Miriam's Well

Miriam's Well by Lois Ruby Page A

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Authors: Lois Ruby
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shouting to me from far, far away. “I shall rebuke this child’s pain and disease, just as Jesus caused the fever to vanish in Peter’s mother. I call the pain out where I can see it, I summon it to the surface where I can smash it like a fly on the wall. What do you feel, Miriam?”
    â€œA churning in my stomach, Brother James.”
    â€œYes, yes. The Holy Spirit is fiercely spinning and gathering everything in its path. It is banishing Satan. It is sucking up the pain in your back, it is swallowing whole the tumor they say is in your bones. It is drawing all the evil of pain and disbelief into a tighter and tighter circle. Do you feel it?”
    â€œYes,” I said breathlessly. The black walnut, everything, drawn out of me.
    â€œTighter and tighter, the circle.” His voice changed pitch; it was harsher now. “When the circle can compress no smaller, it will change direction. Is it changing now, child?”
    â€œYes, yes!”
    â€œYes. It is spinning out, scattering cool sparks outside of you. You are no longer afflicted, praise God.”
    I wanted desperately to believe him. I believed him. He was silent for a few minutes, with his jaw locked in a determined prayer. I felt no pain, and the panic that had been just below the surface since this whole thing started settled into a serenity. The quiet after the storm, I told myself. Or was it the eye of the hurricane?
    â€œNow that you’re feeling better, we must plan,” Brother James said. He still had hold of my hands. “We will not defy the law of the land, but neither will we comply,” he said. I did not understand. “Oh, I could bring in half a dozen brothers and have you out of this place and back in your mama’s house in no time.”
    â€œThat’s where I want to be, Brother James.”
    â€œYes, but we have this court order to contend with. It says they have the legal right to keep you here. It says they can run tests on you until they have their so-called scientific answers. But it does not say they can administer any of their poisons.”
    I furtively glanced toward the IV dripping into my arm.
    â€œI’ve checked on that. It’s only sugar water, no drugs. I’ll pull it out when I think it’s the right time, but we’ll go along with it for now. It’s to our advantage, and it doesn’t violate God’s law. But I swear to God, and Sword and the Spirit Church will stand behind me on this, I will never let them give you drugs that they disguise as medicinal, and I will never let them pump someone else’s blood into your veins. You have my word. Now, tell me about your friends.”
    â€œAre you angry with them for getting me into this?” I asked.
    â€œNo, child. They only did what their mothers and daddies taught them. Do they come to visit you here?”
    â€œDiana’s coming tonight, I think, but I haven’t seen Adam yet.”
    â€œLucifer comes disguised in plumes and finery, but is Lucifer still.”
    â€œI think he’s a nice boy, Brother James.”
    â€œA very nice boy. Well-mannered, bright, fine looking boy. But remember, he doesn’t follow our Lord.”
    â€œI suppose not.”
    â€œThat’s my girl. Now, don’t worry about your mama. I’ll have Sister Naomi go over and stay with her until we get this settled, so your uncles won’t fret.” He pulled a peppermint out of his pocket. The crinkly wrapper reminded me of green cellophane around a Christmas fruit basket. He motioned for me to open my mouth, and he slid the red and white candy onto my tongue, as if it were a communion wafer.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Told by Adam
    â€œWhat is this ? Dad, what’s this mystery food she’s passing off on us?” It jiggled on my plate like dead vomit-colored Jell-O.
    â€œTofu,” my mother said. “It’s healthy. It’s Japanese. They eat it in California.”
    â€œYes, but

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