Premortal

by Damien Passmore

  When Lucifer heard the tale recited by Anas and, having divided fact from fabrication to the best of his ability, he was annoyed. He suspected that he knew the Samuel to whom Anas was referring and deduced that it would not be wise to attempt any retribution. He did not reveal this intelligence however, and much to the disappointment of Anas, he remained calm and responded in an unexpected manner.

  ‘Faithful Anas and Silick, please do not take such things to heart; we are sure to have setbacks, but we will prove victorious in the end.’

  ‘Lucifer, what should we do to repay this spirit?’ replied Anas, eager for retribution.

  ‘We should do nothing,’ replied his superior.

  ‘Nothing! I thought that we would immediately seek a sore revenge upon him!’ exclaimed Anas, his disappointment evident.

  Lucifer had confided much in Anas, including some of his more sinister strategies. Anas therefore hoped that one of these strategies might have been fleshed out, and then tested upon, Samuel.

  Lucifer replied to console his eager pupil: ‘Anas, as we carry our plan through to completion, it is absolutely essential that we do so in apparent peace and harmony. The spirits within this Kingdom have only ever been exposed to such an environment all of their days. If we accelerate too quickly into a harsh approach then we risk marginalising our cause and jeopardising our chances of gaining a majority.’

  Lucifer, noting a change in Silick's expression, realised that he had not confided as much in that student. Indeed, to date Silick had only ever heard the ‘magnanimous’ Lucifer who sincerely wished to open the eyes of his beloved but misguided parents. Realising the danger of the situation, Lucifer, sought to secure the heart and mind of Silick.

  ‘Silick, I hope that you comprehend the importance of what we are doing here.’

  The tone of Lucifer’s voice changed back to the kindly pitch to which he had previously been accustomed.

  ‘Yes I do, Lucifer,’ he replied, but his own tone was not as convincing.

  ‘The danger for all of you is enormous, if the plan proceeds in its current form,' said Lucifer, motioning outwards in a circular movement with both hands, as if to cover the circumference of the entire Kingdom in the breadth of his concern.

  After this generous gesture, and a pause to allow Silick to digest it, he continued.

  'While I am confident that I would make it back to the Kingdom under the original plan, I simply cannot bear the thought that any one of my brothers and sisters may not. It is for this reason that I am willing to do absolutely anything to ensure that the necessary amendments to our parents’ plan are put through. Do you share the same commitment, brother?’ asked Lucifer firmly.

  ‘Yes Lucifer, I am committed.’

  Silick sounded a little more convincing on this occasion, but in order to be sure Lucifer appealed to an emotion that he understands like no other, self-interest.

  ‘Silick, despite your great intelligence, I fear that your innate selflessness has blinded your mind, such that you have not properly considered the glory that will come upon those who are loyal to my plan,’ flattered Lucifer.

  Now that he had his man’s full attention he continued: ‘When Father and Mother realise their error they will select someone new to play the central role in the mortal plan. Who, my noble Silick, do you expect they will turn to at such a time?’

  ‘To you, Lucifer,’ was the simple reply.

  ‘Correct, they will turn to me,’ said Lucifer in a sharp voice, as if he thought that it may become fact if he said it sharply enough. 'I will be asked to play the pivotal role in Father and Mother's new plan,' Lucifer said, so confidently that it almost sounded like a demand. When this occurs, Silick, I have absolutely no doubt that I will be asked to select worthy leaders to assist me. Now, who do you think that I’m going to call upon to receive this honour and rule with me?’

  Silick was now enlightened, and his expression brightened with a strength that equalled the darkening of his countenance. Such was the look of eagerness on his face that Silick did not need to reply, allowing his leader to continue.

  ‘That’s right, my brother, I’ve already promised your friend Anas that I will richly reward those who are most loyal to our cause as it progresses to success. These will fill positions of great honour and glory. Unfortunately, only a few can qualify themselves for the richest honours. You must understand that if I reward too many then the reward itself would not be so grand.’

