Everybody needed something, did they not? Everyone needed food to eat and water to drink. But what prevented someone from “needing” a better car than they had, or a better home, or a better pair of shoes? If one merely had to claim a need and then expect that need to be fulfilled by others, where did the cycle of taking from the efforts of others end? Who determined which needs were greater? Who decided which had the ability to fulfill the needs another claimed?
The answer was chilling. Jesus would decide. In his role of Savior of the World, Jesus would decree who would serve whom, who would work toward what end, who would be entitled to receive what. And at his side would be Crowley and Mathias, basking in political power unlike any seen since the days Pharaohs sat on the throne of Egypt as God-Kings.
And who would stop him? Who would even want to? Few would stop to realize that promises of prosperity to all would require someone to create that prosperity. That was the seductive trap of collectivism. Everyone would lick their lips in anticipation of the goodies they were going to receive, never giving a second thought to the price those goodies would cost them..) What was it that Senator Bennett would say? If you think healthcare is expensive now, just wait until it's free.
He hoped Arnold would return soon from his mission to France. He felt very alone and ... yes, he had to admit, frightened, contemplating the new world he had caught a vision of this evening. He needed the comfort and companionship of the only men he knew who seemed to share his concerns. Maybe they could do something and maybe they could not. In either case, he hoped watching the destruction of his entire world would seem less traumatic in the company of companion spirits.
Chapter 19
THE FLOWER THAT a moment ago had been near a wilted death began to uncurl itself and started showing signs of recovering. Susan hovered over it, protecting it from the violent winds and driving rain that pelted her.
"You will not die!” she proclaimed. “You will live as you are intended to live."
Susan felt a will and a power enter her. A light began to grow around her, growing brighter and brighter by the moment. The darkness around her began to yield to the light. With the light came warmth, and the flower beneath her began to shudder as new life was drawn into it from the light and warmth. Serenity permeated her being in the midst of the chaos surrounding her. From within her being, now at peace, she felt her power increase. The light and warmth moved further, in a sphere, evaporating more of the darkness.
The flower stood tall and straight, its color returned and its leaves and petals once more full and lush. The sphere of light and warmth emanating from Susan expanded further, swallowing up the storm. The flower sparkled with radiant color and Susan stood upright over it. She lifted her hands to the sky and said, with authority, “You have no power over me!"
With that, the wind grew still and the clouds vanished, leaving her and the flower basking in radiant sunshine. A rainbow crossed the high horizon. The flower stood tall and healthy and began to sound the musical melody as it had earlier. The rainbow began to shimmer with iridescence and the flower started to quiver and lean toward it. A loud voice seemed to emanate from everywhere at once, saying, “I am pleased, my child."
Susan started from the dream, at first unaware of what had awakened her. Then she heard a loud knock on the door. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock at her bedside. 2:34. Who could be at her door at this hour?
She got out of bed and grabbed her robe. “Who is it?"
"Ms. Morgan, it's me,” a familiar voice came from the other side of the door.
Susan's face lit up and she exclaimed, “Angelino!” She threw open the door to see Angelino smiling broadly. Three other men were standing with him. She stopped short, startled by their presence.
"No, Susan. They aren't men in white coats. These are my friends."
Susan stood frozen for a moment.
Angelino extended his arms. “What? No hug for an old priest?"
She laughed and ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Father Angelino. You don't know how happy I am to see you.” Tears of happiness filled her eyes. She stepped back and looked into his eyes. They were moist and filled with profound love. How she had missed the love that emanated so thoroughly from Angelino.
"What are you doing here?"
"Um, may we come in?” Angelino's eyes twinkled as he led the others into her hotel room. Susan laughed. How good it was to see him again.
"Susan, let me introduce you. This is Monsignor Cassidy, Dean of Law at Marquette University. I mean former Dean of Law. This big one here,” he thumped Billy Red Deer on the chest, “is Billy Red Deer, Sioux shaman. This little guy with the big smile is Imahoptec, of the Aztec nation.” She shook each of their hands.
"I'm so happy to meet all of you. I hope Father Angelino hasn't been giving you too hard a time."
"Of course he has, Ms. Morgan.” Monsignor Cassidy smiled. “That's what he does.” Billy and Imahoptec nodded in agreement.
"Shame on you, Father Angelino,” she said with mock indignation. “Are these...?"
"Yes, Susan. They are Knights of the Ascension. The Gathering has begun."
"I see,” Susan said thoughtfully. “It is getting close, isn't it Father Angelino?"
"Yes, my child, it will not be long now."
"What is going to happen?"
"I think you already know, Susan."
She stared blankly at him for a moment before smiling and saying, “You haven't changed a bit."
Angelino walked over and plopped himself onto the bed. “You wouldn't want it any other way, and you know it."
She laughed. “No, I suppose I wouldn't.” Then she grew serious. “I sense you are in grave danger if you don't remain hidden."
