Shaken (39 page)

“To understand the grace and goodness of God, we must consider the suffering of his followers. If Jesus had not been crucified, there would be no resurrection. And the same goes for our beloved Eli and Moishe.”

Mr. Stein took Judd, Lionel, and Sam aside later. “I am going to go to the Wailing Wall tonight and stand watch with the witnesses. You are welcome to come.”

Vicki was exhausted after their day at the new hideout. Mark had found a large piece of plywood and nailed it over the broken window. Conrad had worked on the solar panels after Carpathia's opening message. “The broadcast from the Wailing Wall won't begin until early in the morning. We should have enough power to watch it on TV.”

Vicki and Shelly made dinner. While they were eating, Mark turned on the computer to check e-mails. He let out a whoop as he pulled up hundreds of messages from people who had seen Vicki during the satellite school transmissions.

“Some of these are from the first broadcast,” Mark said, “but most are new.”

Conrad pointed to a message that didn't list the sender's return address. The subject line simply said “Phoenix.”

Mark clicked it and the kids read:
Do not reply to this. I just wanted you to know long tail is safe. We found the truck and are searching the area nearby. Hope you are all out of range by now. Will be in touch soon. N
.

“That's Natalie,” Vicki said. “When did she send it?”

Mark checked the e-mail and said, “Late last night.” He found another e-mail that was sent only a few hours earlier.

The GC has suspended all search due to the Gala. Praise God! I was assigned to question several farm owners this morning. I was exhausted but happy to see our friend C with the farmer and his wife. They told me what happened. C is doing well but says he misses you all. Long tail and I are okay for now. Will send you a safe address to write as soon as I can. I may need directions to your new place soon
.

N
.

Vicki climbed into the loft and fell into bed. Darrion had found enough sheets and pillows for everyone. It felt good to sleep and not have to worry about the Global Community breaking in. Vicki thought of Charlie and Natalie and thanked God they had all made it through safely. She thought of Judd in Israel and wondered what he was doing. Would they ever see each other face-to-face again?

Judd followed Mr. Stein as they waded through the crowd at the Wailing Wall. Sam and Lionel weren't far behind. The crowd was huge, but Judd knew by morning more would cram into the site. Millions around the world would watch and prepare for the evil celebration.

Some shouted at Eli and Moishe, who didn't speak or move. Others simply watched the two, wondering when they would preach again. Mr. Stein struggled to get close to a few who knelt next to the fence, their heads bowed. Mr. Stein joined them and Judd stood close to him.

Finally, Mr. Stein spoke softly to the two and Judd strained to hear. He was reciting Psalm 23: “ ‘Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.'”

Mr. Stein recited other biblical passages. Eli and Moishe didn't move, but they seemed to breathe in the words of Scripture.

“ ‘I am the resurrection and the life,'” Mr. Stein continued. “ ‘Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish.'”

Through the night Mr. Stein whispered verses to the witnesses. He prayed quietly for them, thanking God for sending them to warn the world of judgment. “And now we pray the same power you have given them to do miracles among us will be present,” Mr. Stein said. “Empower Eli and Moishe to live for you and do your will until the due time.”

Judd awoke to shouts and screams. The sun was up and dew covered the blanket on top of him. Someone had covered Lionel and Sam too. Judd rubbed his eyes and saw Mr. Stein still kneeling at the fence, now singing softly the words to an old hymn someone had recently taught him.

Judd stood and pushed his way to the back of the crowd to find one of the many portable toilets. Not far away, loud bands rehearsed for the party that would begin when Carpathia was finished with the witnesses. On his way back, Judd heard a group talking about the funeral service for Peter the Second.

“I heard they canceled it due to lack of interest,” a man said. “And that new woman, D'Angelo or whatever her name was, she's out too.”

“Who needs those two when we have Nicolae Carpathia?” a woman snickered.

Judd shook his head. Enigma Babylon One World Faith had been popular with people around the globe. Now with its founder dead and the world under the spell of Carpathia, it looked like it would fade away without anyone noticing.

Judd wondered how Peter Mathews had really died. Did Carpathia shoot him? Did a hit man take out the pontiff? Judd shuddered as he elbowed his way back to the front. Eli and Moishe stood like statues, just as they had done for hours.

When he made it back, Sam and Lionel were sitting up, blankets draped around their shoulders. GC Security moved through the crowd, telling people to back away from the fence.

Mr. Stein continued to whisper a few verses to the witnesses. GC officers grabbed him and pulled him away, but one look from Moishe and the two security officers fell to the ground, stunned. Mr. Stein finished what he was saying and looked at Eli and Moishe. The two glanced at him and nodded slightly.

