Genuflect
Page 29
“Where’sthatthingthatlookslikeasun?”Chesterfieldasked.
Ashesaidthat,webothsawitmovingnortheastacrossthesky.Thewhole congregationbeganrunningoutofthehedge,tryingtofollowit.Chesterfield jumpedtohisfeetandranbehindthem,pushingmywheelchairalongtheway.
Whengotoutofthehedges,weturned,liketheothers,towardsthenortheastand lookedacrosstheterracetotheyelloworbinthesky,whichhadcometoahalt.
TherewastheLordHighAdmiral,hitchingthelastofthefourhorsesuptohis blackchariot.Theotherthreehadalreadybeenhitched.Theylookedquite satisfied.Theirundersideswerecoveredwithblood.Inoticedthatthechariot hadbeenoutfittedwithasharpscythestickingoutofeachside.
BaronCarrickferguswasstandingtheresolemnlybeforethehorseswithhissun maskinhishandbesidehim,andhisheaddroppeddown.LittleSaintGeorge wasinsidethechariotcarontherightside,leaningagainstthesideandstaringat theairinfrontofhim,traumatizedintocatatonia.Suddenlyoutofthehedgewe hadusedfortheritualcameaprocession,ledbytheLionswiththeirtorchesand censers.
NextcametheRavens,thefirstofthemcarryingthesilvercasketfromthe mithraeum,swingingonachain.Thiswasthevesselthathadbeenusedinthe EasterSundayfilmtoholdthehallucinogenicointmentthatlubricatedtheBosse ofBillingsgatepriortotherape.Undoubtedly,itnowheldtheflyingointment madefromWetzel’sfat.
TheRavenswerethenfollowedbytheNymphi,theButchers,theBarber-Surgeons,andfinallyRosenberg.Theyallmarchedsolemnlytothechariotand thengatheredbehindit.Chesterfieldwalkedcloser,slowly,pushingmealong,so thatwecouldgetaclearerview.
TheleadRavenwiththecasketanointedthechariotwheels,thebackofthecar, andeachhoofofthehorseswiththefoulsalve.Meanwhile,Rosenberg walkeduptoBaronCarrickfergusandwhisperedsomethingtohim.Theman raisedhisheadandseemedtotakewhateverheheardintoconsideration.
Fromthehedge,Consiviahademerged,withhervestmentsononceagain,and lookingnoworseforthewear.Shesprylystrodeupandstoodnexttoherpartner thePater.
TheBarontookalong,mournfullookathisson,whodidn’tlookback.Thenhe puthissunmaskbackon,andbentdownononekneeinfrontofRosenberg,like oneabouttobeknighted.However,thiswasn’tgoodenough.Rosenbergwanted amuchgreatersignofsubmission.
“Notquite!”heshoutedtothemanonthegroundinfrontofhim.
“Genuflecttome intoto, Heliodromus!”
Theviolinistplayedeightlong,droningsonorousnotes.Consiviaraisedher shepherd’scrookandchanted:
Etprocidensadoraviteum.
Etprocidensadoraviteum.
(Thatis,“Andtheyworshipedhim.”)
“GivemetheFULLobeisance!”Rosenbergordered.
Slowly,theBarongotdownonbothkneesandthenprostratedhimself completely.Hisheadwasontheground,andhisrearendwasintheair.Then Consiviaturnedtothecongregationwithherarmsspreadoutwidebeforeher, andsang.
Omnegenuflectatur
caelestium,terrestriumetinfernorum
(Thatis,“Everykneeshallbend,inHeaven,onEarth,andinHell.”) Everyoneelsegotdownontheirkneesalso,genuflectinginthesamefashion.
Seeingthis,evenChesterfielddidittoo.IwashopingIwouldgetoutofthis requirementforbeinginawheelchairwithbrokenlegs.Itdidn’tmatter.
Rosenbergdidn’tevenlookourway.HewasalsodroninginLatin,hishands stretchedouttotheskyinagrabbinggesture,savoringthemoment.
