GLASS SOUP by Jonathan Carroll (funny books to read .txt) 📕

Chaos, then they abandon that place and it remains empty because nothing else fits there.”

“Did John Flannery kill me?”

“Chaos killed you and Flannery is part of Chaos.”

“If it’s so powerful, why doesn’t it just change everything to the way it wants?”

“Because it’s neither strong enough yet nor is it fully aware of what it’s capable of doing. But as it has grown smarter and savvier, it’s made people more chaotic. It’s made the world more chaotic. Soon the balance will tip.”

“And what does this have to do with me?”

“You were one of the first people it actively interfered with and changed your fate. Before now it was more indirect; it convinced people to do its bidding, but never actually caused things to happen.”

“Why did it choose me?”

Haden said, “Because your best friend is Isabelle Neukor.”

“What does it have to do with Isabelle?”

“Her child. The baby she’s going to have could help stop Chaos. We have to tell her that, and we have to tell her how to do it before it’s too late.”

“How can you reach her?”

Bob said, “Only you can do it. You’re going to tell her.”

“Me? I’m dead.”

“True, but there’s a way.”

Zi Cong Baby Palace

Isabelle didn’t know whether to be concerned or annoyed. She and Flora were walking out of the cemetery together. Ettrich was still nowhere to be seen. “Have you seen Vincent?”

“No.”

“Neither have I. Not since halfway through the funeral. I have no idea where he went.”

Flora didn’t care where Vincent went. All she wanted to do was get Isabelle alone so she could describe the vision she’d had earlier of Leni holding up a sign that said GLASS SOUP. It had to mean something.

“That is just strange. Vincent doesn’t disappear like that; especially not today.”

Flora had told her husband that she was returning to town with Isabelle, but not before stopping off to get something to eat and have a long talk. He squeezed both her shoulders and said he would see her at home. Don’t worry about the kids—he’d take care of them. He was such a good man. Times like these, she was reminded again that his greatest quality was he always made her feel loved. Flora wished she loved him more than she did.

The two women left the cemetery and walked down the narrow road back toward Isabelle’s car. Where had Vincent gone? Isabelle had forgotten her cell phone at home and was still so distraught by the burial and Vincent’s disappearance that she didn’t think to borrow Flora’s. She wanted to call him right now and give him a blast—Where are you?

Flora was wondering whether it would be better to describe her vision of Leni while they were riding in the car and she had Isabelle’s undivided attention, or wait until they got to the restaurant and drank a couple of glasses of wine first to settle them down.

Maybe today was also the day to talk about her new lover Kyle Pegg. Just tell her best friend in the world everything about the affair and wait to hear what she had to say about it. Leni’s death had suddenly made life feel so urgent; so right-this-moment because there might not be another.

How touching and considerate of Kyle to come to the funeral. She saw him right away but made no sign because her husband was standing nearby. But Flora was deeply grateful for his thoughtfulness and presence. It helped make the burden a little lighter. She honestly never expected Kyle Pegg to show up there. Flora felt his concern and support embrace her. How lucky she was to have two such stand-up guys in her life.

By the time they reached Isabelle’s car, Flora still hadn’t decided whether or not to spill the beans about him. She couldn’t read her friend’s face which was only blank and drawn. Flora knew that Isabelle had been closer to Leni than to her. She knew too that although both friends loved her, they thought she was over the top, too much, too often without perspective or clarity on too many matters.

Isabelle rounded the car and stood by the driver’s side door, looking at her keys but not really focusing on them. What should she do now? And where was Vincent, damn it? She had no desire to go anywhere now and certainly not to some Gasthaüs to listen to Flora prattle on about Leni or her latest personal crisis. Flora was a gem, but there were times like right now when she wanted to be on the opposite side of town from her.

As Isabelle inserted the key into the lock, she looked inside the car. Broximon was sitting on the edge of the backseat. He raised his eyes from the magazine he was reading and waved at her. He closed and then slid his small reading material into an inside pocket because it was a bondage magazine. Better she didn’t see that. He had been studying the pictures in an illustrated article titled “Eat, Drink, and Beat Mary.”

“Grüss gott, meine damen,” he said.

Isabelle said quietly, “You’re bigger than the last time I saw you.”

Flora looked across the roof of the car at Isabelle and frowned. “What did you say? What do you mean, bigger?”

Broximon crossed one leg over the other. “True. They made me a little bigger for this trip.”

“And you’re here. How can you be here, Broximon; how is that possible?”

He ignored the question. “How are you, Isabelle? How was the ceremony?”

“It was all right. How did you get here?”

“By plane.”

“By plane? You flew here?”

“Yes, there’s one flight a week.”

“Isabelle, what are you talking about? Who are you talking to?” Flora’s voice was high and concerned. She really didn’t know what to make of this.

“Flora, could you excuse me for a few moments?”

Flora crossed her arms and then uncrossed them. She looked down to the left, and tapped her foot. What the hell was going on? Why was Isabelle talking to herself? Slowly Flora walked three meters away and pretended to look