Shaken

by Jerry B. Jenkins

  “We know,” Vicki said. “The latest technology and—”

  “No,” Conrad said, glancing at Mark. “Didn’t you inspect this?”

  “Inspect it for what?”

  Conrad opened both doors. The truck was filled with video monitors and complex electronic equipment. On the floor lay someone dressed in a Morale Monitor’s uniform.

  Conrad looked at Vicki. “She’s still alive.”

  15

  VICKI stared at the girl and shook her head. She couldn’t believe Mark had endangered them this way.

  Mark put his hands in the air. “I didn’t know she was here. Honestly, I’d never—”

  “Doesn’t matter now,” Vicki said. “Let’s get her inside.”

  Conrad and Mark carried the girl upstairs and gently placed her on a cot. Lenore brought medical supplies.

  “I know this girl,” Vicki said. “She’s Marjorie something, the one who checked me into the arena.”

  Lenore turned her name tag over. “Her last name is Amherst.”

  Vicki nodded. “She was the valedictorian at Judd’s graduation.”

  “She’s in bad shape,” Lenore said. “I’ll work on her while you decide what to do if she wakes up.”

  Vicki went downstairs and found Mark explaining his idea. Their friend Carl was preparing to uplink the kids on the GC satellite.

  “How’s Marjorie?” Melinda said.

  Vicki gave them an update and told them who she was. Mark remembered her and said they had taken a couple of classes together. “She was always blowing the grading curve because she got such high scores. Everybody hated and admired her at the same time.”

  “How could somebody so smart fall for Carpathia’s lies?” Charlie said.

  “The Bible says people will never find God through human wisdom,” Vicki said. “When we talk about Jesus dying for them, they think it’s foolish.”

  “You mean, you can’t be smart and believe in God?” Charlie said.

  “No. Look at Tsion Ben-Judah or Buck Williams. They’re really smart.” Vicki picked up a Bible and turned to 1 Corinthians. “God picks things we wouldn’t pick to show how great he is. He chose David even though he was a shepherd. He chose Jesus to be born in a stable to very poor parents.”

  “So God does things backwards to the way we’d do them?” Charlie said.

  “Yeah, in a lot of ways. Listen to this: ‘God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

  God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.’”

  “I get it,” Charlie said. “People with a lot of brains can follow God as long as they understand God is smarter than their smartest ideas.”

  The kids smiled and Vicki chuckled. “And it also means you can use all kinds of arguments, but people have to realize they have a problem only God can fix.”

  “Sin,” Mark said.

  “I thought I was pretty smart,” Darrion said. “When Ryan talked about God, I thought he was nuts. Somehow, God showed me I needed forgiveness.”

  “Which brings us to Marjorie,” Vicki said.

  Melinda frowned. “Sounds like she’s really into the GC.”

  “This is my fault,” Mark said. “If she recovers, we’ll blindfold her and I’ll drive her back in the satellite truck.”

  “The one that doesn’t exist?” Vicki said. “That’ll tip off the GC, and we’ll get Carl in trouble.”

  “All right, I’ll take her in the car.”

  “Wait,” Melinda said. “Is that all we’re going to do with her, just ship her back? You didn’t do that with me. You guys were straight with me from the start.”

  “That’s because you were holding a gun,” Mark said.

  “I think you would have told me the truth even if I hadn’t been.”

  “She’s right,” Vicki said. “I don’t want to pretend. We shoot straight with Marjorie, and if she wants to go back to the GC, we’ll take her.”

  “She might still be able to lead them to us,” Mark said.

  “True, but she might also believe what we tell her,” Vicki said.

  Lionel couldn’t wait to tell about his meeting with Eli and Moishe, but he especially wanted to talk with Judd. He found everyone downstairs in Yitzhak’s house with a new group of witnesses. Lionel described the meeting with Eli and Moishe, then pulled out a piece of paper.

