Rain caressed the walls of Seattle, washing down the dignified granite of international banks, flushing the Pike Place gutters of debris,  reaching under the painted surfaces of peeling residential neighbourhoods.  The rain found its way into one particular alley under the Alaskan Way, where Diego sheltered in his thin cardboard shack.  Slowly, patiently, lovingly the rain dissolved its way through soggy cardboard, and when it found Diego, the rain told him to go find the angel.

Diego immediately packed his meagre belongings.  He was a good disciple, and never asked questions of the rain.  His search took him up and down the slick streets, past pawn shops and coffee bars, underground theatres and pornography booths.  He searched the faces of yuppies, huddled together for protection from the elements, both physical and human, as they scurried from one safety zone to another.  He searched the faces of winos, huddled miserably in dark corners.  He queried the Jesus freaks and the buskers, performing from their alcoves.

He finally found the angel in Pioneer square, absent-mindedly kicking a half-inflated soccer ball against the wall of the Jackson Street Tavern.  Her form was that of a large woman, easily six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a broad face.  She was wearing a faded lumber jacket, black jeans, and heavy brown boots.  Usually she treated Diego to a big smile that showed off a mouthful of strong white teeth, held in check by a chain of stainless steel braces, but today she simply tended to her solitary game, kicking the ball back and forth in the rain.  Ka-thump...  ka-thump...  ka-...thump.

"So he's in Oregon now" Diego said simply.

"I know."  There was a long silence, punctuated only by ka-thump.

"I thought this was what you wanted."

The angel didn't say anything.  Ka-thump.  Ka-thump.  Ka-thump.

Digeo looked puzzled.  "Last time you saw him, you kicked his ass" he pointed out.

The ball got loose and rolled into the street.  The angel continued to stare at the brick wall.  "Last time was a fluke" she said.  "This time I'm scared."

Diego looked unruffled.  They went through this every time.  "What about the Dragon?" he asked.  "Fucked if I know" she answered.  "The Dragon's been a little strange ever since Filter took his eye.  Gone righteous or some crazy shit.  I think he's in Las Cruces at the moment."

"He'd come" Diego said.

"Do we want him?"

"He'd pull through.  That makes two on our side against three on theirs.  We'll find a third on the way.  Come on, we've got work to do."  He took her hand and led her back to the alley.  He had a good feeling about this one.  Diego had faith.

 Chapter 3