by Jim Balzotti
“Dad, is it really you?” Tears began to fall down his cheeks as his eyes filled. “I miss you, Dad. You left without ever saying good-bye.”
“I’m with you, son. I have always been with you. Someday, when it’s your mother’s and your time, we’ll be united again in heaven for all eternity.”
“Why, Dad? Why me? What if the people don’t believe me? What will happen? I’m afraid, Dad.”
“Do not be afraid, son. Do you remember our fishing trip on your eighth birthday? God came to you with a special task, a task you have been preparing for your whole life. This is that task, son, and this is that day. You must lead your people to safety, as there will be a terrible reckoning on Earth as God passes His final judgment, removing the wickedness from His people. As it was written and foretold, it will come to pass. The day of the great apocalypse is upon us. Now you must do what God asks of you, as you always have, my son.”
“Dad….”
“I’m must go now, Matt. Prepare your people. We will all meet in the glory of the kingdom of heaven someday.”
Matt’s father turned and walked away, his long, lean body still clothed in farmer’s overalls and boots not quite touching the ground. As he walked, his body luminescence began to fade until his apparition was no more.
Matt sat stunned on the wet pine needles. This time, unlike when he was eight, he knew exactly what had happened. Whether it was truly his father or the Holy Ghost that appeared to him, he didn’t know, but the message was crystal clear—the second coming of Jesus was at hand, and mankind would pay for its wicked ways. Surprisingly, he felt no fear. No apprehension. Somehow he had been preparing for this day all his life. Now he must go to his people and prepare them for this great journey. As he stood up, he became instantly aware of something different.
For the first time since he was eight, he was no longer cold.
Lawrence
North Woods
He ran down the mountain through the heavy brush, ignoring the sharp branches that tore at his skin and scratched his eyes. He stumbled twice, then tumbled to the ground. He twisted his body as he fell in an attempt to avoid a protruding rock. He heard a crack as his cheek hit the rock, and realized he had knocked out a tooth. Bleeding profusely, he ignored the pain. He knew he had to evacuate the settlers, since the drone had detected their location, but to where? He was fully aware of the efficiency and ruthlessness of the Chinese military. He was racked with guilt that their search for him might have led them to Matt’s group. What’s done is done, he thought. He now needed to convince Matt and his people that they had to abandon their settlement which was the only home they’d known for the past few years.
He knew the map of the area by heart. Because Matt had flooded all the roads and waterways south of his position, it would be likely the Chinese would have to air drop their soldiers in to the north and then hike in on foot. He doubted they would drop directly into the village, as they would be sitting ducks to Lawrence’s guns. The smart move would be to drop in a secure opening, then seal off the area and flank them on both sides. They could just as easily bomb the settlement, but the Chinese were all about making examples. While he didn’t fear for his men—they were soldiers—he grimaced at the thought of what the Chinese would do to the civilians.
As he accelerated his pace into a full-blown sprint, the pine trees became a blur. He rounded a bend, and the village came in sight. It appeared that Matt had convened a meeting. The settlers were seated in a circle on the ground, and Matt stood in the middle. Matt looked different somehow. Lawrence slowed down and walked past the outermost huts. He approached the group and listened in rapt attention to Matt’s every word.
“Gather enough food for your family for forty days. We will not take any weapons. Bring warm clothes, but we must leave most of our possessions here. Perhaps we will come back and retrieve them. I can’t guarantee that, though. The second coming of Jesus is upon us. Instead of being afraid, let us rejoice. For our faith has made us among the chosen people to survive. I somehow know there are pockets of people like us all over the world that will also be saved. Go back to your cabins, pack, and try to get some rest. We move at first light.”
The settlers rose from the ground and walked slowly back to their cabins. There were no discussions, no dissent or outbursts. They all had seen that something had changed in Matt, that somehow he was filled with a divine light. They went about the task of gathering food with calm efficiency. Mothers and fathers hugged their children and each other.
