1680

"Do you know what happened, Stella", says Carl. "I do know that you both had to escape and yes your lives were also in danger." "We found our father's body. He had been shot in the head. We didn't know what to do so we ran. "Sven really wanted you two to be sacrificed. Your father, for some reason had found repentance and refused to let him near you. In the end, he did come, in his way to love you, and for him it was too late. He paid with his life. "Were you yourself there?" "I said, no more questions..."

1679

"Those beings in white", says Carl. "Yes. it makes sense. And my father's death?" "I cannot answer that." "But you must know something, Stella." "Carl", she says preempotorally. "No more questions." "Okay." "You and Melissa are both innocent. There was nothing you could do." "Did Sven do it?". I said", and now there is a distellation of anger in Stella's voice, "No more questions..."

1690

"It's paid off, says Carl. "That it has." "Stella, says Carl. "Tell me something please. If our father was a danger to us, how could we possibly have spent all those summers alone in the wildreness with him and... and live." "yes, Carl. Sven came there many many times to try to get him to fulfil his debt to his satanic master, but there they were completely and totally disempowered." "How did that happen." "The land that the mansion is on, for reasons that even I am not sure of, is another portal, a new one for the Millionth Council. Nothing evil can be done there now. Their agents and watchers are everywhere. I am sure you have at times encountered some of them..."

1677

Carl is very quiet and inside himself right now, as Stella pauses to allow him a few moments. Then he says, looking up at us, "Yes. We did know this all the time. No one spoke of it. It was never mentioned. But Mom's absolute state of terror and rage as she collected us both and bundled us into your car, Stella. I had never ever seen her that way before. Melissa and I never talked about it. It somehow felt like something too horrible to touch." "Yes, I completely understand, Carl. "Your father, with Sven's help, did everything possible to track you both down, but somehow they never found out where you were being hidden But they eventually gave it up. Still, there were the divorce proceedings and all that horrible mess of blackmail, basically enslaving you to him in exchange for your share of inheritance and maintenance....

1688

"Sven, and your father both, never knew what hit them. Two incrediblly arrogant and stupid men, but that's what evil does to one. Sven had no idea that I was working against him. It was by his invitation, by his insistence, that I came to Amsterdam in the first place. I met with him and your father several times, but never attended their rituals since that is forbidden by the Millionth Council, with whom I work. But they were planning to abduct both you and your sister as they were convinced that you both had been specially chosen." "Specially chosen for what", says Carl, nervous. "To be sacrificed to their satanic master, Behemoth..."

1675

"Around that time, Carl, your father and my twin brother were already in cahoots. Do you happen to remember the day when I rescued you, your mother and your sister from them?" "That was your work?" he says. "That car that came to get you. It was not a taxi." "I distinctly recalled a lady cab driver." "That cabbie was no lady", says Stella, smiling... "So my mother already knew..." "We had been meeting together, your mom and I for some months. It took a little time and planning, you see..."

1674

"And it just so happens that I have had white stuff on my face, in the daytime, all hours. That's what made me a lot of money. "I'm sure the house on the canal wasn't cheap", says Carl. "Nice place actually Old." "How old", says Erik. "Four hundred years", she says. So, why did you pick Amsterdam", say I, "Or is that a dumb question." "Not dumb in the least", she says. "Sven was there, and he needed to be intercepted..."

1673

Stella takes another sip of her cappuccino, still unaware of the white foam that hangs on her lips like garland on a Christmas tree. "what are you laughing about", she asks Erik and Carl. "you have white foam all over your mouth and it looks hilarious", says Carl. Nonchalantly she reaches for a serviette and wipes the foam from her mouth. "Just look at her", says Carl. "It's not even dark yet and already she has white stuff on her face." "better than a booger hanging from my nose", she says. "Don't be so sure", says Carl, laughing...

1672

"Can anyone figure out", say I, "Why this Jesus always appears as an adolescent and not as an adult male with a beard. I mean the way we are used to seeing images of the Risen Christ in artwork, looking much the same as before his death, beard and everything, but with whiter clothes. Stella replies, "It would be because in his resurrected form he would really look very different. More adrogynous, like an angel, and eternally youthful and radiant with the transfigured beauty of a teenage boy." "in the Gospels", says Carl, "We read that the diciples never recognized him at first after he rose from the dead." "That would be the reason why..."

1671

"How did that go", says Carl. "I was seated near the front, facing the high altar. Mass was over and I was the only person left in the church. Then he appeared, as though emerging from out of the high altar, and descended the steps and approached me till he stood before me. He was dressed in his usual simple attire and he looked at me with a radiant smile. I felt myself tremble and shake before him from the very foundation of my being. He stood before me, still smiling, then took both my hands in his own and said, "Do not be afraid. Yes, I know where you are going, and for what reason. Of course I cannot approve but I will still be with you, and I will turn your brass into gold." Then he vanished as though into thin air. I looked at my hands and realized there was blood on them, from the wounds of his own hands...

