Babylon (Eden Saga Book 2)

by Matthew C. Plourde

Alexandra thought about Erzulie only when her self-control faltered over the past few weeks. That the angel hadn't found Alexandra meant only dreadful things. Was she captured? Worse? Did she find Benjamin? Did Padre Hernon find her? Alexandra shook her head to clear her unwanted thoughts. However, her heart constricted as she missed her friend.

  Where are you? she wondered. I'm coming.

  Manuel seemed content to row in silence and they reached the other dock within a few hours. Lanterns guided them into a slip and the all-black sky hid what, if anything, waited beyond the radius of the light. Alexandra thought she spotted the familiar razor rocks which guarded the path to Eden, but she wasn't sure.

  More lean-tos greeted her as she stepped from the dock, however nobody waited on this bank.

  “Are there a lot of people in Babylon?” Alexandra asked.

  Manuel shook his head as he secured the boat. “Not very many. The trip was very dangerous. And many go to Eden.”

  Alexandra cursed under her breath. Her hasty decision had changed everything. Who was she to make that judgment? Was it really as the Crone said? Someone needed to lead and that person may as well be a spoiled lawyer from San Antonio? Or, more likely, did she simply make a colossal mistake? She acted upon incomplete information. When she was last in Eden, she was afraid.

  This was her fault.

  Alexandra narrowed her eyes as she studied the darkness. She pushed her fear and other weakening emotions aside. Her smoldering hatred for this world eclipsed everything else. What more, besides her life, could be taken from her?

  As if in response to her internal questions, Talla barked and wagged his tail. He appeared pleased to be free from the bouncing waves.

  “How far is it?” she asked.

  Manuel retrieved his duffel bag and said, “One day. Padre Hernon brought horses and we will have a stable here soon.”

  One day from her destination! Now that she was so close to Babylon, Alexandra wasn't sure about her plan. Or, rather, her lack of a plan. She knew she needed to find Benjamin, but she had no clue where Alexander Island waited. Her maps were stolen and she hadn't found any replacements with Antarctican landmarks.

  No, she told herself as Manual cleared a lean-to for her use. She had to trust that Erzulie was successful in saving Benjamin. Or that Alexander Island wasn't her destination. Babylon and the gates of Eden made the most sense.

  “You okay?” Manuel asked.

  Nodding, she said, “This is perfect, thanks.”

  Alexandra continued her internal dialog after Manuel left her alone in the small canvas tent. Though there was only enough room for a woman, coyote and two backpacks, she was content to have something over her head for the night.

  If Babylon was the most logical destination, how was she to look for her friends? Start at the gallows? Padre Hernon surely would have constructed the necessities. Well, his necessities. If the settlement was indeed small, she reasoned she'd have an easy time locating an angel and a soldier.

  “That's it then,” she said. “I guess we have a plan.”

  Talla cocked his head to the side and halted his panting for a moment. He was probably listening for a word he knew, like “food” or “water.”

  Alexandra chuckled. “Funny how certain things are now paramount to us all,” she said as she retrieved a beef jerky strip for her friend. “Want some food?”

  Tail thumping the ground, Talla smiled and licked his jowls in anticipation.

  “Yeah, we’re all struggling for the same stuff now,” she said as she pulled the borrowed blankets over her chest. “Even with most everyone gone, seems humankind still doesn’t have enough room.”

  Alexandra fell asleep to the noisy chomping of tough jerky. Smiling, she realized she wouldn't have it any other way. Despite her anger, she did enjoy parts of her new life. Sharing the road with her friends happened to be one of those things.

  If only there were more such things, she mused as she faded in and out of sleep. Her separation from Koneh wedged into her thoughts but she suppressed her emotions. Thinking of him only fanned her anger. That they were denied a life together was unforgivable. She vowed that the forces who set everything in motion would surely know her pain on that subject. If, of course, she was ever afforded the chance to “explain” it to them.

  Sleep finally overtook her busy mind and she dreamt of a lighthouse upon dark waters. All other details failed to register as she awoke sore and thirsty to the sound of horses.

