Diego imagined a battle between two such people. “So they will come here to draw you into battle and death?”
“Yes,” Abuelo replied.
Juan thought for a moment before he spoke. “If they defeat you, who protects the garden?”
Juan knew the answer before Abuelo spoke. “You do.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Juan and Diego were curious as to the appearance of the Nephilim but couldn’t take the risk of being spotted. Abuelo explained that the Nephilim, although they had never been to the garden, had memories of the garden passed on from their fathers.
Abuelo told them of a location in the garden marked by a gateway. “That is where the Nephilim will be headed. You must beat them there.”
Juan and Diego headed out and words were difficult to craft to portray all they saw during their two days of travel. The terrain turned rocky and in the distance, mountains began growing out of the land. Soon, there was very little plant life and mountains reigned. The tops of those mountains spewed fire.
They began seeing reptiles that increased in size further into the garden. Some of the reptiles ambled on two legs and their bellows were startling. Both watched as a vast reptile with an immense neck and tail strode on four legs towards the mountains. The reptile was at least two miles away but they could imagine the creature up close being larger than the castles of their homeland.
Much to their dismay, the first day grew to and end and the sky darkened; they had no choice but to stop for the night. They looked for shelter but found none and were forced to sleep in the open. Throughout the night, the reptiles growled and called to each other and Juan and Diego could sense them circling their camp.
The next morning they woke surprisingly unmolested and after a cold meal of salted pork, continued their journey.
Towards the middle of the second day, the land began to change again. Plants reappeared and the rocky terrain was replaced with weeds that eventually became a full, long grass. The sky that had been filled with soot now became clear and both men breathed easier.
As evening of the second day approached, a grove of trees appeared, spanned by grass to the horizon in all directions.
Clouds began gathering directly above the grove as they approached and grew thicker the closer they came. Those clouds fell to the ground, producing a dense fog.
They reached the edge of the fog and noticed a hole in an otherwise congruent haze; the empty space climaxed at twenty feet. They recognized the hole for what it was: an archway exposing the grove of trees behind the mist.
Within the arch stood a man. He kept his head down making his face indistinguishable. But as Juan and Diego stepped closer the man looked up and his face and eyes portrayed wisdom and mystery.
His hands remained hidden behind him and a final step brought his hands forward. Clutched within his palms was an ancient sword that burst into flames.
Diego stood his ground and clenched his jaw but then Juan placed his hand on Diego’s shoulder. A smile crossed his lips and he nodded at Diego to let him know that this man would not harm them. Juan allayed the uncertainty with one word, “Cherubim.”
“Cherubim,” the man agreed. He lowered his sword and the flame extinguished. “I am to lead you to Abuelo.”
“Where in the garden are we?” Diego asked.
“The garden is vast, vaster than you can comprehend. This is the oldest part of the garden. The lands that surround here are ancient, as are the creatures.”
“The large reptiles – what are they?”
“Have you not heard of giant bones discovered throughout Spain?”
Diego thought for a moment and nodded.
“All that has ever been persists within the garden,” Cherubim continued. “Men destroy one another. Men also kill animals for survival or sport. Those deaths erase histories of people and traces of animals that are now lost to your world. Yet here they live on.
“The garden was created for life. Death is a consequence of mankind.”
“So there are other people that live in the garden?” Diego asked.
“Those people live but are now among those you know as the Men of Nod.”
Juan entered the conversation, “Where is Abuelo?”
“I will take you to him whenever you are ready.”
Juan looked at Diego and Diego nodded. “We are ready.”
Cherubim led the way into the arch, inside of which was a gate of some intertwined material: a mix between metal and wood. Cherubim slid his sword into a hidden lock and the gates parted to give entrance. Beyond was a path bordered by enormous trees.
“This is your path,” Cherubim motioned with his arm. “On this road, you will find what you seek. I must leave you now.”
Juan and Diego had long ago stopped questioning the garden. They turned down the path before them and walked for many hours.
The light from the sun did not always discern time in the garden and they were not surprised that the sun was still high in the sky despite the hours that had passed. It should have been night.
They reached a place where a single beam of sunlight lit the path. There stood Abuelo and behind him, the Men of Nod.
“I trust your journey was well?” Abuelo offered. “You do not appear to be in the stomach of some beast.”
“You could’ve warned us of the reptiles,” Diego replied.
“Would you have believed me if I did?”
“Probably not.”
Abuelo shrugged and motioned for them to follow. He guided them to
