“Excuse me, archangel,” Adam said, “but I gotta ask. Who is the Antichrist? Have we heard of him?”
“Adam!” Poppy said. “Don’t interrupt.”
“Peace, Master Prophecy. Your first-born asks a worthy question. Verily, you have heard his name, and it should come as no surprise. The Antichrist is Black Obama.”
“I knew it!” Adam said. “I knew it!”
“You and every Christian alive,” Poppy said. “Now shut up unless you’re spoken to.”
“Yes, lord.”
“Go on, angel. What were you saying?”
“Before I continue, call in your third son. He lurks just outside trying to eavesdrop.”
“What? Proverbs? Are you out there? Sorry, Martha. I will tan the boy’s hide for this.”
“Pray, spare him the rod this once, Master Prophecy. He too needs to hear what I must say.”
Proverbs came in, head down, and took a place next to his brother.
Martha continued. “I received a visit today from a demon.”
Poppy was aghast. “Here? In the keep? How?”
“Peace, Master Prophecy. Yes, here, in this very chamber. It was a smug little spirit, but do not be concerned about your defenses. The keep is secure; the anointing holds. This demon entered while riding a mortal soul, and olive oil is useless against mortals.” Martha glanced at Proverbs, who cringed under her gaze.
“Mortal?” Poppy said. “One of mine? Who?”
“The girl who goes by the name of a common spice.”
“A common spice?”
Adam said, “I think she means Ginger, lord.”
“Yes, Ginger Lawther,” the angel said. “It’s her demon. It’s ridden her for years. She doesn’t even know it’s within her. It’s always trying to tempt her with vice. It’s constantly planting ‘good ideas’ in her head that are anything but good. Ideas about the place of women in the church, the meaning of Bible verses, the limits of modesty and chastity. Are you familiar with any of this?”
“Yes!” Poppy said. “I seen it first hand! Yet I brought her into my home. What have I done?”
“Worry not. You have done your job as a parent well, and thus far your household has mostly resisted the demon’s urgings.”
“Only mostly?”
“Peace, Poppa. Your children are true. It is but a petty demon, no more than an imp. It has no mind of its own, only an implacable thirst to despoil innocence and lead God’s people astray.” Again the angel poked Proverbs with a glance.
“Thus far, the demon is not in direct contact with Satan or any devil; its status is too paltry. It would be like a private in an army calling upon a general. It’s not done. Otherwise, Satan would already know the location of the key.
“This demon has put a false idea in Ginger’s mind that your son, Proverbs, is a criminal.”
Poppy turned to his son. “What did you do now?”
Proverbs froze. “I . . . uh . . . I . . .”
Martha said, “You already know his transgression, Master Prophecy, and have already punished him for it. He killed a beast on the Antichrist’s land to put its meat on your children’s plate. Now Ginger Lawther proposes to punish him again by informing the game wardens. They will come to remove him to the city, where he will be lost with its other inhabitants under the sword of the enemy.
“Yet, as bad as that is, the situation is more dire. While here, the imp beheld the key lying on the table. It would have tried to snatch it away if I had not intervened. It knew it was no match for me, even in my desperate state, and withdrew. But since leaving here, it has called for help from among its kind, and in the last hour several more demons have come to ride the poor girl’s soul. Right now I see . . .” Martha turned to the southwest, as though peering through solid rock. “I see not one by seven demons riding her.”
“Seven?” This was too much. Poppy looked for a place to sit down, and Adam pulled one of the dusty benches over to him.
“Verily, seven, and several of them enjoy higher ranks than the original imp.”
“Where is she now? In my house? Near my children?”
Martha gazed at the rock wall again. Poppy looked too, but all he saw was fractured limestone.
“She is in the kitchen of your dwelling helping Deuteronomy prepare dinner. But fear not; they are not speaking. A rift has opened between them, and your second daughter has closed her mind to Ginger’s influence.”
“Praise Father God,” Poppy said. Deut had always been the dreamy one. Good that she had acquired some sense.
