The Peacock 1498

My phone is ringing. It's George. "Where the hell are you?" "We're all in the coffee shop." "Chelsea and her stepmom have been here for the past hour. Shes already cut mine and Jeff's hair. You are expected." "We're in the middle of something right now." "Let me guess", says George, "Adam is finally telling the truth about his life?" "Excellent deduction, sir." "Ever since Jeffery and I moved into the community he has been doing this. Every month, new version. Call him on it." "He seems to be coming from a place of honesty." "a always. He's an actor. A brilliant actor. He doesn't know whether he's acting or living. He doesn't have a clue." "Well, we should be wrapping up soon. please give Chelsea our apologies." "Call him on it. Then get your asses home..."

1497

"How well do you remember your childhood?" says Francois to Jason. "It's all pretty clear. My memory goes back to when I was three or four years old. I have a sister, five years older than me, and we were raised by professional parents in the North York district of Toronto. Dad was a high school teacher, Mom was an accountant and stay at home Mom. She worked from home years before it became fashionable, which made it easier for her to raise us. Nothing else remarkable. I did well in school, didn't have a lot of friends, but I was bullied a lot. i moved to Victoria BC where I took up acting with a venjeance, having studied theatre arts, excelling in Shakespearan drama....

The Peacock 1496

As though trying not to read my thoughts, Jason says, "And I am going to have a hard time explaining to the professionals how I have managed to stay so young-looking." And as though actually reading my thoughts, Lazarus replies, "Have you looked in a mirror lately?" "Every day." "You are starting to age, Jason. There is already some grey creeping into your beautiful hair, and there is something about the skin and set of your face that says you are no longer twenty." "You look pretty young to me", says Carl. I wouldn't even have guessed thirty." "Okay, Mr. kind Eyes", says Lazarus, "we'll say a slightly mature twenty-nine." "But you are right, Sable", he says. "I have aged a bit in the last couple of years But I am forty-six, and even if my stomach is a bit flabby now..." "Yes, you are going to have trouble explaining to them", sys Lazarus. "Just like Lindstrom", say I", who would have to be well over sixty, perhaps even much older, and hardly looks thirty." I am not about to ask if they might be of the same kind, but it is becoming difficult for me not to wonder...

The Peacock 1495

"You saw the Kid Jesus", says Jason. "A couple of times. Yesterday, and the day before in a dream, but apparently, according to witneses at home, he was there." "Sable", says Jason. "They haven't been all delusions." "Then how else are you going to explain these memories and encounters?" "To the doctors and mental health flunkies? There are two courses I could take. Either tell them everything, or tell them nothing. But, Sable, you have to believe that some of those encounters were real, or they felt real, and I have no other way of explaining any of them." Just now, for a second time, I am noticing little signs of age in Jason. He still doesn't look his purported age of forty-six, but no longer a twenty-something I just wonder what is happening, and if he is aware of it..

1494

"So, what am I supposed to do" "Monday, you are going to make an appointment with one of the physicians at the local clinic, and you are going to ask for a thorough mental health evaluation... "I already had one. Remember?" "Twenty years ago." "I'm schizotypal with delusions and grandiosity. I was given medications and the whole nine yards." "And you never even got your first refill. Jason, it's time to face the music. You have to get well. Or at least agree to treatment." "You're probably right, Sable. The delusions have been fun, but it's all taken a lot out of me. Except for one little detail." "which is? "My time on that island with the teenage boy. That was real." "And", say I, "With recent developments and plenty of corroborating evidence, I can concur."

The Peacock 1493

While Jason, formerly known as Adam sits there scowling in a silent sulk, Lazarus continues, "The fact of the matter is that there really is nothing that exotic, ethereal or mysterious about us. We have been living a lie and I for one am sick and tired of the smoke and mirrors. I want us to become a normal, ordinary and transprent couple. Jason has employed exquisite stagecraft in managing our relationship and the image we present to others and I am really tired of it.

The Peacock 1492

"Did you guys have a threesome?" says Carl chuckling wickedly. "So what if we did", snipes Lazarus. "It's none of your business." "As long as everyone used protection", says Carl. "This conversation is over", announces Jason. "Did you get busted?" he says. "Yes", says Lazarus." "The converstion is over", says Jason, now almost yelling. "The leader of the commumnity walked in and caught the three of you en flagrante." "That is exactly what happened", says Lazarus "He just walked into the room and we here we are all naked on top of the bed doing each other..." "Sable" shouts Jason. "Must you. The conversation is over." "Well, they'd might as well know", he says. "I'm pretty sick of hiding secrets, myself, if anyone must know", he says in beautifully crafted fake English Gentleman.

