The Traveler

Maya’s voice was deliberately flat and unemotional. “They’ll try to capture him, torture him for information, and kill him.”

Vicki turned with a dish towel in her hand. “That’s what I told Hollis, but he made a joke about it. He said he’s always looking for new sparring partners.”

“I think Hollis can protect himself, Vicki. He’s a very good fighter.”

“He’s much too confident. I think he should…”

The screen door squeaked open and Hollis strolled in. “Okay. I’ve got my shopping list.” He smiled at Vicki. “Why don’t you come with me? We’ll buy a new tire and pick up some food for lunch.”

“Do you need money?” Maya asked.

“You got any?”

Maya reached into her pocket and pulled out some twenty-dollar bills. “Use cash. After you buy the tire, leave the store right away.”

“No reason to hang around.”

“Avoid stores with surveillance cameras in the parking lot. The cameras are able to photograph license plate numbers.”

Maya watched Vicki and Hollis leave. Gabriel was still outside in the driveway, pulling the tire off the motorcycle’s wheel rim. Maya made sure the gate was closed, concealing Gabriel from anyone driving down the street. She thought about discussing the next step with him, but decided that she needed to talk to Linden first. Gabriel had seemed overwhelmed by everything she had told him yesterday. He probably needed some time to think it over.

Maya returned to the bedroom, switched on her laptop computer, and got onto the Internet with her satellite phone. Linden was either asleep or away from his computer. It took her an hour to find him and follow him to a safe conversation room. Using soft language that wouldn’t trigger Carnivore, she described what had happened.

“Our business competitors responded with aggressive marketing tactics. Right now I’m at my employee’s house with our new associate.” Maya used a code based on random prime numbers and gave Linden the address to the house.

The French Harlequin didn’t answer and after a few minutes she typed: “Understand?”

“Does our new associate have the ability to travel to distant locations?”

“Not at this time.”

“Do you see any indications of that ability?”

“No. He’s just an ordinary citizen.”

“You must introduce him to a teacher who can evaluate his power.”

“Not our responsibility,” Maya typed. Harlequins were only supposed to find and protect Travelers. They didn’t get involved in anyone’s spiritual journey.

Once again, there was a delay of several minutes as Linden appeared to be considering his response. Finally words began to appear on the computer screen. “Our competitors have gained control of the older brother and have flown him to a research facility near New York City. They plan to evaluate his ability and train him. At this point, we don’t know their larger objective. But we must use all our resources to oppose them.”

“And our new associate is our main resource?”

“Correct. A race has started. At this moment, our competitors are winning.”

“What if he won’t cooperate?”

“Use any means necessary to change his mind. A teacher is living in the southwestern United States, protected by a community of friends. Take the associate to this location in three days. During this time, I will contact our friends and tell them that you’re coming. Your destination is…” Another pause and then a long set of coded numbers appeared on the screen.

“Confirm transmission,” Linden typed.

Maya didn’t answer.

The words appeared again, this time in capital letters that demanded her agreement. “CONFIRM TRANSMISSION.”

Don’t answer him, Maya told herself. She considered leaving the house and taking Gabriel across the border into Mexico. That was the safe thing to do. A few seconds passed, then she placed her fingers on the computer keyboard and typed slowly. “Information received.”

The screen went blank and Linden’s presence disappeared. Maya decoded the numbers with her computer and discovered that she was supposed to travel to a town called San Lucas in southern Arizona. And what will happen there? New enemies? Another confrontation? She knew that the Tabula would be looking for them using the full power of the Vast Machine.

She returned to the kitchen and opened the screen door. Gabriel sat on the driveway next to the motorcycle. He had found a coat hanger, straightened it out, and bent one end of the metal rod. Now he was using this improvised tool to make sure the rear wheel axle was properly aligned.

“Gabriel, I’d like to look at the sword you’re carrying.”

“Go ahead. It’s sticking out of my knapsack. I left it next to the couch in the living room.”

She remained in the doorway, not knowing what to say. He didn’t seem to realize the disrespect he was showing toward his weapon.

Gabriel stopped working. “What’s wrong?”

“This particular sword is very special. It’s best if you handed it to me yourself.”

He looked surprised, then smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“Sure. If that’s what you want. Give me a minute.”