Zael bursts into the chamber, his face paled with panic. ‘Hellhoud! A hellhound has defiled the sacred garden.’
The angels rush after their brother, unholstering weapons and muttering speculations. How could this happen, here of all places?
When they arrive at the garden, the lesser angels come to a juddering halt before Michael, an elder of their order. He stands with his hands behind his back, watching the three-headed beast that has curled up on the grass.
‘Lord Michael, what is it doing?’ says Zael.
‘Napping,’ says Michael.
The lesser angels look at each other and murmur.
‘Should we slay it in its sleep my lord?’
Michael frowns. ‘Goodness, no. What’s wrong with you?’
‘This hellish beast is defiling holy land!’
‘It’s just napping,’ says Michael.
Zael looks around exasperated. ‘Uh, wha- why?’
‘Well,’ says Michael, ‘the sun comes through the glass early in the morning here so it gets quite warm.’
Bemused, the other angels join Michael in watching the snoring hellhound as it begins to kick its legs in its sleep.
Paddy Dobson
15th June 2021