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The next day, Thomas Le Clair sat outside the Tibetan Buddhist temple in Dharamsala, India, waiting for an interview with Lama Tenzin. Thomas accepted the chipped white cup filled with tea that his guide offered him.
Thomas’s trip from Germany had been long, but not as long as the trip the refugees in Dharamsala had endured when they’d left their homes in Tibet. His guide had showed him around the village, school, hospital, and crafts center. The Tibetan refugees had accomplished a miracle and Thomas would leave a large contribution at the end of his visit.
He leaned back against one of the trunks of the banyan tree that shaded him. The sounds of chanting wafted out to where he sat and he closed his eyes, letting the sound carry him inward. His breath quieted and the muscles in his back and neck relaxed.
Some time later, Thomas realized all was quiet. He opened his eyes to find his guide approaching with a man dressed in the deep red robes of this sect. Thomas unfolded his legs, putting the tingling of one foot out of his mind, and stood to greet the monks.
“Mr. Le Clair,” his guide said with a slight bow, “Lama Tenzin.”
Thomas folded his hands together and bowed lower. “Namaste.”
“The lama asks if you would accompany him to his office.
If it is agreeable with you, I will serve as your interpreter.”
“I would be honored,” Thomas said.
The guide nodded to Lama Tenzin, who led the way down a flagstone path flanked with calla lilies. He walked through a low door. Thomas followed and found himself in a small room looking out on a garden. Lama Tenzin gestured to one of the pillows surrounding a low table, and Thomas took a seat, tucking his legs beneath him once again.
Lama Tenzin spoke to the guide, who then asked, “How may we help you, Mr. Le Clair?”
Thomas took a long breath, then began his story. “I belong to a family that accepted a spiritual responsibility long in the past, and the time to fulfill an important part of that obligation is drawing near. We are in possession of an important artifact, a crystal. The legend surrounding this stone tells us that one who can unlock the crystal’s secret will use it ‘to restore the flow.’ These are all the instructions that remain about the stone. The rest has been lost over the centuries.”
As the monk translated, Lama Tenzin’s gaze retained the same friendly openness from before, as if he were not surprised by Thomas’s recitation.
“My family has researched the history of the stones over the years, and our information indicates there are six crystals that must be used in conjunction to accomplish their task. My sister has become the new Keeper of our crystal and, based on her experiences, we think she is the one we have been waiting for.
“Our astrologers alerted us to an important alignment occurring on February first. We call it a Star of David alignment, two intersecting triangles. This, along with other indications, suggests the time has come.”
Lama Tenzin listened to the translation, then said something to the guide. The guide laid out a piece of paper and pen. “Can you draw this alignment?”
Thomas drew the alignment, indicating the signs. “I’m not familiar with Tibetan astrology, so I’ve indicated the Western names.”
The lama studied Thomas’s drawing for a moment, then nodded for him to continue.
“We believe we’ve discovered four of the crystals. One is held by a man who is a descendant of the Hebrew Levite priesthood. Another by a man whose father took it from the Nazis at the end of World War II. We haven’t traced his genealogy, so don’t know more about his family’s origins.”
Lama Tenzin spoke with his guide for a moment. They seemed to be clarifying what Thomas had just said. “Please continue,” the guide said.
“The fourth is in Egypt, kept by a family with ties to the original wisdom schools there. Recently, I did some research in the library of a well-known metaphysical family who kept documents away from the Inquisition.”
The lama and guide spoke together, then the guide said, “Something like our own experience now.”
Thomas agreed. He paused for a moment out of respect, then continued his tale. “In this library, I discovered a scroll that suggested a Tibetan master served in the court of the ancient Egyptian king Akhenaten with the title Amenhotep, Son of Hapi. As you may know, this king was murdered and his followers fled Egypt. Amenhotep returned to his homeland and the scroll suggested he carried with him an important artifact.”
Lama Tenzin sat forward, his eyes intent on Thomas’s face.
