Travelling Companion.

 

Another crack of lightning shook the plane almost before the last one had died away, and seemed to bathe the stricken craft in an eerie envelope of light flashing and cracking as it took on first a greenish and then a yellowish hue. Clusters of animated sparks danced the length of the fuselage before reaching the tail plane and then taking the giant leap to the wing tips, only to start again, crackling and cackling like Wagner’ witches. Without warning the plane dropped like a stone, as it had done many times before. A hundred feet it dropped, a thousand, who can say, and each time my heart ended up in my mouth. Where my stomach went to, was anyone’s guess.
      Inside te plane - which not long before had been cruising un-remarkably at thirty thousand feet - some of the passengers were praying, and some were crying fearfully. Others, shocked and immovable, were sitting in stunned silence.

     I was on my way home from a business trip to celebrate thanksgiving with my family in the states, and I could not help wondering if my thoughts at the present time were being replicated in the minds of my fellow passengers'. ‘Is this going to be the last thing I do?
      Everyone, in one way or another was displaying signs of terror, convinced that they were about to die. Everyone that is except the man sitting next to me. “Exciting isn’t it?” he said, when yet another lightning bolt hit us full blast.

      I was not in the mood for conversation, polite or otherwise, but I managed a reply. "Sorry, but this much excitement I can do without."
      He looked at me as though surprised by my display of fear. “You’ve no need to worry you know,” he smiled, “this will stop soon.”
      “I wish I had your confidence.” I muttered. It was all I could say, but I was hoping he  would be quiet and leave me to suffer in peace. ‘Peace’ I breathed, almost smiling at my thoughts. ‘call this peace?"
      But my wish was granted; albeit not immediately. “Just a couple more minutes.” he persisted.
      I groaned.
      This time he did remain quiet, though I could see him looking about excitedly like a kid with a box full of new toys. Two minutes elapsed - just as he had predicted - when miraculously the storm suddenly ended; so suddenly in fact it was as though someone had turned off the power. Still, it took a few moments to realise that the lurching, the battering, and the heart stopping falls into space had ceased, as had the remarkable, terrifying ‘firework’ display. One by one faces lifted, expressions slowly changing from fear to disbelief; from astonishment to relief, and some even displaying a degree of embarrassment.
      “There.” The voice of my neighbour broke through my own fearful awakening, “didn't I tell you?” Ignoring my blank expression he continued. “It wasn’t that bad was it?”
      I could hardly believe it. Two hundred people had just endured what was probably the most frightening experience of their lives, and yet this man had remained totally unconcerned.
      Despite a distinct feeling of queasiness somewhere in my guts - where ever they where, which at the moment was pure conjecture - I managed to respond. “I’ve got to hand it to you,” I said, “I just don’t know how you managed to remain so calm, especially ....”
      At this point I was saved from further grovelling when the intercom burst into life. Click. …. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” a voice commenced, “this is the captain speaking.” A short pause, “I cannot tell you where all that came from, but we seem to have survived it. The Met. Office forecast no storm - Some storm!,” he interrupted himself, before continuing, “and even now there is nothing on the radar to explain it.”   Another click indicated his departure, followed almost immediately by yet another, and his return. “Please contact a member of the cabin staff if you are sick or injured; they will help you to recover.” A final click indicated that the brief and somewhat less than helpful statement was over, but the mood amongst the passengers had changed. Some chatter was being exchanged between the seats and across the isles, muttered conversations, and even some laughter could be heard. A big smile had appeared on the face of my companion, and despite my earlier uncertainties about him I felt compelled to enquire.
      “What are you smiling about?”
      “Oh’ just a little private joke,” he answered, “but it was fun wasn’t it?”
      “What was?”
      “All that.”
      “All what?”
      “The storm. The lightning. Everything.”
      “Everything?” I was starting to have a very strange feeling about my fellow traveller. “What do you mean about it being fun?”
      “Well,” he whispered, “l'll let you into a secret. When I set all this up I made a few little mistakes.” He laughed. “Actually there were one or two pretty big ones as well. Oh, and don’t believe everything they say. It took a lot longer than six days I can tell you.” It seemed as though he slipped that last bit in as an afterthought.
      I sat in disbelief at what this man was saying. Had the trauma of recent events unhinged him after all, or was he a complete nutter.
      “I don’t understand you at all.” I uttered, though I was thinking, 'do I want to’. But, despite my slight irritation I persisted, “What is it you are telling me. What was it that you set up?"
      “Everything."
      “Oh’, don’t start that again,” I said a little angrily, "and what was this big mistake?”
      He turned his head to take a good look at me. I did likewise and could not help noticing a curious look on his face. He seemed to weighing me up, assessing the pros and cons before saying, “No, I don’t think you will understand.”
      “Try me.”
      There was a long pause during which he seemed to have changed his mind. “OK; it’s to do with volcanoes and cyclones and lightning, you know. Things like that.”
      “Yes.” I answered, “carry on.”
      “Well you see, all those things should have been contained, but I confess I misjudged their strengths. They sort of got out of control.”
