Chapter Twenty-five

As if on cue, the old bartender appeared from the back room with a tray of hot cocoa. Arthur, it seemed, had a knack for getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.

Must be nice.

Arthur thanked the man profusely and gave him a wad of cash, then slapped him heartily on the back. Almost too heartily. The bent figure nearly pitched forward.

When he was gone, I found myself wondering where Arthur had gotten the cash. Perhaps Maid Marion had given her beloved some spending money.

Or maybe he created it out of thin air.

"The dragon," said Arthur. "Yes, I can imagine such a thing is a difficult concept to accept."

"It's a bit more than a concept at this point," I said drily.

Arthur sipped his hot cocoa, watching me. "James," he said. "Do you believe in other worlds?"

"Other worlds? Like planets?"

"Not just planets, but living, thriving worlds where life exists, much like this one."

My head was swimming. All over again. Seriously, how much could one guy take in a day? "Well, I'm aware that there might be other planets out there that might be conducive to some very rudimentary life forms - "

Arthur looked at Marion. "What's he saying?"

"He's reiterating the scientific community's rather shortsighted view on the probability of life on other planets."

"That's what I thought he meant," said Arthur, then looked back at me. "Your scientists will come to think differently very soon."

"What does that mean?"

"Changes are afoot."

"What kind of changes?"

He winked. "Now is not the time."

I sat back and blew air rudely out the corner of my mouth. "Must be nice knowing everything."

"Don't sound so discouraged, my friend," said Arthur. "Half the fun is re-remembering who you are. Indeed, half the fun is reinventing who you are. So do that. Every day. Reinvent yourself. Change something about yourself. Create something new. Remember, God's greatest gift to us is our imagination and our ability to create."

"Only God can create," I said. Next to us, the fire crackled and popped loudly.

"Oh?" said Arthur, raising an eyebrow. "Our friend the pub owner created this fire. Someone created this building. Someone created the clothing on your back." He paused and leaned across the table, and I found myself looking deep into his aquamarine eyes. His stare was unwavering and calm, his eyes friendly but passionate. "And you, my friend, create your books."

"That's a little different than creating something out of thin air."

"Oh, really?" he asked.

"Yes, really," I said. "Take this building, for example. It didn't just appear. It took some time to build. Many men, with many skills worked on it for many months."

"So you equate creative powers with time?" asked Arthur.

"Sure," I said.

"So if I asked you to build a fire, and it took you five to ten minutes to do so, you would consider that less a creative accomplishment than someone who could start the fire instantly?"

"Yes, that's right," I said. "Exactly."

"I see," said Arthur. "And the fact that the end result is the same means nothing?"

"Exactly. God does it with a snap of His fingers; I have to do it with a snap of a match. There's a difference."

"And who created the match?"

"Someone smarter than me," I said.

"Or perhaps God gave you yet another tool to create."

"By giving me a match?"

"Sure," said Arthur.

"And God gave it to me?"

"Of course! God has given you everything in your life."

"Then why doesn't God give me a little more?"

"God," said Arthur, "has given you the tools to ask for more. To create more. These tools are in you, waiting. In fact, you are constantly using them, whether you realize it or not."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"You are always attracting. You are always creating. It happens by default whether you want it to or not. It is the way. It is the process that governs everything around you. You create by thinking about an object. It is as simple as that. That object will then come into your experience. The clearer you can think about the subject, the faster it will come. The more often you think about the subject, the faster it will be become. The more excited you think about the object..."

"The faster it will come," I finished.

"Right. But the reverse is true, too. So diligently teach yourself to think only upon that which you want. It's as easy as that. And in the process, train yourself to direct your thoughts away from that which you don't want."

"I've heard all of this before. It's the Law of Attraction. Hippie crap."

"Hippie crap or not, it's the law that runs your universe. There have been many teachers sent to your earth to teach you these very principles. And there will be more, hundreds more, thousands more, until your kind finally gets it right."

I shook my head. I needed an aspirin. "But aren't most people clear about the things they want?"

Arthur sipped his cocoa. "Not as clear as you think."

"How do people become more clear?"

"Tell yourself daily that you are becoming clearer and clearer in what you want, in what you seek, and clarity will come. And once it comes, I would suggest that you think often and speak often of this thing that you want. Do so every day, many times a day. And the more you think and speak upon this thing, the faster it will manifest into your experience."

"The Secret, and all that."