“It is your first daughter, your special daughter, who is at risk,” the angel went on. “Ginger has nearly convinced her to help her leave this place in secret.”
“Sarai?”
“Yes, but I spoke to Sarai today and have turned her soul back to the light of the Father’s love.”
This was news to Poppy. “They were both up here? Ginger and Sarai?”
“Verily.” For a third time the angel accused Proverbs with a glance, and this time the boy cracked.
“I did it, lord,” he said. “I brought them up here. It’s on me. I wish I never done it.”
“That’s not all you’ll wish when I’m through with you.”
“Master Prophecy,” the angel said, “punish him for his transgressions tomorrow. Today’s business is more urgent. Though frustrated in her attempt to flee, Ginger hasn’t given up trying. Even now she is scheming to learn the secret code to the strongbox in your prayer cottage.”
“My safe? She wants to rob us?”
“I think not. She wants the gap sticks you keep there.”
Poppy looked to Adam for an explanation.
“I think she means spark plugs, lord.”
“Yes, spark plugs,” Martha said. “Forgive me my ignorance of human tools. Ginger wants a spark plug to flee by sled to summon the civil authorities to come take Proverbs away. And the demons within her are already clamoring for their superiors’ attention. Once they succeed, word will go up the chain to Satan, their Dark Lord. Thus the mortal girl represents a threat on both planes, the higher and earthly realms. Satan will assemble an army of fallen angels against us, while Black Obama will dispatch his thugs to flush you out of hiding. Any chink in your armor will give him the opening he needs to destroy you.”
“No!” Poppy said. “We’ve worked too hard to be taken down by a spoiled girl. I’ve got to stop her.” He rose from the bench but sat down again. “The question is how? She can’t stay in the house with those demons near the children. That’s unthinkable. I’ve got to separate her, but where? I don’t want demons here in the keep either.”
Proverbs said, “I’ll take her to my cabin, lord.”
“And leave her there alone?”
“Uh, no. I guess I’ll have to stay with her.”
Poppy laughed out loud. “You, a lusty girl, and seven demons alone in a cabin. What could possibly go wrong?”
“Then I’ll take Sue along as shadow.”
“And deprive me of two workers when I need everyone’s help? No, that won’t do.” After giving it some thought, he continued, “The only solution I can see would be to take her out to the woods and shoot her.”
“Lord!” Proverbs said, alarmed. “I know you don’t mean that.”
Poppy looked at him without speaking.
“But, lord, that would be murder. You’re not seriously . . . Murder is a sin.”
The angel said, “To kill an enemy during time of war is not murder.”
“But still . . .” Proverbs said, groping for an argument to use. “She’s not our enemy; she’s my betrothed. You can’t just kill her. I won’t let you.”
Adam cleared his throat. “Lord, what if we cast out the demons? Then she could stay in the house.” He looked at the angel for confirmation. “Wouldn’t that take care of everything, Angel Martha?”
Martha shook her head. “If only that were true, but purging the girl would be no more effective than slaying her. The displaced d
emons would still be able to raise the alarm, and they would badger the other children looking for a new soul to ride. You would end up with three or four children in thrall to Satan instead of just one. The same would happen if you killed the girl; the homeless demons would seek out new souls to torment while they summoned Satan’s army.”
“See?” Proverbs said to his father. “Murdering Ginger is not the answer.”
“Then what do we do, Martha?” Poppy said. “What do you suggest?”
The angel closed her eyes a moment to think. She looked exhausted. “Any solution requires us to stop both the girl and her passengers at the same time. I believe I know how to accomplish that.”
“Tell me,” Poppy said.
“The same anointing that keeps unclean spirits out of this keep can keep them in as well. Anoint the cell again where you found me and bring her there. The demons will be trapped. Both girl and demons will be your prisoners until the angels arrive.”
AF13 1.0
DESPITE BEING THE warmest room in the house, the atmosphere in the kitchen was downright chilly when Adam arrived for Ginger. Though four girls were busy preparing dinner, there was none of the usual banter, and all of them stopped what they were doing when Adam entered.
