The Keepers Of The Light (God Stone Book 2)

by Andrew Schafer

“Me either, Petey,” Lenny said, winking wryly as he prodded him with his elbow.

  They made their way onto the railroad tracks and followed them down past the sub sandwich shop until they were behind the bank. The bizarre orange lightning continued to flash and crackle, sizzling across the sky, a spiderweb of brilliance inside rolling clouds as black as the space between stars. The steady rain was beginning to pick up momentum, becoming sheets of water falling in waves.

  “This is the spot,” Lenny announced.

  David peered down the steep bank toward the dark, churning water below. “Oh, hell no!” David backed away from the embankment as if merely standing there might tempt the Sangamon River to lash out and yank him into its murky depths. “Hey, Lenny, how are we supposed to make this climb down in the dark? It’s going to be a mudslide. I can’t even see the tunnel from here and if we miss… if we land in that water, it’s over. You won’t be able to see which way is up and there is only like two blocks before the broken dam.” David’s voice rose in pitch as he finished, and he began to breathe hard.

  “Calm down, David, we can do this,” Garrett said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  “We don’t have a choice and we don’t have any more time,” Lenny said, turning to Pete, who was babbling on about Abraham Lincoln to Breanne and Janis. “I’ll go first. Pete, give me a flashlight.”

  Pete, not missing a beat in his Lincoln conversation, reached into his pack and fished out a light, tossing it to Lenny. “Since Mr. Offutt went out of business all suddenly, it left old Lincoln without a job, so with no income he decides to enlist in the Black Hawk War.”

  Lenny, Paul, and Garrett peered over the edge of the embankment.

  Lenny pointed the flashlight down the slope. “Even with the light I still can’t see exactly where the culvert is, but I think it should be right here. When I get down to the culvert, I’ll flash the light so you know where you need to slide down at. Guys, you need to slide onto the top of the culvert. If you start to lose control, grab a tree, a root, anything, but yeah… don’t fall in. The river is wicked through here and it don’t care how good a swimmer you are.”

  Garrett turned to Paul and made a poor attempt to wipe the rain off his face with the wet sleeve of his dobok. “He’s not kidding, a lot of people have died in this river. I would rate this somewhere between stupid and crazy.”

  Paul nodded and smiled.

  Garrett raised an eyebrow at the unexpected reaction. He was suddenly reminded, he really had no idea who this man was. He turned back to Lenny and grabbed the flashlight out of his hand. “Let me do this, Lenny.”

  Lenny frowned at Garrett and snatched the flashlight back away from his friend. “Are you nuts! Oh, that would be just great wouldn’t it? Our leader, and the world’s only hope, falls in the river trying to find the culvert. Then what? I got to destroy the alien? I don’t think so.”

  “Um, did you just say destroy the alien?” Paul asked.

  “Um, sure did, big guy. That’s the plan – destroy the alien before magic psycho murderer wakes him up and they start swapping stories of the old days, including how to put that Sound Eye thingamabob together.” Lenny leaned out over the edge and studied the embankment for a second then turned back to the group, hooking a thumb toward Garrett. “My boy here is going to use that sword to hack the alien’s head off,” Lenny said with a confident nod, then turned back to the embankment – and jumped over the side.

  Garrett and Paul ran forward.

  Garrett watched as Paul’s headlamp illuminated Lenny just in time to see his feet go out from under him. He landed on his ass, continuing to slide, the leaves and muck offering him no purchase as he scrambled to find something, anything to slow his descent.

  “Lenny!” Garrett shouted helplessly.

  Halfway down, Lenny’s body jolted as he flailed for a grip. His fingers wrapped around a small sapling as the momentum twisted him onto his stomach. Even with the new handhold, gravity continued to yank him toward the dark water. The young sapling flexed all the way over, straightening like a stiff rope. He didn’t stop; couldn’t stop. Instead, he continued down the embankment toward the river – toward his death. His hand slid down the sapling, ripping tiny budding branches from the thin trunk. As the end of the sapling neared, it became thinner and thinner.

