The Strange Request Sparks Adventures

AuthorHouse™

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Phone: 1-800-839-8640

This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental.

© 2009 Robert Chandler Stever. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 8/19/2009

ISBN: 978-1-4490-1601-2 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4490-1600-5 (sc)

Bloomington, Indiana

Contents

Foreword

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Discoveries

Chapter Three

Knights Templar Treasure

Chapter Four

Famous Hermit Found

Chapter Five

Scenic Flight Over the Polar Route

Chapter Six

Hermit’s Famous Painting

Chapter Seven

Knights Templar Treasure Troves

Chapter Eight

Treasure Search, London

Chapter Nine

The Rare Ruby, Barcelona

and Bangkok

Chapter Ten

Wedding Plans

About the Author

Foreword

Mark Twain wrote in 1869 in Innocents Abroad: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.

Adventures through travel connect people with the world school full of diverse populations who understand many skills for happy survival. Listen, observe, and learn. Let the mind fly out of the boxes imposed on many.

Observe light patterns. Light creates life. Celebrate it. Turn gadgets off and roar into life.

Over the years, everyone gathers experiences, ideas, goals for life, philosophies, and lessons from history teaching the positive and the negative. This material should be passed to the next generation for them to find their own adventures and ideas. From this, civilizations wax or wane.

The

Strange Request

Sparks Adventures

Chapter One

Mark Twain wrote in 1869 in Innocents Abroad: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.

G reg and Gwen arrived from Seattle to a comfortable retreat not fancy but with all the basics. Located at the remote western top of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, they chose it as a place where interesting locals and internationals gathered. Trails wound through the area with different views at every twist. This Basque country was shared by Spain and France with an ancient language never traced to another country. Widely spoken by people who wanted a Basque nation, the language symbolized rebellion from Spain. The retreat created the unexpected, mixing educated people from many countries.

As the western sun warmed the outdoor cafe, Greg sipped local beer while Gwen had white wine. The vista from their high perch scanned western Spain, a bit of the Atlantic Ocean by San Sebastian just below them, and part of France to the north. To the south in Spain was Pamplona, a city with the famous bull runs. A soft wind rustled trees, smelling fresh from the forest. Lizards leaped from rock to rock.

Greg leaned back in his chair with a tall thin frame. His deep blue eyes studied the terrain. Gwen sat bolt upright and watched the stunning view with hazel green eyes that changed colors in different light. They had been married and business partners for years.

A young woman approached and asked with a Spanish accent if she could join them for a moment. They nodded yes.

Looking directly into their eyes, she burst forth, I have noticed how special you two have been around everyone here. She paused as they focused on her. I have a strange request, a favor to ask.

Greg and Gwen glanced at each other then back to her.

I’m here with my younger brother who was neglected and isolated by our parents. When you have time, he needs to visit with a couple like you. She glanced at her brother across the cafe. He needs to learn about men, that men can be kind and outgoing, not just rough, tough, and gruff. Women can be nurturing but intelligent. You have those skills. Both of you are thoughtful, touching, engaging.

We don’t understand.

An incredible story I must help him solve.

Tell us the story. We have time. Gwen nodded.

I’ll go directly to the situation. Alex for Alejandro, is number seven in a family of six girls. I am the oldest. Father became so homophobic and terrified by being near men, that he kept Alex in his room or the house to avoid contact with all men. Alex was allowed out only for meals and formal schooling. Mother and father never touched him, never showed any affection. Father raged around the house acting mean, then stomped off to his wing. At dinner not a word could be spoken. When dinner finished, father dismissed us to be out of his view. When we clean his wing, everything has been tossed around. What a miserable life he chose to live.

Gwen and Greg nodded for her to continue. What an amazing story. Greg shook his head.

As the oldest sister, I got a job, moved away, and decided to grab Alex so he could find a life, find himself. I read people well, and you two fit my image of what he needs to understand, a secure couple who like people. As a male, he needs to learn that he can’t be mentally contaminated by contact with men. Both women and men can love and nurture. Mother also ignored him. He needs to meet all people to learn the many variations people have. Such nonsense. Know yourself. Be secure. She crossed her arms and threw a tough look. I found a number of photos stuck in a book of a young priest. One photo showed father assisting the priest at the altar. All the photos have finger marks on them from frequent viewing. I wonder if father had a relationship with the priest. It would account for his terrible behavior, being torn between conflicting emotions."

Greg and Gwen shook their heads in disbelief. Shocking. What a terrible story. It would be hard to believe if we had not read a number of stories nationally and internationally of parents locking their children at home for different reasons. Everyone needs to be touched, loved, and launched free into the world to build their own lives. Gwen remarked, So what can we do?

I am being blunt with all this information, but time can’t be wasted. Both of you seem open and caring. This retreat fills with interesting people, so we come here often. She crossed her arms pursed her lips. With a deep breath she continued. Alex never went through the teens when males understand other males. That is part of the maturing process he missed. Eventually, he will mature, but time is ticking. There’s much more to the story when you have time, much more, but I want something to begin happening now. Time never stops, never waits. She sat ramrod straight and looked intense, not at them but at a life that had been dealt to their family. Her eyes roamed the sky as if in a brief trance. May I invite Alex to join us?

With a nod and a grin, Greg gestured to Alex to come over. Alex was medium tall, well built, green eyes, straight brown hair that sat on his ears and was about twenty two. Wearing an impish grin that made him look shy, he joined the table with his glass of wine.

Alex, I started the story about our family and you. She paused and looked at the two. What names do you two want to be called?

