Marjorie said.
“We want to do the right thing,” Vicki said. “We’ll take you back if that’s what you want, but we need a little time.”
“I can’t stay here. The satellite schools—”
“It’ll take a few days to get everything running,” Mark said. “I’ve been watching the news.” Mark turned on the monitor in time to see the introduction to the live broadcast of Nicolae Carpathia.
Vicki leaned close to Marjorie. “What we’d like you to do—”
“Wait. I want to hear this. Turn it up.”
Mark turned up the audio as Nicolae began. He expressed his sorrow for the families of victims who had died in the past few months.
“My advisors inform me that more people have died in this most recent wave of deaths than those who disappeared nearly three and a half years ago. That means there will be perhaps as many as a billion who have passed away since the beginning of the smoke, sulfur, and fire.
“There is no one on the planet who has not been touched in some way by this destruction. And it is my goal to end the suffering.”
The camera zoomed in on Carpathia. He looked down, bit his lip, and gave a slight nod. “My advisors also inform me there is reason to believe this disaster was not a natural phenomenon. The earthquake and the fiery meteors were clearly explainable events, but this chemical warfare and arson are part of a calculated plot by the enemies of peace.”
“That’s what you guys are!” Marjorie yelled.
“This guy has never wanted peace,” Mark said.
“Just wait, he’ll show you.”
“I am asking anyone who has knowledge of those responsible for these deaths to go to your local Global Community authorities. Any tip or lead that exposes those responsible will be rewarded.”
Nicolae outlined a plan to dispose of the bodies. “Of course, many have already been destroyed by fire, but in order to keep our world healthy and free of disease, I have ordered our ministers of health to arrange mass burnings throughout the world. This will not be a pleasant task for loved ones or for the officials charged with this duty, but it is something that must occur.”
Vicki thought of the grisly job of burning the dead. Who would they hire to do such a thing? Vicki shuddered and tried to concentrate on Carpathia.
“I have plans for at least two of our enemies, and those plans will be carried out at the Gala in Jerusalem. It is time for us to put the death and grieving aside. And so I invite you, wherever you are, to this grand party. Even those who are against our ideals should come. To show how accepting and tolerant I am, I extend a personal invitation to Rabbi Tsion Ben-Judah. He may attend our celebration as an international statesman.”
“That shows you what kind of man the potentate is,” Marjorie said. “He even invites his enemies.”
The camera pulled back as Carpathia walked to the front of his massive desk. “We have every reason to want revenge, but as your leader and a man committed to peace, I offer one more opportunity to our enemies. Let us put aside our differences and strive together for a new world of love and unity. Join the faith of your brothers and sisters across the planet, the Enigma Babylon One World Faith.”
Mark shook his head as Carpathia finished. “That doesn’t make sense. Those people at the satellite school were determined to catch followers of Ben-Judah. Now Nicolae’s giving us a free ticket to his party?”
Vicki faced Marjorie. “There’s one condition to taking you back. You have to listen to the truth.”
“I just heard the truth. Potentate Carpathia is the truth.”
Janie opened the door and walked in. “I didn’t know you guys were in here. I heard there was a Morale Monitor in the house, but—”
Marjorie studied Janie’s face. “Do I know you? You look familiar.”
“I’m sure we haven’t met.” Janie asked if she could stay, and Vicki said it was okay.
Vicki turned to Marjorie. “Let me explain what we believe before you leave. After you hear me out, if you still want to go back, we’ll work it out.”
Janie sat down, rolled her eyes, and muttered, “Don’t waste your breath.”
Marjorie sat up. “Now I remember. I saw a poster with your picture. You were in a reeducation facility downstate.”
Janie shifted in her chair. “That’s crazy. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Marjorie looked at Vicki. “I’ll listen on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“If I listen to you, you have to listen to what I think about the Global Community.”
“Deal.”
17
VICKI asked Marjorie what she thought had happened to those who had disappeared three years earlier. Marjorie gave the same answer as Global Community scientists. Their theory didn’t make much sense, but Vicki didn’t challenge it.
“And what do you think happened?” Marjorie said.
“I think the Bible came true before our eyes.”
Marjorie rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, God came back and took all the good people to heaven and left the bad ones. What does that say about you?”
“The people who disappeared weren’t perfect. They had a relationship with God.”
“Which means that my mom and dad, who were really good people, came up on the short end?”
“I’m not criticizing your parents or you. I’m telling you what happened. Did you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I’m an only child.”
“Figures,” Janie muttered.
Vicki gave Janie a look, then explained what had happened to her family. “The same thing happened to most of us here. One girl actually saw her mom disappear, and right before she did, her mom told her exactly what I’m about to tell you.”
“I can hardly wait.”
Vicki told the truth as simply and clearly as she could. Marjorie smirked when Vicki quoted Bible verses, but Vicki knew God’s word had the power to change a person’s heart.
“In Romans it says, ‘For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.’ But it doesn’t stop there. God loved us enough to give himself and pay the penalty for our sin. Then it says, ‘Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.’”
