If Angels Fall

SEVENTY-SIX

A great blue heron glided in the sunlight a few feet above, head extended forward,neck folded back on its shoulders, soft plumage drooping as it stalked preyalong the beach.

Lady of the waters. Keller smiled, looking up from hisworn Bible, eyes brimming with tears. He gazed at the afternoon sea: water madeholy by the suffering of Christ, you who are washed in this water, have hope ofHeaven’s kingdom.

I am the resurrection, the way, and the light.

The light, the light … under cover of the night. TheLord was with him, guiding him, thwarting Lucifer’s every attempt to interfere.Yes. After he had intercepted Michael’s phone call, Keller gathered the Angelsand took the back routes of the East Bay, driving here in a Taurus stationwagon he had prepared weeks earlier. It had Nevada plates and each rear windowwas curtained in black with a small silver cross affixed to its center. Kellerhad magnetic signs custom made for the driver and front passenger doors,reading: A amp; B MORTUARY SERVICES, CARSON CITY, NEVADA. The children, whowere sedated, slept in a large, oblong cardboard box in the wagon’s rear. Alongthe way, Keller stopped to pick up the trailered boat and switched the stationwagon to another rental van, which he hid in one of the double-sized garages ofa self-help storage facility in Novato. He drove to the park, launched the boatin darkness, concealing the van and the trailer in thick brush.

Keller knew Point Reyes from his pilgrimages. Yearsago, he had submitted a bid to rebuild the old mission church. “Upon this rockI will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. AndI will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.” Three days after heput in his estimate, he lost his children. Out there, near the Farallons. “ButSatan shall not prevail, for God had given him the keys to the kingdom.” DivineDestiny.

Navigating by moonlight with the running lights off,Keller inched the boat safely around the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Overlook,Chimney Rock, and along some twelve miles of shore to this hidden cove nearDrakes Estero, where he had taken sanctuary for the night, anchored andtethered to the nook’s jagged rocks. Bitter, cold winds fingered into the cove,knocking the boat against the rocks. Keller did not risk a fire. Again, hesedated the children, leaving them to sleep aboard under blankets and tarps. Hecloaked the entire craft with camouflage netting. Keller did not sleep. Hehuddled nearby under a blanket, as the wind rocked the boat, reading Scriptureby penlight, keeping a vigil, counting down the hours, talking with God.

Now, afternoon had come. He could hear the childrenunder the blankets, waking groggily. Keller could not stand it any longer. Itwas time. For twenty years he had waited, suffered, repented, and prepared forthis day, this day of celestial glory and light.

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus. Dominus Deus sabaoth.

Keller checked his watch. From their location, itwould take over an hour to reach the islands at the right moment. He hadmemorized the charts. Everything he needed was in the boat. He was ready. Whywas he waiting? It was time. But as he moved to the boat, his adrenaline-driveneuphoria had given way to exhaustion, fear.

It should have been you, you bastard!

Accept that you cannot change reality. You mustforgive yourself and move on.

The children are innocents.

The entire world knows your pain. Do not extend itto others who never harmed you.

Whoever committed this desecration shall be damnedall the days of his life!

It’s time, Edward. Your children are waiting.

Are you doubting Divine Will?

I am the resurrection and the life.

Your children are waiting.

Through his tears, Keller saw his son Pierce.

“Why are you doing this?”

Keller was in the boat, holding his hand, his smallwarm hand.

Pierce was alive! Here, talking to him.

The resurrection and the life.

“Please, don’t hurt us.”

Oh Pierce. Keller stretched out his hand, caressed theboy’s shivering head, his young hair. Enraptured, Keller wept, his heart risingand falling with the boat … the black waves rolling. His children screaming: Joshua, Alisha, Pierce. Like lambs in the night. The cold darkness swallowingthem, devouring them.

Joan’s body twisting in the attic.

Keller squeezed the child’s hand and scanned the cove.

Something humming, growling in the air. A search plane,far off, over the sea near the horizon.

Satan would challenge him to the end.

“You won’t win this time! It is destined,” Kellershouted at the sky. He glared at Zach. “Get back under the tarp! Now!”

Keller raced to the console, started the twin Mercuryengines, pulled a machete from under the seat, and sliced the tether lines. Thecoastal waters were heavy with afternoon traffic, pleasure crafts, charters,fishing boats, and commercial ships. He raked the back of his hand over hisparched lips.

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus. Dominus Deus sabaoth.

Easing the throttle forward, Keller set off for theislands.