THE FALL (Rapha Chronicles #1) (The Rapha Chronicles) (6 page)

Once again the man answered his thoughts.
“This small one is a sign to all creation.”
As He spoke, the three-legged creature stepped timidly onto His palm, drawing Rapha’s attention to a scarred gash in the Holy One’s hand. As He drew the animal to His breast, Rapha noted a matching wound on the back of the other hand as well.

The soothing voice continued,
“This age will be well-acquainted with corruption and cruelty, yet the greatest beauty and strength will thrive in that environment. Adonai will never leave them comfortless.”
He placed a kiss on the animal’s head, then set it upon the ground. As if understanding its purpose, the creature hopped toward the forest without looking back.

Rapha pondered the Holy One’s words as he watched the small outline merge with shadows. When he turned toward his mysterious companion, he discovered the man was gone. There were two spots of bruised grass where His knees had rested and, as Rapha watched, they filled with water as if an underground spring had been tapped. When the puddles overflowed, they began to trickle in opposite directions down each side of the mountain’s face. Rapha raised himself to hover above the ground and watch each shallow stream become a widening river. Within moments they were digging deep grooves in solid rock and splashing to the valley below, their force carving twin canyons that rejoined for the journey to the sea.

In the pounding waters, Rapha heard echoes of the Holy One’s laughter.

Chapter Five

All Things New

That was a glorious dawn. With Adonai’s leading, the loyal celestial forces combined their talents to create an abode worthy of His presence. In a lush valley they planted and nurtured a verdant garden. In its midst they wove, crafted and spoke until a dazzling reflection of heaven’s glory sparkled in Earth’s crown.

How Rapha’s heart swelled with hope and joy as he surveyed their accomplishment. As far as he could see he beheld glimmering waters, ranging, peaceful wildlife, vibrant color and even the smooth stone walls of terraced gardens and quiet halls. All was arranged in perfect harmony to the sun’s path across the sky and the nightly dance of lesser lights. In the day the sun’s warmth coaxed forth fertility, producing sustenance from every hanging bough, while night brought a gentle mist that drove away all thirst.

Rapha paused to drink deeply of the fragrance embracing this blessed valley. The air nourished his soul, overflowing with a richness combining the best of heaven and earth, bringing to mind the Holy One who had removed his stain. As always, when Rapha recalled that horrible, beautiful day, he would shut his eyes to bask in the memory of the Chosen One’s touch and ponder the mystery of Adonai’s plan. It was just outside his understanding but the tiny bit that had been revealed was enough to cement his trust in Adonai’s wisdom.

He had but to secure the last section of encircling wall, and this perfect dwelling, this protected garden of Adonai’s holiness, would be ready to receive its inhabitants. Rapha felt the familiar thrill course through him when he considered that the beings dwelling here would be direct ancestors of God in the flesh. He could not wait to meet these glorious creatures! As his mind wandered in breathtaking visions of a long and peaceful collaboration between heaven and earth, a tiny monkey scrambled up to take its customary seat on Rapha’s shoulder. Many animals knew Rapha, even some destined to dwell outside the garden’s walls, and often he conducted his work while a great cat purred against his leg or a curious bird attempted to nest in the warmth of his hair. But this little one had decided Rapha was his personal assistant to reach the juiciest fruit without having to expend the energy of climbing. Rapha had grown fond of the monkey’s chatter even though his garments often bore the stains of ripened fruit. The creature would shriek with delight whenever Rapha displayed his angelic abilities, whether in moving gigantic stones to add to the wall or speaking Adonai’s eternal words of protection to prevent its breaching.

He knew the latter threat was greatest. Already hints of Lucifer’s corruption infiltrated the surrounding lands where creatures knew fear before taking their first breath. One would think the fallen angel’s ambition would be satisfied with access to the rest of the planet, both surface and subterranean, but Rapha wasted no time believing Lucifer would allow the virgin purity of this land to remain. Although his secret monstrosities thrived and creation cowered before his cruelty, Rapha could feel the dark angel bending his thoughts to pierce this one bastion of Adonai’s presence, pressing close on all sides as if to steal the garden’s acreage one inch at a time.

But such was Lucifer’s way—to ruin what he touched and covet what was out of his reach.

