The Quantum Prophecy - Ryan Matthew Harker (best management books of all time TXT) 📗

through the air.
“Hey! I’m talking to you,” the bear roared, not without a little irritation at this rude behavior.
Unsure of this animal’s bear-hood, the bear lumbered over to where the creature had landed, “Are you alright?” it asked and put its paws on the things chest for a better look. Bringing its head close to peer nearsightedly at its new friend, the bear inhaled deeply through its nose.
And that was when the memories all flooded back. Jerking its head up in surprise, the bear paused for only an instant before lumbering off and away from its playmate.
Confused anew by this turn of events, the bear wandered aimlessly through the forest for some while. Trying to make bear sense out of these new old feelings though, proved to be quite impossible and led the bear to decide that peace of mind could probably only be had from the strange two legged animal that had reawakened them. So as the night gave birth to a new day it found itself on the creatures trail as it meandered through the woods in the direction of the funny caves that lay at the center of the bear’s territory.
Now days later, the bear- bearing witness to events involving its strange friend and many other creatures of similar anatomy, and not really understanding these animals or their proceedings- did understand its only hope for peace of mind was about to be taken away. Allowing this to happen was unthinkably unbearable and so spurred this bear- mighty grizzly, queen of the North American forest- prepared itself to charge.

*****

The bear, seemingly, came from nowhere. Jeshux men did not have a chance. As the first thundering roar was heard it was already in their midst and by then it was too late.
His men scattered and lying in the dust Jeshux could only watch in disbelief, from his position among them, as the great beast gathered speed and attacked the four soldiers below.

*****

Candlelite saw the men on the hill were prone on the ground and seizing the opportunity, grabbed Max by his shirt and hauled him to his feet. The frail scientist never hesitated, as soon as he was on his feet he was off at a dead run for the Complex doors. Candlelite’s own retreat, however, was cut off by the sudden appearance of a two thousand pound grizzly bear sliding to a halt in front of him.
Feeling a tiny surge of fear travel the course of his spine, Candlelite’s eyes quickly locked with the bear’s. A low rumble from the animal’s larynx blew back the hair from his face and without fully understanding the logic, or lack thereof, Candlelite jumped to its back.
The bear, not even waiting for its rider to be seated, turned and headed in the direction of the wormhole. It did not know why it allowed this strange rider on its back. It also did not know why it was headed in the direction that it was. It only knew that the feelings blowing around in its brain were driving it harder than any instinct or animal urge ever had. The funny caves were little more than a blur to the bear’s perceptions as it flew by them. The trees and flowers were the same; a fantastic blend of smells all combined into the wonderful scent that was nature.
Candlelite could smell it also. From his precarious perch on top the bear he thought to himself, So much for stopping to smell the roses. He had to admit to himself that most humans never knew the pleasures their limited senses deprived them of. Can’t miss what you’ve never had, he supposed. That was one way in which this curse of the werewolf had been a blessing; he was able to experience God’s green earth in a way that most men would kill for. He grimaced at the thought. He had killed for it and nothing was worth that sense of murder.
The incredible sight of the wormhole suddenly interrupted Candlelite’s thoughts as his large, somewhat unconventional steed plunged directly through it.

*****

“Damn it! For Death’s sake, damn it all to hell!” Jeshux cursed loudly. “We were so close.”
“Don’t worry, sir. We tracked the beast’s movements and they’ve both stopped just on the other side of the Harashna.”
McAriicoys stood at Jeshux right side looking somewhat bewildered. This was not a look that he was accustomed to wearing and it did not sit well on his face. After all of their years together it was a look that Jeshux had never seen before and it filled him with concern.
“McAriicoys, are you all right?” Jeshux asked.
“Tip-top sir.”
“Are you sure?” Jeshux inquired and lightly placed his hand on his old friends shoulder.
“As sure as I can be after being witness to what just happened,” McAriicoys answered. Then in a low and solemn voice, “Can you even believe the exit that boy just made? In all of my years I’ve never seen anything like that before, never.”
“Don't forget yourself McAriicoys. That ‘boy’ is no boy at all. And we have a job to do,” Jeshux retorted as the humiliation of the situation reared its head again.
“Of course sir,” McAriicoys said humbly bowing his head.
Then in a gentler tone, “You are right my old friend, it was a truly remarkable escape,” Jeshux confided. “Now let us see what can be done about the old man, shall we?”

