by J. L. ROBB
“Who is Joseph Rosenberg?” That name was also familiar to Jeff. Then he remembered, the speaker at the lecture he was going to attend with Samarra the day she became ill. He made a mental note to call Jack Russell to see how Samarra was doing.
Abe placed another glass of Duckhorn in front of Jeff, removing the empty glass and wiping the counter, as if by instinct rather than training. “Want me to introduce you?”
“Not really, not right now. She looks familiar though. I am more interested in the God-thing. Is that ok? Since you believe all that stuff, maybe you can help me. I’ve never really believed those stories. It caused a lot of grief when I was married to Melissa.”
“So why are you all-of-a-sudden interested?” asked Abe the Bartender-turned-preacher, or rabbi.
Abraham was a slender but muscular bartender, a man about forty-something, and had been born in Tel Aviv where he lived for twelve years. His father had been killed when the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was attacked, again, by the terrorist group Hezbollah. One night on a routine patrol near the Golan Heights, five IDF soldiers were kidnapped; and three were killed and set on fire. Actually, they weren’t killed first but thrown live into a burning trash pile. Abe’s father had been one of the chargrilled, burned and left hanging on a tree like Judas of Jesus’ day.
A year later, his mother Naomi packed Abraham and his sister, Rebecca, onto a plane to New York to live with Naomi’s sister and her husband. At least the kids would have cousins to play with and no bombs to avoid, she thought, trying to allay her sadness. It’s not easy to lose your husband and then give the kids up, she thought to herself, trying to hide the tears that were trying to burst from her misting eyes but hidden by Naomi’s strength. There had been many tears shed in Naomi’s life. Except for her strength and fortitude, there would have been many more.
“So why all of the sudden interest about God, Mr. Ross?” Abe repeated the question. Judi glanced at Abe and then Jeff, her interest piqued. Judi was a big time believer.
“I’m not sure. You know my interest in astronomy, and a couple of weeks ago I saw something in the sky. It was awesome. Really, really awesome.”
“What was it?” Abe asked.
“I have no idea, and no one else seems to have seen it! That’s the really strange thing.” Jeff paused. “I wonder how all the astronomers and night-sky gazers in the whole world just happened to miss what I saw. It was extremely bright. It’s been weeks, and no reports have been filed at this point.”
Jeff made a casual look-see to his right, still trying to figure out where he had seen the brunette. Then it hit him.
“Versace Lady!” He smiled and offered to buy her martini. She accepted.
“What do you mean exactly, kind sir?”
“I could be wrong, but..”
“He’s never wrong! Just ask him.” Abe winked at Judi.
“I think I’ve seen you before.”
“You have to do better than that kind sir. That line’s older than dirt.” She gave him a smile that could have melted iron.
“No, really. It was you or your twin sister this morning about ten o’clock. You were walking past Starbucks, just up the street, in a red Versace dress.” Jeff didn’t mention his run-in with the Starbucks doorframe, his head still a little sore from the encounter.
“Oh no. You were there? You heard the bomb?” Judi had been calm and collected, but now she was Miss Jibber Jabber. “By the way, it was a fake Versace dress.”
“Heard it, felt it and smelled it. My ears are still ringing.” Jeff’s head was still ringing actually.
“Did you hear about Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital?”
“No I didn’t.” Neither Jeff nor Abe had heard anything about the Children’s Hospital. “What happened?”
“They blew it up! An ambulance full of explosives pulled up to the emergency room entrance, according to the news. The driver left the ambulance with the motor running, and just walked away. A minute later, the whole side of the building disappeared. Said more than a hundred were killed, mostly children.” Judi was on the verge of tears, her heart still aching.
Jeff consoled her, moving to an adjacent seat. They embraced as though they were long, lost friends, one comforting the other. Abe tried to make small talk, but it was not a day for small talk.
Abe changed the subject, an intuition of a good bartender.
“OK, I will ask you one more time. What was it?”
“What?” Jeff asked
“Whatever you saw in the sky?”
Jeff noted the perspiration on Abe’s forehead.
“Well, I had my brand new fourteen-inch Celestron telescope programmed to look for errant asteroids. I am always watching for something headed our way. It happens more than you think.”
“You’re kidding!” Abe hadn’t heard that one. “You mean there are asteroids headed our way?”
“Yes Goofy! Around midnight, I was adjusting the camera, hoping to discover a new asteroid or comet to name after myself, when I saw a flash of light. I was looking down toward the ground, and the light lit up everything. It was like someone took my picture. When I looked up at the sky, there was nothing abnormal to see. No flashes, no bright lights. But it came from the sky.”
Abe, not one to drink, poured himself a scotch. “I saw the same thing, Jeff. It looked like the Star of Bethlehem, just a bright, narrow cone of light shining down from the sky, maybe a few miles in front of me. I was headed west on I-20, just east of Villa Rica.”
“That was it!” Jeff almost shouted, relieved that someone else finally acknowledged seeing this phenomenon. He was beginning to think he hadn’t seen anything at all.
