BOOK 4: PREPARATION / CH. 21:ROMANTIC AND RUSTIC
MONDAY, 11TH DECEMBER, 8PM
“Hi, Sarah. Bella here, I hope I'm not interrupting anything.”
“Hi Bella! I wasn't expecting a call from you. Aren't you up in the mountains somewhere?”
“Yes. And I've been commissioned to ask you something.”
“Oh? Who by?”
“Pris. She says 'hi', by the way. We're going to be sharing a room.”
“Well, say 'hi' back. Fire away.”
“OK, the next thing Pris says is 'Sorry if it was a secret, but she thought that I knew.'”
“That sounds ominous. What did she think you knew?”
“That your parents left you a trust fund.”
“Oh, that. That's not a major secret. Tell her she's forgiven. Your question's related?”
“Yes. Especially is if there's any relationship between that and 'Carbon-carbon land management', part of the 'Diamond division of GemSmith holdings'.”
“That's where you are? On the carbon-carbon estate?”
“Yes. You know the place then?”
“Of course I do! We used to camp up in those hills when I was a kid. Daddy asked me what to call the company, and I was too literally minded. Yes. It's part of my trust.”
“You know why we're here?”
“Checking that everything's all kosher for my two cousins to go there to enjoy themselves, yes. I didn't realise they were going to be on that land though. You're in one of those rustic cabins? I saw them being built when we last went.”
“Yes, we are. Apparently under new management as of a few years ago, someone who's actually heard of advertising, but not of off-season discounts. I guess that's fair enough because of the extra heating wood.”
“But there's a problem? I'm guessing there is, or you wouldn't be calling.”
“It's like this... Trevor's looked at the finances and reckons that the new management are paying for the internal refurbishments by cutting back on the maintenance of the stoves, that way they still give the investors a nice dividend. Lack of maintenance is not so good, but the site-manager cum receptionist knows how to check they're safe so that's actually sort of tolerable, although it's short-sighted. What's not tolerable is the security camera system. They just use it to check if people's wood stock is OK, and I guess to deter theft, but the brand is apparently used as an example of how not to do it in the academy. Anyone with a ladder and a wrist unit can get the whole network to talk to them. It'd be trivially easy for a twelve year old staying on the site to spot recognisable people and turn autograph hunter, or equally easy for reporters or worse to track them down. ”
“It's really that easy to gain access?”
“Install a free wrist unit application, press a little button on the back of the camera, and you're in. Dirk demonstrated it.”
“Ouch. And the stoves are dangerous?”
“They get nice and hot, and there's water involved. Trevor says full scale steam explosion isn't very likely, since there's supposed to be a safety valve. But the stove manufacturer calls for annual pipe-cleaning as a preventative measure, and Trevor thinks they're only being cleaned when they're almost fully blocked. At least, the manufacturers' instructions give the 'clean' flow rate through the pipes, and the 'don't use this stove' rate. The stove we've got is above the 'don't use' level, but not by much. So, we're worried that some time when the site-manager can't or doesn't check the thing, then there might be an injury or even a death if the safety valve doesn't work, or, heaven forbid, has been incorrectly replaced.”
“Short-sighted administration, in other words.”
“Exactly. We don't know if that's because of direct investor pressure or the administrator thinking he's clever though.”
“And you're wondering if Carbon-carbon could try and give them a stern talking to, on the basis that an injured client would put off a lot more?”
“Yes, that was one of our ideas.”
“But that doesn't solve the camera issue does it?”
“No, it doesn't. And there's a spending freeze on for the government, so that's going to make life even trickier. That was why we were speculating whether anyone we knew knew a multimillionaire who wanted to buy up the company and run it properly, then Pris said she and I already knew a multimillionairess. I'm really embarrassed at even raising it, but she said I knew you better than she did and she does outrank me.”
“She actually pulled rank?”
“No, not as such.”
“Good. You know that I don't control the trust fund, don't you?”
“Yes, she said.”
“But, on the other hand, the trustees do listen to my thoughts. The company runs at a profit?”
“Yes. Trevor said they paid a five percent dividend last year.”
“Value of the company?”
“About two million.”
“And does he know how much went on land rent?”
“I expect so. He said it was about half the income. Shall I ask for exact numbers?”
“No, that's fine. I can get it. What staff, do you know?”
“Urm, there was the receptionist cum site-mananager, an administrator, and a part time accountant, I think. Maybe some peak-season help.”
“And how busy does it get?”
“Trevor said they were claiming to have made a breakthrough with an average of fifty percent capacity, apparently.”
“That's rotten. Lots of room for improvement there. But the site-manager's a good guy?”
“Seems like it, based on a single meeting. He didn't come in with the new management.”
“And Karen's due there in two weeks. Hmm.”
“Is it possible?”
“Oh, it's possible. How many cabins are there?”
“Fifty something. Fifty-six, I think, or fifty-seven.”
“OK. Yes, that's possible. Very possible. I think I can make a case that by bringing it into Carbon-carbon then there'd be operational savings. Also better security and maintenance will stop bad publicity destroying the venture at an unspecified future time, as well as keeping the guests happier so they'll come back. Then with some proper advertising and a bit of pricing reform then we ought to be able to get that occupancy way higher. What condition are the cabins in?”
“This one's nice. Well furnished, with rustic last-a-hundred-years furniture which has just had a new coat of polish by the look of it.
I'd guess the walls were repainted a year ago. They're not spotless, but they're a long way from shabby. The doors work, and there are no handles falling off or anything like that.”
“No sign of a leaking roof, or anything like that?”
“None.”
“That's good. And the beds are OK?”
“I think so. I mean, you bring your own sleeping bag or linen, and they provide a sponge mattress. Pris, How's that bed?” Bella asked.
“Very solid, no wobbles at all, the mattress is clean and just right for me, but my sleeping bag's not warmed up yet.” Pris replied.
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes. You're heading to bed already?”
“Not really, we're planning a Bible study for eight-thirty, but Pris decided she wanted to test her bed for comfort. Dirk and Eliza petitioned for the Bible study, by the way.”
“Praise God! And you're not freezing? The stove is working OK?”
“Oh yes. All functions tested and working.”
“Even the water heater?”
“Yes. Eliza's already had a shower. It apparently works best with a bit of a rest between people using it, so I'll have one later.”
“Why am I not surprised at Eliza being first? OK, Bella, I'll make a convincing business case and talk to the trustees tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.”
“Thanks, Sarah!”
“I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for my cousins.”
“I know, but still, it means I might not need to ruin Eliza's plans.”
“Oh, don't do that. I'll get enough of those cameras changed, whatever happens.”
“Really? How?”
“Remember Karen's been using my home as a safe house? Ten or fifteen cameras with a proper security protocol won't break the bank, and in exchange I get a contract out of them that whenever I, my friends or relations stay, they get the secure cameras. I'd been meaning to book a holiday with John up there anyway.”
“Sarah, you're wonderful!”
“No, just imaginative.”
“How much of this can I pass on to the others?”
“They know you're calling me?”
“They know I'm calling someone with a trust-fund.”
“OK, well just tell them that even if I can't persuade the trustees, the cameras can be solved quickly and easily, since I don't want that system near me when I visit. Pris can know all the details. Sleep well.”
“You too, Sarah. Do you want me to pass on the company details that Trevor dug up?”
“No, that's fine. I'm sure I can get them myself.”
“Well, if you struggle, give one of us a shout.”
“Have no fear, I will.”
Bella disconnected and turned to Pris. “How much did you overhear?”
“Your side only. You sounded happy though.”
“OK, your ears only: the land is part of the trust, she used to camp up here when she was a kid, and saw some of the cabins being built, she thinks there's a good business case and will talk to the trustees tomorrow. Public version: anonymous friend will talk to her trustees but even if they say no, or it takes too long, then we can consider the camera issue solved.”
“Oh? How?”
“She'll replace ten or fifteen cameras out of her own pocket in exchange for a contract that says she, her friends and relatives get one when they visit. The company would be fools to refuse an offer like that, I think, since it costs them nothing to accept and strongly implies that they lose customers if they don't.”
“Well! That's generous of her!”
“Apparently, Security have paid for it, by way of rent for her house. But we don't pass that on.”
“Well, it's still coming out of her pocket!”
“I know that, and so does she. But the good thing is that she can do that as an individual, and people just call her eccentric and publicity shy. But there's no way Security could do it without raising questions about what's so special about this place all of a sudden.”
