The Seraph from Its Sepulcher
Father Joseph Krska explains that the winding staircase to his mission is full of false starts and dead ends. His visitor, Anthony Brook, admits to making several wrong turns on his ascent. Asking to survey the church, Brook presents a business card that identifies him as a Fellow of the Exsolar Archeological Society.
Krska leads Brook inside, and the archaeologist takes in the stone building and its unusual construction. The priest rejects the suggestion that the church was built by locals under human supervision. Instead, he explains that the resident Seraphs, having studied humanity, built the church as an offering to the diocese. Noting that he has been sent from the Motherworld to study the Seraphs’ culture, Brook asks permission to explore the site over several days.
The priest informs Brook that the mission was built one-hundred years earlier. The archaeologist disputes this assertion, recalling that the Seraphs died out in 2210. Krska insists that he saw several of the creatures while he was a youth.
Looking down at the tangled stairway, Brook wonders aloud why a flying race would build steps. Krska explains that the Seraphs bore wings only during their nuptial phase and flew infrequently. Pressed by Brook, the priest confesses that books form the basis of his knowledge about the Seraphs.
After some hesitation, Krska allows Brook to explore and record his observations, admitting that there is little to see. Brook relays his plan to descend the hill and retrieve camping gear from his roller, which was barred from traversing the stairs by a warning sign. The priest cautions against making the treacherous journey while fatigued and offers his bed in the rectory. Brook proffers a donation, which Krska accepts. The priest departs to prepare dinner, leaving Brook to make a holographic survey of the mission.
Over dinner, Krska confirms that he lives alone in the rectory, but for the presence of God. Brook learns that the priest hosts few visitors, gathers supplies periodically from the nearest town, and uses a device to draw water from the atmosphere.
The priest fetches a pair of documents to show Brook. A machine displays a message recorded by Monsignor Nealy on August 23, 2373, recalling Krska to the capital city to teach at university. A second video instructs the priest to remain at the mission in service of Brook. Krska expresses relief, as the archaeologist’s arrival delayed his departure.
Before retiring for the night, Krska tells Brook that a Seraph is entombed in the mission. Brook, surprised that he missed the crypt during his scan, eagerly asks to see the remains.
Overnight, Brook reflects on his long journey from the Motherworld to Krska’s desert planet. The archaeologist takes up his equipment and heads for the church, intent on uncovering the Seraph’s burial chamber. As he leaves the rectory, Brook notices Krska lying awake on a pallet. The priest supposes Brook too afraid to sleep and cautions against driving on the stairs and rolling back the stone.
Brook notices the door of the mission hanging open. He wonders whether the priest or some other being left it ajar. The archaeologist passes through the sacristy and approaches a stone altar engraved with an off-balance cross. Brook finds a supply room and, taking up a broom, sweeps the mission in search of an entrance to the crypt. Failing to find the catacomb, Brook exits the church and starts down the twisting stairway to his roller.
Krska dreams of standing before an open tomb, knife in hand. He considers stabbing the Seraph but hesitates. The Seraph awakens in its sarcophagus and orders the priest to leave. Krska explains that, by giving his bed to Brook, he hoped the Seraph would summon the archaeologist instead.
The priest relays his plan to ride with Brook to the town of Treaty. The Seraph observes Krska’s reluctance to abandon the mission and speaks of his own reemergence. The priest wishes to live undisturbed by the Seraph, who is amused by Krska’s desire to stab him.
The Seraph explains that his race converted to Christianity to better understand mankind, despite having been displaced by humans. Krska drops his knife to the ground as the alien chides him for an insufficient understanding of Christ and the resurrection.
Brook struggles to control his roller on the stairs, spotting several smashed vehicles strewn in the valley below. Eventually, he reaches the summit and parks beside the mission. Brook pulls a scanning device from his cargo compartment and scours the church. His equipment detects a cavity beneath the altar.
Recalling Krska’s words, Brook rolls aside the stone table to reveal a staircase. He hears the sound of metal clattering to the floor and the murmuring of the priest’s voice. The archaeologist restores the altar to its place and returns to the rectory, where he finds Krska asleep.
