by Nesly Clerge
“Then, you don’t believe or wonder if it’s a higher power’s signal to us.”
“I refute it completely,” he pointed his fork at me, “as should you. You have far too many significant matters and information to fill your brain with. Not this dribble.” Karl waited for me to look at him. “I don’t want to hear another word from you about this kind of nonsense. I hope I’ve made myself clear, my dear.”
“I understand.”
“All settled, then. It’s time we return to work.”
The rest of my afternoon was focused on the manual. Not once did I see Karl go to the locked room or even look its way. I wondered if he would ever go in there while I and the others were in the lab, or if it was his practice to wait until he was alone. I wondered if he’d ever include me in the work going on in there.
Who knew how long it would be before I had anything to report to Michael.
If I ever saw him again.
ENTRY 35
Tuesday through Thursday was more manual study time. After lunch on Friday, Karl rolled his chair to my desk, where he sat as I, with the manual open, turned on the Genesis Genome Activator. It was one of the more quiet machines in the room, but still had a soft hum.
“Who designed it?” I asked.
“You won’t know them. They’re members of the top scientific echelon, and is why their identities remain secret. Don’t want anyone to kidnap them, do we?”
“Are there many of their ilk kept secret?”
Karl stared at me for a moment. I could almost hear him deciding. “A good number. Not as many as we’d like. Yet another reason for our project to succeed.”
“Why is it that they let your identity be known? After your interview, nearly everyone knows who you are.”
Karl’s face reddened. He fisted his hands. “You know very well I’m not included. And why.”
“A huge mistake on their part.” That seemed to soothe and settle him. “When can I begin my work?”
“Monday, I think. Let the information you’ve studied settle in over the weekend.”
“What should I do the rest of today? Is there something I can assist you with?”
“Not at this time.” He called up KATE. “You may report to the Work Approval Board that Gayle Conyers has successfully completed her orientation assignment. I’m allowing her to leave early today. Have a taxi out front for her in ten minutes.”
“Congratulations, Gayle,” KATE said. “Your taxi is on the way.”
Gone were the days of perceiving KATE as a congenial companion programmed to act on behalf of my best interests.
Karl walked me through the security points and to the front door. He opened the back door of the taxi and said, “I trust you’ll make it to your desk alone on Monday.”
“Yes. Thank you for making this first week a softer landing for me.”
“Monday, we’ll download your files from KATE onto your computer.”
“See you then.” I was about to wish him a pleasant weekend, but he closed the door, waved, and went back inside. The taxi eased forward. I instructed KATE to place the call to my children, who were thrilled I was coming home early.
I was ready for a calm weekend.
ENTRY 36
I was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as I got into bed. I don’t recall how long afterwards it was that I found myself flailing my arms and legs, desperate to fling away the hand covering my mouth.
“Calm down,” Michael said.
He removed his hand. I sat up and slugged him on the arm. “You nearly scared me to death.”
“You were sleeping like the dead. I said your name a few times, but you didn’t even twitch. Figured I had time to get something to eat. Hope you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine. But we need to be more careful.” I explained about Sara noticing what was out of place after his previous nocturnal visit.
“Thought of that later. I’m embarrassed I didn’t think of it then. I’m usually better than that. Maybe it was your red hair and green eyes that took me off my game.”
I felt my cheeks flush. “This is no time to flirt.”
“How’s the new job so far?”
I shrugged. “I studied the manual all week. Next week I’ll get to do more, like turn on the one piece of equipment I’ll use. After that, we’ll see. Good thing they’re not in a crushing rush for me to find a way to make them immortal. As for Karl and the secured room, he didn’t so much as glance at the door while I was there.”
“Do you know the real reason the Order wants immortality?”
“Besides the obvious?”
“They’re terrified.”
I nodded. “Of death. Most people are.”
Michael shook his head. “Why do you think the elite have been so bent on marrying within their class, even within their own families, for generations? They know what’s going on and want to keep the bloodline as pure as possible. Two things are happening at once. You have those with the genetic DNA of fallen angels, which means they have corrupted DNA like in Noah’s time, and you have those not of the bloodline who’ve allowed demons to possess them. Both have imperfect souls or none at all. This excludes them from God’s redemption, which an untarnished soul can receive upon request. It’s why they hate humans and enjoy tormenting, torturing, and killing us. They’re lost, and they know it. But, they’re just arrogant enough to believe they can escape death and eternal punishment. They believe they can hide from God. One correction to what I just said: Any human with the bloodline, and those without but are possessed, can be saved if they accept the real Jesus Christ who died on the cross as their savior, and ask him to cleanse their blood of demonic possession and influence.”
“If they don’t do that before they die, can’t they just go into the white light people see at death?”
Michael’s expression was stern. “That’s another of their deceptions. Sometimes they appear before a person leaves the body and invites him or her to avoid the pain of death by entering the white light. We don’t know what they do with people who enter that light, but consider the source. It’s a trick. Never go into the white light, which isn’t the same as Heaven’s gate. I know how contrary that sounds. I told you Lucifer’s deception is tricky. You see that white light, you call on the name of Jesus Christ instead, to get you safely out of there.”