Thomas had the sensation that the man could see to the bottom of his soul. He didn’t flinch under this scrutiny. “This artifact was referred to as ‘the key to wisdom.’ Three of the other crystals have been traced back to this same moment in history. I believe the Tibetans may be holding a fifth crystal.”
Lama Tenzin and his guide spoke for a long time.
Thomas schooled himself to patience, something he had thought he was gifted with until he sat with the Tibetan Buddhists. Then he realized he was still in elementary school.
Finally, the lama and guide looked up at him. The guide said, “Lama Tenzin believes your request is important and your heart is pure.”
Thomas bowed his head behind his joined palms.
“He says you should travel to the Samye Monastery between Tsetang and Lhasa. This is our oldest monastery and, if this information is available, the monks there will have it.”
Again Thomas thanked the men.
“Of course, we cannot accompany you since we would be immediately arrested, but there are travel agencies that specialize in treks to Tibet. This would be the best cover for you. Tomorrow I can put you in touch with the right people. Tonight you will be our guest?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Thomas replied.
The guide stood and bowed to Lama Tenzin. Thomas followed suit.
“Please accept my thanks for your help,” Thomas said. “This work is vital to the world’s well-being.”
The guide translated this, then the lama replied in Tibetan. The guide said, “Lama Tenzin agrees. He says he is pleased to serve the light, but he wishes to do a ceremony for you before you leave. Tomorrow morning. Then we will see the travel agent.”
“Your blessing may well make the difference between success and failure.” Thomas bowed low.
The ceremony took most of the next morning. Thomas quelled the thought that kept repeating in his mind, that the Star of David alignment was only eight days away, and focused on the long chants. After two hours, Thomas nodded off. Those hard mats hadn’t been conducive to sleep last night. A blast from the ra-long horns woke him with a rush of adrenaline. From the corner of his eye he saw Lama Tenzin laugh. Thomas smiled at himself and sat up, regaining his focus. After another half-hour, Lama stood and anointed him with sweet-smelling oil and gave him a prayer scarf. Although the ceremony had taken a good chunk of time, it had been powerful and Thomas felt a shift in his energy. He was lucky to gain the blessings of such a high lama for their mission.
The rest of the afternoon was spent getting visas. He was able to cut down on red tape by spreading a lot of money around. In India, he understood this was business as usual. Next he consulted with Ralph, the family’s pilot, about filing a flight plan. Luckily, he still had the family jet. That would save time. When his guide pulled their car into the airport, Thomas noticed a blue BMW he’d seen earlier outside the government office. Most of the vehicles in India were buses or mopeds. The few cars were left over from the British, so this one had CIA written all over it. Or even worse. But why would they deliberately stand out? Were they trying to intimidate him?
“I think that car is following us. Can you slow down so I can get a look at the driver?”
“Of course. People who visit Lama Tenzin are often watched.”
“I’d like to get a look at him if I can.”
The guide pulled the car over, pretending to read the signs, and the Beemer drove past them. The driver looked European or American. Thomas couldn’t make out the color of his eyes or hair underneath his Fedora, but he had a large hooked nose that should make him easy to identify.
Once the arrangements were made for the next day’s early morning flight, Thomas returned to the monastery, where he stayed the night. Tossing and turning on the mats, Thomas finally got up around two o’clock and walked out toward the road. The blue car was parked across from the main entrance to the temple.
Not even trying to hide.
☥☥☥
On Tuesday morning, Anne woke in Michael’s arms and without a word they moved together again. This time there was no cosmic event, no blending of lives, just Anne and Michael together in the present moment. Their lovemaking was gentle, like the mourning doves calling to each other outside their window. When they lay still again, Anne whispered, “Our timing is terrible. Now I have to go make eyes at Paul Marchant.”
Michael traced the line of her collarbone, then ran his fingers gently down her sternum and around each nipple. Anne turned over on her side and pushed against Michael, relishing the warmth against her back. He shifted position and entered her again. Afterward, they drifted back to sleep.
Some time later, the phone rang. Michael grunted as she moved to answer it.
