Persons of the Best Prudence

By Joseph R. Lange

Fresh from the deserts of Egypt, Dr. Trevor Knight has had little time to decompress or allow his hand to heal before the evil that haunts his dreams has followed him. Summoned by the priest Father Krubel, Knight is needed in the city of Salem.

The Witch City.

The Court of Oyer and Terminer.

Sins of the fathers take more than 350 years to be forgotten, Dr. Knight discovers.

Or forgiven.

By witch or mortal.

Coded manuscripts point to evil. Can their meaning be found in time?

A story written long ago. A house now famous.

But what secrets are yet unknown? Who still walks the grounds by Salem Harbor?

Peine forte et dure, Dr. Knight.

And what of Sir Robert?

Yes, indeed, my good doctor. What of Sir Robert?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638857846

Book preview

47

Book 6

The Trinity of Demons

I better call Grandma, he said.

He dialed the number, and Mahl answered within three rings.

"Ciao," Knight said.

Trevor, where are you? Mahl asked.

"Grandma, that was hello in Italian," Knight said.

"Trevor, I am Italian, remember? I know what ciao means." She laughed.

Grandma, you won’t believe it! Guess where I’m at, Knight said.

Well, given the greeting, you must be somewhere in Italy. God knows what you’re doing there, she replied.

Yes, God knows, indeed, Knight replied. I am just spending a day over here to wrap up some business. And, Grandma, I am staying in a really nice little bed-and-breakfast, and it’s only, like, two blocks from the Vatican!

Wow, that sounds exciting! Maybe you will get lucky and get a glimpse of the pope, she said.

Yeah, maybe so, Grandma, Knight replied. And I smell Italian food in this house. It smells like your house, only better.

You are such a charmer. His grandmother laughed. Are you all done in Egypt?

Yes, I am, he said.

Did you ever get to find an old camel? She laughed.

Almost. But I settled on an old Jeep, he replied. I just wanted to call and tell you I will be leaving here tomorrow and flying into O’Hare. I can pick you up a Pretzel Dog on my way to Paltry Station, if you would like one.

The last time you did that, Trevor, you ate it. She laughed.

Well, I will bring you one even if it’s cold. Knight laughed. Okay, see you soon. I love you, Grandma.

"I love you too, Trevor. Arrivederci!" She laughed.

"Oh, si!" Knight replied and hung up the phone.

Knight smiled as he prepared to wash up and relax in his comfy room. When suppertime came, he was greeted with a large assortment of Italian dishes.

This is wonderful, he said. Just like back home. My grandmother is Italian, and she makes these kinds of dishes.

After a huge supper, Knight said his good-nights and headed for his room. It would be an early trip to the airport and then a very long flight to Chicago. Settling in, he said his nightly prayers, thanking God for the mercies he had been shown.

I don’t know where life is going to take me now. He sighed. Perhaps I will just find that place of solitude and rest. Lots of things to get settled with that financial stuff. Maybe get back to California and see how things have been going perhaps.

He drifted off to a long and peaceful sleep, waking only because of his vibrating watch.

*****

After Knight cleaned up, he got dressed and said his goodbyes. Then he called for transportation to the airport for his flight to America.

By midmorning, Knight was in flight and resting comfortably in the spacious chair.

Almost eleven hours to Chicago, he whispered, reviewing his itinerary.

After setting the seat back to a full recline, he closed his eyes and slept.

*****

When Knight opened his eyes, he could see the skyline of Chicago.

Oh, man, I must have been exhausted, he thought.

The jet screamed down the runway of O’Hare and taxied to a private gate where Knight deplaned.

He made his way to the Pretzel Dog vendor, bought two, and retrieved one for himself. He ate as he made his way to the United Airlines desk, which was at the end of the terminal.

Can I help you? the lady behind the desk asked.

Yes, indeed, you can, Knight replied. I will take a ticket to CWA in Wisconsin, if you please.

After checking the CRT, she informed Knight, There would be a flight leaving from gate 8 in an hour.

That will do, Knight replied, swallowing the last of his dog.

After settling payment for the ticket, he made his way to the gate and sat down. He looked down at his ticket and saw that his seat was middle seat, row 26, next to the toilet. He just smiled. When he glanced at his right hand, he saw the individual marks from the thorns.

I guess it is all relative, isn’t it? he thought.

Yes, indeed, it is all relative.

1

The flight from O’Hare was fast; and considering the seat that Dr. Knight had, the speed of the short flight was welcomed. After the plane touched down at the small rural airport, Knight grabbed his small collection of belongings and made his way to the rental-car building across the drive to the main terminal.

Dr. Knight, the attendant exclaimed as Knight made his way through the door. Good to see you again, sir. Will it be the red Corvette once again, sir?

No, I believe I will settle for something a bit more mundane this time, Knight replied. That red Vette seems to attract all the wrong kind of attention, I’m afraid.

Perhaps you have something in the order of a pickup truck? he asked as he withdrew his identification.

Certainly, Dr. Knight, the attendant replied. Within a few minutes, Knight was making his way from the counter with the keys in hand.

He checked the stall number and saw the black Dodge pickup; then, he clicked the key fob, entered the vehicle, and started it up.

That’s a lot of power, he thought as he adjusted the seat. I will have to watch it with this one. After carefully backing out of the stall, he made his way to the access road and onto the interstate.

