Genuflect

by Tracy R Twyman

Insteadofhavingastandtoreston,itwasbalancedontheshouldersofwhat appearedtobetwohoodwinkedmen,whowerechainedtothefloor.Theyeach kneltononebentkneeinahalf‐genuflectingposition,withtheheavyapparatus perchedontheirshoulders,keptaloftwiththeirhands.

  Thoughtheirheadswereentirelycoveredwithblackclothsacksequippedwith noeyeholes,Irecognizedtheexpensiveblackbusinesssuitstheywereboth wearing,withoutties,whichwerevisiblefromtheshouldersdown.ItwasParis andChesterfield,thelatteridentifiableastheonewithpaleskinandatruncated middlefinger.Theywereswayingabitundertheburden,butforthemostpartit washeldremarkablystill.Thelackoftilttotheapparatuswasindicatedbya mostunusualplumbbobdanglingdowntothemiddleofthevessel,insidethe fluid,fromagoldenchainattachedtotheceilingatthetopofthevessel.

  Attachedtothischainfromitstopwithablacksuctioncup,andsituatedinthe centerofthevessel,inastrataofyellowliquid,wasthediamond‐likegem uncoveredfromtheLondonStonebyaboltoflightningthenightbefore.But nowithadundergonearemarkabletransformation.Inadditiontobeinggreatly magnifiedinappearance(whichIassumedwasanopticalillusioncausedbythe shapeoftheglassandtheliquidsinside),therewerenoweyesinsideofeachof theWithineachofthekite‐shapedfacetsonthecrownweretherewereeyes, blazingredwithagreenglintofintelligence.Icouldonlyfullyseetwofrommy perspectiveatfirst,butIsawtheperipheryoftwoothers,andIknewtherewere

  eightofthosebeveledfacetsonthecrown,soI(correctly)surmisedthatthis wouldbethetotalnumberofeyesnowopenontopofthediamond.

  Oneforeachofthesevenplanetaryarchons,Ithought. Plusoneextra.

  Uranus?Mete?

  Whateverspiritorspiritstheseeyesbelongedto,thetwoinfrontofmewere staringdirectlyintomyowneyes.Thisfilledmewithpanic.Iattemptedto contactmyinformantforguidance.

  Whatisthis?Iaskedmentally.

  Myreplacement,camethereply.

  “ThisiswheretheriversofParadisemeet,”saidRosenberg,asifIhadasked him.“Allofthewatersoflifeflowhere.It’swherewetransformthemintoa higherstateandthenmakeourdepositsintotheuniversalbank.”

  Justthen,Rosenbergreachedintohiscoatpocketandputonapairoftinted glasses.Thenasmalloctagonalwindowopenedupontheceilingaboveus.

  ItencompassedtheGradalis,andanareaofseveralfeetaroundit.Youcould nowseeallthewayuptothelobby,andtheVortexaboveit.Butafterlookingup once,Ilookedaway,becausetheopeningwasbringinginwhatlookedlike blacklightfromtheMoon,seeminglystronger—hotter—thanbefore—andI couldfeelthatitwasdamagingtolookatitdirectly.However,itwasimpossible toavoidtheglareofit,reflectingofftheglassvaseandrefractingthroughthe diamond.Isquinted.Icouldfeelaheadachecomingon.Rosenbergtappedme ontheshoulder.WhenIlookedover,Isawthathewasofferingmeapairofthe sametypeoftintedglasses.Itookthemandputthemon.Theystoppedthepain rightaway.

  Sohowisthemoonlightcomingthroughsointensely?”IaskedRosenberg.

  “Surelyitcan’tpenetratethecoloredfluidsintheVortexthateasily.”

  “TotalInternalReflection,”heresponded.“Weactuallyusesomeofthestreams offluidthatwe’vepipedintobendthelightdirectlyintohere.We’venotonly gotlightfromthesunroofcomingin,butalsofromseveralotherlightportals

  arrangedaroundthebuilding.Andinafewminutes,theUVlightoftheMoon willbereplacedbythegreenraysofHyperuranion.

