completely different from any earthly structure the brothers had ever seen. Much of the structure jutted out from the far side of the mountain they had just moved through, and consisted of enormous blocks of red granite fitted together tightly. More than a dozen towers and spires stretched several hundred feet into the air.
A stone path led to the castle’s medieval-styled drawbridge. Beneath the bridge flowed a river that originated from another waterfall cascading down the ice-streaked mountainside. The direction of the river turned sharply toward them, running alongside the path before disappearing into the earth through an unseen chasm. Rafael confirmed it was the same river that fed the waterfall below the ledge they had seen a short while earlier. At his urging they kept moving.
***
They crossed the drawbridge, where another large door awaited. On either side of the castle’s entrance were beautiful stained-glass windows depicting colorful angels in flight, soaring toward a brilliant sun near the top of the windows.
“We are finally here!” Rafael announced. “Our superior, Francisco de Luciano is waiting now for you in the reception area. I understand he is quite anxious to meet you both!”
He seemed greatly relieved, as if under his carefree exterior he had worried something would go terribly wrong on the trip back from the United States. Even the facial tic from earlier had completely disappeared.
Jack thought again about Dr. Mensch’s demand for him and Jeremy to immediately return to Alabama. Despite his concern for Deshawn’s welfare, and even the fate of the professor’s spirit in Genovene’s world, he felt strangely at peace. The first time, actually, since he found Dr. Mensch laying in a pool of blood in his living room two weeks earlier that he felt safe enough to relax. It had something to do with this place and he was curious to find out why.
The guards at the castle’s entrance smiled at Jack and Jeremy as they followed Rafael inside. Together they walked through a grand hall, where similar blocks of red granite covered the walls and floors. Elaborate tapestries that featured a variety of religious symbols lined the walls, and colorful frescos covered the ceilings high above their heads. All of this was dimly illuminated by two rows of torches along either side of the long corridor.
The air around them was much warmer than what they had experienced since leaving the plane, and Jeremy pointed to several electric emergency lights as they moved along, revealing the castle wasn’t so austere after all. A tall dark-haired figure dressed in a white robe awaited them at the end of the corridor. As soon as they were within ten feet of the man, he opened his arms in welcome.
“So, you are the infamous Kenney brothers!” he greeted them, his brilliant smile immediately infectious.
To Jack, the man looked like an older version of his own brother, but with distinct Spanish features. His warm brown eyes were similar to his associate, Rafael, but he had a stronger jaw line with a closely cropped beard that accentuated his handsome face. The fact that Rafael referred to him as their Superior surprised Jack; as he seemed at most in his early thirties.
“Come. Sit with me for a moment while we wait for our final dinner preparations.”
He motioned to several overstuffed leather chairs near a huge stone fireplace with a roaring fire. The reception area handsomely furnished, a variety of fur rugs covered much of the red granite floor, along with hand-carved tables and luxurious couches set throughout the room. The ceiling in this section of the castle rose more than a hundred feet above them. Rows upon rows of candles and torches covered the granite-block walls and colonnades, surrounding the reception area up to the very edge of the ceiling itself. The room�
�s design effectively drew its visitors’ gazes up to the ceiling’s immense fresco, depicting the struggle between God and Satan in such spectacular detail to be clearly seen from where they stood.
Along with Rafael, Jack and Jeremy joined him as he moved over to the chairs, and he brought his chair around to where he faced the other three.
“I am Francisco de Luciano, presently the Superior for the Essenes here in South America,” he told them once they sat down, his Spanish accent much more genteel and less pronounced than Rafael’s. “Undoubtedly, you are wondering why we have brought you here. Mostly, it is because we have been charged to protect you, as long ago you were deemed to be among this generation’s ‘significants’. In light of the present spiritual upheaval about to hit the physical world, it became necessary for you and I to meet now, instead of later on in your lives as originally planned. As it turned out, Rafael’s diligence may have saved you from certain death as well.”
