CHAPTER SEVEN - New woman



	Art woke up a little before eleven p.m. He groggily threw his 

legs over the side of the bed and rubbed sleep out of his eyes. Looking 

around he saw Louie still asleep snoring away. It seemed something 

was missing, he wasn't sure of what it was but...... The girl! Karen 

where the fuck was the girl?



	He ran to the bathroom and found it vacant. "Shit!" He told 

himself running back to wake Louie.



	"Louie get the fuck up!" He slapped Louie across the face. 

"Where the fuck is the girl? Get the fuck up!"



	Louie jumped upright, startled from the slap. "Waa... 

Huh....?" He mouthed still half asleep.



	"The girl! Where in the fuck is the girl?" Art was almost 

beside himself.



	"The girl...?" It took Louie a few seconds to get the meaning 

of what Art was asking. "Oh. The girl. Ain't she here?"



	"No she ain't here! Look the fuck around and you'll see she 

ain't here. Jesus Christ I can't count on you to do anything right!" Art 

was one of those people that always needed someone else to blame.



	"Aaaa... I didn't know I was supposed to watch her Art. You 

never said nothing about watching her." Louie looked hurt.



	"Yeah well...." Art wasn't exactly sure how Louie was at 

fault, but he was sure he was none-the-less. "You should have waken 

up when she got out of the fucking bed. Shit she was right in-between 

us."



	Louie wasn't sure if Karen had ever gotten back into bed after 

he let her go to the bathroom, but he knew better than to mention 

anything about that to Art. "Gee... I don't know Art...."



	"Shit! The car!" Art ran to the front window and looked out 

between the drapes. "It's Okay. It's still there. Christ for a moment I 

thought the little cunt took off with the car. Come on let's get dressed 

and find the bitch." 



	After both men had dressed Art said. "Grab the bag's and 

let's get after her. No telling how far she's fucking gotten. We've got 

to dump that body too. If that little whore goes to the police I don't 

want that body anywhere near us."



	When Louie went to get the bag's he noticed the one 

containing the money was gone. He looked around but knew the girl 

must have taken it. "Aaa... Art." He said with fear in his voice. He 

didn't like having to tell Art about the bag. "The bag with the money 

ain't here."



	"What!" Art spun around facing Louie.



	"It's not here. It look's like she might have taken it with her." 

Louie said solemnly.



	"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Art yelled. "That little bitch whore. How 

in the fuck did she even know about the money. Shit! I knew I should 

of iced her God damn ass! Jesus Christ! Come on... I want my fucking 

money back!"



	They got into the car and headed south toward the town of 

Silver Dollar City.



*********************************************************



  	Karen entered the town of Silver Dollar City, Arkansas at 

around nine thirty p.m. She took four hundred dollars worth of 

twenty's out of the black bag and stuffed them into her jeans. She 

found a drug store open until ten and purchased a luggage bag, hair 

brush, lipstick, tooth brush, tooth paste, eye liner pencil, mascara, and 

purse.



	In the alley next to the drug store she transferred the money 

from the black satchel into the luggage bag, before tossing the satchel 

into the trash bin. The other items she had just purchased along with 

what was left of the four hundred she put into her new purse. 



	She knew she had to get out of Silver Dollar City, it would be 

the first place Art and Louie would look for her, but she hadn't 

decided where she should go yet. Her dilemma was almost the same as 

when she left home, a young girl out on her own likely to be stopped 

by the police, only this time it was a girl with a lot of money at least. 

One thing she needed to do was to buy some clothes that made her 

look older, and maybe even get her hair styled in a older fashion, but 

first she needed to eat something.



	She found a all night diner and ordered a cheeseburger, fries 

and Coke. When the waitress took her order she said. "How old are 

you honey? You know there's a curfew for kid's under eighteen after 

ten at night."



	"Yeah I know." Karen answered. "I'm over eighteen. I just 

look young is all."



	"I'll bet looking as young as you do feels like a curse now, but 

believe me it'll be a blessing when your my age." The waitress 

laughed.



	"Yeah. I guess so." Karen smiled back.



	When the waitress brought her order Karen asked. "Oh. 

Excuse me. Do you happen to know the name of the town just south of 

here. You know the one just down the highway."



	"You must mean Blue Eye. It's about fifty miles down the 

road or so." The waitress answered.



	"Yes, that's it. Now I remember Blue Eye. Thank you." 

Karen plunged into the cheeseburger like she hadn't eaten in day's, 

which she hadn't. 



	After she finished the burger Karen asked the waitress about 

a public phone.



	"Sorry." The waitress told her. "We don't have one in here. 

The closest one is down by Mitchell's market. About three blocks from 

here."



	"Oh. Darn." Karen replied disappointedly.



	"Come on honey." The waitress said. "You can use the one 

back here. I'm not supposed to let anybody use it.. but, hell there ain't 

nobody here. Come on."



	Karen got up and walked behind the counter to where a wall 

phone was mounted. "Do you happen to have a phone book?" Karen 

asked.



	"Yeah sure. Here." The waitress reached under the counter 

and handed Karen a local phone book.



	After locating the number for a local cab company Karen 

called and asked to be picked up in front of the diner. 



	Karen had just finished her fries and Coke when the cab 

pulled up at the curb. She reached into her purse and took out six 

twenty dollar bills and placed them on the counter.



	"Hey! Honey!" The waitress called after her as she was 

leaving. "Wait! You left a lot of money on the counter here."



	"I know.' Karen called over her shoulder. "Buy yourself 

something nice. You deserve it. Bye." and she hurried out to the 

waiting cab.



	"I.... I.... Wow... Thanks!" Was all the waitress could think to 

say.



	Karen jumped into the back seat of the cab and the driver 

asked in a heavy accent she couldn't recognize. "Vhere to?"



	"Blue Eye." She answered.



	"The town?" The cabby questioned looking over his shoulder 

at Karen. "That be over sixty gosh darn miles. You sure you vant to 

yake a cab?"



	"Yeah. I'm sure. My daddy gave me the money for cab fair. 

He felt I would be safer going by cab." She answered matter-of-factly.



	"Okey-dokey. You got um kit." And he pushed down on the 

timer flag then pulled away from the curb.

