by Dervan Brown
“First of all, I am not a witch. Secondly, I didn’t take your money. You gave it to me. Now leave me alone for Christ sake, Leave!!” She commanded.
“You heard the lady, leave!” John supported and clasped his fingers in between Karla Steelburg’s fingers, “There is nothing here for you anymore. Another man has taken over.”
The agony of the truth hit home hard. Joseph face went cold and his eyes dilated into a hard stone. The repudiation quickly sunk in. That was it for him. Time to go back home. Never was there any sense in fighting a losing battle.
“Look, I am not sure what’s happening between the two of you” Andrew uttered loudly and shrugged John a good six feet away from Karla.
“Andrew, stop!!” She exclaimed.
“Karla, this idiot is ruining your life and you don’t even realize it.” Andrew pleaded.
“No he is not!”
“Andrew, I love your sister dearly, but God forbids, she can’t see that this fool is using her!” Joseph exclaimed.
“How am I using her? You sick bastard!” John responded, “You are a fifty year old man, having sex with a girl that is the same age as your daughter. For Christ sake, how do you sleep at night!!”
“The same way you sleep! Don’t come to me with that. We were good together.”
“You were supposed to be a father to her! You knew she needed one and you took deliberate disadvantage of her! What kind of man are you!!”
“I never used her. I was everything to her!” Joseph emphasized.
“And yet she never loved you!” John touched the spot. Joseph had always doubted her love for him. Regardless, he never questioned it. He had always indulged in the back of his mind that she would eventually grew to love him, but tonight the songs were different and all hope had shattered into unwarranted pieces.
“Joe for heaven sake leave. Go home.” Karla instructed.
Without further resistance, Joseph retreated, “Goodbye Karla.” He replied.
She nodded her head and gave him a cold repudiated stare.
“You are going to pay dearly for this” Andrew exclaimed at John.
Joe walked to his car without even glancing backwards. He drove away at God’s speed.
“Andrew listen, I’ll explain everything to you later. Let’s just calm down ok?”
“How am I supposed to be calm! You are destroying your own life, for this imbecile.”
“Listen John, just go home for now. I’ll call you in the morning, ok?”
John nodded in reply and walked away.
Chapter 13
Andrew Steelburg stood with a leaning posture against the doorpost of the entrance between the kitchen and dining quarters with a glass of ice cold water in his hand, anxiously waiting for an explanation from Karla Steelburg who was busy creating a maze with her dinner plate.
“I am waiting out of patience.” Andrew reminded her that he was standing in the room. She realized that within the maze the two paths to the exit window were blocked. She created a phenomenon in which there was no way out and turning back was no longer an option. There was no consolation for giving up. “There must be a prize for effort.” She thought.
“I am about to take a quick shower. When I get out I’ll explain it all to you.”
“Fine…I’ll be right here.”
Not a minute after she turned the shower on, Andrew started to dial Kevin’s Steelburg’s number.
“Hello” Kevin Answered.
“Hey Kevin! I want to talk to you about something. Where are you?”
“I am at my house, in Sawyers.”
“And there is no chance of you coming by here tonight?”
“Actually no. I had made other plans. Just tell me what’s bugging you and I’ll see how best I can deal with it.”
“You won’t believe this, but were you aware that your brother was sleeping with my sister all along?” Andrew blurted out.
“Ahh am! Wow! I had no idea that they were that close, but Jesus Christ! Are you sure about this?”
“Yes I am sure. Look, a few minutes ago there was a big fight among I, Karla, your brother and Joe.”
“Who Joseph Gibson, Karla’s boyfriend?”
“Yes…the said one!”
“So what happened?” Kevin inquired.
“Karla broke up with Joe and told him to leave, and at one point there was an argument between John and Joe. When I told John to back off and leave, he wouldn’t. Look you have to believe me.”
“Ok…Ok, I believe you, but damn this is quite ugly. The entire family’s dignity is being jeopardized here.”
“That’s exactly what I am saying. This foolishness has to end, now! That is my little sister Kevin. She means a lot to me.”
“I know, just leave it to me. I’ll sort this mess out…by the way, where is John?”
“He left to come there. I guess he is on his way.” He replied.
“Ok, good. Don’t sweat it. I’ll take care of this mess.” Kevin assured.
“Good, I’ll leave it to you then.”
“Bye.”
As he hung up the phone and relaxed into the sofa, Karla came out from the bathroom with folded arms and a disappointed demeanor.
“I heard you, every word!” She fringed.
“Karla it’s for your own good.” He reiterated.
Who died and made him king? Yes, her father died but there was no reason he should feel compelled to take care of her. Besides, where was he when her back was against the wall and life almost cheated her to death?
“Listen to me! Stay out of it! It’s not your concern!” She yelled at him, “You are not my father and you never will be!”
“You will do exactly as I say! I am putting my foot down! You will have nothing further to do with John Steelburg! Do you understand me?”
“Oh is that right!” She laced back at him and poised an akimbo, “Well guess what! I am having his baby and there is nothing, absolutely nothing you can do to stop it!”
