Judd felt goose bumps as he read. He wiped a finger clean, pressed the computer’s down arrow, and read the rest of the message.
The GC told them they couldn’t meet together and that they had twenty-four hours to take the mark of Carpathia or face death. But the people didn’t pay attention. Then, as the man on the bullhorn shouted his final warning, someone called for silence.
“One of the angels,” Judd said under his breath as he scrolled down.
It was the angel Christopher. He introduced his coworkers, Nahum and Caleb, and then ordered the GC troops to leave the area or face death by God’s hand. They did leave, and after that the angels repeated the message we have heard about all around the world.
Judd secretly wished he would be visited by some kind of angel that could pick him up and drop him in Wisconsin. He had seen angelic visitors on television and had heard about them from Vicki and others, but he had never seen or spoken with one in person.
Now, as he sat looking at the map and estimating the number of miles between him and Vicki, he ran his finger along the waterways. Many of them had changed since the great earthquake, but he wondered if he had some kind of boat that would float in the blood… .
Judd put his head on the map and closed his eyes. There was word of a Global Community stronghold being built south of the bombed-out city of Chicago. If that was true, Judd knew it would take a miracle to get to Wisconsin.
Judd thought of the verses he had looked up about patience and perseverance. The Bible spoke in various ways about hanging in during the tough times, and Judd had written every reference down and had committed several to memory.
His favorite was from Romans, and Judd softly mouthed the words. “ ‘We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us.’ ”
I don’t want any more character, God, Judd thought. I just want to get back to Vicki.
Vicki and the others in Wisconsin made the most of every opportunity given to them to tell people about God. Their main contact with the outside world was through the Internet, and everyone rejoiced when a new person came to Christ. Janie had made red hearts out of some old fabric she had found. Each time they received word of a person receiving the mark of the believer, she put a heart on the wall above the computer. “Another heart snatched from that evil Nicolae,” she said.
Jim Dekker, the computer whiz who had worked for the Global Community before coming to live with the kids, had developed another version of The Cube, the high-tech presentation of the gospel. Though hackers loyal to the GC had tried to corrupt the files, Jim had defeated their attempts.
The Fogartys, Tom and Josey, had taken to baby Ryan as soon as he had been born. A few months after his birth, the baby went on formula Charlie and the others had found. Unlike the situation in Ohio, Vicki’s group had plenty to eat and a supply that would last months and perhaps years.
As the baby grew, Vicki noticed a sadness in Cheryl. When the Fogartys were with the baby in the main cabin, she avoided them. Cheryl skipped many of their devotion times, saying she needed more sleep or wasn’t feeling well. Every time Vicki tried to talk with her about it, Cheryl changed the subject. By the time Ryan started to crawl, Cheryl had moved into a run-down shack by herself farthest away from the others. At each milestone in the baby’s life—his first tooth, his first haircut, his first word, which was dada—Cheryl withdrew more and more.
Though Cheryl’s attitude concerned Vicki, there was still much to be excited about. Tanya and Ty Spivey, along with the other believers who had broken away from the cult in the cave, grew in their faith almost as quickly as Ryan gained weight. They were at every meeting, every prayer vigil, and were some of the first to read Tsion Ben-Judah’s Web site and Sam Goldberg’s Petra Diaries.
Vicki had become resigned to Judd’s absence. She knew how dangerous it was to travel, and though there were nights when she wanted to jump into Marshall Jameson’s van and barrel south, she knew it was best to wait.
Her love for Judd grew, even as their talks via computer and phone became less frequent. Both Judd and Vicki had been asked to cut down their time, so Vicki wrote her thoughts and prayers and typed them when others weren’t around.
The older women had been a big help to Vicki, especially Josey Fogarty, who counseled her and gave advice when Vicki felt alone. Vicki would hold baby Ryan as he slept, listening to Josey. The woman had spent years waiting on her husband to become a believer, so she had developed a lot of patience.
The most surprising person to help her was Zeke. She figured he wouldn’t understand, but Zeke had listened and even gave Vicki a verse to memorize from James. On top of the page, Zeke had scrawled a note. When you get down and don’t think you can go on, look at this. It’s almost like God put this in his Word especially for you, though it’s helped me a lot since my dad died. Remember, God has a plan, and he’s going to do something special with you and Judd.
The verses came from the first chapter of James. Vicki memorized them, and God brought the words to mind at crucial times. “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”
“What are you preparing me for?” Vicki prayed. “I’m not sure I want whatever it is. But, God, I trust you. Everything in me trusts you. Please provide some way for us to get back together.”
A few days before Ryan’s eight-month birthday, which Vicki and the others celebrated with gusto, a vehicle pulled into camp. Zeke had helped many believers take on new identities with false papers and even false marks, but as the GC stepped up their efforts to kill anyone without the mark, Zeke’s work tailed off. There was almost no one who needed uniforms to tailor or disguises to invent.
When Marshall Jameson opened the door, Vicki gasped. It was Chad Harris, a friend from Iowa who had taken Vicki and the others in after they had escaped a GC facility. Chad had helped Vicki get through the death of her friend Pete.
