Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [28]
The guy was serious. It sounded ludicrous. But at the moment ludicrous had appeal. Lead me to it. "What exactly is the Book of Days?"
"Oh, you've got to be kidding." Jason laughed and slapped his palms on the table. "No one has told you yet?" He stared at Cameron, a smile growing on his face.
"What is it?"
Jason shook his finger. "Not so fast. First, I want to know why you want to find it so badly when you don't even know what it is."
"I told you already, some friends asked me to locate it."
"And if you don't mind me asking, when did these friends ask this of you?"
"Eight years ag—" Cameron stopped himself. He saw exactly where this was leading.
"Uh-huh. Thank you for your honesty, even if it was a slip of the tongue." Jason leaned in and replied in a mock whisper, "You found out about the Book of Days eight years ago. Yet you've done nothing about it till now.
"Don't you find that fascinating?" Jason addressed the table next to them, but the two teenage girls sitting at it ignored him. He turned back to Cameron. "I find that fascinating. I wonder what the answer is. Hmm?"
Cameron stared at the man across the table. He was a manipulator, someone who got what he wanted, when he wanted it. Not his kind of person.
"See what I mean, my new friend? About people not liking me because I tell the truth? And now you're wondering about my motives."
"All I want to know is what the Book of Days is. If you're not going to tell me, fine. I'm outta here."
"Cameron, please. Do you really want me to call your bluff? You're not 'outta here.' You need to know what the book is, because something stirring inside you is so great it will burst out unless you get your answers. That much is obvious. But I'm not one to pry into another's affairs without an invitation. I apologize. Your forgiveness, please?"
"Sure." Jason was a certifiable piece of work.
The waitress arrived with Cameron's meal and Jason said, "Thank you, sweetheart." She ignored him.
He smiled at Cameron. "The Book of Days is power. Ultimate power. Ultimate knowledge. A book from God's own pen."
"God? I haven't ever had much use for religion."
"Neither have I. That doesn't change the fact that a book exists that was written by the hand of God."
"I think people call that the Bible."
"This book is different. That book was written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit—that's what the Christians say. God penned this book Himself in which He has recorded the past, present, and future of every life that has ever lived or ever will live. Look it up. It's right there in Psalm 139:16."
"Sounds like an urban legend."
"No, not this. This book is real. I promise you."
Real? Cameron hands tingled as if all ten fingers were tiny cell phones on vibrate. "Can you take me to it? Can I see it?"
Jason raised his eyebrows and laughed. "I think you've misunderstood me. The Book of Days isn't a physical book, just as love is not physical. Yet love's power is greater than a nuclear bomb. The Book of Days exists on a spiritual plane. If we only believe in the things we can see on a corporeal level, we are indeed blind."
"What?" Cameron closed his eyes and sighed. The wild goose died. "The book is all in your head? Are you joking?"
"Not in my mind, just as coincidence and intuition aren't in my mind, but are waiting to be acquired if we have the eyes to see and ears to hear."
"Fine. Then how do you use it?" Cameron sat back and folded his arms. "Look at the silverware, plates, glasses, salt-and-pepper shaker, and the fake rose in front of you.
"Now watch." Jason placed his massive arm on the right side of the table and slid everything he'd just mentioned to the left. "Now, don't think about what you see, but ask yourself what you feel.
"Suddenly there is an openness between us that was not there previously. We spoke, we saw, yet with those items removed we feel closer to the other, with a greater ability to communicate, wouldn't you agree? The simple act of removing those things between us made our connection stronger.