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Please note that this chapter is intended for adults (over 18 years), and may contain images and text featuring nudity, explicit adult sexuality and strong language. Please do not view this chapter if you find such features objectionable....
The 'Boss' takes the boys to 'Taliesin West', Arizona, and later back to Phoenix - and to a place which very much reminds Jim of a 'previous time' - meanwhile, back in Nevada, Ethan was causing almost lethal mayhem at the gun range at the 'Villa de Jaguars', as Zac desperately tried to teach him and Josh how to handle a 'Colt Defender'... but ... 'lethal mayhem' was also stalking Phoenix !
The 'Boss' strolled over to where the boys were playing about in the main pool.
"Boys....!" the 'Boss' shouted.
"Come over... I've something to tell you !".
Jim and Max splashed their way over to where the 'Boss' was standing at the edge of the pool.
Unfortunately there's been a change of plan.
I know you were hoping to spend the afternoon in the gym, but our friend, Don Picaro says it may be safer to stay away from the hotel for a while.
I'm sure you'll understand, Jim.", the 'Boss' quietly explained.
"Of course, Sir.", Jim replied, as he wondered, (quite correctly as it happened), if the new plan had anything to to with a possible threat from Brandt.
"So where are we going ?", Jim asked, as he and Max climbed out of the pool.
"Oh just to some old buildings I want you to look at...
I'll tell you later in the limo.", the 'Boss' said, as he was unsure who else was by the pool who might be listening.
"OK.", Max said.
Jim and I will shower, get changed, and we'll see you at reception."
And with that the boys disappeared into the changing area.
As they ran off, the 'Boss' used his mobile to give Chuck a call - telling him about the new arangements.
At the same time Faunus sauntered up - casually dressed - and looking, as usual, very relaxed.
"Mind if I come along ?
It's just that I feel that I may be useful.", Faunus added.
The 'Boss' looked at Faunus apprehensively.
"Yes... why not."
When the boys arrived at the main entrance, after getting showered and changed, they found the 'Boss' and Faunus already in the limo waiting for them
Fortunately the 'Boss' had a 'stretch' model brought up from Vegas - so there was plenty of room for the four of them.
The drive from the Biltmore to 'Taliesin West' in Scottsdale, at the foot of the McDowell Range, overlooking Paradise Valley was only twenty-six miles.
"Where are we going ?", Jim asked.
"We're going to a sort of suburb of Phoenix called Scottsdale.
They'd never heard of Scottsdale !
"So what's so special at Scottsdale ?", Jim asked.
"Something I think you might be interested in, Jim - at least I hope it's something in which you'll be interested.", the 'Boss' said, settling back in his seat.
"So ?", Jim asked, while Max and Faunus looked on, amused at this 'verbal jousting' which was often a prelude to a long and involved dissertation by the 'Boss'.
"Well I'm sure that you remember me telling you about Frank Lloyd Wright ?", the 'Boss began.
Fortunately the 'Boss' had a 'stretch' model brought up from Vegas - so there was plenty of room for the four of them.
The drive from the Biltmore to 'Taliesin West' in Scottsdale, at the foot of the McDowell Range, overlooking Paradise Valley was only twenty-six miles.
"Where are we going ?", Jim asked.
"We're going to a sort of suburb of Phoenix called Scottsdale.
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| Scottsdale - Arizona - Vittorio Carvelli |
Scottsdale is a 'city' in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, part of the Greater Phoenix Area. It was named 'Scottsdale' in 1894 after founder, Winfield Scott. The New York Times described down-town Scottsdale as 'a desert version of Miami's South Beach', and as having 'plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene.' Its slogan is 'The West's Most Western Town'... (?)The boys looked uncomprehending.
They'd never heard of Scottsdale !
"So what's so special at Scottsdale ?", Jim asked.
"Something I think you might be interested in, Jim - at least I hope it's something in which you'll be interested.", the 'Boss' said, settling back in his seat.
"So ?", Jim asked, while Max and Faunus looked on, amused at this 'verbal jousting' which was often a prelude to a long and involved dissertation by the 'Boss'.
"Well I'm sure that you remember me telling you about Frank Lloyd Wright ?", the 'Boss began.
Jim nodded.
To begin with there was the threat from Brandt - and any of his possible accomplices - after all, Brandt was still on the loose - and a 'psychotic psychiatrist' was a dangerous item.
In addition, the USA of this 'Everett World' was, (as was the case in many other worlds - and probably yours), a 'gun crazy' society.
Guns were cheap and easy to obtain, and the right to 'bear arms' was enshrined in the Constitution.
Ethan and Josh - as you should be aware by now, had come from 'another time' and 'another place' where guns were unknown.
Ethan, in particular, with his recent addiction to movies, caused by his easy access to the magnificent 'home cinema' in the penthouse, had become fascinated by guns - and taking all this into account, the 'Boss' decided that the boys should be properly trained to use guns - by Zac - who could, undoubtedly, be trusted.
Having found a nice piece of scrub to practice in, Zac began by trying to explain the nature of gun recoil - and it went a bit like this:
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| 'Taliesin West' |
"Now, in 1937 Frank Lloyd Wright bought some land in Scottsdale, on a southern slope of the McDowell Range, overlooking 'Paradise Valley', and it was on that land that Wright built a house for himself, which also incorporated an architectural studio, and accommodation for some of his students."
As soon as the 'Boss' began speaking, an unusual, low group of buildings emerged from the desert scenery.
Max and Jim looked from the tinted windows of the Cadillac, puzzled by the odd features of the seemingly eccentric structures.
"It looks odd...", Jim said.
"Not like the Biltmore."
The 'Boss' nodded in agreement.
"Quite right, and well spotted.", the 'Boss' said.
"This is a style that Wright adopted later in his career - and you must remember that Wright only worked as a consultant for four months, in 1928, on the 'Biltmore', and the actual architect was Albert Chase McArthur.
But really there are three main stylistic divisions in Wrights work.
The first is the 'prairie house style', because the designs complemented the land around Chicago - the second is the 'concrete block' style, based on Meso-American architecture, and then there is the later style of forward looking and 'modernistic' architecture.
'Prairie-style' houses often have a combination of these features - for example one or two-stories with one-story projections, an open floor plan, low-pitched roofs with broad, overhanging eaves, strong horizontal lines, ribbons of windows, a prominent central chimney, built-in stylized cabinetry, and a wide use of natural materials - especially stone and wood.
See here...", and the 'Boss' flipped open his laptop and brought up some photos of the kinds of houses he was talking about.
By then Chuck had 'parked up' by the entrance to 'Taliesin West', but the 'Boss' seemed in no hurry to get out of the limo.
Jim looked interested in the photos, but by this time Max was getting a bit bored, but doing his best not to show it - and Faunus, it seemed, had seen and heard it all before.
"Yes, all very nice, but not really very impressive.", Jim said after viewing the images.
"No, Jim... not very impressive - but then Wright was not a trained architect - but really he was doing quite well...", the 'Boss' said, slightly amused by Jim's response.
"But the next step was when Wright got interested in 'Art Deco', and the Maya - not that he was ever prepared to admit to these influences.", the 'Boss' continued.
The 'Boss' smiled.
"Wright had an obsession with an idea that he called 'Organic Architecture' - an expression that he first used in 1914.
Perhaps, because he had little idea of the 'tenets' - the principals of 'classical architecture' - and not being a trained architect, he invented this idea - which, however, he was never able to properly explain.
But it covered well his lack of conventional architectural knowledge, and also produced some very interesting buildings - of very varying quality, however.", the 'Boss explained.
