The Chronicles of Amon book 2 The Sea of Marmara

  Chapter 7.

  The storm had blown itself out six days before, but still the ground was soaked, feeling spongy under foot.

  They had been travelling northward for two days across a barren landscape, dotted here and there with stubby, thick-leaved mossy vegetation. Not an animal, not even a bird had they seen their entire journey. Reluctantly they decided to turn back toward camp.

  Nahm and Broc walked slowly side by side, backtracking the path the returning scouts had travelled. For hours on end not a word was spoken between them. Each was absorbed in thought, and grief.

  Still without speaking, they stopped, each staring blankly into the ground before them.

  Nahm was the first to break the silence.

  “The ground is drying a little now. Maybe it’s safe enough to travel.” He looked up to see Broc staring into his eyes. They both looked away self-consciously, each knowing what the other was thinking.

  After a few awkward moments, Nahm continued.

  “My brother. What must we do about our leader? For days now he has done nothing but sit there in his shelter, staring at nothing. He just sits. He doesn’t move. His eyes are empty. They show nothing. No pain. No anger.”

  Broc’s voice was strained as he responded.

  “Yes. He doesn’t eat. He doesn’t sleep. I don’t think he’s moved since we buried Mahrohm. Why did he want her body covered by the earth, I wonder.”

  “Maybe it was because Nera was held by the great stone. We could not free her. We covered her body with stones so that she could not be seen . . . and so that the beasts could not desecrate her body.”

  “Yes. That must be the reason. Besides, a pyre could not be lit. The rain. . . .” His words trailed off.

  For a while they stood silently, lost in their memories of the previous days. Then almost as one, they squatted and sat down.

  “We must speak to him. Tell him of our concerns.”

  “Yes . . . we should. But we must give him time. I know he will listen, but it should be him who decides when to speak. He has lost two mates. . . .”

  “And both his parents.” Nahm reminded. “His grief must be more than he can. . . .”

  “Amon is strong! Stronger than any of us. He will rise above his grief. He will master it. He will again be our leader. Remember how he was after his father died? He was silent then, too.”

  “Yes, I remember. But this time it is different. This time he is more distant. His eyes seem hollow, empty. There is no expression on his face. It is as though he is no longer with us.”

  Again they fell silent, each contemplating what the other had said.

  Broc scanned the horizon as he began again.

  “When he is ready we should. . . . LOOK!” He jumped to his feet. “There! Look! Is that . . .?”

  There, only a few hundred yards down the way they had come, they could see a man climbing the trail toward them. Both men ran in his direction.

  In a matter of minutes they closed the distance.

  Amon stopped when he saw that they had seen him. He pulled the bundle off his shoulder and placed it gently on the ground beside him. As his two friends approached, he stretched out his arms in greeting.

  The two men ran into his embrace, breathless. After a long moment they separated, smiling, tears welling up in their eyes. Amon placed a hand on each man’s shoulder.

  “My friends . . . my brothers! My heart is filled with the sight of you!”

  “We have been worried! We have been so worried for you,” Nahm said, his voice cracked with emotion. Broc began to speak, but Amon raised a hand, stopping him.

  “I know, my brothers. I know of your concern for me. I would expect nothing less. Come. Let us sit and rest for a while. There is much that I need to tell you.”

  The three of them sat as Amon pulled the bundle in between them. He began untying the straps that held the hides in place.

  “Amon, our brother; there is something we must speak about.” Broc began. But again Amon stopped him.

  “Yes. I know. But first there is something I must tell you.”

  He pulled the covering back, revealing the transceiver.

  Broc had seen it before but knew that Nahm had not. He had sworn to keep it’s existence a secret. Just before his father died he had called Broc to his side and explained all about ‘the darkness’ and how he had come to possess it. Upon his father’s death, Broc had carried the device wherever he went. Like Amon, he had made ‘the darkness’ a part of his life. The secrecy he associated with the device had become ingrained over the years, so much so that he was surprised at Amon’s revelation. Amon turned to Nahm and began.

  “Nahm, my brother; what I show you now is something only you, Broc and a few others have ever seen. It is a well-kept secret that only the most trusted among us know.

  “I know of your confusion. I know you will not fully understand what I am about to tell you. But be not concerned. In time you will come to understand.”

  He placed his hand on the ‘darkness.’ Immediately it began to glow a soft blue color.

  “This thing you see is called a ‘transceiver.’ What it can do, you will not understand at first. But you must trust me that it is a good thing. Broc saw it long ago just before my father died. He has kept it secret faithfully ever since.”

