AN: Well….yeah….couldn't resist adding yet ANOTHER work in progress…..sigh. I'm a glutton for punishment I suppose, seeing as how I'm so dang busy and already am an incredibly unreliable author updater person writer….lady…..BUT! If this should catch interest then awesome. If not? Meh. I'll feel less guilty when I fail to update regularly. BUT I SHALL UPDATE and I SHALL NEVER ABANDON THEE MY PRETTY PRETTY STORIES! Ahem…..sugar tweak….sorry. But the glucose does not make my words any less true.
Read and hopefully enjoy my lovelies. Reviews are welcome.
I don't own Hellsing world or anything that is obviously owned by other much more successful business folk than I. I only own my little story ideas and characters and in no way make money from this or the song lyrics I like to include sometimes just as a way of giving some soundtrack. Because let's face it. Life should have a soundtrack. Music makes almost everything better.
OH! And may it be noted I don't have ANY experience or in depth knowledge of Archaology other than what I see on History Channel...so.. yeah ha. I'm taking a lot of artistic liberties with this story.
Elaine sat, slumped with head in hands, as she waited for the arguing to cease. There was some sort of misunderstanding between the British authorities and her boss Richard, who is the head Archaeologist on their funtastic little expedition.
With a sigh, she straitened and tried to relieve the kinked and sore muscles of her back. Elaine glanced to her friend, Gina, as the bottle blonde began to speak.
"So, Elaine, any progress?"
The brunette rolled her eyes and let them settle back onto the spectacle before the two women. "Nope. Sometime soon we'll either be arrested or sent packing, but further research today I do not foresee."
Elaine slumped back over and rested her elbows on her knees. Finding mild amusement in the lame excuses the 'suits' were giving as to why further excavation could not be done for the next few days.
She quirked her brows as Gina stood and dusted her bottom. "Where you off to?"
Her friend leaned down and plucked a leather tool bag from the ground.
"If they aren't letting us dig, then whatever; let 'em be douches. But they can't keep us from being productive on the side of the site they can't see from here."
Elaine's mouth matched the devious smirk being sported by her companion as she grabbed her own satchel and stood.
The pair quietly left the tense scene in favor of the peaceful grid they'd laid out earlier. Being careful as they clambered over rocks and debris and onto the other side of the hill.
Elaine began taking some photographs of the ruins for documentation before they began to sift and dig beneath the rubble. You never know when the smallest detail might prove significant.
As Elaine took a more clinical approach, Gina hopped over the white twine they used to mark off the grid and began to haul the large stone debris. Jumping right in feet first. That was Gina.
Snapping off another photo, Elaine then set the camera aside and began to remove and inspect her own building remnants.
There wasn't much work they could complete, since the day had been wasted with hotel arrangements and legal issues. The light was fading with the setting sun; making way for the rising moon.
She inhaled deeply, enjoying the crisp countryside air. So clean. The stillness as dusk crept across the land. So serene. Moments like this made the travel and hassle of her job fade to the back of her mind. Just her and the Earth as it whispered secrets of the past to her. Revealing discarded objects from long ago to tell the story.
Would it be a beautiful prized comb from some forgotten maiden of years gone by? Or perhaps a shattered bit of clay that once held water for a thirsting Knight?
It wasn't long until the light was too dim for the meticulous tasks at hand and both women were forced to stop.
Elaine brushed her grimy hands across her jeans. "You think we should bother setting up the lights tonight or just wait for tomorrow?" Gina shrugged and tugged the hot pink scrunchie from her curly hair.
"I dunno. We should probably head back over the hill and make sure Richy didn't pop a blood vessel though."
Elaine snorted. "Yeah, I guess so."
As they crested the hill Elaine paused at the sight below. Gina kept walking, not sensing the same heaviness in the air. Elaine's brow furrowed. Something wasn't right.
"Hm…" The yelling had ended below and it seemed new visitors had joined the party as well. "Quite the officious looking lot…more so even than the original government trolls…"
Elaine took another couple steps when suddenly her eyes widened as she felt the ground shift violently beneath her boots. As she went down she spread her arms in attempt to grab for any anchor possible and yelled out. "Gina!"
Gina turned just in time to see her friend's arms flail into oblivion as debris slid violently down.
Gina tossed her satchel and began yelling to Richard.
