A Vision of Judgment by H.G. Wells

H G Wells

Bru-a-a-a

I listened , not understanding

Wa-ra-ra-ra

" good lord ! " said I, still only half awake " what infernal shindy ! "

Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra Ta-ra-rra-ra

" 's enough ," said I, " wake ----" and stopped short where was I ?

Ta-rra-rara-- louder and louder

" 's either some new invention ----"

Toora-toora-toora ! Deafening !

" ," said I, speaking loud in_order hear myself " that 's the last trump "

Tooo-rraa !

the last note jerked out of_my grave like hooked minnow

I_saw monument ( rather mean little affair, and I wished I_knew who 'd done ), and_the old elm tree and_the sea view vanished like puff steam , and then all about --a multitude man could number , nations, tongues, kingdoms, peoples-- children all the ages, amphitheatral space vast as_the sky and over against , seated throne dazzling white cloud , the lord god and all the host of_his angels I recognised Azrael his darkness and Michael his sword , and_the great angel who had blown the trumpet stood with_the trumpet still half raised

III

" prompt ," said the little man beside " very prompt you_see the angel with_the book ? "

he_was ducking and craning his head about to_see over and under and between_the souls that crowded round " everybody 's here ," he_said " and now we_shall know --

" there 's Darwin," he_said , going off tangent "_He'll catch ! and there -- you_see ? -- that tall , important - looking man trying catch the eye of_the lord god , that 's the duke but there 's lot people one doesn't know

"Oh ! there 's Priggles, the publisher I_have always wondered about printers' overs Priggles was clever man . but we_shall know now -- even about him

" I_shall hear all that I_shall get most of_the fun before . My_ letter 's S "

drew the air between his teeth

" historical characters, too see ? that 's Henry the Eighth there 'll good bit evidence Oh, damn ! 's Tudor "

lowered his voice " notice this chap, just front , all covered with hair Paleolithic, you_know and there again --"

but I_did_not heed him , because i_was looking at_the lord god

" is_this all ? " asked the lord god

the angel at_the book -- it_was one countless volumes, like the British museum Reading- room Catalogue, glanced and seemed count in_the instant

" that 's all ," he_said , and added : " it_was , O god , very little planet "

the eyes god surveyed

" let_us begin ," said the lord god

the angel opened the book and read name it_was name full A's, and_the echoes came back out_of_the uttermost parts space I_did_not catch clearly , because the little man beside said , sharp jerk , "_What's that ? " sounded like "Ahab" to_me ; but could_not have_been the Ahab scripture

instantly small black was lifted up_to puffy cloud at_the very feet god it_was stiff little , dressed rich outlandish robes and crowned , and folded its arms and scowled

" well ? " said god , looking down him

were privileged hear the reply , and indeed the acoustic properties of_the place were marvellous

"I plead guilty ," said the little

" tell them what you have_done ," said the lord god

" i_was king ," said the little , "a great king , and i_was lustful and proud and cruel I_made wars, I devastated countries, I built palaces, and_the mortar was_the blood men hear , O god , the witnesses against , calling to_you for vengeance Hundreds and thousands witnesses " waved his hands towards " and worse ! i_took prophet -- one your prophets----"

" one of_my prophets," said the lord god

" and because he_would_not bow to_me , I tortured him for four days and nights, and in_the end died I_did more , O god , I blasphemed I robbed you your honours----"

" robbed of_my honours," said the lord god

"I caused myself to_be worshipped your stead evil was there but I practised ; cruelty wherewith I_did_not stain soul and last you smote , O god ! "

god raised his eyebrows slightly

" and i_was slain battle and I stand before_you , meet for your nethermost Hell ! out your greatness daring lies, daring pleas, but telling the truth of_my iniquities before all mankind "

ceased his face I_saw distinctly , and seemed to_me white and terrible and proud and strangely noble i_thought Milton 's Satan

" most of_that from_the obelisk ," said the Recording angel , finger page

" it_is ," said the tyrannous man , with faint touch surprise

then suddenly god bent forward and took this man in_his hand , and held him on_his palm as_if to_see him better he_was just little dark stroke in_the middle god 's palm

"_Did all this ? " said the lord god

the Recording angel flattened his book with_his hand

" way ," said the Recording angel , carelessly now when I looked again at_the little man his face had changed very curious manner he_was looking at_the Recording angel with strange apprehension in_his eyes , and one hand fluttered to_his mouth just the movement muscle , and all that dignity Defiance was gone

" read ," said the lord god

and_the angel read , explaining very carefully and fully all the wickedness of_the wicked man it_was quite intellectual treat --A little "daring" places, i_thought , but of_course heaven has its privileges .

everybody was laughing even the prophet of_the lord whom the wicked man had tortured had smile on_his face the wicked man was really such preposterous little fellow

" and then ," read the Recording angel , with smile that set all agog , " one day , when he_was little irascible from over -eating, --"

"Oh, not that_," cried the wicked man , " nobody knew of_that

" didn't happen ," screamed the wicked man " i_was bad -- i_was really bad frequently bad , but there_was nothing silly -- absolutely silly --"

the angel went reading

"O god ! " cried the wicked man "Don't let them know that ! I'll repent ! I'll apologise . "

the wicked man god 's hand began dance and weep suddenly shame overcame him he_made wild rush jump off the ball god 's little finger , but god stopped him dexterous turn of_the wrist then he_made rush for_the gap between hand and , but the closed and all the while the angel went reading--reading the wicked man rushed and fro across god 's palm , and then suddenly turned about and fled the sleeve god

I expected god would turn him out , but the mercy god infinite

the Recording angel paused

"Eh ? " said the Recording angel

" next ," said god , and before_the Recording angel could call the name hairy creature filthy rags stood upon god 's palm

VII

" has god got Hell his sleeve then ? " said the little man beside

"_Is there Hell ? " I asked

" if_you notice ," he_said -- peered between_the feet of_the great angels-- " there 's particular indication celestial city "

"'Ssh ! " said little woman near , scowling " hear this blessed saint ! "

VIII

" he_was lord of_the earth , but I was_the prophet of_the god heaven ," cried the saint , " and all the people marvelled at_the sign for I, O god , knew of_the glories thy paradise pain , hardship , gashing with knives , splinters thrust under nails, strips flesh flayed off , all for_the glory and honour god "

god smiled

" and last I went , I rags and sores, smelling of_my holy discomforts----"

Gabriel laughed abruptly

" and lay outside his gates, sign , wonder ----"

" perfect nuisance ," said the Recording angel , and began read , heedless of_the fact that_the saint was still speaking of_the gloriously unpleasant things had done that paradise might_be his

and behold , in_that book the record of_the saint also was revelation , marvel

seemed not ten seconds before_the saint also was rushing and fro over the great palm god not ten seconds ! and last also shrieked beneath that pitiless and cynical exposition , and fled also , even as_the wicked man had fled, into_the shadow of_the sleeve and it_was permitted to_see shadow of_the sleeve and_the two sat side side , stark all delusions, in_the shadow of_the robe god 's charity , like brothers

and thither also I fled turn

" and now ," said god , shook out of_his sleeve upon_the planet had given live upon , the planet that whirled about green Sirius for sun , " now that you understand and each_other little better , . try again "

then and_his great angels turned themselves about and suddenly had vanished .

the throne had vanished

all about was beautiful land , more than any I had ever seen before -- waste , austere , and wonderful ; and all about were the enlightened souls men new clean bodies .