by Bill Myers
“Katherine … I can appreciate your feelings —”
“You know nothing about my feelings!”
He paused then nodded slowly. “You are correct. I’m sorry, I’ve never had the opportunity of experiencing a parent’s heart.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“But Heylel has never lied before.”
“I don’t care what —”
“Once he gives his counsel to the Cartel he leaves. He always has. It’s only when Eric insists on interrupting and fighting for control before Heylel finishes that we have these problems.”
“It’s Eric’s body; he’s got a right to do what he wants with it.”
Lucas nodded, thinking. “It should also be his right to decide on whether or not to continue hosting Heylel. As far as I can tell the dangers are minimal, and Eric’s certainly been more than willing.”
“He’s only a kid.”
“He’s a young man, Katherine. And he has a will of his own. He’s always had the ability to say no. No one is forcing him to cooperate with Heylel.”
Katherine’s anger rose. Not over what he’d said, but over her inability to refute it. How she loathed this man.
“You know how important Heylel’s counsel is to us.”
“Not as important as Eric is to me!”
He nodded. “Once again, you are correct. But without his advice, without his insight …” Lucas paused, pretending to gather his thoughts, but she knew he already had them. He always did. “Katherine, for the first time in history, we are on the brink of world peace. I know it doesn’t look like it now, but deals are being made, bargains are being struck. And much of it, dare I say a greater degree of it, is due to Heylel’s counsel … and to your son’s willingness to facilitate that counsel.”
Katherine started to object but wasn’t sure how.
He continued. “Nearly every country is supporting us now. In just a few weeks we will hold the groundbreaking in Jerusalem, followed by my installation into office. For the first time in history, the entire world will know peace. Think of it. People from every nation working together for a common good. And your son’s participation will be one of the primary factors. In many ways his contribution is greater than mine, greater than any of ours. And perhaps, in the grand design of things, this is a token payment for all of the suffering you two have been forced to endure.”
“If it doesn’t destroy him first.”
Lucas frowned. “He’s been in no real danger. I’m not sure exactly what you mean.”
Katherine wasn’t sure either, which only added to her frustration.
Before she could answer, Lucas continued. “You have paid an incredible price, Katherine. To ask you to do more would be terribly unfair.” He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “But, to deprive Eric of this opportunity, especially if the risks appear to be minimal, would it not be even more unfair?”
She started to answer, but he wasn’t finished.
“Especially if it’s what he wants? He’s not a little boy, Katherine. And if he chooses to be a major historical figure in bringing about the peace of the world, shouldn’t he have that right?”
Katherine felt her argument slipping through her fingers and fought to hang on. “If he knows the consequences.”
“Then explain to him these perceived fears of yours. But be fair, Katherine. Be certain he understands both the risks … and the rewards.”
“And if he chooses to quit?”
“Then it will be his choice. Of course it may be difficult for me to convince our labs to find incentive to continue searching for a cure to his genetic problem, but at least it will be his choice. You owe him that, Katherine. We all owe him that.” He held her gaze, making perfectly sure she understood.
Almost against her wishes, Katherine began to nod. As always Lucas made perfect sense, and as much as she wanted to stay angry at him, she had lost the reason. Still, there was the other issue. “What about this doctor, this neurobiologist that used to be on your payroll?”
Lucas frowned.
“The one who worked for that institute you guys sponsored in the States.”
“Oh, yes. Sarah Weintraub?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ve tried contacting her. We’ve explained both Eric’s deteriorating self-control as well as this situation with Heylel. We’ve asked that she come to observe him and to make an evaluation.”
“And?”
“At the moment she’s preoccupied with a new clinic she has started … and a new husband.”
Katherine felt her anger returning. “I want somebody to tell us what’s happening to my son. You said she’s good —”
“I said she is the best. She’s one of the few neurobiologists in the world who also specializes in paranormal research. It’s a rare combination.”
“Then you get her here.”
“Katherine …”
“If you want to keep using my boy as your cosmic communication center, then you get her here to tell me what’s going on.” Katherine was grateful to have found another reason for anger, and she knew it was time to leave before he found another way to diffuse it. She turned and started for the door.
“And if we can’t convince her to come?” he asked.
She turned back to him. “I’ve seen what your resources can accomplish, Lucas. When you boys set off to do something it gets done. If you can’t bring one little doctor here to look after my boy, then it only proves to me how unconcerned you are for his welfare. And if that’s the case, then you’d better start looking for someone else to help you save the world, because we won’t be sticking around.”
She turned and stormed out of the office, pleased with her performance and with her terms.
She just hoped he wouldn’t call her bluff.
Dearest Brandon and Sarah:
By the time you get to reading this I’ll be home with the Lord. I’ve asked a young man to be sending this note along with a few others at different times to help guide you through your treacherous course.
“Is this for real?” Brandon asked.
Sarah glanced up from the screen. “From what I’ve read of her other letters, it sounds like the same woman.”
