Chapter 19: Up, Up And Away

The take-off was as boring as the arrival. There was what felt like a long time waiting, but without Iestyn’s immortal phrases to make the time seem to go faster, after the door to the visitor’s ship finally closed before the engines started and the near invisible blue flame lifted them vertically.

“Well, that’s that,” said Huw as they disappeared through a rain cloud, “All that remains is to write this incident up and wait for the next one.”

“Not forgetting recommendations of training for real angels falling,” added Bumbly one.

“The next one?” asked Bronwen, amazed, “Do these things happen often?”

Huw shrugged, “It’s the only one I’ve known about for certain, but I doubt they would tell mere minions like us.”

“So who are ‘they’?”

“Nor would they tell us that. All I know is what they think I need to know. And it usually isn’t much use, as you just saw. Actually I believe that there was at least one previous incident, but the arrival at Roswell was fatal for the visitors, and that is why they didn’t come in person this time. Anyway do you want a job?”

“What job?” she asked, intrigued, “I must admit that after rushing about in helicopters and meeting people like you who are saluted by Brigadiers and Angel One who is saluted by almost every one, going back to being a WPC in Heddlu Gwent on £25,000 a year is not an exciting prospect.”

“My Angel Three or Angel Two here. It consists of lots of training you don’t see the use of and putting forward ideas that get turned down without a reason being given. Or there might be another vacancy for an Angel Two somewhere else. The pay in either case is better than a WPC, in fact about £65,000 a year,” he replied, “But you might be able to negotiate that up.”

“But why would anyone give me a job like that?”

“Because they dare not try to force you to do it, in case you tell the press that you are being forced.”

“But I’m not qualified...” she stammered.

“Now that is utter nonsense. Who else do you know, apart from we two, who else have you even heard rumours of, ignoring the I-was-abducted-by-aliens-crowd, whom I think are fake, who has actual experience of a first contact with a Fallen Angel? We are the only two qualified for any Angel job, even Bumbly One which is really Angel One and a Half,” then he added, voiced as an inconsequential aside, “By the way do you want a medal?”

“What medal?”

“Anything from the Queen’s Police Medal up to the George Cross were mentioned and I was asked to ask you,” said Huw, “You were very brave to volunteer with so little information.” He did not mention that he had also been offered the GC.