Deceived (23 page)

Darrion had slept a few hours off and on during the kids' ordeal in Iowa. With help from Melinda, Janie, and Becky Dial, they had monitored incoming e-mails, news from the Global Community's Web site, and any other information they could find.

Now, with everyone asleep in the underground shelter in Wisconsin, Darrion wandered into the media room. She was encouraged about the safe return of the kids and the escape from the Iowa GC facility. Jim Dekker was safe, and The Cube had reached many around the world.

But there were also problems and question marks. How would the kids survive for three and a half years without taking the mark? How many believers would lose their lives standing up to Carpathia?

Darrion recognized Commander Kruno Fulcire on Global Community Network News. An anchor had broken into the live coverage in Israel to highlight something happening in the States. Mark walked in and Darrion asked him to record the interview.

“And when did this occur?” the news anchor said.

“We finished the interrogation about an hour ago and gave the prisoner an opportunity to obey international law,” Fulcire said. “He refused, so we immediately implemented punishment.”

“The guillotine?”

“The loyalty enforcement facilitator, yes.”

“What kind of information did you get from this Pete Davidson?”

Darrion gasped.

“It's surprising how much this truck driver knew,” Commander Fulcire said. “He gave us names of Judahites, locations of hideouts and storage facilities. He even told us where Judah-ites are hiding weapons of mass destruction.”

“The guy's lying,” Mark said.

“How do you know?”

“First, Pete would never have talked, and second, since when do the Judah-ites have weapons of mass destruction?”

The news anchor continued his questioning. “So the Judah-ites plan actions against the Global Community?”

“Of course. It's what they live for. They want to disrupt the peace and harmony the Global Community has tried to create. Davidson was one of their low-level operators, with a very small intellect. You see, these people are easy to lead. They're brainwashed by these religious crazies and they choose death over taking the mark of loyalty.”

The screen switched to a live shot of crowds in Jerusalem.

“Before we continue with our live coverage from Israel, sir, just one more question. We've heard of a Global Community Morale Monitor deciding not to take the loyalty mark. Is there any truth that there are more Judah-ites working inside the Global Community?”

Fulcire hesitated. “We do have some reports which haven't been confirmed yet that I can't go into. One that I can mention is the case of Morale Monitor Claudia Zander. She is missing from her post in Des Plaines.”

A photo of Claudia flashed on the screen along with a special hot-line number.

“We are in the early stages of developing rewards for those we suspect of being Judah-ites,” Fulcire continued, “but now we simply want to talk with this Morale Monitor and make sure she hasn't fallen into the wrong hands.”

“Think we should wake the others?” Darrion said.

Mark shook his head. “Pete's dead. They'll find out in the morning. I'm worried about this Zander girl. We all assumed she was faking being interested in the message. Have you checked e-mail lately?”

Darrion had been concentrating so hard on the broad- cast that she had forgotten the Web site. There were at least a hundred more messages since she had checked it.

“There,” Mark said, pointing to an e-mail with the subject line,
Help!

Darrion opened it quickly and saw the message was from Claudia.

Dear Young Trib Force
,

They were going to make me take the mark, so I ran like you suggested. I grabbed a few things from the apartment, and I took Natalie's Bible. I guess that was okay since she's gone
.

I need a place to hide until I figure out what to do next. This new commander is really intense. I don't know if you heard, but the guy in Iowa chose the blade. I don't think I could ever stand up like that, but I guess God could give me the courage
.

I'm sorry for rambling. Please e-mail or call me as soon as you can. I'll put my number at the bottom of this message
.

And one more thing. I still can't see the mark Dr. Ben-Judah wrote about. Does that mean I'm not a true Judah-ite?

Darrion scribbled Claudia's phone number on a scrap of paper and saved the message. “Do you think we should wake Vicki?”

Mark looked at his watch. It was almost time for Carpathia to make his grand entrance in Jerusalem. “She needs to know about Claudia. Wake her.”

Judd dialed Chang and apologized for bothering him. “It's no bother,” Chang said. “I'm a multitasker. Mr. Hassid has me back on track.”

“What did he say?”

“He chewed me out and said I don't have time to focus on my dual marks. He even threatened to destroy the setup he and I worked so long to build, so I'm going to concentrate. When I have time, I'm going back to find video recordings of what really happened when I got Carpathia's mark.”

“Let me know as soon as you do,” Judd said. “Things are heating up here. There's more excitement down the street.”

“Nicolae is on his way. I've heard the image of Carpathia is being moved to the Temple Mount. People are gathering there to worship it and take the mark of loyalty.”

“It's time for a showdown,” Judd said.

“Just keep away from the cross fire,” Chang said. “And keep praying that the undecided choose Christ!”

