The Peacock 187

 "That was May 10, 1966", says Jesús.  "Here is the next day, 11 May:

"Lydia and I at last got some time alone together.  It is impossible for us to make love in this sick atmosphere, so when we do get away in the woods, it's mostly to draw up plans for our escape.  It shouldn't be so difficult, now that we seem to have both emerged from the brainwashing.  I was so worried about her for a while, especially after James picked her as one of his "brides."  For her that was the limit.  She tells me that just one night in bed with that disgusting pig was enough to shock her out of the hypnosis.  But right now, everything has been overturned.  Plus the RCMP have already paid us a couple of visits and we are under investigation. There is no telling what that maniac will try to pull off.  Unfortunately everyone else is still eating out of his hand, except maybe for Theo, but he is so goddamn quiet and inside himself that it is really difficult to get even two words out of him  Today, we are going to try again with him.  I am just so glad that Philip hasn't so far got the idea of providing his goons with guns, but that could be coming next.  We have to make our break from this place while we can.  Every fucking second is going to count.

"As for having any further access to the disgusting pig's bedchamber, Lydia has so far managed to excuse her way out of it.  For some reason, he appears to be leaving her alone, for now, perhaps because he is already distracting himself with that Rhona bitch, who is younger, and prettier, and also seems to have the great messiah wrapped around her little finger.  She also seems to have preserved her own mind, but we don't trust her.  She is duplicitous, and seems to already have herself a good thing going, controlling and manipulating the grand puppeteer himself.

The thing is, even the most carefully laid plans can go completely awry, so we have to make sure our timing, and our luck are completely on our side.  We still don't think we should act yet, not for a couple of weeks anyway.  The hanged man came up in our card reading last night, so we are going to have to delay yet a little bit longer..."