El Dorado Drift
As Beka looked down the filthy alleyway she saw the old woman sitting on the ground with her back resting against the side of the building. She appeared to be sleeping but a moment later she lifted her head and looked around as if watching for someone to come. Beka took Trance's hand and with her free hand pointed down the alley said, "There she is Trance." They walked to where the woman sat and knelt down beside her.
"Why , hello child." the woman greeted Beka. "I'm glad to see you again."
"I came to return this" Beka said holding out the freshly laundered and neatly folded cloak for the woman. "I was hoping that there was something I could do for to thank you for your kindness."
The old woman weakly pushed the cloak back to Beka. "Thank you my dear , but I don't need this any more. I want you to keep it. Maybe some day you can give it to someone who needs it as much as you did."
"There must be something that we can do for you? Some food maybe or a place to spend the night at least?" Beka asked.
"No dear, I don't need any of those things now. But, could you wait with me for a while?"
"Of course we'll wait with you." Trance said more to Beka than to the old woman.
"Yes, we'll wait with you as long as you want us to". Beka added.
"Don't worry dear, it won't be long now. I can feel him coming already."
"Who's coming?" Beka asked.
"You'll know soon enough. I can see him coming now." replied the woman.
Beka looked in the direction the woman looking, and saw nothing but the end of the alley. She glanced over at Trance, who just shrugged her shoulders and said nothing. She looked back down the alley once more to insure nothing was there and this time she saw it. There was what movement like a veil or curtain being drawn aside and a pale figure cloaked in black appeared. Beka felt the icy cold shiver of fear run down her spine as it approached. She quickly rose to her feet intending to protect her from the apparition . The fearful figure paused for a moment.
At that moment she felt Trance gently take hold of her shoulders and pull her aside. Trance said softly , "Don't interfere with what must be."
As he began to move closer she felt herself grow even more afraid than she had ever been in her life. The figure stopped when it was a few paces from Beka and Trance. The figure looked at Beka then said in surprisingly soothing and melodious voice to no one in particular. "The veil is thin before this ones eyes if she can see me clearly enough to fear me. "Pointing at Beka it said to her, "You may witness that which must be."
As it said those words the image of the alleyway faded and was overwhelmed by a bright light emanating from the figure before her. The figure no longer appeared to be robed in black but instead in the purest white robes that she had ever seen in her life. The bright light seemed to be coming from the skin of the man in front of her. He appeared to be an ethereal being for his beauty was too perfect for that of a mortal being. At the same time she was almost overwhelmed by a feeling of peace and well being coming from him.
He stepped forward to the old woman on the ground, whom Beka had momentarily forgotten about. Reaching down he took her hand. When he pulled her up her body stayed on the ground and Beka saw a beautiful young woman rise up out of the now abandoned body. The look on the young woman's face was one of relief and joy. She turned to Beka and said "Thank you so much for what you have done for me."
"Why are you thanking me? " Beka asked. " I should be thanking you instead for helping me"
"No my dear, it was your need that allowed me to perform one last unselfish act of compassion. In doing so I have redeemed myself when I thought it was no longer possible. It is I who is indebted to you, not you to me." She turned to leave with the man. As they walked away Beka saw for a moment a host of angelic beings rushing forward to welcome the woman as she joined them. Then the sight faded from her eyes as if a veil was once more drawn before her eyes. She stood there for a minute, not moving or doing anything that might disturb the memory of what she had just witnessed.
She turned to Trance and asked, "Did you see that?"
"Yes I saw what you saw"
"Were they what I think they are?"
"What do you think they are Beka?"
"They were angels weren't they?"
"Yes Beka they were angels. They had come to welcome a lost soul who was returning home."
