The Story Begins (26 page)

“It is as you say for I am known to you. Verily, always have you known me.”

Though he understood not the context in which her words were to be taken, a lack of comprehension was the least of his troubles now. Wishing to return home, he asked, “Can you help me find my way?”

“How did you come to be lost?” she asked again.

“I don’t know,” he repeated. “It was a nice day and then the skies began to darken unexpectedly, eventually eclipsing the sun and then all else entirely. When finally all the light was gone, it took with it everything, leaving me alone in this great darkness. I’ve tried to find my way back to the light but seem to be treading the same ground without end. Though I walk it seems that I walk in place,” he explained. He lowered his head, much distraught by his predicament. His was now a feeling of unabridged despair and hopelessness.

“A great shadow cast over the sun has indeed taken with it a great many things, has it not?” she asked.

“Yes, everything,” he said slowly, only now grasping just how alone he was before the being had appeared.

“How came about the shadow that awayed the light you seek?”

“Clouds,” he answered. “Too many dark clouds. The sun could no longer shine through and was lost behind them. The clouds took everything,” he lamented. Then he remembered the bottle of alcohol. “Everything but this bottle here,” he said, lifting his arm, his head still hung low.

“What bottle?” asked the being softly.

“The one I hold in my hand.”

“There isn’t a bottle,” she responded.

Slowly he raised his head that he may look out at his outstretched arm. Indeed, his hand bore nothing. “I’m sorry. I thought I had a bottle. I’m tired,” he said then let himself fall backwards. With a hand unseen, she caught him and lowered him gently upon his back. “I want to sleep now,” he said, beginning to lose consciousness.

“The light of the sun may have been lost behind the clouds; yet the sun itself is not lost. Thus, its light is not truly lost either, only hidden. For though behind darkened clouds, it still shines even now, as brightly as ever. The clouds need only move that the light and warmth may return,” she said as she neared him even more.

“Can you make the clouds go away?” he asked from where he lay, beginning to drift off into a sleep he couldn’t be certain was death or not.

“You seek a path, do you not?” she asked.

“Yes. Guidance is all that I need. Please!”

“If I lead, shall you follow?”

“Yes,” he promised.

“Then thy guide I shall be. Rise!” she said, coming over to where he lay. She touched him. “Rise!” she repeated. “Slumber shall not overtake you for that time is not yet come.”

Strenuously he rose from where he lay and though it took great effort, he did find himself upon his feet again.

“Follow,” it instructed then began to drift forward.

He followed.

The entity looked back upon him often.

Though he followed his pace was slow. Arduous was his journey and frequent were his stops. And each time he came to a halt, he wondered if truly worthwhile was his trek. He often thought perhaps it might be best, and easier, if he were to simply lie down and sleep for his journey, it seemed, was without end.

But the count of his stops and wavering was countered in equal measure by the entity who, holding him to his word, would ask, “Did I not ask if you’d follow if I led?”

“Yes,” he’d say.

“Break not thy word then.”

Such were the words that were oft repeated.

25

The Jaden Effect

“Guess what, sir?”
Sergeant Phil said, joining the lieutenant who was idling with some of the troops in the bay during the lunch hour.

“What’s up?”

“Lydia and Cassandra are having a get-together at Lydia’s place and asked me to extend you an invite,” the Sergeant shared as he seated himself down then rested against the tank.

Jaden, however, hadn’t really paid attention to Sergeant Phil as his mind had become distracted by the tank against which they rested. Never until then had it dawned on him that a tank lay parked in the bay. What, precisely, was a tank’s purpose in a company of which half the troops weren’t even infantry, nor was the vehicle authorized equipment for the unit. The troops worked on it that they may sharpen their skill, he assumed. Unauthorized equipment wasn’t uncommon across the Army, he knew, but this particular piece of equipment seemed to be a rather large piece to find itself so displaced.

“Sir?” Sergeant Phil interrupted.