  TotalInternalReflection,Ithoughttomyself. Thebasisofmodernfiber optics,a wayofmakinglightbendtofollowastreamofliquid.Andthelong-treasured secrettothealchemicaltechniqueofstar‐bathing.

  “Star‐bathing,”whichIhadwrittenaboutinthepast,wasameansofchanneling thelightoftheheavenlybodiesintoliquids,whichalchemistsclaimedtobea keyelementnecessarytoeffectcertainchemicaltransformations.

  Mysteriousillustrationsforcrypticalchemymanualsoftenshowtheessencesof thesevenclassicalplanets,includingasunandamoon,beingdrainedintoa vessel,which another sunandmoonthenbathein.ThisiswhatRosenberghad beenreferringtowhenhespokeofthe“BathoftheStars,”analchemicalterm which,Ihavetheorizedinthepast,mightberelatedtoBaphomet’sname,if

  interpretedtomean“BaptismofWisdom.”

  “Sothisiswhereyouofferthefruitsofyoursacrifices?”Isaid.“Toyour partnersontheotherside?”

  “Yes,”hesaid.“Andeverythingthat’shappenedonthegroundsofthisplazafor thelast729dayshasbeenpartofapactnegotiatedlongago.Muchofthedetail wasworkedoutaheadoftimeregardingthevictimsandhowtheirvarious essenceswouldbeprocessed.Buttherewereelementsleftformetofigureout withthehelpofothers,andpartslefttochance,asperthedemandsoftheparty ofthesecondpart.”

  “Andwhatexactlyisbeingnegotiated?”Iasked.

  “Diningclubprivileges,”hesaid.“Ouretherealpartnersarealwayswelcome andencouragedtodineuponanythingofferedherewhenevertheylike.

  Freshessencescanbeabsorbeddirectlyfromthebodyatthetimeofexpulsion.

  Butwealsokeepthesystemhereever‐flowingwiththesacredfluidswhichour partnerslikesomuchtosuck.Specifiedamountsarepipeddirectlytotheupper andlowerworldsatregularintervalsaccordingtopre‐existingagreements.”

  “YoumeanpipedtotheplanetaryArchons?”Iasked.

  “Theyamongothers,”hereplied.“Andthisisreallyjustademonstrationofmy abilitytopay.IamprovingthatwhatIhaveclaimedistrue.Ihavethebodies andsoulsofeveryman,womanandchildofthehumanraceatmydisposalto negotiatewithforeveraccordingtomywill.That’sthemostpowerfulcapital youcanhaveinthehigherworlds.”

  “YoumeanyouthinkyouownallthepeopleonEarthandyoucanofferthemas eitherslavesorfoodtoanotherspecieslivinginanotherdimension?”Iasked, wonderingifIreallyunderstoodhim.

  IwheeledmyselfclosertotheGradalis,andfollowedRosenbergincirclingit counterclockwise.Ithenfoundthattherewasathirdmanhelpingtoholdupthe vessel.FromthelooksofhislightbrownleathercaptoeOxfordshoes,Iknewit wasLeopold.

  “Ohyes,”Rosenbergreplied.“IhaveallthegoldIneednow,andIholda controllinginterestinthedebtofalltheworld’sgovernmentsnow,thoughtheir populationsdon’tknowityet.Peoplehavealreadysignedthemselvesaway in toto totheirgovernmentsineverycountryonEarth.Sothatmakesmetheir de factoowner,andputsmeinapositiontousethemascollateral,ortousethem forwhateverIwant,really.Ihaveallthepowerinthisworldnow,andsoIam goingtouseittogainpowerinthehigherworlds.”

  “Butwhataboutnow?”Isaid.“NowthattheplanetaryArchonsthemselveshave beensacrificed….”

  “IhaveofferedboththemandtheEarthpeopletotheonemostanxioustosee themhumiliated.”Heputhishandsbehindhisbackandresumedhisstrutaround theGradalis.

  “Thereisonefurtherofferingtobemade,andthat’sthebaby.Hehasbeen nurturedonthebloodoftheArchons.Nowheistobebornunderthefirstlight ofHyperuraniononthisEastermorning.”

