Horror: Theodicy (2:15)

Eudaimonia and other pursuits ^ | 2/16/09 | MT

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Audiobook: Part II introduces our story's reluctant heroine, Nicole, after an encounter with a mysterious stranger turns her life upside down, and she begins a quest to stop a terrorist cult.

In this episode, Nicole tries to prevent Carl from hurting himself in a church and confronts Chris with a warning to leave town.

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Have moments existed in your life when it was difficult for you to reconcile the problem of evil and the existence of our loving, all-knowing, all-powerful Creator?

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From the back of the church, I watched Sheriff Comeaux lean over to say something in his daughter’s ear. One of the ushers came by to escort the child to safety, but Mary refused to leave her father. My hand stopped shaking when an usher had the sense to pick Mary up and hurry out the building before either of them became a target. I ducked into a side hallway and circled around to another door that was closer to the altar.

Carl sat on the altar with his legs hanging down toward the marble floor. The sheriff inched closer to him but came to a halt when the pistol turned in his direction.

As Carl fixed his angry scowl on the priest, I struggled to understand how Alexsei expected me to stop this loser from killing himself if I couldn’t allow Stephen or Chris to see me.

“Drop the gun immediately.” The sheriff demanded, even though he lacked any visible means of returning fire.

“Milton Comeaux, you horny pig, before my return, I’m going to send someone to catch your retard daughter and send her back to your crazy wife in pieces.”

Father Keller folded his hands. “Listen to me, Carl. Don’t do this. I know you’re hurting. Think about your family. They love you.”

“No. Tell them they can all rot. Tell them I hate them.”

“That’s not true.”

Carl threw his head back. His shifty eyes made him seem fried by drugs. “Here’s your test, holy man. Curse God and ask me to shoot you, and I’ll consider sparing the planet of the plague sent by the heavens.”

Stephen looked down and shook his head. “You’re confused. Step back and think of all of us who love you. You can’t put God on trial. Don’t choose nothingness over Him. I can help you talk through the terrible things that happened to you.”

“In the back of my mind, I wanted Becky to die.”

“That’s not true,” Stephen said, inching closer.

“I am the buried seed who will sprout again. Priest, you’ve made your decision, and I’ve made mine. Your false hope won’t weaken my resolve.”

Carl put the gun in his mouth and fired a bullet through the back of his skull.

Stephen pulled the body off the altar, and screamed in horror up at the ceiling.

The sheriff ran outside to his daughter, as Stephen put a towel over Carl’s face. Through the window, I could see Chris staring at the gun almost as if he planned to use it on Stephen. When the police entered, Chris fled through one of the side exits, and I followed him at a distance. At first, Chris jogged in the direction of his car, then he paused near Mary and her father.

I lost sight of Chris, and I heard someone cough behind me. I turned and felt smelled his putrid breath. “Why do people keep killing themselves when you’re around?”

“Leave Jennifer alone. If you don’t leave town in the next week, I’m telling the cops all about you. This is your only warning.”

“Tell them what?” Chris shrugged and looked at a group of paramedics arriving late. I understood his point: What evidence did I have to press charges? I kept silent as he turned and left for his car.

Despite Alexsei’s commands, I decided to call Jennifer again. If Chris was the real threat, I had a duty to warn her. I only got voice mail. “Hi. I just saw a horrible sight, and I’m really scared. I’m staying in Lafayette at the Magnolia hotel, room 230. Give me a call when you get this message.”