The Bands of Orion - The third in the series
Prologue
Mount Gilboa was the highest of all the peaks, Jason sat on a ledge just below the summit and watched as the moons of Dothan slowly appeared. Childra, the smaller of the twelve moons could be seen between the peaks of the twin sisters. Chaldra, the largest of the twelve could be seen off to the East. When the twelve moons lined up the equinoctial circle would be complete, and the blue planet would once again be at the point of creation. Looking at this processional cycle of the equinoxes the three in one concept became clear. Within each of the four Seasons there were three Ages, within each Season there was a trinity or a triad of ages, the twelfed great age would soon be at an end, 25,920 years would have passed, and the cycle would start over as it had before. Jason thought back to the ancients on the blue planet and the act of creation. The Egyptians believed the Celestial Sphinx Hu Hu was god, for when they breathed the word Hu, the breath of god could be heard across the desert like the sounds of a great wind, with the second breath it became the word of god, and the creation of…
From his vantage point the mighty Gaul could be seen and heard, but it wasn’t the sounds of the river that diverted his attention, it was the figure of a man at the summit. Jason glanced up at the sky, the sun had set and eleven of the twelve moons were in perfect alignment, leaving the ledge he made his way to the top.
“Is the time bothering you my son?”
Jason nodded, “The Northern Precession Circle, the circular path of the Northern Celestial Pole around the Northern Ecliptic Pole, a journey that takes nearly 26,000 years, if they miss the opening then we will have failed.
A hand rested on his shoulder, “The last time we were here did I not warn you, they have resolved a part of the puzzle, but resolving the puzzle and understanding its meaning are two separate issues. The secrets of the puzzle cannot be solved totally by intelligents, it takes the mind to resolve it, the body to enact upon the resolution, and the spirit to understand, my son you must be patient.
Jason nodded, “I understand that, but the choices of man will affect so many.
There was silence as the two contemplated the outcome, “It is part of creation, without it you and all others would function out of instinct rather than by choice.”
Jason nodded, “But the choices of the few will affect so many.”
The Entity nodded, “Just as the choice your parents made affected both you and I, so it will again as man chooses his way.”
Jason nodded, “And there’s nothing we can do.”
The entity smiled, “We are doing something, we wait to see what choices they make.
Chapter One: The Back Door
(Wednesday March 27, 2041)
Paul watched as the Raptor slowly started its takeoff. Silently it lifted off the desert floor and ascended in a vertical fashion, at first the assent was slow but gradually picked up speed until it had achieved an altitude of about three hundred feet. The craft then switched from a hover mode to what Paul thought to be launch mode. Instead of being parallel with the desert floor it now looked like it was facing North at a forty five degree angle, then without a sound the craft increased its speed and seconds later there was an explosion as the craft disappeared and Paul was left alone.
“A penny for your thoughts.”
Paul turned to see a young women standing to his left, dressed in a faded khaki shirt and cutoff jeans with her hair pulled back under a large straw hat, had she been at home she could have easily been mistaken for just one of many students working their way through college in one of the many cotton fields. Even with the large hat Paul could see a tuft of red hair sticking out, the days in the sun had brought out the freckles of the fair skinned girl, and the deep blue eyes that looked up at him only enhanced the broad smile that greeted him
With her hand extended she introduced herself, “Hi, Julie Flynn.”
Paul smiled and extended his hand, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet the lady of the desert.”
Julie laughed, “Is that what they’re calling me?”
“Well, not in those exact words, but that’s what’s implied.”
She smiled and then took the small bag he was carrying, “You haven’t answered my question. You were staring so hard into the sky as the plane was leaving; I figured you must have been thinking about something other than where you were.
“You’re very perceptive. Are you familiar with the scriptures?”
Julie stopped and looked up at him, then shading her eyes from the late afternoon sun she spoke. “If you’re referring to the bible I’ve become more familiar with it in the last few years with this dig than I ever did with any other. Is there something in it that reminds you of this place?”
Paul shook his head, “No, it’s just a feeling. In Acts Chapter one verse ten it says, speaking of Jesus.”
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”
“The feelings they must have had as he left them even knowing that he would someday return it still must have left them with an emptiness that would be hard to explain. I think I was feeling a little like that watching Frank leave.”
“Well, I think once we get you inside you’ll forget about leaving, there’s just so much to see.”
And with that she took him by the arm and escorted him to the large tent where the rest of the welcoming committee was waiting.
Paul shook hands with Jack as he entered the tent, “It’s good to see you again my friend, I’ve met the lovely Julie, when do I get to meet your better half?”
Meheshaly stepped from behind a large screen, “I’m sorry, but I was busy with the radio, seems one of our workers has found something of importance and was wanting to discuss it with me.”
Paul took her by the hands, “I can see now why Jack was so smitten with you, you are a flower of the desert in any language!”
