The Seventh Chakra

by J. R. Bowles

  As their plane touched down the pilot announced the present temperature was a mild eighty degrees with clear skies.

  “It's good to be back home again.” Billy said as he inhaled deeply the pure clean air as he departed the plane.

  “It surely is.” Jackie agreed looking up at the soft magenta blue sky touched only by faint wisps of clouds moving gently. She smiled as the fragrance of flowers and rich soil teased at her sense of smell. Not a trace of rotting garbage in the air, she thought.

  “It's hard to believe we were all born here.” Bernie said. “I've never been here before, except being born here, that is. It truly is beautiful.”

  Michael had reserved rooms for them at the Hotel Roanoke and had rented a van for their transportation. They loaded into the van and watched the quaint scenery as they traversed the roads which meandered across the city.

  Billy as usual had become the designated driver. “The only bad thing about Roanoke is the roads. I think who ever designed the roads in Roanoke must have been drunk at the time.”

  “They are pretty confusing.” Zolar agreed sitting in the shot gun seat. “I think they tried to build over existing roads and back then it wasn't easy to move a mountain so they just went around them. I grew up in Salem, right next door but I haven't been back in over three years. I hope I get a chance to see my parents.”

  “Me too.” Morgan said. “My folks are in Dublin, that's in Pulaski County. None of you ever ask me where I grew up. But you're right about this area it's like entering a garden of paradise. You know as a Flight Attendant, I've been all over the world, but I think the Southwest part of Virginia is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Of course I may be just a little biased.”

  “Have you ever been to the Smoky Mountains?” Mindy asked.

  “No.” Morgan shook her head. “But I hear it is nice.”

  “Nice? It is truly lovely. The trees, oak, pine, cedars, the peacefulness and the contour of the land is heavenly.” Mindy said. “Jamal you told me you were born here but where did you grown up?”

  “I was born here, like the rest of the centers but I grew up in Lynchburg. You know it looks like people are getting along better than I use to remember.” Jamal said as they pulled up to a red light and stopped. He stared out the window watching people walking slowly and peacefully along the streets. None of them rushing around as if the world would end if they weren't on time for something or other. He smiled slightly as he noticed several black men nod and greet a white man they met. He turned around to watch them as they pulled away from the light and was surprised at how openly friendly they were toward one another. It's certainly not New York, he thought, had it always been like this. No, he told himself, they use to practice segregation. Separate water fountains, restrooms, schools and even the amusement park in Salem, what was it called, Lakeside, that was it, even Lakeside had not allowed the Afro Americans in. They had one day a year they called colored day. They had to sit in the balcony of the theaters but now at least on the surface it didn't look like those restrictions were still true. He wondered.

  They pulled up in front of the Hotel Roanoke and unloaded the luggage. Michael had arranged for each of them to have their own rooms. Even Jamal and Mindy had separate accommodations. Michael figured it was safer for them to have their own rooms available and if they wanted to sleep together it was up to them. He had booked reservations for three days although he wasn’t sure how long they would actually need the rooms.

  “Everybody get settled into your room and then meet back in the restaurant in about thirty minutes.” Michael directed.

  They all agreed and went off in search of their rooms. They didn't waste time unpacking and were all back down to the restaurant as soon as possible. They knew they had a busy day ahead of them and none of them wanted to be left out in fear they would miss something important.

  As they entered the restaurant Billy was waiting and directed them to a private room where they would eat lunch and discuss their plans. Michael was the last one down. Billy greeted him and they both joined the others already seated. Food had been ordered and was already being served. All southern cooking, from breaded okra, country gravy, southern fried chicken, and homemade buttermilk biscuits spread out over the table. Their mouths were watering at the intoxicating smell bring flashes of their childhood memories to mind. Knives and forks were busy cutting butter and dipping jams and jellies. They were busy reminiscing about their mother's cooking, or their grandmother's cooking. The joyful energy in the room was contagious and each one seemed happy to be back home.

  The Reverend Thomas Lamb had been escorted by Billy to the room earlier. Michael had ask Billy if he would stay close to the preacher and if he tried to leave, to deck him. Michael hadn't heard from his detective and had called to see if he had found out anything about the deceased girl. Clarets' secretary had told Michael that he had gone out to try and contact the girls relatives and that he had promised to call her soon as he found out more details. She said, she had been told to wait at the office until he called and that if Michael would call her later she would hopefully have the information. She promised that she would call the hotel if she found out anything earlier and that she would be there until she heard something. “Even if I have to sleep here.” She had said it as if she were repeating a direct order. Michael smiled to himself, well at least they are trying. He told her that if she hadn't heard from Clarets by eleven she could close shop. She had thanked him and expressed her apologies for not have the information he wanted. She had realized how important a client Michael had been over the years and she made him feel important, not just the fact he had money but he was special. Then again, being from the south she probably made all clients feel important. Southern hospitality, he thought.

