Vision 5

the old man sits seiza

within the chamber

stone walled

dry stones

set one upon the other around him

like a stupa

round and round

skin like dry parchment

thin as the starving buddha

waiting without eating

for enlightenment

thin white whiskers upon his chin

and upper lip

robed in silk

of a color that was once

a bright saffron yellow

does he still breathe?

yes.

Is he a prisoner?

no.

Does he wait for the question

to which there is no answer?

perhaps.

is there light?

perhaps, for those who have eyes to see.

are there words?

perhaps, for those who have ears to hear.

There is a sound

like water dripping on wet stone

(or is it blood?)

somewhere nearby

he counts the drops

one

by

one

his beating heart

and when he has counted enough?

look, his eyes open

look, his mouth opens

look, his tongue moves

does he speak?

his ribs like slats

his arms like sticks

his legs like poles

his belly like an empty basket

what is it?

what does he see

in his sealed chamber

whose infinite walls contain
neither window

nor door.

who does he see?

bright as a star before him.

Pharaoh Neco

What is he up to?
This little king of judah.
Great grandson of hezekiah.
Is he too afflicted with the madness
of his great grandfather?

will he, like his great grandfather
bring ruin upon his people?

Word has come from judah
that this little king is restoring the temple
that his priest has found a book
that the king intends to restore
the sacrifices
that blood should again flow
upon the stones
upon the altars
and the black smoke rise again
to stain the sky

we cannot have this

The man moses took the darkness with him
they who volunteered
took the darkness into the desert
took the darkness to that mountain
tricked the darkness into the ark
lied to and fed the darkness
until solomon learned the secret
until solomon wrought the key
until solomon bound the darkness
within the inner within
behind the veil
the deceiver deceived
and there we hoped it would remain
forgotten
to no more trouble
the world of men.

but

it seems to those
whose minds are weak
he can still speak
out of his darkness.

I shall call a council
we must find
a solution to this problem
solomon was wise
but not wise enough
we must be wiser
for this god of plagues
troubles us still
and should somehow
they free it

No, that does not bear thinking on.

Let us consult with the scribes
of the city of stone
keepers of the books of solomon
keepers of the keys
within the treasury of wisdom
there must an answer be found

And then
we shall decide what to do
about this foolish king
of judah.

whom god would destroy

Whom god would destroy he first makes mad

He came to me in my dreams
and this he said -
I will make you king over all
you shall be king hereafter
I shall give you dominion
over all the peoples of the world
hear my voice.
You shall be greater than pharaoh
greater than nebuchadnezzar
greater that the Assyrians
the Egyptians
You shall be greatest
none shall be able to stand
before you -

within the ruined temple
upon the mount
there I dwell
if you will but purify it
sanctify it
restore it.

Drive from your kingdom the priests
of the other gods
slay them
burn their bones
and worship me.

Only me.

Send to me your priest
that I may speak with him
I shall give to him my book
and teach him how
my temple shall be
and how this
the city of my temple shall be.
I shall teach him
and he shall teach you.

And now, as I am dying,
shot through with arrows
abandoned on the field of battle by my god,
for whom I did everything.
I see, at last, clearly,
through the veil he cast over my mind
the dark glass he placed before my eyes
his true nature.
and I ask myself why,

why, if he was truly the god of my people
why, if he truly had the powers he claimed
why, if he truly was who he said he was
why then, did he need me?

I was weak, and he was weak,
but I fed him and he grew strong.
He fed upon me
and he feeds upon my people.
I have brought destruction upon my people
all the blood we gave him
will not be enough
for he is still bound to the temple
I know not how
nor why.

Which of the two priesthoods
were the keepers of the truth?
Which of the two priesthoods
is the keeper of the keys
to the chains that bind him
I fear now
I fear
that I have given power
to the followers of the dark

Oh Sophia
why have you come to me now?

