The Omen

by David Seltzer

"I'll just bet it's in Italy." But it was not.

"Fuoco. Tre anni più o meno."

"Three years ago. Multo morte. Much death."

"It's no use," interrupted Jennings.

"It says that the Caucus of International Theological Sciences has interpreted the 'Eternal Sea' to mean the world of politics. The Sea that constantly rages with the turmoil and revolution."

"There's a lot of sadness here," said Jennings as they reached the entranceway. "Just listen to it. Listen to the pain."

huge stone rotunda,

a smooth, glistening stump.

statuary.

"There is nothing there, Signor, except graves ... and a few wild hogs."

In Morte Et in Nate Amplexa rantur Generationes."

In death … and birth ... generations embrace."

its eyeball hanging by bloody threads from the socket.

And they clung to each other, weeping like children.

The cry rang throughout the cemetery, slowly rising in intensity; other animals joined in until the air was filled with the discordant chorus of doom.

"Why don't you wait and see what's on the menu?" "I'm not hungry." "Might be very tasty," smiled Jennings.

His only gesture of acknowledgment came as he urinated with the bathroom door open; he was urinating into his hands and washing his genitals with the urine.

"Her name is B'aalock. She is an apostate of the Devil and will die before permitting this."

"You mean ... 'Armageddon' has already been?" "Oh, yes," replied Bugenhagen. "As it will be many times again."

They were sixes. Three of them, in a cloverleaf pattern with their curved tails touching in the center.

"I hurt ..." the child whimpered.

"Daddy ..." Damien whimpered.

"I'm sick."

holding the hand of a four-year-old boy whose arm was cradled in a sling.