The Cathari Treasure (Cameron Kincaid)

by Smith, Daniel Arthur

  Through the door, they saw first a man’s forehead and then an eye briefly peek around the edge of the door. The door then shut with a thud. They could hear the sound of the security chain being unfastened from the door and the heavy chain below falling to the floor with a clank. Then the door opened again, this time wide.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 23

  Toronto

  An old balding Thai man with thick glasses stood in the doorway. He wore a sweater buttoned over a white-collar shirt that was closed all the way to the top and his black slacks fit loosely. The old man reminded Cameron of someone’s grandfather.

  “Come in, come in,” said the old man. Cameron was surprised by the man’s deep froggy voice and unmistakable British accent.

  The young man turned away from the door. “There you go,” said the young man, punctuated with another of his open mouth smiles. He slid by Cameron and the women back down the stairs.

  The older man stepped back from the door, “Welcome, I am Ananda.”

  “Hello, my name is Cameron.”

  Cameron stepped through the door. He held his hand out to the old man only to have his wrist grabbed by Marie. Cameron flashed Marie a glance and she subtly shook her head. Cameron lowered his arm and proceeded to introduce Marie and Nicole. “Ananda,” said Cameron, “this is --.”

  “--Miss Marie and Miss Nicole,” interrupted Ananda.

  “Bénisse, personne n'est content que nous,” the women said almost in unison with their heads bowed. Ananda returned the greeting.

  Something occurred to Cameron, neither of the women had met Ananda before, yet he knew them by name. Ananda had been waiting for them after all and was sincerely pleased to see them.

  Faded pink floral wallpaper covered the walls and white panel curtains muted the daylight, making the room hazy and ethereal. The only furniture in the room was an old sofa that sat between an empty coffee table and the windows and against the far wall, an old round tapestry covered table. On the table were a small Buddha statue much like the one in the restaurant below and a short lamp with an embroidered shade and hanging red tassels. The French doors centered on the interior wall were draped and closed.

  Ananda shut the door and refastened the security chain. Cameron could now see, though the upper chain was as any he had seen before, the ends of the heavy bottom chain were permanently anchored into the floor to insure no one was able to get through the door while the chain was fastened. The length of the chain was threaded through three thick eyebolts screwed into the bottom of the door, fastening the door to the apartment. If the hinges were ever broken, the door would still be chained to the floor. Ananda pulled the slack of the chain tight and slipped a thick padlock through the doubled up links. The door could not be opened without unlocking the padlock. Ananda turned the key in the padlock, then removed and slipped the key into his pocket when he stood. Ananda then turned back to his three visitors and smiled. “Are you hungry? Would you like some tea?” asked Ananda, adding quickly before any had a chance to reply, “I only have tea here, but I can call downstairs for anything you like.”

  “Merci, that is very generous,” said Marie. “We ate.”

  “But of course you did,” said Ananda, “I understand the food at the tower is very good.” He winked at Nicole and she smiled in return. “Probably just as well that we do not dawdle.” His eyes focused on something in front of them that could not be seen. “She has been asking for you. It is not long now,” Ananda hung his head for a short moment. When Ananda lifted his head again his pleasant demeanor returned. “But that is why you have been sent for.” Nicole offered her arms to the old grandfather, “No,” said Ananda, “I may no longer feel the touch of a woman.” He closed his eyes tightly, “I feel your compassion though.”

  Nicole closed her eyes tightly for a moment and then said, “Parcite Nobis. For all the sins I have ever done in thought, word, and deed. I ask pardon of God, of the Church, and of you. Bless me lord and pray for me. Lead us to our rightful end.”

  “God bless you. In our prayers, we ask from God to make a good Christian out of you and lead you to your rightful end. So you are blessed. Are you now ready young Nicole?”

  “This is the life I have chosen,” said Nicole.

  Cameron did not realize at that time the significance of Nicole’s answer and would later think back on the words.

  “Very good then,” Ananda raised his eyes to the others, “she will want to see all of you. Come this way.”

