The Seventh Mountain (26 page)

Mark’s dad, Steve, stood, “Sure. We’d like
that.”

Mark found Tim in The Oasis. “Hi, Tim. Is it
okay if my family stays to have dinner with me?”

“Well, normally I would say no, but Mr.
Diefenderfer has requested that you and your family dine with him
tonight.”

“Okay. Where do we go? I don’t know where
the teachers eat.”

“He will meet you up on the stage. You all
need to wear a cloak.” He handed Mark and each of Mark’s family a
black cloak with no trim. “Keep the hoods up over your heads until
he tells you to remove them. It is kind of a tradition, to show
respect.”

Shana stepped up to the group. “Hi. I’ll
take your orders now, if you don’t mind. That is so that I don’t
have to interrupt you while you are speaking with Mr.
Diefenderfer.”

Tim added, “Oh yeah, do not go up on the
stage until he calls for you. Sit down when he tells you to.”

Steve said, “I guess that he is some kind of
grand duke or something, uh?”

Mark frowned at his dad. “Yes sir. He is. He
is the Commander of my tribe. He is on the Council of Elders. He
teaches communication and he is an oracle. Not to mention that he
is a pretty good person in general.”

“Any idea what he wants to talk to us
about?”

“No, sir. I don’t have a clue.”

Shana waved her pad at Mark. “You ready to
order now?”

“What do you want, Dad?”

“I’d like a T-bone steak. Do you have that
here?”

Shana nodded. “Yes. How do you want it
cooked and what country would you like it from.”

Steve grinned. “Medium, and is Texas a
country?”

“Yes sir. For food orders, Texas is
considered a country. What else would you like with that?”

“Let’s see… mashed potatoes with gravy, peas
and a glass of iced tea and a couple of biscuits.”

Mark said, “Turkey please. I’ll try some
mutton kabobs over rice and cabbage-turnip slaw with olives and
iced tea from North Carolina.”

Shana turned and took Shirley’s and James’s
orders.

A little while later, Shana returned and put
the orders on the center table on the stage. When she left, Mr.
Diefenderfer walked up onto the stage. He was wearing a hooded
cloak with elaborate green trim. He had his hood up. He motioned
for Mark and his family to join him.

They walked up to the table and Mr.
Diefenderfer spoke. “I very much… dislike the formality… which I am
forced into… by the school rules… You are to be… treated as formal
guests… For this… I must… apologize… Bear with me… a moment
please.”

Mr. Diefenderfer bowed his head and asked a
blessing. Then he said, “You will be seated… please.”

They sat down and Mr. Diefenderfer remained
standing. He bowed slightly and offered his hand forward.

“I am… good people… AlHufus Diefenderfer… an
oracle… Commander of the Emerald Tribe… of The Seventh Mountain…
Second Seat… on the Council of Elders… at the Seventh Mountain…
Teacher of Communication… Theory and Practice… First Artisan of
Signets… Holder of David’s Crown… for courage… Solomon’s Signet…
for wisdom… Deborah’s Nail… for justice… Solomon’s Hammer… for
craftsmanship… Daniel’s Mantle… for interpretation… and… I am
afraid… that if I continue… on and on … about myself… that your
dinners… will get cold…”

Mark thought that he would take the
opportunity to introduce his family. He pointed to James. “This is
my older brother, James.”

James extended his hand and Mr. Diefenderfer
shook it. “That is… not entirely true.”

Mark said, “Well…”

Mr. Diefenderfer held his hand up to silence
Mark. “I know… your family. That is why… I have… asked for you…
all… here today. This is… your mother… Shirley.”

Shirley extended her hand to Mr.
Diefenderfer.

He shook it, turned and said, “This is… your
father… Steven.”

Steve extended his hand to Mr. Diefenderfer.
When he touched it, Mr. Diefenderfer stiffened; his head rolled
back, and he began to sing, (if you could call it that).

“
Sand and Mountains fire
and ice…

The Lion, the Sabers, the Jackal, and Three
Blind Mice…

Four soldiers march at duties call

Three will succeed and one will fall

A sniper waits to deal the blow

Blood and bone stain the snow

The Jackal calls to a bird above

Flying high is The Morning Dove

Rockets roar and rocks explode

No more is the sniper’s abode

Three soldiers march at duties call

One soldier has given all in his fall

Three soldiers must do something not so
nice

The Sabers, the Jackal, and Three Blind
Mice.”

