Ancient Echoes

CHAPTER 42



MICHAEL AND QUADE followed Durham and Webber through a tunnel into the village and straight to Ben Olgerbee’s cabin. There, Olgerbee cleaned and dressed Michael’s gunshot wound. A poultice he smeared over it numbed the pain and stopped the bleeding,

Kohler arrived and immediately began to question Michael and Quade.

“Who are the men shooting at you, and why?” Kohler demanded.

“We don’t know,” Michael replied.

“We watched them follow you for some time,” Kohler admitted.

“We never imagined anyone would follow, considering where we are,” Michael said.

“So, you know where we are?” Kohler said, his voice dismissive, mocking.

“Not exactly.”

“I have a good idea.” Quade muttered, then stared at Kohler without expression.

Kohler stared back. The tension in the room grew.

“Do you know where the shooters are now?” Michael asked as he put his shirt and jacket back on.

Kohler’s gaze broke, and he faced Michael. “They are watching our village. We thought their presence had to do with you, but obviously not, since they were quite willing to kill you. The only surprise, therefore, is that they didn’t kill you sooner.”

“So it seems,” Michael said calmly. “They're well-armed, but you only have bows and arrows. That diminishes our chance for success.”

“We aren’t worried,” Kohler said. “Once their bullets are gone, they will be no more dangerous than children. Our arrows fly true, and we have a great store of them.”

“Why? Who or what were you fighting before we came?” Michael asked. “Was it those strange creatures that lurk about, or something else?”

“Those creatures are not like any you have known,” Kohler said, “for they have cunning and trickery such that is almost human. They resent our living here, and if we did not look out constantly, they would attack and take all that we have.”

“And kill you?” Quade asked.

“Without mercy,” Kohler responded.

“Interesting.”

“Dangerous is a more apt description,” Kohler said with a scowl.

Just then a ruckus sounded at the door. It burst open. “Michael! It’s really you!” Lionel Rempart hurried toward his brother. Jake followed, as did the dark-haired, pale and sickly young man Michael knew must be Vince Norton.

Lionel stopped a few feet before Michael and went no further, as if unsure of how to greet him.

“Good to see you alive,” Michael said. “You had me worried.” He got to his feet, equally self-conscious. Too many years had passed without them meeting face to face. Too many years of Michael deciding it best to have nothing to do with his family. Lionel's wild eyes, his gaunt features, and quivering hands stunned and alarmed him. He forced a smile. “I came to get you out of here, but I seem to have made a mess of it.”

“You came through the pillars?” Lionel asked.

“Yes.”

“Did you try to go back through them?”

Michael nodded. “It didn’t work.”

“And lights,” Lionel said, his eyes wide and unfocused, “in front of the mound with the pillars…did you see any such thing?”

The question surprised Michael, but he decided against revealing too much. “I saw something out there. I’m not sure what.”

“Then I’m not crazy!” Lionel cried, relieved.

Kohler’s gaze fiercely zeroed in on Lionel. “What lights are you talking about?”

Lionel grew nervous. “Well, I…I saw lights around the mound that holds the pillars, and on the ground before it. They were there just an instant. The students didn’t see them, but Michael did! Thank God!”

“I’m not sure—” Michael began.

“Can you describe them?” Kohler interrupted.

“Just some strange lines in complex configurations,” Lionel said. "They quickly vanished, but I know what I saw.”

“And you?” Kohler faced Michael.

Michael wondered about Kohler’s reaction. “I never saw anything like that.”

“It’s a sign!” Ben Olgerbee pointed at Lionel. His gray hair stood wildly out from his head, and his eyes bulged. “He is the one! He sees what we know must be there, but we cannot see. God has sent him to us! He will lead the way.”

“Enough! There will be time to talk later,” Kohler said, as he looked from one brother to the other. “Now, it’s time to eat.” Kohler led the newcomers to the community house for breakfast.