As if his friend could hear the remark, Roddy nodded his head. “Not since before the flood has such a penalty been exacted, certainly not like the one I am about to announce,” he paused, glanced at his wife, and then declared to the guilty, “Each and every one of you is hereby sentenced to hard labor for the rest of your lives.”
The response was silence, profound and absolute. After a long pause, interrupted by only a few coughs, Jubal began clapping his hands, Vashti followed his example, those around them did the same, and soon the multitude was applauding the final judgement. Some of them might well have been disappointed; having anticipated a gory spectacle, but many of them seemed relieved the ultimate penalty had been waved in lieu of hard labor.
“You knew what the sentence was going to be,” Apollo accused his uncle. “I can read your emotions as if they have been written on papyrus and surprise is not what your face is reflecting. I see acceptance of what was expected.”
“You held your disappointment well,” Thoth remarked after Jubal nodded. “We all know you wanted to kill Fileeman and Aaken.”
Jubal shook his head and sighed, wondering what in his recent actions made people believe he was so brutal.
“My husband suggested the sentence. ‘Why waste the resource,’ he argued, ‘when the guilty can work in Semidon for free?’ That was the gist of his idea.” Vashti defended him.
“Why am I the only one not surprised my brother would in the end be lenient with his enemies?” Cassi shouted her question to the world.
The earth responded, trembling with rage. No one, with the possible exception of the eight ancients, had ever felt the ground shifting beneath their feet. Jubal was not enjoying experience. “Vashti, levitate!” He shouted and was pleased when her feet left the shaky surface just as the blocks began to crack and then split apart.
Taking his own advice, Jubal focused potential and shot up into the air faster and higher than her. All of the other Aakacarns and the Aakasear, took one look at him, and followed his example. Soon hundreds of Nephilim were well above the turmoil, leaving tens of thousands of people in harm’s way. Men and women were grabbing, or trying to grab, their children with the clear notion of fleeing to safety. Trouble was; Jubal could see no safe place for them to go. The lions sprang from their seated positions and were running wild, folks were screaming, the Place of Meeting was shaking like a naked man in an icy wind, and a good many Tinies and Anakim were tumbling down the hill.
The people still on the courtyard were on hands and knees, no one could stand, although a few managed to regain their footing only to quickly fall back down. Jubal focused on the conspirators, who were crawling every which way. He did not focus on one at a time, but on the mass of individuals needing help, and like the quills of a porcupine, energy streamed out through many points from him, striking each person and enveloping them in his indigo blue light. With a single thought, he levitated all one hundred twelve of them above the turmoil, and then eyed the rest of the people struggling for survival, Aricana among them.
“I have to save these people,” he declared, imagined more quills, and then sent beams of light not only to those directly in sight, but also those on his periphery.
So many individual rays were flowing from his body it seemed as if solid light shined on everyone below him. Those who were touched lifted off the ground.
With each focus of potential the mental volume in his head had to be increased, and so he knew the radiance was visible even to the eyes of the Tinies and Anakim. With a glance straight down he focused and levitated his squad of defenders, including Cassiopeia. The additional bodies were draining his life-force at a rapid rate.
His eyes were dry, no matter how many times he blinked, and his thirst grew by the moment, yet he continued rescuing people, which must have been terrifying for the ones being snatched up and suspended in the air. They would calm down once they realized no harm had befallen them.
Vashti levitated a small child from the ground. Within moments the other Aakacarns were coming to the rescue of people in need. Thoth levitated six men and a woman to safety. Jubal was glad to see his students, the ones dressed like him, using their skills for the benefit of others, which was the purpose and duty of every Nephilim, as the ancients had said it should be. Roddy, Semi, and the other government officials used their potentials to levitate frightened people off the ground. Thanatos rescued eight, him being skilled at using his potential to lift objects.
In a matter of minutes most of the crowd was either in the air or had rolled down to the base of the hill, which was also where the lions had gone. Jubal, recognizing the danger, levitated the great cats into the air, and then horrified screaming brought his attention to the top of the hill. The Place of Meeting took one more violent shake and collapsed. Logs began tumbling down the slope, crashing over the oaken judgement seats, crushing them to splinters, and then rolled unimpeded down toward the many people cowering below, among whom were little Rue, his parents, and baby sister.
Jubal sent forth his potential, each additional beam striking and enveloping a log. Elevation was sounding louder than he had ever imagined in his head, drawing vast amounts of life-force energy from his inward pool. Even though blinking no longer cleared his vision, he vainly batted his blurry eyes and levitated the heavy logs up just enough to stop their momentum, and then set them down.
Had he used an instrument the tool would have acted like a crescendo, amplifying the Melody and the effort would not have left him as drained, but he had no flute with him. His mouth was dry and he felt dizzy, yet dared not lower people back down until it was safe to do so. He added a Da Capo on all the focal points, fearing his tiring mind would lose concentration and drop everyone to the ground.
The shaking must have gone on for hours, or so it seemed as he held his position in the air while life-force energy continued to flow, making him feel light-headed. His eyes could not bring anything into focus, all he perceived was brightness, his own or that of the sun he could not say.
