LeOmi's Solitude (9 page)

“Yes, it is because we are being followed
isn’t it.”

“Exactly. Apparently your grandmother doesn’t
want to let go of you.”

“Actually I think she is probably glad that I
am gone. Let’s just say that she is very curious.”

“Okey-dokey…Whatever you say! Bekka told me
that we may have to deal with this. We carriers are followed quite
often, more than you would think.” He paused in his conversation
while he made a U-turn.

“There is a special container for any
electronic equipment that you may have with you: watches, cell
phones, e-readers, computers, wireless devices, etc. They will not
work on the grounds of The Seventh Mountain but they will be safe
in the container. I will see that it gets to your room at the
mountain.”

LeOmi placed her cell phone, watch and laptop
computer into the container.

“Make sure the container is sealed.”

He made another U-turn and his speed
picked-up.

“The trick is to lose them in such a way that
they think it is just one of those things that happen, and not
through the skills of your driver, in this case, yours truly.” He
smiled and tipped his hat as he looked at her in the rear view
mirror.

“Don’t worry, I am good at what I do, you
will actually be able to meet Bekka very soon.”

His smile was contagious, and soon she felt
like she was being driven around by Bruce Willis—a man skilled at
using a car as a tool.

* * *

I’m on my way Henry.

The night that Henry relapsed, he had
explained to her about his ‘Wheel of Four Ages’. It was almost like
a wagon or carriage wheel, made of wood with four substantial
spokes and then each quadrant had two smaller diameter spokes that
divided each quadrant of the wheel into three more sections.

“I painted the vine with flowers that went
all around the inside portion of the wheel.” He was so weak, so
different from when he first trained her.

“See how it’s woven in and out of the spokes
sometimes going completely around and then finally making it all
the way around to the first spoke.” He traced the air as he
pointed, like he remembered every line. “The Main divisions
represent infancy, youth, middle age, and the last is old age.”

You could tell that this wheel had been made
by a true craftsman. The vine sometimes went on the side of the
wheel but it never reached the flat outer portion that would roll
on the road. The primary vine had been painted by a youthful hand.
As the vine went from quadrant to quadrant the skill of detail was
evident. The vine had side shoots that made the more intricate
patterns. There were more flowers in some sections and no flowers
in others. When LeOmi first saw the wheel where it hung on the
wall, it was not at all obvious about the significance, the Wheel
of Four Ages—of Henry’s four ages of his life.

“I want you to see it before…I wanted you to
know that these flowers near the end—they represent you.”

I’m on my way Henry.

It took longer than Benjamin thought to lose
them but as soon as they were in a section full of trees, the car
lurched as if it had been airborne, the light seemed to shift and
then the car sputtered and the engine died.

“That’s okay. It always happens, nothing to
worry about.” They coasted towards a group of people.

The temperature change was the thing she
realized immediately. It was hot and dry, but it felt good. Ahead
of them there was a huge mountain with multi-tiered sections. Right
out of her dream. She automatically looked for the gnarly tree, but
there was nothing but the mountain, sand and desolation in her
field of vision.

Benjamin said, “Welcome to The Seventh
Mountain, your new home.” The car came to a smooth stop.

The small group of students and counselors
stood in front of an arched opening into the mountain.

She got out of the car and grabbed her
backpack.

Someone shouted “Noon.” from the upper
portion of the mountain.

“Hurry, we are a little late, I’ll see that
your trunk is taken to where you’ll sleep. I know that it is a
little overwhelming at first but just step up to the group.”

He pointed and made a scooting motion with
his hands as if she were little Cindy Who.

He stopped in mid-scoot, “Bekka is already
there. I’ll be seeing you around.”

The assembly had already begun by the time
she reached Bekka –who was motioning for LeOmi. She put her arm
around LeOmi’s shoulder and gave her a little encouraging hug, as
if they were friends. She had a sprig of olive branch pinned to her
black tunic. It was the tunic of a Magi.

“That is Mr. Diefenderfer.” She whispered and
pointed.