  Peeking her head from her tent, she saw the razor rocks looming all around her. She reasoned she was near where she made her desperate dash towards Eden with Koneh and Erzulie, all those months ago.

  Three figures on horseback approached. Likely from Babylon, she thought. Alexandra stood and stretched her muscles. She rotated her shoulder and winced each time the gunshot wound reminded her of its presence.

  Talla barked as the horses approached and Alexandra felt a twinge in her stomach. It wasn't until the lead rider dismounted that she realized the twinge wasn't from her other bullet hole. Instead, she immediately sobered from her sleep and reached for her hood.

  “Crap,” she breathed as she pulled the fabric over her head in an attempt to conceal her face as best she could.

  However, she knew the damage was done. The rider was already walking towards the dock. Manuel would tell the rider the name of their guest, and the rider would pull his pistol from his holster. Alexandra didn't need foresight to realize what would happen next. She would likely discover the limit of her ability to survive bullets.

  The rider was Marco.

  As she sprinted towards the line of razor rocks she cursed herself for her own stupidity. Of course Marco would have gone with Padre Hernon to Eden. Marco was there at Babylon and he knew more about Alexandra than she was comfortable with. He betrayed her, tried to rape her and his lies had put her in front of a firing squad.

  How could she have miscalculated Marco's presence? Could she escape him now that he was likely an agent of Padre Hernon, the most powerful man in the world?

  Instead of pondering these weighty truths, she ran. The jagged rocks welcomed her as she heard shouts and the clopping of horseshoes.

  Marco gave chase.

  Chapter 15

  “I almost choked when Manuel told me a woman named Lex was not twenty feet away,” Marco yelled.

  Alexandra made it to the safety of the razor sharp rocks but Marco and his two companions rode hard behind her. Talla was nowhere to be seen and she had narrowly slipped past Marco's group as they charged through the ravine. Now she backtracked to attempt to lose them. Long shadows filled the narrow passageways between the formations. Orange light from the roiling sky came and went with such velocity as to make the entire area appear to be flickering. Alexandra had experienced weather like this before, and it always seemed more violent amongst the alien landscape of iceless Antarctica.

  “You know you cannot outrun us,” Marco continued as he peeked into alcoves and across ledges from atop his horse. “My tracker will find you.”

  Alexandra slipped over a rocky archway and continued her silent escape.

  “Just step out into the open so we can end this. What do ya say my dear?”

  Grinding her teeth, she suppressed the urge to charge him and end their little feud. However, with his pistol at the ready, that didn't appear to be the wisest course of action.

  One of the other men inched closer as he examined her broken footprints along the few soft surfaces. Dressed in a trench coat and fedora, the man was clearly a skilled hunter.

  “The padre doesn't want you killed,” Marco said. “At least, not right away. Maybe we can work something out between us? Others still want you-”

  “Aquí!” the tracker yelled as he hopped the arch and readied his rifle. He advanced upon Alexandra's hiding spot. She thought she would have the home field advantage against anyone in this place. But she was mistaken.

  The tracker spotted her and fired. Spinning behind a rocky column, A
lexandra felt the nearby impact of the bullet vibrate as rock dust sprayed around her. Reasoning he couldn't auto fire such an old weapon, she dashed onto a ledge and ground her teeth as her midsection ripped from the previous wound. She felt warm blood from that injury course under her fatigues and down her leg. Another shot exploded into the lip of the ledge just as she moved her foot from view.

  Deciding that Marco was correct and she couldn't outrun them, especially as wounded as she still was, Alexandra sprinted across the top of the rock and reached the edge where she thought the tracker would be. Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, she leapt, sword high.

  The stunned tracker fired into the air but missed the moving target. Alexandra landed next to him and sliced downwards, cutting the barrel and stock of the weapon. The man gasped. Keeping her advantage, Alexandra rammed the pommel of her sword into his chin. Bone cracked and his head jerked to the side. He crumpled to the ground and laid still. Alexandra's knees wobbled from the agony she tenuously kept at bay, but she remained standing.

