He walked over to the podium and sipped on a glass of water.
“Now, I believe it is time for the night’s sermon…”
For the next thirty minutes, the Preacher spoke without the use of notes. His storytelling abilities and the way he interacted with the crowd were riveting. He was involved and charismatic, and his passion was second to none.
By the end, many of the townspeople were visibly exhausted.
“Now the Lord tested Job, a lesson instilled so may we never doubt Him. And we cannot question His will now, more than ever," the Preacher said before transitioning into his closing speech. "As you know, I was appointed by God himself to lead His chosen flock to the Promised Land. Like Moses himself I will lead you. All you need to do is follow my words, the words of God.”
"Interesting," Nick declared in the midst of a quiet room.
The congregation turned almost in unison, mumbling unpleasantries for Nick’s unkindly interruption.
"Nicolas. First allow me say how thrilled I am that you and yours decided to come tonight!”
Neither Lisa, Jenny nor Nick commented.
"Tell me, what do you find so interesting, my Native American friend."
"What I find interesting is that you would compare yourself with a man who performed tricks to deceive people."
One in the congregation stood up and pointed sternly at Nick "Blasphemy! You watch your tongue!"
The rest were disturbed but not to the same extent. More than mild chatter ran through the aisles, but the Preacher quelled their eager attitudes.
"Now, now. It's okay, each person is entitled to their own opinions and conjecture. I think what Nicolas was attempting to correlate to was Moses, aprophet who performed miracles to save his people."
"I wasn't there," Nick replied dryly, "but if I remember correctly, his downfall was pride and for his disobedience and misinterpretation, he wasn't allowed inside the Promised Land. I meant nothing by it. All I said was interesting."
The basis behind the Preacher’s crooked smile was equally as ambiguous as his reply. "Interesting is the wonder of being."
Following was an awkward tension in the room, as no one spoke and no aggressive movements were made, but agitation was present, like lines of heat rising from a street on a blistering day.
"Very well,” said the Preacher, turning to the side only to whip around holding his index finger high. "There is one more thing. Something I am certain will add to this already joyous occasion. During my visit last night, the Angel of the Lord endowed me with a gift of sorts."
The Preacher closed his eyes and lifted his hands. He hummed and mumbled a prayer, and after a long moment, his body lifted off the ground. Levitating in front of the altar, he slowly began to hover across the floor and down the steps.
The congregation gasped and praised the Heavens.
“Unbelievable!”
“He’s been blessed!”
“He has angelic power!”
Lisa’s eyelids did not blink. "Uh, guys, what the hell is happening?"
"Did you guys just see that?" Landon said, not believing his eyes either.
"Did he just float?" Jenny asked to those on both sides of her.
There’s no way,Nick thought, but remained speechless.That’s impossible.
At the bottom of the three steps, the Preacher opened his eyes. "Our Father has endowed me with incredible strength! For your unwavering faith, He wanted me to show you that you should not fear what is to come! That as long as you are pious, work hard and remain in his walls, nothing bad will come to you! For Good is winning this war! And shan’t be long before Evil will plunder back to the depths of Hell! You and you alone are the chosen few. Now if you will, I ask that you follow me outside..."
The congregation arose and followed without hesitation, nearly stumbling over one another to be at the forefront. Men, women and children marched through the street to the opposite end of town.
"Binky, would you mind opening the gates, please?"
“Excuse me, Preacher?” Binky replied from the deck above.
Even the townspeople verbalized the Lawkeeper’s bewildered reaction.
"Preacher! The demons reside out there!"
"What are you doing?"
"Now, now my children. I told you, I am simply following God’s will. You will see. I am not afraid, nor should you be."
Binky released the locking mechanism by yanking down the metal lever. With the help of Jill, the Preacher pushed the gate outward until the hinges stopped the large planks.
The townspeople took a collective step back; the young and old moved behind the more courageous. Whether standing on toes or finding an opening between heads, everyone had a view of what was about to transpire.
