by Mark Tilbury
‘Where is Maddie?’
‘Having a little nap at the moment. She likes dogs. Had an Andrex puppy when she was a little girl. Bought for her by her over-indulgent parents.’
If you’ve done anything to her...
‘Do you know the most remarkable thing about Maxine?’
‘No.’
‘She can smell evil.’ Ebb clicked his fingers. ‘Can’t you, girl?’
Max barked. The sound echoed around the barn like a gunshot. Saliva dribbled from her muzzle.
‘What do you think, Benjamin? Can Maxine flush Satan out of you?’
‘Satan’s not in me.’
Ebb turned around and addressed the group. ‘The Imposter speaks.’
Tweezer stepped forward. ‘We must flush him out, Father. Destroy him.’
Ebb turned back to Ben. ‘During the war, Russian guards would starve their dogs. Do you know why?’
Ben didn’t. He didn’t want to know, either.
‘Take a guess.’
‘Not enough food?’
‘No. It was to ensure those dogs were hungry. Not just grumbly tummy hungry, Pixie-pea. Not just get to bed with no supper hungry. Not just mummy’s drank the dinner money again hungry. No, sir. Not on your high heels. Those dogs were rip off your arm and shit your fingers hungry. That way, when they stood those insubordinate prisoners naked in the quadrangle and covered their frozen bodies with hot goulash, those dogs would be ready to eat them alive.’
Ben’s mind refused to process any more information. A tear slipped down his cheek. He looked at the other members of The Sons and Daughters of Salvation standing a few yards away from the cross. How could they believe in such a crazy crock of shit? How could they stand there and do nothing?
Ebb continued: ‘By the time two or three prisoners were turned into dog meat, the rest of them were ready to sing like birds.’
‘Praise Jesus,’ Tweezer said, as if by default.
‘Praise Jesus,’ Ebb agreed. ‘I would say there’s nowhere for Satan to hide when confronted with man’s best friend.’
Ben’s stomach lurched. What was Ebb going to do? Cover him with food and set his dog on him?
‘Luckily for you, Benjamin, we do not condone such barbarity. Not even in pursuit of Satan.’
Tweezer studied Ben. ‘Satan mocks you, Father.’
Ebb tightened his robe. ‘He tries, Brother. He tries. But my patience is bolstered by the fortitude of Jesus Christ Himself. I’m in no rush. Satan will come out.’
Tweezer punched the air. ‘Praise Jesus.’
‘All mockers and the counterfeiters will be held to account in the court of the Lord Jesus Christ. The highest court in the universe. The Court of Correction.’
‘Amen,’ Tweezer rapped.
‘Sinners shall be burned alive. No one shall be spared. It is written in the stars. We must build our spaceship and be ready. The old and the young alike shall be called unto Him.’
‘The oldest is the youngest, and the youngest is the oldest,’ Tweezer shouted.
‘The pimp and the paedophile might seek refuge in the body of an old man, but does that mean we should take pity upon his frailty?’
‘No, Father,’ the group chanted.
Ben noticed Bubba staring at him. There was something in the big man’s eyes. A fleeting flash of something that Ben couldn’t quite put his finger on. Compassion? Fear? Understanding?
Ebb rattled on: ‘Should we spare the child who will mature and cause misery to the world?’
Like you, Ben thought.
‘No, Father,’ the group chanted.
‘What should we do?’
‘Destroy him, Father.’
Ebb paced up and down like a victorious sportsman basking in the glory of victory. ‘Satan comes in many guises. The poet, the politician, the thief, the vagrant. He hides like a thief in an alleyway at night. As he does to this poor wretch on the cross.’
Tweezer agreed. ‘I smell Satan oozing from every pore.’
‘He hopes we take pity on him. But do we take pity?’
‘No, Father,’ the group chimed.
‘Do we turn a blind eye?’
‘No, Father.’
Ebb stopped pacing and cocked his head to one side. ‘Damn right, we don’t. Because that would be as stupid as eating a raw chicken and wondering why you had a dicky belly. The deadliest spider on the planet isn’t any bigger than a two-pence piece, but we don’t invite it to stretch its legs and take a walk on our bodies, do we?’
