"After I first descended there was kind of a time when I wasn't sure what to do next. Yeah, I have to consider things too,
sometimes. The world's governments pretty well fell into chaos, and as soon as word got out there was a lot of religious upheaval
and talk of armageddon and such. I figured I should hang around and calm it all down.
I remained at the vatican most of the time, except for excursions to just enjoy the world I created. I spent my free time
in solitude, but now that you're here I can at least have a day with people I don't owe anything to." She smiled to Trent
and he realized just how lucky he was. He could feel that she had sensed his doubt, and it seemed by her words that she might
have deleted him from existence had she desired to without any problems for her. Being so completely powerless and without
understanding was foreign to him, but this wasn't a situation where he considered it to be a bad thing.
It was a surprise to Celia and Matt, therefor, when he spoke.
"I'd like to know more, if it would please you to tell us."
The woman almost giggled and made an appreciative gesture before continuing her story. "At first it was magical. Muslims,
Jews, Budhists, Christians and Hindus all came to see me and to worship. The Scientologists were pretty pissed off though
when I told them what Lucifer's been doing to L. Ron Hubbard for the past decades, but other than that yeah, it was nice.
But soon I started to get visits from leaders, C.E.O.s, you know, the scum of the earth. And when one came, all of their
rivals would come next. It was like being the sole parent of a particularly competitive family. They take up a great deal
of my time trying to get help in changing things on a grand scale, always towards their own interests. And soon, between the
meetings they begged and schemed to get, I had no more time for walking in the forrests or seeing to the small myracles that
really matter most. I havn't had the time to create a really perfect sunset in years...
The worst part though is that people will say things to an abstract idea that they could never say to an embodiment of
that idea. For instance, you would never say to my face that you once considered engaging in coitus with a bag of French roast."
The deity said, looking at Matt.
"Only once!" He said indignantly as he met the accusing stares of his companions.
"It was a weird time for me ok? And it's not as though I would have sold it afterwards. Starbucks has very strict policies
against selling coffee that you've had sex with..." This did nothing to abate the suspicious looks of his friends.
"I felt awful for even having contemplated it, and I never really thought about it again until now..." He said as if to
further distance himself from the prospective action.
It was the Goddess who broke a rather uncomfortable moment of silence. "I know. It's the things like that, a bit of inner
strength that allows you to deny a temptation, that really please me. I only brought it up because I thought it might get
a laugh. And besides, I'm sure you feel better knowing it was forgiven as soon as you thought it." Matt smiled a bit and murmured.
"Thank you."
"Jenova" Was the reply, which drew curious glances from all present.
"That's my name, if we're to talk as friends you can't very well be calling me by my title." She said in a merry tone.
They talked on as friends late into the evening. Their speach was no longer limited to cosmic matters, but they began to
exchange words as they would have if it had simply been a regular woman with them. Soon after what all three agreed was a
lovely sunset Trent and company were required to go to sleep, which thorougly delighted Jenova.
"I like to watch people sleep, you know. I'm sure it sounds a bit creepy, but you all look so peaceful and good. People
are very good when they sleep without ever having to do anything. Don't worry about anything, I've decided it won't rain tonight
and no one will bother you."
"I thought you said you didn't have to watch after visitors from other worlds?" Matt asked.
"Oh I don't, but I've decided I will." She smiled to them and they said their goodnights. The rest they shared atop the
soft grass was more refreshing than anything in their lives. They all woke fortified and prepared for whatever was to come.
They made their breakfast and generally enjoyed the scenery until Jenova called them all together and began to speak.
"It's very nearly time for you three to leave me here. You have a long journey ahead of you before you can return home.
I wish you the best of luck. May I or my local equivalent be with you." She said with a laugh, trying to create a silly atmosphere
so that they might be more comfortable leaping off into the unknown.
"Wait a second you said you could only see what was in our minds and not our futures. So how do you know we have a long
journey ahead of us?" Celia inquired with mirth, easily grasping her hostess' purposes.
"It's a purposeful vaguery. You might return home tomorrow but you'd still have the journey of life before you. And if
the dimension you go to next has no air pressure and you pop like baloons you'll have the long journey of the afterlife ahead
of you. So basically, as it is in all things, no matter what happens I'm right." She said with a satisfied grin.
"So that means Nostradaumus was God too huh?" Trent asked playfully.
"When you're being vague because you don't know anything you're not really a prophet. When you're being vague to keep others
from messing up the grand design, that's something."
At this moment Matt, ever the alert one, pointed down the hill to a large group that was fast approaching the hill they
had come to rest atop. He pointed down to them and then looked to Jenova Plaintively, but she simply shook her head in a dismissive
manner.
Trent on the other hand was still too busy with the mock-battle of wits. "What if our journey were to end here, wouldn't
that change the design a bit?" Celia and Matt seemed just as enthused at this prospect, but Jenova surely wasn't.
"You know you might have a point, but then again I am God and I havn't smited anyone in years, so you'd better get going
before I decide to make with the smiting!" The Goddess was growing more and more irritable as the gaggle of what now appeared
to be well dressed men drew nearer and the three adventurers began to move away. The last glimpse they caught was of several
middle aged white men grapling with eachother and tossing one another down the other side of the hill, ties flapping about
in their tumbles.
As Celia and Matt disappeared through the portal shaking their heads Trent watched the leaders of the world bicker over
who would be first to gain knowledge and power by claiming an audience with Goddess. They didn't desire to know divine truths,
or to understand the morality of the world. They wanted to gain God's favor in the same way that they wanted to gain bigger
bombs, and greater armies. Even God on earth couldn't change the nature of humanity.
Trent locked eyes with the woman, who was doing her best to part the prime ministers of India and China. He suddenly wanted
to fall on his knees as his friends had done and tell her that, though she might no longer have corporeal form on any world
he visited, she would still maintain a place within his heart, and that more than that wasn't needed. She gave him a smile
that communicated more than could possibly be written. Without further notice she began to descend upwards in a column of
sunlight. Trent made his farewells with more grace than any of the other men on the hill, and then disappeared unnoticed into
the portal.
On to Ch 21
