Tantiedan: The Awakening

TANTEIDAN: The Nine Saints of Mephistopheles

Tuesday 9: 15 AM

Coach Roberts was furious. Her pale face quickly turned a crimson red as she yelled. “This is the third time this year! You’re lucky that you’re elective grades are so high!”

Victoria sat unmoving, hands clasped firmly behind her back in classic “sit there and take it” mode. Her mother’s voice was barely above a whisper as Victoria focused intently on the television behind her. She was used to her mother’s temperament.

The television hummed on.

“This is Rina Harper reporting to you live for KINS 4. I come to you now from Hurricane Fury High, the scene of a horrific teen suicide.

“Today at precisely 7: 06 AM Carri Clark took her life by attempting to hang herself from the school’s bell tower. She might not have suffered if the rope had not snapped, sending her spiraling down, and finally hitting-“

Coach Roberts clicked the television off. “I don’t like being ignored, Victoria.”

“I heard every word you said, Mother. Now, if you will kindly excuse me, I have a class to get to.”

9: 20 (5th Period) STUDY HALL

Shigi sat in her seat, fidgeting. She had just stormed in on that man’s lecture…yet, when he examined her, suddenly he jumped with joy. He was glad to redirect her to her class. He seemed overzealous. Everything at this school was odd. She knew it sounded conceited, but it was almost like the entire staff was ecstatic to have her.

Shigi snapped back into reality as the door flung open. She smiled. Victoria Roberts was back. Victoria flung her enormous, overflowing, backpack down and yanked Shigi’s B-day schedule away. She played with her gum as she read aloud:

STUDY HALL--Rogers--216

RELIGION IN SCIENCE--Brown--207

SCIENCE--Johansson--306

RELIGIOUS STUDIES--Henderson--104

She set it down, pushed her gum through the gap formed by her overbite with her tongue, and blew a bubble. “You see that there?” She said, pointing to Shigi’s 7th period, “Johansson teaches chemistry and he’s a real dick about it. We’re supposed to have Lunch B, but he makes us take Lunch A. He said something about contaminating food. Anyway, it’ll all work out. I know this really cute guy-oh, my God, he’s so gorgeous-and he has Lunch A today! I’ll introduce you to him-he’s a real hottie.”

BOY’S PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Jatin stood against the wall near Steven and Kevin. A man in, too short, blue shorts blew a whistle and shouted orders. That morning Jatin had awakened to more books and his B-day schedule.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION--Green--Gym

PRAYER AID--Green--147

CALCULUS--Stevens--158

HISTORY--Doe--210

He found it laughable that Mr. Green, the coach, was also the Prayer Aid teacher. He figured a minister of some sort would have them sing and take confession, but this enormous mass of man was surely not going to bother with all of that. Jatin’s mind slipped out of the present, all that he could think of was her-Victoria. She was, in many ways, like Salem, but he always figured she’d end up with Johnston. Stone knew that Jatin had always liked Salem, but Jatin never acted on his feelings. He figured that, if any of them deserved Salem, it was Johnston. Jatin dreamt of Salem many times, but his dreams always turned into fantasies and he found himself more intrigued by what was on the outside of Salem. She was nice enough, yes, but she was his sister’s best friend and, he knew, only a crush.

The ringing of a whistle quickly brought him back to reality. Steven and Kevin were no longer on either side of him they had filed into their teams and he was being picked last. Everyone stood still and all eyes were on him. Finally the coach broke the silence, “Jatin,” he said, pointing to the group containing Steven, “go join that group. Dodge-ball,” he said as Jatin walked to his team, “commence!”

A thick rubber dodge ball flew across the room and hit Jatin squarely in the jaw.

(Meanwhile) Mephistopheles’ Church of Life

Salem grabbed Stone's hand, stopping him from throwing himself at the castle wall. "Stone, stop it! What would the Lord think of you for destroying the place from which he shall rule the lands?”

