Journey Into the Flame (39 page)

“No,” Valerie said, shaking her head as she stared at Logan, not wanting to buy into his logic.

He returned her hard look, knowing the risk he’d proposed taking. “How’d your father put it the other night?
Don’t fight me on this
.”

“I don’t like this idea,” she said.

“I don’t either,” he replied. “But it’s the only idea we have at the moment.”

There was another long silence. All eyes were on Valerie. It was her call to make.

Finally, she sighed. “Let’s run the test,” she said. Everyone immediately sprang into action.

“We should cycle through both the violet and the green wavelengths just to be safe,” Goshi suggested. “We should also set the duration of each pulse to less than five seconds.”

“When your OAA activity begins to slow down, we’ll activate the frequency device,” Sylvia said. “Once we detect the slightest change in the collar, that’s it. The test ends.” She looked around the room for any objections to this plan. None was forthcoming. Not even from Valerie.

“Then let’s do it,” Logan said.

After two lab attendants removed the dead body from the bio-coffin, Sylvia and Goshi prepared it and the frequency device for the live experiment. It did not take long for everything to be calibrated and configured. Logan lay down in the bio-coffin and put on a pair of protective glasses. The frequency device was placed at his feet. Valerie hovered over him. To his surprise, she leaned in and quickly kissed him before Sylvia shut the lid.

Inside the coffin, Logan could hear nothing. He could feel only a slight breeze of oxygen entering near his face. A small portal window allowed him to see the ceiling of the lab. Goshi tapped on the glass and gave him a thumbs-up, indicating that everything was ready. Logan closed his eyes.
Humble yourself as a child.
Logan remembered the words of the shadow.
Be sincere and without expectations.
Given the circumstances, sincerity was not going to be a problem. He brought to his mind the
image of a burning blue candle. At first, the image was elusive, but as he relaxed, it became more vibrant, and the bright yellow flame leaped from side to side and upward as the wax by the wick began to liquefy. The blue candle lived on. Logan started to hear the ringing in his ears. He remained calm and continued to focus. And just as the first time, the ringing became louder and louder.

Suddenly, he found himself at Valerie’s wake again. He stood near the open casket, looking at her dead body.

“We say good-bye to the beloved daughter of Mr. Alain Perrot.” A minister standing at a podium was giving the eulogy. “In these sad times, it is hard to comprehend God’s ultimate plan and his purpose for each of us.”

From time to time, the lighting in the room would flicker and turn a shade of violet, but no one seemed to notice.

Logan looked out at the people seated in the funeral parlor. Many members of WCF were in attendance. Charlie was now standing alone at the back of the room, his face no longer burned. There was a subtle blue light surrounding him. Mr. Perrot sat in the front row with close friends. Logan seemed to be invisible to those gathered. He watched as people came forward to express their sorrow and offer remembrances of Valerie.

“I loved my daughter beyond words.” Mr. Perrot had suddenly replaced the minister at the podium. “She meant the world to me, and I will miss her sorely every day for the rest of my life.”

“I wish I could have saved her life.” Sylvia appeared at the podium next, her eyes filled with tears. “We should have waited for backup. I told her not to rush in.” Sylvia broke down and had to be helped back to her chair.

There was another flicker of light, and the violet turned to green.

Suddenly, the doors to the room swung open, and in walked Andrea, wearing a black dress and a crimson scarf draped over her head. She carried a black rose in her hand and was accompanied by her son, Lucius. Just as Logan moved to intercept her, someone grabbed his arm. He
looked down and saw that Valerie, her eyes still closed, had grabbed hold of him and stopped him from leaving her side. Andrea and Lucius came closer and closer, making their way to the front of the room and taking a seat next to Mr. Perrot, who acknowledged them with a nod, not seeming to mind their presence. There was a great green flash of light in the room, and Logan could hear Valerie’s muffled voice calling his name. The voice was growing louder and louder. Valerie still clutched his arm and was not letting go. Once again, he heard her voice calling his name, even though her mouth did not move. Her voice now screamed!