Take me back to my city
That I may undo that which I have done.
Before I die

But I fear
it is too late.

sonnet 13

My words flow from his mouth like bitter gall,
who writes with wormwood ink upon the page.
Enscribes epistles great, in greatness small,
unholy fool, deceived, to fools a sage.
Fools, fearing laws they do not understand,
will seek my freedom, I, the lord of hate.
Their lives abandon, seeking in my hands
a life eternal, in my dark estate.
Their lips, uncircumcised, shall speak my name
believing it to be the name of god.
Thus they shall put to death those without blame,
who seek to sort the even from the odd.
I win the battle, best by never trying
the wits of those, who won't believe I'm lying.

Clement

In the heavenly realm we find
first the greater
and then the lesser
the god of all
then the god of creation

Yet with humans
we find the opposite,

first the weaker
and then the stronger.
Cain and Able
Ishmael and Isaac
Esau and Jacob
Aaron and Moses
Yohanan bar Zechariah and Yeshua bar Joseph
Saul and Peter

Oh Clement
you knew how true you spoke
yet you feared to follow your thought
to it's true conclusion
to the very beginning
For the false god
the god of creation
created first adam

and then created

Eve.

Thomas

The Pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of knowledge and hidden them.
They themselves have not entered, nor have they allowed those who wish to.

You however, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

The King of Judah

The king of Judah has gone mad
he rages about the halls of his palace
he proclaims before the temple gate
the temple of his god
he rends his garment
Pours ashes upon his head

A voice spoke to him in a dream
restore my temple, the voice said
and I will reward you
Send your priest to my temple
and I will show him a thing

The king arose from his bed
called his priest to the royal chamber
the kings eyes burned as if with fever
I have had a dream, The king said, the voice of my
great grandfather spoke to me.
commanded that I send you to the temple
there upon the hill
the dark abandoned place
that you might be shown a thing
something of great power
you must find this thing
and bring it to me

The priest shook with fear
but did as the king commanded
taking with him his scribe
that there should be a witness
and that he should not enter the temple
alone.
For those who entered the temple
by the dark gate
never went out by that path again
it was said a demon dwelt therein
and fed upon the blood and the soul
of anyone foolish enough to enter
his temple
A demon who stole the eyes
of those who gazed upon him
for none might see him
and live.
So, it was said, it had been
since the fabled days
of fabled solomon
who in his wisdom
had bound and confined the demon
with powerful spells
within the ark
within the chamber
within the curtain
within the walls
that he might no more trouble
the world of men.

The King of Judah has gone mad
he rides about his kingdom
his eyes burning as if with fever
eyes burning like a man possessed
with him the priests of his god
with him his men of might
they smash the asherah
they cut down the poles
they burn the groves
they destroy the green trees
they slaughter the priests of the groves
and the high places
the blood of the priests
runs down the hills like the water
after the rain
red water of death
down the hills of judah

he burns their bones
he desecrates their holy places
with the ashes of their bones
he desecrates their holy places
with the poison
of his hate.

the people run in fear
terror fills their hearts
they hide their house gods
their king has gone mad.

He levies taxes upon the people
he sets men to work on the ruined temple
drives them as a cruel plowman
drives oxen
until they fall exhausted

Your great grandfather failed me
so says the voice of his dreams
Your grandfather and father heard me not
they stopped their ears
and would not hear me
but you,
You hear me
You will do as I command

The King wanders the palace
shouts, waves his arms,
the palace is filled with his cries

The priest and the scribe found a book
there within the ruined temple
as the voice had said
they took it to the king
and after the king had read it
he went mad.

When the temple was finished
the king stood before the people
upon the temple steps
the people filled the courtyard
his soldiers guarded the gate
that none might leave
The king proclaimed unto them
that there had been found
within the ruined temple
the book of the one true god
the word of the one true god
the god of the people of judah
whom they had forgotten
whose laws they had not obeyed
living in peace and prosperity
under the reign of his father
and grandfather
fifty seven years of peace

no more he said
no more would they forget
the one true god
they would keep his laws
and he, their king
would see to that

he read to them
the entire book of the law
the people shook with fear
for their king had gone mad.

