An Unholy Redemption Chapter 16

Ruth and David had arrived back home after dropping off Mary and John at their house. David turned off the engine and put his head in his hands.

“What’s the matter, darling?”

“I just have a headache. Mind you, it has been a crazy day.”

“Yes, it has been unusual, but I’m happy John’s physical health is better. However, I’m not sure about his mental health.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, all this talk about doing God’s work and sounding like some kind of prophet. I could understand it when he was on all of his medication for the pain, but now without the drugs he is starting to sound more and more like a madman.”

“I see what you mean.” He rubbed his forehead again.

“Come on, let us get you inside. I think I have some painkillers in the kitchen cabinet.”

“Yes, I want to see if Luther is still about. I must not let the brotherhood down.” Ruth raised her eyebrows at his constant worrying as they headed for the front door. Lucifer heard the front door opening from where he was lying on the couch in the living room.

“Luther are you here?” David called out as he opened the living room door.

“Do you know you are worse than a wife? Always wanting to know where I am.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just that I promised −”

“Yes I know,” Lucifer interrupted, “the brotherhood how could I forget?”

“Anyway, I forgot to tell you that I spoke with Jeremiah yesterday. After you had retired for bed, he told me that if you want to know the truth about yourself, you must meet up with him and three other important brothers. They have something to show you.”

“What do they have to show me? What could be of such importance?” What do these people think they know about me?

“I’m sworn to secrecy, but you’ll know when you see them and when they show you the very thing they possess, your eyes will be opened.”

“I’m starting to get a little tired and angry at all of this nonsense. First of all I have to meet with Mary where I will allegedly rediscover my true name. Now I have to meet up with your irritating friends to find out who I am. Don’t you think I know already?”

“Well okay, tell us your name and who you are.” Ruth had walked into the room, Lucifer glared at her, angrily. “Come on tell us, after all we know nothing about you.”

“Stop it Ruth,” David was getting a little concerned at Lucifer’s growing anger.

“You see, he can’t answer.”

“Why you impertinent human, if I were my true self I would ...” He stopped in mid-sentence as he saw the blue light energy around his arm.

“What is it Luther, what’s the matter?”

“Can’t you see the light around my arm? Here look.” He held out his arm to show them.

“There’s nothing there,” Ruth replied. “I’m going to have a bath. I’ll leave you and Luther to discuss his little drama.”

“Ruth! I won’t tell you again. Go and have your bath and get me some tablets and leave us alone.”

“You don’t have to be so rude David,” she snapped angrily. “I’m not your servant. Just call me when things are back to normal.”

 

She left the room and headed upstairs. With Ruth out of the room, Lucifer started to calm down and the blue light quickly faded.

“David, I must go to the zoo again. I want and need to see my friend, the lion. He is the only one who truly understands me.”

“What! Why on earth would you want to do that?”

“I need to feel a connection again. If you want me to stay around to meet your brotherhood, I suggest you take me there straightaway.”

“Okay, give me ten minutes. I just have to change my clothes and tell Ruth where we’re going.” Lucifer watched as David left the room and rubbed his arm. He knew Ruth was right, because he couldn’t speak his name out loud - God had made sure of that - but going to see the lion felt so right because the lion already knew his name. Upstairs, David knocked on the bathroom door.

“Ruth my darling, can I come in?”

“Certainly dear, it‘s open.” A smile made its way across her face; Was he wanting some passion? She lifted the top half of her body out of the water to reveal her shining soapy breasts. “Do we have any painkillers in this cabinet? My headache is getting worse and now Luther wants me to take him to the zoo.”

“What! Whatever for?”

“Don’t ask, he’s very complicated.” He bent down to the bathroom sink to drink some water from the tap and swallow his tablets. “Hopefully, we won’t be long. I’m just going to get changed.”

“You’re sure there is nothing I can do to make you want to stay?” She ran her finger between her breasts in a seductive manner.

“I would love to stay, but ...”

“I know, the brotherhood. I tell you when Luther is out of our lives, you’re going to make up for lost time, you understand?”

“I will my love, see you later, darling.” He bent down and kissed her moist forehead as she slowly let her head go underwater.

 

 Outside, John sat in the garden on an old wooden chair. His eyes were closed and his face was looking towards the sun. He was gently breathing in the warm air and relaxing in the heat. “Can I get you anything?” Mary called from the open kitchen window as she stood washing the dishes.

“No thank you and please stop fussing. If I wanted something I’m now quite capable of getting it myself. So forget the dishes and join me outside, I have something to tell you.”

“Okay, I’m coming.” John got out of his chair and pulled another out of the garden shed for his sister to sit on.

“What is it, John?”

