6th teaser

Naje Haje Abyss, continued

  Windoline nudged me on and told me that the conversations we heard were exactly the same from one day to the next. “They never change and no one knows the difference.”

    We walked toward a table where two women stood talking, one was Ms. Fibbergiver, the other was known as Ms. Whitelies. Leaning on her broom, Ms. Fibbergiver, with her unwashed, blond hair hanging limp and uncombed, looked as though she had not bathed in some time. Ms. Whitelies was similarly un-groomed, and both were oblivious to the cobwebs that surrounded them.

As we drew near, I listened to the truth-impaired, homely Ms. Whitelies who spoke loudly to Ms. Fibbergiver. “I have to tell you how pleased I was to meet your daughter, Bratwaller, the other day,” Ms. Whitelies said, holding her hand over her mouth to hide her sneer.

“Ms. Whitelies,” Fibbergiver replied, as she calmly brushed a cobweb from her mouth, “I declare, I know your daughter, Horridair, and my Bratwaller will become the best of friends, just as you and I have.” She looked over her shoulder as she spoke. “Oh I see that fool, Smackum, is coming by still mumbling about The Son of Man.”

“I hope he doesn’t stop to bother us,” Fibbergiver said. Then as Smackum drew closer, she smiled and waved. “Mr. Chew Smackum, how are you this fine day?”

He did not answer. As Windoline led us away, I noticed two brown spiders, both at least a foot in diameter, climbing a velvet covered partition next to Whitelies and Fibbergiver. Without knowing how, I found myself with Windoline standing in front of another glass wall. I could no longer see or hear those strange people we just saw. Above the doors where we stood now, it read, “Hall of Revenge and Rebellion.”

“Before we go inside,” I said, “can you explain to me about those people we just saw?”

“Some by appearance might be considered decent individuals,” she replied. “Take Mr. Smackum for instance, aside from his inconsiderate chewing, he appears to seek the Lord. However, his only purpose in finding The Son of Man is to argue that it is not right He should be the only way to The Living God. Mr. Smackum has lived his life believing he can meet God on his own terms. He is convinced that because he sees himself as a good person, he can save his own soul.”

I might have argued with Windoline at one time, but right at that moment I sensed God’s Presence. For some reason I knew that disputing her words was not the right thing to do.

“What about Berthabode and Meanrake,” I asked?

5th teaser Naja Haje

Naja Haje Continued

Soon after the stranger walked up, a rotund, older woman waddled over to us and announced for all to hear, “I’m prudent deficient, and my ‘significant other here is scruple impaired.” She cackled loudly, “Ain’t we a couple!” 

“Yeah!” the man blurted out. “My name’s Meanrake and this here is Berthabode.”

I did not have time to react before Windoline pulled at my arm and said we must be moving on. It was then I noticed goats wandering about. Behind me I heard a string of blasphemies accompanied by a loud belch, which came in unison from Meanrake and Berthabode.

“Goats, goats and more goats, will they never cease to be? These wretched animals eat everything in sight,” Berthabode shouted to make sure I heard—Meanrake broke into cacophonous laughter.

Windoline and I moved toward another part of the huge arena, while people continued to saunter aimlessly. They babbled and rambled to themselves or to whoever would listen.

Coming up from behind, a tall, well-dressed man tapped me on the shoulder. “My name is Mr. Chew Smackum, sir. Do you know where I can find the Son of Man?”

I wondered how he managed to talk, as he was completely involved with his gum chewing. I started to ask who he meant by the Son of Man, but Windoline reminded me not to speak. Several steps ahead of us, a man wearing soiled rags ambled over to Mr. Chew Smackum, who never ceased his gum sloshing and popping─Smackum was as clearly challenged with lack of etiquette as the man in rags was hygiene deficient.

“Hey Smackum, have you found the Son of Man yet?” The ragged man sneered then spit in his hands and used them to smooth back his filthy, brown hair.

“No Dirty Bob, but I’m going to keep looking,” Smackum said, holding his nose to get past Dirty Bob’s rank odor.

4th Teaser

Naja Haje Continued

“No, you’re not dead.” She smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. “I’m not at liberty to say just now why you are here, only that the Wind has chosen you.” She reached out for my hand, and said, “We must go.”

       The next thing I knew we stood in front of a huge metal wall, which seemed to go on for miles around. Above two double-wide doors that looked like a glass curtain and must have been thirty feet in height was written, ‘Hall of Tolerance and Political Correctness.’ Two angels, with foreboding expressions on their ace, stood in front of the glass entrance and smiled pleasantly at Windoline. They nodded for us to go in, and without warning, she pulled me right through the center of the glass.

Once on the other side, she whispered for me to only observe. “You are not to speak or ask questions until we leave, no matter what,” she said. “Is that understood?”

        I nodded and held her hand tightly. The giant room was filled with all sorts of people. I gazed at the checkerboard-patterned floor of cold black and white marble. It was very disconcerting to me, but it didn’t seem to have any effect on the occupants milling around. Partitioned walls and dropped ceilings were draped in blood-red velvet. There were no windows or lights that I could see, but it appeared to be twilight inside. The furniture consisted of stark chairs and tables sparsely scattered throughout.

At first I heard nothing, but then the drone of voices talking all at once came at me. Before I knew it, I stood face to face with a thin, narrow-eyed man of color. He grinned and bared his white teeth at me and stuck his hand out for me to shake. When I didn’t take it, he said loudly, “What, no handshake!” He spoke with mouth full of something dry and crumbly—I could not tell what.

3rd Teaser

Naje Haje continued:

Alter being upside down for an unknown amount of time, clinging to the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, I suddenly realize I’m on the ground with my head in her lap. In a daze, I look up at  stunning, crystal blue eyes.

