Elohim III: The Return (14 page)

"We should perhaps discuss my personal plans when more information is available. When our backlog of prepared embryos are implanted, a gestation period of seventeen (Eridian) months will be necessary and the rearing time will depend on what age is acceptable for making the journey to Earth."

"When the martyrs are all birthed, we must begin with the last of those sealed with the Paraclete who have died. At least three generations are needed before we will be ready to depart with them." Elohim redirects his gaze in Tetu's direction. "We cannot place a hold on embryo production, but we can hold off on further implantations after the last three generations are reborn. Additional space is available in each ship, now that the Europa refueling stations are all up and running. We simply need to convert some of that space to store all of the additional embryos. They will require less space now than when they are mature adults, so we will need fewer transport vessels. The labs are here in New Jerusalem, so there is no need to interrupt production. After Immanuel's coronation, we can obtain volunteers from Earth's handmaidens to bear the remaining offspring."

Anna and Tetu seem pleased with Elohim's announcement, but somewhat confused, because only Anunna females have been able to withstand the birthing of Anunna babies.

Elohim continues, "Your concerns will be addressed shortly. But first, the Ancient of Days has been informed of our plans to begin preparations for sending the fleet to Earth and has requested to address our group today." Elohim glances at the timepiece on his left wrist and says, "He will be arriving momentarily."

As if on cue, everyone hears three knocks at the front door signaling the arrival of the Ancient of Days. He enters the throne room carrying what appears to be a basket of fruit. He is accompanied by Immanuel, Enoch, and an aide, whose task is to escort and steady him. Enoch is another of the twenty-four elders who is normally seated in the king's throne during all festival events and at every general assembly or meeting of the Anunna High Council.

As all four begin to approach the throne, the Ancient One suddenly stops to examine the seraphim that are perched on their stands on either side and midway between the throne and the entryway. Somewhat irritated, he pulls his arm away from the aide and waves it in front of him, as a gesture to dismiss his helper. The aide looks in Elohim's direction. He nods, signaling for her to depart the room, which she does. The Ancient One then hands off his basket to Enoch and approaches each of the seraph in turn and slowly extends his forehead. The seraphim reciprocate in like manner by lowering their heads forward and down, then gently placing theirs against his for a brief moment of bonding.

Then he begins to speak while continuing to move his head from side to side as the seraph facing him does the same. It is a very subdued, playful dance. "I remember when these two were mere hatchlings. Your father, Anu, was on the throne. I was once a dragon-master, you know. In fact, I was the dragon-master for the last king of the Old Ones before I left Earth for Eris. Who is the master for these pretty birds?"

"It is I, Your Grace," says Gabriel.

"Ah, yes... now I see your harp and your horns! I was told that the men and women of Earth have sent a probe into the heavens to find us, and it will soon arrive in our skies above Eris. The fruition of Man approaches. This is how the end began for the Old Ones of Earth who sent me to this planet. It is time to act."

12. The Ways of the Dragon

The Ancient of Days turns back toward the throne and again starts to make his way toward Elohim. Enoch and Immanuel approach him from either side to steady him. He kneels before Elohim, who insists there is no need. But the Ancient One is undaunted and waits piously until Elohim extends his piscatorial ring. He kisses it, then begins to try and stand upright. Immanuel and Enoch help him again to his feet.

"My apologies, Lord King. I get distracted."

Elohim tells him,"There is no need for an apology, Your Grace. You are our most honored guest. Make yourself at ease among us."

"In that case let us proceed to the deck... and bring the chickens as well."

"Very well... we are at your disposal." Elohim stands up and gestures for the group to follow. Elijah is also present, as well as the seven Anunna who monitor Immanuel's churches. They slowly shuffle to the outer deck that looks out upon the sea of glass and the city below that extends beyond the edge of the dome surrounding the new palace. Gabriel unchains the two seraphim that the Ancient One had fondly examined and takes one in each hand by both legs and turns them both upside down. The method he employs to carry the pair cause each of them to fold their wings and stiffen. It is the same way a mother seraph carries her young. The two are both juveniles and well past weaning, but the method is still effective and safe in the hands of a skilled trainer.

"Place them on the railing, son, if you will be so kind." Gabriel complies, and attaches their chains to the rail. The seraphim immediately begin to flutter their wings in excitement as the old one continues. "What we sense when we look over such a parapet is not unlike what these ones feel. They can hardly resist the temptation to leap outward and spread their wings. It is not a learned thing. It is bred into them, just as our hearts beat faster when we look over the edge."

The Ancient One takes the basket from Enoch and removes two different fruits. Then he says, "Let us release these flyers and I will cast these two fruits over the edge." The eyes of all those present grow larger with curiosity.

"No," says Gabriel. "This I cannot do."

"Can they not fly then?" asks the Old One.

"Indeed they can, Your Grace... but the one who eats the Dragon Fire fruit will become a devilish monster and kill, roast and devour the one who eats the Manna fruit."

"What is this word, manna?" asks the Ancient of Days, as he turns to Elohim.

"We grated it and used it to feed the Israelites during their sojourn in the desert. They didn't know what it was and asked each of their hundreds of thousands, 'Manna, manna?' ...which means 'What is it?' The name stuck."

"This is the food of the Anunna, the food of the gods... the very staple of the seraphim. Is it not that which grows perpetually from the trees we call the Tree of Life? What is it ??? Ha!" The old one smiles as he places the Manna fruit back into the basket and takes out another like the one he has in his other hand. Then he says to Gabriel, "Then I shall cast forth these two instead. Release the dragons!"

"I cannot, Sire." Gabriel is becoming amused.

"What is the problem now?" asks the Ancient of Days.

"If they both eat and change into fierce and fiery dragons they will either fight until one is dead or the male will mate with the female and refuse to heed my call to return."

