A Breach in Interdimensional Security

by Karen Bradley

The airport of entry to the archangel’s domain bustled with activity. Beautiful beings of all shapes, sizes, and colors were arriving for the emergency conference. The thunder of their beating wings was nearly deafening. Many were already walking toward the back of the structure where the early arrivals were waiting. Their luminous feathers trailed on the floor behind them.

Metatron watched them all arrive from his position on the stage. He stood before them, a majestic figure, with his wings spread out behind him. His jet black hair and dark complexion contrasted with his sparkling white suit. A powerful light emanated from him, causing the younger angels to shield their eyes with their sleeves. The older ones gazed at him directly. Behind him was a blue curtain. The murmur of voices from the crowd was like a harmonious choir. For the first time in many millennia, Metatron had doubts about himself and the world he lived in.

After the archangel determined that the last traveler had arrived, he tucked his massive wings against his back. The multitude became silent. Then he raised his arms in greeting, causing the lights in his lapels to shimmer and dance. He did not smile.

“My beloved angels, thank you for coming at such short notice. As you know, on occasion, we have entered the earthly realm; but never before has there been a single known case of a being from that level entering our world.”

His eyebrows knitted into a frown as he paced back and forth several times, carefully considering his words. Wings twitched and eyes darted sideways glances at each other in the assembled crowd.

“I will get right to the point. Today, I received a report from a delegation of cherubim saying that an animal from the human plane of existence was in this very airport. On this very stage, to be exact.”

There was a collective intake of breath, sounding like an ethereal wind instrument.

“That’s impossible!” A female voice from the back cried out.

“Will it hurt us?” said a small girl from behind her sleeve.

“When can we see it?” asked an adolescent male in the front row.

Metatron sensed their fear. He took a step back and cleared his throat to get their attention.

Not answering any of their questions directly, he said what he never thought he’d ever have to say to them.

“I don’t know how it got through the natural barriers between the worlds. Those gateways have been locked since the Beginning.”

He set his jaw and braced himself for shouts from the crowd, accusing him of incompetence and not deserving the title of archangel. None came. His fingers fidgeted with the buttons on his suit coat as his eyes searched the faces in the crowd for anger and distrust. He saw neither; so he cautiously continued.

“Being an archangel doesn’t mean you have absolute knowledge of all planes of existence. My knowledge of our own plane is vast; but obviously, I do not know it all. Otherwise, this wouldn’t have happened.”

He turned to pull a cord, opening the curtain. On the floor, between two powerfully built guards with wings as black as a raven’s feathers, sat an infant chimpanzee playing with its toes.

“I hope you can all see this.” Metatron reached down and attempted to touch the chimp. His hand went right through it. It did not seem to be aware of Metatron’s existence. Another collective intake of breath came from those assembled.

“If I can do that, I can’t see how it could harm us,” he said, trying to reassure both the crowd and himself.

“However, I do consider this a breach in interdimensional security. You, my angels have some of the greatest minds in the entire universe. I am asking you to solve this problem.” Metatron then stepped to the edge of the dais.

“I want you all to come up here and take a look first hand. There is room for three at a time. We’ll start with the first row. Please come up these stairs.” He gestured to the right of the platform. “After you examine it, you may exit via the stairs on the left,” he said pointing to the far end of the stage. Then he stepped aside to give them some space.

Three by three, they joined Metatron on the platform. In silence, they dropped to their knees to take a closer look. The little chimp continued to be oblivious to its surroundings as hundreds of angelic hands passed through its fur and body. Seeing the animal up close, most of their fears evaporated.

As one young girl with half grown wings approached, the young primate stretched out on the floor and began to suck its first two fingers. She turned to Metatron. “Archangel, is it some kind of a ghost?” she asked.

He forced a smile and gave her his full attention.

“I wish I had an answer for you....,” he started to say as a commotion on stage behind her suddenly interrupted him.

“It’s gone!” shouted one of the guards as he dropped to his knees, feeling the spot where the chimp had been. Metatron dashed over to join them. The girl followed him. Both guards corroborated the story and said that one moment it was there and the next it wasn’t. Now they were more confused than ever.

* * *

Meanwhile, in a veterinary hospital in an American zoo, a very groggy infant chimp began to awaken from anesthesia after having a benign tumor removed from its back.

Zoo veterinarian, Bob Tenley, smoothed the tape around the bandage with his index finger before gently placing the tiny primate in a recovery cage. He pushed a lock of his gray hair out of his eyes and stretched.

“Not bad. Just a little over an hour,” he said to young, blonde Katie, his most recent intern from the Veterinary Institute. “By the way, for your first time assisting an operation, you did good, kid.” He gave her a warm smile and offered her a cookie from his briefcase.

Looking a little wan, she gulped and silently shook her head no. Then she joined him in front of the cage and peered in. Their patient's eyes were now fully open.

“Do you ever wonder what happens to their consciousness when they sleep?” Katie asked.

“Their consciousness?” he asked, not fully understanding her question. “Do you mean, what do they dream about?”

“That too...”

“Well, I think they probably dream about bananas, don’t you?” he said.

They both laughed.