The Time Deceiver

by Gerard Denza

  Rosamund looked doubtful about that last option. She wasn’t trusting of strangers and to trust a woman whom she had never met was not a thing to be entered into lightly.

  -Valerie, you must tell us everything that you know.

  -And, you must not leave anything out!

  -Lower your voice, Erich.

  -What do I care if people are listening? I fear none of them.

  -We must be careful. Tell us, Valerie, what does all this mean?

  -I don’t know what any of it means, not really. But, I do know where it will all end. The end of the world is coming. It will end on a clear and beautiful spring day.

  Rosamund and Erich struggled to catch their breath.

  -What are you telling us? How will this happen? What will cause such an event? You must tell us, Valerie. In the name of all that is holy, we must try and stop it!

  -He will do it...the man in the bar...the deceiver.

  -Tell us why he will do this...this deceiver.

  -To turn the coin around.

  Erich had recovered his breath.

  -You speak in riddles. Speak plainly, I order you!

  -The glyph will be inverted.

  -Rosamund, look at her. She speaks as if in a trance.

  -I am not in a trance, Erich. It will be awful and quick. My dreams have told me all this; not in words, but in tones. I hear strange music when I sleep and even when I’m awake. It’s like a pressure of electricity over my body. It all comes from the moon. The moon will be the graveyard of our world.

  We stayed in the cafe for a long time. We were not even safe in crowded areas. Why had they chosen to try and kill me in broad daylight and in front of so many people? I knew how Erich would answer that question: as a demonstration of power.

  -What is the name of this deceiver?

  -He is an outcast among his own people. He walked the world once, but by another man’s side who was a good man.

  -Oh? And, was he a Jew?

  -He was one with the world and with God.

  -How very nice for him. But, why was he traveling with a destroyer of people, eh?

  -Don’t bully her, Erich.

  -I am not bullying her. I simply want answers.

  -He knew of him and was never tempted by him.

  Erich spit on the floor.

  -That’s his story.

  It was late afternoon when we boarded the cab for home. Erich came with us and stayed for dinner. After dinner, Erich and I were left alone in the dining room for a few minutes.

  -I feel that I should stay the night with you. Of course, I will sleep down here on the sofa; but, all you need do is to call out and I will be with you instantly.

  -But, Erich, that could be-

  -Dangerous? I don’t care. I can take care of myself and, besides, I have my gun with me. Not even Rosamund can object to my staying

  Erich slept on the sofa in the living room downstairs. Rosamund insisted that I sleep in her room.

  -So, how do you feel? Tired? I don’t blame you.

  -Rosamund? Maybe, we should have gone to the police. Maybe, they could have helped us.

  -They couldn’t help us. How? And, what would we tell them? Nothing. Those four men approached the stage and two of them walked up on to it: so what? They carried no weapons with them, did they? It is Erich who would have had the explaining to do by shooting a man.

  -But, they attacked you.

  -I struck the first blow. Let’s not talk of it anymore. Tomorrow, if you still want to, we will go to the police. I promise.

  Rosamund turned the light off The street lamp outside cast its indirect light on the bedroom floor.

  I looked at my sister lying next to me in bed. Anyone near me was in danger. I knew that as soon as Rosamund was asleep, I would have to leave her room and go into my own bedroom.

  I got up and looked out the window. I saw the crescent moon in the night sky. Diana’s bow lit that tiny portion of the sky, and the stars behind it were the ornaments that her fellow gods wore on their garments of black velvet. I felt safe with Diana in the sky. I knew that she would look after me and protect me in the life to come after death. She would place my medallion of pure gold about my neck and dangling from that ornament would be a golden arrow whose brilliance would drive away the evil that was always drawn to the light.

  I left my sister’s room. For a moment, I stood in the hallway and listened. Then, I rushed to my room and flung open the door. I didn’t put on the light. The window was open and the curtain was pulled to one side. I walked over to the window to see Diana’s bow, again. Her arrow would pierce the hearts of my transgressors, but this would be done to avenge my murder.