“That's very true. I suppose I should get up and we can tell the others.”
“Are you OK, Pris, really?”
“I guess my new toes don't like the cold. I've got extra thick socks on, but they still feel chilly after standing around in the cold most of the day. They were even starting to get numb earlier.”
“And when exactly were you planning to tell us?”
“I wasn't.”
“Come on, let's see them.” Bella ordered.
Reluctantly, with more cajoling, Pris got out of her sleeping bag and allowed Bella to check her toes.
“Your socks are wet, woman!” Bella pointed out.
“What?”
“Didn't you notice?”
“No, I just thought they were cold.”
“Priscilla Robertson, you need to look after regrown toes better than this.”
“I just thought it was cold.”
“Because your new nerves aren't quite functioning right, are they?”
“I guess not. Pass my bag, will you, I've got others.”
“There you are. I'll check your boots.”
“I did put waterproofing on them, and they don't look wet.”
Bella examined them critically. The leather looked fine. “How old are they?”
“Quite. Mostly I'm in warm places.”
“Hmm. So you've not really worn them in several years?”
“True.”
“I think the soles are leaking. Look.” Bella showed Pris the crosswise cracks she'd seen on one of them. There were similar cracks on the other one too.
“That's not good news is it?”
“No standing in puddles for you, anyway.”
“But we're going to be walking round in snow, and it'll melt, surely? Unless it's really cold. If I'm going to need to stay on dry ground, I might as well not have come. I'll have to try to get replacements somehow. I feel like an idiot.” Pris said, sounding defeated.
“I've heard about the problem, and I'm pretty sure there was some sort of field solution.” Bella said. “Are your feet feeling warmer now they're dry?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“That's good. Do you want to come, or shall I go?”
“I'll come. At least it's not rubbish circulation, but it's really odd I didn't feel like they were wet.”
“Like the man said, freshly regrown flesh doesn't like cold, I guess.”
“I do wonder how he recognised me.”
“Well your picture was on most of the news channels when you testified.”
“If I'm that well known, you know what it means?”
“No more running around keeping a low profile?”
“Yes.”
“Pris, I've got a question for you.”
“Yes?”
Bella dropped her voice to an almost whisper “Does a courier have to be low profile? I mean, milady next door...”
“Isn't exactly being low profile, is she?” Pris answered with a grin, but in equally hushed terms.
“But on the other hand, I wonder how much it's a smoke-screen. Do we ever meet the real Eliza?”
“I don't think there was anything false about her prayer, or about asking for the Bible study.” Pris pointed out.
“Good point. Let's go and share the good news, and the bad news about your shoes.”
“Yes. Lets.”
It was warmer in the kitchen area than the bedroom, and Trevor had put some water on to boil. The combination of these probably explained why the others were there. “We bring glad tidings of great joy.” Bella said.
“Oh? Has a saviour been born unto us in David's town?” Trevor asked.
“Not recently, but yes, he was. Bella has more recent news,” Pris replied.
“We almost certainly don't need to worry about the cameras.”
“Do tell!”
“I called my friend who'll be rich one day. She'll talk to the trustees about taking over the company. There's other elements which she thinks make it a sensible move but it's not going to be up to her. On the other hand, even if that doesn't work out, she said that she's been planning to come here and doesn't want the present cameras anywhere near her. So she's quite prepared to buy ten or fifteen fixed cameras with decent security on them, and get a contract from the company that says in exchange for her giving them the cameras then she and her friends get allocated to the area with decent privacy whenever they visit.”
“Oooh, I like it!” Trevor said. “The company get to choose between either upsetting a customer and her friends for no financial motive, or installing some decent cameras, which they can then mention in their publicity.”
“You mean, 'Responding to customer demand, we're proud to announce stage one of our increased privacy programme, ensuring that only authorised staff can access the wood-pile cameras'?” Dirk asked.
“Would they really advertise that their current security cameras are no good?” Pris asked.
“I think I read a customer review about them. So they might.” Trevor said.
“And they'd probably charge a premium for it too.” Eliza suggested.
Bella shrugged her shoulders “Personally, I don't care if they charge extra. Those cameras were a show-stopper as far as I was concerned.”
Nigel nodded “I agree. The guy in the office will know who's staying, but that's no reason for everyone on the site to know, and be able to find out exactly where they are too.”
“It won't actually cost her very much either.” Dirk said. “I hadn't thought of doing it piece-meal, but it makes good sense and cuts the costs and installation time massively. I've noticed that when you buy twenty cameras then most companies will decide you're a big corporation and charge you full rate, but if you buy ten or fifteen they give you a discount or throw in the base-station for free.”
“Would the base-station be compatible with more cameras, if they ever decided to roll out phase two one day?” Eliza asked.
“Almost certainly.” Dirk replied.
“So, we can get on to our next problem.” Bella said. “Pris's boots have sole-rot.”
“You got them soon after basic training?” Trevor asked.
“Yes. Why?”
“I had some identical ones, same problem. Something went wrong at the factory. They replaced mine for free.”
“Well, that's nice to know. What do I do now?” Pris asked. “My new nerve endings apparently don't notice when my feet are wet and just say they're cold.”
“Pris, I've just thought, you had wet socks on in your sleeping bag, didn't you?” Bella asked, “your sleeping bag will be wet.”
“I'll get it, we can dry it on the stove.” Dirk said. “With your permission, ladies?”
“Please, Dirk.” Pris said.
“Mine's still on my pack.” Bella added.
“There was a field repair for sole-rot.” Nigel remembered.
“I know. I even used it.” Dirk said. “I can't remember what it was though. I had to spread something on something else and stick it inside. It didn't work a hundred percent, but it sure helped.”
“Glue and a special bit of plastic?” Eliza asked.
“No! Field repair, you know, nothing you didn't have on basic training.” Dirk said.
“I don't remember having anything except the clothes I stood up in on basic training.” Eliza commented.
“Sounds right.” Pris agreed. “That's what field repairs call for: approximately no equipment, just some knowledge or ingenuity.”
“I think we're out of both.” Trevor said. “I'll look it up.”
“Boring!” Eliza said.
“How about some plastic or foil under the inner-sole?” Nigel suggested.
“It might work.” Pris agreed.
“Fat, or waterproofing wax. That was it.” Dirk remembered, arriving back with the sleeping bag. “You take out the innersole, and spread fat or waterproofing wax, nice and thickly on plastic or thick foil if you've got some, or paper or even straight onto the bottom of the innersole if you can't. Then put it in, sticky side down. Works best on nice dry boots, of course, even better if they're warm. Fat doesn't do much for the boots of course, but either one should keep a lot of the water out.”
“Well, since the boots are dead anyway...” Pris said.
“I'd go for the waterproofing wax.” Nigel said. “If you go smothering the inside of the boot with fat then there's probably no way they'll exchange it.”
“Sorry, Pris.” Trevor said. “I've just found out, the company issued a time-limited recall on all affected boots. It lasted a few years but ran out three months ago.”
“Typical. So if I'd gone on my summer holiday rather than to hospital, then I'd have got wet feet in summer and some new boots.”
“Another charge against Roland Underwood's name.” Bella said. “I'm not sure it really compares to the others.”
“Probably not. But it's just hitting me, again and again on this trip, just how much he's wrecked my life. I'd imagined that I was going to pick up the pieces one by one and get back to couriering, but I don't think that's going to happen either.”
“Why not?” Nigel asked.
“Because if I'm so recognisable now that some complete stranger knows who I am, then I'm hardly able to blend in with the crowd, am I?”
“Pris, you're forgetting something.” Nigel said.
“Oh?”
“I had to put down names on the booking form. I didn't think of using aliases. He had plenty of time to scratch his head about why your name rang a bell, do a few searches on the network, even.”
“Nigel,” Pris started, then, totally surprising herself, stepped towards him and kissed him full on the lips. Stepping back, she said, “thank you, you've just given me my future back.” Then as everyone's shocked faces registered and she thought about what she'd done she added “I'm already embarrassed about that kiss, and probably will be more so later. But you deserved it.”
“I'm really really sorry for making you think you'd lost your future, Pris,” Nigel replied, his mind still in turmoil “I didn't want to do that.”
“I think I've noticed something.” Bella said.
“What's that?”
“That some of us, and I include myself, are being just slightly emotional today.”
“Urm, guilty.” Pris agreed, turning redder.
