"Madre de Dios!" Carlos cried and crossed himself vigorously. "We must be ghosts,"he whispered. He looked around wide-eyed at Johnny.
"There is no such thing as a ghost," Johnny sneered.
". . .and I don't have to listen to your crazy stories any more!" Poof! Carmelita was gone. The rising hysteria in her voice still ringing over the rose garden.
Johnny sat quietly in the swing which was now barely moving. Well, he had bungled that beautifully. He reflected for a while on some of the things she had said and decided he didn't
"How long have you been here?" he asked the Infinite Soul giving him a broad smile.
Alphonso grinned impishly at him. "Long enough to observe your winning ways with the ladies."
Johnny was standing on the bank looking looking down at the boat. He grimaced and shook his head. "You know, Alphonso, the more I learn the less I know."
The master laughed and rolled his pant legs another turn. "Now you're getting smart on me. You might make it. I'll see you someday in the Seventh yet. You'll see."
"Speaking of your precious Seventh, what tears you away from it this time?"
"Sour grapes do not become you my young friend," the Master said and settled back in a plush lawn chair. Another appeared beside him. "Well, come on," he beckoned. "Come aboard. I don't like you towering over me that way."
Johnny clambered ungracefully aboard and settled into the empty chair.
As soon as he did, the boat began to move gently away from the river bank. What now? Where is he taking me?
He couldn't know that this innocent boat ride would lead to encounters with beings who would leave him changed forever.
Sitting in the stillness of the Temple of Love, a wonderful sensation began to come over Johnny. He loved Charles and Clarissa and Jacob. He loved The Tree of Songs. He loved Carlos––he even loved Joe Esposito––or did he?
He thought briefly about his arch enemy and an overwhelming, thickening nausea began to rise through him. It engulfed him in waves until he thought it would crush him. He couldn't breathe!
Suddenly, Jacob was beside him. "Blank your mind, quickly!" he said and pulled Johnny out the temple door.
"What happened?" Johnny gasped.
"You thought about the wrong thing," the Master replied.
like Johnny Rogers very much. It seems he had much to atone for in that area also.
Presently, he became aware that a small Chinese junk was bobbing in the river directly below him. Johnny stared at the man on deck who looked like a clam digger wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat before he realized it was Alphonso. He ran down to the river.
"Are you ready?," Ariella asked.
No. I'm not ready. I'll never be ready. Let's just do it anyway. Johnny nodded. In the center of the circle, a holographic image began to appear. It was everything that almost anyone would fear.
"That's your destination," the Nazarene said. He clapped Johnny on the shoulder. "Stay focused and you'll come back safely."
Johnny felt a strange crawling sensation in his spine. He knew with absolute certainty that he was headed for the one place in the whole universe that he never, ever wanted to be.