Marjorie yawned.
“Another verse says that the punishment for sin is death, which means we’ll be separated from God forever.”
“That doesn’t seem fair. I only do one bad thing and I get the death penalty?”
Vicki explained God’s holiness. “Say you have a gorgeous new Morale Monitor uniform. You’ve just shined all the buttons, you have a pair of bright white gloves on, and then you find out somebody has worn your boots and walked through mud.”
“I’d be ticked.”
“Would you wear the boots?”
“Of course not. I’d shine ’em up.”
“Right,” Vicki said. “Now think about God. Every part of him is perfect. Would you expect him to allow anything in his presence that’s not perfect?”
“I guess not. But that would mean we’re all doomed.”
“Exactly, but stick with me. God knew we were all imperfect. He knew we’d do bad stuff, and that even one sin is enough to separate us from him forever.”
Marjorie made a face. “I still say it’s not fair. Why couldn’t we have one more chance?”
“God did better than give us another chance. He took the sentence himself.”
Vicki showed Marjorie different parts of the Gospels. She quoted John the Baptist, who looked at Jesus and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” She told her about the miracles Jesus performed, that he lived a perfect life, and was finally crucified.
“If he didn’t do anything wron
g, why was he put to death?”
“Most of the religious leaders of the day hated Jesus because he said he was God. They handed him over to the secular leaders to kill him. But the truth is, Jesus let himself be killed. That’s what the Bible means when it says God sent Jesus to take our punishment.”
Marjorie hesitated. “I guess some of it makes sense, but if I have to choose between your religion and Potentate Carpathia, I’m going with the GC.”
“Jesus said anybody who isn’t for him is against him.”
“Carpathia thinks Jesus was a great man.”
Vicki shook her head. “That’s not an option. Jesus said he was the only way to God. He claimed to be God. If that’s not true, he’s either a fake or he’s crazy. Would you call someone who’s lying or loony a great moral teacher?”
“I guess not.”
“Then there’s only one other option. Jesus is God.”
Marjorie walked to the window. “I’m confused.”
Vicki came close. “You know Carpathia is out to get believers in Christ. Can you really trust him?”
“Of course. I look up to him. He’s like a god. You saw what he said, how much he loves people and cares about them. He’s always here for us. He always helps us get through the hard times.”
Vicki wanted to tell Marjorie what Buck Williams saw at the United Nations building. Carpathia had killed two men with one bullet, then convinced everyone except Buck that he hadn’t done it. Vicki knew Marjorie wouldn’t believe the story. She had to convince Marjorie another way. But how?
Judd made copies of the flyers and hurried back to Yitzhak’s house. Everyone seemed excited as Mr. Stein passed out samples to the witnesses.
Mr. Stein asked everyone to write in the time of the first meeting in a blank space on the pamphlet. “We begin inviting people tomorrow. God has given us a small meeting room a few blocks from one of the government buildings.”
Lionel took a stack of flyers and wrote down the information. “This is going to be great.”
Nada’s father, Jamal, came into the room. He touched Judd on the shoulder. “May I speak with you downstairs?”
Judd followed him to a secluded spot.
“I see now that my anger fueled my desire for revenge. God can handle Nicolae Carpathia without my help. My main concern now is Kasim,” Jamal said.
“He says he’s going through with his plan. He wants me to help.”
“We had a disagreement. When I told him my feelings, he ran from the house. He says he’s not coming back.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Stay close to him. Tell him you’ll help. Then, when the time comes, we will stop him and hopefully save his life.”
“I don’t want to lie,” Judd said.
“You’re not. You are helping him. Do this for Lina and me. I cannot bear to lose my son again.”
Vicki was still thinking when Janie spoke up. “I’ve got something to say.”
Mark moved toward her but Vicki stopped him. “It’s okay. Go ahead.”
Janie leaned against the wall and nodded toward Vicki. “I met her in an awful place. It was a detention center. Wouldn’t send a dog to it, but that’s where we wound up. Because of her, I got out and had a chance at a new life.”
Vicki said, “Janie came to live with me and my adopted dad for a while.”
“What’s this got to do with—”
“Just hear me out,” Janie said. “I got in trouble at the high school, and they sent me away. I blamed everybody else, including Vicki, but it was my own fault. After I escaped the GC, I got lucky and found this place.”
Janie rubbed her neck and looked away. “Only, I honestly don’t think it was luck. I think there was somebody watching out for me. Somebody caring for me.”
“So that proves there’s a God?” Marjorie said.
“I’ve royally messed up my life. I’ve been into drugs.
I’ve lied to people who were my friends.” Janie faced Marjorie. “When those locusts came, these people warned me, but I wouldn’t listen. When the fire and all that stinking smoke came, Vicki stuck with me.”
Marjorie turned. “Vicki? You’re not Vicki Byrne, are you?”
Janie said, “Sorry, Vick.”
“That’s okay. Yes, I’m wanted by the GC.”
