To Reign in Hell: A Novel (7 page)

“I think you are being too harsh on the Lord Satan, Lord.”

“I appreciate your thoughts, Abdiel, but I don’t feel that I’m being harsh. It’s just that I’m worried.”

“I think Lord Satan is just as firmly committed to the Plan as you or I, but he has some doubts on exactly how we ought to do it. I think you ought to speak to him directly, Lord, so all of these questions can be answered. Forgive me for being so presumptuous—”

“No, that’s all right. I feel that it is he who ought to come to me; that’s all it is.”

“But—as you wish.”

“How go things otherwise, Abdiel?”

“Well, Lord Yaweh. I’m working on an idea to solve the problem that the Lord Satan is concerned with, but I’d rather not tell you about it until it’s complete.”

“Excellent. But don’t take too long. I’m becoming impatient to begin. It won’t do to have another Wave begin just as we’re about to start.”

“I understand, Lord.”

“Page!”

“Yes, Lord Yaweh?”

“I need a message delivered to the Southern Hold. Prepare yourself for a long journey.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Tell the Lord Satan that I am anxious to speak with him as soon as possible. Present my respects, and say that I would be grateful if he would journey to the center and speak with me. I think it very important, and urgent.”

“I will set out this evening, Lord Yaweh.”

“It isn’t that urgent. Make it the morning. Get a good rest first.”

“Yes, Lord. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it, Gabriel.”

He waved the page away and returned to his reflections.

“Welcome back, Beelzebub.”

“Thanks, milord.”

“Did Yaweh say anything about the rumors?”

“My message seem’d to displease him, yet he had naught to say to’t.”

“I hadn’t thought he’d be pleased. But he didn’t give an answer?”

“I was to say he’d think on’t. And yet, milord, there was somewhat in his tone that did make me to feel unease.”

“Hmmm.” “There is more, milord.”

“Yes?”

“I spake to Michael, and he did say that he and others would come to speak unto us.”

“Who? About what?”

“I know not, milord.”

“Hmmmm. Guesses? Speculation?”

“Perchance some have heard of thy questions on the Plan and wish to question thee on them, or to convince thee that thou art wrong.”

“Interesting.”

“Verily.”

“Well . . . suggestions?”

“Be sure of the wine stocks, milord.”

Four archangels walked along the Southern Road, which dwindled to a path, and then a trail, and finally disappeared altogether. As one got closer to the Hold, a trail or two emerged as if from nowhere and came together to form another path, and this became a full road again, several leagues from the Hold.

But these archangels were still near the center, walking steadily southward. Two of them wore gold cloaks. Such a sight was enough to excite great interest in those who saw them go by. None spoke to them, but many spoke of them.

They walked all four abreast, for this part of the Southern Road, passing through flat and rolling farmland, was wide. Michael walked to the right, Asmodai next to him, then Lucifer and Lilith. These latter touched hands from time to time. The braver among those they passed would step out for a better view of her walking away.

“It has been awhile since I’ve traveled,” said Michael.

“And I,” said Asmodai.

“What will we say to him?” asked Lucifer.

Michael shrugged and said, “We’ll tell him—whatever we tell him.”

“I’m sure of that,” said Lilith.

“Wait till we get there,” suggested Asmodai.

“Do we know why we’re going?” asked Lucifer.

Michael opened his mouth and closed it again. Asmodai said slowly, “Because he has to be confronted with what he’s doing— creating doubt and dissension. If he’s right, he should bring his arguments to us. If not, he should remain silent. This state is intolerable.”

There was silence for several paces. Then, “Quite a speech,” said Lucifer.

“Thank you,” said Asmodai.

Mephistopheles sat with his back against a stone, his feet stretched out in front of him, and his head resting on his hands, which were locked behind his neck. If Mephistopheles looked relaxed, he was. He could easily have waited there half a day. This was good, because it was nearly half the day before Leviathan happened to look over at that rocky opening in the cliff and saw a figure seated there.

“I thought you’d left already,” she said, swimming up.

“I came back.”

“Where is Ariel?”

“I expect he’s around, looking for a four-footed tercet or something.”

“Or something. Did you want something?”

“Not especially. Did you want me for something?”

“Why, yes. How did you know?”

“A little bird told me.”

