by Mark Romang
“But I don’t want it,” Sara exclaimed. “You’re right; the demons want this sword badly. They’ll keep hunting for it. Eventually they’ll find it. And when they do they’ll find me.”
Maddix stiffened. A fresh wave of adrenaline coursed through his veins. The Accord he bought earlier this morning was sitting inside an enclosed car trailer pulled by a heavy duty pickup truck. “Someone is stealing our wheels.”
“Just wave the Eden sword at them. If they have a brain, they’ll reconsider,” Sara said.
Maddix took the sword from her and jogged up to the car trailer. The driver’s side door on the Accord opened. A very tall man stepped out and walked to the back of the trailer. Maddix was about to issue a challenge when he recognized the individual. Gabriel stepped down from the trailer and faced them.
“We neutralized all the demons in the slot canyons. And Sara got three more just now. I’m hoping we don’t need the sword anymore,” Maddix said, holding out the weapon.
Gabriel took the sword but didn’t say anything right away. The sun reflected off his golden surfer hair. Despite his human disguise, Maddix found Gabriel intimidating. Human clothing couldn’t contain his supernatural physique, his heavenly aura. “I’m sorry I don’t have the scabbard with me. It’s in Kyle miller’s helicopter.”
“That’s okay. Get in the trailer. We have a long journey ahead of us,” Gabriel said.
Maddix shook his head. “I need to turn myself in to the nearest police station. I’m sure I have an arrest warrant out for me. I’m a suspect in a triple homicide.” The words no sooner left his mouth when sirens wailed from several blocks away.
Gabriel looked at him sternly. His cerulean eyes penetrated Maddix. “You have only fulfilled half the prophecy concerning you. You and Sara must come with me.”
“You mean we’re not finished fighting demons?” Sara asked.
“For now you are. You will experience a time of rest and preparation before the battle begins anew.”
“But if Sara goes with me she will become an accessory,” Maddix argued.
“You and Sara will become man and wife. You will have a child together. The child is part of the prophecy. Now that is all I am allowed to tell you.”
Maddix looked over at Sara. She was already climbing into the car trailer. Either she really loved him or was afraid of Gabriel and didn’t want to draw his ire. “I thought arranged marriages were not in vogue anymore.”
“God arranges marriages all the time,” Gabriel answered. “They only fail because of selfishness.”
The sirens grew louder. Only a few blocks separated them now. Maddix couldn’t stall much longer. A decision needed to be made. But stepping into the trailer felt criminal to him. He’d joined the Navy to become a SEAL. He did it because he loved his country and wanted to defend her freedom. America was special because just laws governed her and kept her a safe place to live. The judicial system in America seemed hopelessly broken, but shouldn’t he at least give it a chance to work on his behalf? “If this is the right thing to do, how come it feels so wrong?” he asked.
Sara looked at him urgently. Her pretty green eyes filled with tears. “You’ll be locked away forever, Andrew, possibly even put to death. When the court hears you testify about hunting demons with a flaming sword they’ll think you’re nuts. Someone like you, an ex-SEAL with special fighting skills will never be allowed onto the streets. Fighting skills and insanity is a bad mix.”
“I’m not insane.”
“I know that, but the world will think otherwise.”
Maddix looked behind him. The sirens buzzed like mosquitos in his ear. He turned his attention back to Gabriel. “What about Webb and Cody. What will happen to them?”
“Kyle Miller will mentor the boy and become a father figure to him. Webb will not fare so well. He will travel down a dark path, a path he doesn’t need to travel.”
“What about my store? My whole inventory was bought on credit?” Sara asked.
“You’re creditors have been paid. You owe nothing. All arrangements have been made. You only need to come with me.”
Sara held out her hands to Maddix. “Please hurry, Andrew. The police are almost here. This isn’t about you anymore; what you can do for God. This is about what God can do through you.”
Maddix sighed. He nodded his head and stepped into the car trailer. The door closed behind them, shutting them off from the outside world. The trailer started moving almost immediately.
