King of the Dark Mountain

by Galili Black

“Oh I wouldn’t know how to operate that gizmo that makes walls turn into televisions. I prefer this old fashioned screen,” he said and sat down on the sofa. She sat beside him on the opposite end and they spent the next hour marveling at the wonders of the giant gas planet on his old fashioned 50 inch HD. At the end of the program, Ted said, “Can’t believe that bit about Enceladus creating the E-ring of Saturn.”

  Ellie did not reply but gave Ted a kiss on top of his head. She didn’t know exactly why she did it, and he merely said, “Pleasant dreams, dear girl,” and she left him channel surfing for more science documentaries. On the way up the stairs to the guest bedroom, she paused in front of a picture of Irena. It was actually a painting of her entire body; she was wearing a black pant suit and holding a red rose. Her strawberry blonde hair was caught up into a pile on top of her head; her expression was defiant, almost fierce.

  “Ted misses you, Irena you ought to come home,” Ellie said to the painting and went on up the stairs. There was another room across from hers and she saw light spilling out from beneath the door. She could hear voices, the two agents she assumed. She felt like pressing her ear to the door, but that would have done her little good since they were so heavy. It was clear Ted had spared no expense in building the house, so that everything seemed made of either solid hard wood or stone. A good way to spend money if you were able, she reckoned.

  The house she shared with Hez happened to have hard wood floors, but otherwise, it was practically pre-fabricated. She hoped one day to build another house on their farm, maybe with some of the same accruements as those in Ted’s house. It seemed highly unlikely that she would ever be able to afford such a thing, but it was something she had given some thought to. She had even made some preliminary sketches of her dream house, though never shown them to anyone.

  Hez said he didn’t want a bigger house, and she told him that he could just keep their present house and she would build one for herself. At that point they got into a long discussion about how they ought to go look for spouses and get on with their respective lives. She had given that a lot of thought as well.

  Someday she hoped she would find the right man, and she hoped Hez would finally pick the right woman, but in the meantime, their arrangement suited her just fine. It had just been good to have some time at the farm with Hez. Months had slipped by and she hadn’t felt the need to change anything. An old dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail finally broke the pleasant lethargic flow of time there.

  Before she made the decision, there were also persistent thoughts of Ted and her years spent assisting him. She didn’t normally ruminate on the past, and the challenge of a very long hike seemed a way to break out of the mindset. It was ironic that this had actually ended up causing her to reconnect to Ted after all. She still wasn’t sure how to regard her old friend. Despite their pleasant evening together, there was something about him that left her feeling a little on edge.

  The two agents did not inspire her with much confidence either, despite their enthusiasm and business-like demeanor. They seemed off in some way that she couldn’t quite figure out. She didn’t think it was because they were foreign. She had met many foreigners and interacted with them in many different contexts. She had been a foreigner herself very often, and understood the complexity of the role. In fact she usually found herself particularly attracted to outsiders, yet not to either of them.

  She didn’t feel that they would ever open up about anything that really interested her in meeting someone from a different country. She felt that they did not have favorite dishes that they missed or sports teams that they rooted for, or family members missing them. Somehow she felt that their foreignness was a façade, though they obviously were not American. She was sure that they were both from somewhere in Europe, but something was missing in them from a human point of view. She shuddered and forced herself to put the thoughts out of her mind. She was suddenly very tired and just wanted to get a good night’s rest before whatever came in the morning.

  *

  “I don’t think she’s ready,” Aleister exclaimed to his partner.

  “It doesn’t matter. Her brother is coming up here and once that happens it will complicate things even more. Our best shot is to get her up there early before he gets here.”

  “Can’t we see that he’s waylaid or something to buy some time? I just feel that she will perform better if she gets some more information.”

  “I can arrange that, but honestly I don’t think she has enough intelligence to get it, no matter how much you explain it to her. Couldn’t you see how lost she was most of the time we were talking? I really wonder if she’s even right for this experiment at all.”