The Peacock 1491

"You'd might as well call us an old married couple, because that is exactly what we are." "Except", says Lazarus, "We are not married." "Not legally, anyway." says Jason. "Would you call yourselves asexual", says Francois. "I don't know what to call us", says Lazaruas. "We just are." "Has either of you had any other partners", says Carl. perpetual nosy parker. "That's none of your business", blurts Lazarus. "Oh. Sorry." "And even if we had", says Jason, "Where would we have found someone to pick up, after twenty years in confined Christian community." "There was that guy visiting the Place of the Transfiguration, just months before the move." "Oh don't you start with that", barks Jason.

The Peacock 1490

"It does seem unique", sasys Lazarus, and Jason nods in agreement, and here I am struck by what a completely equal footing these two appear to have with each other. Of how completely in agreement they are with each other. "We both concluded", says Jason, that we never really needed to go through a sexual phase, but it was just as well that we did anyway, and having put it behind us...." "But have you really?" says Carl. "You mean to say that you two no longer desire each other?" "It isn't quite that simple", says Jason...

The Peacock 1489

"And Glen and Sheila, they still don't support you?" say I. "It's something we've never discussed openly", says Lazarua, " From time to time Michael would embarrass his mother openly about her homophobia, as only a son can do.." "Especially a son like Michael" "and Glen has always been tightlipped, and Michael has also called him out on his hypocrisy, since Glen happens to be every bit as queer as we are." "He is an odd one", says Carl. "He appears to be very close to God", says Francois. "You mean to say he has never commented about you two, never at all." "He was very direct with us", says Lazarus, "After Chris had busted us for sleeping together. "He took us both aside and we went for a walk on a trail that goes along the cliffs above the ocean. He said that whether or not we were having sex together was not the issue, but that we were really aware of the true nature of the union that God had called us into." "And did you dignify that with an answer", says Carl. "we didn't know what to say, so it went unanswered", says Jason. "So then", says Francois, looking at them both directly and intently, "Have you since figured out the true nature of the union that God has called you into."

The Peacock 1488

"what are your plans from here", says Francois. "We are staying together", says Lazarus, "we have become indivisible." "This is true", says Jason. "Sable and I have become so accustomed to each other, and so profoundly connected, that neithr one of us wants to, nor is able, to imagine a life away from each other. We are a unit. Call us codependent if you will, but we are indivisible." "Do you plan to get married at some point", says Carl. "Well, we are no longer conjugal", says Lazarus, "And even though we are comfortable sleeping in the same bed together, we also prefer our own rooms. But certainly in the same house." "Even though I am no longer a priest", says Francois, "If you want, I could bless your union, perhaps in collaboration from George and Jeffrey." "What do you think, Sable", sayd Jason to his partner. "I don't see why not, but..." But we want time to prepare for it, maybe a few weeks." "Exactly", says Lazarus. Exactly."

The Peacock 1487

"The last year we were on the island we started sleeping together", says Jason. "It all seemed wonderful and innocent, but then when we approached Chris, our superior, about blessing our union and marrying us, he forebade it, and threatened us with expulsion from the community if we didn't stop sleeping together. He then put us in bedrooms on opposite ends of the compound and set up a crew of vigilantes to supervise us. But Michael and Matthew would have none of it, and started speaking in our defence. Shelia and Glen were both mysteriously silent, and we, Lazarus and I, really didn't know what to do. We did continue seeing each other, if platonically, and then the property we were living on was sold to developers and we were given three months to leave. Chris blamed everything on us for our immoral behaviour, but the rest of us believed that the real culprit was him, for treating us so badly.

The Peacock 1486

"She'd might as well have a monk for a father." "I'm sure you could do worse." "but I can't even explain Jason here, not to her, or to her mother. It is assumed that we are partners." "Well", says Jason tentatively, "Aren't we?" "I suppose we are." "What do you mean suppose." "that even if we no longer have sex with each other, we are still united. That is clear enough, isn't it." "We all thought you two were platonic", says Carl." "Well", says Lazarus, "We have been. For the ten years we have been living in your mansion...

The Peacock 1485

Jason is stroking gently his companions back as he tries to compose himself. His voice still breaking a little, Lazatus says, "I mean, what do I have for a resume, for a life lived until now at age forty-one. No training, no skills, my last job was working for that neurotic bitch at the Green Room and then I got swept up with this community through Michael whom I made the mistake of falling in love with." "You never told me..." says Adam, a wondering look on his face. "It's true. We didn't become lovers since sex didn't seem to be part of it, but it was God who brought us both to you guys, and then he brought you and I together. But my life for the past twenty years has been livng in community, working in community, coping with community, and very little contact with the outside world. I have a young adult daughter who is graduating from university with honours, and all her dad has to show her for himself is..." "A life well lived in devotion and divine service", says Francois matter-of-factly...