Track lighting shined a dim light inside the car trailer. A few small vents brought in fresh air—albeit hot air. A set of cabinets hung from the trailer’s nose. Snacks and bottled water sat on a counter. Weak from hunger and his fight with Webb, Maddix tore into the snacks. After two bananas, a protein bar and a packet of granola, he felt his strength return. He grabbed a water bottle and sat down on the Accord’s hood.
Sara sat down next to him. “I hope you can learn to love me someday,” she said quietly.
Maddix slid a hand into hers. He looked at her. Despite her smudged makeup and water-flattened hair, Sara looked lovely. “That won’t be hard. To love you, I mean. I’m almost there right now.”
Sara smiled. “I hope you like children. Because it sounds like we’re going to have one.”
“Of course I like children. What kind of knucklehead doesn’t like kids?”
Chapter 46
Durango, Colorado outskirts
It was dark when Gabriel opened the trailer door, and much cooler, the sky a pincushion of stars. Pine trees scented the mountain air. Stiff from the long drive, Maddix stretched his arms and legs. He inhaled the night air deeply. A horse neighed from a nearby corral.
Gabriel joined them. “Don’t get too comfortable. We’ll only be here for a short time. Follow me,” he ordered. They followed the archangel up onto a porch that wrapped around a two-story log home.
A porch light came on and the door opened. A ghost from Maddix’s past stepped out the door to greet them. Caleb Brennan, his PT instructor at Coronado Beach held folded objects in both his hands. “Each of you must put on overalls, booties, rubber gloves and a hair net before you step inside. We have a lot to go over and not much time. And I know what you’re thinking. I assure you I’m not a germaphobe. It’s just I don’t want you dropping any DNA in my home. The authorities will come here first,” Brennan said gruffly.
“I see you haven’t changed much, Caleb. You’re still crotchety and you still have that ridiculous handlebar mustache,” Maddix said as he put on the objects. When he finished putting on the protective clothing he looked like he belonged in a forensic crime lab or a CSI TV show. Once Sara finished putting on her protection they stepped inside Brennan’s spacious home.
Big game and exotic animal heads stared down at them from the log walls. Brennan led them down a hallway and into a media room. A leather sofa and chair sat in front of a big screen TV hanging from the wall. Brennan handed Maddix a DVD. “Before we go over your identity changes and travel itinerary, you need to watch this.” He patted Maddix on the shoulder and left him and Sara alone.
Maddix put the unlabeled DVD into a Blue-ray player sitting on a stand below the TV. He pushed the play button and then sat down on the sofa. Sara sat down next to him.
Nothing could have prepared him for what appeared on the TV screen. His shoulders sagged. Tears filled his eyes almost immediately. Dan and Belinda Maddix, his parents, stared back at him, their eyes as watery as his. They looked old and tired.
His mom spoke first. “Hi, Andrew,” she began shakily. “I wish I could see you the same way you’re seeing us right now. But your father and I are to blame for that. We turned our backs on you, made you feel unwanted. We thought we turned you away out of love, but our motives were misguided. We should have never forbidden you from joining the Navy.”
Belinda Maddix dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I guess I should start from the beginning. It might be easier for you to understand this way.” She looked at her husban
d, took a deep breath and began again. “During my pregnancy with you I dreamt a lot. I had this one recurring dream that I found frightening. In fact, I would say the dream was more of a nightmare. In the dream I was visited by an angel. The angel appeared to me in all its supernatural glory, and it told me the child in my womb was chosen by God to one day lead a resistance against Satan.
“The angel said you would grow into a great soldier and be a man of war and violence. The angel went on to say you would be misunderstood by the world, that you would be hunted by the police, and live in a cave like a wild animal. And then the angel gave me a vision. I saw you fighting a demon with a flaming sword. And the demon was…Satan.
“I kept having this nightmare until you were five years old. And then it stopped. I never told your father about it. I didn’t want to worry him,” Belinda said. She turned to her husband. And then his dad spoke.
