Chaim seemed unable to speak. Finally his eyes filled and he rasped, "Thank you very much, my young sister. That means more to me than I can say."
As Buck trudged into the last building, he found himself next to Alex Athenas, going over his notes. "Ugly work," Buck said.
Alex grunted. "Uglier than I thought. Who'd have guessed those women would be so resolute? We're going to run into some of their husbands now. We'll find out who's tougher."
"I find it hard to believe you've got religious dissidents in with hardened criminals."
"That's not my call. I've got one job here."
"I wouldn't want it."
"I didn't ask for it."
"Don't you agree the mix in this building is strange?"
The others passed as Alex stopped and looked Buck full in the face, making him uncomfortable. "Let me ask you something, Jensen. Have you ever talked to Nicolae Carpathia?"
Buck froze. Why would he guess that? "It's been a long time," Buck said.
"Well, I have. And he sees the dissidents as every bit as dangerous as the criminals. Well, they're both criminals."
"Murderers and people of faith?"
"People of the wrong faith, the divisive faith, the intolerant faith."
Buck stepped closer. "Alex, listen to yourself. You just sent more than a dozen women to their deaths because they don't share Nicolae Carpathia's faith. And you call them intolerant?"
Alex stared back. "I've got a mind to turn you in. You make me wonder about your loyalty."
"Maybe I'm wondering about it too. Whatever happened to freedom?"
"We've still got freedom, Jack," Alex spat. "These people can decide for themselves whether they want to live or die."
Buck followed him in. This was by far the largest holding room, men of all ages milling about, talking. Buck noticed at least two dozen men with the mark of God on their foreheads, and they all seemed to be earnestly pleading with small groups of others. Strangely, the others seemed to be listening.
Buck caught Albie's eye. "See all of them?" he mouthed. Albie nodded sadly. It was great to see so many believers, but that meant more carnage was not far off. Buck wondered how he would identify Pastor Demeter without calling him out.
He asked a guard, "Who's the leader of the dissidents?"
"The local Judah-ites?"
Buck shrugged. "That what they call them here?" The guard nodded and pointed to where a tall, dark-haired man was surrounded by at least a dozen others. He was speaking earnestly and quickly, gesturing. Rayford had said the man had the gift of evangelism, and he must have been exercising it with desperation. Buck moved to where he could hear.
" 'But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' That's you and me, gentlemen. I'm pleading with you not to take this mark. Receive Christ, get your sins forgiven, stake your claim with the God of the universe." "It could cost us our lives," one said. "It will cost you your life, friend. You think I don't know this is a hard thing? Ask yourself, do I want to be with God in heaven this very night, or do I want to pledge my loyalty to Satan and never be able to change my mind? Tonight you'll be dead for an instant and then in the presence of God. Or you can live another few years and spend eternity in hell. The choice is yours."
"I want God," a man said.
"You know the consequences?"
"Yes, hurry."
"Pray with me." They knelt.
"On your feet, everyone!" Alex called out.
"God, I know I'm a sinner," Pastor D began, and the man repeated it.
"I said on your feet!"
"Forgive my sins and come into my life and save me."
"Don't make me send a guard in there to break your heads!"
"Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross for me."
"All right, get in there!"
"I accept your gift and receive you right now."
"Don't say I didn't warn you!"
Buck noticed that other men were repeating the prayer too, though their eyes were open and they faced the front, standing.
"Amen."
Just as the guard got to Pastor D, he stood and pulled the other man up.
"You two listen up now!"
As the guard left, Buck heard a man whisper, "Pray that again."
Pastor D started in again, quietly, still appearing to be paying attention as Alex finished his information. All throughout the cage, other men were praying and leading others to do the same. The murmuring floated toward the guards, but it was hard to pin on one person.
"I need to know if any of you will be rejecting the mark of loyalty so we can get you in the right line now!"
"Put me in the other line!" Pastor D called out.
"You're rejecting?"
"Yes, sir!"
"You understand the consequences?"
"Yes. I reject the authority of the ruler of this world and wish to-"
"I didn't ask for your philosophy, sir. Just get in the line to my right as-"
"I wish to pledge my allegiance to the true and living God and his Son, Jesus Christ!"
"I said be quiet!"
"He is the one who offers the free gift of salvation to anyone who believes!"
"Silence that man!"
"What are you going to do, kill me twice? Oh, that I could die twice for my God!"
"Anyone else?"
"Me!"
"Me too!"
"Count me in!"
"Sign me up!"
And one after the other, as the men chose their own deaths, they began to holler their reasons.
"I just became a believer tonight, right here! Do it, men! It's true! God loves you!"
"Silence!"
"I was arrested because I was worshiping God with fellow believers! God will never leave you or forsake you!"
"Guards!"
The guards followed Alex's men into the cage, throwing men to the ground, stomping their heads and faces.
"Do not resist!" Pastor D shouted. "We'll be out of our misery soon! May the very men who beat us listen to our report before it's too late!"