I didn’t know what to say about that so instead said, “What took you so long? I asked Kingsley to get my message to you two weeks ago.”
“My life’s not as routine as yours.”
“Sorry. I don’t mean to fuss. It’s just that I was—”
Michael grinned. “Worried? Fretful? Eager to see me?”
“Moderately concerned.”
“Good enough. Why’d you want to see me?”
“All this information about end-times, aliens that are really demons, giants, armadas, the Antichrist, Wormwood, for God’s sake … it sounds insane. Do you really believe it?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not so simple for me.”
“Your mother discussed this approaching time with you when you were a child. Did you doubt her?”
“As a child, I believed everything my parents told me. But we didn’t speak of it after those early years. I’m no longer a child so easily persuaded.” We were silent for several moments then I said, “I tried to read the book of Revelation, but found it cumbersome. If you want me to begin to believe any of this is real, why don’t you explain some of what’s supposed to happen, and without all that stilted language.”
ENTRY 37
“I’ll do my best,” Michael said. “The first thing you need to understand is that Lucifer’s battle plan has many steps. It’s filled with conspiracies that have been laid out, activated, with some canceled when others work better, all in order to get to the point we’re at now. There are a number of events converging. On the one hand, you have the Order, intent on fulfilling Lucifer’s plan to make this planet their wretched kingdom, and humanity—those
they leave alive—their slaves. Why do you think all their spouting off and mandates for the sake of peace never bring peace? The Order practices inversion. They know the old adage works: Tell people a lie often enough and they’ll believe it’s true. They’re motivated by power and gain and raw evil you can’t begin to imagine, not for the benefit of humanity.”
“You really believe our leaders, at least some of them, are in on this plan?”
Michael nodded. “Think about how difficult it would be to accomplish the plan without people in positions of power. Easier if the plan is hidden in plain sight.”
“Kingsley said something about that.”
“It’s a shocker when you first hear it. Some of those in power are there deliberately. Some aren’t. Anyone who refuses to follow Lucifer’s plan is silenced or murdered. And someone else is put in to fill that vacancy. To continue …
“Then you have God’s prophecy—or promise—in the book of Revelation as the eventual way to cleanse the earth and deal with Lucifer once and for all. While the Order pushes their agenda, God’s promise is being fulfilled at the same time. The two events are so intertwined now, it’s almost impossible to tell them apart. The only thing we can do is track events as best we can through what’s written in Revelation.
“There are seven seals to be opened. The first seal releases the crown-wearing conquerer bent on conquest. Exchange the word conquest for control. You’re talking about the Antichrist, someone in a position of power and running things behind the scene until it’s time to reveal himself. The second seal takes peace from the earth and makes men slay each other. Look at the escalation in crime as a result of their damnable chip. People shouldn’t have to steal food or whatever they need for themselves or their children. That’s just the crimes of regular people, not the Order’s. And, when was the last time we had no wars? Not one day in your lifetime, and longer than that. Every day, the threat of nuclear war still hangs over our heads.”
“Even if the Order is as evil as you say, they’d never start such a war. They’d never destroy so many people and the environment of the planet. It would takes ages to recover.”
“They want to decrease the population in a big way so it’s easier to control who’s left. So far, they’ve had to use slower methods like diseases—like HIVm, especially so people wouldn’t get suspicious, but now they’re getting antsy. They follow God’s signs, as well. There’s only so much time left for them to act.”
I shook my head. “I refuse to believe they’d—”
“Third seal: Food shortages and food too costly for many. Like I just said, they’ve already set up a minor version of that with the chip. After a global nuclear event, famine will be a major problem. Not for those in the Order who’ve stockpiled resources, but you can bet they’ll let those of us who survive starve, especially if we can’t pay for rations. There’s also a spiritual famine to consider; though, few suffering will likely give it thought. The Antichrist will come forward and act like humanity’s savior, like he didn’t participate in creating the destruction.
“Fourth seal: One quarter of the population to be killed by violence, famine, plagues, and wild beasts. We just covered famine. There will be radiation sickness and more. The wild beasts are the giants and chimeras, as well as other soulless hybrids or pawns receiving impulses to do violence via the chip, or even starving animals eating people. Maybe starving humans kill others for food.”
“I’m familiar with stories about chimeras, but soulless hybrids? Surely they aren’t still mating with human women?”
“What do you think is going on when abductees of so-said aliens report that DNA is taken from them or that they see hybrids on board the craft that’s actually a lab?”
“What are you saying?”
“They’re creating vessels for demons to inhabit. Now and as part of the end-time army.”
“Do you realize how demented you sound? I think you’re making all of this up to frighten me and anyone else who’ll listen to you babble on. What’s your and Kingsley’s agenda, Michael? Cannibals. Hybrids. It’s sick.”
