Nazgul

On Mother Earth bats live in caves, Ellie thought to herself as she stepped into the darkness. Hundreds, thousands, attached to the ceilings with clawed feet, waiting for night to arrive so they can spread their wings and feed. She also knew that bats were part of The Lore; forever linked with vampires, though it couldn't be further from the truth. Bats were a necessary part in nature's design. In Ellie’s mind The Nazgul were hybrid vampires, the tragic result of stupid, human intervention.
Vampires, real vampires, were the emissaries of Hell.

But on this day, in this cave, in these mountains, on this lonely planet known as the New Colony, Ellie realized that the dreaded Nazgul did have a link to the Mother Earth creature known as a bat. Sleep by day, feed by night. Mysterious and terrifying. Their bodies ruled by an alien ebb and flow. They were not true vampires, but they rained havoc on humankind just the same. And like the vampires of Mother Earth, they must be destroyed.

The torches emitted a startling amount of light from something so small. They illuminated glistening wet walls and a craggy ceiling. There were no bats up there, of course. This was not Mother Earth. This was a different place with different demons lurking in the darkness. Ellie shivered. It was as if every shadowed crevice was hiding something terrible.

For a moment her courage left her, and she stopped dead. Her mind felt muddy and confused. What are you doing, Ellie? What the hell are you doing?

"Go on, Ellie," Benny urged.

She turned. He was standing beside her, bent slightly under the weight of the packs, eyeing her curiously. She drew a deep breath, nodded, and holding the torch ahead of her like a magic wand, continued her journey into the depths of the cave. Benny followed, his torch bright. Their combined light gave substance to the darkness. The droplets of water sparkled like diamonds. The ceiling was high at the entrance creating an arched chamber of rock, but it quickly narrowed as they moved inward. The air was dank and still. The floor was rough but passable. As with the trail, the cave snaked consistently upward.

They soon discovered they were not alone. Hundreds of squirming, rat-like creatures with huge red eyes, fanged teeth, and long bone-white tails squealed and ran into the darkness ahead of their advancing lights. Their shyness gave Ellie hope, but it didn't quell her feeling of unease.

They ignored the rats and trudged on, careful not to fall on the slippery, rock-sharpened floor. Ellie was once again filled with misgivings. What if they became trapped in the bowels of these mountains where the rats could lose their fear and engulf them?

Then, about a unit after they entered the cave, they made a startling discovery.

"Godspeed, Ellie, look at this!" Benny exclaimed. He was pointing his torch into a small alcove cut into the side of the cave.

"Oh, sweet Lord!" Ellie gasped.

There were skeletons, three of them, huddled together in a corner. The rats were scurrying over them in their flight. They were small humanoid creatures with familiar limbs and torsos, but their rib cages were abnormally extended and their skulls oddly peaked at the rear of the head. The bones were well preserved, showing no signs of mutilation. The fragile remains of clothing still clung to them in faded, tattered patches.

At first Ellie and Benny thought they were children, but on closer inspection the truth was even more startling. Two were about the size of a six or seven year old human child. A male and female, Ellie speculated, for the third appeared to be an infant still clutched in its mother's arms. The positioning of the bodies suggested a resignation to their fate; their arms intertwined almost lovingly in death.

"A family, Benny," Ellie said with certainty. "They died together. The Nazgul, do you think?"

Benny shook his head vigorously. "If it were the Nazgul there would be nothing left but gnawed scraps. No, this is something much worse, Benny fears."

"What?" Ellie asked, her voice thin with fear.

"We were taught that there was no intelligent life on this planet when the ships came from Mother Earth. We were told that the terraforming destroyed only lesser species. Benny now thinks that was a lie. Benny now thinks we murdered these poor creatures."

Ellie looked back at the bodies. If Benny was correct, it was a tragedy beyond description. A bitter example of human greed. But now was not the time to be distracted by something that happened in the unalterable past. The fate of the colony, for good or bad, was in their hands.

"Let's go, Benny," Ellie said, tugging at his sleeve. "There will be time to ponder this later. We've got something more important to do, and we have to do it while I still have the nerve."

