The Rivening

Comings & Goings

Normally, Connie only took walks in the ravine in the morning and sought out afternoon exercise by running errands or queuing up an online yoga class. After Grayson left, she wanted the peace and greenery of the ravine.

Ahead of her on the main trail she saw three people walking tightly together. The two on either side were helping to hold up the one in the middle. On one side, she recognized Milo with her emerald green hair, and it looked like the tall, dark-haired person on the other side was Eneko. The person in the middle seemed to be a male, also tall. He had his arms wrapped around Milo and Eneko's shoulders and they were supporting him with their arms around his torso.

He was having difficulty walking. Was he drunk? Were they helping some homeless person who was living in the ravine? She couldn't picture Eneko participating in anything like that. A male voice laughed. Eneko? She thought he was incapable of laughter. Or the man in the middle? From the body language, whoever he was, he seemed comfortable with Milo and Eneko, and they with him. She kept watching the threesome until a bend in the path blocked them from sight.

Connie walked to the pond and stood at her trance spot. The vibrations felt weaker than they normally did in the mornings, but maybe she was too distracted. Connie dropped her arms and turned to go home.

As she was approaching her house, she saw Jean coming with a loaded shopping cart.

"Can I give you a hand?"

"No, I'm fine. I know you mean well. But it's best if I do this alone." Jean had her grim face on again.

Inside, Connie watched Jean from her living room window. Jean turned and looked back at Connie's house. No doubt, checking to see if Connie was watching her. Which she was. But hopefully tucked back far enough that Jean couldn't see Connie. Jean stepped into the former convenience store on the corner. After waiting a few minutes, Connie turned away feeling a little pathetic about her nosiness.

Later she laid out a cold supper and went back to brooding about what she would or would not be revealing to Grayson. She checked her email and saw that he had sent her the three entries with the flaming sword hieroglyphic. She decided to go on the offensive. Waited a little so it would seem like she had spent time studying what he sent. An hour later, she called him.

"Hey Grayson. I think I've figured something out. Though maybe you have too by now."

"I'm nowhere."

"I'm pretty sure they're GPS coordinates."

"Ah. That's interesting. Send me what you've translated."

"I will. It's a place near the dig."

"Oh really? And what about the lightning bolt? I couldn't find it in your Findley binder."

"Maybe it's just kind of 'ah-ha pay attention to this.' Like an elaborate exclamation mark."

"I suppose. And if the coordinates are pointing to one of the places near where we've been working for the last number of years, that would mean it was right under our nose like he said. Listen, you've been a huge help. I think this is what Findley was talking to me about at the end, but I can't understand why he didn't tell me right after his discovery."

"Can't help you there. Especially since I don't know what you two were looking for."

"It's just a vague notion Findley and I had. You know how it is, you want to wait until you're certain about something before spreading around hunches."

And clearly, she wasn't to be included in the inner circle. Though in this case, she was more in the circle than he realized. She was conflicted. She wanted to know about this 'vague notion' of his and Findley's, but she also didn't want to be the specimen being scrutinized. Were there others who could feel what she felt at those GPS coordinates? Like people who dowse for water? It would be a relief if he could do his probing with someone else.