Three hours later, Pete found his rock, or stone as he preferred, the exact replica of Kate’s one. He had forgotten about it, which was strange for someone with a photographic memory. The second one had disappeared, and at the time he had decided not to report it. How it ended up with Kate was anyone’s guess. He had his stone catalogued with about 152,000 other artifacts and books, including many stones from his life’s discoveries and explorations on Earth and beyond. Perhaps it had not crossed his mind, as he had two assistants that did most of the cataloguing. A little stone did not pose much significance at the time.
Never overlook the little things he could hear his mother say.
He would never make that mistake again.
Pete handed the stone to Pilcher who examined it between his thumb and forefinger.
“Yep, it looks pretty much the same. Have you run the usual tests on both of them?”
“Yeah,” Pete replied. “Origin is Earth, Egypt to be specific. It is quite bizarre how it is an exact replica of Kate’s. However, the stones seem to be a mirror image of each other when you face them together. Both have similar dark markings, and yes, it is preserved human blood. It’s even more bizarre how she picked hers up rather recently from a shopping mall in an obscure place called Gulfirst Town. How the hell it ended up there is beyond me. She told me the shop she found it in was called “The Divine Universe.” Apparently, she had received subliminal instructions, in a day type dream, as she puts it, to go to this out of town mall. But not exactly what to look for!”
Pilcher nodded. “What has really rattled me is we can’t confirm Kate’s story. I sent some men down to check it out. There is no such shop listed in the mall. The mall’s management does not have any record.”
“But I am positive she is not lying,” Pete said, insisting.
“Hmm, guess the situation is so bizarre it must be the truth.” Pilcher grimaced a little, sardonically.
There was silence as the information was digested.
“So what is the date?”
“Date? Oh yeah. Give or take around a few thousand years, I would say pretty much when the Ancient Egyptians were ruling, quite possibly even older.”
Pilcher gave him a baleful look. “Can our lady friend shed some light on it, apart from the stories she has already relayed?”
Pete paused choosing his words carefully. “I don’t think she trusts us, especially with the way we have treated her, well, at least in her mind. She also has a lot to take in. This situation she’s in is pretty life changing; literally.”
Pilcher paused, caught in thought.
What Reynolds failed to report was the slight polarity Kate felt when she handled both stones and the vision that followed. She had confided in him she had one on the plane journey here, and this one seemed to continue on from it but seemed even clearer, like she was actually there. He had managed to record it, for his own study and it did not fall short of his notice she spoke in the third person, in clear English. He was willing to bet anything that Kate’s blood was the same as in the stones. But for now, he thought the unexplained phenomena, at this point of time, was best put aside for later. Besides, sooner or later, a blood sample would be taken from her, but he wanted her to do so willingly. She already had enough to deal with at present.
He remembered how her voice spoke with such endearing and consuming passion.
She opens her eyes and is greeted with an intense searing pain stabbing at her side. Her body feels as if it has been torn open. She isn’t far from the truth. She struggles with her thoughts, what had happened? Cemel was trying to help her. And he was struck down. Oh God, she saw him get thrown through the Door. Did he survive or was he gone forever? The blast, she had assumed killed her friend, had somehow caught her in its deadly path.
She knows she is dying.
Now she realizes she is lying on her golden bed. But she cannot feel anything; her body is numb. She sees a dark figure sitting, holding her hand. A blur of movement catches her eye as his physicians fight to save her life. She hears voices talking, yelling, and orders shouted, and her mind becomes lucid, she concentrates on the figure beside her. She realizes it is her captor, the evil Supreme Ruler, but frustratingly his face is in shadow. Obviously grief stricken, he tells her they are going to implant her to save her life. She smiles at him and tells him he is wasting his time. Let her go.
Next thing, she gasps as she feels the omnipotent feeling again. Oh, the sheer unadulterated power that is taking over her will. She now smiles broadly, with absolute joy; the Cathexistome awakens and feeds her body and mind. Just for a second, she almost feels she is one; she tastes the power. His eyes blaze with hope as he knows this will save her. His smile fades, as she whispers, “I made Cemel curse me.” Feeling his confusion, she continues, “Under your rule, in my heart I knew I would not be fit to look after my people. I vowed I would never lead my people into slavery. I made Cemel promise that if you ever implanted me, I would die. And you know how real his magic is. It will work, because he wasn’t my servant. He was my friend.” She closes her eyes as the life in her fades, along with her newly implanted Cathexistome dying in the depths of her body.
The last thing she hears is his scream of anguish.
Kate needed several stiff drinks of peach schnapps to settle her nerves after that episode. She admitted it emotionally and physically seemed to drain her. Once more, all the faces were in shadow? Was her sanity protecting her or was her memory simply out of joint?
She had almost begged Pete not to report this.