2012
THE MAN BEHIND THE PROPHECY
§
ALANE GABRIEL
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2010 Ramon G. Torres
This Novel Is Dedicated To:
Duane Danielson. My best friend, my roommate, my headache! (Just kidding) Thanks for being such an awesome friend.
Ariella Maria. My friend, my soulmate and confidant, thanks for everything.
Rebecca Rice. Thank you for showing me that there is such a thing as kindness to strangers. That is a lesson I will remember for the rest of my life.
Unarei Saldana. Thank you for showing me the door of unlimited possibilities.
To the Native American Community, thanks for letting us borrow your wisdom and you traditions.
Ricky & Javier Velez. Saudali, & Saul Martinez. Kiddos I have always been and I will always be very proud of you! The sky is the limit!
I love you!
AKNOWLEDGMENTS
This is a work of fiction in its entirety. However, the scientific data, historical data is true and accurate to the extent of my knowledge. Therefore, I would like to give special mention to the following authors whose work was of much help to make a strong historical foundation for this Novel. Sincerely I thank you.
The Native American lore, myth, legends and shamanic tradition.
Amerigo and the New World by Germán Arciniegas
The Travels of Odoric of Pordenone
Pale Ink, by Henriette Mertz
Reportage on Mexico by Virginia Prewett
Lost Inca Gold-Ransom, Riches, and Riddles by James Owen
Other credits are mentioned within the dialog, when appropriate.
Thank you as well, to those many people who have enlightened me with their knowledge and conversations during the course of my life, over bottomless cups of coffee.
PROLOGE
What do you want? What do you really want? Are you done with the fear? Or you’ll rather take a few more years of misery. The universe holds many secrets, and none of them shies away from revelation. The question is do you have the guts to handle them? Ah! The things I would have done with my life, if I had been aware of them, if I would have caught a glimpse of them… I wouldn’t be telling you this story today and my life would have turned much more pleasant and very different. However, I have no regrets, maybe a few …is hard to be honest even to ourselves. The truth is that I have many regrets, but none of them proved to be bad enough or dark enough to remain unhealed or unforgiving.
I’ll tell you everything in detail, and is more likely that you will judge me, or them. Nevertheless, wait until you hear me out. I recently noticed that if I hold my impulse to pass any judgment, I could learn a lot from the actions of others.
…where do I start? The beginning is too far back and perhaps to boring as well, so let’s start from the point where everything starts making sense.
CHAPTER ONE
-THE UNDERWORLD-
…The deep sound of the drums is the only thing breaking the silence. The drummer’s concentration is only surpassed, by the perfection of the metric rhythm of the canon he plays, steady and solemn. Everyone feels the hair of their neck stand up when the vibrations of the drum, blends with the austere sound of the flute. The songs evoke emotions, which make the mourning of the massive genocide a tad easier. In the center of the Kiva, the sacred room, two bodies lay next to each other on willow beds. The smaller one of them is Nova, not even sixteen years old and he already carries on his shoulders, the trust and respect of his nation. The other one is Red Dear, His best friend, his confidant and his apprentice.
In the other side of reality, things looked slightly different. After much effort and time, the young shamans obtained license to enter the fields of the underworld. In fact, there is no one to keep you from entering. The difficulties are, in controlling the fear long enough to get out of the body, and make the jump. The closest thing to describe it is death although, you can always return to your body.
“Aren’t the forests of the underworld as beautiful as those we have in the upper world?
“They are!” Reed Deer said.
“Except that everything in here changes shape at will.” Nova said.
“So which lords are the important ones?” Red Deer said.
“This is the home of the spirits! Every one you encounter; make no mistake, is a highly respected deity in their own account in someone else’s land” Nova said.
“But I only see animals”
“They can shift their shape to a human form if they wish to, but most of them, prefer to use the shapes of animals and birds instead”
“Why?”
“Look!” Nova said, pointing to the cutest little duckling that happily played, splashing water in a little pond barely big enough for him.
“Why don’t you ask him?” he said.
Red Deer walked to the lord duck, and prostrating himself in reverence on the floor, he approached the duckling respectfully.
“My lord, why do you prefer a duck shape rather than a human form? Red Deer said.
The duckling got out of the water and slowly walked to him, with that wiggle waggle so cute to look at. The second he was before his face, he pecked his eye obviously insulted, and walked away upset.
“You knew that was going to happen!” Red Deer said angry, wiping the tears from his injured eye. “You are so mean, sometimes!”
“Yes I did! Somehow the question is insulting,” Nova said.
--O--------O--------O--
Nobody knows where he came from, rumor has it that he just showed up! The elders know more but they never talk about it.
A loud scream of pain, precedes the most violent of all the shudders they have experienced. His wide-open eyes show a sight that is empty and lifeless. He makes eye contact with the matriarch and she steps back frightened and hides behind the chief of the tribe. His shaking hands try to get a hold of something only he is able to see.
Nova in the other hand, lays there in a trance so deep; he looks like he is taking a nap. He even manages to smile every now and then; he is one of those people that radiate happiness.
The spirits of the underworld love him, he is full of questions; they don’t like those who never shut up, but they like him because when they respond to his questions; he takes it, breath it, taste it, feel it, plays with it for days and then question them back only, if he didn’t get it. Although, sometimes he realizes they just have been messing with his head, and he laughs amused. He never takes anything ‘as is’ or just because they say so, he is kind and fearless, and that tickles them.
