“We need to talk, Andrew.” Lisa’s voice was soft.
“Let me guess—you need to tell me how irresistible I am.”
“Lying is a sin.”
“Hey.”
She chuckled. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” She rolled to her side. “I’m serious. We need to talk.”
“I’m listening.”
“In private.”
Morgan turned his head toward her, removed his shades, and raised an eyebrow. “Are you propositioning me?”
“You know the answer to that. Let’s go to your office.”
Morgan felt a sudden sense of foreboding. He rose, held out his hand, and helped Lisa up. A few moments later, they were in the upstairs office. Morgan closed the door. They sat in a low-backed sofa beneath a large window that overlooked the gated front yard.
“Okay, Ms. Mysterious, you have my attention.”
She chewed her lower lip, and Morgan prepared himself for the rejection he was sure would come. He had swept her off her feet yesterday, but she had had an entire night to think things over. As the day progressed, she seemed more introspective. He assumed it was because of her knowledge of what was due to occur.
“I haven’t been honest with you.”
“You? Dishonest? I don’t buy it.”
She touched his arm. “When I was here last year, you read a verse from a Bible you said belonged to your son. That got me to thinking.”
“Thinking is permissible.”
She saddened. “When I first met you, I did some research. You already know that. I even pressed you for an interview you didn’t want to give for an article that never came to be. Turns out, no one in your Quetzal group would talk to me. Anyway, during my investigation, I learned more about you and your family’s deaths.”
“We talked about that on the trip back from Roswell.”
“Well, I let it all slide, but I couldn’t let it go.”
Morgan felt defensive. “Where are you going with this?”
“I read the article about the funeral, where it was held, and who officiated. From there, it was a small matter to link the ministers to the church your son attended.”
“You contacted them?”
She nodded. “I did. I spoke to the youth pastor. He oversees the spiritual lives of the senior high school students. He remembered your son very well. Did you know he was thinking of going into the ministry?”
“No. We talked about him going into engineering of some kind. You’re saying he was lying to me?”
“No, of course not. Thinking about going into the ministry is a long way from committing to it. Many ministers train in other fields before going to seminary. No doubt he was thinking of engineering too.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Do you still have his Bible?”
“Of course.”
“May I see it?”
Morgan was slow to move. He felt manipulated. He rose, disappeared from the office, and returned a few moments later with the well-worn study Bible. He handed it to Lisa. He noticed her hand was shaking when she took it. It hurt him to see her so nervous.
“The pastor I spoke to said they did a faith exercise.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He asked them to list five things they wanted God to do in their lives. He had them write it in their Bibles.” Lisa began thumbing through the Bible. He watched as she checked front and back leafs. “I don’t see it.”
“Maybe he chose not to participate.”
“The impression I got from the youth pastor makes me think otherwise. Wait. He said that that he based the exercise on Matthew 7:7-8.”
“Which is?”
Lisa turned to the Gospel. “Here it is. Jesus is speaking: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.’ ” She stopped suddenly, turned the Bible to Morgan, and pointed at the margin.
He took the book and read the notes. The sight of his son’s handwriting jolted him.
Five things I pray that God will do:
1. Give me clarity about my future.
2. Help me know more about Him.
3. Make me a good student of His Word.
4. Protect persecuted Christians around the world.
5. Help me lead my parents to Christ.
The last item was underlined twice. The pit of Morgan’s stomach dropped like a stone, and his eyes began to burn.
“It’s a very unselfish list.” Lisa spoke softly.
“That’s the way he was.”
“Andrew, this may be the last time we have an opportunity to talk about such things. I don’t know what the next hours will bring, but if you’re right, if the Hammer of God—I despise that name— is going to kill most life on earth, then we need to be thinking about the next life.”
“Lisa—”
“No, no more debate. No more give and take. So far you haven’t been willing to listen to me. Maybe you’ll listen to your son.” She took the Bible back and turned to another passage. “Romans 3:23. It’s underlined. I shouldn’t be surprised.” She scooted next to Morgan. “What’s this say?”
Morgan read the words, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
“Do you need proof that we are all sinners?”
He shook his head. “No, that’s pretty obvious.”
“Okay, now this. Romans 6:23.” She turned a few pages and pointed at another underlined verse.
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He looked up. “Lisa, look, I know you mean well—”
“Andrew Morgan, we are going to get through this without interruption.”
He smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
“There are scores of these, but I’m going to make you read one more.” She moved deeper into the book and found what she was looking for. “This one—Romans 10:9-10—is underlined too.” Again she gave him the Bible and he read the words aloud.
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” He handed the Bible back.
“Why do you suppose these verses are underlined?”
Morgan shrugged.
“What did your son want God to do?”
“He listed several things—”
“You said you love me. If you love me, then stop playing games. What on that list struck you?”
“He wanted help sharing his faith with his mother and me.”
