Exile of Lucifer (16 page)

124          CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile           of Lucifer
Michael entered Crispin's study deep in the heart of the
school. Gabriel was already there, as was Sangius. Crispin looked
up and greeted Michael warmly. "Well Michael, welcome back!
How did the meeting with Kara go?"
Michael recounted the conversation with Kara, telling them
everything. When he had finished there was a moment of silence.
Finally Gabriel spoke up. "Are you quite certain that the Elders
have spoken with Lucifer?"
"I am only certain of what Kara told me," said Michael. "He
said that Lucifer was disciplined and they were convinced that he
was repentant."
"It is possible, I suppose," said Sangius, "that he is changed."
"Of course it is possible," said Crispin, who was seated at his
book-filled desk. "But we are dealing with an extremely cunning
individual here. You were with him, Sangius. You should know bet-
ter than any of us."
"Yes, I know," said Sangius. "But it is possible for one to
change. That's all I am saying. I had lost my passion once. Remem-
ber, Michael? Shortly after I left Lucifer's service we talked."
"Of course. In the Grand Square," answered Michael.
"Now the Lord has graciously restored that passion. I know
that an angel can change--provided he has not crossed too deeply
into darkness."
Michael admitted, "Kara did point out that perhaps I have
been hunting Lucifer to such a degree that I have lost the ability to
see him in another light. Maybe he has changed but I just don't
know."
"You all talk as if Lucifer wants to change," Crispin argued.
"Hear me now. One can only change if one is willing to change. I
see no willingness to change on the part of Lucifer or any of his fol-
lowers. Not unless it buys them something."
"Crispin, I love you as my teacher," said Gabriel. "But you
have become hard toward Lucifer. Have you no hope at all that just
perhaps he could have had a change of heart? Did you not teach
that the Lord has given us the ability to choose freely and therefore
one might change one's mind?"

"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!"      125
"I taught you well, Gabriel," Crispin said warmly. He sat
back. "Yes, perhaps I am a bit of a doubter where Lucifer is
involved. And Pellecus to be sure."
"And Rugio," added Michael.
"And Serus," chimed in Sangius.
"And about one-third of the Host of Heaven by your latest
count," Gabriel threw in. Everyone laughed.
"I see the point, dear students," Crispin said. "Very well.
Speak with Lucifer, Michael. Feel him out. I truly hope it helps
resolve this matter so I can get back to my studies."
Sangius spoke up timidly. "Why can't we simply take this
directly to the Most High? If He truly knows all then perhaps He
expects us to come to Him with this."
"Your intentions are good, Sangius," answered Crispin. "But
to do so would be to invite the same disgrace that the Elders are
inviting upon themselves by approaching His Person. As I have
always told my students, we angels are blessed and holy creatures--
but that is all. We are in relationship to the Lord on His terms and
according to His desires. Perhaps one day He will create a being
with whom He communicates on the more intimate level of which
you speak."
Sangius spoke up again. "I hate terribly to agree with Lucifer,
but if we cannot go to the Lord with this, and we assume that the
Lord in His wisdom knows and understands all that occurs in
Heaven, then why has He not dealt with this? Lucifer frequently
boasted at the conferences I attended that the fact that the Most
High does nothing indicates that He is limited in His ability to
know or act. I am telling you this lack of response on the part of the
Lord emboldens Lucifer to carry on."
"It all goes back to the critical aspect of our ability to choose
freely," said Crispin. "As I told Michael recently, the Lord will not
violate our ability to choose. To do so would be to admit that He
cannot govern in His own authority." Crispin began talking now
with a dreamy look in his eyes. "If only I had been allowed to
debate these issues with Pellecus. Perhaps we could have avoided
all of this!"

