“So, you are Amanda's father,” Jalan said, sitting beside Ningla on a log at the waterfall.
“Yes. I was on my last hunt and I was abandoned, much as Damash of Three was. I had the misfortune of being seen while in the Jade Bear and you know the rest. Amanda is an exact copy of Jessica. If you could place Jessica and her beside each other, you could not tell the difference.”
Jalan chuckled in spite of himself. “Maybe that explains the reluctance to open the Portal. For someone who opposed the hunts, and opposed mating with outside women, it is quite ironic to find that you dabbled once and left a progeny behind.”
“You find that amusing?” Ningla snorted, and then grinned. “I can imagine what Righli will say when he learns. I wish I were young enough to contest him, simply to defeat him in a fight. Yes, I did that with Jessica. It was a one-time thing and I really do not know why I did. However, after careful scrutiny, I find that her genetics are different, quite possibly because she was created and delivered outside the Jade community, where there is no infusion of atmosphere and mineral intake. I would be willing to bet that when she bears children that we will have the first Jade woman born in our history. Maybe this is fate working its hand for our meddling with life.”
“Did you ever consider going back for Jessica?” Jalan clapped his friend's shoulder. “I find it inconceivable that you would leave her there.”
“A few times I did, but after the bad one we let inside, I forgot about it until Damash of Three's message and request. It has haunted me ever since. I think it is time to pay for those sins and correct some injustices, not only to Amanda, but to the Jade Colony as well. What do you think?”
“I agree. You have my support and we know what that is worth. I think we also will have Righli's, after a good round of shocking reports about your dabbling, and your progeny. The rest will follow us.” He chuckled again.
“I am grateful that you are on my side in this matter,” Ningla said and joined the laughter. “That was a wild morning, Jalan. I remember it vividly after all those years.”
Joseph followed Amanda until she turned south from Chicken House crossing and drove along the tracks. He watched the headlights bobbing and then turn back toward the highway and stop. He smiled in the darkness, satisfied with himself and his discovery. “I have you now, sweetheart. I’ll divorce you soon, before we go to court.” He turned around beside the tracks and drove home.
Near two in the morning, he returned to Chicken House and parked his car beside one of the huge coops that gave the crossing its name. He took a rifle from his trunk, rested it across his shoulder and walked south along the tracks.
Indian River train UIR-28 rolled over Chicken House crossing shortly after that. The head lamp illuminated Joseph a few seconds before he dodged into the brush.
“Did you see that?” Conrad, the engineer asked. “What's he hunting here at night?”
“Deer?” offered the brakeman.
“No. I don't think so,” said Conrad and rolled past the switch point. He looked and saw the now familiar car, with Amanda sleeping. “I don't like this. He's up to no good, and I'm not going to take chances.”
He keyed the radio mike. “Harrington Yard, this is UIR 28. Would you call Millsboro Police and report a man carrying a rifle along the tracks, south of Chicken House and north of the switch point? Our friend is sleeping here tonight and I think the prowler's up to no good. Over.”
Brownie heard the transmission and Harrington's response that they would notify the police.
“You copy that, Brownie? You two should come together about the switch point. Be careful. I don’t like this at all.”
“Tell him that,” Brownie replied and picked up a piece of air hose from the one he cut for Amanda. He moved to the back railing of the caboose and stood where he could see the east side of the tracks. He was grateful for a full moon that provided enough light for him to see fairly well.
Joseph stopped when he could see the windshield and he grinned. Amanda sat up to watch the train go by and to take another sip from her water bottle on the dashboard. She glanced north and caught a brief glimpse of a man with a rifle and she opened the door. As she started to move, the windshield and the jade bear shattered and pieces of both lodged in her right shoulder as the bullet grazed her bone. She fell to the ground face down and heard herself screaming.
She tried in vain to move her right arm and willed herself to stop the screaming and move away from the car. She wiggled, squirmed and crawled around the car and into the relative safety of the brush away from the tracks. Once inside the relative safety of the brush, she paused for a moment. Her right arm came around slowly but the burning pain in her shoulder did not diminish. She twisted around and raised her head until she could barely discern the car.
Brownie swung down and hit Joseph with the hose, hard enough to knock the rifle from his hands and him to the ground. He recovered himself quickly and kicked Joseph in the stomach before he could move. The tussle was brief. He grabbed the rifle up and chambered a round.
“You move and it will be your last, dirt bag! Get your hands where I can see them! Now!”
Joseph moved his hands slowly around and over his head as he lay on the ground.
“Make yourself comfortable. You're not going anywhere until the police get here,” Brownie said firmly.
He turned and glanced ruefully at the car. “Amanda!” He shouted loudly and listened to his voice echo off the trees and stalled coal cars.
Amanda heard him shout but she could not answer for crying from the pain that ripped through her body. She tried to stand but her muscles refused to respond.
Oh, no! I'm going to return to this mental hell. Please don't let this happen, she begged silently.
“Amanda!” Brownie shouted again and received no response.
Amanda's car filled with a flash of jade green light that illuminated a large area of the tracks. The sides strained and the top creaked as all three separated. The tires exploded from the excessive strain and from a large green cloud emerged a Jade Bear, standing nearly twenty feet tall.
Joseph stared agape mouthed at the bear.
