by YatesNZ, Jen
The bright blue eyes which a moment ago had been friendly and filled with laughter were suddenly dark and fixed on him with a menacing intent. Staring just as intently back, Torr was disconcerted to find another visage swimming in and out of his consciousness and for a moment he was badly unsettled.
Dogon. There had been no one in that other lifetime Taur had trusted or respected more. Dogon too had challenged him on Gynevra’s behalf. But it was not Dogon looking back at him through Casey Valois’ eyes.
He relaxed and, moving towards the door, said quietly, ‘We're fighting on the same side.’
With a slow, sleepy smile, Case said, ‘Good,’ rolled over and closed his eyes. ‘See you in the morning when I hope you'll feel like sharing whatever it was you just saw.’
Torr stopped, and leaning one arm against the doorpost, looked obliquely back at Valois. He might look sleepy and casual but nothing much slipped past him. Nor did he have any problem with sharing what he knew. It was as much Valois' to know as his own anyway.
‘We were half-brothers in Atlantis. You were Hadan of Trephysia, a Child of the Gods conceived on Queen Althaea of Trephysia by Cadal Isidor I of Nyalda, who was also the father of Taur, Cadal Isidor II of Nyalda—me. Our royal insignia was the Bull—much like you've got tattooed on your back. Hadan was more of a mystic and an academic than a warrior and was raised in Trephysia so I didn't know much about him. His wife was Meriane, Gynevra's half-sister; Merryn in this lifetime. They were killed in the crystal explosion which annihilated the whole of the Trephysian province. Gould was Gotham, your half-brother also.’
Case's eyes had begun to glitter and the lids to droop a little. Then he said softly, ‘Thanks. When you're a little less weary I'd like to hear more of what you know. George has already shared much with me and it is exactly as you have said. You guys have had an awesome experience and been given a priceless gift. I'd like to show you my collection of carved bulls sometime.’ Sitting up he thrust his hand towards Torr. ‘Brothers, huh? Any chance we will be again?’
Slowly Torr pushed himself away from the door and clasped Case's outstretched hand.
‘Yep.’
‘Good.’ Case smiled with satisfaction as Torr left the room.
In the bathroom Torr stared at his face in the wide mirror. He was under the same roof as Georgina yet they were as far apart as they'd ever been. What did you expect? he asked of the image in the glass, scored round the mouth with lines of weariness. What do you know of this woman who's as dear and familiar to you as the most ancient memories of your soul yet whose company you've enjoyed for only a few brief hours; who still has the power to fill you with a nameless, tortured fear-filled fury?
Gynevra would've been waiting for him, forthrightly demanding, ‘Your room or mine?’ He could imagine the Gina who'd walked away from him in Albert Park all those months ago, telling him to go home for she had no need of his assistance. The new Gina, the one he'd seen so briefly on the television screen two days ago, was unknown and had chosen to hide from him. At least she hadn't run or tried to send him away.
What if the metamorphosis to her ancient alter ego was complete and the way they'd been together in Atlantis felt as natural to her now as it had been then? Was he ready for that? His teeth ground involuntarily together.
His body was. But instinct told him that now more than ever Gina would put Fran and Gould's safety before her own happiness. She carried an ancient world of guilt in her soul—as did he.
What if after all she rejected him and there was to be no relief from the pain and despair that had been so brutally uncovered from deep in his soul?
She was drinking coffee and waiting for them in the dining room of the once stately home now converted for B&B guests when they entered it next morning. He saw her immediately, hair a river-fall of golden bronze over her shoulders and luminous golden eyes fixed on the doorway. For a disconcerting moment he was Taur staring across the sacred pool at the Adonai and her handmaidens. The ache in his gut and lower was the same he'd felt then when his eyes had come to the copper-haired handmaiden with eyes of feral gold. She'd been denied to him then too.
His feet stopped. Case and other guests coming behind jostled round him like the flow of water round an island in mid-river. Scarcely aware of them, or even of where he was, he gazed at her. This was the woman he'd recognized at Auckland Airport in April.
‘Golden One.’
‘Taur.’
She rose to her feet. Dressed simply in a sleeveless rose colored top and white trousers, her tall, slender, full-breasted figure showed to advantage. His mouth went dry. He'd desired her in neutral colors and asexual business attire. The difference was as fundamental as if the woman facing him across the antiquely ornate dining room had stripped naked.
Then she smiled, a tentative, vulnerable smile and she was the old Gina again. Torr stepped forward, aware he was going to find himself watching her, fascinated to discover who she was at any given moment of time—the old Gina, the new, or Gynevra? He had only one clear thought as he approached her and this he projected to her, their minds so attuned he never considered withholding it.
‘I dare not touch you.’
Breathe, Georgina commanded herself. Her chest compressed with the pain of oxygen deprivation while her eyes devoured every magnificent inch of him. He was here! Her memory jostled confused images and emotions of the last time she'd seen him—in both lifetimes. A few months ago he'd quit her house, eyes cold and stride purposeful and she'd thought never to see him again. Nor had she understood how his leaving could be so painful when she'd only known him two days. But now, as the cruel vision of their parting in another millennium flashed through her mind, she could scarcely encompass the wonder of realizing they were being given another chance. More wondrous still, they both understood the magnitude of the gift.
