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Horror Fiction
The Oracle of Delphi
The Oracle of Delphi
Chapter 1:
A Convincing Lie
The official opinion and valid support for the child's release and identity reassignment.
Page 1:
""He's been here five years." Doctor Juan Garcia s..."
Page 2: ""Why is that?"
"He has many personality dis..."
Page 3: "Doctor Garcia smiled sardonically. It was not a h..."
Page 4: ""You can make recommendations to the review board,..."
Page 5: ""Please!" retorted the doctor, "your proposal is m..."
Page 6: ""If any," supplied the caseworker, automatically.<..."
Page 7: ""Two 'very's', doctor?"
"If I could add sup..."
Page 8: ""This boy IS a special case."
"I've dealt w..."
Page 9: "The caseworker arched her eyebrows. "Really?" It..."
Page 10: ""Officially," intoned the doctor, "nothing. It is..."
Page 11: ""As awful as it is, this is only a small part of o..."
Page 12: "The doctor made a dismissive gesture with his righ..."
Page 13: ""What changed in the meantime?"
"I, Ms. Jon..."
Page 14: ""I would suggest that you be very careful, Ms. Jon..."
Page 15: ""His demeanor and circumstance will demand sympath..."
Page 16: "Relaxing a bit, the social worker lowered her eyel..."
Page 17: "Doctor Garcia nodded, his tired jowls jiggling, as..."
Page 18: "Inside, they crossed a narrow alcove furnished wit..."
Page 19: "This little committee moved from child to child, c..."
Page 20: ""Indeed he is, yet beauty is often the most alluri..."
Page 21: ""Now tell me, Doctor Garcia, why I should allow yo..."
Page 22: ""Once you handle the child, yourself, for a time, ..."
Page 23: ""Enlighten me."
"He will inevitably act out..."
Page 24: ""Because we all face the threat of his eventual re..."
Page 25: "An elderly woman sitting across the aisle from the..."
Page 26: "The boy leaned away from the window, and levered h..."
Page 27: ""Oh!" she intoned happily, reaching across the cen..."
Page 28: ""How refreshing!" she gushed. "Such a fine young ..."
Page 29: ""Oh, I've had lots of time to read the Bible, ma'a..."
Page 30: ""One more, maybe" he returned, appearing to relent..."
Page 31: ""What could be more mysterious than West Texas? I..."
Page 32: ""Oh, I'm sorry. That's too bad."
"It's alr..."
Page 33: "The boy hesitated indelicately, before he replied,..."
Page 34: ""Oh? And what do your parents think about that?"<..."
Page 35: ""Strangers." Micah beamed, and his brilliant diam..."
Page 36: "The woman laughed nervously, and dragged her eyes ..."
Page 37: ""Why would you sell everything you own?"
He..."
Page 38: "Her eyes fluttered shut, and an oddly pained expre..."
Page 39: "The boy's mask of a face remained rigid and fixed,..."
Page 40: ""The worst sort, Miss Janice," he responded flatly..."
Page 41: "Micah shook his head with slow, deliberate movemen..."
Page 42: ""I have been an adulterer."
"God has made u..."
Page 43: ""Rebekah was barren, save for a prayer."
"I..."
Page 44: "Miss Janice shook her whited head. "No, child, I ..."
Page 45: ""Well, Micah," gushed Janice, "This is my stop. B..."
Page 46: "Though she could not see it, he smiled wickedly. ..."
Page 47: "Greeting his fellow riders with a nod and a smile,..."
Page 48: ""You're in there," he offered to himself, eventual..."
Page 2: ""Why is that?"
"He has many personality dis..."
Page 3: "Doctor Garcia smiled sardonically. It was not a h..."
Page 4: ""You can make recommendations to the review board,..."
Page 5: ""Please!" retorted the doctor, "your proposal is m..."
Page 6: ""If any," supplied the caseworker, automatically.<..."
Page 7: ""Two 'very's', doctor?"
"If I could add sup..."
Page 8: ""This boy IS a special case."
"I've dealt w..."
Page 9: "The caseworker arched her eyebrows. "Really?" It..."
Page 10: ""Officially," intoned the doctor, "nothing. It is..."
Page 11: ""As awful as it is, this is only a small part of o..."
Page 12: "The doctor made a dismissive gesture with his righ..."
Page 13: ""What changed in the meantime?"
"I, Ms. Jon..."
Page 14: ""I would suggest that you be very careful, Ms. Jon..."
Page 15: ""His demeanor and circumstance will demand sympath..."
Page 16: "Relaxing a bit, the social worker lowered her eyel..."
Page 17: "Doctor Garcia nodded, his tired jowls jiggling, as..."
Page 18: "Inside, they crossed a narrow alcove furnished wit..."
Page 19: "This little committee moved from child to child, c..."
Page 20: ""Indeed he is, yet beauty is often the most alluri..."
Page 21: ""Now tell me, Doctor Garcia, why I should allow yo..."
Page 22: ""Once you handle the child, yourself, for a time, ..."
Page 23: ""Enlighten me."
"He will inevitably act out..."
Page 24: ""Because we all face the threat of his eventual re..."
Page 25: "An elderly woman sitting across the aisle from the..."
Page 26: "The boy leaned away from the window, and levered h..."
Page 27: ""Oh!" she intoned happily, reaching across the cen..."
Page 28: ""How refreshing!" she gushed. "Such a fine young ..."
Page 29: ""Oh, I've had lots of time to read the Bible, ma'a..."
Page 30: ""One more, maybe" he returned, appearing to relent..."
Page 31: ""What could be more mysterious than West Texas? I..."
Page 32: ""Oh, I'm sorry. That's too bad."
"It's alr..."
Page 33: "The boy hesitated indelicately, before he replied,..."
Page 34: ""Oh? And what do your parents think about that?"<..."
Page 35: ""Strangers." Micah beamed, and his brilliant diam..."
Page 36: "The woman laughed nervously, and dragged her eyes ..."
