by J.R. Bowles
CHAPTER 63
The time passed slowly for them and at nine they started showing up in front of the hotel. Jackie was the first to show with Sally Ann in tow.
“Where is everyone?” Sally Ann asked. “You said I would meet a bunch of people.”
“We're early. I'm sure they will be down soon.” Jackie smiled down at the girl. They had spent the afternoon shopping and Sally Ann had happily agreed to take a bubble bath when they got back to Jackie's room. She hoped John had talked to Mindy about watching her.
“Thank you again, Miss Jackie, for my most beautifulist clothes that I ever had.”
“You're welcome, sweetheart. When Mr. John comes down would you want to give him a big hug and kiss? It was all his idea and he's the one that paid for them.”
Her eyes widened and she grinned shyly. “I sure would. You don't think he would mind?”
“Men always love to be kissed by a beautiful girl.” Jackie's eyes twinkled as she watched Sally Ann blush.
“There's Mr. John now.” Sally Ann squealed and ran over to greet him. She crooked her index finger for him to lean over.
“Who's this pretty girl?” John said as he leaned over.
“It's me, Sally Ann,” she said hugging his neck and kissing him on the cheek.
“You're gorgeous.” He complemented.
“Oh, thank you Mr. John, thank you so much.”
“Hi Jackie,” John greeted.
“Isn't she pretty?” Jackie asked John and smiled at Sally Ann.
“She sure is.” John smiled. “Sally Ann, would you let another pretty woman watch you this evening?”
Sally Ann tried to hide her disappointment but nodded.
“I tell you what. Mindy will be here soon and you and her can walk with us for a while before she brings you back to the hotel to go to bed.” John offered noticing her lip pucker.
“Okay.” She readily agreed. “Could I hold your hand, Mr. John?”
“It would be my honor.” He said as he took hold of her tiny hand.
Morgan was the next to come down. “Hi, John, Jackie and who is this pretty girl with you John?”
“This is Sally Ann. Sally Ann this is Morgan.” John bent over and whispered to Sally Ann. “She's not married.”
“Please to meet you Miss Morgan.” Sally Ann replied.
“We're going to help Sally Ann find her parents. She's being alone for several weeks now.” John told Morgan.
“Oh, poor baby,” Morgan said, as she stooped down and gave Sally Ann a hug.
“Mindy's going to watch Sally Ann while we're out.” John told Morgan as she stood back up.
“Good.” Morgan said. “I need to talk to you alone for a moment.” She turned to Jackie. “Jackie, I'm not being rude and it's not about you. It's just kind of personal.”
“There's no need to explain yourself to me.” Jackie said. “Believe me I don't offend easily.” But she was wondering why Morgan was being so cryptic.
John let loose of Sally Ann's hand and said. “We will be right back, honey.”
John and Morgan walked several paces down the street and Morgan stopped and turned to him.
“John, it's about Mindy. I'm not sure but I think that she….”
At that moment Mindy came out of the hotel carrying her kitten and hurried over toward them.
“Hello everybody,” She greeted. “This must be Sally Ann.”
“Hello.” Sally Ann replied.
“I'm Mindy and this is Azid.” She rubbed the kitten under the chin and offered it to Sally Ann. “Would you like to hold him?”
“Oh yes, he's so cute.” She said in delight.
“We will be right back.” John said to Mindy as he took Morgan's arm to walk further down the street.
“That's okay. I can tell you later.” Morgan said and thought to herself. “I must be wrong. She's so sweet and besides John has already arranged for her to be with Sally Ann. She won't even be at the opening. I'm just paranoid.”
“Are you sure it will wait?” John asked.
“I'm sure.” Morgan replied.
Michael was next, followed begrudgingly by Thomas. John looked at the preacher to see if he looked drugged. He looked clear eyed. He guessed Michael must have found another way to persuade him to come along.
They were soon joined by Jamal who just nodded to them and walked over to Mindy who had been talking with Sally Ann.
Then Billy, Bernie and finally Zolar came out.