"Richy! Cave in! Grab the rope and first aid kit!" She sprinted back up the now unstable slope and cautiously peered down into the new hole. "Elaine! Talk to me!" Pebbles and debris trickled down onto the dirt covered form of Elaine; unmoving.
Gina called down to her again and searched for the slightest stirring of movement.
"Come on sweetie; talk to me!"
Just as Richard hastened to Gina's side, there was a sudden flurry of birds taking flight into the sky with great twittering and upset. Gina furrowed her brow. What would startle the birds so violently? She glanced to the suits that had paused halfway up the hill…also inspecting the wood line.
There was a groan from below that quickly had Gina's gaze pulled back to her friend with a gasp of relief.
"Oh sweet Jesus, Elaine, are you okay honey? Can you move?"
Elaine's body ached as she pulled her face up off the sharp shards of rubble. Her arms shaking as she shifted her weight up onto her forearms. Scratches dotted her trembling limbs and cheeks, one eye severely blackened. She coughed the dust from her lungs and winced at the shooting pain it caused her ribs and back.
"I hurt like hell but I don't think anything is broken...if anything maybe my ribs."
She slowly untwisted her hips to crouch her knees beneath her. Lifting her head to try and see where she had fallen. The voice of Richard falling to the wayside as she noticed the stone pillars and vaulted ceiling. It was too dark but she could swear there were other dilapidated shapes within this underground room. She shifted her hand to avoid a particularly jutting rock when she felt a new sharp pain.
Quickly looking down, Elaine saw an ancient ornate pair of shears. Rusted from the years it'd been hidden in this cavernous stone tomb. She could barely make out the shapes of twisting decoration upon what she assumed was the handle.
She gently took the shears in her hand and called up to her companions.
"Guys…I think we found something big…"
Her words stopped Richard's nervous rant about her safety and sent him into excavation mode. "How big are we talking?" He switched on a large flashlight and directed its light down onto Elaine; clearly illuminating the object in her hand for her and making her breath catch within her chest.
Elaine's eyes widened with disbelief as she focused immediately upon the crest still somewhat visible through the centuries of dirt and rust. Her reply was quiet with awe.
"My God….it couldn't be her…" She squinted up at them "Throw me a light Gina! Quickly! There's a-a-a giant ROOM of some sorts down here. It's too dark for me to see what's in it." Her aches and scratches and bruises disappeared from her mind. Her eyes shining with the possibility of what they had discovered with her fall.
Gina carefully tossed a second light down to Elaine eagerly. "A room? What's that you have in your hand?" Richard stood and turned to go grab a container for the artifact Elaine just found but stopped short at the sight he was met with.
Those two fellows in suits must have called some friends for whatever reason. There were now jeeps rolling in fast and stopping in billows of dust on the road. Soldiers began piling out of them in droves. His eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline; he knew they hadn't wanted them to excavate here this month for an unknown reason but this seemed to be an extreme show of force in response to their disregard.
He kept his voice low and calm as he spotted a severe looking blonde woman step from a black car. "Gina, get Elaine out of there. Things just took a turn."
Gina looked up with confusion until she spotted the small army assembling at the bottom of the hill. Her green eyes now were the ones to widen as she scrambled to drop the rope down to Elaine.
"Hun, you might wanna let me pull you up now."
Elaine was oblivious as she cast the flashlight's beam into the darkness. The space was immense as her light barely cut through the inky black. But she could see remnants of broken tables and bottles. Tools….chains…hooks. Her breathing increased as a smile grew on her cracked and bloodied lips. A yell from above and the echoing of a shot in the stillness of the evening broke her exhilarating moment. Her head jerked up with alarm to see Gina staring toward the trees; where the shot had originated from in the distance.
Gina's tone was stern as she looked down. "Out of the hole now Elaine."
Elaine quickly braced one foot into the rope; looping the end up and holding tightly to support her weight. Not before carefully sliding her precious find into the front of her bra. Her pockets wouldn't be big enough and placing it in her pants waistband would risk it slipping out in her climb out from the cavern.
She chunked the light up onto the ground above and tried to keep balanced as Gina began to slowly try and heft her out. These efforts proved ineffective and nearly had Gina sliding in to join Elaine. With a frustrated huff, Gina blew soothingly onto her rope burned hands.