“Do you think he talked these matters over with your wife?”
Morgan squirmed in his seat. “Before they started back, my wife and I talked. She mentioned she and Hunter had had a long talk. I didn’t pay much attention…I was distracted with work.” That admission felt like a punch from a prizefighter.
“How did she sound to you?” There was something soothing in her tone.
“I don’t know, maybe a little different. Like I said, I was distracted.”
Lisa set a hand on Morgan’s knee. “Do you think it’s odd that Hunter left his Bible behind?”
“I never thought about it. To me, it was just a phase he was going through, or another way to meet girls. It’s probably a coincidence.”
“Coincidence?” For the first time that evening, he heard heat in her tone. “Was it coincidence that we both show up late for Quetzal’s presentation in Roswell? Was it coincidence that we got the last two seats available in the theater? And my canceled flight and your offer to fly me to San Antonio—was that also coincidence?”
“Look, the way you’re stringing these events together may make it sound like everything happened by some plan—”
“I’m not finished. How about everything else that happened? My editor assigning me a story that requ
ired I get in touch with you again, and despite your reluctance to see me, you ultimately caved.”
“Caved? That’s a little harsh.”
“Was it coincidence that you used his Bible to show me that verse in Revelation?” She took a deep breath. “Your son’s spiritual wish was to share the truth about Jesus with you and your wife. I can’t be sure, but he may have done that on the trip that ultimately took their lives. He left his Bible behind, and here we are on the eve of destruction reading it, reading verses he underlined—verses he meant to share with you. God has honored his request.”
Something warmed inside Morgan. He looked away. To make eye contact with Lisa now would undo him. What she was saying made sense, and he didn’t want it to. After all, it was God who let his wife and son die. He had said so to Lisa.
“I would never do anything to diminish their deaths or your sorrow, but you know as well as I do people die daily…some tragically. Besides, you can’t blame God unless you acknowledge His existence.”
He started to speak, but nothing came. She had him with that last line.
“Andrew, if that asteroid slams into us today, it won’t be because the Mayans saw it coming. It will most likely be an occurrence of nature, or…”
“Or what?”
“Or the beginning of God’s judgment on the world. Either way, you need to be ready.” She lifted a hand and laid two fingers beneath his chin and pulled his face close. She gave him a slow, lingering kiss. It was devoid of sexuality. It was not the kind of kiss a woman gave a man to seduce him. It was a simple act of unassuming, nonjudgmental love.
He savored her lips, her smell, the texture of her lips, but most of all, he appreciated her concern.
Anger melted away. Uncounted months of bitterness dissolved. Tears trickled down his cheeks. “Will you pray with me?”
“Yes.” Lisa slipped from the sofa to her knees.
For a moment, Morgan felt foolish. This was what children did at bedtime. The moment passed. His heart twisted in his chest, and his mind felt on fire.
Ten minutes later, there was knock on the door. Morgan rose and Lisa returned to the sofa. Donny stood in the wide hall outside the office.
“Sorry to disturb you—” He caught Lisa’s eye. “Oh, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“We’re just talking, Donny. Rein in your imagination.”
“Of course. I didn’t meant to imply…Never mind. Did you know someone has bugged your home?”
Donny put away the electronic sweeping gear. It took him an hour to retrieve the equipment from the security company Morgan Natural Energy retained to provide protection for its executives. It took another two hours for him to sweep the structure and grounds, even with the help of his brother.
“Okay, there were remote cameras in the bushes near the gate, a camera in your living room and office, and there were remote mikes throughout the house, including two in your bedroom. There were also two cameras in the backyard.”
“I knew they were keeping an eye on me, but I had no idea it was to this extent.” Morgan clinched his fists.
“Who you talking about, boss? The competition or that Mayan guy?”
“Quetzal.” Morgan’s fury rose. “The competition might bug my office. I can’t imagine them bugging my home.”
“Not so noble as you first thought.” The comment would have offended him if anyone other than Lisa had said it.
“I met with Balfour, and he knew about Lisa. He admitted to keeping an eye on those who were part of the group, but I never thought he’d go this far.” Morgan looked at one of the pinhole cameras Donny had retrieved. “Why would they put cameras in my bedroom?” Realization dawned on his face. “Candy…”
“Figures,” Lisa said. “It would explain why she was so…aggressive. Photos of you and her together could be used to blackmail you into cooperation.”
“There was no ‘me and her together.’ Besides, I’m no threat to them. I doubt they did this to everyone who signed on.”
“I was the threat. I’m a nosey reporter who was going to write unfavorable articles about them.”
“What now, boss?”
“Destroy them.”
“How about the cops?” Donny said. “They may want this for evidence.”
“Too late. They’re long gone and out of reach of the police.”
“Hey, everyone, you need to see this.” The voice came from the living room. Someone had turned on the television. Morgan saw Lisa’s father pointing at the screen. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m a bit of news junkie.”
