“It is true we need to be supplied with weapons, and we need to build our cell group. Do you know of any men or women who want to join the cause? If so, send them to me.”
“I’ll do that. I’ll now take my leave.”
Her ‘husband’ escorted her to the front door, and as she walked out she headed southeast on Mass Avenue, turned the corner on the next street, and ducking into an alley, changed back to Poisonous.
* * *
Her ‘husband,’ a man named Abdullah Salah, came back to lucidity. He left the temple and returned to his modest home in Takoma Park, Maryland. His wife, Safiya, greeted him, and he kissed her.
“Are you still seeking the truth about Allah?” she asked.
“Yes, and I don’t think it is in the Quran. The Quran is full of plenty of nice teachings, but there doesn’t seem to any power greater than what a person can do on their own. There must be a way to please Allah, but I don’t know how, yet. Perhaps, I should look into the Jewish Bible. There is a version in Arabic, and I will read it. I have heard many followers of the Prophet Yasū‘ say that not only is he a great prophet, but he is actually the son of God, and made a way for us to have a relationship with God.”
“Isn’t that considered blasphemy, husband?”
“It may be to those who are Muslims, but I want more than just high-sounding altruisms, or aphorisms that tell us we should be nice to one another, or worse, kill those who don’t think the way we do. I want to know how to be in Allah’s good graces. I mean, all people can be ‘good’ but is that enough?
“I don’t know, Abdullah, husband of mine. Search for your answers, but be discreet. I’m not ready to die for blasphemy.”
“You won’t, I assure you, my love.”
”I hope not. Please be careful.”
* * *
Changing out of the Islamic garb, and replacing it with her American clothes, she sat down at her desk, and once again perused all that the Dark Web had to offer.
“Ah; weapons for sale. Good. I will make a purchase and be sure to send it to a place where Hammad can use it. As for potential followers of ISIS, I will have to find some anti-Western liberal thinking souls that can be easily swayed to adopt the Sharia law and the Islamic way of life; especially the radical Islamists, who kill all who don’t follow their way of thinking.”
She laughed long and hard and shook her head. “Humans. They have become so confused they will reach for any philosophy that is convenient for their limited understanding. They are so easily manipulated.”
This time, instead of flying over DC and using her finely tuned sense of smell, she decided to use the power of technology, and visited a popular social media website, which mentioned the fight against the ISIS ideology, and the many military organizations around the world that fought against the jihadist soldiers. Finding nothing of use on the Social Media sites, so she decided to look up ISIS owned websites, since, as she expected, most pages dedicated to the ideals of the ISIS faithful had been deleted from social media sites. Instead, she searched online, especially on the Dark Web for sites dedicated to hatred of the West mingled with a call to have those with similar ideals join their cause. The most interesting part was that many young Americans, including children, joined the ISIS faithful, and were trained from a young age to adopt the brutal ideals of this group of militants for the cause of Sharia, and the radical Islamic views. Noting the various American young people who expressed solidarity with the cause, she found that they lived all over the United States, and a few were even right there in DC.
“Oh, delicious…I must pay these children a visit, and encourage their hatred for democracy and other doctrines of the Western World.” Names of those who seemed most interested in the cause went into a spreadsheet on her computer, including their addresses and phone numbers.
* * *
Later that night, near one o’clock in the morning, Poisonous flew back to the Virginia Hospital Center to pay Fritz Ballinger a visit. He had become more lucid, but remained a little addled. “This would be a perfect opportunity to put him out of his misery,” she said. She changed into Perri, clothed in a black dress and a black shroud that covered her face, and hid her hands, to be sure he wouldn’t think she was involved in his death. Walking to the bed, she stood next to Fritz, and dictated, by power of suggestion, Listen to what I say, and don’t question what you hear. “Wrap the intravenous tubes around your neck, Fritz.” He did so, and she continued. “Wrap more tubing around your neck, and pull it tight. That’s right, Fritz,” she cooed. “Keep doing what I say, and you’ll feel so-o-o-o much better…”
Things were going well, but footsteps echoed in the hall, and she stopped and listened. The presence of The Light felt stronger, and it came towards Fritz’ room, so she flew out the window, and watched the situation from outside Fritz’ room. The nurse walked into the room, and noticed the tubing wrapped around Fritz’ neck. “How on earth did this tubing get wrapped around your neck?”
“The lady in the black dress told me to do it. I assumed she knew what she was talking about,” Fritz answered.
Looking around, she focused on the window where Poisonous hovered. “Lord Jesus,” said the nurse, “please protect this man.” At the mention of the name of