*********************************************************



	Art and Louie drove slowly looking carefully on both sides of 

the roadway for any sign of Karen and their money. Not finding her on 

the road, after arriving in Silver Dollar City they searched the bus 

depot, the one small airport, which was closed, the train station and 

several all night diners. Everything had come up empty.



	"Well, we're fucked!" Art almost spat the word's out he was 

so angry.



	"Yeah. I guess." Louie agreed.



	"Christ! We've got to find a way to unload that dope. It'll 

bring a sizable sum if we can find the right guy to sell it to. Problem is 

who the fuck do we know in this area. And if we try to unload it back 

home Eddy will have our nuts. Shit!" Art said mindfully.



	"Aaaa... Art. What about that preacher guy?" Louie asked.



	"What the fuck preacher guy?" Art couldn't understand how 

Louie could jump from talking about selling drugs to a preacher.



	"You know. That preacher the girl told us about. The healing 

guy." Louie looked thoughtful.



	"Yeah. So what the fuck about the preacher guy! You don't 

think that little cunt still plans on going there do you? That's the last 

fucking place we'll ever find her little money stealing ass!" Art was 

frustrated.



	"No.... No not for that Art. I just thought.. Well... Maybe... 

You know... that preacher could heal you. You know. Make you well 

and all. Then the money wouldn't be so important." Louie was much 

more concerned for his friend not having the money to pay for a cure 

than he was over the loss of the money itself.



	"Holly fucking shit! You can't be serious! You don't really 

believe there's such a thing as divine healing do you? How fucking 

dumb are you anyway?" Art shook his head in bewilderment.



	"Well... I don't know...." Louie was hurt by Art's words.



	"But going down to that preacher guy may not be such a bad 

idea after all." Art rubbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger 

of his good hand. "Guy's like him usually draw a big out of town 

crowd and a lot of um are only looking for way's to cash in. We just 

might be able to make a connection for the drugs without having to 

worry about any local's. Hell it's worth a try."



	"Yeah. It's worth a try." Louie agreed as always.



	"Tomorrow we'll find out where in the fuck this preacher is 

at and pay him a visit." Art said starting up the car.



*********************************************************



  	It was just past one in the morning that the cab Karen was in 

arrived at Blue Eye. "Okay. Ve're here." The cabby talked loud 

enough to wake Karen, who had fallen asleep ten minutes outside of 

Sliver Dollar City. "Vere to now?" He asked.



	"Oh... Aaaa... The bus station. My dad is supposed to meet 

me there. Do you know where that is?' Karen was still groggy.



	"Yau sure. Be there in a flash ah." He turned sharply to the 

left obviously heading into the main part of town.



	"Here ya be kit." The cabby said pulling over in front of a 

small Gray Hound bus station.



	"Thanks." Karen said reading the large amount displayed on 

the cab's meter. She took enough money out of her purse to cover the 

fair and included a sixty dollar tip. "Here." She handed the money 

over the seat to the driver.



	"You bechum Kit. Thank you." He said looking over the 

money she had handed him.



	Karen carried her bag into the well lighted bus station and sat 

down. She would have to wait until morning before making any real 

plans, but waiting in bus stations was something she had grown 

accustomed to.



	Karen spent the rest of the night dozing off and on while 

seated on the unconfortable hardwood bench inside the Bus station. 

At around seven in the morning a few people began wandering in and 

she went in search of something to eat. Finding a small diner a few 

blocks down from the bus station she enjoyed a leisurely breakfast.



	She spent the next two hours window shopping while she 

waited for the retail stores to open at nine, then the next couple of 

hour's she spent doing something she had never done before, clothes 

shopping in one of the more exclusive department stores in Blue Eye.



	    She found the new experience of trying on dresses, slacks, 

blouses, and skirts in the fitting room very enjoyable. After making her 

selections, clothes that should make her look older, she accessorized 

with nylons, panty hose, slips, and underwear, including some bra's, it 

just wouldn't do to have her nipples so plainly outlined under her 

clothing every time it got cold out.



	 After purchasing an expensive suitcase to store the new 

clothes, she made an appointment at a hair salon. She used the time 

waiting  for her appointment by getting a manicure and nail polish. 

When the stylist was ready for her, Karen requested her hair be cut 

and styled like that of Gillian Anderson, the star of the television 

series "The X-Files", a particularly favorite program of hers and one 

apparently so popular the stylist indicated she'd had several similar 

requests in the past.



	After the hair make over Karen used the salon bathroom to 

change clothes and apply some facial makeup. She almost bounded out 

of the bathroom with a youthful, athletic energy. Dressed in slim, 

black slacks, a colorful Versace blouse, and a well-tailored Richard 

Tyler blazer, she looked more like a runway model than the run-away 

kid, which she was. The complete package came across as sensuous 

and brooding, just the look she had attempted to achieve. As she 

moved, her new fashionably cut hair moved with her, as if she was 

always walking into the wind. 



	The entire company of women in the salon were stunned to 

silence when Karen emerged from the bathroom. The stylist that had 

cut Karen's hair stepped away from the patron she was currently 

servicing and walked up to Karen. "My God honey!" She said with 

admiration. "You look great! If I had known, I would have taken a 

before and after picture to hang on my mirror. If women even thought 

they could look half as good as you do after coming in here, I'd triple 

my business. You really look sharp!"



	"Thank you." Karen blushed. "I owe it all to your great hair 

styling skills."  



	As Karen left the salon she heard two of the patron's request 

hair style changes to the one 'that girl' has, referring to Karen. She 

smiled to herself thinking having money was great. 



	She walked back to the bus station and rented a locker to 

store her suitcase and luggage bag then located a jewelry store and 

purchased an expensive wrist watch, diamond pendant mounted on a 

gold chain, and a six thousand dollar wedding-engagement band set. 



	After retrieving her luggage she called a taxi from the bus 

station and had the driver take her to the most expensive hotel in Blue 

Eye.



