The lines on the reverend’s face deepened. “You just want to cross the bridge? Tell me, son, what waits on the other side that is more important than staying here in the house of the Lord?”
“The radio reported a rescue station being set up in Watkins by the National Guard.”
An excited murmur went through the congregation.
“So you would place your faith in a doomed government and not in the Lord? Is that what I’m hearing, Jack? You believe in a corrupt America that turned from the Word of God to protect homosexuals and sodomites? A nation that removed God from schools, granted gays the right to join the military, and to even marry? These things are abominations in the eyes of the Lord and the reason his wrath has swept the Earth. God looked down from his throne in heaven and saw a world wallowing in the filth of perversion and homosexuality.”
“Amen,” the choir said in unison.
“I am here to tell you, brother, that I foresaw this doomsday coming. I read the signs in Revelation and built this church for the Second Coming of our Savior. Belief in America is a false hope. There is only the belief in our Lord, Jesus Christ, who died upon the cross for your sins. He is the only one that will protect you now. Look around, son. Though the earthquake has devastated the countryside, there is not a single crack in the walls of this church. Not even one piece of stained glass has been broken.”
Jack studied the room. The reverend was right. By some miracle, the little chapel had weathered the quake undamaged.
“Do you know the reason?”
“You’ve got God on your side,” Jack said.
“Correct. We’re protected by the blood of the Lamb. Just as in the Passover when God released the ten plagues upon the Egyptians, he told the children of Israel to mark their doors with lamb’s blood to protect them from the Angel of Death. We have done the same. I will ask you again. Are you willing to be saved and join the Nation of God?”
Sitting in the pew before him, an old woman turned to him. “Do it,” she whispered. “Do whatever he says. Trust me, it’s better that way. You don’t want to anger him.”
Jack saw fear in the woman’s rheumy eyes. He glanced around the room and sensed the same hopeless dread hanging like a thick cloud in the air among the congregation. Something was terribly wrong here. He began to suspect that most of the congregation members were prisoners of the reverend and his deacon army.
“What if I refuse?” Jack said.
A louder murmur swept through the crowd.
The reverend’s gaze became more intense. “There is no room for the heathen or the homosexual in the Nation of God. Which one are you, Jack?”
“An American citizen,” he said.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the deacons cock his AR-15.
Reverend Matthews laughed. “Your country is dead. The Lord has released the plague of zombies to devour its corpse as we speak. All of your so-called freedoms are forfeited. We have no use for the unrepentant in our fold. I ask you one final time. Will you step up to this pulpit to have your soul washed in the blood of the Lamb and become one of our flock? ”
Two more deacons readied their rifles.
Jack’s heart hammered in his chest and he felt his mouth go dry. “And if I don’t?” He swallowed hard. “What are you going to do? Shoot me right here in front of everyone?”
Reverend Matthews laughed. “There’s no need to be so melodramatic, Jack. We’re not going to kill you.” He raised his hands. “Tell me, my children,” he shouted, “what will we do to the heathen who turns his back on God?”
“Cast him out!” came the cry from the choir box.
“That’s right. We cast him out of our land.”
“Sounds good,” Jack said. “Just let me drive across the bridge and I’ll be gone.”
Reverend Matthews pointed a thin finger at Jack. “I’m sorry, but heathens receive no kindness here. Go back to the place of sin you came from.”
“We came seeking help and yet you turn us away,” Jack said with anger rising in his voice. “How hypocritical is that? You preach the love of Jesus but profess a hatred for gays. That doesn’t sound very Christian to me either, Reverend. What kind of Christian are you?”
“Who are you to question me?” Reverend Matthews said. “You’re the one whose soul is lost. I offered to wash your sins in the blood of the Lamb and yet you refuse. You turned your back on the Lord, and so I turn my back on you.” He nodded to the guards manning the door. “Remove this heathen from my sight.”
“Cast him out!” the choir repeated.
