Hunted

by Jerry B. Jenkins

  The car was right behind them and Judd slowed.

  “What are you doing? Keep going.”

  “Let’s see who it is.”

  “What are you talking about? That guy’s GC. I know it!”

  Judd pulled to the side of the road and stopped. Vicki stared in disbelief as a man in a Global Community uniform stepped from the car pointing a gun at the Humvee.

  Judd rolled down his window and studied the rear-view mirror. “Let’s play this straight. Just do what he says and we’ll be okay.”

  “Both of you step out of the car,” the officer said.

  Judd put a hand on Vicki’s shoulder. “We’ll be okay. Just get out.”

  Vicki opened the door and climbed out. She looked for a place to run, but the officer motioned her to the rear of the Humvee. The air felt warm, so the plague was still in effect.

  “You, redhead, walk slowly toward me with your hands up,” the officer said.

  Vicki did as she was told.

  “What do you want with us?” Judd said.

  “Shut up and come with me, punk.”

  “No!” Vicki said.

  “Hands on the back of the car!” the officer warned.

  Vicki turned. She couldn’t believe they had been caught. They had gone through so much, too much to have it end like this.

  “You,” the officer said to Judd, “on your knees.”

  Judd knelt behind the car, and Vicki glanced at the officer, who slowly walked toward them. The man stopped near Judd, holstered his gun, and pulled something out of his pocket. “I believe this is yours, young man. And I think you know what to do with it.”

  Vicki turned, her brow furrowed. The officer had given Judd a tiny box, and Judd smiled. The officer took off his sunglasses and pushed his hat up, showing the mark of the true believer.

  “Zeke?” Vicki said.

  “Pay attention to what’s happening, redhead,” Zeke said.

  Vicki glanced at Judd, who was still on one knee. “Vicki, I have known you almost six years, and though we’ve had some difficult days, the last few weeks have been the happiest of my life.”

  Vicki covered her mouth with a hand as Judd opened the box, revealing a sparkling ring.

  “I’ve come to love you, Vicki, and I want to share the rest of my days with you, before our Lord returns.” He pulled the ring from the box and held it out. His voice broke when he said, “Will you marry me?”

  Tears stung Vicki’s eyes as she slipped the ring on her finger. Vicki fell into Judd’s arms and they kissed. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “Yes.”

  45

  WHEN Vicki returned to the camp in Avery, the others had put together an engagement party for her and Judd. Zeke had told everyone what was going on, and Josey had made a cake.

  Lionel could hardly contain himself. He kept slapping Judd on the back, smiling, laughing, and shaking his head. “You finally did it!”

  After Vicki recovered from the shock of the creative way Judd had asked her to marry him, she socked him in the shoulder for scaring her with the GC trick. “You just about gave me a heart attack! I thought we were both dead.”

  Judd smiled. “I thought it would be memorable. Who wants to tell everybody a boring engagement story?”

  They both met with Marshall to talk about their next step. To her surprise, Vicki discovered there were a few at the camp who thought it wasn’t a good idea for them to get married.

  “I’ve had conversations with some who think these kinds of things shouldn’t be happening,” Marshall said. “But this is a personal decision, and you two have shown good judgment through this dating process.”

  “What do you mean?” Judd said.

  “Let’s just say people have been watching you two to see if you’d become clingy with each other. You know, to see if you’d be so ‘in love’ that you wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything else. But we’ve been pleased with how you’ve handled this.”

  “Vicki and I were talking about dates for the wedding,” Judd said. “Is there a set waiting period?”

  “That’s up to you, though I would suggest you go through a marriage counseling course.”

  “What will that do?” Vicki said.

  “It helps prepare you for the big changes ahead. We could set up the sessions and have them done as fast as possible.”

  Judd bit his lip. “I know this is a long shot, but would there be any way to link with Dr. Ben-Judah and have him perform the ceremony?”

