by Karl Morgan
“I don’t know what to think, Connie. Please leave me alone, okay?”
She stood up and began to walk toward him. He backed up to the wall and tried to push his body back further, but the wall did not yield. With each step, Connie seems to become filled with more light. When she was next to him, the brilliance of her form forced him clinch his eyes closed tightly. He felt her soft lips pressing against his and opened his eyes. She was nude and pressed up to him, but her body was pure light more than flesh and bone. Suddenly, the light began to pass through his skin, and Josh was overwhelmed with emotion and gasped involuntarily. Once she had passed completely inside of his body, Josh felt pleasantly warm and completely calm. His body felt as though each cell was tingling with pure ecstasy. He felt himself rising up in the air and through the roof of the cabin. He looked down on it and felt no fear, just a sense of supreme happiness. He continued rising until the cabin was obscured by clouds and kept rising. Finally, he was suspended in space, looking down on Earth. Josh felt as though he had become a star, his form glowing intensely bright, casting rays of light on the sleeping planet below. Now, Earth seemed to fly away and he turned to see Venus rapidly approaching. Within a second, he was past it and headed toward the sun. He was totally out of control and unable to change his course, but still the feeling of inner peace filled him.
The sun was growing quickly as he approached. Soon, it filled his entire field of view. Then, he was inside the sun, diving deeper into its blazing furnace of plasma. He could feel the blast of radiation emanating from countless fusion reactions per second deep in the core. The motion stopped near the center of the sun. He was enveloped in the fusing plasma and watched helium nuclei falling onto the core. Here, far from his home and deep in the center of an impossibly hot star, he smiled and began to laugh. He could feel Connie inside of him, or was he inside of her? It did not matter because they were as one now. “Now, do you understand?” Connie’s voice said in his mind.
“Yes, Connie, I do. Thank you.”
“Josh, tell me what you have learned from this little trip?”
“Reality is what we choose to believe it is. We choose to believe in life, death and the world, and those choices become our limitations. But we can choose differently if we want, even if it means traveling inside the sun.”
“Very well said, Josh. You know that I love you. I will be with you always, until the end of time. Now close your eyes.” He did.
“I love you too, Connie, and I do remember the dream where we met in that desert. Thank you for loving me. Now what do we do?”
“Open your eyes, Josh.” They were lying on the bed in the cabin, arms and legs wrapped around one another under a down comforter. He could feel the warmth of her body pressed against him, yet somehow felt desperately alone and afraid. She kissed his cheek, and said, “I know what you’re feeling and it will be okay.”
He began to shiver. “I’m scared, Connie, and I don’t know why.”
“It will pass in a minute, Josh. The experience of separating from one another is like being born. A person moves from a state of total unity to being isolated from everyone else. It can be very traumatic.” She ran her hand through his hair.
“That experience was unbelievable, Connie. I don’t know how to thank you or what to say.” She smiled at him. “I don’t think this will make sense, but it felt like we were making love.”
Connie lightly kissed his lips. “It makes perfect sense. The union of two souls is an intensely emotional act. Making love is the closest humans can come to what you’ve just experienced. Josh?” He did not response because he had fallen asleep. She nestled next to him and closed her eyes. “Good night, Josh.”
Chapter 13
Josh awoke to the sound of someone knocking on the cabin door. He climbed out of bed and pulled on his jeans. As he walked out of the bedroom, something caught his eye and he looked into the small bathroom. Connie Judah was lying in a tub full of bubbles with her eyes closed. “Good morning, Connie,” he sang as he passed by. He hurried to the front door and opened it. A state trooper was standing on the small porch. “Can I help you, trooper?”
“Sorry to bother you sir, but I’m just following up on reports of an unidentified flying object reported in this area last night.”
“A UFO? I’m sorry, but I don’t remember seeing anything.”
“Okay, that’s fine, sir. Some of your neighbors reported seeing a bright light hovering over this location late last night. They said that it lit up the area almost like sunlight for a moment, and then it shot up into the sky. So, you saw nothing like that?”
