by D. N. Carter
“Plans are made that far ahead? So am I to assume that all of this, this great enterprise is all about protecting those bloodlines so that one day, in the way-off future, a child will be born that will in fact be a Messiah figure who will rule over all of us?” Gabirol asked.
“Not quite like that. ’Tis not about a bloodline resulting in the birth of a child who would simply rule over us…it is about a child who would be able to access and understand the secrets and codes from antiquity, whose vibrations would marry up with the tools from antiquity that would allow access to ancient sites and portals to help open the consciousness of all peoples to achieve their true potential and apotheosis. That child would not rule but open the hearts and minds of everyone to be able to make a choice, of their own free will, not forced by fear or intimidation, to decide their own beliefs and path in life. That child would be just the first of many that would act as a guide, a navigator…but also to re-establish the lines and vortices of energy that have to be maintained to give Mother Earth strength to repel dark sun energies when it returns. The true hidden bloodline is and shall remain under an obscure name to protect it as it moves across time until the correct moment in time is revealed,” the old man explained and sat back slowly.
“And do we know of this family and name?” Gabirol asked immediately.
“For that bloodline’s continued safety, all I can tell you is that it will be, and in fact has to be, connected with apples and bees. That is all I can say on that aspect,” the old man answered. Gabirol simply nodded in response.
Mediterranean Sea. Aboard the Tarida boat midway between Italy and Rhodes
Alisha felt sick and stood up from the table looking pale, her hand cupped over her mouth. Paul stood up but she immediately raised her other hand, shaking her head no and for him to sit back down.
“No, Paul. I just need a few moments alone up top. Please, just a short while,” she said as she moved towards the cloth hanging across the doorway. Sister Lucy stood up but Alisha shook her head no at her also. She looked at Paul as Alisha pulled the heavy curtain aside and walked through the doorway quickly.
“She has much to concern herself about. Let her be for a few moments,” Sister Lucy said, her hand upon Theodoric’s shoulder. He placed his hand upon hers and looked up at her. “See…see what telling them causes,” she said, her tone clipped and pulled her hand away from under his.
“Sister Lucy…’tis best we are told these things now,” Paul remarked as he sat back down.
“It could have waited until after the birth. Now she will worry herself,” Sister Lucy replied and sat herself down shaking her head at Theodoric. “You never could hold your tongue,” she sighed as Theodoric raised his hands in protest.
The cool night air hit Alisha’s face instantly as she stepped up onto the upper deck, the smell of salt water entering her nostrils as she drew in a deep breath. She paused for a moment as she held the side railings and then made her way to the prow of the boat. Two Genoese sailors were adjusting the tack ropes on one side of the vessel, the sails hanging loose in the windless air. The sea was very calm and reflected a large white band of light from the full moon that seemed to blaze brighter than she had ever seen it before. As she stared forwards, she recalled the last time she stood on the prow of a ship, next to her father when they had entered Tortosa. She clenched the main rail tightly and sighed sadly thinking of him. She closed her eyes and faced upwards.
“My dear Father how I wish you were here with me now for I need your presence,” Alisha said quietly.
She clenched her eyes tighter as a ringing in her ears sounded out and a pain shot through her head. She gripped the rail tighter and looked down as the pain became almost unbearable. She began to feel panic rising inside as she recalled stories Raja had told her about women, especially pregnant women, having seizures that could damage their minds and sometimes kill them. Her heart beat faster and she prayed it was not the case. Her ears started to tickle as the pain gave way to an intense tingling sensation she could feel all over her body. She opened her eyes just as a very bright white light seemed to bathe her and fell in a circle on the deck around her. She looked up to see the bright white light was shining down directly upon her alone. The light did not hurt her eyes. Suddenly she recalled the many stories she had heard about dying…about seeing a white light. ‘Oh my dear almighty Allah, have I died?’ she asked herself as the light seemed to bathe her in warmth, a sensation like warm water was being poured over her. She placed her right hand over her tummy to check her baby was okay. Immediately she could feel it moving inside her. In the far distance she could hear a voice of an old man. She strained to hear it but could only see and sense the white light all around her now.
