Genuflect
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Asshespoke,anorange‐redballoflightcameupoutofthewellinthecorner, justliketheonebefore,andflewacrosstheroom,straightintoMarcia’sskull.
Shethenbecamepossessedofaspiritevenmoredemonicallyevilandsadistic thantheoneshealreadycalledherown.Whensheansweredthephone,she spokewithamasculine,gutturalvoice.
“HelloSir.Yes.I’mfine,sir.Ihaveasorethroat.Yes,ofcourse.Goahead.
Firethetorpedo.We’llhelpyoupayfortheaftermath,likealways.Don’t worry.”
Shehungupanddistractedlytriedtohandherbucklerandphoneoverto Rosenberg.
“Father,holdtheseformeplease,”shesaid,staringwantonlyatCrispin.
RosenbergjerkedhishandawayindisgustandmotionedforoneoftheRavens totaketheitemsinstead.Handsnowfree,sherippedopenherrobeandher blouse,squeezinghershriveledoldbreasts.ThenshegrabbedCrispinandkissed himpassionatelyonthemouth,rubbinghischestandgraspinghislimppenis betweenherbonyfingers.
Theyoungmanseemedrevoltedatfirst.But,overcomewithhislingering possessionbytheArchonofLust,hesuccumbedtohercaressesandbeganto regainhiserection.Marciathendecidedtositdownonthestonebenchonthe
walloppositefromthepillarwhereIwaschained.Shelaidbackonthelarge cushionbehindherandhadCrispinkneelwithhisheadbetweenherlegs.Ihada perfectview.Icouldn’thelpbutstareinhorror.
Thesondutifullybeganstimulatinghismother’sclitoriswithhistongue,asI suspectedhehaddonemanytimesbeforeinlessritualizedanddivinelyinspired circumstances.Sheadmonishedhimnottobe“toohasty.”Thensheclosedher eyesandletoutanintensemoanthatturnedintoagrowl.Afterafewminutes, shetoldhimtostop.Sheregainedhercomposuretemporarilyandissueda commandtotheotherpeoplewearingRomanhelmetslikehers.
“Soldiers,takeupyourspearsandshieldsanddivideyourselvesintotwoeven rows.”
TheSoldiersalllookedatRosenberg,whostoodnexttothealtar.Henoddedhis agreement.Obediently,theyallgrabbedbucklersfromthewallbehindthealtar, andspears,whichweremountedrightnexttothem.(None,I noticed,chosetheSuperman‐logo‐shapedshield,perhapsbecauseitwasso peculiar.)Thentheystoodatattentionintworowswithfourmeneach.There wasarowofmenoneithersideofherbench,staringacrosstoeachother, awaitinginstructions.
“Fightthemanacrossfromyou,untileitherheoryouaredead.”
Therewasamomentofhesitancy.Themenlookedateachotherfrombehind theirmasks.Butitonlylastedforafewseconds,asRosenbergappearedtohave noobjection.Tothecontrary,heissuedacomplimentarycommandtothe Nymphuswhosejobitwastoplaythedrum.
“Givemeadrumbeatplease.Somethingappropriateforasoldiermarchingto war.”
TheNymphnoddedandbegantappingoutafuriousbeat.Oneoftheguysinthe middleoftherowonmyrightstruckoutatthemanacrossfromhim.Thenall hellbrokeloosebetweenthetwoteams.Bloodwasflyingeverywhere.Anear gotslicedoffandlandedinfrontofme.
Marcialookedonatthespectacleinsatisfaction,andleanedbackagain.
Crispinresumedhiswork.Withinacoupleofminutes,fourmenweredead,and Marcialookedlikeshewasabouttoclimax.Shewaslayingdiagonallyonthe benchnow,archingherpelvisuptowardsCrispin’smouthasheslurpedaway.
“Nowfighteachotheruntilthere’sonlyoneofyou,”shegaspedinaraspy demonicvoice.Caughtupinthefrenzyofbattlebythistime,nobodyquestioned theorder.Ittookafewmoreminutesforthesemorecompetentsoldierstobecut down.
