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Dump Miner
- Chapter Seventeen
mariA’s child’s DNA turns out to be a match with the Walker bloodline.
An altar boy arrives with records about mariA’s pregnancy. The bishop takes them and opens the packet, pulls out a long strip; looks at it slowly and speaks to himself. The Bishop picks up his B.I.B.L.E. and slides the strip into the side like a disk into a computer. The cover of the tablet displays the information almost instantaneously. The images are of DNA strands with names next to them.
Bishop Lamb:
All right, let’s see who is the father of this young soul.
He taps the images of the DNA with his middle finger. The screen converts and displays a picture of mariA and John Walker. The word “deceased” is prominently displayed below John Walker’s picture.
Bishop Lamb:
This must be broken. (He looks at the B.I.B.L.E. and says whimsically) Reboot.
The same images come up. The Bishop picks up his phone and speaks.
Bishop Lamb:
Lab.
Lab Technician:
This is the lab.
Bishop Lamb:
I just received the records you sent, how accurate are these?
Lab:
It is a 99.9% match.
Bishop Lamb:
Really? Do you still have the cultures?
Lab:
Yes, they are on file.
Bishop Lamb:
Test them again and make it your priority. How long do you expect this to take?
Lab:
I am doing it now and… I have the same results. I would safely say that you have the names of the mother and father.
Bishop Lamb:
Bless you.
The Bishop takes a long pause.
Lab:
Excuse me, your holiness, is there something else that you need?
Bishop Lamb:
Oh… ah… no. I will call if I need you. Bless you.
Bishop Lamb looks out of his window. In the distance, he sees mariA and leO making their way back to their barracks, celebrating the miraculous and seemly impossible conception.
leO:
mariA, this is wonderful. A miracle!
mariA:
I am so happy as well.
leO:
He is coming. He will smite my enemies and deliver us from evil. Amen.
leO looks at mariA.
mariA:
Amen.
mariA and leO continue to the barracks and start to spread the news to the other miners. Bishop Lamb turns his chair back to his desk picks up his phone and dials.
Bishop Lamb:
I would like to speak to the Reagan Walker please… I am sending some data for him to review; I believe that his life depends on it. Yes, I will wait…
The Reagan picks up the line.
Reagan Walker:
Who is this?
Bishop Lamb:
Reagan Walker, I am Bishop Lamb of the Americo Resource and Welfare Facility 4499. And I have a miner here that has come to my steps with the news of a beautiful new soul.
Reagan Walker:
What does that have to do with me?
Bishop Lamb:
Didn’t you look at the DNA strip?
Reagan Walker:
Yes.
Bishop Lamb:
Then it is obvious. Dear Reagan Walker, please don’t be confused; I don’t want to extort anything from you, I just want riches, good food, and luxury, nothing more.
Reagan Walker:
That is extortion.
Bishop Lamb:
Whatever.
Reagan Walker:
Meet my assistant at the “Ground Zero” monument in two hours and bring everything with you.
Bishop Lamb hurries to the monument to meet with his destiny. Reagan Walker’s assistant meets him as planned and escorts him to the Reagan in a secure hidden room deep within the monument. The guards leave the Bishop and the Reagan inside the protected room and secure the room from outside.
Reagan Walker:
Did you bring everything?
Bishop Lamb:
Not even a hello?
Reagan Walker:
Don’t fuck with me. Let me see the DNA strip.
The Bishop inserts the DNA strip in his B.I.B.L.E., taps the cover and hands it to Reagan Walker. The Reagan looks at the B.I.B.L.E.; he looks at his picture first then his eyes drift to the picture of mariA and the Reagan Walker pauses. He hears his son’s voice in his head. “I am god. I can do what ever I want.” The Reagan breaths a heavy sign, takes the strip from the B.I.B.L.E. and puts it in his pocket.
Reagan Walker:
Is this the only strip?
Bishop Lamb:
Of course not, I have back-ups in the central database at the compound.
Reagan Walker:
What do you want?
Bishop Lamb:
Heaven. I want to be sponsored into heaven.
Reagan Walker:
Done. But if I ever hear your name or of any of this again, that will be your last confession.
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