Freedom Does Matter (Mercenaries Book 2) (8 page)

Chapter Ten

Day Ten - Kansas City

REVEREND BILLY’S SERMON WAS LOUD, fundamental and, judging from the “Amens!”, well received. Once The Love and Faith Temple emptied, he invited his two grandchildren to join him for an early Sunday dinner in his luxurious home. “It will allow your parents some… private time,” he suggested.

On a hill overlooking Missouri’s Smithfield Lake, at the north end where the North Platte River filled the reservoir, Billy’s congregation had provided a fifty acre plot which included some of the lake, some marsh and the low bluff on which the house had been sited. He had refused to allow clear-cutting of the trees, demanding that the construction crew justify each and every oak they wished to remove. He believed the increase in cost was justified; they left the forest undisturbed except where the house, driveway and small lawns were located.

For the house, he had selected a location a few yards from a natural clearing—a fairy ring, Ruth, his first daughter, had said before discovering fairies don’t exist. Billy had never forgiven Ruth for moving to Israel with her true love, where she and Jacob, Billy’s grandson, had died. Nor had he forgiven either the Israelis or the Arabs for the rocket attack that had killed his grandson.

Even without fairies, the clearing was perfect for a swing set, a half-Olympic sized pool and the occasional party he had to throw for the congregation or visiting competing mega-church pastors.

While they waited for dinner, Sarah, the fourteen-year-old and David, a year younger, sat with him on the sofa fronting the six-foot LED television. To Billy’s everlasting gratitude, it stood dark and silent. Satan’s own instrument, he mused and then added, one among many. He is well equipped! But David and Sarah are not that easily seduced, feeling a thrill of love for them both. They looked at him when he broke the silence after their minutes of reflection.

“How were lessons this morning?”

Sarah leaned forward, just enough to see past him to her brother. Billy was about to follow up when she said, “It was okay, I guess. You were great, but you always are! Everyone loves you.”

Billy basked in the glow for a second, pleased to see it reflected in David’s eyes.

“Have you ever been to London, Poppy?” Sarah continued. “Simone and Patrick were talking before lessons about that soccer match, you know?”

Oh, yes. I know about that. And how it will alleviate my loss! “Of course,” he replied, being careful with his visible feelings. “What were they discussing?”

Sarah pursed her lips. “Just, why those teams? I mean, Israel and Iran? And why did we support them? You know, helping pay for the match.”

“Yes. We made a small contribution in the hope of having war on the athletic field supplant war on the battle field. Fewer casualties and less recrimination.”

“War on the athletic field?”

Billy explained how similar athletic matches and battlefield maneuvers were, both in concept and execution. When Sarah and David continued that conversation, Billy leaned back to relish his own plan.

Some might question his motives, but hours of prayerful communion with his God, coupled with the ease he’d had in bringing the plan to fruition, had confirmed his decision. He had needed only a single trip to Tel Aviv to sign the contract for the doomsday devices; on the same trip a meeting in London arranged their deployment. More recently, two additional meetings, first, to observe the final test and second, to ensure that Arabs… No, Muslims, were employed to distribute them, had completed it. With word set to leak that the catastrophe was of Israeli manufacture and Muslim deployment, war could wipe the Middle East clean, allowing Christians from America to take over, healing the wounds and bringing God and prosperity to the region.

Sarah broke into his thoughts by touching his arm. While he’d been enjoying his reverie, the kids had returned to his original question. “Class would be fine, I guess,” she said, “except the things Reverend William wants us to accept… Some are just—” She stopped, her hand to her mouth.

“What are they, Sarah? You know you need not hold back with me.”

“It’s just that…”

Hoping to relax the girl—and her brother, no more comfortable than she—Billy said, “I can speak with Reverend William. He’s a good man, and if he’s confusing you—”

“No, Granddad,” David said. “That’s not it. Right, Sarah?”

“No, he’s not confusing us, really. I understand what he says, I just… I can’t believe it!”

His upset must be evident, but he asked anyway, “You can’t believe what?”

Sarah was now visibly worried. Billy couldn’t believe what she said next.

“He says… I’m sorry, Poppy, but he says the earth and the universe are only, like, six-thousand years old, and everything science says is a lie. That can’t be!”

Billy throttled a desire to beat William to a pulp and hugged Sarah to his side. How to work with her, with them, to make them believe? “Well, first, he shouldn’t have said science is a lie. Many scientists are good men, trying to do their best. However, they have not accepted the Lord Christ Jesus. So, while they may not lie, they are sometimes incorrect.” He took a deep breath and made a concerted effort to avoid falling into ‘preaching mode.’ “Our Lord God created the Earth and Man, and Woman his helpmeet, in Six days. According to the Bible, that was 3960 years before our Lord Christ Jesus was born.

“God created the whole world complete, including the things scientists choose to think argue for their idea that the world has been here for, what, millions of years…”

“Billions,” David interjected quietly.

“What? Billions? How can that be? Our Lord God is patient, but billions? It beggars belief, don’t you see? We are His creation! He would not simply… wait around for… for billions of years.”

“So…” Sarah dragged the small word out. “He played a joke on us.” She leaned back against the sofa and threw her dark blonde hair to her side, then caught it up and twisted it into a rope. “I guess I don’t really believe that either.”

