“What-that’s it?” Gabriel queried.
“Yeah, he’s good, he’ll think about it a while and then do it,” Wood confirmed.
“How do you know?” Gabriel wasn’t convinced.
“This indicator here. See, it’s gold now. It was grey before.” Pausing upon reaching for a third monitor, Wood glanced at Saraceni who nodded. The third monitor showed James typing an email in a cramped bunk back at the base. Gabriel looked from that monitor to the muted one, where the men were running in time, and then to Wood.
“Which one is right?” Jack asked, puzzled. The entire team was huddled around the monitors, learning throughout the entire exercise.
“Both are right,” Saraceni responded.
Wood clarified. Pointing to the one where the men were running, “This one is now…” and then he turned to the one where James was back at base emailing, “and this is the future.” The team reacted in surprise.
“Why am I not surprised?” Juliet asked, “But if we can see the future, why can’t we just see the outcome of all this?” she asked earnestly, seeming for the first time like the curious young woman who had arrived on the first day.
“Well, it can only see into areas that are not grey. Plus, it’s a future picture of the thread or strand that exists right now. It can change, though,” Wood answered.
“The bike spoke thing again,” Gabriel muttered. “So if we stay on the current path, then this is what will happen, but if we change things, we can change that future, jump over to another thread, so to speak?”
“Right,” Saraceni confirmed, “it’s wet design, Gabriel. You’re all familiar with that. In fact the entire Cupel is wet design work. It was created, yes, but that is not a one-time historical event that is complete. It is presently and continuously being created.” The team nodded in assent. They grasped the concept, not unlike specific scientific projects they had each worked before, only on a grander scale-all of space and time.
“Well, can you tune in on their future?” Alexander turned the attention back to Lela and those in the cavern. Wood adjusted the controls and as soon as the picture emerged, Saraceni was quick to speak. A brutal war was going on between villages on the future screen.
“This is the main future thread related to their activities at the moment. It doesn’t mean these particular people will be in the war,” Saraceni reassured, lest Alexander think Lela would be battling it out in the Continent Civil War. Alexander looked at Lela still sleeping as one of the other people (Rachel, the intern) performed some tests on the DL mineral. It was a rare opportunity to test such a large amount and Lela had files full of incomplete test scenarios.
“So, how does their thread become that battle?” Alexander asked. The Civil war picture changed to a different village.
“That’s near my hometown,” Enam exclaimed, “very far from where we were just looking, which is closer to the sea.”
“Enam, that is a continent-wide civil war that will embroil all of Africa in 30 years of bloodshed,” Saraceni advised. Enam slumped in his chair. “If Lela doesn’t complete her assignment, that is.” He turned to Alexander before adding, “Now you see how important it was she stay behind and how much faith we do have in her. The assignment should also help her learn the remaining lessons to pass her test after this cycle, if she does all she should.”
“How does it start?” Enam asked, still a bit off-kilter at the idea of it.
“Events have already set in motion which, left unchecked, will produce this result,” Saraceni advised.
Kyle interjected: “It’s the Africa project-It must be stopped.”
“But that project is bringing malarial medications, and schools-fresh water!” Jane had worked on the project team as they all had and was very invested in the benefit they could bring to so many needy people.
“Yes, Jane, and the deliverables aren’t the issue. The compromises made to get those deliverables are. The funding came from multiple corporate sponsorships, many of whom are seeking land and mineral rights. The short-term benefit is clear, but in 6 years, each of these corporate sponsorships will evolve into zones involved in border wars. From there, sides are chosen, alliances are made, and 30 years of fighting will follow. The majority of the people they will heal and educate will be killed. Soldiers arriving from distant lands will be killed. Nearly everyone involved will be killed. It is the result of a thread we started to bring you all together; we can’t allow this,” Saraceni reported.
“How can we stop it?” Gabriel queried.