1672

"And to make things even more interesting", she adds, "I ended up getting pregnant." "What! impossible", says Carl. "Hermphrodites don't get pregnant. They don't have the right equipment." "I do. Sven and I are not hermaphrodites in the strict sense. We are each both fully male and fully female. Not half and half." "You would be a gynocologist's nightmare." "I daresay", she replies, sounding now remrkably like Carol. "Or perhaps his wet dream Remember, Carl, that prominent gynocologist who happened to be one of my regular johns in the house on the canal?"

1670

"By all means", say I, "But I am worried about Jesús. "Your friend is safe in Colombia. I believe he is now sitting up in bed and enjoying his first bit of solid food in years. Liquid actually. They are going to be very slowly, very graduallly reintroducing him to solid food. And you will see him again. Aaron doesn't realize this, oh, but likely he is eavesdropping right now as always, so he is going to realize this, but very soon, both our dimensions are going to come together and that is why he is writing all this. Only now is he starting to know this. But yes, one more time, on with my tale. in 1995 I finished my collaboration with Pedro Almodóvar and was already preparing to move to Amsterdam. I knew already exactly what I was going to be doing. Prostitution, and on a recent visit to Barcelona I had another encounter with the young Jesus...

1681

"So you two work together", says Erik. "We are a team. But for some reason we are not able to coinhabit the same space. We seem to be too close, in a sense indivisible. Aaron is me in his dimension, and I am Aaron here. "Have you ever visited his dimension", say I. "Not ever. It is a place I am unable to inhabit. it is like this for my twin brother as well. We only inhabit this place." On her way from the washroom Stella had purchased another cappuccino. Now she takes her first sip, and appears blissfully unaware of the milk foam adorning her lips as she puts the cup down. "Shall I continue with my little tale, darlings..."

1668

"So, what happened to Aaron", say I . "Oh, he is back in his dear little apartment in his dear little dimension writing us some more." "I still don't get it." says Carl. "Darling, I simply pulled this little trick on our purported author in order to put him in his place. Keep him in line as they say." "So", says Erik, "It is you are are calling the shots." "Oh God no, I am every bit as clueless and out of control here as the rest of you. I'll just say that Aaron and I have a little agreement, and if I see he is getting a little too smug or arrogant, well, I have ways of dealing with him. But he really is a lovely man, or human being, since he has some issues around gender, and someone who is extaordinarily close to God."

1667

"You're not going to sit there and try to convince us", say I that you are really Stella and that Stella really is..." "I tell you all most honestly and most sincerely", says Aaron that "I am every bit as surprised as the rest of you. I was only just writing this out and then all of a sudden, poof, here I am and where did Stella get to. Oh that's right, we are Stella, and we are Aaron?" Suddenly Stella emerges from the washroom and now Aaron is gone again. "I trust we are all enjoying this little parlour trick we are playing on you right now", she says, taking again the seat that Aaron has just vacated. "What are you all looking at me that way for. Even transgender half deity hermaphrodites have to get up and pee sometimes. And no I am not going to say whether I pee standing or sitting down..." "We didn't see you get up to go to the washroom", says Erik. "Well, la-di-da"

1666

Aaron is simply roaring with boisterous laughter as he sits there now where Stella was just holding court. "I'd love to kiss you, but I just washed my hair." And now the laugh is on all of us as we join in his mirth, especially given that Aaron is quite noticeably bald. And now Carl, no longer smiling, fixes on him gravely and says, "What the hell is going on." "What's the mattr", says Aaron flirtatiously, and rather just like Stella, "Don't you approve of my new look." And now he is laughing again.

1665

"Where did he go", say I, completely bamboozled. "He has returned to himself in Bogotá. He will be discharged in a couple of months after some rather intense rehabilitation then he will go to live with his mother in the family home. This will be much better for him. There is no future for him here." "Are you in cahoots with Aaron", says Carl. "Darling" says Stella with a flourish, "I am..." And suddenly she is gone, and here is Aaron, our purported author, seated in her place...

1741

Which makes you and I fourth cousins", sys Carl. "That is does. But Christopher, please forgive me for not paying more attention to you right now." "Oh, that's quite all alright, we're used to Carl and his unique talent for sucking all the oxygen out of the room." "I love you too Chris." "We know that already." "Excuse me if I am overstepping", says Lawrence, "But are you two partners?" "We don't sleep together", if that's what you are really asking", say I, "but I would call us very close." Carl is nodding. "I would like to ask you some questions about medications, but are you comfortble with talking about this in front of everyone here?" "Can't hurt."

