The Code War

by Ciaran Nagle

  Down around the cock pit all eyes turned and looked expectantly to where the platform would emerge from behind its safety cover. Chopper pressed the green button on his hand control.

  Nancy pulled Dan's coat over her, tucked her long brown hair down inside it and turned her face away.

  A motor whined like a rising banshee. Gears engaged with the thump of a distant shotgun. Chains played out and rattled like a slave ship.

  Nancy's platform jerked into motion taking her out beneath the gantry towards the cock pit. From beneath her coat she looked back towards Dan and watched as he stood there turning one way and the other like a tree caught in a storm. Their eyes met for the last time and then Nancy dropped her head and moved her body a little so her killers below would know someone was there.

  Dan ran down the stairs, not thinking about the noise. The clatter of the machinery covered up any sound he made. He opened the door and ran outside with the desperation of a man running for the fire brigade while in the house behind him his baby was dying. He reached Nathan Road and looked for the first shop that was still open. It was a grocery store on the other side of the street. Down the road to his right, Ling was walking quickly on his way back to the Golden Luck.

  'Have you got a phone?'

  The store owner indicated the plastic handset beside the till. Dan dialled 999. Even for a serving policeman this was the quickest way to get blue lights flashing. When the operator came on line Dan could barely force the words out of his mouth.

  'Blue Diamond Warehouse. Yaumati. Murder in progress. Young woman. Please hurry. Please, please hurry. Please, please, please hurry.' His legs gave way as his face fell like melting glass. The wail of a wedding night widower came from his mouth.

  Nancy was amazed by the speed the platform was travelling. Isn't time supposed to travel slowly when you're about to die? Maybe the machine's operator had a choice of speeds depending on the weight of the goods on board? No matter, there was barely time for Dan to get clear even if the machine went slowly. The gears crunched again as the platform stopped and then a new mechanism played out the vertical chain and she started to drop. She thought of Dan and hoped he would be all right. It wouldn't have worked anyway, she decided. Not with him in the police and her running prostitutes and corrupting the rich and powerful. What would they have talked about over dinner every night? Better this way.

  In the pit, Wolf Smoke trotted back and forth in frenzy, looking up at the lowering platform and lifting up on his back legs. His mouth was open and salivating in expectation. Impatient whines interspersed with murderous growls. Every part of him from his paws to his eyes was placed temporarily at the service of his sharp teeth. Above him his master fed him words of hate and death.

  Nancy had covered almost her entire body so that all that was visible was her bare feet, her blue jeans and Dan's jacket. If anyone had noticed the fine turn of her ankles or the feminine shape to her rear they had no time to express it. Peering from under the jacket she saw the rim of the cock pit pass above her. Dan should be nearing the door by now. Wolf Smoke, impatient with the hunt, readied himself to leap.

  Nancy stood up and let the jacket fall. Her elfin shape was revealed in all its youthful beauty to a gasp of disbelief from two dozen mouths.

  She picked out Chopper with her eyes and lifted up her head, showing more of her bare throat.

  'No,' shouted the two-time sergeant slasher and would-be policeman killer. He fumbled desperately for the red button on his control.

  Wolf Smoke made his leap springing straight from the floor to his target and making no mistake. His forelegs hit Nancy's chest, knocking her back while his incisors cut deep into the tendons of her young neck and ripped it open. As she hit the ground he ripped again and tore arteries, airways and voice box till there was nothing left. Blood poured out over the ground while Nancy's heart still beat. In a few seconds her body sagged and the spurting ceased. Wolf Smoke raised his head to look at his master, searching for the approval he knew was his due. He barked and panted with excitement. Blood dripped from his mouth. No-one moved.

  Halfway Island

  As the Lamb raised his eyes, a voice far, far away could be heard shouting. It was a voice of urgency, a voice of news, a voice of joy.

  'The price is paid.'

  Heads all across Heaven and Hades turned, probing the void, searching for the caller.

  Louder came the voice. 'The price is paid. Nancy has given her life. Jabez is free. It is the price Satan demanded. Jabez must go free.'

