"So He is here, Ray?" Adriana quickly asked Ray to confirm.
"That's right. So now all of you know exactly where we are in time. Rydel came back here to save Christ. John is here to make sure that none of you, in any way, try to help Rydel do that. I'm going to help Rydel on his mission—it's something I have to do. I ask all of you to please understand."
No one in Ray's Unit moved or even blinked. They all stared at Ray, some not sure what he had just said. Their blank, fire-lit faces looking utterly confused.
"Jesus!" Carrie finally said.
"Yes, Carrie—Jesus."
"No, I mean—holy shit! I can't believe that He's really here."
Todd stood up. "We shouldn't interfere with anyone in this time, like Adams said, Ray. We can cause damage back home."
"It's bullshit," Ray snapped, glaring at Todd, silently telling him to sit back down like the rest, which he did. "I've talked with Rydel about what he created. It's safe. Nothing will happen back home. All John and the rest at the lab want is Rydel back because of his knowledge of Placement."
Janice looked around at the other members of the Unit and could see the ones who were already with Ray, the ones on the fence, and the rest thinking he'd lost it. She leaned her head forward around Ben seated beside her so she could face Ray.
"Ray…I don't think this is a life that was meant to be saved—"
"I do," Adriana quickly said to Janice from across the fire, staring Janice down.
Confused, Kevin shrugged his shoulders at Ray. "But why? Why save Him, Ray? I thought that He died for us, or something like that."
Ray placed both hands on his knees and slowly lifted himself off the log, his eyes locked on Kevin.
"John and I came across Jesus when we arrived, and the two of us witnessed a miracle—a dispute between a husband and wife ending with the woman dead. The man we are talking about now, He healed this woman, right in front of us. He's not some myth, as some of you might think He is—He's real. I can't stand around and let Him die. After three years together, and all we've been through, you are family to me. I just wanted all of you to know my intentions here. I do not want to lie to any of you."
They waited for Ray to say more, but he was finished speaking. He lowered his head and fixed his eyes on the fire in front of him. All stared at Ray mannequin-like, unmoving. And then they started to look at one another. Some dropped their heads toward the ground at Ray's revelation. Ray noticed the members of the Unit questioning what he had said.
"You don't believe me?" Ray said, sensing their surreptitious looks at each other as he stared at the fire.
"I believe you, Ray," Sal wholeheartedly said.
"You'd believe me if I said I was Jesus Christ myself, Sal."
Ray turned his attention away from the fire, waiting for the doubters—the ones who obviously did not believe what he had witnessed—to face him. Carrie let Ray know what she and some of the other Unit members were feeling.
"Ray, you haven't been the same since we got here."
Todd nodded, agreeing with Carrie. "Ray, you have never pressed your religious beliefs on any of us before. This is not the time to start. We have completed our mission here. It's time for all of us to go home."
Kevin held up the palm of his right hand to calm Ray down, or show him that he meant no disrespect before he spoke, probably a little bit of both. "Yeah, Ray, maybe the chip that sent you here is malfunctioning. I think we should leave this place as soon as we can. You need to leave this one alone."
Ray and Kevin stared at each other without saying a word for an uncomfortable ten seconds. Kevin shifted his gaze toward the fire. Ray turned his back on Kevin and the others. He stood for a few seconds with his hands on his hips before walking away.
"Ray, where are you going?" Kevin asked.
Without turning, Ray continued ahead as he answered Kevin.
"I think we should include John and Rydel in our discussion," Ray announced, saying it loud enough so that all in the Unit could hear what he said.
"Why?" Kevin asked.
Ray stopped and just stood where he was with his back to Kevin and the rest. His head dipped a little, and then he looked over his shoulder at Kevin.
"Because I can't leave this one alone, Kevin. I need Rydel's help, and John now needs to understand that."
Sal shot up from the log he'd been sitting on and held up his coffee canteen, saluting Ray with it. "That's what I'm talking about! Damn straight we're here for a reason! I'm with you on this, Ray. I'll follow you into hell."