“Hi guys.” John greeted and then turned to Zolar wondering if he had been able to get the drugs from Michael's room. “Zolar, where you able to look into that little matter we discussed earlier?”
Zolar turned to Bernie. “Bernie?”
“All taken care of and ready.” He answered as he patted his pocket lightly.
John nodded.
“Hey wait's going on around here?” Billy said.
“Secrets” Jackie said teasingly. “Everybody's got secrets.”
“Men talk.” Bernie said.
Billy grabbed his crotch. “There's more man here than the rest of you put together.”
“Hey that was supposed to be my line.” Bernie protested.
“Aren't you guys ever serious?” Jackie swatted at both of them.
“Life is one big practical joke. God is a comedian and everybody’s afraid to laugh.” Bernie said in humor but they all became quiet.
“I take it you found the place.” John broke the quiet as he looked at Michael and then Billy.
“Sure did. No problems.” Billy answered.”
“Did anyone think to bring some light it's starting to get dark?” Morgan asked.
“Got it covered.” Michael said as he reached into a bag and started handing out small flash lights.
“I've got a light.” Zolar said as he held up the Maglite that Kumara had given him.
“Me too.” John said pulling the small Maglite from his pocket.
“Aren't you two fancy-smancy.” Billy said as he took one of the flashlights from Michael and checked to make sure it worked.
“Let's go.” John said solemnly.
Sally Ann ran over and grabbed John's hand and smiled up at him.
“You said I could.” She reminded him of his promise.
“My pleasure.” He said gently as they all headed down the sidewalk following Michael's lead.
It was a somber group walking two by two. Sally Ann was holding tight to John's hand using her other one to cuddle the kitten against her chest.
The sun had settled below the mountain top and the nights purple shadows grew bold.
As they walked their eyes drank in the evening hues. Their sense of smell tasted the fresh air and rich soil. They sensed a form of pity for the great southern city of Roanoke as she lay dying from the economic starvation of the time. Dusk came to rest in the Shenandoah Valley snuggled in the rich haze of the awesome Blue Ridge Mountains.
Directly ahead of them ― peering down ― stood the great Star of Mill Mountain. A man made image designed and built in the hay day of the city. It had perhaps been the vision of someone's dream, which developed the garish imitation of a Hollywood fantasy.
Unlike New York, Roanoke's lights were not as severe. The stars in the sky twinkled down on them, not from the haze of smog but from the distortion of the valley giving up her heat.
An audible gasp of expectation traversed the group as the Star blazed on in brilliant white. A sigh of hopeful expectation passed the lips of several of them in their reluctant desire that it shone white and not red.
The street lights were far between and an occasion passing car illuminated them in their evening sojourn. The distant barking of a dog and the rhythmic chirping of crickets broke the stillness of the night's air.
Michael and Billy paused in front of the abandon woods.
“This is it.” Michael said as he turned to face the others and then pointed. “Over there is the easiest place to cross the wal
l.”
“Good.” John said as the group began their crossing. He knelled down to Sally Ann. “Honey, Mindy's going to watch you now, okay?”
“Okay, Mister John.” She said hugging his neck and kissing his cheek.
Mindy approached and took Sally Ann's small hand forcefully and squeezed a little harder than she intended.
“Ouch!” Sally Ann protested.
“I'm sorry; I guess I don't know my own strength.” Mindy apologized while gritting her teeth.
John stood up and faced Mindy. “You take care of her, okay.”
“Certainly.”
“You should head on back to the hotel now. This is a fairly peaceful part of the city. I don't think you have to worry about any danger.” John ordered.
Order me? Mindy thought, I will make him suffer, but she answered sweetly. “Good night everyone. Sally Ann tell everybody good night.”
“Night.” Sally Ann responded.
Mindy and Sally Ann walked away from the group in the direction from which they had come. Sally Ann occasionally turned to look back at the group. Even through the shadows of the evening they could tell she was not pleased and almost appeared frightened.
John was the last one to cross the wall and paused on the other side of the wall.
