SVON XXVIII

Reiba threw her hands up and covered her face to hide the tears of disappointment. She had been so sure the path she had taken was the right one. To learn there was no truth to the story of her father and grandmother hurt deeply and brought back memories of her struggle both in Afghanistan and Russia. To think that her father's quest for the truth would end on his deathbed was painful.

'Don't cry, my child. The story is not over. You must wait and have faith.' Hélène's voice was soft and reassuring. She had looked up and seen Jacob's face. It was clear to those who knew him that he had much more to say. Reiba squeezed the hand, which patted her gently and waited. After a few moments, Jacob continued.

…..

"Rivkah's astral body hovered over her flesh and bones. She was experiencing a great deal of personal disdain for the physical weakness that kept her from Asher. The hovering energy observed the hair, the dirtied clothes and squalid surroundings and wondered if there were any pleasures of physical life worth the pain.

She turned her attention to the etheric ties, which would enable her to find Asher. As soon as she recognized his energy her astral body moved towards him. Indeed, locating Asher was easy. His supporters had not been able to make much progress. He was reluctant to leave without her. In milliseconds she was hovering over the crouched body, huddled against a rock, eyes and ears covered in absolute surrender to his fear. Asher was breathing rapidly. His whole body was shaking. He had completely blocked out the men pacing back and forth in front of him.

She could see how hard they were forcing him to get up and move on. They were shouting at him, in the same way as her team had raised their voices to her. The men had been told about his remarkable creativity. The small group wondered exactly what kind of genius couldn't speak? He cried like a baby and had to be dragged every inch of the way. With sinking hearts the helpers realized that they would be unable to meet their connections. Frustration was mounting among the men. They were not prepared for his resistance. What they could never understand was the resistance within Asher. No one had been able to successfully interact with him and let him know that he was not being abducted, that he had agreed to leave, even planned the route.

Rivkah stayed within range of the physical body. She sent shards of energy his way. Once she could penetrate his physical wall of fear, they would be able to communicate. She let it be known, in her own way, that she was waiting. On the astral plane Asher, as Aag, had every capability of communicating openly and freely. Even as his own astral body separated, he felt horror at the thought that perhaps his 'twin' had not survived her escape.

Auc was able to share the news that her lifeless body lay in some dirt hole waiting death. If he wished, they could be free to return home to Shamballa. Auc thought that would please him but she was wrong. Aag was furious! His spirit reminded her that each of their assignments had to be completed. 'In this mission we must go separately.' We have other roles to fulfill, other jobs to complete before we can be reunited.' Aag knew that if they returned to Shamballa at this time they would have to suffer the indignity of failure. He had no wish to try and explain away their inability to complete the mission. To give up because it had not been convenient for one or the other was unacceptable.

Even though Asher in the flesh hated the situation and knew that he had much suffering to endure, he still chose to release himself from Auc and let her return to the physical body because as he indicated,

"You forget that we have also created a living part of us which has a mission of its own to complete on earth. We cannot interfere, no matter what our earthly trials. Both of us will suffer greatly but each of us will leave something of value behind. We agreed on this challenge. Let us take it. Next time we will know greater happiness."

Auc knew the truth of his words. She was dismayed, but each of their energies had to be in sync, for better or worse. She had pushed for the change in their earthly realm. They had suffered before but adversity had always been shared. Something about this mission generated great anxiety in her and yet she could neither refuse nor deny the truth of Aag's words. Her reluctance was based on the habit of years spent watching over Asher. Worry drew her away from the realities of the self-imposed mission. Out of habit she left her post with the intention of saving Asher from the trouble ahead, but without his consent she could not. He rebuffed her concern and forced her to return to the body she had all but abandoned.

Asher's refusal to alter the course of their separate journey came as a shock to the weakened energy flowing inside the body of Rivkah. What occurred next was outside of her control. The etheric cord, which tied her to the body lying lifeless in the dirt, drew her back quickly and firmly. To her astral senses, it appeared that she was on the verge of being assaulted. The jolt of her energetic return was enough to create a tremor, which startled the man who was bending over her.

The stranger thought she was dead. Out of some misplaced kindness, the man who had spoken up, returned. He decided to take her body to be buried. In the current state of Russia, there was no hope of finding anyone to claim her. There was too much secrecy around their actions. It would have been impossible to backtrack and find family. No one could be trusted. The dead body of an exiled Jewish woman would have no value but Alexei possessed a good heart. He and his wife had buried many children. It was small consolation for their losses that they could at least visit the graves. Someday, he thought, someone may come looking for her.

Alexei had not expected movement. He turned her over and recoiled as a tremor ran through her body. Pale eyes fluttered open. She showed no fear. Grabbing the collar of the man she pulled him close and muttered a plaintive 'help me'.

