Why did that make you go to Europe?
It’s like Henry James all over again. Daddy told my mother get away from that woman, take the keys and take our daughter to Europe. Cool off like healthy exercise. He didn’t put it like that, he put it nicely. A gift my mother couldn’t refuse.
You could have told me that’s why you went.
No I couldn’t. I had to protect my mother’s reputation. Do you want to know the joke?
What joke?
Alice Trent went with us. Daddy paid our way and she paid her own and joined us in London. That kind of pissed Daddy off.
I guess it would.
When we got back, Mother went to live with Alice and Daddy married Lily Moon from Las Vegas, which I see no reason to tell you about.
Meanwhile, Harry said, you went back to college and found what’s his name.
Clark. He was really good, but then I married Homer. Now I’ve found you. Thank God for that. I’ve got you back and I’ll never let you go again.
Wait a minute.
You’re married. Kids and grandkids. All I mean is, we’re reconciled. Is it all right to say that?
Sure.
I’m lonely, she said. Everybody’s dead.
It’s too bad.
Homer died. So did Rosalie. My mother. My father. Clark. Even Alice Trent. Everybody but you.
Do you have children?
So I’m told. I hear from them at Christmas.
I’m sorry.
Have you ever been unfaithful to your wife?
He tried to remember if Lena in the old days asked blunt questions.
No.
Good boy. Will you spend the night?
No. I should go back to the hotel.
Will you stay a while and let me talk? I have a lifetime of things to tell you. Don’t you?
Maybe. Do you remember Professor Oblong? he said.
Who?
Professor Oblong? Our teacher in summer school.
Never heard of him. Did we go to summer school?
That’s how we met.
I thought we met at a party.
We met in Professor Oblong’s summer school class.
If you say so, she said. Aren’t you curious to know about Homer?
Tell me about him.
She talked about Homer and he lost his way following. At midnight she took him to his hotel after telling him all there was to know about Homer and Clark and her daughter who died and Anchor Island and the Anchor Island Senior Society and annuities and retirement plans. Also her membership in the Society of Mystics and her classes in astrology. He kept his opinions of these things to himself and wondered what she would think when he told her. He wondered if there was anything he wanted to tell her. The incentive had disappeared. There was one thing. He wanted to tell her about the kidnapping of Judy’s baby, and maybe she would be interested to hear about the man who called himself God. Save that for tomorrow.
He had forgotten to call Barbara. Too late tonight, he thought, forgetting that it was only nine-thirty in California.
17
Nick Foster
Loomer said if we want to catch him we must get up good and early. It was shiny on the tree branches and foam on the bushes and we ate in the mess hall and got into the pickup truck. We went to Jake’s and Jim’s. A man with a white beard. Loomer said gonna leave our truck here a few days. Guy come in a few minutes delivering a child seat. Tell him put it on the sidewalk.
Tuneup your truck the man said.
Nah.
Takin up space. That’ll cost you.
I’ll pay. Miller Farm you know what that is.
Never heard of it.
You will some day.
You want to leave it put it over there.
I think we’ll sit in it a while first Loomer said.
We sat in the pickup truck over there.
Two things can happen Loomer said. He come with the woman and old man and baby and the other car or he come by hisself. If he come with the other folks we chase him later down the road. If he come alone we catch him here.
Catch him I said.
Do you know what to do. When he come back to the car crowd him. Make him get in the other side. You get in back to watch him.
Crowd him I said.
We waited a long time. Bastard Loomer said. He looked at his watch. The white car drove up and parked in front of the office. The brown man got out and went in. Black bastard Loomer said.
He looked brown. Oliver said he was black too so I must be wrong.
Brown or black Loomer said. Black brown yellow red they’re all black in the eyes of God.
He came out of the office and opened his back door. He’s getting the car seat. Let’s go. Don’t get excited just amble.
We ambled. The brown black man name David Leo pulled the car seat out of the back. He put it on the ground. Loomer opened the door and we crowded. He looked around and we pushed. Loomer slammed the door and I got in back. I leaned forward with my hands and Loomer got in the driver’s side. He started the car.
What is this David said.
Nice going Nicky Loomer said.
I did a good job. It feels good when I do a good job.
I looked back and saw the car seat on the concrete in front of Jake and Jim’s office. I couldn’t remember who was supposed to pick it up. I asked Loomer.
Forget it he said. Somebody will find a use for it.
The car seat on the sidewalk made me sad. I felt like crying.
Loomer drove and I sat behind David. I was supposed to watch him and grab him around the neck if he made a move. I kept watching him to make a move. I grabbed his shoulders. Once he leaned forward and I caught him by the neck in my elbow. Jesus he said.
You’re not supposed to make a move.
We’re going sixty what could I do.
We drove fast on this road with not many cars. There were trees and a valley with mountains and the road had a yellow line in the middle. The mountains stopped and there were fields and ditches and towns. The towns didn’t last long. Sometimes in a town there was a traffic light. There was a brick building with square towers and rows of windows that Loomer said was a factory. In a town there was flags hanging from a rope across the street.
