The Light Bringer's Way

by C. F. Fruzzetti

  “When you were five? What could you have done? Color outside the lines?” I studied Reid for more information. He shifted uncomfortably.

  “Let’s just say it was bad enough that when my grandparents got wind of it they offered to take me and put me in private school in South Carolina but my mother refused. That’s when my Aunt Diana appeared to ‘help.’ I’m fairly certain her objective was to try and get my mother to come back to South Carolina but it didn’t work and, the next thing I knew, Helga arrived.

  “My mother believed my grandparents sent Helga to our family because they didn’t think she could or would properly train me in the ways of an empath. Insult to injury was Helga’s cover. As our personal chef, she bumped my mother from the kitchen and my mother loved to cook. It was a bitter pill for my mother to swallow.

  “Later, I found out Helga was Diana’s idea and not my grandparents’. Diana wanted to make our home life worse, not better. She was trying to drive my mother back to South Carolina, but she miscalculated. First, Diana did not realize that Helga would have known how to correct so much so quickly. When my mother saw how Helga handled me, she gladly let her stay and decided to take on other interests at the country club. And second, Diana underestimated how stubborn my mother can be when she thinks she is right.”

  “But why would Diana do this to her own sister? And her nephews?”

  Reid paced and I realized he was considering carefully what to say.

  “It’s because your mother and her sons are not all valued the same, isn’t it? They wanted you at any cost?” I asked.

  “Somewhat. Yes, they wanted me to live with them but there is also the fact that Diana despises my father. He is…different. She thinks he derailed my mother’s future by convincing her to elope with him and Diana has been trying to compel my mother to cut her losses ever since.”

  I opened my mouth to ask more questions but Reid cut me off.

  “We don’t have time to rehash all of those details right now, Whit. The reason I am telling you all of this is so you are ready when Diana tries to disarm you of as much information as she can. The easiest thing to do when she puts you on the spot about my parents is to reflect the image that they work hard to portray: my father is a pompous jerk and my mother is numb in her country club world. The less you show you know, the better.”

  “Why would she put me on the spot about your parents, Reid? Does she know I have met them?” I interrupted.

  “No. But she is an empath. I can’t disguise how I feel about you enough for her not to be able to see our relationship. She will naturally assume you have met my parents because she will know you are close to me.” I studied Reid for a moment as I thought about his complicated role in a family that wielded a different kind of power.

  “I don’t like that look of concern but I’m not telling you about my family to try and solve anything, Whit. Believe me, I don’t think it is possible.”

  “I’m not trying to solve them. I rarely do something that is a waste of my energy. I’m simply trying to ‘anticipate the difficult by managing the easy’ like Mr. Parks says. I am just puzzled that YOU might be the easy part of this equation. How is that possible?” I asked.

  Reid smiled and relaxed for the first time since we walked into the room. “I should have known you would not have been intimidated. You really are so cocky. How exactly do you plan on managing me?”

  I put my arms around him. “Haven’t you heard the strategy of keeping your friends close but your boyfriend closer?” He smelled fresh and crisp, like balsam and cloves.

  “No, and I’m all for it but before you make another military advance I want you to know my mind will be closed whenever Diana is around and I hope you will do the same. It is the only way to guarantee she will only know what you choose to tell her.”

  The cabin flashed with light from an approaching car. I looked out the window and saw headlights reflecting on the water. Dr. West and Diana had arrived. Reid sighed with disappointment and opened the cabin door.

  “Don’t worry. My military advance involves a long-term strategy. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

  “Or on an empty stomach. Something smells good and much better than stale crackers. Decisions, decisions,” Reid said from behind me as we walked toward the galley. I stopped short so he ran into me. “Oops,” I said as I heard him sigh in annoyance, and I skipped away with a laugh before he could retaliate.

  It was apparent I had interrupted Blair and Patrick by the way they looked up from the table. Two bowls of chowder were in front of them and a tiny bell dinged.

