The mist seemed to smile. Balon said: Our son has more going for him than he realizes.”
What do you mean?”
Exactly what I said.”
Do you always speak in riddles?”
I do not speak in riddles. Those who are not yet a part of my world do occasionally interpret my words as riddles.”
She sighed. It’s hours past full dark, Sam.”
A scream cut the night, a wail of agony so intense it sawed at Jane Ann’s flesh like a knife with a dull cutting edge.
I thought we were the only ones who would be subjected to ... whatever?”
No. There are people in this town, this locale, who have professed to be Christians. Their lives were lies. Liars, cheats, hypocrites, imposters pretending to serve the Lord God. Many of them. Now they beg for His mercy. But it is too late. It will not come.”
I thought our God was a just God, Sam?”
He is. But humankind must help. Humankind was not put here on earth with a blank book, Janey. The book is the Word of God. Humankind understands that; they just won’t—many of them—follow His Word. Now they must pay for their sins.”
Sam? Answer this for me, if you can: isn’t it true that God answers all prayers?”
Yes. In His own way.”
Drop the other shoe, Sam. In plain English.”
The mist seemed to sigh, then projected: More often than not, the answer is no.”
ELEVEN
Sam and Nydia made it back to the mansion just seconds before the Coven members summoned by their Master arrived, pulling up to Falcon House in half a dozen automobiles and vans. The young man and woman stood in their quarters, the lights out, the rooms dark, watching the Devil worshipers leave the vehicles, walking up the steps to the house. Not all of them were willing participants: some fought the hands that held them; some were crying; a few were little more than children.
Nydia closed the drapes and stood for a moment, Sam’s arms around her. Those poor little girls down there,” she sobbed, pressing her face against his chest, crying and trembling with fear. Finally, overcoming her terror and horror, she pulled away from her young man and turned on the bureau lamp. She looked at the bed, gasped, one hand flying to her mouth. She pointed.
On the bed was Sam’s Bible, open, two chapters circled in red. And his beret, his Ranger beret he carried with him in his luggage, whenever he traveled, lying beside the Bible.
Sam was no longer shocked by the surprises that occurred around him; his mind had accepted the knowledge that there were some things that could not be explained ... so be it. He walked to the bed, looked at his beret, touched it, then answered Nydia’s as yet unasked question.
I worked and sweated my butt off to get this. I’m very proud of it.”
He touched the red that outlined the chapter in the Bible.
What ... is it?” she asked.
Blood. Marking Revelation, chapters twelve and thirteen.”
Blood! Whose blood?”
Sam shook his head. I don’t know. Let’s read this.”
They sat on the edge of the bed, reading in silence for a few moments, trying to comprehend the message contained therein.
I’ve never read the Bible before,” Nydia admitted. Except for a few quick peeps at friends’ homes. But it sounds absolutely fascinating.”
It is. Nydia, I don’t understand any of this. What does the blood have to do with this?”
There!” She pointed at a passage. She read aloud. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb.’ Could that be it?”
I . . . don’t think so. I just don’t know. Mother said that my real father often told her the Bible was vague, given to many different interpretations. But look here . . . right there,” he pointed, and read aloud, And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast.
And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?’ ”
They both read the remaining verses of the chapter in silence, Nydia finally saying, It could mean so many things, Sam. Michael was a warrior, right?”
One hell of a warrior.”
Sam . . . !” she gave him a disapproving look for his paradoxical statement. Anyway . . . warriors fight. Blood is spilled . . . right?”
Yeah,” he admitted reluctantly. Could be you’re right.”
Is the beast the Devil?”
I ... guess so.”
You’re a preacher’s son, Sam. You’re supposed to know these things.”
I’m a backslider, honey. Not a very good Christian.”
She kissed his cheek. I don’t believe that, Sam. Not for a second. Michael cast out Satan, right?”
That’s what it says.”
So ... of all the angels in Heaven, who would be the one most likely to help someone fight the Devil?” Sam looked at her in the dim light. The look he gave her was of extreme uncertainty. Are you . . . Nydia, are you saying that Michael is helping me? That he is here?”
I don’t know, Sam. Maybe he isn’t here; maybe he doesn’t have to be here, yet, to do these things.”
Yet?”
Let me finish. Was your father a warrior?”
A war hero. Yeah, he was a warrior.”
Who would he most likely make friends with ... uh ... up there?” She pointed upward.
Honey, this is getting a little bit farfetched. When was the last time you recall any angels appearing here on earth?”
Well . . . how would we know, really? I mean, people might not want to speak of the sighting, right?”
You have a point. Yeah. For fear of being laughed at. I . . . seem to recall reading that Michael did appear to help—in some way—with Joan of Arc.”
All right. Your father had to have appeared to give you that envelope, didn’t he? He’s in Whitfield right now, isn’t he?”
Yeah. But my father isn’t an angel.”
How do you know that?”
Sam shrugged. I don’t.”
Before either could say another word, a light tap sounded at the door. Sam sighed heavily and stood up. Put away the Bible, Nydia. No sense tempting the gods—from either end of the spectrum.”