Page 37: ""Why would you sell everything you own?"
He..."
Page 38: "Her eyes fluttered shut, and an oddly pained expre..."
Page 39: "The boy's mask of a face remained rigid and fixed,..."
Page 40: ""The worst sort, Miss Janice," he responded flatly..."
Page 41: "Micah shook his head with slow, deliberate movemen..."
Page 42: ""I have been an adulterer."
"God has made u..."
Page 43: ""Rebekah was barren, save for a prayer."
"I..."
Page 44: "Miss Janice shook her whited head. "No, child, I ..."
Page 45: ""Well, Micah," gushed Janice, "This is my stop. B..."
Page 46: "Though she could not see it, he smiled wickedly. ..."
Page 47: "Greeting his fellow riders with a nod and a smile,..."
Page 48: ""You're in there," he offered to himself, eventual..."
Chapter 5:
The Toil of Gods Labor
Micah stiffens his grip on Delphi and its children.
Page 1:
"Micah read the Dallas newspaper every morning with..."
Page 2: ""Yes, it is. You and father have done well, but w..."
Page 3: ""I'm not feeling so well, right now, and, BOY!" sh..."
Page 4: "Micah reached into his pocket, and he gloated to s..."
Page 5: "Gritting his teeth and sucking his tongue, he retu..."
Page 6: ""Yeah, I guess. My mom wants to know if you would..."
Page 7: ""It's not that, Micah. Today's simply the last da..."
Page 8: ""They're great parents!" he responded enthusiastic..."
Page 9: ""I'm sure, Micah. Besides," and she hefted a plas..."
Page 10: ""Praise God, father. How are you today?"
E..."
Page 11: "Desperately, Elijah struggled to pin the boy's arm..."
Page 12: ""You little shit!" repeated Elijah. "I'll fuckin'..."
Page 13: "Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, Micah s..."
Page 14: "Elijah licked his lips, and felt the narcotics cir..."
Page 15: ""If you're not careful," warned Micah grimly, "You..."
Page 16: ""You are Satan incarnate!" came the whispered accu..."
Page 17: ""Then orthodox religion IS the carnival, and why n..."
Page 18: ""Tell that to the police."
They locked glar..."
Page 19: ""Believe me, father, if I thought you would comply..."
Page 20: "Elijah's face soured. With a vicious pop of his r..."
Page 21: "Charge smiled. "I'm glad to be home. I held onto..."
Page 22: "When the boy refused to finish, Micah demanded sof..."
Page 23: "They parted, and Charge wiped the corner of his ey..."
Page 24: "Charge gasped, his eyes wide. "I hope not."
Page 25: ""We," returned Micah, stressing the plurality of t..."
Page 26: ""What are we going to do?"
"Tonight, when e..."
Page 27: ""For now. We want to make certain they never get ..."
Page 28: "Charge leaned low and peered into the palm of Mica..."
Page 29: ""I'm so happy to be home, Micah!" gasped the boy, ..."
Page 30: "Micah clucked his tongue and shook his head. "The..."
Page 31: ""This is God's will, and, believe it or not, this ..."
Page 32: "They grimaced and smiled wretchedly, and stiffly r..."
Page 33: ""Amen," they returned solemnly, a few voices break..."
Page 34: ""We question, as mere mortals, but we cannot know...."
Page 35: ""You know how God sends a man among us from time t..."
Page 36: "When he turned the room, this time, their eyes wid..."
Page 37: ""Indeed, I know the name of my betrayer. Unlike J..."
Page 38: ""Each of you has duties and responsibilities to Go..."
Page 39: "-|-
Since Delphi's town police force had be..."
Page 40: "Through the patio door, despite heavy curtains and..."
Page 41: "Trembling, Charge nodded. "Praise God!" he whispe..."
Page 42: "Fearless, Micah crawled to the foot of the bed, an..."
Page 43: "The man quickly gave chase, and followed Micah dow..."
Page 44: "Before Micah could react, the hulking figure burst..."
Page 45: "Reluctant to use his voice, Micah darted into the ..."
Page 46: "The boys rounded the far street corner, and passed..."
Page 47: "Instantly contrite, Charge bowed his head and bit ..."
Page 48: ""Eventually," Micah continued, "His shoulders slum..."
Page 49: "Framed by the front doorway of the little one-room..."
Page 50: "Nervously, she smoothed her apron and wiped the sw..."
Page 51: "Micah blinked, and his mind raced. "What took her..."
Page 2: ""Yes, it is. You and father have done well, but w..."
Page 3: ""I'm not feeling so well, right now, and, BOY!" sh..."
Page 4: "Micah reached into his pocket, and he gloated to s..."
Page 5: "Gritting his teeth and sucking his tongue, he retu..."
Page 6: ""Yeah, I guess. My mom wants to know if you would..."
Page 7: ""It's not that, Micah. Today's simply the last da..."
Page 8: ""They're great parents!" he responded enthusiastic..."
Page 9: ""I'm sure, Micah. Besides," and she hefted a plas..."
Page 10: ""Praise God, father. How are you today?"
E..."
Page 11: "Desperately, Elijah struggled to pin the boy's arm..."
Page 12: ""You little shit!" repeated Elijah. "I'll fuckin'..."
Page 13: "Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, Micah s..."
Page 14: "Elijah licked his lips, and felt the narcotics cir..."
Page 15: ""If you're not careful," warned Micah grimly, "You..."
Page 16: ""You are Satan incarnate!" came the whispered accu..."
Page 17: ""Then orthodox religion IS the carnival, and why n..."
Page 18: ""Tell that to the police."
They locked glar..."
Page 19: ""Believe me, father, if I thought you would comply..."
Page 20: "Elijah's face soured. With a vicious pop of his r..."
Page 21: "Charge smiled. "I'm glad to be home. I held onto..."
Page 22: "When the boy refused to finish, Micah demanded sof..."
Page 23: "They parted, and Charge wiped the corner of his ey..."
