A little later Rachel came in to check on him. “How’s it going, Jan?” she asked sweetly. She came over to check his pulse again.
Jan immediately became aware of the perfume she was wearing. I hadn’t noticed that before. He answered her, “I was doing better this morning, but I was walking around a lot today, and I’m a little sore now, but it’s not bad,” he replied, enjoying the attention — and the perfume.
“Well, there’s no need for that,” she said, and got an injection ready.
“I really don’t think —” Jan started to say.
“Nonsense, there’s no need to suffer, and you’ll sleep better before you leave tomorrow,” Rachel said, as she injected the drug into Jan’s IV.
After she wrote something into his chart, she asked, “Well, are you feeling better now?”
“Much better,” Jan replied, smiling dreamily at her.
“Well, let’s get this IV off of you now, I don’t think you need it anymore,” Rachel said. She removed the needle, dressed the puncture, and put the IV stand in the corner of the room. She turned to Jan in the dim light and asked in a low voice, “Would you like a massage?”
Wow, Jan thought, this is great! “I would love it,” he said, and started rolling over onto his stomach.
“Wait,” Rachel said, as she came up against the bedside, “Let’s do the front first.” She pulled his gown off while rolling him over on his back.
He was utterly naked, and because of the drug, could not care less. Jan saw the look in her eyes. Rebecca gave me that very same look. Somehow, it was welcome, coming from Rachel.
Rachel leaned over, rubbing against him, and stroked his head. Her ears were turning redder by the second, and Jan noticed that her crest was becoming more red as well. Jan could take a closer look at her amazing crest now. Along the top of her crest, she had a small natural split, dividing the peaks into right and left mini-peaks. The fragrance of her perfume combined with a steamy musk she was now emitting, and together were tantalizing.
She worked on his arms and chest, leaning over, and looking into his eyes, kissed him on the forehead, then the cheek, then, pausing, kissed him fully on the lips.
Jan found himself aggressively returning the kiss.
She gave a hungry smile at that.
Rachel then rose up, and slowly unbuttoned her blouse, exposing all four of her beautiful breasts. The lower pair was as large as an average female’s top pair.
Jan never saw anything so captivating — he was hers.
Rachel then slowly reached over, rubbing her nipples lightly against his bare chest, and after turning off the reading light, climbed in. She had thirty minutes before the shift change, and did not want to waste a minute of it.
Jan fell into a hypnotic sleep after Rachel departed for the evening. She left so quietly he did not know she had gone. He fell asleep very, very happy.
Deeply, profoundly into slumber he fell, and he dreamed —
At first, Jan dreamed of Rachel. She was radiant, like an angel, floating in front, and a little above him. She was filled with a beautiful light. She was pointing to her left, and he looked in that direction.
When Jan did so, he immediately found himself in what seemed like outer space, but the stars were sparse. Rachel was not there. There was a door in front of him, and it was about four feet by four feet square, suspended in the dark nothingness. He felt like he had a choice to make — whether to open the door, and go through it, or turn back. He intuitively knew that this was important — there may be no turning back, once he had gone through the door. There was no pressing need to go through the door, but he was curious. Jan took the risk. He opened the door, and climbed through it.
Instantly, he found himself in the whitest, brightest light that he could have ever imagined. As intensely bright as it was, it was the most comforting thing he had ever felt. It actually held love, and Jan found himself repeating in absolute awe, over and over again, “The light is love, and the love is light! They are the same! This light is love. It’s love, and it’s light! They are the same thing —” As he basked in it, he saw that it went everywhere, and he could see it in every direction, even behind himself, without having to look. Jan had never felt such ecstasy in all his life. “This is wonderful!” he shouted.
Then a thought occurred to him. He looked down. He had no body.
“Where’s my body? — I’m losing my body!” He panicked, and instantly, with that thought, he felt a gravity-based “suction”, pulling him — pulling him back down, down, down, and into his body. He found himself sitting up in his hospital bed, heart racing, hyperventilating.
