A glowing apparition sitting on the low concrete wall between Andrews and the helicopter wreckage said, “Good morning, David.”
“What the hell?” he stammered, heart pounding, eyes wide, “Who are you?”
She seemed to be made of condensed light, about half his size with calm upturned eyes. They examined each other for a moment before she spoke again, “I’ve come to help you.”
Andrews stared at her in silence, then muttered, “You have?”
“You asked for help, didn’t you?”
He figured she was probably a pain induced hallucination, but he answered anyway, “Yes. Yes, I did. Maybe . . . maybe you could contact the people who are looking for me.”
“David, you’re going to have to break the human cycle of violence breeding more violence.”
Andrews stared at her, dumbfounded. That was the most far-fetched suggestion he could imagine, offered in all seriousness. He almost laughed. “Lady, you may not have noticed, but I’m paralyzed here. All I can move are my mouth and eyes.”
She continued as though she hadn’t heard, “David, if your chain-reaction weapons are released in retaliation for this attack, it will be the beginning of the end of human life.”
“HOLY JESUS!” he exclaimed, his words echoing down the cavernous building.
His outburst obviously surprised her. After a moment she said, “Just keep praying. The answers will come.”
“You’ll come back?”
“Probably not, but you’ll get the ideas you need.” She smiled at him and grew fainter. She was leaving!
“Wait! Please wait!”
Her form lingered, though with lessened illumination.
“Can you contact the people who are looking for me and let them know where I am?”
“Your body should work now.”
At that instant he realized the numbness was gone. Still afraid of the pain, he made some tiny movements with various body parts and then some more normal ones. Amazing! Everything worked! He sat up and started to thank her, but now she was almost invisible.
“Wait! Please!”
She smiled at him, seeming to enjoy his importunity. She increased her visible presence slightly and asked, “What is it, David?”
“How did you do that? How’d you heal my body?”
“Your messenger taught his followers to heal. You can learn it from his teachings.”
“Okay, I’ll try. But give me something specific I can use, to deal with these nuclear terrorists.”
She considered his request for a moment. Then said, “Study what your messenger taught about enemies in his Sermon on the Mount. That’s how you access the power.”
Then, smiling at him, she faded to nothing.