There are other shamans in the tribe, older and more experienced, but not nearly as wise. “How does he know that?” Is the most common reaction by those who seek his advice, he always has an answer for their predicament.
--O--------O--------O--
The scenery was stunning in its grandeur! There are waterfalls and rivers everywhere, and the meadows look always neat. Indeed is the womb of the earth and everything in it makes sure you know, who’s home this is. You can ask anything, but that does not entitle you; or anyone, to give you an answer. They walked, laughed and horse played for a while, and they finally arrived to their destination; the gigantic cave protected by a thick iron gate. They looked around for the gatekeeper, and he was nowhere near. Suddenly, they heard his voice as the gates opened, and he appeared before them.
“Who are you and what are you doing in here?” a dark and deep voice said.
“Ah! Keeper of the gate we are here to see you,” Nova said solemnly, while bowing his face in respect, to the tall and boney figure before him. “We ask your permission to enter the gates; we need your guidance on a task of great importance”
“And what is that of so much importance?” The gatekeeper said inquisitively. “…that requires my guidance nova, and who is this child that accompanies you?”
“Child? I am older than him you know”
“Please forgive his insolence, lord of the gate,” Nova said. “He is my apprentice and if all goes well, you will see more of him in the future”
The lord looked at him from head to toes with reserved judgment.
“My people are dying” Nova said poignant. “…and I need your counsel, we are being killed merciless by people who invaded our lands. They have weapons that we can’t defeat. Our women and children get sick and die of diseases we have never seen! Our medicine is worthless for it, and we need help. Your guidance, could lead me to find a way to restore the peace, we no longer enjoy. Tribe after tribe is defeated; the number of deaths is so big we do not know how to measure it. The visitors have massacred full families and for what we see; they are not going away! We ran away from them and they followed us. At first we thought, they were aloof because they did not trust us, and we moved away far enough to give them space. Our land is big and we have no problem sharing it, but they want more and more and they never seemed to have enough!”
“And what do you expect from me?” The gatekeeper said.
“I don’t know what to do” Nova took a deep breath and his shoulders dropped down in despair “I can change the life of the sick ones, one by one. But the book of life, does not let me change the fate of my nation” he said almost in tears. “…I have tried several times and there is no way! I am the only hope of my people, and I do not see how I can help them”
“Ah! But there is a way! There is always a way! However, is not in our world I am afraid, is in yours! Now go away; the gates can’t be open for you today, come back in another time”
Moreover, with that said the gatekeeper turned around and walked back inside, closing the gates behind him, and leaving the young shamans resentful of his lack of empathy.
--O--------O--------O--
It’s been more than six hours. A growing concern for the well-being of the travelers impregnates the mood of the witnesses. They have waited patiently, trips to the underworld are lengthy, but not this long. The chief’s concern shows all over his face. His eyes are watery but without the fuming stove, they would freeze to death.
The room is well ventilated, but one hundred elders; five from every neighboring tribe, are “one too many” to be comfortably accommodated for such length of time. The drummer looks tired; the flute player has a green undertone in the skin of his face. He has been sucking air the best way he could to follow the canons, but the mix of smoke and little oxygen have already caused him to hyperventilate a few times.
Something is not ok. The spirits of the underworld are kind and friendly, but there are others who live there as well and they will do anything to obtain a human body. The spirits have always been spirits, and humans are the offspring of father sky and mother earth; to obtain a body to walk the face of the planet, is an honor envied by many of the nasty boys trapped in the underworld. Some will do anything to experience a fresh breeze of air on their face, the sun in the sky, the sight of waterfalls, the pleasures of the flesh. Every time a shaman enters their land, they follow him in hopes, he wishes to seat down in a meadow with them and talk about the beauties of his land.
Some Shamans are kind enough to do it; others are very business like and refuse to share their world with them. All Shamans respect them, but they also know about their little mind games. They know they prey on those weak enough to refuse wealth and power, the very same things they already have although, of a much greater kind.
--O--------O--------O--
“What now?” Red Deer asked with impatience.
“I do not know what else we can do. The gates are closed, and there is always a good reason for it. The underworld is home to all the Lords, not just the good ones you know. So let’s go back home and comeback tomorrow again,” he said.
“Psst!”
“What was that?” Red Deer Said looking around.
“Over here!” The voice said “Follow me I can help you!”
The young shamans followed the hasty raccoon, as fast as they could; hoping to be fast enough to keep up with him. Nova knew that if they loose sight of him, he was not going to return looking for them. He went up some hills and down some cliffs that seemed to be bottom less.
“Are we there yet? We have been following him for a very long time,” Red Deer asked in concern.
“I do not know Red-D!” he said mortified. “But we do not have any other choice. If he said he can help he really does, the Lords can’t lie, they can persuade you; confuse your mind to match their desires, but they can’t lie” Path after Path, the travelers followed the dark silhouette. The further up they went, the stronger the sensation of inexistence prevailed.
“I am not ok nova, my whole body is aching and I am very frightened”
“Me too”
“What! You are frightened. …I want to go home now!”
“Wait! You have to calm down its only fear. Let’s follow him until we can’t deal with it. If it gets worst, then we turn around and go back home, I promise you that”
“Here it is!” The raccoon said stopping abruptly, in front of a wall that pulsated light.
“Is this the home of the rainbow?” Red Deer said fascinated by the shades of color lights, emanating from within the screen.
The colors blended with each other playfully, changing the color of the wall before them. The raccoon then transformed into a human form, and opened the garment from his chest. The beam of gold and silver light emanating from it dissolved the wall; releasing a fleet of golden bees, flying among the loud and vibrating waves of light coming from it.
