John sat at the long table with his thick legs crossed and hands folded in a wait and see posture. Around the table were ten men and two women all very still and clearly apprehensive. The room was a mess though it was cleaned up in a hurry to have the meeting. The explosion left it rumbled and damaged. Tidying wasn't called for as much as renovation. The church was not present here. Such a condition would be a sin and having a meeting in such a disheveled place invited chaos or evil to make its presence known. The church did build the facility put they were given a substantial indulgence to stay away and forget about its existence. That was of course blasphemy. John's brilliant concourse with the conical heads was stuff of legend around the site.

Yes, it was blasphemy to ask the Church to ignore, that that was to be built by the Church. it was moreover a greater blasphemy to build for an undertaking that was clearly against Church law. Leaving the Earth or even contemplating leaving the good mother earth was the most grievous of sins. According to the Churches earliest traditions all building is but a childlike attempt at mimicking his power of creation. It must be done with piety and humility. There must be a deep understanding that though humankind is clever we are but small and flawed creatures, only deserving of the Makers eternal tolerance. That is why all that man builds must by necessity be flawed. The Holy engineers call it Blessed Tolerances- and is written in plans as plus or minus. John's argument was that the Church does try to build to perfection by the virtue of acknowledging the need to make something imperfect. However the Church is brilliant in that all that man makes that strives to be perfect is made to the glory of the Maker. With the full knowledge that such a thing could not be unless the almighty had not first put the gift in us in the first place. That gift being the truest form of enlightenment there is in creation. We are made to create but not to compete with heaven but to glorify that which is the progenerator of all that we are.

The argument kept their attention and saved his life from the correction by fire. His reward was listening for four twelve-hour days of theological dogma and lectures designed to cleanse his naturally disobedient soul. The course was ended with two days of fasting-particularly hard for John. He was patient if uncomfortable. The truth would serve well here. The Church for all it's trapping was still managed by scientists-engineers, designers, mathematicians and researchers. He knew through his sources that the Church had far more interest than just building and manufacturing. The inner circle secret was its study of the natural sciences. They secretly wanted to know how God made everything. They knew that all was made under certain laws and those laws made by God were once made …unmakable and therefore useable. It was John's family that took credit for the discovery and merchandising of the many discoveries in physics, medicine and chemistry that the church needed dispersed to society. John's family got an Order and had been in a secret business with the back door of the Church for decades. It was why John was allowed an audience. He was sure he could avoid the high holy day faith building spectacle of witch burning because the church had need of him. John had to weigh carefully how much they needed him against any possible damage to the good name of the Church. His skin burned and itched with each possible move his mind entertained.

The final day came when he would present his position. He entered the wood paneled room and climbed to the testament box. The High Elders entered and sat in a row on the high bench. The First slammed down a hammer and waited for John to gather himself and speak. John started with a prayer asking the Creator to speak for him on a most delicate matter, one that came to the beseecher through a divine dream. There was a murmur on the bench and in the room. To invoke authority through a dream was either inspired or deadly. It demanded the highest level of attention and committed the listener to be an active participant in the conversation and not just a passive listener. The integrity of the listener was involved in the most personal way. The bailiffs started manhandling spectators and throwing them out of the room. Only people with the highest standings in the Church were allowed to stay some of them stood and allowed themselves to be escorted out of the room. Every Elder looked at John like they wanted him to be a crispy charred example of stupidity. They're lives and souls were now on the line. John smiled inside and thought 'How do you like it you pompous hypocrites?'

John started.

"The Earth is dying"

The silence was thick and ominous.

"We have taken much care to wash you of sin." The elder on the far right finally spoke. "Then you stand there and put your life and soul in peril once again. Are you deficient in some way that it could explain your behavior."

John liked the man immediately. He was giving John a way out.

"I cannot ignore what was given me. I have something to give weight, width and breadth to my words, a study that can be the cornerstone and the foundation to bear the truth of the will of heaven. Not that I so humble and unworthy a soul could presume to know but granted to me as a pebble in a pond. The ripples to be prayed over and meaning discerned by those in this holy place more suited with gift and mantle." John bowed his head.

"Well spoken but impertinent" The center Elder responded. "Why do you believe that such knowledge should be delivered to you rather than the pure, prepared and receptive mind of one of the cleric?"

