The Forgotten Eden (34 page)

“‘
Oh-h-h
Ja-a-a-a-ck!!!
Let me
ha-a-ave
you-u-u-u
!!!
I need to
e-e-ea-t
you! We
all
need to
e-e-ea-t
you,
Ja-a- a-a-ck-e-e Bo-o-oy-y!!!
’

“
Right then, an invisible pair of lips kissed my cheek, while unseen hands gently grasped my crotch, stroking me through my pants. No way in hell was I going to stand by idly and let this continue. I spun around and slapped at my crotch, shouting a string of angry obscenities. I surely looked like I’d lost my damned mind to Jeremy and Grandpa.

“
Like a bear running from an angry beehive, I raced for the bridge. I could’ve cared less if anything else waited for me there. My entire focus was on reaching the other side of the river as quickly as possible. I prayed that my brother and grandfather had enough sense to follow me.

“
I ran across the flimsy structure and kept running until I arrived at the Jeep. When I stopped and turned around, I witnessed an astonishing transformation of the area for the second time in two days. Fortunately, Jeremy and Grandpa hurried after me, crossing the bridge and reaching the Jeep shortly after I did. Just in time to escape the magnificent metamorphoses that took place on the other side of the Black Warrior.

“
Enormous pyramids popped up everywhere on the other shore, and a narrow golden pathway ran between two of these structures sitting close to the river’s edge. Not far from the old bridge, each one glowed from within, lavender, transparent with gold hieroglyphs etched upon their sides.

“
The trees and plants were not exempt from this incredible event, soon replaced by tropical versions. Where barren ground existed just moments ago, thick palms leaned against the rickety bridge’s foundation.

“
Genovene and her siblings stood on the bridge watching me, as beautiful as they ever were and all dressed in long black gowns. Once I noticed them, they smiled and waved.

“‘
Ya’ll come back now, ya hear!!
’
she called to me, throwing her head back in laughter.

“‘
Do you see that?
’
I pleaded with Grandpa and Jeremy.
‘
Look, damn it!!!
Now, do you
believe me??

“‘
Believe
what??
’
Jeremy retorted again, his voice irritated as he and Grandpa turned their attention to the other side of the river. ‘What are we supposed to be looking at, Jackie?’

“‘
THEM!!!
’
I shouted, pointing at the bridge.
‘
They’re right there in front of those pyramids, if you’d just look
….’

“
A horrible realization swept over me, remembering the previous evening when they didn’t hear me shouting from the back gate. The same kind of thing was happening again.

“‘
They are, huh?’ said Jeremy, narrowing his eyes in a vain effort to see what I claimed was across the way from us. ‘Either you’ve got some special type of vision, Jackie, or I’m blind as a fucking bat. I don’t see a goddamned thing. Do you, Grandpa?’

“‘
No...I’m afraid I don’t either, son,’ he replied, and then turned his attention solely on me, his eyes worried. ‘Who’s ‘them’, Jack?’

“‘
Genovene and her kin,’ I said. ‘But it’s the prettier version of them all that I described last night. Are you sure you can’t see them?’

“‘
Son, I don’t see anything and I can’t hear anything other than you two,’ said Grandpa. ‘It doesn’t mean I don’t believe you. I think we’ve all been through enough already to prove most anything’s possible.’

“
He sighed and looked out toward the bridge again.

“‘
Perhaps Genovene and whoever’s with her are visible and audible only to you,’ he suggested.

“
I felt desperate, wishing him wrong, but fearing he was not—”

“‘
What did she say to you?’ Grandpa asked.

“‘
Just my name over and over. Telling me she wouldn’t let me leave,’ I explained, as calmly as possible. Of course, I left out the sexual references.

“‘
Anything else?’

“‘
Uh, no. Not really, anyway.’

“‘
Hmmm. Are you sure?’

