A few Second Edeners stood and guided the new arrivals to open spaces on the meadow, though they kept the area around the stage clear. When Billy and Bonnie stepped out of the forest, Cliffside met them and bowed from the waist, his body glowing brightly. He offered a trembling smile, tears in his eyes. “I have the great honor of escorting you to your places.” He turned around and curled an arm at each side. “If you are ready.”
Billy took Cliffside’s left arm, and Bonnie took his right. As they walked across the grass, the people who were already seated began to rise. Some moved their blankets out of the way to create an aisle. Those closer stood first, followed by those farther away, as if drawn to their feet by the approaching trio.
Billy forced his weak legs to stay steady. This show of honor and respect seemed strange. What had he and Bonnie done to deserve all this? Bonnie looked relaxed as she smiled and waved a wing at the staring children.
A dark-skinned father held an oriental girl and used his fingers to make her wave back at Bonnie. The girl, wearing a frilly pink dress, just stared. A female Latino teenager hiked a diapered white baby higher on her shoulder and smiled. A tear trickled down her cheek as she mouthed, “Thank you.”
“Thank you?” Billy repeated to Bonnie.
“Walter told the story about our battle against Arramos and how we kept him out of Second Eden. The story got around. You can figure out the rest.”
“Walter told the story.” Billy nodded. “That explains everything. I guess he kind of embellished it a bit.”
“Oh, he told the truth. He just did it with a dramatic flair, and the story kind of grew on its own after that.”
When they reached the open area in front of the knoll, Cliffside stopped and released their arms. He turned toward them and bowed. “Stand here, please, and face the people.”
Billy and Bonnie pivoted. Cliffside walked along the aisle, his arms swinging as if he had just heard wonderful news. The people kept their eyes fixed forward. Smiles grew. Children swayed, as if dancing. Anticipation thickened.
Sapphira Adi appeared in the aisle. Her hands folded at her waist, she walked forward and sang with a sweet alto.
While trapped in Hades, hope adrift,
I watched a saint forgive a fraud.
She cast her cares to God’s embrace
And leaned on shoulders strong and broad.
I ran to bridge o’er lava deep,
Set cross to flame, and cried aloud,
Jehova-Yasha, make me die
And cause your grace to be my shroud.
Then raise me up to holy light,
The corpse of Mara leave behind;
Sapphira Adi, I will be,
An Oracle who once was blind.
When she reached the front, she set her glowing hands in Bonnie’s. “Now I have walked the streets of gold.” She rose to tiptoes and kissed Bonnie’s cheek. Her brilliant blue eyes glittering, she smiled. “Thank you for showing me the way.”
Bonnie kissed her in return. “And thank you for being my everlasting friend.”
A male voice sounded from the knoll. “Everyone pay heed!”
Billy and Bonnie turned. Elam stood at the top of the knoll and shouted, “All dragons gather now.”
The sound of rustling and beating wings filled the air. A multitude of dragons flew from the forest, one white, some red, and some tawny, some of them glowing. They landed in the cleared area in front of the knoll and settled to their haunches.
As Elam rattled off their names, the dragons bowed their heads. “Shachar, Zera, Hilidan, Makaidos, Thigocia, Goliath, Roxil, Clefspeare, Hartanna, Legossi, and Firedda.”
“My dad and your mom are here,” Billy whispered. “But I didn’t think she’d be in dragon form.”
As Sapphira walked to the front of the knoll, she raised a fireball in her palm and waved it across the dragons, scattering sparks over them. “Welcome, friends. Not all dragons are here. Some, of course, chose the way of darkness, while others are here in their human forms.”
Elam stepped down and joined Sapphira. A light flashed at the top of the knoll and shimmered, starting at ground level and shooting skyward until it disappeared. Another shimmer ran down. It looked like a glowing elevator car shooting through a narrow crystalline shaft.
“I assume that’s Heaven’s Tower,” Billy whispered. “Very cool.”
Bonnie’s gaze locked on the sparkling shaft. “So that’s how our visitors from Heaven got here.”
