Christian Clarity Review

Chapter Sixteen

Jack’s office

Jack sits leaning on his elbows, restng his chin in his hands; looking over the files: Where did he go?

The young man adjusts his coat in the chair: Downtown–Fifth Street Misson. He met the guy that runs the place in his office after serving food to the hungry.

The Young Man speaks in a deadpan voice. It is impossible to tell whether or not he is being sarcastic.

Jack doesn’t look up: I read that part. What did they talk about?

Young Man: Hard to say, didn’t have anything on site.

Jack: And now?

Young Man: Now we do.

Jack nods and closes the file: I want video as well as audio.

Young Man: Already in place.

Jack: Who’s the guy?

Young Man: Thomas Albert Chambers. The third. Took over the place from his father. Lives off and runs the misson on a trust fund set up by his grandfather. They’ve got history.

Jack: How far back?

The young man consults his own file: They grew up together. Same church Tom’s father pastored.

Jack: He pastored a church as well as ran a soup kitchen?

The Young Man nods: Seperate entities. Got a lot of support from his own congregation according to the financial records. Everything seemed to roll along nicely until Henry’s kid dissappeared.

Jack looks up: Henry has children?

Young Man: Had. A boy. Samuel James Fielding. Dissappeared when he was ten. Apparently Tom was the kid’s sunday school teacher. No one really wants to say why but Henry’s wife,..

Jack: Laura.

Young Man: Yeah, Laura. She accused this guy Tom of filling his impressionable head with religious garbage–She didn’t count herself among the faithful. Practically made it look like it was his fault the kid was gone. Made such a stink in the church Tom was asked to leave. Police never had any solid suspects. Wrong guy in the wrong circumstance by all accounts. He went into the Army, did four, went to Alaska, stayed six years, was ordained in the Presbyerian Church. Came back about five years ago when his father died. Has no connection with the church, just runs the misson. Sermons on Sundays and Wednesdays, room and board the rest. Solid reputation.

Jack: The boy?

Young Man: Hasn’t been heard from or seen since. It happens.

Jack stands up and walks over to the window. “I never knew he had a son.” he says, looking at the lights of Washington. “I’ve known him for over ten years.” He turns abruptly, “I want to know everything they discuss. Everything.”

Young Man: You can access the misson from here. The code is ‘lighthouse’.”

Jack raises an eyebrow: Think that’s funny?

The man gets up to leave: Somewhat appropriate?

Jack: How go the preparations?

Young Man: On schedule.

Jack pours himself a drink. “It won’t be long now.” He replaces the stopper. “They’re at the wall.”

Young Man: So you believe it?

Jack: It doesn’t matter what I believe.

Young Man: Even given that it changed for them, I still don’t see what they can do with it that we can’t.

Jack: Maybe there isn’t. Maybe there is.

—————————————

Underground:

“What about that artifact—the thing that was in the hand? It might be a key of some sort.” Mary sits against a column with Izzy watching the others speak to the wall.

Izzy: We haven’t found anything but smooth rock that dances for us.

Mary: We just haven’t said the right thing.

Izzy: In any case we don’t have the key, if that’s what it is.

Hayt (at the wall): Got somethinnn’.

Izzy walks over. A childs hat in full color with a twirling propeller on top is sitting on a shelf. “What did you say?”

Hayt hesitates: Uh, I don’t want to say.

Shapes morph in an out underneath the shelf.

Gregg comes over from his section of the wall: What do you mean you don’t want to say? That’s what we’re doing.

Hayt frowns: Enebriated elephants danced daintily under the canopy of trees whilst fairys tiptoed to the celestial sounds. I just made it up.

Another hat appears; not in color and with no twirler.

Gregg smiles a wide smile, holding in a laugh: With more feeling next time. And whilst? Whilst? Not really a scientist’s word is it?

A shelf appears with a rock ball on it.

Gregg shoves Hayt. “You renaissance man, you.” He laughs. “Whilst!”

“Now you see—that’s why I didn’t want to say. I knew you’d do that. What were you saying anyway? ‘These two protozo-eye slide into a bar?’ But Hayt is laughing too and shoves back. He mimicks being a tiptoeing elephant.

