Fighting The Flames

Allister often prepared himself for the end of the world. This is not to say that he believed it to be nearing. It is merely that he was raised to be prepared for the worst. This reason could also be attributed towards why he drank a cup of kerosene and swallowed a match before and after every meal. 



Irrational action, Allister found, was so often mistaken for self destruction. This was not always true. In Allister's case, for instance, it was most certainly not the case. There was rationality in all Allister did. For instance, if the end of the world could be considered a definite outcome at some point, like so many in the streets and on the pulpits proclaimed, than rampant fire would be a most certain by-product of said Armegeddon. Allister felt, like many, that the only true to immunity was to expose one's self to small doses. Thus, he swallowed kerosene cocktails chased with lit matches. 



It puzzled Allister why those fervent prophets of Armageddon did so little to prepare. Why were they not swallowing flame? Why were they not finding methods of extended breathing under water? They spoke of being saved, but it seemed to Allister that the best way to be saved was not to wait to burn, but to learn to walk through fire.