Zealand: The Quest for Manhood

This is a story about a young man named Zealand. It is intended for a young reader of the age of adolescence, perhaps considering religion and it’s implications in his or her own life. This story has protestant overtones, but in no way is intended to denigrate the magnificence of the Catholic Church. It is quite simply religious fiction. Negativity with regard to either Protestant or Catholic religion is not intended. The reformation did happen and this is a simple little story about one young boy's journey into the realization of his future.

Grumpus was a crusty old man in his late 70’s. He lived in the village of Voltaire in the French alps. The year was 1517. Grumpus was a man of extremes: either he was totally elated, totally depressed, or mad as hell. You never could tell which man you were dealing with until it was too late. Everyone approached him with caution. Most of the time he was elated and a very happy man. Grumpus’s main purpose in the village was that of a prophetic nature. He was aware of what would come to pass in the future and he helped the residents of Voltaire prepare for what awaited them.

He was quite proud of his grandson Zealand. Zealand was 15 years old and worshiped his grandfather; the sun set and rose in his grandfather, as far as Zealand was concerned. Their love for one other was obvious to everyone.

Zealand’s grandmother, Marisela, was a wonderful women; she was warm, tender, kind, and was quite robust. Grumpus loved her madly. Often times he thought that he did not know what he would do if something happened to her. He was sure that he would not be able to live without her . .

What of Zealand’s parents, you may wonder: They were both away on a quest in Germany helping a man who would change the world, Martin Luther.

* * * *

Five days of the week, Zealand spent time with Cornelious, from noon till about 4 in the afternoon. Cornelious was a dwarf. He was 38 inches tall and was a kind and gentle soul. He greeted everyone with a hug. He had knowledge of everything that had ever happened in the world. He knew about science, medicine, engineering, religion, mathematics - simply everything! It was his job to provide Zealand an education in most areas of endeavor. Zealand was a quick study, was very bright, and had no trouble with his studies. In the mornings, Zealand spent time learning about the art of war and how to fight. Kristoff was his teacher in this area.

On Saturday, Zealand learned about art. He learned from a man in the village named Valcrouie, who had studied with Albrect Durer in Germany. Art was not Zealand’s strongest subject, even though he enjoyed it very much. Zealand was working on a portrait of his grandfather Grumpus. It was coming along quite nicely.

On Sunday, Zealand and Grumpus and Marisela usually eat the main meal of the day with Cornelious and his wife Amalthea. Amalthea was as kind and caring as her husband Cornelious and was of the same physical stature. When it came time for Zealand to marry, she would provide help, wisdom, and guidance, in this area. It was said that she had the power of cupid and could instill love in the hearts and minds of men and women. She never did this though, without consulting her husband Cornelious, and then only on special occasions, with special people like Zealand. This was something she had done for Grumpus when he and Marisela were very young.

* * * *

Zealand made his way down the main thoroughfare of Voltaire, past the shops and building that made up the small village. He entered Cornelious’s house from the back and Amalthea was there in the larder, preparing food for the morning meal.

“Pray thee Lord Zealand, what weather hast thou brought forth for us this day? Is it sunshine we shall have or the nectar of the Gods to make the flowers grow?” said Amalthea.

“’Tis truly sunshine that will grace us all the day long,.” replied Zealand.

“Are thee in need of something to eat at this early morning hour?” inquired Amalthea.

“What have thee woman, that I might devour ravenously.” chided Zealand.

“Do not speak to me with reproach young lord. I have only your well being in my mind.”

“I feel not the pangs of hunger at this early morning hour. Perhaps something to drink would suite my fancy, if you please,.” Zealand replied with retort.

“Dost thou jest with Amalthea at this early hour of the day, young Zealand,” said Cornelious, with mock scolding in his voice as he came into the room.

“Indeed, it is truly jest that I offer Amalthea; no harm is intended.”

“Perhaps we shall both have a container of ale, or would tea be more appropriate for thee, young lord.”

“I think tea will tickle my fancy, illustrious teacher!”

“Then tea it will be, my lords,” replied Amalthea, with a broad smile.

“What hast thou wrought, Young Zealand? I believe she hath seen the humor in thy chiding.”

They all chuckled and enjoyed the tea. Zealand truly loved Cornelious and Amalthea and would do anything for them. He knew that between the two of them, they held his future in their hands: With Cornelious, it was the knowledge of the world; Amalthea, would provide him with the love of the centuries in the women of his greatest desire. He was happier now than he thought possible. He had every reason to believe that things would improve with age.