“I hate bees!” Red Deer said, falling face down on the floor shaking.
“They are bumblebees!” Nova said looking at one, which stopped in his index finger.
“This is what you been looking for! I am the time Whisperer,” he said exhilarated. “This is the way to the unknown and the unwritten,” he said mischievously.
The news produced happiness to the younger visitors, who forgot all their fears with the hearsay.
“How can I change the fate of my people?” Nova said
“I do not know” was his dry response. The expression of their faces changed from excitement to confusion.
“I do not understand my lord, what you mean?” Nova said.
“Among the legends of our world” The whisperer said thrilled “There are a few, which speak of great things happening in the depths of this portal, many have gone inside for help!”
The excitement of the kids could not be greater, they hugged and kissed each other in complicity, they have found what they were looking for.
“Tell me more my lord! Can you give me guidance to its mysteries?” Nova said.
“I can tell you what I know” He smiled mischievously and said excited “Thousands have gone in” then he mumbled “…and thousands have not made it back” The inquiring sight of the teens demanded more information. The whisperer cleared his throat.
“Hmm…just a few have made it back?” he said charmingly.
The inquisitive sight of the teens let him guessed what they wanted and this dragged the words out of his lips.
“Ah! Ok, ok …just three have made it back!”
He said quietly and un-preoccupied to minimize the impact. “But it was glorious!” he said euphoric “We still talk about it”
“Only three?” Red Deer said hyperventilating a little “I do not know about that Nova, we can’t run such a risk, we have much to do with our people, and we can’t afford to get lost in there”
“What happened to those who never returned my lord?”
“Nobody knows” He responded “But the first two, that the legends talk about, lived long time a go; one was the spirit of all man, and the other one was the spirit of all woman” He scratched his head. “Very little is known about them, or what ever happened to them after their returned to their land. We know they came from the upper world, your world! In addition, that they wanted different things. The spirit of woman wanted to change her bearing of children, and the spirit of man did not see why? …See; before she went into the gates of this portal, she gave birth to one child every week! Poor thing, but the spirit of man did not want that to change, he liked it that way!”
“Why was that?” Red Deer said interested.
“Your people are strange little one, they usually find their blessings when they don’t have them anymore,” he said.
The lord looked around, for a clear place on the dirt floor to sit down. Red Deer and Nova followed him and sat across each other, anxious to hear the end of the story.
“The spirit of man did not see why she wanted to stop having his offspring. The land was extensive and they all had food, water and each other’s companionship. However, she wanted more time to take care of his children, and travel around to see other lands. After all, she was the only daughter of the earth and she wanted to see her possessions!” He remarked with importance, waving his index finger on the air. “But that was not all, she was afraid that if that did not change, very soon there will be so many of them, that they all would forget they were brothers and sisters” he said with understanding “The more children around, the less time to sit down with each one of them, and educate them!”
“So was she able to change that?” Nova said.
“Yes she did!” The Whisperer said.
“She didn’t know it was too late! The legend says that she went inside this cave followed by her mate, and she found the father of all creation. He heard her concerns and granted her wish. From that moment on, she was to have only one child every nine full moons; but they would not be theirs, but his children instead, the offspring of god! And they will come to live with him, but she did not like this idea! She said it was unfair to her and her mate, so they made an agreement. God was to bring home only those who discovered their divine origin. He took a very small seed and blessed one side of it, he gave it to her and she blessed the other side on behalf of the earth. Then he broke it off in two parts, and place one side in her womb, and the other side in her mate’s groin. “Go now and fusion both sides of the seed” Creator said “Some will be male spirits, some will be female spirits, and some will be two spirits.”
“I thought that spirits did not have a gender my lord?” Nova said.
“And you are right… they don’t!”
“I don’t understand my lord,” Red Deer said.
“In time you will!” he said with a smile of complicity. “Those, my little visitors, are your ancestors”
“But wait!” Nova said “Isn’t unfair for the one spirits, that some are two spirits?” Nova said.
“Not at all! Neither one of them have an advantage on each other, but I will tell you a secret …The two sprits are a hint!” he said looking around making sure no other lord was around listening “Integration”, he muttered.
“You mean we have to become two spirits?” Red Deer said.
“No! You can’t become two spirits nor can they become one spirit,” Said the whisperer laughing “But I will tell you more! Nor male or female can cross the gates of his dwelling. To get inside, you have to be divine! And you might fall and stumble a few times; and a few lives, but one by one everyone finds their way in”
“How do you do that? How do you become divine?” Nova said.
“Aren’t you listening child! You already are …Just wrap your mind around it …Ironic ah?”
Those were his last words before vanishing on thin air. Nova and Red Deer were not finished with the questioning. Nevertheless, he was nowhere near. The gates of the Portal remained open, with no gatekeeper around, now It was up to them, if they wanted to enter or not. They made a few failed attempts, and every time they retracted. The waves of light pierced their bodies, and made it difficult to move forward.
“The light makes me feel like I want to pee” Red Deer said.
“I know! I am here too you know, just keep walking, and keep your mind above the sensation” he said leading Red Deer.
“I have never seen anything like this” Nova said “…Is so bright, I can’t really see where I am going!”
“Look nova! If you touch the walls, they vibrate even more, and make your finger tingle really bad! Hmmm …Nova?”
“Yes?” Nova said annoyed.
“Hmmm …I just peed” Red Deer said.
