Pulling The Dragon's Tail Read Online Free

weapons to be
highly effective at quelling—”
    Sister Mariah’s eyes lit up with passion.
“NEVER! We are never to use weapons of any kind nor will
CHOFA ever condone or endorse their use. I’m well aware of this
debate on the limited use of non-lethal weaponry in our missions. A
non-lethal gun is still a gun, and force is force. Father Abraham
is very clear: no force or violence will ever be used by a church
member.”
    “But,” he protested, “what if—”
    “Nate,” she interrupted firmly. “You will have
to trust Father Abraham’s non-violent principles. He asks us to be
faithful to those principles even when it doesn’t make sense to the
world. Yes—the church is evolving; No, there will never be any
compromise of the Seamlessness Principle. The Father has said
non-violence is a constant, unifying, necessary instrument which
has worked across untold galaxies and civilizations.”
    For the first time since accepting the
Seamlessness Principle years earlier, Nate struggled to accept the
totality of her words. Although convinced his recent acquisition of
a non-lethal PPD, a personal protective device, which Dugan carried
for emergencies, didn’t compromise his faith, now was not the time
to reveal this to Sister Mariah.
    She gazed sternly at him, pondering the words of
one of her most faithful adherents. “You don’t doubt Father
Abraham, you doubt the efficacy of the Seamlessness Principle. How
long has it been since you served as a peace emissary in a war
zone?”
    “Borneo. Two years ago,” answered Nate.
    “Yes. I see. Perhaps when your journey is over
and you return here to the Center, it will be time for you to serve
in another—” An insistent beep suddenly sounded in her ear mike.
“Pardon me, I have a priority call.” She clicked a button on her
wrist band. “Yes,” she said to a concealed mike. The creases in her
face grew more pronounced. “I see. Uh-huh. I understand. Any
motives? Okay. Thank you.”
    She walked to the window. With left hand
outstretched, she gracefully touched each finger to the
corresponding ones on the right hand. She folded them together,
then opened her palms heavenward and simultaneously glanced
upwards; the sign of CHOFA. “Take her into your keeping, Father.
Eyes open, face to the sky.”
    With a quick glance toward Nate, she sighed. She
returned her gaze to the window and began the somber assessment.
“It’s curious, my son. An unusual death of one of our members in
Jerusalem.”
    “Oh?” His mind flashed through pictures of his
many friends serving the church there.
    “Yes. But she wasn’t in an active conflict zone.
I’d always thought Jerusalem was safer these days. A single
murder…in her home…gruesome.” She shivered.
    His heart raced. Could it be?
    As if reading his mind, she continued. “Her name
is Wakely Karris. She worked with sexually exploited women.”
    He froze in fear. Wakely! Father Abraham!
No!
    “Did you know her?” she asked, noting his pained
expression.
    “Uh-huh,” was all he could muster. How could
this have happened? After sixty years! I know she still practiced
the safety protocols that Hilliard taught us. Had she let her guard
down? If so, why? Oh, Wakely!
    Struggling to his feet, he had joined her at the
window. The leaden weight felt in the pit of his stomach had told
him something more disturbing. These things happen, yes. They
just don’t happen to one of US. “Yes, I know her, um, quite
well.” As he finished making the sign of CHOFA, Sister Mariah had
put her arm around him. He had needed her support, for at that
moment he felt as weary as if he had just completed a marathon.
     
    * * * * * *
     
    Knees somewhat steadier now, he began a slow
trot. The towering stone monuments of Stonehenge quickly
approached. He’d always loved the ancient, ethereal feel of
Stonehenge. It reminded him how his decades-long search for
spiritual fulfillment ended in 2048 when he had heard the former
astronaut Winifred Bakila