Angelino shook his head. “No. There will be no more hiding. I ... we,” he corrected himself, “all know the dangers. We accepted them when we took on our roles. The stakes are higher than they have ever been in the history of the world. If all twelve of us should die in the defense of the spirit of the Christ, then that is the price which must be paid. There will not be a second chance."
"Cheery guy, isn't he?” Cassidy cracked.
"Susan,” Angelino said gravely. “The truth is, it is we who must protect you now. From this moment on, we are your shadows."
"Is that really necessary, Father Angelino?” she said, the concern clearly showing on her beautiful face.
Billy Red Deer said softly from behind her, “Yes, Ms. Morgan. I'm afraid it is."
* * * *
OF ALL THE people who might have been born for a date with destiny, Maurice William Dowd would never have put himself on the list. Yet fate had decreed otherwise. He had been chosen by God to punctuate the return of His Son. Of course he would be hated by all of mankind, but that did not matter. He would reap his reward in Heaven with Jesus and all the other prophets. He would never hear a word of condemnation, as he would be long dead, probably from a hail of bullets fired by the Secret Service guards who surrounded Jesus and President Crowley. But by then, the deed would be done. His name would become as hated as that of John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, and James Earl Ray.
He smiled wryly to himself. Somehow the irony of that appealed to him. To be lumped with the vilest criminals of history when his act would glorify the God and The Son, amused him. Small minds required very little to set their tongues wagging. He did not care. He saw the big picture and the tiny perspective from which the masses viewed the world was not his concern.
It was imperative Jesus be martyred, just as Judas had martyred him in his first incarnation. Did Jesus not tacitly condone Judas’ actions? Of course he did. The Son of God would have known all that would happen. Nothing could happen that he did not allow to happen. The crucifixion was planned from the beginning. Jesus would know Maurice had been sent in accordance with the Divine Plan. He would see it in his eyes.
Dowd finished polishing his ivory-handled pistol ... the same one he had worn at his side
with pride throughout his military career in the Marine Corps. Satisfied it was well oiled and all the mechanisms worked properly, he gently placed it in its leather holster and hung it alongside his freshly pressed uniform. He smiled with satisfaction. How fortunate he was to know, with crystal clarity, his destiny. So few people ever figured out what theirs was. He could almost feel pity for them.
His preparations made, he readied himself for a good night's sleep.
* * * *
"THIS WASN'T SMART, Arnold, having all of us meet in your office like this. It is sure to attract attention,” Harold Bennett protested.
"Does it seem like anyone really cares about any of us, Senator?” Arnold said with a wry smile. “Everyone is focused on Jesus and the White House, and Jesus’ upcoming speech at the United Nations. There hasn't been a reporter within a hundred yards of me for the past two weeks. Nobody cares about the investigation any more. Senator, have any reporters been hanging around wondering if you are going to run next year?"
"No, now that you mention it,” Harold admitted.
"What is so fired-up important for you to take this risk, though?” Ray wanted to know. “You cut your trip to France real short."
"And as you can see,” Arnold said, “no one has noticed. I had an enlightening encounter with a member of the family with close ties to The Council while I was in France."
"They're thick as thieves, aren't they?"
"Yes. The gentleman I met, however, is what you might call a black sheep cousin. His name was Claude Chambleau. My staff is checking him out as we speak, but I'm sure they won't find anything, and I think you will agree after you see what I have to show you."
"How did you run into him?” Harold asked.
"He followed me for about an hour before I got the drop on him and confronted him. He is a small man, a scholar. He lives in a very simple one room flat in a seedy part of Paris. But he had information he claimed even the Council does not possess, about our friend, Yoshua."
"It is this information which has prompted this meeting, I presume,” Ray said.
Arnold nodded. “Yes. And when you hear it, you will agree. It is news almost as shocking as the cloning of Jesus."
The expressions on Harold's and Ray's faces prompted him to continue.
"Here.” He reached into his briefcase and produced the documents Claude had given him. “Take a look at these. This is the unbroken lineage of the family of the House of Joseph."
The two men huddled over the documents, the enormity of their content rapidly dawning on them.
"Do you mean to tell us this traces the lineage of Jesus right up to the present day?” Harold gasped.
"Indeed it does, Harold, leading right up to.... “his finger pointed to the last name on the document.
"My God!” Ray exclaimed. “This isn't possible."
Arnold's eyes met Ray's. “Yes, Ray. I'm afraid it's not only possible ... it's a fact."
* * * *
"WHERE'S SUSAN?” CROWLEY demanded.
"I don't know, Chief,” Harvey Thatcher shrugged. “Let's just start without her."
"I'm really sick to death of her attitude,” Crowley scowled. “She may not care much for me, but dammit, she agreed to become part of this administration and as such she has obligations. This meeting is one of them."
"I personally don't trust her,” Mathias offered. “She is too much of a free agent. That's what got her in trouble when she was a reporter. We need cooperation if we are going to get things done."
"Do not be too hard on her,” Jesus spoke up. “She is our only link to Angelino. We don't know what he is up to but sooner or later he will show up and when he does, it will be her he comes to. That is why we keep her around.” He walked over to the window. “Susan Morgan is essentially an honest woman. We must never underestimate how much trouble that can cause us, if we are not careful."
