Sent Rising (Dove Strong)

by Erin Lorence

  “Don’t worry, Dove. They may have the radio on their side...but what is radio compared to the almighty television broadcast that we can provide? Jesse and I’ll slip over and see if we can borrow some power without them getting wise. Here, you wear this until we’re ready for you.” He reached into the hood of my cloak and fitted a small wire around my ear.

  I abandoned my hunt for Melody and blinked at him. TV? “But...no, Lobo—”

  “C’mon, Jesse.” They jogged into the crowd with their bulky bags of cameras and equipment.

  “Dove’s going to be on TV again. Lucky.” Jezebel banged her knees against Wolfe in excitement.

  “Quit it, brat. Dove’s not...are you?”

  “No! I just want to stop this.” I unhooked the ear wire so it dangled at my chin and gestured at the mass of Christians and lights. “All of this is wrong. In a few minutes, Reed will stir everyone up like he does, even easier now since he’s got that microphone.” I clutched my forehead. “I should’ve stopped Lobo and Jesse. As soon as someone speaks to those two in Amhebran and they don’t understand—”

  “Stay out of the light and keep the cloak on.” Trinity knotted the cloth under my chin so the hood stayed in place. “Go wait in the trees. I’ll talk to Lobo and get them to ditch their TV plan and leave before the rally starts. C’mon, Micah. You can protect me.”

  She shoved herself between the glaring, war-painted women, towing an open-mouthed Micah behind her.

  A small hand patted my hood. “Don’t worry, Dove. I can fix this whole thing. I’ll stop the guy’s microphone and the radio and TV and make them all go home.”

  Jezebel, still perched on Wolfe’s shoulders, pulled her hand out of her purse. Her fingers clenched a small black object. It was Wolfe’s last EMP.

  “Ready, you guys? Hold hands if you’re afraid of the dark. Because the lights are going off.”

  49

  Jezebel knocked my elbow with her shoe. Wolfe jerked his hand from my grip. And the lights continued to blare.

  “Let her go, Stone!” Wolfe shouted.

  “Gimme back my EMP,” Jezebel demanded. “Let me go.”

  I yanked back my obscuring hood. Jezebel had disappeared from her brother’s shoulders and was now trapped under Stone’s arm. Carrying the girl, he darted into the mass of gathered believers.

  I hurled myself after them, worming through tight spaces in the crowd. When I hesitated at a wall of fur-clad bodies, Wolfe’s hand pressed my back, bulldozing me forward. We left angry mutterings in our wake.

  “Don’t shove.”

  “Watch it, Girl.”

  “Look, it’s the dove.”

  Stone, the tallest figure in sight, sliced deeper into the mass of standing Christians, and the crowd closed quickly behind him. I locked my gaze on his tangle of ashy hair, visible above the sea of heads. He paused, and Wolfe and I gained a few yards, almost catching up. Then Stone forged on.

  Jezebel’s kicking legs appeared in a break between groups. I lunged forward and latched onto her ankle. Unnecessarily—because Stone had halted.

  Melody stood before us. She was buffeted by the surrounding crowd, who watched with crossed arms as Wolfe and I wrestled Stone’s bicep. Her deer eyes focused on Jezebel’s captor then flicked to me.

  “Whew, Dove, you didn’t drown!” She eased closer and attempted to hook her arm through mine, as she had a thousand times in the past. I relaxed my hold on Jezebel, though my heart thumped harder. Melody was finally choosing to stand with me—choosing what was right. It didn’t matter that Wolfe and I couldn’t pry his sister from the strong grasp. With Melody on my side, Stone would release her.

  “Dove, you can’t believe the trouble you’ve given us this last week.” She tightened her grip on my blanketed extremity. “Sorry—we just have to hold you until the rally is over. Stone, you better go tell Reed she’s here...but why do you have that little Heathen girl?”

  “For bait.” I scowled into his light eyes ringed by shadowed hollows. Was his conscience pricking him awake at night? Good. “He has her as bait to bring me into this crowd so I don’t escape into the trees since I can outclimb him.”

  “No. It’s because he’s a coward,” Gilead growled at my back.

  My brother moved me aside and swept Wolfe from his path. “You keep picking on girls—young girls who aren’t trained to fight. I don’t care if you are Commander Reed’s brother. Or Dove’s old boyfriend. Let—the kid—go!”

