CHAPTER SEVEN - New woman
	Art woke up a little before eleven p.m. He groggily threw his 
legs over the side of the bed and rubbed sleep out of his eyes. Looking 
around he saw Louie still asleep snoring away. It seemed something 
was missing, he wasn't sure of what it was but...... The girl! Karen 
where the fuck was the girl?
	He ran to the bathroom and found it vacant. "Shit!" He told 
himself running back to wake Louie.
	"Louie get the fuck up!" He slapped Louie across the face. 
"Where the fuck is the girl? Get the fuck up!"
	Louie jumped upright, startled from the slap. "Waa... 
Huh....?" He mouthed still half asleep.
	"The girl! Where in the fuck is the girl?" Art was almost 
beside himself.
	"The girl...?" It took Louie a few seconds to get the meaning 
of what Art was asking. "Oh. The girl. Ain't she here?"
	"No she ain't here! Look the fuck around and you'll see she 
ain't here. Jesus Christ I can't count on you to do anything right!" Art 
was one of those people that always needed someone else to blame.
	"Aaaa... I didn't know I was supposed to watch her Art. You 
never said nothing about watching her." Louie looked hurt.
	"Yeah well...." Art wasn't exactly sure how Louie was at 
fault, but he was sure he was none-the-less. "You should have waken 
up when she got out of the fucking bed. Shit she was right in-between 
us."
	Louie wasn't sure if Karen had ever gotten back into bed after 
he let her go to the bathroom, but he knew better than to mention 
anything about that to Art. "Gee... I don't know Art...."
	"Shit! The car!" Art ran to the front window and looked out 
between the drapes. "It's Okay. It's still there. Christ for a moment I 
thought the little cunt took off with the car. Come on let's get dressed 
and find the bitch." 
	After both men had dressed Art said. "Grab the bag's and 
let's get after her. No telling how far she's fucking gotten. We've got 
to dump that body too. If that little whore goes to the police I don't 
want that body anywhere near us."
	When Louie went to get the bag's he noticed the one 
containing the money was gone. He looked around but knew the girl 
must have taken it. "Aaa... Art." He said with fear in his voice. He 
didn't like having to tell Art about the bag. "The bag with the money 
ain't here."
	"What!" Art spun around facing Louie.
	"It's not here. It look's like she might have taken it with her." 
Louie said solemnly.
	"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Art yelled. "That little bitch whore. How 
in the fuck did she even know about the money. Shit! I knew I should 
of iced her God damn ass! Jesus Christ! Come on... I want my fucking 
money back!"
	They got into the car and headed south toward the town of 
Silver Dollar City.
*********************************************************
  	Karen entered the town of Silver Dollar City, Arkansas at 
around nine thirty p.m. She took four hundred dollars worth of 
twenty's out of the black bag and stuffed them into her jeans. She 
found a drug store open until ten and purchased a luggage bag, hair 
brush, lipstick, tooth brush, tooth paste, eye liner pencil, mascara, and 
purse.
	In the alley next to the drug store she transferred the money 
from the black satchel into the luggage bag, before tossing the satchel 
into the trash bin. The other items she had just purchased along with 
what was left of the four hundred she put into her new purse. 
	She knew she had to get out of Silver Dollar City, it would be 
the first place Art and Louie would look for her, but she hadn't 
decided where she should go yet. Her dilemma was almost the same as 
when she left home, a young girl out on her own likely to be stopped 
by the police, only this time it was a girl with a lot of money at least. 
One thing she needed to do was to buy some clothes that made her 
look older, and maybe even get her hair styled in a older fashion, but 
first she needed to eat something.
	She found a all night diner and ordered a cheeseburger, fries 
and Coke. When the waitress took her order she said. "How old are 
you honey? You know there's a curfew for kid's under eighteen after 
ten at night."
	"Yeah I know." Karen answered. "I'm over eighteen. I just 
look young is all."
	"I'll bet looking as young as you do feels like a curse now, but 
believe me it'll be a blessing when your my age." The waitress 
laughed.
	"Yeah. I guess so." Karen smiled back.
	When the waitress brought her order Karen asked. "Oh. 
Excuse me. Do you happen to know the name of the town just south of 
here. You know the one just down the highway."
	"You must mean Blue Eye. It's about fifty miles down the 
road or so." The waitress answered.
	"Yes, that's it. Now I remember Blue Eye. Thank you." 
Karen plunged into the cheeseburger like she hadn't eaten in day's, 
which she hadn't. 
	After she finished the burger Karen asked the waitress about 
a public phone.
	"Sorry." The waitress told her. "We don't have one in here. 
The closest one is down by Mitchell's market. About three blocks from 
here."
	"Oh. Darn." Karen replied disappointedly.
	"Come on honey." The waitress said. "You can use the one 
back here. I'm not supposed to let anybody use it.. but, hell there ain't 
nobody here. Come on."
	Karen got up and walked behind the counter to where a wall 
phone was mounted. "Do you happen to have a phone book?" Karen 
asked.
	"Yeah sure. Here." The waitress reached under the counter 
and handed Karen a local phone book.
	After locating the number for a local cab company Karen 
called and asked to be picked up in front of the diner. 
	Karen had just finished her fries and Coke when the cab 
pulled up at the curb. She reached into her purse and took out six 
twenty dollar bills and placed them on the counter.
	"Hey! Honey!" The waitress called after her as she was 
leaving. "Wait! You left a lot of money on the counter here."
	"I know.' Karen called over her shoulder. "Buy yourself 
something nice. You deserve it. Bye." and she hurried out to the 
waiting cab.
	"I.... I.... Wow... Thanks!" Was all the waitress could think to 
say.
	Karen jumped into the back seat of the cab and the driver 
asked in a heavy accent she couldn't recognize. "Vhere to?"
	"Blue Eye." She answered.
	"The town?" The cabby questioned looking over his shoulder 
at Karen. "That be over sixty gosh darn miles. You sure you vant to 
yake a cab?"
	"Yeah. I'm sure. My daddy gave me the money for cab fair. 
He felt I would be safer going by cab." She answered matter-of-factly.
	"Okey-dokey. You got um kit." And he pushed down on the 
timer flag then pulled away from the curb.