Jack sat back down and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“That could’ve gone better,” Kate said at his side. “Next time let me do the talking.”
“I guess negotiating isn’t my strong point,” Jack said.
“Cast him out!” the choir demanded once again.
Two deacons made their way to the end of the pew.
“You have to leave,” demanded one of the men, brandishing his AR-15. “Now.”
“Wait!” Kate leapt to her feet. “I want to be saved.”
“Kate, don’t!” Jack grabbed her hand.
“I must.” She slipped from his hold. “It’s the only way, Jack.”
“Step forward.” Reverend Mathews smiled and motioned for her to approach the pulpit. “Receive the blood of the Lamb and become part of the family.”
Jack watched dismayed as Kate strode down the center aisle to the pulpit.
“Your name, child?” the reverend said as she stepped up to him.
“Kate Garrett.”
“Are you saved, Kate?”
“No.”
That was a lie. No one on earth was more saved than Kate. Jack now understood her intentions in accepting the reverend’s invitation.
“Then kneel before the glory of the Lord and be washed in the blood of the Lamb.” Reverend Matthews dipped a finger into the bowl of lamb’s blood. “Do you ask forgiveness of your sins?”
Kate dropped to her knees. “I do.”
“Then repeat after me,” Matthews said. “Oh, Lord, please forgive me for my sins and transgressions.”
“Oh, Lord, please forgive me for my sins and transgressions,” Kate said.
The reverend smeared a bloody cross on her forehead. “Then stand and rise as a child of the Nation of God.”
Kate stood and the choir burst into another hymn. Church members rose in the pews to sing along. Jack remained seated and was surprised to see the old woman he had spoken to still sitting in the pew before him. He tapped her on the shoulder to ask her what she’d meant, but when she turned toward him, Jack reeled back in shock. The old woman’s wrinkled features were gone. He now stared into Puss Cobb’s black crow eyes.
“The sins of this false church will be washed away in blood and fire,” his raspy voice said.
“What?” Jack said.
“Blood and fire.” He showed his toothless grin.
The old woman looked away, and Jack grabbed her shoulder and spun her back toward him. She no longer had Puss Cobb’s face, and a look of shocked showed in her rheumy eyes.
“What the hell did you say to me?” Jack said above the singing.
“I said your wife is lovely.” She blinked at him. “A living angel.”
“No, you didn’t.” He released her shoulder. “You said something about blood and fire.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jack rose to his feet. On the pulpit, Kate stood beside the reverend and sang along with the choir. He looked over the congregation and scanned the harried faces of the survivors. A deep dread clutched his gut. These people had already lived through hell today, but Jack knew their nightmare was far from over. More death and destruction was about to happen.
Puss Cobb’s words echoed in his mind: “Blood and fire.”
“Stop singing!” he shouted.
The choir continued, and he yelled louder for them to stop. The singing dissipated, and everyone in the room gaped at him.<
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“Listen to me,” Jack said. “It’s not safe here. Everyone needs to evacuate this building.”
A murmur passed through the crowd.
“What do you mean?” Reverend Matthews said.
“We’re all in danger,” Jack said. “Everyone needs to leave now.”
“Why? Because you say so? I think not. We’re protected by the blood of the Lamb, so no harm shall befall us. You’re the one who must leave.” He nodded to one of the deacons by the door. “Remove this heathen from my sight.”
“Listen to me!” Jack shouted. “I know this church is about to be destroyed!”
A commotion swept the chapel as the congregation members spoke to each other.
“Puss Cobb spoke to me again,” Jack shouted to Kate.
Kate nodded her understanding. “Listen to my husband,” she said above the noise. “He knows what he’s talking about.”
“Cast him out!” somebody shouted from the choir box.
Two deacons stepped forward to extract him from the pew while a third aimed his AR-15 at his chest. Jack felt panic rising inside. He had to persuade the congregation to leave, but how?
“You made a deal with the devil, didn’t you, Reverend?” he said.
