beasts with the four faces..."
"And Michael, you shall visit the beast with two!" Crispin
remarked slyly as they laughed.
----------------
Lucifer took his usual place at the head of the table. The mer-
riment of the past few moments melted into a somber air as the
angels focused upon their leader. Pellecus sat opposite Lucifer,
glancing occasionally at the faces of the angels who shared these
exciting, if not dangerous, moments with him. He liked to read the
sympathies in the room as Lucifer spoke, making mental notes of
those who seemed either hesitant or noncommittal on various
aspects of the conversation.
"And now we can discern the end of this present creative act,"
Lucifer continued. "It is obvious that in every phase, or `day' as He
calls it, the Most High is designing a more and more complex
128 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
world. Having started with the simplest material, light, the Cre-
ation has progressed to the point where the earth itself is budding
with new life." Lucifer's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Have you
seen the wonderful array of flowering plants and herbs He has cre-
ated? Marvelous! What an amazing design! Each unique, each
capable of reproducing itself."
"Indeed," remarked Pellecus, assuming the role of instructor.
"From a strictly academic point it is all quite interesting. Our Lord
has devised a material world--a physical universe in which His
will may be manifested in even the simplest structures. And as our
dear brother Lucifer has pointed out, the Most High is issuing an
ever-increasing complexity. Thus we are now poised for the next
phase..."
"Which by logical inference must take what form, good
teacher?" asked Lucifer, who had already anticipated Pellecus'
answer.
"Why, animated life, of course," said Pellecus, sitting back.
The angels sat back, stunned into complete silence. Pellecus
enjoyed the rapt attention of a captivated audience. "But never fear,
it cannot be superior to angels. If the Lord keeps to the design--and
we all know that if the Lord is anything He is consistent..."
"If not predictable," added Lucifer to general amusement.
Pellecus continued, "Quite, my lord. He'll stay with the pat-
tern and create animated life of an inferior material substance.
Imagine! Living creatures who will walk the breadth of this
world--drink from its waters...eat of its fruit...live in its seas...fill
its air...endless possibilities!"
"But where does it stop?" asked Tinius. "How complex of a
creature will He design? Certainly He would never create along the
order of angels to inhabit this world, would He?"
"You weren't listening, Tinius," Lucifer responded. "If the
Lord is going to entrust the world to an angel to govern it, He will
most certainly not create angels to inhabit it. We have enough dis-
order in Heaven without it spilling onto the earth!"
The room exploded in laughter.
"Angels governing angels!" said Sar. "What chaos!"
"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!" 129
"Exactly my point," said Lucifer. "The Most High is fixed on
order. No, my friends, He will continue the pattern, as Pellecus
said--you may be assured of that! He will not create spiritual
beings to inhabit a material universe."
Lucifer stood up, deep in thought, and began pacing around
the table seemingly unaware of the angels who watched him.
"They must somehow be a little lower than the angels, yet capable
of understanding the mysteries of God...capable of responding to
Him freely...capable of obeying and loving those things the Most
High holds dear." He looked gravely at the faces staring back at
him..."just as we are free to do so."
"And how do you know this?" asked Tinius.
Lucifer looked at Tinius and answered. "You are a wisdom
angel, are you not, Tinius? I am surprised that you have not yet
understood." He looked at the group. "The Lord desires to be wor-
shiped above all else. We all know that. Therefore He will create an
order of life that can worship Him from this material plane. But He
must give this life the ability to choose freely, or else He has creat-
ed nothing more than a beast of worship." Lucifer sat back down.
"And suppose," said Tinius timidly, "that these creatures,
whatever they are, decide that they will not be governed from on
high--that they would rather choose their own course such as
we..." Tinius looked awkwardly at his fellow angels. His words
disappeared uncomfortably into the silence of the room.
"You implicate us in something sordid with such words,
Tinius," said Lucifer. "We are merely discussing the aspects of cre-
ation here. I suggest you remember that."
"Of course," responded a sheepish Tinius. He melted into his
chair.
"However," Lucifer continued, "I suspect there would be
some recourse on the part of the governing authority on earth to
handle such impertinence." He grunted a noise of disgust. "That is
the critical flaw of this present Kingdom. We have a choice to obey
the Most High. And so we choose to obey Him in a more enlight-
ened manner that in the end will serve to further increase His
authority in the universe. But what choices do we leave the Most
130 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
High in dealing with the choices we make? He is left with no appar-
ent recourse because He has never contemplated an angel behaving
contrary to His wishes. But one day He will see that our way
increased the virtue and power of this Kingdom."
