Arrived (12 page)

The rest of the document corrected errors from the GC about murders, the Co-op, and Chloe's personal life.

“That clears up her past,” Vicki said, “but what are they going to do with her?”

Mark pursed his lips. “If she could stay alive for another year, she'd be around for the Glorious Appearing. But I honestly don't think that'll happen.”

Judd reeled from the news reports about Chloe and put a call in to Chang in Petra. He was surprised to hear excitement in Chang's voice when he got the return call.

“I know it's a very depressing day for the Tribulation Force around the world,” Chang said, “but I have good news. I'm free.”

“Right, you made it to Petra. I'm happy for you.”

“No, you don't understand. The mark on my forehead. It is gone!”

12

JUDD
fought feelings of jealousy, wishing he were in Petra with Chang, but the news that his mark was gone was incredible. Judd knew how much Carpathia's mark bothered Chang, and he couldn't imagine the embarrassment of walking into that camp of a million people with the emblem of the enemy on his forehead.

“I thought Nicolae's tattoo was permanent,” Judd said. “What happened?”

“I arrived here in the afternoon, and Naomi Tiberius gave me a quick tour, including the computer center,” Chang said. “It's amazing what Mr. Hassid set up. It's just like being in New Babylon without the danger.”

“Everyone treating you okay?”

“Like royalty. But I'm so ashamed. I wanted to take off my baseball cap and bow every time I met someone new, but with that thing on my forehead, I could not.”

“Did you meet Tsion and Chaim?”

“Yes, but not right away. They were meeting about Chloe's disappearance, and then came the news of another Tribulation Force member's death.”

“Who?”

“Albie. A man Captain Steele and the others know well. The GC reported that Chloe gave up information about him, but no one believes that. And they say he committed suicide, which, again, no one believes.”

Judd hadn't heard of this Albie, but if he was a member of the Trib Force, Judd knew he would be missed. “I want to hear more about your mark, but how's Captain Steele?”

“As well as can be expected. He left here not long after we arrived. He received a call from Chloe from a GC cell phone, and she gave him a coded message. I don't know all the particulars, but Captain Steele believes she was trying to tell him to get everyone in San Diego to Petra, and that's what he's trying to work out.”

“Seems like the safest place to be,” Judd said.

Chang described his new home. Again, Judd felt a stirring in his heart, wishing he were in Petra talking with Chang and eating manna or quail.

“How did you like the manna?” Judd said.

“It was like being fed from the table of a king. That's how a friend described it and he was right. Naomi gave me a tour on one of the ATVs. The city is so spread out that it would take days to see everything.”

“Is something going on between you and Naomi?”

Chang paused. “We have a good relationship. I knew we would have to work together closely since she has become the technical leader here, but I didn't want to complicate things with …”

“You're falling for her, aren't you?”

“Judd, she is stunning—”

“I know. I've met her. Friendly, beautiful, and smarter than both of us.”

“I've never even had a girlfriend. There were girls in high school I was interested in, but I never dared let them know.”

“Do you think she feels anything for you?”

Chang chuckled. “I think so. We were drinking at the spring of water when the sun set and the skies opened and seemed to snow bits of soft bread.”

Judd closed his eyes and pictured the scene. It was one of the most amazing things he had witnessed in Petra, the daily food that fell from the sky, as if God were tearing off pieces of bread and sending them floating to his children.

“Talking with Naomi is like speaking with someone I've known my whole life, but I've never met her in person. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“Anyway, I met her father, which was quite an experience, and then I met with Tsion and Chaim. We are all heartbroken about Chloe.”

“They must be trying to help her escape,” Judd said.

“I don't know. That will be up to Captain Steele and Mr. Williams.”

“I can't imagine what Buck is going through right now. Tell me about the mark.”

“Yes. I met Dr. Rosenzweig, who looks more like his old self now than the famous Micah who stood up to the potentate. His hair's grown back and he was excited to see me. He called me ‘the genius mole.'

“Then Dr. Ben-Judah approached with all kinds of people around him. I was honored he would eat a short breakfast with me. When he prayed over our meal, I thought my heart was going to burst. After our meal, I asked for some time alone with him and Dr. Ben-Judah stayed.

“I took off my cap and showed him the
30
on my forehead and the place where the Global Community biochip had been inserted. He said it was strange to see both the mark of the believer
and
the mark of Carpathia, and I told him I couldn't stand to look myself in the mirror each day.”

“That mark kept you alive, Chang,” Judd said.

“Yes, Tsion said it wasn't my fault, that it was forced on me, but I asked if there was any way to have it gone.

“Tsion scratched his chin and shrugged. He said he didn't know if it was possible, but that he would pray, as long as I would be content with whatever God decided.”

“What happened then?”

“He called Naomi's father and Chaim back over to agree with us in prayer. I was already overcome with emotion and had begun to cry. Tsion placed his hand on my forehead, and the others grabbed my hands and touched my shoulders. I felt so loved by these men, so cared for. And then Tsion prayed. It was such a beautiful prayer that included many Scriptures.

