The Son of Man 2, Elders of Zion

by C. W. Johnson

  Louis grunted and stepped in. "Where’s my godson."

  Gladys scowled at her husband. "You’re supposed to say hello, Louis.”

  "Can’t help it, I haven’t seen that boy in two days."

  "Oh," Todd said grinning, "you know what? He just finished his supper and he’ll be bringing mom out shortly." He leaned back and hollered down the hall. "Maria, Louis and Gladys are here."

  The trio stepped into the tiny living room.

  Gladys looked the place over. "Your cabin is bigger than ours," she said as she sat in Todd and Maria’s overstuffed western style loveseat.

  Louis frowned and pulled his eyebrows together."No it isn’t. They’re all exactly the same. A-frame with the same sized bedroom loft over the same sized living area with the same hall leading to the bathroom and master bedroom. Exactly 894 cubic feet of—"

  "Oh shut up!" Gladys barked.

  Todd laughed and went about the business of lighting the many gas lanterns Maria had strategically placed about the room. He didn’t want to say it, but there was a good reason Gladys thought of her cabin as smaller than the rest. Louis had filled every crack and corner with odds and ends ranging from old lawnmower engines to fossils the size of basketballs, things he had managed to find around Parktown or drag off the mountain.

  Maria, on the other hand, had insisted on keeping their cabin sparsely furnished. She had thrown herself into the place, scouring nearby Park City’s store fronts and shops, bartering whatever she could to perfectly match the décor down to the dinner dishes in the meticulously organized cupboards.

  The walls were adorned with well placed groupings of hand brushed mountain paintings and portraits of an unknown family. She had insisted on keeping the portraits where they were on the walls, saying it felt even more like a home… like a family home.

  While others in Parktown spent much of their time grumbling about the new living standard, Maria seemed to flourish. She obviously loved her new primitive, uncomplicated life. She was right, Todd thought. She was nothing like that spoiled, cynical person back at UCLA.

  As he lit the last lantern, visions of his afternoon with Maria returned to him. He found himself incredibly aroused.

  "Hi guys," Maria said, appearing in the hall. She was holding the baby, wearing loose fitting jeans and a dark tee shirt. Todd grinned amorously at her. She glanced over at him and smiled back, blushing.

  "Give me that boy," Louis said, reaching. Maria moved to him and gently placed the blanketed baby in his arms.

  Gladys leaned in and pulled the blanket away from his face. The baby greeted her with a sudden sweet smile. "Oh Josh, you are the most precious little thing."

  "He’s beautiful, isn’t he?" Louis said, looking up at Todd.

  Todd grinned and moved to the living room fireplace, pulled a good sized pine log from the nearby bin and tossed it into the fire. "It’ll be warm in here in a few minutes," he said, making his way towards the matching western couch next to the love seat. Maria joined him and they both leaned forward, admiring their baby.

  Louis giggled as the wide eyed baby cooed and grinned. He brushed his finger over the baby’s spittle-soaked chin and looked back up at Maria. "He’s so beautiful you’d think he was your child."

  "Oh, stop,” Maria said.

  Todd leaned in."Truth is, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Everything I’ve ever read, or understood about Jesus suggested he was physically average, never really standing out in a crowd. Maybe I’m just prejudiced but— Joshua is so perfect."

  "You’re not prejudiced," Gladys said looking up. "I knew he was special the moment I delivered him."

  "I also read," Todd continued, "that cloned animals don’t always turn out exactly like the host."

  "That’s with things like fur spots and defects," Louis said, still smiling down at the child in his lap. "With the possible exception of the little birth mark on his earlobe I think we can assume Joshua looks exactly like Jesus did at this age. Maybe as he grows older the imperfections will become more apparent."

  Todd nodded."Hmm, maybe… by the way, Maria said she saw a stranger on the mountain."

  "Yeah," Maria said, "around noon, up by the hollow where you shot that big deer."

  Louis brightened. "Four point… beautiful little creature. He came out from behind that stump—"

  "Louis," Gladys said interrupting. "Maria’s concerned about a stranger on the mountain."