“’Tis wonderment to my mind that the two of you bring. It is a true blessing that I have, with thee both,” said Zealand with warmth and affection in his voice.

“Better friends than the two of you, I could not have!”

They finished their tea, Zealand gave them both a hug and left Cornelious’s house and walked up the road toward Kristoff’s. It was time for lessons in war and killing. This was the one part of his life that he didn’t like, but Grumpus had told him that it was important - not just important, but crucial for his future.

* * * *

Kristoff’s house was a modest little dwelling and the exterior of the house did not comport the seriousness of the person that lived inside nor did it reveal the travesties of the topics of war that were discussed inside. Grumpus had told Zealand that, although hideous tales of terror were going to be imparted to him, he needed to learn about them and understand that he might be required to carry them out to protect his family and his people. Simply seeing the house brought terror to his mind. With great reluctance, Zealand knocked on Kristoff’s door and Kristoff opened it.

“You’re late my young lord. I see that my time would be better spent with another, than you!”

“Pray, forgive me Kristoff, the time had simply gotten away from me. I assure you sir, there will not be a recurrence of tardiness.” replied Zealand.

“Let that be the end of it then! Come, we’ll start straight away.”

Kristoff was a cold and callous man, hardened by years of battle, killing, and war in foreign lands, in his earlier life. Physically, he didn’t appear to be a special specimen of a man , but his demeanor and commanding presence made him a person to be taken with serious consideration. As much as Zealand hated it, he realized that Kristoff was teaching him needed information and skills.

“Killing, my young lord, is again the topic of the day. Today, I will instruct thee in the fine art of killing with your hands and the sword. Here, take this!”

He handed Zealand a razor sharp broadsword. Zealand followed Kristoff out the back door into an inside courtyard, totally obscured from the outside world but open to the sky above. Kristoff had set up a number of melons on posts in the center of the courtyard. There were also four dummies, stuffed with straw, standing at attention in the far end of the yard.

“Watch closely my young lord!”, said Kristoff, with a glint in his eye.
Imagine if you will, that these are the heads of enemy combatants.”

Kristoff moved quickly past each post, swinging the sword with great furry at each one, slicing the melons into pieces, with the remnants falling to the ground.

“As easily as I have sliced these melons, so too will you be able to severe the heads of the enemy. Think not of them as men, but simply the murders of your family, as killers who would sooner kill thee than gaze on thy naked face. This is war, my son, this is what war is all about.”

The savagery of the implicit acts was surpassed only by Kristoff’s seemed rage and anger. Zealand was frightened of Kristoff, but Kristoff knew this and had told him that he had no reason to fear him - just listen to what he taught him and learn, learn to kill.


Zealand’s lessons in war and killing went quickly today. Kristoff taught him hand to hand combat, and fighting with a sword. He practiced on the straw dummies, thrusting the sword again and again in them. Finally, he was able to think of the dummies as something terrible in the world; He thought of them as the killers of Grumpus, and Cornelious, and Amalthea. Finally, he came to the realization that he really would be able to protect them, them, and everyone else in the village. This must be what Grumpus was talking about, this feeling of being self sufficient, able to take care of the ones you loved and cherished in the world. Maybe Kristoff was right, there really was a place for this.

Kristoff thought Zealand had done well today. He was certain Zealand could learn what he needed to know to fight in battle. There was only one thing he thought he couldn’t teach him: How do you teach someone to deal with fear in battle if they have never been in battle? He supposed that he‘d have to talk to Cornelious about this; he was sure Cornelious would have the answer to this question. He tried to remember the first time he went to battle, but he couldn’t remember if he was frightened or not. He was sure he was.

“How was it for thee then, young lord? The fighting I mean. Think thee can protect us if need be?”

“Well, Kristoff, I think perhaps I could. . . I really think I could.”

Zealand turned to leave and Kristoff put his hand on his shoulder, looked him straight in the eyes and said: “Do not be frightened of me young lord, I will not harm thee.”

* * * *

Filled with Kristoff’s rhetoric of killing, Zealand made his way back through the town to Cornelious’s house. Despite his apparent success with Kristoff, he placed the memory of the fighting in a private place in his mind. He would not think of it again until tomorrow, when it was time to fight and practice killing again.

