Mana in the Modern World non illustrated version (8 page)

Jack had previously given access codes to his
friends but this new system will be a good deal more secure. Each
code identifies the specific person to that specific code sending
the data to a panel in the house along with a real time video of
the person keying the panel or the simple intercom where facial
recognition software will also check the person.

This time Anna will not only get the new code
but also, if she will accept it, her palm print added to the dome’s
security lock and retinal scanner at the gate. Jack also decides to
add a fair number of concealed video cameras, activated by motion
detectors, installed about the property. Especially around the
cleared cave area entrance.

An extensive records search by the
Smithsonian and FBI have been unable to locate any surviving
relatives so ownership of all the materials were returned to Jack
ownership. Jack gave the remains of the Captain’s journal to the
Smithsonian for display but kept the daughter’s diary for burial
with her. He requested and received permission to bury Captain
Roberts and Renée’s remains on his property close to the cave where
they were found. He decided to call and see if Anna might like to
help plan it as he thought she had a good head on her. Plus being
nice to chat with and most definitely to look at!

“Anna, I just received permission to bury the
Captain and his daughter by the cave area. I told them to keep the
cook’s remains. Want to help with some suggestions? I was thinking
something along the lines of a small crypt.” “Sure Jack, that
sounds interesting and I would love to help. When n where you want
to meet?”

Over milkshakes at Braum’s, having quickly
decided that a small above ground crypt would be best, they search
the internet for crypts that have something of a nautical theme.
Finding nothing to their liking they decide to find a local artist
to work with on different ideas. Like the ships name above the
entrance.

The Captain to be buried with his sword in
hand and the daughter with her pearl necklace, diary in her crossed
hands. As all their clothing was too rotted to use, he would have
new garments made duplicating as close as possible what they had
been wearing. They also decided that a small ceramic plaque
engraved with Renée’s last diary entry, in French and English,
would be placed on the door with their names in stainless steel
recessed to either side of the door.

The river also now had its share of treasure
hunters now that the Smithsonian had released the journals
contents. Several of the treasure seekers had to be dug out and
rescued from landslides. They were digging into the side of areas
they just ‘knew’ it was where Captain Roberts had buried the
treasure chests.

Having set up his spot to redo his ‘meat’, he
now watches to catch Jasmine alone. He notices she occasionally
goes alone to the corner store for sodas, most often on Friday
evening. She has not been for several weeks so should be soon. As
he watches he sees her, later than other times, head toward the
store. The moon is very bright so he is a bit hesitant but is quite
hungry to renew his acquaintance with his ‘meat’ as it has been
much too long. Plus he has been thru a lot of irritation lately and
really, really, needs to blow off some pressure. Especially as the
cut brake line did not do the job on that ‘busy body’ and the
Ranger!

He has had the car and various items ready
for weeks just waiting, watching and it looks like tonight’s the
night! She had gone to the store and is on her way back with her
sodas. As she turns the corner, he hits her with his sap. Then
quickly carries her to his car, trigging the remote trunk to open.
Tossing her in the trunk he tapes her mouth, hands and ankles. “Now
to the fun park and ride!” he says loudly, quickly looking around
to be sure no one heard him.

A tabloid’s headline in New York reads:

Yesterday, on a cloudy evening in New York,
pedestrians walking in an area of the park flooded 911 with calls
that pigeons and other birds; including one, possibly two large
hawks; were attacking people. Two large birds also set beside an
old man as he fed them bread. As reported by The Latest Gossip a
very old homeless man was setting on a park bench feeding the
birds. He was of ‘scruffy’ appearance according to one witness who
claimed to be one of those attacked.

He had a large can open in front of him for
donations, well ok, handouts to be tossed. The 911 callers were
saying that various birds attacked people that failed to toss money
into the open bag as they walked by and, in at least two cases,
actually appeared to ‘herd’ couples back to the bag. Once they
tossed money in the bag the birds left them alone.

