by J Gurley
Teela opened her arms as Hramack rushed to her. She held him close, her eyes filled with tears of joy as he lifted her into the air. Hramack held her face to his and kissed her on her lips. “I will never again leave your side,” he promised.
Chu Li yelled, “Seize them! They have forfeited their lives by returning here. Have you forgotten Eithan’s murder?”
Several men once again started towards Kena and Hramack. The woman raised her weapon, but Kena placed his hand on it to stop her.
“Devils! You have brought devils to our village,” Chu Li screamed at Kena. “You are in league with evil. I am the High Priest. Yarah demands your death.”
Kena stood his ground. “Like he demanded the death of the old High Priest, Herat? Did Yarah tell you to murder him, Chu Li, or was that your idea?”
“It was my right! I should have been chosen.” Chu Li suddenly realized what he had admitted to and shook his head. “You confuse the issue. You are on trial here, not I.”
“No. You murdered Herat in the name of Yarah to become High Priest. You compounded your crime when Eithan released us.” He heard gasps of surprise from the crowd. “Yarah does not need men such as you to speak for Him. He speaks to our hearts and to our souls. You would corrupt His words for your benefit and your unholy desire for power. No more. We are not alone in this world. There are millions of men and women willing to rebuild our world that we may greet our returned brethren as equals. We are not the Chosen of Yarah, nor special in His eyes. He does not choose us. We, each of us, must choose Him. In my travels, I have learned Yarah has many names and lives in many hearts, and He does not need you to speak for Him, Chu Li. We can all hear His words if we listen with our hearts.”
“Murderer!” Chu Li screamed as he shook his staff at Kena.
Madras stepped forward and pointed his finger at Chu Li. “No. It is as Kena has said. Chu Li killed my cousin and blamed Kena for the foul deed. I kept quiet for my own selfish reasons. Kena is innocent.”
As one, the crowd turned to face their High Priest. They stood unsure of what to do, their faith shaken to its core by the High Priest’s exposure.
“No! Yarah demands their blood if He is to bring back the waters.” Chu Li ran toward Kena. As he ran, he produced a knife from the sash of his robe.
Teela watched terrified as Kena stood his ground. “Run,” she yelled, but he remained rooted to the spot. Her hatred and anger rose to the surface. She would not allow the High Priest to harm Hramack or his father. She grabbed her grandfather’s staff and rushed at Chu Li. “Leave him alone,” she warned.
Chu Li glared at her, as he shifted the knife in his hand. Too late, she realized she had entered into a fight for which she was ill equipped, but she did not back away. Chu Li tried to step around her, but she positioned herself between the High Priest and Kena and Hramack.
“If you want water,” Kena shouted, “then water you shall have. Behold!”
Ignoring Chu Li, Kena stretched out his hand toward the Pools of Yarah. A distant rumble shook the ground beneath Teela’s feet, as if some giant entombed creature were clawing its way to the surface. Childhood stories of underground demons flashed through her mind. She looked to Hramack for reassurance and saw that he no longer stood beside his father. He stood only a few meters away, his knife in his hand ready to defend her from Chu Li. He smiled at her, unperturbed by the quaking ground. She moved to him and took his hand, felt his strength flowing into her. Chu Li looked puzzled. As the ground continued to shake harder, he fell to his knees.
Across the valley, a geyser of muddy water shot from the mouth of the springs and cascaded into the Pools of Yarah. A cloud of mist rose from the canyon and filled the air, washing over the crowd. When it touched Teela, she felt her parched skin soaking up the precious moisture. The end of a rainbow shimmered at her feet, an omen of good fortune. Within minutes, the pools had filled to overflowing. A deluge of muddy water rushed down the canyon in a roar of thunder.
Chu Li, seeing the water, yelled, “No, Yarah demands blood.” Climbing to his feet, he launched himself at Kena. Kena easily sidestepped the frenzied attack and threw Chu Li to the ground, then kicked away his knife.
“Your day is done, murderer,” Kena said to him.
Chu Li attacked again, this time with his staff. He swung it above his head to gain the momentum to crack Kena’s skull. Without thinking, she rushed at Chu Li and grabbed the staff. A look of madness came over his face. His eyes glazed and spittle ran down his chin. He slung her aside. She hit the ground hard.
Madras, seeking to atone for his sins, attacked Chu Li. The High Priest saw him at the last second and turned aside. Madras’ knife scored his shoulder and sent Chu Li into a rage. He screamed, grabbed Madras in a bear hug, and began slamming his head into Madras’ chin. The stunned man stumbled backwards toward the edge of the cliff. Chu Li saw the cliff and lashed out, sending Madras into the raging flood below.
