Cursed Presence

by J. M. LeDuc

  “Though I can appreciate what Job was saying, how does that help us?” Brent asked.

  “It doesn’t,” Father Jessup answered. “Remember, what Joseph said. Add nothing to these words, and take nothing from them. You said yourself we are not supposed to look at this in Biblical context, but just for what is there.”

  Reading it again, Brent looked at Chloe for assistance. “A little help?”

  “’Farthest recesses’ is difficult because it’s relative to where you are at the time.”

  “But,” Brent said, “no matter where you are in the system, if you’re actually at a destination, the airfield is farther away than any other.”

  Chloe pulled a tunnel map from her pack. She looked at it briefly. “You’re right,” she said in almost disbelief.

  “Don’t seem so surprised.”

  “It’s not that. Well, maybe it is a little. It’s just that I tracked and mapped this entire system and never realized it.” She showed the map to Father Jessup. “Look, its true. No matter which endpoint you start from, the airfield is farther away than any other. Amazing!”

  The two men looked at each other, blank expressions on their faces. “If you say so,” Brent said.

  “No, seriously. From an architectural standpoint, this is very rare. I doubt it’s an accident.”

  “You’re saying that the original architects knew to build it this way?”

  “I’ve said all along, since the first time I stepped into these tunnels, that they are a miracle of modern architecture. There is no possible way these tunnels could have been built at this depth, so close to the ocean and not take on water. Now this.”

  “I think you hit the nail on the head when you called it a miracle,” Father Jessup said. “It’s possible, if what you say is true, that the designers and builders of these hallowed halls constructed a miraculous structure with divine help. Maybe they, too, were following God’s instructions, as we are now.”

  “At this point, that’s the only explanation that makes sense,” Chloe agreed.

  “You two talk while we move. We have four miles of tunnel to traverse and then we still have to find our next clue. We’re not even sure how many there will be before we find this cave, or whatever,” Brent said.

  He moved out at a seven-minute-per-mile clip. The only noise from anyone’s mouth over the next half hour was heavy breathing.

  “Was that really necessary, Colonel?” Chloe said between huffs of air.

  “Probably not, but it sure was fun.”

  “You know what’s not going to be fun?” she said.

  Brent gazed at her with a quizative look.

  “Sleeping in the same bed for the next month,” she smirked, eyebrows raised.

  Father Jessup, bent over, catching his breath, cracked up with laughter. “You two slay me. There would be a lot less divorce if all married couples were more like you.”

  Brent and Chloe smiled at one another. Brent planted a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you. Sorry for the pace.”

  “I love you more,” she answered. “Now shut up and figure this thing out. I’m getting hungry.”

  “According to the clue, I assume we’re now looking for some sort of ore?”

  Father Jessup first recited the verse to himself. “That’s what I’m getting from it, too. What do you think, Chloe?”

  “If that’s the case, we’re looking for a metal or a mineral; zinc, copper, nickel, gold, silver or iron. Most likely, we’re looking for iron ore. It’s by far the most common ore on the southeastern coast of the U.S.”

  Both Father Jessup and Brent shined their lights on the walls, moving the beams in haphazard fashion. “You two have no idea what you’re looking for, do you?” Chloe asked.

  “No, not really,” Brent said with a sheepish grin.

  “Most of the tunnel is made up of coral, but here, the point furthest away from the water, it’s mostly sedimentary rock. Organic sedimentary rock, to be precise.”

  “Here we go,” Brent whispered out of the side of his mouth.

  “Do you want to know what to look for or not, wise-a…”

  “I’m just kidding. Besides, do we really want to use that kind of language in front of a priest?” Brent said.

  “Keep it up, Colonel. The length of time of no fun in bed just got longer. Now, as I was saying before this child interrupted me, organic sedimentary rock is mostly made up of an accumulation of debris from organic processes. Bits of calcium from bones, teeth and shells of sea life pile up on the seafloor and through the process of lithification, they become rock. Should I go into that process for you?”

  “NO!” both men shouted.

  Chloe smiled and went on. “I didn’t think so. The point is, we are most likely looking for iron ore which is very colorful, as opposed to the rest which is blackish in color.” She shined her light on the wall at the farthest end of the tunnel. “The verse says, ‘the farthest recesses.’ This wall would be the farthest recess. I would suspect to find the ore on this wall.” She reached for a smaller flashlight in her pack.

  “What’s that?” Father Jessup asked.

  “It’s a flashlight SIA scientists were kind enough to construct for me. It allows me to alter the light spectrum.” Anticipating his next question, she said, “That will allow us to see all the pretty colors on the wall.” She aimed the beam on the suspected area, then dialed down the spectrum. As it narrowed, the wall suddenly lit up like a kaleidoscope. One large section appeared to be an abstract painting in shades of red, brown, pink and yellow. “Bingo,” she said.

  “Bingo?” Brent asked.

  Wearing a look of self-satisfaction, Chloe nodded. “Yep, bingo. That section of the wall is all iron ore. Our next clue should be somewhere on it.”

  “That’s amazing,” Father Jessup said.

  Brent hugged and kissed his wife. “I love the way your mind works.”

