Master of Plagues, D. B. Reynolds [best books to read fiction .txt] 📗

you know it. When I do return, you and I are going to have the time of our lives. What’cha say to that, the one most pretty?”
“I’d say superb.”
“Then, so it is. Laura, I’d like to get to know you much better. Hope you don’t think I’m out of my mind for saying this, but I feel a special connection to you. We were together for a short time, but it was long enough for me to see that you’re one very special woman.”
“I feel the same way, too, Stuart.”
Stuart glanced down at his watch. He couldn’t believe how time had slipped away. “Laura, I’d like to talk longer, but I’ve got appointments with some business associates.”
“When you put the brakes on, please give me a call.”
“I will, sweetheart.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Stuart clicked the off button and slung the cell phone down on the bed. The divine, glowing spiritual figure of Rabbi Irwin Wedemeyer reflected into one of the long dressing mirrors.
“Stuart, my son,” Rabbi Wedemeyer chanted, his ghostly frame filling up most of the mirror.
“Rabbi Wedemeyer?” Stuart spoke with surprise, staring head-on into the bright mirror.
“My beloved son, have you not met one of the most intelligent, one of the prettiest of Jewish girls in all the world?”
“Rabbi Wedemeyer, my heart tells me that I have.”
“Has your life found more fulfillment since meeting her?”
“Would time not be the deciding factor, Rabbi?”
“Time heals all wounds, my son. Time completes every story. Time fulfills every empty heart and desirable dream.”
“For the first time in my life, this woman and I laid together. Not one to purposely fornicate or commit adultery, the emptiness in my heart filled itself after we surrendered our virginity over to one another.”
“But Stuart, my son, you were to never lie with this woman until she became your wife. The One Most High will forgive you of this sin, as he has forgiven you of all your other sins. This woman, Laura Rivenburg, she has the anointing to become a prudent wife for you.”
“Hope I didn’t disappoint you, Rabbi Wedemeyer.”
“Son, everyone has committed sins before the eyes of The One Most High. Don’t play with sin, for those who play with sin, they will surely be in danger of the judgement.”
“Rabbi, you are still my father, long after you have traveled into the divinity of the spiritual world.”
“My son, I see you have traveled to the city of Chicago.”
“Yes, I have.”
“Do you not seek vengeance on yet another one of your adversaries?”
“Yes, Rabbi, I do.”
“Like your other adversaries, will he also suffer from a devastating plague?”
“A devastating plague, but on a milder level.”
“But doesn’t vengeance belong to The One Most High?”
“Yes, but------.”
“But, are you still bringing harm to those who’ve harmed you?”
“Yes, Rabbi, I am.”
“Before you die from this Earth, please make sure that you make your peace with The One Most High.”
“Yes, Rabbi, I will.”
“Stuart, my beloved son, I will be with you until the very end.”
“Rabbi Wedemeyer, you were my father in the Earthly world, and you have continued to be my father over into the spiritual world.”
Rabbi Wedemeyer dissolved from the mirror. Stuart took the deepest breath and patted his chest rather hard.