“You don’t think it’s a forgery?”
“There’s always that possibility, but how many people knew she even existed?”
Brandon nodded and they turned back to the screen.
I know the following words will be hard. But as His two witnesses He’ll be requiring a lot more from you than most.
Like others from Scripture, you will be made an example for folks to see. Trust Him. The cost is great, but you must remain faithful. You’ve read ’bout your deaths in Scripture. Don’t let it worry you. Death comes in many forms. Fact, it was the good Lord Himself who said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
As you’re about to read, the call upon your lives is very real and very great. But He must take you through several steps. Each one requires faith, and they won’t always be making sense. But you’ve already taken His hand. Now for your sakes and the sake of the world, don’t be letting go until all is complete.
Your sister in Christ, GM
“Where’s the rest?” Brandon asked.
“In an attached file.”
“Have you read it?”
Sarah shook her head and doubled clicked the mouse, bringing a new document up onto the screen. This one was much different in both tone and content:
My Children:
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you as prophets to the nations. Only be strong and courageous. Do not tremble and be afraid.
Sarah took a breath to steady herself.
My heart is heavy, to the point of breaking. For as a harlot looks to many lovers, so my bride has turned her eyes from Me.
As a wife treacherously departs from her husband,
so she has dealt with Me. With her mouth she says, “Come, My Beloved, I eagerly await,” but with the fruit of her thoughts she pleads for My absence.
Listen carefully, My children. I have paid a great and terrible price for my bride, and I will not be denied. She is Mine and no one may have her. Yet she is neither willing nor ready for My return. And I will not approach her chamber until I am her sole desire.
Warn her, my children. Warn her of her lustful neighings, of the lewdness of her harlotry. This is My decree to you.
This is how she will hear My voice. Though you are wed and your covenant made, your relationship must not be consummated.
You must neither lie together nor become intimate with one another.
“What?” The word escaped before Sarah could catch it. She threw a look to Brandon. He was also scowling. She turned back to the screen and continued:
For just as my bride and I are legally wed, just as I love and long for her, I will not consummate our relationship until she is cleansed. She must put aside her harlotries and be purified for the arrival of her Bridegroom.
Sarah had reached the end of the screen and scrolled down to read more. But that was all, there was no more. She turned to Brandon. “Did I read what I thought I read?”
The pain and confusion in his eyes made it clear she had.
“But that’s … that’s not possible,” she said. “It’s a joke, right? Some sick, practical joke.”
Brandon said nothing. He reached down and scrolled back to reread the message.
But Sarah had seen enough. She scooted back her chair and rose. “This can’t be real.” She headed toward the window then back toward the desk. “You’re the one who said wait until we were married. You’re the one who said sex was so precious it was only to be shared by husband and wife.”
He nodded. “That’s what the Bible says.”
She crossed back to the window, continuing to pace. “And we obeyed. Lord knows it was hard, but we obeyed.” She spun back to him, jabbing her finger at the screen. “And this is our reward? Not to ‘lie together,’ not to ‘consummate’ our relationship?”
Brandon had no answer.
“No, no, this isn’t the God we’ve been reading about. This isn’t the God of love and mercy. No way. This is some sicko God, some sexually repressed —”
“Sarah.”
“Brandon …” Her voice revealed the hurt. “This is our wedding night.”
“I know,” he said sadly, “I know.”
“And you really think that this could be His will? Weren’t you the one who kept telling me how God was the one who created sex, how it was supposed to be the deepest communication between two people? Isn’t that what you said?”
“He’s not saying sex is dirty —”
“No. He’s saying I’m dirty!” She felt her throat tightening with emotion. The words on the screen had hurt more than she thought. “Don’t you see it? I’m the ‘bride.’ I’m the dirty one, I’m the filthy one.”
Once again the years of guilt and condemnation began welling up inside of her — the ambition, the using of people, the abortion. Of everything Christianity had to offer, this had been the most beautiful and hardest to accept — that Christ had taken the punishment for all of her failures, that her past was completely forgiven, that he saw her as pure and holy …
Until now, until this pronouncement that she wasn’t even fit to sleep with her own husband.
“Sarah …” He held out his arms to her. “That’s not what he —”
“Of course it is! It’s right there, see for yourself!”
“He’s using us as examples,” Brandon said, “as symbols. You think this is any easier for me?”
“I don’t know why not. After all, you’re the good guy. You get to be the bridegroom, you get to play Jesus Christ. While I get the role of some cheap, two-bit prostitute. Fitting, don’t you think?”
“Sarah …” He reached out to her. She turned away as hot tears spilled onto her cheeks. She gave them an angry swipe, but they kept coming, which only made her more angry.
“Sarah.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Sarah …”
At first she resisted until finally she turned and pressed her face into his chest. “This isn’t the program I signed up for,” she said. “It’s not fair.”
