CHAPTER 48
GRAHAM LEANED BACK in his chair and scratched his head. “I think that's the part I don't understand,” he said to Matthew. “What does it really mean to trust God? Sitting here in your dormitory cafeteria at this moment how can I have confidence in Him?”
Matthew rubbed his chin and for a few moments looked thoughtfully out the window. “Dad, you drove up here in a taxi. Right?”
Graham nodded.
“You trusted that a car you know nothing about would get you here through some very uncertain circumstances. You had fears about what had happened and could occur again, but still you chose to ride in that car and believed it would get you through any obstacles along the way.”
“Yes,” Graham agreed.
“Trust is the same confidence that what you can't prove to be true will be able to guide and take you through hard times on to the place where you want to be. When I trust God, I know that He's going to do the same thing with my entire life.”
Graham listened intently. He had thought about these issues in some way or another nearly every waking moment since Maria was killed in their garage. Sometimes he almost accepted what the New Seekers group taught and then later retreated. Then again, he found that what they taught about the Bible made more sense out of these unexpected struggles than anything he had learned in his entire life.
“You've worried about death,” Matthew continued. “Grammy's death just about did all of us in, but trusting in God has given me peace even about death. I'm not afraid anymore.”
Graham studied his son's face. Matthew looked confident and he truly believed what he was saying. Although Matt was hardly more than a boy, this young man was standing on firm ground and Graham felt he could trust what he was saying.
“Adah showed me what Bible says about death, Dad. The first letter of Saint John says that God has given us eternal life and that this life is in Jesus Christ, His son. When you trust Jesus, He's the one who opens the door into an eternal tomorrow. Jesus Christ is the answer to our fears about death. When you trust God, you can let go of worrying about dying.”
Graham took a deep breath. “That's quite a statement, son.”
“But it's true, Dad. When you trust God, you don't have to be frightened about what's ahead.”
“Son, I came up here for something different from what you've said so far, but this one tidbit made the trip totally worthwhile. I wanted to ask you about what you think is going on in the world today. Have you been able to make any sense out of these attacks, wars, the Anti-Christ, the totally unexpected earthquake? It runs together in a blur in my mind.”
“That's because of how you think.” Matt grinned with a sly twist. “We all grew up that way. Mary's the worst of all.”
“What do you mean, son?”
“When you look at the world, you only see one dimension. It's no more than a cause and effect place for you. What you see is what you get.” Matt gently pointed his finger in his father's face. “You don't take into account what you can't see.”
Graham grimaced. “What?” He shook his head. “You're not making any sense.”
“Oh, but I am! Dad, you don't take into account the world that you can't see.”
“Can't see?” Graham rubbed his chin. “Now you are talking nonsense.”
“Far from it! I'm talking about the supernatural world that is always out there around us, but just beyond us. There is a spiritual world we must also confront. While we can't see it, the supersensual world is the place where evil and good do ultimate battle. Our world is only a pale reflection of that realm where the supernormal, the numinous exists.”
Graham glanced around the room to make sure no one had sat down and might be listening. “I don't know,” he said slowly. “Sounds awfully far out.”
“Look, Dad. When Scripture says that God gave us eternal life, the book is talking to us about something that happened in that supernatural place.” He leaned forward. “I'm talking about the domain that exists between earth and heaven.”
Graham felt unhinged. Obviously, Matt was no longer some high school kid spinning smoke dreams in the air. His son had learned an extraordinary amount in a very small time. Matthew was confronting him ideas for which he had no refutation.
“Dad, listen to me,” Matt continued. “Jesus Christ will open this world to you. He helps you keep one foot in this planet and puts the other one in God's world. You can't see it, but that place is just as real as this one is.”
“Matt, I have a hard time believing in things that I can't see.”
“No you don't,” Matt fired back. “You simply think that you do. The fact is that you believe in trust, love, caring, and many other qualities that are completely unseen. Among them is faith. Right?”
Reluctantly Graham nodded his head. “Yes, I guess that I do.”
“Dad, all of these wars and our current chaos is only part of an eternal, heavenly battle that's an extension of an unseen war with evil. When you invite Jesus the Christ into your life, He will help you understand what you can't grasp right now.”
“Do you really think so?”
Matt smiled broadly. “I know so.”
“I wouldn't have any idea how to do such a thing.”
“Look, Dad. You've been kicking around all of the ideas, the explanations that Adah has given you. You can see how they fit with what's happening, but you have a hard time fully believing they are true. The only way it is going to come together is when you put your complete trust in those explanations. That's what you've got to do with Jesus Christ. Put your complete trust in Him.”
“But how?” Graham pushed.
“You have to pray.”
Graham ran his hands nervously through his hair. “Well… I don't know… exactly… how I would pray.”
“Dad, Jesus is here at this moment. He's not standing among us in the flesh, but the savior is mysteriously present… like the air. The oxygen and Jesus are both vital to our being alive. When you simply talk to Him as if you can see Him and He will respond inwardly. Praying is trusting Him to enter your life.”
