Under the Blood Moon (The Stargazers Trilogy Book 1) (3 page)

Chapter Five

April 15
th
, 4:45 p.m.

Eric was not happy to share the details of his dreams. But he knew he had to. There was a feature in them that could save lives. He just did not know what it was.

The three of them, Dr. Caladasian, Sybil, and Eric, had just finished watching the video of Eric’s dream. No one had the courage to say anything as they all appeared shocked.

The doctor slowly got up from his folding chair and went to the wall to turn the light on. The room they were in was barren, except for the three folding chairs, a projector of sorts, connected to several medical machines, a portable screen, and of course, all three of them.

Eric smiled as he stood up and slowly walked out of the room to let his sister and the doctor talk about what they just saw.

He closed the door behind him.

Sybil and Dr. Caladasian just stared at each other for several moments.

Sybil stayed seated and stared at the blank screen. “Well. I think you understand what this means, Doctor.”

He looked solemn, as he sat back down. “It’s remarkable, Sybil. I have never been so excited that I was wrong before.”

She didn’t know whether to share in his excitement, or be concerned about the consequences. “He dictated his dream exactly as it was. Exactly. Even if we experiment on thousands of others, I doubt we’ll see results like this again.”

“No. We wouldn’t,” the doctor answered. He let out a sigh. Sybil said, “I am very excited about this, but I can see by your reaction, that you know what’s to follow.”

“We need to keep these findings a secret,” said the doctor. “At least until we can do more research, as to why Eric was able to remember every detail of his dream… and still does.”

“What are you referring to?” he asked.

“It’s not natural,” she said. “Eric’s dreams are supernatural.”

He stood up and tightened his face muscles. “You’re not going to bring up all of the astrological babble again! Are you?”

She stood up and got right in his face. “As a scientist, you cannot discount any possible solution! Especially when all of the rational ones don’t fit! You know I’m right on this!”

“I will not discuss the planets aligning, in the same sentence with its significance to your brother’s dreams! You are right, Sybil! I am a scientist and must therefore use my abilities to determine what has caused this anomaly! Not hocus pocus!”

“I would then say that you are no scientist, Doctor!” She placed both hands over her mouth, as soon as she realized what she had said.

He smiled and surprisingly calmed down. “It is because of your spirit that you are still here on this project. That and your rather unorthodox way of looking at things. I need a new perspective on things and you are the fresh pair of eyes to give me that. I will not partake of your dabbling with pseudoscience, but I will back you on any significant results you may find in your quest.”

She leaned her head to one side and bit her lower lip. “Know this. The first Blood Moon of 2014 is scheduled for tomorrow night. Then another on October 8. Next year there will be two more. On the fourth Blood Moon, there are rumors that it will be the sign of the end of times. You saw the moon turn to blood when Eric touched it in his dream. If he hadn’t remembered every single detail of his dream, I might have dismissed it all as coincidence. As a scientist, you even have to believe that there are no such things. Don’t you, Doctor?”

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll do all I can to help. But it still may be no more than a sleep disorder.”

* * *

Outside, the weather was nasty. Not only in Oregon, but all over the United States. The news was full of reports of rain coming down in sheets, flash floods, hail storms, high winds up to one hundred miles an hour, temperatures over one hundred and ten and people being snowed in.

Mother nature had gone crazy.

Sybil did not know what her responsibility was in dealing with it all. But she knew her job was a big one. How could she stay positive in the midst of such tragedy?

It started with finding the mystery behind Eric’s dreams. He had dreamed the same dream at least three times. Who were the zombies in his dream? When would such a devastating earthquake come?

She left her office and went out for a sandwich at a nearby submarine sandwich deli.

Rain peppered down on her so hard that it felt like a sandstorm. Even though she had on proper rain gear and carried an umbrella, she was soaked when she reached the deli.

“What on Earth is all this crazy weather about?” she asked no one in particular.

“It is Armageddon,” said an old man, puffing on a cigar.

“Naw,” said another. “It just happens like this sometimes.”

“I believe it is the judgment of God,” said the lady who was paying for her sandwich.

Sybil ordered her sandwich. While waiting to pay, she said, “It is not normal. Those who know how to pray, should do so.”