  Ananda pulled another key from his pocket to unlock the French doors. He pulled them open, one in each hand revealing a small kitchen. They walked through another set of open French doors behind the kitchen then passed through a sitting room that held three cushioned chairs and another small round tapestry covered table, this one with an old television sitting on top with rabbit ear antennas. Cameron thought the television was too old to be color and was not surprised that the cord dangling behind the table was unplugged.

  The next room was lit by the daylight of an adjacent room through yet another set of French doors. Ananda stopped short in front of these doors, one of which was opened slightly. “I will tell her you are here,” said Ananda and then slipped into the room. He had barely started to shut the door behind him when the three heard a warm and musical voice exclaim, “Just bring them in here.”

  The door swung open and Ananda shuffled the three into a large bedroom.

  “May I present, Lady Mani and Lady Yada?”

  Thin translucent curtains billowed on the far wall, barely masking the red wooden deck and top leaved branches of the maple tree in the courtyard. The only furniture in the room was a bed, a small wooden chair, and cot on the opposite wall. On the bed, a Thai woman sat upright on the pillows, covered to her waist by a pink blanket the hue of the pink lotus flowers sprouting from bright leafy green stems on the large water color above the bed. Lady Mani’s long silver hair cascaded down her shoulders over her cotton gown. Her vibrant almond eyes and warm toothy smile gave the old woman a young, giddy, sprightly appearance. On the chair next to the bed sat Lady Yada, another silver haired woman though younger more reserved than Lady Mani, even in her smile.

  Marie and Nicole dropped to their knees, bowed three times, and then chimed, “Parcite Nobis. For all the sins, I have ever done in thought, word, and deed. I ask pardon of God, of the Church, and of you. Bless me lord and pray for me. Lead us to our rightful end.”

  Lady Mani responded to the two women warmly, “God bless you. In our prayers, we ask from God to make good Christians out of you and lead you to your rightful end.”

  “Come here, the three of you,” said Lady Mani. “Unfortunately I am not moving to well.”

  “She has all but begun the endura,” said Ananda.

  “She has been waiting for you,” said Lady Yada.

  Lady Mani sensed that Cameron did not know what ‘endura’ meant. “That means, young man, that I will soon stop eating and drinking so that the end may come and I can return to heaven and let this life be my last. That is the endura.”

  “I’m not sure I understand,” said Cameron.

  Nicole took his hand, “Ananda and Lady Mani are Parfaits, Perfects. They have lived many lives but the lives they live now are their last in this realm. When they leave the these physical forms, they will leave the evil and temptation of Rex Mundi and the world he has created.”

  “So you will let yourself die?”

  “Oh, I am dying young one. There is no reason to slow it now. No worries to have, I would soon fast for forty days regardless. My purpose is almost complete.”

  Lady Yada smiled at Lady Mani.

  “And Lady Yada, is she a Perfect too?”

  “It is my honor to assist the Perfect,” said Lady Yada.

  “As it will be mine,” said Marie.

  Nicole squeezed Cameron’s hand and then walked over to the edge of the bed.

  “Are you ready child?” asked Lady Mani.

  “I have pre
pared myself Parfaite.”

  “I am sure you have little one. I myself accepted this gift when I was a bit younger than you. I knew then that this was to be my last life. I also thought I knew the responsibility that this gift would put upon me. I only now know the full truth of this gift.”

  “I should wish to be wise enough to learn the truth and will do my best to uphold the responsibility Parfaite.”

  “I believe you will Nicole, as others have for generations.” Lady Mani looked up at Marie and Cameron. “I would like you to stay for the consolamentum as witnesses. Besides,” she gazed directly to Marie, “learning of our ways will help this young man through this life. Answer his questions, he will have many.”

  “Yes, of course Parfaite,” said Marie.