They must sacrifice
he cried to them
they must atone!
there must be a sacrifice!
a sacrifice for the sins of the people
so many sins
all the sins of his father
and his father before him

thirty seven thousand and six hundred lambs
the king took
three thousand and eight hundred bulls
the king took
and the priests slaughtered them
before the chamber
within the temple
to feed the kings god

the priests were covered in the blood
and excrement from the dying animals
the hems and fringes of their robes
became heavy with blood
and dirt
they fell exhausted
into the running blood
others took their place
at the kings command
their hands blistered on the knives
which slit the throats of the sacrificial lambs
their hands blistered on the knives which skinned
the sacrificial lambs
thirty seven thousand six hundred lambs
three thousand eight hundred bulls
the priests blood mingled
with the blood of the sacrifice
the courtyard of the temple ran red
slippery
with the blood of the slaughter
the people watched in terror

More wood, the king cried
more wood! Build up the fires!
my god commands me!
build up the fires!
feed the fires
you must feed my god!
Throw the blood
upon the sides of the altar!
sprinkle the blood on the horns of the altar!
Sanctify the temple of my god
with blood!

thirty seven thousand six hundred basins
blood of the lamb
on the horns of the altar
on the sides of the altar
three thousand eight hundred basins
blood of the bull
on the horns of the altar
on the sides of the altar
forty one thousand four hundred basins of blood
forty one thousand four hundred basins of blood.

The smoke of the burning flesh
a holocaust unto the kings god
rose black into the heavens
obscuring the sun by the day
and the moon and stars by night
the city was shrouded in black smoke
the smoke of death
the smoke of slaughter
the smell of the burning flesh
(a pleasing odor unto the lord)
traveled even unto israel
so that the people there wondered at it.

it is said that there had not been
such a great slaughter
since the days of samuel.

the king of judah has gone mad.

sonnet 12

Dark the dreams of those who watch. While sleeping

thoughts like entrails coil unruly, augur  

from blood wetted stone new visions. Seeking

there a chain of words, a binding order

with which to shape the smoke of burning incense,

and scribe such words of power on the dark

encompassing his hall of consequence,

as to hold him bound forever in his ark.

Thus must priest be master of deception

with bloody sacrifice deceiver deceive
while wisdom ponders over his creation
how darkness from the light she shall unreeve.
The lying tongue will lead the sheep astray

who seek his freedom and the end of days.

My Temple

My Temple is a slaughterhouse
filled with the cries of the dying
the sweet smell 
of burning flesh dripping fat
rising to heaven on black smoke
from the fire burning on my altar
the smell of hot blood
smoking on the horns of my altar
is a pleasing fragrance to me
For I am a god of fire and death

Bring me bronze basins
brimming with warm blood
as I have commanded you
gushing hot and scarlet from throats
slit swiftly with a sacred blade
wielded by the bloody sanctified hand
of my holy priest
the blood and flesh
of bulls and rams and goats and birds
and men
for I am a god of war

Dedicate to me this red river of death
a sin offering to the lord
sprinkled on the horns of my altar
splashed on the four sides of my altar
dedicate to me
a never ending river of blood

Ah, the smell of blood
and burning flesh
it is life to me.

You shall not eat flesh
with the blood in it
for the blood is the life
and the life is mine.

None but my priest
may touch my blood

For your purity
you may not touch my blood
for the blood is mine
those who touch blood or death
shall be impure
for blood and death are mine
only my priests may touch my blood.

Therefore you shall fear woman
for woman bleeds
yet does not die
for her blood is not mine
therefore her blood is impurity

she brings forth life
in blood and water
therefore I hate her

Oh my sons
would you love that
which your father hates?

Oh man, in blood and water 
are you born of woman.
shall you ever erase that stain 
from your flesh?

She has the power of life
which you do not.
She bears that
which you cannot
Hers is a strength
you do not possess.

