Genuflect

by Tracy R Twyman

  ThatisthecraziestthingI’veheardyet,Ithought,asPariswheeledmebackinto themainroom.AsIwaspushedpastthewindow,Inoticedthatthesun’sdisc wasnolongerinviewfromthere.ParisandChesterfieldbothsatdownonmy hospitalbedandlookedatLeopoldwithhostility.

  “Soyou’retellingmeit’sgoingtostaylikethisuntiltomorrow?”Isaid.

  “Won’tpeoplebepanickinginthestreets?”

  “Idon’tthinkmostofthemhavenoticedit,andmostofthemwon’t,”

  Leopoldreplied.“Somethingseemstobehavingasoporificeffectonthe populace.”

  “Sohowmanyotherpeoplearehere?”Iasked.

  “Youmeaninthisbuilding?”saidLeopold.

  “Yes,”Isaid.“IntheCoffinHouse.Iknowthatallthefolksfromlastnight’s ritualweretoldtosleepherelastnight.Aretheystillhere?Isthereanybodyelse here?”

  “Thisbuilding’slistedasunoccupiedrightnow,”saidChesterfield.“Therearen’t supposedtobeanytenantsyet.Butobviously,thereare.”

  “Therewere729occupantsinthebeginning,”answeredLeopold,“whenthey contractedPindarastheirlead victimarius,almostayearago.Hewasamember oftheButchers,butwedidn’tknowhewasdoingthis.Thevictimswereall orphansorchildrentakenfromtroubledhomes.He’skilledofftwopernight, onemaleandonefemale,everydaysince,afterhavingthemraped,ofcourse.

  Butthesewerealljustpreliminarysacrificesleadinguptothemainseasonof festivities,whichstartedlastTuesdayontheequinox.Theyarenowculminating withthisweekend’sSupremeRite,whichbeganlastnight.Anditwillcontinue throughSunday.”

  Wesatslack‐jawedstaringathim,horrifiedanew.Hecontinued,lookingoutthe windowwithweariness.

  “WegotwindthatsomeonenearbywasdoingaworkingtocollapsethePillars ofHeaven.Butwedidn’tknowwho,orwhatexactlywasinvolved.That’swhy webroughtyouin,andyouhelpedusfigureoutwhoitwas.ButPindarhad alreadybetrayedRosenbergtotheSecurityServices.SoRosenberghadhim kidnapped,andme.Ipretendedtobeinterestedinworkingwithhim,andIgot theButchersandBarber‐Surgeonstoplayalong.Thatwaywecansubtly sabotagehim,althoughwemustbequitecarefulthathedoesn’tfigureout what’sreallygoingon.

  “Sonowyou’vegotacompanyof‘Barber‐Surgeons’too?”interjectedParis.

  “Whatabunchofbaloney.TheBarber‐Surgeonswerephasedoutasalivery companyin1745.Idon’tgetmyhaircutbyadoctor.Thisisjustasfakeasyour bullshitCompanyofButchers,andyourhoaxbarony.”

  “Youknowsolittle,”saidLeopoldbetweenclenchedteeth,glaringicilyatParis,

  “aboutthewaythingsactuallywork.”

  “Rosenberghewouldn’thavecontractedPindartodothiskindofstuffunless theButchersandBarber‐Surgeonswerealreadydoingitbefore,”Isaid.“Isaw youkillthebull.IsawButchersandBarber‐Surgeonsrapingkidslastnight.

  Butyousayyou’reonourside?Ifyouwanttostopmurderingandraping,just stop.Helpusleavehere,killRosenberg,andsettheothercaptivesfree,ifthere areany.Justdotherightthingfinally!”

  Hestoodtherestifflylookingawayfromeveryoneforamomentlonger.

  Thenheturnedaroundtofaceus.

  “Thebloodandtearsofso‐called‘innocentchildren’arethegluethatholdsthis societytogether.Anysocietythroughouthistory,infact.Thegoddesswants blood.Shewantsbrains.Shewantsskin,andfat,andtesticlesandeyeballs.She wantstofuckandfuckandfuck!ShewantstofuckkidsandcowsandtheKing ofSpainandtheChairmanoftheFederalReserve!Andifshedoesn’tgetwhat she

  wants,everybodypaystheprice.Thesearejust someofthethingsyouthree don’tunderstandaboutpower,andneverwill.”

