The War in Heaven (33 page)

He turned around to discover a stone wall behind him. Hadn’t he just flown the Spirit through there?

Bedillia laughed. “It’s a long story, but come, you are expected in Abaddon’s audience chamber. We have much to discuss.”

It was a long walk to the audience chamber, and all along the way were people eager to greet their honored guest. A human visitor from Heaven, a saint; surely, this was a first for Refuge.

Nikola knew that he was about to experience firsthand the other side of this struggle against the prince of darkness. He would now live with the reality of that struggle from day to day with those who had the most to lose if they failed. He prayed that he was up to the challenge.

N
ikola Tesla sat down at the end of the great marble conference table in Abaddon’s audience hall. The rest of the council followed. The room was filled—standing room only as others crowded in the hall beyond to hear the words of the great scientist and engineer. There was a general feeling of hope in the air. Word was that he would be staying with them for some considerable time, that he had brought with him tools that would be critical for their survival.

Abaddon rose to his feet. “I believe I speak for us all when I give warm greetings to the great scientist, Nikola Tesla. While you are with us, you will be a member of the governing council and sit in our meetings. What we have done here would not have been possible without the assistance of you and your colleagues. Sir, you have the floor.”

Nikola rose, somewhat nervously. He had never been one for speeches; now that would have to change. He had wanted to make a difference, to do something for the saints in Heaven…well…here was his chance.

“I’m glad to be with you,” he began, searching for words. “Those of us on the other side of the dimensional barrier realize all that you have gone through. After all, this battle was yours before it ever became ours. I’m about to propose two missions that, if successful, will work to the benefit of all.

“First, is to utterly destroy the City of Sheol. I am convinced that it is the prime energy source for Satan and his minions operating in Heaven. With it gone, their operations will be greatly curtailed. Second, I propose to destroy the great ring on the plains. Through it, Satan traveled to Heaven. Destroy it, and he is stranded, unable to return. In doing this, your odds
of defeating his remaining forces are greatly enhanced. I have brought with me the components necessary to build several high-yield explosive devices, more than capable of accomplishing these tasks. I will assemble them, but you will have to determine how best to deliver them.”

The dark angel Eleazar rose to his feet. “With all due respect sir, I think that you are greatly overestimating the capabilities of our forces. We are scarcely two thousand strong. Even if only a tenth of Satan’s forces remain, we face a force of twenty million. Are you expecting us to step out and expose ourselves to attack outnumbered a thousand to one—to assist your forces in Heaven who are only now facing a foe in combat that we have faced for many millennia?”

“And what do you think will happen if Satan prevails in Heaven?” posed Nikola.

“I do not know,” admitted Eleazar. “I only know that you ask a great deal of us. I just wanted you to realize the situation we face, that is all.”

For nearly two hours their options were weighed. In the end, a plan of attack was formulated. Yes, it was very risky; but the benefits, the necessity, outweighed the risks. Tesla would build the weapons—three of them—then the people of Refuge would deliver them.

Three days later, Nikola was completing work on the third weapon as Victoria was finishing the circuitry for the 53rd particle rifle. It had been an assembly-line process. Bill, Tom, and Kurt materialized the housing and more basic components while Victoria generated the circuitry. They all worked together in the same room, one of only three where this craft could be pursued. Even Nikola could not construct the components beyond this place. Only here did an artificial version of the power of the Spirit of God dwell. It had its limitations, but it did work.

Tesla picked up the now completed weapon, a bomb, really. It was hefty, weighing in at 60 pounds. He estimated its yield at better than 60 kilotons, nearly three times as powerful as the bomb that ended World War II. He was confident that it would work, but might it work too well? The resulting explosion would not just release energy here, but in hyperspace as well. What would the results of such an explosion be? Would it rip a hole in space time? He wasn’t sure.

They would hit the City of Sheol first, within a week, after they had refined their delivery technique. When the day finally came, he would be there to observe the blast from a mountain ridge 22 miles away. If the blast was more powerful than he had counted on, if there were unexpected side effects, they might have to alter their plans regarding the next target. After observing the results of the first explosion he would make recommendations.

Tim was awakened rather suddenly. His mind wandered. For a moment he thought he was home, in his parent’s home once more, but he wasn’t. He was in a small cave in Hell. Opening his eyes he came face to face with the tiny creature. It had been rubbing up against his chin with its soft fur.

