





































Analecta 2014 

Fiction 
James Master 

Creation 

An angel and a demon sit next to each other on a sheltered bus 
stop located on the side of the road in South Bend, Indiana. It was a 
crisp rainy autumn evening and the last bus was due at their stop in 
roughly a half hour. The angel dressed in tan khaki cargo pants and a 
white tee shirt while the demon wore a long black trench coat that wore 
too big on his small wiry frame. The angel, having adopted the Earth 
name Jericho, glanced at his watch. 

"Well, it's time for the next round to begin. Same rules as 
before?" The demon, having switched his name from Rodney to Garrett 
in the mid 1980's, glanced at his angelic counterpart and smirked. "Do 
you really have to ask that?" 

"What do you mean?'' 
"We've been playing this game since Sodom and Gomorrah and 

every time you start out with the same question." Jericho shrugged his 
shoulders. 

"I was only trying to keep with tradition. Pardon the 
annoyance." Garrett sighed and reached into the inside breast pocket 
of his trench coat. The small notebook he produced from his pocket 
was bound in human skin and the fountain pen that accompanied the 
notebook did not contain red ink. Cracking open the book, Garrett 
turned to the first blank page and uncapped the fountain pen. He wrote 
the time and location with small neat cursive. The angel watched him 
with disdain, Jericho would've preferred printing to cursive. 

"What is the score?" 
"Oh, let's see. I've damned 87,891,002 and you've saved 

87,891,002. Although I would have an asterisk next to your score, you 
cheated last time." Jericho stood up suddenly and fixed his hands on his 
hips and scowled in shock at Garrett. 

""That sir is a lie, but I doubt someone like you would be able 
to tell. I have never cheated nor would I ever. That last round was not 
my fault." Garrett leaned back on the bench and smiled, pleased with 
himself for getting underneath the angel's skin. 

72 

""Calm down, Jerry. I was o 
stood for a moment before sitting 
huffed. He mumbled something tl 

""What was that?" 
""I said that the reason you 

picked the man and still lost." 
""Well how was I to know tl 

wearing all that gothic crap that l 
he was a Satanist. Honest mistak 

""Have you not heard of Cb 
smiled at Jericho. 

""You know back in the da) 
death. I guess it's like that Bob D 

""Which one?" Now it was 1 

you telling me you haven't heard 
Jericho thought for a quick secon 

""Nope." Before Garrett co 
up alongside the shelter. After pa 
the rear of the bus, they started 1 

nudged his competitor and pointt 
alone in the third row from the fr 

his head. 
""You know I never pick ba 

and went back to eyeing the ride1 
Time dragged on as angel ; 

through the seats of people. Afte 
spoke out, 

""You know the rules; you l 
leave and the transfer center is gt 

""I do not like any of them 
""But you still have to mal. 

another glance around the bus bt 
""I guess I will pick the hal 
When the bus pulled into -

followed everyone off. They folio-
number 4 which would take then 
bald man was startled when Jeri 
stand on either side of him. Jeric 



!014 

•n 
:.ster 

on 

to each other on a sheltered bus 
South Bend, Indiana. It was a 
.t bus was due at their stop in 
in tan khaki cargo pants and a 
long black trench coat that wore 

tgel, having adopted the Earth 

nd to begin. Same rules as 
1.is name from Rodney to Garrett 
c counterpart and smirked. "Do 

ince Sodom and Gomorrah and 
' question." Jericho shrugged his 

tradition. Pardon the 
ched into the inside breast pocket 
he produced from his pocket 
tain pen that accompanied the 
king open the book, Garrett 
tpped the fountain pen. He wrote 
:ursive. The angel watched him 
:d printing to cursive. 

11,002 and you've saved 
asterisk next to your score, you 
ddenly and fixed his hands on his 

neone like you would be able 
I ever. That last round was not 
bench and smiled, pleased with 
;el's skin. 

Analecta 2014 

"Calm down, Jerry. I was only teasing." Visibly ruffled, Jericho 
stood for a moment before sitting down again. He crossed his arms and 
huffed. He mumbled something that Garrett didn't quite hear. 