	She turned the heads on most of the men in the hotel as she 

walked across the lobby toward the front desk. Her large, brown eyes 

sparkled in the reflection of the crystal chandelier above as she 

scanned the room. She felt better about herself than she ever had. It 

wasn't the raw sex these men that watched her walk by wanted from 

her, it was something more, it was allure, charm, mystery, the woman 

herself. She didn't kid herself, it was obvious they all wanted to bed 

her, but not like it had been in the past, just pussy. She felt like a 

woman, and she liked the feeling.



	"Room please." She told the desk clerk, with Donald 

embossed on his name tag, in her most sophisticated voice.



	"Name please." He asked unable to take his eyes off her, and 

fumbled with his hands under the counter bringing up a record book.



	"Hmm... I'm afraid I don't have a reservation Donald. My 

stop in Blue Eye was.... How should I say.... Umm... unscheduled. I 

dearly hope that's not to terribly inconvenient for you." She smiled 

warmly at him tilting her head slightly to one side.



	"Aaa... No. I'm sure we can arrange something." He smiled 

back feeling self important. "If you'll just sign the guest register 

Miss....."



	"Mrs. Mrs. Veronica Valentine." She boldly signed the name 

in the register.   



	"Thank you." He said after she finished writing. "May I put 

the room on your credit card?"



	Karen chuckled pleasantly. "I find credit cards can be so.... so 

revealing. There are times I prefer to deal in cash. I'm sure you 

understand." She smiled again, this time seductively.

	

	"The hotel really requires a credit card Mrs. Valentine. I'm 

sorry." He looked genuinely disappointed.



	"Oh I fully understand." Karen pursed her lips captivatingly 

as she reached into her handbag. "Perhaps you'd be so kind to secure 

this in the hotel safe for me. Just to insure I don't walk away with any 

of the hotel's towels or linens or anything." She placed ten thousand 

dollars on the counter.



	"Aaaa.... That isn't the reason Mrs. Valentine. It's... Well. 

Never mind.  I'd be more than happy to put this in the safe for you." 

He said picking up the money. He filled out a receipt after counting the 

hundred dollar bills then handed it to Karen before ringing a small 

bell sitting on the counter.



	After several seconds a bell-hop walked up and the desk clerk 

handed him a key. "Please show Mrs. Valentine to room six thirty 

three." Then to Karen he said. "If there's anything you require please 

don't hesitate to notify the front desk. Enjoy your stay at the 

Baltimore."



	"Thank you Donald. I'm confident I will." She gave him a 

seductive wink. "Oh. I'll carry the small bag. Thank you." She said to 

the bell-hop. The bell-hop nodded and picked up her suitcase leaving 

the luggage bag for her.



	"This way miss." The bell-hop said holding his open palm 

toward the elevators.



	Karen lay reclined in a hot tub of water in the luxurious hotel 

room. The scented water felt luscious on her naked body, caressing 

every curve, melting away past stress and hardships. She was enjoying 

her new found maturity and wealth and only casually contemplated her 

next move. With the money had come freedom.... With the new hair 

style and makeup had come maturity. She could do anything or go 

anywhere she wanted. A feeling of mastery over her life had also come 

with the money. And that mastery insured the next time a man had her 

it would be on her terms. It would be because she wanted it, and not 

for any other reason. She would dominate. She would control. She 

would demand. She would require a minimum of an hour's foreplay, 

then and only then would she even consider allowing him any 

satisfaction.    



	After bathing she sat with nothing other than a bath towel 

wrapped around her body. She hadn't thought to purchase a bathrobe, 

something she would most certainly do later on.  She lit a cigarette 

and drew in heavily on the tobacco filling her lungs, then exhaled 

sending a plume of smoke into the air. Out of curiosity more than 

anything else Karen picked up the phone and rang the front desk.



	"Good afternoon Mrs. Valentine, front desk, how may I help 

you?" The phone voice she recognized as Donald asked.



	"Yes, Good afternoon. Would you kindly have a bottle of your 

best Chardonnay and a bowl of fresh fruit sent up to my room please." 

She told the voice.



	"Certainly Mrs. Valentine. I'll send it straight away."



	"Thank you Donald." She hung up. 



	About twenty minutes later there was a faint knock on the 

door. "Restaurant room service." A voice called through the closed 

door.



	Karen checked the towel covering her as she went to open the 

door.



	"Good afternoon ma'am," the waiter said, as he rolled in a 

cart. "It looks like it's going to be a beautiful evening." He smiled as 

he opened the lid of a silver tray revealing fresh cut cantaloupe, 

strawberries, grapes, apples and orange slices. If he had taken notice 

of Karen, dressed only in a towel he gave no indication of it and 

mechanically transferred the silver tray, and ice filled bucket with the 

wine bottle onto the top of the chiffonier. Turning slightly to his left so 

he could look at Karen he asked. "May I open the wine ma'am?"



	"Yes. Please." Karen smiled up at him pleasantly.



	He pulled the bottle from the ice then withdrawing a folded 

corkscrew from his pocked he expertly cut around the seal before 

withdrawing the cork. He carefully filled about a third of a wine glass 

and handed it to Karen before replacing the bottle in ice.



	He waited expectantly for Karen to take a sip of the wine. 



	Karen realizing what he was waiting for, took a small sip 

then nodded her head. "Is there anything better than a fine wine?" She 

asked the waiter not expecting a response. "It always reminds me of 

romantic dinners."



	"It always reminds me of my poor head the day after." The 

waiter joked, as he moved toward the door. If that will be all 

ma'am...... " He left the sentence trailing.



	"Yes. Thank you." Karen said.



	He was turning the knob on the door when Karen suddenly 

remembered she should tip him. "Oh! Wait!" Karen called out as she 

jumped to her feet moving toward her purse in the bedroom. The bath 

towel unraveled at the top of her breasts momentarily exposing her 

before she managed to catch it. This time the waiter took notice. His 

eyes widened and he stood all but frozen following Karen with his eyes 

as she quickly disappeared into the bedroom.



	When Karen returned she had re-established the bath towel 

and  was clutching a twenty dollar bill in her hand. "Here." She smiled 

holding the bill out to the waiter.  "Thank you."



	The waiter took the bill then said. "It should be I thanking 

you."  He nodded then left the room.



	"Au what the hell.... Cheap thrill." Karen said to herself 

picking up the wine glass and taking another sip.



