During the renovation, Tyler had discovered it in the basement with the seats. Gleaming windows curved to the entrance. In the center of the glass facing the street, round, chrome speaker boxes floated above the hinged cutouts in the glass to pass money and tickets through. Across the street, Cody appreciated the splendor as he waited for Tyler to show him the inside.
“It’s delightful,” a sweet voice said at his side. He followed the sound of the voice to Bergen standing next to him. He wasn’t startled by the child’s appearance next to him. It was perfectly natural. Sparrows twittered on the grass behind them, chasing bugs. They focused on the theater, the child continued, “Will it be worth the trouble, I wonder? Of course, it is up to you.”
Cody sat next to Bergen on the sidewalk. He took a small hand in his. The numerous questions he had for Bergen filled his mind, but which to ask first? A faint smile creased his face. None of the questions mattered, and the answers, he was sure, would lead to more questions. Though, as with him being here, he was curious.
“What are you?” he softly asked.
A laugh erupted from the child who made the abruptness of his question all right.
“My gender?” Bergen returned with a question, then another. “Or my being?” Cody blushed. “I am both, but neither. I am of Heaven and Earth.”
His head turned to the child. “I know Nathan isn’t your…” He paused, thinking of the best way to say what was on his mind. “He didn’t create you with his seed. Did God?”
The dark, sparkling eyes met his. “Nathan is a wonderful man, and kind. He is much like Joseph in the way he took my mother in without hesitation.” The sparrows took flight, grabbing the child’s attention for a moment as they soared away.
“You are correct. He isn’t my father. And no, I’m not so lucky. He had only one Earthly child.” Knowing the next question from Cody, Bergen continued, “Not him either.” The enchanting gaze broke with his, tracing an invisible line to the window farthest away. “To be honest, I don’t know who provided the light to my mother’s egg. You know what it was like when you were young, not as careful as you should be.” He nodded, fascinated with the wisdom coming from someone so young. “My mother was the same, but the one she was with wasn’t alone in his body.
“We’re not here to mull over my conception.” Bergen’s gaze went back to the theater. “Remember, you always have a choice. Even with what was planted in you when you were a child. Do you remember when it happened?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Maybe, in a dream,” Bergen elaborated. “He likes playing with children, showing them things they should never see.”
His tone went flat as he said, “Maybe, the nightmares I had as a kid?” His mind flashed with the moving faces in the closet causing him to race out of the bedroom into Connie’s arms until he was brave enough to lay his head back down next to Candi. Then to the bucking bed hovering over the pit, trying to dislodge his grip, so he fell into the abyss. On to the darkness trying to penetrate him in the basement near the boiler.
“Maybe all,” Bergan said. “There’s others you didn’t experience here. Those were in your bed. Do any come forward?” Cody concentrated on the terrors he had as a kid, but nothing else came to the surface. “I could bring Saul?”
“Who?”
“The Dreamwalker.” Hearing his title, Cody knew who he was. A friend had recommended Saul Vogel’s autobiography, so he had read it; he still wasn’t sure whether he believed what the man had claimed. “A man you’d find most attractive,” Bergen smirked. “Too bad he’s already taken.” Again the child had surprised him. “God loves you no less because you aren’t interested in women.” And another surprise, a frown formed on the angelic face. “Those are man’s insecurities the History is tainted with. He had nothing to do with their creation.” The frown disappeared. “He set only ten laws for mankind and man always wants to forget them or amend them to suit their needs.”
Bergen leaned her head against Cody’s arm, as though sitting on the sidewalk was the most comfortable thing in the world. They were equals, facing the unknown. The child stood, looking down at him — a smile illuminated the striking face.
“Do you know what you’re going to do? I know what my parents are going to tell you; the same as what Hector has been telling you. But it’s your decision.”
“I don’t.” He turned his head to the Shoshone, then back, but Bergen had walked to the corner of Main and First. He rose to his feet, calling, “Bergen, wait.” At the corner, he turned west, but the child was nowhere. He called out again, and again.
A car horn blared, he turned, but no car was in the street. The sound erupted again. Cody sat up. The light from around the drapes shot across the ceiling. The horn screamed its noise again, as he stumbled through the items on the floor to reach the window. Leona, Nathan, and Bergen had returned. But why did they announce it by sounding the horn?
He stumbled back through the chaos on the floor, then wrestled on his clothes. The clock near the door announced it was 10:13; Nathan’s timing was impeccable.
The doorknob froze to his hand as he took in the unbelievable sight outside the door. A tangle of tumbleweeds piled against the closed storm-door. A sparrow fluttered its broken wing, trying to free itself from the mass. Through the thick weeds, Bergen laughed as Leona and Nathan murmured; too quiet for Cody to understand their words.
“Is there another way out?” Cody called, but the glass muffled his voice from reaching through to them. He fidgeted with the latches to the top window, allowing it to slide down. He hoped the screen was sturdy enough to hold back the barbed fingers of the tumbleweeds. He yelled again.
