Until now relations between Heaven and the Mundane Plane have been a one-way street. To us it was all about following the all important Schedule of Plagues, Announcements and Miracles. We make little adjustments here and there to keep history moving in the right direction, but we never actually get involved in what’s going on. I’m sure you’re familiar with the motto of the Mundane Observation Corps: Eternally Objective. I always took this motto very seriously. Many of my fellow cherubim tend, in fact, to be objective to the point of downright hostility.

Mercury was not, of course, an agent of the M.O.C. Mercury got his hands dirty on countless occasions. But in a way the motto applies even more to angels in his position. It was understood that whatever he did, he was expected above all not to care. I suppose you could see his actions as the logical consequence of that philosophy.

On the other hand, what do I know? You’re the ones making the important decisions. I suppose you have agents trying to track down Mercury as you’re reading this, and you probably have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to do when – or if – you find him. Or maybe you’re reading this with an open mind, hoping to find the answers to all the big questions. What was he trying to accomplish? On whose authority was he acting? Did he really build a snowman the height of a three story building? And of course, what you need in order to answer those questions is a completely objective account of events.

Too bad I can’t give you one.

As you know, the Mundane Observation Corps has access to a staggering amount of information; our agents are everywhere, recording anything of interest that happens on the Mundane Plane. This information is, however, useless unless it is framed in some kind of coherent narrative. In the past, the frame has been provided for us; the M.O.C. has always been able to rely on the inexorable unfolding of the Divine Plan.

Like it or not, however, the events of this story have broken this frame. I’ve had to create my own frame, based on my own understanding of events. Your frame is sure to be different. I guess that’s the one thing I’d like you to keep in mind as you read this. This report isn’t just a book full of facts for you to absorb. As you read it, you’re inevitably going to try to incorporate it into your own frame.

Good luck figuring it all out.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 24:36 (King James Version)