Her face beamed at the complement, her dark eyes twinkled with a mischievous smile, “That’s what I’ve been telling Jack, but then he doesn’t understand Arabic like he should, so he misses some of the nuances and aromas of the desert flower.”
Jack laughed, “What she fails to mention, some of the desert flowers have some pretty big thorns, so you have to be careful when you go to pick one.”
Meheshaly smiled, “The modern Arabic women is very different than those of the past, we frown on our husbands trying to pick more than one flower, our blood runs hot for our man and we will share him with no other. Besides I have a father who watches him like a hawk.”
Meheshaly put her arms around Jacks middle and gave him a squeeze. “I fell in love with Jack when I was but a young girl; there has never been another one for me. I tease Jack a lot, but I know he loves me and I him.”
Jack nodded, I was a lot like Ozan, work came first until this desert beauty wrapped me around her little finger. I couldn’t imagine life without her.”
Paul smiled, “Before Ramie came along that’s all Ozan could think of, work I mean.” He paused and then continued. “I remember what’s it like, enjoy your time together because it can be cut short.”
Paul turned and looked out of the tent at the
“It’s not as bad as it was. During the day there’s still a lot, but the crowds have become smaller since the military placed a curfew for a hundred miles around the city, no one allowed in or out after three in the afternoon. Since the decision from the world court was passed down the whole district had been placed on a curfew, so only the workers and v.i.p are being allowed in on a regular basis. The military has allowed the Iraqi government to set up tours on a limited basis and all those coming in have been heavily screened, so we see a couple of hundred a day but they’re kept to just the main floor and the dome. The way I understand it, if a person wants to get in on a tour you have to apply for a ticket, waiting time between the applications, the security checks, and the issue of the ticket usually takes several weeks, and then the tour is thoroughly checked out again at each checkpoint both coming and going. A lot of the major news media has left for Brussels and New York where they continue to cover the wrangling over who gets what in the future, but there are still a few here covering the excavations to the North where a small city was uncovered. So far nothing of significant has been found, but we continue to monitor the site.
“How are the people taking it?”
“About as well as can be expected, I think eventually when all the dust settles and everyone is thinking with a clear head, I think people will accept the decision. They may not like it, but I think they would rather go with the flow than go with the alternative, which would be a war they couldn’t win.”
Meheshaly nodded, “Jack’s right, and I’m not saying that because he’s my husband, once you get inside and see, I think you will understand.”
Paul watched as the last rays of the sun disappeared and the shadows of the night crept in, “It’s even more magnificent than what you see on the television. Does the dome always glow like that in the dark?”
Julie walked up and stood next to him, “It will glow for several hours, as yet we don’t know why, but then there’s a lot we still don’t understand.”
Julie patted him on the shoulder, “It’s about time, come on, let’s get started.”
“Were we going?”
Jack walked up beside him. “We’re going in, there’s no point in spending the night in the desert when you can sleep in luxury. The
Paul looked over at Jack, “Different than the two entrances you’ve told me about?”
Julie nodded, “A whole new part of the city, only the three of us know about it. Come on, times a wasting.”
Paul followed Julie out of the tent and over to a truck, getting in on the passenger side Paul watched as the three archeologists loaded the trucks and then starting the engines they headed out into the night.”
Anticipating his questions, Julie explained. “The people are used to hearing the trucks. We started moving them around at night so as the crews who work and sleep here don’t question what we’re doing. Jack has explained that a lot of the work that’s being done at night has to do with the alignment of the stars with some ancient hieroglyphics we’ve found. The army could care less what we do and the workers are too tired. The news crews have pretty much left the place so if we’re careful everyone thinks what we’re doing is normal.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you need the sunlight to open the gate for the trucks to get in? There isn’t anyone else inside to open it for you, is there?”
From the light of the moon Paul could see a smile on Julie’s face. Julie nodded, “You would be right if we were going through one of the twelve gates, but there’s one more, Jack calls it the gate of death, you’ll understand why when you see it.”
Paul thought for a moment, “How is it possible? If this is a replica of the city of
Julie shook her head, “We’re not going into the city directly, it’s more like a back door.”
