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get up to with yourself, and it is not my place to dictate how a man may or may not be making a living wage. Understand this. But make no mistake. I want to be absolutely clear about one thing: whatever you may have heard, perhaps about myself, perhaps about some other individual, I want you to first consider the source.”
    Leans back, nodding at himself in satisfaction.
    â€œConsider the source,” says the senator.
    I make solemn like I’m digging him deep. In pain over here, goddamn taser.
    â€œThe source,” continues the senator, closing his eyes. “Well, let’s just say it like it is, the source is a Jew, of whom Christ himself did say: You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ”
    He says this then falls silent, just smiling this inward kind of smile, creepy, rocking his head back and forth very slightly.
    I’m thinking: this motherfucker is once, twice, three kinds of crazy minimum. That’s the same biblical passage crackers of old used to justify stringing up our people in Mississippi and elsewhere. Everybody knows this. The Good Book is handy that way.
    The trembling commences. Without my pills? About ninety minutes before my brain starts to hemorrhage. I’ll start worrying in, say, ten.
    â€œSenator.” I take a deep breath.
    Howard opens his eyes, pulls at his tie again.
    I say, “Why would you have a goddamn paramilitary team haul my simple ass out of bed, run me up here at gunpoint?”
    Rubs his chin. “Son, I do apologize.”
    â€œYeah, you ran all that already, boss. Exactly what is your business with me?”
    Mustache fluttering. “Well, young man, I simply wanted to commune, from my heart to yours. I wanted to express to you my feelings about truth. And those who distribute untruths. I wanted to tell you, son, should you see this Rosenblatt again, why not send him my way? Or …” Again he hunches over and moves in on me. “If you have taken my message to heart, you will yourself see the folly in placing stock in liars and thieves. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. ”
    He directs a thick finger at my chest.
    â€œYou can be that lake. Or burn in it. Son, take the side of righteousness. Repent, turn it around, seek a noble life. That’s just straight scripture, Revelation 21:8.”
    Had enough of this preacher talk. I say, “No doubt. I still don’t feature, senator, you feeling the motherfucking need to drag me up here, just to listen to you spitting jive Jesus shit.”
    It’s a much more complex smile that inhabits his face now. Talking to the real man now. Much preferable.
    â€œWhy I brought you on up, out your bed? First of all, to demonstrate I can drag your sad ass anywhere I care to, any old time, day or night. Next, to let you know that whatever you may have done or choose to do, you are now front and center on my radar. I see you, brother, day and night. God sees you too.”
    He leans in yet further. I smell his mouth, coffee and old teeth.
    â€œWhy, I know all about you, son. You think you’re clever like that, that you can just disappear, young man? Don’t mistake me, I salute you for your service, all that. You’re a warrior. But let’s call a spade a spade. Things seem to have taken a downturn for you, son. I know about Walter Reed. I know about NIH, the programs you took part in, son. Shit, I probably authorized that grant, who can remember? The grant done paid for the study, to which you so generously gave of yourself. You were the star pupil, head of the class, son. What I heard.