CHAPTER SIX

Dreams Remembered

It was just before eight thirty p.m. when Mark and his group sat down in a booth in The Oasis. Though LeOmi was a welcome addition to the group, she’d already made plans to have dinner elsewhere.

Shana walked up to the table, looked at Mark and said, “None the worse for the wear I see.”

“No ma’am. Can you give advice now, or do I have to wait until morning?”

“We measure days from sunset to sunset, so technically right now it’s Tuesday.”

“How can I stop them from attacking us?”

“Well, from what I know about you, you already know the answer to that question, so I’ll just remind you. Remember the Greenies?”

Mark nodded his head. Indeed he did remember how he’d given the Greenies something else to think about by letting it ‘slip’ that he knew where another group of boys kept their ‘stash’. Of course he didn’t let on that the boys were much older and much stronger than the Greenies. He’d also made sure the other group caught the Greenies red-handed, raiding their stash. In gratitude, the older boys gave Mark protection. All he had to do now was figure out how to apply that model to this situation. “Thanks. I think that might work.”

Shana smiled. “You’re welcome. Now, this is strictly voluntary. I want you guys to go to the barracks tonight around midnight and pick one or two of the new student’s clothes to wash. Just make sure you get them back to the right student. I’m sure you remember how that happened for you last year.”

Chenoa said, “Girls for girls and boys for boys.”

“Naturally, and there’s counselors on duty all night there to see to it.” Jeremy stepped up beside Shana and after glancing at him, she continued, “Be back here tomorrow morning at ten. Now, if there’re no more questions, I have to go see to the rest of my students.”

Jeremy had his pad in hand. “You guys ready to order?”

Jamal said, “From New York: I’ll have a mixed vegetables salad with balsamic dressing, New York strip steak, medium, onion rings and iced tea.”

Chenoa said, “That sounds good, except I’d like a green goddess dressing.”

Jeremy asked, “Is a ranch dressing all right if we can’t get the green goddess dressing?”

“Sure.”

Nick said, “Minnesota: beef stew, biscuits and tea.”

Mark turned over the phonebook sized menu, closed his eyes and brought his finger down on the map. He looked and asked, “What’s good from The Netherlands?”

“Generally I’d say that Europe is closed right now, but I know this all night place in Amsterdam. I recommend the kibbeling met friet. It’s the Dutch version of fish and chips and it comes with a sweet garlic dipping sauce. It’s best to have milk with that since the fish is really spicy.”

Mark said, “I’m not a big fan of fish.”

“If you don’t like it, you can always order something else, but I promise you’ll like it.”

“Okay, I’ll try it.”

Jeremy wrote it down and started to leave. Mark said, “This afternoon, you said you couldn’t talk about Slone’s group being my friends until after sunset.”

“They are your friends. You don’t want them to die and they don’t want you to die, so you’re not enemies. They’re not just acquaintances either. If they saw you in real danger, they’d come to your aid and you’d go to theirs. You are friends, just with a difference of opinion. You need to get rid of that difference of opinion, or make it so that it doesn’t matter; that’s all.”

“I tried that. You saw me try.”

“Yep, I saw you try. I didn’t say it would be easy.”

“Any suggestions?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes a gift and another apology works. Show ‘em you’re sincere. Do it one on one.”

“That might work with everyone but Slone.”

“Slone’s only the leader by popular consent.”

“Thanks Jeremy. Between you and Shana, I’ve got a lot to think about.”

“You’re welcome, and I hope you work it out.”

 

 

Shana was waiting along with other counselors just inside the back entrance to The Oasis at ten minutes until ten in the morning when the group arrived. She said, “Well good morning. In case you forgot, this year it’s two points per minute for being late. Go ahead and get breakfast and I’ll see you at your table in a few minutes.”

The group sat at one of their usual booths and ordered. Jamal asked, “Have you figured out what you’re going to do about Slone’s group yet?”

Mark answered, “Not completely. I plan to apologize to everyone that got slopped last year that didn’t deserve it, but I don’t think it’s going to have much of an effect on Slone’s core group.

“It looks like LeOmi wants to teach us about sword fighting, so I’ll see how big a group she is willing to take. Maybe we can make our group larger than Slone’s group. That might work if we can do it, but that’ll take time.

