Professional Documents
Culture Documents
J.T. Louviere
A John Thomas Louviere Novel
Published by
Black Lake Publishing Company
First Edition
Johnt@swordofmichael.com
“……..BEWARE, FOR HEREIN LIES THE
SALVATION OF MAN AND THE
DESTRUCTION OF MANKIND.”
“I will ascend into Heaven; I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God. I will sit also
upon the Mount of the congregation, in the sides
of the north. I will ascend above the heights of
the clouds; I will be like the most high.”
PROLOGUE
bowels of the earth. The battles between good and evil will be
fought there from now until the end of time. Evil will never
infect My home again! Once Satan and his followers have fallen,
the sword should be placed at the gates of Heaven, that they can
never enter paradise again. Only one with purity and absolute
love for Me can remove the sword, once it has been placed there.
So go forth, Michael, and do the will of God. For even as we
speak, Satan and his forces ascend upon the gates of Heaven!”
“I love you Lord; your will shall be done.” Michael then
turned and made his way to the gate of Heaven. On his way, the
Archangel assembled a handful of angels loyal to God, and led
them to battle.
Eerie shadows were illuminated by the ghostly fog outside the
gates of Heaven. Lucifer's angels, clad in black, lay in waiting in
the distant fields. As the Archangel Michael and his forces
passed through the now tarnished golden gates of Heaven, the
forces of Satan advanced slowly upon them. There was a
tension, a spark of energy in the air. Positive and negative forces
were about to collide!
Suddenly the black clad angels stopped and Lucifer stepped
forward out of the stealth of the fog greeting the Archangel.
Lucifer's voice boomed out -- cutting the silence like a knife,
“Where is your God, your almighty master, is He so afraid that
he will not meet me in battle?”
Michael replied, "He does not choose to do battle with you,
Satan, so He has sent me!” A chorus of laughter came from the
angels standing behind Lucifer.
“You?” Lucifer chuckled, "Why I can destroy you with the
blink of an eye.” After a long pause Lucifer once again directed
his attention toward Michael. “But instead, I will show you more
compassion than your master has shown you by sending you
here. If you fall to your knees, kiss my feet, and denounce God
as your master, I will spare you!” More laughter came from the
deposed angels just behind Satan.
Michael stepped forward, drawing the sword from its sheath.
Satan cackled in disdain. “You come for me with a sword?
Don't you know you can't stop me with such an inferior weapon?
Michael, you amuse me!”
5
PART I
IN THE BEGINNING...
CHAPTER 1
Holy Manuscripts and The Sword, led his soldiers into the
Qumran Valley that Pfeiffer's expedition now occupied.
Josup, the Roman captain, believed that if he could find this
magic sword the possession of it would make him the mightiest
soldier in the world! Even Caesar himself would have to bow
down to him. Thus, he could declare himself ‘Caesar’ and even
God on earth.
A handful of High Priests from the Brotherhood were warned
in advance of the impending invasion, and managed to escape to
hidden caves with the manuscripts and the sword. As fate would
have it, Josup would never find the priests or the precious cargo
that they possessed. The Manuscripts and the Sword died in
obscurity, remaining hidden to this day.
Professor Pfeiffer had carefully followed the trail of Josup and
the areas that the High Priests of the Sons of Zadok had occupied.
All of his research and information had led him to this area at the
northwest corner of the Dead Sea, 12 miles southwest of Khirbet,
Qumran, and just a few hundred yards from a building in the
Wadi Qumran. This building was believed to have been a library
containing Holy Scriptures and teachings, once belonging to the
Essenes that had been uncovered on a previous expedition.
He was sure this was the approximate area where the
Manuscripts should be hidden. But there were thousands of
caves located nearby. He could explore for a lifetime and still
never find what he was looking for. Time and money for the
expedition were running out and he knew that if there wasn't
some breakthrough soon, he would have to end the expedition.
And all of the work and research he and his associates had done
would have been for nothing!
“Damn!” he blurted out as the frustration of his situation set
in. Throwing his notebook to the ground, the scientist sat back
and began rubbing his eyes. It was getting late now. Looking up,
Pfeiffer noticed that everyone else in the camp had already retired
for the evening. Millions of bright stars illuminated the sparkling
sands of the Judean Desert as the professor looked on in wonder.
In the distance the rumblings of wild dogs engaging in combat
were accompanied by the ghostly sound of the desert wind
brushing its sandy surface. The sound of the wind began to play
11
tricks with Pfeiffer's weary mind, beckoning him on, into the
waiting darkness.
As the gray-haired archaeologist listened to the whistling
wind and the sound of wild dogs in the distance, a strong wind
swept by him, knocking several more of his notebooks to the
ground and sending pages flying into the dark shadows beyond
the camp's dull light. He scrambled after them, groping into the
blackness trying to pick up some of the scattered pages. As he
gathered the pages, out of the corner of his eyes, Randal noticed a
shooting star plunge to the earth.
Turning his gaze to the distant plateaus where the falling star
had landed, the young archaeologist noticed a faint blue light. It
seemed close. Possibly close enough to reach by foot. He
watched, as the faint blue light began to get brighter and brighter.
After watching for a while, Pfeiffer realized that it must be only a
couple of hundred yards away. So the scientist decided to
investigate.
A bright florescent blue light now emanated from a rock
formation just south of the expedition site that they had been
excavating for the past ten days. So far that site had yielded
nothing of any significance, a few farming implements and
several tools.
As he cautiously moved closer to the glowing formation, the
wind began to blow stronger. Professor Pfeiffer suddenly
stopped in his tracks, petrified by the distinct sound of
malevolent laughter somewhere within the hissing sound of the
wind.
“Settle down Randal, your mind is playing tricks on you,” he
tried to assured himself. “All this time with very little sleep and
long working hours is starting to get to me!”
Pfeiffer dismissed the sound of the laughter, attributing it to
fatigue. Turning his attention back to the glowing rock
formation, Pfeiffer noticed what looked like blue fire, dripping
from the sky above illuminating all that was around it! As he got
closer, the awestruck archaeologist looked on in astonishment as
the fiery blue flames took on a solid form. It formed the likeness
of a huge glowing sword, blazing in immaculate blue flames.
Professor Pfeiffer rubbed his eyes and began to blink. Still the
12
that now protected his life, anchoring him to his only protection
from certain death. What was he to do? He couldn't even see the
rocks that his white-knuckled hands held onto so tightly. Finally,
he decided to descend the rocky wall, opting to resume his search
in the morning by the light of the sun. After all, he couldn't stay
there all night.
Easing his left foot down until he could feel a sturdy place to
put it, the shaking man shifted his weight onto it. Once gaining
his equilibrium, the archaeologist swung around to set his right
foot. The ledge collapsed abruptly, sending him tumbling
downward, his body crashing against the sharp rocks as he fell
into the emptiness of the lonely night. The sound of the laughter
and falling rocks faded as he lost consciousness, his body and
soul vanishing into the deep, dark abyss...
14
CHAPTER 2
As the sun appeared from the northeast end of the Dead Sea,
Professor Pfeiffer's excavation crew was just getting ready for the
day's digs. They were so busy checking equipment and notes
from the previous day that they hadn't even noticed Professor
Pfeiffer's absence. Abdul, thinking that something was wrong,
banged diligently on the professor's tent door. Professor Pfeiffer
was usually the first of the team to rise.
“Sahib, Sahib, are you all right?”
Abdul continued to knock on the entrance to Pfeiffer's tent.
Once the concerned guide was convinced that he would get no
answer, he pulled back the door flap and entered.
There was no sign of the Professor.
In fact, as far as he could tell, Pfeiffer's bed hadn't been slept
in. Things were just as they were the previous day when Abdul
had last seen the professor!
Abdul came rushing out of the professor's tent. “Mr. Savage,
Mr. Savage, Professor Pfeiffer is missing!”
Richard Savage was Pfeiffer's right hand man. He was the
man in charge of finances and took care of all of the
administrative details of the expedition. Other than the professor,
Savage was the most important man in the expedition.
“Calm down Abdul, and tell me what's wrong,” the portly Mr.
Savage acknowledged.
“Mr. Savage, Professor Pfeiffer is missing. He didn't sleep in
his bunk last night. And I haven't been able to locate him this
morning.”
Mr. Savage pondered the situation for a moment as he stroked
the newly formed hairs on his chin.
“Perhaps he just stepped out for a morning walk. Don't fly off
the handle until we know for sure that something is wrong.”
Abdul's anxious expression revealed his concern for the
missing professor. Mr. Savage looked at Abdul with the cool
eyes of complete control. “Gather up a search party and we'll
15
while uncovering the layers of dirt and rock they didn't destroy
anything that might be of importance to their findings, the
workers moved at a snail's pace, making their job long and
cumbersome.
Pfeiffer spent tiresome hours examining every little piece of
rock and stone, sometimes working double shifts in his quest for
the sword.
As Pfeiffer stood examining one such pile of dirt and stones, a
yell came from across the cave site. One of the workers had
unearthed a cavity about three feet below the bottom of the cave's
floor. Pfeiffer rushed to the other side of the cave to check out
the commotion. After scraping away the loose dirt and debris, it
was revealed that the cavity was actually the top part of an
ancient hand carved stairway descending into the depths of the
earth. After further examination, Pfeiffer concluded that the
entrance to the stairway had once been a secret passageway.
“Interesting, a secret passageway, but leading to what?” he
thought to himself.
Intrigued and anxious to get to the bottom of the stairway,
Pfeiffer's strong drive turned to obsession. What wonders
awaited him? Perhaps evidence of the Brotherhood. Perhaps the
Sword of Righteousness. He was now more determined than
ever to find out, almost fanatical, to the point of relieving the
workers and digging himself. He became a man possessed.
Maybe at last he had found his destiny.
After two months of hard, painstaking work, Pfeiffer's
seasoned crew of excavators reached the bottom of the staircase.
Pfeiffer, himself was the first to notice the entrance to the new
chamber. Inlaid hand carvings decorated the doorjamb, with the
carving of a huge sword in the middle of the door itself! Once
the doorway had been completely unearthed, the team discovered
hieroglyphics surrounding the sword on the door. What was
significant about these hieroglyphs was their sequence; they
seemed to tell a story, suggesting a long journey across a great
desert. They also suggested a Deity looking over the expedition,
a sin against that Deity, and the punishment of the people, by an
unforgiving God. Then a split among the people and an eventual
conquest and settling of a new land.
19
PART 2
BEGINNING AGAIN...
CHAPTER 3
The wind twisted through the bare trees, snaking its way
through this seemingly evil enchanted forest. It was icy cold and
its constant blowing made the branches of the already distorted
trees take on hideous images amidst the stationary fog that
engulfed them.
Christy felt apprehensive, an uneasiness she couldn't explain.
Besides being lost, she knew that something else was wrong. A
low hissing sound filled her ears with a faint sound like laughter,
barely audible in the distant background. Not happy laughter, but
the sinister laughter of evil intention. It sent shivers up and down
her spine. She decided to venture farther into the wooded area
hoping to find her way out.
All at once the pretty brunette became startled by the sudden
appearance of a strange creature standing in front of her. It was a
hooded, cloaked figure standing there with its right hand
extended forward, reaching out to her. Backing away in horror,
the young woman tried to escape the sight of the ominous
creature. As she backed away, Christy bumped into something.
Turning to investigate, the anxious young girl realized she had
collided into an old man that had been standing behind her. He
had a long white beard and a gentleness in his face that somehow
gave her comfort in this God-forsaken place.
“Why do you walk in the land of the damned?” the gentle
voice echoed.
Before she could answer, the old man was gone. Vanished
into thin air. Standing before her was the malevolent presence of
the hooded, cloaked figure. This time it spoke.
“Give it to me!”
23
She wouldn't even have been going out tonight, except for the
fact that Kayla, a friend of hers from Theology class had hassled
her until she reluctantly agreed to go. Maybe it was her small
town upbringing, but she didn't really enjoy the nightlife all that
much.
After all, she wanted to devote her life to serving God through
her chosen field of religious archaeology. That is why she had
chosen to major in theology at LSU. There was no time for
partying and drinking and such things as that in Christy's life.
She had chosen a higher calling.
Kayla was one of her only friends at school, and Christy didn't
want to seem anti-social. After much verbal prodding she had
finally agreed to go out for the evening.
As she entered the bathroom, her radio was broadcasting the
news.
“Eastern Iran was hit today by a major earthquake measuring
seven on the Richter scale. That makes the fifth major
earthquake recorded in as many months. Scientists are baffled
about the frequency of the earthquake activity and are determined
to step up their research in the region. In other news….”
The sound of the shower drowned out the rest of the news
broadcast. As Christy showered, a strange chill flooded the
bathroom. In an instant the bathroom became as cold as a walk-
in freezer! As she exited the shower stall, a foggy mist came
from the young woman's mouth, caused by her hot breath hitting
the icy cold air.
As Christy noticed the cold, thousands of flies started pouring
into the tiny bathroom, filling the air around her. The young
brunette gasped for air, choking on the flies as she inhaled.
Waving her hands wildly, she tried to swat the flies away from
her face. She was terrified! The lights in the bathroom dimmed
to the point where she was almost swallowed by complete
darkness. The frightened young girl groped around in the
darkness grasping for anything she could hold on to, her hand
finally coming to rest on the towel hamper door.
Jerking open the door, Christy reached for a towel to cover her
face and protect it from the flies. A strange sensation ran up her
spine as she grabbed something cold and scaly. A sudden surge
25
from class.
The sunlight of the Louisiana Indian summer shone through
the still green trees as the girls drove Interstate Ten to Kayla's
home. Puffy white clouds in the deep blue sky silhouetting the
Cypress trees adorned with hanging Spanish Moss, reminded
Christy of an artist's canvas. The serenity of the ride, coupled
with the security of having someone to be with, finally calmed
the young girl down. They arrived at Kayla's and settled in,
before getting ready for the evening’s festivities.
Kayla had an ulterior motive for asking Christy to go out with
her for that evening. True, she liked Christy and everything, but
they had almost known each other for a month now, and Kayla
knew nothing more about her friend's previous life than she knew
when they had first met! Every time she had questioned Christy
about her home, the young brunette had managed to avoid
answering. In fact, there was something about Christy's body
language and evasiveness in answering that suggested some dark,
hidden secret, and Kayla was determined to find out what that
was. Maybe a few drinks would loosen Christy's lips, and she
would reveal the whole sordid affair. If there was one!
So far, all Kayla had managed to get out of Christy was that
she had been married once, and beside her interest in Theology,
coming to Louisiana State University was means of getting away.
After the girls finished getting ready, they sat around Kayla's
den chatting for a few minutes before their appointed date with
the Baton Rouge nightlife. Kayla noticed that Christy was still a
little tense.
“Just try and get your mind off this afternoon, Babe.”
“I can't,” Christy replied. “The more I think of it, the more it
gives me the willies.”
“You know Christy, I've been thinking about it, and I think it’s
that weirdo, Ralph. He's always playing practical jokes on
everybody. I'll bet it is that little bastard! The next time I see
him, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind.”
“Kayla, let’s just not talk about it, Okay?” A quick look into
Christy's eyes told Kayla to leave well enough alone.
“Okay baby, let’s just go out and have a good time.”
As the two girls were leaving, Christy grabbed Kayla's hand.
29
redhead anyway.
“Hi, ladies, what's happening?” she said. “I thought you'd
never get here. Sit down and take a load off.”
Sitting down, the girls immediately began exchanging
pleasantries, ordering a couple of drinks to lighten the mood.
Christy drank water. Even though Christy was straight, just
watching the other two loosen up was enough to help her forget
the upsetting events of the day that had her in such a quandary.
Drifting slowly into deep conversation, the girls became one
with the ambiance of the bar, discussing campus activities and
other topics of interest, including men! After going over the
subject of the opposite sex in every detail, the topic of the
evening changed to an interest they all had in common, religion.
This subject, Christy was more comfortable with.
Having met each other in their common Theology class, all
were looking forward to a guest lecturer who would be speaking
at school on Monday. His name was Randal Miguel Pfeiffer, and
his lecture would be on Religious Archaeology, a subject he was
a foremost authority on.
Surely one of the things he would speak about would be his
now famous expedition to the Middle East. It had ended about a
year earlier after finding lost texts from the Bible, including
earlier texts from Genesis, Exodus and a curious manuscript
called The Book of the Sword. Since the manuscripts were still
being translated, no one other than Professor Pfeiffer and a
handful of language experts knew very much about them.
“What have you heard about the lost books, Christy?” Missy
inquired, knowing that Christy had more than just a passing
interest in that subject.
“Well, I've read a few articles about the expedition, but they
didn't give much detail about the book’s content. Perhaps on
Monday, Professor Pfeiffer will shed some light on them.”
Kayla winked at Missy, “Well I'm not so sure that this whole
Lost Books deal isn't some sort of scam, to generate publicity and
money for the good professor. After all nobody's actually seen
the books.”
Christy's eyes shifted to Kayla's with an irritated glare.
“They're still being translated, Kayla. And for your information,
31
As Christy struggled back to the table Kayla noticed that she was
white as a sheet!