The Peacock 1484

"How much would you be willing to contribute", says Jason. "The whole kit and kaboodle." "But that would still keep us tied to you", says Lazarus. "What are your options", says Carl. "Vancouver has become one of the most expensive cities in the world for housing. If you guys just went out in the cold on your own you would end up sleeping under bridges. I will not have that." "This feels like blackkmail", says Adam. "That is one ugly word." Carl takes a thoughtful long sip of his americano." "Here's an idea. You have a choice of places to live in, Chris's family home, the apartment downtown, or the big house i just bought for us in New West. In whichever case, you guys are going to have secure housing, without any obligations, financial or otherwise, and you can use your time, going to school, training, studying, reading, looking for employment, getting a day job if you will, or simply doing nothing and just hanging out with us. Your possibilities would be without limit. But you will be safe. What do you think." "Well, it is better than the alternative", says Lazarus. "And really, we have both come to really love you guys..." "And that is why you want to leave?" says Francisco. "In one word, yes", says Lazarus. And now he is crying.

The Peacock 1483

"How about you, Jason", says Francois, and it seems that he is taking quite an interest in both our friends right now. "About the same as Sable. I was already doing a lot of stage acting, though I was also waitering in a tea room in Victoria. It was very twee. Kitty corner from the Empress hotel." "The thing is", says Lazarus to Carl, "Jason and I have both been thinking and talking about this, and, we greatly greatly apprecite how generous you are and have been towards us, but..." "..But you want your independence", says Carl, who appears to be struggling not to let his lower lip tremble. "But we still want to be associated with you guys", says Jason. "You have become for both of us our real family." "We also want to give back", says Lazarus. "This is going to be more than a little complicated...for both of you", says Francois. "You are both in your forties and haven't worked at a job in twenty years, and you Jason, look extremely young for your age, so you might have a bit of a struggle convincing an employer of how old you really are, but that could even work to your advantange." "How about college or vocational training", says Carl. "We couldn't afford it," says Lazarus. "But I can..."

The Peacock 1482

"I'd really like to start working again", says Jason. "How long have you been out of the work force?" say I. "Too long." "Me too", says Lazarus. "Have both of you worked since coming to live in community?" says Francois. "My last job was waitering in a café at Library Square downtown", says Lazarus. "Blenz", say I. "The Green Room." "That place has been closed for years." "Just as well", he says. The owner was one nasty bitch." "When was the last year that you worked", says Carl. "2001." "twenty years ago", says Francois....

The Peacock 1481

I don't really feel like talking further abot Erik. He is entitled to his privacy, and the others will have plenty of opportunity to get to know him in person. "So this neighbour of yours is coming over to give haircuts", says Jason. "That's the idea, anyway", say I. "How much does she charge?" I exchange a glance with Carl. "I suppose she does expect to be paid." "Don't worry about it", says Carl. "Daddy Carl to the rescue", says Francois, before taking a prolonged sip of his latte. "And don't you forget it it young man", says Carl, chuckling...

The Peacock 1480

Carl and Francois and I have opted to go walking with Jason and Lazarus. Naomi and Cynthia have already left with Amanda. Jesús, Jeffery and George have volunteered to stay behind to do cleanup, and I trust that Sarah and Carol will be both pitching in. Not sure about Carol, who definitely seems to prefer being served over serving others. We shouldn't be gone long, not because I don't trust them without my presence in my father's house, but so that no one feels abandoned. We have walked towards the village and now Lazarus wants to stop in the café for a few minutes. We haven't really been talking a lot, but perhaps while sitting together, everyone will put their phones away long enough for a decent chat. As if... There are two baristas on board right now, a girl who could be Chinese, Korean or Japanese, and a young Latino man with a thick Spanish accent. "how long can we stay", says Jason, just after his first sip of his americano." "Forever, as far as I'm concerned", say I. "Totally agreed", concurs Carl. "Francois?" "Ditto." "I have just bought a vintage Victorian era mansion in New Westminster, if that would be preferable." Jason and Lazarus look at each other, then Lazarus says, "My daughter lives just on the boundary between New West in Burnaby. That would be perfect for us." "I expect that Carl and Francois will be staying here at my father's house with me. Along with my brother in law Erik." "You have a brother-in-law?" says Jason. "He's in quarantne right now in a Richmond hotel, but will be moving here as soon as he's out..."

