Chapter
35: Laying Our Cards on the Table
“Hey
…. Hey James clan you out there?” White Magic’s voice echoes out of the
handheld CB. Around the musty room in the basement of the church the survivors
begin to stir. The first thing they notice is the Sin Preacher’s voice is no
longer crackling from the speakers overhead. “Yeah … yeah we’re here Magic. How
are you holding up how’s your face buddy?” Medina fires questions into the
radio without waiting for an answer. She wipes the sleep from her eyes waiting
for Magic to respond. “I’m fine guys.” Laughter spills from the radio. “I only
lost like one tooth.” He updates everyone on his health since sustaining a
fierce beating at the hands of Brother Gustavo. “Hey who changed my hydroponic
pharmaceutical garden into a regular garden?” Medina chuckles at the question.
“I did figured you could use some food instead of all that weed.” She waits for
him to let loose but before he does there’s a robust knock on the door. Private
Lockett springs to her feet awakened from a deep restless sleep. “Yeah what?”
She shouts at the door looking back at Ben James then back at the door. She
checks her constant companion the rifle slung over her shoulder. “Time to get
up we are assigning chores.” The deep voice calls back ensuring everyone who
may have been sleeping is now awake. Sara knows the owner of said voice is the
man called “The Colonel.” They had all agreed if there was going to be trouble
it would be led by him at the Sin Preacher’s direction. “We’ll be out in a
second relax.” She makes it known to the brute in no uncertain terms. “Yo I’m
all for helping out these folks for saving us but I say we blow this joint by
this evening.” She speaks in a more guarded tones directed at the group behind
her. “Well get a move on we are waiting.” The Colonel speaks causing everyone
to stare back at the door. “He was listening.” Sara’s eyes narrow at the
thought. “Hey Magic we have to go the church folk are summoning us.” Medina
slightly hunched over whispers into the radio. “Hey I don’t know what y’all got
planned but them mofo’s was off before the zombies came a knockin’” White Magic
offers is assessment of the members of The First New Faith Baptist Church. Ben
stands up stretching “Tell him we’ll be coming back to his place initially.”
Medina shakes her head in agreement “Magic the big guy says we are coming back
to you place for now.” She raises up her grimy head bandage coming undone from
the edges. “If that’s ok with you?” Private Medina doesn’t just assume they are
welcomed. “Geez I guess.” He tells them his tone is less than enthusiastic. “Will
y’all leave my weed alone this time?” He asks. Medina looks around the room at
the people preparing to leave. “Tell him we can compromise.” Anne James speaks
up while smiling at her husband. “Alright Magic we’ll talk later get some rest.
We will try to get there as soon as possible.” Private Medina relays across the
radio. “We have to go!” She speaks snapping the knob into its off position.
“Hey is it wise for us to keep toting our
guns around this is still a church?” Carson pulls the attention in the room
squarely onto his broad shoulders. Lockett having just completed her routine
weapons check flips off her rifle’s safety. “You can leave yours if you want
Carson.” She smirks grabbing the doorknob her head turning back to the group.
She twists the handle pulling the door open quickly. “Jesus Christ!” Sara yelps
stumbling backwards her hand instinctively moves her pistol. Towering there in
the doorway hunched over is Brother Gustavo. His face flashes from a blank
slate to confused mask of anger. His arms stretch for Private Lockett like gangly
octopus tentacles. Brother Gustavo’s spidery fingers catch Sara by the collar.
He draws her face slowly up towards his. “Thou shall not take the Lord’s name
in vain …” Gustavo’s words are cut off mid-sentence. Ben clamps down on the Ice
Cream Man’s arm like a vise. “You’re the voice we heard in the carport
yesterday aren’t you?” Ben James has spent a lifetime working with his hands.
