“So I’m the caretaker?”
“The latest in a long line.”
“But you said the cathedral kills everyone who enters it.”
“No. Technically, you said that Father Billy told you that I said the cathedral will claim anyone who comes looking for its secrets. I told you that I did, indeed, say something like that.”
“So… How is that different?”
“The cathedral does claim all those who come looking for its secrets. But it doesn’t kill those who deserve them. Eleven men have emerged just like you did. And they all returned in the end.”
“Inside the clay pots.”
“Exactly. To this day, they still protect their secret.”
“So when I die, I’ll go back there?”
“Only in body. The cathedral won’t keep your spirit. I promise you that.”
This was a relief. He had feared that he was now damned to a purgatory of hanging out on a shelf at the bottom of a deep hole somewhere in Minnesota for the rest of eternity, like a bored genie.
“You said before that there were two objects of interest. Is there another staff?”
“Not a staff, but yes, another object, another secret. If a man were to possess both, he would become very powerful.”
“But with just one?”
“You are only blessed.”
“Don’t feel blessed. Feel like my head’s going to explode. How can I be expected to live like this, knowing what I know? It’s too much for any one man. What am I supposed to do? What do you do when you know the true face of God?”
“That’s where I come in.”
“You?”
The little man gave him the same, broad smile. “Yes. Me.” He stepped closer to Eric and placed his small hands on his face. He looked deeply into his eyes and said, “I can take this knowledge and put it where it can’t hurt you. I can put it into your forgotten dreams.”
“My forgotten dreams…? Like the one that brought me here?”
“Yes. You won’t have to remember it. You’ll only know it when you sleep. It won’t trouble you. It won’t wake you. You’ll know without knowing. The only difference will be that your sleep will be enhanced.”
“Enhanced?”
“Deeper, more meaningful. You’ll need less sleep and you’ll recharge faster. You’ll even heal faster when you sleep. Just a little.”
“That’s… Cool. I guess.”
“Very cool.”
Staring into the little man’s eyes, Eric asked, “Why me?”
“Why not? You did magnificently.”
“But wouldn’t someone else have done just as well?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But the right person was chosen. You can believe that.”
“If you say so…”
“All done.” The gas station attendant, who was by no means a mere gas station attendant, dropped his hands and stepped back.
Eric realized that he no longer remembered what he knew before. He simply recalled having once known something very significant, something life-changing.
“Come on. Let’s get you home.”
Eric stood up and walked with the small man across the crushed earth of the cathedral’s crater. At the edge of the woods sat a vehicle he hadn’t noticed before now.
As he walked, his cell phone buzzed against his leg.
It was Isabelle.
“You did so awesome, Eric!”
“Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Yes, you could’ve.”
“No. I really don’t think so.”
“Aw… But it’s over now. You get to go home.”
“I do.”
“And you still get me!”
Eric smiled. “I do, don’t I?”
“You’re stuck with me.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Somehow, he could tell that she was smiling on her end of the line.
“But wait… If you were there the whole time, did you see the secret too?”
“No. Only that you learned something very profound.”
“Huh…”
“The secret must have only been for you. Not me.”
“I guess so.”
“I’ll talk to you later, okay? Bye!”
“Bye.” Eric hung up and stared at the phone.
“You’ve made a few great friends today,” said the little man.
Looking up, Eric found that they had been joined by Edgar, Grant, Taylor and Annette. They walked with them, all of them smiling.
“Fantastic job, Eric,” said Taylor.
“I knew you’d get the job done,” Grant boasted.
Then both of them faded from sight. Eric stared after them, surprised.
“You came through for all of us,” admitted Edgar. “We can’t thank you enough.” Then he was gone, too.
Annette smiled at him, tears spilling from her eyes. “I’m going to see my Ethan now!” she exclaimed. She pressed her fingers to her lips and then waved goodbye as she faded from sight. Again, he found himself alone with the gas station attendant.
“They’ve done their work. Now they’re free. You did a great job today, Eric.”
Ahead of them, he could see the vehicle that awaited them. It was the old white limousine from the gas station. As he watched, the door opened and Father Billy stepped out to greet him.
Eric was relieved. The last time he saw the man, he was running toward a towering golem with a double-handful of lit explosives. While Isabelle had assured him that he’d escaped the ordeal unharmed, it was nonetheless good to see him.
“It’s not quite first class,” said the diminutive gas station attendant.
“It’s awesome,” Eric told him. “I’ve never been in a limo before.”
“Truth be told, neither had most of its parts before I put them there.”
Eric laughed. “I’m still excited.”
The little man smiled more broadly than ever.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Eric sat in the back of the old limousine, watching the trees pass by the windows, thinking about all that he’d done since he jumped out of bed that morning.
That felt like days ago instead of mere hours.
His shoulder still hurt, but not so bad. And with nightfall, his sunburned arms and neck had grown uncomfortable. But all things considered, he was simply thrilled to be alive.
His phone rang. It was Karen.
“Hey baby.”
“What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m all done. I’m on my way home now.”
“Finally! What happened?”
“I’ll tell you about it when I get home. It’ll be about… Actually, I’m not entirely sure. Hold on.” Lowering the phone he called out to Father Billy, “How long will it take to get me home?”
“About eight hours, probably.”
Returning his phone to his ear, he asked, “Did you catch that?”
“Yeah. I guess you got your walking in for the year, huh? Who was that?”
“Oh, that’s Father Billy. He’s driving me home.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“I’m his limo driver for the night!” Father Billy called back proudly.
“Oh. Wow. A limo, huh?”
“Yeah, I’m coming home in style,” Eric boasted, grinning down at the torn upholstery and the stained carpet.
“Cool. No picking up girls, you two.”
“Hey, no promises. If Father Billy wants to pick up some chicks, I’m not telling a bad-ass man of God he can’t.”