“Wow,” Jan said aloud, “That was a vision! It was more real than this room.”
He looked up with wonder — he could feel it —still holding the opposite of a shadow in his mind, “The light was love — amazing.” He sat there for a while, calming down, and then laid back down to finally fall into a deep sleep.
The next morning was truly the beginning of a new day. Jan awoke refreshed, and the day carried the exhilarating feeling from the revelation of light he had experienced the previous night.
He had to wait until after lunch to be released. He had hoped to be able to leave before Rachel arrived for her shift. When he thought of her, he had a block. How can I repeat what happened between us last night, after I saw the truth about her in the vision? She’s an angel, like Rebecca. It doesn’t feel right —
“It is a difficult thing to communicate.” It was the Guide.
Jan was surprisingly happy to hear the Guide. “Did you see what happened last night? Was that awesome or what?” Jan exclaimed.
“You made the right choice last night, and Love was revealed to you,” the Guide replied — “And yes, I was there and enjoyed your joy immensely.”
Jan thought about it, and asked, “Does love make you soft?”
“Well, it certainly does not harden you,” the Guide answered. Then Jan had a small epiphany, actually, an aftershock of the night before. He said, “It’s because we’re not supposed to be here, isn’t it? The writings say we are blind and lost. We’re supposed to be in heaven.”
“Yes,” the Guide responded, “Before the beginning, love was not created for a world that would die — but this temporary world, outside of heaven — this impossible world of survival is nonetheless starving for lack of it. You are the ones that can still bring it.”
Jan remembered the previous day, and said, “I’m sorry I said those things to you yesterday.”
“I know,” replied the Guide, “Apology accepted and appreciated.”
Jan went back to pondering the what the Guide had said. He had to put the issue of Rachel out of his mind for now. The doctor came in, gave the final examination, and Jan was released. They called his father, who was to pick Jan up from the hospital. As he was gathering his last few items, Rachel arrived.
Rachel came into the room and said, “So I hear you’ve been released.” There was an uncomfortable silence. She piped up again and smilingly said, “I’m really glad you were able to stay last night.”
Jan smiled at her and said, “Me too. It was — really nice.”
“Really nice? That’s all?” She calmly sauntered over to Jan and put her arms up around his neck. Looking into his eyes, she said, “Here’s some more ‘nice’,” and closed her eyes and pulling his head to hers, proceeded to give Jan a full, long, wet kiss. He put his arms around her and rolled with it.
She was already getting steamy, and Jan, whose eyes weren’t closed, thought to himself, My God, her ears are already getting red! I must be crazy —” He found himself pulling away from her.
Rachel opened her eyes and looked at him. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
“No, no. Of course not. It’s just that — I don’t know how to say it.” He looked at her, with sorrowful eyes, and said, “It’s just that you are so beautiful, and I — I don’t feel right treating you that way.”
Rachel stepped back, and her
posture straightened. “Is this a joke?” She started tapping her foot, trying to compute this. She had never been rejected before.
“I loved you last night,” she said, with a distressed look in her eyes.
Jan said, “I love you today more than last night. That’s the problem. I love you, Rachel, more than you know. I saw you in a vision last night, and you were an angel.” He paused, and looked through her eyes and miles past. “A beautiful angel.” Then he stepped toward her, and took her hands. “I want to know you, and be with you, but I can’t picture doing that with you again — at least for now.”
They were still looking into each other’s eyes.
Rachel’s face, which had become strained, relaxed with a sudden realization. She tilted her head to the side, evaluating Jan, and with a wry smirk said, “Love-lovers — they come in all shapes and sizes.”
Jan was startled. “You know?”
Rachel just smiled her lazy smile, took Jan’s hands, and scratched his left thumb, then his right, and said, “What do you think?”
Jan grinned and started chuckling, “Well I’ll be. That’s great! Where do you go?”