Cornelious gave Zealand a hug when he enter his house. Zealand notices immediately this man, this house, was far removed from his endeavors with Kristoff. He was a happy young man in the presence of Cornelious and Amalthea. They brought joy to his life.

“So, tell me Zealand, how goes the craft of war today?” inquired Cornelious.

“I learned killing with my hands and a broad sword today. On the morrow, and for a fortnight, we shall learn planning an assault on a village. After that, and for a fortnight again, I’ll be instructed in defending our village.”

“Serious tasks, these. Learn the lessons well,.” commented Cornelious. “In a short time, you’ll be our defender, as well as the defender of the reformation - Grumpus will speak to thee about the reformation.”

“But I am still a lad, not yet a man. Am I to become a man at this short notice?”

“Physical strength and age are nothing to do with manhood. Manhood is in your mind. You’ll be there soon enough,” stated Cornelious.

“Pray Cornelious, the prospect frightens me. But how will I know? “

“It will spring forth from your mind in great revelation. Grumpus and I have been watching your progress and we believe your almost there.”

* * * *

Zealand and Cornelious sat quietly for a short time and Amalthea prepared their noon meal.

“I have mutton for the two of you today for your midday sustenance. Pray thee, eat heartily gentlemen!”

Amalthea returned to the rear courtyard and sat in the noon day sun, contemplating matters of love and the heart and her dear sweet Cornelious. Cornelious and Zealand ate their meal and when they were finished Zealand inquired:

“What will our lesson be for this day, Cornelious?”

“We shall speak of your ancestry and how your people came to live in Voltaire.”

“It is my understanding, kind sir, that you are not form Voltaire and that your home country will always remain a secret, for yours and Amalthea’s safety. Is there truth is this, or have I been lead astray?” inquired Zealand.

“A truer statement could not be made, young gentlemen. Genteel Amalthea and I barely made it out of our country with our lives. We left everything, including our titles; I will tell only this: There are many more of us in the small stature in which I exist, and we all do great work in the world and deeds of kindness. Now, as for yourself, your ancestors are from England, a majestic country. It has it‘s dark side, but England is a major influence in the world.”

“Your grandfather Grumpus lived in England. As I’m sure you’re aware, master Zealand, your grandfather is a prophet and knows the wherefore and the events of the future. He is indeed a wise man.”

I know what is, and has always been, your grandfather knows what is, and will be. So shall you be a prophet and know the wherefore and events of the future; in this way we will be prepared to meet our enemies head on, with no reluctance.

When your grandfather first became aware of his gift, he simply predicted the weather, and simple events that would take place in the days and weeks that lay ahead of the residents of his fair town. Because of the accuracy of his predictions the citizens of his fair village become frightened of him: He was branded a heretic and a warlock. He and your parents fled the country and took up residence here in Voltaire.”

“Your grandfather predicted that our village would be attacked, but residents of Voltaire had not yet established trust in Grumpus in their minds. If they would have listened to him, the siege against our village could have been avoided and many would not have been killed.”

“Pray thee Cornelious, if Grumpus could predict that we would be attacked, why wasn’t he able to predict that many would be killed, or did he,” reasoned Zealand.
“Your grandfather explained to us all that he knew many important events that would come to pass, but not every single outcome. So shall it be with you. The reason I know this, is because your grandfather has imparted this knowledge to me. God himself has told me what has been. If God tells me, I know it is truth. This is gods gift to me.”

Zealand and Cornelious talked for the rest of the afternoon, with Cornelious filling Zealand in on the details of his grandfather’s and his parent’s life in England.

Amalthea entered the room once again and enquired as to weather the men were hungry and if they would be in need of food in the near future. They indicated that they were not hungry and Zealand prepared to leave for home. Almost as an after thought, Amalthea commented: “You are of the age now young Zealand, when you mind will turn to matters of the heart and of love and of having a family. Consider if you thee will, which of the young women in the village thee might consider for a wife.”

“Not yet a man, and still I am to make consideration for a wife. I am truly blessed. I shall do as you have indicated, kind Amalthea.”

Realizing the hour was late, Zealand gave them both a hug. With the crimson sun low in the sky, surrounded by clouds, and the mountains standing majestically in the background, Zealand gave his final goodbyes of the day and left for home.

* * * *

The pinkish red cobblestone street felt solid beneath Zealand’s feet. He made his way past Kristoff’s house, turned on a side street and proceeded to his home on the outskirts of the village. Grumpus sat on a chair near the front door of the dwelling, nodding off in silent dreams. Zealand approached quietly so as to not startle Grumpus. He touched him gently on the arm and Grumpus opened his eyes.