*****

When Candlelite awoke he was disoriented and had a splitting headache. The disorientation was quick to pass but the spikes of pain being driven through his skull and into his brain showed no signs of disappearing quickly. His every muscle screamed in pain and it felt as if his entire body had been stretched well beyond its natural limits. When he sat up it took all of the strength he possessed and his first attempts at standing were a dismal failure. Once on his feet he went to rub the fog from his eyes, only to find that to do so felt like he was rubbing them with sandpaper.
Finally up and feeling somewhat himself again he began to turn and take in his surroundings. There was no sign of the bear that had carried him through the wormhole but Candlelite was stunned to discover that directly behind him, in its place, was the naked figure of a beautiful young lady. She was lying still and unconscious on the polished stone beneath his feet. Candlelite rushed to her side full of concern and curiosity. Kneeling he took her pulse and finding it beat strong and steady, stepped back for a closer inspection.
She was gorgeous. He guessed her age at somewhere between twenty and twenty-five and with a height of about five and a half feet tall she was the earthly manifestation of an angel. Silky red locks shimmering in the sunlight cascaded across milky white skin to her full nipples. Her perfect breasts were no more than two nice handfuls. A flat and well-shaped stomach led to her legs, between which he could barely see the beginnings of a light brown patch of soft, downy pubic hair. Her legs were smooth and flawless all of the way to the ankles. Her smallish feet stopped with dainty toes that gave Candlelite an almost overwhelming desire to start nibbling on them. It was definitely love at first sight, there was no way around it.
Satisfied that the girl was going to be all right Candlelite set out to explore his strange new surroundings. He found that they were on top of what appeared to be an immense tower. Going to the edge and peering down he discovered that they seemed to be at least a mile above the ground. It was just like something out of a book. He figured the base of the tower must be enormous in order to support the structure for he measured the diameter of the top deck at about fifty paces.
He was just deciding whether or not to begin the descent down the flight of stairs he had stumbled across when he thought he heard something, a human sounding noise. Looking over he saw his beautiful new companion appeared to be waking. Excitement overwhelmed him as he hurried across the stones to her side.
He reached her just as her eyes fluttered open. Remembering the way he had felt upon his own awakening, Candlelite bit back his flood of questions until she had a chance to recuperate a bit. Finally she seemed to notice his presence and looking up at him she managed to whisper, “What… happened?”
Her voice, although quiet, carried clearly and was like the tinkling of tiny golden bells. And her eyes, her eyes, Candlelite thought, were the most extraordinary shade of green that he had ever seen.
“I’m not entirely sure,” he finally managed to say. “I was riding on the back of a grizzly bear and then I woke up here with you.”
She closed her eyes and smiled what was quite possibly the most incredible smile that Candlelite had ever laid eyes on.
“Ah,” was all that she said
Candlelite waited a moment and then ventured a question of his own, “Um, ‘Ah’ what?”
“I remember now,” she replied cryptically.
“What do you remember?” Candlelite prompted.
The girl’s eyes opened again and squinting in the bright sunlight she attempted to push into a sitting position. Seeing her struggle Candlelite offered his support and together she was able to sit up.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling up into his face.
Her scent was intoxicating and with her clinging in his arms Candlelite barely managed a murmured, “You’re welcome.”
Letting him go she smiled again and said, “I remember thinking that you were to be my salvation.”
“Me?” Candlelite asked somewhat taken aback. “Why me?”
“Because,” she said softly and then softer still, “Because you are like me.”
“I am?” he asked becoming confused.
“Yes,” she answered.
“And how is that?” Candlelite wondered curiously.
She smiled at him again and then, lightly brushing the backs of her fingers along the length of his jaw, she said, “Because I am the bear.”

*****

Max was scared, scared for his life. The bear had come out of nowhere and Candlelite, Candlelite pushed him and then just disappeared!
He kept moving, no thoughts in his head, just kept on trucking. Finally he was through the door and home free, or so he thought.
He ran down a hall, through a door and into what had once been the ladies quarters. He was instantly surrounded by ruffles and enveloped with silk. Almost blinding him with their soft frilliness, these garments momentarily confused him and he went stumbling into a bench. Cursing as he bounced off a set of lockers the old scientist refused to go down. Using his momentum to carry him through the room he hit the door on the other side and slid crazily into a tiled hallway with arched sun windows down the entire length of it. Blinded anew by the glare of the sun Max slammed hard into another wall and almost broke his shoulder. He ran down the sunlit hallway for all that he was worth his shadow trailing behind him like he was sure his pursuers were.
Then he was back in his main command post, his watch center. With the locks thrown he finally felt a little safer. The walls and doors of this room were designed specifically to withstand a major assault from without. If at any time, someone decided they wanted control of the wormhole for themselves, the people of the Complex had wanted to insure that it remain unattainable and totally in their hands.
Max turned on the security monitors. Within a matter of moments he had a visual on all of the soldiers. He