Page 24: "Charge gasped, his eyes wide. "I hope not."
Page 25: ""We," returned Micah, stressing the plurality of t..."
Page 26: ""What are we going to do?"
"Tonight, when e..."
Page 27: ""For now. We want to make certain they never get ..."
Page 28: "Charge leaned low and peered into the palm of Mica..."
Page 29: ""I'm so happy to be home, Micah!" gasped the boy, ..."
Page 30: "Micah clucked his tongue and shook his head. "The..."
Page 31: ""This is God's will, and, believe it or not, this ..."
Page 32: "They grimaced and smiled wretchedly, and stiffly r..."
Page 33: ""Amen," they returned solemnly, a few voices break..."
Page 34: ""We question, as mere mortals, but we cannot know...."
Page 35: ""You know how God sends a man among us from time t..."
Page 36: "When he turned the room, this time, their eyes wid..."
Page 37: ""Indeed, I know the name of my betrayer. Unlike J..."
Page 38: ""Each of you has duties and responsibilities to Go..."
Page 39: "-|-
Since Delphi's town police force had be..."
Page 40: "Through the patio door, despite heavy curtains and..."
Page 41: "Trembling, Charge nodded. "Praise God!" he whispe..."
Page 42: "Fearless, Micah crawled to the foot of the bed, an..."
Page 43: "The man quickly gave chase, and followed Micah dow..."
Page 44: "Before Micah could react, the hulking figure burst..."
Page 45: "Reluctant to use his voice, Micah darted into the ..."
Page 46: "The boys rounded the far street corner, and passed..."
Page 47: "Instantly contrite, Charge bowed his head and bit ..."
Page 48: ""Eventually," Micah continued, "His shoulders slum..."
Page 49: "Framed by the front doorway of the little one-room..."
Page 50: "Nervously, she smoothed her apron and wiped the sw..."
Page 51: "Micah blinked, and his mind raced. "What took her..."
Chapter 2:
Woodrose and Morning Glory
Homemade LSD, speed and whiskey. Some party!
Page 1:
"Micah sat beneath an ornate pavilion constructed o..."
Page 2: "With an arch of his eyebrows, he mentally amended ..."
Page 3: "Through slit eyes and tangled lashes, her observed..."
Page 4: "The women in the crowd cooed, while the men stuck ..."
Page 5: "The crowd dithered and laughed nervously. The pre..."
Page 6: ""Now tell me," prompted the evangelist, as he knel..."
Page 7: "The applause was louder and more concerted, this t..."
Page 8: ""No, son, thank you! Let's have a round of applau..."
Page 9: ""Thank you."
"We're so happy to hear how fl..."
Page 10: ""It shines in you, Micah," offered his new mother...."
Page 11: ""Of course he is, as are all children born pure an..."
Page 12: "Sarah and Elijah could not hear his deception, how..."
Page 13: "Most of Delphi's children were polite and well beh..."
Page 14: "When Micah heard that Owen and his friends had vol..."
Page 15: ""Yeah," called Owen, "Hurry along fancy pants! We..."
Page 16: ""Never mind that, Micah, it's just their way. It'..."
Page 17: ""Okay," sighed the coach, "It's your funeral, kid...."
Page 18: ""Yes, sir!" shouted the hopefuls.
"I can't ..."
Page 19: ""These are tryouts, ladies! Nothing more! You do..."
Page 20: "Their captain quickly herded the unseasoned member..."
Page 21: ""Okay!" gushed Benny, who played deep safety. "BR..."
Page 22: "When Owen leapt over the diving form of a rookie t..."
Page 23: "The defensive players pummeled Micah on the back, ..."
Page 24: "Removed from the game for a play, Owen limped to t..."
Page 25: "Instinctively, Micah saw that George would pass th..."
Page 26: "Tony wheezed and nodded. Coach Kerns dragged him ..."
Page 27: "Benny slapped him on the back, "That's alright, ro..."
Page 28: ""BREAK!"
As soon as he saw the lineup, Mica..."
Page 29: "This time, however, the boy would not eventually s..."
Page 30: "His words the match to strike a fuse, the four of ..."
Page 31: "After the hospital staff had 'stabilized' his non ..."
Page 32: ""Oh, yes," she returned absently, leaning across t..."
Page 33: ""As many as you have. Big ones, with screw tops."..."
Page 34: "Inside the back room, he smelled a faint odor of r..."
Page 35: ""You ain't really gonna send the Jennings boy and ..."
Page 36: "Ruthie covered her mouth and playfully slapped the..."
Page 37: ""I know it was, young man. Football is a rough sp..."
Page 38: "Curious, she followed him to the front of the stor..."
Page 39: ""Well, damn, Ruth, look at all that stuff he has. ..."
Page 40: "The Darnell home stood on a generously shaded thre..."
Page 41: "Fortunately, this was his last trip of the day, an..."
Page 42: ""Why not? It's just a little thing."
"Well..."
Page 43: ""What happened to the jade vine?" wondered Micah, ..."
Page 44: ""I have bulk seed."
"All from the same grow..."
Page 45: "Ross grunted, "Yeah, uh-hu, I sure do, Micah. But..."
Page 46: "Ross made his way to an idle register, and rang up..."
Page 47: ""I know."
"Okay, boy, I guess you know your..."
Page 48: ""I had to sign a special contract with the wholesa..."
Page 49: ""Hallucinogens."
"That's it! You're one sm..."
Page 50: "Returned to the garage, panting and sweating, Mica..."
Page 51: ""Micah's been out here doing something, and he got..."
Page 52: "Dissatisfied with his disheveled appearance, Sarah..."
Page 53: ""I know it hasn't been easy for you, Micah," inton..."
Page 54: ""Hey!" protested mother, stooping to add her embra..."
Page 2: "With an arch of his eyebrows, he mentally amended ..."
Page 3: "Through slit eyes and tangled lashes, her observed..."
Page 4: "The women in the crowd cooed, while the men stuck ..."
Page 5: "The crowd dithered and laughed nervously. The pre..."
