The Seer by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 12

Between his experience in the floatation tank, and the cemetery, Gordon was left unable to deny that something terrifying was happening to him. Out of paranoia, he glanced down the street to the corner the corner of Forest Avenue as a police car pulled over. Moments later, an officer got out carrying a long flashlight, and walked straight toward Gordon. The cemetery was part of his patrol route, and it was part of his job to walk through, looking for any sign of vandalism, or people ignoring the closing hours.

“Sir,” the officer began.

Shining his flashlight in Gordon's face, he questioned him on why he was bent over in front of the cemetery. As afraid as he was, Gordon could still think quickly, and knew that if he told the officer he'd been to the bar down the street, he could be charged with public intoxication. That was the last thing he needed.

“Sir, have you been drinking?

“Oh, no officer,” he replied. “I'm a little prone to low blood sugar. I just need to get something to eat.” The officer leaned down to get a better look at his face.

“There's a McDonalds down the street. You wanna ride?”

The officer believed his lie, but Gordon didn't want to risk being found out, so he offered another.

“Um, it's not that bad,” he answered. “I can get there from here.”

The officer hesitated as Gordon stood up, wanting to be certain that he wouldn't become seriously ill.

“Do you want me to call an ambulance?” the officer asked.

“Oh, no,” Gordon replied. “I'll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

The officer's concern for Gordon's safety was becoming more serious, and in one final act of falsehood, he took a few steps, displaying his recovery from a fictional illness.

“I'm just gonna go down to McDonalds. With all those carbs, I'll be better in no time.”

The officer nodded his head.

“Okay,” he said. “If you're sure.”

Gordon took a few more steps as the officer, walking toward the cemetery, turned to make sure he would be safe. Moments later, the officer disappeared into the darkness of the cemetery, led by the beam of his flashlight.

Walking down Stevens Avenue, Gordon approached the edge of the UNE campus, and looking back was relieved to see the officer no longer watching him. Once he arrived at the intersection, Gordon crossed the street and walked back to the bar where his car was parked. Unlocking the driver's door, he sat in the quiet darkness, breathing out the tension created by his first, and hopefully only encounter with the law. At the same time, he found himself lost for an explanation as to what he'd seen in the cemetery. He knew that many things lay beyond rational thinking, even the world itself, but he never thought he'd be caught up in something he was not able to explain. As he relaxed behind the wheel, Gordon began to doze off. When his head dropped forward and hit the steering wheel, it startled him awake.

Although the effects of alcohol had long passed, the stress of his experience left him drained. Shaking the drowsiness from his mind, he started his car and drove out of the parking lot. As he pulled out into the street, Gordon glanced at his watch. He wasn't one to stay out late, and wondered how his experience in the cemetery could take up so much time. Once again, in the absence of an explanation, he rationalized it by convincing himself the walk was longer than he had anticipated. But for now, he would put off the entire matter in order to afford himself the ability to focus on getting home in one piece. Sleep continued to whisper in his ear, and Gordon fought it every moment while on the road. Twenty minutes later, he staggered through his front door with sleep still on his heels. Finally giving in to the tightening grip of slumber, Gordon made his way to his bedroom and collapsed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow, however, his dreams would be anything but calm.

His drifting mind quickly took him back to the warm water of the floatation tank, and beyond, to the park, where he had spoken with Patrick. He observed from a distance as the echo of his dream-self, having escaped the confines of the floatation tank, conversed with what seemed to be the ghost of his former patient. But in the dream world, Gordon's mind detached itself from the emotions that were beginning to cloud his thinking. He was then transported to the cemetery to relive his encounter with the young boy, as though his mind was attempting to look for commonalities. By morning, Gordon was exhausted, and still no closer to understanding whatever it was that was happening to him.