Chad shook hands with everyone and smiled at Vicki. “Zeke told me you were here, but I didn’t believe I’d ever see you again.”
Vicki smiled. “What are you doing here?”
Zeke put a hand on Chad’s shoulder. “Take all the time you need. Vicki will show you to my office.”
Vicki introduced Chad to the others, and baby Ryan crawled up to him and held out his hands. Chad grinned and picked the boy up. “I remember when you were just a little bump in your mother’s tummy.”
Finally, Vicki took Chad into the computer room to talk. “The girl who helped us get to your house—”
“Kelly Bradshaw?”
“Yeah, how is she?”
Chad shook his head. “The GC just about cleaned out all of us. They went house to house, looking for anyone without the mark. The ones they didn’t find were ratted out by neighbors who’d seen us scrambling around in the night, trying to get food and supplies to each other. Kelly was caught about a month ago trying to get some water and bread to a woman on the other side of town.” Chad looked away and wiped at his eyes.
“I’m so sorry. How did you survive?”
“Remember the woods behind my house where we went that night?”
Vicki nodded. Chad had been kind enough to make a picnic and share it with her one night. Their talk had helped her.
“A few of us escaped with all the food we could carry and started living there,” Chad said. “We didn’t think the GC would bother us, but some teenagers started exploring. You know what they’d do if they ever found us. I heard about Zeke and thought he might be able to give us some uniforms and chase them away.”
“But how did you get here?” Vicki said. “A friend of mi
ne has been trying for months to join us from Ohio, but they say it’s too dangerous.”
“Probably wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Took me a couple of nights and a few brushes with the GC, but I made it.”
“But there had to be something more than just …” Vicki stopped. She remembered that Chad had expressed some feelings for her during their final moments in Iowa.
“The truth is, I really wanted to see you again,” Chad said. “I don’t know if you’ve thought of me at all since you were in Iowa, but I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I’ve written a hundred e-mails, then trashed them.” Chad scooted his chair closer and leaned forward. “I see a strength in you and a love for others I’m drawn to. I know we weren’t together that long and I don’t know you that well, but I’d like to get to know you better.”
Vicki blushed. “I don’t know what to say.”
“If you don’t feel anything for me, I’ll understand. I’ll get back in my car, and you’ll never hear from me again—”
Vicki put a hand on his arm. “I’m flattered, really. You were so kind to me when I was struggling.”
“But there’s someone else. The one in Ohio?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s a lucky guy. I appreciate you being honest with me.” Chad stood and walked to the door.
“You didn’t really come for Zeke’s help?”
Chad turned. “All my friends are gone, Vicki. I’m the only one left.”
Vicki stood. “Stay with us. You’ll be safe.”
Chad nodded and walked through the door. He was the last person Zeke helped with a Global Community uniform. The next night, Chad left without telling Vicki where he was going or what he was going to do.
Two days later a report came over GCNN of the arrest of a man posing as a Peacekeeper.
“The unidentified and unmarked man was apprehended in southeastern Indiana after a high-speed chase,” the news anchor said over grainy video shot at night.
Shelly pointed at the screen. “That’s Chad!”
“It is not known what type of terrorist plans the man had,” the anchor continued, “but he was quickly processed and taken to the nearest loyalty enforcement facility.”
Vicki looked at Zeke. “Did he tell you what he was going to do?”
Zeke took a breath. “He made me promise not to tell, but I guess it’s okay now. He wanted to know where Judd was staying.”
“Judd?”
“Chad said he was going to get him and bring him back here if it was the last thing he ever did.”
Vicki put her face in her hands. “He was doing that for me.”
“I tried to talk him into staying and waiting for things to cool down a bit, but he wouldn’t listen.”
The GC report continued, showing others who had been apprehended. Vicki wrote Judd and told him the bad news. They both promised each other they would wait until they were sure God wanted Judd to make the dangerous trip.
30
THE COLD season had ended, and spring had come for Judd and the others hidden in Ohio. Judd flipped through a computer calendar and noticed the anniversary of the disappearances was only a day away. Even though it had been five years since his family had vanished, Judd felt the same ache as the first moment he walked into his house and realized they were gone and never coming back.
Five years of terror and beheadings and natural disasters. Five years of uncertainty, not knowing what was coming next.
Judd got out his notebook and looked at the things he had prayed about in the past few months. At the top of the list was:
Get to Wisconsin. That prayer hadn’t been answered, but Judd hoped it would be soon.
Shelly and Conrad. There had been some misunderstanding in Wisconsin, and the two had gone from being best friends to enemies. Judd continued to ask God to give them a spirit of peace in the midst of turmoil.
Carpathia’s failure. Though Judd knew those who had taken Carpathia’s mark were doomed, he continued to pray for the failure of the Global Community and that the few undecided would turn to the true God. With hundreds of thousands dying because of the lack of drinkable water, that prayer was being answered every day. It seemed even those who followed Nicolae now realized they had been fooled by a cruel dictator who cared about no one but himself. As much as Carpathia, Leon Fortunato, and other GC authorities said it, the world wasn’t getting better. Machines, computers, and people were wearing down. Services such as trash pickup and street cleaning were cut off. Roads fell into disrepair, and cities filled with crime.
