"The Primal Beings walked on two legs and used perfect hands to till the fields, to craft tools, to heal the sick, and to catch fish, and God was pleased. They had no muzzles, no claws, no talons, no fur for they were shaped in God's Image. This Commonality, this Humanity, was also pleasing to God, and content with his Creation, God allowed the World to turn on."

The preacher allowed a dramatic pause as he turned the page in his notes with his brown fur covered fingers and darkened nails. His deep intonation, the Opossum felt, carried this familiar fable with enough passion that his parishioners would remain attentive at least until he worked in current events. He was new to this congregation, just over a year, and the Memory of Father Klumm and His Tragic Death, still echoed in this great hall. Though he shaved the pate of his head as Father Klumm had and wore the same white robes and black stockings, and was, in fact, using the same notes, the regulars and – and especially – the church ladies seemed to find him lacking when compared to the saintly Father Klumm. Still, if he continued to spread God's Message of Love, he knew they would listen.

Still, it was humbling to be competing with a dead Canine that he had adored. That he should be humbled was also god's will, he was sure.

"In the course of time, the tribes of men rose and fell. Some fought, some co-existed, but most found their own paths. Walls and roads were erected. Trade thrived. Rulers declared himself Royalty. God allowed the World to turn on. There came one ancient day, to the city state of Babel, the Primal Being named Aesop. Aesop was no king, no priest, no shaman but a teacher and he was reckoned in his day to be the wisest of the Wise. So it was when Aesop thought aloud that he should glory God with a monument, the people about him thought it was a very fine thing.

"The design of the thing was the first stone church and the people who built it were not warriors, so they also built a wall about the church in time, although all were invited and welcomed. Those who could not assist with the actual donations, made pilgrimages and left behind what they could. Be it bread, be it bricks, be it gold coins, people left what they could as a monument to their creator so that they shall never forget. God let the World turn on.

"With more funds and parishioners, the church grew until it met the walls. Larger walls were built and yards for the live stock were fenced in the town was built around the church. And bigger walls were built, although all were invited and still welcome. Aesop's Tower prospered and God let the World turn on."

The preacher locked up from notes, and met the eyes of his followers. Dogs, Cats, and mammals of every persuasion met his eyes. There were empty seats, there would always be empty seats. Church was no longer hip or trendy. There were even some young people in the pews scattered about; all wearing those popular "hoodies." The preacher started to mentally chide them, but stopped himself. Many monks of various orders also wore hoods during services. It wasn't the same thing as wearing a hat in church.

"Over the course of several generations the church became a tower and that tower became a Ziggurat; a city within a giant structure and it took on a life of its own. Power structures formed, a class structure formed, and people from all over the world came forth. But at a certain pointed, the Primal Beings forgot Aesop's Goal. What they created now, they created for their own glory. Still, God let the World Turn On... until... every man, woman, child in the world was not only invited in and accepted within its gates."

The preacher turned the page. "So God made the air atop the tower, thin and cold. And still they built. So God froze life giving water into solid stone and it rained crystals down upon them. And still they built. They laughed and scoffed at the weather, for they had long ago forgotten God's Name. They celebrated ignoring the signs of God as if it were some sort of victory. God was not pleased.

"So the Creator of All Things Seen and Unseen, sent Aesop back to Earth. And the wisest of the wise approached the guarded gate, and the none sentry, inured to seeing no one but returning hunters using this path, ordered the Elderly Being to stand and identify himself.

"'There are fields unploughed,' Aesop said. 'Grapes rotting on the vine. Cattle unmilked and cheeses abandoned in caves all across the world.' The sentry, moved because his family had been farmers for generations, did not know what to do. So he called the watch commander and he came to the gate. He asked Aesop to identify himself. And Aesop said, "Boats are rotting on the docks of Sumeria. The forests of cork are so dense the animals of the mountains now live in the cities. The tombs of your ancestor are overgrown with wormword.'

"The night commander was unnerved, as his family was shipwrights for generation. He sent for the Lord Census, who kept a record of everyone within the tower and without. The Lord Census was not pleased and in a thundering voice, called out, 'What Is Your Name?'"

"Pale Umber," a lone voice from the back of the church cried out.

The preacher, who hadn't been heckled since the fifth grade, stopped and looked for the voice with an extremely puzzled express on his white furred face. Several of the congregation looked back, but the hooded youths in the back row said nothing now that they had his attention. He expected them to at least be tittering... but maybe...

"The Lord Census was not pleased and, in a thundering voice, called out, 'What is Your Name?'"

"Pale Umber!"

This voice was distinctly female and came from his right. The congregation was abuzz with people whispering. Unlike himself, most seemed to know what this was about. He allowed a gentle smile as he looked about the room. He did not let the his distaste show when he noticed a few people "discretely" filming his reaction. The new generation had their own way of way of communicating and, as odious as it might seem sometimes, it was as legitimate as his parables.

If not as well thought out or as time-honored.

Still, best to take some sort of control of it. His parishioners were not likely to be this attentive again.

"I tell this tale at least thrice a year," Father River said. "This is the first time that it's ever induced 'speaking in tongues.' Please, if the spirit moves you, do not let me stop you. Otherwise, I am available for private counseling."

For a moment no one spoke and most everyone seemed ready to settle in. Eyes of a dozen species within as many hoods seemed to stare at him. This was not going as expected. Whatever happened, the Opossum accepted that it would be God's Will. He prepared himself to be humbled and not angered. But, just to be safe, he decided to not repeat the Lord Census' words.

"Aesop replied, 'There are dreams undreamt, prayers unspoken, and memorials unbuilt, This was to be a memorial to God, I am one who remembers that.'"

"'Mankind united has no need for Gods,' Lord Census spoke. 'I know the number of men it takes to produce a kilo of grain, a cubit of wood, to turn the wheel of the pump and the press for our oils. Maths and engineering are our tools and we ourselves have become unto gods.'

"And then the gates, that had be opened in the name of God, that all were invited, forged that all may enter, closed to Aesop and his message from the All Mighty.

"And Aesop, turn up to face God and said -"

"I am Pale Umber!"

The Opossum looked up at the young Fur in the hoodie who was now standing in the middle of service. "No, actually he said he was sorry," He frankly had no idea what to say to this young male. He had no idea who or what a Pale Umber was.

The young male, pushed back his hood, revealing a canine's brown furred head. "I am Pale Umber!" Before Father River could even ask the boy to sit back down, another lad in a hoodie rose up, revealed that there was a cat head under the hoodie, and also proclaimed that he was indeed "Pale Umber." Soon, many of the hooded were declaring on the feet... it was the most surreal witnessing that he had ever seen. He had no idea who this Pale Umber was and, despite himself, the Opossum found himself growing anxious and angry.

Father River was about to raise his voice and ask the troublemakers to leave when his earlier promise not to repeat the words of Lord Census stopped him. His words would not have been the same at all, but the tone... the contempt... might as well have been the same. And, he thought, for the first time, that maybe it was not arrogance that drove Lord Census' words, but fear. The fear of the unknown, The fear of a loss of control. And, with that, the refusal to acknowledge that an unknown elderly man might have indeed been sent by God.

Arrogance as a shield.

Father Lake welcomed the sense of humility as it washed over him. "Would anyone here like to discuss Pale Umber?" The Opossum's voice stilled their tongues and an expectant hush fell upon the congregation.

...and a brown and green reptilian hand rose into the air.