"Very well, then." The Ancient of Days places the Dragon Fire fruits back into his basket and removes two of the Manna fruits. He holds them, one in each hand, above his head, turns toward the edge and waits for the seraphim to be released. Gabriel unchains both. They leap from the railing while spreading their wings and begin to glide freely in the air. When he sees them directly ahead of him, the Ancient One casts the Manna fruit over the railing. The seraphim dive after them and catch one apiece in their mouths just before they strike one of the many levels below. They begin to rise on the air currents and circle the palace while enjoying the freedom they have been offered. They scour the terrain and interact playfully while flying about, twisting and turning before their audience. The Anunna watch in awe.

The Ancient of Days reaches into his basket again and removes two more items. One appears to be a large seed, the other a dried fruit. He looks around at the faces of all who surround him and asks, "Is there a gardener here? One familiar with planting orchards?" Then he begins to repeat the word manna over and over, as if he is trying to understand something new.

Enbilulu (some call him Parat) is Elohim's chief engineer who designed the great city and the extensive cavern dwellings for the seraphim, before the final freeze of Eris's atmosphere. "I know what you have there," he says. "We planted both within the caverns of all the wildlife preserves where the seraphim now live freely. Both once grew on Earth and were planted in Baalthazar's garden, but none remain. The Dragon Fire trees once grew wildly in groves before the dragon caves on Eris. Their fruit bearing is only in summer, the dragon's mating season. The Manna trees bear fruit throughout the shar, and the wild seraphim flock to them daily."

"Indeed," says Elohim, "the planted seeds grow to become trees of the knowledge of good and evil. The dried fruits, when planted, become new trees of life."

"The seeds are passed by the seraphim daily as they leave their bodies," says Gabriel. "The dried fruit simply lies beneath the trees of life when all are not harvested or eaten."

"Yes!" exclaims the Ancient of Days. "I tell you today, they are one and the same, but for what you have just said." Then he points to Enoch and asks,"Why is this man alive?"

Consternation among the group abounds as each looks to the other to see if anyone understands what the old one is trying to teach them. Finally, Tetu asks what tree seeds have to do with Enoch. Then he concedes that perhaps the fruit of the Manna tree changes in appearance when it passes through the gullet of a dragon, but he cannot grasp how the same seed could possibly grow two separate species of flora.

"I have been holding my tongue in this matter since the birth of Immanuel, because the knowledge I share with you today could have only tempted you and Elohim to do what is unlawful," says the Ancient of Days. "Like myself, the first Anunna were dragon-masters for the Old Ones. In those days on Earth, there were dragons everywhere in our skies. They thrived in all the mountains and caverns. The dragon-masters began as thieves who robbed their nests and raised the young ones in cages and chains, until they grew old and large and frightening. Just as the dragons fed daily on the Manna fruit, so the dragon-masters began to eat daily in the same manner. Earth's dragons lived far longer than mortal men.

After several generations of man, some of the dragon-masters continued to live on as youths, as well. The Old Ones assumed it was because of their daily habit of eating the Manna fruit, so they did the same. But those all died in their generations, and none could understand. The Old Ones never gave up their quest to claim the same immortality as the dragons and their masters, so they began to study them and looked deeply into their blood. All of the dragons had the same Tree of Long Life, but none of the Old Ones did, except for the youthful dragon-masters who outlived their sons and daughters and grandchildren. When they looked into the blood of new hatchlings, the Tree of Long Life was not found there either.

Eons passed before one of the Old Ones discovered that the seeds of the Manna Tree fruit would grow into the Dragon Fire tree after passing through the dragon's gullet. When they looked deeply into the lifeblood of each fruit, they only found the Tree of Long Life in the Manna tree fruit. Indeed, the fire in the dragon's belly had removed it, but none could yet understand how the youthful dragon-masters were preserved. Some began to dwell beside them and in their homes. Those who did were changed, never growing old. Should we not call back our two pigeons to roost?"

Taking the hint, Gabriel reaches for his dragon horn and begins to blow it in the direction of the seraphim who are still circling the palace. It is the sound of their mating song, their fight song. It once signaled an alarm to all men, nobles or slaves, to take shelter and hide behind their strongest walls. It is the tone that ignites the fire in the belly of such beasts, causing young and old to fear the fiery breath of the dragon. The sound of the horn sends a chill up the spine of everyone present, including all those below the throne room in the twelve levels beneath it. The sensation is not unlike a moving song or an orchestral melody that sometimes stirs the emotions and causes goose bumps.

The pair soon arrive at the railing. The Ancient of Days reaches out and takes Gabriel's horn, while he returns them to their pedestal inside the throne room. All return inside and take their seats except for the old one, who stands before the throne, still holding the dragon horn. When Gabriel reaches to retrieve it, the Ancient one denies him and asks him to wait a while longer. Then he continues to speak.

"Soon every king in every land and every nobleman who had enough gold were grappling to purchase the services of the dragon-masters to bring their pets and move into their castles. Those who refused to move to their castles were constantly being sought out by kings and offered great wealth to permit them or their princes and princesses to live in their homes and learn their craft. But some of the dragon-masters lived long lives and some did not... and so it went for centuries with the kings and nobles who made them rich for a time."

He then raises Gabriel's horn for all to see and says, "The Old Ones finally realized that only those who called their flocks home to roost at night using this horn, one carved from the horn of a great, old dragon, gained immortality."

Tetu suddenly realizes that the Old Ones did not create the Paraclete using artificial nanites, but he still cannot understand the meaning behind all of this and assumes that no one else in the group does either. He is correct in his assumption and asks, "What has this to do with Enoch?"

"My son, Gabriel... tell them what the golden horn is for and the reason for the harp," commands the Ancient of Days.