“What’s going on?” Lawrence asked Matt. “You’re hurt.” Lawrence wiped away the blood from his mouth on the back of his sleeve and dismissed the question.
“Matt, what’s going on?” He waited for Matt’s response, thinking he had possibly had seen the drone too. But where were they planning to go?
“Lawrence, this may seem somewhat crazy to you, but I can assure you I’m very serious. When I was a boy, I had a vision that someday I would be called upon to complete a task. A task given by God. Just a little while ago, I was told to gather my people and leave camp at first light. I am to take my people to a safe place, an abandoned mine, where we are to remain for forty days and nights. It’s the End of Days, Lawrence. Whether you choose to believe me or not, I beseech you to come with us. Even if you don’t believe, you will have lost nothing.”
“Matt, right now all I know is that I spotted a Chinese drone, looking for me, no doubt. You’ll never make it to where you’re going. Their paratroopers are most likely being deployed as we speak.”
“God will protect us. We are to go to an abandoned mine called Iron Mountain.”
“If you make it to where you’re going. You won’t. I know where Iron Mountain is. It’s at least a full day’s hike, and the Chinese will be hot on your tail. They’ll drop in behind you and chase you down. You’ll never make it.”
“Lawrence, please don’t worry about the Chinese. Their Day of Judgment is at hand. Please, lay down your arms and have your men do the same. Join us in welcoming the second coming of our Lord.”
“My men will be packed and ready to follow you, but we’ll be taking our guns. They might come in handy should we get caught by the Chinese. You go get some rest Matt; you have a long hike ahead of you. I’ll meet you here at the meeting point in the morning. Good night.”
Lawrence watched him walk off. There was something noticeably different about him. He was serene. That might change tomorrow.
The Next Morning
Not one settler got a wink of sleep by the time dawn came. Just as they had done when driven out of their homes in Millinocket, they had quickly assembled the required bags of food, clothes, and supplies. Their faces were solemn but resolute. Almost wordlessly they went to the communal table and took their seats, nodding in silent resignation to their neighbors.
Lawrence had assembled his men down at the trailhead. “The Chinese are coming. The drone gave up our position last night, and their paratroopers are no doubt in the air as we speak. I’m afraid it doesn’t look good for us. We’ve banded together in a singular mission of hunt and destroy, but we all knew this day would come. So I’m freeing you from your mission. You are free to pursue whatever course you like. If you slip out now, westbound, there’s a good chance you’ll slip through the Chinese lines. It’s just too wooded for them to have any line of sight to cover it all. I don’t care how many men they deploy.”
“What about them?” a man asked, looking at the massed group.
“Honestly? They don’t have a chance. There’s too many of them to get to the mine before the Chinese roll up on them. I spoke to Matt about keeping their guns, but he was adamant that this was not going to happen. You and I know I’d rather die in a firefight than be captured by those butchers. I wish I had his faith.”
“What are you going to do, Lawrence?”
“I’m going to follow them. The only place the Chinese can parachute in without getting hung up in the trees is at this junction point,” he answere
d, indicating an area with a small clearing. “From there, they’ll make good time catching up. Matt has too many women and children to make any time. They’ll slow him down. I figure Matt will almost make it to within a quarter mile to the entrance to the mine before he’s overrun. I’m going to stay at his rear and try to hold the Chinese off and buy him a little time.”
“It’s a suicide mission, Lawrence. I doubt you’ll be able to hold them off by yourself, so I’m going to join you. You gotta die someday, right?”
The other three men looked at each other and smiled. “Right. We’re in. Let’s show those Chinese how some real soldiers fight.”
Lawrence looked at his men and nodded. He expected no less, but his heart swelled with pride. “Okay. We’ll follow Matt until he reaches this point here,” indicating a boulder crop that they would have to pass through in order to reach the mine. We’ll take up positions on either side, let the Chinese get halfway through, and catch them in a crossfire, which will give Matt plenty of time to make it to the mine head. God help them if they can’t get in. We need to secure every bit of ammo they are planning on leaving behind, and a few more guns if they’re a different caliber. Better sharpen your knives; I have a feeling the fighting may get hand to hand. Okay, men. Our last mission. Let’s grab that ammo and join Matt. He’ll lead the way, and we’ll hang back to protect his flank. God be with you men. See you on the other side.”