“Michael would you and Bernie come here a moment.”
“Sure John, what do you want?” Michael asked as Bernie fell in behind him. Bernie slid his hand into his pocket making ready the hypodermic.
“Billy, since you've been here why don't you lead on and we will catch up with you in a minute.” John directed.
“Sure boss.” Billy replied as he flicked on his flashlight toward the well-worn path.
John stood for a few minutes collecting his thoughts as the illumination from the other's flashlights passed out of sight. Michael stood facing John with Bernie on Michael's left and slightly behind him.
Michael finally became impatient and broke the silence. “John, I'm glad you called me aside. I wanted to talk to you about something.” He paused and looked at Bernie as if to indicate he wanted a little privacy.
Bernie didn't know what Michael wanted but wasn't about to lose his vantage point. He stood clasping the needle.
John nodded at Bernie in hopes he was ready and spoke to Michael to gain his friends complete attention.
“Michael!” John said sharply, “I've been talking and….” At that moment John nodded to Bernie and reached out and embraced Michael's shoulders with his hands. He held on tight to Michael's muscular arms. Bernie pulled the needle out from his pocket and with years of sure footed knowledge injected Michael's arm.
It was over before Michael knew what had happen. His first emotion had been shock and before his mind could register anger a hazy cloud of fatigue began to envelope him.
“Why?” He murmured groggily as his legs began to give out. Bernie helped John lower Michael to the ground and leaned him against a tree.
As Michael's mind began to fade he tried to protest. He had to remain conscious. Why had John done this? He had to remain conscious ― he had to ― he had to meet his detective. Clarets' secretary had finally called him back. She had been upset and kept repeating that Clarets was bringing someone that had to talk to Michael. No matter what he did he had to meet this person. He asked her who it was. She had told him that the phone connection that she had with her boss was poor. They were on a plane en route to Roanoke but he had specified that at all cost he must talk with Michael before midnight. Michael told her to tell Clarets they were leaving the hotel at nine and if he arrived past that he would be here. She had asked him for directions but he told her to tell Clarets it was at the sight of the old Shenandoah Hospital. He would know where it was. Clarets had been the one that had provided Michael with the location.
Michael silently protested as the sleep enveloped his mind. “Why John ― why?”
“Thanks Bernie.” John turned to follow after the others. “I guess we should try to catch up with the others.”
Bernie fell in behind John as they located the path the others had taken.
Mindy had walked silently leading Sally Ann for over five blocks. Enough time had passed she thought. We can turn back. She stopped abruptly and turned jerking Sally Ann to follow her.
“You're hurting me.” Sally Ann protested while trying to pull her hand free from Mindy's grasp. Sally Ann held tight to the kitten protecting it from the sudden change of direction.
“Shut up, you brat. We're going back there.” Mindy warned.
“But Mr. John said we're 'spose to go back to the hotel.” Sally Ann reminded her.
“You're with me now. You will do what I say. Do you understand? It is time for us to return.” Mindy said heinously.
Sally Ann didn't say anything and quit struggling with Mindy. They walked rapidly on their return trip. Sally Ann stumbled several times with Mindy's tight grip being the only thing that kept her from falling.
They approached the abandoned woods and Mindy maneuvered them over to the easiest access over the wall. Once over the wall Mindy pulled a small light from her pocket that she had prepared for this purpose. Scanning the area her light fell onto Michael's sleeping body.
Maybe I should take his energy now, she thought. She walked over to stand at his feet. She kicked at his shoe to see if he would stir. Satisfied that he was unconscious she decided to collect him later, after she had disposed of the others. It would be much more pleasing to have him awake and make him suffer. His agony would be her pleasure. She pulled Sally Ann along with her as she found the path the others must have taken. Soon as she located where the other's had stopped she would take care of the child. She smiled as she relished the thoughts of the agony the brat would have to endure before taking her energy.
Sally Ann stared down at Michael and smiled to herself in the dark. Mindy pulled at her to follow. She snuggled Azid close up under her chin to protect him from harm.
