It was one of those dismal weeks of gray skies that served to amplify thoughts of depression. Reggie felt like he was sitting on a pile of refuse gathered together by his own efforts in life.

He had been through two divorces, and was now going through a third. Each time he had thought the woman was his dream come true. Oh, where was the woman that would be that woman?

His life wasn’t a total ruin. He had friends, a place to live, and an income which kept his head above water. Still, he knew something was very wrong. So little went as he had expected. Investments had gone sour. People he trusted had led him astray, and did him wrong. His life was the living proof of "Murphy’s Law", "If anything could go wrong, it would". He did not feel fulfilled, and in being fulfilled, walk in the joy of living. Why didn’t things go right? It was as though he were cursed. There had to be an answer, but what was the answer? As he mulled it all over in his mind, it became very clear. If his life was going to change, he would have to find that answer, but where?

He began running through the crowd of people in his mind he knew. Some were friends, some acquaintances, some whom he only knew from a distance. As he searched through the crowd, he realized most of them were going through the same struggles of life he was, and therefore, they would not have his answer. He wondered, did they not need the same answer he did? Are they also searching for it?

His mind worked to separate people into two categories. Those who were struggling as he, and those that seemed to live the fantasy of a charmed life. It didn’t take long. Only two stood out. Yes, they would have problems, but never would those problems come with such harshness they would be defeated. How were they able to float above the problems of life in such a way that those problems turned into some kind of victory? Could it be they knew something he didn’t?

He then remembered that both of them were members of a same club. A club that seemed to be some sort of secret society which no one knew much about, or even where they met, if they indeed did meet. What was the name of that club? Oh yeah, the "Club of Knowing". The "Club of Knowing"??? Knowing what??? Had the answer been staring him in the face all of these years? If the answer was there, why hadn’t Tom, and Ed, told him?

He didn’t know who all the members were, but now that he thought about it, those he did know, all seemed to have the same fulfilled happy life that Tom, and Ed, appeared to be living. Was the answer to life in this "Club of Knowing"? Well, it was certain that he was going to find out.

He was not really close to Tom, but he knew Tom better than he did Ed. As difficult as it was to call Tom, and ask the question, he did make the call. His desire for change had overcome his pride which defeats the asking for help.

Reggie was filled with excitement, as he drove out "Old Hickory Road". It was a beautiful area. People would come just for the scenic drive. There were exquisite farms on both sides of the street. There were either fields of green, lined with perfect white fences, containing horses, and cattle, or else filled with lush crops. For the first time he noticed there seemed to be a strange glow over the entire area.

Suddenly, he remembered a small modest sign at the beginning of Old Hickory Road. He hadn’t given it much thought before, but now it loomed up like a bill board. It said in small black letters on a white background, "DRIVE SLOWLY. You are entering the land of the knowing". He, like everyone else, had always taken it as a play on words. If you drive fast, it will be known, and you will get a ticket. Now that sign was taking on a whole new connotation. Good grief, what did the people that lived here "know"? Surely it was some kind of incredible secret.

His mind kept running over his conversation with Tom. Yes, Tom knew the answer. Yes, the club has the answer. No, you cannot just join the club. You must first talk with the Head Counselor. "Would you like for me to make an appointment with him for you?" The appointment had been made, and he was on his way to finding his answer to life.

To his amazement, the "Head Counselor" turned out to be Dean McCulley, the most successful farmer in the state. His farm covered thousands of acres. He turned in the long white fence lined road to the house. The whole scene was one of palatial elegance. How many times had he driven the Old Hickory Road, without really recognizing this place to be so picturesque. How could a dirt farm appear so squeaky clean? Everything was in a perfect symmetrical order. Nothing stood out as if it did not belong, and there was a reason for everything he could see. He was awe struck by the peace he felt just by driving onto the property.

In spite of that peace, an insecure apprehension began to rise in him, working to kill his enthusiasm. What was he doing here? Why would such a man as Dean McCulley, agree to meet with the likes of him?

