The dining hall was like something out of the old Knights of the Round Table movie. Dim lighting in the windowless chamber was provided by two wrought-iron chandeliers hanging from the high-beamed ceiling. A dark wood table ran nearly the whole length of the hall. As Steve walked in, twenty or so men were standing behind large wooden chairs.
Silent.
Most of them had a similar look. Short hair and work clothes. The arms with prison tats. The look of the ex- or soon-to-be con.
His new family?
Johnny led Steve to one of the empty chairs and left him there. Steve assumed the silent stance. When in Rome. When in the house of God.
He looked at the guy directly across from him. The guy stared back aggressively. Like if Steve went for the potatoes au gratin too soon he’d get his hand slapped.
He scanned the rest of the assembly, saw Rennie about halfway down, looking at him. Neal was next to Rennie. Johnny had gone to the other end of the table to the chair by the head. The only empty chair now.
A few minutes ticked by. Some of the guys at the table had their eyes closed. Praying? Or wishing the food was there?
Then Eldon LaSalle appeared at the far end. Steve hadn’t heard any door open. It was almost like the old man had materialized through the wall. The wingback wheelchair hummed to the head of the table. He paused, then raised his hands.
At that, everybody bowed heads. Steve didn’t. Until he saw Eldon looking straight at him. Steve closed his eyes.
Eldon’s voice rose like a down-home preacher’s. “ ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.’ ”
Eat up my flesh? Steve thought. Bring on dinner.
“ ‘Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.’ ”
If we ever get to dinner.
“ ‘For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.’ Amen.”
A hail of voices answered, “Amen.”
Everyone sat.
Steve did too, in front of a table setting of pewter and silver.
Then the entertainment began.
A line of women, seven of them, varying in age, in simple, long cotton dresses, entered with platters and bowls of food, and dishes and pitchers. They began to serve and the men began to talk. The guy to Steve’s right said, “So whattaya think, uh?”
He wore a buzz cut and scowl. Steve said, “What are we having?”
“Venison, hunted down by the ladies themselves.”
“They hunt?”
“With the best.”
“Is that legal?” Steve asked. “I mean, it isn’t hunting season, is it?”
The guy gave Steve a half smile and a wink.
“Ah,” Steve said. “So what do they hunt with?”
“Rifle or bow. Taught by the Master himself.”
“Master?”
“Mr. LaSalle.”
“Is that what you call him? The Master?”
“That’s what he is, so that’s what you call him. So you’re Johnny’s brother.”
“That’s right.”
“You have a special privilege, my friend. Special. To be allowed in here.”
A woman, maybe in her early thirties, came by with a pitcher and poured libation into Steve’s and Buzz Cut’s cups — chalices, actually. The woman kept her eyes down, except for a brief look at Steve.
For a quick moment he thought she was . . . pleading with him.
Then, just as quickly, she looked away.
And moved down the table, serving.
Steve turned to Buzz Cut and said, “Can I ask you about the women?”
“Thought you might be interested,” Buzz Cut said. “Hands off. They belong to the Master.”
“Belong?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m not sure I do.”
Buzz Cut leaned a little closer. “We get our fish in town. Plenty to go around. You’ll see. Right now, just take it easy and don’t ask too many questions. You’ll catch on.”
He caught on to the food, at least. It was meaty, hot, abundant. He was trying to figure out how this gathering could be legally positioned as a church. In some ways this was like a Catholic monastery. Not that he was expert in that. But didn’t they eat venison in cloisters and down casks of ale? Wasn’t that what Friar Tuck did before joining the merry men?
Maybe Robin Hood could have made a claim he was running a church.
All Steve knew was that the First Amendment was pretty broad these days. From Scientology to Santeria, there was a smorgasbord of religion for all tastes. America was the HomeTown Buffet of spirituality.
But LaSalle’s group was claiming to be part of the Christian tradition, so he’d have to watch carefully. He knew that any religion needed to operate consistent with its own charters. Eldon LaSalle was for the separation of the races. That was going to be a dicey item for the church bylaws.
The pinging of a utensil against a cup brought all conversation to a halt. Eldon LaSalle had called for order.
“We have a special guest with us tonight,” he announced. “Steve Conroy, Johnny’s long-lost brother, a renowned legal mind, has joined us tonight. Let’s welcome him.”
The group applauded as heads turned his way. Steve gave an embarrassed half wave.
“Steve and Johnny were separated as children, but now by God’s grace are brought together again,” Eldon LaSalle continued. He leaned forward. “It was my desire that the relationship between Johnny and Steve remain a secret. But that wasn’t done.”
He paused, and Steve caught a glimpse of Johnny’s face. It was tight, and it seemed clear to Steve he’d just been rebuked by the patriarch.
“And so it is absolutely imperative that this news does not spread. Is that clear to every one of you?”
Heads nodded.
“ ‘If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?’ ”
Whatever that means, Steve thought. Though he had to admit the combination of King James English and LaSalle’s deep voice was effective.
Only Johnny seemed to be stewing.
But one thing these people knew how to do was eat, so that’s what he did. He did note the passive faces of the women as they served. That would be another item to look into. If this was a polygamy thing — women belonging to Eldon? — he’d have a whole new area for Sienna to research.
After the dessert, a robust serving of cookies-’n’-cream ice cream — Buzz Cut said it was the Master’s favorite — the table was officially dismissed by LaSalle. The men got up and started filtering out.
Johnny left without saying anything further to Steve. Or anyone else that Steve saw. Steve was about to follow Johnny out when Eldon said, “Steve, would you join me in the library, please?”