Michio looked down in the cradle.Reassured that Baymond was asleep, he sat down on the bed and lookedat his wife with concern. “He’s fine. How about you?”
“Hold me.”
He held her close and theirmouths met in an impassioned kiss. They lay in each other’s armsuntil the sun rose and light filled the room.
***
Michio flew Toemeka and the babyto the Gateway Mountain Range, then put Baymond in the baby carrierand they began hiking to the Master’s hut. The day was sunny andwarm, and the mountain air was pure and sweet to breathe.
Upon reaching Master Bakka’shut, Michio and Toemeka sat on a bench across from him. The Master’sskin was deeply tanned and his neatly-kept, short beard was as whiteas his hair. He was dressed simply in a knee-length blue robe, beltedwith a rope, and heavy sandals. Positive energy flowed out from himand Michio felt better just by being in his presence.
“Master Bakka, we came to seeyou because Commander Rochambeau is trying to control Toemeka in thedream state,” Michio said.
Toemeka leaned closer to theMaster. “I’m having terrible nightmares.”
Michio clasped her hand and thesleeping baby stir restlessly in the carrier.
The Master gazed at her withluminous, piercing blue eyes, looking for the source of her problem.At last he spoke. “It’s the ring. Commander Rochambeau has powerover Toemeka through the ring.”
“The ring!” Toemekaexclaimed, trying to pull it off. “I can’t remove it. I’vetried everything. It’s stuck.”
“Is that the reason you’rewearing it?” Michio asked. “Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’ttake it off?”
“You were so upset about it atdinner I didn’t want to bring it up. Why didn’t you say somethingabout it?”
“I told you how I felt aboutit; after that I figured it was your decision.”
“So how do I get it off?”Toemeka asked, looking at Master Bakka.
“Michio can remove it. He isspiritually strong enough.”
Michio took Toemeka’s smallhand in his and looked at the ring. The ruby shone brightly. Hetugged on the ring and it wouldn’t come off. He filled himself withlove and tried again. This time the ring slipped off easily.
Toemeka held out her hand. “Giveme the ring. It’s mine.” She gasped and put her hand to hermouth. “I can’t believe I said that. Why do I feel so powerfullydrawn to wear it?”
“It’s surrounded by psychicpower.” Michio said. “I should’ve realized something was wrong.It doesn’t appear to be an ordinary ruby, now that I really look atit.” He grasped the ring between two fingers and held it up to thelight. Rays of red light shot out from it in all directions.
“Put it away!” Toemekashivered. After Michio slid it into his pocket, she took a deepbreath. “I feel so much freer with that ring off my finger.”
“Don’t underestimateCommander Rochambeau,” Master Bakka said. “He began his blackarts training under General Bhandar and continued his training underSamrat Condor. Unfortunately, the ring isn’t the only hold he hasover you both.”
Michio felt a chill go throughhim. He took one looked at his pale wife and gave her hand areassuring squeeze.
“Michio,” Master Bakkacontinued, “you haven’t been living up to the full extent of yourspiritual abilities. You’ve unknowingly allowed CommanderRochambeau into your psychic space, which accounts for the unbalancedway you’ve treated Toemeka’s abduction. You both have to breakthe hold he has over you. It’s stronger in Toemeka. He’s beentrying to take over her subconscious, so she will come back to himand he can control her.
“He succeeded to a degree onDevil’s Eye, but he underestimated Toemeka’s inner strength. Healmost brought her to the lowest end of the survival scale by usingdrugs, mind control and fear. He wanted her there so she wouldn’ttry to escape and would come under his power. But she became sodespondent that he became concerned about her health and emotionalstate, so he relented.”
Michio tightened his hold onToemeka’s hand, understanding more fully what a trying ordeal she’dbeen through on Devil’s Eye. He felt dark, supernatural energy fromthe ring where it lay in his pocket. He’d have to get rid of it assoon as possible.
“Rochambeau wants Toemekabecause of what he perceives as her clairvoyant abilities. But it’sreally the Light and Sound radiating from her that draws him,” theMaster continued. “He wants to twist her spiritual abilities intopsychic power and make her one of Samrat Condor’s priestesses. Hisplan failed partly because he’s attached to her. That’s why hedidn’t shoot down the ship when you escaped from Devil’s Eye.”
The Master looked at Michio. “Hewanted you and Erling to come to Devil’s Eye. If Toemeka hadn’tstopped you, the fleet would have fallen into a trap and beendestroyed. Fortunately, Toemeka knew the danger and stopped you.Michio, you’re a greater threat to Samrat Condor than the Coalitionis. If Samrat Condor succeeds in capturing Toemeka, he’ll alsosucceed in drawing you into another trap. He knows you’ll risk yourlife to free her.”
“So now that we know thesituation, what do we do about it?” Michio asked.
“Start by getting rid of thatring. From there, it’s up to you to decide on a course of action.”
“I don’t understand whyMichio is such a threat to Samrat Condor,” Toemeka said.
“The Coalition uses militarystrength to fight Samrat Condor. However, the sorcerer’s vast airfleet is so powerful that he was able to destroy Coalitionheadquarters, scattering them to different parts of the galaxy. Incontrast, Michio is a pure channel for God, able to bring Light intothe darkness of the world. He brings upliftment to those who arespiritually ready. Samrat Condor wants to kill Michio before hereaches his full potential to serve all life.”
Michio felt Toemeka’s lovinggaze. He was glad she was his helpmate. He knew she would aide him inhis mission.
Baymond started fussing andgrabbed Michio’s hair in his little fists. “Ouch! Toemeka, takehim out of the carrier.”
Toemeka gently pried open thebaby’s fists, releasing Michio’s hair, and lifted him into herarms. She took a bottle out of one of the carrier side pockets andput the nipple in Baymond’s mouth. The baby stopped crying andbegan to drink. Michio’s heart filled with love as he watchedToemeka feed the baby. The sunlight pouring through the trees made alight-and-shadow pattern across the faces of his wife and infant son.
Once the baby was fed, Michiosaid, “We’d
