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Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

2.23 Surrounded

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Book II: Chapter 23
July 12

The very next day, I was in my living room with Alan and Miriam. It had been nearly a week since I’d brought back Alan (nee Lazarus) from the dead – I’d hoped that my former friends would have left me by now but as usual nobody seemed to care what I wanted. But at least Miriam wasn’t decked out in her PPE and she didn’t try to make Alan to the same.

And so Miriam had continued to help Alan recover, I’d been raked with more revelations (no rest for the weary). So far today I’d been free of vision, however that didn’t mean I could relax. As I sat in my Laz-e-boy trying to drink myself into oblivion, Alan and Mary were sipping tea on my raggedy couch (and clearly not getting my many hints for them to scram).

They had no idea about my visions the past few days and I wasn’t about to tell them. I did my best to conceal the shaking of my hands but it wasn’t working — for no matter what I did, I couldn’t escape the image of The Beast nailed to Peter’s cross!

Meanwhile, Alan was now back to his old self – which is to say that he was determined to understand what was going on in the world; and now he and Miriam were both wearing me out with their questions.

“Thank God you were able to find me, Miriam.” Alan gushed again. “Even while I was lost inside myself, I could feel the slightest something… tingling at the edges of my mind — a faint calling that kept me from falling over the precipice and into Oblivion. Miriam, you saved my life!”

(Hmmm. Alan’s talk suddenly intrigued me. For a moment I forgot about Bates as I realized that if I could somehow get myself into one of those Chairs, then perhaps I could succeed where Alan had failed).

“Hardly.” Miriam corrected. “It was John who really saved you.”

(Yeah, you’re welcome – now get out so I can get back to work).

“Well, you both did.” Alan smiled. But then, after pondering further, “Miriam, you’ve talked to me with your telepathy before, but this time it was different — it wasn’t so much a voice I heard, as a <presence> I felt. Was this because of The Chair of Woe?”

Miriam blushed, “Alan, I was desperate. Time was running out, and telepathy wasn’t working. I, ah, had to use… my Psychic Probe.”

I roared with laughter at that admission, raising my glass of my version of Duvel in a toast, “Here, here! Now I’ve h—“

“John, stop!” Miriam commanded.

Yet it was too late to save Alan from embarrassment, and his face went from a canvas of shocked whiteness to one of flushed red.

At this, Miriam quickly added. “Please. Don’t worry, Alan. I only used the power to locate you. I did not go into your memories.”

(Well, if she did, then she’ll know the secret Alan’s been keeping from her lo these many years. Oh, this is rich!)

“Ah… thank you?” Alan was clearly still horrified at the prospect of Miriam inside his mind. “It’s not as if I have anything to hide, mind you. It’s just… just that…”

“A man’s thoughts are his private business.” I wagged a finger at Miriam. “Nobody should be able to get into the mind of another person. I don’t even know why you call that ability a gift, – it’s witchcraft.”

“And your Alchemy is any better?” Miriam shot back. “John, you’ll go to the Pit for your lack of discipline – led astray by your own great folly! Talk about witchcraft, why that’s the very defin—“

“People!” Alan broke in. “In-fighting is not going to get us anywhere. Look, I am grateful to you both. By whatever means necessary, you saved my life. Thank you.” And he switched subjects. “I should have known that Teri was the real Mystery. After all, how could a woman like that be so interested in Biblical Antiquities?”

“Amen to that!” Miriam chimed in. “It only took me one look to see that there was more to her than meets the eye.”

“But, if Mystery is the Evil Temptress, how do we explain her dealings with Benedict? After all, even though Jesus charged us with The Commission, I’ve always felt that The Pope would be OUR ally, not theirs.”

“Benedict can’t be aligned with Bates.” Miriam replied. “The Beast must take down The Rock of Peter before he can begin his own reign.”

“Well, Francis is that rock now.” Alan advised. “Clearly there’s more to Benedict then we all knew. How do you explain his role otherwise?”

“I believe there’s only one interpretation,” Miriam offered. “Benedict will be the one to kill this man Ma’bus and enable the Second Coming – not us!”

Miriam caught me off guard with that comment and I saw that Alan was taken back a bit as well.

(I know what you’re thinking – now would be a good time to tell them about my vision of the future with Benedict supposedly killing the Ma’bus figure, but I wasn’t about to give Miriam the satisfaction).

Instead I entered the conversation with a word of caution, “It’s not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. You’d never make a good scientist, Mary, for you only reach conclusions that you WANT to find and fail to consider other possibilities.”

“Such as?”

“Such as the potential that Bates is NOT the antichrist and that Benedict is.”

(Sorry, but I couldn’t resist throwing that out there – if only to get them riled up a bit!)

“No chance.” Alan shot down my comment. “Bates IS The Beast. Mystery told me so and we all agreed on who she is.”

“Interesting – I don’t recall me agreeing.” I replied. “After all, if Mystery is The Evil Temptress wouldn’t it be in her nature to mislead you?”

Alan did not reply.

“And even if Benedict is not The Beast, couldn’t he be The Second Helper?” I suggested. “Perhaps he will bring The Nails to Bates’ Ma’bus persona as part of the Armageddon Rite, maybe Benedict is the one who will install them into The Crown of Doom, thus stopping the Second Coming. Perhaps, he—“

(Suddenly I stopped short, realizing I was saying too much).

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24 – The Secret Supper
Book II Table of Contents
Alchemy, Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

2.15 Lazarus Rises…Again

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Book II: Chapter 15
July 7

“I am the Mercury of the Wise.” I intoned.

“The Water that does not wet the hands.” Miriam chanted back again, continuing to do what I instructed her as part of our rite to save Alan.

The Nigredo had been going for nearly eighteen hours….

Yet still an unmasked Alan lolled helplessly in his chair, with his eyes glazed over and his body dead to the world.

When I told Miriam that things would get ugly, I wasn’t lying – for Alan went through hell during our ritual.

First there were the convulsions – wrenching physical spasms that forced his body into inhuman contortions – they were almost as bad as the spasms people experience after taking their Covid vaccines (key word: almost as bad)

Then there were the Voices – terrible ravings about unspeakable atrocities – all spilling out of Alan’s mouth, even as his face took on horrible visages to match his words.

(Miriam had to cover her eyes more than once during this stage of the putrefaction and as I stole a glance at her during one of Alan’s more gruesome Voices, I wondered – was she recalling <whispers> of her own demonic possession from a time long past?)

