A Sorority of Angels (34 page)

BOOK OF THE SORORITY

‘My punishment is greater than I can bear’.
Genesis 4:13

Laura encountered the Saturday morning traffic on the Grand Central Parkway as she neared LaGuardia Airport. A few minutes later, she saw me waiting by the shuttle’s main entrance. The blue Mustang maneuvered between cars, cabs, and buses towards the entrance as I approached her. I heaved the overnight bag in the back seat. We kissed with rushed yearning to avoid delaying traffic and the wrath of an advancing police officer for stopping in a restricted zone. I leaned back and admired her as she concentrated on leaving the terminal area.

“I thought this was going to be a casual, relaxing weekend.”

“It will be. What makes you think different?”

“You’re dressed to go out for an evening.” She wore a champagne color dress.

“I want to look nice for you.”

“You look nice to me in rags.”

“If it’s making you uncomfortable I can change into something else.”

“We
are
going to that house in the Catskills, aren’t we? All my clothing is no better than what I’m wearing.” I wore faded jeans and a blue shirt.

“You’re dressed perfect.”

I opened the glove compartment looking for an absent road map. “Do you know how to go?”

“I have directions. What time is it?”

“Ten-fifteen. You should get a GPS.”

“Someday. I’d like to arrive by twelve-thirty.”

“Is there food at the house? Shall we stop and shop?”

“Plenty. Jasmine overstocked. Should we need anything, we’ll drive into the nearby town.”

Laura crossed RFK Bridge and headed for New York Thruway in moderate traffic. She turned on to Route 17 then swung north on Route 42 towards the Catskill Forest Preserve. Just before Grahamsville, she turned into an unpaved road on the other side of a deserted railroad siding. The dirt road soon changed to paved and we followed its winding course through a forest for about a half-mile. The pine scent dominated.

“This is Daniel Boone country, Laura. Are you sure this is the right road?”

“This is the only road after that siding. We should reach a wooden bridge soon. And…there it is. We take the right fork after the bridge.”

Dirt and gravel covered the right fork. I craned my neck expecting to spy the cabin. I saw the structure and my mouth dropped at the unexpected. The house was an old, charming, large two-story house with a wraparound porch. That’s not what surprised me. The five cars did – Cadillac, Mercedes, Lexus, Lincoln and a Toyota.

“What is this? I thought we were going to be alone.”

She didn’t respond.

She looked serious and I noticed. I grew suspicious. Why did she say a private weekend? Why was she dressed? Why were people here?

“What’s going on?”

She parked the car, shook her head, and opened the door.

“Come along and leave the bags.”

I became annoyed – another unexpected curveball from Laura’s never ending bin of surprises. Why must she always be different? What is she up to now? I left the car with trepidation and probed for signs of life. The locale was quiet as the sun streaked through trees and thick foliage and glimmered on a large pond to the right. The pond hardly rippled reflecting surroundings through a fine dust layer. Birds chattered somewhere. A wild turkey with six offspring in single file marched through the woods on the left. The white house’s green shutters and windows needed painting.

Laura reached the three wooden steps to the porch. I remained by the car surveying as if standing in a minefield. She opened the squeaking screen door. A gash in the lower left hand corner was about four inches long, closer to five.

“Adam, come on.” She waited for me, annoyed. Bothered with Laura’s attitude change, I approached the cars and probed inside. The Toyota had a turned over sign on the dashboard, and that was curious.

I climbed the steps wary to cross the threshold. She held the door for me.

“Is this a surprise, somebody’s birthday?”

“No. Go ahead in,” she ordered.

I stood at the doorway hesitant to go in until my eyes adjusted to the inside. The first cautious step felt heavy. I saw no one. A wooden winding stairway led upstairs. To the left was a dining room with Vermont furniture and to the right a spacious living room. Laura led into the living room. No one there either. I entered suspicious. The room’s furniture was rattan with flower pattern seat covers; floors were polished oak; windows, clean with drapes hung neat; a faint scent of a fragrance candle.

