Sam saves Mirabelle a second time from a fate worse than death.
The first thing I saw was Mirabelle. She was wild eyed, her lipstick was smudged and her mouth was open in a soundless scream. The bastard had partly disrobed her (the poor child seemed to be constantly losing her clothing) and it was quite obvious what he intended to do next … in the name of God.
When he saw me he stopped, his face crimson with fury.
Shouting hoarsely, he cried, “Get out of my sanctuary. You will suffer for this intrusion. I shall see you in prison for this. It is a felony to interrupt a priest of the United States Church in his work. I am ministering to a member of my flock.”
“Sure you are,” I laughed sarcastically. “Let’s go, Mirabelle. Let him get his satisfaction with some street whore.”
The reverend’s face was livid. He reached for his cellphone, his hand shaking with frenzy, to call somebody, probably the law. By this time I knew that in a theocratic state like America had become, this man had power. I had enough of Bocus. Setting my weapon for maximum paralysis, I gave him a full charge. It felt good. Father Bocus would writhe in agony for a week until the paralysis wore off. I should have killed him. Yet I couldn’t quite bring myself to do murder; even for this sex deviate.
I had to be sure Mirabelle understood my next words.
“When he’s able to call for help I may be in trouble. I’m reporting him as a deviate. It may help if they listen to me so you’re in the clear. Start thinking for yourself, Mirabelle. Next time don’t leave your brains outside the door when you enter the church.”
We had not been out of the church for more than a minute when the now familiar sound of my phone crackled in my ear piece.
“Candel, listen good. I’m calling you on a secure line. You’re in deep shit. Two commissioners at the 12th Street, Number 1739, Food Dispensary reported that you interfered with their procedures. The chief gets a kickback from that unit and whatever you did cost him a potful of money. He’s hotter than a Martian Gungepuller in heat.
What the hell was a Gungepuller, I wondered? And Mars? Had this backward state really managed to reach and explore Mars? The absurd dichotomy of a civilization that had anti-gravity, futuristic weapons, food transmits and had explored the planets, while at the same time carrying on the business of a feudal society, left me stunned with disbelief and filled with questions.
Candel’s friend was still talking to me with his friendly warning.
“Just be prepared when they haul you on the carpet.”
A name came to mind. The voice was that of Adam Tandy, a friend of my Candel cognate. Adam was in the security office and his warning reminded me that Candel in this reality had at least one friend.
“One more thing, Sam, and this is classified info,” Adam said. “If anyone knew I told you this, it would be my ass for sure. I just saw a file on you. You missed the last three evening devotions, pal. Those are class three felonies. Also, the overhead sky search outfit saw you fraternizing with a female earlier today.”
They knew everything about me. I could feel the walls closing in on poor Candel. Poor Candel indeed. If I didn’t return to my lab soon it would be poor Samson Candella. Tandy’s news meant I was being tracked. My doppelganger, Candel, had also been careless about his church attendance. I might fall into the hands of the interrogators. Shredded bits of memory from my cognate, made me painfully aware that was something to avoid at all costs. Living in a theocracy was more dangerous than I supposed.
Recalling some words that were a part of the new American State Theology Commandment of the Official United States Bible, they said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. The Apostle Paul viewed the state as a power ordained by God and therefore the state commands your unquestioning obedience.” This regime had elevated the concept of law and order to a ridiculous new high above every other sort of morality.
In his last State of the Union message Candel’s memories recalled that Leader Smithson had said, “In our present crisis and state of emergency against the terrorist Jihad, state theology must establish a status quo of orderly discrimination, exploitation and oppression against those who would do us harm. I appeal to the conscience of our citizens in the name of law and order.”
Next episode: Sam is on the run.
Gene Paleno is an author and illustrator living in Witter Springs.