Loomer said I didn’t need the handcuffs so I didn’t. The handcuffs were in my pocket. Loomer said he had the handcuffs from his police days. He had his gun from his police days. I don’t know where the gun was. He said he took it when he quit. He had a radio from his police days. Also the black stick. I don’t know where the radio was. He had the stick when we crowded David. I didn’t know where the stick was now.
David said you can’t do this to me. He said it a lot.
Shut up I said.
Loomer said you did call off your FBI man didn’t you.
I wish I hadn’t David said.
Don’t you worry Davey boy it’s all for the best. For justice and to satisfy Nicky here. You met Nicky. Say hello Nicky.
Hello I said.
We’re taking you to trial Loomer said. It’s known to the legal world as a sub peony it’s a game of tag. The bailiff give you the sub peony and if he find you you gotta go and if he don’t find you you don’t gotta. You heard of that.
Sounds familiar David said like laughing. Not happy laughing some other kind.
Well you’re the unlucky this time we caught you and now you gotta go. If we didn’t catch you don’t gotta go but here you are bound by the sub peony because we’re taking you to trial.
What trial.
Your trial man. Your opportunity to answer the charges against you.
What charges.
Tell him Nicky.
I don’t know I said.
Come on boy. He’s a little hard of remembering and a little shy too Loomer said. He thinks you killed his mentor Oliver Quinn so that’s what the trial is about.
I didn’t kill Oliver. I had nothing to do with it.
Nick don’t believe you. That’s why we need
a trial. He say you did it you say you didn’t. The trial is to ascertain the true facts as opposed to the other kind.
It’s ridiculous. I didn’t kill Oliver I was nowhere near him.
Exactly why we need a trial.
You want a trial get me some real police and a lawyer. This is kidnapping.
Your trial is perfect to fit the crime and the charge. You couldn’t find a fairer trial in the world.
I’m glad to hear that. Are you going to tell me where we’re going. Miller Farm’s back that way.
Ain’t going to Miller Farm. Too crowded. Change of venue you know that term. A neutral venue quiet and secluded. Wouldn’t you rather have a neutral venue for your trial.
Who’s going to be the judge in this trial of yours.
Trial of yours. The judge. Why Nick and me a two-man panel we’ll judge you two for one make the trial twice as fair.
You’re the accusers. You can’t be the judge.
A fair-minded person can be anybody trust us. I’m not accusing you Nicky is.
David turned and looked at me.
Why are you accusing me he asked.
I didn’t like it when he looked at me.
Tell what you saw Loomer said.
When.
When you was in the woods when Oliver got killed.
I saw you I said.
Who Davey.
I saw you. I meant Loomer I saw Loomer.
Not that. Tell how you know Davey killed Oliver.
You told me I said.
Whoa hey I didn’t tell you you saw it yourself. What did you see.
I couldn’t remember what was right to say and what was not. I forget I said.
No you don’t. You saw Davey push Oliver over the waterfall and down he fall. Never mind. We’ll have your testimony tomorrow and then the judges will get together to decide who’s telling the truth. Davey or Nicky. The sole witnesses. Ain’t that fair.
A car came up behind with its siren going. Uh-oh Loomer said. Hang on to our prisoner. He slowed down.
No monkey business he told David. Nicky’s got a gun in your back and he’s not afraid to shoot a cop if he has to.
What gun I said. I don’t have no gun.
Shh. I forgot. Nicky don’t have the gun I do. It’s my old police gun and I’m the one who ain’t afraid to shoot a cop if I have to. You don’t want that on your conscience do you. If you have any doubts I give you my solemn word of honor and oath your trial will be as fair as a trial can be.
The cop came to the window.
Let me show you my ID Loomer said. Miller Church Farm Wicker Falls New Hampshire. As you can see I’m an ordained minister. I was hurrying to help someone in my flock.
The cop peeked in the window and looked at us.
Sorry Reverend the cop said.
When he was gone Loomer said they always let me off with a warning. How about that Nicky don’t you think that was a manifestation of the power of the Lord. The principle of narrow escape. Too bad Davey, look like you run into the principle of reverse narrow escape because if we hadn’t connect just right back there we’d be having our trial without you and you’d never know what you escaped.
We drove on. Sometimes we talked sometimes we didn’t. Once they talked about me.
Loomer said this Nicky who’s watching to make sure you don’t get stupid this Nicky’s a sweet gentle kid ain’t you Nicky.
I’m not a kid I said.
What I mean he loves babies wouldn’t hurt a fly unless the Lord tell him right about that Nicky.
Right about that.
I heard your Oliver tell me when you was bringing that baby to Miller Farm three days and nights on the road you took as good care of that baby as any mama that right Nicky.
I liked that. I took good care I said.
A man of instinct Loomer said. I recommend him to you Davey if ever you need a man of instinct. He tended that baby and changed its diaper and rocked it to sleep just like its natural mama right Nicky.
Right.
So ever you need a mama for your kid if your real mama too busy just call up Nicky he be glad to obliged.
Glad to obliged I said.
Sometimes we didn’t talk. Then we talked again. Loomer asked David what you think of Miller.
I have no opinion I never talked to him David said.