  "So what if a stranger is on the mountain?" Louis said flatly, looking back down at the baby. "Strangers are good. What’s her name… Tina and Angela, and that, oh— what’s her name… Hanna woman on the mountain, all need mates."

  "Mates?" Gladys repeated shaking her head.

  "Yeah,” Todd said, “but this guy was hollerin’ at Maria."

  Louis looked up. "Hollering? Hollering what?"

  Maria shrugged and flipped a hand. "I’m not sure. He was saying something about not going into the trees. It seemed weird."

  "We know it’s a stretch," Todd said, "I mean, the Vinces couldn’t possibly know where we are—"

  "Oh no, Todd!" Maria said. "I never even thought about that."

  "Hmm", Louis grunted.

  Todd glanced up at Louis. What?"

  "Not my business," Louis said, returning to tickle the baby’s chin.

  Maria frowned and looked at Todd before returning her attention to Louis."What isn’t your business?"

  "Just an outsider’s opinion," Louis said, grinning down at the child.

  Todd and Maria glanced at one another and looked back at Louis. "What’s on your mind?" Todd said.

  "Won’t get mad?" Louis asked looking up.

  "Of course not," Maria said quietly.

  "I don’t think you kids are thinking this thing out," Louis said as he handed the baby over to Gladys. "So what if this guy on the mountain was with the Vinces. Would it necessarily be a bad thing? They probably have resources we can’t imagine, specifically set up for Joshua… and—" his voice trailed off.

  "Go on," Todd said.

  Louis sighed, looked at Maria and back at Todd. "Have you kids considered their rights in this matter, how invested they are in this baby? They did, after all, fund the cloning process. Millions of dollars were undoubtedly spent. From the outside looking in, I think you two have some moral responsibility here. Gladys feels the same way."

  Gladys jerked her head up and glared at Louis. "Don’t talk for me! How do you know how I feel?" She looked back down and continued playing with the child on her lap. After a short time she glanced back up. "It just…it just occurred to us that…Louis and I are academics. We are both heavily invested in the sciences. We feel there is so much to be learned from your son’s miracle birth, so much to be shared—"

  "I’m not giving my child up," Maria said. "I don’t care how much there is to be learned. Joshua is ours."

  Gladys looked at Louis and back at Maria. "Who said anything about taking Joshua? Why would you two think anyone would try to take your baby away? We’re just saying you should share him with the world. He is, after all, the clone of Jesus Christ."

  "They tried," Maria said. "They tried to take him."

  Todd nodded in agreement and leaned forward. "The Vinces ain’t what you think. It isn’t all science with them. They’re controlling… and powerful—"

  "Obviously you two have very strong feelings about this," Gladys said, holding up her hand. "It’s really none of our business. You two are doing a wonderful job raising our little Josh, and we’ll not say another word… will we, Louis?"

  "No more words," Louis said as he tugged on the baby’s hand.

  Todd and Maria exchanged long glances before Maria turned her attention to Gladys. "Todd said something about Vicki Tanner being sick."

  "She’s resting," Gladys said. "She’s delusional and paranoid. We had to restrain her. I admit I don’t fully understand this… CreutzJake. I’m not even sure if that’s the correct diagnosis."

  Maria smiled."Thank
God you’re here. People say you’re the only doctor in all of old Utah. They say there are only a few in the entire western states."

  "Most doctors had the wherewithal to get off the mainland," Todd said.

  Gladys readjusted her position on the couch opting for a better view of the baby. "Well it’s nice to be wanted, but it’s a heavy responsibility. Thank goodness for Todd and Debby."

  "Debby?" Maria said.

  "Oh, Todd didn’t tell you? We have a new intern for the clinic. The Mums sent her over from Salt Lake."

  Maria glanced at Todd and back at Gladys. "No, he didn’t say anything to me."

  "I forgot all about it," Todd said.

  Maria turned and pushed the hair away from Todd’s eyes.

  "Todd’s going to be a good MD," Gladys said. "He’s a great intern…very quick study."

  Todd grinned. "It took the end of America to finally get me an internship."

  He looked down at Maria and smiled, Maria gazed back at him. They sat in silence for a time staring into each other’s eyes.

  "So I guess Maria’s no longer a virgin," Louis said.

