Adventures in Odyssey

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, hi there. Welcome to Odyssey. I'm John Avery Whittaker, but most folks around here call me Whit. Why don't you get the whole family together and join us for another exciting adventure in Odyssey.

Eugene Meltsner: How's our mysterious intruder?

Connie Kendall: It's the strangest thing.

Eugene Meltsner: Should we call the police?

Guest (Male): Oh, wow. Help. He's unconscious.

Connie Kendall: What happened?

Guest (Male): Something happened to the floor.

Tom Riley: Is he crazy?

Connie Kendall: It's him.

Guest (Male): Wow, wow.

Eugene Meltsner: Huh, I powered up the council in the computer room. If you'll turn on the displays on that side of the room, I'll do likewise with these.

Connie Kendall: Okay.

Eugene Meltsner: You're tired, are we?

Connie Kendall: Well, yeah, and I still have that cold. I was up late filling out application forms for college.

Eugene Meltsner: What applying for colleges now? Shouldn't you have done that months ago?

Connie Kendall: Yes, I should have, but well, look, I haven't really told anyone. What I Look, what I mean is um

Eugene Meltsner: A complete sentence would help.

Connie Kendall: I'm not sure I want to go to college right now. That's all.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh?

Connie Kendall: Well, I was thinking of working for a while before I jump into four more years of studying.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, what about the college fund Mr. Whittaker set up for you to use?

Connie Kendall: Well, he didn't say I had to use it right away. If I work for say a year and then

Eugene Meltsner: A year? Now, Connie, far be it from me to give you advice.

Connie Kendall: But you're going to anyway.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, of course. A college education is necessary. Nay, it's vital to your future. One might even say that it's the very foundation of your opportunities.

Connie Kendall: Well, one might say that, but I wouldn't. There's a lot to be said for practical work experience.

Eugene Meltsner: Practical work experience has its place, of course, but college prepares you for the practical experience. My own life is an example.

Connie Kendall: Your life?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, my life. What's wrong with my life?

Connie Kendall: Eugene, you have been in college longer than anybody I've ever known.

Eugene Meltsner: Connie, you cut me to the quick, and I cut very quickly, you know.

Connie Kendall: Well, all I'm saying is that I'm not interested in a lecture from you about how college prepares you for the real world when you've been in college since you were 11.

Eugene Meltsner: Actually, it was 14.

Connie Kendall: Well, it doesn't look like college has prepared you for anything except more college.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, it is true that I happen to find the college environment to be stimulating, and allow me a moment of candor. I've come to believe that my life's work will be college related.

Connie Kendall: Meaning that you want a career with the college?

Eugene Meltsner: Precisely, but not in a part-time capacity as I have for the past couple of years. I hope to find full-time employment there.

Connie Kendall: Well, good for you. When?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, interesting that we should be discussing this now since I'll be meeting with one of the deans later this morning.

Connie Kendall: Congratulations. Why didn't you tell anybody?

Eugene Meltsner: I told Mr. Whittaker.

Connie Kendall: Oh, fine. Of course, I'm always the last to know. Hey, Eugene, when you turned on the power in the computer room, did you turn on the imagination station, too?

Eugene Meltsner: Um no, you have to flip the switch in the back. Well, you know that.

Connie Kendall: Well, yeah, I do. So, why is it on?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I have no idea.

Connie Kendall: Who closed the shop last night?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh I did, and I distinctly remember turning everything off including the imagination station. Hmm.

Connie Kendall: Well, do you think Whit came back?

Eugene Meltsner: Connie, the panel indicates that someone is inside.

Connie Kendall: What?

Eugene Meltsner: Push the button to open the door.

Connie Kendall: Nothing's happening.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, try it again.

Connie Kendall: It won't work.

Eugene Meltsner: I'm going to use the emergency override. This is most unusual. There.

Connie Kendall: Oh, it worked. Hello, is that you, Whit? Eugene?

Eugene Meltsner: What's the matter?

