Antonio nods at Bill when he mentions the Sheriff. "I don't blame you for not wanting to join. Have the Reverend or the Sheriff or any others pressured you or threatened you to join? Even your wife? She knows about you holding your own church, yes?"
He glances at the others. "Maybe we will go down to the Barbershop to speak to Harry ourselves. I assume Harry and Pearl attend the Reverend's services regularly now?"
Not sure what to say to the man, Elliot only nods as the group takes their leave. When the others fill him in on what they suspect, the archaeologist shakes his head ruefully. "I don't like this at all. Bad enough they can disguise themselves, but now they can also spread their... condition? Does that mean his wife is going to wind up like one of them? Heck, maybe this whole town? And if the reverend has the sheriff in his pocket, we'll need to tread very carefully around here."
He is in agreement to speak to Harry though, the more information they can get, the better. Though Elliot isn't sure whether this situation can be solved by anything less than cutting the head off the proverbial snake. Or perhaps the literal snake, if this Reverend truly is a serpent person in human disguise.
"Elliot, you speak my mind before I do! Are they making new serpent people here? Perhaps they have replaced key people in town, with serpent people in human suits?"
Antonio nods at Bill when he mentions the Sheriff. "I don't blame you for not wanting to join. Have the Reverend or the Sheriff or any others pressured you or threatened you to join? Even your wife? She knows about you holding your own church, yes?"
He glances at the others. "Maybe we will go down to the Barbershop to speak to Harry ourselves. I assume Harry and Pearl attend the Reverend's services regularly now?"
"Naw, there ain't been no threats. But folks just know it's coming. Folks're choosin' sides and that part's almost done. Cliff Benson's close with the Reverend and I don't think he'd take kindly to those that cause trouble."
"I don't know about Harry, but Pearl, she doesn't leave here without my say-so and I don't say so. But she's awful keen to get me to change my mind and join up with the Reverend. She says he's a bonafide man of God. But I know he's been possessed by the Devil."
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You make your way through town - a peaceful prairie town to all appearances - and find yourself outside Kunkel's Barbershop. As you enter, a bell rings over the door, summoning the proprietor, Ralph Kunkel. A man with neat, oiled hair and a smart mustache, he smiles and says "Hello, come on in and take a seat, gentlemen!" He shakes open his apron, preparatory to giving one or more of you a haircut.
Two adjustable barber chairs are positioned in front of large mirrors. Scissors, razors, wax, and hair oil stand next to white enamel basins. The ladies’ room at the rear is much the same, though sweeter smelling.
An old gray-haired black man is sat dozing in a chair. His shirt is unbuttoned and his belt loosened, exposing his swollen belly. A broom leans on the wall beside him.
"What'll it be?" asks Ralph Kunkel.
The Referee shuffles his newspaper ostentatiously...
Chakos moves to sit. "A bit off the top and sides, if you don't mind, and some bits of the local gossip, if you please. Everyone knows that the barber always has the juiciest gossip, going all the way back to the days of King Minos."
As Chakos slips into the chair, Antonio makes a show of looking around the shop. "You sell anything to drink in here?"
He sits down to wait for his turn, glancing at the sleeping barber. "I guess I can wait so we don't disturb his beauty rest?"
Elliot looks sheepishly at the man. "Been awhile, I'm afraid." He confesses, running his hand through his long, unkempt hair. "Maybe just trim it up a bit? And my beard as well. Not too much, though." He adds uneasily.
"Nothing to drink but tap water I'm afraid, but there's the Deer Head Saloon up the road and over the tracks. If it's coffee or soft drinks you want, the Bingham Hotel has what you want. It's just three blocks up the road. Oh, and I believe the Butler Department Store sells Co-colas and whatnot."
Ralph Kunkel tosses a barber's apron over Chakos's chest and begins to trim his hair. Still talking to Father Antonio, he says cheerfully "You can disturb him. He won't mind. He can get back to sweeping. He's always like that after he eats. But I can still only cut one head at a time!"
Turning his attention to Elliot he says "Yes sir. I can make you look right. Your girl won't know you when I'm done with you. Regular John Barrymore."
"Say, do you fellas like movies? I seen a real corker. It was 'The Invisible Man' with Claude Raines. That's a good movie. My wife, she likes that new Harlow picture, but meh! I like that Invisible Man."
Elliot grins at the barber. "John Barrymore, eh? That would truly be a wonder! I've not seen that movie yet, but being a bit of an explorer myself I was quite taken by King Kong. Have you seen that one? Perhaps if you can work your magic to make me look like a young Barrymore, I could visit Hollywood and take Fay Wray out for a night on the town!"
Antonio leaves the talk of moving pictures to the others as he looks over to the sleeping man. "Wait, he's not a barber? Why do you have two chairs then? And who is he? Just the janitor?"
