by Tony Martin
“God. God, I --” Joshua began, but his voice left him. He wanted to cower in pure, crystalline fear.
Then Al stepped in front of the group. He raised his hands as if he were a priest offering a benediction. Then, in a pure, heartbreaking Irish tenor, he began to sing:
“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.”
Joshua joined Al at his side. “And, Father, we acknowledge that we are not equal to what is before us now,” Joshua prayed. We beg you to rid this place of this pestilence.”
The two entities didn’t move. A cadaverous smile crept across the man’s face. The woman’s face was twisted in pain.
Al took a deep breath and continued:
“Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.”
The man, his face still wreathed in a hideous smile, raised a luminous arm and pointed at Meredith. The woman seemed to weep silently.
“Go away!” cried Meredith again.
Al took a step forward, calling on reserves of courage previously unknown to him. He sang out with renewed passion:
“And tho’ this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.”
Time stood still as the last word of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” hung in the air. The words of the classic Reformation hymn by Martin Luther carried tremendous force in this moment. No one moved or barely breathed.
Then the man laughed at Joshua. No sound came out as his shoulders shook. His face was alight with perverse glee. He looked at the young woman by his side.
The woman opened her mouth in a silent scream. Her face contorted. Raising her arms, she seemed to fade, lift from the ground, twisting as smoke in the wind. Without warning, the young woman rushed headlong toward Meredith, faster than the eye could register.
Meredith fell to the floor as if struck. The woman wrapped her in her arms as the rest of the group stood fast where they were. As they watched in horror, Meredith’s head whipped back and forth. Her fingers scrabbled on the floor like spiders. She kicked spasmodically, scraping her shoes. Then, as though attached to invisible wires, Meredith rose to her feet, her body limp, her head lolling back. In a paroxysm of terror, Joshua watched as Meredith’s feet left the ground, dangling inches above the floor.
Joshua shook himself like a wet dog. Suddenly striding toward Meredith, he cried out, “Get away.”
Meredith head snapped upright, her eyes bulging. She looked at the vaporous entity that had its arms about her, and stared into what might have been a mirror. She felt as though the woman’s eyes were bottomless pits. “Let me go,” she said, then wailed, “Jesus, help me.”
The woman released Meredith, whose feet struck the ground with a thump. She staggered briefly, then moved to Joshua’s side. As if on cue, lightning ripped across the sky, and the thunder which followed shook the foundations of the house.
The man, still glaring balefully, was no longer smiling. His eyes flashed with pure hate. He gestured toward Meredith again, but the woman shook her head. To their amazement, those soulless black eyes were gone; instead, the woman’s eyes were clear and green. Meredith could have been looking at her identical twin.
Precious, Al, and Jimmy circled around the apparitions warily, coming to stand beside Joshua and Meredith. They stood in a parallel line, facing the ethereal man and woman.
“I’ve seen enough of what the devil can do,” said Jimmy, his body coiled as if he could pounce. “Now we will see what God can do.”
Precious, who seemed dazed since his fall, tried to focus on what was before him. “In the name of Jesus, go away,” he whispered.
The man turned on Precious. He lifted his cane and swung it. The cane passed harmlessly right through Precious, leaving a trail of bluish vapor.
Joshua pointed at Meredith. “Leave her alone. Leave us alone,” he said, panting. “In the name of God, be gone.”
What happened next was horrific in its surprise. The air in the great hall seemed to come to life, swirling around the hapless group, and the ghastly sighing filled the room. Buffeted as though by the storm outside, which had returned with redoubled force, Meredith cried out and clung to Joshua’s arm.
“Jesus. Christ,” Joshua began. He paused, emotionally shattered, as the man spoke aloud. His voice was in the unearthly moaning, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.
“That name I cannot bear,” said the man. His face contorted.
“What do you want with us?” asked Joshua. “In the name of Jesus, answer me!”
The air pulsed with the hollow roaring as the man threw back his head. He said nothing.
“Have you no rest?” said Precious.
“No,” the man said, the response booming throughout the room.
“Why?”
“On account of my sinful acts,” the man said, his face wavering as though seen through water.
“Could you not be forgiven?” asked Joshua, striving to regain some calm.
“I could not,” the man said.
“Why didn’t you pray to Jesus for forgiveness?” asked Joshua.
The man bellowed like an animal. The sound hit Joshua with palpable force. “I cannot bear that name!” the man cried.
Joshua stole a glance at the woman, standing – hovering – nearby. Her eyes were fixed on the man, a look of wonder on her ethereal face.
“Are you alone?” Precious asked the man.
“No.”
“Who is with you?
The man looked about the room. “The Worst One of all.”
With those words, the air vibrated with the shrieks of a thousand butchered animals. From somewhere above, the squeals of what sounded like pigs or wild boars enveloped the room. The man covered his ears. The squeals faded away.
