Part 34 (1/2)

”Yes,” Carma said, smiling. ”He proposed when I was just twenty, and I accepted immediately. He is so handsome, don't you think? And intelligent. Smart as a whip.”

”I've never heard of anyone marrying a ghost before,” Deem said.

”What do you think they're doing in that big temple in St. George, my dear?” Carla said. ”Sealing dead people, all day long!”

”You have a point,” Deem said. She knew Mormons went there to perform proxy sealings for the deceased.

”Lyman and I were sealed by the ghost of John Taylor. Not many people can say that. Some gifted fundamentalists, that's about it.”

”The third president of the church?” Deem asked. ”He's a ghost?”

”I think he was part gifted, myself,” Carma said. ”He's hung around for years. Some say he haunts the temple itself, in Salt Lake City. I contacted him at his gravesite in the Avenues and he agreed to do the sealing. He's sealed Lyman to a couple of other women over the years. He's a big polygamy advocate.”

Deem leaned back in her chair. ”You'll have to forgive me,” she said, ”but this is kind of blowing my mind.”

Carma laughed. ”It's OK, I'll stop. Too much for one morning, eh?”

”I guess I'm feeling overwhelmed,” Deem said. ”Awan told me last night to alter my expectations around the secret council, and I'm starting to think he was right. He believes they're going to take much longer to deal with than I was antic.i.p.ating.”

”Well, what were you expecting?” Carma asked.

”I was hoping to find something in the doc.u.ments that I could use against them. Something damaging that might destroy their group.”

”I think Awan is right,” Carma said. ”You might find something you can use, but destroying them might take much longer. Lyman's been fighting them and other groups like them for a hundred and fifty years, and he's much better at it than you. More experienced. He and Claude couldn't bring them down.”

”Awan made it sound like I'd have to live with them,” Deem said. ”Coexist.”

”And so you may,” Carma said, ”once you find a way to show them you won't be trifled with. I remind you, my dear, that your original goal was to locate your father's journals, not to take down the secret council. The former is an achievable goal, while the latter is probably not.”

Deem tilted her head to one side, considering this. She's right, she thought.

”I don't mean to rain on your parade,” Carma said, perking up. ”Not on the jubilant day when you're learned you're to be excommunicated! We should be celebrating, not moping. Why don't you two run along and take care of that shaman, and come back here tonight for a dinner. I'll make my special pot pies, and we'll toast the Bishop's Court!”

Carma was so enthusiastic about the idea of the dinner that Deem couldn't help but smile and agree to come. ”Sure,” she said. ”Why not?”

”And you, Winn, you'll come celebrate your friend's departure from the clutches of old white men who want to run everyone's lives, won't you? Say yes.”

”Yes,” Winn said, smiling at Carma's expository. ”As long as we toast with booze.”

”Oh, how agreeable!” Carma said, clapping her hands together. ”I'll have to run to the store to get a few things. I want you to call me when you're on your way, so I can pop the pies in the oven. I don't care how late it gets, alright? We can eat and drink at two a.m. for all I care!”

”Sure,” Winn said, rising from his chair. Deem stood too, knowing it was time to go.

”I'll call Awan and see how his mother is doing,” Carma said as she walked them to the door. ”I hope she'll be well enough that he can join us. Now, you two be sure to use those mindwalls Awan gave you. You'll be safe if you do. Well, mostly safe. I don't know how powerful this shaman is. I'll see if Lyman can lend a hand too. You said the school is in Kanab?”

”North side of town,” Winn said.

”Well, I know his influence reaches at least as far as Colorado City,” Carma said, ”and it grows every day, so he might be able to help you in Kanab. I'll talk to him as soon as you push off.”

Deem gave Carma a hug and Winn followed. Then they got into Winn's Jeep and Winn drove them back to the interstate.

”I'm not sure how to describe that visit,” Deem said. ”Carma just blows my mind.”

”I'm still creeped out by that oath and penalty stuff,” Winn said. ”You Mormons are f.u.c.ked up.”

”This is a million miles removed from the average Mormon,” Deem said. ”Most are so nice you can't believe it. They'd be appalled by all of this. Anyway, I won't be a Mormon for long. By next week, I'll be off the rolls. Exiled. Denied the celestial kingdom in the next life. But you know what? If I wind up in the same place that Carma winds up, I think I'll be OK. She'll keep me entertained, at least.”

”I wonder what will be in the pot pies? She didn't say.”

”Let's hope it isn't rabbit pee.”

Chapter Sixteen.

Winn handed Deem his whiskey flask, filled with protection. ”Here,” he said. ”Drink some.”

”d.a.m.nit,” Deem said. ”I forgot to bring my own.”

”What's wrong with mine?”

”The alcohol burns.”

”You don't make yours with alcohol? I can't believe it works.”

”It was a recipe my dad showed me. They figured out how to make it without alcohol.”

”Mormons,” Winn said, rolling his eyes. ”Well, you'll be excommunicated soon, so you can drink this.”

Deem took the flask and gulped down two large mouthfuls.

”Ack!” she said, gasping for air. ”Why do people think alcohol tastes good?”

”They don't,” Winn said. ”That's why they mix it with things like orange juice.”

Deem wiped her mouth and removed the beaded emblem from her pocket. ”Time for this, too,” she said.

”Lean over on me before you do it,” Winn said. ”I don't want you to crack your head open on the dash.”

Deem summoned every thought she could invoke regarding the skinrunner and the shaman, and pressed the emblem against her forehead. She slumped against Winn, the emblem falling from her hand. Once she regained consciousness, Winn helped prop her back up.

”You dropped it,” Winn said, pointing to the emblem on the floor of the Jeep. ”You'll need that to get it back out.”

”What about you?” Deem asked.

”I put mine in this morning,” Winn said. ”It's been squirming around in there for a while.”

Deem shuddered. She still felt dizzy. She held the car door handle to steady herself.