He looked at Ginger and said, “I hear you were up to see the angel today.”
“I was up to the keep, but I didn’t see any angel.”
That was an answer Adam hadn’t expected. “Well, she says she saw you.”
“If you mean the devil in the mine, then, yes, I did see her today.”
Frankie dropped a baking sheet that clattered to the floor.
“That’s odd,” Adam went on. “She said the same thing about you. Anyway, Poppy wants to talk to you.”
“Where? In his cabin? Tell him I don’t wash old men’s feet.”
Deut shooed Frankie and Myrrh to the common room, but she herself remained at the stove.
Adam watched the middle girls leave. “No, up in the keep, and he didn’t say anything about punishing you. He just wants to talk.”
“Then he can come here and talk to me in the house.”
“Why?” Adam said. “Why do you always have to be so contrary? He’s the lord of this house. Treat him with some respect, can’t you?”
Ginger said, “I’ve had enough of his kind of hospitality, Adam. I want to go to the Bunyans’. Today.”
“That’s what he wants to talk to you about. So don’t worry. And he can’t come down here because then he’ll just have to climb back up there, and three times in one day is too much for his legs. So give him a break already. Okay?”
Ginger took off her apron and hung it on a peg. “I’ll go, but I won’t be alone in the same room with him.”
“No one’s asking you to.”
Ginger paused at the door. “Where’s my shadow? Shouldn’t I have a shadow?”
“Oh, for pity sake, girl. We’re only going up to the keep.”
ANGEL MARTHA CROUCHED under the low ceiling watching the preparations. Hosea was sawing a food tray slot in the heavy door. Ithy was setting up an army cot and camping heater. Uzzie was clamping a toilet seat to a plastic bucket.
Proverbs wasn’t helping. He sat against the tunnel wall and held his head in his hands. When he heard Ginger and Adam approaching from down the tunnel, he pulled himself to his feet and went to meet them.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ginger said. “You look awful.”
“Nothing,” he replied. “Only just a little headache.”
“Did he hit you?”
“What? Who?”
“Did your father hit you for bringing me to see that thing?” She jabbed her chin in Martha’s direction.
“No, of course not.”
“What’s all this going on?”
“I’m sorry,” Proverbs said. “It’s for your own protection.”
Ginger didn’t like the sound of that, so she spun around and started back down the tunnel. But Adam seized her by one arm and Proverbs by the other, and they led her to the powder room. They stopped in front of Martha, who regarded the girl with naked hostility.
“This is your doing,” Ginger said. “You look good, but you’re the serpent, not me.”
“Hello, Rath,” the angel replied cooly. “It appears you have found reinforcements since we last met.”
“My name is Ginger, not Rath.”
“The girl’s name is Ginger. Your name is Rath. Besides you I also see Zorn, Box, Puck, and Tork in there. Plus two more imps whose names are hidden from me.”
“Liar!” Ginger shouted. “Godless liar!” She turned to Proverbs. “Let me go. Can’t you see?It’s a trick. I’m not the evil one. That thing is.”
Next to the powder room, Poppy said, “We’re ready. Bring her.”
The boys backed away from the doorway as Adam and Proverbs dragged Ginger — biting, kicking, and clawing — and roughly pushed her through. Hosea quickly slammed the door, and Poppy slapped on the padlock. Ginger battered the door with fists and feet and screamed oaths and curses through the food slot.
“Do not be alarmed by the ferocity of her protests,” Martha told them. “It is the custom of demons to howl when they are frustrated. Make haste now and anoint the portal, Master Prophecy, before any of them can escape.”
Poppy sprinkled olive oil on the door and prayed, “I block this doorway against any evil spirit, in Elder Brother Jesus name. No evil spirit may pass in or out. Amen.”
“Amen,” chimed the others.
“That should do it,” Martha said. “Well done.”
Poppy’s shoulders slumped with fatigue. He screwed the cap back on the oil bottle and sighed. “Come on, boys,” he said. “We need to prepare for tonight.”
