TONDER Chapter 17

My knuckles ached as I gripped tightly to the steering wheel that guided me through the night and along the once again unforgiving highway. The past few hours that I had driven were causing my eyes to strain to remain open as sleep weighed heavily upon my body. The urge to succumb seemed greater as most hope within me died earlier at the discovery of my cursed son. Ambition had become motivated by the catalyst of rage as I desperately searched for answers within myself, alas revealing nothing. The cigarettes that had accompanied me along this drive were causing an ache in my tender throat as I determined that each one would be the last. 

The highway sign ahead of me read Faldham Four Miles. Upon reading this, I felt my energy starting to return to my limbs. I did not know why I was going back; perhaps Elder Lewis seemed the only explanation, or perhaps the old monastery would protect me. I knew that my mind was not clear as the day had fatigued my thoughts making this moment seem many days long. I also knew that I did not want to face more tests from Dr. Borlan. Perhaps the worse news of all; Lynn did not feel safe around me. The compound seemed the logical place to start. Besides, Elder Lewis understood me and moreover believed me. In my weakened state the only other appealing option seemed to be driving the car over the embankment and ending the madness. The latter option was appealing only briefly, but at the realization of my selfishness, I carried on over the highway, searching.

The iron gates provided a backdrop for the fear that I knew existed below the grounds while I rang the entrance bell repeatedly through the window of my vehicle. A voice returned from the intercom in a tired rapidness urgently encouraging me to leave. Upon arguing that it was of dire circumstance that I see Elder Lewis, the voice disappeared and the air fell silent except for the continued buzzing of the intercom under the pressure of my finger. I removed Lynn’s phone from the dashboard holder and cradled it in my hand while searching for Reverend Malcolm’s phone number knowing that I would not be permitted entrance if not accompanied by him. I unfolded the scrap of paper that contained the number and prepared to dial the number as the grand gates swung rigidly open allowing my passage. I returned the phone to its carrier and engaged the Explorer to move forward into the courtyard before me. I continued up the cobblestone path until I reached the familiar doors where Elder Lewis had greeted me earlier that day. I twisted the key and removed it from the ignition and left the vehicle to approach the doors. I grasped the bottom ring of the enormous door knocker and struggled to raise it under my weakened hands. Before I could complete the task the door opened to once again reveal the old greeter that I had met earlier in the day. Again, he stood silent and made no attempt to speak, but possessed a harder look than I remembered; perhaps from the interruption that I had caused. He peered at me through a stone face that seemed devoid of feeling while he stepped aside to allow my entrance. As I came into the room he closed the door slowly and again disappeared around the corner as his shuffling feet echoed through the lobby.

From beyond the corner I heard the large wooden interior doors creak in a recognizable tone from my most recent visit. Elder Lewis appeared around the corner in a rhythmic gate depicting that of an aged horse burdening itself to pasture. His face appeared tired and bothered which seemed justified to me as I had left him stranded beyond the garden forcing him to make his way along the winding paths unassisted. He spoke calmly and somewhat pleasingly.

“Alas, the prodigal son returns. What is it that brings you to my door at this late hour, Mr. Abel? I would have denied you entrance if I thought that you might gain from it, but I fear that you are not keenly adept to learning new tricks are you? Eric Hoffer once said, ‘In times of rapid change, learners inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.’ What am I to assume of you, Mr. Abel: the learner or the learned?”

“Elder Lewis, I understand if you are upset that I turned away, but things have changed…”

“Allow me to ponder the possibilities: you are here to ask help not for the betterment of mankind but only now that you are directly affected. Am I quite accurate?”

Moving forward, I rushed upon the old man, seizing him by the throat and bracing his body against the marbled section of wall behind him. My teeth grinded together as my jaws seemingly locked at their hinges while standing nose to nose with Elder Lewis and staring deep into the fear that overshadowed his eyes. My voice lowered as gravel rose into my throat and the veins in my neck felt as they would explode at that very moment, pulsing and pounding with anger.

“Priest, so help me if you marked my boy…; so help me if I find out that you damned his soul to get me to help you…; I will kill you Priest. Make no mistake I will kill you.”

“Mr. Abel I assure you positively that I know nothing of marking your son. Please, sir you are choking me. I did nothing to your family. Mr. Abel, please…”

“What is in that cave out there, Father, and how will it help me to go down there?”