Benny stood woodenly, staring at the remains. Ellie saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes. She waited quietly, respecting his grief. After a time he turned his torch to the path ahead and they continued on with their journey.

It wasn't long before they came across more skeletal remains scattered along the trail, lying prone on the rocky floor or plopped up against a wall. It seemed as if these poor creatures had fled to the cave in desperation, and here they had perished. Benny passed the carnage grim-faced, his hands clasped white-knuckled around the torch, determined to remain focused on the task ahead.
They walked onward and upward in a seemingly endless course of twists and turns until Ellie thought they were hopelessly lost. Then, they detected a change. A wind stirred within the cave, easing the stink that permeated its walls. The trail bent sharply toward the right, and around a corner they came upon a shaft of silver-gray light streaming from a jagged crack in the rock above.

Outside, a storm was raging. Water dripped from the crack and wind whistled around it, moaning through the cave. A shallow pool had formed on the stony floor and threatened to escape down the trail. When Ellie looked up at the opening in the rock, her heart lifted from its gloom. Light, even light that was dismal and wet, was a good omen.

"They are close," Benny said, his voice echoing in the chamber. "Benny can feel it."

Ellie felt it too, like metal being drawn to a magnet. The Nazgul were near, and for the first time in the sorry history of the New Colony, a different type of Reckoning was about to take place. Then a darker thought arose with her. Did the Nazgul sense them, too?

"The time has come, Benny," Ellie said ominously.

Benny nodded, eased the long pack from his back, and selected a hammer and stake for Ellie. Ellie surrendered her torch and back pack. He would be her eyes now, he would carry the load. She tucked the hammer into her belt and took the stake gladly. It felt good in her hands. It felt--right.

They moved past the crack in the rock, leaving the invigorating daylight behind them. They walked slowly now, for what they sought was close. The tunnel ran roughly straight ahead for maybe thirty meters, then veered left again. When they reached the bend, they stopped.

"Turn off the torch, Benny," Ellie whispered.

The cave went black, and for a second Ellie had to suppress the urge to bolt. They waited for their eyes to adjust and pondered what to do next. She could hear the rats squeaking about them, coming closer in the comforting darkness to explore the enticing human scent. She had to will herself to stand still. Slowly they sensed the dim rays of light ahead.

Ellie touched Benny on the arm and they moved onward.

With each step the light became stronger. Around one final turn they reached the entrance of a high chamber. There they discovered the light source: a brightened opening to the outside world at the far end. Cascades of rain dripped from its upper lip reverberating loudly.

Benny lightly shook Ellie's shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Nazgul,"
he hissed, pointing to a dark area far back from the opening.

Ellie blinked hard. Yes, it was a Nazgul, hanging upside down from the top of the cave.

The beast was long and surprisingly lithe. In sleep its long, horse-like legs were drawn up and its membranous wings wrapped around its body, giving the Nazgul the appearance of a gigantic cocoon. Ellie could feel the life pulsating within it. It was a long, deep life. Nearly eternal. It was filled with longing and hate. Longing for the simple life of long ago; hateful of what had happened to its kindred. It lived for violence and revenge. It lived to drink the sweet nectar of human blood.

Ellie didn't hesitate. The memory of a story written by the man called David pulsed within her. Was it just a story, or had he somehow tapped into something real?

She drew out the hammer, pushed Benny aside, and with sure steps moved toward the Nazgul. Benny, startled by Ellie's resolve, followed less surely, wondering how she even knew where to strike. Where was the heart of a Nazgul? Did these foul creatures even have hearts?

Ellie didn't appear to share Benny's doubts. Five meters away she raised the stake, her entire being ablaze with purpose. Her eyes widened, her mouth grim and set. She spontaneously began reciting a prayer in an ancient tongue known as Latin. It was the secret prayer of the vampire killer, a prayer impressed on her very genes, passed down from generation to generation to be used in the holy war against the undead.

Stake out, its point instinctively aimed toward the evil heart. Hammer raised, her arm transformed to a deadly piston ready to perform its sacred duty. Steel flashing down on wood with blinding speed. The stake penetrating wing, matted fur, flesh, teaming arteries, gristle and bone, then finally the infected heart.

