The Time Stone

by Jeffrey Estrella

  “Right, I forgot.” Broad added.

  They faded from sight as they vanished in the blink of an eye and Broad breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

  CHAPTER 52

  In the farm, Mercedes was working in a barn near the house moving bales of hay from the far end to the center for pick up.

  The days passed and became a week on the farm and Mercedes was already starting to feel at home, somewhat lonesome, but feeling the brunt of hard labor on her bones and the heat on her brow. “Sixteen bales for the sales.” She said mimicking Juan Carlos’ words to her as she stuck the pitch fork in her hands into the hay and tossed it into the barn. She had rolled up her sleeves of her denim shirt to her elbows and tied her hair in a bun. She wiped the sweat off her brow. “Damn, this is back breaking.”

  “I know, but you look gorgeous doing it.” Juan Carlos uttered as she turned and saw him with a wife beater on. She stared at him. He stared back at her.

  “You always come fast at women like that” she smirked.

  “Only the ones that I like” he smiled. “You’re doing a real good job here. I think you are the best field hand we ever had.”

  “Thanks, I am trying really hard to impress you. All those years of night school for manual labor, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers…” Mercedes gasped.

  “No doubt you will be great.” Juan Carlos added.

  “Um Juan Carlos I saw some people that looked like cops asking questions nearby. Do they know about me?” Mercedes inquired nervously.

  “I don’t think so, why?” Juan Carlos asked with a curious frown.

  “No reason. Um... when do we eat?” She uttered not thinking of anything else to say.

  ”Soups been on. Come in the house.” Juan Carlos said.

  “Thank you.” Mercedes replied gratefully.

  “You’re welcome.” Juan Carlos smiled.

  Inside the house, Mercedes and Juan Carlos sat at the table and broke bread while joking about the simple life.

  “Sometimes the difference between field work and house work is just a napkin away” he tossed one at her.

  “That’s true. I am so happy to avoid both,” she laughed.

  “Maybe you’ll marry me and become co-heir to Hernando Farm.” He smirked and she looked at him with a shocked grin as she lowered her glass in mid sip and leaving a milk mustache on her lips. “You have a little something” he gestured with his finger on his lips.

  “Oh” she reached up but he stopped her with his hand “allow me” he leaned in and kissed her on the lips and they embraced as they continued the long passionate kiss.

  Mrs. Hernando walked in and stood in awe as she turned and made the sign of the cross. “Oh my God,” she said in Spanish and turned back and saw them still embraced and kissing.

  CHAPTER 53

  The winds blew over the country field in the evening hours near the farm on the outskirts of town, as Juan Carlos met up with several friends who were wearing the usual farm hand clothes, overalls and plaid shirts.

  “So, JC are we gonna do this or what?” Spoke one farm hand with a pair of coveralls on.

  “I am thinking Pablo. You said this would be something that could help our future. But it’s basically a cult, ain’t it?” Juan Carlos Said.

  “Well, you in or out?” Pablo uttered.

  “My mom goes to church. I’m catholic. I can’t join a cult!” Said Juan Carlos.

  “You ain’t doing that. You got to be down with us. Put this on.” Pablo throws Juan Carlos a black robe and outer garment with reddish ties. “Put it on.” He smirked and Juan Carlos held the suit in his hands and realized his oldest friend was right. He would don the suit and join their group.

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  “Sometimes a man has to choose his own way and make a big difference in his own life and the ones he cares about.” Juan Carlos searched the depths of his soul and piloted his own consciousness into the reality that was his physical self-embodiment in his bedroom that night as he walked back and forth, pacing in his eloquent pose until finally he broke and thought about his mother and what she would think. Then he thought about Mercedes and a possible future with her even though they just met and had not really connected. “Could he be a good husband and father as a member of a group of radical religious fanatics?” He thought to himself. “I just want to feel like somebody again,” he whispered to himself.

  “Hey,” Mercedes interrupted him in his room.

  “Hey,” he whispered sitting down in only his underwear and not caring if she saw.

  “I just want to say, everything you’ve done for me… how I feel about us… what I want and what I think you want…” she broke up her thoughts before him.

  “I know,” he uttered. “I want you too but there is something bigger than us and I can’t fight it. I feel I belong to a bigger organization with a deeper meaning.”

  “Nothing wrong with that, is there?” She smiled sheepishly.

  “What I am going to do may seem regretful or wrong to most people but it is the right thing to do! I want you…but” he beckoned for her and she sat down on the bed beside him. “I want you to know that I cherish you and want you to remember me as you knew me.” They stared at one another and into one another’s eyes, into their souls. “I want you to remember me for who I am before you now, no matter what happens.”

  She shook her head but then shed a tear as she held his hands in hers and clutched them tightly. She knew he couldn’t tell her more specifically what he meant and she was fine with it. “I’ll always stand by you!” She said.

  He nodded in return hoping she meant it because his allegiance would be very costly.