John had them. "With humility." He lied. "My knowledge of the workings of His hand is restricted to catechism. However, I am wealthy due to the goodwill of the Church and am the Prime of True Level and technically one of the cleric. It is my belief that it was heaven's will that wealth would be required and a true partnership be created to heaven's glory."

The panel was silent. John knew that the word wealth would stay their hands. Greed was a sin he knew he could depend on. The nine bowed their heads together and whispered. finally the end one spoke.

"It is conceivable that wealth could be the reason. Let us also be cautious in that if the end of the world…"

John jolted. 'They knew. The bastards already know.' John thought.

"…is at hand. it may be the will of heaven to end what has been started and no amount of wealth will stay that eternal hand in dismantling what has been made."

John composed himself while looking in the faces of the nine. He was taken aback by their reveal. They were ahead of him and were playing him like a fiddle. It was not a place John was comfortable with. His natural instincts had him wish each member dead but he had to remind himself that these nine were amongst the best players in the world and he was being allowed to sit at the table. It would dishonor them if he didn't play well or they would do what he would do and that would be to silence him…permanently.

John bowed his head as if in prayer. "You are wise and I have prayed on this thing. I am wealthy and a sinner. Though I am of a holy order am I not still human? I am corrupt because I am what I have become and am called to even higher a standard, a difficult place for one so unworthy. I am not alone, for in the secular world there is evil of every kind. Even though heaven has purged the human race again we are stiff necked and unrepentant. My revelation came not as a light shinning on me in a splendid way but in the midst of a horrible act, one of which I have repented. I believe heaven is resolute in the destruction of Earth and has revealed a new Eden for the faithful"

John sat down and waited. This was it.

All the Elders leaned back in their seats and looked one to the other.

"The Elder to the far left spoke quietly. "Pray continue builder for heaven."

All the Elders spoke in order saying the same words. "Pray continue builder for heaven."

John was astonished. The threat had passed. The address was one of partnership- he had been ordained. He could now speak plainly and as a friend and advisor to the Church.

"Here are the calculations." John handed papers to the bailiff and had him deliver the papers to the elders. "The earth was damaged when the Great Event took place. I know that the under-teachings of the Church consider the second moon an upstart and treacherous. There are those that consider it a demon waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Both may be correct. That moon is tearing our world apart."

The center Elder interrupted. "You are preaching to the choir. We do know what is going on Brother Adams. We want to know what you know that we do not. Such that would have you receive a revelation."

John smiled and continued. "Please be patient with my inability to be succinct. "If you scan my report you will find some interesting calculations."

Fifteen minutes went by in silence as the panel read over the figures. All the elders pit the sheets down at the same time and looked at each other. John was impressed. The Church made no mistake about who was to sit here.

the Elder on the right spoke first. "Everyone in attendance will now leave the chamber. be blessed and know that all will be revealed to you after the chaff as been separated."

Soon all that was left was John and the Elders who stood took off their robes and left the room. The center Elder motioned for John to follow. He did climbing out of the raised box across the floor and up the steps to the bench. Behind the bench was a door. John walked through to a coffee room or kitchen. The Elders were sitting around a very ordinary table with their legs crossed. Some were smoking and some were drinking wine.

"Sit down John can I get you some wine?" The Elder that spoke never spoke during the proceedings. "I'm Thomas I am the Rock of the Church. Yes, I know you thought that name represented a myth. It doesn't. The Rock is eternal…I am over three hundred years old and don’t seem to be dying anytime soon. The Rock is the foundation of the Church…yes I started it all and the hypocrisy is that I am a Christian...Too complicated to explain so don't ask. The Rock knows the workings of heaven…a bit of an exaggeration. I am a scientist and know quite a bit. The magic and miracle stuff was thrown in for affect." The man poured John a drink and pointed to a seat.

"We are left with a difficult decision. We will of course find that you are a heretic. You are correct in your findings. We have known for over a century. We have had projects on going that have done much to stabilize the earth's plates. Those are the anomalies you mentioned. Doing that work has depleted the Churches assets to a dangerous low. We have been slowly introducing a salvation theology that includes the setting up and financing the creation/salvation cults outside the Church."

John added. "To avoid a panic."

"Very astute." the man smiled. "The inevitable will come sooner our later. Your assertion is that the maker will do the demo planet-wise …sooner?"

Another Elder spoke. "What is your suggestion as to what to do?"

