Armageddon Darkness

by David Pollitt

  Chapter 18

  Preparing For Sewanee

  Believers in the cities were preaching and witnessing door-to-door and street-by-street, in spite of the persecution. Now, it was becoming quite evident that this was part of a major revival, and the odds were leveling out a little. Believers were smart enough to continue to carry weapons and band to gather in military fashion to protect their own—and they did.

  The marked were backing off in spite of the propaganda. They were having trouble just functioning from the P2 problem. Employers were hiring believers to fill in the gaps in defiance of hiring freezes for believers. They at least could get a believer to show up for work. They were paying with barter, providing them food and other goods in exchange for work.

  Just after Caleb left, the P2 started hitting the South. It helped the believers coming to the communes since the marked were too busy living their own hell on earth. They were now taking in over a 1,000 per day. It became standard practice to send hundreds of believers back into the communities to preach Jesus. They were getting unbelievable responses. There were even some ads from believers on TV and radio. The believers were coming into control of the most important parts of the working community. Still, they returned to the communes each evening, not taking any chances.

  Jeff hung out with the guards most of the time, and they finally let him stand on night duty. He was able to fend off several attacks just prior to the P2 rolling through Tennessee. He taught the others a thing or two about marksmanship and was becoming sort of a folk hero to the commune. Jeff started showing signs of the P2 almost immediately. After one terribly painful night, he crawled out to the pastor as he walked by. He was barely able to walk. The pastor turned to him and pushed his hand towards Jeff, and Jeff passed out. Others would call it being slain by the Holy Spirit, but it was different. There wasn't any Holy Spirit dwelling in Jeff. It was the pastor's Godly authority over sickness and disease that enabled him—in spite of the lack of miracles left in the world. What bothered most commune dwellers about the pastor was that he was still among them and not part of the raptured. He explained it to Jeff while visiting him after his bad P2 night.

  "I've been a pastor for most my adult life. I relied on the Holy Spirit to anoint me for years of miracles, healings, and marvelous works of God. I made a mistake. God asked me specifically to become a missionary. I didn't want to. I just wanted to build this big church, and I gloried in it success. I refused to do what God asked. After 30 years of conviction from God over my rebellion, he stopped bothering me about it. I figured He changed his mind. Actually, He gave up on me and got someone else to do it. Sure, people got saved and healed by my ministry, but inside I knew I was dead; deader than that doorknob over there. That show's how God can use anyone, strong, weak, good or just plain bad, to do what He wants when He wants to. That should give you an idea that it's not impossible for you, either."

  When he spoke, tears ran down the pastor's face in grief and remorse. "That's all behind me now," he perked up smiling. "I'm doing what God wants now. Just what He wants. Because of it, you won't have to worry about P2. God has even taken care of that for you."

  The pastor shuffled off and left Jeff thinking about the lack of pain. He shook his head in disbelief but kept whispering, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

  The pastor finally told everyone that Jeff and Sal were asked by God to go on an important mission but never would say what it was. There were lots of congrats and handshaking when they heard about it. There was also a lot of conviction taking place in both Sal's and Jeff's heart. They were finding it difficult to stay around so many believers without it bothering them. They both yearned to turn their lives over to God but just couldn't make the move.

  It had been ten days since Sal had seen Caleb. After his disappearance, she went into a depressed recoil. Nothing anyone could say helped. She missed him and replayed every word he said to her in a continuous cycle of mind torture. Sal felt that if she gave her heart to the Lord that Caleb might come back sooner.

  "Pastor," Sal whispered from behind him, and Nikki turned to bow to her as the pastor looked back.

  Sal heard Nikki say, "What can I do for you, Sal?"

  "Will you stop that stuff?" replied Sal, not amused anymore.

  "Sorry, I thought all kids love that kind of stuff."

  "I'm no kid. I'll turn 18 in two weeks," she hurled back at him.

  "I see. Well, let me say it this way. Age is relative. Since I am 125 years old, I've been alive for 107 years waiting for you just to be born. You'll be a kid to me for quite some time. How's that?" he said while smiling lovingly at her and went towards her to get a hug. She turned a cold shoulder into his advance.

  "What's wrong, Sal?" he said, seriously.

  "I believe I want to become a believer," she replied, very unemotionally.

  "You do! Why?" he asked as if he knew something he shouldn't.

  "What do you mean? Why? Isn't that what you people are all about?" she answered curtly.

  "You people, huh? I see. Does any of this have to with Caleb?" he asked.

