"Jessica Palmer - Heavenly Bodies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Palmer Jessica)

And it was huge!
Then her mind focused on his words.
"... No, your mother won't be waking up. I made sure of that... . "
And Mary didn't wait any longer; she threw off the covers and ran
screaming from the room.
"... I granted her blessed sleep and sweet dreams. I ... I ... Mary? Mary?
Are you there, Mary?"
Gabriel shifted under the weight of his wings. "Well, I say! The cheek of
the maid!"
Then the nightmare faded from the room.

"HOW DID IT GO, GABRIEL?"
"She was, ah, less than thrilled, boss," said Gabriel.
"OF COURSE, THE FIRST ONE NEEDED A LITTLE PERSUASION, IF I REMEMBER
CORRECTLY."
"I'll say. That clumsy oaf," roared Mary above the Heavenly Hosts.
"QUIET, MOTHER, I NEED TO HEAR THIS. SO WHAT HAPPENED, GABRIEL?"
Gabriel fussed with his robes and fluffed his wings. "She, uh, ran away."
"SHE WHAT? SHE RAN AWAY? FOR GOODNESS SAKE, WHY?"
"I don't know; I don't understand it. I mean I wore my most magnificent
demeanour."
"AND JUST EXACTLY HOW DID YOU APPEAR?"
Gabriel shrugged. "Oh, you know, all covered in nice fur, lots of wings,
eyes, and mouths spitting fire. The usual. You said to wear my best."
The Heavenly Father slapped his forehead. "JESUS CHRIST. YOU IDIOT!"
"Yes, Father? How have I offended You?"
"NOT YOU, JUNIOR. IT'S JUST AN EXPRESSION. WHY DON'T YOU RUN ALONG AND DO
A GOOD DEED SOMEWHERE?"
He turned his attention a back to Gabriel. "OF COURSE, SHE RAN AWAY. HOW
MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU? YOUR SUNDAY BEST, NOT YOUR FRIDAY BEST.
THAT'S ISLAMIC TRADITION. FOR CATHOLICS AND SUCH LIKE, YOU APPEAR PRETTY
MUCH AS YOU APPEAR NOW. WHITE ROBES, GOLDEN HAIR, HALO. MAYBE A HARP. YOU
PROBABLY SCARED THE BEJESUS OUT OF HER. GREAT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
FIND ANOTHER VIRGIN."
Gabriel groaned and dug his toe under a portion of the cloud, lifting it
to see if he could find any dirt.
"JUNIOR?"
"Yes, Father?"
"WHY DON'T YOU TAKE OUR FRIEND HERE AND GIVE HIM A CRASH COURSE ON THE
MANY MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE?"
"Mumble, mumble, mumble, morph!" said Jesus.
"WHAT WAS THAT, JUNIOR?"
"I said, 'oh Father, let this cup pass from me'."
"NO SUCH LUCK."
"Grumble, mutter, grrr ... Come on, Gabriel ... mumble, mumble, mumble ...
never get any respect ... "

й Jessica Palmer 1998.
This story appears in the collection Other Visions of Heaven and Hell,
which begins: "On the seventh day, He rested. A big mistake." The book