Reggie pulled over, and stopped, giving it all some strong contemplation. Did he have the nerve to keep the appointment? Would this end up being just another embarrassing situation? Whatever, he could not stop now. If he would find his answer here, then he would have to continue, apprehension, or no apprehension.

There was a large parking lot off to the right of the house. Why such a large parking lot? This did seem to be out of place. The house was huge. Even bigger than it appeared from Old Hickory Road. There was a curved walk way that led from the parking lot, through a field of grass which had areas of flowers planted around trees, up to the huge oak front door. He was becoming very aware of just how privileged he was to even being on the property, let alone meeting with this man Dean McCulley, in person. He rang the door bell with a feeling of reverent respect, as he tried to envision what the servant would look like that opened the door. When the door opened, his heart jumped into his mouth. It was not a servant at all, but Dean McCulley, himself! "I presume you are Reggie." "Yes sir." He offered Reggie his farmer’s strong worn hand to shake, and said, "Its good to see you. Please, come in."

The entry was incredible, and bigger than his whole house. The room rose up the entire two stories, with a domed smoke glass ceiling. A large ornate chandelier was hanging in the center of the room. An extraordinary double staircase led to the upstairs, with a teed hallway under the stairs which led to the rest of the house. On the left were two entries made of huge double oak doors labeled in gold, The Club of Knowing Auditorium. He thought quickly, "Wow, this is where the Club meets. No wonder there’s a huge parking lot". He was led into a room that was obviously this man’s private office. The scene was of such grandeur, Reggie could not take it all in. Instead of sitting at his oak, and marble desk, he led Reggie to a sitting area of plush couches, and chairs. He was invited to sit in a chair kitty-corner to McCulley’s. Their eyes would not meet unless effort was made to turn the head. How had he become so fortunate as to be with this man entitled the "Head Counselor"?

"Tell me Reggie, why have you come here?"

Reggie was not about to take this man’s valuable time with a long story. He gave him the short version, concluding with . . .

"Tom said you have the answer for which I seek."

"Well, you must have believed him, or you would not have come. Is this right?"

"Yes sir".

"Reggie, what I will give you is of a value beyond price. I can only give this to you, if you sign an oath of secrecy. Are you willing to sign such an oath?"

"Yes sir."

"Only those which have been chosen can come into this "Knowing". Each one has traveled through life as you, and have come to this point, led on the pathway by the same patterns of thought that you have experienced. The "knowing" must remain a hidden secret to everyone, but those who, as yourself, have come to a passionate desire for this answer to life. The revealing of this mystery wholesale to the masses would only bring its destruction. This truth will be realized by you when you come into the "wisdom" of the "knowing". Can you be a man of your word?"

 

"Yes, and I will sign the oath with the respect of knowing that I must not reveal the secret."

 

"Very well, sign this paper, and I will set you on your journey to the "knowing".

 

By now, there was no question in Reggie’s mind. He would find his answer here, and signing an oath of secrecy was of no consequence. He signed it in hurried fashion.

"What I am about to say to you, is going to sound very strange. If you did not see the fruit of this mystery all around you to prove the integrity of what I will tell you, I am sure you would just laugh, and walk away with much haste. People can deny truth, but not the evidence which proves that truth. Is this right?"

 

"Yes sir, very true."

 

"All right, then listen closely. There is an evil monster, and it is this monster that is an enemy to all of life. He it is that is causing all of the chaos, strife, confusion, and resulting pain which has been present in the world since time began. He receives his power from a being in an unseen realm. This monster, through endless blinding pride believes all he does is good, and therefore will not suffer any regret toward repenting from his evil deeds. He will forever be and do, what he is, and does. This monster infects the minds of all those he reaches, and thus putrefies all the earth. Only those who have been humbled can want to come out of his control.

"His effects upon your own life have humbled you to your present state of mind. Now you must face this monster, and in facing him, conquer him, and his effect upon you, and your life. Are you willing to face him?"

 

"Is it dangerous?"

 

"Yes, for it will cause a traumatic upheaval within you."

 

"Can I be assured of conquering this monster, if I face him?"