Outside Park Place Café, a car backfired and everyone inside ducked, by instinct, expecting another bombing. Several protesters ran into the bar, thinking the worst, protest signs in hand.
There were no more bombings that night though, at least not in Atlanta.
One of the TVs was tuned to FOX News, Greta and Gretchen on extra duty, another news alert highlighted the screen.
“Greta, the New York subway has flooded, another victim of the Lincoln Tunnel roof collapse. Have you heard casualty rates? According to the Associated Press, the toll is climbing by the minute. A high level of drowning deaths is expected from the subway system. The toll at the moment stands at 715 but is sure to rise.
“Here is what we know so far: The FBI has discovered the bodies of four UPS employees at a warehouse in Newark, N.J., apparently drivers.
“The trucks were dispatched to the warehouse under the pretext of a massive shipment of charitable goods and food for the people of Montserrat. Montserrat, as you know Gretchen, is the Caribbean island location of the recent Soufriére Hills volcanic eruption. This same volcano has erupted many times over the last decade, most recently causing the crash of a missionary plane off the coast of Vieques within the last two weeks.
“The four UPS drivers were found in the warehouse, bound, gagged and shot in the head execution style. It is believed that the terrorists, their nationality unknown, loaded the trucks with high volumes of explosives.”
“What do you mean nationality unknown? I think we probably know the nationality, or at least the religion.” Gretchen had never been one to mince words, even while reporting; and she believed in the merits of profiling, thought it stupid that others did not. Greta continued.
“At this time, there has been no indication of who the terrorists were. Of course, most suspect Islamic terrorists, based on the past history; but the present administration, like most others in the past, really frowns on profiling. There was some fertilizer residue in the warehouse, and the floor was stained with diesel fuel. That speaks for itself, and the investigation is just beginning.
“Bombings were experienced in many states, but not all the states we initially reported. More than five hundred are dead in Paris from the Eiffel Tower collapse, hundreds more reported in London. It’s a real mess Gretchen, and it’s just the beginning. We should ha
ve a better handle on it tomorrow.”
“Thanks Greta. Now let’s go to Emory Hospital where Nancy Harrison is giving a statement.”
Jeff recognized the name of his personal physician. She had given him a clean bill of health after his exam and assured him he had no exotic diseases.
“There is no further news of Samarra Russell’s condition. Both she and Russ Ivies remain in critical condition, in isolation with internal bleeding and breathing difficulties. While the illness is still unknown, the symptoms are flu-like in nature: high fever, muscle cramps. The bleeding is unusual and not normally a flu symptom. However, in some cases of past flu viruses, there has been bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouths, ears and anus, specifically in the case of the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919.
“It is known that Samarra Russell is an exotic disease specialist, and Spanish Flu is one of her areas of research.”
“Is this a Spanish Flu outbreak? If so, what was the mortality rate for the Spanish Flu, and is there a vaccine?”
The reporters were shouting questions, one trying to out-shout the other.
Jeff excused himself, explaining to Judi and Abe that he needed to get back to Duluth. He asked for Judi’s business card and told her he would like to take her to lunch or dinner. He got up to leave.
“Jeff, buy a Bible and read it. An NIV.” Abe insisted.
“And an NIV is?”
“Just go to the nearest Barnes & Noble, and ask for an NIV Prophecy Study Bible.”
“How about the next time I come in, you just give me the Cliffsnotes version, Abe?” It was more a request than a question.
Walking out the front door, FOX was now reporting that more than 80,000 people, world-wide, had disappeared; and the number continued to increase.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11
“There are many things that fall from the sky and affect the Earth. Heavy rains, hailstorms, lightning, megacryometeorites, meteors and asteroids, just to name a few.”
Chad Myers was lecturing astronomy graduate students who were touring Goddard Space Flight Center. He was a specialist in the study of NEOs, Near-Earth Objects.
“NEOs are out there everywhere,” he told the students, “But most people have no clue. NEOs are comets or asteroids that orbit the sun and also cross, or nearly cross, Earth’s orbit. Presently there are approximately 3,000 NEOs that have been discovered. These objects pose a danger of collision with the Earth, a danger, though rare, that could possibly eliminate most of the population of our planet. It has happened before.
“Most scientists believe an asteroid collided with Earth about 65 million years ago. That collision occurred just northwest of Cancun and resulted in the elimination of the dinosaurs. It is estimated that this asteroid was only six miles wide.
“A Near-Earth Object is defined by the federal government’s Spaceguard Program as any object that has a diameter of at least one kilometer, a little more than a half mile, and comes within 1.3 astronomical units of planet Earth, AU for short. One AU is the distance from the Earth to the Sun, about 93 million miles.
“In other words, we monitor any NEO that is within 120 million miles of Earth with a potential to cross Earth’s orbit.”
Chad didn’t tell the students of the most recent discovery a few weeks earlier. The information had not yet been released. He found the newest information troubling to say the least. The new data indicated a possible collision with the Earth within eight months, maybe sooner.
“At present, there are more than 3,000 near-Earth objects that are being monitored. There are more than 10,000 of these objects larger than half a mile in diameter, suggesting that we have so far detected only a small percentage of their total population.”
