by Tony Martin
Reign of Silence
By
Tony Martin
Ó Revised 2011 - Michael Anthony (Tony) Martin
For Mamma.
And tho’ this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph thro’ us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Martin Luther
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Chapter One - Arrival
Chapter Two – Aftermath
Chapter Three - History and Encounter
Chapter Four - First Meeting
Chapter Five - Analysis
Chapter Six - Invasion
Chapter Seven - Bernadine
Chapter Eight - Al
Chapter Nine - Precious
Chapter Ten – Chance Meeting
Chapter Eleven - Confrontations
Chapter Twelve – Help Arrives
Chapter Thirteen - Plans
Chapter Fourteen – Work Begins
Chapter Fifteen - Escalation
Chapter Sixteen - Margaret
Chapter Seventeen – The Attic
Chapter Eighteen – Midnight of the Soul
Chapter Nineteen – Damage Control
Chapter Twenty – The Bible
Chapter Twenty-One – Bound by Blood
Chapter Twenty-Two – At the Mansion
Chapter Twenty-Three – Paroxysm
Chapter Twenty-Four - Homegoing
Chapter One - Arrival
No one could have known, in the early days of the twenty-first century, that the prosaic quiet and order of St. Helena would be riven by a collision of two opposing spiritual forces. St. Helena considered itself part of the rural south, a land drenched in memory, fiercely conservative and unabashedly religious. Church attendance was part of societal norms. No one questioned opening prayers at football games; the ACLU probably didn’t even recognize the existence of the small county seat Alabama town.
Yet the people’s religion was the religion of tradition. Belief in God was celebrated on Sundays and Wednesday evenings, but for the most part, church was just one more extension of the social order. God had His place, the people had theirs. As long as He was available and didn’t intrude too much on the accepted order of things, all was well.
The supernatural intruded upon the natural in the spring of 2005.
“We live and function in two different worlds,” Joshua Nix told his wife Bethany.
Bethany looked away from their living room fireplace and turned to Joshua, puzzled. “What brought that on?” she asked.
Joshua was silent for a moment. He looked at the fire as it danced and bobbed around the oak logs straddling the andirons. His cryptic statement, verbalized from some random thoughts, had come from nowhere.
“You’re not talking about us - you and me - being in two different worlds, are you?” she asked.
Joshua grinned. “Sorry. I guess I just expected you to be able to jump right in on my thought patterns. No, what I meant was that there are two worlds for us - this, the world we see, and the other world. You know, the spirit world.”
Bethany sighed. “I have no idea where you’re headed with this.”
“No, y’see,” said Joshua, and he checked his mind as it ran ahead of his words, “we have to give some mental assent to the existence of another, unseen world. The Bible talks about angels, demons, and such. What happens in that world impacts what happens in this one, yes?”
“I guess,” said Bethany, thinking Joshua had been spending too much time inside his own head. “So is this a sermon trying to be birthed, or what?” She smiled sarcastically.
“Well, hardly. Not at this point.” Joshua leaned back on the sofa. “We just don’t talk about stuff like this. Folks want their theology to be all nice and comfortable and not too provocative. It’s OK to acknowledge the supernatural doings in the Bible. Just as long as it doesn’t intrude on 2005, right?”
Bethany tucked her feet under her legs. She nestled her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “You are just too weird,” she said. “Don’t you think the church needs to hear practical helps so they can just kinda get through the week?”
Joshua nodded slowly, thoughtfully. He listened to the pop and hiss of the fire devouring the logs. “It’s my job to help people,” he said, “and I’m not always sure what the best way to go about doing that is.”
“You know the drill, Josh,” said Bethany. “Just get in the pulpit and do your thing. Talk on their level. Be at the hospital when Aunt Lois has her hip replacement. Say the right thing at graveside.”
“Yeah,” said Joshua. “But don’t you think people are best served when they’re told the truth? Don’t you think that truth-telling is in short supply these days?”
“So if you’re going to preach about angels and demons and so on ... and want to tell the truth ... what is the truth?” asked Bethany.
Joshua laughed - a short, doglike snort. “Heck, how should I know? I can give you a good Sunday School answer, but if I were to run across a demon or an angel or anything wonky like that, I don’t know what I’d do. Scream and run, I suppose.”
Bethany stood, took Joshua by the wrist, and dragged him to his feet. “Let’s call it a night, pal,” she said. “Why don’t you think in terms of how to have a good marriage, or how to manage money, or something else folks can get a handle on? This supernatural stuff -”
“What do you mean, supernatural stuff?” Joshua asked, cutting her off.
“This supernatural stuff,” she repeated, “is of no use to anyone.”
“Funny,” said Joshua, as they moved toward the bedroom, “I always thought it was good to know why you believe what you believe.”
“Good for you theologians,” Bethany said, as she took her nightgown from the hook in the bathroom. “But remember you didn’t get into this business just to suit yourself. You’ve gotta tend to your little flock, right?”
