What do you want? Who are you?
The reptilian thoughts invaded her closing mind.
Welcome. You’re now one of us. Your soul has left the earthly plane.
Part Four – The Wizard
39 – Sharing and not sharing
JACK HAD ENJOYED THE RECENT DRIVE with Catherine to visit the ‘unexpected’ vacant block of land—the hills, the greenery, the sparkling bay waters. Now he wanted to share these things with Erica, so he’d decided to take her for a drive over the weekend. Saturday morning was the only time available. Sunday had become a busy day for her.
From the corner of his eye he saw Erica’s eyes widen and smiled as she raised her phone to take a picture.
“It is nice, Jack.”
They crested a hill and the blue of the bay filled their vision. Jack pulled the car over and encouraged Erica out to admire the view. They leaned on the bonnet and looked over the bay. Jack felt the warmth of the sun on the bonnet.
“Beautiful view, love.” Jack said spreading his arms over the picturesque sight and then pointing. “Look at those pelicans coming in to land. They’re massive.”
“They’re enormous. Amazing. One of God’s many creatures.”
Jack looked at Erica. Smiled. The reference to God confused him but he let the thought pass. “Did you know planes and flying boats used to land in the bay?”
“Flying boats?”
“Yep. I’ve been to the local hotel here for lunch. The walls have large framed pictures of the flying boats that used to land here. They were commercial flights. I believe a stopover on the way to London.”
“Amazing. That would have been an impressive sight, seeing planes land on the water.” She nudged closer to him.
“It would’ve been.” Jack placed an arm over her shoulder and picked up the scent of her perfume. He gave her a gentle squeeze. “It was from the early fifties to early seventies. The plane landed at around eleven at night and woke up all the islanders.” Jack smiled. “Passengers on the flights used to take advantage of the hospitality offered by the hotel. Maybe we should do the same.”
“That’ll be nice.” Erica continued to scan the view “It’s beautiful, Jack. I wonder what it’s like living here? Could be a bit isolated.” She pointed down, towards a small group of houses that occupied a flat stretch of land.
A quick positive blotted out by a negative. Was his decision to take this drive planting seeds for a move to the bay? Maybe his subconscious was at work.
“Funny, that. The main shopping centre is five minutes away.” Jack said.
“Convenience rules, love.”
“It does.” He gave her a hug.
Jack looked down at the vacant block he’d visited during the week. His intuition was trying to tell him something. He glanced over the group of houses. One had a rickety pier that looked like it had been built by the owner. A small boat moving across the water caught his attention, the wake reminding him of the sergeant rank insignias on police uniforms. It looked like the boat had departed from the rickety pier. Someone had just left the house to do some fishing.
“Might take Johnny fishing one day.” Jack said.
“That would be good. Might have to take his friends too. He’s got some new friends. Met them at church.”
Jack’s impression of church and Christians was clouded. Morally, he agreed with the church but many so-called Christians left a bad taste in his mouth. He knew he’d have to deal with those thoughts one day.
“They’re nice boys, Jack. I know your views—mine were the same. But there are solid families in the church we’re going to, and the kids from these families reflect their parents in many ways.”
“I’ll come along with you to a service and check it out.” Jack said, tapping his fingers on the bonnet.
“I’d like that. You know the problem is evil, Jack, it’s not the church. Evil is inside and outside the church. That’s what we need to overcome and that’s why I’ve changed my attitude to what you do.”
“What do I do, love?” He stopped tapping and turned towards Erica.
“You are part of an organisation that cares for the well-being of its citizens. You’re helping to deal with the evil in the world.” She swallowed. “My only concern is the harm it can do to you.”
Jack gave her another hug. “I love you, hon.” He walked over to the edge of the road and turned back towards Erica. “The evil is real and if you dwell on it . . . it can gobble you up. I try to push the evil and darkness away with alcohol—it helps me deaden the pain I see in the world. I know it’s not right but there are times you need to escape. But we will overcome.”
“I know, love. You have it under control . . . for now,” She gave a soft nod. “I think it’s God that overcomes. We need him in our lives. He is the overcomer.”
Jack smiled. “You sound like a preacher.” But Jack knew more about the unseen world than he’d known a week ago. It was real, and dangerous. He pointed to the car. “Let’s continue our trip.” There was something different about Erica, and it was a good thing.
Jack took one last look at the houses. The rickety pier was dominant. He followed the pathway up from the pier. Something caught his attention. A large black shadow surrounded one of the windows. The shadow swayed, and he realised that it was a swarm of insects. What would attract such a huge number of insects? Jack had a concern as he’d seen something like this before and the man-who-sees-things, Churchie, mentioned witches and swarms of insects. Jack’s neurons were firing and he didn’t like where his thoughts were going. It was more likely that someone had left food out and it was rotting. Nothing to do with witchcraft.
<°)))><
Jack intended to drive past the house, but his intuition wouldn’t let him. He had to stop, had to see for himself. He’d heard intuition is mysterious, almost magical, and with what he’d dealt with over the past week . . . logic was the last thing he was going to listen to.
He slowed the car down. “Hon, there’s something I need to check. Something I noticed”.
Erica looked at him, silent for a moment, and then gave an ‘okay’ nod. “Once a policeman, always a policeman.”
Jack parked the car across from the house, and left Erica to check her messages on her phone. The house was surrounded by a wire fence with white posts. Jack walked over to the side of the house—the swarm of flies was still there. He thought he could hear them buzzing, but that could’ve been his imagination adding to the drama.
He went back to the front of the house, opened the wire gate, and followed a paved path to the front door. There was a door chime guarded by a sculpture of what looked like a dragon. He pressed the button and heard it echoing through the house. He waited. No sound from inside.
