Read Online The Forgotten Eden by Aiden James - Free Book Online

low puckering sound as I raised it out of the muck. How long had I been standing there? It didn’t seem like even a few minutes had passed since picking up the object, and yet from the looks of my surroundings, I’d been there for at least an hour or two.
    “‘ Well...are you going to just stand there all day hoping to sprout some roots, or would you mind if we went back inside the house, son?’
    “ Grandpa’s voice betrayed his irritation, and who could blame him? He stood a few feet away, impatiently moving from foot to foot, ready to sprint back to the farmhouse. The only protection from the rain he’d brought with him was that morning’s newspaper, folded over and already soaked and dripping as he held it just above his head.
    “‘ No...not at all,’ I said. ‘I’m ready to go in now.’
    “ He motioned for me to follow him as he turned and ran to the shelter of the oak. My legs felt like rubber as I chased after him. Again, how long had I been standing in the rain? I could only venture a guess since the sun lay hidden behind dark clouds. Besides, my wristwatch was now missing. I felt completely disoriented and confused….”

    ***

    “ That had to be very intense for you, Jack,” Peter said, after Jack grew quiet for almost a minute. His eyes nearly restored to their original clarity, they sparkled in a way that let Jack know he remained interested, absorbing every detail. “Can you remember the intricate details on the object you held?”
    “ I wish I could, but I don’t think so,” he replied. “But I bet I’d recognize them in a heartbeat if I ever saw them again.”
    “ At a later time, I’ll show you some early American artifacts we have in our Archives Center,” Peter advised. “I’d be most interested to see how similar they are to the object you’ve described.”
    “ Sure, I’d be willing to do that.”
    “ Good…. Let’s keep this wonderful story of yours rolling.”
    Peter motioned again for Jack to continue.
    “ Well…I arrived at the base of the oak a moment after my grandfather did, and walked over to where he stood,” said Jack. “He eyed me sternly, the soaked newspaper held to his side with one hand while he petted Banjo with the other.
    “‘ Why were you just standing there?’ he asked me. ‘What was so damned interesting that you’d completely ignore me calling you?’
    “ Several images crowded my mind. Everything from hunting the lizard to standing in the rain with the mysterious golden object in my hands. I shrugged my shoulders.
    “‘ I’m sorry, Grandpa. I don’t know what came over me. One minute I’m chasing that lizard and the next I’m standing in the rain.’
    “ He raised his eyebrows as he continued to study me, though more compassionate. He looked beyond me, back to the area we just ran from, and shook his head. Then he smiled and chuckled.
    “‘ Come on, son,’ he said. ‘I’ll race you to the porch!’
    “ Water cascaded from the leaves above, forming several puddles in front of us. He gave me a playful wink and on the count of three we raced to the porch while heavy rain pelted us mercilessly.
    “ Just before he and I entered the back door to our farmhouse, the rain tapered off, leaving only a light drizzle in the air. We left our grimy shoes on the porch just outside the screened door. Glad to be indoors again, the strong aroma from dinner cooking on the kitchen stove quickened my senses and alerted me to my stomach’s emptiness.
    “ The heat inside the kitchen was still stifling, even though a pair of floor fans stayed busy sending a cross breeze gathered from the main floor on through the kitchen itself. Grandpa advised me to go on upstairs and change into dry clothes. He headed for his own bedroom on the main level to do the same.
    “ I headed upstairs, and as usual, the second, fourth, and seventh stairs squeaked loud, despite my best effort to walk softly up the old mahogany staircase. Once I reached the second floor, I