JACK BATSON AND THE HOLY GRAIL

by Georgekutty Adappur

  Every Apostles and the rest of the people in the room were listening to these conversation, then St. Thomas the Apostle started to speak:

  “Dear children, don’t think that you are just two worms and don’t doubt the way I doubted about our Lord’s resurrection. Never think that you are worthless. You think so because you are humble. But, BEING HUMBLE DOESN’T MEAN UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OWN VALUE. IF YOU DON’T GIVE VALUE FOR YOURSELF, CAN’T EXPECT IT FROM OTHERS. Always believe in God’s power and His care for us. Our Lord can perform miracles for you if you are ready to be an instrument for that. You may think it is impossible for us human being, but everything is possible for God. Doesn’t matter, how difficult our problems are, everything is simple for God. IF GOD COULD CREATE THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WITH ONE WORD, HE CAN GIVE YOU EVERYTHING WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR.”

  “Tell us what to do precisely?” Jack was too anxious.

  “A carriage will come to pick you up within an hour; it will take you to a priest named Fr. Angelo. He is a great man and would be the best helper for you in the mission to discover the Holy Grail. Whatever be your plans or decisions, discuss with him, he has profound knowledge in the history of the Holy Grail and in Theology. Whatever doubts you have, he is competent to clarify...” St. John the Apostle said in his quiet voice.

  “So do you really think that we can discover it?” Matt asked doubtfully.

  “Dear children, believe, God has great plans for you. He has appointed you to do this divine task. IF GOD HAS ENTRUSTED A DUTY TO SOMEONE, HE WILL SHOW THEM THE WAYS TOO. GOD MAY LEAD YOU THROUGH THE THORNY PATHS DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU WOULDN’T MEET SUCCESS. REMEMBER EVEN CHRIST HIMSELF HAD TO DIE ON THE CROSS TO RESURRECT FROM DEATH. IF LORD DIDN’T DIE HOW CAN WE SAY THAT HE RESURRECTED FROM DEATH? SO NO DEATH MEANS, NO RESURRECTION. Fr. Angelo will be a good helper for you and he would act as the mediator between you and us, so if you have to contact us, just let him know.”

  “What will be the role of Guardian Angels; will they guide us?” Jack asked.

  “Yes, surely they will be your true companions in your way. But, God has limited the time for both of you to see them. But remember, they will be with you all the time as invisible companions to light and guard, rule and guide.” St. Peter the Apostle answered.

  “Yes, we do understand it dear Apostle, but can we ask your permission to go back home and request permission from our parents and grandparents before taking up this responsibility?” Matt asked the Apostle Peter.

  “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. So, both of you are forbidden from going back. St. Nicolas had already gone back to tell your family about it.” St. Thomas the Apostle said as he walked towards them. He held a bottle of wine in his right hand and two wine glasses on the other. He removed the cork from the bottle. Then he poured out the foaming wine into the glasses and handed over to them. It was a red wine fermented for 500 years and was superbly delicious and sweet. Jack and Matt drank two glasses of wine each and they listened patiently to the conversations of the crowds in the room. He checked his watch, and it was nearly six in the morning, yet no sunrays appeared in the sky. When they looked through the windows, it was completely dark outside. Suddenly he realized that, his watch was showing the time in Billston, not in Israel.

  Then the woman named Mary Magdalene approached them with two plates of roasted mutton seasoned with pepper. It was very delicious and mouth-watering. Even though they weren’t hungry, Jack and Matt ate it like greedy dogs. St. Thomas the Apostle, poured some more wine and filled the glasses again. After that delicious banquet, Jack and Matt emptied the glasses again.

  Suddenly they heard the noise of the hoofs outside, like thunder in the sky. Jack and Matt looked through the window and it was still dark outside. Yet, they could see a cart drawn by two magnificent white horses as coming towards them. The horses and its coachman were feebly visible in the lamp light that hung beside him. While the horses galloped, the lamp shook wildly, and the driver tried to fix it in the right position with his left hand, while he held his right hand firmly upon the reins to control the horses. The hoofs continued to thunder steadily for some more time on the ground, and finally receded making it clear that the cart has stopped on the courtyard.

  “The coachman arrived, now you may start. We all wish you good luck and may God bless you.” St. Peter the Apostle said and hugged them.

  After Peter every men and women in the hall hugged, kissed and wished them farewell. That very moment Jack felt that finally his dream has come true and he could become a celebrity. But, Matt felt like the crowd in the hall were treating them like two militants, who were going for their final battle to the war field to die for their motherland.

  The door in front of them opened and Jack and Matt went outside. Everyone in the room were peeping upon them from the glowing window while they climbed down the stair case, but nobody accompanied them to the horse cart.

  “Hai, I am Arthur Lee, the coachman of Fr. Angelo, please get in, it is too cold outside.” The coachman said.