“Oh, wow!” sighed Brownie.
“Damash of Three? Beautiful,” breathed Amanda.
The bear rose on his hind legs and took three waddling steps north. He reached down and scooped Joseph up in one hand and held him above his head. He growled and Joseph shook with fright.
“Put me down!”
The jade bear tightened his grip and moved Joseph closer to his wide open mouth.
Amanda concentrated and forced herself to her feet. She moved slowly at first and then faster, around the car to stand before the jade bear. She saw the fear on Joseph's face and the determination on the bear's.
“Please don't kill him, Damash! Let him go!”
The bear stopped, tightened his grip, and growled again.
“Damash of Three, please put him down. I'm okay. I'm alive and waiting for you. Don't start us off with his death. He won't hurt me again.”
She begged him for Joseph’s life, dropped to her knees and clasped her hands in as pitiful a method as she could. “I helped you through the Paraclipse. Remember? This is not too much to ask. Put him down and let's do the Confusion Rite, like you did on Level 2 in chamber 17 of the Paraclipse. Let's not turn away from the Life Principle.”
The jade bear extended his arm and dropped Joseph to the ground.
With another flash of green light, Damash stood in his place in human form. “We would not violate the life principle by killing him, since he is broken, but you are wise, my love. Because of your heartfelt pleas, we will do it your way.”
In the distance, police sirens wailed.
“Hurry, Damash. Let's do it before they get here. We don’t need that complication.”
Damash turned and smiled at Brownie. “Thank you for your kindness, sir. Please go now.”
Brownie nodded, winked at Amanda and ran to the caboose.
“Conrad, let's get this load to the river and go home. Everything's under control here. Amanda's safe.”
Damash held Amanda's hands. “This will be easier than inside the Paraclipse.”
“Good. I like easy.”
“What are you going to do?” Joseph asked warily.
“Help you. Be grateful for her intercession, because I would do it another way. I have no sympathy for men who abuse women.”
Damash started a chant in a strange language and Amanda joined him until their voices blended into one voice.
Joseph shook his head and felt dizzy. He looked back along the tracks and saw the rifle laying where Brownie dropped it. Immediately a sharp pain stabbed into his right shoulder. He swore and felt his arm go numb as he groped to touch it with his left hand. His head jerked back and felt as if someone had kicked him in the face. The same invisible foot kicked him in the chest and sent him flying backward. He lay gasping on his back and staring at the stars. Visions of Amanda played through his mind and all were painful. His heart beat wildly and he felt he could not breathe enough to keep himself alive. Amanda screamed. Amanda cried. Amanda hurt. Amanda begged. Joseph raised his hands to cover his ears.
“I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'll stop!” His screams ended in tears.
Pieces of the jade bear from Amanda's car flew through the air and lodged in Joseph's forehead and chest. His body jerked as if shocked with electricity, his muscles contorting into seemingly impossible positions. The jade pieces glowed brilliantly for a few seconds and disappeared. Joseph lay on the ground on his back, trembling and moaning.
The two police cars turned along the tracks and after a few feet, they both stopped. One rolled down his window. “What are we doing here?”
“Beats the hell out of me. Car three to dispatch. Do we have a trouble call in for Chicken House?”
“Negative. Not unless you wish to pick up a chicken for lunch.”
They turned and left the area.
Joseph woke in a sweat and although he could not move, he could hear Damash and Amanda talking. He felt a sensation, like he traveled, but being trapped inside the constant jade green light, he could discern nothing for a reference.
“What do you feel about Amanda?” Damash asked.
“Amanda? Amanda is okay.”
“Do you want to hit her?”
“No,” Joseph replied immediately.
“What do you feel about Amanda?”
“Amanda? Who's Amanda?” Joseph asked, confused by the question.
Amanda squeezed his hand. “Do you love Joyce?”
“I do, very much.”
“I'm Amanda. Do you want to hurt me?”
“No. I don't want to hurt anyone.”
Amanda kissed him. “Goodbye, Joseph.”
“Who are you?”
“It's not important. Go to Joyce. Listen to her. Her love for you is great. Will you do that for her?”
“I will. Thank you. Who are you? Do I know you?”
“That's far enough,” said Damash.
Joseph's body jerked violently again and he blacked out.
Several moments later, he sat up then stood, cast a glance to Amanda and Damash, waved and walked north along the tracks. He sidestepped the rifle and left it laying on the ground.
Damash placed an arm around Amanda's waist. “You're a good woman. He owes you a great debt.”
She nodded in agreement. “Joyce will be good for him and he'll be much nicer now. Life is a very precious commodity, given by God. Death should be left to God also. Isn't that the first major part of the Life Principle?”
“Yes. Are you ready to go?”
“I've been waiting for the invitation, Damash of Three. Let's go and pay my father a visit. Will he deny you the right to marry me?”
“I doubt it. He’ll probably be very humble and happy.”
He turned to the north and held up both hands. “Council of Jade, open the Portal and grant passage for Damash of Three and the orphan, Amanda Amy Blake.”
From the north, a huge jade green disc appeared in the sky and from the outer rim, several lights shone and came together and traveled to a few feet away from Amanda and Damash. They joined hands and stepped into it. The beam withdrew and the disc disappeared from the sky.