The Sword of Ruth: The Story of Jesus' Little Sister

by V. M. Franck

Raven

  "Elizabeth thinks she was the goddess Athena in another life," Felipe said. He opened the refrigerator and took out a container of milk.

  "You're talking about Jessie's sister?" I asked.

  Around us, the cave complex was ultra quiet.

  "Yes."

  He filled a bowl with milk and placed it on the kitchen floor. Purring loudly, Critter rubbed against his leg and began lapping the milk.

  "Last he heard she was in India studying under some swami," Felipe said.

  He pulled a bottle of whiskey from a cabinet next to the refrigerator, added a dollop to his coffee and mine and sat down across from me. He wore the musk of masculinity and confidence. Cowboy cut jeans and a slim-fitting shirt accented his form, not in a blatantly sexy way, but enough to light the fire of any healthy straight woman.

  "Is she a younger sister?"

  There was a look in his eyes that set me to wondering why it had been so long since his last kiss.

  "Actually, an older one."

  "You'd think Jessie would be able to fix anything that went wrong."

  "You'd think. I met her once. Jessie tracked her down to try to patch it up. She was in Mexico studying under a shaman. She was looped on Peyote, happy and singing. We couldn't make any sense of anything she was saying, except in a moment of clarity she told him to get the hell away from her."

  "And he didn't insist on intervention?"

  "Nope, he said it was her life. 'Choice is primary', he said."

  "Do you know when Zak plans to move him?" Chilly, I unbraided my hair and wrapped it around myself.

  "All he would commit to was, 'as soon as he's stable enough.'"

  "Are we the only ones here?" I asked.

  The atmosphere of the place seemed eerie.

  "Not exactly. There are guards tucked around the perimeter. But then there always are."

  "I've never seen them. Do they have quarters here?"

  "Yes, in a separate part of the complex. It was set up that way before Zak bought the place."

  "So there's another entrance?"

  "Yes, but I have no idea were it is."

  "I'd hate to have a job like that, out in the hot sun all day watching this place."

  "They seem to thrive on it. I've talked to a few of them," Felipe said. "They're mostly Ute and Navajo."

  "So they're used to the dry heat?"

  "That's would be my guess. Zak has a big thing about providing jobs. He pays well, too. He was poor when he was little. Jessie's grandfather took Zak's family in, gave them work and paid for Zak's and his brother's education. Zak learned what he knows about business from Jessie's grandfather. Grandpa's only requirement, payment if you will, was that Zak help others as he could."

  "He must have been one cool old guy."

  "Zak told me he was a saint. Jessie's whole family was that way, except for Elizabeth."

  "Was?"

  "Grandpa died at age ninety-seven. Jessie's parents were killed in a plane crash six years ago. That's when the whole mess started with his sister." Felipe took out a pipe and loaded it. The pleasant aroma cherry blend wafted around us.

  "That must have been hard. Did you know him then?"

  "No, we met three years ago. Mostly things don't seem to upset him. He's peaceful," my companion said, "no matter what happens. A lot of people talk about being at peace. With him it's just there. Now that he's been shot I've been wondering if that will change. And, I've been wondering if you've grasped the significance of what we're doing?"

  "I'm not dense. We're getting ready to reveal the way things really were two thousand years ago." Weary, I leaned back in the chair.

  "I'm sure you're not. But have you thought about the ramifications?"

  "Oh, yes. Those in power, want to stay in power, religious or otherwise," I said. "And since what I'm writing contradicts what they believe or want everyone to believe, it could be seen as a threat. What I don't understand is why they wouldn't just discredit it."

  "If it was just the book you're writing, they could easily do that," Felipe said. "But there are scrolls and the plates to corroborate it. That's why they want to destroy everything."

  "And us."

  "So it seems. Zak told me last night that he's had several close calls, lately. That's why he has to get Jessie here as soon as possible. It'll be easier to guard him."

