Chapter 29 First Plague
Gents, the boring chapters are luckily beginning to slowly come to an end, you will see the path laid out in this chapter heading towards the end. The ending stretch has begun, but it is a long, fun ending stretch.
The weather had become bitingly cold, for winter was now expressing its true colors to the whole world. Fierce, cutting winds shot through the air, for the cold hand of winter was now upon us. I trudged through the snow and the wind, trying to reach my barn. It was time to feed the animals, and the weather just wouldn't let up. Through the merciless gale I could barely see where I was going.
Snowflakes bombarded my face as I struggled up the slope, my snow boots squeaking on the ground below. Suddenly the wind blew my coat's hood off. I grabbed it quickly, and pulled it down over my head, but not before a good amount of snow had blown inside of it. Now my source of protection against the cold, my hood, had been filled with cold snow. To say I was freezing was an understatement.
It'll be okay,' I told myself. 'I just have to get in there, feed the animals, and then get back to my house. Then I can get out of this coat and take a hot bath.'
I pushed on through the storm, desperately trying to find my barn. When the wind had knocked my hood off, I had lost sight of my barn, so now I was lost. Now where was it? I desperately looked across my farm, searching for my barn, but I couldn't seem to find it. Another gust of wind hit me, knocking me of course. It was then that I realized the seriousness of the storm. I knew I had to get inside at once. I turned, and started down the trail which I thought led to my home, battling the fiery cold which burned my skin.
Snowflakes, once a symbol of peace, had now become deadly weapons. The wind was always against me, pushing me further and further away from my destination. I struggled against it, putting one foot in front of the other. The sky, once a beautiful cloudy white, was now a dark, shadowy gray. The wind shattered against me again, sending me to my knees. My snow pants went down into the snow below. The wind blew across my face, and it felt as if somehow, the wind was sucking away my very energy. I became very very tired, and felt like I wanted to just lay down right here, and fall asleep.
No! I told myself. I can't give up! I will not die out here!
I struggled to stand up, and failed. My weary limbs refused to move, and I fell face first into the snow. The snow bit at my face as the two opposing forces came together. I began to feel myself slipping away, falling further and further into unconsciousness. The snow was taking me, absorbing me. I knew it wanted me to just bow down right here, and never rise up again, but I just couldn't do that. I had to survive. I struggled to lift my head from the snow, but suddenly the snow became like glue, holding me down tightly. I couldn't move. Snowflakes fell onto my back, covering me in snow. Soon I would be buried, and no one would find any remains until the spring. Ann would die inside, and Doug would be incredibly upset. Won would rejoice, and the Goddess would dance on my grave. I couldn't allow this to happen. I couldn't allow the Goddess to triumph over me.
"No!" I shouted over the howling wind. "I will not go quietly into the darkness! I will not disappear without a fight!"
But my cry of rebellion against death was muffled by the falling snow, and the sound of the wind. I tried to get up onto my knees, but the snow on my back suddenly became like a one hundred pound weight. I fell down again, and this time, I had not the energy to try and stand again. As I lay there drifting away, I began to fear what would happen to this town. If I was not here, would Kai and Gotz be able to save it by themselves? Or were they doomed to failure without me. Then, without a word, I fell back, and my vision was filled with blackness.
Darkness took me, and I found myself in a world of nothing. No ground, no land, no sky. I heard nothing, I felt nothing. Gray mist flowed all around me, cradling me in its arms. All I wished for was rest. All I wanted was to sleep in this peaceful world. But I felt something holding me back. I was not ready to die. I was not ready to stand at the gates of heaven. It was not my time. I still had work to do. I still had a life to live. Then, in good time, I would come to my Father's house. But now was not the time. I was not dead, not yet at least. This I knew, for this misty world which I floated in was not heaven. It wasn't hell either. I was still in my body, I was just loosing grip. And that was something that I couldn't do. I was still holding on to my body, so I tightened my grip. I then pulled in the direction of it, in an effort to avoid this death. Then, I felt someone else helping me. Someone in my heart pushing me on, telling me that it was not my time. The familiar warm arms of the Holy Spirit grasped me, and carried me back to my body.
'It is not your time yet,' the Holy Spirit said. 'You must fight on. I will help you, remember that. I will be here for you, always.'
He was right. I pushed onward, forcing my way through the mist towards the light which shone ahead of me. I reached for the light, and awoke in my bed at the farm. Several extra blankets had been added to the layers of covers, and a fire roared in my fireplace. I saw Kai and another man sitting on chairs in my kitchen, watching me.
"Kai?" I said, rather surprised that he had already returned from Australia.
"What's up Zach," Kai said. "What are you doing back so soon?"
"I had a vision of the destruction of Mineral Town," Kai said, as if it was unimportant.
"What?" I listened closely as Kai related his tale to me, sparing no detail as he told me of his strange vision.
"This man," Kai said, "is Captain Joe Bates. He decided to come with me back to Mineral Town."
"Nice to meet you Captain Bates," I said. "But how did I end up here? I remember collapsing in the snow and..."
"Exactly where we found yew," Captain Bates said. "Yer a lucky one Zach. Yer lucky we found yew in time."
"Well," I said. "Thanks."
"No problem," Kai said. "So, what's new?"
"You won't believe it Kai," I said. "I found the third disciple."
Carter was once again bowing before the Goddess Statue.
"This snow storm," he said. "Mineral Town has never experienced such a storm in years."
The eyes of the statue flashed, and glowed the same neon green color.
"The first plague? This is the first plague? What is the second plague?"
The statue hissed, and tilted its stone head.
"Ten plagues? Ten plagues will hit the town. What is the purpose of these ten plagues?"