Rachel said, “We attend the meetings in North Justilant, like Ziba. That’s where I met her.” Then she looked excited, still holding his hands. “You must come! Come to our next meeting, pleeeeaaaassssseee.” She waited for a response from Jan, who was still processing all this. “I’ll introduce you to the best people — there’s a lot going on now. I have many friends there.”
Jan perked up. “Do they have many Platac writings?”
Rachel looked puzzled. “What’s a Platac?”
“Something tells me you’re not into the studies,” Jan joked.
“Oh, no. I just love the people. I get a lot of theater dates there,” Rachel replied. Then she looked at Jan innocently, and said, “Would you take me to the theater sometime?”
Jan smiled at her. What a lovely — he thought. “Anytime, sweetie, anytime.” How could she have gone through life so untouched by the world? They spent a short time talking, and eventually Rachel had to go on her rounds.
Griswolt finally arrived at the hospital. They left and went home, using a one-contiss taxi. On the way, Griswolt lectured Jan on the need to learn more self-defense. He also said that Barab had been expelled from school, and would not be allowed to return.
“Why don’t you train me, Dad?” Jan asked when the subject of martial arts came up.
Griswolt just gazed at Jan with a pitiful look, and while rubbing his shoulder and laughing, said, “Because I would knock you on your ass. I would hurt you, because that’s all I’ve been trained to do. I haven’t been trained to teach.” They agreed that Jan would start after his injuries healed.
He looked at his son. What’s going to become of you? Griswolt thought about it. He is so soft, like his mother.
“I’m worried about you, son,” Griswolt said. “You aren’t ready for the real world, and here you are, about to graduate.”
“Well, I’ll be in mineral processing with Mom,” Jan said. “It should be OK there.”
Griswolt shook his head. “There are assholes like Barab or Hais everywhere. You’ve got to be tough with them from the start. Never take any shit from anyone who isn’t above you.”
Jan nodded his head in agreement. They spent the rest of the trip talking about the choices of martial arts classes in the area, and about a few “easy attack moves,” that Griswolt knew by heart.
Chapter Sixteen
Rachel’s Secret
“W ell, how much longer?” Rebecca asked Jan, as they rode the
six contiss bus to the north side of town. It was an interesting ride until they left the city limits. They were both dressed in the typical black or dark gray leather gear, with
Rebecca adding a dash of white accessories. Her lipstick was a bright shade of red — she had been choosing redder lipsticks since meeting Rachel.
The landscape gave way to an assortment of fewer and fewer homes sitting between the increasingly isolated sand dunes— a preview of the desert that lay further north.
In an hour and a half, they approached the area of the estate of Professor Kalep, an archaeologist who was one of the oldest members of LERN. Dr. Kalep came from an aristocratic family that once owned the mines in the northlands. It was a miracle that his family was not simply murdered by the NOV when they nationalized the most of the mines. This good fortune was because one of the Kaleps, his grandfather to be exact, was the brother to the wife of one of the NOV’s most powerful senators. The wife had blackmailed her husband into having the government pay the Kalep family what the mine was actually worth. This was unheard of in those days.
Jan and Rebecca had become regular attendees of these meetings in Dr. Kalep’s home for the past three months. Jan had been able to obtain copies of wonderful new additions to add to his personal collection of scriptures. He continued to be fascinated by the grace found in the Platac writings in matters of life, philosophy, and, of course, love.
As Jan and Rebecca entered the house, they were attracted by the buzz going on around Dr. Kalep in the great room, which was just ahead beyond the large, ornate foyer they had initially entered. He was pronouncing, in his deep theatrical voice, “My grandfather lived to see this day, and it is a shame that it has taken so long, but it is now at hand.” He had to be openly talking about the escape, and the buzz of the forty or so people standing around there increased.
Jan said to Rebecca, under his breath, “See, I told you, this group is close to news about the escape.”
Rebecca was just as hopeful about the escape as Jan was. There had been many rumors about it lately — expectation was in the air.
