the glowing began again.
Nydia said, 'All right, Mr. Balon—no more. We'll go back.'
The four-wheel started; the glowing and the burning faded.
'Any doubts now?' Sam asked.
She shook her head. 'But where do we start, Sam?'
'At Falcon House.'
'What do we do?' Anita asked. She had recovered from her shocked state and sat sipping tea, her gaze alternating between the mute huge, motionless clay man and the mist that was Balon.
'Wait,' Balon projected. 'None of you can start it. The golem will not kill without some overt provocation toward one of you.'
'What … can that thing do?' Wade asked.
'It has the strength of twenty men. It cannot be stopped by anything mortal. A golem is all things of earth. But none of you need concern yourself with the mysteries of the cosmos. The golem will have no will other than what I give it.'
Outside, although the day was bright and clear and warm, thunder rattled the windows of the house.
'Excuse me,' Balon said. 'No will except that which
The thunder ceased.
Miles said a very quick and fervent prayer, while Anita clutched at a small Bible.
Wade seemed amused. Doris looked at him and said, 'You find this amusing?'
'He's still a reporter at heart,' Sam said.
'I have personally witnessed one of the greatest stories a reporter could possibly witness, back in 1958,' Wade replied. 'And am about to witness another. And I am unable to write about either. Pity.'
'The whole town—all our friends—have turned against us,' Anita said bitterly. 'And all you can think about is reporting a story.'
'Our friends are dead,' Wade replied. 'Just like before. They have rejected the teaching of the Almighty and of His Son, Jesus Christ. They have made their choice. So be it.'
'I'll go along with the Almighty part,' Miles said. 'The bit about His Son …?' He waggled his hand. 'I got to see it to believe it.'
Sam Balon seemed amused by the exchange.
'Him, now,' Doris said, looking at the misty form. 'He could clear it all up . . . if he would.'
'He can't even clear himself up so we can get a look at him.' Miles grinned.
'STOP IT!' Anita screamed. 'It isn't a joke, my God! I can't take this joking about … our deaths!'
Wade put an arm around her, pulling her to him. 'I think it's the best way to hide our fears, honey. But you're right; it is no joking matter.'
'Everything mortals question will be explained,' Balon projected. 'In time.'
Anita pushed her husband from her, took a deep breath, and glared at the mist form that was once her minister. 'I believed in you with all my heart and faith twenty years ago, Brother Balon. I'll do the same now.'
'Good,' Balon said.
'Someone's walking up the sidewalk,' Miles said.
'Jane Ann,' Balon projected. 'I asked her to come over for a time.'
'She is going to stay with us, isn't she?' Doris asked.
'No. The Clay Man will protect you. I will stay with Jane Ann. You will all know why that must be at a later time.
Miles laughed. 'See, momma—who says there ain't sex after life?'
'Miles!' she whirled around, glaring at him. 'You shut your mouth with talk like that.' Her face suddenly split into a wide grin. 'Besides, for the past five years that's all you've been able to do: talk!'
Miles reddened, then grinned. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his thin chest. He had a retort, but thought it best to keep it to himself.
'I agree,' Balon said to him.
Miles looked startled for a few seconds, then smiled. 'No bad jokes up … there, huh?' He pointed upward.
'You'll see,' Balon said.
A cup of Doris's good tea beside her, Jane Ann looked at the small gathering. 'Out of the entire town, all this part of Fork, this is it, Sam?'
'Yes. There were those who felt they were Christians. But as they are soon to learn, they were only fooling themselves. And they knew it all along.'