  The coachman was a brown skinned man with long moustache, long nose like an eagle’s beak, sharp face, and shining eyes. He had worn a blue jacket and a red cowboy hat. He offered his hand to help them to climb in and both got in. They sat on the dark leather cushioned seats and the coachman lashed at the horses with a whip. Suddenly, the calm horses whinnied, galloped and started to run. Even though, their seating area was covered fully from every side, Jack and Matt could enjoy the outside beauty through the window. Meanwhile Arthur Lee controlled the horses, he turned back his head frequently to speak with them. He behaved very friendly towards them.

  “What are your names and where do you come from?” Arthur Lee asked.

  “We are from Billston, I am Batson…Jack Batson and he is my brother Matt..” Jack answered while looking out through the window.

  Suddenly, he could notice something fire-like falling down from the sky in a distance. So he elbowed Matt to show that incident. When Matt looked at him, Jack pointed his index finger in the darkness into the direction where he could see that incident.

  “Arthur, can you please stop the coach for a moment?” Jack asked.

  “Why, what happened mate?”

  “We saw something strange like a comet or fire as falling down from the sky. I think it fell yonder, just a walk away distance from here. So, we want to check what it is.”

  Arthur pulled the reins and stopped the horses, meanwhile Jack and Matt alighted from the coach and rushed towards the place where they saw the fire. They tramped down the bushes and finally reached at that place. They could see a fire that covered a bush which resembled the fire of God in the mount of Sinai in which God appeared to the prophet Moses. It was a crackling, crepitating, snapping and roaring fire which appeared like a fireball that came down from heaven. Even though the fire was burning it never swallowed any bushes. Moreover they didn’t feel any heat while standing beside that calm fire.

  “Dear children, come to me!” A sound like thunder commanded them from the fire.

  They hesitated to approach the fire, as they were shocked to hear a voice from it. Yet, they didn’t move away from their position and stood in silence as though they were numbed.

  “My dear children, don’t be afraid, come close to me.” This time the sound changed from thunder into a sweet voice, so they approached the fireball and knelt down beside it.

  “Oh Lord, please tell us who you are, and what do you want?” Jack asked without daring to raise his bended head. He asked like Saul in the Book of Acts who fell down from the horse’s back, while he was on his way to torture the Christians. Saul’s fall transformed his whole life from a torturer to a saint.

  “My dear children, don’t be afraid. I am your God and Lord, Jesus Christ. Don’t be afraid; you will face many attacks from the enemies while you approach towards your goal, but, don’t despair, for I will be with you forever to help you. I am giving you My Spirit who will lead you through
the right way. When the Spirit come down upon you, everything will be possible for you.”

  “But, O, Lord, how can we believe You? Still, we are doubtful whether You are really Jesus Christ or is it the trap of a hideous devil. If it is true give us a sign to believe Your word, or please perform a miracle for us.” Jack said while they got up from their kneeling position and sat on the rocks beside them.

  “O.K. dear children, surely I will show you signs that I am Jesus Christ. You are going to face a danger soon and I will save you from that danger which can cause even death. Then you will understand that I am the God Almighty.”

  “Danger…please let’s know what type of danger You mean O, Lord?” Jack and Matt trembled with fear as they heard about the forthcoming danger.

  “My dear children, don’t be afraid, I am always with you. Go with the coachman and you will experience your God’s eternal love.”

  After these words the fire extinguished and disappeared from the bushes. At the same time a mountain breeze caressed them to cool them. They heard heavy footsteps approaching them. They turned back and looked- it was the coachman!

  “What are you doing here; come fast we have to go miles before reach our destination.” The coachman said while he raised the whip in his hand and lashed in the air. Even though, it was night, they could clearly figure out the coachman by the full moon light that showered on him. It was the first time they could view him. He was extraordinarily tall, but very lean. His jacket was weightless and in the wind it fluttered like bird’s wings. Frequently the wind beat more harshly and his over coat flapped to cover his face partially. Yet, they could clearly notice his face gleaming like a cruel vampire and his eyes glistening like ember.

  “Let’s go!” He said harshly and the voice echoed in the darkness like the command of a master to his slaves. At the next moment, he came forward, snatched their wrists and dragged them towards the coach. His hands were strong like iron and they realized that it would be vain to release his grip. So they followed him like two dogs obeying their master. Finally the coachman pushed them into the coach and angrily closed the door behind. Then he ascended onto his seat and slashed the whip pitilessly at the horses. In the next moment, the quiet horses galloped and started to run. While controlling the horses with his reins, the coachman looked back towards Jack and Matt, and chanted a magic spell upon them. All on a sudden, Jack and Matt fell into an unconscious state.

  CHAPTER- 9

  THE STRANGERS

  When Jack and Matt opened their eyes again, they were lying on a very cold floor in a dark room. There was only one candle light that helped them to see vaguely where they were. They realized that they were in a big trap, because they were inside a room that was surrounded by iron bars that stood against them like guards. They realized that they were imprisoned either by the coachman or somebody in his group.

  It was pitch dark and pin drop silence everywhere. Jack and Matt stood on the floor and Jack grabbed the candle from the table where it was burning. He walked slowly in every direction in the room to find out at least one key hole to escape. It was a small rectangular room. Three sides of it was made by concrete slabs and the fourth side with long thick iron bars.

  “Jack, what happened to us? Which is this place?” Matt asked while groping Jack Batson’s hands in the darkness.

