Part 3

  The People of Naraka struck their camp in an impressive manner. Once the people were fed, the tents came down and all of their equipment and possessions were loaded into five massive wagons which were hitched to the largest five dewbacks.

  The sentinels mounted blurrgs and the elders of the clan, including Alice, mounted fathiers. They were on their way south before the sun had had a chance to climb very high into the blue sky.

  Carlo and Charles mounted their own fathier and rode along with them. Carlo was somewhat surprised that they had allowed them to ride together considering that Alice was essentially using Charles as a hostage to get Carlo’s assistance. Still, he was intrigued by the story she had told about the witch Vishla. It sounded like this clan leader may have knowledge of the Force. Once again Carlo’s curious nature overrode a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Despite that curiosity, Carlo resolved to escape with Charles if the opportunity presented itself.

  The People of Naraka rode along, out of the hardpan valley and into a massive sea of dunes. Through the desert they went, enduring the heat, the sweat, and thirst. They rested at intervals throughout the day and the sentinels made sure that all had water and were handling the difficulties of the journey. To his mild surprise, that included Carlo and Charles.

  Finally, when the sun was sinking, the group entered another valley where there was a small stand of trees and thorn bushes. When they drew closer, Carlo could see the plants sheltered a small spring of clear water. Only a desert tribe would have known where to find this place.

  A cry went out from the lead sentinel and the people of Naraka dismounted, unloaded their wagons, and pitched their tents all while the cook fires were lit.

  Carlo was amazed again at the efficiency of this clan. Everyone knew their jobs and did them well. Before long they were sitting again near a cook fire eating food —that was again too spicy— while listening to one of the elders preaching tenets of their faith.

  Carlo smiled as he listened in spite of the situation. It reminded him of sitting around the cook fires of his home village. He felt a sudden pang of homesickness. He missed the familiar surroundings. He missed the days spent hunting and the nights telling the tales. What cut the deepest was the realization that he couldn’t go back. People he’d know all his life had been the ones shoving him to the ground, throwing the rocks, and kicking him when he’d stumbled. No, he couldn’t go back.

  Carlo was pulled out of his reverie by the cook offering him more of the spicy desert fowl. He didn’t know how much more of the spice he could take. He pointed at his still half-full platter and shook his head.

  The cook feigned a disappointed expression. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  Carlo looked down at Charles who sat at his side. The boy picked at his food but ate little. He had been invited to play with the other children but had hid behind Carlo instead.

  The sentinel Eren approached with her plate in her hand. She pointed at a spot near the two, “May I?”

  Carlo nodded. “Please.”

  *****

  By the end of the following day the caravan arrived at the oasis. It was a lush green valley with palms surrounding a massive natural amphitheater with an ancient appearing stone well at the center. Outside the amphitheater there were five large ponds where quite a few animals were being watering.

  Based on what Carlo could see at least two other caravans had already set up encampments on the outer edges of the oasis. They had already lit their cook fires and Carlo could detect the smells wafting in on the breeze.

  Alice, riding a giant cream colored fathier, rode to the head of their column and directed them toward a place opposite to the other caravans. This made sense to Carlo if Alice was indeed concerned that the others were being led by a heretic.

  Once again, the efficiency of the Narakan caravan went on full display. The riders dismounted and the wagons were pulled into exact positions. They unloaded their equipment and tents, everyone moving according to what was a well-rehearsed dance. The tents went up, the animals were led to a nearby pool for water and the cook fires were lit. Carlo almost felt guilty watching everyone at work but he knew that without an assignment he would be more of a hindrance than a help.

  Carlo guided his fathier over to the nearby pool and dismounted. He helped Charles to the ground.

  Once again the children invited the boy to go play but he appeared almost shy as he hid behind the fathier. Carlo knelt and picked up a small rubber ball that had bounced close to them. He handed the ball off to a little girl saying, “Maybe he’ll join you later for a game.”

  The girl accepted the ball with a smile and ran off to join the others.

