“Hang on a minute, Bradley,” said Mr. Walker, Tom’s father. “I admit, even though you and your family lived across the street from us all those years, we never really knew you people that well. I just remember you as that skinny kid who sent a model rocket through our bedroom window.”
Keith hung his head. “Yeah, that was me. Look, my dad and my grandfather have lived in that house, and your father lived in your house, so Bradleys and Walkers been neighbors a long time.”
Joshua Bradley continued, “You might not have known us that well, but you know we wouldn’t do anything to hurt your son, or any of these kids, right? We’ve done our best to protect them, and to teach them the right things.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Mr. Walker grunted.
“They’ve done good for our kids, Pete,” Mrs. Walker said. “Gary never would have gotten into tech school if they hadn’t found him that tutor and those scholarships.”
“Okay, okay,” Mr. Walker said. “But now you’re telling us we came down here for this trip, but Tom has to stay here in the hotel. And you want us to pretend this kid is our son?”
“Tom is the closest to Angel in appearance,” Talia said. “They even have some of the same tattoos. We are trying to protect Angel from some very bad people. We’re trying to save his life.”
“It’s kinda scary, how much they look alike,” Mrs. Walker said. “But Tommy, you been talking about this trip for months. You even paid our share of the expenses from your job at Lowes. You sure you wanna do this? What if somebody else gets hurt over this kid? What if they mistake Tommy for him? Can’t you just call the police and tell them this boy needs protection?”
“This is Mexico, Patsy,” Mr. Walker said. “Police could be in the pocket of whoever wants this boy. This got something to do with drugs? Is he a user?”
“No. I don’t do drugs,” Angel replied. “I see too much of what happens with them.”
Mr. Walker stood up and approached Angel. “You hurt any of these kids, you’ll have one more person after you.”
Angel cast his eyes down. “I swear to el Dio I ain’t gonna hurt anybody. An’ maybe I can help keep anybody else from gettin’ hurt.”
“I wanna help Mr. And Mrs. Bradley,” Tom said. “And they think keeping this guy close will help keep everybody else safer. People could be looking for him everywhere else but they won’t think about him being part of our group. It’s a good plan.”
“One thing he’s gotta do is keep his mouth shut,” Mr. Walker said. “Tommy don’t speak no Mexican.”
“Angel’s got a lot of serious thinking to do,” Joshua Bradley said. “He can do that while he stays quiet.”
Keith, Talia, and Joshua Bradley escorted Angel back to Tom’s room. David nodded at them from beside the elevator. A very young-looking security guard joined them to switch places with Adam and Tom’s other roommate.
“So you made the swap?” Adam asked as he let them in. “Whoa. This is the guy? He does look like Tommy.”
Talia had given Angel a new haircut and covered a few tattoos with makeup at the safe house. Tom had changed clothes with him before they left his parents’ room.
“Just don’t expect him to do a lot of talking,” Keith said. “My dad says he’s got a lot of thinking to do.”
“I hear that,” Adam said. “Doing a lot of thinking myself these days. But what if my parents figure out he’s not Tom? Especially my mom.”
“We’ll be praying while you fellows are thinking,” Joshua Bradley said.
Chapter One Hundred and Seven – Trust Issues
“Here she comes,” Talia said. Keith held her a little closer as the students filed onto the bus the next morning. Naddy and Sophie were already aboard, as were Angel and his roommates.
Jenny Kaine marched up to Keith and Talia. “Where do I sit?” she asked sweetly.
“You don’t,” Keith said. “You can ride in one of the security vehicles, or provide your own transportation.”
She looked Keith up and down. “Well, you seem to be convalescing remarkably well. Last time I saw you, I’d have said you weren’t up to making it through a single day with these brats. Here you are on your third day, and … well … looking good.” She licked her lips and swung her hips as she returned to the van she had driven up in.
“Keep up.” Drew growled at her and shouldered her off the sidewalk as she sashayed past. She stumbled and bared her teeth at him.