Page 6: ""Now tell me," prompted the evangelist, as he knel..."
Page 7: "The applause was louder and more concerted, this t..."
Page 8: ""No, son, thank you! Let's have a round of applau..."
Page 9: ""Thank you."
"We're so happy to hear how fl..."
Page 10: ""It shines in you, Micah," offered his new mother...."
Page 11: ""Of course he is, as are all children born pure an..."
Page 12: "Sarah and Elijah could not hear his deception, how..."
Page 13: "Most of Delphi's children were polite and well beh..."
Page 14: "When Micah heard that Owen and his friends had vol..."
Page 15: ""Yeah," called Owen, "Hurry along fancy pants! We..."
Page 16: ""Never mind that, Micah, it's just their way. It'..."
Page 17: ""Okay," sighed the coach, "It's your funeral, kid...."
Page 18: ""Yes, sir!" shouted the hopefuls.
"I can't ..."
Page 19: ""These are tryouts, ladies! Nothing more! You do..."
Page 20: "Their captain quickly herded the unseasoned member..."
Page 21: ""Okay!" gushed Benny, who played deep safety. "BR..."
Page 22: "When Owen leapt over the diving form of a rookie t..."
Page 23: "The defensive players pummeled Micah on the back, ..."
Page 24: "Removed from the game for a play, Owen limped to t..."
Page 25: "Instinctively, Micah saw that George would pass th..."
Page 26: "Tony wheezed and nodded. Coach Kerns dragged him ..."
Page 27: "Benny slapped him on the back, "That's alright, ro..."
Page 28: ""BREAK!"
As soon as he saw the lineup, Mica..."
Page 29: "This time, however, the boy would not eventually s..."
Page 30: "His words the match to strike a fuse, the four of ..."
Page 31: "After the hospital staff had 'stabilized' his non ..."
Page 32: ""Oh, yes," she returned absently, leaning across t..."
Page 33: ""As many as you have. Big ones, with screw tops."..."
Page 34: "Inside the back room, he smelled a faint odor of r..."
Page 35: ""You ain't really gonna send the Jennings boy and ..."
Page 36: "Ruthie covered her mouth and playfully slapped the..."
Page 37: ""I know it was, young man. Football is a rough sp..."
Page 38: "Curious, she followed him to the front of the stor..."
Page 39: ""Well, damn, Ruth, look at all that stuff he has. ..."
Page 40: "The Darnell home stood on a generously shaded thre..."
Page 41: "Fortunately, this was his last trip of the day, an..."
Page 42: ""Why not? It's just a little thing."
"Well..."
Page 43: ""What happened to the jade vine?" wondered Micah, ..."
Page 44: ""I have bulk seed."
"All from the same grow..."
Page 45: "Ross grunted, "Yeah, uh-hu, I sure do, Micah. But..."
Page 46: "Ross made his way to an idle register, and rang up..."
Page 47: ""I know."
"Okay, boy, I guess you know your..."
Page 48: ""I had to sign a special contract with the wholesa..."
Page 49: ""Hallucinogens."
"That's it! You're one sm..."
Page 50: "Returned to the garage, panting and sweating, Mica..."
Page 51: ""Micah's been out here doing something, and he got..."
Page 52: "Dissatisfied with his disheveled appearance, Sarah..."
Page 53: ""I know it hasn't been easy for you, Micah," inton..."
Page 54: ""Hey!" protested mother, stooping to add her embra..."
Chapter 6:
Dance Salome
A final confrontation.
Page 1:
"Cassandra Jones enjoyed the drive west to Delphi f..."
Page 2: "Locating it on the map and on a road sign in the s..."
Page 3: "As she drove along this dilapidated stretch of cou..."
Page 4: "Slowing to navigate a precarious, deeply shaded tu..."
Page 5: "The car scarcely shuddered, but the shadowy figure..."
Page 6: "When it saw her, it reared to stand on broken legs..."
Page 7: "For the first time, she noticed the presence of a ..."
Page 8: "Despite the mild spring morning, the sun rose over..."
Page 9: "Shaking her head and pursing her lips, she spun th..."
Page 10: ""'n I help you?" repeated the mysterious man. He ..."
Page 11: ""Full service?" She made a perplexed mask of her ..."
Page 12: "Shifting to 'Drive', Cassandra rolled off the stat..."
Page 13: "Still shaking her head, she followed the square ha..."
Page 14: "For a mad moment, she thought he must have died, s..."
Page 15: "Returning her gaze to the pumps and the exorbitant..."
Page 16: ""Sure, I said to fill it up, didn't I?"
His..."
Page 17: ""Then I guess you got some gas, but you got to sto..."
Page 18: ""Which are they? Moonies or Krishnas?"
"I ..."
Page 19: ""A bit, I guess, as much as anybody that reads a n..."
Page 20: ""What do you mean? You're out of gas?"
"Ou..."
Page 21: ""Nope, prob'ly not," he returned crisply. When he..."
Page 22: ""What? Huh?" he snorted, "Oh, yeah, them freaks. ..."
Page 23: ""No!"
"I was just funnin' ya, lady, that's ..."
Page 24: ""Thirty three seventeen, ma'am. You want me to ch..."
Page 25: ""I have private business with them," she returned...."
Page 26: ""Delphi doesn't need gas, any more?"
"Delph..."
Page 27: "As soon as she rounded the first corner, she flipp..."
Page 28: "Before she could gather her files and folders to m..."
Page 29: "Returning his handshake, and then immediately retr..."
Page 30: "He was startled by her statement, and bent his hea..."
Page 31: "Trying to sound light hearted and pleasant, she re..."
Page 32: ""You understand correctly, Ms. Jones," he said ove..."
Page 33: ""You seem to have all the proper facilities," she ..."
Page 34: ""Naturally, but it's no more than families used to..."
Page 35: ""Oh," brooded Sarah unhappily, "We don't serve sod..."
Page 36: "Cassandra smiled. "Ravenous."
