The Unifier by Richard Shekari (best book club books for discussion TXT) 📕

a place to hide when the mottles come crashing down!”
“Baby?” She called again, “I want my man in the car, right now!”
“Give me a minute, darling!” He responded in a calm tone. “When this ceremony is over. Go back to your nations and sieve out this man, Palm Carlos, or whatever name he goes by these days. And if you don’t, not only is the Chief of Rel-Pol going down, I’ll make sure you’re all replaced or imprisoned along with the enemies of our one and beautiful world. When the sweet juicy-fruits of my own labour stopped flushing down your gut, and you lose all those shiny attires and beautiful mansions I’ve offered to you for free, then you might show me some respect out of fear, and maybe then, you might want to help me fetch out this traitor and threat to peace! ”
He entered the limousine and sat next to his wife, Mariah.
The representatives of all the nations entered their own vehicles, in a convoy, they escorted The Master to his mansion.
 “What have I not given them?” He lamented, “I have made men of all races love one another, I brought peace. I got rid of that eyesore of a disease they call religion; an invincible barrier that separated them and made them hate each other. They feed on the peace I have solely provided. I even made men from other nations govern other nations in perfect peace, who is like me? And the world economy has gone up far more greater than anticipated. I united all the nations and equally share the resources for the benefit of all. The people are healthier now. Not even God could do a quarter of what I’ve done so far, Mariah.”
“Don’t let their incompetence splatter anger on the big ocean of your beautiful heart, my darling!” She said in a soft voice as she smiled, “You have achieved far greater than all the kings of the earth. Maybe we need to be a little patient with them, that’s all. To err is human, they say. Man’s five senses form the walls of the prison that holds him; if he cannot see it, hear it, smell it, taste it or feel it, then he won’t believe it exists. And that has been given to them through you, my love. They have no choice but to love and obey you.”
The Master’s heart was pleased, and he smiled back.
“But they don’t appreciate my effort.” He said, “They never did.”
“They will, my love!” She gazed into his eyes, her big green eyes blazed like a thousand gemstones. She wrapped her right hand behind his neck and gently pulled him to herself, then kissed him. “Don’t get irate over their incompetence. The idea of the creation of man itself was the only flaw in the days of creation, but you’re the perfect one. The world is yours now, always remember that, my darling.”
The tone of her voice sweetened his heart, his eyes were shut. She gently ran her fingers through his hair.
“The world is already yours, there’s none an attainment as great as this.” She added.
He laid his head on her lap.
“What can I do without you, Mariah?” He said as he heaved a heavy sigh.
She bent and kissed him. Chapter Two: Dead or Alive.

In a cave up the mountains, Palm, watched on a tab an interview on a television station that featured the two assassins who made an attempt on The Master’s life years back.
“I learned that today is your birthday, which also happens to be the day chosen to observe the annual festival throughout the world, which is meant to celebrate the peace we all savour in all the nations?” Said the TV host, she smiled, “Tell me, how does it feels like to be forgiven by the very most powerful man you’ve tried to kill? One who has the authority to have your life snapped out of you in a second?”
“Well, you’re right, Margie!” One among the young men said, “My brother and I were blinded by well, this whole idea injected into our heads about a coming saviour that will fall from the sky; whom they said would come down and take us all into heaven, you know; lies propagated by those who perverted the truth for thousands of years. So we thought it was our duty to kill The Supreme One, whom we thought was a tool in the hands of the devil. We took it upon ourselves to take him out, but when we failed and were captured, we couldn’t believe our ears when The Master ordered that we be set free! Little did humanity know that we need not look into the skies for a helper but down here on earth?”
“I know, right?” Said the host. She giggled, “I love the way you put it. If only those that are still blind and in hiding could hear what you just said!”
“Yeah!” He responded, “I mean, my brother and I could not even comprehend such mercy exercised upon us by The Master, a man we just attempted to kill. The world is blessed to have this great leader. We are beings of high and great intelligence; we have explored and have travelled worlds and planets beyond our realm, time travel, you name it…and none a God or gods were sighted. Not only has science proven so but it exposed the mythos that caged man’s way of thinking which in the long run limits and affects man’s way of life. This is a new age, a new era of noesis that will thrust mankind into what was thought to be impossible or only attained by gods or God, or whatever the practitioners of the old ways believed in.”
