GEMP Chapter Three

GEMP
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content

---

Chapter 3

---

Chapter 3

Five Years Later

Mos ran through the jungle avoiding most low level branches. The night was dark as the sun had descended hours ago and the moon hadn’t risen yet. He slipped on wet fallen leaves, but stayed upright. He looked back and ducked.
A hooded figure swooped overhead, stopped, and floated in front of Mos.
Mos froze as fear gripped tightly. He heard stories from the Elder about a great and mighty force but thought them to be fables used to scare young gimps into being good. Had he been bad? Was he going to be punished?
The hooded figure’s hands’ glowed red. It boomed, “I am watching you, child. Do not run.”
Mos fell back and mewled. “Please don’t hurt me.”
The hooded figure’s hands stopped glowing. “I have no reason to hurt you.” The voice said softer. “Do not fear me if you obey. Understand, child?”
Mos nodded and looked down.
The hooded figure boomed out, “Do not look down when I am here! Look up!”
Mos snapped his head up. His eyes darted from the figure to the ground several times.

The control room was crowded. A row of large monitors were bolted to the wall showing images of the hooded figure and Mos. One monitor had rectangle boxes of various sizes focused on Mos’ face. Text of data flowed alongside each one. Another monitor had Mos’ face in infrared with temperature readings surrounding it. A third had an aerial view of Mos and the figure.
Codper and Grenier were seated in the back observation room watching his staff control and record everything. Oscar, wearing a dark colored robe, sat in a specially made chair for him, in the corner eating popcorn and watching. He occasionally hooted at the scene.
Codper said, “Ken, I’m not comfortable with this.”
Grenier nodded. More than once he heard this from the Colonel. More than once he kept his mouth shut.
“God, all-mighty himself was not someone wearing a hooded robe scaring abominations.” said Codper.
Grenier nodded again. The Colonel often said that too. Grenier noticed that as the project moved further along the Colonel grew more religious. Their discussions turned more into arguments instead of ‘let’s agree to disagree,’ and ‘coming to the table in good faith.’ “Look at the beast.”
Grenier took a deep breath. “I am. And I see someone who is frightened.”
Codper blurted, “Someone? How can those creatures be a ‘someone’?”
Grenier wished he had kept his mouth shut.
Codper continued, “That thing,” he stabbed the air, “is un-holy. It doesn’t have a soul.”
Next time Grenier thought, ‘I swear, I’ll shut up. I’ll say nothing. I won’t fight, argument, grunt, or groan. Nothing, nada, zero, zilch.’ “We need to get rid of those things.”
Grenier forgot everything he had just thought. He turned on the Colonel and whispered in a deep voice, just loud enough to be heard.
Codper stopped talking, “Pardon, Ken?”
“You need to shut the fuck up.”
Codper scowled, “I’m not sure I heard you right, son.”
Grenier sat straight in the chair, “I’m not your son, first. And second, what are you doing here?”
“Son, I’m . . .”
“Not your son. And, of late I’m questioning your reasons.”
The Colonel took a deep breath, but held it in. With clenched teeth he said, “Witnessing the fall of Man’s grace. I’m . . .”
“Seriously, not believing that?”
“I’m a man of God, son, and this is not making me happy. I’m . . .”
“. . . not my father, and you’re not supposed to have feelings. You are the Security. Not the judge. Not the jury. You have one function. Protect the interest of the US Government.” He pointed to a large image of Mos’ tear covered face. “And he is the interest of the US Government.”
Codper slowly stood up.
Grenier followed suit.
Codper said, “Until the Government comes to its senses. Election is around the cover and a new wave of change is upon us. The people are speaking out . . .”
Grenier put his finger in front of the Colonel’s face. “Don’t! Just don’t lecture me about the people. One job! Just one.”
Codper resisted the urge to bite the finger off. In all the years he had known Ken, this was the first time he really wanted to deck him. They had good discussions in the past, but in recent months the discussions turned ugly. This was becoming the worse.
Oscar remained silent. He could tell G-Soldier was very upset with C-Righteous. It took Oscar months to understand the concept of religion. It took him longer to understand the word ‘righteous’, but once he did it didn’t take him long to see the Colonel in a different light. He had wanted to give the Colonel a new name, but S-Knowledge said the name would be very hurtful and mean. So, instead of C-Satan, the Colonel remained C-Righteous.
Codper sucked in his lips for a moment. He tried to out stare Grenier.
Grenier stood his ground. ‘Never give a bull a chance to be a bull’ his father used to tell him. Today was not the day.
Codper blinked and conceded the moment. He would go back to his office and send an email to the Chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He often did, but this email would be different. By the grace of God, the Chairman belonged to the same church and he had known him for over twenty years.
Grenier watched as the Colonel walked away. Once the Colonel walked out of the room did Grenier let himself breathe.
Oscar walked over and stood next to him. He sent a raspberry at the Colonel’s departure.
Grenier looked down and smiled. He picked up a few signs over the years. He placed an open right hand palm to his chest, then made a small swirly circle with his index finger over his forehead. He finished with a right hand “Y” moved back and forth a couple of times between him and Oscar.

• • • 
      

The hooded figure said, “Go tell the others.”
Mos took a right hand index finger and made a small circle counter-clockwise around his mouth then moved it forward and gave a shrug. He said, “Who is?”
“God.” The figure pointed a right hand “G” in front of him at face level, then drew the hand down to an open palm stopping at his heart. Mos replied and signed, “I don’t understand this word ‘God’.” He’d seen the Elder use the word several times, but didn’t pay much attention.
The figure spread his arms wide and the sky flashed lightning and boomed thunder. “I am God. I made you and the others. I sent you the Elder to teach you hand language. I sent you emissaries to teach you spoken language. I gave you knowledge. I. Am. God!”
And the night sky turned bright. Thunder sounded near and Mos cringed.
He signed and said, “God. No hurt Mos. Please, no hurt Mos.”
“Tell the others.”
Mos frowned, “God must come with Mos. Mos need to show, not tell.”
The hooded figure stepped closer to Mos. He pulled the hood down.
Mos gasped and signed, “God.”
Steve said, “Now that you’ve seen the face of God you may believe in God. Mos, tell them. I gave you shelters. I give you tools. I give you food. I am God.”
Mos hesitated.
Steve spread his arms wide and he roared, “Go!”
And night turned into day. And the sound of thunder rang through the silent night.
“Go! I command you! Go!”
Mos ran. Through the fading bright sky Mos ran toward the village. He had a message for them. God had finally revealed himself. God was here.

---

Table of Content
Next Chapter