Matt had assembled his people in small groups, women and children toward the front so they wouldn’t lag behind, and men at the front and rear. He checked every backpack to ensure the younger members didn’t violate the order on weapons. When he was satisfied, he gave the order to move out. He had a few of the older men at the head of the line, and they proceeded to move into the heart of the forest along the path Matt indicated. One foot in front of the other, they walked forward toward their destiny.
“So, are you going to join us, Lawrence?” Matt asked, seeing Lawrence and his men in full battle attire and lingering behind.
“No. We’ll follow you for a little while and make sure you get there, and then we’ll be heading west. This will be the end of the line, Matt. I wish you well.”
“It doesn’t have to end this way, Lawrence.”
“I think it does. You have your destiny and we have ours. I think by protecting your butt we may actually buy a little salvation, Matt. We’ll stay with you until you’re safe and sound. Let’s just get you to the mine and then we’ll see, okay?”
“Okay. Just keep an open mind.”
“I will, my friend.”
They had hiked for the better part of the day, crossing the open clearing an hour earlier when the sky was suddenly filled with white floating parachutes gliding gently toward the ground. Lawrence watched impassionedly and summoned one of his men to bring Matt to the rear. “You need to push your people. You’re still a mile from the mine shaft head and need to move. The Chinese will be on the ground in a few minutes, and they could reach this position within the hour. We’re going to hang back and welcome them to Maine.”
“Come with us. We can make it together.”
“No, we won’t. The only place we can stop them is that small sway back there. It gives us some advantage being in the rocky outcrop above them. Anywhere else, they’ll be able to catch us quickly. We can put them in a bottleneck. You guys go, we’ll catch up later. We’ll be fine.”
Matt looked into Lawrence’s eyes and saw the lie. They wouldn’t be catching up. They would be sacrificing their lives to allow Matt’s people to get to the mine. He leaned over and started to shake Lawrence’s hand, but instead pulled him into his chest and hugged him. “God will bless you, Lawrence. You and your men.”
“You just get going, and we’ll talk about it later tonight. Maybe over a couple of beers and some fresh hot meat pies. Now get.”
Lawrence twirled his right finger in the air, and he and his men reversed their course and headed back down the trail. When they came to the rocky outcrop, he sent two men on high to both the left and right sides. “You wait until I fire. Let them get halfway up and we’ll catch them in crossfire. That’ll knock down some of their numbers, but judging by the amount of chutes I saw, it’ll only be a matter of time before they go around and flank us.” Lawrence looked around at his men and smiled. “I’ve never been prouder to serve than with you men. You know we Kiwis love a good fight—now let’s go kick some Chinese butt.”
The men picked their way up through the boulders, giving themselves enough separation that the narrow canyon would be entirely in their gun sights. Lawrence walked to the head of the canyon and sat down in between two large craggy boulders. He checked the action on his gun and pulled his killing knife from his vest, putting it in his belt, and sat back. He looked but could not see his men. He glanced at the sky, cloudless, and felt the breeze on his face. He was calm in the face of his death. “I’m coming home, Amy,” he whispered as he thought of her smiling face. All the longing he had tried to hold back all these long, tiring years reached a crescendo, and his chest heaved with his loss. He could feel Amy tugging on his ear, kissing his cheek, her voice whispering to come home to her. It was time.
