1592 The Peacock

"Dad is here", says Carl. "Hey Aaron, have you ever thought of phoning first before you drop in." Erik is staring at me with very wide, startled eyes. Aaron comes out of the kitchen, munching on a Breton cracker in one hand and carrying a plate with several more in his left. "Help yourself", says Carl. He seats himself at the dining room table and looks across at us, a rather odd, wise kind of smile on his face. "The crackers are actually from my own kitchen." "And you just carried them with you on the bus", says Carl. "Actually, I have no idea how I got here." "You mean, you weren't planning to visit ", say I. "I never do plan these visits. But now that I'm here...

1591

"That is creepy", says Erik. "And completely preposterous. So if this is true, this guy knows everything about us, hears everything we say, sees everything we do. "like Santa Claus" says Francois, Who then sings in a better than passable baritone, "he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake." "So, Aaron can see me when i'm picking my nose." "Or when you're jacking off", says Carl, smiling. "that's enough Dutch tact out of you Vancouvorden", say I. "And he even knows your cock size, mine, Erik's, Jesús, and even you Francois." "Nothing could be further from the truth", rings Aaron's voice from the kitchen.

1590

We have this eccentric friend, an older guy, named Aaron", says Carl, "Who claims that he is writing us as we get on with our lives." "You can't be serious." "We also happen to believe him", say I. "No way." "He appears to have the ability to appear and disapper at will" says Francois. Apparently, according to him, "We are living in parallel dimensions that are mostly identical, and that he is really just a fly on the wall eavesdropping on our lives then writing it all up on his blog.

The Peacock 1589

"The Kid Jesus would know", says Carl. "We could ask him next time he shows." "That could be interesting", say I, "Each time he has appeared my mind has usually gone completely blank. "Having seen him myself that one time when Lindstrom tried to break into the house, I would concur. There is something about that kid's presence that seems to blur and blot out everything else, no matter what might be going on." "Would Aaron have any idea?" says Francisco. "He hasn't been around in a while. I think he is the one who started us on the idea of Lindstrom and Stella as nephilim." say I. He actually admits that he isn't sure either", says Francisco. "What nerve", says Carl. "He is after all the one who is writing us." "Who are you talking about", wonders Erik, "And what do you mean that he is writing us...

The Peacock 1588

Sorry", says Erik, "But my deeply ingrained Nordic rationalism forbids me to even consider somethign so far off the grid." "Well", says Carl, clearly amused, "You have had plenty of contact with Lindstrom as well as your sister. How are you going to explain everything?" Erik, instead of answering, abruptly averts his eyes from Jesús, who clearly is smitten , and looks down at his phone. "What are you looking for?"" say I. "How do you spell that word. Wait, here it is." Erik reads for maybe five seconds, looks up and says, "That is pretty weird. And you know this about them...how?" "We don't", says Carl. "Conjecture"; say I . "Reductive thinking", says Francois. "what else could they be?" says Carl.

The Peacock 1587

"I lived with her in Amsterdam." "No way." "I was just eighteen. A rent boy on the canals, and Stella took me under her wing, rescued me from Lindstrom and got me off of drugs. She saved my life. She was a hooker back then." "You're lying." "I kid you not. I used to screen her johns for her." "What is she. Exactly." "Apparently. " say I, "Stella and Lindstrom are the same class of being." "Nephilim," says Francois. "What is that", says Erik. "an ancient angel and human hybrid", says Francois. "And apparently immortal."

1586

With a mischievous grin quivering on his lips, Carl says, "We ought to introduce them." "Who?" say I. "Why, Stella and Karen of course. They'd get along like a house on fire." "which is exactly what might end up happening", says Francois with his usual arsenal of common sense. "Karen sounds interesting", says Erik. "I would really like to meet her one day. Stella can wait. For a long time." "Isn't she your ally?" say I. "That isn't the point. She is so scary. I really want to stay as far from her as possible."