offering his ‘protection’ from the ‘enemy’ in the domain he controlled.

It was only when the last of my control fell away, when the illusion died at last and I allowed the sea of reality to overtake me, only then that I could see what greed had wanted blotted out.

We were there as a result of our lack of faith, we were also there to be shown a mercy that we didn’t deserve. Sometimes, the smallest faith can accomplish great things. Sometimes, the smallest faith can save a life. Faith was a hostile force in the archangel’s domain, but one that he could no more stop than a playing card could stop the flood of a breaching dam.

- - -- -- - -- ---- --- - --- -

The place was like a small village that went on forever. Everybody looked happy. No one was sick. Men walked around wearing so much gold that they seemed