Three Police Officers arrived and were
similarly attacked until the officers also tossed change into the
can at which point the birds flew into trees to roost. When
questioned, the man said the birds were friends and maybe thought
that he needed money to buy more food for them. The man was
questioned but not arrested as no known law was broken; although
several of those attacked felt the birds should somehow be
destroyed.

Interesting note: When one man that ‘donated’
money demanded his money back two large birds, beside the old man
on the bench, made loud cries and the birds in the trees again took
flight and flew circles over the man. He quickly changed his mind,
putting more money in the bag and hurriedly left. One of the female
officers later told this reporter that the old man seemed to have a
very faint greenish glow around him. However no one else
interviewed in the park saw a glow of any kind. Several people shot
pictures and video but none show a glow around the man. Police are
mystified at the incident and the three police officers refused
further comment. When asked about why the police did not detain or
charge the man (name withheld at his request) the DA also had no
comment. And yes I donated.

Seemed to echo in Jack’s head.

Jack jerks upright, now wide awake, heart
pounding, sweating from a nightmare – a woman is terrified and
about to be raped and murdered. He saw an image of an old, very
rundown, house that he recognized as being nearby.

In fact, he recalls taking a picture of the
place.

***

Pic here of the rundown home

***

Feeling an intense sense of alarm that he
simply cannot ignore, he quickly throws on his clothes. Putting his
automatic in his belt at the back of his pants as he heads for the
door, and then pauses; after a moment’s reflection; he also sticks
Baby in his pocket. Then, grabbing phone and cane, heads for his
jeep. Driving quickly but carefully, he soon arrives at the
house.

Turning off his headlights as he approaches,
he eases the jeep close to the house and flips a hidden switch to
keep the interior light from coming on and exits the jeep. As he
quietly eases the jeep’s door closed he notices a county sheriffs
car behind the house. ‘Huh,’ thinks Jack, ‘guess this is all for
nothing but……’ With automatic in the left hand, cane in the right,
he cautiously advanced. He thought he heard a muffled cry and a
thump inside but all is quiet again. There does appear to be a
stationary light inside. Maybe a homeless person?

Deciding on caution; just in case; he is very
careful where places his feet and cane, thankful for the moons
light. Entering the house he stays close to the wall, hopefully to
keep from making the floor creak. Once at the room he sees two
portable electric lanterns illuminating a naked young woman,
apparently unconscious, lying on a torn dirty mattress but nothing
else is in view. Stepping into the room he gets a glimpse of a
figure to his left and swings to cover the figure shouting
“Freeze!” He now recognizes Deputy Benson. Benson is sweaty and
dirty, looking a bit rumpled as if he had been in a scuffle.

“I interrupted a rapist but he managed to
clip me with a pipe or something. Did you see anyone?” asks Benson.
Moving closer to the woman, who seems to be reviving, Jack answers,
“No”, and begins lowering his automatic. “How long you been here?”
“Four or 5 minutes I think, thought you might be him coming back,”
Benson answers. Placing his cane on the mattress by the woman, Jack
begins to take a knee by the woman to check her pulse and, mind
racing, thinks ‘It does not look like much of a fight happened
here’.

He starts getting up and turning back toward
Benson when something knocks the automatic from his hand, sending
it sliding across the floor. This is quickly followed up by a crack
to his head, dropping him back to one knee, dazing Jack.

Benson, with a loud and sarcastic loud tone,
says, “ No ranger cunt to protect your ass now!” From his one knee
position on the floor Jack looks up at the barrel of Benson’s 9mm.
Jack, out of the corner of his eyes, notices the woman is awake as
she lets out a scream. Glancing at her Benson yells “Shut up bitch
or I’ll cold cock you again! I will get to you in a minute.”

Seeing the cane she grabs it and swings it at
Benson. Benson laughs as he grabs the cane and pulls. The bottom
wooden portion comes off, revealing the sword. Reacting quickly the
girl lunges at Benson, sliding the blade through his thigh. Benson
screams, turns slightly and fires, knocking her back with a bullet
through her left leg. She managed to hold onto the blooded sword
tho it is now no longer sticking in Benson’s thigh. Eyes closed and
limp she appears unconscious.