CHAPTER—32

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

Nestled away in their five million dollar hideaway were Anthony and Diane Greenstein. Anthony consulted with his real estate-appraising wife before they both decided to purchase their exclusive mansion in the Merrick Woods section of Long Island. Together, the Greenstein couple earned astronomically-high salaries, with Anthony being the sole breadwinner. His egotistical means of being a man wouldn’t allow his professional wife to out-earn him.
Diane applauded her husband’s choice of residency. The quiet neighborhood of tree-lined streets and pristine properties attracted them to the entrancing enclave of charm and accessibility. Anthony always believed his wife possessed the testament to a builder’s attention to detail and design sensibilities. Their palatial home was built six months prior to them purchasing it. Ten bedrooms, six bathrooms, double door entries, two-zone central air, eat-in kitchen with Bosch appliances and granite countertops were just half the luxuries they bolstered. The other half included twelve-foot ceilings on the first two levels, espresso cabinets and porcelain floors, custom moldings, Pella windows and doors, gas fireplaces, circular driveway, and in-ground swimming pool. These immaculate amenities were enjoyed by the Greenstein family.
Anthony and Diane were proud of their Energy Star home. Everytime they drove up to their castle, it reminded them of what true success meant. Of course, both had already been born into wealth. Not asking any of their parents for a dime, nor an ounce of physical help, they felt they’d earned it solely on their own.
Their two children, four year old Sterling, and three year old Winnie, played happily in the huge backyard with swings and trampolines and plastic balls. Anthony was far from being fulfilled. He yearned to reach billionaire status. When not playing out the role of corporate playboy, he spent time with Diane staring out on the Juliet balcony. They decided to spend a quiet evening in the master bedroom nursing cocktails. Anthony was still haunted by the fact that a colossal New York City rat had bit him in the backside and left him with blood dripping from behind.
“Anthony, darling,” Diane chimed to her husband, breaking her sudden silence. “Are you ever going to tell me what happened to you from the rear? Your story of running into an accident near a construction sight in Manhattan just doesn’t add up.”
Anthony belted down a chilled shot of brandy. “Diane, what do you want from me, the gospel truth?”
“Yes, give me the gospel truth.”
“Honey, I hope you don’t freak out on me. But, this giant rat bit me from behind and snatched plugs of meat out of my butt.”
Though it was her husband, Diane held in her laugh. “A giant rat? How big was this rat?”
“Do you know how big a football player is who plays for the New York Giants?”
“Only on television.”
“But, you do know how big those guys can get, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
“Well, this giant-humongous rat, it bit me in the rear when I was bending over to pick up some papers.”
Diane never knew how her husband lied right through his teeth. The only bending over he’d done in his office was to bend over and engage in intimacy with his secretary, Elaine Cameron.
“But, Anthony, rats don’t get that big, darling.”
“This one did.”
“Every since we’ve been together, you’ve always told me that you hated rats.”
“Yes, I hate those creepy-crawly, stinky-staggy creatures to death!” Anthony swizzled, shivering from the memory of the many large rats that took over his office. “When I see those furry things, my flesh crawls, my skin sweats, my bones shake, my spine wiggles, my stomach churns, my brain rumbles, my-------.”
“Okay, okay, Anthony, I get the point,” Diane respectfully interjected. “But, didn’t you tell me that Greenstein Towers were free from rats and roaches, from waterbugs and other pests?”
“Sure, I told you that. The biggest rat of them all had the brightest golden glow around him.”
“Golden glow? What, like some creature from outer space?”
“Yes, and this rat could speak English like we’re sitting here talking to one another right now.”
“No, Anthony,” Diane objected. “Rats don’t talk. Question, honey.”
“What?”
“How many times have you seen the movie ‘Ben’?”
“One time when I was a kid. That was one time too many.”
“I thought ‘Ben’ was a great movie.”
“If you can take watching a buncha rats climb all on top of one another.”
“Anthony, I love you. I believe in you and everything you stand for. But, you can’t get me to believe that a huge, NFL-sized rat bit you from behind.”
“This one did, Diane. And I’m sticking to my story.”
Diane gulped down a mouthful of her scotch and Sprite. “Your story almost sounds like the one about the group of men who claimed that these huge, man-sized rats attacked them inside a condominium on the lower east side of Manhattan.”
“The story about the group of investment bankers who were going to gang rape the ten year old Russian immigrant girl?”
“Yes, it’s the story that ran for three consecutive days in the ‘New York Times’. Had these supposedly colossal rats attacked them like they said, they would’ve gotten what they deserved. They were nothing but a group of perverts who were about to use a ten year old girl for their own sick perverted amusement. Honey, I absolutely hate child molesters and rapists.”
“There’s something strange going on around New York, and yet, everyone’s going to find out.”
“Not only in New York,” Diane added, getting a light buzz from her drink. “A homosexual-hating minister from Knoxville, Tennessee claims a whole lot of flying sharks attacked him and his church members in front of a gay nightclub in Los Angeles. This doohickey dumbbell claims these sharks could talk and flew over them and dumped many gallons of water down on them.”
“That’s the weird, weird world we live in.”
“Get this, Anthony. These racists in Dallas and gangbangers in Miami, they claim they were attacked by lots and lots of ants and bees that spoke perfect English. These nonsensical nitwits claimed they were severely stung by these giant insects with supernatural powers.”
Anthony absorbed every word his wife spoke. “Honey, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for quite some years