“I don’t mind at all…” Morgan saw a photo of the Hammer of God. “May I have the remote?” He rewound the DVR, started the news segment over, and turned up the volume.
“These stunning photos were recently released from the European Space Agency. It is being described as the nearest pass by an asteroid in history. It flew within 100,000 miles of the earth. That’s about half the distance to the moon. Although not the first to pass within the 240,000-mile span between the earth and the moon, it is the closest on record.
“The photos came from Dr. Michael Alexander of the ESA, but he has not made a public statement. NASA has assured us that the earth is not in danger. In fact, 2012 G12—as it has been labeled— has already passed through our orbit, and it is speeding its way toward the sun. Unlike many asteroids that have long, elliptical orbits around the sun, 2012 G12 will most likely pass so close to the sun that it will be destroyed. It’s ironic that on this day of all days, we would see a potentially destructive asteroid pass so closely—if you call 100,000 miles close.”
“Praise God,” Lisa whispered.
“Indeed.” Morgan put his arm around Lisa. “You’re going to remind me of this over and over again, aren’t you?”
“That I am. Every day, until you’re old and gray.”
“You know, the day isn’t over yet.”
DECEMBER 23, 2012
You had better figure a way out of this, little man, or you’re gonna be the first casualty in this group.”
Balfour saw Rickman’s face darken another shade of red. He tried to push him away, but he was not a strong man.
“I’m trapped, just like you. I’m in the same predicament.”
Sonya stood by Rickman. “You promised us safety and enough food to last months. We’ve done an inventory, and with two hundred mouths to feed, the food that is here won’t last more than a week. Everything else is empty boxes and barrels!”
“I ordered the food. I really did. Does it make sense that I would lock myself away with you if I thought we’d run out of food?”
Rickman took another step closer and poked Balfour in the chest hard enough to leave bruises. “Maybe you’ve got a secret way out or something.”
“No, I don’t. Something has gone wrong.”
“No kidding, genius. Where’s Quetzal?”
“I don’t know. He was supposed to be here with us.”
“He’s not,” Sonya said.
“Something must have happened.”
“I’ll tell you what happened. You took our money and then buried us alive in this bunker.”
“He must have tricked us. He tricked me too. I’m a believer like you. He’s…”
“He’s what?” Sonya pressed.
“Nothing. I didn’t mean anything by that.”
“Maybe I should start breaking fingers until we get some answers.”
“No, please, don’t. I’ve tried to open the blast doors, but my code doesn’t work.”
“Neither does our communications system. We can’t contact anyone. We have children here, Balfour. I’m not going to sit by and watch them suffer. Not when I can make you suffer.”
“I’m telling you the truth. I’ve been tricked too. Maybe the asteroid hit—”
“We would have felt it, buddy. Something that big would be felt.”
“Not if it hit the ocean. Perhaps the magnetic storms from the sun knocked out communication. Maybe there’s
no one to contact. Maybe—”
A grinding sound stopped the inquisition. The blast door behind them began a slow descent into the floor.
“See,” Balfour said. “He’s come back. Maybe he’s brought the rest of the food, or…” He ran out of words. He turned, thankful to the one who—whoever it was—had figured out how to open the metal door. His smile disappeared when the door descended enough for him to see fifty uniformed, heavily armed Russian soldiers.
He did, however, recognize one man. Andrew Morgan stood with his arms crossed, his heavy jacket making him look even more muscular.
Morgan pointed at him. “These people want to talk to you, Balfour. Where’s Quetzal?”
“Not here. I don’t know where he is, and, trust me, if I did, I’d tell you.”
“Your man Jaz—is he here?”
“Just me, Mr. Morgan.”
The soldiers moved forward. One took Balfour by the arm and led him away.
“What are you doing here?” Rickman was still abrasive. “I heard you chickened out.”
“Saving your skin, it appears. Lucky for you, I changed my mind. I figured you wouldn’t want to be stuck in there when there’s a perfectly good world out here.”
“So nothing happened?” Sonya showed relief.
“Not what you’re thinking. The Hammer of God sailed past without so much as a wave.”
Sonya broke into tears. The tough facade crumbled. Even Rickman took a few moments to catch his breath. “The others need to hear this.”
“They will. You will all be the guests of the Russian government for a few days.”
Rickman stiffened. “We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’ve told them that, but as it turns out, Quetzal didn’t buy the use of the facility as he said he did. He just crossed a lot of palms with bribes, an easy thing to do in a country that is nearly broke.”
Sonya sniffed. “How did you get here?”
Morgan shrugged. “I’m in oil. Russia is a big producer of the world’s oil. Naturally, I know a few people who know people in the Russian government. I’m here to tell them who the bad guys are. I will also be spending a few days here. They have questions for me too.”
The Mayan Apocalypse Page 25