“There ye be, young master! I have awaited thee with great anticipation,” said Grumpus, wiping his sleep filled eyes.

“I am not late, grandfather. It is the same time that it is everyday, after leaving Cornelious’s house, that I have arrived. I came straight away to our home.

“I do not admonish thee Zealand; it is a simple comment not to be taken harshly. Did you have a good day with your instruction?”

“I learned a great deal today. I learned of your life in England and that I too am a prophet and also I learned much about fighting and the art of war.”

Marisela had prepared the evening meal; they ate at their leisure and relaxed after dinner. Marisela busied herself with chores around the house and they settled in for a pleasant evening at home.

“On the morrow, Zealand,” said Grumpus, “you will encounter a women in the village on your way to Kristoff’s house. This women’s name is Stellar. She has come here from a country in the middle east. She has a talent that will be invaluable to us, and more specifically, thee, in the future. She is a stunning and striking figure of a women, with coal black hair and sultry green eyes. Pay her heed and listen to what the woman has to say to thee. She will assist when we find ourselves in conflict or battle and are overwhelmed.”

“Stellar can kill with her eyes and wound with a smile; she is a master of deceit if need be. She can set an object ablaze simply by setting her gaze on it. She is, to say the least, a formidable asset to our fair village. She will be at your side from the morrow onward,” said Grumpus.

“I will speak to thee of a man of great importance in the world. There is a man in Germany named Martin Luther. He has set out a proposition that is in conflict with the Catholic Church and it’s leaders. In years to come, there will be many wars fought over their differences. You and Stellar, after a time, will participate in these wars.

It is Luther’s supposition that God, Jesus, and the holy spirit are of more importance than the church and their teachings. His followers are called Lutherans and protest the Catholic Church and so are also called Protestants and believe in justification by faith and reject Papal authority. This is where your parents are now. You and Stellar will join them and fight with the protestants.”

* * * *

“I find it foreign to my intellect that a war would be fought over religious matters. Will this be a righteous endeavor to be granted God’s favor,”
asked Zealand.

“Indeed it will,” said Grumpus, “There are many things about the Catholic Church that are good and decent, but it seems that certain men in the church have become over zealous in the persecution of their faith and have acted in an exclusionary manor to many men and women of the church. They have convinced many that they will spend eternity in hell, if the church does not endorse them as worthy. God has set Martin Luther and the Lutherans the task of spreading the knowledge that they are saved through justification with Jesus Christ and not the church. Because of the Lutherans, many men and women will live their lives in contentment, knowing they will spend their eternity in heaven with God, simply by turning from their sin, and accepting Jesus as their savior. Trillions and trillions of souls will be saved because of this knowledge and revelation. . . But now, the hour is late; let us retire for this evening and we will resume our conversation in the morrow.”

“You have given me much to contemplate dear grandfather. . .I shall take it to heart and let the hours of slumber help me digest the knowledge,” said Zealand.

With that, the lamps were extinguished . . . The light of the fireplace, with embers glowing softly in the night, illuminated the interior, as Grumpus, Marisela , and Zealand, settled in for a night of respite.

* * * *

The morning came with the cock’s trumpet while a gentle mist filled the air. The mountains outside the village were obscured from view and the morning fog engulfed their surroundings with an air of intimacy that was soothing to Zealand and his grandparents. They went about their morning ritual with the usual zest and zeal and were unaffected by the murkiness.
Zealand bid his grandparents good morning and set off for Kristoff’s house.

Not more than two streets away from his home, Zealand was stopped by a woman in a long cape and a concealing head piece that obscured her face.

“Good morrow kind sir,” exclaimed the woman, as she slipped the hood from her head . “What think thee of this early morning haze?”

“Nay, it makes one contemplative of the essence of the day,” replied Zealand, “What think thee?”

“It is my hand before my foot that I cannot see. If it were not for foreknowledge of the village, I would be lost,” replied the woman.

“Your name must be Stellar,” offered Zealand in conversation.

“And I know that your name is Zealand. You could be no other, simply by the look of you.”

“My grandfather, Grumpus, has indicated that our lives are to be intertwined for an indeterminate amount of time and that you and I are to fight in wars over religion and to strive to eradicate an injustice that exists in the Catholic Church. Our efforts will result in the salvation of many souls. I beg thee pardon, but based on what I know of war, I feel that war is a mans regimen, to be fought with physical strength and marked determination, not available to the fairer sex.”

