The Dove Read online

  “Uh, well, I really would rather not say, Sir.” He said in answer to the Master’s last question.

  “So this information just fell out of the blue?” Barry raised both eyebrows at the apprentice.

  “Not exactly. I was told.” Luke said shortly and pursed his lips. He felt the slight twinge of anger rising inexplicably in his face.

  “And you cannot tell us who told you.” The Grand Master nodded his head briefly.

  “I said I would rather not.” Luke reiterated. “The point is, my father or at least, my father’s body is in New Babylon, but my father, that is, Mark Ramsay, is not there.”

  “So he is dead?” Barry asked quietly.

  “Don’t be absurd, Master Sussex!” Luke’s anger snapped. “I don’t know why I even came to tell you. I should have known that you would treat me like an idiot.”

  “I’m not treating you like an idiot, Luke.” Barry sighed. “You’re not being overly clear about this.”

  “You see?” Luke shook his head. “I suppose it’s because you can’t understand something unless it happens to you. There are other things in the Universe besides the Order, Sir. And there are other creatures besides men in the world. You should know! I may look like a Scot and dress like a Scot, but I am no more a Scotsman than my father is.”

  “I may understand more than you think, my son.” d’Brouchart said quietly and then turned to Barry. “Brother, if you would excuse us a moment….?”

  Barry looked disgusted at being dismissed, but got up and left them alone in the kitchen.

  “Now, Luke,” d’Brouchart smiled slightly. “There are many things that you do not know about me.”

  “Oh, really? And I could say the same to you about myself.” He said and then frowned. “I am my father’s son. You know what my father is! You know what Lavon and Oriel and the others are. If there was an Eighth Gate, that is where I would belong.”

  “Really? You think you are a Watcher?” d’Brouchart raised both eyebrows. “I know someone who might dispute your claim.”

  “I’m certainly no Djinni!” Luke said angrily. “I’m telling you, my father is in the Abyss even as we speak, but his human body is in New Babylon. He left it when General Schweikert… did something to him. I’m not sure what the good general did to him, but whatever it was, it drove him to leave his human form. They think they have him in New Persia, but he’s not there.”

  “So his body is alive then?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Sophia?”

  “Sophia is with him… in both places.”

  “Both places.”

  “Yes. Sophia is Andrea.”

  “Sophia is Andrea.”

  “Yes. In human form, but she also left her human form behind and went with my father to the Abyss.”

  D’Brouchart sat straight up in his chair and then slumped back suddenly. His mouth fell open as he realized what Luke was trying to tell him.

  “Do you… have you ever heard of Unity?” Luke asked him when he did not speak.

  “Unity. Yes,” d’Brouchart nodded. “I know something of that.”

  “Unity is what is missing.” Luke told him. “For us. For the Watchers.”

  “Do you know who I am?” The Master tilted his head slightly to one side.

  “Of course!” Luke looked at him as if he were crazy. “You are the Grand Master.”

  “Your father never told you about me?”

  “He said a lot about you. Most of it is not worth repeating.” Luke looked away from him. “I know you and he didn’t see eye to eye sometimes.”

  “Nicole has been to see you.” The Master told him flatly. “I knew she would come eventually.”

  Luke froze in his seat.

  “Don’t try to deceive an old deceiver, Luke.” D’Brouchart smiled at him. “Your father and I go way back. Way, way back. I would never have thought to see the day when I would be sitting at this table with a replica of Adar, the Mighty Hunter. Do you know what you are?”

  “I told you! I’m a Watcher.”

  “Watcher is an occupation. You are part of all that is fallen. You are one of God’s own.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “There is no difference between you and Marduk. Only years. There is no difference between you and Nergal or Shammash or Nebo.”

  “And just what is it that I am supposed to be then?”

  “You are half an angel, if you will.”

  “Not half! My mother is an angel as well!” Luke blurted the words.

  “No! I don’t mean half-breed. I mean half… you are one half of an angel.”

  “That’s ludicrous.” Luke frowned.

  “What did Nicole tell you? Did she tell you that she is your feminine half? That you were separated because you were born in human form? That in order to become what you should be, that you would have to join with her? Angels are androgynous. That is why Lucifer is so beautiful. He is male and female. He is complete and whole. A son of God. I, too, was once a son of God. Son is used here only in context, not in fact. You heard him address me as Nathanael?”

  Luke nodded. He had wondered at that. He had also wondered why the angel had looked at him with such contempt and, at the same time, amusement.

  “Your mother is a part of Nanna who came to us as John Paul, her own son. Together they make another of the so-called fallen ones. We were disobedient to our Creator and we were cast down on earth to look after the pits of hell.”

  Luke tried to grasp this new data. Nicole had not passed this along.

  “We cannot create things, Luke. We are not the Creator. We were created by the false god as his servants and we were freed from him by the Father. Our Father, the True Creator, cast the false god into the pit and we were set to watch over him. That is why you and Nicole are separated. And your father is responsible for the separation of the rest of us. He was lonely.”

  “Lonely?!” Luke’s mouth fell open.

  “He should never have tampered with the material world. But Our Father knew he would. It was all a part of the plan. For the salvation of mankind.”