"Gah! What do you eat? I can't pull you up on my own Elaine. Is there any way you could get purchase on the wall to help with some of the weight?"
Elaine squinted; the wall was too far from the opening. "Wish I could doll. But that's a no go." She placed a hand to her still aching head. "You're gonna have to get some help if I'm going to get out of here."
Gina looked down at Elaine incredulously. "Honey that shot wasn't some hunter out getting some supper;" She looked up uneasily before glancing back down. "This place is crawling with soldiers and I'm willing to bet whatever was being shot at out there isn't out for an innocent evening stroll."
Elaine was just about to ask for more information on what was happening when suddenly a woman in a sharply pressed suit peered imperiously down at Elaine with piercing blue eyes. Cigar smoke wafted around her as she held it elegantly in one hand. The woman simply looked upon her for a moment before disappearing once more, her voice drifting down to Elaine coolly.
"I will have my men assist you in retrieving your worker, Mr. Allen. Then they will escort you and your group to the outside perimeter where there are paramedics on standby."
Richard's voice soon followed but quickly diminished in volume as Elaine assumed the two began walking away.
"Thank you Sir Hellsing-"
Elaine soon felt the rope's slack tighten and she slowly began to inch off the ground. She focused intently on her grip of the rope end; she couldn't afford to let the loop slip free and send her plummeting back to the harsh ground below.
Elaine kept her eye on the crumbling edge of stone and dirt, waiting for it to come within reach the higher she went into the air. Eventually she was able to reach up and grasp desperately at the edge of the opening. Her fingers clawing and digging as she scrambled for leverage. Gina was quick to hook a secure hold to her right armpit as gloved hands of a helmeted soldier grabbed her left.
At last, she was finally above ground once more. Still braced shakily on all fours she craned her head to look over her shoulder and gaze at the ominous hole leading into the earth…leading to the chamber where unimaginable horrors once took place…Elaine was almost certain of it.
She placed a hand against her chest above the shears. Feeling their gritty texture press into her flesh exactly where she'd left them. A small smile peeked along the corners of her mouth as her heart skipped a beat. These shears and the crest she'd surely reveal beneath the grime would prove her gut feeling that she'd just fell upon one of Countess Elizabeth Bathory's hidden collection chambers.
Gina went to wrap an arm around her to help get her to her feet but paused at the feel of a strange object under Elaine's shirt front. Elaine gently clasped her friend's hand as it reached to investigate and gave a slight shake of the head and quiet whisper. "Not here in the open Gina."
Gina was puzzled but humored her friend, nonetheless.
~x-x-x-x-x-x-x~
Alucard straitened to his full height; silhouetted by the sliver of the moon in the sky as he reloaded his Casull. Licking his lips of the last vestige of blood, he let out a grunt of dissatisfaction. The pathetic pile of ashes at his feet had hardly proven an annoyance, much less a challenge. The punk was useless. His blood held no information other than that the lump had been sent out to scout a location a few miles south from there. Ruins of some old building. He had received his orders blindly from another young vampire who likely knew as little as this sack of shit.
Alucard holstered the Casull and opened his mental link with Seras.
"Police Girl, eliminate your target and return to the caravan."
He heard her confirmation and began to casually saunter into the trees. Blending with the shadows and the dark depths of the night. He was heading south toward the ruins and his Master. Taking his time. Enjoying the night and dispatching the odd ghoul here and there under the control of Police Girl's opponent.
This had been a complete bore and waste of time.
"Hn…" he paused and stared up at the waxing sliver of moon. Inhaling deeply as the wind blew past him. Carrying the scent of the world to him that lay ahead. Disturbed dirt….gun oil…cigar smoke…drying blood? His eyes slit with intrigue. It was too faint to determine much about the individual. Too far away still and the wounds minor so that they did not release enough blood to properly scent.
He gave a deep chuckle. His evening might be salvaged yet.
~x-x-x-x-x-x-x~
The medic was dabbing her stinging lip and gashes on her face with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. She sucked air in through clenched teeth at the burn while Richard and Gina stood nearby hovering over the shears Elaine had brought out into the world.
Once the medic moved onto sanitizing the cuts on her arms and hands Elaine turned her head to address them.
"I swear to you, there's a cornucopia of artifacts down there. From what I could tell the majority of them have got to be in near perfect condition. Sheltered from erosion there underground all these years." She hissed as the gash on her palm was cleaned. Glancing down at it in slight annoyance.
