King Solomon's Journey (The Dominguez Adventures) Page 13

  Just after Amanda finished her shower the following morning, she was walking towards Antonio's open bedroom door to ask what time they would be leaving for Hidden Mountain, when she heard him speaking. Not wanting to eavesdrop, she turned to head downstairs, but the conversation caught her attention, and she paused.

  “José, I told you I met a woman… She’s staying here with me for a while… No, she hasn’t moved in...I hope she will eventually…Amanda…Amanda Messenger…That is not a Vegas Showgirl Name...I forgive you.

  She’s from the Midwest… José, don’t laugh. You know how nuts you are about your wife and daughter. She’d still knock you on your ass.

  She’s the same age as me… I’m not getting defensive… The boys are mostly grown … I’ll send you an e-mail with her book titles later. Go to the bookstore this afternoon, buy them, and read them.

  No, you’ll be calling me. She’s nothing you’d expect in a million years… She has a vineyard… Two of her sons take care of the property...

  Listen José, I need to go, now… I’ll call Mama today...Is Pop working?

  I promise. I’ll call Mama in a little while… José, I’m happy, I want you to know that, okay… I miss you brother.” Amanda guiltily moved on down the stairs, the conversation she had overheard had been revealing. Antonio did have hopes for them in the future as a couple, and she suddenly did not find that idea quite so unnerving. Her footsteps were lighter as she moved towards the kitchen.

  * * *

  José sat in the chair at the front of his father’s desk. He waited for him to get off the phone, a scene he had repeated twice a week or more, for the past fifteen years. At least today, Pop would be elated with his news.

  Sometimes José got angry at both Pop and Antonio, and refused to take part in their charade. If Antonio knew José called him at his father’s request and reported the details of his life to him, Antonio would never speak to José again. He loved his brother, and hated himself for the way he betrayed his trust.

  Off the phone, Pop was ready for the information. “José, tell me. How is Antonio?”

  “Pop, he’s met a woman.” José braced himself for his father’s reaction.

  At first his father just sat there, and then he pounded his hand down on his desk, and with misty eyes, leaned forward and demanded; "Tell me everything he said, who is she, where is she from? Did he sound satisfied or happy?"

  “He said she was incredible, her name is Amanda Messenger. She’s there with him now, visiting from the Midwest.” He paused, knowing his father would have to comment on that.

  “The Midwest? I never would have thought Antonio would fall for someone from that part of the country."His Pop was smiling, and urged José to continue.

  “Don’t feel bad, I laughed and made Antonio mad. She has three sons, mostly grown, whatever that means.”

  Pop interrupted. “Three sons… That is good, she’s a parent.”

  José was surprised. He’d guessed Pop would not be happy about that.

  “She’s a writer. Antonio said he would e-mail me her book titles. I’ll go to the bookstore. She also has a vineyard which two of her sons handle.”

  “Pop, Antonio told me in his own words. I’m quoting him Pop, ‘José, I’m happy’...Pop, are you okay?” José waited a moment, while his father absorbed the information.

  Tears welled in his father's eyes, and spilled over. "Do you know what all that means José? I will tell you; she is a learned woman, a writer, an equal for your brother. She has grown sons, so she appreciates family, her sons care for and remain close to a place that is important to her…that equals loyalty, and she is of an age to match my Antonio in every way." Dabbing at his eyes, he straightened up, and for the first time in a long time, José saw some of the shadows had left his eyes.

  He looked at his father, the powerful Judge, retired and back at the family law firm. No one in the community would believe he cried at least twice a week over his estranged son. No one except José and his wife knew.

  “Pop, it’s what you wanted, is it not? You want Antonio to be happy. Pop, call him or go out there and tell him how you feel? Do it before it's too late.”

  José got up, annoyed, and left Pop with his thoughts. He couldn’t convince the stubborn old man of anything, and Antonio was just as bad. José stopped when his father called out, “José, call your Mama and tell her about Antonio.”

  “Okay, Pop.” He closed his father’s office door behind him.

