Christian Fantasy Stories
On the 'Short Story' page, I have teasers that link to my blog where I am putting
300-500 words of my Naja Haje Abyss. It is a story about a young man who is
flown up into the clouds and then goes into the abyss where he finds his lost Bible.
I am currently working on another fantasy about a young girl and a former Navy Seal who force each other off the road and end up in unfamiliar surroundings. It's called Desert Spice
On the 'Short Story' page, I have teasers that link to my blog where I am putting
300-500 words of my Naja Haje Abyss. It is a story about a young man who is
flown up into the clouds and then goes into the abyss where he finds his lost Bible.
I am currently working on another fantasy about a young girl and a former Navy Seal who force each other off the road and end up in unfamiliar surroundings. It's called Desert Spice
THE NAJA HAJE ABYSS, A CHRSTIAN FANTACY STORY
The Naja Haje Abyss By Priscilla McDaniel
Wind and rain poured furiously from the cloud as if it wanted to keep me from going; nevertheless, I had a mission to fulfill and all the tears in the sky could not hold me back. I floated into the alley of Trevor Bartlett’s Bistro. In the blink of an eye, I changed from my long black and white chiffon gown into a short black and white, linen dress, one that would blend with the year 2020. I blinked again for a white broad-brim hat and black high heel shoes.
I knew what Mr. Bartlett’s reaction would be when he saw me sitting at a table in the sun; I stood out in the crowd, though it was not my intent to do so. Trevor Bartlett was the reason I had come to Greentree, California on planet earth.
“May I bring you a cup of latte?” Mr. Bartlett asked studying me with a quizzical look. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
I knew his thoughts and looked up at him with bold blue eyes, and moved a dark curl from my forehead. “Would you mind bringing me a glass of water with that Latte, as soon as possible please?”
“Yes certainly,” he replied, trying not to stare at me.
“Well, Mr. Bartlett, am I asking too much?”
“No, no, not at all.” he stammered, embarrassed by his focused gaze at my attire.
When he returned with my coffee and water he asked, “How do you know my name?”
Suddenly her noticed the palm trees; they swayed gently overhead as the breeze addressed me. I took a deep breath, and spoke softly, almost inaudibly, “Anon, anon.” Then I paused and looked up at him, “Thank you for the water and latte.”
“What exactly does the anon mean? That’s what you said, I’m sure I heard you.”
“Perhaps it was the wind you heard.” I smiled, feigning ignorance, and then dismissed him.
“How did you know my name?” he asked a second time.
I did not answer but instead listened to the voice in the breeze, “Take him now, Windoline! Take him now! You have no more time.”
Without another word I grabbed the tall, slender Trevor by the hand. We sailed into the air flying side by side, and I changed back into my traveling gown.
“What are you doing? Put me down,” his voice was tense and angry—outraged. “Where do you think you’re taking me?”
“You’ll know soon enough,” I answered, knowing that Panic began to take him.”
“I’m surrounded by blue sky, where are we? Who are you?”
“My name is Windoline. I am the angel of Black and White.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, and what do you have to do with me?” he asked. “Am I dead?”
“No.” I squeezed his hand to calm him and he quickly relaxed.
“Am I dreaming, or is this really happening Windoline? Is this heaven?” Trevor asked—confused; I knew he did not believe in heaven or hell.
Suddenly a prodigious roar came from below and with it came complete darkness. I could see terror in Trevor’s eyes and immediately I pulled him into my arms, but he struggled.
“You must allow me to hold you,” I whispered in his ear. Panic returned and the hurricane force wind nearly blew us off course. “We are in for a gale the likes of which you have never experienced Mr. Barlett.”
I tried to calm him in a soothing tone, just as a whirlwind funnel came at us. Without warning it flung us upside down and then sideways until my gown completely covered us from the waist up. Then we began to spin, and Trevor thought he would surely die, but it was not his time yet—he fell unconscious.