Mr. Diefenderfer had an odd way of speaking.
He spoke in short stanzas as if he were singing. He had a thick
scar from the top of his forehead down to the base of his skull.
His sleeveless black tunic revealed thick scars on his arms and
shoulders.

“There is no weapon…that you use…on the human
body…as important…as the mind…There are those…who do not
use…physical restraints at all…They use the power…of thought…and
persuasion…to get what…they want…These are often…the most…dangerous
people…because they will…also use others…to carry out…their
physical shackles.

Remember …the sword…that penetrates…the
mind…is the most…deadly weapon…of all. Knowledge…and confidence…is
the key…You must…use them…wisely.”

At that, he bowed his head slightly. The
group started breaking up and Bekka said, “Here is your list of
things you will need, schoolbooks and supplies.”

She pointed to the paper, “This is a list of
your classes.”

Ancient Languages, Level One (Diefenbuacher
and Dover)

Single Combat Strategy and Tactics (Joramina
Vanmie)

Algebra and Numeric Logic (Co-authored with
Thorpe)

History of Empires (David Giancoli)

History of Scientific Thought (Allen and
Becker)

Communication Theory and Practice (AlHufus
Diefenderfer)

Astronomy through the Ages (Charlie
Goodfellow)

“
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom
really
helped me in History of Scientific Thought. You did bring it,
didn’t you?”

LeOmi nodded, and Bekka said, “Great.”

Then she pointed to the list again, “The text
books and other things you will need can be purchased at the stores
here on The Seventh Mountain grounds. You may already have some of
them. You will need to go and set up an account at the bank here at
the mountain.”

Bekka seemed to be clairvoyant and read the
questions forming just by glancing back and forth at her face,
“Don’t worry, a lot of students need to work their way through. You
will be assigned a job after Orientation.”

Bekka cocked her head to the side and
continued, “There are several things I need to tell you.”

As Bekka spoke they began walking with the
group towards the mountain. Some went one way and some went
another.

“Classes start on Monday, September first.
Orientation lasts for a full week before.” They stopped at the back
of a line that had formed at a table just inside the doors of The
Seventh Mountain. LeOmi could feel the cool air whooshing out onto
them.

“The Flags Match try-outs are Saturday, I am
sure you will love to be on the team. It will hone your skills for
other areas of your education here.”

It was their turn. Bekka handed a young lady
in a black tunic with silver trim a paper. She made a notation on a
list and looked up at LeOmi. She had short brown hair and green
eyes. She seemed happy to see everyone who stood in the line.
“Hello and welcome. My name is Regina.” She paused as if to say,
“What’s yours?”

LeOmi said her name as prompted.

“Good, now you are all checked in.” She
handed her a paper, “Here is your bunk number, until you get your
Tribe assignment and a small map that we give to first timers.”

“Thank you, Regina; we are in a bit of a
rush.” Bekka steered LeOmi into the mountain while she was still
reading the paper and trying to get some kind of bearing from the
map. The lighting change from sunlight to hallway light made her
even more disoriented.

The hallway led to another hallway and
suddenly they were in an area that was filled with people. People
dressed in black tunics and gray tunics and some with everyday
street clothes. Lots of people stared at LeOmi as they walked by.
Her short cropped black hair with white highlights spiked up
towards the sky was not exactly typical for The Seventh
Mountain.

“First we need to get your account
established at the bank.” Bekka steered LeOmi gently by the
elbow.

“After we finish at the bank, you will want
to go and make your purchases at the shopping area just down the
hallway. Get your signet ordered first so that you will be able to
use it for all your other purchases. Mr. Diefenderfer’s shop is
where you will go for that. He is the teacher that gave the little
speech at your arrival meeting point.”

The Good Steward Bank was spacious and well
lit. It was set up just like her parents’ bank back in Norfolk.

Bekka walked up to a teller. “This is LeOmi
Jones.”

Bekka handed the teller a piece of paper from
her clipboard. The teller looked at LeOmi, her blue eyes seemed to
verify all the information, she nodded at her and LeOmi nodded
back.

