Paradise World

by Dan Edmund

Chapter 24 - The Light and a Vision Beyond Space and Time

  Over the next ensuing days, the ecstasy that had so swept over all us was now beginning to wane. Life was returning back to normal, or as normal as life in Paradise could be. Also the newly resurrected people had quickly settled into their new idyllic life, in stark contrast to the resurrected man before them. Yet, I missed Harry. Although I had supposedly been his official mentor to this world, the role of teacher and pupil had often been reversed. He truly had been an exceptional character, probably the most intelligent person I had ever known. However, more importantly, he had become my friend. It was therefore with a heavy heart that on the fourth day since his departure, I dismantled his makeshift observatory behind our house. I instinctively thought back to the night when we had been lying beneath the starry sky. Apart from the immediate aftereffects of the Light, it had been the first time I had seen him truly happy. From then on - with few exceptions - I began to enjoy his company, my guitar tuitions with him, our walks through the mountains and forests, our observations of nature, and even his pedantic lectures on history, life and the universe. Now it was all over. He was gone.

  After casting away the last rock of his observatory, I needed cheering up, and so decided to visit the ever-cheerful Carlos. It was afternoon, and he was at home and alone with his guitar, strumming and humming out a new tune.

  "Ah, David, my friend, just the person I wanted to see!" he said, beaming as I stepped onto his front porch. "I need your help. I'm working on a hymn to commemorate that wonderful vision we had." He started humming and strumming again until he came to an abrupt end. "I've gone this far, but I'm not quite sure how to end."

  I thought for a couple of seconds, then replied, "Why not do it the easy way? Just end it with a perfect cadence, from the dominant back to the tonic chord."

  He gave a hearty laugh. "I'm afraid you'll have to translate that for me."

  "I'm sorry," I said, now also laughing.

  He handed me the guitar. "Why not show me?"

  I did.

  "What! Just end it as simply as that?" he asked dubiously.

  "Or we can make it more complex by doing it this way." I then showed him an alternative ending. He beamed his approval. "Ah, yes, I like that!"

  I returned his guitar and watched him practice. A couple of minutes later, I asked, "Carlos, can I interrupt you? I need to ask you some questions."

  He immediately stopped and rested the guitar against the wall. He flashed another smile.

  "Why, of course. What is it, my friend?"

  "It concerns the visions we just had, as well as Harry?"

  Carlos's eyes widened with interest. "Yes, those visions. How wonderful they had been!"

  "Yes, but it has to do mainly with Harry." I then described what he had claimed he had seen in his visions, and the revelatory nature of the dream he had that night, as well as the telepathic message on Anastasis. "So, what do you think?"

  He shrugged. "We know his mother has been resurrected, but regarding what he saw, I don't know." He thought for a moment and then added, "With his vision within the Divine Light, perhaps he really did see himself die. Perhaps it was like going to see a movie that was made many years before. Also the message he received about his new guide being Thomas, er...what was his other name?"

  "More."

  "Yes, Thomas More. Again, I can't be sure. Perhaps so, but I was not told about it within the Divine Light."

  "However, there is a village called Eu Topis, about five days west of here, along the Deer River, isn't there?" I asked.

  "Yes, I've been there. But was he told to go there and meet this Thomas More within the Divine Light?" asked Carlos. He clearly looked puzzled.

  "No, in his dream, and then he was only told to meet his guide in the village of Eu Topis. However, it was only when he went up to Mount Anastasis, and after praying there, that he was told that his guide would actually be Thomas More, and that he would meet him at Eu Topis."

  Carlos's eyes widened with astonishment. "Ah, there's so much mystery behind all of this, as well as this man, Harry. But there have been so many strange things happening recently." He then leant closer to me. "For instance, I also have a mystery, a happening within the Divine Light of which I'm not completely sure. That's why I haven't announced it officially. However, I think our regional spiritual mentor, Hezekiah Ruther, has been taken to heaven, and thus has joined the Heavenly Council to help direct our world. You see, this vision was like a flash. It was so quick that I hardly could be sure what happened. However, for an instant, I thought I saw him entering through those symbolic pearly gates. But I received no direct message of that within the Divine Light, and so I must wait for some confirmation of this before I can make an official announcement to our community."

  Three days later, we did receive confirmation that Hezekiah Ruther had indeed vanished from the face of this earth, via the Divine Light in the village of Philos, which was a four day journey north of us. However, nothing was heard regarding Harry until two weeks later, when some visitors from the village of Eu Topis told us of the arrival of a traveler called Harry. They also mentioned another visitor called Thomas, and that they together had traveled off somewhere towards the west. I was, of course, delighted by the news.

