The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Eight (Best SF & Fantasy of the Year) by Jonathan Strahan

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Eight (Best SF & Fantasy of the Year) by Jonathan Strahan

Author:Jonathan Strahan [Strahan, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781082164
Amazon: 1781082162
Publisher: Solaris
Published: 2014-03-11T16:00:00+00:00


The night before we broke ground on the Temple foundations, I had a dream. Well, of course you did, I hear you say, what sort of a high priest would you be if you didn't? Indeed; but I did actually have a dream, and unlike most of my dreams, which I forget within a few heartbeats of opening my eyes, this one's stayed with me ever since.

I was inside the Temple – I recognised it, even though I'd only seen it as straight lines on a sheet of parchment – and it was beautiful. The walls were a kind of dark red marble, and the ceiling was a vast golden mosaic of the ascent of the Invincible Sun, surrounded on all sides by saints, angels, apostles and other glorious beings – I recognised them all, though I couldn't remember all their names. In the chancel a choir was singing (and I remember thinking; that's a point, we ought to get some religious music written, it goes down really well) and the air smelt wonderful; roses and lavender and some deep, rich scent I couldn't identify. I was on my knees, wearing vestments of plain black wool, and I think my feet were bare.

I remember looking up and meeting the eye of the beautiful golden Sun in the mosaic. I felt no hesitation, no shame; and then he spoke to me;

"Peace be with you," I think he said. "You are my one true prophet. Go out and do my work."

And then (in the dream) I remembered; it was all fake, nonsense, garbage; I'd invented the whole thing; it was all lies and deceit, to get money.

"Blessed are those who believe," he said, "for in my name they will heal the sick and feed the hungry. Blessed are those who show others the golden path to faith, for they shall see me face to face."

At which point Anaximander, painted over the door to one of the side chapels, muttered, "Thereafter, I became blind," but the Sun didn't seem to have heard him. He raised his right hand in benediction, and said, "Blessed are those who build, for they shall receive the great gift. Blessed are those who make new things, for everything they make shall come from me. Blessed are those who write, for their words shall be my words. Blessed are those who pray, for I shall hear them."

While he was saying all that, I remember, I was trying to shout – no, no, I'm sorry, it's all pretend – but for some reason my mouth wouldn't open. And then he said, "Blessed are those who lie, for they shall speak the truth." And then I woke up.



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