The Reluctant Angel-Part 5

“No one really knows the true history when it comes to Angels. Not even I….and have carried the moniker and it’s responsibilities for so long I cannot fathom it’s distance in respect to time.” The man in the grey suit began.

“Whatever the truth is…it has been changed, altered, glorified and twisted by myth, religion, holy and common folk and of course the passage of generation to generation. My purpose in that equation is to give you the information that has been passed to me and allow you to make you own judgement on the direction of your transition.”

As the man in grey paused, Angel took it as an opportunity to ask a question.

“Ok….so far, I gather that you are an angel….and I am dead awaiting my transition into…something…..what I don’t get is it seems you are telling me I have a choice to make?”

The man in grey continued his pause in order to properly choose his wording. He then spoke plainly and clearly to avoid any miscommunication.

“Young man….the human race remains human because of its ability to choose. Death and it’s after effects are no different. You will be allowed 1 final choice to cement the end of your “human” existence and into your transitional one. Choice is what separates the man from the animal. Your choice will be as simple as what separates the ‘angels’ from the birds.”

He paused again and waited for the inevitable question.

“I don’t understand your obvious riddle…but what I do understand is that I will be getting wings…right?”

The man in the grey suit smiled and replied.

“I am not offering you a menu of choices from an appetizer menu…no you will not “get” wings. If you will kindly let me finish, you will get a better understanding of my so called riddle and be better informed to make your choice.”

Angel sat back in his seat and waited for the Angel in the grey suit to continue his story….all the while wondering how he hid his wings under that grey suit.

After another short pause, the Angel in the grey suit, shifted his back to get settled, and began to tell the story.

Our story begins in the time of Noah, a story be which I am sure you are familiar, whether “god fearing” or not. During that time period, the angels roamed the earth along side man. Wings were not needed to distinguish between the two. The angels wore cloth of either white or black made from a silk only found in a far away place that could not be reached by the meager technology of man at that time. The colors did not distinguish good or bad, sinful or pure, one people from another. It was a rare time in the history on the Earth where people bonded through similarities in beliefs and not in similarities of color. Rather, they distinguished the difference in temperament held within the tones of the angel that wore them. Black represented fear. White represented compassion. Within those representations, the commoners of the world received their guidance. Each group flourished in its own way under the color of their choosing. Unfortunately, the differences ultimately began to wear on the ones whose beliefs did not coincide with either.

There can never be, simply black or white…there is always a grey area.

As each side tried to gain dominance of faith, in an effort to declare one stance, instead of a divided one.

The man known as Noah, received a message through the wind, that a great flood was coming to stop the bickering of the angels. He was to build an arc and carry a coupling of each animal species upon it until the waters receded, in order to save the planet from ruin.

The head of the black cloth heard of Noah’s plan and was immediately suspicious, and went to Noah.

“Noah…I understand you believe the earth will peril in a watery death. You are not of angelic decent and have no right to place fear into the hearts of my people…..I am and that is my doing. I demand you stop this foolishness and join me. You could be a wonderful addition to the black cloth. I could make you renowned beyond your wildest expectations.”

Noah answered with a fearful tone,

“N..n..no thank you. I must follow my beliefs and build the structure needed to sustain life.”

The angel of the black cloth left frustrated yet pitied the poor man.

The angel of the white cloth also visited Noah.

“Master Noah, I have heard the news and wish to ask if we may be of any assistance. We have differences in beliefs but still you cannot build a mammoth arc by yourself. Please, let us help, and during that time we may find common ground to strengthen each other beliefs.”

Noah returned his request with a compassionate reply,

“I do thank you for your offer, but I must deny approval. I must complete the task on my own and take only the passengers who believe in the prophesy from the wind”

The Angel of the white cloth left Noah, confused by his denying help yet pitied the poor man for thinking anyone who wasn’t an animal would believe this “prophesy”.

As the years went by, the arc continued to be built. The animals were preparing for the voyage, the angels of the black and white cloth continued to vie for dominance of belief.

Noah was looked at by both sides as a fool.

When the rains began to fall and the animals began to board. The land began to disappear. Both sides of the Angel factions went to Noah again.

