laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

After three months and many miles of exhaustive searching, the unit that was sent with Kailee was beginning to wear down. Searching for food other than the one day a week that she fed herself was spent hunting while the rest investigated nearly every inch of the river canyons that meandered through the range. Kailee allowed the group to rest and eat while she continued looking for any sign of the vault door that she knew had to be within reach soon. Crunching over rock strewn slopes, she listened to the hawk flying high overhead as he searched for dinner of his own. Rounding through a small stand of pine, her green eyes caught something in the rock face ahead. As she neared, sunlight picked out a familiar configuration within the center of the nearly sheer wall. Excited, she approached and ran her fingers over the indentations.

"I found it," she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the canyon.

Quickly, the men ran over to view the find that had eluded them for so long. "Where," the sergeant asked.

"Right there," she pointed, her index finger over the center of the carved cross, arms equidistant from the center.

Their tired eyes squinted in vain from deeply browned skin and thinner faces. "We trust your judgement, milady. Our Great Father has gifted you with abilities that we could only dream about. Our lord, your father will be pleased when he arrives," Conaran smiled.

* * *

As they rested nearby in the cool night, Kailee felt the familiar presence in her mind as William's silhouette emerged from the edge of the trees. They all rose as Kailee grabbed his hand and led him over to the find and pointed. "Right there."

He leaned forward. "I don't see it," hand raised and feeling the cool rock near her own fingers. "Are you certain?"

"Yes. Give me the key and I'll show you."

He eyed her for a quiet moment, then finally reached in his coat pocket and produced the velvet form. Pulling back the edges, he pulled out the large ornament and handed it to her. She turned and began studying the indentations, then placed the key inside the grooves, then stood back as a low, deep rumbling began to emanate from the hillside. A thin, light blue line began to cut a long and large seam around an enormous rectangular shape that pierced boulder, shrub and tree that connected to the wall. Everyone looked on in amazement as the doors ground a level path through accumulated earth and shoved it out of the way as they opened to reveal a deep, dark interior.
As she looked inside, a irresistible pull to something beyond view drew her inside the plane of the doorway.

"Kailee, wait," William tried to grab her arm but was stopped short by some invisible barrier. "It's been warded somehow."

She turned and watched as his hands lit up along the unseen wall in sparkling bluish lights that popped quietly as he studied the nature of the obstacle.

"Come back outside until we can figure a way in for both of us."

"I can't."

* * *

A soft rain fell on her deep, golden skin as brilliant, green eyes speckled with fine hints of silver opened to view the unfamiliar surroundings. She turned her head, laying on a soft, leather backpack to view the distant layered canyon wall of oranges and reds to see the low hanging grey clouds roil and spin along the meandering road cut by the river down below. Where was she? More importantly, who was she? Panic began to rise as she sat up, studying her simple clothing and then scanned the distance for any sign of civilization to find none. Turning, she pulled the backpack into her lap and untied the flap, then rummaged through the clothing neatly folded inside to find a green, hooded cloak which she pulled out and put on. Retying the backpack closed, she shouldered it then reached back and pulled the hood over her fiery orange hair. She sighed as she looked north and south for any clue as to direction she should begin and noticed the river seemed to open to the southwest and began climbing down towards the grey-blue flow.

Within a week and a half, she finally reached the doorway to the canyon that she had woken in to see the dark brown hills and bleak dunes that stretched to the horizon in all directions. The only respite was the green that bordered the river that continued west which would certainly lead to a town sooner or later.
By that night, her nose found a large grouping of people and animals which she headed towards. Climbing over the sand dune, she noticed their campfires and tents circling one another and the camels lined up nearby as dogs began barking. She had been noticed by noses as keen as her own. Crouching down, she hoped to find a better approach as another, closer scent caught her attention which prompted her to turn.

"You'll only find trouble there, friend," the deep, kind voice stated in Kemal. "I however greet you in the name of the Creator and offer you shelter."

She stood. "I thank you, sir," she returned in his language. "Actually, I was also hoping that you could help me."

"I will certainly do all that I can. Come, sit," he motioned nearby.

As she neared, she noticed his raggedly clothing, thick beard and dishevelled hair. The tall walking stick and sandals were in good shape however. He sat after she did and lifted his waterskin, opened the cork and handed it to her.

"Thank you," she said, then took a long drink and handed it back to him. "What is your name?"

"Forgive my insult, child. I am one of the Creator's voices, Salah."

"Pleasure. I wish I could give you my name but, I can't remember anything before I woke up eleven days ago."

He lowered the waterskin and set it beside him. "Then I believe that you were led to me by the All Compassionate for he will help you in this search." He lowered his head and quietly mouthed a prayer that she could actually hear in his mind. After a few moments, he looked back at her. "You should travel north beyond the Hakkari and once you arrive at the green lands, turn northwest. In time you will find what you seek."

She studied the gaunt face in the moonlight for a moment. "I appreciate your help."

"It is why I was born. May He guide your steps and keep you safe."

She rose and followed his instructions and endured two months of traveling through the unending desert to finally see scrubland turn eventually into prairie and then to forest feeding on whatever she could find along the way.