They had their fill and afterwards, looked to Abuelo who did not stand but nonetheless seem to grow larger and brought full attention upon himself. “Your journey has just begun,” he began. “Both of you play a bigger part in this tale that you realize. You were chosen not only to find the fountain and the garden but also to be the protectors of both.”
“What about you?” Juan asked.
“Our time has nearly come to an end. We have protected the fountain for many years. Now it’s time for someone else to take our burden. We will always exist, although not in the form that you currently see.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“We are just the holders. Diego and you are the keepers. Plus, more will come and join you.”
“Others?” Juan asked.
“You will see who I mean in time.”
“What about Cherubim? Doesn’t he protect the garden?” Diego asked.
“Cherubim guards the garden but cannot exclude the Men of Nod. We have the right to be in the garden.
“Antonio is one of us and yet, he comes with the Nephilim. The Nephilim are forbidden to enter; although under the authority of Antonio, they may pass.
“Do you know the story of the Fallen Angels? I don’t mean what you have read or heard, I mean what actually happened?”
Juan and Diego shook their heads.
“The Men of Nod have always existed in some form, as have the angels,” Abuelo continued. “Soon after the creation of everything, a group of angels became filled with rage that they were heavenly beings and yet denied the garden. This is the first part of garden created: you could look at is as God’s laboratory. Man was created here. This part of the garden was forbidden to everyone but the Men of Nod. It was our job to guide the first man and woman.
“Envious angels approached us, looking to persuade us to assist their entrance. We refused. And thus, their treachery was uncovered and the angels were cast down to live among men.
“Their leader was the Morning Star, who later took the form of a serpent. When the first man and women began to roam the newer parts of the garden, the serpent gained access to them and his influence led to their expulsion from the garden. We could have stopped it but man was afforded free will and we were forbidden to interfere.
“Afterwards, mankind was once again placed into our care to teach them ways of the world outside of the garden.”
“So where do we fit?” Juan asked. “We’re not ethereal beings.”
“Why do such moments fall on any man? Besides, you’re wrong about not being ethereal.”
“What do you mean by that?” Diego challenged.
“Neither of you can die.”
“What do you mean?” Diego sounded more intrigued than angry.
“What do you mean we cannot die?” Juan demanded.
Abuelo took a deep breath. “Just like Antonio, Diego and you have become like us; but you have also become more. You were chosen as I said, chosen to protect the garden. That is why I brought you here. You had to know the garden as it is. The other parts of the garden are magnificent but here, the origins of the garden, this is this part of the garden that you must protect.”
“From the Nephilim,” Juan said.
“From the Nephilim,” Abuelo agreed. “They will come here and they will kill us. We will fight them but we will lose. They are too strong. We’ll meet them at the gate but once we’re gone, you must keep them from entering.”
“How?” Juan asked.
“You must kill Antonio. The Nephilim can die by your hand but Antonio is different.”
“Different how?” Diego asked.
“Just like you, he cannot die.”
“Great,” said Diego. “So if he can’t die, how do we kill him?”
“The answer is found in the Book of Jubilees.”
“A book?” Diego asked sarcastically.
“I have only seen that book in Ethiopia,” said Juan.
“Then that is where you must go.”
“Well that should be easy,” replied Diego. “It’s only across the ocean, thousands of miles from here.”
Abuelo smiled. “Diego, you are standing where God created the world. Do you think that anything here is in the realm of impossibility?”
Diego did not have an answer.
“Then how?” Juan asked.
“The path can take you to where you want to go.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you do. The path is no different than the garden. You simply want to go there.”
“Why can’t you just give us the answer?” Diego asked.
“That is forbidden.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Find the book and then you will understand.”
“And what happens if we fail to kill Antonio?”
“The Nephilim will enter and challenge God.”
“Challenge God?” Diego laughed. When Abuelo remained serious, he added, “They don’t really believe they can defeat God?”
“No more questions. You must hurry; you have two days until they arrive. We’ll hold them as long as we can.”
Juan nodded and turned to leave the alcove, stepping onto the path. Diego joined him. It took a few moments to figure it out but their thoughts finally tuned into one another’s. Their minds jointly focused on Ethiopia and the garden disappeared.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Secretly, Antonio was pleased Juan and Diego had not been found. They reminded him of himself: they were great warriors; and they were survivors.
He was a survivor.
As a child he had been smaller than the other boys. Often, he found himself at the receiving end of a beating by those bigger and older than him. The treatment molded him tougher, mentally and physically. It also nurtured his rage.
One day, rage incapacitated him and he attacked the young man who was giving torment. Antonio beat the man unconscious and after that, the cruel
