Note: See Part 1 for disclaimers.
THE ONLY EASY DAY IS YESTERDAY
"The Journey of Jeremy Keller"
By OldScout
Jeremy climbed from the river several miles down stream from the
bridge. By morning, the river would be filled with deputies looking for
his body. Even so, the first order of business was to dry out. His clothes
would dry quickly enough to be presentable, but the contents of the
duffel, including a sleeping bag, would take some time. Night had
recently fallen he would have to improvise. After unpacking the duffel
and wringing as much water as possible from the contents he re-packed
started walking.
In the woods, he found a dirt road that led him to an old hunting
cabin. It didn't take long to force the door and get a look around. The
two room cabin was dusty and obviously hadn't been used in a few
months. A fire was burning in no time and the few possessions from the
duffel were hung to dry.
Keller's next chore was to clean his weapons. The .357 was easy,
a revolver with few parts and stainless steel, it was designed to be low
maintenance and dependable for amphibious commandos. The
Remington 870 pump shotgun was also simple but needed more attention
to keep it in top working order.
As he tore down the Remington, his mind drifted back to his few
days in Saudi Arabia.....
Passing out in a strangers car in an unsecured area was not the
best tactical maneuver he had ever made, but this time luck was with
him. Jeremy woke up to the hum of a distant air conditioner. The room
was plush with fine wood trim and expensive antique furniture. His first
thought was for his weapons, which he found cleaned and set on a table.
Also on the table where the remains of his clothing cleaned and neatly
folded. He had been dressed in standard Arab garb, including loose
white pants and long sleeve shirt all made of fine cotton.
Lieutenant Keller had just picked up his shot gun to examine its
condition when he felt a sickening rush curse through his body. It was all
he could do to stand up straight gripping the table waiting for the
sensation to pass. As before, the sensation was soon followed by the
arrival of his host.
The man entered the room smiling and said "Welcome to my
home, my friend. Some of my servants thought we had lost you, but they
have little faith in the ways of Allah."
Keller knew that the weapons weren't loaded so he put the gun
back on the table and faced his host. "Thank you for taking care of me, I
appreciate it, but I do need to get back to my unit."
"Yes of course, Lieutenant, but first can't you allow yourself to
enjoy my hospitality for just a few hours. I see so few of our kind
especially someone newly awakened like yourself."
"Our kind? Awakened? What are talking about?"
"Of course, you wouldn't know, come let me tell you about that
strange feeling you experienced when I approached." Aziz held the
ornate wooden door open, waiting for Keller to pass.
Jeremy slipped his feet into a pair a sandals that had been left on
the floor at the foot of his bed. "Where are we?"
"We are at my villa near Al Jubayl. This compound has been my
home for many years and is very old."
The room opened under a narrow covered patio that was part of a
large court yard. In the middle of the yard was a small fountain splashing
over orange stone. The whole structure was built of cement and marble
with rough wood timbers as accents. Several servants wearing blue long
sleeve overalls worked in the garden and court yard. The heat of the
Saudi sun struck Keller like a wall but he pushed his way through.
The Saudi led him through the court yard and into another part of
the compound. They went down a long hall then through a locked gate
and down into the basement area. Several vault doors later they stood in
an ancient storage room. The stones of the walls were roughly cut and
the floor looked like it had endured centuries of traffic.
Filling the room where racks of shelves made from wood that
looked like it would crumble at a touch. The shelves were filled with
scrolls and ancient artifacts, including swords and other weapons. The
contents appeared to date from biblical times thru to the early twentieth
century.
"What is this place." Keller asked as he gazed at the collection.
"This is my history, from the days before the rise of the Roman
empire through the founding of the Kingdom earlier this century."
"You can trace your family tree back that far?" Keller asked
fascinated by the ancient Roman artifacts.
"No my brother, this is MY history." Abual opened a book
exposing an old photograph. The photo was yellowed from time and heat
but clearly showed Aziz with a familiar looking white man in Arab robes.
"This is you?"
"Yes."
"And the other man, he looks familiar, but I can't place him."
"That man, is who your people called Lawrence Of Arabia. He
was a very good friend of mine and my tribe."
"T.E. Lawrence, that's not possible."
"It is possible, and quite true, deep down, you know it is." Aziz
waved his hand at the artifacts in the room. "Everything here I acquired
when it was new. The scrolls I penned so long ago, the languages I have
long since forgotten. Touch them now and they will fall apart in your
hands. My earliest years or the names I've used have long since vanished
with time. It is anyone's guess how old I am. I remember seeing one of
the pyramids under construction, but I don't know which it was or why I
was in Egypt."
"Why are telling me this?" Keller asked incredulously.
Aziz smiled broadly "Haven't you figured it out yet? It is because
you are like me, immortal."
Keller now knew for sure that Aziz was mad and it was time to
make a quick exit. "Well, I want to thank you for showing this to me it is
fascinating, but I really must be going my people are looking for me."
with that Lieutenant Keller started for the door.
"Lieutenant" Aziz said.
Keller found himself looking down the barrel of a silenced, small
caliber revolver. The first bullet ripped through his left side causing him
to drop to one knee in pain. Holding his side Jeremy prepared to jump at
Aziz but the next shot hit him point blank in the chest.........
"Mr. Edwin, I didn't know you were in town." a woman's voice
called out just before the door to the cabin swung open.
Keller jumped to his feet grabbing his .357. A young woman
wearing jeans and a plaid Woolrich shirt stood in the doorway. She had
shoulder length brown hair pulled back in a simple pony tale and wore a
bright smile that dimmed when she saw Jeremy.
The woman seemed un-phased by the large hand gun pointed at
her. "Who are you, and what are you doing in Mr. Edwin's cabin?" she
demanded.
"I was going to ask you about the same thing." Keller said
keeping the gun trained on the woman.
"I doubt you were going ask me about Mr. Edwin." the girl took a
step side ways eyeing up Keller's belongings. "Are you that guy who
drove his car into the river. You know, they're bringing a barge all the
way down from Pottsburg just to fish it out?"
"I'm flattered they care that much, are you going to tell them I'm
here."
"Well, if you put down that empty revolver I might consider not
getting involved."
Jeremy turned the gun on its side looking at it then dropped the
chamber opened. He looked at the girl through the six empty holes and
smiled. "My name is Jeremy," he said then snapped the gun shut and laid
it on the table. "and I'm just passing through."
The girl smiled back "I'm Mindy, pleased to meet you."
The two sat down at the table facing each other. "Why are you
running from the police?"
Jeremy looked at the girl, "You sure don't pull any punches, do
you?"
"No, and that doesn't answer my question."
"I killed a man in Virginia, it was self defense, but there are other
complications that make it very difficult for me to deal with the police at
this time."
"OK then, I'll change the subject for now." Mindy looked around
the room and said "Are you still in the military?"
"What makes you think I'm in the army?"
"I didn't say army, I said military and that is the only place a
professional hard case like you comes from."
Jeremy smiled, he definatly did not care to answer any questions
about himself. "You know, you'll have to stay here until I'm ready to
leave."
"I figured as much."
Jeremy sat back and looked at the young woman, this was going
to be long night.
to be continued..........................