Stone turned, and smiled. "Come on! We're supposed to be somewhere but the door is blocked, and the wall is the only way in."

Salem squeezed his hand tighter, never looking away from his face, "Then we'll do it together."

They ran at the wall, causing its ancient foundation to crumble, they were there. Stone stood shocked, Salem gasped, "The Lord's Throne Room!"

The room was a majestic chamber, its furnishings looked brand-new, and the colors of the walls were vivid shades of purples and gold. The far wall held a mural depicting a battle between demons and angels, clouds at its center flowed around and behind a large canopy. The canopy's brownish-red curtains were closed, and the two found themselves drawn to it.

Their shoes pounded on the cold, gray, pavement hiding the dripping sounds that resonated throughout the chamber. Stone grabbed at Salem’s arm, and pulled open the curtain, they fell into a sea of red. Stone’s legs entangled within the sheets as he tried to kick his pants off.

Salem reached out a hand to push Stone away as he reached forward and ripped through the buttons on her shirt. "This is the Lord's chamber!"

“Stop it, Stone! Ouch, you’re hurting me!”

"I don't care, why do you think he sent us here?" Stone said, shoving her sidelong so that her head rested on a pillow. "The Lord wishes this of us, did he not tell you?"

"No... I only saw this in a dre--" Salem stopped mid-sentence, the Lord had sent her a vision and she hadn't even realized it! Her mouth widened into a malicious grin, and she reached out a delicate hand and flipped him over, placing herself on top of him. "Don't blink Stone; just think of what those fools, Jatin and Shigi, would say!"

Stone stifled a laugh and then locked his tan-pink lips over her scarlet ones.

Finally, when they both were running out of breath and they had ripped off every inch of clothing, he pulled his head away and into the pillow. "Oh, they wouldn't be able to say anything! The Lord would want us to do something to the two angels."

She giggled, "My, my! That he would! I wish they were here right now, how much fun that would be!" She kissed him again, and heat blazed into both of their eyes.

"I'm sure the Lord would love to have those two little lambs, they'd be perfect presents for him." Stone licked his lips, and then pulled Salem down to him, and as their lips touched, their tongues wormed their way inside of each other’s mouth. This is what the Lord wanted, and they were his. Slowly, as their bodies melted into one, their uniforms tossed carelessly to the side, the chanting began. Neither looked up or spared a glance, the Lord had sent his priests to watch, and they would give them a show.

Salem dug her manicured nails into Stone's well-muscled chest, he screamed, the chanting grew louder. Stone reached up and tore Salem’s hair out of its tight buns. The pleasure was everything, everywhere, even the pain was pleasing. Their lust for each other grew as Salem raked her hand down his chest, and his hand slowly worked her down further onto him. He kissed her, biting her plump lower lip. Blood spewed everywhere and she gasped with undying pleasure. The crimson fluid stained their bodies as they twisted and turned, both attempting to dig deeper into one another. Blood began to drip from their corneas and the sheets turned black, yet they continued.

"Salem, I love you!" He whispered into her ear before sinking his teeth into it, she sighed and pushed him down hard onto the bed.

"Don't stop now you fool! I may love you, but I love this more." She sunk her hand into his temple and they continued, pushing harder than before. "And since the Lord has brought us together for this, I'm sure he won't mind if we serve him to our hearts’ extent."

The audience that had gathered around them began to mutter. Their chanting was less consistent now. The men began to groan with Stone, and the females began to moan with Salem. In the center of the congregation stood Harlan Tanteidan, his face hidden by a hood, singing:

“Nine saints, willingly sacrificed, will open the iron gates and guide Him in. Nine saints, blood voluntarily shed, make way for Him. Nine saints will allow him to join us. And nine saints will be greatly rewarded. Oh, Lord, let you come to us now. Oh, Mephistopheles, grace us with your mighty presence. The opposing forces, will allow you entrance and embodiment. The angels with unwavering eyes will let you set foot on His soil. With the murder of one by the other, you may come to us. Good shall reign supreme, oh Lord, and you shall take your rightful place; you shall sit on the throne which is rightfully yours. Above the skies you will rule and the heavens will fall. Oh, Mephistopheles, may you come to us.”