“I beg difference with thee. God has granted me the acumen, strength, and agility so that I will not be put under by any man on this earth. God has also given me the use of a miracle of which I can work at my own desire. Gaze if you will at that pile of limbs on the side of the lane. I will set my gaze on them and set them ablaze, simply by my will.”


Stellar focused on the limbs and small flame developed in the center of them. The smoke rose and the small pile of limbs were consumed with fire. . . What think thee of my ability, with that revelation, young lord?”

“Fair woman, thee are the epitome of deceit! One would never know of your ability, simply by your appearance! A fairer maid I have never seen.”
If your fighting skills are of equal tantamount to this miracle, we will surely be undefeated in our endeavors. We can set the enemy on fire and watch in contentment as it is consumed.”

“Hold out your hand, and I will further demonstrate,” said Stellar. “The fire will not harm you; only at my command, will you feel the heat of it.”

Zealand held out his hand in front of him and a small flame appeared in the palm of it and fluttered before him, but he felt no pain.

“With my will alone, I will make the fire hot and you will begin to feel the pain associated with it.”

In an instant the fire became hot and the pain searing.

“Bless thee, woman! You have wounded me with your mind,” yelled Zealand, as he shook the flames from his hand. Zealand was dumfounded by the demonstration. As they walked, Stellar continued:


“From this day forward, our intent will be unified and we will fight in God’s name for religious equity in the minds of common man. It is God’s will that we will prevail in our battles and that the protestant movement will take hold and the injustice will be unraveled.”



“I will take my leave of you now my lord. In two days, before the sun has breached the mountain tops to give the light of day, I request that you meet me in the clearing by the water fall in the forest and I will further enlighten thee . . . I bid thee good morrow kind sir.”

In the blink of an eye and a wisp of the wind, Stellar disappeared from Zealand’s presence.

Throughout the entire day, Zealand spent every available moment trying to imagine what it would be like fighting in battle, to fight for such a noble cause. He was quite distracted when he meet with Kristoff and likewise with Cornelious, but they both knew of his distraction and made allowances.

He had dismissed himself from his time with Cornelious and spent the afternoon in the town square talking to as many people as he could. He could scarcely concentrate and the days passed without incident. On the second day, he went to meet Stellar.

* * * *

Stellar sat on a tree stump in the early morning hours of the day, waiting for Zealand to arrive, as requested. With his usual punctuality Zealand arrived in the small clearing with sleep in his eyes and greeted Stellar with a hug.

“Good morrow young Zealand,” said Stellar. “Hast thee made peace with this early morning engagement?”

“Pray thee Stellar, the early morning rendezvous has not negative affect on me. You said you wished to speak to me about something of utmost importance. I am before thee; shall we begin?”

“Of course young lord. I wish to speak to thee of heaven and hell, of myself, of God, and why I am here. Gaze if you will into the night time sky and tell me what you see.”

Zealand looked into the sky, studied it for a moment and replied, “I see the darkness of night, illuminated by the light of the stars and the moon. Pray, what importance is this to me?”

“It is the beginning of an explanation of God, where heaven is and where hell is. To start with, God made all that is good and decent and pure in the universe; this included the sun and the moon and the stars. One of the many things God is, is love, an intangible, and also light. God is the light. In essence, God is the tide that binds us all together as his children. Without God, we are nothing. The only reason we exist is because God wants us to exist.

“I have asked thee here at this early hour so that we might witness the sunrise, so as to explain heaven and other wonders of the age.

The darkness that exists, the area in which the stars are suspended, is called space. Space is never ending. Space is also not always darkness. This is a key as to where heaven is. Consider if you will a dove, a bird that will represent the holly spirit. If you were to release the dove and it began to fly in a straight line into the darkness, never tiring, never failing, based on what science will tell us, it would continue forever; but in reality, the dove would eventually reach heaven. It would fly from darkness, into the God’s light. This is where heaven is: Heaven is beyond the darkness. Heaven is so far away that it is safe from evil doing.

When we watch the sunrise, the darkness will slowly turn to light and we have a new day. This is what heaven is, a new day. This is what happens when a person passes from existence on this earth. Their spirit and soul (and their mind) travels through the darkness, escorted by the holly spirit. This is why the stars exist, to illuminate the path of the spirit and our soul on its journey to heaven. The stars themselves, of which there are billions and trillions, are spirits; not merely spirits, but angels that God has assigned the task of providing light. For their protection, God has made them searing hot to the touch; if one would stand in close proximity for a heart beat, they would be incinerated instantly, yet as they hang suspended in space, they feel the coolness of a spring time morning and are content with their task.

