Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 18:02:24 -0500
From: Tom Cup <tom_cup@hotmail.com>
Subject: Angel -  Chapter 12 G/M Y/A

Angel By Tom Cup
Copyright 2000, 2001 by the Paratwa Partnership: A Colorado Corporation. All
rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means electronic or mechanical, except in the case of reviews, without
written permission from the Paratwa Partnership, Inc, 354 Plateau Drive,
Florissant, CO 80816

This is a fictional story involving youth/youth or adult/youth sexual
relationships. If this type of material offends you, please do not read any
further. This material is intended for mature adult audiences. Names,
characters, locations and incidents are either the product of the author's
imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events or
locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
************************************************************************

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************************************************************************
Angel
By Tom Cup
Chapter 12

The road dead-ended suddenly.  The boys looked at one another. Marge opened
the car door and stepped out.

"Are we lost?" asked Zachy.

Marge scanned the scene before her.  Tall pines and aspens covered the hilly
landscape. She squinted; searching for a path, a sign, or anything that
proved someone had been there.  Then she found it. It was just a glint but
it was all she needed.

"Come on, it's this way."

"How do you know?" asked Elijah.

"Telephone cables.  The couldn't hide the cables."

The boys marveled at the old woman.  They were tired after forty-five
minutes of climbing in and out of the rocky crags. They climbed up and over
hills; down into valleys; through thorny underbrush, always keeping their
eyes on the wires.  Marge showed no signs of tiring.  Each time they crawled
over an outcropping - thinking surely where they were going was just on the
other side, this time, and were disappointed, - the old woman continued on
showing not sign of disappointment.  If she can do it, Elijah thought, then
so can we.  He glanced back at his brother and smiled.  Zachy smiled back.

It took two hours for them to come to the spot where they could hear the
chanting.  Marge's pace increased.  The boys kept up. They rounded a bend
and came face to face with the precipice.  Marge stopped.  She watched as
the three men held hands and prayed.

"Look," whispered Elijah, "It's Darcy. They found Darcy."

"Hush now or you'll give us away."

"But..."

"Hush I said."

The men prayed.  Darcy moved behind the tree he was leaning against.  Marge
watched.  She signaled the boys to follow her quietly. Darcy moved slowly,
at first, back toward the way they had come.  Then he turned, making a half
circle, and headed for the monastery. Marge and the boys followed.

Darcy never looked back. Marge understood that he knew where he was going.
He's been here before, Marge thought.  The sounds of the chants grew louder.
They rounded the corridor and headed for the main sanctuary.  Standing in
front of them was Angel.

*****

"Thank you for your love and forgiveness," Cornelius said.

"It is not we you need to thank," answered Peter.  James nodded in
agreement.

"Still, I thank you.  Now for the business at hand."

"Where's Darcy?" James asked.

The three men glanced quickly around the surrounding area, then at one
another, and then at the monastery.  They all felt sick to their stomachs.
Cornelius took a deep breath.  He clenched his fist and headed toward the
building.  The others followed.

*****

The children stared at Jonathan.  Jonathan looked at each of them again.
Beautiful all, he thought.  He glanced at the door he entered.  He looked
again at the children.  OK, he thought, if this is why I'm here, I'd better
get a move on.

"Hold hands."

He placed the youngest children first and led them through the corridor.  He
stopped once to gain his bearings. He led them to the garden gate and showed
the oldest the path up the precipice.

"Where are you going?" the boy asked.

"To find Angel.  You take everyone to the top and wait there for us."

"Angel said you'd stay with us."

"I know.  I won't be long.  Please do as I ask.  You'll be safe up there."

The boy looked toward the path and then at Jonathan.  Jonathan smiled trying
to reassure him.

"Go on.  Angel and I will be right behind you."

The boy nodded and led the children to the path.  Jonathan watch until they
disappeared from sight.  Then he turned back toward the monastery.  I am not
leaving without you, he thought.  He head for the main sanctuary.  He didn't
know why but he knew that Angel would be there.  Whatever the boy was
planning centered around that room.  They had accomplished enough.  The
children were safe.  There was no reason for Angel to sacrifice himself.  I
will find him and we will leave this place.  We will take the children and
live to fight another day.  But even as he thought the thought he knew in
his soul it was not true.  I could not leave you Angel.  You warned me but I
could not leave you.