Stone screamed out in ecstasy and Salem was motionless. She was no longer breathing. The crowd closed in on Johnston. He looked to the unmoving Samantha and he panicked. Harlan stood hovering over Stone, grinning like a proud parent grins. “My son,” he said, “my saint, you’re blood, and the blood that ran through herveins, is not yours to take. You are but a necessary suicide.” He handed Stone a revolver. “Do it. Do it or we will be forced to call the police and turn you in. It’s the only way out, Johnston. You’ve committed a murder.” He placed the cold death machine in Stone’s shivering hands. Stone moved his fingers around the trigger and pointed the gun at Harlan.

“I’ll tell them you made me do it. I’ll tell them everything!”

Harlan’s grin vanished. “No, you will do it or we will do it for you! It must be done. It must be-agh!” Harlan felt it coming. The second inhabitant of his mind was back. Harlan recomposed himself and straightened up. “Kill yourself, Stone.” The congregation joined in, chanting. “Kill yourself for Him! Kill yourself for HIM!!” Johnston felt a warm hand around his. Harlan was helping him die. He felt his hand move. He felt the cold, circular, chamber against his temple. He gave in. Harlan and Johnston became one. Johnston turned to look at a nodding Harlan. Click. Johnston looked into Harlan Tanteidan’s gray pupils and screamed his last scream.

Mark Brandon was worried. Shigi and Jatin had just…vanished! At first, he had figured he had gotten them into trouble. So, he received a shock when he drove to Harlan’s place of residence, intending to apologize, and found it empty. His best friend had left him with a job to do, and he had failed. Keeping on eye on the two teenagers was turning out to be a lot harder than it should have been. They were the only remnant, the only thing Eurith had left behind, and he had lost them. Somewhere, Eurith Tanteidan must have been turning over in his grave.

6th Period: RELIGION IN SCIENCE

Steven sat across from Jenny. She shot Shigi an unkind stare as she entered the room with Kevin. What the Hell did I tell her about messing with my man? Shigi walked coolly past her and sat down next to Steven. Kevin sat next to Jenny. They took out their books and turned to the proper page. Dr. Brown quickly waved them off, “Put those away, you won’t need them.” The class did as they were told, but broke into chatter. “Quiet!” Dr. Brown demanded their attention, “Now, this class’s purpose is what?” He consulted his roll. “Ah, yes…new girl? Miss Make-A-Fuss-He-Gee” The girls in the classroom giggled.

Shigi sighed. “Makafushigi Tanteidan,” she corrected, “and I assume the purpose of this class would be to examine the truths in science and apply them to the truths in religion, am I correct, Sir?” Mr. Brown smiled, revealing his crooked, yellowing teeth.

“Ah, yes…I see the F-U is pronounced foo.” The class broke into laughter. “Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Now, if any of you were paying attention you would have heard what Miss Tanteidan had to say, it was completely wrong. Now…yes Miss Jones?” Jenny’s hand lowered as quickly as it had shot into the air.

“I think that maybe you weren’t paying attention, Sir. Shigi was totally right, you just weren’t listening…I believe you were too busy struggling with her name.” Shigi looked to Jenny in admiration. She was under the impression that Jenny Jones hated her. Then Shigi understood…keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

Shigi stayed after class. She waited until the last student left and spoke up.

“Excuse me, Dr. Brown, but I was wondering if you could tell me anything about my grandfather.”

Dr. Brown turned around and stared her down. Who did this girl think she was?

“Miss…erm-mac…she…gi.” He muttered her name under his breath as if in reassurance.

“Shigi, please, sir. It’s simpler.”

“Shigi, what about your grandfather do you want to know?”

“Well…anything would help.” She said, honestly.