The Peacock 1479

Everyone seems a bit dozy now. The superabundance of food and the profound and weird places our conversations have taken us in have rendered everyone in a collective coma. Carol is chattering listlessly with Sarah, but everyone else seems distracted either by their smartphones or a sudden need to doze quietly in place. Carl, who was exchanging a word or too with George, looks up at me. "I don't think we'll be eating dinner tonight." "There seems to be a lot of food left", say I. Melissa looks up from her phone. You're all welcome to finish the leftovers", she says, getting up. "You're not leaving already are you", says Carl. "It's a two hour drive", she says flatly. "if I go now I should get back by seven thirty. Sheila was wanting help in the kitchen. Says no one else seems available, except Jenn, but she already takes on way too much. As usual, the women end up doing everything, and if the men could get away with it, we'd be wiping their asses for them." She leaves without saying goodbye. Francois, now awake from his mini nap, is looking at his phone. "Text from Chelsea", he says. "Wants to know if she can come in an hour." "That should be okay", say I. "What about us?" says Lazarus, puttiing his phone on his knee. "You're both staying here tonight, and longer if you want. There are beds made up in the basement, and it's pretty decently appointed so you should be comfortable here." "I would love to go for a walk", says Jason. "Anyone else.."

The Peacock 1478

They've been pretty strict here but at least we are allowed to go outside. Our public health officer for the province is super popular and she has been able to balance common sense with compassion, fairness and caution." "Fouteen days trapped inside a fucking hotel room is not my idea of compassion." "This is your fourth day? "Fifth." "Hang in there, you'll be out in a week and a half." "Chris, is there any way you could get me out of here" "No. Sorry." "Maybe your friend Carl could use his wealth and influence..." "Don't even think it. We hae enough going on right now without running afoul of the law." "But I don't even have it. I tested negative." "Don't matter. Our hospitals and long term care and icu units are already past breaking point. No one is taking any chances." "Meanie." "Well, sorry." "No worries. Well, Jesus is here with me, even if you can see him and I can't, but I feel him with me. Thank you so much Chris." There is a knock on the door. "Yes." "Did you fall asleep?" says Carl. "We need you right now." "Your wish is my command." I have just stopped at saying "yes master." "You are being summoned", says Erik. "Fraid so. Hey, Erik, would you like me to read to you a bit later?" "Sure , what time?" "Around seven? "I should be finished dinner by then." "How's the food?". "Not too bad... for Canadian..."

The Peacock 1477

"He had a total psychotice break, then collapsed completely. He was in a near catatonic state for several weeks." "I am not surprised to hear that", muses Erik. "You mentioned that lLindstrom is some kind of supernatual being." "Nephalim. A human and angel hybrid." "How old would he be?" "Apparently he hasn't aged noticeably in decades. How long have you and Greta known him?" "At least twenty years. You know, he has also been hospitalized in Sweden, twice that I know of in Stockholm, once in Malmo. Chris, do you think that Lindstrom is just simply crazy? I mean, bat shit." "I would imageine he is that too. But there is also all that weird supernatural shit. I told you about my dream a couple of nights ago, when he tried to break into my house." "That is truly strange." "Any word about him now that he's back in Sweden." "He is all over the news. He is being hailed as an anti covid hero, flouting the pandemic rules in order to make his trip to Canada. And he is in forensic custody, because there are also a lot of Swedes with common sense who don't buy that bullshit. Especially after the covid infection rate skyrocketed last year because they wouldn't impose a lockdown....

The Peacock 1476

I don't want to be any more essential here than necessary." "But haven't you been designated leader of this commnity?" "My point exactly." "so, Carl knows Lindstrom as well. What a small universe we are all living in." "I have also met him." "No way." "I would have been nineteen at the time. That was when he was stalking and harrassibg Kenny." "Who would that be?" "I told you about him. He was that friend who was livng here with dad and I, years ago." "Drag queen hooker?" Involuntarily i am wincing at that kind of designation for my closest friend ever in my life. "Among other things." "What was Lindstrom's interest in hin?" "Same with you, same with Carl. He was obsessed with Kenny, and wanted to bring him totally under his control. "You never told me about any of this." "After Kenny died I found his diary, and he wrote extensively about Lindstrom." "How did you meet hin?" "When he was a patient in the psychiuatric wing of the local hospital." "What!"