“Wake-up call,” she said, and closed her eyes again.
“Do you want to go to Dahshur today?”
“Hum?” Anne turned back to him sleepily.
“To Dahshur. That’s where the conference is going.”
She frowned in imitation of a petulant child. “Do we have to get up?”
Michael kissed her forehead and said, “We have business to attend to.”
“Business. I much prefer no business.”
“Tahir wants us to take the crystals into the Red Pyramid.”
“Haven’t we done enough initiations yet?” Anne turned over and looked up at Michael.
His eyes took on a mischievous gleam. “I’m surprised you’re not eager to see Paul. I thought you had a date.”
Anne pinched him.
“Ouch.”
“It’s not a date. Besides, Mr. Marchant doesn’t grace the tours with his presence.”
“I need to go, though.”
“Oh, all right.”
They showered together and Anne thought they’d have a third round, but it was not to be.
“You need to refuel,” she teased.
Michael kissed her deeply, the warm water running down their bodies. After a minute, he pulled back. “Tonight.”
“That’s a date.” She stood for another minute in the warm water, taking it all in. Finally, they were together. And it all felt so normal. Not the usual jostling of preferences, the compromises. Michael fit like tailor-made clothes.
Michael dried off, then picked his wrinkled pants off the floor and pulled them on.
“Let’s hope no one’s watching,” he said, as he opened the door to Anne’s suite and peeked out.
Arnold stood in the hallway pretending to read the paper. He turned to him and said, “The coast is clear.”
Anne changed and headed for breakfast. Arnold sauntered behind her, his head turning from side to side as he surveyed the grounds.
“Michael was not observed,” he said.
“Good.” She took in his slight smile. “What?”
“Nothing.”
After Anne filled her plate at the buffet, Debbie and Rita waved her over to their table. “Where were you?” Rita asked.
“You missed it,” Debbie said. “His presentation was incredible.”
“Who did I miss?”
“Kramer!” Rita looked at her compatriot. “Honestly, she’s impossible.”
“You look awfully relaxed this morning. What did you do?” Debbie asked.
“I took the day off. I knew I could rely on you to tell me what I missed.”
The two embarked on a detailed explanation of Kramer’s conspiracy theories, relieving Anne of any explanations. She saw Michael come in and a rush of warmth filled her. She turned her eyes back to the two women, trying to pass off her reaction to Michael as shock at Kramer’s revelation of how the Masons were running the United States military.
They talked all the way to the Red Pyramid. Halfway up the steep climb to the pyramid’s entrance, their breath gave out. Anne saw Paul Marchant get off the second bus. When he came to the first steps of the climb, he gallantly offered a hand to Maria Lol Ha, ignoring the two warrior priests who walked in front of and behind them.
What’s he up to, she wondered.
The door to the inside of the pyramid was a third of the way up the side. Once there, they had to climb back down two hundred fifty feet into the bowels of the structure. This took all her attention. The passage was just under four feet high and, after last night’s workout, Anne’s thighs started to burn. She was in the middle of the group, so she couldn’t stop to rest. She stretched her legs as soon as she arrived in the first chamber. Many in the group climbed the steps at the other end of the first chamber to view the smaller cavities, but Anne sat on the stone floor waiting for Tahir to begin. He placed them in a triple-layered circle for his ritual. She leaned gratefully against the limestone wall and Tahir began his chant.
This was not his usual brief chant. He went on, his volume intensifying until the echoes and harmonics from his voice seemed to vibrate the massive structure. The vibration spread under the pyramid and stretched to the north and south, seeming to make the land itself shiver. The crystal tucked next to her heart pulsed in harmony with the energy. She felt other small points of vibration in the room, one where Michael sat. One coming from Tahir. Another vibration joined in, then a fourth. More small points of pulsation started. Now there were more than six. Apparently, the pyramid was resonating with every crystal in the room, new or old. And this group had plenty of crystals.