  “Whichbaby?”Iasked.

  “ThechildofPhilippine,ofcourse,”hesaid.

  Iknewthatwastheanswer,butIstilldidn’tunderstandhowtheconceptionand developmentofthisbabywassupposedtowork.SoIwasquestioninghimtotry togethimtorevealthatinformation.

  “Youmeanshewaspregnantwhenyouguysrapedher?”Isaid.

  “Noofcoursenot,”hesaid.“Werapedhertogetherpregnant!Andtohumiliate herasLuna,thegoddessbitchofbirthandmenstruation.Butthatgoeswithout saying.”

  “Thenwhydidyouallrapeherinthebehind?”Isaid.“Andwhywouldthere
be ababyborntodaywhenshediedFridaynight?”

  Helaughedvictoriously.“Pamela,youknowbetter.YouknowtheEyeofHorus doesnotobeythesamerulesofconceptionandgestationasthetypicalfemale womb.Extraordinaryresultsrequireextraordinaryefforts.”

  “Sothisbabyisgoingtobemagicallybornfromtherectumofadeadgirl today,”Isaid,“andthenyou’regoingtosacrificeit?”

  “Yes,”hereplied.“AsIamdefloweringhisrosegardenandabsorbinghis celestialpowerthroughtheopeningofhisfundament,Ishallcausethe expirationofhewhohaswaitedsincethebirthoftimetobeavenged.Iwillsuck uphisgod-powerthroughmycocklikeastrawasitleaveshisbody.”

  Rosenberg’spenisbecamehardashesaidthis.Hemassageditthroughhispants ashecontinued.

  “Thiswillnotonlyruinhisplansforareturntoglory,butwillpinhimdowninto anewplaceofsubjugation,whileopeningasecretdoorformeintotheSupernal Edenofthehighestheaven.Thenashe’sdyingIwillusehisbackasa stepping‐stoneandclimbupthroughtheaperturetotakemyrightfulplace above.”

  “Sowhatdoyouwantmefor?”Iasked.

  “You’llsee,”hesaid,comingbackaroundtheGradalistostandnexttomeon myleft.“You’llseeentirelytoomuch.Thesightofsomuchreality,castintoa newlight,willshockyougreatly.ButI’llneedyoutomaintainyourconstitution asyouhavesofar,andtellmewhatyouseewhenanewholeopensupinthe skyandtheraysofthesunfrombeyondarefelt.YouknowwhatImean:the lightoftheBlazingStar,fromtheportalbetweenthepillarsoftheEarthandthe sky,beyondtheMoonandbeyondthesolardisc.Thisisthelightthatthe MasonssymbolizedwiththeirsacredG,justasscientistshavenamedthe Gammarayafterit,andusedtheGreeklettertorepresentthephoton—the ultimateunitoflight.”

  “Don’tyouwanttoseeityourself?”Isaid.Iwasgettingnervous,notwishingto bealoneinwhateverwasabouttohappentome.

  “No,”saidRosenberg.Hereachedintohispocketagainandswitchedtoanother pairoftintedglasseswithpinklenses.“Ihavemyreasons.”Hestoppedpacing suddenlyandstoodstillfacingtheGradalis.Next,hestompedhisleftfootonthe floor,andslidhisrightfootupagainsthisleftheelatarightangle.Thenhe pulledhisredPhrygiancapoutofhisotherpocketandputitonhishead.

  Mostofthemeninwhitecoatsseemedtoleavetheroomallatonce.

  Consiviacameover,wearingapairofpinkglassesaswell.Shewhispered somethingtohim,thenturnedaroundtowalkuptheramptotheexit.Butthen sheturnedaroundagain,leanedovermefrombehind,andwhisperedinmyear also.Icouldfeelherhotbreathonmyneck,andtheodorwasatrocious,likea restroomatagasstation.

  “You’reonyourownwithhimforthisone,”shesaid,pattingmyshoulderand causinginvoluntaryspasmsofrevulsion.“He’llneedyoutotellhimcertain thingsaboutwhattodoandsaynext,basedonwhatyouseeandhear.”

  “Wait,”Isaid,notwantinganysuchresponsibility.“Whereareyougoing?

