The Akul
Episode 11, Worshipers and the Rescue Soup Kitchen
Worshipers
Wormal exited the Great Chamber, wearing a black pinstriped suit. Outside four men knelt by their packs in a tight circle, head bowed, ensuring they did not look at any Akul directly. They wore t-shirts and jeans, tennis shoes, and light jackets. Within the Great Chamber, the deep hum and chant of the Akul that allowed them to journey to a new realm had begun.
“Ok, let’s go,” Wormal said.
“Grace be upon us, Lord,” Jess said.
“Grace be upon us,” the others repeated.
Wormal, followed by the four men, entered the Great Chamber, followed the black tiled path to an open pool, and stepped through. A quick blast of air tussled their hair as they entered, then blackness enveloped them. They continued to walk, and soon they emerged into a room lined with shelves of canned goods and cooking products. Wormal walked to a locker, took the lock off it, and removed a wallet and cell phone.
“Tonight, We need three. I will return at midnight,” Wormal said.
“Yes, your grace,” the one called Jess said.
The black portal snapped shut. Jess and the others put their packs in lockers on the back wall, went out the double doors to the storefront, and started cleaning and preparing breakfast. Jess let Wormal out, then relocked the door and helped the others.
Wormal used the application on the cell phone to order a ride.
Behind him, the sign lit up; it read “Rescue Soup Kitchen.” Jess and the others were busy inside. They prepared coffee, turned on lights, wiped down tables, prepped the kitchen, and began cooking. Unlocking the glass doors, Jess stepped out carrying a broom and dustpan; he scanned the walk in front of the large glass windows. Paul Harper appeared as Jess cleaned the parking lot and sidewalk of noticeable debris.
“Jess, I will finish that,” Paul said.
“Great, thanks,” Jess said. “How are you feeling? Amy told me you were having a rough time at home.”
“Oh, I’m fine, my friend’s father is renting me a room. Thanks for asking,” Paul said.
Jess went back inside; he could smell the beginnings of the day’s meal. He could hear the busied movements of the three cooks.
“Anna will be here soon.” He said back through the serving window.
“Yeah, along with the garbage,” Gredon said.
“Don’t let Anna hear you say that; anyway, without that garbage, more of our people would die as sacrifices to the Akul,” another voice behind the window said.
Jess rolled his eyes. “Paul is here; watch the conversation. But, in general, watch your tone toward the greater race, Jeb. I won’t stand for it.”
In the kitchen, the three men looked at each other; no one answered the declaration but for the look of fear and indecision. Jess and the others continued with preparing the food and the lounge. Paul finished outside, came in, and helped in the lobby. About an hour later, as they were finishing up the breakfast meal preparations, a small bus painted with green and purple stripes with flowers pulled in the parking lot. The bus door opened, and Anna Kasp, dressed in jeans and a green fabric jacket with a pink crochet beret, exited. Paul opened and held the door.
“Morning, Anna,” Paul said, echoed by the other men inside.
She stopped just outside the doors and smiled as a group of persons in various conditions exited. It was evident that some of them were homeless, others looked addicted to alcohol or drugs, some seemed ordinary.
The men in the back brought the large pots of Oatmeal to the serving line and placed them alongside the eggs, bacon, and toast serving trays. The first of the bus riders entered, followed by Anna.
“Good morning Jess.” She said, crossing the room and hugging him.
“Good morning Anna.” He said with a smile, standing up straight, his demeanor turning from intense worry to joyful and friendly.
“Welcome to the Rescue Soup Kitchen; come on in and make yourselves at home. Form a line and grab a tray.” He said, pointing to the pile of trays at the head of the serving line.
Anna proceeded behind the counter and took a serving apron off the hook near the door.
“Good morning Jeb, Telver, Gredon; thank you so much for your help again today.”
The three acknowledged her warm greeting and then continued their work. A line had already formed as they went about the business of the day.
“Hey Sammy, how are you doing? Jess said over the counter; Anna acknowledged the older vagabond as well.
“Good Jess, Good, do you need some help still? I can help after I eat.”
“Sure, Sammy, I would love that. You have a couple of friends that might be interested in a few bucks?”
“I think so; I will ask around.”
“Great, just come on back when you’re ready to start.”
Paul ate breakfast then went through the double doors to the storeroom. He walked around the room looking. Paul would touch it, push on it, and smell it wherever the wall was bare. When he found no signs of the black pool, he would go back to the front of the Soup Kitchen.
“Thanks, guys, thanks, Ms. Anna, tell Amy I said hi,” then he would leave.
Paul walked the road to the nearest bus station mumbling to himself.
After a couple of hours, Anna took off her apron and went to the bus; all but three of the customers joined her on the bus, and she drove off. Sammy, George, and Frank stayed and were now working in the back along with the men from Nekhar.
Sammy and George, a wiry middle-aged man that time had not treated well, carried a full garbage can to the dumpster. Frank followed with a garbage bag. Frank was old as dirt if you went by his looks, teeth missing, sagging skin, a slight hunch to his posture, and he spoke in a gruff whisper.
“That Anna is a good gal, ain’t she Frank?”
“Sure is; these boys are a good sort too; you can tell when they care. Well, the boy Gredon is trouble; I don’t rightly know why he keeps coming back.”
“Probably because of Jess. He seems to be the leader of that group,” George said.
“I am thinking this might help me get on my feet again,” Sammy said.
The three returned through the back door entering the kitchen. Jess was standing in the dining room.
“Come on back, you three.”
