Chapter 14: Ancient Inscription
Neal and Mozzie remained at the Gilmans' to help clean up after Lavinia and Talmadge left. The familiar routine of drying plates was welcome while Neal sorted through his chaotic thoughts.
He was thankful Talmadge hadn't pushed for an immediate response. Anything he might have said would have been inadequate. He didn't even know how to address the man. Whoever he was, he along with Lavinia had watched over Neal since he was eight. He'd been bred for a mission that he understood in only the vaguest of terms. The knowledge that he'd been monitored his entire life by an alien race was unsettling. But overriding everything else was the anger he felt toward the Ymar. The ghasts were just their puppets. He laid the responsibility for the murder of his parents on Azathoth and his fellow Ymar.
"You okay?" Peter asked quietly.
He realized he'd been standing in place wiping the same plate for at least five minutes. If he didn't stop, there wouldn't be any design left. "It's a struggle," he admitted. "Grief, anger . . . gratitude to Lavinia and Phineas for their efforts." He shrugged. "More than a little frustration over not being clued in earlier. How about you?"
"I'm not thrilled that Lavinia gave me algolnium without my being aware of it. But in fairness to her, how could she have explained it? When she started, we didn't know what algolnium was. You were an undergrad with no knowledge of your heritage. Do I regret that they helped me find the starfish artifact and that they encouraged us to meet? Not for a second." He smiled at Neal as he hung up the dishtowel. "I guess if I had to express my feelings in one word, I'd say honored."
"I'd use the wordecstatic," Mozzie said. "We've been chosen to save the world while expanding our knowledge of the universe." He turned to Neal. "This is your chance to make up for the tragedies of the past. That's a rare gift."
Trust Mozzie to put a positive spin on what to anyone else would sound like a crushing burden. Neal turned to El. "And you?"
"I have my concerns," she admitted. "The genetic manipulation they practiced by injecting alien substances into humans with virtually no advance knowledge of what the effects would be is a violation of the Hippocratic oath. And even though their cause is noble, the results haven't always been positive. What happened to Thaddeus was tragic."
Neal nodded in agreement. Thaddeus had been estranged from his father since his college days. When Lavinia finally told Thaddeus the truth about his father—thirty-plus years after the fact—how had he felt? Lavinia gave Thaddeus the photo of Neal's grandfather and mother when Neal was a freshman. At the same time, she explained who Andrew was. That was when Thaddeus agreed to become Neal's advisor. Thaddeus had encouraged Lavinia to keep Neal in the dark about his family history. Why? Was it because of his own relationship with his father? More likely he believed Neal was too young to handle it.
"You're welcome to stay here tonight," Peter offered.
"Thanks but you and El need a chance to come to terms with what you've learned." He knew what he would do, but would they want to be involved in such a dangerous undertaking? Then there was Sara. She'd worked so hard to unravel the mystery of his childhood. She needed to hear the truth and then evaluate whether she wanted to continue to be a member of their group.
El crossed the kitchen and wrapped him in a hug. "Just remember, you're a member of our family and we're here for you."
He relaxed into her embrace for a moment, before pulling free. "Thanks, El."
"You too," she added, kissing a flustered Mozzie on the cheek. "The Meropians may have made some mistakes but uniting us was not one of them."
He and Mozzie left a few minutes later. Tomorrow would be a full day and not just of teaching assignments. Before leaving, Talmadge had arranged to meet with them in the cemetery at dawn. He'd never seen the disk in the crypt. Neal also wanted to return. Now that he could read Celaenian, he should be able to read the inscription. Later in the day, he hoped to have that conversation with Sara.
He walked with Mozzie to his car. They'd then head in different directions—Mozzie back to the university and Neal to June's. It was time to part ways. Should the same be said for their future? Andrew had changed names, left his job, and gone into hiding. Wouldn't that be the best course for him as well? It'd be safer for the others.
Mozzie placed his hand on the door handle and then paused to look up. The night sky was brilliant with stars with no moon to dim their radiance. "This reminds me of that first Christmas we spent together, remember?"
