Tearing The Shroud (18 page)

‘Oh! You wicked woman!’ He smiled and followed her.

As they walked through the halls she looked over. ‘You are right, though.’

‘About what?’

‘Your looks
are
devastating.’ She smiled.

‘That makes us a matched set then,’ he said, offering his arm.

They crossed a large comfortable room, with several groups of women sitting, chatting, or reading, and exited into a hallway. Rounding a corner, they arrived at the Chapel door just before Sari, and he opened it for them. ‘Ladies.’ He waited for them to enter.

Sari smiled as she strolled through. ‘Be still, my heart.’

Jolie grinned as well. ‘Chivalry is not dead.’

He followed them in and looked at the sacred room. The Chapel was awash with candlelight. It was a perfect square of white limestone, fifty paces across. The walls rose high into the air before arching over with ribs extending from each corner to meet in the center. A golden orb, which represented the Divine, hung from where they met, and high atop each wall were massive windows composed of multitudes of glass panes. The room would flood with light during the day and cause the orb to shine brilliantly. Though simple in design, the effect was awe-inspiring.

Women entered through a door on the opposite side of the sanctuary, and the Matriarch waited for them at the center, beneath the orb. She said, ‘Come, come, everyone, I don’t know how much time we have, but whatever happens must happen tonight. Thank you for responding so swiftly. A short time ago this evening I received a vision.’

Coleman was amazed at this news and looked at the women to share his surprise, only to find their faces calmly composed. A few heads nodded, others smiled, but nothing more.

‘The Seeing included the Companion and those who support him. Though he didn’t see me, I know that we shared another part of the vision. There was a message delivered, a single word, written in living light upon a wall. Neither of us were the author of the word.’

Coleman looked again at the ladies, keeping his face composed in order to keep from standing out, only to see them erupt in a flurry of questions. Jolie grabbed his arm tightly. ‘Isn’t it amazing? Do you realize what this means?’

He missed the significance somehow. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t.’

‘It means the Matriarch and the Companion have been given a message, together. Directly from the Divine!’

It dawned on him; a shared vision, from the Divine. His knees grew weak, and he leaned on her arm.

‘Are you well?’ she asked, concern marking her voice.

‘Yes, I think so, I, it, I...’

She smiled. ‘Glad to see you understand.’

‘Ladies. Ladies. The word was, “Tonight”. I’ve gathered you because I suspect what may occur.’ She paused; letting them fall silent, waiting, ensuring their full attention. ‘The Companion has those about him who shield him with their care. If they are nearby, we may be able to communicate with him for an extended time. But it must happen tonight. Acolytes, please make yourselves ready to start the Song.’

They bustled off, taking pillows and cushions, each moving to a spot that suited them. The Matriarch turned to the three of them. ‘Coleman, you need to become familiar with what happens here, as it will apply to you one day. You also should have the chance to see how the Companion reacts.

‘Jolie, you are here as Healer in case there’s need, but you’re also here because you care deeply for Coleman.’

Jolie opened her mouth to speak then stopped. She nodded, acknowledging the fact. Coleman looked from the Matriarch to her and back; both smiled at him.

‘Sari, as Commander, you shall see to our safety, if need be. You have other reasons to be here as well.’ She paused and stepped to Sari, extending her hand. Sari took it, and the Elder continued gently. ‘You love Jolie as your dearest friend, and this has seen you both through a lifetime of experiences. Though you have come to know Coleman, it’s important that those who care for him — not just one another — surround both the Traveler and the Companion. You must allow the love of the Divine to flow through you to Coleman. I have my suspicions as to why but am not certain of them. The vision clearly revealed the necessity. Sari, dear one, can you do this?’

Sari looked at him.

What could she be thinking?

She chewed her lower lip and her gaze moved to Jolie. They stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment. Jolie’s brows softened and her head moved in a tiny nod. Sari looked back at him, blinking rapidly, fighting back tears. ‘Yes...I can.’

The Matriarch turned to him. ‘Coleman, I said there were several reasons for your presence, and here is the last. I saw that the Companion has a woman by his side who loves him and I sensed he reciprocated that love. I do not know if he understands this; perhaps we will discover it tonight.’ She nodded to Jolie, then Sari, and finally, locked eyes with Coleman. ‘You are surrounded by people who love and care for you. It is time for you to allow that love its full strength. It upholds the Companion and must support you. There’s no greater power, no better shield, no stronger bond. All other things will fail; all other things will fade; only love will endure.’ Her voice softened. ‘I’m an old woman and know of what I speak.’

Turning, she walked to a pillow and sat, looking up at the Orb. ‘Place yourselves wherever you wish. Do not touch me until the moment has passed fully. We must allow it to reach completion.’ She looked to them each. ‘No matter what occurs, do you understand?’