“Lela has to sabotage the project, so it never gets fully off the ground,” Saraceni responded. Gabriel shook his head at Saraceni. There was no way she would do that, he knew. He knew her better than anyone.
“She’ll never do it,” Gabriel advised.
“It may take longer and more prompting, but I think we can steer her in the right direction,” Wood said to Gabriel directly.
“So is this what you do all day? Monitor and guide?”Gabriel asked.
“Pretty much,” Wood confirmed, “It is my present assignment, and I think if we do the right things in the right order, we can get her there.” He tweaked the controls and the screen changed from the cavern view to a fuzzy picture of the mountainside, with the bus going over the guardrail.
“Why are we watching this?” Chandra asked, still somewhat upset by the image on an emotional level though on an intellectual one she understood no harm resulted.
“It’s Lela’s dream. You can suggest directly into dreams. Clearer and more effective overall.” Wood switched down to the direct suggestion box at the bottom of the screen and handed it to Gabriel. “Talk to your sister.”
“Directly to her?” Gabriel confirmed.
“Sure,” Wood answered.
Gabriel spoke, “Lela, it’s Gabriel.” In her dream she saw his hand at the edge of the cliff. He struggled to pull himself back up from the edge and then sat on the edge, feet dangling, with the smashed bus in the ravine far below. Lela rushed to him and slid on her knees.
“Gabriel, oh my God, you’re okay,” she said and hugged her brother.
“We’re all okay, Lela. Me, Mom, Dad, most of the others on the bus,” he advised. She looked over the edge and saw no one else hanging on the cliff face, the bus flames still billowing smoke far below.
“That’s not possible,” she said, “but I’m so glad you’re here. I thought I was all alone.”
“You’re never all alone. I’m not really here, though, I’m there, and so are Mom and Dad, but I came to tell you that and give you a message,” he said. In her heart Lela knew the truth and the sky around Gabriel turned a purple hazy color with a surreal quality.
“I’m dreaming, aren’t I?” she slumped and looked down at her folded hands, dejected.
“Mostly,” he said, “but I am really here, I promise. The people we’re with have been trying to help you, and now I will be helping you. I promise I’ll send signs whenever I can and we are always there.” Gabriel adjusted the controls to keep the frequency aligned and Wood tapped the clock in front of him. Gabriel nodded and resumed.
“Lela, I know this project has the best of intentions. You know I believed in it, but the corporations will break into zones, start border wars and a 30 year continent-wide war will be the outcome. You have to end the project,” he said.
“They have acted so greedy. I know the motives of all the investors aren’t pure,” she conceded, “but we can get them to pay for so much good here.” Her brother’s face became ghostly in front of her.
“They will all die. Find another way. Dismantle the project,” Gabriel said, and then he was gone in the dispersion of a mist. Lela sat on the edge of the cliff, elbows resting on her knees, looking out across the mountain. On the other side she saw a wolf rise from a rock cropping, stop at the ledge and stare directly at her before letting out a loud howl. She jumped and awoke abruptly, still on the floor of the cavern, remembering every detail of the dream as if she lived it. She shivere
d.
“Are you okay?” Brett asked.
“Yeah. I just had the most realistic dream.” She shrugged it off, not wanting to look upset at seeing the bus go over the rail or seeing her brother. Deep in her gut she had a feeling they were alright, though, but she couldn’t fathom why.
“Waking dreams,” the African guide interjected, “This cavern brings you messages from beyond.” He pointed with one long, outstretched finger cuffed in a Lobi iron snake bracelet toward the small skylight rock opening in the cavern. Suddenly, a wolf appeared and stared directly at her. The wolf was smaller than a North American wolf, red in color with a black-and-white tail and white blazes on his chest. The white fur on his throat, contrasting with the predominant red color, swept in a curve toward his eyes, a look that would have seemed almost amused but for his intent stare.
“Jesus, is that a wolf?” Kye asked Brett, who had more prior experience in this region.