His massive arm flexes and a ripple passes from his arm muscles up Brother
Gustavo’s frail arm like a current of electricity. “Yes I am ...” Brother
Gustavo grimaces letting Private Lockett slip from his grasp. “I’ve heard about
you my good man.” Ben speaks his words low and hot. “Seems I have you to thank
for reuniting my family but you also made a mess of my host’s face in the
process.” Ben relaxes slightly. “That’s the only reason I haven’t broken your
hand yet and thrown you through a wall.” Ben gently nudges Sara aside which she
doesn’t take kindly to. Having to be saved is not something she is comfortable
with. “Take your hands of him now!” The Colonel growls bulldozing into the room
from behind Brother Gustavo. Sara takes the opportunity to reassert herself
into the fray. She steps forward blocking the burly man’s path. “Hold tight ole
Hoss.” She says sarcastically. The man stops looking Private Lockett up and
down. In his hand minus three of its fingers he clutches two crumpled sheets of
paper. “Little girl you have got to be kidding me.” He offers up with a dismissive
grin. “I will break you in half.” He spits locking his cold vacant blue eyes on
her. “Doubt that …” Carson says his voice is tense with anger as he yanks
Lockett from behind. He immediately places himself where Sara had once stood
holding her ground. The odds favored Carson a tad more should this situation
spiral out of control. “Mrs. James I apologize I was simply eager to speak with
you is all.” Brother Gustavo’s pleading eyes wash over Ben searching for his
wife in the room. This causes Ben to release his grip but he doesn’t drop his
guard. “Brother Gustavo I don’t understand what you want.” Anne weaves her way
through the bodies clogging the doorway. “Just wanted a word with you is all
Ma’am and then this young lady here she took the Lord’s name in vain.” Brother
Gustavo absently wipes his throbbing hand across his mouth. “So that gives you
the right to put your hands on a woman?” Ben interjects into the conversation.
“No … No … No.” Gustavo stammers defensively. “My zeal for The Lord sometimes
gets the best of me.” Ben doesn’t like this man and now that he’s met the
legendary “Brother Gustavo” he likes him even less. Out of curiosity Ben James
peers back at his children Anne had long since told him that his temper scared
“their kids.” Belinda sits curled in Chip’s lap her eyes never leaving the
ghoulish butler looking man dressed in white. Brandon’s positioned behind
Chip’s wheelchair glancing over his big brother’s shoulder. The Colonel sighs
loudly rolling his eyes. “Can we get on with this the rest of us have things to
do and a Tribulation to prepare for?” He squeezes his big body back out the
doorway parting the gawking crowd of church members. “Brother Gustavo I told
you that you’d have to learn how to apply the Lord’s word.” Anne moves in to
face her husband placing a reassuring hand on his dark cheek. She finally
manages to break Ben’s hundred yard voodoo hate stare. Ben looks at his wife
her beautiful face tilted up to his. He realizes again how lucky he was to have
her end of the world or not. “It’s ok babe.” She tells him laying her head upon
his heaving chest. “Brother Gustavo we can talk later before we ….. “ Anne
trails off choosing to guard her words rather that reveal their true plans.
“Excellent Mrs. James I look forward to it.” Brother Gustavo smiles stepping
back with a bow. The doorway clear he directs the survivors out of the room
like a maître d pointing to the main communal area of the church’s basement.
Ben doesn’t like this man nor does he trust the way this ‘Brother Gustavo’
simply dismisses him in the presence of his wife. Sara is the first to exit
their cramped accommodations she feels Benjamin James clap her across the back.
When she looks back he is smiling at her. Carson moves out next and Ben gives
him the same acknowledgement.
“Alright gather round and hush up people.”
