RB 01 Through Flesh & Bone

by Frederick S dela Cruz

  “Hey, you said that one of Hitler’s soldiers - the one who protected him from that assassin - had the same tattoo that we’re now seeing, right? Did you notice if Mr. Goatee had the same tatt?”

  “Huh,” Stevens said, as he leaned forward, putting his hands on the armrest, “No, I didn’t. Wasn’t he wearing a long sleeved shirt?”

  “Yeah, it was a black long sleeved shirt, and he was putting it on when he opened the door and was buttoning it from the waist up.” She opened her eyes wide and looked to the side, “Not that I was taking notice…really. Nevertheless, I think the buttons were kind of a smoky-white…and his chest was nice and tan.” Her sentence ended with a smile.

  Stevens grinned, “You seemed really out of sorts, at the time. It’s a wonder how you could have noticed and remembered all that.” He added sarcastically, “But I think it’s a testament to your super-amazing sleuthing skills, your uncompromising professionalism, and your rigorous, top-notch FBI training.”

  She leaned forward in her chair, and playing along, she waved her hand as if to brush off the comment, “Well, enough about me and my super talents. You’ll grow up to be like me one day, son.” She rested her elbows on the desk, “But when we visit, we should try to take a peek at his wrists, yeah?”

  Stevens chuckled at her joke. He nodded, “Yeah, that’ll tell us if they are connected. And maybe they already know each other. I think it’s obviously safe to say that at least one party knows the other. Obviously.”

  Etelson reminded, “So, a motive. Why would the two want to get Mr. Goatee involved? Consider what the note said. It’s some kind of ‘epic game’ they play and probably played before.”

  “Well, since we’re in our brainstorming session, I’m just gonna wing it,” Stevens cautioned. After thinking for a moment, he said, “It could be that they’re in some fraternity that does strange stuff like this. And that fraternity’s insignia is this tattoo.” He stopped then continued, “If that’s true, this frat has been underground for a long while - several decades. I’ve done tons of searches and researching, and this tattoo hasn’t been seen since World War II, until now.” He added, “There’s something causing them - uh, this supposed fraternity - to surface and become visible…quite visible I think.”

  “Something big is coming maybe? World War II big?” Etelson became intrigued, “Well, if it is big, I bet ya these four cities are in the big plan. And I think it’s in this order because Kessian makes a point of numbering them by using the victims’ hotel floors. Remember what I said at the hospital?” Stevens nodded and she continued, “So, they’re Israel, South Carolina, New York City, the District of Columbia, and Los Angeles.” Etelson sat back and thought out loud, “But Israel, South Carolina. Compared to the big cities in the list, it doesn’t fit.” She paused then said, “What about just Israel the country?”

  Stevens joined in, “Yeah, that would be big. Two countries and with major cities.” Then, he shook his head, “Well, time for me to wave a flag of caution here. We’re going from serial kidnapping and murder to international intrigue of historic proportions.” He added with a chuckle, “And the diabolically evil names we’re dealing with are Mr. Hoodie, Mr. Jarhead, and Mr. Goatee.”

  “Yeah, quite a dynamic trio, huh?” Etelson laughed and added, with an air of satisfaction. “I’m proud of the names I gave ‘em. They’re my International Boys of Intrigue.’

  * * * * * * *

  Immediately after seeing the vision of Gul panicking and running down the mountainside, the longhaired goateed man didn’t hesitate. He had recognized Gul, both from the photos General Parsin had showed Representative Barlon in the Capitol Building, and from his last visit into the mountain’s cave. He wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but he knew this time he could protect himself.

  He appeared among a thicket of trees, a short distance above the path from the mountainside that Gul had ran down, in the vision. However, no one was there. Except for the wind rustling the trees and shrubs, there was no movement at all.

  As he covered himself behind a tree and bush, he was surprised. He was convinced that he would appear in the middle of a pursuit and possible gunfire. He crouched down and thought for a while. Far down diagonally to his side was the cave opening into the mountain. There were several men inside. At the other side of the mountain, four armed men patrolled.