A four foot section of wall morphs out from the floor and slides up the wall, taking out the shelf and hat before disappearing into the mist of the ceiling.

“Whoa!” Gregg back away and looks up at the ceiling.

Mary: Where did they go?

Shapes morph in and out as they speak, resembling odd shapes of random density, texture and angles.

Hayt: If they were in here when this thing ..cleaned itself, then..

Mike walks up to the wall: “No beast but has some pity. But I have none and therefore am no beast.”

A wooden chair morphs out and is left on the floor beside him. He runs his hands over it: Real wood and real leather.

A shape goes in and out.

“Sit in it.” It is Albrite, extending a towelette to Mike and indicating his nose.

Mike gives a small smile as he wipes his nose and the towelette comes away red.”I think not.” As he walks away a glass curve extended outward and curved inward to form a circle, then, rotated fourty-five degrees and receded along the curve above the chair.

Albrite (to the wall) : Nicht die Menschen der grossen Sehnsucht, des grossen Ekels, des grossen Überdrusses und Das, was ihr den Überrest Gottes nanntet. Nein! Nein! Drei Mal Nein! Auf Andere warte ich hier in diesen Bergen und will meinen Fuss nicht ohne sie von dannen heben. auf Höhere, Stärkere, Sieghaftere, Wohlgemuthere, Solche, die rechtwinklig gebaut sind an Leib und Seele: lachende Löwen müssen kommen. Oh, meine Gastfreunde, ihr Wunderlichen, - hörtet ihr noch Nichts von meinen Kindern? Und dass sie zu mir unterwegs sind? Sprecht mir doch von meinen Gärten, von meinen glückseligen Inseln, von meiner neuen schönen Art, - warum sprecht ihr mir nicht davon?

A swastika appears in gold, with the image of a lion standing on the top and melts back into the wall.

Mary: Is that opera?

Hayt: What did you just say? la-chendee lowen moosen co-mun? Wonder lickin’? (he looks at Gregg) I like Art?. Freakin’ ..alas klar herr commissar!

Gregg smiles and almost laughs.

Shapes morph in and out.

Mike: It’s a quote from Niezsche, from Thus spoke Zarathustra:

———–

Zarathustra looks at Mike through the wall. The others look at Zarathustra.

———-

Mike (looks at Albrite curiously as he speaks) “Not for you do I wait here in these mountains; not with you I descend for the last time. You come unto me only as a sign that the higher ones are on the way to me,–Not the men of great passion, of great loathing, of great satiety; them you call the remnant of God; Oh no. No! Three times No. For others do I wait here in these mountains, and will not lift my foot from hence without them; For higher ones, stronger ones, those of the dominion, merrier ones, for such as are built squarely in body and soul: Laughing lions must come! O guests, you strange and little ones–have you yet heard nothing of my children? And that they are on the way to me? Do speak unto me of my gardens, of my Happy Islands, of my new, beautiful race–why do you not speak unto me therein?

The wall parts and deposits a large gold swastika with a lion walking on top. The lion leaps off; runs away into the darkness, before appearing again on the fringes of the lights. It roars in anger, walking back and forth just in the darkness.

The wall doesn’t react.

They stand stunned at the sight.

Albrite: Didn’t know you spoke German. Or Niezsche.

The wall reacts with strange, random shapes.

Mike: Oder Zarathustrian? Hier und dort. He looks at his arms and hands: Ein Feind.

The wall reacts continually as they speak with random shapes and textures.

———————-

The others look at Zarathustra. He shrugs.

———————-

Gregg: Intellectuals. I was right: You’re Mike-a-delic, man. Albrite –Don’t say anything else. Three times nine? Got some swine?

( Their consciousness of the wall recedes for a time..)

Mike: Worse still. I’m too stupid to be embarrassed by my ignorance of your etiquette of disdain.

Hayt suppresses a smile; hold his hands out. “What? I am the only one who sees what is going on here?”

Izzy: Please tell us. Because the point up to now is that we don’t.

Hayt shrugs: .. But we don’t have to be reduced to..gibberish.

No door has appeared.

Izzy: But not enough to finish it.

(the wall reacts)

Izzy kicks the wall in frustration. Nothing.

Jimmy smiles.

