The PriZin of Zin (30 page)

“Tell Him, thank you,” Morgan asked the buck, “please. Umm. Father, I mean.”

“He hears you, Master Morgan. Just speak as though He was standing right next to you, for in actual fact, He truly is… for all time.

“ 
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit †, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

~ Jesus of Nazareth,

The Holy Bible, Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Epilogue

“I thought he said that our helpers would guide us.” Morgan looked around, a bit nervous still.

“They are.” Aeryn was in the lead.

“Where?” Ian shot forward. “I don’t see anything but green leaves.”

“Look closer.” She stopped. Youngest of the group, but by far the most confident now, she winked his direction.

“I’m sorry. What was that?” Ian demanded.

“What?” She smiled.

Hunter and Morgan caught up with them.

“Why did you do that? Why?”

“What’s wrong?” Hunter asked, looking back and forth between his little sister and his best friend.

“She winked at me. Your kid sister winked. At me!”

“Did not.” Aeryn smiled.

“Did, too.”

“Did not. “

The leaves rustled behind them, slightly at first, but then a little louder. “She, in fact, did not, sir. She winked at me.”

The group turned and faced a large Praying Mantis resting on a low hanging branch of a giant redwood-type feathery tree.

Ian’s hand flew out to smash it. Aeryn screamed, and a dozen more large insects converged on the scene. An even larger mantis addressed the group. “I wouldn’t do that. Not if you want continued protection up in the world.”

“You- You’re, a, a-” Morgan’s mouth hung open. “Helper?”

“Some of us are, sir, but not all.”

“Wow.” Ian withdrew his hand. “Sorry. I should have known better.”

“Yes, Master Ian, you certainly should have. You, of all three young ones, embraced your life down here. You did not fight against it as the others did.”

He smiled, and nodded.

“You truly loved your pirate friends, did you not?”

Another nod.

“And one should love their friends as they love themselves. It is the right way.”

A little green flash trailing hysterical laughter dashed by in front of them. “I found it. It’s mine! Mine, I sayz. Alls mine!”

The mantis heads all turned to follow Alistair’s little leprechaun body toward the end of the rainbow that still hung over their heads, their multi-faceted eyes reflecting his little running body in the sunlight.

“GGGGOOOOLLLLLLDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!” The scream wafted back on the wind.

The bushes rustled again, and there was the buck, purple eyes glistening, just the hint of a smile on his face. “Take our friends safely home, please. Daylight grows short, and the darkness will bring danger.”

“Danger?” Morgan’s face grew weary, eyes darting, hands clenched.

“Worry not, Master Morgan, for you have seen the light. This does not mean that you will be free from troubles in your life, but you will have others to call upon during times of crisis. Never forget this. And never,” the buck turned to Ian, “forget your friends.”

“Be we together, or be we apart,” Ian whispered.

“None kin tear ye and yer brothers apart!” The chorus drifted down from above. Ian jerked his head up to see the Wayfarer floating in the clouds above, every pirate hanging over the side, yelling and cheering at their friend below. He leapt into the air, waving frantically at his friends on high. “I telled ye ye’s could comes back iffin ye did weel, laddie.” A rope dropped from the sky. “Man overboard! Drop the sails and hold the riggins. Get ye yungun up here’s so’s we kin get! Thar’s sailin’ to be’s done!”

Ian leapt at the opportunity, never looking back. Hoisted up into the clouds, the ship disappeared into the dusky sky, leaving no trace behind.

“He has made his choice.” The buck turned back to the group. “Take great care returning home, my friends. There will be many questions. Hold tight to what you know is the truth. Do not be afraid to let your light shine.”

Morgan stepped forward. “That day, in the forest, when I first saw you—”

The deer nodded.

“I was going to—”

The deer swallowed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Fear not, Master Morgan. I will still be with you for all time. I am your helper. Now, let’s go home.

Hebrews 13:2, NIV

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so,

some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

…Angels walk this world with us.

Where is yours?

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Coming Soon:  Book 2

Darkness RiZing

Justice [juhs-tis]
noun

The administering of deserved punishment or reward; the maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings.

Bang.

The gavel slammed onto the tall oak desk at the front of the courtroom.

“All Rise. Court is now in session. The Honorable James Williams, presiding.”

“Be seated,” the judge ordered, whisking his way into the room and up onto the platform that set him above all others in the room. “Bailiff, are all parties present?”

“All parties are present and accounted for, your honor.  They have been sworn in.”

“Very well; Morgan Welch, please rise. Bailiff, read the charges.”

The officer of the court stood tall, facing the defense table and cleared his throat. “You are hereby charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in the negligent death of Ian Murray, a minor child in your custody at the time of his disappearance and subsequent death.”

“Thank you, Bailiff.” Judge Williams turned to face Morgan and his defense team. “How do you plead?”

“Not guilty,” Morgan’s attorney stated.

“He’s not dead, sir,” Morgan blurted out. Morgan’s attorney placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. “This is all a terrible mistake.”

Ian’s family was on their feet. “You’re a liar!” Mr. Murray, Sr. shouted. “You left him out there to die all alone!”

Ian’s mother broke down and sobbed.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Order in this court!” Judge Williams was on his feet. “You will hold your tongue, Mr. Murray! Is that clear?”

Ian Murray, Sr. nodded, unable to trust his own temper.

