Chloe had talked about her son, Kenny, during the conversation as well. “I just hope if anything happens to me or Buck that the other one will be there to help raise Kenny. I can’t imagine not seeing him grow up.”
The memory sent a chill down Vicki’s spine as she reread a journal entry about some of the conversation. Vicki had written a prayer at the end of the page. God, if anything does happen to Chloe or Buck, I pray that you would make it possible for me to help in some way to raise Kenny.
The phone rang in the main cabin and Vicki was closest. Immediately she heard background noise like someone was on an airplane. “Hello?”
“Yes, I’m looking for Zeke—I’m not sure I have the right—”
“Captain Steele?” Vicki said.
“Yes, who’s this?”
Vicki told him and asked Mark to get Zeke. “Where are you?” she said.
“We’re flying over the southern states now, headed for home base. We came from Petra.”
“I heard about Chloe. Is it true?”
“All the information we have points to them having her,” Rayford said.
“We’ve been praying for her—and for you and Buck and Kenny.”
Rayford cleared his throat. “That means more than you can know, Vicki. I was really excited for you and Judd. Have you heard any more from him?”
Vicki told him what she knew, and Rayford told her of his conversation with Judd earlier. “We have a contact who’s still in New Babylon that we’ll probably need to go in and get. If Judd’s not out by then, maybe he can take that flight.”
“That would be wonderful.”
“Plus, I’m going to talk with Zeke about something that might help you as well. Do you sense much danger from the GC there in Wisconsin?”
“It’s such a remote location, they seem to have forgotten us or don’t really care that we’re here.”
Zeke rushed in so Vicki said good-bye to Rayford. Zeke took the phone in the other room and talked for a few minutes. He returned smiling.
“What did Captain Steele want?” Vicki said.
“He asked if I was ready to come out of mothballs.”
Vicki raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“You know, come out of storage. Get in the game. Go where the action is. Seems they need some help in Petra and I’m on my way.”
“What are you going to do there?”
Zeke frowned. “Don’t know exactly. I figure I’ll be working on disguises and such, you know, fake ID cards or uniforms or maybe some tattoos. Captain Steele didn’t give specifics, but I told him if they needed me, I’d be there.”
“I’m happy for you,” Vicki said.
“You ought to be happy for yourself.”
“What do you mean?”
Zeke sat in a rickety wooden chair that strained under his weight and smiled. “Because I’m supposed to have a little company on the flight.”
“Who?”
“Well, the pilot will probably be Mac McCullum or whoever they assign, but there’s a certain redheaded girl from Mount Prospect who’s been given the okay to be on board as well.”
“Me?” Vicki choked.
“And whoever you need for the ceremony once Judd makes it back,” Zeke said.
Vicki covered her mouth, then waved a hand at her face. “I have to tell Lionel. He’s supposed to be Judd’s best man.”
Zeke laughed. “Then go tell him.”
13
JUDD and a few others had moved into a hideout run by Otto Weser less than six miles from the GC palace. Westin had stayed with Gunther and the rest of the group as they tried to destroy Global Community guillotines and loyalty mark sites before the darkness ended.
After a long sleep, Judd finally met Otto. The German timberman was barrel-chested, with a wide grin and big hands. Judd asked Otto only one question and the man was off, talking a mile a minute and stopping for just enough breath to continue. He told Judd he had come to New Babylon to be part of the fulfillment of prophecy that believers would be called out of the city. Judd noticed he didn’t mention anything about the deaths of Rainer’s wife and the others.
“After the darkness plague hit, I knew what I had to do. For a long time I’ve wanted to see the palace with my own two eyes. So, when I couldn’t convince anyone else to go with me, I went by myself to the compound, the courtyard, the palace—and I especially wanted to see Nicolae Carpathia’s office.”
“You actually went inside?” Judd said.
“Yes, and imagine my shock when I saw believers there. Four of them.”
Judd quickly figured out that Otto had met Chang Wong, Rayford Steele, Abdullah Smith, and Naomi Tiberius.
“What an answer to prayer those people were. And to think, we have a connection in Petra when we need it.”
When Otto took another breath, Judd said, “So you’re not concerned about being here while Carpathia’s goons are around?”
“Nicolae and his goons, as you call them, have left. Rayford Steele and I found out about a meeting in the palace and we went there. We actually saw Nicolae kill one of his top people. An Indian man, I think. Awful. Grabbed him with both hands and snapped his neck like a chicken bone. Then kept going with the meeting. Shows you what kind of man he is.
“Well, they reported a plane had landed, and Nicolae was personally going to inspect it. That was Rayford’s plane so we had to get out of there, but before we did, we found out that Nicolae is calling together his ten kings, the leaders of all the global regions. That will happen in six months. But they’re moving all leaders into the light at Al Hillah. That’s where Nicolae has stored his nuclear weapons.
“Perhaps Nicolae just wants to be in the light, or perhaps he knows that New Babylon will be destroyed by God. I don’t know. But one thing is certain. You and I are in a very strategic place, Mr. Judd Thompson Jr.”
