THE SWORD AND SICKLE

PART TWO: DECEPTION

CHAPTER-SIX

CASSINI-2 

©2017, Olan L. Smith

"Nathan, this is Tim Bateau. Answer this for me. Levi and his wife have distanced themselves from the SDL. They have led peaceful and quiet lives ever since the formation of the group. Why would you believe he or they would kill anyone, let alone the Speaker of the House?"

"I don't know; all I know is that I'm a Southern Baptist, and I have never liked him or his books. This man is a heretic and a fraud! He knows nothing about God, the Bible, or his followers; they are a bunch of brainwashed fanatics."

"Thank you, Nathan. Caller five, you are on the air," Sue announced.

"Sue, I just wanted to tell you that I really like listening to you. This station is my favorite."

"Thank you, caller. Do you have a question or opinion for our listeners?"

"Oh, yes. I want to say that I believe that this is a cover-up, and we will never find out who did this terrible thing. It is just like Oswald all over again. Why was he there in the first place? And how could he possibly attempt to kill the president and then just wander back into the White House and kill the Speaker of the House? Surely, she would have intense security surrounding her by that time. Levi is a writer, not an assassin. And this thing around Jupiter, we will never know what it is."

Sue asked, "Caller, may I ask if you are a member of the SDL?"

"Oh no!" She exclaimed. "I'm not even religious, Sue. I just don't trust the government and wanted to listen to your sexy voice."

Dr. Alicia Santos picked up her phone to call in and say, "You hit the nail on the head." But I thought better about it. She put the phone down and turned off the radio. When she looked up, she saw her exit and slowed to turn. Hell, she thought. If I had called in, I would have missed my exit, and then I would have had to travel an extra ten miles to get home. In five minutes, she pulled into her driveway. She slammed the car door before she walked to the front door. She fumbled with the keys as she pushed the key into the lock. Turning it to the left, she opened the door and gained entrance to her home. Turning on the lights, she walked into the front room and flopped down on the couch. She picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and began to flip the channels. She found herself just continuously flipping channels and not even thinking about what she was doing. She noticed that the TV was stuck between channels, and all she could hear was static. She tried to push the button, but her hand seemed not to work. She looked closer, and she could see two hands. One was locked in a paralyzed position, and the other she could see through, and it was working hard to push the button. She pulled her hand back while her real hand clutched the TV remote. Freaked out, she looked at the clock and noticed it had stopped. She stood up and suddenly felt her spirit burst out of her body, like a too-ripe tomato that popped its skin. Turning back, she could see her body sitting on the couch. She frantically attempted to get back inside but failed. She said to herself, Man, I am tripping. I remember once having this experience on an exam in college, and it made my stomach feel nauseated. She went to the kitchen to check the clock. It, too, had stopped. She went to the refrigerator to open it, and her hand passed through the handle. She concentrated harder, and this time she felt the handle, grasped it in her hand and pulled. The door opened, but the corporeal door stayed closed. "What the hell is happening to me?" she said aloud.

"You are in the spirit world," answered Levi.

Alicia jumped. She thought she would leave this body, too. "Who the hell are you?" She turned to see a naked man standing behind her. He looked like a Greek god, like the one she had seen in museums, except older.

"I am Adonai, Lord of the Lord. I knew you before you were born. This body you see is my host's body, Levi Jackson."

"But you are in prison. I just heard about it on the radio."

"Alicia, the universe itself cannot contain me. How would a mere cell imprison me?"

"You are saying that you are God. That can't be. Fuck! I don't even believe in a God."

"I see. Good thing I don't rely on you," he laughed.

"Did you assassinate Dianne Menisci and harm the President?"

"I created all, and all die. If you think about it, I kill everyone."

"Is it my time? Is that why you are here? Did I have a heart attack or something?"

"No, Alicia, I am not here for you this day. I came to you to tell you to move. Pack your things, move to St. Louis, Missouri, and join the group called "The Followers of the Voice."

"Why would I do that? Even if you are the Lord, I still have my free will and can do as I please. And I am not about to leave my job for anyone!"

"You have free will? Are you able to tell the world what is really in those images? Or does the government tell you what to do?"

"Well, I can say what I want to when I want to. It is just that I want to keep my job and my GS-12 pay grade."

"Would you like to see the ship up close? Would you like to touch it and walk on the streets paved with gold? I will even reveal to you the secrets of the universe. Surely, you would like to know where fermions come from and how bosons work."

"I am hallucinating because I have had a rough day. I am just talking to myself and you; you're not really here."

"You told me you didn't believe in God. Can you touch a hallucination, Alicia?" He positioned his hand for her to touch. Hesitantly, she stepped closer to him. "Do not fear. I am not here to harm you. Come closer to me."