“Hello, you,” he said quietly, petting its soft body with his hand. It responded with a soothing purr. He sat up, looking his small friend over carefully. “You look much better. I’m glad.”

The creature fluttered its wings, making a short flight over to the other side of the small cave.

“You sure healed fast,” said Tim, sitting cross-legged on the floor. “Who and what are you? I still don’t know. I’m just glad you’re here.”

The creature nudged something setting on the floor. There was something in the shadows. Tim crawled over to see what it was. He reached
down. He was surprised to discover that it was a silvery ring with a large yellowish stone.

“Where did this come from?” he asked, gazing at the small creature. “Is it for me?”

Tim was astonished when the creature looked straight at him and nodded vigorously. Then it extended its right front arm in Tim’s direction. The creature touched it to his left several times, opening and closing his claw like fingers. For a moment Tim didn’t understand. Clearly, his small friend wanted him to do something. Then he got it. He placed the ring on his finger, then he clenched his fist. He was surprised when a bright beam of light emanated from the gem. It was a beam that the best LCD flashlight couldn’t beat for brightness. He opened his hand and the beam went out.

“Cool,” said Tim. “Thank you.”

The creature did a flip that made Tim laugh.

Tim formed a fist again and the light came on once more. He directed the beam still deeper into the cave. For the first time he got a sense of the size of this place. The tunnel continued, first narrowing then expanding into a much larger cavern. For a moment he hesitated. “Hey, are you up to going exploring?”

Again the creature nodded.

Tim had been in a mist up to this point. Perhaps his year of pain and terror had left him so. “You can understand everything I say, can’t you.”

The creature nodded, smiling as he did so.

“Oh my gosh,” gasped Tim, leaning down in his friend’s direction. “Do you have a name?”

The creature shook its head.

“Would you mind if I gave you a name?” asked Tim. “I promise it will be a good name.”

The creature nodded, smiling.

“OK,” said Tim. “How does Goliath sound, do you like that name? Goliath was a giant, one of the strongest men who ever lived. You’re not big, but I bet you’re strong.”

The tiny creature cocked its head for a second then nodded.

“OK, Goliath it is,” said Tim. “Let’s go.”

Tim crawled farther into the cavern with the help of his magical light, and Goliath followed. It was not a tight fit at all, and just 50 feet brought Tim to a tunnel that was at least 7 or 8 feet high. He continued. There was a wonderful cool dampness here that Tim enjoyed.

Suddenly they came to an abrupt halt. There was a very faint noise ahead. He continued. The tunnel opened into a sizable cavern room at least 50 feet across and 15 feet high. There were icicle-like stalagmites hanging from the ceiling, and at the center of the room was the source of the noise—a pool of liquid perhaps 20 feet wide and several feet deep at the center. Drops of liquid were occasionally falling from several of the stalactites overhead. Could it be water? Tim had almost forgotten what water tasted like. He cautiously approached the pool and stuck his hand into it. It was chilly and it didn’t burn, nor did it feel slimy. He cupped his hand and took a drink. It was refreshing water.

“Oh God,” he said taking one sip after another. “Oh thank You God, thank You.”

Tim had grown so accustomed to his thirst that he had forgotten how wonderfully quenching it was. It was several minutes before he was satisfied. He had never realized that there was water in Hell.

He looked around and saw many tunnels that radiated away from this room, some quite large, others were very small. Some might lead to other exits. Tim had once read that even after 100 years, many parts of Carlsbad Cavern remained unexplored. It might take weeks, even months, to thoroughly explore these caverns—his own dark world. That was OK; he had all
of eternity. This place was pretty cool, and he wasn’t afraid. After all, he had Goliath with him.

David Bonner had been communing with the Father for two solid days. Never had he spent so much quality time with his Creator. He now understood the reason that this war had to happen. He had questioned it, even debated it, but in the end he had gained insight way beyond his years. He was acquiring a new sense of purpose, but he was also coming to realize that there were trials ahead. He was part of what was happening and what was going to happen.

The events of 9-11-2001 that brought him here, his continuing uncanny insight, his relationship with Johann Kepler, even his involvement in releasing Serena Davis from Hell six years ago—it was all starting to make sense. But now, it was time to leave.