  At this juncture Silick looked fiercely at Anas, as though he were suddenly a threat. Lucifer enjoyed his venom, it appearing akin to the expression that takes shape on ones face immediately before committing murder, Lucifer's favourite earthly atrocity. Although the thought of his team killing one another was not unappealing to him, Lucifer realised that he needed to maintain a certain amount of cohesion and teamwork if he was to achieve his desired end. Accordingly, he sought to eliminate the competition between them.

  ‘Now, do not concern yourselves brothers, I have the utmost confidence that each of you has the potential to secure a position of supreme power and authority.’

  After this comment both of his disciples calmed somewhat, allowing him to continue his sermon ‘Silick, I have explained to Anas, that we may have to use some unusual means to achieve our virtuous end. I am hoping that you, like Anas, can be trusted with these deeds, as and when they may be required.’

  ‘I most certainly can!’ replied Silick with enthusiasm.

  ‘That is good. Now in expectation of the great acts that you are going to perform, I am going to give each of you a title. This title will be formally bestowed upon you when Father asks me to select my rulers. It is a title that I have become aware of during my diligent study of the earths. Now the fact that I have bestowed this honour upon you will remain our secret until you have proved yourselves worthy of it, however I will call you by this title whenever we are in secret, as it will serve to remind you of the glory that will come to you if you are faithful.’

  Anas and Silick both salivated in expectation. Lucifer loved their eagerness and used it to his advantage. ‘Now this title does not come freely as you must enter into a covenant with me, if you are to receive it.’

  The pupils spoke simultaneously, two separate sentences each with identical meaning. ‘We will do whatever is required,’ was the common interpretation.

  ‘Good because that is precisely the covenant. You will need to do absolutely anything that I require of you to further our cause,’ said Lucifer smoothly.

  ‘You have our word, Lucifer,’ answered Silick with firmness.

  ‘Alright then. I appoint you both to the office of general. Henceforth, in our private meetings, I will refer to you as General Anas and General Silick, and if you are faithful, then this title will be formally and publicly bestowed upon you in front of all of your brothers and sisters.’

  Having viewed earthly armies, both Anas and Silick loved this title and became fully committed to the cause, by whatever means were necessary.

  ‘Thank you Lucifer; we will not disappoint you,’ responded Anas.

  ‘Now Generals Anas and Silick, let me say one more thing before we part.'

  'Say on master, whatever you require will be done,' said Silick enthusiastically.

  Lucifer smiled graciously before continuing. 'It is absolutely essential that the deeds that you do remain secret. If you are ever caught doing something that would not be smiled upon, I command you to distance yourself from our cause. If you do so, I will only reward you even more richly when my plan gains approval from Father and Mother,’ he assured them.

  ‘Anything that we are caught doing we do of ourselves Lucifer,’ said Silick.

  ‘At this time, generals, I do not feel that we should attempt any retribution upon Samuel, as it may draw unwanted attention to us. Nevertheless….'

  'Lucifer please, surely he must be punished!' interjected Anas, thoughts of revenge still burning in his heart.

  'Don't you dare interrupt me general, o
r you'll find yourself a private!' snarled Lucifer, stepping forward to get right in front of his dissenting general, whose modest height enabled Lucifer to tower over him menacingly.

  'Sorry, my lord,' snivelled Anas taking a step backwards, as Silick smiled on approvingly.

  Lucifer, who never liked to be challenged in any way, calmed back down a little and continued to address his officers in a far milder tone.

  'Nevertheless, the time may come when we are skillful enough to punish him without drawing attention to ourselves. If so he will be one of our first targets.'

  'Very good, master,' said Anas, still grovelling to make up for his prior indiscretion.

  ‘Finally, let me assure you that if we are forced to fight on account of troublemakers like Samuel, then each of our opponents will rue the day that they were ever formed!' Lucifer said aggressively, and more loudly than he should have, before looking around carefully to check that he hadn't been heard.