"Is that the monkey one? No, I haven't seen it yet. So you're an explorer? Seems like you might be a bit lost young man. Bingham's been thoroughly explored, I promise you!" Mr. Kunkel laughs at his own joke.
Turning to Antonio, he says, "No, that's just Harry. He sweeps up and does a bit of handy-man work, you know. There's two chairs because sometimes my wife does the ladies' hair."
He reaches over and jostles Harry's knee. "Harry! Wake up! We have customers. This fellow'd like to take a seat."
The janitor blinks awake and, seeing customers, rises to his feet, taking up his broom. "Just keeping it warm," he says with a wide smile. "Sir, your chair is ready," he says good-naturedly.
Antonio returns the smile. "Harry, thanks for the seat. Good to meet you. Sorry to disturb your nap there." He extends his hand out to the man for a handshake before taking a seat in the chair. The priest tries to study the man's skin if he shakes his hand, and also takes notice of how the seat feels when he sits down.
Harry looks at Antonio and then takes his hand. His skin feels toughened by decades of menial manual labor, but it appears very much human. There is no sense of the strange -wrongness- when you've encountered serpent-folk wearing human skins. Still, Harry's belly is quite a bit larger than you think it should be. It reminds you of a snake that has eaten a large meal.
"Oh yes, sir. Yes, sir. You sit right down, sir. Sorry, I get a bit sleepy after I eats, is all."
"Hah!" says Ralph the barber. "And no wonder, the way you eat, Harry. He'll swallow a roast beef sandwich whole!"
Harry smiles good-naturedly. "I do get hungry for a roast beef sandwich sometimes, that's for sure. You should see me with a plate of ham hocks and greens. Whoo! Do I have a nap after that!"
Elliot starts a bit at the idea of Harry swallowing a sandwich whole. With the ever-present idea of snakes taking human form, the off-hand comment is enough to make him jump at shadows. Still... He looks Harry over carefully as he forces himself to crack a smile. "Nothing wrong with a good nap after a fine meal, Harry. I'm inclined to do the same after a Thanksgiving meal. God be praised."
He adds the last after a moment's pause, thinking the expression might jar Ralph into talking about the Reverend.
"I never was one much for watching movies myself. Living life's adventures is for me, but you know, traveling around the world and such, it's nice to come back home." Chakos tries to assess Harry's stomach bulge to determine if this is natural, or unnatural for a human to have such a thing.
"So what brings you fellow into town?" asks barber Ralph.
"Same as everyone else, I 'spect," says Harry. "I be you're here about the good Reverend Kornfield, bless his name!"
Chakos rises, shooing away the barber's hand. "Ralph, I am concerned for your friend's health. I am a doctor myself, and his distended stomach is abnormal, and could be the a sign of several life threatening maladies." Chakos approaches Harry, "would you mind if I took a look at your stomach Harry, I am worried for your health." He has flashbacks of villagers exploding all over him, but he brushes them away mentally and remains focused on poor Harry.
"Don't you worry 'bout me, Mister doctor, sir! I'm right with the Lord."
Eventually, Chakos convinces Harry to let him take a look. As near as Chakos can tell, Harry's in normal health for a mid-sixties man, but his stomach is clearly much more full than normal, like an anaconda after a meal. Harry -is- human, but he's been -altered- somehow. Whatever Reverend Kornfield is doing, it's not normal.
"Well, it defies me, but you seem perfectly healthy!"
"I have heard of the Reverend. He's the one with that radio show, yes?" Antonio glances at Ralph as Chakos checks out Harry's stomach. "Seems quite a slick fellow, using the wireless to preach the word. What the man like?"
"Now I don't think the word 'slick' is appropriate to a man of God, sir," says Ralph the barber. "It is the Twentieth Century and the Reverend Kornfield is using the tools of man to minister to the people. There are people all across the plains that hear the word of God because of him. Maybe that's why you came to Bingham? If so, you're welcome here."
"He's a holy man, with the healing touch. He healed Harry here. Harry was blind as a bat. The reverend touched him and now he can see!"
"Mmm-hmm," adds Harry. "That's right. I can see as good as when I was twenty. And Mr. George Hensen was close to death after an accident
at the lumberyard. Reverend Kornfield laid hands on him and saved his life. Why, he’s probably up at the lumberyard right now. Go see him for yourself if you don’t believe me!"
"Yep," Harry adds. "And like Jesus hisself, Reverend Kornfield's been tested in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights! He didn't hunger or thirst an' when he came back he was renewed in the lord. Mmm-hmm. It's a wonder!"