“I can’t think of any group here that might offer us protection. Last year Ms. Vanmie said we have to learn to fight our own battles. Slone is after me mostly, so if I have to, I’ll drop out of the group.”

Chenoa snapped, “That won’t work!” She leaned across the table toward Mark with her hand at the base of her neck. “We stand together! There isn’t any other way.”

Nick and Jamal exhorted, “She’s right.”

Mark saw Chenoa smile when he used his thumb to feel the cross under his tunic. “We stand together then.”

Chenoa, Jamal and Nick chorused, “We stand together!”

“I’ll come up with something then.”

Shana walked up and said, “Since you guys have already had the tour of the areas beyond the wall, you get to go into Magi City this week. Jamal, Nick and Chenoa, you meet up with the second level sophomores at the entrance to the engineering section. Counselor Foran will be looking after you while you’re on this excursion. Mark, you have a noon meeting to attend. After the meeting, just go to the engineering section and take an auto-car into Magi City to meet up with the group. Any questions?”

Mark asked, “How will I find the group?”

“The car will have their location. As always, just tell the car where you want to go.” Shana looked the group over and nobody else said anything. “Well then, I’ll see you later this evening. Have fun and try not to get into any more fights.”

Mark frowned and nodded. “That’s my intention,” and immediately thought of Mr. Thorpe’s words. “Intentions have no substance…”

Shana tilted her head, “Quite right. It is actions that have consequences. Might I ask where you learned that?”

“It’s something Mr. Thorpe said.”

“I see. Tonight, I’m going to ask you to expound on that. Do you think you’ll be ready?”

“What do you mean expound on it? It’s obvious what it means.”

Shana’s Irish accent became pronounced. “Is it now laddy?” She turned, started walking away and said over her shoulder, “We’ll see.”

Nick said loud enough for Shana to hear, “I think we’ve narrowed down the place in Mark’s dream.”

Shana spun on her heal and walked straight back to the table. “That was pretty quick.”

Nick answered, “Well, logically it has to be in or around Canyonlands National Park based on Mark’s description of the river. We can’t be sure since Mark only saw the area from above. We were heading to look at some online aerial photos yesterday, but we got a little sidetracked.”

She asked Mark, “What’s your feeling on this?”

“The way Nick figured it out makes sense, but I don’t know for sure. I don’t recognize any of the pictures in the books.”

“Well then, right after breakfast I want you to go look at those aerial photos. If you recognize anything, anything at all, you come back here and tell Jeremy since I’ll be in the stable area with the rest of my group. Even if it makes you late for your meeting, you come back and tell Jeremy first.”

“Yes ma’am. Can Nick come with me? I don’t know anything about the Internet.”

“Sure. As a matter of fact, all four of you can go.”

Chenoa said, “How on Earth can anyone not know how to use the Internet?”

Mark frowned at her. “I was just never interested.” He shrugged. “It’s not a crime.”

Nick frowned, “It should be.”

Jamal sided with Mark. “I never bothered either. I’d rather be outside doing something than sitting in front of some computer screen all day.”

Nick retorted, “I get some of my best ideas from the Internet. If it hadn’t been for the Internet, I never would have–”

Shana cleared her throat. “Mind you, the Internet is useful, but people made out just fine without it for thousands of years. I’ll see you guys tonight.”

 

 

Nick brought picture after picture up on the computer screen while Mark, crouched at his side, watched intently. Mark shook his head. “I want to think some of that looks familiar, but what I saw was two thousand years ago.”

Chenoa gasped. “You never said that before. How do you know it was that long ago?”

“I don’t know. I just know it was. But you’re right; I didn’t know I knew it until just now.”

Nick said, “So this is the place.”

“It makes sense that it should be, but I just don’t know for sure. These pictures were taken from a lot higher than I was.”

Nick turned back to the screen, “No problem,” tapped a few keys and the image zoomed in.

Mark nodded, “That’s about right, but it still doesn’t look familiar.”

Chenoa said, “Zoom out.”

Nick did as she requested. She pointed at the screen just north of where the Colorado and Green Rivers split. “Zoom in here.”

“I think that might look familiar,” Mark hesitated, “but not really. Everything looks kind of the same from the air. What I saw in the dreams had a lot more bushes and stuff.”

Jamal asked, “Was there any point in your dreams where you were on the ground?”