Nigel nodded too, thinking of how Eliza had brought those old memories back to life. His armour was getting rusty in a cupboard, and he'd thought of selling it once or twice. Now he was thinking of polishing it instead. All because of a pretty dress, worn by a dark-haired pretty girl. But Pris was equally pretty, and also had dark hair. And she had clearance to one alpha. Higher than him, but only just. She and Eliza were about the same height; the right height. Pris was a Christian, Eliza was close, but not there yet. They were both attractive. But that kiss. Wow! He'd been kissed before, but never quite as spontaneously as that. Was it just thanks? Was there more behind it? He'd have expected it more from Eliza; she was fascinated by his history, and clearly spontaneous. Part of that might be her age; she was so young, ten years his junior. But Pris? Was she interested in him? Two very different but beautiful women. Surely, they couldn't both be interested in him? He didn't want to hurt either, but nor did he want to pass up this... opportunity God had seemingly provided. Help, Lord! He realised he needed to pay more attention to Bella.
“And I've noticed in the past that when I'm this emotional three things help. A cup of tea, which I think is still coming, and even better, prayer.” she was saying.
“It is. But what's the third?” Nigel agreed.
“Getting some sleep. Which I suggest we do at some reasonable hour rather than trying to discuss God until two AM.”
“Agreed.” Eliza said, feeling quite emotional about that kiss too. She was honest enough to see that Pris and Nigel as a couple made sense. They were both Christians, and of similar ages. But... oh, she was going to be jealous. God? She thought, is this your idea of a joke? That I meet someone I imagine to be my perfect man, spend the afternoon swapping stories with him, and barely twelve hours after meeting him I have to watch someone I know and respect snare his heart? Does Pris even want him? She's embarrassed herself, is that because she does or doesn't want him?
“I don't think prayer is really an option for me.” Dirk said. “But I'll settle for tea, bible-study and sleep.”
“Dirk,” Pris said, “There's nothing anywhere that says only God's people can pray.”
“Just honesty and good manners.” he responded, “How can I talk to someone I don't know anything about, or even believe in, really.”
“I once heard of someone giving a summary of the Bible in about ten minutes.” Nigel said. “Obviously it left a lot out, and I don't remember it all, but I can look it up if you like.”
“It'd be good to have some framework to hang stuff on. Yes please.” Dirk agreed.
“Go on, be brave.” Eliza challenged him, “Try without technology.”
“Is this a solo exercise, or do I get some help?” Nigel appealed to Trevor “You were there, too Trev.”
“I was.” he acknowledged “I'll try to help.”
“OK... I'll try, after a quick prayer. Father God, help me not skip what Dirk and Eliza need to hear. Amen.” he took a deep breath. “Here goes: Just before the Big Bang, God said 'let there be light.' and he made time and space and everything that filled them, everything that exists visible or invisible. He Himself is outside time, beyond the restrictions of time, and beyond the restrictions of the universe. He does not need the universe: he made it, and every subatomic particle in the universe only continues to exist because of his desire that it should. Out of the quantum soup he separated light and darkness, matter, solid, liquid and gas. He made stars and planets and our earth. And he filled the Earth with life. Life in the sky and sea and on the land. And he made mankind; just two to start with, Adam and Eve. And they lived with God in a garden that he'd made for them, called Eden. God's rule was undisputed, his people were happy, and were living in a wonderful place. But we need to introduce another figure into the story, a crafty, malicious creature, called the serpent. Later on in the Bible we read about the most splendid of God's angels becoming so proud he wanted to take God's place, and how he was thrown to earth; maybe the serpent is this same angel, like some people say it is, but there are others who say the later passage is just talking about a king. Or maybe, the passage is talking about both. Saying the king has become as proud as this angel who rebelled and was kicked out of his previous home. But anyway, one day, in the garden, one of the created beings, a serpent, tells the woman nice things will happen if she disobeys God, and she falls for the lie, and then so does the man. And God asked them what had gone wrong, and the man said 'It's all her fault', and the woman said 'It's all the snake's fault', and no one was very happy after that. God loved his creation, but rebellion, sin (which means failing to live up to standards), and human death had entered the world. God's perfect creation was damaged by the deadliest enemy — rebellion against him.”
Trevor jumped in “We can, sometimes, be quite tolerant of people sinning against us, because we know that we're just as nasty as they are. But God is perfect. Sin can't exist in his presence, he has to hide his face it or it'd be blown away, along with the person who did it. So God came up with a plan. A way that the sin could be dealt with. It was his secret plan and it was scandalously dependent on frail humans. It was also so shocking that he kept it a secret. But God gave hints and promises — and he told Adam and Eve that one day sin would be dealt with, one day the serpent's head would be crushed, even though the person who did that would suffer as that happened.”
Nigel took over again, “With sin loose in the world, things went from bad to worse. Adam and Eve had two sons Cain and Abel, and when something upset Cain, he killed his little brother. Then they had another son, called Seth, and we guess they had some daughters as well, but the Bible's a bit silent on that. Anyway, somehow Cain and Seth got wives, and the cycle of sin and violence, murder and presumably rape too kept on growing until there was only one man alive that tried to obey God. I guess sin was in the DNA, as well as the culture. If God didn't intervene then even that good line would be in trouble. So, God didn't put up with all the sin any more and sent a flood, killing every human except Noah and his family. And after the flood was over, God gave another promise: no more global destruction, and he pointed at the rainbow and said, look, I've hung up my bow, I'm not at war with humanity any more. Of course, sin was still in the world, and people were born, sinned in various ways and died. Some a bit better than others, but all sinners, none fit to live with God, without being rescued from the consequences of their sin. Eventually a man called Abraham came on the scene, and I need a drink. Your turn, Trevor.” Bella had made the tea.
“Abram was born into a pagan family, who probably worshipped the moon instead of God, but Abram listened to God, and left his relatives to go where God told him to go, and eventually got his name changed to Abraham. God told him that one day all the land he sees will belong to his family. And God told him more of the plan. The promised serpent crusher would come from Abraham's children. Which Abraham thought was a bit of a joke, since he was a hundred and his wife, Sarah, was ninety and they were childless. But nothing's impossible for God, and they did have a boy, Isaac. Isaac had a bit of a dysfunctional family, but God repeated his promise to his son, Jacob. Jacob was a cheat and a swindler, and had his own family problems, but he had twelve sons. One upset his brothers so much they decided to kill him, and then changed their minds and sold him as a slave instead.”
“What a charming family.” Dirk commented.
“And these were the good guys?” Eliza asked.
“These were the unlikely people that God decided to use, yes.”
“So, Jacob's son, Joseph goes down to Egypt as a slave, gets a reputation as a dream interpreter, interprets the king's dream, which he said warned of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He gives some good advice and gets made prime-minister in order to see it through. The famine hits his family back home and dad sends the brothers off to Egypt when they hear that someone's been stockpiling all that surplus grain for the past seven years.”
“Whereupon he gives the brothers their comeuppance?” Dirk asked.
“No, whereupon he forgives his brothers, invites the whole family down and gets the king to give them some prime sheep-farming land to keep their sheep on, along with enough grain to eat.”
“A nice guy at last!” commented Eliza.
“Oh, I forgot, Jacob had another name — Israel.” Trevor added.
“As in Jerusalem?” Dirk asked, quick on the uptake.
Nigel answered “Yes. Jacob's descendants live in Egypt and after a few generations they get turned into slaves by a new king, and eventually leave.
"Of course the Egyptians weren't happy with their workers leaving and it took miraculous help from God, through his chosen leader — Moses, to show the Egyptians who was really in charge. Moses gives the Israelites a lot of advice and laws, the most important of which are called the ten commandments. Moses leads them back to the land that God had promised to Abraham, gives them the rules by which God should be worshiped and establishes a priesthood. Through Moses, God tells the people that one day another Moses-type leader will emerge, who you really need to listen to.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"So 'God's people' now means the people of Israel, the right place for them is in the promised land, and in particular worshipping God at a portable shrine centered around a box called the Ark of the Covenant, which represents God's throne, and God's rule is shown by them obeying God and teaching their kids to do the same thing through the laws Moses gave them. At least, that's the plan. The implementation wasn't so great.
"This force which came out of Egypt got scared at seeing who was in the promised land already and said if that's who we've got to fight then let's go back to Egypt.
"God is patient with them, and rather than washing his hands of them entirely, he lets them wander around in the desert for forty years miraculously feeding them until the generation of scaredy-cats have passed on and their children march in and do a half-hearted job of clearing out the very sinful Canaanites, rather than the total job they're supposed to. Rather than a clean start with no bad influences, there's still plenty of other people around to lead the people of God astray, and they do.