"Reverend Kornfield is afraid of nothing!" says Ralph. "He will willingly handle any snake and is never harmed, just like it says in the book of Mark: And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
"Truly, you speak of heavenly miracles upon the Earth. I never thought I'd live to see such." Elliot speaks with a smile that he hopes doesn't reflect the thoughts that churn in his mind. What sort of sickness is this 'Reverend Kornfield' spreading with his mere touch? That he is kin to the serpentfolk they have encountered is assured, from the sounds of it. It will be interesting to see in what manner George Hensen has been afflicted.
Antonio chuckles and holds up his hands. "I meant no offense. Most of the priests from when I grew up would never be so forward thinking. To hear them, you'd think if Jesus never touched water, man wasn't meant to swim." Antonio is sure to pronounce the name with the hard G sound like the Americans did.
Harry, you were really blind before? What did the good Reverend do, just touch you? Must be a miracle! What's Reverend Kornfield like? Is he from here?"
"I had them bad cataracts, sir! I guess I wasn't totally blind, but near enough, mmm-hmm. Now I can see like I was 24!"
"Which you aren't," jokes Ralph Kunkel.
"No sir. No I'm not. Well, anyway, yes. The Reverend, he done prayed over me and laid them hands on my eyes. Them hands was blessed by God hisself. Oh, and the Reverend's a nice man, sir. He's... well I guess you'd say he's humble. He don't make a fuss about hisself or want no riches. He says he just wants to do the work of the Lord. I guess folks're ready to hear the Good Word after they meet Reverend Kornfield!"
"Why don't you come to the church tonight?" says Ralph. "There's a meeting at 6:30. You can see the Reverend for yourselves."
Elliot smiles at Ralph, though on the inside his isn't smiling at all. The thought of meeting this serpent man face to face is quite frankly a terrifying though. Still, it makes sense to see their enemy with their own eyes first. But what if the Reverend tries to lay hands on him or his friends? Should they run? Fight? He mentally shakes his head, deciding that they'll have to discuss their options before the meeting. For now, he only responds in what he hopes is a pleasant, non-shaky voice.
"We would be delighted, thank you for the invitation. Where is the church? We could head straight there after getting a bite to eat at the diner, I'm thinking." He suggests, glancing at the others.
"Indeed, some gospel might do me a bit of good!"
"It's just a short walk," says Ralph. "This is Third and Main; the church is on Liberty and 5th. You can't miss it."
"I suppose it's time we saw the Church and this Reverend Kornfield. Hopefully just attending the services won't infect us. It will be interesting to see what is going on."
Antonio leads the men to the Church later that evening. He looks around warily, but his curiosity is peaked too. The serpentfolk didn't build this church, right? It might be a defiled house of God, but it was still one of his places, yes?
It sure looks like an ordinary Pentecostal church, Antonio. As evening falls in Bingham, the First Church of the Redeemer is well lit. Services are due to start in about forty minutes.
A white painted wooden building with a spire. Until recently, the sign outside read “The First Church of Christ the Redeemer” but the second half of the sign has been removed, so that it now simply reads, “The First Church.” The church is a white-painted wooden building with a spire. Inside, a lectern stands before rows of pews. In the rear corner stands a low table and small chairs. Children’s drawings are displayed on the walls around the table.
As you enter the church, you see a handsome man in his forties with a thick head of dark hair seated in the front row, reading a Bible. He looks up when you come in. "Newcomers!" he says, smiling. "Welcome! Welcome! I hope you've come for the service. I've been working on my sermon all day."
He stands up and extends his hand to shake yours.
Chakos accepts the proffered hand. "It is nice to be so welcome, to be sure."
"Well! It is always nice to see new faces in the Church. I hope you'll sit right up front and hear the word of the Lord!"
Over the next half hour, the church fills with many of the residents of Bingham.
Antonio, you know that Protestant churches don't have the same trappings as Catholic ones. Crucifixes and the Stations of the Cross aren't usual fixtures. But you don't see a cross anywhere. In fact, when you take a closer look at the children's drawings in the vestibule, you see that the printed images of Jesus has been1 scribbled over with red and blue crayon. Other drawings show images of Adam and Eve talking with a serpent in the Garden of Eden. One picture shows the body of a man sleeping in a cave.
The service begins with all the usual secular trappings of Christianity, but Jesus himself is nowhere to be seen.
"A reading from the Book," intones Reverend Kornfield. He reads from the Book of Genesis, but it is not a version that any of you are familiar with. In Kornfield's version, the Serpent that speaks to Adam and Eve is a wise counselor passing unto them the wisdom they need prior
to their exploration of the wider world.
When Reverend Kornfield speaks of God, God has the attributes of a serpent. He slithers and hisses. When Kornfield speaks of Jesus, he speaks of a son of this slithering God. It's strange for most of you, but it is positively alien and repulsive for Father Antonio.
Most of you recognize that the hymns and prayers are subtly changed, but Antonio knows they are bastardized versions of Christian prayers, subtly praising snakes as helpers and counselors.
