by Gerard Denza
Marlena almost choked on her gin.
Yolanda and Susan laughed.
-Water, mother? Choking to death?
-Now, what was I saying? I was commenting on how Edward fits in with his surroundings. I can feel the energy coming from him even now. It feels glorious! We will win!
A few patrons turned to stare at us.
-Marlena?
-Yes, Edward?
-Why did you pack Rosamund off the way you did?
-Do you miss her?
-No. I didn’t find her to be all that friendly.
-She wasn’t very interesting. She was a bitch.
-Yolanda, we agree. She was a bore. We’re better off without her and her Nazi friend.
-My mother...
Gabriel drank his coffee and, as usual, had nothing to say. Susan looked over her shoulder.
-Are you all right, Susan?
-No, Edward. I’m not. We’re being watched.
I could see that Marlena was trying not to look around.
-My daughter is paranoid.
-Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black, mother?
She ignored her daughter because she probably couldn’t argue with the truth.
-Rosamund and Erich had to be left behind. Erich had no part in this drama. Rosamund is far too emotional and knew more than she was willing to tell. I should have killed the bitch. How foolish of me not to.
-Why kill a bore, Marlena?
-She was a threat to us, Yolanda. She may, in fact, go to the police. Anyway, Edward, still can’t remember anything of your past?
-Oh, mother, give it a rest! Really. We’re asking enough of this man as it is.
-That’s okay, Susan. Not my past, Marlena; but I keep seeing a group of people at a table in a bar somewhere. When I was reading Valerie’s journal, the people who she mentioned in it were familiar to me. Their names triggered some kind of memory.
-What were you doing at the table, Edward. Tell me. You must remember.
-I don’t know. We weren’t drinking or even talking.
-You were conducting a seance. That’s how you were sent back to this time and place.
-But, Marlena, if I was sent back to the past, doesn’t that mean that there’s a future?
-A future that has somehow been distorted and changed. A plague had somehow overtaken the world.
-How?
-I’ve a vague idea, Edward; but after the Mass, we might have a few answers.
-Where will the Mass take place?
-Thinking of joining us, Yolanda?
-You said that I could. You promised.
-Of course, dear, a witness is needed. You merely sit there and look pretty.
-Marlena, where?
-Within the area of the great pyramid and right before dusk, Edward.
-Do you think there’ll be any attempt to stop us?
-I don’t think so. The attempt will be made during the Mass. He’ll try to kill me; but, it won’t matter because if I fail, the world comes to an end anyway. And, do you know what will be the most horrible part? No one will be aware of it. It will happen so quickly and ruthlessly that in an instant it will be over and a new world will take its place that will be a carbon copy of this one. But, the circumstances will be different as the very glue which holds this planet of ours together will come unglued, so to speak, for a moment. A new race will be substituted for the old one: a race born from the- I can’t even bring myself to say it.
We waited for our “leader” to continue.
-At times, you know, I’ve thought of just allowing it all to happen or, perhaps, taking refuge somewhere and just witnessing the event. But, there is no refuge. How could there be? For a single moment, the wave of time will be disrupted and a new order will take hold. It will be the expelling of one consciousness for another. And, you may ask what will become of the consciousness that was once ours? Consciousness is energy that cannot just be driven out or annihilated. No. It must go somewhere.
-Dare I ask where, Marlena?
-Into the chasm, Yolanda, that we call the abyss: the dark nothingness that leads...somewhere.
-Oh, where?
-Dear Yolanda. Here, of course. The very seat that you’re sitting on now. Consciousness doesn’t die. He can’t destroy it. It forced Edward back here to me. And, somehow, my dear, you are involved.
Yolanda and I found the implications of Marlena’s statements disturbing.
-I’m suddenly quite thirsty. Gabriel, fetch mother another gin, would you, please? That’s a good boy. And, only a smidgen of tonic water.
Gabriel sprang to his feet to get the gin, but despite outward appearances, that young man wasn’t a mama’s boy.
-Marlena, why me and Yolanda? How are we connected? Did we know each other in a past life?
-No, Edward, you knew each other in a future life. Somehow, Yolanda brought you here. It was no accident your appearance in the ice rink. It was planned.
-Who planned it?
-Interestingly enough, I believe it was Yolanda.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE TIME DECEIVER
I HAD BEEN GOING TO bed early these past few days because my body and mind were drained by day’s end. Now, I just laid on top of the sheets, naked and with thoughts of Yolanda. Nice. I turned my head toward the right to look at the magnificent view of the desert. I stared into the vastness of the ancient gods’ realm. It was a landscape that had been changed by the elements of nature and the meanderings of man. The sun touched the horizon. This burning sphere would soon sink below the desert’s rim, pushed by the sacred chariot only to re-emerge the next day and begin its journey once again, renewed and traversing the golden arc across the blue desert sky.
The cold, desert air wafted over my body. It caressed that manhood that was mine and it brought me to excitement. I felt the cool and caressing touch of a woman’s hand...the hand of a temple priestess. Her body reached through time and space to kneel down beside me. Her lips felt as two small drops of frost as they caressed my hard, throbbing rod. Her tongue was selfish as was her disciplined passion...so disciplined and so strong. I felt hurt and pain, but this was a joy as I cried out and as she drank the life giving sperm that I thought would choke her.
