Deceived (5 page)

“We should prepare for a few more in case these kids convinced some on the inside of the truth,” Pete said. “I can handle them in my truck once I deliver my load.”

“Why are you destroying the guillotines but delivering the injectors?” Shelly said.

“I have to deliver
something,”
Pete said. “I figure the chip injectors are bad for the people who take it, but it doesn't kill any believers. Plus it gets me inside enemy lines.”

The phone rang and Colin walked outside to talk with Jim Dekker. When he came back, he had a grave look. “Jim says that site now has a guillotine. They're just waiting on the chip injectors. We'll have to go in earlier than we thought, and maybe during daylight.”

“How will we get them out?” Shelly said.

Colin sighed. “We need a decoy.”

Judd saw nothing from Chang throughout the morning. He logged on to the kids' Web site and read the mountain of e-mails responding to The Cube. Many reported family members and friends finally realizing the truth after seeing it.

Next, he read the latest Buck Williams report in the cyberzine
The Truth
. With his contacts around the world, Buck wrote stories that revealed Carpathia's lies without exposing believers who gave Buck information.

Judd was excited when he found a new e-mail from Tsion Ben-Judah. Tsion wrote that he was grateful for the questions he had received at his Web site because it proved many were studying and growing. He spoke of the hope of Christ's return soon and referred to a quote from the apostle Paul, who said, “Living is for Christ, and dying is even better.”

The next passage disturbed Judd. Tsion wrote that the top priority of believers was not to stop Antichrist from evil.

I want to confound him, revile him, enrage him, frustrate him, and get in the way of his plans every way I know how
.

But Tsion said believers should not simply try to fight Carpathia.
Isn't that what we're supposed to do?
Judd thought. The next paragraph answered Judd's question.

So, as worthy and noble a goal as it is to go on the offensive against the evil one, I believe we can do that most effectively by focusing on persuading the undecided to come to faith. Knowing that every day could be our last, that we could be found out and dragged to a mark application center, there to make our decision to die for the sake of Christ, we must be more urgent about our task than ever
.

Since many had written about fearing the guillotine, Tsion wrote about his own fears.

In my flesh I am weak. I want to live. I am afraid of death but even more of dying. The very thought of having my head severed from my body repulses me as much as it does anyone. In my worst nightmare I see myself standing before the GC operatives a weakling, a quivering mass who can do nothing but plead for his life. I envision myself breaking God's heart by denying my Lord. Oh, what an awful picture!

In my most hated imagination I fail at the hour of testing and accept the mark of loyalty that we all know is the cursed mark of the beast, all because I so cherish my own life
.

Judd closed his eyes and pictured himself with Global Community Peacekeepers around him, shoving him toward a guillotine. With the prospect of death, would he have the courage to say no to Carpathia? Tsion continued.

I have good news for you. The Bible tells us that once one is either sealed by God as a believer or accepts the mark of loyalty to Antichrist, this is a once-and-for-all choice. … That tells me that somehow, when we face the ultimate test, God miraculously overcomes our evil, selfish flesh and gives us the grace and courage to make the right decision in spite of ourselves. My interpretation of this is that we will be unable to deny Jesus, unable to even choose the mark that would temporarily save our lives
.

Judd smiled but was still troubled. If that's true, what happened to Chang?

Judd's computer blipped, and he quickly saved Tsion's message and vowed to read the rest later.

The e-mail was from Chang.
I need to see you. Many questions. Meet me at the gazebo tonight at dusk
.

Judd quickly replied and attached Tsion's latest letter. Though Judd had seen Chang's mark identifying him with Christ, he couldn't help wondering how Chang had Carpathia's mark and what that would do to his soul.

Lionel stood in a corner with Westin and watched the scene unfold. Z-Van and Lars emerged from the isolated room and workers clapped. Z-Van put a hand in the air and waved. “I'm not the hero here. There is one much greater than me coming.”

Z-Van rocked back and forth, fidgeting and pulling his head one way and then another until his neck popped. Finally, the elevator opened. Lionel stood on tiptoes, trying to see. There was more clapping and movement, and though someone blocked Lionel's view, he sensed evil in the room. Nicolae Carpathia, the man most of the world worshiped, had arrived.

Lars hurriedly motioned his film crew to begin shooting. Cameras flashed as Carpathia shook hands with Z-Van. “It is my pleasure to welcome you as an honorary Global Community worker, and have you take the mark in the same location as my most loyal followers. Congratulations.”

“You don't know what an honor this is, sir,” Z-Van said.

“I can only hope the world will want to follow in your footsteps, young man.” Carpathia scanned the room, nodding at the workers. “You can see we have a true representation of the world's population in this room. Every ethnic background conceivable is here.”

“Very impressive, sir.”

Carpathia walked to the mark application area, picked up an injector, and looked into the camera lens. “With this simple device and the application of the mark of loyalty, we will monitor every citizen on earth. Any law-abiding person would be happy to use this technology if it means an outbreak of unparalleled peace, which it does.” Carpathia looked at Z-Van. “And I am pleased that a person of your stature and talent wants to show his fans such a moment of leadership.”