“Now I understand what you meant when you said ‘temptation reared its ugly head,’” Talia said.
“Oh. You mean what I said on last year’s trip,” Keith said. He got behind his wife to help her up onto the bus. “She tried to be a temptation at ProTechCon, anyway. But ugly is the operative term. ‘Way back then, my sights were already set on somebody a whole lot more tempting.”
They made their way down the aisle to sit across from Angel, the young-looking security guard, and Adam. Tom’s parents sat behind them.
“Doesn’t it get awfully uncomfortable for you, sweetie?” Mrs. Walker asked Talia. “All this walking, and this heat!”
“It’s getting harder, but it should be over soon,” Talia said.
“Baby Cherub really got jumpy yesterday after you drank all that chili cocoa, huh, Mrs. Bradley?” Jayna laughed from the seat in front of her.”
Angel snorted and turned to stare at Talia’s belly.
“Behave yourself, Tommy,” Mrs. Walker said, reaching over the seat to tap Angel on the head with a travel brochure. He turned away sharply and looked at the floor.
“Yes, but that must have tired Cherub out. Everything’s quiet today,” Talia said.
“Runnin’ outta of room,” Mr. Walker said gruffly. His wife swatted him too.
“Rudness runs in the family,” she said. “I apologize for my son and my husband, Mrs. Bradley.”
“It’s fine,” Talia said.
The bus started to move and Keith glanced out the back window. Jenny Kaine’s news van kept up in spite of the fact the Drew’s guys seemed to be trying to run interference or play bumper cars with her driver.
“Today we will visit Tres Zapotes,” Sophie said over the PA system. “Unfortunately this is not one of the best-preserved of the Olmec sites, though some think it may be even older than San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán. We know for certain that later Mesoamericans settled on the site, and even reused some of its artifacts for their later purposes. This site is important, however, to help you understand what we talked about before – how difficult the realities of archaeology are, in spite of the insistence of some people that everything is in tidy, easy-to-understand layers.”
“Here you will learn more about the importance of the ball courts to the Olmec culture,” Naddy said. “We will see stone carvings that resemble belts called yokes that ball players are believed to have worn. One of the more curious artifacts believed to be associated with the ball games are the many whistles, elaborately carved of different materials, that were found at Tres Zapotes and other sites.”
“Can we play ball there?” Adam asked. “We haven’t got to see how they did it.”
“There is no intact ball court at Tres Zapotes, unfortunately,” Sophie apologized. “However, one of the important artifacts you will see there is what we believe to be part of a calendar. Many archaeologists believe the Olmecs were the first to create the calendar upon which the Mayans and Aztecs based theirs. Since so little remains of the Olmec language, scholars try to understand any clues the Olmecs may have left for us about themselves in their carvings, some of which seem to represent numbers and dates.”
“Calendars,” Jayna groaned. “Sounds really exciting.”
“You mean, like, the end of the world calendar?” Rikki asked. “Didn’t that run out a few years back?”
“Mesoamerican calendars go in cycles,” Naddy replied, pursing his lips in disapproval. “The calendar does not end. It merely allows for the beginning of a new era, much like the turn of the century or millennia in our culture
s.
“There is a love for anything that seems to date the end of the world. But we are taught in the Scriptures that of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. We are to focus on preserving and spreading the Word of God, and leave the times of the end in the Father’s hand.”
“I’m just waddling now. I can’t even walk,” Talia groaned as Keith helped her off the bus at Tres Zapotes. “When I’m not running to the bathroom, I’m begging for a backrub.”
“Guys. Chair.” Keith said, snapping his fingers. A group of boys ran for the wheelchair. Three girls immediately started rubbing Talia’s back and stealing their hands around, trying to get the baby to kick.
“Are you sure Cherub’s okay?” Jayna asked. “I don’t feel anything. Yesterday it was all kicking and stuff and it feels so hard!”
“I have a doctor appointment this afternoon,” Talia said. “But I’m sure everything’s fine. I think Mr. Walker told the truth. Cherub’s running out of room.”