"So, with that patchy start as a proto-state, Israel descends to something verging on anarchy when this group who the Bible still calls God's chosen people try to fit in with all the sinning peoples they're living amongst. There's this cycle — Israel sins, God sends nations to punish them, Israel wakes up, calls to God for help. He sends them a leader called a Judge who reinstates the worship of God and kicks the enemy out. The judge dies and the people go back to the bad old ways. Only by the end there were quite a few judges who kicked the enemy out without really reinstating the worship of God. Then, God lets them have a king, and then when he goes bad, replaces him with a better one, called David. David's a high point, but he's obviously not the serpent crusher, he fails quite spectacularly in some areas. David captures Jerusalem from the pagans, writes a lot of songs for worshipping God, and God reveals to him a bit more of his plan — David will have a descendent who will rule the whole earth. And in one of the songs, David calls this descendent his Lord. And that bit is a big clue: David should have called his descendent, 'oi, you, kiddo', not 'my Lord'. David's son, Solomon, builds an impressive temple to God in Jerusalem, which God declares to be his permanent residence on Earth. But because of sin then things start to go down hill even before Solomon dies, probably a lot to do with multiple political marriages and I can't remember how many hundred wives and second-class wives. The country eventually splits in two, and God keeps on sending people called prophets who give a lot more clues about God's plan and also warn the people that they're going to be in really deep trouble if they don't worship him properly. Of course, the people don't listen and eventually both halves of the country get taken over by various foreign powers, and most of the people are moved somewhere else. But finally, they learn their lesson, at least partially: Everyone in Israel knew that God and God alone is the one who should be worshipped, and they realise that this marrying outside your religion thing their ancestors loved to do was a really bad idea. Quite a lot, but not all, go back to live in the promised land, and by the time of around what we might call minus five on today's calendar, everyone there is waiting for the son that David was promised. In Hebrew this person is called the Messiah and in Greek, the Christ, both mean the anointed one. And the prophets said he will bring in God's unchallenged rule on Earth. Of course, the people aren't thinking big enough, and think he'll do that like his famous ancestor, David, with lots of battles. They really wanted to see their enemies, in particular the Roman empire, trembling in fear rather than lording it over them as they were doing at the moment.”
Trevor interjected “And then angels bring good news of great joy for all mankind. The serpent crusher, the Messiah, has arrived. A little baby, in the arms of a young woman called Mary, who got pregnant when she was engaged but without getting married first. Now, there's a normal way for that to happen, which involves sin, and then there's God's way which doesn't. The first time she lay with a man was after her first son was born. So, the virgin Mary has a baby boy, and they give him the name Yesua, or Jesus, which means God saves. God is happy enough about this event to mark it in the skies, and some astrologers see it. They ask at the palace where God's wonderful new king is, and thus really upset the current murderous monarch, who knew it wasn't any of his offspring. So, when they've found the little family and given them gifts, the little family flee the country for a while, until that king has died. And just to be safe, they don't go back to Bethlehem where Jesus was born, but Nazareth, where Joseph and Mary grew up.”
“And now we get to the shocking bit.” Nigel said “In some totally incomprehensible way, this human boy Jesus was also God. God the all-powerful and incomprehensibly wise had put himself into Mary's womb as a tiny cluster of cells, or maybe a single sperm cell. And the creator of the universe learned how to walk and talk and tie his own shoelaces. But unlike every other boy and girl around him, before him or after him, he didn't sin. He didn't rebel against God's authority. Even more confusingly, Jesus who is God, spoke to God and called him his Father, and God from heaven spoke of Jesus as his son. Jesus said that he was one with the Father, and that he was before Abraham was born. Jesus, this human being, was very clearly marked out by God as the messiah, but he wasn't the sort of messiah people expected. And furthermore, he said things that made it clear that he was claiming to be God. All this was too much for the religious authorities of the day and they had the Romans crucify him as leading an insurrection, overriding the judge's complaint that Jesus was innocent. They managed that with the powerful argument that the judge would get in massive trouble if he let go someone claiming to be the king of a nation famous for its rebel tendencies. That he would be crucified was no surprise to Jesus, and he'd predicted it multiple times. But his followers hadn't believed it would happen, and were shattered when it did. Jesus had also told them that he'd rise from the dead after three days, and when he did they didn't believe the first few people who'd seen him, until he came and talked to them. After forty days... I think it was forty, anyway I get confused ... anyway, he was taken into heaven and then fifty days after he was crucified, just as the Old Testament prophets and Jesus had promised, God sent the Spirit of God onto the people who'd believed in Jesus. They were transformed from amazed but terrified people hiding in a room in Jerusalem into people who fearlessly spoke about all that Jesus had said and done to massive crowds. They started in Jerusalem, and used the infrastructure of the Roman empire to spread the message of God all through the world, not just to the Israelites, but to anyone who would listen.
“Those confusing statements by the prophets and Jesus eventually led to what we call the Trinity, which makes wave-particle duality look easy.
"There is only one God, and he is one. God the Father is God, God the Son is God, God the Spirit is God, but the Father is different to the Son, and both are different to the Spirit. “God's people are those who believe in Jesus, whatever their ethnicity, God is present in every believer's heart, and God's rule is demonstrated every time the believer takes a stand against sin, and through the help of the Holy Spirit and the power of Jesus' victory, wins.
"Indeed, some Christians, particularly those who have turned to Christ in rejection of some sin or addiction, find that their desire to those specific sins has vanished once they ask Jesus to be Lord of their lives.
"That makes sense, because the Bible says that Jesus' death on the cross has broken the power of sin, and even death is mortally wounded. He took our sins on himself, let them be nailed to the cross, and left them in hell where they belong. He took the punishment we deserve, washing us clean in God's sight, and so he won the victory over sin and death for us who believe. And more than that, even. Those who are saved in Christ's name, who are in that way saved in Christ are also given eternal life with Christ and adopted into God's family. And one day, he has promised he will return, and bring in the time when everyone who has trusted God will be raised to life, and God will once again walk with his people, in a world entirely free from sin.”
“And that, Dirk, Eliza, is roughly speaking the Bible from beginning to end.” Pris said, “They went over time though. And, I don't actually remember reading the words 'quantum soup' anywhere.”
“Or Big Bang.” Bella added.
“Oh, but that one's there.” Nigel said. “God said 'let there be light', and there was light. I'd like to see you do better at explaining the Big Bang to an illiterate bunch of iron-age manual labourers and shepherds.” Bella thought for a moment. “OK, I'll accept that. But what about the quantum soup?”
“The earth was formless and void?” suggested Trevor.
“Hmm. Not so convincing. I think you inserted a bit too much modern thinking there, Nigel.”
“Has God changed?” Trevor asked.
“No.” Bella said.
“Do you think, assuming that there was a quantum soup like we've been taught in schools, that God formed it and used it, and separated it so that this world would form?” Nigel asked.
“Of course.” Bella agreed.
“Then I rest my case. Dirk, Eliza, was that useful?”
“I think so, yes.” Eliza said.
Dirk had been listening silently throughout. He turned to Pris. “You didn't tell me.”
“What didn't I tell you?”
“Well, most of that.”
“I admit that, but was there something in particular?”
“Your God's been planning to save people from sin since the first humans sinned?”
“Before, actually.” Trevor corrected.
“You implied, or at least, I interpreted what you said, as though if I asked God nicely enough then he might get round to helping me with my struggle with gossiping.”
“Sorry if that's what it sounded like.” Pris said. “I can't promise a miracle, I can't promise that God will take the temptation away. All I can say is what the Bible says: in Christ we've got all we need to live holy lives. We can resist temptation, as long as we're staying close to Him, not in a physical sense, you know, in a... a... help!” she looked to Nigel.
“Pris means that as long as you're in contact with God, through prayer, Bible-reading, and all the rest of the things that we call Christian living, then he'll willingly guide you and lend you his strength when you need it, but if for some reason you're ignoring him at the crisis point, then you're not going to be likely to ask him for help, are you?”
“How do I sign up?” Dirk asked simply.
“That's it?” Eliza asked. “You're willing to sign on the dotted line already? You're the 'give me time to think' guy!”
“I've thought, Eliza. I found myself writing a gossipy message the other day and almost blew the reason for this trip into the public sphere. I need help, I need this victory.”