“
Grandpa looked at me like he often did when I was in some sort of trouble. Since normally a horrible liar, that’s all it usually took for me to come clean. I’d gained some confidence since skirting around Sheriff McCracken’s questions, though it still pained me to lie one more time to him. Maybe a little like Saint Peter must’ve felt when he denied knowing the Lord three times following Jesus’ arrest by the Romans long ago.

“‘
Yeah, I’m sure, Grandpa,’ I assured him. ‘Mostly just some unintelligible gibberish. Other than her saying my name and begging me to stay.’

“
I avoided his gaze by looking over at her again. The smile on her gorgeous face suddenly dropped, as her lower jaw opened in an unnatural yawn. I glimpsed her hideous snout and teeth. She shut her cavernous mouth and smirked, slowly shaking her head from side to side with her index finger pressed to her lips. She and the others turned around and walked off the bridge, disappearing into thin air. Everything else faded rapidly, until all evidence of this event vanished.

“‘
Well, they’re gone now,’ I reported, my voice shaking. ‘They just disappeared a moment ago.’

“
I looked over at Jeremy, who shook his head and snickered. Grandpa still seemed disappointed he wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of what I saw.

“‘
Are you boys getting hungry?’ he asked, grimacing once he removed his backpack from his weary shoulders. ‘I think it’s best if we just go home now. I’m sure ya’ll agree it wouldn’t be such a good idea to eat lunch here after what’s transpired. Besides, it’s fixing to rain soon.’

“‘
That’s fine with me,’ I said. ‘I’ve seen enough of this place.’

“
No lie here. I pondered the meaning behind Genovene’s gesture a moment ago.

“‘
How about you, Jeremy?’ he asked.

“‘
Yeah, I guess so,’ my brother said. ‘I could sure use a smoke, and I’ve got some more questions for Jackie.’

“‘
Let’s get everything loaded up first, so we can be on our way out of here,’ advised Grandpa.

“
He led the way over to the Jeep, and within a couple of minutes we had everything loaded again. Before we finished climbing back into the vehicle, the first raindrops descended on us. Grandpa drove us back onto Black Warrior Road, and by the time we reached Baileys Bend Road, the dreary sky unleashed a torrid downpour.

“‘
It looks like we left just in time, boys, and all in all I’d say it’s been worth it coming out here today,’ he said. ‘Though, perhaps Jack might disagree.’

“
He turned and smiled at me.

“‘
At least you and Jeremy have now seen what the area you visited yesterday really looks like—’

“‘
But, Grandpa,’ I interrupted, ‘this isn’t where the village was. It had to be a lot further away from here. Probably way beyond those burial mounds over by the hot spring, maybe even a mile or so further into the woods.’

“
He regarded me compassionately before addressing my assertion.

“‘
No, Jack,’ he said. ‘I believe your village was right there by the fort and hot spring. Much of your story, along with certain events that have happened there through the years, leads me to think that. I’ll explain later, tonight after dinner. I’ll share everything I know. All right?’

“‘
Okay,’ I agreed. ‘I may still feel like I do now, that the village was located somewhere further away. Will you at least grant me that, after you finish tonight?’

“‘
Of course.’

“
Grandpa chuckled at my reluctance to take his word on the subject. He told me later it reminded him of my mom, and even my grandma for that matter.

“
We soon were back on the weathered asphalt of Lelan’s Way, and nearing our home. We didn’t receive another visit from Genovene and her funhouse from hell. As if that sagacious witch and her magical environment were restricted to the area we’d left behind, much like a ghost imprisoned by the dwelling it’s forced to haunt.

“‘
So, what was Genovene wearing today, Jackie?’ Jeremy asked me, as we pulled up our driveway. Silent for the past ten minutes, it was clear where his mind had been.

“‘
A dark gown, kind of like what Freddy wore for graduation back in May,’ I told him.