As the 'Boss' was speaking, various images flickered through Jim's consciousness - images that Faunus could see with ease - and images that would have very little meaning for Max.
The Amphitheater, and the still (in that time) incomplete mausoleum of Gnaeus Octavian Gracchus were among those images - and that was 'real' architecture, as far as Jim was concerned.
That was architecture that Faunus would describe as the 'architecture of the gods'.
Regardless of Jim's remembered images, (of which the 'Boss' was unaware), the 'Boss' continued with his explanations.
"Another influence - rarely mentioned - was that of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
This was particularly noticeable in the furniture that Wright designed for his buildings - which was, in many ways, similar the designs made by Mackintosh.
Wright's strongest influence during his middle period, however, was taken from Meso-American architecture.
It was in the early 1920s that Wright created a 'concrete (textile) block system' - the blocks being reinforced by an internal system of metal bars.
Wright first used his block system on the 'John Storer House' in Hollywood, California, in 1923.
This, either by accident or design, produced building which looked very similar to Meso-American structures... a style - 'Neo Mayan' - that was popular at the time.
I favored this style for my own home at 'Antelope Valley' - the 'Villa de los Jaguares', and 'bought up' a number of Wright's buildings, which I had brought, stone by stone, or rather block by block - to the site of my new villa, and had them reconstructed as a group of interconnected pavilions - as you have seen, Jim."
"So why did you like this 'block style' of building ?", Max asked.
"Ah... well Jim knows the answer to that...", the 'Boss' replied cryptically.
"Yes... it was because the 'Boss' here spent a number of years excavating ancient Mayan ruins.", Jim explained.
"So Wright was unschooled and eclectic, but had a great influence (not always for the better) on later architects.", the 'Boss' concluded.
"But let's get out and have a look around....", the 'Boss' said, opening the limo door nearest to himself.
The ‘Boss’, Jim and Max all trooped into the main entrance, where visitors were expected to pay for the privilege of taking a guided tour of 'Taliesin West'.
Fortunately, however, Faunus was quick to explain to the hovering attendants that his was a ‘special group’ that did not require a guided tour, and that no payment was required as they were members of the ‘Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’.
Fortunately, for this little subterfuge Faunus did not have to disguise himself as some unlikely ‘director’ of the Foundation (probably another Dr. Smith), and with no questions asked they made their way into Wright’s last home.
Like many such enterprises, Taliesin West was more of a ‘mausoleum’ than an actual person’s home - a strange place somehow preserved, as it were, in aspic.
Max was decidedly not interested.
"It looks odd...", Jim said.
"Not like the Biltmore."
The 'Boss' nodded in agreement.
"Quite right, and well spotted.", the 'Boss' said.
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| Frank Lloyd Wright's Studio - Chicago |
But really there are three main stylistic divisions in Wrights work.
The first is the 'prairie house style', because the designs complemented the land around Chicago - the second is the 'concrete block' style, based on Meso-American architecture, and then there is the later style of forward looking and 'modernistic' architecture.
'Prairie-style' houses often have a combination of these features - for example one or two-stories with one-story projections, an open floor plan, low-pitched roofs with broad, overhanging eaves, strong horizontal lines, ribbons of windows, a prominent central chimney, built-in stylized cabinetry, and a wide use of natural materials - especially stone and wood.
 |
| Frank Lloyd Wright - Heurtley House - Oak Park |
By then Chuck had 'parked up' by the entrance to 'Taliesin West', but the 'Boss' seemed in no hurry to get out of the limo.
Jim looked interested in the photos, but by this time Max was getting a bit bored, but doing his best not to show it - and Faunus, it seemed, had seen and heard it all before.
"Yes, all very nice, but not really very impressive.", Jim said after viewing the images.
"No, Jim... not very impressive - but then Wright was not a trained architect - but really he was doing quite well...", the 'Boss' said, slightly amused by Jim's response.
"But the next step was when Wright got interested in 'Art Deco', and the Maya - not that he was ever prepared to admit to these influences.", the 'Boss' continued.
Art Deco, (also a LINK to 'Pete's Deco' - outside this blog), is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World War I. Art Deco influenced the design of buildings, furniture, jewelry, fashion, cars, movie theaters, trains, ocean liners, and everyday objects such as radios and vacuum cleaners. It took its name from and international exhibition of decorative and industrial arts held in Paris in 1925. During its heyday, Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, and faith in social and technological progress. Deco was the 'last great style' - and was much influenced by classical forms."But why did he not say where his ideas were coming from ?", Max asked, hoping that by asking a simple question the 'Boss' might believe that he was paying attention.
The 'Boss' smiled.
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| Frank Lloyd Wright - 'Falling Water' - Organic Architecture |
Perhaps, because he had little idea of the 'tenets' - the principals of 'classical architecture' - and not being a trained architect, he invented this idea - which, however, he was never able to properly explain.
But it covered well his lack of conventional architectural knowledge, and also produced some very interesting buildings - of very varying quality, however.", the 'Boss explained.
 |
| Mausoleum of Gnaeus Octavian Gracchus |
('Falling Water' was structurally unsound, and at a later date steel reinforcements had to be inserted into the horizontal concrete elements in order to avoid structural failure. Wright may have been a 'visionary' but he was no technician)By this point Max was completely lost, but Jim, with his restored memories - provided by Faunus - had a good idea of what the 'Boss' meant when he spoke of the 'principals of classical architecture'.
The Amphitheater, and the still (in that time) incomplete mausoleum of Gnaeus Octavian Gracchus were among those images - and that was 'real' architecture, as far as Jim was concerned.
That was architecture that Faunus would describe as the 'architecture of the gods'.
Regardless of Jim's remembered images, (of which the 'Boss' was unaware), the 'Boss' continued with his explanations.
"Another influence - rarely mentioned - was that of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
This was particularly noticeable in the furniture that Wright designed for his buildings - which was, in many ways, similar the designs made by Mackintosh.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh (7 June 1868 – 10 December 1928) was a Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist. His artistic approach had much in common with European Symbolism. His work, alongside that of his wife Margaret Macdonald, was influential on European design movements such as 'Art Nouveau' and 'Secessionism', and praised by great modernists such as Josef Hoffmann. Mackintosh was born in Glasgow and died in London.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
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| 'Concrete (textile) Block System' |
It was in the early 1920s that Wright created a 'concrete (textile) block system' - the blocks being reinforced by an internal system of metal bars.
Wright first used his block system on the 'John Storer House' in Hollywood, California, in 1923.
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| 'Villa de los Jaguares' - Los Angeles |
I favored this style for my own home at 'Antelope Valley' - the 'Villa de los Jaguares', and 'bought up' a number of Wright's buildings, which I had brought, stone by stone, or rather block by block - to the site of my new villa, and had them reconstructed as a group of interconnected pavilions - as you have seen, Jim."
"So why did you like this 'block style' of building ?", Max asked.
"Ah... well Jim knows the answer to that...", the 'Boss' replied cryptically.
"Yes... it was because the 'Boss' here spent a number of years excavating ancient Mayan ruins.", Jim explained.
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| Entrance to 'Taliesin West' |
"But let's get out and have a look around....", the 'Boss' said, opening the limo door nearest to himself.
The ‘Boss’, Jim and Max all trooped into the main entrance, where visitors were expected to pay for the privilege of taking a guided tour of 'Taliesin West'.
Fortunately, however, Faunus was quick to explain to the hovering attendants that his was a ‘special group’ that did not require a guided tour, and that no payment was required as they were members of the ‘Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’.
 |
| 'Taliesin West' - Interior |
Like many such enterprises, Taliesin West was more of a ‘mausoleum’ than an actual person’s home - a strange place somehow preserved, as it were, in aspic.