  "What about when the information is released?" I said. "We can't stay in hiding and release it at the same time."

  "Not true. I don't think you realize how powerful Zak is, how many resources he has, how many people are in his pocket. He's the one in charge of Jessie's empire."

  "Jessie has an empire?" This whole thing was the stuff of movies, hard for me to see as real.

  "It was his grandfather's. He and his sister inherited it when his parents died. Well, actually Elizabeth didn't get an interest in the business. Their parents knew she would squander it. She has a substantial trust fund. She didn't think it was fair. That's why the rift. Zak had already made himself wealthy with his own businesses. Since Jessie isn't a business man, he put Zak in charge of the family businesses. They've tripled in value in the last few years. Zak's a financial wizard."

  "So, Jessie is mega-wealthy."

  "Oh, yeah."

  "What seems odd to me is, if I really lived through all the stuff I've been writing about, and it sure seems like I did, why am I getting so stressed now? How come I didn't learn to deal with it back then?"

  "You don't feel like you're coping?" He appeared to be studying me.

  "It hit me on the flight down. It's related to Demmy and Tad. Death makes me tired. It brings up so many emotions that are hard to deal with. Add in the shooting and new relationships to figure out."

  "New relationships?"

  "Jessie, you and Zak."

  "But you knew us before. Are you telling me you're uneasy with us?"

  "Yes and no. But I really don't want to explain, not right now, anyway. I haven't slept in two days. I'm tired. I'm cranky, hyped and worried. I don't want Jessie to die. I don't want anyone else I know to die. I'm sick of death. Sick of it." My hands shook as I held the coffee cup.

  "Okay, why don't we mellow out in the living room and listen to soothing music before we turn in. It has been a hectic couple of days."

  In the room adjacent to the library, Felipe turned on contemporary classical. I settled back on a comfy couch. He fixed drinks at the bar, brought me one and sat down next to me.

  "Thanks," I said. "Before I knew who Jessie was, I thought he was coming on to me."

  "Maybe he was."

  "He was my brother."

  "In a different life."

  "Yes, but I always thought he wouldn't be interested in sex, like he'd be asexual or something if he came back again."

  "You're still buying into the Christian crap. He's definitely not asexual," Felipe said, laughing. "He and I have done the town a few times. Women flocked to him."

  "I'm sure they did. He is a hunk and genuinely nice. Most women find that combination irresistible."

  "He doesn't let it get in the way. But that doesn't mean...."

  "So, your saying he was coming onto me?"

  Felipe shrugged. "Relationships in each lifetime are different. One time I could be your father, next your mother, next your child, next your lover."

  "Does that mean you believe in incest?" I said, grinning.

  "My aunt used to talk of it's value. Of course, she was a drunk." Slipping an arm about my shoulder, he leaned closer and kissed me. He tasted of whisky and peppermint.

  Seeing subtle desire in his eyes, feeling my own building, I eased closer.

  A squeak came from the other side of the room.

  Felipe's shot a gaze in that direction. Mine followed.

  "Critter what are you doing?" I said.

  The cat appeared to have something cornered. As we approached we heard a another squeak,
a mechanical one.

  "Critter, what you got?" I asked.

  The cat stared up proudly, the way she did when she presented me with a mouse. A small device dangled from her mouth. I pried her mouth open, removed the object and handed it to Felipe.

  "Good kitty," I said, massaging her back with fingering strokes.

  She arched and purred.

  "Hmm," Felipe said. He located the phone and dialed. "Hello, Zak, the cat found a bug."

  He listened for a few more minutes.

  "Okay," he said and hung up.

  "What did he say?"

  "You know, Zak. He always chatters on."

  Felipe found paper and pen and wrote out a message: We are supposed to be careful what we say. He'll have a team here pronto to comb the place. In the meantime we are to act normal.

  I said, "What I need to do is to go to bed."

  "Would you like company?"

  Chapter 30