Each star shines for an indeterminate amount of time, known only to God. He has allowed the stars to feel great joy in there existence and their job of providing light. The brighter a star shines, the happier it is. What we call the sun actually is a star, perhaps the happiest of all stars, because it illuminates his creation, the earth. If you have ever seen a shooting star, you have witnessed the spirit of a star passing into the kingdom of heaven, into eternity, into eternal bliss. I can tell you that it is a magnificent event.

There are two words that I want to tell you about, infinity and eternity. Infinity becomes eternity. Heaven exists in eternity; it continues forever into the future, thus in that sense, considering the dove that I spoke of earlier, infinity isn’t infinity at all as many believe but ends in heaven; the doves journey would end in heaven and from there eternity begins and truly never ends. The holy spirit makes the journey from darkness, into the light of heaven, God’s magnificent light, over and over again, guiding the spirits and souls of men women and children into eternity and into the glorious presence of God.”

“And so, I query thee this: Doest thee grow weary of my soliloquy, young Zealand,” said Stellar, “Or shall I continue?”

“Pray thee, fair Stellar, tell me more.”

“Let us walk, lest we become weary of our surroundings, and I will enlighten thee further,.” said Stellar, with great pleasantry. She picked up a small stone the size of a coin and held it in her hand as they walked. She placed the stone in Zealand’s hand and continued:

“The person you see before you is not a women in the truest sense. What I am, is a spirit. I am the spirit of a star that shown brightly in the night sky when Jesus was born. You know me as Stellar, but I am known in heaven as the Star of Bethlehem. This is all I will tell thee about myself. What I want to tell thee about now is hell.

Stellar reached over and pinched Zealand on the arm quite severely.

“Good lord in heaven fair women, why hast thou inflicted such debauchery. That was painful!”

“I have done this so that the memory of pain would be fresh in your mind. This is what hell is. Hell is pain. Not only is it pain, but sorrow; it is also regret, regret of deeds done in your life for which you have not been forgiven.

There is only darkness in hell. Close your eyes and tell me what you see.

“I see nothing, only darkness.”

“This is what hell looks like, only blackness. The magnificent light of God does not exist in hell, thus, he has no presence there. When you are in hell, you are forever separated from God. Someone in hell has no sense of another being. Each soul is forever alone. There is no one to comfort you. You are forever forbidden the touch of another being. As time passes into eternity, the pain, with each second, increases beyond which you have not comprehension. The pain doubles with each passing minute for all eternity. There is sound in hell. People in hell hear the screams of other tortured souls, the gnashing of teeth and the breaking of bones. People cry out to God, but he hears them not. Hell is the antithesis of heaven. Hell is insanity.
What think thee of hell young Zealand?”

“I am taken aback, for thee hast described something for which no man could endure.”

“There is great truth in what you say. No man could, but some men will, despite themselves; that is the point of it. Only a fool would risk going to hell.

“Do you know what sins are dear Zealand?“

“Indeed I do know what sins are fair woman. I have spoken to God myself about them.”

“And what did God say?”

“He said nothing. God did not speak to me.”

“God is speaking to you now, through me.”

“God said that if you wish to enter into his light, into the light of heaven, simply confess to him your sins, accept Jesus as your savior and when the time comes, thee will be taken from the darkness of space and be accepted into his holy light.”

They sat on a decaying log and Stellar continued:

“Close your eyes and speak to him silently now as I have indicated.”

There was a wisp of a wind, the leaves rustled gently, and as Zealand spoke to God, a dove fluttered into the air and flew away into the morning sun. Zealand opened his eyes.

“Did you do as I requested?”

“Yes, emphatically yes, I did.”

A tear formed in the corner of his eye and rolled down his cheek.

“What did God say?”

“I did not hear a voice, but a thought came to me as though it were spoken; the thought was simply, ‘You are forgiven my son.‘”

“And so it shall be from this day forward. God has always been with you, but now you will know for certain that God is with you. You are destined for heaven and when the time comes, will spend eternity in the presence of God, experience joy the likes of which you have never known, and live in the magnificence of His holiness . . . Now, say Amen and we shall walk further.”

