Religion Roulette

Sticky just stares blankly ahead, eating his cupcake. He finally finishes it with a heaving sigh. "Bird oughta know better than to take a man's cupcake," he grumbles.

Annabelle doesn't say anything, but nods appreciatively to Fish's offer. She lets Elly hop up on her hand, holding the dear parrot near, protectively.

Hm. Well, there's bound to be trail. "You don't remember which way you ran?" Fisch asks quietly. He will go hunt for the bird and make sure it didn't get hurt or scratch Sticky up either. He'll pass a cup of water to the bepooped man. Time to go bird huntin'.

"Man it's a bird. It flew away last I saw. I had to catch the damn thing for my cupcake, that's all I know." He shakes his head, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it, breathing deeply. "It's fine, don't worry yourself so much."

Fredricks watches, looking at Fish with a shrug. He's not going to get into this too much.
"'Tis just a wee little bird," Anna says disapprovingly. "Doesn't know any better." She frowns and then asks, out of the blue, "Doc, do you think I can try to get up today?" Someone's going a wee bit stir crazy.

Peer. Fish eventually finds the offender. Frank. The bird looks startled, minus a few feathers. He eyes Fischer, who coaxes the bird onto his shoulder. Frank looks ruffled, some feathers dented and huffing. He returns after a moment, splitting his pomegranate. Frank takes it in his talon nimbly and noms. He grins, seeing Sticky. "It's fine. Sorry about that. He shouldn't do it again. By the way, I have something for you later."

Fredricks nods to Anna, "If you want to, and feel like you can, I don't see why not." He looks to her, "I'll give you a hand, if you like."

"Oh boy, I hope it's a back massage. I could use one of them." STicky eyes the bird suspiciously, but then goes back to his cigarette, puffing away hapilly with his feet propped up.

Annabelle is relieved when Frank turns up unharmed, but still looks cross. "Just watch out 'round Elly, mate," she warns Sticky. "She loses any feathers, I'll tan your hide." She sets Elly back down on the cot beside her, and nods to Fredricks. "Aye, if you'd not mind. Thanks."

Fischer laughs softly. Then pauses. "Hm." He just shakes his head. "Well, not quite." He looks between the group. He gently pats Frank. "I think they'll take your help once she's standing up. How're you today Sticky?" Frank pauses, then wolf whistles. "Heeeeeeey," The bird calls.

Fredricks moves his chair out and nods, strting to pull the covers off Anna. Marine Jammies and bandages! He looks at her, and holds out his hands, "Alright, let's see how you do, don't push yourself, and use me for support."

Annabelle is the height of fashion. She nods to the doctor and swings her legs over the side of the cot. Taking his hands, she slowly stands up. Her legs support her well enough, but she has a hard time straightening to stand up properly. Still, she tries, gritting her teeth a little.

Fredricks helps support Anna, carefully, "Well, cane, definately for one, but how are you doing at the moment?" He asks, concernedly.

Fischer looks over, "You guys need help?" He offers. He peers, the ruffled Frank chillin' on his shoulder.

Annabelle gets herself straightened enough not to fall over, though it's a strain. "I'm allright." Well, all right-ish. She takes a tentative step, leaning heavily on the doctor. It hurts, of course, but she's determined. Fish gets a pained smile. Like she'd say no? "Aye, thanks."

Fredricks nods, watching her carefully as he's leaned on, "Okay, I'll say a little walk right now and then back to bed, we'll do this again tomorrow, and each day till you improve enough to have a cane."

"Oh, if I'm not too late…" Sadface. He smiles at Annabelle, watching her. Fish nods, "You'll be up and about before you know it. I'll be happy to come by with anything you like." Or even teach her camera stuff! WOo!

Annabelle reaches out one hand toward Fish. They can both help! "You already brought tea," she points out, somewhat breathless from the exertion. "Don't want to push my luck." A weak joke. She nods to the doctor, and takes another step, going slow.

Kappedal is awake, yawning and face still wet from rubbing his eyes with water. He disappeared off to the back for dawn prayers as he does each and every day and now comes shuffling up towards the gathered crowd, cane in hand. "Hey, Anna's up!" Joy!

Fredricks nods to KAppedal, "Get a wheelchair." He tells Ben, then his attention goes back to Anna, helping her move, carefully. "You're doing great."

Fisch will take the hand, and smiles. He'll help hold her steady. "True, and I'm glad you liked it," He seems pleased. A nod. "Look at you walking so soon," He seems impressed. He looks to Ben and grins. Frank is nestled by Fisch's cheek. "Gooooooood," Frank bobs his head.