“I want to go home now,” Christy told her.
“But Christy...”
“Please!” she cut Kayla off.
Kayla could see now by the look in her friend’s eyes that she
was very upset and decided not to push the matter. “OK, we'll
leave,” she said in resignation. “Just calm down.”
Missy had met up with a guy she used to date and decided to
stay.
“I'll get Mike to take me home,” the concerned girl added. “I
hope you feel better Christy.”
Christy didn't hear her; she was far away in a distant place that
she had tried to escape from not so very long ago.
The two friends went out to Kayla's car and started toward her
house. Not a word was spoken between them as they made the
lonely journey home. Once at Kayla's, the redhead fumbled
through her purse for her keys, struggling in the darkness to get
the key into the lock. After getting the door open, Kayla led her
confused friend to the couch, gently sitting her down. Kayla held
her shaking friend's hand and tried to comfort her. Finally the
silence was broken.
“What happened back there, Baby?” Christy wouldn't answer.
“Was it the guy in the club; did he do something to you?” After a
short pause Christy answered.
“He disappeared.”
“You mean he left again?” Kayla asked.
“No, Kayla, he disappeared, vanished into thin air!” Kayla
stared at Christy, not sure if she comprehended what her friend
had just said to her. “You mean like magic?”
Christy looked at Kayla with big, hazel eyes. She started to
speak but Kayla interrupted. “Ralph, that asshole, all of his
practical jokes have gotten you upset. Wait until I see that
bastard, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. Why, I have a
mind to…”
“Kayla, it’s not Ralph... It's Si, my ex-husband. He's found
me.”
“Your ex-husband, what does he have to do with all of this?”
35
CHAPTER 4
Once she had reached the door of her little apartment, Christy
began fumbling through her purse for her highly elusive keys.
Finally she opened the door and hurried inside to a ringing phone.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Christy? It's me, Si. I hope I'm not calling you too
soon.”
‘No, not at all, in fact I was hoping it was you!” she answered
coyly.
Si began to speak. “I was so overwhelmed by your beauty,
that I just had to call you.”
“I'm not that beautiful, Si. But I'm very glad you like me.”
“Are you really?” he asked.
“Yes, you see, because I think I like you, too.”
The small talk continued until Si finally asked the much-
anticipated question.
“Christy, would you go to dinner with me tonight?”
“Why, I'd love to. What time?”
“What time can you be ready by?” There was a short pause.
“Would eight o'clock be too soon?”
“No Si, that would be perfect. It would give me just enough
time to get ready. I'm starved!”
Christy ended the conversation giving him directions to her
house, and saying good-bye.
It was almost seven by then, so she didn't have much time to
get ready. Scurrying to the bedroom, hurrying through her
clothes, the brunette quickly picked out something to wear for the
evening. As she laid them out neatly on her bed, Christy's
thoughts continued to turn to her newfound friend.
He was so handsome and so mysterious. This intrigued the
infatuated young woman. It made her want to know more about
him. She had to hurry if she was going to be ready for eight
o'clock. After a quick shower, rushing to put on her clothes and a
quick make-up job, the excited young woman was ready. And
just in time, for at seven forty five, the doorbell rang. It was her
handsome young suitor.
Christy had just finished blow-drying her hair. “I love a man
that's punctual,” she thought to herself as she headed for the door.
Opening the door, Christy peered around at the waiting Si
40
She enjoyed the way he doted on her. The way he opened doors
for her and treated her like a lady. He seemed to always be trying
to make sure that she was having a good time. And she liked
that!
At the end of the evening, Si drove the young woman home,
walking her to the door of her apartment. Before the shy young
lady knew it, her male companion had embraced her and started
kissing her deeply. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, he began
running his hand up and down her spine, eventually down to her
buttocks.
Having led such a sheltered life, this was the first time that
Christy had found herself in this kind of position. It made her
very uncomfortable. She tried to pull herself away from him but
he held her firmly in his grasp.
“No Si, please don't!” He ignored her pleas. “Si, I mean it,
you’re starting to scare me!”
Tears began to form in her eyes. Si noticed the fear in her
eyes and finally backed off.
“I’m sorry Christy, I guess I got a little carried away.” His
eyes were apologetic.
After catching her breath and composure she told him it was
all right and excused herself, explaining that she had to get up
early the next morning. Without giving him a chance to explain
Christy entered her apartment, shutting the door quickly behind
her leaving Si outside to ponder the consequences of his
behavior.
She was still shaking as she fumbled through the dark
apartment searching for the light switch. How could such a
wonderful evening have ended this way? Si had been such a
perfect gentleman throughout the evening and just like that
turned into an animal. After a glass of warm milk and a long
soothing bath she finally calmed down enough to try to go to
sleep.
After a couple of minutes of relaxation, almost dozing off, the
nagging ring of her telephone interrupted Christy just as she was
about to fall to sleep.
“Hello…”
“Christy, this is Si, before you hang up would you give me a
42
chance to apologize?”
“I wasn't going to hang up Si, I'm just disappointed that you'd
think that I was that kind of girl. That's all.”
“Christy, I'd never think that you were anything more than
what you are, a sweet wonderful person. I'm very ashamed of the
way that I’ve acted tonight, and even though I probably don't
deserve it, I'm asking that you forgive me.” Si choked on his
words for a split second and then continued. “It’s just that I've
never met anyone like you and I guess that I just don't know how
to act in the presence of a real lady.”
“Si, it’s late. Could you just call me at a more civilized hour
and we can discuss it then.”
“I can call you tomorrow, but please tell me that you forgive
me so that I might be able to sleep tonight. I can promise you
that it will never happen again.”
“Si, just call tomorrow, okay?”
“Christy, I will never be able to sleep tonight knowing that I
have offended you so, please tell me that you forgive me.” The
sadness and sincerity in his voice touched Christy in such a way
that she had no choice but to forgive him. “Si, there's no need to
forgive you, it was all just a little misunderstanding. Call me
tomorrow and we'll start over, okay?”
“I am undeserving of such an understanding friend. Thank
you for your forgiveness. Christy, you are truly a special person.”
Christy and Si said their good-byes and hung the phones up for
the evening.
Christy felt better after the call. After all, except for the
episode at the door, it had been a wonderful evening. The most
fun she had ever had on a date. She quickly dismissed Si's
behavior as the same as any other normal, hot-blooded male and
drifted off to sleep.
In the weeks to come, Si and Christy would see a lot of each
other. Christy became more and more enthralled with the young
man’s personality. Except for his frequent but harmless tries at
intimacy, he was more of a gentleman than any man she had ever
known. But true to his word, he never tried to force himself on
her like he had done on the first night that they had met. She
didn't realize it but she was starting to fall in love with Siafold
43
Mehri'.
Christy felt herself getting close to her new friend even though
she didn't know anything about his past or where he had come
from. Every time she inquired into his past, he managed to
creatively evade her inquiries. All she had managed to find out
from Si was that he was from somewhere in the Middle East,
mainly from listening to his accent. Even though she didn't know
anything about him, his worldly demeanor, his intelligence and
commitment to being a gentleman had Christy contemplating the
possibility of matrimony.
After she’d been dating Si for several months, the impetuous
young brunette finally decided it was time for Si to meet her
parents. He seemed a little apprehensive about it at first but
finally agreed, surrendering to Christy's persuasive charms.
It was a chilly autumn evening at the farm of Jonathan and
Emma Summers. Autumn leaves covered the ground of the
Summer’s modest farm. Emma was busy in the kitchen
preparing dinner for her daughter and her new friend. Jonathan
was busy on his tractor plowing the fields for his winter crops,
using the last minutes of sunlight to get as much done as possible.
Si and Christy drove up right about five o'clock. As they reached
the front screen door, the smell of fried chicken, greens and
cornbread filled the air.
Emma greeted them at the door and led them into the
comfortable den of her and Jonathan's quaint little farmhouse. Si
introduced himself and politely sat down. A few moments later,
Jonathan came in from the fields. Si rose from his place on the
couch in reverence.
“Keep your seat, son,” Jonathan said as he extended his hand
to Si in a friendly gesture.
After the introductions were made, Emma and Christy
excused themselves to the kitchen, leaving the men folk in the
den to get acquainted, as was custom in this part of the country.
Once the table was set, everyone moved into the dining room and
sat down to a country feast!
After a fine dinner, everyone retired to the den. Si had been
fidgety all evening. Whenever the conversation had turned to
religion, (and it often did, where Christy and Emma were
44
and purposeful kiss, that immediately they fell into their own
little world. There was no one else on the earth at this moment
except for the two of them.
Si began to run his fingers down Christy's spine. A bit
uncomfortable with his advances at first, the young woman
squirmed as he rubbed her back gently, but soon succumbed to
his well-trained fingers. Releasing his mouth from hers, Si began
to run his lips down the length of her neck, darting his tongue in
and out of his mouth, licking her neck as he went along. All of
the sudden he stopped.
“Christy, would you mind if I lit a few candles? I find them
so romantic.”
She told him it was okay with her and he left the room.
Soon he returned with five black colored candles, carefully
placing them on the floor in front of them. Christy was a bit
puzzled about this, but dismissed it as just another one of Si's
eccentricities. He held out his hand and pulled her to the floor
with him, lying down in the middle of the candles. Even though
this seemed strange to her, his forcefulness was turning her on.
She was becoming very aroused. No man had ever gotten her
this aroused before! Not like this, feeling like she wanted to
pounce on Si like a wild animal.
“Come to me, my dear, and let me make you a woman!”
Christy wanted to say no, trying to remember her Christian
upbringing, but that all seemed remote to her now. At this
moment there was only passion and an animal lust in her heart.
They fell together once more, his lips crushed against hers
and his tongue entered her mouth reaching for her throat. As she
began to pant like a wild animal, the vibrant young dark haired
man rolled over on top of her holding her in his arms so tight that
she could not move. Her passion was beginning to reach a fever
pitch.
Being a virgin, Christy had never felt these feelings before.
She just wanted to make love to him with everything that made
her a woman. Si began to remove her clothing. She wanted to
say no, but she couldn't. After taking her clothes off, he removed
his pants. His penis was bigger than she had ever imagined it
could be. It was rock hard, seeming well over a foot long in her
48
virgin mind. There was no way it was going to fit inside of her,
she thought. But she was so turned on that she quickly forgot her
fear!
Once again Si began kissing her passionately, sliding his
tongue down her neck. She was lost in her own world; a world of
physical sensations, and was becoming very excited. Before she
knew it, Si was lowering his manhood into her. As the
overpowering young man entered her, Christy felt a tremendous
sharp pain shoot through her body!
Screaming out in agony, the scared young brunette tried to
pull away, but the powerful man had her pinned down where she
couldn't move. He began pulling in and out in slow piston-like
movements. The pain intensified!
“Please, Si, take it out!” she begged, but to no avail.
He was no longer listening to her pleas, succumbing only to
his animal lust! As she continued to plead with him it just made
him pound her harder. Illuminated by the surrounding candles,
his face had an eerie, evil look of satisfaction, as if he were
enjoying her pain.
She couldn't figure out if it was the light of the candles mixed
with her imagination or if he was indeed deriving some sort of
pleasure from her pain. In any event, the pain became so great
that she lost consciousness. As she faded into darkness, all she
could remember was Si, chanting words from some foreign
language.
“Natas uoy rof sihtodi - natas fo nos eht rof. Natas uoy rof
sihtodi - natas fo nos eht rof.”
Hours later, still groggy from the alcohol induced fugue, the
young woman awoke. Startled at first, not knowing where she
was, Christy looked around the unfamiliar surroundings finally
realizing that she was at Si's house, lying in his bed. Sitting up, a
terrible pain shot through her vagina and throughout her whole
body! Feeling something damp, the young woman looked down
and realized she was sitting in a pool of blood. Her memory
jogged by the shock of the blood on the sheets Christy relived the
reality of what had happened on the night before.
A loud snore broke Christy's concentration. Turning, she
noticed Si, sound asleep, lying on the other side of the king-sized
49
bed next to her. His face was contorted, like the face of some
wild animal as he slept. Blood ran from his mouth as if he had
just devoured some unwary prey. She gasped in horror. His face
didn't even resemble Si Mehri', but that of some hideous monster
that you would see in some late night horror movie. Gasping for
air, lost in the horror of the moment, Christy once again drifted
into the protective world of her inner mind, passing out.
Then came the dream, the dream that would haunt her from
that moment on, tormenting her almost every night of her life....
Christy stood barefoot in the middle of a deep, thick forest.
The shadows of the bare trees reached out with their arm-like
branches into the darkness giving off images of ghostly figures
menacing the foggy night around her. A faint laughter from the
distance made her feel even more uneasy. Perhaps it was just the
wind. Walking into the misty darkness trying to find her way out
of her ungodly confines, Christy stumbled into a hooded, cloaked
figure standing at the edge of the abyss. It extended its bony
right hand toward her, never saying a word, motioning as if it
wanted something from her. There was something sinister about
its non-verbal request.
Shivers ran up and down Christy's spine. She backed away
and turned, running away from the unholy specter. In her haste,
she bumped into an old man with a long, white beard. His kindly
face somehow gave her strength in this barren land.
“Why do you walk in the land of the damned?” he asked.
As she began to answer, the kindly old man vanished into thin
air. In his place stood the cloaked figure. This time it spoke,
“Give it to me!”
She answered, “I don't know what it is you want!”
“The key,” he answered. “The key to salvation.”
She became puzzled. “What key, I know of no such key.”
“You don't know?” he replied. “Then you truly are damned.”
he answered, cocking his head back in a hideous laughter.
As the cloaked figure laughed in a malevolent, blood curdling
laugh the faint laughter in the distance intensified and mingled
with the specter's, becoming louder and louder. It grew to such a
feverish pitch that Christy couldn't stand it any more. At this
point, she usually woke up. Sometimes strange little twists
50
would happen in the dream, tying her dreams into her reality.
Always though, she would wake up in a cold sweat, shaking from
fear.
Christy's story trailed off for a moment. Kayla sat still, trying
to let everything that she had just heard sink in.
“So you had a bad experience with this Si guy and now you
have bad dreams. Many people have experiences much worse
than that and they get over them. And you will too!”
“But it’s more than that, Kayla, much more!” Christy was
shivering in fear once again! Kayla noticed how upset she was.
“Look, Christy, you don't have to tell me anymore. You seem
so shook up.”
“No, Kayla. I want to tell you, I can't continue to keep it to
myself. I need to tell somebody.”
It was becoming very late now and even Kayla seemed a little
on edge. The clock on the wall chimed three fifteen in
quartertones. As the night tightened its grip on the two girls,
Christy continued to tell her story...
51
CHAPTER 5
romantic place, but very few people knew of its infamous past
history. In earlier times it had been known as “The Devil’s
Point!”
Most people assumed that it got its name because of the fiery
reflection of the sun off the lake as the sun went down. During
certain times of the year the sun’s reflection off of the water of
the trees across the lake from The Point gave the whole area the
appearance that it was on fire. But a little known legend told a
different story.
Just before the beginning of the Civil War, pirate slave traders
came from the Gulf of Mexico to these inland waters in small
boats in order to sell slaves to the locals. They would gather at
The Point with the local citizenry and conduct auctions. At the
end of these auctions, any slaves that weren't sold were killed by
the pirates, bodies dismembered and thrown into the lake, where
the salt water creatures that would venture into the brackish
combination of salt and fresh water lake would feast on the
carcasses. It was cheaper to do this than to feed the unsold
property.
Years later, around the turn of the century, a group of
fishermen and their families built houses on the point, in order to
be closer to the waters off the coast and their fishing territories.
Pierre Ponthieu, one of the fishermen, came home one hot
summer afternoon in a drunken rage. He believed he had been
cheated out of his rightful share of the money for the week’s
catch by one of the other fishermen. As the sun was beginning to
set, Pierre made his way through the houses on the point,
brandishing a large hunting knife and spewing obscenities.
It seems that the other fishermen were still out at sea using
the longer daylight hours to catch a few extra fish. When they
finally returned home, they found that their wives and children
had been slaughtered like animals in their homes, they were
covered with blood and cut into pieces!
Enraged, the angry fishermen searched the point to find the
culprit. Finally they came upon a huge cypress tree and the body
of Pierre Ponthieu dangling from a rope, swinging in the wind,
covered in their family member’s blood. He had hung himself!
Accounts of the story say that he had a monstrous grin on his
58
gruesome, purplish face, and that below him was the gutted body
of his own newborn child, with Pierre's own hunting knife still
quivering in its cadaver. Pierre had gone mad! Perhaps the
ghosts of the slave spirits had gotten their revenge on the
descendants of the pirate slave traders. In any event, the locals
would suppress the carnage of that night for many years to come,
only to be repeated behind closed doors, by those old enough to
remember. The stories were eventually written off as folklore or
legend and were finally forgotten.
The Point, as it came to be known in later years had started to
be used by local young people as a rendezvous spot used for
necking and partying. Most of the young people in the area had
never heard the stories of The Devil’s Point, and probably
wouldn't have paid it much heed anyhow. In any case, Si had
decided that The Point would be the perfect place for he and
Christy to be wed, because of its natural beauty. She had agreed,
having never heard the stories.