They nodded their assent, he was reeling from what she had revealed about each of them.
The women had to be too.
Jolie and Coleman joined hands, and after a brief moment, Coleman extended his other hand to Sari. It seemed like the right thing to do and when she took it, he knew it was. The connection of the three of them meant something. He wasn’t sure what, but it was important somehow. They walked a few strides to a small pile of pillows behind the Matriarch.

They sat silently, waiting. The Matriarch raised one hand and let it settle to her lap. A clear soprano sang out, the note floating like a remembered dream. The voices of the assembled women rose in chorus to join her. They spoke no words; the Song built on slowly constructed chords, the notes seeking one another. No sooner had they found their mates than some floated off, creating a momentary disharmony that resolved itself as other voices sought them out and built upon one another. The harmonies were like none the three had ever heard; they brought feelings of longing, joined with those of triumph. Victory sought, twined with one already obtained.

A partition in reality slid open and the Matriarch’s head jerked as she inhaled sharply. She stood and approached the dark rectangle.

Chapter 16

A Conversation

Tick. Tick, click.

Tick.

Vincent opened his eyes; the soft glow of the clock illuminated the nightstand.

Click.

He lifted his head. Everyone was asleep.

Tick.

He laid his hand on Julie’s shoulder. ‘Julie.’ He patted her lightly and her eyes opened. ‘I hear something.’

Click click click.

She sat up slowly, trying to focus.

‘Flea, Knife,’ he said quietly.

‘Yes?’ Knife’s voice floated from the darkness.

‘Everything okay?’ Flea asked quietly from above.

Julie said, ‘Listen.’

Click click.

Vincent knew where it was coming from: the nightstand. ‘Look, near the clock.’

Knife’s face appeared next to his; he pushed the button on his microcassette. ‘Tape is rolling.’

They looked into the green glow of the clock.

Click click. The silver marked die tipped over twice.

Knife gasped and scrambled backward until he hit the wall. ‘I...I don’t believe this.’

Flea’s voice came trembling from the darkness above, ‘Guys...are...are you seeing what I’m seeing?’

‘The...the die...it...it...’ Knife said.

It flipped three times.

‘Vincent, what should we do?’ Julie grabbed his arm in a vice-like grip and leaned against him. He heard the panic in her voice.

Vincent spoke softly, ‘Everyone calm down. It’ll be okay we just wait...I think.’

They waited, amazement warring with fear on their faces.

Clickclickclickclick. The small die danced and hopped in a circle then flipped in the air, landing perfectly still on the square narrow end of its length.

‘Wow, that was — ’ Flea said.

‘Wait,’ Vincent said gently. ‘Just...wait.’

They stared at the wooden rectangle standing like a miniature obelisk. It moved slightly, then again. It slowly started to rotate, moving faster — like a top released from a string, it spun to a humming blur. A silver light started to emanate from it, the same silver as the markings now unreadable on its blurred sides.

Knife held the recorder to his mouth and rattled off a description — his panic-stricken voice nearly a buzz as well.

The light grew, soon outshining the clock and lighting their faces. As it did, peace settled on the room; Vincent knew it well from recent events. Knife’s voice slowed and Julie’s grip relaxed.

‘Amazing...’ Flea whispered. They could see around the room, now dimly lit with the shimmer from the spinning wood. Abruptly the die stopped, still standing upright, and with it, the glow faded, not quickly, but as a mist evaporating while they watched.

Vincent shook his head. ‘Now
that’s
worth a wow.’

‘I know, huh?’ Knife said. ‘Talk about — ’

‘Guys,’ Julie said. She pointed behind Vincent and they turned to where the blinds should have covered the window. In its place was an opening in the world. Standing in the opening was an elderly woman in robes.

Coleman could see something in the opening. A glowing silvery light blossomed. He glanced quickly left and right at Jolie and Sari and knew they’d witnessed it, too. As the light grew, it outlined the Matriarch, and he could make out objects in the opening. There was a bed rack with people in it and two others on the floor. It bathed the scene in silver light and, had they not looked so ordinary, he would have thought he looked onto Beings of the Divine. The Matriarch raised her left hand slightly and the Acolytes gently brought their Song to a halt. The image before her held and something else became clear.

They were all looking back. Those people could see them.

Vincent saw a white walled room behind the woman, ablaze with candles. People sat, watching the elderly woman, two women, and a man. The man leaned his head to the right, getting a better view and started to stand, but the woman to his left laid a hand on his arm. The elderly woman smiled at Vincent, and nodded in greeting.

The rest of the gang must have seen it too because Knife continued to describe the scene into the recorder. Vincent stood and faced the opening into the other reality. He felt no apprehension or fear as he looked at the matronly woman.

‘Hello.’ He nodded to her. After a brief moment, he saw the woman’s eyes look from one side to the other, though he had no idea why.

The man’s mouth moved, but there was no sound. A moment passed and the Matriarch spoke, ‘Hello. My name is Gladys.’

Coleman and Jolie looked at one another and then at Sari, the same thought reflected in their eyes,
Gladys?