  “God, Lenny, don’t let go!” Garrett shouted.

  Lenny twisted his hand, looping the tiny sapling like a rope. Then finally – he stopped.

  “You okay?” Paul shouted.

  For a long moment, Lenny lay there facedown in the mud.

  Finally, he turned himself over onto his side and, with his free hand, flicked the switch on the flashlight and peered toward the culvert. “I’m good. Almost on top of the culvert,” he shouted back. He let go of the sapling, sending it catapulting upright as he slid down the few remaining feet, landing precariously on top of the protruding concrete tube.

  Carefully Lenny turned, pointed his light, and yelled back up the embankment. “Alright, guys, aim for my light and, uh… try and grab some branches or roots on the way down – it’s pretty slick.”

  “You think?” Garrett shouted back.

  “Look, I will scooch all the way to the back edge of the culvert to give the next person room to land and try to keep them from going over.”

  “Well, that’s reassuring,” Garrett said.

  “I’ll go next,” Paul said. Then with no further hesitation, he slipped over the embankment, rolled to his stomach, and slid toward Lenny’s light like he had done this maneuver a hundred times before. Finding the top of the culvert with his feet, he landed into a perfectly balanced squat next to Lenny. “I’m down,” he shouted.

  “Okay, Paul, go ahead and swing down into the tunnel and wait there!” Garrett said.

  Paul disappeared over the side.

  “Paul’s in,” Lenny said. “Next.”

  “So, with the Black Hawk War over, Lincoln was discharged,” Pete said, still explaining to the girls what he had learned in the journal. “He collected his pay for his service and headed back to Petersburg. According to history, he traveled with a companion. But history was wrong! I know, I know – hard to believe, right? Turns out, he and the other soldier he was traveling with actually parted ways in Havana, Illinois. He told everyone he made the last part of the trip, about twenty-three miles from Havana to New Salem, on his own. But here is where it gets interesting. According to his journal, he stumbled upon an injured Potawatomi boy. I’m not sure how young he was, but Lincoln referred to him as a boy. He could have killed him outright and probably been a hero for it, but seeing he was injured, young Abraham decides instead to help him! He makes a fire, treats the boy’s wounds, and cares for him, providing him food and water.”

  “That’s crazy!” Breanne said, huddling close to the tree they were sheltering under in a failing attempt to stay dry. “That would have put Lincoln at risk of being charged with treason.”

  “Yeah, for sure,” Pete said. “It was a risk – if anyone stumbled upon them, they both would have likely been killed. Like you said, Lincoln for treason and the boy – well, just being Native American would have been enough, and not only that but he also had participated in the war.” Pete pulled his shirt up, wiping his soaked face. “And it gets better! I don’t know how long Lincoln stayed with him, but at some point, the young boy thought he was going to die and decides to confide a secret he is sworn to keep. He tells Lincoln of a cave leading to a temple close to New Salem. He explained that for hundreds of years it had been his people’s responsibility to protect the secret and now he was the last one left who knew of the location. He told Lincoln that it could never be found and asked him to promise to ensure no one ever finds it. Then he tells Lincoln what’s inside!”

  “Pete, finish your story when we get inside,” Garrett said, motioning with a wave of his hand. “You’re up.”

  “Yeah, but Garrett you need to hear this too. When I deciphered the other half of Lincoln’s journal,
I found out what’s inside the temple! I have been waiting all day to tell you,” he said excitedly.

  “Pete, I already know what’s in there, and I know what I have to do. What I need you to do is get us past the traps. Can you do that?”

  “Yeah, I think I can. But you know?! How?”

  “Yeah, James told me.”

  Pete hesitated, staring at his friend expectantly, but when no further explanation came, he steeled himself for the descent over the embankment. Sitting on his ass with his feet extended out in front of him, he looked as if he were about to go down a playground slide. Then he frowned, reconsidering, and rolled onto his stomach. Right before he pushed off, he looked at Garrett. “And you really believe that’s what we will find in the temple?”

  “We’re about to find out,” Garrett said, smiling weakly.

