Deceived

by Jerry B. Jenkins

  Mark flipped a switch to record the scene and turned. “We need to tell you about Claudia.”

  Judd watched in fascination and revulsion as the pig walked a few more steps and stopped. A leather saddle was fastened around its middle, complete with stirrups. The animal seemed woozy, unaware of the crowd’s whooping and yelling. Though GC handlers had scrubbed the pig clean, the stench almost took Judd’s breath away.

  “They must have drugged it,” Sam said, “but why?”

  They soon found out. Carpathia waved at the crowd, pointed at the pig, and laughed. When he reached it, he cupped the pig’s face in his hands and draped a noose around its neck.

  “He’s going to ride it?” Lionel said.

  “That’s why they drugged it,” Judd said. “Under normal conditions that pig would never let anyone on its back.”

  Carpathia grabbed his robe, pulled it up to his knee, and got onto the pig’s back. The crowd laughed and hooted as Carpathia jammed his feet in the stirrups and yanked on the rope, ordering the pig down the street.

  “Why wouldn’t they use a horse?” Lionel said.

  “He’s putting all religions in their place,” Sam said, “especially Jewish and Christian religions.”

  “That’s right. Jews don’t eat pigs,” Lionel said.

  “And since Christianity comes out of the Jewish faith, Carpathia offends two groups with one ride.”

  Judd looked back at the gathering of dignitaries near the microphone and noticed that Leon Fortunato was still scratching.

  Vicki ran a hand through her hair and checked the clock. It was a little after three in the morning. Making lifethreatening decisions with this little sleep was dangerous, but if Claudia was telling the truth, they had to help.

  “Driving back there could be suicide,” Mark said.

  “What if we find out where she is,” Darrion said, “and let someone who doesn’t know her go in?”

  Vicki heard someone move behind her and turned. Manny Aguilara waved sheepishly and said, “I’m sorry. I woke up and couldn’t help hearing. Let me do it. Claudia doesn’t know me.”

  Vicki looked at Mark. “Let’s talk. And, Darrion, write Claudia and ask her exactly where she is.”

  As Darrion typed, Vicki took a breath and prayed for wisdom.

  Judd followed Carpathia and was joined by Sam, Lionel, and thousands of spectators lining the Via Dolorosa. People sang and cheered Nicolae as the pig carried him along. Suddenly, the drugged animal pitched forward, its front legs buckling, and a few aides helped the potentate off.

  The crowd became too thick to move through, and Sam suggested they go another route to Calvary. “I think he’ll eventually go there.”

  They arrived at the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and took their place at the base of the hill. Carpathia arrived a few minutes later, climbed to the edge of the Mount, and threw his arms out.

  Leon Fortunato stepped beside Nicolae and imitated him, still scratching his rear. “Behold the lamb who takes away the sins of the world!” Fortunato roared.

  Suddenly, the sky blackened and Judd felt a gust of wind. People murmured and looked for shelter, but Fortunato seemed to anticipate their movement. “You need not move if you are loyal to your risen ruler! I have been imbued with power from on high to call down fire on the enemies of the king of this world. Let the loyalists declare themselves!”

  Thousands screamed and waved in support of Carpathia. Judd looked around for any other believers, wondering if Chaim Rosenzweig would stand to challenge the evil one.

  The sky was black as night and Judd could only see Fortunato when lightning flashed. “Today you shall have opportunity to worship the image of your god! But now you have opportunity to praise him in person! All glory to the lover of your souls!”

  People around Judd knelt and raised their arms in praise to Nicolae. Judd recognized what a dangerous position he and his friends were in. They were not about to bow the knee to Carpathia or his statue. Would they be struck dead?

  “You think we ought to get out of here?” Judd whispered to Lionel and Sam.

  Before either could answer, Fortunato yelled, “How many of you will receive the mark of loyalty even this day at the Temple Mount?”

  The crowd rose as one to wave and cheer. Fortunato responded with, “My lord, the very god of this world, has granted me the power to know your hearts!”