  “I've found the location of the old hospital.” Michael began before sitting down and loud enough to get their attention. “Like everyone else here, I'm feeling a little queasy about all of this but if someone would volunteer to go with me, I think we should inspect the sight before we just show up there.”

  “I will.” Billy volunteered.

  “Thanks Billy, I figured you would. You have always been dependable.” Michael said graciously.

  “He truly has.” John complemented.

  “Hey,” Billy protested, “don't talk about me in the past tense.”

  “I'm sorry. You truly are. Is that better?” John rectified.

  “Thanks boss.”

  Michael continued. “We will go down there this afternoon and check it out. It's within fifteen minutes walking distance from here, so I want you all to do what every you want this afternoon but I want everybody down in front of the hotel by nine o'clock sharp. At five minutes after we leave with or without you. Reverend, I want you to stay with me the rest of the day. If you have any objections, you might as well forget it, because I will tell you now, if you cause any problems, I'll shoot you full of drugs and drag you, and I have the drugs that will make you listen and obey. They won't knock you out. Do you understand?”

  “I understand. At this point I don't think it would do any good to protest. I'm just placing my faith in the Lord.” Thomas looked directly at Michael in defiance.

  “Very well.” Michael nodded. “Now is there anything else anyone wants to bring up, now's the time to do it.”

  “I want to call my father.” Zolar said. “I think there's more going on than he has told me.”

  “Me too.” Morgan looked around at the others. “My parents prepared me for all of this and since experiencing it, I don't think they told me everything. I think they know a lot more than they let on. For one, I want to know why all of you just happened to have been born in the same hospital, on the same day.”

  “That's a good idea.” John said glancing from Morgan and then to Zolar. “The more we know the better off we are. Uh, Zolar, before everyone goes their own way for the afternoon I wonder if you would stay and chat with me for a few minutes. You too Billy.”

 
“Sure.” Zolar nodded, knowing John wanted to discuss the revelation they had talked about in the chamber last night. The others hadn't been privy of the information. When John found out none of them had indicated they knew anything about the creation theory, he pulled Zolar aside and ask him not to bring it up, yet. Zolar wouldn't have mentioned it anyway, it was just too bizarre. He wondered what John wanted to say.

  Everyone ate heartily, knowing they may need the extra fuel for the evening. Most of them had finished eating and were leaning back in their chairs relaxing. Mindy sat smoking on a cigarette, and John asked them for their attention.

  “Could I have your attention please?” All heads turned towards him in expectation. “As you know within the past short week we have undergone a great transformation in our lives. We didn't know each other but were bound by something mysterious to us all. We have laughed, we have been frightened and we have cried at the lose of two people. I want us to remember Azid and Rudy. Azid was a friend to Jamal who attempted to kill me out of love for his friend who he thought was in danger.” John turned to Jamal. “Jamal, I don't hold any ill will toward him. He loved you and true friendship is one of the few real values in life.”

  Jamal nodded at John. Tears formed in his eyes as he fought to keep them from flowing down his cheek. He swallowed to relive the painful lump in his throat.

  “And Rudy, who's death and present state of existence in the eternal void, I personally feel responsible.” The group began to murmur that he wasn't to blame but John squelched them. “If I had not been chosen to have these things happen to me then Rudy would not have been condemned. We don't know what caused him to be stuck there but he touched each one of our lives if only briefly and I hope that we will hold his memory in reverend respect.”

  John sighed audible and looked around the table at their faces. Faces which had become familiar to him. “Last night, Zolar and I had two revelations. One was the one that you experienced. One of being condemned to eternal loneliness but the other was an intellectual awakening in which you did not share. At this time I am not ready to share it with you but I want you to know tonight we don't know what will happen. I have my suspicions and I believe Zolar would probably agree with me but tomorrow I may no longer be with you.”

  They turned to each other asking what he meant. It was Billy who finally silenced them.

  “Be quiet!” He shouted. “John what are you saying? What went on last night?”

  “I won't tell you what went on last night. I'm sure that you will find out tonight but it is my belief this is my last day.”

  “No,” was the protest as they again started speaking all at the same time.

  John raised his hand. “Listen, my friends, you are all very special to me. I have had a good life. You taught me more than just what the opening centers brought. You have taught me to laugh, to cry, to love and to enjoy life.” He squeezed Morgan's hand. Tears were flowing down her cheek.

  “I guess you could call this our last supper.” John continued. “Tonight I will have to make a decision and that decision, no matter what it is, will affect each of you. I just want you to know no matter what happens, I love you all.”

  They all stood and awaited him. He went to each of them and hugged them and whispered in their ear. None of the others heard what he said, except when he hugged them and gave them his whispered message.

  “Billy, you are my most beloved friend. You taught me to live.” John said hugging Billy. Billy held on to John his tears damping John's hair.

  “Morgan, you are my lover. You have taught me the passion in my soul.”

  “Jackie, you taught me strength.”

  “Bernie, you taught me warmth.”

  “Zolar, you have opened my eyes to all which is around me. “

  ”Jamal you have taught me to forgive.”