Paul came running up onto the deck after the two Genoese sailors had run into their room alarmed and shouting about the strange light surrounding Alisha. As Paul rushed forwards followed by Taqi and Tenno, he stopped. Ahead of him he saw Alisha standing perfectly still looking upwards, her eyes closed but bathed in a brilliant white light that shone down from a round white ball of light following above the front of the ship. Alarmed he went to move towards her but Tenno grabbed his arm hard.
“Wait!” Tenno ordered and would not release his grip as Sister Lucy and Theodoric appeared behind them. “Fear not for I have seen this before,” he explained.
Alisha was smiling broadly, unaware of anything else going on around her. The sea became almost flat and the sails hung loose. The Hospitaller captain came on deck with several armed Hospitallers. Tenno waved at him to stop as they stood with their swords all raised.
Slowly Alisha let go of the rails and turned to face them. As she opened her eyes, they seemed to almost glow with a brilliant radiance and Sister Lucy drew a deep breath in shock. But then Alisha smiled. One of the Hospitallers dropped to his knees instantly and clasped his hands together in prayer and then crossed his heart. Paul looked on totally bemused as she stepped forwards. The light shone down in a vertical shaft of white light and as Alisha stepped out of it, it was like she was stepping through a curtain. Her face still seemed to glow with radiance as she walked towards Paul. She outstretched her hand for him to take it. She tilted her head slightly as she looked at him waiting for him to take her hand. Suddenly the light behind her went dark leaving just a ball of white light hovering above the vessel. All looked at it as Alisha just looked at Paul. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask when he would take her hand. Hesitantly he reached for hand. The moment his hand touched hers, the white ball accelerated away across the sea almost in the blink of an eye, then went upwards vertically. All watched as it ascended into the sky and vanished from view as it got smaller and disappeared into the multitude of sparkling stars. Paul pulled Alisha close and studied her face intently as she just smiled at him.
“What manner of magic is this?” the Hospitaller captain asked as his men looked on nervously.
“’Tis not magic. Do you not recognise an act of your own god when you see it?” Tenno stated as Sister Lucy reached out to touch Alisha.
“My child…are you okay?” she asked as Theodoric shook his head, puzzled.
“Ali…what was it?” Paul asked quietly.
“I do not know…but I am sure I heard my father call my name. And something about Jeremiah and 29 and 11. But I felt it take away the sorrow I felt for father…,” she started to explain as Taqi pushed his way next to her and grabbed her arm.
“Father…did you truly hear him?” he asked, his eyes wide with concern and confusion.
“Yes, brother…it sounded like father,” she replied and smiled at him, placing her hand upon his arm. Tears welled within his eyes instantly.
“It cannot be so?” he said sadly.
“Did you not see with your own eyes?” Tenno asked.
Suddenly the sails blew out fully as a sudden wind began to blow.
“Quickly, inside,” Paul said as he ushered Alisha towards the stairwell.
As she passed the kneeling H
ospitaller, he grabbed her dress, stopping her. He looked up at her almost pleadingly. She looked at him smiling.
“What?” she said softly as Paul looked on.
“Please forgive me my sins,” the Hospitaller pleaded emotionally.
Alisha looked around at everyone staring at her.
“Please, do not kneel for me. No one should kneel to another especially me,” she said and held the Hospitaller’s hand.
“You are blessed by the Lord. I did not believe it when I first saw it in Frejus, but now I know it is true,” the Hospitaller stated and kissed her hand and held it against his forehead.
Alisha looked at Paul, perplexed, then Tenno, who raised an eyebrow. The wind began to blow harder and the Genoese sailors started to rush to their positions and adjust the rigging.
“Enough now, we must get you below,” Theodoric interrupted and beckoned Alisha to follow him.
