Escaping the Cataclysm

by Keith Robinson

  “Now, Dellingr, what is this nonsense you are spreading about a star falling from the sky?” Odin said, turning his attention toward one of the other false gods standing near the throne. Their conversation faded into the background of Mack’s mind as he and the others were ushered through the double doors.

  “Mack, wh…what happened?” Jeffrey said hoarsely, finally coming to his senses now that they were out of Odin’s throne room and the doors were closed behind them.

  Not having the courage to look them in the eyes, Mack simply stared straight ahead as he replied. “We’re to be locked in the dungeon. Odin will come to question us tomorrow.”

  Next to him, Mack heard Jerome suck in his breath in fear. “Tomorrow?” he echoed loudly as he and the others were led through the double doors. “We can’t just let them lock us up! The Flood is coming! We’ll all drown!”

  The words were barely out of his mouth when the floor beneath their feet began to shake and tremble, knocking everyone off their feet, including Thor and the Nephilim. For several terrifying seconds, no one moved. Once the tremor had passed, Thor rose to his feet, followed by the three Nephilim, who looked at each other with uncertainty.

  “Did you feel that?” Jerome gasped. “It’s already starting!”

  At his outburst, Thor turned around to face Jerome, his expression hard and threatening. Jeffrey, seeing the danger, put both hands on Jerome’s shoulders and spoke in a harsh whisper, hoping to talk some sense into his friend. “Get a hold of yourself! We’re weaponless and surrounded by a god and three Nephilim, not to mention the Valkyries.”

  Jeffrey’s words fell on deaf ears as Jerome’s panic consumed him. “NO! We’ve gotta get out of here now!” Breaking free from Jeffrey’s grasp, Jerome pushed him aside and turned to run, his friends stunned by his sudden movements. The guards, however, alerted by his shouting, were prepared for anything. Before Jerome had even taken two steps, the guard closest to him backhanded him with one of his massive fists, sending him sliding several feet across the smooth floor.

  “JEROME!” Rebecca shouted as she prepared to run toward the unmoving body of her friend. Stepping in front of her, Jeffrey prevented her from moving.

  “Becky, stop!” he commanded, trying to calm her. “They’ll just do the same to you.”

  Taking her eyes off Jerome, she looked at her husband, and then glanced around at Thor and the Nephilim who were ready should any of the other captives try anything. Still distraught, but seeing the wisdom in Jeffrey’s words, Rebecca slowly relaxed as tears came to her eyes.

  Satisfied that the rest of the captives were restrained, Thor commanded one of the Nephilim to pick up Jerome. Striding over to his crumpled form, the giant reached down, grabbed him, and slung him none-to-gently over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Opening the elevator door, Thor ushered the group inside.

  As they descended, Rebecca stared at the Nephilim carrying Jerome, searching for any sign of life from her friend. However, from where she stood, it was impossible to tell. Lowering her head, she prayed fervently. Next to her, Jeffrey and Mack both stared at the wall, each lost in his own thoughts.

  The trip to the dungeon cell was nothing more than a blur in Rebecca’s mind. She vaguely recalled leaving the elevator, and being led through a guardroom and down several darkened corridors that smelled of death and decay. When she and her friends were shoved into the cell, she stared at her surroundings numbly.

  She had seen these walls before. They were the same dark stone walls she had seen in her vision aboard the Ark. Except, in the vision, it had been Lisa and Awken that were huddled in the dark corner of the cell. Which could only mean one thing:

  Akwen, Lisa, and Dr. Eisenberg were in danger. Thor and the Nephilim were going to find the pyramid!

  Deuteronomy 31:6

  1 John 4:4

  20

  Noah’s Diary

  Dr. Yaakov Eisenberg opened his eyes as the tremor passed through the pyramid. Across the room, an empty, ceramic bowl fell off the small table and crashed to the hard, stone floor, sending broken shards scattering everywhere. The moment the shaking ceased, the door to his room flung open rapidly as Lisa entered, a look of stark terror on her face.

