The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

Author:Andy Andrews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2011-02-19T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

As Gabriel entered the room, he walked straight to the end of the table, taking the same position he had before. The archangel made a point of examining the hourglass before clasping his hands in front of himself. “David Ponder?” he said. “Have you arrived at a conclusion?”

David stood. “We believe so, Gabriel.”

“I am eager to hear your answer.”

David glanced at the others around the table and began. “Taking into account your words about ‘hope’ and ‘wisdom’ being a part of the answer, we have arrived at what we believe is the logical choice.” David paused and decided to avoid any preamble this time. There is no explanation needed, he thought. This has got to be right. “Gabriel,” he said, “The answer is ‘Show courage.’”

Gabriel did not respond immediately. Nervous to begin with and now even more so, David found it impossible to match the archangel’s silence and began to talk despite having decided not to. “Hope and wisdom are necessary components to effective courage and to restore civilization to the proper pathway . . . Well, it sure seems that people used to be more courageous . . . Morally courageous, we believe . . . Obviously, there are—”

“The answer is incorrect,” Gabriel interrupted, and without delay he stepped away from the table and started for the door.

Winston balled up his fists, muttered to himself, and reached for his cigar. David didn’t move from where he had been standing but was aware of the blood draining from his face. He looked at Lincoln, who appeared sympathetic and encouraging at the same time. Joan’s brow was furrowed in confusion, and Eric simply sat still with his eyes closed.

The massive door was opening, and those in the audience were beginning to rise to their feet, talking softly to each other—yet all eyes were on the departing archangel. He was almost to the open doorway, its intense light radiating through the room as it reflected around his flowing robe and wings. Suddenly, to his shock, David heard his own voice rise above the increasing noise of the theater. “Gabriel!” he called out.

At once the room grew quiet. The archangel stopped in midstride. Cocking his head as if not believing what he had just heard, Gabriel slowly turned, but only halfway around. “Yes, David Ponder?” he asked.

David could hear his own heart beating, the blood rushing through his ears. He felt his mouth open and heard himself gasp like a schoolboy caught misbehaving by the principal. The archangel’s face was not threatening, but neither was his expression patient or kind. Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Yes, David Ponder?” he repeated with a bit more volume.

David did not know why he had shouted at that moment. Frustration? Confusion? Fear? In any event, not knowing why he had stopped the archangel’s departure, he was now without a clue as to what he wanted to say. “Ah . . . Gabriel?” he managed and paused again, but this time, the archangel did not answer. Mentally scrambling

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