Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  Alisha started to kick out in her sleep as Paul struggled to keep his arms around her tightly. Tenno could see they were both agitated and he nudged Taqi.

  “I’m awake!” he nearly shouted as he sat up straight.

  “Taqi…quickly…go fetch Sister Lucy and Rick…no matter what they are doing,” Tenno ordered. As Taqi stood up wearily still half asleep, Paul and Alisha were groaning as if in pain but still asleep. Tenno leaned over them both to check they were okay but he knew not to wake someone who was having night terrors as he assumed.

  Paul stared at Alisha knowing that he was dreaming as she looked back at him totally puzzled. Both of them ached in their hearts at hearing the little boy’s voice and they both knew it was their son. Not sure how, but they knew, and he was in danger. Panic and fear registered over both their faces when they heard the old man’s voice enter their minds above the noise. ‘Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Remember me…both of you…for the hidden must stay hidden until the correct time,’ they both heard him say as the image of the young boy again entered their minds. Both reached out to touch the boy as darkness enveloped him and his voice was drowned out as he called for his father. Alisha could hardly catch her breath as she struggled to stand up straight against the strong wind blowing against her and she shook her head, terrified.

  “Move away,” Sister Lucy said as she pushed Tenno and knelt down beside Paul and Alisha. She studied them intently for a few moments trying to assess what was happening just as Rick knelt down opposite her. Sister Lucy ran her hand over their foreheads as they both jerked and shook.

  “Was it the water they drank? Has it poisoned them?” Taqi asked, concerned, as Tenno stood up straight.

  “No…For they do not have fever. This is something new,” she replied and shot a look of concern at Rick.

  “Do something…please,” Taqi begged almost.

  “Move aside,” Rick said quietly and knelt in closer to Paul and Alisha still firmly wrapped up together, Paul’s arm holding her tightly. Rick grabbed Paul’s right arm and Alisha’s left arm. He knelt so his head was almost touching theirs and he shuddered as he felt a force of ancient energy pass through him he had not felt in a very long time.

  “Be a light unto thyselves and awake,” he whispered.

  Alisha and Paul managed to reach out and clasp each other’s hand. As they did, they instantly found themselves standing within the main ancient amphitheatre Paul had dreamt so often of. This time they could actually see one of the immense solid black granite slabs slowly falling downwards into position. Paul pulled her close as her hair blew hard in the wind. He held her as tightly as a man could ever hold a woman, their eyes locked together. Both knew and felt the overwhelming love between them as an almost real and tangible force that could be held itself. Their hearts were racing and they could sense everything around them. The image of the amphitheatre suddenly changed to one of the arena in the amphitheatre where they were camped, but it was all new, the sounds of people cheering and yelling and sounds of metal swords hitting shields. Then a deep booming thump sounded out as superimposed images deep beneath the amphitheatre showed the black granite slabs settle into place. The old man’s image appeared to both of them and he blew upon their faces. ‘The way cannot be forced. The Fruit falls from the Tree only when it is ripe. Remember me.’

  With that comment both Alisha and Paul woke up instantly, jumped in fright and as Paul threw out his right arm, Rick managed to hold it firm so he could not hurt himself or Alisha. She quickly struggled to sit up as Sister Lucy quickly placed her hand upon her shoulder reassuringly.

  4 – 6

  “Quiet child, ’tis I, Sister Lucy…you are okay now, child,” she said softly as Alisha looked at her confused.

  Paul looked up, alarmed, his body shaking uncontrollably, then at Alisha. Together he and Alisha sat up quickly and faced each other grasping each other’s hands. Tenno looked on puzzled as Taqi rubbed his head bemused. Rick nodded at Sister Lucy all was okay now.

  Alisha started crying but also half laughing as she stared at Paul, shaking her head, Sister Lucy rubbing her back as Rick rested upon his knees.

  “That…that was so real…and did you…,” Alisha exclaimed emotionally as Paul simply nodded. “And the little boy…our boy,” she continued and immediately placed her hands over her tummy. Paul just nodded yes as tears welled in his eyes. Alisha leaned over and wrapped her arms around him and he hugged her back, kissed her face and just held her.