Brett nodded. “Brought by breeders long ago. Some have survived.” Lela stared at the animal and had a further wrenching in her gut, like the feeling she would have when knowing not to go in a certain direction in the city. It was then she noticed the Wolf staring at her intently had one brown eye and one blue eye. Stunned by the coincidence, she stood up abruptly.
“A sign, I think,” the guide said quietly directly to Lela.
“I don’t believe in signs,” she said flatly, though internally she was not sure. If she hadn’t met Phillip Harriman, or had such a strange feeling, she would easily have dismissed it. Still, her academic brain told her that her grief was driving her to grasp at straws. Textbook reaction, really. She felt confused and instantly thought of calling James. He was her litmus test in uncharted waters. He could help her navigate this. She discarded that idea as easily as she had embraced it. ‘He barely even speaks to me. No way am I playing damsel in distress.’ she thought to herself.
Gabriel shook his head back in the control room. Her stubbornness always had hurt her more than helped her, but the companion traits that accompanied that stubbornness like loyalty, determination and a puritan work ethic served her well.
“She’ll never dismantle a whole project based on some dream,” Gabriel said to Wood and the Molior team. “She’s too pragmatic for that.”
“True,” Saraceni responded, “but we’ve planted a seed.” Wood withdrew his work plan for Lela’s guidance and handed it to Gabriel.
“I think if we execute these steps the right way, we can lead her there.” Wood said, proud of his plan and truly confident in its’ potential for success. He was slightly anxious to hear Gabriel’s thoughts since he knew Gabriel was right-he did know his sister better than anyone. Gabriel intently reviewed the plan. Twice.
“Maybe,” he said slowly as he handed it back.
On the monitor, a loud series of noises could be heard outside the cavern. Lela, Brett, the entire Africa team stood perfectly still and listened as what sounded like voices approaching from the distance.
“We need to assess,” Brett whispered, looking at Kye.
“I will inspect,” the guide said to Brett. Brett knew a native guide would be much more likely to go undetected, blend in with the forest, and not be harmed if found, but he was worried about the departure from the thoroughly-hidden cavern opening.
“I think they may see you exiting. We should just wait here,” Brett responded, for once not entirely convinced of his own decision.
“I walk without sound. No one sees me,” the guide responded.
“Okay,” Brett said, approving the action, and in a moment the man who walked among them that was really Kajika was gone.
“Isn’t he her protection?” Alexander asked, concerned.
“Yes, and he’s doing his job,” Saraceni reassured him.
Chapter 21
Lela and the others sat with a stillness approaching perfection, surrounded by the gentle amethyst glow of the sun cascading through the small rooftop opening and bouncing around the mineral walls like electrons within an atom. The vague distant noises drew closer and coalesced into shouting voices and the sound of many footsteps running quickly around the river’s edge. Mako looked at Lance, still clutching one of his colored cubes as if it were a security blanket. Rachel, who had been in the middle of mineral readings, gently flipped off the equipment and sat down next to her brother, Brian, rather than Kye. Brett, Kye, and the three other soldiers gathered around the only entrance in semicircular formation, ready to pick off anyone who entered. That was the one, and only, advantage of their position, aside from being concealed-that if they were discovered, the entrance was so narrow that enemies would be forced to enter one at a time.
The remainder of the science team picked up the assorted weapons they had gathered earlier. At least ¾ of them had large hunting knives, and those who did not held either pieces of metal or sharp-edged hunks of the DL mineral. Tina pulled out a 9mm sidearm and joined the soldiers by the doorway. Brett didn’t move a muscle, but looked at her inquisitively. She shrugged, aware she had flounced the rules of declaring weapons to the head of security-a surly, stout man who worked for Brett while he was temporarily assigned to the camp with Lela. Lela reflected briefly on the fact that less than thirty-six hours earlier she had been comfortably ensconced in her parent’s home, sorting through boxes and taking conference calls on speakerphone with a large glass of iced tea.