“No, sir, I’m sorry I can’t help.”
“Not a problem, I’m a skeptic myself, but I have to follow the rules. By the way, are you a member of the Judah family that owns this land?”
Connie joined the men at the front door, wrapped in a large towel. “Excuse me, officer, but I’m Constance Judah, and this man is Josh Carpenter, a good friend of the family.”
“Connie, it is you!” the trooper smiled. “You obviously don’t remember me. My name is Tom Cardiff. My family owns a nearby cabin and we have run into each other hiking in the woods before.”
“Of course I remember now, Tommy. Your wife has the same name as me. She and I used to hang out together. How is Connie?”
“Pregnant, but doing great,” Tom replied. “Thanks for asking. Well, I’ll let you folks enjoy your day.”
“Thanks Tommy, and please ask your wife to call me. I still have the same number.”
“Will do. It was nice to meet you too, Josh. You’ve got a great girl there, so don’t let her slip through your fingers.” He returned to his squad car and drove away down the gravel road leading away from the cottage. Connie began to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You were a UFO last night, isn’t that funny?” she giggled. “You do still remember our little trip, don’t you?”
“How could I forget that?” he laughed. “We were inside the sun, and I must admit I thought it was some kind of illusion, but now that the trooper confirmed it, I guess it really did happen. What do we do now?”
Connie frowned and looked down at the floor. “Josh, Barsat and his plan are accelerating. Soon, you will have no time to think, and yet, if you don’t choose well, the consequences for everyone could be dire.”
“I’m just a guy, Connie. How can I know what to do? Why don’t you just tell me?”
“It isn’t that easy, Josh. We are all in unknown territory. Nothing like this was ever supposed to happen. You just have to trust your instincts.”
“That doesn’t sound very reassuring,” he frowned.
“You have been given these amazing abilities, and I assume you were given the ability to choose well too. I have faith in you.”
“I just hope I don’t screw up.”
§
Shirley Cambridge woke in a large canopied bed, where all sides were covered with thick drapes. She was wearing a long nightgown and was under a heavy down comforter. She pulled open one of the drapes and saw she was in a large, lavishly decorated bedroom. The furniture was French provincial and several oil portraits were hung on the papered walls. She climbed out of bed and walked over to a large picture window, pulling open the curtains to reveal a broad lawn edged by a forest with an Alpine vista with several snow-capped peaks on the horizon. She looked through one open doorway that led into a marble-clad bathroom. After walking to the other door, she turned the handle slowly, discovering it was not locked. Pulling the door open, she found herself in a long hallway with another picture window at one end and a staircase at the other. As she walked toward the staircase, she began to hear a familiar voice.
“Henri, I think this kidnapping was not necessary,” Hammond Finch said.
“Frankly, I don’t give a damn what you think, Ham,” said the voice of the person who shot her the night before. “The time for calm and rational thinking has ended. This is my time now.”
“What abou
t the law?”
The other man laughed. “The law of humanity, is that what you mean? Are you referring to the law that varies from place to place and is ignored by most? And what about your attempted murder of Joshua?” There was a long pause. “Our guest is listening now, Ham. Ms. Cambridge, please come downstairs and join us!”
A few seconds later, Shirley peeked around the corner of the doorway into the library and said, “Why am I here? What did you do to me and my team?”
The library was quite large with tall bookcases filling three walls. The fourth wall held two windows and a bar. Sattu and Finch were sitting on overstuffed leather chairs in a group of four in the middle of the room. “Regrettably, I must inform you that your staff will survive their wounds, Shirley.”
“Regrettably?” Finch asked.
“You have to let me go, Mr. Sattu,” she said. “I have friends who will try to find me.”
