The Carpenter’s Miracle Chapter 16
As I rose to My feet, a hush instantly fell over the church.
I drew a long breath before speaking, “Coming to Cedarville was an accident. Helping you was never
about the Money.
“I simply believe that lending a hand to a neighbor in need is the natural thing to do.
“We dug the foundation together, chopped wood together, and braved the wind and snow to seal the roof.
“What we constructed wasn’t just a drying kiln. We wove our hands and hearts into the very frame.”
“That kiln has warmth. It holds our spirit. It is the soul of Cedarville.”
My voice resonated through the hollow space.
“A soul cannot be bought. Therefore, I cannot agree,” I
said.
As My words faded, Felix and Mark led the applause, their supporters quickly joining in.
On the other side of the room, however, faces twisted with disappointment and rage.
The lanky Man shot to his feet, challenging me.
“Flowery words! But can a soul put food on the table?
Can it send our kids to decent schools? That is 300 thousand dollars. Who gave you the right to throw it away? You’re just an outsider!” he shouted.
“Exactly! Who do you think you are?” The dissent grew louder.
Silent, I watched them, knowing it was impossible to reason with those whose hearts were blinded by greed.
Suddenly, the church door swung open.
Richard walked in, looking polished as ever, a faint Smile on his face. “It seems the discussion is not going smoothly.”
His gaze swept the room before settling on me. “Mr. Lewis, I have to admit, I’m disappointed by the path you’ve chosen. But I respect your decision.”
He paused, his tone shifting. “But I must remind you and everyone here of one thing. The kiln in Cedarville currently operates only on a temporary permit.”
Extracting a document from his folder, he held it up. “Next spring, you are required to submit a formal application to the Regional Construction and Environment Agency.
“This must include a structural Mechanics report, a Material analysis, and an environmental impact
assessment.
“All of these require certification from qualified engineers and accredited laboratories.
“To my knowledge, completing such a set of reports will cost at least 50 thousand dollars.”
Everyone froze at his words.
Where could they possibly find that kind of money?
Richard pressed on. “Even if you scrape the money together and produce the reports, Northern Power Corp’s legal department will challenge every single detail.
“We will deploy the top engineers and legal teams in Northland to the hearing.
“We will prove to the Construction and Environment Agency that a structure designed by an amateur carpenter poses Massive safety hazards.”
His voice remained calm, yet every word dripped with Menace. “I can assure you of this. Your application for a permanent permit will be denied.
“The final result will be the forced demolition of this illegal structure.”
A deathly silence descended upon the church.
Fear and despair washed over every face.
The hope we had poured our blood and sweat into now teetered on the brink of collapse after just a few sentences from this man.
He was the real devil, who was a hundred times more terrifying than Tom.
Slipping the document back into his folder, Richard Smiled, “Of course, if you choose to cooperate with us, all these problems will vanish.
“We will handle everything, transforming it into a fully legal factory that generates endless wealth.
“My offer remains. I will give you one more day.”
With that, he shot me one last look, the kind of smug pity one only got from someone who thought they had already won.
Richard turned on his heel and strode out of the church, leaving behind a heavy silence and a sense of defeat hanging in the air.
The atmosphere in the church grew suffocating.
Those who had been clamoring for Money earlier now hung their heads, finally realizing what kind of formidable opponent they were really up against.
This was not a choice. It was a trap.
Submit, or be destroyed.
Helpless eyes turned toward me once again.
Felix approached, his aged voice trembling. “Michael, what do we do?”
Gazing up at the Mural of the Crucifixion on the vaulted ceiling, I slowly clenched my fists.
I spoke, each word clear and resolute, “He wants a war? Then we’ll give him one.“