“If the trick didn’t work, I would have.”
“So you say now. The important thing is that God has a message for you. Are you ready to hear it?”
Nothing good has ever come from anything that begins with “God has a message for you.”
“Sure.”
“He invites you to join him in Heaven, as a warrior or simply a resident. He also says that you know he could compel you to come, but he won’t do that. You may come to the golden city with us right now, but it must be your choice.”
“Free will. It always comes down to free will, doesn’t it?”
“Always.”
This isn’t what I was expecting to hear. I was ready for more of a “Thanks for not killing too many of the wrong people, now keep the hell out of the way, the grown-ups have work to do.”
I look over at Traven and the remains of the dog pack.
“Tell Mr. Muninn thanks, but I’ll stay Downtown.”
“Jim. No,” says Alice. “What are you trying to prove anymore? And don’t start in on the Abomination bullshit. If God doesn’t care, no one else will either.”
“First off, yes they will. If I know anything about angels, it’s that they’re a snooty bunch. Present company excepted.”
“Thank you,” says Vehuel.
I look at Alice.
“Second, I know that you’re all right. They like you up there and you can kick angel ass. That’s about as good as it gets. But third, there’s people down here who deserve better.”
Traven says, “Stark, don’t be a fool.”
“Until they can go, I can’t go.”
Alice says, “You are such an asshole.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
“What about me?” she says. “I’m just supposed to say ‘It’s been nice. See you around’ and just leave you here? If you don’t go, I don’t go.”
“Now who’s being an asshole?”
“Tough. I’m staying.”
“You’re a warrior now. You can’t do that from here.”
“Which is why you should come with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Please be quiet, both of you,” says Vehuel. “I don’t know how Heaven could ever stand the two of you at the same time. But I know it must.”
I get up.
“My mind is made up.”
“So is mine,” says Alice.
Vehuel says, “Might I point out something to you both.”