When the shimmer reached the ground, a transparent door opened. A pulsing white light the size of a large pumpkin drifted out and settled atop the knoll. As it grew in size and brilliance, limbs sprouted along with wings and a long neck, all with reddish scales. Within seconds, it had transformed into a dragon. The color indicated a male, but the light blurred its face. When the shimmer cleared, the face came into focus.
Bonnie gasped. “Arramos!”
“Where is my sword?” Sir Barlow shouted from the crowd. “I knew I should have brought one!”
Arramos laughed. “Peace, friends. It is I, the real Arramos, the first dragon. I had this body long before Satan did. I came in this form to demonstrate a new ability the surviving dragons have been given.” As he spread his forelegs, his neck shortened, and his wings shrank. The spines on his head transformed into reddish-brown hair and the foreclaws into hands. Clothes stitched across his body and dressed him in typical Second Eden garb—beige leather tunic and pants with a belt wrapped around his narrow midsection.
Several in the crowd cried out, “Father Abraham!” Others shouted, “The Prophet!”
While everyone clapped hands or thumped tails, Abraham bowed. When he rose, he waved his arms. “You see that I am able to transform whenever I wish, including garments of my choice. The same gift has been granted to the living dragons as well, with the exception of Sorentine, who requested that she stay human forever so she could grow old as Tamara at the same rate as her new husband, Sir Winston Barlow. And Thigocia, who never received a human soul while on Earth, now has one.”
At that moment, Makaidos, Thigocia, Clefspeare, Hartanna, Roxil, and Firedda began shrinking. Within seconds they morphed into Timothy, Hannah, Jared, Irene, Abigail, and Dallas. Chatter and laughter broke out everywhere—in the midst of the crowd as well as between the dragons and newly transformed humans.
Billy’s heart thumped. Dad stood only a few steps away. Would it break protocol too terribly to run to him and hug him? He exhaled. The hugs would come soon.
He glanced at Bonnie. Her mouth hung partially open, and a tear spilled to her check. Obviously she wanted to leap forward and embrace her mother, who looked young, healthy, and vibrant, in spite of nearly dying only a few months ago.
When Abraham cleared his throat, everyone grew quiet. “Now for a startling revelation. Prepare for news of a wonderful miracle from above.” He extended an arm toward the forest. Two more dragons flew toward them, one red and one tawny. Both dipped and swayed in flight, as if unsure of where they were going.
Billy blinked. “They don’t look familiar.”
“Not to me either.” Bonnie narrowed her eyes. “Both are beautiful, though. Not a mark on either of them. Their scales are shiny and flawless.”
“And they fly like younglings. Kind of erratic. But they don’t look that young.”
As they descended toward the knoll, the anthrozils and the other dragons made room. When the duo landed and their wings settled, Abraham called out, “Tell us your names, dragon and dragoness.”
The male bowed his head. “My name is Hippocrates.”
“And mine is Fidelia.” She bowed her head as well.
Their gazes fixed on Billy and Bonnie, they began shrinking and transforming as the others had. Within seconds, Matthew Conner and Marilyn Bannister stood before them.
Bonnie rushed ahead and hugged her father. Irene joined in a three-way embrace. As they laughed and wept together, Billy tried to dash
ahead, but tremors shook his weak legs. Jared ran and caught him under his shoulders, then Marilyn slid her arms around them both and drew everyone into a tight hug.
Billy wept. His body shook as he looked into his parents’ teary eyes. “What happened? What’s going on?”
Marilyn pressed a shaky hand on Billy’s cheek and brushed away a tear. “A miracle I prayed for—a combination of water, life energy, birthing soil, and a bone of Makaidos. As soon as I figured out what happened, I told Bonnie’s father about it, and it worked for him, too.”
“Amazing!” Billy rubbed his mother’s back. No sign of wings. “Just … just amazing.”
Abraham spread out his arms again. “Let the only tears in Second Eden be tears of joy!” He gestured for the chatter to subside. “Now clear this area except for those who will take part in the crowning.”
