Hunted (9 page)

“Mac needs to know—”

“The angel said everything had been arranged,” Sabir said.

As they drove near where the miracle fair had taken place, Aron touched the window and looked out sadly. “What about Joel? Is there no hope?”

“Your brother made a foolish decision,” Mr. Stein said. “He closed himself to the truth and took the mark of Carp—”

“But I was just as closed,” Aron said. “He took the mark partly for me so I could have food.”

Mr. Stein turned. “We spoke with your brother before you came in. He seemed upset we had even come. He countered our message at every point.”

“He was angry at himself. He knew what you would say about God.”

“He turned us in to the authorities,” Sam said. “I know you love your brother, and your parents will be saddened by the choice he made, but we can't go back.”

Aron nodded. “I understand, and yet my heart breaks for him.”

The man buried his head in his hands, and Sam put an arm around him. “My father also made a foolish choice and died before I could speak with him again. I'm so sorry.”

Sabir drove to the airfield and parked in the same spot where Sam and Mr. Stein had been picked up the night before. A plane waited on the runway, and they scurried through the fence and quickly boarded. Mac McCullum gave them the thumbs-up sign and had Mr. Stein secure the door.

“When we get in the air, I want to hear all about this,” Mac said.

The GC radioed Mac just after takeoff, but he ignored their call. He motioned Sam forward, and Sam sat in the copilot's chair.

When Sam had told him everything, Mac said, “I've seen a lot of strange things in the past few weeks. Bullets going through helicopters, angels blinding the GC, but when I got the call to come get you guys—”

“Someone called you?” Sam said.

“Figure of speech. I was asleep, waiting to hear about my next flight from Chang Wong or Chloe Williams. All of a sudden I was awake and knew I ought to come here. It was as clear as if you'd sent me a fax or called and given specific directions. I just knew.”

Sam looked around the cockpit, and Mac asked what he wanted. “Something to take notes with. I need to start a new installment of my Petra Diaries right away.”

The reunion in Petra was more than Sam could have hoped for. The four new believers were welcomed warmly as Tsion Ben-Judah announced their arrival at the morning meeting. Several counselors had been trained by Dr. Ben-Judah himself to take new believers and help them learn the basics of the faith. They surrounded the men after Tsion had finished introducing them and whisked them away.

Micah prayed for Jews who were being arrested around the world. “You know, Lord, that these people are being mistreated and killed simply because they have Jewish ancestors. The Global Community considers them traitors, and they are being paraded across international television, humiliated every day. We ask that you would surround these with your love and mercy, and show them the truth that you want them to turn from their sin and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.”

Micah asked the assembly to gather in small clusters. The wonderful sound of voices uniting in prayer echoed off the red rocks.

Sam and Mr. Stein hadn't had a chance to locate Rabbi Ben-Eliezar and his wife, and Aron was anxious to see them. When the groups finished praying, Tsion Ben-Judah introduced Mr. Stein. “This man's own child turned to Christ and he disowned her. After her death, he became a true believer and stands before us today to tell of the mercies of God.”

Mr. Stein stepped forward. Sam was proud that he would have a chance to speak to so many. “For those of you who have not yet believed, I plead with you to consider the truth. Christ died for your sins, and he paid the penalty for your disobedience. Do not run from him any longer, but accept his love right now.”

A few people near Sam fell to the ground, wrestling with the truth of God. Sam closed his eyes and prayed they might respond while Mr. Stein spoke.

“I would like to ask Rabbi and Mrs. Ben-Eliezar to come forward,” Mr. Stein continued. “Are you here?”

From the back of the crowd came a faint cry from Rabbi Ben-Eliezar. He and his wife walked as quickly as they could through the masses. Like the Red Sea, people parted and allowed them to walk through and up a steep walkway that led to Mr. Stein. As they came, he described meeting them and their struggle to believe in Jesus.

Finally, they reached the rocky cliff, and Mr. Stein draped an arm around the rabbi. “They spoke to us of their sons some time ago. When Micah talked about praying for relatives and friends who do not yet believe, my young friend Sam Goldberg took him seriously. He began praying and trying to contact Aron and Joel.”

Mr. Stein turned. “Rabbi, Mrs. Ben-Eliezar, behold your son.”

Aron stepped out of the shadows of a cave. The rabbi and his wife were so overcome, Sam thought they were going to topple off the ledge, but they gained their balance and rushed to Aron, hugging him and weeping.

“Their other son was unfortunately caught up in the desire to follow Nicolae Carpathia, but we can rejoice that this one has believed and has returned.”

A great roar rose from the crowd as they yelled their praises to God. When the noise died down, Mr. Stein looked at the struggling group near Sam. “What about you? Will you receive the gift of God now?”

9

THE DAYS
passed quickly for Judd and Lionel in South Carolina. Sam's escape from the GC was all anyone could talk about for a week. Sam's description of the angel and their return to Petra thrilled the group so much that Judd hooked up a video connection with Sam and had him speak to their group.

As time passed, Judd read sketchy reports of bounty hunters discovering more people without the mark. He sent a message to Chang Wong asking for any information on the identity and location of the bounty hunters in South Carolina.

One afternoon Judd was talking to Luke and Tom about their lives before the disappearances. Luke said he had always dreamed of being a shrimper and having his own boat.

“Is that how you got those muscles?” Judd said.

Luke smiled. “I guess. I've always felt like I've been cut out for physical stuff, you know, hard work. I like using my hands, where old Tom here—” he patted his brother's back—“uses his brain, what little he has.”

