The angels were very much like men, both physically and mentally. They had wings, which was an evolutionary advancement. Their emotions had also evolved, but not necessarily for the better. The angels held themselves in high opinion and placed high value on physical beauty and their own immortality.
The Very Old Man, hereafter referred to as Vom, was the bane of what the other angels put on a pedestal. They didn't necessarily dislike Vom, they just felt uncomfortable around him. They felt he wasn't living up to his full potential.
Vom understood how the others felt and tried not to make them uncomfortable. Sometimes he felt like talking to them about it, but he could never bring himself to do it. He worried too much about making them uncomfortable. The other angels, however, didn't worry too much about making Vom uncomfortable.
One day, a couple of angels were sitting around talking. About Vom.
"Yeah, look at his wings," said one.
"And his miracles?" asked the other.
"I believe his age affects his performance."
"But why does he allow himself to age? I mean, he could...Hey, we were just talking about you," he cut himself off as Vom appeared.
Vom knew what they were talking about and said nothing.
"Yeah," said the first, "we were wondering why...how come you don't..."
"How come you allow your age to show," interrupted the other. "You have enough control, don't you? What, are you lower down on the evolutionary scale? Just a human with wings?" He erupted in a fit of laughter.
"Look," Vom said after a long pause, "I apologize if my appearance disturbs you. I know how high you place beauty, especially since you have control of it. But I do this to help those on Earth feel more comfortable."
"Don't you think they'd feel more comfortable being saved by someone who didn't look like he was about to die?" asked the first.
"He wants to save them looking like that?!" cried the laughing one.
"Hey! Hey, everyone," he laughed, "Vom wants to save them looking like that."
The crowd of angels shouted out "When was the last time you went to Earth? Go to Earth! Go to Earth!"
"I understand. I understand," Vom replied after the crowd quieted down. "I will go to Earth, looking like this, and save some souls." There was no malice or sarcasm in his voice.
"I wish you peace," said Vom as he departed.
In order to reach Earth, Vom had to pass through the vortex that separates the heavenly realm from the terrestial. In the vortex are parasitic creatures, called mynochs, that fees on angels passing from one realm to the other. Vom could have protected himself from the mynochs, but he understood they needed to feed on him to survive.
Vom was flying but not really paying attention to where he was going because he was preoccupied with the mynochs. He didn't want to kill them all, but quite a few landed on him. He was paying attention to removing some of the excess, and hadn't realized he has passed through the vortex, when he discovered himself in the midst of a terrible storm.
Click here to go to main page.