“Where are we going?” Michioasked, once he caught up to him.
“We’ve got a truck a coupleof miles from here. I’ll drive you to the compound.”
“Is there a way into thecompound?”
“There’s always a way.”
15
Unholy
Sacrifice
Toemeka pressed against the doorof the military air-car, wanting to get as far away from Cadmus aspossible. Primal terror made it hard for her to think. She was backin Cadmus’ hands and knew he wouldn’t show her any mercy thistime. Although she felt his eyes upon her, she kept her gaze fastenedon the view out the window. The surrounding buildings lay in rubblefrom when Samrat Condor’s space fleet bombed Tismus. She knew thisarea well and felt sickened at the sight of so much devastation.
Before long they reached themilitary compound, which was comprised of a series of barracks andseveral large buildings. It also had an enormous airfield withhundreds of fighter aircraft lined up for battle.
Cadmus took her inside thenearest building. The receptionist at the front desk looked up whenhe entered. “Commander Rochambeau, while you were out, SamratCondor arrived with a fleet of ships. You’re to report to himimmediately.”
“I didn’t know he was comingto Alandra!” Cadmus exclaimed.
“No one did. It’s caused astir among the officers.”
“I’m sure it has.” Cadmus’grip on Toemeka’s arm tightened as he started down the hallway.“You need to be safely hidden away before I meet Samrat Condor.”
A chill of dread blasted throughToemeka. SamratCondor was here andcouldwipe out the Resistance.When they reached a door at the end of the corridor, Cadmus pushedthe number keys on the lock and opened the door. “Get inside.”
Before she could comply, SamratCondor and his men appeared in the hallway.
“Commander Rochambeau,”Samrat Condor said, “I was just notified you had returned.”
Toemeka took a step backward,feeling the force of Samrat Condor’s negative power. He stood overeight feet as he was from a tall race of copper-skinned people. Hisface was badly scarred on one side, his head was bald with a highforehead, and his eyes were wide-set and heavily-hooded.
Toemeka broke into a sweat,afraid he’d recognize her. She inwardly put up a Light shield toblock the negative energy emanating from him
“Samrat Condor.” Cadmus bowedlow.
Toemeka did the same, not wantingto draw undue attention.
“It is a great honor to haveyou visit,” Cadmus said, straightening. “I wasn’t expecting youor I would’ve prepared a proper welcome.”
“No need. Tonight at the Hallof Condor a ceremony will honor my arrival on Alandra. I came becauseyou failed in your duty to wipe out the Resistance. Why haven’t youput it down? We’re world conquerors and they’re a small group ofrebels with nothing but a few guns and grenades.”
“We’ve killed most of them,but it’s difficult to eradicate them completely. They form smallguerrilla bands that keep moving, hiding in forests and mountainousareas. They attack at random, then disappear. I just returned fromsetting a trap for a band that lives in the mountains near Tismus. Weallowed the rebels to break out a few prisoners from theconcentration camp and escape into the Glendale Forest so my men canfollow them and find their base camp.”
The hairs rose on Toemeka’sarms. It was a trap all along. Cadmus had scheduled the Fenian familyfor execution to lure out the rebels. She tried to keep her thoughtsand emotions still. Samrat Condor was a powerful black magician whocould pick up on them.
“I want complete control of theplanet!” Samrat Condor said. “Terminate the Resistance!”
“I’m already on it.”
“I’m holding you responsibleif it’s not.” Samrat Condor started to turn away, then stoppedand took a closer look at Toemeka. “Who’s this prisoner?”
“She’s a Coalition operative.She was among the rebels who broke out the prisoners.”
Recognition shone in SamratCondor’s eyes. “She’s also an initiate of the Secret Teachingsand served as a guardian of the Temple of Kumba on Borko. During theaerial attack on Jaipar, she blocked us from finding and attackingthe Temple.”
Cadmus looked at Toemeka, hiseyes widening in surprise. “I didn’t know she had suchabilities.”
Toemeka felt pressure against hertemples as Samrat Condor tried to claw his way inside her mind totake control of it. She focused her attention on Master Bakka to keepher Light shield strong and inwardly sang HU to tune into a higherpower.
Samrat Condor finally withdrewhis inner assault and said, “The priests are looking for a worthysacrifice for today’s ceremony. I’ll tell them I’ve found theperfect woman. Have Seetva dress her appropriately, then bring her tothe Hall of Condor.”
Toemeka gasped and her kneesweakened. She grabbed onto the doorframe for support. It was a deathsentence.
“It’s a waste to kill her. Iplanned to interrogate her about the rebels,” Cadmus said.
“You dare challenge mydecision?” Samrat Condor’s eyes were like daggers. “This womanis a powerful channel for Master Bakka! Initiates like her are allthat stand between me and total control of this quadrant of thegalaxy.”
“Michio Kimes is an even morepowerful channel and she’s his wife. We could use her as bait todraw him here.”
Samrat Condor frownedthoughtfully. “I didn’t know he’d gotten married. We’ll beprepared for him when he comes to rescue her at the ceremony.”
“He won’t come,” Toemekasaid, yanking her wrists against her handcuffs. “He’s not even onplanet Alandra.”
“Then he’ll come to avengeyour death.” Samrat Condor said, already sounding victorious. Heheaded toward the main entrance with his entourage following.
Cadmus hauled Toemeka down thehallway and up a staircase.
“Don’t give me to him!”Toemeka begged.
“It’s an honor to be pickedby Samrat Condor.”
“An honor to be his latestsacrifice?”
“He is the supreme deity and isto be worshipped. His word is never questioned.”
To be sacrificed by Samrat Condorwas the worst fate she could imagine. Did Cadmus really believe itwas an honor and that Samrat Condor was the supreme deity? It didn’tmake sense and he was an intelligent scientist. Yet, even intelligentpeople had irrational religious beliefs.
Cadmus brought her into a starksleeping quarter and slammed the door. “Damn to Hell thatself-serving monster!” He lifted a bust of Samrat Condor off itsstand and threw it across the room. It smashed into the wall with aloud crash and broke into pieces.
Toemeka flinched. He steppedtoward
