Rise of the Beast (17 page)

“I can’t get the Revelation story of the flying mountain Wormwood out of my mind,” he admitted. “I mean, it all fits. The Bible speaks of the flying mountain hitting the sea, and right now, the Mid Pacific is the most likely impact point for the comet, if it hits us at all. Still, I don’t know. More recent orbital calculations are looking encouraging. The odds of impact are dropping. We might just dodge the bullet on this one. Best estimates call for the comet to miss us by about 27,000 miles. Still, world governments are going ahead with the plan to deflect it, just in case we’re wrong. If we don’t need to this time, well, we will have the infrastructure in place for the next time. Building it is not a waste of money.”

“I’m sure it’s not,” confirmed Chris, munching down on some fries. “Having insurance is a good thing. This must all be really exciting for you.”

“I don’t know if that is the word I’d use or not,” admitted Sam, chuckling slightly. “I have become sort of the voice of this whole project, though I’m not all that involved in the nuts and bolts of it any more. Right now, it’s more of an engineering problem than a scientific one. I’m here in Flagstaff to obtain additional images of the comet to refine its orbit. It’s still real faint, only within the reach of a handful of telescopes, and one of them is here. It’s supposed to be clear tonight.”

“Still, lots of people are saying that you may well have saved the Earth from a cosmic catastrophe,” said Chris. “That has to be worth something.”

Sam nodded. “We’re not out of the woods yet. Still, I think my dissertation went a little smoother with this discovery under my belt. I’m getting my 15 minutes of fame, that’s for sure. Still, even with the odds of impact decreasing, I have a bad feeling about it all. I just can’t shake it. I feel like all is not right in
the world tonight. It’s not just the comet; there is something else going on.”

That comment caught Serena a bit by surprise. “I can understand that,” she confirmed. “I’ve had that feeling a lot myself lately. What do you think it is that makes you feel that way?”

“I thought you might be able to answer that question,” said Sam

“Me?” replied Serena. “Why me?”

“I’ve seen and experienced things during the past year that I’d never imagined seeing or experiencing,” replied Sam, “like the intense aurora display last year. To my knowledge, nothing like that has ever happened before—such intense aurora, I mean. And its source wasn’t the sun, like a normal aurora. The sun has been unusually quiet for years. The high-energy particles causing it were coming in from somewhere else in deep space. It was like we had a beam of radiation focused right at us from somewhere out there. It knocked out a dozen or so satellites and fried their electronics. Had it continued, there might have been serious ecological implications. We would have been in a world of hurt, real Revelation, angels blowing their trumpets sort of stuff. I don’t think people realized how serious a situation we were in.”

“Good thing that it only lasted for a few days,” said Chris. “I didn’t hear until later about all of the things that might have happened if it had gone on much longer.”

“Then there’s the comet.” Sam hesitated. “But there was something else. I’m afraid it’s not very scientific. It is really the reason I’m here. I hadn’t read your book until yesterday. What I’m about to tell you sounds incredible, but I swear it’s all true.”

“Incredible stories are our specialty,” said Chris. “Go ahead.”

And so began the story of the dream. Serena said very little during the telling. She wasn’t sure what to think about it all. Chris was more interactive, pushing for every detail of what Sam had seen. To Serena, it almost looked as if Chris were trying to trip him up.

“It was near the end of the dream or vision or whatever you want to call it,” said Sam. “By that time I was thoroughly shook up. I mean, nothing like that had ever happened to me. It was like something out of Daniel or Revelation. It was then that I decided to ask the dark angel his name. Now, keep in mind that I’d never read your book before. He told me that his name
was Abaddon. He told me that I should seek you out. It turned out to be easier than I’d ever imagined. I mean, I had no idea you were going to be here today.”

The silence that followed wasn’t encouraging. Serena looked at Sam incredulously. Right now she didn’t know what to think. He’d described Abaddon perfectly. Chris had pushed Sam for a detailed description of the dark angel, a more detailed one than they had offered in their book. Sam had provided it. He had passed the test.

“There was one other thing,” said Sam. “Abaddon told me to tell you that he still had the purple roses from Heaven in his garden, the roses without thorns. I got the feeling that you’d be pleased to know that.”

Now there were tears in her eyes. Yes, Serena remembered the roses. She had never told anyone about that. The cuttings had been a gift from her husband’s mother in Heaven. How she had nurtured them in the meager subterranean soil. They had been so beautiful. Never had she seen such roses. They had become a little piece of Heaven in the depths of Hell. She believed Sam’s story.

“I’m sorry,” said Sam, his voice faltering. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“You haven’t hurt me,” replied Serena, smiling through her tears. “I’m just so happy.”

“You were really there,” said Sam, his tone telling of his astonishment. “There have been so many stories, so many tales of near-death experiences. There have been books written about them, but I never really believed them. But your story was true. I know that now. God’s promises are not a matter of faith to you, either of you. You know it as a fact because you’ve actually been there and come back. You know there is life after death. You have knowledge, priceless knowledge, that virtually no one else on Earth possesses.”

“And I paid dearly for that knowledge,” said Serena. “For many months, months that seemed like years, I suffered the agonies of Hell. Within the Great Sea of Fire, I came to realize what it was like, what it felt like, to have my blood boiling within my own veins. I understand the meaning of pain like no other woman on Earth. It was a hard lesson. It has made me a sadder but wiser person. I rejoice only in God’s gift of salvation to the world because I know exactly what He saved us from. I am grateful that He gave me another chance.”

Sam nodded. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I have no idea what that must have been like.”

“You’ve had a real, God-given vision,” noted Chris. “There’s no other explanation.”

