A Biblical short story by JQuisumbing
Click here to read – Part 2
continued…
“Let them in,” said all three priests together.
Demacli was in the same room of his dream. The room was bare, devoid of any objects. There were no windows. The walls were lacking of decor and the ceiling was domed. Against one wall, there were double doors with a wooden bar across them keeping closed. Outside, he can hear the wind blowing and something that sounds like thousands of footsteps circling the room.
The doors rattled. Demacli’s heart raced and he rushed to the doors to make sure the bar was secured. He rested his forehead against the doors to calm his heart down. Then, there was a knock and a female voice.
“Remember the wealth… remember what we can give you. Let us in!” Those three words rung out again very slowly, but with the voices of thousands. “Let… us… in…”
Demacli started to tremble and shake all over. He wanted what the voices were offering but yet he was desperately scared. But as the voices continued, his resolve weakened. He straightened himself and slowly lifted the bar. He swung the doors wide open. Then, he woke up.
A year had passed. Demacli was riding on a carriage carried by six slaves down a wide boulevard being hailed by people of different classes. When they got back to the villa, Habbi was there waiting for him.
“I take it, Master, your meeting with the Roman was fruitful.”
“It wasn’t but then it was. The Roman was no help but the Egyptian I talked to will aid us to double our profits for the next year or so.”
“That is good, Master. Your father would be proud.”
“Yes… it is too bad he wasn’t here.”
“As a matter of fact, I just received a message from your father. Your entire family will be here in three days.”
“Three days, you say.” Inside Demacli was concerned.
“What is wrong, Master? Why the frown?”
“Ah…” He shook his head. “Nothing that concerns you, Habbi. I am going up and I am not to be disturbed.”
He went up straight to his room.
“Why is my father coming? Why now?” Demacli asked himself.
“He is coming because he wants to take away from your success!” It was his voice he heard but harsher. “He is jealous of you!” His voice again but more weaselly. Other voices in his head began to intrude by suggesting other things about his father.
“Enough! You’re all too much again,” he said clutching his head. “Speak to me one at a time.”
Echoing deep inside his mind, he thought he heard many laughters as if from a jest fading away. One voice came out but more authoritative.
“So, your father is arriving. What will you do?”
“What is there for me to do?” Demacli whined.
“Stop your whining. You be the man! Face up to your father, if need be.”
“Yes… if need be.”
Then, the other voices returned.
To be continued…
Click here to read – Part 4
Author’s note:
Though this short story is basically fiction, the character of Demacli is based on an actual unnamed personality described in Luke 8.
There are many such characters in the Bible, many of them were not named at all, but yet there are worthy stories to tell about them. With the help of some sanctified imagination and some artistic license, I felt their stories should be told especially of their faithful encounters with Jesus Christ.
Johann Quisumbing 
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