I get her back to Earth? We can’t just leave her here.”
“I will see to her proper burial. For now, you and Dikaios must take Acacia and Paili on a journey.” Enoch lowered his hand to Elam. “Are you well enough to travel?”
Elam accepted the help and pulled to his feet. “I’m pretty sore,” he said, lifting his legs in turn, “but I can manage.”
“Good. Then there is no reason to delay.”
Elam gazed at the restored horizon. Lush trees and grass once again blanketed the Bridgelands. He scuffed his shoe across the grass where the shadows had seeped into the soil. “When I blacked out, Zane and the others were still here, but when I woke up they were gone.”
“They fell victim to their own fears.” Enoch raised nine fingers. “For all but one, their wandering is over. They have gone to their final destination.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Elam stared at the beautiful scenery. In his mind’s eye, he saw Sapphira, wet and trembling next to that giant. Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes. How he longed to be with her again! Friends for thousands of years, yet he had never told her what he really felt about her. If only he could talk to her, tell her how proud of her he was for battling the giant. He would take her in his arms and
Dikaios snorted. “I told you he wouldn’t ask.”
“You were right.” Enoch sighed. “It’s a good thing I’m not a betting man and did not accept your wager.”
Elam swung his head around. “Ask about what?”
“The nine wanderers,” Enoch explained. “Just about every human on Earth would ask what their final destination was, and you did not.”
Dikaios smacked Elam with his tail. “His curiosity wouldn’t kill a sick kitten, much less a cat.”
“And you didn’t ask about the tenth,” Enoch added. “He has gone to yet another land.”
Elam shrugged. “I just assumed it wasn’t my place to know. They weren’t family, friends, or loved ones, so it’s really none of my business.”
“Yet, earlier,” Enoch said, raising a finger, “you asked about Naamah.”
As a new tear welled in his eye, his voice faltered again. “She is a loved one, so I guess I thought …” He turned away, shaking his head.
Acacia reemerged from the altar, followed by Paili. Swinging their clasped hands, they stopped in front of Enoch. “We’re ready,” Acacia said, keeping Paili’s face pointed away from Naamah’s body.
“Does she bear the words?” Enoch asked.
Acacia smiled and patted the little girl on the head. “Her mind is a steel trap. She won’t forget.”
Elam slid his hand into Acacia’s. “So do we just go back the way we came? And what do we do when we get to Earth?”
“You will return to Earth in time,” Enoch said, “but first you must travel to a completely different realm, one you have neither seen nor heard of. When you arrive there, you will learn about the rest of your journey.”
Intertwining fingers with Acacia, Elam smiled. “I think we can handle it.”
“We’ll have lots of help.” Acacia nodded toward Heaven’s shield and whispered to Elam. “I saw Naamah in there. She’s already at a prayer bench, and she has her hologram tuned in right on you.”
Elam glanced at Naamah’s body but quickly turned toward Enoch. “Can I see her for a minute, just to say thank you?”
“No, my son. The time for your departure is upon us.” Enoch waved at Dikaios. “Come now, my fine horse. You’re going, too.”
“With pleasure, good prophet.” Dikaios loped to Elam’s side.
Enoch set his hands on Elam’s shoulders. “Acacia, reopen the tunnel to Second Eden, and let the warrior chief, his two oracles, and his brilliant steed enter the new realm.”
Sitting in an overstuffed chair in a motel lobby, Walter propped his feet on a coffee table as he closed the cell phone. “My dad says that power’s been restored in most places, and”—he flipped the phone into the air and caught it“—obviously cell service.”
Leaning forward to make room for his hiking-style backpack, Gabriel grabbed a French fry from a McDonald’s bag. “Any other news?”
Walter tossed the phone to Ashley, who sat on a sofa on the other side of the table, her head resting on Abigail’s shoulder. “Larry wants you to call him,” he said. “His transmitter got fried by a power surge.” He nodded at the lobby counter. “Dad phoned in his credit card number, so the bill’s taken care of, but we have to find a good disguise