After being upside down for an unknown amount of time, clinging with all my strength to the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, I suddenly realized we had landed──my head was in her lap. I looked up and saw a stunning, crystal blue sky.
“Where are we?” I said, feeling serenely peaceful.
I should have been unnerved by this strange experience, but I wasn’t. Perhaps it was her touch that calmed me, as she brushed my hair off my brow with her soft delicate fingers.
“You’re in the Land of Justice,” she replied smiling down at me. “It is one of many holding arenas for the Lake of Fire.”
When I sat up, I saw that we were surrounded by mounds of bluebells, daffodils, purple iris and lush green grass that smelled freshly cut. A running brook flowed softly along side us.
“Where does the stream lead,” I asked, and her radiant blue eyes bore deep into my soul. Waiting for her reply, I bent down at the water’s edge, cupped the refreshing liquid in my hands and drank deeply.
“It goes two ways. One direction leads to the River of Life the other to the Lake of Fire,” she answered and then questioned me. “You’re twenty nine Mr. Barlett, why have you never married?”
“I Just never met the right girl. Why do you ask?”
“I think most women find your self confidence as well as your stature very attractive,” she said. “Nonetheless, I believe blond hair and blue eyes aren’t always enough to capture a wise woman’s heart.”
“Indeed,” I answered, feeling strange effects from the water.
“Your eyes are sparkling, Mr. Bartlett. I can see my image in them. The water is beginning to churn inside you.”
“And I can see mine in yours,” I answered, wanting to draw nearer to her.
I had so many questions, but before I could ask, the most awesome thing came into view; to the left of her stood a huge weeping willow tree, which I had not seen before. “Why is that tree dripping water? It’s not raining.”
“The tree weeps for mankind.” Windoline smiled sadly, and sighed as her eyes bore deep into mine. “Humans do what is right in their own eyes using themselves as the standard.[1]¦ They create their own rules, all the while ignoring the whispers of their soul. God weeps for us because he knows the consequence of poor choice will destroy our body, and if we don’t repent then our soul is lost as well. Those consequences we blame on Him rather than loving Him freely and choosing to do what is right.”
I listened intently as I watched Windoline come to her feet with grace and an enchanting demeanor. I wanted to enfold her in my arms and kiss her lovely mouth, but for some reason I could not; I could only ask, “Why have you brought me here and who are you really?”
“I am the angel of Good and Evil──the same as white and black.”
“What does that mean?” I said wondering if I was dead.
“No you’re not dead,” she smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. “I’m not at liberty to say just now why you are here, only that the Wind has chosen you.” 1¦ She reached out for my hand, “We must go.”
The next thing I knew we stood in front of a huge metal wall, which seemed to go on for miles around. Above two large double wide doors that looked like a glass curtain was written, “Hall of Tolerance and Political Correctness.”
Two angels with foreboding expressions on their face stood to either side of the glass entrance; they smiled pleasantly at Windoline and nodded for us to go in. Without warning, she pulled me right through the center of the glass.
Once on the other side, she whispered for me to only observe. “You are not to speak or ask questions until we leave, no matter what,” she said. “Is that understood?”
I nodded and held her hand tightly. The giant room was filled with all sorts of people. I gazed at the checkerboard-patterned floor of cold black and white marble. It was very disconcerting to me, but it didn’t seem to have any effect on the occupants milling around. Partitioned walls and dropped ceilings were draped in scarlet velvet. There were no windows or lights that I could see, but it appeared to be twilight inside. The furniture consisted of stark chairs and tables sparsely scattered throughout.
At first I heard nothing, but then the drone of voices talking all at once came at me. Before I knew it, I stood face to face with a thin, narrow-eyed man of color. He grinned and bared his white teeth at me and stuck his hand for me to shake.
When I didn’t take it, he said, “What, no handshake!” He spoke with mouth full of something dry and crumbly—I could not tell what.
Soon after a rotund older woman waddled over to me and announced, “I’m prudent deficient, and my ‘significant other here is scruple impaired.” She cackled loudly, “Ain’t we a pair!”