TwoButchersbroughtoutPhilippine’sbruisedandbesmirchedbody.Shewas motionless.Ididnotseeifshewasbreathingbecauseshewasnowcoveredin thefoldsofablackrobe.Theyloweredittothegroundandarrangeditinthe samegenuflectingpositionastheothers—notunlikethepositionshetookinside oftheBrazenHorseasshewasrapedrepeatedly.
Somniumquasisolemetlunametstellasadorareme Sednonestsomnium somnium
(Thatis,“IdreamtthattheSunandtheMoonandthestarsboweddowntome.
Butitwasnotadream.”)
Inunison,alloftheNymphibegantohumominously.Thedrummerboygavea drumroll.ALion—Leopold,Ithink—walkedoutholdingastaffbeforehim.
ItwasoneIhadseenbefore—theonewiththemummifiedhumanpenisonthe endofit:theBosseofBillingsgate.
TwoRavenscameandliftedupthebackoftheBaron’srobe,thenpulleddown histrousers.AnothergreasedboththeBaron’sbacksideandtheBossequite liberallywithLyle’sSyrup.RosenbergtooktheBossefromLeopoldandaimed itathistargetwithrelish.
Astheshaftwasinsertedviolently,repeatedly,BaronCarrickferguspushedhis maskupoverhisheadandtoreathishair.Hegruntedinpain,buthedidn’t screamorcry.Hekeptthatdignity.YetwhenRosenbergfinallysteppedback, satisfiedwiththehumiliation,theBaronraisedhisheadupabit,displayinga
grimacewithhisopenmouthformedintoanO‐shape,atunnelofdarkness leadingtoanemptyvoid.Itwasalookoftotalshockattheoutrageagainsthis majesty.
Irecognizedthelookonhisface.ForamomentIcouldn’tplaceit.ThenI rememberedthegoldenflagbehindthethronesinthehedge.Thecountenanceof theinvertedSundepictedtherehadbornetheexactsameexpression.Behind him,Inoticedthesun‐likeobjecthaddippedlowerinthesky,asifittoowere loweringitselfinsubmissiontotheincarnationofSaturn.Abittothesouthof that,theMoonhaddippedloweraswell.
ThenIheardaretchingsound,andaghastlysmell,ahorridmixoffecesand vomit,pervadedtheair.IlookeddownandsawthatBaronCarrickferguswas emptyingthecontentsofhisstomach—and,judgingfromtheodor,hisintestines aswell—ontothegroundinfrontofhim.
Fecalvomiting? Ithoughttomyself. Causedbyruptureoftheintestines, and/or pluggingoftheanusatthetimeofanattemptedbowelmovement?I wonderif sodomywasthe‘poison’thatZeusadministeredtoChronosashis cupbearer.
“Youmayrise,”saidRosenberg.
“Allrise!”saidConsivia.
Everybodyinthecongregationstoodupagain.Afterafewseconds,Baron Carrickfergusregainedhiscomposure,replacedhismask,andstoodupalso.As hedidso,thesun‐likeobjectbehindhimroseupintheskyagaintoitsprevious positionbeforetheBaronhadprostratedhimself.WhentwoRavenspickedup Philippineandtiedherwithropesontothebackofoneofthehorses,theMoon movedclosertothesun‐likeobject,andsomewhatbehindit.
BaronCarrickfergusdidn’tbothertofastenuphispants.Hejustgrabbedhisbelt andlethisdisheveledrobefalldownoverhimhaphazardlyashewaddledtothe carofthechariot.Whenhehadclimbedin,Rosenberghadthenervetoapproach himforahandshake.
“Thankyouforlivinguptoyourpartofthebargain,”hesaid.
TheBaronshookhishand,lettinggoofhispants,whichfelltohisfeet.
Consiviahandedhimthehorsewhipagain,thistimeforactuallywhipping horses.
Thenhetookthereigns.LittleSaintGeorgegrabbedontohim,frightened,as thehorsestookofftrotting.
Iknewwhatthe‘bargain’was.HehadtakentherapefromtheBosseof Billingsgatesothathissonwouldn’thavetoendureit.That’swhathehadbeen threatenedwith,soitwasn’tabargainatall,justlikeallofRosenberg’s“deals.”
