Chapter 12

Marcie and Jack walked along the trail into the wooded area close to Circle Rock. He led her to a path that led down into a ravine about half mile from the main trail. The came to a mountain creek and followed it until they came to a deep pool at the base of a waterfall. They sat down to rest on some boulders by the pool. Marcie's thoughts were spinning; she could tell Jack was nervous and worried.

"Why did you bring me all the way out here?" She asked sounding scared.

Jack watched the water bubbling over the rocks and said, "We need to talk about some things. I know you have had some dreams that have caused you some concern. The old man who talked to you is called Estragon. He is the voice of the Node. He told you that the power you feel in me is real. He also told you that I was leaving. All of these things are true. Marian, Joy, and I withdrew from school today. We will be traveling with Estragon to a far away place. There we will be trained by the Node to perform some task for it."

Marcie began crying. "You're saying good-bye aren't you? I knew this was too good to be true. Everything I love leaves me."

"Marcie, please listen for a minute. You can come with me." Jack said as he took her hand. "We will be gone for a long time, but we will be together forever. I love you and I want you to come with me, but I won't and can't force you. It has to be your choice."

Marcie looked into Jack's eyes. "The old man said you had changed. He said your DNA was different than when we first met. Can you explain what he meant?"

"That's why we came out here. I think the best way to help you understand is to show you. You are going see some things that might scare you, but trust me." Jack paused for moment, and then he stood and called out. "Joy, Marian, we're ready for you".

First a red and then a yellow figure of bright light appeared hovering close to Jack. Jack closed his eyes and a blue haze formed around his body. Quickly a figure of dazzling blue light joined the other two. Marcie mouth opened and then shook her head. She clearly did not believe what she was seeing. She heard a voice in her head. She recognized it as Marian's.

"Just watch for a minute." Marian said.

The three keepers faced each other and joined hands. The colors mixed together in a swirl and then in a flash of white light they disappeared. She heard a melodious voice behind her. The tone was soothing, but there was a terrible power behind it. Marcie turned and standing beside her was a beautiful being in white.

"Marcie, don't fear us. We are the Triad, the keepers of the disks. We are of a race older by far than the history of this world. You know us as Jack, Joy, and Marian, but when we join we become one. If you travel with us you will spend time with us both separately and together as you see us now," The being waited.

"Are you a god?" Marcie asked.

"No, we are just a different order of intelligent life." The creature said.

Marcie asked, "What do I call you when you are joined?"

"We have taken the name, Meladon," he answered.