The texture of the walls looked hard but was soft, and as they were touched; a grid of light strings would come up, making geometrical designs; alike those they used, to adorn their textiles and pottery. The merging and unmerging of the geometrical shapes, made the walls look like they were breathing, in and out. They radiated in every color: Squares, circles and triangles in and out of each other, in a myriad of possible combinations.
“Wow”
Was all that could come out of their mouths; their wide-open eyes became a vacuum that sucked every beat of light and every bit of visual data. Red Deer, even rubbed his eyes a few times, he forgot that in fact, he was not using them at all.
As they got deeper inside, the light became brighter and brighter. Out of nowhere a fragile shape of purple light, came to greet them. This wasn’t as any other cave Nova, had ever been. Everything before this was somewhat familiar a reminiscence of his world, but this was completely new.
Unlike the other gatekeepers, she did not use her mouth or sound to communicate at all. They could hear the feminine voice, right in the middle of their mind, and she came into existence and vanished repeatedly, in the same tiny spot. Her voice was sweet, sharp and clear. She could hear their thoughts as clearly as well, and she responded to them as promptly, as they were born. Seeing her was a different story! She would turn white every now and then, and they could only see her when she turned magenta, or any other color. Sometimes she was here and sometimes she was there, in random spots and sometimes, in more than one spot at the same time.
“What are you doing here?” she said amused.
“We are here to see the great creator,” Nova said.
“And who is this great creator you talk about?
“And what makes you think she dwells here?”
“Is not a she is a he!” Red Deer correct her courteously.
“Ah… I see” She broke in giggles. “You have been misinformed I am afraid, there is no great creator, and if there is? He certainly doesn’t live here” she said.
“But we have heard stories of him, he must be real! He has to be real!” Nova said.
Nova’s thoughts switched from Hope to despair. The entity entered his mind and learned of his predicament. Nova knew she was doing it, and his knees gave in for a minute. He thought he was going to fall when unexpectedly, millions of speaking thoughts plugged into his mind, becoming a collective. The light deemed and gradually became darker. At first, he could hear them clearly, but as the voices piled up, the chatter became impossible to understand.
--O--------O--------O--
Back in the Kiva, Suddenly the bodies of the young ones switched from peaceful rest to violent trembling. The shaking developed such might, that the elders piled around them, to pin them down gently to the willow beds. Their breathing had gotten faster and faster, they slapped their face gently and nothing; they couldn’t get them off their trance.
--O--------O--------O--
Nova suddenly disappeared in darkness, all light was gone and he felt like his head was going to explode. His thoughts switched endlessly, from right to left in circles, he thought he was going mad. He felt happiness and then great rage, sadness and then great joy. His emotions became intense and stronger, and in a moment of peace, light came up again. He was holding a baby bunny in his hands and he was happy. Patting the bunny and watching him twitch his little nose was a joy. He laughed and laughed. The laugher turned into a level of hate he had never experienced and he screamed in wrath, squeezing the bunny to death, dismembering it in pieces with his bare hands.
He saw what he did, and remembered the twitching of the bunny’s nose. He felt remorseful and devastated. He never felt like that before and he cried.
Why are you crying? Every animal you have ever killed, and eaten was a baby at some point as well.
“Who said that?” He asked paranoid, but silence was his answer.
The crying became anguish, the anguish became hopelessness, and hopelessness became fear. A fear so deep and strong, he asked the great creator to give him dead. His heart was wrenched with sadness.
--O--------O--------O--
Back in the Kiva, suddenly and unexpectedly, their breathing got heavy and difficult. What followed left everyone speechless. The elders looked at each other in incredulity and others give in to despair. There was nothing else to do…
--O--------O--------O--
The light came up again. He was floating into nothingness. In two places at the same time, but the second he acknowledge it, he became one unit again. He looked around for Red Deer and found him. He did not make it. He couldn’t control his emotions as he once could, and cried as he never had cried before. His tears were emanating from a place in his heart, he did not know existed. His friend’s body floated motionless and his face looked terrified.
He tried to touch him, but his intention failed when he exploded into thousands of light sparks. His sadness turned into joy, he knew he was going to see him again.
“Life does not have any secrets!” He thought laughing joyful.
“How couldn’t I see it before, is so clear!”
He understood every word of the sages, his heart was never to feel affliction again. He was so lost in his joy; he did not notice that the one he was looking for watched him in delight. If someone deserved such joy, was that brave soul who had risked it all, for the sake of his people.
“So unnecessary” creator thought “…Martyrdom is the secret vice of these children. The worst they feel, the better they like each other. Nothing has value to them when is too easy to get …what a waste of time, and resources!” He thought, watching him bathe in the light of his pure joyful thoughts, as he created him to exist.
“He is close, not quiet there yet, but he will have his wish!” Creator said and with that, he vanished.
When I arrived, I remembered my plan! I remembered that I begged and begged to get a human body until I got one, and I can see now, how they do the best to supply demand you know. But we kill each other faster that we given birth to! So is hard to catch up! I remembered how many times, I have been there as well.
“Look” I said to the others “Down there we can have so much fun” …and we could! Until we get there and everyone around us makes sure we don’t have fun at all! Don’t do this! Don’t do that! And all of it because 'we love you' and is not a lie though, but as soon as we get here; in earth, we forget who we are and why we came here to begin with! We are not even sure where we came from. And we are loved by our peers, the best way they know how; is better than nothing but utterly sad.