"How so?" asked Fineo, who seldom spoke up at these meet-
ings. As Keeper of the Most Holy Incense he felt his role was not as
significant as some of the others at the table. Yet he understood in
such times that to remain completely silent invited being passed
over in future appointments. Lucifer favored angels of quick mind
and speech. "How can our independence from the Lord serve to
magnify Him?"
"By demonstrating that angels are capable of creating their
own destinies, my dear Fineo," answered Lucifer. "Think of it! By
perpetuating and broadening the Lord's influence over creation in
ways that perhaps never even occurred to Him, we are taking His
design to its ultimate conclusion. Just as your incense creeps slow-
ly through the Temple and overtakes us before we are aware, Fineo,
so will the Kingdom be spread abroad throughout creation through
our own innovation."
Rugio had been still long enough. The fighter in him was
yearning for a contest; diplomacy and verbal jockeying were good
to a point, but action was ultimately called for. "My lord, you say
that we are nearing the end of this Creation and that is good and
well. But nothing has been said about our...that is, your role in all
of this. Where do we stand?" he asked. "When will you ascend?"
"Ah, Rugio," purred Lucifer, who moved over to the large
angel and put a hand on his shoulder. "A
lways the warrior."
Lucifer walked over to a cabinet that housed many golden
scrolls of worship he had created in times past. Opening the cabi-
net he indicated its contents and pulled one scroll out at random.
"This represents much work, Rugio. Creating praise worthy for so
exalted a figure as the Most High is not simply done in haste. It
requires inspiration, thought, analysis. One does not patch togeth-
er something as magnificent as one of my choral works with little
consideration. Neither does a Creation take place as a result of
mere chance."
"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!" 131
He was speaking to all of them now, pointing the scroll
towards them. "One must have patience when achieving greatness
and one must be willing to attempt that which has never before
been attempted. That is why the Lord is great. He performs that
which has never before occurred. He creates His greatness out of
His ability to do that which is unknown and spectacular. I put it to
you that any creature who successfully breaches the unknown will
become great."
Lucifer's eyes glanced at the large oval window that faced the
Great City. The light, ever present, poured into the room. Putting
down the scroll he walked over to the window and gazed into the
busy streets of Heaven. "Events are moving much more rapidly
than you realize, brothers. Just because you see nothing happening
does not mean that there is inactivity. I promise you that very soon
all we have envisioned will be realized!" He stood in front of the
emblazoned window so that only his dark silhouette could be seen.
"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us."
Walking back to his place at the table Lucifer continued. "At
this very moment Kara is introducing to the Elders a formal pro-
posal to have me named governor of the earth. Sentiment in that
body is sympathetic and increasing in our favor." He thought
smugly of the secret agreements he had made with certain angels in
the Council in exchange for their affirmation. "It seems some Elders
are just as anxious to be set free as are we. At any rate, I cannot fore-
see any scenario which we will be unable to handle."
"What about Michael?" asked Rugio.
"Michael! Always Michael!" said Lucifer, perturbed. "How
long must I endure this Council's fear of Michael? He is only an
angel after all!"
"Well, lord," said a subdued Rugio, "he still commands the
greater number of angels loyal to the Most High. They stand ready
to enforce the Lord's will in any case."
Even as Rugio was speaking Serus entered the room and whis-
pered something to Lucifer, who nodded his head in understanding.
"Serus, your timing could not have been better," Lucifer said.
"To answer you, Rugio, Michael and I shall be meeting very soon."
132 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
Many of the angels stood up, aghast at the prospect of a possible
confrontation with this great angel. Lucifer held up his hands. "No,
no, my friends. I have not lost my mind in this. True, he is getting
uncomfortably close, and of course, Rugio, I respect his strength
and authority.
"But that is why I must meet with him. The best way to deal
with one's adversary is to befriend him. I will assure him of my loy-
alty. As will Kara. I know Michael too, Rugio. He is fierce in his
service to the Most High, but he is also quite open to sincere sug-
gestion. I have yet to see him turn away a friend--especially one
who has been acting rather out of character of late." Lucifer smiled.
