Chapter 1
The table was set for two. There was a dish with salad, one with Curry Chicken, and another with rice; there was also a bottle of Canai wine on the table. In front of each person on the table, there was a glass.
Pauline was a good-looking, middle aged Caucasian woman; Cara was her teenage daughter. Lately the two had been having arguments, and Pauline was trying to make up with her only daughter.
Pauline Malcolm was a Christian, and she had brought up Cara to be one, but since lately Cara had been ignoring church, and Pauline had been worried. Cara was more interested in going to parties and staying out late with friends.
As they sat at the table and had their meals, Pauline was trying to find out why Cara had decided not to go to church anymore.
“Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to go to church, but since lately I’ve been having so much homework.”
“But you know that if you ask God to help you, he will, and then you wouldn’t have to spend so much time away from church.”
“Mom, God understands.”
“But what if everyone should stay away from church and say God understands, what do you think would happen?”
Her daughter looks sadly at her; she sighed resignedly, “Mom, can we talk about something else? We seem to be arguing over God so much lately.”
“Only because you won’t go to church.”
“Well, I won’t be going for a while, mom; so what’s going to happen?”
“Pastor Johns said that we’re supposed to be teaching people about God, but if we can’t teach our own…”
“...Mom, Pastor Johns seems to be the centre of your life.”
“That’s not true; he’s a good Pastor.”
“Well, if he’s such a good pastor, why does he keep insisting that you give a week salary whenever time Easter comes around? He knows you haven’t got a husband.”
“He’s just doing what God asks him to do.”
“So you believe that God asked him to demand from you a week salary, even when you can’t afford to give it?”
“We shouldn’t think of what we’re giving God, because he has given us so much.”
“Mom, the money that you give him is not going to God.”
Pauline had a look of horror on her face when she looked at her daughter. “Why do you say that?”
“Mom, we all know that the money we give to Pastor Johns doesn’t go to God; God doesn’t want money.”
“Sweetheart, God said that we should pay our tithes.”
“What do the tithes do for us?”
“I don’t ask; I just do as God requested.”
“Mom, I don’t trust these pastors these days.”
“Pastor Johns is not like those pastors you see on television.”
“What’s the difference, Mom? They’re all rich. Pastor Johns is rich.”
“Pastor Johns is a medical doctor.”
“Well, I think he makes more money from tithes than he does from his practice.”
“We’re not talking about Pastor Johns; we’re talking about you. Pastor Johns’ soul is right with God; yours is not.”
“Mom, church has got to be put on hold; I can’t find the time to go now; I have too much work to do.”
“Pastor Johns…”
Cara pushed out her chair and got up angrily from around the table. “Mom, all you talk about is pastor Johns. What is wrong with you? Pastor Johns is like God to you.”
“That’s not true, Cara.”
Cara walked away in the direction of her room.
“Cara!”
She didn’t respond; she kept on walking.
Her mom got up and went after her. When she got to Cara’s room, her door was closed.
Pauline knocked.
“Mom, leave me alone.”
“Cara, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not the end of the world, Mom; if I don’t go to church I’m not going to stop the world from spinning.”
“Cara, you’re my daughter; I don’t want your soul to be lost.”
“My soul’s not going to be lost, Mom.”
“Cara, I love you, I’m sorry. Are you going to drink your wine?”
“I’ll drink it later, Mom.”
“Cara, I don’t want to fight; it’s just that I love you so much.”
“Mom, if you love me, give me a chance to be myself. Let me make my own decisions.”
“Okay, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be out in a while, Mom; I just need some time to cool off.”
“Okay, dear.”
The phone rang. Pauline went into the kitchen for it. “Hello.”
“We’re waiting,” said a male voice.
“She didn’t drink it,” she said softly.
“What’s happening?”
“We had a little argument and she left before she drank.”
“You know what you’ve got to do.”
“Yes.”
“Do it! We’re waiting.”
“Yes.”
She heard the phone hung up at the other end and she sadly hung up too. She walked back up to Cara’s door and knocked. “Cara, I promise I won’t bother you about church again if you just drink a glass of wine with me.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Cara opened the door.
Her mother led the way back to the table. “Sit.”
Cara took a seat. Her mother opened the wine and poured a drink in her glass. Cara took up the glass and looked at the wine as it bubbled up. She smiled, “This is my favourite wine. I remember when we use to drink it a lot, Mom.”
Her mother smiled at her.
Cara looked at her mom who was still standing with the bottle in her had. “Aren’t you going to pour yourself some?”
“Yeah, but taste it, tell me what you think about it.”
