Chapter Six

 

Three months later
 

Craig  was  pacing  back  and  forth,  still  not  believing  his  good luck. “I’m the happiest man on earth! I have the most precious jewel living with me!” He stopped and beamed at Maya. “In fact, I’m your guardian angel!”

Unmoved by his agitation, Maya was more interested in continuing the search for her destiny than in what he was saying. She looked him in the eye and said, “That’s all well and good, but I would like to know what’s next in the ALC’s agenda.”

Her lack of interest in him caused him a great disappointment. He became angry, and answered, “If you listened carefully to what Ms. Diana said, you will remember that my word is law. I’m not to be questioned! In fact, Ms. Diana and I are not to be questioned because we are the ALC! I’m the representation of the ALC. Remember, I’m your guide. All I require from you is your patience. Everything will come along fine, and you’ll be able to find your destiny.” He glared at her, but could not remain angry for long.

Under her gaze, he sighed. “Let me go get the blueprint of what the agendas are.”

He went into his Private Room. On the door was a sign that read: ‘For Craig only.’ A moment later, he came back with some documents. Maya and Craig sat down on the Sofa to see


what the ALC’s agendas were all about. Craig interpreted the cryptic writings, noticing Maya’s seriousness to know.

“All of the codifications you see can be plainly stated as thus:

The 39th Initiate of the ALC is a unique element that will make the assembly functional, influential, and affluent in all quarters of society. But for these feats to be attained the following MUST be understood and carried out:

a)                The necessary relativistic “good” and “evil” elements are known as STEALING

b)               The opposing, yet related “positives” and “negatives” of prostitution

c)                 The “black” and “white” of drug trafficking.

 

Maya anxiously asked, “What do they mean?”

“I will explain. Just hold your tongue and listen!” Craig’s voice was a little louder than normal; he didn’t like to be interrupted.

Maya’s silence was heard by Craig’s ears. He continued, “By ‘the relativistic good and evil elements are known as STEALING,’ it means that the 39th Initiate must follow through on all of the activities given to him or her for a full year. During that time, he or she must savour the pleasures of the good side of his or her actions and endure the pain and pressure associated with their evil side. Also, ‘The opposing, yet related positives and negatives of prostitution’ involves the active participation of the 39th Initiate to savour the pleasures of positively entwining sexually with the opposite sex in addition to enduring the negative pain of the activity. By ‘the black and white of drug trafficking,’ it means that the initiate MUST observe what it takes to colourfully involve his or herself in the black of its herculean nature to enjoy the whites of what it brings.”


He gazed at her meaningfully. “You are the 39th Initiate, and you’re the one that will make this organization to attain the heights of influence, affluence and functionality.”

Maya quickly asked, “What is it, exactly, am I supposed to do? What are my activities?”

“Flip over the sacred blueprint,” Craig instructed Maya. “There you will see what you will be doing. I will read them out for your understanding.” Maya flipped it, and Craig looked over the information it contained.

He continued, “This is what you will be doing, in simple terms:

 

 

Assignment 1

STEALING
April 30, 2000, 2:00PM, the initiate will pose as someone looking for a scholarship from the gold merchant, Van Brussels. He awards scholarships to each and every student in all the states in the Republic of South Africa whose applications were approved two weeks after the announcement of the scholarships on radio, TV and newspapers by his or her school. It’s a once-a-year program. Students are selected from each known college in every state.”

Craig looked up from what he was reading. “Being friends with Van Brussels, Ms. Diana was able to squeeze your name into the list, despite the fact that it’s been about a year since you finished secondary school, and since she last taught there. This is also a vital period for Van, because his office would have just gotten a shipment of carats of gold from the mines.” He drew a deep breath and looked sternly at Maya. “Now this is very important, so listen closely. You will pull a gun out of the bag you’ll be carrying, and he MUST be shot DEAD.”


Maya sprang up off the sofa. “No! I can do many things, but not that!”

Craig pulled her down. She fought him, but he was stronger than her. He pulled her face within inches of his. “You want to fulfill your destiny, right? You wanted this, and don’t you forget it. You don’t want to disappoint Ms. Diana, after all that she has done for you, do you?”