They preferred first names, had three mature children and were partners in business. Families, children, and friends in Seattle were caring and loving.

Again, I’m an assertive woman and know when something is right, I go for it. She looked at her watch. I have a tennis match in a few minutes. I’ll come back at dinner. More story will unfold then, a story that belongs in the book I’m writing. This shouldn’t happen to any family. She paused. This story needs a great ending. I will make that ending happen. Correction, Alex and I will make that ending happen. With that, she smiled, nodded to Alex, and strode away.

Gwen looked at Alex, What an amazing sister you have. Tell us more about your life."

Alex started to stammer, then settled down. I need to be more direct like Maria, but she’s teaching me. She changed her life and wants me to follow. He turned red, then continued, We guessed father was fearful of contact with men, so he kept me in my room or the house to save me. He avoids men when possible including me. Mother and dad developed a strict religion believing sex was just for procreation. Otherwise, they live separate unhappy lives in different wings of the house. He hesitated. Am I saying too much?

Gwen shook her head. What a terrible story, Alex. Continue. She looked at the waiter and ordered more drinks. The sun threw long shadows across the cafe adding a surreal look. Why do Maria and you speak English so well? We speak some Spanish, but not well.

Most of Europe speaks English as a common language. French, Dutch, Germans, Spanish, and Italians need a common link. Education mandates that for most in the European Union. Besides, as you know, English is the business language. It’s full of new words that are short and to the point. Many European languages try to stay pure and perfect. He hesitated. That pushes a language into the past. Latin died from its complexity.

They nodded and listened to Alex. As he started to sputter more, Greg asked, How did you get such a good education while living in your room?

Father sent me to a brilliant woman from a wealthy family who was furious she was always with another woman. Fearing a relationship, they had her locked in a convent. Not legal, but money made it happen. Allowed to teach, she had many students. She taught using French and English. Bit by bit she encouraged me to break free from my family, but I had no skills for survival and no money. Worse, I feared the world, a fear both dad and mother have. When Maria ran off with me to a hidden area seventy kilometers away from home, I was ready. By then I had completed all the topics on the teacher’s list. I asked her why she never fled the convent and she said she had found happiness there. I think she found a relationship. I am finding out that relationships matter. Dumping her in a convent was terrible, but my teacher is happy. I’m now at the university in physics and science, getting great grades but avoid mixing with others. He looked down at his feet, sipped some wine, then looked directly at Greg and Gwen. Do men need to be hugged and loved. A tear formed. He brushed it away.

Stunned, they sat in silence. Birds chirped. The sun dipped into the west as soft evening light bumped into hotel light for supper. Everyone left to prepare for the smaller evening supper. Alone, they were frozen for a moment, then Greg stood up, pulled Alex from his chair, and hugged him. Gwen joined. They didn’t move for moments. Alex shook, quivered. His body exploded.

Stepping away, You answered my question. Embarrassed to show emotions, he said, Supper is being served. OK for me to join you?

The beamed dining room had been around for years and glowed with patina from sitting, touching, and paths worn across the hardwood floor. The room was simple with four or six to a table. Each had cotton print table cloths. Large glass doors to a balcony folded open for an evening breeze and views of forests plunging to the plains of Spain. Light danced around the room reflecting off walls and on the ceiling. Tree branches threw their etched leaf patterns in perfect focus that wavered on the walls with the wind. Nature painted the room in designs that changed by the moment.

As the three sat down, Maria bounced over still wearing her tennis clothing and sat down. Nice to have a casual dinning room. I lost, but learned a lot. She chirped, And that means I won. Learning beats getting points. Why are all of you so quiet?

Alex looked up, I also learned about me today. Men do have emotions. Emotions matter.

Yes, Alex, emotions matter. Men matter. All people matter, but they must make life happen to be alive, to exist. It’s your turn to be assertive in your life yet learn to nurture, to reach out to others. Father and mother never became complete people. Sad. She sat around a quiet table tuned to her. What is life if you don’t plug it into love, creativity, learning, purpose and having fun. She lifted her glass of wine, laughed, and had a sip. Maria had escaped her family into a vibrant life and had dragged Alex along.

Greg and Gwen were amazed to be caught up in such events today. It was not their plan, but when interesting events unfolded in their lives, they joined. Life bloomed when new paths opened.

Supper served a basic four course dinner in the French style with small tasty portions and a dessert followed by coffee and brandy. Many of the guests here were French as well as Spanish. Others were international. Smells of food from different courses floated around the room to be swept away by breezes from the forests. The different smells chased each other in a game of tag.

Maria stood up. I must change. She vanished in a moment leaving the three of them to finish their brandy.

Greg suggested Alex join them on the deck of their room with an expansive view to talk more.

Dinner finished at eight and the three went to the room.

The room had one large bed, a bathroom with shower, bidet, and a sitting area with table. Spanish tile decorated the floor with many colors. French doors opened to a balcony overlooking the French side of the retreat.

The foundations were intended to be a monastery, but turned into this retreat instead. We come here often since it’s close and the guests are interesting. The drive up here curves and turns while the road from France climbs almost straight up.

Greg said, Please sit with us at the table and watch the night creep in.

While Greg studied the extensive view, Gwen asked, What role did your mother play in your life?

Mother is an incomplete person constantly praying to God. We have a chapel in the house where she stays for hours waiting for God to speak. Father joins her there at times. They stopped going to mass. Father feared being around the priests. Now we know that some of them like boys. That made father more fearful. Celibate priests who are gay? He sat straight and frowned, "Is there a God? Will he speak to my parents? Is God a spirit, a force without gender? Why make people in the image