The woman showed no fear. Instead, she looked at Meredith compassionately. Meredith was transfixed. As she watched, the woman came to her side, and reached up to touch Meredith’s face. Meredith stood still, her eyes shining luminously.
Then the woman spoke for the first time. “Meredith, my dear,” she said, in a voice like a faraway wind. “We are finished here.”
She turned to the man, who uncovered his ears. For what seemed like eternity, no one moved or spoke.
The woman raised her hands before her. “Papa,” she said, “all is forgiven.”
The man cried out in agony. “Daughter,” he said, “you may forgive, but I am unforgiven. Waste not this time of mercy – for me, it is eternally too late.”
With that, the man faced the group. “He is coming for me,” he said. “His plans are destroyed. I am lost and forever cursed. All is now lost. Oh, if there were only no God in heaven!”
The sound of squealing returned. The man – Jacob Dubose – cried out. As they watched, a purplish glow enveloped Dubose. He writhed, swatting at the air. As he struggled, he began to fade, becoming more vaporous. The last the group saw of him was his face, suspended in mid-air, his mouth open in a silent scream. Then he was gone, and the horrific squealing once again faded.
Joshua was so awed by what he’d just seen that he forgot about the woman. He turned, and saw Meredith standing, facing the woman. The resemblance was perfect.
What – who - seemed to be Margaret Dubose was speaking to Meredith, who was no
dding. Joshua was not afraid as he watched this exchange. Then Margaret turned to him.
“It is finished,” Margaret said in the tones of rustling leaves. “You are loosed from the sins of your fathers.”
Joshua looked at Meredith, who was unabashedly weeping. He felt tears well up in his own eyes. “Goodbye,” he managed to say.
“You are an honorable man,” said Margaret to Joshua. She looked at Meredith. “God go with you, my dear.”
As they watched, Margaret Dubose was enshrouded in what looked like luminous dust motes. She raised her eyes heavenward. With just the faintest breeze stirring through the room, Margaret shimmered, bathed in an opalescent light, and within moments she began to fade. Her garments fluttered about her as she became more and more transparent. Then she was gone.
Joshua looked around. Meredith had her face buried in Jimmy’s shoulder. Precious blinked like an owl in the beams from the flashlight. Al was holding the back of a chair, steadying himself.
Al walked unsteadily back to the group. Jimmy wanted to speak, but just shook his head. He stroked Meredith’s hair, and she looked around at everyone else with a tired, but triumphant smile.
“It’s over,” she said. “It’s really, really over.”
Al looked at her, and then the electricity came back on. Everyone squinted in the sudden light.
Joshua took one more look around the house, which had settled into simple repose. The rain had stopped. He opened the door and looked out across the front lawn, through the avenue of oaks and to the bluffs beyond.
“Whaddya know,” said Joshua as the rest of the group joined him. “It’s not nighttime yet. The sun is coming out.”
Chapter Twenty-Four - Homegoing
The following Sunday, at Joshua’s instigation, the deacons of Calvary Church met. Joshua knew that talk was rampant in the church, and rumors abounded. He resolved after the final events at the Dubose mansion that his best tactic would be to come completely clean. He had Gretchen prepare a timeline of the events, what had happened each day, for the deacons to examine.
So Joshua told the men exactly what happened. He’d fantasized that they would all come to their feet, affirming him with spontaneous applause, but what he received instead was mostly blank stares. He asked for questions, and to his utter astonishment, there were none. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.
Bud Michaels, who’d moderated the meeting, stood beside Joshua before the deacons. “Men, you’ve heard Brother Joshua’s story. It is, frankly, remarkable, and even implausible. At least, that is what I would’ve believed, had not my own personal experiences verified that we have been, indeed, under supernatural attack. Now, it seems as though that is behind us.”
The men sat stoically. A few whispered among themselves.
“I think it’d be appropriate if we could show our support for our pastor. If you covenant with me to affirm him and pray for him and his family – because there still may be challenging days ahead – would you signify that by an uplifted hand?”
Bud gazed across the room. Virtually all the men raised their hands, although some were obviously hesitant. Most noticeable among those who made it a point not to raise their hand was Joel Battaglia, who sat sullenly with his arms folded. Bud shook his head.
“I’d like to speak,” said Joel. Joshua, who on other occasions would have cringed, regarded Joel impassively.
Joel stood. “We weren’t given the option this afternoon to keep our opinions to ourselves,” he said. “And while I do promise to pray for my pastor and his family, I am still working through all that has happened. I can’t help but wonder what the community at large will say when this all gets out. But Joshua, I recognize that you’re my pastor, and I won’t cause any trouble for you.” He sat down, thought a moment, then stood again.
“I think it’s a shame that we can’t be unanimous in affirming our pastor,” Joel said. “So, Mr. Chairman, I move that we show our affirmation by acclamation, making it a unanimous vote. I – and anyone else who feels as I do – can just abstain from voting.”
“Second,” someone said.
“We have a motion and a second,” Bud said, “Any discussion?” Silence. He looked at Joel, who was staring at the floor.
