There was a question in the young woman's [1] tone that implied a complete unfamiliarity with the concept of Heaven. This, at least in Aziraphale's limited 6000 year experience on Earth, was a bit of a rarity. For one, the intercontinental spread of the Abrahamic religions ensured that most cultures--and by extent, their people--had at least some vague knowledge of the concept of Heaven and Hell...whether they wanted to or not.
Secondly, and similarly, the dissemination of the English language over the ages meant that most people were at least somewhat aware of such a turn-of-phrase--even they didn't themselves believe in Heaven.
So, her question him gave him pause (in the middle of what was otherwise a no-good-very-bad-day) and he turned to her with a very perplexed frown.
"Heaven, yes. Do you mean to say you don't know what Heaven is?"
[1] young? Woman? she wore a hood, after all. For all Aziraphale knew, she could be an alternate form of Death. She probably was.
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Secondly, and similarly, the dissemination of the English language over the ages meant that most people were at least somewhat aware of such a turn-of-phrase--even they didn't themselves believe in Heaven.
So, her question him gave him pause (in the middle of what was otherwise a no-good-very-bad-day) and he turned to her with a very perplexed frown.
"Heaven, yes. Do you mean to say you don't know what Heaven is?"
[1] young? Woman? she wore a hood, after all. For all Aziraphale knew, she could be an alternate form of Death. She probably was.