“
A half-lie this time, but an effective one. Nothing like a direct hit when you needed it, since I knew Jeremy regretted quitting school early. The mere mention of Freddy’s graduation attire should’ve, by itself, shut my brother’s mouth. Also, depicting the voluptuous figure of Genovene clad in an oversized graduation dress would hardly qualify as sexy in his mind, and I knew this. If he found out about the sheerness of the tight outfits she and her sisters wore when I saw them on the bridge, Grandpa and I would’ve never heard the end of it.

“‘
So that’s it, huh?’ he said, his voice lowered in disappointment.

“‘
Yeah, that’s it,’ I told him, almost chuckling. A bit punchy by now, picturing Genovene with one of those ridiculous graduation caps was almost too much.

“
Once back inside the house, we emptied the backpacks’ contents onto the kitchen table. To avoid a return to the subject of Genovene’s wardrobe and a possible link to the invisible harassment I’d endured that afternoon, I offered an elaborate description of the pyramids looming just beyond the bridge, as well as the unusual inscriptions etched onto their transparent sides. I did this awkwardly, interrupting the small talk between my brother and grandfather about how good a cold roast beef sandwich can taste when you’re really hungry. As I blurted out my ramble describing the wondrous scene on the Black Warrior’s western bank, Jeremy and Grandpa abruptly ended their conversation and turned their entire attention to me.

“
It seemed like they’d decided to wait on me to bring it up, unsure how to broach the subject otherwise, given my near-hysteria by the bridge and reluctance to elaborate on what I saw. Realizing that’s all they really wanted, I relaxed, clearly describing the environment that’d materialized by the bridge. When finished, we sat in silence.

“
Jeremy appeared to bite his lower lip, as if forcing himself to keep a painful promise not to interrogate me further. Grandpa, on the other hand, stared out through the kitchen window, as if reliving an experience from long ago.

“‘
Well, son, that makes three truly unique experiences for you in three days,’ he said. ‘I’d say there’s never been a ‘Season’ quite like this one before—definitely not around these parts. I just hope what I’ve got to say tonight has relevance for you both. If for some reason it doesn’t, just stop me.’

“
He stood up and pushed in his chair, picking up the condiments from the table and taking them over to the fridge.

“‘
I thought we’d order a couple of pizzas tonight, boys, since I’m too beat to cook,’ he advised. ‘How’s that sound to ya’ll?’

“‘
Sounds great!’ I said.

“‘
I can live with that, I guess,’ said Jeremy, standing up and pushing his chair in.

“
He headed for the sink to get his ashtray, a freshly lit cigarette dangling from his lips. It sat there precariously, bouncing up and down as he hummed an old Alice N’ Chains tune.

“‘
You know, son, if that damned thing falls on the floor and scorches the tile, you’ll be responsible for fixing it!’ Grandpa warned.

“‘
Don’t worry,’ Jeremy assured him. ‘I’ve yet to drop so much as an ash on your pretty floor...so far.’

“
Grandpa glared at him for a moment, then sighed and shook his head as he finished clearing the kitchen table.

“‘
Ah, hell. I just remembered I’m supposed to help Freddy repair his carburetor this afternoon,’ said Jeremy.

“
He carefully tapped the cigarette into the base of the ashtray, preserving most of it so he could finish it later. He pulled out his truck keys and headed for the hallway.

“‘
Why don’t I get the pizzas, Grandpa,’ he offered. ‘I know what ya’ll usually like and there’s a new place over in Demopolis. If ya’ll are willing, we could try it out.’

“‘
Sure,’ said Grandpa. He seemed pleasantly surprised by Jeremy’s offer.

“‘
I trust you,’ I added. ‘But, are you planning to tell Freddy what’s been going on around here?’

“
He frowned for a moment as if considering this idea for the first time.

“‘
No, I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘At least not until I get a better handle on what it’s all about. I honestly don’t know what to think…. Like Grandpa here, I shared in some of what’s happened and it’s pretty much fucked up my way of thinking. That’s all I can be sure of at this point.’

“
He threw back his hair from his face and checked his breast pocket to make sure he had enough cigarettes to last the afternoon.