Alexei had already committed himself to moving the body. In the face of her courage, he vowed help her. Alexei loaded her weakened body on the back of his cart, covered her with an old blanket and drove to a small holding on the outskirts of Moscow.

His wife Olga was waiting. She fully supported the work of her husband in the freedom movement. Olga knew he was a good man. At the sight of the golden haired, fragile looking young woman, she immediately understood that this was a failed escape. Looking at the delicate features, she decided to accept and care for her unexpected guest as a replacement for the many children she had lost. Their eldest son had been the only survivor and was now a spy, in the Russian army. Olga quickly prepared a small cot for the woman, offered her a little soup, before covering the trembling body and offering prayers for her safety.

Rivkah, slept on and off for days. She was aware of the need to recuperate and heal. In her sleep time she followed the path of Asher and knew that he was unhappy, terrified and reluctant to move forward but he did, before making it safely to the northern coast where a boat was waiting to transport him to Finland. Years of conflict between Russia and Finland allowed some openings, amidst the fighting, to get a few people out.

Days passed before Rivkah could rouse herself from the emotional and physical stupor generated by her pregnancy. She noted her new surroundings. The wooden cottage was small but clean. Alexei operated a farm, which barely produced enough to feed him and his wife and a few neighbors. His real work was with the freedom movement. As she observed their actions and interactions she considered herself blessed to have been sheltered in their home.

Olga did her best to encourage Rivkah to eat and drink. For the most part she was grateful. The only thing that the willing patient did not do was drink the water. Olga pushed but Rivkah refused. It took some days before she acknowledged that the taste and smell made her sick. With a baby inside she had a lot of trouble ingesting anything questionable. Olga was surprised both by the news of the pregnancy and horrified by the comment about the water. With a little effort, she did some comparisons and realized that the water was indeed not fit for drinking without boiling. In a flash, she wondered if this was the cause of the deaths of her children who had been born well enough but failed to thrive. Only her eldest, who had been born in Moscow and raised with her parents, had been healthy. Looking back she remembered a massive flood during their third year in the community. The ground water had been contaminated! Over the next few months Alexei and his neighbors dug a new deeper well.

Rivkah, who had come from a more progressive society, was able to help Olga increase her efficiency. Rural Russia was under severe restrictions that affected peasant farmers. Wheat crops were seized. This was designed to punish many communities unsympathetic to the government. Kulaks were being persecuted and executed. Olga and Alexei kept their holding small, harvesting barely enough to survive. Rivkah, who had lived her early life within tight boundaries, knew that her community found ways to circumvent such severe restrictions. She passed on her knowledge. The grateful community drew closer to her. When it came time to give birth, she felt supported and loved.

The baby, who she named Alexey in honor of the man who saved her, was a scrawny mite, who seemed to cry all the time. He carried nothing of his mother or father. His dark hair and stormy eyes were destined to endear him to a community of fair-haired folks. He grew quickly on his mother's milk. By the end of two years, he was taller than average and had enough bulk for two babies.

Alexey was as attached to Olga as to Rivkah. It seemed as if he instinctively knew that his mother had a higher purpose. When she was satisfied that Alexey was safe, Rivkah knew it was time for her to revisit her earthly mission. In a dream-state she saw herself in the role of helper to the same group who had taken Asher. Her intuitive abilities, which returned after the birth of the baby, pulled her towards spying. She wanted to ferret secrets from officials in the Russian army. Nicolai, Olga's son, helped her in this endeavor. During their conversations, he talked about the need to get inside information. As an aide to a senior army officer, he heard many things at meetings but was unable to act on them as efficiently as he wished.

When Rivkah offered herself Nicolai made it clear that there was only two ways in which she could help. He could bring her to Moscow as his sister and introduce her to the men who would be delighted to have a beautiful mistress or she could be a runner between the various groups. With limited physical ability, Rivkah knew that she could not cope, but her beauty would be an asset.

'My heart has already been taken. My mind is my own. I can dedicate my body to the resistance. As of today, I am your sister.'

Over the next few weeks, Nicolai returned to Moscow where he spoke casually about the widowed sister who would be joining him. Rivkah worked on developing an air of confidence, learning how to speak Russian without the accent, which would identify her as Ukrainian. She created a wardrobe suitable for a young woman, looking to develop a career. Her persona would be one of a grieving widow trying to rebuild her life.

It was 1939. Russians had much to fear. Internal struggles plagued the country. Various groups fought for their freedom from oppression but everyone was also aware of the rising German power in Europe. Many Jews feared the Nazi machine which was advancing outward and threatening to take over everything. There was urgency, fear and secrecy in every corner. Enemies were all over. Rivkah would be fighting on two fronts. She had not forgotten her Jewish roots or the need to save the peasants in farming communities. Mass starvation was happening throughout the country.