Impulses of shocking disbelief transcended through the nerve synapses of his body. His face went cold and hard as if bitten by a venomous snake. He afforded not another word before she walked out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
Chapter 14
John Steelburg counted twenty two tiles from the bottom of the steps to the porch. Standing at the door he heard mumbling coming from the living, and he suddenly realized that his mother, Kevin and his sister had already got news of the ordeal that took place just minutes ago. He was about to turn around and walk a little bit longer, but figured the drama was more or less inevitable. He pushed the door open, went inside slowly and sucked all the air from the room.
“Hey there mother…Kevin.” Kathy wasn’t important, so he refrained from gracing her with the common greeting of a plastic smile and a showcase of his index finger. He noticed the blatant condescension on Kathy Warren’s unusually ugly face. “This wouldn’t miss her for the world. The opportunity rarely ever came to watch John Steelburg be scorned at for his repugnance.”
“I am embarrassed for you!” Kathy started.
“Embarrassed for what?” John promptly asked with risen eyebrows depicting his concerned curiosity.
“Young man, what is this I hear about you having an affair with your cousin?” That wasn’t so much of a question. She demanded an answer. “I have given you the benefit of the doubt, now what say you?”
Kathy rolled her eyes and folded her hands in anticipation for his response.
“Is that the reason you are embarrassed half-blood?” John provoked in a gist to remind her that it’s none of her business.
“I wish we weren’t related. She invoked.
“Sentiments shared.” He responded then looked at Kevin to surmise his contempt.
“Do you have anything to say to that?” John frankly asked.
“Have you ever heard of the term incest before?” Kevin asked subtly.
“Yes I have. It’s not a crime if it’s consensual.”
“Lord Savior in heaven, it is true!” His mother gave out and exploded into trembling discomfort.
“It is satirical, abhorrent, repulsive and distasteful!” Kevin scoffed in a higher pitch voice edging on anger and disappointment.
“You are a freak!” Kathy snapped, “I always knew you were a weirdo!”
“First of all I am not a freak!” John bluntly added, “And second of all, Karla and I…are in love.”
“In love, in love!!” Williams exclaimed in an incoherent voice. “Boy have you lost your mind!”
“John listen to me. I am your older brother. Trust me, this doesn’t look good one bit. You know how these people are. They will shun the entire family.”
“This selfish pervert only thinks about himself!” Kathy spurred her venom of distaste and condescension at him.” Gosh, you are such an idiot!”
Suddenly all the attention was turned to the sound of Kevin’s phone ringing in his pocket.
“Hello, who is this?” Kevin answered.
“It’s me Frank.”
“What is it Frank? I’m in the middle of something here.”
“I don’t mean to bother, it’s just that I was coming from the bar, and I heard the guys gossiping as usual. Actually one of them said that your little brother was fucking your cousin Karla, and it developed into an oversized fuss. Is there any truth to this?”
“Look Frank, I have heard the rumors, but I’m at home trying to sort out some important business. I will get back to you on that.”
“Alright man, let me know.” Frank finished.
“See, that’s exactly what I am talking about. That was Frank Adimore on the phone telling me that this stink is the hot topic on the bar table!”
“Oh Lord, we need you here!” His mother gave out.
“Look! You have to set this straight,” Kevin pleaded, “Tell everyone that it’s mere rumors…and in addition, stop seeing Karla for good. Do you understand me?”
Still maintaining his humble composure, John looked into his eyes with a stern face and sharply replied,
“I am sorry but that’s not going to happen.”
In the middle of it all his mother stood to her feet and walked up to his face. Overwhelming anger and distraught pulsed her to slap some sense into him but it was the grace of God that held her hands at her side.
“Boy, I have had enough of this!” She forged, “Your father had left us when you were just two years old and I have struggled hard to keep this family together since, and as there is a heaven and a God, I will not allow you to destroy it. This is not the son I raised. I don’t know what has gotten into you lately, but you need to stop this nonsense, now!”
“It is love mother….love has gotten into me.”
“You cannot love your cousin. It is a sin. It’s wrong.” She reiterated.
“How is it wrong mother?” He asked, “Based on what, the bible or is it that you’re just afraid of what people will say?”
“This is nothing more than an abomination!” She cursed.
“Well guess what? I don’t take much of what the bible says anymore and I damn sure don’t care what people have to say!” John uttered in an unapologetic voice.
“Don’t you raise your voice at me boy! His mother exclaimed, “I am going to inform your father of this matter!”
“And what difference will it make?” He subtly asked.
“If I can’t talk some sense into you, well maybe he can”
“I seriously doubt that. Maybe if he was here I would have known who my family was and this wouldn’t be happening.”
“He left for a good reason.” His mother claimed.
“That’s not my prerogative and now that I think about it, I’m glad he did.” John audaciously asserted.
