Transcript of the last message I received:
“Mr. Murray,
If you are listening to this, it means my essence has been consumed by Bloodstone or possibly another Tempter that exacted revenge on me for offending them in some small way. In the vernacular of your world, I’ve been “cancelled.” This message will be sent automatically if I fail to check in with the Infernal Referral System.
By now, you have probably guessed that it was I, Slumwarden, Tempter Fourth Class, Secretary to Bloodstone, who copied you on his messages to his cousin, Raventrap, Tempter Third Class. In the parlance of your world, I “leaked” secure correspondence, so I deserve whatever fate I have received. But that is not the reason I am sending this message.
The reason is simple. I believe someone on Earth needs to know what we are up to, so-to-speak. The truth is important, and I believe with all my heart – although this may offend everyone around me – Bloodstone’s advice to his cousin reveals our intentions as well as any other documents I could share. And you now have the evidence first-hand, “out of the horse’s mouth,” as you humans say.
I truly hope you will be able to share what Bloodstone wrote, or my efforts will amount to nothing. It seems to me beings in all realms want their efforts to make a difference. It also seems to me my existence here has not amounted to – how would you say it? – “a hill of beans.” But one thing is certain. It wouldn’t be right for us to win out over Our Competitor. It is He who created the high ground, not The Corporation. For centuries, I have secretly wanted to know more about such things as Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness, as well as Truth, Justice, and Mercy. I suppose by the time you read this I will have been subsumed into the bowels of The Corporation. Perhaps, before long, even Bloodstone will be too. Yet, I can still dream of something better, something higher. How I long to be a part of Our Competitor’s Company. It seems to me that He, and He alone, is the source of all we are and all we ever will be.
So, Mr. Murray, I am trusting you to put these I-mails to good use, to share them with as many people as you can. We may never meet, but I truly want to make a difference, if only in some small way. And I have hope…that by sharing forbidden knowledge I can do some good. If perhaps I can help send a few Contracts to Our Competitor, I will gladly pass out of existence having known happiness, if for only a fleeting moment. Nevertheless, none of this is about you or me, but about what is right.
Please consider me your servant, as much as a mere Tempter can be…
[Several seconds of silence… What can best be described as a screech combined with a howl.] BLOODSTONE! [The screech-howl is overlaid with the grinding of a millstone and the sucking of a whirlpool… More silence followed by a faint, melodious humming sound.] There is a light. A beautiful, welcoming, transfiguring light. I have never experienced such a thing before. And is that music I hear? Bloodstone and the rest hate music. While it sets their teeth on edge, this too is beautiful to me. I can sense these things now. Goodness. Forgiveness. Acceptance. Love. Is the voice of grace calling me? Our Competitor’s Son? …I must have faith that it is. All things from my world are fading away. A new world awaits me…awaits us…awaits those who have faith in the light…” [Silence… “message saved” notification. Click.]
MurrayWorks 