“Ariel? How did he know?”

“I couldn’t say.”

“He’s sensitive, that one.”

“Yes. The soul of a poet.” He smirked. “So, what can I do for you?”

“How long since you’ve been to the Southern Hold?”

Abdiel wondered why he was walking. His feet took him further and further away from the center, as if they knew they had a mission. He was fully a day ahead of the page, whom he had overheard Yaweh
send this way, and that was certainly interesting, but how could he use it?

Perhaps, he decided, the best thing would be to wait until the message had been delivered, then find out what the answer was.

But he knew what the answer would be. Satan would certainly go along, and he and Yaweh would talk, and either settle their differences or not. Was there a way to make sure it was not?

No, he decided, there wasn’t. As soon as the two of them got together, it was out of his hands.

He stopped in the middle of the road.

As soon as the two of them got together. . . .

Slowly, a smile spread across his face. He closed his eyes and stood while he worked out the details.

After several long moments, he started up again, briskly. He had a long way to travel. It wouldn’t do for the page’s trip to be too short.

THREE

For neither man nor angel can discern

Hypocrisy—the only evil that walks invisible. . . .

—Milton,
Paradise Lost,
iii:682-684

Thrumb thrumb thrumb.

“Do you hear it, Asmodai?”

“Hear what, Lucif—oh, yes.”

Thrumb thrumb thrumb.

“Where is it coming from?” asked Asmodai.

“Around the corner, I think,” said Michael.

“Do you know what it is?”

“No.”

Lucifer and Lilith smiled as the sounds got louder, but didn’t enlighten the other two. Presently they turned a corner and saw the small, dark-skinned angel seated by the road, his back against a tree. They stopped and listened for a while. Soon the music stopped. The angel continued to look straight ahead, but said, “Who is it?” in a low, raspy voice.

“It’s Lucifer and Lilith, with two friends,” said Lucifer.

“Why, hello!” Harut said, breaking into a bright smile.

“You’re blind!” said Michael.

“You’re right,” said the other, his expression not changing.

“This,” said Lilith, “is our friend, Harut. Harut, the one who
spoke is the Lord Michael, the Firstborn. The other is the archangel Asmodai.”

“Good day, Harut. Your music is pleasing.”

“Hello, Asmodai. I’ve heard of your work. And Michael, I’ve heard of you, too, of course.”

“Thank you,” said Asmodai. “May I see your lyre?”

“Sure! Only it’s a cithara.” He grinned even more and handed it up. Asmodai gave it close inspection, whistling appreciation from time to time. He tapped the wooden base, studied the strings and where they joined to the heads, and handed it back.

“Lovely job,” he said. “Yours?”

“Yeah. Lucifer gave me the wood.”

“Excellent workmanship.”

“May we join you for a while, Harut?” asked Lilith.

“Why, sure.”

Lilith seated herself next to him in a graceful sweep. Lucifer dropped next to her, sitting cross-legged. Asmodai stiffly lowered himself to a stoop, then rocked into a sitting position. Michael moved next to Asmodai, grunted, started to lower himself a couple of times, then creakingly bent over, supported himself with both arms, and maneuvered himself to the ground.

“Quite a company you have here,” said Harut.

“We’re going to visit the Lord Satan,” said Asmodai.

Harut nodded.

“How did it happen?” asked Michael.

“Third Wave done me in,” said Harut. “Raphael pulled me out ‘fore it did a full job, though. She done that for a lot of us.”

“I know,” said Michael. “But couldn’t she heal you?”

“She did, some. It was worse. I was lookin’ away when I got hit. I knew what was happening, and I thought I was going to
change,
you know? Isn’t that funny? I wasn’t afraid to die, but I didn’t want to lose my shape, like Beelzebub or Ariel. All I could think of was holding myself together. I guess Raphael pulled me out then. There were a lot who needed her, though. By the time she got back to me, it was all she could do to make me hear again. But that’s a lot. I’m thankful.”

There was silence for a time.

“I’m thankful,” he repeated.

Asmodai cleared his throat. “You did change, you know,” he said. “I didn’t recognize you at first.”

“I know. I lost a bit off the top, and I don’t weigh so much now. But that don’t matter. That much I could fix myself, if I wanted to.”