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  Chapter 24

  Consolamentum One

  Nicole knelt away from Lady Mani as Lady Yada eased the old woman to the edge of the bed. Lady Mani moved her weak, thin legs from under the blanket and over the side of the bed, and then, with no small effort, pulled herself up between the headboard and Lady Yada until she stood against the wall. Lady Mani then turned toward Nicole and smiled.

  Cameron whispered to Marie, “May I ask, what is the consolamentum?”

  Lady Mani looked at Marie, “Tell him dear. The young knight deserves to know.”

  Marie answered Cameron in a soft voice, “The consolamentum is our sacrament, the only sacrament of the Cathari. It is a baptism of the Holy Spirit, a baptismal regeneration, absolution, and ordination all in one. When one receives the sacrament, they become a Perfect.”

  “Ordination, like a Priest?”

  “It is more than that. It is important to understand that our beliefs are based on the idea that love and power are incompatible. The physical is a manifestation of power, so the physical is incompatible with love. We are what have come to be called dualist. We believe in two Gods, evil and good, equal and comparable in status in heaven. The physical world is evil, created by Rex Mundi, the God of the Old Testament. He is all that is corporeal, chaotic, and powerful. The God of the New Testament that we worship is disincarnate. The good God is of pure spirit and completely untainted by matter. He is the God of love, order, and peace. The world has been tricked that the two are the same.”

  “They are different then?” asked Cameron.

  “When Rex Mundi created the physical world, he trapped pure human spirits and brought them into the corruption of the physical body and world. Death merely causes the soul to transfer to another body either human or animal,” said Marie.

  “Reincarnation,” said Cameron.

  “One can only attain salvation by breaking the cycle of rebirth in the physical realm. This is why Jesus, the son of the good God, was sent to earth, to show man the way to salvation. Jesus performed the consolamentum on his disciples and they in turn performed the right on others, placing their hands on those receiving the sacrament and saying a prayer. What you are watching is the literal transference of the holy spirit from Lady Mani to Nicole as the holy spirit, descended from heaven, has been transferred by touch all the way back to Jesus.”

  “All the way back to Jesus?” asked Cameron.

  “An unbroken line of salvation. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the New Testament says ‘the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.’ Our Lord Jesus was discarnate like his father. Jesus was a life-giving spirit that only appeared human,” said Marie.

  “He wasn’t?”

  “No. This sacrament is very special. The purpose of man’s life on Earth is to transcend matter, perpetually renouncing anything connected with the Rex Mundi, and attaining union with the God of love. This is Nicole’s transition from Credentes to Perfect. There are only two ways to become a Perfect. To be deemed worthy after a long period of preparation and instruction as Nicole or as a request on the deathbed.”

  “Like last rites?”

  “Very much. The last rites of the Catholic Church are modeled after the Consolamentum. With the sacrament Nicole will gain true salvation and the ability to lead others to salvation.”

  Lady Mani took a black book, old yet not tattered, from next to her pillow and raised the tome in both hands above Nicole’s head. Though there was no writing that Cameron could see, he believed the book to be a Bible. Lady Mani began to speak in Latin, “Benedicite, Benedicite, Domine Deus, Pater bonorum spirituum, adjuva nos in ommibus quae facere voluerimus.”

  Cameron did not understand the blessing and wondered if the whole ceremony would be in Latin. Lady Mani then began to recite the Lord’s Prayer in English.

  Cameron caught himself mouthing the words.

  Lady Mani continued, “You are the Temple of the Living God, as God has said, ‘I dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you, and if you love me, keep my commandments. I will abide with you forever, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because the world cannot see or know me. You know me, for I dwell with you, and shall be in you. I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you. If any man defiles the temple of God, I shall destroy him, for the Temple of God is holy, and you are a temple. For it is not you that speaks but the Spirit of God that speaks in you.’ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, for he has given us his Spirit.”

  Marie whispered to Cameron, “She is explaining that the Holy Spirit is to be transferred to Nicole as according to scripture.”