	She relaxed eating grapes and sipping wine considering 

where she should go. She had rejected the places that first came to 

mind, southern California, New York, Boston... they all seemed so... 

so pedestrian. She wasn't sure if some form of identification was 

required or not to take a plane to Hawaii, but it made the top of her 

list. Then a thought struck her, of all the places she could go, she felt 

an adrenaline rush thinking about carrying through with her original 

plan of finding the preacher. The excitement about that plan was the 

fact that she had told Art about going there. Would he remember? If 

he did she didn't think he or Louie could recognize her, not with her 

new look, and what a melodrama thrill it would be to see those two 

pitiful loser's, but this time with her in full control. Yes. That was 

exactly what she would do before going to Hawaii. Just the thought 

titillated her. 



CHAPTER EIGHT- Collections



	The sextet of gospel singers had just finished singing a 

stirring rendition of  "Are you walking with Jesus?"..... then for 

exactly two seconds all lighting was extinguished, plunging the entire 

area into total darkness.  After the two seconds of pitch blackness, 

colored floodlights came on one at a time, illuminating three foot 

diameter circles in radiant red's, blues and greens. The reverend 

Earnest Bishop bound from behind floor to ceiling dark purple velvet 

drapes onto the makeshift dais, his entrance had been precisely 

arranged and rehearsed to insure maximum impact on the large crowd 

seated inside the huge tent. He was impressive with his tall slender 

frame of six foot six inches, draped in a long flowing black silk robe as 

he took drawn-out, accentuated strides across the wooden platform 

toward the pulpit.



	"I WALK WITH JESUS!" He bellowed out in his deep 

resounding voice now made even more imposing than normal as it 

boomed out from the several six foot tall strategically arranged 

speakers through out the tent.



	"YES! I WALK WITH JESUS!" The speakers rang out once 

again, then just as his last stride carried him to the pulpit he cried out. 

"AND I ABRADE WITH JESUS!" then he performed a well rehearsed 

movement and dropped down behind the lectern, seeming to vanish 

just before all lighting was extinguished once again. It remained dark 

for only a second, but in that second of blackness Earnest Bishop stood 

up and stretched his arms out wide. A single white spotlight blazed 

upward and focused across his still body flooding him from behind at a 

forty five degree angle thereby casting  a sixty foot high shadow across 

the tent's far wall and ceiling in the form of a cross. Inspirational 

music roared from the speakers for several seconds then slowly faded 

into the background. "AND, I STAND IN THE LIGHT OF OUR 

LORD!" Bishop's voice boomed while his body remained frozen in 

time. "COME! COME STAND WITH ME IN THE BRIGHTNESS 

OF THE LORD!" His arm's moved with a gestured conveying he 

wished the entire parish to rise up onto their feet, and they stood, and 

cheered out in joy as white light after white light turned on flooding 

the tent with illumination and the inspirational music blasted out once 

again, yet even its volume was unable to drown out the roar and 

clamor of good will and gladness vocalize by the throng of 

parishioners.



	"Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ....." Bishop yelled over 

the crowd and music. "The joy of our being together in the presence of  

our loving savior brings us peace and blessedness. Sit.... Sit... stand 

not in the light of the lord lest ye be he who is cleansed of all 

forsakeness. Sit please." His hand gestures bided them to be seated, 

and they did, and the crowd noise dwindled down to nothingness as 

did the music.



	"I urge you." Bishop waved his arm across the gathering. "Do 

not take this matter of salvation lightly, there is too much at stake for 

your soul. I invite you to pause and reflect on the wrath of our Lord 

God's sword of light upon the wicked!" 



	"For thus saith the Lord God," Bishop yelled out.  "The barrel 

of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day 

that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."



	"Come now, and let us reason together... saith the Lord: 

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though 

they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and 

obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land, but if ye refuse and rebel, ye 

shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath 

spoken it." He paused momentarily looking out over the flock's faces.



	He took on a much more subdued tone of voice when he 

continued. "Only through unselfish giving and loving are we able to 

tether the sword of light. Material things are but the blink of an eye 

upon the calendar of eternity. Competition is ingrained into our society 

and has taught us winners are the ones with the most material 

things..... I say to you NO! Tis not so. This competition has only 

drawn us apart. Think how little we cooperate with each other and 

how competitiveness is creating more losers than winners. Only 

through the unselfish sharing of your soul.... your goods.... your 

body.... can there be room for God!" 



	"Amen!" A voice rang out. "Amen!" Called another, and 

another, until cries of "Amen!" could be heard throughout the crowd.



	Bishop waited until the company quieted down before 

continuing. "Allow me, if you will to recount a story of brother 

Michael Hyde. Brother Michael's work of preaching the gospel had 

inspired him to travel to France and render the Lord's work at a 

L'Arche community in Paris. One of his tasks at the L'Arche was to 

train a developmentally disabled young man named Claude for the 100 

meter sprint in a upcoming Special Olympics. Claude was a strong 

runner, but never ran in a straight line. One day, brother Michael 

became exasperated with Claude and told him clearly that if he did not 

run in a straight line his friend John would win the gold medal. In 

response, Claude replied with great delight 'Wouldn't it be wonderful 

if John won the gold metal?'" He paused. "Now doesn't Claude's 

words take us by surprise? They are so  non-competitive, so naive, and 

so unrealistic and yet so beautiful. In fact, they are in tune with Jesus' 

words in today's gospel about God hiding things from the wise and 

revealing them to little ones. Claude's ingenuous and generous 

response sets us up to listen more carefully to all that Jesus says to us 

today."



	Another chorus of "Amen!" filled the tent.



	Bishop held up his hands for silence. "Most of us would 

rather not be thought of as naive and unrealistic. But being a follower 

of Jesus exposes us to that very criticism. To stand in the Lords light is 

to experience being dismissed and written off as unreal or naive. You 

will be reminded of the real world not functioning this way anytime 

time you discuss topics such as Jesus' sayings about the poor, or his 

words to the rich young man or Jesus' advice about giving away one's 

cloak. Anyone who follows Jesus and takes his words seriously has the 

same experience. It takes faith and courage to hold the line, especially 

when it means being written off, or laughed at. Following Jesus can 

often seem 'difficult' and 'heavy'...... ....but now let's go back to our 

story of Claude.... On the day of the Special Olympics, Claude, as 

expected ran off the track and failed to cross the 100 meter finish line. 