  “And?”

  “And you’re beautiful and sexy,” Brent said.

  “And?”

  “And I love you more today than the day we married.”

  Chloe rubbed her nose against his and kissed him back. “That just cut your no-fun time down considerably, Colonel.”

  “After you two finish whatever mating ritual you’re performing, come look at this.”

  Brent looked up at the wall where Father Jessup had shined his light. “It doesn’t say anything. There are no words, just a couple of squiggles or something.”

  A somber Father Jessup said, “Those aren’t squiggles. They’re the Greek symbols for Alpha and Omega snarled in a crown of thorns.”

  “Meaning?”

  Stephen reached up and touched the markings. He closed his eyes and appeared as if meshed with the wall. He couldn’t pull his hand away even if he wanted to. When he finally let go, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

  Brent and Chloe had no idea what he was saying because it was in Latin. What they did know was that he was praying with deep emotion. When he completed his prayer, he spread his arms high and wide and looked towards the heavens. “Not our will but Yours be done. We are Your servants, and will do as You ask. I only ask that You cloak us, especially Brent, Your Enlightened One, in the Holy Spirit, and protect us from evil. It is in the blood and the love of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

  Standing, he wiped a tear as it ran down his cheek. Chloe hugged Brent and held onto him in fear and anticipation of what Father Jessup was about to say.

  Father Jessup looked toward the symbols and back at his friends. “It means that the end is at the beginning and with much suffering Brent will enter the Tabernacle of Enlightenment.”

  “I liked it better when you called it a cave,” Brent said, half jokingly.

  “Me too,” Father Jessup said.

  “You are scaring the hell out of me,” Chloe yelled. “What are y
ou saying? In plain English so I can understand.”

  Father Jessup placed his hand on her shoulder. “The tabernacle is located back where we started this morning.” As if reading her mind, he added, “I don’t know how, but it is. I also know that the Enlightened One will enter this place, this holy place, only to find much suffering. Again, I don’t know what that means. I only know what God told me when I touched the rock.”

  Humbly, Brent said, “Let’s get moving. We don’t want to keep God waiting.”

  In silence, they walked back to the spot where they’d begun their quest.

  An hour later, the threesome stood in front of the wall where they first saw light shine in.

  “Now what?” Chloe asked.

  Brent cradled her face in his hands. “Now you need to go back and join the others at headquarters. Let them know we found the cave and that I will signal them when I come out.”

  Chloe lost her battle to choke back her emotions. “I can’t leave you,” she cried.

  “What if I never see you again?” She burst into tear-filled hysteria, clutching and clawing at Brent. As she held onto him, she repeated, “You can’t leave me, you promised you’d never leave me.”

  Brent held her tight and let her cry herself out. “Have I ever broken a promise to you?” he whispered.

  Chloe shook her head.

  “I don’t intend to start now. No matter what happens beyond that wall, no matter what I have to endure, the one thing I’m sure of is this…” He tilted her head up so he could look straight into her eyes. “God did not bring me this far to have me die here. I will return to you a better man and a better husband for having gone through whatever He needs me to go through. I promise.”

  Though his words were heartfelt, Chloe still didn’t want to let go or leave. She held on tighter and cried harder. While Brent reassured her again everything would be all right, he heard footsteps growing louder as someone came closer.

  Father Jessup, in a better position to see, smiled a thankful smile when he saw who the footsteps belonged to. Maddie and Joan stood with Brent in a group hug.

  “How did you know where we were? Why did you come?” a bewildered, grateful Brent asked.

  “Father Jessup e-mailed me about forty-five minutes ago where you would be and said it was urgent that Maddie and I come immediately,” Joan said.

  Brent shot Father Jessup a look. “What? You think you’re the only one who knows how to use a cell phone?” With an expression that conveyed concern, he said, “At a time like this, I figured that Chloe could use the comfort of those closest to her.”

  “A time like what?” Maddie asked.

  Father Jessup gave them an abridged version of what had taken place since they’d left the Inn, placing a bit more emphasis on the time since they’d reached the last clue. Maddie, both a woman in love and one of the greatest operatives alive, knew how Chloe must be feeling. She also knew what Brent must do. She was best-suited to talk to Chloe.

  The look she gave to Brent and Joan said, “Leave us.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Maddie and a calmer Chloe joined the others.

  “I’m going back with Maddie and Joan, to help prepare for the squad’s return. They should be landing in about an hour. There’s a lot that needs to be done.” She kissed Brent. “Don’t you dare break that promise.”

  “With one condition,” Brent said.

  “Oh? And what’s that?” she nuzzled against him.

  “You do away with the rest of that ‘no fun’ ban.”

  Biting his earlobe, Chloe said softly, “We’ll talk about it when you get home.”

  “In that case, I promise,” Brent said. He gave her one last kiss before he let go of her.

  “The two of you start back,” Maddie said to Joan and Chloe. “I’m going to fill the Colonel in on what went down in Boston, and then I’ll catch up with you.”

  Joan was about to say something, but Maddie cut in. “That’s an order.”

  The two turned and walked away, arms around each other’s waist, like sisters.

