XXIII

“Hey, read of the devil,” Seven Sallie said as Pastor Kirk Samson, AKA Captain Kirk, walked into his hospital room. He had just been reading the book he wrote, ‘A Star Fell From Heaven.’ It had been five days since Seven had been stabbed twice in the chest and once in the neck by an unstable man obsessed with Zella LaStella.

“Say that again, son,” Captain Kirk petitioned. “What do ya mean read of the devil?”

“You know, like when you’re talking about someone and they suddenly show up,” Seven explained. “And you say speak of the devil. Well, I was just sitting here in bed reading your book, and low and behold, you walk in. So, read of the devil.”

The pastor frowned and stroked his long white beard. “I don’t know if I like that.”

“How’s that?”

“You know, being referred to as the devil when you walk into a room,” Captain Kirk replied with an uneasy chuckle. “Especially after that episode with Lexi.”

“Oh, well, I’m sorry, pastor. It’s just, a, ah, figure of speech, don’t ya know?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah, I know.”

“You’re not superstitious are ya?”

“Oh, no, no, of course not,” Captain Kirk laughed and then frowned. “At least I never thought I was.”

Seven initially didn’t like Pastor Samson. His first impression of him was a hick who reminded him of Uncle Jesse from the old Dukes of Hazzard TV show. He was even wearing overalls the first time they met. Plus his church was so unconventional, he suspected it to be some type of cult. Especially when he discovered their main day of worship was on Saturdays.

But then Seven found out about his stellar military service as a chaplain, which is where he acquired the nickname Captain Kirk. Plus his extensive knowledge of, not only the Bible, but religious history. Then after the way Pastor Samson confidently handled the demon possession ordeal with Lexi Gomez, he had almost won Seven over.

Now that he was most of the way through the pastor’s book, Seven desired the old man to be his mentor. After his near brush with death, Seven realized like never before the shortness and uncertainty of life. Although he had lost his first love when it came to God, he also believed like never before that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. The only hope for this dark, chaotic world. Now he needed repentance and reform, and he had never seen anyone live and teach primitive Godliness like Pastor Samson and his parishioners at Cotton Creek Cove.

Captain Kirk waved both of his hands and shook his head. “You may be right, son. I guess I was feeling superstitious and was too proud to admit it. The human condition is insidious. That’s why Jesus instructs us to watch and pray. Now, how are you feeling, my boy? This old devil has been praying for you.”

“I feel really good, considering,” Seven answered. “They told me this morning that I should be released tomorrow. They’ve only kept me this long because of how close the knife came to the old ticker.”

“Did you ever find out why that guy flipped out and came raging with a knife?”

“Well, he was a client of Zella’s,” Seven Sallie said with a sigh. “And he proved to have mental issues that were beyond Zella’s, um, professional abilities. She had informed him that he needed to seek psychological help and that she would no longer see him. When she ultimately closed up shop, he showed up and demanded she give him a reading. When she refused, he snapped and pulled a knife on her. When her dog tried to defend her, he stabbed her dog and then attacked Zella. Then I ran interference, and by the grace of God, here I am instead of six feet under.”

“Praise God.”

“Yes sir, amen.”

“I tried to call Zella a couple days ago,” Captain Kirk said. “I left her a message, but she hasn’t gotten back to me.”

“She’s a hard one to figure out,” Seven said with a frown. “She’s stopped by to see me every day I’ve been here. But the amount of time she’s spent here probably wouldn’t even total a half hour. I think she, like me, has been drawn to God. But she, like me, has been resisting to whatever degree. I think the ordeal with Lexi had a profound affect on her. Then right on the heels of that, her beloved dog is brutally killed. I think that has thrown her in a state of spiritual confusion.”

“Completely understandable,” Captain Kirk replied as he nodded. “You left out something else that has her in a major state of confusion.”

“What’s that?”

“The undeniable chemistry between you two.”

“Trust me,” Seven chuckled. “She wants nothing to do with romance.”

“Never say never,” the pastor shrugged. “You didn’t see Destiny and Brock come together. He was even in the process of exchanging vows with another woman just before their love blossomed.”

“What if we’re not on the same page spiritually? You know, the unequally yoked thing.”

“You’re absolutely right. I was simply acknowledging the mutual attraction between you two. If you’re not both believers, I don’t recommend marriage.”

Seven felt his toes curl at the mention of marriage. He and Zella needed to remain friends, nothing more. He had failed twice at relationships. He didn’t want to experience a third strike. Seven wanted to change the subject and lifted up the book Captain Kirk wrote. “I really like your book.”

“Oh, thank you, son.”

“I have to admit,” Seven chuckled. “When I was first getting to know you, I thought you were a kooky, wacko, nut job. When I first started reading your book, I thought you were twisted and deranged.”

“No, please, son,” Captain Kirk laughed. “Don’t hold back. Tell me what you really think.”

“Oh, okay,” Seven replied with a serious face. The two men stared at each other blankly for a moment before they both burst into laughter.

“You really make profound, interesting points I haven’t really thought about before concerning our existence,” Seven continued. “Especially your account of the rebellion in heaven and how it resulted in this sinful world. When I finish it and get out of here, I hope we can have an in-depth discussion.”

“I’d love to,” Captain Kirk replied. Then he frowned with apprehension. He seemed to have just won Seven over, and now he had to tell him about a dream he had the night before concerning his future. Now he needed to just tell him and let the chips fall where they may. “Say, Seven. I believe I might have had a prophetic dream about you last light.”

“You don’t say,” Seven Sallie said with an arched eyebrow. Captain Kirk had just begun to win him over. Now he was talking prophetic dreams? “Well, let’s hear about it.”

“As a matter of fact, the angel Melanchthon came to me in it.”

“Is that right?”

“It concerns your daughter, who you’ve been estranged from.”

Seven sat up a little higher in his bed, and winced from the sudden movement. How did he know about the discord with his fourteen year old daughter? His baby girl that he hadn’t seen since her twelfth birthday when she informed him she no longer wanted to see him. “What about my daughter?”

“It seems she is going to reenter your life in a profound way.”

Captain Kirk was now rapidly losing Seven’s confidence. He had no idea of the depths of his daughter’s hostility’s toward him. She hadn’t returned any of his calls in the last year with the last attempt being the day before Lexi’s demon possession ordeal.

“Mr. Sallie?” A nurse said as she poked her head into his room. “You have a couple visitors.”

In walked his daughter Mia accompanied by his brother, Six. “Hi, daddy.”