“Well,” said Joshua, who hated that Bethany was right most of the time, “you never know when a sheep might wander in the way of a wolf.”
“I don’t think these are the kind of wolves you need to worry about,” said Bethany as she turned back the covers. “C’mon, Nix, get real. This kind of talk is so first century.”
Joshua came to Calvary Baptist Church in St. Helena, Alabama, in the spring of 2004. Joshua loved the small Alabama town. The people obviously took pride in their community. The downtown area surrounded an impossibly imposing courthouse, complete with battlements and turrets and a four-sided clock tower (with the clockworks installed by the same company responsible for London’s Big Ben, according to the Chamber of Commerce line.) Sidewalks were broad and well swept. The courthouse square was full of pecan trees. On their first visit, Joshua was amused to see about a dozen men in overalls sitting in the shade of the trees; one was even whittling. Calvary “looked like a church,” said Bethany; it was a traditional brick colonial, pillared and portico’d, with a steeple that was the highest structure within the city limits.
The town also laid claim to one of the best school systems in the state, a couple of strip shopping centers (“Thank God they have a Wal-Mart,” said Bethany), and just about every fast food franchise known to man. The closest decent-sized town, Dothan, would satisfy any periodic shopping excursions.
Soon after th
e Mixes moved to St. Helena, Joshua knew he would enjoy a honeymoon phase, during which he could count on all sorts of affirmation and strokes. He welcomed it. He knew he had about an eighteen month period during which he could do no wrong, followed by another eighteen month period in which he could do nothing right. He knew that if he could persevere during that second phase that he’d enter a period of stability and real ministry could begin.
For the time, though, he relished this. He took time to organize his library, establish sermon files, and begin the process of getting to know folks. His secretary, Gretchen Stewart, had been in the pastor’s secretary position for twenty-two years. She knew everyone in the church and in St. Helena, and volunteered information about people with relish. She was a fierce guardian of Joshua’s time, and he appreciated it. Joshua knew her to be unflaggingly loyal and able to keep confidences… on request. She referred to herself as “a tough old broad,” and while she conducted her affairs with a veneer of southern gentility, he knew she could be a real battle-ax if the occasion arose. He liked her immediately, and she liked him.
Calvary had a minister of music, Al McRae, an older man with a sizable following in the church. Al had been at the church seven years. The previous pastor had brought him on board, and while Joshua’s initial conversations with Al had been positive, there seemed to be a reserve on Al’s part. Joshua likened it to marrying a widow with children; Al filled the role of stepchild, and there would be that period during which the two would decide if they liked each other. Hence, the understandable reserve on Al’s part. The search committee which found Joshua had assured him that Al was a team player. Joshua was not of that CEO mentality some pastors assumed. He wouldn’t consider going to a new church, firing the existing staff, and bringing on his own people. He felt that he owed the folks already on board a chance. His theology of divine call was that God, through the church, did the calling of fellow ministers. But he also knew - as did Al - that if things didn't work out, it wasn’t Joshua who’d have to leave.
Al had what Bethany called “preacher hair,” a sort of swept-up bouffant lacquered in place with hair spray. This was a common look among TV evangelists, and Joshua was secretly amused at Al’s bearing. Al also favored technicolor blazers, but Joshua was easily able to accept his tastes in clothing and hair as being fine for this church and his position. Al had great people skills, and he did a commendable job of blending the music during the worship services. While he favored old hymns, he did offer some variety through more contemporary pieces. Joshua was more than willing to give Al a chance and just see how their relationship developed. He couldn’t get a read as to how Al felt.
On balance, Calvary had fine potential. Joshua went to work with confidence. He told the church that he would spend the first six months of his time getting to know his people and asking God to give him a vision for the church. He’d spend the next six months sharing that vision. Then, at the end of Year One, he’d go to work building the church according to the direction and marching orders God gave him.
Joshua wondered aloud where the first snag would be. “You’ll find out soon enough,” Bethany told him.
And Joshua did find out, soon enough.
Joshua’s sermon the following Sunday grew out of a pet project he’d been pondering for some time. He chose for his text First Samuel, chapter twenty-eight. This problematic passage was an Old Testament account of King Saul making contact with Samuel through the services of a medium, referred to in scripture as the witch of Endor. In the course of his message, Joshua touched on aspects of spiritualism in contemporary culture, how easy it was to step outside the bounds of what was appropriate for Christians to become involved in, and how the realm of spirit impacted the tangible world. Mostly, though, Joshua just wanted to tell a ghost story. His congregation took all this in impassively. So he thought.
After church, Joshua and Bethany went alone to the local Shoney’s. They placed their orders and made small talk: comments on who was wearing what, the problem kids in the nursery, and wondering how many people were in church that morning.
Bethany seemed a little distant. Joshua knew why, and asked her the dreaded question: “So, sweetie, what didja think?”
“About your sermon?” she asked with a faint smile.
“Yep.”