Anne relaxed again, enjoying the celestial choir she heard in her mind, the frequency much too high for her physical ears. Finally, Tahir’s voice grew quieter, then stopped altogether. Anne reluctantly opened her eyes to find Maria looking at her. The woman nodded, then looked away.
The chanting had attracted other tourists and a whole group clogged the passageway. They started to move into the chamber once Tahir stopped, and suddenly the place was entirely too crowded for Anne. She started the long duck-walk out of the pyramid. Rita was right behind her, talking again.
“Wow, did you feel that? I thought the whole place was going to shake down around us.”
Anne just nodded, out of breath. Her euphoria gave way to her lack of sleep. Once they emerged from the pyramid, Anne found a rock to sit on, admiring the view on this clear day. The Step Pyramid rose in the distance and even farther north the pyramids at Abusir. The Giza pyramids stood faint on the horizon. So that’s what she’d felt.
The group finally piled back on the buses and went on to the Bent Pyramid, where Tahir explained his theory of this structure. “Egyptologists say the builders of this pyramid got to a certain point and realized they’d made a mistake. The structure would not stand at the angle they’d started with, so they simply changed the angle.
“This is foolishness. The ancient Khemitians, living with all their senses open, did not make these kinds of mistakes. This pyramid was built this way for a reason. Seneferu is supposed to have been the king who commissioned this pyramid along with the Red Pyramid and the collapsed pyramid at Meidum, but Seneferu has a different meaning. Neferu is the plural form of Nefer, which means ‘harmony,’ like the harmony of vibration we just experienced in our ceremony. When you put the Sen in front, you get Seneferu, which means ‘double harmony.’ This pyramid resonates to two frequencies. It has a double voice.”
A group of about ten had latched on strongly to Tahir’s teachings, forming a circle around him. They fired questions. The wind had picked up, making it difficult for those farther away from him to hear. Michael, of course, was stuck to him like glue. Anne would hear it all tonight. She smiled in anticipation.
The group stopped for lunch at a picturesque open-air restaurant, complete with mud-brick ovens and an aviary full of pigeons. Marchant continued to court Maria and the two priests walked beside her like herders, one on each side. Michael sat with Tahir one table over. His eyes brushed over Anne momentarily and she stirred in her seat.
She turned to the duo who had joined her at a long table. “So who’s scheduled to talk this afternoon?”
“That gorgeous man over there talking to our guide.”
“Michael?” Anne’s voice must have betrayed something, because both Rita and Debbie stopped eating and looked at her.
“She’s got a crush,” Rita said.
“Definitely.”
Anne felt the heat rising to her face. “I’m not the only one who finds him attractive.”
Rita looked over at Michael. “I’ll bet half the group has made an offer.”
“I heard him speak in New York. And that other guy,” Anne said.
“Which one?” Rita asked.
“The one talking to the Maya. I forget his name.”
“Oh, Paul Marchant. Definitely not a dreamboat, but he’s smart. What do you think of his theories?” Debbie asked.
“I’m not much of a math wiz,” Anne said, relieved the conversation had veered away from Michael.
“Sacred geometry is the key to all the sites,” Rita put in.
“But what is the practical use of this fancy math?” Anne asked.
“The entire universe is structured on the principles of sacred geometry. The same harmonics are repeated on all levels, from the galactic right down to the molecule. If your city or home is built using the same structure, it will resonate harmonically with the entire universe. There’s a guy who proved that the emotion of love actually makes the heart chakra resonate in a harmonic of the golden ratio.”
“So it would be easier to enter higher states of consciousness,” Anne concluded.
Rita and Debbie looked blank for a second.
“I suppose so,” Debbie said.
Luckily, it was time to board the bus. The heavy meal affected the duo and they soon dropped off to sleep. Anne was grateful for the quiet. Michael was on the other bus with most of the speakers and Tahir.
She decided to attend Michael’s talk that evening. No sense calling attention to herself. Once she was back in her room, she called Michael, but he wasn’t in. There were no messages from Dr. Abernathy. She wondered how Thomas was doing in the East. She thought of going to Tahir’s but, after two large yawns, decided a nap would be the best way to spend the rest of the afternoon.