Rachel came running up to them as soon as she saw them. “Oh, I’m so glad you two made it!” She gave Rebecca a friendly hug, as well as Jan. Rachel was excited about something and said, “Jan, there’s someone I want you to meet. You’ll just love him!”
Jan smiled, and turned his head towards Rebecca.
Rebecca knew the look. He was going to be off for the evening, delving into long conversations about everything from the escape to boringly understanding the nuances between differing translations of the writings. She had become friendly with Rachel, although Rebecca was still wary of Rachel’s sudden friendship with Jan. She could see that all the males drooled over Rachel. God, I wish I had a body like that. I wish I had anything like that. Rebecca and Jan had visited Rachel’s apartment after the last meeting, and Rebecca decided then that she really did like Rachel. The bubbly Rachel had so many fish in the sea that Rebecca decided she was most likely not a threat regarding Jan.
Jan went on his way throughout Dr. Kalep’s mansion. Rachel introduced him to Lep, a lead technician in Strakna Laboratories, the only remaining vaccine producing facility in the entire NOV. Lep had been in LERN for over four years. He was young for his position, but had been covertly positioned by LERN into the top-secret Platac territory vaccine project. Jan took a liking to Lep quickly upon meeting him.
“Lep’s a real joker,” Rachel said, nudging Lep.
“Naw, not me. I’m the most serious guy in the world, just ask my mom,” Lep replied.
Lep was looking at Jan’s crest.
“Go ahead, hit me, I’m used to it,” Jan said with a grin.
Lep took another look at Jan’s crest, and said shaking his head said, “Nope, too easy.” He laughed, and then asked, “Does it glow at night?”
Jan mirrored, “Nope.”
Then Lep took a glance at Rachel’s crest and said, “I heard Rachel’s does sometimes, though!”
That cracked Rachel up, and as they were laughing her ears started turning redder, making them all laugh even more. After they settled down, Jan asked, “So Lep, you work in the lab. What’s the latest about the new vaccines?”
Lep became serious. LERN had developed him. They managed to place him in the vaccine lab because he was a young and gifted microbiologist. He had been trained to sa
y nothing about LERN’s progress, but it was becoming exceedingly difficult as LERN approached fruition of their plans.
“I’m sorry friend, that’s on a ‘need to know’ basis.” Then he leaned in close to Jan and Rachel. He whispered, “We are closer than you know. You’ve got to stay in touch now, because when it happens, it will happen swiftly, with no second chances.”
Rachel then looked across the room of conversing people and said, “Oh there’s Dr. Scrib, he just started with our group. This will be his first love-circle meeting, and I told him I would hold his hand.” Dr. Scrib was a loner, and was painfully shy with females. He studied self-help books about this, but to no avail. His mother was wealthy from old money, and held the inheritance over his head like a heavy weight. The few females he had brought home did not suit her. He was one of the few D’otians who had to wear glasses, was of a medium height of about nine feet, and was rather lean. Rachel went over to Dr. Scrib to say hello, and shortly thereafter Dr. Kalep called everyone for the commencement of the lovecircles.
To do this, they all divided into manageable circles of up to ten people. Even numbers were preferred. Holding hands, they were to simply stand in silence, each locking eyes with the ones on the opposite side of the circle. Each person focused on sending love to the others, and receiving the same. Each one did this by perceiving the “holy self” of the other. Their core belief was that life came from love. The goal was to fill the circle with love to overflowing. There was no set end to these sessions. Those in each circle intuitively knew when they had had enough, and the hands would break their hold on one another when the time was right. When they were done, there was an otherworldly, greatly expanded feel to the group. A feeling of peace, comfort, and easy openness would exist that was not quite so evident before.
After all the love-circles had been completed, they continued to gather into groups, talk, and plan. A secret group of LERN leaders, however, did the real planning.
Dystopyum (The D-ot Hexalogy Book 1) Page 20