Tablet of Destinies (41 page)

Adama felt her release perform a breathtaking rhythmic dance over his manhood, which exploded in response, sending his consciousness rocketing into the depth of his soul.

The destiny of mankind is fixed.

Adama heard the words in his head, and had no idea from whence they came. It seemed almost as if he was talking to himself.

From Gaia's dust you were made and to her dust you shall return, over and over until your unborn potential to love is released.

What is love?
Adama had never before heard the term, and he began to doubt whether it was indeed his own psyche he was addressing.

Love is the emotion that you are feeling right now. You love this woman who has pleasured you, in a selfish but positive way. Once your feelings for her are pure and unselfish, your love will be unconditional. When you feel unconditional love for all things in the cosmos, your unrealised potential shall be realised and unleashed.

‘I feel we have been touched by creation,' Eve whispered, kissing Adama's neck and face, and trying desperately to keep a whimper out of her voice. ‘For surely such joy is a blessed gift.'

Adama, who had collapsed on top of Eve, stirred from his blissful coma when he realised she was weeping.

‘Forgive me,' he pleaded, sliding off her. ‘I have hurt you.'

‘No Adama, not at all.' Eve held his face to set him straight. ‘These tears are of joy and relief … my sisters' reports were all wrong. There is hope for our species after all.'

‘Adama! Eve!'

‘That is Father,' Adama realised, lifting Eve's cloak up and placing it around her, before pulling on his own robes. No sooner had he done so than Enki was standing over them both. ‘So, it is done?'

Adama rose and gave Eve a hand to get to her feet. ‘Yes, Father,' Adama admitted, reverently, and even in the darkness he could see the relief on the Nefilim Lord's face.

‘Then it is no longer safe for you here,' Enki stated frankly, but with genuine concern. ‘Come … it is time to get you out of Edin.'

 

As Adapa stood staring into the eyes of his sister-soul, he knew he would only ever wish to be stuck with a human's lot.

Lilith had been educated in genetic engineering, procreation and birthing and was as versed in otherworldly doctrine as any of the Nefilim. Ninharsag had educated her to be Adapa's perfect complement, in a knowledge sense.

You both have chosen wisely.
Anu smiled broadly in approval at them both.

‘What?' said the humans together, looking at each other as if to say, ‘you weren't thinking of wiping me from existence were you?'

At last Lilith smiled. ‘We truly are like minded.'

‘We have the same goals.' Adapa gave a nod, shrugging off his near-extinction and praising the Logos that designed all humans to be self-sacrificing.

Like you, Lilith does not wish to leave Eridu with the rest of your kindred,
Anu informed and Adapa was delighted.

‘Will you help me to record human destiny as the Lord Anu wishes?' Adapa was excited by the notion of combining their knowledge on the project.

‘Well, actually.' Lilith found his misconception amusing. ‘I expected that you would be helping
me
fulfil Anu's wish, as the better part of my life has been dedicated to unravelling the destiny of our species.' Adapa was a little miffed to learn this, for he had only had his ambition for a couple of years. ‘But now I realise that this is something I could never do without your aid and knowledge,' she added to set her male counterpart at ease.

‘That was my very thought, not a moment ago,' Adapa responded.

It is only thanks to Lilith's work that I know what little I do about the love principle.
Anu gave the female her due.

Adapa was most inspired by the announcement. ‘Your work is most impressive.' He flattered Lilith with his enthusiasm. ‘I can hardly wait to get collaborating on this.'

Splendid,
Anu cheered.
I see this partnership is going to work well, and although wisdom brings its own rewards, I have gifts that will aid you both with our divine commission.

A pyramid pendant manifested on a chain around Adapa's neck.

That is the Tablet of Destinies, an inspired gift to you and your people, Sage, from the Cosmic Logoi. It is a record of all that has gone before and all that will ever be. It is a means to divine the future, and beneficial outcomes. It must be passed on to the worthy, and will return to you in due course.

Next, a hand-sized chunk of crystal manifested in front of Adapa and floated before his eyes. There were very peculiar workings set inside the rock.

