Two men sat side-by-side on a rooftop, both bronze-skinned and clothed in spotless white. One was blond-haired, his friend dark. "I don’t think she’s coming, Tal," the dark-haired one said.
"Patience, Guilo. She’ll come."
"Are you sure?"
"When has He ever been wrong?"
"True." Then he pointed. "There. Is that her?"
Tal looked, and saw the girl, red-haired and green-eyed. "Yes, that’s her." The two men pushed off the roof as shimmering, nearly transparent wings opened. They glided down to walk beside the girl, who took no notice of them, as she could not see them. In fact, none of the people walking on the street could see them.
As she was about to pass by a shop, Tal laid a hand on her shoulder. "Aren’t you interested in this shop?" he said to her.
"There’s something you need to buy here," Guilo added.
Jessie Bannon stopped and looked at the antique store she was in front of. "Hey, this looks interesting," she said to her father, Race.
"An antique shop?" Race asked, confused.
"Yeah, I’d like to get something here."
"Okay, whatever," he said, and they went in, followed by the two angels.
Inside, Guilo located the pendant in a glass case and signaled to Tal, who gently guided Jessie to it.
"Look at this, Dad," she said. "Isn’t it cool?"
"Can I help you?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Can I see this?" Jessie asked, pointing to the pendant.
A frown briefly crossed the shopkeeper’s face, but he brought it out from the glass case. Jessie took it and examined it closer. It was made out of silver, as was the chain. One side was bare, but the other had an engraving of a large wooden boat in the middle and different types of animals around the edge.
"How much is it?" Jessie asked.
"What is it?" Race added.
"The boat is Noah’s Ark, and the animals around the edge represent the animals on the Ark," the shopkeeper said.
"Come on, Jess, let’s go. We’ll let a religious person have that."
"No, Dad, I want it. How much is it?" She looked up at the shopkeeper. As their eyes met, Tal laid a hand on the shopkeeper’s shoulder, and he smiled.
"Take it," he said. "It’s free."
"I have to pay you something," Jessie protested.
"No, just take it. It’s a gift."
"Thank you," she said, putting it around her neck.
Tal and Guilo left the shop with Jessie and Race, but once outside, they spread their wings and shot into the sky, leaving sparkling trails behind them. They headed east to where the General was waiting for them.
"She has the pendant," Tal said when they reached him.
The General smiled. "Good."
Another streak of light approached; grew until it could be identified as Crioni. "Turkey is ready," Crioni said. "Triskal remains behind to be sure the call gets made."
"Then it has begun," the General said. He called a messenger to him. "Alert those on watchcare to be ready to arouse their saints for the cause." The messenger nodded once and sped off into the sky.
"Will we need them?" Guilo asked.
"I hope not, but it is better to be prepared."
"Yes, it certainly is."
Dr. Jacob Cooper, biblical archaeologist, stared at the artifact on his desk. He didn’t have the slightest idea where it came from. It was a petrified piece of wood, with a hard black substance covering the sides. He put his feet up on his desk to stare at it, and a few papers fell onto the floor. He picked them up; he was about to put them back on his desk when he noticed what they’d been covering. It was a copy of The New York Times, one of the American papers he could get in Turkey. The front page had a picture of a Dr. Benton Quest, a scientist. Dr. Cooper had no idea what the article was about, but he just knew that this man could help him identify the chunk of wood sitting on his desk. He picked up the phone and dialed the Times. "Yes, my name is Dr. Jacob Cooper. I noticed your article on Dr. Quest, and I was wondering if you could give me a telephone number where I could reach him." He scribbled the number. "Okay, thank you very much." He hung up and dialed the number.
"Quest residence," Jonny said, answering the phone. "Sure, he’s here, hang on a sec." Dr. Quest was already out of his chair, and Jonny handed him the phone.
"Benton Quest."
