Shaken (18 page)

“The GC are probably looking for me right now,”

Marjorie said.

“We want to do the right thing,” Vicki said. “We'll take you back if that's what you want, but we need a little time.”

“I can't stay here. The satellite schools—”

“It'll take a few days to get everything running,” Mark said. “I've been watching the news.” Mark turned on the monitor in time to see the introduction to the live broadcast of Nicolae Carpathia.

Vicki leaned close to Marjorie. “What we'd like you to do—”

“Wait. I want to hear this. Turn it up.”

Mark turned up the audio as Nicolae began. He expressed his sorrow for the families of victims who had died in the past few months.

“My advisors inform me that more people have died in this most recent wave of deaths than those who disappeared nearly three and a half years ago. That means there will be perhaps as many as a billion who have passed away since the beginning of the smoke, sulfur, and fire.

“There is no one on the planet who has not been touched in some way by this destruction. And it is my goal to end the suffering.”

The camera zoomed in on Carpathia. He looked down, bit his lip, and gave a slight nod. “My advisors also inform me there is reason to believe this disaster was not a natural phenomenon. The earthquake and the fiery meteors were clearly explainable events, but this chemical warfare and arson are part of a calculated plot by the enemies of peace.”

“That's what you guys are!” Marjorie yelled.

“This guy has never wanted peace,” Mark said.

“Just wait, he'll show you.”

“I am asking anyone who has knowledge of those responsible for these deaths to go to your local Global Community authorities. Any tip or lead that exposes those responsible will be rewarded.”

Nicolae outlined a plan to dispose of the bodies. “Of course, many have already been destroyed by fire, but in order to keep our world healthy and free of disease, I have ordered our ministers of health to arrange mass burnings throughout the world. This will not be a pleasant task for loved ones or for the officials charged with this duty, but it is something that must occur.”

Vicki thought of the grisly job of burning the dead. Who would they hire to do such a thing? Vicki shuddered and tried to concentrate on Carpathia.

“I have plans for at least two of our enemies, and those plans will be carried out at the Gala in Jerusalem. It is time for us to put the death and grieving aside. And so I invite you, wherever you are, to this grand party. Even those who are against our ideals should come. To show how accepting and tolerant I am, I extend a personal invitation to Rabbi Tsion Ben-Judah. He may attend our celebration as an international statesman.”

“That shows you what kind of man the potentate is,” Marjorie said. “He even invites his enemies.”

The camera pulled back as Carpathia walked to the front of his massive desk. “We have every reason to want revenge, but as your leader and a man committed to peace, I offer one more opportunity to our enemies. Let us put aside our differences and strive together for a new world of love and unity. Join the faith of your brothers and sisters across the planet, the Enigma Babylon One World Faith.”

Mark shook his head as Carpathia finished. “That doesn't make sense. Those people at the satellite school were determined to catch followers of Ben-Judah. Now Nicolae's giving us a free ticket to his party?”

Vicki faced Marjorie. “There's one condition to taking you back. You have to listen to the truth.”

“I just heard the truth. Potentate Carpathia
is
the truth.”

Janie opened the door and walked in. “I didn't know you guys were in here. I heard there was a Morale Monitor in the house, but—”

Marjorie studied Janie's face. “Do I know you? You look familiar.”

“I'm sure we haven't met.” Janie asked if she could stay, and Vicki said it was okay.

Vicki turned to Marjorie. “Let me explain what we believe before you leave. After you hear me out, if you still want to go back, we'll work it out.”

Janie sat down, rolled her eyes, and muttered, “Don't waste your breath.”

Marjorie sat up. “Now I remember. I saw a poster with your picture. You were in a reeducation facility downstate.”

Janie shifted in her chair. “That's crazy. I don't know what you're talking about.”

Marjorie looked at Vicki. “I'll listen on one condition.”

“What's that?”

“If I listen to you, you have to listen to what I think about the Global Community.”

“Deal.”

17

VICKI
asked Marjorie what she thought had happened to those who had disappeared three years earlier. Marjorie gave the same answer as Global Community scientists. Their theory didn't make much sense, but Vicki didn't challenge it.

“And what do
you
think happened?” Marjorie said.

“I think the Bible came true before our eyes.”

Marjorie rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, God came back and took all the good people to heaven and left the bad ones. What does that say about you?”

“The people who disappeared weren't perfect. They had a relationship with God.”

“Which means that my mom and dad, who were really good people, came up on the short end?”

“I'm not criticizing your parents or you. I'm telling you what happened. Did you have any brothers or sisters?”

“I'm an only child.”

“Figures,” Janie muttered.

Vicki gave Janie a look, then explained what had happened to her family. “The same thing happened to most of us here. One girl actually saw her mom disappear, and right before she did, her mom told her exactly what I'm about to tell you.”

“I can hardly wait.”

