by Mark Tilbury
Bubba nodded his head.
Ebb pursed his lips. ‘Don’t let me down.’
Bubba shook his head.
Ebb clapped his hands at Bubba as though addressing a servant. ‘You are relieved. Go to your duties.’
Bubba ambled from the room with his shoulders stooped. His bones poked through the yellow overalls like tent poles beneath canvas. Ben’s mother would have described Bubba as someone who looked as if they’d been through the wars.
Ebb turned to Alice. ‘You and the sisters can attend to the dishes. After that, go and get ready.’
Alice bowed her head. ‘Yes, Father.’
Ebb waited for the women to set about their duties and then sat down. ‘How are you settling in, Benjamin?’
About as well as a cat in a kennel. ‘Okay.’
‘Address the Father properly,’ Tweezer said.
‘Fine, thank you, Father.’
Ebb looked at Tweezer with that shadow lurking in his eyes again. ‘I’m sure Benjamin will learn his manners in due course.’
Tweezer looked away. ‘Of course.’
‘What do you think of our humble abode? Do you think you’ll fit in?’ Ebb asked.
Ben nodded. ‘Yes, Father.’
‘I’m afraid the place is in dire need of a makeover. I believe autumn is pencilled in, Brother Tweezer?’
‘Yes, Father.’
Ebb nodded. ‘The Lord has set us a heavy workload. I’m afraid the farm has suffered as a consequence. But we do as best we can. Do you have any special skills, Benjamin?’
‘No, Father.’
Ebb smiled. ‘Everyone has a skill. Sometimes it’s just a case of digging deep to find it. I’m sure you can use a paintbrush?’
Ben hated painting. Gloss paint always gave him a sore throat and brought him out in boils the size of grapes. ‘I don’t mind painting.’
Ebb pursed his lips. ‘Do you like animals?’
A vision of a snarling, slobbering Alsatian popped into Ben’s head. ‘I don’t mind them, Father.’
‘Perhaps you could help Bubba with the goats. We sell their milk to a local shop. It’s good for children with allergies.’
Ben thought Tweezer could do with some goat’s milk to help with his hay fever.
‘Are you a vegetarian?’ Ebb asked.
‘Not really.’
Ebb grinned. ‘Not really? That’s a strange answer.’
‘Yes or no,’ Tweezer prompted.
‘I only like chicken.’
Ebb studied him with those button brown eyes. ‘We don’t believe in slaughtering animals. We believe the Lord made all creatures to live a life free of persecution. We believe that we should respect the wishes of the Lord.’
‘Amen,’ Tweezer agreed.
‘Only the ill-informed resort to killing and eating animals, Benjamin.’
Ben wondered how Ebb’s philosophy squared with Jesus feeding the five thousand with fish. Or wasn’t a fish considered worthy of consideration?
Ebb formed a steeple with his fingers. He reminded Ben of a scorpion about to strike. ‘It’s a savage world you have left behind, Benjamin. But you are free now. Free of the burdens of greed and barbarity.’
Ben could think of better ways to describe the world he’d left behind. Sane, for instance. ‘Thank you, Father.’
Ebb licked his top lip. ‘Abstinence is sustenance.’
What the hell was that supposed to mean? ‘Yes, Father.’
‘Less is more,’ Tweezer elaborated.
Ebb glanced at Tweezer. ‘Precisely, Brother Tweezer. I’m sure Benjamin understands the concept of greed well enough.’
Ben didn’t. All he could grasp right now was he was sitting with the two men who had probably murdered his father.
‘Brother Tweezer tells me you were homeless, Benjamin.’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘Walking the streets of your own volition?’
‘Yes, Father.’
Ebb regarded him as a cat might a bird. ‘Why did you leave home?’
Ben’s stomach tightened. ‘I didn’t get on with my parents.’
‘Why?’
There was no room for errors now. The cat looked ready to pounce. ‘I didn’t like the way they lived. It was all for show.’
‘The vulgarity of pretentiousness.’
‘They were more concerned about the legitimacy of their Persian rugs than they were about me.’
Ebb looked pleased. ‘Bourgeois pigs.’
