The Merest Creak

Published 'Wearwolf' 1993

Feeling knackered, the saviour clambered on board and went the rest of the way in the boat.  Eventually on land again, he was brought to a paralytic man lying on a stretcher-bed.  “Your sins are forgiven,” announced the saviour.  “Rise and take up your bed.”  The man rose with a satisfying sigh and the merest creak of bone - walking off, without bothering to take up his bed.  The saviour was spitting mad, shouting for the man to come back and take up the bed, but the wretch merely wagged his finger at the saviour and bounded away.  As it would have been a pity for unmitigated anger to become the only shortcoming in the path towards Divinity, the saviour calmed down ... then deciding to use the abandoned bed for a long snooze.