Page 175 of The End of the World As We Know It

“You serve the Father of Lies!” Abagail yelled.

“You ain’t ready to shake off those chains.” The Dark Man now imitated Hattie’s voice. “You starve when God goes silent on you? Would you like a bite to eat? I could pop out and grab us a little something.”

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the Mouth of God.” Abagail pursed her lips. Her stomach twisted; her flesh was weak.

Lord God, I have suffered.She was tired, had been doing this for so long. Never questioning God, always wondering if she’d done the right thing. The cost of following Him so dear.

“How goes your search for your quiet God?” The Dark Man sauntered about, hidden among the shadows of the trees, all too pleased with himself. “You know what your problem is?”

“I don’t need you telling me my problem.”

“You’re angry, but you won’t admit it.”

“Yes, I’m angry,” Abagail said. “I see all the hurt and pain around me. I can’t help but want it to be better.”

“A fact you can see, but your God can’t. You’ve got a right to be angry. You should pray to God to destroy those who oppress you and your people.Lex talionis.The law of retribution. Justice.”

“Vengeance.”

“Reparations,” the Dark Man said.

“You’re a liar.”

“You reek of doubt. Of questions you’re too afraid to ask.”

“We carry a wound with us. An interruption of our spirit.” Sheremembered her words to Nick Andros. “I have harbored hate of the Lord in my heart. Every man or woman who loves Him, they hate Him, too, because He’s a hard God, a jealous God, He Is what He Is, and in this world He’s apt to repay service with pain while those who do evil ride over the roads in Cadillac cars. Even the joy of serving Him is a bitter joy. I do His will, but the human part o’ me has cursed Him in my heart.”

“Then join me, Mother,” the Dark Man said. “I am war, famine, death, and disease. I am the Four Horsemen. I can give you power. Authority. Years back in your limbs.”

“I don’t want to be out of God’s will for my life.” The capillaries under her skin burst, her sweat issued like drops of blood. “I need to serve, not rule. It’s only Him I serve. There are no easy shortcuts. Only the long, hard road.”

“Then you should end it all. Lie down. Sleep. It will be over soon enough.”

“When the Lord wants me, the Lord will take me. The Lord will take me home to Glory in His own time.” The words came out sharp and defiant, but in her heart, they felt hollow, a distant echo of the faith she once had. She started to hum “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” but the tune morphed. Waiting for the fire to come and consume her, she held her breath and counted to three.

“We see now through a glass darkly,” Abagail prayed in the pitch blackness of the cellar. “Before I’ll be a slave, you’ll bury me in my grave. Better to die free. Now be gone.”

Metal scraped against the cellar door. It swung open. Moonlight pierced the night.

Abagail shielded her face.

An arm stretched out, fishing in the darkness. “Abby? You in here, girl?”

“Yes!” Abagail clasped her hand. “You came back!”

“What’s the point in me making it if I leave you behind?” Hattie huffed as she helped her friend out of the cellar.

“The men?”

“They gone. Scurried back to their rat holes.”

“God answered my prayers.”

“Our rifles helped. The sight of us dimmed their fervor and they found their senses like their fever broke.”

The Moon Shadow Man had retreated.

Even in the darkest hours, God still listened. Abagail fell to her knees, not worried if she’d be able to get up again, and gave thanks for the respite. But she couldn’t fight the suspicion that this abiding evil was not yet at its full power, and with that thought she grew afraid. One day she knew she’d have to face him at the height of his power, and her faith would not be enough.