Are you mad at God because of what you're going through right now? Don't be; you are in the forge because He loves you. He will teach you long suffering, perseverance and compassion. He will burn off your sinful carnal self and bring you through as pure gold. You will be a true servant equipped to carry out the journey He wants you on. You think your suffering is not noticed. You think, where is God? He surely must not care about me.
But He is always present. People you suffer because He cares. His Holy Word says He chastises His children. Did you hear that "His Children!" You are His, He knows who you are, and He knows where you live. You my dear brethren are never alone. He is with you and He is helping you get through it, believe it or not.
Your prayers are music to His ears. He never tires of your voice. So, remember that when you feel low He is in that pit with you. He is as close as your breath. If you feel far from God, you are the one who has stepped away not Him. Please, remember this present life with its suffering will only be a dim memory when we are with Him in His Kingdom. This life is but a blink in time. We will be with Him for eternity. There will no longer be tears or sorrow but sweet communion with our King and our fellow believers. So, chin up everyone; He is blessing us with suffering. He is right next to you as you go through it and it will change you into an acceptable vessel that He can use. He loves you and you are never alone; He knows your hurts and your thoughts. He is here for the broken hearted so, cling to Him and He will not let you down. Praise, His Holy Name!
Shall we pray, Heavenly Father we beseech You to have mercy on us. We love You and don’t want to disobey. Please, guide us through our days and strengthen and change us into You holy people tempered in Your forge; In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
Pastor Tully then sat down. His wife, Marie came forward and reminded everyone of the gator fry at the church next Saturday. She wants everyone to bring a side dish or a salad. The church will supply the soft drinks, sweet tea, gator, hush puppies and dessert.
The music starts up again and they sing a few songs. Pastor shakes hands at the door as the congregation files out; many tearfully, thanked him for his sermon.
Mercy May and the Tully sisters stay and check the supplies in the kitchen; writing down a list of things they needed to shop for before the gator fry. They are also very excited because Jeb and Pastor Joe told them that in two weeks they are taking them Lotus Seed gathering. It is always so fun getting to go out on the air boats and the men said they were taking two boats. They giggled with excitement, while making plans.
Old Ferrall
Old Ferrall shuffles along the corridor carrying a satchel. He thinks it is rather heavy this time. Master Evermore has been sending him on these long arduous errands of late. He has worked for the Evermore family since he was a teenager; back then he worked on the grounds. The door leading down to the labyrinth squeaks as Ferrall steps through it; he makes a mental note to put some grease on the hinges. He knows all the secrets of the Evermore’s; he is from the same type of family. His family and the Evermore family have all served the Dark Lord for generations. His parents tried to leave, when he was a teenager but they didn't get far. He remembered the day it happened. He was sitting in class at Blacknest Academy and his instructor told him to go to the chancellor’s office. The chancellor’s face was gray and somber. Ferrall was informed that his parents had just died in an explosion outside of Paris. Their car had exploded. Even as a young man he knew it wasn't an accident but murder. There was no point trying to escape the group. He had overheard his parents discuss leaving the group earlier that week. At the time, he had no relations to help him and the Evermore’s had been friends of his parents so, they hired him and he has been here ever since, now forty years.
Carefully, he walks through the tunnels, he knows them well. He comes to an ancient door and unlocks it. Inside is Sarah Franks sitting on a bed. She looks confused and afraid.
“Here you go, miss, some provisions for you and the clothing you are to wear for your journey tonight.” said Ferrall. He then, leaves. It is sad but he is helpless so, he doesn't think about the girls much.
The door shuts loudly and she could hear the lock engage. Sarah is not sure what time it is or what day. She does not know where she is and has lost time. She has lost herself she thinks; everything is scrambled up in her head. The old man, Ferrall brings her food and water, sometimes. She looks in the bag. There are some sandwiches, bottled water and a very pretty silk long dress. It looks Middle Eastern, she thinks how strange. After she eats she put on the clothing; fighting these people is not an option. She has tried and was beaten.