  “I’ve got the data regarding her intelligence and she scores high in all the areas we were told mattered, and the main thing is that she’s got this tie to Ted. Their rapport is great, they’re like family.”

  “I think they’ve over-rated the importance of the subjective factor. How can that possibly matter so much?”

  “You’re thinking twentieth century, Ian. This is a whole new ball game, where the old objective standards of knowledge do not apply. The key to this new field of energy transmission is empathy, remember?”

  Ian nodded, “That’s what they say, but I bet there’s an objective way to get to it.”

  Aleister smiled, “You just can’t let go of the outdated paradigm can you? You know what I think? I think there never was much truly objective science. I think there was a lot more of it that was done in empathetic mode than people want to admit. And now, we’re finding out how far that can take us and it looks pretty damn far. You’ve seen what we’ve done with it already, and we’ve just begun to scratch the surface.”

  “Well, we’ll see how she does in the morning on top of the mountain. I noticed in her profile that she’s got a thing for mountains. That should give us another little empathy boost, the more the better.”

  “Exactly right, I need to be ready to try to be my empathetic best towards her tomorrow. I don’t think she likes us very much and we’ve got to do more to win her over.”

  “You win her over; I’m not great with brainy girls.”

  “I thought you said she wasn’t that smart.”

  “No it’s not intelligence that she lacks, but there is definitely something missing.” He grimaced and added, “Maybe it’s the desire to know everything at all costs. “

  “That could be right, but she’s fond of old Ted. And she’s curious about what’s happening with him, so we can build on that.”

  “Maybe so, “ he said doubtfully. “I’m going to go down and chat with Ted before I call it a night.” Aleister nodded and waved him out. He was putting more figures into his most recent document on Receptor One, a.k.a. Eleana June McCane.

  *

  Hez was thinking about Ellie’s favorite song. He was on his way to Ted’s house. He’d been able to get directions from an old man walking his dog. “Uh yeah, this is the right town all right,” he said and then he explained which roads to take to get to the driveway. “Can’t miss the gate, giant lions on top, lions facing each other.” The last detail made Hez’s heart leap; Ellie had described such a gate belonging to Ted. He thanked the old guy and continued on. After a few miles, he came abruptly upon the iron gate and had to hit the breaks to avoid passing it up. His tires screeched a little as he turned the truck onto the pavement. He got out and went up to it. He saw a box with a button so he pushed it. Nothing happened, so he pushed it again. Finally, on the third attempt a woman’s voice said, “I see your vehicle but I’m afraid I don’t know who you are.”

  “I’m Ellie McCane’s brother,” he said to the box. Several seconds passed and then like magic the gates dissolved into the stone columns that supported the rampant lions. Hez got back into the truck and drove the long, undulating driveway until it ended abruptly in front of a beautiful stone mansion. Walking up the marble steps, Hez thought it really was a mansion and not one of those hastily constructed oversize
d monstrosities that had become so common.

  He could see that the house had been designed with an eye for beauty and quality. He knew that Ted was well off, and the house definitely showed it. From his own limited experience as a home buyer at the time of his second marriage, he knew that the house must have cost a small fortune to build. He reminded himself not to let the size and splendor overwhelm him. Ellie needed him to be on his guard, and at the top of his game.

  The door opened and a woman regarded him a little suspiciously, “I’m Hezekiah McCane,” he reached out his hand.

  “My, what an astoundingly Biblical appellation,” she said and extended her hand. She did it with a slight flourish, which almost made him want to kiss it. He resisted the urge, but he nodded his head slightly and followed her inside. They went into an octagonal room with a large fireplace. She motioned for him to sit down on the sofa and took a seat in an over- stuffed chair. She sat at the edge of the seat and crossed her legs; she regarded him with ironic blue eyes. “So you’re Eleana’s brother,” she said.

  He nodded. “And you are Ted’s wife?” he replied, smiling at her. She nodded.