I had no time to ponder further about her, because suddenly Alan tried to break loose from his ties! Were it not for the heavy straps that I’d used to bind him to his chair, he might well have succeeded in harming himself or one of us. As it was, I had just enough time to douse him with a foaming liquid from one of the flagons I had on hand – and although the container was marked with a skull and crossbones, by the time Miriam saw that infamous warning mark, it was too late – for I had already used the potion.

The result: Alan was immediately immobilized.

Although I had saved us from his ravings, as the hours passed, Miriam and I realized that there was something worse than the voices or the physical abuse — The Silence.

For nearly twelve hours, Alan did nothing.

He said nothing.

His once beautiful face now the unrecognizable mask of a man tortured from the inside out.

If I had not constantly been checking his breathing, I would have been certain he was dead.

But such was not the case.

And then, suddenly there was an instant in which Alan’s eyes were not glazed — as if his soul had reached to us across the depths.

But the moment quickly passed and once more Alan was gone.

Confused, Miriam broke the silence, “Did he…? Was that…?”

“You saw correctly.” I advised calmly. “Lazarus is coming back from the dead… again.” I chuckled, enjoying both my pun as well as the scientific curiosity of this whole experience.

I then forced an effervescent liquid down Alan’s throat and followed this up by dousing him with a special powder.

And finally it happened…

Wonder overtook Miriam as we watched Alan transform.

First the bruises and awful marks disappeared from his body.

Then Alan’s frame cast off its slouch, even as his face released the bonds of their internal struggle.

And finally, Alan’s eyes cleared of their haze once and for all.

Tears welled up in Miriam’s eyes, “Oh, John… I mean, Azoth… you did it!” But under her breath, I heard her say, “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever.” Finally she reached down to Alan, “I knew you wo—“

<GAAAASSSSP!> Alan convulsed again and began gulping for air.

Miriam shrank back. “What’s happening?”

“Stand back, you fool. The rite was not over yet!” And ripping Alan from his bonds, I heaved him upon my back and raced towards the door. “Come on, we have to submerge him in the tub, otherwise, he’ll suffocate!”

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16 – Rock of Peter
Book II Table of Contents
Alchemy, Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

2.14 The Philosopher’s Stone

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Book II: Chapter 14
July 7

OK, so the cat’s out of the bag – yes I became an Alchemy Master in order to try to kill myself.

Big deal.

Has it worked yet?

Obviously not.

Meanwhile, Miriam pleaded, “I don’t want your help if it means you’re trying to kill yours—“

“Don’t worry,” I interrupted her, while wheeling Alan over to one of my workbenches. “I won’t be needing the Ebon Essence for this procedure.”

Miriam tried to stay out of the way as I poked and prodded Alan. My examination lasted for some time so I won’t bore you with the details. Eventually I advised, “It won’t be easy. Only The Nigredo can save him now.”  

“Ah, OK? I guess. But what is this Nigredo?”

“You might know it as The Putrefactio. It means the blackening, the putrification, the INDIVIDUATION.”

“John, er, Azoth, I don’t understand. I’m not an alchemist!”

“Cool your breeches, sister. Basically I have to perform a Rite upon Lazarus that will first putrefy his body and then purify him from the inside out – it’s the only way to burn out the impurity left from The Chair of Woe.” And after a pause, “It will not be a pretty sight.”

“Meaning?”

“You may want to go back to my house and wait.”

The color draining from her face, Miriam gritted her teeth, “No.”  

“Suit yourself.” I turned my back on her and got to work.

Yet before I could get started, Miriam sheepishly asked, “Does this ritual involve The Philosopher’s Stone?”

At that I laughed – I mean, I truly laughed – it was a rich, heartfelt laugh the kind that I had not experienced in decades and damn it felt good!

“What’s so funny?” Miriam asked, perturbed.

“Is that the extent of your knowledge of Alchemy?” I smiled, as if talking to a child. “Do you think The Stone is truly a great mystery?”

“You mean it’s just a legend?”

“On the contrary, The Philosopher’s Stone — the substance called the Philosopher’s Stone — is quite real. And yes, you can use it to turn inexpensive metals into gold.” Raising a hand, “Before you ask, those three chest there are filled with gold ingots. All at least a thousand years old from back when I amused myself with this trick. Ah, but who needs gold anyway?”

(Do YOU want that gold? If so, come on by and you can have it. Grab my cure for Covid while you’re here. They’re both waiting for you – that is, if you dare to try to find my house).

“But I’ve also heard that the Philosopher’s Stone was believed to be an elixir of life. Some say that with it, one could achieve immortality. I was hoping you could use it to save Al-”

My eyes narrowed at that. “Don’t trouble yourself with that vein — I buried those secrets long ago.” And because this was a touchy subject for me, I changed it, “As for Alan, he requires but one step along the path of The Opus Magnum – ‘The Great Work’ — The Nigredo is the first step of this path.”

“How many steps are there?”

“Four.”

“Well, after working on this craft for over a thousand years, I’ll bet you have completed them all, right?” Miriam tried to be encouraging.

Yet my face grew hard, “That’s no concern of yours, Mary. Now step back and give me space to work!”

(And don’t YOU go asking about that either — the fact is that I have NOT yet completed The Opus, but I am damn close! Yet before my life is over I WILL complete The Rite…and become a god! )

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15 – Lazarus Rises… Again
Book II Table of Contents
Alchemy, Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

2.13 Call Me Azoth

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Book II: Chapter 13
July 7

In an effort to stop Miriam’s complaints, I finally agreed to help our friend Alan.

In order to do that I had to bring him to my private workshop — which was actually a just detached garage, a short walk away from the house.

From the outside it probably looked like any other barn one might find in upstate Pennsylvania.

Yet the inside was quite unlike anything you’ve seen – for I am an Alchemist — not just any amateur experimenter trying to turn metal into gold, mind you, but a full-fledged Alchemy Maestro, perhaps the greatest of them all!

(I know, I know, I probably should have told you this sooner, but remember, I tend to forget quite a bit in my old age. What’s that — what else have I forgotten to tell you about? Ha, now that’s a good question!)

“Once inside these walls you shall call me Azoth.” I instructed Miriam, as I fiddled with the multitude of locks that barred the door. “Additionally we’re going to take that stupid mask off Alan and you’re going to remove that silly outfit your wearing.”

“Wha-?” Miriam stammered, backing away. “I…I can’t…er…what about the vi-vi-virus?”