  And a wind like no other anyone had ever known blew all across Heaven and even Hell and everywhere in-between and everyone knew that the news was true. And the shout was taken up by millions of glad voices and 'The price is paid' echoed and reverberated to every corner of every dimension. More and more voices shouted 'Jabez is free' and soon all of Heaven, every angel in every land in the kingdom was proclaiming 'The price is paid' and 'Jabez is free'.

  In Hades the excitement and thrill on every face turned to instant despair. Demons cast themselves upon the ground and buried their heads in the ash or threw themselves into the lava lakes. And still the shouts and echoes grew and went out and came back, every time doubled and re-doubled.

  Then the wind which had blown and brought the truth of the news that the price had been paid was heard to build into a storm, a tempest, a typhoon. And then an ear-clattering, rock-smashing boom could be heard in the distance that came nearer and built louder and when at last it burst with all its fury upon Halfway the pillars that held Jabez were smashed into dust and the iron chains that pinioned his wrists were dissolved into scintillas. Bezejel and Lucifer's female bodyguard were blown over the side of the island and fell pell-mell into Inferno landing in disorder. Lucifer was knocked forward and fell prostrate on his front barely a dozen yards from the Lamb. All power was gone from him and he was unable to raise himself up.

  Jabez however was lifted by the wind like seed-pollen on a breeze and landed in front of his lord as if placed there by a giant's graceful hand.

  And now the Lamb made good use of that cushion which had been placed in front of him for another purpose. He knelt on it with both knees and took Jabez' hand in his. 'Welcome home faithful servant. It's good to have you back.'

  'You came for me. I'm just one of millions. Yet you came for me,' replied a tearful Jabez.

  'Of course I came for you. Millions are made of ones like you.'

  And while the watchers in Paradise looked on they noticed something wonderful. Jabez's broken wing was no longer shivered and hanging from his side like a broken spar. It sat beside its twin and fair glistened and sparkled like a sapling in springtime as a ribbon of light washed over it. Jabez looked over his shoulder at the fullness of feathers behind him. He flared and beat his wings twice for pure joy, rising his own height before settling back in front of the Lamb.

  'Let's go home,' said the scarred one simply.

  The Landing Fields - Paradise

  All of Heaven had taken the day off, it seemed. The streets of every land were thronged with joyful, chatting angels. Nobody was working - except for those making and serving food who were calling for extra help. The Music poured out more powerfully than ever. Handel's Messiah was a favourite right now of course but there were also kettle drum bands, steel drums, pop quartets and orchestras with a cappella choirs on every corner. The entire sonorous repertoire rose and fell, rhythm chasing melody around the kingdom in an endless playful competition yet all blending in harmony like birds singing different songs in a dawn chorus.

  Jo and Chan were sitting with Jabez asking endless questions about his time in Inferno. Behind them on a revolving plinth sat the repaired Fundial in all its visible glory. Jo and Chan were taking commissions for new ships and were seeing their order book grow beyond all their hopes. They'd be kept busy designing and building new lightships for thousands of years.

  Jo flicked her head and her dreadlocks span around like a carousel. 'Did one of those warlocks really gi
ve you water?'

  'Yes. But he wasn't a warlock.'

  'Oh. Why was he there then?'

  'What, in Inferno?'

  'Yes.'

  'I really don't know.'

  Chan had his hand in the air. 'Jabez, I know the memories are probably still a bit painful so I'll ask you about the she-monster, Bezejel, another day. For now, can you tell me what you thought of the handling characteristics of the Fundial and if it needs more work on the stabilisers?'

  'The stabilisers worked perfectly,' laughed Jabez, who was looking around him. 'It was the pilot who was at fault. He definitely needs more engineering work on his brain.'

  While Jo and Chan joined in the laughter, Luke, Agatha and Ruth approached and sat down. The four looked from one to another and for a long time said nothing while Jo and Chan looked on.

  It was Luke who broke the silence at last. 'Bro, you really frightened the lot of us. You frightened us all the way to the Crystal Springs of Cara Quetzal and back.'

  'I promise I won't do it again.'

