CHAPTER 33
Thane had more questions. He had a lot more questions. He would probably forget some of them while he listened to Armaros answer other ones that he did ask. That was okay he decided. Eventually he would know everything, or at least everything that his mind could grasp. Armaros had been very forthright with him up to this point. The big angel was perhaps a little slow in revealing certain things, but he had kept no secrets from Thane, and the young man believed everything that Armaros told him. Even the part about going to war with an army of demons was starting to sink in.
"We have weapons," Thane said. "Very powerful weapons. I think Azazel may be surprised by the advancement of human weaponry since . . . well whenever it was that you came to earth. I wouldn't be so sure that he could defeat all of humanity."
"8783 B.C. was the year we came. After 5799 B.C. there were no other Watchers remaining besides myself, or I should say the only Watcher remaining that was left to his own devices was myself. Anyways, I don't think that Azazel could defeat all of you humans either. At least not in a classic military style conflict. But what you have to realize Thane is that nothing my brother does will be governed by any sort of rules or morals. He will bring with him a brand of warfare previously unknown to humankind. He advances with trickery, deceit, subterfuge, confusion, and the like. By the time man was to unite and all nations and peoples realized the common enemy that they were up against, Azazel would have already changed the course of humanity. He would have the spirit of mankind teetering on the edge of oblivion. Your very powerful weapons would be of little use then. I've seen him bring the human race to the brink of destruction once before Thane, and I've no doubt that he can do it again if we don't stop him."
So that was it. He was to help Armaros defeat Azazel. The big angel had said if 'we' don't stop him. Thane had picked up on that right away, and now he wanted to know why he was picked to be a part of all of this. He wasn't complaining anymore, but he certainly was curious. And how could he help? He didn't have magic or a sword or even those particles that the others had. All he had was some firearm training, people skills, and a set of pretty good instincts. He didn't know how his skill set would make a difference in the face of such overwhelming malice. Before he could ask, however, Armaros continued to clarify.
"It won't be Armageddon," he said. "Even if Azazel was left unchecked I don't believe his ultimate goal is human extinction. He probably doesn't even have an ultimate goal. He doesn't hate humans. In fact, he used to quite enjoy them. It's the way they live-their rules, their laws, their religion, their virtues-and the way they love that sickens him. He blames the archangels, and probably me, for imposing our influence upon mankind and shaping them into what they currently are. We're the ones he hates. He considers us failures. There will be no convincing Azazel that his design for humanity is flawed and much worse than the current path. But I've seen his way. I've seen a world governed by the beliefs of a morally corrupt angel. It was sickening to behold, and we can't let it come to that again."
"You said 'we' again," Thane interjected. "Is that what it all comes down to? Is that why you're here talking to me?" He paused, but not long enough for Armaros to answer. "Just before Father Lucas and Basia joined us, I confessed to you that I didn't feel worthy of whatever was expected of me, and that still holds true. I've heard nothing from you that changes my opinion of myself. I just don't see what good I would be to you."
Thane felt better now that he had cleared the air. He was surrounded by extraordinary individuals, but he needed to remind them that there was nothing special about him. He was a man; he was only a man. A very young man at that. It was time to stop pretending that he was a part of this group. Judging by the silence in the room, the others were in agreement with him. He was ready for his dismissal. It was Father Lucas who cleared his throat to break the quiet, and Thane assumed that the priest was the one who would tell him that he could go.
"Are you familiar with the book of Genesis brother Thane?" the padre asked. "The first book of the Christian Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible, and the Torah or Pentateuch."
"I've read the Bible. I know the stories of Genesis-Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark-as good as anybody I suppose," Thane answered.
"That's good son," Mundy said. 'That's good. Now in Genesis 5:1 we are given Adam's line of descent going through Seth. This is sometimes referred to as the 'Generations of Adam.' You still with me?"
"I am," Thane answered. He was nodding his head confidently. "I know quite a lot about Bible genealogy. I actually took an elective theology course in college that was well taught. I retained most of what I learned. I'm pretty solid from Adam to David. Is this about Enoch?"
The priest answered with only a look of puzzlement.
"Armaros mentioned his name earlier," Thane said, "and I know that he's a descendant of Adam. That's why I ask."
Father Lucas smiled at Thane and then shifted his gaze to Armaros. Something passed between them-an understanding of sorts that Thane could sense but wasn't privy to. The priest then excused himself and walked back over to the refrigerator. Thane was starting to get warm.
The air conditioner had gone from running constantly to dead. There was no in between. Thane decided that he would take the cold. Sweating indoors made him miserable. He rose up out of his chair and began to walk back to the thermostat. He only made it about half of the way there.