Valley of the Gods

Standing on the balcony looking out over his family’s large estate known as Aspen Falls, Cody Montgomery was lost in his thoughts. He felt the cool breeze on his face, which had slowly swept its way across the valley floor, as was quite common during the early September nights near Colorado Springs. In the mornings, a low-hanging fog would completely cover the ground in a thin layer of milky white mist. “Summer is passing way too quickly,” he thought, “and now this.” He banged his fist on the railing and his face showed a sullen look of dismay.

The sound of a door closing and footsteps coming up behind him snapped him out of his thoughts. Instantly he knew that it was his twin brother, Cameron who had just come up from the floor below. Cody had a deep connection with all of his brothers, but Cameron was special to him because they were twins. Cameron was also the peaceful one. He was always trying to make everyone feel more involved and never wanted anyone to leave a discussion angry, even if what had been said seemed harsh. As Cody turned and watched his twin walk into the room, the wind whipped past the white French doors of the balcony he was standing on, and the curtains gently blew in the breeze.

Cody stood motionless at the railing as Cameron slowly walked over to him with an understanding look on his face. Being identical twins, they were both very large in stature, standing six feet three inches tall. There was always a sparkle in their eyes and a smile that had a softening effect on anyone who looked at them. Their wavy, blond hair that curled slightly at the ends made them both a wonder to behold.

Cameron hated when there was tension in the house, but he especially hated when it involved Cody. Cody was always so hard-headed, and when he got an idea into his head, hell would freeze over before he would change his mind.

“Come on now, Cody,” Cameron consoled his brother. “You know that Father just does not want to see anything happen to you. After all, we are his children, and he just wants to make sure we are safe. Especially when it involves traveling halfway around the world, on some crazy half-brained idea, you know how Father gets.”

“I know that Cam,” Cody said with dismay, “but I only wanted a chance to explore and to go on one exciting adventure and this, this… .” Pausing he turned away and looked out again over the estate, staring at the waterfall that broke through the canyon walls. He felt bad that he had argued with his father, but at the same time, something inside told him that he needed to go on this trip.

“This seemed like what you were looking for,” Cameron said finishing Cody’s thought.

At that moment, Cody spun around with such energy and grabbed Cameron so quickly it startled him. “Yes!” Cody exclaimed so loudly that Cameron was sure the whole house heard it. “Haven’t you ever just wanted to do something so exciting that you felt it in every fiber of your being?”

Staring at him for a moment, Cameron saw the passion in Cody's eyes. Suddenly, he was reminded of last year when they went on one of Cody's crazy adventures. He couldn’t even count the times that they almost looked into the very face of death. His mind returning to the present, Cameron offered, “What about the whitewater trip we took last year.” Pausing he hoped his words would bring forth the memories in Cody's mind. “Remember how many times our raft nearly went under and flipped because of the pull of the river and the rapids?”

Cody let go and calmed down a little, but he was always so passionate about things, it sometimes got the better of him. He knew that Cameron, as always, was just trying to be sensible and realistic. Sighing deeply, Cody closed his eyes and searched his feelings. He knew what he desired to do was dangerous and both Cameron and his father didn’t want him to get entangled in anything his brother Joshua had cooked up. He still had this deep, overwhelming feeling that this was right and he could not turn away from this. The strangest thing was, he didn’t even know why.

Opening his eyes, his conviction was rejuvenated. He began to motion with his hands as he talked. Walking back and forth on the balcony, he tried to explain why he felt the way he did. “Yes, that is what I am talking about. The kind of energy that could be felt in the air that day, but this trip is more than that.” He stopped pacing and looked at his twin, as Cameron let out a deep sigh.

In that moment, Cody's heart weighed heavily, and a sorrowful look crossed his face. On the one hand, he didn’t like causing Cameron or anyone else for that matter, any trouble. He knew how much Cameron hated confrontation. On the flip side, he also knew he had to do this. Turning away from his brother, he walked to the edge of the balcony and placed his hand onto the cold, marble railing. Looking down to his feet, he kicked a small pebble off the balcony between the pillar supports. Looking back up to the horizon, he gazed over the trees, and his attention returned to the raging waterfall. “I just feel this is something I need to do,” he said softly.