“That is exactly what I am counting on, Shirley,” Sattu grinned. “But even Joshua Carpenter cannot save you from me. I am erasing the old order. My father and Emmanuel Judah are old fools who wish to perpetuate the status quo, but I am honestly sick to death of such foolhardiness. Thanks to me and my partner here, the balance of power has changed in my favor. Since my father refuses to accept that advantage, I will take it for him.”
“What are you blathering on about?” she screamed. “Are you insane?”
The room began to melt and the walls and furnishings crumbled around them, forming a multi-colored sludge beneath their feet. Finally, it changed into mud. They were all standing in a small opening in a dense forest. The trees rose hundreds of feet over their heads. Around the perimeter of the clearing were stakes every few feet with human heads impaled upon them. Shirley’s nightgown had become a tunic with a brass chest plate and she wore leather sandals and a belt with a long sword held in a scabbard. Finch was wearing a golden crown and heavy royal robes. Sattu was the winged demon and his eyes glowed with evil. “Am I the insane one, or are you, Shirley?” Barsat growled. “You claim to be a believer, so now you can believe in me.”
“Is all of this necessary, Henri?” Finch asked.
“Do you dare to question me?” Barsat hissed. Finch bowed deeply. “Where is your lover, Shirley? Where is Joshua Carpenter?”
“I don’t know!” she screamed.
More creatures like Barsat began to emerge from the forest. The stench of sulfur was suffocating. Eventually, the perimeter of the clearing was lined with the beasts. A wooden pole rose through the dirt behind Shirley and lashes flew around her, tying her securely to the pole. One of the beasts pulled the sword from her belt and held it to her throat. “Are you ready to die, Shirley?” Barsat grinned. The beast next to her began to laugh and pressed the blade to her neck.
A voice like thunder shouted “Stop!” causing the trees to shake and the monsters to cover their ears with their hands. A larger beast pushed through the line of monsters and walked into the clearing. “Barsat, what do you think you’re doing? You are going to destroy everything.”
“Father, you are a coward,” Barsat cried. “We have the advantage now! Let us destroy the Judahs and rule as is our destiny!”
The larger beast approached the one holding the sword to Shirley’s neck and growled deeply, exposing his fangs. The other dropped the weapon and backed away. “Nisfat, you continue to disappoint me,” the large beast said as he picked up the sword and crushed it in his hands. He walked over to Barsat and replied, “Your plan cannot succeed, my son. I know the bionics have given us some advantage, but it will never be enough to change our destiny.”
“From this moment, you are Adlat the coward. My father is dead to me.”
“Barsat, please reconsider. If I thought your plan could succeed, I would happily lead us there, but it can’t work.” All the monsters began to laugh and move forward. Within seconds, they had closed ranks around Adlat until he could no longer move. “You will regret this, my children!” he squeaked as they pounced on him, biting and ripping at his flesh. He let a blood-curdling scream as they started tearing him limb from limb. After a few moments, it became as quiet as a tomb. The monsters began to move backward. Shirley and Finch could see they were covered in blood.
Barsat picked up his father’s head and looked in the dead eyes. “You are a fool, Adlat.” He walked over to a sharp stake and impaled the head on it. “Okay, brothers, let us make our plans.” The monsters unfolded their wings and began to fly away. Barsat walked over to Shirley and ran the back of his bloody hand across her cheek. “Don’t go anywhere, okay? I’ll be back soon.” He laughed, grabbed Finch by the waist, and then took to the air. In a few seconds, the forest was dead quiet once again. Shirley was alone, surrounded by disembodied heads on stakes and the bloody remains of Adlat. She felt lost and alone, and began to cry. She called out for help and heard her voice echoing among the trees, but no one was around to hear.
After ten minutes, it began to rain, and then to pour down from the heavens. The rain seemed to have an effect on the monster’s corpse. Soon the pieces of flesh lost their color and shrank until they looked human. Another sound caught her attention, and she turned her head to see a man walking into the clearing. He walked up to her and removed the bindings. “Are you okay, Ms. Cambridge?” he asked.
“How do you know my name? Can you help me? I’ve been kidnapped.”