*********************************************************
	Art and Louie drove slowly looking carefully on both sides of 
the roadway for any sign of Karen and their money. Not finding her on 
the road, after arriving in Silver Dollar City they searched the bus 
depot, the one small airport, which was closed, the train station and 
several all night diners. Everything had come up empty.
	"Well, we're fucked!" Art almost spat the word's out he was 
so angry.
	"Yeah. I guess." Louie agreed.
	"Christ! We've got to find a way to unload that dope. It'll 
bring a sizable sum if we can find the right guy to sell it to. Problem is 
who the fuck do we know in this area. And if we try to unload it back 
home Eddy will have our nuts. Shit!" Art said mindfully.
	"Aaaa... Art. What about that preacher guy?" Louie asked.
	"What the fuck preacher guy?" Art couldn't understand how 
Louie could jump from talking about selling drugs to a preacher.
	"You know. That preacher the girl told us about. The healing 
guy." Louie looked thoughtful.
	"Yeah. So what the fuck about the preacher guy! You don't 
think that little cunt still plans on going there do you? That's the last 
fucking place we'll ever find her little money stealing ass!" Art was 
frustrated.
	"No.... No not for that Art. I just thought.. Well... Maybe... 
You know... that preacher could heal you. You know. Make you well 
and all. Then the money wouldn't be so important." Louie was much 
more concerned for his friend not having the money to pay for a cure 
than he was over the loss of the money itself.
	"Holly fucking shit! You can't be serious! You don't really 
believe there's such a thing as divine healing do you? How fucking 
dumb are you anyway?" Art shook his head in bewilderment.
	"Well... I don't know...." Louie was hurt by Art's words.
	"But going down to that preacher guy may not be such a bad 
idea after all." Art rubbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger 
of his good hand. "Guy's like him usually draw a big out of town 
crowd and a lot of um are only looking for way's to cash in. We just 
might be able to make a connection for the drugs without having to 
worry about any local's. Hell it's worth a try."
	"Yeah. It's worth a try." Louie agreed as always.
	"Tomorrow we'll find out where in the fuck this preacher is 
at and pay him a visit." Art said starting up the car.
*********************************************************
  	It was just past one in the morning that the cab Karen was in 
arrived at Blue Eye. "Okay. Ve're here." The cabby talked loud 
enough to wake Karen, who had fallen asleep ten minutes outside of 
Sliver Dollar City. "Vere to now?" He asked.
	"Oh... Aaaa... The bus station. My dad is supposed to meet 
me there. Do you know where that is?' Karen was still groggy.
	"Yau sure. Be there in a flash ah." He turned sharply to the 
left obviously heading into the main part of town.
	"Here ya be kit." The cabby said pulling over in front of a 
small Gray Hound bus station.
	"Thanks." Karen said reading the large amount displayed on 
the cab's meter. She took enough money out of her purse to cover the 
fair and included a sixty dollar tip. "Here." She handed the money 
over the seat to the driver.
	"You bechum Kit. Thank you." He said looking over the 
money she had handed him.
	Karen carried her bag into the well lighted bus station and sat 
down. She would have to wait until morning before making any real 
plans, but waiting in bus stations was something she had grown 
accustomed to.
	Karen spent the rest of the night dozing off and on while 
seated on the unconfortable hardwood bench inside the Bus station. 
At around seven in the morning a few people began wandering in and 
she went in search of something to eat. Finding a small diner a few 
blocks down from the bus station she enjoyed a leisurely breakfast.
	She spent the next two hours window shopping while she 
waited for the retail stores to open at nine, then the next couple of 
hour's she spent doing something she had never done before, clothes 
shopping in one of the more exclusive department stores in Blue Eye.
	    She found the new experience of trying on dresses, slacks, 
blouses, and skirts in the fitting room very enjoyable. After making her 
selections, clothes that should make her look older, she accessorized 
with nylons, panty hose, slips, and underwear, including some bra's, it 
just wouldn't do to have her nipples so plainly outlined under her 
clothing every time it got cold out.
	 After purchasing an expensive suitcase to store the new 
clothes, she made an appointment at a hair salon. She used the time 
waiting  for her appointment by getting a manicure and nail polish. 
When the stylist was ready for her, Karen requested her hair be cut 
and styled like that of Gillian Anderson, the star of the television 
series "The X-Files", a particularly favorite program of hers and one 
apparently so popular the stylist indicated she'd had several similar 
requests in the past.
	After the hair make over Karen used the salon bathroom to 
change clothes and apply some facial makeup. She almost bounded out 
of the bathroom with a youthful, athletic energy. Dressed in slim, 
black slacks, a colorful Versace blouse, and a well-tailored Richard 
Tyler blazer, she looked more like a runway model than the run-away 
kid, which she was. The complete package came across as sensuous 
and brooding, just the look she had attempted to achieve. As she 
moved, her new fashionably cut hair moved with her, as if she was 
always walking into the wind. 
	The entire company of women in the salon were stunned to 
silence when Karen emerged from the bathroom. The stylist that had 
cut Karen's hair stepped away from the patron she was currently 
servicing and walked up to Karen. "My God honey!" She said with 
admiration. "You look great! If I had known, I would have taken a 
before and after picture to hang on my mirror. If women even thought 
they could look half as good as you do after coming in here, I'd triple 
my business. You really look sharp!"
	"Thank you." Karen blushed. "I owe it all to your great hair 
styling skills."  
	As Karen left the salon she heard two of the patron's request 
hair style changes to the one 'that girl' has, referring to Karen. She 
smiled to herself thinking having money was great. 
	She walked back to the bus station and rented a locker to 
store her suitcase and luggage bag then located a jewelry store and 
purchased an expensive wrist watch, diamond pendant mounted on a 
gold chain, and a six thousand dollar wedding-engagement band set. 
	After retrieving her luggage she called a taxi from the bus 
station and had the driver take her to the most expensive hotel in Blue 
Eye.
