Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER ONE

Words: 1967

Just a few days more than a week after the incident in Nepal,
Jack Canyon had made his way from Nepal and through China to
Tokyo, where he stopped off for to rest. However, he found
himself in a local bar drinking sake, which was making him
sick. He had asked for something other than Nihonshu, which
was the fermented rice drink referred to as sake, though no
one seemed to care what the American man wanted. He slammed
down the small shot glass onto the bar. "Uno mas," he shouted
in Spanish, though he wasn't really sure if anyone understood
him.

"You're going to kill yourself," a voice called out from
behind him. "You shouldn't be drinking so heavily, my son."

"The Irish accent says you're a long way from home," Jack said
lifting up his next shot of Nihonshu with shaking hands.

"Are there troubles so bad you need to drown them?" The man
continued.

"And the constant talk about my drinking says you're a man of
God," Jack stated as he threw back the drink and slammed the
glass on the top of the bar again.

"Aye, my son, I am a priest," the man spoke. "Now, tell me
what ails you."

"Ale. . . I need ale!" Jack shouted, feeling almost drunk.

The man touched Jack's shoulder only to have Jack jerk away.

"Go away," Jack warned. "Haven't you heard that God isn't who
you think he is?"

"I have heard that," the man spoke, sitting down next to Jack.

Jack smiled when he looked over at the man, who was Logan
Scott.

"I thought I might find you here," Logan spoke. "Find what
you were looking for, though?"

"Not yet," Jack replied. "I think I'll keep looking until I
find it."

"I don't think a pretty sandy blonde headed British girl is
going to be in that tiny glass, Jack."

Jack didn't speak, instead he glanced at Logan and then back
at the glass. He knew the man was right.

"If you want to stay here and die, be my guest, but Tanga and
I are ready to go our separate ways," Logan told him. "In
fact, he is already gone. Now, if you want to do more
archaeological work, then come with me. If not, then I guess
I'll carry the torch on."

Jack looked over at Logan Scott for a moment in thought and
sat back from the bar. "What kind of work?" Jack asked out
of curiosity.

"I met this Japanese woman yesterday," Logan explained. "She
was asking me all about you. Her name is Yuriko
Mushanaokoji."

"That's a mouthful," Jack said. "What exactly is it that
she's wanting?"

"Some kind of stones," Logan replied. "I told her you would
meet her today and go over the details."

At that moment, two men in suits entered the bar and made
their way to the two American men.

"Mr. Canyon," one of them spoke with a thick Japanese accent.
"Please come with us."

Jack turned around and examined the men and then looked at
Logan once more. "Know these guys?" He took note of Logan
shaking his head before turning his attention to the two men.
"I'm sorry. You must've just missed him."

"We know you are Jack Canyon," the man said. "Come with us.
Now."

"We haven't even been introduced properly," Jack stated. "I
can't walk out of here with a complete stranger, now can I?"

"I am Hiroshi Fukushima, and this is my partner Kin
Mizoguchi," the man told them.

"Life partners?" Jack wondered aloud.

The two men stood with the same expression on their face as
they had when they entered. Through out the conversation they
had remained nonchalant.

"What are you guys, Japanese versions of FBI and CIA agents
with no sense of humor?" Jack asked. Then he sighed. "Who
do you work for?"

"We work for Ms. Yuriko Mushanaokoji," Kin stated.

"I like how he says that with no problem at all," Jack said to
his sidekick. "So, Kin and. . . Barbie?"

"Hiroshi," the man said.

"Right, so, let's go see this mystery woman," Jack said
hopping off the stool. "Is she hot?"

"What happened to Sophia?" Logan asked as he walked along with Jack.

"Aren't I allowed to ask?" Jack questioned his partner.

"You're drunk," Logan realized. "You really don't need to be
doing this if you're not sober."

"I feel fine," Jack argued. "I feel like Superman."

"Well, if you feel like leaping off buildings because you think you can fly, count me out," Logan replied as they exited the bar.

The sun blazed throughout the entire city of Tokyo, and it nearly blinded Jack. The exterior differed dramatically from the bar, which had no windows. The dark, smoky atmosphere didn't cause massive migraines.

Jack suddenly stopped as he saw a long black car through his fingers, as he used his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. "Classy."

"Get in," Hiroshi told him as he opened the door.

Jack and Logan both filed into the car after Kin. Hiroshi was the last to get in. There must have been another guy, a driver.

"So, when do I get to meet this Yuriko," Jack asked holding his head in pain. Trying to remember the Japanese names was giving him a headache.

"Soon," Hiroshi stated abruptly.

"Take these," Kin ordered as he tossed a small, unmarked bottle to the hung over archaeologist.

Jack examined the bottle for a moment. "What the hell is this, some kind of truth drug or perhaps poison?"

