beautiful.”
“Trees only live for a thousand years?”
“Certain trees. Most don’t make it that long, but some kinds live much longer. It all depends. This one is amazing not only because of its beauty, but also because of what all it has lived through.”
“Such as?”
“Well… a tsunami ripped through that area not too many years ago. It’s also pretty close to where a nuclear disaster happened.”
“Nuclear?”
“Yeah. It’s sort of the epitome of what the need for warring has brought us to. It’s a terrible weapon… a godless atrocity.”
“Because of battle?”
“Yes. And to think… it all started many thousands of years ago… with but a single sword.”
“Ahh…” he said, falling silent for a few heartbeats. “A single sword—forged by a son of God… gifted to a son of man. And so… the seed was planted.”
“Yes. The seed you gifted man that day… it struck a mightier blow than you could have imagined.”
“No, little one, I could imagine. Thus the seed .”
I didn’t say anything then.
“It seems you have lost your fear of casting blame.”
I sort of elbowed him. He grunted and then half chuckled.
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go on to the next one.”
“As you wish.”
When I flipped to the next picture, he gasped.
I smiled. “I like that one, too.”
“You like flowers.”
“I do. All kinds. Orchids are probably my favorite, but it’s really hard to pick just one favorite flower. I found these orchids growing wild in South America. I was admiring them when that enchanting little pinkish dragonfly stopped by to pay them a visit. I couldn’t believe my luck. It made for one truly amazing picture.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
We gazed silently at the rare beauty of nature, captured in a single breath and preserved there on my mobile phone, until the picture began to slowly fade.
“I would like to see the world through your eyes, little one.” He softly stroked my hair. “If only for a day.”
I didn’t say anything.
“Let me see what other treasures you have stashed away inside this odd little box.”
“I’ve only got a couple hundred pics on here . Normally I download them—post the best ones to my blog. I just haven’t taken the time lately.” I flipped to the next picture. “Oh, this one is the view from Taktsang. That’s where I was when I accidentally fell into the Nether. Or slipped, or morphed, or whatever I did.” I shrugged my shoulders. “In truth, I’m not really sure how I got there.”
“Then… how did you get out?”
“Oh… Drella. He grabbed my arm and took me to Ireland. That’s where I got the second half of the key. And the dagger.”
“Who is Drella? I know him not.”
“That’s because he’s not an Angel… or a bad dude.”
“You think I only know Angels and bad men?”
“Well… don’t you?”
He smiled. “My existence—to you—has been condensed into a single decision. A single moment in time. I am much more than the words you have read concerning my deeds.”
“Of that I am sure.” I half smiled. “Alas, we are what we leave behind. Your deeds follow you, long after your soul has left this realm.”
“Wise words from one so small.”
“Small?”
“Young.” He smiled. “It is as you say.”
“Yes, well, Drella is a Seeker now . But when he was alive… that gorgeous young man truly was the love of my life. I never found another to replace him.”
Azazel didn’t say anything else as I finished showing him pictures of the many places I had been.
“Now then, Gramps, let’s see to your dry skin. Shall we?”
“What do you mean, see to my skin? You came for blood, not flesh.”
“Yeah, yeah. But you remind me of this old man I know in Slovakia. He scowls at everybody .” I chuckled as I sat up. I can’t understand a single word he says. But when I massage his hands and arms, he quits quarreling and almost smiles.”
I suddenly felt dizzy and my head started hurting.
“Why
“Trees only live for a thousand years?”
“Certain trees. Most don’t make it that long, but some kinds live much longer. It all depends. This one is amazing not only because of its beauty, but also because of what all it has lived through.”
“Such as?”
“Well… a tsunami ripped through that area not too many years ago. It’s also pretty close to where a nuclear disaster happened.”
“Nuclear?”
“Yeah. It’s sort of the epitome of what the need for warring has brought us to. It’s a terrible weapon… a godless atrocity.”
“Because of battle?”
“Yes. And to think… it all started many thousands of years ago… with but a single sword.”
“Ahh…” he said, falling silent for a few heartbeats. “A single sword—forged by a son of God… gifted to a son of man. And so… the seed was planted.”
“Yes. The seed you gifted man that day… it struck a mightier blow than you could have imagined.”
“No, little one, I could imagine. Thus the seed .”
I didn’t say anything then.
“It seems you have lost your fear of casting blame.”
I sort of elbowed him. He grunted and then half chuckled.
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go on to the next one.”
“As you wish.”
When I flipped to the next picture, he gasped.
I smiled. “I like that one, too.”
“You like flowers.”
“I do. All kinds. Orchids are probably my favorite, but it’s really hard to pick just one favorite flower. I found these orchids growing wild in South America. I was admiring them when that enchanting little pinkish dragonfly stopped by to pay them a visit. I couldn’t believe my luck. It made for one truly amazing picture.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
We gazed silently at the rare beauty of nature, captured in a single breath and preserved there on my mobile phone, until the picture began to slowly fade.
“I would like to see the world through your eyes, little one.” He softly stroked my hair. “If only for a day.”
I didn’t say anything.
“Let me see what other treasures you have stashed away inside this odd little box.”
“I’ve only got a couple hundred pics on here . Normally I download them—post the best ones to my blog. I just haven’t taken the time lately.” I flipped to the next picture. “Oh, this one is the view from Taktsang. That’s where I was when I accidentally fell into the Nether. Or slipped, or morphed, or whatever I did.” I shrugged my shoulders. “In truth, I’m not really sure how I got there.”
“Then… how did you get out?”
“Oh… Drella. He grabbed my arm and took me to Ireland. That’s where I got the second half of the key. And the dagger.”
“Who is Drella? I know him not.”
“That’s because he’s not an Angel… or a bad dude.”
“You think I only know Angels and bad men?”
“Well… don’t you?”
He smiled. “My existence—to you—has been condensed into a single decision. A single moment in time. I am much more than the words you have read concerning my deeds.”
“Of that I am sure.” I half smiled. “Alas, we are what we leave behind. Your deeds follow you, long after your soul has left this realm.”
“Wise words from one so small.”
“Small?”
“Young.” He smiled. “It is as you say.”
“Yes, well, Drella is a Seeker now . But when he was alive… that gorgeous young man truly was the love of my life. I never found another to replace him.”
Azazel didn’t say anything else as I finished showing him pictures of the many places I had been.
“Now then, Gramps, let’s see to your dry skin. Shall we?”
“What do you mean, see to my skin? You came for blood, not flesh.”
“Yeah, yeah. But you remind me of this old man I know in Slovakia. He scowls at everybody .” I chuckled as I sat up. I can’t understand a single word he says. But when I massage his hands and arms, he quits quarreling and almost smiles.”
I suddenly felt dizzy and my head started hurting.
“Why
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