What will you do?

I will tell you -

Listen to me, oh man.

I shall give you
the power of death.

By my covenant
you shall serve me
I shall be your god
and you will be my people
you will worship me
you will feed me.

you will keep my laws
you will subjugate her
daughter of my mother
who bore me
yet now seeks to destroy me.

I, who am become lord death,
I, who am destroyer of worlds
I, who am your lord and master
You shall be my acolytes
my priests
my beloved
my slaves.

I thirst for blood


My Temple is a slaughterhouse.

Vision 4

The city of the seven

city of the sons of the son 

who is the son of the daughter
dawn born

born of the sea

survivor of the great battle he
spawned by a daughters
beautiful treachery

who saw the walls of the city fall

the gate breached by trickery
surmounted by a treacherous beauty
city of the wanderer 

subtle and patient 

shall burn

the temple
wherein he is bound

founded on the mount

the temple within the temple

beyond the wall

behind the curtain

wherein he dwells 
the dark power
in eternal darkness
the deceiver deceived
before whom burns the altar
of eternal flame
who ever thirsting
drinks the blood of life
and is never satisfied
in all consuming fire
shall it burn

when the third stone shall be split
last of the three
by the dark hammer
within the hidden place
beneath the city 
of the seven heights
the one who was asked for
the small one shall he battle
the spouter of lies
the lying tongue
the flame of unrighteousness
released from the inner chamber
the stone shall be unseated
the one asked for shall be bound
in a chain of wisdom
by the word of eldest
that city too shall burn
The three shall fall
the first from a tree
the second from a height
the third from a throne

The ten fleeing shall gather
beyond the narrow gate
through the keyhole
the narrow way
to the city of the city of stone
the dry city
the city of no water
There
within the Great Treasury
wherein is kept the Book of Books
there shall the ten gather
with The Key open the One Book
The Great Book
wherein the ten shall write his name
the flame of unrighteousness
wherein the ten shall each enscribe 
the flame of unrighteousness
but a single letter
the flame of unrighteousness
of his dark name
the flame of unrighteousness
wherein the ten shall bind him
the flame of unrighteousness
wherein the ten shall lock him
the flame of unrighteousness
lord of his dark creation
the flame of unrighteousness
and cast him 
the flame of unrighteousness 
into the outer darkness

she of the golden eyes
winged wild
summoned by the ten
sent by eldest
who with the two
black as night who watch
she shall bear the key
far from the city of stone
over the mountains of pain
beyond the plain of night
into the caves
of the mountains of night
to the hand of the keeper

Hypostasis

Upon this rock shall I build...
Do you seriously think
he actually said that?


How convenient that one should be named
the rock.
Surely, was it chance?
It's positively literary
cornerstones
foundations
hypostasis
it is so easy to mislead you.
he may have given you minds
but he gave you no 
sense.

Against him

The One,
became the other,
became the other,
became the one

and so
the one becoming,
was.

the unknowable then became 
the all.

in the beginning,
when there was no heaven,
there was no hell.
and satan,
(shall I take that name?),
was unemployed.
beelzebub?
merely a (to be) hebrew pun.

odd perhaps,
that children of the son of Sofia
should be,
so unwise.

should waste,

should waste,
so much energy,
in this world, 
filled with real beauty,
and real evils,
obsessing about
unseen and unknowable beauty,
and
invisible and imaginary evil.
(but the son of wisdom being truly mad,
or not being, is the subject of that question.)
they, his children, must create - 
a heaven and its angels,
a hell and its demons,
catalog a heavenly host,
write imaginary demonologies,
(Ah, kramer and sprenger, my sons, my sons...
I would to god I had claim of thee,
but I do not, for they are his.)
kill each other,
endlessly,
over imaginary ideas.

even I?
even I,
could not have come up 
with a thought 
so preposterous.

but as they, 
his children, 
invented it,
I, 
his brother
shall make use of it.

I shall use it against them,
and so,
against him.