  One man in military fatigues was about to walk from the cave and into the warm sunlight. It was Omar Malshar Gul. He began to walk in one direction, and then turned to head up the mountain and into the trees.

  The goateed man appeared a short way below Gul and called to him in a whisper, “Hey.”

  Gul turned around and immediately raised his Kalakov machinegun. Spouting words in Arabic, he motioned for the goateed man to raise his hands.

  But the man only rested his hands on his hips and calmly said, “Dude, that gun’s not gonna do you any good.”

  “American!” blurted Gul in Arabic-accented English, “Hands up now!” Intending to intimidate, Gul pointed the machinegun, just at the side of the goateed man, and attempted to fire a few rounds. But only one single click was heard from it.

  “What did I tell ya?”

  Still on the offensive, Gul took the machinegun by the muzzle and raised it, ready to swing it like a bat.

  The machinegun turned into sand and sifted through his fingers.

  But Gul was undaunted. After briefly glancing at the sand in his hands, he growled, lowered his head and shoulders, and charged forward.

  The goateed man was amused by the short and stocky man’s tenacity. In an instant, he made Gul disappear, and then reappear, two steps to his right, directly in front of a solid, large tree trunk.

  Gul’s shoulder crashed into the unforgiving hunk of wood, and then he fell to the ground with a thud.

  A smile of satisfaction flashed on the face of the goateed man. But then, quickly, he realized this was not a good place in which to play around - they should go far away to avoid being noticed. Immediately, they appeared among the trees on a nearby mountaintop.

  Gul was on the ground close by. He rubbed his shoulder and asked, with pain in his voice, “Where are we, my friend?”

  “Oh, so I’m your friend now?” He watched Gul for a moment, and then looked around. “We’re far away. No one can see us.”

  Still rubbing his shoulder, Gul lifted himself from the ground. With both hands, he dusted himself off. Then, he looked up with a big smile and opened his arms wide. “Of course you are my friend! You are God’s friend! I’ve been waiting for you!” Still smiling, he clasped his hands together and said, with a slight bow, “I am Omar Malshar Gul at your service.”

  “Ah, so you’re Omar…”

  “Yes!” Then, apologetically, he said, “I am sorry I had to attack you. Ok? I had to do it just in case anyone was around. You know?”

  “No problem.” He smiled back. “Well, I’m sorry I made you run into the tree.” He didn’t mean it; it had amused him. “But no one was around.”

  “I had to make it convincing. Was I convincing?”

  He nodded once. “Well, you convinced me,” he said with a grin.

  Gul smiled an enormous smile and opened his arm wide again and said, “Good! I was convincing! Ok!”

  He asked, “So, Omar, you said you were waiting for me. Who told you I was coming?”

  “I think you know who told me,” Gul said, as he slowly nodded.

  “Uh. I really don’t.”

  Gul smiled and merely continued to nod his head.

  “Hmmm,” he said puzzled. Looking at Gul with squinting eyes, he said, “Thanks for the non-answer answer.”

  As he gestured with his hand, Gul asked, “Please, may we walk?” They began to walk, cutting across the mountain.

  After a short pause, Gul spoke first, “Words cannot express how joyful I am that you are now here. What has happened that you have come now? I was hoping earlier. In fact, Malik and I, we wait for you for five years now…but all
is well. I make God’s timing my timing.”

  “Yeah, well, I sort of got this vision a few minutes ago that you were in trouble. You were being chased. I thought I needed to help you.”

  “Thank you for coming to my aid!” Gul smiled again. “But I am not in trouble. Not yet anyway. But it is becoming more dangerous here for me.”

  “That’s strange. I thought it was happening right at this moment.”

  “I suppose your visions are a puzzling thing?”

  “Well, I haven’t figured it out yet. I just started getting them.”

  “Ah, so you are receiving new abilities. That is good! God is pleased with you.”

  “What do you mean?” he shook his head, incredulous. “If you knew what kind of person I am these days you wouldn’t say that.”