"How could I forget? It was one of the best days of my life." It was the Christmas after they'd met at camp. Neal had sneaked away from his foster home that evening to give him a present— a portrait he'd drawn of Mozzie against a star-filled sky. It wasn't very good but Mozzie pronounced it a masterpiece. Mozzie had given him a pair of binoculars. They'd spent the entire evening on the roof above his office, stargazing and eating Christmas cookies. "I have the binoculars you gave me in my office," Neal added.
"And I still have my portrait," Mozzie said. "That was when I told you the story of Perseus, and how you were linked to the constellation."
Sitting on the roof that night, Neal had opened up about the amnesia and the problems he was having at the foster home. In a typically bravura gesture, Mozzie declared that Neal was like Perseus. Perseus's father was a god. He concocted a fantasy where Neal's father was an extraterrestrial with superpowers. Mozzie disclosed that he was also an orphan and had grown up in foster homes. He'd spun the same sort of stories around his own origin to make the loneliness more bearable.
"I didn't realize how prescient my comments were," Mozzie said. "I happen to have a container of chocolate chunk cookies June gave me. I bet you're not going to sleep much tonight. We could stargaze, eat cookies, and reflect on the future. And if you want to sleep, the couch is yours, although you'll have to share it with Betelgeuse. You've crashed there before."
"It's a tempting offer but I don't think I'm ready for that yet." At some point when the emerald wine wore off, his emotions would resurface. No one should have to witness that.
"I know what you're feeling. I've been there too. It's beginning to sink in that you'll never get to meet your parents. You shouldn't be alone tonight."
The kindness in Mozzie's voice was overwhelming. Neal didn't attempt to speak but simply nodded.
Mozzie opened up the passenger side door. "Hop in. We'll go by June's and pick up some clothes."
He swallowed with difficulty the gigantic lump that had lodged in his throat. "I'd like to tell her what I found out."
"Naturally. The stars aren't going anywhere. I believe there's a bottle of champagne in my refrigerator, too. Yes, that will go very well with cookies." Mozzie got into the car and inserted the key into the ignition.
"Champagne's for celebrating. I don't think I'm—"
"Who says we don't have anything to celebrate?" Mozzie interjected. "I could have news worth a bottle or two."
Neal broke into a smile. "Lavinia agreed to go on a date?"
"Yes, but that's not all. She gave me algolnium!" Mozzie explained how he'd won her over. "She made me promise not to tell anyone but I'm sure she only meant Earthlings, not you. Peter, you, and me—we're a trio of adventurers about to embark on the grandest adventure ever conceived. Has it occurred to you that we've become defenders of the galaxy?"
Mozzie's high spirits were infectious. Did Peter feel the same way? The route ahead might not be such a lonely one after all.
#
The gravestones were coated with frost when Neal, Peter, and Mozzie met Gideon Talmadge the next morning. Neal kept his hands stuffed in the pockets of his overcoat. He kept a wary eye on Talmadge, half-expecting him to transform into Phineas at any moment.
He hadn't had a chance to speak with Peter yet. Mozzie was convinced that Peter would want to be included in any future project, but Neal wasn't as optimistic. Unlike him, Peter already had an established career and reputation to consider.
But if Peter had any doubts, he wasn't displaying them. He was in full archaeologist mode as he described to Talmadge the tests his team had run on the crypt.
A reinforced door equipped with a sophisticated lock now safeguarded the mausoleum. The family who'd erected the tomb had died out decades ago. After the discovery, the property was claimed by the city as a site of historical significance.
They switched on their flashlights when they entered the mausoleum. The archaeology team had done a good job of cleaning up. Gone were the thick layers of dust and cobwebs. The staircase leading down to the crypt had been cleared of the fallen chunks of masonry.
Once they descended the steps to the underground passage, Neal watched for the large pink cave centipedes that clung to the walls during his visit. If there were any, they were hiding.
Peter pointed out the mortar holding the limestone slabs together. "We were able to extract organic material and date it to approximately the same age as the bronze disk—6,000 BC."
Talmadge nodded as if he'd already expected the correlation. "This passage along with the wormhole gateway was likely built by Celaenians during the struggle to evict the Ymar from your world."
"Do you have any idea how many similar sites may exist?" Mozzie asked.