Guest (Male): It's It's a man, and he's Oh, wow. Help. He's unconscious.

Connie Kendall: What happened?

Guest (Male): Well, don't just stand there. He's heavy.

Eugene Meltsner: Right. I'll phone for an ambulance.

Guest (Male): Good thinking. I'll just hold him here while Oh.

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Tom Riley: And we thank you, Lord, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Amen. Oh, thanks, Tom. I'm glad you suggested we start praying together again.

Tom Riley: I've missed it, Whit.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Hmm.

Tom Riley: But while I was mayor, well, you know the time got away from me, but now that I'm retired

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Retired? Oh, you're hardly retired.

Tom Riley: Well, you know what I mean. Now that my life is calmer than it used to be, I'm trying to make more time for Oh, what time is it?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh let's see, almost 9:00.

Tom Riley: Oh, the bus should be here any minute.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): The bus?

Tom Riley: The school bus. Kids from Oswald High section of Connellsville are coming here as a field trip to tour the farm.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Kids from Oswald Heights? You call that calm? Aren't the heights in the news all the time for you know gang and drug problems?

Tom Riley: Yeah, Miss Cooper, she's the teacher of the class, told me that this will be the first time some of these kids have ever been to a farm.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Are you kidding? Connellsville isn't that urban.

Tom Riley: Well, Connellsville may not be, but apparently Oswald Heights is.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Hmm.

Tom Riley: The families there are poor and isolated. Many of the kids reach their teens before they ever get a look at the world beyond their own neighborhoods.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, that is hard to believe.

Tom Riley: I read that statistically crime in Oswald Heights is as bad as any of the major cities like like Chicago or Los Angeles.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Huh.

Tom Riley: That's why I was happy to let those kids come to the farm.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, Tom, I think it's a marvelous idea.

Tom Riley: Well, it makes me feel like I'm doing something helpful.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh-huh.

Tom Riley: You know I I've had this nagging feeling that God wants me to do more, but I don't know what. Oh, there there's the bus.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, I better go.

Tom Riley: Oh, get that will you, Whit? I want to go greet the kids.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Yeah, sure, sure. Riley's. Oh, hi, Connie. The hospital. Connie, slow down. Tell me Okay, okay, okay. I 'll be right there. Oh, Connie, Eugene, Mr. Whittaker.

Connie Kendall: I'm glad you're here.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, how's our mysterious intruder?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, Dr. Cole hasn't returned yet to give us a report.

Connie Kendall: He just fell out of the imagination station, Whit.

Eugene Meltsner: Uh that's the mysterious intruder, not Dr. Cole.

Connie Kendall: We opened the door, and he slumped over.

Eugene Meltsner: And you have no idea how he got in there? He wasn't conscious to ask, and I didn't have time to investigate the premises before the ambulance arrived.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): And neither of you recognized him?

Eugene Meltsner: Not I.

Connie Kendall: I've never seen him before, and believe me, I would have noticed.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh. Uh Miss Kendall developed a crush on him during the drive from Whit's end of the hospital.

Connie Kendall: All he said was that he was good looking and had on a very nice suit.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh-huh. So, he's not someone who's down and out.

Connie Kendall: Don't think so.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, that's interesting.

Eugene Meltsner: Precisely what I said.

Dr. Cole: Oh, hello, Whit.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh Dr. Cole, how's the patient?

Dr. Cole: He's in perfect physical condition.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): What?

Connie Kendall: Then why was he unconscious?

Dr. Cole: I don't know, and he won't tell me. In fact, we couldn't find any identification on him, so no one even know his name or where he's from. He's wearing a nice suit, though.

Connie Kendall: Yeah.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): He wouldn't tell you anything at all?

Dr. Cole: No, he says he has to talk to you first.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Talk to me?

Dr. Cole: He's very polite about it, but he insisted he had to talk to Whit.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Whit. Uh not Whittaker.

Dr. Cole: That's right.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Huh. Well, then maybe I do know him.