“Sorry! I zoned out. You were saying something about Cassandra?”

“Yep,” said the Sergeant.

“How long have you guys been dating now?”

“A little over a month – counting from the day we were all at the Water Tower.”

“That’s cool… now back to what you were saying. A get-together? Sorry but as jaded and cynical as I am, I have to ask why. I mean, yeah, we all hung out together but they hardly know me. Why would they invite me to a get-together? You know what I mean?”

“No I don’t, but do totally agree with you that you are jaded. Who cares? Why question it? Just come,” Sergeant Phil pressed.

“I don’t know.”

“I think Lydia kind of likes you,” the Sergeant then added.

Jaden thought it a ploy. “Yeah! Like that’s going to work.”

“No, seriously, sir!”

“Seriously! That attempt at psychological manipulation is not going to work, dude,” Jaden said, laughing. “Nonetheless, I’m curious… if you really do believe what you say about her liking me, what gives you that impression?”

“Simple! She’s always asking about you,” Phil said matter-of-factly.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah! Seriously!” Phil chuckled.

“Well, just because one asks after another doesn’t necessarily have to mean anything more than asking merely to be polite.”

“Sir, come on! Don’t break this down, just take it at face value. This isn’t Psych 101 or some shit. I’m pretty sure that she likes you. I can’t imagine why else she’d want to play 20 Questions, each and every question concerning you.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Damn straight I’m serious, sir.”

“What kind of questions?” Jaden asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Where in the States are you from? How long have you been here? How much longer will you be here? Where do you live? Have you ever been to Germany before-”

“Wait!” Jaden interrupted. “She asked if I’ve ever been here before?”

“Yes,” the Sergeant told him.

Jaden was silent for a moment, his brow furrowed. Why would she ask if I’ve been here before? he thought. “Did you happen to ask why she thought or wanted to know if I’ve been here before?” he questioned the sergeant.

“No. If I had to guess, though, I’d say probably because people can get assigned overseas to the same duty station, or vicinity, multiple times. Maybe she’s seen someone that kind of looks like you before.”

“Maybe indeed,” Jaden acknowledged, intrigued. If that truly were the case, Lydia would not be the first to think, or believe, him to be someone else; he thought back to the little girl at the Water Tower. Could it be that he reminded
her
of someone else, just as she did him? “I’ll think about it then let you know,” he compromised.

“Okay,” agreed Sergeant Phil.

“When is it?”

“Friday, sir.”

“No need to think it over then. I can’t make it. I’m going on one of those USO tours to Spain this weekend and it departs that same day. Not getting out is beginning to drive me kind of crazy. I thought Spain would be a good destination.”

“Okay. I’ll let them know. They’ll be disappointed, more so Lydia,” the Sergeant said, regarding Jaden in a manner as to influence him to forego the trip to Spain.

Jaden smiled then said, “Tell them that if there’s a next time, I promise to be there. And, please, thank them for the invite.”

“Roger that.” Sergeant Phil got up. “I’m heading to the DFAC. Anyone want to come with me?” All passed on the offer.

Just as the sergeant made ready to walk away, the Lieutenant said, “I still think that you’re messing with me about the invite.”

“Tell you what! Why don’t I give you her number and you can call her and see? That’s the only way I can see you being convinced,” replied the Sergeant.

“Seeing, hearing in this case, is believing!” quipped Jaden.

“O’ child of little faith,” said the Sergeant, only there was a distinctly alien aspect in his intonation, almost as though the voice that spoke were not his own; the sergeant then reached into his pocket, fetched his phone and texted the number to the lieutenant before leaving. Jaden thought that Sergeant Phil had sounded like he were someone else for a moment, but then thought no further of it.