His eyes narrowed. “And remember, we own you now…”

Maya’s eyes formed tears, but she nodded silently. A sob escaped her lips as she pondered this new turn of events, was it all worth it, this life? Wasn’t there another way that she could find out who she was?

Craig released her chin with a curt nod, and continued, “By the way, he is a close friend to Ms. Diana, but he doesn’t really know what she’s into. This information was given to me by Ms. Diana, who got it from Henry Yale, a close aide to Van Brussels. The security guards will be absent while you are there performing your duty. Every member has been paid to be conveniently elsewhere, courtesy of her influence through Henry Yale. No one will take notice of you, provided you leave no trace.”

His finger traveled further down the list:

 

 

“Assignment 2

PROSTITUTION
July 18, 2000: PIMP X will need your services during a function involving some men in Harare, Zimbabwe. All of your expenses, including airfare, meals, and hotel expenses will be provided for. At this point, all you need to be aware of is that you will leave for Harare, and Ms. Diana will link you up with Ninja X, his close guard, who will take you to PIMP X.


“August 15, 2000: Big Daddy from Maseru, Lesotho, needs you to be his girl for one night. This is a little more tasking because you will face competition from other ladies who will be brought in from neighbouring countries. You have to ensure that you carry along with you condoms that would ensure some ‘protection.’ Big Daddy is a careless sex addict who can afford anything found under a woman’s skirt. The ALC, through Ms. Diana, would instruct you on what to do about this so that you will have a lead over the others.

“September 12, 2000: The Real Don and his colleagues need your marathon sex service for a night in Gaborone, Botswana. Yes, on this assignment you will have to use the extra-sensory perception training you went through. The people you are about to deal with are killers and are involved in many vices. The use of your extra-sensory perceptions would come in handy.”

Maya swallowed nervously. Her body hurt at the mere thought of what she was going to have to endure.

Craig kept reading the horrors on the page, oblivious to Maya’s discomfort. “October 3, 2000: The man in Swaziland needs your company for a week. Although he doesn’t really know who you are, I sense that Ms. Diana must have told him some things about you that got him interested. But she would have to call him directly herself, because the security is so tight that anyone who would have access to the man must be friends with him. This must be two days before the D-Day itself.

“December 8, 2000: The Big Man, a media top-notch in Cape Town, South Africa, will need you for two days. Interestingly, Ms. Diana told me that they both attended the same elementary school, back in the day. In my opinion, gaining access to The Big man will be the easiest. Though I’ve only met him once, he appears to be a nice person. By the time you meet him, you’ll surely appreciate his company!”.


Craig scanned the paper again and murmured, “How did Ms. Diana work those schedules out…” He said it out loud in a firmer voice, “…it is none of my business.” He frowned at Maya. “But I do know that my business is to tell you what to do, as instructed!”

His eyes returned to the schedule, and he read,

 

“Assignment 3

 

DRUG TRAFFICKING
 

Courier to Nelspruit Axis---Feb. 3, 2001

 

Courier to Bloemfontein area---March 21, 2001

 

Courier to Polokwane zone---April 8, 2001

 

Courier to Johannesburg perimeter---May 30, 2001

 

Here, we’ll give you the direct contact details to who and to where you’ll deliver the consignments. We’ll have to put you through subsequent extra-sensory, martial-arts-empowered, and metaphysical exercises of external life-force energies to empower you for the projects ahead. After that, the rest of the members will be supporting you with their combined physical powers, which they have been trained to use. However, I don’t think that will be necessary, because the founder himself, from what Ms. Diana has told me, had long laid the mystical foundation for a time such as this.”

“Please explain what you mean by ‘mystical,’” Maya said.


Craig shrugged his shoulders. “All I can say about the mystical is that the vibratory thought patterns, which Ms. Diana has judiciously used to her advantage, deals with the telepathic decoding of the esoteric energy fields brought about by the elementary interaction with the male-female entity, the mystical god of the ALC, only to be fully manifested when the 39th Initiate, which is you, comes on board. That’s all I really know.

