Apocalypse of Jude

Jude can hear the thump of music resonating from inside the house as Paul’s stooge escorts him with a hand on his shoulder, making sure he can’t make the break he wants to make. On entering the house, Jude sees the living room, all candlelit, prepared for a solemnity. Beyond its windows, on the sprawling garden below the veranda, around thirty people are dancing under the skies to a dithyrambic beat. He knows this is the beginning of his end.

“Sit Jude.”

Paul motions to him as he takes a sofa seat beside Mae, a certain possession in her eye as if in another world. Janice and Gary sit blindfolded and gagged on the other sofa.

/goodnight janice/ /goodnight gary/ /you were in the same boat as me/ /following the pied piper’s call/ /we didn’t know what we were doing following paul/ /but we have helped him dig up the god of his parents/ /now paul’s resurrecting it/

Jude lowers himself into Caul’s usual arm chair, noticing that the coffee table has been replaced with what looks like an alter and that on it lies a bough of fresh mistletoe. Then the mustard curtains are pulled shut as ten others in the room gather in a circle around them. Jude looks upon those circled around them. His eyes pick out Paul’s three loitering heirs, his trading kings whose wares had seduced him, Janice and Gary while Paul made way for his once-upon-a-time god to ascend.

/ta ta/ /goodnight/ /goodnight/ /goodnight/

Then he remembers Caul and notes his absence, feeling somehow comforted in the seat of Caul’s chair.

/goodnight caul/ /where ever you are/ /i hope you’ve found God and made your escape/ /as for me Lord/ /strengthen me once more/ /like samson/ /make me sing as the swallow here in this ruined house/ /that i might sing of your glory one more time/ /and cause their god to fall/

Wasteland Mix: Fragment 54