Realms of Eden Book 03: Whirlwind

The woman smiled and softly said, "Mandy you cannot ever tell, promise me for Sydney's sake?"

Mandy looked sideways following the woman's eyes and saw the man himself lying in the bed beside her but facing the opposite way. She then realised that her hand was still firmly clasped in his.

Worriedly she looked back at the woman who grinned. "Apparently they haven't been able to get him to let you go. Caused a right royal pain getting you transported in here and set up!" she said kindly.

"Sydney it's ok. I am here now," Mandy whispered. To the shock of staff around the room his hand released hers and sat itself across his own chest.

Kelsey, who was sitting and holding her lover's other hand, gave the woman a warm smile. "I think he needed to hear it from you Mandy. I have been trying to tell him all night that you were safe."

Mandy's eyes overflowed with tears as she looked at the worried woman whom she had confided in with all her fears and hopes over a cup of tea. The woman who had so generously included her in her life, baggage and all.

She had been allowed to leave the hospital under the care of Dr Lock and Thelma. Now she sat in this conference with the obviously powerful woman deciding how to recover from this set back.

"Firstly," began Thelma, "Kat have you considered my offer?"

Kat nodded smiling. "It is extremely generous Thelma just to do some filming of the bringing home of some people."

"Ah maybe I didn't quite emphasise the bits about possibly being shot at, chased and perhaps roughing it across the globe enough," said Thelma grinning.

Kat just laughed at her. "Oh you did all that Thelma as did Robert and I still want to go. Anything will be better than working for that plastic Barbie Doll!"

"Good it's a deal then!

"Now Mandy, I think you need to leave the country." Thelma continued.

"No I can't!" cried the woman. "My job, uni, everything is here!" She turned to the younger woman Bonnie and then Jo pleading with her eyes to them.

Jo came and sat beside her as Bonnie took up the other, both of them leaning into her. Bonnie slid her tongue into the woman's ear then whispered, "We will be there." Mandy turned her head meeting the little black haired vixen's hot stare.

"But what about a job and uni? A girl can't spend all her day fucking! Though goodness knows I haven't had any of that for a while.

"Drugs made him incapable!" the last was said with the voice of a woman who needed someone to be very capable.

Jo spoke, "You probably don't know this Mandy, but that green eyed tart over there is the Chancellor of the Townsville University and I bet that she could have you transferred there as a full time student.

"Of course there may be some other duties you might have to perform to pay for your education as well!" Jo softly stroked her long brightly polished nails over the woman's thigh under her skirt.

Mandy's head turned to look at Thelma, her eyes wide and sighed as the woman nodded with a smile just as Jo's nail flicked across her panties.

"Leave her alone you two," giggled Kat seeing the woman's eyes closing. "She needs to concentrate on her future then you two can play with her if she wants!"

The two women pouted. Bonnie said, "You want to play with us Kat? While the grown-ups talk shop?"

Thelma flicked her hands at them as Kat giggling said, "I think that might just be the ticket to take away my worries about Sydney!"

"Close the door!" cried Thelma as she watched them stripping each other with little kisses through the open bedroom door.

It closed just as Bonnie said, "No wonder Sydney wants to fuck your tits Kat!"

Mandy squirmed a little in her seat as Thelma said, "I have a proposition for you to consider. You don't have to give me an answer now, then you can go and play, ok?"

The woman stopped squirming and put her full attention to Thelma as she took up a seat opposite her and passed over a thick plastic bound folder. Mandy opened it and began to read. An hour later she closed it looked up at the blonde and said, "Where do I sign?"

Thelma passed her a smaller folder and an electronic note pad. She read the couple of pages, tapped the electronic pad bringing up the soft-copy and pressed her thumb print to the screen. "When can I start?" she asked softly.

"Depends on when you want to leave," said Thelma huskily, "but I was rather hoping that you may want to help me forget about Sydney for a while as well."

Mandy stood and held out her hand to the older woman who clasped it and led her off to the other bedroom.

Sydney's world was one of colours, images, pain, heat and purest pleasure that caused his body to convulse, toss, turn and sweat in his hospital bed. His throat was harsh and dry from screaming. Incoherent sentences tumbled from his mouth and his eyes at times opened so wide, but unseeing, as he cursed something that he saw on the ceiling or on the walls of the room.