“I don’t remember. I don’t think so.” Mark put his hands on the sides of his head, turned around and started walking away. “I just don’t know!”

Chenoa called after him. “Mark! This is important. We have to figure this out.”

Mark continued walking. “Leave me alone!” He’d felt this same type of pain earlier. Someone was in imminent peril. When he reached the hall he turned in a full circle searching for the direction he should go. The pain subsided to almost nothing when he turned to the right. He started walking. The pain returned to its full intensity when he passed the short corridor leading to the school grounds. He immediately turned, walked down the hall and then outside.

About a hundred yards from the entrance LeOmi, crouched low and with her sword poised in front of her, stepped left as her opponent did the same. Her challenger was a large, cloaked and hooded figure wielding a two-edged sword of a style Mark didn’t recognize against LeOmi’s Spanish steel. LeOmi blurred for an instant and her opponent’s sword and right hand fell to the ground. She raised her sword for what looked like the coup de grâce and Mark yelled, “Hey!”

LeOmi glanced toward Mark and the hooded figure disappeared. She turned back to where her opponent had been, grimaced and shook her head. “I wasn’t going to kill him!” She reached down and picked up the sword and hand. She examined the signet on the hand’s middle finger, confirming it was the same signet design as the one the man that had killed her mother had worn. When she walked past Mark she said, “I just wanted some answers.”

Chenoa, Jamal and Nick had just reached the exit when LeOmi, followed by Mark, walked back into the school.

Chenoa looked anxious when she saw the sword with the hand still attached that LeOmi was carrying. She gasped, “What happened?”

LeOmi kept walking but Mark paused and said. “Someone tried to kill her!”

“Who?”

“Don’t know, but I want to find out. Come on.” He started jogging after LeOmi. “LeOmi, hold up.”

LeOmi kept walking.

The group caught up with her and Mark asked, “What’s going on?”

LeOmi quickened her pace. “You saw what happened.”

“Yeah, but—”

“You know as much as I do.”

“We have to tell a counselor.”

“Duh! You think?”

 

The group strode into The Oasis and LeOmi plopped the sword and hand down on the first table she came to, curled her lips inward and whistled loudly. “I need a counselor!”

A crowd of older students formed around the table, all whispering their speculation about what was going on. A moment later a counselor Mark had only seen in passing, a tall, skinny, red-haired fellow in standard wait-staff white shirt and black slacks, pushed through the crowd, took one look at the signet and exclaimed under his breath, “Neo-Phylum!”

At the back of the crowd Jeremy cleared his throat and everyone turned to look. On seeing who it was they stepped aside, forming a path for Jeremy to walk to the table. After seeing the signet on the hand that was still clutching the sword, he said, “David, get this to Council Chambers right now, and anyone involved. I’ll make the notifications.”

David, the first counselor that had walked up, nodded smartly to Jeremy, turned to LeOmi and asked, “Anyone else involved besides you?”

Jeremy walked out and LeOmi pointed to Mark, “He saw me being attacked. That’s all I think.”

David gestured toward Mark and LeOmi. “Both of you; follow me.”

Chenoa asked, “Can we come?”

David rolled his eyes toward her, tilted his head and frowned, “Don’t you have some place you’re supposed to be?”

“We’re supposed to be with him and he’s got a noon meeting...”

“Well, that’ll have to wait. You can wait here.”

 

 

David left Mark and LeOmi standing in the middle of the room. The large double door closed behind him when he left.

Mark didn’t feel much different this time than he had last year in his first experience being in the Council Chambers. Even though he knew he’d done nothing wrong, his stomach was knotted and he felt like he wanted to be sick. This chamber was designed to make anyone on this level tremble with respect at the power and authority of the twelve council members sitting high above. There was but a single small area in the center of the floor illuminated by a single shaft of intense light projected from above. There was no furniture, not even a single chair to sit in, making anyone on this level feel they were under extreme scrutiny from the powers above and with no place to hide.

LeOmi stood beside Mark with her hands clasped in front of her and looking around.

Mark leaned toward her and whispered, “First time?”

She didn’t answer. The stark lighting made her look somewhat surreal, like an animated manikin on stage waiting to perform in some kind of robotic play. She looked up when the sounds of people taking their seats started.

