Gabriel's Revenge (The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic Book 2) by J.T. Lewis Page B

involuntarily.
    I said a quick prayer that the sleep would be restful…and dreamless.

Chapter 21
    August 22, 1998
     
    The sun was an hour from rising when the man arose, anxious to serve and wanting to get a start on his next “project.” Lighting a candle on the table, he pulled out a drawer in the old table, extracted a dog-eared stack of pages and started a search for the name revealed to him the night before. Finding it on the third page, he copied down the pertinent information onto a small note pad before replacing the pages in the drawer.
    The woman revealed lived close. He would take his morning walk past the house as the first of the many steps he would take in investigating this next subject.
    The man excitedly contemplated the investigation, working forward toward his favorite part, the solution. He took great pride in his work, and his final solutions that always cleared up the problem.
    His heart beat excitedly in his chest, and he realized that he was again showing overt pride for his work on the missions, a personal flaw that seemed to haunt him like no other. He fell to his knees and said a short prayer of contrition for his hubris, asking for continued guidance in his work.
    Rising once more, he contemplated his calling as he cut off two slices of bread for his breakfast. Having seen his future in a vision many years ago, he was humbled to serve and had dedicated his life to the cause.
    ‘Is it so unnatural to take pride in a calling that one devotes himself to and executes to a satisfactory completion without fail?’
    He of course knew the answer, also knowing that if it was easy, anyone could do his work. He smiled at the thought; most of the people he’d met didn’t even have faith enough to believe in God anymore, much less to serve unfailingly something they could not touch or see.
    He let out a long sigh, so much to do, and he was only one man.
    Shaking off these negative thoughts, he sat down to slowly consume his meal, pulling off small pieces of the bread as he started jotting notes on his next mission. A couple of weeks were usually needed to compile the information needed in these matters, and he had no reason to feel that this one would be any different.
    Sticking the notes in his pocket when he was done, he stood and collected the crumbs of his meal in his hand before donning his hat and opening the door. Clearing the tiny space between the buildings, he tossed the crumbs out into the open yard, letting the birds take nutrients from his leftovers.
    He then started off at a good clip for his morning walk, following the new path he had laid out that morning. He was looking forward to working in his rose garden when he got back, the fragrant blooms calling him even now.
    “Hard work would always produce beauty if the senses were allowed to be attuned to the results.”
    His spirits high, he stepped up the pace slightly, letting the resultant breeze cool the perspiration forming on his face. It was going to be a glorious day, a glorious day indeed!

Chapter 22
    August 22, 1998
     
    It was still dark when I was awakened by the haunting call of a Rain Crow outside my window. Actually a dove I think, the call was supposedly a warning of approaching rain that many in this area took as gospel. I laid there in the predawn darkness listening to the eerie call and an answering bird much farther away as they communicated to each other some unknown message.
    I had no clock near me, but knew it was 5:30 AM, as my body had been waking me up at this same time each day since I was a kid. Stretching, I realized that physically, I felt pretty good. Emotional healing would have to wait this day though, as I had much to do. Starting on Frank’s files was my number one priority, and I threw the blanket off of me in preparation of starting the day.
    I still felt the effects in my muscles of my lightning encounter of the day before, but they were much improved and I was thankful for the healing powers of a