Duringthistime,Marciahadhersonremovehismouthseveraltimesforafew seconds,andthenresumehiswork.Sheseemedtobetimingherorgasmuntil thelastkillofthecombatwasmade.Whenthisoccurred,shebeganjerking spasmodically,yelling“Hurrah!Hurrah!”whilethevictorstoodbeforeherwith hisspearheldhighoverhishead,pantingandsweatingnervously.Hewas obviouslystillterrifiedforhislife,eventhoughhe’dwon.
Thedrummerboyhadjustfinishedhisset,butanewsetofknockswasheard comingfromthedoorsofthefrontentrance.OneoftheRavenswentto openitasMarciastoodupandclosedherrobe.ItwasMiles.Hewalkedinand raisedhishandtosignalRosenberg.
Insodoing,heexposedhisgun,whichwasholsteredinhisbeltonthefrontof hisbody.Marcia,seemingtoreactoninstinct,seizeditonsight.Milesjust staredather,takenabackatherbrazenness.Sheturnedaroundandpointedthe gunatthevictorioussolesurvivingSoldier.
“Welldone,youbraveyoungman.You’veearnedsomemetalonyourchest.”
Andwiththat,sheshothimintheleftbreast.Hefellover,emittingvacuous gaspsofairfromtheholeinhislungsasbloodsputteredoutofhismouth.
“Ahyes,thatwasgreat!”yelledMarcia.Shebegangoose‐steppingaroundthe roomhappily.Behindher,Milesclearedhisthroatloudlyandthenspokepast hertoRosenberg.
“Father,sir,twoofourbrothershavearrivedlateunexpectedly,withalittleone intow.”
“Tellthemtogohome.Wecan’tbeinterruptednow,”repliedRosenberg.
“Howrudeandcarelessofthem.Ourelectonesshouldknowbetterthanthat.”
“Thesebrothersareveryimportant,”Milesadded.
“Oh,thenwhoarethesesupposedVIPs?”heasked,laughing.“Youknowthat Mithrasisnorespecterofpersons.”
“TheDukeofRothesay,sir.AndBaronCarrickfergus.AndLittleSaintGeorge.”
Acollectivegaspwentthroughtheroom.Itseemedthateveryonepresentwas bothfamiliarandimpressedwiththecodenamesmentioned.Itwipedthesmile offMarcia’sface.Shesatdownonthebenchnexttoherson,bothofthemnow lookingveryserious.OnlyRosenbergwasunmoved.Hewalkedoverandtook thegunawayfromMarcia,whohandeditoverwithoutobjection.
“Isthatso?Well,that isimpressive.Nonetheless,I’mnotsurewecandisposeof oneformofdecorumforanother….”
Promptedbymytelepathicinformant,Iinterrupted,projectingmyvoiceasfaras Icould.
“Letthemcomehither.For threekingsaredestinedtobowdownbeforethenew Sun!”
Rosenbergturnedandlookedatmethroughhismask.Hecockedhisheadtothe side,confused.Thenhewalkeduptomeandwhispered.
“Butdon’twehavetofinishtheritetonightfirst?Ibelievethehourisgetting late.”
“Andthesearetheoneswhohavebeencalledtofinishtherite!Someofthe actorsyouhavechosendonotfittherole.”
Ispokequietly,andInolongersoundedlikemyself.Myvoicetookona seethingquality,raspyandinhuman,asifItoohadaholeinmylung,justlike thepoorSoldierwhogurgledouthislastspitofbloodonthefloorinfrontof me.
Rosenbergtookitallin,thennodded.
“Goahead,Miles,letthemjoinus.Butseethatthetwobrothersareproperly suitedaccordingtotheirgradesintheorder.Asforthelittleone…”
Helookedatme,asifwaitingforajudgmentfrommeaboutwhattodowith
“LittleSaintGeorge.”Apparently,thiswasachildtooyoungtobea
“brother”inanorderthatadmittedboysasyoungasseven.Hehadbeenbrought toaplacewhereyoungboysweresubjectedtorepeatedhomosexualrapesand madetobecomplicitinritualmurder.