Colonel calls out positioning himself in the center of the common area. Ben
leads his group into the room packing together with the other survivors. He
points to the tables still lined with food and motions over to Bianca. The
woman carrying the baby weaves through the densely packed people. She begins to
secure food for all the children. “First off we survived yet another night
thanks to the grace of God Amen.” The crowd chimes in with a rousing chorus of
“Amen.” He turns about making sure he has the group’s full attention. Sara can
tell the man has spent many years giving orders and having other jump when he
gives the word. “We also have to thank The Sin Preacher. As you all heard over
the church’s PA system. She spent the night in fervent prayer beseeching the
Lord for his mercy and grace.” He starts to clap crushing the paper between his
large damaged hands. “It worked the Unclean did not bring their plague to our
door. She put the mark of the lamb on our doorway.” Colonel makes a vague
biblical reference to drive his point home. The crowd chants and wails the
noise rising up to the dank basement rafters in the basement. “Shhhhhh ….” He
smiles attempting to stifle the noise in the room. “Alright now let’s keep it
down Pastor is trying to rest people.” Raising his voice admonishing those
around him. “Our first order of business before we assign task inside the
church. We need volunteers to labor alongside Brother Gustavo outside the
gate.” He falls silent as does the rest of the room. People fain distraction
one man finds now to be the appropriate time to tie his boots. “Now don’t
forget folks we have to get this done for everyone’s safety. So don’t everybody
jump at once. Colonel chuckles. “It’ll only be a few hours this morning ladies
and gents and if I don’t start seeing volunteer’s. Ole Colonel is gonna have to
draft some of you fine folks. The Preacher won’t be pleased if she wakes up and
this aint done.” “Dad.” Chip tugs his father’s arm. “Yeah son …” Ben kneels down
keeping his eyes on the man in charge. “Didn’t you say we were going to be
around here for a few more hours today?” Ben looks confused hunching his
shoulders. “Yeah Son and … “Ben doesn’t finish his sentence. “I’ll go with
Brother Gustavo.” Chip shouts out lifting Belinda from his lap placing her on
the floor. “Woooo …. Wooooo now son the hell you will.” Ben words haven’t
cleared his mouth as he steps into the path of Chip’s wheelchair. “Ok so let me
get this straight.” Colonel hold his hands up to quite the murmurs. “The men of
First New Faith are such fraidy cats. They gonna send a boy to do a man’s jobs
and a boy in a wheelchair no less.” Ben turns his eyes squinting filled with
hate. “Watch your mouth hillbilly.” The people between the two men part like
the Red Sea. Colonel takes several bold strides towards Benjamin. He meant to
challenge this man who dared square his shoulders at him in his house. Ben
doesn’t flinch holding his ground as the retired soldier bares down upon him. A
blur passes Ben Chip comes to a stop sideways between his father and the
Colonel. Chip points a gloved hand at the missing fingers on the Colonel’s left
hand. “We crippled can do anything. You most of all should know that.” Chip
tosses his frizzy brown hair from his face grinning. “Night before last me and
my baby sister held off an army of those damn zombies until day light.” He says
leaving out the seizure, the crushing fear and the part where they almost died.
“Can any of you ‘real men’ top that?” Chips asks making air quotes using his
fingers. “Didn’t think so.” The room is still Chip can see his mother move to
his father’s side. She takes Ben Senior’s hands in hers to calm him. “I accept
his offer.” A voice cascades over the crowd from the back of the gathering.