59
CHAPTER 6
with a smile.
Christy was so weak that she couldn't respond.
“That's okay Baby, don't talk, just rest. Last night one of my
so-called friends slipped something in your drink. You've had a
bad night; a little rest and you'll be alright.” Christy laid back in
the bed, too exhausted to speak.
She listened vaguely as Si told her what had happened the
night before. How after she had been slipped the drugs she had
fallen unconscious. About how after becoming violently ill, Si
had had to rush her home before the end of the ceremony. They
had even missed the reception that followed.
Even though the drugs had robbed her of her wedding night
memories, she was too weak to be angry; however, she was
relieved to realize that she had been drugged, and that the
gruesome garbled memories from the night before were just
figments of a drug induced nightmare. Her apprehension of Si's
strange customs coupled with the drugs must have driven her to
this horrible dream. That was it. It had to be. She still had to
wonder...
64
CHAPTER 7
the roses.
Her enthusiasm wore off as she stepped around the corner of
her house to the outside of her bedroom window. Chills ran up
and down the young woman's spine as she noticed giant hoof
prints in the loose dirt leading up to her window! At least a foot
long, the hoof prints dug deep into the dirt at the base of her
window. Strangely enough there were no prints leading away. It
was as if the giant creature had walked up to her window and just
vanished. Scared out of her wits, Christy began to shake
uncontrollably. She began breathing heavily and backed away
from the giant hoof prints. On instinct alone Christy stumbled to
her car driving it to her mother's house down the road. Later in
the day the she would not even be able to remember how she had
gotten there!
Christy's mother tried talking some sense into her hysterical
daughter, but to no avail. Finally, after hours of rational
explanation, Emma convinced Christy that weeks of sleep
depravation, coupled with a pregnancy problem, had caused her
imagination to run away with her. Mother Summers suggested
that she go to her doctor. Christy dared not tell her concerned
mother that her husband had forbade her from seeing her doctor
for fear that Emma Summers would disapprove and complicate
her life further by butting in. After some long overdue mother-
daughter conversation Christy returned home, convincing herself
that her mother must be right.
She didn't go into the garden after returning home, opting to
wait inside until Si got home. She never told him about the hoof-
prints, deciding that it would be counter-productive to their
relationship. He already was trying to convince her that she was
unstable, and should go to a psychiatrist. One of his choice, not
hers.
To add to the problems of her troubled pregnancy, her due
date had passed, with no sign of when she might go into labor.
Her baby was going to be born late. Si continued to make her
take the so-called vitamins, the roots and berries that he had been
giving her to ‘keep her healthy’. But the truth was, these things
that she were taking to make him happy, just kept her doped up
and sick. Christy was oblivious to the fact that she was doped up,
67
body over the top of a golden chalice spilling its blood into the
waiting vessel.
Christy recoiled in fear and disgust as the hooded, cloaked
figure drank from the cup. She turned to run away and tripped on
a dried bundle of branches laid in a pile behind her, making a
loud, crackling noise. The specter then turned to her, reacting to
the sound of the broken branches. Try as she might, Christy
struggled to escape the thorny thicket she had become stuck in.
Caught up in the branches at least for the moment, she was at the
mercy of the hooded specter!
The hooded figure walked up to her holding the chalice of the
cat's blood out to her as if offering it to her to drink. Just at that
moment, the glow of the fire cast an illuminating light on the face
of the specter. It was Si!
“Here drink this, it will help you get some sleep!”
Screaming hysterically, the young brunette suddenly jumped
up, covered with sweat, and shaking uncontrollably, only to
notice that she was sitting up in her own bed. Once again she had
had a terrible dream. Or had it been? She wasn't sure of
anything any more.
She must have been asleep for hours. Her screaming
awakened Si, who had been sleeping next to her. He jumped up,
trying to comfort her.
“Calm down, Baby. You were just having another
nightmare.” He cradled her in his arms and tried to talk her
down.
It took a while, but the hysterical brunette finally calmed
down. Si held her in his arms for the longest time, but as hard as
she tried, she couldn't get back to sleep.
“Hold on Baby, let me get you a little something to help you
sleep.”
He left for the kitchen, and returned shortly with a glass that
contained a red liquid. “Here, drink this, it will help you get to
sleep.”
The words reverberated in her ears over and over. She looked
up into his face. The same evil grin from the face in the dream
was on her husband's now distorted face.
“Oh my God!” she gasped.
70
the driven young woman tried to peer into the back window. A
black curtain on the inside prevented her from looking inside.
Curiosity built up inside of her, for some unexplained reason she
had to know what lay beyond the velvet black curtain. She just
had to know!
Christy looked around, spotting a nearby rock. She picked it
up and threw it through the window. Reaching inside, the
unstable young brunette unhooked the latch on the window and
climbed inside.
It was very dark. She fumbled through the blackness finally
finding the cord to the overhead light. The workshop had
changed since the time she had seen it. When she had last seen it
last it had been an abandoned room with nothing but old trash
strewn everywhere. A sort of junk room. Someone had since
come in and cleaned it up.
On a table at the opposite end of the room laid several strange
looking daggers inlaid with odd hieroglyphic symbols and two
freshly made black candles. Curiously, a golden chalice like the
one she had dreamed of also lay there. A large book written in
some language she couldn't understand lay in the middle of a
scattering of books dealing with Satanism and satanic worship.
One of the books was opened to a chapter entitled “The Black
Mass”. She was shocked. Even though she knew that Si was a
little eccentric, she had never imagined in her wildest dreams that
he could be a Satanist. How naive she had been! She had
always assumed that Si's eccentricities had stemmed from an
eastern religion, not Satanism!
Picking up the opened book, she began to read about the
Black Mass. The air about her was filled with an almost
electrical feeling of danger. A feeling that at any moment
someone may sneak up on her, catching her doing something she
shouldn't be doing...
“Needed for a Black Mass, a pentagram drawn on the floor. A
naked woman should be used as the altar. She should lay spread-
eagle at the bottom of the pentagram; her vagina thrust upward.
In each of her hands should be a black candle, preferably made
from the fat of unbaptized babies.”
Suddenly feeling very nauseated, Christy's head became
75
clouded with fear and disbelief. Gathering her wits and darting
from the shop, the frightened young brunette tried to escape the
danger and depravity of the shop of horrors!
As young woman rounded the corner of the house, she
stumbled over the garbage can that sat just outside the kitchen
door. The can fell over, emptying the contents onto the ground.
Staring at the ground in shock Christy recoiled in fear and
repulsion. There, in the middle of the scattered garbage, covered
with flies, was a human fetus! Pale in color, it looked as if the
color had been boiled out of it.
The horror of the moment gripped the convulsing young
brunette as she realized that the fetus was her unborn child! The
satanic paraphernalia, the black candles...Si had boiled the fetus
of their unborn child to make the black candles that adorned the
alter in the ghastly shop!
“What kind of monster was he?” Christy thought to herself.
She began to vomit and fell to the ground, crying and shaking
like a newborn baby. Perhaps this was another bad dream, and
she would wake up. Christy knew one thing though, if this was
real, she had to leave this place and never return.
It was the dead of winter as Christy left on that horrid night.
She disappeared into the darkness, aboard a Greyhound bus,
leaving the nightmare of her life with Si behind. The sounds of
the night birds and the sights of the darkened Louisiana Bayou
ushered her out into the unknown new world, beyond the
boundaries of the only world she had ever known.
There was an apprehension mixed with a sigh of relief,
intertwined, spinning around inside her head. She would
eventually end up in Baton Rouge, a student at LSU, sitting in her
friend Kayla's apartment, with tears in her eyes, reliving the terror
of that year in her story of hopelessness, despair and horror.
76
CHAPTER 8
double doors that led into the main seating area of the large
auditorium.
It was still early. Only a scattering of students was inside of
the nine thousand-seat auditorium. This suited Christy, for she
had wanted to arrive early enough to get good seats. The half-
hour wait seemed a lifetime to the girls, especially Christy. After
all, she had been reading material written by the world class
archaeologist since her early teen years and now she was going to
get a chance to hear one of his lectures, and perhaps even meet
him.
Excitement filled the air as well as the loud chattering of
anxious Theology students. Finally the lights dimmed and a
spotlight lit up the podium at center stage. A sudden hush
replaced the loud sound of student voices. Reverend Thomas, the
head of the Theology department, walked up to the podium to
deafening silence. After clearing his throat, he began to speak.
“Only once in a lifetime does a man come along with such
insight to his work that he manages to change the very
foundations on which his work is based. I am here to introduce
such a man. A man without equal in the field of religious
archaeology. So without further ado, it is my pleasure and
privilege to introduce...Dr. Randal Miguel Pfeiffer!”
Enter Randal Miguel Pfeiffer, a large bearded man with deep
dark eyes. Face etched with lines that told the story of a full
lived productive life, his dark brown hair concealed the tinges of
gray that were forming around his cranium. Christy sat
spellbound, in awe of the man that she knew so well, through his
many writings. He now stood just a few feet away, about to
share his vast theological knowledge with her and many of her
fellow students. Even though she had never seen him before, he
looked strangely familiar to her.
As the applause subsided, Professor Pfeiffer reached the
podium. A deep hollow silence followed, waiting to be filled
with the vast knowledge of this remarkable man. Gazing into the
large room filled with humanity, he began to speak.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Randal
Miguel Pfeiffer. I am an archaeologist specializing in religious
artifacts. I am here to share with you some of the adventures and
78
Professor Pfeiffer that had scared her so, and not some henchman
sent by Si to find her.
The room filled with cheering and clapping as every one
around Christy rose to their feet. They were joining together in
giving Professor Pfeiffer a standing ovation.
Christy nudged Kayla. “That's him!”
“Of course that's him,” Kayla shot back in a puzzled voice.
“No Kayla, he's the guy that kept staring at me on Saturday
night, the one that kept following us!” Kayla, still puzzled,
finally showed a look of recollection.
“Him, are you sure?”
“Yes I'm sure,” the excited girl answered.
This and the fact that Christy had waited most of her teenage
and adult life to meet this man compelled the young brunette and
her friend to make their way to the front of the auditorium.
Professor Pfeiffer was signing copies of his latest book, “The
Secrets of the Qumran Valley”. It was the story of his
expeditions to the Holy Land. It also contained excerpts from the
lost text from the book of Genesis as well as excerpts from the
Book of the Sword, both discovered on his last expedition.
Waiting in line, the excited girls purchased a first copy of the
new book, then waited in line for a second time for a chance to
meet the world-renowned author and archaeologist.
Finally, Christy and Kayla made their way to the front of the
line. Turning from his last signature Pfeiffer's eyes immediately
caught Christy's. A look of familiarity filled his face. Grabbing
Christy's hand, the distinguished professor held it as if they were
old friends.
“And how did you like my lecture?” he asked with great
exuberance.
“Oh, it was marvelous,” Kayla answered in an excited tone.
Pfeiffer's eyes never left Christy's.
“And what did you think about my lecture?” he directed the
question directly to Christy. Kayla felt ignored.
“I...I found it...very stimulating,” Christy answered shakily,
still surprised by the professor's obvious direct attention. Staring
for a short time, Christy finally spoke.
“Have we met somewhere before?”
80
Kayla butted in (as was her style), “No, I'm sorry, we're busy
tonight, maybe another time?”
Christy was irritated by Kayla's evasive action. She wasn't
about to pass up an opportunity like that.
“Maybe you can't Kayla, but I certainly can!” She turned to
the professor with a glow in her face, “I'd love to.”
Even though professor Pfeiffer had been addressing both
women, his eyes had never left Christy's. This bothered Kayla.
She felt uneasy, as if there was something more than dinner
involved in Pfeiffer's invitation. So she waited until later to
address her fears to her mesmerized friend.
In the meantime, Professor Pfeiffer and Christy Summers had
made plans to meet in front of the student union building about
seven o’ clock that evening. Later they would have dinner at
Dupuys, a local eatery featuring French cuisine, served in a
simple romantic atmosphere. After the plans for the evening
were made, the professor said good-bye to his two female
companions and they went their separate ways.
Walking silently in the direction of Christy's dorm until they
were well out of the sight of Professor Pfeiffer, Kayla broke the
silence.
“Are you crazy, girl? You don't even know this man, and
you’re going out, alone with him? Didn't your experiences with
your ex-husband teach you anything?”
Christy waited for her friend to catch a breath between
sentences.
“Are you finished, mom?” Christy said sarcastically.
Kayla nodded in response. “Good! First of all, I don't
appreciate you telling me what I can and can't do. Second of all,
this is a famous man, I doubt he means me any harm. I
appreciate that you are worried about me, but I can take care of
myself. Besides, there's something about him that makes me feel
comfortable. Famous people like him don't harm anyone!”
“Jack the Ripper was a famous person!” Kayla countered in a
sarcastic voice.
“Kayla, that's not the same thing.”
“I know, baby, I'm just worried about you, especially after all
you've been through lately.”
82
irritation.
“All right, Si, what do you want to talk about?” There was a
heavy sigh on the other end of the phone line.
“Can't we get together? You know, talk face to face.”
“No Si, can't you get it through your thick skull, I never want
to see you again!”
Si's voice cracked a little as he continued. “Christy, I just
want a chance to apologize to you, and try to explain.”
“Look, Si...”
“No baby, let me finish,” Si interrupted. By now his voice
sounded pathetic; desperate.
“Okay, Si, go ahead and finish,” the brunette answered
defiantly.
“I was just going through a hard time...” he gulped and took a
deep breath, “And when we lost the baby, my mind just
snapped.”
Tears welled up in Christy's eyes. After a short silence, Si
continued.
“Baby, please if you don't allow me to see you... I might do
something...drastic.” The young woman's tone softened.
“Like what, Si?”
“I might…I think I might kill myself.”
Christy wasn’t in love with Si any more, but she didn't want to
see him kill himself either. She couldn't live with that
responsibility, no matter how much she loathed him.
“Si, don't be an idiot!”
“No, I mean it baby, since you left me without giving me a
chance to explain...hell, I have nothing to live for! I just need a
chance to explain.”
Bewildered, Christy sat for a second trying to think of what to
say. “Can't you explain over the phone? I'm listening.”
Christy could hear Si beginning to cry on the other end of the
phone. Si had always been such a strong man, and his sobbing
on the other side of the phone got to the softhearted young
brunette.
“Okay, Si, Okay. We can talk face to face.”
“Oh thank you, baby. You won't regret this, I promise. What
time do you want to meet me tonight?”
85
“Si, tonight's not good for me, how about tomorrow? About
eleven o’ clock. Right after my archaeology class?” Si was
silent for a moment.
“Why not tonight? I really need to get this off my chest.” he
said with an insistent voice.
“Si, I can't make it tonight, I've got other plans!”
“But...”
“No buts Si, I just can't make it tonight. I've agreed to meet
with you, if you want to meet with me it will have to be
tomorrow!” There was an anger in the young woman's voice.
Si, sensing that he was losing control of the situation replied
quickly. “That's fine, baby. Don't get mad, just calm down.
Tomorrow will be fine. I didn't mean to make you mad. Okay?”
The humbleness in Si's tone of voice changed Christy's attitude.
“I'm sorry too, Si, I didn't mean to get angry. I just have a lot
of pressure on me. You know, starting a new school and all.”
“I understand Christy,” he replied. What do you have to do
that's so important tonight?”
Christy began to lose her patience again. “If it’s any business
of yours, I've got some studying to do for my archaeology test
tomorrow!” She lied, just slightly.
“Babe, I'm not trying to be nosy, I was just interested...where
did you want to meet me tomorrow?”
“Oh, I guess, in front of the Archaeology building. Do you
know where it is?”
“Don't worry, Christy, I'll find it.” No one talked for a while.
Finally Christy broke the void of conversation.
“Well Si, I've got to go now.”
“Okay baby, I'll see you tomorrow...I love you,” he added.
There was another pause.
“I'll see you tomorrow, Si, good-bye!” With that she hung up.
Glancing at the clock above her desk, Christy realized how
late she was. Six forty-five.
“Darn, I'm going to be late!” She grabbed her things and ran
hurriedly for the front door, rushing out toward the student union
building. Christy was in such a hurry, she didn't notice the tall,
dark, handsome man just behind her, hidden in the shadows.
Someone she knew well. But obviously not well enough!
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CHAPTER 9
functions.”
“If you insist... Randal,” she replied in a bold, precise manner.
They left the restaurant so involved in one another that they
failed to notice the dark, black mustang following them at a safe,
undetectable distance. Like a panther stalking its prey in the
deepest, darkest jungle, the black vehicle followed them all the
way to the parking lot of the Bellmont Hotel.
Pulling up to the Bellmont, Pfeiffer left his vehicle with the
valet stationed at the front of the finely landscaped drive leading
up to one of Baton Rouge’s finest lodgings. Upon entering the
posh lobby of the hotel Christy was immediately caught by its
luminous golden glow. Between its front tinted windows and
gold on red decorative appearance, crystal chandeliers lighted the
foyer of the fine old hotel. Track lighting lit the hallways just
enough to accentuate the fine portraits of Louisiana life that were
in abundance in the historic building.
