The Gift of Light: (Revised) (The Gifts Book 1) (17 page)

Please enjoy this excerpt from the second book in

The Gifts Series

THE GIFT

of

KNOWLEDGE

     Ethan knew he needed to be professional about this. “I am looking for maps of the Amazon from the late sixteenth century. Specifically, my team and I are looking for a mountainous region purported to have caves where the bones of giant men were found. My team has spent months trying to gather information locally, but the indigenous tribes there consider the area sacred, and it’s impossible to access without proper maps as modern day explorations are very rare. It’s basically uncharted territory. My hope is that these documents will shed some light on the specific area we are looking for.”

     “So, you seek the renowned men of old from the Bible. Do you really think you’re going to find what countless others have searched for without success over the last several hundred years?” Ethan had to give the man credit. He was like a bulldog protecting a precious bone.

     “Sir, I have made this my life’s work. To prove that such creatures once existed would lend credibility to the most controversial historical accounting ever, the Bible.”

     “In other words you are trying to prove or disprove the Bible as a true historical accounting of the history of men?”

     Ethan pondered his reply carefully before he simply stated, “Yes.”

     Emily sat in her chair and listened intensely. Dear Jesus, he’s looking for You and he doesn’t even realize it. As she thought about this, the Holy Spirit spoke to her. “Stay with him. He needs your help.”

     “Robert, it’s alright. I’ve already agreed to let Dr. McGowan take a look. Ethan this is Robert Monroe, he is the executer of Mr. Perry’s estate and personal friend to my Aunt Gemma and me.”

     Ethan thought it was strange that Emily referred to her grandfather as Mr. Perry, but pushed the notion aside as he donned the gloves, and carefully stepped around the attorney to view the documents.

     An hour later, after Ethan carefully photographed each page from the older journals with his cell phone he asked, “What’s in these other journals?”

     Emily joined him at the side of the table and pulled the first one open.

     “These are the personal journals of Miles Perry. He also did some exploring of this area of the Amazon back in the nineteen-fifties. You may find them helpful. I’ve read over them and they’re fascinating, if you like this kind of stuff. Most of them are accounts of supplies and such for the journey. But there are some accounts of the local natives that may interest you.”

     “I must ask what Mr. Perry was looking for and how he came by these other Spanish journals.” Ethan’s curiosity was piqued. He knew next to nothing about the man as an explorer.

     “I don’t think anyone really knows how he came by the Spaniard’s journals. He left them to me in his will, and asked that I take care of them, as they were his most prized possessions. He told me that I would one day know what to do with them. They’ve been here under Mr. Monroe’s care for several months now, and that is all I can tell you about them. As for his quest, I can only assume it was the same as yours.” Emily handed the newer journals to Ethan.

     “I think you should have his personal journals now. Something tells me that he would’ve wanted another explorer to have them. I hope they’re helpful to you. I wish I could part with the older ones, but they’re historical artifacts. They really should be in a museum.”

     Emily’s generosity touched Ethan deeply. He certainly would have loved to have the older Spaniard journals, but as an archeologist, he understood the need to preserve such old and valuable documents. He couldn’t wait to get the photos up on his laptop for a closer look.

     At that moment, a light fixture above the table exploded and sent a shower of sparks spraying across the older journals, setting them on fire. Emily and Ethan sprang into action and tried to put out the flames with their bare hands. Mr. Monroe ran out of the room to grab a fire extinguisher.

     Just then, Emily saw a small grey and black demon crawl across the ceiling and out the door. She was the only human who could see him, and knew the demon had purposely exploded the light fixture.

     By the time Mr. Monroe arrived with the fire extinguisher, it was too late. The journals were a complete loss although he did manage to put the fire out. Emily felt a tug on her arm and turned to see her guardian angel, Terrence.

     “Emily, take Ethan and leave, now. Others are coming. You are not safe here.” Only Emily could see and hear him.

     “Ethan, we have to leave, now!” She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him from the room, leaving behind a bewildered Mr. Monroe to deal with the remains of the smoldering journals on the table.

     Ethan ran behind Emily, clutching Mr. Perry’s personal journals, and did not stop until they got out the door of the building. It was still raining, but he could make out a figure dressed in black standing across the street from the law office. He stopped dead in his tracks, and halted Emily, still holding her hand.

     He knew this man who stared so intently at them. Dr. Carmine Lazar, his former colleague, and now arch-nemesis. Emily pulled hard on Ethan’s hand to get him moving again.

     “Where’s your car?” She shouted through the rain. Ethan looked at her, and pointed down the street to where his rental waited. When he looked back across the street, Lazar was gone.

     “Ethan, you have to trust me. We have to get out of here. We’re not safe.” Emily started to pull him towards the car. Ethan shook himself and broke into a run beside Emily. He knew what Emily was saying was true. If Lazar was on their tails, they were indeed in danger. The question now forming in his mind was ‘How does Emily know that we are in danger?”

     Ethan fumbled with the car keys in his pockets, unlocked the car, and shoved the journals in his arms in the back as Emily dove into the passenger seat. Within seconds, Ethan was driving in traffic with the rain still pouring down.

     “OK, Miss Bell. Where to now?”  

     “Just drive out of the city. We need to find a safe place where we can talk privately.”

     “Yes, we definitely need to talk.” Ethan wanted to know just what was going on, and what it was that Emily knew that he did not. He wondered what, if anything, she knew about Dr. Lazar.