LeOmi read and signed the papers that the
woman behind the counter filled out. “You’re all signed up. There
will be someone contacting you soon about job placement.” She
nodded again and smiled.

Bekka took her arm again. “Thank you
Angeline.” They headed out the door.

“There are just a few more things I need to
tell you, and then I will need to leave you for a while. The first
thing is you can write your family if you wish. Just leave the
letter on your pillow and it will be delivered to their pillow the
next day. Of course this is limited to Magi, those who do not know
about Magi will have their mail received by regular means, in other
words, if you stamp and address a letter, it will be dropped in a
mail box for you.

“Second, like they say in Las Vegas, what
happens in the mountain, stays in the mountain. I have other duties
that I need to do. I hope I haven’t forgotten to tell you anything.
We will talk soon, LeOmi Jones, it almost feels like we are
sisters—at least to me. I have been your counselor for many years
and so I have an advantage. You were assigned to my Field Training
Counselor and passed on to me. You are my first student that I had
assigned to me, just me. That means a lot to me, and I hope someday
it will mean a lot to you too.” Bekka put her arm around LeOmi and
gave her another little hug. She took the olive sprig off of her
tunic and gave it to LeOmi.

“I am sure that once you’re all settled,
we’ll have a very long talk, but right now, I have to go. The mall
area has all the things that you will need and there are plenty of
places to grab a bit to eat.”

She started walking away. “Careful on that
spending though, as you know, nothing is free. Not even from here.”
Bekka turned and waved one last time as she pushed the door and
left. LeOmi followed in her wake, but Bekka was not distinguishable
among the gobs of people. There were people everywhere, and even
with the huge ceilings and spacious halls she still felt
claustrophobic.

“Signets.” That would be just the thing that
she would want to look at first. The map was very clear. Well
drawn. She went right to Diefenderfer Signet Shop.

Stepping into the shop, just inside the
doorway, she could see that he was blind. She hadn’t noticed that
earlier, they were so far away. He certainly didn’t carry himself
in a way that would even suggest that.

“Do not…be concerned…Miss Jones….I may
be….without sight…but I can …still see…. I am…an Oracle.”

LeOmi approached the counter.

“You may…look around…my shop…there are...a
number…of styles…” He leaned in towards her as if searching her
very soul with his lifeless eyes. “The ring…will become…part of
…your hand…if you can…find the …true signet…that is …yours.” With
that he turned and left the front room to go to the jewel smith
room in the back. She followed him, not looking at the display
cases.

“If you are an Oracle, a Seer, then you
already know my question, before I ask it.”

He sat at the work station, picked up tools
made especially for his ability. First he placed the negative wax
standard. Then placed a small silver tooled design on the form, and
then another and then an emerald stone. He then placed the silver
ring blank in the wax mold and turned them over checking the anchor
points to make sure that everything was correct. Then he turned it
again and heated the silver solder filling the minuscule holes with
the tiniest bit of solder then he turned it again, removing the wax
mold and setting the stone. The whole process only took a moment.
He handed her the ring.

“This…is not…the way…we usually …do
things…Miss Jones…but…we all have…our duties…I too…came to
The…Seventh Mountain… penniless….I was much…younger then… just
as…you are…now.”

The ring had a book and cross on one side and
a book and a dagger on the other side. It was silver with an
Emerald stone.

“We all…must choose…the paths…that we…will
take.” He reached for the ring and placed it in a box that had her
name on it. “I will hold…this signet…for approval…by your
counselor…If you…agree.”

A large group of freshmen students came in
and LeOmi got out of the way, the shop was so small and the display
cases took up most of the space. She looked back at him and he
nodded to her as she turned to squeeze through the doorway.

She heard him, “I am…AlHufus Diefenderfer…I
am…an oracle.” She turned to walk back towards the bank to see if
Bekka had returned from wherever she had gone to. The need to tell
someone of the visit to the signet shop seemed the most important
thing—right now.