"What was that?" 
"I said that the reason you are sore about last round is that you 

picked the man and still lost." 
""Well how was I to know that he was a Christian? He was 

wearing all that gothic crap that kids now a days are wearing. Thought 
he was a Satanist. Honest mistake really." 

""Have you not heard of Christian rock?" Garrett grimaced, then 
smiled at Jericho. 

""You know back in the day that meant pummeling sinners to 
death. I guess it's like that Bob Dylan song." 

""Which one?" Now it was Garrett's turn to be shocked. ""Are 
you telling me you haven' t heard "The Times They Are A Changing' ?" 
Jericho thought for a quick second then shook his head. 

""Nope." Before Garrett could say anything else the bus pulled 
up alongside the shelter. After paying the bus fare and finding seats in 
the rear of the bus, they started to pick the next contestant. Garrett 
nudged his competitor and pointed to a chubby older bald man sitting 
alone in the third row from the front. Jericho eyed the man then shook 
his head. 

""You know I never pick bald men, I never win." Garrett smiled 
and went back to eyeing the riders. 

Time dragged on as angel and demon went back and forth 
through the seats of people. After several arguments, Garrett finally 
spoke out, 

""You know the rules; you have to pick someone before they all 
leave and the transfer center is getting close." 

""I do not like any of them." 
""But you still have to make a decision." Jericho winced , taking 

another glance around the bus before finally settling on the third row. 
""I guess I will pick the bald guy after all." 
When the bus pulled into the transfer center, Garrett and J ericho 

followed everyone off. They followed the overweight bald man to bus 
number 4 which would take them to the south side of the city. The 
bald man was startled when Jericho and Garrett came from nowhere to 
stand on either side of him. J ericho smiled at the man, showcasing his 

73 



Analecta 2014 

full set of gleaming pearly whites, and stuck out his hand. 
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, allow me to introduce 

myself. I am Jericho and this is my compatriot Garrett. Don't mind 
his appearance, he's just a sly devil is all." Jericho laughed at his inside 
joke, but then noticed that neither the bald man nor Garrett shared 
in his joke. The bald man looked from Jericho to Garrett then back to 
Jericho and shook hands with the angel. 

"The names Bob Robertson." Garrett tapped Bob on the 
shoulder, which led to Bob turning to look at the demon. 

"Yes?" Bob said with no curiosity. 
Bob wasn't really that interested with this encounter. He'd seen a 

lot of strange things riding local transportation in his day so when two 
strange men with even stranger appearances came up to him and asked 
him his name, it wasn't that interesting. They probably just wanted to 
rob him. Good luck with that, Bob mused to himself as he waited for 
the other guy to respond. It wasn't that Bob was a karate master or 
anything; he just didn't have a dollar to his name. In fact, if one was to 
inspect the contents of Bob's pockets and wallets one would find these 
following items: three quarters, a 10 cent Euro, his drivers license, a few 
paperclips, a maxed out credit card, a black ink pen, and four pennies 
that managed to hide in the inner lining of his wallet. 

Garrett raised an eyebrow and asked, "Your name. Is it short 
for Robert?" Bob, knowing where this line of question was eventually 
heading, rolled his eyes and nodded. Garrett jumped up and down 
whooping laughter loud enough for the whole station to hear, his 
trench coat flowing in the air like crippled angelic wings. Jericho sighed 
at the sight and followed Bob in rolling his eyes. Garrett stopped to 
catch his breath before continuing even though his kind didn't need to 
breathe. It was an unhealthy habit that was caused of being around 
humans for so long. Garrett had also formed an appetite causing him 
great humiliation when he went to Hell for holidays and special events. 
His fellow Hell bound brethren will never let him live down the time 
when Garrett asked Satan if there would be a buffet following the 
motivational conference. 

"So your full name is Robert Robertson? Man, your parents must 
have had a sick sense of humor. Sounds like my kind of people." 

"Garrett, can we please proceed? You are being rather rude to 
Bob." 

74 

Jericho gave his demonic fr 
and patted Bob on the shoulder. "' 
my rudeness, allow me to pay for 
his transfer ticket. 