“Mom, I know how this wine tastes.”
“It’s different; just taste it.”
“Okay.” She tasted it. “Mm, delicious.” She drank all of it and held out her glass for more. Her mom enthusiastically poured more into her glass.
“Be careful you don’t get drunk,” her Mom said.
She laughed, “Mom, this only has seven percent alcohol; it would take two bottles for me to get drunk.” She drank again. She placed the glass on the table.
Suddenly, she looked sick. She held her stomach, “Mom, I’m not feeling well.” She stood, but on unsteady legs, “Mom, my head is spinning.” She started walking toward her room. “I… feel… sick.” Suddenly she fell. “Mom, help,” she said weakly, “help... me.”
Then she was silent.
Her mom went for the phone and dialled a number; “It is done. She is out on the floor.”
“Good. We’re coming in.”
She hung up.
Two well-dressed, decent looking men came into the house; one was an African American, he was Doctor Michael Johns; he was from Africa; he spoke with an accent, but spoke good English. His partner was Winston Riley; he was from Canada; he was a Caucasian, but he had moved to America at an early age.
They picked up Cara and took her out.
Pauline followed behind them.
The street was deserted. This was a side of town where everyone kept to his or herself. At eight o’clock in the night, the street appeared as if no one lived there. This was something Pastor Johns was aware of, and something he was glad for.
“I’m going to put her in her car,” said Pastor Johns; he was the bigger of the two. “Have you got her keys?”
Pauline quickly produced a set of keys; she unlocked the car and opened the back door.
Cara was placed in.
Pastor Johns closed the door. He looked at his companion, “Winston, you take our car, I’ll take this one.”
“Sure.” Winston walked to the car and got in.
Pastor Johns took the keys from Pauline.
He looked at her; he saw the sad look on her face. He put reassuring hands on her shoulders, “I know how you feel, Sister Malcolm, but this is for the best. This world is full of sin, and we’re the only ones who can cleanse it. But first we have got to start with our own homes.”
Pauline had tears in her eyes when she responded, “I was hoping she would come to her senses and go to church and get back God in her life.”
“She prefers the world and what it has to offer. The bible said we should be in the world, but not of this world. You know your daughter is possessed and there is only one thing that can be done to cleanse her soul.”
Pauline shook her head understandingly.
“Believe me, Sister Malcolm; you’re doing the right thing.”
She looked into his eyes, “Then why does it feel so terrible?”
“I wish I could tell you, Sister Malcolm. Just think of the wonderful life she will be having living in Heaven with God.”
“I’ll try.”
“If we don’t do this, then her entire life will go to the devil; the only way the devil can have her soul is unless she dies with her heart intact, you know that.”
Again she shook her head understandingly.
“Do you wanna come with us?”
Pauline shook her head.
“Okay, come with me.”
Pauline got in the car with Pastor Johns. He started the engine and drove out behind Winston.
Pastor Johns was dressed as he would normally be when he was doing surgery. He was in his scrubs and had a cap on his head. Pastor Johns was tall, approximately six, two and solidly built.
Pauline was with him; she still looked sad.
“Sister Malcolm, you’ve got to trust God, you’ve put the life of your daughter in his hands; everything will be fine.”
“Why do I feel this way, Pastor?”
“It’s natural for you to feel this way, but after this is over, you’ll feel better, I can assure you. It’s the same thing when a child is being born; the mother feels pain, but after that it’s joy. Consider this a new birth.”
“I trust you, pastor; I trust God too.”
“Very well. I’m going to have to go in now; they are waiting on me.”
“Be gentle with her, pastor.”
“Sister Malcolm, she won’t feel a thing, I promise you.”
“Thanks.”
“Okay, I’ll see you.” Pastor Johns went inside the room.
The room was a theatre, looked exactly like a normal theatre room at a hospital. The nurses were there dressed and awaiting the doctor; they all had their faces covered. Cara was lying motionless on the table. Doctor Woodrow Baker, the anaesthesiologist was also there. Pastor Johns offered to say a prayer before he began.
Everyone closed their eyes and bowed their heads.
“Father God, we are once again in your presence, and we’re doing what you requested of us; we’re ridding the world of evil and saving your people from the evil one. God, we asked that you guide us and protect us.
“Father, we know that if we want to do your work, we have to start with our own and Sister Malcolm did the right thing when she offered to save her daughter’s life by ridding her body of the evil one. Once again we say thanks for the authority you have given us over evil. All this we ask in Jesus’ name.”
Everyone said amen.
He proceeded with the surgery.