Needless to say he did not metal. But later in the day, quite 

unscheduled Claude wandered over to the shot put area. He took a 

throw and unexpectedly ended up winning the gold metal for shot put. 

Immediately, with delight, Claude rushed to give the metal to his 

friend John. Claude was in no way pretentious about being first or 

best. He showed only a marvelous delight in being able to give a gift to 

a friend. His behavior was a heart warming mix of spontaneity, 

humility and joy."



	After several seconds of silence Bishop sprang to the edge of 

the stage and pointed at several individuals throughout the crowd. 

"YOU! and YOU! and YOU! Divest yourself of Satan's robes. Like 

Claude you to can offer a gift to a friend. This ministry is unable to 

extend the Lords gospel to our friends throughout the world without 

your help. Remember Jesus' words that it is not a kingdom of triumph 

and gold, but one where the King rides a donkey. It's not a kingdom of 

winners and losers, but a kingdom of peace and giving. Where the joy 

is meant for all. When the basket arrives give of your heart..... without 

giving we are lost. The word of this ministry must reach the forlorn.... 

must reach the lost..... You... only you have the power of love and faith 

to make a difference."



	Ushers moved among the gathering distributing wicker 

offering baskets at the end of each aisle. The baskets were passed from 

person to person, each in turn placed some money into it, then were 

collected by an usher at the opposite end of the pew.



	As the baskets moved through the crowd Bishop said. "If we 

know and believe in God's love, it's not because we are wiser or more 

intelligent than others. It's because of God's pure gift, the faith we've 

received and by our giving. Jesus makes clear that he, the Son, has 

been entrusted by the Father with revealing to us the mysteries of 

God's love. And when we find God's words burdensome, then he, 

Jesus, can make our burden light. We need to treasure the Lord's 

invitation. 'Come to me, all you who are weary'. If we are burdened 

down, he promises to give us rest."



	Dramatically Bishop said. "Let's renew our response to Jesus' 

invitation to learn for him in prayer." The conjugation's head's bowed 

in silent prayer, then after several seconds Bishop said. "Lord, lead me 

to those you would have me mentor. In Jesus' name. Amen.", and the 

singers took up the hymn. "Lead me to Jesus."



	During the hymn Bishop looked out on the assemblage. 

Among Bishop's numerous uniquely notable abilities was the ability to 

instantly identify anyone new to one of his sermons, even though the 

tent legally accommodated three hundred people at a time, and his 

ability to detect if a man or woman already belonged to his dark 

master. 



	Without delay he located three people that had never attended 

before, two men and one woman. The two men, one short and thin the 

other larger and heavier than the first stood in the back next to the 

ever present representation of the local sheriff and fire departments. 

Local law enforcement had viewed his ministry with suspicion and to 

this day remained ever vigilant for any excuse to run him out of town. 

So far they had been unsuccessful in finding any impropriety with the 

religious order, including any fraud on his part associated with faith 

healing's and Bishop knew even they, the most skeptical, were 

beginning to believe. The woman was young, attractive, and very 

smartly dressed. She sat at the end of pew twenty row's back from the 

stage, and he had taken notice that when she was presented an offering 

basket she had given a great deal of money. His un-consecrated power 

told him the two men standing in the back had already given their 

soul's to the master. The young woman on the other hand was 

currently indefinite, and was certainly suitable for collection in the 

future, especially being as attractive as she was, but that same power 

told him she could be dangerous. She was a sensitive, and they could 

be trouble. 



	His attention turned toward more current collection matters, a 

smaller assemblage of families seated together in the first two rows of 

pews and he smiled to himself. This particular group of people Bishop 

considered his 'special' following. He had been holding private 

worship sessions over the past four months and had gathered together 

this 'special' collection of men, women and children that now 

numbered fifteen separate households. The extra time and energy  he 

had taken with these members had been well spent. They were 

completely obedient and compliant to his religious cause, but even 

more importantly, they believed in the Reverend Earnest Bishop 

absolutely.  He was considered by them to be the absolute word of God. 

He was their only salvation, and only through his leadership could 

they find true peace. It was this group that had dedicated themselves to 

his cause. They worked tirelessly to bring new sheep to the ministry. 

They organized fund raisers. They ushered the Sunday night sermon's, 

and they would do anything he asked of them. Bishop reveled in his 

power over them. That power and control was his life's blood, 

secondary only to the true enterprise of the ministry itself, that of soul 

acquisition.

	

	His ministry had only been in this town a little over six 

months, but after the first two or three months he had become very 

influential within the community. All the local newspapers, radio and 

television stations covered his ministry's work, especially the faith 

healing for which they could offer no answers or explanations for its 

success. 

	

	His gaze shifted farther across the sanguine face's of his 

special followers, then came to repose on the exquisite features of 

Elizabeth Campbell. Elizabeth was tall and perfectly proportioned, 

with endlessly long legs and flawless ivory skin. She had long, silky 

black hair that framed a gorgeous face with a narrow, aristocratic 

nose, sharp, piercing brown eyes, and full seductive lips. Her breasts 

were large, but not overly so, not enough to make her seem busty. She 

had a narrow waist, flaring hips, and a nice, tight ass. At twenty six 

she moved with a flowing grace that other women twice her age 

envied. She had a perfect smile which, with the slightest movement of 

her eyes could change from conveying amusement to scorn, and 

Bishop wanted her. He had wanted her from the very first time he had 

seen her six months ago when she and her husband Robert had come 

to attend one of his sermons.  

	

	  Elizabeth and Robert had turned to Christ for help in their 

time of need. Robert had lost his well paying job as foreman at the Tri-

City steel mill after it closed the doors and shut down. The closing of 

the mill had a devastating effect on the entire community, having been 

the employer of more than fifty percent of the towns population, but 

was particularly difficult for Richard and Elizabeth because they had 

recently purchased an expensive new home after his last promotion 

and then shortly afterward learned Richard's mother had been 

diagnosed with a debilitating ailment requiring twenty four hour 

nursing care.

