“Welcome to Maya!” boomed Nate’s voice, as it resonated out into the sanctuary through the surround sound.
The crowd rose its feet, and a thundering applause broke out, chanting, “Maya! Maya!” echoed in the hall.
After pacing around the platform and waving to the crowd, Nate announced, “My friends, tonight we have the distinct honor of hosting my fellow Clerica from some of the most dynamic Mayas in Noab.”
Applause broke out again, Nate took the opportunity personally welcome the visiting Clerica, hugging some of them and shaking hands. As those on the platform mingled with each other, Ahuva went to greet one of the Clerica, and as she extended her hand, she was shocked to see, camouflaged but still slightly noticeable, an almost serpentine bend in his pupils. She feigned a smile and quickly pulled her hand from his, resulting in a slight sneer from him.
Who is he…she thought to herself. “What is he?” she muttered under her breadth.
The crowd began to seat itself, and those on the platform found their places. Melinda noticed Ahuva distressed face, but with a pat on her hand, Ahuva signaled that could be addressed later.
“My friends,” Nate announced, “Tonight, I have chosen to change our normal agenda and serve the Meal first. Ushers please make ready the elements.”
It was always Nate’s routine to serve the elements of his leadership first, but when he prepared to do so, he caught notice of a lone hooded man, standing at the foot of the platform, his gaze pierced Nate’s soul, causing him to stop.
Two ushers hurried over to the escort the man out of the hall, but when they grabbed him, they could not move him, it was as if he were rooted to the place where he stood. “Sir,” stuttered one usher, “please come with us.”
The man simply looked at them and they, feeling fearful, backed away immediately.
Banedread watched with an intrepid curiosity. Nate stood still, holding the elements, taken by the stranger’s presence. The outsider slowly climbed the steps and walked over to Nate. A holy silence rested on the Maya. Pulling back his hood, Nate was taken with the silver braided hair, broad cheeks, square jaw, and penetrating emerald green eyes…it was Life Weaver! Not saying a word, He gently took the elements from Nate’s trembling hands and administered the bread and the wine to him.
Nate fell to his knees, tore the mask from his face and wept loudly.
Banedread had never experienced the Image Maker, and his better senses cautioned him to be still.
Life Weaver surveyed the leaders seated, now glued to their benches. His gaze stopped for a moment on each of the Abbandon, and for the first time in their pitiful existence they felt energy they could not discern…love. Life Weaver slowly walked over to Banedread, and whispered to him, “What you have determined to do, you will do with none to stop you.”
He turned and left the Maya, disappearing into the city streets.
Banedread, seized the moment, grabbed a microphone, jumped to center stage, and stunned the crowd.
“My name is Dr. Saduj Costello, Clerica of the Northside Maya. My colleagues and I have come tonight to bring you some very sad news. After an undercover investigation, we have found Clerica Nate to be guilty of embezzling money into his private bank account. We cannot tolerate such unethical behavior in the Fellowship. So tonight, we are relieving him of his position and I will take oversight until such time we can find a replacement.”
Nate, jumping to his feet, screamed, “This is not true! You can’t do this to me!”
Surreptitiously, police jumped to the stage and escorted a struggling Nate through the disbelieving eyes of his congregation and outside into a patrol car headed for police headquarters.
Banedread knew he must quiet the crowd and gain control, and he did. “Please! Please be seated!”
Emma and Chad held hands tightly, knowing that something was terribly wrong! Ahuva glanced over to the Clerica who shook her hand earlier, a victorious smirk now spread across his face while he gawked at her unashamedly.
Off microphone, Banedread ordered the ushers to remove the elements of the Meal, for he would have no part of that memorial.
“My friends, I and our leadership do apologize for this embarrassing event, but at least we can say that we are transparent before you, whom we are called to serve. I, along with the Board, will make sure there is a smooth transition of authority here at the High Place. For now, I dismiss you all!”
The crowd, shocked and now hushed by this news, began to empty out of the building.
