Through the Darkest of Nights: Testament V

     Every few days over the next several months I will be posting installments of a novel about life, death, war and politics in America since 9/11.  Through the Darkest of Nights is a story of hope, reflection, determination, and redemption.  It is a testament to the progressive values we all believe in, have always defended, and always will defend no matter how long this darkness lasts.          

    All installments are available for reading here on my page, and also here on Docudharma’s Fiction Page, where refuge from politicians, blogging overload, and one BushCo outrage after another can always be found.

   

    Rachael and Shannon sat side by side next to the crackling fire in the hearth. The cold night beyond the cottage walls held no power over them.  In this sanctuary of light and warmth and love, the world of men could not intrude. Out past the cottage gate, down the hillside and across the shoreline, the waves of the Atlantic washed over the moonlit sand.

    Far out at sea, lost upon the boundless waters, the night wind raged.  The ancient deep, ever restless, seemed to be waiting for some dark apocalypse.  In the eons that had passed since this world’s first dawn, cataclysm, whether unleashed nature or by man, had inflicted its cruelty many times, in cycles of destruction that never ceased.  The latest cycle of destruction would soon reach its peak of intensity, of that Rachael had no doubt.

    While cruelty held dominion over the world beyond these walls, it could not enter here.  To this refuge from the world beyond and all of its evil, Shannon had returned for the last time, for the hour had come for Rachael to speak to her of what must come to pass, with the depth of wisdom and authority bestowed upon her as a Watcher.

    Rachael took Shannon’s hand, and held it until she could master her emotions.  The silence lingered, for she did not want her daughter to leave, though leave she must.  No refuge is eternal, and no sanctuary is permanent, for such blessings become selfish indulgences when they are denied to others. If one soul suffers, all souls are demeaned.  Rachael accepted this inherent truth, and was grateful for the refuge she and Shannon had been given. But that gift had served its purpose, and that gift must now be shared.    

    “My days upon this earth are drawing to an end,” Rachael said at last.  “So I must pass along to you the testament that has been mine to bear all of these years, and with it, my hope that your strength will be greater than mine, for I have faltered many times.”

   “You have not faltered, mother, you have done what you could.”  

   “I have been a Watcher my entire life, but I am filled with regret.  We have forsaken those who need us.”        

   Anger flashed in Shannon’s eyes.  “We have not forsaken them, they have forsaken us.”

   “They do not even know we exist.  They look right at us, but do not see us.”

   “Then we must tell them we exist.  We must tell them who we are.”

   “Do you think they would believe us?”

   “Some would.  I think Jericho would.  We are not so different from them.”

   Rachael smiled sadly.  “I have discovered that, it has been a painful lesson to learn.”

   “We cannot just watch them destroy themselves.”

   “It is tragic.  But we cannot help them yet, they are not ready.  It would be too dangerous.”

   “But they are like abandoned children, lost and alone in a world of mysteries and sorrow.  They need our help.”  

   “And they will receive it.  But the time has not yet come for us to offer it, to do so now would be futile.  They are afraid of the emptiness in their souls and lash out blindly at others.  Their eyes do not see.  Their ears do not hear. Their tongues utter falsehoods and all is pretension, because they fear the truth and the light.  They hide from the truth, they hide from the light, and weave webs of deceit to justify their deeds.”

   “That is why we must tell them the truth.  We must tell them, mother, at long last.  It is the only way to awaken them.”

   “It is far too dangerous.  They do not want to hear the truth.”

   “But you have told me to never fear the truth, you have told me it is our only protection in this world of lies.  You say we must overcome our fear, or we will be lost, not only in this life, but in the greater journey that follows.”

   “Fear is not preventing us from helping them.  Our Time of Watching will end when our Time of Seeking begins. You will be our first Seeker, Shannon.  You are a most precious and rare spirit, for you shine much brighter than most.  There is infinite forgiveness in your soul, there is unending kindness in your heart of hearts.  You have suffered unspeakable evil at the hands of men but you have no hatred for them.  You have knocked upon the dark door of spiritual death, but it did not open unto you.  It will not open until the ordained hour, when a solemn destiny awaits you.”

   Shannon felt overwhelmed.  “I am to be a Seeker?”

   “Yes.  It has been written.  It shall come to pass.   Until then, you must always be guided by love, my child, you must always turn aside hatred with compassion, no matter how difficult it may be.  And it will be difficult, it always is.  There will be many times when these haunted souls will violate your trust, and hurt you, but physical pain and emotional torment will be fleeting things once you realize you have the power within yourself to overcome them. No one can ever harm your soul, Shannon, only you can harm it.  Do you understand?”

   “How could I not understand?  That is the foundation of all truth.”

   “Embrace that truth, and embrace this one as well: evil only begets more evil, so when you become a Seeker you must never tolerate evil or condone in any form.  This will be a most difficult responsibility, for evil disguises itself in many forms.  It lurks within beauty, it hides behind pride, it infests mortal ambition with terrible cunning.  So many have been deceived, so many . . . .”

   Rachael’s hands began to tremble.  Her eyes brimmed with tears.  “Oh, my little one, even the most noble of souls have fallen, I had such hopes . . .”  Her voice faltered, her eyes closed and she fell silent.  The trembling of her hands intensified for a moment, but she regained her composure. “Wisdom is derived from patience, Shannon. Be ever patient, learn the foundational lessons before all else, and the most profound of these is that every one of them is born innocent.  Most who go astray suffer such misery in childhood that they instinctively inflict upon others that which was inflicted upon them.  They are to be pitied,  but you must be wary of them.  Ever wary.”

   “I always have been, as you have taught me to be.”

   “And I am telling you now, my child, that once you leave this sanctuary, danger may descend upon you at any time, with terrifying power.  Danger conceals itself in seemingly harmless forms.  Do not be deceived by appearances, for they are but twisted shadows of the truth, conceived upon an altar of lies.  The light of truth is within you, Shannon.  When danger descends, trust your instincts, they will not fail you.  Do you understand?”

   “Yes.”    

   “The Darkness cannot defeat you unless you lose faith in yourself and in the power bestowed upon you.  The power within you will light your way, it will sustain you, it will give you strength.  You are not alone, you will not be forsaken, so prepare yourself for the coming struggle, and have faith that it will be won.”