~~~ >< ~~~
Later that afternoon, a more casually dressed Xander asked Badru to accompany him on a walk through one of the nature trails of the swamp. He wanted to show Dr. Karson the exact location of their mushroom-shaped spacecraft. Nasiir was back at the homestead keeping Afua company while she prepared dinner.
When they got to a modest hilltop, Xander pointed to an area by a bog. “Our ship is located right on the southeast corner of the mossy wetlands.”
“Your cloaking system must be immaculate, because I see no signs of your ship anywhere in that area.” Badru strained his eyes through the binoculars he used. He’d already been told that the Katanian spacecraft could not be detected with sophisticated Earth radars. Now he realized that it couldn’t even be detected with the natural eye.
“It is excellent and even has a soundproofing element to it.” As he spoke, Xander touched a button on the watch-looking device on his wrist. “Now do you see it?”
Badru nodded as a fleeting purple light shot up in the air from the midst of the bog. “How deep is it buried?” He knew that swamp water depth was usually shallow, seldom greater than nine feet. Bogs averaged around eight feet.
“About fifty feet. The bottom of the ship drilled the necessary hole in order to hide us from plain view.” Xander put his hands in the pockets of the black denims he wore. On Katan, he’d worn a multitude of colors like everyone else. However, on Earth he had to dress more subtly, which explains all the black garments he wore on a daily basis, regardless of style.
Just then, a tour group passed by them on the way to another trail. At the head of this eight-person group was a young woman named Lilly. She was one of Afua’s coworkers.
At the rear of this group was a tall blonde woman and a little boy that looked to be about five years old. The woman was scolding the child for walking too slowly. Xander instantly discerned that the harsh words the mother said were having a damaging effect on the child’s essence.
Seeking to put an end to the emotional injury, he stepped forward and spoke his peace. “Miss, I implore you to stop your flow of grievous words immediately.[ii] You are damaging the child. His spirit, soul, and body need more pleasant words to grow healthy and strong[iii],” Xander said as Badru came and stood beside him.
The woman stopped in her tracks, causing the little boy to bump into her right leg. “What’s it to you? He’s not your son,” she said as the others in the group halted to silently observe.
The raven-haired leader of the group looked relieved that someone had finally said something about the boy’s mistreatment. Lilly had been entirely too polite, too afraid of offending anyone to say anything. Besides, these days people tried hard to stay out of each other’s business. Especially since the government was constantly invading their privacies.
“The child does not have to be my offspring for me to be concerned for his emotional well-being,” Xander replied in his usual straightforward way. “However, I am deeply troubled that you do not seem to care one way or the other.”
“I love my son!” the woman retorted as bright red spots appeared in her cheeks.
“I am sure you do, just not enough to work through your personal frustrations before dealing with your child about an unrelated matter.” Xander refused to believe that that great wall of flashing red light within the woman’s essence had been solely generated by a slow-walking child. No, something bigger had to have laid that stony foundation.
“I…” the blonde woman stumbled over her words as guilt attacked her soul. She really had been overly angry with her son today. In fact, she started this tour on a bad note by arguing with the child’s father right before they left home.
“Besides, the child’s legs are short. He can only walk so fast anyway,” Xander continued. “Perhaps you should have asked the leader to slow the group down a bit or else carried the beloved child. He seems light enough.”
“I’m a big boy. Too big for Mommy to carry me,” the blonde child said, smiling at this stranger that had come to his rescue. He’d never seen his mother slammed speechless by a man before. She usually had tons of mean words to say to everybody when she was angry.
Xander came closer with a smile. “I imagine you are not too big for me to carry.” He turned to the boy’s mother. “I will feel privileged to carry your son the rest of the way, Miss.”
“I…uh…okay.” The blonde woman looked around self-consciously. How could she refuse such a kind, thoughtful request?
Xander looked to the lad again and grinned. “Which will it be? The back or the neck?” He pointed to those areas respectively.
“The neck!” the boy replied excitedly. He loved heights and the benevolent man was definitely tall enough to satisfy that preference.
“If it’s okay with the tour guide, I think I’ll take that walk, too,” Badru piped in, looking upon Xander with admiration. The young man had taken quite a chance by speaking up like that. Badru was glad that it all worked out so well.
“You are both welcome to join us, Dr. Karson,” Lilly replied, giving her consent to her coworker’s father and his friend.
“Thank you, Lilly. However, I will need to call Afua first and tell her we’re going to be a little late for dinner.” Badru pulled out his mobile phone and proceeded to do just that.
________________________________________
[i] Hebrews 12:1
[ii] Proverbs 15:1
[iii] Proverbs 16:24
Chapter 18
2188 – August
After two grueling months of planning and gathering evidence with Dr. Karson in order to strategically expose Vice President Horrell, Xander and Nasiir both thought it would be a good idea if they all took a short break before the planet-changing festivities began. The rest and relaxation would do them all a lot of good.
Nasiir desperately wanted to see Pendo and his Hekiman family again. Xander also felt the need to visit his family on Katan. He especially wanted to talk to his adopted father about a few things. Things that he didn’t want to discuss in front of the room full of scientists that he and Nasiir normally communicated with every night. They would leave tonight after they made the promised visit to see Lakota again.
