‘Oh yeah,’ smirked Rhun, as he looked at his uncle. ‘He’s you alright.’
‘Leave us.’ Brian bade his company farewell, wanting to get to the bottom of the Leonine’s distrust of him. He’d rather expected to get along better with himself.
‘You’ve chosen her, haven’t you?’ Tyrus accused Brian, as soon as they were alone in the room. When Brian only frowned, the Leonine said: ‘She is the one in which you shall plant your seed.’
Brian was caught off guard by the comment. ‘How do you know about that?’
‘Goddamn it!’ Tyrus raised himself. ‘I knew it!’
‘No!’ Brian realised the misunderstanding. ‘Nothing beyond conversation has transpired between Samara-Leon and myself,’ he swore solemnly, and the irate husband calmed a little and reseated himself. ‘I meant, how did you know about the prophecy? That is what you were quoting just now.’
‘Aye,’ Tyrus nodded, still wary of his tail-less lookalike. ‘Down in the pit of hell I had … visitations, from heavenly Lords.’
He seemed uncomfortable naming his source, which was most amusing to Brian, for he knew how awkward he would’ve felt admitting the same. Still, Brian’s expression remained quite serious. ‘Go on.’
‘When I was told the prophecy, I asked who would mother this Chosen child?’ Tyrus appeared angered as he recalled the celestial entity’s response. ‘Lahmu will mirror in image a member of my tribe, the being told me. And the wife of the Leonine that the God reflects will mother the next race of my breed.’ He was gritting his teeth to endure the meaning of his confession. ‘Why did you have to look like me?’ he snarled angrily.
‘Do you think I am happy about this? I’d never even heard of Lahmu a couple of weeks ago, and now I am him! My wife will skin me alive for such an indiscretion as the legend demands and that is why I have no intention of complying.’
‘But you must!’ Tyrus protested, unexpectedly. ‘Or our race will never be able to defend itself against the Nefilim.’
‘By the time the Chosen are finished with the Pantheon, you will no longer have that worry.’ Brian was quite determined about that.
‘Then … who shall defend us from you?’ Tyrus knew it was a loaded question, but it had to be asked.
Strangely enough, Brian did not take offence, but rather, realised how unfair the situation was — a small twist of fate and Brian might have found himself appealing to Tyrus to set Homo sapiens free from their mortal coil.
‘I agree, it must be done,’ Brian admitted, shyly, ‘but there need be no intimate issue between Samara and myself, we have the technology —’
‘No way!’ Tyrus stood to insist. ‘I won’t have you experimenting with creation inside my wife. I have seen some of the mutants that have emerged from the genetic labs of the Nefilim, so you can forget it. It must be done the old-fashioned way.’ Tyrus could hardly believe what he was demanding. ‘Goddamn it!’ He turned from Brian to curb his frustration. Tyrus knew it was pointless to insist Lahmu pick another Leonine woman to impregnate, because any other female would not be the one chosen by creation and the wrong upbringing could spell disaster for his race.
‘Don’t you think we should discuss what we know with Samara, before we make any presumptions on her behalf?’ Brian felt it would be only fair to her.
Tyrus turned back to Brian, a hopeless look of resignation upon his face. ‘It is not for us to question the will of the Logoi.’
On Tarazean, the Bil-me was guided into the interstellar landing dock of Nannar and Ningal’s capital city. The pirates became very uneasy when air traffic control then directed their craft to a huge teleporter plate, which promptly spirited the pirate ship to the Town Square.
Due to the harsh sandstorms on the pretty purple planet, every section of the city was shielded from the external elements. The roof of Town Square was a force-field spanning several triangular conductors that towered high over city central in a pyramid formation. This allowed a view of the swirling winds of purple sand, obscuring the midnight sky, caught by the light illuminating the event taking place in the heart of the city below. The thousands of Chosen refugees from Kila had assembled to show the crew of the Bil-me their appreciation for the thwarting of Nergal’s most sinister blackmail threat against their Governor. The rest of the masses gathered represented all the human races; they were present to commend the pirates for saving many of their youth. Nannar and Ningal waited to greet the Falcon crew at the opposing end of a long golden carpet, the other end of which began at the platform outside the exit hatch of their craft. The golden carpet travelled through the crowd to the royal stage in the middle of the square.