He turned to face Kena, looking more like a rabid animal than High Priest. He was beyond words. Animal grunts and growls erupted from his throat as he rushed at Kena with his hands outstretched, his fingers thrust out like claws. Teela covered her mouth with her hand and wondered why Hramack did not rush forward to protect his father. She soon learned the reason. Kena met Chu Li’s mad rush by grabbing one of his arms and pinning it behind his back.
“Surrender, Chu Li. Your power is gone.”
With a yell of rage, the High priest broke free. He backed away from Kena, stared at the people around him. His eyes fell upon the two Star People and a change came over him, as if his reasoning had returned. He lowered his arms. Then, before anyone could react, her aced to the edge of the cliff and threw himself over. By the time Kena reached the edge of the cliff, Chu Li’s body was gone, washed down the canyon by the rushing waters.
“It is as Yarah willed it,” Kaffa said. “Chu Li made his last sacrifice.” He stamped his staff on the ground. It rang solidly against the stone, echoing down the canyon even over the roar of water. “Once again, the Pools of Yarah are full.”
“And the water will run continuously Kaffa, my old friend,” Kena said, taking Kaffa’s hand. “These are our new friends.” He presented Grey Eagle and Anderson. Then he introduced Cathi.
“Your father’s eyes twinkle when he speaks of her,” Teela whispered to Hramack as Kena made his introductions. “It is good.”
Hramack smiled and hugged her closer. “I believe she feels for him also.”
“Perhaps we could have a double wedding,” she suggested and watched the startled expression on Hramack’s face slowly give way to a broad smile.
Hramack reached into his pocket. “Then perhaps you should wear this,” he said. He took her arm and placed a silver bracelet set with large blue turquoise stones.
“It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed.
“It was a gift to me for you.”
She looked into his eyes and saw there was more to the story but did not ask. She knew he would explain someday when he wished her to know. For now, she was too happy to have him back safe to care.
Hramack and Teela stood side by side, watching the water spill from the crevice and plummet into the pools below. Clouds of mist rose to caress their faces. It had been a long journey with many surprises, but now it was over.
Teela snuggled up to Hramack. “How did you summon the water?”
Hramack smiled. “The water has been on its way here for many days. We followed its progress using the ship. We simply timed our arrival to intimidate Chu Li and frighten everyone else.”
She pulled away. “Ship? What ship?”
A long silver shape shot across the sky above them. Hramack laughed at Teela’s astonishment. “The Long John Baldry,” he said. “Captain Moore dropped us off over the ridge. When he lands, I will be glad to show it to you. It is a truly wondrous thing.”
“Then Yarah did not send the water?” she asked.
Her beliefs had suffered deeply during the past few weeks. Would
Hramack pull them out and toss them aside? He drew her closer.
“Yarah watched over our every move,” he said. “As my father said, ‘Yarah helps those who help themselves’. I believe it was Yarah’s will that my father did not have to stain his hands with Chu Li’s blood.”
Teela looked at the water. It was muddy now, but it would soon turn clear. The filters of the pumps would remove any remaining dirt. They could soon refill the cisterns. The village would live. Hramack had returned safe, and her long ordeal was over. She was content.
She looked at Hramack. “What now?”
“Someone will be needed to speak for our people in the Great Council that is soon to be held at New Denver. I think the people will choose my father. Then, who knows? Cathi Lorst says there are many beautiful worlds out among her stars. Perhaps she and my father will see a few before they return here.”
“What of us?” Teela asked, fearing Hramack’s answer.
Hramack took her hand and held it tightly. She squeezed back with all her strength. He looked into her eyes. She could see her reflection in them and willed it to remain there forever. “I will stay here with you,” he said quietly, resolutely. “I will become the Healer of Ningcha. I know now that it is my destiny. I have been tested by fire and by water. My love for you has taught me to divine the feelings of others. I am no longer afraid of failure. With the devices from the mountain and the books Hardy has recovered, I can serve
our people well.” He sighed. “I have seen enough of our world for a while.”
“You do not wish to also visit these other stars?” she asked, turning her head slightly away from his gaze, afraid he would see the tears in her eyes as she spoke.
“I have no need for other stars when I have the ones in your eyes.”
Her heart pounded beneath her breasts as if a drum heralding his return. Teela smiled as he leaned over to kiss her. It was a perfect day.
*
Kaffa walked up the path that led to the brimming full Pools of Yarah. His footsteps felt lighter than they had in many weeks. The world Arun Kane had hoped to build would soon come to fruition. With help from the Scattered Ones, Earth would become a garden again. The Scattered Ones would find their Center, their thread of history. The men of Earth would regain their legacy and their heritage. All that had once belonged to mankind would come into being. Together, the children of the stars and the children of Earth would reunite and march forward into a brighter future. Now was the time to lay out a great banquet for mankind. The Prodigal Son had returned.