126          CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile          of Lucifer
"Crispin against Pellecus in open debate. That would be
astounding," said Michael.
"Yes, but it will never happen," Crispin remarked. "Not
unless there is some benefit attached to it that Lucifer sees. He
keeps Pellecus fairly close to him."
Michael paced the room as if searching for the answer. He
looked at the others for some sort of reassurance but saw none.
Finally he threw up his hands. "We need wisdom in this, good
teacher," said an exasperated Michael. "We need wisdom from
someone who we know is loyal to God."
Crispin looked up from his chair. He thought a moment or
two about what he was going to say. "Perhaps then a visit to the
wisest and holiest creatures in Heaven is in order. We cannot coun-
sel with the Elders at this point because we can't be sure of their
intentions--or at least of their wisdom--while such an appalling
recommendation is going to be deliberated."
"The Zoa?" asked Gabriel.
"Yes," said Crispin, looking up at Gabriel as if surprised that
Gabriel understood his reasoning. "Those mysterious beings who
move in and out of the Lord's Presence and who are more keenly
held there than any other creature. Recall that Kara said that the
Zoa brought the news of the Creation to the Elders, right? I am sure
that if anyone can shed light upon this dark subject the Zoa can.
And they are the only creatures in Heaven I feel certain that even
Lucifer could never influence."
"But who has access to them?" asked Michael. He was hoping
he could finally see one of these legendary creatures.
"Not simply an archangel, I'm afraid, Michael," answered
Crispin, anticipating Michael's desire to visit the Zoa. "Besides,
you have that letter from Lucifer. You must visit him."
"So the question remains: Who can visit the Zoa?" he repeated.
"Me," said Gabriel. "Though I've yet to see them. And the
Chief Elder at times."
"Quite right," agreed Crispin. "As the Lord's chief messenger,
Gabriel has access to the Zoa."

"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!"    127
Sangius was getting a little lost in the discussion. "But what
are they?" he asked. "I have heard of them, of course, but..."
Crispin sat back in his chair and assumed the role of profes-
sor. "The Zoa are marvelous creatures--very strange, very wise,
very holy. Mind you I have never seen one, but in the Chronicles I
have read that they are like the cherubim in that they are connect-
ed in close proximity to the Throne of God. They are full of eyes,
front and back--a symbol of their wisdom I suppose--all-seeing
and so forth. I know that there are four Zoa who have four faces of
four different creatures of some sort. The Zoa cry, "Holy, holy,
holy" to the Lord day and night and are constantly at the Lord's
side except on the rare occasion when they dispense some vital
holy decree such as the Elders received."
"And you believe that a visit to these creatures by Gabriel is
in order?" asked Michael. "Will protocol allow such a thing--I
mean unannounced and without invitation?"
"They will not turn the Lord's Messenger away," said Crispin.
"My suggestion is that Gabriel visit the Zoa and you, Michael,
attend Lucifer."
"Then it's settled," Michael said. "Gabriel, you will see the
beasts with the four faces..."
"And Michael, you shall visit the beast with two!" Crispin
remarked slyly as they laughed.
----------------
Lucifer took his usual place at the head of the table. The mer-
riment of the past few moments melted into a somber air as the
angels focused upon their leader. Pellecus sat opposite Lucifer,
glancing occasionally at the faces of the angels who shared these
exciting, if not dangerous, moments with him. He liked to read the
sympathies in the room as Lucifer spoke, making mental notes of
those who seemed either hesitant or noncommittal on various
aspects of the conversation.
"And now we can discern the end of this present creative act,"
Lucifer continued. "It is obvious that in every phase, or `day' as He
calls it, the Most High is designing a more and more complex

128          CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile             of Lucifer
world. Having started with the simplest material, light, the Cre-
ation has progressed to the point where the earth itself is budding
with new life." Lucifer's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Have you
seen the wonderful array of flowering plants and herbs He has cre-
ated? Marvelous! What an amazing design! Each unique, each
capable of reproducing itself."
"Indeed," remarked Pellecus, assuming the role of instructor.
"From a strictly academic point it is all quite interesting. Our Lord
has devised a material world--a physical universe in which His
will may be manifested in even the simplest structures. And as our
dear brother Lucifer has pointed out, the Most High is issuing an
ever-increasing complexity. Thus we are now poised for the next
phase..."
"Which by logical inference must take what form, good
teacher?" asked Lucifer, who had already anticipated Pellecus'
answer.
"Why, animated life, of course," said Pellecus, sitting back.
The angels sat back, stunned into complete silence. Pellecus
enjoyed the rapt attention of a captivated audience. "But never fear,
it cannot be superior to angels. If the Lord keeps to the design--and
we all know that if the Lord is anything He is consistent..."
"If not predictable," added Lucifer to general amusement.
Pellecus continued, "Quite, my lord. He'll stay with the pat-
tern and create animated life of an inferior material substance.
Imagine! Living creatures who will walk the breadth of this
world--drink from its waters...eat of its fruit...live in its seas...fill
its air...endless possibilities!"
"But where does it stop?" asked Tinius. "How complex of a
creature will He design? Certainly He would never create along the
order of angels to inhabit this world, would He?"
"You weren't listening, Tinius," Lucifer responded. "If the
Lord is going to entrust the world to an angel to govern it, He will
most certainly not create angels to inhabit it. We have enough dis-
order in Heaven without it spilling onto the earth!"
The room exploded in laughter.
"Angels governing angels!" said Sar. "What chaos!"