  Marco and the other man moved towards the gunshots and Alexandra didn't tarry. She immediately slinked into the shifting darkness of the rock formations. Perhaps she enjoyed the advantage after all. She had fought alongside Koneh and Erzulie upon this terrain to reach Eden. Few knew it like she did.

  “Where are you?!” Marco yelled, almost screeching.

  While they examined their unconscious companion, Alexandra returned to where the tracker left his horse. Her head start would have been considerable, but she hesitated. If she left the area, they would give chase. Seeing as this was their home, she reasoned they might have the upper hand. In the end, the decision was an easy one. She narrowed her eyes and moved back towards Marco.

  Of course, her choice likely meant she would be forced to kill one or both of them - if the pain circulating through her midsection didn't cripple her first. Could she as easily end their lives as she had done before? Was this, indeed, her new industry?

  As she moved towards her desired spot she shook those questions from her head. Doubt had no place in battle. Her uncertainty could wait.

  From her new vantage point she flung a few pebbles towards the horse. She waited. Moments later, as she had hoped, Marco and his friend rode into the area. She threw another rock onto the high outcropping above them.

  “She wasn't going for the horse,” Marco said, “she was headin' up!”

  They dismounted and began their climb. Alexandra's heart pounded as she watched them take her bait. Koneh would have just neutralized both of them, but Alexandra realized her own limitations. She wasn't sure she was skilled, healthy or fast enough to do that. Instead, she exercised her intellect and found herself on the offensive for once. Exhilaration pumped through her blood as she rushed towards the horses. Though her gut petitioned for a reprieve, Alexandra pushed past the lancing pain. Almost there!

  Utterly focused upon their dangerous ascent, they didn't hear her as she approached and grasped the reigns of all three animals. Sheathing her sword she hopped onto Marco's horse and kicked with her heels. She raced through the ravine with the animals, shouts and curses trailing behind her. A smile spread over her lips as the thought of Marco stranded, even if temporarily, warmed her bones.

  She circled back towards the docks but didn't relish the thought of bringing violence upon Manuel. He seemed like a decent fellow just trying to survive. Some people shouldn't be involved in the battles now waged by others upon the Earth. Like the people of Tampico, they didn't choose to involve themselves in conflict. Yet, misery and death found these unfortunate souls nonetheless.

  Another reason to loathe my new world, Alexandra thought as she rode into the dockside camp.

  When his mind registered what his eyes told him, Manuel scrambled towards the boats.

  “I'm not going to hurt you!” Alexandra said as she dismounted.

  Manuel didn't wait for her explanation. He dove into a boat and rowed as if he was being chased by a pack of demons. Another boat waited at the dock, but Alexandra had no intention of following the frightened man.

  “What have you been telling your people about me, Padre?” Alexandra asked aloud.

  Talla was nowhere to be seen. After watching Manuel disappear into the darkness, Alexandra rummaged through her lean-to and recovered a bag of noodles. She crinkled the plastic and popped a few dried strands into her mouth. Moments later, Talla bolted from behind a rock and into her waiting arms. He eyed the bag of noodles and squirmed as Alexandra crushed him.

  “I'm so happy to see you!”

  He finally wriggled his way from her arms and Alexandra rewarded him with a handful of uncooked pasta.

  “We just can't stay long. Marco will double-back here for sure,” she said as she eyed her borrowed tan horse. “Are you up for another new experience?”

  After another bout of coaxing, Talla discovered how to run safely behind the horse. Guided again by instinct, Alexandra galloped towards where she knew Eden waited. Her new mode of transportation allowed her to carry more supplies. Since Padre Hernon seemed convinced she was a villain, she didn't feel guilty helping herself to some food and water.

  She moved faster than during her last trip and the distance didn't take her long to cover. A post with an unlit lantern stopped her progress. How close was Babylon? Was someone tasked with lighting lanterns such as this? How many were there?

  She leaned towards a panting Talla and said, “What do you think? Camp nearby?”

