Shaken (19 page)

Marjorie turned. “Vicki? You're not Vicki Byrne, are you?”

Janie said, “Sorry, Vick.”

“That's okay. Yes, I'm wanted by the GC.”

Marjorie sat and ran a hand through her hair.

Janie knelt before her. “What I'm saying is, these people care about you. It doesn't matter to them if you've been into drugs or if you lie or steal. They don't care if you're the most loyal follower of Carpathia there ever was. They care about you because God cares about them. They want you to know him.”

“Why are you saying this?” Marjorie said.

“I've caused them no end of trouble. I used to think Enigma Babylon was the way to go, but after being here and seeing them in action, I know what they're saying's true. And you'd best believe before the next judgment hits.”

Vicki stared at Janie. She couldn't believe what the girl was saying.

Janie walked back to her chair and sat. “That's all I've got to say.”

The room fell silent. Vicki didn't know whether to talk with Marjorie or Janie. Mark looked stunned and sat on the floor.

Finally Marjorie said, “I know you people are sincere, and I believe you care. You could've taken my gun and shot me with it, but you didn't.”

“We want you to know the truth,” Vicki said. “It can change you forever.” Vicki turned to Janie. “But I don't understand. If you believe what we say and that God cares about you, why don't you follow through?”

Janie smiled and looked away. “I've heard you guys say God doesn't make mistakes. Well, I think you're wrong. I'm the biggest mistake he ever made.”

Vicki put a hand on the girl's shoulder. “Janie, I've prayed for you almost every day since I've known you. I've asked God to soften your heart. Don't tell me you understand and you've walked this far but you won't take the last step.”

Janie put a hand to her forehead. “I don't deserve …”

“Don't give me that,” Vicki said. “None of us deserve—”

“You don't know the stuff I've done! If you did, you'd have never taken me into your house.”

“You just said it yourself—it doesn't matter. I don't care what you've done. God loves you. He wants to call you his daughter.”

Janie wrapped her arms around her chest and sobbed.

Lionel sat up in bed and listened for sounds in the house. Sam and Judd slept soundly in bunks nearby. Something was wrong, but Lionel didn't know what it was.

He remembered that hot summer night when he was ten. He was sleeping at a friend's house in Chicago. A burglar had tried to crawl through a window on the other side of the room. Lionel had screamed and woken everyone up. His friend's father had caught the guy and held him until the police came.

Lionel crept into Yitzhak's living room. Nothing. He opened the door to the basement and heard snoring. He went back to bed but couldn't sleep.

“God,” Lionel whispered, “maybe you woke me up for a reason. Is there something you want me to do?”

Chills went through Lionel's body. He didn't hear a voice or see a vision, but he had a strong feeling he should pray. “Okay, pray for what?”

Silence.

“God, I'll pray for anything or anyone you want me to, but tell me who.”

Silence.

Lionel shook Judd awake and told him what had happened. Judd woke Sam and scampered out of the room. A few minutes later, he returned with Mr. Stein.

“God is at work with someone you know,” Mr. Stein said. “Perhaps they need safety. Perhaps they need wisdom. Many times I have felt the prayers of other believers.”

“Let's start,” Lionel said.

All four knelt and buried their heads in their hands. The first person Lionel prayed for was Vicki.

Vicki hadn't seen Janie cry like this since the GC took her away from Nicolae High.

“I've listened in on some of your meetings,” Janie said. “I'd give anything to be part of your group, but somehow I always wind up treating you like dirt.”

“God can change all that,” Vicki said.

“And what if you guys take a chance on me and I let you down? I'd feel even worse after all you've done for me.”

Vicki felt a tug on her shoulder. It was Marjorie. “Okay. I understand now. I want to become one of you guys. What do I do?”

Vicki looked from Janie to Marjorie and back again. “Uh, I can lead you in a prayer if you really want to do this.”

“I do.”

“Okay, you can say this out loud or just say it to yourself.”

Marjorie clasped her hands and bowed her head. “I'm ready.”

Vicki prayed. “God, I believe you're there and that you care for me. I'm sorry for the bad things I've done. Forgive me. I believe Jesus died in my place on the cross, and right now I want to receive the gift you're offering me. Change my life from the inside out. Save me from my sin and help me to follow you every day of my life. In Jesus' name, amen.”

Vicki turned to Janie. “Would you like to pray too?”

Janie lifted her head and Vicki gasped. On Janie's forehead was the mark of the true believer.

Vicki hugged the girl and they both cried.

