Stones: Experiment (Stones #3) (5 page)

Miyazawa’s tries to speak, but nothing comes out of his mouth except for a single word.

“Why?”

“As the leader of Shinto, you read the news, just like I do. You know the chaos that fills the world. The old alliances that used to bind countries have fallen away. New ones are forming. Japan’s not-so-secret treaty with China. China’s economic takeover of Russia. Europe is falling apart. What’s left of it hates America. India and its nuclear arsenal stand alone against everyone. The world is afraid of the massive armies flowing out of Africa. War is imminent.”

Shaking his head, Miyazawa’s eyes drop to the ground. “Yes, I read the news. And I know that MX Global supplies munitions to every country. On all sides. Global war is its business model.” His eyes come up and stare at Ryzaard. “Surely you don’t expect me to believe that MX Global now wants universal peace and is using Shinto to accomplish that goal.”

“Of course.” Ryzaard takes a step forward, his lips falling into a half-smile. “I should have known better than try to deceive you with such a simple explanation. As you have suspected, MX Global is anxious to support the spread of Shinto for another reason.”

“Exactly.” Miyazawa nods and follows behind. “I need to know, or I cannot move forward.”

“It is as I told you before.” Ryzaard’s pace quickens. “Just as many paths lead to the top of Mount Fuji, you and I have each found a different way to the same ultimate aim.”

“Yes, I remember your words. But I still don’t understand. What could there possibly be in common between Shinto and MX Global?”

“It’s simple. The restoration of Paradise to the Earth. Paradise for the human race. Paradise for the Kami. Even Paradise for large entities like MX Global. War cannot last forever. MX Global seeks a new, long-term business model. A new world where all can live and prosper without war and suffering.” Ryzaard raises his hand and points at the wooden shrine standing at the foot of the mountain slope a hundred meters away. “Shinto works through oneness with nature and its spiritual energy. MX Global works through technology. In the future, our paths will converge. Peace will come to the earth as a by-product of what we both do. The war-machine of MX Global will be replaced with a new approach to prosperity, one that is stable and sustainable.”

“I still don’t understand,” Miyazawa says.

“You will in time.”

“But how can Shinto spread
worldwide
? China is one thing. But the entire planet?” Miyazawa takes a step back, his gaze going up through the tree canopy to the sky. “How is it possible? What about finances? Government relations. Land acquisition. Legal considerations. Our dealings with—” Miyazawa hesitates to put the rest of the sentence into words.

Ryzaard does it for him.

“Your Yakuza brethren?”

Miyazawa stares at his feet.

“You will find that the way has been prepared ahead of you. Everything will be arranged. MX Global offices will work closely with your staff. We will increase our contributions by tenfold, ramping up quickly to a hundred-fold. Do not let the funds sit idle. Use them quickly. You should concern yourself with only one thing.”

“What is that?”

“Presiding over the greatest global religious movement in the history of humankind. To be known for the next ten thousand years as the revered founder of the world religion that established global peace. Paradise.”

Their walk brings them back to Miyazawa’s personal quarters.

Ryzaard extends his hand and urges Miyazawa to go up the steps first.

At the top, Miyazawa opens the sliding door and steps through with his back to Ryzaard. “I’ll need time to consider your offer.” He’s unsteady on his feet and reaches out to the door frame for balance. “It will require a discussion with the elder brethren of our priesthood. When do you propose that I start on this new phase?”

“You already have.”

Miyazawa turns from the doorway to stare at Ryzaard, but his eyes are met by a flash of light.

Ryzaard is gone.

He truly must be one with the
Kami, Miyazawa thinks.

I
shouldn’t have gone back to Ryzaard’s office.

Fear settles like a black mist on the surface of Matt’s mind.

He stares at the tiny green jewel floating in the plastic cube on his palm. It’s Stone-like shape shouts at him, as if broadcasting a warning about Ryzaard.

No telling how many people he’s destroyed. The progress he’s made. The plans he’s put into action. The power he’s amassed.