""Thanks, but I've already ] 
Garrett ripped the ticket fr 

bits, the pieces scattering along tl 
parade only less colorful. Bob staJ 
the pieces of the ticket he had spt 
wind. The number twelve bus ran 
remnants every which way. If thf' 
heard the tiny screams of the tiel 
their numbers. 

""Those poor little things." 
people in front of them board thf' 
him questioningly and Garrett ju 
the bus. 

""This is for myself and for 
Garrett inserted eight dull 

days. They had seen better days i 
Philadelphia Mint in 1969. Fresh 
down to Texas where they reside( 
man who sat in a window at a set 
man had done his deadly deed an 
policeman where they sat in a jar 
found them while going through 1 

were found at approximately ll: ~ 

years later, the grandson met Gm 
see these quarters leave his possef 
and sometimes you just have to a 

adventure. 
Bob, whose personal journ 

important crossroad, sat down or 
bus leaving an empty seat on the 
the seat behind Bob while Jerich• 
one tried to make conversation. I 
to say, quite the opposite in fact. 
upcoming event that was keepin~ 



~014 

stuck out his hand. 
ance, allow me to introduce 
npatriot Garrett. Don't mind 
tll." Jericho laughed at his inside 
bald man nor Garrett shared 
Jericho to Garrett then back to 
~I. 

arrett tapped Bob on the 
ook at the demon. 
ty. 
i with this encounter. He'd seen a 
Jortation in his day so when two 
·ances came up to him and asked 
g. They probably just wanted to 
sed to himself as he waited for 
tt Bob was a karate master or 
o his name. In fact, if one was to 
md wallets one would find these 
nt Euro, his drivers license, a few 
black ink pen, and four pennies 
g of his wallet. 
sked, ''Your name. Is it short 
line of question was eventually 
urett jumped up and down 
:whole station to hear, his 
led angelic wings. Jericho sighed 
; his eyes. Garrett stopped to 
1 though his kind didn't need to 
.t was caused of being around 
·rmed an appetite causing him 
l for holidays and special events. 
1er let him live down the time 
ld be a buffet following the 

bertson? Man, your parents must 
' like my kind of people." 
1 You are being rather rude to 

Analecta 2014 

Jericho gave his demonic friend a stern look. Garrett sobered up 
and patted Bob on the shoulder. "My friend is right yet again. Pardon 
my rudeness, allow me to pay for your bus fare." Bob showed Garrett 
his transfer ticket. 

"Thanks, but I've already paid for it." 
Garrett ripped the ticket from Bob's hand and shredded it into 

bits, the pieces scattering along the pavement like confetti during a 
parade only less colorful. Bob stared down at the ground watching 
the pieces of the ticket he had spent his last dollar on fluttering in the 
wind. The number twelve bus ran through the confetti scattering the 
remnants every which way. If the world wasn't so noisy, one might 've 
heard the tiny screams of the ticket pieces as the bus crushed through 
their numbers. 

"Those poor little things." Jericho said as they watched the 
people in front of them board the bus. Bob looked over his shoulder at 
him questioningly and Garrett just chuckled as they stepped up into 
the bus. 

"This is for myself and for Robert Robertson behind me." 
Garrett inserted eight dull worn quarters that had seen better 

days. They had seen better days in fact. They were minted at the 
Philadelphia Mint in 1969. Fresh from the Mint, they traveled their way 
down to Texas where they resided in the pocket of a troubled young 
man who sat in a window at a schoolbook repository building. After the 
man had done his deadly deed and was arrested, they were taken by a 
policeman where they sat in a jar for thirty years when his grandson 
found them while going through the old mans house. Coincidently, they 
were found at approximately ll:59pm on December 31, 1999. Five 
years later, the grandson met Garrett and Jericho. Garrett was sad to 
see these quarters leave his possession, but everything has a journey 
and sometimes you just have to allow them to get along with their 
adventure. 

Bob, whose personal journey was quickly coming to an 
important crossroad, sat down on the seat closet to the middle of the 
bus leaving an empty seat on the other side. Garrett had already taken 
the seat behind Bob while Jericho sat across the aisle from the two. No 
one tried to make conversation. It wasn't because there was nothing 
to say, quite the opposite in fact. Perhaps it was the gravity of the 
upcoming event that was keeping their lips shut. 

