Divine Intoxication

As the men squeezed out the last drops, Dr. Montgomery proclaimed, “I anoint you and baptize you in the name of the sacred one. Go my children. Your sins have been forgiven. And now, it is time for the ‘hieros gamos.’ Who will be the high priestess?”

Every hand raised. Every one but mine.

“What is the ‘hieros gamos,’ Tonya?” I asked.

“The sacred marriage. The supreme higher power receives his full divine power by uniting with the high priestess. In the sacred marriage the man and woman actually become the gods. The high priestess is the holy vessel wherein the supernatural semen of the supreme higher power symbolically impregnates believers with immortality. Not in this world but in the next.”

“Oh,” was about all I could say.

“What about you?” Dr. Montgomery pointed at me. “You with the red hair in the light blue dress. You are the high priestess. Come up here, young lady!” he demanded.

I stood up in the pew and walked to the aisle. And then I ran out the door.

* * *

The next day at work Tonya asked me, “Where did you go, Sarah? Why did you run out? Dr. Montgomery wants to talk to you.”

I mulled that over before replying let me tell you.

“Sarah? Did you hear me? Dr. Montgomery wants to talk to you. He would like you to come to the church after work. Will you meet with him.”

I had told the manager of the publishing company where I work for the summer that I wanted eventually to be an investigative reporter. And then one day to write novels. He said he did some freelance writing for several tabloids and if I ever found a good story he would help me with it and we could possibly sell it. I wondered if there could be a story here involving Sacred Name Chapel. Many strange cults existed but this was way beyond far out.

“Sarah! You act like you are in some sort of trance. Come out of it, girl. Will you meet with him?”

“Yes.”

* * *

“Hello, Sarah,” he greeted warmly as I knocked on his office door and he opened it. The office was huge and magnificently furnished Victorian style. 

“Hello, Dr. Montgomery.”

“I knew you would come, you most beautiful of creatures.”

“Somehow I couldn’t resist.” 

Genitalia adorned every wall.

“So, what do you think of the erotic art, Sarah?”

The erotic art on the walls featured classical Japanese woodblock images created by master such as Katsuhika Hokusai and Kitagawa Utamaro. The scenes portrayed the streets, homes, teahouses, and brothels of Tokyo, then known as Edo, in unique and graphic revelations.

“A rather unusual collection for a man of God, Dr. Montgomery.”

“If two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?”

“Say what?”

“Are you not familiar with Ecclesiastes 4, verse 11, Sarah? I would like to lie together with you.” 

I tried to ignore his last statement. “Perhaps you know, Dr. Montgomery, that Edo was known as the city of bachelors because men outnumbered women two to one. This sort of erotic art, as you categorize it, became a popular substitute for the more tangible as has always been the case when demand greatly exceeds supply. My minor in college is art history. That’s how I know.”

“Yes, my dear, the tangible. My interest is in the tangible. My interest is in you. Does the art…uh…stimulate you? It does most young ladies. Are your panties wet?” 

“No, it does not stimulate me. It takes a little more than porno pics. And why the interest in me?”

“You are the most lovely and exotic looking young woman I have ever seen. And I have seen many. Your flaming red hair is like I picture the fires of hell. But I would imagine that being intimate with you is more like heaven.”

“Oh. Well, thank you. I guess.”

“Please sit down, Sarah.” He pointed to the large couch. His eyes appeared to be intensely brilliant. They did attract me. “Look straight into my eyes. Your eyes are moist. Your eyelids are heavy. You feel a pleasant sensation of warmth in your legs and arms. My voice is becoming muffled to you. Now you can not keep your beautiful blue eyes open.”

I closed my eyes. But then I opened them. “I’m not that easy, Dr. Montgomery.”

“Pardon me?”

“I can’t be hypnotized. A few have tried. Most experts say that people can’t be hypnotized against their will and even if they are, won’t do anything they don’t really want to do.”

He laughed and smirked smugly. “Ah yes, one of many misconceptions. I could hypnotize you if I wanted to. I could make you do anything I desired.”

“Really?” I didn’t believe him but he was a little scary. “Hey, I have to run. I have to pick up my father,” I lied. “I’m using his car.”

“Would you come back, Sarah? For dinner? Here. About eight.”

“Uh…I don’t know…if uh…”

“I will share the secret of my supreme divine power with you.”

“And I can ask any questions I want?”

“Certainly.”

“Eight it is.”

“Wear something…uh…sensuous if you would please.”

“Sensuous?”

“Yes, I could barely see your knees in that light blue dress you wore Sunday and the one you have on now is not very revealing either.”

“Well, I usually wear something conservative to church.”

“Here. Take my credit card. Stop at the mall and buy the shortest mini-skirt you can find. There is something about your long, lovely legs that is rather intriguing, my dear. I would like to see more of them. A lot more. I would like to see where they meet and if you look down there like…”

I grabbed the credit card from his hand and hurried out.

No, I didn’t have to pick up my father. I wanted to talk to my boss, Jerry Lancaster. I told him what was going on. He suggested that I tell Dr. Montgomery that I was doing research for a course I was taking next semester. Comparative religions or some such thing. 

“Tape your conversation,” Jerry advised. “But you have to get his permission.”

I rushed to the mall and bought a silk chiffon very short mini-dress. Lavender. Surplice neckline, front ruffle, and flutter sleeves. And matching shoes. Ankle-wrap sandals with a four-inch heel. Just like the ones Britney wore for our little escapade that resulted in the loss of her virginity. Quite willingly on her part. 

* * *

I arrived about fifteen minutes late and Dr. Montgomery ushered me into his office.

“My God, you look gorgeous in that dress! Those legs just don’t quit! And those shoes make your lovely legs look even longer. I bet those legs could just squeeze a man senseless.” 

I ignored the last remark. “Thank you. Dr. Montgomery. I‘m glad you like the dress. I would like to interview you while we having dinner and tape it. Where are we having dinner, anyway?”

“We are having dinner right here. He pointed to the conference table. My personal chef is in the kitchen at this very moment. Interview me? Tape it?”

“For a course I’m taking next semester. On comparative religions. My grade will be primarily based on a research project. You are the…uh…most…uh…influential, and intelligent, and dynamic religious leader I have ever personally met. By far. You have the most incredible mind.”

“Well, my dear, flattery will get you everywhere. Of course you may interview me and record it. I have nothing to hide.” With that he unzipped his pants and exposed his penis. It was humungous. “Like I said, I have nothing to hide.”