Clare just looked at her and tapped her temple.

"Ah, so we can talk to each other by thought."

"Yes," Abel said, "and it works over any distance, we are never alone."

Hope turned towards Abel and thought to him, "Thank you for being so kind. You know that Tris doesn't really believe, don't you."

"Yes, child, we know, but fear not, he will."

Hope asked him, "How can I do these things when I haven't eaten the tree of life?"

Abel replied to her mind, "But you have child, you've been eating it since you sat down."

"Then Tris has too!"

Abel smiled the answer she wanted without words or thoughts.

The time of eating was over, and once again, Abel waved his arm and all was cleared away. Using words, Steve asked, "Can we talk to Adam and Eve?"

Cain answered, "All things are possible to him who believes." Steve stood and helped Clare up also, "Trust me Sweetie."

"Always," she answered. Steve concentrated for a moment and suddenly they both vanished.

"Wow," Tris said, slowly, "where did they go?"

"To see Adam and Eve," Hope answered.

"Trstran," Cain said, approaching him, "step up."

"Onto what?" Tris asked.

"Onto the air." Cain answered him.

Tris was smart enough to know that this was for real, and so stood up and raised his leg to step up. His foot found no purchase and so came down to the ground with a b.u.mp. He looked rather embarra.s.sed. Cain encouraged him, "Try again, and remember, all things are possible to him who believes."

"So, I must believe that I can do it?"

"No," Cain said, "you must believe in Him who made the universe."

Tris now looked very embarra.s.sed. He had gone along with the other's religion, but had never really believed for himself; he faced a decision. It took him several moments to make it, then he looked at Hope and said, "Lord, please forgive me for not believing in You," this was all he said, but it was sincere and from his heart.

"Now, try again, follower of Christ."

Tris composed himself, he slowly raised his leg, and stepped up onto the air, about eighteen inches above the ground.

"Good," Cain said, "now step up higher."

Tris took another step up. A joy came over his face and his arms went up.

"Father," he said, softly and began floating up higher as he said it. Not to be out done, Hope closed her eyes in belief, when she opened them again, she was twenty feet up in the air and next to Tris who was crying his eyes out.

Hope took his hand and said, "Come on, follower of Christ, let's go and explore."

They moved off and were soon out of sight.

Abel's voice came to both their minds, "G.o.d be with you my children."

Steve and Clare suddenly appeared in front of an elderly couple who were so intent on each other that they didn't seem to notice the new arrivals.

"Welcome to you children," Adam said, looking up at them. Eve looked at them and gave them a smile that only a mother can give. Steve and Clare went over to them and sat with them on the gra.s.s. They had nothing to say. Adam and Eve just included them into what they were doing, so all four sat and enjoyed each other's company.

Eventually, Eve spoke. "We know why you are here." Her voice was like still water, smooth and with a softness beyond description. She went on, "The serpent is cunning, he will try to trick you, do not listen to what he says, he is a deceiver."

"How did you defeat him mother?" Clare asked.

"I obeyed my husband's command, so must you." That was all she said.

Steve couldn't contain himself. "What is G.o.d like?" He asked.

Adam turned to him, his eyes deep and full of compa.s.sion. "My son, He is like the morning mist that waters the ground. He is like the most beautiful flower you have ever seen. He is like the warmth of a sunny day, and the coolness of water to the thirsty. He is the altogether lovely One--He is beyond words my son. One day you will see Him for yourself, and then you will know."

Eve looked up at that moment and saw Tris and Hope gliding through the air. "Join them children, you will need them when the time comes."

Steve and Clare looked up and swallowed hard. "Just believe," Adam said. They did, and soon they were aloft and catching up with the youngsters. Together, the four of them explored their gifts, and in their hearts, gave thanks to Him Who is The Giver of gifts.

"Mom," Hope spoke in thought, "Tris has given his life to the Lord, Cain called him, 'a follower of Christ'."

"Why that's wonderful dear, I always knew he would."

"You knew he wasn't a believer?"

"Yes, Hops, you'll find out when you're a mom that not much escapes you when it comes to your children."

Evening was coming and Abel's voice came to them. "Time to come back my children, evening approaches."

They had no idea where 'back' was. So Steve believed for them, and they were instantly back on the gra.s.s with Cain and Abel.

"You have done well my children," Abel said, and looking at Clare he said, "You spoke with the mother of all living?"

"Yes, I did," she replied, "and I understand."

"Good, for it will be you that the serpent attacks. Always remember, G.o.d is with you. He will not leave you, nor forsake you, He is faithful."

"Amen to that," Clare said, relieved, "but when will all this happen?"

"Soon my child, quite soon. You must learn quickly before you return. Where any two are gathered together in His name, He will be among them."

After a short pause, Steve asked, "What is it that we must learn?"