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Analecta 2014 

At exactly fifteen minutes into the second half of the bus trip, 
Bob reached up with his meaty hand and pulled hard on the cord. The 
words Request Stop were highlighted in bright red. The bus driver 
almost instantly began to slow down and pull up to the side of the road, 
opening up the doors with a silent electric hiss. Bob stood and walked 
to the front of the bus without any kind of acknowledgement that he 
had even met the two strange individuals that had paid his fare. 

If he had, he would have noticed that Jericho and Garrett had 
also stood and followed Bob off the bus. Oddly enough Bob didn' t even 
notice that the two were following him just ten feet behind him. 

"He must be off in his own world." Commented Jericho quietly, 
afraid to alert Bob to their presence. 

"Isn't that what they say about your boss?" 
Smiling at his pun, Garrett placed both his hands behind his 

head and stretched. The trench coat fluttered in the wind again. Jericho 
lightly pushed his accomplice. Garrett struggled to maintain balance, 
but eventually got back control. He retaliated by shoving all his weight 
into Jericho. The angel fell over, no pun intended, but didn't seek to 
maintain any kind of balance. Instead he simply floated in mid air. 
Garrett scoffed at this gravity defying display and continued to follow 
Bob. Eventually Jericho caught up with him. 

""Why do you bother to maintain the charade of being human?" 
Jericho asked to which Garrett shrugged. ""Guess I've just adapted to 
their mannerisms. What's so wrong about that?" 

""Careful or you might just turn into one and one day you' ll be 
the one I pick. Or the one that your replacement picks." Garrett waved 
this off. ""That's just an old fairy tale. You can' t seriously believe that 
by adapting to their mannerisms and way of life means that I'm going 
to become one of them." 

Jericho didn't bother to argue with his demonic pal any further. 
He didn't feel the need to remind Garrett that demons and humans 
were already pretty compatible, with their sins and vices. It was like 
comparing apes and humans. You can see the similarities, but you know 
they' re different. Although on more than one occasion, Jericho had 
caught Garrett looking through his hair for bugs. 

Garrett tugged on Jericho's white shirt bringing Jericho back 
to the world. Jericho saw that Bob was currently staring at them. He 
wasn't wearing that indifferent look he had been wearing at the bus 

76 

Analt 

stop. Now it was a befuddled type 
the point that Jericho knew there 
couldn't see them. 

""What the hell are you doir 
""We' re actually on Earth. 1 

or Hell." 
Bob took that as a threat a 

Garrett could say anything else, :E 
""You just had to say that." 

pace. Garrett easily caught up wi1 
about? It's not like he can get too 
house." 

""Oh, now you want to be an e· 
""Shut up." 
The pair caught up with B4 

two-story house. Garrett manage4 
could completely shut it. The two 

""Excuse me, Mr. Robertsor 
Jericho sweetly said. From 

of a defenseless man rang out. 
""No! Go away or I'll call tb 
Garrett shook his head. Jer 

the matter?" 
""I was hoping he would sa; 

chin' . They never say that. Over 1 

I heard that. He even looks like a 
""I don't look like a pig!" 
""Shut up Robby and let us 

glare by his angelic partner and t : 
Bob if I may, we do not mean an: 
like to talk." 

Silence from the other doo1 
his breathe anxiously and release 
hadn' t noticed. Jericho had, but 1 

that old argument. 
""I guess so, the door's oper 

who only nodded. Garrett pushec 
house followed closely by J ericho 



2014 

the second half of the bus trip, 
and pulled hard on the cord. The 
in bright red. The bus driver 
md pull up to the side of the road, 
~tric hiss. Bob stood and walked 
nd of acknowledgement that he 
1als that had paid his fare. 
~d that Jericho and Garrett had 
11s. Oddly enough Bob didn't even 
11 just ten feet behind him. 
-ld." Commented Jericho quietly, 

t your boss?" 
::ed both his hands behind his 
.uttered in the wind again. Jericho 
t struggled to maintain balance, 
~taliated by shoving all his weight 
m intended, but didn' t seek to 
l he simply floated in mid air. 
; display and continued to follow 
,th him. 
in the charade of being human?" 
;ed. "Guess I've just adapted to 
)OUt that?" 