Brother Gustavo moves up the crowd giving way
as he passes. People avoid the quirky man as if he were one of “unclean” undead
himself. “This young man is industrious and shows great courage. The rest of
you cowards stay here with the women and children while we men tend to the
fields.” Brother Gustavo throws out his words like daggers into the men sitting
slovenly around the room. He comes to Chip hand extended “Brother Gustavo
pleased to meet you son.” Chip shakes the man’s hand. “Benjamin James Junior sir
pleased to meet you as well he responds. “I wanna go too daddy.” Brandon shouts
skipping past his parents. Ben catches the boy by the back of his shirt lifting
him from the ground. “Hold on Champ I haven’t decided your brother is going
yet.” He places his youngest son down at his feet. “However I know there’s no
way in world you’re going.” “Awwwww …“Brandon moans comically drawing laughter
from the crowd. “Mr. James I assure that my truck is safe and I will allow no
harm to come to your son. He will be under the protection of the Lord All
Mighty first and myself second.” Brother Gustavo presents himself to the
couple. “Dad … “Chip speaks up causing his father to look past the man before
him. Ben sees Chip holding the pistol he’d given to the boy in one hand and his
“Lucky Mallet” in the other. “Do not let these pompous fool sit in judgment of
your son Mr. James. The boy wants to pull his own weight.” Brother Gustavo
pleads with the James’. “Therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down
my life, that I might take it again John chapter ten verse seventeen.” Ben
pulls in a deep breath slapping his hand to his face. He longs for the
sanctuary and solitude of his basement shelter. It seems like years have passed
since he’d dwelt in the relative comfort of his own home. He looks down on Anne
through his fingers like a kid peering out a screen door. Anne bobs her head in
agreement and Ben reluctantly relents. “I’ll go with them.” Carson jumps in the
conversation. “I’d love the fresh air.” All eyes turn to Brother Gustavo. “Fine
Colonel I bid you farewell I have all the help I need. We go forth boldly in
the Lord Thy God assures our safety.” With a smile that completely unnerves Ben
Brother Gustavo bows slightly from hunched over stance. “Thank you both.” Now he
faces the members of the church. The same town’s people who benefit the most
from his dangerous self-appointment tasks. Yet they forced him to sleep in his
shed out back rather than allowing him in their midst. Fixing The Sin
Preacher’s enforcers with look of disdain. Brother Gustavo scans the room
looking for the men as he shouts. “Understand, ye brutish among the people: and
ye fools, when will ye be wise? Psalms chapter ninety four verse eight.” He
departs the room with Carson and Chip in tow. Chip takes the opportunity to
stop his chair in front of his parents. They come down to hug their eldest
child. Soon Chip feels Brandon’s arms encircle his neck and B moves in planting
a kiss on his cheek. “He scares me Chip.” She whispers the way all little girls
do moving her entire body in an overly exaggerated motion. “I will be fine baby
sis.” Chip tells her looking up at his parents. “Are you sure about this son?”
Ben clenches his jaw as he speaks. Chip shakes his head signaling his
commitment. “You watch that creepy bastard you hear me?” Ben whispers. Private
Carson comes into the discussion. “We will Sir and I will watch Chip’s back
too.” Chip cuts his eyes back at Carson. He stares at the boy who is slightly
older than he is with envy standing over him on his strong piston like legs. “Yeah
don’t be so sure big boy.” Chip propels himself forward gliding through the
crowd with ease. “I might save your butt.” Ben and Anne watch their son head
out of the church. “We just sent our son that I took my time to rescue off with
a zealot in a battle equipped ice cream truck to do what Anne?” He begins to
clench and unclench his meaty hands. “Tell me honey what exactly did you say to
that lunatic that he wants to talk to you so bad.” Ben’s head slowly cranes
down until he and his wife are staring into each other’s eyes. As Ben watches
Chip and Carson depart he catches a glimpse of the Miriam standing almost out
of sight. She is wearing a white robe Ben guesses this is what she wore when
she preached. Miriam summons Ben to her with a discreet wave of her finger
almost as a lover would. Ben looks about and walks toward the Pastor’s office.
He feels warmth slip into the palm of his rough hand. A quick look back reveals
his wife holding his hand keeping stride hot on his heels.
They turn the corner heading into the dimly
lit office. The Sin preacher ushers them in standing behind the door. “Come in
please.” She says hand gesturing in the direction of two chairs sitting on the
opposite side of her desk. Ben pulls his wife’s chair out like a gentleman and
waits for Miriam to take her seat. “Good morning Mr. and Mrs. James I hope it’s
not too early for you? I wanted to speak with you before I get some rest.”
