Hunted (42 page)

Judd had never felt so focused. He knew everyone was watching, wondering what he would do, but he concentrated on the girl at the end of the path.

Vicki had changed since Judd had been gone, like the others, like he had. Her red hair was shorter, and Judd liked how it accented her face. She looked older, more mature.

On the drive to the airport, shortly after Judd and Vicki had first met in that cataclysmic moment after their families had disappeared, Judd hadn't even considered Vicki as anything but a fellow traveler, a lost and lonely survivor. When everyone he loved was gone, his first instinct was to shut down and keep people at a distance so he wouldn't be hurt even more.

The loss of Bruce Barnes had been another huge blow to Judd. But over the past two years, Judd had opened up to others in a way he had never done before. As he walked past this band of brothers and sisters, he wasn't just returning to his friends—he was truly coming home.

The thought overwhelmed Judd the closer he got to Vicki. Could God have loved him so much to take him safely through the past years and bring him back to the person he loved most? Had his adventures, his fighting the Global Community all been part of a plan to draw him closer to the God who loved him?

Somewhere deep inside, the pride, self-reliance, lack of trust in others, the guarding of his heart, and even the focus on his own sins was breaking down. For so long Judd had tried to figure things out. He knew the Bible, how things would wind up when Christ came back, and how everyone should act and fit in with his views. But the more Judd had tried to control things and people, the worse he felt.

He was a few feet from Vicki when the emotion he was trying to control crashed. He had stayed in the car to compose himself, to keep himself guarded again, but the sight of that old dog Ryan Daley had brought home sent Judd over the edge. Phoenix bounded past Vicki and ran toward Judd, his tail wagging, barking with delight. Judd fell to his knees and put his hands on the ground, tears streaming.

At first Vicki thought Judd had fallen, then realized he was overcome. When Phoenix jumped up and licked his face, Vicki couldn't tell if Judd was laughing or crying.

She knelt and put an arm around Judd's shoulder and the other around Phoenix. Everything else in the world faded—the people around her, the hot sun, all the death and destruction, the Global Community.

Judd whispered something through his tears—she could tell they were tears now. “What did you say?” she said.

“I'm so sorry, Vicki. I'm so sorry.”

“It's okay, Judd. You're back. What do you have to be sorry about?”

“For Phoenix. For Ryan. For the way I've been.”

Vicki smiled and started to make Judd feel better, but then she realized that God was doing something. Here. Now. God was burrowing into Judd's soul, working in a way she had seen only when a person came to faith in God. To others it probably seemed like Judd was happy to see Vicki, but she sensed something more.

Vicki placed both arms around Judd's neck and whispered a prayer. “Oh, Father, you're so good to us. You've brought my friend back. Thank you.”

Judd looked at Vicki, and she handed him a tissue. His face was shadowed by a couple days' growth of beard. He had aged beyond his twenty-one years. Vicki looked at the others gathered around. Josey Fogarty smiled and cradled Ryan tightly in her arms. Zeke had his hand over his mouth, studying the scene. Darrion and Janie and Shelly hugged each other and cried. They had been such good friends for Vicki.

“I'm through with just surviving,” Judd choked. “I want to live. Do you think I can change?”

“I think you already have.”

39

JUDD
had never experienced a celebration like the one that evening in Wisconsin. He had been to birthday parties, anniversaries, and victory celebrations, but they didn't compare with the joy in the main cabin.

Zeke pulled out a boxful of different juices that no one knew he had. “I was waiting for the right time and place, and this is it!”

Josey Fogarty had baked several cakes, which she said was therapy for her. “I hated waiting for word about Ryan, so while I prayed I baked.”

“You could have saved the oven and just stuck the cake outside,” Zeke laughed.

Ryan couldn't take his eyes off Lionel. He was fascinated with Lionel's skin color and the fact that one of his sleeves was empty. Lionel seemed to take the attention in stride and let Ryan see the way his arm had healed.

Vicki left Judd to talk with Josey. Judd assumed it was to explain what had happened with Cheryl the day before.

After everyone had eaten, Judd asked Vicki if she would like to take a walk before the sun went down.

Zeke stepped in front of Judd, blocking the door. “As Vicki's substitute dad, I'm going to have to ask your intentions.”

People snickered.

Judd planted his feet and took a breath. “Sir, I'm here to renew an old friendship, if that's okay with you.”

Zeke looked at Vicki. “Are you open to this young man renewing your acquaintance?”

“I am.”

“Then go on, but have her back by dark.” Zeke leaned forward. “I'm serious about that last part. We've been doing a lot of moving around. I don't want any surprise visits from the GC in the middle of the night.”

Vicki led the way, showing Judd each of the cabins and telling him who lived where. She came to Zeke's workshop, which no one visited anymore. “Z's really excited about what he's been working on for Lionel. After the people stopped coming for fake IDs and cosmetic work, he started developing it.”

When they had seen all the cabins, Vicki led Judd through the woods a short distance to a knoll overlooking the camp and the surrounding countryside. It seemed like years since Judd had been outside in daylight and he loved it, even if the devastating fires still raged. Smoke hovered over the valley, and in the distance Judd saw houses and farms ablaze.

The fire hadn't touched the woods surrounding the camp, and Judd was amazed. Like the other plagues, this could only be explained by the awesome power of God.

Judd and Vicki sat on a tree stump, side by side, and looked at the scene.

“This world is on its last legs,” Vicki said.