  “That must be the rolls,” Blair said, getting up.

  “Rolls?” I said incredulously. I watched Reid grab two more bowls and fill them at the stove. He set two more on the counter.

  “Yeah. It’s a kind of bread.” Blair rolled her eyes at me. “You could get out the butter if you wanted to actually be helpful. Don’t worry, I read the label. They are nut free.”

  Reid grinned. “What’s wrong, Whit? They don’t allow butter at San Quentin? Don’t worry, your secrets are safe with me.”

  I knew I was beat. Blair had defeated me in snack preparation and I graciously got the butter out of the small galley refrigerator and set it on the table. I thanked Blair and was ready to sit down next to her until Reid directed me into the seat closest to the wall. I realized it was the seat that would put me the furthest distance from Diana, who climbed aboard moments later.

  Reid’s advance warning about Diana was justified. I immediately liked her and could tell the feeling was mutual. Her sparkling personality was infectious and she had everyone laughing and joking in no time. I had to work harder to maintain my closed mind while I was laughing and I acknowledged this was a cunning move on her part.

  Diana had green eyes and a small face that matched her sprightly features. Her long, sandy blonde hair was loose and fell down her back, and her white linen shirt was simple but had an expensive cut. The fabric seemed to radiate the glow of the bright moon from the water and enhanced the gleam of her liquid silver necklace and earrings. She was mesmerizing.

  Blair and Patrick were enchanted with Diana and I noticed Diana often warmly rested her hand on Blair’s shoulder. Her fingernails were short and unpainted and there were no rings on her long fingers. I quietly hoped to myself that if she was accessing information from Blair it was mostly about Patrick. Blair knew how much I cared about Reid and those were thoughts I would rather not reveal to his aunt.

  Dr. West was as closed off as Reid and I, although more adept at keeping the conversation refocused toward our objective. He academically reminded Diana why he brought her along by unfurling a large map of Africa and explained to us Diana was an expert in geomythology and archeology. Diana had reason to believe the coming weekend would afford us a unique opportunity to locate an ancient artifact that had been infused with pure energy.

  “What? There’s MORE pure energy out there?” I blurted out before Dr. West could say anything else. I thought we had destroyed the only remaining evidence of pure energy that could fall into Carson’s hands. I had been willing to risk everything for one shot but I hadn’t signed up for the pure energy clean-up crew. And Africa? The rocket boosters of my flight response were roaring to life.

  Dr. West gave me a hard stare with his resolute blue eyes. I didn’t have to be in his mind to hear him telling me to settle myself. He cleared his throat and offered, “I’ll let Diana finish explaining since this has recently come to my attention and it is not my specialty.”

  He effectively told me that this was news to him as well. His comment served to quell my protest and make Diana focus on the task at hand.

  “Right. OK. Well, I have always been interested in reclusive clans or tribes of people. Anyone know what the Greek word keltoi means?…Not even a guess? Come on. One of you has to know it and why it is relevant.” Diana looked like she had started off with the easiest question imaginable and Blair and Patrick stared back at her like she had to be
joking.

  I let my eyes drift toward Reid and Diana grinned. I nodded slightly in answer to her unasked question that yes, I knew Reid was a polyglot.

  “It’s Greek for ‘hidden people.’ It’s how the Celts got their name. As to its relevancy, I’m not sure except it is our family lineage.” Reid answered like it was pulling teeth. Of course, I knew Reid’s ability with languages but it was a surprise for Blair and Patrick. They looked at him like he had just pulled a quarter out of his ear and then made it disappear.

  “Exactly. Hidden people usually are reclusive for good reason. They don’t need other groups to sustain themselves or they have something they don’t want anyone else to have.

  “The Celts were a fascinating people with a superior matrilineal society. There were no empty-headed beauties for the Celtics. Women were honored for their body and their mind and their myths reveal a passionate, creative, and resourceful people with women at the spiritual and moral pivot of the society.

