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by Robert L. Wise

“I trust you slept well,” Jackie said.

  “Yes. Our discussion last night went into the wee hours of the morning. I slept soundly.”

  “Maybe, you can help us with a question I have,” Graham said. “How long do you think this time of worldwide struggle is going to last?”

  The Jewish woman pushed her thick black hair to one side and looked out the window. Her finely chiseled profile offered a majestic countenance against the beaming sunlight. She seemed lost in thought.

  “Tough question?” Jackie finally said.

  “No,” Adah replied. “I am simply thinking about what I should say.” She turned away from the window. “In some ways the matter is simple. In other ways, it is complicated.”

  “I don’t understand,” Matt said.

  “There are many biblical interpreters who believe the Tribulation will last for seven years,” Adah began. “Of course, the Rapture occurred on Avi 9, the date in our Jewish calendar when everything catastrophic happened to Israel. Using the prophetic insights of chapter 9 in the book of Daniel as well as chapter 13 in Revelation, we can surmise the possibility of seven years.” Adah smiled. “But remember, numbers often stand for ideas in the Scripture, and seven is an extremely important number in Israel. Creation took seven days. There are seven candlesticks in a menorah in Revelation, as well as seven seals and seven trumpets. The Holy Land has seven different names. Ezekiel chapter 36 promises seven great blessings of the Lord for Israel. The Bible goes on and on. See what I mean?”

  Graham shook his head. “No, I don’t understand.”

  “Seven is a number for fullness, completion, wholeness,” Adah said. “Like seven days completing a week, it is a symbol for the fulfillment of God’s Word, of spiritual perfection.” She shrugged. “Seven is used as no other number in the Scripture. It comes from the Hebrew root savah, meaning ‘to be satisfied or have enough of.’ Maybe it simply tells us that the Tribulation will be over when God’s work is done, when His plan is fulfilled.”

  “Then we won’t know when the end will come!” Graham complained.

  Adah smiled. “Maybe not on a calendar, but we will be challenged to trust God all the more.”

  “You’re playing a game with us,” Graham argued.

  “No,” Adad said. “I am being very honest.”

  “Hey!” Matt noticed that the sunlight had started to fade. Sunlight shouldn’t be diminishing at this hour of the day, he thought. “Look!” He took a couple of steps toward the window. No question about it; the sun was disappearing. “Something strange is going on.”

  Jackie stood up. “What’s happening?”

  Graham looked out the window. “Shadows are falling like nighttime.” He pointed across the landscape. “How can that be happening at this hour of the morning?”

  Matthew watched the shadows darken and the sunlight quickly disappear. “I’ve never seen such a strange sight.”

  “The book of Revelation says that the sun will turn black during the Great Tribulation.” Adah pointed toward the disappearing sun in the sky. “We are seeing it happen.”

  “It’s an eclipse,” Jackie said. “Isn’t it?” She hesitated, and the worry sounded in her voice. “I didn’t know one was predicted.” Jackie swallowed hard. “I—I think I’m getting frightened.”

  “The world is descending into the shadows,” Graham mumbled. “We are living in a time of darkness. Adah is right. No one can know for certain what is ahead, but I fear it will be a day of night.”

  CHAPTER 4

  FOR SEVERAL YEARS, the U.S. government maintained a hush-hush facility for nanotechnology experimentation. South of Chicago, the University of Illinois operated the secret research facility in Urbana. Interstate highway 57 traffic zoomed past the entrance without anyone even suspecting the university’s Microfabrication Research Laboratory was hidden underground. No one knew more about the cutting-edge work with nanorobots than the thirty-two-year-old scientist currently conducting an experiment.

  Pulling a small laser flashlight from the pocket of his long white lab coat, the brilliant young doctor flashed the intense beam on the specimens several times. The penetrating light swept across the tabletop and reflected off a petri dish inches away from his hand. Flipping off the laser, the nanotechnologist quickly returned to the microscope. Intense silence hovered around the researcher while he stared into the microscope, studying the strange sight unfolding before his eyes.