	

	Robert was unable to find employment at even half his 

previous salary, he couldn't afford nursing care for his mother any 

longer and that difficult task fell to him and Elisabeth, the township 

real estate market dropped to an all time low with the mill's closure 

making their home un-sellable and they fell behind on the mortgage. 

They both became obsessively depressed and their marriage began to 

fall apart then by chance they found the Reverend Earnest Bishop in 

their search for God.

	

	Bishop had immediately recognized a selfish opportunity for 

himself after talking to the couple and had used his influence in the 

community to get their home refinanced, find employment for 

Richard, and even supply a church member retired nurse to help with 

the care of Richard's ailing mother.



	The Campbell's were only one of several member families he 

had helped out since he had arrived, and he had worked tirelessly 

preparing his 'special' flock for the shearing, and the lovely Mrs. 

Elisabeth Campbell was well over due in the offering of her soul. Yes, 

he had taken his time, but finally he could harvest this latest grain of  

human crop. He had been patient long enough with this woman. He 

hadn't taken nearly as much time with some of the others, but she 

would be worth it.



	The hymn came to a close and he tore his lustful eyes and 

mind away from the attractive young woman and approached the edge 

of the stage. 



	His voice was relaxed and reserved when he said. "I recite 

from Luke chapter eighteen, thirty five through forty three, As Jesus 

approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 

When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 

They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. He called out, Jesus, 

Son of David, have mercy on me! Those who led the way rebuked him 

and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, Son of David, 

have mercy on me! Jesus stopped and ordered the man brought to him. 

When he came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for 

you?.... Lord, I want to see, he replied. Jesus said to him, receive your 

sight; your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight and 

followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also 

praised God." 



	He paused momentarily before continuing. "The blind man 

forgot all about pride and desperately cried out to the Lord. Are you 

like the blind man? Do you display you need fixing? You need to ask 

Jesus, without being pridefull or shamed." 



	Then his voice took on a commanding deep loud resonate 

tone. "I.... the tool of the Master Mechanic Jesus, will be the wrench 

that can repair your body and soul.... Come.... COME TO ME!"



	Several people made their way to the forefront of the stage 

forming a line, some requiring the aid of a family member, crutches or 

wheelchair. The Reverend Earnest Bishop stepped off the stage and 

placed his hands on or around each afflicted individual one at a time, 

taking several minutes with each, to gain an understanding of their 

misfortune, then calling forth the help of Jesus and the Holly spirit 

they seemingly became sound, free from physical pain and original 

affliction. Each 'healing' was received with cries of joy and emotional 

tears of faith by both recipient and the entire on looking crowd, 

driving the noise level inside the tent to a almost ear shattering pitch. 

Little did they know the healing came from a place much darker and 

sinister than the heavenly brightness of the Lord's domain.



	After ten or twelve such divine 'healings' Bishop, now 

covered head to foot with perspiration held his palms upward and 

indicated that the strain was becoming much to difficult to continue, 

and that the healing had come to an end for that evening.



	After the healing ceremony the sheriff's deputy was amazed 

again for the hundredth time. At first he had assumed Bishop was a 

fraud and he had planned to discredit him, but now, four months later, 

he just wasn't all that sure. He was personally familiar with several of 

the people Bishop had 'healed' and they appeared to indeed be 

genuinely healed. He didn't have any explanation for the cure's other 

than faith, so he just waited and watched and made sure that only the 

legal number of followers were allowed access inside the tent at any 

given time, for fire and safety purposes. As news of Bishop's healing 

abilities got around, more and more people, from hundreds of miles 

around wanted in. His job had now become one of crowd control more 

than anything else.      



	The congregation slowly dispersed through the large tent 

opening with most of the attendance  feeling more content than when 

they had entered. The last group to leave were the 'special' band of 

followers and Bishop addressed them individually thanking each for 

their continued help and support. When he got around to the 

Campbell's he asked Elizabeth if she could stop by the following 

evening at around seven to discuss a special need of the church that 

she might be able to fill. Elizabeth was overcome with self-importance 

that he had thought of her and she agreed at once.



	After everyone had left Bishop counted and stacked that 

night's liberal donations, including five thousand dollars bundled 

together and given by the attractive young woman, while he 

contemplated how well everything was going and how unimportant the 

money really was.



CHAPTER NINE - Female bonding



	Art and Louie had arrived in the small town of McNeil 

Arkansas on Friday, two day's prior to the reverend Earnest Bishop 

weekly Sunday sermon. They discovered the reverend held service 

inside a large tent set up a few miles outside of town at a place called 

Magnesia Springs. As it turned out they also found it was impossible 

to get any lodging in McNeil at any price. Bishop had become such a 

big deal all bed's had been previously rented well in advance by people 

hopeful of gaining access to one of Bishop's sermons. 



	On Sunday Art and Louie drove to Magnesia Springs about 

an hour before services were to begin. The place was more of a mad 

house than even McNeil had been, finding a parking space was near to 

impossible, masses of people were congregated outside the tent, 

pushing and shoving one other in order to gain a spot in line that 

would guarantee them a place inside. Only a limited number of people 

were allowed inside due to fire and safety regulation, and that number 

was carefully monitored by local fire and police personnel, all others 

were forced remain outside or go home. 



	Having arrived only an hour early there was not a prayer in 

hell that Art or Louie could gain entrance in any normal civilized 

fashion, so Art directed Louie to push two men into each other causing 

a mild ruckus to break out, then when the Sheriff went to investigate 

both he and Louie slipped into the tent followed by some loud yelling 

of protest by the few people that noticed them sneaking in. Once inside 

it was easy to blend into the crowd when the place started filling up. 

They stood at the back of the tent during the entire sermon, Art 

noticed occasional curious sideways glances from the sheriff standing 

a few people away from them, but the officer didn't question them.



	At one point during the sermon Art almost split a gut when 

Bishop related a stupid story about some retard frog kid with the name 

of Claude. Jesus Christ. What these fucking people wouldn't fall for he 

thought to himself, but the rest was impressive. Bishop had some kind 

of spell he seemed to cast over the crowed. It was almost as if they 

were mesmerized by his voice and stature alone, regardless of the 

content of his words. Bishop's ability to spellbind a crowd even 

effected Art for most of the religious discourse.