  “Eleana told you about me?” Hez nodded. “Not good things, I’ll warrant.”

  He smiled, “She didn’t tell me very much.”

  Irena looked away and at the fire, “I’ve been away, I just got back this morning. Ted sent me a text message mentioning Eleana had returned. That’s how he put it, Ellie is back,” she was still gazing into the fire as she spoke.

  He cleared his throat, “Well, I hope that’s not too inconvenient or anything.” She turned back to look at him as though she had forgotten he was there.

  She smiled and said, “No, no, Ted is just full of surprises. Actually, I hope she’ll stick around and help him with the research.” Her voice dropped an octave with the last word, it sputtered out of her in a gravelly way that was almost creepy. Hez looked at her more intently to see if she was drunk, but suddenly a radiant smile lit her face, “His research is absolutely amazing, has Eleana told you about it?”

  He shook his head. “No, we haven’t had a chance to talk much since she came up here,” he said simply.

  “Well, it’s the most amazing type of research. Did you know Ted is really more of a scientist than a writer? Oh I know that is difficult to believe, considering how wildly successful he’s been at writing fiction, but it’s true.” Hez nodded, he did in fact believe that, but he didn’t say anything.

  He was trying to puzzle out exactly where Irena was coming from. He hadn’t thought about her on the drive up. His mind had been focused on Ted most of all. He had forgotten he even had a wife. Ellie hadn’t mentioned her very often, and when she did her comments had been fairly negative.

  He understood that she had quit her job working for Ted pretty much to get away from her. Looking at her now, he could see why she was the type of person who would particularly annoy Ellie. When she spoke it was with an air of noblesse oblige, as though having a conversation with another person was a burden that she was forcing herself to bear. At least that was the way she came off, but he detected something beneath the genially exasperated pose, a distinct note of sorrow.

  It was something Ellie would miss because she preferred to look at surfaces when it came to other people. It allowed her to move quickly through them as though they were a pack of playing cards, she could dispense with easily. Hez looked deeper and was often saddened by what he saw. He didn’t fault Ellie for her approach; she could look deeper than most when she took the time. It was just that she was always in such a hurry, always in a rush to be off somewhere. The few months when she had lived with him on the farm had been an unusual hiatus for her; one that had done her some good he thought.

  “So I guess you want to know where she is,” Irena said sullenly. The abrupt change in tone brought him up sharp. She was either drunk or on something.

  “Yes, is she here?” he asked gingerly, keeping a very even tone.

  Irena stood up and exclaimed, “No, she’s gone off with Ted and some others to do some research.”

  Hez stood up, “Research?”

  Irena nodded, “Yes, you know that Ted is an excellent researcher.” She looked down at her hands, as though discovering them for the first time.

  “Do you know when they’ll be back?”

  She looked up and squinted at him, her mouth becoming a tight line, “No I don’t. I think it will be in a day or two or three …” her voice trailed off and she walked over to the fireplace. She took very small precise steps.

  Hez debated what to do. He felt tense as though the wrong word could bring about some unforeseen catastrophe. Her back was to him, and then suddenly she swung around and faced him. Her eyes searched the ceiling and came back down and she seemed to be stifling tears. “He said to tell you that she’s fine and that you should just go home,” she threw up her hands, “Just go home. You’ve driven a thousand miles and that’s what he said to tell you.” She had grief in her voice and Hez understood that she was really thinking about the occasions when Ted had been dismissive to her.

  “I’ve spent so many months traveling, shopping, visiting people, all the while thinking, I’ll go back to him and he’ll be so happy to see me, because I’ve been gone for so long this time. I’ll show him all the wonderful, unusual things I’ve found and he’ll be thrilled and admire what great taste I have, and we’ll have a great time as I explain where I found it all and what it means to me. Except I won’t get to tell him anything and the new things will go with the old things and collect dust until they go to a consignment shop in town. That’s my marriage now, long shopping trips broken up by short visits home followed by more shopping trips.”