  Therefore, the next few days passed, each day getting closer to the next coming of the Light. We were all eager and filled with expectation, and none more so than I. Surely, this was going to be Jenny's time. Meanwhile, I kept myself busy, doing my normal routine of working on the housing project in the mornings, playing my guitar in the afternoons, then socializing in the evenings. Finally, the first day of the next month arrived, and with it the much awaited Divine Light. Because of the incredible visions we all previously had, there was an air of excitement that was nothing short of ecstatic. Resurrections and visions were on everybody's mind as we stared wild-eyed as the Light came ever closer, looming ever larger, with every beat of our heart. Finally, the Light was down, and once more we entered into that great unknown.

  "Greetings one and all!" Carlos declared as he lifted both arms almost horizontally above his head. "Welcome back into the Divine Light of God!"

  He began to pray, and afterwards we sang a hymn of praise. The words again simply flowed out from us; full of hope that many more of our dear loved ones would again arise from the dead. "Come, you dear ones, the resurrection is at hand!" we sang over and over again, and each time we sang those words, our emotions rose ever higher. Then, once again, something truly astonishing happened. Swirling light from within formed itself into yet another vision from the Book of Revelation. We again saw a vision of God on His throne, and there again was the Lamb, the glorified Jesus Christ, and multitudes of angels all around. Suddenly, another vision opened up, where an even greater multitude appeared, seemingly millions, perhaps billions, not of angelic beings with wings, but humans wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. I instantly recognized the vision. A booming voice then asked who these people were, and the reply instantly came back, exactly as recorded in that mystical book: '"These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."'

  I then willed myself closer into the vision, then recognized my parents and many others from our community, plus multitudes upon multitudes of others that I had not known, nor had seen before. Then I saw myself within their midst, and suddenly I was not just seeing myself amongst that 'great multitude,' I was actually there amongst them. I knew that such a scene was only symbolic, yet the sheer joy of seemingly being there before God's throne in the heavens took me to the inner core of ecstasy. However, just as the vision reached its climax, another vision began to open up: a vision not of light, but of darkness; a vision not of life, but of death.

  I was now in some dark and dingy bedroom. Strips of faded green wallpaper hung limply at several places near the ceiling, where the paint was flaking off as if on a rusty, iron hulk stranded on a ba
rren reef. The only furniture and decorations in this tiny bedroom was an old brass bed, a rickety wooden wardrobe, and a small dresser on top of which stood an empty bottle of whiskey. I had never been in this room before, and I certainly could not see any connection with it and my life here in Paradise. However, the bedroom door opened and a large black youth appeared. The sight of him hit me like a thunderbolt. Oh, my God, it was him!

  He slammed the door behind him, then strode towards the bed. He started smoking a very short, strange looking kind of pipe. I knew somehow that it was not filled with tobacco, but with the narcotic commonly known as 'crack.' Within seconds, I saw him ecstatic, as if caught up by the Divine Light. However, the high was comparatively short-lived, perhaps only five to ten minutes. He then smoked another dose, and then another, each time going on a roller coaster ride of extreme highs then lows. Finally, he consumed all that he had. He then began frantically looking for more of the substance, but none was found. He became aggressive, yelling profanities until finally he slumped onto the bed. There must have been a time shift of some kind because suddenly I saw him again, looking normal, although menacingly mean, like some wounded, wild animal, ready to pounce onto some helpless prey. He opened the bottom draw of his dresser, then rummaged through some underwear to expose a gleaming, black gun. The scene faded before me, and I was now in a black void. A sudden fear came over me as I was reminded once more of my journey through the black tunnel, and of death.

  Fortunately, the feeling lasted only for a brief moment before another vision appeared.

  It was nighttime, and I saw the top of a lone car driving through the city streets. I recognized the car as being my white Ford. My view suddenly changed. I was now inside the car, seeing Jenny sitting beside me. It was incredible. It all seemed so real, as if I had traveled back in time. I then looked through the windshield, as if I was again driving the car. I saw that we were in Harlem, next to Morningside Park. Instantly, I recalled the scene, and cringed with horror that I was now going to witness my own murder once again.

  The engine again began to splutter. Seconds later we came to a final stop. I again glanced down at the instrument panel, then stated that we were out of gas. I again felt the cold night air as I stepped out of the car, then searched for the gasoline, then realized I was being observed. And there he was again, looking as menacing as ever. Fortunately, I was again viewing myself from outside my body. Although now fully aware that he could no longer hurt me, it nonetheless horrified me to watch the final seconds of that fateful night, to see him manhandle me, to feel once more the fear in me, to hear Jenny's frantic scream, to hear the gun go off, then see myself slumping to the ground.