‘I wasn’t expecting this kind of reception.’ Hawk observed the assembly on the soft-screen that monitored external events. ‘I thought we’d be quietly dropping the kids off and then slipping away into the night.’
‘Nova needs heroes to keep the listeners motivated for Lahmu’s forthcoming rebellion.’ Raven voiced his suspicions. ‘I’ll bet he set this up.’
‘Well, there’s no way I am going out there,’ Crow protested, recognising the other Nefilim female who was standing by Nannar and Ningal. ‘That’s Inanna, and she eats guys like us for breakfast!’
‘In your dreams, maybe,’ Chook teased, eager to get amongst the celebrations outside — he’d never seen so many beautiful women assembled in one place.
‘Don’t worry, Crow,’ Tory pouted. ‘I’ll protect you.’ She hit the hatch switch and it vanished, giving the men little chance to escape their heroes’ welcome.
As their young multi-racial entourage raced out of the craft ahead of the pirates, a deafening cheer arose from the crowd and even Seagull, who rarely left his kitchen, was enticed out onto the platform to accept the accolades.
The crew descended the stairs of the golden walkway to ground level, where the crowds lined the pathway to the Gods. Tory walked alongside Hawk, feeling secure in her Falcon disguise, when a young man of the Chosen reached beyond the crowd barricade to grab her hand.
‘Grandmother?’ The lad queried her with a hopeful desperation in his voice. ‘It’s me, Asher.’
‘Do I remind you of someone?’ She stopped and looked at him, not recognising him at all.
‘Oh yes, Nin,’ the fair-haired, blue-eyed youth advised. ‘My grandmother, the great Tory Alexander, has been missing for some time and her kindred fear that she has met with foul play.’ He looked at the dark-quilled pirate captain, who came to a stop beside the white Falcon woman he addressed. ‘Grandfather?’ Asher was even more astounded, and lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘Is this some sort of undercover op?’
Tory’s jaw nearly hit the ground when she realised the implications of what the lad was saying. ‘So Hawk resembles the Chosen One known as the Dragon, is that what you’re saying?’
Asher was perplexed by her question, but nodded. ‘Spitting image.’
‘The Nefilim are waiting,’ Raven reminded the captain.
‘En Floyd!’ exclaimed the lad, his eyes nearly popping out of his head as he spied yet another of his kinsmen disguised as a Falcon.
‘Sorry?’ Raven looked to Tory, but the name meant nothing to her.
‘What’s the hold-up?’ Chook backed up to find out, not game to proceed to the royal stage without the captain.
‘En Daniel,’ Asher mumbled, going white as a sheet. This was just too much of a coincidence. ‘What is going on?’
‘Shh,’ Tory urged the young stranger, before looking at Hawk. ‘I think we should bring him with us.’
‘It’s your call,’ the captain granted.
‘No.’ Asher backed away, suddenly spooked. ‘If you’re not my grandmother, I’m not going anywhere with you.’ He ducked into the crowd and was lost.
‘Forget him,’ Hawk insisted, when Tory moved to pursue the lad, and he tapped her on the head to remind her of her brain and talents. ‘He’ll be easy enough for you to find, if you will it.’
Accepting his reasoning, Tory commit
ted the lad’s image to memory and followed the fellows to meet the guardians of Tarazean.
Crow and Seagull had nearly made it to the stage and slowed their advance to wait for the rest of the crew to catch them up. Before they had even begun their climb up the stairs to the royal stage, the Goddess Inanna came floating down towards them.
‘Oh damn.’ Crow wanted to retreat, but his male ego managed to keep him rooted to the spot.
Zabeel? She paused a short distance from them to observe Seagull more closely, and Crow breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered that she was not interested in him.