When she was ready, Rivkah sat with Olga and talked about her uncertain future.

"I cannot thank you enough for saving me and giving my son a chance to grow up. I don't know if or when I will return but I will write to him. Each letter will contain a simple message in one word. As my….husband…. taught me, simple is better, easier. Yesterday, today and tomorrow are the code words. Whatever lovely words I write to my son, look for yesterday which means unsafe, today is caution, tomorrow is best. In this folder, there are songs which represent the four major routes out of Russia. The title, of which one to use, will be my closing. Don't keep anything Olga, except this folder. Please make sure Alexey knows that it is the clue which will lead him to his father."

Rivkah did not want to cry. She stood on the stoop waiting and watching her son who was playing outside in the small courtyard. He was as healthy and happy as possible in a very difficult world. She intuitively knew he would be safe and grow into a fine man. Rivkah could not pick him up anymore, so she sat on a wooden step and pulled him close. She loved the smell of him. It was the only feature, which reminded her of Asher. When she was able to compose herself she wrapped her arms around his chubby body and spoke into his ear.

"My son, I love you with all my heart but I must go away for awhile to do some work. I will think of you and write to you. Even though you are not able to understand everything I am saying never forget that your father and I are with you always. Listen to Babulya and study hard."

Rivkah held him even more tightly. She prayed hard for his safety. In that moment she was able to transcend her earthly self. She felt her etheric energy being transported to Asher's side where she could sense that he was moments from being helped. For a brief time they connected. He called out to her. Aag could feel the delight of the child they had created. He sent a message through Rivkah.

"My son, you have a long journey ahead but you will always be protected. You may feel alone, but you will never be alone. Someday we will meet again. When gold and silver reunite, healing will take place."

Five years after giving birth Rivkah once again set out on a journey, this time on a different mission and one in which she was much better suited. In time, she did become mistress to a senior army official. She was able to access much information, which helped many in the Jewish resistance to avoid capture and certain death. She faithfully wrote to her son and each letter was read to him then destroyed. Seven years after her departure no more letters came. In that time she came home to see her son once. He had grown tall and barely remembered her but she had not been forgotten. Olga spoke often about her bravery and her sacrifice.

In the mind of young Alexey, an army career, like his 'older brother' was the way to go. Like his mother, he was drawn to the risk. Nicolai encouraged him in that endeavor. He rarely spoke about Rivkah but watching over Alexey was a promise he made as her life became more complicated and dangerous. The truth about her ability to access information would have been horrific to the mind of her young son. Like Olga he repeated the simple concept of her courage on behalf of the oppressed.

Alexey never understood what made him choose a posting in Afghanistan. He was a natural leader and rose quickly in the ranks of the army, but underneath his efficiency was a deep sense of loss. For many years he harbored a nagging sense of unfinished business. His travels revealed nothing to assuage the longing. He couldn't see the bigger picture until his daughter was born."

Jacob stopped and took a deep breath. The room was silent, each occupant digesting the breathtaking story. There was as much unsaid as said. Many questions filled the air but remained unspoken. Jacob, Cathy and Holly seemed to huddle closer to each other. Their bodies were sharing some thread of information. Reiba turned her eyes on Howard. In her head and heart she knew that he was indeed her father's brother. The more she stared, the more his features seemed to morph into that of Alexey. It was as if her father was present in the room waiting.

Indeed, many spirits had gathered but only the trio on the couch saw them and heard their messages. Finally Cathy spoke. Her voice had that rare quality, which indicated a pronouncement, filtering through from her guides.

'In Shamballa, the Master Sanat Kumara and his wife Lady Master Mary and their daughter Lady Master Meta are constantly seeking ways in which they can bring the light of consciousness to the people of earth. Many years ago, it was decided that the Lady Master Meta should be sent to Sassanian Persia to oversee the people there and bring them the message of love and sacrifice and healing. For those born from her goodness, it is time to unite and come home to Shamballa.

A daughter of Persia is here. She embodies the full measure of gifts bequeathed to her. You have seen her courage and sacrifice. Now there must be healing. Her role is to unite the gold and silver. Know ye children of the Cult of the Lion that you are also agents of Sanat Kumara. Know by your golden aura that you embody his message of love. Your challenges have been great and yet still more is asked of you. Read the messages in the story. Your path will be clear.'

No one stirred. It was as if a cloud settled on the room creating a temporary paralysis. Only Cathy seemed to move, turning and twisting her head, listening. The time could have been interminable or mere fractions of a second. There was a collective deep breath when she spoke at last.

