A Sacred Storm Read Free

“Very well,” he said. “If you must know, I am the head of an order of monks charged with protecting the secrets of life and healing. I believe you were on your way to find us.”
    â€œYes, I was…well we were – I was part of a group.”
    â€œIndeed. You were being guided by my young friends Jimi and Tali.”
    â€œYes. I’m afraid Tali is dead though.”
    â€œYes,” said Majami. “It is most unfortunate. And even more unfortunate that Jimi too has joined him.”
    Stratton bowed his head. “I’m sorry to hear that. He was a good man.”
    â€œYes, a very good man.”
    A horrible thought entered Stratton’s mind and he looked up earnestly to Majami. “Jimi was looking after one of our party – a girl. Do you know anything of her?”
    â€œNo, no girl. We came across Jimi’s body on the jungle path – he was alone.”
    Stratton breathed a respectfully internal sigh of relief, and continued to probe. “So how did you come to be that far out in the jungle? I was led to believe that your temple was right in the very heart of the forest.”
    â€œIt is, and we would not normally venture so far, but one of my brothers had a terrible vision and it was decided that two of us should come and aid your party. Unfortunately we were too late to save Jimi, but we found you and brought you here to heal.”
    â€œWhere is here?” asked Stratton. “Surely you didn’t carry me all the way back to your temple.”
    â€œNo, of course not. This is one of our way-houses. It is not at all far from where we found you. But it is off the beaten track and extremely well-hidden.”
    â€œIs it?” said Stratton. “The men who were tracking us seemed to know all about Jimi’s little hiding places.”
    â€œNot this one,” Majami said assuredly.
    Stratton wasn’t convinced, but decided to take the monk’s word for it. He was about to ask about Jennings when the monk interrupted him.
    â€œNo more questions,” he said.
    â€œBut I just wanted to know…”
    Majami repeated himself. “No more questions. It is time for sleep – for you, and for me also.” He got up and bowed and bade Stratton a goodnight.
    Stratton lay for a while, stroking Titan’s head absentmindedly as he went through different scenarios in his head, each one becoming progressively worse. But then Majami’s words floated gently into his visions and he knew it was time for sleep. He closed his eyes and vacated his mind, hoping that tomorrow would bring some much-needed answers.

Chapter 2
    Cardinal Miguel Desayer was troubled. He leant back in his chair and ran a weary hand down his weathered face. For thirty years and more he had been dreading this moment, ever since the day his mentor, Gabriel, had let he and Abdullah in on the secret. Over four decades of subterfuge and searching had followed: pretending to be the perfect holy man; obeying doctrines that he knew to be false; pedantically toeing the line to keep his cover. It had been torture at times, but he had kept his composure and held his tongue throughout so that his promise to Gabriel would be honoured. If the rumours coming out of Mecca were true, though, then it had all been for nothing.
    Opening his desk drawer he drew out an old silver-framed photo and reminisced. The two boys in the black and white picture were barely into their teens, but both were strong and vital. They were barefoot and dressed in raggedy kit ready for a game of soccer. The boy on the left, the darker of the two, held the ball under his right arm. They were locked together and grinning like Cheshire Cats, their whole lives ahead to do with what they wished, or so they thought. But that was then. Now Abdullah was gone, and all that remained of him were fading memories.
    A knock on the door stopped him dwelling. He put the photograph back in the drawer and beckoned his