Dr. Brown smiled his crooked smile and said, “Now, what makes you think I would know anything about--”

“Harlan Tanteidan. My grandfather is-”

“Harlan Tanteidan…,” he looked at Shigi as if she had changed from a disgusting maggot into a butterfly before his eyes. “Well, Shigi, you’re in luck! I practically wrote the book on Harlan Tanteidan.”

“There’s a book about my--”

“I was speaking figuratively, Shigi. Now, let’s start with Harlan’s converting.” He paused for effect.

Shigi looked at the disturbing man. What did he know?

“Harlan Tanteidan went on a missionary trip in his early adulthood. I don’t know if you know this, he met a woman there. They had a short-lived love affair. Harlan returned to the states anew. He had gone from catholic alter boy to trouble maker in a month’s time. He had given up his catholic teachings for a new, better religion. He was the state’s first Mephistophelite.”

Shigi’s mind was working fast. She was trying to keep up with the doctor. “Wait-was my grandmother…?”

Dr. Brown laughed, “Oh! Heavens no! Your grandmother will come into this tale very soon. For now, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. The states, as I have said, had not yet seen such a smart, correct religion and so there was no practicing church in the United States of America. Using the resources and tools available to him Harlan Tanteidan managed to track down a man who, by his travels, had only ever heard of the Church of Mephistopheles. Harlan told the man everything that the church stood for and the man became the second U.S. believer. The two men argued on how to properly spread the religion. Harlan believed in spreading religion through education; the other man believed that they should force people into the belief.

“They argued for some time upon this matter and never came to a conclusion. Eventually, before the matter was resolved, the man-for, he was very old and senile-died. He had no living relatives and he left behind an enormous fortune. He had named Harlan as his beneficiary. Harlan received a considerable amount of money, a dog, and a house.

“Harlan photocopied his Book of Life and distributed them. Slowly, people came to Harlan for advice. Harlan, generous man that he is, even opened his house up as a church.

“There was a particular church attendee-a young boy-who hated school very much and loved to worship. Harlan saw this boy as an opportunity and took him in. he was the first student of, what would become, this school.

As Dean of the school, Harlan fell in love with a young teacher and they married. They had one boy-your father, Shigi.

“Eurith didn’t like the school his father had set up and he was quite the trouble maker. Harlan demoted himself to Dean of Admissions just so he could keep an eye on his boy. Eurith, ungrateful bastard that he was, ran away and married the first woman who opened her leg-“

“Are you talking about my mother?” Shigi was enraged.

“S-sorry. Sometimes I get so into my stories that I forget who my audience is. There was this one time when I was lecturing on the importance of peacetime and I accidentally insulted a-”

“Sir, please continue.”

“Eurith and his wife gave birth to twins. As soon as Harlan received word on the birth of his grandchildren he made many attempts to reconcile with your dad. He wanted to be in the lives of his grandchildren. Eurith was so set on you two having, what he thought was, a normal life.”

Shigi tried not to laugh. Ever since her mother had died, her life was anything but normal.

“In fact,” continued Dr. Brown, “he wanted to teach the Mephistophelites the error of their ways. It consumed Eurith to the point that your mother decided to take a trip to the country that had done Harlan such good. She died there.

“Now, it seems, Harlan is active in your life, and that of your brother’s, and that he knows what he is doing.” Dr. Brown winked at Shigi. “Trust me on this one. I would know.”

Shigi gave him a puzzled look and headed for the door. She was a few feet away from her dormitory when she turned back and ran towards Dr. Brown’s classroom. She entered the room as he was exiting.

“Dr. Brown,” she said, panting, “that boy-the ‘first student’ who was he?”

Dr. Brown examined Shigi before answering.

“That boy,” he responded, “was me.”

GIRLS’ DORMITORY

Shigi threw her bag on her bed and slammed her door. Her mind began working. She found herself plotting escape. That man…how dare he make her parents out to be the bad guys! If I only knew my way around… She looked up as a knock echoed through her room. She figured it was Dr. Brown coming to tell her more about her parents, so she stayed put.

