A Journey of Souls

by Michael McKinney

  When the man shows his black teeth in sick laughter, a lightning bolt of fear and panic seizes Keith Chandler. He runs as fast as he can from the awful sight. With his heart pounding and his face still bloodied he keeps running until exhaustion finally overtakes him. Panting heavily and at the end of his strength, he staggers to the side of the footpath finding a spot in the dappled shade of the forest to rest. Trying to catch his breath he looks from side to side and wonders where and what this terrible place is.

  Meanwhile, observing him at every point, Brianna and her new apprentice Calvin Milner quietly walk the same footpath. Seeing everything that Keith Chandler has just experienced, Calvin is aghast at what he's just witnessed. As they walk together in silence, Calvin is troubled and emotionally subdued, prompting Brianna to ask, “Are you shocked by what you saw Calvin?”

  “Yes, very, I don't understand. What I experienced was so beautiful. You took me on a tour through the galaxy. It was wonderful, but what he just went through was a nightmare.”

  “You mean Mr Chandler.”

  “Yes, why is he so different?”

  “Because he chose to be.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “One life was given to service; one was given to abuse and self-indulgence. One life was given to imagination and appreciating the wonders of creation; one was given to callously using others for self-gratification. Is it a surprise to see those two very different lives leading to two very different outcomes?”

  “I suppose not.”

  “Differences in human tendencies are magnified over time.”

  “But both of us are still human.”

  “That means you both had the same starting point.”

  “I don't understand.”

  “Two parallel lines can run close to each other forever, but if one angles away even slightly in time they'll be miles apart. Your life took a very different course than Mr Chandler's. That's why your experience was so different from his.”

  “Do many come to a place like this?”

  “Only those who warrant entry.”

  “This place is extreme.”

  “Every destination is tailored in exact accordance with the Karmic profile of those destined to arrive there. Every journey matches the traveler who makes it.”

  “So all you do is see them along their way.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why can't they make the journey themselves?”

  “It makes it easier for them if we help them along their way and lets them know they're not alone. Despite anything they've done, there's usually always a way back.”

  “And this will be my job, you say.”

  “That's right.”

  “I'm not sure I can do this. How will I know what to say to them?”

  “You'll be fine Calvin. You wouldn't be here if you couldn't do this.”

  “What's the most important thing I need to know?”

  “Every sojourner who passes through this realm is uniquely individual. Every life is a story, and every story produces its own ending and also the beginning of another story and then the next and the next. The human soul incrementally pulses through incarnations as our own heart beats on and off to sustain our daily lives. There's no other way. Forward progress is gradual and constant with no ending. Destiny is mandatory, Calvin, and everything unfolds according to what precedes it. That's all you need to know about this place. Don't worry about what to say or do. Everything here is instantly known by its intrinsic quality. There is no camouflage or concealment, no artful deception to hide who and what we are. This is not a world where falsehood thrives. Don't worry. The most important thing for you now is to be a silent, patient observer.”

  As they continue walking, the haggard sight of a man sitting alongside the pathway comes into view. It's Keith Chandler, his naked figure still bloody from the wounds he received earlier. As they approach, he recognizes Brianna as being the woman he spoke with before his ordeal began. Looking at the man sitting on the ground with his body covered with dirt and blood she tells him, “Mr Chandler, it doesn't look like we're having fun yet.”

  “You, I remember you. I remember. You were the one who set me up. It was you who sent me over to that woman, and I nearly got killed.”

  “I didn't send you to her. You made that choice through your own volition.”

  “I didn't choose to be viciously attacked.”

  “That's right you didn't. What you chose was to mount another female, to live for the perpetual gratification of your sex organs, to trade the tempered restraint of self-governed behavior for the raw animal drive of the perennial rut, to surrender the emancipating freedom of disciplined self-control for the crippling neurosis of a compulsive sex addict. That's what you chose. You made that choice Mr Chandler, not me. That's why you're here, but you should know that in this world you're not the only breeding male with an excess of testosterone, and as you found out they get very aggressive over females. Maybe your next encounter won't be as violent, if you're lucky, and you'll be happy to know every female here has a voracious sexual appetite, just like yours. Isn't that what you always wanted?”

  Speechless, Keith Chandler stares back at Brianna in disbelief.

  “Just remember to be careful Keith. Males outnumber females ten to one here.”

  Looking to the ground momentarily, Keith Chandler tries to digest what he's just heard. When he looks back at Brianna, he sees only the open space where she was standing, and after getting up to see where she went, he sees nothing. A gripping sense of panicked disbelief comes over him as he thinks about having to remain in this awful place. This must be some kind of strange living nightmare. It has to end. What can he do to escape this horror? As his thoughts grapple with the questions and implications of what he faces, he hears the slow labored approach of someone coming his way along the path. She came back. It must be the mysterious woman named Brianna, he thinks. This time he'll press her for answers. She must tell him how to get out of this place, but when he turns and realizes who's approaching, his heart sinks and fearful dread seizes him. It's the degenerate fiend carrying the rotting corpse of his dead sex partner. His demonic red eyes and malevolent smile send Keith Chandler once more into a fearful panic and he runs again as fast as he can. As he does, he hears a woman's voice calling from a distance.