Max was decidedly not interested.
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| 'Taliesin West' - Interior |
Jim thought the interior spaces of Taliesin West were, in one way ‘soulless’, (the very opposite of Wright’s conception of ‘organic architecture’), and also vaguely ‘kitsch’, (although Jim didn't actually know of that word).
The ‘Boss’ was vaguely interested in what he saw - but was aware that this building, and its ‘Wright designed’ contents, was very unlike the fine designs that comprised the earlier style that Wright had espoused, as represented in the meticulously preserved and restored ‘Villa Jaguar’ created by the ‘Boss’ at 'Antelope Valley', (which did not look like a mausoleum, and was definitely a 'lived in', real home).
To the ‘Boss’, the interior spaces of Taliesin West were, in some respects, vaguely evocative of a rather dowdy airport departure lounge.
After a brief ‘walk-through’, with the ‘Boss’ commentating knowledgeably on various aspects of the interior design and furnishings, they re-emerged into the harsh desert sunlight for an inspection of the exterior.
By this time Max was really bored - but his boredom was soon to be relieved in an unexpected and unlooked for manner.
But why the need for guns?To the ‘Boss’, the interior spaces of Taliesin West were, in some respects, vaguely evocative of a rather dowdy airport departure lounge.
After a brief ‘walk-through’, with the ‘Boss’ commentating knowledgeably on various aspects of the interior design and furnishings, they re-emerged into the harsh desert sunlight for an inspection of the exterior.
By this time Max was really bored - but his boredom was soon to be relieved in an unexpected and unlooked for manner.
Meanwhile - back in Los Angeles...
with the permission of the 'Boss', given before his trip out West, Zac had been allowed to take Ethan and Josh to the 'Villa de Jaguars'.
With the 'Boss' away, Zac had gone into 'Macho' mode, and had driven Ethan and Josh along Interstate 15 to Los Angeles in the rather 'neat' looking white 'Chevrolet' truck that Chuck kept in the garage in the apartment block - and in this America, to go shooting or hunting, of course, required a truck !
On arriving at the 'Villa de Jaguars', after a hot and dusty drive, Zac drove up to a small building in the Villa grounds - a building which neither Ethan or Josh had seen on their previous visit.
Zac, however was familiar with the building, which he referred to as the 'Casa de Caza' ('Hunting Lodge') - and fortunately he also had a key.
The Villa grounds appeared to be deserted, but Ethan and Josh presumed that there would be numerous staff busily working elsewhere.
Zac gave Josh the keys, instructed him to unlock the gates, and then Zac drove the 'Chevy' into a small courtyard, beside which stood the rather grim looking 'Casa de Caza'.
Surprisingly, the metal door to the lodge had a heavy 'combination lock', which Zac quickly opened, and they entered a modest room, lined with large built-in metal cupboards.
These cupboards were also fitted with combination locks.
Zac opened two of the cupboards, and to the surprise of both Ethan and Josh, the cupboards contained racks upon racks of rifles and hand-guns - along with numerous packs of associated ammunition, belts, ear defenders and other shooting paraphernalia.
Without further ado, or explanation, Zac kitted out his two companions with numerous items, until both boys looked suitably intimidating.
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| the Chevrolet Truck at the Penthouse Apartments |
On arriving at the 'Villa de Jaguars', after a hot and dusty drive, Zac drove up to a small building in the Villa grounds - a building which neither Ethan or Josh had seen on their previous visit.
Zac, however was familiar with the building, which he referred to as the 'Casa de Caza' ('Hunting Lodge') - and fortunately he also had a key.
The Villa grounds appeared to be deserted, but Ethan and Josh presumed that there would be numerous staff busily working elsewhere.
Zac gave Josh the keys, instructed him to unlock the gates, and then Zac drove the 'Chevy' into a small courtyard, beside which stood the rather grim looking 'Casa de Caza'.
Surprisingly, the metal door to the lodge had a heavy 'combination lock', which Zac quickly opened, and they entered a modest room, lined with large built-in metal cupboards.
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| The 'Casa de Caza' - 'Villa de los Jaguares' - Los Angeles |
These cupboards were also fitted with combination locks.
Zac opened two of the cupboards, and to the surprise of both Ethan and Josh, the cupboards contained racks upon racks of rifles and hand-guns - along with numerous packs of associated ammunition, belts, ear defenders and other shooting paraphernalia.
Without further ado, or explanation, Zac kitted out his two companions with numerous items, until both boys looked suitably intimidating.
The 'Boss' considered the 'Villa de Jaguars' to be a safe place to begin instructing Ethan and Josh in the use of guns, as the Villa was set in many acres of park land, and also areas of scrub.
The idea was, that suitably equipped, the boys could be introduced to firearms without seriously endangering any of the local inhabitants.
Whether Zac would be safe, however, was another matter.
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| Ethan - "Do I really need all this stuff ?" |
In addition, the USA of this 'Everett World' was, (as was the case in many other worlds - and probably yours), a 'gun crazy' society.
Guns were cheap and easy to obtain, and the right to 'bear arms' was enshrined in the Constitution.
Ethan and Josh - as you should be aware by now, had come from 'another time' and 'another place' where guns were unknown.
Ethan, in particular, with his recent addiction to movies, caused by his easy access to the magnificent 'home cinema' in the penthouse, had become fascinated by guns - and taking all this into account, the 'Boss' decided that the boys should be properly trained to use guns - by Zac - who could, undoubtedly, be trusted.
Having found a nice piece of scrub to practice in, Zac began by trying to explain the nature of gun recoil - and it went a bit like this:
"Recoil, which is often called 'knock-back', 'kickback' or simply 'kick') is the backward movement of a gun when it is discharged.
In technical terms, the recoil momentum acquired by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gases (ejecta), according to Newton's third law, known as conservation of momentum.
In hand-held small arms, the recoil momentum is transferred to the ground through the body of the shooter."
Not surprisingly, Ethan looked completely blank.
"Could you say that again, Zac ?", Ethan asked.
Zac shook his head, and continued regardless.
"So let's start...
You first Ethan - and just aim at that tree.", Zac said, pointing to a tree not far away that seemed impossible to miss.
"Use the small Colt Defender.
Hold the 'piece' in your right hand,
(both boys were right handed)
and support that hand with your left hand.
"The shooter's body must dissipate the gun's recoiling momentum over a longer period of time than the bullet travel-time in the barrel, in order not to injure the shooter."Shit ! Straight-forward ? - This is going to hurt - isn't it ?", Ethan said - not actually having understood anything that Zac had been saying, but realizing that all that talk was almost certainly preparing them for something really nasty !
Hands, arms and shoulders have considerable strength and elasticity for this purpose, up to certain practical limits.
Nevertheless, 'perceived' recoil limits vary from shooter to shooter, depending on body size, the use of recoil padding, individual pain tolerance, the weight of the firearm, and whether recoil buffering systems and muzzle brakes are employed.
For this reason, establishing recoil safety standards for small arms is a problem, in spite of the 'straight-forward' physics involved."
"So let's start...
You first Ethan - and just aim at that tree.", Zac said, pointing to a tree not far away that seemed impossible to miss.
"Use the small Colt Defender.
Hold the 'piece' in your right hand,
(both boys were right handed)
and support that hand with your left hand.
Place the support hand as high as possible around the grip, and ensure that all four fingers are under the trigger guard, with the index finger pressing the bottom outside of the guard firmly.
Make your thumb point forward and meet with your other thumb on the opposite side of the piece.