Annabelle clings to Fredricks and Fish, looking up at Ben's call. "Oi, Ben," she greets, a slight smile shining through the grimace. "Thanks," she tells the others. A short little jaunt up the aisle of cots, and then Anna declares victory. "I think that's enough." More than enough, given the sweat now beading on her forehead.

Wheelchair, check. Kappedal takes this as permission to ditch his cane, tossing it against a table and shuffle-hopping over to the wall to grab one of the rather rickety contraptions. "Got one! Here you are, Anna." He calls over his shoulder, and makes his way back with it and one wheel squeaking faintly. "Elly, come here, ride on the handle." He tries to get the other bright bird's attention with his finger motions.

Fredricks nods, looking to Ben, "Bring it around behind her." He looks to Anna, "Alright, going to just sit down." He says, ready to ease her down to sit.

Fischer smiles. "That was pretty good," He nods. Frank is headboppin'. Fischer stays out of the way, as Elly obeys the mighty curly headed one. Shuffleshuffle, she talonwalks on over towards where he's motioning. Yeah, there we go.

Annabelle gives Fish's hand a little squeeze before letting go of it to grab the wheelchair instead. Pride wants her to walk back, but it would probably be worse to fall over and have to be carried back, so she takes the chair. "Thanks." With the doctor's help, she settles into the wheelchair, chewing her lip a bit. Ow.

Parrot figurehead achieved. "It's just like a chariot. A jungle chariot." Kappedal laughs under his breath, holding the chair steady for Fredricks to get Annabelle settled into it. We could put some reins on the front and tie them round Fish's shoulders."

Fredricks nods, unfolding the feet of the chair for Anna to settle into, "Okay, you can rest for a bit, then back to bed. We can put this by your bed, and you can wheel around, terrorizing people."

Fisch smiles at the little squeeze. His fingers might curl a second. There we go. He watches quietly. A grin at Kappedal's comment. THen a pause. Heywaitaminute, he's Fish. Hey! He just shakes his head and smiles. "I can see it all now."

Annabelle looks better once she's settled and the pressure's off her stomach muscles. "A chariot for the queen mummy, eh?" she says wryly, smirking up at Fish. She nods to the doctor. "Grand, thanks."

Fredricks smirks, "Queen mummy, that's good, yeah, I guess so. the chair should help you healing, as a middle ground between walking and laying in bed."

"It's grand," Kappedal says, turning it around slowly to face Anna's bed again. "This one's special. Look, it's got clouds for your feet and a horn nice and built in." He taps the back of Elly's feathers. "Put a mosquito net around it and you could roll around at night. Probably scare Sticky half to death." He motions at Fish towards the handles, stepping back. "Want the honours?" Yes, he picked up 'grand'. Hanging around Anna-speak WAY too much.

"All the other mummies would be jealous," Fischer beams at Anna, and smiles. A smile at Ben too. Elly is tapped and waggles at Ben. Wagglewaggle. "Shalom," Nod. Fischer blinks. "Um, sure. Thank you. I am sure we can help her wheel about with permission." A ponder at the idea of scaring Sticky with a bewheeled Anna. Hmmmm. No, that'd be mean. To Anna. Or something.

Fredricks smirks, "Yes, enjoy the mobility and pushing her about." He tells Fish, then to Anna, "You be careful Fish doesn't get you stuck somewhere."

Annabelle smiles up at Ben's use of the word grand. "There's hope that I'll teach the lot of you the King's English yet," she jokes, then considers. "Well, maybe not the Doctor." But the Germans perhaps. "Can I go outside?" she asks, eyes lighting up at the possibility. ESCAPE!

"Wouldn't want to embarass the King," Kappedal says, blithely. He's got no particular linguistic loyalty when it comes to English. All sounds funny to him. He looks at Fish and grins, then Fredricks. "Will it roll out there?"

"Yeah, with my English, I'm surprised someone from Britain or America hasn't come to brain me with a thesaurus," Fischer jokes lightly. He smiles at Annabelle. He grins back to Kappedal, understandingly. "I think if you avoid the sandy or muddy parts…" Um. Well.

Fredricks considers for a moment, "I'd have Fish push you, so he'll understand. Getting stuck outside during another Artillery attack would be it, really." He looks between Anna and fish, "You understand?"

"Don't be silly, your English is fine," Anna assures Fish with a smile. Hrm. No sand or mud. Yeah, that puts a damper on her little idea. She looks disappointed, but tries to look on the bright side with a slight grin. "Least I can go 'round here a bit." And then Fredicks brings up the possibility of artillery. The grin vanishes, and she looks down at her feet, visibly unsettled.