The furniture arrangement struck me as strange. By the fireplace were six chairs behind two abutting long tables and a solitary chair in the middle of the room. The other furniture abutted walls and under windows.

Laura closed the door and watched my confusion and curiosity. Another door led to the kitchen and a third to the family room, the tables between the closed doors. I turned to Laura.

“Why so mysterious?” She didn’t answer. “Where’s everybody whoever they are? What are you concocting this time?”

Laura remained mysterious as she approached the sofa against the wall and sat. For the first time I felt uneasy with Laura – distrustful. What was she up to? I approached, sat next to her, and noticed the sadness in her eyes. I grasped her shoulders and twisted her body towards me.

“What is this? What are you doing? Why do you continue as a challenge, determined to drive me to drink?”

Expressionless, she said, “Go and sit in the chair, now. You’re wasting time.” The order was a firm command. She pointed to the solitary chair in the middle of the room.

“What the hell for?”

“Don’t be difficult. Go and sit then I’ll tell you.”

I didn’t know what to think. What was her game? What was going on? Reluctant, I left for the chair and sat, minus a dunce cap.

I spread my mocking arms. “All right.” I slapped my knees. “I’m sitting. What now? Who owns all those cars? Is someone here? Are we waiting for someone, or this chair is where I spend my quiet weekend?”

“Don’t act sarcastic. They belong to hunters. Sometimes they park their cars here and go hunting.”

“It’s not the hunting season. That’s in the fall.”

“Then they must be fishermen. There’s a lake nearby about a half-mile away.”

“How terrific!” I slapped my knees again. “A crowd on a secluded weekend amidst a public parking place, and it looks like a wealthy one. Will you please tell me why I’m sitting here like a dunce? Did I fail in something? Do I get a dunce cap? What? Give me a damn answer.”

About to end the nonsense by rising, I sat surprised when the door from the kitchen opened.

Pilar deLorenzo appeared in the doorway serious and silent, dressed formal…like Laura.

Confused, I turned to Laura, who stared at the floor. Pilar approached the tables and chairs and sat towards the middle.

“Hello, Pilar,” I greeted. “Nice to see you again.”

Pilar ignored me. Laura remained solemn. As soon as Pilar sat, the door opened again and Shaba entered wearing diamond jewelry, dressed expensively. She sat next to Pilar. She didn’t look at me so I didn’t say hello.

The door opened again. Alise framed the doorway, looked at me as if she hated me, and sat next to Shaba. She, too, wore diamonds, and expensively dressed. I looked at Laura for answers. Laura remained distant, as I sat like a dummy, baffled. I thought it best to keep quiet and allow the ‘charade’ to unfold.

Why cold shoulders from all?

The door opened again. Kim entered and sat next to Alise. Then the family room door opened. Jasmine entered and sat on Pilar’s other side. Shortly after, Asmir, dressed in an elegant Indian outfit came in and sat next to Jasmine.

All wore serious expressions.

Then the main door to the room opened. I turned. I didn’t recognize the well dressed man who closed the door and stood as a guard. Tomayo deLorenzo stared at me.

Turning to the family room door, I saw Dr. Tao Soom wearing a white medical smock and holding a hypodermic needle, enter the room, and sit in a chair under the window.

I grew nervous, uncomfortable. All doors to the room were closed. What’s going on? What’s with the needle? All the women wore their Achilles Hearts. I couldn’t stand the mystery any longer and had to say something, anything to confront their cold and alien attitudes.

I wasn’t a stranger.

“I’m delighted to see you all again, but I have never met the gentleman.” I looked at Tomayo.

Pilar responded. “Mr. Adam Churchill his identity is irrelevant to this committee hearing.”

“Hearing? Committee hearing? What is this nonsense?”

“I advise you to accept this hearing as serious. You know about committee hearings. Your work exposes you to them. This is a committee hearing. No different from those familiar to you. I’m the chairperson.”