Matthews held up his hand, signaling the deacons to stop. “What did you say?”
“I know about your deal with the Cordell brothers. We ran into the bastards when they tried to steal our RV just a few blocks away. They told me how you cooked their meth to finance your little country. Guess what—they’re coming to pay you back for trying to kill them.”
“Listen to my husband,” Kate said. “He’s telling the truth. We did run into the Cordells.”
“The Cordell brothers?” Reverend Mathews laughed. “What can those thieves do to the House of God?”
“Knowing those crazy bastards, I wouldn’t want to find out,” Jack said.
“Whatever it is, the blood of the Lamb will protect us. And as for you, Jack, you’re the one no longer welcome here. I’m tired of your interruptions. It’s time for you to go.”
“Outside.” The deacon waved the barrel of the AR-15. “Now.”
Jack raised his hands. “Okay, have it your way. I tried to warn your stupid asses. You can stay here and die if you want.” He motioned toward his wife. “Come on, Kate. Leave them to their fate.”
She moved to step off the pulpit, but the reverend held out his arm to stop her.
“It’s not allowed,” he said with a hard cast to his lined face. “She joined our family and is one of us now.”
“What?” Jack said.
“She’s a child of the glorious Nation of God.” The reverend waved his hand over the congregation. “Praise be to God. Hallelujah!”
“Hallelujah,” the choir said. “Praise the Lord.”
“My place is with my family and my husband,” Kate said to the reverend. “Please let me go.”
“Your place is here with your new family.”
Kate lowered her head. “Then at least let Jack take them across the bridge.”
“Very well. Your husband is free to leave and use the bridge. You have to stay here with us.”
“What?” Jack said as two deacons grabbed him again by the arms, “You can’t do this. It’s kidnapping! She’s my wife, you twisted bastard. Her children are waiting for her to return. Let her go!”
“She belongs in the House of the Lord. None shall leave once marked with the blood of the Lamb,” Reverend Matthews said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
A sudden burst of white-hot anger twisted Jack’s gut. He shrugged off the deacons and charged the pulpit in a mad dash to reach Kate. He made it only halfway before another deacon tackled him to the floor.
Pinned down and held at gunpoint, Jack screamed, “Get the fuck off of me!”
“Leave him alone!” Kate said. “Don’t hurt him!” She rushed forward and pushed off the deacon. “Give us a chance to talk.”
“Let her speak to her husband,” Reverend Matthews said.
The deacon released him, and Jack stood facing his wife.
“What’s going on, Kate?” he said. “Do you know what you’re doing? What about Kerri and Brett?”
“Don’t you see, Jack? They’ll shoot you if you resist.” Tears shone in her eyes. “My place is here. You have your faith and I have mine. This way you can cross the bridge to Watkins and I can stay here and worship the Lord. It’s what’s best for both of us.” She hugged him close and placed her forehead against his. “Tell the kids I love them very much. I will pray for your safe journey. Will you do that, my husband? You and the children will always be in my heart. I love you all so much. Soon we will be together again in God’s Kingdom.”
A tear ran down his cheek. “Yes.”
“You understand why I’m staying? This is so they’ll open the bridge to Watkins.”
“I do.”
She kissed his lips and hugged him again. “I love you, Jack. I always will. Keep me in your heart.” Her mouth pressed against his ear. “Come for me when the bridge is open,” she whispered.
Jack held her at arm’s length and looked deep into her face. She gave him an almost imperceptible nod, and he knew he had to leave her behind. It was a desperate gamble, to be sure, but it was all they had at the moment. They had been living on the edge of desperation since the apocalypse began.
“Is this how you want it?” he said.
“Yes.”
He shoved Kate toward the pulpit. “Reverend, you can keep the bitch. I don’t want her anymore. Just open the bridge and I’m gone from this fucking place.”
