A Abba's Apocalypse (11 page)

              Randy looks at Amanda as small tears hang in his eyes. He is wearing a smile a crowbar couldn’t pry loose. He tries holding back his joy, but it’s too strong for him to control. His residual giddiness causes him to unintentionally jump up and down in his seat. Amanda smiles and tilts her head, with a smile that questions Randy’s sanity. “I’ve been flying with Eagles,” is Randy’s answer to Amanda’s quirky expression. “You’ve got to try it sweetheart,” he laughs. She shakes her head side to side and smiles a big smile. She leans and hugs him, softly saying, “I’ve been there honey. Congratulations!”  Randy looks back and forth while fighting his ability to control his laughter. Every brother falls to the power of Randy’s contagious joy as they all begin in the merriment. This manna is something we have not eaten in quite a while. It tastes wonderful. This is a momentary piece of Heaven that

each one of us needs so desperately. But, we also know this

peace will only be temporary.

              Scotty and Ken return with our meals. “Who wants the meatloaf, or the ham & egg special?” Scotty asks. Ken and him pass out selected meals to everyone as a more serious nature manifest itself. “So, what are we going to do now?” Paul request. Most of the brothers speak their concerns about

going back to their homes. As our conversation continues, the rest of the brothers begin showing up. I look at my watch and see it is now 11:05 am and think about Dave and Moses. He is probably worried to death about me. He and Moses are probably starving too. I am reminded of the need to get more rations. I need to get enough to last a week, and enough for Katie, her kids, and the rest of us. I also need overalls for Moses. I get up to go retrieve the supplies as more brothers arrive and fill the chapel.

              I find everything I need in the supply room. I nearly fill my rucksack. I see a dusty bag of candies sitting on a shelf just in back of this stack of boxes. I think how much Katie’s kids might like this treat, as I pour a handful into my sack. I strap my rucksack on and return to the chapel. I’m back just in time to hear Randy explaining his ordeal leading to his capture.

              “It is a miracle I am here. Thank God for Joey. Two days ago, the LD found me hiding in the abandon radio station in Brookhaven, near the former trash dump site.” Most of us know Brookhaven is the next town south of here. “I lived there over two years. No one ever came around the smelly place. There was no real reason for them to. Everyone knew it could not broadcast anymore. It was miles from town and very isolated. It was the perfect place to hide out. The station had a hidden basement below it. That’s where I actually lived. I found a shortwave radio about a year after hiding out there. I was surprised to find it still worked.” I figure the electronic components were protected from the EMP by being stored way below ground, and shielded by all the concrete. Randy explains how the radio had a built-in hand crank generator.  He says, “I would listen only several minutes a day to see if

there was any useful news from the outside world. I never tried to communicate with it. I was in the Army and know how the enemy can “triangulate” my position. I wasn’t taking any chances of trying to talk on it.” I think how we could use that radio here. “I knew things were escalating. One of the last transmissions I heard was the Fed’s commanding their

‘Trinity” troops to hold-off the Irreverent militia until reinforcements arrives. It was happening near Philadelphia.” I think, “This is amazing news.” It is mindboggling to know other brothers have decided to fight the forces of “Trinity.” Randy continues with, “This was also happening outside Indianapolis. Reports suggested they actually over took a Fed military base and supply depot. The militia even stole and used, tanks and APC’s (armored personnel carriers) against the Fed’s. The next thing I heard were feet running down the station steps.”

              All Randy’s previous joy now turns somber. “I still don’t know how they found me. They didn’t even check to see if I had their stupid brand. It was like they knew I wasn’t one of them before they found me. Five LD attacked me. I hit one with a machete before the hoard pounced on me. The blade just bent around his evil head. I felt like I was the rope in a ‘tug o war.’ One said, ‘He’s mine,’ and lifted me up with one arm- like I was butter.”