      “Got out of control. What are you talking about?”
      “There you see. I didn’t think you would understand.”
      “I understand about those things perfectly.” Now I really was beginning to get angry, and more than a little concerned. “What I don’t understand is you. Who are you what on earth are you talking about?"
      “Yes of course. My fault; I didn’t introduce myself. Very remiss of me I’m sure.”
      “Oh come on man.” I almost shouted.
      “I’m God, don’t you see.” He leaned forward in a conspiratorial manner and whispered, “I thought you might have guessed.”
      Now I knew I was in trouble. Following all the recent upset which had caused quite a lot of damage within the cabin, both to passengers, and to anything not screwed down, I just supposed he must have flipped. All the stewards and stewardesses were very busy, and it was a long time before I managed to grab hold of one. Literally so for it had quickly became apparent that trying to catch one’s eye would not work.
      “Miss, Miss, please stop.” I said as I caught one by the arm as she rushed past. The look she gave me was not encouraging but I persevered, and at least she did stop.
      "What is it Mr Wilkinson?” she asked. “Are you hurt?”
      “No,” I answered, “but I would like to see the captain.”
      “I’m sorry but he’s far to busy, I’m sure you will understand. You must let me go Mr Wilkinson; some people are hurt.
      “It’s very important.” I persisted.
      “It’s been a shock for everyone Mr Willson, but you must let go or I will have to call for help. Mr Wilkinson, please.”
      “I’m sorry, please forgive me.” I let go of the young lady’s arm feeling defeated and somewhat alarmed. Quite clearly my fellow passenger was deranged, and possibly dangerous, and it was also clear that no-one was going to come to my aid. I saw it in a flash. I was going to have to shoulder the responsibility for the safety of everyone on board. This man was clearly suffering from some strange delusion and had, by means foul or fair, become situated firmly into my care. I must humour him.
      “So.” I said to my travelling companion after what seemed like an eternity. “So you think you are God.”
      “Oh come Mr Wilkinson, I am God.” Then smiled. “I heard the young lady speak your name, I hope you don’ mind? Or perhaps you would prefer me to call you by your first name. What is your first name Mr Wilkinson?”
      “Bernard.” I said, “But if you are God you will have known that.”
      “True, but still; Bernard; it’ a nice name.”
      “I guess so; I’m used to it after all these years. What’s yours by the way?”
      “Oh’ nice try Bernard, but I told you. I’m God... Just God will do.”
      Now I don’t know what it was, but somehow the whole atmosphere had changed. The plane was flying quite normally again; a further captains announcement had assured the passengers that there had been no exterior damage to the aircraft; that we were back at the prescribed flying height, and that we were only ten minutes behind schedule. "Should be landing in about one hour," he had concluded.
      Not only that, but all the earlier signs of panic had disappeared; people were once again doing what people do on long flights, and screams had long given way to gentle conversation. Now could be heared the turning of pages, the clinking of glasses as some of the passengers were celebrating their ‘lucky’ escape. Even an occasional yawn, and here and there a little laughter.
      Having accepted my new role as saviour of flight 1139 Heathrow to Kennedy, I decided that I too needed to relax. Sure we’d had a scare, but that was over and done with. Now I had work to do.
      “OK God,” I said firmly, knowing that I must get a grip on the situation, “here’s the deal. You tell me what this is all about, and I won’t send for the storm troopers.”
      “Very good Bernard. Good joke.”
      “Yes, well, it was accidental," I smiled, realising my unintended humour, "but it was pretty good wasn’t it?” Best to get him into a good mood I thought, and my unplanned pun seemed to have tickled him. To be truthful it had tickled me too.
      “So come on God, what gives?” I asked.
      “It’s simple really. I didn’t think those fearsome forces like eruptions, earthquakes and hurricanes, would get out of control like they did. When I made Heaven and Earth I wanted them to be nice places. Well I got it about right with Heaven; no complaints there, but come on, even you can see that earth is not all it’s cracked up to be.”
      “I don't know; I've not seen anywhere better.”
      There was a distinct chuckle. “I think you’re teasing me Bernard, but I’ll tell you. There are lots of other places scattered around the universe, some only a few thousands of  light years from Earth - but I’ve left it up to the various populations to find out for themselves who they are; where they are; and how they got there.”
      “And do they not share the problems of Earth?” I asked. “These ‘other’ places?
      “No. I did Earth first, and very useful it was too, so after a million or so of your years I thought I would have another go. Because of Earth I could see where improvements needed to be made, a few tweaks here and there, and sure enough the next one came out much better.”
      “ So how many are there now?” I asked. Curiously I was beginning to be interested, and even - would you believe - starting to believe.
      “Oh, quite a lot now. I do a new planet about every ten million years. Now I think I’ve got it about right, the latest ones are...”
      He did not finish the sentence, but merely placed his forefinger and thumb in an O formation to his pursed lips as a gesture of contentment.     “Now I am going round again, trying to fix a few of my early mistakes.”
      “And how can flying in a jet airliner help you to fix the problems on Earth?” I asked.
      “Well, I can’ fix things until I know what needs fixing. Got to try everything first.”

