As they came closer to that side of the room, shapes began to appear within the shadows. They noticed that a dais appeared. Upon the dais sat a simple chair and in that chair sat a man. They could not see his face but his hair was white and his beard long. Two men stood next to him but their faces were hidden as well.
They reached the foot of the dais and the two faces revealed Antonio and Abuelo. Both smiled warmly and stepped off the dais to embrace their friends.
After the cheerful reunion, Abuelo turned and motioned towards the dais, “This is Enoch.”
Eduardo’s eyes widened. “The Voice of God.”
Enoch smiled. “I am called that, yes. And you are the Keepers of the Fountain. Are you familiar with that name?”
The men started to shake their heads but then a vision came upon their minds. The vision showed them the role they would play in humanity. It only lasted a moment but in that moment all was explained. They saw the world as it would be if they failed. They also saw the world for what it was and why they must protect the garden. The men of the world would always seek the garden and they must be the gatekeepers.
“Each of you now knows what’s expected. Does each of you assume this responsibility willingly?” Each man nodded in response. “Very well,” said Enoch smiling, “Juan, you will return to the village of the Men of Nod. From this point forward it shall be your village. You will keep the fountain.”
Enoch then turned and looked directly at Diego. “Diego, you will not return to the village.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your role will be different. You will go back to Ethiopia. There are many secrets in that land and you are to be their keeper. In fact, I have plans for all of you. The rest of you will stay here with me for a time. Now you must say goodbye.”
Juan felt as though he should ask some questions but the vision he had been given had revealed all to him. His visit was brief but in that time, he learned more than he had his entire life – including his time with the Men of Nod.
The men said their farewells to Juan. Lastly, Juan embraced Diego. “Godspeed, old friend.”
Enoch looked down upon the men from the dais, “It’s time.” Juan offered one final nod at Diego and then the hall disappeared.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Juan opened his eyes and saw that he was back in the village. He stretched his back and expected to wince at his tired body but his legs took root under him and he felt invigorated. In his mind, he could hear a voice that sleep or food or water would no longer be needed.
He walked the village and saw that several of the halls had deteriorated. At least two of the buildings had collapsed completely. He recognized the damage had been caused by weather and wondered how long they had been gone. In his mind, a voice came, One hundred years. Juan recognized it as truth but found the truth hard to comprehend.
After he finished inspecting the buildings, he walked up the path to the fountain. Abuelo’s hut should have been there but sometime during the past century, storms had carried the hut away.
He turned from the overgrown ground and walked to the fountain. There, Cherubim and the other animals still guarded the fountain. Cherubim did not move yet Juan knew he watched.
Juan thought on Cherubim in his true form. What only appeared to be a stone beast was a being that had beheaded the sons of angels and guarded the most surreptitious secrets of creation.
He went back to the village and climbed the earthen wall, looking out over the Snake River; the morning sun reflected off its currents. I must rebuild the village. I’ll start by tearing down the buildings, keeping only the lumber that is strong and will build a great hall. Others will soon come. As he walked, he wondered when he would see his old friends again.
“And so you two have not seen each other since that time?” the priest asked. Juan and Diego shook their heads. He looked at Juan, “What did you do alone those many years?”
“I was not alone for long.” Juan told him of all that occurred afterward:
Juan first saw the man as he was placing the thatched roofing on hall. He had been carrying an armload of long grass when a movement in the field caught his eye. He dropped the grass and rose to his full height, surveying the field. There in the field was a lone man and Juan instantly set out across the field to intercept him.
Juan could tell the man was anxious as he approached, yet he held his ground. Juan was unaware because he had been around no one else but he had become as intimidating as the Men of Nod to other men. There was an aura about him that exuded power and wisdom and demonstrated no fear of the world or the dangers within.
The man knew Juan had seen him but assumed Juan would only think him a scout and give a wary observation. To his surprise, Juan left the village and strode confidently towards him.
The man’s complexion was dark. In stark contrast, he wore large white feathers in his black hair and was clothed in blue-died deer skin. He spoke a language that Juan had never heard and yet Juan understood every word and could speak the language