Marjorie sat and ran a hand through her hair.
Janie knelt before her. “What I’m saying is, these people care about you. It doesn’t matter to them if you’ve been into drugs or if you lie or steal. They don’t care if you’re the most loyal follower of Carpathia there ever was. They care about you because God cares about them. They want you to know him.”
“Why are you saying this?” Marjorie said.
“I’ve caused them no end of trouble. I used to think Enigma Babylon was the way to go, but after being here and seeing them in action, I know what they’re saying’s true. And you’d best believe before the next judgment hits.”
Vicki stared at Janie. She couldn’t believe what the girl was saying.
Janie walked back to her chair and sat. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”
The room fell silent. Vicki didn’t know whether to talk with Marjorie or Janie. Mark looked stunned and sat on the floor.
Finally Marjorie said, “I know you people are sincere, and I believe you care. You could’ve taken my gun and shot me with it, but you didn’t.”
“We want you to know the truth,” Vicki said. “It can change you forever.” Vicki turned to Janie. “But I don’t understand. If you believe what we say and that God cares about you, why don’t you follow through?”
Janie smiled and looked away. “I’ve heard you guys say God doesn’t make mistakes. Well, I think you’re wrong. I’m the biggest mistake he ever made.”
Vicki put a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Janie, I’ve prayed for you almost every day since I’ve known you. I’ve asked God to soften your heart. Don’t tell me you understand and you’ve walked this far but you won’t take the last step.”
Janie put a hand to her forehead. “I don’t deserve …”
“Don’t give me that,” Vicki said. “None of us deserve—”
“You don’t know the stuff I’ve done! If you did, you’d have never taken me into your house.”
“You just said it yourself—it doesn’t matter. I don’t care what you’ve done. God loves you. He wants to call you his daughter.”
Janie wrapped her arms around her chest and sobbed.
Lionel sat up in bed and listened for sounds in the house. Sam and Judd slept soundly in bunks nearby. Something was wrong, but Lionel didn’t know what it was.
He remembered that hot summer night when he was ten. He was sleeping at a friend’s house in Chicago. A burglar had tried to crawl through a window on the other side of the room. Lionel had screamed and woken everyone up. His friend’s father had caught the guy and held him until the police came.
Lionel crept into Yitzhak’s living room. Nothing. He opened the door to the basement and heard snoring. He went back to bed but couldn’t sleep.
“God,” Lionel whispered, “maybe you woke me up for a reason. Is there something you want me to do?”
Chills went through Lionel’s body. He didn’t hear a voice or see a vision, but he had a strong feeling he should pray. “Okay, pray for what?”
Silence.
“God, I’ll pray for anything or anyone you want me to, but tell me who.”
Silence.
Lionel shook Judd awake and told him what had happened. Judd woke Sam and scampered out of the room. A few minutes later, he returned with Mr. Stein.
“God is at work with someone you know,” Mr. Stein said. “Perhaps they need safety. Perhaps they need wisdom. Many times I have felt the prayers of other believers.”
“Let’s start,” Lionel said.
All four knelt and buried their heads in their hands. The first person Lionel prayed for was Vicki.
Vicki hadn’t seen Janie cry like this si
nce the GC took her away from Nicolae High.
“I’ve listened in on some of your meetings,” Janie said. “I’d give anything to be part of your group, but somehow I always wind up treating you like dirt.”
“God can change all that,” Vicki said.
“And what if you guys take a chance on me and I let you down? I’d feel even worse after all you’ve done for me.”
Vicki felt a tug on her shoulder. It was Marjorie. “Okay. I understand now. I want to become one of you guys. What do I do?”
Vicki looked from Janie to Marjorie and back again. “Uh, I can lead you in a prayer if you really want to do this.”
“I do.”
“Okay, you can say this out loud or just say it to yourself.”
Marjorie clasped her hands and bowed her head. “I’m ready.”
Vicki prayed. “God, I believe you’re there and that you care for me. I’m sorry for the bad things I’ve done. Forgive me. I believe Jesus died in my place on the cross, and right now I want to receive the gift you’re offering me. Change my life from the inside out. Save me from my sin and help me to follow you every day of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Vicki turned to Janie. “Would you like to pray too?”
Janie lifted her head and Vicki gasped. On Janie’s forehead was the mark of the true believer.
Vicki hugged the girl and they both cried.
“I feel like a new person,” Marjorie said.
Vicki looked at Marjorie and gasped. She had no mark.
18
VICKI tried to act cool and hugged Marjorie. Janie pointed at Vicki’s forehead. “I thought you guys were making that up.”
“Making what up?” Marjorie said.
Vicki turned. “Things will become clear as we go along. We’d like to get you into a class first thing in the morning.”
“Great,” Marjorie said, “but I really want to go back to the GC and work as a secret agent. That would help the cause, right?”
Mark stepped forward. “Sure. We could use all the information about the GC that we can get.”
Janie looked puzzled. “But she doesn’t have—”
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