Deceived

by Jerry B. Jenkins

  “I would like to tell you my story when you are rested,” Manny said.

  “I’d love to hear it,” Vicki said.

  Vicki found a cot in one of the girls’ rooms and listened to the conversation through the thin walls. Tom Fogarty asked questions, Josey talked with Charlie about his family, and Shelly told Janie and Melinda about Chad Harris, the good-looking guy they had met in Iowa.

  When she was almost asleep, Vicki was startled by something moving against her cot. She leaned over and saw Phoenix wagging his tail. She patted the covers and the dog jumped onto the cot and slept at her feet the entire night.

  The sun was coming up as Judd finished talking with Chang. Judd told him he would be praying for him throughout the day.

  “Thank you,” Chang said, “but don’t forget to pray for Dr. Rosenzweig as well.”

  “Where is he?”

  “You don’t know? Dr. Rosenzweig is the one who will stand up to Carpathia.”

  “What?” Judd said. “I thought it was going to be Tsion.”

  “Dr. Rosenzweig has been studying with Dr. Ben-Judah, and for some reason he is going to be the main person to challenge Nicolae.”

  Judd thought it through. Chaim was Jewish, a believer in Jesus as Messiah, but he didn’t fit the profile of a prophet. He had heard the man speak before, and his voice wasn’t strong and commanding like Tsion’s had been. Still, if Chaim was God’s chosen, God could give him the strength he needed.

  Judd told Chang he would check with him later and he went to wake Lionel. This was going to be a day no one alive would forget.

  21

  JUDD met with Lionel and Sam and discovered from one of the Jewish believers that Carpathia was supposed to appear in the Old City at 11 A.M.

  “That will give me time to show you some of what’s happened since you left,” Sam said.

  Sam showed them several meeting places used since the fire at General Zimmerman’s home. A few were secluded, where people could secretly ask questions without fear of Global Community crackdown. Others were out in the open.

  “And the GC never stopped you or arrested you?” Lionel said.

  “A few people have been arrested,” Sam said, “but God has protected us and allowed us to talk with hundreds. Plus, we’ve been using this.” Sam pulled out a handheld computer and activated the screen, showing The Cube, a high-tech presentation of the gospel.

  “I hope we get to meet the guy who developed that someday,” Lionel said.

  Sam took them through a major street as they moved toward the Old City. People swarmed out of hotels looking for transportation. Lionel nudged Judd and pointed at a convoy of Global Community troops. “I thought this guy was for peace. Are those just toy guns and missiles?”

  Judd shook his head. Convoys of tanks, fighters, and bombers rolled by, and people cheered when they saw the show of military might.

  They reached the Via Dolorosa before 9 A.M. and were surrounded by masses looking for a spot to view Carpathia. Judd’s parents had taken him to parades in Chicago and the suburbs, but they were nothing like this. Men and women elbowed their way to the best spots. Global Community Peacekeepers and Morale Monitors moved through the crowds in small groups.

  GC sharpshooters prowled tops of buildings. It was clear this event would not be marred by another assassination attempt.

  Vendors had run out of real palm branches, so they sold plastic ones to toss before the potentate. People who supported Carpathia talked about his “triumphal entry” and Judd could hardly stand it. Hawkers walked up and down the streets selling paintings of Nicolae coming back to life, pictures of Carpathia standing on his glass coffin, and even commemorative coins featuring numbers from the different regions of the world. Judd couldn’t believe that one man was selling replicas of guillotines. He called them “Judah-ite Eliminators” and had sold hundreds.

  Sam pointed out many who were Orthodox Jews. These men scowled and sneered at the vendors.

  There were fewer Peacekeepers and Morale Monitors inside the Old City. Some shopwindows and businesses were boarded up, still feeling the effects of the Jerusalem earthquake. A man with a handheld television near Judd called for quiet as Reverend Father Leon Fortunato’s face appeared on a newscast. The news anchor spoke of Fortunato in glowing terms, saying the man was bringing the world together through his efforts to bring peace and healing to a hurting world.

