by John Bowers
“What in space is all this about?” he asked.
“It has nothing to do with you,” Nelson replied. “At least not yet.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just what I said.”
Nick swung Groening around toward the door. He turned to Titus.
“Looks like you’re in charge of the congregation now, at least for the time being. If I hear of any more stonings, I’ll be back for you. Do I make myself clear?”
Titus gazed at him coldly. “You’re in over your head, Marshal.”
Nick laughed. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve heard that over the past few years?”
“We have a right to our religious beliefs! Your own evil society has guaranteed them!”
“Yes you do, and I’ll defend that right with my life. But only up to the point that you start throwing rocks at teenage girls.”
He pushed Groening toward the door.
“You better listen!” Nelson told Titus. “He ain’t kidding around, and neither am I. If you screw up, we’ll be back.”
The Kristoferson farm – Alpha Centauri 2
Suzanne was awake when the door was unlocked again. The cell was still dark, but when the door swung open she saw pale daylight filtering into the barn. The man with the food had his hat lowered enough that she still couldn’t make out much of his face, but at least he was no longer carrying the wooden club. He shoved a plate of eggs and biscuits at her and backed away.
“I’ll be back later to change the bucket,” he said, his voice muffled.
“The water jug is almost empty,” she replied. “I need a refill.”
He nodded and started to close the door.
“I hope you thought about what I said,” Suzanne reminded him. “You may not have much time to make a decision, if they decide to come today.”
He halted, his posture betraying his inner conflict.
“What do you want me to do? Let you go?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what I want. Let me go and take me back to town, before they come for me. What’s so hard about that?”
He stared toward the main door of the barn, then shook his head.
“I need to think about it.”
“You had all night to think about it! If you don’t do the right thing, Marshal Walker is going to eat you alive! Your only chance to prevent that is to do something now.”
He shook his head again. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“What do you mean I don’t know? I’m asking you to save my life. I’m asking you to do the Christian thing.”
“Look, Miss, I’d like to help you, but…I can’t go against church authority.”
Suzanne almost dropped her food. She set the plate down and stepped into the doorway. Enos took a step back.
“Church authority!” she yelled. “What kind of church involves you in a kidnapping and possible murder? You’re not obeying church authority, you’re obeying criminals!”
He raised his head and stared straight at her, giving her a good look at him for the first time. His eyes reflected shock.
“Look, Enos…I know you and I don’t share the same religion, but I’ve never done anything to you. I’ve never even met you before. Do you honestly think that I deserve to be killed?”
“No. Like I said, I never wanted any part of—”
“Do you even know why they kidnapped me?”
“No, Miss, I don’t.”
“Then why are you helping them? What will they do to you if you help me?”
“I—they…” He shook his head doggedly, avoiding her eyes. “Miss, you don’t understand. They are in authority over me. I’m just a simple farmer.”
“What kind of authority are they? Will they shoot you? Will they burn your farm?”
“No, Miss, they won’t do anything. But…God will punish me.”
Suzanne stared at him open-mouthed.
“God will punish you for saving my life? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Yes, Miss. Not for saving your life, but for disobeying church government.”
“Church governm…” Suzanne shook her head in mounting frustration. “Goddess Sophia! What the fuck are you talking about?”
Once again, Enos gazed at her in shock. When his face hardened she knew she’d overplayed her hand; not only had she used profanity, she had evoked a pagan deity, one he probably never even heard of. He slammed the cell door. Suzanne stepped back just in time to avoid the door hitting her in the face, and ground her teeth as he bolted and locked it.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the door with a weary sigh. She almost had him that time. A little more persuasion, perhaps, and he might have come around. She wondered if she would get another chance.
Millennium Village, Alpha Centauri 2
Titus Groening stood on the porch and watched the hovercars disappear in the direction of Trimmer Springs. His gut squirmed in anger at the effrontery of that marshal and his colleagues—how dare they come in here like the blooming Star Marines and arrest the Prophet of the Living God as if he were some kind of common criminal! And to claim that the stoning of Maggie Downing was attempted murder! Didn’t the crazy fool know anything about scripture? Every action taken by Father Groening had been in line with biblical instruction.
Well.
He turned back into the house, his mind working at high speed. That marshal would get his, and soon. Almighty God would not permit such a servant of Satan to make fools of those who obeyed His voice. This was religious persecution, pure and simple, and not wholly unexpected; Jesus had said “blessed are those who suffer persecution for my name’s sake”, so whatever discomfort Father Groening endured in the next few days would be well rewarded.
His father’s wives, one of them his own mother, still stood at the foot of the stairs, hugging one another and weeping. His own wife stood beside them, her face pale. Darius stood by himself, looking shaken and disoriented. Titus cleared his throat with a rumble.
“Darius!”
The boy stepped forward. “Yes, Pop.”
“Do not concern yourself with what just happened here. They can’t hold your grandfather on such flimsy charges. This is nothing but a tactic to destroy the Congregation of God. That marshal has hatred in his heart for our people. He wasn’t satisfied with murdering us in the war, now he wants to destroy us as a people. But God will never allow that to happen!”