Robe dragging through the mud, the Preacher walked toward the darkness, stopping just within the limits of the ambient torch lighting. He removed his outer garb and handed it off. “Thank you, Jill. Please join the others.”
"Damn,” Nick mumbled. “I thought he might be wearing some mechanism that helped him levitate but apparently not."
"I was thinking the same thing," replied Jenny before communicating the thought to Lisa.
"Maybe he is legit?"
"I’m not completely sold, Lisa. Let's keep watching before we jump on the bandwagon.” Nick pinched his tear ducts as a headache pained him. He held on to one of the support beams and struggled to keep his eyes open, more importantly, focused.
The Preacher turned around in a full circle, twice, shouting, "Demons of the land, come forth! Come out, forsaken, and show yourself!"
It took two long minutes, but suddenly one infected man, with a face and chin like Ben Affleck, rushed out from behind the tree line. Its breathing was heavy as indicated by the steam cloud. Blood that had once dripped from its mouth had since crusted on the skin of its neck and stained the front of the sweatshirt. Its jeans were torn and only one sneaker was on, laces half-tied. Michigan Wolverines beanie on its head, the man let out a wicked scream and rushed toward the Preacher.
Binky raised his revolver but stopped.
“No!" the Preacher instructed. Then he spun around to meet his attacker.
Without hesitation, Beanie latched on to the Preacher's wrist. It whipped his head back and forth, thrashing like an alligator.
“G-ah!” the Preacher yelped, dropping to his knees.
Then, the man of God did the amazing.
The Preacher lifted his left hand and pressed his palm against Beanie’s head and declared, "Back, you demon! In the name of God, I command you back!"
Beyond any and all reason, the words worked. Beanie released his grip and shuffled away, lowering his head and shaking it back and forth like a schizophrenic who was hearing multiple voices. It struggled with itself, screaming and hissing, and clawing at its own face.
Hand extended, the Preacher lifted himself and took two sturdy steps forward. "I command you by God himself to back away demon!"
Distressed, Jill ran up and threw the robe over the Preacher.
“I’ll be fine, my dear,” the Preacher said, grabbing his forearm.
“I would never doubt you. Still, let us return to the others.”
Just before the entrance, the Preacher looked up and said. "Lawkeeper, now you may send the demon back to Hell."
The Lawkeeper looked down the metal sights and sent a .357 caliber round through Beanie’s head. A spray of blood and grey matter exploded out the back.
At the top of the ladder, ready to descend, Binky replied, "I'll take care of the body. You go get that arm looked at.”
"No! Not you my son. The demon has left its physical form, but it is still out there. Jill, would you and Blake kindly take care of the body?"
“Of course, Preacher,” Blake said, stepping forward.
Both Blake and Jill received a blessing, then hurried outside the gate and dragged Beanie out of view. The townspeople followed the Preacher back into the center courtyard, where he sat on a bench. There, he allowed the people
to circle around him to ask questions and comment on his actions and injury.
But Nick was neither calm nor sympathetic. "What the hell did you do that for? You have put the whole town at risk!"
“Why?”
“What risk?”
“He just controlled a demon!”
Jenny answered the people before Nick could. "Because now he is infected with Trinity that’s why!"
The Preacher snarled.
"What is Trinity?” a man in a faded white collared shirt asked.
"It's the same virus I tried telling the Preacher about earlier today," answered Nick. "Those things out there aren't demons. They are people infected with a virus called Trinity that was manufactured by the LIFE Corporation. The same people we are trying to stop!"
"Did none of you hear the President's broadcast a few days ago?"
While the majority snorted and threw their hands down at the claim, a few expressed interest.
"What is this about a virus?"
"What broadcast?"
"Are you saying these people aren't demons but just sick?"
"Exactly! The Trinity virus makes them overly aggressive. Makes it so they can't think or reason.”
