by J.R. Bowles
CHAPTER 53
Jamal and Mindy had joined the others waiting in the hotel suite for the next center to open. Michael managed to get the Reverend Lamb to come of his own accord. The preacher was still groggy from the drugs but sat quietly watching the group.
Bernie was still complaining because Jackie had backed out of playing strip poker. He tried to joke about her backing out but down deep Jackie could tell he had been disappointed. She hadn’t been offended by his attitude but surprised herself that she actually thought his mood was sweet. He was still sulking. Billy just sluffed it off. In his short time in the Coast Guard he had seen more than most people dreamed of doing in their entire lifetime.
Mindy sat smoking one cigarette after the other while petting the kitten. She had talked Jamal into helping her give it a bath and he had actually enjoyed it. It had helped him to quit thinking about Azid. While they had been bathing the kitten, she suggested to Jamal that he should name it. It took her several minutes but after a while she managed to convince him to call the cat, Azid, in memory of his friend. Of course Jamal had thought it was entirely his idea.
Morgan, Jackie, Billy and Bernie continued to play cards. They had offered to start a new game of rummy so the others could join in but everyone else had declined.
“That must be Rudy.” Michael said in response to the knock at the door. “I told him to join us. I think everyone who has been involved with the centers should continue to be in on them, if at all possible. I hope nobody minds.”
Most of them murmured it was a good idea or no problems and Bernie said, “Too bad Zolar isn't here. He'll miss his girlfriend.”
Bernie was the only one chuckling when Rudy entered. Jackie gave Bernie a scowl and a mental reprimand telling him to behave.
“Hi,” Rudy greeted them somewhat grimly. “Michael told me what was going on today. I really don't want to be a part of any of this.” Rudy sat down in one of the arm chairs near Michael.
“It's just a little after eleven, what are you doing until this next center, or whatever you call it, opens?”
“We're just waiting Rudy.” Jackie smiled at him as she felt his nervousness. “Do you want to play some rummy?” She added in hopes to set him to ease.
“No thanks. I'll just wait.” Rudy said as he drummed his fingers on the arm chair. “Michael I'm sure you didn't tell me everything, I mean not that you are hiding anything but I wasn't able to speak to you very long on the phone. What I was wondering is, if it's possible, if you wouldn't mind, could I ask a few questions?”
“Certainly Rudy, like it or not you have become involved in what's been occurring.” Michael said. “I don't think anyone objects.”
“Not at all, Rudy, I think we all still have a lot of unanswered questions.” Morgan said folding her cards.
“Okay.” Bernie said as he, Jackie and Billy laid their cards down. They pulled their chairs over to the living room space where the rest of the group sat.
“Ask away.” Jackie said.
“I understand there are these centers and they're some kind of things in the body and they are all connected to Mr. Fleuric. Seven of them, is that right?” Rudy watched as several of them nodded agreement. “We're getting ready for another one to open at midnight and that's your friend Zolar?”
“That's all correct, Rudy,” Morgan said realizing he wasn't sure what to ask but was curious. “Zolar is the next center. He's the sixth center to be exact. The Reverend, there is the next one after that.” She pointed at Thomas who seemed to be trying to listen and understand what they were saying. “Zolar is the intellectual center. The center which is focused around the pineal gland.”
Rudy grinned. “I like the penis gland.”
“Pineal, pineal,” Bernie interrupted. “Well, actually it's the intellectual center but to be more precise, or at least what I gathered from Zolar when he told us about all of the centers, the pineal gland is more closely connected to the intuition. And that's what we're waiting on.”
Rudy grunted. “It was a joke, I’m not that dumb. So, what’s the purpose of all this?”
They looked around the room, each one wondering if one of the others would take that question. After several moments of quiet Billy took the lead.
“We're not sure. It's was apparently planned by someone but all we have is fragments of information. Seven births took place on the same day and here thirty years later these centers are opening. To what end this activity is taking place none of us are sure. We are hoping after the center opens tonight we will have a little more information.”
Michael looked at Rudy. “That's why you need to go to Roanoke with us tomorrow. I'm sorry if it all came at short notice. I really do apologize for bullying you into going but you got yourself involved by your own action when you followed us down to South Ferry. The night Jamal's center was opened.”
“By the way, Rudy,” Billy said. “We've been talking today and we have a suspicion Azid's death was somehow connected.” He paused for Jamal's reaction.
“What do you mean?” Jamal spurted out quickly.
“Jackie, Morgan, Bernie and I,” Billy began, “have come to the conclusion. There have been several deaths in the hotel and then the incident with the car, we think they are connected. It could be coincidental but we're no longer sure that there is even such a word as coincidental. First you had the clerk in the lobby killed. Then the man on the elevator and the car that hit Azid. But Azid lived but now he's been found mutilated.” Billy paused and watched the pain on Jamal's face. “I'm sorry Jamal, I know how painful this is but you have to admit all of this is insane.”
“I know,” Jamal said. “I had Jackie kidnapped. I knew she was somehow connected with the coming of the Messiah. Of course, I thought the Messiah was going to be black. I've had to do a lot of reevaluating of my own beliefs these past few days. Ever since my center was opened, I've felt different. I don't know how to describe it. It's like I am a piece of a jigsaw puzzle.” He paused and glanced at Mindy. “I don't feel the hatred that had been festering in me. I still feel resentment towards people being treated unfairly. Even the way people treat you Rudy, and your kind. I don't like your sexual preference but I don't hate you for it anymore. And I don't hate all of the whites like I did. Rudy you had a double dose of my hate. One for being white and the other for being a…,” he paused and stopped himself from saying fag and finished with, “gay.”
Jamal then turned to Jackie and with his most sincere tone he said. “I'm sorry Jackie for kidnapping you and what we might have done to you.”
“I understand Jamal, it's a screwy world.” Jackie answered. “What were you going to do to me?”
“Use your imagination.” He answered.
“Oh, I guess I suspected that.”
“Getting back to your question, Rudy,” Billy interrupted, “we're all just strangers to each other. We're not sure of the purpose of what is happening but we know tomorrow we will know. We hope we gain a little more understanding after Zolar's center opens.”
“How are you doing Reverend?” Jackie asked noticing he was trying to pay attention to what was being said.
Everyone turned waiting to see his response.
“I'm confused.” Thomas answered and pointed his finger at Michael. “I don't need any more drugs, do you understand?”
Michael just looked at him without answering.
“I need to think clear headed and that drug is making me sleep. I think I'm beginning to understand what's going on. I'm not totally stupid, you know. I know we're all going to Roanoke tomorrow and you expect me to take part in this center being opened. Well, I still think the man is from Satan and Michael, I know you've been trying to figure out how you're going to get me to Roanoke. Well, I'll answer your question. I'll go of my own free will but after I get there don't depend on me to take part in any of this stuff. I will have no other gods before me. What time will we be in Roanoke tomorrow?”
“We should be there around one in the afternoon.” Michael answered.
“Yes tomorrow,” Mindy thought, as she sat demurely listening to their idle chatter. “Tomorrow I will have it all.”
VII. THE SIXTH CHAKRA
SHASRARA THE PINEAL
The Pineal center, also called the intellectual or intuitive center, is often spoken of as the third eye, but in truth, it is the eye that reasons the thoughts and separates the is, from the is not. Thus is known the power of the knowledge of good and evil. Seeing that which was, and that which will be.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHAKRA CENTERS by Tawadin Djwahan