  “I don’t understand, what is happening to us? Don’t despair, let’s try to find out a way to escape from this horrible dungeon.”

  “I think the coachman trapped us.” Matt said desperately.

  “That might be true! Do you remember, when he turned towards us, chanted some magical spells and we lost our consciousness?”

  “Yes, I do remember. How can we escape now?”

  Suddenly, they heard someone’s footsteps coming towards them. It came closer and closer and finally they could see the rays of two candle lights approaching them. It was coming from a long corridor that was beyond their vicinity. Tick, tick, tick…their hearts started to beat more violently and their blood pressure went up. The sound and the candle light came nearer and finally they could see two tall lean human figures approaching them carrying one candle light each in their hands. They finally stopped their walk at the front of the iron bars. In the candle light Jack and Matt could see their faces partially.

  The two of them looked like twins. They had round bulging eyes and long dark beard. Their nails looked like a tiger’s claws. They banged at the iron bars and started to laugh like two beasts. Their unexpected horrible laughs echoed in the room and bewildered Jack and Matt. Jack and Matt couldn’t understand who they were and what was their motive behind the kidnap.

  “Who are you and what do you want?” Jack asked in a shivering tone.

  “We…ha…ha…ha…we are the beasts from hell to kill both of you and suck your blood. It is your end, hideous creatures.”

  “What did we do against you to kill us?” Matt asked pretending courageous.

  “We know, you are after the Holy Grail…it doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to our King Satan. You have no right to take it back and keep with you! We know why are you searching for it; it has magical powers to conquer this world. Now, you made a mistake. Very soon you dirty worms are going to pay for it.”

  “We don’t care about whatever happens to our life. But, be assured, you and your liar king Satan won’t get it. It is our duty to retrieve our Lord’s Holy Grail and put back to where it was stolen from. Even if we have to give up our life for that good reason, we are ready to accept it. We are not afraid of any miseries, hardships, swords or any threats. We are ready to sacrifice our life for Lord Jesus Christ; then we will be fortunate to sit in Heaven, on the lap of our Lord.” Jack answered emotionally.

  “Stupid worms, don’t utter nonsense. There is no Heaven, and there is no life after death. And your Jesus Christ has no power to save your life. He already died on the Cross and he couldn’t save himself. It is a big lie of Christians to proclaim that Jesus Christ resurrected from death and ascended to Heaven. You the Christians believe that He still lives. Don’t be silly to believe that Jesus Christ will come to save you from your enemies.” One of the beastly men said in great anger and smashed at the iron grill.

  The other man was observing them keenly. At the same time, Jack and Matt noticed that he was hiding something behind in his hands. Then that man whispered something onto the other man’s ear. Then the other man’s eyes seemed like bulging out emitting anger sparks. At the very next moment they opened the iron door and entered the cell. Those beasts pulled Jack and Matt down to the floor. As the attack was unexpected, they couldn’t defend themselves. The beasts then sprayed something into Jack’s and Matt’s eyes and nose; they lost their consciousness instantly.

  When they opened their eyes again they were lying on the ground under the clear blue sky. They could hear the gushing and flowing sound of a river beneath. Now they could see clearly what was around them. They were lying somewhere on a hill, but two strange men were standing beside them. Each one of them had covered their faces with black clothes, so Jack and Matt couldn’t see their faces, besides, they were carrying big guns in their hands. As they had covered their faces, Jack and Matt couldn’t identify them. But they could see that those kidnappers’ hands were very fat. So Jack and Matt realized that, they weren’t the same people whom they met in the dungeon. The maskers started to kick them mercilessly and beaten up their head with the guns. Then they used whips studded with iron nails to lash them violently. After these terrible tortures, they caught Jack and Matt on their necks and made them to stand on the ground.

  “Idiots, look here!” both hideous men pointed towards the river, from the cliff they were standing.

  “This river is full of wandering hungry devilish alligators. Stupid vermin, we give you one more chance. If you value your life, stop your idiotic plan to find out the Holy Grail and renounce your Jesus Christ. If you do these two things, you will be spared or we are going to throw you both into the river.”
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br />   Those beastly men started to laugh and it echoed in the air like the roaring of two devils from hell. Matt looked at Jack’s face and Jack tried to soothe him:

  “My dear Matt, don’t be afraid of these blasphemers. If we die today for our Lord Jesus Christ, all our sins will be forgiven and we will be taken to Heaven. Don’t be afraid of these people, they can kill only our physical body, but they can’t do anything against our soul. Forgive them and embrace death. We are very lucky to die for Jesus Christ. Then our souls will be saved.”

  These conversations raised their rage and they threw Matt into the river. While falling into the river Matt prayed: “Oh, My Lord Jesus Christ, I am fully yours and entrust my soul into your hands.” Jack could see his brave brother drowning down into the water.

  Then it was Jack’s turn. The kidnappers approached him and asked:

  “We give you the last chance to decide. Love your life or die for your Jesus.”

  “I am ready to die for Jesus like my brother did. May Jesus Christ, forgive you. I forgive you as Jesus forgave my own sins.”