Hereafter

Hereafter: Part II Graduation Day, Chapter 31

31

 

 

A SMIRK OF SATISFACTION COULD be seen on Zarusal’s face as he was reliving his personal story of crossing over, only to voluntarily return at the Creator’s behest. He still hadn’t completely come to terms with how it was possible for the past, present, and future to be so completely tethered together for all time, but that was the reality of the Creator’s eternal World.

“For those of you who haven’t yet experienced what Stephen was talking about, let me assure you that his story will be yours one day, and that it is not something to be feared, but rather you’ll be embarking on a spiritual adventure, something to actually look forward to.”

Stephen’s powerful testimony provided more much-needed spiritual health food to nourish the newborn souls of our young collection of Creationists. The spectacular miracles kept happening, but I couldn’t help but wonder if our movement would continue to spread if and when the magic tricks had to go back into the Magician’s trunk and all we had were stories to tell of the days when the Creator power was swirling minute by minute right in our midst.

Pushing that problematic thought aside, we surrounded Stephen to both welcome him home properly and tend to any needs he had after surviving such a harrowing ordeal. The radio was on and still no other news bulletins. Some thought that was a hopeful sign, while others, me included, couldn’t help but worry. Within the hour the team assigned to the buses returned. But for a few scrapes and spatterings of paint on their clothes, everyone was all right. A few minutes later, the team assigned to the bridge overpass returned—all safe save one who broke an arm when one of two tethering cords snapped sending them crashing into the corner of the cement wall. A glass of Sacred Water and the arm was whole again.

With most of the drama over for one night, Daniel and I slipped away to get the printer while everyone else got some much-needed sleep. Returning by the first light of dawn, as hoped the morning news carried reports of the results of our Sacred Words campaign as well as a mention of the breaking news story aired earlier that night.

“This just in . . . actually, I’m reporting this story live from the 5th floor window of the Communications Building here at Raftalgar Square plaza. I’m looking down on a city bus rolling past our location and clearly spray-painted on the top are the words, Know Love and Survive Death. All the busses have already left the downtown terminal, so this message is being carried all over Catania as I speak. Apparently the authorities are just finding out through this news broadcast of this latest act of insurgency most likely related to the earlier spray painting on the 13th floor of this same building. And more breaking news, it has just been reported that the phrase, Love All and Live On in Heaven, has been painted on the overpass through which most of the city residents enter the downtown business district. Again, if you’re listening by radio and want to see pictures of this graffiti, just tune into our sister broadcast channel, WCSTV. I’ve just been told by our producer that we’re scheduling an expert in esoteric religious studies for later in the hour to comment on the strange words being displayed by the rebels, so stay turned. Now the national news . . . .”

Once again, the results of our efforts exceeded expectations when the local media got involved in spreading the messages of hope embodied in the Sacred Words. The radio was turned down so we could all get back to work while continuing to listen in the background for any more news connected to our outreach activities. When I overheard a guest expert about to be interviewed, I turned up the volume.

“As promised earlier, we’ve brought in Professor Lacoma Welldlag, an expert on ancient religious studies at Norfdstan University, to help us understand the meaning of the spray-painted words on the Communications Building. Professor, please give our audience your initial reaction to the phrase, No One is Free Unless All Are Free.”