“So,” said Bud, “all in favor of making our previous vote unanimous by acclamation can signify so by the uplifted hand.” All but three hands shot up. “And … I guess that means you others are abstaining.” No one responded.
Bud dismissed the group with prayer. Joshua caught his sleeve as they filed out.
“That was a Robert’s Rules of Order nightmare,” Joshua said. “A parliamentarian would have flayed us alive.”
“Whatever it takes,” said Bud. “I’m going to do a little politicking, to see if I can stop any talk before it gets started. Leave it to me.”
“I appreciate that,” said Joshua. “Although, in light of the last couple of days, it sure seems awfully petty.”
“It’s just church,” said Bud wearily.
The following Monday Meredith and Bernadine moved back into the Dubose mansion. Meredith was concerned about Bernadine. She’d told Bernadine, in excruciating detail, all that had happened.
Bernadine entered the great hall and drew a deep breath. She closed her eyes and smiled. “Sweet pea,” she said to Meredith, “it’s good to be home.”
Christine and Lydia came over that afternoon. The house wasn’t as messy as they’d dreaded, and the other women helped Meredith and Bernadine settle in quickly.
Lydia was loading one final batch of whites into the washing machine when there was a knock at the door. It was Al and Precious.
“Just came to say goodbye,” said Precious. “Where’s everyone else?”
“I’ll find them,” said Lydia. She disappeared, and returned shortly with Meredith, Bernadine, and Christine.
“Ladies,” said Precious, “I will never forget what we went through. I have learned a lot –from you, and about myself.”
“Precious,” said Meredith, “I don’t want to revisit old haunts, so to speak, but how do you interpret all that happened?”
“My dear, I wouldn’t even presume to try at this point,” he said. “Maybe in a few days I’ll get my notes together and try to come up with something coherent. In the meantime, I think I’ll be satisfied just to wonder.”
Meredith gave Precious a hug. He felt like a teddy bear. “Thanks for all you’ve done,” she said.
“My pleasure,” said Precious. “I’ve already said my goodbyes to everyone else, but I couldn’t go back to New Orleans without seeing you once more.”
“The parting of the Fellowship,” said Christine.
“I’m not headed for the Gray Havens,” said Precious. “Just the Big Easy.” Everyone smiled but Bernadine, who looked bewildered.
“Ladies,” he said, “I must be on my way. If I can leave right after taking Al home, I’ll be in New Orleans by midnight. Take care.”
“Bye, Precious,” said Meredith.
Precious gave a little bow as the other women said their goodbyes. He and Al climbed in Precious’ Suburban and drove away.
“That man is one of a kind,” said Meredith.
“And don’t forget he’s single,” said Christine helpfully.
Joshua looked at the TV between his two bare feet. He idly punched the remote control, what was on each channel barely registering with him. He wished it were football season.
Bethany came and sat down beside him. She stroked the hair on his wrist. “So, pal,” she said, “how ya doing these days?”
“I’m OK, thanks,” Joshua said. “There’s still some little rumblings in the church about all we’ve been through, but I think Bud’s done a great job at keeping folks settled down. He believes it’ll all blow over until the next crisis. Maybe I need to tell folks I want to put purple carpet in the sanctuary, or something. That’ll give ‘em something else to spaz over.”
“You are the consummate pro,” said Bethany. “You can
be pretty doggone evasive if it suits you.”
“Am I being evasive?”
“Well – yeah,” said Bethany. “I haven’t wanted to pry – OK, well, maybe I have – but you haven’t told me what you think.”
“About what?”
“All of it. The Dubose stuff. Duh.”
Joshua shook his head. “I’m still picking it all apart.”
“Talk to me, Nix.”
“It’s all raw data,” said Joshua. “But there’s one fundamental question I can’t get my mind to wrap around. Was this demonic activity? Was it ghosts? Did Satan do it? Did God allow it? And why?”
“That’s more than one question.”
“And I got no answers,” said Joshua, drumming his fingers together. “I can’t shake what this entity, this apparition of Margaret Dubose said. ‘It is finished.’ That doesn’t sound demonic to me. The sins of the fathers … and she forgave her father, the one who committed the heinous sin against her. Nope,” Joshua said. “That’s more something that would’ve come from an angel. Why’d God allow it? Beats the heck outta me.”
“And Jacob Dubose?”
“Pure evil,” stated Joshua flatly. “Man. I get chills just thinking about him. ‘The worst one of all’ was with him. And those squeals. Beyond forgiveness. Whew.”
“And then you and Meredith had to come along at just the right time,” said Bethany. “It’s like y’all had to bring closure to an evil that has surrounded this family – your family, wow! – for generations.”
“We just didn’t experience the things in my family the Duboses’ have,” said Joshua. “Why? Guess we can’t know all the answers.”
“There’s a lot unanswered here,” said Bethany. “But I guess this’ll just have to be one of those ‘through a glass, darkly’ things.”