  Leopold’sfacehadturnedredandhisvoicetrembledwithemotionwhenhe spoke,asthoughhewasreallymakingaprofoundphilosophicalstatement.

  Bywhatcriteria,thenishecallingRosenbergapsychopath,ifthisishisown mentality? Iwondered.Leopoldcontinued.

  “Ittakeshumilitytoapproachthealtarsofthegods.Youmustknowthatyour punypeasantmoralityisnottheirs.Youmustunderstandthatthefoodchainof theuniversecannotbedenied.”

  “Sowhat’sRosenbergdoingwrong,inyourestimation?”askedChesterfield.

  “He’skillingandrapingforthegodstoo.”

  “Notatall!Heiskillingandrapingthegodsthemselves,can’tyousee?He’s tryingtodefeatthem!He’stryingtobringdownthehostofheaven,andtakethe placeoftheimmortalshimself.Witheachplanetaryarchonthatwaskilledlast night,heclimbedanotherstepuptheheavenlystaircase.Whenhegetstothe top,twothingswillhappen.”

  Wealllookedathimsilently,spitefully,waitingtohearthetwothings.

  “EitherhewillbecomethenewchiefoftheArchons,rulingusherebelowwith omnipotentpowerfromtherealmbeyond,orhewillsnuffusout,andstart anotheruniversetoruleover.Orhesnuffsouteverythingallatonce, accidentally,bycausingthelayersofexistencetocrashdownononeanother catastrophically.”

  “That’sthreethings,”saidChesterfield.“Andtheyallsoundridiculous.”

  “Thelayersofheavenhavealreadystartedtocollapse,”saidLeopold.“It’s happenedquickly,yetsosmoothlythatyoudidn’trecognizeitforwhatitwas.

  Youjustthoughttherewerelargeorbsoflightinthesky.Youdidn’trealizethat divine,augustimmortalswerebeingenticedtolowerthemselvesinto physicality,thenforcedtobowdowntoanarrogantthug,whodidn’tevenhave thedecencytosparetheirlivesaftertheysubmitted.Nowthey’realldeadexcept fortheSunand,atleastinpart,theMoon.He’sgoingtotorturethemboth‘til tomorrow,whenthewombopensup,andthenhe’llhaveanewvictimto torment.

  “Whatwomb?”Isaid.“What’sgoingtoopenup?”

  “ThewomboftheMotheroftheGods.That’sallthat’sleftofpoorPhilippine.”

  “Ohno,notagain,”saidAgentParistoLeopold.“You’rekeepingthewomb alive?Anotherposthumousroyalbirth?”Theagent’seyeslookedcrazed.

  Leopoldlookedatthedoor.

  “IhavetogodosomethingforRosenberg,”hesaid.“Idon’twanttoraiseany alarmbybeingtardy.I’llbebacklater.”

  “YouknowwhatI’mtalkingabout,don’tyou,Butcher!”saidParisasLeopold puthismangledhandonthedoorknob.

  “Shh!”saidLeopold,fingertohismouth.“Don’tgetcaught.I’llseeyouwhen it’stimeforhernextmorphineshot.”

  Thedoorclosedbehindhim.Wetriedit.Itwaslocked.

  “Sowhatwereyoutalkingabout,Parvin?”saidChesterfield.“Whatdidyou meanby‘notagain’?”

  Heclearedhisthroatandthentookadeepbreath,preparingtotellusanother story.

  “WhenmydadwasworkingforSIS,hefoundoutthatMossadwasblackmailing theroyalfamily.Theyknewthetruthabouttheprincesswhodiedsotragically, andthebabyshewascarrying.”

  “Ohwow,”saidChesterfield.“Soyou knew aboutthat.”

  Pariscockedhiseyebrowathispartner,curiousaboutwhathewasreferringto.

  Buthedidn’tstophisstorytellingtoask.Hecontinued.