t into one and one day you 'II be 
~placement picks." Garrett waved 
You can't seriously believe that 
way of life means that I'm going 

vith his demonic pal any further. 
rett that demons and humans 
their sins and vices. It was like 
see the similarities, but you know 

b.an one occasion, Jericho had 
tir for bugs. 
ite shirt bringing Jericho back 
.s currently staring at them. He 
e had been wearing at the bus 

Analecta 2014 

stop. Now it was a befuddled type of look that scrunched his face up to 
the point that Jericho knew there were eyes on Bob's face, but he just 
couldn't see them. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" Garrett stepped forward. 
"We're actually on Earth. It's your choice if you'll be in Heaven 

or Hell." 
Bob took that as a threat and turned towards his home. Before 

Garrett could say anything else, Bob bolted. 
''You just had to say that." Jericho started walking at a quick 

pace. Garrett easily caught up with him. "What are you worried 
about? It's not like he can get too far. Plus, we can just teleport into his 
house." 

"Oh, now you want to be an ethereal entity?" 
"Shut up." 
The pair caught up with Bob just as he opened the door to his 

two-story house. Garrett managed to get his foot in the door before Bob 
could completely shut it. The two stood there at the entrance. 

"Excuse me, Mr. Robertson. Could we come in?" 
Jericho sweetly said. From behind the door, the nervous timber 

of a defenseless man rang out. 
"No! Go away or I'll call the cops!" 
Garrett shook his head. Jericho looked at him curiously. "What's 

the matter?" 
"I was hoping he would say 'not by the hair of my chinny chin 

chin'. They never say that. Over two thousand years and not once have 
I heard that. He even looks like a pig. It would have been perfect." 

"I don't look like a pig!" 
"Shut up Robby and let us in!" Garrett was given a reproachful 

glare by his angelic partner and tried making amends. "Mr. Robertson, 
Bob if I may, we do not mean any violence towards you. We would just 
like to talk." 

Silence from the other door, Garrett found that he was holding 
his breathe anxiously and released it immediately hoping that Jericho 
hadn' t noticed. Jericho had, but there wasn' t any point in getting into 
that old argument. 

"I guess so, the door's open anyway." Garrett looked at Jericho 
who only nodded. Garrett pushed the door open and walked into the 
house followed closely by Jericho. 

77 



Analecta 2014 

"Where'd you go, Robby?" Garrett asked to the empty living 
room where they now stood. ''It's Bob and I'm in here." His voice was 
not so nervous this time, Jericho noticed as they followed it into the 
bedroom. 

As soon as Garrett entered Bob's bedroom, a shotgun blast 
erupted, hundreds of tiny pellets embedded themselves into Garrett's 
abdomen, knocking him back into Jericho. Stunned silence prevailed as 
two things happened simultaneously. The first thing being that Garrett 
was coming to terms that he had just been shot, which was a good thing 
because if he had actually been converted into a human he'd be as 
dead as the pieces of bus pass that had been ran down by the bus. The 
second thing was that Bob was coming to grip with the fact that he had 
just shot someone and that person was still standing in front of him. 

"You shot me!" Garrett yelled. 
"You're alive!" Bob yelled. 
"You are both morons." Jericho quietly stated. 
"But how can you still be alive?" 
Bob raised the shotgun, but Jericho raised his hand and swiped 

it in the air. The weapon flew to the ground. It didn' t go off, something 
that 80's cinema portrayed falsely, but just hit the ground and rested 
comfortably on the shag. Jericho calmly extended the hand in a 
soothing gesture. 

"Bob, let us say our peace and we'll leave." Garrett sat down on 
the bed and fixated on his shirt. He couldn't stop inserting his fingers 
into all the little holes the pellets had made. "Garrett, would you please 
pay attention?" 

"Sorry. Ha, my shirt is like you are ... holy." 
The pun fell on deaf ears as Bob sat down on the bed. 
"What did you want to tell me?" Garrett looked at Jericho. 
"I guess we' re getting to the final round of this game, eh?" 