“In line with our beliefs, which are in agreement with the practices, we, the ALC, must ensure that we do all we can to vest this power upon you, because you’re the bedrock of all of our would-be successes, the fulfillment of Dr. Steven’s blue-print of events which the 39th Initiate, you, must do. In this way, we will become the most recognised juvenile confraternity member in the whole of Africa, and possibly the world. We will be training you on how to combine mystic and physical powers to your advantage. By virtue of your 39th identity in this organisation, you’re the only one qualified to use the powers. This success is all we need to push the ALC to its expected heights. That’s why we’re giving you the very best of TRUE EDUCATION.”

Maya didn’t say anything for a minute. She didn’t know how to respond to all of the emotions she was feeling.

Craig mistook her silence, thinking that she couldn’t figure all out. He smiled and said, “I know this is confusing to you, but in the course of time, you’ll understand everything better, by and by. This is just January 8; we still have lots of time on our side!”

Suddenly, excitement caught Maya. It all made sense to her now—especially the part about power. She beamed at Craig and nodded excitedly. This really was everything she’d ever wanted, and she reaffirmed to herself that she would do anything to get it.

Craig grinned back. “I think you understand now.”

She nodded excitedly and gestured to him to continue.


“Meeting Period: Twice a month, the first and last week, at the La Pierre Hotel – the initiation ground.” He looked up at her. “However, you’ll have to go every week because of the training you’re about to receive.”

Maya nodded her eyes bright. He continued: “Sharing Formula:

1)                10% of the proceeds will go to the informants: The ALC’s networks are connected to the various quarters where you will go to ply these trades. The informants themselves are not only linked with Ms. Diana, but they are the ones who communicate with her, to let her know when and where she should use you for various activities. The drug routes, pimp hang- outs, and stealing channels have our networks, and are in constant communication with us. Therefore, whatever is made from the proceeds, a tenth goes to them.

 

2)                20% of the proceeds go the men and women through their respective: At the helm of affairs are those who are next in command to their bosses. Though Ms. Diana is connected to them all, our informants need to work closely with the chiefs so that events will turn out in our favour.

 

3)                10% of the proceeds will go to me: Being the pivot of this organisation and by the powers vested upon by Ms. Diana, I have been made not only your superior but also deserve a ‘gift’ from the sweat of your brow.

 

4)                40% of the proceeds will go to the ALC: For the day-to- day running of the ALC, there must be enough finances to fill in the gap for any unforeseen realities in the present or future.


5)                15% of the proceeds will go to you: ‘A labourer,’ ‘deserves his wages.’ The ALC will be pleased to give you fifteen percent of the money because of the strength of effort you’ll put in to get the assignments done.

 

6)                5% of the proceeds will go to the other initiates: The ALC rewards loyalty. Hence, to all of our loyal initiates, we will give to them 5% to be shared amongst all the 38 of them.

“You see, the arrangements of the dates were mysteriously orchestrated by the founder, the late Dr. Steven, at a period when important events will be taking place. This is a mystery ONLY YOU can make simple and plain to all of us Ms. Diana is just working according to the set plan. It’s just that there are some powers working for her.”

Craig put the paper in Maya’s hands and stood up. He stretched and yawned, then said to her, “Well, enough of all that. From here on, you’ll have to concentrate on the manual, meditate on it on a day-in-and-day-out basis, and see what happens to you. I know for sure you will eventually find your destiny!”

Maya couldn’t help but admire his brilliance. “I never knew you were such a genius! Yet, you pretended as though you were nothing back in school!”

“Well,” responded Craig modestly, “I’d say it’s more of a steadfast dedication to the cause. Like the popular saying ‘give unto Caesar what’s Caesar’s and to God what’s God’s,’ I’ve successfully given mine now to my Alma Mata what they wanted from me, though at an average rating compared to yours. Hence, what you’ve seen so far! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

He bent down towards Maya and stroked her face gently. He whispered, “The day is ebbing away. Let’s spend quality time


together in the other room!”   Maya smiled to her consent, and they walked into their room together.

Maya knew Craig was correct; she’d seen the male-female entity taking possession of her during the initiation. However, this was a secret she decided to keep to herself.

