Jonah

Prologue

Gunfire echoed in the distance.

Friends of yours? said a man in a black wide-brimmed hat.

A man in a white hat looked to where the gunfire came from. Nah, just a nobody.

The midday sun cooked the sand, stone, and rock around the men. They walked in the barren land just outside town in no particular direction leaving their horses behind tied to a railing.

What are we doing out here, man? asked the man in the black hat.

I like to walk, it helps me think, said the man in the white hat. He kicked a small yellow stone, a small cloud of white dust trailed him. Women can vote in Utah now.

So? said the man in the black hat.

They’re making progress, however slow like I predicted.

Social progress is one thing, evolutionary is another. The man in the black hat came to a halt. Let’s go back, man, I need a drink.

The man in the white hat removed his pocket watch and looked at the time. I guess I should get back and check on the bar.

You, a bartender. That still kills me.

You know me, I like to watch people.

The man who wore the white hat slammed a shot glass of whiskey on the bar. His hat was now off and his long greying hair was tied back. Happy now? He leaned on the bar with both hands. And take that damn hat off. The bartender poured himself a drink.

Ah, I forget I have it on sometimes. The man in the black hat removed the hat and placed it on the bar. His hair was short, rough, and jet black.

So, are you going to tell me why you’ve come to see me? asked the bartender.

Come on, Gregory, can’t a buddy visit once in awhile?

Why now? Gregory wasn’t convinced it was just a friendly visit. He knocked back his drink and poured another.

The black man followed his lead and Gregory refilled the glass.

Fine, said the black man. Rumours are growing.

Gregory puffed out his cheeks, "What? That you really are the son of God?!"

That’s funny! The black man knocked his drink back but Gregory didn’t refill it. Well?

Well what? said Gregory.

Refill please.

Rumours, what rumours? asked Gregory.

The black man pointed at his empty glass and Gregory reluctantly filled it.

Shadows have been sighted, said the black man.

I’m sure I can see a few from here. There, look. That horse is casting one right now.

You know what I mean, Gregory. Demons.

Impossible, we wiped-

Hey you! someone shouted.

The bar became silent and everyone looked at the entrance: a few angry-looking men stood there, they were looking directly at the black man.

Here we go, the black man said to himself. He downed his drink.

Friends of yours? asked Gregory.

I don’t have any friends, not white ones anyway.

I’m hurt.

You’re not welcome here, get out! yelled one of the angry men.

First of all it’s my bar, and second, he’s with me, said Gregory.

Get back to serving drinks, bartender, the angry man said.

Are you going to let him talk to you like that? said the black man to Gregory.

Don’t make trouble, said Gregory. Gentlemen, please. I’m not going to throw him out, so just take a seat and I’ll bring you a drink.

One of the men spat out thick brown liquid onto the wooden floor and then reached for his gun. He fired off one round and it hit the black man in the chest.

Gregory’s head dropped. Goddammit.

It’s not my fault, said the black man as he poked a finger through the bullet hole in his jacket.

Why is it that when you visit I end up having to relocate? said Gregory.

Last time wasn’t my fault either!

The angry men just stared blankly at the two arguing. The one that shot the black man inspected his gun.

The black man continued, I’m never gonna hear the end of it am I?

Then you shouldn’t have resurrected! said Gregory. Come on, let’s go. You can tell me about the demons on the way.

The other two men shot the black man, but it didn’t hurt him. The bullets penetrated his clothes but not his skin. Gregory and his friend left the bar leaving its occupants confused.

On the way to where? the black man asked Gregory.

England.

Part 1

Dreams & Nightmares

I - False Start

(40 years ago)

Slow the fuck down! screamed Sarah.

Just let me drive! yelled Myles. I don’t want this kid popping out on the back seat!

If you crash, you won’t have a choice-Sarah panted and tried to control her breathing-And if that happens I’ll strangle you with the umbilical cord!

Myles took in a deep breath and decided he was, after all, driving a little too dangerously. He slowed a little, but still exceeded the speed limit.

With the hospital now less than two miles away and his wife in the back seat of the brown Ford Cortina breathing deeply, Myles’s excitement grew, he was about to become a father.

Sarah stared into the rear view mirror with a look Myles knew all too well, her eyes said all that needed to be said: I need you. Those same eyes pierced his heart the moment they met in the supermarket three years earlier, and those eyes had lost none of their sparkle. Her long straight blond hair, her hourglass figure and long legs, and her full lips were all just little added bonuses. It was the woman inside that he loved, not the eye candy that everybody else saw. Myles never forgot their first meeting. He made a fool of himself in the supermarket thinking that his colleague, Mark, and Sarah were an item, even though Mark told Myles about his sister many times before.