Jenny watched him from her bedside seat. She had refused all requests to leave the room and was pleased when her mother had sharply chastised all and sundry telling them that Jenny was more important to the man on the bed than anyone else in the world right now.

Es had begun to come to her, screaming in rage in her full form of murderous combination of scorpion and deadly spider. Jenny had cut her down before she could even untangle herself from the arms and embrace of Marmess. "No Esmeralda!" Jenny had sent her the command the moment she felt the alien's rage. "There is nothing you can do here, it would destroy you! This is not like the sex drug you took from his body. This is a deadly poison to you and your kind! You cannot, must not, try to interfere!"

Es had screamed incoherently at her and suddenly found herself unconscious in her lover's nest. Marmess grinned at the little red head she saw in her mind. "I see you have grown in powers as well little goddess. Does he know?"

"No Mumma Mess, he does not know that each time he changes, Serenity and I change with him. We are the three sides, one cannot change without the other two." Jenny's voice was soothing to the ancient being who purred at her mistress' affectionate name for her.

"I will see you soon my mistress and I will keep Es with me until then." The connection between their minds closed. Jenny sighed as she returned her attention to the man and his struggles on the bed beside her.

Jenny's eyes closed, her mind closely linked to her warrior, trying to share his pain, his dreams and his horrors. At times her body convulsed, reacting in similar fashion to the man's on the bed. It was only her mother's protective stance in front of her that prevented the doctors from injecting her with sedatives to knock-out the little seven year old.

Finally, in the darkest hours of the night, Jenny stood beside him watching his eyes open searching for his queen and his lover. "We are here," she said simply and the man closed his eyes to sleep normally. The doctors found him gone the next morning along with the little red curly haired girl and her mother.

The national press had reported the disappearance of Sydney from the hospital and the probable postponement of the tour of the Australians as they recovered from the loss of possibly the greatest batsman that ever lived.

Karen and Beth were stunned when they received a phone call from Kelsey Gilroy asking them to meet with her at Dan Carter Rugby Park and to bring their equipment with them.

"Are you sure you want to do this Sydney?" asked Cue Ball as he watched his younger self warming up his body in preparation.

"I have to Cue Ball. We have to get the world to know that we are in a war, not terror, not drugs our biggest enemy is apathy.

"Mandy should never have had to deal with what she had on her own. No-one should have to hide their fears, hide what's happening to them because of the consequences. Consequences that should be positive not being subject to more violence, more abuse, because people don't care!"

"Preaching to the converted here my friend, but you are doing things that I don't remember until I go back to the realms. For me this tour ended up being a huge success for Australian cricket just because we won, not for the moral message that you are bringing to it.

"Certainly it wasn't sponsored by Kelsey and Thelma. You are changing my past, and you know what? I like it!"

"Why's that Cue Ball?" Sydney asked shyly.

"Because my friend a month ago in my memory there were 15,000 Cellar Dwellers in Cellarium. When I checked back yesterday there were nearly five times that number. You have managed to gather a fantastic team and," he paused grinning wickedly, "we are having some amazing experiences with a lot of sexy happy people!"

Sydney laughed then sobered, "Cellar Dwellers?"

"That's what we adopted as the name for the people in the cellar under the university. People love being known as Cellar Dwellers!" smiled Cue Ball.

"Just one more thing Cue Ball," said Sydney seriously and Cue Ball waited. "We aren't doing this just to get laid are we?"

"We aren't the only ones getting laid, Sydney. We are just making a world that feels safe and secure. I showed you the dream, you are making it happen!"

He faded slowly then was gone.

Kelsey and Jenny waited for the two women to set up their equipment where she told them to. "Now ladies, I want you to watch and Karen just tell the people what you are seeing."

The midday news on Christchurch community news was broadcast with special arrangements across Oceania. The film showed a man running. Slowly at first and then faster and faster. The voice over was from a soft female voice, her words chillingly reminding the world of the battle of human spirit, courage and above all love.

Karen's words caused tears, smiles and finally anger. Anger directed at those that could let something happen in their world that was not right! That should not be tolerated! An anger that they realised was directed at themselves.

