Shabazz glanced at Marlene, who nodded. "No argument."
"Good," Carlos said, his line of vision going around the room. "Then I suggest, since there's a funky vibe out there, me and Damali go check it out while you all keep moving forward on handling our team business.
"Dan, on getting us a base camp - stat, and Marlene on getting the Covenant over here ... seems like we're gonna need backup."
"Roger that," Dan said. "I'm on it." "Cool," Carlos muttered. "Then, we're out."
* * *
Damali clutched her silver necklace, looking at the seven stones set within it that hadn't been active since Cain's demise. The oracle pearl that contained the she-dragon -
Zehiradangra's pure spirit essence - almost seemed to have died.
"Maybe I should try to rouse her," Damali said as they neared the pounding Pacific surf.
"Hold up, baby," he said, grabbing her arm before her Tims touched the water's edge. "I cannot put my finger on what has me so jumpy." Carlos scanned the waves, watching families and surfers along the coast. "Find a tidal pool; don't put her in the direct waves." Damali stared at him. "Why not?"
"All that surfer dude energy out there, families ... ships, yachts. If Zehiradangra is grieving so hard and has gone so far within her own spirit that she won't come out and speak, you put her in a highly charged environment like that," he said, motioning with a wave of his arm, "and you could shock her system."
"Damn, I never thought about that," Damali said, and backed up, cradling her necklace in both palms. She looked down sadly. "The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt her." Carlos slung an arm over Damali's shoulder. "Yeah, I know. She was good people."
"Wanna try to see if both of us calling her might coax her out?" Damali looked up at him.
"I know she really liked you."
"You ain't mad, that, uh, we used to be friends?"
Damali allowed a half-smile to slip out. "Nan... I married you, so hey." He swallowed a smile. "Let's go find some water."
* * *
They walked half a mile down the beach until they found a small jetty of low rocks. Within the dips and crags there were plenty of small pools where tiny crabs and snails tried to ward off predator seabirds. Squatting down, they both cupped their hands under Damali's necklace and low ered it into the water. The shriek that came from the pearl made them drop the jewelry, stand quickly, and jump back.
Gulls went airborne as the pearl released a bloodcurdling scream. Bewildered, Damali and Carlos simply watched in dismay as the pearl became gray and cloudy, then went black.
"Help, help, oooohhhhh! He's killing me!" the pearl shrieked. Curious glances by passersby, who hesitated for a mo ment to be sure there wasn't a woman being molested, forced Carlos to seal the distressed pearl in a small, translucent black-box to hold back the sound.
"Oh, my God, get her out of the water," Damali said, now grabbing on to Carlos's arm. He quickly complied without touching it, bringing the pearl to the sand using an energy drag.
"Okay, now I know we need to go see Aset and Ausar," Carlos said, still staring at the pearl in her necklace. It had begun to smoke under the California sun's brilliant rays. Damali nodded, gaping at her pearl. "Ya think?"
* * *
It was supposed to be a solo visit by each of them, just like always. Carlos had called down the golden obelisk to transport him to the Neteru King's Council, just as Damali had called the violet pyramid door to her Queens. But the moment both Light passageways opened, they merged, and suddenly Damali and Carlos were walking down a long white marble corridor side by side. The vaulted ceiling was shaped like a pyramid, and had glowing, silver hieroglyphic symbols etched in the marble. A strange violet fog gave the hallway a dreamlike quality that made it hard to tell if they were moving or standing still.
"This is too freaky," she whispered.
"I know," he whispered. "You ever been down this way before?"
"No. You?"
He glanced at her and shook his head. She peered at the black-box on the golden floor, drawing his attention. The pearl was now spinning wildly inside the box, which emitted yellowish, sickly smoke.
"What are we gonna do with that?"
Carlos shrugged. "I don't know - but I know one thing, you ain't putting it on your neck anytime soon."
"You got that right." Mesmerized, she couldn't stop looking at it for a few seconds, and then she looked at him. "What if I'd dipped that in the water while the team was there and whatever's making it sick got out?"