  “Is that true?” Lionel whispered.

  Judd shook his head. “That’s not what Tsion teaches. He says Satan doesn’t know what we think. How could he tell Fortunato if he doesn’t know himself?”

  Lightning flashed and claps of thunder overwhelmed the crowd. “I know if your heart is deceitful!” Fortunato yelled. “You shall not be able to stand against the allseeing eye of your god or his servant!”

  People began singing “Hail Carpathia” as Fortunato looked at the crowd with piercing eyes.

  Suddenly, everyone fell deathly still as a woman a few yards from Judd screeched and pointed at Carpathia and Fortunato. “Liars!” she screamed. “Blasphemers! Antichrist! False Prophet!”

  The people around her moved away quickly, and the woman was left alone. As Judd listened, he thought her voice sounded familiar.

  “Woe unto you who would take the place of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” the woman continued. “You shall not prevail against the God of heaven!”

  Lightning flashed and Lionel grabbed Judd’s arm. “That’s Hattie Durham!”

  Lionel was right. It was Hattie! Judd had first seen the woman on an airplane over the Atlantic the night of the disappearances. Though she had spent some time working for Nicolae, she was now a member of the Tribulation Force.

  “I have spoken!” Fortunato spat back.

  “Yours is the empty, vain tongue of the condemned!” Hattie yelled. She pointed to heaven and said, “As he is my witness, there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus!”

  Judd was so captivated by Hattie’s words that he didn’t see Fortunato’s movements. He heard a ghastly sound behind him and instinctively ducked as a ball of fire roared from the sky, lighting the whole area.

  Hattie Durham didn’t have time to react. She burst into flames and Judd fell to the ground, shaking, screaming, scared out of his mind. Sam and Lionel huddled close, their eyes covered. Judd wondered if they would be next.

  Judd peeked at Hattie once more and saw fire engulfing her body. She seemed to melt in the white-hot heat, her body shrinking to the ground. The sun appeared again, chasing the darkness. A soft breeze blew Hattie over, and Judd noticed her shadow imprinted on the ground.

  The crowd focused on Fortunato. “Marvel not that I say unto you, all power has been given to me in heaven and on the earth!” he said.

  Carpathia slowly led the procession away from the area. Some people in the crowd kicked at Hattie’s ashes or spit on her remains. When most of the crowd was gone, Judd knelt beside Hattie and thanked God for a courageous woman who dared stand up to the most evil ruler the world had ever seen.

  23

  JUDD caught his breath and told Sam how he had met Hattie. He wished there was something he could do for her.

  “Do you want to go back to Yitzhak’s house?” Sam said.

  Judd nodded. “I think I’d better. Seeing that happen to someone you know …”

  Lionel put a hand on his shoulder. “We understand. We’ll give you a full report when we get back.”

  As Judd walked through the oncoming crowd, he wondered about Operation Eagle and when Rayford Steele and the other pilots would airlift believers and Jews out of Jerusalem. What a massive job that had to be. And with an enemy like Carpathia, it was vital that they get these people out before Carpathia killed them.

  Lionel and Sam moved with the crowd toward the Garden Tomb. By the time they arrived, Supreme Commander Walter Moon was speaking.

  “Oh, he’s better than all right, judging by his perform
ance at Golgotha,” Moon said.

  “Who’s he talking about?” Lionel said.

  “Shhh,” an older woman in front of Lionel said. “Reverend Father Fortunato has gone ahead for preparations. Please be quiet.”

  Sam looked at Lionel and frowned. “Everything’s ready at the Temple Mount. Why would he leave?”

  Vicki explained Claudia’s situation to Manny and he perked up. “I might be able to help.”

  “How?” Vicki said.

  “There may be someone in the gang who could do this for us, but you have to understand that the people we’re dealing with don’t think like you. We’ll have to motivate them.”

  “Give them something?” Vicki said.

  “Exactly.”

  Vicki looked at Darrion. “How much money do we have left?”

