Adventures with Robie: Book 1 (The Andes)

By Alexander

Four strangers. Four continents. One mission: Do the good that the world needs done.

Connected by an unseen, extraordinary entity.

Meet Robie, a courageous young woman on the verge of discovering some impossible truths about life and the role she is expected to play. She will encounter the true meani

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Alexander
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798987254912

Alexander

Alexander, a dual citizen of the US and a former British colony, currently resides in the verdant Carolinas. Though often regarded as a quiet, reserved (not bashful) introvert, he comes to life during interesting one-on-one conversations. He loves and respects all animals and is tentatively training for his fifth (and final?) marathon, while continuing the creation of Robie's second excursion.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Late June—Modern-Day South America

The world appears ordinary, but the tide is shifting. There have been subtle clues suggesting such transformation, yet these go unnoticed by the general population. The uninitiated are accustomed to living with a sort of robotic quality. Doing things out of habit, without any sense of purpose.

But there are a select few, scattered throughout the world, whose jobs are to help avert disasters. These resilient, resourceful, and adaptable men and women make up the elite force of peacekeepers known as SALT (Select Allies Leveraging Talent). These allies have traded the convenience of a conventional life for one filled with uncertainty. Their selfless sacrifices ensure the ongoing safety of the world.

Even now, as most of the continent indulges in blissful slumber, one such supporter is receiving instructions for a new mission.

CHAPTER 1

The tracker woke up with a smile from ear to ear. It had been a peaceful, dream-filled sleep. Almost like a vision really. At the core of this particular reverie was The Countess Alma, in all Her celestial glory. She had appeared to Her subject as She’d done countless times before. Her presence usually signified a mission was at hand, a charge to be carried out. And this time was no exception. Of course, the choice always remained his to make, but Santiago had never declined a chance to be a part of something remarkable. This had been decided long ago, shortly after that first encounter with The Countess. His smile broadened.

During previous Alma-infused fantasies the tracker had also experienced movement, unconscious drifting. The first time had scared the living daylights out of him, but She had been close by with reassurance. As the visits progressed, he began to recognize a pattern that indicated whether or not travel had occurred. Those dreams were more intense, felt more substantial. But there was no pattern this time. And as a result, he was not surprised to find himself at home in his own bed, in the city that shared his name.

It was remarkable how much his life had changed since The Countess had first appeared to Santiago almost ten years prior. She was not physically present, but rather existed as an overwhelming manifestation in his mind. Just beyond his grasp. Like a wraith, a spirit. On Her first visit, She had invited him to follow Her on a path of Her choosing, carrying out missions for the world. He, the humble Santiago, had been recruited to help do the good that the world needs done. This was Her phrasing and he had accepted without hesitation. For his efforts, he had been enjoying a truly extraordinarily unpredictable life. Truth is, he was completely lost before Lady Alma had found him; thus providing him a much-needed purpose.

In addition to the leadership traits for which he’d been recruited, Countess Alma had seen fit to bless Her faithful Latin helper with an additional talent. A heightened sense of smell. Strong enough to detect someone’s burnt dinner from miles away. Yet sharp enough to notice a decrease in someone’s pH when nervous . . . or lying. Not always mutually exclusive. Santiago was grateful for this gift. Any advantage, especially for someone five foot six and 150 pounds, was a welcome one.

And he wasn’t the only one. There was no real way to be certain of the actual number of supporters, but Santiago suspected there had to be many, considering the magnitude of the work. He had met a few on previous missions, all bearing similar characteristics: bravery, resilience, wisdom, adaptability, and strength. They were members of a special league of followers that The Countess had lovingly referred to as SALT: Select Allies Leveraging Talent.

Ruminations aside, he pressed his index finger to his temple in an attempt to replay the picture that had occupied his thoughts prior to awakening.

His lids fluttered. In the dream he had been instructed to locate three other members of SALT in preparation for an unspecified undertaking. Their names and general locations were given, but no physical description. No matter. Finding them wouldn’t be a problem. He snickered to himself.