Ben agreed. ‘They were constantly on at me to do this and do that. Be more like them. But I didn’t want to. Why couldn’t they see I just wanted to be myself?’
Ebb banged the table, making Ben jump. ‘You are made in God’s image, Benjamin. How dare they try to mould you in their own?’
Ben nodded and crossed his fingers beneath the table. His stomach churned. ‘In the end, I’d just had enough. Me and Maddie drew out all our savings and hit the road.’
Ebb smiled. ‘Very commendable. How long have you been away from home?’
‘Six months, Father.’
‘Brother Tweezer tells me your possessions were stolen?’
‘Yes, Father. We were staying at a campsite down by the river. We went to get a shower, and when we came back, everything was gone. Tents. Money. The lot.’
Ebb raised his hands. ‘It was all part of God’s plan to bring you here. The Lord chose you to serve, Benjamin. Hand-picked you. Do you believe in destiny?’
‘I don’t know, I—’
‘Do you believe that anything is possible?’
Ben nodded. It was a damned sight easier to agree with Ebb than challenge him. A damned sight safer, too. ‘Yes, Father.’
‘The Lord has shown you the sin of opulence. He has shown you the vulgarity of competition. Brother Tweezer tells me that your father is a banker?’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘A fat greedy banker who rubs his hands together in glee whilst the poor rub their hands together to stay warm.’
‘A parasite,’ Tweezer added.
Ebb brushed something off the front of his robe. ‘A parasite, indeed. Just like the energy company bosses who condemn the poor to freeze in order to furnish their yachts and private jets. Sunning their bloated bodies in the Mediterranean whilst the poor have to choose between eating and heating.’
‘Hypocrites,’ Tweezer shouted.
Ebb took a deep breath. ‘Corrupt to the core. But you have been chosen, Benjamin. Chosen to stand against them. Are you ready to accept the Lord’s challenge?’
‘Yes, Father,’ Ben lied.
‘The Sons and Daughters of Salvation allow no room for Satan. We believe in hard work and honest endeavour. We shall stand shoulder to shoulder and be resolute in our purpose.’
‘Amen,’ Tweezer agreed.
‘Are you ready for that challenge, Benjamin?’
Ben looked into the black abyss of Ebb’s eyes. ‘Yes, Father.’
‘Are you ready to commit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ?’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘You can have no contact with the outside world. The outside world has no place in The Sons and Daughters of Salvation.’
Ben remembered the tower and the man standing guard at the top with a rifle.
‘The Sons and Daughters of Salvation is not for the faint-hearted. You are about to be inaugurated into a cause from which there will be no return. Are you ready for the journey, Benjamin?’
Ben’s heart fluttered like a wild bird trapped in a cage. ‘Yes, Father.’
Ebb smiled. ‘Brother Tweezer will prepare you for your inauguration.’
Ben felt sick to his stomach. ‘Yes, Father.’
Chapter sixteen
Dressed in a white gown secured around the middle with a bright yellow sash, Ben followed Tweezer down the stairs and into the kitchen. The tops of his feet were sunburnt. The coarse fabric of the robe rubbed against them as he walked. Tweezer had pre-warned Ben not to speak unless in direct respon
se to a question from Ebb.
All the other members of the group, except for Marcus, stood around the table like nervous guests at a wedding. They were all dressed in matching white robes with yellow sashes, except for Ebb, who had a distinctive black sash with purple embroidered edges.
Ebb clapped his hands together. ‘Brother Bubba is ready for us. If you’d all like to follow me outside, we’ll begin.’
Tweezer held onto Ben’s elbow and guided him into place behind Ebb. The rest of the group fell into line behind them and they walked out of the kitchen, along the hall and out of the front door. A slight breeze whispered among the trees. A plane flew overhead. Ben wished with all his heart he was on that plane.
Ebb led them through the courtyard and into the barn which Bubba had been working in when they’d arrived at the farm. The barn was cool after the stifling heat of the farmhouse. Lanterns cast shadows across the walls. Ben saw Bubba standing at the far end of the barn, hands on hips, back against the wall. Bubba didn’t look up or acknowledge their arrival in any way.
Ebb stopped and turned to face the group. ‘Get into place, please.’
The group formed a semicircle behind Ebb, Tweezer and Ben.