“Yeah!” the man blurted out. “My name’s Meanrake and this here is Berthabode.”
I did not have time to react before Windoline pulled at my arm and said we must be moving on. It was then I noticed goats wandering about. Behind me I heard a string of blasphemies accompanied by a loud belch in unison, which came from Meanrake and Berthabode.
“Goats, goats and more goats, will they never cease to be? These wretched animals eat everything in sight.” Berthabode shouted to make sure I heard and Meanrake broke into cacophonous laughter.
Windoline and I moved toward another part of the huge arena, while people continued to saunter aimlessly. They babbled and rambled to themselves or to whoever would listen.
Coming up from behind, a tall well-dressed man tapped me on the shoulder. “My name is Mr. Chew Smackum, sir. Do you know where I can find the Son of Man?” 1¦
Completely involved with his gum chewing, I wondered how he managed to talk. I started to ask who he meant by the Son of Man, but Windoline reminded me not to speak. Several steps ahead of us, a man wearing soiled rags ambled over to Mr. Chew Smackum, who never ceased his gum sloshing and popping──Smackum was as clearly challenged with lack of etiquette as the man in rags was hygiene deficient.
“Hey Smackum, have you found the Son of Man yet?” 2¦ The ragged man guffawed then spit in his hands and used them to smooth back his filthy brown hair.
“No Dirty Bob, but I’m going to keep looking,” Smackum said, holding his nose to get past Dirty Bob’s rank odor.
Windoline nudged me on and told me that the conversations we heard went on the same way day after day, and no one knows or remembers. “And,” she added, “it never changes.”
We walked toward a table where two women stood talking. Ms. Fibbergiver, her unwashed blond hair hanging limply and uncombed, leaned on her broom. As we drew near, I listened to her and another, similarly un-groomed, woman converse—both oblivious to the cobwebs that surrounded them.
Truth-impaired and homely, Ms. Whitelies spoke to Mrs. Fibbergiver loudly. “I have to tell you how pleased I was to meet your daughter, Bratwaller the other day.” Ms. Whitelies held her hand over her mouth to hide her sneer.
“Ms. Whitelies,” Fibbergiver replied, as she calmly brushed a cobweb from her mouth, “I declare, I know your daughter Horridair and my Bratwaller will become the best of friends, just as you and I have.” She looked over her shoulder as she spoke. “Oh look, here comes that fool, Smackum, mumbling about The Son of Man. He’s been searching for him for the past hundred years.”
“I hope he doesn’t stop to bother us,” Fibbergiver said. Then as Smackum drew closer, Fibbergiver smiled and waved. “Mr. Chew Smackum, how are you this fine day?”
He did not answer. As Windoline led us away, I noticed two brown spiders, both at least a foot in diameter, climbing a velvet covered partition that was next to Whitelies and Fibbergiver.
Without knowing how, I found myself with Windoline standing in front of another glass wall completely away from those strange people. Above the doors where we stood now, it read, “Hall of Revenge and Rebellion.” 1¦
“Before we go inside,” I said, “can you explain to me about those people we just saw?”
“Some by appearance might be considered decent individuals,” she replied. “Take Mr. Smackum for instance, aside from his inconsiderate chewing, he appears to seek the Lord. However, his only purpose in finding The Son of Man is to argue 2¦ that it is not right He should be the only way to The Living God. 3¦ Mr. Smackum has lived his life believing he can meet God on his own terms. He is convinced that because he sees himself as a good person, he can save his own soul.” 4¦
I might have argued with Windoline at one time, but right at that moment I sensed God’s Presence. For some reason I knew that disputing her words was not the right thing to do.
“What about Berthabode and Meanrake,” I asked?
“They cheat and steal from all who come near them. In addition their sexual promiscuity knows no bounds, despite that they are common-law husband and wife. As for Dirty Bob, though I dislike expounding on his affairs, you need to know the particulars──he is just one example of many who live against the laws of God.” Windoline frowned as she continued, “You see, Dirty Bob’s outward filth is representative of his inward thoughts, his secret actions and his lustful desires. He commits fornication with his brother’s wife, his mother’s sister, and his father’s nieces; in addition, he does unnatural things with the neighbor’s dog.”
