Meanwhile in New Mexico...
Andrew left them alone in their room for a short while, suggesting that they unpack, which they did. When he returned, he was accompanied by a younger man he introduced as Steven. A calm, detached, corner of Mulder's mind thought the lack of nicknames was interesting, but his fear was so great of the thought barely had time to register before was gone. It was gone even before Andrew wandered off.
Steven, who was as taciturn as Andrew, said nothing for length of time, making them all uncomfortable. This however, allowed Mulder the chance to study the man. He was dressed, as Andrew was, in what he privately thought of as "preppy casual." His face was round and boyish, making Mulder wonder why he was there, instead of on a sunny college campus. Eventually Steven announced that they would need to go with him. They followed silently.
There were already people in the room and they didn't know where to sit. Steven seemed to sense their confusion and pointed out a very pew-like bench for them to sit at. They started to do so reluctantly. "Not him." Steven said, putting an arm to stop William from sitting with the rest of his family. His father shot in a 'it safer to corporate' look, but seemed ready to spring to his feet if William was led out of sight. So, although pale with fear, Will followed Steven without protest.
Steven did lead him very far, just to the front row of the assembled. This made will feel a tiny bit better, but not so much that he didn't crane his neck to see if his family was still there. A rustling from the stage caught his attention.
A man stood at a podium and opened the book glitted pages. He began to speak in a booming voice "today we shall read from chapter 12 of the book of Ephram-"
Scully hissed a protest in Mulder's ear. "There is no book of Ephram in the Bible!"
Mulder shrugged. "He didn't say in the Bible. They probably have their own books. Written by their own crazy prophets."
The loud man continued "... sayeth a child shall be born the at the end of one millennium and birth of another. And we shall know him by his parents, who sideth with our enemies-"Mulder and Scully exchanged glances. "-and we shall find him when the days of our salvation approach."
"Salvation?" Mulder mouthed in disbelief.
"They will soon return to relieve us of our heavy burden, that of our own custodialship. Blessed art those who would ease our lives-"
Mulder didn't suspect that the boys understood the sermon until Benji jumped off the pew and shouted, "It's wrong to keep people for making their own decisions! That's what our moms and dads teach us to do since we're little. You are bad people to want us to be their slaves!"
Mulder grabbed him around the waist and pulled him back onto the pew, but he was too late. A grim-faced man soon loomed over them. He made no introductions. "Interruptions are not allowed. That child-"he pointed a thick finger at Benji, "-will need to be removed."
Fear gripped Mulder. "Remove to where?"
"Your quarters. The rest of you may stay, or you may go with him. But young William must stay for the rest of our meeting."
He almost felt relieved, but Benji still looked frightened. Mulder was torn; he didn't want to leave Benji or William alone in a strange place. " Would be all right if I took Benji back and Dana stayed?"
The man nodded, and Mulder expected Owen to follow them but he didn't. Instead, he slid down the pew closer to Scully. Scully didn't seem to mind when Mulder shrugged an apology and left with the nameless man and Benji. As they left she waved to William because he looked back to see what was going on. He gave a small smile when he noticed her.
Andrew left them alone in their room for a short while, suggesting that they unpack, which they did. When he returned, he was accompanied by a younger man he introduced as Steven. A calm, detached, corner of Mulder's mind thought the lack of nicknames was interesting, but his fear was so great of the thought barely had time to register before was gone. It was gone even before Andrew wandered off.
Steven, who was as taciturn as Andrew, said nothing for length of time, making them all uncomfortable. This however, allowed Mulder the chance to study the man. He was dressed, as Andrew was, in what he privately thought of as "preppy casual." His face was round and boyish, making Mulder wonder why he was there, instead of on a sunny college campus. Eventually Steven announced that they would need to go with him. They followed silently.
There were already people in the room and they didn't know where to sit. Steven seemed to sense their confusion and pointed out a very pew-like bench for them to sit at. They started to do so reluctantly. "Not him." Steven said, putting an arm to stop William from sitting with the rest of his family. His father shot in a 'it safer to corporate' look, but seemed ready to spring to his feet if William was led out of sight. So, although pale with fear, Will followed Steven without protest.
Steven did lead him very far, just to the front row of the assembled. This made will feel a tiny bit better, but not so much that he didn't crane his neck to see if his family was still there. A rustling from the stage caught his attention.
A man stood at a podium and opened the book glitted pages. He began to speak in a booming voice "today we shall read from chapter 12 of the book of Ephram-"
Scully hissed a protest in Mulder's ear. "There is no book of Ephram in the Bible!"
Mulder shrugged. "He didn't say in the Bible. They probably have their own books. Written by their own crazy prophets."
The loud man continued "... sayeth a child shall be born the at the end of one millennium and birth of another. And we shall know him by his parents, who sideth with our enemies-"Mulder and Scully exchanged glances. "-and we shall find him when the days of our salvation approach."
"Salvation?" Mulder mouthed in disbelief.
"They will soon return to relieve us of our heavy burden, that of our own custodialship. Blessed art those who would ease our lives-"
Mulder didn't suspect that the boys understood the sermon until Benji jumped off the pew and shouted, "It's wrong to keep people for making their own decisions! That's what our moms and dads teach us to do since we're little. You are bad people to want us to be their slaves!"
Mulder grabbed him around the waist and pulled him back onto the pew, but he was too late. A grim-faced man soon loomed over them. He made no introductions. "Interruptions are not allowed. That child-"he pointed a thick finger at Benji, "-will need to be removed."
Fear gripped Mulder. "Remove to where?"
"Your quarters. The rest of you may stay, or you may go with him. But young William must stay for the rest of our meeting."
He almost felt relieved, but Benji still looked frightened. Mulder was torn; he didn't want to leave Benji or William alone in a strange place. " Would be all right if I took Benji back and Dana stayed?"
The man nodded, and Mulder expected Owen to follow them but he didn't. Instead, he slid down the pew closer to Scully. Scully didn't seem to mind when Mulder shrugged an apology and left with the nameless man and Benji. As they left she waved to William because he looked back to see what was going on. He gave a small smile when he noticed her.