The Peacock 472

 "It´s kind of hard to explain.  He came here in the mid sixties with his girlfriend.  They were kind of abducted or manipulated and were part of a really bizarre cult that was living here at the time.  He was from Spain.  If you ask them, I'm sure Jesús and Aaron will be glad to help you catch up.  They have been reading it to us the last couple of nights."

"And this guy's name was Cosme.  That is so odd."

"This whole place is odd", I say.

"It's haunted."

"Yes, I believe you are right."

"What's it been like for you, living here for ten years?"

"I really don't know where to begin."  He pauses to take a sip of coffee.  His hand seems to have a slight tremor.  "I would say that after a decade here, this place still doesn't feel like home.  I would like to get out of here.  If I knew where to go.  I'm not exactly young, as you can see."

"It's really beautiful here", I say, "I mean the house and the grounds."

"I guess I should feel privileged being here.  especially with the kindness of Carl and Melissa and all they have done to support us here and our community.  But all that seems to be up for change now.  Especially now that our leader is gone."

"There was quite the drama here the other day, when he left."

"Maureen told me all  about it  We're all upset."

"Do you miss him?"

"We are feeling the void he has left.  I can't say that any of us actually loved him.  But Doug did hold everything together..."

The Peacock 471

Glen and I are left alone at the table.  This feels for me awkward, not because I don't like him, but because I really seem to like him.  He appears shy and self contained.  He also spares me the effort of having to come up with a conversation starter.

"How are you enjoying this place, Christopher?"

"I only wish I knew how to answer that."

"Did you only just arrive?  Wait, I think I have seen you in the garden the last couple of days."

"I think for me it's been around five days.  You know, I had amnesia when I arrived here."

"That happened to me, more than ten years ago."

""Did you also forget your name?"

"Cosme?"

."That happened to me.  My first full day here.  Carl had to help me get on my Skype account so I could remember my real name."

"No one ever explained to me",says Glen, "About Cosme."

"He lived here during the sixties."

"How do you know?"

"It's all in the journal he left here.  Carl held onto it for years."

"Why didn't he tell me anything.  Didn't he read it?"

"It was all written in Spanish, so he couldn't read it.  But two of the other guests here, Jesús, who is Colombian, and Aaron, both speak Spanish, so they are together translating it for us..."

 

The Peacock 470

 "Wait a minute", says Sarah, "isn't there work to do?"

"Francois and Tristan are doing the floors upstairs", says Carl, "George and Jeff are working in the garden, Melissa and Carol are making pies  And I think that Maureen and Jenn are taking care of the third floor today.  Who only knows what the others have got up to, and I think that Aaron and Jesús are on a hike together, an excuse for both of them to speak Spanish.  Everything's taken care of.  We can hang out and lolligag like faux royalty."

"I feel restless", says Sarah, "Like I really need to go dancing."

"Why don't you?" says Carl.

"Ha!  I only wish!"

"I'm also feeling restless", says Glen.

"It's probably from all the coffee", say I

"And I am putting on another pot", says Carl, heading for the kitchen.

"Hey Carl", she says, "How much milk do we have left?"

"Lots."

"Make a big batch of cocoa?"

"Only if you supervise.  You have the magic touch for all things chocolate, my good Sarah..."

The Peacock 469

 Sarah says to Glen, "Didn't take you long to convince him to change his mind."

"Let's see how he does working this morning with Father François", he replies.

"I would love to be a fly on the wall", says Carl.

"Why do you waste your time on him?" Sarah says, clearly not happy about the situation.

"Why does Jesus waste time on any of us?" Carl retorts.  "Did you hear what he just read to us?  I Corinthians.  That's us  Weak, foolish, contemptible, and all so greatly loved by the great Divine lover himself."

"I couldn't say it better", says Glen.

"But what he said about Francois.  That's worse than horrible", says Sarah.

"Doug did an ace job of brainwashing him", Glen says.  ""Even I wasn't immune, and it actually took his abusive treatment of Father François to snap me out of it."

"Anyway", says Carl, "It'll be interesting to hear what they have to tell us during coffee time."

"When do you want to go work out in the back", says I.

"What time is it?" says Carl.

"Almost nine."

"It can wait till after lunch."

"isn't it supposed to start raining at noon?" says Sarah.

"It can wait till tomorrow.  How's everyone's coffee...?

The Peacock 468

"That is us."

"That it is", says Glen.  "Oh Glen, would you like more coffee?" 

"I can get it", he says.

"stay where you are.  I will serve you your coffee."

"Thank you."

"How do you like it?"

"Double double."

All the mugs here are the same shade of deep midnight blue.  Then Glen mentions, "You know, I used to have a mug just like this one.  It was my favourite.

"They are elegant", says Sarah indifferently.

Francois appears in the doorway.  "Excuse me, I am about to start washing the floors on the second floor, and I would really like it, Tristan, if you could help me."

"I'm reading the word of God", he mumbles.

Carl says, smiling at him, "And now you have a chance to live out the word of God."

Tristan says nothing, glances around at all eyes focussed on him, gets up from the table and follows Father Francois out of the room...

The Peacock 467

 "What are you reading exactly?" says Carl

Tristan begins to read aloud:

.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 

22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 

24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 

29 so that no one may boast before him. 

30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

The Peacock 466

 Sarah returns, and her mug contains more coffee.

"That was fast", says Carl, grinning, "How much work did you get done?"

"I don't feel like working outside right now"", she says as she takes her seat again.

Tristan is ignoring all of us while he reads his small Bible. 

"What are you reading, Tristan?" says Carl, good-naturedly.

"The word of God."

"Which words of God?" says Carl.

"Corinthians."

"Oh, you mean you're reading the word of Paul", says Sarah.

"The Holy Spirit wrote it through Paul."

"Some of it anyway, I would imagine", she says wearily.

"All of it.  That's your problem, Sarah.  You don't believe in the Bible."

"I suppose that is my problem she says", almost slamming down her cup of coffee.  "But I do believe in the one whom the Bible talks about."

"It's the word of God.  All of it.  As Jesus says in Matthew, every jot and tittle." Tristan has not raised his voice, but seems to prefer to maintain the same inexpressive mumble...