Aim, and squeeze the trigger slowly... OK ?"
Still looking confused, Ethan did as he was told, as well as he was able - squeezed the trigger, and ended up in the sand, on his butt !
"Fuck ! - that's impossible !
It's not like in the movies !". Ethan said angrily.
"No...", Zac said.
"Not like in the movies..."
Josh, however, was considerably more successful than Ethan - and not because he had ever fired a handgun before.
Josh, you see, always listened more carefully.
He was probably the same age as Ethan, but he was in many ways more mature - possibly because of his close association with Glaux (from the days at the Villa Pastoralis).
Josh, however, was considerably more successful than Ethan - and not because he had ever fired a handgun before.
Josh, you see, always listened more carefully.
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| Glaux at the Penthouse |
Glaux (the Owl), incidentally, had wisely elected to stay at the penthouse with Claire, as he didn't really like the idea of being 'accidentally' shot by Ethan.
Even Josh though, found himself staggering back with the effects of the recoil, while at the same time finding the gun jerked upwards.
So Zac set them to repeatedly taking turns in firing at the designated tree, in order to familiarize them with the feel of firing a hand-gun.
The result, of course, was that neither boy managed to hit the tree that they were supposed to be firing at even once !
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| Josh Shooting |
Both Ethan and Josh did manage to gain some control over their firing as the morning passed, however, which boded well for the future.
After a rather tasty lunch back at the Villa, Zac took Ethan and Josh back to the hot, dusty little bit of scrub, and tried something different.
Zac had been well taught by Kurt since his arrival in Vegas, and was aware that the use of a 'suppressor' (silencer) could, to some degree, reduce recoil.
Zac wanted the boys to at least have some limited success (like actually hitting the tree they were firing at), because otherwise they might lose interest in the whole project - and the 'Boss' would then undoubtedly be annoyed.
Zac explained about silencers, and showed the boys how to fit them.
The result of this was considerable improvement (some of it maybe just psychological) in the boys' performance.
Now coincidences don't only happen in stories...
And this, of course, is not really a 'story' - but rather a 'report' of what happened in an 'alternative reality' - just as 'real' as the reality that you probably imagine that you inhabit, as you read this.
At the very moment that Zac was carefully fitting a silencer to the gun that Ethan and Josh were using - so - many, many miles away - someone else was carefully fitting a silencer to another firearm - but not a 'cute' little hand gun, but rather a powerful hunting rifle.
This rifle had a high power telescopic sight which was centered on the 'Boss'.
And why ?
Simple - the 'Boss' was obviously responsible for some strange 'rogue' figure, masquerading as a CIA agent, snatching away the boy known as 'Jim', and so now he was going to pay for his interference in the plans that had been so long in the making - plans to uncover the 'secrets of time' itself.
And in the process, during the panic and confusion caused by this skilled assassination, the subject of the research into that remarkable secret, the boy known as 'Jim', would be whisked away, and the research could be continued, and brought to its ultimate and possibly successful conclusion.
Well that at least was Brandt's plan - and without its success he would probably be a 'dead man' - hunted down by various government agencies.
Moments later there was a dull crack.
Faunus, of course, knew well in advance that it was about to happen... and it seemed as if time stood still - and it did - well almost.
Faunus in those practically timeless moments, pushed the 'Boss' so that he bumped into Max.
The bullet 'sped' - but unbelievably slowly - past the 'Boss', and eventually landed in a hillock of soft scrub and sand, making practically no noise.
Faunus quickly checked that everyone was OK, and then he allowed time to move on, as normal - that is if time ever moves normally...
"Watch where you're walking, Max !", the 'Boss' said, sounding slightly annoyed as he collided with Max.
"Sorry, Sir - I don't quite know what happened.", Max, who was normally light on his feet, and far from clumsy, said, looking puzzled.
"Don't worry, Max... my fault.", Faunus said, happy to take the blame.
But Faunus was concerned.
And so was the gunman.
He simply couldn't believe that his superbly placed shot had missed its target - and there was no time to take a further shot, as the 'Boss', with Jim, Max and Faunus, had turned a corner and were no longer viable targets.
The two accomplices - who were ready to seize Jim - as a result of the confusion caused by the killing, - were equally puzzled, as they saw an ideal shot missed by professional 'hit man' for no apparent reason.
"We need to move on - as quickly as possible - away from here...", Faunus said quietly to the 'Boss'.
The 'Boss' knew better that to question Faunus, and hurried the boys into the limo.
"Why the rush ?", Jim asked.
"Well, I think Max was getting very bored - and to tell the truth, I was a bit disappointed - so I thought you might find our next destination a bit more interesting.", the 'Boss' said calmly, despite the fact that he knew that Faunus was worried about something.
And so they made their way back to Phoenix, with only Faunus aware of the danger that had threatened them.
Of course the Meso-Americans had temples, like the temple in Palenque, which I told you about, and you are right, the christians did build churches, but some of these christians began a new kind of religion, which started as christian, but gradually changed into something far closer to the religions of the original inhabitants of the Americas, or even the ancient religions of the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans."
"The term 'ordinance' is used to refer to sacred rites and ceremonies that signify an spiritual act.
Ordinances are always performed by the authority of the priesthood.
While some ordinances, such as ordinary baptism, and confirmation are similar to those practiced by other Christian denominations, the 'real', Latter Day Saint 'ordinances' are unique, and performed only within a Latter Day Saint Temple.
These ordinances include 'Endowment' (related to arcane knowledge and priesthood), and 'Sealings'.(dealing with relationships within the family - including marriage, and relationships between parents and children), making possible the existence of family relationships throughout eternity."
Doubtless you will realize that many questions were now forming in the three who were listening to Faunus' 'lecture'.
Faunus continued, "Many Temples have four 'Ordinance Rooms', while some (mainly for reasons of economy) have fewer.
Not all of these rooms are shown to the public, as they often raise awkward questions.
I can show you all four Ordinance Rooms located in this Temple - some of which had never been publicized - even on the completion of the building.
These included the 'Creation' Room, and the 'Garden Room', along with the 'Telestial' or 'World Room' and the 'Celestial Room'."
To Max, the 'World Room' looked remarkably like a movie theater (UK cinema), but without the screen but, remembering what Faunus had insisted on, he said nothing.
After that there was a very similar 'Ordinance Room', but without the paintings.
To Max, the unnamed 'Ordinance' room looked very much like the sort of lecture theaters that he'd seen in movies about people who were attending universities, (Max, however, had only got as far as High School).
From the smallest room, (see above), primarily used for 'Sealings', to the larger rooms, they were all expensively and tastefully furnished.
The last of the Ordinance Rooms was known as the 'Celestial Room'.
By then Max was getting very confused.
While one room looked like a 'movie theater', and another looked like a 'lecture hall', the 'Celestial Room' looked, to Max, like a lounge in a very expansive and luxurious hotel.
He couldn't, for the life of him see what all these very beautiful, expensive looking rooms had to do with religion - at least as he understood the word.
Max never went to church, but he has seen the interiors of churches, with pews, an altar, pulpit, candles and stained glass windows - and this strange Mormon Temple was nothing like any church that he had ever seen.
Jim, off course, having been in this 'world' for such a short time, knew nothing about churches, but a lot about temples.
All the chairs and sofas seemed odd to him, but the classical proportions of the rooms, and the apparent use for instruction revived memories for him of 'Eleusis'.
And why ?
And in the process, during the panic and confusion caused by this skilled assassination, the subject of the research into that remarkable secret, the boy known as 'Jim', would be whisked away, and the research could be continued, and brought to its ultimate and possibly successful conclusion.