1664

"How do you know this" says Jesús. "Tell me what you are feeling right now." "Very strange." "Strange in what way", says Carl. "Like I'm in a dream. Like I am waking out of a dream." Now we are all staring stupidly at the empty chair where Jesús, up until this very moment, had been sitting. "Adiós querido Jesús", says Stella...

1663

"Was I one of your lessons in humility?" says Carl, chuckling. "You among others, Carl. But yes, especially you. You became my son, and being with me helped me mourn and complete my grieving over the loss of Suzanna. I have never told you this before, but to me you will always be my child, Carl." they are both quiet, and both looking down into their laps. This is just one of those tender scenes that really should be private, but now we all somehow get to participate, liking it or not. "And the rest of you here, Christopher, Erik, Jesús, through Carl I already feel that you have become my children." "Thank you", whispers Jesús for the very first time. "Thank you." "By the way, Jesús", says Stella ",you have just come out of your coma in Bogotá, in your parallel dimension. Soon you will be returning home..."

1662

in 1976, just during the fall of the Franco dictatorship, I moved to Spain, first to Barcelona and then to Madrid, where I met the famous film director Pedro Almodóvar. We hit it off immediately and then he invited me to play some bit parts in a couple of his films. He seemd to really be drawn to transwomen, and gave a good number of us lots of acting opportunities. The money wsn't great but it kept me away from the oldest profession for a few years. Plus, the young Jesus had just appeared to me again, in Barcelona, inside the Sagrada Familia, and it was then and there that he enlisted me in his service. However, he did not tell me to stop hooking. In fact, he told me that he was going to allow me to continue in this trade for sometime, since there were some invaluable lessons in humility that I was about to learn. And then I moved to Amsterdam....

1661

"I didn't know you have a kid", says Carl. "Had a kid. Suzanna died tragically young from a rare form of leukemia. Not all of us hybrids are immortal. Some are born dreadfully fragile and my daughter was one. I lost her when she was ten yers old." Stella lowers her eyes briefly, because it is clear that the grief is still fresh with her, after so many years. I am suprised and delighted to see how vulnerable and human she is. "When did she die", says Erik. "1957." Stella inhales briefly then swallows and continues, "I continued as a prostitute in Copenhagen. The fact that I simply was not ageing, though upon my daughter's death I was already in my forties, and being both a man and a woman drew to me a very moneyed and very decadent clientele...

1659

"Did he say anything to you?" say I. "No. He disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared when I was lying on the pavement. The war ended, and several months later I was in Copenhagen, where I lived for several years. That was when I became a hooker, which happened all rather quickly for my liking. I met a man there who decided then and there that he was going to shag me, only once, in a hotel room. I don't know, to this day, why I consented. And it wasn't even consent really. But I do suspect that my father had something to do with it. He had, and still has, agents all over the place." "Like the guy at the hotel desk yesterday", says Carl. "Curtis is quite another story. But still connected. Anyway, after sex that night, I fell asleep, and when I woke up in the morning, he was gone. But he did leave a very nice wad of money on the night table, I cannot remember how much, but it was more than enough to get me by for a couple of years" "You must have been pretty good", quips Carl. "To the manner born, I would imagine", she says...

1658

"Have you had any other encounters with him?" asks Erik. "Several. The next occurred during the Second World War. I was in London in the midst of a bombing raid. For some reason I had not found my way to the underground shelter in time. a German bomb exploded upon the building next to me and the next thing I knew I was lying facedown on the pavement, emerging from unconsciousness. I felt a presence and noticed someone crouching over me. It was the boy. He helped me up and walked me back to my flat. I was working at the time in a small shop that sold cigarettes, tobacco, candies, magazines and newspapers. It was just below where I lived. For some reason I felt a strong need to be there, then remembered that I was supposed to be doing stock inventory. The boy went in with me, and sat down on a stool and quietly watched over me as I got to work...

1657

"I have been preparing for this opportunity to see you both together", was the first thing he said. I should mention that there is something about this boy's presence that is both arresting and mesmerizing. You cannot not pay attention. He commands it. Divine authority. We were holidaying in Cornwall and we saw him at the beach. He took us to a beach house, where I imagine he must have been staying. The place was all bright and airy, the windows were wide open and the table in the centre had a great tall candle burning and a loaf of bread and a chalice of wine. "In many years", he said", "you are both going to be in my service, "First you, Isabella, (that was my name before I changed it to Stella) and then you, Sven. Staring fixedly at my brother, he added "You are going to be particularly difficult for a while, because you are going to try to rebel against your calling and mission by returning to the service of your father, but eventually you will break, and broken, you will come to stay with me again to be healed." Then, he broke the bread, which he divided between us, then offered us the chalice to drink from, and suddenly, he was gone...

