Chapter 42. A Meeting
A meeting of the elders of the desert warriors was held in an ancient catacomb. Many centuries ago, here, saints and martyrs were buried. The commander who guarded the entry to the tunnel was called to the extemporary rostrum.
“Brothers,” he began. “Yesterday morning we encountered a man who attempted to open the mouth of the tunnel. We explained the terms to him. He seemed to us to be a deserving candidate. His name is the Stranger, but he also made it a condition: if he passed the tunnel through, we must accept the Hermit’s way.”
“Go on, brother. The Hermit is a holly man, although he cannot accept active actions against extirpation of injustice.”
“The Stranger was waiting for help, so we allowed him time. His friend came, looked into the tunnel, but took fright and declined blankly to take the test. Later, the Hermit himself appeared, together with a girl. He talked to the Stranger face to face, and then the Stranger and the girl entered the tunnel.”
“A woman came into the tunnel? What a shame!” disturbed voices thrilled.
“I am guilty, brothers,” the narrator kept his head down humbly. “I do not know how the thing happened. It was as if in a fog. I supposed they could not pass the tunnel. Anyway, if the woman agreed to martyrdom for the sake of love, the deed were well deserved, it would be credited for her in the Kingdom come. However, if you believe me guilty, I will not find excuses and receive any punishment, up to interdiction.”
“Calm down, brother. It is not time for punishment,” the chair of the meeting assured him. “We ask to speak the leader of the guard watching over the exit.”
A man of forty mounted the rostrum.
“Brothers,” he started speaking solemnly. “I happened to become a witness of a miracle. I was informed about the candidate who challenged the Providence. We were waiting the brave heart at the exit; he passed the tunnel but could not open the door with coded lock. I did not know the cypher and said digits at random, decided to test him. He did not believe me and set waiting. Then, a miracle happened. I saw a messenger of heaven in sparkling clothes and heard a thunderous voice: ‘Open the door’. I lost strength and fell down. When coming around, I started praying and saw the Stranger. He ordered that I would not take him great or tell about him.”
“Are you sure that you saw the messenger of heaven?” the chair asked doubtingly.
“Yes. I am. Moreover, I am sure that the Stranger left the tunnel by opening the lock.”
“Then, answer three questions. Why your fellows did not see him? Why the messenger ordered to open the door? Couldn’t the angel know that the code was unknown to you? What has happened on the roof of the observation point? I was talking to two sentinels. One of them is useless to talk to, but the other one told me a lot. They fell asleep at watch. Someone got to the roof and tied the warriors. One of them woke from a stupor to receive a blow on the head with a butt, and he is sure that was not an angel who hit him, but an experienced army man.”
“I know not all about God’s mighty works,” the guardian responded. “I do not know why I was honored with a vision of the God’s messenger, while my comrades just could hear his voice. I do not know, maybe the divine order ‘open the door’ was given not to me but to the angel. Brothers, I do not know what happened on the roof. After all, I was not present there.”
Heated discussion began. No version suggested could link all facts together. Failing to reach a common ground, the elders decided to keep silent.
The Chief of the security service received the detailed report from his agent about the reason of the eventual meeting. The head of the special service revised the Seer’s file and had every confidence that the man had extraordinary mesmeric abilities. “He could both a monster and a messenger of heaven. It would be fine to give the cue to the warriors of desert who took appearance of the angel of light, they will find the Seer to embowel him and find the truth. However, what benefit can it bring? Wouldn’t it be great if the Soldier eliminates the Seer to put an end to the competitive special service? A political row of scale is inevitable, even if the office is not closed up, it will be reorganized, renamed, all staff and the entire system replaced. Nevertheless, the Seer and the Soldier play the same game. The Stranger has passed the tunnel. Now, he may reckon upon fame. Let’s wait until he appears.”
Chapter 43. The Mediator