B. Alexander Howerton by The Wyrding Stone Read Free Book Online Page A

the air, and the two
instinctively reached up to cover their ears, Menelos dropping the rock.  The
explosion was followed by a low rumble.  The two slowly dropped their arms and
looked at each other in bewilderment.  Suddenly Alena cried out, pointing far
out to sea, “Look!”
    A great, gray, roiling mass of cloud, or smoke, or
something, was churning into the air from over the horizon.  It rose
majestically upward, transforming into a mushroom shape.  The pair watched in
fascination and dread.  They could not conceive of what could have caused such
a calamity, except perhaps a war between the gods.
    Menelos suddenly shouted, “The gods are angry at us for
lying together before we were wedded.”  He grabbed Alena’s wrist.  “Come, we
must quickly return to the temple and make appeasement, before we are all
destroyed.”  He pulled at her, but she remained frozen where she stood. 
Without warning, a scream of sheer terror escaped her.  Menelos turned and
looked to sea.  He saw a wall of water coming straight at them, rising higher
as he watched.  Within seconds it towered over them.  There was no escape.
    We have disobeyed the gods, and now the whole island must
pay the tribute, thought Menelos.  It is my fault, and I truly regret it.  He
gathered Alena to him and clung to her tightly as they both fearfully watched
the raging water rise to impossible heights, then descend upon them.  The water
roughly slammed into them and smashed them violently against the cliff. 
Menelos knew nothing more.

6.   Today — The Wedding
    Steve leaned over and whispered in Alan’s ear.  “Can you
believe it?  Jim and Jane are actually getting married.”
    Alan smirked.  “Yeah, and we have to sit through this
ceremony before we can get back to the beer.”  He pulled at his collar in an
attempt to loosen the tie and become more comfortable.  They were sitting in
the pews, covered with crushed red velvet cushions, of the First United
Methodist Church of Albion, Michigan.  Long, thin, wrought-iron candleholders
at the end of each pew held aloft many candles, which suffused the church in a
warm glow.  “This is beautiful and all,” Alan commented to Steve, “But I’m
looking forward to the open bar at the reception hall.  I’m ready to nap after
all those prelims back at the motel.  I’ve got to get my level back up.”
    Flowers bedecked the altar, where Jim and Jane stood with
their many attendants, facing the congregation, hymnals aloft.  The minister
said, “We will now sing ‘Joy To The World.’ ” 
    Steve snorted.  “Hell, they ought to wheel a keg down the
aisle right now if they want us to sing hymns.”
    Across the aisle, Carol reached into her handbag and pulled
out some tissues.  She handed some to Julia, who wiped gently at her eyes. 
“It’s so wonderful.  It’s just like Jane used to describe it to me.  Look at
her.  She’s so beautiful, and you can see she’s happy.  She’s glowing.”  Julia
quietly blew her nose.
    “Yes, it’s so pretty to have the wedding right around
Christmas, but Jane told me she wished she hadn’t done it that way.  Too hectic
around the holidays.”
    “I wonder if I’ll ever have a wedding like this,” Julia
commented.  A quiet sob escaped her.
    Carol looked at her.  “Come on, now none of that self-pity
stuff tonight.  This is Jane’s night.  Who knows?  You might just meet someone
at the reception later.”
    Julia cast a sarcastic glance at Carol.  “Yeah, right.”
    “You never know,” Carol responded hopefully, then lifted her
hymnal and began to sing.
    An hour later Alan and Steve were happily sipping on mimosas
at the reception hall as they appreciatively watched Jim and Jane cut the
wedding cake.  “This is more like it,” Alan told Steve.  “I hear Jane’s dad
bought out the local liquor store.”
    “Good thing, with all the lushes his daughter and her new
hubby invited.”  They glanced around the festive hall,