Archangel Crusader (25 page)

Not daring to make that choice alone, Michael decided to ask the prime party concerned. Sinking to the ground in lotus position, eyes closed, Michael felt a breeze ruffling his hair. He became the mountains, the oceans, the valleys, the rain clouds, and the volcanoes. He felt Her come into him.

"Earth, Gaia, Pele, Mother Nature by any other name, I am Thy Crusader. I come in love and in anguish. I beg Thee, for the sake of your many children, for the destruction of a great evil."

From deep and away came an answer, a whisper on the breeze, a breath of life and infinite love. "I am Gaia, Pele, Earth, Mother Nature by any other name... My beloved Crusader, I understand your distress. Know that I have made greater sacrifices before. Pain is a familiar friend. I will bear it for you and support your fight. I will seal the contaminated waters and contain the disease. May you save my children and lead them back to me in love, harmony and togetherness."

"I am grateful, Gaia, Pele, Earth, Mother Nature by any other name... I will do my best to win, for my race and for Thee."

"I know, Crusader. I know you will."

The breeze abated. Cold and stillness attested that the presence had gone.

Michael opened his eyes. The black capsule still sat on its narrow pedestal. Tapping into the universal knowledge, Michael powered the control panel and surprised himself by deftly overriding the security codes. A few more minutes allowed him to set up the mechanism for telepathic detonation. Standing in front of his handiwork, he grinned. "Krastinios, I'm ready now." Then he willed himself back to the surface.

Now, under the full moon, looking at the benign entrance of the century-old mine, Michael understood what had caught his attention earlier. Not the cave but the weapon. He concealed his discovery behind a mental shield. In order to win, Michael needed the element of surprise. He’d take any advantage he could get.

*****

"Tori, look!" Jennifer pointed excitedly at a picture in the French newspaper lying on the black leather couch of Mr. K's library. "It's Dad, it's Dad. Dad is in the paper. What does it say?"

"Are you sure? God, he looks so mature, but yes, I recognize him." Tori sat, holding the newspaper upright.

"Hurry, what does it say?" Jennifer crowded next to Tori.

"Let's see... 'The mysterious Crusader who recently stirred waves of peace, love, and ecology awareness in Washington, D.C., and seemingly performed miracles, has disappeared without a trace. Contradicting rumors allude to a shady past as well as a holy mission. Some concerned citizens suspect a cult and asked for an investigation. Direct witnesses think he is a saint while official religious sources denounce him as a fraud. The FBI refused to comment on his identity or his legal or illegal status.' Michael? Michael is the Crusader? I know he always liked to shine and impress people, but this is unbelievable."

"Dad is not a fake. He really has powers. I've seen them."

"What do you mean powers?"

"It's true. He can read minds, he can make things move without touching them. He can make the fish come to the shore. I swear, I've seen it."

"You don't need to swear Jennifer. What did Michael tell you he was going to do after you left?"

"He was going to help Uncle Dave build his house, but he said I would be safer in Paris with you. He said he would get the bad guy who killed Veronica."

"This sounds more like the Michael I used to know."

"Look, Tori, there is a picture of Mr. K also. What does it say?"

"It says, 'Prince Krastinios attended the opening of the special Aztec art exhibit in the newly opened rooms of the Louvre yesterday. More than a hundred of the priceless pieces shown come from his personal collection.' I knew he was rich, but a prince?"

"You said Krastinios?" Jennifer could hardly speak.

"Yes, what a strange name! That's what they call him also right under the picture. He's very photogenic." Tori held the paper farther to get a better look.

"Mr. K is Krastinios?" Jennifer repeated in a daze, suddenly cold, feeling the blood drain from her extremities. "But he is so nice!"

"What do you mean?" Tori looked at her daughter. "Jennifer! Are you all right?" She dropped the newspaper to support Jennifer who was ready to faint.