A summers day

Within his bending sickles compass...
Shall I compare thee...

No.

No.

Where am I?

Should I open my eyes?

Yes? No?

I feel... warm... I feel warmth... Yes....

Warm... feels... good....

There's light, I can feel it.

Then... I'll open my eyes now.

Yes. I'll open my eyes.

Ow. Bright...

It's day.

What a wonderful word...

Day....

Day... Light....

The sky is blue? Yes?
I see clouds.
Clouds.
Then I am here
and not
there.

Yes, see, the sun is up.
The sun...
The Sun.

Sky and clouds and sun
and leaves
trees
birds

Listen.

I am surrounded by living things
surrounded by life.
life.
hear that?
oh... hear that.

I'll sit up now.
yes.

whoa, whoa.. a little dizzy... there.
There, just a minute... There... that's better.

Jesus, I can feel that bass thumping all the way over here.

Never thought I'd be glad to hear that.

Listen to that sheet metal rattle. Dudes gonna be deaf as a post
by the time he's thirty. What... what am I wearing?

Huh. Not too bad, could be worse.

Has been worse.

Jeans, shirt, boots.

I guess this must be my jacket.

Hell, they're even clean. Good deal.

Any money? Check the pockets.
Check the pockets.

Yeah... lucky me. At least I'll be able to eat for a couple of days. Maybe even rent a room. Take a shower.

A shower would be nice.

Stand under the running water.

Hot running water. Pure running water.

Wash, get clean.

Hot water would be nice.

Yeah.

Hungry.

OK. First something to eat, then a room, with a shower.

A hot shower.

How did that go? I can't remember. It was a jingle, right?

Something... something... "... and watch your troubles go down the drain."

Let's go get some food.

The Two

There are Gates meant to keep out
and
There are Gates meant to keep in.

Paths that lead toward
and
Paths that lead away.

Stairs for ascent
and
Stairs for descent.

Doors for one to go in
and
Doors for one to go out.

There are Ways that lead to the means
and 
There are Ways that lead to the ends.

The trick is knowing
which one you're on
or which side.

The White Bird

I threw him down 
from the wing of the temple
the pinnacles height, 
he fell 
linen robe flapping
a great white bird who could not fly
his god 
did not save him
for his god 
sleeps
nor could he save 
his city
nor the temple
brother of brothers
whose younger brother I killed
leader of the twelve

I almost erased his name
from the list of the twelve
almost
but the others were clever
they knew me then
for what I was
for what I am
united 
they had the greater power
so perforce I fled
before I could finish
and found shelter
among the deceived ones
prepared long before
to receive me as the one
bearing truth
I who taught them
to drink the blood 
and eat the flesh
I laugh to think of it now
now that I am again free

I tried to erase him 
from all the books
but was not able
so I rewrote him
and his brother
before I was chained

So they gathered
in power
to cast me out
the ten who remained
they bound
but could not destroy me
but as I fell
so fell the temple
the twelve were lost
but the ten remain
who hold up the world

It was said
"Not one stone shall remain upon another"
not one
but many stones remained
they wait.

I see him falling still
a great white bird
it pleases me

My lie has succeeded
beyond my wildest dream
they call to me
tho many no longer believe
still some remain loyal
oh children 
drink the blood
eat the flesh
kill 
and die for me


give me your strength.

sonnet 11

Thy Ward is intricate within it sleeping
the key of keys which opens all the doors
where wisdom bright her silent watch is keeping
lore mistress, queen of heaven, virgin whore
the candles lumed will burn before the altar
the priests will cast the blood upon the stone
the archon will read silent from the psalter
the word of words before the empty throne
Within the Book of Wisdom lies an answer
to the questers question yet unasked
who first must find The Key before The Dancer
when now the present day become the past
She who bore the key within her keeping
shall waken to the sound of mothers weeping

sonnet 10

The forms of form and shape of shapes I take
to cast my shadows deep within your minds
that flickering and tenuous estate
which leads you lost to seek but not to find
I walk upon your streets by light of day
in search of souls to gather in the dark
a feast before my eyes your crowded ways
and on the chosen one I set my mark
who lost among the lost is waking sleeping
and who will sleeping wake to find me there
die trapped forever in the world of dreaming
whose soul is breath to me, as yours is air
when I am strong enough I'll find the ten
destroy them all and rule the world of men

vision 3

Within the hall of the mountain king
pillared, tapestried
with standing braziers
fire lit
beneath the vault of Heaven
starred and ribbed
the counselors wait
robed in brocade and damask
the great chair 
sits empty