“What about you; why don’t you pray?” The old man looked directly into Sybil’s eyes.

She felt fear as she said, “I really don’t know how.”

A newsbreak flashed across the TV in the corner. “People everywhere are expecting four blood moons to appear across America soon. This is called a Tetrad. Looking backward several centuries, there have been some amazing Tetrads in the world. Although NASA says that before the dawn of the 20th century, there was a 300-year period when there were no blood moons at all. According to reports, people like Sir Isaac Newton, Mozart, Queen Anne, George Washington, Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln and their contemporaries never had a chance to see the beauty of a Tetrad. People in Oregon are anticipating a sight to equal a Fourth of July fireworks show. That will be big. We encourage people to enjoy the moons and not be fearful.”

Sybil ate her sandwich, opened her umbrella and walked back out into the downpour.

Chapter Six

April 16
th
, 9:00 a.m.

Sybil and Dr. Caladasian were asked to be on a debate panel at an auditorium near the Oregon Institute of Science, better known as OIS. This was an honor for Sybil, because she could tell of her brother’s dreams.

The auditorium was situated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. It was mostly sponsored by academic programs which were varied, including highly ranked engineering technology and biology. It was founded in 1823 as a forum for discussion and debate, at a time when the free exchange of ideas was a notion foreign to restrictive authorities. The debate was sponsored by the largest student organization affiliated with Oregon Christian colleges—an organization that sponsored Bible prophecy conferences.

It soon became the only place for students to discuss religious topics while in another college. Some professors called them ill-tutored youths. Since OIS emphasized quality academic and campus life, Dr. Caladasian agreed to participate. The off campus auditorium was available to those wanting to hear more about the subject of Blood Moons.

Sybil arrived a day early to be prepared as one of the first to debate about what she expected to be an end time event. Her topic was dreams and visions.

There was a panel of five debaters at the event. The other four included in the order of presentations: Dr. Smith, The Editor-in-Chief of the Oregon Economy; Sybil, a scientist from the Oregon science lab; The Professor Emeritus of Science, Dr. Caladasian, and Solomon, a young editor of the Journal of Biblical studies.

The Editor-in-Chief went first and spent half of his time talking about why he believed the phrase “blood moons” was a farce. He ripped global warming and said as a liberal, he was embarrassed that fellow liberals have fallen for the greatest hoax of all time. He hoped that in the next decade, that issue would fade into the background and we could get on to more important things. He received a loud applause. He convinced Sybil that strange moons were a sign of the times, even though the professor did not take that thought seriously.

Sybil was next. Dressed in a red suit and matching pumps, she stood to share. Other than a couple occasional frowns from the audience when Sybil stood, she was liked. She said, “I want to talk about prophetic dreams and the last blood moon. No matter where one is on Earth, a magnificent, colorful full-looking moon will ascend over the eastern horizon at sunset on September 27. It will shine its brightest in the middle of the night, when the sun is shining on the other side of the Earth, below our feet. That’s because the moon lies opposite the sun in the sky at the locality of a whole, round moon. Being opposite the sun, the moon is showing us its fully lighted hemisphere, or “day” side. That’s what makes the moon look full. There is something magical about it.” The audience snickered. “My brother has had dreams that are prophetic in nature. He dreams that he touched the moon and it turned red and bled. I think his dreams are a sign in the sky.” Responses toward her were hospitable.

The third speaker spoke about the problems the world faced from a scientific perspective, but did not really draw any conclusions. He spoke about some of the great risks the world faced from a security position, including the threat of global warming.

Dr. Caladasian was next. He said he was interested in sleep studies. He did not take a conclusive stand as to whether dreams mattered. Otherwise, he simply talked about some of the geopolitical problems facing the world. He said the greatest threat to the human race was still an epidemic of some disease.

A brilliant young Jamaican man was on the team to represent Jesus to the prestigious environment of OIS. Sybil thought that to be interesting. Her mother had been a Jesus person. God rest her soul.