  CHAPTER 54

  The next day at early morning, the rooster crowed over the small town of Javierita with a loud cock a doodle doo awaking everyone beginning the bustle of movement in the town square edging on through the busy day. The local church was preparing for its mid-morning mass as the priests blessed the candles and flowers for the ceremony carried by a couple of altar boys in a small procession to the chapel and the bell swung ringing in harmony with it. Dozens of farmers and merchants began their local run to market with their produce and wares. The stroke of local commerce enveloped the proper atmosphere as fruit pickers sold their wares and farmers marketed their livestock and produce to those passing by. The sophism of society wandered blessing those with modern philosophical tidbits.

  “Open your heart to those in need. Time heals all wounds as does the good life.” Then suddenly a loud explosion erupted near the church and flowers went flying into the air as the broken limbs of young men splattered the bloody mess on the steps of the chapel. “Oh my God!” Yelled the monsignor and the old women in attendance crossing them.

  “ALL ATTENTION BRAINWASHED MASSES.” Yelled a voice in a dark and crinkled tone, as smoke screens erupted and soon faded revealing one young man dressed in a black loose fitted suit, dark mask like a ninja wrapped around his face but for his eyes, a red bandana around his head, and a red lace around his waist. He had silver daggered objects on his gloves as extensions of his fists and knuckles, and a large steel blade, a legendary scimitar attached to his back with a satchel. He gritted his teeth underneath his mask as he spoke philosophically but vengeful. “We are the avengers of truth and justice in this world’s saviors beyond space and time, protectors of the great treasure of reality itself.” He jumped down and stood legs astride facing the mass of spectators gathering as they stared up into his fiery eyes behind a masked face and glistening suit of the shimmering black cloth. The noise from the winds and roar of the people in sudden shock was enough to distract them as the ninja stood and reached into his satchel sack and he grabbed for an object inside of it, a small slender clear bottle and it had a rag sticking out the end of it. He reached for his lighter and lit it on fire, a blaze of infernal heat and tossed it towards the church in a single throw. The church cau
ght a blaze upon impact and exploded within seconds. He began to light another and two more after that and threw them. The crowd ran in fear as the man stood and laughed with his hands on his hips proud of his actions.

  "Who are they?" Asked people from time to time who have encountered them to which the only response received was, and “they are the Culto." The local police were baffled. They could not find out who was responsible for the attack. And none were apprehended but this violent group caused rampant destruction in the name of justice.

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  “They are the sinister of the most sinister as revered throughout the local community and hidden away in complete darkness until they strike in furtherance of their agenda, a sense of higher nobility for themselves at the expense of innocence lost and life squandered, they protected the artifact that represented the greatest secret and power of the ancient world, a might of a long-lost civilization, they are the forbearers of grief and sin but their own honor and righteousness. The fiends who burned down the church are believed by local officials to be the heart and soul of this monstrous organization. This is Priscilla Montenegro, channel Nueve news.” The Television set clicked off and Mercedes looked at it with a puzzling glare.

  “They’re a cult? I can’t believe someone would burn down Saint Rosario’s.” She added.

  “Senora Hernando, don’t worry. They will be punished. I heard of the man who did it, a shadow of a man, dark clothing with red bands.” Said Mercedes.

  “He will not be found. The police are just as corrupt and justice will not be known, at least not in this world.” Ms. Hernando walked to her bedroom. “I am too tired to think about it. I must pray and then rest.”

  “Good night, Senora Delgado,” Said Mercedes.

  “Good night child.” Mercedes stayed up thinking about how anyone can be so cold and calculating. She saw Juan Carlos come in. “Thank God I found someone decent,” she thought to herself, “he is completely the opposite of the monster that attacked the church.”

  “Hey honey,” she got up, smiled, and gave him a bear hug from behind.

  “Oh hey, I got to go,” he took out a glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass of orange juice.

  “Oh, where? I’m done with my chores so I’m all yours tonight,” she added.

  “I got business meetings with some colleagues.”

  “Oh OK” she nodded and walked away and sat down at the kitchen table. “I’m sure I will find something to do tonight.”

  “You can go to the movies in town tonight. There is a new chick flick on there and you might meet some good friends.”

  “I’m actually pretty tired. I think I’ll just say a prayer for the victims of today’s bombing then I will turn in.”

  “Yeah, some attack huh?”

  “It is horrible,” she got up and walked to her bedroom door and opened it. “The attackers will burn in a special place in hell, for sure.” She went into her bedroom and closed the door.

  ”Um, yeah” Juan Carlos uttered as he walked out of the house.

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  That evening, Juan Carlos and his cohorts donned with their black robes and red satchels and bandanas gathered in the dry forest surrounding the outskirts of town. They had obtained coolers of beer, tequila, and traditional fried delicacies for a party. “Gentlemen, today we celebrate our victory as we are becoming on step closer to succeeding in our mission and to grow as our organization has one new member tonight personally responsible for our achievement in the Saint Rosario encounter. Juan Carlos Hernando, my cousin and good friend. Cheers to Juan Carlos.” The leader of the group raised his beer can as did the entire crew and toasted to their benefactor screaming “yeah.”