  Once she’d left, Charles took the fathier’s lead rope and led the animal to the pool's edge where it bent its neck and drank deeply. Carlo knelt by the pool and refilled the water bottles. As he did he noticed a runner from across the oasis approach Alice as she was directing the encampment. The runner paused a short distance from her at the insistence of a sentinel but Alice waved him closer. The runner appeared to speak with her for a few moments and then ran back to where he’d come.

  “There’s probably going to be a conference in the amphitheater tonight.” It was Eren. She’d approached almost unnoticed.

  Carlo managed not to look too startled. “And she’s been invited.”

  Eren nodded. “We all have been. It’ll be a good chance to see if Lucia is with the witch.” She was not quite able to keep the disdain out of her voice.

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  Carlo took one of Eren's water bottles from her and knelt to fill it. “Do you think the girl will want to leave?”

  She accepted the now full bottle back from him. “I do. She’s my sister.”

  Carlo tried to keep his voice even as he said, “If she’s been bewitched she may not come willingly.”

  “Then we’ll just need to take her away.” She was resolute. “Or maybe we just kill the witch.”

  “But if your sister is actually a believer then you risk turning her into the enemy,” he reminded her sagely.

  She just replied with an annoyed expression.

  “I see. I hope you’re right.” His voice was quiet.

  “I am. You’ll see.”

  Carlo watched the sentinel walk away back toward the camp. He was interrupted by Charles tugging on his sleeve. He looked down at the boy who was looking up at him with an almost pleading expression. Carlo recognized the look, “You're hungry.”

  The boy nodded.

  Carlo took the fathier’s lead rope from him. “Let’s go corral this beast and then we can see if the cook has something for you.”

  *****

  Carlo and Charles walked to the amphitheater accompanied by Eren. They went to the very top of the wide circle surrounding the stone well. They found a spot where they could easily see clear to the well.

  Carlo sat on the stone bench. Charles sat, then leaned on his right arm and then promptly fell asleep. Carlo eased his head down to the bench and used his folded Jedi cloak as a pillow for the boy.

  Eren watched with vague interest, especially taking note of the lightsaber hanging at Carlo’s belt but she said nothing.

  An older man stepped out by the well and began speaking. He was dressed similarly to Alice including the white hood. Carlo guessed that he was one of the other clan leaders. He spoke for a good deal of time about the responsibility of each of the people of Naraka to teach their religion to the young.

  For his part, Carlo was barely paying attention to the speech. He was scanning the crowd for anyone that might be Alice’s daughter or her kidnapper, Vishla. Eren was evidently doing the same but having no luck.

  Finally the speech wound to a close. The old man left the well and a younger woman also in similar garb stepped out of the growing shadows. The sun had dipped below the horizon and shadow now stretched over the amphitheater. The crowd had been somewhat restless but now a stillness fell over them all.

  Eren, still standing, dropped a hand on Carlo’s left shoulder. “It’s her, the witch,” she whispered.

  Carlo leaned forward with renewed attention.

  The woman Eren had identified as Vishla walked to the well and stood with her back toward them. She drew back her white hood and her long, dark hair fell about her shoulders. She raised her arms into the air and as they reached their apex dozens of torches lining the amphitheater flared to life driving back the shadows and eliciting a collective gasp from the crowd. Even Eren was taken aback.

  Carlo was skeptical that she had the power of a god but he had suspicions that Vishla had tapped into the Force. Admittedly Carlo knew very little about it but none of his discussions with VP16 had led him to believe that lighting fires spontaneously somehow connected to the Force.

  Vishla turned to face the crowd and addressed them, speaking about the Word of Naraka. Carlo listened and watched. The crowd was, for the most part, enraptured. He could tell that even members of Alice’s caravan were paying rapt attention to the eloquent young leader.

  Vishla ended her remarks and then raised her arms again. Her eyes closed in apparent concentration. She rose off the ground to about the height of a person and then spoke again in a deep, resonant tone: “People of Naraka! Hear me! We are on the precipice of a new greatness. Heed my words and you will be led into a future of prosperity!”

