sharply at Michael. "And then all your efforts to serve the Most
High in this will have failed. Yes, Michael--you will have failed the
Most High in this!"
Michael resisted the impulse to strike out at Rugio.
"Whatever happens in Eden," said Gabriel, "will be the choice
of the humans. If anyone should understand the consequences of
poor choices I would think it would be you, Rugio."
Rugio began to manifest his reddish aura, but maintained
control.
"Nevertheless," said Pellecus. "It will be a very different
world by the time the next sun comes up. A'dam will be here soon
and then it will be finished."
"And so shall you all be," added Kara.
----------------
"You wish to share this gift with me?" asked Eve. "But why?"
"Because it is a very special gift," said the serpent. "One
which will make you very wise indeed."
"Wise?" said Eve incredulously.
"Why, yes," purred the serpent, who stood up and moved in
closer to the trees. He now sat under the branches of the tree on
Eve's right.
"But what does that mean?" she asked.
"All that God holds in contempt we shall encourage in mankind." 299
"To be wise means to be able to see," began the serpent. "To
be wise means helping your husband steward in ways he never
thought possible. To be wise means you will be able to act and feel
and think in a whole new light--in short, Eve, to be wise is to be
like God. And being like God is the duty of His creation, isn't it?"
Eve thought about these words for a minute.
"I suppose so," she said. "But how does one become wise?"
"That is the rather delicate part," the serpent said. "You see,
even though the Most High desires that we be like Him, it requires
on our part a certain action--a choice, so to speak--to begin down
that glorious pathway."
Eve indicated that she did not quite understand.
"Let me explain it this way. If there was a way for you to
become wise so that you might be a better wife to A'dam and a
greater caretaker of the Lord's earth, you would make such a
choice, would you not?"
"Well, yes," said Eve.
"Of course you would," said the serpent. "And that is because
you already have a measure of wisdom inside of you. Now, if I
were to tell you of a way to increase that which is already inside of
you, that which the Lord has already placed within, you would
most certainly want to know of it, yes?"
"Yes," said Eve. "If it would increase that which the Lord has
already placed inside of me I would honor Him by increasing it."
"Exactly!" said the serpent. "I could not have put it any better."
The serpent's eyes glanced in the direction of Kara and Pellecus and
then back toward Eve. "If the Lord had not imparted such wisdom
to me---a mere beast--I would never be able to speak with you.
Imagine what would happen to you--made in the image of God
Himself--were you to have this increased measure of wisdom."
"But what about A'dam?" she asked. "Could he have this gift
as well?"
"My dear," said the serpent. "I would insist upon it."
----------------
A'dam was nearing the meadow now. He sensed in his spirit
that there was something wrong, but he couldn't quite determine
300 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
the source or the reason. But he knew somehow that he must get to
the center of the garden. He hurried along.
----------------
"Are you prepared to make the choice, Eve?" asked the ser-
pent. "A choice which will open your eyes for the very first time. A
difficult choice but the only choice, really, if you are to truly honor
the Most High in your stewardship."
"I suppose..." she began.
"The Lord has charged you with keeping His earth," said the
serpent. "Clever as you and A'dam are, you will need more wisdom
to fulfill this commission. After all, do you think you will always be
in Eden? I am sure that one day the Lord Most High has greater
plans for you. How can you possibly handle the things He has in
store for you without the wisdom to carry on?"
"Yes," she said. "I want more wisdom. For me and for A'dam!"
"Of course you do," said the serpent.
----------------
"Your lord certainly knows how to confuse an issue," said Gabriel.
"I think he is being quite clear," said Pellecus. "He is merely
presenting the woman with a choice. He is neither forcing her nor
compelling her."
"He is tempting her," said Michael. "And that amounts to the
same thing!"
"Poor Michael," said Pellecus. "You really should have lis-
tened more at the Academy. The woman has a free will. As you so
ably pointed out a moment ago, Eve is like us angels who made our
own choices. The consequences befell us. We were not forced into
our decision. Neither shall she be. Lucifer is not allowed to touch
the humans. This is all her game now."
"And I might add," said Kara arrogantly, "that she isn't play-
ing very well."
----------------
"As you know, Eve," the serpent continued, "the Most High
has graciously given you and A'dam the privilege of taking care of
"All that God holds in contempt we shall encourage in mankind." 301
His world. He has withheld nothing from you, correct? And yet it
puzzles me a bit. Did He not tell A'dam that you must not eat from
every tree in the garden?"