“If the power is within me to forgive you, then of course it is given,” Alisha said as she moved away from the Hospitaller. He smiled broadly, and then lowered his head crying into his hands. Tenno looked at Paul as they both shook their heads, bemused, as Taqi just stared at the Hospitaller. The Hospitaller captain frowned, perplexed, as Alisha was led down below.
“Hmmm! Seems there are a lot of truly emotional people around these days,” Tenno whispered to himself.
The ship rolled slightly in the swell of the sea as it cut through the waves under full sail. The lanthorn swung more than usual above the long table of the dining quarters as Paul sat next to Alisha, his arm placed around her reassuringly. Theodoric and Sister Lucy were busy reading through sections of the Bible as Tenno and Taqi just sat in silence.
“Here it is…you say you thought you could hear your father speaking to you and a mention of Jeremiah 29 and 11?” Theodoric asked, looking up at Alisha.
“I am telling you…it was my father. He said so much that I could feel also…all at once. But I also heard another man’s voice. Much deeper. It was that voice that said Jeremiah and the numbers 29 and 11 I could also visually see,” she explained and held Paul’s hand. “Am I losing my mind?” she asked hesitantly.
“If you are, girl, then we have all lost ours,” Theodoric stated and smiled as Sister Lucy ran her finger along a line in the Bible. She looked at Theodoric and nodded.
“Tenno…you said up top you had seen such things before. Pray tell where and when?” Theodoric asked as he pulled the Bible nearer to himself.
“I have seen such both in my home lands but also in the New World as I travelled across it and several times when at sea. And no harm ever came to me. My ancestors often spoke of these things and it has been written down throughout our history,” Tenno replied.
“Well, as Sister Lucy suspected…here. Listen to what the actual words in our Bible say in Jeremiah, verse 29:11,” Theodoric said and ran his finger to the verse. “It reads, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ So make of that what you will.”
“But I have not read the Bible. My father has, I know, but I have never,” Alisha stated anxiously and looked at Sister Lucy for some reassurance.
“My dear…do not worry yourself. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength, and you will need all of yours for when the baby arrives,” she remarked and feigned a smile before looking at Theodoric, the concern etched across her face unhidden.
“But we are not ready for whatever this is,” Paul said as he held Alisha’s hand tightly.
“Paul…If we all waited until we were ready for any of life’s challenges, we would all be waiting until the end of our lives,” Tenno stated bluntly.
“Someday that may be so, but I think it is not this day…for none of us feels ready for whatever great responsibility may be thrust upon us,” Taqi said and folded his arms.
“Taqi. There are seven days in a week, yes, and ‘someday’ is not one of them!” Tenno stated and shook his head.
“So what are you saying?” Taqi asked.
“I am saying that whatever plans are afoot here, ’tis the Lord’s work, whatever god that may be, and you have no choice but to be ready, accept what may be and face it head on. You cannot run or hide from this,” Tenno explained as Theodoric nodded his head in agreement.
“But we are just normal people and my baby is too…he is certainly no Messiah and I will not let that burden fall upon, or be thrust upon, him,” Alisha interjected defiantly.
“’Tis not your choice,” Tenno shot back.
“What about free will and choice as we are always being told by our fathers?” Paul asked.
“You had free will and choice…and you chose this path did you not?” Sister Lucy said and looked at him directly.
“This is rubbish and getting out of control. We are good people…that I do know…but I do not believe for one moment we are chosen to be the parents of something other worldly. And I swear before you all now that I shall protect and keep Alisha and our baby safe and to live a normal life. Not have the woes of the world placed upon their shoulders to bear the burden for others. Now sorry if that sounds selfish, but there are probably far better suited people out there willing to take on such a role…but it is not us,” Paul said, his voice raised as he stood and ushered Alisha to stand. “We did not ask for this burden and we will not accept it being forced upon us either,” Paul continued as he led Alisha to the door divide.
All watched as they both stepped through the doorway and out of sight without a further word being spoken.
