Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [108]
"Why the charade all these years? Why not tell me instead of hiding it, denying you knew anything about the Book of Days?"
"Because until Cameron came along you were content in your belief that the book was an idea, and as you can now see, you were right. But if you discovered this symbol that was created to represent a spiritual crock-pot idea, you would try to get the book declared a historic artifact and fight me to get it moved out of here into your possession. Then you and your followers could worship it and draw more followers into your cancerous religion."
"Which I will do."
"Fine. Try it."
"When did you find it?" Jason asked Taylor.
"I think you should be more worried about Ann pressing charges than when I found an old pretend book."
"I'm not going to press charges; I just want him to leave."
"Answer me," Jason said.
"Ann?" Taylor asked.
"I'm fine."
Taylor glanced around the room, then ran his palm over the surface of the book. "I haven't been in this room for more than twenty years. It is a marvelous piece of history." He cracked his knuckles. "I found it in my midthirties and brought it here shortly after."
"Where did you find it?" Cameron asked.
"That is a story for another time."
"Is this what my dad saw when he was a kid?"
"I would imagine. It's the most plausible explanation for what he told you."
"You are a platinum piece of work, Stone." Jason ran the bowie knife up and down the side of his pants.
"Thank you." Taylor stared at Jason.
Jason started to say something to Taylor, then stopped and turned to Cameron. "I still say the man is a liar and can't be trusted." He pointed at Taylor. "We're not finished."
"You're right." Taylor took a deep breath. "I need to say something to you."
Jason glared at him.
"Forgive me."
"What?" Jason shook his head.
"Forgive me." Taylor opened his palms. "For many things. For my ego, for letting myself look good and allowing you to look bad after we fell apart. For not acknowledging the pain you felt when Annie chose me over you. For not letting myself care what happened to you when you went off to war. For keeping you in your place through my silence. For carrying a bitterness toward you all these years. It's poison. Lead weights." He looked up, then back to Jason. "Forgive me."
Jason stared at Taylor for over half a minute, his eyes betraying the struggle raging in his heart. Finally he spoke. "You've got to be kidding. What do you want me to say? Let's kiss and make up? You stole Annie from me, you destroyed my life, and now you've stolen my hope of finding a real Book of Days."
"I'm sorry; I've been wrong." Taylor stretched out his hand. "Bitterness destroys the vessel it's kept in. Let's bury it, release it. Let it all go, old friend. Please. For both of us."
"I . . ." Jason's gaze darted from the book to the floor to Taylor. "You're asking me to . . ." For a moment his eyes softened and his body shuddered. He shut his eyes, then they snapped back open. "Never. I'll never forgive you. This isn't over."
"Yes, it is."
Jason pointed his knife at Taylor. "What is between you and me won't be finished till one of us is dead."
The big man turned and strode out of the room.
As soon as the echo of Jason's footsteps faded, Cameron yanked on his pack, glanced at Ann, then glared at Taylor. "Now that that's over, it's answer time. Why the elaborate game? The clues, the rocks, the whole setup?"
"Like I said, I tried to keep you away from the heartbreak of all this."
"You did a lousy job." Cameron kicked at a clump of dust on the floor. "Why didn't you just tell me from the beginning that the book existed but only as a symbol? Why let me waste all that time and stir up all my hopes?"
"Because you wanted to believe your dad and Jessie so desperately. Unless you followed the clues and went down the path of discovery for yourself, you wouldn't have accepted the truth.