Vicki told the truth as simply and clearly as she could. Marjorie smirked when Vicki quoted Bible verses, but Vicki knew God's word had the power to change a person's heart.

“In Romans it says, ‘For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.' But it doesn't stop there. God loved us enough to give himself and pay the penalty for our sin. Then it says, ‘Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.'”

Marjorie yawned.

“Another verse says that the punishment for sin is death, which means we'll be separated from God forever.”

“That doesn't seem fair. I only do one bad thing and I get the death penalty?”

Vicki explained God's holiness. “Say you have a gorgeous new Morale Monitor uniform. You've just shined all the buttons, you have a pair of bright white gloves on, and then you find out somebody has worn your boots and walked through mud.”

“I'd be ticked.”

“Would you wear the boots?”

“Of course not. I'd shine 'em up.”

“Right,” Vicki said. “Now think about God. Every part of him is perfect. Would you expect him to allow anything in his presence that's not perfect?”

“I guess not. But that would mean we're all doomed.”

“Exactly, but stick with me. God knew we were all imperfect. He knew we'd do bad stuff, and that even one sin is enough to separate us from him forever.”

Marjorie made a face. “I still say it's not fair. Why couldn't we have one more chance?”

“God did better than give us another chance. He took the sentence himself.”

Vicki showed Marjorie different parts of the Gospels. She quoted John the Baptist, who looked at Jesus and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” She told her about the miracles Jesus performed, that he lived a perfect life, and was finally crucified.

“If he didn't do anything wrong, why was he put to death?”

“Most of the religious leaders of the day hated Jesus because he said he was God. They handed him over to the secular leaders to kill him. But the truth is, Jesus let himself be killed. That's what the Bible means when it says God sent Jesus to take our punishment.”

Marjorie hesitated. “I guess some of it makes sense, but if I have to choose between your religion and Potentate Carpathia, I'm going with the GC.”

“Jesus said anybody who isn't for him is against him.”

“Carpathia thinks Jesus was a great man.”

Vicki shook her head. “That's not an option. Jesus said he was the only way to God. He claimed to
be
God. If that's not true, he's either a fake or he's crazy. Would you call someone who's lying or loony a great moral teacher?”

“I guess not.”

“Then there's only one other option. Jesus is God.”

Marjorie walked to the window. “I'm confused.”

Vicki came close. “You know Carpathia is out to get believers in Christ. Can you really trust him?”

“Of course. I look up to him. He's like a god. You saw what he said, how much he loves people and cares about them. He's always here for us. He always helps us get through the hard times.”

Vicki wanted to tell Marjorie what Buck Williams saw at the United Nations building. Carpathia had killed two men with one bullet, then convinced everyone except Buck that he hadn't done it. Vicki knew Marjorie wouldn't believe the story. She had to convince Marjorie another way. But how?

Judd made copies of the flyers and hurried back to Yitzhak's house. Everyone seemed excited as Mr. Stein passed out samples to the witnesses.

Mr. Stein asked everyone to write in the time of the first meeting in a blank space on the pamphlet. “We begin inviting people tomorrow. God has given us a small meeting room a few blocks from one of the government buildings.”

Lionel took a stack of flyers and wrote down the information. “This is going to be great.”

Nada's father, Jamal, came into the room. He touched Judd on the shoulder. “May I speak with you downstairs?”

Judd followed him to a secluded spot.

“I see now that my anger fueled my desire for revenge. God can handle Nicolae Carpathia without my help. My main concern now is Kasim,” Jamal said.

“He says he's going through with his plan. He wants me to help.”

“We had a disagreement. When I told him my feelings, he ran from the house. He says he's not coming back.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Stay close to him. Tell him you'll help. Then, when the time comes, we will stop him and hopefully save his life.”

“I don't want to lie,” Judd said.

“You're not. You
are
helping him. Do this for Lina and me. I cannot bear to lose my son again.”

Vicki was still thinking when Janie spoke up. “I've got something to say.”

Mark moved toward her but Vicki stopped him. “It's okay. Go ahead.”

Janie leaned against the wall and nodded toward Vicki. “I met her in an awful place. It was a detention center. Wouldn't send a dog to it, but that's where we wound up. Because of her, I got out and had a chance at a new life.”

Vicki said, “Janie came to live with me and my adopted dad for a while.”

“What's this got to do with—”

“Just hear me out,” Janie said. “I got in trouble at the high school, and they sent me away. I blamed everybody else, including Vicki, but it was my own fault. After I escaped the GC, I got lucky and found this place.”

Janie rubbed her neck and looked away. “Only, I honestly don't think it was luck. I think there was somebody watching out for me. Somebody caring for me.”

“So that proves there's a God?” Marjorie said.

“I've royally messed up my life. I've been into drugs.

I've lied to people who were my friends.” Janie faced Marjorie. “When those locusts came, these people warned me, but I wouldn't listen. When the fire and all that stinking smoke came, Vicki stuck with me.”