      “Won’t that take an awful lot of time?”
      ”Ah, time.” he paused, “Let me try to explain. You see time for me is not what it is for you. When I mentioned ten million years a moment ago that was for your benefit really. Something for you to get to grips with.”
      “Thanks!” I said without further comment.”
      “You see, time has no beginning and no end. That idea takes a bit of grasping I know for Earth people, but one day you’ll understand.”
      “Sooner than you think if you pull any more stunts like today.”       I laughed. Yes, I actually laughed. I had started to enjoy the encounter with er – OK, OK; let’s call him God. He laughed too, enjoying himself as well. But something had changed, almost imperceptibly but I could feel it. Now I could not help the feeling that he was humouring me.
      “Right.” I said. “Let’s put the technical stuff to one side. How about the devil. And how about all those other religions? Why do you allow all those others to worship their gods instead of you.”
      God turned in his chair so that his whole body faced me, looking directly at me. His thick, almost white, loosely but immaculately coutured hair which was matched by a similarly styled beard and moustache, seemed to suggest an old man. And yet behind the hair there was something else. Something in the smile –or the frown – that could still be detected. And there was something in the eyes. Was it the face of a younger man, or perhaps an ageless man. There certainly was something about him, a presence, and a stare that was so intense; a stare that held me in its grip.
      What puzzled me was why I had not noticed him before the storm; indeed this was the first time I had taken a real good look at him, and I had to admit that he was a bit special.
      Now, looking at me eyeball to eyeball he spoke. “What religion do you follow Bernhard?” He asked the question directly, maintaining his gaze.   “Which God do you worship?”
      “I guess you got me there.” I conceded, “Not so good in that department, but I suppose you’d have to put me down as a Christian.”
        “And why do you feel that you have a greater claim on me than the others?” he asked.
      “It’s hard to say – I guess it is just the way I was brought up.”
      “But since the beginning all people were brought up the same. To believe in who they perceived to be their God.”
      “Well yes, I guess they were, but what about....”I could not quite find the words to finish that particular argument, and in a moment God spoke again.
      “And why do you feel that I am your god before all those others who worship in a different way?” He waited a moment, but before I could speak he said, “could it not be that I’m the God of all religions?”
      “You got me again.” I said, realising that I was somewhat out of my depth, and I was looking for a way to change the direction of the discussion. “So what about the Devil?” I asked, feeling inspired.
      “Oh yes, the Devil. Now he’ an interesting character. Keeps popping up everywhere down there.”
      “Down there?”
      “Yes, down there on earth. But up, down, these are terms I don’t normally use. They don’t have much meaning to me, but I use them to help you to understand.”
      “Well thanks, but what do you mean?”
      “The Devil you see is man’s invention. Nothing to do with me at all, and that’s for sure.”
      “Who then?”
      “You; everyone. The human race. You seem to need to match good with bad; seems you can’t deal with perfection. ”He gave me a knowing wink. “So you made him up.”
      “But if you made us, how could we make him?”
      “Yes I know; and in a way this time you’ve got me. You were perfect when I started with Adam and Eve, but you’ve gone down steadily since then. I must say that you’ve been something of a disappointment.”
      “Ah, but you introduced temptation. What about the apple?” I must have sounded triumphant, but it was not the killer blow I had thought it to be.
      God sighed. “Another of man's inventions. Oh yes, they were part of my first creation, but they never understood. There were apples everywhere, they could have had their pick, could have eaten them till they were sick. All I asked was that they saved that one apple tree for me."
      “But they didn’t did they?” I dared to venture.
      “No; but I know they were not to blame. That was the devil’s doing. It was one of my mistakes. I admit allowing him to evolve; one of the things I changed in my later creations. In those that came after Earth he was reduced to less that a tweak.”
      “So it sounds like he was here before you, and now we’re stuck with him.”
      “Not quite. After I created heaven and Earth I took a long time deciding on my next move, and somehow he got in before Adam and Eve.”
      ”Hang on.” I stopped him. ”First you say that the Devil is of our making, and now you say he was here on Earth before Adam and Eve. Even I can see that doesn’t add up.”
      “I know it sounds like a contradiction, but it’ true. It’s that time thing again; no beginning and no end; remember?”
      “Oh that’s too much for me; but are you saying that he’s here for good?”
      “Not any more he isn’t. He is one of the things I came to Earth to deal with.”
      “Quite a task old buddy.” I said to God, and I noticed him raise his eyebrows. Perhaps I was becoming a bit blasé. “I mean,” I continued, trying to make my point, “he’s been around for a long time. Don’t you think he will be well dug in by now?”
      “I know it will be a challenge, but if I am to bring Earth back to my liking, it has to be done.
      ”Wow there.” I sat up in my seat. ”what about 'to our liking'? After all this time we need to have a say in this, don’ you think?”
      “You think so?” his eyes twinkled.
      “Sure do.”
      “We should talk then.” he said, and then I saw the start of a smile.
      “Anytime. You got any more bright ideas?” I asked
      “It’ a long list, how long have you got?” he replied.
      “You’re God. You tell me.”
      “Touché my friend, touché.” He chuckled again. “But that would be telling.”
      Click. “Ladies and gentlemen. We will be landing at Kennedy airport in five minutes. Please fasten your safety belts.”
      The captains announcement had taken me by surprise, the last hour had gone so quickly. I turned to God and shrugged my shoulders. “Now what do we do?”
      “Oh, I think we will talk again.”
      “But when?” I asked.
      “Oh, sometime. Remember, no beginning and no end.”
      “Not for you maybe, but there sure as hell is for me.”
      “Ah, so you’re sure about hell then?” This time it was his joke, causing a twinkle in his eyes.
      By now the plane had stopped and all the passengers were on the move. “Let’s leave that until the next time.” I smiled as I moved forward.
      A raised hand signalled agreement. Though he was now two or three people behind me I distinctly saw his nodding acquiescence.
      When I found myself on terra firma, glad once more to be on home turf, I could not help but briefly remember that part of the journey that seemed to be signalling the end of my time on Earth. Then I turned to wish ‘au revoir’ to my travelling partner who, only a moment before, had been just those few people behind me. I was surprised therefore not to be able to see him. Where could he have gone? I waited until I was the only passenger left by the plane but of him there was no sign. He had it seems, simply vanished.
      Shortly after that the cabin crew and stewardess’ emerged including the one whose arm I had grabbed.
      “Mr Wilkinson!” she said when I stopped her. “Are you feeling alright now?”    