Clutching the edge of the table to keep from reaching for him, she allowed her eyelids to droop in understanding. When they touched reality would cease to be real, other's lives or needs would cease to matter or even exist. They daren't yet open the Gates of Time on who they were to each other.
Legs suddenly as limp as wet rope, Georgina subsided to her seat as the men settled themselves opposite and silence hung between them. Then disconcertingly, she recognized anger glinting in Torr's eyes.
‘You escaped and left me to die alone!’
The thoughts were a stab-wound to the heart but she couldn't drag her gaze from his.
‘I had to try. I was Atlantis's only hope. I'd been taught that all my life.’
‘We should have died together. You should have died in my arms. Atlantis was doomed anyway.’
‘I think, maybe, I understand that now. I'm sorry.’
Green gaze locked with gold then Georgina lowered her gaze in an effort to regain control of her mind. The thought patterns flowed between them as effortlessly, as simply, as they had all those millennia ago.
His glance dancing softly between them, Case said, ‘How about we get some food? The breakfast buffet is quite comprehensive—and I'm hungry.’
Georgina turned to Case and the tension eased out of her body. Her tall, lean brother-in-law was always hungry. It was a family joke.
‘When aren't you?’ she asked with a relieved grin. Then she turned back to Torr and found the strength to say simply, ‘I'm glad you're here. You're probably hungry too so let’s get some food, then we can talk.’
Settled at the table once again, the men with heaped plates of ham, eggs, tomato and chips and Georgina with hot rolls, fresh fruit and coffee, an awkward silence settled over them once again. To her relief, Case took over.
Sitting back and stretching his long legs under the table, he looked from one to the other of them, then said, ‘You guys are going to have to start talking if we're going to make anything happen. We went to the Coast Guard Headquarters yesterday and met with Commander Abernathy, Torr. He's the Commanding Officer in Charge of Search and Rescue Operations. Though he was very sympatheti
c to our family connections to Fran and Gould he wasn't about to let us past his office. He was very gentle with us, very reassuring; he understands what a strain we're under—’
‘He thinks we're nuts,’ Georgina put in baldly, glad to find her brain functioning now Case had opened communications.
‘What exactly did you tell him?’ Torr asked.
Georgina couldn't help the smile that twisted her lips as she cast a glance at Case before answering.
‘I decided there was nothing to be gained from not telling them exactly how it is. I explained in detail how ancient Atlantean crystals had exploded and how such explosions split the crystals cleanly into four segments that imploded downward into the earth. I explained how rogue energies, caused because the crystal exploded before it could be programmed, created a force field strong enough to de-materialize people, ships, planes—and this is what we believe has happened to the ‘Astrid’.’
‘You're thinking this was the Trephysian crystal? The one that killed Gotham—and—Solon?’
And Meryan and Hadan. Georgina bit down hard on her lip. His memory of that lifetime, it seemed, was as complete as her own. They shared the same knowledge, of ancient grief, guilt,—love.
‘Especially love.’
Her glance flew to his before she could control it and the fire she saw burning in his eyes singed the edges of her composure. Motionless except for the clench of her fingers round the knife, she dragged in a slow deep breath before answering his spoken question.
‘Yes, it is. A segment of it's become exposed.’
‘What did the Commander have to say about that?’
His voice had taken on a deep husky timbre and she kept her eyes determinedly averted. Instinct warned her, many millennia notwithstanding, this man's ability to deflect her from the path of duty was as strong as it had ever been.
Gazing fixedly at the bread roll on her plate, she continued, ‘He said there was no evidence to support my claims, that the energies were notoriously unstable in that area, that sooner or later they always came back to normal and when that happened they'd send in a helicopter to find the yacht. He has every confidence they'll be found alive and well—on the water where they've been all along.’
Impatience shimmered around him as he sat back in his chair, coffee cup poised in his hand.
‘I wonder what he bases that confidence on when the number of ships and planes that have disappeared in the area without trace is reaching legendary proportions?’
Shaking her head, Georgina said, ‘He made quite a show of listening patiently to me but I could see he wasn't really hearing what I was saying. So I asked him outright to arrange for Case and I to be taken as close as possible to opposite sides of the force field so we could program the crystal segment that's been exposed by earthquake and subsidence. He started to get a bit edgy then and began talking about us not having the necessary security clearance and other stuff like that. We were suddenly hustled out of the office because he had another meeting he was supposed to be at.’
Torr speared a piece of the succulent ham and held it poised half way to his mouth.
‘That was to be expected. A week ago I'd have done the same. In fact, I'd probably have called in the men in white coats to take you away.’ He paused, glancing briefly at the ham, then back to Georgina. In a voice low and harsh with tension he asked, ‘Ellen told you I had the same—dreams—you had?’
