| 11 Comforting Stranger |
| Peggy repositioned herself on the edge of her bed. She sifted through the pages once more until she came to the book of Revelation. �And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8. but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him....12. On this account be glad, YOU heavens and YOU who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to YOU, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.� Peggy looked up at Mike. �How do you know all this? Are you some kind of minister?� Mike walked over to the armchair and sat down. �Not in the sense you might think.� �What does that mean?� She frowned at him. �You wouldn�t believe me if I told you.� �Try me.� She closed the book and dropped it into his lap. �Alright.� He paused. �What do you know about Seraphs and Cherubs?� he asked, slipping the bible into the pocket of his jacket. �Who?� she asked. �Angels.� �Angels? Not much.� Suddenly it occurred to her. �Oh, please. You�re not going to tell me that you�re...� The bedroom door creaked open. Nick was standing in the doorway leaning against the doorjamb with his arms folded across his chest. �You had to tell her didn�t you? Couldn�t wait to see if she was perceptive enough to figure it out for herself, which I might add were the rules.� �If I felt that it was necessary, I had permission to do so.� �Perhaps. But, we�ve only just begun.� �What are you talking about?� She turned towards Nick. �Are you going to tell me that you�re an angel too?� �No. Actually, I�m not.� Peggy turned to Mike. �You say you�re an angel, he says he�s not. Are you both crazy?� She stood up quickly. �I think you should leave. Right now!� Nick straightened up and moved into the room. �Now look what you�ve done, Mike. You�ve upset her.� �I think you�ve played your game for long enough. Please, just leave.� Mike stood up and looked into her eyes. �Peggy.� His beautiful blue eyes reflected a guileless sincerity. �Please, stay calm. We�re here for a purpose.� �What purpose? You can�t bring Rick back, can you?� �No. I don�t have that power.� Mike moved toward her. She backed away. Peggy was angry and dazed by everything that had happened; she didn�t know what to think. �I don�t believe you. Angels don�t appear out of nowhere and help people. It just doesn�t happen.� She pointed to Nick. �And, what about him? Who is he if he�s not an angel?� |