  “Doc! Doc, are you okay?”

  “Yes, Lisa. I’m fine,” he calmly replied, despite his suddenly racing heart.

  “What was that?” she asked, her face pale. “Has it started already? I didn’t think the Flood was coming until tomorrow!”

  “It is the birthing pains,” he answered, both for her sake and his own.

  Relaxing somewhat, Lisa began picking up the broken pieces of the bowl. As she did so, Dr. Eisenberg saw her hands shaking nervously. Once she had finished, she threw the pieces away and began heading toward the door, her face lined with anxiety. “I’m glad you’re okay, Doc. Try to rest again, and call me if you need anything.”

  “I will,” he said as she departed.

  Closing his eyes, he tried to relax. Try as he might though, he could not shake the unsettling feeling that rested heavily upon his heart. Somehow he knew that it was more than just the aftereffects of the earthquake. Something had happened to Rebecca and the others. Pushing himself up, he grabbed a pillow and put it between himself and the wall so that he was in a comfortable sitting position. He was surprised to discover that, despite his moving around, the pain from his sword wound had lessened dramatically. Thankful that the pain would not be a distraction, he bowed his head and began to pour out his concern for his friends’ safety toward heaven. Immersed in prayer, he lost all track of time.

  Finally, after nearly an hour, he felt the urgency inside him shift toward the rolled parchment sitting on the shelf not far from where he sat. Climbing carefully out of bed, he crossed the room, wincing slightly as the dull throb in his side reminded him of its presence. Ignoring the pain, he picked up the thick scroll and shuffled back over to his bed. Once he had returned to his previous sitting position, he paused, and then examined the scroll.

  He caressed the parchment reverently as if it were a sacred object. Studying it, he took note of every area where the individual pages had been glued together before being rolled. Although he felt a twinge of guilt at the fact that Jeffrey and Jerome had stolen the scroll from Noah during their escape from the Ice Age, it was overshadowed by an even stronger impression that he was meant to read it. Perhaps by reading Noah’s diary, he would find some useful bit of information that could help him and his friends escape the coming Cataclysm, or give him insight into this world prior to the Flood. Taking the edge carefully in his left hand, he unrolled it far enough to reveal the first page. The time that he and Mack had spent pouring over the technical journals for the gravity control device and the pyramid made him familiar enough with the language to read it, even though he couldn’t speak it.

  His heart began to pound as he looked down at the words. No other human had read these words for nearly four thousand years. With his hands shaking slightly, he gazed down at the flowing handwriting and began to read…

  Year 1556, second month, seventeenth day

  The account of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Adam.

  Yahweh, the creator of the heavens and the earth, spoke to me today. In all of my five centuries of life, I have waited for this day, praying that it would happen. Yet the message I received from Him has left me…unsettled and disturbed. I pray that by putting my thoughts down on parchment, I will be able to better sort through my feelings. Also, these words will be a permanent memorial to my family and me about what the Mighty One—glorious are His ways—accomplished through His servant.

  Since my earliest childhood memories, I remember struggling with how a loving God could allow such evil in the world. Now, I have a partial answer to that question: although He gives His children free will to choose obedience or rebellion, those that choose rebellion will not be allowed to go unpunished forever. A day of reckoning must come, for Elohim is also a just God.

  And the day of that judgment h
as now been proclaimed. Those that do not turn from their wickedness and choose the path of salvation that He has provided will perish in the coming Cataclysm…

  Dr. Eisenberg paused in his reading, his thoughts turning to his friends. Even if they managed to somehow escape from the Flood, another Cataclysm awaited them. Death would eventually claim them, and if they did not accept the path of salvation that God had provided… Oh Lord, help these young people realize the truth before it is too late. You spared my life for a reason. Use me in any way possible to reach them, he prayed.

  Turning back to the scroll on his lap, he skimmed passed several paragraphs that paralleled the account found in the Torah. Skipping over several other entries, he finally spotted one that caught his attention.