As Mindy and Sally Ann passed out of sight a car stopped in front of the woods.
“This is it. My secretary said Michael would be waiting.” Claret said to the old man sitting beside him as he climbed out of the car. He went around to the passenger's side to assist his passenger.
The older man accepted the assistance of Clarets young strength and was led over to where the wall was crumbling.
“Wait here.” Clarets said and headed back to the car's truck. “I'll get a flashlight.”
The old man stared after Clarets as he pulled the pouch he had been holding close to him. When Clarets returned he climbed over the wall and helped the elderly gentleman over.
“Are you sure you had to come? Wasn't there anything I could have done?” Clarets asked as the man stabilized his feeble limbs after crossing the wall.
Clarets paused and flicked his flashlight on in the direction of the path. “Over there. I guess they must have gone down the path, over there.”
“Be still.” The man warned.
The night air brought them the hidden sounds of the nocturnal life. The man inhaled deeply and turned. He pointed his finger and began walking over to where Michael laid.
“Here.” He said stopping in front of Michael's unconscious body.
Clarets pointed his light on Michael and quickly moved to assist his benefactor.
“How did you know he was here?” Clarets asked.
“If you come to know the night as you do the day, then you learn what should be there. When you know what should be there you will find that you're able to feel what shouldn't be. I could feel him.” He explained.
Clarets placed his hand behind Michael's head and shook him trying to rouse him to consciousness.
“I don't know what they gave him but I don't think he's going to wake up anytime soon.” Clarets said placing Michael back against the tree and stood up.
“Let me.” The old man said as he reached into the pouch he was carrying. He felt around bl
indly in the dark for several moments and then pulled his hand out. He leaned down as close as his feeble spine would allow him and poured a powder out of a smaller sack into the palm of his hand. He pursed his lips and blew the powder into Michael's face causing Michael to inhale it in.
“Ei-ah-ka-oh.” The man chanted repeatedly.
Michael began to cough and wheezed to clear his lungs from congestion. He groaned and reached for his head. His eyes popped open and he looked up at the two men standing before him. Slowly he identified one as being the detective Clarets. Although he had spoken with Clarets frequently he had not seen him for years but he quickly recognized him even through the weak glare of the man's flashlight.
Michael slowly stretched and stood with Clarets assistance. Michael then gazed upon the elderly man who had only moments before been leaning over him. The man's hair was long and white, peppered with strands of gray and black. It had been pulled back and held in place with a band pulled over his head. His skin was a thick brown, deeply etched from age and years beneath the sun. His clothes appeared to be made from some kind of animal hide. The man was old and Michael concluded he must be a Native American.
“Are you okay?” Clarets asked.
“I think so.” Michael answered shaking his head trying to clear the cobwebs from his mind.
“This is Chesaka. He's the shaman for the Cherokee Nation.” Clarets introduced.
“Please to meet you sir.” Michael offered out his hand. As he began to wonder if the man was in some way related to Mindy.
“Thank you.” Chesaka said accepting Michael's hand. “I am Mindy's grandfather.”
Michael stood there quietly and suddenly realized he didn't know how long he had been unconscious. He stuck his wrist watch under Clarets flashlight to check the time. Good, Michael thought, it's still early.
Let's sit down on the wall over there so Chesaka can rest.” Clarets pointed. “He can rest while he tells you about his granddaughter.
They sat down while Chesaka began the story of how Mindy had been one of the centers but she had become self-centered and had been replaced by Morgan.
John and Bernie entered the clearing where the limestone altar stood. The others were milling around nervously waiting for them.
“Where's Michael?” Jackie asked.
“He won't be here tonight.” John answered. “I felt, and I talked it over with Billy and Zolar, that just the eight of us should be here for this opening.”
“Well what do we do now?” Jackie asked as she lowered herself to the ground. “We've still got over an hour until midnight.”
John looked around the group, not knowing what to say.