“I can't wait to see what the new one's going to look like.” Judd shifted nervously. “That wasn't the kind of entrance I'd hoped to make earlier. I had planned a private kind of thing, sneaking up on you and seeing if you'd recognize me.”

“You had a lot of time to plan it out,” Vicki said.

“I didn't think there would be so many people.”

“It was a wonderful way to return.”

“Zeke said I really lost it, and I guess I did.”

“It's funny how people react to emotion. A lot of people are really uncomfortable, but I don't think you should ever be sorry about that. It was so genuine. I could tell God was doing something special in your heart.”

“I used to sit in church and watch people go forward at the end of the service and try to figure out how they got the guts to do it. It seemed so humiliating to get up there in front of all those people, sometimes crying, other times just standing there. But when I saw you and Phoenix, I finally realized what a jerk I've been. I've seen it before, but it was like God showing me wave after wave of truth. I don't feel like a very worthy candidate to be your friend, let alone be …”

“What?” Vicki said.

“You know … more than that.”

Vicki took Judd's hand and squeezed it. “I know we only have a little more than a year left before the Glorious Appearing, but I'd like to take this slow. Get to know each other better. There are things I need to tell you and things I need to hear from you.”

Judd nodded. “Where do we start?”

“Tell me about Nada,” Vicki said.

Judd did. He spilled the whole story about Nada, from their first meeting to Nada's eventual death in an Israeli jail cell. Vicki listened with interest, asking questions and falling silent when Judd told her about the plague of horsemen and the jailer who had killed Nada.

“Did you love her?”

Judd hesitated. “I'm not sure. I'd be lying to say I wasn't interested in her. She was an incredible person.” He pulled a tattered piece of paper from his wallet and handed it to Vicki. “She wrote this, and her mother gave it to me after she died.”

Vicki opened the paper and spread it out on her leg.

Dear Judd,

My mother suggested I write this down so I won't forget. Maybe the GC is going to execute us, and if that happens, you can take comfort in the fact that I'm in a better place. Being with Christ is what our lives are all about. If they've killed me, I'm there, so don't be sad for me. I love you very much. From the moment you came to our family, I felt close to you. You were like a brother to me. Then, as my feelings grew deeper, you were more than that
.

But I have to tell you something. I feel it's only fair that I express this. As close as we became, in our talks and the time we spent together, I always felt there was something missing. I couldn't put my finger on it until we came back to Israel and you backed away. I feel what I'm about to say is something that God wants me to say
.

I have prayed many nights about this. I've asked God to show me why I'm feeling this way. Honestly, I think something is holding you back. At first, I thought it was God. You're so sold out on him, and you want to live for him. But the more I thought and prayed, it became clear that God wasn't coming between us. I really believe there is someone else. You've never talked much about your friends in the States, but I sense there is someone there you care about deeply
.

Maybe I'm making this up. If so, I apologize. But if I'm right and you find this letter, go back to her. You're a wonderful person with so much to offer. I have loved being your friend. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you in New Babylon. I'm sorry for being difficult at times. (You had your moments too.) I'll look forward to seeing you again, whether it's in this life or the next. May God bless you
.

Love
,

Nada

Vicki's hands shook as she gingerly folded the page. “I can't believe that. She knew you well.”

They talked more about Nada and her sacrifice as they returned to the main cabin. The sun had gone down, and Judd wanted to be sure to honor Zeke's request that they return before dark.

“Let me ask you something,” Judd said. “Remember when I called and you were out with that guy in Iowa?”

Vicki nodded. “His name was Chad Harris. He actually showed up here a little while after you made it to Ohio.” Vicki told Judd what Chad had done and how the GC had caught and executed him.

Judd couldn't believe it. “You obviously didn't want to hurt his feelings, but you didn't feel the same way about him as he felt about you?”

“Right. I felt really bad about it for weeks.”

When they reached the main cabin, everyone had gathered around the computer for the latest from the Global Community News Network. The reporters showed more death and devastation throughout the world. Famous sites around the world that had survived the wrath of the Lamb earthquake were burning. The GC had tried to adapt, but it was clear this plague had paralyzed the enemies of God.

“In the United North American States, one man has risen to the challenge of the killer fires,” the reporter said.

A face flashed on the screen, and Vicki groaned. “Fulcire,” she said under her breath.

“Commander Kruno Fulcire says he won't let this latest natural disaster keep him from his duty,” the reporter said.

“I've pledged my life to the ideals of the Global Community,” Fulcire said from some darkened GC bunker. “My main mission over these past few months and years has been to ferret out rebels and punish them.

I'm sticking with that mission, and we're offering even more money to any citizen brave and resourceful enough to bring in rebels during this time.”

“How can people do that with all the fires?” the reporter said.

“Hunt them at night. We're watching radar and surveillance cameras for any movement and tracking down that movement when the heat allows. We may find more rebels now than at any other time.”

“So there's truth to the rumors that the rebels, at least some of them, are immune to this wave of heat?”

Fulcire shifted in his chair. “I'm not saying that we know exactly who or what is out there during the day. I don't want to give the rebels any more credit than they deserve, but if they're foolish enough to go out in the fire and survive, we'll find a way to catch them.”

Marshall Jameson smiled. “Sounds like they're trying to bluff us into staying put.”

“Which is another good reason to go on the offensive,” Judd said.

They watched the coverage a few more minutes. Then Colin Dial called for everyone's attention. “Before we sample some of Josey's desserts, I'd like to propose a toast.” He held up a glass of juice, and the others grabbed full glasses from the table. “To Judd and Lionel, for surviving the long journey home.”