“Noah, we must be allowed passage in your craft.” They both pleaded.

“I am sorry to you both, but, the specifications of the craft will not allow it. After all the animals have boarded, I will have room for 2 sets of small creatures. One set may be white and one black, to represent both of your beliefs but that is all that will fit. I will not bend in that request. If you wish to be represented and not perish with the flood you must act quickly.”

The leaders of each cloth returned to their followers to decide a plan of action.

Each group were stout in their belief that the waters would recede before the land was gone but to be sure that their beliefs would carry on, if all was lost, the 2 most prominent members transformed themselves into small winged creatures.

Wings and flight made perfect sense. It allowed them to board the arc as animals yet separated themselves from the four legged creatures that they were forced to share the ride with.

The angels of the black cloth chose the crow as their vessel.

The angels of the white cloth chose the dove as their vessel.

Both sets of birds glided into the arc just as it rose off the ground.

Noah greeted his winged passengers and placed them in cages to insure safe passage.

“Whoa…whoa…whoa..” Angel said interrupting the story.

“You are telling me that Angels didn’t fly until the biblical arc?”

The man in the grey suit plainly replied,

“What I am telling you….is the history of events as I had been told. Much like every other story…ever told…the truth lies somewhere in the middle between the absurd and the real. You are not here to verify the truth of the story…you are here to make your choice after I am done telling the story.”

With that short interaction…the story continued.

It seemed like an eternity that the rains fell. Eventually, they did stop.

Noah stood on the bow and gazed out across the waters hoping to see a glimmer of land.

He saw none.

He went to the cages of his winged passengers to ask for help.

“The rains have stopped. The best way to find land will be to set you free….one in each direction of the compass. I ask you to fly as far as you can. If land is found, please return with a twig from the direction of your flight to guide us to imminent safety. I will leave you to make your decision.”

The crows made their decision first.

“We will find land and bring you to it but only if you decide to follow our beliefs. We are larger and stronger than the doves and could cover more ground in less time. We are your only choice.”

The doves then made their decision known.

“We will do our best to find land. You provided us safe passage and we wish to provide the same.”

Noah looked respectively at both cages and opened the dove cage.

The doves exited their cage, bowed their heads to Noah and spread their wings to fly.

The crows clawed and cawed at the cage angry that they were not chosen.

Noah left them to continue their rage.

Weeks past with no sign of the doves.

Finally on a cool full mooned night, Noah caught a glimpse of a single white dove in the distance.

The bird returned with a single twig.

Dry land was near.

Upon docking of the arc on the banks of the shore, Noah opened up the doors of the raft and let the animals exit.

Each animal thanked him…except the crows who angrily cawed and flew away.

Shortly after, Noah died and awoke in this place.

He was met by the white dove that did not return with a twig.

The dove transformed back into the angel of the white cloth and spoke.

“You have taught me much of the power of choice and belief. I wish to reward you by giving you the opportunity to help me. Once a human has passed…his work is not done. They must help the next generation succeed in progressing to the next level of civilized unity. Everyone will die….but not everyone will be up to task of going back. We will present them with a choice. The choice being to fight for the advancement of the human race or to gain flight. Nothing more. The deeds of their life will decide if they are to be a crow or a dove in flight…that will be a choice that is made for them.”

“Are you telling me that you are Noah?” Angel asked as he sat up in his chair.

The man in the grey suit sighed and replied,

“No. What I am telling you that through the passage of time I came here by way of my untimely death by gunshot and was told a story and given a choice. Most are not told the story. They just have a choice.”

Angel curled his brow in confusion,

“So….why me? Is it because we have a few gunshot wounds in common?”

The man in grey smiled.

“No young man. The fact that our deaths are similar and our names are the same means nothing but coincidence. I chose to tell you the story because our beliefs are the same and for whatever reason, neither of us was on the list of the deceased upon arriving……I have told you all I can tell you. Please choose your transition…..fight…or flight.”

Angel sat back into his seat and took in all that the man in grey had to offer.

And then made his choice.

To continue on to the conclusion…..press “here”

Photo from-deviant art

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