Billy and Bonnie released their parents and resumed their positions as before, while the anthrozillic humans blended into the audience and the dragons who had not transformed flew toward the back of the crowd. Now only Abraham remained on the knoll. “Billy. Bonnie. Kneel, please.”
When they knelt, Abraham called out, “Now you will each choose someone to give you a crown and deliver your blessing. I ask that you choose someone who has ascended to Heaven, for such a person walks with angels and has seen the face of God. He or she can also return to visit you when needed for counsel.” He nodded toward Bonnie. “The lady will choose first. If you have not seen the one you wish to deliver the blessing, I will be able to call for that person’s presence.”
Still on her knees, Bonnie smiled. “That’s easy. The warrior with whom I spent four years preparing for battle. My dear friend, Sapphira Adi.”
Abraham let out a gentle laugh. “I thought you might name her, but the former queen cannot bless the new one. A proper royal blessing requires the perspective of someone who has never ascended to a throne.”
Bonnie looked up at Abraham. “I haven’t seen Joan here. Joan of Arc.”
“I will call for her.” Abraham turned to the crystalline tower and touched the surface. After a few seconds, a shimmer appeared in the sky and descended along the line of the tower. When it reached bottom, a ball of radiance floated out and glided down the knoll. It stopped in front of Bonnie and transformed into a petite blonde woman wearing a simple white dress that flowed loosely from neck to toes, the sleeves reaching past her elbows. Her youthful face’s creamy skin glowed.
Bonnie’s smile quivered. “Joan!”
“You called for me?” Joan grasped Bonnie’s wrists and kissed her cheek. “Mon ami! How am I qualified to deliver your crown and blessing?”
“Your counsel has been a source of wisdom for me ever since our years in Abaddon’s Lair.”
Joan’s French accent flowed in the gentle breeze. “I am gratified that my simple words have borne fruit.”
Bonnie bowed her head. “Then, please. Do me the honor.”
“Very well.” Joan laid her hands on Bonnie’s head. “Years ago I told you to speak the truth, live the truth, and be the truth, to never let the faithless ones change any of those three principles. I planted those seeds, others watered them, and God made them grow. It is clear that you are fertile ground, ready to receive wisdom and bear fruit a hundredfold. So I know that only a few words are necessary, and they need to be said only once.”
Joan looked at the audience, her eyes shining. “A queen’s garments are to be frayed at the knees from prayer and service. Her hands are to be calloused and familiar with bearing the burdens of others. Her feet are to be shod with merciful missions. And her tongue is to be trained to speak messages of peace and goodwill. As you allow these new seeds to sprout and grow, the fruit of wise and noble citizens will follow.”
Joan lifted her hands and backed away. Whispers rose from the audience. On each side of Bonnie’s head, a streak of white hair ran through her braids to the back.
“Crowns in Second Eden,” Abraham said, “contain no gold, no jewels, no signs of wealth or material standing. You will wear a symbol of wisdom, the mark of those who have gained the sagacity that accompanies age and experience.” He nodded at Billy. “And your choice?”
“Without a doubt …” Billy turned his head and called out, “Professor Charles Hamilton.”
The professor, still bearing his youthful persona, rose from the last row and ambled forward. As he approached, wrinkles formed on his face, and his dark hair turned gray. When he arrived, he stepped between Billy and the knoll, looked him in the eye, and whispered, “William, I have very little to say that I have not already said to you in the past.”
“Even a little is a lot from you, Professor.” Billy gave him a confirming nod. “I want to hear it.”
“Of course. As you wish.” He laid his hands on Billy’s head and spoke with a resonating voice. “I once told you that God always provides a light that will guide you in the way you should go, no matter how dark it seems. You have journeyed through some of the darkest regions the world has ever produced, and by following the light you have broken through to a new day in which every man, woman, and child has the light dwelling within. Those dark days are over, and light will reign in this realm forevermore, with you, the prophesied returning of King Arthur, finally on the proverbial throne. Yet, even with darkness purged and a crown of wisdom on your head, you must continue to grow in that wisdom. That journey of the faithful ones never ends.”