John recognized the trap. "If I may speak as a lay-builder, devout and in awe of the workings of the Creator?"

"Well my stout friend…well played." The Rock of the Church pulled a chair up and spun it around and straddled it backwards. The others sat up and pulled up to the table. "All right, We ordained you so we can't convict you of anything. And you, smart-ass, can drop the fake humility. We are equals here and we have some work to do. But let me tell you we have made you Church property as are we all, and we can ask of you anything we see fit. Refusal will put you right back in that room."

An Elder pouring coffee started to laugh at the irony.

"That may well be mote." John smiled.

"True enough but for the time being you are a child of the church. If we survive this you remain a cleric."

John smiled in triumph. Getting through this was assured and the plans he had after were even more interesting. He spent the rest of the afternoon explaining the plans for the new space program and the colonization of Mars. The Church was very receptive a new church on Mars was very appealing.

***

Raul lay on the rocks watched the bird thing get pulled down by fearsome creatures. The fear in the screaming of the creature was painful but it soon stopped. In his fevered mind they seemed to be giant spiders with a face and hands. That could not be right. The things folded up the winged monstrosity like a suitcase and hauled it off down into the ground. Raul hurt so bad that moving was impossible all he could do was wait for the arachnids to come for him. He waited. They did not come and he passed out.

***

John looked at the scared mice that sat around the table, each person was picked by Adams for their unique ability. They were the space program and now there had been a terrible setback. A trickle of blood ran down John's brow. He left it foe the affect.

"I would like to start this meeting with a brief explanation for the failure we have all endured. We are privileged to have with us the patron of our endeavor and I am sure he will help us to get back on track quicker than if he was not here." The thin fortyish man spoke with an obvious sense of superiority. He began to spew a series of justifications and a list of faults attributed to each member of the team. After each accusation he would annoyingly stretch is neck and snort denoting the truth and finality of each pronouncement.

John did not change his visage. He did not move or react as each character assassination was carried out. In the entire tirade not one word of personal responsibility came out of the Directors mouth. John listened and noted the expensive suit the man was wearing. It would probably match the cost and quality of the one John was wearing. He noted the elaborate flick of his long manicured fingers as he waved at invisible evidence. He watched as beads of sweat appeared on the man's upper lip and the damp spittle on the side of his flapping lips.

The man was the man for the job. John thought that if he had seen the man he would have had him killed. Instead he hired him based on his resume and it had proved a good hire…until now.

The man stopped and folded his arms. Each member of the team snapped around and looked at John fearing his response.

John smiled and sat forward jotting down a few notes. He put the pen down and stood up.

"We all know how important this project is. We all know we are all doomed if we don’t succeed. So I can assume no one in this room wants to die by sabotaging the works unless they are fanatics or crazy."

The Director winked at John and looked at each member with a smug grimace.

John continued. "I have studied you all completely. Failure is not an option yet we failed. Your calculations give this sad tired old world months- not years. Maybe those calculations were as flawed as the calculations that worked this launch." John chuckled." We can only hope the error was in favor of the years still available to us. We can only hope."

He stopped and walked to the window looking at the cleanup crew as they cleaned up the tarmac. He stood silent then spoke again.

"Our moon has kept this world humming along like a fine watch. Then an upstart wanders in and creates chaos. Interesting metaphor isn't it. We have been born in this generation to die or survive. It is a pretty thing that shines in the night sky but it is an evil thing bent in our destruction. The lesson is clear. What is perceived as beautiful and natural is flawed and destructive. We have to guard against the artificial and fraudulent."

The Director could not contain himself. He stood up and puffed up his chest. "You are so right and I have compiled a list of those whose work as been exemplary and those who have been slack. Given the seriousness of our task these irresponsibles should be terminated. And I mean that in its most final context. It is my belief that this incompetence was designed to discredit you sir and me." He handed the papers to John.

John looked them over. "Thank you Director. Edmond, it seems very concise."

The Director sat and smiled at the use of his name. His eyes darted to each member as they squirmed in their seats.

"Sir, I have failed you. I should have been more thorough. But I promise the corrections will be made."

Faster than the eye could see John drew a pistol and pointed it across the table and fired one shot. The bullet hit the Director right between the eyes. His brains painted the wall behind him red and gray. His body slammed forward and fell to the floor.

Suddenly John was standing by the window as each person yelped putting their hands to their cheeks. The pain of a vicious slap was still stinging. Each was still looking where John was. Then turned to see him standing by the window.