  ‘President?’ enquired Anas in a questioning tone, ‘do you think that we should keep a list of each such troublemaker so that we will remember exactly who should be punished in the future?'

  ‘That is an excellent idea, Anas. Can I rely upon you to keep the record?’ replied Lucifer with a sneer.

  ‘Consider it done,’ stated Anas with military efficiency, relieved that he had found favour in his leader’s sight once more.

  On this cheery note the three souls parted.

  22 samuel’s report

  As Samuel and Sarah left Anas they were in shock. They couldn’t believe that there was a spirit willing to teach such things, let alone a crowd of spirits willing to listen. After a quiet walk, they both ascended and flew the rest of the way home. Having escorting Sarah to her abode, Samuel went directly to Michael’s place.

  Michael was at home and was equally disturbed upon hearing Samuel’s account of what had transpired. Unlike Anas’s, the account rendered by Samuel was entirely accurate. That anyone could entertain the notion that Father and Mother’s plan was designed for any other purpose than to maximise the growth of their children was absurd; to challenge their wisdom, ridiculous. Moreover, for any spirit to assert that they could comprehend more than their parents was either complete blindness or blatant dishonesty.

  After some discussion, they resolved to seek out their parents to bring the matter to their attention. They found Father at home and retired to his abode for further discussion.

  ‘What concerns you both?’ he asked, once they were inside his brilliantly white home.

  ‘Father, today Samuel experienced something very alarming,’ replied Michael.

  Samuel then took a few moments to recount his story once more, to which his father listened patiently, despite having a more thorough understanding of the matter than was possessed by his sons.

  At the conclusion of Samuel’s account he simply answered, ‘I know of what you speak.’

  ‘What should we do, Father? How can they be stopped?’ asked Michael urgently.

  ‘We will not stop them because they have their agency, and if they choose to use it in this way it will be allowed until such time as they are no longer fit for this Kingdom,’ was the reply.

  ‘Anas is influencing others and if we do nothing his evil work may spread,’ Samuel said earnestly.

  ‘Anas is not the initiator of this movement. There are others who have influenced him. Samuel, I did not say that we will do nothing, but we will not do anything by force, only by persuasion, encouragement and invitation,’ responded their father calmly.

  ‘I don’t understand, Father. Shouldn’t you confront these spirits now and seek to put a stop to this?’ asked Michael.

  ‘No Michael, the only way to facilitate a just outcome is for each spirit to be presented with both our plan and the alternate plan, and then to choose between them.’

  ‘Surely not many would be foolish enough to choose the other plan,’ said Samuel.

  ‘Samuel, you need to understand that you and Michael, and those that you associate most closely with, have prepared yourselves very well for the earthly experience. Accordingly, the decision for you is easy. For others, who have been less diligent, the choice does not appear so clear,’ explained their father.

  ‘What can we do to help them then?’ enquired Samuel.

  ‘You can do exactly what you did today. Take every opportunity to bear witness of the virtue of our plan, and to reveal the flaws in the alternate plan.’

  ‘What are the flaws, Father?’ Michael asked hopefully.

  ‘Samuel already spoke of some of the flaws today and you will come to comprehend the rest. You will find that as you testify in favour of our plan, and against the alternate plan, truth will flow into your mind to open your understanding, as it did for you today Samuel.

  ‘My sons, your Mother and I cannot reveal the flaws to you directly as to do so may suggest an unwholesome vested interest. We developed our plan and can testify of its perfection, but we cannot reveal the pitfalls in the opposing plan without risking the freedom of agency that we have granted each of our sons and daughters from the beginning.

  ‘Likewise, there may come a time when it is necessary to fight for the plan. Again we will need to remain passive in that conflict, other than to act as adjudicators against any unjust tactics.’