When Otto paused, Judd seized the opportunity. “I met Rainer. He told me a little about the disagreements you had.”
Otto’s face went white and he sighed. “You don’t know how many times I’ve wished I could talk with him and tell him how sorry I was. I heard he and Klaus were killed, and I hold myself personally responsible.” He put his hands on his knees. “Did Rainer ever say anything about me other than the story about his wife?”
Judd reached in his pocket and pulled out the letter Rainer had given him. Tears welled in the big man’s eyes. He tore open the letter and quickly read the brief note. Otto shook with emotion, then folded the letter and put it in his shirt pocket. “I will never get to tell him how sorry I am.”
“Yes, you will,” Judd said. “You’ll see each other again and the others.”
“You’re right. And that day is closer now than it has ever been.”
After Judd finished talking with Otto, he spent some time praying for Chloe Williams. He didn’t know much about the situation, but he knew enough to sense that she was in grave danger. He prayed the Tribulation Force would be able to rescue her and get out safely and that Chloe would stay strong and not give the GC any information.
Judd thought of Petra and remembered Sam Goldberg. It had been a while since they had talked, so he dialed the last number he had for the boy and reached the computer area at Petra.
After a few minutes, Sam was on the phone. “I’ve heard about your situation through Mr. Stein. He talked briefly with Captain Steele while he was here and got an update on you. We’ve been praying.”
“How’s it going with you?” Judd said.
“Let me step outside,” Sam said quietly. “Most people prefer working inside at this time of day because it’s hot.”
When he had moved outside, Sam said, “I’ll be honest, Judd. I had feelings for Naomi.”
“Did you talk with her?”
“Yes. She tried to let me down easy, but the truth is, my feelings haven’t gone away. And now that Chang is here …”
“What’s Chang got to do with it?”
“Naomi flew to New Babylo
n and has been with him almost every minute since they’ve been back. He’s a genius with computers. I’ve watched him tapping into everything in New Babylon. He’s not much older than me, and yet he’s been given a major assignment by the Trib Force.”
“You can understand that, though. The guy’s been on the inside of the GC—”
“I know. And I can see why Naomi is attracted to him, but I’m still having …” Sam’s voice trailed off. Then Judd heard him say hello to someone. “You won’t believe who just walked by with a basket of manna for her sweetheart.” Sam sighed. “With all the problems in the world, this one is so small.”
“Sam, I’m really sorry. I’ll pray that … well, I’ll pray for you.”
“I need it,” Sam said.
With the turmoil of Judd’s situation, plus learning about Chloe’s capture, the last thing Vicki needed was the emotional drain of saying good-bye. But here she was again, packing the few belongings she had and getting ready to leave the friends she had made over the past few years. She carefully folded and packed the wedding dress that several of the women had made for her. It was a comfort to know Lionel would be going along and Zeke would be there too, but she hated leaving.
A few hours before the trip to catch the Trib Force plane, the group gathered in the main cabin to bid farewell to their friends. Vicki cried when little Ryan walked up and handed her a picture of him and the Fogartys. On the back was written, So you won’t forget the joy you’ve brought our family. Vicki hugged Ryan tightly and smiled through her tears at Tom and Josey.
Charlie brought Phoenix into the room, and the dog licked Vicki’s face. “They say a dog is man’s best friend,” Charlie said, “but you’ve been mine, Vicki.”
One by one they expressed their feelings for Vicki, Lionel, and Zeke. Darrion said she was thankful that Vicki was a person who knew how to listen. Janie, in her own way, gave tribute to Vicki and thanked her for sticking with her even when she didn’t deserve it. Shelly couldn’t speak. She just gave Vicki a long hug.
Mark tried to say something but couldn’t. After what felt like ten minutes, but was really only one, he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “I’ve known Vicki and Lionel as long as anyone here. We’ve had our disagreements, and some knock-down, drag-out fights.” He looked at Vicki. “You were there when my cousin died. You’ve really been my family these last six years, and sometimes families get upset and bicker and …” He shook his head. “I don’t know what to say other than … I love you.”
Vicki, Lionel, and Mark hugged each other, the tears flowing.
Zeke blew his nose loudly and everyone laughed. “Sorry, but you guys are the ones making my nose run,” he said.
When everyone had said something, Marshall Jameson stood. “It’s been the treat of a lifetime getting to know you three. Zeke, you brought a servant’s heart to this place. It’s been an honor to serve alongside you. Lionel, you showed us what real courage is all about, and I pray God will use you in this last year as much as he’s used you in our lives.” Marshall paused and wiped away a tear. “And, Vicki, you have been a light. I couldn’t be any happier for you and Judd, and I pray God will bless you both.”
Marshall pulled out three handwritten notes. “I asked everyone to write something about you that you could take, something to remember us by. Some wrote verses that remind them of you, and others wrote personal things.”
He handed them the three envelopes, then asked everyone to gather. Vicki, Zeke, and Lionel sat while the others put their hands on them.
“Oh, God, you have given us these friends who have blessed us with their lives. And now we give them back to you, asking that you will use them mightily. Watch over them and protect them. May they always remember the love we have for them and that our love is only a fraction of your love for them.”