Eve looked up at the two trees, the light of the sun glimmer-
ing between the branches and shining on her face.
"All is ours except for these two trees," she said, a feeling of
hesitancy coming over her. "A'dam received instruction from the
Lord which was very clear."
"Isn't that odd?" said the serpent, glancing up at the large
boughs. "I wonder why the Lord would withhold these two trees
from you?"
"A'dam said that to eat of these trees means death," she said,
moving a bit away from the tree.
"Death?" asked the serpent. "In Eden?"
"This is what the Lord told my husband," she said, looking
once more at the trees.
"Now that is interesting," said the serpent. "For I am only a
serpent and yet I am wise enough to know that you will not die."
The serpent looked up at Eve.
"Do you really think that the Lord would destroy His most
precious creation?" he continued. "Do you think for a moment that
He would allow a creature who bears His very image; with whom
He walks casually for fellowship; in whom He has poured His
great love and has authorized to steward the world--do you really
believe He would allow you to die?"
Eve wasn't sure how to answer.
"You shall not die," said the serpent. "That is a ridiculous
notion. I'm sure that A'dam has innocently misrepresented what
the Lord meant. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The Lord Most
High knows that if you eat of this fruit that your eyes will be
opened and you will become the gods of this world--a god very
&nbs
p; much like He is. You will know good and evil. What better way to
serve Him than by knowing the difference so you may avoid the
one and do the other?"
A cold chill ran down Eve's spine. She shuddered a bit.
"Are you cold, my dear?" asked the serpent.
302 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"Then why would God forbid it?" she asked. "If it is such a
good thing, why would He tell A'dam not to eat?"
"Why indeed?" replied the serpent. "Makes little sense, hmm?
That is why I propose that A'dam has misheard the Lord's instruc-
tion. If God would withhold from you the greatest gift of all, He
would not be a very loving God, now would He? Yet we know that
the Most High is a God of great love. Love withholds nothing, Eve.
True love anyway."
Eve looked at the lowest limb of the tree. Several large, round
pieces of fruit hung on the branch. She stood and stopped for a
moment, staring at the fruit.
"Wise as God," said the serpent. "Can you imagine such a
thing?"
Eve walked over to the branch and touched the fruit. It
seemed ordinary enough--much like other fruit in the garden. She
sniffed it. There was really little fragrance. Perhaps she could at
least hold it and examine it a little more closely. As she held it in her
hands it broke off and she made a startled noise and dropped it.
"It won't hurt you, Eve," said the serpent. "Do you really
think the Lord would place something deadly in Eden?"
"No," she admitted, "there is nothing deadly in Eden."
----------------
"Gabriel, we must do something!" Michael said.
The area around the garden was by now filled with angels
watching the exchange between the woman and the serpent.
Lucifer's angels had crowded in around Eve and the trees in an
unholy circle. The holy angels watched in horror as Eve came clos-
er and closer to the trap. Gabriel looked at Michael and shook his
head.
"If only we could intervene," he said. "But we are forbidden.
She must make her own choice."
"I'd say she has already made it," said Kara with delight.
"Not yet, Kara," said Michael. "Remember Serus? He repent-
ed at the last moment and never fell into sin."
"All that God holds in contempt we shall encourage in mankind." 303
"Serus is weak," said Kara. "But Eve is strong. She won't turn
back."
"Her strength may deceive you, Kara," said Michael.
"I'm counting on it to deceive her simpleminded husband,"
said Kara, "and here he comes!"
----------------
"Eve!"
A'dam ran to the tree and pulled Eve by her arm. The serpent
slowly moved to the other side of the tree.
"Let's get away from this place--what are you doing?" he
demanded.
"My love," she answered. "I am doing this for us both."
She picked up the piece of fruit and showed it to her husband.
"Together we will become wise as God and rule for Him to
His glory," she said.
"Join me in this--if you truly love me."
Eve took a bite of the fruit. The juice ran down both sides of
her mouth as she bit deeply into its meat. She then offered it to her
husband. A'dam was completely shocked by this.
"What have you done?" he demanded. "You know that the
Lord has forbidden this! You know what He has said!"
"Yes," she said. "I know. And yet I live."
A'dam turned from her. She grabbed his arm.
"Dearest, rule with me in wisdom!" she said.
"Wisdom? Where do you hear such nonsense?" he asked.
"From the serpent. He speaks and is wise," she said, looking
for him. "He told me so. A'dam, you must listen to me. We can be
like God Himself! A'dam, I ate and did not die. If you truly love me
you will join me and together we shall become like God! We will
know good and evil. We will be able to rule this world in a way fit-
ting to the glory of our Most High Lord!"
