Deceived (22 page)

Something in Chang's voice bothered Judd and he asked if the boy was all right. When Chang paused, Judd said, “I know you're under a lot of pressure, but I might be able to help.”

“I have talked with Dr. Ben-Judah this morning about … my problem.”

“The dual marks?”

“Yes. He understands how alone I feel, and he tried to help me, but I still can't look in the mirror. This mark of Carpathia mocks me.”

“What did Tsion say?”

“He assured me that I have the seal of God and that I did not voluntarily receive the mark. But in Dr. Ben-Judah's own writings, he says the mark of the beast condemns me.”

“The Bible says you can't
take
both marks. You didn't
take
it—they forced it on you.”

“Which is exactly what he said. But I keep thinking about the brave ones who stayed faithful to the end. God gave them the ability to face the blade without fear. What did I do?”

“You've stayed in the den of the lion,” Judd said. “Don't tell me you're chicken. You're in the most dangerous place on the face of the earth.”

Chang was silent a moment. “I appreciate you trying to encourage me, but even Dr. Ben-Judah admits my problem puzzles him. The only thing I can do is stay at my post and fulfill my duties until he contacts me again.”

Vicki and the others were given a hero's welcome when they arrived safely in Wisconsin. Becky Dial greeted her husband warmly, and Phoenix went wild when he saw Vicki. Charlie had to put him in another room so they could hear the story of what happened.

Janie hugged Vicki and told her she'd been praying for her. The kids all welcomed Josey and Tom Fogarty, but with all of the new people added, Vicki wondered if there would be enough room.

Darrion pulled Vicki aside a few minutes after she arrived. “I know you have to be tired, but I'd like you to look at Claudia's response.”

Vicki nodded. “I saw that she'd written, but I haven't had time to look at it.”

Darrion pulled up the response, which had Vicki's message pasted at the front of the e-mail. Claudia wrote underneath:

Dear Young Trib Force
,

I totally understand how you might think this is a trap. You probably get that a lot. I have visited your Web site many times and I decided to pray the prayer, but nothing happened. I don't see a mark on my forehead or on anyone else's. We only have another day to comply with taking Carpathia's mark. What should I do?

Claudia

Vicki took a breath and sighed. “It's not what I expected.”

“What did you think she'd do, write some nasty note admitting she was a Carpathia follower?” Darrion said.

Vicki looked hard at Darrion. “What if she's telling the truth? What if she's really a believer and we just let her hang down there? I thought she'd ask for a face-to-face meeting, but she didn't.”

“If she's a true believer, don't you think she'd have the sense to get out?”

Vicki squeezed her forehead with a hand and pulled her hair back. “I'm too tired to think straight.”

“Then do this,” Darrion said. “Write her back and tell her to get out of there as fast as she can. When she's a safe distance away, write us again and we'll try to help.”

“Sounds good.”

While Darrion worked on the return e-mail, Vicki talked with Jim Dekker and the other new arrivals. Ginny and Bo Shairton nearly cried when they saw Vicki, and Maggie Carlson wept as she talked about Natalie's sacrifice for them.

Vicki found Manny Aguilara a shy young man, with multiple tattoos on his neck and arms. He said he felt out of place but very welcomed.

“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.