HowcanIpreventthemfrombringinghimintothispitofhellandabusing him here? ,Iaskedmytelepathicinformant.
Thereisnowaytosavethischild,thevoicetoldme. ButletMilessitwith himin themainlobbyfornow. IrepeatedthatlastparttoRosenbergasacommand fromtherealmbeyond.
“Don’tworry,”saidMiles.“They’realreadyintheircostumes.I’lltakecareof thechild.”
Withthat,heduckedoutthroughthedoor,whichheleftslightlyajar.Amoment later,twomeninrobesandmasks,oneaSun,theotheraLion,came throughthedoo
rway,thenwalkeddownthehall,theLionleadingtheSun.The Lionhadsaltandpepperhair.TheSunhadshortgoldenhairwithabaldpatch ontop.TheybothcameandstoodbeforeRosenberginthecenteroftheroom.
“Well,brothers,it’snicetoseethatyoufinallydecidedtoshowup.Ithought youweretoobusytocometonight,despitemyinsistencethatitwouldbethe mostimportantritewehaveeverconducted.”
“Yes,”saidtheLion.“Well,ithasbeenaneventfulevening.Myfatherreceived acallfromthisbuildingafewminutesagothathasinitiatedaverydangerous sequenceofevents.Thiscountryisnowinaperilousinternationalcrisis.The RussiansubthatwasjusttorpedoedintheStraightofDovermayverywellset offanuclearwarifwedon’tdialitbacksomehow.”
“Sowecameheretotalktotheverypersonswebelievetobefomentingthis crisis,toaskthemtobackoff,”saidtheSun‐man,lookingatMarciaandCrispin.
“Weasknotonlyasrepresentativesofthecrown,butasyourbrothersinMithras
too.”HenoddedpolitelywithreserveddeferencetowardsRosenberg.Itwassort ofahalf‐bow,asifshowingrespectfortheleaderoftheOrder,butholdingback fullobeisanceoutofrespectforhisownpositionofauthority.Itremindedmeof BarackObamatryingtobowtotheKingofSaudiArabiawithoutlookinglikehe wasbowing.
“AndforthesakeoftheGoddessourMother,”theLionadded,makingthesame half‐assedbowtowardsConsivia.
“Dulynoted,Rothesay.Thankyou,”saidConsivia,noddingbackathim.
Sothat’stheDuke,Ithoughttomyself. TheotheronemustbeBaron Carrickfergus.IwonderifhegothisbaronyfromthesameplaceLeopolddid. I wastryingtothinkflippantly,tobringsomelevitytothesituationformyself,but myguttoldmethatthisDukeandBaronwerenotpretending.Infact,Igotthe feelingtheywereeachjustusingsomeoftheirmore minor titlesforthis occasion.
Marcianowstoodup,lookingpossessedbyevilintentionsratherthanfearonce again.Shetookwhatshethoughtwasherfamily’shereditarybucklerbackdown fromthewall,andoneofthespears,whichsheheldinherrighthandwiththe tipdownward.Thenshestrodearrogantlyovertowherethetwoapparent aristocratsofhighstature,self‐identifiedas agentsofthecrown,werestanding.
SheaddressedherselffirsttotheLion.
“Youknow,notonlyshouldyou notinterruptameetinginprogressthatyou couldn’tbebotheredtoshowupontimefor.Thefactis,inthispartoftown, you’resupposedtoaskformypermissiontocrossthe pomoerium.”
“NotifRegina’sstillalive,”hereplied.
“Ihearsheisn’t,”saidMarcia,bringingherspearupandpointingitinhisface.
“Andifthat’strueyou’reputtingthekingdominaveryprecariouspositionby cominghere.Whichmeansyou’redesperate.Sowhatdoyouhavetobargain with?IsthatwhyyoubroughtLittleSaintGeorge?Bringhimouthere.Ilovea Viennasausageeverynowandthen.”Shegnashedherteethathim.