He was smacked atop the head with a baton and crumbled to the floor. A criminal who Buck noticed did not have the seal of God on his forehead grabbed the guard around the neck from behind and threw him down as others climbed atop.
"Don't resist, brothers!" a believer yelled. "Just speak the truth!"
But the unbelievers were rioting. "I'm taking Carpathia's mark!" one screamed. "But stop hurting these men! I'm a coward, but they are brave! Agree with them or not, they have more courage than any of us!"
A guard jumped him and wrapped his arms around the man's head, a hand on his chin. He yanked until the neck snapped and the man fell dead.
Alex, who remained outside the cage guarding his men's weapons, grabbed one and fired into the air, squelching the bravado of most unbelievers. "I will authorize my people to shoot to kill!" he said. "Now get to my left if you are accepting the mark of loyalty to the Global Community and our risen potentate. And get to the right if-"
"There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus!"
"Silence that man!"
The believers helped Pastor D up, but he could not stand alone. They carried him to the front of the line to Alex's right, and dozens of others fell in behind. Suddenly they began singing, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
"Herd them out! Shut them up! Guillotine line first! Move! Move!"
"O precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow! No other fount I know! Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
As the line passed Buck, he grabbed Pastor D by the shirt and pulled him up, as if forcing him to walk. He whispered desperately in his ear, "Jesus is risen!"
Demetrius Demeter, he of the gift of evangelism, eyes rolling back, tongue thick, legs failing, mumbled, "Christ is risen indeed!"
Buck watched the stagge
ring band, each with the seal of God on his forehead, march to the death room, singing of the blood of Jesus and accepting the blows. He could not follow them in, knew he could not endure witnessing the deaths of these saints, old and new. Eyes filling, he found Albie in the crowd and motioned with a nod that he should follow. They strode quickly to the jeep, but not soon enough to avoid hearing the first slide and thud and the cheering of the bloodthirsty crowd.
Buck fired up the engine to drown out the sounds and squealed off into the night. He and Albie shared not a word as they raced south twenty-five miles to the airport at Kozani. Buck skidded to a stop by the motor pool and they leapt out, hurrying through the gate.
"Key in it?" someone called, and Buck nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
As he and Albie marched across the tarmac toward the runway and the hangar where their refueled jet awaited, Buck saw a tiny Asian woman sitting next to a huge suitcase and a smaller bag on a bench under a light pole. Something about the way the light illuminated her red, GC prison-system uniform made her look angelic.
She appeared tentative when she saw them and stood, pulling her orders from her pocket. She was a sliver of reality, a link to life, to safety, a cup of cold water in a desert of despair.
"Tell me you're Ming Toy," Buck said brusquely, barely trusting his voice.
"I am. Mr. Williams?"
Buck nodded.
"And Mr. Albie?"
"Jensen and Elbaz until we board, ma'am, please," Albie said, and Buck could tell he was just as ragged emotionally.
"Let me see your papers," Buck said, picking up her suitcase while Albie grabbed the other bag.
"Let me carry something, gentlemen. You have no idea how I appreciate this."
"Until we get on that plane, Ms. Toy," Albie said, "we're just following orders and ferrying an employee from one assignment to another."
"I understand."
"Once we're on board, we can make nice."
Buck tossed her suitcase behind the backseat, then helped her aboard and pointed to a seat. As she buckled in, Albie slipped behind the controls. Buck sat next to him but did not strap himself in. He turned so his knees were between his chair and Albie's and grabbed a clipboard.
He faced the silent woman behind him. "Ms. Toy," he said, and he began to sob. "We have to do a preflight checklist and get clearance for takeoff." She squinted at him in much the same way he assumed she must deal with the prisoners at Buffer. She had to be wondering what in the world was wrong with this man. "But once we are airborne," he said between great gasps, "we are going to tell you what a miracle you are and why we so badly needed you to be on this plane tonight." He caught his breath and added, "And we're going to tell you a story you won't believe."
NINETEEN
David awoke every few hours, peeking at his clock. Finally, at 0600, he rolled out of bed, ran a hard five miles, ate, showered, and dressed. He was in his office by 0730.
"You change this appointment?" his assistant asked.
"Yeah, sorry, Tiff. A conflict?"
"No, just curious."
David called 4054, just to make sure Chang was still there and planning to come at 0900. When David identified himself, Mrs. Wong said, "Missah Wong not here right now. I have him call you back, OK?"
"Is Chang there?"
"No. Chang with father."
"Do you know where they are?"
"See Missah Moon."
"They are with Mr. Moon now?"
"I have him call you back."
"Ma'am, Mrs. Wong, are your husband and your son with Mr. Moon now?"
"I no understand. Call Missah Moon."
David called Moon's office and was told Walter was in Personnel. Personnel told him the executives were in a meeting. "Can you tell me if they have begun applying marks to new hires?"
"Not that I know of, but that is supposed to be today, and that is what the meeting is about."
"Can you tell me if one of my candidates is there, ChangWong?"