Dr. Cole: Well, he's in room 212. Let me know how it turns out.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh yeah, okay. Uh would you like us to accompany you, Mr. Whittaker?

Guest (Male): I'll go.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, no, no, no, that's all right. If he's asking for me, I better go alone. Wait here. Uh yes, sir. Oh, hello. Well, I I didn't expect you to be out of bed.

Malachi: Well, there was no need to stay in bed. In fact, there was no need to come to the hospital at all.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, obviously my staff thought differently.

Malachi: Uh dear Connie and Eugene, they are inclined to overreact every now and then.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): But you were unconscious in the imagination station in my shop when it was closed.

Malachi: My unconsciousness was a slight reaction to the transition. As for the rest, I misjudged my time and arrival. It's most embarrassing to be honest.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh I don't understand what you're talking about. Maybe we should just start with the basics. I John Avery Whittaker.

Malachi: You're Whit. I know you.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): All right. You know me, but I don't know you.

Malachi: Oh. My name is Malachi.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh Malachi

Malachi: Just Malachi.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Okay. Well, would you mind explaining to me what you were doing in the imagination station, particularly when the shop was closed?

Malachi: Oh, yes, I'm so sorry. As I said, I merely misjudged the time and place of my arrival.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Yes, yes, you said that, but it still doesn't make any sense to me. What were you doing in my shop?

Malachi: I've come as a messenger.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): A messenger? Messenger from whom?

Malachi: From God.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): From God.

Malachi: Oh, yes, it's what I do.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): You deliver messages from God.

Malachi: That's right. I'm an angel.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): You're a what?

Malachi: An angel?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh Malachi, will you excuse me for just a minute?

Malachi: Well, of course.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Eugene, Connie.

Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Whittaker?

Connie Kendall: What's wrong, Whit?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh would you have the desk page Dr. Cole again and and Oh, there he is. There he is. Dr. Cole.

Dr. Cole: Is something wrong?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): I think you should see our patient again and bring the staff psychiatrist with you.

Connie Kendall: Is he crazy?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): All I'm saying is that I think he may need to be looked at.

Dr. Cole: Why? What did he say to you?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, maybe it would be better if he told you himself.

Dr. Cole: Let's go in and see him.

Connie Kendall: I want to go this time.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Malachi? Uh Huh, he's not here.

Dr. Cole: Well, maybe he's in the bathroom. Hello, is anyone in there? Yeah, he's not in here.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Hmm.

Connie Kendall: Well, he couldn't have gone out without us seeing him, right?

Dr. Cole: Uh evidently he could.

Connie Kendall: Well, what did he say to you, Whit? Why did you think he was crazy?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): No, I didn't say he was crazy.

Dr. Cole: Why did you want me to come back in?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, he said his name was Malachi and and Oh, it is crazy. It is crazy. Never mind. It's not important now since he's gone.

Dr. Cole: Whit, I need to fill out a report about this man.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, his name is Malachi. That's all I can say for sure. Uh sorry to have troubled you, Dr. Cole.

Dr. Cole: No trouble. Uh I'll be around if you need me.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Connie, Eugene.

Eugene Meltsner: Hmm.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh I think we need to keep an eye on Whit's end today and just try to figure out how our friend got in.

Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Whittaker, I shall begin my investigation right after my meeting at the college for which I'll be late if I don't leave now.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. Okay, I'll give you a lift back to Whit's end, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Okay. Um do you think he'll try to come back?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Hmm, I don't know. Should we call the police?

Eugene Meltsner: No, no, no, no. Let's just wait to see what happens.

Dr. Cole: So, what do you think, Lenny?

Guest (Male): I think wandering around this farm beats the socks off of sitting in class all day. Other than that, it's pretty boring.

Dr. Cole: I like it.

Guest (Male): What? You like farms? You want to be a farmer now?

Dr. Cole: I don't know about that. Hey, who's that down there?

Guest (Male): Where?

Dr. Cole: Down by that little cabin, see?

Guest (Male): What?

Dr. Cole: That guy standing there watching us.

