COMPASSION

Chapter 8

The Devil

Catherine awakes and rises out of her coffin. She quietly exits the bedroom and walks downstairs into her husband’s library. She looks at the journals on the bookshelves and they are numbered 1958 up to 1990. She pulls the 1986 journal and opens it to see photos of the couple's middle son Michael and their daughter-in-law Donna at their wedding.
 
Tom is standing at the entrance to the Library. “How was your sleep?” 
 
“Good...I am not sick anymore. Tom before I go crazy where am I? Are we in Heaven? Is this Hell? I just can’ t believe I am dead! Have you seen God?”
 
“Honey slow down…Just relax. I know you are still in shock and disbelief over dying. Let me tell you dying is not the worst thing in the world. I am personally thrilled you died. I get to see you again. You are part of my life again. Do you remember the day after my funeral? You were in bed being driven mad from the grief and pain you were going through over losing me. I came back to you. I stood in front of your bed and you woke up and looked at me. What did I tell you?”
 
“That wasn’t a dream. That was you. I knew it. I told Joe when he was older you came back to visit me. I was afraid to tell anyone about you coming back for fear they would think I was crazy.  I told Joe what you told me. You said there is nothing to worry about. You said everything would turn out fine. You said you would always watch over me and the boys. You said you would always be there for me.” Catherine overcomes with emotion starts to weep.
 
Tom grabs Catherine, “ Listen to me! Look at me! I am telling you now and as God is my witness your death changes nothing. I still will watch over you and the boys. No harm will come to you or the boys. We will go on with our new life and so will our sons. Sure there will be big changes for the Havard Family. But we will get through this! I give you my word. Here is what I know and have been told by my parents.”
 
“You have seen your parents?” Catherine asks.
 
“Yes I have” Tom replies.
 
When I was walking to the dental office I fell face down in the snow. I couldn’t get up. I saw your Mother Elizabeth laughing at me. She told me now I was going to find out what it is like to lose a son. She made me so angry I got up and I wanted to hit her but she vanished.”
 
Tom replies, “You know how she is.”
 
“Even after all this time she is still upset, you married a Polish Girl? Jesus Christ, what do I have to do to please her?”  
 
“I told you how some Irish are. It takes them time to accept a person” Tom shakes his head.
 
“Time…I raised her three grandsons all by myself on a seamstress wage. I put them all through college and they all have good jobs.  How much time does she need?”
 
“She got you pissed off. You got angry. You said you couldn’t get up out of the snow. She was probably using reverse psychology on you. You Mothers are all the same. You used the same trick on me and the boys to get us to do what you want. She got you up off the snow. Let’s not talk about Elizabeth now. Let me tell you what I know about this life.”
 
 
“Yes...You and I both know we were born into a Physical World. We were raised by our parents, we lived our lives we met, we got married. You know I died and now you know where I went. Our bodies released our souls. Some people say we are forms of energy now. You and I are in a different world now. It doesn’t matter if you follow Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism…It doesn’t matter what ISM you worship we all wind up here. I had no idea I was going to die. I had no idea I would come here. I thought I would see you again someday. Nobody explains the rules when you get here. You learn as you go. I can tell you after being here for over thirty years the collective opinion is when you die your physical body releases some kind of energy…call it the soul. There are different levels of life energy. This is the science part of the question. The other side of this question is who created this energy and different levels? Is it God? Jesus? Buddha? Aliens? No one knows. We all agree on one common belief there is a Creator. Something or someone created the Energy. Mankind is still evolving and believe this or not some people believe down the road if you are living or dead you can choose the Level of Energy or Reality you want to live in.”
 
Catherine stands back in disbelief with a pained expression on her face and screams, “Stop…Stop…No More. I have heard enough. You're confusing me.”
 
Tom embraces his wife, “I am sorry I should not have told you all this at once. I always thought deep down when you die you go in the ground and that is it. I was raised believing in God. Then I changed my beliefs when I was in the Navy. When I saw what happened to my shipmates arms, legs, heads blown off I said there can’t be a God he would never let this happen to his children. Then I realized why is it when War is being fought its boys trying to kill other boys. Then I started to realize the people who determine we are going to War are all men.  Then when I got here I started to have deep discussions with my all my dead neighbors. I traveled the Spiritual World and talked to some of the greatest people in World History. I talked to Socrates and even Abraham Lincoln.”
 
Catherine stunned ask Tom, “You met Socrates and Abraham Lincoln?”
 
“You can meet anyone in History you want. Remember they are only people just like you and me. Have you learned yet we all hear words in our own language?”
 
“Yes, Mrs. Asaki told me I speak beautiful Chinese.”
 