“Hey! Watch it, Emeth.” The angel addressed his persistent shoulder ornament when a chunk of Rapha’s long hair became entwined in a bite of banana. With a shriek, the monkey abandoned his perch and the uneaten fruit to leap from Rapha’s shoulder and streak away into the trees. The call to entice the frightened animal back died on his lips when he beheld Lucifer lounging atop the wall, surveying the protected valley.

“You really should be careful about naming them. It’s a waste of time to become attached to something so… vulnerable,” he looked into Rapha’s eyes as he continued. “Shame he had to run. Were you aware the baby tree-swingers can scream in a tone that’s inaudible to mortal ears?”

A raging fury shoved aside Rapha’s contentment, “We have heard the echoes of your depravity. You are not welcome here. Be gone!”

Lucifer’s face registered an almost vulgar bliss. “That glorious, pent-up emotion—like a ripe volcano.” His eyes sparkled, “Ah, my friend. Your talents are sorely wasted. What you could accomplish without a leash!”

“I am nothing without my Creator—
just like you
.” Adonai forgive him, the insult felt so good. For a few tense moments, the celestial beings regarded one another; each striving for dominance until visible sparks flew between them.

Finally Lucifer broke off with a sneer. “I did not come to bandy words with a messenger boy. There are terms to discuss,” Lucifer leaned forward and enunciated the next words carefully, “regarding my residence here.”

Rapha did not even try to hide his horror as Lucifer, glowing with satisfaction, added, “Tell Adonai I demand an audience.”

With that, he disappeared, leaving the scent of putrefaction in his wake.

After a moment’s dumbfounded hesitation, Rapha also melted from Earth’s realm. He needed an audience of his own with the Most High.

When the glory of Adonai overshadowed the mountain in the center of the garden, called Eden, meaning source of life, Rapha and the celestials were summoned to the wide valley in the garden’s center to attend this next glorious dawn, the creation of Earth’s steward.

A hush filled the valley as celestial and terrestrial alike gazed on Adonai, their Maker and source of all that is whole and good. Spontaneous joy swept the assembly and every being knelt. But that was not sufficient. Such love flowed from Him, even angelic eyes closed, unable to bear the untamed purity of the relentless, scorching bliss.

Rapha heard the moan of his soul. How he longed to rush to that purity even if it meant the end of his existence. Every being in that valley wept, whether tears of earthly moisture or angelic light that seeped from their mouths clothed in song; all offered the core of their essence back to the Maker of all.

It was a perfect blend of two realms joined to honor their Lord. If he listened carefully, Rapha could discern the individual notes of hound, lion, bear, cricket, bird and even the dolphins’ laughter, but together with angelic harmony the completion of that symphony made him gasp with wonder and fulfillment. On and on the melodies flowed, building to frightening intensity, then descending like a bird diving out of the sky to a synchronous rumble that extended far beneath their feet into Earth’s core.

As if the ground groaned and writhed, a wave of power flowed from the mountains surrounding the valley and rushed in. For an instant the diapason ceased, echoing the breathless anticipation of the watchers who strained toward the valley’s center, answering the unspoken will of their Maker to reveal what was hidden.

“Come forth!”
The voice of The Almighty echoed through heaven and earth.

Immediately a glowing mound like a pulsing star emerged, a miniature sun announcing the dawn of a new day. Up it rose in the nighttime sky, hanging before their eyes in the center of that constellation which signals the birth of a king, eclipsing the light of stars and moon with its brilliance.

Such holiness and solemnity filled that moment, the world stilled its turning, pausing to synchronize with eternity. Finally, the newborn brilliance descended to Adonai and its light was lost in His glory.

Again voices lifted in song, ebbing and flowing with a mighty wind that scattered throughout the valley in dancing cyclones that gathered the various hues for the Master’s canvas.

The rainbow of Earth’s elements flowed into Adonai’s glory as the creation song continued, flowing with the will of Adonai. Sometimes the melody was heartbreakingly sweet, sometimes overwhelming in intensity, but always the latest movement fit perfectly with the desire of Rapha’s heart, and pulsed in one accord with all creation straining to fulfill the Maker’s pleasure.

At last the wind was silent and the glory parted. There was Adonai with a manchild cupped to his breast. Perhaps a child on the cusp of manliness, but a child nonetheless. It seemed all creation stood on tiptoe to study this one, so small in Adonai’s glory, yet the hope of all.

Was there anything remarkable about him? Granted, he was well formed, long of limb and fair of features with thick, dark hair that trailed past his shoulders but….