“Where are we?” I said, feeling perfect peace.

I should have been unnerved by this strange experience, but I wasn’t. Perhaps it was her touch that calmed me, as she moved my hair off my brow with her soft delicate fingers.

“You’re in the Land of Justice,” she replied, while smiling down at me. “It is one of many holding arenas for the Lake of fire.”

When I sat up, I saw that we were surrounded by mounds of bluebells, daffodils, purple iris and lush green grass that smelled freshly cut. A running brook lowed softly alongside us.

“Where does the stream lead,” I asked, as her radiant blue eyes bore deep into my soul. Waiting for her reply, I walked over to the water, where I bent down, cupped the refreshing liquid in my hands and drank deeply.

“It goes two ways. One direction leads to the River of Life the other to the Lake of fire,” she answered, and then she questioned me. “Why have you never married, Mr. Barlett, you are almost twenty nine years old?”

“I just never met the right girl. Why do you ask?”

“I think most women would find you very attractive,” she said. “Nonetheless, blond hair and blue eyes aren’t always enough to capture a wise woman’s heart.”

“Truly,” I answered, feeling strange effects from the water.

“Your eyes are sparkling, “Windoline said. “I can see my image in them. The water is beginning to churn inside you.”

Amazed, I replied, “I can see me in your eyes.”

I had many more questions, but before I could ask, the most awesome thing came into view—to the left of her stood a huge weeping willow tree. “Why is that tree dripping water from its leaves? It’s not raining.”

          “The tree weeps for mankind.” She smiled sadly, and sighed as her eyes bore deep into mine. “Humans do what is right in their own eyes using themselves as the standard. They create their own rules, all the while ignoring the whispers of their soul. God weeps for us, because he knows that the consequence of poor choices will destroy our body—and if we don’t repent then our soul is lost as well—those consequences we blame on Him rather than loving Him freely and choosing to do what is right.”

I listened intently as I watched her come to her feet with grace and an enchanting demeanor. I wanted to enfold her in my arms and kiss her lovely mouth, but instead I asked, “Why have you brought me here and who are you, really?”

“I am the angel of Good and Evil──the same as white and black.”

“What does that mean?” I said, wondering if I was dead.

“No, you’re not dead.” She smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. “I’m not at liberty to say just now why you are here, only that the Wind has chosen you.”

2nd teaser

Naje Haje continued:

“What are you doing? Put me down.” His voice was tense and angry—outraged. “Where do you think you’re taking me?”

“You’ll know soon enough,” I answered, knowing that Panic began to take him.” 

“Where are we? Who are you?” 

“My name is Windoline. I am the angel of Black and White.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, and what do you have to do with me?” he asked. “Am I dead?”

“No.” I squeezed his hand to calm him and he relaxed.

“Am I dreaming, or is this really happening? Is this heaven?” Trevor asked—confused.

I knew he did not believe in heaven or hell.

   Suddenly a prodigious roar came from below and with it came darkness. I saw terror in Trevor’s eyes and immediately I pulled him into my arms, but he struggled.

   “You must allow me to hold you,” I whispered in his ear. Panic returned and the hurricane force wind nearly blew us of course. “We are in or a gale, the likes of which you have never experienced, Mr. Barlett.”  

   I tried to calm him in a soothing tone, just as a whirlwind funnel came at us. Without warning it flung us upside down and then sideways—my gown completely covered us from the waist up. Then we began to spin, and Trevor thought he would surely die, but it was not his time yet—he fell unconscious.

Christian Fantasy

1st teaser from story - to be completed on website www.priscillamcdaniel.weebly.com

The Naja Haje Abyss©

By Priscilla McDaniel

Wind and rain poured furiously from the cloud as if it wanted to keep me from going—nevertheless, I had a mission to fulfill and all the tears in the sky could not hold me back. I floated into the alley of Trevor Bartlett’s Bistro. In the blink of an eye, I changed from my long, black and white, chiffon gown into a short, black and white, linen dress, one that would blend with the year 2020. I blinked again for a white broad-brim hat and black high heel shoes.

I knew what Mr. Bartlett’s reaction would be when he saw me sitting at a table in the sun. Though it was not my intent to do so, I stood out in a crowd. Trevor Bartlett was the reason I had come to Greentree, California on planet earth.

“May I bring you a cup of latte?” Mr. Bartlett asked studying me with a quizzical look. “You’re not rom around here, are you?” 

I knew his thoughts and looked up at him with bold blue eyes, and moved a dark curl from my forehead. “Would you mind bringing me a glass of water with that latte, as soon as possible please?”

“Yes certainly,” he replied, staring at me, standing still.

“Well, Mr. Bartlett, am I asking too much?”

“No, no, not at all,” he stammered, embarrassed by his focused gaze.

When he returned with my coffee and water he asked, “How do you know my name?” 

Suddenly he noticed the palm trees that swayed gently overhead as the breeze addressed me. I took a deep breath, and spoke softly, almost inaudibly, “Anon, anon.” Then I paused and looked up at him, “Thank you for the water and latte.” 

“What exactly does anon mean? That’s what you said, I’m sure I heard you.”

“Perhaps it was the wind you heard.” I feigned ignorance and then dismissed him.

“How did you know my name?” he said a second time.

I did not answer for trying to hear the voice in the breeze. “Take him now, Windoline! Take him now! You have no more time.”

Without another word I grabbed the tall, slender Trevor by the hand. We sailed into the air side by side, as I magically changed back into my traveling gown.

“What are you doing? Put me down.” His voice was tense and angry—outraged. “Where do you think you’re taking me?”

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