Chapter Fourteen

Africa

When the small fishing vessel arrived in Lamu, Kenya the second week of July, Captain Maxim kept Amanda on board as hostage until Carl returned with the money. Carl was able to get enough of a cash advance from the Watcher fund to pay him off. Amanda's parting words were, "If I ever see you again, you are dead."

Shopping together, Carl bought bus tickets and clothes to outfit them for a week. He bought them new swords while the credit card still worked.

Next, he made a call to France to report that Amanda was dead but when he landed in Africa, he met up with an immortal woman and was recruiting her.

He told Davis, "I'm going to Nairobi first the take a plane to Sudan. I have to take out a lot of money so I want to get an advance on my credit limit."

Davis instructed him further, "Once you get to Europe get back to the Château as quickly as possible we've already started training."

"Affirmative," answered Carl hanging up the phone. However, he had no intention of stopping in France. His plan was to bypass it and get to Scotland where Macleod would be.

"Now we just need passports," he told Amanda. "Wait for me across from the bus depot until I get back."

After several hours of waiting in the restaurant, Amanda looked at her watch again. Sipping her drink, which turned warm, she kept watch until Carl walked in and sat at her table handing her a passport.

He told her, "You're now Sally Smith." Amanda just gave him a look of disgust and took her papers from him. He commented, "I think the red wig looks good on you."

Touching the curly wig, she asked him, "You think so?"

He smiled at her saying, "No, but no one will ever know it's you."

An immortal buzz came upon her briefly causing Amanda to look around with anxious expression. It set her thinking that immortals were following them and other watchers.

She asked, "Did you feel that?"

Carl watcher her reaction shook his head saying, "Maybe you only imagined it."

"They've tried to kill me twice but I'm still here." She said, "So I didn't imagine it."

"Now you are being paranoid," Carl said in earnest, "You're too important to Duncan MacLeod. We need you Amanda. I'm sorry you have to travel in such poor conditions and with servant clothes but I will keep you safe." He tilted her chin up to meet her gaze telling her, "I need you to watch my back too, okay?"

All too soon, both immortals boarded the bus to the airport. The scenery was something tourists pay thousands of dollars to see but Amanda did not see half what everyone else was looking at.

Carl sat next to her briefing her on behavior. "If a watcher or another immortal approaches just play deaf or mute and let me handle any situation we get into."

Amanda was indignant, "Why do I have to play mute?"

Carl answered, "Because your mouth gets you into too much trouble. The idea is to avoid conflicts."
She replied, "I can't help it if some people really annoy me."

He told her, "The only way we're going to make it to Rabat Airport in Morocco, is to go as quietly as possible, so no combats."

Amanda said, "I can't wait to get to Scotland and be myself again." She strengthened her will power to remain quiet for the entire trip, which was no small feat.

Before falling asleep, she whispered to him, "I'm going to need training with the new sword."

"Ah hum," Carl agreed, "I'll pick out a place before we get to Morocco."

Jamestown, Scotland

After the storm, the morning sun began streaming through puffy white clouds.

Beth sat there in bed thinking about her most recent dream and the future that lay ahead. Duncan was already dressed and asked if she was hungry.

She shook her head, "No food yet just tea if you can order more hot water."

There came a loud bang on the door followed by Connor's voice, "Come on you two it's a great morning. Let's get a move on."

Duncan opened the door and said, "Come in cousin. I applaud your restraint." Connor came in long enough to deliver news.

"Frank and I are making preparations for travel. He wants to pass through Glenshee. I wanted to fly but apparently there are other towns he wants to go to first."

"Alright," Said Duncan, "What else have you got?"

Connor glanced over to Beth still wearing her bedclothes. He said, "The rest can wait until you are packed and downstairs."

Duncan nodded and said, "Fine we'll be down soon."

"Of course," said Connor closing the door. "We'll be ready."

Duncan got on the telephone and ordered hot water and a quick breakfast. In the meantime, Beth took her clothes and went to the bathroom.

She was back in ten minutes and the hot water arrived just as Duncan was finished packing. "Good thing we're traveling light," he said. Beth made her tea and sat in a chair looking out of the window thinking deeply of the months to come.

Turning back to him she said, "Duncan, Evan told me that I had to defeat Ahriman or he couldn't be born and that you had the secret."

The champion knelt in front of her and taking her hands in his, he said, "Any fight with that demon is very personal." He tried to explain, "It might be different with you."

She remembered when they first met and he told her what happened to Richie. It was a mystery on how Ahriman would come to her and try to get her to do battle or take control of her.

"Now," he patted her hand, "We can talk more about it on our trip. Let's not keep them waiting."

