The Ophir (18 page)

As the ship continued to move forward, the
men fell to their knees with upraised hands, and gloried in the
love and warmth that was raining down on them from the dark sky
above.

A light filled with stardust shown on the
ship and its crew. An inward calm began to grow within them in
their hearts as faces appeared to all sides of them, welcoming them
with smiles and nods. The crew of the Ophir, followed by an armada
of 32 ships captained by Knights Templar, was coming home.

* * * *

The Knights Templar too would pass into
legend and myth. They would become widespread, their order would
change names in different countries, but their line would continue,
even onto the modern age of man. Proof would be given here and
there of their existence, but as was the habit of man, it would be
spoken of with a wink and a nod.

World powers would assert themselves in the
name of religion and their way of democracy. Everything would
change, and nothing would change. Science and metaphysical beliefs
would dovetail eventually, but by then it would prove too late to
save the entire world.

It would not be until the 23rd century that
the world would be shaken to its foundation, when wheels that were
started turning centuries before would come to a halt. The surface
of the planet would break open with the force of many explosions
rolled into one. The face of the Earth would then experience such a
forceful change, that its powers would have to be realigned.

Lesser nations would fight bitter, long
devastating wars that would annihilate its citizens and blur the
reason for human contest. The nation with the greatest power would
be cut in half. Its attempts to take a step back in time would be
welcomed by some and seen as weakening by others. They would
present greater targets to smaller nations. Even so, the day would
come when the world would be given a third time to redeem itself.
The end would come but not just yet.

* * * *

Biblical tomes tell of an end by fire. But,
it will be natural forces and not man that will generate the final
annihilation.

In the beginning God created a machine and
put the wheels in motion. He created a self- perpetuating world and
then left it to its own devices. All changes brought about were
through cause and effect. It is the earth’s natural need for
balance that will end the current existence and spark a new
beginning.

As continents are destroyed, so will new ones
emerge. The path of the world will change in orbit, and weather
phenomena will increase. Few will survive the rapid changes, but
from the ashes a new order will rise.

Epilogue

On the beach at Brighton so long ago, The One
and his surviving tribesmen made short work of the inhabitants of
the little hamlet by the sea, as the good souls searched for that
one piece of treasure that might bring them good fortune.

Few townspeople survived the brutality of the
lamia as the surviving vampires rose in anger, fear and confusion.
They killed wantonly and left the area almost as quickly as they
arrived.

Where once the citizens walked the beach at
night in search of romance or good fortune, they now believed it
held death, and no one ventured toward the shore at night. As time
went by, the younger Brightonians left the shores of Brighton Beach
and moved inland. Their hope of flotsam that would change their
lives forever ... had come true.

THE END

About the Author

Irene Patino, born
in Tampa, Florida graduated from the University of South Florida
with a Masters Degree in Education.

Ms. Patino is a retired teacher and an
ordained minister in the Universal Spiritualist Church of All
Souls, Inc. in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a Quantum Touch
Practitioner, certified in Basic Spiritual Healing, Distance
Healing, Beginning Psychic Development, and is available for
teaching Basic Runes, non-traditional Card Reading techniques, and
several other metaphysical concepts.

Email Irene:

[email protected]

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