  You’reinchargeoftheritualshere.”

  “I’llbedirectinganotherritewhileyouareworkinghere,”shesaid.Ihavetodo EasterMassatSt.Paul’s.”

  Thelightswentout.Twoassistantseachswitchedonhand‐heldwhiteLED

  lanterns.Thesenowprovidedtheonlyilluminationapartfromthelightsonsome oftheroom’smachines,andtheblacklightcomingthroughtheMoon,channeled downtotheGradalis.

  “WhatifIdon’tseeanything?”Iasked.

  “Ohyou’llsee,”Consiviasaid.“AndyouWILLlook.Youwon’thaveachoice.”

  JustasshewalkedawayIfeltsomeoneapproachmywheelchairfrombehind.

  ThenIfeltthebarrelofahandgunupagainstmyrightshoulder,justlikeIhad experiencedbefore.Alargemalehandgrabbedmyheadfromthetopandjerked itbackwardssothatIwaslookingupatthetopoftheGradalisneartheceiling.

  Anotherhandfromoutsidemyfieldofvisionremovedmyglasses,causinggreat paininmyhead.Thenaneyedropperwasusedtoputadropofsomething causticinthecornerofeacheye.Isquintedandsquirmedinmychairasit burned.

  “Keepyoureyesopen,”themansaid.ItwasMiles.Hewaswearingpinkglasses justlikeRosenberg.

  Thisislike AClockworkOrange ,Ithought.ButIhavealreadyseensomuch

  ultraviolence,andsomuchultravioletlight.What’safewHyperuranianrays?

  ButIwasjusttryingtogivemyselfcourage.Truly,Iwasafraid.Thatthesky wouldliterallyopenup—includingallofthelayersoftheatmospherethat protectusfromthedeadlyradiationofspace.Alreadyultravioletlightwas comingthrough,andnowRosenbergwasspeakingominouslyofdeadlyGamma rays.

  Dotheseatmosphericlayerssomehowcorrespondtotherealmsofthe planetary archons? Iwondered. Isthatwhythelightfrombeyondwasthoughtby the ancientstobelightfrombeyondUranus,thelordofthesky?

  ThenIsawsomethingIhadn’tnoticedbefore:arecessinthefloordirectly beneaththeGradalis.Ihadtobackupmychairalittlebitandbendsidewaysin myseatsometogetaglimpseofwhatitwas,anditwasstillhardtomakeout the

  detail.Butbecauseofthevision—orwhateveritwas—thatIhadbeengivenjust beforecomingto“theKitchen”inroom27,Inowunderstoodwhathorrors crouchedbeneath.

  Itwasaholeaboutthreefeetdeep,platedwithametalthatlookedlikecopper, andabedofstrawinthemiddle.InitsatthecreatureIhadseenbefore,with Pindar’shead,Philippine’swomb,andmystolenfeet,amongothers.Butit seemedlikeitwasinaneveninaworsestatethanitwaswhenithadappeared tomeinthevision.Nowitwasconvulsingandsweatingprofusely,whileitsone eyewasrapidlyflutteringuncontrollably.Thewombthatformeditsbackwas evenmoreswollenthanbefore,andonelumpwasnowgreatlylargerthanthe other.Whenitmovedoneofitslegs,twoscorpions,glowingbrightgreeninthe blacklight,scuttledoutofthestrawtotheedgeofthepit.

  Theblacklightilluminatedtheoccultsigilsthathadbeendrawnalloveritshead andbody,whichhadn’tbeenvisibleinmypreviousencounterwith/visionofit.

  AglassrodcomingdownfromthebottomoftheGradalis,terminatingjustafew inchesabovethenavelonthebackofthecreature,andwasentwinedwithtwo clearplastictubesthatwereinserteddirectlyintothewomb.Ifigureditwasfor thebaby,presumablyanIVdripfeedingitthecontentsoftheGradalis.Andof course,itresembledacaduceus.