A squad of Chinese troops marching as quickly as the terrain allowed appeared one hundred yards out, heading straight into the canyon. Lawrence coldly watched them approach. The man leading them was older, but lean and hard, marching fast. He had the four red stars on his shoulders that a Chinese general would wear. Wow, thought Lawrence, they really sent out the big guns for us. He waited until half of them picked their way through the pass, oblivious to Lawrence and his men, marching without fear, and then Lawrence stood up, leaving the safety of the rocks, and said loud enough for both the Chinese and his men to hear, “Hello, you godless butchers! You looking for us?” Then, gripping his automatic machine gun on his hip, he unleashed a deadly spray of bullets, spewing fire and lead, catching both the general and the men behind him, their mouths still open in surprise. His men jumped up from both sides, firing maniacally into the confused soldiers. The Chinese beat a hasty retreat, those who could, allowing Lawrence and his men time to reload. The Chinese, too many for this small, brave band of brothers, began to swing wide up the hill and flank his soldiers on both sides. The fighting was furious, the air pockmarked with screams of injured and dying men, until finally, only silence. With the Chinese general killed, the next commanding officer yelled to Lawrence, “Your men are dead. Surrender and we’ll spare your life. Our orders are to take you alive. You will not be harmed. You will be put in prison for your crimes.”
Lawrence could hear the Chinese soldiers picking their way through the rocks, surrounding him. He knew it was over.
“What promises do I have that I will not be harmed?”
“You have my word, as colonel of the Black Tigers.”
“Then I will only surrender to you. No other. You must come alone, as I don’t trust one of your men to get an itchy trigger finger.”
“Okay. Put your gun down, and don’t shoot or my men will cut you down.” He was pleased that he would be the one bringing in the elusive and deadly White Ghost. What a promotion he would receive! The captain walked out of his hiding place fifty yards in front of Lawrence and walked toward him. He had his Chinese machine gun at the ready, but had a disarming smile on his face. As he walked up to Lawrence, he said, “You and your men fought bravely. I think you’ll find that we will treat you fairly…”
“Fairly? How’s this for fair? You killed my wife.” With that, Lawrence grabbed the muzzle of the machine gun, its bullets flying harmlessly into the ground, and plunged his knife into the captain’s heart. “That’s for Amy.”
Lawrence never felt any of the hundred bullets that ripped apart his body. His last vision was of his smiling Amy welcoming him into her arms.
Matt stopped when he heard the gunfire.” Quick, quick,” he yelled. His people broke into a panic as they raced to the cave that was barred by a heavy, rusted iron door. A No Trespassing
sign hung sideways beneath an even older sign saying IRON MOUNTAIN, its letters faded and cracked. The few at the front, seeing the entrance blocked, began to weep as they looked over their shoulders, hearing the screams of the dying men. They tugged and pulled at the handle, but the door wouldn’t budge. One man began to pound on it with his fist. Matt strode up to the door and placed his hand against it, feeling the rust grind into his skin. A loud groan was emitted from deep inside the mine shaft, like a prehistoric animal being awakened rudely from its slumber. The door creaked open a crack, then with a thunderous bang, flew open, smashing against the opposite wall.
“Now! Everyone into the mine. Quickly! We haven’t a lot of time.” Men, women, and children scrambled into the mine and to safety. Matt stood by the iron door, guiding everyone in, but looking back on the trail hoping against hope and reason that Lawrence and his men made it. The realization that they sacrificed their lives so Matt’s people could live slowly and painful washed over him. He yelled in the cave, making certain that everyone had made it. He quickly entered and began to panic, not knowing how to close the door, when on its own the door began to move—slowly at first, then slamming shut.
They were safe.
Deep in Iron Mountain
When the iron door clanged shut, the heavy metallic noise reverberated ominously throughout the cave. Matt and his family huddled near the door, anxiously worrying whether the Chinese soldiers would be able to breach this barrier and reach them. The screams of fighting men penetrated the walls, then gave way to the anguished cries and moans of the dying. That too eventually came to a deafening quiet. Everyone silently acknowledged that Lawrence and his men had made the ultimate sacrifice. They had given their lives for the freedom of the others. Their hearts were heavy as they reflected on the bravery of those who had defended them.