Over a week had passed since the feast-day at Halls, and once more the
city of Pomperaque seemed to have returned to normal. There was,
however, a feeling of apprehension that loomed over the city, though,
but no one really gave it much thought.
Pomperaque was relatively quiet. The markets and bazaars weren't as
lively and there seemed to be some kind of event, at Halls.
As far as most people were concerned, there wasn't anything obviously
wrong.
No one noticed the reek of conspiracy rising from the depths of hell to
fill the masses with a weakness that soon took them over.
The nature of the day sapped the power of spirit from everyone, and
they all were vulnerable and passive like sheep.
Brook and those in his household had behaved oddly this day.
They were loose with their thoughts and spoke out without cares or
fears for anything or anyone. Their hearts felt light and Brook had
felt at ease and he believed that since Manguino had not avenged
Allen's death by now, he had indeed followed Brook's order to 'let it
pass'.
All day Brook was in his viewing den with his wife, Lloyd and Boy,
going over a map of the Northern Continent, showing his guest and Boy
the route that they would take to the great library at Alugean, near
the port of Angaent.
They were close to each other -- now more than ever -- because Brook
had revealed to Boy and Dearborne that he had known for a long time,
that Boy was really his son. He had made Dearborne and Boy very happy,
and they felt relieved that Brook had accepted it, in secret, for so
many years.
In the den, Dearborne stood apart from the man. She stood at the
cabinets and pushed buttons on Brook's panel, when he gave her the
word; and then the men stood at the screen tracing out the route on
different maps. Each map was a more detailed version of the sections
showing that way to the mountain.
Brook had made plans with Empal to fly Lloyd and Boy to Virune, on his
Kenttitian Eagle, during some night when they wouldn't be seen. That
night was soon approaching them and they still had some things to learn.
Nearing the late afternoon, Brook showed to his son and to Lloyd a
passage-way that ran underground in two directions, built by Carter
Blue as a precaution against a personal attack. These passage-ways
were still in good condition, leading north to the Joenine Forest and
just south to the inlet which leads to the ocean.
Both routes were safe and quick, but Lloyd and Boyce would take the
northern route to a clearing where Empal would be waiting with his
eagle.
The passage-way ran under the Blue Mansion from Brook's den and the
viewing wall was the hidden door that gave access to them.
Brook demonstrated to them the working of the door and showed to them
the bracing that they would use to buttress the door; in the case of a
sudden attack and an insured escape would be necessary. Lloyd shrugged
off these things feeling them to unnecessary to his knowledge, but Boy
absorbed every word that Brook said, as if those very words were his
life-giving air.
Brook finalized what he thought to be the most important things for him
to convey.
"Boyce ... my son. Learn whatever you can at the Alugean Library.
Know the truths about the past then return to Phoride. You will
inherit this land from me, and you will become a great man." Boyce
listened with intensity to his father because he knew that he was
communing with a great mind. Boyce nodded to him with silent promise.
"Rule with kindness and love, but don't allow men of evil, men like
your uncle, the ArchBishop, to tread over you and grind you into the
earth." Brook breathed for a moment then briefly looked away from
Boyce. "I have been too kind and have allowed too much to pass into
being. Now, it's difficult to fight the evil."
"I promise you, that I will follow your words, father!" promised
Boyce, and Lloyd gave his word to Brook, as well.
"I shall watch over him, Lord. I will guide him to do what is right in
accordance to the oldest book's ten laws, and my people shall help us!"
Brook forced a grin and slowly nodded.
"Good!"
He motioned to Dearborne and told her to activate, on the panel, the
playback for pictures of Alugean.
"I must make certain that you know the entrance to the inside of the
mountain. Watch and remember, since this will be the final time I will
show you."
The pictures flashed on the screen, showing recognizable landmarks that
are in the vicinity of the entrance and finally there came the picture
of the entrance itself. It wasn't very large and was almost hidden,
and there was one small panel such as that which Brook's gadgets have,
and from that panel, entry would be gained into the library.
"Remember," Brook told Lloyd and Boyce. "the numbers that must be
pressed are these: Seven, Two, One, Nine -- count to five and then
press One, again -- the vault door will open. Inside there is enough
food and water, that you will not have to worry about running out for
your duration of stay. There are enough supplies there for both of you
to live on for twenty years, and more."
"We will stay there fifty, if need be!" Boyce promised.
"You will try to unite the lands in the north, with Besten?"
Lloyd nodded affirmatively, answering Brook's question.
"They will all help me, I trust, when the time comes. They understand
my intentions."