A couple of moments later Mrs. Shadowitz’s voice began, “LeOmi Jones, would you begin by telling us what happened regarding the man that accosted you?”

“Yes ma’am. I was on my way to find Mark so we could go to our meeting together. I saw a man wearing a Magi cloak running toward me and he was calling for me to stop. He wanted to know where someone was. I don’t remember who he was asking about. He reached out like he wanted to shake hands and I saw his signet. It was just like the signet that Compton wore. I drew my sword and he drew his. I’d just cut off his sword hand when Mark yelled at me. I turned to see who yelled and the man remanifested. I wasn’t going to kill him, I just wanted some answers. If Mark hadn’t interrupted me, he wouldn’t have been able to escape.”

“Mark Young, do you have anything to add?”

“No ma’am. What she said fits exactly with what I saw, except, she blurred.”

LeOmi turned to Mark, hand on her hips, “What?”

“You blurred.”

“What does that mean?”

Mark looked at her sideways, frowned and shrugged slightly.

There was a loud crack of a gavel striking hard on its base. “Enough.

“Mr. Young, are you saying you witnessed her perform Maode Maharaw?”

“I don’t know if it was that or not, but for a second she blurred, and then the guy’s hand fell off.”

“LeOmi, how did your assailant react when you went for his hand?”

“He didn’t have time to react.”

“Miss Jones, I know you have the utmost confidence in your skills with a sword, but I assure you that a Magi that wears a ring indicating the skill level this one does would not have had a moment’s difficulty in defending against the move you obviously used to sever his hand. In which case, you are most fortunate to have all of your parts still firmly attached. There can be no doubt that the One True God intervened in this matter on your behalf, of which I am confident you will find time to express your gratitude.

“It is also evident that this man’s intent was to kidnap you. Do you have any insight as to why?”

“Kidnap me?”

“Yes. I believe as soon as you shook his hand he would have remanifested with you.”

“There’s no reason. The book and knife are in the museum as I requested.”

“Then there must be another reason which we must discern. Have you had any unusual dreams of late or perhaps come across any unusual information?”

“No ma’am. Maybe it’s revenge.”

“If they wished revenge, they would just have killed you. For kidnapping, you have something they want. And to risk being captured, it’s something they want badly. If you can think of anything that it might be, tell Bekka or David at once. In the mean time, we’ll consult the Ummim-Thummim.”

The door opened behind them and David came back in. He said, “Honored Council, I have further business to report.”

Mrs. Shadowitz’s voice said, “Miss Jones and Mr. Young, you will wait outside for David.”

Mark and LeOmi walked out and the door closed. Mark’s brother James was waiting by the door. Mark exclaimed, “Why are you here?”

James shrugged and mumbled, “Agate Tribe.”

“Agate Tribe? What about Agate Tribe?”

The doors opened and David motioned, “James, you can come on in.”

James whispered sideways as he passed Mark and LeOmi while hurrying in, “Pre-chosen.”

A moment later the doors closed behind James and Mark said with a bit of surprise in his voice, “Pre-chosen!” He turned to LeOmi, “James was pre-chosen! That makes six of us, but why Agate Tribe?”

LeOmi said, “We can talk about it later. We’re already late.”

 

 

Mark and LeOmi were a full hour late for their meeting with Gerod when they walked out onto the balcony. Gerod was standing with his back to the door and his arms resting on the balcony wall. The wind was stiff enough to blow strands of his long golden hair about like wisps of a tattered flag. Two small black canvas bags were on the floor at his feet. He turned and said, “I understand you guys have had an unusual morning.”

“You could say that.” LeOmi put her hands on her hips. “We are running a bit late.”

Mark felt a wave of impatience wash over him and he looked disapprovingly at LeOmi. She glanced at him and shrugged as if to say ‘it slipped,’ and folded her arms in front of her.

“This is a bit more important than touring the different sections of Magi City. Besides, you’ve already missed all of the good stuff today. If you get a chance over the next couple of days; make sure to stop by Utman’s House of Chocolate. David makes some of the most unique and delicious chocolates in the world.

“Now, to the business at hand.” He bent, picked up the bags and handed one to each. “These are your primary emergency kits. Keep them stocked. If you use an oxy-cap, replace it. A bug bomb, replace it. A flair, replace it. If you break something, replace it. Keep this kit with you at all times, even in class. When you sleep make sure it’s in easy reach. If you get up to go to the bathroom, take it with you. At some points in your life, someone’s life will depend on what you’re able to do. Count on it. And also count on not knowing when you’ll need this kit.

