Page 28 of All He Sees
Nicky and Ken watched as the congregation rose, and dozens of people walked up from the pews to the stage. They all bowed their heads, and Father Michaels placed a hand on each of their heads. Nicky and Ken remained in their seats, which the man seemed to notice. Once everyone was done, he glanced back at Nicky and Ken, frowning.
Nicky held up her badge. And that seemed to get his attention, because he shot them a frown, then beckoned for them with his hand to follow.
***
Moments later, Nicky and Ken were in Father Michaels's office, facing him as he sat on the opposite side of his desk. Nicky adjusted her legs in the seat in front, feeling strange being here. The boat rocked and lulled with the sea, and there were crosses all over the walls in the small, cramped room.
"You might have more room if you were on land, Father," Nicky said.
Father Michaels let out a wheezy laugh, running his hand over the gray stubble of his chin. "We like the boat life, my child."
"Mind if I ask why?" Nicky asked.
"It's a reminder that we're not here for this life," he said. "We're just passing through. Waiting for the next life." This time, his laugh was much softer, and this time, he had to cough. There were two bottles of cough syrup on his desk, and Nicky thought of Mira. Maybe she had been caught in this strange cult. Maybe she had gotten sick. Maybe she was dead...
"This is Mira Phillips," Ken said, sliding over a photo of Mira. "She's the one we're investigating."
"Oh..." Father Michaels took the photo and nodded solemnly. "She's a member of this church. What happened to her?"
"We were hoping you might tell us," Nicky said. "Did you hear Mira has gone missing?"
Father Michaels frowned. "It must not have made it back to me. We're a bit far out from town. Some don't even consider this dock to be part of Vale."
"But you would have seen the news," Ken said. "I find it hard to believe Mira went missing and that news didn't spread at her church."
"I am sorry, my child, but I'm getting old. Maybe I forgot."
Nicky wasn't sure if she bought that. “When was this church founded, Father? It’s… different.”
“Ah, you want to know the story of Richter,” said Father Michaels.
He stood up and started walking around the office. “It was years ago. I was on a mission in Haiti, checking up on the church there, when I received a vision. It was a voice, my child, like a voice from God... but it was not God. It was Richter, my late brother. He told me he had been watching me, and he knew I was the one to spread his word. It was to be a new church, and he would lead me there.”
"Wait," Nicky said, "Richter was a real person?"
"Oh, yes, he was my brother."
This was getting weirder by the moment.
“And… you just went?” Nicky asked.
“Of course!” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, how could I deny the word of Richter?”
“Ah,” Nicky said, nodding along. “And you were the first to come here?”
“Yes,” he said. “I had just gotten here, and Richter himself spoke to me out at sea. He told me to drop anchor here, to set up shop. So, I did.”
Father Michaels stopped pacing and let out a sigh.
"Richter was killed at war, you see," he said. "My church--we're strict pacifists. There is no violence allowed. We don't even eat animals."
“Maybe you should tell us more about this vision you had,” Ken said.
“Yes, of course,” Father Michaels said. But he seemed to not hear his own words. He was staring at the floor, his eyes distant. “Richter told me, ‘Brother, I’ve been watching you. Just like you once watched me. I have a special place for you in my church.’”
Nicky and Ken waited. Father Michaels seemed to be lost in his memories.
“I said, ‘What of my current church?’” He chuckled. “And then Richter said, ‘You will be its leader. You will be the one to spread my word.’ I said, ‘But the church needs the members, Richter.’ He said, 'You will find a way.' And so I did. I talked to members of my old church about my vision and forming a new religion. It took some time to catch on, but we have a good thing going. Not everyone believes in Richter, but we all share the same values. In order to thrive as a species, we must have peace--we must not have violence."