During the service, a wooden box is brought out onto the altar. A dangerous hissing can be heard inside and the congregation falls silent.
Kornfield opens the box and puts in his hands. "The Book of Mark says And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
He lifts up two spitting, angry asps that writhe about his arms but do not bite him.
"Behold the power of faith! Behold the power of the true God! I have lain my hands on the sick and they are well! I have drunk poison and sojourned in the waste and I am not hurt! In the name of the Lord I handle serpents and I am not bitten."
"Who will volunteer to demonstrate their faith? Who will come up and take up the serpent, the great counselor and friend and show his...or her... faith?"
The room is very silent.
Do any of you want to volunteer?
Antonio begins to feel sick as he listens to the sermon. The perversion of the Lord's words and the serpent characterization is almost too much for him to stand. At one point, he shuts his eyes and hopes people think he is simply in prayer.
When the snake box is presented and the request for volunteers, Antonio's head shakes from side to side involuntarily.
Chakos is quite repulsed by all of this. He may not be the good Padre, but he is a rather devout Catholic. He didn't expect things to be quite so, insane.
Chakos nudges Elliott to volunteer.
Elliot keeps fairly quiet when the arrive, shaking hands with the middle aged priest and giving the man a perfunctory greeting as he takes a look around in silence. Elliot is certainly not a church-goer by an means, but even the archaeologist can sense something isn't right here. His eyes widen slightly as the priest withdraws to asps that hiss angrily, and when Chakos nudges him, he glances at the doctor with a startled look. He is about to whisper a hot retort, but then realizes the room is dead quiet and holds his tongue as he glances around to see if anyone is daring to step forward.
The archaeologist considers the idea of volunteering, just to see what happens, but he wonders if perhaps the snake were to bite, then the priest would offer healing to counteract the deadly venom. And what would THAT do to him? He thinks of the man in the barber's shop, and the blacksmith's wife for a few moments and decides to stay silent. Perhaps they could return here later tonight and investigate the empty church further...
When no one else volunteers, a large man in a flannel shirt stands up. "I will!"
"Brother George Hansen!" says Kornfield. "Here, brother! Fear not!"
Hansen takes the angry snakes and handles them, but they do not bite him, instead hissing at the congregation.
"See, brethren!" says an ecstaic Kornfield. "See how the Lord protects the faithful! The serpent is your elder brother, come to show you the way and the light! Come to advise and counsel you in the ways of life!"
A chorus of ecstatic "Hallelujahs!" echoes through the church as the organ plays classic hymns.
Hansen and Kornfield put away the snakes eventually and after some more haranguing on the blessed power of serpents, the meeting breaks up.
Chakos turns to his companions, "so that was a little anticlimactic. Not at all what I was expecting." He suggests, "Maybe we should speak with the reverend on the side, maybe looking to get some healing for, ummm, Elliot's illness?"
Elliot's lips peel back in an expression of distaste. "Not if his touch turns me into something like the blacksmith's wife, or that janitor at the barber shop. Let's talk to him certainly, as newcomers interested in the church, but I'll not allow him to bestow healing upon me. Not now, and not ever."
"I think we should avoid the Reverend for now, but perhaps Mr. Hansen would speak to us." The priest has to stop himself from doing the sign of the cross.
He approaches George Hansen as he's leaving the building. "Mr. Hansen, that was quite the show of faith up there. Did you feel anything? And have you done that before?"
George Hansen is a big, muscular man in a flannel shirt. He looks Father Antonio up and down with narrowed eyes. "Who's askin'?" he says.
"Well, we all are, I suppose." Chakos steps up. "I have been around the world and seen some amazing things, but your faith there, and the things we have heard about the healings in the area, are miraculous!" He proffers his right hand, "Chakos is my name. We are sojourners passing through, always seeking the path to enlightenment, and we could not help but come and witness the miracles we had heard of."
Hansen looks suspicious, holding himself very still, then suddenly moving...like a snake. "Yeah, well," he says. "I ain't afraid a' no snakes. Like the Reverend says, they're a symbol o' something greater, a force a' wisdom n' whatnot. You need to listen to the Reverend. He's got ahold of somethin' special. He's a man a' God. He healed me good as new when the doctors said I'd never walk again. Just put his hands on me and up I jumped like a lamb in spring."
"Get right with the Reverend, you get right with God, see?"
About that time, you hear shouts and looking behind you, see the church lit up from within. It takes a moment before you realize that the strange light in the church is fire. With a whoosh! the fire spreads and stained-glass panes explode outward.
"The church!" yells Hansen, pushing past you to run forward, looking for a way to put on the flames.
Antonio stares in horror at the flames for a long second. He turns to grab Mr. Hansen. "Is there anyone still inside?" He follows the man back towards the Church, looking to help put the flames out.