“Son, I can’t begin to tell you how much your mother and I love you. We are so proud of the man you’ve become. You’re probably shaking your head right now. But it’s true, you’re everything to us.” Dan Maddix swallowed thickly; wiped at his eyes with a trembling hand. “Your mother didn’t want to tell me about the dream. But the fact of the matter is I was having the same dream. And I experienced it off and on until you were fifteen. I finally told Belinda about the dream. We decided at that moment to do everything in our power to make sure this prophecy never came true.
“We’re not really peaceniks, Andrew. We steadfastly support America’s military. But when you told us you wanted to give up your college scholarship to join the Navy and become a SEAL, we knew the prophecy was starting its fulfillment. We foolishly thought the threat of estrangement might persuade you to change your mind. We were wrong.
“Nothing and nobody in this world can stop God’s plans from unfolding. When Caleb approached us and told us he’d be helping you escape apprehension, we made this video and asked him to share it with you. I hope you can forgive us for disowning you, son. We were desperate. We didn’t know what to do. We loved you so much, and still do. Just know that we will be praying for you night and day. We’re behind you and believe in your cause. Please don’t try to visit us. Our home will surely be under surveillance.
“Now we must go, son. We’re taking up too much of Caleb’s time. Be strong, Andrew. Never give up. This dark and fallen world is counting on you.” The TV screen went blank.
Maddix let out a sigh. He backhanded tears from his eyes. So many emotions coursed through him. He felt like he could melt into a puddle of tears. Sara put an arm around his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Maddix nodded. He stood up and retrieved the DVD. “Let’s go talk to Caleb.”
****
They found Caleb Brennan and Gabriel in the kitchen. Caleb—adorned in western clothing and a cowboy hat, stood behind a long granite island. Gabriel leaned against the refrigerator, his head towering above the appliance. ID cards, passports, and other identification papers were spread out on the countertop. Maddix handed him the DVD. “Thanks for letting me see that.”
Brennan took the DVD. “Your parents are good people, Andrew. They made a terrible mistake by not being up front with you. But they genuinely are proud of you.”
“So how did you know I needed help?”
Brennan jerked his thumb backward toward Gabriel. “The big guy visited my dreams as well.” Brennan leaned in closer to Maddix. His icy-blue eyes narrowed. “Listen, I was a real jerk to you when you were a SEAL candidate, Andrew. I don’t think any other candidate at Coronado ever endured as much PT pain as you. I’m sorry about that.”
Maddix grinned. “You were only doing your job, Caleb. You brought out my best.”
Brennan shook his head. “I nearly killed you, Andrew. But you want to know why I was harder on you than everyone else in your class?”
“I would love to know the reason.”
“My mother, God rest her soul, was a crazy woman. She swore up and down she was a prophetess. My dad left her because she was so crazy. When I was fifteen she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She never left the building. Much later when I became a SEAL instructor she wrote me letters asking me to take special care of a candidate named Andrew Maddix. She instructed me to train you harder than all the rest because you were special. I never paid the letters much mind. After all, my mother was crazy, and the letters became redundant after a while. But then one day, lo and behold, you showed up in my PT class. So I honored my mother’s wishes. I trained your butt off. Maybe my mother really was a prophetess, who knows.”
All this talk of prophecy and visions and dreams was starting to wig him out. Maddix looked around at Brennan’s amazing home as his mind processed. “You sure did well for yourself since you retired. What are you doing now, Caleb?”
“I own my own security company. I specialize in risk management and global security. The government contracts with me quite a bit. A lot of my employees are retired special-ops guys. Many of them are currently in Iraq and Afghanistan. I also provide protection for executives traveling abroad.” Brennan picked up the ID papers and cards. “No time for chit-chat. Let’s get right to it. You are now Australian citizens living in New Zealand. You can live in New Zealand indefinitely as long as you have your Australian travel passport” He handed Maddix his passport, and then Sara hers.
“Where will be living in New Zealand? And what will we do for a living?” Sara asked.
“You’ll be on the North Island in a rural area of New Zealand. What you do for a living is up to you. In this particular region are numerous sheep and dairy farms. Maybe you can work on a farm, I don’t know,” Brennan answered. “You’re first priority will be to lay low. And I have a perfect spot that will keep you hidden.”
