in a lifetime. I can do for these children what no one else can."
"But you do it at the cost of their freedom. They don't want your help."
Roberts batted my objection aside contemptuously. "They are without proper documentation. They don't know what they want. The law says they must have custodianship, and I have decided to be their benefactor. In following my example, other members of my flock will adopt other children from the Barrens and we will rebuild this society."
My eyes slowly shifted from green to silver as my anger rose. "You will remake these children in your image?"
The good Reverend ignored my question as he walked toward the wall of windows in his office. He stood with his back to me, the dying sun making him a silhouette outlined by a red corona. The shadow narrowed, then expanded again as he turned to face me. "Do you believe in God, Mr. Kies?"
"I fail to see what that has to do with the matter at hand."
"I'm sure you do, and I will accept that as a 'No,' for the sake of what I am about to say. You see, I do believe in God. I believe in a merciful and forgiving God, but a God who demands his people work for their salvation. Once upon a time I was like those children—wild, abandoned, and angry at society. Then God gave me a choice: Eternal Damnation or life with him forever. For the first time I looked beyond my next meal and chose a course for my life."
The silhouette hung its head wearily. "My choice is not without its price. My God demands I do all I can to help lead others to him. The Kingdom of Satan started its millennial domination of the Earth in 2011—the first dragon was seen in Japan to herald this change. All this magic is merely Satan's will made manifest. It is my duty and my calling to do all I can to bring Satan's reign to an end, and I will do it."
The strength in his voice spoke to me of a fanatical devotion to what he saw as his divine calling, but somewhere, deep down, I sensed I was being conned. "I don't think we have anything more to discuss, Reverend Roberts." I started to rise from my chair, but two heavy hands jammed me back down into it.
"You don't go until Reverend Roberts says you can go."
Deep inside, in the lightless cavern where the Wolf spirit dwells within me, the Old One howled bloody murder. Insistently he demanded I let him have control. He promised to reshape me into an engine of primal fury. / will show them a justice and righteousness that predates their tree-hung godling by eons!
I forced myself to be calm, but I let some of the Old One's anger enter my voice. "Larry, do you practice faith healing?" Roberts stiffened at the tone of my words, then nodded. "I do."
"Good. Brother Boniface has three seconds to stop this laying-on of hands, or he'll need all the healing Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
you can give him."
The Brother's hands tightened.
"Two."
Roberts waved Boniface back and the pressure eased. The Reverend returned to his desk and seated himself. "Brother Boniface can be overzealous, but that might be said of all my Warriors for Christ."
Though he smiled benignly, the implied threat was not lost on me.
I stood slowly and straightened my jacket as Boniface retreated and opened the door. "You may not believe this, Larry, but I actually do respect those who listen to the message from the Prince of Peace. I think, however, that the words you're hearing are a bit garbled. Let me make this very clear: leave those children alone."
Roberts smiled and laid his right hand on the Bible I'd seen him thump in the tape. "I understand your words, Mr. Kies, but I cannot be deflected from my course. On this very Bible I swore I would help them. I cannot go back on my word."
I snatched the Bible from beneath his hand and saw him blanch as I started to flick the pages open. I saw that the liner sheet backing the cover had popped free. Amid the glue stains I glimpsed a curious collection of strange symbols, but
"But you do it at the cost of their freedom. They don't want your help."
Roberts batted my objection aside contemptuously. "They are without proper documentation. They don't know what they want. The law says they must have custodianship, and I have decided to be their benefactor. In following my example, other members of my flock will adopt other children from the Barrens and we will rebuild this society."
My eyes slowly shifted from green to silver as my anger rose. "You will remake these children in your image?"
The good Reverend ignored my question as he walked toward the wall of windows in his office. He stood with his back to me, the dying sun making him a silhouette outlined by a red corona. The shadow narrowed, then expanded again as he turned to face me. "Do you believe in God, Mr. Kies?"
"I fail to see what that has to do with the matter at hand."
"I'm sure you do, and I will accept that as a 'No,' for the sake of what I am about to say. You see, I do believe in God. I believe in a merciful and forgiving God, but a God who demands his people work for their salvation. Once upon a time I was like those children—wild, abandoned, and angry at society. Then God gave me a choice: Eternal Damnation or life with him forever. For the first time I looked beyond my next meal and chose a course for my life."
The silhouette hung its head wearily. "My choice is not without its price. My God demands I do all I can to help lead others to him. The Kingdom of Satan started its millennial domination of the Earth in 2011—the first dragon was seen in Japan to herald this change. All this magic is merely Satan's will made manifest. It is my duty and my calling to do all I can to bring Satan's reign to an end, and I will do it."
The strength in his voice spoke to me of a fanatical devotion to what he saw as his divine calling, but somewhere, deep down, I sensed I was being conned. "I don't think we have anything more to discuss, Reverend Roberts." I started to rise from my chair, but two heavy hands jammed me back down into it.
"You don't go until Reverend Roberts says you can go."
Deep inside, in the lightless cavern where the Wolf spirit dwells within me, the Old One howled bloody murder. Insistently he demanded I let him have control. He promised to reshape me into an engine of primal fury. / will show them a justice and righteousness that predates their tree-hung godling by eons!
I forced myself to be calm, but I let some of the Old One's anger enter my voice. "Larry, do you practice faith healing?" Roberts stiffened at the tone of my words, then nodded. "I do."
"Good. Brother Boniface has three seconds to stop this laying-on of hands, or he'll need all the healing Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
you can give him."
The Brother's hands tightened.
"Two."
Roberts waved Boniface back and the pressure eased. The Reverend returned to his desk and seated himself. "Brother Boniface can be overzealous, but that might be said of all my Warriors for Christ."
Though he smiled benignly, the implied threat was not lost on me.
I stood slowly and straightened my jacket as Boniface retreated and opened the door. "You may not believe this, Larry, but I actually do respect those who listen to the message from the Prince of Peace. I think, however, that the words you're hearing are a bit garbled. Let me make this very clear: leave those children alone."
Roberts smiled and laid his right hand on the Bible I'd seen him thump in the tape. "I understand your words, Mr. Kies, but I cannot be deflected from my course. On this very Bible I swore I would help them. I cannot go back on my word."
I snatched the Bible from beneath his hand and saw him blanch as I started to flick the pages open. I saw that the liner sheet backing the cover had popped free. Amid the glue stains I glimpsed a curious collection of strange symbols, but
Similar Books