Guest (Male): I see the cabin, but

Dr. Cole: Uh I don't see him now. Must have gone inside.

Guest (Male): Hey, let's check it out. Nope. Nobody in here.

Dr. Cole: I am positive I saw somebody.

Guest (Male): Well, there isn't anybody in here now. What is this place anyway?

Dr. Cole: Maybe it's Abraham Lincoln's cabin, the one where he was born.

Guest (Male): Hey, there's a plaque. Check it out. On this site Johnny Appleseed, the popular name for frontiersman John Chapman 1774 to 1845 planted apple seeds during his midwest track and left his mark.

Dr. Cole: Must be this star shaped carving thing here.

Guest (Male): There's more. This cabin was used by Timothy Riley.

Dr. Cole: Hey, that's that farmer guy who let us come down here.

Guest (Male): He's Tom Riley. This says Timothy. Hold it. Cabin was used by Timothy Riley who died in a tragic boating accident at the age of Oh, man. That kid was our age when he died.

Dr. Cole: So, this is some dead kid's cabin? Looks pretty run down.

Guest (Male): Reminds me of your apartment.

Dr. Cole: Nah, this is cut pedal floorboards. See, you can't break through to the people in the apartment below.

Guest (Male): Cut it out. You might hurt something.

Dr. Cole: It's solid. See? Oops.

Guest (Male): Oh, great. Now look what you did. You broke the floor.

Dr. Cole: It It was an accident. I didn't mean to do it.

Guest (Male): Who cares? Miss Cooper's going to have a fit.

Eugene Meltsner: Hi, boys.

Guest (Male): Oh, uh hi, farmer uh uh Mr. Riley?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh Miss Cooper's rounding up everybody to leave.

Guest (Male): Okay, let's go.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, no, no. What happened here?

Guest (Male): Look, something happened to the floor.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, broke, I'd say. Now that's terrible. Now how do you figure that happened?

Guest (Male): I didn't do it.

Tom Riley: Quiet, Frank.

Guest (Male): I told him not to jump around.

Dr. Cole: It it it was an accident. It wasn't my fault.

Guest (Male): Well, you shouldn't have a health hazard like this open to the public.

Dr. Cole: Yeah, we could sue.

Eugene Meltsner: Could you? You know simply owning up to it is a lot easier than standing there shuffling the blame like a couple of nervous cats.

Dr. Cole: That depends on how mad you're going to get.

Eugene Meltsner: I think it's fixable.

Dr. Cole: Oh, well, in that case, I'm sorry, mister.

Eugene Meltsner: That's a step in the right direction. Hmm. Did one of you boys drop something?

Dr. Cole: What? What do you mean?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, uh there's something shiny in the dirt below. Oh, wait a minute. I I think it's Wait, some kind of jewelry. There, got it. Oh, it's a necklace. It's Oh, my.

Dr. Cole: Is it worth anything? Cuz I think it's mine. I dropped my

Eugene Meltsner: Timmy's necklace.

Dr. Cole: Timmy?

Guest (Male): It belonged to that kid who died?

Eugene Meltsner: Um my son, yes. Oh, my. I wondered what happened to it. We looked for it when we buried him. Uh you boys better go up to the bus. I I think it's leaving.

Guest (Male): Uh yeah, right. Sorry about the floor, mister.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, Lord. It takes my breath away.

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Connie Kendall: So, are you going to tell me or not?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, there's nothing to tell.

Connie Kendall: But something happened when you went into talk to What did you say his name was?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh Malachi.

Connie Kendall: Yeah.

Eugene Meltsner: Uh nothing happened that I want to talk about right now, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Okay. Fine. We can talk about something else.

Eugene Meltsner: Good idea.

Connie Kendall: Did you see a suit?

Eugene Meltsner: No, it it is him.

Guest (Male): No offense, but uh

Eugene Meltsner: Oh.

Guest (Male): Are you trying to kill us?

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, I'm sorry, Connie. I saw him. Uh he was hitchhiking on the side of the road back there.