When she woke, the sky was darkening. After a shower, she hung the crystal around her neck rather than tuck it away. No one was going to attack her tonight. Then she walked into the lecture hall just as Michael was being introduced, and slipped into an empty chair in the back, unnoticed by Rita or Debbie who had secured seats close to the front. Rita kept craning her neck over the crowd, looking for Anne. There was an empty seat next to them, but she couldn’t imagine listening to their commentary during Michael’s talk.
She was not disappointed. Michael gave his usual stellar performance, carefully tracing the major metaphysical traditions back to ancient Egypt. The audience listened, quiet, absorbed looks on most faces.
Toward the end of his talk, Michael said, “All my life I’ve found evidence of a living wisdom tradition in Egypt, but with all my trips I’ve been unable to meet with anyone who had knowledge of this group, much less actually meet anyone from it. Until now.”
Expectancy filled the room, like someone had tightened a hidden string in the audience.
“On this trip, I have been privileged to meet a man trained in the ancient tradition of Khemit, a man who has shared some of these teachings with me and with you. This man, ladies and gentlemen, is none other than our guide, Tahir Nur Ahram.” He pointed to Tahir, who stood and nodded, shyly accepting the burst of applause. “Do you have anything you’d like to say?”
Tahir shook his head and started to sit down, but the applause doubled. Some shouted for him to speak. Tahir rose from his chair again, an imposing figure in his dark gallabiya. His white-turbaned head rose above the crowd, who were now on their feet cheering.
Once on stage, Tahir leaned into the mike and said. “I thank you, but I give you these teachings when we are at the sites. I do not have anything to add to Michael’s wonderful talk. He took the words I would have spoken.”
People had lined up at the mikes and proceeded to ask questions. A man about forty asked, “How can you claim that an intact tradition exists here? It’s been centuries.”
Tahir nodded. “Egypt has been under the influence of foreign ideas for a very long time, but our teachings have been passed down orally for thousands of years in secret. I do not say we remember everything, but the sites hold the knowledge. They have spoken to many of you.”
“You claim the ancient Khemitians built the pyramids, but how could they have had the ability? Who taught them?”
Tahir repeated the teaching of the five stages of the sun. Then he said, “During Aten, all humans have full consciousness. All the senses are open and the encyclopedia of all knowledge is open to everyone.”
More questions followed for Michael: “Kramer explained the Masonic stranglehold on the American government, yet you claim they come from this wisdom tradition. How can you reconcile this?”
“Mr. Kramer is a meticulous researcher and a man of great integrity, but we disagree on this point. Certainly, some Masonic lodges fell into dark practices and their presence in the military has been confirmed. It seems logical that some may be working with a more hidden group of international interests. But these are a minority. Most of the lodges still follow the old ways.”
Anne sighed. How much longer? He still had to sign books, but he was obviously enjoying himself. He was a born teacher. His eyes shone as he listened to each question. His answers were thoughtful, pitched for the understanding of that particular individual. She’d have to share him with the world, but why so soon? She sat in the back, waiting for their time alone.
After another ten minutes, the emcee intervened, “It’s getting late and tomorrow our indigenous wisdom keeper”—the man smiled self-consciously—“will be taking us to Abusir. Michael will be signing books in the lobby and you may ask him questions during the rest of the conference.”
The audience clapped long and hard, then reluctantly gathered their things and started to leave. Anne sat across the lobby, watching. After another hour, Michael was finally alone. He gathered his briefcase and stood looking around. She sent him a psychic nudge, just to see how sensitive he was. After a second, he turned and looked straight at her. Your room? The question from him formed in her mind.
Yes, she sent, delighted at their communication.
Anne walked toward her room slowly, allowing Michael time to stash his briefcase and extra books in his room. She rounded the corner near her room and heard footsteps behind her. Her body warmed at the sound and she turned, prepared to step into his arms.
Maria Lol Ha and her two priests stood there instead.