Miriam leans back her chair squeaks loudly. “We are fine Miriam how are you? I
can’t believe you preached from Sundown to Sunup” Anne responds she had heard
most of the pastor’s sermon in passing. It seemed to Anne the woman had a
decidedly Old Testament apocalyptic view of the Bible and it reflected in her
sermon. “Yes Anne it was very refreshing to cry out to the Lord and have him
respond.” She grins somehow managing to show humility and arrogance blended
into a cocktail of self-righteousness. “Your sermon was full tilt fire and
brimstone preacher.” Anne cracks a thin weary smile. “Yes …. Yes Ma’am I
believe the Old Testament is the way to lead the world back from the brink.”
Anne’s head moves up and down slowly. “And so you know that was the way I
preached before The Rapture too.” “Do you really believe we have just lived
through the Rapture Miriam?” Anne pounces on the word like an apex predator.
“The reason I ask is there’s a lot of things that
don’t fit what we know of the Rapture.” Ben watches as Miriam’s brow furrows
deeply. ”How so Mrs. James?” She says through her thin fingers spread out
before her eyes like a church steeple. “Well for starters my children ….. Any
children for that matter why are they still here?” The Sin Preacher and Anne
James engage in a good ole fashioned stare down. “Mrs. James do you realize
that we who are born of men are born into sin? Do you believe that the purity
of a child is derived from its parents?” Miriam rises from her seated position.
She strikes Ben as the type of person who stands when they speak because she
believes conveys authority. “Yes I do know all men are born of sin Miriam but
Christ died for our sins and they were forgiven.” Anne briefly cuts her eyes at
her husband who is sitting like a goof with an awkward yet comical smile
plastered on his face.
“You
know Mrs. James you and I are alike.” The Sin Preacher begins to move around
the desk sitting just in front of Anne. “There was a time when society would
not accept us. Me being a female preacher and you with your …. “The word hangs
in the air as Anne moves to the edge of her seat. Ben knows from past
experiences with his wife the use of the term “apex predator.” Will morph from
a metaphor to a reality in his wife if she deems a line has been crossed.
“Marriage and its byproducts.” Anne is on her feet as the last syllable slips
from the librarian like woman’s lips. “Well this just went to shit.” Ben thinks
to himself. One thing about his wife he knew above all else. Nothing would draw
her blood to a boil faster than mentioning the kids in a less than positive light.
Except pointing out their interracial marriage as if were somehow or another
less valid than any other. Ben goes to stand he meets his wife’s hand firmly on
his shoulder as she shoves him back down into his seat. “Mr. and Mrs. James I
mean no disrespect Miriam holds her hands up the pale palms turned outward.
“All I am saying is if you call everything written in the Bible with a rigid
eye. Then neither of us would be in the positions God has bestowed up on us.”
Anne lets the woman have her say even as her tongue fights to loose itself.
“You know what I think Ms. Sin Preacher? I think you are no different than
those horrible people from that God awful church that protest those children’s
funerals.” Anne is shaking with rage and now nose to nose with Miriam. The Sin
Preacher pushes back from Anne James. She walks briskly around the desk
snatching up a worn brown Bible and her gold rimmed glasses she clears her
throat. Miriam’s left hand is shaking noticeably as she places her glasses on
and starts to read aloud. “And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will
smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; their flesh shall
consume away while they stand upon their feet and their eyes shall consume away
in their hole, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” The cadence
in her voice increases until it is ricocheting of the drywall all around them.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall
be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor and
his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.” The woman snaps the
Bible close in Anne’s face. “Zechariah chapter fourteen verses twelve and
thirteen. Now you tell me Mrs. James you stand there and tell me that is not
what is happening just outside this very church as we speak. We have been
judged and found unworthy Mrs. James.” The Sin Preacher shouts slamming the
Bible down on the desktop. “Say what you will about me Mrs. James but unlike
you I am not running to live. I have stood my ground and protected the sheep. I
give shelter to those unworthy in God’s eyes. This includes you and your group
along with that descendant of Lot you have brought into my church.” Anne replays
decades of Sunday school and church services in her mind. She knows the
reference to Lot but can’t place it. Then it dawns on Anne “she is talking
about Jamal and his Middle Eastern heritage.” “This is my flock I tend these
sheep.” The woman rolls on in her impromptu sermon. “Here I am the Shepherd.”
