Behold ! Page 18

  At her silent nod, he continued. “I’ve been offered not only release from this limited form, but immortality,” he breathed the last word like a sigh. “No more changing catheter tubes daily, no more bags at all. No more minding what I eat, or how much. No more physical therapy every six weeks just to keep my legs and back from becoming infected. You had to do all that and more, and now you’re free. Don’t you see; I want to be free too?” He looked at her for a long moment, then added playfully,

  “But the best part is this,” and entered her mind.

  WHEN FRANK WALKED UP on Ham and Priscilla, they were staring at each other, unspeaking. When he got closer, he could see they were both breathing, but sensed something else was happening. Clara was already loaded on the G II, and he had come to tell Priscilla it was time to go. Unsure what to do, he reached for Pris just as she shuddered and staggered backward. Frank grabbed her to steady her.

  “Can we do that anytime?” Pris screamed at Ham.

  “Uh, huh, any time we want,” he replied.

  “Can I just kill you now?” she asked playfully.

  Frank shouted, “What?” Pris realized he was holding her, and his grip had tightened painfully.

  “No, no, you don’t understand,” Pris started.

  Then Ham spoke up. “Frank, it’s okay; let her go. We just did a Vulcan Mind Meld and she’s not herself.”

  “Boy, I’ll say. I’m me, and you, and us, and...wow,” she breathed.

  “Somebody want to tell me what’s going on here?” Frank asked brusquely.

  “Ham can enter my mind,” Pris said simply. “And when he does, we can do...” she blushed prettily before continuing. “We can do whatever we want, together.”

  “Ah... ha,” Frank said softly, obviously confused.

  “Frank, I’m going to become a Watcher, but I’m also going to be allowed to maintain a spiritual contact with Pris for the rest of her life, until she joins me,” Ham explained slowly.

  “And that won’t be for a long time, because God has big plans for me,” Pris finished.

  “Um, okay,” Frank responded. “Is this something we can discuss on the plane? We really do need to be going.”

  “Oh, I’m not going back with you,” Pris replied, nonchalantly.

  “Your what?...not...but where...your mom...huh?” Frank babbled.

  “Exactly,” Ham said, grinning. “Pris is staying here in Hellam Township. The local hunter leader, Kristine, has agreed to take on Angela and Marston, the two local vessels for Cassiel and Adriel. When Kristine found Pris crying around back, they had a long talk. Pris is going to become a hunter. She still has her ability to see people’s colors and their souls. That will be a great skill set for tracking down demons and other nasties.”

  “Yeah, because apparently, Hellam Township is full of things that go bump in the night,” Priscilla added.

  NOW IT WAS MARRISA’S turn to ask for control of the vessel, which Azrael readily relinquished. “Young lady, you are not staying here by yourself,” she told Pris adamantly.

  “I won’t be by myself,” Pris responded easily. “I’ll have Kristine, and Marston, and Angela, and even Beavis and Butthead in the truck.”

  “I would have to get a power of attorney, or legal guardianship, or something done up for Kristine, if she’s willing, and we need to leave now,” Marrisa retorted. “We can discuss this more once we’re home.”

  “Mom, I’m not going back,” Pris spoke softly, but there was steel in her voice. “I’m so much more matured than any 13-year-old I would ever meet, and how do we explain my sudden miraculous recovery? I’d be stark-raving buggers inside a week in high school, and I’d have to start in a different one, anyway. I can home school on the internet; I did most of the time these past two years anyway.”

  “Priscilla Marie Benson, I am not leaving here without you,” Marrisa said harshly.

  “Then stay here,” Pris replied coolly.

  “I just said I’m not...do what?” Marrisa stammered.

  “Stay here,” she repeated. “You can get a job in Harrisburg just as easily as you did in Chickasha, and you could probably help with some of the non-fighting things hunters need.”

  “And what makes you think I couldn’t be a hunter?” Marrisa asked, piqued.

  “I...I ...um...didn’t say you couldn’t,” Pris stammered, caught off-guard. “I just didn’t think you would want to be.”

  “Well, for your information, Azrael has taught me a lot about being the Angel of Justice and retribution,” Marrisa informed them. “I believe I can hold my own against most any demon, given the right training and equipment.”

  “That hog-leg you still have in your purse would be a good start,” Frank said lightly.

  “So, does that mean you’re staying, too?” Kristine asked.

  “Is there room for one more?” Marrisa asked rhetorically.

  “Okay, we’re wheels up in 30 minutes,” the General shouted. “Load up if you’re going,” and he turned and stepped into the Hummer.

  “What about you, Ham?” Pris asked, tears welling in her eyes again. “We can’t just leave you sitting here.”

