One flesh, one bone, one true religion

Jeff didn’t answer Vanessa’s question, although he did stare at her with a dazed expression for almost 10 seconds. He had also eaten the spiked risotto and his eyes were hugely widened but completely blank. She repeated the question and he looked hastily at his watch, clearly flustered.

“Oh yes, umm, quarter to ten.” Am I here?

“Thanks Jeff” She batted her lashes and his eyes shot to her chest as if they were iron filings and she had magnets in her nipples.

So it wasn’t that late, she had plenty of time to find the one she was looking for. Vanessa’s mind emptied again as she unconsciously tuned in to what the Chairman was saying. The words were strangely familiar, but she couldn’t quite place where she might have heard them before.

“ONE FLESH, ONE BONE, ONE TRUE RELIGION, ONE VOICE, ONE HOPE, ONE REAL DECISION.”

People were murmuring all around and Vanessa swivelled her head to gauge the audience’s reaction. Some were nodding vigorously but others were grumbling over folded arms and shaking their heads equally vigorously.

A minority even seemed to be on the verge of heckling, she realised in surprise. In the meantime, a slow but steady stream of people was milling towards a small door by the side of the stage.

Where are they going, she wondered vaguely, is there a work-group in there….at this time?!

It didn’t seem possible. A very large and untidy woman was standing by the door handing out what looked like a bundle of papers to those who passed through. Vanessa briefly strained her eyes in the woman’s direction but couldn’t for the life of her make out what was going on.

Nor did she particularly care. Something inside her was moving, shifting shape, pushing against the prison of her body, ready to make something crystalline from the ethereal substance of her imagination. It was focused on something – actually, someone – a man who was pulling her.

The shivering needle of her spirit grew firm as it strained towards him.