After receiving his key from the front desk, Professor Pfeiffer
and his female companion proceeded to the elevators where they
boarded and rode up to the famous archaeologist’s suite. Once
settled in, the couple resumed their commune with one another
talking with the exuberance of children.
Dying to learn more about the Professor's escapades in the
Middle East, Christy continued her questioning.
“Professor?” She noticed a frown on Randal’s face. “I mean,
Randal. What led you to the discoveries of the lost books?”
Pfeiffer tweaked his beard as his facial expression transformed
into a look of total concentration. He decided to start from the
very beginning. Christy watched, hanging on every word as her
mentor began to speak.
“First of all, I was able to narrow the areas to the perimeters
where the Essenes actually lived by cross referencing artifacts
from my earlier expeditions with descriptions from the locals.
The Essenes, after defecting from the Pharisees and Sadducees,
relocated to the Judean desert. We concentrated our efforts in
that area as well as others in close proximity. After speaking
with some elders in the area, we narrowed our search to that of
the caves along the cliffs overlooking the Dead Sea. For many
years, artifacts had been discovered there. Including libraries and
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direction of my quest.”
Randal hesitated. “Now you've got to understand. I am a very
sane, rational man. I don't...or at least I didn't believe in
supernatural happenings here on earth. That's God’s realm, not
man’s.”
He looked into her eyes with all the humility he could muster
as if he were looking for her complete, absolute understanding.
“As I was going through my notes, a great swift wind swept
through the camp scattering my notes into the darkness of the
desert beyond the boundaries of my lantern. I scrambled into the
night, trying to salvage as many of the papers as I could. I was
bent over picking them up, when out of the corner of my eye I
noticed a great fluorescent-looking blue light, dripping like water
onto the earth in the distance!
“At first, I thought that fatigue was setting in, causing me to
hallucinate. After focusing on the light and rubbing my eyes, I
realized that I must have been witnessing some kind of a strange
scientific phenomenon. Surely, I thought it could be explained
within scientific means. My curiosity as a scientist mixed with
my fascination with something that I could not explain led me
into the darkness and toward the rock formations at the edge of
the Dead Sea where the light seemed to be manifesting itself.
“As I approached them, I noticed something high up in the
rock formation about a hundred yards in front of me. It was a
huge glowing sword, standing on end as if pointing down into the
plateau that supported it. I was fascinated. I didn't know whether
to believe what I was seeing, or to try to wake myself from this
fantastic dream. The huge sword was gold in color; its handle
inlaid with every precious stone imaginable. It glowed with the
most magnificent light I had ever seen, like a light I could
imagine from Heaven. I was in awe!
“As I approached the plateau, the wind made sounds like
hideous laughter, seeming to taunt me forward toward some
unknown fate that awaited. My emotions were an odd
combination of curiosity combined with a strange fear and
respect for that which lay just beyond the realm of my
understanding, and perhaps my sanity. This strange
inquisitiveness drove me forward. Excitement built inside of me
94
drank.
Only one thing bothered Randal as he drank the champagne.
If the faculty had sent the champagne, why had they sent two
glasses? No one knew Christy would be there.
After a little break, they returned to the previous conversation.
“Now, where were we?” Randal asked.
“We were discussing your discoveries in the Qumran valley. I
was particularly interested in the Book of the Sword. Christy was
careful to avoid mentioning the closeness of their predicament
prior to their interruption.
Randal continued, “The Book of the Sword seems to be more
relevant to the Book of Genesis. In the newly discovered book of
Genesis, the writers go into more detail about Lucifer’s fall from
grace with God than any other previous texts dealing with that
incident. The Book of the Sword tells of how God entrusted an
all-powerful sword to his Archangel Michael to be used to expel
the devil from Heaven.”
“Michael accomplished this feat by thrusting the sword into
the ground at Lucifer’s feet sending him plunging into Hell.
After the devil’s fall, the sword was placed at the gates of Heaven
in order to deter the devil and his followers from ever entering
Heaven again. Only by removing the sword from the gates could
Lucifer and his followers ever breach the sovereignty of Heaven
again.”
“Constructed of all the precious metals and stones in the
universe, the sword contained all of goodness in its purest, most
powerful form. Evil could never pass beyond the goodness
contained in the Sword of Righteousness. Only the most holy of
God’s children, one who possessed purity, love and the grace of
God, would ever be able to remove the sword from its rightful
resting place at the gates of Heaven.”
Christy's eyes followed Randal’s as he told the story. He had
the eyes of a little child on Christmas day opening his first
present. Randal was as excited about telling the story as Christy
was to hear it!
The professor went on to tell of the tribes of Israel, the sons of
Zadok, the Brotherhood and all other elements contained in the
lost manuscripts. Covered in the manuscripts as well were the
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Ark of the Covenant between God and man and it’s contents. He
told of a secret language, some kind of code that was found in
several of the manuscripts. Apparently this language had yet to
be deciphered by the experts, although by every indication this
language was understood fluently by the keepers of the sacred
documents.
According to the texts, these secrets were never to be known
by man, except for those entrusted with their care. Suddenly the
professor’s face became pale and he began to stutter. “That's
why I'm not so sure that we should have uncovered these
manuscripts. I mean, maybe we've opened some sort of a
Pandora’s box here.”
Christy noticed the change in his tone and immediately came
to his rescue.
“Look Randal, maybe I'm just a college student, but I believe
that if the manuscripts weren't meant to be found, God would
never have let it happen.”
“Maybe you’re right Christy, but sometimes I wonder.”
There was a short silence. “Here Christy, let me read you
something from the Bible.” The girl listened in profound silence.
“This is a reference to the sword,” he continued. “The sword,
the sword sharpened and polished, sharpened for slaughter,
polished to flash like lightening... polished only to be wielded.
Sharpened and polished to fit the slaughterer’s hand! Yes, shout
and howl son of man, it is meant for my people. For all the
Princes of Israel. Doomed like my people to the sword. So beat
your breast; this is not the first attempt, and what would happen
were there no Haughty scepter? It is the Lord Yahweh who
speaks. Son of man prophesy and clap your hands. Let the
sword be twice, three times as cruel, the butcher’s sword, the
great sword of the slaughter, menacing all around. To make
hearts sink and to increase the numbers of victims. I have posted
a sword at every gate to flash like lightening, polished for havoc.
Behind! To the right! To the left! In front! And I too will clap
my hands; I will exhaust my wrath. I, Yahweh have spoken.”
An electricity filled the air. Chills ran up and down Christy's
spine. Goosebumps covered her entire body. Some where in the
passage that Randal read there was an underlying warning.
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Randal was aware of it, and now Christy was. There was a long
pause. At that moment Christy gazed up at the clock on Randal’s
wall.
“Oh my God, look at how late it is.” The clock read three
o'clock. “My curfew at the dorm is midnight, I've got to get back
before I get in trouble.” Randal calmed her down.
“Don't worry Christy, I'll smooth things over with your dean.
Come on, I'll drive you home.”
The swirling wind met the couple as they drove up to Christy's
dormitory. It made the evening feel somewhat colder as Randal
opened the passenger side of the car. They hurried up to the
door, Randal escorting his newfound friend to the front of the
large red brick building.
“I would like to thank you for a wonderful evening, Professor
Pfeiffer.” He reached his hand out to her mouth.
“Remember, I asked you to call me Randal.” She smiled.
“Okay...Randal” They stared into each other’s eyes for a
moment.
“I really did have a wonderful evening,” the waiting girl
repeated.
“I'm so glad that you did Christy. Do you think that we could
do it again?” Christy could hardly hold in her excitement.
“Oh I'd love to Prof...I mean, Randal.” The excited brunette
corrected herself.
What followed was an awkward moment between the newly
found friends. On impulse, Christy reached out and kissed the
surprised archaeologist on the cheek, said goodnight, then turned
entering the building, disappearing into the darkness of the huge
lobby.
An excitement filled the excited young brunette as she entered
her room. Being careful not to awaken her sleeping roommate
she tiptoed across the room, all the while thinking about the
wonderful evening she had had. How exciting it was to be out
with one of the world's leading archaeologists. And he had been
such a gentleman. This was the first time Christy had spent a
whole evening with a man and had not had overtures toward sex
made to her at some point. Boy, how her life was changing!
Once she had gotten to her bed, the still mesmerized young
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of the night slowly crept into her room. How could such a
perfect evening end in such a terrible way? Maybe the morning
would give new meaning to the events of the night before. But
for now, sleep was what Christy needed. The thoughts of the
evening swirled through her head, dizzily sending her into a deep,
oblivious sleep.
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CHAPTER 10
“Well you have a fine way of showing it. Dead roses and all.”
Si began sobbing in heavy breaths. Realizing she was going
to have to take control of the situation, Christy screamed out.
“Si, don't start that crying stuff with me. It won't work any
more!”
“Christy, keep your voice down, people are starting to stare at
us. Can't we go somewhere a little more private?”
“No Si, we can't. I won't go with you anywhere, any time. I
don't love you any more. And I want you to just leave me alone.”
Si now started to cry openly. “Christy, I know that I've
screwed up our relationship, but when I lost you, I changed. I…I
don't think that I can live without you.”
He was trying to take control back from her through
sympathy, like so many times before.
“Please Christy, just give me one more chance.”
“Si, are you listening? I said NO. I don't want you back. Not
now, not ever!”
“Then I guess I have no choice. Will you at least kiss me
good-bye?” He was weeping out loud now. No matter how hard
Christy tried to be toward him, when he got like this she couldn't
help but be sympathetic.
“Si, settle down, let’s go over to that bench and talk about it.”
After sitting down, Si didn't give Christy a chance to talk first.
“Christy, I can't live without you. If you don't come back to
me, then I have nothing left to live for. Maybe the world would
be better off without me, anyway.” There was a short pause.
Like so many times before, Si was taking back control of the
conversation. Tears welled in Christy's eyes. When he looked
like this, he reminded her of a helpless puppy, waiting to die in
the pound. A look of total desperation.
“Si, I don't want you to kill yourself.”
“Then you'll come back to me?” A look of hope came back
into his face.
“Si, don't pressure me! If I come back to you, I don't want to
come back to you because you threatened to kill yourself. I
would rather return to you because I love you.”
“Then there’s a chance that you'll come back to me?”
Putting her hand gently on her ex-husband’s hand Christy
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At the same time, the ghoulish children noticed the platter and
attacked it feverishly, fighting each other in order to be the first to
feast upon the bloody meal.
Christy looked on in shock as one of the children bit the head
off of one of the fetuses. The others were decapitating the
remainder of the unborn babies, tearing off little arms and legs as
they ate in a ravenous, bloodthirsty frenzy. Crimson streams ran
from the corners of the little ghoul’s mouths as they tore into the
unborn human flesh that lay on the platter at the end of the long
table just in front of the terrified brunette.
Christy tried to scream but no noise came out of her mouth.
The devilish eating frenzy didn't take long. Before the horrified
young woman realized it, the ghouls were fighting over the last
fetus! Loud pounding noises from the struggle reverberated
inside of Christy's head. Fear mounted in the young woman as
she felt her heart beating in her throat, beating louder and louder
until it felt like it were going to burst. Deep inside, she feared
that after the last fetus was eaten, the pack of wild ghouls would
turn on her.
Somewhere in the distance, she could hear her name being
repeated over and over.
Christy...Christy...Christy... Everything before her began to
fade into an empty nothingness. “Christy...Christy...Christy...”
She continued hearing her name being repeated as the pounding
of her heart changed into distinct knocks on a wooden door.
Startled and disoriented Christy jumped up from her
dormitory bed.
“Christy...Christy...are you all right?” came the voice from the
other side of her door. It was Tina, one of her fellow students
that lived in one of the rooms at the end of the hallway. Wiping
the sweat from her face Christy realized that she had been having
a nightmare.
“Yes, I'm alright,” she answered as she opened her door.
“Christy, there’s a gentleman waiting downstairs for you.”
Still groggy, the young woman glanced up at the digital clock up
on her wall. It was five o’ clock! Randal was here to pick her
up.
“Tell him I'll be right down.” Christy said as she shut the door.
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She was a mess, clothes wrinkled, sweat covering her body and
hair all knotted from lying on it.
Within twelve minutes the disheveled young brunette had
showered, put on her clothes and makeup and was out the door
rushing down the stairs to her waiting friend.
“Randal, I'm so sorry, I must have fallen asleep. Have you
been waiting long?”
“No, I haven't been waiting very long. Are you ready to go?”
“You bet,” she said, grabbing his arm and leading him out the
front of the building.
“Where would you like to go?” Randal asked as they
approached his car.
“I don't care.” She answered “I just need to get out of here.
Let’s just get into the car and drive. We can decide where to go
once we're on the road.”
Christy guided Randal through the maze of roads leading to
the interstate and out of Baton Rouge. They drove in silence for
a while.
Finally Randal could no longer handle the suspense. “Now,
what seems to be the problem, Christy?”
The young woman thought for a moment, not knowing how to
begin. After taking a deep breath she spoke.
“It's my ex, Si.” She began telling him the whole story.
He listened intently as the shaken girl told the story of her past
life up to the present and the dead roses from the night before.
“He just won't leave me alone,” she said sobbing. “He follows
me every where I go. He's probably following us right now.” she
said as she turned to look out of the rear of Randal’s vehicle.
She continued, telling about the confrontation earlier in the
day and began to get hysterical.
“He just won't quit, I don't know what I'm going to do. I just
don't...” Drawn to tears the young woman began crying out loud.
“Calm down, Christy. There’s no need to cry. Perhaps he just
doesn't know how you feel.”
“Doesn’t know how I feel?” she snapped back. “Randal,
haven't you been listening? I've told him over and over how I
feel. He just won't listen.”
Randal reached over and touched the sobbing girl’s hand.
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“Christy, he's still in love with you, some time it takes time to
get over such things.”
“Time? How much time does it take? I can't handle it
anymore, I just can't handle it!”
Christy began shaking uncontrollably and crying out loud
again.
“Why can't he leave me alone? Why can't he just leave me
alone?” Tears ran down her face and she pulled her hands over
her eyes.
“Christy, calm down, calm down. Would you like for me to
talk to him?”
Randal reached over and stroked her hair in a loving way. She
responded by moving over in the car seat next to him.
“Oh, would you talk to him?” But then she pondered on
Randal’s offer for a while.
“No, that wouldn't work. Si thinks you are some kind of
boyfriend. He would just get mad and try to hurt you too!”
“Christy, let me take my chances. Maybe I can talk some
sense into him.”
Christy thought for a moment. “Oh Randal, you’re such a
good friend.”
“Does that mean you'll let me help you?” her concerned friend
asked.
With a tear of hope in her eyes, she agreed.
“That's my girl" He reached over and placed a gentle kiss on
her cheek. "Now, how about a little bite to eat when we get back
to Baton Rouge, Ms. Summers?”
“Don't mind if I do, Professor...Randal.” The two began to
laugh, lightening the tenseness of the previous moments.
As the car raced back towards the state’s capitol, the
conversation shifted to more pleasant subjects. Christy felt as if a
great weight had been lifted off of her shoulders, even though
deep in her stomach she felt the apprehension of Randal’s
meeting with Siafold Mehri’. Si might not like a third person
getting involved with his situation. Especially since he thought
Randal was some kind of romantic relation of his estranged wife.
This bothered her, but for now Randal’s companionship was
enough to ease Christy's worried mind. Randal was not a
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romantic relation, but perhaps some day, and maybe soon, that
might come to pass. She could only hope!
After a nice dinner back in Baton Rouge, Pfeiffer dropped
Christy back off at her dorm room. She immediately bolted
upstairs and called the number that Si had given her, setting up a
meeting in the morning with him. She was careful not to mention
that Randal would be there. That night she had the best sleep she
had had in weeks.
The next morning found the birds outside singing joyously the
praises of the newborn day. Blue skies were dotted with puffy
white clouds, the cooling fall weather seeming to signify that the
long, hot summer was finally over. Maybe Christy's long running
nightmare was about to come to an end. For the first time, in a
long while, she felt good about things.
Jumping out of her bed early, Christy dressed for the fateful
day. She could barely hear the radio's news broadcast, something
about the latest devastating earthquake in some remote corner of
the world. But she was too busy to listen to the details on this
morning. A quick shower and make-up job and she was out the
door and on her way to meet with Randal.
In the meantime, Siafold Mehri’ had gotten up early also.
Stopping by the local florist to pick up an arrangement of roses,
live ones this time, he was bound and determined to make a
lasting impression!
“Christy's finally come to her senses,” he thought to himself as
his black mustang made its way across town to the park at the
edge of the LSU campus.
“She finally realizes she needs me as well as loves me,” he
thought as he smiled to himself. On this morning he would arrive
early to the park wanting to make sure everything was perfect for
his meeting with his lovely wife.
Si pulled into a parking space, overlooking the pond that
bordered the park. A group of ducks fluttered out of the water,
flying to the other end of the pond, as Si got out of his vehicle.