	She turned the heads on most of the men in the hotel as she 
walked across the lobby toward the front desk. Her large, brown eyes 
sparkled in the reflection of the crystal chandelier above as she 
scanned the room. She felt better about herself than she ever had. It 
wasn't the raw sex these men that watched her walk by wanted from 
her, it was something more, it was allure, charm, mystery, the woman 
herself. She didn't kid herself, it was obvious they all wanted to bed 
her, but not like it had been in the past, just pussy. She felt like a 
woman, and she liked the feeling.
	"Room please." She told the desk clerk, with Donald 
embossed on his name tag, in her most sophisticated voice.
	"Name please." He asked unable to take his eyes off her, and 
fumbled with his hands under the counter bringing up a record book.
	"Hmm... I'm afraid I don't have a reservation Donald. My 
stop in Blue Eye was.... How should I say.... Umm... unscheduled. I 
dearly hope that's not to terribly inconvenient for you." She smiled 
warmly at him tilting her head slightly to one side.
	"Aaa... No. I'm sure we can arrange something." He smiled 
back feeling self important. "If you'll just sign the guest register 
Miss....."
	"Mrs. Mrs. Veronica Valentine." She boldly signed the name 
in the register.   
	"Thank you." He said after she finished writing. "May I put 
the room on your credit card?"
	Karen chuckled pleasantly. "I find credit cards can be so.... so 
revealing. There are times I prefer to deal in cash. I'm sure you 
understand." She smiled again, this time seductively.
	
	"The hotel really requires a credit card Mrs. Valentine. I'm 
sorry." He looked genuinely disappointed.
	"Oh I fully understand." Karen pursed her lips captivatingly 
as she reached into her handbag. "Perhaps you'd be so kind to secure 
this in the hotel safe for me. Just to insure I don't walk away with any 
of the hotel's towels or linens or anything." She placed ten thousand 
dollars on the counter.
	"Aaaa.... That isn't the reason Mrs. Valentine. It's... Well. 
Never mind.  I'd be more than happy to put this in the safe for you." 
He said picking up the money. He filled out a receipt after counting the 
hundred dollar bills then handed it to Karen before ringing a small 
bell sitting on the counter.
	After several seconds a bell-hop walked up and the desk clerk 
handed him a key. "Please show Mrs. Valentine to room six thirty 
three." Then to Karen he said. "If there's anything you require please 
don't hesitate to notify the front desk. Enjoy your stay at the 
Baltimore."
	"Thank you Donald. I'm confident I will." She gave him a 
seductive wink. "Oh. I'll carry the small bag. Thank you." She said to 
the bell-hop. The bell-hop nodded and picked up her suitcase leaving 
the luggage bag for her.
	"This way miss." The bell-hop said holding his open palm 
toward the elevators.
	Karen lay reclined in a hot tub of water in the luxurious hotel 
room. The scented water felt luscious on her naked body, caressing 
every curve, melting away past stress and hardships. She was enjoying 
her new found maturity and wealth and only casually contemplated her 
next move. With the money had come freedom.... With the new hair 
style and makeup had come maturity. She could do anything or go 
anywhere she wanted. A feeling of mastery over her life had also come 
with the money. And that mastery insured the next time a man had her 
it would be on her terms. It would be because she wanted it, and not 
for any other reason. She would dominate. She would control. She 
would demand. She would require a minimum of an hour's foreplay, 
then and only then would she even consider allowing him any 
satisfaction.    
	After bathing she sat with nothing other than a bath towel 
wrapped around her body. She hadn't thought to purchase a bathrobe, 
something she would most certainly do later on.  She lit a cigarette 
and drew in heavily on the tobacco filling her lungs, then exhaled 
sending a plume of smoke into the air. Out of curiosity more than 
anything else Karen picked up the phone and rang the front desk.
	"Good afternoon Mrs. Valentine, front desk, how may I help 
you?" The phone voice she recognized as Donald asked.
	"Yes, Good afternoon. Would you kindly have a bottle of your 
best Chardonnay and a bowl of fresh fruit sent up to my room please." 
She told the voice.
	"Certainly Mrs. Valentine. I'll send it straight away."
	"Thank you Donald." She hung up. 
	About twenty minutes later there was a faint knock on the 
door. "Restaurant room service." A voice called through the closed 
door.
	Karen checked the towel covering her as she went to open the 
door.
	"Good afternoon ma'am," the waiter said, as he rolled in a 
cart. "It looks like it's going to be a beautiful evening." He smiled as 
he opened the lid of a silver tray revealing fresh cut cantaloupe, 
strawberries, grapes, apples and orange slices. If he had taken notice 
of Karen, dressed only in a towel he gave no indication of it and 
mechanically transferred the silver tray, and ice filled bucket with the 
wine bottle onto the top of the chiffonier. Turning slightly to his left so 
he could look at Karen he asked. "May I open the wine ma'am?"
	"Yes. Please." Karen smiled up at him pleasantly.
	He pulled the bottle from the ice then withdrawing a folded 
corkscrew from his pocked he expertly cut around the seal before 
withdrawing the cork. He carefully filled about a third of a wine glass 
and handed it to Karen before replacing the bottle in ice.
	He waited expectantly for Karen to take a sip of the wine. 
	Karen realizing what he was waiting for, took a small sip 
then nodded her head. "Is there anything better than a fine wine?" She 
asked the waiter not expecting a response. "It always reminds me of 
romantic dinners."
	"It always reminds me of my poor head the day after." The 
waiter joked, as he moved toward the door. If that will be all 
ma'am...... " He left the sentence trailing.
	"Yes. Thank you." Karen said.
	He was turning the knob on the door when Karen suddenly 
remembered she should tip him. "Oh! Wait!" Karen called out as she 
jumped to her feet moving toward her purse in the bedroom. The bath 
towel unraveled at the top of her breasts momentarily exposing her 
before she managed to catch it. This time the waiter took notice. His 
eyes widened and he stood all but frozen following Karen with his eyes 
as she quickly disappeared into the bedroom.
	When Karen returned she had re-established the bath towel 
and  was clutching a twenty dollar bill in her hand. "Here." She smiled 
holding the bill out to the waiter.  "Thank you."
	The waiter took the bill then said. "It should be I thanking 
you."  He nodded then left the room.
	"Au what the hell.... Cheap thrill." Karen said to herself 
picking up the wine glass and taking another sip.
