Children Of Fate
Roy finally managed to get his right arm free and with one all mighty swing, threw the key a good thirty meters towards Tony. Roy then used his free hand and latched onto the man’s right foot trying to stop him from sprinting freely towards the key all the while Alicia still zapped away.
**
Tony slammed into the sunlight running. The warm air smothered him in a welcoming embrace and the sweet smell of grass sprung up into his nose, any other time he would have delighted in the feeling but not today. Nadia began to stir in his arms as he continued to run across the park. The realization of not knowing where to run to infested his mind before it was wiped clean when he heard a familiar voice call out his name. He looked around and saw Roy and a stranger wrestling on the ground just in front of the trees, with Alicia standing behind them thrusting a Taser into the man with a frightened scream.
Roy lifted his arm and threw something in his direction and Tony immediately knew what it was. He changed his course and headed towards the key that came to rest on the grass about sixty meters away. With each step he took his arms grew heavier and heavier. The silent park erupted into voices, shouting and cursing all around him. He took a quick glimpse behind him and saw the General escape from Richard and bore down at him while his comrade kept Richard busy. To his left the other man slipped away from Roy’s effort to hold him back and also ran at him. Up ahead a gang of foot soldiers pounced over the fence and into the park with Tony, Nadia and the disk as their target. It was the same group Joel fooled with his distraction. I hope the stupid jerks ok ran through his head. But Tony knew it all came to this, no more running, no more lucky escapes. Tony dropped to his knees and his fingers crawled over the soft grass and grabbed the key. He pealed Nadia’s hands away from the disk and it flashed bright and sharp under the sun.
This was his chance he needed to use it one last time to fill in the missing piece, to find the cure to bring his grandfather back to him, the fun times fishing, fixing cars, laughing at his jokes. But Nadia would receive another dose as well, one that might drag her over to a place where she could not come back from. The park, the world felt like it grew bigger and bigger ready to swallow him up. He wished he was surrounded by four walls, protecting him from the world, from the choice he had to make.
The voices around him came louder and frantic.
He then heard his grandfather’s voice echo in his head and overrule all others.
I’m getting sick because all that I know, all my love for life is in you Tony. I have emptied all of it into your mind. I may not walk with you no more but together we will live side by side. I’ll always be with you.
Tears swelled up in his eyes. He needed him back.
Tony lowered his mouth closer to the disk. He blinked slowly then pulled back away. A tear fell and landed on Nadia’s cheek. Nadia twitched her cheek and then her eyes shot open. They darted left and right in complete fright. She relaxed back into Tony’s arms as she saw him watching protectively over her.
“Tony, did I do good?” she asked in a soft, weak voice.
Tony nodded and smiled, “yes, Nadia. You were amazing.”
Tony held Nadia’s hand around the disk and with the other hand pushed in the thin point of the key into the small hole in the center of the disk. The key clicked as it went deeper into the disk and with the shadows of the foot solders almost on him, he turned the key.
The air around the couple on the ground was sucked in towards them. The surrounding grass pointed their sharp tips at Nadia and Tony. A faint blue ball of light engulfed them and it slowly grew deeper and darker until they both seemed to be sitting in a ball made from the sky itself. The ball pulsated before it exploded in a wave of light that radiated outwards knocking over all the stunned thugs to the ground. The light dissipated and it all turned back to normal.
Nadia sat up beside Tony.
The soldiers looked around confused, waiting for an order.
“It’s over. Fall back now!” the General shouted.
The men fled just as fast as they appeared.
The General turned to Richard and threw a lazy salute, “until the next one Mr. Bursik.” He turned and followed the others to retreat and hide back into the crevices of society.
Chapter 31
Eric meticulously wiped the dashboard of his car in small circles with a damp rag picking up unsightly dust particles. He suddenly stopped when he saw a group walking up the middle of the road towards him. He threw the rag down, jumped out of the car and ran up to greet them. He’s face turned to concern when he saw bruises, bleeding and tired faces.
“Roy, everything ok?” he said pulling grass blades out of Roy’s hair. “You all look like crap.” He pointed a thumb at Richard, “who’s he?”
“It's ok he’s on our side,” Roy responded.
Eric jumped back and pointed at Tony’s hand, “you still got that disk thing.”
“It doesn’t work anymore. I turned it off. They won’t be chasing us anymore,”
Tony then turned to Richard, tilting his head on an angle, “What happens now?”
Richard dabbed at a bruise under his right eye testing its tenderness. “Go and live your lives like everyone else, looking for happiness and contentment. Other images and emotions will slowly reveal themselves as the years go on.” He rolled his head and pinched the back of this neck, “but what you do with the knowledge is entirely up to you. Ignore it or act on it. All I could do is say to you all, act with compassion and prudence.”
Richard turned and began to walk away.
“Is that it?” Alicia yelled.
Richard looked back, “My purpose is not needed. The disk is inoperative. Goodbye to you all.”
“The disk, don’t you want it back?” Nadia asked.
“You keep it, for sentimental reasons.”
Richard continued to walk away again but Tony stopped him this time. “Wait, so how did you find us?”