Guest (Male): Well, I don't see anyone.

Eugene Meltsner: I I'm sure I saw him as clearly as I I see you right now.

Guest (Male): Are you seeing me clearly right now? How many fingers am I holding up?

Eugene Meltsner: It was him. He was there.

Guest (Male): Well, he's not there now.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, boy.

Guest (Male): Could I drive the rest of the way?

Connie Kendall: What are you doing?

Eugene Meltsner: Dropping you off.

Connie Kendall: Why aren't you coming in?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh not right now. I want to go see Tom for a few minutes.

Connie Kendall: But you saw him this morning. This is about Malachi, isn't it?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh Connie

Connie Kendall: All right, I'm going. Uh Whit?

Eugene Meltsner: Huh?

Connie Kendall: Should I be worried?

Eugene Meltsner: I don't think so.

Connie Kendall: Good cuz for some reason I'm not, but I didn't want to miss out if I should be.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I'll see you later.

Tom Riley: She's a nice girl.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Be careful. Malachi, are you trying to make me wreck?

Malachi: Not intentionally.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): How did you get back there?

Malachi: The same way I get anywhere.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): This can't be happening. I I know I looked in the back seat before we left the hospital.

Malachi: I'm sure you did.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): You were on the side of the road hitchhiking, weren't you? I I I saw you.

Malachi: Yes, you did.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, you you you sneaked in when I pulled over.

Malachi: Hmm, if you're looking for rational explanations, then that sounds like a good one. Just as you can explain my disappearance from the hospital by saying I sneaked down a back stairwell or a fire escape.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, that's right, but rational explanations won't help you with what you're really thinking, what you're trying to decide.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, what am I trying to decide?

Eugene Meltsner: You're now trying to decide if I'm a liar.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Yes.

Eugene Meltsner: In which case you hope I'm nonviolent and can be persuaded to return to the hospital. Or if I'm a lunatic,

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh-huh.

Eugene Meltsner: in which case you wonder if you should quickly pull the car over and call the nearest policeman. Or There's only the one thing left.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): What?

Eugene Meltsner: You're considering the possibility that I am what I say I am, a messenger from God, an angel, in which case you don't know what to do or how to respond.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): That's an understatement.

Eugene Meltsner: You'd like some sort of sign. I'm sorry, I don't do magic tricks.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): You're disappearing and reappearing act is pretty impressive.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, you can find a way to explain it if you really want. We angels tend to operate right on the edge of the explainable. I quote, faith rests not in sensational miracles, but in the everyday activities of men and of angels. Do you recognize it?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh no, no, who said that?

Eugene Meltsner: You did.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Huh.

Eugene Meltsner: In an essay you wrote entitled appropriately enough of men and of angels, I appreciated your insight and was entertained by your speculation.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Malachi, if that's your name.

Eugene Meltsner: It is.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): What do you want from me?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh for the moment I thought I'd keep you company while you go to visit Tom Riley.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh why?

Eugene Meltsner: Because he needs us right now.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Where's Tom?

Malachi: Uh-huh.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Hold on. I wonder what he's doing.

Malachi: Well, looks as if he's simply sitting there.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh no, something's wrong. Will you wait here, please?

Eugene Meltsner: Hmm. For the moment.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Tom?

Tom Riley: Hello, Whit.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): What are you doing?

Tom Riley: Just sitting here thinking for a minute. Do you see this necklace?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh-huh.

Tom Riley: It was Timmy's.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Huh.

Tom Riley: I made it for him on his birthday. See how I encased the quarter in the ring of gold?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Yeah, I see.

Tom Riley: It was the first quarter he ever earned. I gave it to him for raking the leaves.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Huh.

Tom Riley: He was so happy to get paid for something that he said he'd never spend it. So, so I had it put in this necklace. He he wore it everywhere. Uh I don't know why he wasn't wearing it when he when he died. I thought it was lost, but here it is.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Where did you find it?

Tom Riley: In the cabin. It's the strangest thing.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh-huh. It's been a strange day.

