Heavenly Court
Heavenly Court
All John Brandt remembered as he wandered in a daze along what appeared to be a country lane, was that the accident had not been his fault. He would swear in a court of law to that.
He did not know how soon that opportunity might present itself. The haze in his brain started to clear and a road sign with the word ‘Transition’ presented itself. It was not a place name He recognized however.
A little further and he came upon another, which stated 'you cannot enter if you are in litigation'. In which case follow the signs for 'Awaiting Transit’.
He had absolutely no idea what this meant, and still somewhat in a daze, he felt he should be at least letting his wife Josie, know about the accident. and then he started to wonder where his car was, and why the Police were not questioning him about what had happened.
"Oi you where you are going? you haven't filled in any forms yet!”
John looked over to see where this admonition Issued from, and was shocked to see a sort of animated gate with what appeared to be a gargoyle or demon with wings. It held a board with a paperclip.
"I beg your pardon, I don't understand, were you talking to me?”
“Well there's no one else in the proximity.” Said the creature.
John looked round, and then started to get angry. "l do not have to fill in any forms. or answer any questions, l just want to get home.”
He had not, it seems, taken Cognizance, of the incongruity of his situation. talking to one of the gatekeepers of what can only be described as the lower regions is not a normal every day event, at least with most people it is not.
''Haven't you been greeted yet'’? the Obnoxious looking apparition said.
John’s answer was cut short by the interruption of a young gent, in a suit looking like the defendant in a burglary trial.
I am so sorry Mr Brandt, I missed you at the Scene, it was quite chaotic and the gentleman in the other vehicle, an Audi I think, was quite belligerent, and not very cooperative.
John's not unnatural antipathy towards Audi drivers took precedence for a moment, and he could not help but comment, "Bloody Audi. drivers, they’re all Same, think they own the bloody road. But then his current crisis, suddenly came into focus and it gradually start to dawn on him the exact nature of what had happened.
He looked at the guy who was talking, and interrupted his verbal apologetics. “what has gone on. I am l right in thinking I have died and passed on, or is this just a very bad dream?
"I can answer that without prejudice, you are definitely not dreaming.'’ He smiled. looking quite pleased with himself.
John Thought for a moment, the appalling events that had just occurred, he was thinking, where life changing, but that was obviously absurd, because his life no longer existed. He turned and looked at the person who was meant to greet him. “So, what happens now? and what is that thing over there?” he pointed towards the gargoyle type creature with the form filling aspirations and jobs worth body language. He had completely disappeared.
The suited protagonist in this conversation did not even look.
"one of the many distractions and dangers along the way. Mr Brandt, and this is where I come in, it is my job to help, guide and advise you.
For a moment John wondered whether he would be better off with the distraction.
“And who exactly are you?”
''I am your allocated defense lawyer.” My name is Michael
''Defense, against what, I've only been here five minutes?”.
“you have a lifetime, to explain, and of course There are the lawsuits that have been awaiting your arrival.”
"Lawsuits! “
“certainly, there are people who have passed on before you who feel they have a legitimate grievance. But Mr Brandt, all will be explained to you, in the fullness of time.
Chapter 2
“John Brandt, John Brandt, is there a John Brandt here”?
John looked in the direction from where the voice emanated. He was sat in a large waiting room, able to accommodate about three hundred persons. It was Mikael followed by ‘a harassed looking clerk carrying a bundle of files.
John waved to him.
`” Ah! There you are Mr Brandt, how are you”, He did not pause, the question had been rhetorical. This is my clerk Jacob Dunderhead, he has managed to gather a few of your files together and I could do with you confirming a few details for me.”
John Looked at the bundle of papers that Jakub had been carrying.
“you call that a few?”
Michael gave a little smile, “well let's just find one of the offices that we can use”
They had no difficulty in finding one as the place had small self-contained offices, all round the side of this large waiting room.
Michael, it would seem, had a key which would fit any of these small units. They entered and after settling themselves down, Michael looked up and with a smile at John asked.
“Well, how are you settling in alright?
“Well not really, I’ve been sat in that waiting room for, I don’t know how long, I mean that precisely, there are no clocks, it seems like weeks since I last spoke to you, but then again it could have been this morning.”
“Ah! Time is not a concept we subscribe to here, meaningless in your current circumstances.”
“What about food? “
“What about it?”
“Well I’ve not had any!”
“Do you mean to say you’re hungry?”
“No! And I do not understand that, I normally eat like a horse.”
“Do you know I have always hated that cliched phrase. Well thank goodness for that, if you had been suffering the need for sustenance, we would have to check if you had really passed on.”
Michael paused for breath, and cogitating John, he continued.
“Obviously, in your present state of not being alive, you should not feel anything. It is your soul, that now interacts on your behalf and for convenience sake takes on a facade of your old mortal body.”
At this blunt but profound moment, Johns situation seemed to come into focus, and he took on a look of realization, awareness shock, horror and finally acceptance. For a few moments he held his head in his hands. When he looked up resignation was painted on his face, but slowly his features, formed into one of calm determination.
“Whatever happened to St Peter, holder of the Keys to Heaven’s gate, I take it that is a myth? I expected that if I were to get through at all, that it would be on a nod and a wink.”
No! No! He is still up there letting souls through, but only if they are approved by us in the courts of Transferee”.
“How long has that been the norm?”
Michael looked slightly uncomfortable at this question, not long about one hundred of your mortal years.
“And who instituted that?” John asked.
Well something had to be done, the old fella was letting anyone through. Didn’t check any of their papers record of sins, and what have you. So, it was agreed between, Peter’s Boss and mine to make entrance to the other side formal and legal.
John sat looking out the office window for a while. He noticed several eager young suited gentlemen dressed and in the mould of Michael.
He turned to Michael and in a voice of accusation, “So heaven has been taken over by The Lawyers?”
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