Footsteps come from the adjoining room. He drops the cube to the floor and nudges it out of sight under the bed.

With gentle firmness, Matt inhales to the bottom of his lungs and pushes the gnawing thoughts away.

“We better hurry,” Jessica says. Her pink gown with the high mandarin neck matches perfectly with the straight brown hair that hangs down her back in a single braid. “You know how excited Yarah gets about these picnics.” Standing in front of a full-length mirror, her hands reach up to adjust the tiara on her head so its gold bands and glistening diamonds cross high on her forehead.

The dreams. They need me. I’ve abandoned them all.

A hand flicks across his cheeks.

“Hey, daydreamer.” Jessica pulls Matt’s chin, squarely facing her eyes. “Are you listening to me?”

“Yes, but—”

“I know your dreams haven’t stopped.” Jessica’s hand goes up to cradle the side of Matt’s face. “But I need you to focus on this party for Yarah.” She takes a step back and spins on one foot. “How do I look?”

He pushes the dark thoughts away, sealing them off in a far corner of his mind.

“You look simply charming, my dear.” Matt does his best to imitate an upper-class British accent.

Jessica shakes her head. “There’s more to it than simply not saying your R’s. You have to
be
a king. Not just look like one.”

“Like I always say, fake it ‘til you make it.”

“Come here,” Jessica says. “Let me look you over.”

With the air of a professional clothing designer, she inspects Matt’s billowy white shirt with ruffles on the front, the flowing red robe trimmed with golden fox fur, and the royal blue leggings tucked into burgundy leather boots with brass buckles.

“Didn’t you ever play dress-up as a kid?” she says.

“Can’t say that I did.” Matt sounds like a Southern gentleman trying to speak French this time. “But I
do
like this sword.” He picks it up and brings it close to his eye to study the intricate designs of lions and dragons etched into the blade.

Jessica lifts a golden crown off the dresser. It has five rising points topped with marble-sized rubies. She places it squarely on Matt’s head over the dark hair, and then steps back for a final appraisal. “Let’s see. Something’s missing.”

Matt’s eyes go to the floor. His mind starts to wander again.

How many more Stones has Ryzaard gotten by now? How many countries does he control? What’s the green jewel for?

“Hey, are you listening?” Jessica grabs Matt’s chin again and raises his head. “Your costume isn’t complete. I need your help.”

“I think I know what’s missing.” Matt finds a wide leather belt with silver studs and a dangling sheath. He passes it around his waist and buckles it in place. Then he puts the tip of the sword into the sheath and lets it drop into place with a satisfying click.

“Perfect,” Jessica says. “Let’s go.”

“Where’s Leo?” Matt says.

Jessica takes his hand. “I’m sure he’s already there, eating all the food. He’s growing so fast. Hungry all the time.”

They walk outside through an open double door of solid wood, not bothering to shut it, across a courtyard of neat cobblestones, under the portcullis, over the drawbridge and out into the long grass that covers the hill below the castle.

Children’s laughter floats up from the riverbank below.

“Now remember.” Jessica squeezes Matt’s left hand and rubs the ring on his finger. “It’s not enough to look like a king. You have to act like one. Right out of the fairy-tale books that Yarah loves. Is that clear?”

“By Jove, I think I’ve got it.”

Jessica rolls her eyes.

“Come on!” Yarah sprints up the hill and grabs Jessica’s hand. “We’ve been waiting for
hours
.”

They follow her to the riverbank where the picnic is set and ready to go under a massive apple tree.

“Maybe not nutritious, but definitely delicious.” Matt scans the quilt-sized blanket on the grass. “Let’s see. A leg of lamb for each of us. A lemon cake the size of a small automobile. Plum pudding. Turkish delight. Pink lemonade. Gallons of chocolate milk. Not a vegetable in sight. Perfect.” He laughs and lifts a wooden mug to his face. Brown liquid dribbles down the corners of his mouth.