‘No, Father.’
Ben looked at the group. In the eerie yellow light cast by the lanterns, he couldn’t distinguish their features. The lack of identity made them seem even more sinister.
‘This wretch represents all that is wrong with the world.’
Ben’s bladder threated to let go. ‘I haven’t done nothing.’
Ebb waved a hand dismissively. ‘We hear your words, Satan. We hear them like wind on a hilltop. But we don’t believe you.’
‘I’m… just… me….’
Ebb ignored him. ‘Max! Heel!’
Max fell in line beside her master. Ebb walked right up to the cross with the dog at his side. He ran his hands across Ben’s legs like a faith-healer. ‘I feel Satan’s vibration.’
Tweezer crossed himself. ‘May the Lord Jesus Christ protect us.’
Ebb finished his bizarre exercise. He then turned to the dog. ‘Max! Seek.’
Max sniffed Ben’s feet and shins. Her tail swished in the dusty air. The leather restraints suppressed Ben’s natural urge to kick out. Max paid particular attention to Ben’s right knee. She sniffed it for several seconds and then stepped back and barked.
Ebb hunkered down. ‘What is it, girl?’
Max panted. Droplets of saliva fell on the dry earth floor.
Ebb put his hands either side of the dog’s head and stared into her eyes. After several moments of what appeared to be deep contemplation, Ebb stood up. ‘She smells Satan.’
Max barked, as if acknowledging Ebb’s claim.
Ebb ruffled Max’s head. ‘Good girl, Max.’ He then turned to Tweezer. ‘Take Maxine to her kennel. There are treats in the kitchen under the sink. Give her two and make sure her water bowl is filled.’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘Just two treats, mind. There’s a thin line between rewarding and spoiling.’
‘Yes, Father.’
Ebb pursed his lips. ‘Bring the blow torch back with you. I think it might be prudent to drive Satan from his hidey-hole.’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘Blow torch?’ Ben shouted. ‘Oh, God, no. This can’t be happening.’
Ebb grinned. It was a grin that belonged on the back of a Wild West wagon selling snake oil. ‘I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept of fire, Satan.’
Ben moaned. His hands and shoulders already felt engulfed in flames.
‘A nice hot fire should be right up your alley.’
‘Please don’t burn me,’ Ben pleaded.
‘Save your pitiful whimpering for the imps.’
‘There’s nothing inside me.’
‘You can’t have “nothing” in you. That’s impossible, unless you’re hollow.’
‘I mean Satan. Satan’s not inside me.’
‘Denial is always the first port of call for the guilty. Your flagrant disregard for my authority tells me who’s sailing your ship. Max has confirmed Satan’s presence. Now we must act.’
Ben tried to push up and relieve the pressure on his shoulders. A flare went off in his knee. He screamed and gasped for air.
Ebb was unimpressed. ‘Spare me the amateur dramatics. Your pathetic attempts to garner sympathy are wearing thin.’
‘I’m… not—’
Ebb pointed a finger at Ben. ‘You’d do well to speak only when spoken to.’
Ben closed his eyes. He recited the Lord’s Prayer and asked Pastor Tom’s God to spare him.
Ebb addressed the group. ‘See how Satan controls
Benjamin?’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘See how Satan distorts the truth?’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘Leave m-me alone, you f-f-f-fucking idiot,’ Ben shouted.
‘See how Satan decorates his tongue with profanity?’
The group did.
Ebb turned back to Ben. ‘But I’m not listening, Pixie-pea. You words fall upon deaf ears.’
Ben twisted his head from side to side. He wanted to reach out and rip Ebb’s tongue from his mouth. Poke out his eyes. Wrap his hands around his neck and squeeze the life out of him. But poor old Stutter-buck didn’t even have the guts to say boo to a bat. He was born a coward, and he would die a coward. And Maddie would die right along with him because he didn’t even have the balls to come here on his own.
‘We shall wait for Brother Tweezer to return,’ Ebb said. ‘Then we’ll see what you’ve got to say for yourself.’