TheBarondrovethehorsesinacircuitaroundtheperimeteroftheterracethree times,eachtimewhippingthemoncetogetthemtospeedup.Astheywent around,RosenbergandConsiviachantedtheSatorSquarerepeatedlyinunison: SATOR!
AREPO!
TENET!
OPERA!
ROTAS!
SATOR!
AREPO!
TENET!
OPERA!
ROTAS!
SATOR!
AREPO!
TENET!
OPERA!
<
br /> ROTAS!
Asheapproachedthesoutheastsideonthethirdcircuit,hedroveclosertothe wall.Everyonegotoutoftheway,excepttheLordHighAdmiral,whojuststood there,rightwheretheyareheaded,senileandoblivious,rockingbackandforth onacane.TheBarondeliberatelydrovethehorsesrightathim.
Whentheygotwithinafewfeetofhim,theBaronliftedthereignsupabit.
Butthehorsesdidnotslowdown.Insteadtheybegan—Iswear—toliftupoff theground.The“flyingointment”wasdoingitsmagic.Itwasthesame substance—
madefromhumanfat—thatwitchesonceusedtomaketheirbroomsticksflyto themountaintopsforsecretnighttimesabbatswiththeDevil.Now,rightbefore ourveryeyes,rightthereonthatcursedhigh‐riserooftopterracecrowningthe empireofadynastyoffinancialsorcerers,theointmentcausedfourhorses,a man,aboy,andachariottoflyupintotheskywithnoothermeansof suspensionorpropulsion.
Astheybegantheirlift‐off,thehorsesknockeddownandtrampledtheLord HighAdmiralundertheirfeet.Hetriedtolookupfromtheground,justintime forhisheadtobechoppedoffbyoneofthescythes,sendingitscuttlingacross thepavement.Thenthehorsesandthechariotsoaredupovertherooftoprailing, likeSantaandhisreindeer,overSt.Swithin’sLane.Mostremarkably,thesun-likeobjectalongtheskyaswell,mimickingthetrajectoryofthechariot.
Fromthere,thecarriagetookaswiftrightturnoverKingWilliamStreet.Itwas headedsouth,itseemed,inthedirectionoftheThames.Theyelloworbfollowed initsownwayupabove.Meanwhile,ConsiviaandRosenbergchantedmore linesfromWilliamBlake’s Jerusalem: TheSunshallbeaScythedChariotof Britain TheMoonashipintheBritishOcean Thensomethingevenmoredramatichappened,asweallscuttledaroundthe terracetryingtofollowtheirmovements.LittleSaintGeorgetriedtograbthe reignsawayfromhisfatherangrily,andpushedhim.TheBaronfellouttheside ofthechariot,buthispants,stillaroundhisankles,gotcaughtupinsomething ontheoutsideofthechariot.Hehungthereupside‐downforafewseconds, flailing,whilehissontriedunsuccessfullytocontrolthehorses.Asthiswas
occurring,theglowingorbabovebehavedsympatheticallyintandem,jumping aboutinanerratic,herky‐jerkymanner.
Thechariottookasharpleft,headingnorthwest,overtheWalbrookBuilding, towardsRosenbergPlaza,thesun‐likeobjectandtheMoonmirroringthisabove.
Then,asthehorses,thechariot,anditsoccupantssuddenlylosttheiraerial volatility.Everybodyrantothesouthsideoftherooftowatchthehorrorunfold.
ItwasjustlikewhenWileE.Coyoterunsoffacliff,anddoesn’tfalluntilhe looksdown.Thechariotplummeted,crashingthroughthesunroofatthemain buildingofRosenbergPlaza.Theairwasfilledwiththesoundoftheglass crackingandthefinalscreamsoftheboy,manandhorses.
Iknewthat,duetothewaythebuildingwasdesigned,nothingwouldstoptheir falluntiltheyhitthe“Vortex”overthelobby.Iassumedthatwaswherethey probablylanded.Sotoodidthearchitectsoftheritual,ConsiviaandRosenberg, fortheymusthaveplanneditallaheadoftimesomehow.Asthechariotcrashed down,theysangoutinunisonanotherlinefrom Jerusalem: AlbiontheVortexof theDead!