“She
is
only seven years old.” Jessica chews on the lamb. “Kids that age don’t eat vegetables. Only meat, cheese, bread and sugar. Besides, it’s right out of the book.” She lifts up a well-worn copy of
Snow White
.

Reaching up with his hand, Matt picks a perfect red apple from a low-hanging branch above him. He bites into it and reveals that it’s really a chocolate truffle with a soft cream center. “All in all, I’d say our little Yarah has done a great job with her world.” His eyes trace a line starting at the castle on the top of the hill, to the river, over the wooden bridge and into the wild green forest on the other side.

“Race you across the river!” Leo bolts upright and runs down the bank.

Yarah squeals and follows closely behind.

They end up floating out to the middle, wet robes trailing behind, splashing and laughing.

From upstream, a black dorsal fin larger than a man speeds under the water to the children. Ripples spread out from its leading edge in a long V. As it nears them, more fins rise up in line behind the first one, and the ripples turn into a wake of white water. A narrow black body covered in scales begins to emerge.

“Get out!” Jessica yells.

Leo lifts his head and gazes upstream. His eyes grow large when he sees the T-Rex head with flowing mouth tendrils rear up twenty meters away. Water pours from its open jaws and exposes jagged teeth longer than his arm.

He dives under the water, leaving Yarah alone in the middle of the river.

Matt jumps to his feet and runs down the bank to the water’s edge. His hand fishes through an inside pocket of the robe, searching for the Stone.

Yarah turns and stares at the dragon, her body frozen in place.

The beast rises high out of the river and hangs in mid-air above Yarah’s angelic face. Its burning eyes are set wide in its head. Gazing at her, its jaws open and shut, spilling water on her black hair.

Then the dragon dives straight down on top of her, its mouth wide open. A large blue tongue darts out.

It swallows Yarah whole.

“No!” Matt crouches and holds his Stone like a pistol. Fire shoots out of the tip, engulfing the dragon’s body just behind the head as its webbed feet glide across the water. The creature lets out a moan.

And then its mouth opens.

Yarah appears between its fangs, squealing and laughing. She grabs one of the tendrils and swings from it like Tarzan on a rope before dropping into the river. She swims to the bank and stands up to face the creature, still floating above the river. “Do it again.” Her hands go up to her hips. “Only this time at least
try
to surprise us. Then maybe you’ll get a treat.”

The dragon groans, closes its mouth and sinks back into the water. Its dark shape disappears upstream, leaving only a faint ripple.

Leo’s head bobs up to the surface. He laughs and swims to the bank, pulling himself up to stand next to Yarah. “Pretty cool, huh?” He squints up at Matt and pats the little girl on the head. “Yarah thought this monster up just now while we were playing in the water. She’s amazing.” He drops to her level. “Come on, Yarah, let’s try it again.” They both dive back into the river.

Matt’s mouth is still hanging open, heart pounding against his ribcage, unable to move. He shakes his head and turns to look at Jessica, reclining on the blanket on the grass.

She motions for him to come closer.

When he sits by her side, he instinctively reaches out for a hunk of meat and sinks his teeth into the succulent flesh to calm his nerves.

“What’s wrong?” Jessica says. “You need to loosen up.”

“Wrong? Nothing’s wrong.”

“Come on.” Jessica takes a spoonful of Turkish delight. “You’ve been a bundle of nerves for the last month. Like a caged animal. And your head’s definitely somewhere else. What’s chewing on you? The dreams?”

“I was just worried about the kids, that’s all.”

Jessica nods. “Yarah certainly keeps us all on our feet. No telling what trouble she’ll get into. A pride of lions charging out of the forest yesterday. Riding unicorns the day before. Swallowed by a dragon today.” She pinches off some cake and presses it into Matt’s already full mouth. “A child’s dream come true. A world where you can create anything you can imagine.”

The conversation pulls Matt’s mind off Ryzaard. Smiling, he leans back against Jessica’s shoulder, both cheeks stuffed with food. He speaks between chews.