Rising Darkness (15 page)

Several soldiers began rushing Samson, only to be tripped up by angels who stood before him. Devils began diving at him like black birds diving at bits of food on the ground. Shawa was insanely crying out that his temple must be preserved and begging Lucifer to help him.

“What can I do?” Lucifer demanded. “The Spirit of God is upon the man!”

Just as he finished these words, the first pillar cracked and toppled over, spilling the roof section above it and crushing the high priest beneath its wreckage. Panic hit the temple, and the combination of Samson’s destruction along with the maniacal devils, who now were inciting fear among the people, threw everyone into confusion. A fire then broke out near the first pillar that had fallen. On the rooftop, where some three thousand had gathered, the people were desperately looking for an escape route.

“And now, O Lord, let me die with the Philistines,” Samson prayed.

Lucifer could not believe that the man would actually kill himself to destroy the temple. He ordered Rugio to regain order among his troops, who were chasing about enjoying the carnage that was happening. To them death was intoxicating, and once people started dying they lost all control of themselves.

Samson, bloody and dust-covered from the destruction, pushed against the second pillar. The lord of the five cities ordered him killed immediately, and several guardsmen jumped into the court to cut him down. Before they could reach him, the pillar snapped in two and brought the main house down on Samson. Dheer said a silent farewell to the man whom he had watched grow up from his very first day.

As the temple collapsed in a great cloud of dust, smoke, and debris, the image of Dagon also fell from its place and broke into pieces, killing hundreds in its collapse. As the roof began giving way, the people who had been enjoying the spectacle now found themselves falling headlong into the jagged debris. The lord of the five cities found himself trapped by the falling temple stones, and was cut down by a huge cornice as he fled through an archway. Then all was still, apart from an occasional moan from a dying Philistine. Thus Samson died along with the Philistines, having killed more of the Lord’s enemies in death than he had in his entire life.

Bethlehem, 4 B.C.

Bakka watched as the skies around Bethlehem filled with angels. He was amazed at the spectacle and often wondered what it must be like as a human to be unable to see such splendor. He smiled at Eli, who was still talking about the history of his people to the men and boys seated around the fire. Bakka himself had been a part of some of the very events Eli was retelling.

An angel hailed Bakka as he strolled to the crest of the hill overlooking the little town below. How strange that it was so quiet—and yet there was so much activity going on, at least for an angel! Even the stars seemed brighter tonight—one star in particular.

“Quite a display,” remarked Gabriel, who had returned from a short watch around the area. “The Host are magnificent tonight. It seems the sheep are not the only things on these hills this evening!”

Bakka smiled at the archangel.

“Truly the Lord has occasioned something great here tonight,” he agreed. “But where is Michael? I should think that with a gathering this great he would be in the midst of it.”

“Michael has a very important assignment of his own,” said Gabriel, looking to the eastern plains stretching away from Bethlehem. “Very important indeed.”

Road to Bethlehem, 4 B.C.

The donkey lumbered along the evening road, carefully placing one foot in front of the other as it ambled down the dark path. On its back was a woman, bundled up in the night air, and looking uncomfortable with every jerk of the animal. A man led the donkey, holding its reins as steady as he could so as to make the ride as smooth as possible.

Ordinarily he wouldn’t go to such precautions. But this was no ordinary passenger—this was his beloved whose time to give birth was at hand. The man, a gentle looking person whose hands showed the marks of a trade, winced every time the donkey lurched a bit, as if he were feeling the discomfort of his wife.

For her part, the woman, a girl really of about 14, had borne the journey very well and had not complained a bit—except that she was very tired. She had striking eyes and was very much in love with her husband. They had left Nazareth quietly, so that they might take part in the census ordered by Caesar and not cause Mary any trouble because of her condition.

“Only a bit further, my love,” said Joseph. “A few more miles and we shall be in Bethlehem for the night.”

Mary said nothing, but glanced down at Joseph, giving him a weak smile. He was dusty and dirty from the trip, and traveling at night was certainly not easy. She thanked the Lord for the very bright star that had provided so much light for them in the dark evening.

