by R L Delaney
Brother Josebius and Brother Perpetiël spent most of their time praying, and although Justin and Amy had joined them a few times, Justin was certain he was not wired to be a monk.
Thus he and Amy spent their time reading books and playing UNO with Father Gálvez, as it turned out to be the priest's favorite card game.
Then Officer Frost returned.
And, to Justin's relief, he brought Balthazar.
It was already dark when he rang the bell, but he brought more than Balthazar. He brought important news. They all gathered around the table in Father Gálvez' kitchen.
First Justin wanted to know if Frost had been able to see his parents. Frost hesitated, but when Justin urged him on he nodded. "They are all right, Justin. Except, they have been exposed to Sternfoot's chemicals. They faithfully sniff their brown, little pouches, just like Captain Devonshire, and right now they are clearly under the spell of the enemy."
Justin's body stiffened. "And what about my Uncle, Harrison Ames? Any news about him?"
Constable Frost shrugged his shoulders. "Not really. He's still in hiding. Mr. Carl Billows is looking for him with a sniffer dog."
Justin shook his head. Things couldn't be any worse. They had to do something.
"And what else?" Brother Perpetiël asked.
"It was just as you said," Frost began. "The moment I returned to the office, Captain Devonshire handed me one of those brown pouches too, and ordered me to hang it around my neck." He shook his head in disgust. "I flushed it away in the bathroom. Everyone at the police station has one, and everyone is constantly sniffing it. I keep pulling my fake one out and keep sniffing it too, so they don't suspect anything."
"Anything else?"
Frost's face darkened. "They are preparing to take over the town."
"How?"
"The town is in total confusion."
Brother Perpetiël frowned. "Why?"
Officer Frost bit his lower lip. "I guess it all started with Amy's classmates. They are the main ones that carry the confusion into town."
Amy tilted her head. "Why, Mr. Frost? How do they do that?"
Frost shook his head. "I am not sure, but they seem to be the main ones through which it has started."
"It's easy," Brother Perpetiël exclaimed. "The Shadow Walkers knew what they were doing. They targeted Amy's classmates, stuffed them full of Desastrotrax, and made them the source of confusion. Their rebellious attitude spreads through them like a plague, and affects everyone they come in contact with."
Frost nodded. "It's very true. They seem to be the most rebellious. Not one of them is behaving normal. They no longer seem to be following any rules, and the corruption has spread. First it affected their parents, but then, they too caught the disease and spread it to their colleagues, neighbors or just to people in the shops and on the street." Frost's voice faltered as he relived some of the things he had seen. "A negative spirit has come over our town, and is virtually affecting everybody. There are fights between fathers and sons, daughters have run away from home…, young ones do as they please. Even the adults have begun fighting each other."
"How do you mean?" Father Gálvez asked.
Frost licked his lips. "This morning I saw Joe Mapleborn fight with Steve MacMillan. They had an argument over nothing in particular, but their discussion became so heated they ended up knocking each other down."
"And Captain Devonshire?" Father Gálvez asked. "How does he react?"
"What do you think?" Frost curled his lip. "He is, of course, fully in Sternfoot's camp. The word is now that some sort of evil disease has entered our town, but that Mr. Sternfoot has a cure. People are scared."
Brother Perpetiël nodded. He seemed almost pleased. "Of course," he said, "the cure is more Desastrotrax. The time is almost ripe. It goes exactly as we expected." He glanced at Justin and said with a serious expression, "I know waiting is hard for you, Justin. But it won't be long now." Then he turned back to Frost. "I bet they claim Desastrotrax is the cure for all their ills?"
Office Frost looked up, surprise on his face. "Yes… how did you know? There's going to be an open-air meeting."
Everyone pricked up their ears. "Why?"
"I overheard Sternfoot giving out orders to our Captain to organize a major open-air meeting in which he will explain the rescue plan."
"A rescue plan?" Amy asked.