"Krastinios is the bad guy who killed Veronica," Jennifer said weakly. "He tried to kill Dad too, and he said he would. When Dad sent me here, he said I would be safe. I'm scared." She buried her head in her mother's shoulder, crying softly.

"What are you saying?" Tori suddenly paled. "What do you know about this man?"

"Krastinios has powers like Dad, but he is mean," Jennifer said, unable to control her sobbing.

"My God, no wonder there was something strange about him. That would explain why we do whatever he suggests and can't remember what we did yesterday."

"What are we going to do?" Jennifer asked, not daring to hope.

"I'm not sure." Tori frowned. "I think he would have hurt us a long time ago if he had wanted to. Let's play the game until we find a way to get out of here."

"You know what? I felt him in my mind when I fell from the horse. Just like Dad used to do."

"He behaved in a very bizarre way that day. I didn't like it, even though he brought you back. It bothered me. I've read about supernatural things many times, but actually seeing it gives me the creeps."

Jennifer turned cold at the sound of a suave voice behind them.

"Such a pity that you had to find out just now!"

At the sight of Krastinios emerging from behind a drapery, the woman and the girl recoiled in horror, speechless. Tori stepped in front of Jennifer protectively.

"I would have much preferred to take you with me on this trip of your own free will." The gentleness in Krastinios’ voice did not ring true anymore. "Then again, a little terror might add spice to this expedition." The charming smile raised goose bumps on the back of Jennifer's neck.

"Why did you kill Veronica?" she challenged. "She didn't do anything. I hate you!" Jennifer launched herself at Krastinios who stopped smiling and swiftly stepped aside.

"I'm afraid you will have to be restrained," he declared seriously. “Let's hurry, my craft is waiting."

Chapter Eighteen

Michael walked toward the light as she came to meet him in the cave where he was meditating. He could not see the face in the shadows, just the shape of the lithe body through soft, streaming silk. He could smell her perfume and knew who she was even before he heard her voice.

"I welcome you, my love, but it isn't time yet. You still have much to do before we can rejoice."

"Veronica... Is it really you? I missed you something fierce... Why did you have to die?"

"It was necessary, Michael, or you wouldn't be here."

"I'll pulverize the bastard who killed you, I swear."

"Set aside your hatred, my love, or he will feed upon it. Forget your fear. Forget your doubts. Your victory can come only from selflessness." She looked so strong...

"Veronica... I want you to know that I love you. I never could express my feelings well enough to make you know it, but I did care very much, even in the short time we had together. I wish we could have another chance."

"There will be other times, my love. That, I can promise." Her image vacillated slightly.

"Other times? How?"

But she had turned around and floated deliberately toward the light, an invisible current moving the veils about the slim silhouette.

When all went black, Michael found himself staring at the complete darkness of the cave. Against his bare back, the rock felt cold. The soft breeze on his face told him of subterranean air currents carrying a strong odor of sulfur. Bubbling water sounds reverberated, covering the ominous presence underneath.

Easing out of the lotus position, Michael flicked the flashlight on, setting it on the ground to illuminate the ceiling. The light lost itself in shadows. The roof stood so high that only the near wall and rocky floor to the edge of the underground lake could be seen in the beam.

Michael went to the dark brink and knelt to splash his face with chilly water. He tasted it before drinking freely. A little sulfur couldn't hurt him. Splashing noises echoed, bouncing off the towering walls like a din of whispers resembling voices. Michael stopped to listen. Funny how the imagination could trick us sometimes...

A stubby beard made him feel uncouth. He wished he had thought of bringing a razor. Remembering the warmth and the dust on the surface, Michael stripped and waded into the shallow pool. Enjoying the refreshing feeling, he lowered himself into ink-black coolness.

In other circumstances, he would have felt scared and vulnerable, naked in the dark waters, but today this communion with the secret side of nature elated him. He willed his eyes and ears to scan the darkness. Now, Michael could make out the outlines of the huge cavern. It seemed that several rivulets fed the wide central lake. Floating on his back, he guessed at the height of the vaulted ceiling, and at the small shaft communicating with the mine above.