  Then, as she let her arms drop, Vishla settled again to the ground.

  The crowd was silent. Many of them were holding their breath in amazement.

  Carlo looked up at Eren and saw that even her eyes were wide.

  He’d seen this feat with his own eyes and yet, there was something wrong. Something was out of place. Instead of wonderment, Carlo felt consternation. He rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully.

  Vishla stepped away from the well and raised her hood back into place. Then, flanked by her own sentinels all of whom were wearing red gaiters obscuring their faces, she exited the amphitheater. Alice and the other, older man stood and followed also. Clearly Vishla was a tough act to follow.

  Eren sat down next to Carlo as the rest of the crowd began to filter out back to their respective encampments. They were both silent until enough people had left that Eren felt they could speak without too much danger of being overheard. “She is a witch.”

  Carlo shook his head. “I’m not so sure.”

  “But you saw what she did!”

  “I saw something that I can’t explain. Doesn’t mean it was witchcraft,” he said calmly. “Did you see your sister?”

  Eren shook her head no.

  Carlo stood up and gathered the still sleeping Charles into his arms. “Let’s go find Alice.”

  *****

  They caught up to Alice at her tent. The sentinels at the tent door allowed them entry after first checking with her.

  Carlo and Eren entered the tent and found the old woman pacing the floor in the dimly lit space. She was wearing a look of concern on her face. Stilling on a cushion near the dim lamp was the old man who had spoken first at the amphitheater.

  Carlo laid Charles down in a convenient cushion and covered him with a blanket. Eren approached Alice and took her hands. “Oh, mother. Now what do we do?”

  Alice tried to give her a warm, comforting smile. “My child, we will do what we have always done. Seek and follow the Will of Naraka.”

  Alice turned to the old man. “Gerold. This is my most trusted sentinel, my daughter Eren.” She paused and pointed a hand toward Carlo. “And this is Carlo, a trusted friend.”

  Gerold stood up, bowing his head. “The blessing of Naraka be upon you.” He paused and then continued, “They should know what Vishla has demanded.”

  Alice bowed her head. “She says all three of our clans are to become one.” She paused again and swallowed hard. “Under her leadership.”

  Eren actually gasped.

  Gerold coughed and exhaled a wheezing breath. “She has led away many of our best and brightest.”

  “Including my sister,” Eren interjected.

  He continued, “And now she seeks to rule us all.”

  Alice dropped Eren’s hands and turned her back on them all. “We’re powerless against her witchcraft.”

  Eren spoke up at that point, “Carlo doesn’t think it’s witchcraft.”

  Alice spun around, “Then what? I refuse to believe that Naraka has bestowed his power on that heretic!”

  Carlo shook his head. “No. It’s not witchcraft. Give me a chance to find out what it is.”

  “Well,” Gerold replied. “You have until noon tomorrow. That’s when Vishla wants us to relinquish our authority to her.”

  *****

  Carlo left Charles in the care of Eren and had left into the night. It had been difficult to convince her that he needed to go alone but he did have a feeling that Eren’s impulsive nature may be detrimental. Carlo felt that patience was in order.

  He first returned to the amphitheater. His intention was to examine the torches but by the time he arrived the whole place was dark and none of the torches could be found. They had been removed. He walked to the top of the amphitheater to where they’d sat during Vishla’s oration.

  Carlo sat and closed his eyes. He concentrated on his breathing and reached for the connection to the Force. He found it with relative ease. He let the feeling of calm and peace wash over him. It was good.

  He directed his thoughts toward the events earlier that evening, questioning, wondering.

  The Force answered. The events replayed for him but he noticed something in Vishla’s hand, some kind of switch or control. She’d pressed it right as the torches lit and then again when she’d levitated off the ground.

  So, this was not the Force or witchcraft, it was technological. She was a fraud.

  Carlo’s elation over the realization was short-lived. He knew the others were just as likely to view him with suspicion. After all, what could he tell them? They were just as likely to believe that the Force was some kind of witchcraft. He needed proof and he needed it soon.