“Dirk, the normal way is that people learn about what they're doing, and who they're committing themselves to, first.” Pris said, “You know, most people don't pick a name of a stranger out of a hat and then promise to marry them.”
“But there are things called arranged marriages. I trust you people, I trust their Majesties. If you're willing to trust God then so am I. I want in, I'm happy to do the get-to-know-God stuff later.”
“Dirk, this isn't a matter for a spur of the moment decision.” Pris said, gently “This is a decision that should change your life, you should know what and who you're committing yourself to.”
“Of course it should change my life. I'm making a pledge of allegiance to the King of the universe, aren't I? Of course it's life-changing. But with all due respect, I don't want to wait until I know what size his underpants are. He's King, and at the moment, I'm a rebel. I don't like that state of affairs, not one bit. I want it to change. Tell me how to change sides, please.”
“Dirk's decided, but I need to think.” Eliza said and adopted what she thought of as her thinking posture, crossed-legged on the floor, with her elbows on her knees. What was it that was holding her back? The Bible-overview had been... new. So full of information. Obviously bits were missed. She'd looked at how long the Bible was. Nigel and Trevor had skipped some key things, she was sure, like sacrifices, and they'd only touched on some things she remembered from religious education classes: the plagues of Egypt, for instance. It was enough for Dirk to know that God was the King of the universe. But what sort of ruler was he. She wanted to know. Therefore, she wasn't ready yet. And she wasn't prepared to talk openly to Pris right now, not after that kiss.
“I'm not ready yet. So Bella, while the others allow Dirk to sign away his future, can we talk?”
“Urm, OK. Sure.”
----------------------------------------
They withdrew to Eliza's room. “So, Eliza, how can I help?” Bella asked.
“Hmm, what a question! Anything?”
“Within reason of course.”
“Well, maybe I'll ask you for a favour later. But first... God, what's he actually like?”
“In what sense?”
“I guess I'm asking is he a kind old grandpa, a grumpy old man, an arrogant despot?”
“Oh. And you had to ask me, did you?”
“Why not?” Eliza asked.
“Well, I only became a Christian two and a bit weeks ago.”
“So you should remember what it's like not being one then. Does everything change like Dirk is expecting?”
“Not everything. I've still got the same number of heads, arms, legs and fingers.”
“But otherwise?”
“Otherwise? I'm still me. I'm not possessed by a scary power who's making me do things I don't want to do.”
“And has what you want to do changed?”
“Not massively, no. I've got some new wants. I want to spend time with Christians, I like to talk about God. I want to honour God, which means for instance that neither Trevor nor I want to give in to mindless biochemistry.”
“So your little walk before lunch when you came back with snow in your hair...”
“Was a little bit of walking, a little snowball fighting, in which we proved that I can aim and Trevor can't really, some talking and a little bit of hugging, which, I hasten to spell out in case you've got a dirty mind, was nothing I wouldn't do in public, although maybe in public it wouldn't have lasted quite so long.”
“So if Trevor can't aim, how did the snow get in your hair? He hit you in the head?”
“No. He stuffed a snowball down my back. Which was only... educational. I'd tried the same trick on him.”
“You tried, he succeeded? How is that educational?”
“He was pointing out that he's as sneaky as me and stronger.”
“I thought he had an office job.”
“Yes, but he also hangs off mountains for fun.” Bella pointed out.
“Oh. Really? Not just office work, OK.”
“But getting back to your question... God is trustworthy, He's good, and He takes the long view, which isn't our view at all. Beyond that... I don't know much of the Bible, but someone pointed this bit out to me recently.” She showed Eliza Psalm 103.
After she'd read it, Eliza said “That's quite a poem.”
“It is.”
“Any more good bits?”
“Oooh, yes. Lots. How about when people tried to get Jesus in trouble?”
“They did that? Of course they did. How did they do that?”
“Hmm. There's probably more, but there are two different occasions I can think of. In the first of them, the religious elite ask Jesus if according to the Jewish law they need to pay tax to the Romans. He says yes, the crowd don't like him any more. He says no, then the soldiers who might be round the corner get him as a trouble maker.”
“OK, yep, not the sort of question you want to be asked. What did he say, somehow I don't expect it was lots of waffle?”
“Absolutely no waffle or compromise. He got someone to show him a coin, and asked 'whose picture is this?' They said, 'It's Caesar's'. Now, putting your image on a lump of metal was a bad thing to do in Jewish culture, especially if you worship it. And of course the popular accusation against the rich religious elite was that they worshipped money. Furthermore, the Old Testament says God made man in His image. So Jesus said 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's'. In other words, you've just said it was Caesar's coin and clearly you wouldn't want to claim that forbidden image was something important to you, like you worshipped it or something, would you? Not if you're a faithful Jew. So, give it back to Caesar. But just like that coin's image says something about its ultimate ownership, the religious authorities ought to know they're bearing God's image, and he's publicly reminding them they should give God the whole-hearted worship they owe him, not just lip-service.”
“So the Romans hear what they want to hear, and the crowd are lapping it up too?”
“And there's another point too. Respect for the civic authorities, but very little for religious authorities if they're not representing God properly.”
“Interesting attitude for someone starting a new religion.” Eliza said.
“That's what I said, and got corrected.” Bella admitted “He wasn't starting a new religion. He was fulfilling an old one, and correcting it where human religion and religiosity had become more important than God's attitude.”
“Interesting” Eliza pondered. “You had another example?”
“Yes. One day Jesus got told 'We've caught this woman committing adultery, what do we do with her?' Again, a tricky question, because the Old Testament law said that both adulterers should be stoned to death, but the Roman's didn't allow lynchings.”
“And they'd only caught the woman?”
“Maybe the man was a friend of theirs or something. The Bible is entirely silent on him.”
“Jesus' solution? I'm sure I vaguely remember this from R.E. class.”
“He said that whoever hadn't sinned should throw the first stone. They left one by one until it was just Jesus and the woman. I'd need to look up what he said, to get it exactly right but it was something like 'What happened to all the men that brought you here, have they all gone?' She said 'Yes', and he replied 'In that case I won't condemn you either, but leave your life of sin'.”
“I do remember it. He gave her a second chance, didn't he.”
“Yes. Again, he was uncompromisingly clear that sin was totally wrong, but at the same time he was merciful. I like God; he's great.”
“The conclusion that our teacher drew from it was don't judge people, you're just as bad. I like yours better. You know, on Wednesday, a teenager asked me why I didn't believe in God, since I didn't seem stupid, and then when I said that I'd just told Karen that I didn't see why one version of God was better than another she retracted her statement. In other words I did seem stupid.”
“Ooh, cutting! You can rely on teens to be tactful, can't you?”
“Yes. I'm beginning to see her point though. There's no way that your version of God is like the others', is there?”
“Not that I can see.”
“And you've really got a passage somewhere that says all I need to do is sign on the bottom line and I'm safe for all eternity?”
“Yes. Several, actually.”
“So what's to stop me doing that and then living as I want to?”
“There's probably a verse or two about that too. You'd really swear fealty and then go back on your word? I don't think God's going to be happy about people who take that attitude. It's oath-breaking, after all.”
“It is, isn't it. No. I don't want to go there, I was just wondering. What is the oath?”
“It's not actually an oath, it's a plea for rescue. It goes like this:” And Bella told Eliza the prayer that Pris, Albert and Eliza had lead her through.
“So I'd offer unconditional surrender in exchange for forgiveness?” Eliza asked.
“I guess so. I hadn't thought of it like that.”
“I'll be changing sides, so it makes sense. But not yet. Still too many questions. Like: do you really give much credence to the stuff about fallen angels?”
“I've known demons are real since I was a teenager, Eliza.” Bella said. “I just tried to convince myself that the supernatural was superstitious rubbish because I was so scared of the alternative. So, yeah, I got a second chance too.”
“You sound like you're speaking personal experience? What on earth happened, your class-mates tried to raise a demon and succeeded?” Eliza wasn't sure if she said that in shock or disbelief.
“No. I did, sort of.”
“Urm. Could you expand on that?”
“Yes. But first, when did you decide that you were going to wear that assassin's badge on your belt there?”
“That? I decided I'd wear it when I earned it.”
“Yes, but when did you set out to learn how to kill people? I presume it's not just saying you won the unarmed combat trophy?”
“No. No, it's saying that I learned the dark side of herbal remedies. I already had the weapons skills, so it was pretty easy.”
“So what made you do it?”