“Dr. Myers?”
“Yes Debra.”
Chad liked Debra Gracie. He met her on the tour last year, and they had coffee after the conference. Debra was a third-year grad student. Chad guessed he was about thirty years too old for her, but he could wish. Unfortunately though, she was dating the ex-star quarterback at University of Maryland, so what would she see in a nerd like him?
“Dr. Myers, you mentioned a megacryometeorite or something like that. Can you explain what that is?”
“You bet. Thanks for the question, Debra.
“Megacryometeorites were first discovered in January, 2000, by Jesus Martinez-Frias of Spain, after large chunks of ice started falling from a perfectly clear, blue sky. Though some of the ice clusters vaguely resembled hailstones, they were much too large, most weighing seven pounds or so; and the sky, as I mentioned, was clear. No storms were involved. Dr. Martinez-Frias began his research after the unknown objects rained down on Spain for ten consecutive days, always from a clear sky.
“Since then, more than a hundred incidents have occurred around the world, with most of the ice balls weighing 25-30 pounds each, some much larger. And I am sure these were not the first.
“Now, can you imagine seeing large, thirty pound chunks of ice falling from a sunny, clear sky?
“You may not know this, but in the Book of Revelation, I assume all of you recognize the name, John wrote that in the last days there would be hailstorms raining down 100 pound hailstones. Until megacryometeorites were discovered, most scientists thought this to be mythology. Not anymore.
“The largest to date weighed in at 490 pounds; and yes, you heard that right. It was a sunny day in Brazil when this particular megacryometeorite smashed into and totaled a brand new, red Mustang convertible. Eyewitnesses first reported hearing a loud whooshing sound just before it hit. In some instances, they have been confused for meteorites because of the size of the craters they can leave.”
The students were surprised at this information, a slight din rising from the auditorium. They had never heard of such a thing. Most people hadn’t, he knew.
“Dr. Myers, I just read about a hailstorm in North Carolina that had cantaloupe sized stones. Could these be the same thing?” That Debra is one cutie-pie, he thought.
“Nope, those were unusually large; but they were conventional hailstones.” He continued.
“Before we break, let me mention the Tunguska Event. June 30, 1908, a suspected meteoroid, or meteorite, they are the same, exploded high over the Tunguska River in Russia and flattened hundreds of square miles of forest. It was thought to be equivalent to a fifteen-megaton nuclear blast, a thousand times larger than the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II.
“Though the Tunguska region was not populated, at least not with people, eyewitnesses reported seeing a tremendous fireball streaking across the sky, followed by an explosion and a hot wind that knocked people to the ground a hundred miles away. The explosion left no crater, at least none that has been found to date.”
“What’s the chance of this happening again, like in the United States?” Chad did not recognize the student but noted that he looked a little older, maybe wiser, than the other kids?
“And your name, sir?”
“Johnny Poe.”
“Mr. Poe, anything is possible, especially when it comes to NEOs. There may have been a similar, but much, much smaller event, last week in Kansas. Do you remember the news about Westborough Church?”
Johnny’s smile faded instantly, then asked, “Is that the church whose members go to military funerals and shout that God loves dead soldiers, or something like that?”
“That’s correct. When soldiers are killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, wherever, the members go to the funerals and shout that God hates ‘fags’ and that’s why he killed the soldiers; because the United States promotes homosexuality. They’re really nutty.”
“So what happened to Westborough, something bad I hope.”
“Well Johnny my man, your wish has been fulfilled. They were having a church meeting last Wednesday night, planning their next hate-mission, when suddenly an explosio
n rocked the church; and Westborough Church is no more, at least the building.
“Eyewitnesses said a small meteorite, they called it a falling star and it might as well have been, exploded about two hundred feet directly above the church. The church and congregants disappeared in a flash, but the surrounding structures were undamaged.
“Some of the members that weren’t in attendance tried to spin it as though the members were raptured, but then the bodies were found several blocks away in all directions. DNA confirmed they did not have a heavenly experience. I’m assuming you know what raptured means?”
“Not really.” Several students spoke simultaneously.
“Well, we won’t be going into that here. I don’t want to venture into the church and state separation thing. It is a part of Christian theology though. You can read about it in 1 Corinthians 15:51. I’ll see everybody after lunch.”
As the students were leaving the large auditorium, Chad called Johnny Poe over to the podium.
“So how did you know about the Westborough Church? Just curious. Most college students don’t keep up with that sort of thing.”
“I’m a veteran, two tours in Iraq. A close Army buddy and I, Scott Johnson, were at a funeral for a friend of ours who was killed in Afghanistan. He was a hero if there ever was one, threw himself onto a live grenade to save his men. He didn’t even hesitate.
“Those Westborough clowns showed up at his funeral, and Scott and I ended up getting arrested.”
“Really? What happened?”
“They were yelling that God was glad our buddy was dead, because the U.S. loved faggots; and we decided those folks needed a good ass-whippin’; so we proceeded to teach them some proper etiquette. I’m glad I didn’t kill anyone, but I wanted to. Looks like God took care of them for us.”