And, she was gone.
I turned my back toward the desert as I got up and out of bed to walk toward the window. I was still sensitive in that sacred area. I took a deep breath of the night air. Only one more day and I would know everything or I would be as nothing that had never existed. The concept, for me, was impossible to grasp; but, somehow, I felt that Marlena had grasped its implications.
Tomorrow was a strange word to use because it denoted time and time is running out and there will literally be no time left. There will be nothing left. The great sea will no longer have ripples upon its surface. Instead, the life-giving waters of the primal sea will be a stagnant pool of lifeless nothing.
As the sun sank beneath the horizon, it stirred some memory within one who hasn't yet lived a life to which he won’t return. If we succeed, I’ll stay here and, if not...no point in thinking about that.
I wrapped my arms about my torso. I gazed at the beautiful, cold stars of the night that gave no warmth to my body. I must be satisfied with their distance.
Diana’s bow was suspended in the night sky. It occurred to me that it was the last heavenly vision which Valerie had seen before she was murdered. I really knew nothing concrete about Valerie Spender. She was a young woman who had entered my life, but had no substance in it. I had been mentioned in her journal. She had known of me. How? My life hadn’t crossed over into her life.
I extended my arm toward the heavens, but could grasp nothing except the cold air. I had come alive less than a month ago on a slab of ice and was now taken to the desert to die?
I pounded my fists on the balcony’s stone balustrade.
-Stop! Don’t harm yourself.
I stopped my useless pounding and leaned against the cold stone. Sweat poured down my neck.
/> -They did well to choose you.
I turned to look into my hotel room and saw a man’s bare legs on my bed. I took a step toward him. He got up with the agility of an athlete. His naked body was etched by shadows and light. He held his hand out toward me.
-Stop. You cannot see my face, Edward Mendez. Do not attempt it, for it is a god whom you see before you. It is a god who speaks to you.
-What is this god’s name? Tell me that much, because right now, we’re just two naked men on equal terms.
-Not equal. You are my inferior.
-What’s your name, pal?
-The deceiver. The warrior whose battles are endless. Look to the tarot card which you stole from Marlena’s parlor. You still have an erection. Do I excite you? I can satisfy you.
-You do excite me, but it’s not you-
-My strength and my powers of annihilation? Yes. I will satisfy you through annihilation. Come to me!
-No.
-Yes! First your soul...think of it as a shared immortality with me.
-Immortality?
-As your only means of escape from the dread.
-What dread?
-From Marlena’s own fears, and from that rather foolish Mass that she will be attempting tomorrow evening.
-Tell me what will happen.
This god moved a step forward and the etched shadows on his body danced.
-The dread? It is nothing but an instant of reckoning when every man, woman, and child will be consumed by the locusts. A few may escape the carnage, but not many. And, they will be dealt with later. But, as I was saying: their hearts will be ripped from their bodies and brought to me so that I may feast upon them. Their remains will be devoured until nothing remains and, then, for a moment, time will have ceased to exist. This planet will no longer have the binding force of consciousness A new consciousness will be born of my making. Edward Mendez, you excite me.
-Not interested.
-For a moment, if one may use such a term, this world will be devoid of all that lives. Its cities will be empty and there will be a stillness upon this planet that has not been heard before. The dream will come to an end and another dream will begin. The world will be peopled by a new race.
-From where?
-Excellent question! From the very locusts that devour...fresh from the kill!
I lost my erection.
-Yes. It is hideous.
He took another step toward me.
-Don’t fear. The sacrifice must be willing.
-But, I come from-
-From where? Beginning to remember, or more accurately put: beginning to prophesy about Howard and Melody and Sean?
He held his arms out to me: muscular and sinewy and beaded with sweat.
-Remembering what you will be? It won’t help you. You’ll remain here in the unlikely event that I am defeated. And, I will not be defeated by that tenacious woman. I’ll help your memory. Time is not of a linear progression which is how you manage to be here in the year 1947. It is how you were slipped through, so to speak, with Yolanda’s help. I’ll have to kill her for that. I see you as framed by the beautiful desert night with Diana’s bow hovering just above you. You are like a portrait in a gallery that moves when the eye stares at it for too long. Come to me!
-You don’t listen too good. No.
-The portrait speaks! Allow me to touch you...to touch the sculpted work which lies within the canvas.
-A new race will be born?
-Yes!
-With souls?
-Of course! However, some with more consciousness than others, but all will be hard and ruthless.
-And, the old souls? the ones that you will have murdered? What happens to them?
-Who cares? Look over your shoulder; but, do not move. Do not disturb the portrait!
All I saw were stars.
-Stars, Edward Mendez...many souls will migrate, but some will choose to stay and brave the ordeal of reincarnation. Yours will be one of them; but, you may change that.
-I understand now.
-Tell me what you understand.
-Tell me more about yourself.
-I am an ancient...a god to your kind.
-And, to your kind?
-An immortal who was left behind. A cohort of the wandering Jew, for a time. We went our separate ways. He didn’t appreciate me.