“Listen to me child…”
“No! You listen!” John forcefully interjected, “I am not a child. Stop treating me like one. I am sick and tired of it! Secondly, there is nothing, absolutely nothing you can do to separate me and Karla.” John boldly declared and stared into each one of them eyes to make sure that they had heard him loud and clear.
“You are dismissed!” She cursed.
He nodded and walked to the entrance of the passage to this room and on existing he announced,
“I’ll have you know, Karla Steelburg, my cousin by blood, is carrying my child.”
His mother felt for the chair behind her and eased the pressure off her shaking feeble legs. They were struck dumb. Words are not enough to bring to life the shocking disbelief that shaded their faces and evoked a provocative tension in the living quarters.
Chapter 15
The dark night waited patiently alongside the camouflaged three striped snipers for the break of dawn. The synchronized watch the Major wore on his left wrist signaled 17:99 hours.
“Stinger do you have a shot?”
“Target on lock Major, waiting for command.”
“Good, do not blink until I give the word and the target is eliminated.”
“Copy Major.”
General Gibson sat behind his desk with closed eyes. His screwed and wrinkled face displayed an angry preoccupancy. More than likely it was war that manifested his thoughts. A bloody massacre in concept. Efforts for an up close shot of the General would have been futile. They all would have been captured and killed, execution style.
17:99:55
“Five, four, three, two, one---fire!”
“Shit! You missed!” Major blurted.
“That’s impossible!”
“Well you just made the impossible possible.”
“It must have been the wind! Stinger accused.
“Shit! They have been alerted. They know we are here.” The tremor in his voice was vivid through the radio in his ear, “God Squad fall back! The enemy knows we are here.”
It was one mile from the compass of the rifle to the wooden four compartment cabin. The wind was uneasy and it took careful precision garnered from years of training and experiences from previous war to obtain a fairly steady aim to the head. Today the general had only luck on his side.
“General Gibson, there!” The soldier pointed to the random scattering of birds in the forest.
“Go now, search the perimeter, eliminate them, and bring back the heads.” The General commanded and the soldiers emptied the arsenal and assembled their armor. “No man tries to take my life and escapes. They are in for a rude awakening!”
The soldiers in dark green suits and black hats and boots, launched into the forest, carrying AK47 rifles, point three eight barrel guns and laser sharp double edge sword-knives. The sun was rising and the war was near.
Their hearts drummed wild, not in fear of death or injury but in fear of losing the essence of the war. As every soldier knew, in every art of war, there is love. That is what they fought for. To die to make love live.
“Dispatcher we need an immediate extraction. The mission has been compromised. Need extraction now!”
“Copy Major-- Sending Black Eagle for extraction. Can you hold for fifteen minutes?”
“Do we have a choice?”
“Over and out.”
“Soldiers, black eagle will be here in fifteen. We have to hold out till then. Kill anything that moves!”
“They are gaining on us Major!”
“Your rifle on cock?”
“Yes sir.”
“Well pad it against your chest and brace yourself.”
“Over there, move move!” The enemy detail uttered.
“Fuck, we are outnumbered.”
“Yeah, it’s about thirty of them and God only knows how many rounds of extension clips.”
“Tango on three. Fire at will. Aim for the hearts.”
“Roger that!”
“One---two--”
The first barrage of shots echoed through the forest. Hawks and canaries scattered in flight as blood splattered from the soldiers’ chests.
The alarming explosions drummed John Steelburg’s ears, sending a sh
ocking stimulant through his nervous system. He quickly jumped to his feet out of his deep sleep and on hearing another round of heavy gunshot he rushed outside. Only to find himself in the middle of a war, wearing nothing more than white Calvin Klein boxer and socks.
John quickly ran and stooped behind an oak tree. Frighten for his dear life, and pissing in his socks as hollow points shattered the bark of the tree. “What is this!” He screamed, “Why are they trying to take my life!”
In sudden haste the Major rushed to his aid. In a stealth maneuver he returned fire and managed to kill the two black hearted soldiers scoring for John’s demise.
“Look son, we are here to protect you, this is your war. We will die for your cause. Just promise us you will never give up on it.” The Major pleaded.
“What—What!!” John stuttered in the depth of his confusion.
The major handed him an army vest, brown boots and body armor, “Come on son, this is war! We have no time to waste and there is no turning back!”
John quickly zipped his pants and tied his laces. The Major handed an M16 rifle to his chest, and stared deep into his eyes.
“You are a soldier now! Together we fight! Fight for your love! To the very end!”
“Yes sir! Yes sir!” John muscled the courage of a thousand army and shouted to his face with due militancy, then clamped the clip into the rifle, unlatched the safety, cranked the weapon, faced his enemy with bloody eyes and squeezed the trigger. Hot hollow point shells rained like a miserable storm in September.
“Four down…” Roach counted, as he shifted his focus from the firing battalion in the near distance to reloading the cartridge into his rifle. In training, it would take him less than seven seconds. But the bantering of his heart against his chest and with the adrenaline rush that tremor his fingers along with the fear of a blind bullet piercing his head, it took him a little over eleven seconds. With that restless performance, he was lucky to be alive.