  “I don’t pick on...I’m not hurting her. I just need to keep Dove—”

  Stone careened backward from my brother’s fist and released Jezebel. He scrambled to his feet, swiped at the blood on his lip and returned the punch. Again, Gilead was quicker. He trapped the giant’s offending arm. Then, with a grunt, he slammed Stone onto his back.

  “Dove, you idiot. Take the kid and scram!”

  A circle of bodies jostled as they pressed around the fighters. One crouched as if eager to join in. Next to me, Jezebel flattened herself against her brother’s chest with her eyes squeezed shut. I pulled my hood over my head and followed them through a sudden gap in the packed bodies.

  “We’ve got to get out of this light, Dove, like Trinity said. It’s dangerous. If only Stone hadn’t stolen my EMP. It’s funny, though...”

  I threw him a dagger-like glare. Melody’s continued betrayal ached worse than a kick to my gut. And Stone might mangle Gilead beyond repair...or vice versa.

  “OK. Not funny. Odd. I didn’t realize your brother liked Jez so much.”

  I shrugged. He hadn’t fought Stone only for Jezebel’s sake. He’d fought for his own macho pride. And to distract onlookers—Christians who might otherwise have turned their unhappy attention to me.

  Our chase after Stone had brought us near the very center of the crowd. How many of the ten minutes had we wasted? How many were left until Reed began the rally? Four minutes? Three?

  I pointed past the light posts to the dark patch of woods far beyond. “Head that way, Wolfe. To the trees.”

  He struggled forward, throwing words over his shoulder at me. “And I bet he likes Diamond. Did you see how he glanced around before he swung, as if hoping to see someone? Maybe Diamond? Maybe he’s decided that he likes nonbelievers. I bet he won’t attack, even if the rest do.”

  “He’ll attack. Aim toward the posts so we can see if the others got out. C’mon, move faster.” My heart slammed against my sternum, beating away the seconds.

  The grassy terrain began to rise under my frustrated feet. More bodies crowded the slope leading to the source of light ahead where bulbs blazed from poles. If the people would only move aside, I’d be able to see the platform, the generator, and radio equipment...I threw up a desperate plea.

  Let Trinity have gotten Lobo and Jessica out of here.

  “Brothers and Sisters! So many of us sacrificed, becoming the Sent our Councils asked us to be. And for the past few months, we’ve lived peacefully among our enemies. We’ve stood unflinchingly against their violence and their hate.”

  I froze, and my hood fell back. Two Christians, Frog Face and another from the cave, lifted Reed and set him on his feet on the elevated platform. He didn’t hold a microphone. Yet his voice swelled like thunder, drowning out every noise in the crowd.

  “But while we were away from home, sacrificing all, our enemies swooped down. They invaded our homes and stole away our mothers and fathers. They took our aunts and uncles. Even our grandparents.”

  Jezebel flicked my hat brim and pointed up. Lobo clung to a light pole just beyond Reed. His twisted legs anchored his body yards above the crowd. His dark eyes sought mine. One hand gestured first at his ear, then to his lips. Speak, he mouthed. He slashed the air. No TV. He pointed at his mouth again. Speak.

  Wolfe grabbed the wire dangling at my chin and fitted it back around my ear. “Lobo’s a genius! You’re wearing a microphone—this thing! He’s got it working with the speakers. C’mon, Dove, talk! Speak! You can fight Reed with your words, te
ll everyone the truth. Just stay incognito while you do it.” He yanked up my hood.

  Me? Fight with words? Words weren’t my gift. I was bad with words. The few syllables I’d shouted in the camps were proof.

  A group of Christians threatened Lobo’s hold on the light pole, attempting to yank him off. I heard their Amhebran shouts—questions and accusations that Lobo wouldn’t understand.

  His grip slipped. Slipped again. Then he fell.

  My gasp echoed. I craned to catch sight of him behind the platform, but people blocked me. Was Jessica nearby? Could she help him, or had she ditched him and escaped? Oh no. I bit my lip. Her petite figure appeared in the crowd. It lolled over a stranger’s fur-clad shoulder.

  Blood roared in my ears, muffling Reed’s next words.