"Neither, Mr. Canyon," Kin answered. "It's a drug to help with the migraines."

Jack continued looking at the plain, blank bottle before opening it. He was going to have to do something. If it killed him, it was better than the throbbing pain in his head. He took out two pills and tossed them into his mouth and swallowed them without water. He put the top back on and threw the bottle back to Kin.

All four men kept silent as the car moved through the streets of Tokyo. Jack's vision was fixated on the passing buildings as the two Japanese men kept a close eye on Jack.

Logan had met Yuriko Mushanaokoji just days before and had not needed this type of security. Maybe these men, this organization they were with, knew all about Jack's habits.

Jack leaned over close to Logan so that he could whisper to him. "I think we should've tried getting out of this."

Logan gave his friend an odd look as if he just told him a big secret. Though, at the same time, he was confused.

"These guys are obviously bad news," Jack continued. "I mean, they're so secretive about everything, except their names. Then again, are we sure they're using their real names?"

"Jack, give it a rest," Logan warned him.

"We're here," one of the men said. Since most Japanese men sounded the same to Jack at this point, he wasn't sure which one spoke.

Jack took in a deep breath and then released it slowly. He noticed Tokyo Bay not far from where he stood. It was hard to see between the lot of warehouses that pervaded the area. "Where is she?"

"This way," Kin motioned.

Jack proceeded cautiously with Logan at his side. "I get this sinking feeling that they're going to toss us into Tokyo Bay."

"In here," Kin stated as he pushed open a door on the side of a warehouse. He followed the two Americans into the building.

Jack stopped and scanned the entire place. There were few boxes stored within and it was dim. A figure in the middle of the room turned to face Jack. She was a radiant beauty, which didn't get past Jack. Though, there was an underlying mischievous air about the woman. That made Jack very cautious.

"Doctor Canyon," she said as she stepped closer to him.

"It's just Jack, or mister," he corrected her.

"Mister. Canyon. I was under the impression that one who taught at a university must have a doctorate of some kind."

Jack gave a cocky grin. "I'm much more interesting that way. Though, with your extensive research on my colleagues and I, I figured you knew everything about me."

"Some things have eluded us," Yuriko stated coldly, like she was disappointed. "However, the important facts are well aware to us."

"And you speak such perfect English," Jack mocked, scoffed really.

"I am a well educated woman, Mr. Canyon," she told him blatantly.

"I don't doubt that one bit. What do you want with me? Is it my dashing good looks, my breeding capabilities, or my brain? Maybe all three?"

"Americans have such a need to show off their sense of humor," she replied.

"And you don't have one," Jack said. "Let's just get down to business."

"Fine," she stated as she started pacing the floor. "I understand you have been doing research on the legend of the wiccan stones."

Chills literally raced across Jack's entire body. He was shocked beyond words. He simply stood there staring at the lovely Japanese woman for a few minutes. "Very thorough. . ."

"Now, tell me what you know of these stones," she spoke, stopping in front of him and folding her arms across her chest.

"If you want them, then you must know what they do," Jack said trying to delay things.

"Tell me now!" She urged him. "I don't have time for games."

It was the first sign of hostility Jack had actually seen to prove his theory that these people were not friendly.

"Fine," Jack responded. "During the dawn of witchcraft, there were four sisters who had a dear friend. Apparently, this friend was taken by a man in the village. This man was a deviant. He lived alone, and had no children nor a wife. It is believed that she was raped. Somehow, she escaped and made her way back to the village, where she met up with the four sisters. After telling her story to the sisters, the four of them used elements and witchcraft to create four stones."

Logan was closely listening to Jack's story. He somehow wondered if there was a way for him to make money.

"The four stones represent fire, water, earth, and air. Separate they were nothing. Together, they were all-powerful. The sisters began to hunt down the rapist, but he had found the victim before she could go to local authority. He killed the girl and stashed her body in his cabin in the woods. When the sisters arrived, they used their stones to kill the man and bring back their friend."

"So, resurrection is the power behind these stones?" Yuriko asked.

"Yeah, but its very dangerous," Jack answered. "After seeing the power of their stones in killing this man, they sent their stones to separate ends of the earth. Four separate places far enough apart so that the stones could never be used again, or found, for that matter."

"But you think you've found them," she stated.

"I do," Jack replied sadly. "At least two of them. Now, why do you want these stones?"

"I don't think that concerns you, Mr. Canyon."

"If you want my help, it does," Jack told her coldly. "I'm not taking any action unless I know this is not going to end with the world's destruction or something."

"These stones aren't that powerful. You know that."

"So, what do you want with them?" Jack repeated.

"I'm going to resurrect the most fierce and ancient warrior of Japan to lead us into the dawn of a new era, where Japan shall rise to power. I shall be the hand the smites the great powers of the world. I shall be the right hand of first emperor of the world."