“Does that mean you have to leave early again?” Adam asked. “It’s not as much fun when you guys take off. I mean, it’s not that they –” he indicated Naddy and Sophie “–are boring, it’s just –” he waved his hands and trailed off. In a whisper, he added, “Mrs. Bradley can shoot people. Even with Mr. Summers and his guys, I feel safer when she’s around.”
He and Angel both turned their gaze toward Jenny Kaine’s news van, dodging Drew’s vehicles to park in the lot a long distance from the bus. Mrs. Walker slipped a pair of Tom’s sunglasses into Angel’s hands and he slid them on. The six of them hurried off after Naddy and Sophie. Mr. Walker even put his arm around Angel’s shoulders.
“I thought Tommy was acting weird this morning,” Jayna whispered. “Who is that?”
“Shhh,” Talia said. “Somebody who needs our help, especially to keep him safe from her.” She indicated Jenny Kaine.
Jayna watched as the reporter got out, her driver lugging camera equipment. Drew’s team made her continue to swerve and weave to reach the tour group.
“Okay. I’ll make sure nobody bothers him. I just thought he was cute.” Jayna giggled and ran off.
By the time Jenny Kaine reached Keith and Talia again, her hair was half-limp and half frizzed and her eyes blazed with rage. “You cannot keep pulling this crap,” she hissed at Keith. “Remember, you want your father to stay safe and sound in the bosom of Dr. Williams’ hospitality.”
“David, what’s Mr. Bradley’s status at the moment?” Drew asked, loudly, into his phone. He made sure Jenny Kaine couldn’t ignore the deliberate static bursts, and Keith had to smile, knowing they were just sound effects to irritate her further.
“Safe and sound, Boss,” David replied. “I have eyes on Mr. Bradley and the elder Mrs. Bradley . Right now they are enjoying the hotel’s in-house aquarium.”
“You might want to consider taking me and Dr. Williams more seriously,” Jenny Kaine said, pushing a finger into Drew’s chest. “I have resources you know nothing about.”
She swept her eyes over Anne, who stood a short distance away, managing a team assessing possible threats before Naddy and Sophie led the students up to the dig site. “Keep an eye on that one. I can see you basking in the glow of having your marriage back together. Just remember, a glow might be a blinding light that’s keeping you from seeing who you should and shouldn’t trust.”
“Well, we know for sure we shouldn’t trust you,” Talia said through gritted teeth. “Anne hasn’t done anything to make us distrust her.”
“Then you’re not watching her closely enough,” Jenny Kaine said, and walked off.
“That’s all we need,” Keith said. “The queen of discord. I bet she was the one calling you and saying ‘liar,’” he added to Talia.
“Remember, Drew, what the Scriptures say about the accuser,” Talia said, touching his sleeve.
“Trying,” Drew said, “but it’s not like we’re really back together. Later. After this is over. That’s what she says. For now, separate rooms and sideways looks. It’s worse than not knowing where she is. I still don’t know what she thinks. She was giving me some ‘he’s turned into a crazy preacher’ looks yesterday.”
“You know what the worst day of my life was?” Keith asked.
“When you watched her sail off that cliff in Pakistan?” Drew asked, getting behind the wheelchair and starting to push toward the tour group.
“Okay …” Keith took a breath and kept pace alongside the chair. “Second worst day. When she said, ‘I’m leaving. I can’t do this anymore.’”
Talia grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry I did that to you,” she said.
“Yeah, but we worked it out,” Keith said. “Because I said something. I didn’t just keep looking at her sideways. Anne doesn’t know what you’re thinking either, and believe me, women take that a lot harder than men do. Talk to her.”
“I find all this fascinating,” Jenny Kaine purred, sidling up to Naddy and Sophie. Keith watched them both step back like they were in tandem but they found a railing behind them. She pushed closer and the cameraman focused on them. “Please tell me about your other archaeological pursuits, though. You’re looking for some sort of tablets with Bible verses printed on them? Gold plates or scrolls or something? I’m a little fuzzy on the details, so I’m trying to become informed. Have you found any of them? And what have you learned from them?”