  Pete disappeared over the side.

  “David, you go next and then I will send the girls down.”

  All the blood drained from David’s face and he looked as though he might hurl. “Garrett, I’m not sure I can do this.”

  The light below flashed, signaling Pete was safely inside the tunnel.

  “Piece of cake, man,” Garrett said, slapping him on the back.

  Water beaded on David’s mustache, which did nothing to hide his terror. He sucked in a deep breath and eased himself off over the side. The path down was getting more and more slippery as each of them took their turn and the rain increased. Once in position, David could barely keep himself from sliding. “Garrett, I don’t know. I got a bad feeling about this!” His eyes pleaded with Garrett like those of a death row inmate hoping for a stay of execution. But no reprieve came.

  Garrett nodded. “Just let go, David.”

  David swallowed hard – and let go. He flew down the slope much faster than even Garrett expected. In a pure state of panic, David began flailing and grabbing for anything he could find, but it was no use – by the time he reached the culvert he was completely out of control.

  “Lenny, he’s coming too fast!” Garrett shouted, illuminating David with Pete’s flashlight. Oh, dear god, there would be no way for Lenny to stop him from going over.

  David was coming too fast. Lenny watched helplessly as David barreled toward him, screaming. It only took a split-second for Lenny to conclude there would be no stopping David’s momentum. They would both be thrown from the culvert and into the waiting abyss below. But a second was all Lenny needed. From his squatting position, he jumped straight up into the air just as David reached him.

  In the dim light of the flashlight beam, Lenny caught a glimpse of the terror on David’s face as he scrambled helplessly, trying and failing to dig his fingers and heels into the soft earth, but no hold could be found. He sailed under Lenny and off the culvert – into the empty night.

  “David! No!” Lenny shouted, landing safely back on top of the culvert only to turn and lunge forward in hopes of making a desperate grab for David’s hand. But he didn’t even come close, nearly losing his balance and almost sending himself into the currents below.

  David vanished over the edge.

  Lenny closed his eyes in a slow, disbelieving blink.

  “Oh my god! David! Lenny, is he okay?” Garrett shouted down the slope.

  Lenny leaned out over the edge of the culvert to search the water, his heart sinking. He knew it was unlikely, but maybe, just maybe, if David had fallen close enough to the bank, he could find something to grab before being washed down river and over the dam. Jesus! Or sucked under by the undertow, Lenny thought.

  But nothing prepared him for what he saw when he peered over the edge. David was right there, suspended just outside the opening to the tunnel. At first, Lenny couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing. David was somehow floating. Then he noticed the arm protruding from inside the tunnel. Lenny blinked. But it was still there, an outstretched arm and a black fist gripping David’s collar.

  “Damn, bro!” Lenny said.

  “Ah… can you… pull me in… please?” David said, his feet dangling.

  Paul had somehow reached out and snatched David in mid-fall – with one hand. Lenny gawked for a few more seconds, then David disappeared into the tunnel.

  “Lenny! Do you see him?!” Garrett’s voice rang out, frantic through the rain.

  “Um, yeah, he’s good.”

  “Good?” Garrett shouted back down.

  “Yeah… good. He’s in. But we need to do something different to get you three down here, Garrett!” Lenny said, yelling louder now just to be heard through the pouring rain and increasing thunder.

  “Okay, don’t worry, I have a plan!” Garrett responded.

  “Well, if it includes me catching you, forget it!”

  “We are going to make a human chain. Janis first, then Bre, then me.”

  “I don’t see how this is going to work when we get to you…” Lenny started so say. But it was too late – Janis was already over the edge and Breanne was right behind her.

  Janis didn’t have far to slide once she let go of Breanne’s hand. She still came quick, but Lenny managed to grab her and steady her before she lost her balance. Breanne, on the other hand, had an additional body length to go. She let go and slid fast down the embankment toward Lenny. He lunged for her but couldn’t hold on. She slid over the culvert to her waist. Lenny lunged again, grabbing her wrist.

  “Lenny! Don’t let me go!” she said.