Izzy (to Jimmy): What?! Say something!

(wall reacts)

Jimmy smiles in defense: What will I say?

The wall ripples from top to bottom for as far as they can see; sounds like distant thunder roll down from above.

The hairs on the back of Hayt’s neck rise and he looks narrowly at Jimmy. “You’ve been holding back.”

——-

In the galley.

“It reacts after you are done. I said something, what, three, four sentences long and nothing appeared until I was finished.” Gregg sits down with coffee.

“And the thing it seems to represent is how you feel—not how you’re trying to make someone else feel with the words.” Albrite sips tea as the others eat.

Hayt: (to Albrite) You not hungry?

Albrite shakes his head: Tea is fine. My stomach hurts something awful today.

Mary: Mine did the other day—out of nowhere.

“And you can’t..” Gregg uses his fork for emphasis, “..fake it. You can’t say something you think will make someone else laugh or something that you think will be sobering.”

Albrite: I just said that.

Mary: Two different people saying the same thing gets two different results. Or saying the same thing in different languages.

“And the chair is still there. It’s real. Just like the lion, who is getting angry because he is hungry. Bravo, Mike.” Gregg continues. “Did you think that up there on the spot? That is true talent.” He shakes his head as he cuts a potato with his knife, the watch flashing in the light. “I’m glad I never know what to say.”

Hayt: You’re just simple and lame that way.

Mike: God gave it to me.

Gregg: God gave you something to say to a wall? The German guy who wrote that was a Christian?

Hayt and Gregg exchange looks.

Mike: Yes. And he was an atheist. God created atheists too. To show me–all of us, something. What I don’t understand.

“Scenerio: it doesn’t want us to leave.” Izzy comes into the galley. “The tunnel to the subterrene is completely filled in with that same kind of rock.”

—————————————————————-

Henry:

Laura leans against the counter as she watches Henry hand Lizzy a drink. She watches as he points out the specimen Virginia Stewartia just beyond the patio. She smiles as it seems Lizzy is impressed. As Henry enters through the patio doors, she says, “Is he coming?”

“I told you not to set him up. I told him you wouldn’t do that. This is bad timing. And an attorney? She’s going to cross-examine him for marital fitness while we eat?” He frowns as he opens the freezer. “We’re out of ice.”

“I’m an attorney. You did okay. We’ll be fine.” Laura eyes the table critically. “You’re sure he’s coming?”

Henry: “Yes. He said he’d be here. I’ll get the blame of course for the set-up.” He sees the headlights through the window. “He’s here.”

Laura takes a deep breath and brushes her hair back: How do I look?

Henry: Apologetic.

Laura: Very funny. I mean..

Henry: If you looked any better I’d be jealous. To be perfectly honest I am jealous. You never dress up like this..

Laura: Okay, I’ll take the soup out. The soup first.

Henry: I’ll bring the bread. You answer the door..

Laura: Nice try.

They leave the kitchen together.

A moment later Henry meets Tom at the door. They shake hands. He takes Tom’s coat.

Henry: Any trouble finding us?

“No, you gave good directions. I’m impressed.” Tom looks around. “This is really nice. Country lane, a house in the woods on a hill overlooking the river. I’m glad for you.”

“Thanks. Uh,” Henry pulls Tom aside. “You understand I’m a married man and sometimes I have to do things..”

Tom: She set me up.

Henry: Well I wouldn’t exactly call it that. It’s more of a..

Tom: Set-up?

Henry: Exactly–It wasn’t my idea. I was against it….

Tom smiles: It’s okay. We’ll make it good.

“What are you two conspiring in here about? Talking in hushed tones? Don’t you know that’s rude?” Laura comes in with her arms outstretched. Tom takes her hands and she pulls them wider. “Nonsense. I want a hug.”

They hug and Laura introduces the woman standing behind her. “Tom this is my friend Elizabeth. We work together at the office. She’s a tax attorney.”

Tom and Elizabeth exchange slightly embarressed hellos and smiles and shake hands.

“I had been meaning to have her out for the longest time. But we’ve been so busy. When Henry said you were back in town I thought it would be the perfect oppurtunity to entertain. Of course we don’t get to as much as we’d like.”