“The virus is transmitted by bites and through blood to blood contact!” added Lisa. “And now the Preacher has it!”
"Children!” exclaimed the Preacher. The word was said in such a powerful manner that it captured every set of eyes and ears. “Do not listen to them. They are delirious from travel and have yet to understand the true nature of what is really going on!”
"Precisely!” Jill declared, marching over; Blake was busy shutting the gate. “You say these are just infected people that can’t think or reason? Yet how do you explain what just happened? How Reverend Thoreau was able to control the demon?"
“Ya! How can you explain that?” pro-Preacher supporters asked.
"Well...we, we can't explain that part,” Jenny answered, looking to Nick.
Nick appeared to be having difficulty thinking. “She’s right...we can’t explain that. Our doctor, the one who discovered Trinity, died. Her notes and test results were lost, but it's the truth. Itisa virus, and thesedemons are just people."
“We have proof! Or had it,” Lisa retracted when she realized the fact that the evidence against LIFE was with Charlie and Agent Kim. “It was a video from the President, but it’s with the other members of our group.”
“So let me get this straight,” Mrs. Christie, the physician's assistant, said, stepping in front of the rest. “The doctor who had everything on this ‘virus’ is dead. Her notes are gone as well. And this other ‘evidence’ that you claim to have is with another part of your group who, conveniently for your sake and story, aren’t here to corroborate?” She paused there and looked around at her friends. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but that seems like a bold faced lie to me! And I for one will not let these people sway me from my beliefs! Nor from what the Lord has planned for us!”
Others joined in with Mrs. Christie and voiced their own objections.
“Preacher, are you sure these people are chosen?”
“Why do they keep doubting you?”
“Bearing false witness, deceiving,” Alice continued, impassioned more than before, “Preacher, that is the sign of the Antichrist, is it not?”
“Antichrist?” many of the others repeated in jumbled, anxious confusion. A few stepped away from Nick.
The Preacher looked happily at the support of his congregation. "Now, now, my children. Remember how you were when you first arrived? Confused, uncertain, scared…remember what the Good Word says about casting stones. And let us also remember, did it not take Thomas three times to believe it was Jesus? We need to give them time to come to terms with the reality of our world and to fully understand what is happening. Rest assured, my children, there is no virus and I will not becomeinfected. You will see. I will pray and meditate all night and soon enough this will be nothing more than a scratch!”
The Preacher held up his hand and spun in a circle for all to view. Blood pooled in the jagged craters, and the skin near the perforations was torn back and puffy.
"You will see. Don't worry. The Lord will heal me. I have faith!"
Knowing what he knew, Nick made his response more than audible. "I wouldn't be so sure.”
“It has been a long evening and I’m certain many of you are as tired as I. So let us all rest,” The Preacher said, urging the masses to return home.
Eventually, everyone but Nick, Jenny and Lisa remained in the streets with the Preacher and Jill.
The Preacher waved his last goodbye and when he spun around, his tone changed instantly. His smile was no longer present. His comforting and calm nature had also been replaced by a look of concern that bordered on aggression.
"Listen, all of you, and listen well. I will only say this one more time. And for you my dear,” he said, looking at Lisa, “I will speak slowly enough for you to read my lips...I did urge you to keep your unfounded claims of viruses and corporate conspiracies to yourselves. Did I not? And yet you have publically disregarded that request and thereby attempted to slander myself and God Almighty. What is happening is God's will and His alone-”
“Reverend, we meant no trouble,” Nick interrupted.
“I wasn’t finished,” the Preacher snapped. He adjusted his shoulders back and lifted his chin. “Do not make another attempt to go against God's will or whisper fallacies to confuse or deceive my children. I told you once to keep the lies to yourself, I will not ask nor remind you a second time. For I believe God led you here, but to what end, it is seemingly unclear. For you are welcome to stay in New Jerusalem, but know this...I will not allow my flock to be torn apart by wolves in sheep’s clothing, for the end is nigh and I will protect my children until the day we are called.”