  “I’ve counted up the 1,260 days since Eli and Moishe first appeared. If I’m right, their final day will come during Carpathia’s big celebration.”

  “That’s in less than three months,” Judd said.

  Mr. Stein shook his head. “Perhaps that is the reason for the party. Carpathia will snuff out these precious lives, and everyone will praise him for ending the judgments.”

  “They’re really just beginning,” Lionel said.

  A tall man with huge shoulders stood. He wore tattered clothing like Eli and Moishe, and spoke with a thick European accent.

  “God has given us a wonderful tool in the Scriptures,” the man said. “We can read history ahead of time if we look to the Bible.”

  “What’s going to happen to the two prophets?” Sam said.

  “Tsion Ben-Judah has written much about our friends at the Wailing Wall. If you examine the Bible, you see that God has given them power to pronounce judgment on his behalf.”

  The man continued. “But their mission will end. The Bible says that one day they will complete their testimony, and the beast of this world will kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem.”

  “I don’t want those guys to die,” Sam said. “We have to save them.”

  “Everything has a purpose in the plan of God. After they die, no one will be allowed to bury them. People from all over the world will come to look at their bodies and celebrate. The people will even give presents to each other as they rejoice in the deaths of these two prophets.”

  “How will Carpathia kill them?” Judd said.

  “I’m not sure, but our friends will not stay dead. God will raise them to life.”

  “I want to see that,” Sam said. “And I want to see the look on Carpathia’s face when it happens.”

  Lionel motioned for Judd and called Nada’s family together. “I think Eli and Moishe gave me a message for you.”

  “What do you mean?” Kasim said.

  “Both of them quoted verses from the Psalms. They talked about God hearing the cries of the righteous. They said God’s against those who do evil. And then they called me closer. The way Eli looked at me …” Lionel felt the tears coming as he looked at Nada’s mother.

  “What did he say?” Lina said.

  “I printed it. It’s from Psalm 34.” Lionel’s hands trembled as he read. “’The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.’”

  When Lionel looked up, Nada’s parents were crying. Kasim looked at the floor. “One of the last things Moishe said was ‘Comfort one another with these words.’”

  Jamal wiped his eyes. “We’ve known God cares about our loss, but these words help more than you can know. Thank you.”

  Vicki took turns with the others watching Marjorie. Lenore had taken the girl’s pulse and blood pressure every hour, but there was no change. Vicki volunteered to stay with her through the night.

  Lenore gave Marjorie’s walkie-talkie to Mark. Her empty gun was on the nightstand alongside a radio. Vicki tuned in a GC station to get the latest news.

  The announcer seemed shaken by the numbers of dead or missing. “Experts fear fatalities may go higher. Global Community officials have no further word on the cause of the plague of fire and smoke. Potentate Nicolae Carpathia will addres
s the world from New Babylon tomorrow.”

  Mark laid the walkie-talkie on the nightstand. “It doesn’t have a homing device. I removed the solar cell so she can’t communicate with headquarters.”

  Vicki followed Mark into the hall and told him about the Carpathia address. Mark turned. “I’m really sorry about bringing her here.”

  Vicki smiled. “I’ve made a lot of bad decisions since I became a believer. But I do believe God even uses our mistakes.”

  “What do you want to do with the truck?”

  “Let’s see what happens with Marjorie. I like your idea about breaking into the satellite school signal, but I don’t have any idea how you would do it.”

  “I talked with Carl for a long time tonight. We’re getting a plan together. You know the believers who were singled out in the meetings?”

  “I can’t get them out of my head.”

  “Carl says only a few were taken into custody. Most got away when the horses attacked. He told me what it was like watching those horses come in over the Atlantic.”

  “Scary, I’ll bet.”

  “Yeah. The GC picked up a cloud on radar that stretched from Florida to Maine. Carl got into one of the observation towers and said he could see millions of horses coming over the water.”

  Vicki shuddered. “And it happened all over the world at about the same time.”

