Kristin (23 page)

Epilogue

The world changed. People changed. The
extremist activist groups of the Middle East met with the governments of the
West to discuss their grievances and renounced aggression, returning to the
teachings of the Koran. In response the West vowed never again to meddle in the
affairs of the East.

The world’s superpowers
terminated their nuclear arms programmes — moves that would eventually
lead to the end of all warfare.

Globally, accord and
understanding was reached. Greed became an unheard-of human characteristic. The
rich nations of the Northern Hemisphere gave generously to the Third World,
consigning its poverty to the history books. The world became a better place in
which to live, worthy of creation.

But high above the rejuvenated, glorious
Earth something waited. It was new. It was progeny. Blessed with goodness and
cursed by evil, it was the most powerful force in all creation.

The infant spirit turned
restlessly in its heavenly womb and looked down upon the the Earth in
adoration. And with utter malice.

It waited.

It waited for the soul of
humanity to rot, waited for the chance it knew would inevitably come, the
chance to return to the physical world.

It would live amongst them
in peace. Silent. Duplicitous. Its altruistic anima would seek, and gain their
unquestioning trust. They would suspect nothing.

And then it would make them
rip each other’s throats out.