"Ah," Abel said, "you will know when you have learned it." He smiled as if teasing, but they knew he couldn't do such a thing.

"This might sound silly," Clare said, "but where do you sleep, there are no structures here?"

"We have no need of structures as you do, we have no need of sleep. Our bodies are not like yours, which is why you could not detect us, or even the animals. There is no corruption here, so everything is as He Who lives forever intended it to be. Your bodies will become like ours in time, but as that has not happened yet..." He waved his arm and a shelter appeared.

"All things are possible to him who believes," he said, smiling.

Abel vanished from their sight, and they were left alone.

"I must try that one when we get back!" Tris said, with a laugh.

"By the sound of things, that won't be long Tris, It seems we have a mission to complete, I wish I knew what it was I'm supposed to learn."

Steve scratched his head and headed towards the shelter. They all followed suit.

The shelter was simple but adequate for their needs. Four sleeping places had been provided plus a 'little room.'

"Am I glad to see that," Hope said, "if I have to use that contraption on the ship just one more time I'll scream."

The other three laughed but Hope was deadly serious.

"I suppose they don't need to use these," Clare said, "there's no waste here."

"You're probably right Sweetie, nothing corrupts or decays, and that also explains the lack of clouds. It didn't rain on Earth until Noah, Eden was watered from beneath the ground. This really is paradise, as G.o.d originally designed it, and these people are still as perfect as G.o.d made them. Even Adam and Eve are still vibrant, and full of life, after who knows how many centuries. I could live here." Steve said.

"Never mind Hun, our Eden may turn out like this place if we believe for it."

"Once we've dealt with that pesky Serpent," Hope added.

"You're very quiet Tris, are you OK?"

"OK! I'm just wonderful. I've been taking it all in. This place, G.o.d, these lovely people, and all the amazing things we can do... How could I not be, OK?"

Steve and Clare smiled at him. He'd had a lot to take on-board over the last few weeks, and here he was. coming through it all, and on top. A very tired Forester family went to bed and slept peacefully, such as you can only do in G.o.d's paradise.

He Who lives forever came to Steve in a dream. "Fear not my son, for you will see me soon enough. For now, be content with knowing that I am with you. I am always with you."

In the dream, they walked together in the cool of the evening, the child, and The Father. Even in sleep, Steve drew strength from his Lord. Strength he would surely need in the troubled days ahead.

Chapter Thirty.

Chapter 8.

Battle Plans The commander of the armies came into the presence. He grovelled and cowered at the sight of his master sitting on a throne of rock; the half-light hiding his face from the subordinates view. The commander knew what his master looked like, he had faced his wrath many times over the centuries, but had always managed to survive the outbursts of rage and hatred. Unlike his predecessor who had failed once too often and been torn into pieces and cast back into the abyss. No, Agallon was a survivor.

"What news commander?" The voice boomed, causing the cavern to reverberate wildly. 'Here we go,' Agallon said to himself.

"Bad news my lord, the first attack was repulsed, we lost a serpent."

"WHAT!" Screamed the voice, "How many came against us?"

Now trembling, Agallon replied, "Just one, my lord, a child."

"A CHILD! How can this be? Find out, and don't come back until you do."

"No, my lord, erm, I mean, yes my lord."

Agallon left the cavern as quickly as he could, and whilst he still could. Once outside, he became as fierce and as full of hatred as his master. He screamed out orders for spies to be sent to find out how one child could kill a serpent. Lesser demons went scurrying in all directions to escape the wrath of the commander.

The demons went to the serpents, hissing threats at them. "Go back and find out how this child killed Kellon, and don't come back until you know." The head serpent called for his two most experienced spies, Kedal and Bakal.

"Go back to the human settlement and find out about this child, and how he was able to defeat Kellon in battle...GO!"

The two snakes left and went to the tunnel that led to the lake.

The water was cold as they swam through the tunnel, snakes don't like the cold.

"It's always us who get it in the neck Bakal, a serpent loses a fight and all h.e.l.l breaks lose."

Kedal laughed at Bakal's remark.

"All h.e.l.l is right Bakal my friend, and if we don't get the information for them, we'll get there sooner than we want to."

They swam on. It was cold and dark. Kedal hit the fallen rocks that blocked the tunnel, and Bakal swam into him.

"What's this, the tunnel is blocked, there's no way through. The humans must have blocked it after the raiding party left."

"We'll have to go the long way round," Bakal answered, turning to swim back along the tunnel.

"I hope they don't see us come out at the other end, they'll probably blame us for the blockage." Kedal said.

When they got back to the tunnel entrance they stopped to survey the cavern before getting out of the water.

"Quick," Kedal hissed, "while it's clear."

The two serpents crawled up out of the water and made for the crack in the rock that led to the surface. Once there, they relaxed a little, there would be no other serpents or demons up here to hara.s.s them.