“Well, this is the second common belief in this world. The reason Mankind has had wars since the beginning of time was not to protect their land or people. It was not to promote their way of life on others. It was not even to help their allies. It has nothing to do with spreading their religion on their enemies. The reason Men and  Boys go to War and Kill is to play in the Ultimate Game. Boys Love to spill blood. They are addicted to it. I can tell you from personal experience when I was on the USS Randolph and we came under attack by the Japanese Planes our Gunnery Crew hit a Plane and it crashed into our Deck. There was a certain Erotic Thrill I got when I saw the plane crash and the Pilot was still alive. Then his plane caught fire and we could hear his screaming while he burned alive. I can tell you I almost came in my pants.”
 
Catherine is Horrified to hear this. She stands back in disbelief.
 
Tom continues, “Most people say if God did create Adam he didn’t create Eve as a mate for Adam. Lilith Adam’s first wife left Adam once she learned the true nature of Man. God created Eve to control Adam and to prevent him from turning into an animal. She wasn’t his mate she was his Game Warden. Eve knew if she had children with Adam he would become jealous and kill them. Have you ever seen a male Bear or Lion? Why do you think the Mother takes the cubs away after birth. The Father will kill and eat the children it is his nature. Males don’t want to share their woman with anyone. Why do you think I possessed Mr. Spiceman to do your embalming. You know there are some sick bastards who would Fuck your corpse!”
 
Catherine vomits some embalming fluid on Tom. “Don’t say such a thing! That is disgusting!”
 
“I am telling you this to get your head straight. The reason the dead talk so much about why men like to kill other men and why Men are so Fucked Up is the belief that women today are more educated, intelligent, seeking to be more than a housewife. Once women start taking over as heads of companies, running for political office sharing big decisions with men there will slowly be an end to War. Women will prevent the Generals, Politicians, Tribal Chiefs from sending their sons and daughters into battle. Because women experience the pain of childbirth they are not as willing as men to send the sons and daughters to die in battle. It is important to stop the Global Killing so Man can advance to a different Level of Understanding. Once this happens the Dead and Living can all move forward from where we are. I know you are feeling a thousand emotions now. Let’s take a break. Would you like to dance?” Tom pushes a button on his antique Philco Radio. The pair slowly starts to dance and feel the music as it plays.
 
“Tom, who is this group?”
 
“Aren’t they great! There is some confusion on who did the song? Some say Enigma some say Erotic Dreams. This song is called Temple Of Love. Wait until you hear Satisfy by Nero. I got an advanced copy. It will blow you out of this house. In fact, this song won’t even be made for another twenty-four years. I got all of Enigma's albums. Their chanting will get you so High you will dream for a thousand years. Music is the only drug you can feel when you are dead. It is one of the perks when you die. You can get any music old or not even written yet.” The dance finishes and the music stops.
 
“I now realize I am dead. I am here with you in this house. I understand there is a creator. I understand this new life for me has something to do with Energy. What about God? Is there still good and Bad? Something just doesn’t seem real. Why do I still feel pain if I am dead? My tooth was hurting me. My back still pains me. You know I tore a disc in my back trying to pick you up off the floor the night you had your stomach aneurysm and had your bleed out.”
 
“I am sorry about that I should have listened to Doctor Loftus. I should have taken my blood pressure pills.”
 
Tom takes a seat at his desks and asks Catherine to sit also. “Would you like me to pour you a drink?
 
He picks up his pack of Pall Malls unfiltered and lights a cigarette. He pours a glass of Jack Daniels for Catherine and himself.
 
Tom takes a deep breath, “I wasn’t planning to tell you this today but since you ask about God, Good and Evil I guess I have no choice.”
 
“Well, that is why I am here. I need to know what you know so I can start making sense of what the Hell is going on here!” Catherine picks up her drink and downs it. She smacks her lips and tells Tom, “I can’t taste anything. Give me a cigarette.” Catherine lights her smoke and tells Tom, “It’s like not even smoking.”
 
“Remember you are Dead. You are still feeling pain but those feelings will pass. The smoking and drinking are symbolic. You won’t experience taste, smell, sight the same way here as you did in your previous life. If you want to taste food or drink or smell flowers or even feel pleasure or pain again you have to possess a person in the Physical World. If you and I wanted to have sexual intercourse again we both would have to possess two people we have a common link to. For example, I was a sailor in the Navy. You were a Seamstress. If we came across two people like this we could possess both of them and make love.”
 
“Let’s not talk about that for God Sakes I just died.
 What about Good and Evil?”
 
Tom takes a sip of his whiskey and tells Catherine, “I still don’t know about God and Good but I can tell you there is Evil or Negative Energy. I have met the Devil personally and I can tell you he is real and terrifying. He is all that you have read about or seen in the movies.”
 
Catherine leans forward and asks, “Where did you see the Devil?”
 
“Do you remember when I was at The Bethesda Navy Hospital. The Doctor came down the hall to tell you I did not make it. Well, I was in the hall watching you. Call it an Out of Body Experience...Call it the Crossing Over Stage to the Next Life...A man approached me...He was dressed all in black and I thought he was a priest. He looked identical to...I thought he was Jesus Christ coming to me to take me home. 
 
“Tom what did he say to you?”
 
“He put his hand on my shoulder and I never felt so calm and relaxed in my life.”
 
