“Well, it works then?” Windsor asked.

“It does”.

“I’m sorry what I have put you through, sir. I can’t explain to you why, except that I was being dragged along by something. I feel released now.”

“Come and sit down.”

“How come you’re still here? Don’t tell me there’s no way out of here either?” He laughed and put his hands to his head. “Maybe I’ve jumped from the frying pan into the fire. No, I don’t believe that . . . there was a real sense of evil at that other place, and I don’t sense that here.”

“I’m pleased to hear that. It’s good to have company. Now, let me engage in some trivia and get some atmosphere in here. That saying about the frying pan—it’s adapted from a fable about fish thrown live into a frying pan of boiling fat. One of the fish urges its fellows to save their lives by jumping out, but when they do so, they jump into the burning coals, a worse situation.”

Windsor was patting himself, looking over his body. He was still a bit shaken. “I wonder what the opposite analogy would be.”

“Good question. I did a sermon on this once and gave examples of possible analogies like a leap of faith. I think the best example was out of hell into paradise.”

“Must get a copy of that sermon.” Windsor looked around. “Maybe we can make a lot of noise and attract Starkey—he’s the one who lives here.”

“I heard someone drive off some hours ago.”

“Oh. Then there is no way out, is there?”

“No . . . but I have faith.”

<°)))><

Time alone passed slowly, time with company, a lot quicker. It was getting darker in the room. The Rev noticed some blankets on a shelf towards the rear of the room, and the leftovers and water on the table would keep their appetites abated. They’d be okay for a few days if necessary. But company made all the difference.

They sat at the table, nibbling on the crackers and sipping bottled water.

“It’s nice to have company, Grant. Solitude can be good sometimes. Jesus spent a lot of his time in solitude, talking to his Father and recharging the batteries, then he would go about his tasks with the community of people. We all need each other but we need to be balanced. Solitude, time with God, helps give us that balance.”

Windsor placed his bottle of water on the table. “My time alone, although it was only brief, brought with it a feeling of loneliness. I felt isolated, no sense of God or anything. To be honest, it frightened me and gave me a real quick wake-up call. In fact, I feel like I’ve been hit by a lightning bolt.”

“Why are you involved in these things, Grant?”

Windsor stood up. “I was getting so frustrated with everyone making up their own laws. No one seemed to show respect anymore. People just didn’t care. They cross pedestrian crossings when they felt like it, they run red lights, they drive while talking on mobiles, they throw cigarette butts out of car windows, they tailgate . . . the list goes on.”

“A lot of those things annoy me too, Grant.”

“And many others too. The idea of the technology was to relocate such offenders to a place of ‘inconvenience’. I know it sounds bland and not well thought–out, but the technology was so impressive, and then my son committed suicide after running over a girl who walked straight in front of his car. This just gave the plan a further push. Then I read about Cryonics, Inc. The feelings from then took over.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that.”

“I loved my son so much and felt guilty about not spending enough time with him. I know now that he was screaming out for attention. And there were other mistakes. I took out my guilt on someone from my church. I believed he treated my son badly when my son was younger, but now see that it may have been a mistake. Now the man’s dead. That wasn’t meant to happen. I just wanted to spook him. It was all about power. I loved my son. Now he’s dead. Could you bring him back to life?”

The Rev had turned his seat and was facing Windsor. The man was still grieving, and was filled with guilt and remorse.

“That’s a difficult question, Grant. I believe God brought the other ones back because of the circumstances. It’s the first time I’ve seen such things. It’s God who brings them back to life, not me. I’m just the vehicle He used. That’s why I needed to get away from that place. I just didn’t know what you might have done to get your way.”

Windsor put his head down. “I’m so sorry and embarrassed by my actions. I do ask your forgiveness.”

“Just get right with God, Grant. We need to think about what death is . . . I believe those who don’t know Jesus are dead—maybe this is what we should be focusing on, bringing those dead in the spirit back to life. I have no idea where your son was at. Maybe he had already been raised from the dead.”

“I would like to believe that, and will.” Windsor looked around the room again. He put his hand out to the Rev.

They shook hands.

“Let’s enjoy each other’s company. Besides, this is a nicer place than where we came from. Enrich me, Reverend. It looks like we may be here for the night.

Chapter 27

AARON CALLED GRANT WINDSOR'S phone a number of times. He wanted to know what Windsor was up to with the Rev.

No response. He thought about calling the police, but wasn’t sure how they would react to angels, demons and things like that. They’d probably lock them all up thinking they were mad, even though the proof was out there: bodies vanishing and reappearing, the dead brought back to life. But then, at times, Aaron wasn’t even sure if he believed what was happening around him.

Their appointment with Mackenzie had turned out to be a barbeque and she wanted Aaron to bring along the motley crew. She still liked the idea of looking after the homeless. Aaron had forgotten that’s what they were. Aaron told the motley crew that he would pick them up outside the church on Ann Street.

He felt nostalgic, so had some old Beatles music playing in the car. He slowed down and saw the motley crew waiting. He pulled up as close as he could and gave them a toot, as they hadn’t seen his car before. They waved and came running along like excited schoolchildren. Aaron smiled. And they all had made a big effort to present themselves well.

Mel and Wally climbed in the back seat. Mel still had his red and blue cap on. Churchie jumped in the front with Aaron and asked if there was any news on the Rev.

“No news, Churchie. I’ve been trying to work out what to do. I believe we need some kind of proof so I can call the police. Maybe we can come up with some strategy today, when we’re all together.”

“Don’t be concerned about the Rev . . . don’t worry about him. God will be looking after him.”

Aaron looked at Churchie and thought about what he said. Seeing the invisible world must strengthen one's faith. And that invisible world was there with the Rev and around everyone. It was a powerful thought.

“You know this Windsor guy is a churchgoer,” Aaron said. “I’ve come across him before at Mackenzie’s church. You know, the church has a bad reputation because of guys like him. The church is seen as hypocritical. What sort of role model is he?”

“The church is full of people. All people are sinners, Aaron. The only difference between believers and non-believers is that we believers have received God’s forgiveness for our sins, but those that haven’t asked for forgiveness stand condemned.”

“So you're telling me this Windsor bloke is forgiven for what he’s been up to.”

“Only God knows a man’s heart, Aaron. Only God knows if a person is a genuine believer.”

“Hey, will you two cut out the religious talk? We have no idea what you’re going on about,” Mel said. “But let me add my two bob’s worth: ‘The Lord said come fourth and receive eternal life, I came fifth and received a box of chocolates.’”

That one caught Aaron off guard but he thought about it and laughed. Mel did have the ability to relax things. Mel needed to expand on the joke before Churchie and Wally responded.

The rest of the journey was taken up by the boys debating the best places to get secondhand clothes from—there were quite a few options.

As they got closer to Mackenzie’s place, Aaron told them that the man with Mackenzie on her little adventure would be at the barbeque.

Mel asked his name.

“Joshua.” Aaron looked in the mirror as he responded. He saw something in Mel’s face—a kind of reaction, but to what, he didn’t know.

<°)))><