  “Michael, my oldest friend. We shared so much when we were young. You have taught me the constancy of being a kind and truly good person.”

  As John stood before the Reverend he offered him his hand. Thomas stared down at the offering and said loud enough for the others to hear. “If you are making a mockery of the Lord's Last Supper you have a lot to learn. My Lord had twelve disciples and you have only nine. You are three short. If you had Rudy and Azid you would only then have eleven, you are still one short but then again my friend Becky could have been your twelfth. But you do not have them and if you are accusing me of being your Judas then I pray to God, he allows it to be so. For I would be honored to be traitor to you but there is no one for me to betray you to. In the beginning, I believed you to be the Anti-Christ, now I have come to doubt this, I do not know what you are. I have seen you and the others heal and even raise the dead. I have not seen you deliberately hurt anyone. I will not judge you for only the Lord God has the right to judge.”

  Thomas clasped John's offered hand and held it. John leaned to him. “Thomas, I have not chosen this burden as I am sure you did not, but you have taught me dedication.” John then turned to Mindy and embraced her. “Mindy, although I do not know you very well, you have taught me to be still, listen and wait. You are patient. I don't know why I tell you this but in this world there is good, evil and indifference. All of these are equal. Where do you stand.” He did not wait for an answer to his rhetorical question he turned and walked away.

  “What is he saying to me?” Mindy thought, she let her eyes water enough for the others to see that she was sharing their sadness. “Does he know I am after his power? Impossible! I have done nothing to make him suspect me. It must be my imagination.”

  John went back to his seat and sat back down. Each one followed his example, all wondering what was happening. Did John know he was going to die? Was that what this was about? They sat quietly waiting for him to speak.

  “I am sorry to have brought you all down but I wanted the opportunity to say goodbye in case I am not with you tomorrow. “ John told himself he hoped that they would be here, even if he wasn't. Perhaps the Reverend Lamb was correct when he called him the Anti-Christ. His decision tonight would determine if any of them were here. The burden of having to choose. If he were able to choose now, he knew even if he died, and he felt sure he was going to, he would chose for the world to continue. But how could he make that chose if all of them would someday end up like Rudy cast off into an eternal damnation of loneliness. For if he chose for it to continue that could be the scenario. If that was the case then he would have no alternative but to end it all so the universe would collapse back into itself.

  “Let's call it an afternoon.” John concluded. “I want to remind you Michael wants us down front at nine o'clock.”

  As the group broke up, Zolar and Billy remained behind as John had requested.

  “Thanks guys for waiting around.” John began. “Sorry I had to lay such a bummer on everyone.” He shrugged his shoulders.

  “I understand.” Zolar said in hopes to soothe some of the anguish he felt John must be feeling.

  “What I wanted to say is about tonight. Zolar, I've been thinking about what you and I saw last night. I think only the eight of us should be present. Billy, it's like this, Zolar and I, found a chamber underneath Governors Island and on it's wall someone has draw a picture of a red star and a figure in white laying on what looked like an altar. Around the altar were seven people. I don't think Mindy, and Michael should be present. Zolar, I was wondering if you agree with me?”

  “Yeah, I do. I was wondering about how to bring it up. I'm glad you did but how are we going to tell Mindy and especially Michael they shouldn't be there? After all Michael was the original center.”

  “That is the problem. I don't think Mindy will care but I really think Michael is going to protest. I've know Michael most of my adult life and he doesn't know how to take no for an answer. Somehow we have to convince him it's for his own good.”

  Billy sat there for a moment. “John give us a while to think about this. I'll be going with Michael and the Preacher down to inspect the a
rea. We don't know what we will find. For all we know there could be a factory on the land now. Let us look and then I will report back to you.”

  John nodded his head in agreement. “That sounds reasonable. We will find the lay out of the land and then we will make a decision. I was thinking, well, Michael threatened to drug Thomas, if we could get hold of those drugs, we might just have to drug Michael. I hate to do it but if he's unreasonable we may be forced to do it. I really don't think Mindy will be a problem but she's pretty attached to Jamal and she might figure that she has to tag along with him. We might have to drug her too, but if we do then we're forced to contend with Jamal.”

  “Let's find out the lay out first.” Billy suggested. “There may not be room but for the eight of us.”

  “Okay,” John said. “Billy you had better go ahead and find Michael and scope it out.”

  “Got you Boss.” He stood. “Where will you be when we get back?”

  “I'll be in my room.”

  “See you in a while.” Billy waived at them as he departed.

  “Well Zolar, what do you think?” John asked.

  Zolar understood what John was asking. “I'm glad you didn't tell them about the decision you will have to make. I think they would probably be frightened. I know it scares the hell out of me.”

  “Me too.” John shrugged his shoulders and rolled his neck to relieve some of the tension.

  “John, don't think about it. You will do what ever you have to.” Zolar spread his hands in the air. “If you decide it's time for us all to come back together, then so be it. If you decide for it to continue, well, that's just the way it will be.”