  I laid down on my bed and waited. Was this wrong of me? Yes! I sat up. I wouldn’t just be murdered!

  I ran to the window and screamed to Diana for help.

  -Diana, help me to live. Help me to do what is right in this life.

  Rosamund heard my cries into the heavens. I heard her run down the corridor and call out my name.

  -Valerie! Open the door and let me in!

  I hadn’t locked the door.

  I glanced at the moon. All around it were clouds gathering, but Diana’s bow was untouched.

  I went to the door, but a shadow stood in front of it.

  Erich banged his fists against the door and cursed at the top of his lungs.

  I saw another shadow in the corner. It moved. I saw this shadow only because it was blacker than the surrounding darkness. It moved toward me. I backed away from it. Another shadow was in another corner of the room. It moved closer to me. I moved toward the window. I turned to jump out, but another shadow was there with its arms outstretched.

  I was trapped.

  I screamed.

  -Rosamund! Erich! Look for Diana’s bow and arrow. When the moon and the sun can be seen at opposite horizons- trust Marlena and Edward. My medallion-

  A cold, wet hand grabbed me. I struggled, but its touch nauseated me. The other two fiends came to help it do its deed. The one at the door stayed there with its arms outstretched like a black cross blocking the way of Rosamund and Erich.

  I was dragged to the bed and pinned down. The other fiend was standing in mid-air near to the ceiling which looked higher than it should be. In his hands was a long, metal rod aimed at my chest. I saw his blackened eyes stare down at me. He flung the rod at me and, at that moment, I was taken from my body. I was lifted up and I could feel Diana’s presence. The fiends fled from her. They left my lifeless body behind.

  From my soul’s body, I saw Rosamund and Erich burst into the room. Rosamund screamed. Erich ran about the room looking for someone to kill. His gun was drawn. Out of sheer frustration, he fired a bullet into the ceiling. He fired another bullet and, then, another one. Rosamund knelt down next to the bed and touched my neck. Erich shouted at the top of his lungs.

  -She’s dead. Why do you waste your time?

  Rosamund got up and looked at Erich.

  -Yes. My sister is dead. But, take solace, Erich, and go to one of your other women.

  -I need nothing from you or from any woman.

  -And, now, we must call for the police, Erich.

  -And, then?

  -We wait for Marlena Lake. Only she can save the world.

  PART THREE:

  ARMAGEDDON

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  STRATEGY

  THE HANDWRITING IN Valerie’s journal had changed. Someone else’s hand had written those last few pages. Was it Rosamund? No. Not her style. Marlena? Yes. I almost laughed with the certainty that I felt about this. Marlena would piece together the fragments of Valerie’s last day and write it down as if she, herself, were actually living it. And, she was probably pretty close to the mark.

  I leaned over in my seat. Marlena was still watching me. Christ! Did this woman never rest? She got up and went to the back of the plane. She beckoned me to follow her. I tried to get up without awakening Yolanda. I slid out of the seat and noticed that Susan was not
in her seat. I walked to the back of the plane and tried to balance myself in the narrow and dark aisle. Marlena and Susan waited for me. I looked out the window and saw that we were crossing over an area of land.

  -Edward, sit down. We’re almost at the airport and we haven’t much time. What did you think of Valerie’s journal? And, don’t say that it was interesting. Tell me something that I don’t know.

  -That part about the crescent moon and Diana’s bow. I found that strange and-

  -Go on!

  -It’s a clue, Marlena. I think Valerie gave us the time of month, if not the exact day, when to expect the end of the world.

  -Dear boy, tell me more.

  -I can’t be sure, but I think it’ll happen in the early evening that comes just before dusk. It will be on the moon’s waxing cycle to a full moon. I think.

  -No. You feel it as do I.

  Susan spoke in her usual calm and logical voice.

  -I’ve already looked up this date in the charts: it’s on April 29th, just over three weeks away, on Friday at dusk. The sun and the crescent moon will be in direct opposition to each other.

