Good Omens

“He won’t show up. Not to us. Protective camouflage. He won’t even know it, but his powers will keep him hidden from prying occult forces.”

“Occult forces?”

“You and me,” explained Crowley.

“I’m not occult,” said Aziraphale. “Angels aren’t occult. We’re ethereal.”

“Whatever,” snapped Crowley, too worried to argue.

“Is there some other way of locating him?”

Crowley shrugged. “Search me,” he said. “How much experience do you think I’ve got in these matters? Armageddon only happens once, you know. They don’t let you go around again until you get it right.”

The angel stared out at the rushing hedgerows.

“It all seems so peaceful,” he said. “How do you think it will happen?”

“Well, thermonuclear extinction has always been very popular. Although I must say the big boys are being quite polite to each other at the moment.”

“Asteroid strike?” said Aziraphale. “Quite the fashion these days, I understand. Strike into the Indian Ocean, great big cloud of dust and vapor, goodbye all higher life forms.”

“Wow,” said Crowley, taking care to exceed the speed limit. Every little bit helped.

“Doesn’t bear thinking about it, does it,” said Aziraphale gloomily.

“All the higher life forms scythed away, just like that.”

“Terrible.”

“Nothing but dust and fundamentalists.”

“That was nasty.”

“Sorry. Couldn’t resist it.”

They stared at the road.

“Maybe some terrorist—?” Aziraphale began.

“Not one of ours,” said Crowley.

“Or ours,” said Aziraphale. “Although ours are freedom fighters, of course.”

“I’ll tell you what,” said Crowley, scorching rubber on the Tadfield bypass. “Cards on the table time. I’ll tell you ours if you tell me yours.”

“All right. You first.”

“Oh, no. You first.”

“But you’re a demon.”

“Yes, but a demon of my word, I should hope.”

Aziraphale named five political leaders. Crowley named six. Three names appeared on both lists.

“See?” said Crowley. “It’s just like I’ve always said. They’re cunning buggers, humans. You can’t trust them an inch.”

“But I don’t think any of ours have any big plans afoot,” said Aziraphale. “Just minor acts of ter— political protest,” he corrected.