The Pages of Destiny (The Four Elementals Book 3) Yajat Sharma (icecream ebook reader .TXT) 📖

the Scavenger said as they all walked. “The Island of Humans is an amazing place. The scientists here continuously develop new technologies. From robots to weapons and what not.”

They stopped outside a big cottage. Thomas turned to the Scavenger. “You all can rest here,” he said. “We leave for now.”

Thomas and his group left.

“I wonder why he’s helping us?” Daniel wondered. “What is he getting in return?”

The Scavenger explained. “The Death Lord and the Skull Warrior were both threatening to kill them if they didn’t use their technologies for them. They were being pressurized to build state-of-the-art weapons and robots. The Skull Warrior had earlier forcibly taken some of them to their science centre – the Brentinute – but could not force them to part with their knowledge. Frustrated, he sent these people back again onto this Island. Since then, these humans are being threatened regularly, but they have not budged so far. By defeating the Death Lord and the Skull Warrior, we helped these humans tremendously. They are now forever indebted to us, and they want to help us as much as they can. They’re good people.”

The group seated themselves on leather chairs outside the door of the cottage.

“Let’s plan to get the Second Page of Destiny,” Daniel said.

James was silent until now. He spoke. “The way I see it, there’s one mistake Osay made. He got arrogant and sloppy.”

James got up and started pacing. “Osay has not been able to capture the Scavenger despite so much effort. He needs the First Page. I bet he’s desperate. And angry. And desperate and angry people... make mistakes.”

“So...?” The Scavenger couldn’t make out what James was thinking.

“He’s desperate, as I said. As soon as he sees an opportunity, he’ll jump on it. Any opportunity.” James gasped. “Wait.” He sat down, his mind reeling. “Maybe there’s a possibility that... but then... no, it’s possible...”

“What?” the Scavenger asked.

“He made another mistake,” James said. “He told us where the Second Page was!”

Daniel shook his head. “No, he didn’t.”

“Of course, he did! It’s in space, as he said. In the path left by the Great Fireball of 1972!”

Daniel said, “Oh, yes, that. Yes, Osay told us, but I don’t see how that helps us. He’s already taken the Second Page, so what difference does it make if we know -”

“But... don’t you see? He could be bluffing!” James interrupted. “Maybe he hasn’t got the Second Page! He knew we were not in a position at that time to go to space to find the page, so he was trying to mislead us. He was arrogant.”

“You may be right,” the Scavenger said slowly. “But it’s just a guess.”

“Listen to me!” James said. “I think his banishing us to Earth was an eventuality, no matter what we would have done. Think about it. For Osay, we are no more than just another of his enemies. He needed to get rid of us. His main target is the Scavenger, because only the Scavenger had the First... Page...” James’s voice turned to a whisper.

His hand went to his pocket and he pulled out a scroll. His hand was shaking. “This scroll contains the second riddle. Hear this –

Out of Earth will it be found,

Where there is no sound,

A thin sheet,

And an incredible feat.

You get the Page, without pain,

But need only a genius brain.

The thin sheet to be taken as two-fold,

To get the second, the first you must hold

From the Mountain Rock,

To the Great White North.

Left by the enormous fireball,

Moving in the largest hall.

There is no noise,

Find it and rejoice.”

James started to explain. “Let’s focus on just two sentences – a thin sheet to be taken as two-fold. Look, the thin sheet means two-fold. The thin sheet has two meanings – the thin sheet of stars, as well as the thin sheet meaning the First Page.

“Now consider this line – To get the second, the first you must hold.

“I knew it! When Osay said that these lines are meant for distraction, I didn’t believe him. It’s pretty straightforward. Isn’t it? To get the Second Page, we have to hold the First Page! That’s why he needs the First Page! It’s not because he already has the Second Page, it’s because he needs the First Page to get the Second Page!”

There was silence as everyone digested everything. The more James said, the more it made sense. Pieces of the puzzle started to fall in place.

“Now, for the Second Page!” James said. “We just can’t go stomping around to space! We need technology, don’t we? Oh, but wait! Don’t we have that technology? Yes, we do, and it’s in...?” He waited.

The Scavenger got it first. “The Brentinute!”

“But wasn’t the Skull Warrior controlling the Brentinute?” Pyros asked.

The Scavenger nodded. “The Brentinute is the Dark World’s Science Centre. Initially, the Skull Warrior had taken control of it. It was one of the most heavily fortified places in the Dark World. I had carried out an almost impossible mission of rescuing my friend who was captured there.

“After the defeat of the Skull Warrior, the Kings of Necron consulted with me regarding the Brentinute. I must appreciate that, despite being old, the Kings of Necron are visionary. They appreciated the importance of technology in the future. Under my supervision, we replaced the entire administrative staff at the Brentinute with our loyal persons. The security was drastically downgraded as the focus changed to research and development. Our loyal warriors now populate the Brentinute, securing the absent-minded scientists.”

“But wait!” Archer said to the Scavenger. “Haven’t the times changed again? I mean, your loyal people would, by now, have again been replaced by the enemy?”

“Fortunately not,” replied the Scavenger. “Osay is not bothered about the control of the Dark World for himself. His single-point plan is to rescue the Skull Warrior. I am in touch with my loyal people at the Brentinute. So far, nothing to worry.”

The Scavenger continued, “You know what? The Brentinute also has the only spaceship available in the Dark World.”

“That’s great news. We