  For the next ten minutes, Maddie briefed Brent on the Boston mission.

  “So, Seven’s okay?”

  “I spoke to him myself. He’s fine. Thank you for anticipating what might happen. You saved his life.”

  “Thank God for Charlotte and the rest of the squad. They’re the ones who saved his life.”

  “I already thanked them all,” Maddie said. “Even though I’ve been briefed on what’s going on down here, I’m still nervous about the rest of this mission. You make sure to watch Father Jessup. His file shows no military training. Not even a stint in the Boy Scouts.”

  “I’ll see to his safety, Madame Director,” Colonel Venturi replied.

  “And Colonel, I’ll expect communication as soon as possible.”

  “Affirmative.” As she turned to leave, the Colonel added “Hey, one more thing.”

  Maddie turned and looked back. Brent’s facial expression was blank, emotionless. “He’s on his way here. Tell the squad to be ready for him.”

  She nodded. “I will.” She left to join her sisters.

  “Who’s on his way?” Father Jessup asked.

  “Satan,” was all Brent said.

  Father Jessup looked shell shocked.

  “Are you ready padre?”

  “I’ve been ready for this for the past six years.”

  Brent took a deep breath and slowly blew it out of pursed lips. “Let’s do it.”

  He placed his open palm on the exact spot where the light had originated from that morning. Suddenly, they felt a rumbling underfoot. Their attention was drawn to the shaking of the ground, when they looked back up, the wall was gone. In its place was a curtain.

  “What the hell is that?” Brent exclaimed.

  Father Jessup hesitated, thinking if he didn’t say the words, the truth may change.

  “The curtain leads to The Holy of Holies,” he finally uttered.

  Brent pulled back the curtain to a blinding light. He held the curtain so that Father Jessup could step through, and then followed him in.

  As soon as the curtain closed, it was gone and the wall returned.

  CHAPTER 53

  At 4:02 the jet carrying the Phantom Squad and their guest landed at the Palm Cove airfield. Seven thanked Q for all his help before he disembarked, then joined the rest of the team on the ground. Q lent them a gurney to transport Mary Ann Farrell to headquarters.

  Halfway through the flight, they had to re-tranquilize her. She’d roused from her initial anesthetic state, becoming wild and spewing venomous anger. The squad could have dealt with her thrashings but, as her anger grew, she frothed at the mouth. Since they knew they couldn’t remove the gag, the only choice left to them was to inject her with another anesthetic.

  “As much as I hated sticking that needle in her arm,” Jefferson said, “it’s a lot easier transporting her this way.”

  Seven noticed that Charlotte looked a bit overwhelmed when they entered the tunnel. “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Hmm, yeah, I’m fine. I was just thinking about the first time I entered this tunnel. A lot has changed in that short time. I was so angry and scared when I first arrived.”

  “And now?”

  She looked around at the squad, her brothers, and dragged her hands along the walls as she walked. “Now, I’m blessed with a new outlook on life. I’m blessed with the love of new family and friends.”

  Seven nodded at those revelations and gave her a quick smile. “Let’s pick up the pace, people. I’d like to get our guest settled into her new accommodations before she wakes up.” Forty-five minutes later, the group arrived at headquarters.

  With the tunnel entrance in sight, Seven contacted Susan Collins in the infirmary.

  “We have a package to deliver an
d we could use some help. I’d appreciate it if you would send a couple well-muscled male nurses to take possession.”

  “I’ll send them right away. Where should they meet you?”

  “At the tunne…” Seven momentarily forgot that SIA employees had no knowledge or access to the Endowment tunnel system. “Just outside the locked doors of the hospital,” he said.

  “That’s what I figured,” Susan replied.

  “It’s been a long day,” Seven said.

  “I understand. See you in a few minutes.”

  Ten minutes later, the squad transferred the patient to the hospital staff. “She’s to remain sedated, tied and gagged until we come for her.”

  “What about personal hygiene?” one of the nurses asked.

  Susan answered before Seven could think of an answer. “Seeing that she is to remain sedated, set up an IV line of saline and catheterize her.”

  “Thanks for that,” he said. “I was sort of stuck with what to say.”

  “That’s why I do what I do, and you do what you do,” Susan said. “I’ll notify you or Colonel Venturi if we have any trouble with her.”

  “The Colonel is on special assignment until further notice,” Seven said. “If you can’t get hold of me, contact another member of the squad.” He nodded towards Charlotte. “That includes our new squad member, Scarlett. She’ll e-mail you her contact information as soon as we check in with the Director.”

  Susan and Charlotte made their introductions after the nurses left with Miss Farrell and the rest of the squad made their way to Maddie’s office.

  “I’ve heard about you,” Susan said. “I was sorry I missed seeing you the other day when you brought Malcolm by for triage.”

  “Me, too,” Charlotte said and shook Susan’s hand. “Everyone speaks very highly of you.”

  “And I of them. Now, you’d better rejoin your brothers. We’ll talk later.”

  Arriving at HQ, Charlotte found the squad gathered around Maddie and the others. From her angle, she was unable to see who was in the middle. Then she heard Seven.