“I am astonished, please go on.”
Windoline signed and wiped her brow. “As for Mrs. Fibbergiver and Mrs. Whitelies, their practice of lying developed over the years. At first it was by thinking to save themselves from many inconvenient situations, but now telling a lie is second nature to them.”
I was grateful for Windoline’s explanation, and had only to reflect on the way everyone I knew, including me, often accepts right or wrong as suitable behavior depending on what the situation calls for. I had no more questions, except to ask myself where I fit into this picture. I did not like what I saw.
“Remember,” she said, leaning towards me, “When we enter this next place, you are still not to speak or answer questions from anyone. Do you understand?”
I nodded my head and once again, two foreboding angels waved us in at the Hall of Revenge and Rebellion. 1¦ This arena was completely landscaped with trees, hills, rocks and boulders, trenches and dusty open space. When I turned to be reassured of Windoline’s presence, she disappeared before my eyes. In utter dismay I tried to call out to her but could not make a sound.
As I looked around searching for her, I heard a gun shot and a bullet whipped past my ear. This was followed by a loud, angry voice.
“I’ll kill you if it’s the last thing I do, or my name isn’t Jockgeteven.”
A beast like man came running towards me brandishing an oversized pistol. Again, I couldn’t speak to defend myself; hence, I saw a bunker up ahead and dove into it. There I found a strange dirty old woman who had burrowed under a rocky overhang. She puffed away on a huge cigar as she cursed and uttered ugly grunting and groaning sounds.
“What are you staring at? Don’t you know me? My name is Ida B. Belligerent,” she snorted loudly.
I moved down the bunker a bit on hands and knees and heard her shout, “Go away and mind your business sonny.”
Just as Ida finished jeering at me, a long spear zoomed overhead and she let out a curse that was as shrill as the wind on the heels of the spear. I peaked over the edge of the bunker only to see a very tall, very thin young woman dressed in a black see-through, gown that was tied at the shoulder like a toga.
“You rotten, good-for-nothing, miserable rat,” she yelled.
I looked around to see if she was talking to me, and she was. I ducked back for cover in the bunker and a second later another spear flew over me.
“What are you hiding from Mr. Havmyway? Are you afraid of Willameana Angry? You better run, cause I’m coming after you, now!”
With the threat of Ms. Angry and her spears, and more bullets flying overhead, I spotted a sewer pipe and quickly crawled into it for shelter. I had gotten about twenty feet from the entrance when without warning a grate dropped behind me blocking any change of mind I might have had, and suddenly there appeared four additional sewer pipes in front of me. Each had a sign above the entrance that read, “Danger, do not enter”. Without time to deliberate, I was suddenly faced with rushing water coming from behind; I had no choice but to go against the warning signs.
I plunged into a pipe on my right and had no sooner pulled my feet in than the water surged past like a jet stream. There was no turning around. As I watched the torrent of sewer water go by, something kept it from flowing into the channel I’d chosen. I sat still for a few minutes wondering where my angel was.
“Windoline,” I whispered, but there was no answer. Then I realized I could speak.
I had never said prayers before, but I certainly had watched a plethora of movies, which called out the Lord’s name in rude and unholy ways. I wasn’t a religious man, as I said; however, my deceased parents were devout Christians. As I sat there I remembered some of my early Sunday school lessons. I’d stopped attending by the third grade and never went back, not even to church. My folks were killed in a car accident, and I went to live with my aunt; she despised the church, though she never said why.
Suddenly it came to me. Mr. Chew Smackum from the first hall continually searched for the Son of Man. Even though his reasons for doing so were wrong, I now knew the distinction. 1¦ Before I had time to finish my contemplations, the water from the first pipe turned into mine. I immediately headed away from the gushing, smelly flow, hoping with all my heart that I could reach the exit before the deluge caught up with me. I was almost immersed in it before I saw daylight.
