Deceived (37 page)
Judd and Mr. Stein joined Lionel at the loading area. Westin honked the Humvee's horn and waved.
“Somebody should go with these people back to Jerusalem,” Lionel said. “Maybe they can be convinced of the truth.”
Mr. Stein frowned. “I'm afraid they have hardened their hearts. If what they heard from Micah did not persuade them, I fear they are destined to choose Carpathia over God.”
Judd studied the scores of choppers and vehicles recruited from around the world. The amount of work to get all these people together was staggering.
Lionel looked at Judd. “What do we do?”
Before Judd could answer, GC vehicles rumbled up with loudspeakers mounted on top. “The entire state of Israel has been declared a no-fly zone by the Global Community Security and Intelligence director. All civilian aircraft, take fair warning: Any non-GC craft determined to be over Israeli airspace runs the risk of destruction.
“The potentate himself has also decreed martial law and has instituted a curfew on civilian vehicular traffic in Israel. Violators are subject to arrest.
“Due to the severity of the affliction that has befallen GC personnel, these curfews are required. Only a skeleton crew of workers is available to maintain order.
“His Excellency reminds citizens that he has effected a relief from the plague as of 2100 hours, and the populace should plan to celebrate with him at daybreak.”
Judd looked at his watch. It was a few minutes before nine. If these announcements were correct, new believers loading into the helicopters were flying to their deaths.
Mr. Stein started toward a quickly filling chopper. “Are you coming?”
Westin honked again. “I've got two more spots, guys, come on!”
Judd hesitated, knowing the decision he was about to make might change the course of their lives forever. In the dust and noise of motors and GC announcements, Judd grabbed Lionel by the shoulder and pulled him toward the Hummer.
Over the din of the helicopters, Judd heard Mr. Stein yell, “He is risen!”
“He is risen indeed!” Judd and Lionel yelled back.
While Mark got some needed sleep, Vicki pulled Shelly aside and told her about her conversation with Judd.
Shelly put a hand over her mouth. “How do you feel about it?” she said.
“Excited. A little scared. I've liked Judd as a friend for a long time. It feels like something's changed with him.”
“Did he talk about the girl he was involved with?”
“Nada?” Vicki said. “No, he didn't mention her. But I'm sure he'll tell me all about it when he gets back.”
Shelly ran her tongue over her lower lip and tilted her head back. “Since we're being honest about guys, I have a confession.”
Vicki grinned, anticipating what was coming.
“Conrad and I have become pretty good friends since our trip out west. We've been doing a Bible study together. And he writes me letters. Isn't it romantic?”
“If anything can be romantic these days, it's writing letters to somebody staying in the same house with you. Does anybody know?”
“We've kept it pretty quiet, but I think Charlie does.”
Vicki smiled. “I have to remember that when Judd comes back.”
Conrad knocked on the door and peeked in. Shelly winked at him. “I just told Vicki.”
“I'm happy for you two,” Vicki said.
Conrad nodded. “Vicki, there's something on the news I think you'll want to see.”
Darrion turned the sound up as Vicki came into the main meeting room. “. . . found in an alley behind this building. Some experts believe there is a possible border war brewing among the gangs. But Global Community Peacekeepers don't think that's the case. They say the death of this man is payback for information he gave authorities after his arrest a few weeks ago.”
Manny Aguilara's photo flashed on the screen. “Global Community Peacekeepers have revealed that this man escaped from a Global Community jail, aided by gang members. This happened after he gave information incriminating gang leader Hector Rodriguez. Aguilara's deathâ”
Vicki put a hand over her mouth, waved, and asked them to turn the TV off. When she could talk, she said, “Manny would be alive if he had come back with us.”
Conrad put a hand on her shoulder. “He sent an e-mail for you. We just found it.”
Vicki took the printed page, wiped her eyes, and read.
Vicki, Mark, and the rest of the Young Tribulation Force
,
I want to thank you for being so kind and helping me. You forgave me for not telling you the truth, but I believe it has turned out for the best
.
They've called a meeting and I'm to speak in front of a large group of gang members in a few minutes. I'm praying that God will open their eyes. I've been talking to my sister about God, and she listens but has not yet prayed. I wish one of you could be here or Zeke Sr. You would know exactly what to say
.
I will write and tell you what happened afterward. I hope you were able to find Claudia and get her to safety. Please remember to pray for me, as I will be praying for you.
Sincerely
,
Manny
Vicki stared at the letter and wondered what had happened in that meeting. Had the group planned to kill Manny all along? Had he even been able to tell them about God? Vicki closed her eyes and pictured Zeke welcoming Manny in heaven. She would see them again. The only question was, how soon?
Judd waited outside the Humvee as long as he could, admiring the line of helicopters and vehicles headed for Petra. Westin shouted for him to get in when everyone was ready, and Judd made sure he had a seat by the window. Several Israelis who had not prayed with Dr. Rosenzweig jammed into the vehicle, acting fidgety about the three believers on board.
“You don't have to worry about us,” Westin said. “We'll get you back to Jerusalem in one piece. What you do from there is your business.”