“You know I’ve already told you about God talking to me when I was asleep? Well now God talks to me even when I am awake. On the way home from the hospital, God told me that I would soon be on television with an important message to tell the world.”

“What’s the message?”

“God would not tell me. All I was told was that when a man comes calling I should accept his

Offer, and when the time is right, I will know what to say.” Their conversation was interrupted by the front door bell ringing.

“Who can that be?” Mary said. “If that’s more photographers, I’ll call the police and have them arrested.” She angrily walked back indoors and as she did a smile made its way across John’s face. He knew who had come knocking on their door.

 

 

Back at David’s house David was collecting his keys off the kitchen table

“Are you ready Luther?”

“Of course I am. You took your time, come on let’s go. I have to get out of here.”

“Okay, I’ve got my keys. Now do I need anything else?”

“No! You have everything,” Lucifer had opened the front door and was pushing David outside.

“So how long are we going to stay at the zoo?”

“I just need you to show me the way, then I want to be on my own.”

“But I told Jeremiah that I would keep an eye on you.”

“David, I am going to the zoo and nowhere else. I am willing to meet up with Jeremiah and his three peers just to satisfy my natural curiosity, but for now I just want to be left alone.”

“Okay it’s only a twenty minute walk or I can drive you there in five minutes.”

“Drive, the sooner the better.”

“Okay come on, get in then.” David opened the car door for Lucifer and ushered him in.”

“You’re lucky I know the manager of the zoo. He belongs to our fraternity and I’m sure he’ll let you in for free, but you’ll have to wait until the zoo closes in a couple of hours, then you can meet up with the lion.”

“All right, but please tell me - when we get there, you will leave me alone, yes?”

“Yes Luther, if that’s what you really want.”

“Yes it is.”

 

Mary angrily opened the door to tell any photographer where to go, instead she found a smartly dressed man with no camera. He was wearing a smart grey suit and shiny shoes. His clean shaven face gave way to a warm friendly smile lighting up his brown eyes.

“Hello, am I at the miracle man’s residence?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now can you please go away, I’m busy.” Mary tried to close the door.

“It will only take up ten minutes of your and your brother’s time.” He put his foot in a doorway.

“Excuse me, if you don’t move your foot I’ll be forced to call the police.”

“It’s okay Mary, let him in.” She hadn’t noticed John behind her.

Mary spun round to face her brother.

“Why? We don’t even know this man or what he wants. I bet he’s here to tell lies about you.”

“This man is different, aren’t you?” The reporter nodded even though he didn’t know what John was talking about. “Please come in, it’s all right Mary, let him in.” She stood aside at her brother’s request, then closed the door behind them.

“How did you know how to find us?” Mary asked.

“I was at the hospital earlier when your brother was released. I took down the car registration number of the car you left in. It only took one quick phone call to a friend of mine in the police force to get the address. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right address, that belongs to your sister Ruth, I believe.”

“How do you know my sister’s name? You certainly know a lot about us.”

“Well, when I knocked on the door there was no answer. That is when a neighbour came out of her house to ask me what I wanted. After explaining myself she informed me that the house belonged to David and Ruth, and I could find John and Mary living at this address.”

“Friends in the police giving out personal information? I should report you and your friend to

your superiors.”

“Calm down Mary,” John interrupted, and gently put his hand on Marys’ shoulder to reassure

her, “Don’t you remember what I was just telling you in the garden? When a man comes calling, we should meet with that man.”

The reporter looked at John in a curious manner then looked at Mary to see if this was some

kind of joke. “Don’t you look at me,” Mary snapped. “I just wish you people would leave us alone.” She pushed past them both and stormed into the kitchen.

“She’ll be okay. I’ll get her to make us a cup of tea when she’s calmed down. Now tell me what you must.”

“I’m a news reporter for Global News. After another tipoff from a friend working in your hospital about the miracle man, I rushed to the hospital to find you. Unfortunately, more of the media had also heard about you and the miracle cure. I’ve contacted my boss and she’s given me permission to grant you an exclusive interview to a global audience tomorrow night in a prime time slot. So my friend, how does that sound?”

John could hardly keep himself from jumping up and down with excitement, but struggled to

regain his composure.

“What would the interview entail? What would I be asked and what am I allowed to talk about?”

“Easy tiger, one question at a time. Before that, you need to understand if you agree to do the

interview you’ll have to sign this document to say that you won’t be interviewed by anyone else. You won’t speak to anybody else regarding this matter until tomorrow night.”

“Of course,” John said, feeling himself tingling all over with excitement.

“Naturally there will be a large amount of money in it for you. My boss has agreed to pay you

£250,000 for exclusivity.”

“The money is immaterial to me, but I’ll give it to my sister Mary.”

“That’s your choice, but can I safely say we have an agreement?”