  “You’re okay. I have you. Just slide down the rest of the way, hang from your hands, and drop in.” Slowly Lenny eased her hands to the top of the culvert, where she hung before disappearing inside the tunnel.

  “Bre okay?” Garrett asked.

  “She’s good! But, bro, I mean it when I say I can’t catch you, and you’re going to be coming in way too fast for sure!”

  “Go inside, Lenny! I don’t want to hit you when I come down.”

  “This won’t work! Maybe Paul could catch you?”

  “Just go in! I don’t want to risk knocking you into the river!” Garrett shouted.

  “Fine! Stubborn ass!” he said, swinging easily into the mouth of the drainage tunnel where everyone waited.

  Garrett lay facedown, firmly grasping a small tree. He knew when he let go, it was going to be on. Sucking in a deep breath, he released the tree.

  Garrett flew down the embankment like a bobsled on ice. He had no idea when it would come, but he knew it wouldn’t take long – only heartbeats. He would feel his body separate from the ground as he went airborne off the embankment and into the river. He reached back over his shoulder and drew the sword his father had given him. In the space of a gasp he realized he might be making the most epic of bonehead moves. I really hope I don’t break an ancient sword needed to prevent the end of the world.

  He spun the sword in his hand so that he could stab down, but the sword was too long and he couldn’t get it to bite in – instead it just twisted as it raked down the embankment. He realized he needed to put some space between himself and the ground, so he pushed himself onto his knees. He reached above his head, both hands gripping the ancient sword as he slid backward. Mustering all his force, he thrust the sword down. The ground went out from under him as the sword sank deep into the earth, not stopping until it reached the hilt.

  Garrett stopped sliding with an abrupt jolt that ripped his left hand from the hilt, leaving all his weight hanging from the other. Slowly his hand began to slip. He looked down but could not see the culvert, only dark churning water that was far too close. He looked left and saw nothing but the dirt embankment falling away to darkness. He looked right and there, above his right shoulder, was the culvert. He had missed it altogether and was now positioned below it and out of reach.

  Lenny’s head poked out from the culvert. “You missed, bro,” he said evenly.

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed! Thank god you are here to point that out. How about a little help, Lenny?! I’m… slipping.”

  “Well, don’t. That wouldn’t be good,” Len
ny said, assessing the situation.

  “Wow! Thank… you… captain obvious!” Garrett shouted. He was only a few feet away from the opening, but water was already spilling out, making standing close to the edge risky for those inside. If Lenny tried to lower himself, he would be washed out into the river.

  “Paul, can you get him?”

  Paul poked his head out, his headlamp illuminating Garrett’s dire situation. “I’ll try.” Then without hesitation he lowered himself into the rushing outflow of water, and, hanging from one hand, he swung out to Garrett. Garrett reached, but his position was awkward, and he missed.

  “You have to switch hands then reach for me!” Paul shouted as water poured over his body. It was as if he were holding himself suspended under a waterfall with one hand.

  Garrett swallowed hard and thrust upward with his left hand, grabbing the hilt of the sword. He managed to take hold, but then the sword began to pull out from the soft ground slowly losing purchase. “Not… good!” he managed.

  Paul swung again, reaching out with his left hand as Garrett let go with his right. Straining, he reached Paul and they locked hands to wrists just as the sword slipped free from the earth. As Paul swung back, Garrett sheathed the sword then reached up to the edge of the culvert. Instantly Garrett was greeted with the rush of water. The deluge blasted him relentlessly, threatening to push him into the river. Thankfully, Lenny and David were there pulling him up into the culvert. Once Garrett was safely inside, Paul pulled himself up with little effort.

  Finally, they were all inside.

  Garrett gasped heavily, his hands on his knees.

  “See! I knew you’d be fine! Now, catch your breath later, man. We got to move. The water is rising fast,” Lenny said.

  “Yeah, I don’t think we can stay in here long,” Pete said.

  From deep within the tunnel a flashlight clicked on. Then another, and still another.

  Everyone squinted into the bright beams.

  They weren’t alone.

  17

  Rise