Tell Me I'm Dreamin' (16 page)

A chilling apprehension overcame her as her hazel eyes traveled from the papers to the necklace spread out on the desk. She stared at the window through which only a slight breeze drifted.

Ever since Nadine experienced the vision in Sovereign's hallway, she had tried to ignore an ever-present feeling. The feeling was linked to the dreams she could not remember and information about Eros and the cliff dwellers that would surface without provocation. They were inner murmurings that told her she had mystical links to the island and its people. Nadine did not want to accept these feelings. They scared her. Nothing had frightened her so much since she was a little girl, and actually, what she experienced then had not frightened her, Grandma Rose's reaction had.

Nadine was seven and had been ill when the woman appeared in her bedroom as she lay in her bed. She was beautiful, with dark-brown skin and tranquil eyes; her hair was swept back from her angular face. She had worn a nondescript robe, tawny in color.

Nadine's fever had broken, and Grandma Rose had gone to get a cool glass of water because her throat and mouth felt dry. The woman entered her room through the door, and at first Nadine thought it was Grandma Rose.

“You forgot my water, Grandma,” she had barely whispered.

The woman moved closer, and Nadine could see she was smiling as she shook her head from side to side in a silent no. She stopped beside the bed near Nadine's feet, and raised her right arm out in front of her. Dangling from her fingertips was a tiny scale. It hung still and unbalanced, though Nadine saw nothing in the small cups.

The woman's soft eyes seemed to beckon to her. She wanted Nadine to place her hand upon her own. Nadine knew this even though there were no words that passed her lips. She remembered sitting up with effort and stretching out her arm, then placing her hand upon the stranger's ghostly hand. With Nadine's slightest touch, the silver scale balanced, the woman smiled, and disappeared into thin air. Grandma Rose entered the room directly after that.

“Honey, what are you doing?” She walked over to Nadine, feeling her head, concern in her eyes.

“The lady wanted me to touch her hand and help balance the little scale she was holding.”

“What?” Grandma Rose looked around the room apprehensively. “Nay-Nay, what are you talking about?”

“There was a woman here. She was very nice. And she was pretty too. She just wanted my help.”

Grandma Rose slowly looked around the room again. “Now child, I know you've been sick, but you can't go around saying things like this. Folks down here don't take too kindly to it. They'll have you in the crazy house before you know it. You hear me? Let this stay between you and Grandma Rose, okay?”

Nadine remembered nodding numbly.

Grandma Rose started to leave the room but she turned around again. “Nay-Nay.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“You know Grandma Rose believes in God and I hope that you do too.”

“I do, Grandma,” she had replied.

“Well, there's one thing you got to remember. Everything comes from God, even the things that might scare you.” She pulled her bottom lip between her forefinger and her thumb. “Even Satan was made by God. Why?” She looked Nadine directly in the eyes. “Because there's nothing like a good bout with Satan that will make a man turn to God faster than anything else.” She nodded authoritatively. “So you just remember that, you hear?”

“Yes, ma'am.” Nadine laid back down on the plump feather pillow as Grandma Rose left the room. But she remembered for the rest of that night, whenever Grandma Rose checked on her, she seemed nervous and ill at ease. Out of all the things that happened during her childhood, Nadine realized that was the only time she had truly seen Grandma Rose afraid.

Nadine's shaking fingers lifted the document and made room for it upon the desk. She realized some of it was missing. There was no cover page. It had probably gotten lost along with several other beginning passages. The work commenced bluntly, describing several ancient sacred symbols, amongst them the symbol of the cliff dwellers, which it called the “Royal Escutcheon of Mu.” Mu, better known to some as Lemuria.

“That's the place Madame Deane had spoken of,” Nadine exclaimed, amazed. She skimmed the small group of pages for a direct reference to the cliff dwellers. There was none. But she did find a chart showing the symbol, and explaining how it had been deciphered and then translated. The chart displayed the same characters that were carved upon her necklace. It called them the hieratic characters of Mu.

It was 12:45
A.M.
when Nadine laid down her ink pen, and read her rough translation of the tiny stone message. Her heart seemed to pound in her ears, reflecting the fear and turmoil growing inside her. She read the startling message out loud. Nadine knew, as she read the prophetic words, the message was intended for her. It read “Lenora, the Bringer of Light.”