"I believe I did see him and his father in here this morning with Mr. Moon."
"Where are they now?"
"I have no idea. Would you like their room number? They're staying here at-"
"No, thanks. I really need to talk to Moon."
"I told you, sir, he is in a meeting with Personnel execs."
"It's an emergency."
"So you say."
"Ma'am, I am a director. Would you please interrupt the meeting and tell Mr. Moon I need to speak with him immediately."
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I have been in trouble for just that kind of thing before. If it's that important, you may feel free to interrupt the meeting yourself."
David slammed the phone down and jogged to Personnel. He found the conference room empty, then found the receptionist. She held him off with a raised hand as she handled another call.
"Ask them to hold a second," he said. "This is important."
"Just a moment, please."
"Thank you! Now, I-"
"I didn't put this call on hold to help you. I put them on hold to ask you to wait your turn."
"But I-"
She held up a hand again and returned to her call. Another phone rang while she was finishing, and she went directly to it. David leaned across her desk and depressed the cradle button.
"Director Hassid! I'll report you for this!"
"You'd better get me fired before I get you fired," he said. "Now where is this meeting?"
"I don't know."
"It's not here; where is it?"
"Off-site, obviously."
"Where?"
"I honestly don't know, but my guess would be the basement of Building D."
"That's a quarter mile from here! Why didn't you tell me it was there when you told me to interrupt it myself?"
"I didn't know you'd actually do it."
Her phone rang again.
"Don't answer that."
"It's my job."
"Answer it and it'll be your job. Why would the meeting be in D?"
"I don't know that it is. I said it was a guess."
"Why might it be there?"
"Because that's where they're setting up the loyalty mark application center." And she answered her phone.
David slammed both palms on her desk, making her jump and then apologize to the caller. As he pushed through the door, she called after him in a singsong tone. "Oh, Director Hassid! You might want to take this call. It's your assistant."
He rushed back, only to get a condescending look. "Like I'm going to let you use my phone." She pointed to a phone on a table in the waiting area.
"This is David."
"Hey. Just got a call from Walter Moon."
"Where is he?"
"I'm sorry. He didn't say and I didn't think to ask. Want me to find him?"
"What did he want?"
"He said he would be delivering your 0900 appointment personally, that he and the candidate's father were most excited about your interest, you know the drill."
"What was he doing with Moon this morning?"
"No idea, sir, but I'll find out if you want."
"Find Moon and call me back on my cell."
David hurried to Building D and found the basement cordoned off. He had to use every line in the book to talk his way past Security. When he was finally able to peek through the double doors that led into a huge meeting room, he got his first glimpse of the setup for applying the mark. Crowd-control barricades were arranged to funnel people to processing points and finally to the cubicles where the last of the injection guns were being plugged in and tested.
"What's all this for?" David asked a woman arranging chairs.
"Oh, come on, you know."
"But why so big? I thought they were just doing new employees first."
She shrugged. "The rest of us will be next. Might as well have everything in place and tested, huh? I can't wait. This is the dream of a lifetime."
"Have you se
en Security Chief Moon this morning?"
"Actually he was here a while ago."
"With anyone?"
"Couldn't tell you who. Some guys from Personnel, I know."
"Anyone else?"
She nodded. "I didn't pay attention, though."
"Any idea where he is now?"
She shook her head. "I suppose you've heard the rumors, though."
"Tell me."
She smiled. "You poor managers miss the gossip, don't you?"
"We often do."
"I figure you start most of it, or at least your decisions do."
"Granted. What's the word this morning?"
"That Moon's in line for Supreme Commander."
"You don't say."
"I like him. I think he'd be good at it."
David's cell phone vibrated and he excused himself. "Moon's people now say he's in with Carpathia," Tiffany said.
"Alone?"
"David, I'm sorry. I didn't ask. I'll find out whatever you want, but I have to know in advance what I'm looking for."
"My fault. Did they happen to say whether Walter is still bringing Chang at 0900?"
"Yea! I know one! Yes."
"Really?"
"Honest."
"Is Chang with him and Carpathia now?"
"Sorry. No idea."
"I'm on my way back."
David used his cell phone as he walked and tried the Chang apartment again. This time Mr. Wong answered. Encouraged, David asked for Chang. "He not available right now. He see you at nine, yes?"
"That's right. Is he OK?"
"Better than OK! Very excited! Missah Moon come get us to bring to see you."
"You're coming too?"
"If OK. May I?"
David sighed. "Why not?"
"No?"
"Yeah, sure."
Back in his office, with fifteen minutes to spare, he patched in to Carpathia's office. The first thing he heard was Nicolae's voice. "Hickman was a buffoon! I'm better off without him. I don't know what Leon was thinking."
"Probably that he was going to have your job and Jim would be easy to manage."
Carpathia laughed. "You're a good judge of character, Walter. It came down to you and Suhail. He has an impressive resume, but he's so new to his current position."
The Mark: The Beast Rules the World Page 23