"And as for us?" asked Rugio, who still believed that a violent
confrontation was inevitable but was content to continue the game
for now.
"Continue as always," said Lucifer. "Be cautious but not sus-
pect. Visit the earth and learn of it. Divine its nature and your abil-
ity to manipulate its contents. We will one day rule there so become
acquainted with it. Above all, build sympathy among the angels
who are more ambitious than others. And be prepared to move.
Creation will not last forever and events will soon overtake us."
Lucifer walked to the table where his book of prophecies lay
open. "A new entry in this august book, my brothers, which I share
with you now to inspire our effort. Sacred will be these writings
one day as we rule a new world." The room was completely silent
as Lucifer began reading:
And once was the time to see;
And once was the time to understand;
And then was the time to build;
And then was the time to command;
And now is the time to act;
And now is the time to demand.
And so He gave way to the Host;
And allowed them their freedom at last;
Father, Son and Ghost;
Henceforth from the past.
"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!" 133
Thus are these writings fulfilled,
For all of the Kingdom to see;
And so it is He is like me."
He took the book and slammed it shut dramatically, startling
many of the angels, and then spoke in a quiet, almost reverent tone:
"We are henceforth bonded together in destinies, you and I. What-
ever the outcome, we shall be brothers to the end--whether in
glory or in despair. We have transgressed the line of discretion and
prudence. We now rise as one to a new height that no angel has
ever seen...or plunge into an unknown and disgraceful abyss."
As Lucifer spoke a reddish aura began glimmering around the
outline of his person. He held his hand down in the center of the
table and the other angels followed suit, placing their hands on top
of his. "Let this be a sacred oath and pledge together to be either
creators or devastators of the new order. May we be forever revered
or forever damned in this effort; eternally free or eternally cursed."
The angels stood back as Lucifer walked to his seat and stood
behind his chair, the reddish glow still outlining him. He bored into
each of the angels with his blue-gray eyes. "So be it," he whispered,
picking up his glass and holding it up. The others held up their
glasses and repeated in hushed tones, "So be it."
135
Chapter 10
"I fear you are making a grave mistake
placing yourself in Lucifer's hands."
Kara's impassioned argument for naming Lucifer as earth's
future steward was going well. He had presented a marvelous and
scholarly argument as to the sensibility of such an action. An angel
was the only choice for the Lord, he said. Who else could the Lord
trust with so important a task? And with Lucifer's ability in wor-
ship the entire world would be a tribute to the glory of the Most
High. It seemed only fitting after such a distinguished record of
unselfish service in the presence of God that such service should be
rewarded. It was along this line of reasoning that Kara skillfully
made his argument that was now being deliberated in the Council
of Elders.
As he sat in the proceedings Kara counted heads. The Council
seemed divided into three distinct factions. The vocal oppositon
was led by Dabran, who was suspicious of Lucifer's ambitions. He
continually tried to sway the undecided that Lucifer was unfit to
take on such a task because it was not an angel's role to promote
himself. Another group was undecided, but leaning toward a deci-
sion for Lucifer simply to keep the peace in the Council. These
angels were Kara's target as the decision could be rendered with a
136 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
simple majority of Elders. Finally, there were the dedicated Lucife-
rians who viewed his speech as a mere formality to a conclusion
already attained. Kara nodded to this and that angel and thought
about his role in this endeavor as he excused himself from the
gallery to allow a freer debate.
In other circumstances Kara might question the use of one's
position to maneuver so important an issue. In this case, however,
he felt justified. As an Elder, he was furthering the cause of the
Kingdom, was he not? By helping Lucifer become the earth's stew-
ard he was removing a future threat to the peace of Heaven and
placing a highly competent angel in a place of service to the Most
High. Lucifer would make a magnificent governor. He was a bit
overbearing, perhaps, but over time he felt he could handle him,
especially since he would be working closely with Lucifer in
administering the earth. He pondered a heady future...
"Kara! Kara!" came a voice. It was Plinus, an angel very sym-
pathetic to Lucifer. "You made a wonderful presentation!"
"How do you view the outcome?" asked Kara, who accompa-
nied Plinus down the long hallway to the gallery where the Elders
convened.
"Splendid! There were a few who felt that angels have no prece-
dent for making recommendations to the Most High on such a mat-