Myles towered over most at 6’ 3", but he also had brown permed hair which added another three inches to his height. Sarah liked tall men and immediately accepted when he asked her out to dinner and a movie. Sarah looked bored in the dimly lit theatre that night and Myles was about to suggest leaving when Sarah caught him off guard. She rested her head on his shoulder,   gripped his arm with a warm hand, and she fell asleep. Myles felt his heart melt in his chest and knew then this woman would be his future wife.

How far is it?! asked Sarah, bringing Myles’s focus back to the present.

Almost there, honey. Stay calm.

The stress level rose in her voice, I don’t know if I can do this.

Hey, I’m gonna be next to you the whole time, said Myles. There’s nothing to worry about. I love you. He looked at Sarah and smiled.

I love you too, Sarah answered. But please keep your eyes on the fucking road!

Myles looked back to the road. Okay, we’re almost there. Hang on.

The Ford Cortina ground to a halt outside the hospital entrance, Myles leapt from behind the steering wheel, slid over the car bonnet, and opened the back door in one swift movement as if he’d been practising this manoeuvre for such an occasion. He was dressed in bell-bottom blue jeans and a shirt with orange and brown swirls which offended the eyes . Myles waited as Sarah swung her legs out of the car and as she struggled to stand he placed a hand under her armpit and helped her to her feet.

You okay, honey? Myles asked.

Never been better, Sarah replied with sarcasm.

The hospital reception was quiet until the couple entered, the strawberry-blond receptionist immediately realised what was happening and called for a porter to attend to Sarah. A man soon arrived and was about to wheel her off to the appropriate ward when the receptionist called out. Sir! she shouted. You can’t leave your car outside the entrance. You need to move it.

Damn it! Myles blurted.

Come back here when you’ve parked up, and I’ll direct you to your wife, said the receptionist.

Myles bent down to Sarah, I won’t be a sec.

Okay, hun. But please be quick, I need you.

Myles kissed Sarah’s forehead and dashed to his car. He jumped into the driver’s seat banging his head off the metal door frame in the process. Mother fucker! he cursed. Myles touched his head where it hurt and checked for blood. There was none. He reached into his pocket to find his keys, but they weren’t there. What the fuck? Then he noticed they were still in the ignition. Myles slammed the door shut, started the engine, and wheel spun the car into motion.

The car park wasn’t large and it didn’t take Myles long to circle it five times to find there were no spaces. This was not what he needed right now. Damn it! Not a single fuckin’ space? said Myles as he headed for the the exit.

The hospital was close to a residential area and he had no choice but to park outside of the hospital grounds. But as he soon found out, he was not the only one to think of this. The surrounding streets were crammed with vehicles parked on both sides of the road. Myles crept the car up and down the streets ready to pounce into an open space.

Fifteen minutes had now passed since Myles parted with Sarah and the distance between them was growing. It was going to take at least another thirty to walk back to the hospital, maybe ten if he ran.

This can’t be happening! he said as he turned into another street.

A space finally appeared and Myles bumped his car into the gap hoping no damage was being done to either vehicle. When he was satisfied it was parked he jumped from the Cortina and ran for the hospital praying that Sarah was okay.

Out of breath and sweaty, Myles re-entered the hospital’s reception. The receptionist looked up from her desk. There you are! she said. I didn’t think you were coming back. Thought you’d done a runner.

Do I look like I’m in the mood for jokes? Myles snapped.

No, I suppose not. But it has been forty five minutes. She tapped her watch.

I know that! I couldn’t find anywhere to park. Please, just tell me where I can find my wife. His face showed desperation, he needed to be by Sarah’s side.

Calm down Mr… she waited for Myles to finish her sentence.

Burns, Myles Burns, God damn it!

The receptionist was getting annoyed. Your wife could be in labour for hours yet. So there is no need to panic or be rude. Okay?

Something inside Myles snapped.

Time slowed, the fluorescent lighting shifted to a shade of orange, and the world became quiet. Myles turned his head, the few visitors that occupied the waiting area were motionless. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman and two small children, a priest, and an elderly man checking his watch, all were still. The lights shifted again, closer to red now than orange. A fly entered his peripheral vision and slowly flew past Myles’s head, but before it was out of reach Myles grabbed it and squeezed. He turned his head back to face the receptionist and in an instant normality returned. Myles felt broken. He looked in his hand and saw the dead fly along with its insides now on the outside.

Myles rounded the desk and closed in on the receptionist’s face until he could smell the coffee on her breath. He stared into her blue eyes and spoke in a calm but threatening manner. Where can I find my fucking wife you useless excuse for a human being before I flatten that nose across your face.