“Miriam, you fool, you’re immortal!” I raged at her. “You can’t die from any virus – much less a made-up one that’s never even existed! How stupid are you, girl? You know as well as I that Covid was just a PLANdemic carried about by globalists to get everybody vaxxed, chipped, and monitored as part of the United Nations Agenda 2030 creation of a world-wide police state. Do I really need to explain all this to you?”

Miriam began to bawl, physically shaking as her mind was clearly resisting what she knew to be true even as the #FakeNews propaganda she’d allowed herself to be force-fed these past few years surely told her I was lying.

I merely waited for events to play out.

In the end, Miriam caved. Yet even as she removed her pandemic garb she gave in to a new fear. “Ah, John, er, excuse me, Azoth… we’ll not be doing anything sacrilegious in there, right?”

“Do you want my help or not?” I screamed at her, doing nothing to hide my disgust.

Miriam cried again, but looking down at Alan, she struggled to regain control as she said, “I’m sorry, Azoth. Please, let’s hurry inside.”

“How does it feel to be the one who is manipulated, eh, Mary?” I chuckled.

Miriam didn’t reply. Instead I heard her mutter, “You, O Lord, are a compassionate God, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness.”

I smiled to myself as I opened the final lock, before pulling the door ajar the door to let Miriam pass inside first – even though she was woman of the world who had seen quite a bit during her long life, as she entered my workshop I could sense her surprise at the sights before her.

To say the oversized garage was over-stuffed was an understatement – for although the 30 x 20 foot interior was a healthy area, I had nearly every available spot crammed with something. A giant furnace dominated the far wall – pipes leading out from it in all directions – some carrying exhaust to the outside, others hooked up to trailing pipes that led off to smaller furnaces or connecting to heating beakers both large and small, and still others going down into the floor. (What’s their purpose? Sorry, that would take too long to explain. Just sit back and listen please).

I watched as Miriam noticed the multitude of glass bottles – how could she miss them? – for more than anything else, jars of all shapes and sizes filled my laboratory. In fact, one of the 30-foot walls was lined completely with a massive, custom-made shelving unit and every space was filled — giant bottles containing preserved animal parts, smaller decanters bubbling with strange liquids, and tiny phials glowing with mysterious crystals. These and more were stored on the shelves – and everywhere else about the room too.

Various tables piled up with unusual tools, hulking chests locked tight, and storage containers overflowing with materials took up much of the rest of the space.

Each with a purpose only I knew.

A bit further inside, I saw that Miriam noticed The Three Pillars. An important alchemy construct, the two outermost posts had a shelf jutting out towards the inside pillar — upon the shelves, each of the pillars held a bulbous carafe which in turn had a long nodule connected to a tube. The tubes of the carafes connected to pipes that were attached to additional tubes that intersected the middle pillar, and then eventually emerged to connect to a similar pair of carafes at the base – yet rather than being supported on shelves attached to the outside posts, these glass jars were situated upon smaller furnaces that were continuously heating the liquids inside the flagons. I knew that Miriam had no idea as to the purpose of this apparatus, and I wasn’t about to tell her (or you!)

As you might expect, my workshop was not without its share of books too. From heavy tomes to delicate scrolls, my fetish with books played out here even more than it did in the living room of my house. I followed Miriam’s eyes with pride as I saw her espy the volume that was my most prized possession – a large stone tablet, shaded emerald green, sat reverently upon a podium in the very center of the room.

Although the engraved text was large enough read even from afar, it was written in a language that I knew that even Miriam did not understand. (If YOU want to know more, do some research — look for references on any of the following: The Emerald Tablet, or The Tabula Smaragdina, or The Secret of Hermes. See, I do give up some secrets).

Next, I could see Miriam captivated by the fact that nearly every wall surface was covered with Symbols; even the floor was covered in a giant glyph – a circle inside a square, inside a triangle, inside a humongous circle, the outer edges of each shape touching the inner edges of the ones they were housed within. As for the symbols on the walls, in one area, I saw Miriam note a collection of four triangles, representing the four basic elements: upright triangle for “fire,” pointing down for “water,” pointing down with horizontal line dissecting for “earth,” and pointing up with horizontal line dissecting for “air.”

“Ah… Azoth,” Miriam found her voice again, “what does the circle with the dissecting lines represent?”

“That one  is Quintessence.”

“Pardon me?”

“You might know it as Aethyr.”

“Oh, The Fifth Element — but I thought that was just a legend?”

“Hardly!” I snorted. “Quintessence is much more than a folk tale. Unlike the other elements, it has no physical qualities – it’s neither hot nor cold, wet or dry. It is incapable of change and yet always changing. It controls light and matter. It is the space between – but in a LIVING way.”

“Interesting.” Miriam was clearly impressed by my knowledge (and rightly so). Yet I noticed that she changed her tune a bit, when she asked meekly, “But, Azoth, I thought that Einstein’s Relativity dismissed aethyr?”

Aethyr – The Space Between?

“Wrong! Einstein attempted to dispute the existence of aethyr in his Special Theory of Relativity, yet even then his negative proof relied mainly upon an Occam’s razor – postulating that the existence of aethyr was not necessary to explain the gaps in the universe. However, later in life he corrected himself in the commentary to his General Theory of Relativity – wherein he admitted the logical need for aethyr.”

“Ah, John, did YOU have anything to do with his changing viewpoint?”

“No comment.” I smiled. (What, you think Einstein got all his grand ideas on his own?)

“What about all the other symbols you have painted here?”

“Miriam, I can’t sit here and give you a crash course in Alchemy!” However I couldn’t stop myself from hastily pointing out, “This is Tria Prima. Here are the Seven Planetary Metals. Over there are the Mundane Elements and opposite those are the alchemical compounds. This chart shows the Twelve Core Alchemical Processes as related to The Zodiac. Got it?!”

“And those different colored roses? Is this place also a greenhouse?”

“Don’t be a fool – my lab is hardly a garden! The roses have their place in my work and the colors have meaning. Red means ‘passion.’ White – ‘purity.’ Yellow – ‘compassion.’ Orange – ‘optimism’ (and before YOU comment, it’s true, I don’t have many orange roses on purpose!). Blue – ‘promise.’ And the ones gilded with Gold mean ‘Perfection.’”

“And…” Miriam hesitated, “The Black ones?”

I paused a moment, wondering if I should speak the truth. In the end, I didn’t care enough to fight…

“The Withered Roses offer Death.”

“And you said you use these roses in your work?”

“I extract their essence as the backbone of certain experiments.”

“But why would you ever need the Black ones? Unless…”

And Miriam looked at me in horror, suddenly realizing that my most important secret of all…

I was experimenting on myself!