  -Okay. We know when it’ll happen, but exactly what the hell is going to happen? How will the world come to an end? Fire? A biblical flood? An Atomic war?

  -You tell me, Edward. Speak through your soul and tell us. And, remember, Valerie knew you. She knew that you would come to us.

  I sat back and said the first thing that came into my head.

  -The plague of Seth will overtake the world.

  Marlena gasped and gripped her pocketbook.

  -Go on! Go on!

  -The centers of hearts and the hordes of locusts.

  Susan touched my arm.

  -Are you all right, Edward? You look as if you’ve just seen a ghost.

  -I feel drained of energy...wiped out. How do we stop it? How? I had a vision of giant insects ravaging the landscape. My God! It was horrible. What in God’s name can we do to stop it?

  Marlena sat back in her seat with a look of determination.

  -Through magic, Edward. Through magic and power we’ll stop it.

  -You mean through cunning, mother, don’t you?

  -Yes.

  We had been in Germany one week when I realized that I was now a dependent of Marlena’s. I was one of her group. My ego should have resisted.

  The seven of us were seated in Rosamund’s living room. I didn’t like her house. It was small and cluttered with papers all over the place, most of it sheet music. The place needed a good paint job and some modern furniture.

  It was late afternoon. No one in the room looked even remotely at ease. Marlena had called us there and now we waited for her to begin. She was exactly where she so loved to be: the center of attention. She appraised everyone in the room: Yolanda, myself, and Susan who were seated on the couch, Erich who was on the floor, and Rosamund and Gabriel on the piano bench.

  Marlena was in the easy chair with her black patent leather pocketbook in her lap Her glances kept darting to the window.

  -Well, to begin with, we have about two weeks left. We must act at the precise moment if we are to be successful. And, of course, I will be.

  -Oh? And, when is that, mother?

  -Don’t be flippant with me, young lady, or I’ll smack you right in the face. As I was saying...

  Yolanda addressed Marlena in a coy and bantering voice.

  -Yes? What were you saying, Marlena? I don’t seem to remember.

  -Why don’t you leave? You have no business here. And, quite frankly, I can’t stand the sight of you.

  - It’s not too pleasant from here, either. I know of a fabulous coterie. I’m sure that she would be able to do something.

  Rosamund interrupted this bickering.

  -We are wasting time sitting around and arguing while the world rushes toward its doom.

  Marlena looked hard at Yolanda.

  -I intend to save us all. And, there is a traitor here: a rotten, little spy! I won’t have it!

  Yolanda took a personal offense at this.

  -How dare you? I’m no one’s spy. I’m here with my boyfriend. Is that so difficult for you to understand? Perhaps, it is.

  Rosamund spoke before Marlena could launch a verbal attack on Yolanda.

  -What must we do, Miss Lake?

  -I know what Mass must be performed, but it’s the location which eludes me.

  Susan spoke to her mother, but kept glancing over at Yolanda.

  -I think it should be in Egypt or, perhaps, Athens. But, I lean more toward Egypt or possibly Iran, the cradle of the Garden: it’s said to be a gravitational power center, and there is the energy of antiquity stored there. The sands of the desert physically contain fragments of vibration...of history, actually. In time, science will bear that out.

  -Good girl! Mother is proud of you.

  It was my turn to join in.

  -Marlena, what are we doing for the next two weeks? Hiding out won’t do any good. They’re probably keeping tabs on us right now.

  -To answer your question: keeping ourselves alive which is not so easy, Edward. And, the preparations for the coming ritual will take that long. There are many details to attend to. You will have to be trained, dear boy. Susan will help you and, of course, I’ll supervise your entire training.

  I shook my head.

  -What’s wrong, Edward?

  -Marlena, I still have a lot of doubts about this. I’m not so sure of what it is we’re dealing with and what will happen if we fail.

  -All will be taken and the course of this planet’s destiny will be altered. It’s vibration will waver and change and eventually be brought back, but never toward the orbit of God.

  That was Rosamund who had just spoken.

  Erich stared at her.