The Peacock 1475

"What is Carl's role in all this?" "He wants as little do do with this as possible. Lindstrom did follow them to the mansion, and has been around off and on to complicate their lives for them. But right now they have other things to worry about, especially with seeing to the dissolving of a native curse that was put on the place after they effectively stole the land from the local First Nation." "One dirty after another." "Right now, as well as Cynthia the cousin, their half sister, Naomi is here. She is part native, her mother being from the same first nation that invoked the curse and her grandfather is an elder with the nation and apparently has offered his assistance. But the price of his help could mean the demoliton of said mansion as well as the return of the land to the First Nation." "Is that why Carl just bought that house in New Westminster?" "It all appears to be providential." "This is all very interesting. Hey, Christopher, I guess I should be letting you get back to your company." "I'm really in no hurry to continue playing host. Do you want to hang out for a bit longer?" "I don't mind at all...

The Peacock 1474

To really confuse things further, Carl and Melissa's father, who was born in Holland after the War, became involved in dark satanic arts and practices, so that their mother had to divorce him in order to rescue her kids, but he maintained a tight hold on them through his wealth and fortune and effectively blackmailed her and the kids so that they had to come visit him at the mansion in BC every summer. Carl rebelled by going into drugs and street, or, this being Amsterdam, canal prostituion where he was actually rescued by a transwoman British hooker, who ironically is of the same class or race of beings as our own Lindstrom, but fear not, despite her oldest profession, she is on the side of good and actually rescued Carl from Sven Lindstrom in Amsterdam. I believe you met her in Sweden where she was involved in a battle royal with Lindstrom and your sister. Anyway, guess who's coming to dinner?" "What do you mean?" "Stella happens right now to be in Vancouver. I saw her ever so briefly in the coffee shop today with Cynthia and another individual and seems to be networking with them here." "Oh my God", says Erik. "I don't think there is anything to worry about. I mean, yes she seems scary and powerful, but I think she will be fighting on our side..."

The Peacock 1473

"I'm all ears." And it is clear he is feeling much better, smiling, jovial, and even his skin looks healthy, given that he has spent most of a week indoors. I do not see the teenage Jesus there, but that doesn't matter. He is present, regardless of what we can or cannot see or hear. "This is what I know right now. The mansion where Carl lives with his sister Melissa and an intentional Christian community of outcasts was built just before the First World War by their great grandfather. He made his fortune on silver mines in Indonesia, then under Dutch control, where they exploited and virtually enslaved and abused the local people. Apparently their great grandfather raped and impregnated a local girl. His brother was working there with him, but was himself a devout Christian with morals and ethics. He married the girl that his brother had raped and impregnated and then he took her with him back to the Netherlands where they gave birth to their child whom they raised as their own. Following World War Two, their daughrter, now a wife and mother, immigrated here to Vancouver, Richmond actually, where Cynthia, who I think is their third cousin, or something like that, was born and raised. Anyway, through her own research and inquiries, Cynthia learned that the mother of the girl who was raped, a local woman of magic and wisdom, invoked against their great grandfather and his descendants, a curse, and this has seeped its way into their lives in so many ways, and has really created havoc in their family, their lives, and in this mansion they inherited from their father...

The Peacock 1472

Well, as you know, I have all these people staying with me here in the house where I grew up, and..." I can feel myself shuddering, and just now, feeling weak and vulnerable. This is taking a toll on me. "It's taking a lot out of you, Chris". "It is...I have to fight and struggle to get quiet time. Partly it's because of Carl. He is so needy and codependent, and I had to almost run out of here this morning before he could organize our day together." "Where did you go." "I went for a drive and ended up at the apartment on hHamilton Street, ahd there I went to sleep for three hours." "This is taking a lot out of you." "Then I went for coffee nearby at the Bean Around the World on Hastings and Cambie, and there I ran into some other people I know." "Who?" He does not know anything about Chuck and I am not yet prepred to tell him. "Cynthia, this cousin of Carl's who was invited here for lunch today with other people. So I drove her back with me." "How does she fit in?" "She runs a support network for survival hookers (so much for the santiizing "sex worker")" "How does she fit in with everything." "That is a very long story which has its roots in indonesia more than a hundred years ago...

1471

Much better. Much much better. Thank you so much, Chris." "I didn't do anything, Erik. It was all done by Jesus. He is with you right now in your hotel room. do you see him?" "No, but I feel so much better now. " He is smiling. "What did you do?" "Jesus appeared to me here in this room while we were talking, and now he is with you. Or I should say he is with us both." "This is crazy. i mean, none of this makes sense, and yet I believe you. I feel there is someone in here with ne." "And someone is staying with you. He will always be staying with you, Erik. Those demonic shadows will not be returning. They are powerless to do you any harm. And they flee from the light of Christ, because they are terrified." "Thank you, brother. So now, tell me about your day today." And this reminds me of how important it is for Erik to hear about My daily, even my most mundane and routine activities, because this also helps normalize his experience of being isolated...