"There were some tables and slabs that were damaged from chunks of ceiling falling, naturally, but still. The cavern is enormous down there; the light could barely penetrate its depths. It's a historical gold mine down there!" Her voice had been rising gradually with her excitement. The medic had to mildly scold her to sit still and not gesture so with her hands while he tried to clean them.
Elaine ducked her head slightly and gave a quiet and slightly embarrassed apology before continuing her conversation with her friends.
"We've got to get clearance to go back down there Richy. If not, I'll ninja my way down there if I have to."
The medic chuckled as he idly listened in on the conversation, but Richard didn't laugh. He leveled his blue eyes on her with brevity knowing Elaine was completely serious.
"Just cool down a bit Elaine. There's a certain way we must handle this situation. Leave it to me. I swear I will find a way to get you back down there to sift around to your heart's content. You only need be patient with me." He looked back down to the shears Gina was now holding closely to her face for inspection. "If you've truly found what I think you have, we'll have so much grant money we'd never know what to do with it."
Just then Elaine noticed the professional platinum blonde from earlier enter the medical tent. She was closely followed by an extremely tall, extremely menacing, extremely red clothed man with orange sunglasses. Elaine's mouth drew down at the corners as an unsettled feeling invaded her gut.
Richard stepped forward quickly to great the woman, Sir Hellsing; thanking her for the assistance of her men and medical aid. Elaine was trying to pay attention to the interaction when she felt the hairs on the nape of her neck begin to lift and prick. She glanced to find the tall crimson form staring at her from over the frames of his glasses, his face half hidden by the large fedora and an eerie smile stretching across his features. More disturbing still was the intensity with which his eyes bore into her; almost glowing crimson. But that couldn't be. No one could possibly have red eyes…a trick of her mind. She must have struck her head harder than she'd realized. Or perhaps her black eye was already swelling and distorting her perception.
Elaine looked down at the gash being tended on her knee. Anything to break the invasive gaze.
The medic stepped away briefly and returned with a syringe. "Okay Miss. Since you said you sliced your hand on the rusty metal I would like to administer a tetanus shot just as a precaution since it most likely has been contaminated with dust and other particulates as it sat under there all these years. Other than that you should be fine. Keep a wary eye for any nausea or unusual fatigue, in case you should happen to have sustained a concussion with your fall. An ice pack with some ibuprofen will also help with the swelling on your eye."
Elaine nodded and watched him deftly insert the needle into her arm; thanking him quietly.
He just smiled at her as he capped the syringe and discarded it into the hazardous bin. "No problem Miss. Take care to keep your scratches clean." With a nod he discreetly made his exit, knowing the Director of Hellsing would require privacy as she conducted this impromptu field meeting.
Integra listened to Dr. Allen's description of the night's events for himself and his crew and felt interest stirring at his words. She reached within her suit pocket and withdrew her silver cigar case.
"I would like to see this artifact, Doctor, and hear in more detail concerning what was within the covered room." She cast a cursory glance Elaine's direction as she lit her cigar and exhaled the smoke regally.
Taking that as her cue, Elaine gingerly got down from the infirmary table and walked over to stand before the intimidating Sir Hellsing.
Richard presented the shears carefully to Integra while Elaine cleared her throat a bit nervously.
"I'm not exactly sure how large the space is, but I can safely assume it is quite large based on the dimensions of the pillars I could see and the height of what I believe was the ceiling. It was quite dark as night had already fallen; which also made it more difficult to see. From what little I could tell, there were definitely larger structures further in…and various chains and hooks scattered on the floor." Elaine shuffled a bit, still feeling the eyes of the silent daunting figure upon her.
"I was picking myself up from the fall when my hand accidentally came into contact with these shears. You can just make out, beneath the rust and grime that not only is it ornately engraved but it also bears a distinctive crest." Elaine paused and glanced to her mentor before continuing with a deep breath.
"I truly believe that once we clean the artifact we will undoubtedly find the unique crest of none other than Countess Elizabeth Bathory de Ecsed."