Tom Riley: It brings it all back, Whit. Just just like it was yesterday. Oh, is that someone in the car? You didn't tell me. I didn't want to be rude.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh no, to be honest, I am not sure I want you to meet him right now. It can wait.

Tom Riley: Tom, I'm okay, really. Uh come on out. Don't be shy.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Tom, I I wanted to explain first.

Tom Riley: Explain what?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): About that man. Oh, is he a salesman?

Tom Riley: Well, he dresses nice. Hello, Tom. Oh, uh you know my name. Well, I haven't had the pleasure.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, I I'm Malachi.

Tom Riley: Oh, how do you do?

Eugene Meltsner: Hi.

Tom Riley: Uh you're not from around here, are you?

Eugene Meltsner: No.

Tom Riley: What brings you to the area?

Eugene Meltsner: Several things, but one to deal with for the moment. That's a very nice necklace.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Hmm.

Tom Riley: Oh, well, yeah, well, thank you. Thank you, Whit. It belonged to my son.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Yeah. Yeah, he took it off to put with his other treasures.

Eugene Meltsner: What?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): That's why he wasn't wearing it when he drowned.

Tom Riley: I'm sorry. Do you know what you're saying?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Malachi, please.

Eugene Meltsner: He took the necklace off to put with his other treasures, but he heard you coming down the path, and in his haste he dropped it in the dirt under the floorboards. He meant to retrieve it later, but the accident happened before he could. Whit? Whit Whit, what is this some kind of Well, no, no, it it can't be a joke. Connie, I wanted to tell you

Malachi: I'm an angel.

Tom Riley: Whit?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): It's what he claims.

Malachi: You may believe or not believe. The choice is always yours. But I have come with a message.

Tom Riley: Oh, yeah? Well, what kind of message?

Malachi: A message of purpose.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, the necklace is only the start. You'll have to dig for the rest. Dig? It was no accident that the two boys from Oswald Heights went into your cabin, nor that one should break through the floorboards.

Tom Riley: How did he know that? Whit, how does he know all this stuff?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Oh, I wish I knew.

Eugene Meltsner: Go to the cabin, and you'll see.

Tom Riley: Go to the cabin. Oh, all right. All right. I'll I'll humor you.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): You don't have to, Tom.

Tom Riley: No, no, I want to. Let's go down to this cabin and see what what he's talking about. You see, now this is where the kid broke through the floorboards. Then I saw the necklace in the dirt below, and I pulled it out. So, what do you mean by Where is he?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well, well, I thought he was right behind us. Malachi? Uh he's not here. He's gone again.

Tom Riley: Again?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Uh it's a long story.

Tom Riley: How did he know everything, Whit? How could he know about the necklace?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): I can't figure it out, Tom.

Tom Riley: They said Timmy took it off to hide with his other treasures, but he heard me coming and dropped it in the dirt.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Hmm.

Tom Riley: I wonder Now he said to dig. Did Timmy bury something under this cabin?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Tom, Tom, it's possible that Malachi is an uncanny liar or a lunatic who's a good guesser.

Tom Riley: But you don't believe he's an angel?

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Well,

Tom Riley: How could he possibly know?

Eugene Meltsner: There's only one way to find out.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Now don't do anything rash, Tom. Let's just talk it through.

Eugene Meltsner: We can talk it through while we wrench up these floorboards.

John Avery Whittaker (Whit): Now Tom, Tom.

Eugene Meltsner: I have to replace the broken boards anyway. No harm digging around while I do. Come on, Whit.

Chris: What in the world is going on here? An angel in Odyssey or is he? And do you think Tom will find anything under the cabin? Well, there's only one way to find out. Keep listening. If you want to write to us about today's program or anything that's on your mind, our address is Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Or in Canada write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC V6B 4G3. And remember to ask about how you can get today's episode. It's called Malachi's Message. Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. Malachi's Message was written by Paul McCusker and directed by Dave Arnold.

Our production engineer was Jonathan Crowe, and I'm Chris hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.