I stood, defiant. “I don’t know the game, but I’m no longer playing.”

I turned to head towards Laura. The gun Tomayo pointed at me immobilized me. Tomayo waved the gun suggesting I sit. I did, no longer a game. I tried to calm my racing heart and gain mind control before the unknown overwhelmed me. I was in trouble, didn’t know why, and needed to think clearly.

“Why are you all here?” I asked Pilar. “You’re interfering with my weekend.”

Pilar replied. “And you are interfering with our future. This committee knows of your activities regarding certain action undertaken by Laura Johnson. You know those events. We know you disapprove and are aware of our association, what our symbol stands for, and its aims in the areas of hunger and poverty. The problem is this organization cannot afford an outsider knowing its personal achievements. Many questions may arise about accomplished deeds. In essence, you are a threat. Our purpose today is to decide on a solution. You stated to Laura that you would have her arrested for her own good. For her good, we cannot allow that. We must protect our cofounder and leader. We have questions and like your Senate hearings, we will take turns asking them. We want prompt answers. Forgive our haste, but we have an important function to attend after this business concludes. Please be considerate with prompt answers.”

“And if I don’t answer promptly what will happen?” I answered a bit sarcastic.

Pilar leaned forward and looked at me sternly. “If you encumber the working of his hearing, we will shoot you and bury you in the woods, or take you to the lake and sink your body with weights in the deepest part.”

Pilar looked towards Tomayo.

I glared at the gun.

“You’re crazy! If you’re serious, you’re all insane!”

None stirred or spoke. They were serious. I couldn’t believe they had turned into monsters – another Laura disaster. She poisoned their minds.

“The questioning will be brief, unlike your longwinded hearings,” Pilar said.

“What happens if I answer all your questions promptly?” My question had arrogance.

“Then we pass judgment on you sooner. You will receive your sentence faster.”

“Sentence?”

Pilar answered, “You’re an obstacle to our cause. Yet, we will show fairness by offering options. You select the sentence of your choice.”

“This whole thing is mad.”

“Shut the hell up Adam!” Laura hollered. “You’re wasting time.”

That settled it for me. This was no game.

Pilar began the questioning.

“Are you aware of the organization Laura belongs to?”

“I already told you or did you tell me?”

“Answer the questions without arrogance.”

Terrorized by the gun, I had no choice but to let this ‘hearing’ unfold. Rebelling and defiant with them, I believed, would be futile. “If you mean the one with the Heart you all belong to? Yes.”

“Do you subscribe to its aims and goals?”

“If this is a hearing. Shouldn’t I have a lawyer?”

“You’re a lawyer. Represent yourself. Don’t waste time with trivia. Do you subscribe to its purpose?”

“I think ending starvation and hunger is an excellent aim and a commendable effort worth the time. I don’t subscribe to anything else beyond that.”

“It is never the intent of this organization to deviate from our stated goals.”

“I’m an attorney, bred in law. I disagree with you. I can’t condone Laura’s actions, and you sure as hell are trying to terrorize me here.”

“Thank you. Kim, you’re next,” Pilar said.

“Do you love Laura Johnson?” Kim asked.

“Yes, I do.”

“Then why do you want to hurt her?”

“I don’t want to hurt her or anyone else. I don’t approve what she did.”

“Are you talking about Senator Bender?”

I didn’t want to go in that direction. I hesitated and looked to Laura. Laura ignored me.

Kim said, “I appreciate your delay. I’ll note that your delay was to protect your loved one. We know the whole story. Judy Heller poisoned Senator Bender.”

“She was influenced by Laura.”

“We don’t agree with you.”

“Your prerogative isn’t it?” I said, annoyed again.

Kim looked at Pilar and nodded she had finished. Pilar looked at Alise as approval for Alise to begin her questions.

“How do you know Laura made her poison Senator Bender?”

“She told me.”

“Have you any proof, evidence?”