“I don't honestly know. I thought, you know, it might come in handy some time.”
“What, knowing what to put in your enemy's drink?”
“More like knowing what to tell the kids to stay well away from. But OK, yes, the sense of knowing stuff others don't was in there too.”
“But it was fairly recent, I presume?”
“Actually, I finished it just before I went on basic training.”
“And you didn't think of putting your knowledge into practice on the instructor?” Bella asked. The instructors on basic training were, in their own words, 'firm but fair', which was interpreted by the trainees as meaning 'Everyone else went through this and you're going to too, unless you wimp out.' Not many people liked them, especially not during the endurance walk.
“Not really.” Eliza said with a grin, getting the point immediately. “But then I already knew about living rough.”
“You've been dressing up as an almost princess for a while, then?”
“I earned this, Bella. Went through the ranks, if you like. When I was fifteen I went out with a boy whose parents were into reenacting. They were going on a reenactment camp, and he begged me to go too, because he found it just so boring, and I think that he thought I would too and I'd want to spend the whole time with him. I don't quite know why, but my parents agreed that I could with his family. I started learning archery, horse-riding and embroidery, and I loved it all so much he wasn't talking to me at all by the end of the week. I decided I'd be friends with his little sister instead of him and kept going back with them.”
“When you were learning to live without much technology, I decided I was going to be a fortune-teller.” Bella said.
“What, 'a tall dark stranger' sort of thing?”
“No. I read too many fantasy books as a kid, and I was utterly convinced, I've no idea why, that I either had a latent gift of telekinisis — you know, moving things by mind power, or of seeing the future. I wasn't sure which one, but it was like I knew I would do one of them one day. I just had to work out how to unlock the powers that were in me already.”
“That's... unusual.” Eliza said.
“I tried this and that, hypnosis, meditation, and the like. In the end I found some ancient book, I think it was called 'unleashing your inner power for the new age'. I tried all the little rituals it suggested, and its final one was that I called on all the spirits active in the world to unlock my mind and let me see the future. They answered.”
“Have you told many people this?” Eliza asked, feeling uncomfortable that she'd strayed into a very private area of Bella's life.
“No one until I found myself in a situation I'd dreamed about, and got my head looked at by some people with the gift. Since then, in no particular order, I've told Trevor, Pris, Maria, the royal family, and a few others. You see, I did start dreaming about the future: I dreamt that Mum would take me to the zoo which was cool; then about the Clear Sky attack, which wasn't. Then with the analysis of hindsight: at weekends I started having some dreams from God, about the impact, and mid-week I had a lot of very nasty variants on them which weren't from God, but from another source entirely. Nightmares, multiple ones per night. Most nights I woke up screaming multiple times.
Eventually I went to a lonely place and screamed 'God, anyone, make these dreams stop!', and after one more dream, they did. And in terror that the nightmares were true, I tried to believe the psych computers when they told me they were just a developmental phase I'd been going through, they were just nightmares, nothing to worry about. In other words I went into denial about it all. Then I got asked to meet someone up in the owner's lounge, and found myself in the place I'd dreamed about in the last dream, with the people I'd seen there.”
“The committee on major threat assessment?” Eliza asked.
“Yes. So, you see, I know first-hand that there are unfriendly spiritual forces at work in the world.”
“And you know that God's real.”
“Yes. I do. I tried to deny it for a long time, because I didn't want to admit the dreams had any validity. I thought it was all or nothing, and I'd forgotten the not-so-scary versions that I had to begin with. But now, there's no question in my mind.”
“There are in mine.”
“I'd noticed.” Bella said with a smile. “Such as?”
“OK, here's one which is totally irrelevant, sort of. Any idea what Pris was doing? You know, that kiss.”
“Other than totally embarrassing herself?”
“Well, yes. Do you think she thought I was getting too much attention for wearing this?” she indicated her dress.
“Well, it is an attention grabbing dress.”
“Look, Bella, honestly. I didn't wake up this morning and decide I'd try and look spectacular and grab the attention of every male over sixteen. I've actually got another outfit which would do better at that. This is my favourite outfit and it's comfortable, stain-proof and with all these layers it's warm.
It's also supposed to be fairly bullet- and knife-proof, too, but I've not tested those much.”
“And the attention-grabbing is just a nice side effect?”
“Look, I half expected everyone would think I was weird. I didn't know that Nigel was one of us nutters.”
“OK. OK. I understand. You're only grabbing all the attention because
Nigel decided to pull his knight-protector personality out of the cupboard and brush the rust off when he saw your outfit.”
“And since then, we've been working out who we know in common, we've worked out that His last event was probably my second or third, and I've been bringing Nigel up to date on some of his old friends.”
“And that's as far as its going to go?”
“I don't know.” Eliza said, but Bella didn't need to read any thoughts to hear Eliza's hope that it might go a lot further.
“Quite an age gap,” she commented.
“I know. Too much?”
“Less than John and Sarah. But I've got a question for you, if you don't mind me asking.”
“What?”
“If he told you he wasn't really interested in going back, that he'd grown out of it? Was going to sell his armour and sword. What would that do to your thoughts? If you knew that either you'd holiday apart or he'd pull you away?”
Eliza thought. Nigel hadn't been to a gathering in six or seven years. It was probably true, for all that he recognised her runes, and spoke the lingo.
“It's a possible scenario isn't it?”
“Quite. It might even be that he polishes up his armour for you, goes along once more and says 'naah' I don't fit in any more.”
“I think that'd hurt even more.”
“Sorry to force you to think that way, I'm just wondering, what is there in the man you like now, other than his past.”
“Well, earlier today I did a comparison between Nigel and a policeman called Darren Jones who's asked me out.”
“And?”
“I'd rather be single than go out with Sergeant Jones.”
“Because?”
“He didn't even try for Security. Scared of the training and the study. I could respect him if he'd tried and failed, or maybe even if he hadn't thought of it and just joined the police as a childhood dream. But he had the choice, and decided that the academy sounded scary.”
“Whereas?”
“Whereas Nigel put his already wounded face in the way of his brother's foot to protect a friend of mine, and would put his body in the way of a bullet to save my future king. That level of bravery and dedication is something I can respect.”
“Those are different threats you're describing.”
“I know. One flees from learning, the other doesn't from physical threats.”
“Hmm. OK. Want me to pass any of that on to Nigel?”
“What? No! If he wants to ask I'll tell him myself.”
“Just thought I'd ask.” Bella said with a grin.
“So, now I've answered your question, what about Pris? Have I got a rival?”
“Well, before that kiss, I'd have said she seemed to be doing a lot of talking with Dirk. But maybe that was because Trevor and I were rather monopolizing each other and you two were off in a land of your own. Now? Maybe it
was just totally impulsive, or maybe she's encouraging the men to make their minds up quickly, but if she's interested in Dirk then kissing Nigel seems like a high risk strategy. But I don't want to gossip about people who aren't here.”
“Good point.”
“So, if she happens to ask about your feelings then I'm going to make you talk to each other.”
“You wouldn't!” Eliza whispered a shout.
“Maybe you should anyway. Get it all out into the open. But on the other hand, you need to decide about God, because that's going to be an important factor.”
“I was talking to Karen earlier in the week, about God, and I said 'All right, if God drops Mr Right in my lap, I'll start listening.' She pointed out that wasn't a sensible challenge to God, because it would confuse things and end up hurting. I agreed, and I did start listening. So, actually, I'm not ready for Mr Right to come along yet. It's just I think he has. And it's confusing things no end.”
“So things would be simpler if Nigel and Pris got together?”
“Simpler and sadder, yes.”
“I don't suppose you want to pray about it, do you?”
“Actually, I already have, sort of. I asked God if this was his idea of a joke. What do you think? Does God have a sense of humour?”
“Duck-billed platypus? Birds without wings? Jesus telling the twelve disciples to feed five thousand people?”
“I don't get what you mean. Sorry.”
“I mean that they prototypical bird has wings, but not all do, mammals don't lay eggs, unless it's a duck-billed platypus, and the twelve disciples thought Jesus was joking when he told them to feed the crowd, but they did. Jesus broke the bread into twelve baskets, and then each basket fed a bit over four hundred people, at least according to some interpreters. They thought it was a crazy idea, but God proved them wrong. Yes, I think God's got a sense of humour. But it's not vindictive, it's surprising.”
“I've got a crazy idea.”
“What's that?”
