And the Spirit came.

“Father, God, I cry out for the souls of these people, restore them, bring them back to life now in Jesus name.” Peace came over him, and he felt in his heart that God had done something. He stared at the bodies for a few moments and then went and sat down. He looked over to Kathy and James, who were both staring at the bodies. He bowed his head and spoke to God.

“What happens now?” Kathy asked.

The Rev was silent. He whispered to Kathy. “I don’t know.”

They sat in silence. The bodies were still. The room seemed colder. They stared at the bodies, nothing. James let out a small dry cough that reverberated around the room, and then stood up to stretch his legs.

The Rev had his head bowed, still in silent prayer. He sensed movement and looked up to see James stretching. He bowed his head again. Doubt was trying to force its way in to the Rev’s head but he believed God had done something. The Rev was not going to entertain any thoughts of doubt. His God was a God of miracles. He looked up at James again.

James raised his eyebrows to the Rev and turned to look at his wife. “I think maybe we should go now. It’s getting a bit too cold in here.”

“Yes, I’m getting cold,” Kathy said. “Would it have happened by now?”

The Rev shrugged his shoulders. Were miracles instant? The Rev didn’t know. Faith could be short-lived. “You two go for now. I’ll stay a little longer.”

Kathy walked over to Mackenzie’s body. She turned and looked to the attendant, “Could I see her face one more time?”

The attendant came over and moved the sheet down to show Mackenzie’s face.

Kathy stared hard and gave her a kiss. She started sobbing. “Open your eyes, Mackenzie, open your eyes. Please.”

James came over to comfort her. “I think it’s time we left.” He helped Kathy to the door.

The Rev got up after they left. He walked over to the bodies and laid his hand on them again. “Father, open their eyes. Open their eyes to see Jesus.” He stood there for another ten minutes, then felt the presence of the attendant.

“Sir, I think you need to go now.”

The Rev nodded.

They walked towards the exit, and the attendant opened the door for the Rev. They both heard the sneeze at the same time, and looked back. Both bodies were moving, pushing the sheets away. The attendant screamed.

<°)))><

Aaron was looking at the cloud formation above the building. The clouds looked like cartoon thought bubbles. He lowered his gaze to see Kathy and James walking out of the building. He judged by their body language that nothing had happened. He sighed and turned to Churchie.

“What are you meant to believe, Churchie? Why would our hopes be built up like this?”

The entrance doors were full-length glass. Aaron thought he saw a figure inside, rushing towards the door. The doors burst open. Aaron’s chest started thumping as the Rev came flying through the doors. Kathy and James were just near the car, when he yelled out. They turned back and ran.

Aaron looked at Churchie.

“Hallelujah,” Churchie yelled.

Kathy and James were now near the entrance door. The Rev was pointing excitedly back inside the building. Churchie and Aaron moved quickly towards the door and managed to get inside before emergency procedures kicked in.

Aaron followed Kathy and James into the viewing room. He saw Mackenzie and another person wandering around, confused, bumping into tables. Attendants were wrapping them in sheets and trying to calm them down. Mackenzie looked in Aaron’s direction but she was in a glazed state. The attendant didn’t know what to do, but other workers came to her rescue. Aaron felt somebody’s hand, and he was ushered out by a security guard along with everybody else.

They stood just outside the main entrance. Kathy and James were hugging each other, both crying.

Amazing. Aaron looked over at Churchie who was with the Rev. They had their heads bowed. Aaron walked over and stood beside them.

The Rev looked up and put his arm around Aaron. “God is at work, Aaron.” 

<°)))><

Absolute mayhem followed.

The Department of Defence, although at the periphery of the recent events, now became actively involved. They transported Mackenzie and Joshua to an undisclosed hospital.

Rumours started circulating. Towards the end of the working week the media started ramping up their stories. They tracked down the Rev and set up camp outside the church. Churchie avoided his favourite steps at the church and was bunking at Aaron’s.

Many started to believe it didn’t happen. They wanted proof. They didn’t want to believe.

People were scared.

<°)))><

It was a cloudless Saturday morning. Windsor was at the property. He was spending more time with Starkey than with his wife. She didn’t seem to care if he was home or not.

Old habits die hard. Windsor read the newspaper on Saturdays. Most of the week, when he had time, it was a quick glimpse of online news or reports from his staff. His Saturday paper filled in the holes of the week. He was keen to find out more about the two bodies that were supposedly raised from the dead. Bodies raised from the dead? It must be some kind of stunt. This time the media had gone too far. He read on. Someone they referred to as the Rev was quoted as saying:

“The Lord has spoken. This has been brought about due to the unnatural deaths of these people, and so many can see that God can raise the dead. It is not to be a common occurrence unless God seeks that. But there are many living now who are dead—God wants those to be raised to life.”

He must be one of those radical Christians. God wouldn’t raise the dead—maybe 2000 years ago, but not now. He got up and walked to the window and looked out. Some kangaroos were feeding on the grass, one with a little joey sticking out of its pouch. They all stopped eating, raised their heads and looked towards the front of the house. It was only a car, now stationary, no danger, heads back down. He heard the front door open and close.

Starkey walked in and glanced at the paper on the coffee table. “I know what you are probably thinking, Grant, but it’s true. They have brought those people back to life.”

“But how?”

“They believe God did it. But I think it must be tied in with the technology. And I’m sure that’s where the media will eventually take this story. Somehow their bodies went into a hibernation state, you know, like they do in space travel.”

Windsor just stared at Starkey. It was like God versus Star Wars.

“Whose side are you on, Bruce?”

“What do you mean?”

“God or Star Wars?”

“Star Wars. And isn’t that the side you’re on, Grant? Considering what you’ve done with your son?”

“Maybe you’re right, Starkey. Maybe I’m on both sides, God and Star Wars. But this is one big distraction from our transportation technology.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, these people being raised from the dead.”