  “We were talking,” Vicki continued, “and outside of Bruce Barnes, the person who has mentored us most is Dr. Ben-Judah, even though it’s been mostly through his writing.”

  Marshall scratched his chin. “Why don’t you e-mail him and see?”

  Judd wrote the e-mail and let Vicki read it. “Perfect,” she said. He sent it directly to Dr. Ben-Judah and copied Sam Goldberg and Mr. Stein. Vicki wrote Chloe Steele and a few others she thought would be interested in their news. Within an hour, a flood of messages came back.

  I’m so happy for you, Vicki and Judd, Chloe wrote. I think you’ll find marriage one of the most challenging and rewarding things you’ll ever do. I can’t imagine not having married Buck, in spite of how little time we have left.

  Rayford Steele also wrote. Judd was a little anxious, but he was relieved when he read Rayford’s message. I’ve been married twice, and only once as a believer. Having someone share the good and bad times is one of the greatest comforts I’ve experienced. You two will be a great team!

  Westin wrote from his plane somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. I couldn’t be happier for you. Actually, I might be able to give you a pretty good present. Let me know when you two are planning the ceremony.

  “What could he be talking about?” Vicki said.

  Judd shrugged. “Knowing Westin, it could be anything.”

  The next day Dr. Ben-Judah wrote and congratulated Judd and Vicki. I would be proud to unite the two of you if we can work out the technical details. In the meantime, you should both seek the Lord in prayer as to where you should live. It may be that he wants you to stay in Wisconsin with your friends. We could also use a young married couple here in Petra. Consider this and let me know when you would like to arrange the ceremony.

  Vicki’s mouth opened wide. “I’ve heard so much about Petra, but I can’t imagine actually living there.”

  “It would be a great place to start a new life,” Judd said. “But what about our friends?”

  “It’d be hard to leave, but if we’re together, I could call anywhere home.”

  Two weeks later, just after a counseling session with Marshall, Mark held up the phone in the main cabin. “It’s Westin. I think you’ll want to take this.”

  Judd heard plane noise as he answered the phone. “New plan,” Westin said. “And you should know I’ve cleared this with the Trib Force.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Remember my surprise to you and Vicki? Well, I heard about Dr. Ben-Judah’s offer to have you come to Petra. I have an important run next week to some believers near New Babylon, and I’d like you to come with me.”

  “Just me?” Judd said.

  “Last trip as a bachelor,” Westin said. “You help me with the New Babylon drop, and then we go to Petra so you can build your honeymoon cottage.”

  “I’ve seen the homes there, and there’s not much to them.”

  “Still, you could get things ready for Vicki. Then she’d come on my next trip back.”

  Judd looked at Vicki and smiled. “What about my best man? He’s here in Wisconsin.”

  “I can bring him with Vicki and anybody else who might want to relocate to the safest place on earth.”

  Vicki hugged Judd tightly and looked into his eyes. “The next time I see you, I’ll be walking down the aisle—or the rocks or whatever they call it in Petra.”

  “I don’t think I can find a tux,” Judd said, “I hope you won’t be too disappointed.”

  “Some
thing about this plan scares me,” Vicki said.

  “We’ve waited this long. Another week’s not a big deal.”

  “Just be careful.”

  Judd met Westin in Hudson, Wisconsin, and was amazed at the amount of supplies packed onto the plane. Westin said the believers near New Babylon were a little mysterious, not having much contact with the outside world, but they were prepared to ride out their remaining days right under the noses of the Global Community. The contact they had made with Westin wasn’t through the Tribulation Force but from a man named Otto, who had moved to New Babylon from Germany.

  “That’s about all I know,” Westin said, “other than they’ve been fighting the GC every chance they get.”

  “You mean fighting, as in guns?” Judd said.

  “Hey, the last battle is coming, and you need to get ready. Armageddon. I’m not going to miss it.”

  “I thought Armageddon was where God smashed the armies of the Antichrist.”

