Text 2054, 92 rader
Skriven 2005-05-31 12:23:14 av George Pope (1:153/307.11)
Ärende: In the Big Inning
=========================
----------------------------------------
                        In The Beginning
----------------------------------------
  It was a nice day.
  All the days had been nice.   There had been rather more than
seven of them so far, and rain hadn't been invented yet.  But clouds
massing east of Eden suggested that the first thunderstorm was on its
way, and it was going to be a big one.
  The angel of the Eastern Gate put his wings over his head to
shield himself from the first drops.
  "I'm sorry," he said politely.  "What was it you were saying?"
  "I *said*, that one went down like a lead balloon," said the
serpent.
  "Oh.  Yes," said the angel, whose name was Aziraphale.
  "I think it was a bit of an overreaction, to be honest," said
the serpent.  "I mean, first offense and everything.  I can't see what's
so bad about knowing the difference between good and evil, anyway."
  "It must *be* bad," reasoned Aziraphale, in the slightly
concerned tones of one who can't see it either, and is worrying about
it, "otherwise *you* wouldn't have been involved."
  "They just said, Get up there and make some trouble," said the
serpent, whose name was Crawly, although he was thinking of changing it
now.  Crawly, he'd decided, was not *him*.
  "Yes, but you're a demon.  I'm not sure if it's actually
possible for you to do good," said Aziraphale.  "It's down to your
basic, you know, nature.  Nothing personal, you understand."
  "You've got to admit its a bit of a pantomime, though," said
Crawly.  "I mean, pointing out the Tree and saying 'Don't Touch' in big
letters.  Not very subtle, is it?  I mean, why not put it on top of a
high mountain or a long way off?  Makes you wonder what He's really
planning."
  "Best not to speculate, really," said Aziraphale.  "You can't
second guess ineffability, I always say.  There's Right, and there's
Wrong.  If you do Wrong when you're told to do Right, you deserve to be
punished.  Er."
  They sat in embarrassed silence, watching the raindrops bruise
the first flowers.
  Eventually Crawly said, "Didn't you have a flaming sword?"
  "Er," said the angel.  A guilty expression passed across his
face, and then came back and camped there.
  "You did, didn't you?" said Crawly.  "It flamed like anything."
  "Er, well---"
  "It looked very impressive, I thought."
  "Yes, but, well---"
  "Lost it, have you?"
  "Oh no! No, not exactly lost, more---"
  "Well?"
  Aziraphale looked wretched.  "If you must know," he said, a
trifle testily, "I gave it away."
  Crawly stared up at him.
  "Well, I had to," said the angel, rubbing his hands
distractedly.  "They looked so cold, poor things, and she's expecting
*already*, and what with the *vicious* animals out there and the storm
coming up I thought, well, where's the harm, so I just said, look, if
you come back there's going to be an almighty row, but you might be
needing this sword, so here it is, don't bother to thank me, just do
everyone a big favor and don't let the sun go down on you here."
  He gave Crawly a worried grin.
  "That was the best course, wasn't it?"
  "I'm not sure it's actually possible for you to do evil," said
Crawly sarcastically.  Aziraphale didn't notice the tone.
  "Oh, I do hope so," he said.  "I really do hope so.  It's been
worrying me all afternoon."
  They watched the rain for a while.
  "Funny thing is," said Crawly, "*I* keep wondering whether the
apple thing wasn't the right thing to do, as well.  A demon can get into
real trouble, doing the right thing."  He nudged the angel.  "Funny if
we both got it wrong, eh?  Funny if I did the good thing and you did the
bad one, eh?"
  "Not really," said Aziraphale.
  Crawly looked at the rain.
  "No," he said, sobering up.  "I suppose not."
  Slate-black curtains tumbled over Eden.  Thunder growled among
the hills.  The animals, freshly named, cowered from the storm.
  Far away, in the dripping woods, something bright and fiery
flickered among the trees.
  It was going to be a dark and stormy night.


Your Moderator and all-round friend/servant,
<+]::-{(} ("Cyberpope")
Internet: gapope@vcn.bc.ca
1)If you don't like a joke, post 2-3 examples of what you DO like!
B)If you DO like a joke, say thank-you with 2-3 jokes of your own! :)
My Preferred Netmail address is: 1:153/307.11
ICQ UIN: 32617950

(I am the Bishop of ROM!)


--- PPoint 1.76
 * Origin: Cyberpope pointing via the Milky Way! (1:153/307.11)