19
Maddie was still half asleep when Tweezer came into the room. For a few seconds, as her brain scrambled to distinguish the difference between imagination and reality, she thought she was in a hospital, and Tweezer’s robe was a surgical gown.
Tweezer smiled at her and stroked his goatee. ‘How are you feeling?’
Maddie pushed herself up. The cuffs jarred her wrists. ‘What?’
‘Sorry, did I wake you?’
‘What do you want?’
Tweezer sat on the bed. ‘I was just wondering if there was anything I could get you?’
‘The key to these handcuffs?’
‘Sorry, sister. That’s more than my life’s worth.’
‘And what is your life worth?’
‘Pardon me?’
‘What is your life worth? It’s a simple question.’
‘I’m only trying to be friendly.’
‘Are you? I’d hate to see you when you’re trying to be nasty.’
‘I’m not nasty.’
‘Really? So what do you call killing a man with a hammer? A friendly pat on the head?’
‘That was a long time ago.’
‘And that makes it all right, does it?’
‘God has forgiven me.’
Maddie rolled her eyes. ‘He told you that, did He?’
‘He came to the Father in a vision and told him so.’
‘And you believe that?’
‘I don’t believe it. I know it.’
Maddie looked away. ‘Course you do.’
‘This isn’t about me, Madeline. It’s about you, and what lives inside you.’
‘There’s nothing inside me.’
‘You and Benjamin must be purged.’
‘Where is Ben?’
‘About to be exorcised.’
Maddie felt as if someone had dropped ice cubes in her blood. ‘What do you mean, “exorcised”?’
‘That’s not for you to worry your pretty little head over. It’s all going to be finished with by the morning. You two will have plenty of time to catch up later.’
‘Why am I handcuffed to the bed?’
Tweezer moved closer. ‘You know why, Madeline. For your inauguration.’
Maddie could smell tobacco on his breath. ‘But what will happen?’
Tweezer seemed to consider this for a while. And then said, ‘The Father will plant his seed in you.’
‘I’m not letting him do that.’
‘Pride is a sin, sister.’
‘It’s got nothing to do with pride. It’s my body.’
‘Not anymore it’s not. You gave your body to The Sons and Daughters of Salvation the minute you arrived at Penghilly’s Farm.’
‘He’s not touching me.’
‘Resistance is pointless, Madeline. Brother Gerald would testify to that – if he could.’
Maddie closed her eyes. Maybe this would go away if she never opened them again. Just like when she was a little girl, and she used to shut her eyes to wish away the wicked witch with the tombstone eyes and the goo-green face hiding under her bed.
‘You want my advice?’ Tweezer asked.
The pungent smell of tobacco wafted up Maddie’s nose, making her feel sick. ‘What?’
‘Just do as you’re told.’
Maddie knew that the witch under the bed had a huge wart on the end of her nose. Oozing pus. One night, convinced that the witch’s bony fingers had reached out and touched her, Maddie had screamed for her mother to rescue her. Screamed all the way to Rwanda. But her mother was dead. Dead and buried in the baked earth, with a simple wooden cross and a few pebbles to decorate her grave. Screaming for help now was as pointless as screaming for her mother had been all those years ago. Except this time the source of her terror was not just a figment of her imagination.
‘Do you want a drink?’
Her father had taken her to Rwanda when she was twelve. Back to the village where her mother had died. She’d wanted to cry as she’d looked at that pregnant swell of earth marking her mother’s grave, but no tears would come. Her only emotion had been anger. Anger at all the things she’d missed out on.
‘Madeline?’
Her father had told her she had her mother’s pretty green eyes. But that was plain daft. She had her own eyes!
‘The world is evil,’ Maddie whispered.
Tweezer agreed. ‘Profoundly evil.’
‘How could anyone do such a thing?’
‘Do what, love?’
Maddie didn’t feel his hand on her arm. She was back at the grave in Rwanda. Her father saying a prayer, giving thanks and praising Jesus. For what? Jesus was just a selfish liar.
Tweezer rubbed her arm in small circular motions. Saliva bubbled in the corner of his mouth as he snorkelled air through his bent and flattened nose. If Maddie had looked into that face, she might have seen a witch with a goo-green face and tombstone eyes.
