This soldier can drive it. We can’t
spare another man in the battle with the Infidels.”
“Yes, you are correct. The light of God has illuminated
your soul and it warms my heart.”
“I feel his love, Father.”
Alex felt the salty blood on his tongue as his teeth bit
into his lip.
John grabbed the cot with the dead soldier dressed in black
and wheeled it toward the elevator. The priest turned and ascended the steps.
Alex and John stood motionless next to the elevator as the motor roared to
life. The soldiers tied the church’s electrical system into the generators and
sent the freight elevator down. John pushed the gurney inside and Alex shut
the door. As the elevator began its return trip back up, Alex spoke.
“When we get to the top, get us into the vehicle. If anyone
stops us or looks at us with a second glance, open fire and run for the truck.”
“The last gun I fired was a cap gun,” said John.
“Then you’d better be ready, because that machine gun has a
hell of a lot more kick.”
The elevator door opened and Alex saw him. Father’s
vestments flowed and billowed, flickering candles all around. Alex vowed to
bloody those garments. Father walked toward Alex, paying little attention to
the man in fatigues to his right.
“Where are you taking John the Revelator?” Father asked.
“I’m taking John the Revelator into my office, for closer
observation – per our discussion, Father. I have electronic equipment there
that will allow me to monitor his heartbeat and other vitals.”
A single bead of sweat popped out on Alex’s forehead and ran
straight down the bridge of his nose.
“We can bring it here for you, Doctor.”
“Umm, yes Father, I have no doubt that you could. However,
I am unsure of John’s condition and would not want to lose him in that cold,
damp basement.”
Father paused and glared at Alex. He turned in the
direction of John, and addressed him, but kept his eyes on Alex the entire
time.
“If this man does anything out of the ordinary, anything,
send him to meet the Maker.”
“Yes Father,” John replied, garbling his words in an attempt
to disguise his own voice.
“I have seen the light, Father. I serve the Lord.”
“Let’s hope you are truthful as well as subservient.”
Father turned to speak to another priest. Alex looked at
John and exhaled a sigh of relief. They left the front door of the church and
had three other soldiers help them carry the cot down the steps. The dead
soldier in priest’s clothing filled the back of the truck. John jumped behind
the wheel and Alex sat in the passenger’s seat. One of the men at the back
slammed the tailgate with his fist twice, alerting John that he should pull
out. As the vehicle turned on to East Eighth Street, Alex threw his head back
and rubbed his forehead.
“Take it all the way to Shaker, and don’t stop for
anything. The men that drive these would run down their own grandmother for a
spritz of holy water.”
John chuckled and took the suggestion.
Alex motioned John to the curb on Shaker, a mile from Shaker
Square. John saw red pentagrams everywhere. The truck coughed to a halt, and
the men got out and walked around back through the shattered door. John
followed Alex into the dark veterinarian’s office.
“If they haven’t already discovered us, they will soon.
Grab as much of the drugs as you can from those two cabinets and throw it in
this bag. Meet me back at the truck in two minutes. I need to grab syringes
and surgical tools.”
“Where are we headed next?”
“Damned if I know. Do you know a good place to ‘hail the
riff’?”
John grinned.
“As a matter of fact, I do. The Jigsaw Saloon on the West
Side books stoner-rock bands all the time. There isn’t a better place in
Cleveland to ‘hail the riff’. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Get your shit and meet me in the truck. Think of how we’re
going to get
spare another man in the battle with the Infidels.”
“Yes, you are correct. The light of God has illuminated
your soul and it warms my heart.”
“I feel his love, Father.”
Alex felt the salty blood on his tongue as his teeth bit
into his lip.
John grabbed the cot with the dead soldier dressed in black
and wheeled it toward the elevator. The priest turned and ascended the steps.
Alex and John stood motionless next to the elevator as the motor roared to
life. The soldiers tied the church’s electrical system into the generators and
sent the freight elevator down. John pushed the gurney inside and Alex shut
the door. As the elevator began its return trip back up, Alex spoke.
“When we get to the top, get us into the vehicle. If anyone
stops us or looks at us with a second glance, open fire and run for the truck.”
“The last gun I fired was a cap gun,” said John.
“Then you’d better be ready, because that machine gun has a
hell of a lot more kick.”
The elevator door opened and Alex saw him. Father’s
vestments flowed and billowed, flickering candles all around. Alex vowed to
bloody those garments. Father walked toward Alex, paying little attention to
the man in fatigues to his right.
“Where are you taking John the Revelator?” Father asked.
“I’m taking John the Revelator into my office, for closer
observation – per our discussion, Father. I have electronic equipment there
that will allow me to monitor his heartbeat and other vitals.”
A single bead of sweat popped out on Alex’s forehead and ran
straight down the bridge of his nose.
“We can bring it here for you, Doctor.”
“Umm, yes Father, I have no doubt that you could. However,
I am unsure of John’s condition and would not want to lose him in that cold,
damp basement.”
Father paused and glared at Alex. He turned in the
direction of John, and addressed him, but kept his eyes on Alex the entire
time.
“If this man does anything out of the ordinary, anything,
send him to meet the Maker.”
“Yes Father,” John replied, garbling his words in an attempt
to disguise his own voice.
“I have seen the light, Father. I serve the Lord.”
“Let’s hope you are truthful as well as subservient.”
Father turned to speak to another priest. Alex looked at
John and exhaled a sigh of relief. They left the front door of the church and
had three other soldiers help them carry the cot down the steps. The dead
soldier in priest’s clothing filled the back of the truck. John jumped behind
the wheel and Alex sat in the passenger’s seat. One of the men at the back
slammed the tailgate with his fist twice, alerting John that he should pull
out. As the vehicle turned on to East Eighth Street, Alex threw his head back
and rubbed his forehead.
“Take it all the way to Shaker, and don’t stop for
anything. The men that drive these would run down their own grandmother for a
spritz of holy water.”
John chuckled and took the suggestion.
Alex motioned John to the curb on Shaker, a mile from Shaker
Square. John saw red pentagrams everywhere. The truck coughed to a halt, and
the men got out and walked around back through the shattered door. John
followed Alex into the dark veterinarian’s office.
“If they haven’t already discovered us, they will soon.
Grab as much of the drugs as you can from those two cabinets and throw it in
this bag. Meet me back at the truck in two minutes. I need to grab syringes
and surgical tools.”
“Where are we headed next?”
“Damned if I know. Do you know a good place to ‘hail the
riff’?”
John grinned.
“As a matter of fact, I do. The Jigsaw Saloon on the West
Side books stoner-rock bands all the time. There isn’t a better place in
Cleveland to ‘hail the riff’. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Get your shit and meet me in the truck. Think of how we’re
going to get
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