He opened the door. Roma stood looking at him, her dark eyes burning with a strange light.
Mrs. Williams. Excuse me: Roma,” Sam corrected. It’s late for a social call, isn’t it?”
Oh, I assure you, Sam Balon King. This is no social call.”
He smiled. All bets down, the pot’s right, and time for the last card, right?”
She laughed. Oh, my dear, you are your father’s son. Yes, darling, time for a little chat.”
Between good and evil?”
She shrugged, the movement lifting her breasts, and she noted that Sam noticed. She had changed into a gown of dark blue, floor length, cut low, the V dipping far into the swell of her breasts. Good and evil, Sam? Well, perhaps. Tell me: how far have you taken my daughter into the candy-coated world of Christianity?”
I baptized her.”
Roma grimaced, her nose wrinkling as if she smelled something bad. How perfectly disgusting. Before or after you fucked her?”
Sam stood in the doorway. He said nothing.
Roma smiled. You Christians—self-proclaimed—really want it both ways, don’t you? You want on the one hand to mouth all those heavenly platitudes, but you still want to fuck whenever the mood grips you. Have you eaten her pussy yet, Sam?”
Sam returned her sardonic smile, sensing she was deliberately baiting him, trying to anger him.
She laughed. Very good, Sam—I couldn’t bait your father, either. Who, by the way, is also Nydia’s father. And, of course, the father of Black. Just thought you might like to know that the next time you got an urge to screw.”
We know,” Sam said.
Fucking your half sister, Sam? My, my! What does your God have to say about that?”
I don’t know. I haven’t asked Him.”
She arched an eyebrow. Well . . . how casual you are. That cosmic gnome you worship might take exception at your flip attitude toward sex.”
We’ll take our chances.”
Then, without explanation, her smile changed to one containing a trace of sadness. Believe me, darling . . . we are all about to do that. I see no reason to stand here in the hallway discussing this. Why don’t we behave as civilized human beings,” she laughed aloud at that, and adjourn to the den where we can be more comfortable? I assure you, no harm will befall either of you. We do have a great deal to discuss.”
Mac, Howard, Linda, Judy, Lana?” Nydia spoke from her seat on the edge of the bed.
They are sleeping soundly. Howard on his stomach, I should imagine. I have no doubt but what you will both rush to their sides upon their waking to tell them the dire news.”
Isn’t Howard one of you now?” Sam asked, and wondered how he knew that.
Ah . . . perhaps. Yes. You are a wise one, aren’t you? Of course, he is.”
Then get him out of Mac’s room and bunk him somewhere else. Give Mac a chance, at least.”
Roma flushed. You, young man, do not order me about.”
Sam slammed the door in her face.
A short pause, a tap on the door. Sam opened the door, Roma’s anger was under control, her face no longer flushed. You’re very sure of your power, aren’t you, Sam Balon King?”
As certain as I can be that my God will protect me against those who serve the Beast.”
Roma turned her head and spoke in a language that Sam did not recognize. When she again faced him, he asked, What language was that?”
Ancient Gallic. I speak all languages known on earth, Sam—and many that have long since vanished.”
Considering how ancient you must be, I should imagine that would come in handy.”
Roma howled her approval. Oh, very good, Sam! Score one point for you. Oh, my, yes. You are a most worthy foe. I have instructed that Howard be moved into a room of his own.” She smiled. For all the good it will do Mac. Are you coming to the den?”
Sam glanced at Nydia. She nodded her head, her face pale. Yes,” Sam said to the witch.
She vanished in front of his eyes, without a trace.
Unusual activity tonight,” the astronomer said to his colleague, his partner in sharing the lonely nights searching the Heavens from their earth-bound observatory in California.
Oh? What type?”
I ... don’t know that I can explain it.”
His friend glanced at him. Twenty-five years in this business and you give me an answer like that? Come on, Ralph: you can do better.”
Quick bursts of light; not connected with anything I know about. Strange. Almost . . . almost . . . like messages being sent from deep space.”
You been reading the Bible again, Ralph?” his friend asked, not unkindly, but with a slight sarcastic tone to his voice. It was something his partner had grown used to years before.
I read the Bible every day, Glenn.”
Glenn rose from behind his desk and climbed up the ladder to the huge telescope, actually a series of scopes, each amplifying the other, boosting the power to tremendous dimensions. The agnostic watched the Heavens for a few moments, pausing only to check his computations against those of his friend. They matched perfectly, verifying the location of the supposed sighting.
Nothing, Ralph. You’ve been working too hard, that’s all.”
Ralph said nothing in reply.
Did you shoot film?”
You know I did.” The reply was softly stated.
Well . . . let’s develop it.”
But Ralph was strangely reluctant to do that, and that only peaked his colleague’s curiosity even further. And when questioned, he would only shake his head.
All right, Ralph.” Glenn sat beside his friend. Come on, give. We’ve been friends too long for this silent act.”
Ralph looked at his friend and coworker for many, many years. Looked at him closely. Unlike Glenn, Ralph was a Christian—or tried to be—and he believed in the big bang theory about as much as he believed a duck could shit gold dust. There won’t be anything on the film,” he finally said.