The man's face was as familiar as their own. His smile, his dark hair and his intense dark-blue eyes were captured and stayed on their screens as a little girl spoke.

"This is the man that I love. This is the man that protects me from the badness in the world. He is not a god, he can and will die one day. I hope that when I am old enough that he will show me a world of love. A world that he can show me that everyone cares, that everyone will look out for our children and yours.

"I have seen his dreams, his horror and watched his body fight off the effects of the drugs that were pumped into his body. It was not pretty. But I wonder how it ever came about that I, who am only seven, should have had to watch him struggle to find his way back to me. Why should those who love him so deeply have had to worry so much wondering if he was going to live or die? Should any of us have to share that pain?

"I promise that I will never let that happen to anyone that I love."

The image faded.

When Sydney and Kelsey returned to Auckland they were greeted by an extremely relieved and excited playing group. Hugs, kisses, not just for Kelsey, were abundant until Sydney said, "Enough! We have a game to win tomorrow so let's get to work!"

Thelma took Jenny and the others back to Christchurch.

Stunned, the team just looked at him. Ted Russell said, "You're kidding aren't you!"

"No, he is not," said Kelsey. "It is time to show that the world needs to carry on, not sit back and wait for more disasters and problems. We show them that we are not going to be stopped and that we are ready!"

Her voice was fierce and determined as she met the eyes of everyone in the room. She hissed, "Drugs, violence, nothing will stop us except our own apathy and we are not going to run home and wait for a better day!"

The room was quiet and then Barry Crawford began to clap and his hands were soon joined by the others, the staff and other motel guests that had heard Kelsey's demand.

The headlines screamed, "Whirlwind to bat on!" A nation gave itself a huge shake and got back to work.

"Whirlwind?" asked Jerome Adeane, "You captain today?"

He grinned as the big man nodded and said, "Well at least for the toss I hope you don't mind Jerome?"

The Black Caps captain held out his hand and Sydney shook it. The tall man stepped in close and said, "Sorry we weren't fast enough Cue Ball."

"I am just pleased you and Rod were there at all, Sergeant," he whispered back.

Sydney won the toss and sent the Kiwis in.

Before the game started the players from both sides lined up inter-spacing the line with a player from each team. In front of each player a small child stood dressed in the opposite colours. They paced their hands on the child's shoulders.

The ground announcer asked the crowd to be silent for one minute in remembrance of the victims of abuse and violence. As the crowd held still and silence enveloped the ground, a bugle played the Last Post.

When it was finished a teenaged girl stepped forward with a microphone in her hand. "As the battle begins today, in fun and in entertainment, let us pause for a moment to remember those friends, family and other loved ones who cannot be here to see us.

"Remember them with love, remember them with peace but most of all remember who they were. Do not be bitter for the loss or grieve for their parting. Make a promise to yourself, as we all have here, that we will be better for having known them and we will make the world better for having known us."

As the girl spoke the gentle strains of a ballad played in the background and as she finished the music rose until a resounding and haunting "Hallelujah" filled the ears of every person at the ground.

The game was a happy and joyous occasion for spectators and players alike. Jerome Adeane overcame the demons from the two day match and brought up a fine century with a strongly driven four off the Caveman.

However, his batting partners didn't fare so well. Being regularly knocked over by that bowler and a rejuvenated Gareth Peterson who certainly looked a lot trimmer than the opening match. When 'Rocket' Rod Jamieson tried for a sharp single to get his captain back on strike in the second last over Jason Williams found the stumps with his throw with the captain sliding and ending up a few centimetres short.

Still the Kiwis had posted a respectable score of 226 with Jerome run out for 124.

Simon Hunter stood with the Kiwi team and let Sydney lead the way back onto the ground after the innings' change over. The crowd stomped and cheered as he was allowed to reach the middle by himself. He stood listening to the crowd but instead of hearing "Whirlwind! Whirlwind!" he was almost choked up by emotion as the huge crowd sang, "We Promise! We Promise!"

His bat raised high he saluted them back turning to face every corner of the ground.

Some said it was the emotion of the event, others said it was that he was still recovering from his ordeal. 'Rocket' Rod Jamieson reckoned it was the best ball he had ever bowled in his life as Whirlwind was out bowled in the thirtieth over for a paltry 122.

