Part 11 (1/2)
”It could be an older version of the language, or the proper version of it anyway,” Omar comments.
”What do you mean?” Dad asks.
”It's like American-English and English-English. Both are accepted, though one is a far older version.”
”That's the smartest thing I've heard you say yet,” Kane says jabbing an elbow into Omar's side.
Before Omar can react, I ask, ”What does it say?”
”That...would fall into your fathers talents not mine. I'm more apt at the languages of the desert, not of the ancient Mediterranean variety,” Omar answers and steps aside to give Dad a better vantage.
Dad continues his examination of the inscriptions left by the original inhabitants, ”Well, well, well, Omar my boy, you are correct. If you reread each engraving a few times and reorder a few words here-and-there you come out with some legible writings. For instance...” He scans the one closest to him reading it out loud in a whisper first, then louder for everyone to hear.
”Entrance you shall be granted. Exit you shall earn.”
”Great...” Kane says with a hint of dread.
Dad moves on to the next one to the left, ”Strength you must have, to survive.”
Then he moves to the next one, ”The will of the chosen to deny.”
And finally, ”Or the end will soon be had.”
”Ok,” I start, trying to put together the mysterious warning. ”You have to earn your freedom, right? And you do that by being strong enough. So there is either a physical or mental challenge coming up...”
”Or both,” Nicole adds.
”Very true,” I continue my supposition. ”The will of the chosen to deny. That sounds like a choice of some kind will have to be made.”
”What kind of choice,” Omar asks.
”The will of the chosen?” Kane asks. ”Didn't the guy at the airport call Hank the chosen? You know, before he blew himself up.”
”You don't think...” I say.
”I don't think this can be a coincidence, Harrison,” Dad says. ”There has been a lot of bloodshed surrounding this and all of it has centered around this discovery.”
”Or else the end will soon be had,” Kane whispers.
”The end?” Nicole asks.
”No idea, but it sort of sounds like an apocalyptic prophecy, doesn't it?” I answer.
”s.h.i.+t.”
We all look at Kane. He looks very uncomfortable, but not because everyone is staring at him at the bottom of a deep dark hole filled with the remains of countless bodies.
”The end,” he says.
”What end?” I ask.
”It's not a what, it's a who.”
THE END.
23.
”A who?” I ask. ”What's a who?”
”The End is the who,” Kane says.
”Who's end?”
”The End's,” he replies.
”I'm confused,” Omar says shaking his head.
”Who's The End, Kane?” Nicole asks getting back on course.
”The fourth elder,” Kane answers.
”Oh...c.r.a.p,” I mutter.
Kane quickly retells the legend of the four elders and its significance to where we are standing and why I'm not too excited.
”So some archaic senior-citizen wanted to enslave or destroy the world and his buddies didn't like it,” I say wrapping up the book club-like discussion.
”When the fourth elder left his order he changed his name to, The End of All Things, and vowed vengeance on the others,” Kane says. He finds a spot clear of debris and body parts and sits down. He takes a healthy swig from his water valve and sighs.
”The End, along with the other elders were supposed to have special abilities, if you believe in that sort of thing. He, in particular, was supposed to be able to control the elements around the world. Earth, air, water, fire and what not.”
”Water and air?” I ask and relay the events on our flight over. Things are starting to fall into place, things I didn't think were possible.
”So are we to a.s.sume the spouts were this End-person trying to stop the Boyd's from getting here and the lightning was the three elders keeping him at bay?” Omar asks with a look of what looks like wonder on his face.
I shrug again, feeling a little disturbed by the gleam in his eyes, ”I guess so, but at least someone is on our side in this supernatural circus.” There is some weird c.r.a.p going on, but it all has to be connected. I can sense it.
Kane stands back up and dusts himself off.
”Why do you think The End hasn't shown his face more over the years?” I ask staring back up at the ominous warning.
”Who says he hasn't?” Kane replies.