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14 – The Philosopher’s Stone
Book II Table of Contents
Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

2.12 Ozymandias The Great

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Book II: Chapter 12
July 7

“What do you want me to do?” I asked Miriam — who’d been pleading with me from the moment she arrived, over three hours ago.

“John, I’m at my wits end,” She replied. Miriam was still wearing her pandemic safety garb – disposable Hazmat suit, gloves, booties, and facial shield over her Nano Mask. She looked ridiculous in the getup but I knew she wore it around me because she knew I was a Covid-denier and thus likely infested with the virus. After fiddling with her mask, she barked at me. “John, all you do is sit there in your Laz-E-Boy with your arms folded and a sour expression on your face? Put down your beer and look at Alan!”

“This isn’t any ol’ brew, it’s a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – only the finest beer in the world!” Even as I said it, I could see Miriam glowered behind her mask and face shield, so I slowly lowered my glass and glanced at Alan as she requested – I had to admit, he looked pretty bad as he lolled mindlessly in his chair – especially with that stupid mask Miriam on him.

Before I could comment more, Miriam was on me again, “You’re probably the only person in this world who can help. I need you to save him, John. Bring Alan back to us!”

“And then I suppose you’ll want me to help you to save the world, is that it? Let’s solve the Covid crisis once and for all, turn back the clock on our Climate disasters, give everyone unlimited money without making them work, and while we’re at is solve world hunger too. How does that sound? We’ll feel so good about everything in life. The sun will always shine, and unicorns will fly out of my butt when I pray? Is that what you want? ”

“Ugh, I don’t understand you?” Miriam whined. “Why have you given up on our mission? Why have you forsaken our Lord?”

“You think I have forsaken Him?” Now it was my turn to get angry. “What kind of a fool are YOU, Miriam? Take off your mask and open your eyes! It’s been nearly 2,000 years since He left. Yet He said He would fulfill His mission to us DURING our lifetimes? What a crock! If anyone has been abandoned it’s US!”

“John,” Miriam replied quietly. “Don’t forget that our lifetimes are still going. There is still time for Him to fulfill His promises. You just need to have faith. Remember, He said ‘I go to prepare a place for you. I will come ba–“

“Don’t throw that verse back in my face — I wrote that! And yet apparently I was deceived, because what I wrote is NOT true.”

“How can you say that?” Miriam’s eyes were wide in fear – I guess she didn’t realize how disillusioned I’d become these last few decades. “Your gospel is the most beloved of all. YOUR words have changed the world – for the better. Look at all the many millions who have been saved directly because of how you were able to capture the essence of The Teacher. You are the greatest Fisher of Men of us all, John.”

“What good has it done me? I am supposedly ‘the Apostle that Jesus loved.’ Yet what did it get ME? Am I with Him in paradise? No, instead He gave me this… wonderful curse of immortality. But with a worn out body to enjoy it in! Why? To sit here and see the world decay as a bunch of globalists turn us all into digital cattle? I’m tired of everything. I’m tired of waiting! When is He coming back? When?”

“I… I don’t know. But we can’t give up now. The Final Battle is on.”

“Don’t count on me. I’m done fighting.”

“Shall we accept the good from God but not the trouble?” Miriam tried to negate my words. Then, glancing at Alan, “John, regardless of how you feel about Our Lord, I’m asking you, as a friend, please help Alan. He needs you.”

“Take him to a doctor.” I waved her off. “Medicine has advanced quite a bit and they worship at the altar of Science now. These men like Dr. Flipflop and his ilk fancy themselves as gods and aren’t afraid to tell you so.”

“You know they can’t help him. He needs YOU, John.”

“Why ME?”

“Alan was forced to endure The Chair of Wrath!” Miriam screamed – as if I didn’t already know. “He is trying to kill himself from the inside out!”

I let Miriam’s words hang in the air for a moment as I pretended to ponder the situation – even though I had no intention of helping. But then…

Wait a second, old man. I thought to myself. Alan IS trying to kill himself — and he very well might succeed!

Once I made that connection, things changed for me.

I couldn’t bear to let Alan escape this life – not without me too!

“Interesting.” I nodded, playing it cool for Miriam, even though my scientific curiosity was now raging.

The moment lingered as I tried to convince myself that what I was about to do was worth the risk.

Miriam waited anxiously, tending to Alan, and I could sense that she was praying urgently inside her mind.

“Arg! I should be asleep already,” I blurted at last, “lying with the kings of the earth, men who built monuments for themselves, but which are now lying in ruins. Let me just be like Ozymandias — dead and forgotten and covered over with sand.”

I continue my rant for a bit, however Miriam didn’t bat an eye.

Tired of it all, at last I gave in to her, “Fine. You have your wish – bring him to my workshop.”

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13 – Call me Azoth
Book II Table of Contents
Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

2.11 The Chair of Wrath

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Book II: Chapter 11
July 4

Sadly, The Blackness dissipated – taking the sweetness of death with it.

Eventually I realized that Miriam (and I) were merely back in the hallway – outside of Acedia.

I had no idea how she had been able to escape the room – and pull me with her.

“Praise God!” Miriam gasped, and in her desperation she allowed herself to take off her face mask and risk breathing the air in the hallway outside the Chairs of Woe in order to try to help her body recover faster.

As she sucked at the air, Miriam knew she had to keep searching – for time was running out on Alan — thus, after a few more breaths, she refitted her mask and then approached the next door.

“Ira.” Miriam whispered the word, obviously fearing what the Chair of Wrath might torment her with. “Alan must be inside one of these last three rooms, else all of this was for naught!”

I’ll be honest with you, I was mentally exhausted, and even though I knew it was fruitless, I tried to end this vision — it didn’t work.

Next I tried using my mind power to stop stop Miriam from going inside another room – that failed as well.

Unable to resist, I thus accompanied Miriam’s mind into yet another Room of Woe…

Immediately we were assaulted with scenes of uncontrolled Hate and Anger!

Then Gunshots rang out to our left and we saw a man murdered – the assailant’s face a visage of blood lust.

I heard Miriam gasp and I sensed her desperation when she said, “My hope is in You, Lord.”

At first, Miriam’s prayer seemed to work because the room then morphed to show us a fairly tame scene: people arguing about whether masks worked to stop Covid, but then the pro-mask group got angry and raged that the anti-maskers were ‘murderers’ for not wearing their masks. (I wasn’t all that shocked by this scene since I’d witnessed it for years now).