"Great!" spo..."
Page 37: "Micah sat at the head of her table. His regard, t..."
Page 38: ""I always liked that story," enthused the boy. "D..."
Page 39: "Around her sandwich, Cassandra made a show of cast..."
Page 40: ""In regard to me. I am, after all, why you have c..."
Page 41: "The boy continued with his meal without indication..."
Page 42: ""Not on my situation, no, but on yours."
"I..."
Page 43: ""Because I want to, and I can."
Confounded,..."
Page 44: ""Then why meet with me, at all? Why greet me outs..."
Page 45: "He sat at the head of the table, beaming, his pred..."
Page 46: "Cassandra said, "I don't owe a bill, Micah."
Page 47: " Attempting to wrestle control of the situation, C..."
Page 48: "Again speaking to the adults, Cassandra repeated h..."
Page 49: "Only then did she dare to glance back the way she ..."
Page 50: "Disappointed, she returned to her car, and drove a..."
Page 51: "As she wound along the narrow two-lane through the..."
Page 52: "Just as she convicted herself of many paltry crime..."
Page 53: "In the second after she left the blacktop and befo..."
Page 54: "There, concealed beneath the overarching branches ..."
Page 2: "Locating it on the map and on a road sign in the s..."
Page 3: "As she drove along this dilapidated stretch of cou..."
Page 4: "Slowing to navigate a precarious, deeply shaded tu..."
Page 5: "The car scarcely shuddered, but the shadowy figure..."
Page 6: "When it saw her, it reared to stand on broken legs..."
Page 7: "For the first time, she noticed the presence of a ..."
Page 8: "Despite the mild spring morning, the sun rose over..."
Page 9: "Shaking her head and pursing her lips, she spun th..."
Page 10: ""'n I help you?" repeated the mysterious man. He ..."
Page 11: ""Full service?" She made a perplexed mask of her ..."
Page 12: "Shifting to 'Drive', Cassandra rolled off the stat..."
Page 13: "Still shaking her head, she followed the square ha..."
Page 14: "For a mad moment, she thought he must have died, s..."
Page 15: "Returning her gaze to the pumps and the exorbitant..."
Page 16: ""Sure, I said to fill it up, didn't I?"
His..."
Page 17: ""Then I guess you got some gas, but you got to sto..."
Page 18: ""Which are they? Moonies or Krishnas?"
"I ..."
Page 19: ""A bit, I guess, as much as anybody that reads a n..."
Page 20: ""What do you mean? You're out of gas?"
"Ou..."
Page 21: ""Nope, prob'ly not," he returned crisply. When he..."
Page 22: ""What? Huh?" he snorted, "Oh, yeah, them freaks. ..."
Page 23: ""No!"
"I was just funnin' ya, lady, that's ..."
Page 24: ""Thirty three seventeen, ma'am. You want me to ch..."
Page 25: ""I have private business with them," she returned...."
Page 26: ""Delphi doesn't need gas, any more?"
"Delph..."
Page 27: "As soon as she rounded the first corner, she flipp..."
Page 28: "Before she could gather her files and folders to m..."
Page 29: "Returning his handshake, and then immediately retr..."
Page 30: "He was startled by her statement, and bent his hea..."
Page 31: "Trying to sound light hearted and pleasant, she re..."
Page 32: ""You understand correctly, Ms. Jones," he said ove..."
Page 33: ""You seem to have all the proper facilities," she ..."
Page 34: ""Naturally, but it's no more than families used to..."
Page 35: ""Oh," brooded Sarah unhappily, "We don't serve sod..."
Page 36: "Cassandra smiled. "Ravenous."
"Great!" spo..."
Page 37: "Micah sat at the head of her table. His regard, t..."
Page 38: ""I always liked that story," enthused the boy. "D..."
Page 39: "Around her sandwich, Cassandra made a show of cast..."
Page 40: ""In regard to me. I am, after all, why you have c..."
Page 41: "The boy continued with his meal without indication..."
Page 42: ""Not on my situation, no, but on yours."
"I..."
Page 43: ""Because I want to, and I can."
Confounded,..."
Page 44: ""Then why meet with me, at all? Why greet me outs..."
Page 45: "He sat at the head of the table, beaming, his pred..."
Page 46: "Cassandra said, "I don't owe a bill, Micah."
Page 47: " Attempting to wrestle control of the situation, C..."
Page 48: "Again speaking to the adults, Cassandra repeated h..."
Page 49: "Only then did she dare to glance back the way she ..."
Page 50: "Disappointed, she returned to her car, and drove a..."
Page 51: "As she wound along the narrow two-lane through the..."
Page 52: "Just as she convicted herself of many paltry crime..."
Page 53: "In the second after she left the blacktop and befo..."
Page 54: "There, concealed beneath the overarching branches ..."
Chapter 3:
Whisper In the Darkness
The monster has not left its protégé, after all.
Page 1:
"Elijah was an accomplished amateur carpenter, Mica..."
Page 2: "With a final group hug, which Micah pretended to e..."
Page 3: "Micah mugged for them, and they laughed. "I went ..."
Page 4: ""We know," returned Sarah happily, "So we ordered ..."
Page 5: ""You'll have your own gospel chorus, Micah!" His ..."
Page 6: "Micah hesitated a moment, before he answered, feig..."
Page 7: "Micah smiled genuinely this time. "It will, mothe..."
Page 8: ""Now that's turning the other cheek! We must alwa..."
Page 9: ""Did not!" parried the other twin.
"Look it..."
Page 10: ""Corinthians," sighed Caleb, apparently despondent..."
Page 11: "Micah intoned, "You shall suck the milk of nations..."
Page 12: ""I only came because my mother made me come, becau..."
Page 13: "Caleb spun about, and tattled. "Charge says this ..."
Page 14: ""Okay, then, you kids play nice. Micah, you shoul..."
Page 15: "Pastor Hawthorne grimaced, and tried not to seem a..."