“I feel like a new person,” Marjorie said.

Vicki looked at Marjorie and gasped. She had no mark.

18

VICKI
tried to act cool and hugged Marjorie. Janie pointed at Vicki's forehead. “I thought you guys were making that up.”

“Making what up?” Marjorie said.

Vicki turned. “Things will become clear as we go along. We'd like to get you into a class first thing in the morning.”

“Great,” Marjorie said, “but I really want to go back to the GC and work as a secret agent. That would help the cause, right?”

Mark stepped forward. “Sure. We could use all the information about the GC that we can get.”

Janie looked puzzled. “But she doesn't have—”

Vicki held up a hand. “People who are new to the faith usually go through a few classes to learn the basics. Marjorie, why don't you room with me for the first few nights?”

“Fine.”

Vicki showed Marjorie their room, then asked Mark to explain things to Janie and call an emergency meeting of the Young Trib Force.

Judd sent an e-mail to the kids at the schoolhouse and noticed an e-mail from Tsion Ben-Judah. Judd had told the rabbi all that had happened in the past few months.

Tsion wrote:

I am very sad to hear of the death of your friend Nada. We have all lost so many loved ones. I think about my wife and children every day, and I'm sure you will think of Nada often
.

Judd, it is important for you to grieve this loss. I find great comfort in the Psalms as the writers pour out their hearts to God. Don't pretend this didn't happen or that it's not painful. Keep a journal to write down your thoughts and feelings. I hear many people saying they need to “move on,” and they miss the work God could do in them through this grief
.

Judd thought of Kasim. Instead of grieving for his sister, Kasim had immediately decided to kill Carpathia.

Judd continued reading.

The way you described the horsemen was exactly what I saw. Rayford Steele and others had told me about them, but I had never seen them myself. I was praying for my friend Chaim Rosenzweig when I saw them. I thought it was a dream. An army of angry horsemen filled my window. I can't imagine what it was like to see them in the middle of Jerusalem
.

Tsion spoke of the Tribulation Force's hiding place and how the summer heat was getting to them.

Pray for us as we work together. The bright spot in our world is baby Kenny, but he gets cranky at times and is difficult. I pray God will enable us to accomplish whatever task he gives in his power and in his timing
.

The computer beeped. A video message was coming from the schoolhouse. Judd quickly adjusted the equipment and was surprised to see Mark and Vicki.

“We have a situation here,” Mark said. “We thought you might want to have some input.”

Mark explained what had happened with the satellite truck and Marjorie Amherst. Judd remembered the girl from his graduation ceremony. “If I'm right, she was the head of the drama club.”

“That makes sense,” Vicki said. “She's putting on an acting job.”

“What do you mean?”

Vicki told Judd about Marjorie's prayer. “The good news is that Janie is now a believer. She's understood a lot more than we thought. But Marjorie doesn't have the mark.”

“You think she's faking it?”

Vicki nodded. “Everyone who asks God to forgive them receives the mark. She seemed to change her attitude right after she found out my name.”

“I get it,” Judd said. “She's acting like a believer until she gets back to the GC. Where is she now?”

“Janie's keeping an eye on her.”

“Has she seen any of the others?”

“Only a few of us,” Vicki said. “We're keeping everyone else out of sight until we figure out what to do.”

“Get her away from there as fast as you can. If she gets in touch with the GC, that hideout is cooked.”

“I agree,” Mark said.

“But what if she really changes her mind about God?

” Vicki said. “It happened to Janie.”

“That's your call,” Judd said. “Some people are always going to be blinded to the truth. I'd say she's a huge risk.”

Mark excused himself to check on Janie and Marjorie. Vicki scooted closer to the monitor. “I heard something about your friend in New Babylon dying.”

Judd told Vicki about Pavel's death and how his father had helped the kids get out of New Babylon.

“What about Sam?” Vicki said. “Last I heard, you guys were looking for him.”

Judd nodded. “The GC questioned him. He was released, but his father died in the last stampede of the horsemen. Sam will probably travel with us.”

“I'd like to meet him. When do you think you'll come back?”

Judd told Vicki about Mr. Stein's plan to give the message of truth at the Gala.

“Sounds risky. I like it.”

Judd bit his lip. “Vicki, I've got something awful to tell you.” Judd explained his friendship with Nada and how it had grown. “I think you would have really liked her.”

“Would have?”

Judd told Vicki what had happened the day of the final attack. When he told her how Nada had died, Vicki put a hand to her mouth. “I'm so sorry. I had no idea.”