-Why did you murder Valerie Spender?
-She was a threat to my plans. She understood too much. And, besides, my henchmen did the dirty work: called up from their black hole. I did not soil my own hands. Let me press them upon your warm body.
-Fucking coward! No. Were you Marlena’s lover?
-Come to me, and I may answer that.
-No. I’m getting tired of saying that, pal.
I realized then that my vision from before had not been a vision, but a reality. The priestess had been real enough. She had satisfied me so that I would need no further satisfaction no matter what the temptation.
-Who the hell are you?
-A god of an ancient race long gone from this world.
This so-called god held his manhood. His stomach muscles heaved as he let out a scream which pushed me back by a few feet. My bare rump hit the top of the stone railing.
-That was rather nice. Sorry to have made a mess of your floor. I will go now.
-Wait. If I put a bullet through you, pal, would that stop you? It’s a simple question, so try answering it.
-No.
-Let me give it a try.
I raced to the bed, but he was too quick for me. He turned around and walked toward and, then, through the damn door.
-Good riddance, you bastard.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LOVERS AND ENEMIES
I GOT DRESSED IN A hurry. The sun was on the point of rising and I wanted to speak with Yolanda. I now fancied that I was able to take some educated guesses at a few things. I crossed the hall and knocked on her door. By reflex, I tucked in my black T-shirt and put my sunglasses in my pants pocket.
-Edward! I’m so glad you came. Good. You’re wearing your regular street clothes. I didn’t like that kaftan. I ordered breakfast for us. It will be here soon. Marlena has tried to keep us apart. I hate her for that. Bitch!
Yolanda’s room was almost an exact duplicate of mine. A carpeted hallway led directly into the bedroom. I took a quick look around to make sure that we were alone.
-I’m hungry. But Yolanda, we’ve got to talk and there’s not much time. Susan will come calling for me at any moment and I don’t want to arouse her suspicions. I’m surprised she hasn’t arrived yet. It’s not like her to be late. You can set your watch by her.
-She’s nice, but can we trust her? She’s Marlena’s daughter, you know.
-Agreed. She keeps her mother well informed. Let’s sit down.
-Are you in love with Susan?
-No. When I first met her, I thought that I might be.
-Oh? Changed your mind?
-It was more of a paternal feeling. She has no father and her mother...well, you get my drift.
-I understand. What about Gabriel?
-I can’t make him out. I’ve never heard the guy speak. Have you?
-No. Dolores told me once that he only speaks during the Mass. He’s strange.
-Agreed. And, have you noticed how Marlena treats him?
-Yes. Like a possessive mother.
-Yes. But only when she’s actually speaking to him and giving him orders. She’s very loving...almost too loving, if you can guess what I’m hinting at.
-I understand.
-But, whenever we’re in any kind of social setting, she ignores Gabriel. It’s as if he didn’t exist. She doesn’t even acknowledge his presence.
-What are you getting at, Edward?
-I’m not so sure, baby. Who is the elder: Susan or Gabriel? Do you know?
-I don’t. I think it must be Gabriel. Why?
-They don’t look like brother and sister. Susan is kind of plain and looks just a
bit like her mother; but Gabriel is handsome and almost-
-Almost what?
-I can’t put my finger on it.
-Maybe, he takes after his father.
-I wonder. Just maybe, Susan and Gabriel have different fathers.
-You told me Marlena had a lover. Could he be Gabriel’s father?
-With Marlena, anything’s possible.
-But, I don’t want to talk any more about them. Edward, will we be successful tonight? Do we have a chance?
-Marlena seems to think so.
-But, do you?
-It depends on the moment. If I were a gambling man, I’d be hard pressed on our odds.
-I understand. So what do you want to discuss?
-Your benefactor. Who is he? What’s his name, and what does he look like?
-I don’t know who he is, not really. He must be wealthy and-
-His name, Yolanda? Don’t tell me you don’t know it?
-My God, Edward, I don’t!
-I believe you. Marlena had a nameless lover, too. What does your benefactor look like?
-What does he look like? Tall and athletic, but...
-Yes?
-But, he shouldn’t be, if that makes any sense. He’s strong, but always in shadows or standing behind me or talking on the telephone.
-Marlena’s nameless lover, your nameless benefactor, and my visitor with no name.
-So, what does it mean? What visitor are you talking about?
-He’s one and the same person and another person, as well, if that makes any damned sense. But, the name...he actually mentioned it.
-What name? What man? I’m not understanding this.
-It won’t come. It’s like having no memory of a future event. It hasn’t occurred, yet, so how the hell could you recall something that hasn’t even happened yet? Christ!
-Who is this man, Edward, the one who came to you?
-An alien from another world whose race came to the earth millennia ago? An ancient who doesn’t have enough sense to die and call it quits? He’s manipulating us all, Yolanda: first Marlena, taunting her and, then, using you.
-Why me? And, why Marlena? Why would he tell her anything? Why hasn’t he just killed her? I would have.
I laughed out loud at that one.
-Maybe, he can’t. Valerie would have been easy pickings for him, but he summoned a bunch of goons to do the job. Why? Why go through all that bother?