The young man’s name was Solomon Dancer. He wore a navy blue suit and a white shirt. He was bald with a tattoo of a cross behind his right ear and a tattoo of an elderly woman behind his left ear. He had huge hands and a big smile. He said that he hoped to provide some solid testimony for the cause of Christ and Bible prophecy. “I’m no fool,” he said. “I was educated in London. The name of the university is the same as the town in which it resides. It is Oxford, which is about 60 miles northwest of London. Oxford is consistently ranked in the world’s top 10 universities. I was educated around atheists, yet I believe that Jesus is God’s Son.” There were sighs all over the auditorium. “I will speak briefly about the Tetrad, which is four red moons together.” He said that he stated biblical truth. He said, “Blood Moons are mostly common in relationship to events God has planned for Israel. When they happen this close together, it is called a Tetrad. That’s what the space scientists in Texas call it. I call it a Blood Omen. A sign.” He said, “I truly believe the end is nigh.” Reactions toward him were receptive. In fact, he received the second loudest round of applause of the five speakers.

As Sybil was walking out, a young woman bumped into her and slipped a business card into her hand. She said, “Call me,” and disappeared before Sybil could get a good look at her face.
I’ll look her up online.

She saw Dr. Caladasian go out the opposite door to a parking lot on the other side of the auditorium. She had hoped they could go out to eat together.

Taking her key out of her purse, she started for her car. “Miss Tania,” a voice called out to her. She turned and saw Solomon with an older lady. “May I speak to you?”

“Of course.” She laughed. “You did a good job.”

“So did you.”

“You reminded me of my mother when I was a small child,” said Sybil, “She was a Christian.”

“What about now?”

“Oh, she’s gone to meet her maker.”

“My sympathies.” He motioned to the lady beside him. “This is my mother. She is a strong Christian woman.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

She turned back to Solomon. “Were you wanting to say something to me, Mr. Dancer?”

“I would like to know more about your brother.” He smiled. “Maybe we can do lunch and talk about it.”

“Certainly.”

Chapter Seven

April 14
th
, 2:00 p.m.

Seated at the table, they all ordered tuna sandwiches and iced tea. Sybil took a bite and laid her sandwich on her plate. “So you are interested in Eric’s dreams. My brother is an unusual youth. He has always had dreams that come true. But this one was so frightening. He has had the same one for about seven times. It scares me.”

“Do you work with Dr. Caladasian in his laboratory?”

“Yes, he does sleep studies. I am a scientist and assist him.”

“Your brother is one of your subjects.”

“Yes, sorta.” She paused. “Well, yes, we want to help him. His dreams are destroying his nervous system. So much so that he has been reading a Bible, looking for answers.”

“I hope you won’t be offended if I say that I am a Messianic Jew.”

“That is fine. My brother is half Jewish as well.” She smiled. “Your accent is pretty. What is it?”

“Jamaican. I was born in Hungary. I have some Jewish blood.”

“And he flaunts it.” His mother spoke up. “I must tell you that in these critical times, Israelis must join together to pray to for peace.”

“Jewish rabbis all associate the current Tetrad with Jewish redemption,” said Solomon. “The first and third Blood Moons, in this current Tetrad cycle, coincide with the celebrated Passover. And then the second and fourth line up with the Feast of Tabernacles. This is a sign from God that something big is coming. For example, the Talmud states, “In the Hebrew month of Nisan our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt, and in Nisan we will be redeemed from our enemies.”

“So you are saying that my brother’s dreams would be a message to the Jews.”

“I do believe so.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Visiting for a while, they exchanged information about each other’s childhoods, favorite foods and worst fears.

* * *

Eric had time for a much-needed rest. Laying on the couch, watching
Big Brother
, one of his favorite TV shows, he vegetated. But then he heard clicking noises against the window. He walked over to the window and looked out to see what it was. The front lawn was covered with white hailstones the size of marbles. “What the heck?”

When he lay back down on the couch, a news break was on. The newsman was talking about the war in the Middle East.

“There is always war in the Middle East,” Eric said aloud.

It was as if the newsman heard him. “This is like no other. Isis can move faster because of modern technology. Every foot soldier has contact with their general at all times on a cell phone. An unusual war for sure.”

Eric had a lump in his throat. Fearfully, he remembered his mother and what she said in his dream. She wanted someone to save her son. But he did not feel lost.