Integra looked up sharply at Elaine causing her to put her hands up pleadingly and hurriedly continue. "Now, I know it sounds insane but hear me out ma'am. All historical records point to her having been imprisoned within her castle in 1610 until her death in 1614. But, there were a few unreliable reports and rumors leading an extremely small number of scholars to theorize that…maybe she didn't exactly die at the age of 54. The official record says she was found in her room…but why were none of her possessions ever liquidated or passed down?" Elaine took a quick breath and barreled onward, trying to get as much out as possible before being interrupted.
"I'm one of the very few, who believe she was smuggled from the confines of her prison and ran elsewhere to carry out the final years of her life. If this is really one of her unaccounted for possessions, we can pinpoint its age and last date of use. Even begin to track down its origins and how it came to be here in Great Britain. But we need to see what else is down there. We can even test for the presence of ancient blood residue…investigate why exactly she would need ceremonial shears…why she would need hooks and chains hidden in the basement of what was last recorded to be an old chapel…."
Integra raised her cigar wielding hand, signaling for the rambling woman to stop. She stared down at the shears held in her other hand. It was common legend. The myth of the Blood Countess…almost as popular a myth as that of Dracula….
"What are you expecting to find? Even if you should happen to connect any artifacts found to the Countess Bathory, what is it you plan to prove? That she was a blood thirsty vampire preying upon young girls for eternal youth?"
Integra stared intently into the other woman's brown eyes. Gauging every detail of reaction. Trying to decipher how much this woman presumed to know.
Elaine gave a wry laugh at the accusation. "And what next? Prove Vlad the Impaler was also an undead immortal and father of all vampires? Sir Hellsing, you misunderstand me entirely. I'm not out chasing theories quite as farfetched as those. Do I believe the Countess really was snatching up young women from their families? Yes. Do I believe she truly was collecting their blood to ingest and bathe in? Yes. I honestly think she believed it would grant her their youth…but I don't believe that made her a literal Nosferatu as the legends dictate."
Integra gave a self satisfied smile. Extending her hand out, she offered the shears to this determined brunette.
"Very well Miss…"
"Townsend. Elaine Townsend." Elaine carefully took the shears.
Integra inhaled from her cigar once more and held it between her teeth.
"Very well Miss Townsend…I will authorize and fund an excavation into the chamber discovered this evening. Any and all objects found will become exclusive property of my household. My family has an extensive history concerning objects of lore." Integra saw the recognition flash in Elaine's eyes as the brunette made the connection between the Hellsing surname and the bloody legends discussed moments before.
A smile graced Elaine's face at the fierce blonde's words. Richard was stepping forward to argue the point on how such historically significant findings would best be placed in museums when Elaine interrupted.
"Of course Sir Hellsing. I only ask that we be able to publicly announce our findings and provide the validation necessary to support any subsequent claims that might be made. This is a find of a lifetime and could very well rewrite the history books and the very legends themselves. This should be shared with the world."
The red gargoyle behind Sir Hellsing spoke up in a dark and smug voice; eyes narrowed calculatingly. "Hm. Come now, what of the money and fame? You cannot tell me that does not influence your actions."
Elaine looked up into those eerie eyes as Sir Hellsing's eye twitched slightly, unnoticed by everyone.
"Money to fund future excavation is always nice. The notoriety would certainly open more doorways and dig site permits. But my main interest is the knowledge uncovered. The story that can either corroborate or evolve what is already believed to be known about our history. The truth behind what is or is not legend."
The ominous figure chuckled darkly. "Oh how quaint; the little historian ever digging into the realm of romanticism."
"That is enough Alucard." Integra's voice was sharp and commanding while Alucard's sardonic quip had Elaine's jaw clenching. A cool glance from Sir Hellsing had the angry retort dying on Elaine's tongue as well.
"Dr. Allen, how soon will you be able to properly clean and authenticate this artifact. I would rather not invest upon a well executed replica."
Richard distractedly rubbed at the slight 5 o'clock stubble dotting his chin. "I have a few old colleagues at a museum in London. I would need to contact them and see if there is any possibility of letting us use their facilities and equipment on such short notice. But-"
Integra snubbed out her cigar with her boot and finished his sentence knowingly. "But that could take weeks and source funding is limited." She smirked and looked from behind her glinting lenses. A middle aged man with brown hair and a crisp butler's uniform entered the tent.
"William, my butler, will make note of your hotel arrangements and schedule a meeting for us tomorrow at my estate. We will discuss the particulars of this endeavor and the matter of research space."