  “Yeah. Carl said the horses killed a lot of the GC communications team. He’s one of the higher ranking officers now.”

  “Tough way to get a promotion.”

  “The interesting thing is what happened when the horses left. Carl saw them from the observation deck running toward the water. Millions of horses passed him and instead of running on top of the water, the horses and riders dove straight down and disappeared.”

  “So it’s over?” Vicki said.

  “Sounds like it to me.”

  “What’s the next judgment?”

  Mark squinted and looked past Vicki.

  “What?”

  “I thought I saw something move.”

  Vicki turned and walked into the room. Marjorie lay still, her eyes closed. Vicki took the girl’s wrist to check her pulse.

  Marjorie opened her eyes and grabbed Vicki’s arm. With her other hand she snatched the gun from the nightstand and pointed it at Vicki. The girl sneered at Mark. “Come inside and close the door, Judah-ite!”

  16

  VICKI backed away as Marjorie released her arm and rolled out of bed. When the girl’s feet hit the floor, she wobbled and nearly fell. She tried to keep the gun steady. “Get inside and close the door. I don’t want to have to kill anyone else.”

  Vicki looked at Mark. He stepped inside and closed the door. “How long have you been awake?” Vicki said.

  Marjorie coughed. “Long enough to know you guys aren’t followers of Potentate Carpathia. How did I get here?”

  “We found you in the back of the satellite truck outside the arena,” Mark said.

  Marjorie put a hand on the wall to steady herself. “I remember the smoke and that awful smell. I ran for the truck because …” She looked up. “You kidnapped me!”

  “We didn’t know you were inside.”

  Marjorie moved gingerly to the window and glanced outside. “You stole it?”

  “It’s a long story, but—”

  “Where are we?”

  Vicki stepped forward. “Sit down. You look woozy.”

  “Stand back. I don’t need your help.” Marjorie grabbed the walkie-talkie and clicked the microphone. “Morale Monitor Marjorie Amherst. I’m being held hostage. Over.”

  Marjorie clicked the radio again but there was no answer. She threw it in the corner. “Smoke probably ruined it. Tell me where I am.”

  Vicki decided there was no reason to make up a complicated story Marjorie wouldn’t believe. “You’re right. We’re followers of Jesus Christ.”

  “Ben-Judah, you mean.”

  “He’s one of our teachers, yes.”

  Marjorie studied the moonlit woods surrounding the schoolhouse. “What is this place, a Ben-Judah training camp?”

  Vicki smiled. “Not a bad guess. We moved into this abandoned building after I had a dream about it.”

  Marjorie squinted. “You are crazy.”

  “I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. There are a bunch of us living here. When the locusts came, we took in a lot of people and tried to help. We did the same when the horses and riders started—”

  Marjorie shook her head. “I’m not buying the horse story. It’s a trick. Somebody’s been releasing poisonous gas and setting fires. You Judah-ites are the main suspects.”

  “Why?” Vicki said.

  “Have you seen any Judah-ites getting sick or dying?

  You know exactly when and where things are going to happen, like at the arena yesterday.”

  Mark rolled his eyes. “You were there. Did you see anyone setting fires or releasing poison? God’s the one letting this happen.”

  “Right. It was God who let my parents and most of my friends get killed. It was God who killed our principal at Nicolae High. Mrs. Jenness was one of my best friends.…”

  Marjorie sat on the bed. Vicki stepped closer, but the girl looked up and waved the gun again. “Stay away.”

  “We want to help you. If you’ll let us explain, I think it’ll all make sense,” Vicki said.

  Before Marjorie could speak, the door opened and Lenore peeked inside. She gasped when she saw Marjorie.

  “Get in here! Now!” Marjorie shouted.

  Vicki waved Lenore inside. “It’s okay. She can’t hurt us.”

  “What do you mean? I’ll shoot all of you.”

  “How long has she been awake?” Lenore said.