  “In fact, it was the women who often led the men in battle. They were considered experts in the arts of combat and love—which some argue is one and the same. Would you agree, Whitney? I have heard from Yoshi Parks you are his greatest joy to watch. That is saying something since I have seen Reid in the arena and have never seen anyone move faster.” Diana gave me an easy smile as she tossed me the loaded question. ?

  My intuition flared that she was trying to trap me with flattery. “You have heard wrong. Mr. Parks does not even allow me to compete because I am not good enough.” I shrugged and gave her a blank stare. Mr. Parks was not here to verify what she said and she could be making a lucky guess.

  “Hmm. And here I thought it might be a case of history repeating itself. You see, there was once a great warrior who sought out a powerful goddess because he wanted to become the ultimate champion and protector. The goddess taught the warrior martial arts, feats of strength, and incredible strategic insights to win battles. She also gave him magical weapons, the most important being Gath Bolag, also known as the Spear of Light, which is said to illuminate when it is in the hands of its rightful owner. The Scots are serious about their family lines with good reason…the Spear of Light will never battle against its family line and is the ultimate protector.” Diana looked sharply at Reid and he did not meet her gaze. He knew what she was talking about but sent a clear signal he did not want to talk about it.

  Impulsively, I crossed into Diana’s mind and saw her arguing with Bonnie over Reid’s father, Lockerby. It was his bloodline Diana disapproved of, and she reminded Bonnie how badly things had ended for the warrior she had mentioned earlier. She bitterly told Bonnie that superhuman champions could still make tragic mistakes because wrongs not righted would repeat themselves.

  Dr. West impatiently rapped his pen on the table and I closed my mind. Diana refocused and continued her story. “This spear is said to be one of the Four Celtic Treasures. Remember when I said reclusive people often have reasons for no reliance on other groups or societies? The Celts and their predecessors had special mental gifts that were passed through family lines, and they used treasures that helped them win battles, stave off intruders, and select just rulers. The spear is one of these treasures and it is fused with pure energy. And every fifty years, there is a particular astral orbit that causes the spear to glow as it searches for a skilled seeker who also has certain pure energy–based gifts from its line of descendants.”

  “This is a great story. But are you saying there really is a spear that can recognize who is holding it?” Patrick asked. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in disbelief.

  “That’s exactly what I am saying. That’s why the bloodline of kings was so intricately arranged for generations. They all wanted access to the spear and the other Celtic treasures if at all possible. You see, the spear has a bloody past but it will never battle against those with pure energy in its generational line. In fact, it has been recounted to twist in flight to defend someone from its ancestral heritage.”

  “And you think you have located this spear?” Blair’s eyes were wide with excitement. I was afraid to hear the answer. This was the reason Reid was so serious. He knew they had found it.

  “Yes. I am almost certain I have traced its location,” Diana said as she pointed to the map of Africa. “It’s getting it out that may be a problem.”

  Chapter Four: The Dogon

  “How does this involve the four of us?” Patrick asked. His arms remained folded across his chest and Diana looked expectantly at Dr. West.

  He cleared his throat and moved a little uncomfortably in his seat. “Diana, I haven’t had time to go over all the ancient mythology with them. You can hit the highlights but don’t delve too deep.”

  Diana was not pleased. “OK. I will try and provide a brief summary and explain why this team will be involved in retrieving the spear. First, let me explain the reason for the name Sundial. It is a codename the Sunrise operation gave to someone better known in oral traditions as the Light Bringer. Since we know Carson Noir will have other psychics trying to find Whitney, we don’t want to give her any insights she might not have. You see, in folklore and myth, the Light Bringer has more access to the ancient fire of creativity and regeneration than any person on Earth. You know this fire by the scientific name of pure energy and you also know the Sundial as Whitney Forbes, the girl discovered by Dr. West when she was a child. Are you following me?” We all nodded our heads yes. My mind was clicking with muted questions. Did that mean the super race Dr. West mentioned had existed for some time?