The end came surprisingly easy. The Nazgul shuddered once and died. Benny stood by, his mouth agape, awed by the speed and finality of the kill. The Nazgul swayed slightly, its talons momentarily death-gripped to the ceiling. Ellie stood close by breathing heavily, her hammer ready to strike again if necessary. The body of the Nazgul swayed twice more like a giant pendulum then fell to the floor with a thud.

"Godspeed!" Benny gasped.

One down, six to go.

Before their astonished eyes, the body of the Nazgul began to smoke. A great hissing cloud rose up as the remains disintegrated into a muddy pool. The cave filled with an incredible stench. Benny rushed toward the radiant entrance, his stomach rolling, his lungs gasping for fresh air. The gray light blinded him; rain beat on his face. He looked down and vertigo nearly overcame him. They had climbed high, higher than the useless bell towers of the New Colony, higher than any of the Lords of Mercury's servants had dared since the coming of the great ships. His head throbbed, his mind whirled, and for a brief moment he thought he would faint and tumble to his death.

Ellie grabbed him roughly by the shoulder. "Come, Benny," she said. "We've got work to do!"

Benny looked at her unbelievingly. All doubt had vanished from her. She was strong, resolved. An image flashed before his mind, the first day of the Reckoning when he had come upon her toying with the shutter door. He had seen the fear in her eyes, fear deep and threatening. There was no hint of fear now. The woman before him was not the same person. Ellie Lewis had been transformed into--

--A Hunter.

"Benny," Ellie repeated. "Light your torch. We must be quick!"

He followed her back into the rear of the cavern, handing her another stake as they hurried. There they found a narrow rock-hewn stairway that led upward. The next chamber was not far, and the Nazgul was easily found hanging in the cool, safe blackness. Again, Ellie did not hesitate. The second Nazgul was dispatched with such iron will that it left Benny Knuckles stunned.

Another stairway, a third Nazgul. Instead of tiring, Ellie seemed to be gathering strength. Death to the scavenger of the New Colony was immediate and brutal. The savagery of Ellie's blow pushed the wooden dowel through its body until a bloody tip poked through the other side.

The change started with the fourth Nazgul. Instead of being folded within itself in sleep like the others, this one had wings partially open as if it were trying to awaken itself from its stupor, but it was too late. As the Nazgul stirred, Ellie lunged, and the stake found home with thudding finality. The Nazgul died and plunged to the rocky floor with a sickening thump. Smoke rose from its body as they turned away

Number five was almost fully awake. In the torchlight its front talons clenched and unclenched as if it were beating away the dream of its death. As Ellie approached, Benny feared it might lunge out and grab her, but once again the conviction of her actions brought a swift end.

Number six was the beginning of the nightmare. Its wings were fully extended, but it had yet to lower itself to the floor. It’s hard, black eyes were peering out at the unknown force approaching it. When it saw Ellie, a terrible connection was made, a connection not experienced since the time of The Two.

Benny found it odd that a creature as fearsome and powerful as a Nazgul would be afraid of a petite human female with a wooden stake in her hand, but fear was exactly what the Nazgul expressed. It flinched at the sight of her, its thin horse legs pumped uselessly at the air. Then, it bellowed a scream that could have awakened the dead.

Benny howled in terror and surprise, nearly dropping the torches. He turned and ran instinctively. Only when he reached the stone stairway did he stop and look back for Ellie. Surely she was following! Surely she realized that to go on would be folly! But when his eyes found her he saw she was moving relentlessly forward, the Nazgul locked in her sights.

A part of Ellie hiding deep within her recoiled at the Nazgul's roar, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. She was no longer in control of her actions. Something had seized her, taken over her body, and turned it into a killing machine.

"You can no longer deny your blood, Ellie," a voice within her said. “This is your sacred duty. This is for your Emily and all the other poor souls of the New Colony who met their terrible fates because they were too old or not perfect enough for those who thought their names were sacred. You are the Hunter,” the voice continued. "And a hunter must hunt." The words burned in her brain. "A hunter must hunt..."

Ellie Lewis clutched the stake in her hand and dared the Nazgul to challenge her. It dropped to the floor, arched its back, then scurried backwards only to find that it was dangerously near the entrance to the cave. It was daylight out there. The Nazgul hated the daylight. It would rather stand and die here than submit to the sun's domain. And die it would, for Ellie was upon it.