  “I don’t understand.” Luke slumped on the bench.

  “All of this is your father’s illusion.” D’Brouchart waved one hand about the kitchen. “He wanted to be a man. He liked the form even though there was much pain and suffering. Our Father simply used his foolish desires for his own purposes. But do not despair. Your father is not the only one who fell as I have said. We were created from the imperfect, by the imperfect.”

  “God had compassion on us and allowed us to continue. God is pure love and light, not the vengeful God you read of in the Pentateuch! Not the God who cast man from the garden and made him to till the ground and wander in the wilderness for forty years. Not the God who set men against one another for entertainment! Man has been deceived from the very beginning, but God sent His messengers to save mankind. We have not always been Watchers. Sometimes we have taken an active part in the affairs of men, infusing them with the Holy Blood, bringing them light and the chance to redeem themselves. Knowledge has been offered and lost and rejected time and again. Solomon, the most wise and foolish King of all. The teacher! The great magician! Solomon whose lust for beautiful women brought curses upon his house and the houses of his children. And wise Hermes! Whose beautiful writings have never been matched. And all for what? I will tell you. You have heard it said? Let those who have ears hear and those with eyes see? That is purpose. Sooner or later all who have ears will hear, and all who have eyes will see. The Father gathers those who hear and see back to him like so many lost sheep who suddenly find their way from the wilderness. We may all yet redeem ourselves. You have found the way. Will you follow the path? I am still searching for that which I lost.”

  “Then you are also a Watcher?” Luke asked him quietly.

  “I am the Lord of the Second Gate. Some may call me a Watcher, but…” The Master told him and then looked up at the ceiling before continuing. “We have all been b
lind at some time or another. You are very young and have much to learn. Did she say where, exactly, they were keeping Sir Ramsay’s body in New Babylon? We need to get it back before Jozsef Daniel destroys his body like Abaddon destroyed Omar’s body.”

  “You weren’t listening to me.” Luke looked down at his hands. “The body is not dead. He lives, but he is not my father. He is a stranger.” Luke asked in alarm. “What if…”

  “Like you said, my son, Adar is not in New Babylon. There is no need to torment yourself with possibilities. This is probably very good news. Never-the-less, we must make some effort to recover him and the girl… young woman.”

  ((((((((((((()))))))))))))

  “Peaches.” Mark Andrew scowled at the bowl that Sophia held in front of him. “I hate peaches.”

  “I thought you hated strawberries.” She sat back on the bed in disappointment. She had gone through a great deal of trouble to get the peaches for him.

  “Strawberries.” Mark frowned. “Where are strawberries?”

  “Never mind.” She set the bowl on the table and then jumped as she heard Jozsef’s voice behind her. She slid off the bed and stood up as the ‘Prophet’ unlocked the barred door and entered the room. He was alone this time.

  “How is the patient?” He asked as usual and did not expect an answer. He stood near the foot of the bed, looking at Mark Andrew curiously. Mark simply stared at him blandly. “Still no progress? Has he not learned to walk?”

  “He will probably never walk again, thanks to you.” Sophia told him. “Sitting is a chore for him.”

  “But I see you keep him busy.” Jozsef picked up the novel lying on the comforter. “Does he enjoy your reading to him?”

  “I have no idea.” Sophia shrugged. “It keeps me busy.”

  Jozsef walked around the bed and grasped Mark’s arm. Mark made no move to resist him. He held up the arm and let it drop to the bed. He bent over him and looked into his eyes. Mark closed his eyes automatically.

  “Still no sign of memory?” He turned back to the woman.

  “He’s as empty as a newborn babe.” She smiled ruefully at the creature she despised.

  “I see.” Jozsef headed for the door. “You will continue to try. If he regains his memory, you may be allowed to go home.”

  “I will let you know.”

  “I’m sure.” Jozsef let himself out, spoke quietly to the guards and made his way back down the hall.

  When the sound of his footsteps died, Mark looked at Sophia.

  “I don’t like him.”

  “I don’t either.”

  “He’s mean.”

  “Yes, he is.”

  “You’re mean, too.” Mark stuck out his bottom lip in a pout.

  “I’m mean?!” She sat back down on the bed. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because.”

  “Because why?” She put one hand under his chin and raised his face.

  “Because you said I am empty. I’m not empty.” He patted his stomach. “I’m full. That’s why I don’t like the peaches.”

  “Oh! You mean you don’t want the peaches because you’re too full.” She smiled at him.

  “Exactly.”

  “Exactly.” She nodded. “We’ll save them for later. After our dancing lesson. OK?”

  “Can we dance now?” He asked and his face lit up.

  “We need to study a bit more.” She told him and pulled the notebook from under the covers.

  “Again?” He frowned at the paper and pen.

  “Yes. Again!” She laughed. “You did very well. You fooled him really good.”

  “Did I?” He smiled.

  “Uh, huh. You did.” She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. “You did exactly what Sophia told you to do! You always do.”

  “Always. I always come back.” He smiled and she blinked at him in confusion.

  “Why did you say that?” She asked him. “You haven’t gone anywhere.”

  “I will go somewhere and when I do, I will come back. I always come back.” He smiled at her.

