Deviation (8 page)

“It's pretty good stuff,” he said, taking
the pipe. “A few hits of this and we'll really be
brainstorming.” He took a deep drag and then handed it back
to Dianne.

When Dianne exhaled, she tilted her chin up and blew
the smoke out at the ceiling. “I can't believe I never heard
any of this before. Why don't more people know about it?”

Frank also exhaled. “You didn't really think
god sat down one day and typed up this long, complicated series of
nonsensical stories and sloppy essays, did you?”

“I guess I never really thought about it.”

“No one does. That's the problem. It's why it
keeps perpetuating.”

“I guess so.” She held the pipe to her
lips and drew another hit.

“It's not just the bible, either. It's not just
religion, for that matter. The entire world is plagued by lies.
The governments, the schools, almost all societies. There might be
a few ancient tribes out there in the Amazon, still uninfluenced by
the rest of the world, but for the most part it's everywhere. And
even those tribes probably base some of their reality on lies,
although they likely refer to them as myths. It's the same thing.
You've got to be very careful what you believe.”

Dianne nodded, almost captivated. She held the pipe
out to Frank.

“Societies and systems in general are arranged
to benefit and protect the wealthy. If you follow all their
so-called truths, Dianne, you don't stand a chance.” He
raised the pipe to his mouth and inhaled deeply, filling his lungs.

Dianne exhaled and took several deep breaths. She
turned slightly toward Frank, their knees almost touching. “I
feel like... I don't know... like everything I learned in school is
now suspect. Like it might all be wrong, somehow.”

“It is,” Frank croaked. “It's
intentional. They teach you what they want you to know, which is to
say, what they want you to believe. That way you'll be just like
them and carry on the tradition.”

“But what do they get out of it? What's the
point?”

Frank blew out another cloud of smoke. “Safety.
Conformity. The goal is to make everyone too frightened to live
their lives the way they really want to live them. If everyone is
afraid of being punished or imprisoned for following their natural
instincts, the world is a much safer place. Of course, it doesn't
work for everyone. But the masses in general follow the rules and
live like cattle, working their 40 hours a week and spending their
nights in front of the television. Have a few kids and teach them
to be the same way. It goes on and on. It's gone on so long that
most people don't seem to make the connection any longer. And if
they do, they shrug it off. They've forgotten that they're alive,
and that they're free to do as they wish.”

They passed the pipe again, each taking another hit.

After Dianne exhaled, she considered Frank carefully.
“I think I agree with most of what you're saying. At least,
it seems to make sense to me. But I'm still a murderer. There's no
getting around it.”

“No, there's not. And there's also no getting
around the fact that the person you killed was a piece of shit. No
sane society would or should tolerate an abuser of women. He
deserved to be butchered, Dianne, and that is exactly what he got.”

She nodded. Lifting the pipe again, she touched it to
her mouth and then brought it back down. She held it out to Frank.
“I'm pretty fucked up. I don't think I want to smoke any
more.”

Taking the pipe, Frank made sure it was extinguished
and then reached over and placed it back inside his bible. “Like
I said, it's very good stuff. A gift from god. Of course, man
decided to make it illegal for a variety of political reasons, but
that comes as no surprise.” He sat back and sighed. “Can
you imagine? Making a naturally growing plant illegal. That's
mankind for you. Or the sociopaths who lead them, anyway.”

Dianne smiled. She looked down at the bottle of beer
in her hand. “God, I'm really stoned! There's no way I can
drink this now.”

Frank took it from her hand and guzzled what was left.
Then he set the empty bottle on the table. He sighed again,
deeply, and studied his new friend. “So whose problem shall
we solve first? Your Cliff problem, or my Lester problem?”

“Lester? Is that your dealer?”

“Yes.”

“Both our problems are people.”

“Isn't that typical? Shit beetles!”

She laughed again. “I think I'm starting to
think like you.”

“I hope so. I believe it will do you some
good.”

“Tell me more about your Lester problem. Maybe
I can think of some way to help you.”

Frank rubbed his eyes. “Well... there's not
much to tell. I called him last night and arranged for him to
gather some supplies for me. A going-away package, if you will.”

She slid closer to him and leaned her back against the
wall. “You're going away?”

“I believe I told you that. Did I not?”

“I don't remember. So many crazy things have
been happening.”

“Yes, that's true. Anyway, he's supposed to be
here sometime today. I would imagine he'd come by later this
evening, but who knows? Either way, I owe him about $6,000 for the
supplies and I don't have anywhere near that much to pay him.”

“Can't you borrow some from the church?”

“The church has no money. People don't come
here anymore. Pastor McKenzie...” Frank sighed again. “It's
a long story, but he sort of ruined things around here. Anyway,
I've got to figure out what to do when Lester shows up.”

“I have some money in the bank,” Dianne
offered. “It's not much, but I guess I could let you borrow
it.”

Frank stared at her. “You'd really do that?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“I don't know. It's certainly very generous of
you. But I'm not sure I'd be able to pay you back. Not for a long
time, anyway.”

“It's okay. I'm probably going to prison
anyway.”

“You're not going to prison!” He shifted
on the bed so he could face her. “Would it make you feel
better if the dead body in your apartment were to... disappear?”

“Of course. That's what I told you in the first
place. But how's that going to happen?”