Graham could feel his heart beating faster. His palms felt sweaty and for a moment he felt light-headed. The idea of praying in the middle of a dormitory cafeteria seemed bizarre and inappropriate, but Graham knew he had come to a turning point. As surely as the earthquake shaking the city, God had shaken everything in him.
“There's no time like the present,” Matt encouraged him.
“Okay.” Graham leaned back in his chair and looked hard into his son's eyes. Matt's steady gaze called Graham's bluff. He slowly closed his eyes and for few moments walked into the silence as if it were a huge cavern opening up to a spelunker. The stillness was suddenly filled with a fullness that surprised him.
“Lord,” Graham said quietly. “I want to trust you and I'm not sure how, but I pledge to you my complete confidence and obedience. I want to believe totally. Please lead me.” He slowly opened his eyes.
“He will,” Matthew promised. “More than you could believe possible.”
CHAPTER 49
GRAHAM'S TAXI RIDE back from Evanston felt considerably different then the ride out. The weight of the world seemed to have lifted from his shoulders. For reasons he couldn't quite define, nothing felt as oppressive. While the taxi sped down the highway, Graham remembered over and over how events unfolded since the end of October, leading him now to pray with his son. Nothing could have ever been further from what he would have believed possible.
Once again his cell phone rang. Graham checked the caller identification on the small window. Sure enough! The mayor was calling again. This time Graham felt prepared.
“Peck here.”
“Got any report on the train lines?” the mayor began. “The Metro offices are telling us they are closed.”
“Until all the trusses have been checked, the trains won't run. They've got to make sure there is no structural damage. I think it will take some considerable time to be certain.”
“If we don't run into any difficulties, I would think in probably thirty to forty minutes at the most.”
“Okay. As soon as you arrive, come back to my inner office. I'm expecting a holographic call from Mr. Carson. It's important and you should hear it.”
Listening to Borden Carson was the last thing he wanted to do. “I'll be there.” Graham cringed.
“Good. See you then.” Bridge clicked off.
Graham thought about what he had heard. While it was impossible to guess what Carson was anything but good. The possibilities left Graham feeling empty, but he was no longer afraid. The taxi sped down the highway.
“Please go on back,” Frank Bridges's secretary told Graham. “They are waiting for you.” She pointed toward the wall.
Graham waited for the panel door to slide open, but they rolled around in his mind. At the least, Pemrose must be back there. No doubt, he and Bridges had already completed their own full-scale discussion before Graham arrived. The door slid open Graham walked down the hall.
“Ah, Peck!” the mayor said. “Just in time! What did you find out there?”
Graham glanced around the room. Jake Pemrose was sitting there smoking his usual black cigar an looking like the king of world. To his surprise, Al Meacham had been added to the group. Meacham had a tall, thin build with a long narrow face. His deep-set eyes always gave his face a sinister cast. Graham nodded to both men.
“Al's been part of the Inner Circle for some time,” Bridges explained. “He's an important part of our plans. Of course, you know each other well.”
Graham nodded soberly, but Meacham made no response.
“Gentlemen,” Bridges said. “The time has come for us also to refer to Mr. Carson as Hassan Rashid. When we are dealing with Middle Eastern business, we will use this name. Like saying mister in English, the proper way of addressing him in Arabic is to first call him Al-sayyid. In a few moments, Al-sayyid Rashid will be addressing us. Everybody ready to hear his message?”
The men settled back in their chairs. Light emanated from the holographic transmitter and in a few moments the white beam turned light green, forming into a shape. As the last time, Borden Camber Carson sat behind a massive desk in a white Nehru jacket. His black hair and deeply tanned skin came into focus first, then Carson's black eyes appeared peared with piercing intensity. As had been true in previous transmissions, Carson's smile was instantly engaging, immediately drawing each man into his sphere of influence. He exuded a warmth that felt personal and intimate. Leaning forward, Carson gave a slight wave and the large diamond ring on his pinky finger sparkled.
“Al-syyid Rashid,” Mayor Bridges began. “As always, we are honored that you would speak with us.”
“Thank you,” Rashid answered with only a trace of an accent. “I am pleased each of you could be here this afternoon.” Rashid slowly stared at each man sitting in the mayor's office as if he was measuring them carefully. “Good to see you, Mr. Peck.” he said to Graham before moving on to Meacham.
When Rashid said his name, Graham felt frozen in his chair. The man spoke as if they were old friends, close business associates, when in fact, Graham had been no more than an observer in a couple of transmissions. Rashid, or Carson, had an uncanny way of setting unspoken rules, reshuffling the cards, and defining relationships in his own way. He swept Graham into the Inner Circle as if there had been a complete discussion of the terms of membership when, in fact, Graham had agreed to nothing, absolutely nothing! He reminded himself that Rashid's magnetism implied nothing on his part.
“I understand Chicago has been struck by a terrible earthquake,” Hassan Rashid began. “People will be terrified so this is an important time for you to further assure them that you have everything under your control. You must keep the citizens under your constant tutelage.”
“Yes sir,” the mayor responded immediately.