Professor Hamilton backed away, joined hands with Joan, and ascended the knoll. Billy glanced at Bonnie. She pulled her lips in, as if suppressing a grin, likely indicating that he, too, had gained white streaks in his hair.
Abraham nodded. “Billy and Bonnie. Rise and turn to your people.”
When they rose and turned, Abraham called out, “Citizens of Second Eden, I present to you your new king and queen, Billy and Bonnie Bannister.”
As the people applauded, Billy’s grogginess came back. The rest of the celebration seemed to pass by in a fog. After joy-filled farewells, the visitors from Heaven entered the elevator and zipped up the tower. Billy and Bonnie returned to the picnic tables to help with the cleanup, but everything had already been put away.
After spending some time with their parents, Billy walked with Bonnie to the house he had awakened in, a humble cottage with three bedrooms—one for them, one for Matt, and one for Lauren. In the cozy living room, all four settled on a sofa, each with a mug of hot chocolate as they looked out a picture window at a storm of red, green, and purple lights generated by fireflies.
Bonnie explained that Ashley resurrected dead fireflies using regeneracy sparks she collected when she drew Matt and Listener from the candlestone. Although the sparks had since dissipated, maybe more could be created for future resurrection experiments.
She went on to explain that the revived photoreceptors in the anthrozils allowed them to transform whenever they chose. In the past, the birthing garden was able to give the choice when energized by the bone of Makaidos. Now the power to choose had become permanent.
While Bonnie, Matt, and Lauren chatted and laughed, Billy stayed quiet most of the time. The relaxing atmosphere was heavenly. Matt and Lauren held hands, finally able to enjoy each other’s company in peace. Bonnie’s wings stayed exposed with no concern about Enforcers. After so much turmoil, it seemed surreal, almost like a dream that might end at any moment.
When Matt and Lauren went to bed, Billy and Bonnie strolled outside. After being in a coma for months, sleeping now seemed less than desirable.
Lantern light shone near the edge of the forest. Hand in hand, they walked toward it. Pegasus and Phoenix shone in the sky at opposite ends of the horizon. Walter and Ashley sat at one of the picnic tables, their faces illuminated by moonlight and the lantern’s flickering wick.
Billy and Bonnie sat at the table’s other side. “I hope you don’t mind company,” Billy said.
“Not at all.” Ashley stared at a handheld computer. “I’m
just checking on updates from Larry and Lois. They’re mobile now, like land rovers with wide treads. They’re exploring frontier areas—relaying soil samples, air quality, that sort of thing.”
“They look like little tanks,” Walter said, “but Ashley wouldn’t put guns on them, you know, in case of a wolf attack or something.”
“They’ll be fine.” Ashley turned off the computer and slid it out of sight. “Last month we put them in the Valley of Shadows to see if they could find any trace of the shadow people. Nothing. Looks like they’re gone forever.”
They all sat and watched the lantern’s flame. Spider frogs peeped. Crickets chirped. A soft breeze blew. The aroma of gardenias drifted by, a scent that once carried fear but now brought delight. Billy sighed. The peace and tranquility felt good, but something was missing, something important. Might it be … adventure? Purpose?
“By the way …” Walter reached out and flicked Billy’s hair. “I like the white streaks, Gramps.”
Billy combed with his fingers to straighten the mess. “Because it’s dignified?”
“No. Because I get to call you Gramps.” Walter nodded toward the cottage. “And with your kids growing up so fast, maybe you’ll really be a grandpa soon. I’m guessing three years. Five years tops. Ashley gave Listener a full physical, and her reproductive system looks perfect.”
Ashley swatted his arm. “Walter, that’s getting way too personal.”
“Just sharing the good news.” He shrugged. “Anyway, no new birthing plants have sprouted for a while, so it looks like Second Edeners are going to learn a new way to have babies.”
“We hope without the pain,” Ashley added. “I haven’t had even a moment of sickness with my pregnancy, and a pregnant Second Edener has had the same experience, so it looks promising.”
“That’s good news.” Billy shrugged. “Actually, I’m kind of looking forward to being a grandfather. It’ll give us something to do.”
“Something to do?” Walter’s brow knitted. “What do you mean?”