  “At least you get to see the world,” he said gently.

  “It’s not much of a world, Mr. McCane. I think it used to be, but it’s all just become the same little world with all the same little shops.”

  “Maybe the next time you go traveling, you should go on a mission.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you should go out into the world and find something to share rather than just shop.”

  She looked at him as though he had said, the next time you should go by flapping your arms and flying. “Is that what Ellie does?” she asked bitterly, “I heard from Ted that she goes abroad and teaches or something. That’s all very well, it’s a noble profession,” she sniffed, “But thankfully my teaching days are over.”

  Hez laughed, “You see, you’ve achieved your dream, no more papers to grade or sniveling undergrads to deal with, but instead of enjoying it you make yourself miserable because Ted doesn’t understand you.”

  “Easy for you to judge, you’re not married to Ted.”

  “Mrs. Griffin, I have driven a long way, as you said. I’m road weary and I’m not leaving this house without my sister. Ted may think I’m just going to turn around, but I’ m not leaving unless I see Ellie and she tells me that’s what she wants.”

  “Well he didn’t drag her up here did he? I mean she came of her own volition, isn’t that right?” Her voice did that odd octave change again. It made him want to lose patience with her, but he forced himself to remain calm.

  “It was of her own volition, but … it’s complicated.”

  She regarded him evenly, “She does unusual things, this sister of yours doesn’t she? If you go to the police and you tell them about her psychic abilities what would they think? I’ll tell you what they would think, that you are nuts. And maybe that wouldn’t be far off the mark for you or your sister.”

  He felt the blood rush to his face, “Why would you say such a thing?”

  “It’s just an impression I have. Something in her background, my husband mentioned your parents weren’t around; you were raised by an elderly grandparent. This could make you unstable.”

  He laughed, “My grandmother wasn’t elderly. She was a great surrogate parent. I just want to talk to my sister, nothing crazy about that is there?�
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  “What?” She looked at him as though he had just come up with a total non sequitur,

  “I want to talk to Ellie; do you have a phone number where they can be reached?”

  “There’s not good service out here, but you can try his cell.” She went over to the desk near the window and began digging through her purse. She pulled out her cell phone, pushed a button and waited, then abruptly handed it to him. He took it and listened to the rings. After he counted eight rings, he handed the phone back to her, “At least it rang. I doubt if they have service up where they’re located. It’s in the national forest on one of the mountain tops.”

  “Do you know which one by any chance?”

  “Let me see,” she began rifling through some papers on the desk. “Here,” she thrust a piece of paper towards him. It was a map that had been printed up from some online service; a red circle was drawn where a line marked CR ended.

  “Is this where they are?” he asked eagerly. She nodded, “Thank you Mrs. Griffin,” he said and headed for the door.

  “Hey Mr. McCane,” she yelled. He turned around. “I didn’t mean to be rude I just get that way sometimes.”

  He nodded. “Thanks again, Mrs. Griffin,” he said and went out the door.

  When he got back to the main road and through the iron gate, he paused and tried to get directions to the nearest national forest, but he couldn’t get an internet connection. He closed the laptop and drove back to the nearby township. He found the local library and parked. The wireless connection was good and soon he had directions. He looked in the glove box and found another package of deer jerky. Last year had been a good year and he had managed to bring down several good sized bucks. He had his own recipe for making jerky and it kept it good for a long time. His second wife Annie thought it tasted so good, he should package and sell it.

  He drove to a gas station that he’d located that sold E-85, filled up and bought a gallon of water. He watered the rosemary plant and put the rest in the back. The drive to the national forest was only a few miles. His old optimism was returning, after getting temporarily derailed by Mrs. Griffin’s less than courteous behavior. Of course she wasn’t from a part of the country known for good manners, but her actions struck him as rude even for a northerner. He forced himself to put her out of mind with another little prayer. “Help that poor woman to have a little more gratitude” was the way he put it and then he brought his mind to bear on Ellie again.