“In order to create calm, I am instructing Mayor Bridges to announce tonight that I will establish a new peace pact with the Russians and will insist that all the Arab nations align themselves with me once this agreement is signed. The promise of a future peace treaty will be a welcome relief from the constant wars that have been burning around the world.”
“Excellent!” Bridges exclaimed. “A most helpful announcement. When will the agreement be finished?”
“I cannot say at this time, but we are moving the parties into place in order that the document will soon be finalized.”
Graham could feel Al Meacham staring at him with his dark-set eyes. For reasons that he couldn't discern, Meacham seemed to be as intent on watching him as he was in listening to Rashid.
“Please make your citizens aware that my leadership is bringing this agreement to pass.” Rashid smiled a broad affectionate smile. “Our time is short, gentlemen. We must make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.”
“Thank you, Al-sayyid Rashid,” Bridges said. “We will set up a television appearance immediately to broadcast your announcement and we hope the results will follow soon.”
Rashid once again waved his hand in a polite gesture. “Goodbye,” he said softly with a gentle tone that almost sounded like a child telling his mother goodnight. “Ma-as-sa-leh-ma.”
Graham stared at the column of light as the image diminished. This man was a bundle of contradictions. While appearing to be an innocent apostle of the truth, he had actually been telling them that he was an international power broker. With a gentle smile on his face, he undoubtedly had a nuclear bomb in his hip pocket.
“Al-sayyid Rashid has given us the next playing card for tonight's television appearance,” the mayor said. “Jake, you get the television cameras in place and Graham, you can write up a statement from what you've heard. We don't have much time.”
Graham glanced at his watch. He wouldn't be leaving as early as he had hoped, but he had no alternative except to bang out the mayor's desired announcement on his word processor. Graham hated the idea that he was the voice this monster, but for the moment he had no alternative unless he wanted to endanger his relationship with Adah Honi and the New Seekers. He stood up to go back to his office.
“You have an important assignment.” Al Meacham said. Not one syllable had an inflection in it; his voice had a deeply ominous sound. “We will await the outcomes of your work.”
Graham studied Meacham's empty eyes. The man looked cold and indifferent. “Sure, Al. I need to get to work.” He quickly walked away. Meacham was not a man he wanted to spend time with.
CHAPTER 50
BEING AN IMPORTANT city official had its advantages in little things like finding a taxi when none was available, but the ride up to Arlington Heights was not without its problems. The Highway 294 tollway around O'Hare International Airport was closed, forcing the taxi to retreat and take the 290 that pushed them a little further off course. At eight o'clock Graham finally reached home. Crown Point Street looked empty when Graham got out of the taxi. A cold wind was blowing and the snow had piled up against the curb. Turning up his collar, he hurried into the house.
“Hey, Daddy's home!” George Peck shouted when Graham walked into the living room.
Five-year-old Jeff made a hard charge across the room and tackled his father. “Got ya!” he shouted.
“Hey, the Indians attached me,” Graham said, hugging his two boys.
Jackie walked out of the kitchen. “I was really worried you might not be able to get here. I know the roads have to be bad”.
“Some are; some aren't,” Graham said. “The airport highway is shut down.”
Mary appeared in the doorway. “You look passable,” she said skeptically.
Graham gestured for her to come over. “I want to talk with all of you for a moment. Everybody sit down.”
Mary rolled her eyes, but reluctantly sat on a piano bench. Jackie scooted in next to her. George and Jeff piled in around their father's feet.
/> “I don't want you walking off,” Graham said to Mary. “What I have to say is for everyone to hear.” He watched his daughter and knew she had already turned him off, but she was going to hear what he had to say whether she liked it or not. “I made an important decision today.”
Jackie leaned forward. “Great. Tell us about it.”
Slowly and carefully Graham detailed his trip to Evanston to meet with Matthew after the earthquake. He talked about his personal waffling back and forth on what they had heard in the New seekers group, but finally his mind was made up. Graham described how he prayed and the difference it made. The living room became intensely quiet.
“Graham, that's wonderful!” Jackie got up and came over and kissed him.
Even though Mary worked at looking bored, the boys listened intently. “What does that mean?” George asked.
“From now on, we are going to live the Christian faith in this house,” Graham said. “That's our number one goal.”
“Does that mean I can't play baseball with my friends?” Jeff asked.
“Sure doesn't,” Graham said. “It means you can play even harder.”
“Great!” Jeff said.
Graham looked at Mary. “Do you have anything to say?”
She shook her head and frowned.
“Nothing?” Graham pushed.
“It doesn't make any different what I think,” Mary said insolently. “You've already made that clear. All I'd say is that you better be careful or we could all get into big trouble.”
“Mary,” Jackie had a pleading tone in her voice, “Please! Your father has done a wonderful thing.”
“Look! Everybody I know thinks this stuff is wacko, but some teachers at school even consider it subversive. You could get in big time trouble messing with this off the wall stuff. I want to go to my room.” Mary fixed her eyes on the floor.
“I'm truly sorry you feel this way,” Graham said. “So defiant!”
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