Ray slowly looked over at Sal, meeting his eyes.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that, Sal."
__
John stared at Rydel and was about to say something until he caught movement coming from his left. Ray seeped out of the dark and stood in the outreaching light of the fire. John quickly stood up at the sight of Ray.
"Fuck, Ray! I told you to talk with your Unit and stay with them. When I'm finished here with Rydel, we will join you—"
"John, I need you and Rydel to come join us. Need to talk about my mission here now."
John stood, nonplussed and staring at Ray, and then was finally able to speak, making sure he had heard Ray correctly. "I'm sorry, what the hell did you just say?"
"Both of you are needed by the fire with the rest of us," Ray said. Ray turned, slipping back into the blackness. Gun raised, John pointed it at Rydel to get off his ass, which he immediately did. The colonel grabbed Rydel and pushed him forward with the muzzle of his gun, pressing it against the back of Rydel's neck.
He led Rydel to the other fire pit, reaching the circle of operators around the fire. John stopped ten feet away from the group and placed a hand on Rydel's shoulder for him to stop as well. He lowered his gun and whispered into Rydel's right ear.
"I have my gun at my side. Do as I tell you to do, Rydel. Don't be stupid here."
John and Rydel stepped closer. Ray stood, waiting. The rest remained seated around the fire. Sal waved his arm in the air, motioning for Rydel to come his way. "Doc, over here. Sit next to me."
Rydel looked at John to get his permission. John nodded that it was okay, and Rydel took a seat beside Sal.
Ray pointed out a log for John. "John, sit down for a second."
"I'll stand. What is this—what's going on here?"
"You and I seem to be at odds on what we should do here."
The expression on John's face contorted into a look of one betrayed. John remained where he was, glancing over Ray's Unit before him. Half the Unit stared directly at him; the other half glanced at John for a brief second and dropped their heads, eyeing the ground. John returned his attention to Ray—and there in front of him was the barrel of Ray's gun, pointed in his direction.
"Put away your gun, John."
With Ray's weapon in his face, John slung his gun over his shoulder without hesitating.
Todd shot up from where he sat as if catching a red-hot coal from the fire burning before him. "Hey, hey, easy here, Ray. Easy, man."
"Sit back down, Todd."
"Ray—"
"Sit back down! John and I are trying to have a calm conversation here. You jumping up like that might make others in the Unit who believe what I saw nervous."
Todd glanced at the rest around the fire and could see Ray was right. Those who did not believe what Ray claimed to have seen looked at the ground or the fire; the rest glared at Todd to sit the fuck back down. Todd sat, trying not to look at the colonel. Ray then calmly spoke to John.
"John, how can I live with myself after what we witnessed? We are truly here for a reason."
"No, we are not, Ray."
John took a few steps closer toward the fire and stopped.
"All of you, listen to me—and listen carefully. The last time we used Placement, altering the past slightly for one man, thousands of lives were lost. If any of you try to save this man Jesus, I'm telling you, there will not be a world left to travel back to in our time."
&n
bsp; Rydel stood up from his seat by the fire and pointed at John. "The tsunami had nothing to do with Placement, John."
Distance and obstacles. John's mind came up with two scenarios; he picked scenario one. John smiled a frustrated smile at Rydel and the others in the Unit, using his body language in a way so that it seemed like he was exasperated, throwing his hands up in the air. He knew the Unit was divided on what to do—all he needed was a few seconds of diversion. He took a step toward Rydel but abruptly turned away from him, then looked down at Carrie, who was staring at the fire.
"Carrie, look at me."
Carrie lifted her head and met John's eyes.
"You know we must remain where we are and do nothing until we are taken back. You know that, don't you?"
Carrie broke eye contact with John, gave a slight look toward Ray, and focused on the fire once more. John took another step closer, crouching down in front of the fire, facing Carrie. "Carrie, help me here, be a voice of reason with me and—"
John stood and sprinted the now-short distance between himself and Rydel, surprising Rydel and all in the Unit. Rydel did not notice John moving until the man had his arm around his neck.
