THE DRUID STONE

He was now amongst maroon-robbed men sitting in a half circle facing the standing tall white bearded high priest–Holthar. Kane looked around and all eyes were directed to Holthar–no one seemed to notice he was there. Holthar raised his arms pulling the sides of his robe upward and looked down from his stone platform. Kane felt Holthar was looking only at him. Holthar’s eyes were sapphire blue like the stone could become.

“Today the morning brought a good light–it was amber as of life giving grain. We must have our people work for the common good in anticipation of our future harsh seasons and work diligently in the fields. We must work extra hours and work as one family.” Holthar pointed a long bony finger at Kane. “In the afternoon there came among us a visitor who would advise us differently. He told of a clan to the East who we should alienate and shun should they ask us for succor. Our temple stone became green in his presence. We should not act on such words as the Henge shows us it is unwise to follow the outsider’s advice.”

Kane felt his pulse race. He spoke to Holthar. “Green then is a warning and amber is a portent of truth?”

An electric blue light outlined Holthar’s robe and his image began to fade into a foggy blue mist. Kane looked about and the others disappeared into the same bluish haze. The moon was large and full and cast a light outlining Stonehenge’s circle of columns as huge black pillars of authority. The gauzy fog floated only at the ground level. He became aware of the coldness of the damp night. His warm robe was gone and he was in his pajamas and bare feet. Kane wanted to run but he didn’t know which direction would bring him to shelter. His feet were wet and sunk into the soggy clay ground. He heard a ringing and turned toward it as a beacon. Kane wanted to leave this spot and moved forward as his feet pulled out of the mire with a sucking noise. His first step seemed to send him downward into a hole falling on his side, closing his eyes and protecting his head with his hands. The ringing was louder now and he opened his eyes. He was in his DC apartment and the phone kept ringing. His answer machine was not responding. He picked up the receiver.

“Morgan is that you? I’m sorry to call you so late. It’s me–Martha.”

Kane did a quick survey of his arms and torso. Everything seemed okay. He had somehow fallen out of bed. “Martha? Good. I was thinking about you. I dozed off looking at some of the pictures of Stonehenge I took during our tour.”

“I’d like to show you mine, too. Maybe we can meet tomorrow night. I’ll be checking more on this Holthar character during my lunch hour tomorrow.”

“Martha it’s a date. My place or yours?” Kane had trouble focusing his eyes. He turned on the low wattage lamp on his night table. His pulse picked up again. There was fog in his room with the windows closed and the baseboard heat set at sixty-nine degrees.

“How about my place? I’ll call you on your cell phone tomorrow with the directions and the best time.”

“Any time after four is good.” He started to walk toward the bathroom with the cordless phone and almost slipped. What the hell? He looked down at his feet. “Okay Martha. Sleep well and goodnight.”

Kane held on to the furniture as he found the light switch on the wall near the bathroom and turned on the overhead room light. “Oh my God. How the hell did I get mud on my feet?”