Turning slightly towards the Presence he felt, he voiced, Thank you for trusting me once again. I shall not let you down.

With that, he jumped out of bed and rushed to the kitchen for his morning coffee. After a quick shower, he stuffed some provisions into a rucksack, grabbed his cloak, and headed out the door.

Daybreak was still an hour away.

CHAPTER 2

Just before dawn the subsequent day, Santiago made the trek over a narrow section of the Andes and into the town of San Rafael. He had been surprised by the frequency in which The Countess had been in contact with him throughout most of yesterday. Perhaps She’d sensed he needed the company, which was definitely appreciated, because so far he hadn’t encountered a single soul.

As the landscape became less steep, a sign up ahead came into view. It contained a directional arrow and the words "Los Establos." He chuckled aloud. Countess Alma had a plan for everything. Even after all these years, She still managed to surprise him. Guess he should proceed to the stables and go see about that horse.

Forty-five minutes later he emerged from the stalls, comfortably saddled on a reddish-brown mare. Together they trotted east into the early morning sun. The smell of jasmine filled his nostrils and Santiago decided the fragrant flower was a perfect name for the steed. The clippety-clop of horseshoe on the humid ground was music to his ears and they quickly fell into a rhythmic pattern.

To pass time, Santiago talked to the beast that carried him onward. A long time ago he had learned that the tone of one’s voice should be the primary consideration when communicating with animals. Far more important than the actual words, and as such, he took special care to make gentle, soothing notes for his mighty companion. It seemed to work, because the mare would occasionally respond with bugling noises and the tossing of her humongous head. For the most part though, she continued onward without needing his input. Almost as if she knew the way.

The temperature rose as the sun approached the center of the sky. Santiago led the mare to a shallow brook for a drink. After she’d had her fill, he fed her carrots and berries from his provisions. Lovingly murmuring, he brushed her tenderly as she ate. He also used this time to get nourishment into his own body and refill his canteen with the stream’s cool water. Shortly thereafter they were back on the trail. Still heading east with the sun now behind them.

For the rest of the afternoon, Santiago and Jasmine traversed the rough road towards Dolores, stopping periodically at watering holes to refresh themselves. It was a long day, but the countryside was beautiful and the occasional wildlife they saw distracted them and made the time go by quickly.

They arrived on the outskirts of the city of Dolores at dusk. It was an unassuming town where it appeared city planners had taken great lengths in harmonizing nature with modern architect. The buildings fit perfectly with the landscape, almost as if it was nature’s intent.

Suddenly his equine companion came to an abrupt halt, as if blocked by an invisible barrier. Santiago tried to coax her forward but was unsuccessful. She had some realization that he was unable to grasp. Surrendering to her refusal to advance, he dismounted, eyeballing the animal quizzically. The mare shook her body vigorously while holding his gaze, as if awaiting a command.

When it became clear that their time together was over, Santiago said in a calm voice, Thank you, Jasmine. The animal snorted, turned and, as if on autopilot, galloped in the direction from whence they’d come. He stared after her in disbelief.

Guess I should go see about lodging.

CHAPTER 3

Just before dawn the following day, in a park inside the town of Dolores, Shanghai stirred from an extreme slumber. The cold, hard surface that supported her frame was clearly not designed with sleeping in mind. There was no question in her mind that travel had occurred, because this would not have been her first choice for a nap.

Sitting up on the metal bench where she had just awoken, the young woman gazed about expectantly. Although not quite dawn, there was sufficient light from a strategically placed lamppost for her to see. It illuminated the lush grass, narrow bike path, and oversized duck pond. A demure piece of artwork that also doubled as a water fountain piqued her interest. She approached cautiously, took a sip, then splashed water onto her face.

The empty park, although beautiful, contained nothing in the way of clues regarding where exactly she had landed. Gathering her belongings, she set off in a southerly direction, a purely instinctual decision. As she walked, the realization of who she was and her abilities returned with rousing clarity.