  'What I want to know is,' piped in Agatha who had taken inspiration from Ruth and sprinkled sapphire dust over her wings, 'was the Lamb really going to kneel to erm, You-Know-Who, if Nancy hadn't made the choice she did?'

  For once Jabez looked really lost. 'I haven't been able to work it out. On the one hand I know that he came for me and he would have done anything to get me back. Anything at all. I'm sure of it. On the other hand, he just looked so calm and in control of himself, like he wasn't worried about a thing. The timing of everything was incredible. That voice shouting 'the price is paid' just when it all seemed too late, was amazing. I'm sorry to say it but I was beyond hope. I still don't understand. That's the best answer I can give to your question.' Jabez finished with a smile and looked beyond the group again, scanning the crowds.

  Ruth placed her hand on Jabez's arm. 'Well, ah do declare. Ah've run close to the wire a few times but ah been weeping all down my newest dress the last two days. Had to wring it out with a hand-mangle.'

  'Ruth, I bet you've never even seen a hand-mangle let alone know how to use one.' Luke.

  'Well ah was speaking figuratively as y'all knew. By the way Jabez, ah know who you're lookin' out for. And if you look over your right shoulder, you just might see her.'

  Jabez whirled around scanning the faces. New arrivals from Earth were appearing in the Landing Field all the time. Most of them were greeted by long-unseen friends and relatives. A tearful family group re-united around an elderly man throwing their arms around him. He kissed them one by one and they led him off towards the Welcome Pavilion.

  Behind where they had stood was a young woman wearing a fashion pilot jacket over a white V-neck top, blue jeans and slightly muddy red high-heeled shoes. A Star of David hung proudly over her chest. She looked a little bewildered.

  Jabez leapt to his feet and approached her.

  'Nancy,' he began cautiously, holding out his hand. 'You've no idea how glad I am to meet you.'

  Nancy looked up at the handsome stranger with his strong, soft-feathered wings. She warily accepted his hand.

  'Do I know you?'

  Jo, Chan, Luke, Agatha and Ruth had joined Jabez and were gathered around Nancy smiling broadly at her.

  'No. But I know you and I've been following you for months.' Then Jabez began to weep and for the next minute all he could utter was sighs followed by whimpers followed by more sighs.

  The other five angels looked at each other and unanimously decided to depart.

  'We'll leave the two of you alone to get to know each other,' said Ruth. 'Lovely to meet you, Nancy. Catch up with you real soon.'

  'Don't go far, all of you. Stay near. I'm going to need you in a short while,' said Jabez cryptically.

  Then Chan and Luke bowed low to Nancy while Jo, Agatha and Ruth curtseyed. Nancy regarded them with wonder in her eyes as they walked away. She looked up at Jabez. 'What's that Music. It's the most wonderful sound I've ever heard.'

  'There's a lot to cover,' said Jabez, his eyes still watery. 'Let's go to the pavilion and get a glass of wine.'

  'You have alcohol in Heaven?' said Nancy as they walked.

  'Yes, although this particular variety is non-alcoholic. Even so, it tastes better than anything on Earth.'

  Many eyes turned towards Jabez as they made their way to the pavilion. The memory of his ordeal on Halfway was still fresh. They'd also heard the name Nancy and guessed it was she at his side. Nancy was aware of the attention but said nothing. She had so many questions.

  They found a table and sat down. A jug and glasses were already there so they poured, cheered and drank.

  Nancy couldn't get over the way Jabez looked at her. Like he knew her. She was used to attention from men on Earth but this was different. Pride, that was it. Jabez was bursting with pride. For her. Why? And his attitude to her in the short time since they'd met. It was so protective. It was almost… No.

  Then Jabez began to tell Nancy about his mission to look after her and bring her to Paradise. How he and the others had followed her across Africa and back. How they'd watched as the enemy lured her with promises of power and how they'd fought back with the plan to connect her with Dan. Jabez told her excitedly how he'd seen her love for Dan blossom in the last moments of her life.

  'You'll see Dan again, I promise you. Though it may not be for another sixty years. Earth time, that is.' He smiled at her and held her hands.