“It was OK,” she said. “But I was just wondering. Is this the first sermon in a series?”
“Series?”
“Uh-huh. Like, next week are you going to preach on alien abduction? Or how about the sinking of Atlantis? I think our folks would appreciate a message on vampires in the world today, don’t you?”
Joshua glared at her. “You missed the point altogether.”
“Heck, no, I didn’t,” said Bethany. “Joshua – if you could’ve heard yourself. I grant you that what you said was in the Bible. But there wasn’t anything there for the church. What is obviously fascinating for you is just gobbledygook for most people.”
“I’m telling ya, you missed the point.” Joshua was adamant. “Can’t you see how the supernatural influences the natural? It’s in the Bible. I didn’t make it up.”
“Listen,” said Bethany, “I know it’s in there. It’s an interesting story. But it just doesn’t apply that much to people today. Josh – you’ve got to be practical.”
“Can’t you see how easy it is for us to take matters into our own hands when we get out of touch with God? That was my point.”
Bethany sighed. “And it’s a good point. My point is how you used the scripture you did to illustrate it.”
“OK,” said Joshua. “I think you may be partially right. But I think I’m right, too. Maybe it was a little obscure for most people. Still, it wouldn’t be in the Bible if God hadn’t wanted it in there.”
“I guess I can go along with that,” said Bethany. “I just think you’d better be careful about giving our folks a steady diet of messages like that. I don’t think you’ll alienate anyone. Keep in mind who your audience is. These are good people. They’ll put up with a lot from us. I just don’t think it serves you if folks start thinking you’re wandering off into weirdness.”
“I’m not … and I won’t,” said Joshua. “This is just something I’ve been dealing with for a while. I’ve preached it, and I’m done with that. OK?”
“OK,” said Bethany. She sounded relieved. After a moment, she asked, “Why have you been dealing with it? What’s been eating on you?”
“I don’t really know,” said Joshua. The server arrived and put their meals on the table. “There’s been something rattling around in my head for a while, and I’ll be dogged if I can figure out what’s spurred it.”
“Just one of those things,” Bethany said. She smiled, suddenly and broadly. “How about asking the blessing and we’ll eat, OK?”
Joshua and Bethany finished their lunch and headed home. Once there, Joshua undressed and put on some sweatpants and a T-shirt. Bethany called from the kitchen. “There’s a message for you on the answering machine.”
Joshua had planned to ride his Lay-Z-Boy that afternoon and channel surf until time for church that evening. He picked up the portable phone. “Who called?” he yelled to Bethany.
“It was Jimmy Tracy,” said Bethany, coming to the bedroom. “992-8393.”
Joshua punched in the numbers. Jimmy was a good man, active in church life, and was one of Joshua’s biggest supporters. “Hello?” he answered on the second ring.
“Jimmy? This is Joshua. What’s up?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Joshua,” Jimmy said, an edge to his voice, “can you come over for just a few minutes? Christine says she needs to talk to you. She’s awfully spooked.”
“Spooked by what?” Joshua asked, surprised. Christine was Jimmy’s daughter. She was a freshman at Ludlow Junior College, about twenty miles from St. Helena.
“Well,” Jimmy said, “I don’t want to say too much . . . I’d rather she talk to you. It looks like something you said in your sermon
this morning has rattled her.”
This was the furthest thing from Joshua’s mind. He hadn’t intended to rattle anyone. “Tell Christine I’ll be right over. Wait – can I talk to her just a minute now?”
“I’ll see,” said Jimmy. Joshua heard a muffled conversation in the background, and then Christine came on the line.
“Brother Joshua?” It was Christine, her voice taut.
“Christine? You OK?” asked Joshua.
“I’m fine,” said Christine, “but I really need to talk to you.”
“You know I’m happy to,” said Joshua, “but can you give me an idea what about before I get there? I may need to get prayed up.” He was relieved to hear a small laugh.
“Well, it’s not so much about me. But there are some things in your sermon this morning that – that I think may be happening to a friend of mine.”
Joshua stared at the phone receiver as if it were some alien artifact. “All right,” he said slowly, wondering if he’d soon be dealing with a disturbed teenager. “I’ll come over. See you in just a few minutes, OK?”
“That’s great,” said Christine. “See you soon. Bye.”
Joshua hung up the phone and sat down on the edge of the bed. Bethany came in the room and sat down beside him. “What was that all about?” she asked.
“This is bizarre, but Christine Tracy’s been upset by my sermon this afternoon. She said that she had a friend that may be involved in the occult or something. At least, that’s what I’m guessing.”
Bethany looked at him a moment. “Sounds like you’ve got an upset kid on your hands. Who’s her friend?”
“You know, I didn’t ask,” said Joshua. “I don’t know who it is, if it’s a guy or a girl, or anything.”
“Just go listen to her,” said Bethany. Joshua arose and started changing into some khakis and a polo shirt. “I just hope you didn’t make anything mad with your sermon this morning.”