Shirley put her hand over her mouth and
shook her head.

Mr. Diefenderfer took two steps backward
when he had finished his song. “Oh my! I had no idea that… that
would happen.”

Mark and Steve jumped up to steady him.

James pulled his chair out, and Mr.
Diefenderfer, shaking, stepped forward and sat down.

“I must… apologize. Ever since… that last
battle… foretelling… leaves me… quite shaken.”

Steve furrowed his brow and tilted his head.
“You just named the tattoos on everyone in my squad.”

“Yes, I see. I am afraid… that the Lion will
die… on that mission.”

Steve pulled his left arm out of the cloak.
He pulled his short sleeve up and exposed his tattoo. It was a
lion. “Are you telling me that I’m going to die on that
mission?”

“No. I am telling you… that the one known…
as the lion… will die… on that mission. The foretelling… was
specific… about the lion… not the person.”

“Then all I have to do is not be on that
mission. Is that right?”

“That mission… will happen… whether you are
there… or not. One known as… the lion… will be… on that mission.
The lion… will die… on that mission. The lion… is not necessarily…
you.”

“Well, I guess that settles it. I was
planning on making the Marines a career. Not anymore.”

“You may… act on the… information… as you
deem fit. But… that is not why… I have… asked you here tonight. I
wish to convey… an explanation… and… an apology.”

Steve put his arm back into his cloak. “An
explanation and apology about what?”

“You may… remove your hoods… and eat… while
I speak.”

Everyone picked up their forks and began to
eat.

“James… I take it… that you… do not know…
your last name.”

Steve dropped his fork. “So that is what
this is all about. I wondered if there was a connection.”

“Indeed… there is. James… your given last
name is… Diefenderfer. I am… your great, great, great, great
grandfather.”

“Wait just a minute now.” Steve was speaking
directly to Mr. Diefenderfer. “His family name is Diefenderfer. But
if you expect me to believe that you are his great, great, great,
great grandfather, you would have to be well over a hundred years
old.”

“Yes. I am… one hundred… fifty six… years
old… but that is… neither here… nor there. What I have said… is
true. What is important… is that James understands… that I was
unable to act… to avert… his mother’s… death… and as a consequence…
preclude his father’s… demise.”

James asked, “How could you have prevented
my mother’s death.”

“All I needed to do… was to delay her… for a
few minutes. I had foreknowledge… of the crash. I had… planned to
act… but… was prevented from doing so… as a result… of my
injuries.” He pulled back his hood to reveal the scars.

There was a look of astonishment on their
faces when they saw the scar on his head and the black orbs that
had once been eyes.

“It has taken… fifteen years… for me to
recover… this much. I was… in a coma… for ten years… after that
battle. It is my… great fortune… that the healers here… are… as
good as they come.”

Steve bowed his head. “Those are battle
wounds?”

“Indeed. Two stood… against… fifty… or more.
Benrah… an ancient evil… made an attempt… we believe… to steal… an
artifact… from… the school’s museum… Fifty or more… thralls… were
manifest… from the sands… of the school grounds. They invaded… the
museum. I myself and… my best friend… spotted them and… stood to
prevent them. My best friend… was lost… in that fight. We never
did… find out… what they… were after.”

James said, “I know you would have helped
her if you could have. I understand. You don’t have to
apologize.”

“Thank you, James. That clears… blight… from
my soul. There is one more thing… that I must tell you. There may
be… some hope… to get you… into this school… to train… as a Magi…
if you… are interested. You would… be starting… three years…
behind. You would… find the training… to be… a bit more difficult…
because of that.”

Mark said, “I thought that a candidate had
to be observed and studied for three years and recommended by a
counselor.”

“That is true. Providentially… Tim and
Gerod… both… observed and studied James… as a matter of course… in
guarding… observing… and studying… you.”

“Guarding me?”

“Yes… the Council of Elders… assigned them…
as guards… over you… after the incident… when Benrah… tried to
kill… your mother. One or the other… has been guarding you… from
that time… until… you… recovered the staff… and arrived here.”

James said, “Hey yeah, where is the
staff?”