 

"Yes, and just the same as many others have, if you will carefully follow my instructions."

 

"Is there a secret to this conquering?"

 

"Yes"

 

"What is it?"

 

"You must stand still, and face the monster, until this "wisdom" is given to you."

 

"You cannot give it to me now?"

 

"No, I cannot. You must earn that ‘wisdom’ by standing still in the facing of the monster, and not let the terror you will feel, cause you to break from the standing still, and running in that terror."

 

"What will happen if I run?"

 

"The failure to stand may be too much to overcome to ever go back, and try again. Then you will be forever sentenced to the control of this monster, just as you have been."

 

"So, I must stand still, and face this monster until the ‘wisdom’ is revealed."

 

"Yes. Once you have received the ‘wisdom’, not only will the monster be conquered by you, but then you can join the ‘Club of the Knowing’, for your understanding will be opened, and the knowledge of how to reverse all of the effects of his control can be taught to you. It is this teaching that has caused such victorious change in Tom, and all of those like him.

"Does this give you enough incentive to stand still, and face the monster, until the ‘wisdom’ is given to you?"

 

Reggie did not answer quickly. He was beginning to comprehend the seriousness of saying ‘yes’. He was already feeling the fear of the unknown, and was suffering the perplexity of wondering if he would have the courage to stand. He stared at the floor in front of him. He could feel beads of sweat forming on his brow, and dripping from his arm pits. He didn’t look sideways to see, but he knew McCulley’s eyes were piercing him to his very soul. It was like he didn’t have to tell him what he was thinking. This guy already knew. The aura around this man was incredible. Never had he felt such a presence.

It was decision time. Face the monster, or go back to the life that he had been living. How bad did he want it changed??? Bad enough to go through whatever it might mean??? Maybe his life wasn’t as bad as he had thought. He had made it this far in life on his own, surely he could make it the rest of the way. He looked back over his life in instances of time reversed flash backs. Yeah, it was that bad, and no, he did not want to go back to that kind of living. To get the answer he was looking for, he would now have to give the right answer. Was his desire for the answers to life strong enough to give him the ability to commit to an answer of ‘yes’?

"My answer is a very serious one, isn’t it?"

 

"Yes it is. Your whole life hangs in the balance of your answer."

 

"Has anyone turned away at this point?"

 

"This may surprise you, but more have turned away than have gone forward with a ‘yes’.

"MORE?!"

"Yes."

"More have turned away from their answer, than have gone to find it?"

"That is right."

"Does this not discourage you?"

 

"No. I only want those to go on forward who can make it. My reward is in those that do, and I take no account of those who do not."

 

"Well, who, and where are these people that turned away? I sure haven’t met any of them."

 

"Oh, but you have, as they are everywhere. Remember, they signed an oath of secrecy, and the terrible humiliating embarrassment of failure tends to keep them quite quiet in the remembrance of that oath. If you yourself left right now, would you tell anyone about this experience?"

 

"No, I certainly would not, not even Tom. In fact, I probably would avoid Tom for the rest of my life.

 

"So, what answer do you give me?"

The conversation had brought Reggie to a condescending surrender, and answers . . .

"I have no alternative but to face the monster, so my answer is ‘yes’.

 

"That is good. I am glad to see you gave your decision such serious thought. If you had answered quickly with a ‘yes’, I would have doubted your ability to face the monster. By recognizing the seriousness now, it will help to alleviate your fears you will face then, and that will give you impetus to overcome. Your first step was to come to the ‘knowing’ your life needs changing, and that to change your life, you must face the monster. Those who had not arrived to the solemnity of this conclusion at this point, always answer quickly. The seriousness does not hit them until they near the monster. Some cannot go on if they have not made a solemn commitment before this point."

 

"There are those who even turn away after going that far?"

 

"Yes. However, very few. Generally, those who have gotten that far, do not turn back. It is a very arduous journey. People do not like to put out that much effort for nothing, so most somehow find the strength to continue."

 

"Well, you surely know what you are talking about, and I know everything you are saying is preparing me for this task. So, I say with some resisting hesitancy that is running around in me, I will not turn back, but even as Tom, and the others like him, I will go all the way."

