chapter five

the silence in the car hung like a muffled curtain
between the two men.

layman peered at monroe in the darkness trying to
figure out his next step.

monroe coughed and layman said, "is there something
u wanted to say?"

Monroe said, " well, there is a lot to explain to u, but
at the moment i was just clearing my throat."

Oh, said, "Layman."

the two men were quiet for a few moments and then
Monroe, said, "i have been watching u and monitoring
your movements for the last two months."

"why was that," said Layman.

the chief paused and then addressed Layman.

"well, as u know, i told u the queen sent me."

"well, i don't know anyone that goes by that name."

Monroe, took the next right down Hart Street and
then made a full stop at the stop sign.

"Well, you do know a woman named Madison,don"t you?"

Layman closed his eyes.  thoughts of kinder times rushed
through his brain.  This was too much.

Cautiously, he said, :how do you know Madison?  and
who are you?

Monroe said, "it's enough for you to know that I am working
for Madison and she sent me to watch over you.

That was enough for Layman to hear and he pondered this new
information for the next five minutes.

Thoughts of Madison rushed again through his mind.  He could
smell her perfume.  Sense her presence when she was near.
How many years had it been?  He counted.  Ten years.

Hannah was just turning eleven.  Madison had given  their child Hannah
to Layman and told him to take care of her with his life if
need be.  As an added protection Madison had sent Lindsay
with Layman and she was to act as Hannah's older sister.
Lindsay was seven when she had hooked up with Layman ten
years ago.

Layman breathed hard.  Where were the girls?

He hadn't realized he had spoken out loud.

"We are almost there," said Monore.

"Almost where?"   said Layman.

"At the pier." said Monore.

You know about the pier, said Layman.

Of course, said the chief.

And by this time I am sure Lindsay has explained the
situation to Hannah.


"Exactly what is the situation," said Layman.

"It's time to act," said Monroe.
The time for preparing is over.

It's almost Hannah's 12 birthday.  It is time for her to become
aware of who she is.

It is time for her to begin her mother's work.

You mean Madison.  Madison's work.

"Right," said Monroe.

Layman thought of Hannah.  His breath quickened.  Hannah
was Layman's only link to Madison.

After all Hannah was Layman's and Madison's child.

Madison was a descendent of the Light Beings.  There were a few left
of the ancient tribe and Hannah was their child.  Madison's gift to this
universe.
Hannah was born of their spirit and their flesh.   It was her destiny to inspire
and lead the light bearers.   It was her destiny to awaken the human race.

Lindsay was a wise spirt and Hannah's protector.  She was not Layman's child..
Lindsay was aware of her role in Hannah's life and had accepted her part
graciously.  She was Madison's neice.

Madison had a sister named Helen who had a daughter named Lindsay.  Helen
and her husband had been murdered by those seeking to quench the light.  And
Lindsay had come to live with Layman and Madison when she was six.  Hannah
had been born and the family was complete.

Madison and Layman had split up because the queen of the dark had sent out
her hunters to find Hannah and Madison thought it would be best for them to
separate..

Madison had gone to the mountains of the north where she had family and Layman
had taken Hannah and Lindsay and gone to the east and settled in a small town
and become nodescript as possible to avoid detection from the queen's infiltrators.

Lindsay also carried the light bearer gene but it was Hannah who would awaken
the Light Bearers and the work that they would accomplish.

Hannah had a recessive gene that would come to fruition when she reached the
age of twelve.  She carried the full spirit of humanity within her and soon it would
be realized.

Madison had tried to explain it to Layman ten years go.

It was because Hannah was their child specifically that Hannah held this uniqueness -
a full humanity.

Layman recalled Madison's words - a full humanity - whatever that meant -

He just didn't understand what Madison meant when she said he was sought out
specifically.

Did that mean that he and Madison were destined to meet and that Hannah was
ordained to be their child.

He had questioned Madison on this.  And all she said was that in time one day he would
understand.  that he had to trust the process.  Hannah would be his daughter and he
would play an important part in her life.

Hannah was to be fully human.  The first developed human light bearer and that would be
her gift to humanity.

Her gift of fullness and expression of self would become fully visible when she reached her
12th birthday.

Layman breathed deeply and sighed.  so he had tried to Hannah in a small town and he Layman
and his two daughters, Lindsay and Hannah had settled into a quiet mundane life unlike that of his
neighbors.

Keeping as low a profile as they could but word had seeped out that there was a child who
was to become woman and when she did beauty would be born.

People would be touched by her presence.  Songs would be sung.  Music would be composed. 
Gardens would blossom.  And children would dance.  Old people would shake their heads
in approval.  And the sun would shine.

All this Madison had told him - but yet she had also told Layman another side of the myth.

A side of the myth where the dark side would try to cast its shadow and let its breath flow over
the land preventing the light bearers from actualizing their presence.

Layman looked at Monroe.  Was Monroe from the dark side?  he seemed to know a lot about
Layman and his girls.

If he was from the shadow Monroe was ready for him.  He would protect his girls no matter
what.  Just like he had promised Madison he would do that day ten years ago.

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Monroe took a peek at Layman.   He could see Layman was deep in thought.
Probably trying to figure me out chuckled Monroe to himself.   Yes, he knew
Madison had told Layman about Hannah and included Lindsay as part of his
family.  
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One thing Layman didn't know though.   Maybe he should tell him thought Monroe.  It
might put his mind at ease.  but then again maybe it wouldn't.  he didn't know how much
madison had told him about the myth and how much that layman the father would play
in the fate of humanity.

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the chief thought he might take a baby step and feel layman out a little bit.
The chief knew about Madison.  He should know about Madison.  He opened
his mouth to speak.

what?  said Layman.  What?

The chief spoke softly to Layman almost like he was talking his own child.

Layman, you have nothing to fear from me.

and why should i believe that said Layman.

the chief paused and then said, because in actuality I am Madison's father
and i'm really here to keep u safe.

Layman just stared at the other man and for a moment was rendered speechless.

He sat there processing what the other man said.

You're Madison's father, he finally said out loud.

Yes, I'm Madison's father.

Layman stared straight ahead into the dark of the night.