From the Very Apropos Series

by

Jake Taylor

Voices 

Jack:                “Manny, do you hear voices?”

Manny:             “What exactly do you mean, Jack?” 

Jack:                “At night, when you are trying to sleep.” 

Manny:             “Are you referring to neighbors talking?” 

Jack:                “No, I’m referring to voices inside your head.” 

Manny:             “Is this something similar to what happened to Joan of Arc?” 

Jack:                “Who is Joan of Arc?” 

Manny:            “She is actually a saint for the Catholic Church; also known as The Maid of Orléans, and a great French heroine. She defended France against the English towards the end of the 100-Year War. She fought them gallantly; and eventually the English were kicked out of France. She claimed to have seen God and to have talked to Him.” 

Jack:                “I haven’t seen God nor have I spoken to Him. I just hear voices. What ever happened to Saint Joan of Arc?” 

Manny:             “She was captured by her enemies, turned over to the English who tried her for witchcraft and burned her at the stake.” 

Jack:                “That’s horrible!” 

Manny:             “I agree, but your punishment depends on your enemies and what they accuse you of. But going back to your situation, do the voices tell you something?” 

Jack:                “Well, the whole experience starts in absolute silence. The kind of stillness that makes you pay attention because it is so quiet, you don’t hear anything. Do you know what I mean?” 

Manny:             “Yes, I think I do.” 

Jack:                “It then begins to hum very softly and deep. It soon changes into a sound similar to a breeze that pushes fallen leaves and, as these slide over the ground, the sound increases a bit and every now and then I could swear I hear a word or a portion of a word. After that, new noises appear, similar to the hum produced by flying insects.” 

Manny:             “Like mosquitoes?” 

Jack:                “Not as annoying, but a little louder.” 

Manny:             “Then, what happens?” 

Jack:                “The sound increases like that of a hurricane. You know, hurricanes have that peculiarity, their intensity and noise level continue to grow for hours on end. When they reach the peak of their noise is when I begin to hear syllables, clear syllables.” 

Manny:             “Like what? Can you give me an example?” 

Jack:                “Yes, like ‘ment’ of merriment or detriment; also ‘sure’ of pleasure or treasure and ‘tors” of torso or torsion.” 

Manny:             “How do you hear them?”

Jack:                “Like howling, haunting noises; as if a pack of wolves were coming to get me along with witches and evil creatures. It turns into a chorus of screams, thunder, whizzing sounds, and finally a few terrifying words.”

Manny:             “What words? Can you tell me?”

Jack:                “Yes, ‘Payment over due, foreclosure inevitable. Your creditors.’”

© Jacob A. J. Taylor 2011