“I guess so,” said Sam. “But there are things that you haven’t told me, things that I need to know. What’s going on? We’re in trouble, deep trouble, I know that.”

“We are,” said Serena. “We’ve told only a few people about it so far. I think it’s time you found out. If the Father allowed Abaddon to speak to you about it, then it seems only right that you know what we know.”

And so began another story, one more than the equal of the one Sam had told Chris and Serena. It was a story that ranged from letters delivered to them from Heaven and Hell, to wars in Heaven, to Satan’s arrival on Earth.

“It’s worse than I thought,” admitted Sam. “For much of human history, many generations have figured that they were living in the last days. The thing is, this is it; we’re in the last days now.”

“I’m afraid so,” confirmed Serena.

“What is going to happen next?” asked Sam.

“I don’t really know,” admitted Serena. “I guess its Satan’s move.”

“Heck of a thing,” said Sam, shaking his head. “I feel so helpless. Please tell me that you’ve got some sort of plan.”

“We do,” assured Chris. “Right now we’re following a trail of bread crumbs. We’re trying to figure out what form Satan has taken, what his plans are. We have some leads, some suspects, if you will. Thing is, there are so many crazy things going on right now. Maybe he’s behind some of them; maybe he’s behind almost all of them. But he’ll tip his hand. He can’t hide forever.”

“He’s not hiding,” said Serena. “It isn’t in his nature. We’ll find him.”

“And do what?” asked Sam.

“Follow God’s Holy Spirit wherever He may lead,” replied Chris. “When the time comes, we’ll know what to do.”

“I don’t know what to say,” admitted Sam as they prepared to depart. “The
world is the same as it was yesterday, but it sure doesn’t feel that way.”

“Knowledge has a tendency to do that to you,” assured Chris. “It sure did it to me.”

“But it does bring freedom,” observed Serena. “Now you know what we know. Do you wish you didn’t?”

“No, I guess not,” admitted Sam. “Maybe I can help. I’ll sure try. I feel humbled, really humbled, that God saw fit to bring me into the light. Now that I know the score, I can’t hide my head in the sand. I’m with you for the duration.”

C
HAPTER
7

“Leland!” said Claire, placing her arms around her favorite grandson, “Oh, don’t just stand there on the porch, come on in.”

Leland stepped into his grandmother’s old Brooklyn townhouse. It was over a hundred years old, but it was truly in beautiful condition, with a fresh coat of white paint and flowers blooming in the window boxes and along the sidewalk. It was the sort of place that might have been featured in
Better Homes and Gardens
, and it boasted both.

Leland had seen to it that her home got painted by professionals last year. Had he not, his grandmother would surely have been out there on a ladder herself painting the second-story eaves. Even as it was, she was on the front line helping them with her roller and paintbrush, seeing to it that the job got done right.

Like the house, his grandmother was something to behold. She was the picture of health; appearing and acting much younger than her 83 years, she was constantly on the move. She was a slight woman with brown eyes and gray hair. Right now she was involved in a baking project, and her house was full of the wonderful aroma of a freshly baked cake.

“Yes, I baked a cake for you,” she confirmed. “It’s angel food, your favorite.”

Leland chuckled, pointing to his belly. “Do I look like I need cake, Grandma?”

Claire took but a glance at her grandson’s 42-inch waistline. “It wouldn’t hurt.”

Leland laughed openly. How he loved his Grandma Claire. Through the bad times, the dark times, she had never abandoned him. She had said that he would return to the Lord one day. She’d said it for years, and she had been right.

“Oh, why didn’t you bring Krissie with you?” asked Claire. “How I love seeing the two of you together.”

“She’s busy getting ready for the wedding next Saturday,” replied Leland. “You’re still coming, right?”

Claire smiled. “Oh Leland, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Now, I don’t want you to drive the Ford into Manhattan, driving in the traffic and looking for parking,” cautioned Leland. “I’ll send a limo over for you. The chauffer will see to everything, so let him do all the work, OK Grandma.”

“So, you’re sending the chauffer to gather up madam,” said Claire, trying to sound as aristocratic as possible. “Thank you, kind sir.”

“You deserve to be treated like a queen,” said Leland. “Your crown in Heaven must be full of jewels by now. You’ve put up with me.”

“You’re easy to put up with,” said Claire. She hesitated for a moment. “I suppose that Lusan guy will be performing the service.”

“That’s right,” confirmed Leland. “The service will be held in our New World Faith Center in Manhattan. It’s amazing what we’ve managed to do to that old church; you’ll be surprised.”

“I’m sure I will,” replied Claire. “Look, dear, don’t get me wrong. I’m glad you’ve found your faith. It’s just that, well, I don’t know about this Lusan fellow.”

“What do you mean, Grandma?” asked Leland. “He’s done some pretty incredible things. Last weekend at the service he healed at least seven or eight people. And when he heals them, they stay healed. This is no hocus pocus, Grandma, no smoke and mirrors; it’s the real thing. Believe me, I know.”

Claire shook her head. “Oh, Leland, dear, I’m not saying that he doesn’t have a gift; he does. I’m just a bit leery about his message, that’s all. He doesn’t give the glory to God the way he should. He doesn’t hardly say a word
about our Savior, Jesus Christ. He goes on and on about unity and bringing all of the faiths of the world together. Well, I’m just not buying it. There is only one name in Heaven or Earth by which a man can be saved. But you’d never realize it listening to this Lusan. Look, if you mix a little truth in with a pack of lies, they’re still lies. Leland, I have a bad feeling about him. Something isn’t right.”