Well that at least was Brandt's plan - and without its success he would probably be a 'dead man' - hunted down by various government agencies.
Moments later there was a dull crack.
Faunus, of course, knew well in advance that it was about to happen... and it seemed as if time stood still - and it did - well almost.
Faunus in those practically timeless moments, pushed the 'Boss' so that he bumped into Max.
The bullet 'sped' - but unbelievably slowly - past the 'Boss', and eventually landed in a hillock of soft scrub and sand, making practically no noise.
Faunus quickly checked that everyone was OK, and then he allowed time to move on, as normal - that is if time ever moves normally...
"Watch where you're walking, Max !", the 'Boss' said, sounding slightly annoyed as he collided with Max.
"Sorry, Sir - I don't quite know what happened.", Max, who was normally light on his feet, and far from clumsy, said, looking puzzled.
"Don't worry, Max... my fault.", Faunus said, happy to take the blame.
But Faunus was concerned.
And so was the gunman.
He simply couldn't believe that his superbly placed shot had missed its target - and there was no time to take a further shot, as the 'Boss', with Jim, Max and Faunus, had turned a corner and were no longer viable targets.
The two accomplices - who were ready to seize Jim - as a result of the confusion caused by the killing, - were equally puzzled, as they saw an ideal shot missed by professional 'hit man' for no apparent reason.
"We need to move on - as quickly as possible - away from here...", Faunus said quietly to the 'Boss'.
The 'Boss' knew better that to question Faunus, and hurried the boys into the limo.
"Why the rush ?", Jim asked.
"Well, I think Max was getting very bored - and to tell the truth, I was a bit disappointed - so I thought you might find our next destination a bit more interesting.", the 'Boss' said calmly, despite the fact that he knew that Faunus was worried about something.
And so they made their way back to Phoenix, with only Faunus aware of the danger that had threatened them.
Faunus felt more relaxed as the huge Cadillac cruised along the free-way back to Phoenix.
"So where are we going now ?", Jim asked.
Max was quiet, still a little nervous after annoying the 'Boss'.
"Well, boys - and Faunus of course, we are now, with Faunus' help, I hope, going to visit a temple in Phoenix.", the 'Boss' said, with a gleam in his eye.
Jim looked puzzled, and Faunus smiled.
"But I didn't think the people here had temples... I thought they were all christians, with churches.
"Well Jim, some strange things happened here when European people came to the Americas.
 |
| Mayan Temple of the Sun |
Jim looked intrigued.
Max looked puzzled (again).
"Oh and yes... I can't remember if I told you, but I was an archaeologist many years ago, and excavated a number of Mayan temples in Mexico.", the 'Boss' explained to Max.
Max looked surprised.
"Now we are going to a 'Temple' built by one of these groups of christians - but 'christians' who are only such in name, and what they really believe is truly strange - and this, Jim, might help you to understand, just a little bit, about what has been happening in this world over the many years since that world that you knew so well passed away.", the 'Boss' continued, for once giving someone, (Max), outside the 'closed group', a faint indication of the truth - but of course, Max didn't understand - and wasn't even listening properly.
And as the 'Boss' finished speaking a remarkable building, set rather incongruously in a nondescript suburb of Phoenix, appeared - gleaming white and bright in the afternoon sun.
A building topped by the golden statue of an angel.
"Well... that's more like it !", Jim whispered, obviously approving.
"And who's the guy standing on the top blowing a trumpet ?", Max asked.
"That's the angel Moroni...", the Boss replied, "and thereby hangs a tale".
"And I think that the 'Boss' is going to tell it...", Faunus said with a grin.
"No, Faunus... you tell it.
It will make a change if you teach these boys something.", the 'Boss' replied, much to Faunus' surprise.
"OK... well...", Faunus began hesitantly, in his new role as teacher... "the Temple there belongs to a religious group usually called 'Mormons'.
Max looked puzzled (again).
"Oh and yes... I can't remember if I told you, but I was an archaeologist many years ago, and excavated a number of Mayan temples in Mexico.", the 'Boss' explained to Max.
Max looked surprised.
"Now we are going to a 'Temple' built by one of these groups of christians - but 'christians' who are only such in name, and what they really believe is truly strange - and this, Jim, might help you to understand, just a little bit, about what has been happening in this world over the many years since that world that you knew so well passed away.", the 'Boss' continued, for once giving someone, (Max), outside the 'closed group', a faint indication of the truth - but of course, Max didn't understand - and wasn't even listening properly.
 |
| Latter Day Saints Temple - Phoenix -Arizona |
A building topped by the golden statue of an angel.
"Well... that's more like it !", Jim whispered, obviously approving.
"And who's the guy standing on the top blowing a trumpet ?", Max asked.
"That's the angel Moroni...", the Boss replied, "and thereby hangs a tale".
"And I think that the 'Boss' is going to tell it...", Faunus said with a grin.
"No, Faunus... you tell it.
It will make a change if you teach these boys something.", the 'Boss' replied, much to Faunus' surprise.
"OK... well...", Faunus began hesitantly, in his new role as teacher... "the Temple there belongs to a religious group usually called 'Mormons'.
Like most post-classical religions, Mormonism centered on one individual - in this case Joseph Smith - and no relation to James Smith, may I say.", Faunus explained, smiling.
"Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, and by 1817 he had moved with his family to the 'burned-over' district of western New York, an area repeatedly swept by religious revivals during the 'Second Great Awakening'.
Back then, the Smith family believed in visions and prophecies, and participated in folk religious practices typical of the era.
In 1820, we are told, fourteen-year-old Joseph was determined to know which of the many religions he should join.
He had read a passage in the christian scriptures instructing any who 'lacked wisdom' to 'ask of God'.
Early one morning, in the spring of 1820, young Joseph went to the woods to ask God which church he should join.
According to his account, while praying Joseph was told, in a vision, not to join any of the churches.
This, of course, provides good evidence that Mormonism is not a form of christianity.
Three years later Joseph was visited in his bedroom by a strange glowing figure..."
"Like an ET abduction !", Max blurted out.
"Well, yes - actually.", Faunus agreed - "but this was a long time before such things were talked about.
Anyway, this 'ET guy' - as Max has put it - said he was called 'Moroni', and told a very surprised young Joe of ancient writings, containing God's dealings with the former inhabitants of the American continent - presumably the 'native American Indians'.
Eventually, in 1827, Joseph dug up this record, buried on a hill called Cumorah - a record which was oddly enough inscribed on thin gold plates, and shortly afterwards Smith began translating it.
The resulting translation was the interminably long 'pastiche' of the christian bible, now known as the 'Book of Mormon', which was published in 1830 - and that was the beginning of Mormonism !", Faunus triumphantly concluded, having condensed the long, complicated story into a brief explanation ending well before anyone started snoring.
"What's a 'pastiche' ?", Max asked, by then getting hopelessly confused by the whole story.
"Glad your listening...", Faunus said, with a grin.
"Well, a pastiche is any work of art, literature, theater, or music or whatever that imitates the style or character of the work of others...", Faunus explained, very briefly.
"Oh... you mean like a copy....", Max said.
"Right Max - but a copy of the style, and not the actual story...", the 'Boss' added.
"I see...", Max replied, not sounding completely certain.
"Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, and by 1817 he had moved with his family to the 'burned-over' district of western New York, an area repeatedly swept by religious revivals during the 'Second Great Awakening'.
The 'Burned-over District' refers to the western and central regions of New York State in the early 19th century, where religious revivals and the formation of new religious movements of the Second Great Awakening took place, to such a great extent that spiritual fervor seemed to set the area on fire. The phrase was coined by Charles Finney who, in his 1876 book, referred to a 'burnt district' to denote an area in central and western New York State during the 'Second Great Awakening'.