  “A few hundred Nicks,” Darrion said.

  “Is there anybody inside the gang who owes you?” Mark said.

  Manny bit his lip. “There is one person. His name is Hector.”

  “Call him as soon as we hear where Claudia is,” Mark said.

  Judd sat heavily on a couch in Yitzhak’s basement. Mr. Stein and the other witnesses were spread out in Jerusalem. The images of Hattie Durham flashed through Judd’s mind. He dialed Chang, but there was no answer.

  A few minutes later Chang called back. “I was on another call, and you will not believe what I have found.”

  “You won’t believe what I’ve just seen,” Judd said. He detailed the episode at Calvary and what had happened to Hattie.

  Chang said he had seen the event on the live GC feed. “I was on the phone with Mr. Williams. He is there in Jerusalem with Chaim. We’ve just discovered top secret information about Fortunato. He is being treated by one of the palace doctors for some kind of rash. They report that it looks like boils erupting from his skin.”

  “That would explain why he’s scratching so much,” Judd said. “Was that why you were so excited when I called earlier?”

  “I have more good news, but let me share it with you later.”

  Lionel and Sam moved for a better view of the Garden Tomb. The afternoon sun was hot, and Lionel was glad when Nicolae stepped from behind a curtain. The crowd before him didn’t cheer or sing. They seemed afraid and many had chosen to go straight to get their mark instead of watching Carpathia’s evil spectacle.

  “I was never entombed!” Carpathia began. “I lay in state for three days for the world to see. Someone was said to have risen from this spot, but where is he? Did you ever see him? If he was God, why is he not still here? Some would have you believe it was he behind the disappearances that so crippled our world. What kind of a God would do that?”

  Lionel glanced at Sam and whispered, “This whole show is supposed to mock Jesus.”

  “I stand here among you, god on earth, having taken my rightful place,” Carpathia said. “I accept your allegiance.” He bowed and the crowd applauded.

  Walter Moon stepped forward and bent toward the microphone. “He is risen!”

  “He is risen indeed,” the crowd replied, less than enthusiastic.

  Moon chided them and the crowd responded a little louder. “We are providing you with the opportunity to worship your potentate and his image at the Temple Mount, and there you may express your eternal devotion by accepting the mark of loyalty. Do not delay. Do not put this off. Be able to tell your descendants that His Excellency personally was there the day you made your pledge concrete.”

  Moon lowered his voice and added, “And please remember that neither the mark of loyalty nor the worshiping of the image is optional.”

  The wind whipped up as a helicopter landed to take Carpathia and other dignitaries to the Temple Mount. Lionel saw many with the mark heading for the holy site, while others rushed to get in line for their mark.

  While Vicki waited for Claudia’s response, the kids watched the live coverage in Jerusalem. Darrion called the others over when she found an e-mail from Tsion Ben-Judah. Vicki could tell by the way he composed the message that the man’s heart was heavy.

  I received a message from our sister in Christ, Hattie Durham, composed two days ago. As she was praying in her hotel room in Tel Aviv, God sent the angel Michael to minister to her. He said he had come in answer to her prayers.

  Michael encouraged her to be strong and said, “Those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like the stars forever and ever. Many shall be purified, and made white and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”

  Hattie believed she should speak out against the lies of the Antichrist. She knew there were others who had been believers longer and asked why she should be chosen to confront the evil one. In her note she said, “Maybe this is all silly and will not happen. If I chicken out, it will not have been of God and I will intercept this before it gets to you. But if you receive it, I assume I will not see you until you are in heaven. I love you and all the others, in Christ. Your sister, Hattie Durham.”

  Hattie was the one who spoke against Carpathia and his False Prophet Leon Fortunato. She was consumed by fire, but we will see this dear sister again.

  Vicki sat stunned. She remembered her conversation with Hattie years before, trying to convince her that the Bible was true and giving her life to God was the only choice. Now Hattie was dead, another casualty in the war between good and evil. Vicki wondered when all the dying would end. She put her head in her hands and wept.