“My German friend rang me and told me the General spotted Eric’s blue car and wanted to follow. When I arrived at the house I saw Eric drive off with the three French men close behind. So I just followed them”
“The German?” Tony asked bewildered. “Didn’t he get caught? Where did he ring you from?”
Richards eyes shot wide open, “OHH NO THE GERMAN. HE RANG FROM THE HOUSE!” he turned and sprinted away.
**
The German, still bound to a wooden chair lay on his forehead and knees on the carpet by the phone that he had spilt onto the floor. The back of his shirt was singed black and split open where he attempted to burn through the ropes with his lighter. He could not move because the chair leg and backrest was tangled around the telephone cord and locked in-between and old ripped couch and an even older wardrobe.
He stopped struggling when he heard a noise at the front door. The noise turned into a bustle of activity, people running here and there, barking orders at each other and telling to do it fast. They came into the room he was in and worked around him ignoring him. They packed away documents, books and wiped down surfaces leaving behind not a trace of their presence in the house.
The house melted into silence and as quickly as they arrived they left.
**
Joel hid behind a low hedge and saw a contingent of men march out of Mauritius’s house carrying boxes, folders and books. He stayed low as they all sped off leaving the house empty and still. He had just stepped back over the hedge when he saw Richard jogging up towards the house. Joel waved him down, “Richard, it's ok you can relax they all left.”
A smile crept across Richard’s face when he saw Joel. “Joel, I knew you’ll be ok.”
“What happened?”
“Tony shut it off.”
Joel jumped and punched the air, “Yeah! HA, HA! WE DID IT!”
Richard nodded slowly, “You sure did. Did you see the German with them?”
Joel shook his head.
A Crashing sound echoed out the house through the open front door.
br /> They looked at each other then ran into the house. They found the German thrashing about on the floor trying to break the chair he was tied to. Richard freed him, patted him on the back and explained everything.
“So we must leave too, no. Before authorities come searching,”
They left the house and stopped beside a young freshly planted tree on the footpath.
“Joel you don’t need to be what was asked of you,” Richard said, looking deep into Joel eyes. “You don’t need to be one of us. You have a choice.”
Joel lowered his head, sighed and then looked up, “I think I don’t have a choice anymore.”
Richard raised his eyebrow and watched Joel closely
“I saw him. I saw the creator.”
“YOU LIE! Spat the German.
Joel looked down at the Germans burnt pants as to prove who the liar was. Richard waved away another response from the German and placed a hand on Joel’s shoulder and sighed, “Ok Joel, you will not be alone, I will not abandon you. I have to go away for a while, lay low and let things settle down. Then I will return. I will train you in everything I know.” Richard relaxed his intense stare and managed a smile. “And the stuff I don’t know, I’ll make up.”
“You’ve already given me a crash course in driving.”
Richard chuckled then shook Joel’s hand. Joel felt the truth and protection in his firm handshake and he too chuckled at Richard’s attempt at humor.
“Next time I see you maybe you can teach your friend to be a little more cheerful,” Joel said. “See you soon.”
Richard nodded
“Ohh yeah, I just remembered something I forgot to ask you Richard. The painting Alicia drew wasn’t…”
Richard cut him off shaking his head, “NO, the disk can’t predict the future. But none the less it was a warning to us all.”
Joel pointed to the sky, “they’re coming back aren’t they? To finish the job.”
“Yes. Maybe not them directly but their ancestors also diseased with the same evil.”
“What do we do then?”
Richard shrugged, “Maybe the answered will be clearer as time goes on. Make sure to jot down any out of the ordinary feelings and images that come to you. We don’t want you to forget the directions to the final disk now, do we?”
“Goodbye Richard. Now I have to go and keep a promise I made to Alicia.”
**
Joel followed Richards’s directions to the rest of his friends and now they were all together, driving towards the Adelaide University. When they met it was the first time any one of them we’re so pleased to see him. He got a hug from Alicia and Nadia and even one from Tony, after Tony had called him a stupid nutcase and threatened to beat him to a pulp if he ever tried something like that again.
“We’ll probably be the last ones there,” Roy said.
“We did take the short cut maybe that would have given us a slim chance,” answered Joel.
“Is it really that important? What we experienced is far more important than winning a phony race,” Tony said.
“It’s important to me.,” Joel said firmly.
Tony smiled.
Eric drove on.
Chapter 32
The University students wondering about on the front grounds stopped in their tracks when they heard a thunderous rumble slowly growing louder and louder. Their heads spun around searching for the source, even the leading team who had just parked in the car park and hopped out of their Four-wheel drive readying themselves for a dash for the finish line also froze and waited for the origin of the noise to reveal itself. One of the team members even looked up in the sky expecting a lightning bolt to flash through the clear blue sky.
A blue Mustang with paintwork as smooth as polished stone pulled into the car park. The rumbling sound dropped down to a purr of a wild cat.
The first team spotted the faces in the car. “It’s another team. RUN FOR THE LINE!” one shouted.