Benny feared again, but this time it was not because of the Nazgul. The Nazgul, he suddenly realized, was nothing compared to the force of nature that was Ellie Lewis. He had expected a long bloody fight, but it was over before it really began. Ellie leaped through the air, the shrill cry of attack rising from her lips. She hit the wooden dowel so hard, Benny heard it crack and despaired it would be rendered useless. The Nazgul cried out with rage, fell backwards into a slit of light, ignited into wicked, dancing flames and died.

One left. Iscar the mighty one. The time of truth had arrived.

Benny could hear the howl of the dreaded one above them through the solid rock ceiling. Iscar had awakened. Giant legs thumped the floor of his cavern like giant pistons. Benny looked at Ellie, his face stricken, but much to his surprise, Ellie was laughing.

"Having fun, Benny?" she asked.

"Are you, are you crazy?" Benny stammered.

"This is life, Benny!" Ellie replied, thumping her chest like a warrior. "This is life in its purest form! It's the battle between good and evil. It's the battle for the soul of the New Colony! It's revenge for my sweet daughter! I was just a silly girl! All I wanted was a normal life. I wanted to pretend that there weren't things out there in the night that bite. I thought a man would protect me and our children, but I was wrong, so very wrong. That time, that girl, is gone. No more pretending, Benny. No more!"

She held out her hand. "The stake, Benny. Let's have that last damn stake and get this shit over with."

Benny's hands were shaking so badly he could barely get the stake out of the nearly empty pack. Ellie grabbed it out of his trembling hands and looked at him wickedly. "What do you say, Benny. We'll cut the head off of the bastard and take it back to Virgil as a gift?"

Benny was speechless.

Ellie cackled again, then took off up the stairway, bounding up the steps two at a time. Benny could barely keep up with her.

"Wait!" Benny cried. "Wait! It's too dangerous!"

Above him Ellie called out. "That's the fun of it, Benny! That's the God damn fun!"

Iscar and Beyond

Ellie stopped at the top of the stairway, her heart thumping, her mind heady with the froth of victory. This final cave, the seventh, the home of Iscar, was different from those they had encountered below. It was a long, deep gash in the side of the mountain. It's opening a lightning bolt shaped slit in the distance.

Ellie could not see Iscar, but she could feel him standing somewhere in the blackness before her: huge, proud, ready. So bursting with hate-filled life it made her gasp. A foul scent reached her nostrils, and she was repelled. It carried a sense of undeniable strength that left her feeling weak. The wooden stake grasped so surely in her hand now felt all but useless. How could it possibly kill something so powerful? How could she stand alone against such a mighty foe?

Behind her, Benny Knuckles ran up the final steps, praying that Ellie's adrenaline rush had not betrayed her. He feared she would run full throttle into the waiting claws of the Nazgul. Instead he found her standing at the portal to Iscar's lair--shaking.

"Ellie!" he hissed. "Godspeed, what's wrong?"

She didn't need to answer. He knew instantly. This time they were not sneaking up on a sleeping beast. This monster knew she had come and was ready. Godspeed, what should they do? To go forward was certain suicide! But turn back? How could they?

"I'm fucked, Benny," Ellie said squarely. Then she giggled bitterly. "How apropos!"

"Forget this, Ellie!" Benny said desperately. "We'll go back to the colony. We'll find help! They will come. It's their liberation, too!"

His words felt empty, for deep in his heart he knew no one would come, no one would help. A time in history had arrived, a crossroads where all or nothing would be decided in a few short moments. Even he couldn't help, he realized. It was all up to her, to fail or succeed. Now.

"Can you see him?" Benny asked. He felt helpless, blind.

"Not with my eyes," she replied. "Not yet. But I know where he is. There!" She pointed with her stake, but Benny saw nothing except for a deep black hole that threatened to suck in the entire cave--hell, the entire colony!

Ellie stepped forward, a little surer now, a hint of her previous bravado returning, toward the center of the cavern. Her footsteps echoed noisily. The stench grew stronger. Then she heard a sound, a low, menacing growl. Ellie looked up. The sound had come from above her. Where was the beast? What was he up to? Was he clinging to the ceiling ready to pounce?