  “You...you are here tonight because the Councils planned for us to unite in order to mourn and to pray. But God has already answered our prayers.”

  I ripped my gaze from the victors carrying Lobo’s sagging form down the hill and focused on Reed. He’d recovered his bravado that’d faltered during Lobo’s interruption. Excitement radiated from his thin body that leaned over the crowd.

  Molten anger burned my cheeks as I fingered my tiny microphone. If I spoke, would my voice project to rival his? Would believers even listen? Or would they fall over themselves, competing to see who could silence me first?

  I swallowed and lifted my chin. I’m ready, Lord. Words?

  Commander Reed’s fist struck the air. “Good news! Our lost people are not hidden in California. Instead they are close. Very close. And I have seen them with my own eyes. My soldiers and I have battled for their freedom. And we’ve won it...freedom for part of our people!”

  “You lie, Reed Bender.” My accusation blasted across the crowd. “You. Lie. Who did you battle? When?”

  Reed’s amplified choke resonated through the sudden silence. Then murmurs from hundreds of people started up.

  I braced for the hands that would grab or strike me down. But my immediate neighbors had their backs to me. I’d shouted from inches away, yet their shoulders shrugged. One rubbed his neck saying, “It sounded like the crazy girl who yelled at us in the camp.”

  A miracle.

  Thank you for hiding me.

  Wolfe dumped Jezebel onto the ground. “Froggy just spotted me. Me and Jez are taking off. Don’t follow. Stay covered and get to the trees.” He hustled me onto my knees.

  “But—”

  “He’s coming, Dove. Go!”

  I reached for Wolfe and Jezebel, who seemed to melt into the crowd.

  Reed forced a guffaw. “Ignore the false accusation. Let me assure you that I’m not lying. In a few minutes, I will present you with proof that I tell the truth.”

  My amplified, “Ha!” shattered my own eardrums.

  “Find her,” Reed whispered, no doubt a command to some of his hovering, deluded followers to search for me...and shut me up. At least Wolfe and Jezebel had separated from me. Maybe they’d stay unharmed.

  He continued in a louder voice. “Yes, we’ve obtained freedom for some of our people. Yet our enemies dare to still hold another portion of us as prisoner. The Heathen refuse to release our few from their evil grip. Satan’s workers attempt to suppress us because they are afraid of us—afraid of the power we yield. And they should be afraid! Because our power is from Almighty God who says it’s time for us—His people—to take back this nation!”

  I quit crawling around amongst people wearing homespun shoes and lifted my head. “Sky alive, people! Plug your ears against his lies. Stop a moment and use your brains. Does God want us to slaughter other humans for land? Of course not. That’s what Satan wants.”

  A youth with a waxy face and missing teeth leered down at me, and I recoiled. Two more smudged, pale complexions loomed over. The mole family I’d eaten crackers with surrounded me.

  The fatherly man I’d prayed with in a camp tent whispered, “Shalom, Warrior Dove. Quick, your hunters are close. Become a boulder so we can sit.”

  Become a boulder...what? His hands pushed me down and molded my gray covering until I hunkered on my hands and knees in stuffy darkness. The full weight of at least one body settled down on my spine. Someone else leaned against my shoulder...using me as a boulder to rest against. Hiding me.

  As my exhausted limbs trembled under their load, Reed’s eloquent falsehoods trickled through the blanket’s woven strands. “You, the Sent who’ve obeyed God in the past...will you obey God again? Listen, the freed are on their way to us. I hear their footsteps approaching—”

  The crowd’s rumblings multiplied.

  The weight against me lifted. A jab at my back prodded me forward. “Your hunters have moved past. Carefully now, Dove Strong. Follow us to safer ground.”

  Still covered by the blanket, I crawled—a goat being herded—responding to the taps against my body steering me to the right or left.

  The crowd finally calmed, and Reed again spoke. “When they arrive, what will you do? Will you slip away and return home with your loved ones? If you do, you’re turning a blind eye, allowing your enemies to hold other brothers and sisters captive.”

  “Don’t believe him, people!” Neither the blanket nor the stuffy air muffled my microphone’s capability. “This Bender you call Commander is the one who has held your families captive all this time. Not the godless.”