Terror drained the colour from the receptionist’s face and tears of fear began to blur her vision. Myles’s face remained there, eyes close and unblinking.

The receptionist raised a shaky arm and pointed. T-t-to your r-right, head down there th-then take a left at the end.

Myles turned his head to the right, turned it back, and then looked down at the receptionist’s name badge. An abnormally wide smile stretched across his face. Thank you, Gwen, said Myles. You have been most helpful.

Myles wiped his hand on Gwen’s upper arm to clean off the fly remnants, he turned and ran down the corridor leaving Gwen horrified and shaking in her chair as if she had just met the devil himself.

Myles reached the end of a sterile white corridor but something was wrong. "What the fuck? There is no left! Myles looked around him. That fucking bitch!" he cursed. Myles had no choice but to turn right and look for any sign of the maternity ward.

Thick stainless steels doors of an elevator behind Myles opened to reveal a man in a long white coat. Myles ran to him. Excuse me doctor! Myles said breathing heavy. Where’s the maternity ward?

Huh? the doctor looked up from his clipboard and saw the tall, thin, panicking man. Oh, yeah, right. It’s this way, not far, the doctor explained. Just carry on down there and look out for the sign pointing to the ward. It will be on your left.

Thanks, doc! said Myles.

No problem. Congratulations? said the doctor. But Myles was already gone.

As Myles disappeared down the corridor, more concerned at being at his wife’s side than being polite to strangers, the thought of her being alone through childbirth was killing him. He had to be there, no matter what.

He saw the sign pointing to where he needed to be. Finally! he said as he turned left onto the ward. Another reception desk greeted him and as he halted he slammed both palms on the desk’s wooden surface. Sarah Burns? he yelled out of breath.

And you are? a young black-haired woman asked from behind the desk.

Myles looked at the name badge. Emily? he said.

Really? That’s my name too! said Emily. But I’ve never heard of a man named Emily before.

Myles Burns, my name is Myles Burns! His face was getting redder and angrier. Holy fucking God what’s with you people!

Ah, okay. Just give me a sec. Emily cursed at Myles under her breath while she checked a piece of paper. She frowned, picked up a telephone and dialled a number. Hello? Yes, I have Myles Burns here at reception… yes, her husband… that’s right… okay. She replaced the handset.

Well, where is she? Myles asked.

A doctor is on his way to meet you, Mr. Burns. He won’t be a moment.

Myles stood there confused. What the hell is going on?

Mr. Burns? someone said.

Myles spun around. Yes?

A doctor almost as tall as Myles stood next to him. Come with me please. The doctor walked away with Myles in tow.

Brown wooden doors appeared either side at regular intervals, the sterile white corridor looked familiar and he thought about what would happen if there were no signs at all in hospitals, you could be forever lost in one.

My name is Dr. Millward. He stopped and looked around, no one was nearby. Your wife has already given birth. You have a healthy baby boy. Dr. Millward poked the middle of his glasses and ran a hand through his light brown hair.

That’s great! Myles’s face lit up. So where are they? Sarah is going to kill me for not being there but-

Mr. Burns, your wife, there were complications during childbirth. Dr. Millward looked into Myles’s eyes. She didn’t make it. I’m sorry.

Myles’s heart plummeted to the souls of his feet and his skin turned white. I-I don’t understand. Didn’t make it? What do you mean? A lump the size of a water melon seemed to be lodged in his throat.

We’re not sure what happened yet. She lost consciousness and went into cardiac arrest. We were unable to revive her. The doctor put a hand on Myles’s shoulder. We did everything we could. I’m sorry.

Myles slid down the corridor wall until he hit the floor, he leaned forward and placed his palms on the ground and screamed. The white walls bounced the tormented cries around the hospital, the echo escaped into the world outside where it evaporated unnoticed.

Two male porters helped Myles up from the floor and led him to a private room where his cries were somewhat muted. He sat on the bed, eyes red and sodden, his throat was sore. He thought about how his wife spent her last moments alone and in pain, his cries started again. How could he go on without her? She meant everything to him. Myles cried and screamed and begged.

An hour passed before Myles emerged from the room, Dr. Millward saw him and approached the defeated man with caution. Myles raised his head a little, his voice was soft, Can I see her? he asked.

Of course, said Dr. Millward. This way.

The walk to the morgue was silent, it was as if the whole hospital had become still, quiet and disconnected from reality again.

They entered the room. One wall was covered in stainless steel square doors and each of them was labelled and a single stainless steel table sat in the centre.

Myles shivered, he was unsure if it was a chill in the air or from the knowledge of being in a room full of dead bodies. Dr. Millward opened a container, pulled out the drawer, and then