Is always the same story, we plan all the fun way ahead of time! And we go so sure we will be ‘The One’ to inspire them all to live life to the fullest; as we are meant to do so, and we all end up trapped with everyone else …so not in the original plan!
The second we are born, we use our little feet, legs and smiles to make them happy, and it works for a while. Next thing you know, they are telling you how to think, what to say, what to dream, what to feel and the worst …when to potty! They want us to shit on schedule! But you know, regardless; they love us. More than one loves us. Anyways, let me go on with the story, and I promise you, I will do my best to keep focused.
Nova did not know how long he floated in there. He was so happy; he forgot why he was there. Better yet, he knew that everything was the way it had to be. Two doors appeared before him, he knew what was behind each of them. He thought about it for a few seconds; it was all up to him, and he made a choice with a grin on his face.
The second he made a choice, a vacuum swallowed his entire being. The walls around him became lands, and terrains he could not recognize. He saw great waves, some made of mist, some made of sound, and some made of fire.
His skin changed color, becoming as dark as the night itself. He could smell the ocean, and he smiled satisfied. Suddenly the sharp pain of a whip interrupted his joy. He looked up; he saw the arrogant smile of his oppressor. He was enraged, but he swallowed his anger. He did not know how or why he knew, it was a bad idea to do anything about it. He bowed his head in obedience, and saw his blood running down his arms.
His skin changed again to a brownish color, and he found himself running along other man; that looked just like him, gun in hand shooting and shouting: "Viva Mexico Cabrones!" And he felt joyful and powerful, riding on his white horse.
Then everything faded again, and he felt so much sadness. His heart was broken, and his mind was troubled. He was inside a box, packed in so tightly with others, breathing was almost impossible. His heart wrenched, when the child next to him looked for his hand, and whispered, “I am scared” He held his little hand, and hugged him. “No need to, everything will be just fine” the child smiled back, and he knew he had trusted him. He didn’t know why or how, he knew he was lying. Then, the smell of gases asphyxiating to all alerted him. He knew what was next but he never let go of the child who died in his arms grabbing the star of his jacket.
Everything changed again, and he felt very small, floating in water. He looked at his tiny, transparent hand, and he felt safe and happy “I am in the womb of my mother” he smiled relaxed,
And he fell asleep. A sharp pain woke him up exalted, he felt his limbs, cut off the root in excruciating pain “WHY?” He meant to scream! But he did not how or why, he knew that it was best to stay still, and let it happen. He was too small to defend himself, and he did not have a voice.
Things changed again, and he was in a beach, surrounded by people he didn’t know. There was drinking and dancing, and he saw his hands covered by hair, as gold as the sun itself. Then complete darkness, pure nothingness as big as the universe.
All light came back, and he was floating above a crowd of people, they ran around alarmed and restless. He spotted a woman, crying over the motionless body, of a young teenager.
He couldn’t understand their language and he did not know why his heart was with her in her misery. The young one was her son, and he was not alive anymore.
Suddenly and without warning, a crash so violent made his ears ring; his chest felt such pressure he thought a horse sat on his chest. He opened his blinded eyes for a few seconds. His vision was blurry and he could not distinguish anything. But he was not afraid although, he thought his heart was about to jump out of his chest. He opened his eyes again and blinked a few more times to regain vision clarity, he did shortly; but a light shone in his eyes and he lost it again. He tried to close them, but someone was forcing them open. The light went off again, and the shocked face of a woman appeared before him.
“This is Impossible!” The doctor said.
“I told you he was moving!” Her petrified assistant said.
“He has been dead for more than ten minutes! I checked his vitals myself, and I am telling you, he was dead!”
“Should I call his family then?”
“Not yet, let me see if he is ok?” she said turning again, to the young teenager “You are a resilient son of a bitch you know that! Your blood had 0.5mg of morphine per liter, only an idiot, takes 80mg of heroine for his first time Greg!”
He silently looked at her, not understanding any words she had said.
“He is not responding” The assistant Said.
“There might be some brain damage, but never the less he is alive and his vitals are fine, call his parents!” she looked at him again full of love and compassion “Welcome back to the 60’s kiddo” she said caressing his face
CHAPTER TWO
-ALPHA WOMAN, SACRED MASCULINE-
The glossy polish of her new BMW is not the only bright and shiny thing about this woman. When you look at her, you would probably guess she is an affluent socialite, a fashion designer or maybe, the wife of a very powerful man and you would be wrong. Her abundant head of hair is like those you see in the models promoting shampoo, or hair color in TV commercials, her name is Hope.
The tips of her lengthy waves of hair, are curled up and uneven, according to Vogue; and half a dozen more European fashion magazines, this is the Must have of the season.
Most women agree that when it comes to the eyebrows, one is always higher than the other one. “They are sisters not twins!” But not hers, hers are exactly alike black and full as the wings of a raven.
Her skin tone is a delicious and warm cinnamon undertone and perfectly even, from the edge of her forehead to the edge of her toenails, is the same beautiful shade. The contrast, with the baby blue oceans of her pupils; framed by thick layers of mascara, give her a striking good looks. When you look at her, your first thought would be “She has to be Italian” and you would be wrong again. She looks tall but in fact, she is overall fragile and maybe even tiny. But the way she carries herself, with such majesty and pose, makes you think of her otherwise. She is one of those creatures born to get man in trouble by mere merit of existing. Not because she wants to, in fact she can care less who is watching her or why. The truth is that no matter what age you are or what gender for that matter. You can’t help it to turn your head to appreciate her firm, full and perky bosoms, her curvaceous figure and her feminine demeanor.