  Left alone, the onetime Judge and forever father picked up the phone, and dialed a number he knew by heart. When the voice answered, he made a simple statement, "Everything you can find on Amanda Messenger." He hung up the phone and relaxed. His Antonio had found his woman at last, but a father had to be sure. He prayed that Antonio, his solitary star, had finally found a home someplace in another's heart.

  CHAPTER 17

  "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself."

  ~Alan Alda

  Eager for their journey to begin, Amanda and Antonio quickly packed Raven with everything they would need for a complete exploration of the chamber within Hidden Mountain. The sun had not yet risen, and Amanda seemed particularly keen on their arriving before the sunrise. Rushing to get there in the darkness, meant he had to be doubly sure nothing vital was left behind. Since Antonio was not sure just how far back the cavern went, or if it was really an opening into an old lava tube, he made sure they had plenty of rope, and safety equipment.

  Before they could leave, Joseph walked over to hand Amanda two golf clubs, he had removed their grips as Amanda instructed.

  "Are those my clubs?" Antonio asked.

  "Yes, when Amanda asked if I had two straight metal rods, these were the only things that seemed to fit her requirements."

  Antonio looked at Amanda who was writing in the notebook she kept in her purse. What could she possibly need golf clubs for? He would ask her later, out of Joe's earshot; just in case it had something to do with a subject she felt needed secrecy.

  "Well, I mean, I know I don't play golf well or want too, but won't I need the grips if I use the clubs?"

  "When you bring them back, I will replace the grips. I have to say Antonio, no matter what she uses them for; it can't hurt your golf game."

  "Ha ha, very funny Joe!"

  After placing the clubs in the trunk, Joe motioned for Antonio to follow him. "Thought you might be interested in some news I just heard." He glanced meaningfully at Amanda, and Antonio walked with him to the side of the drive.

  "What is it Joe?"

  "Those two guys you told me about trying to rob the store you and Amanda stopped at. Seems that they both walked out of jail, no charges, and the store burned down last night."

  Shocked, Antonio immediately thought about the little man. "What about the little man…the owner, is he okay?"

  Joseph laughed. "It would take more than a burning store to kill Marcus Riley. He's a bit of a legend in these parts. Retired Marine, fought like hell to get in due to his height, and then kicked ass from Korea to Viet Nam! I heard through the grapevine, he was up in the hills, waiting for things to blow over."

  Happy with that part of the news, Antonio asked; "Just how do people get out of jail free after an armed robbery?"

  "I can't say, but it worries me some, especially since you said they were dogging Raven before that. Keep your eyes peeled, and your ears open son. I'll do the same around here."

  Antonio thanked him, and asked him to be careful. When he returned to the car, he told Amanda what was said. She just made a sound of disgust and let it go.

  As they left the drive, Amanda reached over and squeezed his hand where it rested on the wheel. "This is going to be a special day…I feel it."

  Antonio, gave her hand a quick pat, and smiled with the pleasure of sharing one of his favorite places on earth with someone who just might understand the pul
l it had on him.

  "Amanda, what are the golf clubs for?"

  "An experiment to solidify a thought."

  "Uh huh. Amanda, I ask again, what are the golf clubs for?"

  "In order to explain it, I have to ask you a question. Have you heard of the Square Root of Three Rectangle?"

  "Yes, it’s the perfect form that makes up the hexagram of the Seal of Solomon."

  "Right. Now stay with me, and I will delve farther into its roots."

  "How deep are we going?"

  "All the way back to the beginning of the story."

  "There are four groups that are responsible for the traditions associated with the world's main religious dogmas, associated with biblical beliefs; Jewish, Christian, Medieval Chivalric, and Florentine Neo Platonic.

  All of these groups have been influenced by the ideals posed by the four Cardinal Virtues; Sword of Justice, Chalice of Temperance, Rod of Strength and Mirror of Truth.