She has endured the most painful torture. The people dressed in white call it testing but, she called it torture. It all happened in a room that looked like a hospital room. She didn't remember much; most of her time was a total blank or just a fragment of memories; a pink ribbon held some significance but she couldn't remember why. She often had the most terrifying nightmares. They felt real.
Later, Dr. Meek comes through the door and in his hand is a long pink ribbon. He calmly approached Sarah and ties it around her waist.
That is Sarah’s last memory until she wakes up in a room she has never seen. She feels hot. The room is lavish with couches and large pillows and lots of flowers. She stands up and walks out on to the balcony to get air. It is stifling hot with no breeze. Below the balcony there is some type of bazaar and beyond is sand for as far as she could see. Sarah crumples to the floor and cries. She is so afraid. ‘Where am I?’ she cries. The girls in the room gathered around her all speaking languages Sarah can’t understand and then she hears English. It is a small red headed girl. Her name is Debbie. She tells Sarah that this is the harem of Sheik Syiid and they are in Saudi Arabia. And that like all the girls, she has been purchased by the Sheik for his harem. She is a prisoner. Debbie has been there for 2 months and has not met the Sheik only his servant who brings them food and what they needed. Debbie is from Kansas and was grabbed a few months ago. She said no one has harmed her here. That’s all she knew. Sarah still in tears, curls into a ball on one of the couches and cries. How will anyone find me here? Why did this happen to me?
The market place down below the window is all Sarah has to look at every day. She has not been allowed to leave this room. There is an elderly servant woman who brings in all their meals. They eat a lot of rice, vegetables and fruit; no meat. The servant tells them no meat is served in the household of Sheik Syiid. They are allowed to do needlework and read but, no TV. Some of the older girls have met the Sheik. In broken English some of them describe him as very fat and he never makes sexual advances, which is a huge relief to Sarah. He just likes to watch them dance and would play cards with them; children’s card games like Go Fish. Yes, they all thought he was very odd but, not scary, just child like. All this was very interesting to hear but Sarah still spent night and day trying to figure out how to get back home. The girls in the harem talked over ideas on how to escape, most spoke a little English. They knew the servant woman would not help them. She was a strict Muslim woman and her eyes were full of hatred towards them. Maybe they could get someone in the bazaar below them to help, but they really didn't look too friendly down there. They knew that even if they could escape from the building there was no where to go.
Gator Fry
Mercy May sits enjoying the fiddle music her grandson, Zeke and his two friends are playing as she rested on a break from cooking. The annual gator fry is going on. The church folks have shown up and looks like half the town, as well. Jeb and Pastor Joe had cut up the gators last night into small chunks for frying today. They only used the tail meat, it is the best. She had made some large kettles of her Spicy Gator Stew also; that you serve over rice. She made it with real spicy sausage, a lot of vegetables and assorted hot peppers. The Cajun people like their spicy food, that is for sure. The Tully sisters are busy in the kitchen making hush puppies; trays and trays of them. They are going like hotcakes, of course, with lots of honey butter. The p
eople are all having a good time; some even have fishing poles down there at the swamp. She is looking around hoping to see Silas. She had heard that he is back and living over at his uncle Leeboy’s; that worries her.
“Hey, Grandma!” yells Silas. Mercy looks up and there he is walking toward her. She grabs him in a bear hug, not wanting to let him go. “Oh, honey I have been so worried about you. It’s so good to see you. How are you? How’s your uncle?” Says Mercy
“I’m good, so is Leeboy; good to see you grandma. It’s good to be back. Hey, I’m going to go get some food and I’ll be back in a minute.” Says Silas as he walks away.
What a joy, her Honey Boy is home. She has called him Honey Boy all his life. She loves him, so. He didn't mention his aunt Stookie so, hopefully he has changed his mind about learning hoodoo from her. She can only pray. Silas came back, balancing two plates of food. My, she laughed to herself; she remembered he loved gator but he must be extra hungry today.