“Shigi, open the door!” a familiar voice said. “Come on! Starving yourself won’t make your ass look skinnier!”

Shigi got up from the floor, where she had been about to cry, and yanked the door open, desperately searching for her brother. She was anxious. Had he really just called out to her?

I must be loosing it.

“Shigi,” a girl had just leaped forward from a shadow-hidden corridor. It was Victoria; she walked around the bend in the hallway and pulled Shigi forward. “After that beating, you could use some lunch!”

Shigi blinked. “Lunch…?” Who could eat at a time like this?

Victoria laughed at the look on Shigi’s face and opened the wooden door that linked the girls’ dorm to the cafeteria.

Steven looked up from a table and waved to them. As they approached he began, “Vicky, skipping class? Tsk, tsk. What would your mother think?”

Victoria grinned, “Not really. The oh!-so-loving dean changed my schedule…”

Steven slid down on the bench. “Have a seat, Shigi. Don’t let Vicky keep you standing.”

Shigi sat down and Victoria walked towards the lunch line saying, “I’ll go get us some food. Is pizza okay with you?”

Shigi looked at her in surprise. “They’ve stopped serving lunch.”

Victoria flashed Shigi another one of her prize-winning grins. “Don’t worry, the cafeteria staff are all good friends of mine!” Shigi smiled at her and Victoria faded into the crowd.

Shigi’s mind began to drift as she searched, in vain, for her brother. It took her a while to realize that Steven was talking to her.

“What?”

“I asked how come you were here. I mean, I’m here because of my father’s mistress.” Steven blushed as Shigi looked at him.

“Oh! Well I-” and my brother, too, I hope­­-“woke up here…my grandfather,” she shuddered, “sent me. That man is such an asshole. Damn him! Damn Harlan Tanteidan to Hell!”

Silence.

Shigi looked around at her new friends’ vacant looks. Steven, whose jaw hung open, drooled onto his tray. It took him a few moments to regain his composure and wipe a sleeve across his mouth.

Kevin, who had just walked up to the table, cradling stolen milk in his arms, in time to hear the last of Shigi’s complaint, screamed. He dropped the milk, causing the cheap cardboard cartons to warp and leak. He ran off.

Silence filled the cafeteria. Many students were looking at Shigi in awe; granddaughter of Harlan Tanteidan, founder and former Dean of the school.

An approaching Victoria was the first to break the silence. “So, Shigi, what’d the lardass do to you? Did he give you detention?”

“No, he just went on a rant about my grandpa. What’s up with that anyway?” Shigi wanted more input on what she had just learned. She wanted a student’s point of view.

Steven gave her a creepy look. “You mean you don’t know?”

“Know what?” Shigi asked.

Victoria answered first, “Harlan Tanteidan was the Dean and Dean of Admissions here a while back. Rumor has it, he was mental. He was always talking to some chain he wore around his neck. He was a definite nutter…he left the school on temporary leave, but he never returned. Now, I guess, he’s decided to reclaim the school.”

Steven chimed in, “Tanteidan’s School of Learning!” Victoria punched him in the arm and sat down across from Shigi.

Victoria jumped up and pointed behind Shigi.

“What’s up?” Shigi was curious.

“It’s…Him!”

Shigi sighed and set down her milk, having been in mid-swig.

“Hey, J,” called Steven.

Jatin had just approached the table, Kevin noticeably hiding behind him.

As she turned, Shigi fell out of her seat. Jatin stood above her and offered her a hand. After he had helped her up, he gave his sister a hug. Steven was blushing. Kevin was holding a spoon across a knife to form a crucifix.

“Twins,” he mouthed. “Tanteidan Twins.”

That Night (Seventy-Four miles away)

Janine Barron sat on the balcony, watching the beach below. The elated families splashing below made her dwell on her despondent life. A huge shadow of a bird passed over the ground below. How she wished she could fly! To just fly away from all of her worldly problems would be wonderful! Transfixed, Janine walked to the edge, climbed over the wooden fence, and leaped…falling into the cacti below.