  “Hey fucker boy, I'm lookin’ for you. You ain't done with me fucker boy.”

  He keeps running as darkness slowly descends around him. The night is coming, a long, dark and violent night.

  Chapter Five: The Politician

  On a warm Saturday morning, a few miles north of Kingman, Arizona a woman is getting ready for a day trip. Later this afternoon she'll be attending a political rally near Nogales close to the Mexican border. Her name is Natalie Burke, a conservative state senator who's been in the Arizona state legislature for the past fourteen years. Though her political views are seen as extreme by many, she still managed to win her seat with sixty percent pluralities in her last two elections. The rally she's attending today is being organized and sponsored by Ken Boorman, a friend and campaign contributor. An ardent anti-immigration activist, Ken Boorman has been deeply involved in a conservative push to severely restrict the freedom of undocumented workers. Today's rally will focus on this effort and will be held on Ken Boorman's twelve hundred acre ranch near the southern border. At his personal request, Senator Burke has agreed to travel the considerable distance and speak at the event. In appreciation Ken Boorman, a licensed pilot has offered to fly her personally from Kingman to his ranch near Nogales in his private plane. Senator Burke has been asked numerous times to speak at such gatherings and does so gladly.

  The anti-immigrant faction of the Arizona Republican Party has under her leadership been able to sponsor a successful bill that makes it easier to arrest and detain any worker suspected of being undocumented. The close vote was seen as
a decisive win for radically conservative elements both in and out of government. Ken Boorman was foursquare in his enthusiastic support for the bill, and as a gesture of appreciation has asked Natalie Burke to make a guest appearance today. Though she is more than happy to do so, something else is on Natalie Burke's mind and has been for some time.

  Colin Burke, her twenty-four-year-old son has recently gone through the physical and psychological ordeal of life saving heart transplant surgery. Born with a fatal congenitally defective heart, Colin was facing a hopeless outcome. It was understood by all that without some intervening miracle, Colin Burke would never survive the wait time in finding a suitable donor, yet that's exactly what happened. On a stretch of road nine miles south of Winslow, Arizona, a young man of the same age was killed in an accident while riding his motorcycle. Being an organ donor his heart was rushed to Phoenix for immediate placement and Colin Burke was the recipient. Now at home recuperating, he and his mother State Senator Natalie Burke are increasingly optimistic about his recovery. Resting at home, he sits watching the news as his mother comes to check on him.

  “How are you feeling today Colin?”

  “Good, actually very good,” he says as he turns off the TV.

  “I'm glad to hear it. You know I have to go in a few minutes. I'll be back tonight, but your dad's coming home in an hour or so.”

  “I'll be okay mom. When's Mr Boorman picking you up?”

  “I'll meet him at the airport at nine.”

  “How long will it take to get there?”

  “About two hours.”

  “That's pretty quick to travel almost the length of the state.”

  “It's a lot faster than driving,” she says.

  “When are you supposed to speak?”

  “Probably around four, but you never know. Schedules get changed a lot.”

  “Maybe I'll see you on the evening news.”

  “Who knows? I spoke with you doctor yesterday. He's very pleased with your progress.”

  “That's good to hear.”

  “Very good to hear. You've been given a new lease on life Colin and I couldn't be happier.”

  “Thanks mom, me too.”

  “Okay, I need to get going. I don't want to have Mr Boorman waiting on me. Remember Colin, no stressful activity. You need to build your strength back up again.”

  “I understand.”

  “I'll be okay.”

  As Natalie Burke leans over to kiss her son goodbye, she tells him,

  “I might be late tonight so don't wait up for me. Get to sleep early.”

  “I will mom, thanks.”

  After exiting, Natalie Burke glances at her watch, checks the time and within minutes begins the drive to the airport. In less than an hour she and Ken Boorman are airborne en-route to his ranch in southern Arizona. As they traverse the nearly 350 miles from Kingman to their destination, the conversation doesn't stray far from the well-worn themes that dominate their political thinking. Their agreeable talk makes the trip seem much shorter than expected and they are soon within ten miles of Ken Boorman's ranch and private landing strip. Mr Boorman is grateful for Senator Burke's participation in today's rally and takes the opportunity to let her know.

  “Senator Burke, I wanna thank you for doin’ this for us today. We really appreciate it.”

  “It's my pleasure Ken. I'm happy to oblige.”

  “After we land you can come up to the house and freshen up, meet my wife and have some lunch.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “The rally starts at two so we have an hour to spare. I think we're right on schedule.”

  “Perfect, who else is gonna be at the rally?” she asks.