Tom socked Luke in the shoulder. “All brawn and no brain makes Luke a dull boy.”

Luke picked a long piece of grass and put it between his teeth. “I've been thinking more about why we've been left here. If those verses about us all being part of a body are right—and it's in the Bible so it has to be—all we need to do is figure out what part we are and do what we were made to do.”

“Luke just figured out he's an armpit,” Tom snickered. “Smells like one, doesn't he?”

Judd laughed and Luke shook his head. “I'm trying to be serious.”

Tom rubbed his face with his hands. “I'm sorry. Go ahead, armp—I mean, Luke.”

“I never got to go into the army,” Luke continued, “or become one of those special-forces people, but I've grown up around these rivers and marshes and know them like the back of my hand. Instead of sitting here, we could be out there stopping the bounty hunters and finding people who might become believers.”

“You gonna do this all over the country?” Tom said. “You read what Chang said. Pretty soon the GC will expand the program, and there'll be more bounty hunters than believers.”

“The point is, we can do something now if we want.”

“Maybe that's how Lionel and I could get north,” Judd said. “We could go along with you.”

Luke nodded. “The key is finding the bounty hunter network.”

“But what are you going to do once you find them?” Tom said. “Kill them?”

Luke spat the grass onto the ground. “No, that wouldn't be right. But we can sure slow them down, don't you think?”

Vicki gathered with the others in the main cabin to watch the latest from the Global Community News Network. A special Web site had been set up to highlight miracles performed around the world. Many miracle workers looked like average citizens wearing regular clothes, while others dressed in weird outfits. One man tried to imitate the sackcloth Eli and Moishe had worn.

Most of the miracle workers were men, but there were a few women as well. All claimed they had come under the authority of the risen lord, Nicolae Carpathia, and all had been given power by him.

“Are these demons dressed like people, or are they real people?” Tanya Spivey asked.

Marshall Jameson pursed his lips. “If they're not demons, they're at least humans under the spell of Carpathia.”

“I don't like watching this,” Charlie said, backing away from the monitor.

Mark pulled up a spreadsheet of information he had documented since the rise of the miracle workers. “The number on the left is how many miracles have been performed. As you go across, you see what types of things they're doing.”

“Those are all the same things Jesus did while he was on earth,” Darrion said.

“Exactly,” Mark said. “They're counterfeiting Christ's miracles just like they have to fake everything else, like the mark on the forehead.”

The blood-to-water miracles seemed most popular. One woman had changed water to blood, then changed it to wine. There had been reattached limbs, healing of skin diseases, three blind people given back their sight, and twenty-three lame people made to walk.

The GCNN anchor announced that viewers were in for a treat today because a man in England had asked a miracle worker to heal his sick daughter who lived in Australia. The miracle worker had asked GCNN to set up a live video feed from the man's home, and the network had agreed.

The miracle worker was dressed all in black and stood before a massive image of Nicolae. Five thousand people crammed into the large amphitheater, and crowds spilled out of the venue into the street. Everyone applauded as the miracle worker appeared onstage, accompanied by the father of the sick daughter.

“We are here not to present a sideshow or even entertain you. We have gathered to celebrate the life-giving power of our lord and king.” The man knelt before Nicolae's statue. When he stood, he motioned to someone backstage, and workers wheeled a massive monitor into view. The picture rolled and the audio crackled and buzzed.

Conrad shook his head. “If he can heal all those people, you'd think they'd be able to fix the satellite feed.”

The miracle worker stared at the monitor, his jaw set, then turned to the crowd. “What you are about to witness has never been attempted before, and it will prove that Nicolae is god and should be worshiped.”

“What's he going to do?” Janie said.

“Whatever it is, it's not going to glorify God,” Vicki said.

The picture from the satellite feed stopped rolling, and a reporter on the scene in Australia came into view. The woman's face was tight and her eyes red. She stood in front of a simple, ranch-style house with several vehicles parked in the driveway.

“What is the matter, my friend?” the miracle worker said.

The reporter waited through the time delay and said, “Sir, our crew arrived here only a few minutes ago. I went inside to explain what was happening and found those inside watching our coverage.”

“So it appears we are a hit with audiences around the world!” The crowd laughed, and the miracle man held up a hand. “Is the young lady still in the house?”

“Yes, but …”

The miracle worker raised his lips in a smile. “Go ahead, tell me.”

“She is only about sixteen years old. When we got here, a local doctor was with her. Something must have gone wrong …” The reporter's chin quivered. She looked at the ground and pulled the microphone away.

“What's happened to my daughter?” the father shouted. “Have they taken her away?”

“Tell him,” the miracle worker said, speaking as if he already knew what had happened.

“She is dead. The doctor came out just before we went on with you and told us. It happened a little while ago.”

The crowd gasped and the father fell to his knees. He was in such grief that he could only whimper and moan. Finally, he looked up at the miracle worker. “I know you are sent from god, and whatever you ask lord Carpathia, he can do. Please, help my little girl.”

The miracle worker closed his eyes and seemed to drink in the man's words. He looked at the audience and shouted, “I tell you the truth. I have not found anyone in the whole of the Global Community with such great faith. In the midst of such distressing news, he looks to the only one who can help.”

The miracle man looked at the monitor and told the crew in Australia to pick up their camera and take it inside. When they hesitated, he shouted at them, and the picture wobbled as they hauled the equipment inside.

The living room was filled with people crying and grieving the girl's death. A man with a black satchel and a stethoscope around his neck talked with the woman.