“Within the cave are answers, Mr. Abel, answers that only you can understand of Tonder, eklektos, evil, and the ways of the Chaser. Moreover, I think that you will find your sanity in the dark caverns or perhaps lessen your grip of it, I am unsure. I do know that it is necessary to go. It is my destiny and yours. I have had a dream some years ago that a young man would lead me down to the cave to my demise. I do not fully understand the dream, but I know that I had to pass so that he could live. In my dream the young man’s survival was dependent on the knowledge I possess; that which is in my head, my old mind, Mr. Abel. I am sorry if it appears that I speak in riddles, but the dream was a mystery to me also. I do know that I will not be coming back.”

“Are you sure that I am that man?”

“No, I am not. I am sure that the indications are quite compelling. Mr. Abel, if you don’t mind I would like to go to the entrance now without hesitation. I choose not to ponder the possibilities of not sojourning to the inevitable end. I am quite prepared. Won’t you please escort me down the path for the last time?”

The Elder who kept his priestly secret for many years stood before me griping his worn and tainted pyx. He gazed upon it lovingly. He revered it as a son looking to his father for guidance. Raising my elbow I offered support to Elder Lewis as we began out of the glass paned door and into the night guided only by the moonlight. It appeared that the old man was not dependent on the light to guide his path as he had walked it many time before in anticipation of this day. I believed in my mind that he had been looking forward to this for some time, for whatever reason. For my own unknown reasons I journeyed down the path with Elder Lewis in my own anticipation of my destiny. My purpose seemed that of vengeance and selfishness. I wanted my son back.

The moonlight shown onto the old wooden door of the cave entrance reminiscent of what I imagined an entrance door to the village of Sleepy Hollow. Its eerie texture seemed to project an unwelcome warning that inside was not pleasant and to turn away at this point could be forgiven in future lifetimes. The unspoken warning went unheeded as I raised the wooden crossbeam that lay horizontal to the door per the instruction of Elder Lewis.  The weight of the crossbeam used as a deadbolt pushed down upon my shoulder as I attempted to raise it to free the door to open. With a few upward jerks, the beam rose above the latch and fell to the ground with a loud thud leaving the door freely accessible.

“Mr. Abel, before we enter I want to thank you in advance for what you will do. Your soul belongs to God and you will glorify Him. Please do not lose your focus upon the correct choices; choose wisely as your decisions affect us all. This is the beginning of your story, Mr. Abel, tell it to the world and proclaim The King.”

“I do not believe that I am much more than a fool backed into a corner. I am a man that has been given no option but to fight something that he knows nothing about….”

“Your modesty is intriguing but it is not welcomed. Stand tall and confident and you shall be the victor of your enemy. There are many things that you shall learn about yourself and there are many things that you already know but will not admit. Now is the time to face your fears and determine what you are and what you will be.”

Elder Lewis stepped back allowing room so that I may open the door to the chasms below. Reaching to the inside of the entrance he removed a small rusted lantern coated with dust. I exposed the Zippo lighter from my pocket as Elder Lewis began filling the lantern from a small flask hidden within his flowing garment. I touched the flame from the Zippo onto the wick while the fire danced and crackled as the lantern burned an intense light directly into the mouth of the cave.

“Gentlemen wait!”

A voice pierced the dark from behind me causing the two of us to jump, startled from the noise. As we quickly spun in the direction of the voice, a figure appeared along the path leading to the door. The awkward outline of a curly haired man bounced hurriedly along the stones as if trying desperately to catch us.

“Gentlemen, please wait!”

“Reverend Malcolm, is that you?”

“Yes, Elder Lewis, please let me join you!”

“Reverend Malcolm, this situation does not require your presence and I would suggest that you go home to the comfort of your church.”

“No! I will not. Years ago I was stifled from learning of Tonder and I am not going to be stifled again. You can welcome me with you or I will follow anyway.”

“Mr. Abel, it appears that Reverend Malcolm will be journeying into the chasms with us. Do you object?”

“Hell no! Let him come if he wants, but I’m warning you; you get in my way and I’ll run you over, Padre. Understand?”

“I certainly do, and it’s good to see you again too, Mr. Abel. What brought you back?”

“It’s a long story and I’ll explain later. Let’s get going.”

Our party of three journeyed into the mouth of the cave as it seemed there was just enough room to stand and walk comfortably. The light from the lantern cast an undeniably eerie hue along the dampened cave giving an orange shade to the walls surrounding our troop. Our steps weighed lightly upon the wet floor as we seemed to be progressing deeper into the earth at a very gradual decline. A subtle voice began growing louder in my mind.

“Much to do, Chaser, much to do."