“That I ignore all my questions about Nigel, Pris, my future role in Security, and all the other things that are flying round my head, and concentrate on God.”
“Doesn't sound too crazy.”
“Yes it is. I'm full of questions about him, but I'm going to ask you to repeat that prayer anyway. I mean, it occurs to me that I've got to believe he's real if I go asking Him if he's having a laugh at me, don't I?”
“You're sure?”
“Not really, but let's go for it anyway.”
“Let's go for it?” Bella asked.
“Sorry. One of my pet phrases. To be used when bungee jumping, parachuting or doing any number of other crazy things. I'm sure enough that I'll take that step.”
“Here in private, or with more witnesses?” Bella asked.
Eliza thought. Realised that she'd missed her brother turning to Christ, and that she'd have liked to witness it, and she was sure that he'd want to witness her doing so. “Witnesses. Dirk at least.”
They went to the room, to find that Dirk and Nigel were arm-wrestling. It seemed to be a close match.
“What's going on here?” Eliza asked.
“Final round of the tournament.” Pris said. “Trevor beat everyone, but after all my physiotherapy and using the wheel chair, apparently I've got more muscles than I thought I had, and I beat Dirk and Nigel. They're now competing to avoid the humiliation of last place. The far more likely alternative of course is that they both let me win.”
“Which would be... gallant, I suppose.” Eliza said. “Whereas this is just plain cheating.” and with that she tickled Nigel on his ear. It didn't work.
“Oooh! He can concentrate.” Eliza said, in glee.
“What are you doing, Eliza?” Nigel said through gritted teeth.
“Trying to end the match, and let my big brother win for once, of course.”
she said, then seeing that Nigel was starting to beat Dirk added “Clearly more drastic measures are needed.” and with that she bent down and whispered something in Nigel's ear. Nigel burst out laughing, tried to hold on but lost.
“What's the joke?” Dirk asked.
“She said she'd put itching powder in my socks. It happened to William once. He couldn't walk straight and slipped into this massive puddle, when he was supposed to be dignified.”
“Eliza, why spoil the match?” Dirk asked.
“Because I've just realised you're important to me, big brother. I want you to witness something without being in too much pain. Bella, prompt me if I miss anything important please.” Sitting down peacefully, she drew a deep breath, closed her eyes and said “God, I didn't grow up learning about you. I didn't grow up following you. I grew up doing my own thing as I felt like it. I realise now, my way isn't the best, that I've been rebelling against you from birth, and I'm dirty in your sight and don't deserve anything from you. Don't stay angry at me, please. I surrender to your mercy, and ask that you save me from my sin and rebellion. Make me clean, Jesus. Help me live for you, God, make me change. Be my liege and my King. Guide me into right paths like it says in the Psalm. Give me your Spirit in my heart so I can do what you want me to and a faith that doesn't turn from you. Did I forget anything?”
“The cross.” Bella prompted.
“Thank you, Jesus for the cross, for taking my sins there, for dying the death I deserve. I want to live, God. I want to live for you and with you.”
Dirk silently helped his little sister to her feet, and embraced her.
“Welcome to the new you.”
And Eliza found that she was a new her, because she even accepted a hug from Pris.
“Now, Eliza.” Trevor said. “You implied that you always beat Dirk at arm wrestling.”
“Mostly.” Eliza said.
“So, would you like to join in the fun?”
“Is there a prize?”
“The bottom two get all sweaty cutting up some more wood.” Dirk said.
“I've had my shower.” Eliza pointed out.
“You'd better not lose then. Standard rules: you can challenge anyone, then anyone below you can challenge you, or you can challenge those above you if you win.” Dirk said.
“All right. I think I'm going to start at the top, since that's normally mine.”
“Such pride!” Nigel said.
“Simple truth.” Eliza countered.
“All right, Eliza, I'll accept your challenge.” Trevor said, taking off his pullover and rolling up his shirt sleeve.
Bella saw his bare arm for the first time; the muscles were noticeable. “No wonder you could catch my kick.”
“What's this, Bella?” Eliza asked.
“Trevor jumped out behind me in the woods when I thought he was a long way away. I thought it was some mugger and reacted appropriately. He just caught my foot like I was some total novice. Unless one of you cheats, you're going to lose.”
“Come on, Eliza. Unless you want to withdraw your challenge?” Trevor said.
“Me, withdraw? Never!” It wasn't much of a contest. After letting Eliza try to move his arm, Trevor started to exert himself a little more and just slowly and steadily pushed Eliza's hand to the ground.
“OK, Trevor's on top, I admit it.”
“I'll challenge you.” Pris said. “Let's get some idea if the boys were cheating.”
Nigel admitted “I didn't want you to freeze again, Pris.”
“Finally he admits it!” Pris said in disgust. “I suggested the wood-chopping, remember? I quite like doing it.”
“So, shall we?” Eliza asked.
“I want a fair fight against Nigel first.” Pris said, “Then you can take on the victor. Come on Sir Nigel Cheatingnose.”
Pris smiled when Nigel won.
“That's more like it. I'd hate to think the world had gone so wrong that I could beat someone in Royal Protection. He's all yours Eliza.”
“Good sir knight, wilt thou, for the honour of thy reputation in the fifth kingdom, try thy utmost to beat me?”
“I shall not resort to foul trickery, noble lady, nor even to the telling of jokes, and I trust by thy virtue thou shall not stoop so low either, though you wear a rune that is now a vile lie.”
“I do, don't I? Good job I've got my sewing kit with me.”
“Would it not be meet, milady, to correct this unseemly lie most speedily?”
“It would Sir Knight, and I thank thee with whole heart for thy kind reminding. It would not be meet to enter a trial of combat wearing such a profanity.” She went to her room.
“Nigel, can you explain that?” Bella asked.
“She's got a symbol on her belt which proudly proclaims that she doesn't believe in God. She didn't need to put it on there. It's a bit like carrying a placard saying 'There's no God.' Not really appropriate for a new Christian to keep carrying it, even for a while.”
“So she's gone to do three hours of embroidery?” Pris asked.
“Probably not.” Nigel said, “She could have just hidden it or taken the belt off.”
“Well then, while we're waiting I'll challenge you, Nigel.” Bella said.
She lost.
----------------------------------------
Eliza looked at her belt. It hadn't taken her long to put in some temporary stitches in the Chi-Rho symbol that symbolized her new faith. Later on she'd do a neater job, but at least she wasn't lying. But she looked at the other symbol beside it, which also wasn't completely true. Her heart wasn't empty. There was an etiquette here, but she wasn't sure if it was recent or not, that when a woman was interested in a man she'd put a hint there, an encouragement to bravery if he was feeling the same way. A man interested in a weaver, for example, wouldn't put her whole crest on until they were formally a couple, but he might depict a part of a loom. But since Nigel was the only one here who could read the symbols, if she put a sword there, that would be a blatant declaration, Which is exactly what wasn't supposed to happen. On the other hand, if she put nothing, that too would be a lie, saying she wasn't interested. She decided that the best she could do was a tiny stitch which would look to uninterested eyes like a bit of dirt. But if he looked, seeking reassurance, it would be there, but she wouldn't shout it, like for instance a kiss full on the lips. That was proper. She made the stitch, hoping she was doing the right thing. She decided to pray. “God, I don't want to be dishonest, or to force Nigel's hand. I pray this is the right thing to do.”
She went back to the living room. “My belt now fully speaks the truth, good sir knight, though I will of course replace these crude stitches with finer work when time is more plentiful. Where have Dirk and Pris gone though?”
“They declared themselves the losers and went to cut up some wood.” Nigel said.
“Nigel beat me, Eliza, so if you beat him then it's all finished, but if he wins then I'll give you a bout, just for curiosity.”
“All right. Good sir Nigel, I challenge thee.”
“Very well, milady, sit thee, then, in the chair of challenge.” Looking at her belt as she sat he said “The stitches thou said are crude seem most elegant to me, milady.”
“I'm most glad of thy approval, sir knight.” she said, and put her elbow on the table. The battle began. Eliza was determined to win his approval, even if she didn't beat him. Likewise, Nigel had no desire to appear weak to Eliza. She was fun to be with, and now a Christian, albeit a very young one. He resisted her first probes and watched the emotions on her face.
“Triest thou thy hardest, sir knight?” she asked.
He realized that he wasn't actually concentrating on beating her.
He'd got distracted by the feel of her hand and watching her face.
“Probably not.” he admitted.
“Thou playest with me then?”