He nearly ran into Marge and the two boys.  He glanced at them only a moment
before seeing Angel standing in front of the door to the sanctuary.  He
recognized Darcy, the boy that accused Angel.  How did he get here?  How did
he know about this place? Angel's eyes were fixed on the boy.  If Angel knew
any of the others were there, he gave no sign of it.  Darcy was visibly
shaken.  Angel looked fierce. His clothes began to radiate with light. He
grew until his head touched the cathedral ceiling. His bright wings unfolded
to fill the room.  And then he vanished.

It would have been a dream if not for the nightmarish scream that came from
Darcy's throat.  Marge moved quickly.  She grabbed the boy from behind and
covered his mouth.  Darcy did not struggle.  His eyes were locked were Angel
once stood. There was silence.  No more chanting.  Jonathan realized the
danger.  He grabbed Darcy and flung him over his shoulder.

"Run."

*****

Cornelius stopped. They heard the scream and now heard the hurried footsteps
approaching.  The alarm bells were ringing.  They hid in an alcove, not
knowing what else to do.  They watched as the young priest ran with a limp
Darcy over his shoulder.  They saw the two boys followed by the old woman.
Then they saw Angel.  He stopped at the alcove and motioned them to follow.

How they made it to the garden gate none of them knew.  They turned to see
priests and nuns flowing into the garden. There was rage in their eyes as
they moved toward the small ban of intruders.

"Get them to the precipice," Angel said.

The group stared at one another.  Angel moved through them toward the
on-coming mob.

"What are you doing?" Cornelius asked.

Angel past him and stood an equal distance between the two groups.  Jonathan
handed Darcy to Father Cornelius. He walked toward were Angel stood.

"Go!" came Angel's voice, "and don't look back."

Marge tugged on Cornelius' sleeve.  The group began moving toward the path.
They climbed slowly but steady. They expected to be caught at any moment.
Their hearts beat wildly in their chests. Marge was thanking God for sending
his angels to watch over them. When they reached the plateau, they found the
other children.

"What is going on here?" Peter asked.

"I don't have time to explain," Jonathan said, "All I can tell you is that
these are Angel's brothers and sisters.  At least that's what he told me."

"Not good enough," stated James.

"Very well.  I'll tell you what I know but we better keep moving."

Darcy stirred and Cornelius sat the boy on the ground. He looked around at
the group.  His eyes focused on the oldest boy, the one the looked so much
like Angel they could have been twins. He scampered back against Cornelius.
Cornelius held the boy steady as they walked. They listened as Jonathan told
them what he had seen in the basement of the monastery.

"They're not going to just let us walk away with that information." Peter
said.

"No they're not." Jonathan answered. "Angel is stopping them."

"Angel," Cornelius gasped, "Why did we leave him there to face them alone?"

"Angel's al lright," Elijah said. Marge and Zachy nodded.

"Is there something else we should know?" Peter asked.

"Nothing you're going to believe," Jonathan said.

"Oh? Brother, we are in the believing business."

Darcy began to weep as they told of what they had seen at the sanctuary
door.  Cornelius held on to the boy as they climbed.  The men took turns
questioning Jonathan.  They learned that he was a new initiate to The Order
as everyone called it.

"When Angel spoke, I heard truth.  I had to help him.  We escaped and he
brought me to this monastery."

"Wait a minute," Cornelius said, "You mean this isn't where you gathered to
question the boy?"

"No that is about three days walk from here as near as I can figure."

"Darcy," Cornelius said.

"I'm sorry," Darcy said, "He told me he was evil.  He told me I should stop
him."

"Who told you?"

"Brother Lucas."

"And he told you to bring me here."

"Yes," Darcy cried, "After I was initiated and before they let me go, he
brought me here."

"There's our missing time," Peter said.

"I thought he was evil.  I thought he was having sex.  Bad sex.  But he's an
angel.  I saw him.  How can an angel have sex? I don't know.  I think I'm
going to hell."