  Lionel rolled his eyes as the news showed yet another replay of the airplane crash in Tel Aviv. Security and Intelligence Director Suhail Akbar appeared at a press conference held earlier that morning.

  “Unfortunately,” Akbar said, “while the investigation continues, we have been unable to confirm the evidence of any human remains. It is, of course, possible that four loyal patriots of the Global Community were vaporized upon impact in this tragedy. Medical personnel tell us they would have died without pain. Once we have confirmed the deaths, prayers will go to the risen potentate on behalf of their eternal souls, and we will extend our sympathies to their families and loved ones.”

  “We have learned from sources inside the investigation,” the news anchor said, “that the crash may have been caused by pilot error. GCNN has learned that the flight crew was warned before takeoff of a cargo weight-and-balance problem. We’ll have more on that story as it develops.”

  “Sounds like the GC took the bait,” Lionel whispered to Judd.

  “Let’s hope they don’t catch on.”

  Judd’s phone blipped and it was Chang. He asked where Judd was and Judd told him.

  “I have big news. Mr. Hassid just had me patch into the Phoenix 216 and listen in on Carpathia.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Fortunato is itching and scratching. He acts like something bit him. Even Carpathia is laughing about it.”

  Judd scratched his head. “I can’t remember, is there some kind of plague of mosquitoes or something on its way?”

  “I’m not sure either, but watch out for Carpathia’s grand entrance.”

  “What else is going on?”

  “They’ve got a new guy, Loren Hut. I think he’s the new head of Morale Monitors. He says every one of them is carrying a weapon there in Israel, and all the rest will be armed around the world by the end of next week. And get this, Nicolae is expecting opposition.”

  “He’d better,” Judd said. “There’s plenty of it. And not just from Christ followers.”

  “This guy gets more evil every time I hear him. He’s telling his head guys how to kill anyone who opposes him. He wants people to suffer before they die. And even after they’ve been killed, he wants them beheaded as an example to others.”

  “Are they headed this way?”

  “Yes, they will be leaving within ten minutes. They have been going over the schedule, changing things.”

  “Changing what?” Judd said.

  “Believe it or not, they are planning a mockery of the last steps of Jesus to Golgotha.”

  “I believe it.”

  “Carpathia cut out half of the stuff they had planned. He said it never happened. The others protested, said it was part of tradition, but Carpathia just cut it.”

  A chill went down Judd’s spine. Carpathia was claiming to have been present when Jesus was mocked, spit on, and nailed to a cross. Judd knew Jesus would win the final victory. He would crush Satan and all of his followers in three and a half years. That was one triumphal entry Judd hoped he would live to see.

  Darrion had slept a few hours off and on during the kids’ ordeal in Iowa. With help from Melinda, Janie, and Becky Dial, they had monitored incoming e-mails, news from the Global Community’s Web site, and any other information they could find.

  Now, with everyone asleep in the underground shelter in Wisconsin, Darrion wandered into the media room. She was encouraged about the safe return of the kids and the escape from the Iowa GC facility. Jim Dekker was safe, and The Cube had reached many around the world.

  But there were also problem
s and question marks. How would the kids survive for three and a half years without taking the mark? How many believers would lose their lives standing up to Carpathia?

  Darrion recognized Commander Kruno Fulcire on Global Community Network News. An anchor had broken into the live coverage in Israel to highlight something happening in the States. Mark walked in and Darrion asked him to record the interview.

  “And when did this occur?” the news anchor said.

  “We finished the interrogation about an hour ago and gave the prisoner an opportunity to obey international law,” Fulcire said. “He refused, so we immediately implemented punishment.”

  “The guillotine?”

  “The loyalty enforcement facilitator, yes.”

  “What kind of information did you get from this Pete Davidson?”

  Darrion gasped.

  “It’s surprising how much this truck driver knew,” Commander Fulcire said. “He gave us names of Judahites, locations of hideouts and storage facilities. He even told us where Judah-ites are hiding weapons of mass destruction.”