  “It is, but God’s used his followers up to now, so why wouldn’t he use us in battle? You should hear Dr. Ben-Judah preach about it. He’s really stirred me up to think I can be part of it.”

  Judd settled in for the long flight and sent Vicki an email. When the disappearances happened, it was scary and really sad. But part of it was exciting because we were on our own, without parents telling us what to do. But like Marshall told us in one of our sessions, everything we do from now on will be done together!

  The plane touched down near Petra, and Judd spent a day meeting old friends and scouting a place to build a small shelter. Sam Goldberg showed him several sites, and Mr. Stein said there would be plenty of help and materials.

  “We don’t have all the modern conveniences,” Mr. Stein said, “but we have fresh food provided by God every day and wonderful teaching, not to mention fresh water.”

  After visiting the communications center and greeting Naomi Tiberius, Judd rested for the trip the next day to New Babylon.

  Vicki watched the news coverage about changes in the past two days and felt concerned about Judd. The blood had turned back to water in streams, signaling the end of the third Bowl Judgment. An urgent message from Chang Wong came not long after.

  In my monitoring of Carpathia over the last few days, I believe we have reached a turning point. He is still occupied with the “Jewish problem,” as he calls it. Just when Carpathia and Akbar thought they had devised a plan to kill Jewish believers in Jerusalem, the sun plague hit and the GC were sent underground. In fact, the number of Global Community forces who have died is staggering. But they still have a lot of firepower available.

  Of particular interest to me was a phone call I recorded between the potentate and his security chief, Suhail Akbar. I send this transcript not to scare but to warn you of the seriousness of the threat.

  Carpathia: Suhail, these plagues have always had their seasons. This one has to end sometime. And when it does, that may be the time for us to pull out the half of our munitions and equipment that we have in reserve. Would you estimate that the confidentiality level on that stockpile remains secure?

  Akbar: To the best of my knowledge, Excellency.

  Carpathia: When the sun curse lifts, Director, when you can stand being out in the light of day again, let us be ready to mount the most massive offensive in the history of mankind. I have not yet conceded even Petra, but I want the Jews wherever they are. I want them from Israel, particularly Jerusalem. And I will not be distracted or dissuaded by our whining friends in northern Africa. Suhail, if you have ever wanted to please me, ever wanted to impress me, ever wanted to make yourself indispensable to me, give yourself to this task. The planning, the strategy, the use of resources should make every other war strategist in history hang his head in shame. I want you to knock me out, Suhail, and I am telling you that resources–monetary and military–are limitless.

  Akbar: Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down. Carpathia: Did you get that, Suhail? Lim-it-less.

  After Judd’s plane touched down in a remote area outside of New Babylon, he met with one of the leaders of the mysterious group, Rainer Kurtzmann, a former stage actor from Germany who had become a believer not long after the disappearances.

  After Judd and the others loaded supplies into several of the group’s vehicles and headed for Carpathia’s city, Rainer took another route to give Judd and Westin a tour. The effects of the sun plague had left the city in ruins. Lavish parks with fountains and flowers were reduced to ashes. Judd noticed Rainer was wearing a gun, and Judd asked him why.

  “We came from Germany, where fighting the GC was getting boring. One of the leaders of a nearby group, Otto Weser, convinced us from Scripture that there would be believers in New Babylon during this time. So we came, and we have survived.”

  “I can’t imagine living here without the mark of Carpathia, right under his nose,” Judd said.

  “I couldn’t either. Some said we would be killed before we ever found a place to stay, but here we are, moving supplies into our underground hideout.”

  “Have you lost any members?”

  Rainer gave Judd a pained look. “Yes, but I’d rather not talk about that now.”

  Judd nodded.

  Back at the safe house, Judd and the others enjoyed a meal together. Everyone wanted to hear about Judd’s experience in New Babylon, and he described his adventures, though he kept the information about Chang Wong private.