“I read from page 17 of your new book, the Light within the Tunnel, where you said and I quote, ‘Man is God, for God is man!’ can you shed more light on that?” Said the host.
“The truth is, man has been looking up to and for some super being whom he thought lived in the skies, you know, seated on a throne made of gold and all that,” he said as he giggled, “but man of the old ways have failed to understand that he was actually looking for himself, and because he sought himself he never found himself. It takes the spirit of the new man to see that which the old sought for. It’s like a dog chasing its own tail, you know, no matter how many times it goes round and round, it can never catch up.”
The spectators laughed and applauded.
“Anyways, I don’t want to say much,” he added, “Wouldn’t want to spoil the fun for the truth seekers. Just get a copy of our book, The Light within the Tunnel, it’s more than an eye opener.”
“I know, right?” She said, “What about you, Larry?” The host turned to the other young man, “What do you have to say about this?”
“Well, just like what Harry said; little did humanity know that we need not look into the skies for a helper but down here on earth,” he cleared his throat, “I urge all the people in all the nations to show support to our great leader, The Master, who has ushered in peace and prosperity never experienced by the inhabitants of the earth. None a man we have seen that made so much sacrifice to us all like this man, our supreme leader, The Master.”
“Hmm! A small but heavy statement there, you’re not much of a talker, are you?” The host said. She then turned and faced the camera, “Anyway, you’ve just heard from the twin brothers; Larry and Harry Norchell, whom, years ago made an attempt to assassinate our great supreme leader, The Master, Ethnocal Jessy Thuck. However, his mercy made a believer of world peace out of them. Now they travel throughout the nations to preach, educate and orient converts on the new way of things. You can buy their debut novel, The Light within the Tunnel, at bookshops near you or just order online. We’ve come to the end of our show for today, I am your host, Margie Cantell, for UNG; the Unifier News Guardian. Peace in our time!”
The TV station switched to commercial. Palm Carlos switched off the tab, then plugged it to a small solar device kept at the edge of the cave.
“Would you need some water to shower, Palm?” A lady said to him.
“No, Tamara, I am okay!” He said.
“It’s been two days now, Palm,” she added. “Just because we sleep in a cage don’t mean we should live like cage dwellers!”
“But that is what we are, Tamara!” He said as he turned, “Cage dwellers, for now!”
Palm took a few steps and stood at the edge of the cave, overlooking the vales. The mighty statue on the shores of the world’s capital could be sighted from the mountains. The golden image of The Master stood still in its aura. Helicopters hovered around it as fireworks took the skies hostage, many ships and boats could be sighted with multitude of crowd celebrating in the city.
“If only they knew!” Palm said.
“Maybe you shouldn’t worry much about those who chose not to be saved.” Tamara said as she walked to him.
“I wish it is that easy!” He said, “He has placed a weight upon my heart; to never find peace until His people are set free from this thrall!”
“I’ve known you for years, Palm.” She added, “When we first met in high school, I told you from the start that your compassion would plunge you into a gulf you won’t be able to be rescued from. Now, look at what have become of us; we can’t even live a normal life. You’re being hunted like an animal. You've lost your dignity in the eyes of friends and relatives; wasting your time and energy trying to what…set them free? When the people are happy with their current situation?”
“You’ll not understand, Tam.” he said. “And I don’t expect you to.”
“Trust me, Palm.” She added, “I do understand, and I also know that He has not answered any of your prayers ever since this whole mess started. I’m your wife, I know you deeper than you think. Maybe God wanted you to invest your time in us, for now, than trying to rid the world of what you believe has consumed or blinded it.” She paused, “We should try and be happy, baby. Enjoy the moment.” She sighed, “Even though our two boys were taken along with all the children of the world when that horrible sound shook the earth...” She wrapped her arms round him from behind, “When He’s ready and willing to use you, He would come down or visit you…in your dreams as He used to, to give you His instructions, maybe.”
“He’s not coming back,” Palm said. “Not down to this world, for now. All the children are safe with Him. Nothing delights His heart when He looks down here anymore.” He sighed, “At least, that’s what I think.”
Palm turned and held her firm in his arms then kissed her.
“I know there’s a prophesy upon you to bring an end to