He carefully laid a blanket onto the ground, placing a picnic
basket on it. Then beside it placed a bottle of wine in a small ice
chest, which he had brought. This was a very special day and he
was taking no chances. For this was the day he would be getting
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“Si, we once were friends, and at one time I loved you. But
things have changed. There are things about us that we just can't
accept about each other. And if you still care about me, even a
little bit, you'll just let go.”
“Baby, all I can do is tell you I'm sorry. I thought he came
to...” Si began to choke on his words.
“You thought he came to what, Si. To help me break up with
you? Si, you already broke us up. A long time ago. Don't you
remember the things you put me through? The pure hell you put
me through!”
Si was surprised at Christy's use of the word. That was the
closest to cursing he had ever heard from her.
“You, Si, you broke us up. You have no one to blame but
yourself.”
“I know Christy. I know what I've put you through. But I've
changed. I've really changed. After you left me, I took a long
hard look at my life. And I didn't like what I saw. I've even
begun attending church!”
“That's nice, Si, I'm happy for you.”
Si looked into her eyes with a solemn look. “Give me another
chance, Christy.”
“No.”
“Please, give me another chance, just to be your friend?”
Christy pondered for a moment on Si’s latest request. “Si, we
can still be friends, I just need a little time away from you.”
Siafold Mehri’ looked away to a distant place, then looked
back at her. “After we become friends again, could you ever love
me?”
“Si, don't start that again.” Silence overtook the young man’s
persuasiveness. “Is there any thing I can do?” he asked with sad
puppy eyes.
“Just let go.” Her eyes were unflinching.
He thought for a while and then looked back. “Could I at least
have a good-bye kiss?”
She nodded in the affirmative. He reached out to kiss her on
the mouth. She turned and offered him her cheek.
“Can I walk you to your room?”
“No, Si. I need some time to myself.”
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Before he could say another word she turned and walked away
from him, never looking back.
Si knew better than to try to follow. "If you ever need me, I'll
be there for you." He yelled as she got further away.
She made no attempt to answer him, continuing to walk away.
As the pretty young brunette walked solemnly toward her
dormitory building the north wind started to blow through her
wild hair. It was beginning to turn cold. Christy tugged her
jacket tightly around her as she turned the corner of East College
Boulevard. Coldness numbed her body, but inside it was even
more numbing. Autumn leaves ruffled in the wind about her as
she walked. “Another day,” she thought to herself. “Perhaps
another day.”
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CHAPTER 11
She suddenly felt weak at her knees. “Why I'd love to,” she
answered trying to conceal the growing feeling of exhilaration in
her voice.
“Then I'll pick you up around eleven-thirty?”
“That would be great,” she answered.
“I hope you know a nice place to go, I'm new to this area and
am not yet acquainted with the better eating establishments.”
“Oh, I believe I can think of somewhere we can go.”
Saying their good-byes Christy and Randal hung up.
Christy became so excited at the prospect of having lunch
with her mentor that she completely forgot about her Religious
History class. No matter, she was meeting with the most
interesting man she had ever met. Christy was ecstatic to say the
least! She had feared that after the confrontation with Si,
Professor Pfeiffer might never want to see her again, much less
ask her out to lunch!
On her way out, the giddy young woman remembered her
history class.
“Darn,” she thought to herself. After very little consideration,
she decided to cut the class. After all, it was only one history
class and the man she was meeting was one of the utmost
authorities on religious history in the world. This meeting would
probably be beneficial one day to her chosen field she told
herself, shrugging off any other arguments against her meeting
with Professor Pfeiffer. Besides, she had a big crush on him!
As she made her way through the front lobby of her
dormitory, a voice rang out. “Christy, telephone!”
It was the voice of Mrs. Newman, the receptionist at the front
desk. Christy rushed to the switchboard to answer the phone.
“Hello,” she said with the exuberance of a little girl. An all
too familiar voice responded on the other end of the line. Her
heart sank. It was Si!
Glancing at the clock above the desk, she realized that it was
just five minutes before Professor Pfeiffer was to meet her in
front of the dorm. “Si, look, I've got to go. I’m late for class.”
She lied. “I'll call you later, okay?” Without even waiting for a
response she hung the phone up. She then darted through the
lobby, through the outside door and onto the front stairway to a
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her chosen field, hand in hand with one of the foremost experts
on the field of theology in the world. And if the truth was to be
told, she relished the thought of working with a man of Professor
Pfeiffer’s stature. Her answer was yes!
She was so overjoyed and naturally intoxicated with the
prospects of her new job that she had failed to notice the jet black
mustang parked just around the side of her dormitory after
Randal had dropped her off. Inside the vehicle sat a disgruntled
Si Mehri’, sitting, waiting; fuming mad at the prospect of his
estranged wife seeing another man. That vehicle would be a
regular fixture at Christy's dorm for the next few days; the
occupant sitting, planning…
In the meantime Christy, Randal, and a handful of workers
and administrators would embark on the most ambitious project
in the history of religious archaeology.
Once finished, this exhibit would give millions of ordinary
people around the United States, and eventually the world a
chance to see what, up to this point had been restricted to the elite
in the world of religious archaeology.
In the weeks to come, the newspapers would tout this project
as the most important exhibit to ever hit this country. Flocks of
reporters from all over the world would swarm around the crew
of what would become known as the ‘Lost Books of the Qumran
exhibit.’
There was a feeling like electricity in the air; a feeling of
history being made and Christy was absorbed right in the middle
of it. Through all of the excitement and hard work, Christy and
Randal became close, quite close indeed! The young woman’s
feelings had grown beyond just a professional relationship. All
of the late dinners and endless hours together had turned her head
and created a bond between the young lady and the distinguished
professor. Christy's vision was becoming blinded by feelings of
love. Even though Randal had never really shown a romantic
interest in her, she was leaning toward him in the romantic tense!
It was the end of September. After a hard day’s work on the
exhibit, Randal and Christy had just finished a late dinner and
were relaxing in her suite at the Fountainbleau Hotel. They had
just gone over some blueprints for one of the chambers of the
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exhibit. It was getting quite late and Randal was about to leave.
“I think the exhibit is coming along quite well, don't you
Christy?”
“I think that we've made remarkable progress in the little time
we've been working on the exhibit,” answered the eager young
girl. “When do you think we will be opening the exhibit to the
public?”
“Well, tomorrow’s the twenty-second of September, if things
keep going according to schedule we should be finished by the
middle to end of December.”
An unexplained shiver ran down Christy's spine as she looked
at the calendar. September 22, the Autumnal Equinox.
Something about this day made Christy feel uneasy. Randal
noticed the sudden shift in the young girl’s mood.
“Christy, are you alright?” She shook her head as if to
dislodge some physical thought from its origin, then turned her
attention back to him.
“Please, don't leave me alone tonight!” The request caught the
professor off guard.
“What's the matter?” he asked in a paternal tone.
“I really don't know. I just don't feel like being alone tonight.
I can't explain it!”
Professor Pfeiffer studied the look in her face, trying to
decipher it. She was visibly shaken, white as a sheet! Suddenly
her knees got weak and she started to faint. Reflexively, he
moved forward and caught his young friend before she hit the
floor. Gallantly, he carried her in his arms to a waiting chair in
the next room.
Sitting with her, holding her hand, the Professor waited until
she came to.
“Christy what happened? One minute you seemed okay, the
next you’re scared to death!”
“I can't explain it, Randal. There’s just something happening,
a feeling of some sort of...evil!”
She turned quickly, grabbing his hand. “Just don't leave me
alone tonight, promise me.”
The professor looked puzzled.
“Look, I feel like if you leave tonight something terrible is
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picking her up in his muscular arms and carrying her back into
her bedroom, laying her gently down onto her soft waiting bed.
Gently, he began to kiss her, running his lips from her mouth
along her shoulders and down to her breasts. His lips worked
their way back up to her mouth crushing against her’s putting
them into a spiritual as well as physical union. His tongue began
darting in and out of her mouth competing with her’s in a gentle
combat of rhythmic motion. Their senses became intertwined
into one. Undoing her gown, Randal exposed her breasts,
dropping the delicate garment to the floor. Her yielding body
stood naked before him, begging him to take her.
This would be the second man in her life was to make love to
her, and she was shaking with anticipation. She so wanted this
that nothing was going to make her stop. His kisses became
deeper, alternating with the gentle sucking of her warm lips.
Christy melted back on the bed like a hot metal object sinking
into new-fallen snow. Her amorous friend ran his fingers softly
down the length of her belly to her silky white thighs as he
continued kissing her breasts.
Consumed with passion, the brunette closed her eyes in
ecstasy and leaned her head back gasping in short, hard breaths.
Then his kisses made their way down to her fertile womanhood.
She grabbed his hair, pulling his head to her and deep into her
very soul. Her body began to gyrate as his kisses made their way
deep into her psyche, leaving her breathless and excited beyond
anything she had ever experienced before. Spasms of pure
pleasure rushed throughout her body, coming from some
unknown source deep within her. Pfeiffer then ran his tongue up
from her quivering womanhood along her belly, back up to her
mouth, positioning his body in order to enter her.
Christy laid back, eyes closed, taking every overpowering
sensation in. Suddenly a pain struck her, the sharp pain of
something too large trying to enter her orifice. Something that
felt artificial. She looked up in terrified surprise. Poised above
her was the sight of Professor Pfeiffer ravaging her, his face
contorted in an evil grimace. Then as the horrified young woman
watched, the lines in his face started to change: to the frightened
brunette’s horror, the lines in the face of Randal Pfeiffer
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losing her mind. And if he should try to talk her into seeking
professional help. But equally he felt that Si was somehow
responsible for the disturbed young woman’s dilemma.
As the late evening transformed into the early morning hours,
birds outside began to sing and the new day’s sunlight tried to lift
the gloom from the somber events of the evening. It was another
day, but somehow the mood of the night continued.
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CHAPTER 12
“Are you sure Christy? I think if you get out, it'll make you
feel much better.”
“No, Randal, I think I'll just take a shower and try to shake off
last night.”
“Christy, I don't mind you going along.”
A mask of a smile came across the haggard young girl’s face.
“No, Randal, I'll just kind of relax a little around here before I go
to the exhibit this afternoon. I have quite a bit of work to do up
there and if I relax a little bit before I go, I'll get more done. You
go along without me. I’ll be fine.” Christy forced the most
sincere smile that she could.
Studying her face the archaeologist determined that at least on
the surface she seemed to be in better spirits.
“Alright Christy, but tell me you'll go to lunch with me after
the meeting.”
She smiled in response “That'll be fine, Randal, call me when
you get an idea of when the meeting will be over.” Satisfied that
Christy would be all right, Randal kissed her cheek and was on
his way.
He never saw the shaking body, streaming tears and fear in her
eyes after he left. She was still shook up from the night before,
but there was something else. A more immediate fear was
gripping her tightly.
It was the morning of the twenty-second of September. In
Satanic cults, one of the holiest days of the year. All of the
changes of season, the Autumnal and Vernal equinoxes, the
summer and winter Solstices were considered by Satanists as the
holiest days of the year, Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve being the
highest, most holy day of the year. It is believed that on these
days, sacrifices, often human sacrifices, are offered to the Devil
in exchange for his help in increasing Satanist’s powers in the
Black Arts.
Whatever the beliefs, bizarre occurrences have been
documented in larger numbers on these unholiest of days.
Christy, in retrospect had noticed that the worst experiences in
her relationship with Si had happened on these days. Perhaps
that fact coupled with the happenings of the night before
accounted for her increased awareness and anxiety on this blurred
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morning.
After Randal left, Christy had decided to take a nice warm
bath and dress for the coming day. It would be a few hours
before Randal’s return and she needed to keep her mind occupied
and off of her many troubles.
After running her bath, the young woman turned on the radio.
Maybe a little soothing music and a long relaxing bath would be
just what she needed to keep her mind off of everything that had
happened to her in the past days.
Music swam through her head as she lay limply in the water.
Soon she began to feel better. The ordeal of the night before had
just been a dream, she told herself. Why was she so cursed with
such vivid, horrible dreams?
All of her life the nightmares had been with her, but had
intensified noticeably after she had met Siafold Mehri. Somehow
the strange mystical beliefs Si had exposed Christy to had
invaded her subconscious mind and were having an effect on
every facet of her life. What once seemed to her as some religion
from the mystical east, she now recognized as Satanism.
Whether he was a serious practitioner of Satanism or just a
novice, his beliefs had warped her sense of reality and she
couldn't handle it any more.
She now was having trouble distinguishing between dreams
and reality, and Si was trying to sneak back into her life.
“No more Si, no more!” She thought to herself as she
slammed a bar of soap down into the water.
The background music faded away. “And now the news...
Today another devastating earthquake has been reported. This
time in the country of Pakistan. Initial reports are sketchy but
local sources say that possibly hundreds of people have been
killed in the densely populated area. In other news, experts in
India say that if the drought there continues, the resulting famine
could be devastating, possibly killing as much as twenty percent
of the entire population of the country. Effects of the famine
could begin to materialize in as little as two months...”
“Click!” Christy turned off the radio.
“Isn't there any good news on the radio any more?” she
thought to herself. Wrapping herself in a towel, she stepped out
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of the tub. As she made her way into the bedroom, the phone
began to ring.
“Riingg, rriinngg.” Thinking it was Randal, she hurried to
answer it.
“Hello?”
An eerie, mesmerizing voice rang through the startled
woman’s ears from the other side of the telephone line.
“Go to the mirror...go to the mirror...go to the mirror,” spoke
the voice in a monotone hypnotic cadence.
“Go to the mirror...go to the mirror.” it continued.
Christy's eyes went vacant as she fell into a trance like state.
It was as if some foreign being had taken over her unguarded
body. Dropping her towel she moved to the front of her full-
length mirror standing naked before it.
Slowly the bewitched young brunette faded back into reality
staring at her nakedness in the mirror. But something was
different. It was her reflection in the mirror, but she was standing
in the confines of another place. Her reflection stood in what
resembled the inlaid stone walls of a dungeon in a medieval
castle. The room was lit by torches that were held in place by
stone-carved human like arms protruding from the cold stone
walls. The room was bare except for the naked brunette, and a
huge wooden table surrounded by hand carved wooden chairs,
like something out of medieval times. Slightly beyond the huge
table stood a gothic looking sacrificial alter.
She quickly turned away from the mirror. Fear gripped her
tightly as the young woman realized that she now stood in the
chamber of horrors that had just been a figment of her
imagination only seconds earlier. Christy turned back to the
mirror and to her horror she could see her naked reflection
standing in the suite at the Fountainbleau. She had somehow
switched places with her reflective double and was now trapped
in the mirror!
Reflexively, her body began to spasm as the realization of her
predicament became clear. A cold breeze blew through the
dreamscape world bringing chill bumps onto her nude shaking
body. Dizzily, she glanced around the room studying her hellish
confines, trying to calculate a way out.
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CHAPTER 13
“No, he's my friend, you’re not. Why can't you just leave me
alone?” the young girl sobbed.
“If you give us what we want, we'll leave you be!”
“Yes, give us what we want.”
“Give it to us.” Echoing, mocking voices boomed from the
background.
“How can I give you what you want, when I don't know what
it is?” Christy began crying loudly as she had done all night
long. The voices had haunted her throughout the evening. At
this point she was wondering to herself if she was truly going
mad or if Si's mind control was causing her to hallucinate. And
there was another option; perhaps the Devil himself was talking
to her!
The voices wanted something but wouldn't tell her what it
was. What on earth could she possibly possess that could be of
value to the Devil? Was she going mad?
The first rays of morning sunlight began to shoot through the
breaks in the curtains, slowly illuminating the room. The ghastly
shadows and specters of the night before seemed to disappear
with the appearance of the morning light. Christy lay sobbing in
her little corner of the room, upset by the grim reality that she
was possibly losing her mind...
Startled by the sudden urgent ringing of her phone, Christy
jumped to her feet. At first she was afraid to answer it but then
thought better of that, in case it was Randal.
“Christy, it’s Randal. I tried to reach you all night. Are you
okay?” He paused before continuing. “Christy, I'd like to
apologize for last night. I didn't mean to insinuate that you were
crazy, I was just offering my help if you needed it.”
“Oh Randal, it’s I who should apologize. I've just been a little
depressed lately. I'll see a therapist; I'll do anything that you
want me to. I need your help if you’re still willing.”
The worried professor was pleased at this about face. “You
bet I'll still help you. Let me come over right now and we'll work
this all out once and for all.”
Christy could barely answer through her tears of joy.
“Please come over. I'll be waiting!”
In the weeks that followed, Randal and Christy's new found
142
for all of the hard work they had done up to this date. They
deserved it. Except for a few last minute details the exhibit
would be finished ahead of schedule, a testament to the hard
work and dedication that the couple had put into it.
Over a dinner of grilled steak, buttered squash, baked potatoes
with all of the trimmings, and a beautiful fresh garden salad,
Randal raised his glass of wine in a toast.
“To a dedicated, tireless and extremely exceptional woman,
without whom the Lost books of the Qumran exhibit would not
have been possible.” They clinked glasses in a toast and drank.
“Well Randal, it’s not hard to do when you work for a boss
who’s as inspiring a person as you.” She began to giggle like a
little schoolgirl.