***
Pangton, Utah
December 3, 2009
1004 hours
“No signs of Marilyn or Chris,” David Kim said softly as he closed the door to the outer room of the principal’s office.
As the only ones awake, Charlie and Alissa listened to the rest of the report.
“There’s a group of four infected roaming the motel floors, so hopefully they found a good hiding spot.”
“What about the school?” Alissa asked, offering a bag of barbecue potato chips.
“Thanks. Not my go-to flavor but beggars can’t be choosers right?” Kim said, graciously accepting the food. “Perimeter and fences look secure and intact. Altogether I counted about fifteen infected surrounding the building. I found some bicycles in the back for when we make our move. Also mapped out a search grid for us.”
Using a small vanity mirror, Charlie was in the process of changing the bandage on his marred eye. “When should we leave?”
“I’d suggest sooner than later. Storm’s already put us a day behind schedule. How’s your vision, Charlie?”
“Hazy but hasn’t gotten worse.”
Kim sat down on the secretary’s chair and sighed. “I’m just not sure how to get out of the school without alerting those things.”
“I might have an idea,” Alissa said, popping up. She opened the closet door and pulled out a box. “Megs and I found these fireworks when we were searching for food and dry clothes. School must have had a no fireworks policy, but that didn’t seem to stop the kids. There’s another two boxes in there.”
Kim sifted through the contents and said, “Smoke bombs to Disneyland-grade stuff. I like it. We can set them off as a distraction. Infected follow the lights and sounds and we sneak out the other way. Good thinking, Alissa. Alright, we should get the others and get moving.”
First to be awoken was Matty, though not happily. It had taken Kim three attempts, but the computer hacker finally sat up, grumbling about the cramp in his neck from sleeping on the hard carpet.
Charlie knocked gently on the Principal’s door as he opened it. Inside, he observed Ally asleep on a chair against the
wall. He noticed her blanket had fallen down, so he lifted it from her lap and wrapped it loosely around her shoulders.
Then he looked over at Dylan. His friend had taken up the entirety of the principal’s wooden desk and some. Charlie inspected each wound and dressing on Dylan’s body, and after checking the pulse on Dylan’s wrist, he interlocked the giant Canadian’s hand around his and prayed.
“Stay with us, brother. We are going to get you to the bunker, I promise. Just stay strong. We gotta go out for a bit, but we’ll be back soon. Please, God, watch over him. After Wes I...I can’t lose him, too. Please, God.”
Agent Kim peeked his head inside and whispered, “Whenever you’re ready, we are meeting in the cafeteria. Take your time.”
Charlie finished his prayer, pressed his head against Dylan's unconscious forehead, and finally turned around. “I’m all done. I’m right behind you.”
As he passed by Ally, Charlie noticed her smile. She was fast asleep, but it was a distinct smile.
Hopefully whatever good dream she’s having will last a little longer, he thought, following Kim to the cafeteria.
Alissa was the last one to arrive. “Meghan still isn’t feeling well. I don’t think she’s going to be able to help us.”
“That’s fine. The four of us will do,” Agent Kim said, hovering over multiple papers.
Matty dragged his feet to the table next to David. He lay down on his back and rubbed his eyes. “Man, I’m hungry. I can’t wait to get to the bunker,” he said, cradling his growling stomach.
“First things first. We need weapons,” Agent Kim said, looking at the others. “We have to be able to defend ourselves against the infected and the bandits. Alissa, when you girls arrived, did you notice any sporting goods stores or any business that may have weapons of any kind?
The broad shouldered woman scratched her head. “I did notice one outdoors store, but the windows were broken and the place looked ransacked.”
“Bandit’s most likely hit that first,” Charlie asserted. “What about any homes? We could find and use almost anything: fireplace pokers, gardening tools. Hell, we could even manufacture something like we did.”
“That sounds good to me.”
The Longest Road (Book 3): The Other Side Page 45
