by Sammy Sutton
“I know, Antonio. I’m fine now, I was perturbed at first, but it happened for a reason.” She believed he meant well.
“You should be angry with me, Amanda.”
“Well, I am not.”
Putting his left hand behind her neck and his right arm around her waist, his lips moved over hers and he kissed her sweetly. Feeling his love, she relaxed herself in his arms. He held her tightly against him.
His kisses were moist and flavored with Amanda's wine and gentle. Soon, even his taste became erotic. She felt like dying right there in his arms would be the most satisfying thing she had ever done. He made her feel so completely loved that she felt faintness come over her.
“Amanda, I want you… always.”
“Antonio, I am here - with you. If you want me…or need to find me, you should first look here.” Her hand pressed against his solar plexus.
He wasn’t sure why she pointed it out now. Again, he kissed her.
“Antonio, someone will surely see us, and we are way too old to get caught like this.”
“Too old to be in love? I like being this old, and I like being this much in love with you. What in the hell is wrong with the world?
One minute you’re too young to be in love. Then you wake up another day, told you’re too old to be in love. Too young to make love, and then you're too old to be in love. Amanda, I need more than ten minutes at the right age. I’m slow.” He sounded very serious.
Amanda understood. She agreed with him.
“You know, Antonio, you are exactly right. We are not too old. You know… do not tell me when we are too old. I don’t want to know.”
“It’s a deal.”
A cleared throat drew their attention, and they found one of the teenagers standing their grinning. He motioned over his shoulder and said. "The other 'grown-ups' are looking for you." He smiled and walked back inside, with a giggling Amanda and Antonio on his heels. Antonio went to the study, and Amanda offered to help clear the table.
Seeing her happy face, Mama smiled. "Come Amanda, stay with us while the men stink up the study with the cigars they think I do not know they enjoy." All the women laughed and it was wonderful to feel such camaraderie among such strong women.
Chapter 49
"And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed-if all records told the same tale-then the lie passed into history and became truth.'Who controls the past' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."
George Orwell (1984)
Antonio and his brothers waited in their father’s office. They talked and joked while the Judge and José stepped outside. The two had to talk with someone who came to give them information. Antonio didn’t know what it was about, maybe a case from the law office.
They all had read some of Antonio’s Hebrew translation from the Scrolls, and understood the scope of King Solomon’s ‘13’. The discussion had just started when the visitor came.
“Antonio, you didn’t tell us how much trouble you got yourself into with Amanda over your slip of the mouth at the dinner table,” Xavier teased.
“We want to know.” Tomas added.
“None.” Antonio told them.
“You’re lying, Antonio, she looked fumed.” Xavier said.
“I’m serious.
Saving him, Pop and José walked in and took their seats. Pop informed them about their impromptu meeting.
“We were out speaking to a detective, who provided us with some valuable information. Antonio, you actually spoke with Detective Johnson early this morning at your hotel.”
“Yes, I did.” Antonio affirmed.
“Explain to all of us then, what you’ve done since you arrived in Miami.”
Antonio hesitated, unsure of the reason.
“We got here Friday, after I instigated a series of decoys. I changed our flight from New Mexico to an earlier option. Originally, I booked a suite at the National. Staying capricious, I called and reserved another suite at the Savoy.
I did this from an airport phone in New Mexico. I canceled the National suite at the Miami airport, along with the car and driver I had previously booked.
We took a cab to the Savoy, and checked in around 3:00PM. Amanda and I didn’t leave again until about 6:00PM. We ate at Ola, the awesome restaurant down from the Savoy.
Before leaving to eat I called Lenny, the owner of the Florida Room to put my name on the list to get us in the place. Amanda wanted me to take her there after dinner.”
Pop interrupted. “Which phones did you use?”
“For dinner reservations, I used the hotel phone. I called Lenny from my cell phone. I had his number in my directory.”
“Go on,” his father instructed.
“Wait, Pop, I just remembered. Right after we checked in, I got a call on the hotel phone, then met a guy at the lobby with a bag of organic yogurt.”
They all thought he was joking. He continued. “Ruger prearranged the drop-off of a .738, hidden in the bottom of the bag of yogurt. I couldn’t fly with a gun, and I need to protect her. Anyway, I took the .738 with me that night when we went out.
We finished dinner at about 7:45PM. Amanda wanted to walk, so we went straight to the Florida Room. We had a great time. I even smoked a cigar for the first time in years. It felt great.”
His father grinned with a nod.
“We stayed until almost midnight, dancing and talking. A roaming photographer took pictures and I bought all of the pictures of us he printed.”
José interrupted at this time. “How much did you and Amanda drink?”
“We ate dinner and she drank the martinis over a four-hour stretch.
“Amanda ordered for me, two glasses Courvoisier, during the four hours we were there. By the way, I’m a Courvoisier kind of guy.” His brothers begged to know the meaning.
“A Courvoisier guy is classic, but not dictated, sweet, but not too sweet, bold with a mild brocade, and extremely sexy.”
His father laughed and asked him. “What did you do next?”
