Arrived (14 page)

Dear Lionel
,

I'm really sorry about your arm and have been praying for you since the accident. I hope the one Zeke made for you works good. I haven't known you as long as I've known Vicki and some of the others, but I want you to know that I've seen Jesus in you. You're always thinking of others and not yourself, always keeping people on track, and treating people like I imagine Jesus would
.

I know Jesus wasn't black or anything, but I think you know what I mean. That's all I have to say. Thanks for being my friend
.

Charlie

Lionel folded the page and smiled. Charlie's line about Jesus not being black reminded him how much he had been through since the disappearances. At first, Lionel felt uneasy being the only black teenager in the group, but with the earthquake and all the plagues and death around them, his skin color wasn't an issue. They were all believers in Christ. Period.

It was what Lionel imagined an army went through. He had read stories about soldiers who disliked others because of their differences. But once the bullets started to fly, it didn't matter where the people came from or how they talked or what they looked like—they were fellow soldiers.

Lionel heard Mac say something about Carpathia's ten kings, and he began listening again.

“… 'course, he calls 'em regional potentates, but we know what's going down, don't we?” Mac said.

“I do,” Zeke said.

Mac stretched his arms. “If Otto succeeds in New Babylon, we find out where the big shindig is gonna be before it happens, and we get in there and bug the place. We're not going to try to stop prophesied events, of course, but it'll be good to know exactly what's happening.”

“What happens to Carpathia's secretary?”

Lionel had wondered about this as well. That Rayford had befriended a secretary working for Carpathia was one thing. But trusting her? Lionel thought it was risky but didn't say anything.

“Krystall?” Mac said. “If I had a vote, I'd say we convince her we know what's going to happen to New Babylon and get her out of there.”

“To Petra?”

Mac shook his head. “Much as we might like to do that, God has set that city aside as a city of refuge for his people only. Sad as it is, she made her decision, took her stand, and accepted the mark. Getting her out of New Babylon just keeps her from dying in that mess when God finally judges the city. She's going to die anyway, sometime between then and the Glorious Appearing, and when she does, she's not going to like what eternal life looks like.”

Lionel thought of all the people he had come into contact with during the last six years who fit into that category—people who had heard the truth but decided not to believe it. Some had chosen to take Carpathia's mark. Others were still out there who hadn't chosen, but that number was dwindling every day.

He closed his eyes and prayed for the San Diego group to get out safely. He asked God to help Buck and little Kenny and prayed that the Tribulation Force would be able to rescue Chloe. “And if they aren't able to rescue her, I pray you would give her the strength to go through whatever she's going to face.

“And, God, whatever you have for me in Petra— whether it's reaching out to people over the Internet, encouraging others, or something else—I want to do it with everything in me.”

Judd awoke early and, using Otto's computer, accessed the many Global Community news feeds. He came upon one from the United North American States that disturbed him.

A female reporter stood near a large prison. “This courtyard here in Louisiana is used for two purposes. Three times each day prisoners are taken past the bronze statue of Lord Carpathia so they can worship. And to my right—” the camera panned—“are the loyalty enforcement facilitators. Everyone knows what those are used for.”

Judd counted seven guillotines standing like evil guards. The GC had televised executions for a long time, so he didn't understand why the reporter was giving this background. A black SUV pulled into the courtyard and a handcuffed Chloe Williams was dragged out of the vehicle, her head banging the door.

The reporter continued talking and moved toward a group of media members. When the camera panned back to Chloe, one of the Global Community officials whirled and hit her in the forehead with the back of his hand. Then the man clamped his hand over her mouth, kneed her in the back, and tried to tape her mouth.

Chloe broke free for a moment and screamed, “Tell the truth for once! I was drugged! They—”

The man slapped the tape on her face so tightly that Judd wondered if Chloe could even breathe, let alone speak. Seeing someone he knew treated this way made Judd sick.

The reporter yelled at the GC officials, “Has she spilled any more?”

“Oh yes,” the man said as Chloe shook her head. “More all the time. Of course we had to tell her there would be no trading leniency for, ah, physical favors as it were. She can only help herself by telling the truth. I'm confident we'll get there. We've already gained more knowledge about the Judah-ite underground and the illegal black-market co-op from her than from any other source we've ever had.”

The man concluded by saying the daily executions would be held at 10 a.m. the next day with more than thirty executions lined up.

The camera panned back to the reporter. “Here in Louisiana prisons are notoriously hard, and none harder than Angola. International terrorist Chloe Williams will rue the day she pushed the Global Community to the point where she was sent here. The guillotine will be sweet relief compared to hard labor for the rest of her life.” With a look of glee the reporter ended with, “When the life of this dissident comes to an end, we will show it to you here live.”