  “Uh, Bob Kidman, John Cabot and his wife, Rick Phillips. He's with the minute men. Tom Schofield and his militia buddies, probably have a lot of NRA people there.”

  “Yeah, I know Tom Schofield and his wife. Well that's good. We'll have a good crowd.”

  “I got the word out early on this rally, so I think we'll see a hefty turnout.”

  “I think we will. People are fired up about this,” says Senator Burke.

  “Sure they're finally wakin’ up to the fact that the government isn't gonna do anything about it.”

  “You mean the federal government.”

  “That's right,” Mr Boorman says.

  “Washington is useless. If anything they make the problem worse.”

  “They created the problem to begin with if you ask me.”

  “I completely agree.”

  “That's why we appreciate your efforts in the legislature on this. You're standin’ up. Other politicians are too spineless to do anything.”

  “Well they're too worried about losin’ the Hispanic vote.”

  “Yeah, more worried about losin’ votes than losin’ their own country.”

  Minutes later the single engine aircraft lands on the private air strip at Ken Boorman's ranch twenty miles west of Nogales. Greeted by Ken Boorman's wife and several friends, Senator Burke is welcomed and ushered into the Boorman residence for lunch before going to the rally.

  Meanwhile back in Kingman, Senator Burke's son, Colin is still resting at home. His daily regimen of physical therapy, and post-operative rehabilitation amply affords him leisure time for reading, watching movies or using the internet. Colin looks at the wide screen TV his mother recently had installed to help him through his recovery and picks up the remote. As he turns the TV on the phone simultaneously rings. After muting the TV he answers the phone and hears his mother’s voice. Colin is accustomed to having his mother call to see how he's doing. As they talk, the local TV station breaks in, warning of an approaching system of severe weather expected to pass through later tonight, but because of the muted sound and Colin’s distracting phone conversation with his mother, the weather bulletin goes unnoticed. Turning the TV off, he continues talking with her until she tells him she has to go. After saying goodbye, he sits back and picks up the half-finished cross word puzzle he began earlier, while 340 miles to the south his mother prepares herself for another public speech.

  From Ken Boorman's point of view the rally is off to a good start. The wooden stage he had built to accommodate the speakers is more than large enough for the four piece Country and Western band he's engaged to perform at the intermissions. As they close another set, Mr Boorman mounts the stage and moves over to the microphone.

  “How about our musicians today? All the way from Tucson Arizona, the ‘Hair Trigger Band’ ladies and gentlemen, let's give these boys a big round of applause. You're soundin’ great boys. Okay, Friends we have a special guest here today who came all the way from Kingman to be with us, and before I have her come up and say a few words, I need to remind everybody about the recent victory we had in passing HR 1206 a few months ago. This bill finally puts some teeth in the law and makes it possible to get these illegals off our streets and behind bars where they belong.”

  Interrupted by applause Mr Boorman pauses.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, that victory would not have been possible without the hard work of our next speaker. As a matter of fact, the new law I'm talkin’ about was originally drafted in her office in Phoenix. I've known her for almost seven years, and I can tell you she's been with us on this issue every step of the way. So, I think it's time for me to shut my mouth so we can hear from the lady herself. Ladies and gentlemen, all the way from Kingman Arizona, State Senator Natalie Burke, let’s give her a big hand.”

  Loud applause fills the air from the five or six hundred strong audience gathered in front of the stage, and within seconds Natalie Burke is behind the microphone. After adjusting it slightly, she's ready to begin.

  “Can you hear me? Good, good, wow what a fine group of American patriots, I always know I'm with the right people when I look out into the crowd and see at l
east half of our good citizens packin’ if you know what I mean. Yeah, that's right. First, I want to say thank you to Ken Boorman for hosting this rally. Thank you Ken you're a great American. You know when I look out and see so many people showing support for their second amendment rights, it reminds me of where the real political power is supposed to reside in this country. That's right. That's right, and I know a lot of you helped us pass HR1206. It was your grass roots support that helped turn the tide in the state house. I can tell you that for a fact. I was there. When it comes to this issue, we have politicians runnin’ scared up in Phoenix. Now they know, ... now they know that if they don't act, we will, and we'll remember on election day who was with us and who wasn't. That's right. It's a real simple proposition, we don't want illegal aliens in this country. What part of that don't you understand Phoenix? What part of that don't you understand Washington? Apparently they don't hear too well in Phoenix and Washington, but you know somethin', when we passed HR1206 we turned their hearing aids up a couple o’ notches. Didn't we? That's right. That's right They can hear us loud and clear now. You know, after that bill was passed I was asked by a liberal reporter whether or not, get this now, whether or not it bothered me to sponsor a bill that would have the effect of breaking families up. You know what I told her? I said listen honey, if it doesn't bother you to stand by and watch your country being mongrelized, then it doesn't bother me to do everything I can to stop it. Yeah, that's what I told her. I said it doesn't bother me at all.”

  Senator Burke's inflamed rhetoric provokes a thunderous applause.