Ellie had a startling revelation. She had seen Iscar in flight from the bell tower and knew he was huge, but her perspective that night had fooled her. The growls were coming from on high because the monster was towering over her. But instead of cowering, Ellie moved forward step by step, her eyes trying to give form to the nightmare.

Behind her, Benny knew things were going wrong. Ellie was working on pure emotion; driven by forces that were beyond his understanding. She was walking confidently into this mismatched fray even though she might be cut to ribbons. Benny despaired. Had the Lords of Mercury led them here just to see this wonderful woman die? Godspeed, he was just a simple janitor. What could he do? How could he help?

Then an image came to him, a photograph in the Sacred Book. It was of a rocket blasting into the heavens, its flaming tail looking like the fire of creation itself. Written below the photograph was a quote in beautiful scrolled letters. Benny now gasped the true meaning of those words, and he didn't hesitate. He strode forward holding both torches above him, bathing the room with blessed fire.

"Let there be light!" he shouted.

Iscar reared back at the brilliance, and in that instant Ellie saw the full breadth of the demon. He was gigantic! Twice, no three times the size of his slain brethren. Nurtured on blood and human flesh, he had both size and an unquenchable fury. His dark, black face with its long snout and flaring nostrils was a vision straight out of Hell.

The Nazgul screamed in fury. To Ellie it felt as if a jet airplane had started its engines in the resonating chamber. She winced with pain but grimly stood her ground. Benny, despite his unquestioned valor, was knocked over by its force, his gallant torches tumbling to the stone floor.

One torch died, the other sputtered feebly. The cave was darkened, but there was still shadowy light to see by. To kill by.

Ellie wiped the sweat from her brow and took another step forward, stake high, hammer ready. Heroic. She had expected an immediate attack, but to her surprise, Iscar hesitated. It was a creature of unchallenged habit, and this invasion of its home was something not prepared for. How could this pitiable female creature dare challenge him? What did it know that he didn't?

Ellie knew her advantage would be short-lived. She lunged forward purposely. The creature's talons, each as long as the wooden stake itself, lashed out in a blur. Only her amazing speed saved her from death. Iscar meant to slash her in two, but managed only to graze her hand. Ellie screamed savagely in pain. The stake was sent clanging across the cave. She gawked wildly at her left hand and saw the bloody stumps of two fingers.

Iscar, now aroused by the scent of blood, moved in for the kill.

"Godspeed, Ellie, run!" Benny pleaded. His mind reeled. This was too much! There was no chance of victory!

But instead of running for her life, Ellie parried to the right, ignoring the blood and pain. With her good hand, she reached into her jacket and withdrew the metal bar that had so frightened Virgil. To Benny the sharpened rod seemed pitiful now, like a match compared to a flame thrower, but much to his dismay, Ellie pointed the spike and charged.

Just getting to the Nazgul was like braving a gauntlet. Ellie evaded a second nearly fatal blow, then a third, finally escaping under Iscar's legs by a hairsbreadth. She made her metal stake ready and with one swift move, pressed it against the creature's flesh and slammed the hammer with all her might.

It could not penetrate the beast's flesh.

Pain shot up her arm from the ringing metal. The rod clanked uselessly to the floor. Ellie, in shock and astonishment, finally turned to retreat, but Iscar had her. Instead of a death blow, he grabbed her in his mighty claws as if to see what dared challenge the mighty Nazgul. Ellie felt herself being lifted from the ground, up and up until she was face to face with his ugly, evil eyes. They were like black pits, devoid of feeling, devoid of pity. And they looked hungry.

It squeezed Ellie roughly; she felt a rib break. She knew it would only be moments before her flesh would split and her bones be crushed. A lump in her pocket was pressing painfully against her side. With her good hand she reached in and with much effort withdrew the flask of water taken from the shrine of the Lords of Mercury. Ellie looked at it wonderingly, as if it were a mighty gift. The Water of Life! With great pain she unscrewed the top and flung the contents into Iscar's face.

