"Bud Webster - Christus Destitutus" - читать интересную книгу автора (Webster Bud)

"Oh ... oh, my...― There were no words to express what the old man felt. He raised his head, tears
now falling freely. “What about Hell?"

"All mad, demons and lost souls alike."

"Purgatory?"

"All mad."

"Even limbo? Even the righteous heathen? And ... Oh, God, the children! Even the children?"

"Mad. There was no one,― the angel said, “capable of maintaining their sanity after He left. Do you
understand?― The angel stared at the old man. “Do you understand all that this means?"

Eyes again closed, the old man nodded his head. “They don't have anyone to guide them, nobody to
help them make sense of what's happened. Their ‘Heavenly Father', the one who made all the
promises, isn't there to counsel them, to make them safe.― Hopelessly, he looked at the angel. “Do
they know that they've been abandoned?"

"How could they not know? God is gone."

"And you ... you waited two thousand years to tell me this?"

"Our time does not pass as yours. Our search was extensive, it required much more time than that.―
The angel's voice was ice. “It passed no more quickly for those who are lost."
"How long?― the old man said between clenched teeth. “How long has it been for them?"

"Eternity."

Jesus wept. Slumped against a toilet in a New York shelter for the homeless, his thin body wracked with
sobs, he wept for the souls of the dead; lost now, lost always, lost forever.

"Do you understand all that this means?― the angel repeated.

"Yes, goddamit, I know! He walked out on the whole human race, walked out on all His promises, and
plans, and against His sworn word. I know what it means.― His head sagged against his chest.
“Just let me die and get it over with. I'm tired."

"You do not understand. God is gone. His place must not remain empty."

The words sank in slowly. Jesus raised his head, eyes wide with shock. “What?"

The angel looked at him without emotion. “You spoke of compassion. You said that you pitied us,
that we would never know what it meant. You were wrong."

The old man said nothing; he just stared.

"Those who are lost, those who will come, need guidance. We cannot give it. They cannot give it to
themselves. There is only you. We can no longer allow them to suffer."