“So, you had us forcefully kidnapped?” Jeremy’s ruffian nature came shining through; announcing the discomfort he received from the Superior’s men hadn’t abated. “You know, Francisco, roses and a short note would’ve left a much better impression.”
Francisco smiled, glancing briefly at Rafael before returning his attention to Jeremy.
“Perhaps something less ‘forceful’ would have suited you better,” he admitted. “Rafael placed two calls to the house when the Israelis moved in from their observation point, three houses up on South Queens Court. The fact you chose not to answer these calls was the reason our men took extra precautions. The news reports we heard warned that you were armed, and we certainly did not want to lose anyone while trying to convince you to come with us to Bolivia.”
“So, how long are you intending to keep us here?” asked Jack.
“I had planned for us to keep you here indefinitely—with your consent, of course,” replied Francisco. “After all, it is not like you can walk down any street in America carefree. But, Rafael tells me you left the Cristal Del Sol in Alabama. It is critical we retrieve this dangerous item before it falls into the wrong hands, either someone in this world or the next. Both of you will return to Alabama tomorrow, accompanied by a team of our best men.”
Since nightfall was coming quickly, neither Jack nor Jeremy pressed the issue of returning sooner, though Jack dreaded Dr. Mensch’s next dream visit. When he looked over at his brother, he saw Jeremy readily accepted this decision on the part of Francisco de Luciano. He seemed to study the enormous red-hued stones around them, and Jack assumed he was already scheming on how to get his cigarettes from the backpack confiscated by the Essenes during their abduction. Before they could continue their discussion with Francisco, one of the castle servants walked into their midst and whispered something to him.
“Ah, dinner is ready in the dining hall, my friends!” he announced. “We will have plenty of time to talk of any concerns you have while we enjoy good food and drink.”
The dining hall sat to the right of the reception area. A pair of young Indian children opened a pair of wooden doors that together were the same size as the castle’s entrance. Shorter handles had been installed, enabling the servants to manipulate the doors with minimal exertion.
This room several times larger than the reception area, all four walls were adorned with more frescos depicting religious events, some familiar while others not. The fresco on the ceiling featured doves and other smaller birds soaring through billowing clouds, either at dawn or sunset. The artisanship again exceptional, the same care and attention to detail that had gone into the windows at the castle’s entrance and the fresco above the reception area was displayed here.
An enormous oak table that seated up to sixty people, comfortably, dominated the room. All of the men from the plane were seated, and the table was filled with a variety of Bolivian cuisine. Four large silver candelabras spaced evenly across an embroidered red and gold tablecloth provided most of this room’s illumination, as only a few wall torches were lit. Along the back wall a warm blaze burned within another large fireplace.
Not as fickle as Jeremy when it comes to food, Jack was relieved when most of the items were similar to what they were used to eating. In particular, several large ceramic platters were placed along the table’s length, and each was stacked with thick rib eye steaks. In addition, there were plenty of loaves of hot bread and what appeared to be baked potatoes. The table had Bolivian dishes as well, including several maize casseroles and an abundance of corn and flour tortillas.
“Please, sit down,” Francisco encouraged them, motioning to two open place settings near the head of the table. “Rafael will give the blessing this evening and then we can begin eating.”
Francisco stood next to the tallest chair in the room, at the table’s head while Rafael stood next to a slightly smaller chair to Francisco’s right and across from Jack and Jeremy, the Essenes’ guests of honor. The rest of the men were seated in more modest chairs that lined the remaining length of the table. All of them bowed their heads in respect for the blessing. Afterward, a dozen youthful servants approached the table from both sides carrying large crystal carafes filled with red wine. As soon as they filled the empty goblets, the room’s pervasive quiet became animated with jovial conversation.
The brothers were also served this wine, though Jeremy insisted on a smaller serving due to his lingering headache. The wine’s taste was both dry and sweet. If not for the eager participation of almost everyone else present in the room, Jack would’ve assumed it a clear attempt to disarm his and Jeremy’s wariness. He resolved to go easy on the wine.
