Aldo Salt
Interlude: The Good Father (Revised)
You are Mandrake Kayne.
Your will is strong. Your mind is like steel.
But even steel can crack.
As you creep through the darkened theater interior, searching for an opportunity to snatch your target away from her mother, a scrap of memory slips through the walls you’ve erected around your thoughts.
A memory that is quite intriguing...
#
Who in the name of…?
Um. Welcome to the Sunny Day Faith Ministry, sir! Did you have an appointment scheduled with Pastor Jeremiah…?
…
Er…I’m sorry, Mr. Kayne: You’re not in our list of Blessed Contributors. If you haven’t made an appointment, I’ll have to ask you to leave…
…What?
Are you sure, sir? He’s covered in bandages like some kind of mummy…!
…yes. Yes, sir.
The Pastor’s waiting for you in his parish office, Mr. Kayne! Peace be with you on this lovely day!
#
“As I live and breathe: Mandrake Kayne, here in the flesh!
Come in, come in! Sit! Drink! I am but a humble, unworthy sinner, but this is my body and blood, gifted to sate your soul!
…
Fair enough. You’re a man who speaks with actions instead of words! I respect that! Still, before we get down to business, I hope you’ll indulge this question on my mind:
Are you a man of faith, Mr. Kayne?
…
No? How sad. Everybody needs a little faith in his life, even a fearless fellow like you!
That’s the problem with this generation, you see: too many young folks see faith as some kind of burden, a mess of regulations, obligations, doctrines, proscriptions, prohibitions, admonitions—!
But they’ve got it all wrong! Faith is like food…no, like oxygen! It’s the spark that keeps you going, the strength to bear your burdens. It’s the hope that our labors shall end at when we ascend to Paradise, our mission on earth finally complete….!
...
…my point? My point is that we have more in common than you think, Mandrake Kayne. Why would you walk your lonely path, slaying the unclean, shunning bonds and comfort, if not for faith that your toils will be rewarded one day?
Even if you lack faith in Providence, Mr. Kayne, know that I have faith in your skills and your courage. I have faith that you will find this young girl and bring her to me alive.
You’ll find all the details in this flash drive. A word of warning:
Do not be fooled by her outward guise. Her sweet smile and shining eyes mask her nature. She is the Beast of Prophecy, the harbinger of the End Times.
Young Fausta Orobas is the Antichrist. And she must be ripped from the grasp of her sinful mother before she’s deceived into defying God’s plan…
...
NO, YOU FOOL!
Sorry, sorry. That was rude on my part; I beg your forgiveness.
You must understand, though: Antichrist or no, Fausta is still a child, and child murder is the greatest of sins. Old Scratch is a cunning fellow, and we must not fall into his trap, you see!
For the sake of our souls, bring the girl in alive.