Pine needles softly crunched underfoot.
After a slow and careful advance that took over forty minutes, the outline of an old barn was noticeable. They continued moving from low scruff pine to low scruff sumac to camouflage their advance. In a few minutes, they were standing at the south side of the barn. Its old, wooden, weather worn side had sizable gaps between the planks. They looked inside through the planks, but were not able to see anything. Since the barn was closed up, the only light that managed to squeeze between the planks or through the dust clouded, small windows provided a sort of deep twilight effect.
“I don’t see anyone,” whispered Aaron to Miss Beacon.
She acknowledged his comment with a gesture to keep quiet. She moved cautiously along the side of the barn until she was next to the front corner. She looked carefully around the corner for a moment, and then motioned for Aaron and Korie to move up.
“I’m going to open the barn door. You two cover me from here. If you have to shoot don’t hesitate. If I can’t get away, you two will have to go to the car and get out of here. Here are the keys,” she said as she handed the keys to Aaron.
“Be careful,” said Korie.
Miss Beacon nodded her agreement and then slipped around the corner. She walked along as if she belonged, all the while her eyes and ears were on full alert. When she got to the front door she grasped the door lock with her right hand and it snapped open. She pulled the latch bar away, and slid the barn door open about four feet. In a moment, Aaron and Korie heard her voice near their corner.
“It looks clear, just hurry. I’ll meet you at the door.”
Aaron and Korie moved swiftly to the front of the barn and slipped inside. It was musty and very dark inside. Their eyes hadn’t adjusted to the limited light. Behind them the barn door slid closed.
They turned around and nearly bumped into Miss Beacon.
Aaron immediately felt very uncomfortable inside the barn. He felt as if he couldn’t breath. Korie didn’t feel much better.
“Slowly, take a couple of deep breaths.”
They both did, but it didn’t seem to help that much.
The summer breeze slipped through the barn. The barn itself creaked and popped at regular intervals.
“Do you hear that?” said Korie.
“What do you hear?” asked Miss Beacon.
“I don’t know, except that…wait, there it is again.”
“How about you, Aaron? Do you hear anything?”
“Yeah, its weird, it’s like voices—many, many voices. It seems they are coming from far away though.”
“Aaron, listen real close, I think I can hear someone calling your name. Miss Beacon, what’s going on?” said Korie.
“Yeah, I can hear that voice, too. Where is it coming from?”
Miss Beacon moved deeper into the shadows of the barn and shortly thereafter, she reappeared with an old fruit crate. It was filled with old clothes. She put the crate down on the ground and pulled a jacket from the crate. She handed it to Aaron.
The instant he touched the jacket he could feel the strong presence of the very person that once wore the jacket. The garment had belonged to a French Canadian. A young man named Edouard Larochelle. He was a woodsman who had come to Vermont from his home in Quebec, where he had left behind a young wife and three small children. He had come in search for work to help support his family. Instead of work, he had found death.
One day in 1879, he had taken his logging team along the northwest side of the mountain. He tied the horses to a downed tree and headed up the side of the mountain in search of quality hardwoods. It was the last time anyone saw him. He was beheaded with a sickle by a loyal member of the coven from the Church of Everlasting Faith.
His voice now pleaded with Aaron to avenge his death.
Another crate was sitting on the ground beneath Aaron’s feet. Aaron was beginning to sweat as he handed the jacket back to Miss Beacon, who placed it back in the crate. Korie reached down and touched the jacket and immediately felt a wave of sadness wash over her.
“Here, hold this,” said Miss Beacon, as she handed a child’s dress to him that she had removed from the crate.
Upon touching the tiny dress, Aaron’s mind was filled with the image of a little girl named Emily. She was only five years old. Her mother and father tried to leave the Church in 1902. They had come to fear for their lives and their immortal souls. They were killed in their beds by a coven member wielding a butcher’s knife. Their throats were slit from ear to ear. Emily was suffocated.
“Mommy and Daddy said you are here to help us,” said the voice of young Emily.
“Yes, I am,” said Aaron.
“Thank you,” she said.
Aaron dropped the tiny dress back into the crate.
Korie touched the side of Aaron’s face with the back of her hand. She felt a trail of tears running down his cheek.
Meanwhile Miss Beacon had put the first crate back and returned with another.
This crate didn’t have much inside of it. Miss Beacon pulled a couple of small things from the bottom and took Aaron’s right hand. She opened his hand, palm up. She placed a couple of porcelain teeth and a badly bent pair of wire rim glasses in his hand.
This mental picture was as vivid as can be. The former owner of these items was a doctor from Burlington. He had died in a tragic campfire at a deer hunting camp, just about three quarters of a mile from the barn. He had unfortunately stumbled upon the clearing where the altar was located. He made the mistake of telling his hunting partners, one of whom was a member of the Church. He had died in 1957.
Next Miss Beacon placed two smaller and newer crates next to Aaron.
“How many of these does he have to experience?” asked a worried Korie.
“Just these last two.”
Miss Beacon took the teeth and glasses from Aaron and returned them to their crate.
Now she pulled a plaid shirt from one crate, and a man’s sleeveless T-shirt from the other. She handed these items to Aaron, who took them from her reluctantly.