Man and woman feel a warm wave of heat all over their body when she is around, although the heat is of a different kind for each gender. to woman though, she is just deliciously hateable.
--O--------O--------O--
There is something about ‘This’ man that everyone finds appealing. Among the Mexican sayings, one reads: “No soy monedita de oro, pa’ caerle bien a todos!” I’m not a gold coin to be wanted by all. But when it comes to this man, they are wrong. Greg is like a gold coin, everyone loves him! He is a retired Cryptographer -a young one. And a Shaman aficionado. He is in his late fifties and he is convinced his life is just starting. He is a widower, his only regret was not to have spend as much as time as he wanted with his wife, when she was alive. He has a son; a Doctor that he adores, and a grandson who is the apple of his eye. His days since retirement are simple. The long hours and days, analyzing document after document for the military, are long gone. Now he spends his time between volunteering for local hospice care facilities and hospitals.
He loves spending his time with those old souls, not visited by their loved ones. He never judges anyone; he knows that life can get hectic and time can get very limited. So he pays them a visit to remind them, that their loved ones care, they just have their own life as well.
He loves visiting the AIDS care facilities in the hospital and those who struggle with their life day and night always cherish his presence. He knows things about the disease that even doctors don’t, but his son has warned him that if he ever says something, he will loose his access to the patients and he will not risk on that. He knows his beloved friends-patients, look forward to see him every other day, his presence cheers them up and that is much more important. But he has slid little anonymous notes to their friends that read: “Dr. Roberto A. Giraldo, AIDS-HIV specialist, Google it!”
--O--------O--------O--
The door attendant, salivated the second he saw Hope coming out of her car, and as usual, he was “Hands ready” to help. Everyone catered to her every need, from changing a tire to stopping a taxicab or taking her trash out, someone somewhere is taking care of her.
Especially Men: Those testosterone filled creatures, known for their extreme helpful nature, if you are lucky to awaken their crotch that is. They love to look at her and they are surprised to find out that indeed, she is like a Pandora’s Box, Easy to figure out but not predictable. She is bold and upfront, but she also exudes sensuality, kindness and understanding. Any way you look at her, she is the total package!
Those who know her well enough can assure you, and we can attest that in fact! …Let’s just said that, those who go for substance are safe and those fools that fall for it, they deserve all the hell!
A couple of replicas of her, were coming out of the lobby in a rush, walking with that air models move on a catwalk; phone glued to their ear “Is not rude, is multitasking!” ...talking to each other at the same time. They are pals and confidants -The topic …you ask? Overcoming adversity!
“…It was brutal! The worst thing I have ever been through in my life! So here I am …getting dressed. Then it happens! My biggest fear coming alive …the rust shade of my shoes, did not match the rust shade of my purse! Total disaster and to make matters even worse, just hours before the party!”
“Oh my god! What did you do? That is horrendous!”
“…As soon as I noticed it, I calmed myself down, and imagined a white light filling my entire body. I took a deep breath and I said to myself -Nina! Get a hold of yourself, Believe that nobody will noticed”
“Oh my god you are so brave!”
However, everybody did notice it; they just did not mention it to her! They kept on talking incessantly, and stopped when they saw Hope coming their way. Their jaws dropped down and they did little jumps, screams and hugs. In the typical fashion of their gender, they exchanged sweet nothings, they got touchy-touchy and baby talked each other’s ears off.
“Honey, you look stunning! You so not look your age!” They praised her loudly, signaling her to turn around.
Hope returned the compliment to both, as it was expected, and they struts their happy; precious tails out of each other’s way. It was always the same routine, day after day.
They were her neighbors, she knew them for years and well enough to know that what they really meant to say was “Honey why you don’t just drop dead” but that would be rude and heartless. Where is your education? You never say what you think, unless the criticized party is not present; then you can speak freely and in great detail. After all, this is Washington! People here have grown accustomed to think one thing and say another one. Matching both will never work! Not for nothing is the ‘Hollywood’ of the political game but for as fake as it might look, if you are careful with your words, cautious with your social endeavors and you pay your whores in cash! You will enjoy putting up with the Salahis.
She is actually highly successful, and among her many awards include, the excellence in public education by the SAA: Society for American Archeology, the first one ever given to a Native American. But her list of awards is extensive and doesn’t end there. She is also an expert in Uto-Aztecan languages, and she holds a M.A. PhD. in American Indian Studies, from the University of Arizona.
What else is there to say? She represents the dream chased by thousands of graduates around the world. Indeed, she is the icon of modernization.
The valet parking attendant took her keys with one hand and rubbed his crutch with the other one. She noticed, but she ignored it as usual and walked to the elevator. She looked around the modern décor of the lobby for the zillion time and took a deep breath “I love this place” Since the year she had bought her penthouse in that building, it was her every day ritual.
--O--------O--------O--
Greg got home all sweaty and in desperate need of a shower. The weather in California can be brutal sometimes, but the shining sun and the beaches near by make it a real paradise. He has been running all day; helping his elder neighbors mow their yard and he is exhausted.
He lives alone with one dog, one cat, one gerbil, one gold fish and an old Parrot; whose operatic abilities, will put to shame Florence Foster Jenkins.
After the death of his wife, his son wanted him to move in with him, but it did not feel right to him. He made a good choice following his gut feeling! No long after, his wife abandoned the Doctor and a few months later, his grandson moved in with him due to irreconcilable differences with his father.
