Thief

by Greg Curtis

  But it went further than that he quickly realized. He had wings simply because he had to. He had to be with Sherial, and the Lord had known that from the very first. They could not have been together any other way.

  ‘Always judge a man by his actions.’ That ancient maxim forced its way into his mind as he discovered Sherial's understanding of everything that had happened. The thief had finally kicked back into action, and his analysis agreed with Sherial’s down to the very tiniest detail. Logic, guided by her wisdom, showed him how perfectly things had been arranged.

  Their mission had never truly been about rescuing people from hell. Physical well being was far less important. It had been about letting the Lord’s message of love and hope reach everybody from the fallen and their prisoners to the angels high above. It was a devastatingly powerful message.

  For the fallen had learned anew that they were fallen and that even given their failure, their Father still loved them. Even they could redeem themselves, and perhaps too they had discovered anew that eventually they would have no choice. Sooner or later they had to return to him. A journey more painful than he could imagine.

  The prisoners had learned again that they were loved and that as long as they believed, there was hope. Their Father would never forget them, would never fail them. All they had ever had to do was but ask and trust in Him. And now that they were free, they could help guide others away from their own mistakes, as they quickly or slowly returned to their Father.

  The others of the village had learned the fundamental rules of life and the universe, which they would pass on to their peoples. As had he, they too had been humbled, and taught. That knowledge would be shared. In time he suspected, they would become known as teachers, spreading the word, and strengthening the good, weakening the evil. Hell would shrink further as their message was spread.

  The thief had learned the same lesson as the rest of the villagers, and at the same time found his place as the servant of the good man Mikel. Mikel was not a thief, but rather a good man who stole. He had the skills and instincts of a thief, but neither the heart nor the soul.

  The choir had once again felt and celebrated the wonder of God. While he and Sherial had discovered each other, and where they had gone, others would follow. Many others.

  And it had all begun long before he had ever laid eyes on Sherial, for she had been his guardian angel long before he’d ever met her. He looked into her eyes and saw the truth. Sherial had been hand picked for the job of safeguarding him by the Lord, knowing exactly what would come from her duty. It was always intended.

  Mikel was awed. It was incredible, impossible and true. Every single tiny minutiae the Lord had thought of. Every possible outcome somehow calculated and then planned for. The shear depth of planning involved was simply awe inspiring, so far beyond anything any man could have developed, or would ever develop, and Mikel knew ever more wonder. The greatest mark of the most magnificent plan was surely that after it was all over and light shone on what had gone before, all would agree with its every single step.

  Then the import of what Sherial had said rolled over him and shocked him anew as he suddenly realized what wings were used for, - flying. He was scared of heights and he had wings. Sherial might have her work cut out for her, but then she would enjoy the challenge. Then again, he realized she would succeed. It too was intended. He shook his head. Sometimes life just doesn’t make sense.

  And sometimes it does.

  “I will serve.” Words, and more importantly, commitment that had been far too long in coming finally flowed from him. In that moment, in Sherial’s arms he understood that this was his moment. This was his choice. His Father had asked him to come home. It was time. But it was not and never could be a choice for him. It wasn’t for reward, because the service itself was its own reward as Sherial showed him. Nor was it to avoid the Hell of those who rejected it all, for he had already been there and would not return. No more was it because he had been commanded to do so; he hadn’t been. His service would be welcomed, but never demanded.

  He would serve because it was only right.

  “My love. I am the most able criminal on this entire world. I’ve studied, trained, planned and devoted my whole life to this single work. Yet you’ve shown me how little I truly know, especially about myself.” The strange thing was there wasn’t even a trace of bitterness in his words, only understanding and acceptance. For he had been wrong. Now was the time to be right. Now was the time to become everything he could be.

  “I’ve made more stupid mistakes in the last few months than I could ever have imagined. All my life I’ve made those same mistakes and I’ve never even guessed. I’ve hurt myself and hurt you in the process. I’ve rejected your wisdom and failed us both. But the worst of it all is that I’m still a man, still capable of making those same stupid mistakes. I am a fool and I need to learn.”

  “I am our Lord’s thief and your husband. Everything I am is yours. Teach me. Help me to serve.”

  As he spoke Mikel felt no shame, no false modesty nor misplaced honour. He felt only the truth of his words.

  Sherial surprised him then, as she in turn knelt before him, taking his hands in her own and kissing them. Tears shone in her eyes, tears of love as she accepted his gift and cherished it. As he felt the wave of love that simply streamed out of her and engulfed him, he finally knew he’d done the right thing. Only through her would he ever learn how to be everything he could be, everything her husband should be and everything the father of her children should be.

  “My husband, you have things to teach me also. The courage and will to endure anything, in order to do what is right. The cleverness to do them well. We will share our knowledge and learn together. We will serve together.” He sank into the clear blue oceans of her eyes, lost because he wanted to be. He so wanted to be lost in them and never be found. He simply held her tight and let his heart sing.

  A sudden tickling drew him back to Sherial, and he found she was stroking his wings, arousing sensations he couldn’t have described in a million years, but which he could get used to rather more quickly.

  “They’re nice wings.” And he couldn’t help but smile. He wondered if it felt like that to her when he had stroked her wings. He stroked her back, and discovered they shared that much in common. But at least he didn’t coo in response. On the other hand, he couldn’t speak in her language either, only the sadly limited tongue of human speech. Perhaps he would learn.

  Using reflexes he didn’t know he had, he stood, lifted her up high in his arms, and then wrapped his wings around her tight, binding her to him as they both desired. He might be neither human nor angel anymore, he might never be allowed to eat meat again, he might be bankrupt, he might even be a bird scared of flying, but he was in love, he had wings and he knew what to do with them.