  ‘We understand,’ said Samuel, sensing that Michael also comprehended the instruction and teachings that they had received.

  When Michael and Samuel had found their father that day they had assumed that their personal burden would have been lightened. As they exited his presence it felt heavier still. They now understood that their role would be crucial. Their parents could not become involved in defending their plan to the same extent that they could. As a result their burden took on a new depth and breadth. They parted silently and resolved to meet the next day.

  23 swinging voters

  Jerome and Madeleine had attended the gathering at which Anas and Samuel had spoken, and as they left the scene they discussed what they had heard. Each of them knew that they shouldn’t have been listening in the first place, but they were intrigued by what Anas had to say.

  Jerome had some half good qualities. He was kind to Madeleine but not too kind. He had a good sense of humour, but sometimes at the expense of others. He had studied all virtues, but was now a little bored with them and thought that further repetition was not necessary. He was quite intelligent but didn’t always use this. He loved his parents but was less appreciative than some. In some respects, at this stage in his development, he could be considered a lukewarm spirit, not filled with the heat of virtue, neither possessed with the frost of evil.

  Madeleine was similarly lukewarm. She was kind to Jerome, but not too kind. She liked to serve, but not too much. She sometimes spoke well of others. To her mind, virtues were good but she didn’t attend classes on them much anymore due to other interests. She worked hard, but not too hard. She had friends, but felt a certain competitiveness with them, that lessened the depth of her friendships. She loved drama, both as an art and in life. She preferred for the spotlight to shine on her alone, rather than have it illuminate many. She loved her parents, but thought that they were sometimes too generous with others and not generous enough with her. She liked charity, but preferred to get something in return. She loved some spirits, but not all. She had goodness inside her but had not filled her soul with it, so there was a little corner available for darkness. It was this little vacant chamber within her soul that had caused her to be intrigued by what Anas had to say.

  If mortal they would have appeared a handsome enough couple. Jerome was quite tall with longer black hair, high cheek bones and a dimple in the centre of a manly chin. Madeleine had long brown hair, blue eyes and was also quite a tall female, but was still quite busty for a slender, tall woman.

  Both Jerome and Madeleine had opted for a wardrobe change away from the white robes that were encouraged, and that would have best highlighted the glow of their countenance.
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  Typically, Jerome was to be found in dark brown robes with a lighter brown robe thrown over one shoulder and down his front and back, secured by a smart brown belt. Jerome thought that he looked most becoming in this attire.

  Madeleine opted most often for a purple dress, with a low cut top, which she thought looked very dramatic, and was very different from anything else warn in the Kingdom at that time, which was only fitting when one considered the divinity of her dramatic talent.

  ‘So what did you think of the speeches today, honey?’ asked Madeleine.

  ‘I could see both points of view,’ answered Jerome.

  ‘Which did you prefer?’ she pressed.

  ‘Well, initially I found Anas to be very persuasive, but ultimately I changed my mind once the other spirit spoke,’ he answered.

  ‘I felt the same way,’ conceded Madeleine. ‘Nevertheless, I would still like to attend one of the meetings that Anas referred to in order to gain a better understanding of his point of view.’

  ‘Do you think that’s wise, Madeleine? Father and Mother would not approve and, despite what Anas says, I’m reasonably confident that they will know if we attend?’

  ‘Jerome, you can be such a bore sometimes. Just because our parents won’t like something doesn’t mean that we can’t do it. We can always apologise later. You know how quick they are to forgive.’

  To Jerome this seemed logical, as he was not in the habit of straining too hard the intelligence with which he was endowed. They resolved that they would attend the next meeting, despite the shame that they had felt under the weight of Samuel’s testimony. Lucifer would anxiously accept their support and was delighted to find his numbers swelling with every new day. Jerome and Madeleine would become two of those who would be swinging voters. One of them would be undecided until the very end about which plan to support, and the other would vote for the right plan but for the wrong reason.