Jericho looked solemnly back at him. 
"I suppose we are now. Tell me Bob, what do you think we are?" 
Jericho watched Bob think. 
"We'll, you guys appear out of nowhere, rip my bus ticket up 

then insist on paying my way home only to stalk me and then you 
break in and refuse to die when I shoot you with a shotgun. My best 
guess is that you're some new genetically engineered perverts." Garrett 
smiled and nodded, 

78 

Analt 

"Yup, because that makes s 
Jericho ignored the commm 

an Angel." Garrett interrupted Je 
"What do you mean?'' 
"When you just introduced 

looked at Garrett puzzled. 
"What?" Bob looked from t 

any sense to him. 
Garrett persisted, "When y 

capitalized your title, but not min 
he was crazy, something that isn't 
except for Santa Claus. He's bonk 

Garrett shrugged, "I don't i 

the creator will run out of words. ' 
"The creator? You mean G< 

took a few steps from the arguing 
Don't mind me." They didn't. 

Garrett stood and spread 01 

creator, little c not big C." Jericho 
lost. 

"Garrett, you're not makin 
Garrett laughed and shrug~ 

no one has informed you about th 
we're here talking. He made us an 

"You mean God." To Jericb 
head. 

"I mean the Author. God cr 
the Author. It is the Author who c 
we'll never figure out who broke t l 

Giving up, Jericho replied, ' 
Garrett smiled, "Because h , 



2014 

Tett asked to the empty living 
1 and I'm in here." His voice was 
:ed as they followed it into the 

(s bedroom, a shotgun blast 
edded themselves into Garrett's 
icho. Stunned silence prevailed as 
The first thing being that Garrett 
been shot, which was a good thing 
rted into a human he'd be as 
d been ran down by the bus. The 
g to grip with the fact that he had 
s still standing in front of him. 

) quietly stated. 
I" 

~icho raised his hand and swiped 
round. It didn't go off, something 
t just hit the ground and rested 
tly extended the hand in a 

we'll leave." Garrett sat down on 
mldn't stop inserting his fingers 
made. "'Garrett, would you please 

are ... holy." 
b sat down on the bed. 
1" Garrett looked at Jericho. 
,al round of this game, eh ?" 

Bob, what do you think we are?" 

nowhere, rip my bus ticket up 
1ly to stalk me and then you 
't you with a shotgun. My best 
tlly engineered perverts." Garrett 

Analecta 2014 

"'Yup, because that makes sense." 
Jericho ignored the comment, "'Garrett here is a demon and I'm 

an Angel." Garrett interrupted Jericho, "'What gives?" 
"'What do you mean?'' 

"'When you just introduced us, what are you implying?" Jericho 
looked at Garrett puzzled. 

"'What?" Bob looked from one to the other, nothing was making 

any sense to him. 
Garrett persisted, "'When you introduced us just now, you 

capitalized your title, but not mine. Why?" Jericho looked at him like 
he was crazy, something that isn't possible with ethereal creatures, 
except for Santa Claus. He's bonkers. "'What are you talking about?" 

Garrett shrugged, "'I don't know. We should get on with it or else 
the creator will run out of words." 

"'The creator? You mean God?" Bob stood from the bed and 
took a few steps from the arguing pair. "'I'm going to use the bathroom. 
Don't mind me." They didn't. 

Garrett stood and spread out his arms, "'Not God silly. The 
creator, little c not big C." Jericho was confused before, but now he was 

lost. 
"'Garrett, you're not making any sense." 
Garrett laughed and shrugged again, "'Oh, Jericho, I can't believe 

no one has informed you about the creator. He's the only reason that 
we're here talking. He made us angels and Demons." 

"'You mean God." To Jericho's frustration, Garrett shook his 

head. 
"'I mean the Author. God created everything, just as he created 

the Author. It is the Author who created you and I. It's a shame that 

we'll never figure out who broke the tie." 
Giving up, Jericho replied, "'And why is that?" 
Garrett smiled, "'Because he wanted to save two words." 

The End 

79 