Chapter
13

“Did it occur to you to ask about the stone after you realized it was missing?” Dr. Steward quizzed her, trying to remain calm.

“Yes, it did. But under the circumstances I thought it would be best to leave things as they were,” Nadine replied.

The seemingly endless interrogation over her leaving what Dr. Steward thought might be one of the Five Pieces of Gaia at Sovereign had been going on for the last five minutes. Nadine believed the conversation would have been easier to handle if Dr. Steward showed the anger that lurked behind his questions. She could tell from his heightened color he wanted to raise his voice, but that would have been beneath his cultured, intellectual upbringing. Nadine thought if Dr. Steward would only admit that he was upset, it would have had a calming effect, but that was not going to happen. She saw his jaw quiver with restrained anger.

“Ms. Clayton, you have not been brought all the way down here to make decisions that work against the goals of the World Treasures Institute.”

“Maybe the slab had no significance at all for our purposes. I kept it just because of a hunch. It wasn't among the articles that were designated for me to catalog,” she added lamely in her own defense, wishing she had never mentioned it.

There were so many things on her mind when she arrived in the office early that morning; the deciphering of the necklace the night before, and its significance, had been foremost in her thoughts. She was glad when Dr. Steward arrived shortly afterwards, and inquired about her stay on Eros. She needed to talk to someone about her experiences there. But the conversation had not progressed any further than her discovery of the carved onyx slab.

“It was a hunch, an intuitive feeling, that motivated some of our greatest minds to create their most sublime works. Hunches should not be taken lightly when it comes to the arts,” Dr. Steward preached, his well-manicured hand rubbing the thin spot on the crown of his shiny head.

“I agree with that,” a robust accented voice echoed from the hall.

A gentleman much taller than Dr. Steward's five feet six inches rounded the door. Claudia entered behind him moments later.

“Why, Mr. Richarde.” Dr. Steward seemed surprised. He glanced surreptitiously about, as if he wished he had had an opportunity to prepare for the stranger's arrival. “I did not expect you to come to the office so early this morning.” He put on his best smile. “I thought you would prefer to sleep in after your late arrival last night, and then perhaps do some touring of the island today before we dine this evening.”

The neatly dressed visitor smiled tolerantly as he addressed Dr. Steward, while his eyes remained on Nadine. “I assure you, Dr. Steward, I have no desire to
tour
Barbados. I've been here many times before. There may be several places that I'd like to visit in order to check on some longtime acquaintances, but touring is hardly ever on my agenda.”

Dr. Steward's cheeks turned a slight pink as he stuttered his understanding. “Of course, of course.” He changed the subject. “Well, I guess you've had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Claudia Edmunds?” Dr. Steward motioned toward the young woman as she maneuvered herself into the stranger's line of view. A pink sweater and beige skirt clung to her voluptuous figure, playing up her naturally pretty face.

“Not officially.” He took the hand she offered.
“Enchantez, mademoiselle.
I am Etien Richarde.” Then, turning to Nadine, he offered her his hand.
“Et vous?”

“I'm Nadine Clayton,” she responded, aware of the enamored sparkle in his eye.

“Both of these ladies are working with the project,” Dr. Steward chimed in, and then as to let Nadine and Claudia know the importance of their visitor he announced, “Mr. Richarde is one of the World Treasures Institute's greatest benefactors. We are very grateful for the support he has shown us through the years.” An indulging smile crossed his thin lips.

“I am sure you are,” Mr. Richarde commented without a smile. “I thought I'd come by this morning and pick up that paperwork we talked about last night. I want to get this business out of the way so my day can be free for other things, if you don't mind.”

“Why, certainly. I have it tucked away right here.” Dr. Steward scurried over to an antique dresser-turned-desk, and retrieved a manila envelope from one of the drawers. He handed it to Mr. Richarde.

“
Merci beaucoup.
And now I will leave you to your work.” He turned toward the doorway, hesitated, and looked back over his shoulder. “By the way, I am sure you have also invited Mademoiselle Clayton and Mademoiselle Edmunds to dine with us tonight,
de vrai?”