  “Well, if that is so, then maybe circumstances require you to have them. But God knows what is in your mind and heart. And even though you have made your own circumstances, I am probably right to guess that you have acted for the good of others.”

  The longhaired man slowed his steps, stopped, and stared at the ground, not knowing how to respond.

  Gul stopped walking and used his right hand to point at his own left wrist. “May I see your mark?” he asked, with raised eyebrows and anticipation.

  “So, you know about that. How do you know these things?” He extended his arm and showed Gul the inside of his left wrist.

  Gul held the man’s forearm and gazed with wonder at the symbol. “It is a beautiful sight. It is God writing the name He gave you.” Gul looked up with a smile, stared directly in his eyes, and whispered, “He is almost finished.”

  He was unprepared to hear Gul’s statement. He had never thought of it as God writing a name on his arm. A bit in awe, he stepped back, and again he didn’t quite know what to say. Puzzled, he asked, “What?”

  Gul answered with amazement in his voice, “You must consider your current name lost in oblivion. It no longer has meaning - it does not matter. Because this name…” Gul pointed at the symbol. “…is the name God is giving you, the name God will call you. He is writing it with His own hand. It is your eternal name.” Gul waited for the man’s response, but only saw his bewildered look. Then, Gul asked, “But you do not know who you are, my friend?”

  Composing himself, the man responded, “I know who I am. I just don’t know what’s happening to me.”

  “Then, you do not know who you are,” Gul concluded.

  “No circular logic please,” he said, with almost a grin. “And cryptic statements are not allowed in this conversation.”

  “You are becoming what you are,” Gul said, with a twinkle in his eyes.

  The longhaired man lifted his head and opened his mouth. For a second, he held back his words. Then, he finally said, “Gee, I think you just gave me a cryptic statement.”

  “You are becoming what you are…what you are intended to be.”

  “What did I just say?” He gave up looking for straight answers, and then said instead, “So, how do you know these things? God said he would send me someone to help me. Are you the one?”

  “Help you?” Gul laughed out loud and began to walk. “God gives to those what their roles require.” After taking a few more paces, Gul continued, “And me…my role is to be a messenger and to guide you in your path, in your role. With your abilities, does it look like I am the one to help you?” He waved his hand. “No no no no. No no no. It is unlikely. It is someone else.”

  He followed Gul and asked, “So, how do you know these things? Why couldn’t God tell me Himself?”

  Gul stopped and looked into the sky, “I prayed to God for the honor to tell you myself, and He granted it. And now you are here.” He walked once again. “But my brother Malik Khel,” Gul’s smile gently faded, “He could not be here with us today.”

  The longhaired man stopped walking. He said, “I know…I saw it happen,” He felt he had to confess, and it was difficult. “I was here. I’m sorry. I saw it happen. I…I didn’t know what to do. Everything was new to me. And…and I just froze.” He looked away, far down the mountain and said, “I’m sorry. I should have done something.”

  Gul walked towards him, grasped his shoulder, and looked at him directly in the eyes.

  He found it difficult to look at Gul. So, he just stared down at the ground.

  With a compassionate voice and a tender smile, Gul said, “My friend, this is not your fault.” Gul added, “May Malik be in peace beside our Jesus.” Slowly, he stepped back and began to walk again.

  As the warm wind blew quietly across his face, he stood motionless. He was in wonder of Gul’s own peace and contentment. The comfort in Gul’s words released him from the guilt he felt. When he looked up again, Gul was several strides ahead. He jogged up to him, and then asked, “Can I ask you a question?”

  Gul turned to look back at him, as he walked, and said, “Of course, my friend.”

  “What else then? What else can you tell me?” He thought for a few seconds then said, “There’s this husky hooded guy. Who is he? I mean…there’s this guy. He looks husky, but that may be because he wears this thick, black coat…with a hood. I’ve never seen his face. Who is he?”

  “Ah, yes,” Gul smiled, “This one. He is your nemesis. He will reveal himself to you when it is time.”

  They had reached an area on the mountain particularly thick with bushes, trees, and ground cover.

  “My nemesis…sounds like a movie type of thing. Are you sure about that?”