  Acrushofpeoplewerenowfilingintotheroom,allintheirceremonialblack

  robes.Butinsteadofthemasksasbefore,theynowonlyworesunglasseson theirfaces,likeRosenberg.Whentheywereallstandingstill,oneoftheyoung boys,nodoubtaNymphusinthepreviousceremonies,tootedsome annunciatorynotesonatrumpet.ThenIheardeverybodygasp.

  Atthatmoment,Isawthatthediamondwasnowlevitatingabovethelevelof thefluids,androtating.Itscolorturnedfromcleartored,andthefaintpurple glowoftheblacklightchangedtoabrightpinkhue.Inoticedplanetarysymbols beingprojectedingreenonthesidesofthevessel,andthenrefractingallover theroom.Theyincludedthefamiliarsignsofthesevenclassicalplanets,plus another—theMonad—asymboldiscoveredbyJohnDee,whichcombinedthe otherseven.Herepresentingthiscombinationasanalchemicaloperationtaking placeinsideofanegg.

  NowtheverythingthatDeehadwrittenaboutwastakingplacerightbeforemy over‐exposedeyes,asrevealedbythepinklightfrombeyond(orwhatevercolor itreallywas,asscientistsinsistpinklightdoesn’treallyexist,butisrathera

  stand‐incolorourbrainsputintorepresentcertaininvisibleraysofthe spectrum).

  WiththisbrighterlightIcouldnowseethesceneintheholebelowmuchbetter.

  ButwhenIlookedagain,IwishedthatIhadn’t.ForwhatIsawwasthe creature’sanus—Philippine’sanus—openingupfromwithin.
Asitdidso,the rectumbegantoprotrudeexternally,formingthepinkfleurettethatisreferredto asa“rosebud”inextremeanalpornography,nowevenpinker.

  “HereweseetheblossomoftheHolyRoseGardenofGreatMotherNature,”

  saidRosenberg.“AndtheRoseGivesHoneytotheBees.”Hesighedwith carnivorouslust.

  IhadbeenhorrifiedayearearlierwhenIhadlearnedthatsomepeoplewere turnedonbyseeinginternalorganscollapsingandfallingoutduetosexual abuse.NowmyhorrorreachedanotherlevelasIwatchedatinyhandprotruding fromtheopening,humanoidbutwithsharpwhiteclawsforfingernails,covered inbloodandotherslime.Itwasmyfirstwitnessofananalbirth.Ihopeitwill everbemylast.

  Ittooklessthanaminuteforthebabytoripitselfoutwithferocity,shredding thesphincterandutterlydisembowelingthebodyofitsmotherasitdidso.Even moreastoundinglywasthefactthatthebabyseemedtobegettinglargerasit emerged.Firstoneentirearmcamethrough.Thentheotherarmandheadcame outtogether,rippingfleshalongtheway.Finally,therestofthebodyfelldown ontothestrawbelowlikeapieceofdung.Allthewhile,Rosenbergchantedas theNymphisanghymnsinLatinandtheheadofPindar,attachedtothe monstrositybelow,howledinpain.

  Alreadyresemblingafifteen‐montholdinstatureandappearance,the precociousnewbornimmediatelystoodupanduseditsteeth,quitesharp,to severitsumbilicus,whichappearedtometobeashortfleshtubeconnectedtoa muchlongerplasticone.ThiswasstrungthroughPhilippine’swomband connectedtotheGradalisabove.Thechildpulleditoutthroughtheentryholein Philippine’spelvis.Thenitputthetubetoitslipsandbegansuckingfluidout.

  Asitdrank,itgrewtothesizeofathree‐year‐oldinjustacoupleofminutes.

  Apparentlysated,thechildclimbedontothebackofthethingithadcomefrom, thebackbeingPhilippine’sstomach.Thatcreature,despitebeingeviscerated

  rectally,willfullycrawledovertothesideoftheenclosurewherethechildused itsbodyasastep‐stooltotrytoclimbout.Butitcouldonlyreachuphigh enoughtogetitsforearmsout,andcouldn’tpullitselfup.Sothecreature, whethermotivatedbymaternalinstinctorsomethingelse,raiseditselfuponits hindlegsandleanedwithitsforelegsagainstthewall,whichallowedthechild toescape.