There was soft music playing in the background. The mood
of the evening was definitely upbeat.
“What's that tantalizing aroma I smell?” Pfeiffer said with his
nose in the air.
“Well that's some of Momma Summers’ famous peach
cobbler.” He looked at her in admiration.
“If that cobbler tastes half as good as it smells, I'm in for a
treat!”
“Mr. Pfeiffer, you’re starting to embarrass me with all of your
praise.”
Reaching across the table, the bearded gentleman grasped the
beautiful young woman’s hand.
“You deserve more praise than I could ever give you.
Working with you has been the high point in my life. And I hope
that given time, our relationship can flower into something much
more special.”
Christy's eyes were sparkling with the realization of the
moment. Goose bumps covered her body. After a moment of
silence, Christy excused herself politely.
“I'd love to stay here and bask in all of your adulation sir but if
I don't pull my cobbler out of the oven, we'll be having charcoal
for desert.”
As she entered the kitchen her heart was beating ninety to
nothing. She was so excited that she didn't want to embarrass
herself by acting too forward. Finally the excited young brunette
144
calmed down enough to take the cobbler out of the oven. After
spooning generous portions into small desert dishes and filling
demitasse cups with coffee she re-entered the dining area. So far
the evening had gone perfectly.
After having desert, they retired to the den and a little soft
music. Slowly, they danced together, whispering into each
other’s ears. Finally Randal’s conversation shifted back to
business.
“Christy, after the first of the year I'm going on the road with
the exhibit. I'd like very much for you to come along and be my
road manager.”
She looked at him with stars in her eyes. “Now I understand
if you need a little time to make your decision. Take your time.”
“What time do I need? I'll take the job!”
Randal seemed surprised at the suddenness of her answer.
“Randal, I would take the job even if I wasn't getting paid for
it. It’s always been my dream to do something of this nature.
I've learned so much in these past couple of months that I could
never pay you back for the experience. Of course I'll do it!” As
if on cue, they both raised their glasses in a toast. “To the
future,” they said in unison.
Dancing and conversing for a couple of more hours the ticking
clock finally dictated that they call it an evening.
Christy walked her gentleman friend to the front door, their
balance slightly hampered by the alcohol they had consumed. As
they stood at the front door to Christy's little apartment they
laughed like little children both immersed in each other’s
company.
“Goodnight, Christy, I had a wonderful evening...
And I'm so glad that you decided to go on tour with me.”
“So am I, Randal. It’s not every day that a plain old country
girl like me gets an opportunity like this.”
“A plain old country girl you’re not.” Randal said as he
suddenly got a serious look in his eyes. Their eyes connected at
the same moment. Before either person realized it, they were in
each other’s arms. Randal put his lips to Christy's and they began
to kiss.
Randal pulled back before they had a chance to go any further,
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CHAPTER 14
“All who are not followers of Islam are enemies of it. The
infidels must die. Allah has appeared to me in the form of the
wind. He told me that I, Ali Al Hassam, will lead all Muslims in
a Holy Jihad against the secular world.”
An ocean of human faces cheered in approval. Chants of
“Death to the Infidels” and “Kill the American Satan” filled the
air in such a feverish pitch that the entire ground shook from the
excitement.
Ali Al Hassam smiled at the reaction from his people. Not
since Saddam Hussein’s Holy War in the early nineties had there
been such a powerful Arab leader. Since Hussein’s loss of power
following the second Persian Gulf war, the Middle East had
remained in disarray. The time was right for someone to step in
and take the reins of power and unite the Arab world. Enter Ali
Al Hassam.
Using just the right mixture of religion, statesmanship and
manipulation of Muslim fundamentalism, Hassam achieved his
role as dictator of Shahan, as well as becoming one of the most
powerful and respected men in the Arab world. After his quiet
rise to power in the Arab world, he was now gaining the attention
of the western world with his invasion of Juid.
Shahan, a country created after Iraq, was divided by civil war
following the Persian Gulf war, had become a model of success
to the rest of the Arab world. Its economy booming from oil
revenues, as well as deals with the western world, was the envy
of all other Arab countries. It now had a modern infrastructure,
socialized programs of housing and health-care, and the lowest
unemployment in this part of the world. In fact it had the lowest
unemployment rate in the world. Including the west!
Shahan, through a strong federal government and vast oil
revenues had managed to modernize its cities to western
standards without jeopardizing the old world traditions of Islam.
It had one of the highest standards of living in the world yet it
had become a modern Mecca for Muslims from all over the
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CHAPTER 15
“And now here’s the news for October thirty first,” boomed
the announcer’s voice over Christy's radio. “The UN announced
the implementation of economic sanctions against the country of
Shahan today. All shipments of food and medical supplies have
been halted until Shahan agrees to abide by UN resolutions
calling for the unconditional withdrawal of troops from the
embattered country of Juid.
In related news, military sources have confirmed that
Shahanean forces have been spotted moving into the border areas
of Eastern Iran. No word from U.S. forces except to say that they
are monitoring the situation closely.”
Christy listened as the bad news continued but didn't seem to
absorb it. Maybe she was growing immune to it or maybe her
mind was on other things. It was October thirty first, All
Hallow’s Eve. This was the Satanists’ high holy day. This was
the day before All Saints day, the ultimate desecration against
God and the saints who serve him. Si would continue his assault
on Christy's sanity today. She knew it would happen, but when
and how she dared not ponder.
Cautiously, she got dressed preparing for another day’s work.
And what an important day it was! Today she would meet with
Randal and give a guided tour of the exhibit to its investors.
Even though the Lost books of the Qumran exhibit wasn't
scheduled to open until November the fifteenth, today was the
important day, for this tour would justify to the investors their
expenditures toward this monumental undertaking.
This four acre complex was comprised of information booths,
complete with audio visual monitors, room after room filled with
actual artifacts taken from the sites in the holy land, as well as an
exact reproduction of the cave and the chamber where the lost
books were discovered. An interactive exhibit giving patrons
first hands look at what it was like to be on location at an
archaeological site. An ambitious accomplishment indeed!
People from all over the world would converge on Baton
151
“No thank you, I'll be okay. Honest! I’m just a little tired.”
He looked into her eyes knowing full well that everything wasn't
all right. “It’s just been a busy day,” she said in a none too
convincing tone.
Christy tried to avoid his eyes but he knew what was wrong.
Randal had been reading up on the subject of Satanism and knew
why she was so apprehensive. It was All Hallow’s Eve, the high
holy night for covens and witches as well as devil worshippers all
over the world. He also knew that Siafold Mehri’ was on the
troubled young girl’s mind.
Deciding to play dumb, the bearded archaeologist didn't
mention anything, opting to ask her out to dinner in order to give
her a forum for letting her frustrations out later in the evening.
She had done so well throughout the day and he was proud of
her. For now he just needed to whisk her quickly away and
provide the proverbial shoulder for her to cry on, exorcising
whatever ghosts he needed to later.
After the last of the guests had left, Randal and Christy looked
on as the manager of the exhibition hall locked the last of the
heavy glass auditorium doors. They wished him a nice evening
and took off into the now darkening Baton Rouge night.
Randal tried to keep the mood upbeat. “Well, Christy, where
would you like to go tonight? The sky's the limit!” He waited
for a response. “Anywhere you'd like to go, dinner, dancing…”
Preoccupied, young woman looked back at him, attempting an
enthusiastic look. “That would be nice Randal, but a nice quiet
dinner somewhere sounds great. I really don't feel like dancing
tonight. I'm just a little tired.”
“Done!” He said in an excited voice. “Anything for my best
friend in all of the world.”
He drove the car across town to Joey’s, an elegant, quiet
restaurant in one of the trendier parts of Baton Rouge. Christy
stayed silent during the trip to the restaurant, her mind in some
far away existence. Randal didn't push her to talk, choosing her
solemness as an alternative to a possible anxiety attack.
Joey’s was one of Baton Rouge’s finest restaurants. It was a
wooden structure, resembling one of the fine New Orleans
restaurants that occupied the lake front area of the crescent city.
156
business with Si. But I think you just need to let go.”
Christy thought for a moment. “Just let go? What do you
mean? If I could just let go I would have a long time ago!”
“Christy, Si no longer has a hold on you. Or at least if you
don't let him he can't influence you.”
Christy looked a little upset. “It’s not just Si, it’s the voices.”
“Christy, the voices don't control you. They can't control
you. Nobody can control you except for you!”
Christy began to get angry now. “Randal, I can't control the
voices, I've tried.”
“Okay, okay, Christy. What are the voices saying?”
“They say...” she hesitated, “they say...”
Randal looked into her face trying to draw an answer.
“They are trying to tell me to pay homage to Satan!” She held
back for a moment. “You think I'm crazy, don't you?”
Randal calculated his answer carefully. “No Christy, I don't
think you’re crazy. I just think that you've been through a lot.”
He waited for a response.
“Have you heard the voices lately?”
“Well... no,”
“Then why does it bother you now?”
“Well because Si...”
“Si, nothing,” the angry professor said in a definitive tone.
“Si's influence can't affect you if you don't let it in. Do you think
that the Devil has powers over God?”
“Well no.”
“Good. Now put your faith in God and take the Devil’s hold
away from you. If you don't let him control you, he can't.”
“Are you saying that if I don't believe in the Devil that he
doesn't exist?”
“No, that's not what I'm saying at all. I'm just saying that the
Devil, Si, or any other person can't harm you psychologically
unless you give them the ability to do so.”
Christy now was starting to get angrier. “So you’re saying
that it’s my fault that all of these things are happening to me?”
“No Christy, I'm saying that you've got the power within
yourself to overcome them. With your strength and your faith in
God.”
158
out and shield her from all harm. But I can't if you won't let me.
I'm going to go now but if you need me, you know where to find
me.” With that he turned and headed toward the door.
As he reached for the doorknob, he heard footsteps rushing up
behind him. She rushed up and threw herself into his arms
sobbing openly.
“Please don't leave me. I don't want you to go. I'm just
confused, so confused!” The shaking young lady let herself go
and began to cry out loud. “I need you so much, don't leave me.
Please stay. Don't leave. I'll trust you. I'll trust you. Just give me
a chance.”
Randal held her tightly, consoling her. “I won't leave you. I
promise. I'll stay here as long as you need me.”
He sat down holding her tightly as she laid her head upon his
shoulder. Patting her back soothingly, the archaeologist spoke
softly.
“It’s okay love, everything's going to be all right.” Rocking
her gently in his arms, Randal swayed his young friend back and
forth.
Before they knew it, it had gotten late. “Will you stay here
with me tonight?”
“Sure I will, Christy, I'll just sleep right over here on the
couch.”
“No, Randal, please. Sleep with me, in my bed!”
This request caught Randal quite by surprise. She looked at
him with the fear of staying alone in her eyes.
“Please, all I want you to do is to hold me. Just hold me!”
Her voice shook as she spoke.
“I'll stay with you, and hold you all you want, Christy.”
Having said that, he took her in his arms and disappeared with
her into the bedroom. They both survived the night in each
other’s arms.
The whining of the wind outside raged, as a gentle rainstorm
pitter-pattered against the panes of her window, lulling the couple
into a quiet, peaceful sleep. There would be no demons on this
All Hallow’s Eve for Christy.
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CHAPTER 16
Randal put his arms around the waiting woman and delicately
kissed her on her lips. She closed her eyes, succumbing to his
embrace. “Goodnight Christy, I had a wonderful time tonight.”
As he turned to walk away, the persistent young woman called
out to him. “Randal, wouldn't you like to come in?”
“Not tonight, princess, we've got plenty of time. Try and get
some sleep. I'll pick you up in the morning and we'll have
breakfast. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said, concealing her disappointment with a smile.
Christy couldn't understand Randal's apparent coldness toward
her but attributed it to his old fashioned ways. She entered her
apartment making her way to bed.
“I know he cares for me, too. I just know it!” Thoughts of
flowers and rainbows filled the young girl’s head as she quickly
fell into a gentle and blissful slumber.
Outside, the chill of a late autumn night settled upon the
world. Moonlight shone through a gap in the clouds, passing
unnoticed through the darkened fall skies. All was at peace. At
least for this evening, calm ruled the earth.
Christy's doorbell rang bright and early the next morning.
Hazy fall clouds dominated the morning sky. A bright glow
came from where the sun should have been among the clouds on
the horizon. It was a typical Louisiana autumn morning.
Christy opened her door. There in front of her a bundle of red
roses stood suspended above a pair of long legs. The person
holding the flowers stood, face hidden behind them. Randal
lowered the flowers to seize Christy with a warm, friendly smile.
“Good morning love. And how are you faring on this fine
day?” Christy’s heart was captured by the warmth in his voice
and was filled with a happiness that she had grown to depend on
in the last two months.
Another happy beginning to another dream-like day, this day
would progress like many other days in the following few weeks
with excitement, happiness and feelings of accomplishment.
Christy decided not to push romantic aspects of her
relationship with Randal. At least not for the time being. He had
been right; they would have plenty of time for that. As a matter
of fact they had a whole lifetime. As a result of Christy’s
166
lot to tell them about the phenomenal changes that had occurred
in her life.
That night after the exhibit had closed its doors, the girls met
Christy at the back entrance.
“The Three Musketeers ride again,” bellowed Missy, in her
usual character.
Laughing and cutting up as they climbed into Missy’s tiny
Volkswagen, the girls headed out for an evening of reminiscing
and fun.
First stop on the agenda was The Buccaneer Club. As usual,
the air was thick with smoke, music and laughter. It was just the
same as Christy had remembered it.
Entering the smoky establishment, the three ladies seated
themselves at the first available table. Loud music played in the
background as the girls began their sentimental journey back to
days not so far gone. After Missy had brought the first round of
drinks to the table the conversation went into full swing.
Beginning with a little small talk the conversation reverted to the
anticipated subject of the evening.
“Well Christy, it seems a lot has happened to you since we last
talked.” Missy's eyes were fixed to Christy's in anticipation of a
response to her inquiry. Christy's lips revealed a sly smile.
“Come on, give us all the dirt. Don’t leave out any of the gory
details,” Missy blurted out in her usual manner.
“Well Missy, there is no dirt. Professor Pfeiffer just realized
that I was interested in his work.”
“Oh come now, Christy, you know what I mean,” challenged
the young redhead.
Christy shot her a look of confusion.
“Professor Pfeiffer is very cute. Have you two...well, you
know?”
“Don't be so vulgar Missy, Randal and I have a professional
relationship. And if there were more to it than that, I surely
wouldn't give you the details.”
“Randal!” both girls said in unison as they began to rag
Christy.
“Get off it, girls. I expected this kind of attitude from Missy,
but you, Kayla? I thought you were a little more mature.”
168
familiar feeling had overcome her in the bar earlier. The walls
around her seemed foreign to her, almost as if they were
vibrating. It wasn't the alcohol, for in reality she had managed
not to drink so much as her good-time partying friends. It was
something else.
Her two friends made their way back to the bars unaware of
what was happening to their scared friend, just as they were
unaware of the black mustang that had followed them to their
now beleaguered friend’s apartment. The same mustang that now
lay waiting in the shadows in front of Christy's apartment,
waiting to pounce on its unknowing prey.
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CHAPTER 17
you to get hurt. You know it hasn't been that long ago since you
were so down in the dumps. I thought you would never recover
from that.”
“That's right Kayla, but if you'd stop to think for a minute
you'd realize that it was Randal that got me out of my
depression!”
“You’re right dear, I guess I'm just being overprotective. You
know you’re still my best friend? Don't you.”
“Yes, Kayla and you’re mine!”
“That's what I wanted to hear. With that in mind, why don't
you and I go out slumming tonight? Just you and me!”
“I don't think so, Kayla. I just think I'm going to stay home,
straighten up a little and catch up on some sleep.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm sure. I need to get up early tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah. I hear you. You know, Christy, you've become
a real homebody.” Christy laughed.
“Kayla, I've always been a homebody!”
“Oh yeah, you’re right!” Both girls began to laugh.
“Listen babe, it’s been real nice talking to you. Don't be such
a stranger, give me a call some time.” Kayla’s voice became
somber.
“I will baby, I promise.” There was a warm silence.
“I love you, baby.” Kayla responded.
“I love you, too!” Saying their good-byes the girls hung up.
Christy pondered on Kayla's phone call and the events of the
evening before deciding to retire. She was bushed. Minutes
found her in bed sound asleep. It wouldn't be until early the next
morning that she would awaken.
Christy was early to work the next day. She didn't know why
but she felt a feeling of anxiousness, the feeling of an imminent
encounter. On this day her intuition would prove to be accurate.
It was a typical day at the exhibit. Crowds filling the
turnstiles, the sound of audio players in the foreground muffled
by the excited voices of the many patrons. The smell of good ole
Louisiana cooking hung thickly in the air. And that was enough
to attract any tourist!
Christy was at her usual station, in the office overseeing the
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me with Si and gotten the wrong idea. And I'm on my way out to
find him.”
“Christy, I just saw him a few minutes ago. I'll come along
and help you find him. They raced out to Kayla's car and sped
away toward LSU’s park area.
