AZOTUSLAND chapter eighteen

At 6 p.m. Jim walked down to the Azotus Gallery and let himself in while quickly locking up from behind. He did not see Hans in the corner of the Darkroom because his eyes had not yet adjusted to the red lights. He slipped the key into Silo door 2 and entered, locking it behind. Hans came over and placed his ear against the door but heard absolutely nothing.

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It was two hours till Azotus Movie Night and Jim flashed the remote at HAL and a menu hit the screen. He selected the date and Wim Wender's masterful Wings of Desire started up on the screen.

He loved the playful, yet brooding way it started with The angel Damiel (Bruno Ganz) scribbling in his journal "Als das Kind Kind war" which means "When the Child was still a Child" but Jim knew the original German meant more.

It was the sing-song of an inquisitive open child still capable of awe, wonder and good humor. Like the children who saw Jesus with fresh eyes, or how his daughter Matisee looked at the world and saw everything as art.

He jotted down some notes for after the film was over, and not a few questions to ask for those who stayed awake all the way through.

"Then he shut things down and said under his beath "Could be worse. Could be Cries and Whispers."

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Jim welcomed the 12 people who had come to the Movie Night. Good turnout for a foreign film with subtitles.

Jacob was there next to a woman who wore basketball shoes. Hans was there (of course) to make sure he corrected any mistakes of translation. Manfred was in the back eating gummy bears. There were some newcomers for sure, but he also spied Renata and Rand cuddled up in the back not far from Ted who looked glum. Two seats over was the Rev. Tanka breathing heavy.

"Well let's everyone take a moment and at least say their name as an icebreaker." Jim began. "Then I will say a bit about the film and we'll get right into it," Jim said,.

Just then a lanky woman with long blond hair walked it, looked up and said "Oh. I'm sorry. I'm River."

"Nice to have you here River, please make yourself at home."

Introductions went around. Jim, Jacob, Delphia, Manfred, Hans, Renata, Rand, Ted, River, Cara, Whispah, Fred and the Rev Tanka.

The lights dimmed all the way down and the small blue lights in the floor turned up a bit and the film began.

Around half way through the film Martine came in with a tray of espressos.

"It's late folks" Jim said and offered up free samples in a five minute break.

They muilled around at bit then Rev. Tanka spoke up.

"Well now Dear Brothers and Sisters...I must protest this vile and detestible film."

"Jim smiled and sat on his stool.

"What do you find ojectionable?" he asked the reverend.

"It's a film about Dah-Nazi's who later were yooouused by the CIA and the KGB both! To create-tah the secret stash of nuclear weapons now hidden in a secret underwater missle base just off the Farallon Islands!"

"We appreciate your concern Reverend and invite you to post your full reaction on the website tomorrow. Now we have to finish the film."

With that the Rev. Tanka took leave for a smokie and did not return.

As the film started and as he watched Cassiel (Otto Sander) in the film he thought how much Cassiel was like Maugham. It was wrong of him to keep Maugham of all people in the dark. But it was hard for Jim to live transparent.

Still something steeled in him that night and throughout the discussion that he would let Maugham in, all the way. Beside that, if he wasn't very careful he might be dead in a few weeks and no one would ever know why.