The voices drew closer and gunfire could be heard, though it sounded like random shots into the jungle to see if they might hit someone, which was exactly what the rebels were doing. They were firing at random hoping to hear a gasp or moan or shriek that might tell them in which direction the arrogant intruders had fled.
“It looks like they went into the river!” Kye heard one man shout in a local dialect, and whispered the translation to Brett and the others. Lela’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly exhilarated at the prospect of remaining alive. She closed her eyes tightly and thought to herself ‘If we get through this, God, I promise I will never mope around or take my life for granted again.’ she thought intensely and then continued praying to herself with her eyes closed. Many in the room were also praying, in 12 different languages and 6 different religions, all inwardly focused, and all silent, the force and energy of their conviction was almost tangible. In fact, the light of the mineral walls even seemed to grow just a shade brighter.
For a long time, the group heard nothing, but Brett knew it would require several hours and subsequent reports from his scouts before he would even consider relaxing. They continued to sit quietly, but the overall postures did seem to relax. A few people even went to sleep, fueled by their belief that the threat had passed. Just when their relaxation was near complete, they heard a noise outside the entrance to the cavern. Lela wrapped her hand more tightly around her hunting knife. Mako awoke abruptly and appeared alarmed. A few rocks tumbled away from the cavern entrance. Brett and team were poised to strike.
“It is me, the silent one,” the native guide, the unknown Kajika, called out to them. His foot appeared first, followed by his body and finally his head as he contorted his body to move through the narrow partial entrance.
“Quick, replace the entrance cover!” Brett ordered one of his men.
“They are gone. They have moved to the land of the rift valley,” the guide advised.
“Thank you,” Brett answered, truly grateful for the information, “but I would prefer to make sure they have left no individual scouts behind. Our team will sweep the area before anyone from the science team will exit.” Three of them left, replacing the entrance cover, and three remained with the weary camp members.
“Everyone please remain quiet. We will do a sweep of the area and if that’s successful, we can move out to the riverbank.”
“Calls of nature will certainly be easier out there,” Tina added jovially. Lance smirked and waved a jar back and forth to her.
“No problem here! I just scoot around that corner of rock over there and I’m hoooome freeee!”
he taunted with his Texas twang.
“Oh, yes, if only I were male-an homage to utilitarian construction,” she quipped back. Rachel laughed quietly, once again retrieving her monitoring instrumentation from the floor of the cavern, where she had placed it neatly on a jacket and covered it as if a delicate infant.
“What have you found so far?” Lela asked her, and the young intern was all too proud to present her project findings to the project lead. Still a freshman in college, Rachel already knew she wanted to do graduate work in geology and thought this project might help boost her credentials for one of the competitive spots at the University of Colorado, one of the top geology programs in the country.
“The readings are very high in the electromagnetic spectrum,” she pointed at the instrumentation, “and look at this-it’s almost 6 times higher in here than when I conducted independent readings of mineral samples back at the camp. Did they come from somewhere else?”
“No,” Lela crinkled her eyes at the data, “those samples came from here.”
“I knew you had found something in this zone!” Lance exclaimed. He turned to Mako and nudged him, which Mako bristled at slightly, not because he didn’t like the man, but because the gesture was too familiar for his taste. “Didn’t I tell you, Mako! That she found something out here?” Mako nodded affirmatively.
**************************
Back in the training room, Wood asked Kyle, viewing the monitor, “Did you get those mineral readings?”
“Yes.” Kyle viewed them and materialized a graph with a wave sin with an occasional peak. He pulled out a small metal clip from the machine and handed it to Wood.
“Would you like me to analyze this?” Wood asked Kyle.
“I just did,” Kyle responded. Wood looked surprised for only a second.
“How?” Wood responded, not grasping how Kyle had just skipped about fifty steps of the process he knew.
The Cupel Recruits Page 21