  “NowIdon’twanttobringtheprincessintodisrepute.Shewasavictimofrape.

  Butinthetraditionsofourancestors,thevictimofadivinerapewasalways blamedforit.Theideaisthattheyhavesomehowenticedasacredspiritinto denigratinghisholinessforthelustsoftheflesh.That’showPerseusjustifiedhis murderofMedusaaftershewasrapedbyPoseidoninAthena’stemple.Thisis

  whatconceivedPegasus.But hedidn’tcomeoutofherbodyuntilPerseus gave himanopening….”

  Hisvoicegotsofter.Helosthistrainofthoughtforamomentasheseemedto muttertohimself.ChesterfieldandIbothleanedi
ncloser,strainingtohear, wonderingwhathewasgettingat.

  “ThePrincesswasrapedbyherformerhusband,whowaspossessedbyagodat thetime,mydadsaid,duringaghastlyritualbeneaththePalace.

  Afterwards,theycloakedhermemory.Shehadnorecollectionofit.Shethought herboyfriendhadgottenherpregnant.Threemonthslater,theyoffedher.But theyharvestedherwomb.”

  ThestorywassofarsynchingupentirelywithwhatRosenberghadsaidtothe DukeofRothesayabouthisex‐wife,themotherofBaronCarrickfergus.But Parishadaddedsomemuch‐neededdetail.Hecontinued.

  “Someoneelsetookthewomb,hesaid.Notoneofthefamily.Buttheyhad obviouslyorchestratedtheconceptionriteaswell.Andthisgroupperformed anotherceremony,sixmonthslater,whichMossadwasabletospyonalso, accordingtothereports.”

  “ReportsthatyourdadwrotefromSIS?”Chesterfieldasked.

  “Yes,”Parisreplied,“aboutreportshehadseeninMossad’sowninternal documents.Anyway,duringthisritual,thewomb,whichhadbeenkeptalive somehowinanincubator,washungfromaceilingbyacoupleofmeat‐hooks throughthefallopiantubes.Itwasmeanttolookliketheheadofabull,withthe tubesresemblingthehorns.Theyputaseveredbull’sheadonthealtarbehindit toemphasizethispoint.”

  Hetookadrinkofhisnowlukewarmcupoftea.Thenhewenton.

  “Theyhadaspecialapertureintheceilingforadmittinglunarrays.Whenthe Moonreachedtherightposition,andthelighthittheuterus,thebabycameout, miraculouslywithoutdefect,andlandedonabedofstrawpositionedbeneaththe exitofthewomb.”

  “Somemiracle,”saidChesterfield.“Like Rosemary’sBabyisamiracle.”

  “Idon’tknowwhathappenedtothechildafterthat,”Parisconcluded,“oreven whatsexitwas.AndIdon’tknowhowthemagicoftheritualworked.ButI believemyfather’sstory.AndIthinkthebabymusthavelivedon,because Mossadblackmailedthemforyearsafter,attheveryleast.”

  “Well, wedoknowwhathappened,”saidChesterfield.“Thebabywasadopted byMarciaMartinaandherhusband.HewasCrispinMartina,Rosenberg’s catamiteanderrandboy.Nowhe’sdead.”

  “Ohyes,”saidParis.“Iknowhe’sdead.Isawhisheadsittingontopofa wheelbarrow.”

  Suddenlyweheardaclick.Asingleclick.Comingfromthedoor.

  Nowwhatwasthat? Iwondered.

  Trythedoor,cametheunexpectedreplyfrommypsychicinformant,speaking insideofmyheadonceagain.

  Ofcourse,Ithoughttomyself. Ishouldhaveaskedyousooner.

  Irepeatedthesuggestionaboutthedoortomyfriends.

  “OK,saidChesterfield.Hewalkedupandturnedthehandle.Thedooropened.

  It’sbeenunlocked! Ithought. Remotely!

  Chesterfieldimmediatelycloseditagain,exceptforatinycrack,inwhichhe stuckhisfinger.Heturnedaroundandlookedatus.

  “Whatshouldwedo?”heasked.