Rulk and several of his disguised brothers surrounded Emma and her four companions, seeking to question them.
“I don’t seem to recognize you from any of the Clerica meetings,” Rulk inquired. “If I may ask, who are you?”
But, before they could respond, the usher who had escorted them into the hall interrupted the conversation, “Excuse me Clerica, these guests are my responsibility and I must see them out to an awaiting vehicle.”
Rulk and the usher briefly met eye to eye, and they both discerned that they were more to each of them than their appearances allowed. Prone to an explosive temper, Rulk replied angrily, “They will be dismissed when I say they can be dismissed!”
“Clerica Ahmed!” a commanding voice bellowed. “Our guests must leave, let them be,” Banedread ordered. Ahmed was the name given to Rulk in his role as a Clerica.
Rulk clenched his teeth, bowed slightly, stepped aside, and, with a wave of his hand motioned for the usher and his guests to leave.
Banedread pulled Rulk aside and warned, “If you blow our cover, you will forfeit your very life!”
Outside, the usher hurried his four guests into a waiting vehicle and off they sped.
“Jonas?” questioned Chad.
Turning around from the front seat he responded, “Yes, it is I, my dear friend, and, your chauffeur is none other than Meliose.”
“I am so glad you two are here!” Emma exclaimed. “What on earth happened in there? Where did they take Nate?”
Melinda added, “I don’t think they were the good guys, were they Jonas?”
Before Jonas could respond, Ahuva said, “No, Melinda, they were not the good guys, they reeked of the Netherlife!”
“Yes, you are correct, Ahuva, some of those Clerica were not, how shall I say, human.”
“Jonas, who is this Banedread character? I have a feeling he is behind this, the first I met with him, red flags galore!” Chad exclaimed.
“He is shrouded in the darkness of the Netherlife, protecting his identity.”
Meliose, the tone of his voice grave, explained, “Jonas, I am bringing this company to The Song Shop, there, Abriel awaits us with a report as to what the Enemy is preparing for Noab.”
Off they sped into the night, each feeling the anxious tug of a foreboding, gathering maelstrom.
◆◆◆
Nate sat in the back seat of a police cruiser attempting to gather his wits. None of this makes any sense, he thought to himself. Suddenly, the cruiser pulled over and from what Nate could see, another police vehicle came to a stop behind them. He watched the officer who was assigned to him get out of his seat and meet what appeared to be two other officers. After a brief discussion, they opened the rear door and ordered Nate, “Change of plans Clerica, these two officers will take you from here.”
“Good evening Clerica,” one officer greeted.
As they escorted him to the back door of the cruiser the other officer asked, “Is your name Nate or Clerica?”
Puzzled, Nate respectfully responded, “Well, I am a Clerica with the Maya, not too far from here.”
“I didn’t ask you that. I asked you if your name is Clerica or Nate?”
“Well, yes my name is Nate, but I am a Clerica.”
“I really don’t care about the Clerica thing. Also, aren’t you from the country?”
Nate grew uncomfortable with the line of questioning, as it didn’t, in his mind, seemed logical. Humoring he said, “Why yes, I am originally from the
country.”
“Where is you accent? You know, that slow, laid back country accent?”
“Well, I suppose living in the big city has affected me.”
“I say it has! The Nate that I knew enjoyed fishing! And even took a few mysterious plunges into the water a few times.”
Nate’s eyes grew as large as saucers and yelled, “Infinitum! It’s you!”
“Now that’s the Nate I know.”
Nate hugged him like a long lost brother. “Hey, my accent is back!”
“So it is my friend. You are not going to the police station. You have done nothing wrong. I am bringing you to The Song Shop. There is an important gathering there this evening.”
“Oh yeah, this other officer is a brother Chayil, Naryon.”
“Please to meet you Nate,” Naryon said.
And off to The Song Shop the threesome sped.
Upon arriving at the Mall, Infinitum parked the vehicle, and they made their way to the Shop. Awaiting them were Emma, Chad, Melinda, and Ahuva, along with Jonas and a very special guest.
