Chapter 85 The Crucifix
1406words
In the meantime, Koko immediately started to prepare her herbs at the fire. She also cut biltong in small pieces and divided it equally amongst them. She also attended to Eldrich by giving him a special tea that, according to Boeta, is full of natural antibiotics and cannabis. Boeta, later on, helped her to set up a steam tent with a hot rock inside. Koko steamed Eldrich thoroughly with special herbs mixed with eucalyptus oil. Only an hour later they could hear him start chatting cheerfully with Boeta inside as if nothing was wrong. The cannabis with the help of the herbs did its job and his pain and suffering changed to a strange euphoria until the cannabis took him to dreamland like a satisfied, snugly baby.
Now it is pitch dark and they are all sitting around the campfire. Only Koko is looking after Eldrich deep in the back of the cave where he is sleeping peacefully. She is ready to fight the devils that dare to awaken him fiercely. They were all preparing for the night ahead and to help Koko and Boeta with Eldrich. Thus, they didn't have the opportunity to get acquainted with one another and hear one another's stories. Now they have the chance sitting around the campfire.
Kadin chats happily: "This cave is well protected against the cold winds. Surely it does not become too cold with the fire warming us and also not too warm by day because the sun only shines directly on the pool."
Hannes smiles: "You are right. I've been here for two days and this place is quite cosy."
Hannes smiles friendly at Boeta: "Once again I must thank you and Koko, young man. I can't believe how quickly she doctored Eldrich. She has unbelievable talent, my mate."
Boeta nods: There is only one Koko and she is a living miracle."
Kadin is curious: "How did you come here together?"
Boeta shakes his head: "No, I've been waiting long enough for news. You all come from the outside world of which Koko and I know nothing at all. We are entrapped here in the gorges and dare not to go out in the woods. Who is going to tell me what is really going on outside, please? Donovan promised me you would tell us everything."
Hannes points to Billy and Kadin: "These two can tell us everything. Their paths crossed with the devils that brought the plague over the world which changed the most people into highly infectious cannibals. I would dearly like you to tell us everything from the beginning."
Billy looks at Kadin. "I think the captain is right, Kadin. I think we must tell them from the start when I picked up that booklet in the park up to here where we are now. We will have to relate our spiritual connection with Vipracitti and our belief that this group here is very important for the mission we must fulfill. The mission is to find a person who has a natural resistance to the virus so that an antibody can be developed against the plague."
Boeta's eyes widen: "Please, tell us!"
They start telling and helping each other by filling in and answering the questions of the amazed men and end up eventually when they were sitting on the rock and saw Jonathan approaching.
Silence follows when they were done and all questions are asked. All now are contemplating the information while they stare into the fire.
Kadin breaks the silence: "Boeta, now it is your turn."
Boeta seems dazed and bewildered and answers with an earnest look in his eyes: "You will have to give me a little rope here. I first want to talk to Koko."
Kadin frowns: "Okay, you look a bit anxious about what we have told you. Is everything okay?"
Boeta nods but it is clear something is bothering him. Kadin watches him unobtrusively when he rises and walks over and sits down next to Koko. He relates to her in her language what he has just learned. Suddenly their conversation gets an intensive tone and they are taking turns as if they are discussing something very sensitive.
Kadin whispers to the other: "I think our story upset the two of them for one or another reason. I wish I can understand what they are discussing because it seems as if they have trouble coming to terms with each other."
Donovan speaks eventually: "I just want to make sure about something important to me. You believe the prophet who has the ability to steal one's mind through his eyes, led you to this place to join us. You believe the contact you have with him, is important for the crucial mission of finding a person with a natural resistance to the virus and get him or her to the scientists who caused the plague. With that person's DNA, they can develop an antidote to end the plague. Have I understood you correctly?"
They nod and Billy answers: "That's the gist of it, yes, Donovan."
Donovan frowns. "And in the dream, you have experienced it from my viewpoint. You were me in the dream and saw how we fled along the stream and eventually swam across the pools. You searched for us here with the belief that the strange prophet led you here because it is important for the mission?"
Kadin now answers: "Yes, Donovan, that is what we believe. We believe it is not by circumstance that we are all here, but the road ahead is very unclear and the reasons elusive. We only believe the prophet will lead us in the future."
Boeta and Koko now join the group. Boeta speaks: "I heard what you just have confirmed to Donovan. Donovan, show them what you showed me to get my trust."
Donovan pulls out the wooden crucifix from under his shirt and shows it around.
Then Boeta requests: "Tell them what that cross means to you, please? Just as you had told me."
Donovan tells them: "I am a Christian and I believe I have a higher mission in life to which Christ will lead me eventually."
Boeta shakes his head slowly from side to side while he holds Koko's hand in his while she is solemnly looking at him. "I understand everything, Kadin. That strange, devilish prophet told you in the library that you would through light and darkness be led to bring to him the flame of hope to end the darkness that has been brought into this world in order to start a new, better world. Eventually, he led you here. Donovan, you believe you have a higher mission to which Christ will lead you. You are the one who found us in the cave and the prophet led Kadin and Billy through your eyes up to here. Everything now fits together and I know this group is very important and I also know precisely why, but it is very sensitive information that I first had to discuss with Koko before I enlighten you."
Silence follows. They all look at Boeta curiously before he eventually continues: "I was for a moment not sure whether I should keep it to myself, but I have no choice. I had to discuss it with Koko and explain it to her and she agrees a hundred percent that we don't have a choice in this matter. I lost my belief, but Donovan brought it back. He and I are now going to carve six crucifixes that the rest of us also are going to wear from now on. These crosses will remind us of our mission. The mission to which we all are going to dedicate our lives because we have no alternative!"
He is silent for a few moments and looks to everyone in turn. Then he speaks.
"It is already determined. Let me explain!"