Next we saw a parliament scene, with politicians arguing about Vaccine Passports and Freedom Passes — their impatience boiled over into anger and suddenly a fight broke out.

After that we saw a group of #MAGA supporters being violently assaulted by an Antifa mob (well that’s nothing new, right?). Next it was black-clad police wearing United Nations Armed Forces garb hauling groups of people they’d nabbed as anti-vaxxers off to Re-education Camps (I assumed to be forcibly vaxxed and chipped). Then we was some sort of armed assault at the US-Mexico border

But then, suddenly the transgressions of the room grew in intensity again – giant violent protests, group suicides, and even large scale genocide as a result of various pieces of biometric code being activated within the mRNA Covid vaccines that people had been taking for years.

Before we could resist, our senses became overwhelmed — powerless to stop this madness, soon my own blood began to boil and I too became angry.

Hate! Ire! Rage!

All built up inside me and I knew Miriam must have felt the same happening to her. Yet just as Miriam must have realized she needed to escape this room too, suddenly we saw… ALAN!

He was locked within The Chair of Wrath — his face a mixture of torment, rage, and sadness. The sight of him made me even more angry and I wanted to run over and beat his face into more a pulp, yet before I could act, I realized that Miriam had vanished.

That made my anger shift to her — insane with rage at her decision to abandon Alan, I unloaded a round of curses on her name and beat the floor in wrath.

But Miriam proved me wrong again – apparently she had reunited her body and mind, because I saw her break through the doorway and force her way physically back into the room.

(Amazingly there wasn’t any security system to stop her – did Bates and Flipflop assume that no one would be crazy enough to break IN to this room?)

Regardless of how easy it was for Miriam to get IN to the room, her prospects for getting Alan OUT was going to be the real challenge as The Chair of Wrath immediately punished her with the its evil aura. At the same time I projected my own hate onto her as well.

For her part Miriam struggled to get Alan released from his bonds — to no avail.

In his poor condition Alan could do nothing to help her — he was simply too far gone.

Miriam’s desperation grew and I could <feel> her faltering.

Sensing an opportunity, before she could call upon God to help, I threw my every last mental effort against her – trying to destroy her.

But instead of being harmed by my mental assault, Miriam instead appeared to grow stronger – her body in intensity and she attacked the bonds that held Alan.

I raged at her even more yet Miriam was now seemingly immune to all my abuse and the power of the room no longer affected her either.

Instead it was as if she was filled with a newfound strength — and as she finally got Alan free, she forcefully dragged him out of the Chair of Wrath, and then physically carried him out of the room!

I don’t know how she managed to do all this and I found it incredibly disturbing –especially since she didn’t trigger any alarms and nobody from Ma’bus’ guards or servants was on hand to stop her.

As she escaped, I found my own spirit ripped out of the room as well – although I struggled to stay, I was powerless to resist – for my vision was tied to Miriam and thus I was forced to endure watching her.

I witnessed her leave quite a path of destruction within Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus’ palace as she made her escape with Alan – ruthlessly immobilizing anyone who got in their way (whether it was the effects of the Chair of Wrath on her, or else simply carelessness in using her powerful Probe, or perhaps a combination of all of the stresses of the day, the end result is that many suffered at Miriam’s hands).

In fairly short order, she and Alan were able to escape Ma’bus’ complex and emerge back into Baghdad proper. Miriam then stole a Jeep and used it to get them to an unregulated located in the mountains outside the UMAN border. Eventually they made their way to a place of relative safety in Germany.

As I saw this unfold I found it pretty fishy that Miriam had a fairly easy time at every border checkpoint – why didn’t her Freedom Passes ever trigger an alert about where’d she’d just come from? It made no sense, but before I had time to ponder further, my vision flickered…

When my Sight cleared, I was once more looking at Miriam in the present day of July 4.

She was masked, gowned, gloved, and caring for Alan in that tiny flat, with the German news on in the background.

Still comatose, I now understood that Alan was struggling within the battleground of his mind. Fool that she was, I noted that Miriam had also put a face mask on Alan too (in her stupidity she apparently didn’t realize this was only going to make Alan’s condition worse, but what can you do – there is no arguing with these pro-maskers). Meanwhile, I watched as Miriam continually talked to Alan, trying to help him to understand that he could escape from the prison of the Sin that held him. Yet so far, her efforts were fruitless.

Time was running out.

Miriam surely knew that Bates was after them by now and he WOULD find them.

Action was required, and it was clear what Miriam was about to do.

“Be still before the Lord, wait patiently for him.” She tried to reassure herself. “We need help. We need a miracle! We need… John.”

It was inevitable. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I knew it was going to happen…

Miriam was coming to me!

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12 – Ozymandias the Great
Book II Table of Contents
Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

The Trap is Sprung (10)

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Book II: Chapter 10
July 4

My vision of the past continued – fresh off a success at resisting the Room of Greed, Miriam (and I) eagerly took on the next room.

I could sense Miriam’s confidence growing now and at first it seemed that her faith was justified — for not much was happening inside the room called Acedia first.

We saw examples of overwhelming laziness and indifference. Some people were simply unwilling to take action – either to help themselves or others no matter the potential reward or danger. Others had fantastic talents that were readily apparent, yet they too refused to act in order to share their gifts. Potential was left untapped. Grace left undone. And although unfortunate, Miriam was unaffected — in fact she almost allowed herself to be amused.

The bizarre scene inside Acedia

For my part, I was content to just let my mind languish for a bit. I actually began to feel a kind of peace – I must say, it was pretty nice.

However, we both failed to notice when the allure of the room began to <change>.

Soon we began to witness examples of melancholy, apathy, and depression. We saw others trapped in a world of joylessness — refusing to allow themselves to enjoy the Goodness of God. (I felt myself drawn to this crowd).

“Sloth” by artist Steven Burkett

We began to feel a sense of spiritual apathy – with images of the faithful being discouraged from their religious work.

Tristitia (Sadness) was confronting us — for Acedia was historically more defined by spiritual discontent than by mere physical laziness – yet too late did we remember this important fact!

“Tristitia & Dolor”

I could tell that Miriam felt an uneasiness of spirit and she began to grow restless, but I paid little attention to her because of a sudden I could sense my very soul being sucked into the room.  

Miriam tried to remove herself from the room… but I wouldn’t let her take us out.

I forcefully resisted her in the spirit world — for now I realized that I didn’t want to ever leave!

Panicked, Miriam called upon God to help her.

But no deliverance came.

And I rejoiced as Doubt (in the form of my spirit) assaulted her.