In a flash he could sense Michael Delvecchio, and Julia Brodsky. He could sense their love for one another, their special bond. His mind was now propelled with fast moving images of torches in the night, an altar, a cemetery, love making and then the total panic Julia had experienced as she tried to escape. Aaron could see in his mind what she had seen just before she died. Aaron could see Samuel Porter standing in the clearing pointing his rifle directly at her. His mind now shifted to slow motion. Aaron could see Samuel lower his eyes to the rifle sights to take aim. He could vividly see his index finger pull on the rifle’s trigger. Aaron could see the bullet leave the barrel of the rifle, on its way to the intended target. He next saw a flash from the gun barrel, and behind the flash he could plainly see Samuel smiling.
Suddenly Aaron felt a white-hot, searing pain in his throat passing through to the back of his head. The pain was savagely intense.
He clutched his throat.
Aaron was making gurgling sounds. He fell to his knees.
Korie immediately knelt down to help him.
“What’s wrong with Aaron? Speak to me. Miss Beacon we’ve got to help him.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s got to finish first.”
Aaron could hear them speaking but he wasn’t able to talk. His mind was now filled with the voices of Michael and Julia.
“Aaron, these people have to be stopped,” said Michael.
“They watched us make love and then they killed us,” said Julia to Aaron’s mind.
“How many more will die, Aaron? Did you know there are over four hundred crates in this barn, and another one hundred and twenty in another barn behind the Game Warden’s house?” said Michael.
“Women, children, old people, Aaron, we were all slaughtered like animals. If they are allowed to succeed just imagine what they will do?” said Julia.
Aaron was now getting his voice back, the pain in his neck and the back of his he
ad began to subside.
“We’re all sorry you had to experience this. But you had to know what you’re up against. Our prayers go with you,” said Julia as she and Michael faded from Aaron’s mind.
Aaron stood up. His legs were a bit wobbly so he held onto Korie for stability.
Korie heard it first, and then Aaron and Miss Beacon heard it next. There was a chorus of voices, speaking as one hushed voice. The voices called out Aaron’s name.
“Aaron Powell, go in God’s name. Aaron Powell, go in God’s name. Aaron Powell, God’s warrior, go in God’s name.”
“It’s time to leave. We still have to see the altar and the cemetery,” said Miss Beacon.
24
“Where is he, Ed? You’re our FBI man, our expert in detection and surveillance,” demanded Samuel.
Ed could feel everyone looking at him.
“He’s here in Sutton. I’m sure of it. I followed him to Sutton last night. I watched him get some gas at the station next to the highway exit,” said Ed, in as calm a voice as he could muster.
“Where did he go after that, Ed?” said Samuel with a touch of sarcasm.
Ed began to feel uncomfortable. He didn’t like being grilled like this in front of the other coven members, especially by young Samuel Porter.
“Ed, I asked you a question.”
“Okay, okay! I don’t know where he is at this exact moment. But...”
Interrupting him Samuel said, “Ed, you don’t seem to appreciate the situation here. It is your job to know exactly where he is at all times. Now that we’ve located him we can’t afford to let him slip through our fingers. Can we Ed?”
Who, in the fuck, does this little asshole think he is? thought Ed. WE located him, WE, shit, I located him, not WE you little son of a bitch!
“I will begin to search for him immediately after this meeting. I will find him. That’s a promise,” said Ed defiantly.
“No, Ed. You will go and look for him NOW!” insisted Samuel.
Ed pushed his chair back from the table and stood up. He noticed no one was willing to look at him now. Everyone’s head was down, their eyes directed at the table in front of them. He headed for the door. He had to pass by Samuel on his way to the door. In a show of bravado, Ed made sure he walked as close as he could to Samuel, without touching him. Ed opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. As he pulled the door shut, he looked back into the room and noticed the Reverend had raised his head up. The two men’s eyes met for a brief instant.
“Now that Ed’s gone, we need to put our plan in motion to lure this Powell into joining the Church. Only after that, can we bring him into the coven. Once in the coven, we must waste no time. We will immediately, upon his initiation into the coven, begin the High Ceremony, to call forth Moloch into human form. Whose form he chooses is Moloch’s to decide. It could be any one of us or some other. There can be no mistakes this time.”
“And what is our plan if this Powell proves unwilling to join our church?” asked Reverend Mitchell.
“He will join. Why else would he have come here?” responded Samuel.
“I don’t know why he’s come here, but I think the Reverend is right. We need to consider the possibility, at least, that he can’t be persuaded,” said Josephine Lawless.
“We could threaten to hurt the woman he is traveling with,” offered Chucky.
“Better yet, we kidnap her to ensure his complete cooperation,” said Shirley.
“He must be put in a situation where his only choice is to cooperate,” said Judge Fairchild.
“We don’t need to resort to violence. That could scare him off. I tell you what, it would be my pleasure to seduce him,” said Judy.
“And his too, I imagine,” said Walter.
That remark brought about some light hearted laughter, which seemed to break the tension in the room. Even Samuel laughed a bit.
“Judy has made a good point,” said Samuel.