"Dr. Quest, my name is Jake Cooper, I’m an archaeologist currently working in Turkey. I received a rather interesting artifact today, and I was wondering if you could come out here and help me identify it, as I have absolutely no idea what it is, besides a chunk of wood."
"Of course. You don’t mind if I bring some other people along? One other man and three teenaged children."
"No problem. I have my own kids with me at the site. I’m sure they’d like someone their own age around."
After he hung up, Jonny said, "Who was that guy?"
"An archaeologist in Turkey. Wants my help in identifying an artifact."
"We’re going to Turkey? Way cool!"
Race and Jessie walked in at that moment. "What are you ‘way cool’ing about, Jonny?" Jessie asked.
"We’re going to Turkey!"
Race looked at Dr. Quest. "I’ll get the Dragonfly ready, Doc."
Dr. Cooper met them at the airport with his 14-year-old son, Jay, and his 13-year-old daughter, Lila, all three of them blond and blue-eyed. "Dr. Quest, I’m pleased to meet you. This is my son, Jay, and my daughter, Lila."
They shook hands. "This is Race Bannon and his daughter Jessie, my son Jonny and my adopted son Hadji." The kids smiled at each other and said hello.
They all managed to crowd into one jeep, and they drove to Dr. Cooper’s office. He led the way inside. "This is what I wanted to show you," he said, taking the wood out of a canvas bag.
"Hmm," Dr. Quest said, holding it." It’s certainly interesting. I wonder what this black substance is. Well, there are tests we can do."
"What’s that mountain?" Jessie asked, looking out a window.
"That’s Mount Ararat, where the Ark supposedly grounded when the waters went down after the Flood," Jay said.
"Supposedly?"
"Well, no one’s ever made it to the top. It snows all year round up there, and the storms aren’t pretty. Nobody’s actually seen it, but that’s where Bible scholars say it is."
"It’s up there just because somebody says it is?" Race said skeptically, shaking his head.
The two teens were silent, and Jessie’s hand went to where she wore the pendant under her shirt. "Hey," she said suddenly. "What do you think of this?" She pulled out the pendant and showed it to him.
"That’s really neat," Jay said. "Where’d you get it?"
"An antique shop. The owner just gave it to me."
"Why?"
"I don’t know."
"Maybe it has something to do with that piece of wood. Hey Dad, come look at this."
Dr. Cooper walked over, and Jessie showed him the pendant. "Amazing," he said. "Such detail in the work."
"Do you think it has anything to do with that wood?"
Dr. Cooper looked at Jay. "Are you thinking that--but how?"
"I don’t know, Dad. I just have this feeling."
"Wait a minute, what’s going on here? What are you talking about?" Race looked from one to the other, confused.
Dr. Cooper took the piece of wood and handed it to Jessie. To everyone’s surprise, the pendant started to glow, and a high-pitched but pleasant ringing filled the air. Jessie closed her eyes.
"Jessie, where did this come from?" Dr. Cooper asked. Unhesitatingly she pointed at Mount Ararat.
Tal and Guilo, standing outside the office, heard the sound of the pendant. They looked at each other, slightly apprehensive. If they could hear it... "We might need the saints after all," Guilo said.
Tal simply nodded.
"Wait! You can’t just go off climbing some mountain because of a trick of lighting or something." Race watched as the Coopers and Jessie packed a truck, readying for a trip up Mount Ararat. Jonny, always ready for an adventure, was helping.
"I agree," Dr. Quest said. "We should have samples analyzed to find out what it really is. It could be nothing put a piece of firewood."
"Petrified firewood, Dr. Quest?" Dr. Cooper said, pausing for a moment. "Listen, the Lord is calling us to do this. I can feel it. I prayed about it last night. He also made it clear to me that Jessie has to go with us. That pendant is important, and for some reason not revealed to this mere human, she is the only one who can take it there."
"Look, I don’t go for all this God stuff. I’m not letting you risk my daughter’s life." Race took a few steps toward Dr. Cooper.