Zolar came to his rescue. “Since it's the Reverend's opening tonight I would suggest it's his show. Speculating about what happen last night before my center opened, I think he may have some knowledge to impart upon us.”
“But he's a preacher.” Billy protested.
“And tonight's center is the spiritual center.” Zolar explained. “It's opening of the pituitary.”
“Thank you.” Thomas acknowledged Zolar's recommendation. He had his Bible pulled against his chest as if it gave him the warmth and strength he needed for endurance. “I believe in the Lord God and if this is to be my fate then I will pray that he gives me the strength and wisdom needed.”
“Wait a second.” Zolar interrupted. “Last night John and I discovered a drawing and concluded that it was to be here. That's why John said that he thought that only the eight of us should be here. There was the red star and a man lying on an altar. Around the man were seven figures. Before Thomas starts I think we should assume those positions.”
They looked around at each other as if to ask one another, why not.
“Where do you want us, Zolar?' Bernie asked.
“Like this.” Zolar began pointing out positions. “John, lie down on your back on the stone.”
John walked over and sat down. Feeling somewhat awkward he reclined on the stone. The hardness of it seemed to fill the contours of his body and had a slight raise at the top that lifted his head like a natural pillow.
“Billy you're next.” Zolar said. “Since you were the first center and the Solar Plexus, you should be right here.” Zolar pulled Billy around and stood him on John's left side beside his abdomen.
Zolar then walked over to Morgan and guided her to stand on Billy's left. “Morgan you're next. The Sexual Center should be right here.”
“Okay, Jackie, you are the Throat Center and although you should have been the fourth center to open, you were third. Come here and stand on Billy's right side at John's throat.” Jackie stood up and moved to where Zolar had indicated.
As they stood there they felt uncomfortable staring down at John.
“Jamal, you're next. If you will go around to the other side―You are the Spleen Center and if you will locate yourself at John's midsection.”
Jamal quietly moved around and took the place Zolar had indicated.
“Bernie, you're next as the Heart Center stand to Jamal's left at John's chest. I'm next as the Intellectual Center. All right Bernie, no wise cracks.” Zolar said as he stood on John's right side at his face. Bernie did not comment; he didn't feel like joking for a change.
“Reverend, you're next as the Spiritual Center. Stand there above John's head.” Zolar pointed.
“This looks about right.” Zolar said looking around at the others. Their faces were dark with shadows and etched with worry.
“Since we have some time before midnight I think you can sit down.” John suggested.
They all sat down on the ground as John had suggested except Thomas and he remained standing. He felt energy. He felt inspired and he had a captured audience. He felt sure the Lord was ready to guide him.
All of them were quiet for several minutes in anticipation of what Thomas might say. Although they were of different faiths and beliefs he had been specified the Spiritual Center and they felt whatever he said would be important.
As they waited for him to begin John asked pointing up to the sky. “Look at that star there above us. Look how brilliant it seems. It's red. Does anybody know what star it is?”
They all looked up. They easily located the star John was pointing at because it was a brilliant magnitude, shining red, clustered by several fainter stars.
“It's Sirius.” Zolar said. “It's called the Dog Star.” Zolar's mind reeled. The Dog Star! The red star he had seen on the chamber's wall had not been the one on the Mill Mountain but had been a real star in the sky. Dog Star! He felt his heart leap. The word dog backward was god. What did it mean?
The Star on Mill Mountain suddenly went black. Even John could see it with his peripheral vision.
They gasp when it suddenly reappeared shining down in brilliant red. Each of their minds leaped in surprise. They became still, staring up at the red omen.
It was Morgan who broke the silence that had fallen on them. “We were taught, as above, so below. What happens in the material world also happens in the spiritual world.”
A general uneasiness slowly engulfed the group. The Reverend Lamb silently whispered a prayer for strength. When he cleared his throat the group jumped from being startled back from their thoughts.
“Please Lord Help me,” Thomas prayed. He randomly opened his Bible and shined his flashlight down at the passage John 1 and began to read.
“In the Beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made”.
