Flux

Bible tells me so.”
    “Still; not everything in the book is to be taken literally.”
    “So you don’t believe in what you preach now?”
    “Of course I do. It’s like everything else in life, not quite black and white. The Bible’s full of stories and teachings to help us make a better life. The apocalypse is only one end.”
    “Nah, I think it’s time for God to punish us.”
    “What for?”
    “Take a look around. There’s not much good left in the world is there?”
    “There is good everywhere: You simply have to open your eyes to it.”
    “All I see is bad.”
    “I can assure you. The end is definitely not nigh.”
    “How can you be sure?”
    Tim couldn’t. He looked into Iain’s eyes with a look of deep sympathy. “I know it’s difficult, but you have to keep faith.”
    “In what?”
    “In God.”
    “I am. Looks like you’re the one who’s faltering.”
    Tim sighed, shoulders sagging slightly like a slowly deflating balloon. Iain saw the wind go from his sails.
    “I’m sorry, ” said Iain. He hadn’t meant to cause any offence.
    “That’s quite OK. I think I have some questions for myself.”
    “Am I forgiven?”
    “It’s my job.” Tim smiled and the tension eased.
    After chatting for a while longer, Iain rose to leave. “Try not to worry, I don’t think the world’s due for ending just yet,” he said.
    “I hope you find your answers.” The clergyman replied with sincerity.

    After Iain’s departure, Tim sat contemplating questions of faith and the predicament of his former patient when a foul odour filled the chapel. Slowly rising he turned around and grew pale at the sight of Bert standing near the small altar with a murderous glint in his eye. Beside him crouched the giant gargoyle from Iain’s dream.
    Bert smiled and Tim’s eyes grew wide at the realization of what he was confronting. He traced the sign of the cross across his chest. The beast pounced, tearing out the jugular to make a quick, efficient kill before the clergyman could utter even the tiniest squeak of a scream. Then it feasted on Tim’s holy flesh and lapped spilt blood from the hard laminate flooring. Its maw was soaked red.
    The forensics team which came to investigate the death, concluded that the teeth marks were human in origin.

    Of course Iain knew nothing of this as he made his way home; disappointed that not even a man of the cloth could see the signs which were all around, and wondering how he was to warn all the peoples of the world of their imminent demise. Deep down, he knew it was folly. If he’d failed to convince a supposed believer, then what were the chances of getting others to listen? It was an impossible task, but on the other hand, how could he stand idle and do nothing?

Chapter Twenty-Nine
    Manic Street Preacher

    With thoughts of how to convince the population playing heavily on his mind, it was with more than a little despondency that Iain alighted the bus a couple of stops early to fetch the day’s newspapers. Walking home with them in a carrier bag and yet again ignoring the letters piling up by the front door, he trawled through the pages looking for fresh articles. Upon finding something of interest he carefully cut out the piece and pinned it next to the map along with the others. He stared at the map for a while, trying to make sense of it all.
    Was there a possibility he could be wrong; that the world would carry on as normal and recent events were just a figment of his troubled imagination? He didn’t think so.
    The now familiar odour of shit reached his nostrils. “What do you want?” Iain asked before even turning around, in no mood for the old man’s company.
    “That’s no way to greet a friend!”
    Iain snorted.
    “You look troubled.” The old man enquired, sounding sincere but Iain very much doubted he was. However, with nobody else to turn to, Bert at least presented someone to confide in.
    “I think the world is ending!”
    “Yes, I know!”
    “What?” Iain was taken aback by the bluntness of the response.
    “Of course it is. Even a blind man can see that.”
    “Then why is it only me? Why will no one listen?”
    “Because they don’t want to admit it. People would rather die oblivious.”
    “I have to warn them.”
    “Why? There’s nothing you can do anyway.”
    “There has to be?”
    “Have you considered our proposition?”
    “What proposition?”
    “To join us.”
    “Why would I do that?”
    “Because when judgement day does