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The Christ Clone Trilogy 03 - Acts Of God

By

James Beau Seigneur


CHAPTER FIVE

Hope

June 2, 4 N.A. (2026 A.D.) — Babylon, Iraq

Decker waited outside Christopher's office, talking with Jackie Hansen. He marveled at how young she looked. He knew her age: though she had forbidden anyone to give her a party, she had just turned fifty. And yet every day it seemed she grew younger and more beautiful. The small mark on the back of her right hand explained why. She had been among the very first to receive the communion, and after fourteen months its beneficial effects were unmistakable.

Decker would have liked to talk with Jackie for a while longer, but Christopher returned to his office and it was Christopher he had come to see, or more precisely, it was Christopher who had asked to see him.

Inside the office, Decker could not help but comment to Christopher on Jackie's appearance. In doing so he unintentionally provided the opening for what Christopher wanted to see him about.

"Decker," Christopher began, and then paused. It was clear that something was bothering him. Somehow Decker sensed that this was not a matter of state but something far more personal.

"What is it?" Decker asked, urging him on.

"I don't want this to sound like . . . well, like I'm calling you on the carpet. I hope that I would never be so presumptuous; you know how I feel about you. It's just that, well, I don't understand."

Decker didn't speak but his expression made it clear that he had no idea what Christopher was getting at. • "The communion," Christopher said finally.

The comment was cryptic: he might have meant anything by it. But Decker was sure he now understood what this meeting was about.

"I've been meaning to talk with you about that," Decker said a little sheepishly. It had been more than a year since the communion had begun. The strict penalties against terrorist activities at clinics had had the desired effect and now nearly everyone had received the communion and bore the mark. Many clinics had all but suspended operations because everyone in the population who wanted the communion had received it. There was, however, one notable exception: Decker himself.

"Decker, certainly you of all people are free to make your own choice on the matter .... I just don't understand."

"Christopher, you know that I love you."

"And I love you," Christopher responded.

"And you must know that I consider myself fortunate above all men to have been a part of what you have begun. But I'm seventy-two years old. I'm an old man."

"But, Decker, the communion will make you young again!"

"Christopher," Decker said, shaking his head regretfully, "I know. I know. And this may be hard for you to understand, but I don't want to live forever. I've had a full life, but. .."

"But what?" Christopher prodded.

"There is one thing missing from my life. It was taken from me twenty-three years ago."

"Your family?" Christopher asked.

Decker nodded. "After all these years," he said haltingly. "I still miss them." Tears began to form in his eyes. "I still ache for them. I still find myself thinking I hear Hope or Louisa's voice when I hear children playing." Decker wiped his eyes and shrugged, "I still sleep on one side of the bed," he said. "Now don't start thinking I'm getting suicidal or anything," he added quickly. "I'm in no hurry to die or anything. It's just that when my time comes, it comes. I shall welcome death as rest."

"Decker, I had no idea you still hurt so much," Christopher said softly.

"It's okay," Decker answered. "On a day-to-day basis I'm fine. It's just that when I look at the long run, I don't think I could live forever with this emptiness I feel."

"I'm so sorry, Decker. I wish I had known."

"There's nothing anyone could have done."

"But, don't you see, Decker, there is!" Christopher let slip an ironic laugh that left Decker struggling to understand what he meant. "Don't you see?" Christopher said again. "Haven't you been listening to your own speeches? For more than three years you have overseen the creation and administration of training and indoctrination for those unfamiliar with New Age concepts. You've lectured on dozens of college campuses, been interviewed by hundreds of reporters, written who-knows-how-many articles, and yet you still don't realize that what you've been saying applies to you, too? No one really dies, Decker; not forever! Life goes on long after the body dies. We're reborn time and again. It's no different with Hope or Louisa ... or Elizabeth!"

Decker felt as though his heart had stopped. He wasn't sure what Christopher meant, but it seemed he was saying there was hope that he might see his family again.

"Decker, there's no reason for you to accept death! You haven't lost Elizabeth forever! She's alive! She has already been born again!"

"What are you saying?" Decker asked, his voice trembling as he choked back tears.

"Elizabeth is alive, Decker. Can't you feel it? She was born again just months after you lost her."

"But where is she? Can I see her?"

"Not yet," Christopher said apologetically. "But you will. I can tell you a little about her, though. She's twenty-one years old and lives in a city in New Brunswick."

"How long have you known? Why didn't you tell me? Why can't I see her?"

"Decker, it's not time yet. She wouldn't know you."

Decker was confused. "Will she remember me?" he asked slowly, a wave of dread telling him Christopher's answer would be'no.'

"Yes, Decker. She will. Even now she knows there is something missing from her life. In a few years — it's impossible to say exactly when — she will go through past life therapy and will remember who she was in her previous life. Then she will remember you."

"And . . ."

"Yes, Decker," Christopher smiled. "She will come to you. How could you believe otherwise? Decker, there are some things that are stronger than death. Yours will be a love story for the New Age."

"But... you said she's twenty-one? I'm old enough to be her grandfather."

Christopher started to laugh but this time he didn't hold back. It was a joyous laugh. "Decker, when you're going to live forever, you don't let a little thing like fifty years get in your way."

"No, I guess not," Decker acknowledged, starting to laugh along, though his eyes were still filled with tears. "Besides, I guess I'll seem a lot younger by then."

"Then you'll take the communion?" Christopher asked.

"Of course. I'll go right now."

"Well, I don't think you'll find a clinic open this late. You'll have to wait at least until morning."

Decker looked at his watch and nodded. "What about Hope and Louisa?" he asked.

Christopher nodded. "One day they will remember you, too. Soon, Decker, in perhaps a hundred years, all the veils will be lifted, and all of Humankind will remember who they were in all of their past lives. And they shall understand just how really connected all of us are to one other. Many will find that their enemies in one life were their dearest friends in another. And in that day, when they know who they were, they shall begin to understand who they truly are"

"Can you tell me about. . ." Decker hesitated to ask. He wanted to ask about his old friend, Tom Donafin, but he was not sure how Christopher would feel about his continued interest in the man who had shot him.

"It's all right, Decker. Who do you want to know about?"

"Can you tell me about Tom Donafin?"

Christopher smiled, not at all upset that Decker would ask. "He was reborn last year to a family in Paraguay."

Decker shed another tear and tried to thank Christopher, but words failed him.

"It's all right, Decker. Why don't you go home now and get some rest?"

Decker nodded.

As he was about to close the door behind him, Christopher went after him to give him a hug. With tears in his eyes, Christopher said, "I'm sorry I didn't understand before how you felt. I'm just glad we've got this worked out now and that you're going to take the communion. I need you, Decker. I don't know how I could get along without you."

Decker left the building in a euphoric daze. Suddenly his whole life ... his whole eternity had changed. He had something worth living for ... something worth living forever for.

"That's him in the grey suit," whispered one of the two men who stood waiting in the shadows.

Decker walked along, totally lost in joyous thought and unaware of their presence.

They emerged from the alley as Decker passed, the red Hebrew lettering of the Koum Damah Tatare now clearly visible on their foreheads.

Decker struggled to get away but the two men overpowered him. The chloroformed rag, though old-fashioned, was effective.


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