Twisted Linen by C.W. Cook Page A

the next Virgin Mary, the
mother of our god’s second coming,” Baculo proudly expounds.
    The words startle Grace even though she
doesn’t completely understand. She tries to hide her skepticism
behind a disingenuous look of interest. Baculo sees right through
her.
    “Don't be scared, Grace. Most people today
don't want to hear about prophets and prophecies. But we know there
is an order to everything – a time and a place, appointed
times.”
    Grace is inwardly not interested in Baculo’s
exposition, but she realizes he is trying to win her favor, and she
recognizes he thinks she plays a special role in something the cult
is planning. Grace glances at the two thugs, pondering how they can
be removed from the equation. Maybe she can exploit Baculo’s
infatuation with the stars and get him to take her outside so she
can explore a potential escape.
    With a tone of urgency and sincerity Baculo
transitions into an elucidation of future prophecy: “Now, in a
couple days, on the Feast of Trumpets, some 2000 years after Jesus’
death, another great sign is appearing in the heavens.”
    Baculo grabs the TV remote and a laser
pointer as he says, “I’d like to visually illustrate this new sign
in the heavens for you.”
    The TV flickers as Baculo pushes buttons on
his remote, setting it to display a Stellarium software product.
Stellarium software presents a visual rendition of the precise
position of all the stars and planets in the sky. It calculates the
exact location of each heavenly body at any given date in the past,
present or future. Baculo uses it to demonstrate the movement of
the planets and stars over a background of constellation
artwork.
    “Look! You must see this for yourself,” he
exclaims with great excitement, even now, after all these years of
knowing.
    Baculo slowly advances the date-timer
forward, causing the stars, planets, moon and sun to move across
the TV screen.
    “You see, in two days’ time, on September 23,
Jupiter will descend out of the belly of Virgo.”
    Grace squints at the TV, trying to make sense
of it all.
    Baculo continues, “Jupiter spent exactly 41
weeks in the womb of Virgo. Notice that Jupiter did not just pass
through the virgin womb; but rather, its retrograde motion stopped
it in the womb.”
    Retrograde motion refers to the apparent
backwards motion of planets in the sky. When Earth passes by the
outer orbiting planet, the planets appear to stop and move backward
before continuing on its normal path.
    Baculo turns to look at Grace, “You
understand that 41 weeks is the average gestation period for a
baby? And now, after 41 weeks, a King is ready to be born.”
    Baculo’s smile is boastful, like he plays a
role in the movement of heavenly bodies.
    “You can’t make this stuff up!” he adds for
emphasis.
    Grace realizes she is gawking in confusion,
so she fakes an expression of surprise and interest. Now is the
time to bait Baculo and see if she can exploit his desire to be
understood. Grace comments with as much sincerity and innocence as
she can conjure up.
    “I hope this doesn’t offend you, but I think
you have simply created fancy star movements in a software
program.”
    “You think I’m faking this?” Baculo
defensively responds. “This sign declares a King will rise…a King
born of a virgin.”
    Grace pushes her objective forward and
seductively asks, “Maybe you can show me the real thing…in the sky
outside?”
    Baculo squints at her for a long moment,
hesitant to accept her proposal. Grace attacks Baculo with her
eyes, beaming manipulative charm at him. Baculo is not immune to
Grace’s piercing gaze and it quickly befuddles him.
    “I could. I’d love to!” Baculo boasts.
    With tantalizing excitement, Baculo strolls
toward Grace, coming to stand behind her chair. Grace feels his hot
and heavy breath on the top of her head as he mutters, “Would you
please join me out on the terrace? I have a telescope I’d like to
show you.”
    Baculo gently