Arthur nodded. "The Law of Attraction is real, James. You are using it everyday whether you mean to or not. Most people on this planet are creating by default. So, then, why not create with intention?"

"Then why not tell us that from the beginning?" I said. "I mean, why keep people in the dark about all this for so long?"

"Your world is a slow learner," said Arthur with a gentle smile. "Many teachers have come to you to teach these very laws."

"Are you such a teacher?" I asked.

"No," he said. "I am just here for fun. You, my friend, are such a teacher."

"No," I said. "I'm just a mystery author."

"Unless you choose differently," he said.

I thought about that. The fire crackled. My cocoa sat forgotten in front of me. "So what is the spirit world like?" I asked.

"Full of love and peace. A beautiful place. You know this already."

"But I have forgotten."

Arthur smiled kindly. "Yes."

"So there are no challenges in the spirit world? Is that why we incarnate on earth? To face challenges?"

"And to grow, yes. You are most correct, James. The challenge in the spirit world is not in the creating, for creation there is instant. Indeed, the challenge in the spirit world is to gain wisdom from our lives spent in the physical world."

"So we need to reincarnate to gain wisdom?"

"'Tis the surest path to enlightenment."

"We are talking about enlightenment when there's a dragon circling above," I pointed out, rather astutely.

"Life is funny, is it not?"

"A real riot," I said. "So creation in the spirit world is instant?"

"Yes," said Arthur.

"But not so much in this world?"

"Not necessarily. There are a few who have mastered instant creation in your world."

"Ascended masters?"

Arthur winked at me and snapped his fingers. The fire in the fireplace instantly disappeared, replaced by billowing black smoke that rose crazily up into the stone chimney. Arthur held my gaze a moment longer, then said, "For some of us, creation can be in an instant."

And he snapped his fingers again, and the fire roared back to life.

Chapter Twenty-six

I stared down into my cocoa.

I had seen a dragon. I had seen a dragon breathe fire. I had even seen a dragon obliterate a hot dog stand -

But Arthur's fire trick really freaked me out.

He continued, "You can build a fire slow, or you can build it in an instant," said Arthur, snapping his fingers again, although this time the fire didn't wink out. Thank God. "The ability to do what I just did is in everyone."

I was really, truly, feeling ill. And a little dizzy, and there was a distinct pounding at the back of my head.

Marion leaned forward over the table a little. "Remember, James, Arthur is a master. To him, instantly starting and stopping a fire is expected."

"She is correct in one sense, James. True, masters can routinely perform what many consider miracles. However, she seemed to imply that only masters can perform miracles, and that is not correct. Anyone can perform miracles. In fact, you are performing many miracles right now, as we speak."

"Not likely," I said.

"Is it not a miracle that life infuses the dust and clay that surrounds your bones?"

"Anyone can do that," I said. "It just happens. Most people, however, do not expect a fire to do their bidding. It's beyond their realm of - " I searched for a word, "expectations."

"And so it is," he said. "If they believe that. I would suggest for most people to not limit themselves. Ever."

Arthur lapsed into silence and began whistling a haunting tune, a tune that awakened something very old within me, the tattered fragments of a long-lost memory. Suddenly, in my mind's eye, I saw forested lands and verdant green hills; I saw distant castles and villagers dancing merrily around a roaring campfire. I ached for it. Longed for it. I knew this place; it had once been home. I was sure of it. How I knew this, I did not know. Where it was, I did not know. But I suspected it was close. Very close....

I took in some air and the memory faded. I felt weirdly homesick. After a moment, I found my voice. "But how did you do it? How did you make a fire go out and then come back?"

Arthur stopped whistling and nodded, as if he was waiting for this question. "First, I feel a deep connection with our Creator. I feel His love and strength and warmth course through me. I feel God in every cell of my body. And second, I thank Him for providing me with whatever I want."

"You thank Him before He gives it to you?" I said.

"Of course," said Arthur.

"And you thanked Him for putting out the fire?"

"Yes."

"And it just happened?"

"Yes."

"And you thanked Him for starting the fire again?"

"Yes."

"And it just happened?"

Arthur looked at me kindly and smiled deeply. "Yes, my friend. It just happened."

I took all of this in. It made sense on a very basic level, granted, but how did real people in their real lives put any of this to good use?

"And you're saying I could do that, too?" I asked.

"Of course," he said. "And the more you want something, the more you believe you will have it, the faster it will come."

"Sweet Jesus," I said.

"Yeah," said Arthur, "He is pretty sweet."