THE DRUID STONE

Kane completed his preliminary writing and after three readings felt satisfied there was nothing to get him or the Times into difficulties with Badihm or Iran’s President. He lay staring at the ceiling and dozed off to be awakened in 2-hours by the sudden intense heat and pulsation of the Druid Stone. He quickly removed and uncovered the handkerchief but he could see the bright red light through the cloth.

“Red. My God! Something dire is happening. I have to get out of here.” He re-pocketed the Druid Stone and went to the window. The dark night was star-studded with a bright crescent moon. The window was sealed and was several stories from the ground level. Kane didn’t know how many but he inherently knew leaping from the window was not an option. He went to the windowless door. It was locked as he anticipated. Whatever is happening is life-threatening to me. I have to get out.

Kane backed away from the rust-colored door and aimed his palms and eyes at a central point. Red rays quickly turned the door into a bright red rectangle and he made a pushing motion with his red-beaming palms. Both doors blew open crashing on top of each guard silencing them with the concussion and impact. Kane grabbed his coat and small duffle and ran out of the room. He only knew one direction–down–and repeated his red-ray destruction on the locked staircase door.

As far as he could tell no alarms were triggered in the building. His main problem was orientation and lack of a plan for escape. I can’t escape without attending the launch tomorrow. The plan is to hide. But where?