She smoothly produced another cigar from her case and snipped the ends before lighting it with a deep exhale of smoke. "Now, if you will excuse me. There is other business I must attend to. Good evening." With that she turned and strode purposefully from the tent; not bothering to wait for parting formalities.
Elaine watched the officious woman leave and noticed the man in red, Alucard, stood looking each of her colleagues over with dark interest. His eyes slowly shifted onto her form once more. She swallowed thickly as his lips twisted up into another disturbing grin and he inclined his head to her with mocking civility just as he followed his employer out of the tent.
Elaine sighed, feeling the incredibly heavy atmosphere evaporate with the strange man's absence. His presence…his energy…his aura? Whatever it was. It seemed to demand attention and fill every available space within the confines of the tent. She looked down to the shears, still being cradled in her sore hands; the sight of them and the promise they held banished all misgivings or thoughts concerning the man with his disturbing airs and extravagant hat.
She ran her thumb carefully over the edges of the seal and her heart rate increased slightly. Adrenaline beginning to pump through her veins once more as her imagination produced images of what she might find when she ventured once more into that dark forgotten chamber under the ground.
~x-x-x-x-x-x-x~
Integra stood by her black car; watching closely as the last of the soldiers loaded into jeeps and returned to base. William, Walter's replacement after the Millennium debacle, approached her and read from the neat notations he'd made on a pocket notepad.
"Sir Integra, I have scheduled a luncheon with Dr. Allen and his two associates for tomorrow at noon. A driver will be sent for them at their hotel."
She exhaled smoke from her nose from the smoldering cigar held between her lips. "I want a file on each of them upon my desk before the evening meal..."
William placed the notepad neatly within a hidden breast pocket inside his coat.
"I have already taken the liberty of ordering the compilation of their files for you Lady Integra. I expect you should have them within the next hour or two."
Integra sat watching as the trio exited the medical tent and walked toward their rented vehicle. The blonde was speaking animatedly with her hands to the scholarly gentleman while the third just trailed them quietly in thought.
"Alucard…tell me your impression of the situation. I doubt it was any coincidence we had rogue vampires and their ghouls traveling into this specific area."
The dracul stepped from the shadows of a nearby tree and grinned at her. "No. My master. They were most definitely headed this way. Worker ants scurrying out to complete an order from their queen."
Integra slid her gaze over to her dark servant. "So that woman did stumble across Bathory's hidden possessions?"
Alucard's ruby gaze, in turn, slid to watch the brunette in question climb into a blue SUV. "Perhaps." His eyes filled with mirth when he turned to find Integra's eye twitch with slight impatience at his vague response.
"I'm in no mood Alucard…" She bit in a warning tone.
He sighed. "Oh master. You must find more enjoyment in life." He now watched the SUV begin to drive away before giving the opinion he knew his master was seeking. "My memories are muddied now. But I seem to recall the Bloody Countess being in this area at some point through the centuries. The shears seemed legitimate but further testing and excavation wouldn't hurt in validating your new collection."
Integra flicked the ash from her cigar tip and gazed up at the sky in thought for a moment before turning toward her own vehicle. William opening the door immediately.
"Return to headquarters Alucard. Seras as well. Do not dawdle."
Alucard placed a hand to his breast and bowed at the waist, a smirk gracing his lips once more. "As you wish. My master."
And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder:
One of the four beasts saying: "Come and see." And I saw.
And behold, a white horse.
There's a man goin' 'round takin' names.
An' he decides who to free and who to blame.
Everybody won't be treated all the same.
There'll be a golden ladder reaching down.
When the man comes around.
The hairs on your arm will stand up.
At the terror in each sip and in each sup.
For you partake of that last offered cup,
Or disappear into the potter's ground.
When the man comes around.
Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.
And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Till Armageddon, no Shalam, no Shalom.
Then the father hen will call his chickens home.
The wise men will bow down before the throne.
And at his feet they'll cast their golden crown.
When the man comes around.
Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still.
Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still.
Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still.
Listen to the words long written down,
When the man comes around.
Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.
And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In measured hundredweight and penny pound.
When the man comes around.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts,
And I looked and behold: a pale horse.
And his name, that sat on him, was Death.
And Hell followed with him.
-Johnny Cash- "The Man Comes Around"