Logan opened his eyes. The lid to the bio-coffin had been lifted, and he saw Valerie’s face right on top of his. She was still calling his name.

“We thought you were gone,” she said. “You were out for ten minutes after we turned off the device.”

He blinked rapidly a few times, focusing on Valerie’s face. It was the second time he’d seen her dead in a candle vision.

“That was close,” Sylvia said. “But all of his biometric readings are returning to normal.”

“What happened?” he asked, as he struggled to get his bearings.

Valerie helped him sit up. “We isolated the activation frequency,” she said. “Three hundred fifteen nanometers is the collar activation wavelength.”

47

The emotions of a rich man who worries about losing what he possesses are the same as the emotions of a poor man who worries about whether his prayers will be answered.

It is like a candle burning at both ends.

—THE CHRONICLES OF SATRAYA

EN ROUTE, 4:00 P.M. GMT, 31 HOURS UNTIL LIBERTY MOMENT

Andrea Montavon looked out the window of the transport plane. Her crimson hood helped shield her eyes from the incoming light of the sun as they flew over the Atlantic Ocean. After Monique’s betrayal and the report of her death, Gretchen had successfully orchestrated their exit from the NAF. Lucius was sleeping, stretched out on three seats across the aisle, and Gretchen had gone into the cockpit to speak with the pilots. The losses they had suffered over the last twenty-four hours weighed heavily on Andrea’s mind. She wondered how much Monique had told the authorities and how much her betrayal would cost them. She wondered
who
had killed Monique. It hadn’t been one of their people, and even Gretchen was surprised by the shooting. Andrea had more important things to think about at the moment. Freedom Day was fast approaching, and she was engaged in a full-on battle of wits with the WCF, and with the son of an old foe who seemed to be mocking her from his grave.

Andrea’s PCD rang. “G-LAB has been compromised,” Simon said, straight to the point. “The doctor is dead.”

She sighed. “Were they able to destroy the lab in time?”

“No.” Simon gave her a stern look.

“Do they know about the deployment site?”

“No. But they are in possession of the doctor’s journals and the secondary frequency device.” Andrea remained silent, her mind numb from the endless piling on of distressing news. “Your success at the activation site is now imperative,” Simon stated.

“I understand,” Andrea said. “We will not fail.” She drew back her crimson hood and, like a wounded tigress ready to pounce, said, “And if the pulse doesn’t extinguish Camden’s son from this earth, I will do it myself. We will be rid of the Fords once and for all.”

“Music to my ears,” Simon said with a thin smile. “Are you absolutely sure you’re prepared to do what needs to be done when you arrive?”

“Yes,” Andrea answered. “The advance team has already landed and is waiting for Lucius and me to join them. The events of the last few days may have cost us valuable resources, but our victory is still certain.”

Gretchen emerged from the cockpit and took a seat across from Andrea.

“Gretchen, I presume,” Simon said, greeting the young woman, his eyes roaming over her. “You have lived up to your reputation.”

“I’ve received orders to accompany your team and assist in any way that I can,” Gretchen said. “Though I might be more useful if I knew what the mission is.”

This was the first Andrea had heard about Gretchen’s joining the team. She looked at Simon for confirmation.

“Yes, you certainly have proven your worth and loyalty,” Simon acknowledged. “But as I’m sure you have been told, your involvement is one-way; there is no going back.”

“With all due respect,” Gretchen replied, “I think I’ve already crossed that bridge.”

Simon nodded and smiled. Turning to Andrea, he said, “Looks like you have a new apprentice. Bring her up to speed.”

“I will,” Andrea said with a forced smile. “But there’s one last thing, Simon—”

“I have not forgotten.” Simon knew what Andrea was referring to. “I have secured the EMFE device that was used at the Indian village. I will bring it to the Château when I return.” And with that, Simon’s projection ended.

That last bit of information brought a smile to Andrea’s face, at least. Once all of this was over, she and her son could use the device to administer the frequency they needed to cure their disease.

“Before we begin,” she said, turning to Gretchen, “you need to take something.”