  “Why do you reveal it now?” asked Broc.

  “I do so now because you both need to understand the reason for the decision I have made.”

  Amon removed his hand and immediately the image of an upper torso and head began to take shape. Nahm recoiled, not knowing what was happening.

  “Don’t be concerned, brother.” Broc said reassuringly. “I have seen this before. Just wait. Soon you will understand.”

  Amon gave a brief explanation as the image grew to completion. The image turned toward Broc and began.

  “Broc, my friend. It’s been a long time. It’s good to see you. And you,” The image turned toward Nahm. “Nahm. Amon has told me about you. You are his trusted friend. I am honored to meet you. My name is Evander”

  Nahm was speechless for a moment. Then he blurted:

  “It is as you say! It . . . he SPEAKS!”

  With a knowing smile, Evander turned toward Amon.

  “I take it you have not yet told them.”

  “No. They have only just arrived.” Turning back toward his friends, Amon began.

  “My brothers, much has happened since we first came together so long ago.” The two men nodded, not knowing what to say.

  “We have shared the joy of finding others like ourselves. We have learned together. We have shared our thoughts, our feelings, our ideas. We have learned together things which our parents could not teach us because they could not communicate the way we do. They could not speak. We have come to know who we are, that we are a unique race, different from any other in this world.

  “We have shared other things, too. We have shared the joy of seeing our young ones come into this world.”

  Broc was stunned that Amon would mention this.

  “Yes, my brothers. We have even shared the grief of loss.” Amon stared deep into each man’s eyes.

  “It is these things which we have shared that give me confidence that you will understand what I must tell you now.” He motioned toward the image of Evander.

  “From the time of my adolescence this man has been my friend. He has been by my side through all of my life. He has told me about his world.

  “No; he is not from this world. He is from a world far from here. So far, in fact, that he could not ordinarily be here himself. This device that you see can produce an image of him which we can see. It can also produce our images in the place where he is now, so that he can also see us.

  “Long ago, when I had grown into manhood, Evander made an offer to me. A very extraordinary offer. But I refused it.

  “At that time events in my life were much different than they are now. Nera was with child. Our clan was newly formed and in nee
d of leadership.”

  “This is very true, my friends.” Evander interjected. “Of all the people at that time, Amon was the best qualified to lead. From that time to this he has lead you all with strength and courage.”

  “Thank you, my friend,” Amon said. “Your faith in me has sustained me through difficult times such as these.” He paused for a moment, searching the ground before him, trying to find the proper words.

  “You, my brothers; you too possess such qualities. On many occasions each of you has demonstrated a willingness, an ability, even an enthusiasm for leading our people.”

  “What are you saying!?” Nahm broke in. There was desperation in his tone. “Do you not wish to continue leading us?”

  “My honest answer is . . . no.” Amon watched his two friends closely, searching for a reaction. The two men just stared at him in disbelief.

  “Each of you possess leadership qualities. You have demonstrated this countless times.”

  “But. . . .” Nahm tried to speak, but Amon again cut him off.

  “Even our brother Sef was a leader, just like you. If he were here now, I would say the same to him. But, my brothers, he is not.” Amon turned toward Evander’s image.

  “What Amon speaks is true. I must tell you something which will be difficult for you to hear. What we feared at the time of Sef’s departure so long ago has come to pass. It has been many years since he and his father rejoined their old family. Through some unanticipated circumstances, his father became leader.

  In so doing, he succumbed to the temptation which we all feared would happen. He mated with non-seeded females. The young ones they produced were not human . . . nor were they simian. They were, and still remain, an aberration. They are unlike any that we have ever seen. They have rebelled against both of their tribes. They now call themselves the Tal”

  “Now they follow the path that we chose. Do not be concerned. They are many years behind us. You will not have to contend with them if you continue as you have before.”

  “You say YOU, not WE.” Broc would not be silenced, though Amon raised his hand. “You have chosen then! You will not continue to lead us!”

  “This is true, my brother. It is time for new leadership. It is time for you two to take my place.”

  “But you must not do this!” said Nohm. “You have always led us! We will not stop seeking your advice, even if you refuse to give it!”

  “Yes. This I know. That is why I must leave.”

  Broc was near hysterics. “Leave?! Where will you go?! Will you leave us to fend for ourselves? YOU MUST NOT DO THIS!”

  “Amon is right. It is time that he move. . . .” Evander began.

  “What do you know!? You are but an image . . . an apparition!”

  “Evander is a real man. This machine only shows his image, like a reflection in the water. He is REAL. And very soon he will be among us.”