  Sal stopped and stared at him. She felt his old eyes piercing right through her. It was as if he felt the fraud and wrong motivations in her. She answered in a beaten down tone, "You're right. I can't do it. I just can't do it. It's for the wrong reason. I won't bother you anymore. I'm sorry."

  "Sal, don't be so down on yourself. It's just that this decision for God is too important to do it halfway. Why don't you and Nikki go for a walk? He needs the exercise. Isn't that a good idea, Nikki?" he said, and Sal saw him start to throw his voice and put her hand up to stop him.

  "Don't do it, pastor. Just give me his leash. Can he stay with me till morning?" she asked.

  "Sure, soon you both will be spending a lot of time together. Why not start now?" he turned and shuffled off, leaving them together. He stopped and commented in an afterthought, "Oh, Sal, not that it means anything right now, but later it will. Nikki can't swim."

  "You're right, it doesn't mean anything. I'll remember it anyway," she replied as they walked away towards the front gate.

  "I wish you really could talk, Nikki. Come on, let's get away from here for awhile," she said while pulling on his leash, but he started pulling her. Sal noticed that he seemed to know exactly where they were going.

  "Can I go out for some air?" she asked the guard. He turned around, and it was Jeff.

  "Hey, Sal, got the dog today. Sure, I'll watch over you. Don't go past that pole with the flags on the top. You have 100 yards of safety zone and plenty of quiet space, okay?" he pointed as he spoke.

  "Thanks, Jeff. I just need a break from all these Christians," she said while looking at the ground dejectedly.

  "I know what you mean. You know, Sal. I've been thinking about becoming a believer. Can you imagine? Do you think they're rubbing off on me?" he confessed and laughed uncomfortably.

  "Yeah, I have too, but for the wrong reasons. I think you're a better person than I am for it," she answered as she walked through the partially open gate while being pulled through it by Nikki.

  Once she was far enough away, she started talking to Nikki. He turned his head and paid attention as if he was listening. It gave Sal a funny feeling. "Nikki, can I tell you something?" she said while sitting on a high bluff overlooking the Woodbury hills. It was quiet out here, and she could barely hear the commune crowd, only some wind chimes from the open kitchen area blowing in the breeze.

  "I really think I love Caleb. Isn't that the craziest thing you've ever heard? I was going to become a Christian to please him. That was wrong. That was very wrong. He wouldn't want me to do it that way. I don't want to do it that way. I want it to count. I want it to matter. I want to understand what it's all about. I want to experience it the right way," she rambled as Nikki sat in front of her staring without blinking. He moved closer to her and licked her hand resting on her knee, almost like a gentle kiss. It shocked her, and she felt that something move from
him to her when he did.

  Tears welled up in her eyes, and she bowed her head for a moment. Finally, her heart heavy with a burden she couldn't explain, she said, "Lord, I really am new to all this. Help me to understand. If this was so important to my mom and dad, and I really can't deny that You exist with Your angels so obviously near, then help me. Help me to become a true believer. Yes, that's it. I want to have the real thing. I want to do what they say. Forgive me for my sins. I want to receive You into my heart. Please, come into me. Please, I accept You as my Lord and Savior."

  Nikki howled repeatedly. It sounded like a grand trumpet of victory. She knew that he understood what was happening. She stood up and howled with him. Both of them bayed at the sky; and after they stopped minutes later, her depression was gone and replaced with a grand peace. She felt like everything was right with the world. This was the best she had ever felt. She danced in one place for a minute, a little dance of joy, and Nikki continued to run around her while barking and yelping.

  The pastor heard the baying and smiled. He knew what had happened. "I knew that old Holy Ghost dog would help. He's led more children to God than a whole army of preachers." He did a dance of his own, then fell down. Several guards came rushing over to help him up.

  As Sal entered back into the commune, Jeff smiled at her, then asked loudly, "You didn't, did you? You look so different! You look happier! You look changed! You really did give your life to Jesus, didn't you?"

  Sal ran to him and hugged him, which surprised even him. "Yes, yes, yes, you have to do it too, Jeff! You've got to do it! Please, think about it, will you?" her speech reminded her of her dad's months ago.

  "Of course, of course," he said, then squeezed her to him because of the advantage, but she pushed him away.

  "You never miss a chance, do you?" and laughed at his surprised face for being caught. "Okay, then here's another hug anyway." She squeezed him enthusiastically; and after she let him go, he reached out for another one, and Nikki bared his teeth and growled at him, making him jump back.

