Gabriel said nothing in reply, simply gazed at Adam with impassive blue eyes, and in that moment, began to feel as though the idea of such was more admirable than foolish; began to feel a twinge of guilt that the Son of Satan held more hope in his heart than he, an angel of the Lord. But awareness of the Presence once more settled over him, comforting, cleansing, like some light misting of rain in the way it cleared his head; and there was something more there, as well. Adam, he realized: his good intentions in that moment overriding the archangel's own sense of doubt.

He smiled at the boy, or maybe to himself, and remarked quietly, "You are infinitely surprising, Adam Young."