The color drained from Rydel's face as John pulled him away from the fire—the muzzle of the colonel's gun touching the side of Rydel's head. All in Ray's Unit bolted upright. Ray stood where he was, fixed on the swaying flames in front of him, gun lowered. Without looking up at his brother-in-law, eyes still on the fire, Ray asked John a simple question.
"You sure you wanna do this, John?"
"Am I sure I want to do this? Yes, I'm sure, Ray! I'll shoot Rydel in the head if I have to and save the lives I swore to protect back home!"
"Lower your gun, John. I will not ask you again."
"You won't ask me again—is that what you just said? I'm your commanding officer. What you are doing now is mutiny! Don’t fucking do this, Ray!"
"Shoot him, Sal."
To John's left, holding his rifle under his cloak, Sal had enough time to raise and fire his weapon before the colonel could react.
The colonel dropped to the ground hard as Rydel ran over to Ray. Todd rushed over to Colonel Adams, checked his vitals, and could see the Smartround Sal had fired sticking out of the colonel's neck. "Ray, what the hell did you just order Sal to do here?"
Ray pointed at Steve and Jack. "You two take the colonel and Rydel to the storage tent."
__
It was late. Each member of the Unit looked at Ray from where they sat around the fire. Ray had his head tilted upward, taking in the magnificent stars shining above them.
"I know what I saw. It was a miracle. We are all here for a reason. And that is to save Him," Ray said while staring up at the night sky.
Todd stood up and walked over to Ray, then placed a hand on his shoulder. He spoke to Ray in a supportive, comforting voice.
"Ray, did you actually see this happen up close? It could've been a stunt. I've read that many of his miracles were most likely staged, a way of bringing hope to the less fortunate people in this time. A man with an incredible ability to influence the masses. We've seen it before on our missions out. Haven't we, Ray?"
Ray took Todd's hand off his shoulder and placed it around his own throat. "Todd, the man cut the woman so deep where your hand is now. I saw the slash to her throat. It was not staged. They were alone. Why pull off this stunt in front of no one?"
Todd eased his hand away from Ray's throat, looking at him with reassuring eyes.
"All I'm saying is that maybe you saw something different because of your religious beliefs. That's all. Most of us do not believe in this man like you do. And we never will."
The statement by Todd set the tone for those in the group who felt Ray was way off on what he intended to do. Todd's words were understanding, comforting, and supportive. They hit the precise nerve of those he wanted to influence: the ones wanting to go home, knowing their mission here was now complete.
Ray glanced at the faces of the nonbelievers in his Unit staring back at him.
"Okay. We're all tired. We all need sleep. I will understand if none of you help me with what I have to do. Just don't try to stop me. That would not be a good idea."
Todd took a cautious step closer to Ray. "Ray, come on, take it easy, now. Why, why do this, how can you be so sure?"
"He touched me. I felt the goodness in Him. Felt why He was sent here."
Ray turned away from Todd and nodded at Carrie and Jack.
"Carrie, go check on the colonel and keep an eye on him. He hit his head pretty hard when he went down. Jack will stay with you and relieve you in two hours." Ray faced the rest in the Unit. "The rest of you, back to your tents. Get some sleep. This discussion is over."
__
Later, behind his lamplit, billowing tent, Todd stood alone. From around the corner of the tent, the rest of the Unit appeared from out of the dark. They all made a half circle around Todd, who had his back against the tent. The Unit waited for the man to explain why they were secretly gathered together.
"He's lost it—just like Rydel," Todd whispered in a harsh, scratchy voice.
"Bullshit," Adriana flatly said.
Todd moved closer. He stopped just inches away from Adriana, glanced back toward the fire where he could still see Ray sitting alone, then jabbed a finger up close in Adriana's face.