Judy beamed with pride at Samuel’s words. She sat up even straighter, pushing her breasts about as far forward as was humanly possible.
Everyone stopped their chuckling and looked in Samuel’s direction.
“I believe that once we locate him, we should set Judy up with him. She can use her talents to learn more about this man. We need to know who is helping him besides the woman he is traveling with. There has to be others. She also might be able to learn if he has any weaknesses or special powers.”
Several coven members snickered at the last remark. Samuel paused for them to settle down.
“Walter, I want you, Bob, and Chucky to go help Ed along. When Powell is found, I want you to come to me immediately, is that understood?”
“It sure is,” said Walter.
Shirley and Phyllis acknowledged his order with a nod.
“I also need Ed Foley to go to the Church basement.”
Speaking to Foley, Samuel continues, “We are holding my sister in the old root cellar. She tried to run away last night. I want you to check on her. Give her some food, drink, and drugs if you have to, you know, calm her down. She needs to be kept alive. She has been chosen to become a concubine for Lucifer upon his arrival. We can’t have her dying on us.”
“I’ll do what I can,” said Ed.
“Not good enough. You keep her alive, is that clear?” he said slapping the table for emphasis.
“Okay, I understand. Is that all?”
“Yeah, everyone can go now except for you, Judge and you, Reverend.”
The other coven members got up from their seats and drifted out of the room. Samuel rose from his seat and turned his back on the Judge and the Reverend as he closed the door.
The Reverend took that moment to shoot a glance at the Judge, who then simply nodded his head.
“I don’t want the others to hear this,” said Samuel solemnly.
Neither man responded.
“I’m concerned about this coven. I have reason to believe there may be a traitor in our midst.”
The Judge and the Reverend resisted the urge to look at one another. Neither was quite sure what to expect next.
“You two are our most senior members. I need your help. I know I have been rough on you Reverend. It’s been difficult adjusting to my new responsibilities. However, let me get directly to the point. I need you two to keep an eye on the others for me. Anything suspicious, anything at all, I want you to bring it to me right away. This time our coven will not fail Moloch or Lucifer.”
“Let me get this straight. It’s your belief that a member of this coven is untrustworthy?” asked the Judge “and you want the two of us to spy on the others, to see if we can ferret out the traitor?”
“Yes!”
“And on what do you base your suspicions, may I ask?” inquired the Judge in a low voice.
Samuel looked the Judge straight in the eye, their eyes locked for a moment. The Reverend watched this exchange. His stomach was filled with a huge knot of absolute panic. He struggled to control himself.
“Moloch told me.”
“I see,” responded the Judge as he leaned back in his chair.
Samuel watched the Judge’s every move. The Judge remained steely cool in his mannerisms.
“What do you think, Reverend?” asked the Judge.
“Yes, Reverend. What do you think?” echoed Samuel as he shifted his gaze over to the Reverend.
“Why I think Samuel’s right. We can’t be too careful,” said the Reverend. He could feel perspiration running down his back.
“I’m glad you agree,” said Samuel, “so I can count on the both of you?”
“Sure,” said the Judge.
“You know you can count on me,” blurted out the Reverend.
“That’s what I was hoping for,” answered Samuel. “Well, let’s get going. We all have important work to do.”
The two men stood up from the table and left the room.
Samuel finally stood up, went out the door, closing it behind him as he left the r
oom.
***
Ed Foley pulled his car into the driveway of the Church. He drove down the driveway and parked his car in the back. He got out of the car carrying a small black bag. It was the sort of small bag family doctors used to carry with them when they made house calls. He went directly to the hatchway leading to the Church basement. He used his passkey to gain entry to the basement.
He opened the secret door leading to the hideaway room where Kelley was being held. He turned on the one light in this musty and dank room. There she was, hanging against the wall, held there by the rusty but true, forged steel manacles.
The room smelled of urine. Kelley had wet herself. There was no other choice.
There was a cluster of tiny gnat like flies buzzing in the dank air over the dirt floor she had soiled. Her head hung down, with her chin resting against her chest. Even in the dim light Ed could plainly see dozens of red welts covering every patch of her exposed skin.
Spiders, he thought.
“Kelley, it’s just me, Ed Foley.”
There was no reaction to his voice.
“Kelley, can you hear me?” he asked.
No reaction.
Ed moved in closer and touched her left arm, just above the rough edge of the manacle. Her skin felt cool and dry, like the feel of a potato that has been stored in a root cellar. He felt her neck to take her pulse. Her pulse was weak.
“Shit, this isn’t such a good idea keeping her here like this,” he said out loud.
Ed put his small bag down on the floor and opened it. He fumbled around for a moment before he found what he was looking for.
Ed removed a small bottle of medicine and a syringe in a cellophane plastic bag. He tore open the cellophane with his teeth. He put the medicine bottle, which was labeled epinephrine, in his left hand and gingerly removed the syringe with his right hand. He let the syringe wrapping fall to the ground. He stuck the syringe in the rubber cap of the medicine bottle. Turning both the bottle and the syringe upside down, he pulled on the needles’ plunger and drew a dose of the medicine half way into the syringe.
Evil Agreement Page 24