Thomas paused and looked at the group and then continued.
Zolar began to tense. It was the same passage they had been talking about last night.
“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.<
br />
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
As soon as he read that a wind rushed in on them. Dust and debris sweep around them causing them to squint. Their hair blew in disarray. Thomas squeezed tight onto the Bible he held to keep it from being jerked out of his hands. The pages were forced to turn and he lost his place. All of the flashlights went off in unison and then as mysterious as the wind had started it stopped.
Their lights came back on and Thomas gathered his wits and opened his Bible again. Shining his light down, he looked down at the eighth chapter of Revelations. He wondered what was going on and hoped this was some sign from the Lord. He inhaled and started to read but stopped as he stared down at the page. The words on the page ran together as he watched them. All of the ink swirled as if the words had come alive. They joined together in the center of the page in one large black spot and then like liquid began to spread out again reforming words on the page.
In Thomas's mind he heard a voice spewing forth almost like a whisper, and the voice said, “The prophets in the book before you, wrote about their distant future. Their sight through the miasma of time is often distorted because of their lack of familiarity of the new things they have never before seen. The truth cannot be written or seen. The truth is experienced. Read unto your flock gathered here before you.”
Thomas starred at the words as they reformed on the page. And the word Revelation had been changed to the word Truth. He looked down at the eighth chapter and began to read.
“And when the Seventh Angel opened its seal there was a stillness. Time had ceased to move and seven angels stood before God and each one had a trumpet. This trumpet was their individual note.
And the first angel sounded his note and man starved in the millions daily while others grew fat from the worship of gold, jewels, cars, homes, and power. They would come to care for only themselves and the evil within them would make them care not about their own humankind. Every man will be given a number and this number will be in their hand and in their head. They will be deceived that this number is good but it is the mark of the beast for they will not be able to buy or sell without it and will be forced to use it to pay great taxes. This number will be kept in computers and they will have it written down to show those in doubt that the number they use is correct. This number will be etched in their head, in their memory. But the day will come when all of the world will have this kind of number.
And the second angel sounded his note and hail and fire fell to the earth in the form of harmful radiation. Man had destroyed the ozone which had protected him from harmful rays. And acid rain caused by man’s factories pollutes the ground and a third of all of the trees, and grass was destroyed, and the oxygen in the atmosphere began to thin. Woman shall in great numbers slay their children the fruit of their womb and man will desert his seed and leave it to starve because he has become self-centered. Man shall lay down with man and woman shall lay down with woman in great numbers. And the creation of life would cease.
And the third angel sounded his note and oil tankers caught fire and dumped its black blood into the sea. And a third of the sea became black with oil and a third of the sea died and the fishes of the sea died and most men cared not.
And the fourth angel sounded his note and a great plague was given unto humankind and this plague was like locusts and this plague was the AIDS virus. It would not hurt the trees of the earth, nor the grasses, nor the animals but would suffer humankind with great sores taking away his ability to live and make him desire to die. And man would try to hide from these locusts but this virus would find him.
And a fifth angel sounded his note and nuclear testing of weapons and electrical power sources dispersed into the air and earth, radioactive material and the radiation expelled poisoned a third of all the water, and soil of the earth and the radiation was like wormwood eating away all living manner of flesh, and destroy a third of all trees, and grasses and all living creatures.
And the sixth angel sounded his note and the atmosphere was filled with smog, and soot, and flora carbons and car exhaust, and residuals caused by man's war against himself and this caused the sun, moon and stars to fade and the earth grew warm.
And the seventh angel sounded his note and all time ceased. A loud thunderous noise was issued from the throne of God and this noise was a word and this word is like none that has ever been spoken before. There is no written language that can relay the sound of this word. And this vibration, this word traveled from the throne of God to the edge of the universe and it called for all that existed to return. This word caused a great star to fall unto the earth and this star was a man and the key to the bottomless pit was given to him. And the earth left its orbit around its sun and began to move away into the bowels of the void.