  The conversation was so interesting that Judd and Westin stayed past their deadline to get back to Petra before dark, so the group made room for them. As the sun went down, Judd watched the group go through their complex routine of securing the hideout. A few days after the sun plague began, the group had burned the top of their house to make it look like the others surrounding it.

  Judd found it difficult to sleep in the enclosed hideaway. It was so different than the camp in Wisconsin, where they felt safe at all hours. A team kept watch over video screens throughout the night, looking for any irregular GC movement.

  When morning came, Judd headed outside to watch the sunrise but was stopped by a female member of the group. “We aren’t allowed out until the sun is fully up. I’m sorry.”

  Judd went to the breakfast area, where he wouldn’t disturb anyone, and dialed Chang Wong.

  Chang was out of breath when he answered the private line. “Judd, I hope you’re calling from Petra.”

  “Actually, I’m not. Why?”

  “Show’s over.”

  “What?”

  “Though I’ve been immune to the sun plague, I’ve still felt the difference in temperature and humidity. A few minutes ago I woke up, and the air feels different.” Judd heard Chang clicking at his computer. “Yeah, I’m right. The temperature here is normal.”

  Judd’s heart sank. “Maybe when the sun gets higher—”

  “No, usually at this time of the morning things have begun to burn.”

  Judd tried to hold back his emotion. He had tried so hard to get back to Vicki, and now he was a million miles from her in the most hostile location on the planet.

  “Where are you?” Chang said.

  “You’re not going to believe it,” Judd said.

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  Jerry B. Jenkins (www.jerryjenkins.com) is the writer of the Left Behind series. He owns the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, (www.ChristianWritersGuild.com), an organization dedicated to mentoring aspiring authors, as well as Jenkins Entertainment, a filmmaking company (www.Jenkins-Entertainment.com). Former vice president of publishing for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, he also served many years as editor of Moody magazine and is now Moody’s writer-at-large.

  His writing has appeared in publications as varied as Time magazine, Reader’s Digest, Parade, Guideposts, in-flight magazines, and dozens of other periodicals. Jenkins’s biographies include books with Billy Graham, Hank Aaron, Bill Gaither, Luis Palau, Walter Payton, Orel Hershiser, and Nolan Ryan, among many others. His books appear regular
ly on the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists.

  He holds two honorary doctorates, one from Bethel College (Indiana) and one from Trinity International University. Jerry and his wife, Dianna, live in Colorado and have three grown sons and three grandchildren.

  Dr. Tim LaHaye (www.timlahaye.com), who conceived the idea of fictionalizing an account of the Rapture and the Tribulation, is a noted author, minister, and nationally recognized speaker on Bible prophecy. He is the founder of both Tim LaHaye Ministries and The PreTrib Research Center.

  He also recently cofounded the Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy at Liberty University. Dr. LaHaye speaks at many of the major Bible prophecy conferences in the U.S. and Canada, where his prophecy books are very popular.

  Dr. LaHaye earned a doctor of ministry degree from Western Theological Seminary and an honorary doctor of literature degree from Liberty University. For twenty-five years he pastored one of the nation’s outstanding churches in San Diego, which grew to three locations. During that time he founded two accredited Christian high schools, a Christian school system of ten schools, and Christian Heritage College.

  There are almost 13 million copies of Dr. LaHaye’s fifty nonfiction books that have been published in over thirty-seven foreign languages. He has written books on a wide variety of subjects, such as family life, temperaments, and Bible prophecy. His current fiction works, the Left Behind series, written with Jerry B. Jenkins, continue to appear on the best-seller lists of the Christian Booksellers Association, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the New York Times. LaHaye’s second fiction series of prophetic novels consists of Babylon Rising and The Secret on Ararat, both of which hit the New York Times bestseller list and will soon be followed by Europa Challenge. This series of four action thrillers, unlike Left Behind, does not start with the Rapture but could take place today and goes up to the Rapture.