	She relaxed eating grapes and sipping wine considering 
where she should go. She had rejected the places that first came to 
mind, southern California, New York, Boston... they all seemed so... 
so pedestrian. She wasn't sure if some form of identification was 
required or not to take a plane to Hawaii, but it made the top of her 
list. Then a thought struck her, of all the places she could go, she felt 
an adrenaline rush thinking about carrying through with her original 
plan of finding the preacher. The excitement about that plan was the 
fact that she had told Art about going there. Would he remember? If 
he did she didn't think he or Louie could recognize her, not with her 
new look, and what a melodrama thrill it would be to see those two 
pitiful loser's, but this time with her in full control. Yes. That was 
exactly what she would do before going to Hawaii. Just the thought 
titillated her. 
CHAPTER EIGHT- Collections
	The sextet of gospel singers had just finished singing a 
stirring rendition of  "Are you walking with Jesus?"..... then for 
exactly two seconds all lighting was extinguished, plunging the entire 
area into total darkness.  After the two seconds of pitch blackness, 
colored floodlights came on one at a time, illuminating three foot 
diameter circles in radiant red's, blues and greens. The reverend 
Earnest Bishop bound from behind floor to ceiling dark purple velvet 
drapes onto the makeshift dais, his entrance had been precisely 
arranged and rehearsed to insure maximum impact on the large crowd 
seated inside the huge tent. He was impressive with his tall slender 
frame of six foot six inches, draped in a long flowing black silk robe as 
he took drawn-out, accentuated strides across the wooden platform 
toward the pulpit.
	"I WALK WITH JESUS!" He bellowed out in his deep 
resounding voice now made even more imposing than normal as it 
boomed out from the several six foot tall strategically arranged 
speakers through out the tent.
	"YES! I WALK WITH JESUS!" The speakers rang out once 
again, then just as his last stride carried him to the pulpit he cried out. 
"AND I ABRADE WITH JESUS!" then he performed a well rehearsed 
movement and dropped down behind the lectern, seeming to vanish 
just before all lighting was extinguished once again. It remained dark 
for only a second, but in that second of blackness Earnest Bishop stood 
up and stretched his arms out wide. A single white spotlight blazed 
upward and focused across his still body flooding him from behind at a 
forty five degree angle thereby casting  a sixty foot high shadow across 
the tent's far wall and ceiling in the form of a cross. Inspirational 
music roared from the speakers for several seconds then slowly faded 
into the background. "AND, I STAND IN THE LIGHT OF OUR 
LORD!" Bishop's voice boomed while his body remained frozen in 
time. "COME! COME STAND WITH ME IN THE BRIGHTNESS 
OF THE LORD!" His arm's moved with a gestured conveying he 
wished the entire parish to rise up onto their feet, and they stood, and 
cheered out in joy as white light after white light turned on flooding 
the tent with illumination and the inspirational music blasted out once 
again, yet even its volume was unable to drown out the roar and 
clamor of good will and gladness vocalize by the throng of 
parishioners.
	"Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ....." Bishop yelled over 
the crowd and music. "The joy of our being together in the presence of  
our loving savior brings us peace and blessedness. Sit.... Sit... stand 
not in the light of the lord lest ye be he who is cleansed of all 
forsakeness. Sit please." His hand gestures bided them to be seated, 
and they did, and the crowd noise dwindled down to nothingness as 
did the music.
	"I urge you." Bishop waved his arm across the gathering. "Do 
not take this matter of salvation lightly, there is too much at stake for 
your soul. I invite you to pause and reflect on the wrath of our Lord 
God's sword of light upon the wicked!" 
	"For thus saith the Lord God," Bishop yelled out.  "The barrel 
of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day 
that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."
	"Come now, and let us reason together... saith the Lord: 
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though 
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and 
obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land, but if ye refuse and rebel, ye 
shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath 
spoken it." He paused momentarily looking out over the flock's faces.
	He took on a much more subdued tone of voice when he 
continued. "Only through unselfish giving and loving are we able to 
tether the sword of light. Material things are but the blink of an eye 
upon the calendar of eternity. Competition is ingrained into our society 
and has taught us winners are the ones with the most material 
things..... I say to you NO! Tis not so. This competition has only 
drawn us apart. Think how little we cooperate with each other and 
how competitiveness is creating more losers than winners. Only 
through the unselfish sharing of your soul.... your goods.... your 
body.... can there be room for God!" 
	"Amen!" A voice rang out. "Amen!" Called another, and 
another, until cries of "Amen!" could be heard throughout the crowd.
	Bishop waited until the company quieted down before 
continuing. "Allow me, if you will to recount a story of brother 
Michael Hyde. Brother Michael's work of preaching the gospel had 
inspired him to travel to France and render the Lord's work at a 
L'Arche community in Paris. One of his tasks at the L'Arche was to 
train a developmentally disabled young man named Claude for the 100 
meter sprint in a upcoming Special Olympics. Claude was a strong 
runner, but never ran in a straight line. One day, brother Michael 
became exasperated with Claude and told him clearly that if he did not 
run in a straight line his friend John would win the gold medal. In 
response, Claude replied with great delight 'Wouldn't it be wonderful 
if John won the gold metal?'" He paused. "Now doesn't Claude's 
words take us by surprise? They are so  non-competitive, so naive, and 
so unrealistic and yet so beautiful. In fact, they are in tune with Jesus' 
words in today's gospel about God hiding things from the wise and 
revealing them to little ones. Claude's ingenuous and generous 
response sets us up to listen more carefully to all that Jesus says to us 
today."
	Another chorus of "Amen!" filled the tent.
	Bishop held up his hands for silence. "Most of us would 
rather not be thought of as naive and unrealistic. But being a follower 
of Jesus exposes us to that very criticism. To stand in the Lords light is 
to experience being dismissed and written off as unreal or naive. You 
will be reminded of the real world not functioning this way anytime 
time you discuss topics such as Jesus' sayings about the poor, or his 
words to the rich young man or Jesus' advice about giving away one's 
cloak. Anyone who follows Jesus and takes his words seriously has the 
same experience. It takes faith and courage to hold the line, especially 
when it means being written off, or laughed at. Following Jesus can 
often seem 'difficult' and 'heavy'...... ....but now let's go back to our 
story of Claude.... On the day of the Special Olympics, Claude, as 
expected ran off the track and failed to cross the 100 meter finish line. 