She nodded her head and got up. She still felt sick after drinking the tea but told Duncan nothing as she went through the final preparations for the long journey.

Connor spent his time waiting for the group to gather by packing his favorite knapsack with the new supplies he bought on his excursion with Beth. On most of his travels, he did not carry many weapons because he felt it was a cheat to the game. However, Frank told him the rules have changed and to be prepared for anything.

Frank McFadden sat at the table outside the Inn programming the cell phones he had just purchased. He wanted very much to call Mark Kalpak and see how Deahna was. He hoped she would give Egan enough useless information to spare her life without telling him the true reason for Ahriman's trigger of the Gathering.

He waited for Connor, Duncan and Elizabeth to join him. When they finally emerged fresh and ready for the adventure ahead he greeted them warmly. "The exact day of the Gathering is still uncertain. All I know is that the impulse to travel and be drawn to this area will escalate."

He handed Duncan a phone saying, "These are pay as you go phones and for limited use only. We need to stay in contact with each other for the next few months. Calls to anyone else might alert the watchers. The numbers have been programmed in already."

Duncan took the phone asking, "Do you want an update every day?"

Frank answered, "Of course if anything big happens if not then every week is sufficient."

Looking at Connor, Duncan said, "I'm jealous you get to travel with him and swap all kinds to stories."

Connor replied, "And you get to travel with a beautiful woman. I feel sorry for me."

The meeting broke up with a round of chuckles as the four immortals embraced and wished each other well knowing the next time they would meet is when history and destiny would soon collide.

Harrisburg Pennsylvania, United States

The morning of 16 July, 1999

Matthew Jameson, President of the Watchers chapter sat at his computer reading reports on the recent exodus of immortals. Hitting his intercom button he called out, "Riggo, get in here."

A moment later his secretary, Riggo entered with the mail in hand. He sat down next to the big desk ready to begin the day's report on watchers in the field.

Matthew turned to him and asked, "How many immortals to date have started to travel?"

Without looking at the papers before him, he replied, "Fifteen."

"This is a problem," Matthew said, "We have to make travel plans for all the watchers to go along."

Riggo told him, "The World Watcher fund has enough money to cover all the expenses necessary."

Matthew replied, "Those funds haven't been verified as to the source yet. We can't use them."

"Egan Lasco said they were clean," Riggo insisted. "He sent copies of statements from stock dividends."

Matthew looked pensive saying, "I'm having some doubts about the validity of those statements and I've ordered them investigated."

Riggo said, "Then our funds will be tight. If we liquidate some property it could be done."

"That's what we'll do." Matthew said, "Bring me the available listings." Looking out the window as if he could see into the future he said, "I'm having a strange feeling about where all the immortals are headed and I want to get to the bottom of this."

He ordered, "Make some phone calls and I want all the chapters to report in on any information about where the immortals are going and why."

A knock at the door sounded. Matthew called out, "Enter."

Jens Hartman came in with documents. She informed Matthew she needed to speak with him.

He pointed to a chair nearby and said, "Riggo, Take care of those calls I wanted you to make and tell me the minute you have anything."

Riggo nodded and left the room shutting the door quietly.

Matthew said, "Let's hear it Jens what did you find out."

Jens replied, "Your suspicions were correct, the funds are tainted. We just don't have the evidence to prove it."

Matthew looked over the reports and statements she brought in to show her theory. She pointed to one set of figures, "You see this figure?" she said, "Those stocks couldn't have earned this much during this time frame because research shows the DOW was still falling and didn't start to go up again until this quarter closed."

Matthew looked it over thoroughly and said, "Yes, I see that. So what we need are the originals."

Matthew shifted in his chair and said, "Draft a letter and get it out to the other chapters to not touch the funds deposited by Egan Lasco from the France Chapter until he provides the original documents on the monies gained through his stocks."

"Also," he added, "I want to put in a formal request with Egan to meet our demands or be held in contempt. The Watcher Council will convene one week from tomorrow."

Jens wrote furiously and just finished when the telephone rang. Matthew dismissed her and answered it saying, "Speak to me."

His eyes widened with relevance and he remained silent until the end.

"You don't say." He replied, "That is interesting news. Tell Kinsley to come for a meeting as soon as possible. Thanks for calling, good-bye."

The intercom crackled with Riggo's voice asking if he was ready to look at the property list. "Yes," Matthew answered and then requested, "And bring in my tea, I need a cup right now."

Matthew stood up and paced once around the room feeling the burden of being a President. He let his thoughts wander over the information he was just given. "The immortals are going to a Gathering."

.