Shedding the Demon Read Online Free PDF

last service
today, and he was anxious to get on to his other business.
    Once all the people had left he turned and walked quickly to
his office behind the altar. Waiting inside, as always, was the ever-faithful
Jeffrey Allen. He smiled at his long-time assistant and friend.
    “Nice sermon, Renard,” Jeffrey smiled and made a slight bow.
    “Funny. Did you notice the numbers were down again today?”
    It was a rhetorical question, since Jeffrey always checked
the numbers during the service. He answered anyway, “Yes, the numbers are down.
They have been consistently declining for almost a year now. We could consider
doing only two services a day.”
    Renard made a disgusted sound, “We can't make such an
obvious admission, it would merely accelerate the decline.”
    They'd had this same conversation many times lately, but
they kept repeating it anyway, secretly hoping a new idea would arise. Renard
sighed and began removing his robe and accoutrements. In a few minutes he was
done and dressed in a casual suit. Tall and lean, he looked the part of
successful businessman. His hair showed some gray, by his choice, even though
it was not the current style.
    “Any last minute information on the meeting?” he asked
Jeffrey as he worked on his tie.
    “Well, yes, there is.” He picked up his screen and tapped it
to open the files he had prepared. He had been waiting for the invitation to
brief his boss. “Avelina is going to be there.” He waited for Renard's
reaction, glancing up from his screen. Seeing nothing, he looked down and
continued, “She will be reporting on the Human Implanted Enhancement program.
Apparently she's ready to go live, so to speak.”
    Renard stopped working on his tie and turned to look at his
friend. “Are you guessing, or do you know something?”
    “The only thing I know for sure is that she will be there.
Are you ready?”
    “Yes,” he lied as he turned back to the mirror to finish his
tie. “I haven't seen our favorite pupil in . . .”
    “Almost two years,” Jeffrey finished.
    “And she has something to show for her—how many years of
research?”
    “She's been working on the implantation program for ten
years; ever since she developed D-SAP.”
    Renard chuckled and said, “Oh yes, D-SAP, the greatest
invention to never be used for anything! I believe it's her claim to fame, is
it not?”
    Jeffrey seemed slightly irritated, “The material performs
exactly to specification.”
    “Yes, possibly, but it can't be used for anything.”
    “I believe she may have fixed that,” Jeffrey said, sounding
every bit like he was defending Dr. Baksa.
    “Well, I have faith in her. We certainly put a lot of time
and effort into her education and upbringing. I’ve always had the highest hopes
for her, and we could really use some help in keeping Pryke under control.”
    They walked together down the hall, Jeffrey reading from his
screen and reviewing important facts with Renard. They were an effective team
and had been working together since the day Renard took over as Chairman of the
Council more than forty years ago. After a few minutes of walking, they entered
the ship that would take them to the meeting. It was small but luxurious, and the two men sat facing each other in comfortable arm chairs with a
small table between them.
    The ship accelerated smoothly, giving little indication of
motion. There was a deep thrumming sound that was felt more than heard, but
otherwise the ship’s Kline Drive was silent, which allowed the men to discuss
their plans in quiet conversation.
     
    **** ****
     
    Dr. Avelina Baksa looked out the
window of her own private ship, alone in the passenger cabin. Her long-time
friends, Conn and Veradisia, maintained and piloted the craft, but mostly left
her to herself. She had a marvelous view of the system's gas giant with its
multi-colored bands and its dramatic rings. Two of the planet's moons were also
visible, one in a beautiful pale blue and the other an