 

"Have you heard of Devil’s Mountain?"

"Yes."

"The monster resides there."

 

Immediately, Reggie remembered the ‘folk lore’ he had heard since he was a kid, but would never have believed it was true. When ever something went wrong, someone was apt to jokingly say, "It’s because of the monster in Devil’s Mountain", and everyone would chuckle. Now he is finding out the folk lore joke was the truth?!"

"You seemed shocked."

"I sure am."

"That isn’t unusual. Most people are shocked. Do you know the where about of Devil’s Mountain?"

"Yes, it is in the barren rocky wilderness, east of here."

"Have you been there?"

"No. I have seen it from a distance of course, but it is just too hard to get to, so I have never bothered myself to make the trip. It didn’t seem to have any purpose."

 

"Okay, here is a map. It shows you where to park, and the easiest route to hike to its base. Then you are to follow it to where the X is marked. There is an entrance to a cave behind some boulders at this point. Within five feet of the entrance, you will find a kerosene lantern, and matches with which to light the lantern. You are to travel through the cave until you have encountered the monster, and when you do, remember my instructions well.

"You are to take nothing with you, but the clothes you wear, and you are to go alone, and tell no one you are going. All of your pockets must be empty. Do not wear anything you value, as your clothes will be worthless when you come out. I suggest you do wear a pair of good strong leather boots.

 

"My clothes will become worthless???"

 

"Yes, but made so by the rugged journey, and not by the hands of the monster."

 

"When can I go?"

 

"This is your prerogative. I would suggest you start in the early morning to beat the heat of the day, and not only have daylight in which to make it back to your car, but will not suffer the cold of the high altitude’s night."

"Okay. I want to thank you sir for seeing me, and privileging me with this opportunity."

"Reggie, I assure you that the pleasure, and even the privilege, is all mine."

 

With those parting words, Reggie shook Dean McCulley’s hand, and left. He drove home in strongly mixed emotions. The seriousness of having to face a monster throbbed in his head, while the wild enthusiasm for finding the answers to life engulfed him. He was drained by it all, already.

As tired as he was, he didn’t sleep much. It was obvious, the sooner he got this ordeal over with, the better. He was up, dressed, and driving by 5:00 A.M. Even though he had not eaten since breakfast the day before, he still left without eating, as he had no stomach for food. He had thought of his canteen, but Mr. McCulley had said to taking nothing with him. He obeyed.

His drive of an hour to get to where he would park, seemed like only an instance of time. His mind was thoroughly occupied, and running at full speed. According to Tom, "Go through the Head Counselor’s initiation, and you will then be a member of The Club of Knowing. Once you are in the Club, you will learn of mysteries that will totally change your life." Talk about an adrenaline rush. It didn’t matter what facing the monster meant, he was going to make it through to the conquering.

He picked up the map, stepped out of his car, and set the locks as he closed the door. He looked around, and saw how alone he was, and boy, was he alone. The temperature was already beginning to climb with the rising sun. He looked at the map, and began a fast paced hike over, and between rocks and boulders. It looked like maybe a mile to the base. It was a gradual up hill hike, and it wasn’t easy. By the time he reached the point of the X on the map, he was already tired. Suddenly he felt very hungry, and wished he had at least tried to eat something before he left. He had also become quite thirsty.

The lantern was right where it was suppose to be, and so he lit it. He felt grateful for being in the cool of the cave, as the outside temperature had already been pushing at the hundred degree range. Just as he thought the walk through the cave was going to be easier than he had thought, the tunnel opened into an area that was filled with jagged rocks which reached nearly to the ceiling. "Why hadn’t he brought gloves?" He was going to have to crawl his way through this part. It lasted for about a hundred yards. His hands were a bit bloody, and his clothes had surely been ripped by the sharp jaggedness of the rocks. In front of him were two tunnels that forked out of the one where he stood. He noticed a small arrow scratched into the stone wall pointing to the one on the right. Rats. It would be. The one on the left was at least six foot tall, while this one was about three foot. He would have to crawl.