  "Man, Sal, you got the dog trained now. That's unfair."

  "What's unfair?" asked Caleb as he appeared from behind Jeff, scaring him into a high jump. Jeff accidentally discharged his M16 pointed skyward and brought a whole team of camouflages.

  "An accident!" he yelled, and they stopped and went back to their various chores.

  "Oh, Caleb, how I missed you!" exclaimed Sal as she ran to him and jumped into his arms.

  "I heard you're a believer now. How wonderful. How absolutely wonderful! I guess you two need to start packing. You'll be heading for Sewanee tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I've brought an old friend with me. Irish, you near?"

  Irish appeared behind Caleb and walked slowly towards them. Jeff was amazed how beautiful she was. Nothing prepared him for her magical, multicolored, rainbow aura, but she couldn't stay in this form for long. Even Caleb changed back into his human form just after arriving.

  "Who's she!" asked Sal while being threatened by her looks and familiarity with Caleb.

  "I'm Irish. I'm an heir-servant angel. I've known Caleb for thousands of years. He's best friends with my own love, Aaron, commander of the angel legions."

  With that last statement, Sal relaxed. "Is Aaron your husband?"

  "Oh no. Angels aren't allowed to be married or be together until the New Jerusalem. Although, we can take on human wives and husbands, right Caleb?"

  Caleb blushed, "You should know. You've had a least 20 or 30 of them."

  "Twenty or thirty?" replied a shocked Jeff.

  "And, I'm sure I may have a few more if they're part of my Godly assignment. You married, Jeff?" she asked tauntingly.

  For a minute, he thought she was serious and stuttered out, "No, no, not even a girlfriend," then looked shamefully at Sal.

  "That's not what I've been hearing since I met you, you gigolo," she answered in a tease.

  He realized they were all having fun at his expense and started laughing with them. "Are you going with us?"

  "No, I'm here to visit the pastor. It's time for him to come home. If you don't mind, I've been given permission to change for this mission," she stated while she changed into a very old woman who looked at least a hundred.

  "Who are you supposed to be?" asked Sal and feeling sad about the pastor, then suspecting that Irish's new form had some significance.

  "I changed into his wife. She died 35 years ago. I just wanted to make him feel comfortable before he left. He'll see her soon enough. I'm going to let him introduce me to all his friends. He'd like that. He's been missing her too much lately and does want them to meet her. It's just a little present for him. I see you have his dog. How's it going, Nikki?"

  Nikki bowed to her and replied in a woman's voice, "Fine, it was fun helping Sal become a believer." He jumped around and started howling again while Irish giggled with her own voice trick.

  The pastor heard it and something within him made him turn to see the four of them with Nikki. He dropped his Bible and started trembling at the sight of his wife. How he missed her. He knew it wasn't her, but it was so wonderful to see her again. Irish was like a living picture. He ran best he could to her.

  "You did a great job looking like her. Who are you, really?" he said as he reached Irish and took her hand to hold for a second before embracing her.

  "I'm Irish. I just thought you'd like to introduce me to all your friends. You've been wanting to do that for awhile, haven't you?" she asked, then hugged him back.

  "Yes, yes, I have. How much time do I have?"

  "As long as you want. No one's forcing you to go. It's up to you. We know you're tired. We know you're ready to see your wife and family. It's completely up to you. We're just trying to answer your recent prayers."

  "Can I be young again?" he said, pitifully.

  "You can be as young as you want. It's all up to you. I have an angel named Grace who will take you through Heaven 101. She's one of the best."

  "Used to be pretty goofy," replied Caleb sarcastically.

  "Used to be was a long time ago, Caleb. You know better. She's a great asset to heaven. These older angels get such an attitude once they get some seniority. Once they pass the 5000-year-old mark, they're hard to handle."

  Sal looked astonished, "Did you say 5000 years? Caleb are you that old?"

  "Don't look so shocked. Age means nothing in heaven, not a thing. You are all making me feel like an old man now. You two go talk and introduce. I need to go visit a couple at Sewanee. I'll be back, then we need to get you two squared away for your trip."

  Sal's lip quivered slightly in an almost pout just as Caleb disappeared. The commune reacted explosively to Caleb and Irish's appearance. Many had seen them appear and change. There was a momentous excitement that caused Sal and Jeff to become surrounded by questioning believers who wanted all the details. It was just enough to distract Sal from her little mood.

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