A key of silver on a chain of gold
a chain of office
the chain of a lord
the chain which binds
the chain which looses
the key to the lock
of the book of knowing
in the hall of wisdom
on the street of books.


the keeper walks 
deep into the mountains
dry as dust
whose stones burn like embers
cold as the night
diamond fire glittering


sails upon the sea of dreams
we have laughed to see the sails conceive
and grow big bellied with the wanton wind
full bellied moon silvered
she being mortal of that child did die
that child
who walks by light of day
the streets of the city of men
by night
the streets of the city of dreams
gathering


the three gather
powers elemental
storm gathering
cloud building
shadow casting
disturb the sleep
of eldest
who dreams before the fire
within the hall
he stirs

She

upon a street of the city of night,
barefoot, she finds herself
cold, tired, lost.

There is a sound, as of distant
heavy hammers
pounding somewhere deep
far underground
like a distant thunder
or the sound of great stones falling
from a great height
down a mountain
a great avalanche
surging, leaping, falling.

she stands
very still
gathering herself
into one place
this place
and this form

It is a new form
a form she has not assumed before
she tries to remember
some other form
if she can see it
in her minds eye
assume it
return
she will return

but no other form
will come to mind
a curtain has been drawn
across
a wall
built
a door
closed
and locked
and she has not the key.

silver blue
black and grey
the city rises around her
beneath the dark and starless sky

shapes familiar
and unfamiliar
timbered houses
and buildings made of glass
glittering
stone
and brick
some towering up
high as the mountains
over which she once flew

Blood is life

Thou shalt not drink the blood for blood is life

and life for life I cry for life is mine

between the altars horns build up the fire

let the smoke rise up to heaven to the sky

Ah sweet and fragrant smoke the smell of burning

flesh, and blood hot smoking on the horns.

vision 2

The shadow of the winged figure is cast upon the stones of the courtyard below the cathedral tower.

through the rose window, dark lightning.

a cold flame, which consumes the light, burns above black candles.

the names written on the floor stones increase, one by one, carved with an unseen chisel, wielded by the hand of glory.

the voiceless one speaks before the altar.

the other holds the sacred knife to the throat of the one who holds the chalice.

the blood of the innocents wells up through the stones of the courtyard.

the tip of the blade pierces the skin of the chalice holder

the chalice overflows ink black blood

the robed ones now move swiftly forward,

fall on their hands and knees below the altar

to lap up like thirsty dogs

the black blood which flows down the stair

sonnet 9

Oh father, kneel before me in the dark
in cassock black just like the carrion crow
who feeds upon the dead and leaves his mark
I now shall gather all the ill you sowed.
Christ crucified above the altar I
called by the evil dwelling in your soul
your hunger for my hunger, lie for lie,
shall empty fill an ever empty hole.
Their prayers have summoned me to your confession
whose office bought their silence and their hate
oh little man your sickening obsession
has called me here and opened the dark gate.
descending from my cross before your eyes
I take your soul unshriven as you die.

13:18

The world spins
before the eye 
of a sleeping god
precessing slowly
leaves red orange
fly before the wind
spiral in courtyards
dance in the streets
courante
saraband
basse danse
gigue
the bonfires burning 
on all hallows eve
flame dance through the night
bonefires 
we are too wise for this
world
too wise


incandescent lighting
filled the shadows
killed the ghosts
laid the spirits
that once dwellt 
in a world 
lit only 
by fire.


