A Abba's Apocalypse

by Charles E. Butler

  After breakfast, the volunteers head to the meeting area. I am summoned to the podium as the clamor turns to silence. Paul pats me on the shoulder and introduces me as the “Head of Operation.” “Joey has the experience, knowledge, and proven dedication to lead us. Everyone, listen up and follow his commands.” I turn to Paul and tell him how thrilled I am that he would allow me to so vigorously volunteer. He just smirks at me then pounds my back several times with his hand. I inform the congregation, “My first directive is to ask

  everyone to choose a partner.” I think it will be best if they pick their own mate. This wisdom will alleviate the possibility of any future regret towards authority, and will allow them to pair up with someone who is most like them. I always found like minds work alike, and get more accomplished in like manner. We’ll need to exploit this advantage to stay ahead of the demonic forces. I inform them that we will be traveling in teams of two towards the four different compass directions. “Eight of us will start our missions on even numbered days, and the other eight will start on odd numbered days. The first group of eight will be called the ‘Alpha’ squads. And, the second will be called the ‘Omega’ squads. The other four

  remaining individuals will coordinate the missions and handout the next day’s assignments. They will also act as replacements.” After pairing, we flip a coin to see which of the ten pairs will become part of the “Alpha” and “Omega” squads. The pastor and I lay claim to “Alpha E” for east. Each of the remaining candidates is assigned the next available clockwise compass direction. This will help identify each pair and give order to each assignment.

  After choosing the teams I give a short class on “how to maneuver through the terrain unnoticed.” Then, we discuss what signs we should look for that distinguish possible Irreverent from the LD. We then have a quick class on navigation and recognizing your surroundings. Between classes, I send Paul off with a list, to see if he can get some of the ladies to make some needed equipment A.S.A.P. (as soon as possible). Lastly, we discuss the importance of their mission, and what they will carry with them in their journey. The rest of today’s itinerary is then dedicated to mission preparation, open discussion, and rest. I finish with the command, “We move out at first light, so be ready!”

  Pastor Paul joins me as we head to the supply room to see if Moses can fill our list of needed supplies. We stop at the entrance and observe as Moses instructs Katie how to take

  over his supply room position. She seems more occupied to just being with him these remaining hours than learning the supply room trade. I interrupt Moses by handing him the list of things we’ll need. I watch as he reads the list while scratching his head. Katie’s arms magically appear from behind him, and then wrap around his mid section. “I think we got all this stuff?” Moses replies. I tell him, “We’ll stop back a little later to pick up whatever you’re able to assemble.” We leave the couple alone to spend this remaining special time together.

  A thick cloud of nervousness, weighed down with stirring anxiety hangs over the main living area as we enter. There is no laughter or even arguing, just a steady heavy

  monotone of sincerity, everywhere. I feel invisible as we pass our friends. Everyone seems hypnotized in helping their loved ones prepare. We make it over to my sleeping quarters as I invite the pastor to sit beside me on the cot. I ask him if he has someone to replace him while he’s on the mission. Paul explains that he has three volunteers who will take turns monitoring the radio. He instructed them to start monitoring and recording anything unusual in around the clock shifts, which they’ll also be doing seven days a week. This drastic change in venue tells me the pastor feels the same change in the wind coming as I do. He finishes by informing me the replacement spiritual leadership will be handled by Brother Sam. Moses arrives with a big box of supplies telling us, “I did what I could.” He sets it down on the floor as Paul and I abruptly start rummaging through it. We begin checking off our list as Carol, who is Dave’s new replacement, sounds the diner alert with Ruth, her new assistant. I look over towards the dining area and see there is no real rush to eat tonight. Katie joins us and grabs her big guy’s arm, and then pulls him along to diner. He asks if we’re going to join them. I tell him, “Save us a couple seats. We’ll be over in a few minutes.”