“Is it a safe house?” Maddix asked.
Brennan shook his head. “That would be too obvious and too dangerous. The U.S. government knows all the safe houses my clients use. You’ll be staying underground, as in a cave. I can say with confidence that no one but me knows about this cave. I found it a couple years back when I was red stag hunting on the North Island.”
Maddix thought of his mother’s dream, where the angel proclaimed her son would live in a cave. “Why do you think you’re the only one who knows about the cave?”
“I found it by accident. Like I said, it was a hunting trip. I was with three other hunters and a guide. We were hiking up a mountain. I needed to relieve myself. I went behind some thick vegetation and fell into a lava tube cave. I didn’t even see the opening it was so hidden. There’s an impressive great room and lava tubes spawning off in all directions. I never told my hunting buddies about my mishap. I went back later by myself and explored the cave. It looked like I was the only human to ever enter it.”
“How long do we have to live in it?” Sara asked, her face becoming downcast. Maddix felt bad for her. Every American girl dreamed of getting married and having children and living in a sprawling house with a white picket fence. Living in a cave wasn’t her dream, wasn’t what she asked for. But it’s what she was getting.
“I would say just until the intensity of the manhunt dies down. But you’ll probably need to stay there for several months. After that maybe you can find a place to rent.” Brennan pulled out a manila envelope from somewhere below the kitchen island. He showed them a topographical map. He pointed a stubby finger on a highlighted section. “The cave is right here. Are there any other questions about your living arrangements?”
Maddix shook his head.
“I can’t think of any,” Sara said.
Brennan nodded. “Now, in order to pull this off, you two will have to change everything about yourselves. Altering your appearance isn’t enough; you have to literally train yourself to become a new person. People wrongly think a new name and a new location is enough. It isn’t. People get caught because they frequent the same type of restaurants, wear the same kind of clothes, use the same perfume or cologne, go to the same kinds of movies and sporting e
vents, use the same brand of handbag, smoke the same brand of cigars and cigarettes, read the same magazines as before, read the same genre of books. They change their identity in name only. It’s their hobbies and habits that lead to their discovery.”
Brennan looked at Maddix. “Andrew, you should grow your hair out, grow a wooly beard and put on a few pounds. Stop running and swimming for exercise. Sara, you should cut your hair short and die it. Don’t kayak anymore. Don’t frequent climbing stores. Both of you need to change your gait, your stance. If you’re right handed, train yourself to be left handed, and vice versa. Stay off the internet. Don’t use cellphones. Pay for everything in cash. Try hard to acquire the native accent. These are just a few tips. You’ll think of more.”
“How are we getting to New Zealand? Flying commercially will be risky,” Maddix said.
“You’ll be flying on a personal business jet.”
“That will cost a fortune. Who’s picking up the tab?”
“I have a friend who flies many of my clients around the world. I bring a lot of business his way. He owes me a freebie.” Brennan stooped down and picked up two small duffels from behind the kitchen island. He looked at Sara. “I have a fresh change of clothes here for both of you. And there is some makeup and toiletries for you, Sara. I’d be surprised if I got the right shade, but it’s better than nothing. You guys can freshen up on the plane. There is also food and drinks on the plane. Whatever you do, don’t get off the plane until you’re in New Zealand. I don’t know how many stops you’ll make to refuel, but stay on the plane.”
“What airport are we flying out of?” Sara asked.
“Durango. It’s not far from here. Gabriel will take you there in the car trailer.”
“Thanks for helping us, Caleb. We’ll never be able to repay you,” Maddix said.
Brennan placed a hand on his shoulder. “Just never give up, Andrew. You’re a SEAL. No matter how tough it may get, SEALS don’t give up. God created you for a grand purpose, a mission bigger than all of us. Let Him do his work.” Brennan placed the ID papers and passports, along with the topography map inside one of the duffels. He also placed an envelope of cash inside the bag. He looked at them sternly, the way a schoolmaster might look at misbehaving pupils, yet Maddix detected moisture welling in Brennan’s eyes “Now get out of my house. You’re wasting time,” Brennan said, and turned quickly away.