  Dr. Allen Newton mumbled and groaned while he peered through the lens for several minutes. Something was obviously wrong. At that moment, the lab’s door abruptly swung open and another scientist walked in.

  Because Dr. Paul Gillette was exceptionally good at obtaining funding for the expensive projects, he had been chairman of the research project and head of the lab for a number of years. Gillette had a nose for sniffing out how best to worm the required large sums out of Congress without overplaying his hand. However, Gillette remained a scientist, seldom mixing socially with more than a couple of close friends. Always keeping a sharp eye on Newton’s work, he studied Allen for a second and immediately realized something was wrong.

  After a quick exchange, Gillette looked into Allen’s microscope and studied the strange creatures floating through the saline solution. At a length of one 100- billionth of a meter, the nanorobots were more than just extremely small mechanical creations. They were pronged living bombs. With their grotesque shapes and serrated teeth, a few of the creatures resembled repulsive monsters that might swim in the depths of the ocean. And their probing eyes left the scientific observer with the unnerving sense of possibly being observed himself. The ugly microscopic creatures wiggled and zoomed through the solution as if they were off on a thousand important missions—or on journeys directed by their own hidden inner sensors.

  Gillette carefully observed the nanorobots for several moments, but he didn’t like what he saw. Rather than miniature computers, they looked more like landing craft from the moon or guided missiles searching for a human heart to attack . . . maybe his! Even though these man-made creatures were important to his obtaining federal funding, they made his skin crawl.

  Paul Gillette and Allen Newton were the absolute authorities on the nanorobots. Having first designed the gadgets for national security purposes, their laboratory had been chosen by the president of the United States to provide nanorobots for use in markings on people’s foreheads—an instant security technique devised after terrorist attacks exploded from public concern into a national issue. Dr. Allen Newton had devised a plan that allowed, with only one brush of a cotton swab, the nanorobots to be placed on a person’s forehead, putting them in instant contact with a computer in a central police observation location. When attack or death was threatened, patrol units were instantly dispatched to the individual in danger. At least the idea sounded good.

  Starting with identification nanorobots, Allen had gone on to perfect the devices so they had the capacity to work inside the human body, and could send back photographs of everything from the inside of teeth and heart valves to livers. But now he had discovered something strangely different. The gizmos seemed to have developed the ability to think for themselves!

  When Allen Newton studied the gadgets speeding through the saline solution, he realized they had developed the unique capacity to seek independent direction and function divergently from how they were programmed to act. Because the doors to new and unexplored areas were being pushed open, the nanorobots’ independence alarmed him. Having worked in organic morphology and the molecular arrangement of nanorobots, Dr. Newton knew the potential for these creatures, but he had also discovered that light affected them strangely, creating unpredictable behavior and often making them act like infuriated attacking bees or wasps. A sudden flash of light could send them into erratic responses.

  As Dr. Gillette studied the gizmos under Allen’s microscope, he began to realize just how bizarre their behavior could become. Allen had found a problem . . . a big problem.

  Dr. Ne
wton picked up an intense bright light and flashed it on the nanorobots in the solution. As he did so, the beam also struck a petri dish filled with samples of the miniature robots. Reaching across the table to pick up a pipette, Allen’s foot slipped, sending him sprawling across the table. His hand struck the petri dish and it shattered, spraying glass over the tabletop and shooting sharp slivers of glass into Allen’s hand.

  Allen Newton screamed as pain shot up his arm. Grabbing a towel, Gillette wrapped it around the slashed laceration on Newton’s hand, immediately realizing how serious the injury could be.

  For a moment, Allen Newton looked across the tabletop at the broken dish and the splattered mess in stunned silence. He knew his hand had been cut deeply, but Newton didn’t want medical attention. Still, he realized material from the petri dish might have gotten into the wound. Allen certainly didn’t want any solution filled with nanorobots floating around in his bloodstream. Reluctantly agreeing to get medical help, he prepared to leave with Dr. Gillette.