Shanghai was a formidable warrior, in the body of a stunning Asian beauty. Many, to their detriment, had misinterpreted her petite frame as fragile and had paid the price as a result.

As the cobbled street and quaint, colourful houses came into view, Shanghai thought back to the message she’d received during her rest. It was cryptic, to say the least. The instructions were for her to stay put and await the arrival of a stranger who would appear to be a local. Afterwards, together they would seek two additional allies for an upcoming endeavour. Nothing further.

Years ago when Shanghai had accepted the invitation to carry out duties for The Countess, the instructions were clear. lately though, they’d gotten progressively less distinct. This was the fourth time in succession that Shanghai had received these types of coded messages, and she was beginning to tire of their vagueness. Why couldn’t Countess Alma just provide a name or something more solid to go on? Also, never before had she needed the assistance of another member of SALT in order to complete a task. So why this party of four? What’s changed? In all honesty, this was the true source of her unspoken annoyance.

Shanghai knew The Countess was omniscient. It was, after all, due to Her guidance that she was able to achieve such a remarkable success rate on her missions. Yet questions persisted. I am a warrior, Shanghai thought. I can handle anything. So she decided to take matters into her own hands. Instead of waiting around like a damsel in distress, she would go on the offensive and seek this stranger. Perhaps she might even catch him off guard and take a peek at his thoughts. She laughed raucously at this mischievous notion.

Off she strolled into the city, using her gift to try to suss out the newcomer. Shanghai’s powers allowed her limited mental access to anyone she could put eyes on. Or as she so artfully put it, line of sight, line of mind. So she sauntered around town, stopping occasionally to gaze at this and look at that. Perfectly playing the role of a tourist, like any local would presume her to be.

A few hours of recon proved fruitless. No new kid in town. As she glanced into the minds of the people she passed, she found that most of their concerns revolved around finances, loved ones, food, and the like. So in essence, these people were the same as most she’d encountered in every other part of the world.

Suddenly a light bulb illuminated a significant fact. The message had stated that the stranger would appear to be a local. Damn, how had she managed to gloss over this important detail? She had allowed her ongoing internal conflict to distract her, which was totally out of character for a warrior.

She stopped for a spell, cleared her mind, and resumed with newfound determination. Up and down, back and forth, across the city. Still nothing. Everyone was exactly as they appeared. No outsider trying to blend in. Other than her, of course.

It wasn’t until she reached the junction leading back to the park that she felt it; someone like her, in search of another. She gazed around frantically, but saw nobody, so she continued walking. When she turned the corner, there he was.

Leaning against the marble fountain was a young Latino with closely cropped black hair. Tapered. Almost militaristic. Similar age and attire to her own, he was playing with something in his hand. She continued forward. As she got within a few yards, he shoved his hands into his pockets, looked up and greeted her with a disarming smile. Her return expression was sprinkled with a hint of frustration that she didn’t bother to conceal.

Shanghai, I presume? he asked confidently. She blinked. He continued, I am Santiago. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. No hand offered with the greeting.

A bit presumptuous, don’t you think? Being caught off guard wasn’t something that happened to her very often, and Shanghai didn’t much care for it. Maybe I’m just a tourist strolling through the park.

Perhaps, decided Santiago, but I sensed you had a purpose, a mission similar to the one Countess Alma has sent me on. He was not about to let a little awkwardness get in the way. She operates on a level neither of us is able to fully comprehend. Enigmatic is how I see Her.

How about perplexing? was the warrior’s blunt retort. Well, she continued, here we are. Now what?

Santiago took a moment to collect his thoughts. Something was agitating his newfound companion and he wanted to take care to not make things worse. He chose his words carefully. We are called on to carry out an important mission. This will be a group undertaking, but I think you already know some of this.

What else? She was not going to let him off this easily.

Er . . . what else? he muttered. Being an optimist, he had not expected his first encounter to be so challenging. Look, I’m just the messenger. Santiago hadn’t expected to be playing defense. He found himself becoming worked up, so he took a deep breath.