The bird dove low, honing in on its meal. A high-pitched screech emitted from its adjacent beak. The massive wingspan passing over the waters emptied them. Somewhere below a little boy pointed and said, “Daddy, look a birdie!” Panicking the boy’s father picked him up out of the water and led him to their room.

The little boy was restless and his father lay with him, watching that day’s news as his son drifted to sleep.

“The bodies of Jorge Villalobos and Kassandra Tappenson were found, earlier today, only inches from this spot. A note, found placed neatly across her abdomen, reads as follows:

“‘To all who are unsure:

“’I place this note upon the belly of my fiancé, the home of our unborn child. In heaven we are together. Through Mephistopheles all is forgiven. The financial and social barriers of this planet are those which betray our love. I take my life, that of my future wife, and that of our child, so that we may be reunited in heaven.

“’Regretfully yours,

“’Jorge’

“There is no word yet on the whereabouts of the aforementioned Mephistopheles. He is wanted for questioning.”

The father clicked the TV off and walked to his room. In only a few hours’ time his son would suffer a tremendous trauma.

(One-Hundred-and-Thirteen miles away)

On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, James Evan Torrez put on his nicest suit. He was going to die in style. He tied his shoes, grabbed his bible, exited the house, entered his shed, grabbed an extension cord and power-strip, ran his bathwater, and plugged in every electrically-operated machine he could carry. He submersed himself in the water, cracked open his bible and began to read (only after first having placed the machines near the tub’s edge). As he misread one word, he kicked the tub, drawing the hairdryer closer to the water.

“‘And he shall dry up the children’s tears, and there shall be no more crying. He shall lull them into slumber, and there shall be no more dying. And we will praise his name: Oh! Mephistopheles! You are mighty! Praise the day you are rayser-’” James kicked the tub upon his mispronunciation of the word “resurrection.” The hairdryer and toaster jumped, and inched closer, the television followed suit.

After three more errors, the electronics plunged into the water with a cackle of sizzling energy. A jolt of energy shot through James and he stiffened; the hair on his head sparked with static. James Evan Torrez was dead.

Wednesday Morning 7:15 AM

Samuel Boone shook his father awake.

“Daddy, wake up! There’s a girl outside, I think she has a owwy!”

Joseph Boone was reluctant to get out of bed, but knew his son would not drop the imagined woman. “Sammy, if this is like the time you called the police-” His voice caught, replaced with terror. A body lay mangled, its silky white robe caught up above the thigh, its face scratched, bruised, and bloodied, and its long hair stopping at bald spots, clumps laying nearby. A vulture pecked happily at the woman’s arm. She was clearly dead. Joseph looked up to where this woman had fallen…or jumped…or been pushed.

Mephistopheles’ School of Learning

Jenny watched the early morning sun rise, legs swinging in the empty air below the balcony. She wore a shirt cut just under her breasts, leaving her belly bare. A box of syringes sat just within reach, her hand wavering above them, fingers shaking.

Love is so fickle…at least m’lord will always love me

Dipping her hand into the box, she pulled out one of the syringes and thrust it into her stomach; the pain was present, though she ignored it. She plunged needle after needle into her smooth, creamy, tanned skin. Her eyes glistened in the morning light; blood stained her hands and dripped from her lips. No longer bothering to pull out the syringes, she stood on the railing, a single syringe in her hand.

“M’lord, may my death bring an end to thine sorrow, may it bring the world into the light.”

Someone screamed and tried to grab her. Jenny jumped into the abyss of water below, thrusting the last needle into her heart as she plunged into the dark waters of a mountain’s fall. She grinned with sadistic pleasure as the water engulfed her. This was nowhere near the end.

On the balcony the silhouette of a person leaned over the railing and let out another scream.

The horrified students backed away, kicking the box and turning it on its side as they did so. The word INSULIN was illuminated by the blood-red dawn sun. The bell for first period began to chime.

