Hell Can Wait by Theodore Judson

Author:Theodore Judson [Judson, Theodore]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781894063234
Google: 0lxtPgAACAAJ
Amazon: B0064TEUI4
Publisher: Edge Science Fiction & Fantasy Publishing
Published: 2010-06-15T07:00:00+00:00

VII

But the Memories Linger On

“What, exactly, did I do?” asked Maternus.

“My question, precisely,” said Banewill, checking his nails.

In the dim light generated by Mr. Worthy’s aura Maternus could see the demon was on this occasion dressed in white knee breeches and a powdered wig. He had a white cravat wrapped about his neck and wore a short, red waistcoat.

“What you have done is just what we charged you to do — you have made Margaret Lambkin happy in her final year of life,” bubbled Mr. Worthy. “When she met Edith Pink she met a young soul cast from the same die she was. Dear old Margaret has realized the world is going to go on, exactly as it ever has, and there will always be vicious, angry people in it. On Margaret’s last day, she will look out at the lights of the city from her apartment window and know, because of Edith Pink, that she is a part of a great continuum. She will acknowledge there are forces at play greater than herself, and will die destined for Heaven.”

“Maggie gets into Heaven?” asked the Roman.

“Flag on the field. Flag on the field,” protested Banewill and took a snuff box from the pocket of his velvet coat. “Two flags, in fact. First of all, the ape man here didn’t actually do anything; the fat boy Abdul simply happened to bring that hideous girl to the rest home. That was how she and Maggie met.”

“Maternus was the one who asked young Abdul to bring the children to Shady Grove, so he was ultimately the one responsible for the meeting,” said Worthy, whose radiant smile was warming the Roman’s heart like sunshine does a cat on a windowsill. “What’s more, our friend’s intentions were absolutely good. Not only did he not lose his temper when Mrs. Lambkin struck him, did you not behold the tender feelings he has for our precious Juanita? A greater kindness, my friend, could not be found in a man who has lived a thousand lifetimes in easy circumstances. What a sensitive, caring companion and lover he is going to make for our Maria! Every day in the city you make me more confident of you, my brave soldier.”

“My brave soldier,” repeated Banewill in his squeaky, mocking voice and put a pinch of snuff up both his nostrils. “Second flag: you are actually going to let a fire breather like Maggie Lambkin into Heaven?”

“As much I do not want to agree with Mr. Banewill,” said Maternus, “I do think you are setting the entrance requirements at a low level in her case, sir.”

“You see, even the ape man thinks she’s a terrible person,” said the demon.

“I didn’t say she was going directly to paradise,” said Worthy and took a celestial calculator from the folds of his robe. “Let’s see,” he said, and punched some data into the handheld device. “She is guilty of wrath, backbiting, pettiness, racism, cursing, the rejection of love, throw in some savage acts of violence, and…” (He held up the calculator for both the Roman and the demon to see.

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