“Through the sunroom off the Master bedroom,” Nathan replied, a tinge of laughter in his voice.
Cody found his way through the house to the sunroom. Three chairs faced west, placed to watch the sunset. A few tumbleweeds rolled around the backyard. One falling from the roof caught his attention. Tilting his head back, he was shocked to find the slope of the roof covered with them. He stepped back, in case a gust of wind caused them to come tumbling down. The side of the house had drifts of the bulbous, dried weed halfway to the windows, but the marvel at the front put their spectacle to shame.
“Told you, Boogla Bah, our house was one of the safest in town,” Nathan said, laughing as Cody joined them.
The cover was so thick, had Cody not just emerged from the house, he might not have known there was one there at all. The tumbleweeds covered most of it, angling under the bedroom window where Cody had slept. The covering on the roof was at least three feet high. He shook his head in astonishment.
“Did someone pull a prank on you last night?” Cody asked sheepishly.
Cody found happiness in the child’s gaze, as Bergen said, “He was looking for you. I’m sure if we drove to the other corners of town, we’d find something similar.”
“These houses are like cornerstones of a building,” Leona added, taking Bergen’s hand. “They mark the edge of the foundation and are the strongest points, almost impenetrable.”
“When I thought I knew everything about Shoshoni,” Cody said. “I’ll help you clean it up so you can get inside.”
“No need. Not the first time it’s happened.” Nathan went around to the back of the truck. He returned, gripping a leaf rake with a metal ring at the end of its handle, and a thin gauge rope in the other hand. Quickly, his fingers tied a knot around the ring, and then he handed the rake to Cody. “You said you wanted to help.” His silver eye gleamed with delight.
Cody took the rake, watching Nathan lean in front of the truck to tie the other end to the grill. With a wry smile, he reclaimed the rake, turning it, so the round end of the handle pointed to the ground. He gripped it around the neck below the clawed head, his arm retracted, then launched forward, releasing the rake into the air. He nodded with appreciation when it landed near the top of the tumbleweed pile.
“Get into the street.” He nodded
toward the street running north and south, as he sat behind the wheel of the truck. When they were out of the way, he shouted, “Watch this, Boogla Bah!”
At a slow pace, the truck backed toward the park. The rake slid, then found a grip in the weeds. As the truck moved backward, the shell of weeds pulled away from the house. The truck turned, now moving east, the tangle of weeds in tow. It stopped, and the wall trembled in the street. Nathan untied the rope from the truck, and said, “I’ll run to Jake’s for his chipper.”
Bergen skipped through the scratched yard to the door,
Leona followed, glancing back at the men. Cody watched them enter the house as though nothing unusual had happened. Now was not the time for a visit.
He crossed the short distance to the truck. “Can you give me a ride to the hotel?”
Nathan frowned. “You sure, Cody?” He called him Cody when something was serious.
Cody nodded.
“You don’t want to talk about it first?”
“No offense, but I think I’ve heard everything I need to hear from this point of view.”
His friend’s brow raised, grinning. “Yup, I bet you have. All right. Get in.”
Nathan refused to drive near the hotel. He circled the destination around City Park, stopping at the corner of Third and Main.
“Thanks for the ride. See you later.”
Nathan nodded. “I hope so, Boogla Bah, I hope so.” He turned around in the street, and the truck thundered away.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
2 Samuel 22:22, KJV
“I don’t know where he went,” Tyler said, seeing the edges of Mr. Bel’s brows twitch. “I thought he was with you.”
“No, something upset him last night, and he left me at the restaurant.” Mr. Bel glanced at Tyler’s bare feet, thinking of the whimpers escaping the man standing before him as green canes slapped against their smooth surfaces. “I hope nothing has happened to him.”
“What could happen? The town isn’t big enough for him to get into much trouble.”
“I thought you understood that there are people in this town who oppose me. They will stop at nothing to keep me from continuing.”
“I’ll go look for him. Did you see which way he—”
“No need to put together a search party,” Cody said, pushing open the door. “I’m here.”
Relief washed over Belphegor. The twitches quivering his brow ended, and his favorite smile spread across his mouth. The blue of his gaze brightened from deep indigo to cerulean. He felt like a frantic parent who had a teenager steal away into the night. But he had returned.
Wherever he had been, didn’t matter. Who he had been with mattered less. Anticipation grew in him.
“I don’t know what you want from us.” Had Cody been an Angel, the fire erupting from him may have burned through Belphegor. “You need to hurry up and explain it, or I’m taking Tyler and Jen out of here.”
“Cody, tone it down, man,” Tyler whispered. “He’s giving us a great opportunity.”
“I know, Tyler. Such a wonderful opportunity, but what’s the point? No one wants to be here; least of all, me.” He paused, to remove his shirt. When it was off, he continued, holding up his arm in front of his chest, “I forgot to show you this.” The ink of the tattoo stood out from the lightness of his skin, the red coloring of ‘666’ glowed on his arm. “Don’t worry. It wasn’t my idea. It was his.” He again glared at Belphegor.
