Delroy forced himself to remain calm and watchful.
“If your son was such a good man,” the thing challenged, “why are you here? Why did he have to die if he was being noble and protective of his friends? Why didn’t God simply spare him?”
Delroy couldn’t answer. He didn’t know, and that truth was too hard to speak out loud.
The thing lifted a handful of mud and let it splatter from its palm to the grave’s edge. “Dead is dead, Chaplain. Is it really better to have a dead hero for a son instead of just having a dead son? I mean, what’s the upgrade in that?”
Delroy gripped the shovel more tightly and held his tongue. He moved carefully within the hole because the mud and the rain made his footing treacherous. He wondered whether he could trust the sides of the hole to hold his weight if he attempted to scramble out.
“Go ahead,” the thing challenged with a mocking grin and a tone that invited mean-spirited playfulness. “Open the box and let’s see what’s inside. I’m interested. Really.”
“No,” Delroy answered.
The thing opened its hand and let the remainder of the mud fall from its grip. Nothing remained behind to stain its flesh. “You’re pathetic.” It scowled. “You come here, desert your post in the greatest time of need the crew has ever seen, and you wimp out on testing your faith.”
Delroy waited.
Sighing, the creature said, “Maybe I should have waited. Maybe you would have convinced yourself to keep digging without any help from me.”
“No. I was done with that.”
The thing walked around the edges of the grave, its hands clasped together behind it like a schoolteacher on hall patrol. “You dug that hole in the ground and are standing in your son’s grave. When exactly did you start believing again?”
“Now.”
“Convenient, don’t you think? Seems like believing for you people always comes when it’s most convenient. Ever notice that?”
The accusation stung, but Delroy’s fear and wariness were greater. Still, he stayed with the truth. “I realized how wrong I was.”
“I don’t believe you. There you stand with that shovel in your hands.” It gestured to the hole. “Your son’s casket can’t be much farther down.”
Delroy turned, taking small steps in the loose mud and pooling water so that he constantly faced the creature. “You came here to see me fail. That didn’t happen. That’s not going to happen.”
The creature smirked. “You haven’t failed? C’mon, Delroy, you’re still here after all those people disappeared. You failed a long time before you got here.” It lifted its arms and gestured to take in the graveyard.
Lightning split the sky for a second before a thunderous cannonade shook the earth. Electricity danced along Delroy’s skin while sparks spat from the thing’s hair and mouth.
“A navy chaplain who can’t find a billet in heaven after decades of service?” It shook its head. “Now that’s truly a sad thing. You’d think God was more generous than that.”
“My being here is my fault.” Delroy kept shifting. The loose mud beneath his feet became even more treacherous.
“Your fault?” It lifted its shoulders in an exaggerated sigh. “You’re stupid to blame yourself. You can’t help it because you don’t believe. Look at everything you’ve been through. You’re lucky you’ve been able to hide your true feelings this long.”
“I do believe.” Delroy’s protest sounded hollow in his ears.
The creature covered its ears. “Lies. You and I both know you’re telling lies. If you believed, you wouldn’t be here. You’d be up in heaven right now. Reunited with—” the thing made a show of reading the gravestone at its feet—“Terrence. Terry. Your son.” The amber tinted eyes fixed on Delroy again. “Instead, you’re here. With me.” A malicious smile framed the creature’s face. “Or maybe you’d be up there and notice ol’ Terry was among the missing.”
“No.”
“You came out here tonight to see if his precious soul was saved.
All you’ve got to show for your trouble is a big rock.” The creature kicked mud into the grave. As soon as the brackish earth touched the rock, though, rain washed the mud away. The creature cursed. “You don’t think he’s up there. You think he’s down here, locked in the earth.”
“My boy is up there.” Delroy clung to that thought because it was the only thing keeping him sane at the moment.
“Really? And what do you think he’s doing right now?” The creature cocked its head to one side. “ ‘Hey, Gramps, good to meet you. Don’t know what’s keeping Dad. He should be here any minute.’ ” It paused. “Only you’re not coming, are you? Not now. Not ever.”
Guilt flooded Delroy as heartache and uncertainty nearly crushed him. His faith was lost to him. He wasn’t sure he knew how to believe anymore. Even with all the proof around him—with the mass disappearances and even this malevolent creature stalking him, he still found it hard to believe that Jesus had died on the cross for him. God existed, but maybe He didn’t care as much as everyone wanted to believe.
“Do you think maybe that’s what’s going on up there, Chaplain?” the creature continued in a belligerent tone. “Big family reunion? Only you weren’t invited?”
Pain locked Delroy’s throat up tight.
“Your father must be feeling pretty disappointed right now,” the creature said. “There he is, surrounded by all these people he’s saved for the Lord, and his own son didn’t catch the ship when it sailed.”
Delroy firmed his trembling jaw. God, help me. This is so hard. I know my father loved me. I want to believe You love me, Lord, but it’s so hard. Help me to hang on to that. Let me start with that and continue to build till I’m strong again.
“Nope.” The thing shook its head. “You’re right to blame God for all your troubles, Delroy. After all, He gave you those troubles, all that sorrow and grief. More than any one man should carry.”
“No.” Delroy’s angry response was a choked whisper.
The creature stood still and