But as they shuffled down the tunnel, Ginger, in a remarkably calm and measured voice, spoke through the slot. “Wait. Please.”
“Ignore her,” Martha said. “It’s only more deceit.”
“I want to talk to Proverbs,” Ginger said, and added, “I want to talk to my betrothed.”
That got everyone’s attention, especially Proverbs’.
“Forget it,” Poppy said. “A demon will say anything.”
“Proverbs!” Ginger called from the slot. “I need you. Please!”
Proverbs said, “I’ll just see what she wants, lord.”
“Ten stripes and counting, son.”
“That’s not fair, lord. You can’t punish me for this. You heard her; she wants to be my wife. When all of this is over and done, the demons will be gone from her, but she’ll still be here. How can she love me then if I don’t stand by her now?”
The boy had a point. Wives had a knack for keeping old wounds fresh. Poppy shook his head. “All right, but don’t get close enough so she can touch you.”
“I won’t, lord. Thank you, lord.”
Proverbs squatted at the slot. Ginger’s eyes were steady and clear. “I’m sorry,” he said again. “This is only for a little while. You’ll see it’s necessary when you’re yourself again.”
“Listen,” she said. “I was angry. I didn’t mean what I said. I’d never report you to Fish and Game. I know you only killed that moose to help feed your family. Heck, I’ve been eating it too. What kind of a hypocrite would that make me if I reported you?”
“I’m glad to hear that, Ginger, but it’s not why we have to lock you up.”
“I know. Come closer. I want to whisper something in your ear.”
That raised Proverbs’ guard. Was this Ginger or a demon speaking?
“Please. I don’t want that creature to hear me. See how she’s watching us?”
Proverbs inched closer to the slot and offered his ear, ready to pull it back in an instant.
“I have to give her credit,” Ginger whispered. “She looks impressive. Clearly, she’s supernatural. I never thought I’d see a supernatural creature while I was still alive. But that doesn’t mean she’s an angel.”
Ginger’s warm breath tickled Proverbs’ e
ar. Her close proximity and breathy voice were more intimate than any interaction he’d ever had with a girl. He couldn’t help the stirring in his jeans, and he struggled to follow the conversation.
“If she’s not an angel, then what?” he said.
“I don’t know for sure, but the way she lies about me makes me think she’s a devil. I don’t know what else she could be, but I know she’s no angel.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Well, for one, because there’s no such thing as a girl angel.”
Proverbs did a double take. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve seen pictures of girl angels my whole life. There’s probably more girl angels than there are boy angels.”
“No, there’s not. Don’t you see? Those pictures you’ve seen are from an artist’s imagination. They’re from Hollywood and Hallmark Cards, not from the Bible.”
Proverbs pulled back a little. “I don’t think that’s true.”
“It is true. We learned it in Bible study. I’ve read the Bible, Proverbs, from beginning to end. Have you? All you have to go on is what your father tells you. Go to Pastor Bunyan; he’ll tell you I’m right.”
“But Pastor Bunyan —”
“I know, I know. Pastor Bunyan preaches falsehoods. But this isn’t about the timing of the Rapture. If he says there are girl angels, tell him to show you the verse. Tell him to use a King James Bible. Not read you the verse like your dad does, but show you the verse so you can read it yourself. He can’t do it because the verse doesn’t exist.” She thought to ask, “You can read, can’t you?”
“Of course I can read. You think I’m ignorant?”
“I didn’t say you were. I was just asking if you can read, and you can, so it’s perfect. Go to Pastor Bunyan. That’s all I ask. And get me out of here. I’ll die in here if you don’t.”
THE BOYS WENT on ahead while Martha kept Poppy at the entrance to the break room. “I pray the Creator guides and protects you on your mission tonight,” she told him. “Know that while you are gone, I will protect the key to the bottomless pit with my very existence. But if we are attacked, I may be separated from it in the heat of battle. Better that the key not be out in plain view.”
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