‘Sorry, Highness.’ The huge Delphinus humbled himself before her, bowing his head low. ‘I have no knowledge of ever having made your acquaintance before.’
Inanna gasped, immediately moved to tears. By some miracle have you forgotten your childhood, Zabeel? She knew her own stepson, even if he was fifty years older now.
‘I have, Majesty,’ he replied, surprised.
Her eyes closed to give silent praise to Anu for undoing the frightful lies she’d told this soul about his parents. As Zabeel had been led back into her fold by fate, Inanna felt this was a sure sign that Anu had forgiven her for her heinous crimes and awarded her a second chance to set history straight.
‘If you know something of my past, I pray that you enlighten me, Majesty,’ Seagull appealed, hoping he would not be reprimanded for speaking out of turn. ‘I have so long wondered about my origins that I would give my life to know who I am.’ His plea choked him up and for the first time that he could recall, the Delphinus shed a tear.
Inanna opened her eyes and smiled at her long lost step-son. You are far more than you seem, Zabeel, she informed him warmly as she closed the distance between them. And it will be my redemption to tell you the whole truth about your origins.
‘Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle,’ Crow commented under his breath, as the eight-foot tall Goddess embraced the sobbing cook.
As the reception seemed to have shifted to the bottom of the stage stairs, Ningal and Nannar descended to join their guests.
Is he the one? Ningal asked her daughter, as she floated to a stop beside her, and Inanna nodded proudly.
May we be excused, we have much to … Inanna was stumped as she spotted Hawk. Dragon? she asked, with enough heartfelt delight to make Tory feel a twinge of jealousy.
‘No, Majesty,’ the captain advised, bowing his head. ‘But I have been told that both myself and my lady, Swan,’ he motioned to Tory beside him, ‘bear a striking resemblance to the ex-Governor and Governess of Kila.’
That you do, Inanna confirmed, and filled with sentiment by the coincidence, she shed a tear. How wonderful that you found each other, yet again.
Hawk was touched by the Goddess’ view, although he suspected he only understood the half of what she meant.
As her love for Hawk was vindicated, Tory was moved. Yet, she couldn’t help but spare a thought for her true husband, of whom everyone else was so obviously fond. She realised that the soul of Maelgwn Gwynedd must also be akin to the Deva with whom she’d fallen in love. ‘Does no one know what has become of the Dragon and his woman, Majesties?’ As soon as Tory had asked the question, she regretted pursuing the subject of her husband in Hawk’s presence, for she felt the query drive a dagger through his heart.
Her interest in the Dragon confirmed in Hawk’s mind what he’d known all along — that once returned to her own kind, Tory would not desire to be one of the Falcon kind any longer. The captain in no way resented her for her change of heart; he just didn’t want to accept the fact that their brief love affair was over.
I’m afraid that even Nova has failed to turn up any information in that regard. Inanna appeared saddened as she gave them an update. Maelgwn Gwynedd saved my soul from eternal damnation, the Goddess said as she looked Tory straight in the eye. Then he left on a quest to find his missing wife and has not been seen or heard from since.
Tory suddenly felt ashamed of the cover she’d assumed and feared her ability to maintain it, for it seemed Inanna suspected her deception. But how? The Goddess and her parents were wearing thought-wave neutralisers to prevent their minds from being probed, which also hindered the Gods from reading the minds of others. Inanna could not have exposed her telepathically. The only way Tory’s cover could be blown was if she gave it away herself, but perhaps this was just what the Nefilim Goddess was hoping for? ‘That is unfortunate,’ Tory replied, turning her attention to the orphans crowded around them. ‘But we have more pressing concerns to contend with, like the welfare and future of these children.’
We have set up an orphanage to cater for them, temporarily, until foster homes are arranged. Ningal motioned to the masses assembled in the Town Square surrounding them. And as you can see, we have many citizens eager to support this cause.