Chang Wong. Judd continued to pray for his friend. He didn’t know how Chang could stay in New Babylon, but he was still there, feeding information to the Tribulation Force and doing everything he could from the palace. Chang reported that the place had become a ghost town. Citizens no longer came to admire the sparkling buildings because the world was a mess. Half the population alive at the time of the Rapture had now died. Carpathia often called for the execution of leaders around the world who he thought weren’t loyal enough, and Judd prayed that Chang would remain safe.
The undecided. Judd kept praying for new people to be reached by God’s supernatural means. Every day he heard stories of angels preaching the Good News and the 144,000 Jewish evangelists spreading throughout the globe, preaching and teaching, apparently protected by angels. But Satan’s evil forces were still at work. The deceivers were going strong, trying to convince everyone that they did their miracles by Nicolae’s power. Judd wept at scenes of unmarked people in a remote Philippine village being lured with the promise of water. Though the Global Community News Network didn’t show it, Judd knew the same thing that happened near Petra had probably happened to these unfortunate people.
Tsion Ben-Judah. Judd prayed for strength for the leader of a growing mass of people dedicated to following God no matter what the cost. Tsion continually taught that God was evening the score with the evil ruler. It is not as if the God of gods could not defeat any foe he chooses, Dr. Ben-Judah wrote, but the stench of the other side evangelizing for evil has offended him and kindled his wrath. Yet the wrath of God remains balanced by his great mercy and love. There has been not one report of death or injury to any of the 144,000 evangelists God has raised up to spread the truth about his Son.
Rayford Steele. The leader of the Tribulation Force wrote Judd that he had also felt the presence of angels protecting him and his flyers as they moved about the world. God had protected these freedom flyers from harm in the Middle East, and he had done so over other areas as well when the GC tried to intercept them and force them to land. Judd asked God to continue guarding these brave pilots.
Buck and Chloe Williams. Judd prayed for Buck’s writing in The Truth, which was still read by millions throughout the world. Chloe had massive duties with the Co-op, as well as being a mother to little Kenny.
Jacques Madeleine. Judd never forgot the kindness of his friends in France. Though the GC had discovered the anti-Carpathia action at the man’s chalet, the group had been able to hide until the GC moved on. From the last report, many had become believers through the ministry.
Westin Jakes. Z-Van’s former pilot had been put to work for the Tribulation Force and flew missions around the world. Westin had written many e-mails detailing the harrowing experiences over major cities, but each time God had delivered them from certain death.
Lionel. The transition for Lionel had been difficult. He felt the “phantom pain” of his missing arm, and many days he couldn’t sleep because of his experience under the rock. Lionel had been tight-lipped about this, not even sharing with Judd about that night. Judd didn’t press him for information but continued to pray with him and find things for Lionel to do.
There were other names on Judd’s list like Mac McCullum, Leah Rose, Hannah Palemoon, and Naomi Tiberius, people Judd knew from the Tribulation Force and his travels to Petra. Judd thought often of Nada’s parents and asked God to comfort them with the loss of their son and daughter. Judd
prayed for Mark, Conrad, and the others in Wisconsin regularly, especially when Vicki brought up a situation. He remembered all the people who had given Lionel and him shelter while traveling north, and he asked God to protect them until the Glorious Appearing.
Finally, Judd prayed for Vicki. He asked God to draw her close and make her an even stronger believer than she already was. Judd thanked God for Vicki’s friendship, her support, and for the life she had brought to him, even separated by the miles. “If I didn’t have friends like Vicki and Lionel and Mark … I don’t know if I’d have the will to keep on going.”
One evening after a meeting with their Ohio group, Judd opened an e-mail from Sam Goldberg alerting Judd to the fact that the seas of the world had turned from blood to salt water again.
Tsion said this morning that he has been given no special knowledge about this by God, but he wonders if something worse is coming soon.
Judd turned on GCNN and found Carpathia taking credit for lifting the plague. “My people created a formula that has healed the waters.” Nicolae beamed. “The plant and animal life of the oceans will surge back to life before long. And now that the oceans are clear again, all our beautiful lake and river waterways will soon be restored as well.”
As usual, Carpathia was wrong. The plague of blood lifted from the seas, but as a few more weeks went by it was clear that God had chosen to let the lakes and rivers remain blood-filled. Judd wondered if Tsion was right. Was something worse headed for the earth? Judd opened his Bible to the book of Revelation and studied the text and Tsion’s writings side by side.
Vicki looked for any ray of hope for Judd and Lionel to come north over the next few months but found none. There hadn’t been another visitor for Zeke since Chad Harris, so the only movement about the country by believers was done by the commodity Co-op, and even that was kept to a minimum. Reports of drivers being stopped, pulled onto the street, and immediately shot were common.
The United North American States had become one of the unhealthiest places on earth to live, and Vicki wished she had taken Judd up on his offer to move to France. Or, she thought, they could have hidden out in Petra. There they were sure to have food, water, and safety.
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