Darius nodded uncertainly. “Yes, Pop.”
“I want you to get over to the Kristoferson farm and check on the prisoner. Make sure she is still secure. Tell Enos we’ll move her tonight.”
“Yes, Pop.” Darius started for the door.
“Darius!”
The boy spun to face him.
“When you’re done there, go to the bunker and check the supplies. Make sure nothing has been disturbed.”
The boy nodded and headed out the door. Titus watched him go, then turned to the women.
“Mother, Rebecca…go upstairs and pray. Let not your hearts be troubled. This was all prophesied.”
The two older women peered at him through tear-filled eyes, then headed up the stairs, arm in arm. His wife, Lila, stood staring at him. She took a step forward.
“Titus, you didn’t!”
Titus managed to look confused. “I didn’t what?”
“You didn’t kidnap that woman! Did you? Dear God, if you did, you’ll bring ruin upon us all!”
“She’s a harlot, Lila! An idolatress! She has a graven image in her living room. And you should see how she flaunts herself! It’s a disgrace, an affront to God’s face!”
“None of that is relevant, can’t you see? If we want them to leave us alone, we have to leave them alone!”
Titus growled to clear his throat. His expression turned stern.
“Quite the contrary, woman! That marshal is already meddling in our affairs. We are simply defending ourselves.”
“You can’t win against him
! Even if he is as evil as you believe, he has the Federation behind him. We can’t fight the Federation and win! You should know that, because we already tried it.”
Titus harrumphed again.
“Lila, you forget your place. I have listened to your advice and given it due consideration. The decision was not yours, but mine. I’ll have no more interference. Do not speak of it again!”
Lila Groening glared at him a moment, red spots burning on her cheeks. He returned her glare until she finally turned away. She started up the stairs, but turned at the first landing and gave him her final thought.
“I’ll say no more about it, Titus, until you get caught. Then I will say…I told you so!”
Twenty minutes later, sitting at his father’s desk, Titus Groening opened a bottom drawer and withdrew an electronic device. He set it on the desk before him and stared at it for nearly a minute. It was a small, powerful transmitter. To Titus it almost looked like a living thing, with three flickering lights that rippled in a steady, coordinated flow. Titus was fairly certain the thing was satanic, because it transmitted messages through the air, and Satan was the Prince of the power of the air…which was why his people never used radios or wireless communication. He had only used the device once, with many misgivings, and then only after a prayer for divine protection. God had spared him that time, but he feared getting too familiar with the thing because, although God was patient, He did not condone carelessness. If Titus used it too often God might think he was taking grace for granted.
After staring at the device for a long time, he finally reached out and picked it up. His heart pounded with fear and he offered a silent prayer for forgiveness. He assured God he would never use the thing if there was any other way, but this was something of an emergency.
Titus activated the device, speaking the codes he had memorized, and a moment later a voice with an alien accent sounded in his ear.
“Da?”
“This is Titus Groening. We need to meet.”
Chapter 30
Trimmer Springs – Alpha Centauri 2
Nick didn’t take his prisoner to the police station right away. Instead he set him down in the U.F. Marshal’s office and E-cuffed him to a chair, leaving one hand free. Nelson started a pot of coffee and while they waited for it to brew, Nick opened a bottle of water and set it beside Groening. The old cult leader glared at it but made no move to pick it up. He turned baleful eyes on Nick.
“This is nothing but a power play!” he growled. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.”
Nick settled into his desk chair with his own water bottle and kicked his boots up onto the desk. He was consumed with worry about Suzanne, but didn’t let it show. He was certain the old man knew something about her disappearance.
He took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh.
“Father Groening…why don’t you tell me what I’m up to. Then we’ll both know.”
Groening huffed. “Don’t play games, Walker! You’re out to destroy the Congregation of God. You didn’t get your fill the first time and you’re determined to finish the job.”
Nick cocked his head. “How many did I kill?” he asked curiously. “I know the statue in the park says fifty-one, but it seemed like a lot more. I heard there were blood trails all over the east end of town when it was over.”
Groening glared at him with undisguised hatred.
“You’re keeping score now?”
“No, but everyone around here seems to be obsessed with it. I must have fired a thousand rounds that day, and I find it hard to believe I only scored fifty-one hits.”
“I don’t know how many Homers you killed, but we lost thirty-seven killed outright. Another hundred or so were hit, and a number of them died later.”
Nick stared at him, trying to maintain nonchalance, but inwardly he cringed. He’d never known the true number of men killed that day, hadn’t really wanted to know, but the body count on the statue inscription did seem low. His silence over the next several seconds resulted from a cold sickness in his bones. He maintained the stare until Groening broke eye contact and reached for the water bottle.
“Where is Suzanne Norgaard?”
Groening’s eyes swung back to meet his. “Who?”
“Where is Suzanne Norgaard?”
“I don’t know who that is.”
“Suzanne Norgaard.”
Groening just looked at him, genuine confusion in his eyes.
“Who in the universe is Suzanne Norgaard?”