Marshall paused. There were sniffles and sobs all around Vicki. Finally he said, “ ‘And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. All glory to him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen.’ ”
An hour later, Marshall helped Zeke drag his boxes and trunks into the underbrush near Hudson, Wisconsin. They said good-bye again and Marshall was gone.
Vicki, Zeke, and Lionel stayed out of sight until they heard the whine of the jet engine overhead. Soon, Mac McCullum had touched down and was helping Zeke pull his things to the plane.
Mac was a tall, lanky man who talked with a drawl. Vicki had heard a lot about him from Judd and others who had met him. He had flown planes for the Global Community and was presumed dead when Nicolae’s expensive jet crashed in Israel. Vicki recalled how glad she felt when she heard Mac had escaped the GC before the crash.
Mr. McCullum greeted Lionel and Vicki and showed them where to put their things. As they lugged Zeke’s stuff, Mac asked about Zeke’s stay in Wisconsin.
“I wish you could meet everybody in Avery,” Zeke said.
“No second thoughts about leaving? You must be close to these people.”
“Lots of second thoughts, but I figure a guy’s got to go where he’s called. I was called here, and now I’m being called there. Who woulda thought a no-account like me would ever get called anywhere?”
When they were in the air, Vicki got a good look at the devastation from the heat wave. There were occasional patches of land that hadn’t been affected, but most of the earth had been scorched. Cities looked like ghost towns.
Vicki asked about Chloe, and Mac told her what he knew. “We got a report in San Diego that Peacekeepers were coming our way, so we decided to get out fast. Most of us are heading to Petra, though I’m not sure if Rayford and Buck have made their final decision about a rescue.”
“You mean they might not try?” Lionel said.
“Apparently they’ve moved Chloe to somewhere back east. We don’t know where.”
“Buck must be going out of his mind,” Vicki said.
Mac pursed his lips. “And you should hear little Kenny crying for his mom. They’re trying to take care of him, but nobody can do that like a mom can.”
As Mac piloted them across the Atlantic, he told them what he knew about the Trib Force member named Albie who had been killed. “As much of this as we’ve gone through, it never gets easier. They’re planning a little service for Albie at Petra once everybody gets there from San Diego.”
Mac explained that he would drop them off at Petra, then head to Al Basrah and clear his and Albie’s apartment of any clues. “I’ll be taking a bigger plane from Petra ’cause I got to bring back this Otto Weser guy and his people.”
“Captain Steele told me about him,” Zeke said. “So you’re bringing them back to Petra because of that Scripture about God’s people getting out of Babylon before God destroys it?”
“Exactly.”
Vicki sat forward. “Do you think Judd will be in that group you bring from New Babylon?”
“If he’s not, I’ll find him and hog-tie him. We gotta get you two back together.”
Zeke stared at the ocean seven and a half miles below. “What must that have looked like when it was all blood?”
“You can’t imagine,” Mac said.
Mac turned to Lionel and said he couldn’t believe how Lionel had survived his ordeal in Indiana. “And it sounds like your time in South Carolina was no cakewalk.”
Lionel told them what had happened to him during his travels and said he wondered if all those believers who had helped him on his way north were still alive.
Vicki tried to keep up with the conversation, but she fell asleep to the roar of the plane’s engine. A new chapter was being written in her life, and this final year would begin in Petra.
14
WHILE Vicki dozed, Lionel listened to Zeke and Mac talk about the different disguises the group in Petra might need for an upcomin
g mission. Zeke said he had found a book detailing new techniques for makeup, scars, skin and eye color, and blemishes.
Lionel was sad to leave Wisconsin, but he had been on the run so much in the past few years that this didn’t feel much different. Though he loved his new friends in Wisconsin, he hadn’t been there long enough to set down roots like Vicki had.
Lionel pulled out the sheet of paper Marshall had given him and read through the different messages. Some were printed from the computer, others handwritten. The one from Charlie, scrawled in pencil and slanting down one page, choked him up the most.
Dear Lionel,
I’m really sorry about your arm and have been praying for you since the accident. I hope the one Zeke made for you works good. I haven’t known you as long as I’ve known Vicki and some of the others, but I want you to know that I’ve seen Jesus in you. You’re always thinking of others and not yourself, always keeping people on track, and treating people like I imagine Jesus would.
I know Jesus wasn’t black or anything, but I think you know what I mean. That’s all I have to say. Thanks for being my friend.
Charlie
Lionel folded the page and smiled. Charlie’s line about Jesus not being black reminded him how much he had been through since the disappearances. At first, Lionel felt uneasy being the only black teenager in the group, but with the earthquake and all the plagues and death around them, his skin color wasn’t an issue. They were all believers in Christ. Period.
It was what Lionel imagined an army went through. He had read stories about soldiers who disliked others because of their differences. But once the bullets started to fly, it didn’t matter where the people came from or how they talked or what they looked like—they were fellow soldiers.
Lionel heard Mac say something about Carpathia’s ten kings, and he began listening again.
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