Taking advantage of the distraction Jack
stands, pulling Baby from his pocket and cocks her. Benson looks at
the tiny .22 and laughs, “Just what do you think you can do with
that little thing?” With a grin Jack replies, “Kill you.” Quickly
leaning to one side Jack catches a graze in the right side as
Benson fires. Jack fires; nicking Benson to the left side of his
neck. Benson grabs his neck while trying to get another bead on the
moving Jack.

Awake, holding her leg, the girl has managed
to crawl closer to Benson and now runs the sword through his
stomach and out the back which definitely further disrupts his
attention. Jack fires again hitting Benson in the left eye causing
him to drop to his knees. Jack kicks the 9mm out of Benson’s hand,
knocking Benson over onto his right side.

Benson, looking up at Jack faintly whispers,
“Why?” He then collapses onto his back. “Why not?” replies Jack
with a shrug and then leans further over to check for a pulse;
good, no pulse. Cutting off a part of Bensons clothing Jack then
bandages the woman’s leg. As the young woman begins putting on her
now somewhat ragged clothing, Jack finds a fairly clean blanket to
put around her. Taking out his cell phone, Jack calls Anna.

“Sorry if I woke you but things got
interesting;…. again” He proceeds to fill her in with the short
version and she replies, “Interesting tends to be a bit of an
understatement with you Jack, on my way.” “I’ll be right back
Miss,” says Jack as he heads for the radio in Benson’s patrol car.
There he informs the Sheriff’s department of the situation and
returns inside.

As Jack returns from the car he notices the
young woman has wiped the sword clean on Benson’s clothing. Seeing
Jack returning she hurries over to Jack giving him a hug, kiss on
the cheek and a big grin. “Thanks, I’m Jasmine and I don’t think I
gonna need therapy anymore!” Pointing at Benson she says, “I
remember now; that’s the bastard that raped and tried to kill me in
Galveston. Hey!” with another huge grin holds up the sword, “Can I
have this nifty cane?”

***

Pic here of Jasmine in ripped clothing
holding up the sword

***

Anna arrives a few minutes before the Sheriff
(he was asleep and told everyone to wait for him). She checks
Jasmine who says, “I’m sore but Ok, …except for where he bit my
breast and butt so hard;…. again. And Jack gave me his nifty cane!”
holding up the sword. Anna moves over to Jack and whispers, “You
gave her a sword?” “E yap,” replies Jack, “I figure she really
earned it; pretty sure she saved both our lives. Got herself a bit
of payback too.”

Anna remembers a Big Bend and an Arizona case
that mentioned bites. She quickly calls her Lieutenant, filling him
in on what has happened, and especially about the bite marks which
suggests a possible connection and a good lead they have been
needing. She also thinks he should notify the FBI to which he
agrees.

Deputy Blackwood arrives with the Sheriff and
says, “Never took to the bastard no how.” The sleepy forensics
people arrive about 45 minutes later. Benson’s teeth marks are
found to not only match the Arizona and Big Bend cases, but also
three cases in California.

Anna and Jack were having lunch in Conroe one
day when Anna asks, “Have you been to the Alamo Jack?” “Nope, been
thinking about going down tho, maybe shoot some pictures, why?”
“The caretakers in charge of the Alamo may not appreciate you
shooting some of those scantily clad or nude models Jack.” Jack
chuckles, “True, but I was thinking of old style cowboys and
cowgirls clothing. Perhaps a saloon gal, or two or three, for
there. Know anyone in the San Antonio area that might be interested
in some extra cash as models?”

“Might know a couple or so. I met several
while going through some Ranger orientation. Still keep in touch
with a couple and they probably know others interested. How many
would you want and amateur or professional models? Want me to email
them?” “Sure, either and four or five. Give them my email and ask
they to send a few weekend dates they are available. O; and tell
them I pay 50 bucks an hour plus one edited 8x10 print and they
need photo IDs as they will be signing model releases.”