The Seventh Seal by J. Thorn Read Free Book Online Page B

trying to help.”
    “Wasn’t trying to be.  Just wanted to lighten the mood a
bit.  Yeah, I know the time.  The Catholics in Spain did nasty shit to the Jews
and Muslims in the name of God.”
    “Well, from what I’ve heard, the Holy Covenant makes the
Inquisition look like the Geauga County Fair.”
    “Rednecks and Amish sucking down flat beer and funnel cake?”
    Alex muffled his laugh into a cough as one of the other
priests headed in his direction.  John picked up on Alex’s body language and
shut both eyes.
    “How is he doing?”
    “Same as when you asked me five minutes ago,” Alex replied,
as he rolled his eyes and struggled to keep his balled fists from delivering
shots to the man’s face.
    “You would be wise to hold your tongue, doctor.”  The last
word slithered from his lips.
    Alex watched the priest continue on his way toward the old
bingo board hanging in the back of the parish hall.  For decades, parishioners
had gathered to smoke, gamble, and spread rumors, feet beneath the altar.  The
priest walked up the handicapped ramp toward the ground floor of the church. 
The other priest went to the far end of the cots and sat at a desk, his back to
the hall.
    “Don’t move, John,” Alex said.
    He pulled a syringe and flask of liquid from one of the bags
on the floor.  With lightning speed, Alex injected the three soldiers closest
to John’s cot.  He refilled the syringe and injected the others.  The priest at
the desk continued flipping through paperwork, oblivious to what took place
behind him.  Alex walked back to John and bent down so that he could look into
his face.
    “They won’t be waking up again.”
    “You killed them!”
    “This is war, Gandhi.  In case you haven’t figured it out
yet, those sons of bitches have been emptying clips on innocent civilians.  Do
you want to live or not?”
    John twitched, but did not move his head.
    “Yes,” he said through gritted teeth.
    “Then do exactly as I say or hang next to Jesus Christ
upstairs.”
    “Okay.”
    “I’m going to slip Father Paperpusher over there a nice dose
of drugs.  Should knock him out for a while and give me a chance to work.  As
soon as I get to his desk, start taking off your clothes.  I have no clue when
another priest might come down here and we don’t have time to spare.”
    Alex walked past the soldiers that lay dying on the cot. 
The cyanide poisoning would not be obvious to the priests and he doubted anyone
would be able to perform an autopsy.  Alex heard the priest sigh over an
accounting error as he slid the needle into the back of his neck.  The priest
froze and slid down into his chair.  Alex nudged him forward so that it
appeared he had fallen asleep on the desk, like an anxious college freshman the
night before an exam.
    John took off his clothes and at the same time, Alex
stripped the soldier closest to him.  Within a minute, Alex had thrown the camo
to John.  John tossed the black garments and white collar to Alex, who placed
it on the dead soldier.  He pushed the soldier’s cart toward John and slid it
in between the others. 
    The vest fell on John’s shoulders as another priest
descended from the church above.  He stood next to Alex, at attention.  He
hoped Alex knew what to do next.
    “Doctor, how is John the Revelator?”
    Father stepped around and gazed at the costumed soldier’s
dead, false-priest face with pride.  It did not matter what the Cardinals
whispered, Father knew this was the Revelator.  He could feel the certainty.
    “He is still out, Father.  I would like to take a closer
look at him in my office.  Can I have this soldier escort me?  He seems to be
doing much better and wishes to serve the Lord again.”
    The high priest beamed with admiration at Alex.
    “Of course, doctor.  Wheel John to the back door and I will
send the freight elevator down.  You can load him into a troop carrier and I’ll
have a driver take you there.”
    “No need, Father.