              “They got me outside and beat me repeatedly. I thought I was going to die, but they stopped just short of it.” All the brothers just shake their heads as Randy continues. “The next thing I remember is hearing screams approaching. I turned my head from out of the dirt, which my face was buried in, to see two columns of bruised bloody bodies bound together being dragged along towards me. I turned my head back and saw the Devil! Yes, I saw what looked like the Devil wrapping razor wire around my lower legs. I was too tired to

fight him off. I swear though, this guy didn’t look human. He was hideous. I never knew evil before, but I could feel he was evil. He pulled the wire so tight I screamed. He actually

enjoyed me screaming, and laughed.” Randy grabs his forehead and leans over. “My blood jet out in streams as he began pulling me along to meet the lines of captives. That’s when I again saw the LD who carried me out of the station. But, this time it was like he was the leader. He ordered one of the columns of captives to stop next to me. The LD pulling

that column said, ‘I see you invited one more to diner. A couple more and we’ll have a banquet.’ I guess they cut arteries in my legs, because it was squirting right into his face. He stuck his tongue out trying to lap it up.” Randy then cries and cries. He gasp for a breath, and then cries some more. He tries to tell us what happened next, but the excitement of remembering has taken the air out of him. We decide to give him a moment to compose himself.

              Many of us stand and move to the hall area. A few stay to comfort their new brother. A debate proceeds as brother discusses with brother about what we should do next. Factions form taking different stances. One group thinks we should just keep doing what we have been. Everyone should remain separate to protect the brotherhood from being totally captured. Another sect still wants to split the remaining supplies, and take their own chance of surviving. One more group wants to form our own militia, or send reinforcements to help the existing militia currently battling “Trinity.” The last group wants to wait and recon for possible other Irreverent still in the area, and then join forces to form our own militia. Brother Gary comes out to give us some new information that Randy just told them. “Randy said there were 60 or 70 people tied to him. He said they only took about nine of them away to torture, before they chained and nailed them to telephone poles. The rest were brought to the abandon department store just outside town. The worst part is, they are mostly women and children. We all change our perspective with this new information. I know what the signs

on the poles above Randy and Amanda really mean now! The LD intend on using our people as ransom to capture more

Irreverent. I’ve seen this happen before. It usually works in war. Gary explains how Randy heard the LD leader promise his prisoners they’d take the brand and worship “Trinity,” or he’d cook and skin each of them alive; starting with the children first. Frenzy takes over the brothers. It seems many of them know some of the captives. And, none of us are willing

to leave the fate of women and children in the hands of this evil Living Damned. This surely would be evil.

              Pastor Paul notifies us that the answers we need will only be made known through prayer. We return to the chapel and join hands. Each of us quietly takes time to offer our individual request up to the Lord. After several minutes the pastor leads us in a corporate prayer. “Dear Father of all creation; grant us your knowledge and wisdom. Show us what you will have us do. Give us the power to discern and defeat the evil snares ahead of us. Please instill in us the strength to follow your every command. Remind us we do not walk alone. March with us oh Lord in our army of faith. Amen.”

              The pastor’s words made me realize: it was my faith that allowed me to find Katie. It was my faith that gave us Moses. It was my faith that defeated the Demons. It is by my faith that I’m here today. I also recognize that a man without faith is the weakest of men. He can only try and do what he can imagine. But, a man with faith can do the unimaginable. For only God knows what that is. Faith is the only way we will defeat evil. And surely; faith is the only way we ever please God. For only a fool will say in his heart that faith is foolish. Yes, I will have faith!

              Time is of the essence. Urgency tugs at me to act in faith. The things that will happen to those innocent captives cannot be allowed to happen. I need to hurry and drop these supplies off at home, and then, somehow, rescue those women and children. I overhear Paul tell the congregation, “Stay here at least till tomorrow. This will give us more time to

understand what we should do. It will be safer for everyone

understand what we should do. It will be safer for everyone too. The LD and Demons are running ramped. There is a good chance of them finding us on our way home, or by living in them after we return home.” The brothers all agree. I turn to walk up the steps as the pastor runs to me. “Where are you going?” he asks. “I got to drop supplies off at home, and go do something after. These things can’t wait.” I don’t dare tell him

what the something after is. It’s too dangerous to ask any of the brothers to come along. “Joey, in my spirit I know you are going to do God’s work. Therefore, I’m going with you.” I try and think of a single reason he can’t come, but who am I to tell him he can’t do God’s work. Scotty overhears the conversation and tells us he’s going too. “Joshua could be with them. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try and help.” Amanda comes over and says, “I know what you’re up to. I’m going too. I know exactly where the accesses are into the store.” Randy is right by her side and says, “I’m not afraid anymore. I’m going to help whether you say yes or not.” I shake my head side to side and tell them, “What a motley crew. Do you all realize the cruel things these guys will do to you if you’re caught?” No one says a word. “I’m going to have to move fast, make quick decisions, and take chances. Do you think you can handle that?” Again, no one says anything. They just silently nod, “Yes.” I say, “Aren’t you a find bunch of soldier.” Scotty tells the pastor he knows where some supplies and equipment are stored that may help us. Paul tells Randy, Kenny, and Amanda to go help Scotty get it. They dash off while he calls another brother over and gives him instruction on what he should do if something happens to him. Then, Paul asks me if I know where the old “Gardener Floral Mill” is? I tell him, “Yes, it’s not far from the department store.” “Do you think you can meet us there in, say, one hour?” I check and sync my watch, and then reply, “That’s affirmative. One hour then.”