As soon as I reached the exit, the dirty water stopped. I stood up and stretched, hoping to see Windoline and wishing I were back at my bistro serving coffee. But no such good fortune awaited me.
“I’m Miss Zzmani Vengeance and you had better get out of my way before I slash you into little bite size pieces.”
The strange, tiny woman glared at me for a moment and then picked up a razor sharp axe with a three-foot head on it. As she heaved the weapon over her shoulder preparing to use it on my head, I ran. As if a rocket engine was strapped to my back, I headed straight for a grove of trees and right into a family of nasty gorillas.
One of them dove at me, grabbed me by my ankles and twirled me overhead several times. I believed I was about to throw up when, rather than put me down, it tossed me like a basketball to one of his buddies. When the other gorilla caught me, it climbed a very tall tree and hung me by my heels from a branch.
Terrified by the beasts as I dangled from the tree, I thought I would surely die and cried out to Windoline for help. There was no answer. Then I whispered a prayer, though I am not certain what made me think to do so.
“Please God; I’m sorry for all my wrong doings, for robbing my customers and purposely giving back the wrong change, for lying to my friends when I don’t want to see them, and for cheating on my girlfriend, Sally. 1¦ And please Lord, help me, before I die from all the blood running to my head, or before I am eaten alive by these brutes.”
Then I heard the leaves on the tree whispering to me. “The Son of Man is Jesus our Lord. The Son of Man is Jesus our Lord and Savior.”
It came to me ──“Jesus Loves Me, this I know.” 2¦ It was the song we used to sing in Sunday school. I tried to sing it while hanging upside down and I saw my tears, 3¦ shaped like perfect miniature pears, falling to the ground. My tears reminded me of the brook where Windoline and I first sat. She said it led to the River of Life.
“That’s it, that’s my answer,” I said out loud, “salvation──eternal life.”
I prayed to God again and called out the name of Jesus as I wept and the beasts danced around me, pointing and laughing. All at once, I felt myself tumbling through the air to the ground. I landed on my knees and looked up to see that the Gorillas had been transformed into angry men and women. They began shouting and waving weapons in the air with one hand and clenched fists in the other.
As much as they reached out to me, they could not draw near, because a protective glass cylinder surrounded me. 1¦ The mad crowd pressed their faces up to the glass and gnashed their teeth. 2¦ I lifted my head and raised my hands in thanks to God for saving me from the maniacs. Then all became still, and I closed my eyes and bowed my head.
When I opened my eyes I was standing next to Windoline in the Hall of Judgment. The hall was made of white marble and tall columns. In the middle of the room were four huge Judges’ Benches with judges sitting behind them.
“What happened, how did I get here?” I questioned Windoline, forgetting to remember how beautiful she was when I had looked at her in times past. She was still very lovely, but not in a sensual way. Peace flooded my soul, and I wanted to thank her, but she stopped me. 3¦
“You must not thank me. Thank The Son of Man.” She smiled and said, “You have found what those left behind in the Halls never will. Their hearts have been hardened beyond redemption, 4¦ and they will spend eons in there until the Son of Man appears. When that time comes, Judgment will be passed for them to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.” 5¦
We stood before Judge D. Ringtrue; he was one of the four judges. Windoline whispered to me that the D. stood for Discerning. The other three, Judge Always Rullbad, Judge Haveto Banishem and Judge Sorryforyou Goodfolk had books stacked high on their desks from which hung a four foot long metal gavel. All but Judge Ringtrue had their head down, muttering to themselves as they perused their books.
“What are those three judges doing?” I asked.
“They are studying for Judgment Day, the day when people, dead or alive who reject The Son of Man will stand before God. Their souls will be sent to the Lake of Fire to burn forever. 1¦”
“When will that be?” I asked.
“Only God knows. Not even his Son or his angels know.”