“Wise decision,” the reverend said and pointed at his deacons. “You heard the man. Escort him to his vehicle and remove the barricade. The quicker we see him gone, the better.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jack walked down the center aisle accompanied by two deacons who paced him with their rifles. He swung open the double doors, stepped out into the night and walked to the Winnebago. One of the deacons sprinted toward the two vehicles barricading the end of the bridge, and the other walked behind him to the RV. When they reached the side door, Jack knocked. The deacon removed his radio and spoke into it for a second.
“The bridge is going to be open in a minute,” the man said to Jack. “I want to see you driving over it.”
“No problem there,” he said. “I can’t wait to get away from this nuthouse.”
Telia opened the door. “It’s about time,” she said.
Jack stepped into the RV and found everyone gathered in the lounge area. He closed the door, leaving the deacon standing outside.
“Where’s Mom?” Kerri asked.
“She didn’t come back with me,” Jack said.
“What? You left Mom behind? Why would you do that?”
“It’s wasn’t my idea. They wouldn’t let her leave. What could I do?” Jack glanced out the side window. The man still waited beside the RV. “Doug, the bridge should be open in a minute. Get us out of here.”
“Okay, Mr. G,” he said and slipped into the driver’s seat.
“Mom isn’t coming with us?” Brett said.
“No, son,” Jack said.
Kerri reached for the doorknob. “Don’t be stupid. We can’t leave without Mom! I’m going to get her!”
Jack grabbed her hand and whispered, “Kerri, don’t ruin everything. Do you think I want to leave your mother behind? I’m going back to get her. Just give me a second to think it through.”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Okay, Dad,” she whispered.
“Jack, what’s going on?” Telia said in a low voice.
“Kate’s only pretending to stay with the church. They weren’t letting us cross the bridge until she joined their congregation. Now that she’s part of their family, they won’t let her leave. They kidnapped her and I’m going back for her.”
“Do you have a plan?” Telia glanced out the side window toward the chapel. “What about the reverend and his little army
? You just can’t go in there with guns blazing and demand they give Kate back.”
“It’s the only plan I’ve got,” Jack said. “Leaving her behind is out of the question. The reverend’s church is about to be destroyed and I won’t let her die with it.”
“Destroyed?” Telia’s face showed surprise. “How do you know that?”
“Let’s just say I do.”
“Okay, I’ll take your word for it. I’ll break out the firearms. It looks like we may have to shoot our way across the river.”
“What do we do?” Kerri asked, putting her arm around her brother.
“Both of you lay down flat on the bedroom floor. You’ll be safer there until we get across the bridge,” Jack said.
“Dad, I want to help save Mom,” Brett said.
“I know you do, champ. The best thing you can do right now is not get shot. Your mother would never forgive me.”
“Okay, Dad.”
“Come on, little bro,” Kerri said. “I’ll take care of you.”
They lay prone on the bedroom floor, Kerri shielding Brett with her body.
Telia tossed Jack the Mossberg. He noticed she had already slipped on her Glock holsters and armed herself with the AR-15. The hard glint of the warrior shone again in her eyes.
“Telia, this is not your fight,” he said. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yeah, I do.” She cocked the assault rifle.
“Mr. G, the bridge is clear,” Doug called out from the driver’s seat. “What now?”
“Drive like you’re headed toward it, but pass close to the front of the church.” Jack stepped to the side door. “When I say go,” he said to Telia, “we jump out and storm the front doors of the church. We go in just like we did with the bus.”
She nodded. “I’ll follow your lead.”
Doug started Natalie and the RV rolled away, leaving the deacon standing in the rear taillights. As Jack watched him from the back bedroom window, he saw the bright headlights of an 18-wheel cattle truck heading for the barbed-wire gate. It smashed through the barrier as if it were made of balsa wood and continued barreling into the compound. The deacon behind the RV ran out and fired his AR-15 at the oncoming vehicle, his shots blazing into the grill and punching holes through the front glass. He tried to jump out of the way but was too late. The 18-wheeler swerved and chewed him under its wheels without slowing.
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