“The tears were streaming down my face as he turned to me. He said we come together in faith believing and pray to the God to whom anything is possible, the God who spared us from the fire of the enemy.

“And then he asked, according to God's will, if God would remove any sign of the evil one from me. I went limp. It felt like my arms and legs weighed a hundred pounds each. I started sweating like an Olympic athlete. I opened my eyes and Tsion looked at me and smiled.

“Naomi's father was the first to tell me it was gone. Then I ran to his place and looked in the mirror to make sure it was true. The mark no longer mocks me, Judd.”

“I'm happy for you.”

“We're gearing up for at least two hundred new arrivals here in the next few days, people from San Diego. When are you coming?”

Judd told him what had happened the last few days and what he hoped would happen. It was Judd's plan to get to Petra and have Vicki join him there if possible. “As long as it's dark over here, we're continuing to try and frustrate the GC as much as we can. I guess when the time's right, we'll head that way.”

Vicki watched news reports from the Global Community and tried not to think about what Chloe was going through. Was she in some dark, cold cell? Were they torturing her, trying to get her to give information about the Tribulation Force? Vicki guessed the GC was having a hard time getting anything out of Chloe. She was one of the most determined people Vicki had ever met.

Chloe had set the Commodity Co-op in motion and had coordinated shipments of food and medical supplies for believers throughout the United North American States and the entire world. The GCNN reporters were right—the capture of Chloe was a tremendous success for the Global Community. But pulling information from her would be very difficult.

Vicki thought of her last conversation with Chloe. The woman had written to congratulate Vicki on her engagement. A few weeks later, Vicki had called Chloe in San Diego and talked with her about Judd's potential trip to New Babylon.

Chloe had been hesitant when Vicki told her about the trip. “Sounds like Buck to me,” Chloe had said. “If there's something he can do to help the cause, he'll go there, no matter what the cost to him. But I have to admit I've done the same thing. In Greece I took some chances I wouldn't want Buck to take.”

Chloe had talked about her son, Kenny, during the conversation as well. “I just hope if anything happens to me or Buck that the other one will be there to help raise Kenny. I can't imagine not seeing him grow up.”

The memory sent a chill down Vicki's spine as she reread a journal entry about some of the conversation. Vicki had written a prayer at the end of the page.
God, if anything does happen to Chloe or Buck, I pray that you would make it possible for me to help in some way to raise Kenny
.

The phone rang in the main cabin and Vicki was closest. Immediately she heard background noise like someone was on an airplane. “Hello?”

“Yes, I'm looking for Zeke—I'm not sure I have the right—”

“Captain Steele?” Vicki said.

“Yes, who's this?”

Vicki told him and asked Mark to get Zeke. “Where are you?” she said.

“We're flying over the southern states now, headed for home base. We came from Petra.”

“I heard about Chloe. Is it true?”

“All the information we have points to them having her,” Rayford said.

“We've been praying for her—and for you and Buck and Kenny.”

Rayford cleared his throat. “That means more than you can know, Vicki. I was really excited for you and Judd. Have you heard any more from him?”

Vicki told him what she knew, and Rayford told her of his conversation with Judd earlier. “We have a contact who's still in New Babylon that we'll probably need to go in and get. If Judd's not out by then, maybe he can take that flight.”

“That would be wonderful.”

“Plus, I'm going to talk with Zeke about something that might help you as well. Do you sense much danger from the GC there in Wisconsin?”

“It's such a remote location, they seem to have forgotten us or don't really care that we're here.”

Zeke rushed in so Vicki said good-bye to Rayford. Zeke took the phone in the other room and talked for a few minutes. He returned smiling.

“What did Captain Steele want?” Vicki said.

“He asked if I was ready to come out of mothballs.”

Vicki raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

“You know, come out of storage. Get in the game. Go where the action is. Seems they need some help in Petra and I'm on my way.”

“What are you going to do there?”

Zeke frowned. “Don't know exactly. I figure I'll be working on disguises and such, you know, fake ID cards or uniforms or maybe some tattoos. Captain Steele didn't give specifics, but I told him if they needed me, I'd be there.”

“I'm happy for you,” Vicki said.

“You ought to be happy for yourself.”

“What do you mean?”

Zeke sat in a rickety wooden chair that strained under his weight and smiled. “Because I'm supposed to have a little company on the flight.”

“Who?”

“Well, the pilot will probably be Mac McCullum or whoever they assign, but there's a certain redheaded girl from Mount Prospect who's been given the okay to be on board as well.”

“Me?” Vicki choked.

“And whoever you need for the ceremony once Judd makes it back,” Zeke said.

Vicki covered her mouth, then waved a hand at her face. “I have to tell Lionel. He's supposed to be Judd's best man.”

Zeke laughed. “Then go tell him.”

13

JUDD
and a few others had moved into a hideout run by Otto Weser less than six miles from the GC palace. Westin had stayed with Gunther and the rest of the group as they tried to destroy Global Community guillotines and loyalty mark sites before the darkness ended.