Theology 7

I waited a few days until Barry felt rested, and then suggested to him we speak with Debbie. He'd been spending all his waking hours scanning the internet. He was less than thrilled at my suggestion, suggesting that Debbie was strictly acting for financial gain and had no interest in rocking the boat. But he didn't insist that I abandon the pursuit.

So I called her to ask her for a private meeting in the immediate future, something I had never before requested. I didn't want to say anything about Barry being back over the phone for fear of the information leaking. She's very street smart, and realized something important must be happening, and agreed to see me the very next day.

I went to see her alone. Her response when I told her Barry had returned was complete surprise, and she insisted on seeing him immediately. When I agreed, she contacted her chief of staff and had all her appointments immediately canceled for the day. We left her office (in my former home) 20 minutes after I arrived and drove straight to my home.

Debbie wasn't a kid any more. She was an attractive middle aged woman, She saw Barry as soon as she walked into my house, and walked up to him and gave him a hug. He responded awkwardly.

“Shit, it really is you Barry, isn't it? You always seemed to prefer a firing squad to the slightest display of affection.”

Barry smiled and said, “It's nice to see you D.K.”. I'd never heard her called that … I have no idea what the “K” is for. It's not her last name. But it was the first time I'd seen anything resembling a smile since Barry showed up. “Has he told you what I discovered? I don't know what can be done, it seems like I”m fighting the laws of the universe. “

Debbie smiled. She somehow managed to reassure Barry in such a way that it was clear that she was in charge and was going to fix it. I wondered if this attitude is why Barry always seemed so keen to keep her in his employ all those years ago. I began to wonder if all those years back she was more like his manager than like his secretary. Publicly he was running things: privately, perhaps she was running things.

When I mentioned to her later that I was surprised at how quickly she decided she was all in on this, she gave me a look that would have stopped a truck. “Barry helped me out when I was desperate for help. I spent my professional life furthering his work because I thought it was important. Absolutely nothing has changed.”

I briefly wondered if maybe he, she, it had arranged all of this, sent Barry back with the expectation he'd contact me & Debbie. They were no stranger to the long game. It was an unsettling feeling.

She got out her phone and ordered us some dinner, and then we started planning. By the time she left it was after midnight, but the broad outline of a plan had taken shape. We were all exhausted, but for the first time the look of utter defeat was gone from Barry's eyes. Debbie went home, and Barry and I went into our respective beds.

I don't think any of us got a lot of sleep that night, but we all did get some. Debbie started calling the leaders of the most popular sects, including the groups of the more traditional religions that recognized Barry as a prophet (but not a messiah) or saint or other holy person. Just getting those folks into the same room was a a major accomplishment, but Debbie – as the non-partisan keeper of the holy shrine – had the clout to do it. She promised a major revelation; her esteem was such that no one wanted to be left out. There were a few media people invited as well.

So barely a week later we were smuggled into her building and prepared to walk into her conference room. Everyone knew she'd been spending time at my house, but word of Barry's return had not leaked. The rumor was that we had communicated with Barry, which was sort of true, and we were going to reveal more of his views, which was also sort of true.

Debbie dressed the three of us in hooded medieval robes that obscured our faces, and we walked into the conference room. She had a flair for the dramatic.

She took off her robe first. She was dressed in smart professional business attire. She thanked everyone for coming, and promised it would be worth it. At her signal, I removed my robe. I was dressed casually. She introduced me, although that probably wasn't necessary. I'm not worshiped anywhere, but my connection to Barry was well known. Although I am viewed as unimportant, dedicated true believers knew what I looked like.

She reminded everyone that Barry's message was always about improving the world. We had previously agreed that Barry was going to tell them that he'd been fooled, they'd been fooled, and pretty much everything that had happened had been for sport. I didn't know how angry people would be, nor what would be the target of their anger. What will happen when you demonstrate in an unimpeachable way that someone's basic religious belief is wrong?

She gave Barry the cue to remove his robe.