BOY’S DORMITORY

Jatin woke up on the third day of his time at Mephistopheles’ School of Learning. He was glad that he’d finally seen his sister; and he was astonished by all that she had to tell him. Jatin showed Shigi his dorm and they began to understand a bit of the school’s layout. There were dormitories on each side of the cafeteria and there were classes on the northern and southern parts around the cafeteria.

Harlan hadn’t been counting on the science teacher changing Shigi’s lunch. He had not counted on the twins finding each other.

For some reason Jatin and Shigi weren’t able to contact each other through their shared mental bond; their “Twin Connection” was not strong enough.

Jatin rubbed his eyes furiously. Shigi had told him about her experience with yellow contacts and he was happy to share his experience with green ones. Why was Harlan trying to disguise their eyes?

Shigi, can you hear me?

Jatin heard a scream and rushed to his window, which overlooked the lake on one side and the courtyard on the other.

“JENNY!” Somebody was screaming over and over. Jatin quickly scanned the lake and saw the faint outline of-was it a body? He dressed and ran to the courtyard as fast as was humanly possible.

Coach Roberts sat in bed watching the TV. She was going to spend her free period lounging about her room. Maybe she would eat lunch with her daughter later. She heard a commotion outside of her room and knew that the teachers were hurrying to get somewhere fast. She got out of bed and put on her slippers.

Bryce Goodale pulled the eighteen-wheeler into the unloading dock. He wanted to be rid of his stock as soon as possible. After today he was getting out, he’d promised his wife. He reversed into the warehouse and turned off the truck.

He anxiously checked his side mirror and saw an approaching man. Many men in painters’ outfits swooped upon the truck and began unloading the product. The man stopped outside of Bryce’s window. He was carrying a clipboard and his hat was low over his face. He had an untrimmed beard which had bits of egg and toast in it.

Bryce was perspiring and his hands were growing slick against the steering wheel. The bridge of his glasses was slowly sliding down his nose; he reached to correct them and ran a sweaty palm through his blonde hair.

“We’ll be done in a moment,” the man at the window said.

Bryce, who had been treating the situation like a traffic violation-hands on the wheel, face forward-turned and faced the man. He grinned.

“Trip-freggin’-Patterson! How the Hell’ve you been?”

Trip smiled and looked around the warehouse. “Workin’ now,” he said.

“Wow, Trip, you scared the shit outta’ me!”

Trip mumbled incoherently.

“What was that?”

“I said: for the cops.” Trip turned a deep red.

“What? I don’t get your meaning.”

“Workin’ now…for the cops.” Trip said.

Bryce’s grin vanished. He leaped for the glove-box, for his gun. Trip was faster. He pointed his gun against Bryce’s temple.

“Don’t move! Listen: I’m going to ask you a question and you’re going to answer, okay?”

Bryce nodded; what would his wife do?

“What is the destination for this product? Where’s it going?”

Bryce turned pale. “I-I don’t know! I just drive it…p-please, man!”

Trip threw back his head and laughed. Bryce grew angry.

“Aww! Where you jus-ya’ got me! Damn, Trip you’ve got one awful sense of humor. P-put the gun down.”

Trip’s features grew hard again. “Step out of the truck.” He threw a pair of cuffs at Bryce. “Cooperation is the key.”

Bryce cuffed himself and Trip opened the door just as a tall, limping black man emerged from around the truck. He was all business.

“LSD?”

Bryce nodded. “My wife,” he said, “is going to be so mad at me!”

Harlan Tanteidan stood over the pile of newspaper clippings and sketches.

“One…two…three…,” he counted. “Seven…eight…and that makes nine!” he turned his attention over to the sketches of the amulet and smiled. After he retrieved it he would rid himself of the otherworldly conscience and bring his lord upon the earth. He put the clippings into the safe and left the church.

“Nine saints, willingly sacrificed, will open the iron gates and guide him in.”