Track of the Beast: A Brock Stone Adventure

Interlude 4

Stone and Gideon took shelter in a small cave. The sun was setting, and the air was growing frigid. It must have been a regular stopping place for people traversing the mountain because a small store of firewood had been laid aside. Stone built a small fire, then shared his trail rations with his new companion.

Gideon took out a small flask and took a sip. He closed his eyes and let out a small sigh of contentment. The corners of his mouth twitched in a tiny smile. Finally, he held the flask out to Stone.

Stone caught a whiff of strong liquor, minty with a hint of juniper. He seldom imbibed but didn’t mind taking a drink when courtesy demanded it. This seemed like one of those times.

He took a sip. It burned on the way down but filled his stomach with a pleasantly warm sensation. He felt his stiff, sore muscles relax.

“What did you mean when you said you ‘needed something to believe in again’?” Gideon said.

The subject was an uncomfortable one but if Stone expected Gideon to help him, he owed the man an explanation.

“I am… was a soldier. I enlisted from a desire to protect people.” He paused, gazed into the flames. “Soon they began sending me on special missions. Sometimes I was required to kill people, and I had only the assurance of those above me that my targets constituted a threat to our national security. Sometimes the danger the person posed was obvious. Most of the time I had no idea how my actions fit into the larger picture. That was difficult for me. But recently…” He couldn’t put his thoughts into words, so he took another sip of liquor.

“Allow me to speculate.” Gideon took the flask from him and capped it. “You discovered that in practice, what is good for the country often means what is good for the bank accounts of politicians and their donors.”

“Spot on,” Stone said. “I realized I was a weapon fired by others. Some of us used that as an excuse to rationalize our actions, others simply didn’t care. But I can’t deny that I have a conscience and free will. I had no control over the decisions my superiors made, but the decision to reenlist was mine alone.”

“I take it you did not?”

Stone shook his head.

“I need perspective. These days I have a hard time telling the good guys from the bad.” He barked a rueful laugh.”

“In the womb, we are all sightless,” Gideon said. “It is only at the moment of our birth that our eyes are truly opened, and our view of the world begins to take shape.”

“Does that mean I’ve been in the womb all these years?” Stone took another drink. Fatigue was creeping up on him.

“In a way. But it is possible to be reborn with all of your eyes opened.”

“What does that mean?”

“It is the first of the Five Treasures.”

“Can you show me the way?” Stone’s heart raced.

“I can show you right now, if you are willing.”

“I am.”

Gideon opened a drawstring pouch and poured a handful of white, sparkling powder into his palm.

“The first Treasure is the Treasure of Salt.”

The stuff in Gideon’s hand didn’t look like salt. It reflected the firelight in a wide spectrum of colors.

“Do you truly wish to see the monastery and gain the Five Treasures?” Gideon intoned. It sounded like part of a ritual.

“Absolutely.”

“Do you vow to complete this journey, no matter the cost?”

Stone didn’t hesitate. Something in his life had to change.

“I give you my word.”

Without warning, Gideon flung the powder into Stone’s eyes. Stone let out a shout. Instinctively he threw a punch at Gideon, but he was weak, and his movements were sluggish. The liquor had done its work.

He felt Gideon grab him by the wrists. Stone has no strength left to fight.

Gideon whispered in his ear.

“To be born again, first you must die.”

Darkness swallowed him.