He follows me up the main entrance; then helps me tighten my rucksack. He pushes the light switch turning the chamber lights off, and then slides the entrance stone open. He pops his

head out slowly as I move up in position. I see its dark out.  I

tell Paul, “Thanks.” I pop my head up for quick look around. I then whisper down the dark entrance way, “I’ll see you in one hour.” I rush out and hear him whisper back, “God watch

over you brother,” as I dash to the tree line.

              I hear the almost silent click and locking of the stone

door while observing from in the bushes for signs of LD

activity. I say a silent prayer asking for divine protection and guidance for all of us this night. All seems clear, so I move out towards home as fast as I can. My haste forces me to remember along the way, that I have to rendezvous in less than an hour. I hear some distant activity banging and smashing. The sounds ring out through the damp cool night air. It’s far enough away for it not to be of immediate concern. I maneuver along my normal route of alleyways and back streets as fast as I can. There is evidence the LD have been this way. They left a lot of trash and debris in the alleys, and in the backyards of abandoned homes. I wonder how many more souls they might have captured, and hope Dave and Moses are still safe.

              I make it to my backyard fence and squat to see if I’ve been noticed or followed. Everything seems clear. Slowly and quietly, I remove my heavy sack and drop it over the fence. The slight thump of it hitting the ground is followed by the creaking of my backdoor. “Joey?” is whispered repeatedly as I jump the fence. “Yes buddy,” I whisper back to the dark figure peeking halfway out the rear door. Dave opens the door fully as I grab my sack and dash to porch, and then inside. He shut’s and secures the door as I sit against the inside wall trying to catch my breath.

              “You won’t believe everything that’s happened,” is Dave’s news alert. This is quickly followed by, “Where have you been all this time?” I point my index finger up, suggesting to Dave, give me a second to finish catching my breath. “I’m glad you made it back okay. I was scared you got caught.” He continues explaining the reason for his excitement. “LD came

here last night. It was like a living hell. I could hear them all around the house. The only thing I could do was pray and keep Moses quiet. I closed my eyes and prayed like never before; expecting them to come in.” Dave nervously recounts the occurrence as I attentively listen in. I empty my rucksack

filled with supplies as Dave’s bulging eyes delight. He seems to want to comment about the goods, but his desire to finish

his accounting won’t let him stop reporting the prior activity.               “I knew we were ‘dead meat’. I put my arms up in surrender, and gave myself up to our Lord. That’s when the miracle happened.” Dave starts bawling his eyes out. “Thank you God,” he repeats several times, and then goes on. “There was this light flashing all through the house. It was the brightest and most wonderful light I’ve ever seen.” Dave stops and swallows hard through his excited restricted throat. “Every flash caused the LD to scream, like it was killing them. Then, they ran off. They all ran off. I peeked through the crack in the plywood over the window to see the flashing was coming from the direction you went. I started to pray real hard God would keep you safe. I was so worried about you buddy.” I realize at this moment how much Dave really cares for me, and how much I care for him. “You’ll never guess what happen next? It’s a miracle because Moses was healed-totally healed!” I look over to where he was, just to realize the lump on the floor is just a balled up blanket. “Yep, I believe it was those flashes of light that did it. They were holy lightning. Yep, it was holy lightning.” I shake my head in amazement towards heaven as my heart screams, “You’re surely wonderful God.” I also realize those flashes came during the war for the martyrs. “Where is Moses now?” I ask Dave. “He left around noon today. He said he had to go check on his babies, and his Katie. But, he said to tell you he owes you his life. And, he’d see you again soon.” A warm feeling fills my soul. I know I have received another true treasures waiting for me in Heaven. One is eternal friendship with Moses, and the other is with my buddy Dave. For, these are the only kinds of