Xander left a note under Lakota’s door earlier in the week, stating when and what time they’d be there for Bible fellowship. For some reason, Nasiir thought it would be a great idea to invite Badru and Afua to come with them. Especially after he heard Xander’s report about what happened inside the church that first Sunday he was in bird form.
Fortunately, Afua felt absolutely led to go to this Bible fellowship and thus consented to be present.
When they all arrived at Lakota’s house on that overcast day, Afua tried to remain in the background after all the introductions were made. She could clearly pick up that the Native American woman was interested in Xander. Very interested.
As a result of what she’d picked up about Lakota, Afua sought to better hide her own feelings about Xander. Unfortunately, one look in his direction and she knew instantly that he could see exactly what she was feeling. Why else would he have that knowing look on his face again?
No fair, Afua complained silently. For a split second, she truly wished that Xander wasn’t so discerning. However, since she knew that he could only see what God allowed him to see, she quickly got her attitude straight again.
“Would any of you like something to drink before the others arrive?” Lakota asked, after escorting her guests to her black and red themed living room. She’d spoken to all of them, but her eyes had been glued to Xander’s face the whole time.
“No, thank you. Nasiir and I are fine.” Xander smiled warmly at Lakota from the red settee he sat on. Nasiir sat at his feet near the front door on the left.
Lakota blushed and reluctantly turned to acknowledge the other early arrivals. “And what about you two?” She looked at the Karsons now.
“I’d like some water please,” Afua replied, forcing herself not to dis
like Lakota simply because they were fond of the same man.
“Nothing for me, thanks,” Badru said from his place beside his daughter on the easternmost black leather sofa. “I consumed enough liquids on the way over.” In order to stay healthy, Dr. Karson usually drank more than the required glasses of water each day, which explains all those containers of spring water in the backseat of his car.
“Perhaps you would like to use my facilities then?” Lakota chuckled, instantly liking the older man.
Badru grinned and rose to his feet. “Perhaps I would. Just show me the way.”
While Lakota showed Badru the way to the bathroom and fulfilled that single drink order, Xander got up and went over to sit by Afua. He’d wanted to do so earlier, but their hostess had seemed adamant about him sitting on the smaller sofa where she’d already placed her Bible.
“I did not get a chance to tell you earlier, but I think you look wonderful in purple,” Xander said, openly admiring Afua’s new skirt-set as he sat facing her with one hand behind her head.
Across the room, Nasiir nodded his approval. His Doberman ears were very alert, despite the fact that the rest of him appeared to be leisurely lounging upon all fours with not a care in the world.
Afua blushed despite herself. “Thanks, Xander. I looked for this in gray, but they didn’t have it in that color. You would have thought they would since natural fibers cost so much more these days and the chance of anyone spending all that money on purple is like slim to none.” She could feel herself rambling, yet she couldn’t seem to stop herself. If only he wasn’t sitting so deliciously close to her right now.
Xander issued another knowing smile as he saw the beautiful colors of Afua’s essence deepen with affection for him. Why wouldn’t she just let herself go in that area?
Discerning that this was not the time to speak on that matter, Xander instead said, “I am glad they did not have it in gray. You wear too much gray as it is.”
Afua’s arched brows rose at his bluntness. “I…wear too much gray?” She didn’t know whether to be offended or not by his comments.
“Yes, as if you were trying to fade into the background of life,” Xander replied, just as bluntly.
Afua blinked at the depth of his perception. Although she was no longer trying to blend in with a crowd, she was still trying to be inconspicuous in life. “Not everyone wants to stand out, Xander.”
“Yet some do anyway without even trying to.” Xander’s voice was much softer now. “Besides, purple suits you much better and it is also my favorite color,” he added with a smile that sent Afua’s heart racing with joy.
I wish I’d known that little piece of information, Lakota mused as she suddenly appeared in the entryway with a drink in her hand. She’d worn a white column dress today, because she thought it made her look more wholesome. More worthy of Xander’s love.
However, from the cozy way he was sitting by Afua and from what little Lakota had heard of their conversation, it was obvious that he’d already found the woman he wanted to give his love to.
“Here’s your drink, Afua,” Lakota announced, making her presence known. She now had to fight to be civil to a woman she’d initially liked at first sight. A woman that she now saw as competition.
Afua’s head snapped around to look at Lakota. Even if she wasn’t discerning, there was no way she could have missed the sharp emphasis that had been put upon her name. Deciding to deal with the Xander situation promptly before it got out of hand and clogged up the flow of the Spirit, Afua rose to her feet.
“Thank you, Lakota. Can I speak to you alone for a minute please?” Afua asked, receiving the drink in her hand.
“Sure,” Lakota replied, convinced that the woman was going to take her aside and warn her off Xander. However, when they got to the kitchen, she heard something else altogether.
~~~ >< ~~~
Back in the living room, Xander returned to his original seat near the door. He’d seen the color of envy in both women’s essence and now wished that he had just stayed put. He hadn’t meant to incite those feelings in either woman, but it was growing increasingly difficult to keep his affection for Afua contained. It was hard enough keeping a respectable distance from her when he wanted to be no farther than a breath away at all times.