Cornelius understood.  It had been a trap.  Darcy led them into a trap. But
Angel saved them. The monastery would be empty by the time they got out and
told anyone.  The Church would deny any involvement, or knowledge, of the
activities in the monastery.  The burial vault would still be there and
there would be a sandal but how many scandals of that nature had the Church
endured?  The thirteen children they recovered would prove nothing.  They
may have already been listed as missing by the Church.  Cornelius knew the
chances were high that they were.  We bring them forward and it's, `thanks
for recovering our lost ones,' and they are never seen again.  The Church
would cover its bases.  So whatever these children have endured they will
deny any part.  They will separate themselves from the horror of their
deeds. We will be the real criminals.  We will be the ones accused of
kidnapping, of child molestation. Didn't we take Darcy illegally?  Didn't I
confess in front of the boy that I lay with Angel and wanted more? We are
trapped.

"But you're not Cornelius."

"Angel!" sang a chorus of voices

"You're free. You know the truth now. You know the Church is not free from
sin. You will never again follow it blindly."

"Angel we'll be excommunicated and arrested the moment we return. They have
won."

"How can they win when so many know the truth?"

"I am shame of how I thought of you."

"The same old confusions, Cornelius?  And you Jonathan, are you ashamed of
the love we shared?"

"Never!" Jonathan said.

"Why must you separate the body from the spirit and soul?  Why must you
punish yourselves for loving the feel of flesh against flesh?"

"You don't understand," protested Cornelius."

"But I do.  You think if I had appeared as a man you could accept your
attraction to me."

"Yes that's it."

"Zachy do you love your brother?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"With all my heart, soul, strength and mind."

"You see Cornelius.  This child knows more about love than you do.  You
would love me with your heart but would deny me your strength -- your body.
How is this?  You paint pictures of John laying in the bosom of Christ but
deny the comfort of each other's bodies."

"Is that what this has been about?" asked Marge, "Homosexuality?"

"No Marge.  It has been about forgiveness and love.  It has been a reminder
that if you don't forgive your supposed weaknesses, you are never free to
love. For you it has been about your son whom you gave away long ago and
prayed to see again before you died.  This is your son.  James this is your
mother.  This has been about love.  True love and the power it holds if only
you are willing to release it."

"What are we to teach? That life is one big orgy," said Peter, "Feel free to
have sex with whoever you wish -- age doesn't matter!"

Angel laughed.  "I leave it to you to work out the details.  But I tell you
this; God will have an answer from those that forbid children to love. God
is love.  God withholds nothing when he loves -- not even his body.  Go and
do likewise."

"But what of marriage and..." Cornelius said.

"What of it?"

"I mean we can't go around marrying men!"

"Why not?

"I think you know the answer to that."

"Then don't marry anyone."

"What?"

"Be as the angels in heaven that neither marry nor give in marriage."

"Then how will we know... you know...how will we know when two people are
committed to one another?"

"You will know them by their love. And Cornelius I never said it would be
only two."

"You can't mean..."

"Do not the scriptures tell of multiple relationships?  Why is this so hard
for you to grasp?  Can a man love more than one person and be committed to
each?  Yes!  You love your father and mother, your sisters and brothers, and
see no conflict but talk of marriage and there can only be two. You humans
are strange."

"And so angels look in on us and marvel."

"Angel," James said, "I understand some of what you are saying but..."

"I know James.  What I am telling you will turn the world upside down.  It
will make outcast of you.  You will be put into prison. You will be scorned
and mocked.  You may even lose your life.  You were ready to do those things
for a lie, why are you unwilling to do them for the truth?"

"The new apostles," said Peter, "Apostles of Sexuality and Love."

"Yes, Peter. And on this rock I will build my church."

They all laughed uneasily.  Angel was gone.

*****

Dubricius stood in the papal office.  His back was to the man called the
Holy Father. The room was dark. Dubricius waited as the man finished his
prayers.

"Are you finished?"

"Yes, Dubricius. I am. I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"You are called to prayer.  I have a church to run."

"Yes, of course.  What can I do?"

"Have things been taken care of at the monastery?"

"Yes, we have already sent our investigators to the scene. We have issued a
statement of regret and outrage."

"The Boy's home?"

"Disbanded.  Brother Lucas has been reassigned to an undisclosed location."

"Excellent."

"I still don't understand why we let the other's go.  We could have had them
all picked up and charged with kidnapping at the very least."

"And they would have told their story.  Most people would have disregarded
it as a fanciful tale but some would have believed.  They would become
victims -- martyrs.  No, the situation is contained.  They have their small
flock.  They will remain silent to protect them."

"But the children.  We lost the children."