Anne came up short.
Michael turned the corner at just that moment.
Maria looked from Anne to Michael and said, “Good. I want to talk to you both.”
Desire for her second night with Michael wrestled with curiosity over this mysterious pronouncement, but Anne was too well schooled to allow any of her tumult to show on her face. She offered her hand to Maria.
“I’m Anne—Greene. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The woman shook Anne’s hand, “Thank you.”
Michael offered his hand and started to introduce himself, but Maria said, “I know who you are. I know who both of you are.”
Anne shot a quick glance at Michael, who shrugged.
“Can we talk somewhere in private?” Maria asked.
“Certainly.” Anne glanced at Arnold, who’d appeared from the shadows.
“Your room is the best,” Arnold said.
Maria took a step forward.
Anne quickly said, “I must apologize. This man is head of security for my family. There have been attempts on my life while in Egypt. He must clear everyone.”
This euphemism was lost on Maria, so Anne said, “He needs to search you and your friends.”
The two men stepped in front of Maria.
“Of course, your guards may search us as well,” she added.
Maria spoke to her two guards in their own language. After a few exchanges, she nodded.
Arnold frisked the two men, then walked toward Maria, but they put up their hands. “No.”
“I’m sure she is fine,” Anne said.
Arnold went into his room and returned with a small metal detector. “Is this acceptable?”
One of the men nodded.
Arnold passed the metal rod over Maria. “She’s clean,” he whispered to Anne.
“You must search Michael,” Anne whispered back.
“Oh, right.” He did the same to Michael, whose eyebrows arched.
Anne bit her lips to keep from laughing. “Please, come in.”
She ushered the group into the sitting room in her suite. The two warrior priests stayed outside and motioned for Arnold to do the same. He agreed.
When the three were seated, Anne said, “May I offer you anything?” This situation was perplexing, not to mention inconvenient.
Maria shook her head. “We have a task to accomplish.”
Anne looked at her blankly.
Before Maria could explain herself further, there was a knock at the door.
Anne walked to the door and put her eye to the peephole. She opened the door to reveal Tahir.
“Tefnut told me to come,” he said rather breathlessly. He hurried into the room, then stopped in his tracks when he saw Maria.
Anne closed the door behind him. “It’s all right. She wanted to talk with us.”
Good,” Maria said when she saw Tahir. Then she reached beneath her white blouse and pulled a necklace over her head. Dangling from it was a three-inch clear crystal point.
“Oh, my God!” Anne groped for the chair behind her.
Michael reached beneath his shirt collar and pulled out his crystal.
Anne’s fingers closed on the chain of her necklace and she pulled it over her head.
“Hum Deala!” Tahir exclaimed—“praise be to God”—and he took his own crystal from around his neck and held it out. “Four are found,” he said.
“Five,” Anne said, “counting Paul Marchant’s.”
Michael turned to the Mayan woman. “May we examine your stone?”
Maria stretched out her hand in answer.
Michael bent over the artifact, carefully examining the setting but leaving the stone untouched in Maria’s palm. “It’s the image of Seshat, the seven-petaled flower.”
“Aiwa!—yes!” Tahir said.
“Seshat?” Maria asked.
“She is the consort of Djehuti, the sacred scribe, the bringer of sound. Seshat gives form to the sound,” Tahir said.
Yes.” Maria sat forward. “The Maya call this Hunab K’u, the giver of movement and measure. I wish to share with you the story of my people and these stones. To the Maya, this is a seven-pointed star. It represents the star system our ancestors came from, the Pleiades.”
“Star system?” Anne asked.
Maria nodded. “When our ancestors came to this planet, they went to four areas of the Earth. One of them was Egypt, and this group was called the Naga Maya.”
Tahir nodded. “I know of a small temple south of Sakkara called ‘Maya.’ I will take you there.”