“Jubal, the shaking has stopped and you can come down now,” Vashti’s voice sounded in his right ear. He could hear but no longer see.
He began lowering the volume, reducing the demand on his potential until it was barely perceptible in his mind, and released the Da Capos just as his feet touched down. His legs were too weak and he fell, completely unaware of hitting the ground.
-----
Jubal dreamed of the ideal city of peace and harmony, tens of thousands of paces in diameter, at the heart of which was a massive ruby shaped like a pyramid. The gigantic structure had a huge diamond in the shape of an eye staring out from the apex. “Here, little brother, drink this,” Medica insisted while standing beside him near the entrance.
He turned and rather than handing him the cup, she pressed it against his lips. He was terribly thirsty and so accepted the water rather than argue about her method. Cool liquid splashed over his tongue and hit the back of his throat. He gratefully swallowed the offering. Too much went down, causing him to cough and open his eyes. He was in a bed and surrounded by four walls.
“Welcome back from the brink,” his sister really was there and speaking to him with a cup in her hand. “You saved over a thousand people, hundreds in the air and the rest from being crushed, and nearly killed yourself doing so.”
He opened his mouth to argue his actions had been necessary, but only managed to cough. She handed him the cup. “Drink more. Fortunately you Nephilim have very fast metabolisms. Otherwise you would have died before enough water could filter through your system to revitalize your organs and muscles, including your heart.”
Jubal obediently sipped more water and then eyed his oldest sister. “What happened after I blacked out? Where is my wife? Is she alright?”
“Vashti is perfectly fine. She levitated and brought you to me. A large escort of Aakacarns and Weapocarns came with her, all actually wanted to come in with you. My healing facility is not large enough to accommodate so many. Just s
o you know, it is early evening and you have been unconscious since this morning,” Medica informed him.
“The earth moved. How many people have been hurt?”
“Scores have been injured and four people died,” she replied and then patted him on the shoulder. “Many more would have died had you not set the example. When the other Nephilim witnessed you rescuing the convicts and so many others, they began levitating people off the ground until the shaking was over. Your individual actions saved over a thousand people, as I said, but the Aakacarns as a whole saved tens of thousands.”
It was good to know. Jubal nodded his head and then sipped from the cup. After draining the contents, he leaned forward. “The Place of Meeting fell flat. I wonder how many other structures went down.”
Medica sat on the edge of the bed. “Most of the temporary shelters fell, but all of those have been set back up. The Place of Meeting is the only building that collapsed. Kronos estimated the quake lasted ninety seconds. Had it lasted longer, I shudder to think how much damage would have occurred,” she shook her head in disbelief and then arched an eyebrow at him, “You were glowing so bright I had difficulty staring straight at you. Three lightning bolts seem to be a lot of power to me, but I think you came close to using all of it.”
It was hard to believe the ordeal had been so short in duration. Jubal would have sworn the earth stayed in motion for a lot longer, but such was not his concern. What had been, had been. “Where is Vashti?” Medica had not yet given the answer.
“She was here until about an hour ago when Nimrod called a meeting. Your wife, as the only conscious teacher, had to go and represent the school. All of the officials are there. Pan and Thanatos are standing guard just beyond that door,” she answered and pointed at the entrance.
It was then the door opened and standing out in the hall was a man in a white hooded garment with an emerald-green waistband. Ancient eyes stared out of an ageless face and were the color of a cloudless sky at noonday. The two Aakacarns stood on either side of the priest and neither made a move to stop him from walking into the room.
Jubal sat up in bed, but Medica gently pushed him back to the pillow. “You are so weak I had no problem keeping you from rising.”
Mel raised and stretched forth his right hand. “Stay, do not try to rise. Medica, will you give me time alone with your brother?”
Older sister nodded and then stepped quickly out of the room, closing the door behind her.
“I came to speak to you of what happened today and what it means,” the priest stated. “The quake that occurred this morning is part of the titanic shift I warned about earlier, but the timing of this event was no coincidence. Mankind has stayed in one place long enough. It is time to begin filling the earth. You have done well in teaching the Nephilim, being an example to them, and in pointing the way. Beware lest you become so involved with the one that you neglect the others.”
The words had the ring of a compliment, the reminder of more to do, and a warning against Jubal slacking in his responsibilities. “I will continue to teach the Aakacarns and do my best to point the way when it becomes apparent to me, although the right way to go is not always clear, and I am not the leader of the people. Roddy is the chief administrator and soon to be king.”
Mel smiled and lowered his arm. “The way forward is not always clear, but you guided people to safety, influenced Nimrod to look beyond this settlement, and gave him a vision to share with the people. The instincts given to you have guided you thus far. I counsel you to hearken to them going forward. Do not underestimate the gifts that have been given to you. They are resources not to be wasted. Even the lightning bolt in the storm was a gift to increase your potential. Even so, you will make mistakes, being human, but do not allow those failures to hinder you from continuing what you have started. The place of meeting fell, symbolizing the fact that it will no longer be needed. The imperative is for mankind to go fill the earth and you will play a role in the going. Semidon is only the first step, not the final. If the imperative is ignored, within four years another symbol will fall, causing confusion the likes of which you have never heard, and your tasks from then on will become even more difficult to accomplish.”
