Chapter 4: Raging Waters Part 1: Bad News and Good News
A week after saving Kurt and the others from Marko, Kurt was performing his acrobatics in his old circus uniform, a black jumpsuit with a red vest.
"Awesome!" Scott called out.
"This is great, having you here, Kurt." Jean said with a smile.
"It's like having another brother." Alex said with a smile.
"I wonder what could be keeping Hank." Moira asked as she looked out the window.
"That boy's always running late." Charles reassured Moira.
Moira was still worried. Hank was like a little brother to her.
"I know, but with so many guards patrolling the streets these days-" Moira began before Charles stopped her.
"Moira, you worry too much." Charles said with a smile. "Hank's just fine. I'm sure of it."
()()()()()
Hank was in trouble.
He had been out when several guards from the raid last week recognized him, and he rushed off, knowing Charles wouldn't approve of him using his powers when there was some other way.
"Alright, you want me?!" Hank called out. "Come and get me!"
The soldiers continued after him.
"I knew that wouldn't work." Hank groaned as he rushed off. It wasn't long before he found a donkey and got on its back while he used his strength to break the rope holding it to a ring on the wall, and it rushed off with Hank only barely able to hang on. The donkey eventually kicked Hank off into a horse troth.
"I needed a bath anyway." Hank said with a smile as he held his breath and sunk under the water as guards rushed passed. Once they were gone, Hank rushed back to the mansion as quickly as he could.
()()()()()
Hank arrived at the mansion and quickly locked the door.
"Charles!" Hank called out. "Charles! The soldiers have captured the Story Teller for New York!"
"I know." Charles said calmly. "I know. Try this roll Moira made."
"A roll?!" Hank asked as Charles handed him a roll he was holding. "Charles, Christians from all over are coming to New York tonight, and there's no one to tell the story! Charles, you have to go to New York!" Hank called out.
"I wish I could, Henry, but there's a meeting here tonight." Charles explained.
"Charles' going to tell the story of John the Baptist." Moira said as the other kids tried rolls, and they were all good, prompting Hank to try his. It tasted pretty good.
"John the who?" Kurt asked.
"John the Baptist." Charles repeated. "He was the cousin of Jesus, and he lived in the dessert, near the Jordan River. He ate honey and locusts to stay alive."
"Honey flavored insects?" Jean asked as she put the roll down, losing her appetite.
"Yuck." Alex said as he stuck his tongue out.
"Shh!" Scott said.
"How can Charles tell a story at a time like this?" Hank asked. The kids would hear the story later that night, right now they needed a story for New York.
"Be patient, Hank." Moira said calmly. "Charles knows what he's doing."
"You see, John was a great prophet," Charles continued. "And when he came out of the dessert, he did not like what he saw. He began to tell the people to change their ways. Not to steal and not to cheat.
"'If you have two coats, give one to someone who has none.' John would say, as well as, 'If you have food, share that too.'
"People everywhere were talking about this strange man. He would ask people to be baptized, shortly put their whole bodies under water and come back out, as a sign they wanted to change their ways, which was why he was called John the Baptist.
"'I baptize you with water.' John would say. 'But the man who follows me will be greater than I am. I am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.'
"And sure enough, not long after John appeared near Jordan, Jesus left his home in Nazareth and went to join the crowds at the river bank. John was nervous. He knew he wasn't worthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus smiled at him, and John knew it was alright. He baptized Jesus, and just then something wonderful happened.
"A light shone down on Jesus as the voice of God said, 'You are my beloved son. With you, I am pleased.'
"After that, Jesus went to the dessert for forty days and nights, but I'll tell you about that some other time."
"Look Charles," Hank said as he did enjoy the story, but they were running out of time. "But what about New York? They aren't going to have a story tonight unless we do something."
"Exactly." Charles said with a smile. "Scott?"
Scott took out a scroll and handed it to Charles.
"What's that?" Hank asked.
"It's a story for the Christians in New York." Scott said with a smile.
"And you're going to give it to them." Charles said with a kind smile.
"That's a great idea!" Hank called out. He knew Charles wouldn't let him down. "There's only one problem. Getting to New York. The roads are practically paved with guards."
"There must be some way to get through." Moira insisted as Charles took a long piece of bread and stuffed the scroll inside of it.
"We know a way." Jean said with a mischievous look on all of the kids' faces that Hank didn't like.
I'll give you five guesses what the kids' way is.