Cut and said, “Can I ask you about the women?”
“Thought you might be interested,” Buzz Cut said. “Hands off. They belong to the Master.”
“Belong?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m not sure I do.”
Buzz Cut leaned a little closer. “We get our fish in town. Plenty to go around. You’ll see. Right now, just take it easy and don’t ask too many questions. You’ll catch on.”
He caught on to the food, at least. It was meaty, hot, abundant. He was trying to figure out how this gathering could be legally positioned as a church. In some ways this was like a Catholic monastery. Not that he was expert in that. But didn’t they eat venison in cloisters and down casks of ale? Wasn’t that what Friar Tuck did before joining the merry men?
Maybe Robin Hood could have made a claim he was running a church.
All Steve knew was that the First Amendment was pretty broad these days. From Scientology to Santeria, there was a smorgasbord of religion for all tastes. America was the Home Town Buffet of spirituality.
But LaSalle’s group was claiming to be part of the Christian tradition, so he’d have to watch carefully. He knew that any religion needed to operate consistent with its own charters. Eldon LaSalle was for the separation of the races. That was going to be a dicey item for the church bylaws.
The pinging of a utensil against a cup brought all conversation to a halt. Eldon LaSalle had called for order.
“We have a special guest with us tonight,” he announced. “Steve Conroy, Johnny’s long-lost brother, a renowned legal mind, has joined us tonight. Let’s welcome him.”
The group applauded as heads turned his way. Steve gave an embarrassed half wave.
“Steve and Johnny were separated as children, but now by God’s grace are brought together again,” Eldon LaSalle continued. He leaned forward. “It was my desire that the relationship between Johnny and Steve remain a secret. But that wasn’t done.”
He paused, and Steve caught a glimpse of Johnny’s face. It was tight, and it seemed clear to Steve he’d just been rebuked by the patriarch.
“And so it is absolutely imperative that this news does not spread. Is that clear to every one of you?”
Heads nodded.
“‘If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?’”
Whatever that means, Steve thought. Though he had to admit the combination of King James English and LaSalle’s deep voice was effective.
Only Johnny seemed to be stewing.
But one thing these people knew how to do was eat, so that’s what he did. He did note the passive faces of the women as they served.
After the dessert, a robust serving of cookies-’n’-cream ice cream—Buzz Cut said it was the Master’s favorite—the table was officially dismissed by LaSalle. The men got up and started filtering out.
Johnny left without saying anything further to Steve. Or anyone else that Steve saw. Steve was about to follow Johnny out when Eldon said, “Steve, would you join me in the library, please?”
35
In the library, Eldon indicated a large chair for Steve, facing the fire. The flames cast a flickering glow on the wall of books. Achan still warded off his fate on the bas-relief.
Eldon positioned his chair across from Steve and next to a pipe carousel on a small table. He removed a pipe and packed it. Took a wooden match and lit up.
“Quite a collection you’ve got here,” Steve said.
“All the people are here of their own volition,” Eldon said.
“I meant the books. On the wall.”
“Ah.” He hissed a couple of puffs. “You are certainly correct about that. And I have read every one in here, some several times. The great books, the timeless ones. The men who move the world are those who have made the most of the life of the mind. Would you agree?”
“I suppose.”
“No supposition about it. Books have been my education and my solace and have enabled me to understand the ebb and flow of history, without which we would all be subject to brute force.”
Steve thought he was waiting for a response, and Steve had no idea what to say. So he offered, “How is that?”
Eldon puffed a few times. “History is but a fragment of biology, Steve. That’s the first lesson you must learn. It is the key to understanding everything we do here.”
Which is what Steve wanted to hear about. He looked into the fire and listened.
Eldon said, “Biology is about competition. Darwin was right about that much. Competition is