“ Grandma I think this is the best food I have had all year. Those northerners don’t know how to cook. You know, I couldn't even find grits or sweet tea up there. They are an odd bunch of folks, I’ll tell you.”
Mercy smiles at him and gives his knee a squeeze. “Good to have you home Honey Boy.”
“Love you, too grandma.” says Silas between bites.
Once people were done eating, nobody was in a big hurry to leave. They sat on the grass on blankets in the cool of the evening singing old time gospel songs. Most had a cup of coffee or some sweet tea and for dessert the church provided sheets of brownies served with ice cream. It was a grand evening.
When Mercy May finally got back home she was exhausted but happy. She spent some time thanking the Good Lord for bringing her Silas home safe before she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning Mercy sat on her porch with her chicory coffee and thought about next weekend’s Lotus Seed hunt. She was so excited because every year they had so much fun. She wondered if the men were going to use the boats with the mud motors or the air boats, it really didn't matter to her because she didn't have to drive. The air boats were a lot louder and she loved riding in them. They zipped through the water so fast.
Jeb had told her last night he had found some huge undisturbed Lotus paddies so, he thought the picking was going to be real good this year. She and the Tully sisters had talked about nothing else for the last few weeks. Her favorite way to eat them was right out of the pod. You picked the pod just barely ripe so the seeds were still milky and tender; in a nice full pod there should be maybe 30 seeds. They did taste a lot like peanuts. All her family members liked them raw so, she might not have that many to process and freeze; she didn't really care. It was an annual treat they all looked forward to in late summer. To her it was a fun day or two out on the water with her best friends and family. She had been going out on the paddies since she was real little and she remembered her late husband, Maurice loved Lotus seeds, too. He liked her to cook them up in a stew; she sure missed Maurice. He was such a good man. She planned on having a talk with God when she got to the other side and find out just why he sent hurricanes. She could find no good reason for them to exist. So, many things happened in life that she just didn't understand why he let it happen. She had a lot of questions for the Almighty.
Lotus picking day
Finally, their big Lotus pod picking day has come. Mercy is looking forward to eating Lotus seeds but she is limping a little today; her old bones are hurting. She is a very small woman, but has always worked pretty much like a man most of her life. She would always say there are just things that need getting done. She walks around gathering supplies for the trip; burlap bags, lots of mosquito repellent, snacks and dry clothes, in case she falls in. She has made stacks of sandwiches and baked dozens of peanut butter cookies; being out on the water makes everyone hungry. Jeb is picking her up in his boat soon. They want to get a real early start because of the humidity and the heat. Yesterday, it had reached 100 degrees so, they better pick fast she thought. She takes a couple of aspirins and sits on the porch drinking her chicory coffee and waiting for Jeb and Zeke and nibbling on some leftover biscuits from last night’s supper. Soon she hears the boat; Jeb is driving and Zeke is hanging on. They are both yelling for her to hurry up and get in the boat when they pull in. Jeb jumped out of the boat and loads Mercy May and her things.
“Let’s be on our way, hang on Mercy.” says Jeb. They speed thru the fresh water passageways leading up north to the largest Lotus paddy. Mercy can see that the Tully’s are already here. They are waving as we pull up.
“Hey, how is the picking?” asks Jeb
“Real good we have filled a bag already.” says Mary. Mary is reaching over and snapping pods as she speaks. We all teased her saying she is so fast, because she has freakishly long arms. The picking goes fast and after several hours it is time to eat lunch and then head back home. The sun has been cooking us and the humidity is making it almost unbearable. We would try to cool off by putting our feet in the water but then someone would spot a gator. Jeb and Mercy go home with five sacks of Lotus Seed Pods. They all agreed weather permitting they would go next weekend again.