A bit too quickly she said, And here I was thinking you were a tracker of sorts.

Instantly his guard went up. This was completely unexpected, and he found himself blaming The Countess for not giving him a proper heads-up about this challenging comrade. Nonetheless, he was determined to endure anything in order to fulfill Lady A’s wishes.

He removed his hands from his pockets and opened his right palm. In it was a bronze, ancient-looking compass. His left index finger moved the arrow a few clicks and held it out for Shanghai to see. I believe we should head in this direction. To his surprise, his new acquaintance was actually smiling.

Intriguing. But do you take me for the type of woman to go off gallivanting with a complete stranger?

Santiago found himself practically speechless. Then, thinking quickly, he recovered. Fine. How do you wish to proceed?

The next couple of hours went by with the two carefully navigating their way through conversation, getting to know each other and trying desperately to avoid stepping on any toes.

Could you try to sniff out some grub and lodging? requested Shanghai, as she stood to stretch.

Absolutely, beamed Santiago. "I know a place where we can matar dos pájaros de un tiro." When his eyes found hers, he was comforted to see a pleasant expression, happy to hear the two needs would be met in one place. It wasn’t a smile exactly, but something resembling acceptance. This would do.

CHAPTER 4

At dawn on the morning prior to Santiago travelling to meet Shanghai, about 300 kilometers to the south, the architect’s eyes fluttered open. The intensity of the sleep he had just endured was quite profound.

Looking around, Ottawa realized that he was in the middle of what appeared to be a dense forest. Feeling dizzy, he used the trunk of an enormous cypress to steady himself. That’s when it happened. His memory returned in an instant. A flash of light and the images came flooding in. The warmth, the familiarity, the Presence. It filled his entire body and allowed his mind to relax. He had experienced this phenomenon before and marveled at the implications. It was The Countess, in all Her potent glory.

After managing to rouse himself, the scope of his task came into focus. Ottawa’s instructions were to build shelter and make preparations for approaching company. As vague as these directives were, he didn’t question Countess Alma. To do so would be pointless, because She always had everything under control. All he had to do was whatever She asked. He was happy to accept and execute any and all orders with vigor.

Ottawa’s wavy blond hair and handsome face were deceiving. At six foot six and 220 pounds, nobody mistook this ally for a pushover. As a skilled architect, he could plan and build any structure. what they didn’t know about were his hidden attributes. Namely an acute sense of hearing and a 200 IQ score. When wielded together, Ottawa could analyze a potentially dangerous situation before it became evident to the rest of the world.

He assessed his situation and decided that in order to construct a suitable sanctum, he would need to travel into the city to procure necessary supplies. Even though he could see no evidence of human existence from where he stood, his ears told him otherwise. With a little focus he was able to hear signs of life about five miles to the northeast.

Ottawa’s long legs brought him into the town of Miramar in less than forty minutes. It didn’t take much longer thereafter for him to locate the tools needed for the job. One shopkeeper even provided a wheelbarrow for him to more easily transport his new possessions.

Three hours after initially setting out, he had returned to the forest. There he went about the task contentedly, perfectly pleased to have been chosen once again. The work took him until just before sunset to complete. Perfect timing. Few things pleased Otto more than the beauty of nature. He gazed towards the horizon in amazement as the sky displayed various colours of the rainbow before gently fading into complete darkness.

He slept peacefully this night and was once more given a vision. The image this time was of four people gathered around a small table, faces tilted upwards towards a hovering light. Three faces were unknown, but the fourth was his. The table looked exactly like the one he had recently constructed.

The Countess was not to be doubted. Not that he ever had.

CHAPTER 5

Shanghai awoke feeling restless. It wasn’t for lack of sleep, this uneasiness, but rather due to her growing impatience with the pace at which things were progressing. More like creeping along, in this case. After the initial awkwardness with Santiago yesterday, things had taken a turn for the better when he had become more direct with his replies.

She had