  The scene mercifully ended, but as it did, I heard these incredible words resounding clearly in my mind: "Forgive Ron Bristol. Help him!"

  I was totally shocked. It seemed an absurd statement to make after virtually reliving my own murder. Rather than feeling merciful, I suddenly resented the man for all the pain he had caused; the man who had so abruptly and viciously taken from me my life, my wife, my work, and all the things I had loved in the world.

  "But you are alive!" the same voice reminded me.

  Alive? True. I realized that all this person did was to simply transfer me into another, much better world. I then recalled hearing the name of Ron Bristol being called out in our Hall of Worship, the name that nobody knew, the name that meant nothing to nobody, except now to me. So, that was it. He was going to be resurrected. It seemed incredible that such a man as this should be rewarded thus. I suddenly felt indignant at such a travesty of justice.

  Another vision appeared. It was Jenny kneeling beside my mortally wounded body, her hands cradling my head, her sobs now uncontrollable. I then saw my assailant running off into Morningside Park. Moments later I heard the wail of an approaching patrol car. It stopped directly behind our car, and I saw two police officers running towards us. I then saw blood flowing freely from my chest, staining my jacket crimson red, and creating a pool of blood beside me. I then witnessed how the police officer felt for my pulse, telling his partner to call an ambulance, questioning Jenny about who had shot me, hearing her agonized response.

  The vision continued. I saw the ambulance arrive, the gallant attempts of the paramedics trying to save my life, but all to no avail. I heard my death pronounced, then Jenny's hysterical wail. It was all too much, and I was grateful when this scene had finally ended. Now the scene shifted towards my murderer scurrying through Morningside Park, constantly looking back and forth like a hunted animal. It was pitch-black, but I clearly saw him stumble several times, yet managing to scamper up the steps and onto the street up above. However, his desperate bid to escape proved futile in the end. Almost immediately, the glaring lights of another patrol car had spotted him. The officers scrambled out, their guns out and aimed directly at the youth. "Freeze!" one yelled.

  However, my killer, Ron Bristol, took no note. From underneath his jacket, he drew out his gun. However, before he could fire, a bullet ripped into his abdomen. With a groan, he slumped to the ground. However, he was far from dead. He still managed to fire off a shot, although it missed its mark. Then another shot was fired by the police, one bullet hitting Bristol's upper chest, the other, the right shoulder that was holding the gun. The gun dropped, but amazingly, Bristol tried to reach out for it with his other arm. Another shot was fired, and this time the bullet found the heart. And there, right before me, I saw the lifeless body of Ron Bristol lying on the ground.

  The scene faded before me and then, mysteriously, I saw this same youth standing forlornly, staring out from a lofty, barren mountain, enshrouded in thick fog. He had a dazed, tormented look about him that was extremely unnerving to see. This place certainly did not look like Paradise to me. Far from it. From his tormented appearance, it seemed he was more in some sort of purgatory, something that could have been dreamt up by Dante himself. What was happening here? What did it mean? In fact, what did all these visions mean? They did not make any sense. Why had I witnessed my death again, and then the death of my murderer? All these visions were painful to watch, but none more so than this last one of Ron Bristol. Feelings of anger and hatred seemed to radiate out of him, as if it was some sort of negative energy that was not only suffocating him, but me as well. I desperately wanted this vision, in fact, all my visions to end. I just could not bear them any longer.

  Mercifully, this grotesque vision vanished, and in its place I beheld Harry with another man on top of Mount Anastasis. Was this the resurrected Thomas More that Harry had spoken about? However, this vision also vanished and was replaced by yet another, one that made me totally forget all the nightmarish visions of before. I again beheld Mount Anastasis, but there standing was neither Harry nor Thomas More. In their place, I saw the most wondrous vision I could have wished for: a vision of Jenny's resurrection. Oh, what exquisite delight! Now I had absolute proof that soon we were going to be together again, to enjoy the fruits of Paradise.

  Then, all too soon, this vision also faded and I found myself once again amongst the brethren within the Light. They were still all staring trance-like at the vision of the 'Great Multitude' standing in heaven before the celestial throne. Then, this vision also vanished, and slowly and imperceptibly, the Divine Light began to rise, past our ankles, then knees, hips, shoulders, and then our heads. It was only now that our normal state of consciousness returned. However, for a long time nobody spoke nor moved a muscle as we continued watching the Light rise ever higher back into the endless starry sky.