Judd switched off the feed and buried his head in his hands. Someone touched him on the shoulder and Judd looked up.

“I'm sorry about your friend in America,” Otto said. “We are all praying for her. I have an important mission this morning that may help the Trib Force find her. It's dangerous though. I have to go to the palace. Do you want to go with me?”

After seeing the GC coverage of Chloe Williams, Mark sent an urgent message to the Young Tribulation Force around the world, asking everyone to pray for Chloe, her family, and her friends.
And keep looking for anyone who may not have taken the mark of Carpathia
.

Everyone gathered in the main cabin in Wisconsin and prayed. Janie asked God to keep Chloe from giving any information that might hurt the Tribulation Force. Conrad prayed that no one would be captured in the rescue attempt, if there was one. Josey pulled her son to her chest and asked God to help little Kenny, who was without his mother.

Mark bit his lip. “And, God, whatever your will is, give us the courage to accept it.”

Judd followed Otto closely as they crept into the palace of Nicolae Carpathia. It helped Judd to know that Nicolae and his top people were miles away in Al Hillah, but he still felt creepy walking the same halls and riding the same elevator as Nicolae and his aides.

There were no people in the halls. Somehow they had adjusted to the darkness and were trying to get back to work.

Otto pushed the button for the executive offices, and Judd rode the elevator up with him. Otto led him to the main office where Nicolae Carpathia's secretary, Krystall, sat talking on the phone.

“No, it's still painful, Mom,” Krystall said. “I guess we're adjusting, but I can't do anything here except answer the phone. … No, they can evidently see fine in Al Hillah and don't have to follow his glow around anymore.”

Otto pushed the door open slightly and it creaked.

Krystall sat up, her eyes wide. “I'm sorry, Mom. I need to go. Someone's here. Mmm-hmm. Bye.”

“Krystall, don't be alarmed,” Otto said. “I'm a friend of Rayford. I have a young man with me.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I've been asked to speak to you.”

“Is this about Rayford's daughter?” Krystall said.

“Yes, her location.”

Krystall took a breath. “All I know is Angola Prison in Louisiana.”

“Okay, I'll tell them. And the other thing is any information—”

The phone rang and Krystall jumped. “This might be the security chief, Akbar. He was supposed to call.” She pointed a finger to the corner. “There's a phone over there if you want to listen.”

Judd rushed to it and picked up as Krystall grabbed her own receiver. Judd held the receiver so Otto could hear too.

“This is Krystall.”

“Krystall, Chief Akbar. Are you still in the dark there?”

“Yes, sir, as much as ever.”

“All right. I have an update for you, if you'll take this down.”

“Excuse me, sir, but how am I supposed to take it down?”

“Don't you have a system worked out yet? You could contact someone outside New Babylon and have them transcribe this message and send it out.”

“Yes, sir, but—go ahead, I'll remember it.”

“Good. Tell the ten heads of state that the government is up and running here in Al Hillah. We will not be deterred by these tricks of the enemy. They must know that we are in control of the situation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Also, communicate to them that they should prepare for a meeting and celebration in Baghdad six months from now. Everyone is working on the preparations. The potentate wants this to be a great display with flags, banners, light shows. They have invited the singer Z-Van to be part of it, as well as other bands.”

“This assumes the darkness will be gone—”

“If we figure out how to counteract this terrorist plot of darkness, we will all return to New Babylon. But no matter what happens, this meeting and celebration will take place in Baghdad.”

“And where in Baghdad, may I ask?”

“At the new building—where the Iraq Museum used to be before the war.”

“Yes, I know it.”

“Everything will be first-class, state-of-the-art. The meetings at this venue will of course be closed, but the potentate wants some of the festivities open to the public. We'll have the media covering this as well, so we need to make accommodations for them.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And one more thing, Krystall. Make sure you communicate that at this meeting we will discuss the final solution to the Jewish problem.”

Otto elbowed Judd and grimaced. When Krystall was finished, Otto thanked her for letting them listen. “Is there anything we can do for you?”

“Just leave quickly and quietly. I don't want anyone knowing you were here.”

Otto's phone rang and he stepped into the hall.

Judd stayed in the office while Krystall fumbled through a desk drawer. “Can I help you find something?” he said.

Krystall jumped, then settled. “I'm looking for a voice recorder I had in the top drawer. I thought I'd record what I can remember of Suhail's message, then phone someone to transcribe it.”

Judd moved behind the desk and quickly found the recorder.