      She must have noticed the surprised look on my face. “You seemed to be having rather a bad time back then; you hurt me when you grabbed my arm.”
      “I’m so sorry, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but I was so worried about the man sitting next to me.”
      Now it was her turn to appear puzzled. “Yes, there was someone next to you, but I can’t quite remember him. What did he look like?”
     I could hardly believe her. "He was far and away  the most outstanding and distinctive person on board. I can't believe that you can't remember him." I replied.
      Her puzzlement turned into astonishment. “Yes, I remember thinking what a distinctive looking person he was." she exclaimed. “How is it I can't I remember what he looked like?
      “I remember him perfectly; how come you can’t?” I almost shouted in exasperation.
      “Sorry Mr Wilkinson.” she said, though I must say she didn’t act sorry. “It was a difficult flight remember, and some passengers were having a really bad time.”  She gave me a knowing look. “But I do remember that he was the calmest person on board.”
      “But where is he – he never got off the plane?”
      “He must have got off before you Mr Wilkinson. It's easy done and now you should go home. It’s been a tiring flight for everyone; time for a hot bath and a good night’s sleep. You’ll be OK. in the morning and I hope you’ll be flying with us again before too long.”
      With that I was dismissed, despite a possible missing person as she walked away chatting – and laughing – with a colleague.
      I stood motionless for a few minutes thinking about that unique man, and wondering if I should demand to see the passenger list; but something held me back. What it was I am not sure. For starters I didn’t know his name, and I could hardly as if God had been on board. But perhaps it was a curious feeling, which quickly became a certainty that he would not be there, under any name.
      I never thought I would ever see him again, my travelling companion. It had for sure been a journey I would never forget, nor would I forget him. But I asked myself if the other passengers would. After all the stewardess had already forgotten him.

