The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) by Matthew M. Johns Read Free Book Online Page A

learned how to linger here. They began waylaying
angels, and the war between Heaven and Hell was soon fought openly here. God
saw the Void’s ultimate goal of holding the Crossroads and destroying all
creation. So He opened the Ways to his chosen tribes. The Tribe of Man was
called through Jacob when he saw the gateway open at the place he would call
Bethel. However, it would be several generations before any human entered into
this realm.”
    David
looked at Eve, who was dumbfounded. The he said, “That is perhaps the best
explanation I can give you.”
    Everybody
was trying to digest this information when Deborah asked, “Different species .
. . are you talking about aliens?”
    “Alien to
what you know, yes,” the Beagle replied. “Though each of these species bear
many differences and similarities, they share one common factor: they were created
in the Way of God like humans. They have also been endowed with freewill, and
can choose to follow their Creator or not.”
    Before
any more could be said, David interrupted. “Now you have more to think about.
Any more questions will have to wait. We have a few more miles to cover before
we lose the light. Those things after us move in the night, and we need to be
inside before they get moving again.”
    Though
the children were tired and still had questions, they needed no more motivation
to get moving again than the reminder of the riders who had trapped them the
day before. With renewed eyes they began looking around as they traveled up the
road after their father. For the first time, they studied the bordering woods
and began to see species of trees they weren’t able to identify. A few sharp
eyes even spotted birds not of Earth. The fact that they were not home started
to sink in. They mulled over the fact that they were being thrust into some
place beyond anything they had ever known or dreamed of.
    The late
afternoon shadows were creating a deepening darkness on the dirt path the Koens
had been traveling for many hours. Several of the older kids had the smallest
ones clinging to their backs or riding on their shoulders. They were all
getting tired, but a creeping fear of the coming night kept them all quietly
trudging along.
    Jeremiah
was the first to smell the wood smoke. He whispered to Mel, who was carrying
him on his back, “Do you smell food?” Mel stopped, took in a deep breath, and
caught the faint scent of burning wood.
    “We are
close now.” Mel jumped at the sound of his father’s voice so close at hand. He
readjusted Jeremiah, who had nearly fallen off his back. Mel looked at his
father in surprise; he had not even heard him approaching.
    David
smiled at Mel, “You’ll pick-up the skill of observation and stealth quickly
enough. I did at your age.” David then turned to the rest of the children who
had gathered around. “Oswald’s Farm is a way station for travelers and a
meeting hall for the area farmers. It is the largest place for days in any
direction and marks the beginning of the Sixth Kingdom’s vast farm lands. We
can put up there tonight, eat, talk, and rest. In the morning, we can gather
supplies for the next leg of our journey. I’m proud of all of you for not
complaining and trusting me even under these strange circumstances. I wish I
could tell you it would get easier from here, but I’ve always been honest with
you and I don’t want to give you false hope. Now come on; refreshing drinks and
hearty food are specialties of Oswald’s Farm.”
    Less than
five minutes of walking brought the children out from the wood-lined pathway to
farmland that stretched as far as the eye could see, save a large farm complex
in the near distance. As the group got closer, they could make out a large
three story house, two long barns and half a dozen silos. Fragrant smoke poured
from a large chimney on the far side of the house.
    The
fields were full of lush growth which easily came up to Dinah’s head. The field
to the left of the group grew a