MANICHAEAN
10-14-2010, 02:20 PM
Satan sat on a stool in a bar in Miami International Airport and he was having a bad day. In front of him on the zinc counter, next to the Jim Beam & coke, was a book he was endeavouring to read by Juvenal containing observations culled up 60 years before the Son of the Big Fella had been born.
The words "Nemo repente fuit turpissimus" lay before him. "No one ever reached the depths of wickedness all at once." "Surely that should have been taken into consideration" he mused, before the corporate angels were downsized and he fell from grace.
Juvenal the Roman writer was not his favourite author, but what the hell!
He had landed in Miami two hours before and had immediately got off to a bad start with Immigration.
"Nature of visit to the United States of America?" the beefy official with the king sized badges had asked?
"In transit to Jamaica" he had politely replied, for after all the Devil is a gentleman.He had throughout history done his best not to be noticed; his manner and bearing had always been that of a Prince.
"Prince" is in fact Satans rank. He is called in the Gospel the "Prince of this World" (John 12:31) He is also listed in some of the highest circles of international society respectively as: "Prince of Darkness, Prince of Death & Prince of Cherubim."
That cut no ice with US Immigration.
"Where have you been in the last 90 days?" the official asked.
"Moving up and down on the face of the earth." as a response on Lucifer's part did not go down well either.
"You need a visa to enter the United States of America." he was pointedly informed.
"I'm not in the US," the Devil retorted in some heat. " I'm in an international transit lounge, I'm going to Jamaica, I don't want to stay in the US, I'm not for your information swimming the Rio Grande to get into the US, I want to get out of the US and fly to Kingston, Jamaica."
"You got an attitude problem?" asked Immigration.
At this stage Lucifer exasperated, gave in. The traditional means by which the Antichrist is supposed to subvert souls is through cunning argument or false exposition of the Scriptures. Faced with US Immigration, he met his nemesis and from that juncture meekly accepted his fate.
"You will go under escort to the other side of the airport to take your flight to Jamaica & if you ever come to the US again you make sure you get an entry visa. Do you understand?"
Lucifer crestfallen nodded.
The guard escort was 5 foot 3 inches tall, big official badges on his upper arm & lapel & he carried a gun. "Sweet Jesus" said the Devil to himself, "Its John Waynes diminutive cousin thrice removed."
The Devil & the guard traversed the airport ostensibly to reach Gate 5 where the outward flight was scheduled in another two hours. The Devil saw a bar. "Can I have a drink while I wait for my flight?" he asked.
The guard replied; "You give me your word, you will remain here, you will not move to another location, you will make no attempt to leave the airport and enter the United States of America?"
"Yes. I give my word." Lucifer replied in a beaten whisper.
He sat on a stool at the main counter, his feet on the rungs and his tail despondently lifeless between his legs. The barman approached. "Double Wild Turkey on the rocks." the Devil said. The barman brought the drink, placed it on a mat in front of him & pushed over a small dish to solicit a tip. The Devil pushed it back.
It had been, as noted earlier, a bad day. Ever since that bloody travel brochure had landed on his desk in Hell. It had read "Good Girls Go To Heaven, Bad Girls Go To Jamaica." That was where it all started to go wrong.
The words "Nemo repente fuit turpissimus" lay before him. "No one ever reached the depths of wickedness all at once." "Surely that should have been taken into consideration" he mused, before the corporate angels were downsized and he fell from grace.
Juvenal the Roman writer was not his favourite author, but what the hell!
He had landed in Miami two hours before and had immediately got off to a bad start with Immigration.
"Nature of visit to the United States of America?" the beefy official with the king sized badges had asked?
"In transit to Jamaica" he had politely replied, for after all the Devil is a gentleman.He had throughout history done his best not to be noticed; his manner and bearing had always been that of a Prince.
"Prince" is in fact Satans rank. He is called in the Gospel the "Prince of this World" (John 12:31) He is also listed in some of the highest circles of international society respectively as: "Prince of Darkness, Prince of Death & Prince of Cherubim."
That cut no ice with US Immigration.
"Where have you been in the last 90 days?" the official asked.
"Moving up and down on the face of the earth." as a response on Lucifer's part did not go down well either.
"You need a visa to enter the United States of America." he was pointedly informed.
"I'm not in the US," the Devil retorted in some heat. " I'm in an international transit lounge, I'm going to Jamaica, I don't want to stay in the US, I'm not for your information swimming the Rio Grande to get into the US, I want to get out of the US and fly to Kingston, Jamaica."
"You got an attitude problem?" asked Immigration.
At this stage Lucifer exasperated, gave in. The traditional means by which the Antichrist is supposed to subvert souls is through cunning argument or false exposition of the Scriptures. Faced with US Immigration, he met his nemesis and from that juncture meekly accepted his fate.
"You will go under escort to the other side of the airport to take your flight to Jamaica & if you ever come to the US again you make sure you get an entry visa. Do you understand?"
Lucifer crestfallen nodded.
The guard escort was 5 foot 3 inches tall, big official badges on his upper arm & lapel & he carried a gun. "Sweet Jesus" said the Devil to himself, "Its John Waynes diminutive cousin thrice removed."
The Devil & the guard traversed the airport ostensibly to reach Gate 5 where the outward flight was scheduled in another two hours. The Devil saw a bar. "Can I have a drink while I wait for my flight?" he asked.
The guard replied; "You give me your word, you will remain here, you will not move to another location, you will make no attempt to leave the airport and enter the United States of America?"
"Yes. I give my word." Lucifer replied in a beaten whisper.
He sat on a stool at the main counter, his feet on the rungs and his tail despondently lifeless between his legs. The barman approached. "Double Wild Turkey on the rocks." the Devil said. The barman brought the drink, placed it on a mat in front of him & pushed over a small dish to solicit a tip. The Devil pushed it back.
It had been, as noted earlier, a bad day. Ever since that bloody travel brochure had landed on his desk in Hell. It had read "Good Girls Go To Heaven, Bad Girls Go To Jamaica." That was where it all started to go wrong.