Jaden excused himself from the rest of the soldiers and returned to his office where he sat and reflected on his and Sergeant Phil’s conversation. He wished that he could have been present but the timing was unfortunate; he had already purchased his ticket and it was much too late to get a refund if he opted to cancel. He believed that there was a great deal more to Lydia than met the eye. And if such were true, he reasoned that if he learned more of her, he might yet sort out the enigma that his life was assuming. He then thought back to a few weeks earlier when, in a drunken stupor, he had fallen upon his face as he sought to make his way to the kitchen for yet another drink. Though alone at home and inebriated at the time, he was categorically certain that he had passed out on the floor with an empty bottle of vodka in hand; yet, when he had come to, he found himself upon his bed.

Jaden feared that he had a dilemma to contend with. Lydia interested him but if what Phil said was true regarding her affinity towards him and it was more than he cared for, he had no wish to complicate matters by inadvertently impressing upon her an untrue notion if he were to befriend her. Though thoughts of Melanie held less sway over his emotions now than previously, she was not forgotten. He knew only too well that the heart could be a fickle thing and beyond the reach of reason; if ever he were to be amorous of another, it could only be after his heart was entirely his own again for a heart torn in twain can never be wholly given to one. “My life is complicated enough as it is,” he muttered.

That evening Jaden decided to visit with the soldiers at the barracks. Because it had been quite a while since he had done so, the soldiers had begun to cheer when they espied the ever-popular lieutenant’s car turn the corner and travel in their direction. The troops had a barbecue going on.

While parking Jaden had noticed Cassandra and wondered if Lydia had come as well. Stepping forth from the vehicle, he did a cursory search but didn’t see her. He walked over to the pit. “What’s up, dudes? Hello, Cassandra,” he greeted her politely, smiling the while.

She reciprocated the smile, albeit bashfully.

He thought it sweet.

The barbecue party was mostly men of his platoon, with a few from Krappa’s. “What do we have cooking? Smells good,” Jaden remarked, glad he hadn’t had anything to eat yet. “Never mind, as long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters. As long as it’s edible and the chef is on top of his game, why care what it is or isn’t?”

“Sir, you don’t stress much, do you?” one of the guys commented.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s like it’s always all good with you. You’re chilled to the max with everything,” the soldier explained.

“Well, I’m not picky about food and there aren’t too many things that I get ill-tempered over, if that’s what you mean,” the Lieutenant said.

“Always ever so cool, laid back, and composed,” the soldier said.

“I see no sense in stressing over things. I try to remain collected and believe that things will always fall into place, regardless of how bleak the situation might look. That’s my general attitude towards life. And if they don’t fall into place, well, what can you do about it? Stressing won’t change a thing, right? So why not simply adopt an ‘it’s all good’ type of mentality?” Though Jaden could beguile, he knew his words to be lies for had he believed in what he preached, never would alcohol have been a resort. Jaden very much appreciated that appearances, indeed, can be ever so deceiving. Believable facades, however, had always been a forte of his. If it suited him, Jaden could effortlessly manipulate the most blatant and obvious of lies, or circumstances, molding and ascribing them sufficient groundless credibility to make child’s play of the deceitful nature ascribed to Lucifer.

Jaden looked at Phil then chuckled; the sergeant appeared oblivious to everything around him; his attention was focused solely on the grill to his fore and Sergeant Mitchell, the cook, at work. Jaden turned his attention to Cassandra, who was standing – maybe hiding – behind Phil, much too shy to interact with anyone.

“How are you, Cassandra?” Jaden started.

“I’m well. Thank you,” she replied, barely audible. “And how are you?”

“Quite well, thank you. Listen, sweetie, don’t be shy. Feel free to be yourself, okay? If my experience is anything to go by then trust me when I say you now stand in the midst of some of the most unrefined and highly unsophisticated creatures on this planet; soldiers! There’s absolutely nothing you could possibly say or do that would embarrass you here, okay?” he cajoled.

“Okay. I’ll try.”

“Great! So where’s Lydia? Why didn’t she come out?”

“She’s at home. She didn’t feel like coming.”