Cameron looked at him with sympathy; he knew that Cody liked adventure. Even when they were younger and growing up, his twin always wanted to go exploring, and Cameron always ended up trying to be the voice of reason. But eventually, Cody always got his way, and they were off exploring. No matter what predicaments they both got into, Cody always managed to get them out. In his mind, he heard himself say, come on, Cameron, give him a chance. He has never failed to support you when you wanted to do something. Nodding his head to himself, he looked back at Cody. Still, running his brothers proposal through his mind he thought, Well, Cody always was a good salesman. Cameron walked over to his twin.

Speaking softly, he said, “If this is really what you want to do… I suppose if we both go and discuss it with Father, we may be able to talk him into letting us take the time off from I & R. You know convincing him this trip to Europe is going to be a good thing, is going to be harder than pulling teeth. Especially with all our responsibilities at I & R and we don’t want to leave father in a lurch. He also simply does not trust Joshua, not even a little bit,” he added. “You know how he worries, and he doesn’t want to see us get hurt,” Cameron said finally in his sweetest and softest voice possible, looking straight into Cody’s eyes.

“I know,” Cody said.

“Well then, it’s settled,” Cameron replied happily. “Tomorrow we will both go and talk to him again and find out what he will say now. Father has never really tried to stand in our way when it was something we had truly wanted to do.”

Cameron turned and walked off the balcony and back through the bedroom to the door. Reaching it, he turned and took one last look at his identical twin.

“I will see you in the morning then?” he asked.

Cody turned and looked into his twin’s still encouraging face. Nodding his head once, there was an unspoken language between them, and Cameron could tell that although Cody was still upset with everything that happened that night, he had found some comfort from Cameron's support. Staring at Cody a moment longer, Cameron said, “Sleep well.” Then turning on his heels he disappeared into the hall.

As he left Cody alone in his room he thought. He knew Cody always had an adventurous spirit and wanted to wander and to seek new adventures. He, on the other hand, had always been the sensible one, not too spontaneous, always wanting to look before he leaped. He always thought it was amazing that Cody, being such a free spirit, didn’t get himself into more trouble than he did. Thinking silently to himself, he was reminded of Psalms: 91:11, “For he shall give his angels charge over thee.” In Cody's case, this really seemed to be the truth.

Still, there was a deep haunting feeling inside him. Cameron too felt there was some reason why they should be going on this trip with Joshua, but at the same time he knew that somehow this might turn out bad. Struggling with his feelings, he tried to convince himself that things would work out, but he was emotionally torn. He wanted to support Cody, but his heart told him that if he did, he was going to be in for a real painful ride this time.

* * *

Back on the balcony Cody stood silently contemplating what was occurring in his life at this moment. Slowly, his eyes rose from the ground and into the reflection of the waterfall in the glass window above the doors, as a cold wind blew against his back. “Aspen Falls has never looked more beautiful than now,” Cody thought, and as he turned his gaze back over his family’s large estate, a tiny sense of peace filled his heart.

Cody’s emotions were mixed and confused. All of his life he had been blessed with the talent of being a natural leader. Although he had come from a very wealthy family, his life had not been without hardships. It seemed that time and time again situations had arisen that had tried Cameron and him both mentally and physically. As such, both he and Cameron had learned with their father’s guidance to rise to the occasion and take the bull by the horns.

As Cody’s mind wandered through his past experiences the night grew late. He knew in his heart, things would work themselves out as they always did. Still, his resolve was evermore instilled in him as he said his prayers that night. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt this is what was meant to be.

* * *

Shayne Montgomery, a very prominent archaeologist in his sixties, owed his family’s financial success to lucrative naval contracts with the government. The Montgomery family’s business empire amassed so much fortune over the years, it had ultimately given all of them the freedom to pursue their own interests. Shayne, seeing the growth potential of his family’s ever-increasing business endeavors, created a parent company and named it Aspen Imagination and Reality. Aspen Imagination and Reality or “I & R”, as it was sometimes referred to, was the crowning jewel of the Montgomery Empire. It was an extremely large corporation of varied technologies and services. It handled special effects for many movie and television shows produced all around the world, but it also governed all of the Montgomery family’s other business interests as well.