The 'Second Great Awakening' was a Protestant religious revival during the early 19th century in the United States. The movement began around 1790, gained momentum by 1800 and, after 1820, membership rose rapidly among Baptist and Methodist congregations whose preachers led the movement. It was past its peak by the late 1840s. The revivals enrolled millions of new members in existing evangelical denominations and led to the formation of new denominations. Many converts believed that the Awakening heralded a new 'millennial age'. The 'Second Great Awakening' stimulated the establishment of many reform movements designed to remedy the evils of society before the anticipated Second Coming of Jesus Christ. New religious movements emerged during the Second Great Awakening, such as Adventism, Dispensationalism, and, significantly 'Mormonism'.
 |
| Joseph Smith - First Vision |
In 1820, we are told, fourteen-year-old Joseph was determined to know which of the many religions he should join.
He had read a passage in the christian scriptures instructing any who 'lacked wisdom' to 'ask of God'.
Early one morning, in the spring of 1820, young Joseph went to the woods to ask God which church he should join.
According to his account, while praying Joseph was told, in a vision, not to join any of the churches.
This, of course, provides good evidence that Mormonism is not a form of christianity.
Three years later Joseph was visited in his bedroom by a strange glowing figure..."
"Like an ET abduction !", Max blurted out.
"Well, yes - actually.", Faunus agreed - "but this was a long time before such things were talked about.
Anyway, this 'ET guy' - as Max has put it - said he was called 'Moroni', and told a very surprised young Joe of ancient writings, containing God's dealings with the former inhabitants of the American continent - presumably the 'native American Indians'.
 |
| Hill Cumorah |
The resulting translation was the interminably long 'pastiche' of the christian bible, now known as the 'Book of Mormon', which was published in 1830 - and that was the beginning of Mormonism !", Faunus triumphantly concluded, having condensed the long, complicated story into a brief explanation ending well before anyone started snoring.
"What's a 'pastiche' ?", Max asked, by then getting hopelessly confused by the whole story.
"Glad your listening...", Faunus said, with a grin.
"Well, a pastiche is any work of art, literature, theater, or music or whatever that imitates the style or character of the work of others...", Faunus explained, very briefly.
"Oh... you mean like a copy....", Max said.
"Right Max - but a copy of the style, and not the actual story...", the 'Boss' added.
"I see...", Max replied, not sounding completely certain.
Here we will leave our narrative for just a moment to give you some information about the Mormons - Surprisingly, it is not in the ‘Book of Mormon’ that the beliefs of the ‘Latter Day Saints' will be found, but rather in two obscure and practically unavailable books, ‘The Pearl of Great Price’, and ‘Doctrine and Covenants’, both by Joseph Smith. The ‘Book of Mormon’, itself is at best a weak caricature of the Old Testament, even to the extent of parodying the language of the King James Bible. The text purports to describe the history of a small group of Israelites, who left Palestine in about 600 BC and journeyed to America, where they existed until about 400 AD, when their civilization finally collapsed. Being a pastiche of the Old Testament, much of the work is primarily a record of this alleged people’s history, and is filled with endless genealogies, betrayals and battles. Eventually the resurrected Jesus appears in order to bring the Gospel to his other sheep. As in the Western hemisphere, Jesus' teachings appear to bring little help to his followers in the New World, who proceeded to wage war for two-hundred years, which finally results in their complete destruction. Theological argument is not a strong point in this saga, and many of the teachings are simply rehashes of material from both the Old and New Testaments, often using the very same phraseology. Anyone reading the Book of Mormon, superficially, could easily think he was reading some little known piece of canonical Scripture, and it is on this basis that Mormons approach likely converts, with an aura of Christian respectability. A well turned out, ‘squeaky clean’ Mormon missionary will not stand on your doorstep and discuss the ‘Pearl of Great Price’, the ‘Doctrine and Covenants’ or the 'Temple Rituals', and may well deny all knowledge of them. - So what are these teachings, which upset orthodox Christians so much ? Read on as Faunus and the 'Boss' take Jim and Max on a tour of the Phoenix Temple.
Joseph Smith - First Vision
"So is it the building - the 'temple' - or the Mormons that you are interested in ?", Max asked.
"Good question, Max.
Actually it's both.
The building is a fine piece of architecture - as are most Mormon temples.
The Mormons themselves have always interested me, ever since I came to America.", the 'Boss answered.
"And when was that ?", Max rather boldly asked.
"That question I am not prepared to answer.", the 'Boss' said firmly, but still managing to sound amicable.
"Sorry Sir... I didn't mean to pry.", Max replied sheepishly.
"No problem... but let's get out of the limo, and take a look round.", the 'Boss' said.
As they walked over to the main entrance Faunus gave them some information about entering a Mormon Temple.
This 'recommend' must be signed by the 'bishop' of your 'ward', and the 'president' of your 'stake'.", Faunus began.
He then handed the 'Boss', Max and Jim each a blank card.
"But mine has no writing on it !", Max protested.
"Max... keep your voice down...
When we show this to any of the Temple officials they will see what I want them to see - and they will not ask any questions - and you must say nothing... understood ?", Faunus said firmly.
Max, by then looking rather worried, nodded.
"While we are in the Temple, I will act as your 'instructor', as it will be expected that you are visiting for the purpose of 'instruction'.
Do not ask any questions, and agree with everything that I say.
At the end of the visit, when we have left - then you can ask questions, and ask anything that you wish.
Is that clear ?", Faunus said.
They all agreed.
Now normally members of the 'Church of the Latter Day Saints' (as the Mormons call themselves) are required to change into rather odd, white clothing when they enter a Temple, but Faunus had arranged things so that no one in the Temple noticed that the little group of four were wearing ordinary clothing.
It was just another of Faunus' easily achieved subterfuges (easily achieved for Faunus that is).
Once allowed into the Temple, Faunus took the 'Boss', Jim and Max to the first 'Ordinance Room'.
As Faunus explained -
"Good question, Max.
Actually it's both.
The building is a fine piece of architecture - as are most Mormon temples.
The Mormons themselves have always interested me, ever since I came to America.", the 'Boss answered.
"And when was that ?", Max rather boldly asked.
"That question I am not prepared to answer.", the 'Boss' said firmly, but still managing to sound amicable.
"Sorry Sir... I didn't mean to pry.", Max replied sheepishly.
"No problem... but let's get out of the limo, and take a look round.", the 'Boss' said.
As they walked over to the main entrance Faunus gave them some information about entering a Mormon Temple.
Mormon Temples are only open to the general public for a short period after the completion of construction (or renovation) - and even then not all areas of the Temple are available for viewing. After that only Mormons 'in good standing' are allowed to enter a Mormon Temple."You must possess a current 'recommend' to be admitted to the Temple.
This 'recommend' must be signed by the 'bishop' of your 'ward', and the 'president' of your 'stake'.", Faunus began.
He then handed the 'Boss', Max and Jim each a blank card.
"But mine has no writing on it !", Max protested.
"Max... keep your voice down...
When we show this to any of the Temple officials they will see what I want them to see - and they will not ask any questions - and you must say nothing... understood ?", Faunus said firmly.
Max, by then looking rather worried, nodded.
"While we are in the Temple, I will act as your 'instructor', as it will be expected that you are visiting for the purpose of 'instruction'.
 |
| 'Recommend Desk' - Phoenix Temple |
At the end of the visit, when we have left - then you can ask questions, and ask anything that you wish.