The trucks moved ever so slowly as they followed a twisting and winding path that led away from the city; by the light of the moon he could see large mounds of rock and debris made by the workers during the excavation of the city. The trucks continued moving south until they arrived at what appeared to be the remains of an ancient temple, workers had cleared an area where remnants of broken pillars and archways could be seen protruding from a portion of the mountain not yet excavated. As Paul surveyed the area he couldn’t help but notice a large flat spot between two of the pillars, moments later the lead truck made its way around a mound of debris and pulled into the exact spot he had been looking at, Julie pulled their truck up behind the lead truck and then stopped. Paul watched as Jack opened the passenger side door and got out, walking to the back of the truck he picked up what appeared to be a large trident, he then walked over to the remains of what appeared to be an alter, as Paul watched, Jack placed the trident into the alter and then stepped back. Moments later the flat spot between the two pillars began to move and a large gate seemed to appear out of nowhere, the gate slowly opened and the two trucks drove through the opening. Paul watched in utter amazement, it was like so many of the books he had read, it was like an Indiana Jones movie he had seen so many years before, fantasy becoming reality before his very eyes. He turned and looked back, as his truck cleared the opening he could see that the object in question was not an alter as he had previously thought, but the lid of a large sarcophagus. Jack removed the trident from the large stone sarcophagus and stepped into the opening behind their truck, moments later the gate closed and he sat in total darkness.
What seemed to Paul to be an eternity in reality were mere seconds before the trucks began to move. The headlights showed they were in some sort of tunnel, and then just as quickly as they had entered the gate and the tunnel they entered what appeared to be a large room. The trucks stopped and shut off their lights, the darkness was overwhelming, almost to point of suffocating, it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It seemed to Paul that the darkness was heavy, penetrating, almost as though an unseen evil had envelope him. There was a pressure in his chest, and the feeling of unseen hands at his throat as he struggled to breath, moments later the large hall lit up and the feeling slowly subsided.
“Are you ok, you look a little green?”
Paul turned to face Julie, “I’m ok, I just had a little trouble breathing, the darkness seemed so overwhelmingly heavy.”
“You know its funny you should say that, I felt the same way the first time I came in. Its almost as if there’s a presents here that does not want to be disturbed, kind of like some of the old Egyptian tombs, curses and all that sort of stuff. After the first time it doesn’t seem to bother you, it’s as though it accepts your being here.”
Paul nodded; “I’ll keep that in mind.”
XXXXX
(Wednesday March 27, 2041)
Iola May awoke with a start, looking at the clock it read five thirty, the smell of biscuits and coffee was heavy in the air. Being careful not to disturb her husband she put on her robe and slippers and quietly left the bedroom, shutting the door she padded down the hall to the head of the stairs.
The old Victorian house she and Phillip had purchased years ago had undergone many changes; one of those was the removal of a storage area that covered the lower living area and part of the kitchen. Now with two large winding staircases that led from either side of the house Iola May had a view of both the living area and kitchen. Phillip also had the contractors take out a large portion of the east wall and had a large window installed, so when she stood at the head of the stairs she also had a view of the river and that of the rising sun.
Looking over the balcony she could see Jonathan at the stove, bacon and eggs were on the griddle, Granny Mays gravy was slowly simmering in a large pot, there were stacks of pancakes, and the biscuits were just now coming out of the oven. Iola May smile, “Something must really be bothering him; I haven’t seen that much food since he came to live with us, and her mind went back to an earlier time.
“Jonathan, I don’t think we’ll be able to eat all that.”
Jonathan looked up, “I couldn’t sleep, and the thought of maybe missing out on flying has my stomach all in an uproar.”
“And you think that all that food is going to help? My goodness son, there’s enough to feed an army.”
“Yes Maam, but I get hungry when I’m upset.”
Iola May felt a hand on her shoulder, looking up she saw Phillip standing next to her, “Brings back old memories, doesn’t it?”
She nodded, “When he cooks that much food something’s bothering him, at least we’ll have plenty to eat.”
Phillip smiled, “Might as well get started.” And with that he was headed down the stairs.
Iola May watched as Phillip put his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder, the younger man turned and smiled and then reaching down pulled another pan of biscuits from the oven, Iola May shook her head,
“Reggie, where are you when I need you?” and with that thought in mind headed down the stairs. She left the stairs and headed into the kitchen, giving Jonathan a big hug she sat down at the table, “You expecting your whole crew, because that’s what it’s going to take to eat all of that?”
Jonathan smiled, “I guess I got a little carried away. I got to thinking about Granny last night, and then my thoughts went to my grandfather and to what he had to say. I’d like to schedule another meeting with him.
“Why on earth would you want to do something like that?”
“I checked in with CARMAN last night, he’s aware I have the ring.
“How would he know that?”
“I don’t know, but before I left the dining area I left a small listening device under the table, part of the conversation CARMAN picked up was that both men are now on board with the symbol of authority, and the plan was on schedule and met the timetable you have set forth, who you is, is something I’d like to find out.
Iola May motioned for him to sit next to her, when he sat down she took his hand,
“Listen, before you do anything I want you to do two things, talk with Paul and watch the video your grandmother made. You have so much to do you can’t afford to make a mistake now. One of the best things you ever did was to appoint Paul as your advisor, talk with him, use him as your sounding board and really listen to what he has to say.”
Jonathan shook his head; “I have so many counting on me for all the answers I just think I need to know more.”