“With a lot of hard work. It can be done, trust
me.”

She began to feel excited. “I'll give you my
money if you help me figure out a way of disposing of the body.”

“You're not giving me anything. If I borrow
money from you, I'll pay it back. All of it.”

Dianne grinned. “I think we're making progress.
This dope really works.”

Frank nodded in agreement. “See? I told you.”

“I can drive
to the bank right now.” She thought about it. “Well, I
think
I can drive to the bank. I'm really fucked up.”

“You can do it. Remember, I have faith in you.”

“Thank you.”

“How much have you got, by the way?”

She hung her head. “Not enough to cover the
whole thing. But I have over $4,000. Maybe we can scrape the rest
of it together somehow.”

Frank pondered this new development. “That
might be enough. I'd be able to give him about $5,000, and I could
tell him I'll have the rest tomorrow. He'd probably be willing to
spot me for a grand. Then, when he comes to collect it, I'll be
gone.”

Dianne regarded him, a look of sorrow in her eyes.
“Where are you going?”

“I don't know.”

“What?” She impulsively put her hand on
his leg. “I don't like this.”

“I don't either, but I've got to move. This
church isn't safe anymore.”

“You can't
just
leave!
What about...” She lapsed into silence, her mind working
frantically. “What if I...”

Frank put his hand over hers. “What, Dianne?”

She looked at him. “What if I need you? I've
got no one else to confide in. I... I don't want you to leave.”

He shrugged. “I have to. I really have no
choice.”

“But you don't know where?”

“No.”

“And you're going... when? Tomorrow?”

“Tonight, if possible. Or tomorrow.”

She pulled her hand away. “Fuck!”

Frank stared at her, alarmed. “I'm sorry.
Please don't take it personally.”

She ran her hands through her long hair. “I
hate this!”

“You hate what?”

“Everything! Every time I make a friend...”
She closed her eyes and began to cry softly.

Frank took her hand and held it tightly. “Dianne.
You're forgetting something.”

“What?”

“Your freedom.”

“What about it?”

“What's holding you here? Your data entry job?”

“Nothing's holding me. I have nothing. I've
never had anything, and I never will.”

“Then why not come with me?”

She froze, not sure she heard correctly. Tears were
still coursing down her cheeks. “Come with you?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“I... I don't...”

“Think about it. You'd be free to do as you
wish. It would be like a fresh beginning for you. You could follow
your dreams and find the path god meant for you.”

The idea of it greatly appealed to her. The
possibilities were endless. “But... what about...”

“What?”

She frowned. “What about money? My job?”

“We've been through this already, Dianne.
There's a whole world out there, waiting for you. It's yours. All
of it.”

Goosebumps broke out on her arms. It sounded
wonderful, but she knew it wasn't that easy. “I'd have no
idea where to even start. Where would I go?”

“Anywhere you want.” Frank let go of her
hand and got up off the bed. He retrieved his road atlas from the
desk and sat back down, this time a little closer to her so that
their legs were touching. Opening the book at random, he pointed
out Nevada. “Why, we could go to Nevada.”

Looking on with interest, she smiled. Her mood was
beginning to brighten. “Nevada?”

Frank turned the page. “Anywhere. It doesn't
matter where. In fact, we probably shouldn't even choose a
destination. We should just go.”

She looked at him seriously. “Are you sure
you'd want to? With me, I mean?”

“Absolutely. It would make things much easier
for both of us. We could watch out for each other.”

She pressed closer to him, loving the idea. “Really?”

“I couldn't imagine a better traveling
companion.”

A feeling of warmth coursed through her. “You
mean... just until we get away from here? Or are you talking about
something... more permanent?”

“That's entirely up to you. The future is wide
open. We could do anything, Dianne. Anything at all.”

She felt a tremendous burden lift from her. “God,
that would be so wonderful. A whole new life!”

“Exactly.”

“I wouldn't even have to go back to work!”
she exclaimed happily.

“You've already put in your last day. The time
has come for you to be free. Really and truly free.” He took
her hand again. “Can you feel it?”

Dianne tried to focus on what was happening and how
she really felt about it. She hated her life, and her dead-end job.
Still, she was very apprehensive. “I'm not sure. I'm so
stoned right now. And drunk.”

“That's beside the point. You're at a
crossroads in your life. I'm leaving for parts unknown and I'm
leaving, most likely, tomorrow. If you'd like to come with me,
you're more than welcome.”

She took a deep
breath, trying to clear her head. “Do you
want
me to come with you?”

“Yes.”

She smiled at his assurance. “I've never done
anything like this before. I just don't know...”

“Take your time. Think it over. You don't have
to make up your mind until tomorrow.”

“Alright,” she promised. “I'll
think about it.”

“I'm confident you'll choose wisely.”

They sat quietly, Dianne lost in deep thought. She
was both terrified and exhilarated, and intelligent enough to know
she was too inebriated at the moment to make such a critical
decision. She liked Frank a great deal, and hated the idea of
parting with him. He'd come into her life so suddenly and it
appeared he was going to be leaving just as quickly. Unless, of
course, she went with him. The idea of returning to her old life
after the past couple of days seemed almost ridiculous to her now.
She had a lot to think about.

“Perhaps you should rest,” Frank
suggested. “There's no hurry.”