Antonio looked to his father. Pop encouraged him.
“Continue your story, Son.”
“Amanda swims every morning, does her yoga, meditation, and prayers. It’s quite the long routine. I didn’t want her to swim without my supervision, in case there was a problem. I took her, and the .738 out to the pool.
“Then we showered.”
While she wrestled her hair, I got out my tuxedo. Inside the pocket of my pants, I found a box. Amanda left a gift for me to find.”
“She left me a medallion with an engraving of Aaron’s Blessing in Hebrew, and a note inside the box. I sat, re-reading it for maybe twenty minutes.
Amanda came out and I thanked her.”
I used the hotel phone, and asked the Concierge to get us a car. I canceled the one I had previously arranged. We went straight to the Country Club.
You all know what happened there. I called the hotel, with my cell phone, and they sent us a car to the Country Club. The hotel driver took us back to the hotel.”
We were in our suite by midnight. “After that, we were pretty tired. Amanda woke me up later, at around 8:00 AM because there were cops and EMT’s everywhere. They had surrounded the suite next to us. I threw on some jeans and went to check it out.
I made contact with the Miami police detective. He said, at that point they knew a woman drugged a federal agent, and took everything he had of value. The agent apparently picked her up at a local bar.
The officers were sure she didn’t intend to kill him, but he had some weird reaction to the Mickey and died. The Detective then pointed out that the guy ended up being some peculiar type of Federal Agent.
In fact, he appeared to be there stalking somebody, but the detective didn’t know whom. Reportedly, the Feds came and the locals lost jurisdiction. I took the Detective’s card.
I went back to the suite, removed my clothes, and got back into bed with Amanda. I started telling her
what the Detective told me.
Then José called, and wanted me to come over here. Now we have been here since then." Antonio finished.
“Can anyone tell me when Antonio gave his location away?” His father asked the assembled brothers and brothers-in-law.
Xavier answered, “He called Lenny from his cell.”
Pop praised Xavier. “Exactly, they knew, not only that he arrived in Miami, but where in Miami. They also knew his schedule, and about how long he would be gone.”
Antonio felt like an ass.
“Who wants to reveal the agents story?” Pop asked.
Tomas answered. “The agent checked in, and wired Antonio’s suite with some camera equipment while they were gone to the Florida Room. He would watch Antonio and Amanda 24/7 while they were in the room.
They probably didn’t know the reason Antonio and Amanda came to Miami. They acted as if it had to do with the Scrolls and King Solomon’s ‘13’. The Feds expected to catch something on camera that would be useful.” He laughed.
The agent gets bored, restless and lonely. He probably only walked a couple blocks last night. The moron picks up the next woman he sees. Poor jerk-off picked up the wrong chick, and she killed him for his money and his watch most likely.”
“Very good, Tomas that’s exactly what happened.” Pop praised, and then continued. “The good news is - Antonio met the Detective.
Turns out José knew him, so we found him quite easily. Det. Johnson went back and retrieved the camera’s surveillance and we hope, all of the film.”
Pop explained it like a true Judge. Antonio felt ill thinking about a video of the two of them, leaking out, all over the Internet.
José asked the next question. “How did the Feds know so quickly about the Scrolls and King Solomon’s ‘13’?” No one knew.
José proceeded to help answer. “The Patriot Act.” Baffled, they knew about it, but why Antonio.
“I didn’t know either, Pop, and I just found out. Through the Patriot Act, all archaeologists and anthropologists are under surveillance. They monitor them because they frequently travel to the Middle East and other areas of major interest.
This was a major cause for concern.
Antonio immediately became worried. The implications were huge. Amanda had feared this would be the case.
Pop declared. “Guys, we’re wasting our time deciding on King Solomon’s credibility. Obviously, the government, or some part of it, definitely believes in the Scrolls.”
José continued, “Antonio and Amanda are targets.”
Marc inserted. “Damn, Pop… This is huge.”
Pop responded. “There’s no doubt about it.”
“Antonio has explained some of the important content, and implications contained within the message of the Scrolls.” José instructed.
“There are a lot of things, but we didn’t bring all the information. Amanda and I never expected to involve all of you like this. Know that Amanda understands all of this, much better than I do.” He paused to collect his thoughts.
“The 2012 cataclysms are coming, some will arrive very soon. Some are already here, and 2012 could just be the harbinger of the worst. In fact, we should emphasize, the single date itself is misleading.
The beginning of the greatest solar maximum is starting now. Scientists know it promises to be catastrophic. The pole shift, or switch, is incredibly probable. Some of the other planets in our solar system have already undergone these monumental changes.
The Venus cycle ends soon, including its huge implications. You’ve all heard rumors of the December 21, 2012, Galactic Alignment. The truth is - we don’t know exactly what that will trigger.
These are a few of the possible and probable catastrophes. Now, keep this in mind, the Earth’s vulnerability combined with King Solomon’s knowledge offers us the only opportunity to save Earth, and a great number of people.
There are several key points we must understand and put to use.