“Oh! Is there a reason?”

“No, she just didn’t feel like going anywhere today. Maybe had she known that you’d be here she might have.”

“You make it sound like…”

“…she’s interested in you,” Cassandra said, finishing his sentence.

“Yeah! Phil seems to think so.”

“She is, but not how Phil probably made it sound. It is more of a curiosity kind of interest than what Phil might have led you to believe,” she explained.

“Yes. Curiosity,” Jaden said introspectively. “I suspected as much.”

Cassandra looked at him curiously.

Jaden noticed. “Why I suspect that I really couldn’t tell you,” he explained in response to her askance look. He threw a quick glance to the grill, wondering just how much longer he was to go famished then said, “So, Phil tells me that you and Lydia are having a get-together on Friday.”

“Yes. Will you be coming?”

“No, I-”

“No?” she repeated, Jaden’s response apparently unexpected.

Phil awakened from his transfixture. “Oops! Sorry, I forgot to tell you,” said Phil, his attention finally diverted away from the grill. “The lieutenant is headed to Spain for the weekend so he won’t be able to make it.”

“I’m sorry. If you have another, I’ll be sure to be there, okay? However, this time Barcelona beckons,” Jaden said.

Upon hearing Barcelona, Cassandra became excited. “Once I tell her that you’re going to Spain, she’ll wish she could have joined you.”

“Why’s that?” the Lieutenant asked.

“That’s where our mom is from?”

“Your mom? You’re sisters?” Jaden asked.

Cassandra smiled. “Sorry. That is misleading; I’ll explain. Lydia and I grew up together. Our parents were neighbors even before we were born. And because our parents are the best of friends, we grew up spending a lot of time in each other’s apartment. As toddlers hearing one another say daddy and mommy to our respective parents, we both started calling each other’s parents the same and never grew out of it.”

“That’s really sweet. I’ve never known anyone who grew up like that. You two are really close then.” Jaden said.

“Inseparable!” Cassandra said then smiled, reflecting on how much both families loved each other.

“So she is from Spain? That’s nice. I plan on making the most of my tour in Germany. This will be my first trip outside the country but I plan on making many more all across Europe several times over before heading back to the States. Maybe she’d like to visit with me when next I go.”

“She’ll always find trips to Spain irresistible. We often went to visit Lydia’s mom’s family but it’s been a couple of years since we’ve been,” Cassandra shared, now feeling a bit more comfortable.

Then there was a rather crude but welcome announcement. “All right, you hungry bastard children,” called out the pit-master, “come and get it!”

I love the infantry, thought Jaden. “Don’t be offended, Cassandra. It’s just how our own particular breed of humanity communicates.” Thank Heavens! It’s about time, thought the famished lieutenant.

The grill was large and when Jaden had initially arrived and seen the abundance of food roasting, he feared that much of it would go to waste. However, as time ticked away and hungry appetites had grown voracious, his present fear was that the cooked food might not suffice, and an unlucky lot would have to wait for Sergeant Mitchell to throw more onto the grill. Observing all the troops converging on the grill like a pack of wolves on a measly kill, he feared his angst would soon prove founded.

Though infantrymen, etiquette was not an alien concept to the men; to that end, Cassandra was served first and given the choicest steak. Following this the troops gathered round but none grabbed a plate so that Sergeant Mitchell may serve them; rather all eyes were upon their lieutenant. Jaden thought perhaps there was protocol he was failing to abide by. He couldn’t imagine what. Stumped, he was about to ask what fault lay with him when Sergeant Mitchell offered him a plate.

“Here you go, sir. After the lady you get the best pieces.”

Jaden looked at him disapprovingly. “Come on, Mitchell. You know it doesn’t work like that, soldier. I may be your leader but I don’t have to lead in everything. The troops always eat first. Put the pieces back and let everyone help themselves first. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the gesture but you know how it goes. What kind of a leader would I be if I put myself first?”