‘What is it, Majesty?' The sage was so overcome by the strangeness of the object that he was hesitant to touch it.

It is the key to a thought-recording device I have had designed specifically for you. Once you have recorded your destiny, history and karmic debt to the Nefilim, your father shall devise a hiding place for the data, where it can lay in wait for your matured soul's return.

Adapa reached out and took hold of the key. But, as he had already received the gift of the pendant, he moved to pass the key to Lilith.

‘Oh no,' she declined. ‘I am a scientist, not a Sage. The recording of information is your destiny, not mine. Your expertise with the written word is a gift to me from the Logoi, and believe me, I intend to utilise it.'

Anu was very pleased by the outcome of their meeting.
To you of wisdom, will be revealed the truth of Gaia. Eternal life you must earn, by her tests and principles. May the light of the Logoi always guide you ever nearer.
With a wave of his hand the Nefilim around the
Duranki awoke.
Let it be known that from this day forth Adapa and Lilith will reside in Eridu to work on the commission of Anu, and will answer to me alone.

Where the hell did she come from?
Enlil was outraged upon sighting the human female, and turned to his sister, Ninharsag, who wore a cool smile as she shrugged.
Are there any more of the parasites?

Anu turned to his eldest son.
After tomorrow, you may kill any other hybrid human you find in Eridu,
he said.
But if any harm befalls this Sage and his sister, I will exact the ultimate punishment for their loss.

The ultimate punishment was death by darkness, where the Orme was withheld and the criminal left to fade into oblivion.

The penalty took several thousand years to come about, so the offender had plenty of time to contemplate his pending demise.

When Anu had gone, Ninharsag and Ninki quickly swept the two humans out of the sight of their irate brother, Enlil.

Not only has your ffather broken our law by making another hybrid,
Enlil vented his disapproval in Marduk's direction,
he also made a female!

Maybe more,
the young Lord smiled, which riled his uncle.

I don't see that there is anything to smile about,
Enlil reprimanded his subordinate.

Marduk nodded his head.
If we are allowed open season on human hybrids tomorrow, that means my father must be getting the other offenders out of Eridu tonight. Note that Father left our company early today.

Enlil thought about it. He'd been so irate he hadn't noticed Enki absent.

But, fear not
, Marduk continued.
I have a fair idea of the route he shall use for their escape.

Enlil was satisfied with this news and his mood lightened considerably.
Bring me dead bodies and you can ask any price in return.

Marduk was delighted with the offer and bowed dutifully to the Lord of Gaia.

You shall not have a problem with killing your childhood companion, Adama?
Enlil wondered if he should send Ninurta along to ensure the younger Lord didn't lose face.

I should have done so long ago.
Marduk's words had a malicious edge to them.
Before my father's mind was poisoned by him.

Enlil felt that Marduk was capable of the deed, and he didn't want to undermine his confidence by sending a superior to oversee his mission. If he managed to execute the task put to him, then Enlil could rest assured of his loyalty.
Make me proud, Marduk.

 

Enki led his twelve human children down the subterranean tunnel, towards the exit to the forest. In a valley a few hours walk east of Eridu, was a craft that would carry the human refugees far away from Nefilim lands — Geebo, the technologist, would fly their party to safety.

Geebo was Kya's brother-soul. Despite her adverse opinions about men, Kya had chosen to accompany her brothers and sisters out of Eridu, rather than die by a Nefilim's hand — as Enki had predicted would happen if
she remained in the city of her birth. Enki had also foreseen that before long she would warm to her brother-soul. As Geebo was more interested in machines than anything living, he wasn't particularly eager to get mating either, but theirs was an unavoidable attraction, Enki claimed.

Adama found himself wondering which of the remaining six sisters had also been badly affected by an encounter with a Nefilim male. None of the women, other than Kya, seemed to be averse to their brother-soul's company. Perhaps the other victim was the sister not present, who was Adapa's female counterpart?

