When the grounds were empty, Diego and the priest settled around the small table that occupied the kitchen area of the priest’s quarters. “Seems strange,” the priest commented, staring into a half-drunken cup of coffee.
“What seems strange?” Diego asked.
“It seems strange that it’s over. It’s over and mankind will never know. We have just experienced the end times, only it is not the end times. And I must go on preaching on the subject as if it will someday happen, even though I know it already has.”
Diego looked at the priest. “You are a man of faith.”
“Of course, I am.”
“Then your faith should be enough. Mankind is searching for meaning in life. So your spreading of faith is more important than validating a story from a religious text.”
“You’re asking me to validate lying and discount the Bible at the same time.”
“Not at all. The Bible and other books of religion are important for passing on consistent messages about God. But in the end, they are merely words on paper. It is the application of those words in life that create true worship.
“I’ve always enjoyed reading about the end of days but it was much less enjoyable to live that out. Not everyone can handle knowing what you and I know and they do not need to know. What they do need is faith. Now that you know the truth of existence, you are the person to bring that to them.”
The priest considered Diego’s comments. “And I thought I was supposed to be the spiritual leader with all of the answers.”
“Perhaps,” Diego said smiling. “But, I’ve lived longer.”
In the following months, time passed and people moved on as they always do. The common dream that all of creation had experienced faded and the world became a cheerful place.
Diego stayed with the priest and they often spoke until the late hours of the night. But as the world moved forward, Diego thought more and more on his past. He did not share his deeper thoughts with the priest but the priest could tell that a depression was growing on Diego.
As time grew, so did Diego’s depression. He began to withdraw and the late night conversations grew less frequent. Diego began taking long trips and would often be gone for several months at a time.
Then one day, everything changed. Diego had been gone for six months and when he returned, the priest welcomed him back as he always did. Only this time, Diego seemed lighter.
That evening as they sat around the table, Diego was more talkative. Diego had been very congested about his feelings but that night shared his thoughts with the priest.
“I have lost everyone in life that I care about,” Diego started softly. “My father died in my arms in a battle caused by my greed. During that same battle, I was mortally wounded and Juan, who had been my sworn enemy, saved my life by taking me to the garden.
“While in the garden, my wife died and my children were left without a father. Again, because of my greed, in order to save my own life I had to abandon my family. I looked in on them but too many years had passed and I didn’t know how to approach them. It almost seemed better that they thought I was dead.”
Diego paused and looked up; the priest could see the tears in his eyes. “Juan is dead. Most of the people I knew for centuries are dead; killed in a battle that was meaningless. Again for greed. I am the last Keeper of the Fountain. And while I continue to guard its secrets, I have lost everything in doing so.”
The priest opened his mouth to speak but Diego raised a hand to silence him. “You have become very dear to me. For many years it was just me and I had no one with which to share my true thoughts. I have enjoyed this time with you but now I must leave.”
The priest was shocked. “Why? Where will you go?”
“Father, you and I are on separate paths. You have a congregation to tend to and I have another path.”
The priest did not know what to say. He opened his mouth to speak several times but the words fell dead. Finally, he looked directly at Diego. “You have found your path?”
Diego smiled. “I have.”
“I’ve been worried about you for some time now.”
“I know. But worry no more.”
“If I can’t be concerned about you, who will?”
Diego did not speak for a moment. Then, his smile returned. “There is someone else.”
The priest considered to who else Diego could be referring. Then it hit him. “Her?”
“Yes, her. We are to meet in the morning. We’ll make our way back to her planet.”
The priest laughed out loud. “I’m happy for you, old friend. But I still don’t know what she sees in you.”
“I’m not sure I do either.”
The priest looked as if he had something to say but then looked away.
“Are you okay?” Diego asked and then realized that tears filled the priest’s eyes.
The priest looked back at Diego. “I shall miss you.”
“And I shall miss you.”
“I guess I still have Daniel,” the priest said as his tears dissolved into a smile. “He has a better disposition than you.”
Diego nodded in agreement. “I will come and visit; perhaps not as often as you would like but I will come.”
The priest wiped the tears from his eyes. “We should get some sleep. You have a busy day tomorrow, traveling to another planet and all.”
“You know, Father, I’m not all that sleepy. How about a final evening of cards over coffee?”
The priest looked at Diego and feigned a yawn. “You do know that I meet with
