The Crest

The enchanting Rose of the Forest walked around the church refectory. Her long blonde hair hung over a purple silk robe; her breast line visibly apparent. With honey skin, she looked clean, in contrast to her visitors who were smudged with ash and smoke. She wore make-up, and with sun-kissed lips she looked stunning, her eyes gleamed, her smile infectious. In attendance were several Crest Forces members including the woman who worked in food service on the Crest. They acknowledged each other but said nothing.

“Tonight, we will honor our guests. Tonight, we will usher in the beginning of a new era.”

“Guests, please be seated.”

The visitants looked at the baked wild animal sitting in the middle of a long table. It looked like a coyote. Alongside, there were platters of boiled wild carrots, camas bulbs, and acorn flour cakes.

“Let us raise our glasses to our friends on the Crest. A toast to those that we can depend on in times of need.”

They drank the home-made wine. The participants felt elation. The enchanting pastor walked around the long table and put her hands on the newcomers’ shoulders. She spoke softly in their ears. The twosome from the Crest felt at home, at peace.

The enchantress conversed to the group, “Tonight, we honor the coyote. This animal is cunning and so are we. This animal is a survivor of the Shift, and so are we. This animal is patient, and so are we. Members, we have waited a long time. With the meat of this animal, you will embody the coyote.”

“We at the Nature Liberation Assembly Church welcome you to our community. We welcome you to our family.”

The pastor waited for the wine to take effect. She paused a minute to gaze around the table.

“I would like our members here to take a vow. Do you vow to defend the principles of our church, to uphold nature, to liberate man from the shackles of science?”

“We do,” they said.

The pastor showed her infectious smile. “In the coming days, the great war will be upon us. We must cleanse the lands of technology. Destroy the science. We at the Nature Liberation Assembly Church must be ready to welcome the liberators. Before we partake of this meal, we would like to thank those working on the Crest. We put our faith in you.”

They stared at the Crest defenders.

We know you will not let us down. Our servants on the Crest will help you.” She motioned to the food service workers from the Crest.

They drank the wine, they felt euphoric. The transformation for the discreet pair of Crest defenders was remarkable. They experienced happiness, true happiness for the first time in a long time. Then, things grew darker and darker around the table. They saw Rose of the Forest staring at them, she seemed to float in the air. The pastor spoke in a hypnotic tone, soothing, soft. She gave the attendees specific instructions. The two from the Crest listened, dazed.

The night also brought good news to the pastor. She’d been elected head of the council of bishops for all the Nature Liberation Assemblies. She controlled the whole confederation across the west. Now...she could enact her plans.