Do you really love God with all her heart? I shouted at her as a mysterious voice from within the Room.

With all your mind?

With all your strength?

With all your soul?

I tried to trick Miriam into remaining here forever.

In the past, I knew her answers to all my questions had been “YES!”, but using the power of this room, I convinced Miriam that now she didn’t know for sure. I told her that her love for God was trickling away – that which had ever sustained her was seemingly insufficient… draining… absent.

What good is your mission? I asked. If The Scriptures are truly divine, do they really need YOUR actions to be fulfilled? Surely, if they were true, then God would fulfill them regardless of what YOU do? Haven’t you worked long enough? Two millennia? Certainly you deserve a chance to rest for a bit!

I could sense Miriam’s desire to allow herself to perhaps just sit down and rest a bit.

No, to lie down. I encouraged. To sleep.

To be.  Yes, to just Be.

Just Beeeeeeeee.

“The Nightmare” By Fuselli

Suddenly The Blackness engulfed us…

(Was this The End I had for so long been hoping for?)

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11 – The Chair of Wrath
Book II Table of Contents
Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

Miriam’s Sins (9)

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Book II: Chapter 9
July 4

Although it was July 4th for me in real time, I continued watching a vision of of Miriam from the prior week – I’d just witnessed her leave Ma’bus’ servant Iffat to fall in a heap, as she now raced to the dictator’s torture chambers.

The hallway was empty when she arrived – and ominous — this was not a place that anyone would want to intrude into. Nonetheless, Miriam read the scripts plated on each door: Luxuria, Gula, Avaritia, Acedia, Ira, Invidia, and Superbia.

“The Seven Deadly Sins,” she said grimly. “Do not be far from me, Lord, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

Brushing aside her fears, she began to <probe> into the rooms…

(As you’ll soon see, this was an odd vision because not only was I looking in on Miriam’s physical body, but I actually felt like my own mind was transported into the rooms too!)

As soon as OUR minds <moved> into the room, I could tell that Miriam found more than she bargained for because a surprising <force> surged back against our psyches and Miriam’s physical body was violently thrown backwards in the hallway outside!

Although I was fine (and actually somewhat amused by the whole thing), it took Miriam a few moments to recover from her daze. This time she was more cautious as she moved back towards the first door – merely peeking her mind inside verses rushing in like before.

The forces were still there to confront us, but this time, Miriam (and I) were prepared for their mental onslaught. Steeling herself against their illusory blows, Miriam began to search through the room. Yet once again, she apparently underestimated the force she was contending with — for even though a vision of burning flames did not affect her, I could tell that Miriam was appalled by what she saw — a scene of total debauchery.

Lust by Neeta Patel

The room was filled images of with every kind of sexual deviance known to man: adultery, bestiality, rape, incest, and further transgressions worse than these — for this was Luxuria, and it held the Chair of Lust!  

<Ugh!> Miriam pulled her mind (and mind) back from the horrible visions and left the room.

Once again she took some time to gather herself.

“I must go back in,” Miriam said breathlessly, sucking hard at the limited air afforded by her face mask. “If Alan is there, I have to find him.” And looking up to heaven, she prayed, “Be not far off, O Lord. You are my strength!”

Cautiously Miriam pushed her mind back into the obscene room.

Visions of sexual immorality assaulted her…overwhelmed her… beckoned to her. She did her best to try to stay above the fray, searching for Alan within this madness, yet the longer she allowed her mind to remain inside Luxuria, the more that Miriam found herself being pulled towards the obsessive transgressions.

(As for me, I didn’t even try to resist. What will be, will be. And as an old man who hasn’t known a woman for what seems like centuries, well…)

Slowly, more and more of the people committing these terrible acts became aware of Miriam’s presence. They called to her, inviting her to join them, showing her the satisfaction that could be obtained by participating in this excessive love of each other.

Miriam resisted.

She kept searching for Alan, but more of the participants called her to join them — to submit to them, to forget about the future and enjoy the PLEASURE OF NOW.

Miriam continued to resist.

Yet, the scene grew more intense.

The acts more obscene.

The flames stronger and hotter.

Soon, Miriam felt herself being pulled in by the lechers. Her inhibitions were clearly weakening…

(By now, even I was getting a bit appalled at what was going on, and yet…)

<NO!> Miriam pulled her mind out of Luxuria. “Alan is not in there!” She hissed – HOPING that she was correct – and retreating away from this awful hallway.

I watched her run from the corridor and jump into the first lonely room she could find – she obviously needed time to gather herself and I knew that it would not be easy.

Nearly an hour later, after many tears and prayers, Miriam emerged from hiding and cautiously made her way back towards The Hallway of Woe — seemingly resigned to her fate.

By now, it was clear that each room, each Chair, would attempt to overwhelm Miriam with its Sin.

Understanding that she could not win this battle alone, I was not surprised to see her call upon her God, hoping that He could help her resist Temptation and thus find Alan, “But as for me, I will always have hope – I will praise Him more and more!”

Miriam then looked up at the next room – Gula — The Sin of Gluttony.

The Chair in Gula confronted us with conflicting images. We saw sins committed by those who had an excessive desire for food and by those who were purposefully withholding food from others.  We saw people eating too much. Eating too passionately. Eating everything – even THEMSELVES!

Despite her repulsion, I sensed Miriam realize that she herself hadn’t had anything to eat in over a day – and I felt her hunger gnaw at her. She started talking to herself about her next meal, then craving for some of the delicacies that she saw at the breakfast where Alan and Ma’bus dined, then desiring to fill herself with excessively costly foods, then hungering for the blood of animals, then salivating for the taboo…

(By now I was thirsting for some Jack – straight up. Please!! Very quickly I felt as if I was about to rip at my throat in an effort to overcome an unquenchable thirst)…

“Enough!” Again Miriam pulled us back. “Alan is not there.”

Having successfully resisted Gula’s temptations, Miriam took no time probing her mind into the third room.

We searched Avaritia – the Room of Covetousness. Once more a Chair confronted us with a sin against God. Here we saw the floor covered with mud, and more than a few people joyfully groveling in the dirt – totally fixated on earthly thoughts.

Elsewhere we witnessed scenes of disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason – all which resulted in some form of quick, personal gain for the sinner. Looters, scavengers, hoarders – these too were out in force. Violent men took what they want. Others manipulated the weak to steal from them.

And everyone everywhere was overcome with GREED!

Once again, Miriam (and I) felt ourselves being enticed, but as soon as she confirmed that Alan was not inside, Miriam left this room and thus we were no worse for wear.