  Lionel and Sam moved cautiously toward the loyalty application facility and the brewing chaos. Hundreds of military vehicles were parked outside the Old City. Sam wanted to avoid them, but Lionel noticed only a few Peacekeepers tending the vehicles. When they came near the Temple Mount, Lionel saw why. Global Community personnel were in line to take the mark themselves. Citizens who rushed to be processed grew angry that they had to wait in the back of the line.

  Sam led Lionel to the Wailing Wall where many Orthodox Jews were praying. “These men, even if they are not believers in Messiah, will oppose the defiling of the new temple.”

  As Peacekeepers and Morale Monitors took the mark, Lionel and Sam moved to the east-facing steps of the new temple. It sparkled in the sunlight, a replica of Solomon’s original temple. As they approached, Sam pointed out the image of Carpathia, an exact replica of the man. People fell to their knees when they first glimpsed the golden statue, some crying or singing softly. Then they quickly moved on and dozens more fell to their knees.

  A dark cloud covered the sun and the temperature dropped suddenly. The huge crowd fell silent as the golden statue seemed to rock back and forth. Then a deep voice boomed from the image. “This assemblage is not unanimous in its dedication to me! I am the maker of heaven and earth, the god of all creation. I was and was not and am again! Bow before your lord!”

  Lionel froze. If the image shot fire like Fortunato, he and Sam were dead. He didn’t want to kneel before the image, but his legs felt shaky.

  “Don’t look at it,” Sam whispered. “Just move away slowly.”

  Lionel kept his head down, but the voice again blasted behind him. With every word he expected a bolt of lightning or an explosion of fire to engulf him.

  “The choice you make this day is between life and death! Beware, you who would resist the revelation of your true and living god, who resurrected himself from the dead! You who are foolish enough to cling to your outdated, impotent mythologies, cast off the chains of the past or you shall surely die! Your risen ruler and king has spoken!”

  Lionel had made it to the outer edge of the crowd and was glad to be alive. He turned and looked at those in line for the mark. More and more pilgrims took their place behind GC personnel.

  “Carpathia’s right,” Sam whispered. “This is life or death, but those people have no idea they’re choosing death.”

  Lionel had seen enough. He and Sam quickly made their way through the streets back to Yitzhak’s house.

  Vicki watch
ed in horror as GCNN covered Nicolae’s appearance at the temple. Carpathia announced he would be watching all night until every citizen of Jerusalem had received the mark of loyalty and worshiped his image. “And tomorrow at noon, I will ascend to my throne in my new house.”

  Darrion yelped and said they had a new message from Claudia. Vicki turned from the scene of Nicolae waving farewell to the crowd and studied the e-mail.

  I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you. If you’ll tell me when to expect you, I can arrange to be at a nearby restaurant, if you’d like. I’m at a hotel, but I only have enough money to stay one more night. Please call me or come get me.

  Claudia

  Vicki looked at Mark. “What do you think?”

  “She gave us a phone number and location. That’s a good sign.”

  “She seems sincere,” Darrion said, “but it could still be an act.”

  “We can’t afford to not take her seriously,” Vicki said.

  Manny called his friend Hector. After a few minutes of conversation, Manny hung up.

  “What did he say?” Vicki said.

  Manny hesitated. “Hector said he would help us find out if Claudia is telling the truth. We should go now.”

  24

  VICKI called a meeting of the Young Trib Force in Wisconsin. The underground hideout was overcrowded with new arrivals, and everyone knew some would eventually have to move to another hiding place. Vicki explained the situation with Claudia and, though there was intense discussion, they agreed that Mark and Vicki would accompany Manny back to Des Plaines in hopes of bringing Claudia to safety.

  Vicki stressed the importance of prayer, and everyone agreed there would be someone in a designated room praying while they were gone.

  “We’ve received another message from Dr. Ben-Judah,” Vicki said.

  “Nobody else has died, have they?” Charlie said.