Deep Black Road: The Head of the Snake

Chapter 52

Ricky opened the door to the bunkhouse of the first camp.

"Praise God!" shouted a woman just inside. "The divine scourge is here! Come on, people, let's get going!" She nodded at Ricky, said, "Thank you," as she hurried past, and was quickly followed by the rest of the Followers.

"I take it we were expected again," said Suzanne over their connec-tion.

"Yup," Ricky replied, and radioed, "On to the next place."

"Wait," radioed Philip. "Let's split up, you and Leila, and me and Suzanne. Two of us should be enough to take out the guards. Then we can work twice as fast."

"But why split up that way?" asked Leila. "Can't I go with you?"

"Don't worry," replied Philip. "This is so we can all be in constant communication through each other's marriage connection."

"Oh, okay. Let's go, then."

#

As they flew to their next target, Philip connected to Ricky through Suzanne and said, "There's something I don't understand: How can these Followers get the good word out better than we can on the Network?"

"The good word isn't just a teaching, like the Black Scourge's messages are," replied Ricky. "It's life. As the Followers live among everyone else, their life teaches who and what the Anointed One is, because he's living through them."

"Oh, right. He doesn't just show the way, tell truth, and give life. He is all those things."

"Yup."

#

The emperor paced anxiously around his small office. His intuition was screaming at him that something was terribly wrong; but he was extremely reluctant to restart the Network and give his enemies back their pulpit.

What am I to do?

I have no choice. I must speak to my lord.

#

Dr. Mella knelt in front of the altar in his private sanctuary, which was filled with the smoke of incense and of the sacrifice of the kid of a goat, a necessary part of the ritual.

When will my master come? he thought anxiously.

Suddenly the head of the dragon filled the end of the room, his eyes flaring red.

Dr. Mella, terrified at his master's wrath, bowed his head to avoid getting trapped in the all-too-familiar despair of those flames.

"You are welcome to my place, oh my mighty lord," he intoned from the ritual.

"Fool!" shrieked the dragon. "Look at what you've done!"

"What have I done, Lord?"

"You've turned off the Network, your primary means of control, and left the field wide open to our enemies! Act at once to correct your folly while I'm still in a good mood! And check with me before you do anything so foolish again; or I swear I'll eat you!" It vanished in a swirl of flame and smoke.

Dr. Mella covered his face as he struggled to pull himself together after the severe rebuke. I have made a mistake! I have failed my lord and master!

Shaking, he got to his feet. I must repair what I have done, and get control back into my hands. My enemies cannot prevail-not now! Not ever!