“Why me?”

“I asked that too.”

“And?”

“I was reminded why angels are cast out.”

“Whoa! That big?”

Stephan coughed, clearly an affectation, since angels didn’t breathe. “I’m not sure I’m supposed to know, but the rumor is that it’s a new book.”

“You’re kidding. A sequel? Revelations 2, just when you thought it was safe to sin?”

“It’s a Gospel.”

“A Gospel, after all this time? Who?”

“Levi who is called Biff.”

Raziel dropped his rag and stood. “This has to be a mistake.”

“It comes directly from the Son.”

“There’s a reason Biff isn’t mentioned in the other books, you know? He’s a total—”

“Don’t say it.”

“But he’s such an asshole.”

“You talk like that and you wonder why you get dirt-duty.”

“Why now, after so long, the four Gospels have been fine so far, and why him?”

“Because it’s some kind of anniversary in dirt-dweller time of the Son’s birth, and he feels it’s time the whole story is told.”

Raziel hung his head. “I’d better pack.”

“Gift of tongues,” Stephan reminded.

“Of course, so I can take crap in a thousand languages.”

“Go get the good news, Raziel. Bring me back some chocolate.”

“Chocolate?”

“It’s a dirt-dweller snack. You’ll like it. Satan invented it.”

“Devil’s food?”

“You can only eat so much white cake, my friend.”

Midnight. The angel stood on a barren hillside on the outskirts of the holy city of Jerusalem. He raised his arms aloft and a dry wind whipped his white robe around him.

“Arise, Levi who is called Biff.”

A whirlwind formed before him, pulling dust from the hillside into a column that took the shape of a man.