Andrea looked at Lucius, who had woken and joined them. He pulled a small tin container from his pocket, took two green pills from it, and gave them to Gretchen. Andrea poured her a glass of water.

48

If eternity is the playground of all people, what matters most to your soul?

—THE CHRONICLES OF SATRAYA

BANARAS, INDIA, 12:30 A.M. LOCAL TIME,

28 HOURS UNTIL LIBERTY MOMENT

Simon finished sketching the outline of the symbol he was beginning to see on one of the blank pages of the
Chronicles
. He was starting to experience what Camden had described in his journal. While the symbol was not clearly visible yet, he was able to distinguish some odd shapes within the classic roped border displayed by the other Satraya symbols. Patience was not one of his strengths, but he knew that he had to work more diligently with the Satraya Flame and hone his focus if he wanted to see the complete symbol and gain its promised power. He couldn’t buy, bargain, or threaten his way into learning the secrets of the
Chronicles
. He had to abide by the rules of the books.

Tonight, however, was not the right time for this kind of work. Simon blew out the candle, frustrated that he was able neither to sleep nor to concentrate on the flame. His mind raced through all the possibilities and scenarios that could unfold over the next twenty-four hours. Andrea’s recent failures had put in jeopardy all he had been preparing for. He’d spent a fortune to accomplish the Final Purging, but it was not just his financial
investment he feared losing. His credibility with his peers in Era was also at stake. Failure, he knew, would bring an end to the Hitchlords dynasty.

Simon walked over to the display panel that was mounted on the wall of his hotel room and ordered some food. He knew now that sleep would not come easily tonight. He looked out the window and saw the endless religious activities taking place at the many ghats along the Ganges River. He went out to the balcony, sat down, and turned his attention back to Deya’s riddle:

In the once Great House

Where fire is and ashes rise

Where the ear stone fell

Will hold your prize

The answer was eluding him. He was certain she was referring to one of the ghats along the river, but which one? Large and small fires were burning everywhere.
I could go back and squeeze out some last bit of knowledge from Deya’s husband. Might as well relieve him of his miserable existence.
Simon picked up his PCD and searched for any references to the phrases “ear stone” and “fire” and “ashes,” but he found nothing relevant. His PCD rang. It was a member of Era. Simon rose and went back into his room. “Yes, Victor, what can I do for you?”

“The WSA will soon seize control of the investigation,” Victor informed him. “The WCF has been neutralized.”

“What of Camden’s son and the detective? Andrea has not dealt with the two of them very cleanly, I’m afraid.”

“I will address that problem shortly,” Victor said. “Though there is something strange about this Valerie Perrot.”

“What have you found?”

“That’s just it,” Victor replied. “We have found almost nothing. There is very little information available about her parents and her family history. On the other hand, we’ve learned that Camden’s son, Logan, has an ex-wife and two young children.”

“A fact I hope we won’t have to make use of,” Simon said, smiling. “Well done, my friend. Dario was wise to bring you into our group.” Simon’s PCD indicated that another call was coming in. “Speak of the devil, Dario is calling. I wish you good hunting,” he said to Victor, ending their conversation and taking the incoming call. “Dario, my friend.” The projected image of Victor was now replaced with Dario’s image. He was wearing a burgundy ascot and clutching his cane.

“Salutations, Simon,” Dario replied in his hoarse voice. “Victor informs me that we have had a few setbacks.”

Dario’s statement gave Simon pause. He had just spoken to Victor, and he’d said nothing of the kind. Why would Victor express concern about recent events to Dario and not to him? “No, my friend, I assure you,” Simon responded. “We have restored order, and we are on track for our long-awaited moment.”

“Many of us have risked a great deal and expended a tremendous amount of political capital for that moment,” Dario asserted. “I would hate to see it all go to waste.”

“I, too, have risked a great deal,” Simon said, not at all pleased by Dario’s tone. “Let us not forget that it is my family’s money that has brought us to this point.”

“In any case, Victor has assured me he will tend to matters promptly,” Dario said. “He is proving his worth, wouldn’t you agree? You should consider him for your
consuasor
.”