  Talla barked and ascended a small rise.

  “I’ll take that as a 'yes,’” Alexandra said as she dismounted and followed her friend up the sloping surface.

  The surrounding rocks fell away and Alexandra gasped. Lit by bonfires and lanterns, the valley below was full of tents, lean-tos, vehicles and mounds of sand. Some larger buildings appeared to be under construction. People moved between the structures and vehicles. Smoke twisted upwards from countless fires.

  Beyond everything waited the silver gates of Eden. Though only a fraction of one of the massive arches was visible, white radiance flooded half the valley like water from a broken dam.

  A lone tower rested at the center of the burgeoning settlement. Alexandra had seen that structure in her dreams. It was in the background as she watched herself attack the child on the throne and also when she saw Benjamin's execution. Haphazard and slightly askew, something about the tower called to her. Challenged her.

  When Alexandra started her second journey to the bottom of the world, she assumed she was going home. After all she had been through, she thought she deserved some peace. Now, with that tower staring back at her, she realized she was far from home.

  “Home,” she whispered.

  Did such a place wait for her? Would she ever find 'home' again? The topic jolted her heart and her eyes strayed towards the gates of Eden.

  Only one way to find out. “Sorry, Talla, just a little further.”

  Alexandra guided her horse through the razor-rock ravines towards the warm light. Memories of her previous visit flooded her mind. Soft breezes, gentle sunlight and all her needs attended. Eden was everyone else's reward, why not her? Was she really barred from reentry?

  She rounded a bend that had seen much bloodshed the last time she raced through. On this trip, however, the flat expanse which led to the massive silver gates was lined with tents and Brasilian soldiers. A flatbed truck idled. Weapons at the ready, the troops guarded the way to Eden.

  Still unseen, Alexandra dismounted and hid amongst the rocks. Hours passed without activity until a large group of men emerged from the gate. They carried freshly cut trees, bundles of plants and what looked like corn stalks.

  “What is this?” she asked her companion.

  Talla watched with intense eyes. Perhaps he smelled the food.

  The men loaded their bounty onto the flatbed truck. Faces wide with smiles, they chatted with the soldiers and rode with them back to the city. A few soldiers remained and Alexandra was left wondering what the
y were doing. Were they really exploiting Eden’s natural resources? How did Padre Hernon control these people enough to overcome the irresistible draw of Eden? How did they find their way out?

  “What do you think?” she asked, shaking her head. “Maybe we can just walk up there and ask them to let us through?”

  Talla glanced at her and then resumed watching the soldiers.

  “Yeah, I don't think so either.”

  Did she even want to reenter?

  The question boiled like her hatred for Padre Hernon and Marco. Was Eden her home? The Crone wanted it destroyed. Why? What threat did it pose?

  “I need answers,” she said to herself as she narrowed her eyes and examined the gate as if it could respond to her. “I need to know.”

  She rested her head against the hard rock and closed her eyes. Her stomach throbbed from her recent activity. She ignored the pain while she worked the question in her mind. Yes, she wanted to be reunited with Koneh. What did he know? Why couldn't he tell her?

  “I need to know,” she repeated.

  She hoped to dream the answers into reality. Perhaps another conversation with the Crone or Koneh would lead her down the path she needed to follow. Could she force such an encounter?

  When neither sleep nor clarity came to her, she opened her eyes in frustration and whispered, “Tell me.”

  “I will tell you what you wish to know,” came a familiar gravelly voice from behind.

  Lilev had found her.

  Chapter 16

  Talla pinned his ears to his head and whimpered as he watched Lilev step into view. Like before, Lilev's all-black eyes bore into Alexandra's soul. Her menace was palpable as she stared from under her dark hood. She fluttered her bat-like wings but one of them appeared stiff. Alexandra recalled the battle with the demoness and reached for her sword.

  “I come with less wrath than before, child,” Lilev said. Her voice was as disjointed and grating as Erzulie's was melodious and flowing. “You have my word that weapons are not needed this night.”