Once again her gaze was snagged by his. Words wouldn't form. She'd known of course, but to hear him voice it shivered the cords of their soul connection and the vibration of it hummed through every nerve of her physical being. She nodded.
Slowly placing the ham back on his plate, Torr continued, ‘Gynevra taught Taur to program the crystals and how to balance the energy. I am Taur. I know what he knew. I know what can happen if it goes wrong. When I saw you on the television I knew what you planned was dangerous even though you said nothing of it. I knew I had to be here.’
He paused while a maid with a large silver coffee pot replenished their cups. When she left he continued.
‘The synchronicity in all of this can't be denied. My presence in New Zealand when I could so easily have sent someone else to do that job; the timing of my illness; being in hospital to see you talking to that reporter. Even the ‘knowing’ when we first met. If it hadn't been for that, I'd still be arguing that my dreams were just that, weird dreams. Instead, I knew the moment Ellen and Merryn began talking they were much more. You're not alone in what you know, Gina. I know this stuff, too.’
Taur had called her Gyn’a. For a moment they dared to let their gazes mesh and the energy dancing between them was every bit as volatile as that of any rogue fire crystal. When their eyes met she felt her energy become a vortex of shimmering, sparkling need, knew he felt it too. He dropped his attention to the scarcely touched food on his plate, and sat motionless until the air stopped crackling between them.
‘What did you plan to do next?’ he asked huskily.
‘We're supposed to have another meeting with Commander Abernathy at ten-thirty this morning but I seriously doubt we'll get anywhere near his office again,’ Case said, giving Georgina time to order her thoughts.
She began peeling an orange while fighting her mind into focus.
‘We did think of approaching the local boat clubs to see if we could hire someone to take us out but that seems unlikely. The attitude of the locals is interesting—bordering on hysteria or paranoia. They either don't want to talk to us or immediately start prattling about aliens and space visitations.’
‘The only other thing we thought of doing,’ Case added, ‘was going public, causing a stir on local television or something. It's big news at home yet here it hardly rates a mention—like it’s just another statistic. I guess they think if they don't talk about it they won't have to worry about what's causing the problem out there, or even have to admit there is one. I got the impression from Commander Aber-what'sit they just expect either the yacht will be found floating in the Triangle once the force field dissipates, if it dissipates, or she's simply another statistic, another mysterious disappearance in the Devil's Triangle. They arrogantly discount George's ‘knowing’ yet they know nothing!’
‘And the longer they hold us off the less likelihood we have of bringing them back sane or even alive,’ Georgina broke in. ‘I tuned into the energy this morning. I believe they're still there—but for how much longer? Do you have any idea how long someone can survive in that state?’
Torr put down his knife and fork and said gently, ‘Imagine you'd put that question to Dogon. How do you think he'd have answered?’
There was nothing he didn't remember!
Georgina stilled, her eyes on his large dark hands where they rested by his place mat. She didn't dare lift her gaze any higher. Those hands were distracting enough. It was all too easy to visualize them swinging a great iron broadsword, gentling a restive stallion—or bathing her body with the steaming crystalline water of a golden spa. He had those memories too.
‘If only I had you there now.’
‘Control your thoughts! Fran and Gould's lives may well depend on our clear thinking.’
‘As you command Golden One, but only until they're safe.’
Forcing her focus back to the plate in front of her, Georgina was astonished to find she'd peeled and segmented the orange. Dogon, she muttered to herself, arranging the segments in a star shape on her plate, what had Dogon taught about the state of dematerialization?
Trembling a little, she took several slow breaths to center herself in that place of ancient knowing that had been Gynevra's, a place that still filled her with a deep sense of wonder every time she connected with it. At last she fixed her eyes somewhere about the middle of the table.
‘The danger isn't to be found in the state of de-materialization but in the manner of coming and going to or from it. Handled incorrectly this can result in insanity or even death on re-materialization. While in the state of de-mate
rialization a person floats in a condition of euphoria. It's very pleasant and given the choice at this point one would choose not to return. Thus it's wise to clearly certify the intention to return before entering this altered state of being. One should also be prepared for travelers rescued from such a state to be resentful, ungrateful and certainly disorientated. More especially if the state of de-materialization has been summarily visited upon an unenlightened soul without his desire or knowledge. Intense healing will be required using the color rays of indigo, gold, and deep rose pink.’
Lapsing into silence, Georgina dropped her eyes to her own hands now resting on her thighs. She didn't dare look at Torr. What was he thinking?
‘That we've both been given a gift of knowledge more precious than anything either of us could ever have imagined and now we have to find a way of using that gift.’
Breathing deeply, heart awash with emotion, Georgina could only nod. Precious indeed!
Then he said aloud, ‘We have to convince your Commander to take us out there with back-up medical personnel.’
‘But where exactly?’ Case asked.
‘I could pin-point the position of the crystal and where we need to be positioned to program it if the Coast Guard would give us access to a map showing the co-ordinates of the force field. I also believe I could be fairly accurate as to where the yacht would reappear,’ Georgina said. ‘The problem is in getting them to listen to me.’