  “Not long,” Vicki said as she stepped closer to Marjorie and reached for the gun.

  Marjorie scampered back onto the bed, her hands shaking. “I swear I’ll shoot.”

  Vicki held up her hands. “We don’t want to hurt you.

  We just want you to know the truth.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Marjorie pointed the gun at Vicki’s knee and pulled the trigger. Click. Click. Click. “You tricked me!”

  Judd watched the reports of death on the Global Community News Network. Reports from around the world were grim. The GC braced for yet another mysterious “attack,” as they called it, but Judd and the others at Yitzhak’s house believed the horsemen were gone.

  Judd decided to come up with a creative way to publicize Mr. Stein’s meetings during the GC Gala. Judd was glad to get his mind off Nada’s death and Jamal and Kasim’s plan to kill Nicolae. He went to Mr. Stein and suggested they print pamphlets and let witnesses pass them out in Jerusalem.

  “Wonderful,” Mr. Stein said. “Now I have news. I have met with Yitzhak and some of the other believers, and we believe we should not wait. We want to begin these meetings now.”

  “Why now?”

  “People are struggling with the deaths of loved ones. They need the hope we can offer.”

  “What about during the Gala?”

  “We’re still planning it, but we think God wants us to get the message out now.”

  Yitzhak gave Judd directions to a print shop owned by a believer. As Judd walked, he felt he was being followed. He quickly ducked into an alley. Moments later, Kasim ran past and Judd grabbed him. “Why are you following me?”

  Kasim pulled Judd deeper into the alley. He caught his breath and said, “I didn’t want to talk to you at the house. I’ve made up my mind to assassinate Carpathia on the first night of the Gala.”

  “That’ll put a cloud over the celebration,” Judd smirked.

  “Yes, but it also means Eli and Moishe might have more time.”

  Judd shook his head. “You know it doesn’t work that way. The Bible says—”

  “Your interpretation is different from mine. If I can get to Carpathia, it could change everything.”

  “It’s clear that Eli and Mois
he—”

  “What happens in the future happens. I can only do my part and rid the world of this evil man.”

  Judd sighed. “Okay. I don’t agree with you, but I made a promise not to tell anyone about this.”

  “I don’t want you just to keep quiet. You must help. I have a diagram of the buildings near where the stage will be built.”

  “No way! This idea belongs to you and your dad.”

  Kasim looked away. “My father is not willing to help any longer. That’s why I need you.”

  “What changed his mind?”

  “It may have been the words of Eli and Moishe that Lionel shared. Or perhaps my mother persuaded him to give up the idea.”

  “Has he tried to talk you out of it?”

  Kasim looked away.

  Judd grabbed Kasim’s arm. “Listen to him. Forget your revenge on Carpathia. Use your energy for something more important. There are people who might come to know God if we can reach them with the message.” Judd pulled out the file he had worked on for Mr. Stein. “We can reach so many people if you’ll help. That’s the real way to get back at God’s enemy. Steal people who would otherwise choose Carpathia.”

  Kasim leaned against the brick wall and slid to the ground. “You don’t understand. I wake up at night sweating, planning Carpathia’s demise. It’s all I can think about. I pledged my life to this monster before I understood the truth. I don’t want anyone to make that same mistake.”

  “I understand that, and I know how much you loved Nada and how bad you feel about what happened. But the truth is, even with Carpathia dead, his evil will continue. The prophecy is clear—”

  “Nothing you say will keep me from this. The only question is whether or not you will help me.”

  Vicki didn’t want to lock Marjorie in the basement hideout, but the kids couldn’t let her get away. Vicki made sure Marjorie didn’t see the door to the underground tunnel and that there was enough food and water for the night.

  The next day, Mark brought Marjorie to the computer room, where Lenore and Vicki were waiting. Everyone else stayed out of sight so they couldn’t be identified later.

  “The GC are probably looking for me right now,”