And he that did not have God's seal and was no longer in vibration with him, the Creator, would be cast out into the void forever and ever.”
Thomas stopped reading. His eyes became blurred and his knees became weak. Those that sat on the ground around him stared up in slow disbelief of what they were hearing.
John knew the time was near when he would be forced to choose for he was the great star and the keys to the bottomless pit were gathered around him.
Mindy had been standing at the darken abyss of the clearing listening to the Reverend. Her own mind began to wonder what was happening. Her hand was placed over Sally Ann's mouth so the child would not cry out.
At that moment she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She squatted down into the bushes and pulled Sally Ann with her and watched as two dark figures came closer.
“Grandfather!” Her lips cried out in surprise, before she had been able to think enough to stop herself.
Her cry had been heard by the others and all heads turned towards the darkness from which the sound had come.
“Mindy is that you?” Jamal called out, still sitting on the ground where Zolar had placed him.
Mindy stood up pulling Sally Ann with her and moved into the path in front of her Grandfather and Michael.
“Granddaughter, I have come to stop you. You do not know what you are doing.” He said as he approached her.
Those sitting on the ground stood up but did not approach the group. John had risen to a sitting position. Mindy raised her hands up to the cloudless sky just as her Grandfather started to speak again. A deafening clap of thunder roared at the same instant pale green lighting struck the ground between her and her grandfather.
“I am tired of you old man. Your powers are as feeble as your body.” She said calmly. Her face became placid and emotionless but her eyes blazed amber.
Mindy looked down at the child beside her and concluded it was time to take her energy. She would need the extra life energy of the child to fight her Grandfather.
She began her mental song calling the life force from the child.
In the moment she called forth her song she felt it being returned. As if it had fallen against a wall and was being bounced back.
With the return of her own energy force she ceased her mental song. She had experienced some of the pain that she had tried to force upon the child.
Mindy turned to her Grandfather and raised her eyebrows. “You're more powerful than I thought but you can't stop me.”
Chesaka looked from his Granddaughter to the child in puzzlement. “I did not stop you.”
“Don't lie to me.” She accused and then reeled around at the group still watching the scene.
She reached out with her mind touching each one of them trying to see if any of them had the power to stop her. Slowly her mind touched each one of them and found none of them, not even John had the power to stop her. Then what could have happen? The child should be dead. It wasn't needed for the opening and she should have easily been able to drain its life energy.
She turned finally towards Michael who was standing behind her Grandfather. “Was it you?” She asked as
she reached out with her mind and sang the song of death. As her song touched him it slammed back on her hurling her to the ground. His power was awesome. She had known that Michael had been one of the original centers but when her song of energy reached out to touch him it was like a magnet repelling itself.
Michael looked down at her, not sure what had happen. He had felt her energy reach out and when it touched him he felt himself being repelled back, also.
“Enough Mendiceskia!” Her Grandfather ordered. “You have no idea what is happening. If you had listen to the lessons as a child and not rebelled, you would understand what is happening.”
He walked over to where Mindy lay and offered his feeble hand to help her. “Come with me, little one.” He then turned to Michael and Sally Ann. “Follow me.”
The four of them entered the clearing where the others stared in shocked amazement and horror. Their faces displayed the confusion they were feeling.
Upon entering the clearing Chesaka turned to Sally Ann. “It is time for you to show yourself.”
Everyone stared at the little girl wondering what was going on and what did he mean.
Sally Ann’s body began to change and her body reformed into the shape of Becky. She placed the kitten down and it wandered back to the path.
Reverend Lamb cried out. “The succubus!”
Zolar turned to John. “Kumara.”
“Yes it is I. That which is neither good nor evil.” She said explaining to them that had not met her. “I am the living entity of the Earth. Some say I am Gaia. I am neither positive nor negative.”
Chesaka interrupted and looked at Michael, Mindy and Kumara. “There is little time. You must take your places.”
Mindy opened her mouth to protest but her Grandfather raised his hand and she became still. Her body was paralyzed where she stood.