This particular evening, Shayne Montgomery was sitting in his study, in one of the many chairs that were located near a large fireplace, where the fire was crackling and popping as it danced across the logs. He had his head back and had his eyes closed, because he was trying to calm down from the argument that he had just had with his son, Cody. There was a gentle knock on the door, and his wife, Barbara, entered and walked across the floor of the magnificent room that was filled from floor to ceiling with works of art from all over the world. No matter how many times she came into her husband’s study, she was always taken aback by its absolute beauty. The twelve foot stained-glass windows and the marvelous paintings on the walls of different religious scenes were done by only the best painters. There was also beautiful wood work all over the room done by only the country’s best carpenters and craftsmen. The black marble floor and eighteenth century furniture gave the room a feeling of nobility, status, and honor.

Shayne, looking up from the fire turned his attention toward her as she entered. Barbara even though she was in her sixties was in great shape. Standing only five feet four, she had a very petite figure, with long, fiery red hair and emerald green eyes. His eyes returned to the flames that were dancing across the logs in the fireplace, as his mind returned to his sons.

She took a seat in a chair next to her husband and sat quietly for several minutes. There was great tension in the air, looking at her husband, she felt both his anger and love for his son. She knew his children always meant the world to him, and she also knew he could not stand to see them get hurt in any way. She knew his love for his children ran deep within his soul and he would do anything for them.

“Cody has always been a free spirit, dear,” she said, trying to break the ice.

“Yes, I know,” he replied, with slight agitation.

“And you know, he would not do anything without your approval,” she continued.

“Yes, I know…,” he replied again, sitting up in his chair and looking at her with an expression of frustration, “but there is something wrong about this trip he wants to take to Europe. And of all things, he wants to go with Joshua!” he added with dismay. “I can’t put my finger on it yet, but I feel,” Shayne paused a moment, and looking down, he knew feel was not the correct word. Turning back to her, he continued, “No, I know something is terribly wrong about this.”

“You know Cody will not leave without your support, Dear, especially with all the work they have been taking on at I & R.” Barbara said with a smile. “And if you do give your approval, Cameron will be right there along with him.”

“Yes, I know,” Shayne replied again. Then, he added with a quiet laugh to himself as an afterthought, “Those two could not be any closer to each other if they were Siamese twins.”

Barbara smiled at the slightly uplifted spirit of her husband and said, “You know they are grown young men and are able to take care of themselves and each other.”

“Yes, I know,” he replied thoughtfully. “Still, there is simply something not right about this. On top of it all, like you said, there are so many projects that are going on at I & R right now, I just can’t believe they would want to run off to Europe.”

“Well, why don’t you take some time to think about it and decide in the morning when you are calmer and collected,” she advised.

Shayne nodded in agreement. He would give some thought to the idea, but he did not like the thought of letting his sons go off halfway around the world, especially with their brother, Joshua, who didn’t have the brains God gave a goose.

Joshua, one of Shayne’s older sons, had always been reckless. He was always the one in trouble. His biggest problem was he never listened to good advice, always thinking that he knew how to do things. Shayne always tried to take extra time in explaining things to him and why things were the way they were, but Joshua always seemed to let things go in one ear and out the other. Still, Shayne’s overwhelming love for his children never let him give up on them, even if their behavior made it seem impossible, and Joshua was a prime example. And, even though he loved Joshua to death, sometimes he wanted to kill him.

Barbara, changing the subject to lighten the mood, said, “By the way, while you were arguing with Cody, I was on the phone with Becky. She called and told me what time her flight is supposed to arrive tomorrow and that she is bringing a friend home with her. She told me she met her on the shoot,” Barbara continued, “and even though they’ve only known each other a mere eight weeks, she feels like a sister to her. I thought that I would go and pick them up when they arrive and then stop by Imagination and Reality. Jeffery said that he has some very important matters to discuss with one of us,” she continued. “However, due to your lecture tomorrow, I told him I would stop by instead of you.”

“Rebecca is already done with her photo shoot in the Caribbean?” Shayne asked, with a surprised expression on his face. “I thought it was supposed to take two months, and she’s only been gone for…” Shayne’s thoughts trailed off, as he counted the weeks in his head.

“It’s been about eight weeks, dear,” she said with a smile.

“God, where did the time go?”

“Well, you have been busy with your preparations for your lecture, and also, you did not get back from Egypt until about two weeks after she had already left,” she reminded him.

“It just doesn’t seem like she left that long ago,” he replied, still not quite sure how he lost so much time.

They sat with each other for a while longer, gazing at the fire. After visiting for a spell, they retired to their room and prepared for a peaceful night’s sleep. Little did they know the next day would prove to be one of the most trying of their lives.