“And you think he’s going to tell you anything, the best thing you can do right now is nothing.” Iola paused for a moment before continuing, “I remember something you said when you were at the academy. You said something to the effect that a good offence in football was to act like you didn’t have one. Well use that strategy with him.”
“She’s right son,” Phillip chimed in, “You only met him briefly, but I can guarantee you he’s still very interested in everything you do. Don’t let on that you know anything that could cause him to let his guard down just a bit, maybe even enough for us to find out what he’s up to.”
“You’re probably right; I just wish I knew what was going on in that twisted little mind of his.”
“Perhaps now would be a good time to read Grannys letter and watch the tape.”
Jonathan nodded, “Might as well the last batch of biscuits won’t come out for another ten minutes.
XXXXX
Charles Hunt digested every word of the file, the more he read the angrier he became, a stream of vulgar expletives and four letter words filled the office, the reporter assigned to the case blushed with embarrassment as she transcribed the one way conversation that would soon be part of a court document. Charles finished reading the file, slammed it down on the desk then punched the button that connected his office to his secretary’s office.
“Helen, get your self in here,”
Before his finger had left the intercom Helen was standing in the door,
“Something I can do for you?”
Helen was a woman that appeared to be in her mid to late forties, dressed in a black sheath with matching pumps, her slender build, long brown hair, flawless makeup, and exquisite nails set her apart from the rest of the staff. Bonnie Bentley watched from her seat next to Charles’s desk, at first glance the woman in the door would have made most women envious, but as she moved closer the tell tale signs of hard living were evident, long hours at the law office of Charles Hunt and the late night parties his office were so famous for had taken its toll on the woman. Although the makeup had been applied expertly, the tight skin drawn across the facial bones spoke volumes, the tiny scars near her ears and eyes spoke of face lifts and cosmetic surgery used to try and retain a youthful look that even now was giving way to middle age.
“Yea, where’s that lawyer that’s suppose to be defending Smedit?”
“The same place he was that last time you asked, he’s in court and he’ll be here as soon as possible.”
Hunt let loose with more profanity and then jerked open the bottom file drawer of his desk; pulling out a bottle he poured himself a drink.
“Ok, call security and have Smedit brought over, we’ll put him in conference room three. Send a car to the court house and as soon as…what’s his name again?”
Helen looked down at her notes, “James D. Beltwitze of Beltwitze, Cosgrove, and Hackett.”
“Well, get Mr. Beltwitze over here as soon as possible, I want to start the questioning as soon as he gets here. In the mean time pull the files on those found in Mohammed’s porn flicks and see where the District Attorney is in his investigation, and if any of those perverts happen to be associated in any way with the space program I want them brought in for questioning.”
“Mind if I ask a question?”
“It’s never stopped you before.”
“What’s the difference in what they were doing at the embassy and what goes on at some of the parties we host? A lot of our clients and even some of our staff get pretty involved.”
Hunt leaned back in his chair and took another sip from his glass, “the difference is discretion, we don’t video tape anything and we don’t ask questions. What our people do on their own time is their business as long as it doesn’t affect the firm. The same goes for our clients. This guy was putting people in compromising positions and then blackmailing them into revealing confidential information both in the public and private sectors for his own personnel use, and if I have anything to say about it, this guy and his whole organization will get run out of the country.”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
Hunt shook his head, “naw, he’s probably got something on someone a lot higher up the food chain than I am, but I’m sure going to make it as difficult as I possible can for him.”
His gaze shifted for just a moment from the file he was holding to making direct eye contact with Helen and then back to the file, but in that brief moment volumes were spoken.
Helen smiled and shook her head, then turning to Bonnie she asked, “Had lunch yet?”
Bonnie shook her head, “not yet.”
“Good, come on I’m buying.”
Bonnie pushed the table the transcribing machine was sitting on up against the desk, stood and straitened her dress and then headed for the door, “Can I bring you anything back?”
Hunt looked up at her, “No thanks, I have a standing order at
Bonnie left Hunts office and found Helen waiting for her at the elevator, “How do you like working for the famous Mr. Hunt?”
Bonnie smiled, “He’s quit the character, isn’t he.”
“You don’t know the half, I’ve worked for him for twenty seven years and every time I think I know the man he shows a whole new side I’ve never seen before. You know the line he gave me about someone being higher up on the food chain than him? Well, whoever that someone is had better be careful, because Hunt is a shark, and none come bigger or meaner. He’s been had by someone, by that I mean the security issue at NASA. Today was one of his better days, wait till he gets the scent of blood, then you’ll see the real Charles Hunt at work. That’s when the shark with a law degree takes over, Mr. Beltwitze had better be prepared because Hunt will chew him up and spit him out before he knows what happened.”
“He’s that good?”
“Honey, there’s none better, and I ought to know. I’ve seen him up against the best, and everyone so far has left the courtroom with their preverbal brief case between their legs