Needless to say he did not metal. But later in the day, quite 
unscheduled Claude wandered over to the shot put area. He took a 
throw and unexpectedly ended up winning the gold metal for shot put. 
Immediately, with delight, Claude rushed to give the metal to his 
friend John. Claude was in no way pretentious about being first or 
best. He showed only a marvelous delight in being able to give a gift to 
a friend. His behavior was a heart warming mix of spontaneity, 
humility and joy."
	After several seconds of silence Bishop sprang to the edge of 
the stage and pointed at several individuals throughout the crowd. 
"YOU! and YOU! and YOU! Divest yourself of Satan's robes. Like 
Claude you to can offer a gift to a friend. This ministry is unable to 
extend the Lords gospel to our friends throughout the world without 
your help. Remember Jesus' words that it is not a kingdom of triumph 
and gold, but one where the King rides a donkey. It's not a kingdom of 
winners and losers, but a kingdom of peace and giving. Where the joy 
is meant for all. When the basket arrives give of your heart..... without 
giving we are lost. The word of this ministry must reach the forlorn.... 
must reach the lost..... You... only you have the power of love and faith 
to make a difference."
	Ushers moved among the gathering distributing wicker 
offering baskets at the end of each aisle. The baskets were passed from 
person to person, each in turn placed some money into it, then were 
collected by an usher at the opposite end of the pew.
	As the baskets moved through the crowd Bishop said. "If we 
know and believe in God's love, it's not because we are wiser or more 
intelligent than others. It's because of God's pure gift, the faith we've 
received and by our giving. Jesus makes clear that he, the Son, has 
been entrusted by the Father with revealing to us the mysteries of 
God's love. And when we find God's words burdensome, then he, 
Jesus, can make our burden light. We need to treasure the Lord's 
invitation. 'Come to me, all you who are weary'. If we are burdened 
down, he promises to give us rest."
	Dramatically Bishop said. "Let's renew our response to Jesus' 
invitation to learn for him in prayer." The conjugation's head's bowed 
in silent prayer, then after several seconds Bishop said. "Lord, lead me 
to those you would have me mentor. In Jesus' name. Amen.", and the 
singers took up the hymn. "Lead me to Jesus."
	During the hymn Bishop looked out on the assemblage. 
Among Bishop's numerous uniquely notable abilities was the ability to 
instantly identify anyone new to one of his sermons, even though the 
tent legally accommodated three hundred people at a time, and his 
ability to detect if a man or woman already belonged to his dark 
master. 
	Without delay he located three people that had never attended 
before, two men and one woman. The two men, one short and thin the 
other larger and heavier than the first stood in the back next to the 
ever present representation of the local sheriff and fire departments. 
Local law enforcement had viewed his ministry with suspicion and to 
this day remained ever vigilant for any excuse to run him out of town. 
So far they had been unsuccessful in finding any impropriety with the 
religious order, including any fraud on his part associated with faith 
healing's and Bishop knew even they, the most skeptical, were 
beginning to believe. The woman was young, attractive, and very 
smartly dressed. She sat at the end of pew twenty row's back from the 
stage, and he had taken notice that when she was presented an offering 
basket she had given a great deal of money. His un-consecrated power 
told him the two men standing in the back had already given their 
soul's to the master. The young woman on the other hand was 
currently indefinite, and was certainly suitable for collection in the 
future, especially being as attractive as she was, but that same power 
told him she could be dangerous. She was a sensitive, and they could 
be trouble. 
	His attention turned toward more current collection matters, a 
smaller assemblage of families seated together in the first two rows of 
pews and he smiled to himself. This particular group of people Bishop 
considered his 'special' following. He had been holding private 
worship sessions over the past four months and had gathered together 
this 'special' collection of men, women and children that now 
numbered fifteen separate households. The extra time and energy  he 
had taken with these members had been well spent. They were 
completely obedient and compliant to his religious cause, but even 
more importantly, they believed in the Reverend Earnest Bishop 
absolutely.  He was considered by them to be the absolute word of God. 
He was their only salvation, and only through his leadership could 
they find true peace. It was this group that had dedicated themselves to 
his cause. They worked tirelessly to bring new sheep to the ministry. 
They organized fund raisers. They ushered the Sunday night sermon's, 
and they would do anything he asked of them. Bishop reveled in his 
power over them. That power and control was his life's blood, 
secondary only to the true enterprise of the ministry itself, that of soul 
acquisition.
	
	His ministry had only been in this town a little over six 
months, but after the first two or three months he had become very 
influential within the community. All the local newspapers, radio and 
television stations covered his ministry's work, especially the faith 
healing for which they could offer no answers or explanations for its 
success. 
	
	His gaze shifted farther across the sanguine face's of his 
special followers, then came to repose on the exquisite features of 
Elizabeth Campbell. Elizabeth was tall and perfectly proportioned, 
with endlessly long legs and flawless ivory skin. She had long, silky 
black hair that framed a gorgeous face with a narrow, aristocratic 
nose, sharp, piercing brown eyes, and full seductive lips. Her breasts 
were large, but not overly so, not enough to make her seem busty. She 
had a narrow waist, flaring hips, and a nice, tight ass. At twenty six 
she moved with a flowing grace that other women twice her age 
envied. She had a perfect smile which, with the slightest movement of 
her eyes could change from conveying amusement to scorn, and 
Bishop wanted her. He had wanted her from the very first time he had 
seen her six months ago when she and her husband Robert had come 
to attend one of his sermons.  
	
	  Elizabeth and Robert had turned to Christ for help in their 
time of need. Robert had lost his well paying job as foreman at the Tri-
City steel mill after it closed the doors and shut down. The closing of 
the mill had a devastating effect on the entire community, having been 
the employer of more than fifty percent of the towns population, but 
was particularly difficult for Richard and Elizabeth because they had 
recently purchased an expensive new home after his last promotion 
and then shortly afterward learned Richard's mother had been 
diagnosed with a debilitating ailment requiring twenty four hour 
nursing care.