	When the revival ended Art and Louie pushed their way 

through the uplifted crowd finally making it out of the tent. Art 

commented to Louie as they skirted through the throng of people in 

the parking lot. "That sucker really puts on a show, don't he?" Art had 

been impressed by the reverend Bishop, but he didn't want Louie to 

know, that could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. 



	"Yeah." Louie answered. "I ain't never seen nothing like that 

before. Man he was really something. At first I couldn't understand all 

those people trying to get in, but after hearing him I can sure see why 

they wanted to."



	"Well I guess we had to see it once anyway, but our business 

is with unloading the shit not with finding religion." Art looked 

around at the people they passed. "I may have been mistaken though, 

none of these hicks look like perspective dealers."



	"Ya know Art....." Louie paused as if he had to force himself 

to continue. "Ah... That healing shit looked real to me man, maybe 

you should......"



	"Should what Louie!" Art cut him off. "Have him heal my 

junkie ass. I ain't buying none of that religious crap. It's all bull shit 

man, for losers."



	"How could it hurt Art? Ya ain't got nothing to lose. Why not 

just try? Huh?" Louie commented trying to sound tough.



	"I'm not going to have any fucking peace around here until I 

see it your way. Am I? I'll think about it. Okay! Now drop it!" Art's 

voice took on a more serious tone when he continued. "I've been 

thinking, maybe we should head over to Little Rock, I heard both the 

Crypt's and Blood's have taken root there, we should be able to deal 

with one or the other of um."



	"Yeah. Okay, but you ain't forgetting about... You know... 

what your thinking about." Louie didn't want Art to forget, it was 

important to him.



	"Fuck! I told you I'd think about it. What the fuck else do you 

want me to do! Shit!" Art threw up his hands in frustration.



	"I want you to think about it Art. That's all. Just think about 

it." Louie ignored Art's angry tone.  



******************************************************



	Karen had arrive in the town of McNeil several day's before 

Art and Louie. Like them she couldn't find any lodging either and was 

forced to stay at a hotel several mile's away in a larger town called 

Fayetteville. She made one attempt at renting a car through the hotel 

she was staying at, but when they insisted on seeing a drivers license 

she declined, knowing once they saw her real age they wouldn't rent to 

her anyway. 



	She had heard how difficult it was to gain entrance to one of 

reverend Bishop's sermons so she took a cab to Magnesia Springs 

early Sunday afternoon. Even at that early hour the area outside the 

tent was bustling with people, but she didn't see any sign of her old 

friends and lovers, Art and Louie. As the afternoon wore on Karen 

made light conversation with several women chatting about nothing in 

particular, but finding all conversations eventually turned to religion 

and how wonderful the reverend Bishop was. Karen did make sure 

somewhere in each conversation she brought up how she planned on 

giving a sizable donation to the church, hoping that might somehow 

help get her inside easier.     	



	The mention of a donation did have its effect. Late in the 

afternoon Karen was approached by a nice looking woman in her early 

to mid twenties. "Hi." The woman greeted Karen. "I'm Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth Campbell. I don't mean to bother you but Linda...." She 

turned and pointed out a woman Karen had talked to earlier in the 

day. "...That's her over there, the one wearing the green dress. Well 

anyway, Linda said you had mentioned something about making a 

donation to the church, believe me we could use it. Sam Peters.... He's 

one of the original members... Well, Sam has been talking to Pastor 

Bishop about putting up a real church, you can see how we've already 

outgrown this tent, so anything you share will be put to the best of use 

I can assure you." 



	Karen immediately got the sense that this Elizabeth was a 

virtuous true to the heart believer. She had a genuine smile that 

radiated warmth and made Karen feel good. Karen had heard of 

people like Elisabeth before, people other people liked being around, 

and Karen found that she instantly liked this Elisabeth Campbell. 

Karen returned the smile. "Hi Elisabeth. I'm Karen. And your right. I 

do intend on making a donation, but I must be perfectly honest with 

you. I made sure everyone around here knew about the donation. I was 

hoping it could help get me inside. Was that being overly devious?"



	Elisabeth laughed affectionately. "No not at all. You must 

have heard how popular and worshipped the reverend is." Then her 

voice took on a more serious tone. "That popularity doesn't come 

without its problems, but let me tell you the peace and salvation you 

get is more than worth it. You only have to listen to him once to 

understand the true meaning of love."



	"You sound hooked." Karen teasingly replied.



	"I know your joking, but its more than just hooked. It's a way 

of life..... and a way of living.  Before reverend Bishop I wasn't really 

living. I was just surviving." She took Karen's hand then continued. 

"You've just got to hear him Karen. You'll feel so...... so.... It's 

difficult to describe. But It's like all your life you were missing 

something but you didn't even know it was missing, then suddenly 

you've found it and you wonder how you could have possibly lived 

without it. I guess the best way to describe it is that, salvation is total 

and complete self freedom. I don't know, its an inter peace and love 

thing like nothing else in this world." She paused momentarily feeling 

a little embarrassed. "Heavens, listen to me ramble on. Believe me I'm 

not some religious fanatic that goes around trying to convert everyone. 

I'm sorry."



	"Don't worry about it. I didn't take it that way." Karen 

squeezed Elisabeth's hand.  "Your just happy. I'm delighted for you 

Elisabeth. Everyone should feel like you do."



	"Everyone can." Elisabeth answered. "Just give yourself to 

the Lord and reverend Bishop. I'll tell you Karen, if the reverend told 

me the lord wanted me to jump off a cliff, I'd do it. That's how much I 

believe." Then she added. "You will too. After you hear him. Just 

wait."



	"Speaking of that. What do you think my chances of getting 

in are?" Karen asked.



	"Well," Elisabeth answered. "I don't want to sound overly 

arrogant, I sure don't mean it that way, but there are a few of us, my 

husband Richard and I included, that the reverend has honored to help 

out with the ministry. We get in through a side entrance. I'll see to it 

you get in with us. Okay?"



