Tending the Stones for The Lock XX

By aaforringer on June 25, 2017 • ( 0 )

19th part of the new weekly story. (1st Part) The inspiration for this came from an off hand comment I made on Facebook, and since people seemed interested I decided to follow through. Happy Reading.

(1st Part) (2nd Part) (3rd Part) (4th Part) (5th Part) (6th Part) (7th Part) (8th Part) (9th Part)(Part 10) (Part 11)(Part 12)(Part 13)(Part 14)(Part 15)(Part 16)(Part 17)(Part 18) (Part 19) (Part 21) (Part 20) (Part 22)

“They have not moved,” Ms. Mulan stated as she looked at her watch. “in five minutes.”

“I am glad Mrs. Emily has both of her canes.” Brodie said looking at his boss who had been standing on the runway for the entire time.

“This is getting boring.” Holly said laying down on the ramp.

Brodie nodded silently.

“Hey the guy in the passenger seat just stepped out of the jeep.” Ms. Mulan said. With that Holly popped back up and the others redoubled their attention towards the drama on the runway.

“That guy does not look like a Derek to me.” Brodie said.

“Oh the Derek thing is a dodge.” Holly said. “When he became Head of the Enfold he wanted to throw people off about his nationality so he picked a western name.”

“So what is his real name?” Brodie said.

“What do I look like the Public Information Officer for the Enfold?” Holly said rolling her eyes.

Brodie was about to respond but thought better of it. He turned his attention back to Mrs. Emily and The High Pilgrim and he saw his boss turn towards the plane after a short exchange with the man who had stepped out of the jeep. Mrs. Emily waved he can in the air in a circle over her head while looking towards the plane.

“Okay folks we have been giving the okay to deplane. Brodie help Holly chock the plane, I will look into fuel, Dante and Hans can you look into some supplies, something that does not refrigeration, canned good and dehydrated food first, those CIA bums left the plane inadequately stocked if you ask me.” Ms. Mulan stated. “So much for our tax dollars at work.”

Holly shot back while getting to her feet. “Since when have you ever paid taxes?”

“It is the principle of the thing.” Ms. Mulan shouted back over her shoulder as she walked away from the plane towards the hangars in the distance.

“Come on help me with these.” Holly said pointing towards the wheel chocks that were strapped neatly near the top of the ramp.

Brodie went to where she was pointing and started to gather up the large hard rubber prisms. He gathered up three of the roped pairs and she motioned for him to grab two more. He grunted as he hefted the other two up and slung them across his other shoulder.

“Come on.” Holly said without picking up any. Brodie grunted and followed her down the ramp towards the tires.

Mrs. Emily motioned for Derek to get in the back seat of the jeep with the High Pilgrim, Derek stared at Mrs. Emily long and hard and she stared back and after a full minute of silence Derek gave up and stepped on the seat getting into the back of the jeep. Mrs. Emily heard him humph as he moved. Emily ignored him and maneuvered into the vehicle with a little difficulty and just before she was settled he tapped the driver on the shoulder and he took off suddenly throwing her a bit around in the seat. They drove down the runway and then turned off of it suddenly but luckily Mrs. Emily was grasping the seat belt with both hands.

After ten minutes of driving they came upon a small village of yurts that Mrs. Emily knew was where Derek’s family lived. She knew it was his home as his wife was standing at the steps to the yurt with her hands on her hips and a scowl upon her face.

The jeep parked next to the steps and Emily smiled up at Arigh and the other woman helped her out of the vehicle. After a few minutes of pleasantries she helped the older lady inside and started to make tea for the visitors. After a the first pot of tea was on the table and they had settled into the living room.

“Okay Derek what do you want?”

Derek steepled his hands in front of him and smiled.

“I want stones adjusted.”

“That is what she is here for and you know it.” The High Pilgrim stated.

Derek shook his head and then dunked a vanilla wafer in his tea and then took a bite. “You and I both know that when she.” And he pointed towards Emily. “That when she adjusts the stones to keep the lock in place she can do so much more with them.”

Emily spoke up. “Yes I can adjust the rocks in certain ways to not only keep the lock in place, but to benefit the country side around it to, but if I do that the stone will have to be maintained much more often.”

Derek nodded. “That is why I want to have someone not only travel with you in my country but to travel with you to the rest of locations and learn as much as he can from you.”

The High Pilgrim turned to Emily who looked at her old friend and shrugged then she spoke up. “Why should we trust one of your people with very powerful knowledge.”

Derek finished the vanilla wafer before speaking, eating the small remaining sweet in two separate bites. “Because without your agreement to this deal the three locations that exist in my sphere of influence you will never be able to approach, let alone conduct maintenance on.”

“You figured out the location of the third spot?” The High Pilgrim said surprised.

“It was not easy, my father knew there were three spots, but he was never sure where the third location was, but after a lot of effort I have discovered it on the small island in the Kerelun.” Emily and the High Pilgrim nodded in acknowledgement that he was correct. “Do you want to know what I want the adjusted formations to accomplish?”

Emily answered quickly. “I am guessing better crops, better health for men and beasts.”

Derek laughed for a full minute, then shook his head. “You think we are going after something so mundane, no, no, no you silly outsiders. I want something much more modern than that.”

Emily shook her head. “I am not adjusting the stones so the Mongols can return to the days of the Kahn.”

Again Derek laughed. “No my dear lady again you think I would want something so archaic.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want Mongolia to become a hub of international communication.”

The High Pilgrim looked at Emily confused. Emily nodded then explained Derek’s request. “He basically wants me to increase his Wi-Fi signal on a nation wide level.”

(1st Part) (2nd Part) (3rd Part) (4th Part) (5th Part) (6th Part) (7th Part) (8th Part) (9th Part)(Part 10) (Part 11) (Part 12)(Part 13)(Part 14)(Part 15)(Part 16)(Part 17)(Part 18) (Part 19) (Part 20)(Part 21) (Part 22)

Not crazy about the title, any suggestions will be duly considered.

The problem I have discovered with this type of writing is if I commit to something in the story there is no taking it back I just have to go with is and write my way out of it.

If you would like to read my last weekly story, A Disinclined Purveyor of Sequential Art here it is. (Written in 2013, the same year my wife left me, so I was a different person back then, and I hope I have learned a lot about writing since then.)

If you want to see one of my complete books try Disconnect in the Outfitters Universe.

My Response: The prophecy stated that in 60 years if the Stones were not properly aligned then the world would fall under the sway of the demon king for 1000 years. 1956 21 year old Emily the chosen one starts the quest. She arranges half the Stones around the planet, but then falls in love and life happens. Now it is 59 years later, Emily’s husband of 58 years passed away and one of the monks has found Emily and reminds her that she is the chosen one and needs to complete her task. Anyone interested?