“It’s all in the Bible, Gayle. God and Jesus wanted to make sure we were warned. Fifth seal: A successful effort to kill as many remaining believers as they can, leaving alive those who choose to follow Lucifer. Sixth seal: Earthquakes, solar disturbances, followed by meteors and such falling to Earth, vicious winds, seasons out of kilter in a way that affects climate dramatically, displacement of land masses—but this time, arranged by God, not Lucifer and the Order. At that time, people who can, go into hiding again, in caves or underground bunkers, if any are still usable.”
I got up and paced, but said nothing. I was too overwhelmed.
“Seventh seal: There’s a period of ominous silence before the seven trumpets preceding the judgment sound. Then, hell on Earth of extraordinary proportions breaks loose. God promised to save those faithful to him before the world becomes too evil, and definitely before the final destruction Jesus exacts.”
He started toward me, moving forward slowly. I wanted to run but couldn’t. Michael placed his hands on my shoulders. I shrugged him off.
Michael let go of me and backed away. “I can see it in your face: I’ve gone too far. I knew it would be too much. But, Gayle, there is so much. So much more about that and what’s to come. All I ask is for you to consider how many of the signs have already happened and how many are obviously in play now. I know you think I and this information are wacko, but for your sake and the sake of your children, look around.”
I looked at him with tear-filled eyes and said, “Wake up. It’s almost too late.”
He raised his hands, palms-up. “Yes.”
ENTRY 38
“Do you understand why this information is so difficult for me to believe?” I asked.
Michael nodded. “It defies logic, or rather, indoctrination. The truth’s been twisted over and over. Dribbled into our brains since preschool. Remember when you were a kid how they did this about foods?”
I gave him a small smile. “Eggs are good, bad, good, and on and on. My mother said organic eggs and foods were good—period.”
“Yeah. Anything God created, in its original form, untainted by man. Plus, look at what all is considered acceptable that would have been a sin or abhorrent in your parents’ and grandparents’ lifetimes. Mental clarity and critical thinking have been suppressed in every way you can imagine, in order to make the majority of the population as compliant as possible. The Order is skilled at what they do because Lucifer knows his stuff. He’s been around a long time. He knows how humans think, as well as their willingness—some of them—to abandon thinking for themselves. ‘Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.’ Even if it’s brutalization or extermination of their fellow man. As long as they’re left alone, it doesn’t matter what’s done to others.”
I nodded and remained silent for a moment. “Karl’s working on a teleportation device. He’s a long way from success, or so he led me to believe.”
Michael snorted. “That’s lower-level stuff. People like Karl, and those just above him on the hierarchy ladder, still think of ways to escape or avoid the inevitable. Lucifer teases them that way. He’s knows their fate, but it amuses him to watch them scramble for ways to save themselves.”
“There’s something else. Karl demonstrated the prototype of a drone with cloaking capabilities. He said they’re already in production, which I inferred meant they aren’t as yet in use. But I think it won’t be long.”
Michael went still. “Any more details you can give about that?”
“You can hear muted buzzing—like an insect—if it’s within two yards of you, but not if it’s farther away. And, there’s no atmospheric distortion. It’s a clean cloaking.”
“That’s useful but unwelcome news.”
“Karl said its primary use is more domestic than military.”
“We’ll have to get our tech guys onto it. In the meantime, we’re screwed if we don’t come up wit
h a way to detect them, and soon.” He saw my expression and added, “Potentially screwed. But not defeated.”
ENTRY 39
Michael left minutes later, with me warning him to be careful, and him telling me the same. He added that if he needed to get a message to me but couldn’t come in person, he or someone would find a way. “Watch for flyers or some other means of communicating with you, just in case.”
Sara said nothing about more food missing. I hoped she still thought it was me getting up at night for a snack. I was grateful she wasn’t one to intrude into matters before invited.
I went to work on Monday, feeling uninspired for the first time in my life. What was the point of my efforts to find ways to cure people if we were all doomed? I imagined Michael whispering in my ear: There are other ways to save people, Gayle. What did I know about any of that?
Karl let me switch on the activator then went through the manual with me step by step, explaining what ghastly things would happen if I got any of it wrong. After lunch, I downloaded my files from KATE, and Karl and I perused and discussed some of my research data. That went on until around two that afternoon, when KATE contacted Karl.
“Karl, you have an incoming call. Please move to an appropriate area to receive it.”
My expression was quizzical. Karl smiled and left me at my desk. I’d never known anyone to receive such a notice, but Karl acted as though it was nothing unusual.
It surprised me when he entered the teleportation cylinder to take the call. It was auditory only—no hologram. Yet another odd occurrence. It wasn’t that I could hear him—the cylinder, I realized, was sound-proofed, but I could see his mouth move. Whoever had called him, theirs was an animated conversation, and not in a jovial way. It went on for nine minutes—I checked the time on my computer screen.
Karl, scowling, emerged from the cylinder and stood still for several moments. I glanced away before he looked in my direction, but I could feel his attention focused on me. I made my expression serene and looked his way. His attention had shifted; he was glancing at the others, who had their heads down, either genuinely fixated on their tasks or pretending to be.