The steaks were incredibly good. When Jeremy commented on this fact to Francisco, he told him they came from the finest Black Angus steers in Argentina. Everything else was from their local region of Bolivia. When they neared the end of their meal, Francisco encouraged them to resume their conversation from earlier.
“How did ya’ll know we were even in the house on South Queens Court?” asked Jack. “You mentioned you knew from news reports that we were probably armed and hiding in Tuscaloosa, but as far as we knew, the media didn’t know much else about our whereabouts.”
“This is true. We learned about the house from our European brethren. We have sources of reliable information throughout the world,” he explained. “It may surprise you that the international community tends to be much more aware of affairs in America than your country’s government agencies care to admit, or sometimes even realize.”
“So our government knows about the Cristal Del Sol?” asked Jeremy, grimacing less, hopefully signaling the end of his headache.
“Yes, they do,” confirmed Francisco. “We seriously doubt they understand the significance of it, however. If not for corresponding events taking place throughout the world as we dine here this evening, I doubt they would give it much attention, if any. But the authorities have made the connection between Oscar Mensch and the Cristal Del Sol, as well as to you. Certainly you are aware of the tremendous resources put forth into tracking you down. We have learned that in addition to most of the federal agencies and the local authorities in Alabama, there are additional groups from Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta involved in finding you as well.
“Perhaps not all of the agencies realize the multiple homicide charges against you both were trumped up,” he continued. “They provide the perfect cover for what your federal government is truly after, as evidenced in the large reward for your live capture rather than the typical ‘capture at all costs’ terms which accompany the pursuit of the most deadly felons. Although, it does appear at least one faction believes your usefulness is over, as evidenced by the attempt to kill you two nights ago.”
“And, that’s in addition to the foreign hit squads Rafael mentioned to us earlier,” added Jack thoughtfully.
Francisco looked over at Rafael who smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders, bringing a slight smile to Francisco’s face as well. He returned his attention to Jack.
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��You have no idea the furor going on behind the scenes in many of the earth’s most powerful nations,” he sighed, motioning for a nearby servant to come fill their goblets with more wine. “That is why we have no choice but to retrieve the Cristal Del Sol before far worse events begin to unfold for us all.”
“It seems to me that you won’t even need to read Dr. Oscar Mensch’s journals in the backpack ya’ll took from us,” observed Jack, signaling to the wine-pouring servant girl closest to him that he had enough.
“If you do not mind, I would like to see them anyway,” said Francisco. “Your backpack remains unopened in my study, and will remain there until you leave tomorrow.”
The brothers spoke with each other in whispered voices while they considered Francisco’s request. Jeremy then addressed him.
“Jack’s right. It seems to serve little purpose for ya’ll to do that.”
Jack knew Jeremy found it hard to believe the backpack hadn’t been opened yet, and that the rest of the pack’s contents were still a mystery to Francisco. To his and Jack’s surprise, Francisco seemed unfazed by the denial of his request, shrugging his shoulders slightly in indifference to Jeremy’s statement.
“All right, I will abide by your wishes,” he said. “But, should you change your mind before you retire for the night, I will certainly appreciate you letting me know this.”
Jeremy nodded thoughtfully he would consider his request, though Jack knew he had no intention of doing so. Francisco then clapped his hands above his head. Immediately, six servants entered the dining room carrying silver desert trays laden with a chocolate dessert along with soft, honey-laced rolls that closely resembled sopapillas.
“Please, help yourselves,” he told them. “Unless either of you would prefer another steak first.”
“I’m almost full,” said Jack. “But, I’ve got just enough room for a little dessert.”
One of the servants moved up to him. He told the young boy he wanted only a taste of the chocolate dish and one of the rolls. Following his lead, Jeremy told the servant he wanted the same thing.