  Ham turned his chair toward the waiting van and drove onto the lift. “I’ve got a lot of explaining to do to my dad when I get home,” he said. “He’ll find someone who can use my chair.”

  “Your dad,” Priscilla gasped. “What are they going to tell him?”

  “Nothing, I’m going to tell him myself,” Ham responded.

  “But, you said you weren’t going back,” Pris started.

  “No, I never said that,” Ham stopped her. “I said I’m going to become a Watcher. I’m returning to Chickasha, so I can see my dad and help him understand everything that’s happened in the past month. Once that’s all settled, he’ll simply tell the coroner’s office I died in my sleep. It happens all the time,” he finished kindly.

  Both silent for long time, then Ham said, “How about a kiss goodbye?”

  THIRTY-FIVE

  “AS SOON AS WE LAND, I’m going to go buy a van,” Frank said onboard during the flight. “Then we’re going house-hunting.”

  Raquel had left her host as soon as the aircraft door had closed. Clara was looking at him strangely, and he returned her level gaze for a moment.

  “What, darling?” Frank asked.

  “I can’t believe Raquel would just leave like that without a goodbye or anything,” she said dejectedly.

  “Well, she’s popped out many times before,” Frank countered. “Why is this time any different?”

  “Frank, all the other angels are leaving their hosts,” Clara explained. “Why would she remain, after their mission here on Earth is complete?”

  “So, you’re concerned you may not have her powers anymore?” Frank said, realization dawning on his face.

  Clara nodded mutely, a single tear finding its way down her cheek. “I’ve really enjoyed helping you find lost children, and solving cases,” she said almost too softly for him to hear.

  “Darling, that won’t diminish my love for you in the least,” he assured her. “And there will be other opportunities for us to work together, I’m sure.” But he wasn’t, not really. And so they travelled in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Ham had been asleep since shortly after take-off. The ordeal at the Cordorus Furnace had apparently exhausted him, physically and mentally. The return to Chickasha was a solemn one, and the General came back into the cabin about 45 minutes into the flight.

  “When we touch down at Chickasha, brace for a fast stop,” He said. “They’ve only got five thousand feet of runway.”

  “Is that enough for this big girl?” Frank asked reverently.

  “Ah, we can land in about 33oo’,” He said. “It’s really getting back up which will be fun.”

  “How much do you need?” Frank looked worried.

  “Piece of cake,” the General lied. “I’ve taken off in 4700’ before, and we’ll be light. Only four pax, two crew,
and we won’t take on any fuel. We’ll have 20 minutes to spare after the short hop to Lubbock, so we’ll do fine.”

  Patrick and Sharon had been snuggled in the corner of the bench in the rear of the cabin since before take-off, and Frank kept casting them furtive glances. “Those two,” he said. “You’d think angels would show a little more decorum.”

  “Oh, Cassiel and Adriel vacated before we got on the plane,” Clara corrected. “That’s all Sharon and Patrick.”

  Surprise lit Frank’s face. “Patrick McElroy, the confirmed bachelor? Well, who would have guessed?”

  “And Sharon tells me she has a new-found resolve in connecting with wayward students after her exposure to the angelic way of thinking,” Clara followed up. “She’s even excited for school to start again on Monday.”

  “Monday? What day is today?” Frank asked, looking puzzled.

  “It’s Saturday, Frank. This whole chain of events has only taken 36 hours,” Clara said.

  Frank just shook his head in wonder.

  DANIEL WAS SITTING with the Palehorse squad, deep in conversation.

  “Man, if I had the youth, I’d be back over there tomorrow,” Kettlebell was saying.

  “Me too,” added another of the four.

  “Ditto,” chimed in the third. “How about you, Gunny? Wouldn’t you go back if you could?”

  “I am going back,” Gunny replied.

  “Say what?” all three of his troops called at once.

  “Yep, the General has a new contract for personal security team training in country, and he’s asked me to head it up,” Gunny told them. “He’d been thinking about it for a while, and this trip made up his mind.”

  “Well crud Gunny, where does that leave us?” Kettlebell asked.

  “Doesn’t leave you anywhere unless you choose not to come along,” Gunny replied, cracking a huge grin.

  “Yeehaw,” called one of the others. “Back in the thick of it.”

  “There’ll be some action, I’m sure,” Gunny offered. “But we’re really going to be teaching youngsters how to protect their primary without getting killed in the process.”

  “How about you, squid?” Kettlebell asked Daniel.

  Daniel smiled at the friendly jab. “I’m thinking I need to go see my old CO, find out if he has a place for me on a team,” he replied thoughtfully. “I hadn’t realized how much I miss the action.”

