Taken aback, not believing she hadn’t heard the approach of the captain or of the six MPs that flanked him, Megan didn’t know what to say.
Church of the Word
Marbury, Alabama
Local Time 1001 Hours
Delroy stared in helpless confusion and rage at the damage that had been done to the church where he had spent so much of his young life.
Dust filled the cavernous vault of the church’s main worship area. Sunlight streamed in through broken windows. Only a handful of pews were left, and most of those were broken or in a state of disrepair. More graffiti, all of it lewd and vicious, colored the church’s walls. Beer cans and bottles littered the floor. The vandals hadn’t had any regard for the craftsmanship Josiah Harte had put into his church.
Taking his hat off and tucking it under his arm, numb from the shock and overwhelmed by the memories coursing through his mind, Delroy strode into the sanctuary. His steps sounded hollow and loud against the scarred hardwood floor and the silence that filled the church.
Four years. It looks like an eternity has passed.
Walter’s walkie-talkie buzzed for attention. He tried to reply but the signal wasn’t clear. Excusing himself, he walked back to the cruiser.
Bitterly Delroy looked around the church. He remembered running through the building as a child, squealing in delight as his daddy chased him while he took a break from whatever work he’d been doing. Hundreds of summer days and winter evenings had been spent inside this church with other kids, all of them playing checkers and Monopoly, trading baseball cards and dreaming of being on baseball cards.
But on Sunday mornings their faces were scrubbed and they had on their best clothes to listen to Josiah Harte tell them of God’s love and God’s punishment of the wicked. They’d learned of heaven and they’d learned of hell, and Delroy had never been prouder of his daddy than when he’d seen him in front of the congregation stoking the fires of righteous indignation and preaching the fear of God.
Dazed and bewildered, Delroy walked slowly through the church. Strains of the songs sung by the choir, his momma’s voice pealing among them, seemed to come to his ear. One particular Sunday morning, Josiah had invited Glenda to church shortly after she and Delroy had started dating. When he closed his eyes, Delroy could still hear her sing:
“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.”
Delroy remembered how Glenda had looked that morning, so full of life and love and hope. She’d worn a pale peach dress that emphasized her dark skin. Her voice had filled the church, mesmerizing all those in attendance, drawing tears from some of them because she sang so beautifully.
People had talked about her singing for weeks. When she and Delroy walked down the street together people would come up and congratulate her, telling her how much it had meant to them. Glenda had been so embarrassed by all the attention.
Even you, Daddy, even you were surprised by her voice and her conviction to the Lord. A lump formed in Delroy’s throat as he looked at the defaced picture of Jesus Christ behind the water tank where baptisms were done. God, why did we have to have all that innocence taken away from us? Why couldn’t we just have remained simple and loving in Your eyes? We would have served You forever.
Shadows moved in the church as the wind blew the branches outside.
“Do you know why men and women are tested?” Josiah Harte’s voice rose up from Delroy’s memory and filled the church around him. “I ask y’all, brothers and sisters, do y’all know why the Lord God Almighty allows Satan to tempt y’all with earthly things like money and big fine cars like y’all see some folks driving?”
The deacons in the church had answered, “No, Reverend.”
In his mind’s eye, Delroy saw the church as it had been then: the wood floor polished, the pews set in exact rows with Bibles and hymnals stacked neatly. His father had paced in front of the choir as he always did. Josiah Harte had never been a man to stand still.
“Y’all know what a lot of people think, don’t y’all?” Josiah had demanded. “They think God wants us tested because He wants to know what’s in our hearts. Let me ask y’all that. How many think that’s why God allows that old devil to tempt so many of us? So that God will know what’s in your hearts?”
Several of the parishioners had raised their hands. Delroy had raised his right along with them.
“Oh and look at y’all!” Josiah had exclaimed. “Ain’t none of y’all been listenin’ to what I been preachin’ all these years.” He smacked his Bible in his hands and looked skyward as he spread his arms to his sides. “Lord God, I ask that You show mercy on these people because they’ve come a long way, but it’s evident they got a ways to go. But be patient with them, because I think You and me can get ‘em there before we’re done.”
A great embarrassed silence had fallen over the church the way it always did when the congregation knew they’d been found wanting by their fiery pastor.
“God Almighty, I ask that You give me patience too, because I know that You know I ain’t a patient man when it comes to muleheadedness. I lead them to Your Word, Lord, but I cain’t make ‘em drink. No, sir, I cain’t make ‘em drink not one drop.”
At nine years old, Delroy had sat silent and chastised on the front row