  “Stickyourheadoutandseeifthere’sanyoneinthehall,”saidParis.Thishe did.

  “Notatthemoment,”Chesterfieldreplied.“Butwheredowegofromhere?All threeofus?”

  “No,you’reright,”saidParis.“Letmegoalone.I’llseeifIcanfindusaway out.”

  Andso,afterabriefreunion,weletAgentParisslipawayfromus.Weleftthe dooropenslightly,butwestayedinside,terrifiedofbeingcaughttryingto escape.Weknewtheonlyreasonwehadbeenkeptalivewasbecauseweeach werestillperceivedassomehowusefultoRosenberg.Iknewheneededmefor somethinginregardstothenextritualthefollowingday.AndChesterfieldwas hismeansofkeepingMI5underwrapsnow.

  Butsurelywewillbothsoonoutliveourusefulness,Ithought.

  Wedidn’tseeParisagainthatday,orLeopold.Afteranhour,whenLeopold didn’treturn,Chesterfielddecidedtosneakbackacrossthehalltohisroom,so thatnobodywouldknowLeopoldhadlethiminthere.Beforeheleft,hehelped mebackintobed.

  Awhilelater,whenthedrugswerewearingoffandthepaininmylegswasonce againalmostbeyondwhatIcouldbear,ablackfemaleservantthatIdidn’t recognizecametochangemybedpanagainandtogivemeanothershot,along withaturkeysandwichandapacketofteabiscuits.Sheputmeinthewheelchair againsothatIcouldeatsittingnexttothewindowwiththefoodtraybesideme.

  Thecolorofthesunlightandtheshadowsthatitcastindicatedlateafternoonto me.

  Isattherestaringatthestreetbelowforacoupleofhoursasthesunlightfaded away.Ididn’tseeanypeoplegopast,notevenincars.Whenitwascompletely gone,andnighthadfallen,Inoticedareddishtingetothingsthatwere illuminatedbythelightnowcomingfromthebuildingsandthestreetlamps.I lookedatthebathroomandnoticedredlightdescendingfromtheceiling.

  Iwheeledmyselfinthere,stillnotlettingmygazefalluponthemirror,and lookedupatthelittlesunroof.Now,intheexactplacewhere“Sol”hadbeen earlier,therenowstoodtheMoon.Itwasinthesameconditionithadbeenin before,butwasfullerandlarger.Thislastpartseemedappropriate,sinceit actually was supposedtobethenightofthefullmoon.Butofcourse,the coloringwascompletelyabnormal.

  TheMoonappearedsickly.Itwasstilldarkred,fadingtobrownandthenblack attheedges,withthreebrightredcirclesshiningwithinit,onelargerthanthe othertwo.Theglowingcirclesinthemiddlewerebrighterandbiggerthanthe

  nightbefore.Thecratersonthefacewereagaininvertedfromthewaythey normallyappearinthenorthernhemisphere.Also,ofcourse,theMoondoesnot usuallyjustsuddenlyappearattheverytopoftheskyrightafternightfall,asit hadthatnight.

  Justthen,aburlywhitemaleservantcameinandservedmedinner:roastbeef withmashedpotatoes,gravy,andasparagus.Hehelpedmegettothetoilet, waitingoutsidethedoorformetofinish,whichwasmuchlesshumiliatingthan usingthebedpan.Idesperatelywantedtoaskhimwhatwasgoingonwith everybodyelseinthebuilding,butIdidn’tdare.Ijustprayed,towhichgodI knewnot,thatChesterfieldhadmadeitsafelytohisroom,andthatParishad foundawayoutofthebuilding.

  Maybehe’sbringinghelpnow,Ithought,tryingtocheermyselfup.

  OnlyGodcanhelpthethreeofyou,saidthevoiceofthepsychicinformant.

  Whoareyouanyway? Isaidmentallytowhoeveritwas.

  Whydon’tyoucomeandseeforyourself? wasthereplyIreceived.

  Iheardtheclickingsoundonthedooragain.

  Trythedoor,thevoicesaid.

