John flinched at the sound of his voice. Blood started to drip freely onto the lino on the floor. It made a regular tapping sound, as if a sink were overflowing.
“Michael, can you order him to speak? Can you make him talk?”
Michael lifted his arm and placed two white fingers on the forehead of John the Baptist and then blew softly into his face.
“The words will flow quickly, Judas, so pay attention.”
Michael blew a second time and John went as limp as a well-used dishcloth. He twitched twice, then started to talk in clear, plain English.
All of John’s life was coming out in sharp bursts. Judas snatched up a pencil and started to write as quickly as he could. Williams just shook his head, walked over and started to jot everything that Michael was saying in very accomplished and particu