"Dad, stop it!" Jessie yelled, running forward and putting herself between them. "I want to do this, Dad." She threw her arms around him. "Dad, don’t fight this, please?"
"Jessie, don’t you understand how dangerous this is?"
"Yes, but I have to do it. It’s important."
"Excuse me," a new voice said. Everyone turned to see a man with dark hair and a dark beard. "My name is Tophel. I understand you are going to Ararat?"
"Yes," Dr. Cooper said.
Tophel smiled. "I have been up the mountain many times. I could guide you."
Dr. Cooper smiled in return and extended his hand. "Welcome aboard."
Tal and Guilo stood with their hands on their swords, watching the demons that circled around the newcomer, their sulfurous breath fouling the air, their large yellow eyes full of malice as they taunted the silent angels.
"Not very many saints here," one wheezed.
"Perhaps that’s why they’re so cowardly," another added, flying so he was face to face with Guilo. The angel’s hand tightened on his sword, but he remained quiet.
Behind the demons, the two could see Triskal cautiously rising into the air, using the tall trees as cover. Tal locked eyes with him for a moment, then he raced off toward Ararat and the General.
A few of the demons turned to look, then laughed. "They are cowardly," a particularly ugly one said. "One of them is fleeing already."
Triskal stopped at the last second, landing right in front of the General. "We need the saints," he said, slightly out of breath. The General lifted a hand, and ten messengers streaked out of sight.
"What is the situation?" the General added.
"A man named Tophel has joined the group. He claims he can guild them up Ararat. He is accompanied by some minor demons, but they are many and we are few."
"Tal and Guilo?"
"Following your orders, remaining silent. Although Guilo is having a hard time of it."
The General smiled slightly. "As he usually does. That one is fighter to the core." He called Crioni. "Go back," he told the two. "Protect the pendant and its bearer." They nodded and flew back to where Jessie and the others continued to load the truck with supplies.
Around the world, people everywhere either stopped what they were doing or woke up from sleep as the Lord showed them the five travelers. Praying began, and the angels felt strength flowing into them. Their eyes flashed, and the demons shrank back nervously.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Jonny? It’s going to be dangerous."
"Jess, since when have I been afraid of danger?" Jonny hopped into the truck next to Jessie. "Besides, you might need someone to protect you."
Dr. Cooper drove the truck with Tophel sitting in the front passenger seat. Jessie, Jonny, Jay, and Lila crowded together in the back seat.
When they reached Ararat, the group got on their climbing gear and started off.
"This way, this way!" Tophel was yelling. Dr. Cooper stared at the craggy, difficult slope. The snow was a foot thick and the wind was blowing hard. No snow was falling yet, but everyone could see that a bad storm was brewing.
"Are you sure?" he asked. He pointed to a smoother, more gradual slope. "That way looks easier."
"This way is better!" The group sighed and followed the guide up the craggy slope.
Jessie struggled on, tired. It had been snowing for an hour now, and she could barely see three feet ahead of her. The drifts were almost to her waist. Jonny and the others were far ahead, except for Tophel, who was bringing up the rear. Jessie’s knees failed and she flopped down in the snow. It’d be so nice just to rest here for a while, she thought. She began to feel warm and sleepy. She saw Tophel standing over her, but didn’t react until he unzipped her coat and the icy air rushed over her shirt. "Hey!" she said, but her hands moved sluggishly. Tophel grabbed the chain and pulled the pendant out from under her shirt.
"Do you know what Tophel means?" he asked her with a cruel smile. "It’s Hebrew for liar. I lied. Your friends? They’re heading for certain doom. And this," he added, yanking the chain off her neck, the links breaking in the cold, "belongs to me now."
Jessie finally got her body to move at a normal speed. "No!" she yelled, lunging forward and grabbing the pendant. Tophel tried to jerk away, taking a few steps backward. The snow suddenly fell out from underneath him, and he fell into a deep gorge. Jessie was pulled forward by his weight. She tried to brace herself, but began going over the edge, too.