“I know.” She couldn’t see his face but heard his heart pounding, felt his labored breathing. “You’re right,” he said. “It’s not fair. It’s not fair at all.” She remained in his arms, feeling his strength, grateful for it. She wished they could stay like that, just like that, forever. He continued. “But …”
She closed her eyes, knowing there was more.
“I know you’re having a hard time accepting a lot of this end-times stuff — especially when it comes to taking it literally. And, to be honest, so am I. But this … I mean, you can’t get much clearer than this, can you?”
She gave no answer.
“If we’re agreed that Gerty’s never been wrong … along with all of the other Scriptures and prophecies and things that have been happening to us … if we can agree on that much, that she’s never been wrong … ” He took a deep breath and let it out with heavy resignation. “Then what other choice do we have? What else can we do but obey?”
She said nothing. It wasn’t the answer she wanted, but it was the one she’d expected — at least from Brandon.
“Sarah?”
She still would not speak. If that’s what he wanted, if that’s what God wanted, okay, she’d comply. But that didn’t mean she had to approve it, it didn’t mean she had to gleefully accept it.
“Sarah, please … say something.”
Still, Brandon shouldn’t have to bear the entire burden of making the decision. After all, this was the man she loved. And they were a team.
“Sarah?”
At last, she gave a grudging nod. She could feel relief spread through his body. Although the decision was far more his than hers, they’d made it together. At least that’s what he’d think. He tenderly kissed the top of her head. She pressed deeper into him, feeling his warmth and strength and love.
“Hold me,” she whispered. “Please … just hold me.”
CHAPTER 3
“ERIC! ERIC, LUNCH IS ready!” Katherine rose and shaded her eyes from the blinding snow above. Behind her, terrace after terrace of young grainfields descended like emerald steps until they reached the small village below. A handful of peasants were hunched over, working the fields, as a distant water buffalo pulled a wooden plow through one of the plots.
“Eric?” She scanned an outcropping of rock. That’s where she’d last seen him playing with Deepak, his bodyguard. “Eric?”
The picnic had been her idea. To get him away from the compound and its influences. To get him back into the Nepal countryside with its violet blue sky and dazzling white mountains. Later, when the time was right, she’d ask him what he thought about moving on. There were some powerful pros and cons, and she wanted to know his opinion.
“Eric!” With a heavy sigh, she started up the steep slope after him.
Of course the biggest reason for staying was for the help the Cartel continued to offer. Their genetic scientists had already come up with some drugs that had drastically slowed down his progression toward violence. It had been entirely different for Michael Coleman, their original guinea pig. His moral disintegration had taken only a few weeks. For Eric they’d slowed it down to many, many months.
Still, slowing it down was not the same as stopping it. And, as Eric’s interest in the supernatural increased, his moral conscience and concern for others seemed to decrease. Not that he didn’t try to be good. There were many times Katherine saw his face scrunched into a frown as he struggled to make the right decision. But as the impulses toward evil increased, it became more and more difficult for him to resist. And nothing pierced Katherine’s heart deeper than to discover her son off by himself, full of remorse over some recent outburst of viol
ence.
Another plus was his attachment to Lucas. Of course she was jealous, she knew that. Truth be told, she should be honored that such a man had taken an interest in her son. And it wasn’t just because he was powerful. Except for his womanizing, you couldn’t ask for a better male role model. Everybody loved Lucas Ponte — an acclaimed international leader, respected by men, adored by women. And, although the wheels of power had positioned him as the figurehead to bring the nations together, he always maintained a certain humility, a grace, and compassion.
Against those two strong pluses for staying was the only minus … Heylel. No one knew what the name meant, though from time to time he also referred to himself as Light Bearer. Whatever he was, he continued to make Katherine more and more uneasy.
The initial contact with him had come simply enough. One of the compound’s Tibetan monks had suggested they turn to meditation as a cure for Eric’s violence. If he could successfully empty his mind and enter that quiet place deep inside of himself he would find his guardian angel or perhaps a spirit guide who could help. It didn’t take Eric long to master the process, and he said there were lots of guides wanting to assist … until Heylel came along. Then everyone stepped aside and allowed him to come forward.
“He’s like the head honcho,” Eric had explained. “Everyone’s afraid of him.”
Heylel had never spoken directly to Katherine, but he had been providing invaluable counsel to the Cartel. Lucas was right. Heylel’s knowledge and insight into other leaders’ thinking, as well as upcoming world affairs, was as helpful in bringing them toward world peace as all of the other Cartel resources combined. Normally, Katherine might even consider this a plus, if it weren’t for the power struggles that were starting to end the sessions.
Katherine was breathing hard by the time she rounded the cleft of rocks. “Eric? Eric, where are —” She came to a stop. He sat high atop another group of rocks, some thirty feet away. His legs were crossed and his hands rested on his knees in the lotus position. Several feet below, Deepak lay stretched out, sound asleep in the afternoon sun. But it wasn’t the bodyguard’s fault. Eric liked his privacy, and entering weaker minds and coaxing them to sleep had become child’s play for him.
