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As the lord wills it

In this day of Our Lord, February 6th, 2003, I am reminded. "Be careful what you wish for," as the saying goes, "for you just may get it." I have wished uncarefully, and now we all are to pay the price, so I feel that it is my duty to put here down in words the true tale of the tragedy, so that those who go after me will know and not be deceived by the words spoken by the unbelievers.

It did start on the first of the previous year, being 2002 years after the birth of Jesus Christ, give or take a few decades. I was working, at the time, in a heathenish institution, a laboratory that researched affronts to the light of the Lord. We did genetically manipulate microorganisms, creating living beings in mockery of the book of Genesis. At the time, however, I did not know Christ's light, and I did labor there unceasingly, that my paycheck would be expanded according to the tenets of the faith of Mammon.

On that even, I had me a dream. In the dream, I stood in a vast hallway lined with doors, and a deep voice said unto me, "You have within you the seeds of greatness. One great creation will be yours. Choose a doorway, and walk through it, and find what you seek."

Hearing this, I walked down the corridor, and I read the nameplates on each door. Here there was writ "Death", and my mind was filled with a vision of a virus of such potency that it could neither be halted nor stayed in its path except by a countervirus that only I could create. And the vision grew to fill my head, and I thought of the glory that could be mine, were I to be able to slay at will with none to stay my hand. But I was strong, and I pushed the vision from me, and I walked on.

And then I read "Power", and I saw a virus that could make others biddable, that I could design in such a way that I would hold the key to minds and thoughts. All would obey my voice, and all would acclaim me as a god. But I remained strong, and I walked on.

And then did I read "Wealth", and I saw a virus that would do as the alchemists had tried to do, and turn lead into gold. And my steps faltered, and I neared the doorknob, but I regained my wits and my will, and I walked on.

And then, at last, I read me a sign that said "Life". And I saw me a vision of a virus that could heal even the most grievous of injury, yea! even unto death itself, did but any remnant of bone remain for it to work upon. And more than this, it would restore youth and health to all, and this state would continue unceasingly, and death would have no more dominion. And I bethought myself of the masses of beings trapped by fear of death, and how near to Eden we would be if that fear were lifted for all. And a golden age did I envision were we saved from the fear of death. And my steps did stop, and my hand did lift to the doorknob, and I did turn the knob. And I awoke with the vision still shining in my head, and I hurried to the laboratory to labor without surcease for many days.

And late one night, all unbeknowing to those who funded me, I did release a new creation into the world.

The effects spread swiftly. All over the world on the next morn, people did awake with a new bloom of health in their cheeks, new life in their limbs. Men saw that had been born without sight, walked that had lost legs in battle. Cries arose to the heavens of the miracles that did occur. Nay! More! Men did rise from the very earth itself, healed of their death wounds and crying out praise to whatever gods they believed in, and a babble of many tongues, some long forgotten did arise. And it was good.

For a little while.

And then people did think themselves to celebrate by throwing a great feast. And they did open up their refrigerators, and lo! a horde of chickens and cows and animals that man did prey on did tumble outward, and much squawking and lowing were heard. And men did look closer, and did see that each apple had become a tree, and each grain of wheat a stalk, and the very flour had been reconstituted. And there was nothing that could be eaten, for any bite did grow back to become a whole inside the mouth. And the earth was very crowded, and men became very hungry.

Very, very hungry.

Quickly did I repent me, and did assign my soul to the care of our Lord. And I did repair me to this monastary, and here do my prayers go up unceasingly, along with those of my brethren here, but we are too late. We are all too late.

The Lord has removed the blessings of the angel of death from us. May he return swiftly!