	"Okay, but you won't get into any trouble will you? I certainly 

don't want that." Karen was honestly concerned, knowing how 

important this church was to Elisabeth.



	"Oh no." Elisabeth answered. "It'll be fine. Several of the 

members have done the same thing in the past for other special 

friends." 



	"Why thank you for considering me a friend." Karen said 

with all sincerity. She somehow knew Elisabeth had not considered the 

promised donation when making the offer. "You know, it's been a 

long time since I've had another woman to talk with. I didn't realize 

it, but I've missed that."



	"I know. We're all so busy with our daily lives, we don't take 

the time to talk to one other anymore. It's a shame really." Elisabeth 

commented.



	"Yeah I guess." Karen replied thinking about her past 

screwed up life.



	"Hey. You know Richard and I are going out to dinner after 

the service. If your not busy why not join us. Richard wouldn't mind 

and I sure would like the company." Elisabeth asked.



	"I don't know....." Karen answered while thinking she might 

really enjoy having dinner with someone for a change, but she didn't 

want to intrude. "...I wouldn't want to impose, besides I'm staying all 

the way out in Fayetteville, and I'd have to catch a cab to the hotel to 

change clothes and......"



	"Believe me you wouldn't be imposing." Elisabeth insisted 

cutting Karen's words off. "And we'd be more than happy to drive you 

to your hotel. We could have dinner in Fayetteville. I haven't eaten 

there in a long time. Come on. It'll be fun. I know I'd enjoy it."



	"Well.... Okay. If your sure I won't be in the way." Karen 

agreed.



	"I'm sure. Richard's normal dinner conversation could bore a 

bookkeeper. Some intelligent conversation at the dinner table will be 

very refreshing." Elisabeth said smiling. "You just wait in the tent 

after the service. I'll come find you. Okay?"



	"Okay." Karen said agreeably. 



	Karen was as impressed with reverend Bishop as Elisabeth 

had promised. The man had a captivating tranquil effect on her she 

had never experienced before. She could have listened to him for hours 

without becoming bored or impatient, and when the collection basket 

was handed to her she willingly deposited the bundled up five 

thousand dollars into it without a second thought. It wasn't until 

Bishop looked directly at her that she felt or sensed something laying 

underneath his captivatingly pleasant demeanor. That feeling only 

lasted a second but in that second Karen perceived the most darkest 

evil imaginable. She almost got up and ran from the tent screaming, 

the feeling of vulgar corruption was so strong, then as quickly as it had 

come it passed, and Karen managed to remain seated, although it took 

a while to compose herself. 



	After the sermon Karen was still visibly upset when Elisabeth 

came excitably running up to her. "Karen! The most wonderful 

thing......." She stopped in mid sentence after noticing Karen's 

disposition. "Karen! What's wrong? You look white as a ghost."



	"I don't know." Karen answered honestly. "I got this feeling 

earlier..... I don't know. It was horrible. I've never felt anything like it 

before. I just can't seem to get it out of my mind. It was like...... like 

looking into the soul of Satan himself. Does that make any sense?"



	"Oh. You poor thing." Elisabeth comforted Karen putting her 

arm around her shoulder. "I can't imagine. Is it gone now?"



	"Yeah." Karen answered. "It's gone now, but I'll never forget 

it." She felt a little better having talked to Elisabeth and the feeling 

was much less memorable than a few seconds before. "I'm sorry. I'm 

just being silly I guess. So what were you all excited about anyway?"



	 "Are you sure your all right?" Elisabeth's face reflected 

concern.



	"I'm fine now, honest." Karen assured her smiling. "So tell 

me. What's the excitement?" 



	"I almost can't believe it!" Excitement had reclaimed her 

voice. "After the service, reverend Bishop himself came up to me 

personally and requested my help. I was almost speechless. He want's 

to see me tomorrow night at around seven. Isn't it wonderful!" The 

last was a statement rather than a question.



	A cold chill ran through Karen's body. "Listen Elisabeth. 

Don't take this the wrong way..... but I don't have a good feeling about 

you seeing the reverend tomorrow. I don't know what it is.... but 

something tells me it's not a good idea." 



	"Oh. Don't be silly Karen." Elisabeth laughed. "Be happy for 

me. This is the most exciting thing to happen to me in a long time. I 

feel so honored that he selected me. Come on. Can't you tell how 

thrilled I am?"



	"Yeah. It's just that..... Oh never mind." Karen took 

Elisabeth's hands into hers and squeezed them. "Yes. I'm happy for 

you. If  this is what gets you all tingly, then it must be good." Karen 

smiled warmly.



	Elisabeth smiled back then took on a more serious look. "I 

hope you don't mind, but I'm just to nervous about tomorrow to sit 

still. Would you to terribly upset if we took a rain check on dinner?" 



	"No. That's fine. I understand." Karen answered, but she 

really didn't understand. Elisabeth canceling dinner didn't upset her, 

but Elisabeth's overwhelming enthusiasm and ecstasy over the 

reverend just talking to her was something Karen would never 

understand.



	"Well I insist you let me and Richard drive you back to the 

hotel."



	Karen started to protest but Elisabeth held up her hand 

stopping Karen before she could say anything. "I insist!" Elisabeth 

wouldn't take no for an answer. Then another thought came to her. 

"Hey, what do you say  just you and me going to dinner tomorrow after 

my meeting with the reverend. I could pick you up at the hotel, 

and....." She took on a mysterious tone. ".... I could tell you all about 

the meeting."



	"Sure." Karen replied. "But how about meeting in McNeil?  

I've got a few thing's to do there tomorrow." Mostly she wanted to 

look for Art and Louie. The thrill and excitement of why she had come 

here in the first place was still with her.



	"Yeah. McNeil's fine.  Town square between eight and eight 

thirty?' Elisabeth asked.



	"Sounds good." Karen replied.



	The two women spent the next few hours talking, laughing 

and simply enjoying each other's company, something Karen had 

never encountering before. She had never experienced the joy of 

female companionship or the freedom it granted to speak frankly and 

openly to someone of the same sex. Karen never remembered feeling 

more alive than the few hours she had spent with Elisabeth.



END CHAPTER NINE