  “Please, Ali, we must teach our son to say Pappa…never Father,” he stated.

  “Of course…Pappa,” she replied then sobbed, burying her face in his shoulder.

  “Will someone tell me what is going on here?” Taqi demanded, frustrated.

  “Paul looked up at him, his white shirt almost glowing in the darkness from the light cast by the moon.

  “Yes…I agree. I think before we go any further together, we all need to talk…and honestly,” Tenno remarked and shrugged his shoulders, looking down at all of them.

  Chapter 17

  Divination

  Inside the caravan, Sister Lucy fumbled to light a lanthorn as they all shuffled along the two bench seats to make themselves comfortable. Alisha, Paul and Tenno sat on one side as Taqi, Rick and Sister Lucy sat opposite. Uncharacteristically Sister Lucy seemed nervous and her hands were shaking. Eventually the lanthorn burst into flame as she quickly blew out the lighting stick. The small stove glowed with burning embers from the earlier fire and she gently touched it to check how hot the handle still was. It was cool enough to slide the latch and open it. She threw the used lighting stick inside and quickly shut the opening and then sat down. Alisha sniffed the air as Taqi pulled a grimace. Quickly Sister Lucy leaned over and opened the small slide window behind her, embarrassed. She cupped her hands and sat silently as all looked at each other awkwardly.

  “Well this is cosy isn’t it?” Taqi commented sarcastically.

  “We need to know just exactly who you are first off?” Tenno demanded bluntly.

  Rick raised his eyebrows and sat up straight and sighed as Sister Lucy gently placed her hand upon his and shook her head no.

  “I agree with Tenno. For I fear I do not actually know you, Rick. Twice now the name Theo has been mentioned regarding you. And both of us heard you quote something that brought us out of that shared dream… whatever it was, instantly. Can you explain?” Paul asked as he held Alisha’s hand beneath the table. She was still more than a little upset from the dream.

  “I do not have to explain all that I am to you this night,” Rick shot back bombastically.

  “Ah so the real person begins to reveal himself,” Tenno stated and leaned forwards resting upon his elbows and looking hard at Rick. Rick leaned forwards and copied him, looking back just as hard faced.

  “This is not the time nor place to start a fight for heaven’s sake,” Sister Lucy said and stood up and pushed both of them back with either arm outstretched.

  “Rick…if that is indeed your real name…you said something to Paul and Alisha whilst they were having that…that dream together whatever it was, and it brought them straight out. What did you say and how did you even know what to say?” Taqi asked. All eyes fell upon Rick as he folded his arms still looking at Tenno.

  “Huh…I have done nothing but good for you all have I not? Is that not enough to know of my character?” Rick replied.

  “No it is not…for our fathers warned us of many people we would meet who would offer friendship, yet hide ulterior motives,” Taqi replied instantly and turned to face Rick directly.

  “Let me guess…parchments?” Rick responded, his tone almost patronising.

  Tenno unclipped his two swords and placed them down upon the table, sat back and folded his arms looking at Rick with suspicion as Alisha watched them all apprehensively. Rick looked at the two swords and raised his eyebrows.

  “Why is it you men always have to resort to threats of violence?” Sister Lucy demand
ed to know.

  “They were restricting me that is all,” Tenno answered, clipped, though he never usually took them off.

  “Rick…you must tell them more of yourself,” Sister Lucy remarked and looked at him and placed her left hand upon his forearm.

  “Rick…I know you are a good man for I felt it when I held your hands…so please…you have nothing to fear nor hide here with us,” Alisha explained softly.

  “He is a good man. Probably the goodest man here,” Sister Lucy interrupted shaking her head.

  “Goodest. Is that even a word?” Taqi asked.

  “Young Taqi, you know what I mean. I am just very tired and getting flustered.”

  “Not surprised you two are tired,” Taqi remarked. Rick shot him a look of disappointment and shook his head. “Sorry…that was wrong of me,” he quickly apologised.