  Diana continued, “Whitney has fulfilled the prophecy of the Light Bringer in many ways. She was born on one continent and hidden on another after the death of her mother…”

  I bit my lip thinking about how I didn’t want to discuss the traumatic death of my mother and my father’s subsequent request to transfer to Washington, D.C. My father was convinced she was murdered and he did not want to stay in Great Britain after our security had been breached.

  “Diana, we really can’t get into all the particulars,” Dr. West interrupted sternly. “We don’t have time for a recitation of The Prophecy of St. Berchan or Sunrise’s historical connection to Alba. Tell them why THEY are getting the spear and not you and I.”

  My discomfort must have been obvious, since Diana’s expression softened as she remembered a central figure in her myth was sitting diagonally across the table and she was talking about my dead mother.

  “As I said, in the ancient lore, the Sundial is more frequently referred to as the Light Bringer. A Light Bringer is someone who brings the light of elevated states. These individuals are often skilled in martial arts, strategy, meditation, prophecy, Druidic knowledge, healing, and poetry. But what makes a Light Bringer truly unique is that the individual is a master of timing and innately understands natural time. This person nimbly exists between the cosmic order of the upper world, the physical world, and the lower world.

  “You see, to one skilled in prophecy, or what you would call an intuitive, time is not organized into minutes and seconds. That is man-made time. To an intuitive, time is another dimension that always exists. It is an ‘eternalism’ philosophy, meaning that all points in time are equally real as opposed to the ‘presentist’ idea that only the present is real.

  “In myth and in history, the Light Bringer appears on the world stage when a shadow is casting a grim darkness on the chances of the survival of the human race. This person is called upon to help us find the better angels of our nature and to follow the light of survival—the light of transcendence. Otherwise, our existence as a race will end. The Light Bringer is said to be able to ensure the good of all by casting away shadow because they can create light from darkness.”

  Diana had said “the better angels of our nature,” which happened to be my father’s favorite line from Lincoln’s 1861 inaugural address. It didn’t feel like a coincidence. Was she alluding to the fact that Lincoln was a Light Bringer?

  “T
he Light Bringer may be modest and humble but something about him or her catches people’s attention. This person is a natural leader and accepts command without wanting power—change for the better is all that he or she truly desires and this is a rare trait. Knowing that nothing is free, the Light Bringer often pays a high price.”

  Great. Sounds like a dead-end job, literally. No chance of promotion and the payoff is assassination? A memory suddenly sparked in my mind as I recalled someone had begged Lincoln not to go to the play and he ignored the request. It wasn’t his wife, since she was in the theater box with him. That’s right. It was his bodyguard, William Crook. Lincoln knew Crook had been on duty for over twenty-four hours and, despite his pleas, refused him and let a lackluster bodyguard go in his place. Lincoln was known to be cavalier about his personal safety. I could hear my father’s voice in my head saying Lincoln lacked situational awareness.

  “Why would this person do it? I’m not advocating the human race be cast into darkness or anything but if their demise is deserved, why rescue them at your own expense?” Patrick gave a light shrug before spooning in another heaping helping of chowder. I had lost my appetite despite the comforting smell of the fresh-baked rolls that lingered in the air.

  “Excellent question, Patrick. The Light Bringer is someone who knows that to achieve nirvana in the next dimension you must stretch beyond who you are in this dimension. An eternalist is not content with material success in this moment of time but wants to fulfill the law of karma across time. Doing what’s right often requires a selfless act but the Light Bringer innately understands that in saving others, they are also saving themselves.

  “You see, for a Light Bringer, it is not a choice, it is simply what makes sense. It is a higher level of expectation of how to treat people. In fact, to me it is obvious Charlemagne’s Code of Chivalry was written by those with pure energy.” She nodded her head in expectation of our agreement. Instead, we stared at her blankly, not knowing what she meant.