“He is just scared for her and the child…that is all,” Sister Lucy commented.
“Rightly so if you ask me. Having people fall down at your feet putting you up on a pedestal asking for forgiveness and expecting you to heal them…it will cost her dearly if it is not stopped now,” Taqi said shaking his head.
“Young Taqi…you sometimes surprise me with your intuitive insightfulness. You speak wise words for one so young,” Theodoric remarked.
“Then we must all agree to work together on protecting them…all three of them,” Tenno said sternly and leaned forwards.
“Easier said than done, my friend. Taqi is to leave us once in Outremer, I am to join the Knights of Lazarus, so that leaves just you,” Theodoric stated as Sister Lucy placed her hand upon his and looked at him sadly.
“Taqi I can understand leaving for he will learn and be taught much that will aid them in the years ahead. But you…you intend to leave Sister Lucy again…and yet a greater task and responsibility now presents itself before you…and you will leave when you are needed the most!” Tenno said tersely.
“Do not preach to me, Tenno…you know nothing of me but what little you have seen these past weeks. I have prior obligations I must honour,” Theodoric shot back.
“That is….how you say…cowshit!” Tenno stated and stood up. Taqi let out a laugh and Tenno looked at him hard.
“Sorry, Tenno. You mean bullshit,” Taqi replied smiling.
“Whatever word it is…you lie before…and you lie again. I do not trust you. All I see is a self serving man who takes what he wants, when he wants and moves on…just as he does with you now,” Tenno said and looked at Sister Lucy.
“That is not so,” she said and stood up fast.
Tenno just raised his eyebrows and looked at Theodoric and paused as he stood holding a beam to steady himself as the boat rocked.
“Do not dare to presume to know me and question my motives for as big as you are, I will seek remedy from you for an apology,” Theodoric said slowly and stared at Tenno hard.
“You would lose. And I would not stain my honour beating an old man whose vanity and self importance clearly knows no shame,” Tenno said with menace in his voice.
“Gentlemen, please…this would make my father turn in his grave…or wherever he is, seeing you behave like this. Please. I think we shall have enough trials and tribulations to deal with
, without fighting amongst ourselves,” Taqi interrupted and stood up.
“Actions speak louder than words. I see nothing of this man that makes me think otherwise than what I have said,” Tenno said as he moved to leave the room.
“Then look again,” Sister Lucy said.
“You give him more credit than he deserves. He will leave you again to fulfil his own selfish path,” Tenno said, looked at Theodoric and shook his head. He flung the canvas door aside and left the room.
1 – 4
“Well that was interesting,” Theodoric said and raised an eyebrow.
“Does he speak the truth?” Sister Lucy asked hesitantly.
“I think I should leave you two to it,” Taqi remarked and made his way to leave the room.
“Taqi…Tenno speaks as he sees. That I understand. But know this: I have other priorities I must honour first. But I will resolve to sort them so that I may be free to continue on with Paul and Alisha. Plus I have found Lucy again…and I have no intention of losing her again,” Theodoric explained and grasped Sister Lucy’s hand and kissed it. She smiled nervously. Taqi could see the apprehension in her eyes and he could almost sense the feeling from her that she hoped she could believe him.
PART IV
Chapter 19
A New Light
Mediterranean Sea, on board the Tarida off the island of Chalki, 1179
It was early morning when Alisha and Paul made their way to the front of the Tarida as the Genoese sailors rapidly furled away the main sails. No sooner had they reached the bow when oars were being deployed from the sides of the vessel in readiness to paddle it under control into the small harbour ahead of them. To their portside they could see the coast of the larger island of Rhodes. The sky was unusually cloudy but the sea still looked crystal clear as the Tarida neared the small harbour mouth. Alisha wrapped her blue shawl around her shoulders tightly as a cool breeze made her shudder. She was only wearing her light beige cotton full length dress so the thick woollen shawl was welcome. Paul put his arm around her.