Zealand did as Stellar requested and as they walked, Stellar said, “Doest thou feel distracted or can thee continue to focus on what I say?”

“Continue fair woman; pray, tell me more.”

“I shall speak to thee briefly of sleep. God allows that we put our heads on the pillow each night so that we might rest and to not grow weary of our endeavors during the day. When we sleep, God allows us to dream. Doest thou have pleasant dreams dear Zealand?”

“Indeed, I do have pleasant dreams; on occasion though, my dreams are of a terrible nature and I awaken in the dead of night with terror in my mind. My body is in a cold sweat and chills run up and down my spine; I am terrified and fear fills me up,” said Zealand.

“Yes, that is horrid; we shall speak of it later but the pleasant dreams are a preview of what heaven is like. Will thee tell me of them, the pleasant dreams I mean to say.“

“Oh, my fair woman, they are magnificent indeed! There are vast mountain ranges, with snow capped peaks that continue to the horizon, with beautiful valleys filled with flowers of every color imaginable. The temperature in the valleys is warm, never hot, and high in the mountains, there is snow, but it is never cold, only cool. In many of my dreams, I can fly like a bird and I soar above the vistas below and before me. It is a majesty of which I almost cannot grasp.

Then it occurs to Zealand what is being imparted to him and he says:
“I have realization of what thee speak! I am awestruck! I beseech thee, is this what heaven is really like, fair woman,” said Zealand, with glee in his voice.”

“Tis so, fair one; also, peace, love, kindness, gentleness, and civility are eternal,” said Stellar, with a tender touch of her hand to his arm.

“People, in their heavenly bodies, play music and laugh and sing. They are never hungry, but may eat if they wish; eating brings them additional joy. We shall speak more of heaven later, but now I will speak of hell. The nightmares that we have are a preview of hell. Doest thou have the small stone that I gave thee?”

“Indeed,” said Zealand.

“Place the stone in the palm of your hand, rub it with your finger and contemplate the composition of it, the size of it, and the color of it. God has a stone like this that he keeps in the pocket of his robe. It is so hard that it cannot be broken. This is where hell is.

Keep this stone, the stone in your hand, in your possession from this day forward to remind thee where hell is. The people of heaven also know where hell is, that it is in Gods’ pocket, and they are certain that they are safe from it. The spirits and souls inside cannot escape, nor will anyone in heaven ever be placed there. The nightmares of which you have spoken, are like hell, sheer terror.”

“Firstly, fair lad, I will tell thee that you shall never again awaken in the night with terror and fear in your mind. Secondly, You will remember the fear and terror you have already experienced during your slumber and in your hours of awakening, without fear, will tell others of the horrors of hell.

This is the first thing I have spoken prophetically regarding your life; Take heed of it and remember it. I sense that thou doest grown weary and have as much knowledge as can be digested at this time. You, are a profit and the information I have imparted to thee is the beginning of all thee will know regarding God, Heaven, and Hell. I will leave thee straight away and allow you to contemplate the newly acquired knowledge. Do not linger long so that you worry your grandfather and grandmother.” With a look of kindness and caring on her face and a gentle smile, Stellar said, “I bid thee good morrow sir.”

With that, Stellar disappeared behind a thicket and Zealand sat alone.

I am truly awestruck, thought Zealand. “To think that these many years of my life, I have had the essence of heaven and hell in my mind at night and didn’t know it. But this is marvelous,” he exclaimed to the empty clearing in which he sat. A gentle breeze crossed his face, as though God had exhaled the breath of life on him. He was filled with glee and excitement and stood and turned in a waltz step in circles around the clearing. “Not only that, but God has forgiven me my indiscretions! This must be the revelation of which Cornelious spoke.” Zealand’s heart was filled with joy and he couldn’t wait to discuss this with his grandfather Grumpus and dear Cornelious.

“And so, today I am a man,” thought Zealand. Young Zealand’s life had been laid out before him. It was destiny, plain and simple thought Zealand - but where would he go? When would he go? Besides Stellar, Who would he be with, and just exactly who would he be fighting? And if I’m a prophet, why don’t I know these things? All unanswered questions but he knew his life was going to be grand - he was sure Stellar would inform him, after all, even a prophet gets his knowledge form somewhere. What better place than one of God’s own disciples

“I am to be a champion of the reformation - A truly righteous endeavor!“

Zealand placed the stone Stellar had given him in his pocket and danced all the way home.

* * * *