“Anyone who cannot maintain their composure will be escorted from this courtroom. Now, sir, I ask you again; guilty or not guilty, Mr. Welch?”

“Not guilty,” Morgan got out.

There was a low grumble in the back of the room, but no single voice was loud enough to be made out.

BANG. BANG.

Morgan glanced back over his shoulder at his family seated directly behind the defense table. Wife, Mary; son, Hunter; and daughter, Aeryn, all smiled, holding hands and trying to be as encouraging as they could.

“Very well, are there any motions from counsel?”

“Meagan Moore, counsel for the defendant, Your Honor. We would like to ask that the defendant be released on his own recognizance at this time.”

Again the room erupted into disarray. Mr. Murray, Sr. was on his feet in an instant. “No, you don’t! He killed my son, and you want him to walk away with no bail?”

BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Sir, this is an outrage,” Mr. Murray pleaded with the judge. “He was my only child, and now—, ” His emotion got the best of him and his voice cracked. “I’ll never see him again.”

Mrs. Murray was still sobbing into her handkerchief, inconsolable.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Look, Mr. and Mrs. Murray, I understand the position that you are in, but it is my job to make sure that due process is followed. He is not guilty until proven so by a jury. I promise you that a trial will happen. But for now, if I have to speak to you again, you will be banished from my courtroom for the remainder of these proceedings. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

Again, two nods were the only answer.

“Opposing counsel. Motions?”

“Your Honor, Jacob Pike, County Prosecutor. We oppose release without bail for a number of reasons,” the man in black said with no emotion whatsoever. “Primarily, Mr. Welch poses a flight risk. He is a trained hunter and outdoorsman who knows how to escape without being seen.” He wiped tiny beads of sweat from his brow and cleared his throat to continue. “Moreover, we believe that his life is in danger should he be released.”

“What?” This time it was Morgan who was on his feet.

“Ms. Moore, control your client, please.” Judge Williams held the gavel tightly in his hand, at the ready for another outburst.

She grabbed Morgan’s arm, dragging him back down to his seat. “Shhhh!” she warned.

“Explain,” the judge ordered.

“Certainly, Your Honor. Not only,” counsel explained, “is there the threat from the outraged community and the victim’s family, should these parties be unfortunate enough to meet, but there is also the matter of Mr. Welch’s mental state.”

“My what?” Morgan turned to his red-headed attorney. “Is he kidding?”

Jerked back quiet again, Ms. Moore glared a severe warning at him.

“If I may continue, Your Honor?” the chubby, black-suited attorney asked politely.

“Please do.”

“When Mr. Welch and the Welch children first returned from being lost in the wilderness for days, Mr. Welch told a bizarre story of being kidnapped by a sea serpent, becoming — a sheep of all things, and leaping into an active volcano.”

The courtroom erupted in laughter, encouraging the opposing counsel, while Morgan turned a rosy shade of pink.

“If I’ve got it right, Your Honor, there was a tree that was not a tree but a vending machine, pirates, a paramilitary boot camp, Indians, and gnomes.”

“No,” Morgan blurted. “No gnomes; he was a leprechaun.”

Now the courtroom lost complete control.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Order! Order in my court!”

BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Order! Bailiff, clear the room.”

Once settled, Judge Williams took his chair again.

“Well, we certainly have a unique situation here, don’t we?” He sighed. “For the first time in my career I am at a loss.” He turned to Morgan. “Please rise, Mr. Welch.”

Morgan rose, as did his family behind him, and his counsel. “I happen to agree with the Prosecutor. For your own safety, and for the safety of your family and this community, I order you to be held without bail until trial.”

“No,” Hunter’s mom collapsed back into her seat, both kids flanking her on either side for support.

“Furthermore, I order you to undergo a full psychiatric evaluation to determine your mental state prior to trial.”

“Sir,” Morgan pleaded, “Ian’s not dead.”

“Can you take me to him?” the judge asked.

“Ummm. Well, not exactly; he’s under the ground, in that other world.”

BANG.

“So ordered. Bailiff, take Mr. Welch into custody and remand him to the psychiatric ward of the County Jail until further notice. Court adjourned.”

BANG.

Judge Williams stood and whisked out of the room.

Morgan pulled back against the grip of the police on either side of him. “No, please!” he begged. “Let me say goodbye to my family.”

They nodded. “You have one minute.”

“Mary, it will be all right. Just give me some time to figure this out.”

She was still sobbing, unable to look her husband in the eye.

“Hunter; you have to save me, Son.”

“How, Dad? How can I save you?”

“Go back and bring Ian home. It’s the only way. You are the only one who can do it. You are the man of the house now that I’m in here. I need you.”

Hunter said nothing, soaking in the true meaning of the request, he stared blankly into his father’s face.

“Go, Hunter. Go find the others. Get the helpers and bring Ian home. It’s the only way.”

“Sir, let’s go.” The police officers pushed Morgan toward the side door which led back to the holding cells. Morgan continued to yell while being led away.

“It’s the only way, Hunter. You’re the only one who can do this! It’s all up to you, Son! Go! Bring Ian home!”

The door slammed behind him, leaving Hunter, Aeryn, and Mary all alone in the courtroom.

Hunter was stunned, and Mary in shock. Aeryn leaned over and whispered to her big brother. “Can I come, please?”