He did not get involved in their disputes, both were his kids and he loved them just as they were. He lives by the motto: “Fighting is the seed of reconciliation, reconciliation is the seed of peace, and peace is the seed of harmony …let them fight until they can’t anymore and have no other choice but to love one another” He was right, in due time they arranged their differences and became inseparable. The Doctor moved to South America and his grandson moved to San Francisco. But each other’s cell phones ring mornings, mid days, and nights just to say hello and catch up with the day. He is a very happy man; no luxury is needed or wanted. He has a life he loves, but he misses his old work every now and then.
Earlier today, he found a little girl crying on a park bench and her mother tried to calm her down with no avail. Her crying was such that he had to ask what had happened.
“She is very sad because the world is going to end” her mother said afflicted.
“Oh my goodness…!” Greg said getting on one knee in front of the little girl. “Well, I’ll be darn, I am glad you are telling me because I didn’t know” he said cleaning her tears with his handkerchief.
“We all are gonna die and I don’t want to” The little girl said very afflicted “I don’t want Conchita to die” she said crying and pouting.
“Ok hmmm, who is Conchita?” Greg Asked.
“Conchita is her turtle,” Her mother said.
“Ah! I see …why do you think we are going to die?”
“My friend told me at school, she said that we all are going to die on 2012”
“…really?” he said surprised “I think you friend is wrong”
“Ever since that movie came out, all the kids at her school are frightened,” Her mother said.
“Well, you know movies aren’t real right?” he said sweetly.
“It’s not the movie…? It’s the Mayans”
“…the Mayans?” he said laughing, “My goodness, I see you DO go to school! Well I promise you something, the world is not going to end, and you and Conchita will be just fine”
“…you promise?” she said smiling
“I promise!” he said.
The mother of the little girl gave him a handshake, the little girl gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and they left. But he could not get that out of his mind, the little girl was shivering and deeply disturbed. He was well aware of the Mayan prophecies, although not in depth. He just had heard about them, and back then, he had so much work that analyzing ancient writings, did not sound like a good hobby after work. Now it was different, he had all the time in the world and he was an expert in his field, it sounded very appealing to look in to that.
--O--------O--------O--
The luxury that surrounds Hope is not typical either of those, who share her professional interests. The scientists don’t care about this sort of thing. They are to smart to waste, their precious neuronal activity, on such simple and retarded things like shopping, work out, or looking presentable! That is for mere mortals. There is no time for that; they have to discover new theories, they have to work day and night to get those honors and awards and you can't take a breather! “You think you know stress? You do not know shit about stress!” This echo resonates every day, at the prestigious University where she works.
But she loves her job; or she thinks she does and those that share her world with her. She doesn’t know, her peers and associates secretly mock her as the Native American Barbie. If things were politically, correct, ironically! She would be a true all American girl and If she knew about the nickname, she will be far from insulted.
She opened the door, to find her cat, licking herself.
“Nah ah! Not in the sofa!” She rushed to her.
The feline ignored her bluntly, and continued to clean herself on the cherry wood framed; lamé upholstered masterpiece. The cat did not seem to care, for her displays of affection either, and walked away ignoring her.
At the bar, the light of the answer machine blinked on and off. She walked to it looking at her watch, and changed her mind half way there, walking to her bedroom instead. She opened her closet doors, and quickly browsed through the vast selection of dresses, neatly organized by color. “Oh Yeah!” She purred, when she found her little black dress, which favored her figure so much. She decided it to pair it, with five thousand dollars python pumps -those with the exclusive red soles, and a few thousands worth of pure, solid, envy called Tiffany.
She got undressed, and watched her body, in the long mirrored doors of her closet. She sighted her figure, from every angle, she could get a hold of, and as always; she spoke to her body, in her usual disdain. “God I hate my hips”
She took off the hair extensions, the color contact lenses, the padded bra, and jumped in the shower. Life was definitely good around there. She finished her shower and looked at the document on her purse again. “He is crazy!” she said emotional “I am way too young for that!” She placed the document back in her purse and the reconstruction started all over again.
CHAPTER THREE
-THIRD TIME’S A CHARM-
“Ugh, I hate parties at The White House” She thought as she applied her make up, a noise coming out of her kitchen interrupted her liquid eye liner application. She stopped for a moment in complete silence to make sure everything was alright. She called for her pet and the fat ball of hair graciously jumped in her lap, she petted her for a few seconds and put her down on the floor. “Everything is fine” She thought and discard her concerns.
She took her eye shadow’s brush and did the first stroke of thick black smut on her right eye; suddenly there was the strange sound again loud and clear. She grabbed her gun at a lighting speed from her chest of drawers and made sure it was loaded. She slide off her chair and with feline grace, her feet sneaked through the corridor that led to her living room. All her senses were up in alert and she could have heard the drop of a needle.
Her finger was ready to pull the trigger at any unfamiliar movement, her heart was pounding really fast and she could feel the blood rushing through her veins. She opened the first door on the right and slowly aimed the gun to the center, “Nothing” She gulped copiously. Her breath accelerated completely out of her control, she turned on the lights of her studio and quickly scanned every corner.
She held her breath unconsciously; she was in panic and she could clearly hear the breathing of her visitor, indeed, she was not alone. She moved door-to-door, certain that she would pull the trigger if need it. She did not know what it was. The weight of the gun or the fear, what made her hands tremble? She was sweating profusely and there was only one room left to go to. She stepped over her cat’s tail and the feline meowed so loud and jumped so high that a squeal came out of her mouth as she dropped the gun on the floor.