On the way, Kayla told the upset young woman about the
brief conversation earlier between her and the missing
archaeologist. This only seemed to intensify Christy's sense of
urgency in finding her good friend, Professor Pfeiffer.
“Kayla, you have no right...” Christy's disgust was etched in
her red face. “Kayla, Randal is my best friend, you shouldn't
have said anything like that to him.”
The urgency in finding the disgruntled archaeologist overruled
her anger and she proceeded to the park without saying another
word.
Combing the park and university area, the two women
searched out any place that Pfeiffer and Christy may have
frequented during their short relationship. There was no sign of
him. They made their way to his apartment hoping to find him
there. At least for the moment Professor Pfeiffer seemed to have
vanished off of the face of the earth!
Christy and Kayla searched everywhere they could think of
until late into the evening. Although her heart wasn't in it,
Christy decided to go home. Hopefully, Randal would show up
to work the next day. She would apologize for her friend’s
rudeness and make amends to her good friend and mentor. Of
course she would continue to phone him into the night. It was
eleven o’ clock.
Professor Pfeiffer sat in the darkness, motionless as the phone
continued to ring profusely. As he sat in total concentration,
milling over what Kayla had said earlier as well as what he had
seen, the ringing phone didn't register to him. Could his lack of
sexual desire have sent his beloved Christy back to the arms of
her demented husband? Did she really think that he was a
homosexual? Sadness filled Randal as he stayed fixed in his
chair, motionless except for the movements of his chest
expanding and deflating as he breathed in shallow irregular
motions.
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After the last swipe with his towel Randal gasped and fell
away from the reflection of a large green serpent poised to strike
directly behind him. It must have been about three feet in
circumference, raising up a good seven feet off the ground. He
reeled around in shock, raising his arms in defense. There was
nothing. It had been his imagination. He breathed a sigh of relief
still shaking from the revelation.
Turning back to the mirror the bearded man became frozen in
his tracks, the huge serpent stood looking him straight in the
eyes! With the speed of a cat it lunged at him. Falling
backwards to avoid the serpent’s deadly bite, Pfeiffer tripped on a
bundle of towels on the floor and fell, hair dryer in hand, into the
standing water in the bathtub!
The electricity in the apartment was knocked out as the
writhing body of the archaeologist shook in the electrified pool of
water, smoke rising from the soon to be charred corpse...
After being stood up by Randal, Christy decided to find out
why he had not shown up. She was still worried about him.
Randal’s car was parked outside of his small apartment, but
there was no answer when the worried brunette knocked on the
door. She finally contacted the landlord of the apartment
complex. After entering the apartment with the passkey the
landlord found the body of Professor Pfeiffer! Christy was at the
exhibit. He contacted her after he had called the police.
With tears in her eyes, Christy left the exhibit for the
professor's apartment. By the time she arrived on the scene, the
police had been there for several minutes. Cordoned off by
yellow crime scene tape and guarded by police officers, the room
was buzzing with activity. Working feverishly, detectives were
checking every little detail of the professor’s apartment for any
sign of foul play.
Christy tried to get inside the apartment but was detained by
the police until one of the detectives from inside was informed
about who she was. He let her in to ask her a few questions.
“Sorry Ma'am, but nobody’s allowed inside until the
detectives finish their investigation.”
“Could you at least tell me what happened?” she said with a
shaking in her voice.
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CHAPTER 19
night. Hands folded over her face, she kept repeating “Why,
why, why?” Christy’s eyes were blurred from the perpetual flow
of tears that now overcame her.
Shaking uncontrollably from the sadness that now consumed
her, Christy was startled by someone standing just outside of her
periphery. Just outside of her direct sight the glowing red eyes of
a hooded cloaked figure watched her intently. That same cloaked
figure that had haunted her dreams so many times before was
now invading her reality!
Jumping up and wiping the tears from her eyes she turned to
face the monster. It was gone! Christy stood shaking in fear.
For now she knew that she was truly alone and at the mercy of
the demons that had haunted her unrelenting and mercilessly
before Randal had come along.
She began to cry profusely and started to run as fast as she
could toward her apartment. Christy knew that even if she could
escape the physical darkness, the nagging little voice in the back
of her head told her she would never escape the darkness that was
now attacking her psyche.
Reaching the front door of her apartment, she desperately
grabbed for the keys in her purse. Her fingers seemed to get into
her way as she laboriously groped for them. Christy became
frantic. Finally the purse fell from her grasp, contents spilling
onto the ground at her feet. Frantically, the frantic brunette fell to
her knees searching in the darkness for her keys and the contents
of her purse.
Suddenly a tall figure stepped from out of the darkness. She
screamed. It was Si Mehri’!
He calmly reached down and handed her the keys.
“I thought that right about now you might need a friend,” he
said softly.
“Oh, Si,” she said as she fell into his arms, sobbing like a
baby, temporarily forgetting the past.
“I just don't know what to do,” she said as she threw her arms
around the only friendly face in close proximity.
He put his arms around her, holding her close to him. “Calm
down baby, calm down. I'm here now.” He stroked her hair and
kissed her gently on the forehead.
191
Shadows were cast as the light from the full moon bathed the
front of Christy's tiny apartment. Shadows from the bare trees
swaying in the wind danced in the moonlight as if celebrating
some preordained appointment with the night.
Entering Christy’s apartment, the couple found refuge from
the cruel world outside. They sat on Christy's couch bound in
each other’s arms. Christy cried and cried while Si comforted
her.
“It’s okay baby, I know you loved him. Just let it all out.
Don't keep it bottled up inside. Just let it all out.” He rocked her
back and forth in his arms. “I'd do anything to change things, but
I can't. All I can do is stay here and be your friend.”
“Oh Si, I do need a friend now. I just don't understand why
this had to happen. He had so much to live for.”
“I know baby. God works in mysterious ways.”
Christy looked up at him in surprise.
“Si, did I hear you say something about God?”
“Christy, that's something that I didn't get to tell you. I've
become a Christian.”
“Oh Si, I'm so happy to hear that. You just don't know how
happy that makes me.” Out of happiness, Christy placed a
reflexive kiss on his cheek.
After a few tender moments, Christy looked up to see a
sincerity in Si's eyes she had never seen before. A look of caring.
Perhaps she had misjudged him. After all people do change!
“Christy, promise me you won't let this get you down. You've
made something out of your life and you need to continue to do
so. Pick up the pieces and keep moving forward.” The once
disgruntled girl now seemed truly touched.
Spending the rest of the evening together, Christy and Si just
talked. He never tried to lay a hand on her with any sexual
connotations. Before they had noticed it, it had become late.
“Look Christy, it’s getting late and I have to be going. But if
you need me for anything, don't hesitate to call, any time, day or
night. Promise?”
“I promise,” answered the grateful woman. “Thank you Si.
Thank you for being a friend.”
He kissed her on the cheek, and disappeared into the darkness
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CHAPTER 21
a short moment the small wooden shutter that shielded the room’s
view from the outside world opened. A hulking, expressionless
Mongoloid looking guard peered into the room at the frightened
young girl.
“I'm very hungry, could you possibly...” The guard shut the
wooden panel before she could finish the sentence.
“Did you hear me?” she screamed. But to no avail.
Christy returned to her bed, throwing herself upon it in
exasperation. She wondered if the guard had even heard her.
Her thoughts were answered a short while later when a servant
entered the room with a tray of food. The servant was female, of
Mongoloid appearance also. Never speaking, the servant just
delivered the food and hurried out of the room before Christy had
a chance to speak to her. She was trapped, powerless to do
anything, completely at Si’s mercy.
After finishing the plate of food, she rapped on the door to
have the servants take the empty tray away. Once again, the
Mongoloid guard unlatched the little shutter, gazed in, and
quickly shut it. Quickly, the door opened, the guard stepped in
and took away the tray.
Christy rushed for the opened door. As she got to the door,
she was grabbed from behind. Holding her by her nightshirt, the
guard slung her with super-human strength onto the waiting bed
across the room. In bewilderment, the girl buried her head in her
arms and began to cry uncontrollably.
Hours passed as she lay on the bed, crying profusely. Crying
and crying until the tears would no longer come out, she became
aware that something was happening. The lights in the room
began to flicker and dim, and the air grew thick with guarded
anticipation.
A smoky substance started to pour into the room from some
unknown source, possibly a hidden vent under the door. Christy
couldn't tell. The fog slowly filled the room until Christy could
no longer see anything around her. Waving her hands in front
her, trying to disperse the eerie fog in vain, she realized that it
was too thick.
Terrified, the young brunette began to hear strange sounds.
Sounds like that of cattle, of pigs squealing and other animalistic
204
was speaking to the crowd. His hair was long; he was unshaven.
Dressed in robes like those worn at the time of Jesus, he
continued to preach to the multitudes.
“Blessed are the strong, for they will devour the weak.
Blessed are the uncharitable for they will have, while the weak
are deprived. Blessed are the liars, for they shall know the only
truth...” He was preaching. But what he was preaching was a
complete blasphemy of Christ’s sermon on the mount.
All at once Christy was compelled to look around her. What
she saw was every form of human mutation imaginable.
Half-human, half-animal. Human bodies with the faces of swine.
Dwarfs, giants, Siamese twins. All with the genes of evil injected
into their very souls.
“Blessed are the evil, for they shall inherit the earth...” The
populace all cheered in unison as their sinister orator finished his
speech. Christy turned, trying to steal away from the crowd. She
held her head down so as not to be recognized by any of the
creatures. Increasing her pace as she made her way through the
mass of inhumanity, she ran right into someone that stopped her
in her tracks. Looking up, the young woman noticed standing in
front of her the pseudo-Christ figure, who moments earlier had
been speaking to the crowd.
Looking out at the multitude of believers, he motioned to
Christy.
“Behold my mother,” he proclaimed to the waiting crowd.
They all cheered and converged on the frightened young woman,
tearing at her clothes and trying to touch her as if they were
reaching for some sort of deity.
Christy began screaming hysterically, flaying her arms and
trying to escape the grasp of the multitude of human oddities.
She jerked around and around trying to avoid their grasps.
Suddenly she detected some sort of change. The frightened
young woman looked up to realize that she was sitting up in her
bed alone inside the padded room at Si's evil hideaway.
“I've got to get away. I've got to escape,” she said in between
tears. “Please God, help me...”
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CHAPTER 22
Weeks seemed like months, and every day that passed made
it clear that there was no escape possible for the imprisoned
woman. Her mental faculties became impaired. She suspected
that the foods she was given contained drugs. But what could she
do?
Reality and dreams blended into one, making it impossible to
tell the difference between the two. Christy was in a living hell.
And what was worse, she was carrying the devil’s child.
Each day she got bigger and more uncomfortable. Even
though it had been weeks since she had any real concept of time,
she knew that the time of her unholy delivery was growing near.
The gestation period was coming to an end.
Christy was sitting in the study, glancing out of the big glass
window into the surrounding swampy terrain that nestled this evil
house in its tight grip. On the mantel the old wooden clock
ticked out its deadly rhythmic cadence as the young brunette
waited helplessly for fate to intervene.
Although the pretty brunette had sat in this same room many
times during her incarceration, she had never really looked
around at the multitude of books surrounding her. Whether it
was due to fatigue, or the drugs that she was being given, she’d
just never taken the time to look at the books.
Watching cautiously, the burly, mutant-looking guard’s eyes
followed the young woman as she got up from the leather-
covered couch and made her way to the surrounding bookcases.
There were volumes and volumes of leather bound books, some
old, some new. All were of high quality and inscribed with gold
lettering. Upon further inspection, Christy noticed that they were
written in different types of ancient Arabic script or other
unknown hieroglyphic writing.
She went through several volumes until she came upon one
she could understand. It was written in English. As the harried
female thumbed through page after page of the book, it became
215
Christy was about to panic when out of the corner of her eye she
caught the glimpse of a faint light. As she maneuvered toward it,
she could also make out another form in the fly-infested
darkness. As she got closer, the vision of a little man, a dwarf
standing next to some sort of passageway came into view.
“Quickly, quickly,” he said as he motioned the girl toward the
small portal that would lead her from her fly-infested confines.
Whether it was fear for her life or just the need to escape, Christy
crouched down and followed the little man into the small
passageway.
Following the little man through a maze of tunnels leading
every which way, he brought them through a cave and into an
open area at the base of a tall mountain.
“Who are you?” she asked the little man.
“That's not important.” he answered. “We must hurry, before
they find out you are gone.”
Panoramic views, including every color imaginable, led the
way for the dwarf and the young woman as they followed the
natural path of the mountain. They traveled for some time until
they came upon an empasse.
“Shhhhh,” he said as he put his finger to his mouth. “Be
careful not to make a sound.”
He pulled her back flush against the side of the mountain.
After a short while, he let her peer around the side of the natural
rock wall.
Out in the valley below, there were tens of thousands of
starving children. Most too skinny to even stand up. They stood
on top of the bodies of other dead children who littered the
landscape, spared the rigors of the slow agonizing death the
others were experiencing.
“An abomination,” said the dwarf as he revealed the horrid
scene. “This didn't have to happen.”
Christy watched in horror as a small group of children tore at
the carcasses of already dead bodies, fighting to obtain what food
they could from the skeletal remains. Christy doubled over and
began to vomit.
“Don't blame them, it’s not their fault. It's the only way they
know,” the dwarf said in anger. “If man had not been so greedy,
217
there would have been enough for all. But in his haste to
improve the world, he destroyed it!”
A loud sound of thunder exploded off in the distance.
“Come, time grows short. We must go!” Reaching out to
Christy, the dwarf grabbed her hand and led her down into the
valley, wading through the masses of death and rotting humanity.
The smell of rotting flesh gagged Christy as she made her way
through the half-dead beings reaching out to them, pleading for
help. The dwarf just kicked at them and pushed them aside as he
made his way through, leading Christy by the hand. Christy was
appalled by the horror, but pushed on to keep up with her small
guide.
Finally they made their way into an open area lush with green
grass and vegetation. A stark contrast from the barren land of the
dead from which they had just come.
Christy began to cry, and jerked her hand away from the
dwarf’s grasp.
“Why do you pull away from me?” he asked.
“How can you act so appalled by the starvation of the children
one minute, cursing and pushing them away the next?” Christy
questioned the little man.
“Can't you see? Or are you blinded by pity? Those children
are already dead! Until the Sword of Righteousness is back in its
rightful place, they are all doomed. We are all doomed!” Christy
looked at the little man, bewildered by his blunt statement.
“You, Christy, you must live so that they do not die in vain.”
At that moment came another loud blast. But this time, the
ground began to shake. Christy glanced back in the distance
toward the children. As a huge mushroom cloud rose overhead, a
vast wave of energy poured over the helpless children, vaporizing
them.
“There...there is your answer to poverty,” came a cackling
voice. It was not the voice of the dwarf. The dwarf was gone!
Standing right in front of Christy was the smiling, hellish, rust-
covered creature that had called itself Christy's guardian angel.
“How do you like your world’s future?” the demon barked
out. He then pointed a long bony finger at Christy's swollen belly
and continued.
218
moment, took a deep breath, grabbed the doorknob and turned it,
slowly opening the door.
There sitting at a small desk at the entrance to the room, was
the rust colored, winged, demonic creature. Still with the evil
maniacal smile frozen to its face, its malformed body was
hunched over the desk, sharp fingernails striking the desk’s
surface in increments of six.
Pulling back in fear of being seen, the scared brunette peered
from a safer distance, observing the creature for a while. It was
oblivious to her presence.
Christy tested its periphery by waving hands in the open, just
outside its vision. No reaction. Finally, after gathering up her
courage, she stepped out of her confinement. Still no reaction!
The girl tiptoed away from the creature in silence. A loud creak
came from one of the loose floorboards. The demonic creature
looked up!
He didn't try to stop the scared girl, opting to study her closely
with fiery red eyes. The evil grin remained etched to the
creature’s gargoyle-like face. Christy began to shake in fear, but
continued on. He didn't move a muscle to stop her, following her
only with his eyes.
As she made it to the end of the hallway, he screamed at her
with a loud, booming voice.
“You can run, but you can never leave!” Loud maniacal
laughter filled the hallway as the creature taunted the scared
young woman.
With a swiftness she didn't know she had, Christy made her
way to and out of the front door, never stopping to look back.
Adrenaline pumped as the frightened young woman stepped into
the murkiness of the swampy wilderness. She was outside now
and dared not stop for fear of capture.
Christy waded through the steamy, murky swamp that was
alive with activity as quickly as she could. She could feel snakes
and other kinds of amphibious creatures gnawing at her ankles as
she continued on her quest for freedom. Climbing over stumps
and any patches of ground that seemed solid enough for her to
make better time, Christy ventured deeper into the unknown. At
this point she would rather die than go back to the horror of the
223
place from which she had just escaped. Her swollen abdomen
hindered her progress but fear and adrenaline pushed her to her
limits.
As she ran, a chorus of laughter sprang from the darkness of
the swamp. Evil voices and laughter chided her as she passed the
thick vines and undergrowth of the steamy swamp.
“You can run, but you can't hide. You can never leave,” the
evil voices cackled in inhuman monotones.