"I know Providence has a gateway. That was the one Neal closed with my assistance when he was a child. The council suspects this region of New England was one of the main Ymar strongholds. Remember that the wormhole gateways were constructed not only by Celaenians but also by the first colonists of Earth, the Elnath. Celaenians may have reconfigured some of those earlier portals, but we have no information about them."
When they arrived at the terminus of the passage, Talmadge stroked the rough stone surface with his hand.
Peter stood beside him. "The opening to the monastery appeared on that wall."
It was difficult to believe the nightmarish scene Neal and Peter had witnessed that night. The gorilla-like gug which had emerged from a stairwell behind the altar to try to penetrate their world . . . If they hadn't succeeded in sealing the portal, what other horrors would have emerged?
"All our attempts to reopen the wormhole have been futile," Mozzie added. "It's not been for lack of trying." Anyone who didn't know Mozzie might wonder why he would possibly want to reopen it.
Neal stood in front of the engraved disk. For the first time, he could read the script. Portal to the Monastery of Leng. To remain sealed until the Ymar are no longer a threat. As the others gathered around him, he read the lines aloud.
"It was to remain sealed," Peter repeated and turned to Talmadge. "Do you know how the Ymar managed to reopen it?"
"When the Ymar defeated the Elnath, they enslaved many of their scientists. Their descendants may still be working for them." Talmadge swept the cave with his flashlight. "Gentlemen, I suggest we table our discussion till we gather this evening. We should have the armillary sphere present if the owner will permit it." He raised an eyebrow at Mozzie.
"We can use Cyrus's chemistry lab," Mozzie suggested. "There aren't any evening classes. I plan to meet with him this afternoon to inform him of developments—" He stopped abruptly. "I assume that's allowed?"
Talmadge smiled. "If you wish to know if he's already been tested, the answer is yes." He nodded at Neal. "As has June. We felt the precaution was warranted. If you want to include them in tonight's discussion, I won't stand in your way."
As they walked back to their cars, Mozzie bounded forward to match strides with Talmadge. Apparently he sensed that Talmadge had a burning desire for an in-depth explanation of his latest gravitational wave theory. Neal had been the lucky recipient the previous night.
"Mozzie seems unusually . . . um . . . bouncy today," Peter muttered. "Any particular reason?"
Neal hesitated. Lavinia had ordered Mozzie not to tell anyone, but Mozzie had already ignored her. Peter was also a "non-Earthling." He had an equal right to know. "Mozzie coaxed Lavinia into giving him a dose of algolnium," he murmured. "Mozzie is now like us—not entirely of this world."
Peter snorted. "It was bound to happen. Thanks for the warning, though. Once El hears about it, she'll undoubtedly want algolnium, too. Lavinia's caution about how it would make the recipient a potential target of the Ymar will be countered by her insistence that she could be of material assistance to us."
"You said us. Does that mean you still want to be involved?"
"Are you kidding? Of course, we do. You didn't seriously think we'd back off?"
Neal shrugged. "I'd understand it if you did. You've got your careers. The good guys haven't been very successful."
"That's because we weren't around." Peter's expression grew serious. "We're not blind to the risks. It was clear what your choice would be, and it was equally an easy decision for us. You can't possibly tackle this on your own. El feels the same way I do. It's rare to have the opportunity to do something so meaningful with your life. I believe what Lavinia and Talmadge said. We've witnessed too much to doubt their words. We can't turn our backs on the threat." He smiled. "And the fact we may be able to unearth traces of earlier alien civilizations on Earth doesn't hurt. Any archaeologist worth his salt would give his eyeteeth for the opportunity."
Neal breathed easier at his words. "I'll take this as confirmation you and El are signing up to be defenders of the galaxy."
Peter snorted. "Is that what you're calling us?"
"Not me. Mozzie. Along with a few other terms, like a trio of adventurers. With El we'll be a quartet."
"Better make that a quintet," Peter advised. "Once Sara hears about Mozzie, she won't rest till she has algolnium too."
"She won't hear that from me. She's coming to my office this afternoon. I intend to fill her in on what we learned last night, but not about Mozzie's news. He can tell her."
"Smart move."