The policeman nodded. He stuck his hand under his coat and pulled out a paper. "Read this. They are sticking these announcements up all over town." He handed the paper to Father Gálvez.
"Read it Father," Justin asked.
Father Gálvez cleared his throat and read, his voice clear but trembling.
EMERGENCY
Dreadful disease affects the brains of our citizens.
Doctors do not know what to do.
City Hall doesn't know what to do.
The Government doesn't know what to do.
But Richard Sternfoot does.
Come for solutions to Martyr's Square.
Tuesday the fifth at 2 o’clock
Help is on the way
Save our children- Save yourself- Save each other
Free counseling, healing and restoration.
The Sternfoot way is the best way…
It's the only way.
Brother Perpetiël wrinkled his nose. "That's it. They are going to make their big move. They will get as many citizens together in one spot, hand out these sickening little pouches to all that attend, unleash great clouds of Desastrotrax and virtually take over the whole town."
"But… that's terrible," Justin cried out. "We must stop them, Mr. Perpetiël. We must. We cannot wait even a minute longer." Justin felt his heart pumping. The thought of the evil Shadow Walkers overtaking the town overwhelmed him.
Brother Perpetiël's words were surprisingly calm. "And stopping them we will, young Justin. We will strike exactly at the right time. Not one minute too late and not one too early." He nodded at Justin and his face radiated with a deep sense of peace. "Remember, Justin. Nothing can withstand the power of the Elixir."
Carl Billows was no longer unconscious.
At first he let out several moans, but then, when he realized he was tied up and could barely move he let out a loud curse, and Prophet and Harrison rushed out of the camper. Both men were well aware of the incredible strength that could come over the Shadow Walkers once they got in touch with the inner forces that guided them.
Billows was awake, but still too dazed to do anything else besides cursing. The sniffer dog was awake too, but the animal seemed so scared of what had happened to him that he refused to even move an inch.
When Billows saw Prophet and Harrison approach, a scowl came over his face. "You two are going to pay for this," he hissed. "Let me go and maybe we will have mercy on you."
"Mercy?" Harrison couldn't help but chuckle. "You don't even know the meaning of the word. I would not even trust you with a penny."
Billows' eyes flashed. "Soon the whole town is ours. When they all come to our meeting we will make our move, and then you will be hunted down like a coyote. You can still join us voluntarily."
Harrison frowned. "What meeting?"
Billows looked up; a smug, victorious grin on his face. "Worried, huh? The meeting which we will hold tomorrow. After that meeting we will fully control Dewsbury. All of it. Resistance from people like you will be useless." He shook his head and spat on the ground. "Dewsbury, Dewsbury, we have gathered you like fat chickens in the henhouse, and the time has come for the wolves to gather you for the slaughter." He laughed as he spoke the words and his teeth flickered in the sun.
Harrison and Prophet glanced at each other, not knowing what to think of Billows' statement, but their musings were interrupted by a soft yelp. Wilson wanted help, but was too scared to move.
Prophet, careful so as to not step into one of his own traps, walked over to the dog.
"Careful, Prophet," Harrison called out as he raised his brows. "That dog is
Wilson. He's mean as a rattler, especially to people he doesn't know." He pressed his lips together, waiting for the inevitable attack, but nothing happened. There were no growls and no screaming broke out. To the contrary. When Prophet reached Wilson, he placed his skinny hand on the dog's fur and the dog, without hesitation, began licking Prophet's hand.
Harrison stared at it. Prophet was crazy and weird, that much was certain, still the man had a way with animals that was absolutely unmatched.
Prophet whispered several words into Wilson's ear, and the dog placed his head into Prophet's hands. "I told him not to harm the rabbits," Prophet called back.
"The rabbits?"
"Yes, the rabbits. It's feeding time." Prophet seemed annoyed by Harrison's lack of understanding. "Look behind you."
Harrison turned around and to his surprise six rabbits had lined up right behind him and were waiting for their carrots.