Ben stared in disbelief at a full-sized wooden cross lying on the floor in the middle of the barn.
‘Are the preparations complete?’ Ebb asked Bubba.
Bubba looked up and nodded.
Ebb beckoned Bubba towards him. ‘Come and help Brother Tweezer get Benjamin onto the cross.’
Ben tried to take a step back, but Tweezer held his arm in a vice-like grip. ‘We must do as the Father says.’
‘No. I’m not—’
Ebb pointed at him. His eyes looked like splotches of oil. ‘Silence. You are to comply with all aspects of your inauguration.’
Ben bit down on his tongue. His bad knee threatened to spill him onto the ground.
Bubba moved in front of Ben and untied the sash securing his robe. The coarse material slipped from his shoulders and formed a puddle of fabric on the floor.
Ebb stood over the cross. ‘We ask You to bless our humble servant, Benjamin, Lord. We ask You in the name of Jesus Christ to forgive his wretched soul.’
Tweezer told Ben to lie down on the cross
‘Why?’
Tweezer took a deep breath. ‘Do not question God’s will. Lie down on the cross with your arms stretched out over the crosspiece.’
Ben grappled with reality. ‘You’re going to crucify me?’
Ebb smiled. ‘Only metaphorically, Benjamin. We won’t use a hammer and nails. Jesus Christ suffered unimaginable horror on the cross to save our wretched souls. Your suffering is not of comparable magnitude.’
‘But why are you doing this?’
‘Your inauguration is not a question and answer session. Please refrain from being disrespectful.’
Ben shook his head. ‘I’m not being disrespectful. I just don’t understand why I—’
Ebb held up a hand. ‘The very fact that you are talking back to me is showing a distinct lack of respect. A flagrant disregard for the will of the Lord.’
Ben resorted to the truth. ‘I’ve got a bad knee.’
Tweezer stepped in front of Ben and hit him across the left cheek with the back of his hand. The sound echoed through the hollow acoustics of the barn. Ben staggered back and put a hand to his cheek. Tears blurred his vision.
‘Lie down on the cross, Benjamin,’ Ebb said.
‘I can’t.’
Ebb turned to the rest of the group. ‘Pray for Benjamin. Pray that he may find the strength to overcome his weakness.’
The group bowed their heads.
Ebb turned his attention back to Ben. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead like tiny jewels. ‘Benjamin?’
‘What?’
Tweezer drew back his hand again, making ready to strike. Ebb stilled him. ‘Join the rest of the group and pray for Benjamin.’
Tweezer lowered his hand. ‘Yes, Father.’
Ebb smiled at Ben. ‘I understand you’re afraid. Fear is a natural response to the unknown. But I can tell you right now; fear is Satan’s greatest ally. That heinous beast feasts upon fear. What do you fear, Benjamin?’
Being stripped naked and pinned to a cross by a bunch of mad bastards in white robes. ‘I don’t know, Father.’
‘Precisely. You don’t know. But let me tell you, Benjamin, fear turns brother against brother, sister against sister and father against son. Fear is the stampede in the burning building. Do you understand?’
Ben didn’t. ‘Yes, Father.’
‘You only fear the cross because you don’t understand why I am asking you to lie down on it.’
Ben massaged his cheek. ‘Yes, Father.’
‘Would it make you feel better if I told you that you have nothing to fear but fear itself?’
‘Yes, Father,’ Ben lied. It was like being reassured by a crocodile that it was safe to swim in the river.
Ebb smiled. ‘Do you know what courage is, Benjamin?’
‘Overcoming fear?’ Ben tried.
Ebb pursed his lips and studied Ben for a few moments. ‘Courage is not wanting to do something, but doing it anyway. Does that sound like a fair description to you?’
‘Yes, Father.’
Ebb pointed at the cross. ‘This cross represents courage. Think how Jesus must have felt being nailed to His cross. Do you think He blubbed like a baby in bath water and pleaded with Pontius Pilate to let Him run off home to His mother?’
Ben shook his head. ‘No, Father.’
‘You’re damn right he didn’t, Pixie-pea. Jesus embraced death. He went to His cross with valour and dignity.’