But your friend did. Fieldsy. They had a long talk. So what did he think of Miller.
He thinks Miller is intelligent and original but insane.
What. After talking to Miller half the day a privilege his truest disciples are seldom granted Fieldsy thinks Miller’s insane.
I noticed Loomer’s words were surprised but Loomer wasn’t. I notice that with Loomer. He doesn’t sound like what he’s saying.
Christ David said. The man claims to be God.
If anybody else claimed to be God he’d be insane. Not Miller because Miller is God.
You believe that too.
What’s belief Loomer said. What’s love. What’s goodness. What’s justice. What’s God. Those words have big meanings man.
We stopped talking and then we talked again. Who’s your guru Loomer said. This Fieldsy is he your guru.
I have no guru.
Bullshit man your leader teacher mentor. You judge each man by his guru so who’s yours.
Professor Field is a fine teacher I owe him a lot but he’s not a guru.
Everybody needs a mentor. If you don’t have a mentor what happens Nicky.
I don’t know.
Nicky don’t know. Nicky never know. He wouldn’t know a damn thing without a mentor to tell him. Neither would you. Nobody would. You gotta have a mentor how you get from being a puppy to a grownup dog.
A puppy would turn into a grownup dog mentor or not no matter what you do.
That’s instinct. Two sides. Instinct and mentor. Nick’s got instinct and needs mentor. Otherwise he don’t know what to do. Do you Nick.
No.
The world need mentors and it need disciples. If they wasn’t disciples the world go to hell. Everybody against everybody doggy dog. Chaos and murder and Nick going around not knowing what to do. That’s the point of Miller a good strong mentor. The strong mentor he bind people together what to think. The disciples learn what to think from the mentor all think the same gives them strength. Strength from unity e pluribus unum you break sticks one at a time but not in a bundle. What do you say Davey man.
That’s a fascist philosophy.
Whoa watch them names. It’s simple common sense and religious truth if you ain’t willing to submit your self to a mentor greater than you and look up to him like God you’re a rat in the sewer liable to swept away in the garbage and human waste.
In the academic world we teach people to think for themselves David said.
That’s dumb. You don’t control nobody that way.
I don’t want to control anybody.
That’s because you’re the natural disciple type. Me I’m watching for Miller to falter. He ain’t young and one of these days he’s going to be replaced.
I thought you said he was God.
He’s God like on lease before time run out. Incarnation eventual he’ll be replaced. My disciples will be a somewhat more active bunch than the present ones.
You’re going to usurp the throne.
You ain’t listening. Not usurp. Take over when Miller is ready peaceful. You want everybody to think for theirselves that’s dumb you ask me. Could Nick think for himself. What do you think Nicky would you like to think for yourself.
No.
See. If all the Nickys of the world learned to think for themselves what a mess. What we need is a strong God to keep everybody in their place. If Miller ain’t up to the job here I am. I strongly advise you to break your ties with Fieldsy before it’s too late.
The trip got long. It got longer and longer the longer we drove the longer the trip got. I was getting tired looking at the back of the black man’s head all the time. Sometimes the wor
ld folded over. It turned and folded inside itself so you could pull the inside and put it on the outside. My head tossed around. Loomer and David changed places David driving Loomer in front of me and I looked and they were back the way they were before. There was a big airplane noise and the planes were coming down to land one on top of another with the sirens going and I looked and the field outside was just like it was before the airplanes and I don’t know where they all went.
Your man has fallen asleep. I heard David say that. He was on top of the house looking down where I was trying to crawl under the front porch. I could take advantage of you now couldn’t I he said. I’m not asleep I tried to say from under the porch but I couldn’t make the words come out. They were hard words and I had to push hard to make anything happen though I thought the words clearly. I thought them loud but I couldn’t make the sound come. Wake up Nicky don’t be an idiot I heard Oliver talking only it wasn’t Oliver it was Loomer and then the car was exactly the way it was before we were going fast through a village with white houses and a gas station and a flag and I don’t know what happened to the porch and the roof. I looked to see if the black man was laughing because I thought he was but I couldn’t see when I looked.
Where the hell are you taking me he said.
It’s called Stump Island Loomer said. It’s an outpost.
Christ I’ve been there David said. He laughed. Loomer laughed. I don’t know what they were laughing about.
The road ended. There was water in front of us. There was a dock and a gas pump and a building with windows and a porch. We got out. Keep your hold on him Loomer said. He went from the upper dock to the one below. He talked to a man.
Bring him down he said.
We got into a rowboat with an outboard motor. I had never been in a boat before. I hoped it wouldn’t sink.
He pulled at the outboard motor. He kept pulling.
Don’t show the gun just keep it. Ribs is best. You won’t try to escape will you Davey.
He pulled the outboard motor. It began. It made a noise under the water and over it too. It was not as loud as a lawn mower. I used to pull the lawn mower. It was hard the same way.
The sky was the color of my aunt’s silver polish when I helped in the kitchen. The boat went. We went way out. There were bunches of trees sticking up in the water with rocks around them. The waves went up and down. The boat went swish through the water and the water turned white and green. It had big white eyes looking up at you.
Disciples Page 16