  “I won’t abandon my brothers and sisters who are in need!” Reed shouted. “I claim God’s promises. Claim them too. Join me. Walk with me. Fight with me!”

  My guide eased his body down on my shoulder blade, and I froze. Another searcher approached. Seconds later, the load lightened, someone nudged, and I crawled forward.

  I wrenched my thoughts away from my bruised palms and kneecaps. Away from the memory of Lobo and Jessica’s limp bodies...and the probability that Wolfe and Jezebel had been caught and were now suffering. And what about Trinity? Mom and Grandpa?

  Sweat trickled down my ribs. How long had I been crawling? Hours? Shouldn’t I be out of the light by now? No matter, I must hear Reed...listen to God...and be ready with words. Even if they fell out of my mouth sharp and ugly as thistles. Even if no one cared.

  Reed spoke again.

  “The Heathen who carry out Satan’s plans feast together tonight. These evildoers reside in one of those worldly buildings over these hills. They don’t know we are gathered. And they are ignorant of our great power and—”

  “They are ignorant of all of this.” My voice was quieter now, yet it still swallowed up his. “Because the nonbelievers are innocent. Reed Bender planned this whole deception. He—”

  “Storm their fortress with me!” Reed half-shrieked. “Together we will hold the responsible Heathen hostage until they release every single imprisoned Christian. And if the pagan stay firm in their evil schemes and decide to fight us, who here will step boldly forward to meet them?”

  A bobcat’s scream answered from close by. I paused. My fingers tensed, digging into the dust and tree debris over a thick root.

  A tree root.

  I groped the air in front of my blanket and touched rough-ridged bark. My hands tore the covering off my sweat-drenched head, casting its veiling material into some bushes. I clung to the cedar’s base while my lungs drew in fresh air. The solitude of a gloomy forest outside the circle of light welcomed me.

  “Dove!”

  Wolfe reached around one of my guides and pulled me up. When he ended his hug, one arm stayed latched around my waist.

  There was a flurry of movement from the tree. Ten feet above eye level, Jezebel kicked her legs in a hello from a sturdy limb. Safe.

  My sudden smile died. The chant that’d sparked in the crowd now grew like wildfire across the clearing.

  “Free our brothers! Fight for freedom! Free our brothers! Fight for freedom!”

  “No!” The solo shout registered like a whisper compared to the crowd’s roar. “No!”

  Who wouldn’t fight? I ascended the f
ifteen-feet to Jezebel’s limb and leaned off.

  “No!” A male with red hair flung himself onto his knees next to Danny D, who spread his arms in protection over his jumble of cables and radio equipment.

  Ben, I mouthed. He was the security leader I’d met in Chaff’s tent.

  Crack. “Whoa!” Wolfe threw his arms around the trunk next to me and gave me a sheepish grin. I glared at his shoe that had dislodged a limb below. When I turned back to the crowd, Ben had vanished. Where? Had Reed’s followers silenced him?

  “Free our brothers! Fight for freedom!”

  “No!”

  The chant to fight wavered as a handful of other faded nos peeped out from different areas in the throng. Again, I leaned toward the light. Who else rebelled?

  I huffed in frustration. The bodies below were too tight. I couldn’t tell. I ruffled through images in my brain until I conjured up the faces of those I’d prayed with in the camps. The prayer warriors had spent time with God. Did they have the courage to speak out about what God wanted?

  “No!” The father of the mole family who’d herded me to safety fell to his knees. His body spilled into the fringe of light within spitting distance of my cedar.

  A half-dozen Christians in gray garments on the hill past the platform turned toward his bellowed protest. I recognized Reed’s closest followers. The guy with the frog mouth shielded his brow and pointed his knife. Not at the kneeler but at my branch. There. She’s up there in the tree.

  “No!”

  Reed’s henchmen frowned up. Trinity had shimmied up the light pole above their heads and now clung to a spot next to their commander.

  “No,” she repeated.

  As my hand pressed my lips, hers reached up to the sky as if to pluck a star. Her fingers balled into a fist of defiance. She shook it at Commander Reed.

  A tiny projectile flashed as if released from a skilled hand or sling. Trinity’s blonde head jerked forward from the hit. Then, as if in slow motion, she freefell backward to where Micah poised with outstretched arms below.