Page 16: "Though his expression collapsed somewhat, father r..."
Page 17: "'Doesn't that strike you as odd, Elijah, in and of..."
Page 18: ""Those of you that won't build the wall with me, g..."
Page 19: ""This town, Delphi, is full of idolatry and evil. ..."
Page 20: "Micah smiled. "You don't know anything different,..."
Page 21: ""He has brought this to me, as I have asked, not b..."
Page 22: ""Now that I have your attention," he droned more s..."
Page 23: ""Next Sunday, if you remain a true-believer, retur..."
Page 24: "-|-
Though Micah had earned a position on t..."
Page 25: "Micah sat with the members of his science team in ..."
Page 26: "Doubling over again, the coach slumped onto a benc..."
Page 27: ""Wh- What's not right, coach?" wondered the boy.
Page 28: ""That's very funny, coach!" The team laughed.
..."
Page 29: "He waved his arms about over his head. "My brains..."
Page 30: "Half hopping, half running, Kennedy managed to get..."
Page 31: ""NO! The grass is electric! It's millions and mi..."
Page 32: "Micah and his congregation watched the commotion i..."
Page 33: ""Are the demons going to get us, Micah?" squeaked ..."
Page 34: "Micah locked the door to the lab behind them, and ..."
Page 35: ""You did this!" he spat, writhing fiercely to be f..."
Page 36: ""Oh, I think I will, sir. In time."
"Time?..."
Page 37: ""Why? What are you going to do?"
"Simple, ..."
Page 38: "They stared. They said nothing. They stood stiff..."
Page 39: ""You are loud, but you are weak. Mr. Jennings. Y..."
Page 40: "Micah grinned condescendingly. "Ignorance is the ..."
Page 41: ""I wanted to go. I'm spreading the word of God th..."
Page 42: "Suddenly, the man's face fell. "Hey, now," he sai..."
Page 43: ""We guessed your passwords, and we searched throug..."
Page 44: "Sam worked at his restraints violently. It creake..."
Page 45: ""What the-" he breathed, "What the hell? What did..."
Page 46: ""Soon, you will have scary dreams and you will see..."
Page 47: ""What happened?" wondered Micah.
"We don't ..."
Page 48: ""Is she dead?"
"Yes," returned their prophe..."
Page 49: ""When He will." Micah pursed his lips in thought ..."
Page 50: "It rang several times, before it fell silent. Mom..."
Page 51: ""God's kingdom comes. God's will be done."
Page 52: ""She'll fit in there."
"I wonder if they ha..."
Page 53: "Together, they dragged her across the living room ..."
Page 54: ""Remember, brother, all is God's will. We are mer..."
Page 2: "With a final group hug, which Micah pretended to e..."
Page 3: "Micah mugged for them, and they laughed. "I went ..."
Page 4: ""We know," returned Sarah happily, "So we ordered ..."
Page 5: ""You'll have your own gospel chorus, Micah!" His ..."
Page 6: "Micah hesitated a moment, before he answered, feig..."
Page 7: "Micah smiled genuinely this time. "It will, mothe..."
Page 8: ""Now that's turning the other cheek! We must alwa..."
Page 9: ""Did not!" parried the other twin.
"Look it..."
Page 10: ""Corinthians," sighed Caleb, apparently despondent..."
Page 11: "Micah intoned, "You shall suck the milk of nations..."
Page 12: ""I only came because my mother made me come, becau..."
Page 13: "Caleb spun about, and tattled. "Charge says this ..."
Page 14: ""Okay, then, you kids play nice. Micah, you shoul..."
Page 15: "Pastor Hawthorne grimaced, and tried not to seem a..."
Page 16: "Though his expression collapsed somewhat, father r..."
Page 17: "'Doesn't that strike you as odd, Elijah, in and of..."
Page 18: ""Those of you that won't build the wall with me, g..."
Page 19: ""This town, Delphi, is full of idolatry and evil. ..."
Page 20: "Micah smiled. "You don't know anything different,..."
Page 21: ""He has brought this to me, as I have asked, not b..."
Page 22: ""Now that I have your attention," he droned more s..."
Page 23: ""Next Sunday, if you remain a true-believer, retur..."
Page 24: "-|-
Though Micah had earned a position on t..."
Page 25: "Micah sat with the members of his science team in ..."
Page 26: "Doubling over again, the coach slumped onto a benc..."
Page 27: ""Wh- What's not right, coach?" wondered the boy.
Page 28: ""That's very funny, coach!" The team laughed.
..."
Page 29: "He waved his arms about over his head. "My brains..."
Page 30: "Half hopping, half running, Kennedy managed to get..."
Page 31: ""NO! The grass is electric! It's millions and mi..."
Page 32: "Micah and his congregation watched the commotion i..."
Page 33: ""Are the demons going to get us, Micah?" squeaked ..."
Page 34: "Micah locked the door to the lab behind them, and ..."
Page 35: ""You did this!" he spat, writhing fiercely to be f..."
Page 36: ""Oh, I think I will, sir. In time."
"Time?..."
Page 37: ""Why? What are you going to do?"
"Simple, ..."
Page 38: "They stared. They said nothing. They stood stiff..."
Page 39: ""You are loud, but you are weak. Mr. Jennings. Y..."
Page 40: "Micah grinned condescendingly. "Ignorance is the ..."
Page 41: ""I wanted to go. I'm spreading the word of God th..."
Page 42: "Suddenly, the man's face fell. "Hey, now," he sai..."
Page 43: ""We guessed your passwords, and we searched throug..."
Page 44: "Sam worked at his restraints violently. It creake..."
Page 45: ""What the-" he breathed, "What the hell? What did..."
Page 46: ""Soon, you will have scary dreams and you will see..."
Page 47: ""What happened?" wondered Micah.
"We don't ..."
Page 48: ""Is she dead?"
"Yes," returned their prophe..."
Page 49: ""When He will." Micah pursed his lips in thought ..."
Page 50: "It rang several times, before it fell silent. Mom..."
