The First Church Read Online Free PDF

absolutely no sense, but he went with it.
    He navigated to G oogle search and focused on images.  Then typed ‘Clint Eastwood War’ in the search bar and halfway down the page, he found it.
    Clint Eastwood’s movie about the Japanese on Iwo Jima.
    Brian picked up Matt’s phone, brought up the image of the ghost and compared his uniform to the uniform of the Japanese general.
    Nearly identical.
    Thank God for authenticity in films these days , Brian thought.
    He leaned back in the chair, finished his glass and poured himself another shot.
    It was time to listen to the video, and the idea wasn’t particularly appealing. Brian turned the volume up and got ready to stop the action as quickly as it started.  He wanted to hear the ghost speak, if at all, and he didn’t want to hear the boys being blinded.
    With a deep breath, Brian hit play and listened.
    An Asian language spilled out of the phone, and just as it ended, Brian stopped the video.
    He couldn’t tell if it were Japanese or not, but he knew someone who might be able to.
    Brian switched Matt’s cellphone for his own, brought up Charles Gottesman’s number and called him.
    The call went to voicemail.
    “Charles,” he said.  “This is Brian Roy.  I’ve got a language question for you.  Give me a call back , or shoot me a text.  I’m up in Rye on a job.”
    Brian ended the call, put his phone down and tapped his fingers on the keyboard.
    “Now, why,” he said into the silence of the room, “is there a headless Japanese ghost in a Protestant church in New Hampshire?
     
     

Chapter 10: The Rev and his Office
     
    Reverend Joseph Malleus felt extremely uncomfortable in his office.
    He had wanted to hire a specialized company to clean the boys’ blood up, but Mrs. Staples had refused to let him.  She had assured him that she had cleaned worse, and then she set herself to the task.
    Although he shouldn’t have been surprised at her abilities, he was. 
    She had removed any trace of the incident.
    It was a blessing.
    However, he could still visualize the scene.  Joe remembered what the two boys looked like in their shared hospital room, the parents who sat in the institutional chairs of blue vinyl and waited for their sons to regain consciousness.
    The police waited, too.
    They suspected Jim Bogue, which Joe felt, was ridiculous, but he knew the boys would correct the police in regards to Jim.
    Still, the question remained, w here had the ghost come from? 
    Why was it there? 
    And how could a Church be haunted? 
    It was a place of worship, protected by the light of God.
    At thirty-six years of age, Joe had experienced a great many difficulties as the shepherd of his flock.  He had guided people through divorces, the deaths of spouses and parents, siblings, and children.  Alcoholism and drug abuse, Joe had counseled people and consoled them.  He had taught people and brought others into the light of Christ.
    How can this place be haunted? He asked himself.  Joe knew it was a bit of pride that asked the question, but he didn’t feel it was misplaced.
    A headless ghost shouldn’t be able to haunt a Church.
    It definitely should not have been capable of blinding Matt Espelin and Carlton Talbot.
    Joe pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.  He tried to focus, tried to understand what was in his Church.
    The heating system rattled and grumbled as the furnace kicked in.
    A knock sounded on the office door.
    The one which led to the hall.
    Joe straightened up, opened his mouth to say ‘Come in’ and then he closed it.
    The Church was locked up.
    There shouldn’t be anyone in the building other than himself.
    The door shook with a second knock.
    It’s not locked , Joe realized.
    He glanced at the exit.  Slowly he stood up, and the chair’s wheels squealed loudly.
    The knob turned, and the door swung open.
    Nothing stood there.
    A voice asked a question in a language Joe couldn’t recognize, and one he didn’t try figuring out.
    He