After that little victory, I could sense that Miriam’s confidence was growing.  However, she underestimated the power of “Slothfulness” and this would turn out to be a major mistake.

For it was the deadly sin Acedia that nearly did us in…

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10 – The Trap is Sprung!
Book II Table of Contents
Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

2.8 Day of Doom

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Book II: Chapter 8
July 4

It was over a week before I finally found out what happened to Alan. During that time, I tried to drink myself into oblivion.

It didn’t work.

You still don’t understand, do you?

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Let me tell you — those who linger over their drink – watching it sparkle and rejoicing when it goes down smoothly. But, in the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. For my eyes ever see strange sights and my mind imagines confusing things. “They hit me!” I cry. And in the next breath, “But I’m not hurt? They beat me! But, I don’t feel it?” And when I wake, all I can think about is…”so when can I find another drink?”

Proverbs 23: 29-35

Yes, I have an addiction, but I happen to like it.

I was so damn drunk this past week, even if I did get a vision, it didn’t register – and that was alright by me.

But then I ran out of liquor, and being too lazy to put on a mask and activate one of my burners to use my E-Yuans in order to go to the liquor store, I found myself languishing in bed with a terrible headache.

Just as I began to get sober – naturally that’s when He snuck another vision on me…

I found myself looking in on a small flat – Alan was comatose in a bed and Miriam (masked, gowned, and gloved) was sitting beside him, “God is our refuge, Alan. Fear not – though the Earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, we will trust in the Lord.”

Meanwhile, my attention was drawn to a small TV in the corner of the room – a German anchorman was struggling to deliver the news…

“None will ever forget June 26 – The Day of Climate Doom. It’s what our Climate Czar’s have been warning us about for years – and it’s finally happened! Current death tolls are simply beyond imagination. Japan is gone – engulfed by a massive typhoon; 130 million dead. The same monster waves also ravaged China’s coast, killing perhaps half a billion more.”

After a heavy sigh, the reporter continued, “Elsewhere, scientists have advised that a fissure caused Antarctica to break apart — sending nearly a quarter of that icy mass out into the southern seas, swelling the oceans. Flood waters have since ravaged South Africa, Australia, and South America. Little communication is possible at this time and uncounted tens of millions are suspected dead.” Another pause. “Today is the traditional Independence Day for The United States, yet that country has its own laments from the 26th. U.S. scientists are advising that the earth’s crusts shifted beneath the westernmost part of their continent, causing a giant sinkhole to open in the sea floor which appears to have swallowed the province of California. 40 million presumed dead. With their Congress and Executive branches in tatters, former President Barack Obama has taken over again and declared Martial Law to protect the country. ”

Now do you see why I was drinking so much? These are not the kind of chipper tidbits I like to hear – especially because, ever since that day, all sporting events had been cancelled!

And worst of all, on June 26, MY Phillies were playing a series against the Giants – the SAN FRANCISCO Giants!

Or should I say the San Andreas Fault Giants?

Ugh, now they’re gone too. Damn you, Bill Bates and your Climate tinkering!

Just then the newsman put down his papers and looking directly into the camera; with wild eyes he said, “This can only mean one thing: the end of the world is nigh! Prepare your souls f–—“

But the screen went black and was quickly replaced by a message in German which read, We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please bear with us.

(Ha, that old fool doesn’t know how right he is).

At this point, I guess Miriam had seen enough for she used the remote to turn off the TV. (Goodie for her – so she knows how to use a remote. Gee, she might as well be a monkey collecting coins on the streets of old New York).  Once more she looked down at Alan, lying motionless in his bed, “My soul finds rest in God alone,” After fiddling with her mask, she whispered. “He is our rock — we will never be shaken.”

Of a sudden, I got a momentary pain in my head (whether this was due to my hangover or the prophecy I couldn’t say) and as the haze cleared, I found myself presented with an array of new sights:  I was still watching Miriam, but apparently my vision had shifted back in time — for once more she dressed in black leathers, masked in a high-tech Nano Mask, and most importantly was hiding in Bill Bates new Baghdad palace’s courtyard… within the horrific statue of The Beast!

In my vision, it was now early morning and it looked as if Miriam was on the verge of abandoning her hiding spot, when of a sudden the curtains of the dictator’s parlors opened – to reveal Alan at breakfast with Dr. Ma’bus.

(Hmm, this must have been that meeting we saw – back on… June 25th? Gee, sometimes it’s pretty cool to see how these visions all fit together, huh?)

Surely Miriam must have been able to see Alan at the table, because the open windows afforded her a great view. Yet for the time being she didn’t move from her hiding spot.

We watched them dine.

Then we saw Alan’s distress over something that Ma’bus showed him on his laptop.

Then we witnessed Alan’s rejection of the tyrant’s offer of friendship.

All of this a bit of took time but even still it must have all seemed good from Miriam’s vantage point – after all, at least Alan was still alive.

However, I watched her concern grow when a beautiful young woman entered the room. There was no doubt in my mind that Miriam would view Mystery as an evil temptress – especially because the latter didn’t hide her beauty with a face mask like Miriam.

I think Miriam fully expected Alan to be put off by Mystery; however when it became clear that Alan actually recognized Mystery, and worse yet that Alan later went away with her, suddenly I saw Miriam’s confidence drain – for I knew that she wondered how any sane man could be willingly led away by such an obviously wayward woman.

(Even I had to admit from this vantage point that Alan looked like a lamb to going to the slaughter).

Even though she was wearing a mask, I could tell Miriam flinched – clearly she wanted to get inside the palace and rescue Alan, however in the bright light of day, with guards all around, and with Dr. Ma’bus still situated within view in his parlor, it was obvious she was unable move.

And so we waited.

It wasn’t until later that evening before Miriam could actually make her way inside the palace – and even then she wasn’t able to enter Ma’bus’ private section, but instead had to sneak her way inside one of the side areas that were a less guarded. Once inside, I watched her begin a systematic search of the palace, trying to find a way to relocate Alan.

It was a slow process – after all, even with her mental gifts, Miriam didn’t know where to look, and she still had to hide from countless guards – all while trying to fly under the radar of Ma’bus’ intricate security systems.  Furthermore, even though I knew that Miriam had communicated in the past with Alan using her telepathic gifts, right now she had no idea where to project her mind to and thus couldn’t locate him with this technique either.