"Yesterday, today and tomorrow are joined here. The gold are in yesterday and tomorrow. Bring silver to the here and now to receive the blessing of unification and healing."

Reiba was confused but Hélène was not. She had seen so many elements of the love story in the music. She remembered when Jacob shared the story of the messages seen in the tableau. Intuitively, she felt that the spirit of Auc was responsible for generating Jacob's vision because he had been ready to receive and express the story. Reiba, on the other hand, had been guided to find Cathy who held the ability to communicate at a much higher vibration, perhaps to Shamballa itself, she thought. The ending of the story was meant to crystalize when all the players were able to come together. At that moment Hélène realized that it was a significant unfolding of a centuries old need for reunification. A link was needed but no one seemed to know, except Hélène.

'Howard, can you ask someone to bring the baby,' she whispered. 'Don't ask why. This is important for the baby's future.'

To his credit, Howard asked no questions. One quick word to an aide and the sleeping baby was brought to her mother. Cathy called Reiba to resume her seat in front of Jacob, Cathy and Holly. Cathy took the baby and placed the toddler on her lap. She said nothing. Once again, they joined hands but instead of Cathy being part of the circle, Jacob placed a hand on the baby's head and Holly held the feet. Cathy intoned a few unintelligible words, before humming softly. It was clear that her own baby was involved. She placed a hand on her abdomen and waited until she received some signal. Reiba's daughter was very still until Cathy covered the quiet body with her other hand.

Almost immediately, the baby wriggled and turned over. Eyes, which once held little interest were bright and serious. She produced a genuine smile holding her mother's gaze for the first time. Reiba broke down in tears. She kneeled in front of Cathy. Sobs shook her body. Cathy touched the silver haired mother and asked her to rise.

'We are a team. We have gifts, which are given for the purpose of healing. We are asked to help reunite the descendants of the 144,000. We do so with humility.'

It was the first time Cathy was able to articulate the purpose of their strange existence, of the history and events, which reconnected her to Jacob, then Holly to both of them. They were the crossroads, not only of past, present and future but the crossroads between earth and the higher powers of the Ascended Masters.

With those words she held the hands of her husband and sister before morphing back into the Cathy everyone knew. The change was subtle but Hélène saw it and marveled at the gift, which had been bestowed on her daughter Madeleine and passed to Cathy and Holly.

Reiba, who could not believe the change in her own daughter rose from her seat and walked towards Howard.

"Is a miracle, Uncle?'

'Yes. It is a miracle.'

Howard reached out his arms and hugged this woman, the daughter of his unknown brother, who endured so much to find her rightful family. He marveled at the human capacity to persist, one which he had underestimated even in the face of his mother's family history and unbelievable sacrifices or his father's incredible journey. Out of Jacob's revelation, he saw a miracle happen before his eyes. He discovered a profound love in Hélène and recaptured the soul of his life's purpose. No one in that room would ever be the same.

….

Much later, as Jacob and Cathy lay cuddled together, they spoke softly. Under the light sheet, their naked bodies lay very close, divided yet connected by the belly containing the growing the baby.

'You, my love, have transcended anything I could ever imagine. This is the second time, your ability has left me breathless.'

'I hope, Jacob Wells, that you are talking about our lovemaking?'

Jacob realized that whatever Cathy did as an intermediary the effects were not going to live on in her conscious memory. Perhaps it was as it should be. Both of them couldn't carry the daily burden of being a conduit. Her role as the present circumstance in the trio meant that she would not be able to access past and future unless messages were coming to her in real time. That she should have this incredible power was scary but entirely endearing. The first time the Diosa appeared, she had given him the courage to help Holly birth her mal-positioned baby. Last time, she saved his life and healed his damaged arm. This time she reversed a debilitating genetic abnormality, which had gradually manifested in generation after generation until Reiba's child embodied the worst of the symptoms. That it could work in tandem with his revelations and Holly's support never ceased to amaze him.

He pulled Cathy closer, loving the smell of her hair. He refused to allow worry to override this moment. In time, others would seek out their abilities. Every event prepared them more fully for some episode in the future, which would require every bit of their combined strength. In the meantime, he hoped that they would be spared until after the birth of their child.

'Yes dearest, you make my heart spin whenever we make love. I am the luckiest man in the world.'

…..

This story completes another episode in the tales of the Wells family. I am so grateful to Alexander who helped inspire me to write about 19th century Russia. One day I met a lovely lady who shared a story very similar to Reiba's life that helped me to craft the original idea. I was able to gather a lot of background information from Wikipedia sources. I remain grateful for its presence on the Internet. As always, the muse who drives the story through my brain remains a constant source of strength.

Other Sources

Understanding Russian Jewish Given Names - Boris Feldyblum