Ilookedup.TheMoonwasthere,attheverytopofthearchofthesky,still transformedinappearance.Thesun‐likeobjectwasnolongervisible.
Therewasamomentofsilence.Actuallyaboutthreeminutes,probably.
Everyonewasshockedandamazedatwhattheyhadjustseen.Nobodyknew whattosay,oriftheywereallowedtospeak.Finally,Rosenbergspokeup.He turnedaroundtofacethecongregation,andannouncedthatwewouldallbe headingbacktoRosenbergPlazathroughthetunnelsimmediately.
“Iwillselectacoregroupofhelperstoassistmeininspectingthedamageand cleaningupthebodiesatthemainbuilding.Mostofyoucantakethetunnels overtotheCoffinHouse.Thereareroomswithsoftbedswaitingforyouthere.
TomorrowisShabbat,adayofrest.Myservants,bothhumanandelectronic, willmakesureyoureceiveallyouneedtorelaxandrecuperate.Theriteswill resumeatdawnonSunday.”
Therewasanaudible,collectivesighofreliefthatpassedthroughthecrowdina wave.
Iguesseventhemostevilpeopleintheworldgettiredafterasix‐hourorgyof rape,murderandfantasticsupernaturalevents.Wewereallbeatenup(memore thananyonestillliving),andeventhoughIknewmydeathcouldnotbefar away,IwelcomedthethoughtthatImightbeabletosleepuntilthenatleast.
Butitwasnottobe.RosenbergwalkedstraightuptomeandChesterfieldasthe otherspiledintotheelevators.
“Youtwowillhavetocomewithustothemainbuilding.Ineedyou,Ms.
Auger,toassistmeoncemoretonight.ThenI’llarrangeforsomeonetoworkon fixingupyourlegs.AgentChesterfield,pleasepushthewheelchairand accompanyus.”
RosenbergturnedaroundandbegantalkingtooneoftheRavens.Ilookedat Chesterfield,whowaswincingatthethoughtthatourtorturewastocontinue onwardtonight.Hepushedmychairtowardstheelevator,andIclosedmyeyes, hopingIcouldmakemyselfsleepontherideover.ButIcouldn’t.Themorphine waswearingoffagain.
Chapter23:PrisonCoffin
…Thewomb,breeds,whereastheEyeofHorusdoesnot;or,ifitdoesso, breeds,accordingtotheTurkishtradition,aMessiah.
—AleisterCrowley, TheBookofLiesThesightthatawaitedusasCastle Rosenbergwasasamazingasitwasdisturbing.Theboy,thegirl,thechariotand thefourhorseshadplungeddownintotheVortexbetweenthefirstandsecond floor.However,theyhadonlybrokenthroughtheglassontop,andhadn’tfallen throughthebottom.Therestofthefeatureremainedintact,fullofitsmysterious fluidswhich,whatevertheywere,stanktohighheavennowthatthetopofthe containerhadbeenbroken.
Thesightofthedeadchildandhorsesfloatinginthevatofsewagesoupwas heart‐wrenchingtomeandChesterfield.ButitwasthestenchoftheVortexthat broughttearstotheeyesofallwhowerepresent.
We,theselectgroupoftwelve(includingme,Chesterfield,Rosenberg,Miles andLeopold,amongothers)walkeduptheramp,allthewaytothetop,sothat wecouldgetagoodlookattherestofthedamage.Rightaway,fromthesecond
floor,wecouldseeBaronCarrickfergushangingfromtheceiling,suspended horizontallywithhisfrontpointeddown.Aswegotcloser,Icouldseethathe’d gottenhungupbyhisownclothingontheraftersoftheceilingbeneaththe brokensunroof.
