A cloud passed before the sun; the brilliant morning was washed in gray and the air turned chilly. Joanna hesitated. It was as if some force in the garden was trying to prevent her from speaking. As before, her expression changed: the lightness was swept away and was replaced by a pained expression. She took a deep breath and began again.

“Listen carefully.”

Then silence. She seemed to be trying to hear a faint voice, to watch something though her eyes were squeezed shut. She spoke slowly and carefully at first.

“Two angels appeared at Danny’s bedside the night before and said, ‘Do not do what you are about to do.’ Those angels attempted to convert Danny’s thinking, to show him there was another way. But Satan’s powerful lure was impossible for Danny to resist.

“At that moment he was given the opportunity to choose between darkness and light. In his confusion, it was the darkness that appeared to be the truth.

“I said, ‘We always have free will, Danny.’ That’s what I tried to remind him of, but I knew he wouldn’t listen.

“All through the next day he struggled with his decision. I seized the opportunity to push him toward the light. I prayed intently all day and all that night. At one point, that night, very late, he decided to forget the plan, and told that young man in the garage that he was only joking. For a moment I thought we had won. Then the darkness overtook him, pushed him toward the lamp, and shouted, ‘Just cut the cord, Danny. Just cut the cord so you will be prepared. You can decide what to do later.’

“But the instant he sliced the cord and picked up the lamp, he was prodded up the stairs. The dark shadow stood behind him and whispered in his ear, ‘It’s too late Danny; the cord is cut.’ He swung the lamp at his side and the cord dragged on the steps. Then he stood outside the door. Now the darkness gave him one last nudge: ‘Danny, it’s too late to turn back. How would you explain cutting the cord to Rachel?’

“It works a million times a day all over the world. A tiny nub of truth that makes a lie seem real.

“After Rachel, he lashed out at Evan. He was told he was doing the best thing for his sons, and he believed it. This was too much for me! I begged God to stop him, and fell to my knees, and perhaps I was heard. I will never know for sure.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you he was on his way to kill Christopher, too, when finally God sent an angel who blocked Christopher’s doorway and told Danny, ‘Stop! No more! Stop! You are not taking this one!’ It was those words that brought Danny to his senses and caused him to spare Christopher.”