Jason Williams hit the winning runs in the forty second over as the Australians finished at 4 for 227.

In post-match interviews Jerome Adeane suggested that his Kiwi team was going to have to buckle down and take a leaf out of the Australian book to remain competitive in the series. He promised that the fans would be seeing some good cricket over the coming weeks.

Sydney was very humbled by the crowd today and assured them through the interviewers that he felt as fit as ever. Even cheekily suggesting that he would be up for a run tomorrow morning if the group in front of him wanted to join him. He got no acceptors.

An interviewer asked him about whether he was going to accept the match race. Kelsey jumped in saying that the prize money had now been doubled with an anonymous supporter requesting that the additional money be donated to the newly formed "Whirlwind We Promise" campaign.

Sydney was stunned at the announcement not only of the additional money but the formation of the organisation. Tearfully he asked if he could have a few moments to compose himself and left the interview room.

When he returned he smiled and told them all that yes he would definitely be accepting the challenge and had more incentive than ever to win. The room applauded and the interview was finished.

Mandy Terwini sighed as she lay on Sydney's chest, her naked body sweating in the man's embrace. Giggling as she felt his cock staying firmly inside her as his hips began to gently undulate beneath her. "Oh no you don't, you wicked man!" she said jumping off of him. "I might have been missing out for the last six months or so but you have more than made up that and I don't think my poor pussy could take any more!"

"Don't even think about it mister, she's only 28 I'm 68," said Kat as he turned to the other woman beside him who giggled making her soft breasts jiggle delightfully as he nuzzled them gently.

"Guess that just leaves me!" said Kelsey as she straddled his hips capturing his recently released cock into her wet pussy.

"Fuck Kelsey how do you keep up with him!" cried Mandy as she watched the woman energetically impale herself making the man beneath her groan.

"Cause," she pumped herself down on him, "he," up, "is," down, "so," up, "fucking," down grinding hard against him, "good!" she cried as she came.

Sydney and Kelsey dropped Mandy and Kat off at the airport. The two women told them to just go as they didn't want to be seen crying in the airport as they left. With promises that they would meet up in Cellarium the women took their suitcases and walked into the building stoically not looking back.

Inside the doors Mandy was whispering to herself, "I will not cry, I will not cry." Kat chanted the same mantra under her breath.

It wasn't until they were on board the jet and winging towards Townsville that they cuddled into each other and shed their tears.

Chapter 7 - Running with the shadows

Jerome Adeane was a worried man his team was now 2-1 down after losing the third game in Wellington the previous night. Whirlwind had belted them again but not as badly as the young wannabe Jason Williams had. Between them the pair had put on nearly 280 runs after they had managed to winkle out Simon Hunter for a supporting role 25. Chasing the 331 runs proved too much to ask for his team and they fell 30 odd runs short. They had to do something about these rampaging bats of Australia's.

One thing about the next few days was the distraction of the match race and he fervently hoped that Sydney Douglas would prove triumphant. He and his team were fully behind the 'Whirlwind We Promise' campaign having publicly declared an oath on national television to help promote their respect and good intentions towards all of their fellow human beings and other sentient life.

It wasn't the way that they were being beaten that worried him. It was the generosity of the crowds in accepting that sometimes you get beaten. Some of his players seemed to think that that was their excuse for goofing off and in some cases not even bothering to come to training. He wasn't sure what his coach was doing about it but he needed to come up with something and soon!

He saw that his hover was parking in the car park at the recently completed Brendan McCullum stadium where the match race was to be held. He was coming to see an old friend of his, Clinton Southey, who was going to be running against Whirlwind and was also his captain of the special operations unit that he belonged to.

Southey was a powerfully built tall man with crew cut brown hair and intense dark brown eyes. Jerome could not remember a time when the man was anything but military. Even in his first days of being recruited into the special operations group Southey had stressed the importance for discipline and control. Jerome examined his feelings towards the man and realised that he was as much in awe of him as he was with the supreme commander, Cue Ball, whom he now knew was his great rival, Sydney Douglas. Jerome sighed as he made his way to the meeting.