“She’s the woman you kidnapped.”
Groening’s mouth dropped open an inch. “What in thunder are you talking about?”
Nick glanced at Nelson. Nelson returned the look, his eyes skeptical.
“You probably sent two men, maybe three. They broke into my house and waited for her to come home from shopping. Then they abducted her, hustled her into a ground car, and took off like a winged mammalian. Where did they take her?”
Groening shifted in his chair, his frustration evident.
“Is that what you brought me here for?”
“Answer the goddamn question!”
Groening sighed. “I never heard of Suzanne Norgaard. I have no idea who you’re talking about.”
Nick stared at him a moment, then turned to Nelson.
“Luther, amend that criminal complaint. Add kidnapping, suspected rape, and a second count of conspiracy.”
“Rape!” Groening lurched forward in his chair. His E-cuffs released a jolt of electricity that made him sag, gasping. He sat back again, but his eyes never left Nick’s. Nick saw desperation in them.
“You’re crazy, Marshal! Absolutely insane! Now I know for sure this is a power play. Now you’re accusing me of rape?”
“She’s missing, Groening. Someone took her, and you’re my prime suspect. I’m sure you didn’t do it yourself, because you have thousands of toadies to do it for you, but you were behind it. If I find her dead, or abused in any way, you’ll never see daylight again.”
He took a drink of cold water.
“Not only that, but the entire planet will be informed that you abducted a Vegan woman for carnal pleasure, that you were so overcome with lust that you couldn’t resist her natural beauty.”
Nick dropped his boots to the floor and leaned forward.
“How do you think your congregations will feel about that, knowing that you brought shame on them because you couldn’t control your hard-on? Do you think they’ll revere you as they do now, or hang their heads in shame? Maybe they’ll even abandon your teachings and drift into apostasy. Is that what you want?”
Groening was fairly jumping up and down in his chair, though he was careful of the E-cuffs.
“This is outrageous!” he thundered. “I never heard of that woman! I don’t know what in heaven you’re talking about!”
Nick just stared at him, letting him rant for nearly a minute. When Groening finally ran out of words, red in the face, Nick shrugged.
“Tell me about the guns.”
“What?”
“The guns. Tell me about the guns.”
“What guns? You’re making things up again!”
Nick sighed. “Remember the landmines? The Hawkins boy? You told Aaron Pickard to cooperate with me, so he did. We found an entire minefield. You told me they had all been cleared.”
“I thought they were! Once the shooting stopped we had no more need of them. We didn’t want our farmers blowing themselves up, so we pulled them out.”
“And did what with them?”
“We took them to a rocky area and stacked them up, then we destroyed them with gunfire.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed, but Groening seemed sincere. It was probably true, he reflected, because most of the ordnance he’d found in that underground armory was brand new.
“Check with your own Star Marines!” Groening insisted. “They oversaw the operation. They took our heavy weapons and artillery. All we had left were our rifles and sidearms.”<
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Nick’s lips pursed as he considered that. He’d been evacuated after the battle of Trimmer Springs and had little knowledge of what happened afterward. The shooting had stopped within a couple of weeks, as the assault on Trimmer Springs had been the Coalition’s last attempt to retake the initiative. When it failed, the rebels had laid down their arms and returned home. No surrender had been signed, but war had never been declared in the first place and the Federation hadn’t pressed the issue.
Groening was probably telling the truth.
“Do you have any plans to renew hostilities?”
“Of course not. We already tried that and failed, and the price was dear. Even if I wanted to, the congregation would never agree to it.”
Nick laughed out loud. “Are you kidding me, Groening? When did you ever listen to your people? They do whatever you tell them, when you tell them, and they don’t question it. If you gave the word they would attack tomorrow and you know it.”
Groening’s face reddened slightly.
“Even if that’s true,” he admitted, “our ally wouldn’t. The Homers have never forgiven us for that conflict and without them we wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Nick’s eyebrows rose at the frankness of that statement. Groening was right, but he was surprised the man would admit it.
“So you aren’t stockpiling weapons for another try at controlling the planet?”
“No.”
“Then why did I find a minefield in your neighborhood?”
“I don’t know. I told you on Sunday, maybe we missed one.”
Nick wasn’t satisfied. Groening was the top man in his cult, and it was unthinkable that he didn’t know about the arms cache. Nick debated asking him about it, but caution held him back. He had hoped Groening would admit to it without being asked directly, but he hadn’t. And if he really didn’t know about it, Nick wasn’t ready to enlighten him just yet. Whatever was going on here was potentially too dangerous to tip his hand at this point.
“Father Groening, if you’re lying to me, you’re going to pay a terrible price.”
“I’m not lying to you. Now unlock these cuffs and turn me loose!”
Nick shook his head. “You’re going to prison for attempted murder. You can squeal all you want about religious freedom, but it isn’t going to work. The Federation will not accept stoning girls as a legitimate religious tenet, no matter what the Bible says, so you’re going to do time. Don’t make it worse by lying about kidnapping or conspiracy to renew the rebellion. You be straight with me or you will be sorry.”