  Gul responded, “With the things you can do, do you really mean to ask me, my friend?”

  “Ok…” he conceded, “Well, and there’s this other guy. I think they’re working together. This guy is kidnapping women; some he’s killed.”

  “Hmm. I do not know who this is. But I know your nemesis uses people. Just as pawns.”

  “Why is this other guy kidnapping and killing women?”

  Gul waved his hand and shook his head. “I do not know. This, you will need to uncover yourself, maybe.”

  “Well, what else can you tell me then?

  “What else I can tell you, I will tell you when it is time.”

  “Why can’t you tell me now?”

  “Because it is not time,” Gul grinned slyly.

  “Right…why not?” he kept pressing.

  Gul stopped, looked at him, and said calmly and patiently. “Dear friend, you are not prepared. See. Your name is not fully written. But you are gaining God’s trust, that is why you are receiving these abilities from Him. There may be other things you need to prove before your name is complete.”

  The longhaired man stopped in front of a tree with a dead branch almost above his head. “Ok,” he nodded in satisfaction, “That was less cryptic and more on the concrete side. I can work with that answer. Thank you.”

  Gul also stopped and faced him. “It is my pleasure,” he responded with a smile.

  “But can I ask you something else? Since your role is to guide me.”

  “Certainly.”

  “You know, these abilities, I’m having a tough time understanding them. I mean, I understand what physically happens when I do things, but I can’t get my head around and figure out how I can do these things.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, before I tell you more about myself, I’m going to tell ya something first - not because I know everything, or that I’m Mr. Important - but I’m telling ya to have you understand where I’m coming from.” He slowly nodded. “Ok?”

  “Ok. Ok, I am prepared. I will not think you are Mr. Important.”

  Gul made him smile. “Ok. Well, here we go. I get that God gives me these abilities. But afterwards, I need to understand how I can do them. You see, I’ve got a lot of formal training and advanced degrees in chemistry, math, and physics. I know about the atom, protons, neutrons, positrons, electrons, quarks, electroweak forces, particle and wave theory, quantum electro dynamics, the Higgs particle - that thing that some physi
cists call the God-particle. All that stuff.”

  Gul nodded, as he listened patiently.

  “And through all that education is a consistent theme of skepticism. What I mean by that is: the scientist in me says, ‘I have to see it to believe it’ or, ‘Prove to me logically that such-and-such is true.’ And I guess I need to see things, or at least be able to logically theorize how things are possible, before I can fully grasp how I can do the things that I do. Do you follow?”

  “I believe I do, yes.”

  “So, the question is, will I eventually understand how physically I’m able to make these things happen, with these abilities I have?”

  Gul nodded. “My friend, I have training in science also,” he explained. “But looking at me here, and looking at me now, and looking at me running into a tree, this is difficult to believe, I know.”

  He chuckled, “You know. You’re pretty funny. I didn’t expect that.”

  Gul smiled, “You humble me, thank you. But in order to show you that I understand what you are saying, let me say some words. And before I say them, do not think I am Mr. Important, please.”

  Grinning, he agreed, “Ok, I won’t think you’re Mr. Important. I’m prepared.”

  “Ok. You and I are of the same education. I know of such scientific things also: classical mechanics versus quantum mechanics, particle and wave duality of light, gluons, W+ particles, W-particles, Zed particles, string theory, quantum theory of light, unified theory of forces, the four fundamental particles of up and down quarks, electrons, and electron neutrinos - all that can be used to describe everything around us.”

  He nodded back at Gul, “Wow. Cool, I’m sold.”

  Gul’s face and voice softened, as he continued, “But remember: we only see what our eyes have the ability to see. And we can only imagine what our minds are capable of imagining. There are more amazing things that exist than what our eyes can see. And more beautiful and wonderful things are in the universe than what our minds can imagine. Each new discovery in science already teaches us these, and we do not know as much as we think we know. I do not know if you will eventually understand how. But if you truly need to see, then God will give you the sight. If not, then He may not. The ability and wisdom is His to give. And you may certainly ask to receive it.”