========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 20:27:11 -0500 Reply-To: LNagy10434@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "Lawrence E. Nagy" Subject: THE JOURNEY OF JEREMY KELLER part 5 Following is the continuation of my Highlander Universe story. Familiar characters are not in it yet but may make an appearance. If anybody has missed the previous installments, just drop me a line. Any and all comments are appretiated and greatly welcome. Larry 3/12/96 THE JOURNEY OF JEREMY KELLER "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday" Part 5 by Lawrence E Nagy Jeremy climbed from the river several miles down stream from the bridge. By morning the river would be filled with deputies looking for his body. Even so, the first order of business was to dry out. His clothes would dry quickly enough to be presentable, but the contents of the duffel including a sleeping bag would take some time. Night had recently fallen he would have to improvise. After unpacking the duffel and wringing as much water as possible from the contents he re-packed started walking. In the woods, he found a dirt road that led him to an old hunting cabin. It didn't take long to force the door and get a look around. The two room cabin was dusty and obviously hadn't been used in a few months. A fire was burning in no time and the few possessions from the duffel were hung to dry. Keller's next chore was to clean his weapons. The .357 was easy, a revolver with few parts and stainless steel, it was designed to be low maintenance and dependable for amphibious commandos. The Remington 870 pump shotgun was also simple but needed more attention to keep it in top working order. As he tore down the Remington, his mind drifted back to his few days in Saudi Arabia..... Passing out in a strangers car in an unsecured area was not the best tactical maneuver he had ever made, but this time luck was with him. Jeremy woke up to the hum of a distant air conditioner. The room was plush with fine wood trim and expensive antique furniture. His first thought was for his weapons, which he found cleaned and set on a table. Also on the table where the remains of his clothing cleaned and neatly folded. He had been dressed in standard Arab garb, including loose white pants and long sleeve shirt all made of fine cotton. Lieutenant Keller had just picked up his shot gun to examine its condition when he felt a sickening rush curse through his body. It was all he could do to stand up straight gripping the table waiting for the sensation to pass. As before, the sensation was soon followed by the arrival of his host. The man entered the room smiling and said "Welcome to my home, my friend. Some of my servants thought we had lost you, but they have little faith in the ways of Allah." Keller knew that the weapons weren't loaded so he put the gun back on the table and faced his host. "Thank you for taking care of me, I appreciate it, but I do need to get back to my unit." "Yes of course, Lieutenant, but first can't you allow yourself to enjoy my hospitality for just a few hours. I see so few of our kind especially someone newly awakened like yourself." "Our kind? Awakened? What are talking about?" "Of course, you wouldn't know, come let me tell you about that strange feeling you experienced when I approached." Aziz held the ornate wooden door open waiting for Keller to pass. Keller slipped his feet into a pair a sandals that had been left on the floor at the foot of his bed. "Where are we?" "We are at my Vila near Al Jubayl. This compound has been my home for many years and is very old." The room opened under a narrow covered patio that was part of a large court yard. In the middle of the yard was a small fountain splashing over orange stone. The whole structure was built of cement and marble with rough wood timbers as accents. Several servants wearing blue long sleeve overalls worked in the garden and court yard. The heat of the Saudi sun struck Keller like a wall but he pushed his way through. The Saudi led Keller through the court yard and into another part of the compound. They went down a long hall then through a locked gate and down into the basement area. Several vault doors later they stood in an ancient storage room. The stones of the walls were roughly cut and the floor looked like it had endured centuries of traffic. Filling the room where racks of shelves made from wood that looked like it would crumble at a touch. The shelves were filled with scrolls and ancient artifacts, including swords and other weapons. The contents appeared to date from biblical times thru to the early twentieth century. "What is this place." Keller asked as he gazed at the collection. "This is my history, from the days before the rise of the Roman empire through the founding of the Kingdom earlier this century." "You can trace your family tree back that far?" Keller asked fascinated by the ancient Roman artifacts. "No my brother, this is MY history." Abual opened a book exposing an old photograph. The photo was yellowed from time and heat but clearly showed Aziz with a familiar looking white man in Arab robes. "This is you?" "Yes." "And the other man, he looks familiar, but I can't place him." "That man, is who your people called Lawrence Of Arabia. He was a very good friend of mine and my tribe." "T.E. Lawrence, that's not possible." "It is possible, and quite true, deep down, you know it is." Aziz waved his hand at the artifacts in the room. "Everything here I acquired when it was new. The scrolls I penned so long ago, the languages I have long since forgotten. Touch them now and they will fall apart in your hands. My earliest years or the names I've used have long since vanished with the years. It is anyone's guess how old I am. I remember seeing one of the pyramids under construction, but I don't know which it was or why I was in Egypt." "Why are telling me this?" Keller asked incredulously. Aziz smiled broadly "Haven't you figured it out yet? It is because you are like me, immortal." Keller now knew for sure that Aziz was mad and it was time to make a quick exit. "Well, I want to thank you for showing this to me it is fascinating, but I really must be going my people are looking for me." with that Lieutenant Keller started for the door. "Lieutenant" Aziz said. Keller found himself looking down the barrel of a silenced, small caliber revolver. The first bullet ripped through his left side causing him to drop to one knee in pain. Holding his side Jeremy prepared to jump at Aziz but the next shot hit him point blank in the chest......... "Mr. Edwin, I didn't know you were in town." a woman's voice called out just before the door to the cabin swung open. Keller jumped to his feet grabbing his .357. A young woman wearing jeans and a plaid Woolrich shirt stood in the doorway. She had shoulder length brown hair pulled back in a simple pony tale and wore a bright smile that dimmed when she saw Jeremy. The woman seemed un-phased by the large hand gun pointed at her. "Who are you, and what are you doing in Mr. Edwin's cabin?" she demanded. "I was going to ask you about the same thing." Keller said keeping the gun trained on the woman. "I doubt you were going ask me about Mr. Edwin." the girl took a step side ways eyeing up Keller's belongings. "Are you that guy who drove his car into the river. You know, they're bringing a barge all the way down from Pottsburg just to fish it out?" "I'm flattered they care that much, are you going to tell them I'm here." "Well, if you put down that empty revolver I might consider not getting involved." Jeremy turned the gun on its side looking at it then dropped the chamber opened. He looked at the girl through the six empty holes and smiled. "My name is Jeremy," he said then snapped the gun shut and laid it on the table. "and I'm just passing through." The girl smiled back "I'm Mindy, please to meet you." The two sat down at the table facing Keller. "Why are you running from the police?" Jeremy looked at the girl, "You sure don't pull any punches, do you?" "No, and that doesn't answer my question." "I killed a man in Virginia, it was self defense, but there are other complications that make it very difficult for me to deal with the police at this time." "OK then, I'll change the subject for now." Mindy looked around the room and said "Are you still in the military?" "What makes you think I'm in the army?" "I didn't say army, I said military and that is the only place a professional hard case like you comes from." Jeremy smiled, he definatly did not care to answer any questions about himself. "You know, you'll have to stay here until I'm ready to leave." "I figured as much." Jeremy sat back and looked at the young woman, this was going to be long night. to be continued..........................