Then Adonai spoke and light infused the being in His arms.
“Into this man I breathe My essence. My life shall flow in his blood. My spirit shall abide in his soul. His body shall be My temple on Earth.”

The most basic elements of life—fire, water, wind, and soil—strained forward, leaning toward this epochal moment as the Creator leaned over His created and kissed him. The action was completed in a split second but the next moment stretched taut with anticipation as all creation held its breath. Slowly the manchild was lit from within, growing brighter as they watched until his body was encased in a garment of light. Finally, the young man’s eyes fluttered and his mouth opened—in a wide yawn. Adonai laughed and spontaneous celebration erupted. The ground shook, flowers rained from overhanging boughs and streaks of light fell from the sky as if the stars longed for a glimpse.

Silence. Along with every celestial and earthly eye, Rapha stared. Yes. Here was a king. His frame was coltish and his eyes full of questions, more boy than man, but embraced in Adonai’s glory, he was breathtaking.

Adonai spoke,
“You will be called Adam, the father of those in whom My spirit shall dwell. You are given dominion over all on Earth. What you say shall be established, from the naming of each according to their holy design to protecting the sacred trust given you.”

And, for the first time, Adam looked around at his kingdom, his wide eyes filling with recognition as they settled on his furred, feathered and scaled subjects. Finally, the young man opened his mouth to speak.

He grasped a fold of Adonai’s robe, “You
will
help me?”

Again Adonai laughed, and this time creation joined in with a deafening noise of cheers, bays, howls, and roars that shook the mountain’s foundation. In the midst of this cacophony man and Creator carried on a private conversation. In the manchild’s eyes Rapha recognized the adoration for the Heavenly Father he too had felt after his rebirth.

A shiver of protectiveness for such innocence shook him to the core. In his heart, Rapha committed himself before Adonai to the preservation of this alliance between heaven and earth. As earthly creation wept with joy and the celestial host glowed ever brighter, their song of gratitude flowing like a shimmering mist toward their Maker and his new creation, Rapha realized Adam stared at him as if to say, “He’s told me so much about you.”

When the young man smiled, Rapha choked with emotion on his song.
“Yes,”
the angel’s heart replied to his Maker’s prompting,
“I will look after him.”

Soon, Rapha’s duties as chief architect of the human’s training required undivided attention and constant reliance on Adonai’s wisdom. He had never voiced his expectations of what this heavenly yet earthly creature would resemble, but in every aspect Adam was a surprise.

The manchild was all freshness, enthusiasm, boundless energy and, admittedly, harder to keep under control than Rapha’s chattering friend, Emeth. Rapha learned if he wanted Adam to concentrate on a given task he must first run the boy up a steep mountain, initiate a game of cheetah-tag or at least challenge him to a swim race. Only when Adam was puffing and blowing from exertion would he finally remain still long enough to listen to stories of ancient history or learn the many varieties, uses, and care of the surrounding plants, herbs, trees, and fruits.

How Rapha grew to cherish the boy’s enthusiasm since it filled him with fresh appreciation for Adonai’s attention to detail. Rapha could not help but absorb Adam’s joy as the young man discovered the garden’s riches for the first time, meeting each animal, climbing every accommodating tree and questioning Rapha about
everything
—until the angel quipped his immortal ears would fall off due to overuse.

Sure there was a title for each species of animal but Adam’s primary edict was to give each a
name
—that word that captured their essence as well as their special function in the grand scheme of the garden’s community. Rapha and the other angels, each possessing their own area of expertise, aided Adam in this quest. For burrowing creatures he sought Eldad; for nocturnal ones, Jadon; for inhabitants of the water, both fresh and salt, he questioned Perseus, an adventurous sort who would place Adam on his shoulders and dive, utilizing his command of water to create an air bubble around Adam’s head to allow for their lengthy excursions.

Therefore, the garden’s inhabitants developed a routine. Morning’s first light would find Adam diving into the churning waters of the waterfall, streaking toward the rushing, deep pool below, past cataracts of opalescent turquoise and emerald. Adam insisted on races and other water contests, and the angels humored him. To dry himself, he would race to the top of Eden’s highest peak, surefooted as the mountain goats that scattered from his approach. At their favorite perch, cradled by the sun-warmed rocks at their back and reclining against an accommodating mountain lion that demanded they scratch his ears “just so,” Rapha would explain the synchronous workings of the universe—from the tiniest creeping creature to the farthest visible star—describing how Adam was to be caretaker of this small corner called Earth.