The Feet of God

30 - YOU KNOW IT ENDS IN TEARS Then up on the roof there arose a loud clattering noise.   It was Ma crawling out of a window onto the porch roof to get a better vantage point on the advancing citizen army.   I figured I’d best join her, although I have no reason why. The parlor was abuzz with Reaper girls filling bottles.   The idea of the bottles being filled was unique in itself, but the smell of gasoline was unsettling and the speed with which they could complete a case of explosives was impressive.   It was almost like they had practiced this sort of thing before, and wasn’t just following instant instructions. I grabbed a couple’a bottles and a nearby lighter and headed upstairs.   I bent in half to get through the open window and join Ma on the roof. “Here, brought you some ammo,” I handed her a rag-stuffed bottle. “Didn’t think to pick up one of the other kind, did you?” she raised a bushy eyebrow. “Damn, I’m losing my mind.   I’ll be r...

31 - YOU MADE ME DO IT “Driver, full reverse!” Moses commanded. Meanwhile, Ma began to hum.   She calmly bent down to pick up one of the rag-stuffed bottles and lit the fuse while leaning back, taking aim with a singleness of purpose, and she let that sucker fly! Frantically following orders, the driver spun wheels in the dirt while trying to pull the great star back from the front as other vehicles moved forward in a position to protect him, but to no avail.   Ma’s Molotov cocktail landed square on the hood of Hummer One.   The explosive flash was blinding! Behind the flames I could see a seared Moses Remington still standing and gripping a blackened roll-bar.   His perfect hairpiece smoldered on the ground, his face was a charred mask, and his one good eye burned with pure rage. “Fire!”   Moses shouted to heaven. The troops seemed confused.   Many threw down their weapons and ran for the woods.   Others lowered their assault rifles and li...

32 - DARK PASSAGES Reapers was running around like cockroaches on a hot griddle.   They was throwing lit bottles out the holes where the windows once had been, and rifle shots echoed in the air. Through the smoke and chaos I caught a glimpse of Moses’ soldiers surrounding a small blackened lump on the ground.   When the explosive blast blew off the rooftop it apparently propelled a flying weathercock into the forehead of Moses Remington, not a stunt double using prosthetics or computer-generated special effects.   There lay ’ n in a heap was the celebrity movie star himself, not acting this time, but gushing real live blood. Fire and debris blocked the front door, and outside I heard the hissing sound of another bombardment, so I threw Ma on the floor behind the overstuffed chair and dived on top of her.   This explosion was even louder than the last.   Reapers screamed and flooded out the back of the house.   Flames rose up everywhere.   I wasn’...

  33 - A GRAND EXIT As we pushed our hand trucks down the corridor Ma suddenly stopped by a huge Wheezer freezer unit.   She opened the top and grabbed a couple’a frozen turkeys.   “Gas money.” We continued a few hundred yards when I spotted natural light up ahead, filtered through leafy bushes near the opening of the tunnel.   Parked not far from our exit was another pink Cadillac, only this was a convertible. Ma pulled a set of keys out of the folds of her gown and popped the trunk.   “Load ‘er up, and be fast about it.” I started loading the cases of scotch.   “How many Caddies you got stashed?” “The Master said there are times we need to rely on luck.   I picked up a few of these beauties for almost nothing at a Mary Kay overstock sale.   Never pass up a fantastic deal, I always say.”   She squinted toward the exit.   “The Loud Enlightened One also told us to leave as little to chance as possible, so always have a strategic...

34 - HELL FROZE OVER Ma’s pink DeVille was now long gone.   I guess I was gonna make my way on the road eastward.   Hours passed as I stood there.   The weather turned.   I took a deep breath and exhaled through cupped hands to keep them warm.   I confess, this was one of them times when ya come to realize how alone you really are. I turned my back to face the unknown path laying ahead.   I saw a wall of purple mountains rising around me, granite peaks all so remote and majestically crowned in snow.   The sight took my breath away…that, and frigid blasts of fuckin’ cold air down my neck. I’d been in such a hurry to escape Gorda Fortuna amid the bullets, bomb blasts and fiery explosions I’d totally forgot to pick up my jacket.   Or pluck a spare bottle of whisky and an extra pack of smokes while I had the chance.   Sometimes life gives you nothing but dog shit tacos.   With only the clothes on my back I headed up the eastbound ram...

  35 - THE PREACHER MAN Up ahead in the miserable darkness I could make out the neon glow of a truck stop with gas stations and a well-lit diner.   Brightly lighted signs for I-84 and I-86 and I-15 pointed directions every which way.   Trucks was busy pulling in and pulling out, and rows of ‘em was tanking up or sitting idle in a long line.   The trooper cruised up to the diner to let me out.   “This is as far I go.” “Thanks,” I opened the passenger side door to exit. “Hey,” he reached over into the backseat and pulled out a hooded sweatshirt.   “Can’t do much to help you with those wet trousers, but here’s a dry top to get you started.”   He tossed it my way.   I took the red, white and blue hoody inscribed across the front with “God Hates Long-Haired Hippie, Commie, Pinko Fags.” I quickly removed my soggy flannel shirt and pulled the hoody over my head before leaving the warm confines of the officer’s vehicle. The trooper gave me a sho...