	
	Robert was unable to find employment at even half his 
previous salary, he couldn't afford nursing care for his mother any 
longer and that difficult task fell to him and Elisabeth, the township 
real estate market dropped to an all time low with the mill's closure 
making their home un-sellable and they fell behind on the mortgage. 
They both became obsessively depressed and their marriage began to 
fall apart then by chance they found the Reverend Earnest Bishop in 
their search for God.
	
	Bishop had immediately recognized a selfish opportunity for 
himself after talking to the couple and had used his influence in the 
community to get their home refinanced, find employment for 
Richard, and even supply a church member retired nurse to help with 
the care of Richard's ailing mother.
	The Campbell's were only one of several member families he 
had helped out since he had arrived, and he had worked tirelessly 
preparing his 'special' flock for the shearing, and the lovely Mrs. 
Elisabeth Campbell was well over due in the offering of her soul. Yes, 
he had taken his time, but finally he could harvest this latest grain of  
human crop. He had been patient long enough with this woman. He 
hadn't taken nearly as much time with some of the others, but she 
would be worth it.
	The hymn came to a close and he tore his lustful eyes and 
mind away from the attractive young woman and approached the edge 
of the stage. 
	His voice was relaxed and reserved when he said. "I recite 
from Luke chapter eighteen, thirty five through forty three, As Jesus 
approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 
When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 
They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. He called out, Jesus, 
Son of David, have mercy on me! Those who led the way rebuked him 
and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, Son of David, 
have mercy on me! Jesus stopped and ordered the man brought to him. 
When he came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for 
you?.... Lord, I want to see, he replied. Jesus said to him, receive your 
sight; your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight and 
followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also 
praised God." 
	He paused momentarily before continuing. "The blind man 
forgot all about pride and desperately cried out to the Lord. Are you 
like the blind man? Do you display you need fixing? You need to ask 
Jesus, without being pridefull or shamed." 
	Then his voice took on a commanding deep loud resonate 
tone. "I.... the tool of the Master Mechanic Jesus, will be the wrench 
that can repair your body and soul.... Come.... COME TO ME!"
	Several people made their way to the forefront of the stage 
forming a line, some requiring the aid of a family member, crutches or 
wheelchair. The Reverend Earnest Bishop stepped off the stage and 
placed his hands on or around each afflicted individual one at a time, 
taking several minutes with each, to gain an understanding of their 
misfortune, then calling forth the help of Jesus and the Holly spirit 
they seemingly became sound, free from physical pain and original 
affliction. Each 'healing' was received with cries of joy and emotional 
tears of faith by both recipient and the entire on looking crowd, 
driving the noise level inside the tent to a almost ear shattering pitch. 
Little did they know the healing came from a place much darker and 
sinister than the heavenly brightness of the Lord's domain.
	After ten or twelve such divine 'healings' Bishop, now 
covered head to foot with perspiration held his palms upward and 
indicated that the strain was becoming much to difficult to continue, 
and that the healing had come to an end for that evening.
	After the healing ceremony the sheriff's deputy was amazed 
again for the hundredth time. At first he had assumed Bishop was a 
fraud and he had planned to discredit him, but now, four months later, 
he just wasn't all that sure. He was personally familiar with several of 
the people Bishop had 'healed' and they appeared to indeed be 
genuinely healed. He didn't have any explanation for the cure's other 
than faith, so he just waited and watched and made sure that only the 
legal number of followers were allowed access inside the tent at any 
given time, for fire and safety purposes. As news of Bishop's healing 
abilities got around, more and more people, from hundreds of miles 
around wanted in. His job had now become one of crowd control more 
than anything else.      
	The congregation slowly dispersed through the large tent 
opening with most of the attendance  feeling more content than when 
they had entered. The last group to leave were the 'special' band of 
followers and Bishop addressed them individually thanking each for 
their continued help and support. When he got around to the 
Campbell's he asked Elizabeth if she could stop by the following 
evening at around seven to discuss a special need of the church that 
she might be able to fill. Elizabeth was overcome with self-importance 
that he had thought of her and she agreed at once.
	After everyone had left Bishop counted and stacked that 
night's liberal donations, including five thousand dollars bundled 
together and given by the attractive young woman, while he 
contemplated how well everything was going and how unimportant the 
money really was.
CHAPTER NINE - Female bonding
	Art and Louie had arrived in the small town of McNeil 
Arkansas on Friday, two day's prior to the reverend Earnest Bishop 
weekly Sunday sermon. They discovered the reverend held service 
inside a large tent set up a few miles outside of town at a place called 
Magnesia Springs. As it turned out they also found it was impossible 
to get any lodging in McNeil at any price. Bishop had become such a 
big deal all bed's had been previously rented well in advance by people 
hopeful of gaining access to one of Bishop's sermons. 
	On Sunday Art and Louie drove to Magnesia Springs about 
an hour before services were to begin. The place was more of a mad 
house than even McNeil had been, finding a parking space was near to 
impossible, masses of people were congregated outside the tent, 
pushing and shoving one other in order to gain a spot in line that 
would guarantee them a place inside. Only a limited number of people 
were allowed inside due to fire and safety regulation, and that number 
was carefully monitored by local fire and police personnel, all others 
were forced remain outside or go home. 
	Having arrived only an hour early there was not a prayer in 
hell that Art or Louie could gain entrance in any normal civilized 
fashion, so Art directed Louie to push two men into each other causing 
a mild ruckus to break out, then when the Sheriff went to investigate 
both he and Louie slipped into the tent followed by some loud yelling 
of protest by the few people that noticed them sneaking in. Once inside 
it was easy to blend into the crowd when the place started filling up. 
They stood at the back of the tent during the entire sermon, Art 
noticed occasional curious sideways glances from the sheriff standing 
a few people away from them, but the officer didn't question them.
	At one point during the sermon Art almost split a gut when 
Bishop related a stupid story about some retard frog kid with the name 
of Claude. Jesus Christ. What these fucking people wouldn't fall for he 
thought to himself, but the rest was impressive. Bishop had some kind 
of spell he seemed to cast over the crowed. It was almost as if they 
were mesmerized by his voice and stature alone, regardless of the 
content of his words. Bishop's ability to spellbind a crowd even 
effected Art for most of the religious discourse.
