"Thomas E. Sniegoski - Aerie" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sniegoski Thomas E)

prologue

It never seems to rest,Alastor reflected as heshoveled the last bit of a hearty breakfast ofeggs, bacon,
and toast into his yawning maw. Hebelched powerfully, speckling his ample front with flecks of chewed
food, and dropped thegreasy paper plate to the floor beside his leatherrecliner. It was nine o'clock in the
morning, andwhat the fallen angel had hidden in the basement of theBourbonnais ,Illinois , home was
already calling out to him.

"Alastor,"it whispered like the buzzing of ahousefly."Come, Alastor. Look upon what you havecast
away."

Alastor chose to ignore it.The monkeys, Reggieand Katie,he thought as his eyes caught the clockon the
wall,they're often amusing. He snatched upthe remote control in a meaty hand, scatteringpotato chip
bags and candy bar wrappers fromatop the coffee table before him. He would losehimself in the trifle of
morning television, a distraction from the incessant whispers in the cellar.

"Do you remember what it was like before thewarтАФbefore you listened to the seductive reasoningsof
the Morningstar? Do you remember, Alastor?"

"Quiet!" the angel spat. He jabbed a sausage-thick finger down onto the remote to turn up thevolume,
settling his excessive bulk back intothe recliner. It was a cooking segment, which heenjoyed, as
mouthwatering meals were prepared by world-renowned chefs with the assistance ofthe program's hosts.

Reggie dropped an egg on the floor and thestudio audience went wild with laughter. Alastorjoined in the
hilarity, captivated by the antics ofthe human monkeys. If the Creator had everbothered to mention how
thoroughly entertaining these fragile creatures could be, he wouldnever have pledged allegiance to the
Son of the Morning.

"Remember what you once were, Alastor of the heavenly host Virtues. Come and recall your former
glory."

The audience was laughing again and Alastorseethed. He had missed the latest morsel of primitive
humor.

"Damn you, be quiet!" he screamed, drivinga fleshy fist down onto the chair's worn armrest. "I looked at
you yesterdayтАФand the day beforethat. I have no desire to see you now."

The chef produced a souffle from the ovenand the audience showed their approval with aburst of
applause. Feigning exuberance, Katieexplained how to acquire the recipe for thedelectable dish, and he
thought about writingthe information down, but the whispers fromthe cellar beckoned for his attention.

"A chance to remember how you once wereтАФthebeauty and the power..."

Alastor hauled his bulky mass up out of thechair, a rain of crumbs from his last meal sprinkling down to
the refuse-strewn floor. "I am stillbeautiful and still powerful," he bellowed, oneeye fixed on the morning
program, lest he misssomething of importance. TheReggie and Katieshow broke to a commercial about
adult diapersand the angel turned his full attention to thetaunting voice.

"What will it take to shut you up?" hegrowled, knowing full well what the answerwould be, what the
answer always was.