As they came to the ladder that led up into the forest, Enki turned to Adama. ‘This is goodbye, my son. I have raised you to be a leader among men and so you are.' He placed a hand on Adama's shoulder and admired him proudly. ‘Many delights, dangers, adventures and hardships lie in store for you beyond Edin … but you are brave and determined. I know my Chosen Ones are safe in your hands.'

Adama was moved to tears now that he was confronted with their parting. ‘Shall I ever see you again, father?'

Enki smiled, although the sadness radiating from his son caused a tear to form in his eye. ‘Not if all goes well. But perhaps we will meet somewhere in the next creation.'

Adama sniffled back his emotions, accepting that their destinies lay along different paths. ‘Eve and I have a gift for you and Ninharsag before we go.' Eve now drew closer and took hold of Adama's hand.

‘What is it that you have for us?' Enki was intrigued when Eve and Adama both held out their free hand and took hold of Enki's hands. He was amused at the game, until he began to perceive a ball of warmth growing in his chest. He closed his eyes. An explosion of positivity began to pour forth from the heart centre of his subtle body, which, until now, had only ever been weakly stimulated by human contact. The euphoric energy whirling in his chest divided in two, ascending to his crown chakra and descending to his root chakra, setting every energy centre in his body whirling as it passed. Enki, in all his years, had never experienced such a sensation. As his mind floated in inner space, the Nefilim Lord began to laugh out loud and tears fell freely from his eyes. ‘Oh, to touch and truly feel,' he mumbled, going weak at the knees, whereupon several of his sons rushed to support him.

‘Hey, could I have some of what you gave him?' Samson inquired.

‘If you are very good to your sister-soul, I feel sure the universe will provide.' Adama glanced sideways at Eve, who was more radiant than ever as she grinned.

‘What is going on here?' Ninharsag demanded, as she approached along the tunnel with Adapa and Lilith in tow.

‘I have felt the primordial, unrefined essence of love, dear sister.' Enki savoured the new and refreshing force that had been introduced into his being, as he stood on his own two feet and began to dance around. ‘It's like a whole new awareness has opened to me.' Enki stopped twirling and looked back to Adama and Eve. They were
staring in amazement, having never seen one of the Nefilim exhibit frivolity before. ‘Thank you so much for opening the channel. I shall pass on your gift to my sister.'

Our guidance of the Nefilim has already begun,
Adapa noted quietly, and he suddenly realised how mankind was to save the Nefilim in the future and now. They would save their selfish souls by teaching them how to feel.

‘I was sorry to learn you won't be coming with us.' Adama approached his brother, the sage, to say goodbye.

‘I wasn't!' Adapa tried to make light of their parting. ‘But I bid you a safe and prosperous journey, Adama. I shall always be indebted to you for insisting upon my education.'

‘You owe me nothing, dear brother. Your education was fated,' Adama pointed out. ‘You are the one that embraced your destiny.'

Adapa smiled, considering Adama was quite right. ‘But without you, dear brother, to lead our people to greatness, my destiny will prove pointless … so, you take good care with your lives, until we are gathered once more.'

‘Lives?' Adama frowned, noting that his brother had a twinkle of understanding in his eye that had never been there before. ‘What are you talking about?'

‘The next time you see me, Adama, you will understand,' Adapa said, even more mysteriously.

The response was so unlike his brother, Adama thought. Adapa's meeting with Anu had transformed the scholar into a Sage in the fullest sense of the word, and he appeared confident about his prophecy. ‘I greatly
look forward to that time.' Adama slapped a hand down on his brother's shoulder and shook him about a bit in parting.

Adapa smiled to endure this roughing up, but cringed when he saw Samson heading his way.

‘Many thanks for attempting to teach me how to read.' Samson placed his arm around Adapa's shoulders, and whispered the rest. ‘But I got the girl anyway, so … it doesn't matter much any more.'

Samson gave a squeeze that almost crushed Adapa's ribcage and then let him go.

Adapa nearly dropped like a rock upon release, but Adama caught him up and set him on his feet. ‘Keep thinking, little scholar.' Adama ruffled his brother's sandy brown hair as he followed the rest of their kindred up the ladder.