As the hours passed, Miriam grew desperate – I wouldn’t be surprised if she was thinking about what that woman might be doing to corrupt Alan…

In her panic, Miriam began to use her Psychic Probe with more regularity – frantically questing for knowledge about Alan. Soon enough she resorted to outright violence as well.

Apparently these techniques worked because it seemed Miriam finally got some useful intelligence — after a brush up with more of the household personnel, she suddenly made straight for Alan’s cell room.

Unfortunately when she got there, the cell was empty.

An hour later Miriam found another helpful mind — gaining whispers of Ma’bus’ dungeon-like laboratories – yet when she searched there she discovered that none of them held Alan. (Luckily for Dr. Flipflop, he wasn’t to be found either).

Interestingly enough, I noted when Miriam realized that some of the cages inside the Life Labs were occupied, she did NOT take the time to help those prisoners – instead leaving those forsaken souls to God’s will, while she continued her search for Alan?

Well, nobody’s perfect.

Further probes garnered her more insights, yet all led to additional dead ends. Apparently no one seemed to know where Alan was now. And none could give any insights into the woman of mystery that had Miriam so concerned.

The 26th soon passed and as the afternoon of the 27th approached, Miriam’s haste increased and she began to use her Probe with such brutality that whoever she encountered was left in pretty bad shape (I heard later that the palace physicians were forced to deal with a number of inexplicable stroke cases that day).

And still she carried on.

Finally, while traversing one of the sub-levels again, Miriam came across a nondescript masked servant shuffling along with his head down. Given that the man was so lethargic, I thought Miriam might let him pass so she wouldn’t have to waste any time, but as he loped past her hiding spot, apparently she caught a <whisper> from the man’s mind.

Immediately then, Miriam surged inside his brain – ransacking through his mental fibers to find out if he knew where Alan was. As it turned out, he did!

Miriam discovered that the servant’s name was Iffat and he was one of Ma’bus’ personal attendants. But more importantly, Miriam learned that Iffat had earlier in the day escorted Alan, Dr. Flipflop, and Dr. Ma’bus to a hidden corner of the underground complex, to a hallway that ended in seven doorways…

To a place which held The Chairs of Woe.

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9 – Miriam’s Sins
Book II Table of Contents
Book 2 Rise of the Antichrist

Psychic Probes (2)

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Book II: Chapter 2
June 24

There’s something I think I forget to tell you about Miriam.

She has an unusual gift.

I don’t really understand it, but it has something to do with her being a kind of Body-Mind Master — she can control her body in such a way that she can overcome almost any physical obstacle.

But it’s more than just that, for Miriam is also an unparalleled Mentalist – not only can she communicate with thought alone, but more importantly, she has a strange ability to <influence> others. It’s a talent she calls her Psychic Probe – an Asmovian telepathic skill which, as she once explained, allows her to literally get inside the mind of another person, peel through their cerebral layers, and then reconnect the fibers of their brain in such a way that the other person will do whatever Miriam commands them to!

(Now do you see why Miriam freaks me out? Oh sure, she says that she would never try her Probe on me or Alan, but somehow I don’t trust her).

While I know that Miriam learned these skills ages past, she always refused to tell Alan or I who taught her. I can’t imagine it was Christ. And I don’t think it was Gabriel. I’ve often wondered if Miriam ever dabbled in the dark arts – I mean, we all have at one point, if only because 2,000 years is a hell of a long time to live – it’s gets boring after awhile, you know?

But Miriam is just so pure.

I can’t picture her doing anything other than wear a white dress up to her neck and prayer her rosary beads.

Then again, I’m currently watching her slink around like a secret agent dressed in black leathers and seemingly fully prepared to destroy people’s minds to get what she wants – so there’s that.

I guess you never really know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes, right?

But Miriam’s Psychic Probe ability is just weird, man. I believe the technique is dangerous to both her and the person she is trying to influence, but Miriam always claimed that she is so masterful at the craft that she can enter another’s mind with a touch so light that her probing will leave no memory in the mind of the subject — and certainly that it will do them no harm. But does this look like fun to you?

Mind Control at the Lego Level

Miriam once told Alan and I that her Probe was conducted in such a way that she does not act until she locates a group of fibers that have a natural tendency to perform in the manner she desires. Although she says it’s sometimes tedious to find such a group of cerebral fibers, Miriam claims she can complete a Probe in the merest fraction of a second — apparently the realm of the mind is a universe with a different timescale.

(Hey, I’m just telling you what she told me. I’m sure she’ll use it during this vision, so you can see for yourself).

Despite its effectiveness, Miriam claims she has only used her telepathic powers as a last resort in the most dire of situations — for she fears being corrupted by its power.

This is probably true, for even I will admit that Miriam is first and foremost a God-fearing woman, ever on guard against being tempted away from The Path. (And obviously far different than me).

However, the capture of our friend Alan by the Antichrist was a situation which surely must have met Miriam’s definition of ‘dire straits,’ therefore I’m sure that she wouldn’t hesitate to use her Probe as often as needed in order to gain access to Ma’bus’ inner stronghold as quickly as possible.

And so, understanding the mystery of how she maneuvered unseen, I watched as Miriam found herself in the innermost courtyard of Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, outside the window to the section of Bill Bates’ (AKA Dr. Ma’bus’) private chambers.

At present, I could see that she had shrouded herself within the confines of a statue that towered in the middle of the courtyard. And yet, as I looked upon the sculpture wherein Miriam hid, I felt my spine melt from the evil essence that oozed from the monument’s stones.

The statue was a monstrosity – carved from an unknown red rock, it depicted a beast with seven heads and ten horns. With the scaly-tail of a dragon, its giant body resembled that of a leopard, yet it was poised on humongous bear-like feet that skirted a twenty foot wide pond. Yet none of these features matched the fear-inspiring sight of the seven heads – each depicting the features of a tortured lion, whose eyes showed a ghastly mixture of fear and anger; and while each of the heads portrayed a different scowl, all of them spewed forth a black waterfall. The statue left me with one conclusion: this beast wanted to destroy any who looked upon it!

(Although Miriam and you might not recognize it, I knew that this statue as The Beast of Revelations 13! And thus I knew that Miriam was in deep trouble…)

And yet, if Miriam felt what I felt, she didn’t show it, instead she steeled herself to remain where she was, for the view into Ma’bus’ many rooms that opened up to this courtyard was apparently unmatched by any other vantage point.

Thus, despite the malevolence that emanated from the statue, Miriam kept her cover and waited – obviously hoping to see our friend Alan and confirm that he was still alive.

Was there any hope? I guessed we were about to find out…

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Book II: Chapter 3
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