Chapter 23 Twenty Three
Christy was sitting in her apartment, The Post open in front of her pouring hot water into an over sized cup that had a Twinnings English Breakfast Blend tea bag sitting in it waiting for the water to strike and the flavor to seep out, which was of course the culmination of a tea bags purpose. While the tea bag served its purpose she wondered about her time last night with Michal. The conversation was measured, it was well paced and he had asked seemingly odd questions. They entered separately meeting at the table and left much the same way. Michal was well dressed, his hair was perfect. People in the Beltway said he had sold his soul to the devil, a bold accusation considering most people of power had done the same. Rumors abound that he only wore black suits and white shirts. This was not of course true, he mostly wore very dark grey suits, with varying shades of white in his shirt collection and would only on rare occasions wear a bright tie, they too were mostly solid and dark in nature. If Nadrea’s scent was the aroma of sex, Michal’s was that of the devil, tempting and seductive, yet evil. He was the kind of man who could and did move one’s career along, but at what price most were never quite sure. He was a riddle in and of himself, the product of greed and power. The descendent of lineage and intellect, but despite his blood lines more philanthropic beliefs he believed that power and influence were his gifts to the world. He was of course right and he used them well.
By now Christy was on her second cup of tea, still playing and replaying the previous nights’ events. Why was she there? Had she in some way tipped her hand or provided insight not only into Robert’s thoughts and plans, like she really knew what they were at this point, she thought to herself. Or worse yet, had she given Michal a glimpse of what was inside of her. Surely a man like him couldn’t steal her soul over one dinner like he had done to so many others. Playing it over and over again what was it he said. For some unknown reason he kept making reference to the number 23 during the conversation. Early on during some warm up political banter he brought up the twenty third Amendment to the United States Constitution. At the time, she didn’t think it was odd, people in DC discussed old and seemingly irrelevant pieces of legislation on a regular basis so the debate and discussion over an amendment that had been proposed in June of 1960 and ratified in March of 1961 giving the District of Columbia electoral rights in the presidential election process, the electoral college in particular. She ran the conversation over and over staring at the paper, but not reading a word. Was she there because the Husker had greater political aspirations, was he considering the senate seat, or the governors race? Could it possibly be that he was considering a presidential run? It was of course unlikely, he was only a Representative from an agriculture state that had an appropriately sized population for what it was. She pondered and turned on this one. Was she being forewarned of these possibilities or was she being sized up to determine if she could keep her place in line and rise with him?
Moving on to the next conversation she rolled through it as nothing more than her giving him her resume, he put people places at times so one day she might be a recommendation of his, no harm there. Soon the conversation turned to the arts and to literature, as she replayed yet another portion of the previous evening in her head. She started to wonder from room to room peering aimlessly out the windows looking onto the streets below. She thought of how he referenced the restaurant being of dark wood and dimly lit reminded him of a favorite childhood book, “a child’s tale really, the Hounds of the Baskerville’s” as he went on to summarize in particular his recollection of passage between Dr. Mortimer, Holmes, Watson, and Sir Henry Baskerville, a idly placed letter and the fact that there were twenty three hotels in charring cross. She was attentive, but not a Sherlock Holmes fan so in no way could she relate to the story as he told it in summary providing more odd bits of detail here and there.
As dinner wore on to dessert, she remembered an odd conversation of religion. Seeing as their party was most often associated with conservative moral causes it was not completely inappropriate, but odd none the less. He brought up the idea of God, a scripture. To Christy a man seen as a minion of Satan by most, even many of those associated with him discussing God was more than a bit disconcerting. Was he a Trojan bearing gifts? She remembered thinking at the time, but boys will be boys, some men love having arch enemies to discuss, pagans to smite, and plans to rule the world by crushing one’s enemies. Perhaps she was seeing the devils plans for God, but then again came the number 23 this time in a series of biblical references. He talked about the 23rd verse of Genesis being the 5th day of creation about evening and day.
Then after a few more odd references he moved in on to Psalm 23, which he quoted verbatim “1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
He explained how it’s true meaning was about having a prosperous life then tying it in explained that both Genesis 39 & 40 have exactly twenty three verses, they dealt with a rise to power to lies and to deceit. She thought she finally understood why she was there as she continued hearing Michal’s words in her head. Dungeons and lies but rising back to power, she had lied, spoken half truths and mis-stepped she was convinced though that he was telling her that as the Husker rose to power and prosperity she would be given a second chance. Then she thought about his final words about the number 23, she hadn’t seen a man so obsessed with a single number since junior high when the boys all fell in love with the number 69. The elation and feeling of salvation and redemption faded as she looked up chapter twenty three in Genesis which was what he told her to read again some time. The chapter was not about prosperity it was depressingly and completely about death. She was again as lost in the end as she had been when she started. Picking up the phone she called the Husker’s cell phone. The phone was answered but before he said hello she heard him say “Thanks. I’ll be ready in just a minute” and a female voice respond with “No hurry”. It was a voice she did not know.
After greetings were exchanged she briefed him on the first of the two meetings in painstakingly accurate detail. The Husker listened to Christy politely. Then she started in on the dinner meeting.
“It was a nice time.” She stated.
“Glad to hear it, he’s not what most people accuse him of being.”
“Well, since you brought it up. I’ve been trying to make sense of why I was there.”
The husker reassured her that he was a good person to know, and that the meaning was no greater ambitions for himself at that time, always a possibility but he liked his life. She still had no insight. So as they closed Christy asked “Will you at breakfast tomorrow?”
He paused “I will, but I might be a few minutes late, I have a morning work out.”
“No problem, most of the group is usually late.”
“I know I’m not typically, and could you have them set the table for one more? I’m bringing a guest.”
“It’s a big group from what I hear, but I’ll call them now”
Final good byes were said and they hung up. The Husker headed down the hall to catch up with Donna. Christy looked at the list of attendees for the next day, it was much larger than their typical group. She counted up the names and added hers and the Huskers to the count.
“Twenty two” she said out loud to an otherwise empty room. Then stopping cold remembered he had asked her to add someone. “Twenty three” her heart dropped, it all now made sense the only question that remained was would it be prosperity or death that he brought. She was not having a good day yet again.
Next Chapter Earlier That Morning
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