  As they started toward the door, Newton began to feel dizzy, and his vision blurred. Surely the cut couldn’t have affected him so dramatically? But as he tried to walk, his sense of stability started to fade. Instead of strong, steady steps, he staggered. Allen’s knees buckled, and Gillette grabbed him to keep Allen from falling.

  Dr. Gillette stared at the hideous transformation occurring before his eyes. Color was fading from the face of his strong, virile colleague. Newton’s eyes widened and turned red. The young man gasped for air and mumbled that he feared the nanorobot-filled suspension material might have seeped into his bloodstream. The flash of light could have activated them, turning these strange machines into frenzied attackers.

  Dr. Gillette tried to help Allen toward the door, but the young man found it impossible to take another step. His eyes widened farther, and a small stream of blood erupted from his right eye, making him look like he was weeping tears of blood.

  Finally collapsing into Gillette’s arms, Newton sank listlessly to the floor. Never closing his eyelids, the man’s eyes took on a glassy, empty stare. Gillette frantically searched for his friend’s pulse but found none. Staring in disbelief and shock, Paul Gillette realized Dr. Allen Newton was dead.

  CHAPTER 5

  ON THE OTHER SIDE of the world, the sun’s sudden darkening was observed at a later hour locally than in Wisconsin. The entire country of Turkey had been caught with the same unexpected blackness in the sky that fell over America. Hassan Jawhar Rashid stood at the window of his massive petroleum offices in Istanbul, looking up at the opaque sky. Darkness had settled over the ancient city, and the streets were filled with alarmed citizens screaming in the streets.

  “What is it?” Rashid’s assistant asked timidly.

  “What?” Rashid turned around slowly and looked at his assistant with disdain. “What do you think?”

  Abu Shad was not easily frightened, but today he looked anxious. “I’ve never seen the sun go out and the streets fall dark at midday. No one expected an eclipse. The sight frightens me.”

  “Expecting the world to end?”

  Abu Shad shook his head but didn’t speak.

  “Come now. You’re as bad as those morons running around in the streets in total panic. Social unrest, wars around the world, and the moon turning red, plus this current blackout, and they think it all signals the end of time.” Rashid shrugged. “It’s not!”

  “Then what has happened?” Abu Shad pushed.

  “An unexpected asteroid spun out of its orbit and veered across the orbit of the earth.” Hassan spoke rapidly with an annoyed tone in his voice. “The so-called eclipse is nothing more than celestial junk blocking the sun from shining on the earth. It will be finished shortly.”

  Abu Shad looked relieved. “Thank you, sir. You always understand these things.”

  “The meeting is about to begin, Abu. Make sure the room is ready, and stay close to me. This is an important meeting.”

  The secretary bowed and hurried out of the room.

  “Fools!” Rashid murmured to himself. “They never pay attention to astrological reports until something like this unanticipated asteroid flies by. My God! I am surrounded by idiots and fools.”

  Before marching out of the office, Rashid always stepped in front of the mirror to check his appearance. Hassan’s black eyes carefully studied his impeccable white coat. The usual Nehru jacket with the high collar still looked freshly pressed. White contrasted favorably with his meticulously cut and combed blue-black hair. Rashid’s dark skin gave him a Mediterranean appearance, allowing him to pass for any nationality from an Italian to a Turk. The truth was, he carefully guarded the enigma of his nationality and racial origins. No one knew exactly where he came from.

  Starting from humble origins, Hassan had quickly realized his extraordinary intelligence and uncanny ability to read people’s faces and detect the secrets hidden in their eyes. He seldom missed perceiving when someone lied or tried to deceive him. Even a minute blink was read with clear understanding. Using his ability and building on every opportunity that crossed his path, he began as an oil field worker and built through the acquisition of smaller companies what eventually became the Royal Arab Petroleum empire, a worldwide industry with the capacity to control oil prices everywhere on the globe.

  During the early years, he used the name Borden Camber Carson to conceal his identity and allow himself to work unobserved behind the scenes. Having two names served his purposes well. By cloaking his appearance, Rashid had been able to keep the world from knowing what he looked like until he was ready to strike for even higher gain. And that was what he was about these days. Much higher gain.