Grandma will be surprised to see me, he thought as he steered the truck westbound toward Paltry Station. Within the hour, he had made his exit; and taking the first left-hand turn, he had arrived at the residence of his grandmother. Not long after, he had parked the truck, gone to the front door, and rung the doorbell.

I wonder if she is still touting that shotgun, he thought, smiling.

Knight could see a figure heading toward the door; and when the exterior light turned on, he could see his grandmother’s face as the door opened.

Trevor! she shouted. You should have let me know you were coming.

Well, Grandma, I told you when I called from Italy that I would be flying home, Knight replied.

She gave her grandson a huge hug; then, she led him into the house and turned on the living-room light.

Just look at you! she cried. You are skin and bones. Let me get you some food.

I’m fine. Really, Grandma, Knight replied. I need to use your restroom, however. So give me a second, and we will chat.

Knight returned from the bathroom and sat down on the large sofa, just opposite of his grandmother’s La-Z-Boy.

Tell me…how was Egypt? she began.

Well, I wasn’t bit by a camel or spit at by one, if that is what you’re asking, Knight replied, laughing. I met some very interesting people, that’s for sure. And, Grandma, guess what. You won’t believe who else I saw!

Let me guess, Mahl started. Let me see… The pope?

Grandma, how do you always know what I am about to say?

You saw the pope? Mahl exclaimed. My goodness, Trevor! I didn’t really think you saw the pope, but I was just guessing. Did he come out of that Vatican place and do a service?

"No, actually, I met him," Knight replied, taking a bite from the cookie that his grandmother had placed before him.

Really! You actually got to meet him? Mahl asked.

Yes, Grandma, and I met him in private—inside the Vatican—and chatted with him.

His grandmother simply stared in amazement. How did you arrange for that?

Well, I had something he wanted, Knight began. Something he wanted very badly.

What did you have, Trevor, that the pope wanted enough to invite you into that big place?

It was a lost relic, something that had managed to end up in Egypt. And he wanted it back.

And you found it in Egypt? Mahl asked.

Yes, Grandma, Knight replied, finishing off the cookie.

Trevor, what happened to your hand? It’s all cut up! Mahl asked.

Oh, that. It’s nothing, Grandma. I just got into some thorns over there and managed to cut my hand a bit, Knight answered, covering his hand with his left hand. But it was a very interesting trip, and I am glad to be home.

I was worried about you, Trevor. The news was saying all hell was going to break loose with Russia! But somehow everyone managed to calm down, and it looks like they are all okay now.

Yes, we were close to thermonuclear war actually, Knight replied. They both thought the other one had a weapon, Grandma. A very powerful and dangerous weapon. I believe each one of them thinks that the other has it now actually. So no one wants to take the chance of messing with the other side.

So, Trevor…what now? Mahl asked. Are you going back to San Francisco and your old job?

I need to get with my attorneys and catch up with my financial folks, Grandma. I don’t know if I will ever go back there.

What about Susy? Mahl asked.

The room became very quiet. After a bit of contemplation, Knight reached for another cookie; and after taking a bite, he looked at his grandmother.

I don’t ever think I will see her again, he replied. I just don’t feel like seeing her anymore.

Trevor, she cares about you deeply, Mahl countered.

My life has changed too much, Grandma. Evil follows me. I don’t know why, but evil follows me. And I believe it is God’s will that I face it and drive it out. There is no place safe for anyone in my life that I get close to anymore.

2

You must be very tired, Sweetie, his grandmother replied. We can chat more on the morning.

Mahl got up from the La-Z-Boy, gave her grandson a smooch, and made her way to her room. Knight remained seated and looked out into the quiet of the now dimly lit living room.

God, what’s next for me? he sighed, putting his face into both hands.

After cleaning up, he lay on the couch, too tired to move. His mind raced back to the previous experiences since his time with Ronald Silver. It seemed like an eternity ago to him. Closing his eyes, he slowly drifted off to a deep sleep. It was a sleep brought on more by resignation to God’s will in his life as opposed to the recent events in Egypt.

As he slept, visions came and went; and faces from the past came from the recesses of his mind and quickly retreated back into their cages.

*****

The morning was just beginning with the soft light coming through the large patio window, and Knight could hear the sounds of the land waking up outside. He got up from the couch and made his way to the bathroom; and after a long hot shower, he got himself dressed and began to brew some coffee.

I need to call my attorney and get some things done today, he thought quietly while sipping his cup. And I need to go check on Ma.

The sun had just peeked above the horizon when Knight wrote a small note for his grandmother. He then left it on the counter.

Be back later. Going to take care of a few things and stop at the farm.

Love you.

Trevor Knight

As he pulled away from the driveway, his mind continued to race with so many things disorganized and vying for his attention. Not long after, he was pulling into his parents’ home. He waited for the huge dog to come running out; however, he didn’t see anything. After shutting off the truck engine, he exited, made his way to the front door, and knocked softly. He could see his mother, Kritty Knight, coming to the door.

Trevor! she shouted.

Hi, Mom, Knight greeted and gave her a hug.

When did you get in? she asked.

Last evening. I stayed at Grandma’s, Knight replied. Where’s Simon? I expected him to come charging out.

"We had to put him down. He was having a terrible time walking. I wanted to tell you, but we couldn’t get hold of you. And the phone number you gave us didn’t work. We asked Mom, but