Dreams are much more powerful than most of us realize. Just considerhow many prophets received their instructions in a dream. Or ask anyone who knows the Old Testament well. It tells of many dreams and how important that medium was for communications from Higher Authorities.

Last week I had such a dream. It revealed something long hidden from the general population. For some time I was not even sure if I should divulge its contents since it involves someone way up in the after life hierarchy.

But now I realize I must do so. And I will do it in the form of a story.

Long, long ago there occurred a security breach in Hell, and several inmates escaped. Lucifer was so angry that he decided to go out himself and rope in some sinners to bring Hell's population count back up again to what his accountant said it should be.

Satan chose a country now called Texas to search for possible sinners. And soon enough he spotted a bunch of drunken, carousing males. He counted, and lo and behold, theirs was just the right number to satisfy his accountant.

But how could he approach without being recognized? Suddenly he remembered the old witch he had dragged into Hell and who had now escaped. He had suffered much grief by the Chief above since she had been a law abiding gentle witch. He even had confiscated her latest potion, which he still had in his coat pocket.

"This potion is powerful," she had cautioned him, "it lets you change into any being you desire. But keep enough to return to your natural self," she had added. Shaking with excitement he even spilled some of the potion on his belly as he hastily drank from the bottle.

And so the inebriated bunch paid no attention to the peaceful looking bull approaching their camp. Satan quickly finished the elixir and transformed back to being Satan. Then he gleefully gathered the poor souls and dragged them back to Hell.

As he passed the huge hallway mirror he stopped in his tracks. He was incredulous as he contemplated two horns sprouting on his head. He knew at once he had not saved enough of the witches brew for a complete return.

It was now urgent that he find the witch who had escaped, but he just had no time for that since his business was growing every year. A diabolic plan formed in his head. Why not let his enemy hunt for all the witches. Soon a rumor was spread that witches are the devil's hand maiden, and the witch hunt began.

He chuckled with delight as he listened to the anguished cries of the innocent being tortured and often burned by the Church's inquisition. But there was no sign of the one witch he sought.

Today I stand in awe that I was chosen to have the truth revealed to me in a dream as to why Satan wears two horns.