  I continue searching through the box and am amazed to find two real rucksacks inside. I ask Paul, “Where did these come from?” He tells me that several brothers went and

  moved most of the supplies from “T” to here. He informs me “They found them when they shuffled the boxes around in the supply room.” Just below these are five improvised travel backpacks. I notice a black “Hello Kitty” decal on one. Paul and I have a welcomed tension relieving laugh. I notice the ladies must have tried to dye this kid’s backpack black. Four other handmade backpacks are sewn together from a painter’s canvas drop cloth. I realize the ladies must have found the canvas lying around. “These will have to do.” I find seven rolled sections of rope, seven bags of basic essentials, seven homemade “first aid” bags, seven water bottles, seven small Bibles, seven homemade knives, thirty two protein bars, and

  sixteen glow sticks. We hurry to divide the stuff and insert the proper portions into the seven sacks. I reach in my rucksack and take out the medicine I made earlier. I toss equal portions in each basic essential bag along with handwritten instructions on how and when to use it. As we seal the sacks I hear a loud growling sound. Paul informs me he was fasting for divine guidance. I tell him, “Right now God’s telling us to go get some diner.”

  We arrive at the dining area to see Moses and Katie have already gotten each of us a plate, and a spot to sit. I thank the pair and give Moses a special recognition for gathering all the much needed supplies. He informs us it was “No problem brothers.” I smile seeing the little praying hands stabbing the crack between Katie and Moses. They turn outwards and try to pry the couple apart, revealing the desire of little Hanna to sit between mommy and daddy. Young Jordan sits next to Moses and leans into him, challenging his short arms to wrap around the big guy. Every member of the family is tied in this clutching ball of emotions. It looks like a scene “Norman Rockwell” might have painted. They act as if they all know daddy is leaving in the morning.

  Pastor Paul invites us to join him in the diner blessing prayer, which carries over in to a special blessing on the family. Paul and I feel their love pour over, and their anguish.

  Both of us quietly agree to give them some much needed solitude by hurrying to finish eating. I stand and pat the couple while telling the children, “Sweet dreams.” As I prepare to leave, Paul swallows his last bite and tells us, “Goodnight everyone. And Moses, we’ll see you in the morning.” I just wave to Paul as we retreat to retire.

  The morning comes fast as I am abruptly awakened by the repeated shrugs of my dark arm alarm clock. Paul alerts me, “It’s time to get up.” Before I have a chance to ask him what time is it, I see his green floating aura follow his face back-off-into the dark. I manage to comprehend he is making his rounds to wake all the teams. My fuzzy mind yells at me

  “Go back to sleep!” It causes me to think, “Maybe it’s still too early.” I struggle to read my watch, but it informs me it really is 5:03 am. I force myself to slide around sideways on my cot, and attempt to don my socks and boots. I stand and finish dressing, as the green floating face returns. “Just in time,” I whisper to Paul. The closer he gets the more I notice the flock of faces floating in the dark just behind him. I grab a sack and lift it near the approaching light while telling Paul, “Hand this back.” He grabs it as I repeat the process until all three teams are equipped. I toss my rucksack on my back, and then tell the group to move out. We head up to the roof for one last meeting before leaving on our missions.

  Chapter 12: Star of the Morning

  I finish leading the pack up the ladder and move to an observation position near the dark ledge. I take a couple protein bars from my sack and offer one to Paul for breakfast.
We share the last moments of the night stars while chewing and waiting for all the teams to ascend. Quietly, we continue grinding, staring, and waiting for the pretentious Sun. Out of the corners of my eyes dark figures begin forming this last line of defense. There are no words spoken; just the joyous noise of wandering faces covered in moonlight. Moses gnawing silhouette slowly fills the dark void between Dave and I. I smile a morning salute. I feel strangely relaxed in this embrace of shared anticipation, and slip back in time to a warm memory. I was twelve and anxiously waiting with my family and friends for the finale of that year’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration. Suddenly, the dark sky erupts with rainbows of sparkles and explosions of “Ahhhs!” I feel like I’m in that mesmerizing moment again. We all rest at attention, and patiently gaze into the cool east air.

