Genesis 7.5 (Variant 1, NIV)

1 After all but the ark was wiped from the face of the Earth, in the midst of the flood, a vessel of oak and iron and sulfur sailed forth from the West and East and North. From all directions, it sailed towards the Garden of Eden, held above the rushing waters by the will of God.

2 On the ship was the woman Lilith, lost first wife of Adam, forgotten steward of Eden, who traveled knowingly through space and unknowingly through time back to her birthplace. She guided it through the rushing waters towards the east of the Garden, where the tree of life stood.

3 She hailed the cherubim and they did not bar the way, for she was not of Adam or Eve and had not been banished from the garden. But when she approached the tree, the flaming sword stuck into the ground and became a pillar of fire, barring the path.

4 And God spoke out of the pillar of fire saying “I have seen to your safe passage and know your hearts. For the sake of the spurned wife of Adam, who did not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, I have allowed you to approach. But on what grounds should I allow you to eat of the tree of life?

5 Lilith retreated to the vessel and its passengers deliberated. Who among them could convince the Lord God Almighty?

6 The first was Jacob returned, in a mask of many faces, speaking honeyed words. “Lord God above, I have lived this life through cunning and tenacity with little to show for it but my own stories. Grant me the fruit of the tree of life, that I may make peace with mankind before I die.”

7 And God spoke out of the pillar of fire saying “How many treasures must you be buried with? Were you not given great deeds? Have I not sent you companionship? Have I not treated you as if you were made by my own hand? You have accolades enough from me, father of my people, hero of the stolen men of the West Coast. Go in peace, for your life was full.” And the masked man fled back to the vessel.

8 The second was Lilith, unspoken steward, the woman removed, whom Eve replaced. “Lord God above, I have served You faithfully in Your absence, slaying the wicked century after century. I wish only for this small repayment as Your last steward, the fruit of the tree of life, that the scholars with me may use it to help heal mankind.”

9 And God spoke out of the pillar of fire saying “Lilith, sin has not touched your flesh for you never ate of the fruit of tree and knowledge. Your physical protection from the sin of man is My gift to you, for your stewardship. But in your wanderings, you grow flowers only out of piles of pulled weeds. You bathe lambs in the blood of pests who would lead them to evil. You have used only a fraction of the portion I gave onto you. What you desire does not require the fruit, merely the work of your hands. Go, and spread worthy life as you spread worthy death.” And the woman removed returned to the vessel, bemused.

10 The third was the scholar of medicine, descended from the third son, a man of order without a home. “Adonai, I am not worthy to stand before you. I come on behalf of Leonard Otto, who passed twenty years ago. For his sake, and for the world’s, I ask for the fruit of the tree of life.”

11 And God spoke out of the pillar or fire saying “Rise, healer. You act in good faith, but you know not the full plans of the divine. His work and now your work will be the base of a great enlightenment. You need not the fruit to honor him. You manage his estate, as any good widow would.” And the scholar wept and returned to the vessel.

12 The fourth was the free daughter who once danced on fences, beguiler and lover of mankind, bowing low and trembling before the flame. “I know not what to ask. I know not what to think. Is there any word in my mouth that would not be blasphemy? Lord God above, I have lived thirty years adrift. I have chosen this mission for it is holy where I am not. Am I worthy to take the fruit of the tree of light?”

13 And God spoke out of the pillar of fire saying “Peace be onto you. Love and faith have led you to repentance. That is enough for you to walk the path against evil with the gifts I gave you. You will serve in the lands of your native tongue, and further still. You will learn a multitude of languages. You will be loved by many, and lead others to the path of righteousness. Wickedness will fall by your hand, by your word, by your deed, by your truth. But you will not have the fruit.” And the beguiler stumbled in wonder back to the vessel.

14 The fifth was the apprentice scholar, the explorer, the unfettered. She bowed not and said, “I believe you helped me cure the hunter, and for that I am thankful, but I have no taste for deference, though I know I offend. But if you gave me this spirit, you must have known I would reach here and that this would be the only way I could address you. With that spirit, I ask for the fruit of the tree of life because the ambition you gave me calls for it, for the sake of a better world.”

15 And the pillar of fire burned bright as God spoke saying “Who gave the lion her teeth, the eagle her talons? Who gave the Nazirite his strength, the king his wisdom? Are they not peerless in their domain? And yet who among them has not fallen? Who among them has come to make demand of me?”

16 “I have given you great intellect and great curiosity, and you will do wonders with those in My name should you will it, but you will never be satisfied if you believe your hunger unending. Feast on the secrets of the world and be merry, but you will not have the fruit.” And she conceded ruefully to the argument of God and returned to the vessel.

17 The sixth was the dutiful son, blood on his hands and death in his wake. On his knees, he softly said:

18 “Almighty, forgive me of the trespasses that have brought me to this moment. Only by faith in you do I believe my sins are not insurmountable.”

19 “I will not ask of the fruit, but we have a seventh, a man sworn to your service who has broken himself in pursuit of devotion misplaced, and now only desires death. We have no solution other than to bind him from death, which we have not achieved. You who know his heart and his sins, I give his fate onto You, merciful and just.”

19 The Lord God called upon the six to bring forth the seventh, and they brought the ruined priest before Him in chains, and he wept and gnashed his teeth in the face of the divine.

20 And God spoke out of the pillar of fire saying “I see you, fallen shepherd, son of shepherds. Your sins, the sins of your people which you defended, are innumerable. But see, even now, the man you desired to kill intercedes for you, and the woman who raised you holds back her fury. Will you not forgive yourself, as they have forgiven you?”

21 And the ruined priest said “I cannot bear the weight. I was shown a great injustice in my land and I have done nothing to stop it all these years, wasting my life on a crusade You had me fail. I cannot lie to myself in the presence of God. There is nothing left in me still worthy of You. Lord, take away my life, for it is better for us all if I am dead.”

22 A loud voice boomed from the pillar saying “You have been broken so you may be remade. I will not take your life because it is mine to give to you. Stand up and live. What you have broken may still be mended, and what cannot can be swept away for those who follow you. Look at he who has interceded for you and learn from his example. Ask forgiveness and live on.”

23 And the priest rose to his feet and saw the errors of his life in the clarity of the flame. And he begged at the feet of the six for forgiveness, and four gave it.

24 The pillar of flame split in two, opening the way to the tree of life. And God said “The tree of life is not for a sinful world.”

25 “Eternal life is barred even to you, child of Eden. But take what you can carry in your arms, that you may live for a time as My prophet, to heal the sick and harrow those who made them ill. You are forgiven. You have been shown new paths forward, with or without eternal life. Do better, all of you.”

26 And the dutiful son went forth and gathered seven fruits, and the seven returned to the vessel. In the coming days, God veiled the Garden from Earth and Hell and let all those present loose upon the dry land.

27 And they sailed East and West and North, and sang and wept, and found the path open to them, and for a moment, all was well.