  Gladys jerked her face up and stared in front of her slowly shaking her head. "Louis—" she moaned.

  Maria laughed, blushing bright red.

  "What?" Louis said, looking at his wife. "Okay, I shouldn’t have said anything. I suppose it’s a personal mater."

  Gladys glared at Louis."Do you think?"

  Maria grinned up at Todd.

  Todd laughed.

  "It’s just that Maria made it known she was a virgin the day Josh was born. It’s obvious by the way these two are looking at each other that—"

  "Louis!" Gladys yelled, "you won the Nobel Prize… you’re a genius. Ponder a way to change the subject!"

  Louis grunted. "I apologize… I suppose I can be a little… blunt—"

  Todd put his palms up."No, no, don’t worry about it. I… you know—"

  "It’s true," Maria said, taking hold of Gladys’s hand.

  Todd looked down at her, shocked.

  "Oooh," Gladys sang, "that’s wonderful! When… how? I mean… don’t tell me the details—"

  "It just happened," Maria said, her face beaming. "I used to be asexual, you know, but it just… I love Todd so much it must have been stronger."

  Gladys laughed and squeezed Maria’s hand. "You’ve never been asexual, my dear. Physiologically asexual women simply do not produce the kinds of pheromones needed to conjure up a perfectly feminine creature such as yourself. Almost certainly, your problems were psychological in nature, but that’s all behind us now, isn’t it."

  "Yes," Maria said. "It’s behind us."

  "Must have been tough on you, aye?" Louis said, winking at Todd. "Must have had the patience of Job."

  Gladys swiped at Louis with her hand but missed.

  Todd and Maria laughed.

  "There’s an old Oklahoma saying," Todd said finally. "The fastest way to move cattle is slowly."

  "Oh," Maria shouted. "He was workin’ me….I’m a cow!"

  "You’ll remember the first time for the rest of your life," Gladys said grinning. "I am nearly 70 years old and I still remember the first time I made love like it was yesterday."

  "Mmm," Maria said, smiling at Louis dreamily. "Was it sweet?"

  "Don’t know," Louis said. "Wasn’t there."

  Gladys smiled whimsically and nodded.