“You both will be required to take the novice rescue and first aid class as well as an accelerated communications class. Mark, last year you told me you were interested in learning communications techniques at an advanced rate. You’ll start that this year. Are you interested in trying some of the advanced rescue classes?”

Mark nodded and said, “Yes sir.”

“LeOmi, how about you?”

“Sure.” She relaxed her posture a little, unfolded her arms and let them hang at her side.

Gerod reached in his pocket and removed two small vials. “In that case, this is an anointing oil used for healing. It’s very rare. It’s made using compounds that only occur in waters occupied by leviathan; specifically the sail-back ornathoptus and the trigibbereras. Now you know why they live in the moat. One drop per person is all you’ll ever need in any situation. You put a drop on the victim’s forehead and if there’s any life left in them, they immediately fall asleep and depending on how much physical damage there is, within an hour or so anything that was damaged or diseased is healed. Sometimes it takes a bit longer. Also, putting it into Aaron’s Grasp destroys it, so keep it in your pocket and never put it with anything you might put into Aaron’s Grasp.

“When you get your class assignments you will see a spot for you to select an elective.” He handed each a sheet of paper. “Here’s a list of advanced rescue classes. You will get one-on-one instruction from the very best instructor in whichever class you select. Look the classes over very carefully before you decide which one you’ll select.

“Now, for my opinion. Mark, Krisa says you have a keen aptitude for tactical planning. I suggest you strongly consider either a military or law enforcement based course of study. LeOmi, your background and abilities in sword fighting and the martial arts suggest you’d be well suited to a course of study in the intelligence services, maybe even espionage.

“That’s just my opinion based on what I know of you. You may also want to get your counselors to give you their opinions since they know you better than I do.

“Okay, that’s it, unless you have any questions, you’re free to go.”

Mark held the small bottle up and examined the thick liquid inside. “Why isn’t this stuff given to hospitals?”

“That’s a complex question to answer. We have healers and rescue people at most hospitals and visit those that aren’t staffed.”

“Then why do people die?”

“How do you know who to rescue?”

“I get a headache that leads me to where I need to be.”

“How do you know you’re the one that is supposed to act?”

“Because I’m the one with the headache.”

“What if you don’t get a headache?”

Mark nodded, “I get it.”

Gerod smiled, hopped down off the wall, held his elbows out and said, “You guys ready to go?”

 

Mark let go of Gerod’s arm, looked around and couldn’t visualize where he was in relation to the maps he’d seen last year. He knew where LeOmi had been dropped off in the back pasture area of The Stables since he’d been there last year. He’d also been to Magi City but had only seen a small part of it.

About fifty yards behind him were enough auto-cars to fill a parking lot and stretched out before him was a vast plane resembling a manicured lawn for as far as the eye could see. Large white stones were evenly spaced and protruding just over an inch above the grass. A strange feeling of familiarity came to his mind, like he’d been here before, many times. Only he hadn’t; not even in any dreams he could remember.

Gerod said, “Kind of takes your breath away.” After a moment he pointed to a group of students some distance behind them. “Mr. Foran is over there. I’ll see you later.” Then he was gone.

Mark walked over to the closest stone, knelt and rubbed his hand across its smooth surface. It’s got to be a tombstone. He looked closer and saw a name and number carved in its surface.

He heard his name shouted from behind, turned and saw Chenoa running toward him. Her hair was flapping behind her and it reminded him of the first time he’d seen her and how pretty he thought her hair was. He also remembered how embarrassed he was when she realized she’d been picking up his projected thoughts about her. He stood, waved and started walking toward her.

When they were just a few feet apart Chenoa said, “Come on, we’re leaving.”

“Where’re we going?”

“There’s an elevated train that goes around Magi City.”

“I want to stay here a while. I feel like I’ve been here before. It might be important.”

When they reached the group, Chenoa pointed to an average size man with a mustache and goatee that was talking to another student. “That’s Mr. Foran.”

The man heard his name and turned to see who had spoken. His eyes were bright brown.

“Mr. Foran, I’d like to stay here for a while if it’s possible.”