	When the revival ended Art and Louie pushed their way 
through the uplifted crowd finally making it out of the tent. Art 
commented to Louie as they skirted through the throng of people in 
the parking lot. "That sucker really puts on a show, don't he?" Art had 
been impressed by the reverend Bishop, but he didn't want Louie to 
know, that could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. 
	"Yeah." Louie answered. "I ain't never seen nothing like that 
before. Man he was really something. At first I couldn't understand all 
those people trying to get in, but after hearing him I can sure see why 
they wanted to."
	"Well I guess we had to see it once anyway, but our business 
is with unloading the shit not with finding religion." Art looked 
around at the people they passed. "I may have been mistaken though, 
none of these hicks look like perspective dealers."
	"Ya know Art....." Louie paused as if he had to force himself 
to continue. "Ah... That healing shit looked real to me man, maybe 
you should......"
	"Should what Louie!" Art cut him off. "Have him heal my 
junkie ass. I ain't buying none of that religious crap. It's all bull shit 
man, for losers."
	"How could it hurt Art? Ya ain't got nothing to lose. Why not 
just try? Huh?" Louie commented trying to sound tough.
	"I'm not going to have any fucking peace around here until I 
see it your way. Am I? I'll think about it. Okay! Now drop it!" Art's 
voice took on a more serious tone when he continued. "I've been 
thinking, maybe we should head over to Little Rock, I heard both the 
Crypt's and Blood's have taken root there, we should be able to deal 
with one or the other of um."
	"Yeah. Okay, but you ain't forgetting about... You know... 
what your thinking about." Louie didn't want Art to forget, it was 
important to him.
	"Fuck! I told you I'd think about it. What the fuck else do you 
want me to do! Shit!" Art threw up his hands in frustration.
	"I want you to think about it Art. That's all. Just think about 
it." Louie ignored Art's angry tone.  
******************************************************
	Karen had arrive in the town of McNeil several day's before 
Art and Louie. Like them she couldn't find any lodging either and was 
forced to stay at a hotel several mile's away in a larger town called 
Fayetteville. She made one attempt at renting a car through the hotel 
she was staying at, but when they insisted on seeing a drivers license 
she declined, knowing once they saw her real age they wouldn't rent to 
her anyway. 
	She had heard how difficult it was to gain entrance to one of 
reverend Bishop's sermons so she took a cab to Magnesia Springs 
early Sunday afternoon. Even at that early hour the area outside the 
tent was bustling with people, but she didn't see any sign of her old 
friends and lovers, Art and Louie. As the afternoon wore on Karen 
made light conversation with several women chatting about nothing in 
particular, but finding all conversations eventually turned to religion 
and how wonderful the reverend Bishop was. Karen did make sure 
somewhere in each conversation she brought up how she planned on 
giving a sizable donation to the church, hoping that might somehow 
help get her inside easier.     	
	The mention of a donation did have its effect. Late in the 
afternoon Karen was approached by a nice looking woman in her early 
to mid twenties. "Hi." The woman greeted Karen. "I'm Elizabeth. 
Elizabeth Campbell. I don't mean to bother you but Linda...." She 
turned and pointed out a woman Karen had talked to earlier in the 
day. "...That's her over there, the one wearing the green dress. Well 
anyway, Linda said you had mentioned something about making a 
donation to the church, believe me we could use it. Sam Peters.... He's 
one of the original members... Well, Sam has been talking to Pastor 
Bishop about putting up a real church, you can see how we've already 
outgrown this tent, so anything you share will be put to the best of use 
I can assure you." 
	Karen immediately got the sense that this Elizabeth was a 
virtuous true to the heart believer. She had a genuine smile that 
radiated warmth and made Karen feel good. Karen had heard of 
people like Elisabeth before, people other people liked being around, 
and Karen found that she instantly liked this Elisabeth Campbell. 
Karen returned the smile. "Hi Elisabeth. I'm Karen. And your right. I 
do intend on making a donation, but I must be perfectly honest with 
you. I made sure everyone around here knew about the donation. I was 
hoping it could help get me inside. Was that being overly devious?"
	Elisabeth laughed affectionately. "No not at all. You must 
have heard how popular and worshipped the reverend is." Then her 
voice took on a more serious tone. "That popularity doesn't come 
without its problems, but let me tell you the peace and salvation you 
get is more than worth it. You only have to listen to him once to 
understand the true meaning of love."
	"You sound hooked." Karen teasingly replied.
	"I know your joking, but its more than just hooked. It's a way 
of life..... and a way of living.  Before reverend Bishop I wasn't really 
living. I was just surviving." She took Karen's hand then continued. 
"You've just got to hear him Karen. You'll feel so...... so.... It's 
difficult to describe. But It's like all your life you were missing 
something but you didn't even know it was missing, then suddenly 
you've found it and you wonder how you could have possibly lived 
without it. I guess the best way to describe it is that, salvation is total 
and complete self freedom. I don't know, its an inter peace and love 
thing like nothing else in this world." She paused momentarily feeling 
a little embarrassed. "Heavens, listen to me ramble on. Believe me I'm 
not some religious fanatic that goes around trying to convert everyone. 
I'm sorry."
	"Don't worry about it. I didn't take it that way." Karen 
squeezed Elisabeth's hand.  "Your just happy. I'm delighted for you 
Elisabeth. Everyone should feel like you do."
	"Everyone can." Elisabeth answered. "Just give yourself to 
the Lord and reverend Bishop. I'll tell you Karen, if the reverend told 
me the lord wanted me to jump off a cliff, I'd do it. That's how much I 
believe." Then she added. "You will too. After you hear him. Just 
wait."
	"Speaking of that. What do you think my chances of getting 
in are?" Karen asked.
	"Well," Elisabeth answered. "I don't want to sound overly 
arrogant, I sure don't mean it that way, but there are a few of us, my 
husband Richard and I included, that the reverend has honored to help 
out with the ministry. We get in through a side entrance. I'll see to it 
you get in with us. Okay?"