"Did someone mention my name?” Susan's voice startled them, and caused some of them to lower their eyes, having been caught in the act of talking behind her back. Standing with Susan were Father Angelino and three other men.
Susan's eyes twinkled with a confident playfulness, which annoyed the President's men. Susan had been easier to manage when she had been a withdrawn and timid mouse. Like most men of power, those in this room were irritated by a woman who exhibited power of her own. The audacity of her bringing these four men into the secure chamber of the Oval Office was more than Crowley, whose mood was already testy, was willing to endure.
"Ms. Morgan. This is an official government meeting. These people are not allowed in here.” Crowley put on his best presidential face and filled his voice with as much authority as he could without becoming a self-parody.
"Oh, come now, Gene,” Susan said flippantly, brazenly making her way past Thatcher and Roger Harmon and sitting down in front of Crowley's desk. “We don't have anything to hide from them, do we?"
Crowley stood behind his desk in stunned silence. He was not accustomed to being treated with so little respect, and like most people confronted with behavior outside the norm, it took him a moment to process that new pattern. It did not take long. There was something disarming in Susan's boldness, almost as if she knew he could not do anything to hurt her. His instincts alerted him to be cautious.
"Susan,” he finally said, forcing his voice to mimic patience. “You know classified information is discussed in these meetings. These men are neither cleared for that, nor are they a part of this administration."
"But, Mr. President,” Angelino chimed in cheerfully. “We're here as American citizens. All of us but our friend Imahoptec here. He is here as a citizen of our hemisphere, however.” He casually sat in the chair next to Susan.
Crowley regarded Angelino warily. “Father Angelino, we have procedures for our citizens to contact their government, through their elected officials."
"Oh, you mean like writing my congressman? Naw. Too slow. We don't have time for that."
Through all of this, Jesus had been standing behind Crowley, gazing out the window as if oblivious to the activity going on behind him. Now, hands clasped behind his back, he turned slowly and nodded a greeting to Angelino, who returned the gesture in kind.
"It is nice to see you again, Father Angelino,” he said with just the barest trace of a courteous smile. “Susan has been concerned about you."
Angelino patted Susan's leg in a fatherly fashion. “Yes, she's quite the little dear, isn't she?” His eyes did not move off Jesus.
Behind Angelino's back, Thatcher made a silent gesture to Harmon to call security.
"Mr. Harmon, please remain where you are,” Angelino said firmly, his eyes still riveted on Jesus. “There is no need for security. No one is here to harm anyone.” He turned his head and smiled at Harmon. “Right?"
Harmon, his face bearing an expression of bewilderment, looked first to Thatcher and then to Crowley for instruction. Crowley nodded and said, “It's okay, Roger. Take a seat.” He sat down behind his desk and said, “Let's hear what Father Angelino has to say.” Thatcher's fist clenched at his sides in frustration. Angelino returned his gaze to Jesus.
"You've been a busy little Son of God, haven't you?” he said to Jesus, through a broad smile.
Jesus did not appear to find humor in his remark. He paced slowly from behind Crowley's desk and stood upright before Angelino, looking down at him in a pose of regal command. He said nothing. Neither he nor Angelino flinched from the confrontation. The tension grew palpable in the room. Thatcher and Harmon fidgeted nervously. Susan seemed amused. Off to the rear, Cassidy, Billy, and Imahoptec stood impassively. Mathias stood with his arms crossed, looking as dour as he usually did.
"Angelino,” Jesus said, with the barest trace of a threat in his voice. “I suspect it is time for you and your friends to return to your lives. You cannot stop the forces which have been set in motion. I suggest you not even try."
Angelino seemed to be mulling that proposal over in his mind but the twinkle in his eye
s told Susan otherwise.
"Actually, Jesus, I do not intend to stop you."
"No?” Crowley blurted.
"No, Mr. President. Frankly, I have better things to do."
No one seemed to know how to respond to that. Crowley looked to Thatcher and Harmon, who looked toward each other.
Crowley finally said to Angelino, “Then why are you here?"
"Perhaps a better question, Mr. President is: What is it you are up to you think I might want to stop?” He shot the president a sideways glance and with mock seriousness said, “You wouldn't be up to anything nasty, would you now?"
Crowley was not amused. Nor were the others in the room, except of course the Knights and Susan. Susan was convinced Angelino would face the end of the world with a wink and a chuckle, so nonplused was he in the face of adversity ... so much so she doubted the concept of adversity even existed in Father Angelino's lexicon.
Jesus was still positioned directly in front of Angelino, his hard gaze barely having diverted from the priest.
"May I help you?” Angelino quipped to Jesus. Susan laughed out loud.
"I warn you, Angelino, do not trifle with me,” Jesus glowered. “You cannot conceive of the powers you are up against."
Angelino did not flinch, but continued to meet Jesus’ sharp gaze.
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