Then I heard Judge Ringtrue call my name, “Trevor Bartlett, step to the bench please.”
I trembled and lowered my head, waiting for whatever curse I deserved. “You have found and embraced The Son of Man, therefore your sins are forgiven. Now we are sending you to the Naja Haje Abyss. We will watch over you from above and remember, do not call upon your angel for help. Angels only do the bidding of God; call upon The Son of Man. He will protect you with his angels, who will guard you as He asks. Do you have any questions?”
“Yes your honor. Am I dead?”
“No Mr. Bartlett.”
“Why did Windoline choose me, and will she go with me to the abyss?”
“Good Angels can not go below,” Judge Ringtrue declared. “Only humans may dare it and return. You have The Son of Man with you now; He is all you need. Windoline will tell you why you are going and about being chosen.”
He looked at me kindly, nodded his head and waved me on with, “God bless you.”
“We will spend the night here in the meadow by the brook, Trevor?” Windoline said.
“I would like very much to rest?” I suddenly felt quite weary.
After I bathed in the brook and drank of its waters, Windoline and I spent a glorious night under the stars. For the first time in my life I was truly at peace with myself. Together we enjoyed an evening being waited upon by other angels. They brought us bread, wine and fruit, and we dined stretched out on the fragrant grass until we were satisfied. Then the angels played their harps and flutes for us, and exuded beautiful music that was exquisite to my soul──I did not want the day to end.
“Why did you choose me Windoline?” I asked as we sipped our wine.
“I did not choose you, The Wind did. The Wind blows where it will; 1¦ the Angels of God only do His bidding.”
Suddenly I could not keep my eyes open, as the music seemed to say, “Rest, my beloved, rest.”
The next morning came and I knew it was time to leave for the abyss. First however, Windoline asked the other angels to serve us a hearty breakfast of bread, cheese and apples. Meanwhile she told me as much as she could about why I needed to go to the Naja Haje.
“You have lost something of prodigious value; you will find it below. Angels of Darkness, or Fallen Angels, do all within their power, the power of their father the Devil, to keep humans from the Word of Truth.” Windoline looked very sad as she spoke. “They alter God’s word, deride it, add to it, and subtract from it; mostly they try and keep it from you. 2¦ They will twist it and turn it’s meaning to suit their purposes for evil disguised as good.”
“What is this Word?” I asked.
She smiled beautifully at me and answered, “It is the Word of Truth and it answers the mysteries of life 3¦ and speaks to your soul. 4¦ If you have faith it will bring you to the River of Life.”
I didn’t really want to know, but I asked anyway, “Where would I be if I had received a call from one of the other judges?”
“You would have been sent back to earth,” she replied sadly. “For a time you would have continued with success in your business. But as it is with humans who deny The Son of Man, things change as God makes every attempt to get their attention. 5¦ In the end though, it is a human’s choice to truly Love God or not.” 6¦
“How do I get to the abyss?” I asked feeling anxious, but as I looked into her heavenly blue eyes, I saw myself kneeling in prayer and peace again flooded my soul.
“It will be a difficult passage, but once you have conquered the trial, the journey home will be effortless.”
She pointed towards the water and said, “You cross the brook and go east. Follow it several miles to the end where you will see a waterfall. Walk into the waterfall and you’ll find an opening that leads to a very long narrow stairway. There are six hundred and sixty-six steps. That is all I can tell you, except that you will recognize what you are looking for once you get there.” She smiled and put her hand on my cheek, “I’m sorry; I can say no more about the way.”
“Will I see you again Windoline?”
“Possibly in your dreams, but for now I can only assure you that you will be fine. Remember to call on the Son of Man if you have more difficulty than you think you can bear. I will give what direction I am allowed from here.”
I waved goodbye and splashed through the brook feeling its refreshing spray upon my hands. I was very sorry to know that I would never see Windoline again. Soon however, thoughts of the Son of Man, my Lord Jesus Christ, came to mind and I was comforted.