Mark reached out and grabbed the staff. He
drew his arm back and the staff appeared. “I have it, right
here.”

“Mark… remember… your lessons.”

Mark looked down. “Yes sir.” After a pause,
he looked back up at his dad. “I’m not supposed to show off.”

James said to Mr. Diefenderfer, “I think I
would like to go to this school, but I need to think about it. How
long do I have to make up my mind?”

“If I can… persuade the Council of Elders…
to admit you… then… you will have… until the end… of Orientation
Week… next year… to decide.”

“Thank you.”

Steve said, “You mentioned the name Benrah.
I don’t think that I have ever heard that name before. Who is
he?”

“Benrah… strictly translated… means… ‘the
son of evil.’ He has been known… by many names… throughout time. He
is… an ancient force of evil. It was… that force of evil… that
tried to kill Mark… before he was born.”

“Why on earth would he want to kill an
unborn child?”

“Although… we have had… no success… in
deciphering… Mark’s destiny… he… Benrah… must have… some idea… as
to what… that destiny is. It was pretty obvious… that he wanted to…
kill Mark… in order to prevent… that destiny.”

“Surely you must have some idea of what
Mark’s destiny is.”

“We have… consulted… the Ummim-Thummim… at
length. It will… neither… answer truth… or untruth… in this matter.
It will only… stand… on end… when anything… about Mark… is said.
This… in and of… itself… is a great mystery.”

“What is an Ummim-Thummim?”

“It is… a flat stone. For thousands of
years… it has been… one hundred percent… accurate… when presented…
a true or false… statement. It is also known as an U.T. stone.”

“I see. I still don’t understand what this
Benrah has to do with Mark.”

“Mark… is a Magi. It is the purpose… of
Magi… to prevent… Benrah… from taking over… the world.”

“How can Benrah take over the world?”

“It has been… deduced… from many
foretellings… that he would… become incarnate… somewhere between…
1995 and… 1997. He must… manifest… as a physical being… in order…
to take over… the world. We have found… no evidence… of who he is…
or even if this… has happened… yet. We believe… that this… has
happened. We just don’t know… where or who. We do know… that he
must obtain… the use of… a great many… ancient… and powerful…
relics… in order to keep… his grip… on the world. It is… the
primary purpose… of Magi… to prevent this… from happening… We
guard… these relics. Mark’s destiny… must lie… somewhere… within
that purpose.”

Shirley interjected, “And Benrah wants to
kill him because of this?”

“That is… what we believe. It too… is a
mystery. Benrah… is prevented from… acting directly… as a
disincarnate force… in such things… That is… one reason… that it
is… a mystery… as to why… he tried… to kill you.”

Shirley stood up. “That’s what I thought.”
She turned to Mark. “Honey, you’re coming home with us. It’s too
dangerous here for you.”

Mr. Diefenderfer’s voice remained calm.
“That is… Mark’s choice… but… his destiny… cannot be prevented.
Whatever his destiny is… he will face it… whether he is… at home…
or here. At The Seventh Mountain… he has… the protection… of every…
skilled Magi… on hand. He is also… learning skills… that he can
use… to defend himself… and others. He is… much safer… with us…
than at home.”

Mark looked at his mother and tilted his
head. “Mom… I’m staying at school.”

Steve looked at Shirley. “Hon, I agree with
Mr. Diefenderfer. If Mark is going to have a chance at standing up
to this Benrah, then he needs training.”

“I know, but he’s only twelve years
old.”

“Sweetheart, we’ve already talked about
this. There isn’t any question that Magi are a force of good
standing against evil. We have no place standing against it.”

Shirley didn’t say anything. She just sat
back down.

After a pause, Mark asked Mr. Diefenderfer,
“May my family stay overnight?”

“That is… a bit unusual… but… I see… no harm
in it.” Mr. Diefenderfer waved his hand at the family. “You all…
must wear… at all times… when not in your room… your visitor’s
cloaks. That includes you… Mark. You will have to leave… prior to…
1 o’clock… in the afternoon. Tomorrow… Mrs. Shadowitz… will be
expecting… Mark… and his friends… at 2 o’clock… sharp… for their…
afternoon ride. Magi… are expected… to keep their word… whatever
the cost. Mark has given… his word… that he would… ride with her…
in order… to further explore… the school… and its facilities.”