Jubal appreciated the appraisal of his job performance and the kind words about his instincts and other gifts. He also took to heart the warnings. “I will keep the imperative in mind while figuring out better and more efficient ways to use my potential. By the way, if I focus a beam of life-force energy into the clouds during a lightning storm, will a strike make me even stronger?”
Mel began rubbing his chin, perhaps hiding a smile, although there was no sign of one when he pulled his hand away. “It was a one-time gift. You or Nimrod would come to grief it you try that method of expanding your potentials.”
Somehow he knew Jubal’s question was for the benefit of a particular friend. “I get the message. Are you going to deliver the meaning of the quake and the imperative to populate the earth to someone other than me, perhaps someone in actual authority?”
Mel nodded, turned, and walked out, leaving the door open. He certainly was not one for carrying on long conversations.
Pan poked his wooly head inside the room. “Medica left me this pitcher. I am to see to it you drink every drop.”
Given the fatigue and gnawing thirst, Jubal could hardly wait to fill his cup. “You will get no argument from me.”
The Nephilim stepped into the room. He had on scarlet and black woolens, styled like the clothes of a Weapocarn, yet in the colors associated with the Instructor of Aakacarns. The outfit was obviously not meant for moving stealthily through the wilderness. “Are you going to tell me what he said? He was not smiling when he walked out the door and neither are you.”
“Have you ever seen him smile?”
“No, not that I can recall,” Pan replied while absently stroking his new silver- capped producer.
“So there was nothing unusual in his departure. I am too tired and thirsty to smile. Are you here to see I drink my fill or to question me?”
“If you don’t want to tell me what he said just say so.”
Jubal leaned forward. “So,” he replied, and then allowed his head to sink back into the pillow. “But you can keep talking.”
Pan filled the cup with water, handed it over, and then began chattering about everything going on out in the settlement while only a small part of Jubal’s mind took in what was being said, enough to nod when the occasion called for a response.
While sipping the water, his thoughts centered on improving efficiency in the use of potential. How could he amplify the power at his command and could such a thing be done without using an instrument? The questions kept coming, demanding to be answered, and increasing his desire to develop better ways of employing life-force energy. He had years to worry about the, “going,” part of his responsibilities.
Chapter Twelve: Visitors Are A Distraction
Vashti’s sigh woke him up. They were lying on a bed with her face close to his ear. She had an arm stretched across his shoulders and a leg across his hips, shielding him with half of her body, her way of keeping him safe. She had arrived later in the evening and encouraged him to drink and rest until they finally fell asleep.
Jubal took in a deep breath, muscles tensed, then slowly relaxed. He marveled over how quickly his body had recuperated from severe dehydration.
“I did not mean to wake you,” his wife spoke softly.
Jubal turned his head and finding her face so close to his, kissed her lips. “I probably would have awakened shortly on my own. If my body needed more sleep you could have shouted in my ear and not succeeded in rousing me.”
The intensity of her gaze made him realize she was assessing his condition and had probably been doing so all night.
Vashti rolled the rest of the way off of him, taking the covers with her. “If we do not get up soon, Medica will come and kick us out. She needs this bed for sick people.” There was no missing the so
und of relief in her voice. She must have been terribly worried about him.
He was still wearing his scarlet and black silks, minus the cloak, which was draped over the back of the chair Pan had been using while sharing current events. Jubal sat up and swung his legs over the side. “I’ll put on my boots, grab my cloak, and we can exodus this place, hopefully never to come back again as patients.”
Vashti brought hand to mouth, covering a yawn. “Your copper complexion is flushed with health, your lips warm, and overall your body seems as vigorous as ever. Your clothes are wrinkled, but don’t be concerned,” she said the last sentence as if she thought he actually was bothered about such a thing, “the cloak should cover the fact well enough for the short time we will be in public view. When we get home you will have to put on your dress robe. We will probably have lots of visitors and I want you looking your best.”
Jubal had a project in mind and was anxious to get started, visitors would be a distraction. “Tell everyone I have fully recuperated and am ready to put in a good day’s work,” he replied. “They don’t all need to see me personally and so the state of my clothing does not matter.”
Vashti shook her head as if his perfectly reasonable reply was unacceptable. “After the trial and earthquake, in between worrying about you, I was in meeting after meeting, some of which were attended by both our parents as well as the two ancients. Your name was mentioned frequently by Noah, Vivian, my mother, your mother, and your father. Nimrod and other prominent members of our society also seemed eager to see you, so I doubt we could walk fifty paces from this facility before all of them hear about it and plan on visiting us. Even before the trial people were watching your every move and believe me your actions have only increased the scrutiny you will receive when we step out that door. Considering your physical state until recently, I don’t expect you to know what has happened, but do expect you to limit whatever work you have in mind to a bare minimum.”
Dawn Of The Aakacarns Page 24