A startled Dr. Steward gave the only answer he could. “Why, of course.”

Mr. Richarde gave Nadine a clandestine wink before responding,
“Bon.
I am off then.
Au revoir.”

It was difficult for Dr. Steward to keep his spectacled eyes from straying to the low neckline of Claudia's cream-colored dress. Nadine found it was almost comical how the thick lenses of his glasses magnified their every move, making it impossible for him to sneak the furtive glances without being discovered.

As the tallest of the group, Claudia stood out obtrusively. But her height was not the only projecting part of her. Her breasts strained against the knitted material, just below Dr. Steward's natural plane of view, causing small beads of sweat to appear around his receding hairline. Nadine felt the urge to laugh and could have enjoyed Dr. Steward's restrained response to nature if Mr. Richarde wasn't standing so close beside her. Now she was glad she had broken down before leaving the States and bought the chic burgundy dress she was wearing. The scalloped neckline revealed just enough of her slender shoulders, giving way to a simple cut that ended with tiny pleats two inches above her knees. There was no way for Mr. Richarde to get a direct look at anything besides her legs, but from the look in his eyes his imagination made up for what he could not see.

Nadine looked around the crowded restaurant while they waited for the maitre d' to come back and seat them. Mr. Richarde had spoken very highly of this particular establishment during their short trip in the taxi. He said the owner grew his own vegetables, and if they enjoyed beef, guinea corn, and green peas, they would have to try the jug-jug served here. It was the specialty.

Nadine thought the cave-like interior of the restaurant was very different from the lights and ambience of the other parts of the resort. The pottery and woven baskets reminded her that she was on a Caribbean island.

The maitre d' efficiently escorted them to one of the better-lit tables. Nadine was thankful that all of the tables that provided privacy had been taken. She hoped the light would help curb Mr. Richarde's amorous attention.

Once the menus were placed before them, Mr. Richarde took the liberty of ordering a bottle of what he called the most unique rum of all. It was obvious as he threw out bits of wisdom concerning Bajan cooking and customs that he was quite knowledgeable. Nadine might have even found him to be a little attractive had he not been so aware of his own attributes. A well-cared-for hand constantly rubbed and patted his perfectly shaped mustache and goatee after smoothing the edges of a precisely tapered haircut.

“Mademoiselle, nothing but the best for you tonight,” he said, his smile gleaming as he placed a soft palm on top of Nadine's hand.

A small, courteous smile crossed her lips, acknowledging Mr. Richarde's generosity, but Nadine opted not to meet the eyes that sought hers, and she used a contrived cough as an excuse to extract her hand from the bejeweled one that held it.

Dr. Steward's two frail eyebrows fused together at his displeasure toward Nadine's tactful rejection of one of the institute's chief benefactors. “Mr. Richarde, I want you to know how grateful we are for your invitation this evening, and that the institute will pick up the tab for your meal.”

“Excusez moi.”
An annoyed Mr. Richarde sized Dr. Steward up with one look. “The institute will pick up the tab for Nadine and Ms. Edmunds as well. Of course, you will be responsible for your own.”

A stunned Dr. Steward lowered his head and nodded his agreement.

Nadine knew that her boss wanted her to be more “friendly” toward Mr. Richarde. He had made his feelings known earlier by pressing a pointed elbow in her side when she declined to sit up front between Mr. Richarde and the taxi driver. She did not like his actions one bit, but Mr. Richarde's constant belittling of Dr. Steward was uncalled for, making her feelings even less favorable toward him.

After they placed their orders, the meal proceeded quietly. The group sampled a variety of conkies as appetizers. By the time the entrees were placed upon the table, Mr. Richarde was ordering the second flask of rum, having drunk most of the first. Nadine and Claudia's initial glasses were more than half full, and Dr. Steward had just finished his first. As the waiter hurried away to grant Mr. Richarde's request, the smell of flying fish and prawns garnished with peppers and other spices demanded their attention. The dishes were accompanied by the jug-jug. Wary, Nadine tasted the food on her plate. It was different, but to her surprise it was good as well.