      By now I had found my way through the terminal and was standing a amongst the mingling passengers as we queued for a taxi anticipating a long wait. Actually it was rather like a scrum than a queue and I regarded myself as fortunate when I found myself on the edge by the road and a taxi stopped next to me and the door opened.

      “Where’ll it be?” The driver called.

      “No,” I replied , “It’s not my turn.”

      “That sure is a first for me, he grinned, “get in.”

      Perhaps I was tired so I didn't argue. I knew of course that most of the other passengers would not stand back for me, and at the slightest hesitation someone else would be in the cab before I could say boo. I threw my two bags onto the back seat and followed them.

      Without another word the cab moved off and it was a few minutes before I realised that I had not told the driver my destination.

      "Yes you did," he said, as though reading my thoughts, "when you got in."

      "Oh," I yawned, "I don't remember."

      "You had a long journey - I guess you're tired."

      "Yes." I answered, "You might say I've had a tiring journey."

      "But it was fun though, eh!" the taxi driver quipped.

      I looked up somewhat surprised to see the driver grinning at me through his central mirror. Only then did I know who he was.

      "Now,” his grin broadened, “we’ve still got a lot to talk about," his grin changing slowly to something like puzzlement. "Now, where did we get to?" he asked, his white beard and hair surrounding that face which I knew I would never forget.

      I laughed as we drove away while God just smiled!