The Divine Weave connects and influences everything. The Monatomic State, as individuals and within science, is the Vacuum Fluctuation Point, or Zero Point. The transmutations of metals are also of monumental importance.
I stress, all of these are important to both, people and science, for the survival of our planet. These concepts are the base ingredients, essential to any type of progress.
King Solomon left us a great deal of useful knowledge. For now, we are responsible for it. The vital information we hold could make us targets of men and groups who want the world in chaos, but not limited to them alone.
Quite simply, we must create a synergy. It’s a myriad of information based on physical, mental, and spiritual elements within us all. There are also structures needed to protect the Earth from the imminent war brewing in the Cosmos.
Remember, science supports these events. We can back it all up with science.
Guys, that’s an extremely brief summary of our job ahead. We have to solve it, lay it out, find, convince, and educate those who can make King Solomon’s ‘13’ happen- fast.”
Pop emerged as the first to speak. “I will paraphrase a conversation we had earlier. Antonio explained his skepticism about the associated risks. He has Amanda now, and at one point, he claimed to consider ditching the idea and selling the Scrolls for a colossal amount of money.
Instead, he had a change of heart, inspired by an eye opening experience with Amanda’s son, then another with our little Rosie. Even without being a father, he felt the children were worth the gigantic risks.
If only there were a chance King Solomon was correct, he had to see it through for the children. In the meantime, just in case of a negative outcome, he intended to make love with Amanda any, and every chance he got. We can all see our Antonio’s a man of his word.” His father joked, but the message remained poignant.
“Thank you, Pop.” Antonio made eye contact with him, he nodded in return.
“We have arranged some very good protection for them both.” José added, hoping to ease everyone’s concern.
“Everyone needs to go home. Talk to your wives, if you are in this with the family, you need to be back here at 5:30PM tomorrow. Mama will love it, everyone here together two nights in a row, for dinner.” He paused, and then reasoned.
“You have to make your own decisions this time. I won’t assist anyone with his or her conclusion. I love all my children, and I’m a very lucky man. You’ve all made me proud, that’s why this is your own choice. However, understand - if you’re in, you’re in, and you must stay in once you get there. Antonio, do you have anything to add?”
“Pop, you said it best. I would like to say, Amanda and I didn’t come here to recruit your help. I felt it was necessary to secure proof of the Scrolls’ existence, that’s the only reason José knew about it.
I asked him to lock-up a set of copies in case anything happened, so he would have evidence. Beyond that, I love you all. Coming home has been incredible. Like Pop said, it’s your decision. Your choice will have no bearing on how I feel about you. I have struggled with all of this myself.”
“Anybody else?” Pop gave them the opportunity.
They shook their heads. There was a lot they had to consider.
The room cleared, and everyone began collecting their families to leave. Antonio approached his father. “Pop, I don’t know how to thank you.”
His father looked up at his son with sincere eyes. “You have son, you’re everything I knew you would be, and I’ve been selfish. I want to help. You aren’t like the others. I know you didn’t need my help.
Now, look, you are theoretically, the holder of our fate. I find it hard to express my amazement at the admirable way you have managed this task. You’re a dignified man. Go find your Amanda, son. It’s been a long weekend.” Antonio smiled and went to find her.
Chapter 50
"Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present -
and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future."
Audrey Hepburn
He found Amanda looking a little pale, sitting and talking with his mother. He saw that she was wilting, but not wanting to bow out of the day.
"Hey Mama, would you mind showing us to our room, Amanda has been ill, and I believe a rest is needed."
His mother glanced at Amanda with concern, and immediately noticed the paleness of her skin beneath her make-up. “Mama, she’s sick. I thought you knew about the tumor. José and Pop are trying to help me find a surgeon.” He could see his mother didn’t know, and the news horrified her.
Standing quickly she took Amanda's arm and gently led her into the hallway.
"For now, she can lie down in your old room. Stay with her, and I will fix a nice cup of tea, and bring it up to her." She moved back to the kitchen, and Antonio directed Amanda up the stairs to his boyhood room.
Antonio opened the door to his old room with a chuckle. His mother never changed his bedroom. “Here Amanda, relax on the bed.” He was concerned that she looked tired.
“I am fine.” Yet, Amanda felt like she was coming down with something. Perhaps this morning had not been a hangover after all.
He laughed, “I am not. I want to rest with you for a while.”
“Since you put it that way…” She smiled and cuddled next to him.
“Thanks, this entire emotional trauma is exhausting.”
Looking out over his room, she saw the trophies and clippings from his years playing baseball. There were photographs of him and his brothers and sisters, a few with a large golden dog, and there was the proof that Ruger had been in his life for years. Her heart slowed, and she accepted the fact that she really did need to rest.
***
He heard his mother whisper softly from the doorway, “Antonio is Amanda okay? Do you want me to do anything for her?”
“No Mama, she is fine. Really, she isn’t in pain or anything, just needs to rest.”
“Okay, son.”
“Mama, if she needs anything- or gets sick, I’ll take care of her. I don’t want you to have to take care of her. I want to do it myself.” He just felt he needed to say that. His mother softly kissed her son.