  “The guy’s lying,” Mark said.

  “How do you know?”

  “First, Pete would never have talked, and second, since when do the Judah-ites have weapons of mass destruction?”

  The news anchor continued his questioning. “So the Judah-ites plan actions against the Global Community?”

  “Of course. It’s what they live for. They want to disrupt the peace and harmony the Global Community has tried to create. Davidson was one of their low-level operators, with a very small intellect. You see, these people are easy to lead. They’re brainwashed by these religious crazies and they choose death over taking the mark of loyalty.”

  The screen switched to a live shot of crowds in Jerusalem.

  “Before we continue with our live coverage from Israel, sir, just one more question. We’ve heard of a Global Community Morale Monitor deciding not to take the loyalty mark. Is there any truth that there are more Judah-ites working inside the Global Community?”

  Fulcire hesitated. “We do have some reports which haven’t been confirmed yet that I can’t go into. One that I can mention is the case of Morale Monitor Claudia Zander. She is missing from her post in Des Plaines.”

  A photo of Claudia flashed on the screen along with a special hot-line number.

  “We are in the early stages of developing rewards for those we suspect of being Judah-ites,” Fulcire continued, “but now we simply want to talk with this Morale Monitor and make sure she hasn’t fallen into the wrong hands.”

  “Think we should wake the others?” Darrion said.

  Mark shook his head. “Pete’s dead. They’ll find out in the morning. I’m worried about this Zander girl. We all assumed she was faking being interested in the message. Have you checked e-mail lately?”

  Darrion had been concentrating so hard on the broad- cast that she had forgotten the Web site. There were at least a hundred more messages since she had checked it.

  “There,” Mark said, pointing to an e-mail with the subject line, Help!

  Darrion opened it quickly and saw the message was from Claudia.

  Dear Young Trib Force,

  They were going to make me take the mark, so I ran like you suggested. I grabbed a few things from the apartment, and I took Natalie’s Bible. I guess that was okay since she’s gone.

  I need a place to hide until I figure out what to do next. This new commander is really intense. I don’t know if you heard, but the guy in Iowa chose the blade. I don’t think I could ever stand up like that, but I guess God could give me the courage.

  I’m sorry for rambling. Please e-mail or call me as soon as you can. I’ll put my number at the bottom of this message.

  And one more thing. I still can’t see the mark Dr. Ben-Judah wrote about. Does that mean I’m not a true Judah-ite?

  Darrion scribbled Claudia’s phone number on a scrap of paper and saved the message. “Do you think we should wake Vicki?”

  Mark looked at his watch. It was almost time for Carpathia to make his grand entrance in Jerusalem. “She needs to know about Claudia. Wake her.”

  Judd dialed Chang and apologized for bothering him. “It’s no bother,” Chang said. “I’m a multitasker. Mr. Hassid has me back on track.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He chewed me out and said I don’t have time to focus on my dual marks. He even threatened to destroy the setup he and I worked so long to build, so I’m going to concentrate. When I have time, I’m going back to find video recordings of what really happened when I got Carpathia’s mark.”

  “Let me know as soon as you do,” Judd said. “Things are heating up here. There’s more excitement down the street.”

  “Nicolae is on his way. I’ve heard the image of Carpathia is being moved to the Temple Mount. People are gathering there to worship it and take the mark of loyalty.”

  “It’s time for a showdown,” Judd said.

  “Just keep away from the cross fire,” Chang said. “And keep praying that the undecided choose Christ!”

  22

  JUDD walked through one of the ancient gates of Jerusalem and nearly lost sight of Lionel and Sam, all three pushed by the huge crowds bustling toward the city. Judd watched for Chaim Rosenzweig and Buck Williams, but the place looked like a human sea. Lionel and Sam caught up with Judd, and the three prepared for Carpathia’s arrival.

  Thousands cheered in anticipation. Toddlers were held high on shoulders, waving real palm branches. Teenagers wearing Z-Van’s style of clothes danced through the streets, forming a human chain. Many of them already had the mark of Carpathia and celebrated by shouting slogans and singing songs.