Is that clear ?", Faunus said.
They all agreed.
Now normally members of the 'Church of the Latter Day Saints' (as the Mormons call themselves) are required to change into rather odd, white clothing when they enter a Temple, but Faunus had arranged things so that no one in the Temple noticed that the little group of four were wearing ordinary clothing.
It was just another of Faunus' easily achieved subterfuges (easily achieved for Faunus that is).
Once allowed into the Temple, Faunus took the 'Boss', Jim and Max to the first 'Ordinance Room'.
As Faunus explained -
 |
| Ordinance (Sealing) Room - Phoenix Temple |
Ordinances are always performed by the authority of the priesthood.
While some ordinances, such as ordinary baptism, and confirmation are similar to those practiced by other Christian denominations, the 'real', Latter Day Saint 'ordinances' are unique, and performed only within a Latter Day Saint Temple.
These ordinances include 'Endowment' (related to arcane knowledge and priesthood), and 'Sealings'.(dealing with relationships within the family - including marriage, and relationships between parents and children), making possible the existence of family relationships throughout eternity."
Doubtless you will realize that many questions were now forming in the three who were listening to Faunus' 'lecture'.
 |
| Ordinance Room - (Telestial or 'World' Room) - Phoenix Temple |
Not all of these rooms are shown to the public, as they often raise awkward questions.
I can show you all four Ordinance Rooms located in this Temple - some of which had never been publicized - even on the completion of the building.
These included the 'Creation' Room, and the 'Garden Room', along with the 'Telestial' or 'World Room' and the 'Celestial Room'."
After that there was a very similar 'Ordinance Room', but without the paintings.
To Max, the unnamed 'Ordinance' room looked very much like the sort of lecture theaters that he'd seen in movies about people who were attending universities, (Max, however, had only got as far as High School).
From the smallest room, (see above), primarily used for 'Sealings', to the larger rooms, they were all expensively and tastefully furnished.
 |
| 'Celestial Room' - Phoenix Temple |
Each Mormon temple has one 'Endowment Room' known as the 'Celestial Room'.This was undoubtedly the most magnificent of all the rooms that Faunus showed them.
Usually no actual 'endowments' take place in the 'Celestial Room', but it is generally used as a place of meditation and prayer.
The 'Celestial Room' is always the most elaborate and magnificent of the rooms in a Mormon temple, and it is intended to be redolent of the 'Celestial Kingdom' - which is the highest spiritual attainment that can be granted after death.
By then Max was getting very confused.
While one room looked like a 'movie theater', and another looked like a 'lecture hall', the 'Celestial Room' looked, to Max, like a lounge in a very expansive and luxurious hotel.
He couldn't, for the life of him see what all these very beautiful, expensive looking rooms had to do with religion - at least as he understood the word.
Max never went to church, but he has seen the interiors of churches, with pews, an altar, pulpit, candles and stained glass windows - and this strange Mormon Temple was nothing like any church that he had ever seen.
 |
| Baptismal Font - Phoenix Temple |
All the chairs and sofas seemed odd to him, but the classical proportions of the rooms, and the apparent use for instruction revived memories for him of 'Eleusis'.
Ἐλευσίς - (Eleusis) is the site of the 'Eleusinian Mysteries'. It owed its celebrity to its being the chief seat of the worship of Demeter and Persephone, and to the mysteries celebrated in honor of these goddesses, which were called the 'Eleusinia', and continued to be regarded as the most sacred of all the ancient Greek and Roman mysteries.
At the end of their visit came the part that was really scary, and completely unnerved poor Max.
On the ground floor they entered a circular room, part of which was below ground level.
It was a 'Baptistery' - a place for baptisms.
The font was huge, in order to allow for baptism by total immersion, and the whole, massive font was born on the backs of twelve, life-size oxen, representing the Twelve tribes of Israel.
It all looked very ancient in style - almost Egyptian.
This was all very impressive, until Faunus explained that such a font was used for the baptism of the dead ( known as 'Vicarious Baptism').
Max and Jim, of course, immediately imagined rotting corpses being immersed in the baptismal waters.
As both Faunus, and the 'Boss' (who had studied Mormonism), knew, what was really involved was living people taking the place of dead people, and being baptised on their behalf.
And so their visit was over...
With many polite goodbyes from their unsuspecting Mormon hosts, as they left, they made for the limo.
On leaving, Max was very much relieved, as he was expecting, at any moment, a horde of crazed Mormons to rush them and expel them for breeching the 'sanctity' of the Temple - but no... as usual Faunus was able to manipulate the whole situation perfectly, just as he had done previously at 'Taliesin West', earlier in the day.
But now there was a change of plan.
Before any discussion of their strange adventure in the Phoenix Temple could begin, the 'Boss had a discussion with Chuck - out of earshot of the others.
Jim looked to Faunus.
"He's telling chuck that we are leaving tonight, and asking Chuck to devise a route to another town where there will be a suitable hotel - but don't tell the 'Boss' I told you.", Faunus said quietly.
Jim nodded, but was sad that they were leaving Phoenix - and disappointed that they would not be able to use the new telescope.
"Will you stay with us, and help us put the telescope together again ?
I don't think we could do it by ourselves.", Jim said sadly.
"Of course, Jim.", Faunus replied.
"So, boys, I've decided that we should move on to Tucson... there's a nice place to stay there, and its only a short drive down Interstate 10, so we can be there by the evening.", the 'Boss' said, as he joined Max, Jim and Faunus in the limo.
As they left the Temple the sun was just beginning to sink down to the horizon, bathing the gleaming white Temple, with the gold statue of the angel Moroni in a pale pink light.
"It was very good of you to take us round, Sir... but I thought it was very strange - not at all what I was expecting.", Max replied, hoping that his answer would not offend the 'Boss'.
"Well that seems reasonable, Max, after all, Mormon Temples are not at all like most places of worship.", the 'Boss' replied.
"But why is that, Sir ?", Max asked.
That's a long story, Max - but let me try to explain.", the 'Boss' said.
At that point Faunus winked at Jim, knowing that this would be a long and detailed explanation from the 'Boss'.
"Well Faunus has already explained to you about how young Joseph believed that he had a message from Moroni telling him about the gold plates.
Then, after Joe translated the plates - although how he did that is a mystery - he believed that he had the answers to what religion was all about.", the 'Boss' continued.
"And where are the plates ?", Jim asked.
"Again - good question.
Joe said he handed them back to Moroni, once the translation was completed.
After that no one ever saw them again.", the 'Boss said, smiling.
"And what language were they in ?", Jim asked.
At that point Faunus butted in..
"Smith said 'Reformed Egyptian'.
Real Egyptian had only been translated in 1822 - by the French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion - and it was practically impossible for an unschooled farm boy in America to know anything about 'real' or 'reformed' Egyptian in the late 1820s, when Smith was supposed to have translated the plates - and anyway, there is no such thing as 'Reformed Egyptian'.", Faunus said.
"So you're saying that 'our Joe' made it all up ?". Max asked.
"Not exactly...", the 'Boss' said, intervening.
"Smith knew his christian bible very well, but also, and this is maybe more important, his older brother Hyrum, and his father were Freemasons while the family lived near Palmyra, New York.
Then, by the 1840s, Smith and several prominent members of the Latter Day Saints also became Freemasons, and they founded a Masonic Lodge in Nauvoo, Illinois, in March 1842, and soon after joining Freemasonry, Smith introduced a 'Temple Endowment' ceremony, including a number of symbolic elements that were very similar to those in Freemasonry.", the 'Boss' explained.
"So you're saying that Smith got a lot of his ideas from this Freemasonry thing ?", Jim queried.