Ellie didn't immediately see the results of her actions, for the Nazgul suddenly released his grip and dropped her to the ground. She hit hard, the pain in her side flaring. Above her Iscar was bellowing in agony. Smoke was rising from his blinded face as if it had been dowsed in acid.

"Ellie!" Benny screamed from somewhere behind her.

Ellie looked back. Benny had scrambled across the cavern and retrieved the wooden stake.

She reached out. "Throw it, Benny!" she yelled. "Hurry, while there's still time!"

Benny tossed the stake through the air, knowing that its flight held their last chance for success. Time slowed. The stake wobbled precariously like a rocket gone astray. But in the next instant it was cradled in Ellie's outstretched hand.

Ellie picked up the hammer where it had fallen beneath the writhing bulk of the screeching Nazgul and staggered to her feet. Her injuries ignored, she moved deliberately toward Iscar who was lashing about blindly in desperation. She side-stepped his razor sharp claws nimbly, and moved in for the kill. Hammer on wood, colliding with flesh and bone, going where steel would not, moving toward the evil heart of the Nazgul with supernatural surety. The singular sound of tissue being violated, as the stake found home with a sickening thud.

Iscar shuddered and rose up as if to try and escape his fate, but the damage was done. Death had come to claim the last remaining Nazgul. But before he rocked to the cavern floor, Iscar called out, a sad, pleading wail that touched Benny's soul. It was a call to its fallen brethren, a signal announcing the end of a world that had been taken from it. It was a bitter call to eternity.

Benny turned to Ellie. "You did it!" he shouted with amazed joy. "The colony is free!" But his joy ended abruptly. Ellie was lying crumpled on the ground.

Benny ran past the hissing heap that had once been the bane of the New Colony, to where Ellie had collapsed. He knelt down and gasped. Blood was flowing from a deep gash across her stomach, the result of the Nazgul's final frenzy.

"Oh, Ellie!" he cried. "Oh, what bullshit!"

Ellie moaned with pain and looked up at him with glassy eyes. "The ultimate bullshit," she said painfully.

"What can Benny do, Ellie? Oh, please Lords, tell Benny what to do!"

Ellie coughed. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. "There's nothing you can do, Benny," she said.

"Don't say that, Ellie! Oh, don't tell Benny that!"

"Benny--"

"Oh, Lords! Oh, help me, Lords of Mercury!"

"Shut up, Benny!" Ellie cried with effort.

Benny shut up.

"I know, I know you are going to find this hard to believe, Benny, but I'm not going to die. I'm just going home."

"Ellie--"

"Shush, Benny. Please. There's not much time. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. I'm going back to another life, Benny. One of many I have lived; one of many more I will live."

Benny looked at her wide-eyed, faced the stunning realization that there was nothing he could do to help her. Blood was everywhere. There was no way he could save her. Ellie Lewis was about to die.

Benny Knuckles began to cry.

Ellie held up her arms. "Help me, Benny," she said weakly. "Let me see the light of the New Colony one last time."

There was nothing else Benny could do. He carefully picked her up in his arms. As life flowed from her, Ellie felt light as a feather. She moaned with pain, but as they walked toward the edge of the cave, she spoke into his ear.

"The fate of the colony is in your hands, Benny. Take the head of Iscar and show the people that the reign of terror has ended. Show them that the curse of The Two is over. Show them that seven is only a number, not a way of life. Show them that a man without a Sacred Name has achieved greatness..."

"Don't talk, Ellie. Save your strength."

"One other thing, Benny," Ellie continued with a grunt. "Midgey loves you, and if you look deep in your heart you will realize that you love her, too. Marry her, Benny. Have the children that will give the New Colony a fresh start."

They reached the lip of the cave. Rain pelted them, and windswept around Benny's feet.

"Stand me up, Benny."

Benny lowered her onto wobbly feet. She stood in front of him, her back to the edge of the cliff and steadied herself by laying her hands on his shoulders. Benny saw great pain in her, but also a strange peace. He had heard her words but barely understood. She was to be the hero, not him. Why would she leave him now to return to the colony alone?

"Goodbye, Benny," Ellie said. "Thank your Lords of Mercury for helping us, today. I truly don't think we could have done it without their grace."