Above them, Michael and a large troop of warriors followed along. They kept a sharp eye out for any sign of the enemy. The angels with Michael knew that not since they protected Moses from the crocodiles of the Nile had there been such an urgency to watch over a coming baby. But then, this was no ordinary baby who was to be born this night.

“I see the enemy circling about,” observed Serus, who had left Gabriel at Bethlehem to meet the party coming in.

“The enemy has been circling ever since we left Nazareth,” said Michael. “They haven’t a chance to get through.”

Serus nodded.

“They haven’t yet shown themselves at Bethlehem,” he said. “All that is there are a multitude of the Host and a few shepherds watching their sheep.”

“It’s early yet, my friend,” said Michael, watching Joseph give a sip of water to Mary. “When we arrive in Bethlehem, the enemy will be waiting.”

Gabriel and Bakka completed their rounds of the area, and came back near the shepherd encampment. Eli had taken a break from his story while the men drank some fresh water and ate some bread. Bakka watched Daniel get up and take his turn at the flocks, relieving one of the shepherds.

“I still do not understand the man,” said Bakka. “He is so very bitter.”

“He is very frightened,” said Gabriel casually.

“Frightened?” asked Bakka. “About what?”

“You need to discover that tonight, Bakka,” said Gabriel, leaving it at that.

Bakka remained silent for a moment as Eli, back in full form, continued his story. Upon the mention of David, Bakka looked at Gabriel.

“Ah, David,” said Bakka. “He was one of my favorite assignments.”

“As I recall, you were not the only angel assigned to David,” said Gabriel playfully.

“Of course not,” said Bakka. “But it was a great mission. It too started here, in Bethlehem—David’s city! Yes, it was a great mission.” He sighed.

“No greater than the one you are currently assigned to,” said Gabriel. “I assure you.”

Bakka acknowledged Gabriel’s words and then continued.

“But David. Now there was a man who was quite a task for any angel! Called as a child, killer of giants, conqueror, lover…”

“Murderer,” said Gabriel.

“Writer of psalms,” continued Bakka.

“Adulterer,” Gabriel said, watching Bakka’s reaction.

“A man after God’s own heart,” said Bakka, daring Gabriel to second-guess
that
one. “God’s own heart!”

“Yes he was indeed,” said Gabriel, smiling at Bakka’s passionate defense of one of Israel’s greatest kings. “He demonstrated as much as any human being that God can work through imperfection to realize His perfect will. David was indeed a paradox.”

“True, Gabriel,” admitted Bakka. “David was a paradox. But he was a magnificent paradox.”

Chronicles of the Host

Canaan, 1070 B.C.

“I am happy to report that the Philistine army was completely successful,” said Rugio. “Israel was routed utterly!”

“Well done, Rugio,” said Kara, inwardly ecstatic at the humbling of Israel. The corruption of the priesthood had become one of his main thrusts, and now it was apparent that the Lord Most High had abandoned his high priest.

“And the Ark?” asked Lucifer pointedly.

“Captured, my prince,” said Rugio proudly. “Shawa saw to that. He is with the Philistines carting it back to Ashdod.”

“Excellent!” said Lucifer. “Ashdod is where the new house of Dagon has been established. How fitting.”

Kara stood to speak.

“In the interest of sound strategy, would the Ark not be better placed in a more prominent city?” Kara suggested.

Pellecus looked at him scornfully.

“Any particular city in mind, Kara?” he asked.

“I believe that one of the cities under my direct authority would be more appropriate,” he answered. “After all, Shawa is not exactly one of us.”

“I sometimes question how you came to be one of us,” said Pellecus.

“The Ark shall go to Ashdod,” said Lucifer with a tone of finality. “Shawa has earned the right. And as he has assumed and built up the cult of Dagon, it is his to humble the symbol of the Presence of the Most High God!”

Kara was perturbed but knew better than to contest the issue.

“Very well,” he said. “Allow the Ark to remain at Ashdod. It is certainly encouraging, but we must remain resolute. They will of course want it back.”

Lucifer clasped his hands together. The Council watched him pace about, knowing him well enough to realize that he was formulating something significant in his mind. Behind him, the foothills of eastern Canaan could be seen over the top of the small Baal temple in which they were meeting.