“Showsomerespect!”saidRosenberg,grabbingthespearfromoutoftheLord
Mayor’shand.Evenpossessedbythewargod,theoldwoman’sboneyhands werenomatchforthestrengthofaman.Hedidn’tevenhavetopointthegunat her,andinsteadholstereditinhiswaistbandbeneathhisrobebeforehetookthe spear.Asherweaponslippedoutofhergrasp,Ms.Martinastumbledbackwards andlandedonherbutt.Iheardbrittlebonessnap.
Osteoporosisisabitch,Ithought.
“Actuallywhatyou’reholdingisatrinket,”Rosenbergsaidsneeringlyashe toweredoverhercoweringbody.“It’sforlittleboysandgirlswholiketodress upandplaytoysoldier.TherealHebrewtalismanthatturnedNathanRothschild intotheLeviathanoffinanceworldwideissomethingelseentirely.Butof course,youdon’thavethesubtletyofmindtounderstandthat.Wetzel!”
“Yes!”TheothermanwiththeSunmaskstumbledoutfromtheshadowsand stooddutifullybeforehismaster.
“LettheLordMayorandhersonhavealookattheexplosiveheadlinesthatjust hittheinternationalnewswires,”Rosenberginstructed.
“Whichones?”Wetzelasked.ThenuclearthreatsfromRussia?Orthefinancial news?”
“No,firsttheoneaboutthevideoyoujustleakedtoyourcontactsattheBBC,”
thePaterspecified.
Wetzelreachedintohisrobeandpulledoutasmartphone.Hepressedafew buttons,andthenturnedthescreenouttowardswhereMarciasatontheground, lookingaghast.Crispingotupandwalkedtowardsthescreen,staringatitin horrorwithhisrighthandholdinghisveilupontopofhishead.Wetzelpressed abuttononthesideofthephone,andthesoundbecameloudenoughforusallto hear.
Itwasafamiliarsequenceofwordsandsounds—oneswehadjustheardcoming fromMarciamomentsearlier.Weheardagainthemoansofecstasyasherson pleasuredher.ThenamaleTVpresenter’svoicecouldbeheard,apparently narratinga seriesofclips.
“Anotherrecordingprovidedtoourreporterbythisanonymoussourceshows whatappearstobetheLordMayorinthesamepositionwithamalechild,
possiblyasyoungastwelve,fromthelooksofit.”
Marciapushedherheavymetalhelmetoffofherhead,anditlandedwithaloud clangonthefloor.Thepresentercontinued.
“Ofcourse,wewon’tbeshowingyouevendoctoredversionsofthat,asit does constitutechildpornographyand isillegaltopossess.We’vepassedbothvideos ontoMI5forauthentication.”
“Ihopethoseshotsweretightenoughtoconcealourlocation,”saidWetzel.
“Shh,”saidRosenberg.“Listen.”Thereportwenton.
“Butthemostheart‐breakingthingisthatthisfilm, andthefirstoneweshowed you,withCrispinMartina,weredate‐stampedwithtonight’sdate,from lessthan anhourago.Thatmeansthatthissickparty,wherechildrenarebeingabused,is potentiallystilltakingplacerightnow.ScotlandYardhasconfirmedthattheyare ontheirwaytoMansionHousewithawarrantfortheLordMayor’sarrest.”
“GoodGod,Blake,you’llgetusalltakendown.Whathaveyoudone?”said Crispin.Hereachedinhisrobe,gotouthisphone,andbegandialinganumber.
“Thatisanextrememove,”saidtheDukeofRothesaytoRosenberg.
“We’reallvulnerablewhenitcomestothatsortofthing.It’ssupposedtobethe bulletthatnevergetsfired.”
“TellthattoJimmySaville,”saidMarcia,openingupherowncellphonenow.
