The Peacock 1907

"There were others here with you", says Amaris, smiling while regarding the orphan beverages. "Lawrence is gone, and the others, Stella, and Caspar are still at the refuge..." "And there they are going to remain. They are both, with Sven, in very good hands". "So, what are you guys going to do now that you're out, I mean", says Carl, and now his phone is ringing..."It's Sarah", he says, turning on speakerphone.  "Hello Sarah, where are you guys?" "Carol and I are both in her townhouse and we are about to have tea.  How are you guys?" "We are in the coffee shop, Waves on Broadway.  It's like we never left." "Is it Monday or Tuesday?" "It's still Monday.  We will find that we are all resuming our normal lives and activities as though nothing happened." "Nothing happened indeed!" she snorts. I call over, "We  should all meet together tomorrow at my house.  We could do it in the morning." "Let me check with Carol, but I can certainly be there" "And...Sarah?" says Carl.  "absolutely no one is to hear about where we just were.  No one.  At least until we've all had a chance to debrief together" "Oh, on my honour", she says.... 

The Peacock 1905

"So now what do we do?"  say I. "I dunno", says Carl, "Go home and cook supper." "We really, really were with Jesus", say I still gobsmacked,  "In that great palatial mansion...on that island." "I am no longer an atheist", says Erik. "That should give you a clue", says Carl. "How did you guys leave?" "We already knew that Tron had taken you out for a walk.  Then Jesus said we were going to catch up with you, so he took us out then whoops, suddenly we were back in here, the minute we stepped out the door." "This is just so crazy.  I'm phoning Francois." "Not at all a bad idea." "Where are you right now?" Francois replies, "Seated on the couch of your father's living room, and every bit as freaked out as you.  Are Carl and Erik with you?" "We're back in, or maybe I should say, we're still in, the cafe." "What about Carl?" "He is here with me and Erik.  Did the others make it back okay?" "George and Jeffrey, and Jason and Lazarus are right here with me, and totally dazed and confused." "You do remember where we were, Francois?" "That is something that I don't think any of us are going to ever forget." And now Kenny is coming in through the door, followed by Amaris, or she might be Amaris..

The Peacock 1904

This water is so cold, so pure, so delicious, unlike any water that has ever crossed my lips, and now, suddenly I am back in the cafe, nowhere near the Refuge, nowhere near Jesus.  Here is Carl, and only Carl in the comfy chair opposite.  And Erik seated on my left. They have been conversing.  No Stella.  No Sven.  No Caspar. "Where are the others", I ask. "We all returned here alone", says Carl. "Just now?" "We were both here five minutes ahead of you", says Erik. "Then it wasn't...? "One of your hallucinations?" says Carl. smiling.  "No.  Unless it was a collective delusion", and now he is snickering. "We were all with Jesus in that big mansion?" "Along with his very aged parents:" "Where are the others?" "Like us.  They are all back from where they were taken." "Except..." "Stella, Sven and Caspar", says Erik. "What time is it?" "Almost four", says Carl. "What day is it?" "Still Monday", says Erik, and now I can see they are both deadpanning as much as I am.  How else are we going to cope right now? "But, we did spend the night, didn't we?  But wait.  Not one single minute has passed since...since we were taken yesterday...but wait it's still today, isn't it.  Where is Lawrence?" "He was just leaving when  Jesus appeared", says Erik.  Now he's gone on with his day..."

The Peacock 1902

It is still dark.  There are no clocks here and I do not know what time it is. I am feeling rested, and here I am waking up in a strange room  And now the flood of memories from yesterday, all the strange bizarre and lurid confessions and revelations and Jesus appearing in his eternally youthful form in the coffee shop only to transport us...here....this place called the Refuge.  A quick shower is all I need and now that I am dried and dressed there is a soft knock on the door. It is Tron. "Perhaps", he says, "We could greet the dawn while walking in the gardens together." I don't see why not, but instead of saying anything, I slip on my shoes and off we go. The dawn bird chorus has already begun, and together we are crossing a huge expansive lawn.  I can only imagine the work involved in maintaining a place of such dimension and beauty.  I can just see the beautifully molded features of Tron's face as we walk silently together, past a bed of irises, much like where Carl and Melissa live, then under a bower of soft purple wisteria in full and glorious bloom.  I am feeling cold and Tron hands me without either of us asking the dark grey pullover sweater he has been carrying under his arm. "Thank you. Tron.  This is a beautiful sweater." "Take it with you." "Thank you  Thank you very much..."

The Peacock 1901

Tron has just shown me to my room.  He is one of the immortals here.  That is what he told me as he was guiding me up the stairs.  For a while he lingered with me in the armchair in the corner while I lie on the bed, propped up on cushions.    We donn't speak, but I do feel both energized and rested by his presence.  As he gets up to leave, he says, "You must remember, Christopher, that I have been called to your welfare and safekeeping.  No matter where you go, you will never be far from me."  And now before I can even say good night...

The Peacock 1900

"Benjamin?" say I to Kenny. This is all beginning to come together. "Benjamin Butterfield at your service, Christopher", says Kenny. "Facebook group?" "You were grieving the loss of your father, Jim, just when my mother passed away from breast cancer." "You were so kind to me." "As you were with me, Chris", he says bashfully. "As you were with me." We can only sit quietly right now, dumbfounded, trying lamely not to stare at each other. What I never knew. "Lord", says Carl, "There is a ferry service from this island?" "The two dimensions have come together. This island in Aaron's dimension has always been on the map, with limited ferry service and a tiny village on the north end of the island. This place does not exist on their radar, and the forest and bush ascending the mountain remain impenetrable. However, as you are ready to depart tomorrow, you will find yourselves rturned immediately to the place and exact time you found yourselves in when I summonedd you all here." "But weren't you going to keep us here", says Lawrence, "For several days, I mean?" "And those days have already transpired. The merging of dimensions has also tweaked your sense of time and place. But when you return home none of you will have lost one single minute. It will be as if you never left home. But you will still remember that you were here, and you will also remember all that I taught you.."

The Peacock 1899

Aaron says, "Stella mentioned today that our two dimensions are about to merge." "And this has already happened", says Jesus.  "When you all leave from here you are going to notice immediately that something has changed. recovered. "Does this mean we also can stay here", wonders Lazarus. "The records of mental illness and hospitalization have been completely erased.  You will always be hee with me, and I will always be with yuou where I am sending you." "Jesus", says Kenny.  "We were just talking about leaving here tomorrow, Amaris, Christopher, Carl and Francois." "You are leaving tomorrow.  Kenny, you are still recorded as deceased.  You will have to go under your new name, the name by which Christopher has come to know you." "You mean", says Kenny, a wondering smile on his face. "That's right, Benjamin.  But now you are going to have a little bit of explaining to do with Christopher..."