“I told you,” Keith said, moving forward, “that you can ask me your questions. If that’s not good enough for you, then leave.”
“But you’re not an archaeologist,” she replied. “I need expert testimony, if I’m going to have any hope of getting people to believe in your cause. I told your wife a long time ago, all I want to do is help share the knowledge. All I’ve ever wanted to do is let people know what’s going on in the world. Let me help you let people know about this important work you’re doing.”
“Lying bitch,” someone whispered behind Keith.
He froze, not daring to turn around, until he heard Talia gasp. He risked a look and saw Jayna plaster her lips over Angel’s and almost bend him over backwards.
“Told you I’d do it!” Jayna squealed to Rikki as she and Angel came up for air. “Did you hear what he called me? I could never resist a challenge.”
“Thomas!” Mrs. Walker cried. “You know better than to use that kind of language.”
Mr. Walker grabbed Angel by the arm and both the Walkers hustled him off toward the bus. The young male security guard ran after them.
“Jayna, we need to have a talk, baby,” Talia said. “Come over here.” She foot-peddled herself to the edge of the visitor area and Jayna followed with her head hanging down, hair mostly covering the big grin on her face.
Jenny Kaine gave one puzzled glance at the departing group, flicked her eyes in Talia and Jayna’s direction, and then refocused on Keith, Naddy, and Sophie.
“It is all right, Keith,” Naddy said, “We will talk to her about the Golden Testaments. Even she needs a chance to hear truth.”
Sophie got closer to her husband. “Shortly after the Old and New Testaments were settled upon and complete in written form, groups of craftsmen, soldiers of fortune, and scribes banded together to preserve the Word in what they hoped would be an indestructible form. They sought to preserve, protect, and share the Scriptures.”
Naddy continued without missing a beat. “But many enemies of the Word did not want to see this work completed. Persecution against these people was intense. They were forced to discontinue or move their work many times and to spread what they accomplished thinly over many parts of the world. But finally, they finished their work, largely by rediscovering ancient technologies and forgotten civilizations offering the means and the locations to hide in plain sight and work in peace. The Golden Testaments were complete.”
“And that was when the most intense persecution broke out against them,” Sophie said. “They were betrayed, we believe, because, no
matter where they were, almost simultaneously, murder and martyrdom decimated and scattered them. Their network was broken; their lines of communication destroyed. Those who survived the massacre had no idea any others of their order had even survived.”
“They could not retain records of the technology that had helped them,” Naddy continued, “and, worse yet, they had lost the knowledge of where the Testaments lay hidden. It fell to others, many generations later, to try to uncover the secrets lost by these guardians. This is our work. To find and restore the Golden Testaments so that when the time of the Great Thirst comes, we will have the means to quench it.”
“The Great Thirst?” Jenny Kaine repeated. “What’s that?”
Naddy and Sophie spoke with one voice.
“Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord God, When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, But they will not find it.”
“Oh! I see.” Jenny Kaine actually took a step backwards. “So … Did you find these Golden Testaments? Any of them? I know you’ve been hunting all around the world – haven’t seen any evidence that you’ve brought anything back. So …?”
“We persevere,” Naddy said. “That is all we can do. Until we prevail.”
Jenny Kaine took another step back. “Okay, turn it off,” she said to her cameraman. She favored Keith with a single glance. “That’s a wrap. See you tomorrow night at the Gala Banquet. Looking forward to meeting your father face to face. Meanwhile, enjoy your time with him. It goes by so fast.”
Chapter One Hundred and Eight – A Night to Remember
“Welcome, Señora Bradley,” the receptionist said in Spanish. “Normally Señor Doctor Alfario doesn’t wait for late patients. We have a full schedule today.”
The Great Thirst Boxed Set Page 66