  Paul whispers, “There it is-the ‘morning star’-Venus.” We ponder the planet playing in the first sign of Sun life. I marvel, as the dark blue churns the black velvet back. Every second transforms this living tapestry with swirls of colors. Entranced, we glance at the dark scarlet shoving the indigo shade of blue further up. The bright twinkling’s wrestle in this war of the waves. The dim colors wash over the stars, making their final stand, but are plucked up and cast out into the outer darkness. Gentile golden finger tips begin peeking up and tickle the burgundy sky with its pretty pink crimson feather, that’s dedicated to painting the pink puffy clouds. In my seclusion I consider, “I’ve seen this sight a thousand times. But, I can’t imagine one more amazing.” My heart shouts at me to envision that one son rise two thousand years ago. I admit to this deliberation, and gratuitously nod my head in respect. “Please be with us all today,” I pray. “I know in my

  heart you truly are the ‘star of the morning’.”

  Each team checks their sector of travel for any sign of LD. We then disband and race to beat the sunrise back down the ladder. Gary stays on the roof, and will act as the “watchman.” The rest of us shuffle through the dark towards the store’s entrance. Once there, we wait like paratroopers for the right moment to leap. I hand out three improvised compasses made from caps that came from three old furniture polish cans. Inside each is a magnetized piece of two inch wire that’s stuck through a makeshift cork. I jammed the cork into the cap to lock it in place. I hand each team one, and then explain they’ll need to add a little water for the cork to float. This is a north-south pointing compass. While they pack them, I decide to send one team at a time across the dark property.

  I wave Moses and Scotty up to the door. I double check the property area for any unusual outlying movement. The shadows in the broken forest are making it hard to detect the difference between the wind and the possible dark dancing devils. I lean out and check with the “watchman.” I see Gary waving that the “coast is clear” sign. I determine it’s safe and pat Moses on the shoulder while whispering, “It’s time. God go with you.” The team moves out and stumbles along the terrain till they disappear in the dark. I wave Dave and Randy up next. I repeat the same message, “It’s time. God go with you.” I smack Dave’s back as the pair dashes away into the dark. I realize in this moment, I have never felt this proud of Dave. Amanda and Jerry shuffle in to position. I order them to wait with my hand. I stare at the pair while listening for the “watchman.” Once again I say, “It’s time. God go with you.” I watch them dash, while saying a special silent prayer for this team. I turn my head briefly and ask Paul if he’s ready. I feel him attempting to remove my rucksack off my back, as my eyes turn towards the departing team. I watch them also fade into the shadows of the morning as Paul whispers, “We’ll share this load.” I find great comfort in those words for a change.

  We line up and I check our flanks. I check left while Paul keeps an eye on his right. “How’s everything looking pastor?” He pats my shoulder twice letting me know that the coast is clear. Side by side we make our move to the edge of the property, maneuvering through the duck and cover system. I hear the flopping sound of Paul’s rucksack, knowing it needs to be readjusted tighter. The hurried pace is causing Paul to breath hard. We make it to the darken tree line and find a spot to sit and rest amongst the slithering shadows. I lean over to assist Paul as he tries to tighten the sack on his own. I try and assist him while taking a quick observation of the eastward sector. I look at Paul’s mouth and see his breathing is returning to normal. I ask him, “Are you ready?” He nods his affirmation as we stand. I tell him, “I’ll lead and you follow my hand signals.” I move just far enough ahead to where I believe he will be able to accurately distinguish the difference between my hand signal and the moving morning shadows. I wave to him, commanding him to advance. I turn to look ahead as Paul races towards my position. I see the alleyway entrance, sensing the security it can offer. As Paul meets me, I wave him to continue on. We dash side by side the rest of the way into the alley.

  I see a good cover spot inside the alley and steer us in its direction. Paul appears in the path of my peripheral vision. I see he’s breathing faster than his legs are moving. We finally make it to the cover spot behind the dumpster just in time for me to watch Paul fall in exhaustion. I stick my head out, looking up the alley corridor for any signs of LD. I again give Paul a minute to catch his breath. I hear his gasping begin to slow, while wondering how the other teams are doing. The brilliant contrasting shades and colors on the horizon hypnotically force me to gaze up and see the last remaining stars dissolve into the effervescent blue yonder. A peace comes down to me, amidst this chaos of racing shadows.