"Just because you two share the same beliefs doesn't make what Ray wants to do here right. It's fucking crazy! You need to be thinking about the lives of the American people, and the lives all over the world back in our time. You heard what Adams said. The consequences of—"
"You trust Adams over Ray, Todd?" Sal asked. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"I trust my gut, Sal. And Ray has been off since we got here—don't tell me you haven't noticed too." The group started glancing at one another. Some faces were lit by the lamplight coming through the back of the fluttering tent, some faces hidden in the dark.
"We can't let him do this. We have to stop him!" Todd said.
Todd waited for each member in the Unit to nod back in agreement, and they all did. "Okay, let's get back inside our tents. Give Ray the night to think it over. If he still feels the same way in the morning, I'll take him down lightly. We'll just let him be tonight. I doubt he’ll move from the fire—he's spent, probably fall asleep right there. But we need to be sure." Todd pointed Carrie out from the rest. "Carrie, keep an eye on Ray from the tent."
He then pointed to Jack. "Get in two hours’ rest, take over for Carrie, and do the same, Jack."
The Unit's clandestine gathering to debate what should be done about Ray ended without another word.
Ray's Unit silently made their way back to their tents without Ray noticing, it seemed, as he sat by the fire, hunched over.
At the fire, Ray couldn't take his eyes off the flames. He also could not believe Todd would gather everyone together for some secret meeting behind the tents. He was amazed that the man gathered the whole Unit together in one place, planning to usurp him. Todd was in no way dumb, but he just did an incredibly dumb thing. Ray had heard the entire conversation through his Smartround gun, which was transmitting back from the top half of Sal's Smartround gun— he told Sal to tuck it down the side of his pant leg if something like this were to happen. Ray let out a disbelieving grunt. He had heard all that he needed to hear. The Unit was divided; however, the stronger half was with him. And Todd should have known that they would be.
__
An hour later, the only sound from the night came from the fire Ray had his eyes locked on, the sizzling sound of dead wood burning. The smell of the fire in front of Ray conjured up two different memories for him. The first was of his father setting up a teepee-style fire in the backyard on Christmas Eve while they waited for Santa. The second memory, from many years later, was of how he approached Adaumeer Badoer in front of a similar fire in the mountains of Iraq, slashing his throat before the man was able to set into motion his plan to simultaneously d
etonate three bombs inside Washington, DC. The Christmas Eve surprise by his father—and the takedown of the terrorist—shared the same smell of burning pine cones, the fragrance coming from the small branches he had thrown into the fire.
Peripheral vision on the tents, Ray placed another dried-out piece of wood on the fire to give it a little more life. One way or another, someone would be coming to see him soon—no way would Todd wait until morning to do what he believed must be done.
However, it was Ben and Steve stepping out of the dark ahead of Ray, the fire lighting their bodies and faces. The two walked forward with their sidearms slightly lifted in front of them and came to a stop. They took a knee in front of the fire, staring at Ray through the flames.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do here, Ray? Are you sure?" Steve asked.
"Have I ever led you blind before, Steve? Do I seem off to you, like Todd was saying about me behind the tents?"
"You heard us?"
"Had Sal dismantle his gun, and he used the emergency comm so I could be included in any sort of conversation you all decided to have without me. He hid it down the side of his leg. So, do I come across as losing it?"
"No…no, Ray."
Ben gave a slight nod over toward the tents and spoke to Ray in a whisper. "We're with you, Ray."
"Good."
The Gathering of the Believers
Careful.
That was the word that kept repeating in Ray's head as he knelt on the ground of the ancient past and stared up at the heavens. Taking in the starry sky, Ray waited. He put himself in this prone position to see if anyone he truly trusted in his Unit would change their opinions about him. Influenced, maybe, by a dose of S-7 that Todd may have gotten his hands on.
Todd deserved better. He unquestionably would lay his life down to protect his commanding officer—no second thoughts. If only Todd realized the importance of what has to be done here. Yet he was like John when it came to God—there was no God.
Save Him Page 17