Histophalfwashangingbyhisrobe,duetothewayinwhichthefabricright betweenhisshoulderbladeshadgottentornandhookedtooneoftherafters.His arms,stuckinthesleeves,juttedoutsidewaysfromhisbody.Hisbottomhalf washangingbyhistrousers,whichwerestillaroundhisankles.Hewasnude fromhisanklestohisarmpits,sincehehadn’tbeenwearingunderpants.
AsIstaredatthebodyofthemanhungfromtheceiling,Inoticedthat,when lookedatfromdirectlydownbelow,itformedaperfectlower‐case“t”
shape.Hissunmaskhadbeenwrenchedaroundtothebackofhishead.Hiseyes werewide‐open,unblinking,almostplastic‐looking.Bruisesandcutscouldbe seenalloverhisexposedflesh.Behindhim,throughtheroundbrokensunroof, thatstrange‐lookingMoonwasframedperfectly.
OneoftheRavens,whoapparentlyworkedforRosenberg’scompany,tookoff hismaskandrobe,revealingalightbluebusinesssuit.Promptedbyhisexample, everyoneelsebegandoingthesame.Hethenwentintooneofthefewclosed officesontheupperfloor.Afewmomentslater,heemergedwithadrone mountedwithacameraandsomeotherequipment,whichheflewuptothe ceilingtoinspecttheBaron’sbody.Itfeaturedasmallmedicalroboton‐board, whichwasabletoscanhimforvitalsigns.Shortlyaftertheinspection,theguy flyingthedroneannouncedthattheBaronwasnotentirelydead.
It’shardtosaywhich,ofallthebizarrethings
Iobservedduringthisadventure, wasthemostoddandbewildering.Butatthatmoment,thestrangenessofhow thebodywasarranged,andhowithadgottenthere,wasovershadowedbywhat RosenbergorderedhisBarber‐Surgeonstodonext.Thedronewasbrought down,andthentheBarber‐Surgeons—nowwithouttheirrobesandveils—began outfittingtherobotmedicwithtoolsandmedicines.Theysupplieditwitha varietyoftubesandvialsoffluidmountedintoon‐boardinjectorguns.Leopold wasinchargeofthis,andinstructedthemonwhattodo.
ThedronewasflownonceagaintowhereBaronCarrickferguswashanging.
Theinjectorgunsshottheircontentsintohisbarely‐breathingbody.Thenatube wasinsertedintooneofthearms—gently,withoutcausingthefabricthatthe bodywashangingfromtoripanyfurther.Thenthetubewasslowlyunraveled fromthewheeleddispenserthatitwasmountedon,asbloodbegantoflow throughit.Itwasstrungupoveroneoftherafters,andthenbroughtdowntothe topfloor,whereitwasinsertedintoafoot‐tall,bulb‐shapedglassbottlewithout spillingadrop.
Thisprocesswasrepeatedagain.Thistime,atubewasinsertedintotheurethra.
Amuchsmalleramountoffluid—yellowurine—wascollectedfromthistapinto anotherbottle.Wewatcheditallunfold,mesmerized,fromasetofcouchesthat formeda“meetingarea”onthetopfloor.
Chesterfieldfellasleepononeofthecouchesnexttome.Iwasstartingtodoze offinmywheelchair,despitetheincreasedpaininmylegs,whenRosenbergand Leopoldapproachedme.Chesterfielddidn’tstir.
“LetthismantakeyoutoaroomattheCoffinHousewherehecangiveyoua bitofmedicalattention,”saidRosenberg.“Hewillaskyousomequestionswhen thisisdone.Beastruthfulwithhimasyouhavebeenwithme.Thestakesare justashigh.”
Hecalledhim‘thisman,’ Ithoughttomyself. Sohestillhasn’tfiguredout thatI alreadyknowLeopold.AndLeopoldknowsthisnow,buthaschosennotto point itout.
IthoughtaboutwhathadhappenedsincetheButchermeetingatOrientalClub wasinterruptedbythepolice.Leopoldhaddisappearedfromcustodywhileina highlyunusualprivateinterrogationbyDirectorPindarhimself.Chesterfield, ParisandIhadallassumedthatLeopoldhadkidnappedtheDirector,thenlater murderedhimatTempleBarinPaternosterSquare.