CHAPTER 31
It had gotten cold inside the trailer. Thane couldn't recall hearing the air conditioner shut off once since he had been here. It seemed like a good time for him to go and check the thermostat. Armaros had gone quiet and both Basia and Father Lucas were staring at the big angel and doing nothing else. Thane hoped that by producing a little movement in the room he might break his companions free from their stupor. It didn't work.
"Armaros . . . Armaros what happened next?" he asked. Thane was trying to be polite. He didn't want to push too abruptly, but he desperately wanted Armaros to continue. He wanted answers.
"I'm sorry Thane," Armaros answered. "The memories are so vivid . . . and so inviting. I'm growing weary of talking. I wish I could just show you the rest of what you need to know."
"How much more do I need to know?"
"I could teach you for a lifetime and there would still be more to learn."
"I could listen for a lifetime."
"We don't have nearly that much time. Besides, I'm growing restless. Storytelling is a tiresome business."
"Then just cut to the chase. Give me answers-starting with why you're telling me your story in the first place."
Thane looked over to Basia and Father Lucas who had both remained quiet during the exchange. He wanted their opinion, and they both obliged with nods of their heads. He was glad. He had grown fond of the two of them. At least they partially understood just what he was feeling. Raphael had drug them into this years prior.
"As I'm sure you've figured out by now," Armaros began, "we left the majesty of our home to come and live on Earth. It was during the time of Jared. The year was 8783 B.C. Azazel convinced Semjaza that we could do a better job of protecting the humans if we lived amongst them. So Semjaza had us all swear an oath, it was the one that I began my story with, and descend together to the top of Mount Ba'al-Hermon."
The big angel shook his head ever so slightly as he continued. "It was all a ruse. I knew it. They came for the women. Eventually, they would prove my intuition correct by taking wives and siring a race of giants. They corrupted the entire Earth. Still, I went along. I swore to myself that I would see this thing through and do all that I could for the humans."
"Mikhael and the others didn't try to stop you?" Thane asked. "They just let all of you up and leave heaven?" The young deputy decided that when he had a question he was going to ask it. If this was all for his benefit, as Armaros said it was, then he wasn't going to hold back his questions for etiquette's sake. Besides, the big angel just told him that he was going to get answers. He was ready for them.
"It was all predetermined Thane," Armaros said. "We were supposed to fall. Mikhael and the others knew what was coming. And even if the archangels didn't know we were going to leave, they wouldn't have tried to stop us once they found out. The seraphim do not interfere with free will."
"What did the humans think of you?" Father Lucas asked. The one time priest was smiling. "I can barely imagine what my ancestors must have thought the first time they saw the Watchers. I know the story, but I've only retained what I've read in books. I know only the facts. Having Armaros add even a dash of emotion to the story would be a real treat for me."
"They were very receptive in the beginning," Armaros said. "These people were strong in their faith. We were instruments of their God. They embraced us. And I have to admit that those first years on Earth were some of the most rewarding and happy times I have ever experienced in all my years here. My brothers behaved themselves for the most part, and we taught those humans so much. They yearned for knowledge, and when we gave them morsels of it they would swallow those down as fast as they could and look for more. Kokabiel taught them the phases of the moon and how to gauge the apparent motion of the sun across the sky. From this they were then able to develop a highly accurate calendar and table of planetary periods. They learned stars, constellations, and regular weather patterns, which enabled them to plant their crops at the best times of the year. It was amazing to watch. The humans evolved from totally clueless as far as astronomical information was concerned, to knowing when an eclipse would occur."
"That's extraordinary," Father Lucas said. "What other things did you teach them?" The padre was asking all the right questions, and Thane was content to let him go. He wished that maybe Basia would ask one or two herself. He liked the sound of her voice. It was thick with something that stirred him on the inside.
"Handwriting, engineering, irrigation techniques, herbal medicines . . . and those are just the first ones that come to mind. I loved teaching and helping the humans to better their quality of life. Kokabiel did to. In fact, he and I made many long pilgrimages across this Earth of yours in those early days. We were passionate, and we felt like all humans, not just the enlightened ones, deserved a taste of the knowledge we were serving. Now that was adventure. And so fulfilling. We helped civilizations flourish on the other side of the world from where we first descended. It was incredible."
Thane hadn't seen Armaros this animated since the big angel began his account. It was intoxicating. Thane couldn't help but smile. He was happy for Armaros.
"But none of that matters now," Armaros continued. "Kokabiel is no more. Besides, you want answers now and not more stories."
"I'd like to hear those stories sometime Armaros," Basia said. Thane noted how perfect her tone was-compassionate yet interested. He was starting to feel like everything about her was perfect. That worried him a bit.
"Maybe," Armaros said. He was nodding his head ever so slightly. "If we make it through this."
Thane didn't like the way that sounded. Armaros was serious. He was always serious.
"Make it through what?" Thane asked. The mood in the trailer changed when the young deputy asked his question aloud. He noticed it and was almost sorry he asked. Maybe the answer was something that was supposed to remain unspoken. He didn't want to force anybody to tell him things that he wasn't supposed to know or some secret that he couldn't keep. He could see it on their faces. Everyone in the room that wasn't named Thane was anxious. Basia and Father Lucas turned to Armaros. Whatever the answer, it was the big angel's to give.
"War," he said. "War against the darkest force of all. War against Azazel, who is both my brother and the most dangerous being ever created. Azazel who somehow has escaped the Uncreated's judgment. Azazel who is as smart as Raphael is, as powerful as I am, and more diabolical than Sammael ever was or is. He will war with no care for the outcome, but only for the sake of birthing destruction. And I fear that he will assemble an army of incredible power that will be almost impossible to defeat." He paused for a moment. Thane knew that Armaros wanted him to be scared. He wasn't. Not yet. He didn't really understand what Armaros was talking about.
"The war in Heaven was not easily won Thane. Sammael and his minions were holding their own until the Uncreated stepped into the fracas. And that was against discontented angels only, many of them confused and non-committed. If Azazel is in Sheol, as I believe him to be, then he has already begun to construct his war machine and he will lead a force of demons that are united in their hate for everything good and focused on a common goal—havoc."
"But they couldn't actually beat God . . . could they?" Thane asked. "I mean he's omnipotent isn't he?"
"God?" the angel asked right back. "Thane, this has nothing to do with God. I'm sorry if I confused you. I only used the war of the angels as an example. I wanted to make you see how great a threat these paranormal entities can be, especially when they band together . . . however loosely that association might be. No, I think the Uncreated will probably sit this one out. The threat is to mankind Thane. It's Earth where this war will be fought."