  Iwheeledovertoit,grabbedtheknob,andpulleditopen.Itwasindeed unlockedagain.Iheldmybreath,listeningforanybody.Iheardnothing.SoI turnedmychairbackwardsandmaneuveredmyselfthroughthedoorway,not withoutmakingalittleracket,whichworriedmeimmensely.ButwhenIgotout intothehallway,itwasstilldark,emptyandsilent,justalongcorridorfullof lockeddoors.Thenthelightscameonaboveme.

  Thedigitalceiling,Ithought. Yousensedme.Fuckyou.

  Don’tworryaboutthat,saidthevoice. It’sthesecurityrobotsyouneedto watch outfor.Andonlyiftheythinkyou’resuspicious.Rosenberg’sasleep.The restof thegroupissocompartmentalizednobodyknowsifyou’resupposedtobe outof yourroomornot.Keepyourowneyesopenfordanger.Butletmeguide you.I havesomuchtoshowyou.

  Ihadpracticeddivinationmanytimesbefore,mostlyontheOuijaboard.Ihad neverhadsuchaclearly‐spokenentitydictatetomeinmyheadlikethisuntilit startedspontaneouslythepreviousnight.Ihadspokentogods,demons, servitors,anddisembodiedhumanspiritsontheOuijaboard.Thegodsand demonsallhadveryunique,poetic,andeloquentwaysofspeaking.Butthe peoplealltalkedlikepeople.

  Thisvoicehadtriedtocomeoffasgod‐likeordemonicintheverybeginning, whenitwasdictatinghowtheritualsshouldgo.Butnowitschoiceofwords soundedmorehuman.Y
etIfeltsureitwasthesamevoice.

  SowhereshouldIgonow? Iaskedthespirit.

  ThisistheDayofRest.CometotheRoomofRest, itsaid. MindyourPsand Qs.

  Whichway? Isaidinmyhead.

  GettotheSixthFloorthevoicesaid.

  Ilookedatthedoorofmyroom.

  729.ThatwasthesameroomnumberI’dhadattheRegentPalace,Ithought.

  AndLeopoldhadsaid729childrenhadbeenheldcaptivehereatCoffin House, murderedoverthecourseofthelastyear.Itmeanssomething.I’veread aboutit recently.Ijust…can’tremember.

  Isawanelevatorupahead.Iwheeledmyselfovertoitandpushedthedown arrowbutton.ButthenIheardsomethingdownthehallway,aroundthecorner.I duckedbackintomyroom,whichIhadsensiblynotclosedthedoorto completely.IstillkeptitopenacracksoIcouldgetoutagain,andIwaited.

  Iheardsomething,amotorizedvehicle,movingdownthehallway.

  Asecurityrobot,Ithought.

  Itpausedinfrontofmydoor,nodoubtalertedbythefactthatthelightsinthe hallwaywereon.Butitdidn’tseemtonoticethatthedoorwasajar,becauseit eventuallymovedon.Iwatcheditsshadowtraveldownthehallwayandaround thecornerthroughtheslitbetweenthejambandtheslightly‐opendoor.ThenI

  heardtheelevatording.

  Itmaybeadigitalsuper‐building,Ithoughttomyself. Buttheelevatorsare slowassnot.

  Iquicklywheeledmyselfoutandintotheelevatorjustbeforethedoorsclosed.It wasalreadyonitswaydowntothesecondfloor.SoIhitthe6button,hopingI couldjustgetoffonthatfloorwithoutrunningintoanybodyelse.

  Whentheelevatoropened,Iwasatfirstrelievednottoseeanybodystandingin frontofit.Ihadturnedmywheelchairaroundbackwards,andwasusingthe mirroredwallstocheckwhatwasbehindme.ThenIpushedmyselfupand archedbackwardstopeakdownthehallwaybothways.

  Nobodyhere,Ithought. Phew!

  Justthentheelevatordoorsslammedagainstthesidesofmychair.Theyopened againautomatically,butitwasabitofastruggletogettherestofmyselfthrough theopeningbeforetheyclosedagain.Theyalmostsmashedintotheswollenand still‐bleedingstubsofmylegs,butImanagedtopullthroughbeforethat happened.