I could see the beautiful waterfall up ahead. Yet, what should have been the harmonious sound of water crashing into the rocks was instead a disquieting drone. Apprehension and menacing feelings began to surround me as I approached, and I heard voices telling me not to come closer. I forced myself to think of The Son of Man and Windoline; the moment I took my thoughts off of them, the voices became louder.
“Don’t come closer, don’t come any closer, you will regret it.” Chilling whispers raised the hair on the back of my neck.
Thoughts of the Son of Man gave me courage, and I stepped bravely onto a large stone. I ignored the whispers and concentrated on the Name of Jesus. Then I waded to the cascading water and walked through, enjoying the coolness as it soaked me from head to toe.
I was soon past the falls when I saw a narrow opening. I walked over to it and looked down; there before me were hundreds of stairs. The access was only big enough for me to stand with my arms to my side. There was a sign, which read, “WARNING: Certain death awaits all who enter.”
I trembled for a moment and then with trepidation took my first step. Immediately spikes poked out of the wall on both sides of the dark stairway, and I heard hideous laughter coming from behind me.
I stopped for a moment, took a deep breath and called out, “The Son of Man has bid me come.”
I have no idea where that came from. I did not plan to say anything, but I could not help myself. However, the instant I said it, the laughter stopped, and I felt a cool breath of air through the dank, stale place. I continued downward with my arms close to my side and counted my way. “Thank you Lord. Thank you,” I said as I continued to count, One-hundred and one, one-hundred and two, and one-hundred and three.”
Gasping and nearly out of breath I reached a platform at the bottom of step two hundred and twenty-two. The stairway now headed upward. Suddenly a huge black spider half my height, stood in front of my face. Its evil stare froze every nerve I had as it spun its insidious web to block my way.
I decided to repeat the words I’d said before, “The Son of Man has bid me come.”
With that, the spider withered, fell to the ground in a ball, and a macabre sound came forth as it writhed in death. I walked right through the web and began to count the next set of steps up, and the walls disappeared. I climbed the narrow stairway with no sides and nothing to hold on to.
All around me was wasteland 1¦ accompanied by extreme heat, horrid jackals and ugly hyenas. They howled at me as I ascended the steep stairs. I began to gasp for air half way up, and my tongue stuck to my throat; I could not count out loud any longer. I laboriously plodded one foot in front of the other until both feet begin to feel like lead.
Unable to go further, I bent to my knees on the next step and remembered that I had seen myself kneeling in Windoline’s eyes. I bowed my head and prayed, “Dear Lord Jesus, please help me.” 2¦
As I tried to stand, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and a cool drink of water was given me. It refreshed me, and I was able to walk to the top of the four hundred and forty-fourth step without feeling the heat.
“Thank you Lord Jesus.”
At the top I rested for a few minutes in a chair next to a table, which had a tall glass of ice water sitting on it. When I reached for the glass, the chair broke and I fell off the step, but not to the ground far below. I clung to the step with my fingers digging in as I heard the terrorizing laughter again. It was accompanied by whispers and heavy breathing on the back of my neck.
“Have a drink,” it said in a raspy voice.
Suddenly a giant hand reached out to me and lifted me back onto the stairway. It swept in front of me and knocked the glass of water from the table to the floor.
“You will die if you drink that, it is poison. Seek My Face, have faith, and I will provide all you need.”
“Yes Lord God,” I said; how I knew it was the Lord, I cannot explain. 1¦
I picked myself up and that’s when I noticed that the last two hundred and twenty-two stairs went down like the first. I sighed with relief and thanksgiving, and did not even bother to count. Though still in the wasteland and heat, I almost flew down them. About twenty steps from the bottom I descended into blackness, and once again spiked walls formed on both sides of me.
On the last step I saw candlelight and a half coiled black and white serpent 2¦ with its head standing about four feet off the ground. “I am Naja Haje, you cannot enter or you will surely die.”