Maddie looked up at the skylight. ‘Why does God let so many bad things happen?’
Tweezer’s hand moved down to Maddie’s leg. ‘God isn’t responsible for what people do. He’s our judge, not our instigator.’
Maddie didn’t hear him. ‘Maybe God’s deaf, dumb and blind.’
Tweezer squeezed her thigh. ‘God sees us, sister. God hears us. God knows us.’
‘Maybe he’s dead.’
‘God isn’t dead. He’s immortal.’
Maddie suddenly realised Tweezer’s hand was on her leg. She shook her arms and kicked out. The handcuffs clanged against the brass head rail. ‘Get your hands off me.’
Tweezer jumped back and withdrew his hand. ‘No need to be like that. I’m only trying to help.’
‘Do you really want to help me?’
Tweezer nodded. ‘Sure.’
‘Then undo these handcuffs.’
Tweezer wiped his nose with his forefinger. ‘I would if I could.’
‘Yeah, right. Course you would.’
‘Are you a virgin?’
Maddie resisted an urge to spit in his face. ‘Piss off.’
‘I’m only asking because I care about you.’
‘What do you know about caring?’
‘I could break you in if you’re a virgin.’
Maddie’s heart turned to lead. ‘The day I let you near me is the day I die.’
Tweezer smiled. ‘You might end up thanking me. I could save you a lot of pain. And I mean a lot of pain. Ebb uses things.’
‘He’s not coming anywhere near me.’
‘Do you think you have a choice?’
‘I’d rather die.’
‘He’ll take you whatever you might think.’
‘I think you’re sick.’
Tweezer inched closer. ‘Between you and me, he prefers men. Ask Brother Gerald if you don’t believe me. Oops! Silly me. You can’t. Brother Gerald’s dead. He died for the sin of homosexuality, which is a bit rich, considering the Father is that way inclined himself. Anyway, I’m telling you all this for your own good. The Father has to do it with other things.’
Maddie’s stomach ti
ghtened. ‘Leave me alone.’
‘The Father calls it Purification. I prefer to call it bloody painful. Especially if you’re a virgin.’
Maddie groaned and shook her head. Her mind tried to erect barriers to stop the words getting inside her head. ‘No.’
‘I’ll be gentle with you.’
‘Get out! Leave me alone.’
Tweezer stood up. He looked at Maddie with eyes forged in Hell. He untied the yellow sash around her middle. ‘You’re not in any position to issue ultimatums. This isn’t a soap opera, Madeline.’
‘Leave me alone.’
‘You’ll thank me for this in the long run. Trust me, you will.’
Maddie pushed herself as close as she could to the head rail. The cuffs bit into her wrists. She drew her legs up and squeezed them together as tight as she could.
Tweezer took off his robe and threw it on the floor. Tattoos marked most of his body. Scorpions, snakes, scales of justice. His erect penis appeared to sniff the air. His hair hung in greasy strips across his face.
‘Get away from me,’ Maddie screamed.
Tweezer grinned. ‘I think you’re begging for it.’
Maddie sobbed and drew her knees up to her chin. ‘No… I’m… not….’
‘All women are. Deep down inside, you’re all begging for it.’
Maddie looked up at the darkening skylight. Where was God now? Where was He when you needed Him the most? In the same place He was when those savages raped and murdered her mother. Up in the sky making daisy chains with the angels.
Tweezer knelt on the bed and grabbed hold of Maddie’s knees. He tried to force them apart.
Maddie squeezed her legs together with every last drop of energy in her body. ‘Please don’t do this.’
Tweezer forced his fingers between her knees, gouging her skin with his nails. ‘I’m… trying… to… help… you….’
‘By raping me?’ Maddie shouted.
‘I’m not going to rape you. I’m going to make things easier for you. You really don’t get it, do you?’
Maddie spat in his face. ‘Piss off.’
Tweezer withdrew his right hand from between her knees and wiped his face. ‘Sister Emily couldn’t walk for a week after Ebb had been at her. Do you want that?’
‘I want to go home.’