  “I wonder if Z-Van is going to make an appearance at this,” Lionel said.

  “You can bet he’s ticked if he doesn’t get to,” Judd said.

  Judd’s heart leapt when a loudspeaker truck moved through the street announcing that all citizens were expected to display the mark of loyalty to Carpathia. “Why not take care of this painless and thrilling obligation while His Excellency is here?”

  A teen in the line of dancers shouted, “Come on, we’re going to the Temple Mount now to get our mark!” Several people followed, but most stayed, not wanting to miss a glimpse of Carpathia.

  Lionel glanced at Judd, his eyes wide. “You think they’re going to check and see if we have the mark?”

  “Relax,” Judd said. “Those application facilities have to be packed.”

  People sang an off-key song a block away. Judd finally realized it was “Hail Carpathia.” Hundreds broke into wild applause, thinking Nicolae had appeared. A GC tank topped with revolving blue, red, and orange lights rolled past. Behind that was a motorcade of three black vehicles, followed by more tanks. The crowd cheered and Judd hustled for a better view.

  When the convoy stopped, another cheer rose. The first black vehicle held local and regional dignitaries. They exited, quickly followed by the Most High Reverend Father Leon Fortunato. Leon straightened his long robe, then slowly scratched at his hip.

  Judd explained what Chang had overheard about Leon’s pain. Sam wondered if this was part of the next plague sent by God. Global Community officials Suhail Akbar and Walter Moon stepped from the second car, but the biggest ovation yet came when a woman dressed in blue stepped from the vehicle. Her white hair stood out among all the men dressed in dark suits. Though she was short, she carried herself regally, her head held high and her back straight. She moved to a podium and held up both hands. The crowd hushed as she leaned toward the microphone.

  “Who’s that?” Lionel said.

  “Isn’t she a relative of Nicolae?” Judd whispered.

  “It’s Viv Ivins,” a woman behind them said. “She’s a member of the potentate’s inner cabinet.” The woman eyed the three boys. “Why haven’t you taken the mark of loyalty?”

  Judd smiled and moved a few steps away. “Guess we have to be more careful.”

  Viv Ivi
ns welcomed the participants and introduced honored guests. When she welcomed “our spiritual leader of international Carpathianism, the Reverend Fortunato,” the crowd went wild. Judd noticed that Leon was still scratching his backside.

  Judd recalled Sabir’s imitation of “Hail Carpathia” as Leon led the crowd, directing with his right hand and scratching with his left. Voices echoed off buildings, and people had a difficult time staying in sync with each other.

  As Leon urged the throng to “sing it once more as we welcome the object of our worship,” an official opened a door and Nicolae Carpathia bounded out alone and bowed deeply. The crowd gasped, then roared in approval as they saw Carpathia’s gold sandals, glistening white robe, and glowing, silver belt. Nicolae stretched out his hands toward the crowd, as if he were ready to embrace them all, as a group of bodyguards dressed in black suits formed a half circle behind him.

  A military truck pulled up and Judd noticed a strange smell. Looking closely at the trailer hitched to the truck, Judd saw a dangling rope and two enormous eyes.

  Sam drew close to Judd and whispered, “Here it comes. The moment I have been dreading.”

  It took Vicki a few minutes to awaken from her dead sleep. She hobbled into the meeting room groggy and half awake, but one glimpse of the scene on television and her eyes were open.

  Nicolae Carpathia looked like some kind of Greek god with bad jewelry. If the scene wasn’t such a shake of the fist at God, it would have looked funny. The camera showed a trailer ramp lowering and two Peacekeepers leapt inside. Another angle caught them pulling and pushing something off the truck.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Vicki said.

  The two Peacekeepers struggled with a massive pig, trying to pull it onto the street. The camera angle switched and showed Nicolae Carpathia gazing at the enormous animal.

  “Look at the size of that thing!” Darrion said.

  “I don’t think I can watch,” Vicki said.