Mr. Stein helped the two guards up and joined Judd and the others. Judd said, “What were your last words to them?”

“I quoted Psalm 121. ‘I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps.'”

Judd wondered what was going through the witnesses' minds. The “debate” with Carpathia would begin in a little more than two hours. Would they stand up to him and speak the truth? No matter how they responded, this was the 1,261st day. The Bible said they would be overcome today.

35

AS THREE
GC helicopters flew over the Wailing Wall, Judd looked at his watch. It was 9:59
A.M
. The choppers landed and various dignitaries exited. Judd noticed there was no representative from Enigma Babylon.

Finally, Nicolae Carpathia stepped out and waved to the cheering crowd. A black box poked out of a pocket of Carpathia's expensive sport coat. There was a flurry of activity with the potentates, Fortunato, camerapeople, and lights, but Judd couldn't take his eyes off this evil man strutting toward the fence and the two witnesses of God.

A woman dabbed makeup on Carpathia's face as he hurried by. His lapel microphone picked up the woman saying, “You look wonderful, Potentate.”

Carpathia ignored her and approached Eli and Moishe. They stood ramrod straight and stared ahead. Carpathia flung his sport coat onto the fence and rolled up his sleeves. The crowd responded with claps and cheers.

Judd had seen the two witnesses silence Carpathia before. They had breathed fire and consumed their enemies. But now they were up against the meanest man on the face of the earth.

Carpathia had a gleam in his eye as he stopped next to Eli. “And what do you gentlemen have to say for yourselves this morning?”

Vicki sat in her pajamas in the Wisconsin vacation home of Darrion Stahley. Everyone was gathered to watch the live coverage from Israel. The huge screen built into the wall made it feel like they were right there. Vicki could tell that the GC had paid attention to every detail. Carpathia's voice was clear. The scene had obviously been lighted by professionals. Even the crowd seemed to applaud on cue.

“You have plagued the world with your magic for too long,” Carpathia said to the witnesses. “You have boasted about the suffering you have caused.”

“That's not true,” Conrad said.

“Why don't they say something?” Shelly said.

Vicki stared at the screen. “When Jesus was brought before the leaders what did he do?”

“He didn't say anything,” Darrion said.

Vicki nodded. “That's what they're doing. They're like lambs going to the slaughter.”

Judd thought of Kasim and the laser sword. He closed his eyes and imagined slicing through the metal fence and going after Carpathia himself. But more shouts from the evil man brought Judd back to reality.

“What is wrong with you?” Nicolae shouted, pacing before Eli and Moishe. “Cat got your tongues? The water in Jerusalem tastes cold and refreshing today! Run out of poison?”

Judd was among a group of believers who didn't shout or even speak. Some silently moved their lips in prayer.

But the others around them shouted at Carpathia. “Arrest them.” One man screamed, “Just kill them and get it over with!”

Carpathia toyed with the silent saints. “Was that rain on my window this morning? What happened to the drought? Say, does anyone see locusts? horsemen? smoke? Gentlemen! You are impotent!”

Mr. Stein grabbed Judd by an arm and fell to his knees. “Pray with me.”

Judd knelt too and bowed his head, but Carpathia's voice boomed through the speakers around them. “I proclaimed this area off-limits to you two years ago! Why are you still here? You must leave or be arrested! In fact, did I not say that if you were seen in public
any
where after the meeting of the cultists that you would be executed?”

Judd glanced up as Carpathia turned to the crowd.

“I did say that, did I not?”

“You did, Potentate!”

“Yes! Execute them!”

“Kill them now!”

“I have been remiss!” Carpathia continued. “I have not carried out my duties! How can I have allowed this crime to go unpunished? I do not want to be shamed before my people! I do not want to be embarrassed at their party today!”

Lionel bent beside Judd and whispered, “He knows.”

“What do you mean?” Judd said.

“I think Carpathia's been studying. He knows the prophecy says he's going to win this round.”

Carpathia walked a few paces away and shouted for Eli and Moishe to come out from behind the fence. “Challenge me! Answer me! Climb over, fly over, transport yourselves if you are able! Do not make me open the gate!”

Carpathia stood about twenty yards away from Judd. It was as close as he had ever been to the man. Even in the midst of this confrontation, Nicolae was charming and suave. Some, no doubt, followed him because of his good looks. Others had been convinced by the command he had over the devastating world situation. The only thing about Carpathia that caused anyone to wonder was his impotence in front of Eli and Moishe.

Carpathia turned to the crowd again. “Should I fear their very breath? Will these dragons incinerate and slay even me?”

Some laughed nervously, as if they had just remembered the power of the two witnesses. But the two didn't move, and they barely seemed to breathe.