"Eve," said A'dam, "I cannot."
"It is because you don't love me then," she said. "I am merely
another beast in Eden to you."
"No, my love," A'dam insisted. "It is simply that..."
304 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
He looked tenderly at Eve, the fruit turning brownish already
where she had bitten into it. He stared at the tree and thought about
the Lord's words to him. Yet Eve lived!
He would prove his love to her. And if perchance she was cor-
rect, become wiser in the process! He took the fruit out of her hands
and bit into it.
----------------
Lucifer's angels shrieked in delight as A'dam took the fruit.
The holy angels groaned and wept bitterly at the sight of God's pre-
cious man turning rebel. Michael was stupefied. Gabriel looked on
sadly. Kara was completely overjoyed. He moved away from
Michael, not knowing what his reaction might be. Pellecus looked
on studiously, watching the reactions of the Host. It was a chaotic
mixture of rapt ecstasy and horrified sadness as A'dam transferred
his authority to Lucifer.
The serpent began to snicker aloud. He called to Eve.
"Eve," he said. "How do you like it? Your eyes being opened,
I mean. Gives one a new sense of life, hmm?" He laughed.
"What have you done?" Eve asked the serpent.
"I have done nothing, my dear," said the serpent. "But I fear
you have undone everything!"
A'dam looked at the fruit and threw it down to the ground.
He suddenly was aware of a feeling of horrible shame and naked-
ness. He could sense the unholy angels around him, laughing at
him. Eve, too felt naked and alone. She looked to the serpent for
some sense of comfort.
"What do we do?" she asked, fear in her voice.
"It's already done," he said, laughing.
A'dam quickly picked some large leaves off a tree and used
them to cover himself and Eve. They felt vulnerable. Ashamed.
Embarrassed. He decided that they must get away from the trees
immediately. He took Eve's hand and started to run out of the
meadow. They could hear the sound of laughter all over the garden.
"A'dam!" came a Voice.
"All that God holds in contempt we shall encourage in mankind." 305
"It is the Lord," A'dam whispered to Eve. "We must hide from
Him!"
Lucifer realized that the Lord was present and quickly fell to
the ground, prostrating the serpent. He tried to make the serpent
scurry away but found he could no longer control the animal. He
sat still, quietly terrified. The unholy angels, upon hearing the
Lord's voice, quickly scattered. Michael and the other angels pulled
back, turning their eyes from Eden. Many bowed low to the Lord,
waiting the judgment which must surely follow.
"A'dam," said the Lord again. "Where are you?"
A'dam remained hidden behind a large bush. Eve sat next to
him, quietly sobbing.
"A'DAM!" said the Lord. "Where are you?"
A'dam stood up. His poorly made covering of leaves was al-
ready falling apart. He held up a portion of it to cover his nakedness.
"I am here, Lord," he said. "I heard Your voice in the garden
and it frightened me. I didn't want You to see the shame of my
nakedness."
A'dam looked to the ground. Eve came up behind her hus-
band and stood.
"Nakedness?" He said. "Who told you that you were naked?
Who told you that you should be ashamed of anything?"
A'dam and Eve remained silent.
----------------
Michael and Gabriel were feeling the shame of watching
God's creatures turn on Him for a second time. They could only
look on in agonizing silence. The rest of the Host had quietly
departed or were prostrate in the Lord's Presence. Serus joined
Michael and looked upon the fruit of his former master's labor.
"This is freedom," Serus said in disgust. Michael looked at the
little angel who had recently returned to the Lord. "Lucifer's free-
dom always seems to lead to rebellion and shame. If only I had seen
the truth earlier, perhaps..."
"There is nothing any of us could have done," said Michael.
"Even had we exposed Lucifer, his course seemed set--one way or
306 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
the other he would have found a way to rebel against the Lord. It
was his choice, Serus, not ours."
"Yes," agreed Serus. "But now his choice has become man's
choice."
----------------
"Did you eat of the trees which I forbade you?" the Lord
asked.
A'dam could not look up at all. The Father he once knew
seemed distant now. It was as if they were strangers. He felt
ashamed, and embarrassed. He also felt anger building up inside of
him. He recalled his conversation with Eve at that very spot and
looked at his wife with intense hatred. The leaves he was grasping
dropped to the ground and he pointed at Eve.
Exile of Lucifer Page 37