Kappedal rubs the end of his nose, glancing at Fred, then Anna. "Anna…whatever's going to happen with life and death is God's say, isn't it? If shells hit, well…they could break down the wall as well as outside, couldn't they." He should know, he almost got staked by a shattering window while safe inside. "So we should enjoy His gifts while we can, sunshine and all. Don't be afraid. We'll keep watch at the door for you."

Fischer smiles back at Anna. "Well. Wherever we go will be near cover. There's the air strip with the pagoda, some places near the beach and the redoubt," He points out. A pause as the grin vanishes. He frowns too. But a smile and a nod at Kappedal. "That's right. We're here for you." He promises. A sergeant barks the Fish's name. oops. "Be back." Scurry!

Fredricks nods, "Later Fish." He looks at Anna, "Just be mindful of your condition, Anna."

Annabelle nods slightly to Ben's reassurances, but her mood is still somber. "Aye, you're right." She looks between the three of them and says softly. "I'm very blessed to have you lads looking after me." There's a disappointed look when Fish is called away by the sergeant, but then she nods at Fredricks. "Hard not to be."

D'oh. "Tschus," Kappedal calls after Fish. Well. Guess that leaves him on the wheelchair handles, unless Fred steps up. "We can just go to the door for a minute, and then if you want to go farther you just say so."

Fredricks smiles to Anna, and nods, "Sounds good, You and Ben take in some air, I'll be here, making sure the Cot's changed for your return."

"Thanks, Doctor," Anna says. She nods her thanks to Ben as well. "Aye, to the door is fine." Maybe by then she'll work her courage back up, but right now she's still a little unsettled. "Thanks, mate. How're you feeling?"

"Why don't you come outside," Kappedal says to Fredricks, as he starts pushing the chair. "It's good sun, it helps with your pale." He's teasing, or so says his little smile. Onwards, chair, squeaky wheel and all towards the doorway. "Me? I'm fine. I finally tried some of that inside the coconut yesterday."

Fredricks smiles, "I'll be there in a bit, go on without me. I'll catch up." He says.

"The juice, or the fruit?" Anna wonders. "And did you like it?" She glances over to see if Fredricks is coming, and seems pleased when he agrees. Elly hops down off the bar to settle on Anna's shoulder, eliciting a slight smile.

Kappedal settles the wheelchair just inside the wide doorframe, sunlight already heating up the humid air outside. He shuffles around the front wheels, pushing that side of the door open wide and kicking a rock over to jam it. "The fruit. It's very strange, it goes right into your nose and sticks there. I liked it. I guess you're used to eating that, yourself."

Annabelle sits in the chair, content to just look outside. "Aye, though it was never a favorite of mine. I like some of the other sweeter fruits better. Did you know you can make milk from the meat inside the coconut? 'Tisn't very good to drink but you can make soups and things from it. Looks nice outside," she says, chewing her lip. But she's not ready yet. Topic change. "What was it you wanted to know about my necklace?"

"It is nice out there. I bet the ocean's pretty today," Kappedal carefully drags a stool over, sitting down and stretching out his leg. Oh, that necklace. "I was just wondering about it. You said before it was meant to be a 'cross'?"

"Aye. I miss going swimming in it. Such a nice break from this blasted heat. 'Course you had to watch out for the sharks." Anna nods slightly, reaching up to finger the necklace. "A cross, aye." She looks thoughtful. "You don't have Jesus in your beliefs, do you?" There seem to be some things in common but she's gathered that's not one of them.

"If that's Yeshua," Kappedal inserts that before he goes on, reaching up to scratch the side of his head. "There's a story in the Talmud about him, I think. I never heard very much about him, just that he was a teacher from Nazareth. Maybe."

Annabelle tilts her head curiously at the other name. "I dunno. I think I heard Doc say that name before when we were talking about it. He's from Nazareth, anyway." She tucks a stray hair back behind her ear, looking thoughtful. "Well, he's rather important in ours. The New Testament of the Bible tells how Jesus was the son of God - not literally, mind, but sort of God come down to walk among us. To live as one of us, born and raised and all. He was a teacher, a minister. He was betrayed and arrested for a number of false crimes, and crucified on a cross. The Bible says he died so that everyone else's sins could be forgiven now and forever. So that's why the cross is a sign of our faith."

Fredricks finishes making sure the Cot's ready for Annas return and moves out to the doorway. He leans against it, listening to the conversation.

Kappedal sits there for a while looking at her. "'Sort of God'?" He repeats her, looking like that's not parsing at all. If anything it looks troubling to the young man. "How can a man die to forgive your sins?" His tone isn't critical, just confused. "'The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin.' That's in Deuteronomy, isn't it?"