  Lady Mani looked down at Nicole, “You are here in the place where Father, Son and Holy Ghost have their spiritual abode, to receive that Holy Prayer which the Lord Jesus gave to his disciples.”

  “Like a six degree separation directly to Jesus Christ,” said Cameron.

  “There are many more than six, and Nicole has studied to learn them all. But yes, she continues the unbroken line of the sacrament.”

  Lady Mani’s voice became soothing, “You must learn that if you would receive this Holy Prayer you must repent your sins and forgive all men. For Our Lord Jesus Christ says, ‘If you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father, forgive your trespasses.’ Hence it is meet and right that you be resolved in your heart to keep this Holy Prayer all your life according to the custom of the Church of God, in purity and truth, and in all other virtues which God would bestow upon you. Wherefore we pray the good Lord who bestowed upon the disciples of Jesus Christ the virtue to receive this Holy Prayer steadfastly that he may grant to you also the grace to receive it steadfastly, in his honor and for your salvation.”

  Lady Mani then began again recite the Lord’s Prayer and Nicole followed her line for line. Then of the prayer Lady Mani said, “We deliver you this Holy Prayer that you may receive it of us and of God and of the Church, that you may have the power to say it all your life, day and night, alone or in company, and that you must never eat or drink without first saying it.” With a matter of fact tone Lady Mani added, “If you omit to do so you must do penance.”

  Nicole replied, “I receive it of you and of the Church.” Then Nicole bowed at Lady Mani’s feet.

  “She is giving thanks, the melhoramentum,” said Marie.

  Lady Mani then three times asked Nicole, “My sister, do you desire to give yourself to our faith?” and three times Nicole answered, “yes”, each time, bowing and advancing one step. Between each step Nicole said, “Bless me.” To each Lady Mani replied, “God bless and keep you.” The third time bowing Nicole added, “Lord, pray to God for me, a sinner, that he will lead me to the good end.” Lady Mani’s response modified accordingly, “God bless you and make you a good Christian and bring you to the good end. Do you give yourself to God and the Gospel?”

  “Yes,” said Nicole.

  “Do you promise that henceforth you will eat neither meat nor eggs, nor cheese, nor fat, that you
live only from water and wood?”

  “Water and wood?” asked Cameron. Marie answered, “Fish and vegetables.” He nodded his head.

  Lady Mani continued, “that you will not lie, that you will not swear, that you will not kill, that you will not abandon your body to any form of luxury?” Nicole’s eyes were now tearing at Lady Mani’s soothing litany, “that you will never go alone when it is possible to have a companion, that you will never sleep without breeches and shirt and that you will never abandon your faith for fear of water, fire or any other manner of death?”

  “Yes,” said Nicole.

  “You wish to receive the spiritual baptism whereby the Holy Spirit is given in the Church of God with the Holy Prayer by the laying on of hands of the Good Men.”

  “Yes,” said Nicole.

  “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Jesus Christ instituted this gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.”

  “The actual consoling happens now,” said Marie.

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  Chapter 25

  Consolamentum Two

  Lady Mani laid her hands on Nicole so that Nicole could receive the Holy Spirit.

  Then looking upward, Lady Mani said, “This Holy Baptism by which the Holy Spirit is given to the Church of God has come from the Good Men to the Good Men and shall until the end of the world. As my Father has sent me, so send I you. As when he breathed on them and said unto them ‘Receive Ye the Holy Ghost’, whatsoever sins you remit they are remitted unto them, and whatsoever sins you regain, they are regained.”

  Marie leaned over to Cameron again, “That means if she sins, loses austerity in the slightest, all of those she has blessed will have lost their blessing.”

  “If you wish to receive this power you must know that he has commanded that you shall not commit adultery or murder or lie, that you must not swear any oath, that you shall not seize or rob, nor do to others what you would not have done to yourself. That you must forgive whoever wrongs you and love your enemies, pray for your detractors and accusers, and bless them. If anyone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also, and if anyone takes away your cloak, to leave him your coat also, and that you should neither judge nor condemn.”