1656

Naturally" says Stella. "It always has to be on his terms. The things you can get away with when you happen to be Jesus." "You said you have had contact with him." "On a good number of occasions. Since I was a teenager. From time to time he would appear and walk with me on the beach. i didn't realize at the time who he was. I just thought he was some nice kid visiting with his family and looking for new friends to hang out with. He never said much of anything, just hi, how are you and okay if we walk together. That was going on before Sven had his tits removed then resumed visiting every summer. Then, on Sven's first visit, he appeared again while we were on the beach together. For the first time he spoke to us...

1655

Carl starts laughing. "Oh, that is just so hilarious. Council of Dark lords. Do they have a contract with Marvel comics?" "I an dead serious, Carl. I agree, they sound silly, and part of the problem is they take themselves so seriously. But even if they are a clique of ridiculous self-parodies, they still pose a dangerous threat, to us, to the world, and they have to be stopped." "So then, what do you propose", say I. "My brother, for all his bumbling incompetence and weakened powers is still their major tool. He has to be completely disabled." "How" "We have to see if we can get him to return to the island where Jesus lives. "and how do you propose to do that." "You have had contact with him. Haven't you?" "I have, but it is always on his terms and at his convenience... "We have also had some encounters with him, or rather, Chris has", says Carl. "How very very interesting." "And apparently, so has your brother", say I. "What!" she says. "how can that be? They are so completely opposed to each other." "I read about it in my friend's journal, kenny. He was being pursued and stalked by Lindstrom for quite a long time, and finally got from him a full confession. He spent some weeks in the kid's mansion with him where he seemed on the verge of a complete turn around. Then he did something to sabotage it, and went off on his way again." "Yes. Yes. That explains it." "Explains what", says Carl. "Sven's power has diminished greatly in the past twenty years or so...

1654

"so then you know about his hospitalizations", say I. "Yes, I know all about them." "Do you know anything at all about the identity of your father?" says Carl. "That he is not human. He is part of a race of supernatural immortal beings. There are many. I know this much from Sven from when we spent our summers together. They call themselves the Council of Dark Lords, and they are ranged in defiant opposition to the Millionth Council, which are the guardians of this planet earth.

1651

The young man led her into the house, where there were lit candles everywhere, all of them black. He brought her into a smaller room and told her to go lie on the bed, which she did and then he disappeared. She had very little recall of what transpired afterward, but for the rest of her life was woken screaming every night with nightmares. She didn't know anything else until early the next morning, at dawn when she was staggering back to her home. When she entered the house, her mother was waiting for her in the kitchen. She simply asked how she was, then told her to go to bed. Years later, she confessed to my mother that that same young man in the dark cloak had been visiting her over the years, telling her she must yield to him one of her children. First her eldest brother, then her brother who was a bit younger, then her sister who was a bit younger still. Our mother was the youngest. Each time, my mother refused to give up her child, and within months, each one died of a misterious ailment....

1650

"What sorts of things." says Erik. "That we are of a different race from other humans. That we are rather a hybrid. That the reason neither of us had ever seen our father was for the simple fact that he chose in our presence to remain invisible. That he had that power. Our mother also helped fill in some blanks. We were not conceived in any ordinary way, but when she was fifteen, one chilly autumn night, she was walking alone on the beach, when she felt someone catch up with her. At first she saw a young man, but then there was nothing, and a voice told her to follow him. The young man appeared again. He was wearing a dark cloak that trailed on the ground. She followed him until they arrived at a beach house. He told her to go inside and wait for him there.

1649

"But he never let my brother out of his sight. They even slept in the same room. And of course, all of our playtimes together were atteded and supervised by him." "Did he have a name", say I? "Caspar. The visits ended when we were thirteen and both hitting puberty. Sven didn't come the next year nor the year after. Then, when we were sixteen, he came again, this time alone. His breasts were removed and he identified totally as a boy. mine were already fully developed along with my male genitalia. That was when he began telling me things. Things I will never forget. Things that have totally changed my life...

1648

"You never mentioned him to me in Amsterdam", says Carl. "My father, everything about him, has always been shrouded in mystery. Mother would never talk about him, and if I ever asked her about him she would shush me and change the subject. When sven began to spend summers with him from when we were six, he always had an attendant minding him, a rather strange young man." "Strange in what way", says Erik as he takes an exploratory sip of his vibrantly green matcha. "he almost never talked or said anything. Not even to Sven, whom he seemed to control telepathically. A very strange sort of man. intensely pretty, I mean, more pretty than handsome, But he did seem to like us. Smiled a lot, and enjoyed sitting with us over meals and tea...