Book of The Dead: Chapter 3: The Blind Crusader

Eli rested in a room that he shared with Takashi. He had taken out the book to read quietly. Eli had no idea why his mission took him here. But still, he decided to take any oppertunity he could to get some well needed R and R. He read the book to himself:

At the site of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.

Eli heard the door open. He slid the book back into his bag and set it on his bed. Takashi came over towards him.

"I'm greatful that you came to help us, But..." Takashi tried to pick his words wisely. Besides the crazy man at the gas station, he hadn't seen many black men in Japan these days.

"Yeah I know I'm black." Eli turned around, Takashi was speechless. "To answer you're question, I'm here on private business... You guys were just in the direction that I was going in."

a maid slipped into the room, pushing a cart with plates of food on them.

" This will be today's lunch. Enjoy." The maid slipped out as quickly as she came in. Eli went over to the cart and took his plate to the table. Takashi went over to what he thought was his bag and proceeded to unzip it.

"Hmm, I don't think this is mine. What's this boo-" Eli gripped Takashi's hand very tightly.

"Didn't you're parents ever teach you not to invade someone else's privacy?" Eli had a stern look upon his face.

"Hey! calm down! I didn't know it was your's..." Eli let go of his arm as he took his back pack, zipped it up and pushed it under his bed. Relieved, Takashi took his plate and put it on the same table. Eli joined him at the opposite side. Takashi thought about the book he had seen.

"So... Your a reader?"

"Yeah, you can say that."

"What's the book about?" Eli drove the fork into the chicken breast and then paused.

"That's only for me to know. It's of no importance to you." Eli took his knife as leaving Takashi puzzled.

"Is it... really that important?" Eli had forgotten to do something before he was going to eat.

"No more questions about the book." Eli raised both of his hands above the table. "Take my hands." Takashi looked even more puzzled.

"Why?"

"Just trust me. Take my hands." Takashi decided to cooperate and put his hands in Eli's.

'Now bow you're head and close you're eyes" Eli bowed his head as Takashi followed.

'Dear Lord, we thank you for this meal that we are about to eat. Thank you for saving us from the calamity that was brought upon us. I pray that you keep everyone here at the manor safe and that you see us through this horrible time. This we pray in Jesus name, Amen." Takashi let go of Eli's hands.

"Christianity... That was Christianity you were just practicing." Eli nodded as he began to cut into his chicken breast. Takashi believed that this man was a devout Christian.

The two ate in silence. As Eli finished the rest of his meal there was a banging at the door. Takashi stood up and opened it. It was Saya.

"You!" She pointed at Eli. "There's something that has been getting to me ever since you helped us.

"Yeah and what would that be?" Eli waited for her response.

"Number one: You didn't even look at the horde when you shot at them." Eli knew where this was going.

"And number two: You didn't notice the rope that was blocking us. Which makes me come to the conclusion that..." Eli took stood up from his seat.

"Your Blind!"