They Come From Dust Part Seventeen

Angelica wanted to throw the television out of the window. All the media hype about the president seemed like a fantasy flicks. Idolatry of the leader was no longer a problem just for North Korea. The odd thing which dawned on Angelica, was that a majority of people in the Northeast were watching these broadcasts from camps. She supposed that most people either had given up all rationality after the time of the disasters, falling into a numb state of mind, which she called "zombeism" or people no longer really cared about anything but safety and comfort.

The tribe had accepted Janet and Mason, and had buried Jimmy from the Catholic mission church. Angelica invited to three to stay, but there was an empty house on the Canadian side of the reservation, and Mason decided he and Brandy needed some privacy. Janet was content to stay with Angelica. She felt like she had a lot to process, both in her emotions and in her mind. Angelica understood this and the two fell into a peaceful arrangement of quiet, chores, praying together and talking when Janet felt like it.

As to life on the reservation, a general sense of dread came upon some of the members, while others were optimistic that they would be left alone to get on with life as they had for a very long time.

Most were happy with being ignored by any type of outside authority.

The most pressing thought and concern centered on the arrival of Adam and Father Gibson. Father Augustine had received word via the clergy missionary grapevine that Father Gibson was in Pennsylvania and had ventured in Ohio. Mason was beginning to think Father Gibson would continue his missionary work and not come back to New York or Canada.

Father Augustine said that having two priests in the same area would be a waste. All agreed. Mason and Brandy finally announced publicly the coming birth of their baby in a few months. This birth, said the leader of the tribe, was an excellent omen for the future of the nation. Mason was elected to the council within four months.

Mason began to think of himself as Athos retiring to his country estate. Adam seemed far away, fighting the good cause to the end like d'Artagnan, and Father Gibson, was, of course, Aramis.

There was no Porthos...

Mason had the strangest feeling that they would not all be together again, not able to say good-bye like the Three Musketeers. He felt that spiritually he was saying farewell to his dearest friends, and that the old days of friendship and working together were over.

Another strange feeling he had was that he would definitely see some of them again, in heaven,, but one he would never see again, even in the afterlife. He kept this secret to himself, and died with it.

Like Adam's secret concerning the president's real mother, some secrets die in the grave.

to be continued...