Ellie tensed and let go of Benny shoulders. She held her arms outstretched and pushed herself backwards. Benny reacted, but he was too late. Ellie tumbled backwards into the driving rain.

"Ellie!" Benny screamed as she plummeted into the mist. But he was too late.

Ellie Lewis was gone—-

--and I awoke in a peaceful place.

Aftermath

I became aware of sunlight through my closed eyes. Next, the sound of chirping insects. Then it was the pain.

I opened my eyes to azure-blue skies and friendly clouds above me. I was lying on a carpet of thick green grass. It was spring, or maybe early summer. Was this heaven? I wondered. But when I tried to sit up thoughts of heaven flew from my mind replaced by hot pain on my right side. A surprised yelp escaped from my mouth. It felt as if I had been stabbed. I looked down at myself expecting to see blood spreading its crimson stain on my shirt. There was no blood, but I lifted my shirt to reveal an angry bruise spreading from my side to the middle of my stomach.

For a long moment I had no memory of who I was, where I had been, or how I had gotten to this place. I was once again struck by the beauty of my surroundings in stark contrast to the pain howling from my body. Where was I and what the hell had happened to me? Then my memory rushed back to me like a tidal wave, but its knowledge gave me little comfort. All it gave me were questions. Who am I? Am I in fact a man named David? Am I real, or am I just a figment of the imagination of a courageous woman named Ellie? Is the beauty and pain around me real or is it just part of another story I wrote? Me and my bullshit stories! Stories that no one reads. Had one of them misfired and now I’m stuck in the middle of it, my mind gone by a stroke or madness?

I tried to focus on the now. I looked around. I had awakened in the middle of a broad valley with snow-capped mountains on either side. There was no one about; no signs of human activity. After a few minutes the pain seemed to subside, and I struggled to my feet. Near me was a peaceful river flowing shallow and slow. I was suddenly aware of a great thirst. I half stumbled to the river as if in a trance, wading in shin deep before dropping to my knees. I drank its sweet waters greedily. I washed my face in its sublime coolness. It made me feel alive. It made me feel clean to my soul. After a time I crawled out of the water and sat at its edge, panting with relief. Then panic welled within me. Where the fuck was I?

That was when I saw the doors, two of them facing each other about thirty feet apart. They were not attached to anything. They were just—there-- two doors in the middle of nowhere like something in a Stephen King novel.

I knew I had free will. If I wanted to I could ignore these doors and walk off into the verdant wilderness that surrounded me. Maybe I’d find a road that would take me to civilization, or at least give me a hint as to where I was. But deep inside I knew there would be no civilization, no paved welcoming road. I knew with uncanny certainty that I had awakened in another world as different as the one I just left. I knew that if I were to walk away from this valley there might be another adventure waiting for me—or death—if that was what I wanted.

Reason came to me. I am no Ellie Lewis. Adventure is not a part of me regardless of the fact that I had walked through the door in that damned café that ultimately brought me here. Yet a door was being offered to me again. Make that two doors! Hope filled me. Were they a way home? Home to Trish, home to my children, my granddaughters?

Tears welled in my eyes. What had I been thinking doing this, ending up here? Yes, I live an exceptionally ordinary life, one full of both heartache and laughter, but it was a life. I had chosen it just as surely as Ellie had chosen to end hers.

I wiped my face with my sleeve. “Be a man,” David, I told myself. “For once in your life be a fucking man!”

I stood and walked between the doors. I could feel their pull on me. I knew I was being given a choice. I could choose either door. It was purely up to me. I walked up to the one on my left, forced my hand to the cool touch of its knob, turned it, and cracked it opened. I peeked in. I could see a steel storage rack filled with cans. It was the rack in the storage room at the 4 Corners Café. It was my way home.

I should have flung it opened and ran through, throwing myself on the wooden floor and thanking God I hadn’t been killed, but that wasn’t what I did. I closed the door and started for the other one. I knew was being stupid, but I…just…had…to…see.