  Rick looked at Sister Lucy for a few moments as she looked at him pleadingly. Tenno did not move his fixed stare from him for a moment. Alisha looked tired and Paul simply shrugged his shoulders at him and feigned a smile.

  “The truth. Huh, when truth is such a two sided instrument…but if that is what you demand of me, I guess it is only fair I tell you as much as I can…for there are some matters, private matters, none of you need know this night,” Rick began to explain, looking directly at Tenno still. “I shall start off by explaining that my name is Rick, and Theo, short for Theodoric.”

  “Of course…why did I not see that earlier?” Paul remarked and shook his head.

  “Do not be quick to judge me, young Paul. I speak truth when I say I knew Sister Lucy, or Lucy as she was then, plus both your fathers,” Rick explained and looked at Alisha. “Alisha, much I can tell you about your father if we have time, for he was indeed more than just a friend to me, and your father too,” he detailed, looking at Paul and then Taqi briefly.

  “Then why did you hide this fact from us?” Paul asked, puzzled, as Sister Lucy shook her head.

  “Given time, I shall explain all of that. But know this, there came a time in my life when all I did was hurt those nearest to me…not on purpose mind you, but always somehow I brought pain and sorrow upon all those that I held and loved the most,” Rick explained and looked at Sister Lucy as she clasped his arm tighter looking sad. “Some more than others.”

  “Are you the man both our fathers oft spoke of but never mentioned his name…the man who made up the third member of their team?” Paul asked as the realisation of all his father’s almost cryptic comments over the years suddenly all made sense.

  Rick simply nodded yes. Tenno sighed heavily and sat further back shaking his head.

  “He is still a liar,” Tenno stated.

  “Yes…guess I am that. I could say for, good reason, but I do not expect you to understand that?” Rick replied.

  “You lie, you murder a part of the past…so try me,” Tenno retorted.

  “Do you not think I have not heard that saying a thousand times…eh?” Rick said and sat himself back as he looked at the faces staring at him. “I had…and still have my reasons why I chose to not reveal all about myself. But I can swear to you all, my intentions were and are valid and I shall stand before the Lord himself one day and be able to say that with a full heart and clear conscience. By His grace He has somehow seen fit to place me here, at your sides this day, and by your sides I shall stay until you are safely delivered to where you belong so help me God, if you will let me?” Rick blurted out, emotion clear on his face.

  “Well, I believe him and I do not care what he was or did previously,” Taqi stated and placed his hand upon Rick’s shoulder and smiled broadly.

  Paul looked at Alisha and they both smiled hesitantly. Tenno frowned, still looking at Rick suspiciously.

  “Can you promise us that you will, when you are ready, tell us about your past?” Paul asked.

  Rick looked at Sister Lucy for several minutes.

  “Aye…yes I shall tell you all in time. When that time is right…yes,” he answered and took a deep breath.

  “Great…so what name do we call you by now?” Taqi asked with a big grin upon his face.

  “Most people called me Theo…but you may call me whatever you feel comfortable with. And know this…Paul, Alisha, your child, I shall swear to protect you all for as long as this old body is able to…do you hear me?” Rick said softly as he looked at them both. Tenno shook his head disapprovingly. “And you…if at any time you think I am not upholding that promise…you can use both of those swords of yours upon me.”

  Alisha shot Tenno a look of alarm and shook her head no at him.

  “Fear not, Alisha, for I would not stain my blades with his blood…just my bare hands,” Tenno replied as he stood up looking down at Rick, shaking his head disapprovingly still. “I am done here for this night, but I shall abide by your wishes, Alisha,” he stated and without any further word, collected up his swords, bent down, opened the small door and squeezed himself out onto the steps and shut the door behind him quickly.

  “Well, that went well all things considered. But you still have not explained what you said to these two earlier, nor how you knew what to say,” Taqi remarked.