  The morning camouflage of Paul’s striped face is illuminated just enough to see him telling me he’s ready to

  travel once more. I make a decision that we’ll travel side by side forgoing the maneuvering ritual. The cover of the shadows and the darkness of the alleyway will be our protection. I whisper to Paul, “Keep alert,” and shake my hand several times toward his right side; designating this as his sector of observation. I walk alongside methodically checking ahead, and to my left. I hear the steady crunching of fragments pulverizing, and then shoot out from under our advancing feet. We vigilantly stare for pot holes as we hurdle the morning shadows helping to hide them. Paul suddenly slips and skips over a small crater his eyes failed to detect. We both immediately stop and listen for possible reaction that his stomping feet make. The echo of his dance slowly fades away into the silence of this morning. We cautiously continue on.

  The light begins unmasking the scenic view of the purple mountains lining each side of the alley. Stripes of gold divulge the true identity of the irregular shapes. Large jagged chard splinters stab the mounds between us. These purple facades were once someone’s home. Rarely do we pass a structure that is still mostly intact. This is the first real experience Paul has of the town’s devastation since the meteor shower. The warm sun gradually begins to bake the lumps leavened with rotting corpses. The sweet scent of the fresh dew evaporates releasing the blanketed reek. Over the next ten blocks I notice Paul’s face turn from awestruck and disbelief to reverent numbness.

  We turn right at the end of this alley to go check the area around my former home. My mental note pad reminds me of the loud noise I heard the day I found Tiffany. For some reason the sound struck me as being manmade. We convert our strategy back to advancing by duck and cover; now that we are in the well lit open. I signal Paul to wait, as I move to the intersection of this street. I look left and see an overturned burnt military truck torn in half, blocking the street. A fairly large crater near it tells me it was the result of the meteor shower. I am startled by the light breeze swinging the

  decimated driver’s side door slowly open. Its scratching noise unnerves me. It’s like finger nails grating over a chalkboard. I check my right flank and become aware of a distant figure on a mound at least a block, or more, away. This clear path through the destruction allows me to see a dark figure bending down just in front of a partial front of a house; as if it is looking through the blacken debris. I just have this gut feeling we should inv
estigate this despairing entity.

  I wave at Paul to advance. Paul stoops behind the tree I’m hiding behind, as I silently signal him to wait here. I whisper, “I’m going to check this out. If I’m not back in three minutes, take off and head back home.” I peer out reestablishing my line of sight to see the figure now sitting on the mound of debris. I stare at it watching the sorrowful figure repeatedly jiggle up and down. The moving light slowly exposes its tattered attire dangling in the breeze. My compassion is confused. Should I go help? I continue to watch this scene of utter misery and desolation. I can’t be sure if this is a possible straggling Irreverent or a roving LD. It just sits in the open in front of the facade. I reason that it must be LD, due to its lack of concern towards concealment. I pan the perimeter for proof of its possible companions. The only things detected are the slow movements of the shortening shadows. All my reason tells me just to move on, but my spirit invites me to take a closer look.

  I check constantly side to side for LD as I move up the street towards the object. It seems to be sitting with its arms pressing against its legs and head. I cut a path through the debris piles and sneak up near to it, while gathering information as to its existence. I am fairly safe, as long as it stays seated facing away, and I continue to move quietly. I turn on my first line of defense, found in my spirit sensing ability. I don’t feel the eerie demonic presence, or the radiating abundance of emptiness always associated with the evil pair. I

  hear a male voice emanating from it, that seems to be conversing with himself. I manage to maneuver just twenty

  feet, or so, from its position. I hear it strain to whimper between its self imposed questions. His scratchy voice sounds worn from excess crying. The only words I can make out are “Why?” leading off each of his sentences. I decide to move just a few feet closer to hear what it may be saying. I accidentally crush a small fragment sounding the alarm of my presences. He at once turns, stands, and prepares to charge me.