“I’m Manny Judah, Chris’s father. I really need your help now.”
“What can I do?” she asked.
“Bring me that head,” he said, pointing to the pole that held Adlat’s head.
Shirley grimaced as she grabbed the head and tried to pull it free. After three attempts, it came off the pole and fell to the ground. She picked it up and brought it to Judah, who had placed the severed body parts in rough alignment. He took the head from her and placed it above the torso. “Thank you.”
“This is some kind of nightmare, isn’t it?” she suggested. “None of this is real, it can’t be.” Judah had dropped to his knees and motioned for her to join him. “What’s going on?”
“I want you to pray with me, Shirley. Please help.” She frowned but got down on her knees in the thick mud. Rain continued to pour down on them. “Please pray for Armand’s life, Shirley.”
“But’s he’s some kind of monster!”
“There’s no time to discuss this now. Without Armand and me, the universe will devolve into a true horror, with monsters like Barsat living and ruling in the open. Humanity is doomed without us. Please!” he begged.
She closed her eyes and prayed. She could feel the sunlight shining on her back, but kept her eyes closed tightly. She prayed for the beast and also for Joshua to find her soon. “Okay, Shirley, thank you,” replied a voice in a French accent. She opened her eyes to see the dismembered man whole again and sitting up in front of her. “We should go now, Manny, before Barsat comes back.”
“You’re taking me too, right?” she begged.
Manny helped Shirley and Armand to their feet and then put his hands on Shirley’s shoulders. “Shirley, we cannot take you with us.” She looked aghast. “It will be okay. Barsat will not harm you. You are his only connection to Joshua Carpenter.”
“My son knows that if he harms you, Joshua will utterly destroy him and his brothers. That is why Joshua has his special abilities.”
“But what if you’re wrong? He already tried to kill my friends. What makes you so certain I will be safe?”
“Shirley, my son has changed the destiny of the planet with his greed. That is why Joshua was given those abilities. That is how the universe works! Neither good nor evil can have total dominion. People must be able to choose using their own free will. That is what life is all about. Since the modifications have given Barsat an advantage, Joshua gained the ability to stop him and reestablish the equilibrium.”
“He’s coming, Armand,” Judah warned.
“Please save me?” she begged.
“We will help Joshua protect you,
” both men said as they kissed her on the forehead. “Have faith, Shirley. We have faith in you.” They faded away.
§
Ted Dixon and Diane French arrived at his parent’s house for a family dinner. As Ted stood at the door being scanned, he could hear shouting from inside. The door opened automatically and they walked inside. A mechanical voice said, “Good evening, Ted, your parents are in the family room. Who is your guest, sir?”
“Diane French, M.D.,” he said.
“Welcome to our home, Doctor French,” the voice said. More shouting could be heard from the other side of the house.
“Just Diane is fine,” she said.
“Recorded, and thank you Diane.”
“Teddy, if you want me to stay out here while you find out what’s going on, that’s fine,” Diane suggested.
“No way, Diane,” he replied. “If you’re there, they’ll stop.” He took her by the hand and led her down the hallway toward the family room.
As they approached, they heard Bill say, “I am so disgusted with you, Louise. How did I put up with you so long?”
“Bill, why are you saying things like that? We’ve been married more than thirty years,” his wife cried.
“Too damned long!” he shouted back.
“What’s going on here?” Ted shouted as he and Diane entered the room. His parents were standing on opposite sides of the coffee table. His mother was red-faced, crying and trembling. She wore a long skirt and white blouse. Bill was wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt and black tie.
“Oh shit, I forgot about you coming over,” Bill said as he sat down on the couch and drained the whisky from his glass.
Louise hurried over to her son, who threw his arms around her. “Oh, Teddy, I don’t know what to do!”
“What’s wrong, Dad? I’ve never seen you like this.” Bill glowered at him but did not speak.
“Mr. Dixon, have you seen your doctor recently?” Doctor French asked. “This could be related to the surgery.”
