The Virgin & the Dragon: A Life Story of the Virgin Mary by John Hibbert.
Category: Fiction
Paperback: 256 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1438930542
ISBN-13: 978-1438930541

"He winced with every agonising cry that forced its way passed her unyielding lips. He felt nervous, not because he doubted his ability to attend the birth, but because of the strange atmosphere which filled this lowly place. He could sense the unseen, as though in some intangible realm, forces of light were contending with forces of darkness for supremacy in an event vital to the history of humankind. He felt alone, but also knew that this matter was being watched by powers he could not see. Mary was crying out every minute now. She gripped his arm and arched her back in the throes of her agony. She tore at her clothes in the delirium of pain and her naked belly contorted in the struggle as her child fought to survive. Joseph resorted to weeping as she grew weary in the fight to bring him forth. He whispered his love into her ear in the short intervals between the pangs, but extreme fatigue, a lassitude of body and mind, was robbing her of her will to go on. She was now lapsing into periods of unconsciousness and he feared that she would be lost to him forever.

"Joseph," she gasped. "I can’t do it anymore. I am so sorry, but I have no more strength."

It was as though heaven held its breath. Another shuddering contraction tore her open. Then her eyes opened in stark terror and a look of horror drained the colour from her swollen face. She held onto Joseph’s arm as though she feared she would slide into some dark abyss.

"Joseph!" she panted. "Help me, Joseph! The dragon is here!"

She could see it, its ugly fiendish jaws spread yawning wide before her open legs, waiting to devour her baby at the moment of His birth. Its eyes were huge, bloodshot and hungry, its knurled teeth black and obscene. In that moment it seemed that she would die, but the vision of the dragon drew from her the final fading vestige of her strength. With her remaining energy she cursed the dragon in the name of Elohim and at the same time exerted herself in one last push. The dragon fled before the all-powerful Name and she felt the infant slide from within her into the tender hands of Joseph. She listened in what seemed to be an eternal silence for the cry that would tell her that all was well. Then she was holding Him in her arms and nestling His bloodied face against her naked breast."