	"Okay, but you won't get into any trouble will you? I certainly 
don't want that." Karen was honestly concerned, knowing how 
important this church was to Elisabeth.
	"Oh no." Elisabeth answered. "It'll be fine. Several of the 
members have done the same thing in the past for other special 
friends." 
	"Why thank you for considering me a friend." Karen said 
with all sincerity. She somehow knew Elisabeth had not considered the 
promised donation when making the offer. "You know, it's been a 
long time since I've had another woman to talk with. I didn't realize 
it, but I've missed that."
	"I know. We're all so busy with our daily lives, we don't take 
the time to talk to one other anymore. It's a shame really." Elisabeth 
commented.
	"Yeah I guess." Karen replied thinking about her past 
screwed up life.
	"Hey. You know Richard and I are going out to dinner after 
the service. If your not busy why not join us. Richard wouldn't mind 
and I sure would like the company." Elisabeth asked.
	"I don't know....." Karen answered while thinking she might 
really enjoy having dinner with someone for a change, but she didn't 
want to intrude. "...I wouldn't want to impose, besides I'm staying all 
the way out in Fayetteville, and I'd have to catch a cab to the hotel to 
change clothes and......"
	"Believe me you wouldn't be imposing." Elisabeth insisted 
cutting Karen's words off. "And we'd be more than happy to drive you 
to your hotel. We could have dinner in Fayetteville. I haven't eaten 
there in a long time. Come on. It'll be fun. I know I'd enjoy it."
	"Well.... Okay. If your sure I won't be in the way." Karen 
agreed.
	"I'm sure. Richard's normal dinner conversation could bore a 
bookkeeper. Some intelligent conversation at the dinner table will be 
very refreshing." Elisabeth said smiling. "You just wait in the tent 
after the service. I'll come find you. Okay?"
	"Okay." Karen said agreeably. 
	Karen was as impressed with reverend Bishop as Elisabeth 
had promised. The man had a captivating tranquil effect on her she 
had never experienced before. She could have listened to him for hours 
without becoming bored or impatient, and when the collection basket 
was handed to her she willingly deposited the bundled up five 
thousand dollars into it without a second thought. It wasn't until 
Bishop looked directly at her that she felt or sensed something laying 
underneath his captivatingly pleasant demeanor. That feeling only 
lasted a second but in that second Karen perceived the most darkest 
evil imaginable. She almost got up and ran from the tent screaming, 
the feeling of vulgar corruption was so strong, then as quickly as it had 
come it passed, and Karen managed to remain seated, although it took 
a while to compose herself. 
	After the sermon Karen was still visibly upset when Elisabeth 
came excitably running up to her. "Karen! The most wonderful 
thing......." She stopped in mid sentence after noticing Karen's 
disposition. "Karen! What's wrong? You look white as a ghost."
	"I don't know." Karen answered honestly. "I got this feeling 
earlier..... I don't know. It was horrible. I've never felt anything like it 
before. I just can't seem to get it out of my mind. It was like...... like 
looking into the soul of Satan himself. Does that make any sense?"
	"Oh. You poor thing." Elisabeth comforted Karen putting her 
arm around her shoulder. "I can't imagine. Is it gone now?"
	"Yeah." Karen answered. "It's gone now, but I'll never forget 
it." She felt a little better having talked to Elisabeth and the feeling 
was much less memorable than a few seconds before. "I'm sorry. I'm 
just being silly I guess. So what were you all excited about anyway?"
	 "Are you sure your all right?" Elisabeth's face reflected 
concern.
	"I'm fine now, honest." Karen assured her smiling. "So tell 
me. What's the excitement?" 
	"I almost can't believe it!" Excitement had reclaimed her 
voice. "After the service, reverend Bishop himself came up to me 
personally and requested my help. I was almost speechless. He want's 
to see me tomorrow night at around seven. Isn't it wonderful!" The 
last was a statement rather than a question.
	A cold chill ran through Karen's body. "Listen Elisabeth. 
Don't take this the wrong way..... but I don't have a good feeling about 
you seeing the reverend tomorrow. I don't know what it is.... but 
something tells me it's not a good idea." 
	"Oh. Don't be silly Karen." Elisabeth laughed. "Be happy for 
me. This is the most exciting thing to happen to me in a long time. I 
feel so honored that he selected me. Come on. Can't you tell how 
thrilled I am?"
	"Yeah. It's just that..... Oh never mind." Karen took 
Elisabeth's hands into hers and squeezed them. "Yes. I'm happy for 
you. If  this is what gets you all tingly, then it must be good." Karen 
smiled warmly.
	Elisabeth smiled back then took on a more serious look. "I 
hope you don't mind, but I'm just to nervous about tomorrow to sit 
still. Would you to terribly upset if we took a rain check on dinner?" 
	"No. That's fine. I understand." Karen answered, but she 
really didn't understand. Elisabeth canceling dinner didn't upset her, 
but Elisabeth's overwhelming enthusiasm and ecstasy over the 
reverend just talking to her was something Karen would never 
understand.
	"Well I insist you let me and Richard drive you back to the 
hotel."
	Karen started to protest but Elisabeth held up her hand 
stopping Karen before she could say anything. "I insist!" Elisabeth 
wouldn't take no for an answer. Then another thought came to her. 
"Hey, what do you say  just you and me going to dinner tomorrow after 
my meeting with the reverend. I could pick you up at the hotel, 
and....." She took on a mysterious tone. ".... I could tell you all about 
the meeting."
	"Sure." Karen replied. "But how about meeting in McNeil?  
I've got a few thing's to do there tomorrow." Mostly she wanted to 
look for Art and Louie. The thrill and excitement of why she had come 
here in the first place was still with her.
	"Yeah. McNeil's fine.  Town square between eight and eight 
thirty?' Elisabeth asked.
	"Sounds good." Karen replied.
	The two women spent the next few hours talking, laughing 
and simply enjoying each other's company, something Karen had 
never encountering before. She had never experienced the joy of 
female companionship or the freedom it granted to speak frankly and 
openly to someone of the same sex. Karen never remembered feeling 
more alive than the few hours she had spent with Elisabeth.
END CHAPTER NINE