  Someone banged at the door again.

  ~~~

  "That cursed dog of yours!" Sharpuddin wheezed. "He’s going to get us killed!"The children were huddling together in the corner of the wooden box buried in the trash.

  It hadn’t taken Ortho, the black puppy, long to locate the children and began his sempiternal barking.

  Sharpuddin pushed his hands to his ears. If only he could go back one more time. Back to yesterday; back to morning time. He would awaken to the sounds of his family murmuring, laughing and bickering... Grandmother Satziyta complaining… the smell of breakfast cooking… the soft sounds of the city... the cool breeze of morning... everyone methodically going about their everyday lives.

  "I have to go out there," Sharpuddin said. "That dog’s going to lead the Cossacks right to us.

  "No," Kheda breathed. "We have to stay together."

  "If I don’t shut him up they will find us. I’ll just go out there long enough to chase him away, that’s all. I’ll be careful."

  "You won’t leave?" Kheda moaned.

  "Of course I won’t leave."

  "You’ll swear?"

  "What?"

  "You’ll swear you won’t leave us?"

  "I swear I won’t leave you, I’m just going—"

  "You’ll swear to it…upon payment of death?"

  Sharpuddin looked into the terrified eyes of his little sister."Upon payment of death, I swear it." He placed the palm of his right hand against his mouth and swiped the fingers of his left hand across his throat. "Upon payment of death," he repeated solemnly.

  Kheda’s breath quickened. "Hurry."

  Sharpuddin slowly lifted the black plastic flap covering the entrance of the box. "Shut-up you worthless dog!" he said as loud as he dared.

  The puppy, vigilantly standing guard, whirled and ran to him. Sharpuddin took a swing and caught the confused puppy across the left ear. It yelped and backed off.

  "Get out of here!"

  The bewildered puppy circled a few times before returning to its spot and its incessant barking.

  Sharpuddin looked around for something, anything to throw. He found an old bottle and bounced it off Ortho’s head, finally sending the black puppy bounding away.

  "Come out!"

  The sound came from the alley.

  "Come out!" The hoarse voice hollered again, this time in Chechen.

  Sharpuddin looked back at the two wide eyed little girls, pushed his way out of the box and began sprinting away deeper into the alley.

  Gunfire erupted. Sharpuddin’s left leg was violently kicked out from under him. He collapsed to the ground and skidded to a stop. He heard Kheda scream, watched her scramble out of the box and look wildly around for him. "Sharpuddin!" she screamed again, running towards him.

  "Stop!" the Russian shouted.

  Sharpuddin watched in horror as Kheda continued running, ignoring the command to stop. He could hear Lylya, abandoned and alone within the box, shrieking hysterically.

  He slowly rose up to greet Kheda. "You should have stayed," he moaned. "They never would have found you!"

  "You left us!" Kheda yelled. "You swore… upon payment of death!" She had his coat and was shaking him.

  Lylya’s screams crescendoed. A Cossack was dragging her out of the box by her hair. He dropped her to the ground and she rushed to join Kheda and Sharpuddin. The two little girls fell on each other sobbing.

  Within moments three armed Russian soldiers were standing over them. The oldest one glared down on them, "Kill them!" he said, turning to leave.

  "But sir," one of the younger soldiers said, "they are but children."

  "They are but Chechen," the older soldier grunted as he walked away.

  The two younger soldiers stood considering the sobbing children before turning their attention to each other.

  "Well…shoot them!" one soldier told the other.

  "I’m not going to shoot them. You shoot them!"

  One of the soldiers turned back towards the children, pondered a moment and said. "Go… get out of here!"

  The children looked up at them numbly.

  The soldier glanced over his shoulder and back at the children."Did you hear what I said? Get out of here while you still can. Stay out of the light. Get out of the city and head for Vedeno District…Makhkety…On the outskirts of khatuni. It’s a camp, you’ll be safe there!"

  Kheda slowly rose and helped Sharpuddin to his feet. Lylya, still sobbing, lifted Sharpuddin’s arm over her shoulder and the children sidestepped the two soldiers and moved away as fast as they could. They reached
Khankalskaya Street, turned right and nearly collided with the older soldier. He whirled, took hold of Lylya’s clothing and violently pushed her against a wall. Kheda staggered against the weight of her brother and tumbled to the street.

  “What is this?” the older man bellowed. “I left orders to shoot this vermin.”

  “They, got away from us!” one of the younger soldiers shouted.

  “They got away from you, did they?” the older Cossack snarled. “Let me show you how to put an end to that!”

  He un-holstered a side arm and pushed it into Lylya’s face. Kheda and Sharpuddin screamed in unison as the pistol emitted a benign muffled misfire. A spark jumped from the firing pin igniting the older man’s coat sleeve. He grunted in annoyance and quickly patted it out before aiming the pistol once more at Lylya’s forehead. Without warning his sleeve inexplicably re-ignited and the entire sleeve burst into flame. One of the younger soldiers leapt forward trying to pat the flames out.

  The fire immediately spread to the older Cossack’s thick beard and his entire face lit up like a flaming tree. The remaining soldier rushed forward and tried to force the screaming man to the ground only to explode into flames himself, as if he were doused in gasoline. All three men were suddenly enveloped in flames, screaming and writhing on the ground in front of the children. Lylya jumped away and scooted back under Sharpuddin’s arm. The three children raced away from the horror.

  ~~~

  "Todd!" a voice called from behind the door. Todd stood and moved once more to the cabin door.

  Nigel Hembury was standing on Todd and Maria’s porch wearing a pullover cap covering his head and ears. His neck and lower face were wrapped in a thick knitted shawl. Massive mittens, woven from the same brown material, made a caricature of his hands as they gripped the top buttons of his green goose-down parka. Insulated bib overalls rose from heavy boots and covered his spindly legs.

  "Vicki Tanner is gone," Nigel said, pulling the shawl away from his mouth. "We’re rounding up everyone to look for her."

  "It’s freezing," Todd said. "Do you think there’s a chance she could be out in the weather?"

  Nigel sighed and shook his head. "God, I hope not; that poor sweet lady."

  "Come in Nigel, before you freeze to death."