“I don’t understand what this about.” Tyler looked to Mr. Bel for denial. A shadow leaped against him, then he said, “But, I should leave you two. You need to work this out.”
Tyler started toward the door, but Cody didn’t move. “No, Tyler, you should stay. This involves you, too. You need to know everything.”
“This doesn’t concern him,” Belphegor said, somehow at the window pouring wine into the crystal goblet. He drank. “Well maybe, he can stay. I know you don’t feel comfortable alone with me. Are you afraid I…you will ravish me if we’re alone?” No response. “Please sit. It’ll take more than a minute to tell you everything.”
Reluctantly, Cody moved into the room. Tyler bounced onto the chair nearest Belphegor. Hector stood at the threshold outside the room in the hallway, Cody motioned for her to come inside, but she shook her head.
“Sorry.” The Fallen Angel smirked. “I have boundaries your Watcher cannot cross. We can leave the door open so she can listen.” Staying near the window, he continued, “As I told you last night, I want to go home. Being Earthbound, as interesting as it’s been, is not where I ever wished to be permanently.” A sad frown came to him. “And since He won’t listen to me, I want you to tell Him I repent.”
“Ok?” Cody replied. Tyler was stiff and posed like a mannequin, not aware of anything happening around him. Cody looked to the ceiling, and said, “God, Belphegor is sorry for all the nasty things he’s done and wants to return into your loving arms.” His attention returned to the Fallen Angel. “How long does it take for him to get messages? I always wondered as a kid, when I prayed and prayed for something, and nothing happened.”
“Don’t be blasphemous, child,” Belphegor growled, standing over Cody; his features no longer so beautiful. “I will not tolerate you speaking of God in such a way.”
Cody stood, making Belphegor step back. Less than an inch of space remained between them. The warmth of their breaths mingled; Cody tasted the wine the man had drunk, the Fallen Angel breathed the sourness of the other’s mouth.
Their stares locked; the beams from Belphegor’s radiated into Cody, filling him with fear, but he wasn’t going to back away. He yearned for the closeness—no matter the danger it entailed—and refrained from doing the one thing he desired to do; kiss him. His flaccid cock filled with blood as his heart throbbed faster and faster.
“A reason I chose you so many years ago is I knew your fierceness didn’t allow you to stand down, and quiver at my feet even if it’s what you should do. You see things, few can see. Your knowledge is beyond any Pope.”
“Flattery is an interesting approach.” Cody wanted to hide his face, to back away, but his body refused his requests; he was ensnared by the man who wanted his help. “I don’t remember much from church.”
“You know more than you give yourself credit.” Something pressed against Cody’s crotch; at first, he thought it was Belphegor’s hand, then realized, he also had an erection. “I have inspired many to create and build things for humankind’s betterment. I give them liberty to celebrate, to make love.
“For you, I have done the same. But you’ve locked everything I gave you away in the stronghold of your mind with your other secrets. You want to keep who you are a secret when it is beautiful in the eyes of God. He created you to love who your heart tells you, but you, like so many, get stuck on the verse where Moses proclaims if any man who lays with a man as with a woman shall be put to death. Is Moses God?”
“No, God told him.”
Belphegor chuckled. “Not at all. Didn’t Bergen tell you about man’s insecurities” Cody’s bewilderment grew; how had he known his dream if he hadn’t found him? “Let’s postpone this standoff,” the Fallen Angel requested. We’ll wear ourselves out before we’ve begun if we keep this up.” Without waiting for Cody to agree, he took a single step back, then glanced to Tyler, who hadn’t changed his position.
“Please sit. Relax.” He did as requested, and Belphegor returned to the window. “Wine?” He offered. Cody shook his head in response. “I haven’t poisoned it or laced it with one of those drugs that people seem so fond of these days.” Again Cody shook his head, so Belphegor sipped alone, then continued, “Man creates an abundance of laws, and half aren’t followed. It amazes me how many amendments are built to cover someone’s tracks.
“I prefer God’s Laws. They are simple and to the point;
He’s the only God, don’t worship idols, don’t take
His name in vain, remember the Sabbath, honor your parents, don’t kill, don’t cheat on your spouse, no taking things which don’t belong to you, always tell the truth and don’t covet what others may have.
“What else is needed?” He sipped his wine.
Hearing the Ten Commandments so plainly put, Cody contemplated each as Belphegor watched him. After three minutes, Cody said, “So you claim you aren’t after what Lucifer wanted. I can check off the first two. But people worship you. They do rituals in your honor.”
“I don’t condone them worshipping me. People chose to do so.”
Cody looked away from him, continuing, “Tyler told me not to cuss when I arrived; you’re good on number three. Oh, wow, you keep the Sabbath, catching me by surprise, since you had the demons infiltrate my apartment, which began on a Friday night.” Not giving Belphegor time to retort, he went on, “Honor your parents, which, I guess, for you is God.
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