The sky filled with Operation Eagle choppers. Soon, what Judd assumed was a squadron of GC choppers approached. A few GC airplanes also flew cautiously above the line of Operation Eagle aircraft.
Lionel nudged Judd. “What are we going to do in Jerusalem?”
“See if we can get back home before another war breaks out,” Judd said.
“Do you really think there will be war?” a young man beside Lionel said.
Westin looked in the rear-view mirror. “Knowing how much Carpathia hates followers of Jesus
and
Jewish people, and seeing as how the Bible predicts another great war, I don't think there's any way to deny it.”
Judd glanced at his watch. It was now well past the 9
P.M.
deadline, and as Judd had feared, GC Peacekeepers and Morale Monitors seemed on a mission to head off the fleeing Israelis. Westin flipped on the video scanner, and Judd couldn't believe how many cars, buses, and trucks were on the road. GC squad cars passed them with lights flashing.
“Can you hear any GC transmissions?” Judd asked Westin.
Westin tuned in a GC frequency. Officers gave commands and coded communication Judd couldn't understand.
“I know what they're saying,” an Israeli who had worked for the GC said. “They're telling them to block the traffic heading toward Petra first. The initial squad cars are supposed to stop them. The second wave, up ahead, is supposed to stop us and search our vehicles.”
For ten minutes GC squad cars passed. There were so many that Judd lost count and wondered how many aircraft the GC had sent.
“I thought they were supposed to celebrate getting over their sores,” Lionel said.
Westin leaned forward in his seat and peered out the windshield. “I think they
are
celebrating.”
“But Micah was clear,” Lionel said. “They're not supposed to hurt any of God's chosen people or there's going to be a worse plague.”
“Does that mean us too?” one of the men in the back said.
“If you want God's protection,” Westin said, “ask Jesus to forgive youâ”
“Never!” the man shouted.
“Then I can't promise you won't suffer the same fate,” Westin said.
The Israelis talked among themselves about the locusts, the fiery hail, the water turned to blood, and other plagues they had experienced in the past few years. Judd wanted to shake them, repeat Chaim's message, anything.
A line of bright lights spread out on the road ahead of them and Westin slowed. “I don't like the looks of this.” He rolled down his window and Judd heard loudspeakers.
“By order of Potentate Carpathia, each vehicle must stop immediately. You are violating a curfew established by the potentate himself.”
A few vehicles in front slowed and came to a stop. Westin gunned the engine and pulled off the road, kicking up dust behind them.
Again the GC speakers came alive. “By authority of the Global Community and its risen potentate and lord, His Excellency Nicolae Carpathia, you are commanded to stop at once and surrender. Your passengers and cargo will be impounded by the Global Community. If you are in compliance with the loyalty mark, you will be free to go.”
“Which means we're dead if we stop,” Judd said.
“You got it,” Westin said. “They take us in and they'll make us take Carpathia's mark or face the blade.”
“I don't get what's so wrong with an identifying mark,” an Israeli said.
“After what that monster did in the temple today?” another said. “I'll never comply.”
“Anybody who wants to get out and follow the GC, do it right now,” Westin said. He slammed on his brakes and slid into a huge culvert Judd assumed had been made during the wrath of the Lamb earthquake.
Westin unlocked the doors but no one moved. “All right then, fasten your seat belts. It might get a little bumpy.”
Judd's mind raced, trying to remember all Tsion Ben-Judah had said. Judd believed Petra would have God's protection, but what about believers headed for Jerusalem with a vehicle filled with unbelievers? Judd closed his eyes and breathed a brief prayer as Westin put the Hummer into four-wheel drive and barreled out of the crater. The vehicle seemed to go straight up, then straight back down a rocky hillside.
Judd remembered going on a ride at a mall when he was younger. The video display and the motion of the car made it feel like he was actually hurtling through space. Now he was experiencing a thrill ride of another kind on the ground in Israel.
Judd leaned forward to watch the 3-D viewer in front. A line of choppers stretched miles behind them. He focused on one aircraft that seemed to hover above the others, and a smaller chopper pulled in beside it. The smaller helicopter appeared to be a Global Community craft and Judd wondered if it was armed.
Westin careened over curbs and torn-up streets. They passed the line of GC squad cars along with other vehicles following Westin's lead. Behind them, half the GC force was in hot pursuit.
Judd glanced at the grid again. Choppers remained in line except for the two choppers hovering above. The smaller one quickly moved back, like an angry bull ready to charge. The larger chopper held its position until something flashed on-screen.
Bullets!
The smaller craft fired at close range. Judd closed his eyes and waited for the explosion.
JUDD
looked again in horror as bursts of gunfire appeared on the screen in front of him. Judd had seen movies where these types of guns blew planes and helicopters out of the sky.
The bullets entered the rear of the bigger chopper, flashed inside the cabin, and exited the front, but there was no explosion, no ball of flame, no helicopter falling from the sky like Judd expected. Instead, the Operation Eagle bird hovered as if nothing had happened.
A Global Community chopper in front of the Operation Eagle bird veered crazily, its tail rotors struck by the bullets. It fell end over end and finally spun into the ground. A plume of smoke mushroomed from the wreckage.
“What was that?” Westin said.