22

JUDD
walked through one of the ancient gates of Jerusalem and nearly lost sight of Lionel and Sam, all three pushed by the huge crowds bustling toward the city. Judd watched for Chaim Rosenzweig and Buck Williams, but the place looked like a human sea. Lionel and Sam caught up with Judd, and the three prepared for Carpathia's arrival.

Thousands cheered in anticipation. Toddlers were held high on shoulders, waving real palm branches. Teenagers wearing Z-Van's style of clothes danced through the streets, forming a human chain. Many of them already had the mark of Carpathia and celebrated by shouting slogans and singing songs.

“I wonder if Z-Van is going to make an appearance at this,” Lionel said.

“You can bet he's ticked if he doesn't get to,” Judd said.

Judd's heart leapt when a loudspeaker truck moved through the street announcing that all citizens were expected to display the mark of loyalty to Carpathia. “Why not take care of this painless and thrilling obligation while His Excellency is here?”

A teen in the line of dancers shouted, “Come on, we're going to the Temple Mount now to get our mark!” Several people followed, but most stayed, not wanting to miss a glimpse of Carpathia.

Lionel glanced at Judd, his eyes wide. “You think they're going to check and see if we have the mark?”

“Relax,” Judd said. “Those application facilities have to be packed.”

People sang an off-key song a block away. Judd finally realized it was “Hail Carpathia.” Hundreds broke into wild applause, thinking Nicolae had appeared. A GC tank topped with revolving blue, red, and orange lights rolled past. Behind that was a motorcade of three black vehicles, followed by more tanks. The crowd cheered and Judd hustled for a better view.

When the convoy stopped, another cheer rose. The first black vehicle held local and regional dignitaries. They exited, quickly followed by the Most High Reverend Father Leon Fortunato. Leon straightened his long robe, then slowly scratched at his hip.

Judd explained what Chang had overheard about Leon's pain. Sam wondered if this was part of the next plague sent by God. Global Community officials Suhail Akbar and Walter Moon stepped from the second car, but the biggest ovation yet came when a woman dressed in blue stepped from the vehicle. Her white hair stood out among all the men dressed in dark suits. Though she was short, she carried herself regally, her head held high and her back straight. She moved to a podium and held up both hands. The crowd hushed as she leaned toward the microphone.

“Who's that?” Lionel said.

“Isn't she a relative of Nicolae?” Judd whispered.

“It's Viv Ivins,” a woman behind them said. “She's a member of the potentate's inner cabinet.” The woman eyed the three boys. “Why haven't you taken the mark of loyalty?”

Judd smiled and moved a few steps away. “Guess we have to be more careful.”

Viv Ivins welcomed the participants and introduced honored guests. When she welcomed “our spiritual leader of international Carpathianism, the Reverend Fortunato,” the crowd went wild. Judd noticed that Leon was still scratching his backside.

Judd recalled Sabir's imitation of “Hail Carpathia” as Leon led the crowd, directing with his right hand and scratching with his left. Voices echoed off buildings, and people had a difficult time staying in sync with each other.

As Leon urged the throng to “sing it once more as we welcome the object of our worship,” an official opened a door and Nicolae Carpathia bounded out alone and bowed deeply. The crowd gasped, then roared in approval as they saw Carpathia's gold sandals, glistening white robe, and glowing, silver belt. Nicolae stretched out his hands toward the crowd, as if he were ready to embrace them all, as a group of bodyguards dressed in black suits formed a half circle behind him.

A military truck pulled up and Judd noticed a strange smell. Looking closely at the trailer hitched to the truck, Judd saw a dangling rope and two enormous eyes.

Sam drew close to Judd and whispered, “Here it comes. The moment I have been dreading.”

It took Vicki a few minutes to awaken from her dead sleep. She hobbled into the meeting room groggy and half awake, but one glimpse of the scene on television and her eyes were open.

Nicolae Carpathia looked like some kind of Greek god with bad jewelry. If the scene wasn't such a shake of the fist at God, it would have looked funny. The camera showed a trailer ramp lowering and two Peacekeepers leapt inside. Another angle caught them pulling and pushing something off the truck.

“Is that what I think it is?” Vicki said.

The two Peacekeepers struggled with a massive pig, trying to pull it onto the street. The camera angle switched and showed Nicolae Carpathia gazing at the enormous animal.

“Look at the size of that thing!” Darrion said.

“I don't think I can watch,” Vicki said.

Mark flipped a switch to record the scene and turned. “We need to tell you about Claudia.”

Judd watched in fascination and revulsion as the pig walked a few more steps and stopped. A leather saddle was fastened around its middle, complete with stirrups. The animal seemed woozy, unaware of the crowd's whooping and yelling. Though GC handlers had scrubbed the pig clean, the stench almost took Judd's breath away.

“They must have drugged it,” Sam said, “but why?”

They soon found out. Carpathia waved at the crowd, pointed at the pig, and laughed. When he reached it, he cupped the pig's face in his hands and draped a noose around its neck.