  In the last several years, Hassan Jawhar Rashid had developed a new interest in politics. He sensed this was the perfect time for a ruthless but clever manipulator to work his way to a position of power, literally dominating the international scene. He had money and power, but nothing like what he might acquire when he controlled nations with the skill of a sideshow puppeteer. And he was a ruthless, clever manipulator.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen.” Hassan Rashid walked briskly into the large conference room. “Something has your attention?”

  The diplomats staring out the windows turned around quickly and hurried toward their chairs.

  “You seem to be, shall I say, fascinated with the darkness of the sun . . . as the rabble in the streets are right now.”

  “Mister Prime Minister,” one of the men at the end of the table said, “we are sure you are aware that across the world this eclipse has created great concern. We were wondering . . .”

  Rashid cut him off. “Cut the crap. Let us get down to business. This celestial twitch will be gone shortly, and the sun will come back out. We have more pressing matters to attend to.”

  The diplomat’s mouth dropped open and he looked shocked, but he said nothing more.

  “You recently brought to my attention an issue of concern with my personal security,” Rashid continued. “Since I have gained international prominence, I can understand the need for greater security, but I sensed a particular personal interest in the report. Please clarify the issues for me.”

  “You will soon be returning to the United Nations,” the secretary of commerce observed, “and traveling around America. Our fear is your vulnerability on such a trip.”

  Rashid thought for a moment. Yes, he had every intention of undercutting the authority of the United Nations and replacing their control. But how did that leave him unusually exposed?

  “Our sources have identified a new movement taking shape in America,” the commerce secretary continued. “A backlash of resentment over the rise in crime and the loss of morality is threatening to produce vigilantes who run around the countryside with guns hidden in their cars and trucks. Since the so-called Rapture, fear is rampant in the streets. These self-appointed watchdogs are a threat.”

  Rashid blinked several times. He’d not heard of such a thing, and he didn’t like
the suggestion. “Get serious,” he clipped.

  “I am, sir. Americans have a strange history of an intense love affair with guns. Their Constitution guarantees them the right to carry weapons anywhere. Remember the role of guns when that Jack Ruby nutcase killed Lee Harvey Oswald after Oswald shot Kennedy? Americans kill each other all the time.”

  Rashid was seldom surprised. With incredibly fast reading ability and a photographic memory, he didn’t miss much, but this idea caught him by surprise. “What would you suggest?”

  “I believe too much is at stake at this time in our history to treat your security with anything less than total concern. We must stop spontaneous exchanges when there is a large crowd. We must keep you covered with a shield of protection because guns are instantaneous and deadly.”

  Rashid was not sure how to respond. He had not even thought about the possibility of an assassination. Actually he felt invincible. “I must think about this aspect of my next trip to the United States. Give me some time. Next question.”

  The discussion continued, but Rashid was distracted. He had to decide how important it was to appear as a “man of the people,” in touch with everyone, rather than becoming a remote, aloof figure. Of course, he preferred the latter, but personal contact to achieve his immediate goals might be needed. Perhaps he ought to discuss the matter with Frank Bridges, the mayor of Chicago. Bridges had floated in under his umbrella of power and was controllable, and a politician should give him a good feel of how to handle the issue. If Bridges was anything, he was a politician!

  CHAPTER 6

  BY EVENING, the blackness that had settled over the world cleared in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Normal illumination had returned in the area of the Pecks’ cabin when the nightly news came on television. The CBS anchorman delivered the evening review of events to the American public at a quick, clipped pace. “Tonight the world is recovering from an eclipse of the sun. The asteroid that created the problem has fortunately moved away from its near collision with the planet. Affected by the earth’s field of gravity, the asteroid spun around the world until it broke free and went hurtling back into outer space. During the period of parallel orbits, the world existed in near total darkness because the sun became black. If the object had gotten any closer, a collision might have occurred that would have literally destroyed our planet.”