"I'm probably explaining it badly. I'm sure Father Carey could say it better," Anna says apologetically, and tries to clarify. "God incarnate - God with us - those are some of the ways he's described. He's God, just… on Earth." She looks to Fredricks as he approaches, a silent invitation to chime in. Ben's quote is met with another. "'He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.'. Peter 2:24."

Fredricks rubs his nose, "The Prophesied savior, Hamashiak." No don't ask for the proper spelling. "The one who would be delivered to Man from God. the basis of the Christian faith is that this happened. Yeshua, Jesus was that savior. He forged a covenant in which he allowed himself to be killed, in the most brutal way, to pay with his blood for the sins of Man, and those who would believe in him as the Savior would be accepted into that covenant, and be granted paradise." He shrugs. "That's the basis of it."

"Who's Peter?" Oops, you lost him. Kappedal shakes his head slightly at all this talk of God. "There is only one God. How can He be in pieces? 'Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.' Deuteronomy 6:4." He looks up at Fredricks then, and it takes a second. Wait for it…waaaaait for it… "You believe this man is the Messiah?"

"Peter was a follower of Jesus. He wrote one of the books in the New Testament. Like Deuteronomy 6:4 only it's Peter 2:24. And right, there's only one God, but…" Anna stops and listens to Fredricks' explanation, giving him a nod of thanks for making the connection. "Right, exactly."

Fredricks taps his nose and points to Kappedal, "Bingo." He then falls silent to let Anna get back to fielding the questions.

Kappedal twitches his nose, as if to get at an itch without having to touch it. "I don't quite understand. The Book of Isaiah says that when the time of the Messiah has come, death will be swallowed up forever. There will be no more hunger or illness, knowledge of God will fill the earth, the wrongs done to Israel will be recognized…and Ezekiel says that weapons of war will be destroyed." He gives a grimaced glance out towards their battlefields, then back at them with a dry chuckle. "Call me crazy, but…"

Annabelle smiles a little as well. "Well, our beliefs are that all that happens when Jesus comes back to the Earth, later. The Second Coming. Quite obviously hasn't happened yet."
Fredricks nods, "There's a who other testament that the Christians follow, it's an impressive work, really. Something to keep in mind."

"Oh, okay." Kappedal looks more willing to swallow that from Anna with that little add-on in there. Sort of. He glances at Fredricks, trying to work that concept in somehow. "Like…the Torah and the Talmud?" Maybe? Then to both, "Alright, but you said you think Yeshua is…God." Very uneasy concept there for him. "But in Jeremiah and Ezekiel it says that the Messiah is a human, descended from King David on his father's side. He is a man. And 'God is not a mortal', Numbers 23:19."

Annabelle fiddles with the bandage on her head, where it's irritating her ear a little. "Well, I don't think it's saying that God IS a mortal. I mean, when they killed Jesus it didn't really kill God, obviously." She wrinkles her nose a little, having a hard time explaining. "He's called 'Son of God' and has a mortal body, born of man, but there are passages that say he is God. Like John 10:30 - "I and my Father are one."."

Fredricks nods, listening. "Well, these are points that have been gone over time and again, and for two thousand years this has developed into a lot of branches and offshoots."

Kappedal rubs his nose finally. Still itches. Nothing more about the whole 'Son of God' bit for now, even if it leaves him looking troubled still at the notion. "So what's the difference between an Anglican and a Pentecostal?"

Annabelle looks faintly troubled by Ben's troubled-ness, but since she's not really sure what's bugging him, she doesn't comment. "Well it's like Doc says, there's a lot of different branches - churches. They all have different rules, some different interpretations and the like. Like Fish's church - Catholics - they've got a number of rules that the Anglicans believe are a bit dodgy. Don't tell Fish I said so," she says with a grin. "Like having to confess all your sins to a priest. Anglicans think that's between you and God. Afraid I don't know much about the Pentecostals." Annabelle looks to the doc there.

Fredricks smiles, "I'll let the current explinations stew for you, Ben, I'll just say again, that without the background of the new testament, it's going to really cook your noodle.

"You can't get away that easily," Kappedal says. Kid's like a terrier with a scent now. He wants to know! He nods to Anna then. "I didn't understand the confessing priest thing either." Shrug, and he gets to his feet. "But, they'll be bringing over lunch soon and we should probably go in. Good time, right, Doc?"

"Aye we can talk more later. I think I ought to lie down for a bit. Still a bit sore." Bring on the morphine. Anna smiles at Ben. "It's nice learning about what you believe. I'm sorry if mine troubles you, though."

Fredricks smiles, "alright, let's get you back into bed, Anna, this can be picked up later. We've got a war going on at the moment."

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