Page 27 - Tales Apocalyptic and Dystopian

Comet Klenzer
(Fantastic Transactions 2, 1997)

“There’s a man out here who wants to see you,” came the
electronically reduced and amplified voice of Brother Daniel’s
receptionist. “He doesn’t have an appointment and he won’t tell me
his name. He’s wearing dark glasses but he does look awfully
familiar.”
“I see. Does he have the appearance of, shall we say, an officer of
the law?”
“No, quite the contrary. Maybe I saw him on television.”
Brother Daniel sighed.
“All right. I think I know who it is. You might as well show him in.
I’ll have to see him sooner or later: my own personal prophesy.”
Moments later a tall gaunt figure in a well-tailored white silk suit
stormed into the inner sanctum of Brother Daniel Enterprises. He
glared at the occupant of the desk, who wordlessly offered his guest a
seat.
“Do you know who I am?” demanded the intruder.
“Yes, Reverend Blood. I expected to hear from you, but not this
soon and not in person. So this really is a pleasant surprise, despite
your ill manners.”
“Don’t adopt that snotty tone with me, you charlatan.” Drew
Blood, minister and chairman of the board of the Church of Final
Days, would not sit. “I’m on to you. I’ve hired a detective and I know
all about you, Brother Daniel.”
“Really? You might have saved that portion of your ill-gotten gains
for investing in yet another Revelations theme park. My life is an
open book. Your own past is considerably more occult than mine,
from what I read in the tabloids.”
“Baloney!” sneered the pacing Jeremiah. “I’ve been a bona fide
evangelist all my life, in the service of the Lord.”
“And Mammon, when the opportunity arises.”
“I dare you to appear on my Hour of Truth and repeat that charge:
I’ll have you in court so fast your head will spin.”

26