Far in the distance there was a riotous sound. It came from the street
and Dearborne rushed to the window and peered out to see what was the
cause of it.
"Brook!" she suddenly screamed out Brook's name, but could hardly say
anything else. Brook went quickly to the window, and Boyce and Lloyd
went with him.
When they saw what was making its way down the street, all that was
heard was a deathly silence in the room, being filled in its place by
the sounds of impending violence.
"My God!" Brook said, his voice shattering with devastating uneasiness
and fear.
Boyce looked, too. His heart jumped within his body as he looked at
the frightful expression on the adults' faces.
They all watched the ArchBishop and a dozen monastic guards and clergy
march up towards the mansion and disappear as they reached the main
door beneath them.
"I can't believe that Manguino is here." Brook started. "Yet... I am
not surprised. I understand my dear brother."
Dearborne took Brook's arm.
"What will we do, Brook?" she pleaded with him.
He looked at her and the other two men.
"Lloyd and Boyce must leave right now, and you must leave with them."
Brook said to Dearborne and made his way to the viewing wall. He
tugged at one of the drape-cords and the wall swung open to a space
that was just large enough for the book case where he removed the big
book from its hiding place. He beckoned Lloyd and the others. Lloyd
and Boyce quickly went to him but Dearborne moved from the window to
the room doors and locked them.
Pounding sounds could be heard echoing throughout the mansion, followed
by the blaring twangs of the electrophoric guns.
Three successive bangs were heard as the wood and stone main doors
cracked and buckled under the strain.
"They're inside." Brook said, with acceptance. "Dearborne, come!"
He handed the book to Lloyd and looked between him and Boyce.
"Care for this book, and use it to teach those in your land. They will
not doubt its truth."
"I will." vowed Lloyd.
"May God watch over you!" Brook blessed his son and Lloyd then
stretched his hand to Dearborne to approach him and take it. She did.
"I will miss you, my love." he said to her and kissed her.
"I will not leave you, Brook. Boyce must survive for us and there is
Lloyd to watch over him. We ... we are no longer important." She
embraced Brook and met Lloyd's eyes when doing so. She slowly lowered
her eyelids as to say to him that she is staying. He pursed his lips
and nodded to her.
Brook, still embracing Dearborne turned to Lloyd and gave him a
desperate and hopeless little grin.
"You two will leave now. My Dearborne will stay by my side. Go now,
the devil will arrive soon."
Just as Brook finished his thoughts to Lloyd, there was a tinny and
hoarse voice come from behind the door.
"Break it in!" it commanded. It was Manguino.
"Quickly, leave!" Brook said to Lloyd, leaving Dearborne and pushing
Lloyd and Boyce through the ajar passage door.
"Father ... !" Boyce began but Brook stopped him.
"You must go, my son. There's nothing that you can do!"
They stared at one another, and without further words, with an
understood good-bye, they finally left.
Brook patted Lloyd on the back and instructed him to blockade the
passage door with the buttress. He did so.
There was a blasting twang and the door splintered apart.
Brook quickly turned towards his gadgets and frantically started to
press buttons, turn knobs and adjust levers.
The ArchBishop entered with his men and Brook took Dearborne behind him.
Three of Manguino's Angels grabbed Brook's arms and they put one of the
shiny metal armaments under his chin, and another clasped Dearborne
around her entire body pinning her arms to her sides so she wouldn't
move them.
Manguino grinned at Brook and gave Dearborne a quick look-over.
"Hello, Brother!" he said.
"You bastard!" Brook spitted-out at him, in return.
"In error as always, Brook. I am the true son!"
Manguino motioned his hand to the vicar Tohm and Tohm thrust his fist
into Brook's stomach.
Brook struggled for a moment until Tohm proceeded to bravely punch him,
all-the-while the Angels holding him. Brook then slumped over in
unconsciousness. Dearborne had turned her head away, through it all
and then saw that he was limp on the floor.
" _ And you my darling sister!" Manguino said as he neared her. "The
small, barren field will finally be ploughed and seeded."
The ArchBishop ripped her blouse from her body, her breasts were
exposed to the air, and each man standing there saw their rosy purity.
She began to scream out and she tried to wrench herself free from the
guards who hugged her arms to her sides.
Manguino grabbed each breast with his hands, clutching them until she
hollered and cried in the utmost pain. She kicked out but she couldn't
hit anyone and Manguino let go of her. From her pale nipples issued
whitish droplets, mingled with blood, which slowly ran down her ribs.
Manguino ordered two of his Angels to force her to the floor, and they
each held her legs down while the first Angel continued to hug her arms
to her sides.
The great ArchBishop smiled at her.