The statue turned its attention to the small man bowing before it. The statue's arms slowly creaked to life, and moved outwards towards the feeble pastor. The statue then warbled and shrieked out a message, and its eyes glowed red.
"To prepare the way for the Right Hand? Ten plagues? This was the first. This definitely wasn't any ordinary snow storm."
"Ten plagues?" Cliff said.
'Ten plagues, yes.'
"To prepare a way for the Right Hand?" Cliff asked.
'Yes,' the Voice confirmed. 'Ten plagues. But forget the stories of the Ten plagues God brought upon the Egyptians. These are not those plagues. These plagues are the plagues of the Goddess.'
"What will the tenth plague be?"
'The final blow. The Right Hand will descend upon the town, and choose those who are loyal to the Goddess, and they will survive.'
"And what of the others?" The Voice did not answer. "Answer me. What of the others? What of Zach? What of Kai?"
'They will be consumed by the wrath of the Right Hand.' Fear gripped Cliff's heart, as he realized what the Voice was saying.
He now realized how dangerous all of this was. Cliff now began to doubt the Voice's intentions. All his life, Cliff had always listened to what the voice said. He had always obeyed its commands, but now, he didn't feel like he could betray his friends.
I introduced Kai and Captain Bates to Gotz, and explained how the two of us had met. Then, all three of us explained the whole story to the Captain. Surprisingly enough, the captain was a Christian too, and he wanted to help.
"I've always been wantin to fight for the Glory of my maker. I ain't never had a chance like this in my entire life."
"Well we appreciate your help Captain," Kai said.
I nodded in agreement.
"But what of the town's people?" I asked. "Surely many of them will perish when the Right Hand comes upon the town. I don't know what the Harvest Goddess has planned, but I believe it will not be very friendly, even to her own followers."
"They won't believe us," Kai said. "You know them. They see the Goddess as a friendly mother earthly Goddess, never ever hurting a fly, and loving nature more than anything. You know, they expect her to only harm litterbugs."
"The Goddess will harm more than just litterbugs," I said. "In fact, I'll bet she'll let the litterbugs live, but kill others."
"Demon's ain't got no love for anyone mateys," Captain Bates said.
"He's right," Gotz said. "If she and her demon followers decide to come in the forms of physical beings, then we'll have some fighting on our hands."
"I have my sword," I said. "And I have used it many times against her armies. You are right Gotz, we will probably be facing physical beings as well as Supernatural beings."
"I have a rifle on m' ship which I can use," Captain Bates said, scratching his beard thoughtfully.
"I have my axe," Gotz said.
"I don't have any weapons," Kai said with a sad smile.
"I gotta pistol yew can use," Captain Bates said.
"But please, if possible, be careful with it." Kai nodded.
"Well," I said. "I guess that takes care of everyone. Oh, one more thing. We must pray, right now."
All four of us joined hands, and bowed our heads as our souls joined together in prayer. Together we prayed, all four minds praying together, making our prayers stronger and greater, and all the more wonderful. Four men, all working for the same objective. Four hearts, all set on the hope for peace, and happiness. Four minds, all following Christ our lord. When we prayed, peace was all around us. But we knew this peace would not last. The Goddess was preparing to strike.
'I feel a disturbance.'
'Again? You really have been working yourself up lately. Relax. The day will come, the Right Hand will come upon the village. The Master Plan will be completed.'
'Yes, but originally there was only one threat in the village. Now there are four! How did there get to be so many?'
'There are only four of them. There are thousands of Spirits. And don't forget, the demigods.'
'Spirit, have you forgotten what dwells within each of those heathens? Have you forgotten... Him?'
'Oh.'
'You have spent too much time dealing with the deceived and have forgotten all about those who have not been deceived. You are weaker than I thought.'
'Shut up you pathetic being!'
'Pathetic! Silence you lowly creature! I am the Harvest Goddess! I command legions and legions of Spirit warriors and Spirit guides! My Angels are mighty, you have none, do you?'
'My position is too great to need the help of other Fallen ones. I will survive by myself while you can fall to Hell for all I care!'
'I wish you would go there!'
'You know, the two of us, we don't see eye to eye.'
'You are a lowly Spirit, and I am a mighty Goddess, you would never understand greatness.'
'Oh shut up about the stupid Goddess routine Thandrana. We both know who you really are...'
'SILENCE YOU INSOLENT SPIRIT!'
'Oooo. The "all mighty Goddess" is getting steamed.'
'More than that! You know, I wish an Angel would find you, and butcher you with the Holy Spirit!'
'If an Angel of... Him comes here, then both of us will be in trouble. Not just me.'
'Oh you pathetic one. You disgrace to the fallen. You disgrace to us all. I wonder, what were you like before you fell? Were you a very very good Angel? Is that why you are so pathetic.'
'I am not pathetic. I am mighty! It is you who are pathetic!'
'I do not wish to listen to your crying Spirit. Leave me!'
'I'll go where I please!'
The next day was a happy one. It was Christmas, so all three disciples, as well as Captain Bates, all met together at my house to celebrate. We exchanged gifts, prayed, laughed, and sang praises to God. The star atop the Christmas tree seemed to glow with the glory and greatness of our Savior, for this was the day we celebrated his birth. But, in the midst of our celebration, there was a feeling of darkness. This event could very well be the last happy day that any of us would ever have. The Hail Goddess Festival was in two days. And Gotz had already informed us about what could happen on the Hail Goddess Festival. We partied until the end of the night, then gathered for one more prayer before everyone headed home. Tomorrow was the Starry Night Festival, and we would be celebrating again.