  Year 1592, fourth month, twenty-fourth day

  I was attacked again today. Fortunately, my cousin was there to pull me away from the mob before they were able to kill me. Ra and his pantheon of false gods have convinced everyone in the region that I am the cause of their crop failures. How will they turn from their wicked ways, oh Lord, when they are convinced that what is evil is good and what is good is evil? Their hearts are so hardened.

  Elohim, I know you told me that you would save me, my sons, and our wives, but the Ark is going to be so big, even with all of the animals, plants, food, bedding, and all the rest, surely there is enough room for many other families. Will no one accept the message of salvation that you have proclaimed? I feel so alone, Lord. Is it even worth it for me to preach? Perhaps the people in the realm of Zeus will repent…

  Rolling the scroll further, Dr. Eisenberg glanced at several more entries, some dealing with Noah’s struggle to continue preaching in the face of increasing persecution, others describing the challenges he faced while designing the Ark, and still others detailing the setbacks and problems he encountered while actually constructing it. Passing over several pages about the menagerie of animals, a small entry suddenly caught his attention.

  Year 1656, second month, tenth day

  Grandfather Methuselah died today, just seven days before the Cataclysm is to begin. As much as I had hoped and prayed that he would join us on the Ark so that we would have his wisdom and knowledge, I am also thankful that he will not have to witness the destruction. Having been among those who learned the history of the creation of the world firsthand from Adam, it would probably have been too much for him to bear.

  I regret that we will not be able to bury him with his fathers, as there is no time to journey to the Garden. Although I wish I could see it one more time, the sight of the cherubim and their flaming swords that guard the entrance to the Garden still fill me with awe and dread, even after all of these years.

  As Dr. Eisenberg began reading the next entry, his eyes grew wide in shock and his heart began beating faster in astonishment.

  Year 1656, second month, fifteenth day

  We are now only two days away from the beginning of the Cataclysm. Eema and I, as well as the rest of my family, have been fighting against our own fear and uncertainty. But I praise the Almighty for His mercy. His loving kindness never fails. For just as we were beginning to despair and lose heart, He sent us encouragement in the form of a group of strangers.

  A gang of Blood Drinkers burned down my home, the menagerie, the mill, and all of the other buildings. Then, they somehow destroyed the lock on the gate and would have succeeded in burning down the Ark, had the strangers not arrived at that exact moment. Once the threat was removed and the lock replaced, I invited the visitors inside.

  Although their story is a fascinating one, I have chosen not to relate it here, as I fear their tale could cause unforeseen damage to future readers. But I praise God for sending them to us today, as I was finally able to witness a person repent of his sins and accept Elohim as the one, True God! It has given me hope for the future. Perhaps mankind can be redeemed. Thank you, Lord, for this much-needed encouragement. I only regret that after they leave tomorrow morning, I will probably never see the strangers again.

  After pausing to thank God once again for Mack’s conversion, Dr. Eisenberg continued reading.

  Year 1656, second month, seventeenth day

  Today is the day. As I write this, I sit in the garden aboard the Ark and the morning sun is streaming through the window above. The air is so beautiful and crisp that the idea of what lies ahead seems so absurd. However, in the distance I can see massive clouds such as I have never seen before beginning to form. How long will it be before I see the sun again? When will the waters begin to fall?

  An unnatural calm has settled over the animals. They know it will start soon. The earth has begun to tremble. The first time it happened, Eema nearly fainted with fright. Each time, the tremors are bigger and last longer. One has already struck this morning. I wonder how many more will pass before the Righteous Judge releases His full wrath.

  No matter how I try, I cannot keep my hands from shaking. My stomach is tight, and I know it is worse for Eema and the other women. They have already begun grieving. Even as I write, tears are welling in my own eyes. My soul is so heavy—the burden is crushing me. Oh Mighty One, if only there were some other way…

  All of the rest of the hatches are closed, and now I must close this last one in preparation, for I don’t know when it will begin. Elohim, remember us…

  Year 1656, second month, seventeenth day

  I cannot sleep, nor, I fear, can anyone else in my family. Even now, I can barely see through the tears filling my eyes, and I cannot stop the trembling in my hands. And I make a vow before my Lord this day that I will teach my children, my grandchildren, and all of their offspring for as long as I draw breath about the consequences of sin. For as long as I shall live, I will never be able to blot out the memory of what happened today.