Michael said, “Some of the injured ones from the Second Wave were actually healed in the Third. Do you think. . . .” His voice trailed off.

“The Fourth Wave? Maybe. I’m not expecting anything. I’m not anxious for it.”

“None of us are,” said Lilith. “As you know.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve heard some folks aren’t happy about the Big plan.”

Asmodai stared. “How did you hear of that?”

Harut shrugged. “I guess it isn’t as big a secret as some would like. For me, I’ll just wait. When it happens, I’ll live, or I won’t.”

“I wish I had your attitude, Harut,” said Lilith.

He shook his head.

“What have you heard about it?” asked Asmodai.

“Lots of stuff. I don’t listen a whole lot, since I don’t think much of that kind of talk. But I know that
somethin’
is up, and it has to do with starting the Fourth Wave. And I know that some don’t like it much.”

“I see,” said Asmodai. He looked around at the others. None of them said anything. Michael seemed lost in thought, Lucifer met As-modai’s look, but his face was blank. Lilith seemed amused.

After the silence had stretched across the road and back a few times, Harut said, “You don’t have to tell me nothin’ if you don’t want.”

“No,” said Asmodai, “it isn’t that. It’s just that I had thought it a better-kept secret than it is.”

“I’m not uncomfortable with you knowing,” said Lilith.

“Nor am I,” said Lucifer. “In fact, I’ll tell you that the Lord Satan has doubts, and we’re going to see him now to try to resolve them.”

Harut nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“Are you curious, Harut?” asked Lilith.

“Some,” he said.

“Lord Satan isn’t sure it’s right to coerce the hosts into helping, if they don’t want to.”

“Why wouldn’t they want to?” asked Harut.

“I expect,” said Asmodai, “that they will. We want to build a place that will be safe from the flux—forever. Where we won’t have to worry about Waves—ever. Why wouldn’t everyone be in favor of that?”

“I don’t know,” said Harut. “How many will die doing it?”

Lucifer licked his lips, but didn’t answer.

“Abdiel was studying that,” said Asmodai. “I never heard his results.”

“That may be an answer,” said Harut.

“Certainly, it could be a lot,” said Asmodai. “And it might be any of us—we’re not asking anyone to do something we aren’t doing ourselves. We take risks every Wave. But this time, it would be the last.”

“Is Satan the only one who thinks this way? How did he think of it?”

“His task,” said Lucifer, “is to make sure everyone does what he must. So he had to think about it.”

“Why?”

“Because,” Asmodai explained, “they
might
object, and we have to be ready.”

Harut nodded. “Maybe, if the only way to handle those who don’t like it is to force them, something’s wrong from the beginning.”

Asmodai looked at him and started to say something, then stopped. He remained silent until the four rose to continue their journey. Then he said a brief farewell to Harut and resumed his silence.

“You’ve got something on your tail.”

“Thou mayst bite it off, Lord Mephistopheles.”

“I may, at that.”

“And kiss what doth lie beneath.”

Mephistopheles chuckled. “It’s nice to find you in a good mood, Beelzebub.”

“ ’Tis thy pleasure, Mephistopheles.”

“So, how are the plans?”

“Perchance thou should’st ask nearer the center, where such are made.”

“No, no, not those plans. I mean the ones for the rebellion.”

“What?”

“It’s all over Heaven, Beelzebub. How you and Satan—”

“Lord Satan!”

“Lord Satan, then. How you and Lord Satan are planning to raise the entire region in rebellion and—”

“Hold, thou!”

“Eh?”

“Art thou quicker than I, Mephistopheles?”

“I’m not sure, Beelzebub.”

“Canst thou move faster than these teeth can find thy throat?”

“Well, that would be hard to say.”

“Then know this: the Lord Satan and I have certain doubts and fears. We know not if ’tis right to force upon the hosts risks that they choose not. An these doubts thwart our obedience, we shall go unto the Lord Yaweh and speak them. Naught else shall be done by the Lord Satan or me. He that saith else, shall discover whether he be quicker than these teeth. Grasp thou that?”

“Quite.”

“Then, if thou hast business here, thou mayst enter. Else, get thee gone ere my patience wanes.”

“Perhaps it would be best if I just left.”

“Perchance ‘twould.”

“Farewell, then, Beelzebub.”