  “Today we have some good food and good drinks and good women for our entertainment pleasure. My men come on and sit back and enjoy the dancing sensations and more of The Women of the River.” A series of young attractive women began to come out from behind a curtain set up in the backdrop of the nearby forest and they were scantily dressed in bikinis and veils belly dancing before them. The men hollered in amusement and drank and ate heavily, trying to grab parts of the women’s anatomy. Juan Carlos sat on the far end watching and holding his full can of beer. He had a severely depressed frown on his face. His cousin Julio, the leader approached and sat down next to him. “Hey Juanito, what’s up? You not enjoying the show man? I did all of this for you.”

  “Thanks but I guess I’m not in the mood. I got a lot on my mind.” Juan Carlos grimaced.

  “You look like it’s a woman problem, man”, said Julio.

  “I think she is upset at me.” Juan Carlos said.

  “Who are you talking about?” Julio inquired with a grin. “Never mind, she ain’t worth it! Come on let’s get out of uniform to handle this party, Cousin.”

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  Juan Carlos took off his culto robe revealing his street clothes to the party as did the rest of the crew, traditional flannel shirts and jeans like most of the field laborers in town. Mercedes interrupts the party and comes running over the distance and finds Juan Carlos.

  “What are you doing here?” He screamed as he grabbed her by the arm and pushed her aside.

  “I followed you.” Mercedes spoke frantically.

  “Why?” Said Juan Carlos as Julio looked at him with fear in his eyes that a nonmember was present and began to run away.

  “Juan Carlos, I need you. I don’t want to be without you. Please come back home with me. I’ll stay here with you. I won’t go back.” Mercedes pleaded.

  “Go back where? Anyway, this is not the right time or the place.” He scolded. “But I feel the same way.” They stared into one another’s eyes and saw peace as they recognized something that belonged to each other. “Wait for me at home. I am almost done here.”

  “OK,” she smiled and kissed him on the lips then ran off. Juan Carlos walked back to the party and saw his cousin surrounded by other members who did not look happy. “What’s up guys?”

  “That isn’t smart, Cousin. You shouldn’t have brought her here.” Julio looked at him angrily surrounded by his fellow warriors arming themselves.

  “She came on her own, how was I to know I was followed?” Juan Carlos questioned.

  “That type of incompetence is not a good thing for our organization. If some chick could compromise us, what’s that to say for the police or worse?” Julio barked.

  “Worse?” Juan Carlos uttered inquisitively.

  “We got major enemies against us, higher forces.” Julio screamed.

  “I don’t understand.” Juan Carlos shook his head.

  “You’re not supposed to,” Julio smirked with his arms crossed before him. “The bottom line is, Cousin that someone who is not a member knows about this place. We got to immediately relocate….”

  “She didn’t see anything.” Juan Carlos interrupted.

  “It is not important,” he yelled in Spanish. “She knows where it is. We’ve been compromised and as I was saying, we got to immediately relocate” he spoke angrily “just in case she tells others and most importantly, we got to eliminate her permanently.”

  “No.” Juan Carlos replied.

  “Why? You didn’t mind blowing up the people who were at the church in the pueblo.” Julio said.

  “Well…” Juan Carlos started.

  “You aren’t in love with this woman, are you?” Julio asked.

  “What if I am? Are you questioning my loyalty?” Juan Carlos yelled.

  “Don’t raise your tone. That’s a problem we need to fix right away. You can’t… I know you are the one to eliminate her.” Julio said handing him a knife.

  “What?” Juan Carlos questioned.

  “Yes, you eliminate her. It is th
e only way to test your true loyalty to the club.” Julio said.

  “I…” Juan Carlos started biting his lip piercing it and causing it to bleed as he fought back the tears.

  “If you don’t eliminate her by tomorrow at this time, we eliminate you.” Julio looked at him sincerely and Juan Carlos gulped in astonished disbelief. “And your mother too.”

  “I’ll do it….” Juan Carlos reluctantly replied.

  CHAPTER 55

  In a darkened empty warehouse, far from the town outskirts, a group of warriors dressed in the ninja garb worn by the church attacker gathered before a single small television monitor that suddenly came to life with images before them and snow fizzing on the old quality set. Within seconds, a visage of a shadowy silhouette of a man appeared his face unknown and features not discernible.

  “We are fast approaching the last time.”

  “My lordship, we have been compromised. We require intervention,” said the leader.

  “There will be events naturally occurring that will tend to shift the tides of change. Be patient. It is upon us. But before the last time, we must have the object and its progenitor in full place.” The shadow face observed. “Remember your mission, the meaning of our findings, and your ancient philosophy. Your ancestors were culto warriors and harbingers of the way of the warrior, protectors of the great treasure, seekers of truth, abdicators of light and darkness. Your dark master awaits and your destiny remains constant, to serve and uphold the truths of the past to protect all our futures.”

  “Understood, we will proceed as planned. We are taking steps to retrieve the device.” The leader responded holding up a picture of a small box and the screen shut off. “Let’s get to work guys.”

  CHAPTER 56

  That night Juan Carlos prepared a romantic meal out on the veranda behind his mother’s house and set up stretched out Christmas lights and candles around the small table set for two, a single rose lay in the middle. Mercedes comes out of the house.