  In the Torah, and other ancient writings, we find another sacred four; the Cardinal Compass Points; N, S, E, W. The tribes of Israel were ordered to make camps on each of the Cardinal Compass Points, with the Levites enclosing the area around the Tabernacle.

  Justice has been represented by the Sword since the writings of Plato, and adopted by Jewish and all other faiths as a symbol. The biblical scholars state that a sword stretched across Jerusalem, and symbolizes the wrath of God. Its orientation lies in the North, the Chalice of Temperance lies in the South, the Mirror of Truth in the East, and the Rod of Strength in the West.

  It's all about the lines Antonio. Whether they are termed Ley Lines, English Rose-Lines, or latitude and longitude, the important thing is, historical documents point out the consistent thought that every place, everything, and every person is connected in some way.

  Now my point to all of that is this. Hidden Mountain has the same point of longitude as the Temple of Jerusalem. Using an old shadow trick I will see if at the suns rising, a shadow forms at 30 degrees on the longitude line; perhaps off by a single degree. Now it would be perfect if today was an equinox, but I believe it does not have to be for the purpose of my experiment."

  "Among that wealth of information, I think I heard why you want to use the clubs, but just how it is done, got lost…"

  "It is a simple experiment in theory, by placing the clubs vertically in the ground, one due east and one due west within a circle, the shadows they cast will form 30 degree angles. Of course the second club would only cast a shadow in the setting sun, but I believe seeing both within the circle will prove the point of the experiment. The rising sun over Hidden Mountain should cast the shadow of the club perfectly aligned with 30 degrees North of Center, the beginning of the Square Root of Three Rectangle, and the Seal of Solomon and the Star of David."

  Lost in quiet thought, he was jarred by the ringing of the phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Antonio.”

  Damn. It was Cynthia. The timing couldn’t have been worse. No doubt back from Asia, she wanted to schedule their rendezvous.

  “Hi, Cynthia...”

  “I’m back. Bet you were starting to wonder about me. I had to stay a month longer than planned, but I’m back now, and more than ready for our date. How about Thursday, same place as usual?"

  Antonio thought she would never going to shut-up. Cynthia worked in marketing for an International IT company. They’d met on a quarterly basis for a few years. The gap was longer this time since he was out of the country while she was in the country, and vice versa. Cynthia resonated corporate, from head-to-toe. She scheduled everything, including dinner and sex.

  Antonio never seemed to mind. Cynthia was safe, no demands, and it served its purpose.

  “I can’t do it Thursday.”

  “Let me see, Antonio...I can do Saturday, but we’ll have to start an hour later.”

  It made Antonio sick that he’d actually done this with her, but it was fine back then. “No, Cynthia I’ve met someone.”

  “You’re teasing me, Antonio. Shame on you, I know you were upset that I didn’t call when I said I would, but don’t tease me. I love our little dates.”

  “I’m not teasing you. It’s for real.”

  “You don’t want to meet me?”

  “Cynthia I’m done with the quarterly, it’s not about you. I’m genuinely in love with this woman.”

  “Do you mean for good, Antonio?”

  “That’s exactly what I mean. She’s the one.”

  “Okay...”

  “Hey, Cynthia...Good luck.”

  “Thanks, Antonio. Call me when she ditches you.” She hung up.

  Antonio glanced over at Amanda, she was amused… go figure… Her reaction wasn’t at all what he expected. Amanda was amazed that he said he was in love.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Why? Is it because you want to go? You know we are not actually…”

  He cut her off. “Amanda, no, I don’t want to meet with Cynthia. Everything has changed, I've changed.”

  “Why would you be sorry?”

  “She called, and you’re sitting right here. You heard the whole thing. I’d be nuts if some guy called you with the same scenario.”

  “So, you are hot, Antonio. You were having quarterly sex with some Cynthia-person. At least you were getting some, sounds pretty serious.” She wanted to laugh.

  "Look, let's talk about something else. How about you tell me about growing wine, what does it take, can you do it anywhere?" Feeling embarrassed, but not wanting to admit it, he figured distraction was the best answer.