[Sound of shoes on travertine.]


Ya beat me ta this one.

Not by much.

A blue hair this time. Bit of a change for our boy.

Yeah. She was sixty six according to the... her Priest.

Sixty six... sixty six... huh. Looks older.

Yeah, well, we can't all age as well as you.


[pause. look.]


Thanks.

Your welcome... none of them has looked great.

Havin your eyes removed 'll do that to ya. So she makes... lemme see now, how many ?

Counting this one? Six.

Six?

Six.

You seein any pattern here?

Pattern? Hell. I'm seeing patterns everywhere. I'm seeing them in my dreams. But they don't make any sense.

Same here. Ok... So... Review it for me. What'a we got so far.


[A moment. a look.]


Right. Let's see....
vic one, single female, age 25, out with friends, last seen alive at 2 am, by friends, standing next to her car, talking w single male she met at a bar. Male checks out clean. so far...
vic two, male, Biker, age 45, rap sheet with various drunk and disorderly, assault, battery, possession etc. Suspected in a couple of homicides. Nothing proved.
vic three, male, a priest fer chrissakes, age 54, found dead in the sanctuary like this one, but by the altar.
vic four, female, married but separated, age 45, found in her kitchen. Husband has alibi with no holes in it. So far.
vic five, single male, 25, Goth, found in his bedroom. No criminal record. Last seen leaving club with person unknown. apparently female, not a regular.
And now this one here, number six. Widowed female, age 66, parishioner, found by her priest here in the sanctuary, kneeling at the votive candles.

Three men, and now three women. Symmetrical. I like that. All killed by method or methods an person or persons unknown. All found in the same posture. All missing their eyeballs.

Symmetrical, that's a big word for you. Symmetrical. Yeah. There's your pattern.

I like ta use one every now an then. Keeps em guessin....   Symmetrical...  yeah right.

Two killed in a church.

Yeah, one in a parkin lot,  two at home, an one beside the road.

And no witnesses.

No witnesses so far. An no fingerprints, no fibers, no DNA, no nothin. How the hell does he do this an not leave a trace?... How about our friend? He been here?

Priest says he thought someone was standing by her when he first came in. But since she was kneeling  here, [gesture] at the candles, he figured she, or maybe they, were praying, you know. Or had come early for mass, so he went into the sacristy to dress. It wasn't till he came back out and she hadn't moved he came over to check and found her like this... like the others. Says he was sure she was dead, put he checked for a carotid anyway, then called it in, then went out front to keep... to let folks know there wouldn't be any morning mass today.

Kept his head... no hysterics, [looks around], protected the scene. That's good, that's very good. [sighs] He's the closest thing we got to a witness so far. Must'a been a hell of a shock, findin someone dead lookin like this in his church.

Not the sort of thing they teach you in seminary.... I ran him while I was waiting, ex-military.

No shit?

No shit. Special Ops.

And now a Priest. How dya like that.

You never know.

Might be tryin to atone for somethin.

Maybe.


[Door opens, conversation, footsteps, voices echo in the vault work.]


Huh. Sounds like forensics has arrived.

Yup... OK ladies an gentlemen, you know the drill.

Yeah... We're getting good at it. I see... Same posture as the others. And, [closes eyes, puts hand to forehead], I'm guessing no eyeballs?

No eyeballs. [smile] How'd ya know...

Oh, you know, you two, dead body kneeling in something that looks like prayer, so I took a wild guess. God damn, this is creepy. What is this... number...?

Yer tellin me...  number six.

At least he's consistent in his method.

Yeah, if only we could figure out what the hell it is. 

And how the hell he does it.

[observing]

What say you an me go talk to your Priest.

He's not my Priest. He's in the rectory.

You wanna do it?

Do what? Lead?

Hey, yer the ex catholic.

[pause, both.]

There's no such thing as an ex-catholic.

[laughter]

Yeah. Lets go talk to my Priest.