  -That sounded more like your sister, Valerie, than you.

  Rosamund clutched her throat, struggling with her emotions.

  -I felt my sister’s heartbeat. She is with us...helping us! Listen! I hear her playing the piano. It’s what she played on her last day on earth! Can’t you hear it?

  Marlena was not impressed.

  -Get a grip on yourself. My plans are set. In Cairo, we’ll meet in two weeks and the deadliest Mass of all time will be performed.

  Yolanda smiled coyly.

  -Marlena, may I attend?

  -Of course, my dear. I wouldn’t dream of having it without you.

  -Rosamund?

  -Yes, Mr. Mendez?

  -Would you mind if I had a look around your sister’s room?

  -Why?

  My answer to this bitch surprised even me.

  -I think you’re holding out on us, lady, that’s why.

  -I don’t know what you mean.

  -I think you do. Was your sister-

  -Yes?

  -An artist?

  -I think it is you who are holding out on me, Mr. Mendez. Yes. Valerie loved to sketch and was quite good at it.

  -Do you mind if I go on up? I won’t disturb anything.

  -Do as you like. It doesn’t matter. Valerie’s room is the first door to your right at the top of the stairs.

  I got up and made to leave the room.

  -I’ll be right back. Yolanda? Stay put, baby.

  I headed up the narrow flight of carpeted stairs. I opened the door and walked in. The bedroom was small and neat and feminine. The scent in the air was subtle but unmistakably that of a sea breeze. I went over to the bureau which had a mirror. I caught a glimpse of myself. I placed my hands on the bureau and stared at my reflection. What the- On the bureau was a small pile of papers. I picked them up. Sketches...about a dozen of them. I recognized Rosamund. Valerie had drawn several of her sister. Erich’s sketch was also there. And so was mine and Yolanda’s.

  No doubt about it: the girl had been a genuine clairvoyant for all the good it had done her.

  The last sketch was that of a bartender...no...a young man tending bar and serving a beautiful woman. Who were they? Were they the peop
le in Valerie’s journal? That must be it. But, what was the connection? This particular sketch was dark. It was like midnight closing in on the two people. And, the young man’s eyes were almost alive and staring at me. It wasn’t a friendly stare either. No. There was downright evil in his eyes.

  The nest few weeks were the most extraordinary weeks of my life or, more accurately put, the brief part of this life that I could recall. Marlena and Susan taught me the arts of the sacred and ancient Mass: a ritual that was in part founded on the Egyptian rites of the dead and on an even more ancient civilization: Sumer.

  Susan’s and Marlena’s care of me was meticulous: neither woman ever left my side. With Susan, I didn’t mind this so much because she was a careful and thorough teacher. She insisted that it was all science: a science that did not require any apparatus save the electrical currents of thought focused through the human brain.

  Marlena, on the other hand, was a ruthless teacher who taught by constant repetition, and there was a huge amount to repeat. And, she was always prodding me about my past. She never let up on this. She wanted to know my purpose in life and to what end did I seek knowledge. I couldn’t answer any of this; but, they were questions which forced me to think about myself and how I had gotten on to that slab of ice. Had I been manipulated from the beginning?

  We were in Egypt with only three days to go until the Mass. Marlena, Susan, Gabriel, Yolanda, and myself were at an outdoor cafe having lunch. The weather was hot and dry and we were sitting in a shaded area. I wore a white kaftan and sandals. Marlena remarked on my fitting in so well with our surroundings: the mark of a true occultist.

  -A sorcerer’s task is not to call attention to himself. He must be a chameleon of sorts and able to fit in with his surroundings in order that he may control them and those within his sphere.

  -What do you mean by “control,” Marlena?

  -Altering whatever one wishes to alter or annihilate, Edward.

  -Mother, have you annihilated anyone, lately?

  -Ask me that question in a few days, my dear.

  -Assuming that we have a few days left, Marlena.

  -Dear Yolanda, I will be victorious. I won’t have it any other way.

  -Pretty sure of yourself, no?

  -Yes, Yolanda, I am.