‘Then there’s no need for us to delay here,’ Crow fronted up to comment, ‘as we really should be leaving.’ As everyone else on the crew turned to him with a look of disagreement on their face, Crow understood he was the only one considering that this might be an elaborate front for their capture.
You must stay the night, at least, as our honoured guests, Nannar insisted. Nova made it very clear that we were to feed you all and stock you up with any supplies you need.
The DJ wields more influence than I’d imagined, thought Tory on the quiet. He must be one of them.
The entire crew found the compensation very much to their liking, as it would save weeks of raiding when they departed. Hawk thanked the Nefilim and accepted their kind offer, while Inanna whisked Seagull away to speak with him alone. Raven and Chook were already chatting up a couple of female Falcons, hanging over the barricade, helped by the adoring refugee children, who were recounting the tale of their rescue. Crow was the only one who still appeared disturbed. Having swapped sides in this rebellion a couple of times, he couldn’t feel at ease with either side.
Tory was pleased that the crew would be staying. The enigma of her old life was taunting her, as were the reports about the man they called the Dragon to whom she’d once been wed. All the people who had once been close to Tory Alexander seemed deeply embroiled in the interstellar war that was being waged via the light waves by the phantom DJ. She had to figure that if Nergal wanted her dead, then she too had a major role to play in the rebellion of the human tribes. The universe spared my life so that I could finish my work here. To deny that can only be detrimental. I must seek myself. The thought caused a burning sensation in her chest; she was being encouraged to follow her feelings.
At the same time her heart ached for Hawk, whose worst fear was seemingly becoming more and more inevitable — tomorrow could be goodbye.
17
IN THE BEGINNING
When first spirit mixed with matter
Father Reason and Mother Voice
produced the Word,
the Logos,
a means of self expression.
Into existence came
the law of cause and effect.
the twists of fate
and the will of destiny.
Many forms of matter endured being
before intellect found a worthy body in the Nefilim.
Many more hellish existences were undertaken,
to fashion the perfect vehicle
for the emotional understanding of the self.
Earthly parents, blind to emotion,
were provided by Anu.
To be led by their child to understanding
as karma would have it.
Fourteen old souls pioneered human consciousness.
The price for understanding was eternal life.
And thus man’s mortal coil commenced.
In the chamber of fates the deal was struck,
in the hall of designs a gene omitted.
A pressured parent’s choice…
but not the will of heaven.
The soul who condemned man to die,
would be the one
to ensure him life everlasting.
Designed for the lot of a slave,
the manipulation of man’s essence
produced one as perfect as the maker.
Destined to change the fate of the cosmos
with intelligent love.
The Pantheon condemned the master craftsman,
forbidding any more of the like being fashioned.
The Adama was no sexless moron as those before,
He had reasoning and the male organs to procreate.
In his city of Eridu, the maker dared defiance.
Six males and seven females were produced.
Of his brothers and sisters the Adama knew not.
The thirteen were set to work in Edin,
until the fateful day that Adama met his like.
Under a sky devoid of cloud, palm trees swayed in the morning breeze, their brilliant green leaves in contrast to the azure blanket above.
The sun pelted down upon his sweaty body as he carted yet another timber log from the forest, all the way down the earthen road to the latest construction site of Eridu, Enki’s cultural centre in Edin. Adapa was glad to offload his burden, for he was not really built for the task he’d been given; still, he was young and would grow some yet. A huge squawk behind him urged Adapa to move out of the way and he promptly did so.
The two-headed creature had the same facial features as Adapa did, but their placement on his faces were not symmetrical like Adapa’s features were. The creature was nearly twice Adapa’s size and so carried many more planks of wood. The beast had the body of a man, but no reproductive organs; his genitalia were more akin to a woman’s. One of its arms had a hand on the end, and the other ended in a claw; one of its legs had a foot and the other a talon.
‘Good, Gurlu.’ Adapa applauded the beast’s effort, as the creature dropped his load and walked towards him.
The creature made a happy grunting sound, both its heads nodding in agreement, but, becoming overexcited by the praise, a stream of urine began running from between its legs.