The serpent hissed and spit at me as I backed up several steps, petrified. I hate snakes. When I was just thirteen, a friend and I were hiking together when a rattler struck my friend; the snakebite killed him. Now, I thought for certain I would meet with the same fate.
Behind the snake was a gigantic room full of books piled very high. Most of them were black but some were burgundy, white, navy or brown, at the top of the heap stood a giant with a three-inch nose ring. Hanging from the ring was an ugly troll with a wart filled face and sharp pointy ears. His head was surrounded with two rows of eyes, mean eyes that moved constantly and saw everything.
In the troll’s hand he wielded a six-foot razor sharp sword. The sword spoke through a pair of bulbous lips at the end of the blade; the lips of the weapon moved as it talked; the giant and the troll were mute. As the eyes of the troll moved around, the giant moved accordingly, thus giving the rapier a wide range.
I did not know what to do until I remembered again the vision in Windoline’s eyes of me kneeling. I turned my back on the snake, knelt on the stairs and prayed. I listened and waited then I jumped up and shouted, “Jesus the Christ, The Son of Man has bid me come.”
With that the serpent let out a shrill scream, slithered off his step and into the pile of books. As soon as I put my foot onto the mound, the sharp sword began to roar hideously.
“Out! Out! I command you to leave.”
I jumped back onto the step to miss its swing and said, “Jesus the Christ, The Son of Man has bid me come.”
With that the giant, all but his head, crumbled into the heap of books. Now that the beast couldn’t move the troll around, I had a chance to dive into the books without worrying about the sword touching me. I rummaged through the pile of discarded books, and except for the color they all looked alike. I opened one and it said, The Holy Bible.
“The Book of Truth,” I said. This is what I’m looking for, but which one do I take?”
I pulled out a brown Bible and on the cover, stamped in gold was written ‘Trevor Bartlett’. I jumped up, thrilled to find what I believed to be my mission.
I sat back down on the Bibles and remembered back twenty years before. I was nine years old when my mother and father gave me the brown Bible. I wasn’t much impressed by it; I never read it and it never left my room. I sat there and began to weep as I read the inscription inside.
“To our only son, Trevor, may the Lord always be with you.” Love Mom and Dad. As I opened to John 3:16 and then John 14:6, I read aloud, “Jesus said unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’”
At hearing this, the troll let out a bestial scream. He cursed and began to meld with the melting sword, and then there was silence. I remember nothing more except clutching my Bible in my hand for fear of loosing it.
When I woke it was morning, I was holding my Bible close to me, and a fresh breeze blew my bedroom curtains to the side. What a thrill it was to be home, where I knew, without a doubt, I had found eternal life. Whether or not it was only a dream or if it actually happened, it did not matter, for I felt unbelievable peace. I thought about my friends and my life in a completely different way and knew I had to share with them what I had found.
There was a knock at my bedroom door. “Are you awake?”
It was Arny. “Arny, come in, come in. Oh boy, do I have something to tell you!”
“What happened to you, you were gone for three days? Then last night you showed up at the Bistro as if you had been drugged and you would not let go of your book. Cook and I thought that luscious young lady you were waiting on had kidnapped you.” He reached out his hand and grinned. “We brought you home and put you in bed. It’s good to have you back.”
The End The Beginning
[1]¦
Gifts for the Road
This is my most recent novel and is currently with a publisher for review. It is a story about how the Holy Family trusted God as they fled from Bethlehem to Egypt under the threat of Herod's soldiers who sought to kill Jesus. I hope to hear from the publisher within this year. Please pray they will want to take it on.
Crystal PinesMy first book about 4 Englishmen who travel to New York City in 1839 to run their family business. It was published in 2005. We have made a screen play out of it, but I don't know where that stands. It was fun to write it the book.
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MorningsideThis is the second book, published in 2006. It is about the parents and aunts and uncles of the boys in Crystal Pines. It too was fun. Both books will soon be out of print, so order today. Just click on the title and it will take you to the link where you can buy it. Or you can email me and I will give you the particulars on how I can send you an autographed book.
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