The blue car didn’t park in an empty car parking spot which would have given the other team a clear advantage in the run for the finish line, but decided to keep on driving. It hopped over a concrete step and then onto the grass. It seemed like everyone on the campus watched in amazement as the car’s wheels spun on the sleek grass and snaked across the yard towards a checkered banner hung over and archway between two buildings. Students pointed, laughed and some cheered the mustang on.
Eric twisted the car to the side and stopped a meter away from the finish line. Four university students posted at the line looked at each other completely confused.
Alicia, Nadia, Tony, Roy and Joel casually stepped out of the car and strolled up to the line. The four students shrugged and came out to meet them. One thrust out a hand at Tony and congratulated them on winning the race. A two foot high trophy in a shape of a chalice was pushed into Alicia’s hands. Cards with pictures of a Laptop and one of a PS3 on it were handed out to all five, with the promise that they were the new owners of each one and finally the grand prize of an over sized cheque for $100,000 for their school.
“No! NO! That’s not fair,” Gillian the leader of the other team yelled as they ran up to the line.
The faces of team Westshade turned vicious, urging the others to keep on complaining.
“Fair!” Joel laughed sarcastically. “Nothing in this world is handed down to us is fair. Take this as a lesson learnt. In the end there are no rules and everything you know to be the world we live can vanish and change in a blink of an eye.”
Joel stepped in front of Alicia,” ok, calm it down a little,” he said and then turned to the agitators. “We’ve been through a lot to get here and now we’re here first, number one, winners, yippy and all that so all I can say is better luck next time,” Joel extended a hand of peace to the leader of the team.
Gillian knocked it away in disgust.
Joel shrugged and together with his friends made their way back towards the car, carrying their prizes with them. Roy started to giggle to himself then left the others confused as he broke away and quickly and quietly ran back towards the dejected team. Undetected Roy snuck up behind Gillian, seized a good grip on the hip of his slacks and dragged his pants down to his ankles. The boy’s bright orange silk boxes sparkled in the sunlight and little dancing gorillas grinned back happy to meet the world and all the surrounding students who laughed and pointed back.
Roy legged it back to his group and together they ran laughing all the way to the Mustang.
Tony ruffled Roy’s red curly hair, “there’s still hope. We’ll a make a C student of you yet.”
Roy’s face turned red riding the wave of exhilaration, “let’s go. Let’s go make us a new world,” he jabbed out a down turned hand into the center of the car. One by one the others dropped their hands onto Roy’s and together they promised, “Let’s go make a new world.”
“I finally know a great team name,” Roy said.
The others rolled their eyes.
“Friends.”
They all agreed on their new team name with wide smiles and said in unison, “Friends.” Then they broke.
“Catchy name.”
“Does this mean we now have to talk to each other at school though,” Alicia joked.
Chapter 33
Tony hurried out of the library and ran across the deserted school yard towards the gym. A giant hand came out from nowhere and landed on Tony’s shoulder stopping him dead. Shocked Tony spun around ready to thump the little prick trying to be a smart ass. He relaxed as he saw the hand belong to Mr. Campbell.
“Shouldn’t you be in assembly?” the teacher asked but did not wait for a reply. “You don’t won’t to miss the unveiling of the trophy you yourself played a part in winning.” He then plucked a book out of Tony’s hand, “Hello what do we have here? Stealing books from the library when everyone is at assembly?”
“No Mr. Campbell I borrowed it. Go check for yourself.”
Mr. Campbell examined the book, “A medical
book?”
Tony plucked the book back out of the teacher’s hand, “you once told me that one day I would have to grow up. I understand that I took what I have for granted. Others don’t even get the chance too.” Tony dug his sharp eyes into Mr. Campbell’s, “I’m going to give them that chance. I’m going to cure them all.”
Mr. Campbell was initially taken back by Tony’s intense stare and then saw the determination behind it. He smiled a small smile then shook Tony’s hand in friendship, “And I will always be there to help if need be. Now go or you’ll miss the ceremony.”
Tony continued on towards the gym.
**
For the ceremony the empty trophy cabinet was easily shifted into the gym. The glass cabinet sat under a white sheet pushed up against the wall by the entrance to the change rooms. Tony pushed through the group of students standing in a semi-circle around the cabinet. He found his friends at the front and joined them just as the Principal Winters had finished her speech, perfect timing he thought to himself.
“Where have you been?” whispered Joel.
“Glad you made it,” Nadia said then stood by his side.
“Everybody put your hands together for team Westshade,” announced the principal. She gripped the edge of the sheet and yanked it off. The sheet hissed as it fell away to reveal the one and only trophy under the spot lights on the top shelf.
Alicia’s, Tony’s, Roy’s, and Nadia’s jaws dropped as the gym echoed the applause of the other students.
“You didn’t,” gasped Alicia.
Joel crossed his arms, a mischievous grin on his face,” I certainly did. I made a bit of a stop off at my favorite shop for a bit of alterations before I handed the trophy over.”
They all turned back to the trophy.
The gold chalice flickered slightly from the vibrations caused by the rapturous applause filling the gym. There it sat with a unique disk that had a beautiful spiral pattern engraved on it welded to the chalice just below the top lip.