Maya did all that was required. She was trained on how to use her extra-sensory skills to detect suspicious situations, her martial arts techniques to fight her way out in case of any attack, and fully worked on her ability to exercise her meta-physical powers, combining various life-force energies. Craig and Ms. Diana were active witnesses. Maya would come for training two days before the assignments, to see the differences between normal reactions for situations and what the right method was. This she would watch on a three-dimensional TV screen, while Ms. Diana operated the device, watching Maya’s reactions and instructing her. Soon, Maya learned the correct Yoga positioning so as to harness her physical energy. This in turn boosted the already mystical potentials in her: she would carry out such exercises for the following two hours, as the powers passed through her in the form of sound waves into her body.

She saw how the first assignment would go and what she would do to come out successfully. How Van Brussels, a highly intuitive man, would be taken down was unveiled. Other assignments followed suit. “Mission made easy” were the words uttered by Ms. Diana after the television screen unveiled what would happen and what Maya was to do. In due time, Maya was expected to fully accomplish all of the assignments.

But something unexpected happened…

Fully relaxed in his magnificent Durban mansion, at exactly 2:00PM on April 30, 2000, Van Brussels was ready to receive the last prospective student awardee. He had in the house some gold carats he’d brought back with him from the mining fields.


“The next student goes by the name Maya Isaac. She is in her final year at the Steven Beak college, and a student of Ms. Diana, your good friend,” Henry Yale told Mr. Brussels, as Maya waited in the reception area.

“Let her come in,” Mr. Brussels responded. “She is the last on the list of scholarship awardees.” He rubbed his eyes, exhausted. “It’s not easy attending to over three hundred students across the states for scholarship purposes.”

Yale nodded in understanding.

Brussels smiled. “I’ve known Ms. Diana for years, but I haven’t seen her for a long time. However, I know that she has a good reputation for education. Her students are indeed tested and trusted in their academics. So, for her choice of candidate to be Maya, then she is worth being given a scholarship award.” He looked down at the folder in front of him. “Interestingly, it’s like ‘saving the best for the last.’ I’m going to be adding Maya to my list

– the candidate chosen by one of my best friends!”

With a wave of his hand, Brussels instructed, “Bring her in, and then you can go, Henry. I will be with you later.”

Henry left the mansion without notifying Brussels. Van had no faintest idea of the imminent danger he was in—a deadly scheme planned by Henry, his chief security officer, and other security personnel. In fact, they all left the mansion’s vicinity, leaving only Maya and Brussels in the building. Only Maya knew, as she had seen the scenario played out before it would happen.

Van Brussels welcomed Maya and gestured for her to take a seat. He himself stood up, stretching.

“I’m a little bit uncomfortable right now,” he said apologetically. “I’ve been attending to over a hundred students for the past two hours. Please, let me take some seconds to pace back and forth. I need some exercise. Hope you don’t mind?”


“No problem, sir!” Maya replied, placing her hand in the bag she carried, in order to pull out the gun that would take him down. While waiting, Maya was muttering words from the manual she had been reading for weeks. She stared at the carats of gold placed on the table.

Twenty seconds later, Van Brussels returned to his living room sofa and prepared for this last interview. But before he could say a word, Maya pulled the gun from her bag and pointed it at Van Brussels’ head.

She commanded, “On your knees, Van Brussels, with your hands up in the air! Close your eyes. And if you think what I’m holding is a toy, you will leave me with no choice but to put some bullets into you! All I need are the carats of gold and one other thing…I will let you know.”

Seriously shocked, he fell to his knees. Panicked, he said, “What are you up to, Maya? I thought you were Ms. Diana’s best candidate. I’ve known her as someone who sends the best, and that’s not what I’m seeing right now!” Scared out of his wits, he babbled anything that came to his mind. “I don’t want to believe she sent you to me! This was not what I was told about you. Who are you, Maya? What do you want, young woman? Please, just drop your gun. I will give you more than what you want, far better than the scholarship package.”

He was sweating profusely, and could hardly stay up on his knees. “You are too young for what you are about to do! You can have the gold.” He tried to point to it, but Maya pushed the gun closer to him. He motioned toward the carats with his head. “That’s it on the table. But don’t kill me!!! You are too precious to be wasted. I believe in you. I know you were compelled by men and women of the underworld to do what you don’t want to do. You are a great woman! You are a young woman with great potentials. Don’t do what you’re about to do!”


Though moved, and with tears in her eyes, she couldn’t help the matt