Chapter 25
Sitting in his pod, Stone stared out his small round window at the starry blackness. Soon his eyes was averted to the moon who was lit up by the sun rays peeking around from the Earth’s body. What sadden Stone the most was that the enemy was still out there in the darkness, lurking and waiting to descend to the sacred planet. He was sadden that the enemy did not care enough to partner up with his people in reuniting their lives with Mother Earth. They were greedy and selfish in their ways and this greediness was the same bad medicine that cost the People their home in the first place.
Pulling out a bit of sweet grass he had left, he began to light the strands with one of his bees wax candles. The smell always quieted his heart when it ached. With the light trail of smoke moving up to his nose, Stone looked at the moon one more time. As it gleamed in the velvet sky, Stone wondered what hid in her shadows. He noticed that he could never see the stars beyond the moon. Only those stars way off in the distance. Then the idea struck him!
Quickly he put his burning sweet grass into a bowl and abruptly turned and left his pod to find Keo. A smile floated across his face as he thought of his cleverness. Soon the flute song entered his mind as he walked down the corridors. His lips were reciting the words with pleasure.
Upon entering a social room, he spotted Keo right away. “Keo, Grandfather. I must speak with you!”
Keo looked up from the group of people who had surrounded him to listen to his stories. He could tell from the look in Stone’s face that something exciting was playing on his mind.
“Forgive me Grandfather for rudely interrupting. I come humbly and want to speak with you on a subject of most importance”, Stone spoke as he neared Keo.
Keo’s eyes were gentle as he looked at the others who were intent on hearing the rest of the story. “Well my friends, my story is a long one and this is a good time to take a break. I will return to finish it in a bit, you have my word on that. Never like to leave anyone hanging.” Keo smiled and moved away from the group taking Stones arm and leading him away to a quieter section of the room.
“Again, I am sorry to intrude, but this thing that came to me can not wait one more minute”, blurted out Stone with excitement.
Keo kept a even look on his face as he responded, “Stone, slow down, you have my attention as well as my forgiveness. Tell me what is it that makes you fly in here with such urgency. I am all ears.”
“Keo, Grandfather, I have the best idea of how to accomplish our mission. The Sister Moon gave me the answer in her wonderful glow”, Stone could not stop smiling and his eyes sparkled with joy.
“I see”, replied Keo. “Maybe we better moved to my pod and discuss this in solitude. I suppose you may have been given the answer we are looking for. I feel goose bumps on my skin.” Keo moved his hands up and down on his arms. “Have not felt that in a long time. Come, let us go and discuss this over some fine tea.” Keo turned his placid face into a warm smile.
Keo was powerfully gifted with the ways of the spirit and medicine. He could boil water in cups without the use of fire. With two cups on the small table between him and Stone, he focused on his work. Holding his hands over each cup he spoke a tongue from long ago and asked the spirits to heat the water for the medicine they were about the drink.
Stone tried to sit quietly, but he was fidgety in his chair and licked his lips. His eyes were big when he saw the water boil. Even though he had witnessed Keo do this once before it still amazed him of the power this Grandfather possessed. Keo placed some chamomile leaves into the cups and looked at Stone’s face.
“There are many things I can do when communicating to the other world, but there is also many original instructions that have been lost by my People from long, long ago”, Keo replied to Stone’s stare.
Upon those words, Stone returned to the present , “I am always amazed by the unseen forces that surrounds us. Which brings me to my idea. The unseen.”
Keo sipped on his tea and with a gesture of his hand he encouraged Stone to drink of the tea. Stone lifted his cup and blew on the hot steaming water and sipped the sweet medicine as well.
Placing his cup down, Keo said, “Now Stone, you have come with some important ideas. You may now share those.”
Holding his cup for some warm and support for finding the right words, Stone began, “Well, you know we have the enemy to contend with and we know we must sacrifice ourselves and this ship to destroy them. It is our only chance of protecting the Earth from any harm as well as Keith and Shell.”
“Yes”, agreed Keo. “And our dilemma is how to accomplish that and know the enemy is truly destroyed. So your idea I suppose covers this?”
“Oh yes and in a grand way too!”
“Go on then.”
Stone continued, “We know of the orbiting path the enemy takes and we know this enemy is soon to attempt descending to the Mother Earth. Along this orbiting path we can hide.”
“Hide? But where in this open space can we hide?”, puzzled Keo.
Stone smiled and the twinkle came back into his eyes. “Keo, Holy One, we can hide in the shadow of the moon!” Stone waited for Keo to respond to the thought.
Keo stroked his chin a moment and looked up at the ceiling. He then slowly got up from his chair and moved to the round window looking out into the vast space that surrounded their Solar Star Base. He studied the moon, then broke out into laughter!
Stone lost his smile thinking that Keo thought he was crazy. “Really, it hit me all at once how this can be done,” he pleaded.
Keo turned from the window and with a satisfied smile on his face, he looked at Stone and said, “My grandson, you have been given a vision that had escaped me all this time. You are right! We can hide in the shadows and when the enemy orbits near the moon, we can move out of hiding and with all the power we have left we can veer down upon them unexpectedly and destroy their Solar Star Base!”
Stone smiled and laughed along with Keo. Keo raised his cup of tea and said, “Here is a toast to our People crossing over and to the two who will begin the sweet, sweet world again.”
Stone raised his and they both drank of the medicine.
After putting his cup down, a serious look came over Stone’s face. “So it is true that we will die, but die for a Holy and Sacred cause.” A long silence stood between Keo and Stone.
Keo replied, “I know I am ready. Been here for a long time and it hurts to see all the pain and be reminded of all that was lost. Everyone here has no idea what it is like to live on the Earth, except through the stories I tell. Even though they lack that experience, it is still written in the marrow of their bones. In their spirit they remember and they hurt too. Our People will gladly die as Warriors!”
“According to my calculations we have about three months left to put us into position. Then a short time after that the enemy should be near the moon. I suppose our efforts in preparing to die with our Solar Star Base will serve the race well. It will also serve those who died at the hand of the enemy a service too.”
Keo kept a stern look on his face and replied, “Remember, my Grandson, revenge is not ours. This is not about revenge, but about renewal! Remember that on your last day.”