Again Faunus intervened.
"That's true - but not the whole picture....
Smith continued to have 'visions', and as a result he introduced ideas that had very little to do with christianity or Freemasonry.", Faunus added.
"And these ideas - what were they ?", Jim asked.
"Well this is where things get difficult.
Publicly the 'Latter Day Saints' - as they like to be known - want people to think that they are the true christian church - the 'Restored Gospel'.", Faunus stated.
"And ?...", Jim asked.
Most christians don't think the Mormons are proper christians - and that makes problems.
You see, as time went on Smith, and his successors began to develop ideas that had very little to do with either the christian bible - or even the Book of Mormon.
He produced new - what he considered to be 'scriptures' - which were included in the 'Book of Mormon', but was not part of it - and these new 'scriptures' had little to do with those gold plates.
The main new book that Smith produced was 'The Pearl of Great Price'."
By now Max was looking really confused, and a little bored.
"The 'Pearl of Great Price' contains three sections - the 'Book of Moses' (mainly about the Creation and the Fall), the 'Book of Abraham', and Smith's version of part of the 'Gospel of Matthew'.
'The 'Book of Abraham' is the most controversial part, being a purported translation of an Ancient Egyptian Papyrus - supposedly written by Abraham in Egypt.
Like the gold plates, the papyrus conveniently disappeared - in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Fragments of the papyrus were subsequently found, and proved to be common Egyptian funerary texts - and of course Smith had no knowledge of hieroglyphics or the Ancient Egyptian language.
It was from these writings, and later statements by Smith, that the strange teaching that are represented by the Temple buildings took the form that they now have."
As Faunus was explaining this - their limo arrived at the main entrance of the Biltmore in Phoenix - and for Max it seemed like a lucky escape.
"Right !.. let's all get upstairs, and get out bags packed.
Tonight we're on the road to Tucson !", the 'Boss' announced.
On the ground floor they entered a circular room, part of which was below ground level.
It was a 'Baptistery' - a place for baptisms.
 |
| Baptismal Font - Phoenix Temple |
It all looked very ancient in style - almost Egyptian.
This was all very impressive, until Faunus explained that such a font was used for the baptism of the dead ( known as 'Vicarious Baptism').
Max and Jim, of course, immediately imagined rotting corpses being immersed in the baptismal waters.
As both Faunus, and the 'Boss' (who had studied Mormonism), knew, what was really involved was living people taking the place of dead people, and being baptised on their behalf.
And so their visit was over...
With many polite goodbyes from their unsuspecting Mormon hosts, as they left, they made for the limo.
On leaving, Max was very much relieved, as he was expecting, at any moment, a horde of crazed Mormons to rush them and expel them for breeching the 'sanctity' of the Temple - but no... as usual Faunus was able to manipulate the whole situation perfectly, just as he had done previously at 'Taliesin West', earlier in the day.
But now there was a change of plan.
Before any discussion of their strange adventure in the Phoenix Temple could begin, the 'Boss had a discussion with Chuck - out of earshot of the others.
Jim looked to Faunus.
"He's telling chuck that we are leaving tonight, and asking Chuck to devise a route to another town where there will be a suitable hotel - but don't tell the 'Boss' I told you.", Faunus said quietly.
Jim nodded, but was sad that they were leaving Phoenix - and disappointed that they would not be able to use the new telescope.
"Will you stay with us, and help us put the telescope together again ?
I don't think we could do it by ourselves.", Jim said sadly.
"Of course, Jim.", Faunus replied.
"So, boys, I've decided that we should move on to Tucson... there's a nice place to stay there, and its only a short drive down Interstate 10, so we can be there by the evening.", the 'Boss' said, as he joined Max, Jim and Faunus in the limo.
As they left the Temple the sun was just beginning to sink down to the horizon, bathing the gleaming white Temple, with the gold statue of the angel Moroni in a pale pink light.
"So what did you think of the Temple, Max ?", the 'Boss' asked, and they settled themselves down in the passenger compartment of the limo.
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| Phoenix Temple - Sunset |
"Well that seems reasonable, Max, after all, Mormon Temples are not at all like most places of worship.", the 'Boss' replied.
"But why is that, Sir ?", Max asked.
That's a long story, Max - but let me try to explain.", the 'Boss' said.
At that point Faunus winked at Jim, knowing that this would be a long and detailed explanation from the 'Boss'.
"Well Faunus has already explained to you about how young Joseph believed that he had a message from Moroni telling him about the gold plates.
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| Gold Plates of the Book of Mormon - reconstruction Peter Crawford - reproduced with permission |
"And where are the plates ?", Jim asked.
"Again - good question.
Joe said he handed them back to Moroni, once the translation was completed.
After that no one ever saw them again.", the 'Boss said, smiling.
"And what language were they in ?", Jim asked.
At that point Faunus butted in..
"Smith said 'Reformed Egyptian'.
Real Egyptian had only been translated in 1822 - by the French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion - and it was practically impossible for an unschooled farm boy in America to know anything about 'real' or 'reformed' Egyptian in the late 1820s, when Smith was supposed to have translated the plates - and anyway, there is no such thing as 'Reformed Egyptian'.", Faunus said."So you're saying that 'our Joe' made it all up ?". Max asked.
"Not exactly...", the 'Boss' said, intervening.
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| Masonic Compass and Square Peter Crawford - reproduced with permission |
Then, by the 1840s, Smith and several prominent members of the Latter Day Saints also became Freemasons, and they founded a Masonic Lodge in Nauvoo, Illinois, in March 1842, and soon after joining Freemasonry, Smith introduced a 'Temple Endowment' ceremony, including a number of symbolic elements that were very similar to those in Freemasonry.", the 'Boss' explained.
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| Joseph Smith - Idealised Portrait |
Again Faunus intervened.
"That's true - but not the whole picture....
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| Vision of Joseph Smith |
"And these ideas - what were they ?", Jim asked.
"Well this is where things get difficult.
Publicly the 'Latter Day Saints' - as they like to be known - want people to think that they are the true christian church - the 'Restored Gospel'.", Faunus stated.
"And ?...", Jim asked.
Most christians don't think the Mormons are proper christians - and that makes problems.
You see, as time went on Smith, and his successors began to develop ideas that had very little to do with either the christian bible - or even the Book of Mormon.
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| Image from the 'Book of Abraham' |
The main new book that Smith produced was 'The Pearl of Great Price'."
By now Max was looking really confused, and a little bored.
"The 'Pearl of Great Price' contains three sections - the 'Book of Moses' (mainly about the Creation and the Fall), the 'Book of Abraham', and Smith's version of part of the 'Gospel of Matthew'.
'The 'Book of Abraham' is the most controversial part, being a purported translation of an Ancient Egyptian Papyrus - supposedly written by Abraham in Egypt.
Like the gold plates, the papyrus conveniently disappeared - in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
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| Biltmore Hotel - Phoenix |
It was from these writings, and later statements by Smith, that the strange teaching that are represented by the Temple buildings took the form that they now have."
As Faunus was explaining this - their limo arrived at the main entrance of the Biltmore in Phoenix - and for Max it seemed like a lucky escape.
"Right !.. let's all get upstairs, and get out bags packed.
Tonight we're on the road to Tucson !", the 'Boss' announced.
And so they drive through the night to Tucson, Arizona ... as Faunus whiles away the time telling Max and Jim lots of strange things about the Mormons.
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All text - © Copyright Peter Crawford 2021
All Images - © Copyright Vittorio Carvelli 2021
Graphic Design - © Copyright Zac Sawyer 2021