“Fuck fuck!” She groaned petrified.
She looked around for the weapon and she could not see anything else but her heavy sofa “Is underneath!” She thought and dropped herself on the floor. The tips of her fingers almost touched the cold metal. She felt her heart pounding. She was terrified and as she grabbed the weapon again; her uninvited guest pounced over her fragile frame, but she managed to twist her body so see the face of her oppressor…
--O--------O--------O--
The public library was full of students and Greg patiently waited in line, when a young teenager with the thickest glasses he has ever seen, bumped into him.
“…oops!” he said smiling “Sorry sr. I did not see you”
“No worries that woke me up” Greg said.
“Are you preparing for your finals too?”
“No my man, I am too old for that!”
“Rubbish! My grand mother went back to school; she wants to be a lawyer”
“…really? Good for her”
“Yeah, I just hope she does not die, before she gets her degree. She will be so mad! … My name is James” he said extending his hand “My friends call me Geeko …for obvious reasons”, He laughed.
“Nice to meet you James, Greg here” he said shaking his hand.
“So why are you here then?”
“Well…” he paused for a minute and smiled “I am looking into that 2012 thing with the Mayas” Greg said expecting the teen to laugh “Weird ah?”
“No really! Is not only the Mayas; the Hindis, the Buddhist, the Aztecs, the Greeks… everyone has a reference to the 2012, even the bible! …Revelations and the apocalypse mostly…”
“How do you know all this?”
“I started researching a few years a go and I am convinced …we all gonna die!” he said hopeless.
“Come with me!” Greg said walking out of the library, followed by his new friend.
“Where are we going?”
“There is a coffee and a sandwich with your name on it”
“Sweet!”
They walked for a few blocks under the shiny sunlight, and walked inside a premier coffee shop.
“There!” Greg said pointing to a couple who was barely finishing their coffee and standing up from their chairs.
“Dude! Talking about being in the right place at the right time, it takes forever to get a table here”
Greg placed and waited for their order and came back to the table, with the collegiate breakfast.
“So …What do you know about this 2012 thing?”
--O--------O--------O--
Back at Hope’s apartment, things were flying over the air, hitting things everywhere.
“I fucking hate you so much right now!” She barked furiously when she recognized her attacker. “You scared me to death!, just go away” she said standing up “Your face is the last thing I want to see around here at this moment” She screamed her lungs out to the tall and well dressed gentleman that unsuccessfully attempted to calm her down.
“Hope, you got to calm down and listen!” he said.
“Get the fuck out of my face please, seriously” She paused. “…before I grab the fucking gun and shoot you for real! What made you think that sneaking inside my apartment was a good idea, is my fucking apartment goddamn it?” she snorted angry.
“It was a surprise Hope, I did not meant to scare you”
He said as he tried to grab her affectionately to no avail, she wanted none of it and she kept slapping and hitting his chest and every part of his body that got in the way, she was beyond anger and he knew better to stay away.
“Don’t touch me Adriano!” she said again ripping to tears, he hugged and she kept on fighting his attempts for peace. Finally, after a few minutes, she took his affections.
“You live in the safest building in Washington for god sakes! There is no way to get in this fortress, I have a key of your apartment and after this many years, the concierge still asks for my identification before letting me get in the elevator”
“That is true” she cleaned her tears “I wonder why he does not like you? Just wait until I tell him about this” She joked.
“Ok, you might as well brake up with me, because he will never let me be as near as the parking lot of this place. He looks at me like he wants to kill me; no amount of kindness from me has ever worked to tame that asshole!”
“He is vicious… isn’t he?” She laughed as she served herself a few shoots of tequila one after another.
“Wow, wow! Easy cat! You are going to get drunk with that!” He took the bottle and placed it back in the bar.
“Just shut a fuck up! My heart is coming out of my chest; this might help it go back inside, what you are doing in here anyways?” she said
“What are YOU doing in here? He responded, “Don’t you supposed to be at the white house with your boss?”
“I was getting ready for that!”
“I am sorry for the 20th time!” he said
“I’ll be leaving to Switzerland tomorrow, I thought that maybe we could spend the night together, I meant to surprise you with flowers and champagne, but when I saw you with that gun in your hand ready to shoot; the surprise was for me! And what’s up with that raccoon eye? And the crazy hair that did not helped either, you looked psychotic!” He laughed and his voice turned sweeter, as he walked to her embrace.
“There is something I want to ask you, I know how you feel about it, so I did not want to put you or me in an uncomfortable situation… again… in a public place so”
“Here we go again!” She thought and let go of his embrace. There was that knot in her stomach again.
“Listen, is not the right moment” She moved her hands nervously trying to select her words carefully “Hmm… you are going to Switzerland for a very long time and getting engaged at this moment is not fair to either one of us”
“Let’s Skip the engagement then!”
“No, no, no! Are you crazy! How about a quick trip to Las Vegas and we get married in a drive thru?”
“Sounds like a good idea …You can get started with the wedding plans. I comeback in three months; we get married, you pack your things and we take a plane back home! Is quite easy,” Adriano Said.
“That is crazy! It takes months to plan a wedding and I have a full agenda already” She looked at him fondly “Let’s give time some time and we talk about this again in the future”
He nodded in disappointment and walked to the door. She expected him to look back and smilingly wave as he usually did. But this time he closed the door behind him; upset. This was the third rejection over the course of their five years relationship.