“Michael you move there.” Chesaka pointed. “And Kumar you stand there.”
Chesaka had formed them into a triangle around the outer edge of the group. The three stood several feet out from the group. The seven centers were inside of their triangle and John was in the center. They all watched Chesaka as he backed out of the clearing. As he backed he looked directly at John. “As the seventh path draws the light down from the sky it will be time for you to decide. It is only your decision and you have been given all that is needed for you to choose. Your choices are two. The third one that you see, Kumara, the entity of the sweet mother, is not a choice. You will only be able to choose from the positive or the negative.”
He turned and walked off into the darkness leaving the others staring silently.
Slowly one by one they turned to face John. John leaned back and looked up at the red star, Sirius. His mind flashed upon the past seven days and the words the Reverend had read. As he stared up a white light fell like liquid bathing the group.
Suddenly a pinkish glow enveloped Billy's body and a brilliant red shot up into the air above him and curved downward and fell on to John.
Morgan was next with a luminous orange that went upward and fell on to John.
Jackie shuttered as her body repeated the same action and yellow was emitted upward only to curve gently down on to John.
Jamal was next with green as the scene began to turn into a rainbow umbrella.
As soon as Jamal’s hue touched John, Bernie burst forth in blue light. Upward and then curving back falling onto John.
When Zolar burst forth in violet he thought of what the Tibetans had taught him. This was the Antahkarana, the rainbow bridge. We are the rainbow bridge!
Thomas wanted to run. His body shuttered and like fire he burst forth a dark indigo light curving upward, then arching and coming to rest upon John.
As John’s body was bathed in these lights he could no longer be seen. It was as if his body vanished.
Mindy, Michael and Kumara stood watching. Mindy fought to unfreeze. Her mind soared with anger burning with desire to seize the moment. She reached deep within her own life force and focused it straight up higher than the other’s rays. Her light was black and as it streamed upward it too curved and fell into the center of the others rays.
At that moment she began to recover her movement. She was no longer paralyzed.
John lay on the table and had felt his body being washed over when the colorful rays of each center touched his body. When the seventh had touched him, he felt his body cease to exist and he became pure energy. His body no longer had mass. As the experience started to take hold of him suddenly he felt himself being engulfed in blackness. He felt like he was moving in molasses, while the blackness pulled him into it. The harder he fought the closer it seemed to be getting. It was like quicksand. His mind felt as if it were becoming webbed over. His body of energy was being pulled backward, being sucked into it. He was in motion and it was over taking him. He felt as if he were being crushed. He was afraid with a devouring fear.
Then in a flash of agonizing pain Mindy screamed, her black ray stopped. She looked down to see what was causing the pain. Mindy stared at her leg where the kitten Azid had driven its claws and teeth. It was hanging on. All of its small energy was focused into keeping itself embedded into her flesh.
It was in this moment when John felt free of what had been trying to choke his very essence. When the blackness faded he saw all of the universe. His mind awoke. He saw everything that existed in the present and in the past. He was all. His first reaction was madness when he saw the distance his body had separated. He became awake to everything living and non-living.
He saw what he did to himself. His vision then focalized and he was looking down upon himself as the physical being John. His body was lying on the stone. The rays of color bathed his body and beside them was the three that had once been one.
He saw Michael standing still and quiet, calmly waiting for something. Kumara stood watching and Mindy was staring down at the kitten attached to her leg.
The choice was now before him. To choose Kumara was not a choice for to choose neutral was to choose nothing.
He stared at Michael. Michael must be positive. He represented to goodness of humankind. If he chose him the universe would collapse from which it came.
Then there was Mindy with her greed for the power of control and her hate of others, not realizing that when she hated them, she hated herself.
John saw the damage he was doing to himself. In the beginning he had sacrificed himself so he could live. Now he was destroying himself. Destroying the world he had created out of his own body. He had lost the caring of those that no longer cared about their decedents but cared only for themselves. He had become selfish.
John looked down at Michael and Mindy. It was then he knew it was time to decide.
He looked down and chose.