Z-Van seemed mesmerized by Carpathia. When Nicolae finished, Z-Van nodded and a Peacekeeper took him by the arm and led him to the machine.

Lionel wanted to scream and tell Z-Van not to take the mark, not to sell his soul to the devil, but Lionel knew he was helpless. Z-Van stood spellbound by this enemy of God.

Z-Van sat in a plush chair and scooted against the back. Nicolae smiled and leaned back, allowing the camera to focus on the technician about to apply the mark. The woman looked Filipino and wore gloves. She asked Z-Van a few questions and typed the information into the computer. Since Z-Van was from the United North American States, she set the region code, brushed the hair from Z-Van's forehead, and dabbed at it with a tiny, wet cloth.

With the implanter set, she pressed the device to Z-Van's skin. People around Lionel leaned forward to get a better look. Lionel heard a loud click, then a whoosh.

“Is that it?” Z-Van said.

The woman smiled and nodded. “Now all you need is the identifying mark.”

“Give me the number here,” Z-Van said, pointing to his forehead.

Carpathia shook the man's hand. “I trust this will make your music even more enjoyable.”

A camera flashed and people around the room clapped. Lionel looked at Westin and shook his head. The procedure had taken only a few seconds and seemed innocent. A person simply received the embedded chip under the skin and a GC number or symbol on the forehead. But those few seconds sealed Z-Van's fate for eternity.

Carpathia held out his hands to the group, looked into the camera, and smiled. “Now, who will be next?”

5

JUDD
listened to Lionel's story about Z-Van and shuddered. If they had ever hoped he would become a believer, that hope was gone now.

“We got out of there fast,” Lionel said. “You think it's safe traveling with a guy who's taken Carpathia's mark?”

“I don't know that the mark means he's under any special mind control. He's just made his final decision.”

Westin sighed. “Maybe it's time we all got out. We could get a flight back to the States.”

“We still have time,” Judd said. “And I really want to be in Israel when Carpathia comes to the Jewish temple.”

Near dusk, Judd set out alone for his meeting with Chang. Along the street he saw televisions through shop windows tuned to the Global Community Network News. He paused long enough to see footage of Z-Van taking Carpathia's mark. The anchor reported that an anonymous worker inside the Global Community provided the video.

I'll bet Carpathia had someone shoot that himself
, Judd thought.

Judd rubbed sweaty palms along his pants as he approached the gazebo. A few uniformed officers strolled the grounds, and several couples talked and laughed on nearby benches. He was in the gazebo only a few minutes when Chang approached, still wearing the red baseball cap.

Chang's face looked tight, and he appeared skittish. Judd reached out to shake his hand, but Chang reached for his cap instead. “You want to see what they did to me?”

Chang whipped off his cap and stared at Judd. The mark of the believer—a cross—was clear. Over it, a small, black tattoo simply read
30
. Beside the number was a half-inch pink scar.

“They say the scar will heal in a few days, but that won't make me look any less like a freak!”

Judd put a hand on Chang's shoulder and led him to a bench. “Don't talk like that.”

Chang put a hand to his eyes. “I'm sorry. I should have listened to you and got out when I could.”

“What happened?”

Chang put his hat on and Judd was relieved. He couldn't stop staring at the dual marks.

“My father and one of Carpathia's top men did it. I don't remember much about what happened.”

“We saw your father and Moon take you out of the elevator.”

“I had another big fight with my father before all this happened. I screamed at him.”

“Did you tell him the truth?”

“He and Moon both thought I was upset about getting a shot. They laughed and made fun of me because I was afraid of the needle. I have no idea what I said or did on the way to get the mark. You're looking at the newest hire for the Global Community.”

Judd took a breath. “What does the
30
mean?”

“There are ten different regions or subpotentateships, as Carpathia likes to call them. Dr. Ben-Judah calls them kingdoms like it says in the Bible. There are ten different prefixes, all related to Carpathia, that people will get around the world. I get a
30
because I'm from the United Asian States.”

When Chang put his head back, Judd couldn't help staring at the two marks. He had never seen anything so bizarre.

“I'm so confused,” Chang said. “I met with Director Hassid, the believer.”

“What did he say?”

“I was still woozy when they took me to him. I tried to act cool, like I was sure of myself, but I really wasn't.”

“What aren't you sure about?”

“The Bible says nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. God says we're hidden in the hollow of his hand and that no one can pluck us out. But it also says those who take the mark will be separated from God forever.”

“But you didn't choose it—they forced it on you.”

“True, but I have doubts. Maybe I'm some kind of freak, like a werewolf. Maybe when the moon's full, I'll follow Carpathia and rat on all my friends.”

“You know you won't do that.”

Chang leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “It's not just my spiritual health. I'm worried about this new position too.”

“What do you mean?”

“The believers on the inside of the Global Community have to get out. They want me to come with them—”

“You have to go,” Judd interrupted.

“Not if I have this,” Chang said, pointing to his forehead. “Carpathia loyalists can't see the mark of the believer. They just see the
30
. That means I can live freely among them, buy and sell, and even work here without the slightest suspicion that I'm anything but true-blue GC. Mr. Hassid called it being bi-loyal.”