  We knew that something was amiss when the animals suddenly began to stir. The bleating of sheep, the cawing and squawking of the birds, the lowing of the cattle, the roars of the cats, behemoths and dragons. All began to wail in terror.

  Eema remained inside to comfort my terrified daughters-in-law while my sons and I rushed to the door of the Ark. What we saw there chilled our souls. A great mountain engulfed in fire fell out of the sky! Although we could not see where it landed, the accompanying tremor knocked us from our feet.

  The impact must have set off a chain reaction within the earth, for the ground heaved and buckled. Great fissures opened up in the ground. Far off in the distance, we saw the giant plumes of smoke billowing up from the tops of mountains to mingle with the massive storm clouds above. Flashes of electricity sparked around the peaks while liquid fire began to run down the side, burning everything in its path as it slowly made its way towards Asgard.

  Still on our hands and knees, we watched in horror as great walls of the city collapsed inward, crushing thousands of people. Within a matter of a few minutes, wildfires raged all throughout the city. The woods to the south burned rapidly. The destruction appeared so great, that even my sons and I began to fear for our lives. May He forgive our lack of faith.

  Then, our fear changed to compassion and pity as we watched the people begin to empty out of the city. They ran up the hill, many laden down with whatever possessions they could carry. Even facing certain death they clung selfishly to that which was useless. Riots broke out in the streets as wicked men died while they squabbled over trinkets and baubles.

  Before long, the bottom of the hill on which the Ark rested was swarming with people, all desperate to reach the safety of the Ark. The cries for mercy from the multitudes rose up from below, carrying even over the continued rumble in the earth. Overwhelming grief filled my soul. Standing to my feet, I tore at my robe, a cry of anguish escaping my lips. I beseeched the Creator for mercy and begged him to temper His wrath.

  Looking back toward the people climbing the hill, I called encouragement to them from the doorway of the Ark. So intent was I on rescuing as many as possible, that I never once considered what would have happened had they
all reached us with the door open. In their panic, they would have crowded the Ark and we all would have perished.

  But the Almighty God, in His wisdom, did not leave it up to me.

  Shem’s cry drew my attention to the Eastern horizon. A wall of white and blue was rapidly growing, filling the edge of the sky for as far as we could see. For several minutes, we simply watched in confusion as it grew, wondering what new terror was about to befall the inhabitants of our world. But it wasn’t until the first droplets of water splashed across my face that I knew with horrifying certainty what it was.

  Only later did I truly comprehend what had happened. The blazing mountain that fell from the sky must have landed in the ocean. Like a rock dropped in a pond, enormous ripples of water spread out from the mountain in all directions. What we saw coming toward us was a wall of water!

  I urged those climbing the hill to throw down their useless items and climb quicker. But there was no way that they could have heard me. The wall of water had already begun crossing over the land, ripping up trees by their roots and sweeping away everything in its path. The wall was not high enough to reach the top of the hill where the Ark rested, but I knew that everyone caught on the slope would perish instantly.

  The mighty wave crashed down, shaking the earth with its fury. Millions of people and animals perished in that first wave. Most of Jotunheim, Midgard, and Alfheim were instantly wiped away by the flowing waters. Of those climbing the hill, only the hundred or so people furthest up remained.

  I will never forget the expressions of stark terror that they wore. They knew, too late, that Elohim was real and they had rejected Him. Then, as they resumed their climb to the summit, the earth shook again and a fissure opened on the side of the hill between the people and the Ark. Suddenly, from out of the darkness of the chasm, rivers of water burst forth, spraying thousands of cubits into the air. Water soon gushed from many of the other fissures until we could no longer see more than a few hundred cubits in any direction.