Smells of the stagnant water gagged her as she continued
aimlessly into the misty underworld. Branches from trees
became little arms grabbing at her and mosquitoes swarmed her
as she passed. Snakes hung from the trees striking at her and
talking with human voices.
“She thinks she’s getting away,” the voices laughed.
“She can never escape.” other voices from the darkness
answered.
Christy traveled for hours. Finally she felt that her legs
couldn't carry her anymore. Breaking down, she fell to the
ground and began to cry. Perhaps there was no escape.
All at once a feeling of hope overcame Christy’s desperation.
Something told her to look up. Somehow the battered young
woman had made it to the edge of the swamp.
As she surveyed the landscape ahead, in the distance she could
see a light. Sunlight was breaking through the thick dark clouds
and she could make out that the light was coming from a
building. Rising above the building like a beacon of hope was a
steeple. The building in the distance was a church!
Hope filled Christy’s heart giving her renewed strength.
Running like the wind, the bruised young woman flew across the
field toward the church. Once she reached the door to the chapel,
the evil laughter ceased. Finally she had reached sanctuary.
Surely evil couldn't haunt her in a house of God.
Bruised and battered, cut and bleeding, barefoot and in
tattered clothes, she collapsed on the front foyer of the church.
At least for the moment, she was safe. She got on her knees and
began to pray.
‘Our father, who art in Heaven....’
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The priest was starting to get impatient. “Now which is it, Si's
child or the Devil’s? Maybe it would help if you'd just sit down
and tell me the whole story from the beginning.”
Reluctantly Christy sat down. If this man was going to help
her, she would have to calm down and do as he said. Shaking
uncontrollably, Christy began to tell the priest her story. His face
remained stoic as she told him her unholy tale of tragedy, evil
and hopelessness. Listening with interest, he never interrupted
until she was finished.
After finishing her story, Christy looked into the priest's
sympathetic, but unbelieving eyes.
“You don't believe me, do you?” The confused young woman
started to stand up.
Reaching out to the young woman, the priest guiding her back
down to her seat.
“Christy, I believe that you believe what you've told me. And
I also believe that you need help. And I am going to get you that
help. Okay?”
“I'm not crazy, Father! I just need to get to the nearest police
department. Could you just do that for me?” Christy’s face was
full of intensity!
“Of course I will, my child.” The priest took her hand and
walked her to the front door. As the couple approached the door
at the back of the nave, a man stepped in from the shadows at the
back of the chapel. It was Si Mehri’.
“Christy, where have you been? We've been looking all over
for you,” the tall dark man said in a calm, deliberate voice.
Christy tightened up her grip on Father Broussard's arm.
“Don't let him take me Father! Please, don't let him take me!”
“Father, can't you see that she’s mentally disturbed? I'm her
husband. I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of her
from here. C'mon Christy, let’s go home!”
“No Father, don't listen to him. He's a liar.”
“Father, she just forgot to take her medicine, that's all.”
“Father?” The frightened young girl looked into his eyes
with teary, bloodshot eyes.
Father Broussard was hesitant for only a moment.
“Look, Mr. Si...”
226
and screamed in such an evil screech that the sound engulfed the
whole area, overpowering even the huge storm that still raged
outside.
“I empower you with the flames of Hell and anoint you with
the holy water of Satan,” boomed the voice of Lucifer.
In an instant, rain poured through what was left of the tiny
church’s roof and fell onto the multitudes of demons as well as Si
and Christy. A terrible stench filled the church as the rain made
contact with the flames that preyed upon the tiny chapel. The
smell was the smell of urine extinguishing the fires that raged
inside the church. Urine poured from the sky like rain.
Screaming in revelry, the demons danced in gyrating vulgar
motions, basking in the urine, rubbing it on their bodies as if it
were something pleasurable. These acts degenerated into
fornication and every form of unholy sex act imaginable. The
scene became one of chaos, an evil orgy of sexual perversion.
Christy looked on in horror, unable to scream out in revulsion
as the fear in which she found herself gripped her unmercifully.
As she looked on, the statue of Christ above the altar caught on
fire. The Christ-like figure stepped down from the burning
wooden cross on which it was suspended and surveyed the room
with calculating eyes. All around became silent.
Looking to its left at the statue of the Virgin Mary, the Christ
figure extended its hand. The statue of the Virgin Mary came to
life! A loud gasp came from the deadly entourage. With the
room full of demons watching, and in full view of Christy, the
statue of Jesus ran over to the statue of Mary, knocking her to the
ground. Shedding its clothing, the transformed statue of Christ
had a large erection! Tearing the clothing from the Madonna, it
proceeded to rape her. The transformed figure of the Virgin
Mary screamed out in agony but to no avail, the ultimate
desecration of God was now being enacted. The effigy of Jesus
Christ was raping his Holy Mother!
Consumed in the spectacle before them, the masses of demons
and evil spirits resumed their orgy of desecration to the screams
of the defiled effigy of the Virgin Mary.
Thoughts of fear and horror swam throughout Christy's brain.
She was confused and hurt. Even though the evil deeds
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CHAPTER 24
Why was she, one who was always devoted to God, chosen to
bear the child of the devil?
“One with total devotion and commitment to God,” she
thought to herself.
“Oh my God,” Reality hit her. It was she who had the power
to remove the sword from the gates of Heaven. The meaning of
that revelation finally sunk in. She pondered it as she watched
the darkness set in on the lonely valley.
Tears formed in her eyes as she thought of the helplessness of
her situation. As she looked out the window into the darkness of
the Sinai, the great shadow of Mount Sinai hovered over the
valley. Suddenly a knock came upon the door.
Creaking loudly, the door opened.
Siafold Mehri stuck his head in. “Hello Christy.” She nodded
at him in a minimal gesture, acknowledging his presence.
“I just stopped by to make sure your accommodations were
suitable.” He looked around in jest at the sparsely furnished plain
room.
“Good!” Si sat across the room from her. “Christy, you are in
your ninth month. The child will be born shortly. We have
moved you to a safe place where we can keep an eye on you.
Don't even think of trying to escape. I assure you that all of your
attempts will end in failure. You are alone in this country. You
have no friends here.”
“Where is here?” Christy asked.
“Oh good, you still have a tongue.” He smirked at her with a
mocking look. “You are in the Sinai. That mountain you see in
the distance is Mount Sinai.” The dark complected man shifted
in his seat.
“It is here that you will give birth to the Satan child. Ironic
that the new messiah will be born in the shadows of the mountain
where Moses obtained the Ten Commandments.”
He laughed. “But enough of this frivolity. Time grows short.
Your destiny is at hand. This fortress is guarded heavily. Unlike
your last home, in this one you have no freedom. Here, escape is
impossible. There are literally hundreds of guards outside of
your room. The only choice you have is to stay put and await
your fate. We will make you as comfortable as we can.”
233
“You Christians are all the same. Always the optimists. But
this time you are wrong! Don't you understand angel? Your God
has had his chance, now his era comes to an end. The era of
darkness is upon us. And Lucifer is the rightful heir to the throne
of Heaven. Michael, you are a fool. Why do you fight losing
battles? Your God has forsaken you. You and all of mankind
stand alone. He has gotten old. And his age has weakened him.
Survival of the fittest, that's the law of the universe.”
Si looked up to the sky. “Blessed are the strong, for it is they
who truly inherit the earth.”
Michael listened patiently as the dragon spoke. “Si, you
confuse strength with self indulgence.”
“Lucifer has sent his only begotten son...”
“Siafold Mehri, that child is nothing more than a blasphemy of
the lord.”
“Michael, it is you who blaspheme the master. I have heard
enough. It is time that you feel the wrath of Lucifer.”
With massive arms, the serpent once again knocked Michael
to the ground. Pointing its snout at the fallen angel, the dragon
breathed fire onto its body, setting the Archangel Michael ablaze.
“Where is your God now, Michael?” the huge serpent cackled
as Michael burned. Face twisted in anger, the serpent then swung
around with its huge tail and pounded the burning body of
Michael into the ground.
“Is your God too weak to face the Prince of Darkness?”
Cocking its head back, the great dragon continued to mock and
laugh at the battered angel. Then, striking the ground where
Michael was, the great dragon extracted the angel in its vice like
jaws and tossed him onto a rock formation at the side of the
mountain pool by Christy. It then opened its mouth and blew its
fiery breath at the beaten angel. Michael once again burst into
flames.
Christy looked over at Michael with tear blurred eyes and
began to weep for him. She was frozen with fear as she looked
upon the burnt, broken body of the defeated angel. Michael lifted
his weary head from the ground, looking at Christy with bulging
eyes. The flesh had been burned from his face and his body was
still smoking. “Fear not my child. Your God has not forsaken
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of the sword, the dragon’s head was lopped to the ground. Its
headless body still lunged forward on reflexive action trying to
trample the Archangel. Michael sidestepped the great creature
and thrust the mighty sword into the heart of the attacking beast.
Standing back, as the huge creature burst into flames, Michael
watched it as it writhed in agony. It twisted and turned, tail
beating against the ground until finally rolling onto its side, lying
still in a pool of crackling flames.
Michael and Christy watched as the burning beast smoldered
down into a pile of smoking black rubble. A smell of burning
flesh filled the air as the hissing sound of escaping steam
dominated the silent mountainside. As the Archangel and the
sobbing brunette watched the last sparks of the flames subside,
Christy noticed something shiny sticking up out of the
smoldering rubble of blackness.
It was the Sword of Righteousness.
Its glow was like that of Heaven, lighting up the darkened
mountainside, triumphant in its victory over evil.
Michael turned to Christy and asked, “Where did you get the
Sword from?”
“An old man gave it to me while you were fighting Si.”
“An old man?” The puzzled angel asked.
“You know, the old man that I told you about, that's been
following me around for the last two years.” The Archangel
thought for a moment.
“I think I know who it is you speak of.” He looked into her
eyes.
“Reach down and pick up the Sword. I must put it back in its
proper place.” Michael reached out to the young woman taking
the shining sword from her hand. All at once the Sword was
gone. And one look into the sky revealed its location. A huge
cloud mass had gathered above the mountain. At first it looked
as if the sun had broken through the cloud mass. But upon
further inspection one could make out huge golden gates with a
brilliant golden sword, bejeweled with every precious stone
imaginable shining from its rightful place at Heaven’s gates.
Christy remembered a line from the Book of the Sword.
“And with the flower’s touch, the sword was returned to its
241
place at the gates of Heaven.” Christy then knew that it was she
that was the Flower of God.
Christy glanced down at her feet and there on the ground
beside her feet was the faded scroll bound in gold. Christy now
understood, realizing that God hadn’t forsaken her, but had given
her a test of faith.
“There! There he is!”
“There who is?” asked the puzzled angel.
“The old man, the old man that gave me the sword.”
Christy pointed to a rock formation at the far right of the battle
site. Michael turned and looked over at the white haired, white
bearded serene-looking gentleman standing on a rock at the far
right.
“My Lord,” Michael said as he dropped to his knees, bowing
his head. A great light shot down from the Heavens upon the
man framing him in a heavenly glow. At that moment Christy
realized that the man who had followed her the last two years, the
man that had manifested himself in her dreams was God. Christy
fell to her knees in homage.
God reached out to the young woman and lifted her to her
feet.
“Christy, my child, you have done well. You are the flower of
God. Your deeds have started the new epoch, the epoch of God.
And the return to paradise. It is on this day that the new age of
righteousness begins. Lucifer’s desecration of the coming of
Christ is over. His attempt at destroying Heaven is over. And
now, the stage has been set for the second coming of Christ!
You, Christy, the Flower of God, have returned the Sword of
Righteousness, the Sword of Michael, back to the gates of
Heaven, where it will remain forever.” God glanced over at the
Archangel. Michael nodded back in a reciprocal motion.
“Father, I love you with all my heart, but I still don't
understand...” the nervous brunette swallowed hard. “Why did
all of this have to happen. Why was I chosen to carry the seed of
the devil?”
“Christy my child, you never carried the seed of the Devil in
you. The Devil cannot impregnate a true child of God. For as
you know by now, you are not the child of human parents but my
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rang out from the skies above. She could hear choirs of Angels
singing in beautiful harmonies the glory of God.
Looking into the skies, once again she could see the glowing
Gates of Heaven. And bound at its gate a glowing, golden sword,
bejeweled with every precious stone imaginable in its handle.
Standing at the gates were Michael and a white bearded man
adorned in long white robes. They waved at her and in an instant
they were gone!
Rubbing her eyes, Christy noticed that she was once again at
the foot of the mountain. Standing next to her was Enos. He
looked at her with loving eyes.
“It is time.”
Enos walked her to the front gates of the mission.
“Christy, we are here. I must leave you.”
The grateful brunette felt no remorse, she hugged the young
man and entered the gates. A joy filled her heart, for she knew
now that she was beginning a sojourn, the fulfillment of the will
of God.
Meanwhile at an outpost near the Israeli-Jordanian border, two
soldiers were trying to decipher what had happened in the
previous hours.
Jordan had been decimated by the so-called “Weapons of
Satan” of Ali Al Hassam's army. Amman had been totally
destroyed by the super weapons that couldn't be detected by
conventional radar. Jordan had become a wasteland! Only a few
nomadic people in remote isolated sections of Jordan had
survived!
Israel had monitored the situation in Jordan with dismay. The
weapons used by the aggressor army were of such magnitude,
that there was no defense against them. Israel had mounted
troops on the Israeli-Jordanian border but knew that without the
ability to detect the oncoming missiles that they would be sitting
ducks. It would be just a matter of time before the same fate
which had devastated Jordan would devastate them. To the
faithful, all that was left to do was pray.
Shahanian troops had been advancing on Israeli border
positions, setting up missile batteries. Israeli pilots had tried to
bomb those positions but were unsuccessful. As they flew into
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the Jordanian airspace, all were destroyed. There was later proof
that the guided missiles that they carried in order to bomb the
Shahanian positions had just exploded inside the hulls of the
planes! The surreal technology of the Shahanian forces baffled
the scientists of the world.
Officer Ari Goldman was the commanding officer of
surveillance at this remote Israeli outpost. His small group of
men was to monitor troop movements of the Shahanian forces, as
well as pinpoint missile batteries being set up by the troops.
It was early on that very day that he and his men had noticed
fire coming from the distance in Jordan. From past experience
they knew that Shahanian forces had fired missiles from their
mobile silos. The radar screens were blank. With no target
coordinates for Israeli anti-missile batteries to lock in on, the end
for Israel was inevitable.
Suddenly, great explosions began in the skies between Israel
and Jordan, lighting up the heavens with such magnitude that it
blinded the troops on the ground. After minutes of ground-
shaking explosions the skies became silent. Commander
Goldman frantically radioed Israeli positions around the country
to assess the damage. To his surprise no Israeli positions had
been hit!
There were no casualties on the Israeli side. In fact as they
would learn later, even though some Shahanian missiles had been
fired at Israel, most had exploded on the ground in Shahanian
batteries, killing almost all of the Shahanian troops.
Back in Shahan and all of the Shahanian occupied lands, all of
the “Satan’s weapons” had exploded on the ground, inflicting
such casualties that the once great Shahanian army was now
nonexistent. All that remained was a ragtag group of
disorganized defeated stragglers.
Ali Al Hassam, for no apparent reason, had died in his sleep in
his mobile quarters just beyond the Jordanian border. Without
any retaliatory action the great army of Shahan, just one day
earlier the most powerful army in the world, was no more!
Commander Goldman and his top aid Shari Rabin were trying
to figure out what had happened. They stared at reconnaissance
photographs on the desk before them.
246
EPILOGUE
It had been sixty years since that fateful day. Christy devoted
all of her time and energies toward the pursuit of worshipping
God. In all that time she had never been back to the site of
Michael's battle with the Devil. In fact, in all those years she
never told anyone what had happened to her on that day or the
days leading up to it. The nuns from the Sisters of the Faith
mission had never asked her where she came from and she had
never offered to tell them.
Christy was well into her eighties now. Her beautiful brunette
hair had turned to a wonderful silver color. She had very few
wrinkles for her age, which gave her face a still youthful look for
someone so old. Time and good living had been very kind to her.
This morning had found her staring out of the window of her
modest living quarters into the direction of Mount Sinai. Christy
had often wondered what task God had in mind for her that
would take some sixty plus years to happen but never questioned
his wisdom.
A loud knock came upon the door. Christy gently opened it.
It was the Mother Superior.
“Christy, you have labored hard in the past few weeks, I think
it is time for you to take a break. Take a day off.”
“But Mother...”
“But nothing. Take this beautiful day off. Do something for
yourself. God won't mind you giving a little time to yourself.”
Mother Superior had a gentle but forceful look on her face.
When she had that look, Christy knew better than to argue.
“Mother Superior, I have thought about gathering some
flowers...” The silver haired nun thought to herself for a
moment. And then with a face of determination. “I'll do it!”
The nuns said their good-byes for the day and Christy, after
making a basket lunch of bread and cheeses caught a ride to the
foot of the mountain with a local farmer.
“Now don't forget, pick me up when the sun is about to go
down.”
248
returned!
The
End