“Welcome brothers!” a hardy Meliose bellowed.
Emma practically ran to Nate, embracing him, and with tears in her eyes, said, “What happened back there, Nate?”
Nate, for the first time in a long time, enjoyed a simple hug and a smile. “I have no idea what happened tonight, but I’m thinking that the Chayil do know what is happening in Noab.”
“Please everyone,” announced a voice that the humans had not heard in quite a while, “be seated, we have much to discuss.” Abriel, Chief Watchman over Humanity wasted no time addressing his friends. “We are about to witness the unveiling of who this Banedread really is. He is not just a successful businessman. Primus has cloaked him in secrecy and in darkness until the chosen time. And, there is more.”
Meliose rose to his feet, his broad shoulders a testament to his noble heart, and he continued, “We are on the brink of a great conflict, one that spans even the confines of this universe. It is a conflict in which those who profess and cling to the Netherlife and explore the depths of Intheism seek to either convert or annihilate their enemies.”
“But what of the Mayas?” Nate asked.
Abriel nodded at Infinitum, who graciously responded to Nate’s question, “Philon is not limited to buildings, my friend. The Song was given to living beings, not buildings. And no titles or organizations or personalities can ever take that from you. He has always loved you. And he is especially fond of fishing with you, Nate.”
For the first time is quite awhile, Nate felt a weight lifting from his shoulder. He felt like himself again. Emma held his hand, squeezing it gently, assuring him.
“I will say this in closing my friends, there is a battle ahead of us all that will test the core of who we are, but be sure of this, Creation is on the brink of the birthing of the next Age, the Consummation is upon us!”
Chapter 10
Over the following months, Banedread managed, under the guise of Dr. Saduj Costello, to all but dominate the Maya meetings by speaking to them all simultaneously via satellite feed.
Continuing with the practice of the Clerica custom of orators, he spoke on seemingly harmless, uplifting themes to the Fellowship. Positive thinking, staying away from negative people, being all they can be, inward meditation, and the like, weaving the deceptions of Intheism into his messages.
At first Saduj manufactured excuses such as time constraints as to why the Meal was not celebrated, until it was forgotten and replaced with his extended teachings on bettering one’s self. But that was only preparing the groundwork for his true intention.
After saturating the Mayas and citizens in Noab with proclamations and dazzling marketing, the day came for the Fellowship, which by now had been inculcated and convinced to trust and follow Dr. Costello, to meet the first High Clerica of the Fellowship. All the locations were filled with overflowing crowds as the excitement came to a crescendo and expectations were at a fevered pitch. A public holiday was declared, and Noabians crowded the city streets in the afternoon sun. Celebration and anticipation electrified the air!
Saduj, dressed in a flowing lavender robe, with gold inlays weaving out from his chest like streams of water down the sleeves and length of the robe, went live to all the fellowships and households from atop the Ziggurat in the heart of Noab, opening up the much awaited event.
“Welcome my fellow Noabians! Welcome my fellow Mayans! May the inner light be with you all!”
And the people shouted back wholeheartedly, “And also with you!”
Atop the massive Ziggurat, enclosed in a bullet proof glass penthouse, and open to the heavens above, surrounded by trusted Clerica and body guards, Saduj gazed out over the crowd, and lifting his hands as if embracing his listeners declared, “This day will be remembered as a day of inner freedom for all. A new day has dawned upon this city and upon the whole earth!”
Applause immediately followed, and Saduj drank the adoration, gorging his ego, feeding his fame and delighting in the simplicity of fleecing the human sheep. “And now, what you all have been waiting for. We Clerica, with the supreme good in mind for all of you, are appointing a Chief Clerica to lead us further into the truths of inner peace. And so, I am honored to introduce to you all, our first Chief Clerica, Satrina!”
A brief silence inspired by awe swept the crowds as Satrina, dressed in a long, translucent robe, her onyx hair elegantly resting on her bare shoulders, confidently took center stage beside Saduj.