“How about you, David? Does this bother you, also?”

“Yeah, Granddad, it does. Sarah and I’ve been talking about it since Reverend William started this chapter. It just makes no sense.”

“Very well, then. Please keep attending Reverend William’s class and listening with the open minds I know you have. You’re both bright and well-thought. I’m sure it will make better sense to you as you learn more.” He hugged them as Cook announced dinner.

“It would be better if Sarah and David were in a separate class… or tutored alone. They prove a distraction for the other students in class.”

“How so, William?” Billy had asked Reverend William Frankelin to visit with him in his spacious office in downtown Kansas City. Coffees sat before them on a large plain table away from Billy’s desk.

“They are inquisitive, and not amenable to the Word of the Lord Our God,” William said. “Sarah especially attempts to confound me at every turn with ‘scientific facts’…” He imbued the words with the appropriate disgust. “…seeking to dissuade me and more importantly, the other students, from our beliefs.”

Billy smiled, hoping the man across the table would see the patience in it. “William, they, like all your students, are children. They are put here to do exactly that.” William’s furrowed brow proved the junior pastor did not understand. “Children have been put on Earth by the Lord to confound us, to test us, to make us stronger in our beliefs. Do not expect them to lap up everything we set before them, like dumb animals. They are
not
dumb. I cannot stress this enough. They think. Their questions must be answered, and to their satisfaction. Not mine, or yours, comfortable as we are in our beliefs, but theirs, as their beliefs bud and take shape and form.” He smiled again. “I love them. All of them, but David and Sarah especially. They are my kin, the gift My Lord left when He took my Jacob and Ruth.” He paused, a beatific look on his features. “You should work with them a few more weeks. We’ll talk again after Labor Day.”

“Very well,” William said as he followed Billy’s lead and stood. “But I don’t know how to convert their mistaken ideas.”

“You’ve said it exactly!” Billy gave William a clap on the back. “You must
convert
them. They are like the heathen—particularly intelligent and educated heathen, but heathen nonetheless as regards their beliefs. You must not allow any doubt in your presentation or responses, but be confident and steadfast. Prove your faith as we have done for years. As we shall in London, soon.”

“Yes, London. How is that work proceeding? Are you still planning to attend?”

Billy’s eyes lit up and he was sure his face shone with pleasure. “Quite well, thank you for asking. It has been a labor of love… and not a little money, too,” he said with a laugh. “Not long now, until our faith is rewarded even across the ocean. Unfortunately, my plans have changed. Others will bear witness for us.”

He smiled as he opened the office door. “Don’t worry, William, our students will come around.”

Chapter Eleven

Day Eleven - Almaza Bay

KEVIN ALLOWED BECKIE TO SLEEP until half-past eight; at breakfast, she thanked him.

“What happened to your face?” he asked as they sat with the luxurious plates before them.

She blushed, though with the sunburn, it was hard to tell. “I guess I didn’t have enough sunblock on when I was standing outside the car. It looks worse than it is.”

“Do you still want to go? It won’t be much cooler, though it is along the coast, and there are no clouds in sight.”

“I’ll be fine as long as you drive back here tonight!”

The hundred and fifty kilometers to the Museum went by at the posted 90 KM per hour limit; they had parked and walked around to the front of the building. Beckie was impressed; in the bright morning sun, the light stone shone. The inscription over the entry was not as impressive: El Alamain Military Museum, repeated in Arabic, surmounted by five flags, all fluttering in the light breeze. Below the arch, a wrought iron fence and gate allowed entrance—once the fee was paid! Even before entering, Beckie could see the sculpture in the courtyard: an airy paean to peace, steel doves fluttering away carrying their olive branches, while on the steps, a soldier’s rifle and helmet lay, discarded.

She and Kevin walked slowly through the rooms, one for each of the major factions in the North African campaign, and then wandered the garden, sown with the war machines the combatants had left, from parts of a Spitfire to gun emplacements of both sides.

From the paintings and photos inside, Beckie marveled at the depictions of fighting with so little cover. When they came out to walk the half kilometer or so to the British War Cemetery, Beckie looked out over the surrounding land; it remained flat.

As they walked into the cemetery, Kevin’s phone rang. He stared at the screen before touching the accept icon.

“Hey, Sue, what’s going on?” His pause was substantial, much longer than would be necessary for “Nothing much, how ‘bout you?” so Beckie watched with interest. “With Willie gone, maybe I should head back… I’ll talk to Beckie about that and give you a call in a few minutes.”

He dropped the phone into his pocket and led the way to a nearby bench. “Willie’s headed off to South America, to work with Barbara and Rich.”

“Okay, but that’s not why Sue called.”

“No. Last night, a prowler got into Sue’s suite, and went through your room. Broke and ran when Sue hollered out, but got away before Dan could see whoever it was.”

Beckie sat for a moment in silence. “I can’t imagine what they were looking for. Did Sue say anything was missing?”

“Nothing she noticed.”

“Well, everything I value, I have… well, in the resort. Or here.” She patted her phone. “But nothing that would make sense for a robber. No jewelry or cash.” She laughed aloud. “And my clothes… they couldn’t be very valuable here! Only for the black market. Did Sue lose anything? And did they check your room?”