Page 51: ""God's kingdom comes. God's will be done."
Page 52: ""She'll fit in there."
"I wonder if they ha..."
Page 53: "Together, they dragged her across the living room ..."
Page 54: ""Remember, brother, all is God's will. We are mer..."
Chapter 7:
Science the New Religion
The congregation prepares for the future. Can you say 'Anti-Christ'?
Page 1:
""I told you," cautioned Elijah Darnel, "They alway..."
Page 2: "Micah stooped lower and peered more intently into ..."
Page 3: "Micah rocked back on his haunches, and extended hi..."
Page 4: ""Oh, yes!" returned Micah, gloating, "If not, then..."
Page 5: "That wiped the smile from Micah's face. "Indeed, ..."
Page 6: ""Therefore we must not be content to wallow deliri..."
Page 7: "As the echoes of his final stroke reverberated thr..."
Page 8: ""You must all go forth to learn as much as can be ..."
Page 2: "Micah stooped lower and peered more intently into ..."
Page 3: "Micah rocked back on his haunches, and extended hi..."
Page 4: ""Oh, yes!" returned Micah, gloating, "If not, then..."
Page 5: "That wiped the smile from Micah's face. "Indeed, ..."
Page 6: ""Therefore we must not be content to wallow deliri..."
Page 7: "As the echoes of his final stroke reverberated thr..."
Page 8: ""You must all go forth to learn as much as can be ..."
Chapter 4:
Guts Mostly
Delphi burns as the congregation rises.
Page 1:
""She won't sign?" asked Micah, perplexed.
C..."
Page 2: "Micah shook his head, "No, she'd be spacey for day..."
Page 3: "Charge smiled thinly. "Mostly, she says, 'fuck yo..."
Page 4: ""Really?" Micah returned his protégé's thin smile..."
Page 5: ""What's that?"
"Her strength. I saw it in ..."
Page 6: "Micah smiled and stood, tucking the papers beneath..."
Page 7: "Before the farm had been sold to its absentee land..."
Page 8: ""Just us and Tony."
"Send him away, we won'..."
Page 9: "Darla tensed to hear his voice. "You!" she hissed..."
Page 10: ""Isn't that power enough?"
"NO!" she return..."
Page 11: ""Or what? Are you going to dope me up with more L..."
Page 12: "She said, "I won't." Then her head collapsed to a..."
Page 13: "Frustrated and enraged, Darla screeched defiantly,..."
Page 14: ""Many prophets are thought to be mad."
Bloo..."
Page 15: ""Fuck you!"
Micah smiled wickedly, and stow..."
Page 16: "Micah shut her down again, for a longer period of ..."
Page 17: ""It's the only thing you can do to me, if I sign. ..."
Page 18: ""Whatever the future may hold for you, Mrs. Jennin..."
Page 19: ""I- I- I-" she stammered, licking her swelling lip..."
Page 20: "The first zap bowed Darla's spine, and snapped her..."
Page 21: "This time, Charge went. Darla muttered to herself..."
Page 22: "Micah pressed the stunner to her ribs, and was sur..."
Page 23: "Admiring its new shape, Micah spat the bit of torn..."
Page 24: "He paused a minute, while she wept, imagining his ..."
Page 25: "Indeed, when he unfastened her right wrist to thru..."
Page 26: ""Okay," returned Charge simply. "How's it gonna w..."
Page 27: "Micah's grin broadened and softened. "I know, bro..."
Page 28: "Realizing the precarious nature of his approach to..."
Page 29: "Micah nodded. "Right. This being true, then simp..."
Page 30: "The interior of the little church was a sharp cont..."
Page 31: ""Sure, Micah, sure," returned Charge, his own grin..."
Page 32: "Micah's smile widened, and an all but imperceptibl..."
Page 33: "Adding a final, hardy pat to Charge's shoulders, M..."
Page 34: ""It's the key to our wall's gate, brother, a great..."
Page 35: ""Yeah!" gushed Charge.
They waddled up to t..."
Page 36: "Once he stepped out of the doorway, Sarah approach..."
Page 37: ""Indeed," he replied, lifting Mrs. Boyd's lifeless..."
Page 38: ""Yes, son," whimpered the man brokenly. "I'm read..."
Page 39: ""Maybe, I'll let you sleep in a bed, instead of th..."
Page 40: "Robotically, they nodded. Sarah shuffled through ..."
Page 41: ""See? That's what I'm talking about," he said sha..."
Page 42: "He shook his head, scoffing them for buffoons. "D..."
Page 43: "Elijah mustered the resolve to croak, "They did."<..."
Page 44: "He pushed away from the wall, and stood over their..."
Page 45: "While he waited for his parents to gather their wi..."
Page 46: "-|-
They stood together holding hands at th..."
Page 47: "Restrained by the dubious suspicion that explosive..."
Page 48: "One of the twins batted at a fire that had caught ..."
Page 49: ""Thus spake Zarathustra," he intoned solemnly. "G..."
Page 50: ""Now we see. Seeing, we are terrified. In our te..."
Page 51: ""While we have given them a great crime, we have a..."
Page 52: "Each of his disciples blinked, swallowed reflexive..."
Page 53: "Mathew responded quickly, his voice steady, "I und..."
Page 54: "A weapon sounded. Once. Twice. Three times. A ..."
Page 55: "Today he remained free, unlike the other children...."
Page 56: ""Well," Micah exhaled forcefully, "Today is the fi..."
Page 57: ""I know, father," consoled Micah, folding his fist..."
Page 58: "As they relaxed into their chairs, once more, and ..."
Page 59: ""But you won't leave us too long, will you?" she w..."
Page 60: ""We know, Micah," gulped Elijah, his focus and his..."
Page 61: ""Hi there, little boy!" she squeaked brightly. "I..."
Page 62: ""Nope. I'm a rock."
Surprised by his confi..."
Page 63: ""Oh, good, that's fine." Again accepting these it..."