“That’s a bit inconvenient. We don’t have anyone that can stay with you.”

“Sir, there’s something about this place. I mean, it’s like I’ve been here before, but I know I haven’t.”

“Déjà vu?”

Someone in the crowd of students said, “Gesundheit.”

Mr. Foran looked to where the voice had come from, grinned and said, “Donkey shin!”

Mark smiled and when Mr. Foran turned back to him he said, “Much stronger. It’s like there’s something important here.”

Mr. Foran nodded his head slowly. “Well, we’re coming back here on Thursday. Can it wait until then?”

Mark nodded. “Yes sir.”

 

The el trail ride was a bit boring with sixteen stops along the route. The scenery had been nice, but once you’d ridden a train through the countryside, every other train ride through the countryside was basically the same. There was just nothing new to see or do.

Returning the auto-cars to the Engineering Section provided a surprise. The sunstone had been mounted on the top of a triangular shaped pedestal at least thirty feet tall, making the combination’s silhouette look like a giant keyhole.

The car stopped by the power generation building. Mark got out and found Mr. Foran. “What’s going on with the sunstone?”

Mr. Foran thought for a split second and said, “That’s right, you weren’t here this morning.

“The scientists discovered that the writing on the back of the sunstone is only visible under a particular type of polarized, ultraviolet light. This kind of light occurs naturally during a solar eclipse. There was a diagram and some writing and based on that, this is what they did.

“Other tests indicated that it’s some kind of machine, only nobody can figure out what powers it or what it’s supposed to do.

“That Aztec warrior is clueless too. The Council of Elders ordered him interrogated with a fast pen and that got zilch.”

“A fast pen?”

“Technically, a reed of fast writing. You just make a mark and the mark transforms into a representation of whatever happens to be in your front mind at that moment. They’re very, very rare. Less than two dozen known left in existence.”

“So they’re still trying to figure out how it works.”

“They say it needs a power source before they can figure out anything else about it.”

“Haven’t they tried to power it yet with something?”

“They don’t want to take a chance on damaging it.”

 

 

Shana walked up behind Jeremy as he sat their dinner orders on the table at their usual booth in The Oasis. Shana smiled and said, “Well Mark, tell me a little about intentions versus actions.”

Jeremy looked puzzled and said to Shana, “Isn’t that a bit beyond his grade level?”

Shana faced Jeremy. “Oh, you’ll find that he’s quite intuitive about a lot of things; watch.” She turned back to Mark.

The front of Mark’s mind started to fill with anger. He felt as if he were being pushed to perform. He thought, Why are you doing this to me? He didn’t even bother to try to suppress it and knew full well everyone within fifty yards was picking up his anger and his thoughts.

Shana tilted her head and frowned. “We don’t have to do this now. You can wait until next year for this lesson if you like, but I was just thinking it might be useful to you now.”

Mark pulled his plate closer and stabbed a small piece of Kobe steak with his fork. “Intentions are just what you think or feel and have no physical existence. Actions are what you do. What you do has consequences. It’s that simple.” He put the steak in his mouth and started chewing the succulent morsel. “Wow, that’s good!”

Jeremy smiled. “Yep. That’s one of my favorites.”

“So, you’re saying intentions and actions are unrelated.” Shana raised her hands in a questioning gesture.

“Of course they’re related.” He thought for a moment. “I can’t think of any action that anyone can do that doesn’t come from an intention.”

Shana shrugged and tilted her head, “Snoring?”

“Unless someone is trying to fake being asleep, snoring is an unintended consequence.”

“Actions often don’t result in the anticipated intention; therefore there are often unintended consequences. How often do you think that happens?”

“I don’t know; I suppose a lot.”

“Would you be surprised if I told you it happens with every action?”

“Like ripples on a pond.”

Nick exclaimed, “Eureka!” He slid his plate back and pulled a laptop computer from Aaron’s Grasp. “That’s it. An electron takes every possible path to its next point of existence. Time must work the same way. Time is nodal!”

Jeremy chuckled and both he and Shana turned to face each other in surprise. Nick started tapping away at the keyboard.

Shana said, “That’s quite perceptive; it’s what we call destiny. Certain events are predestined to come to pass and all eventualities converge on destiny’s course at some point.”

Nick continued typing and didn’t look up. “That’s what I said, time is nodal.”