Dr. Costello bowed his head, as did all the Clerica. It was then that the crowds exploded in applause and adulations as Satrina stood before them, like a regal queen over her subjects, and unbeknownst to the masses, that was exactly what she intended to be.
Many would later report that her voice was captivating, for others mesmerizing, and for a few an intuitive haunting that whoever this woman was, she was otherworldly.
“I am humbled to stand before the honored Mayas and noble citizens of Noab on this liberating day. And what liberation, some of you may ask. Liberation from the incarceration of underdeveloped potential, freedom from the lies of moral obligations that we are ourselves have conjured, not the Image Maker. We are discovering the sublime purpose in the journey of understanding self,” she paused, feigning some frustration with her audience. “I sense that many of you doubt my words. And so I will demonstrate to you, as one who has sojourned in our mutual evolution ahead of you, the power that awaits discovering your inner potential.”
Bringing her hands together she muttered enchantments that none could understand, as arcs of jagged lightning appeared between her hands. She raised her hands above her head, the bow of power widening and humming with energy.
“This is power! This is what lies dormant within you!”
Many in the crowds stepped back in trepidation, while others stared in wide-eyed wonder.
Suddenly, another figure appeared on cue, Prince Lucius stood a few feet from Satrina. The camera focused in on him, and with a coordinated prompt shouted, “This, my friends, is our future!” And as he applauded her, the crowd joined in the celebration with shouts of adulation. “I do say Satrina, you are a stunning Chief Clerica!”
“Why thank you Prince Lucius, you are too kind.”
But unknown to Banedread, Satrina and Primus, Nate, with the aid of the Chayil, had set up their own mini television studio at The Song Shop.
Jonas half way kidded Nate, “This is your big moment country boy!”
“Just think my friend, it all started with one big tug on your fishing line!”
The two laughed hysterically, the others just looked at each other with that, what’s so-funny-about-a-fishing-line look.
“Nate, what you are about to do is spoil the party of a not so pleasant group of haters, but remember, the Image Maker is with us.”
Back atop the Ziggurat, Prince Lucius proceeded with his plan. “Today is much more than an introduction of our Chief Clerica, it is also an inaugural cere
mony. Many of you have known this humble clerica,” pointing to Dr. Costello, “as an esteemed professor and Clerica of one of the largest Mayas in Noab.” He motioned to Costello to approach him, and he promptly stationed him between Satrina and himself. “This man is so much more than these dignified vocations provide. Today we, the Board of Clerica and I, the Mayor of this esteemed city, bequeath upon you the name Banedread and the authority and title of Supra, Ruler of all Noab, even to the ends of the earth!”
At first the crowd was stunned, and those witnessing this on television were astounded as to what Lucius was actually implying.
The Prince was well aware of the empty space in time and filled it quickly. “Behold! The excellence of Banedread!”
Satrina stood behind Supra, and placing her hands on him cried out,
“Time has waited
Time beats its drums
Anoint this
Your servant
Netherlife…come!”
A swirling dark gray cloud, filled with red lightnings and rumblings of thunder descended on Supra, enveloping him, filling him with the Netherlife. His face lit up with electric power, his facial bones glowing through his skin. He lifted his hands, which were spitting forth electric charges with serpentine movements skyward. He roared, “I am Banedread! I am Supra Excellcea!”
An intoxicating fear fell on the people of Noab, driving them to their knees. It began with a voice here and there, until the sound gathered strength and burst forth from the crowd, “Banedread! Banedread!” The chanting reverberated down every street and into every building in Noab, as if the name were being carried along by some unseen power.
“Rise to your feet, my people!” commanded Banedread. “Now you will begin to discover what I, Supra, possess, the energy of consummate self!”
The crowd, now practically hypnotized by the charismatic charm of Banedread stood to their feet. People got out of their cars. Folks viewing at home stood around their screens anxiously awaiting his instructions.
Return of Philon Page 7