“Yes my friend, I think we do.” John took the pen from the reporter’s hand and neatly signed the contract on the table in front of him.

“Well, that’s the formalities out of the way. Did I hear you mention tea earlier?”

“Oh yes of course, Mary!” Mary reluctantly appeared in the doorway.

“Yes John, you called,” she said sardonically while giving a sideward disapproving glance to the reporter.

“My dear sister, I was wondering if you could make me and my new friend here some tea please, then join us we have something to celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” She noticed the smug look on the reporter’s face and was holding the newly signed agreement in front of him.

“What’s that, John? What have you done?” Mary said, alarmed.

“I’ve been given the chance to put mine and God’s message out to the whole world. This young men here works for Global News. They’re setting up an interview with me which will be aired tomorrow night. What do you think of that then?” Mary gave a look of horrified despair. “I don’t think you should let our privacy, or what is left of it, disappear even further.”

“Exactly! Don’t you see that is what God and I want?”

“Precisely,” the reporter started to speak, “John will not only become globally famous overnight, you will become considerably richer as well.”

“Mary, they offered me £250,000 for exclusivity, but I said I would rather you had the money to make up for all those years you spent caring for me.”

“John! I did it out of love, not money. All the money in the world couldn’t pay me for the time I cared for you.”

“But think what you could do with all that money,” the reporter interrupted.

“And you can shut up,” Mary angrily snapped.

“Mary! Don’t speak to a guest in that manner. This is so unlike you,” John turned to the reporter.

“I’m sorry but would you mind waiting in the kitchen for five minutes to give us some time alone?”

“Not at all, just give me a shout when you’ve finished. I’ll help myself to some biscuits.”

They both watched him walk out the door and head for the kitchen.

“Argghh! That man. John, forgive me, it’s just that I am so used to it being me and you alone in this house. I’m having a hard time in sharing you with other people, if not the whole world.”

“I know it feels strange to you, but it does to me too. You know how much I love and respect you. I also respect your wishes. However, I am doing this interview tomorrow evening, no matter what anybody says. Take the money and give it to some charity if you wish, maybe cancer research. Don’t you see that this man is giving me the opportunity to spread the word of God to a worldwide audience? It’s imperative they hear God’s message through me.”

“I understand that John, it’s just that everything is happening really quickly. I feel like my feet haven’t touched the ground since yesterday.”

“That’s another reason why I have to do the interview tomorrow.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, like you just said, things are happening very quickly, not just with us but on a global scale. Politicians are making decisions with some urgency, almost as if they’re in a panic. And people, including you, are always remarking about a year seeming like a day.”

“Yes, I’m always complaining I don’t have enough time.”

“Exactly. There’s a reason for this. Mankind’s consciousness is being quickened to prepare them for what is to come, and when it does come it will alter the way mankind thinks forever.” Slightly fearful Mary asked, “What is coming, John?”

“I do not know yet. All I know is that it’s coming very soon: an event that is going to change

mankind for ever. God has told me that I will know more tonight.”

“Okay, I guess we’ll know more in the morning. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to have a shower. You can deal with our unwanted guest. I will see you in a little while, darling.”

She bent forward, kissed her brother on the forehead and went upstairs.

John returned to the reporter in the kitchen.

“It’s okay, my sister’s gone upstairs. Now let’s discuss the final details.” The reporter followed John back into the living room and sat down. “Well, I’ll be carrying out the interview with you myself. We’ll give you structured questions that you will be asked about two hours before you go out live. This will give you time to prepare your answers. We expect you there about five o’clock, is that all right?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Here’s my card, you can get me on my mobile any time, even through the night if you have any questions.”

“I do have one question now if you don’t mind. After I’ve answered all your questions during the interview, will I get five minutes of my own to address the world about something?”

“What sort of something?” the reporter asked cautiously.

“I don’t actually know yet. All I know is that I have a message from mankind that has to be

heard.”

“A message about what?”

“That also I don’t know because God hasn’t told me the whole story. I’ll probably know more in the morning.”

“God, you say?” the reporter asked, startled.

“Yes, how else do you think I was healed?”

 

 

“What a great angle. Not only were you cured by God, but God also talks to you. Of course you can have your five minutes, John. It would be good for you to put your side of the story forward, the public will love it.” John’s face slightly sorrowed as he spoke gently and with regret. “I’m not so sure that the message will be something they will like.”

“Great, this just gets better. Listen, I have to get back to headquarters to sort a few things out

with my boss.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“No, not at all John, the pleasure has all been mine. Thanks again for agreeing to do the interview with us.”

“It is what God wants and who am I to disagree with the power of the Most High?”

“I’ll see you tomorrow night and remember, not a word to anyone.