The Continuum Dealer: the Clones

By Robert Colling

THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER WORLDS, BUT THE UNCERTAINTY OF ANGELS.

In the third installment of The Continuum Dealer series, the Brethren are hoping to use the Clones against the Continuum Dealer. They know it will only take one small incident to spark a revolution. With Ethan, Lee and Anna in the mix, will the Angel get involved? Love and hate dominate this riveting installment as the adventure continues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664125865

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Gather everyone, please gather round, the angel said, I’m going to tell you a most wonderful story. Many angels heard the call and started taking their places on nearby clouds.

What’s it about? shouted a young angel from the farthest cloud. All the other angels went quiet, all at once, and the young angel tucked in its’ wings.

I’m glad you asked, and why don’t you come in much closer. I’m sure you are going to want to catch every word.

The young angel jumped at the chance and flew in to the gathering in the front row.

The younger angels loved hearing the stories the older angels told. Some of the angels were talking and smiling and laughing in anticipation of the story.

The angel storyteller used his commanding voice, Hey now, listen to me! All the other angels became stone faced and quiet. Remember angels don’t smile and they certainly don’t laugh. All the humanoid paintings show us as either guardians or messengers. None of their masterpieces show us smiling. That is for very good reasons. We don’t want the humanoids and other beings to fear us, but we do want them to pay attention when we appear.

The angel beings leaned forward and focused on the storyteller.

Now that we’re all settled, I’m going to tell you the story of the last Continuum Dealer. The very last Continuum Dealer. His name was Ethan, and…

The young angel flew ten feet above the others and shouted, What’s a Continuum Dealer?"

The other angels along the side of the gathering snickered and pushed at each other.

Please everyone, listen, gently commanded the angel. That’s a great question. The Continuum Dealer was a humanoid chosen by the most high Universal Spirit to give mortals their true names. The very first Dealer was chosen many centuries ago. Each time a Dealer died, a new one was chosen to take their place.

Why didn’t humanoids just name their babies their true names in the first place, an angel asked.

Well, I think sometimes the mothers and fathers didn’t know the true name. Some gave babies names based on the lineage, you know, middle names of other family members. Some gave babies names based on trends. Some gave babies weird names, and some gave babies original and beautiful names. But very few gave babies their true names.

Do the humanoids act different when they are dealt their true name?

No, not necessarily. I do think it gives them a closer connection with the Universal Spirit. You see, the Universal Spirit knows everyone by their heart no matter what name they call themselves. You all know the Universal Spirit loves all. Sometimes, he calls us by name to perform a mission. So, the Continuum Dealer is called to deal everyone their true name.

Why did you say your story was about the last Continuum Dealer. Are there to be no more?

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I am going to tell you a most interesting story. An adventure crossing many galaxies. An adventure moving over a hundred years or more.

One last question?

Yes?

Did anyone bring snacks?

Every one of the angels looked around the gathering to make sure no one was smiling.

CHAPTER 1

Anna

The dinner meeting Ethan had called was wrapping up. Everyone was just about done with dessert and they all were still thinking about what Ethan had told them. They would have to get their heads around the idea that the leader of the Brethren was a woman. More importantly, Ethan had called the leader out on universal vid. Ethan had not yet heard from the Brethren about a meeting time or place, in fact the Brethren had gone silent.

What’s next, boss? Hughes said to Ethan in his customary way. He knew Ethan hated being called boss or boss man, but it was his way of endearing himself.

I need to talk with Anna, Ethan said with a bristled face.

Catch up with you later, Boss…

Ethan waited for the room to clear before approaching Anna. He gently guided Lee out of the room and maneuvered Anna toward a corner, so that she was the last one left.

Can we talk?

Sure, but I think I can guess what you want to say.

It’s just that things seem to be changing from day to day, and…

Let me guess, Anna interrupted. You feel like you won’t have any time for me and the kids. Your job will be calling you away most of the time. This thing, this war you’ve declared on the Brethren will put me at risk. It isn’t fair to me and you don’t want that for us.

Well, ah…

Why don’t you just say that you don’t feel the same way about us, about me. Why don’t you say your feelings have changed and that you’re not sure you are in love with me anymore?

Well, Ethan paused when Anna paused and they each took a breath. He looked deep into her eyes and started down a path he himself wasn’t quite sure of. You’re right. I owe you so much more than I can say right here and right now. I fell for you from the first. I was drawn to you. You taught me about love.

Oh, please. Just save it…

No, wait. It’s important to me that you know how important you were and still are…

Look, I’ve got it. You’re breaking up with me. Well, I’ve got some news for you too. I’m breaking up with you. I’m not even sure we were together in the first place. I admit the promise of being your spouse intrigued me. I think I would have been good for you. I mean with social and political functions.

Ethan looked slightly puzzled, I hadn’t really thought that far ahead, I guess…

Well, you should have, I sure did. I mean one minute we were on dates together and picnics with the boys, and the next minute, poof, you were gone from our lives.

Ethan’s inner monologue was coming to the surface. He thought about telling Anna that she was made up of clone parts. He was ashamed of how that information changed his feelings. Then there was the panic of telling her he made up the boys’ names because during the naming ceremony no names came to him. How could he tell her he made up the names on the spot? These secrets were the real reason his feelings had changed. There was a large gap between them now and he couldn’t see a way across.

It’s all my fault, Ethan forced the words out. I wish I could tell you the exact moment my feelings changed, but I can’t. That wasn’t an outright lie, he told himself.

Anna told herself that now was the time to tell Ethan that the baby she miscarried was really his. She could explain why she didn’t tell him at first. Maybe then he would know why she pulled away from him. Maybe then he would know loss. Maybe then he would reconsider his decision and come back to her. Her thoughts ran together as she replayed the last year. In the end she decided against telling him about any of it.

Don’t worry, you didn’t break my heart. Just don’t say we can still be friends. Promise me you won’t reconsider a few weeks from now when things aren’t going your way. Don’t tell me then that you thought about it and we should try again.

Ethan stopped to consider her requests. I promise. I won’t promise that I won’t miss you or think about you.

Sure, I know what men say and do. I’ve been down this road a couple of times. Don’t contact me. We’re all done. Anna’s red face flashed by Ethan on her way out of the door.

Anna stood outside for just a moment. She wiped a tear away from her cheek and then got mad at herself for even starting to cry. She hurried along the corridor and ended up stopping outside the engine room. She leaned against the bulkhead and clenched her fists.

A lone engineer came through the doorway nodded in her direction and continued into another room. Anna grabbed into bag for a tissue and ran her fingers across the bomb. She pulled it out and the soft blue light from the bomb gel illuminated the sign above the door that read Engineering.

I think I’ve just figured out