"You want to feed them?" Prophet asked.
Harrison shook his head. Not wanting to be impolite, he gave Prophet a weak smile. "Sorry, I am not so good with animals."
"Fine," Prophet mumbled, as he handed the leash with Wilson to Harrison. "I'll get the carrots."
Harrison scratched his head. What weird movie had he landed in? If he were to write a book about all that he saw and learned these last few days, people would think he told a tall tale, or an urban legend. But it was all real. People had been murdered, wickedness was about to take over the world, and weird prophets communicated with animals.
Just when Prophet climbed back out of the mobile home, carrying a bunch of carrots, Carl Billows sneezed.
Harrison stared at the Shadow Walker. The man looked bad. For some reason tears were rolling out of his bloodshot, empty eyes, and he looked pale, much paler than he had just a few moments earlier.
A side effect of Prophet's booby trap? Did the man have the flu?
Another sneeze erupted from his nose and a muscle spasm tightened Carl Billows' back.
"Are you all right?" Harrison asked. Not that he really cared whether or not Carl Billows was doing fine, but if that wicked man was really sick, he needed to stay away from him as far as possible.
"I-I feel sick," Billows stammered.
"Why? What's wrong? You have the flu?"
Billows shook his head. "No… It's those horrible r-ra-rabbits…Achoo. G-Get them away from me."
"The rabbits?" Harrison stared at Prophet. "What's he talking about?"
Prophet shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."
"H-Help me," Billows pleaded. "L-Let me at least wipe my nose."
Harrison shook his head. "And free you? No way, Buddy. You stay just the way you are."
At that instant, Prophet made a surprising move. He walked over to one of the rabbits and lifted up the wild animal in his skinny hands and walked over to Carl Billows.
As soon as he came close the man began to yell and scream. "G-Get him a-away fro— " But he couldn't finish his sentence. His head turned from pale to purple, then changed red and went white again. A violent sneezing spell came over him, so much so that he slumped over, and started uncontrollable rapid fire sneezing. "Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"
Prophet's face began to shine and carried a pleased expression. He walked back to the other rabbits, put the rabbit he was holding down again, and began to dance around in jubilation, while chanting, "The rabbits are the key. The rabbits are the key."
Harrison did not know what to make of it, and shook his head in frustration. Why was Prophet so happy? The man was so clearly insane.
Prophet seemed to read Harrison's mind. He stopped dancing around and pointed his finger at Harrison's face. "Not crazy at all… Not crazy at all." He turned to Carl Billows, who was still writhing crying, wheezing, coughing, and battling with his nasal drip, and began to dance around again, while crying out at the top of his lungs,
"They came to play their wicked game
Seeking power, pride and fame
But it's the rabbits that come storming in
That will kill their joy and peace within."
"Stop your f-foo-foolishness," Carl Billows pleaded from his position tied to the hitch. "H-Help me." His voice came in short gasps in between his coughs. "Untie me, so I can at least clear my nose."
"Don't you see?" Prophet turned again to Harrison. "He's allergic to rabbits."
"So?" Harrison shrugged his shoulders. "I am allergic to dust. That's no reason to rejoice."
Prophet shook his head. "Not smart. You are not smart at all. The chemicals makes him allergic to rabbit fur."
Harrison still didn't understand what Prophet was hinting at. "Well, I am not feeling the least bit sorry for him."
"Not the point, not the point," Prophet cried out. "The point is…" he narrowed his eyes while raising his finger in the air and peering deep into Harrison's eyes, "… the Desastrotrax is making the Shadow Walkers allergic to rabbits."
"And how is that going to help us?"
Prophet shook his head, clearly doubting Harrison's intellectual abilities. "The rabbits are my friends. All of them. Do you know how many there are living in this forest?"
Harrison scratched his head. "No idea."