Then Tophel’s eyes went wide with horror. "NO! Stay away! STAY AWAY!" He let go of the pendant and disappeared into the gorge.
"What’s--" Jessie began, but abruptly she was lifted into the air. She found herself in the arms of a tall, handsome man. He had long blond hair and bronze skin. The man smiled at her, and Jessie rested her head against his chest. She barely realized that the man was striding easily through the snow, following the tracks of her friends.
Guilo, Triskal, and Crioni moved along with Tal as he carried the girl, their swords drawn. The demons that had been with the man Tophel had fled, but who knew? They could have just gone for reinforcements.
Jonny and the Coopers had stopped to catch their breath when he realized Jessie was gone. "Hey, where’s Jessie? Jessie!" he shouted. "Jessie!"
"Jessie!" Jay and Lila shouted.
A man suddenly came into sight, but it wasn’t Tophel. It was a stranger with blond hair and a kind face, and he was carrying Jessie. "She’ll be all right," he said when they struggled through the snow toward him. "She’s just a little tired. Let’s keep going."
Strangely, the four felt renewed, ready to go. The tall blond man forged ahead, and they followed in his footsteps.
The wall of angels surrounding the Ark parted to let the travelers through. Tal gently set Jessie on her feet, then flew up to meet the General. Guilo, Triskal, and Crioni followed closely behind. "Good work, Tal," the General said.
"Thank you, General."
Jessie turned to thank the man for saving her, but he was gone. "What the--?" She looked at the others, confused. Dr. Cooper, Jay, and Lila smiled, their faces alight with wonder and joy.
"It was an angel," Lila finally said. "We were in the company of an angel."
"Look!" Jonny shouted, pointing, as a stray shaft of light lanced through the clouds and highlighted the looming Ark. All five mouths dropped open.
"It’s real," Jessie whispered.
They walked toward the Ark. Gradually, they could see an opening in the side and headed for it. Ten feet away, Jonny and the Coopers were stopped as if they’d run into a wall. Jessie turned around and looked at them. "Go, Jessie," Dr. Cooper said.
"We’ll be all right," Jay added. Jessie nodded and continued.
As she stepped inside the Ark, a mist clouded her eyes for a moment. When she could see clearly, the stalls were filled with animals, two of every kind on earth. "Hello," a voice said. "Can I help you with something?"
Jessie turned around and saw a portly, graying man dressed in biblical garb. "Are you Noah?" she asked.
"Why, yes, I am." She pulled the pendant out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Praise Yahweh! I had this made, so it could be passed down from generation to generation, so my family would never forget His power, but it was stolen from me." He looked up at her, smiling. "I can never thank you enough."
"I’m sorry it’s broken," Jessie said.
"Nonsense. Chains are easily mended." The pendant suddenly began to glow and ring again. He looked back down at it, and blinked in surprise. "Oh my." Jessie looked, too, and as they watched, arching lines engraved themselves above the ark.
"It’s a rainbow," Jessie said in wonder when the engraving was finished and the pendant was quiet."
"A rainbow?" Noah asked.
"You’ll understand when you see it," Jessie replied, smiling.
She stepped out of the Ark, joining her friends again. The storm had stopped, and a brilliant blue sky was making an appearance. As they watched, a rainbow appeared, its colors brighter than any rainbow they had seen before. "I guess that means we’re done," Jessie said.
"Do you think anyone will believe us when we tell them we’ve seen the Ark?" Lila asked.
"Probably not," Dr. Cooper said.
"Maybe we shouldn’t tell anyone, then," Jessie said thoughtfully.
"Our secret?" Jonny asked.
"Our secret!" everyone chorused.
The watching angels smiled, and as the travelers started back down the mountain, Tal, Guilo, Triskal, and Crioni took flight, hovering above them, making sure they got back safely.
Then they shot up into the sky, heading for home.
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