When Mercy finally walks back into her house, she sits in front of the fan. She is real tired but what a pleasure it was going out in the air boat to the paddies. She was already looking forward to next weekend and doing it again. It had been so much fun picking and watching all the wildlife out there on the water. She loved her life. Later that afternoon, she processed the lotus seeds and froze some of them. She will enjoy them in soup and casseroles for the next few months.
Lygari and Anna
Lygari, a dark one is observing Anna interact with her associates at the institute in Stuttgart, The Orb. She is fitting in nicely. Her German is very good and so far there has been no interference from the holy ones. The Anna alter is staying forward as her dominate personality with no problems. He likes this personality better than the overly sentimental Millicent. He has always feared that Millicent would convert to the detestable Christian faith. He has no fear of that with Anna. She is cold and calculating and far too practical to consider the Christian religion. When asked what her religious beliefs are she will always say she only believes in herself. Lygari thinks that’s my girl, your head is right where I want it. They are preparing her for another mission. Her human robot abilities to memorize detailed messages and diagrams are widely sought after. There have been several requests for her specifically. Of course, she has no idea any of this is going on. She thinks she was hired by the institute to do clerical work.
Lygari laughs at the thought and then vanishes to present his report to the Dark Lord, who has been keeping him on a short leash because of some recent infractions. None that Lygari will admit to. He is, after all a liar, which is the meaning of his name Lygari, in Icelandic and he would never admit to any wrong doing. Lygari feels he is much smarter than anyone in the spirit or human realm and resented the name the Dark Lord chose for him. Liar, indeed he huffs to himself!
Blithe Cooking
Snide sits in Old Blithe's kitchen eating a bowl of stew. "Well, Blithe this isn't bad. It's got some good seasoning and you thickened it well. I didn't know you could make stew?" said Snide
"Oh, sure, being an old bachelor as you well know, the T.V. dinners get tiresome. So, I dabble a little in the kitchen; can't say it is always a success." said Blithe
They both eat in silence. They are good friends and don't feel the need to talk constantly. They kept each other company often in the evenings. Later, Blithe poked at the fire deep in thought. They had discussed the tunnels over the meal and planned on doing some exploring one of these evenings very soon probably on the evening of Halloween.
The next morning he found another note, this time on his bedroom door. He'd been out on the riding lawn mower all morning. He shudders knowing someone was coming into his house while he was out doing his chores. He wondered who because he didn't think anyone was home in th
e main house. The notes always put a scare into him. He wondered if he should buy a gun. He would ask Snide if he had one.
The Pendulum
The bi-annual meeting of members of The Pendulum Club is called to order by Sam Grayson. He informs them of the details of the retrieval of the stolen necklace by Zara. The news is received with sober faces and nods; very little ruffles them. They are all magicians to the public eye but secretly they are all high level warlocks. The little tricks they performed on stage are child’s play for them. All have been trained in the various dark arts from childhood and they all have a familiar; a dark one, to help them with whatever. They laugh at the adoration from the audiences because it is just all a game; something to pass the time. The Pendulum Club is sort of a good old boys club for warlocks. None of them ever tire of the attention and praise they receive from the gullible public. What they really get a kick out of is when a non warlock magician fawns over them because of their expertise in the realm of magic.
Monsieur Nore was just a normal magician from Paris, but his skills were pretty good so, that’s why he was asked to perform at the club, in their member’s only theater. He had no idea who they really were but he now knows. After the necklace incident the clubs “security force” visited him. Sam was sure he’d never see him again. He wonders if the man is having nightmares now; surely his wife is. She was a fat blubbering mess last he saw her in their home in Paris.
The members discuss at the meet the acts they will book for the next six months in their theater that's open to the public. Lately, they have been booking singers and few stand-up comedians. The club is housed in a very large building in the center of Amsterdam. The entire building is owned by Sam Grayson. On the first floor, there is a large theater which they open to the public. Then the other floors are for private members only. Several of the members keep an apartment at the club on the fourth floor; all are presently occupied.
Angel Watch at Blacknest: A Supernatural Mystery Page 11