The Seventh Seal Read Online Free PDF

doing.  Windows on the wall opposite
his bed burst open in rapid succession.  The icy fingers of the November night
crawled into the room.
    John leapt out of bed, grabbing the pistol off the floor. 
After another night in his costume, the clothes had taken on disturbing
aromas.  Downstairs, the black trench coat covered his duffel bag.  John cursed
himself under his breath and scanned the room for anything else that might
serve as an extra weapon.
    He froze when he heard the footsteps in the hallway.
    “In here,” someone shouted.
    John sat on the end of the bed, his gun tucked behind his
back in the waistband of his pants.  A bright beam of light blinded him, but he
could hear the room filling.  He held his hands up in defense.
    “It’s a priest!  It’s a priest!” someone else shouted.
    The light switched off, as did the four red dots circling
the room.
    “Father, are you hurt?”
    John looked up at the inquisitor with genuine fear and
confusion.
    “He’s in shock.  Quick, let’s get him to the medic.”
    Two men lifted John by the arms and carried him down the
steps.  An idling Humvee sat outside the house.  Another group of soldiers ran
out to get John and led him into the vehicle.  They sped off down Winston and
turned right on Mayfield toward downtown Cleveland.

 
    Chapter 9
     
    William could not open his right eye.  His nose pointed left
at an awkward angle, and his mouth ached everywhere.  William’s left eye
focused through a red lens, the blood running down from a gash in his forehead.
    “He’s awake,” a voice said.
    “What were you doing with John the Revelator?”
    The question confused William.  His brain struggled to keep
up with the situation.
    “Who?”  He spit the word through broken teeth and split
lips.
    A fist slammed into his mouth, sending a fresh wave of pain
down William’s spine.
    “John the Revelator.  He is the one foretold by the
scripture, the one Father has been looking for to lead us.  If you don’t tell
us what you were doing to the priest, we will cut you to pieces.”
    “What priest?”
    “The one you were holding captive in the house.  Did you
think you could ransom him?  God will cut you down, sinner.  He is gonna cut
you down.”
    William’s head lolled to one side as he fought to maintain
consciousness.  Voices swirled through his head, muffled as if speaking
underwater.  His broken teeth released the coppery taste of blood and open
nerves.  William thought of his dead parents with something like envy, and
smiled.
    “I thought I could use him as a ticket out of here, out of
town,” he lied.
    “You worthless piece of shit.  How dare you desecrate the
collar of our Lord!”
    Fists rained down upon William until another voice cried
out.  The tone cut through the others with an edge of purpose, of dynamic
potential.
    “The Lord is my shepherd.  There is nothing I shall want.”
    William said nothing.
    “Young man, you have committed vile and blasphemous deeds. 
God will weigh your soul on these matters.  If you cooperate with me, I will
send advance warning to Him of your coming.”
    William shook his head.  The blood settling in his stomach
made him sick.  His body ached and he wanted nothing more than to pass out.
    “All men have fallen short of the glory of our God the
Father.  Speak, son, and let his forgiving kindness accompany your soul to the
Gates of Heaven.  Now, where did you find John the Revelator?”
    “He found me.  He thought I was one of his parishioners and
he aimed to save me.”
    William waited, hopeful that his final play was one that
wouldn’t cost his life.
    “Glory be to God!  I believe Father John carries the word of
our Savior on his lips.  We’ve come to call him John the Revelator.  You will
be rewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
    “I’m not one of his parishioners and I fucking hate church.”
    William was all in.
    “There is no need to be so vulgar in the presence of
Father!” said a