  “The mind works in many strange ways. Perhaps the food we ate earlier was laced with something to alter our minds, or perhaps it was the water from the baptistery…either way, the mind can be made to seemingly feel and experience things that appear very real at the time…and sometimes all it requires is a simple spoken word or two to enter the physical mind to break that experience…that is all I did,” Rick explained as Alisha placed her hands across her tummy, concerned. “Fear not, Alisha, as Sister Lucy pointed out, you have no sickness nor fever.”

  “What…then how come we both experienced the same dream and images?” Paul asked perplexed and put his arm around Alisha reassuringly.

  “And that kind of dream is what you have all the time? I do not wish to experience that again,” she commented sadly. Paul nodded yes in silence. Alisha held his hand and sighed. “And does that show us things to come or things past?”

  “Truly, I think both,” Paul answered sadly.

  Alisha closed her eyes and sighed heavy as Rick looked at her intently and likewise sighed.

  “Will our child be okay…please just answer me that?” she asked almost frantic with worry.

  “Yes, dear, now you must calm down before you get yourself all wound up over nothing,” Sister Lucy interjected and moved to sit beside her. “All children are special…but I feel that perhaps there is a difference in yours.”

  “Oh, Sister Lucy, how so? I just want my baby to be healthy and normal…nothing more.”

  “Alisha…now listen to me. Some babies are born into this world for a definite purpose known only unto the Lord…but that is also why I know this baby will be born just fine…and you will be too,” Sister Lucy explained reassuringly as she held her hand tightly. Paul feigned a look of appreciation but he could not lift the image of the little boy from his mind. “You two listen to me…Theo, Rick if you must call him that, lost our chances a long time ago to be parents. You two have a God given gift. But know this, as confusing as this may sound. Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”

  Alisha shot a look of surprise and alarm at Sister Lucy and placed her hands upon her tummy protectively.

  “What she is in fact saying…is that the spirit of your child does not belong to you alone. You simply make the vessel it will reside in whilst here upon this earth…and that you have one seriously massive task ahead with the one that comes through you,” Rick explained.

  “I know this must seem very confusing for you both right now…but as you will come to learn, and I promise you, you will, all of us have a spirit that is eternal. It cannot be destroyed, ever! Only the flesh it inhabits whilst here can be, but not the spirit. What…what we have learnt over these many ye
ars, as passed down to us from a very long time ago, is our souls can be reborn many times back into flesh. Many souls tend to gravitate towards those they have loved and known in previous incarnations, that is, previous lives. It is why we sometimes instantly recognise or know someone even though we have never before known them in this life,” Sister Lucy explained softly, her face appearing more relaxed.

  “Does my father also believe this?” Paul asked hesitantly.

  “Yes. It was he who led us to these truths. Well, to be more precise, ’twas I that first had access and knowledge of these truths, but it was both of your fathers who made it manifest and actually convinced me it was all very real,” Rick answered and looked at Taqi then Paul and Alisha.

  “So my father does not rest in the ground until some future time when Allah will come for him again?” Taqi asked perplexed.

  “Taqi, my young friend…what both Islam and Christianity teach is still but relatively new by comparison with what we know and understand. But though it be new, they both teach an aspect of that truth that is relevant for today and necessary for this period of time. That is perhaps the fairest and simplest way of explaining it for now,” Rick replied, seeing the confusion in Taqi’s face.

  Alisha and Paul looked at each other, both going over the shared dream in their minds.

  “Does, does that mean that Paul and I have known each other before… because that dream…that dream we seemed to share…,” Alisha spoke softly and held Paul’s hand tighter.

  “Most certainly,” Rick replied and nodded as he looked at Sister Lucy. He outstretched his hand and placed it upon hers. “Just as Sister Lucy… my Lucy and I have.”

  Suddenly the door swung outwards as Tenno opened it fast and he squeezed himself through the small entrance. He stood crouched and looked down at them all sat at the table then motioned with his head for Alisha and Paul to move up so he could sit down. Without a word they shuffled along and Tenno sat himself down hard. He placed his elbows upon the table, put his fingers together and cracked his knuckles loudly and placed his hands down upon the table and looked at them all in turn. His face was stern and the shadows of light cast from the single lanthorn only exacerbated the effect.