I looked at Laura staring at me. The room settled into a tense courtroom, now a kangaroo court.

“No.”

“We can conclude it’s your imagination?”

“You can conclude anything you want.” I fought with arrogance, my weapon.

“If you love her as you state you’d believe in her cause, be supportive. Does she look like a killer, so beautiful a person?”

“No, she doesn’t look like that at all. I prefer not to associate with the warmongering aspects. I have other causes like my future.”

“Yet you love her.”

“Yes, and I want her to share my future. I believe she’s learned a lesson and won’t look in that direction again. I’ll make sure she doesn’t.”

Alise nodded to Shaba. Shaba began.

“Adam if you love her as you claim why didn’t you marry her? We wouldn’t meet here if you did.”

“Where are you going with this maniacal questioning?”

“It is relevant to the committee. Your love for her may produce leniency. I will ask you again. Why didn’t you marry her? A husband can’t testify against his wife and won’t if he believed in her cause.”

“I did and still want to marry her. I will always want to marry her. She’s the one who’s putting marriage off.”

Shaba shook her head in dismay. “I’m sorry then. That’s bad, real bad.” She nodded at Jasmine. Jasmine knew the nod as her cue.

“We are nonviolent people by nature, but you have placed us all in serious jeopardy with your attitude concerning Laura’s so called actions. Nevertheless, you’re willing to have us abandon our beliefs to help mankind.”

“I’ll do anything to help you and Laura to help end the starvation crisis. I don’t object to any action or course taken to help the poor and the starving. I vehemently object to murder.”

“Let’s say I had my finger on a button to destroy an entire city. The button would detonate an enormous hydrogen bomb to obliterate the population in that city. You say you’re nonviolent and do not believe in killing. But if it were in your power to stop me from pressing the button would you kill me?”

“Yes. My killing you is justifiable.”

“You would call the act terrorism or murder, aren’t those your labels?”

“There are varying degrees. The example you proposed is different.”

“So you believe in selective and self-serving justice. You’re a hypocrite. Thank you. You have answered for me.”

She had a point. Asmir leaned forward addressing me.

“Do you know what country I come from?”

“India.”

“Correct. And do you know how badly my people are starving?”

“I know about India’s problem, almost as bad as Africa’s.”

“I never cared. I come from wealthy parents and always had it all. This organization opened my eyes to starvation and the inhumane way we treat the poor and the hungry. I want to solve that problem, to make the effort. I will take whatever measures necessary to end my country’s problem and to assure our work continues all over the world, and you’re a threat to our beloved leader.”

“I’m not a threat.”

“You’re not?”

“No. Although I disapprove Laura’s actions, I have no intentions to disrupt your organization. Nor do I intend to tell anyone or care what you do in your own countries. I hope you all succeed in your own way. It’s for the best for your people.”

“We cannot have Laura unhappy or threatened by anyone. We cannot afford to lose her.”

“What is it, a crime to disagree with her?”

“In this instance, yes.”

Asmir leaned back finished. Pilar addressed Laura.

“Laura is there anything you’d like to say to the defendant before we pass judgment?”

Laura’s face buried in a handkerchief. She shook her head saying, “I’m braced to accept the committee’s judgment. I will abide by its decision regarding the defendant.”

The whole scene was insane,
surreal.

I was a defendant accepting the hearing as reality.

They could execute me in this desolate place, a victim of their madness. What have once nice people become? Those thoughts terrified me as I tried to appear calm in the chair. Should I try to escape? With that gun, an attempt would be deadly. Tao and Tomayo stared at me, defying me. Laura had turned her head away grieving as if it was my funeral. Appropriate I thought. Obviously, she abandoned me to this fraudulent hearing. How could she allow this to happen? Defiance will aggravate the guy with the gun. I wasn’t enthusiastic about the needle either. What was in it?

“We are ready with the verdict. Please rise to hear the sentence,” Pilar said.

I refused to rise, reluctant, and worried over the unknown punishment.