Why?”
Because what I saw can’t be—won’t be—filmed, that’s why. So let’s change the subject. Get some coffee.”
Glenn put out a restraining hand. I won’t kid about your belief in God, Ralph. I can sense this is not the time. And I believe you did see something, and I stress ‘something.’ It will not go any further than this platform. I give my word. Now what did you see?”
Ralph’s eyes appeared deep-sunk in his skull, and his face was pale. He ran nervous fingers through thinning hair. I ... saw the face of God.”
Glenn sat quietly for a moment. All right, Ralph. Is that all? What else? What did He look like?”
Angry. Concerned. Worried. And ... awesome. Oh ... did He look awesome. Breathtaking.”
In human form?”
In a ... manner of speaking.”
What was He doing? Just skipping around the sky? And I don’t mean that in an ugly way.”
He . . . was meeting with someone . . . something. Another being.”
Ralph! Have you lost your mind? Are you serious about this?”
Yes, I’m serious. He . . . was . . . well, it looked like . . . He had intercepted someone . . . something. A being, like I said. I’ve never seen anything like it. Glenn . . . it was ... terrible. It was beautiful, wrathful. I hate to be redundant, but it was awesome.”
Explain awesome.”
I ... don’t know that I can. The figure was . . . holding something in one ... mighty hand. It ... oh, don’t think me nuts, Glenn . . . looked like a sword or big knife. The figure appeared . . . I don’t know. Exalted, I guess.”
Glenn had worked with his friend for too many years to think he was pulling his leg, and to not take him seriously. Ralph Fairbanks was a highly respected man in his field, one of the top men in the world, constantly in demand for speaking engagements and classroom lectures.
Something very close to excited fear touched Glenn. He had not experienced it in a long time. Go on, buddy . . . tell it all.”
Somewhere in the vastness of the huge planetarium, a phone began to ring. It rang several times before someone stilled the jangling.
Ralph sighed. It ... seemed to me that the two . . . figures were, well, arguing, I guess is the right word. Almost violently. The one more . . . imposing figure, impressive, was pointing upward; the warrior-appearing figure was pointing downward, pointing with that terrible-looking weapon he ... it held in his hand.”
The blinker on the phone popped on. Glenn finally picked up the telephone. Yeah?” He listened for a moment, his eyes widening. No warning; no nothing? Impossible!” He listened for a moment longer. All in one night? This close together? Good God!” He hung up.
What?” his friend asked.
Small volcano in the Malay archipelago just blew its cork. Hell, it’s been dormant for centuries.”
No warning?”
None.”
Ralph smiled. What else?”
How do you know there was anything else?”
I know.”
Couple of small monsoons. A tidal wave or two. All without serious damage. No reported injuries or deaths. Earthquake in a couple of places. No major damage. People reporting some sort of . . . heavenly voices coming out of the sky. Their words; damn sure not mine. Large hail in spots. Tremendous lightning reported around Montreal.”
Where around Montreal?”
Eighty-ninety miles north. Why?”
And the temple of God was opened in Heaven,” Ralph said, closing his eyes, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”
What the hell is that drivel, Ralph?”
Revelation, chapter eleven, verse ninet
een.”
It was a fluke of nature, Ralph!”
If that is what you believe, Glenn.”
Goddamnit, Ralph! Now listen to me: you’re a scientist. You know as well as I there is a logical explanation for everything. I’m not going to argue fact and fiction with you; we’ve been doing that for a quarter of a century, and all it gets us is out of sorts with each other. I’m going to get that fucking film and see what’s on it. I’ll be back shortly.”
When Glenn returned, Ralph had not moved from his seat. Nothing on the film, Ralph. Nothing took.”
I told you there wouldn’t be.”
I’m going to switch scope positions; take a look at that new star.”
All right.”
You don’t object?”
Why should I?”
Maybe your ... apparitions will pop up again. Don’t you want to see your holy people?”
Ralph smiled at his friend’s sarcasm. I’ve seen them.”
The red light on the phone glowed. Glenn answered it, listening for a moment. When he turned to his friend, the expression on his face was strange . . . tight.
News?” Ralph asked.
Some . . . stargazers up in Canada wanted to know if any of us had witnessed . . . something . . . some visions in the sky tonight. Said they shot film, but nothing developed. Said he didn’t want me to think him a fool, or that he’d been boozing on the job, but it appeared to be two . . . things arguing.”
And?” Ralph prodded him, knowing there was more.
He said,” Glenn sighed, that others had called in, from reporting stations all around the world. Said they all witnessed the same . . . whatever it was. Said they were all—to use his words—awestruck.”
Go on, Glenn.”
You really want to rub my nose in it, don’t you?”
No, old friend, I don’t.”
Well . . . I didn’t see it. If I had seen it, I probably would have been able to identify the sighting without falling back on unproven superstition.”
The two men glared at each other for a few seconds, Ralph finally breaking the silence. What is it they claim to have seen?”
The astronomer stalked from the upper platform, carefully climbing down the ladder to the lower level. He walked to the door, his back stiff with anger. There, he paused, turning around. They all claim to have seen . . . the face of God.”
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