a reminder of the influence of a church in town that donated a large portion of the original university grounds. (Upon which now stands the building housing Jim’s office and the lab building as well.) As the early university expanded it required land, land that the young church had and was willing to contribute – but not exactly for free as indicted on the Plaque inscription:
FOR THOSE WHO PASS THIS WAY
HAIL REMEMBRANCE
UPON THESE WALKS
RISES THE XXVII
“Take that fool thing down,” the early on lookers said.
“Those folks are the oddest folks around, they should head back to where they come from.”
This was said of the small yet fairly wealthy church that attempted to build a community in town to spread their ideology to the locals and beyond.
But it was not to be, and as Silas the odd man with long gray hair and beard left town he turned around in his saddle and swore that his descendents would return someday and then there will be regrets.
CHAPTER 13
“Okay, our professor friend is due to return the first test results tomorrow. Then we should know if the sample we used to impregnate our woman friend is truly from Him or not, and by the way has anyone located her?” Haggai says.
“We’re closing in, we know where she’s used her ATM card. She’s heading north we believe,” Logos says as they meet in Haggai’s office.
“Hoping to get lost in the wideness probably,” Clovis adds.
“To disappear in thin air,” Logos remarks.
“Absolutely not! No one disappears around here; we need her one way or the other. Obviously if she’s carrying the Child – but if not, she knows too much, more than is good for her,” Haggai says.
“You mean?” Logos asks.
“Yes, if she lives she will talk, if she talks then the whole plan is in serious jeopardy, too much of a risk. No, there’s no choice, in that case she’s gone,” Haggai says slicing his hand across his neck.
“We’ll know for certain when we receive the DNA results,” Clovis says.
“If it shows a completely human lineage then we know it isn’t from Him,” Logos adds.
“This is truly amazing our fathers would rejoice at the coming of this day, finally the power returning to our rightful church. It has been centuries since our sect has been forced to worship in the dark, cast out from communities like bandits. But now they will pay for keeping us down for so long!” Clovis says.
“Yes they will. And since we are closing in on our ultimate goal it is time to begin adding the sacred names of the twenty-seventh generation to our Beloved text. I have sent Cosward down to the vault to retrieve it,” Haggai says.
“Shouldn’t we put the text on Disc to preserve it?” Clovis asks.
“The vault is controlled by temperature and humidity you still think we should do more?” Haggai answers.
“We must always preserve the text that’s all I’m saying. We can—.”
The phone rings. Haggai quickly turns to answers it; soon his face turns ashen.
“What’s wrong?” They both ask.
“It is Cosward, The text is missing!”
CHAPTER 14
He takes the small metal box with the very old ringlet of flesh and the large manila envelope containing the test result to the coffee shop as arranged. He takes them despite the growing feeling of uncertainty in his stomach. I bet these guys are up to something illegal but do I care? Do I care more than I want the money? Unsure, he walks into the small shop with gangster photos from the 1920’s on the walls. A teenager surfs the net on one of three computers. He orders a large black coffee from the waitress with the short-cropped black hair tinged with bright red. He waits not liking to wait for in waiting one’s mind gives way to thinking, thinking that conspires with the subtle rising of doubt.
“No damn it,” he says to himself “I want this! I want this money, this money brings a true gift; that of time, time to pursue ones greatest desire, ones innermost calling;