  “Well, if your CO doesn’t make a place for you, he’s any idiot,” Gunny replied. “And you just come see me. Pays a lot better, living conditions a damn sight better, and you’ll get to use what Uncle Sam taught you to help a lot of newbies stay alive.”

  CLARA WAS SMILING AT Frank, just holding his hand and looking at him, when her eyes flared brilliant white again. “Father was not easily convinced I was correct in my assessment, but I finally won him over,” she said without preamble. “He looked at all the possibilities, and decided it was worth the risk of his direct interaction.”

  “I’m sorry, Raquel, but I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Frank admonished.

  “I have convinced my Father to restore Clara to full health,” she replied simply.

  Frank was stunned into silence. After several attempts, he finally opened his mouth and words actually came out. “What does Clara have to say about this? Will she retain her abilities? I’m not concerned about that, but she puts a great deal of stock in her ability to find missing children.”

  “Her abilities will remain, she has earned them,” Raquel said. “Once I explained to Father that there have been four occasions where her will power was all which kept me from being expelled and her body destroyed, He realized just how strong she really is.”

  “So what now?” Frank asked expectantly.

  “Now,” Raquel said simply.

  The light in Clara’s eye extinguished, and Clara’s smile for Frank was beatific. “Now, you can help me up, dear,” she said, extending her hand.

  Frank rose from his seat, bracing his head against the top of the cabin and reaching both hands for his wife’s. She rose slowly, a little unsteadily, but soon stood fully erect, her face upturned to beam into her husband’s gaze.

  “Aren’t you going to kiss me?” His wife asked.

  THIRTY-SIX

  “DARLING, HAVE YOU SEEN my car keys?” Clara called to Frank. “I want to take a trip down to the market for some fresh fish for dinner,” she said. A soft beeping came from the table by the front door.

  “Thank you, Frank. I keep forgetting you put that locator fob on them.”

  “For a woman who can find a missing child with only their picture, you sure do have trouble with your keys,” Frank said, walking up behind her and burying his nose in her hair at the nape of her neck.

  Sighing, she turned her head to expose more of her neck, and he nuzzled hungrily. “Are you sure you need to go anywhere?” he asked provocatively.

  “Frank, I swear, since I’ve been healed, you are insatiable,” she laughed. “I’ll be back in half an hour, and there’ll be time for that before dinner.” Then she froze, going rigid.

  “What is it?” Frank blurted, concern painting a portrait of fear across his ruggedly-handsome features.

  “Yes, I can hear you, Priscilla,” she said to thin air.

  Frank moved around in front of Clara, looking deeply into her eyes. He was thinking; stroke, Transient Ischemic Aneurism, possession? But Clara’s eyes were clear, and she patted his arm reassuringly.

  “Yes dear, I’ll make sure he knows. Thank you,” she said. It sounded like listening to one end of a telephone conversation. Clara relaxed, and Frank moved her to the sofa a few feet away.

  “What was that?” he asked, near panic on his face.

  “That was a parting gift from Raquel,” she replied. “Apparently, I can now have telepathic conversations with certain people who have been vessels for angels.”

  “So, that was actually Priscilla?” Frank said, amazed.

  “Yes, and she wanted me to let you know, she’s on a hunt in western Pennsylvania with Marston and Kristine. They’re closing in on two demons who apparently came through the portal and succeeded in finding hosts,” Clara explained. “They caught a third, and Kristine used a power phrase to command it to reveal all it knew.”

  Looking frightened, she rose, turning to stare into her husband’s eyes. “It told them there were over a hundred who achieved permanent status here, and they’re spreading out. They haven’t forgotten their mission, and they’re trying to start movements with any groups willing to participate. A neo-Nazi group in Pittsburg is suspected of having several members who have demonic riders. Hamilton tracks them from his side of the veil, and when he comes to visit,” she stopped, blushing.

  “What?” Frank asked, exasperated.

  “They’re so young, Frank,” she said, smiling. “We’re you ever desperately in love at fourteen?”

  “Yeah, I remember my first crush at fourteen, but it was nothing like what I saw in those two. But why was she contacting you?” Frank asked warily. “Was she just reaching out to let us know she was doing well?”

  “Oh, no dear, nothing as simple as that,” Clara shook her head. “She reached out because, my love, I have to help her find the ones that are heading for Oklahoma.”

  FINI (?)

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  About the Author

  J. Don writes young adult science fiction when he's not busy teaching college classes or helping his students and grandchildren work through tough life decisions. He proudly wears a T-shirt which reads, "The people I care about the most call me Papa."