  ((((((((((((()))))))))))))

  “Selwig!” Simon called up to the loft in the stables. He did not shout too loudly because he did not wish to disturb the elves in the rear section of the barn where Il Dolce Mio kept his strange vigil. He could hear the soft sounds of eleven pipes and whistles. “I know you’re up there.”

  There was a brief rustling in the hay and a few loose straws drifted down into the shafts of sunlight slanting across the barn. Momentarily, the cherubic face of the Tuathan healer peeked over the side at the Knight of the Serpent. His red-golden curls hung about his face and he looked very distressed.

  “I’m sorry to disturb your meditations, my friend.” Simon said gravely. “But I need some advice… some help. As one healer to another, you see. Professional advice.”

  “Ahhh. I would be honored to assist you, Master.” Selwig’s expression changed to one of surprise. “Shall I come down or will you come up?”

  “I’ll come up. Stay where you are.” Simon caught hold of the ladder and climbed up to the loft. He found the healer sitting by the open door under the eaves of the building. There were numerous items laying about the straw strewn floor in front of him. His yellow bag lay folded next to him.

  The sun cast a warm yellow glow on the floor where he sat inventorying the contents of his mysterious bag. Simon sat down in front of him and looked at the stuff with great interest. There were bottles and small metal containers collected from the kitchen. Lumpy items wrapped in cloth and bits of paper and plastic. A quill pen, ink and a roll of paper tied with a yellow string. Several strips of white linen, neatly laid out side by side. A collection of multi-colored crystals and rocks were arranged in a circle at his feet. Toothpicks, cotton balls, a folded piece of old aluminum foil. A small, ornately carved dagger, a small mortar and pestle, a plastic bottle of water and a leather flask made up the bulk of the larger items. Simon was surprised to see the contents of the bag spread before him. He had often wondered what the little healer carried in his bag.

  Selwig picked up the plastic water bottle and held it up in the light.

  “This is very handy.” He told the Healer. “Much better than carrying a large vessel made of crockery or a goatskin pouch. We had no such things as this where I come from, but I have to change the water from time to time to make sure it remains pure.”

  “Of course.” Simon agreed. “Are these the items that you used to cure Jozsef Daniel’s hand?”

  “I collected some things from the caves. Herbs are also best when freshly gathered from the fields. I do carry a supply of dried leaves and berries, but I like to pick more when I have a job to do, if there is time.” Selwig began to roll up the linen strips very carefully.

  “You have been very upset since Vanni left.” Simon commented.

  “I am afraid for him. He is very young and yet he knows a great deal.” Selwig shrugged. “It is not for me to tell him what he should and should not do. He asks me for advice quite often and I am pleased to help him when I can.”

  “He didn’t ask you to go with him?” Simon asked cautiously.

  “He thought it best that I remain behind. The Abyss is a very dark and dangerous place. I spent some time there as you know. It was most distressing, but I believe it would have been preferable to remaining behind and worrying after him. I am also concerned about the welfare of the Master.” Selwig replaced the linen in his bag and began to put away his other materials with great care. “I promised him that I would serve him well in return for his patronage, but there is little need of a Tuathan healer here. You are here, and they have their own physicians with great magick. I very much out of place and unnecessary baggage for the Master.”

  “You are not baggage, Selwig. Believe me. Sir Ramsay thinks very highly of you. He would not have you anywhere else. And everyone here loves you. Did you know that?”

  “I feel welcome here. They are always kind to me and understanding o
f my… differences. I regret that I cannot participate in your worship services, Master. I hear that they are quite inspirational.”

  “Thank you, Selwig.” Simon was truly flattered.

  “Vanni speaks to me of your words every time he returns from the services, and I do my best to understand. I have learned a great deal.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. If there is ever anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to ask me. I am at your service. We are all God’s creatures, you know.”

  “That is what bothers me most.” Selwig stopped and looked at him intently. “Vanni tells me the god who created us was a false god, yet he speaks of someone else whom he calls the Creator of the Universe. I do not understand this.”

  “It is a difficult concept.” Simon nodded. “The beliefs we hold are very old. The Creator and Supreme Father is the One True God. All others are merely extensions of His Divinity. Long ago, another came into being who tried to set himself up as the one true god through ignorance of his own beginnings. He created this world and everything you see in it. He was not the One True God of Perfection and therefore, his creations were imperfect. Thus we have what you see.”

  “This god created man and some of the angels in order to glorify him, but he was an angry and vengeful god. Cruel and heartless in many instances, bringing great sorrow on the world of men and the angels he created. When they displeased him or failed to obey him, he punished them severely and sometimes caused them to die. He hid the One True God from them and led men into great folly. Still, even now, they follow him in ignorance. But the Creator, the True Father, had mercy upon this world for He is all love and kindness, and He would not see any of us perish because we are of Him and He is in us. When we find Him, we are saved. He sent His True Son to teach us and lead us to the light. The evil that was planted in the minds and hearts of men, rejected and killed His Son, but others heard and followed. Evil doers persecuted them and tried to destroy them. They were and are ignorant, but those of us who know can recognize them and not be deceived by them.”