Tweezer punched the air. ‘Praise Jesus.’
Ebb seemed annoyed by Tweezer’s interruption. And then: ‘He suffered to save us, Benjamin. So don’t you stand there and fear the reaper when the reaper isn’t even in attendance. Lie down on your cross.’
Ben looked from Ebb to Bubba and then back again at Ebb. Surely they were all going to burst out laughing in a minute, pat him on the back and tell him this was all a silly joke in a silly nightmare. Just like his mother used to when he was plain old Stutter-buck dreaming about the bullies who drove him up a conker tree.
Ebb held out his hands, palms up. ‘Embrace this night, Benjamin. This is your time. Your Night of Naked Reconciliation.’
Ben shuddered. He looked at the cross. There were manacles secured to each end of the crossbeam. He hadn’t noticed them before. Not when his mind had been expecting nails.
‘Go to your cross, Benjamin. Brother Bubba will assist you.’
Ben knelt down on the floor and allowed Bubba to help him into position. He lay on his back with his arms stretched out over the crossbeam. Bubba secured his wrists in the manacles. He then used a leather strap to secure Ben’s ankles to the cross.
Ben tried to make eye contact with the big guy, but Bubba refused to look at him. The wooden cross was hard and rigid beneath his spine. Every fibre in his body ached. At least Maddie wasn’t there to witness his humiliation.
Ebb stood over him and grinned. ‘That wasn’t so bad, was it?’
Nope. Just normal run-of-the-mill stuff you do every day. ‘No, Father.’
‘Brother Tweezer?’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘You and Brother Bubba may raise the cross now.’
As the two men hauled the cross into an upright position, the force of gravity almost wrenched Ben’s shoulders from their sockets. He cried out and twisted his head from side to side. He bit down on his tongue hard enough to draw blood. His right knee buckled and his shoulders jarred as the two men dragged the cross over to the far wall. When it was in place, Bubba secured it to the barn’s timber frame with four massive screws.
Ebb walked over and stood in front of Ben. ‘It might be a little uncomfortable at first, but you will soon acclimatise.’
Ben writhed and tried to push up to relieve the pressure on his shoulders. His r
ight knee collapsed.
‘It will pay you to keep still. Wriggling like a maggot on a fish hook will do nothing other than cause stress to your joints.’
Ben tried to relax and take the tension out of his shoulders. He took several deep breaths. Bile burned his throat.
Ebb looked up at him and smiled like a salesman about to complete a rather good deal. ‘That’s better. You’ll appreciate my advice as the night wears on.’
‘I’ve got bad knees.’
‘We all have our cross to bear, Benjamin. Every single one of us. You are not unique. Anyway, we’re not here to discuss your knees. We’re here to observe the Night of Naked Reconciliation.’
Ben turned his head to one side so he didn’t have to look at Ebb’s grotesque face. It was getting more and more difficult to draw breath.
Ebb raised his right hand. ‘I call The Sons and Daughters of Salvation into attendance.’
Ben watched the group shuffle forwards. All eyes were on him as Tweezer and Bubba joined Alice, Dixie and Emily. Only Marcus was absent, but Ben knew where he was: manning the watchtower, ready to shoot anyone who might be dumb enough to try and escape.
Ebb turned his back on Ben and addressed the group. ‘Brothers and Sisters. My loyal, faithful servants. The Lord is with us. Praise the Lord.’
‘Praise the Lord,’ the group chanted.
‘He shines His everlasting light upon you all. He recognises the invaluable contribution you have made to The Sons and Daughters of Salvation. He wants you all to be assured that your effort and sacrifice shall be rewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven.’
‘Praise the Lord,’ Tweezer shouted.
The rest of the group followed Tweezer’s lead.
Ebb raised both hands in the air. ‘Please join me in wishing well our humble servant, Benjamin, as he faces this night, The Night of Naked Reconciliation. Let Jesus shine his light and love upon him as he sheds the shackles of his past. Let Jesus nurture him as he is born again into a world of sacrifice and servitude. Praise Benjamin.’
‘Praise Benjamin,’ the group chanted.
‘We ask you, Lord, to give Benjamin the courage and the strength he needs to overcome adversity. Praise Benjamin.’