“Tom Havard I am here for you now. You don’t have to worry. I died for you. I died for all mankind so he can experience everlasting salvation. Tom, love you and I will help you.” 
 
“Catherine I was in his light. I knelt down before him and started to pray to him. We prayed together the two of us.” Tom started to tremble telling Catherine what came next.
 
“I heard what I thought were angels singing and I saw dark figures behind him. I thought they were his Angels.”
 
He then said to me, “Tom Havard do you repent for all your sins?”
 
“Yes my Lord was my reply.”
 
He then asked me “Do you accept me as your Saviour?”
 
“Yes my Lord.” 
 
“Tom I will send you back to your life. I will send you back to your wife. I will give you the money to buy your own Funeral Home. You will finally realize your goal owning your own business. You will never worry about money and you will live the rest of your life in
perfect health. All I ask is that you Love Me and Worship me and I will treat you like a Son.”
 
“Yes my Lord I love you with everything I am.” Tom starts to weep in front of his Saviour.
 
“Then one day you will join me in my world and we will be together. You will obey me and do what I say. I will own your soul but I will give you anything you want. Do I have your  word you will join me when you finally die.”
 
“Yes Lord, I am your servant.”
 
The Saviour extends his hand and asks Tom to kneel down before him and kiss his ring. Tom kisses the ring but notices a strange mark on the ring. It is a symbol of a pentagram. 
 
“One final act of Love Tom I request of you.”  Tom’s rescuer unzips his pants and exposes his manhood for Tom to kiss. “Please Kiss Me so I know you love me.” 
 
Tom Havard stands up, “Who are you?”
 
“I am your Saviour!”  The Saviour puts his hand on Tom’s shoulder and presses against his back. This time Tom turns and pushes the man away in anger.  
 
“Who the Hell are you?”  Tom asks.
 
The man’s appearance changes to a dark and menacing figure and decides to tell Tom exactly who he is. 
 
“I am the one who should have been chosen. I worshiped him...I Loved Him...I fought Battles in His Name. Then when it was time to choose who would be sacrificed he choose his only Begotten Son. I ask you what God chooses his own son to be sacrificed and die? 
 
God WAS SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE ME! I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NAILED TO THE CROSS! I should have been crucified! I am the one who should be worshiped today and for Eternity.
 
Do you see your God here helping you? Where is he? I need a man like you. I have seen you kill men in war. You’re the one who shot the Pilot down. Remember how excited you got over killing him. All your shipmates were crying like babies when they saw their mates die. You were fearless in battle. You put down your shells and grabbed the gun and started firing at the plane as he headed right at you. Then when he crashed into the deck you ran to the plane and saw him burning to death. His screams excited you. You were laughing at a man burning to death. I bet you even got hard. Tom, I worship a man like you. I need a man like you. Even in the Face of Death, you became a Pure Evil. Men like you don't come around often. You have always known you are destined for greater things. With a man like you, we could build the most powerful Force since time began. Tom, I am offering you that chance now.  

Who am I? Some call me The King of Babylon. Some call me The Son of the Morning Star. Some call me
T'an-mo, Diablo, Asmodeus, Abaddon, Lucifer, Satan, Jinn, Iblis, Akuma, Tchort, O-Yama there are so many names. Tom, there are many Gods and many religions but I want to tell you there is only one
True Evil and it is me.
  
You can call me The Devil if you like. Tom, there is not much time. This is my final offer to you. You prayed to God that he helps you find the men that killed your brother Billy. Do you remember you had to go to Denver to pick his body up and have it shipped back to your Mother’s House for burial?
 
You asked the Denver Police if they knew who killed your brother. They told you they had no witnesses. Well, I know the three men who butchered your brother. They are driving around town and when they find a stranger in the bar just like they found your brother they buy him a beer, tell him he is a good guy, they shoot darts with him and play pool. They picked him because they thought he was strange, odd maybe gay. Then they killed your brother. Let me show you the men that killed your brother. All you have to do is do what I ask and Kiss Me. I swear you will have your revenge and the heads of the men who ended Billy’s life this day! Tom if the Doctor reaches your wife and tells her you have died it will be too late. Tom, will you do what I ask and Kiss Me?”
 
Tom Havard approaches The Devil and looks him in the eye and says, “GO TO HELL!”
 
The Devil’s appearance changes and he appeared as a more powerful Demon. He takes several deep breaths and knocks Tom to the floor. He kneels down over the man who rejected him and whispers in Tom’s ear, “Remember this day...I promise you...I will destroy what you Love.”  The Devil then vanishes from the hospital.
 
Catherine Havard visibly shaken asks her husband, “ What did he mean by saying he would destroy what you Love?”
 
“I think he wants to destroy our sons. He can’t physically hurt a soul or spirit in this reality but emotionally and mentally he can destroy us if we are not prepared.”
 
“What can we do to stop him?”  Catherine asks.
 
Tom embraces his wife and replies, “Pray!”