Each member of the group was in shock. The realization hit them that their job was now more than just a job. They also had to absorb the fact that their boss could do the impossible and they would be asked to do no less.

"You did not see what you think you have seen. Mr. Saunders you are now the Director. I am exhausted but I have more to do. Tomorrow morning I will take a Lighter up to the high earth orbit facility and put a fire under that group. We are running out of time. WE can live on Mars are die here. It is up to us and only us. Let that sink in."

***

The boat slipped quietly through the water with a very nervous crew. Odd noises punctuated the darkness that skirted the edges of light. In the shadows living things watched and wondered at the intruders just as much as the intruders wondered on them. The crew was strained and quiet darting their flashlights into corners and crannies as if seeing what lurked there would some how make it easier.

"How much further. I am really getting tired of this dark." Hawk asked in a little girl voice.

"How much further Daddy?" Snake mimicked.

"Not far. Maybe a mile." The fat man ignored the tone of both.

Just then the bulb flared and blinked out. The dark poured in greedy for the space stolen by the light.

"Dear God, someone turn on a light." Hawk hollered in fear. Turning her flashlight in every direction.

Elizabeth fumbled around in the dark trying both of the bulbs they had left.

"I'm not excited about the prospect of the rest of our trip being this vulnerable." Boss spoke up .

The dark came alive. The water began to churn like a washing machine. The cave roared as if a railroad engine was somehow heading their way. Debris fell in the water and struck the boat bottom in metallic thumps. Some hit the crew with smarting blows.

"Earthquake…what else." Hawk complained.

The boat stopped short and lurched backwards then forward throwing the crew to the deck. Hawk turned his lamp behind them and screamed at what he saw. "Hold On….wave….wave!"

The wave hit them hard capsizing the boat and throwing the crew into the dark waters. They all came up sputtering and finding themselves wet, cold and in the dreadful dark.

"Everyone keep talking- sound off-sound off!" Boss ordered.

Everyone started hollering their position and began to move together. All were accounted for at least for now. The fat man turned on the light and aimed it toward the ceiling creating a small amount of ambient light.

Snake screamed in pain. The light whipped around just in time to see Snake being lifted into the air by what was now horribly familiar. The tentacle writhed and squeezed spinning the now unconscious Snake over their heads. The tentacle was twice as thick as the one they had seen before. This monster was a big one. They all looked up helpless to help their companion and fearful they would be grabbed next. A second tentacle lifted from the water and, to the horror of those treading in the water, wrapped around Snakes body and with a sickening snap tore the poor man in half.

Hawk yelled, not the scream of horror at what had just happened but one of surprise. The fat man turned his beam toward her voice and saw her floating above the water just as he too lifted up into the air. Each person was soon floating with no means of support. they all began to float towards Hawk. She seemed to be in a state of shock. Her face was frozen and her eyes were white and glassy. A tentacle came up and stopped short and moved across what seemed to be an invisible surface.

"Am I seeing this…what the hell is going on. " Elizabeth yelled in confusion."

'I don’t know…I am out of my element here. it looks like we are in some kind of soap bubble-force field." Boss was checking to see what gear he still carried.

"What ever it is -it is keeping us from hat things intentions." The fat man flipped over with a yelp and was floating on his back. The whole bunch turned and started floating down the cavern the way they were going.

This thing has a slight glow. Turnoff your lamp and lets see if we can see." Elizabeth suggested. Her husband did and in a minute their eyes did adjust to the low level of light put of by the force field.

"I don't know if this is Hawks doing but if it is I am going to kiss her when we get out of here…if she is okay…and say a prayer for your dear companion." Elizabeth sighed.

"God keep us and get us through this."

***

Cassandra walked at a brisk pace that had Beth at a near run. She suddenly stopped and lay down flat on the rock.

"Lay down girl!" Cassandra called to Beth. "We are about to take a ride."

A roar rushed over them and the earth rolled and shock under them. Great clouds of birds filled the air and blotted out the sun.

It passed and the sky cleared.

"How come I didn't feel that coming?" Beth stood and dusted off.

"I don't know. Is that one of your talents?" Cassandra stood and looked back to the receding flock of birds.

Beth shrugged.

"We can be thankful we are in one piece. Let's go find your lover and see how he made out through the shake."

***Chapter 15 next month***

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