“I’llbedamnedifI’mgoingtoletyouhangmeouttodrylikethat.Myfamily won’tletithappen.”
“Yourfamilywillbetoobusyscrapingupwhateverassetstheyhaveleftand fleeingthecountriestheylivein,”saidRosenberg.“Whileyouwereinthis chamberhavingyoursmegma‐coveredcuntservicedbyyoursnivelingson,the valueofyourfamily’swealthhasevaporated.Whatgoodwillmountainsofgold doyouwhenthevolumeofgoldonthemarkethasjustbeenquadrupledliterally overnight?”
Therewasacollectivegaspintheroom,thenafewsecondsofsilence.
“That’simpossible,”saidCrispin.“Ourfamilyholdsoverhalfoftheworld’s gold.There’snowayanyonecoulddumpthatmuchgoldonthemarketwithout ourparticipation.Andwe’renotsellingrightnow.”
“That’sOK,‘causenobody’sbuying,”Rosenbergretorted.“Didyouforgetthat you’retalkingtoanalchemist?”
TheeyesofbothMartinaswidenedatthesoundofthat.Theystaredindisbelief.
“Youcan’tbeserious,”saidMarcia.
“Heis,”saidCrispinaddressinghismother.“Hemadeitfromtheurinewe’ve beengettingfromthethroneinWestminster.Hediscoveredthetubesinthe tunnels,remember?”
“Ohfuck,”shesaid,tearingherwigoffandrevealingthegrayhearunderneath, withasignificantbaldpatchontop.
“AndI’vegotaprocessthatproducesinmuchmoreabundancethanwhatyou andyourances
torshavebeendoing,”saidRosenberg.“Iknowthetruesecretsof multiplicatio,notjustconfidencetricks!”
“Becauseyou’vebeenharvestingsemenfromallyouremployeeshereforovera year,”saidCrispin,pacingbackandforthfrantically.“Throughtherobotsand thegloryholeintheQaphqa.Andfromalloftheorgieswe’vebeenhavingover attheCoffinHouseoverthelastyear.Andthebloodandgutsofthevictimstoo.
God,eventhespinalfluids.Ican’tbelieveIdidn’tseewhatyouwereupto.I reallybelievedyouwerelookingforasourceoffreeenergy,tohelptheEarth.”
“Oh,whatI’mabouttodowillgivetheGoddessofDirtexactlywhatsheneeds, andasourceofpowerthatwillbeinexhaustible.Yousee,Crispin,whatshe reallywantsistobereunitedwithherlover,thesky,andthatisthekindoflove thatwearemakingtonight.It’sastrangelove,amadlove,likethelaughofthe hell‐wormthatwillnotdie.Isn’tthatright,ReverendSpringhole?”Heturned aroundandlookedatConsivia.Shesmiledathimandnodded.
“WhattheDevilareyoutalkingabout?”askedtheDukeofRothesay.
“TheDevilyou don’tknow,apparently,”saidRosenberg.“Nevermind,you’ll findoutsoonenough.”
ThePaterthenturnedbacktoMarciaandCrispin.
“Soyousee,LordMayor,youbitchoftheparasitic,warmongeringHouseof Rothschild:asmuchasIhatethesicklysweetlovebetweenlow,plebiansouls,I actuallyhatehatredtoo,evenmore.Certainly,wecandowithoutthekindof revolutionaryinstinctsthatyourfamilyfosterstokeepthewarmachineturning.
Becauseitweakensloyalty,quickensthepride,andstirsrebellionamongthe unworthy.”
Heinhaledandexhaleddeeply,pacinginacirclearoundthetwoMartinas.
Hecontinued.
“Inthenewaeon,therewillbenoresistancetotheLordofUnrule.
RememberwhatZeusoncesaidtoAresinthe Aeneid?Tohisowndespisedson?
Hesaid‘wereyoubornofsomeothergod…longsinceyouwouldhavebeen droppedbeneaththegodsofthebrightsky.’Wedon’tneedawargodunderthe newSun.”