  'But did he love me? I hardly knew him. It all happened so quick.'

  'He fell for you the instant he saw you, in the restaurant when you first asked him about his necklace. He had marriage going through his head even then.'

  'I had no idea.'

  'It was a beautiful moment. You can watch the replay.'

  'I can't wait. But you know I have so many other questions. I mean, I wasn't particularly religious. And I turned to crime. I became a bigwig in one of the biggest crime organisations in the world. I had plans to corrupt so many people. Isn't Paradise for good people? Why am I here?'

  'You gave your life to save someone else. You had a lot to lose and you surrendered it all for another person. Someone you hardly knew. There's no greater love than that. That's why you're here.'

  Nancy sighed deeply and drew her hands back. She looked around her at the other tables where angels and recent arrivals were weeping and holding each other as if time stood still.

  'I'm the only one here with no family. Are my mum and dad here? What about my aunts and uncles?'

  'You've got whole flights of relatives winging their way here. Going back generations. Your death was, shall we say, a tad unexpected. No-one's had time to prepare. I can't tell you their names but you've got people coming from New Moscow, Golders Valley and all sorts of places all over Paradise.'

  Nancy nodded.

  'However. There is one exception.' Nancy could see from Jabez's smile that he was hopeless with secrets. 'Someone who arrived just before you.'

  'Oh?'

  'Look to your left.'

  And as Nancy turned to look, a man with a surprisingly nimble step was approaching and holding out his arms to her.

  'Great-Uncle…Shai.'

  Shai took Nancy in his arms and held her tight.

  'Roots. You found them. See, I told you so,' he said after a while. He pushed her back and looked down at her jade star. 'Nice trinket. I can get you a good price for that. Want me to ask around?'

  And for the first time Nancy burst out in full-voiced mirth and her laughter was like a waterfall on a summer's day to all who heard it.

  But Shai was not yet ready for idle chatting and passing the time of day. A crowd of bright-eyed angels were surging towards him eager to renew old friendships. 'I'll see you soon. Got a few others to catch up with.' And he was gone just like the moonbeam he was on Earth.

  Jabez sat Nancy down again and took her hand.

  She gazed at his perfect aerial limbs. She didn't know that one of them had been broken or the pain that
it had caused him. 'Will I get wings and become an angel too?'

  'I don't know. Not every resident of Paradise has wings. Some wait a long time for them. And some never get them at all. They're not my gift to give.'

  'They're so beautiful.'

  Jabez put his hand to his side and looked down. The mists in his globe were swirling.

  'Nancy, I have to be somewhere shortly. But I'm going to leave you in good company while I'm gone.'

  He plucked his globe and held it by its sides in front of him, then expanded it. Ruth's face came up.

  'Ruth, can you, Luke and Agatha come in and look after Nancy for a while? I have a mission. Oh, and can you ask Jo and Chan to wait for me out there, I need to talk to them.'

  Presently, the three angels came into the pavilion and sat down at Jabez's table. Nancy gazed at them in awe, just like she'd gazed at all the angels she'd seen since arriving in Paradise. Their beauty, male or female, was beyond her knowledge.

  Jabez introduced them and asked Ruth to take charge.

  'I'll see you again very soon,' he said to Nancy as he stood up. 'I have to fly.'

  The others looked at him quizzically. All except Ruth who seemed to know where he was going.

  Jabez walked outside the Welcome Pavilion and found Jo and Chan who were high-kicking to the Music. He spoke to them urgently and seriously for a while and they listened intently.

  'I promise I won't leave Paradise this time,' he finished. 'Really, there's no danger of a repeat performance of Yaumati.'

  'OK,' said Chan. 'But with one condition. We come with you.'

  'But how…'

  'We've converted the Fundial to a 4-seater,' said Jo. 'It's not that we don't trust your flying skills. It's that your mission sounds astonishing. We want to be there.'

  'Well, OK. Why not? I'll be glad of the company.'

  Jo and Chan led the way to the flying machine. Soon the three angels were speeding their way to their destination faster than a comet. Chan and Jo took turns driving.