But when I stood before the second door I stopped. I had seen enough movies to know what was on the other side of that door. There would be a light, of course. A blindingly brilliant light calling me to the existence beyond life. There I would find my departed loved ones, peace and happiness. Or maybe I would see stars and the colors of eternity draped across a universe before me. If this was another one of my bullshit stories that was what I would write about—something wonderful on the other side…

My hand gripped the handle, but I froze. I just couldn’t do it. I knew that if I opened that door that would be the end of me. The end of everything I held dear in the ordinary life I lived on planet earth. I knew that if I waited, the door would be offered to me again one day when my time of living was finally over. “Be patient, David,” I whispered to myself. “The time will come again.”

I turned and looked back at the first door. It was now standing open and wide, inviting me to step through to my life of giggling granddaughters and frustrating car deals: the path I had chosen, the life that was meant for me—at least this time around.

-------------

I awoke in my car. I was sitting in front of my house on California Street. I had no knowledge of stepping through the door, the café, or the ride home. My body ached, but I felt strangely refreshed. The memory of a strong, determined woman named Ellie Lewis was within me. Am I somehow her, and is she somehow me? Guess I’ll never know. I’ll just write down what happened and let others decide.

What do you think?

Flying J

My daughter, Laura, recently moved about ten miles south of Plymouth to the old gold rush town of Sutter Creek. As a result, the route my wife and I take to see her has changed. I know no longer routinely pass the 4 Corners Café on my trek toward the Sierra foothills. So since my little adventure at the café I haven’t seen the place, and quite frankly I don’t know if I want to. But deep inside I have always realized that the 4 Corners Café is like a big psychic magnet that is always calling me back. I know that it’s just a matter of time before I once again open its door and order a piece of apple pie and a hot cup of joe.

I never realized that the café might reach out to me.

On our way up to Sutter Creek, Trish and I stopped at the Flying J truck stop down at Flag City. Flag City isn’t really a city. It’s a collection of fast food joints, an overnight R.V. campground, and a small hotel that sits where Highways 12 and 5 cross each other. It’s a pit stop for people bound for south toward L.A. or to Northern California and beyond.

The Flying J has a restaurant, and we decided to stop and have breakfast before continuing the one hour drive to Laura’s. We hadn’t been at the truck stop for a while and were taken aback when we discovered that the J’s restaurant with its huge truck driver portions was now a Denny’s. Don’t really like Denny’s, but we stopped anyway.

I won’t draw this out too much because frankly it’s not much of a story. As we ate breakfast, I kept noticing a young waitress waiting on tables on the other side of the restaurant. There was something familiar about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I checked her out a couple of time, cognizant that even after thirty years of marriage it’s still not a good idea to have your wife catch you eyeing waitresses. In the midst of our Grand Slam breakfasts I almost forgot about her, even though the coffee should have jogged my memory.

We rose to leave. Trish went out ahead of me to have a quick smoke in the parking lot before we continued our trip. I headed toward the cashier, check in hand, when I heard a voice behind me.

“Hi, David,” it said.

I turned. It was the waitress. For a second recognition still evaded me. Then I remembered. Several months ago I went to the 4 Corners and Betty Jo wasn’t there. In her place was a young waitress, a teenager I surmised in her place. This was the waitress.

I was dumbfounded. This was the second time I had encountered once of the 4 Corners denizens outside the café itself. The first, of course, was the illusive Irby. Now there was this one.

“Hello,” I replied carefully.

“I’m Stella,” she replied. “Do you remember me?”

“Yes.”

“Got a new job,” she said.

“I see,” I replied. “What happened to the old one?”

“It’s Betty Jo. She’s just too hard to deal with.”

It was then that I saw the resemblance between Stella and the new and improved Betty Jo. They could have been sisters. Now here is where it got weird.

“You two related?”

“Oh, yeah, we’re related,” she said with a little laugh.

“How? Sisters?”

Her eyes widened. She looked at me as if I had just said a terrible joke.

“No. We’re not sisters. Betty Jo is my daughter.”

I froze. From behind me the cashier asked me if she could help me. I turned, thankful for the distraction. My heart was beating heavily. I paid the bill. When I turned back Stella was gone.

As I left the Flying J heading toward Trish and my aging Chevy truck, I asked myself, “When is this shit going to end?” That’s a good question. A question I am unprepared to answer. But as we drove our way to the foothills it came to me.

This shit is never going to end.