Anne is breathing through her nose only. Her nostrils flare out with each burst
of air that escapes her lungs. “The Lord …. Is my Shepherd.” Anne stabs her
words like a sword into the heart of The Sin Preacher’s bold claims. Turning
she leaves the office without uttering another word. Oh her way out Anne
somehow manages to slam the plywood door far louder than Ben would have
believed possible. Ben sits glued to his chair with the look of a man whose
wife has just insulted his boss at the company picnic. “Clearly you haven’t
given any thought to staying with us as members of my inner circle of trust?”
She folds her hands in front of her face as she takes her seat once again.
“Mr.
James I rescued you …. Brought you and your family here sheltered you all
shared with you and for what?” The Sin Preacher slams one hand down causing the
desk beneath to rattle. Ben attempts to speak but Miriam stifles his words with
an accusing finger. “You rebuff my offer, your wife insults me and my church.
If you want to leave that is fine Mr. James but you owe me and you owe The
First New Faith.” Ben sits up straight in the small chair. “I know that your
son and the other young man from you party went to assist Brother Gustavo with
chores. I have taken this into consideration as I have prayed over your debt to
this house of God.” “We appreciate what you have done for us Miriam.” Ben takes
this time to speak realizing he was letting The Sin Preacher take the upper
hand in the discussion. “We would like to leave and I humbly ask that you allow
us to use a car which we will return.” He was just wishing someone else would
take the lead in their quest to survive. After watching his wife and Miriam go
at it. Ben James slaps himself mentally he’d spent his entire life in charge of
his own destiny. His mind races back to everything he had done before “The
Event” and then after. “Anne was right and so was Sara we need to go.” Ben
thinks White Magic’s place is a far better shelter. The tactless dreadlocked
pot dealer was a far better host. “Tell me how we can repay you and the church
Miriam. We will gladly do whatever you ask in order that we can leave before
sundown?” The Sin Preacher’s face goes cold she removes her glasses in one
swift motion. Exhaling loudly the petite woman rears back in her chair closing
her eyes. The Sin Preacher rubs the bridge of her nose with her head tilted
back facing the unfinished ceiling. “These end days are hard on everyone Mr.
James.” Her head still pointed upwards. “Supplies are extremely difficult to
come by they are the key to life. I like you I respect what you are trying to
do Mr. James from a survival standpoint and from a biblical standpoint.” She
brings her dead down like drawbridge lowering itself one tick at a time. Ben
suddenly sees the woman before him in a different light. In same the way one
does when a criminal dramatically rips off their ski mask in a movie. The Sin
Preacher stands her eyes never leaving Ben’s. She drives both palms down onto
the desk. Miriam leans as far across the desk as she can on her short legs.
“Life is survival, survival is life Mr. James.” Her teeth curl back over her
lips in a snarl. ”I will pray the Lord is merciful and protects you and yours.
Once payment is rendered you free to leave First New Faith and never look back.
You owe me Mr. James as payment you will give me the infant and the pagan from
your party.” Ben falls backwards from the chair as if the words have a
concussive blast force behind them.
First of all we apologize for the delay with Chapter 35. Sometimes real life has a way of really messing things up.
Now as far as the story goes what else can we say? Chip and Private Carson are out helping Brother Gustavo do God knows what. Ben James has literally just had the wind taken out of his sails as he learns the Sin Preacher truly isn't what she pretends to be.
We will see you the week of July 14th for Chapter 36. So hold on tight, read, like and share!
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