"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!"      129
"Exactly my point," said Lucifer. "The Most High is fixed on
order. No, my friends, He will continue the pattern, as Pellecus
said--you may be assured of that! He will not create spiritual
beings to inhabit a material universe."
Lucifer stood up, deep in thought, and began pacing around
the table seemingly unaware of the angels who watched him.
"They must somehow be a little lower than the angels, yet capable
of understanding the mysteries of God...capable of responding to
Him freely...capable of obeying and loving those things the Most
High holds dear." He looked gravely at the faces staring back at
him..."just as we are free to do so."
"And how do you know this?" asked Tinius.
Lucifer looked at Tinius and answered. "You are a wisdom
angel, are you not, Tinius? I am surprised that you have not yet
understood." He looked at the group. "The Lord desires to be wor-
shiped above all else. We all know that. Therefore He will create an
order of life that can worship Him from this material plane. But He
must give this life the ability to choose freely, or else He has creat-
ed nothing more than a beast of worship." Lucifer sat back down.
"And suppose," said Tinius timidly, "that these creatures,
whatever they are, decide that they will not be governed from on
high--that they would rather choose their own course such as
we..." Tinius looked awkwardly at his fellow angels. His words
disappeared uncomfortably into the silence of the room.
"You implicate us in something sordid with such words,
Tinius," said Lucifer. "We are merely discussing the aspects of cre-
ation here. I suggest you remember that."
"Of course," responded a sheepish Tinius. He melted into his
chair.
"However," Lucifer continued, "I suspect there would be
some recourse on the part of the governing authority on earth to
handle such impertinence." He grunted a noise of disgust. "That is
the critical flaw of this present Kingdom. We have a choice to obey
the Most High. And so we choose to obey Him in a more enlight-
ened manner that in the end will serve to further increase His
authority in the universe. But what choices do we leave the Most

130          CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile          of Lucifer
High in dealing with the choices we make? He is left with no appar-
ent recourse because He has never contemplated an angel behaving
contrary to His wishes. But one day He will see that our way
increased the virtue and power of this Kingdom."
"How so?" asked Fineo, who seldom spoke up at these meet-
ings. As Keeper of the Most Holy Incense he felt his role was not as
significant as some of the others at the table. Yet he understood in
such times that to remain completely silent invited being passed
over in future appointments. Lucifer favored angels of quick mind
and speech. "How can our independence from the Lord serve to
magnify Him?"
"By demonstrating that angels are capable of creating their
own destinies, my dear Fineo," answered Lucifer. "Think of it! By
perpetuating and broadening the Lord's influence over creation in
ways that perhaps never even occurred to Him, we are taking His
design to its ultimate conclusion. Just as your incense creeps slow-
ly through the Temple and overtakes us before we are aware, Fineo,
so will the Kingdom be spread abroad throughout creation through
our own innovation."
Rugio had been still long enough. The fighter in him was
yearning for a contest; diplomacy and verbal jockeying were good
to a point, but action was ultimately called for. "My lord, you say
that we are nearing the end of this Creation and that is good and
well. But nothing has been said about our...that is, your role in all
of this. Where do we stand?" he asked. "When will you ascend?"
"Ah, Rugio," purred Lucifer, who moved over to the large
angel and put a hand on his shoulder. "Always the warrior."
Lucifer walked over to a cabinet that housed many golden
scrolls of worship he had created in times past. Opening the cabi-
net he indicated its contents and pulled one scroll out at random.
"This represents much work, Rugio. Creating praise worthy for so
exalted a figure as the Most High is not simply done in haste. It
requires inspiration, thought, analysis. One does not patch togeth-
er something as magnificent as one of my choral works with little
consideration. Neither does a Creation take place as a result of
mere chance."