Page 64: ""Micah Darnell," he responded, mugging a huge smil..."
Page 65: ""I bet it was. What do you know about the explosi..."
Page 66: ""We were playing, and suddenly, WHOOSH! the place ..."
Page 67: "Sonya grimaced, and was at a loss for words for a ..."
Page 68: ""What do you think happened?"
Micah put a c..."
Page 69: "Micah feigned a stunned expression. "Oh," he decl..."
Page 70: ""Why would they do that?"
The boy shrugged,..."
Page 71: ""The end of the world, lady." He said it with a t..."
Page 72: ""You said you were on your way to the site of the ..."
Page 73: "Standing straighter upon hearing something interes..."
Page 74: "He followed a cattle trail into a dense copse of o..."
Page 75: "Standing on his pedals to accelerate around the co..."
C..."
Page 2: "Micah shook his head, "No, she'd be spacey for day..."
Page 3: "Charge smiled thinly. "Mostly, she says, 'fuck yo..."
Page 4: ""Really?" Micah returned his protégé's thin smile..."
Page 5: ""What's that?"
"Her strength. I saw it in ..."
Page 6: "Micah smiled and stood, tucking the papers beneath..."
Page 7: "Before the farm had been sold to its absentee land..."
Page 8: ""Just us and Tony."
"Send him away, we won'..."
Page 9: "Darla tensed to hear his voice. "You!" she hissed..."
Page 10: ""Isn't that power enough?"
"NO!" she return..."
Page 11: ""Or what? Are you going to dope me up with more L..."
Page 12: "She said, "I won't." Then her head collapsed to a..."
Page 13: "Frustrated and enraged, Darla screeched defiantly,..."
Page 14: ""Many prophets are thought to be mad."
Bloo..."
Page 15: ""Fuck you!"
Micah smiled wickedly, and stow..."
Page 16: "Micah shut her down again, for a longer period of ..."
Page 17: ""It's the only thing you can do to me, if I sign. ..."
Page 18: ""Whatever the future may hold for you, Mrs. Jennin..."
Page 19: ""I- I- I-" she stammered, licking her swelling lip..."
Page 20: "The first zap bowed Darla's spine, and snapped her..."
Page 21: "This time, Charge went. Darla muttered to herself..."
Page 22: "Micah pressed the stunner to her ribs, and was sur..."
Page 23: "Admiring its new shape, Micah spat the bit of torn..."
Page 24: "He paused a minute, while she wept, imagining his ..."
Page 25: "Indeed, when he unfastened her right wrist to thru..."
Page 26: ""Okay," returned Charge simply. "How's it gonna w..."
Page 27: "Micah's grin broadened and softened. "I know, bro..."
Page 28: "Realizing the precarious nature of his approach to..."
Page 29: "Micah nodded. "Right. This being true, then simp..."
Page 30: "The interior of the little church was a sharp cont..."
Page 31: ""Sure, Micah, sure," returned Charge, his own grin..."
Page 32: "Micah's smile widened, and an all but imperceptibl..."
Page 33: "Adding a final, hardy pat to Charge's shoulders, M..."
Page 34: ""It's the key to our wall's gate, brother, a great..."
Page 35: ""Yeah!" gushed Charge.
They waddled up to t..."
Page 36: "Once he stepped out of the doorway, Sarah approach..."
Page 37: ""Indeed," he replied, lifting Mrs. Boyd's lifeless..."
Page 38: ""Yes, son," whimpered the man brokenly. "I'm read..."
Page 39: ""Maybe, I'll let you sleep in a bed, instead of th..."
Page 40: "Robotically, they nodded. Sarah shuffled through ..."
Page 41: ""See? That's what I'm talking about," he said sha..."
Page 42: "He shook his head, scoffing them for buffoons. "D..."
Page 43: "Elijah mustered the resolve to croak, "They did."<..."
Page 44: "He pushed away from the wall, and stood over their..."
Page 45: "While he waited for his parents to gather their wi..."
Page 46: "-|-
They stood together holding hands at th..."
Page 47: "Restrained by the dubious suspicion that explosive..."
Page 48: "One of the twins batted at a fire that had caught ..."
Page 49: ""Thus spake Zarathustra," he intoned solemnly. "G..."
Page 50: ""Now we see. Seeing, we are terrified. In our te..."
Page 51: ""While we have given them a great crime, we have a..."
Page 52: "Each of his disciples blinked, swallowed reflexive..."
Page 53: "Mathew responded quickly, his voice steady, "I und..."
Page 54: "A weapon sounded. Once. Twice. Three times. A ..."
Page 55: "Today he remained free, unlike the other children...."
Page 56: ""Well," Micah exhaled forcefully, "Today is the fi..."
Page 57: ""I know, father," consoled Micah, folding his fist..."
Page 58: "As they relaxed into their chairs, once more, and ..."
Page 59: ""But you won't leave us too long, will you?" she w..."
Page 60: ""We know, Micah," gulped Elijah, his focus and his..."
Page 61: ""Hi there, little boy!" she squeaked brightly. "I..."
Page 62: ""Nope. I'm a rock."
Surprised by his confi..."
Page 63: ""Oh, good, that's fine." Again accepting these it..."
Page 64: ""Micah Darnell," he responded, mugging a huge smil..."
Page 65: ""I bet it was. What do you know about the explosi..."
Page 66: ""We were playing, and suddenly, WHOOSH! the place ..."
Page 67: "Sonya grimaced, and was at a loss for words for a ..."
Page 68: ""What do you think happened?"
Micah put a c..."
Page 69: "Micah feigned a stunned expression. "Oh," he decl..."
Page 70: ""Why would they do that?"
The boy shrugged,..."
Page 71: ""The end of the world, lady." He said it with a t..."
Page 72: ""You said you were on your way to the site of the ..."
Page 73: "Standing straighter upon hearing something interes..."
Page 74: "He followed a cattle trail into a dense copse of o..."
Page 75: "Standing on his pedals to accelerate around the co..."
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