"There are others. Do not forget: to control mankind we must control their
thinking.  We must not allow them to have the information that they need to
be truly free."

"And the one they called Angel?"

"Yes.  We must watch for signs of his return.  He could undo everything we
have worked for from the beginning of time. Proceed as ordered.  By every
means, make every cause an issue of protecting children. The more children
under our protection the more minds we will control."

"Perhaps we should proclaim this as the "Age of the Child."

"Yes, my son.  Now you understand. And remember, there is no need to pray
when I am with you." The pope bowed. Dubricius vanished.

*****

Bishop Albright raised his hands to give his finally blessing. Elijah and
Zachy stepped forward and throw flowers into the grave.  Father Kennedy
wiped a tear from his eye.

"Good-bye mother."

"I'm sorry, James," Cornelius said.  Darcy stood beside him, holding his
hand.

"Thank you."

"What will you do now?" Jonathan asked.  Michael, the boy that looked like
Angel, held his hand and looked lovingly at his face as he spoke.

"I think I'll preach what Angel taught -- out there."

"Don't be a fool, James," Peter said, "We all heard and saw so we
understand.  The world will never understand.  Stay with us."

"What good is all we have learned if we don't share it?  No, I must go. It
is what my mother wanted. It's what he wanted."

"OK," said Peter, "Then I'll go with you. Jonathan and Cornelius can watch
over the children.  Besides, I doubt if Darcy or Michael would agree to let
them out of their sight."

"I don't want you to go," Darcy said looking into Cornelius' eyes, "Please.
I can't bear what I almost did, and if I lose you now, I don't know what I'd
do."

"We want to go with you," Elijah said.  Zachy nodded his head.

"I don't think that is wise," James said.

"He taught us first," Zachy said.

"Besides who's going to help you when you fall and can't get up?" Elijah
asked.

"Are you calling me old?" James asked feigning hurt.

Elijah stepped forward and hugged him.  Peter patted the boy on the head and
looked at James.  James smiled.

"We could be a family," James observed.

"Who's the mom and who's the dad?" Peter asked.

"You're both," said Zachy.

"Yeah," said Elijah, "In Christ there is no male or female, just one new
creation."

"They're right!" laughed Cornelius, "You better take them along."

"I still don't get something," said Jonathan, "Angel said that these
children were his brothers and sisters. Royal stock.  What do you suppose he
meant by that?"

"It could be figurative," offered Cornelius, "In the spiritual since.  Like
when we call Christ our brother."

"I wonder why I look so much like him," said Michael.

"I think he looked like you," James offered, "I think he took on your
appearance."

"Yeah, but why?"

"I don't know Michael.  May be someday we'll figure it out.  But right now
we need to focus on bring some tolerance to this world.  We have to help
people understand that it is OK to share their love.  We have to help them
understand that the body is not evil; that sex isn't evil."

"That for sure," Darcy said, "They sure had me believing sex was bad.  How
could I be so stupid?"

"You weren't stupid Darcy," James said, "You were deceived.  You tell
someone long enough something is bad and they will believe it.  Then you
tell them they can have that thing but only under certain conditions and
they think you are doing them a favor.  They never stop to think that you
were lying to them in the beginning. Angel set us free.  He showed us the
lie."

"I still wish I could've been his friend," Darcy said.

"Don't worry, son," Cornelius said gently kissing him, "I know he loves
you."

Darcy smiled.

************************************************************************
Thanks to all that have read and commented on Part 1 of this story. Part 2
will be issued to the Tom Cup Library in the coming weeks. As always, your
comments have been heart felt and welcomed.  I did want to state that I am
well aware of my departure from standard theology.  I was (am) a student of
hermeneutics and apologetics so I did enjoy the theological debates that
many of you issued.  It didn't change my mind. I am convinced that the
Church's pseudo-doctrine in the area of sexuality has done, and continues to
do, unwarranted harm. That is my opinion and of course you are welcome to
yours.  However, I must point out, with as much love a possible, that some
part of you must feel the same or else you would not be here reading this
story.  My goal with this story, as with all my writing, is to bring about
dialog that leads to understanding and healing. So if you found comfort in
these words, if they made you stop and reconsider your position, or if they
solidified your thoughts on the subject then I consider that a compliment.

All my love,

Tom

************************************************************************

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