  Amanda did laugh then, "Okay, you win, I will say no more on the subject of the amorous Cynthia!" The rest of the trip she told him far more than he ever thought he needed to know about growing grapes.

  Antonio pulled Raven to a safe parking place near the train tracks. With trunk popped open, he walked to the back of his car and prepared the gear. Amanda watched him as he lifted one jean clad leg, and attached a sheathed knife to his calf. Beneath his jacket, he fastened a Desert Eagle .357 Magnum.

  He motioned for Amanda to step closer. “Now that you’re with me, I’m not gonna’ lose you in some hole.” Pulling things from a pack in the trunk, and using its light to guide him, he instructed her.

  “Put these gloves on.” Strapping a belt around her, he attached a hook and a small pack.

  “Amanda, do you see this case I’ve connected to your belt?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you’re endangered, unsnap it. Remove this Glock and shoot-to-kill. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. But just what do you believe is waiting up there?”

  With one word he convinced Amanda the weapon was needed," Snakes.”

  They followed the path through two gated areas towards the Decalogue Stone. Luckily, the weather in the region had been dry, with the recent snowfall not yet melted, the riverbed had remained dry.

  Exploring the site where Antonio found the Scrolls excited Amanda. Strolling up the path, she held his arm as the sky lightened. Amanda’s attention next turned from the scenery towards the Mountain they approached.

  This was the home of an ancient volcano. Without being an expert, Amanda was positive that during the reign of Solomon, this Mountain Summit was much the same as it is today. Most of the rock was loose with coarse sand and silt.

  “I suppose during heavy rains this riverbed flows into the Rio Puerco.”

  “Yes, the Rio Puerco flows into the Rio Grande, and provides water access all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.”

  “The existing access is not new.”

  Antonio grinned at her observation. “Amanda, this is the Decalogue Stone.”

  They stopped, allowing her time to inspect the ancient inscriptions.

  “It is so huge. I am surprised it’s down here. I expected it to be closer to the Summit, or on top of it.”

  “The Stone weighs over 80 tons. See the two large stones, several feet behind the Decalogue?”

  She
nodded.

  “The gateway to a site dedicated to ‘Yahweh’. The Stone is a warning to those who enter. Yahweh’s Laws are supreme here. Like at the Temple, not man’s laws - but God’s.”

  “Pretty powerful stuff, the reality gives me chills.”

  Her admission amused Antonio. He now knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t exaggerating. More likely, it was an underestimation. With her, his senses felt heightened, and she felt everything.

  Antonio opened his pack to remove his binoculars. Taking Amanda’s hand, he led her up a short distance along the riverbed, while he explained.

  “Amanda, look through the binoculars to the right. On the ledge is the Eclipse Stone.”

  He felt her excitement swell. Her love for ancient sites and artifacts could rival his. His passions often outweighed his colleagues, and forced him to pay a price.

  Amanda felt her heart leap inside her chest. Bringing her here, showing her this was something she would always remember.

  Antonio just stood and watched Amanda as she moved the binoculars over the mountain. If Solomon’s Legacy wasn’t hanging over them right now, he’d bounce her around the globe for a couple years to show her, watch her, and feel her experience the sites he knew. That would be his greatest adventure ever.

  He’d need smelling salts in his pack to revive her at sites like the Pyramids. No doubt overwhelming, they’d put her down for the count. He might die trying, but he was going to take her. She’d worry about her kids, business, and heaven knows what else. He bet on himself to win that battle. Her voice brought him back to the present.

  “Antonio, the eclipse was important to them. It seems to me that accomplishing the Stone’s inscription was a tough task. The inscriber was in an awkward position for a very long time.” Her voice was inquisitive.

  “Wow, you’re so observant.” The opportunity to tease her was always tempting. She gave him a playful elbow to the stomach.

  “No, Amanda. I’m sure you are the first person to think of that.” He laughed aloud.

  “Antonio, stop it.” He had her half-laughing.

  She turned around with playful force, and handed him his binoculars.