His enthusiasm had waned from the tiredness, hunger, and thirst that he felt, and was being replaced with his apprehension. Thoughts were now coming that he did not in the least bit like. Was it just him, or did this part of the cave have an aura about it which forced those thoughts into his mind? Maybe he was nearing the monster, and he was feeling the monster’s presence.

This tunnel caused great feelings of claustrophobia. It wound back and forth, so there was no way to tell where it would end by looking ahead. The further he went, the harder it was to continue. The deeper he went into the recesses of the cave, the deeper the recesses of his own mind were being exposed. Great emotions were rising out from his subconscious, into his conscious mind. Past fears, insecurities, rejections, failures, hurts, and confusions flooded him until he could hardly think straight. Was he going insane? Maybe he couldn’t take it, and had better get out of there, and get out fast.

He pushed around one more bend, and felt some relief as he could see where this tunnel emptied into a small room. He crawled out, and turned over onto his back in exhaustion. His clothes were badly torn, his hands and knees were bloody, and there were abrasions all over his body. He thoughtfully considered, "No wonder people turn back. You really must have some kind of desire to make this trip."

He stood, stretched his body, and tried to knock off some of the dirt. That proved to be a lesson of futility, and a wasted endeavor. In front of him was the only opening out of this room. It was a strangely familiar shape, and not unlike a lower case "t". After a couple of breaths to try and clear his muddled brain, he slipped through the "t", and entered another room. There before him was a slow moving river, about twenty five feet across. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Just as his thirst had become unbearable, there was water. He laid on his stomach, and sucked it in like a dog. How wonderful this under ground pool tasted. Once again, He turned over and laid on his back for a few moments to gather his strength. His mind was strangely easing a bit now that he had come through the "t". He knew he had not come this far just to turn back, and that was no longer an alternative. He had past the point of no return.

He rose, picked up the lantern to find the way to go on. Oh brother, there it was on the other side of the river. May there not be any critters swimming in it. As he crossed, he realized it was not more than waist deep. The water had been ice cold, but somehow very invigorating, as if it had some strange healing property that had a wonderful effect upon him.

In the wall on the other side was a small opening at its base. He would have to snake through this one on his belly. At least it was a short crawl. He did not seem to notice he was covered with mud from head to foot, as the powdery dirt he had crawled through clung to the dampness of his body, and clothes. His intensity of purpose totally possessed his mind. He stood, held the light up high, and could not believe his eyes. It was one of the most eerie sights he had ever encountered. It was a very large room with glistening stalagmites rising from the floor, and stalactites descending from the high ceiling. Shadows made from the flickering lantern danced in ghostly fashion. There was a slight path which led through the room. As he made a sharp right, suddenly he could see there was a glow of light coming from behind him. Fear struck his heart like none he had ever felt. This was it. The monster was behind him right here and now. The hair on the back of his neck stood straight up, as the feeling of terror rushed through his body. It was so silent his own breathing sounded like the pants of a steam engine’s puffing. "You must face him Reggie, you must face him!!!"

Mustering up courage that could only come from deep prior commitment, he held his lantern high, and whirled around in a split second to face the monster. He had closed his eyes, as if that would make the monster go away. He slowly opened them, and sure enough, that had not worked, for there stood the monster before him.

It was one of the most grotesque sights he had ever seen. The body of the monster was like it was slightly fractured and thus bent into distorted shapes. Dirty, and torn clothing, and holding the same kind of lantern that Reggie was, and standing just as still. Neither moved, but stood staring at each other, as if both were wondering what the other would do next. Seconds seemed like very long minutes. The terror was so great, that it was all that Reggie could do to stand still. His inner mind keep shouting, "Stand still until the wisdom is given to you Reggie, stand still". The longer he stood, the more his eyes focused in the dim light. Then, without warning, the "wisdom" came pouring into his mind with great velocity, as if he had been hit with a two by four. He was staring into a . . . cracked . . . and bent mirror. . . The monster was . . . . . . .HE . . .HIMSELF??!!!