The Sinking Of Noah's Ark

The following is an excerpt from The Sinking Of Noah's Ark - a novel that examines humanity's past, present and future.

As a child, Noah was taught that when one dies, there is a long tunnel with a brilliant light at the end of it. No one knows what happens when you go through the light, but it is assumed heaven is on theother side. Noah imagined that it was a place much like McDonalds Playland. As the years went by, he realized it was unlikely that Mayor McCheese and Grimace were on the other side waiting to embrace him.

Where Noah actually ended up was as far from the glorious afterlife as one can get. His last memory as he toppled down the hill was shielding his eyes, with no final thoughts or regrets, just darkness. When he uncovered hiseyes, he found himself in the last state he expected to be in - alive.

After a brief period of confusion, Noah managed to pull himself together. He looked around to find himself in a foreign room. Upon careful examination of his surroundings, he realized that it was a courtroom.

He was not familiar with the courtroom, as it lacked any features identifying it with any known justice system. There were no flags of countries, no pictures of presidents or monarchs. Except for a luminous coat of faded gray paint, the walls were completely bare. When studying the walls, he could have sworn there was white trying to force its way through.

Noah discovered that he was sitting in the witness chair. It was wooden,with a red velvet-cushioned seat. To the left of his seat was the jury box, but no jurors were present. The judges bench was located to his immediate right,but no judge presided. In front of the judges box was either the defense or prosecutors table and it too was empty. Directly in front of him, he noticed another table, which he also believed to be either the prosecutor or defense table. The only difference here was the presence of a man seated at the table,looking down at a pile of papers.

What was so startling about the man was that Noah was sure he was not there when he first opened his eyes. After a moment of dreadful silence, the man proceeded to push his chair out, stand, and slowly walk toward him. As each shoe scuffed the bare wooden floor, a low, intense echo was released. A shifty smile materialized.

The stranger was wearing a long black robe, completed by a pair of shiny, black shoes. His hair, jet black and combed back on his head, revealed a distinct receding hairline. His facial features looked as if they had been perfectly chiseled from fine stone. There were few signs of aging, but Noah guessed by the distinguished aura surrounding him that he was about fifty.

As the man approached, his eyes grabbed hold of Noahs eyes. He had never seen eyes so dark before. They were as black as coal. When looking into them, it was as though he was looking at nothing; the darkness stretched on forever. Noah could not speak. He could only stare foolishly at his menacing smile.

When he reached an area about a foot and a half in front of Noah, he stopped abruptly. Without taking his eyes off him, the stranger slowly opened his mouth and began to speak.

"You, Noah Paul King, have been brought to the highest court in the universe, at my request, to tell your truth, and nothing but your truth, so help your God."

His hollow, gruff voice hammered like the final nail driven into a coffin.

He paused, and his smile transformed into a devious grin, revealing a distinct set of pearly white teeth. Noah stared in complete bewilderment.

After a moment of desperate search, Noah seized his voice.

"Ah, okay."

Without warning, the man erupted in a fit of laughter.

"Okay? Is that all you have to say?"

Noah wiped his sweaty forehead with his shirtsleeve. The stranger grinned, enjoying his anxiety.

"Well, I'm puzzled," Noah replied.

"I bet you are," he laughed.

"I have no idea where I am, and what I am being charged with, and..."

"Wait," the stranger interrupted, "its the Your God thing, isnt it?"

"Yes."

This has got to be some sort of hallucination, Noah thought.

"I can eliminate your confusion simply," he said. "First of all, you are not on trial. You are here as a witness for the Defense. Secondly, it is I, the Prosecutor, assigned to the trial. And thirdly, this is the best part..."

By now, the man was snickering devilishly.

"You know the term God, that is used to identify the Creator?" Noah was not sure if he was asking him a question or making a statement. Feeling the dampness behind his neck grow cold, he answered with a blunt, "Yes."

"Well," the man said, "I am pleased to inform you that this higher being does in fact exist. You are here not only as a witness, but also as evidence of His creation. You have been assigned with the delightful task of defending Him."

Staring intently into his eyes, Noah felt as though he was just caught with his pants down.

After a moment of gathering his thoughts, Noah was overcome with the realization that everything he believed in for such a long time was instantly annihilated - road kill.

With all the vast knowledge he had acquired over the years, only one futile thought emerged: Oops

The Sinking Of Noah's Ark (ISBN:1589392191)

Copyright 2002,2003