"I’ll tell you," Prophet replied with a huge grin. "Thousands… Thousands. And… ," he narrowed his eyes, "… Billows said they will have a meeting tomorrow. What do you think if we will send a few thousand rabbits into town, just when they are having their meeting?"
Harrison let Prophet's words sink in. It began to dawn on him what Prophet was hinting at. Maybe the man wasn't as weird as he had thought after all… Maybe rabbits could mess up the Shadow Walkers, at least temporarily.
"What if only Carl Billows is allergic to rabbits, and the others are not?"
Prophet shook his head. "I've worked long enough with Sternfoot to know what chemicals he is using… No, my dear friend, everyone using that so-called Desastrotrax is allergic to rabbit fur.
Let's get to work.”
Chapter Eight
That morning at the breakfast table, Justin noticed Brother Perpetiël's eyes sparkled with a curious light. The monk usually hid his emotions fairly well, but this morning it was obvious he was excited. Something was on his mind.
"Did you sleep well, Mr. Perpetiël?" Justin asked as he filled up his breakfast bowl with Honey Nut Cheerios.
"Very well, young Justin," the monk replied. He stared intently at Justin. "Today is going to be the decisive day. Action… your type of action."
Justin dropped his spoon and Amy's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" Justin asked. He was almost whispering as he picked up his spoon again. The words of the monk sounded like music in his ears, and a tingling sensation welled up from deep within. Would today be the day that things would change? Would they finally see the unmatched power of the Elixir at work in these mysterious warrior monks, and would he be able to see his parents again?
He cleared his throat and stared with big, round eyes at the monk. "Are you going to do something against the Shadow Walkers today?"
Brother Perpetiël chuckled. "We are doing something against them every day, Justin. What do you think we have been doing all these days in our room?"
Justin blushed. "Of course, Mr. Perpetiël, I know you have been praying, but…"
"Well, young Justin…," the monk continued, "… it seems your prayers are going to be answered too. The time is ripe. The day for doing something besides prayer has come. Only…," his voice trailed off, "… Brother Josebius and I will not be involved. The responsibility rests on your and Amy's shoulders. You were called to carry the torch, remember?"
Justin gave him a dazed look. "Me and Amy… without you?"
"Yes, young Justin, but with the Elixir," Brother Perpetiël replied while a gentle smile covered his face. "This morning Brother Josebius and I were again in deep prayer, and we both received the same confident assurance that all our prayers are about to be answered."
"You mean, the King of Heaven spoke to you
?" Justin asked. "What did He say?"
Brother Perpetiël pressed his lips close together and thought for a while. Then he opened his mouth and said, "Many things."
"What things?" Justin and Amy said in unison as they leaned forward.
"He said, 'You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance that I will give you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face the evil ones, and I will be with you.'" *
Justin's face dropped. "No fight? Still no action? But, I thought…"
A loud laugh erupted from the monk's mouth, and Justin stared at him, not knowing whether he should be offended or pleased with the monk's reaction.
"You are still so young, young Justin… young in the faith," Brother Perpetiël explained when he was done laughing. "There is nothing more marvelous and more comforting than seeing the King of Heaven take care of the major mountains in our lives. We will all face the Shadow Walkers today, but Brother Josebius and I…," he lifted up his finger and his face became very serious with an almost serene expression, "…we will not have to fight. I've heard in prayer that the King of Heaven is going to confuse the Shadow Walkers today."
"How?" Justin wanted to know. "What is He going to do?"
Brother Perpetiël shook his head. "I don't know, young Justin. But He told me He will, and that's enough for me." He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward to Justin and Amy. "However… you two will have to fight."
Justin's face flushed. "What do you mean? We can't fight without you and Brother Josebius."
"I will tell you what the King of Heaven said," the monk replied.
Justin furrowed his brow and the muscles in his face tightened. "Please, tell us."
Brother Perpetiël leaned back in his chair. "The King of Heaven will cause your enemies to be defeated. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.”