“No, I find, however, that my thoughts are wandering.”
“Then concentrate, man!” she said, and slammed his hand onto the table.
“Ow.” he said a little weakly “Best of three?”
“If you promise to concentrate.”
“I'll try.”
They linked hands and he took the initiative and scored a quick victory.
“Hey, I wasn't ready!” she protested.
“Then concentrate!”
“Trevor, you be umpire.” Bella said.
“OK” He held their interlocked hands and said “Ready, steady, go!” letting go. For what seemed like a long time, they still didn't move, then Nigel slowly started to win. Eliza strained as hard as she could to resist, but couldn't. She adjusted her position, half standing, and started to regain her losses. Nigel adjusted his position in the same way, and found that his eyes were drawn away from watching their hands to her belt that was now above the table. In particular a little dot. The same colour as the Chi-Rho pattern she'd hastily embroidered on the panel beside it. She'd made a spot indicating that just perhaps her heart was not totally empty. A hint of encouragement, for someone with the eyes to see it. Pris's kiss and then reaction afterwards was just too confusing, and the way she'd gone off with Dirk suggested there was something happening between them. Eliza's spot was clear communication, and Nigel decided he did have the eyes to see it, and wanted that encouragement. He made the extra effort, and almost, almost got her hand to the table, again, his gaze drifted to her belt. Eliza noticed the direction of his gaze and realised that he'd maybe seen her little dot. Feeling a surge of energy, she fought back and forced his hand to the table.
For a while they just sat there and got their breath back.
Choosing his words carefully, Nigel said “It seemeth, my lady, that thou hast conquered me, as I perceive was thy strong desire and intent.”
Eliza heard. 'My lady' was more intimate than milday, and conquered was not a normal term for battle. Did he mean what she hoped for?
“Thou hast fought bravely, sir knight, but ofttimes I do battle in this manner against my brother, and also against those at the court, and I saw in thy battle with my brother the two of you were closely matched. I thought me that perchance I had a small hope.” on saying 'hope' she looked down, to her little hopeful dot.
“A hope thou hast indeed, my lady. And that hope I beheld as I almost vanquished you, and behold, 'twould seem thy hope of conquest was not 'broiderd on your heart in vain, Eliza, my lady.”
That ought to be clear enough, Nigel felt. He'd seen hope, embroidered on her heart, and then using her personal name alongside 'my lady'.
If Eliza got it, and agreed, then she'd reply with 'my knight', and it'd be settled that they were going to be going out. If she didn't then he knew that the hope wasn't for him.
“Thy words in defeat are most kind, my knight.” Eliza said, with a blush.
“Can you two please explain something to me?” Bella asked interrupting Nigel's reply.
“It depends what it is.” Eliza said.
“Why do you two speak to each other in language that hasn't been used for five hundred years or more?” Bella asked.
“What do you mean hasn't been used? We're using it aren't we?” Nigel replied.
“OK, I'll grant you that. But I mean, why not just say 'Well done, you beat me?'”
“Because that would contain the obvious, without conveying what we were really talking about, of course.” Nigel said, taking hold of Eliza's hand.
“Which is that we've decided we're going to do a lot of talking over the next days and weeks.” Eliza said discretely.
“Perhaps involving a meal or two.” Nigel added.
“Or some walks.” Eliza added.
“All right I get the message. Has she convinced you to start hitting people over the head again with bits of metal, Nigel?”
“Oh, I don't know about that.” Nigel said. “But I expect I could clean up my armour and look threatening. I think I'd better formally resign again from being in William's bodyguard. I think I've made my point.”
“He didn't accept your resignation?” Eliza asked.
“No. I told him that I was doing enough guarding in my proper job, he said that he needed me in that position. I said he couldn't have me. He said his word was final, I told him I wouldn't turn up then. He said I would be back in a few months. I think I've called his bluff long enough now.
But apart from uncooperative monarchs, it was fun. Eliza's reminded me how much fun it was and how much I've actually missed it.”
“I never knew why you stopped going.” Trevor said.
“Now you know.”
“Can you explain something?” Bella asked. “You said this morning that the previous king was mortally wounded in a game of chess. How can you get wounded in a chess game?
“If was a battle of chess, not a game.” Eliza said, as though that explained everything.
“It's a sort of tournament.” Nigel explained “A mixture of chess and battle. You can lose it by being bad at chess or not having good enough people on your side. The king moves himself and his people around on a chess-board, up to three moving at once.
If your guys ends up on the same square as an opponent, there's a short battle. So, taking pieces isn't guaranteed, but on the other hand you can decide to throw two or even three of your guys against one of his. If that happens then they both go on the attack. Not many can take on two or three opponents at once. The player that is judged to have beaten the opponent stays in the new spot, the other one goes back to their old spot, and both hope they get a breather before they're next called on to fight.”
“When you say things like fight and battle, then we're talking things like fencing rules, yes?” Bella asked.
“Sort of. All weapons are blunt and non-leathal, but you can get a decent bruise if you're not careful.”
“By 'not careful', Nigel means you pick on the wrong opponent, or foolishly failing to cry mercy at the right time.”
“And I take it the previous king wasn't a good chess player?”
“He upset all his best fighters, and they either didn't join in or supported William.”
“What did he do then?”
“What any sensible ex-king does. Accept his lot, not make too much of a fuss, and practice archery.”
“Archery?”
“Well, it's fun, and doesn't involve getting as many bruises.”
Pris and Dirk entered at that moment, with plenty of wood, but not perhaps as much as might explain their length of absence.
“Hello people.” Pris said. “The stars are pretty tonight, but it's late.”
“Oh is that where you've been?” Bella asked. “I was wondering if you'd got lost.”
“Just cutting wood and looking at the stars. We did a bit of talking too,” Dirk said.
“Quite a lot of talking, actually.” Pris admitted.
“These two have been sending each other coded messages.” Bella said, indicating Nigel and Eliza.
“Oh yes?” Pris asked, with a raised eyebrow.
“Somehow they managed to decide that they were going to do a lot of talking in the coming weeks, while we thought they were just talking about Eliza beating Nigel at arm wrestling.
“You did?” Dirk asked. “Well done, sister.”
“I'm out of practice.” Nigel said.
“It is a plague, isn't it?” Pris asked Bella “I mean, Bella and Trevor came down with a serious case of romance two days ago, though I don't quite know how they met, now four more of us have decided to do lots of talking.”
“Not to mention that churches are filling up with enquirers or people who've made recent decisions.” Nigel said.
“I wouldn't know. If six months is recent then I'm one of them.” Pris said.
“I think you were ahead of the rush, Pris.” Trevor said.
“People are making decisions faster,” Eliza agreed. “Personally, I blame that asteroid. I know it's prompted me to think things through a bit more.”
“And we can blame the asteroid for Prince Albert meeting Eliza too, can't we?” Nigel said.
“Can we?” Dirk asked.
“Yes,” Bella said “But Nigel shouldn't have said that.”
“What about you two getting together?” Eliza asked.
Trevor looked at Bella, who shook her head. “Not in terms of my thinking. Bella?”
“Well, I've certainly talked to Albert's Eliza enough about weddings recently, so that might explain part of it. But since we're going to blame their meeting on the asteroid, then I'd say that without the asteroid I wouldn't have been in the capital to meet Trevor. As for me turning to Christ, yes, we can blame the asteroid for that, too. But I think the asteroid is just God at work, really, reminding us we're mortal.”
“And thoughts of mortality do help people get their thoughts in order.”
Nigel agreed “But has anyone heard what's being said from abroad at all?”
“Well, the last I heard was that the scientists had moved the central point of their massive guess slightly; generally in this direction. But they still say there's only a small chance of it hitting the earth. I think most news agencies think we're crack-pots, planning to evacuate a city.” Pris reported.
“And governments?” prompted Bella.
“The government of the country where the scientists put the initial centre point were very glad to hear that God had told us it was going to hit here.” Pris said. “I understand our ambassador told them that they had more experience rebuilding cities, but we had far more resources to do it, so it made sense for God to send it our way.”
“That was very, urm, noble of him on behalf of us.” Eliza said.
“True though.” Bella said. “I mean, it's going to hurt, but it's not going to mean the politicians choosing between letting people starve or paying the teachers and police. I can't say I like the thought of where I grew up being ground zero, but assuming Christ doesn't return, our country will survive.”
“So, on that cheery note, shall we get some sleep?” Pris asked.
“I think so.” Bella agreed.