Something on the cave’s roof moved, making faint noises. Adjusting his mind vision, Michael discerned a multitude of small creatures hanging head down. Bats. Surprised to find them here, he recorded the information for further use.

Now totally refreshed, Michael stepped out of the water. He shook the dust from his clothes before putting them on, mentally readying himself for the task ahead, then willed his body back to the tunnels. Before leaving the mine, he inspected the dynamite he had carefully prepared the night before. Age had liquefied it into an extremely volatile explosive, nitroglycerine.

The mental shield he’d placed on the silo would hold. Michael also cloaked his own thoughts, remembering how Krastinios had read him on their last encounter. A shift in vibrations told him the enemy was near. Michael checked the knife in his boot, took the Uzi out of the bag, loaded it in two short motions, placed it on a rock outside the entrance of the mine then walked purposefully out into the noon sun.

Despite the moral support of Amrah and the dream of Veronica, Michael felt utterly alone as he walked in blind sunlight to meet the challenge. Nevertheless, he braced himself, ignoring the heat and the parched rocks. As relaxed as he could get under the circumstances, he cleared his mind and headed toward the white sands of the dry lake bottom.

A subtle whistle made Michael look up as a triangular craft materialized in the sky, descending fast, then hovering in mid-air a foot above the ground. No engine noise. No wind. No displacement of sand pattern. Krastinios was right on time.

Michael closed the distance. The small hermetic vessel seemed to absorb the light through its dull, black surface. It had a V shape. A familiar smell pervaded the area, not unpleasant, rather sweet, like burned licorice, not unlike the smell of Amrah's spaceship. Michael puzzled over the lack of noise and wondered whether the craft used the same mode of propulsion as Amrah’s.

One side of the hull slid open, revealing the loathsome smile of his archenemy. Michael kept his anger in check and chose a rough, sarcastic approach. "What'd you do? Steal an Air Force prototype?"

"You disappoint me, Tanner. I am hurt. This is much more advanced technology. Don't you like it?"

"Where's Jennifer, you, filthy snake?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such lack of manners! She is here. Would you care to come in?"

"Thanks, but no thanks, let her come out. Did you bring Tori, too?"

Krastinios beckoned to someone inside, and both Jennifer and Tori appeared in the opening, hands bound behind their backs, squinting against the mid-day sun.

"Daddy!" Jennifer exclaimed, both surprise and relief evident on her face.

"Michael?" Tori looked confused and a little embarrassed.

"Get them out, away from this thing." Michael reinforced his natural authority with a mental command.

"I believe they would be more comfortable waiting inside, really." Krastinios flinched, as if resenting the coercion.

"I don't trust your sneaky ways. Let them out, and untie their hands."

"You have no sense of humor whatsoever, Tanner. And you are spoiling all my fun." Krastinios sighed. When he snapped his fingers, the ties fell off the prisoners' hands.

Jennifer jumped off the hovering craft and ran into her father's arms. Tori massaged her wrists and looked around. She hesitated for a second then stepped out of the craft, blinking under the glare of the bright sun. When her gaze met Michael's, ten years of guilt seemed to weigh on her shoulders. Still holding Jennifer, Michael looked at Tori with steady understanding, sending waves of forgiveness to soothe her suffering mind. She responded with a smile.

"Tori, I'm glad you're all right. Would you please take Jennifer to the shelter up there? There is shade and water. I have some business with Mr. K." The pseudonym rang as an insult.

Krastinios didn’t seem to notice. "What a touching family portrait. Unfortunately, in a few minutes there won't be anymore family."

Ignoring the threat, Michael watched Tori and Jennifer retreat to the flimsy shade of the makeshift tent he had pitched the night before, then turned his attention back to his enemy.