There is a small silence.

Laura: It’s not as if you two aren’t grown people. I haven’t set you up or anything.

Tom lets out a small laugh: Of course you did. But I’m glad. It’s true I don’t get out much.

Laura: Tom darling, there is such a thing as being too candid.

Elizabeth: So what do you do?

Tom: I…

Henry: He runs the Fifth Street Misson downtown.

Laura: He can speak for himself, dear.

Elizabeth: Oh? Are you in administration?

Tom: I’m afraid I’m adminstration, part-time labor and board all rolled into one.

Elizabeth: That must give you a lot of satisfaction.

Tom: It keeps me busy.

“We can do this while we eat.” Laura says, taking Tom’s arm and walking to the dining room.

“Could you ask the blessing for us?” Laura commands, looking at Tom.

They bowed their heads and Tom speaks grace.

The food is excellent.

Conversation dies as they eat. Laura keeps a speculative eye on the both of them to see how they were reacting to each other. She is pleased to see they seem to be enjoying themselves.

“What shall we talk about?” she asks between the lamb and the dessert. “I know! I have a question: What do you want to be when you grow up, Tom? Henry wants to be a tree.”

“A tree?” Elizabeth asks, looking at Henry.

“Actually I have raised my expectations since we had that particular conversation.” says Henry, now on his third glass of wine. “But at the time I hoped to be a myfruit tree. Long story. What about you, Tom?”

Tom: Well I don’t know. I never thought about it. Here or in heaven? Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth: Hmm. Maybe a star with lots of light. Maybe a heart with lots of love. Maybe even one day a human being. I guess I’ll find out as the years go by.

“You have to say something, Tom.” Laura says as she spoons out the cherry cobbler.

Tom: Well nothing like putting me on the spot.

A silence is born and lengthens.

His ears are turning red. “Okay. Uh.. I’m new creation in Christ. I’d like to be a word.”

“A word?” Laura stops.

“A word.” He nods. “Yeah. Just one word of truth. A liar couldn’t say me–they wouldn’t even know me. All my brothers and sister’s, my ancestors, parents and progeny..together we’d form a vocabulary that even though there’d be no repetition all those who love the truth would understand. You’d speak us and say Him, say His praise.” He looks upward and smiles, embarressed. “You ever think that?” he says, looking at them. “We’re being made a vocabulary to speak things that even now are unutterable without us? That have yet to be created until we are spoken? And once spoken we never end and never the same word twice. But each one in it’s place for a never ending reality and never ending creation in infinite variety.”

They don’t move but stare at him.

Tom: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…

“Don’t say that. That just makes it worse. Sort of blew my tree away there Tom.” Henry smiles with a small laugh and picks up his glass. “We have missed you.”

Laura allows herself a wry smile. “You haven’t changed a bit in fifteen years. You’ve just gotten …more you.”

Tom has the look of being caught at something, but doesn’t quite understand what. Elizabeth looks directly at him for the first time.

The rest of the dinner goes well, with Henry cracking jokes and everyone laughing. It lasts late into the night until a significant silence and Elizabeth looks at her watch.

Tom and Henry stand on the porch.

Elizabeth comes out with her coat and gloves. “Walk me to my car?”

Tom: Absolutely. Let me get my coat. Henry, I’m preaching next week at a small country church. It’d be good to talk to you there and back, if you’ve the time.

Henry: Give me a call and let me know the details. I’ll be there.

Elizabeth and Tom say good-bye under the large oak by the drive.

Watching them drive away, Laura hugs Henry. “How was I?”

Henry: You were good.

Laura: Do you think they’ll…

Henry: I think that’s up to them.

Laura: Oh what was I doing?! Maybe it was too much.

He puts his arms around her and bites her gently on the neck. “You were apologizing. Remember?”

“Hmm. It was a good apology wasn’t it.” she says kissing his hand and smoothing his coat.

Henry: The very best.

——————————————-

Malachi 2:10-12 Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal unfaithfully every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah hath dealt unfaithfully, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the sanctuary of Jehovah which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Jehovah will cut off from the tents of Jacob the man that doeth this, him that calleth and him that answereth; and him that offereth an oblation unto Jehovah of hosts.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen