Morning Stars of Eternity Part 3

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Morning Stars V

Raguel, replacing Uriel, was expected. Everyone saw it coming, and everyone knew it was the right thing to happen. They didn’t want much change at the moment. People were generally happy. But Raguel had things on his mind. Daniel things.

* * * * *

‘A trial run, you say? That’s not quite what they expect.’
‘Like I said, 45,000 years from next year, and then I take out the million. Call it a sampler of Daniel. They like you. Some of them don’t want to wait forever, if you know what I mean. How about it?’
‘Yeh. Yeh, ok Rags. And thanks. Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome.’

Later on that day Daniel was over at Valandriel’s, having a little bit of wine, and smiling quite a bit. Hey, this was okay. Quite okay. A bit of a turn. He had forgotten most of his agenda, though. They had said ‘Not really going to happen.’ But Danny remembered the beginning when Sariel had a go and Saruviel had a go. It was mostly Michael, of course, but things happen from time to time. And Raguel didn’t mind that, so Daniel could have an early shot at it. Yeh, that was okay. That was quite fine.’

The year passed, and Daniel was chosen as overseer. He made an announcement that evening and said certain protocols would be altered, and certain laws repealed. ‘It will be a little more relaxed for a while, friends. Not so legalistic. There is an important copyright law, though. Original authors must be cited. Factual and truthful information must be cited. Quite important that. Oh, and another thing, we’re moving temporarily. Out to Mitraphora. Council will be stationed in ‘Lameth’ for about 42,000 years, and then back to Zaphon for 3,000 years, after which Raguel is in charge again. We need a change of scenery for a short while, just to freshen things up a little. And finally there will be certain sexual liberties for about 15,000 years. Certain romances need to be taken care of and so on. There’s a few other things, but mostly life in general. Council will be at Lameth. After the few introductory changes, nothing else from me. I won’t even be at council, but mostly at Zaphon. I won’t be available for any interviews, won’t be making any decisions, won’t be doing any policy, won’t be doing anything, actually. Just my personal life. But, hey, that’s life isn’t it. Talk to you soon, bye for now.

* * * * *

Daniel sat with Valandriel. They hadn’t even needed to send in the Prophecy this time. They hadn’t even needed to do that. Raguel had had his year, and as far as Valandriel and Daniel were concerned, the prophecy had done his bit and gotten him the job he was after. Daniel appointed, very quickly, Valandriel as his second in command, and got to work with his short list of things which needed amending. ‘You can sit in the executive suite, Val. You have stuck with me, so I have the official position at this stage, but you can have the glory of doing the work and getting the fame if you like. It is a short stab at the job, so we have got what we wanted for now.’
‘I am not that worried anymore, Danny. I am number 12 on the list, and I can wait. There is a run up, you see. I don’t think the heart of the run will change very much. We are basically getting one Arc each. It rounds out to that. You are lucky Raguel is so generous, you know. He has given you a fair slice.’
‘It is not too much. Besides, it evens things out somewhat from the earlier years. There is a little bit of flexibility, but hey that is life, isn’t it.’
‘And Raguel? Don’t you think he is a little worried about the 4th beast tag?’
‘I think that problem will disappear once your tenure is over, Val. We worked hard, got what we wanted, and I think, in the end, father gave us a break. Knew we were eager so let us have a go. About time he noticed, actually.’
‘Yes, yes, you’re right. Well, to our duties. And let me know when the day comes for the big seat. It should actually prove interesting.’
‘Will do, Kemosabe. Will do.’

* * * * *

‘So it was just a tactic to get the job?’
‘That is what I am starting to think, Raphael. That is what I am starting to think.’
Michael looked at Raguel, considering his words. ‘So he has suckered you in the end, has he? Suckered us all.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Rag. ‘I was pretty careful that whole year in office to keep my mouth very polite towards God and respectful of his sovereignty. I don’t think I went anywhere near those words of the fourth beast, so I am starting to think it was just a tactic in the end. Like you said, he has suckered us.’
Gabriel nodded. ‘Then we will have to plan a revenge on this Seraphim. A most delicious revenge, I think. A most delicious revenge indeed. But we will wait a while, I think. Let the wind blow over, let things die down. But we will plan now, sow seeds, and not be as obvious as our dear brother.’
‘And let the Devil beware,’ said Uriel, and they all laughed.

* * * * *

Daniel stared at the prophecy. The fourth beast. Raguel. But only 1 year in the position, and now Daniel was in charge. 1 year. 1 solitary year. But Daniel was due 45,000 of them. And then he saw the smile on Raguel's face one afternoon when he came around to discuss some of the current business matters he had been handling, when Daniel made a decision.
'Look. Rags. Stick with it. Here's the key. Ok.'
And Daniel threw the key up into the air, watched as it landed on the desk in front of Raguel, and smiled as Raguel looked at him, slightly startled, as he ducked out of the office, smart enough to have figured something out.

* * * * *

'Right,' said Gabriel to Michael's point. 'Our younger brother is not a sucker. Not going to be so easy to catch out.'
'So lets let it slide for a while,' said Michael. 'I have a plan, ok. It will be his lesson learned.'
'So I'm the fourth beast,' said Raguel.
'Just live with it,' said Raphael. 'Keep things normal and people will see through Daniel's prophecy in the end. He will be caught out in time.'
'I hope your right, Raph. I hope your right.'
'Daniel will get his come uppance one day, brothers. Remember, pride comes before the fall.'
'That it does,' said Gabriel.
And the group all said 'Amen.'

* * * * *

So, after much ado about nothing, really, Daniel returned to his agenda with Valandriel, and resigned himself to the long term agenda he had instead, leaving the overseers to choose their successors in turn, and not really wanting to interfere with that again. He would get his own glory, in time, and had a brief few weeks of it, so that would do for now. Later on, when it would be the right time to seek his ultimate glory, then he would show the world what Daniel the Seraphim, 45th of the Male Seraphim of the Realm of Eternity, really was made of.

* * * * *

Thus, for the most part, after a few hiccups, life got going again in the Realm of Eternity, a new overseer, a new Arc, a new beginning. They had been through this a few times now, and it was not that much of a surprise. Raguel had some early changes in policy, as each new overseer usually did, but things started flowing after a while with his ideas, and life went on. a new beginning, a fresh start, a letting go of the past, and marching bravely on into the future.

For many it was a time of change, yet for many, well, the more things changed the more they stayed the same. For many, anyway.
* * * * *
Dorachel. Female Seraphim of Eternity. Twin to Raguel. A happy angel of God. She was sitting, watching 'Dora the Explorer', her favourite show, eatching chocolate biscuits, and slightly concerned about her weight. She was a little chubby. Raguel never minded. Dorachel saw through all that.
'Do you love me?' she would ask.
'You are divine,' he would reply.
'And my waist?' she would ask.
'Only more to love,' he would reply.
'Bastard,' she would think to herself. Men never told the truth.
She sat there, and started feeling depressed again. 'I need to get fit,' she said in a moment of inspiration. She got to her feet, looked at her joggers by the door, looked at the TV, and sat back down, picked up the bikkies, and munched away. Who was she kidding.
A knock on the door. She got up and answered it.
'Oh, it's you,' she said. Karel the Seraphim walked into the room.
They sat, looking at Dora, and Karel handed her a bottle of Coca Cola.
'Did you do it with him last night?' asked Karel.
'Yeh, we did it,' replied Dorachel.
'Was he passionate?' asked Karel.
'Hardly. You'd think after a century's abstinence he would be eager, but he puts it in, explodes, and falls to sleep practically instantly. And I'm left high n dry.'
Karel petted her sisters belly. 'Elenniel has said it enough, don't you think. They like a girl trim, taut and terrific.'
'Shut up and drink your coca cola,' replied the Brazillian.
They sat there for a while, watching Dora lead Boots through the map, and Karel looked at her sister with concern.
'You've never really been terribly slim, have you?'
'Not since the pre-terra days,' replied Dorachel. 'I maintained myself then. But life on earth was lots of fast food and chocolate, and I've never really recovered from that.'
'And whatever you do it never works, right?' asked Karel. Dorachel shook her head. 'Then you need a plan with me, and I'll MAKE you stick to it.'
Dorachel looked at her hopefully. 'What kind of plan?'
'Uriel and Raguel want revenge on Daniel San. It involves a series of sporting events. If you can say 'This is awesome. Getting fit for this is great,' it will inspire Daniel to do the kind of results we want.'
'What is the plan of revenge?' asked Dorachel.
'Never you mind about that,' replied Karel. 'We'll let you know in time.'
'Well, ok. I guess,' replied Dorachel.
'We start in the morning. I'll be here early, and you be ready. Break of Dawn.'
'Ok,' said Dorachel.
* * * * *
For once in her life Dorachel had a bit of motivation. Someone cared about her now. Her sister Karel. And so, getting up before dawn, Raguel not waking, she had a shower, put on her tracksuit, and got into her joggers. And she had just done it when there was a knock.
'Good, you are ready,' said Karel, as Dorachel opened the door. 'Let's go.' And they were off.
They got to the bottom of Zaphon keep, and looked out at the city of Zaphona. 'She's a glorious thing, isn't she,' said Karel. 'To see her in this early morning light.'
'I guess,' replied Dorachel.
'Ok. I know you are hardly fit,' said Karel. 'So today we'll go slow. Don't worry, there won't be any diet change for months. Today we'll just walk the entire way around Zaphon keep, and that will do. We'll do it every day for a week, and then we'll increase.'
'Sounds good,' said Dorachel. They started off, and it was probably a good mile the whole way around the keep, as it had developed over the years, and Dorachel was puffing after only a quarter of the way.
'Is this enough?' asked Dorachel.
'Without discipline and pain you'll never pull through,' chided Karel.
'Yes mistress,' replied Dorachel, and steadied herself as they continued.
There was a buzz of early morning traffic around the keep, as cars and buses went to and fro throughout the city. Zaphona city was the heart of eternity, and the heart of the disc of Zaphora. It had built up a lot over time, and lots of Realm wide business organisations were headquartered there.
'Once you get fit, you know. He'll be more interested,' said Karel.
'Do you think?' asked Dorachel.
'Definitely. He's too sensitive to say anything, but its how they all think. Believe me.'
'That's good,' replied Dorachel.
They continued on with their walk, and Dorachel was starting to get that familiar ache in her lower back. 'I need to rest,' she said.
'We're only half way around. You can rest when we are finished.'
'I need to bloody rest,' said Dorachel, and sat down on some grass. Karel shook her head, but sat down next to her.
'I understand,' said Karel. 'A bit too much all at once. But tomorrow no rest. You'll be used to it a bit more then.'
'Fine,' said Dorachel.
'Anyway. Is Raguel liking his work?'
'He doesn't talk about it much,' said Dorachel. 'He says a few things, but doesn't go into much detail. We talk more about TV and the weather and family and stuff.'
'Oh,' replied Karel, not completely familiar with the conversation topics of Dorachel and her twin. 'He does love you, doesn't he?'
'He tells me that. It's why we are married I suppose. But I think he gets along better with Uriel and Jerahmeel and Sariel quite frankly. Sometimes I'm just his twin which he has to live with I think.'
'Mmm,' said Karel. 'Sometimes a relationship needs spice. To make it come alive. Get fit, get active in the bedroom, and he'll like you more. Go places, instead of TV all the time.'
'Normally we couldn't be bothered,' replied Dorachel.
'Then get bothered,' said Karel. 'Or you'll never be as happy as you could be.'
'I suppose,' said Dorachel.
'Right,' you've had your rest. Here we go again,' said Karel getting to her feet. Dorachel sighed, but nodded, and got to her feet, trudging. They made it though, and Dorachel got back to her suite, laid down on the couch, drank her bottle of water and said 'I'm fucked.' But she felt better. She felt much, much better.
* * * * *
Satan. The Dark Lord of Evil. So he imagined himself. But he was getting a lecture from Samael of Heaven, the real Devil.
'Look, bloke. You are going to have to cut down the shenanigans. Paramount corporation, of which I am a key stakeholder, needs a better reputation. True, shareholders are shareholders because of your name. They like the rep of Satan as the lord of ruthless business practices and hostile takeovers. You're there kind of guy. But we comply with the law or we're fucked up the arse by the big Kahuna. Kapiche?'
'The big Kahuna can bite me,' replied Satan to Samael. He wasn't in a good mood. Samael had been dishing out orders all morning.
'Buddy. I have a hell of a lot more repentance required of me in contractual obligations with the children of heaven, and I won't have my good name ruined by your fuck ups. The prostitutes go. Ok. No more of them hanging around the office here. I know your workers don't give a damn. Hey, your the fucking devil, but Adam and Jesus have been questioning me. Am I faithful to my word.'
'Jesus, is a pussy,' said Satan, in reference to Jesus, the child of heaven, not the literal Jesus of Nazareth of the Cherubim.
'He's a nasty pussy in his mockery, and he has influence with the Wolf. If I don't comply enough there are nasty penalties in the contract.'
'Fine,' said Satan. 'But let me keep Delilah. She's to die for.'
'THEY GO,' said Samael.
'Spoil sport,' said Satan under his breath. 'Ok. I get it. I get it. The prostitutes are not best ethics for business.'
Samael glared at his underling. 'Good. And one last thing. The new Cola agenda. Good idea. Go through with it. Paramount Cola sounds great, with the Devil logo you guys have. Should be a real winner.'
'Sure thing boss,' said Satan, saluting Samael in a sarcastic tone.
Samael glared at him once more, and looked around the office, now seemingly satisfied. 'Apart form that, keep it up. Business as usual. Share prices are good, and we have good negotiations on things going at the moment. Don't fuck it up.' And then he was gone.
'No more pussy,' said Samaen, playing with a paperweight.
'No more pussy my butt,' replied Satan. 'I'll just be more discrete.'
'Coming from you, that's rich,' said Samaen.
'You can bite me,' said Satan. Samaen just chuckled.
* * * * *
'When was it first called Zaphona?' Ariel asked Daniel. 'The city?'
Daniel looked over at his twin. 'Oh, it comes in and out of fashion. It's just the Realm of Eternity to the older angels, but a long time ago the term was coined. I think it was Saruviel, actually. In a memorandum to Michael once, he mentioned the term, which had apparently been used between him and Daraqel and Kantriel a bit. But it might have had another source than that. Not 100% sure. Zaphora, though, has been used since the beginning. The very beginning. But it was never taught much.'
'Right,' said Ariel, and put her face back to the screen.
'Why?' asked Daniel.
'Writing. My autobiography,' said Ariel.
Daniel came and stood and looked at the screen. 'Don't you have an ancient one?'
'I'm updating,' she replied. 'A lot has happened between then and now. Getting it all down as best I can. Quite a lot to say, actually.'
'Am I in it?' he asked vainly.
'Not a word,' she replied.
'Bitch,' he said.
'You are practically on every page so get over it egomaniac.' Daniel grinned in response.
'Are you going to publish? Or is it memoirs for the family.'
'I'll publish,' she replied. 'Noahide Books this time as well if you like.'
'We have a minor interest in Ariel the Seraphim,' replied Daniel. 'She has a moderate amount of fame. Mediocre personality, but a moderate amount of fame.'
'You know Daniel. There was a picture of Satan in the Encyclopaedia of Evil once. Under the most evil of all antagonists. I think they republished recently and you had taken the top slot.'
'And its about time too,' replied Daniel. 'Yes, we will publish your masterpiece. After the Ladies of the Seraphim Torah your reputation is solid as a rock. We would be honoured.'
'I'll expect an advance. 40 Quadrillion.'
'The lady doesn't come cheap,' said Daniel.
'In cash,' she replied.
Daniel raised his eyebrows. 'That's a lot of hard currency sweetie. Are you sure you can store it all?'
'Realm Credits are still serialised,' replied Ariel. 'It's a collection investment in the notes themselves.'
Daniel was curious. 'You? Collect? You don't normally take an interest in stuff like that.'
'Oh, I have my collections. Not where you can get your covetous paws all over them, but I have them.'
'Cash it is,' replied Daniel. 'And that Advance will be fine. Your popular enough throughout the realm to justify it.'
'Good,' replied Ariel, and turned back to her screen to continue on with her work. Daniel watched her a moment, amused, and returned to watching the A Team.
'Investing in cash,' Daniel thought to himself. A side of Ariel he had never really seen. How fascinating.
And the world turned.
* * * * *
'So, we're official then?' asked Gloryel, looking at Ambriel with those eyes.
'Mr Horner has had enough of you then?' asked Ambriel.
'Oh, Christian is a poo pants,' said Gloryel. 'Racing Cars and Chess. He doesn't think about much else. Trying to become a grandmaster at chess, and challenge the world's greatest. He's too dim.'
'Your so kind,' said Ambriel in reply.
'We're official then?' asked Gloryel again.
'If you insist,' said Ambriel. 'I'll let Meludiel know she can move in with Daniel for a while.'
'Good,' said Gloryel. 'And we'll do everything together. Go to restaurants, the red carpet everywhere, theatre. I think 'My Fair Lady' is showing in Zaphona at the moment, so we'll be seen there.'
'So you want to be seen with the Messiah then is it?' asked David, smiling warmly.
'Oh, get over your ego. Religion is for zealots like that Daniel idiot. I'm a simple child of God who keeps faith in love,' replied Gloryel.
'And you are so loving,' said Ambriel in a slightly mocking tone.
'David,' said Gloryel, in a serious tone.
'Yes Geraldine,' he replied.
'Do you know anything about coffee? Caffeine?'
'Enough I suppose,' replied David Rothchild.
'Do you have any companies involved with their manufacture?'
'Messiah Ministries has a comprehensive food empire for feeding the poor and disaffected. We produce a lot of our own product. I would imagine coffee is one of our products.'
'Good, good,' replied Gloryel.
'Why do you ask?' asked Ambriel.
'I sense something coming. And I'd like to be involved in you big boys business this time. Daraqel has been talking with me of late, and he is in the know in a lot of circles. Caffeine is being heavily invested in at the moment, and I assume its coffee. It's possibly cola, though. But he's not 100% sure yet.'
Ambriel looked at her curiously. 'Cola Wars?'
'That might be the next wave of competition,' said Gloryel. 'And I'd like you and me to be at the forefront of it. If its cola I have some ideas. I saw some of Branson's Virgin Cola ideas for a bit. I think I could offer the world a good product if it is the stuff.'
Ambriel nodded, slightly surprised at his sisters ambition. 'Do you want to form a company together then?'
'It's called Ambiglory,' replied Gloryel. 'It was registered three weeks ago. You just have some documents to sign,' she said, batting her eyelashes.
Ambriel smiled. 'You are a devil aren't you,' he said to his Seraphim sister.
'Takes one to know one,' she grinned, and kissed him on the cheek.
* * * * *
Raguel was out in the fields. He was in Terraphora, in some land holdings of his, in Brazil. His nation. The Seraphim and Cherubim not only ruled Discs, but also nations. They acted as 'Princes' and 'Princesses' of various of the cultural nations of mankind. And this sovereignty extended over every developed nation based on the foundational nation throughout the realm. It was a larger glory in reality, especially for the Seraphim and elder Cherubim who claimed the main national glories. Raguel was Prince of Brazil, and always had been. Today he was inspecting his headquarters for his coffee empire, and the main fields were they grew the coffee bean. This was the new agenda in a way – it was becoming clearer through TV reports and word of mouth amongst the Seraphim especially. The Cola Wars were coming, and holding key stocks in coffee, one of the main ingredients in Cola, was a vital asset at this stage. Richard Branson had started the thing off a few weeks back with fresh Virgin Cola advertising, which the Spice Girls had done an advertisement for. Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola had responded very quickly, and Cola ads were currently in vogue on TV networks throughout the realm. Who would win the Cola Wars? Time would tell.
'Well Dramdondoranta? What do you think?' Raguel asked the 66th born of the Cherubim males, head over his Terraphoran Company.
'Soil cultivation is a long and drawn out process, and its a challenge to get the balance just right. And its an awful lot of expense. To do all our coffee fields, well. Well it would take a lot of cash,' replied the Cherubim.
'That, I think, is worth the expense,' replied Raguel. 'If we are going to come out on top in this looming battlefield we need the best quality ingredients, and we're not doing them all. Coffee remains the main product for our beans. But we're doing a lot of them, so what do you think?'
'It's a lot of commitment,' replied Dramdondoranta. 'And unless we are committing very long term to this project, I am not sure if it is the best of options. I know our cola is good – it tastes great. Right up there with Coke. But it's a lot of money Raguel.'
Raguel nodded, and looked out at the fields. He turned to his business employee. 'Do it. Whatever it costs. And do it right. We're not going to lose this fight.'
'Ok,' replied the Cherubim. 'I'll get started immediately.'
Dramdondoranta turned and made his way back to the offices, and Raguel continued staring out at the fields. Busy times. Busy work. Lots to do. A great life because of it. A great life.
* * * * *
'How was work Drammy?' asked Dramdondoranta's twin, Quintathrea.
'Yeh, how was work?' asked his Cherubim sister Verantina.
'It was ok,' replied the angel. 'Challenging as usual. We're going through with the soil cultivation project. A lot of work ahead. Suppliers, new employees, a whole heck of complications.'
'What's life without a challenge,' said Verantina, and returned her focus to the TV set.
Quintathrea came over and kissed him on the cheek. They were married, had children who lived on the planetary bodies, and were a very traditional married couple. She stayed at home as a housewife, took care of cleaning the home, doing the cooking and washing the clothes and the other responsibilities, and spent the afternoon watching the TV shows, which she was addicted to. She spent a lot of time colouring in, and had various exhibits of her work up around their home. They were friendly in the bedroom, and a happily married couple. In fact, probably the most devoted of all the early Cherubim to each other.
'Work is good for the soul, so its good its challenging,' replied his wife to the sigh on Dramdondoranta's face. 'Now its your poker night, and the boys are coming over, so we will make ourself scarce with the other ladies, and we'll be back at midnight as usual.
Dramdondoranta nodded. 'Did you get the usual stuff?'
'It's in the kitchen on the table and in the fridge. Remember, no heavy drinking. I expect you all under the limit by the time I get home. You have infracted a little in recent millennia. A few too many occasions you have been a bit more than just tipsy. So keep it under control.'
'I understand,' he replied. He looked at the TV. It was a gardening show. 'Watching your stuff sis?' he asked Verantina. Verantina was a gardener in her occupation, and worked in Terraphora, often at Terraphon itself, were she had long done various gardening activities.
'Oh, stay in the know. Refresh it all,' replied the female Cheruibm. 'I've seen the show a million times – literally – but it never hurts to keep it all fresh in your mind.'
'No, it doesn't at that,' replied Dramdondoranta. 'Well, I'll have a shower, and then we'll eat.'
'See you later, said Verantina, and his wife smiled at him as he headed off for a shower, and a change into more casual clothes for the night of fun and frivolity.
* * * * *
Kalendrasisus, 67th of the male Cherubim of Eternity, looked at his cards.
'He's bluffing you you silly toffer,' said the posh Draconatissamay, 68th of the male Cherubim.
Kalendrasius looked at Dramdondoranta the serene look of implacable calmness on his face.
'Simon says, confess,' said Kalendrasius. 'Art thou bluffing thy younger but wiser brother?'
'I am surely betting, within the confines of the rules of poker, as my heart does righteously testify me to,' smiled Dramdondoranta. 'Can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen buddy.'
'He has the fraudulency skills of a skunk in a perfumery. Passes off his fowl odour as 'French Stylings', when its Iron Curtain shenanigans at best. He is as obvious as the day is long and the night black,' said Draconatissamay.
'Perhaps,' said Kalendrasius nervously. 'Ok, I call,' said the angel, putting in his chips. 'Full house. Two twos and three queens. Your dead and you know it.'
Draconatissamay smiled, and looked at Dramdondoranta. 'He is fuckethed, and he knoweth it righteously.
'A valiant hand,' said Dramdondoranta. 'Surely my 4 Aces pale in significance,' he said proudly as he laid down the four Aces on the card table.
'There goes my paypacket,' smiled Kalendrasius. 'The bugger has done it again.'
'Forsooth, I sense his deception skills have improved,' mocked Draconatissamay.
'The skill of experience,' replied Dramdondoranta, and raked in his chips. They only gambled with money occasionally, using chips which were cashed out through bank transfers. And tonight was Dramdondoranta's night.
'Time for a drink I think,' said Draconatissamay. 'And some naughty videos.'
'Only MA15+ I'm afraid,' replied Dramdondoranta. 'Quinny comes down pretty heavy on the higher ratings these days.'
'So girls in knickers again is it?' asked Draconatissamay.
'The same old classic,' replied Dramdondoranta.
Soon enough they were in front of the lounge, lights dimmed, drinking beer and eating pretzels and nuts, as they watched the German classic, which had no subtitles, but they knew the language anyway, of German and Dutch girls running around in Knickers all over German fields, breasts showing to the world, a very soft core production, meant to tittilize the masses who had certain decency requirements in their entertainment of the manly kind. And the poker night passed in frivolity, and not long before midnight they were tipsy enough, but not drunk, not technically, and when Quintathrea came in with the other ladies, they looked at their men playing around like fools, noticed the questionable movie on the TV screen, but calmly let the situation be. Boys would be boys, and they were under control enough on this occasion. On this particular occasion anyway.

The End



Gabriel 4

‘Gabriel, Gabriel, Gabriel. When will you learn, my fine feathered friend?’
Satan grinned once more at Seraphim Gabriel of Eternity, dressed in a chicken outfit, out the front of one of Satan’s fast food restaurants, somewhere on the disc of Mitraphora. Gabriel had lost a match of chess with Satan, and had agreed to dress as a chicken to promote one of Satan’s Chicken Restaurant empires. And so, with the dark lord of evil watching on, Gabriel was handing out flyers in the shape of a chicken, doing his very best not to be embarrassed.

‘I’ll get you for this, you know, Satan. I’ll get you back. When you are least suspecting you will enter into a DARK agreement, and vengeance shall be mine.’
‘Dream on, punk,’ responded the dark one. ‘Now remember, you have 3 solid years of this work before your time is up. A wager is a wager.’
‘I am still not sure how you won. I had you with only a few moves to play, and suddenly it was checkmate.’
‘Whatever. Now remember, smile and say ‘El Supremo’s make the best chicken in town’. Come on, give it a try,’ he said again, a smirk on his face.
‘El Supremo’s make the best chicken in town,’ said Gabriel blandly.
‘Surely you can do better than that, sayeth I. Now put some heart into it.’
‘El Supremo’s make the best chicken in town,’ said Gabriel, this time with just a tad of enthusiasm. Satan looked distressed, shaking his head. ‘It will have to do, I guess. But remember – 9 to 5. 9 to bloody 5, and only half an hour for lunch. Have fun,’ he said, walking back into the restaurant.

Gabriel grumbled as he walked off. ‘You can have fun and take this chicken suit and shove it up you’re…… Oh, yes Maam,’ finished Gabriel, to a lady who had walked up to him, inquiring about the flyer. ‘Yes,’ he said, handing her a flyer. ‘El Supremo’s make the best chicken in town.’ As she walked into the restaurant Gabriel smiled to himself. Hopefully a satisfied customer. Hey, this wasn’t that bad after all.


It was 4 O’Clock in the afternoon. Gabriel was still at work, yonked after a hard day’s yakka, and a little birdie had sent certain priority emails to certain people. Suddenly he was confronted with 4 very sarcastic angels.

‘Heh, heh, heh. That looks like fun,’ said Daniel the Seraphim.
‘Shut up Dan.’
‘He’ll get the hang of it,’ said Raphael.
‘Yes, I am sure he will, finished Michael.
Gabriel turned to the other angel. It was Aquariel.
‘And you wondered why I said no,’ stated Aquariel, giving him a good old fashioned dressing down with her look.

‘Look, I lost a wager. I had no choice,’ said Gabriel defensively.
‘Heh, heh, heh,’ said Daniel again, grinning.

Aquariel summed it up. ‘I guess you are too much of a CHICKEN to get a real job anyway. Too many tough roosters in the hen house competing with you.’
Gabriel groaned, the other three laughed, took flyers from him, and went inside to eat some chicken.

When he had finished for the day he joined them and had a tasty chicken burger. Actually, it was pretty good chicken. He was not quite sure if El Supremo’s did in fact make the best chicken in town, but after a solid day’s handing out flyers, he was not sure if he really cared. And as he munched down his chicken, the other 4 just cracking jokes and ribbing him, he was grateful that he at least had some friendly company in what could end up one of the more demanding jobs in the realm of eternity. At least he was grateful for that.

The End






Ruth II

Chapter One

Ruth, great grandmother of King David, was a conservative enough sort of lady. She was Jewish now, by conversion and Bat Mitzvah upon Televere, and walked with God with a gentle and quiet serenity which her husband Boaz had long praised her for. She lived in the town of Paradision on the southern continent of Androma on the planet Televere, which was also known as Televon. It was a pleasant planet, with a gentle life, and not much great activity – which is really how the inhabitants generally liked things to run. They were a conservative people, the Televerans, of a strong monotheistic faith and kind disposition. Half the populace were Jewish, another quarter Christian and another quarter Noahide. They were a god-fearing people because of this balance and all respected and followed the decrees of the ruling Monarch, Albert Rothchild.

Ruth had many friends around Televere who she emailed often. She and Boaz invited them to dinner very often and they had visiting guests at least half the days of the year. But that was the life of the eternal, so they had discovered, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

There next door neighbour on one side had been Daniel Daly who had returned to the Realm of Eternity to live there, for he was angelic in nature, going by the angelic name of Callodyn. Ruth had been fond of Daniel and had sought out a close friend of hers by the name of Claudia for them to hopefully, in Ruth’s mind, find some romance. But it had not eventuated and Ruth continued to pray for Mr Daly’s welfare on that issue because of it.

As a couple they were largely incognito from much of the general populace, a necessity of their fame unfortunately. Most Paradisions knew who they were, but would not spread knowledge of them out of personal request, and that was the way it had generally remained since their settling on Televere.

Boaz worked different jobs from time to time in Televere, often choosing something new simply to embellish life somewhat. He sat on the council of Televere, were a goodly portion of his regular income came from, and apart from that worked on and off in the local farming collective. Televere had an admixture of capitalist and socialist principles – in the heavenly life people were closer now, and it was not so necessary to strive for selfish purposes, an ideal of capitalism, thus socialistic principles found more of a home in the community. But they were capitalists as well and bought an ample supply of the lovely goods and services which passed through the stores of their towns.

Boaz liked the internet of Televere a great deal, and now collected stamps of Televere. He had 4 levels of sub-basements beneath the house, all filled with various stamps Televere had now produced. Eventually, so he told Ruth, he would either sell them or give them to charity and simply start again. Collectables, in the stuff of eternal life, while still having great value for a while, did not really matter that much in the end. Life invariably went on and you could always start a collection again. But he would keep the oldest premium ones permanently, he assured his wife, for they made an excellent long term investment.

They attended the synagogue each Sabbath and prayed to Hashem quiet and simple prayers of thanks and adoration. And therein they were content. They had children sparsely, over 100 now, but that was not really a great deal in the vast amount of time they had lived now on Televere. But they had no great need for further children and, generally, were largely content with their lot in life. This was life, Boaz often commented to her, and it was a happy and pleasant enough journey down the eternal hallways. Yet, whatever beckoned in the future – well time would only tell.


Chapter Two

‘Do you think the Rabbi will accept his request for conversion? You know how they are these days with Christians who want to join Israel – they almost definitely refuse outright. Way too many problems with answering endless questions, so the Rabbis say. Besides, why bother leaving Christian faith.’
Leah looked at the bearded man by the name of Nathan Smith, noticed that the beard was in fact quite lengthy, the sign he had been growing it for a while, and responded to Ruth.
‘I don’t know. The beard will likely impress our Rabbi. He is fond of things like that. It will likely come down to how well he answers the Rabbis questions on Torah. If he speaks well the Rabbi may consider him. Perhaps this Nathan is a wise man, who fears Hashem. We will see soon enough.’
Ruth nodded, picked up a cookie, and continued staring at the synagogues guest who was doing his best to look unnoticeable.
‘I think he knows we are looking at him, Ruthie. Best not to embarrass the man.’
Ruth nodded and turned away from her stirs, looking out on the after service supper.
It was the usual thing, after Friday night Sabbath service, for the congregation to take a supper together, which had been prepared just before the Sabbath. Fortunately the coffee was still somewhat hot and the congregation sat as a group, smiling and chatting and enjoying each other’s company.

After a while Rabbi Pearlman spoke up. ‘Brothers, sisters. I would like to introduce you all to a seeker of conversion. He is a Christian man who has been walking in Noahide faith. Yet he feels called to join Israel and we are considering his request. It is not often we seriously consider new converts, but I will let the man speak for himself.’ The Rabbi motioned to the man and he stood and introduced himself.

‘Hello everyone. Shabbat Shalom. Well, I am a simple sort of guy, really. I am unmarried, and have lived on Televere for a few centuries since coming from earth. I moved to Paradision late last year and work in the farming community. I can’t really say, for sure, if it is Hashem leading me and guiding me. I can’t say that. But I feel a need to connect to Israel – to join them. I feel as if they are the people of my future, the people of my destiny. And I feel this deep inside, as if a voice of my heart is saying it is the right thing to do. I can’t really prove these words to you with just the saying of them, but I can say that if you can accept me into your congregation, well. Well, I wouldn’t let you down.’
There was a warm clap as he sat down again and the Rabbi thanked him.

A little later on Boaz had signalled that it was about time to leave, but before they made off Ruth asked her husband if he would consider inviting Nathan to dinner. Boaz shrugged and, after returning from making the request, nodded to her that Nathan had agreed. ‘Next Saturday night, at 7, just after the end of Sabbath. He has agreed to come around.
‘Good,’ said Ruth. ‘He might need to find a friendly face in our congregation if he is serious about joining us. It will also be a good opportunity for us to sound him out.’
‘You and your meddling,’ said Boaz with good humour.
‘I am not meddling at all. I am simply acting wisely. Now let’s be going. I am getting tired.

As they drove home Ruth gave thought to the new potential convert. While it was true conversion was now very difficult to achieve, it was not forbidden technically. It would be interesting to see, therefore, just what the hearts desires of this Nathan Smith really were made of towards her people. And with the dinner of Saturday night she assumed she would find out the answer to that question soon enough.


Chapter Three

Nathan proved an intelligent and charming man to Ruth. But it was Boaz who took a shining to him. The lad collected Stamps of all things, and Boaz and Nathan spent hours in the basement after dinner going through some of Boaz’s extensive stamp collection. When they returned, chatting about this and that watermark and other stamp related business, Ruth put out some cookies and coffee for her guest. As they munched Ruth let fly some of the questions she was interested in hearing answers to. She was asking from her own experiences and her own desires, to see if such things were also in the heart of Nathan.
‘So, why Israel, Nathan? Why not stick with Jesus. Surely he has been good to you.’
Nathan looked at her with a calm demeanour and spoke very sincerely. ‘Yes, Jesus has been remarkably good to me, Ruth. I saw him once at a Mega church, preaching a sermon. It really was captivating. But, now while this may sound strange, Jesus is just one man. And while the church is full of people, it really sort of only has one ultimate authority apart from God and that is in the person of Jesus. Israel is different to that. Israel is almost more like a family in this respect. And, of course, that is exactly what it is. A family. I want that for myself, one day. The kind of family with the bonds of trust and respect that Israel has. And in joining my seed to the Israelite community I am sure that I will find the strength I desire for my offspring.’
‘That sounds very sensible,’ commented Boaz. ‘If you speak as such to the Rabbi I am sure he will look favourably upon you.’
‘It is not that easy, Boaz. I could only wish it was. The Rabbi expects high quality letters of recommendation from past pastoral figures, as well as extensive Torah knowledge. And while I have studied Judaism greatly, I fear I am still too young for the Rabbi to approve my conversion. I feel, in the end, it will be as I expect. Not until a thousand years of age in this heavenly realm will they approve. Not until I have really lived and known the commitment I am saying I am prepared to make.’
‘And is that a bad thing, Nathan? If they want you to wait.’
‘No. Not really. It’s frustrating, and time delaying in a sense. But I know I must have patience.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Boaz. ‘If you are to be approved of, time will generally be the testing of you. But you can know you have my vote of confidence.’
‘Thanks Boaz. That means a lot.’

They continued on for a while, discussing various aspects of Nathan’s plight, and as he left for the night, wishing them well, Ruth could see the struggle of the heart in Nathan Smith. He desperately wanted a family – a family in a way he had not found out in the Noahide or Christian world. And, while knowing she must respect her Rabbis judgement, she silently felt for him and hoped, perhaps against hope, the Rabbi would show leniency in this particular case.


Chapter Four

Rabbi Pearlman was a sensible and forthright Rabbi. Yet he had to consider not just Nathan Smith, but his congregation and the reputation of himself and his congregation for the decisions they were to make. In Televeran life the general consensus was the requests for conversion were now to be refused. Noahide and Christian faith were established of such a degree that the necessity for a soul to join the people of Israel had diminished and really was not necessary. But, technically, under a number of Rabbinic rulings, under the most exceptional of circumstances a case could be considered. Yet, even then, the standard practice of turning away a convert a number of times to determine their seriousness must be held to and, at the very least, a long and considered study of the Torah having had taken place. And, as such, the Rabbi knew what he had to do.

Ruth regretted not seeing Nathan at the services anymore, but the Rabbi was of the opinion that Noahides should generally only congregate in their own assemblies, as was the custom on Televere. Nathan had been turned away in the end. The Rabbi had cited that it was practically impossible for him to make any other decision, and Nathan had left, broken hearted. But when Ruth had inquired of the Rabbi later on that week as to his decision he had taken her aside, spoken a few words of his wisdom on the subject, and she had nodded. ‘Not yet, Ruthie. Not yet. But one day? Well, maybe.’

And so life returned to its merry strum and ways and Ruth grew that little bit wiser in the ways and knowledge of the Rabbis and the ways of the people she had committed her heart to belong to.

The End



Ambriel at the Farm
Ambriel owned a big farm in Terraphora. He had bought it with Meludiel in the early years of Gabriel’s term as Overseer for the Realm of Eternity and now, 3 million years later, Raguel happily ensconced as Overseer of the Realm and doing fine, Ambriel had taken a few thousand years off his main duties to relax with Meludiel and let life simply pass on by.

It was simple, the farm life. Very simple. He and Meludiel – the two of them – milked cows each morning, collected eggs, and occasionally picked out some tomatoes and onions from the garden to use in the big
Omelettes Meludiel loved to cook for them both. Ambriel, from long experience, when he needed to pee, often peed on the tomatoes because they gave them a very tangy and lovely flavour when they were ripe.
‘Human and Angel Urea is very refined because of what we eat,’ he commented to Meludiel once, and she acknowledged the delicious flavour which had come from his pee’s nutrients into the tomatoes. It was
natural living, and she was perfectly at home with it.

Once, when they were out a back paddock late in the day, the two of them came over a hill and were confronted with a stallion on the back of mare, humping away. As soon as it saw the both of them it suddenly stopped and they skitted away a distance. ‘Oops,’ said Meludiel. Ambriel smiled and looked at her. She was dressed in white lace, and looked beautiful. He put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. ‘Perhaps we could have some fun.’
‘Here?’ she said. ‘You are kidding aren’t you?’
He wasn’t kidding and, when she was down on all fours in the dirt, naked, shivering a little, her blessed grunting behind her as he thrust his manhood into her glory, she thought to herself ‘The Joys of Nature.’

There was another memorable time. They had been to a local antique store and purchased a rather large grandfather clock. When Daniel came to visit he looked at it suspiciously. ‘I’ve seen that clock before,’ he said. Ambriel smiled.

Later that week, Ambriel coming into the kitchen early one morning, thinking he had heard some noise, he found the clock gone and there, Daniel, just outside, lifting the clock carefully, seemingly dragging it to his van.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ Ambriel asked Daniel.
Daniel looked guilty, but said nothing.
‘You are stealing our bloody clock,’ said Ambriel.

‘Oh. Well. Sorry. I had to.’
‘Why?’

‘Well, I owned this clock a few thousand years ago. I recognized some of the markings on it. There is something inside. An old gem which I hid there once. It was part of a rare set of 7 gems I had stored away.’
‘Why did you hide it?’ queried Ambriel, curious.
‘Well, I won the 7 gems in a bet with Satan, who said he would steal them back eventually, and so I hid all 7. For the life of me I can’t remember were I put the other 6, but as soon as I saw the clock I suddenly remembered that I had hidden one in it.’
‘Oh,’ said Ambriel.

And so, getting out some tools, they pulled the clock mechanism apart and, sure enough, they found a beautiful opal of dazzling brilliance. Daniel said ‘Well, it really is your clock. You have it.’
Ambriel smiled and thanked him.

Later on that day, having been in the workshop that morning, he presented the opal to Meludiel with a chain now attached to it.

‘Were did you get it?’ she asked.
‘Don’t ask,’ he responded.

There was another time, when Michael came to visit, that they were up all night with a version of ‘Advanced Monopoly’. The three of them – Michael, Ambriel & Meludiel were all determined to win, but Ambriel had collected the most properties and looked the most likely.

Then it happened – he took a chance card, was fined taxation and, because he had too many properties, 1 of them had to be redeemed to the bank. Meludiel landed on the property next turn and became the first player to complete a run of all 5 colours of a property. She was lucky. Slowly, inevitably, she managed to put houses, and then hotels, and finally the bank on her property and, as time passed, and the other two landed on her from time to time, she claimed the victory. She was very happy with that.

The farmhouse was quite big. It had 3 levels and then an attic as well and Meludiel sometimes stole away to the attic, sitting up there in the afternoon, sitting near the window, reading one of Daniel’s volumes of Angelic fiction she liked, in a little world of her own. She would sit there, occasionally petting the cat on her lap, looking out the window at the farm, listening to the noise of the animals.

She would sit there, sometimes well into the afternoon, sometimes into the night, and Ambriel would rarely disturb her. He usually knew were she was.

She read through Daniel’s chronicles many times and, when he occasionally added yet another volume to the voluminous saga she would, in time, finish off the saga and start again. Her reading list grew each time.

She would also, from time to time, bring up some ice tea and sit there, one of her CDs playing in the background, thinking about life and God, and just being happy simply being alive. Simply being.

Out the back of the farmhouse was a windmill. It was quite a large one, and there was enough room for a verandah of sorts around the top layer of the windmill. Meludiel would go up there, and look out over the cornfield. She would often think of the Superman movie, were Clark was in the field. She would sit up there and feel the spirit of the land, and her heart was moved each time. She would gaze out into the distance, imagining the fields going on forever, even though she had a pretty good idea were they ended. It was spiritual – it was life – and she did it often, escaping away, at peace with herself and God.

Ambriel’s own private meditations in those years were often down in the basement of the farmhouse, sitting in the small lounge down there, reading some book or another. It was a quiet place, a little cold, especially in winter, but Meludiel said she would not disturb him down there.

There was a pinball machine against the wall and, often, he would play it. Going for his high score again and again, just to pass the time, just to enjoy himself.

And at other times he would sit there, reading through a text, thinking over what it was saying, and staring at the Aquarium, at the goldfish, working out life. Working through ideas. Working through what it was all about.

He painted war game figures down there, at one end of the basement. In the local community there was a strong war-gaming presence, and they played, usually, Warhammer Fantasy Battle. Ambriel delighted in painting the figurines and putting in a wholehearted effort to ensure they were of a high quality.

One campaign he was on was divided into a 300 year scenario of various conquests and quests – he did his best, but his main rival was simply stunning at the game in those days. He was clued up to all Ambriel’s moves and always seemed to be just that step ahead. But he finished the campaign well, and his rankings in Realm wide statistics benefited because of it.

He thought on eternity a lot in those days. How things just went on, and never really ended. That they were children of eternal life, and simply really just had to ‘BE’ to enjoy it all. Oh, there was always this and that to fuss about, but life could be as complex as you wanted to make it, or as simple as you wanted to make it. It all depended on you.

He wrote a novel, late in the reign of Raguel, called ‘Joy’. It was semi-autobiographical, about a farming couple retired from the big smoke. In truth he melded a lot of his own adventures with Meludiel into a contrived plot, but he was happy with the outcome. The book charted at number one of the realm bestseller list, mainly because of his fame, but the critics also remarked that it was extremely well written and had genuine warmth.

There were a lot of adventures in those days on the farm and, although they never sold the place, they eventually returned to the mainstream world and got caught up with the affairs of Phanuel’s overseersmanship. They were good times and, so Ambriel promised Meludiel, they would inevitably return there one day, but for now they had ended, and life moved on. It moved on, again, into the complex riddle of eternal life and destiny charted yet another adventure for the likes of Ambriel, Seraphim Angel of Eternity.
The End