Hearing one of Lakota’s neighbors come to the unlocked front door, Xander bent down by Nasiir. “Go in the back and check on the women,” he whispered, pretending to tie the shoes he’d grown quite accustomed to wearing now.
Just then, Badru reentered the room. “Have I missed anything?” he asked, seeing Afua gone and Nasiir on the way to the kitchen.
“Nothing worth talking about,” Xander replied. Then he rose to greet the newcomer at the door in Lakota’s stead.
Chapter 19
“So you’re trying to tell me that there is nothing going on between you and Xander?” Lakota said, after hearing Afua out. “I have eyes, Afua. Even if I was blind, I would still be able to see the sparks flying between you two.”
Afua shook her head and put the glass in her hands on top of the nearest black-tiled countertop. She hated being misunderstood. She also hated that even Lakota had been able to see what she’d been trying to hide for months.
Who else knew how she felt about Xander?
“There may be sparks flying, but nothing has been ignited,” Afua admitted truthfully. In the distance, she could hear the doorbell sounding, signaling the arrival of more guests.
“Nothing has been ignited…yet,” Lakota inserted, understanding a whole lot more now and becoming increasingly all right with it. “The way I see it, it’s only a matter of time before a raging forest fire starts between you two.”
“But I’m not trying to fall in love with Xander. I’m not trying to fall in love with anyone,” Afua replied. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nasiir enter the room.
Nosy Hekiman. Afua wondered how much of this he was going to tell Xander. Probably all since they were the best of friends.
“And yet you have fallen in love with Xander anyway,” Lakota deduced with a smile as she casually leaned against the eastern counter of her kitchen. She couldn’t help but like the honest, sweet-spirited woman.
Afua took a deep breath and hung her head. This conversation had not gone the way she intended at all. “Whether I love Xander or not still won’t change the fact that I will freely get out of the way if he chooses to love another,” she said.
Afua was still trying to give Lakota the green light to go after Xander if she wanted to, despite how much it pained her to do so. In her eyes, Lakota was a much better pick than Era any day. Even with her sordid past, at least the ex-prostitute wasn’t a hypocrite.
Lakota smiled wider, standing upright again. “Willing to sacrifice your own happiness for his, huh? Yep, you love him. Doesn’t she, Nasiir?” She turned to look at the attentive canine in their midst.
When Nasiir appeared to nod in agreement, Lakota laughed and patted his head affectionately. “See, even the dog agrees with me.” She looked at Afua again. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think some of the others have arrived.”
As Lakota left the kitchen to attend to her new guests, Nasiir looked up at Afua and winked.
“Nosy Hekiman,” she said, speaking what she’d been thinking all along. Afua heard him chuckle behind her as she walked out of the kitchen shortly thereafter. She never did drink that glass of water.
~~~ >< ~~~
Within the first ten minutes of the Bible study, Xander discovered another purpose for being on earth – annihilate spiritual ignorance. From the crowd that had gathered here today, it was obvious that there was a severe lack of understanding concerning God and His Word.
Among the thirty plus people now crammed into Lakota’s small living room, ten were there just to see this man Lakota had deemed with special powers. They hadn’t come to fellowship in the Bible at all.
Another fifteen had come with diseases that they wanted healed, as if
Xander had any healing power of his own. The most he could do was led them to the Word for it was the Word that healed[i], not man.
Sadly, the last five people came today to cause confusion. The evil spirits attached to them actually sneered at Xander when they walked through the door with their human hosts. Afua obviously saw them, too, because she immediately began to pray under her breath.
Five more minutes into the Bible study, Xander saw one of those evil spirits whisper in a woman’s ear. It wasn’t two minutes later that the same woman uttered what had been told to her.
“God does not heal today. That stuff was in the olden days before medical science had evolved. Doctors and medicines heal nowadays. If they can’t heal you, then you must be meant to be sick,” the woman said, totally unaware that she’d just been used by the wrong spirit.
On top of that, the woman acted as if those faithless words had been all her idea. She seemed oblivious to the fact that the very words she’d spoken enabled the evil spirit attached to her to start moving upon those words. Muddy-colored doubt was actually being deposited into the hearts and minds of certain listeners. Many of whom were ill and without the funds necessary to get the high-priced medicine that would cure them.
Xander actually felt sorry for the deceived woman. However, Afua did not. In fact, she became almost warrior-like. The first thing she did was stand up and rebuke that evil spirit.
Afua wielded the name of Jesus and the scriptures like a two-edged sword[ii]. This caused the Divine light of the Creator to slice through the doubtful words that had been sown, creating a large gash clear through the soul and spirit of the deceived woman herself.
Suddenly the woman’s eyes became open. Suddenly she could see what had prompted her to speak so rashly, so foolhardily. And just as suddenly she grew very afraid and began to scream, as if for dear life.
The evil spirit, which had used the woman for years, also screamed in fright for it had no place else to hide. It was without a host now. The other evil spirits in the room began to tremble[iii] for they knew they would be dealt with next.
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