Jess, Gredon, Jeb, and Telver were there when they got to the backroom. They set up a small table and chairs and filled shot glasses with tequila from a Patron bottle.
“Come join us, boys. A day’s hard work deserves a good end,” Jess said, waving them over to the table.
The other men had a full shot glass in front of them; Jess finished pouring the three empty shot glasses. Then, the three walked over to the table.
“Woo Patron, good stuff man, you sure you don’t mind? Come on, George, Frank,” Sammy said.
“They won’t let us in the shelter if we are drunk or smell of it. So I think I will pass.” George said.
“You going to help us out tomorrow, George?” Jess asked.
“Well, I mean to, if you all have the work, I could use the money.”
“Good, then join us if you like. There are cots in the corner over there and a couple of sleeping bags. You can stay here tonight if you’re worried,” Jess said.
“Thanks, Jess, but I, I don’t know, you all are helping me out a bunch already,” George said.
“Sit down, George.” Frank downed the shot, then slid the shot glass over toward Jess. “Anywho, if we stay here, that leaves two extra spots for some other bastards that don’t wanna sleep outside.” His eyes sparkled with excitement as Jess filled the glass. “You know what they say don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Sammy was nursing his shot; he smelled it, took a sip, “Oh my, this is good stuff. Take a shot, George; it’s ok. You don’t have to get drunk.”
“What do you say, George? It’s ok either way. Anna said to give her a call if you needed a lift back to the shelter.”
“Well, if you’re sure, I guess a couple to warm the bones won’t hurt.” George sat down.
“To helping hands,” Jess said.
They all raised their glasses. “To helping hands,” and drank.
They continued for several drinks; Frank hit it doubly fast, George held back and even skipped a couple.
Sammy had finished his first and was nursing his second. “Boy, this stuff is strong; I am already a little tipsy,” Sammy said with a slight slur of his words, smiling and then laughing a bit.
Frank had all but passed out. “Fillerup Jess, Comomonbeapal.”
They all laughed a bit at Frank.
“Those cots are right over here, George; let me show you.” Jess set the bottle down, stood, and walked toward the center of the room. George stood, turned, and followed. Then fell to the ground. Frank turned in his chair to see George passed out on the floor.
“Light whheighhht.” Then frank fell unconscious to the floor.
Sammy was snoring.
They all stood, one taking the bottle and fixing the lid, the other the shot glasses to the sink, the tables, and chairs placed against the back wall, then they changed clothes. Putting their Earth wears in the backpacks and dawning the typical wears of Nekhar.
Jess looked at his watch. “We have half an hour; I’m going to the front to watch for Wormal.”
Wormal
His first stop was the home he rented the last time he traveled to the new world. He found the synchronicity of this place tantalizing. He had gold to barter with and had located right away a building with a sign that read “We buy gold.”
Then in conversation with the man behind the counter, he was able to make a deal to rent the home for gold. It was where he got the Cell Phone and information about the Internet. He created a relationship that would provide him money for the gold he could bring through on subsequent visits. Now all he needed was a building.
His second stop was a large building in a rundown part of the city. There were already desperate folk camping in the parking lot. He was meeting his real-estate agent Jet Cobb to walk through it.
“So, Mr. Akul, that is an unusual name; what is the ethnicity of that?” Jet asked.
“It is an ancient name from a land that no longer exists. War has changed the map so many times you would have to be a history major to figure it out. My family has been in America for over a hundred years. But, unfortunately, we carry a genetic defect, so I am the last of my family. Reproduction is not something that is going to happen.” Wormal spun a yarn; he felt a thrill at the lie. Something not called for back home.
“Oh, well, I am sorry about that. You would think that with our medical technology, we would be able to fix that,” Jet said.
“Who knows, I still have some time left.”
“So, what do you intend to do here,” Jet asked.
“A shelter for those in need.”
“Oh well, that is just great; thank you for caring.”
“It is my cause in life to help others. I gain so much from doing it.”
“Great, well, let’s start on the ground level. It is a large building, three floors, a bit of a fixer-upper. But it is in the price range you asked for.”
“Good, good, I think it will do. How about you get it all set up and walk me through the process.”
After he met with Jet, Wormal went home. He took a long hot shower. This experience was so new he stayed under the hot streams of water until it went cold. Then he would sit with the TV on and the computer in his lap, learning.
“What an amazing world.” He said to himself.
At 11:45, he called for a ride and went to the Rescue Soup Kitchen.
A low deep hum and an ominous chant filled the air as Jess opened the door to let Wormal in.
“Ashisha shoo, Ashisha shoo Ashisha shoo, Ashisha shoo.”
Entering the storeroom through the double doors, Wormal saw the open portal and the three worshipers from Nekhar; each carried an unconscious man over their shoulders.
“Perfect, Good work Jess. Wait for three minutes, then follow me through. In the Great Chamber, place the sacrifices on the litter and conceal yourself behind the screen. Jess will lead you home when it is safe. See you soon.”
“Yes, Lord.” The four men said.
Wormal entered the Black Pool.
To Be Continued.
Episode 12, A feast at Castle Kelv
Episode 10 can be found here
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© 2022, T. Mark Mangum
I am T.Mark Mangum. From an early age, I was hooked, addicted to the imagined, unfathomable worlds of Star Wars, Star Trek, Conan, the Lord of the Rings, and many others. I love writing fiction tales. I love writing in multiple genres. However, my favorites are Sci-fi and Fantasy fiction. I am a father of six; we have two cats and two dogs. Tabletop gaming is a passion.