Maria nodded her thanks. She settled back in her chair and her voice took on a formal, storytelling rhythm. “Long ago, before the worlds were separated, all the descendants of the star people lived in harmony with the Earth and with each other. We were one member of a large family of star nations. Elders from those nations came here to teach us and left behind a gift of themselves, children who mixed the traits of the star elders with those of Earth’s people. We lived in a golden age, connected to the other star systems and dimensions.
“The technology”—she stumbled over this word—“that kept this flow alive was built in stone. Temples were raised at certain power spots to . . . make bigger?”
“Amplify,” Anne said.
“Yes, amplify the energy with flowing water and crystals. These temples kept the Earth connected to the galactic river of energy. Certain crystals were brought from the home worlds and given to the star children to link the temples with each tribe’s place of origin. A crystal from the Seven Sisters.” She held hers up.
“But all knew this golden age would not last because of the path our sun takes in his journey around the center of the galaxy. We go through sections of space that cannot support full consciousness and we pass through times of strife. The star elders left before the sun reached this place. Then when the signs of decline began, the tribes separated the keys. They turned off the sites to spare those star nations who remain always in the light. Each star clan took its crystal and hid it away, keeping the story for their proper use secret.”
Maria’s eyes shone. “We have come almost to the end of this time of darkness. The sun travels to a place of light, and the light will grow and grow until we once again take our place in the galactic family. Our job is to restore the flow to one of the greatest power spots on Earth.”
As Maria spoke these words, a deep shiver ran the length of Anne’s spine, and this shiver had nothing to do with Michael’s proximity. It was recognition that awoke with these words. Her eyes filled. Maria reached out and took Anne’s hand. Warmth flowed into her and the tears spilled down Anne’s cheeks unchecked.
Tahir broke the silence. “Your tradition teaches that these crystals come from other planets?”
“Yes,” Maria said. “My people come from the Pleiades. Michael’s crystal is from the people of Sirius. Your crystal, Tahir, is from Vega in the Lyran system, the origin of most humanoids.”
Tahir sat staring at Maria, his mouth open. Anne had never seen him amazed by anything before.
“Vega,” Michael repeated.
Maria spoke with such assuredness, it was difficult to doubt her. “Anne’s crystal is from a planet the Western scientists have not charted. It is the source of the cat and bird races, a planet of great winged cats. Paul Marchant’s crystal is from the great intellects of Orion.”
“Well, that makes sense,” Anne said. “He’s all brain and no heart.”
“Yes,” Maria said. “That is why the Orion races came to this water world, to grapple with emotion.”
“And the sixth crystal?” Tahir asked.
“We do not know who holds it, but the stone comes from Antares.”
Anne roused herself from contemplating Maria’s story. “Thomas is on the trail of that crystal. He found a scroll that indicates it might have been taken to the East. He’s in India now.”
“We pray for his success,” Maria said, “because there is a danger.”
“What?” Michael asked.
“The turning of the Earth cycles is natural, part of our sun’s path around the center of the galaxy. But it is necessary for humans to reconnect the temple sites to amplify the link. This is how we are vulnerable. It is possible for these links to be used to send destructive energy back through the loop, to affect the star nations that have already ascended. There is a plan to use the Orion crystal to override our mission.”
Anne shook her head. “I’m not sure I understand.”
Michael sat forward, his knuckles white on the arm of the sofa. “Some group could stop the Awakening?”
“But Tahir said that isn’t possible.” Anne looked at him now for confirmation.
“This is my understanding,” Tahir agreed.
Maria continued. “Just as we are members of a huge force that has incarnated at this time to help the Earth return to the light, there is a group of souls who have come here to stop it. They wish to use this communication link to bring down the temples of light on other worlds as well. If they succeed in taking over our mission, the body that rules over these ascended planets is prepared to destroy Earth to stop this from happening.”
“Destroy Earth?” Michael jumped to his feet. “How could this be possible?”
“It is quite possible,” Maria’s voice was steady. “Once the link is reestablished, they can send a pulsed energy wave back through the link that will rip the planet apart. The entire galaxy cannot be risked. We must not allow these dark forces to win. Our very existence depends on it.”