Shaken (11 page)

“Back up,” Sam said. “How do you know this is supposed to happen?”

Mr. Stein grabbed a Bible and flipped to the book of Revelation. “In chapter 13 it talks about the beast that is Antichrist.” He found the passage and read it aloud.

“‘I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! All the world marveled at this miracle and followed the beast in awe.'”

“So, how's he supposed to be killed?” Sam said. “Does it say?”

“In the following verses it talks about another person who is able to deceive the world. This person requires everyone to worship the one who was wounded. A later verse refers to ‘the beast who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.' I take that to mean that Antichrist is to be wounded in the head by a sword. The language there could be figurative, but I believe Tsion Ben-Judah thinks the same, and he hasn't been wrong yet.”

“There's one thing for sure,” Lionel said. “Whoever does the killing will probably be put to death on the spot.”

“And Carpathia will come out looking more of a hero than ever,” Sam said.

Judd swallowed hard. Jamal and Kasim were in big trouble. If they went through with their plan, the GC could come after the entire group.

“Why does God even allow somebody like Carpathia to live?” Sam said. “It doesn't make sense.”

“God's plan has been in place since the beginning of time,” Mr. Stein said. “Satan and his evil angels and all who follow them are merely part of God's divine design. Satan is God's devil, and he only gets away with what God allows him to.”

“But if God knew all this bad stuff was going to happen …” Sam paused and looked at Mr. Stein. His lip quivered. “God knew my dad wouldn't respond to the message, but he made him anyway. I don't understand.”

Mr. Stein put a hand on Sam's shoulder. “And neither do I. How can we understand someone whose wisdom and knowledge are so far above our own? But I do know this. If your father had never existed, neither would you. And you would not have had the opportunity to follow Christ.”

Sam nodded. “I'm thankful I came to know God. I guess there are some things I'll never understand.”

“Know this,” Mr. Stein said. “Satan and his followers will be punished for their evil deeds. But the next few months and years will be very dark for those who believe in the one true God.”

Judd looked up as someone walked into the room. It was Kasim.

“So who do you think will actually kill Nicolae?” Lionel said.

Kasim glanced at Judd.

“I would think the person who kills Nicolae will be filled with anger,” Mr. Stein said. “He will no doubt be desperate, willing to sacrifice his life for something he feels is right.”

“Will the person be insane?” Lionel said.

“Perhaps,” Mr. Stein said. “But he may believe it to be the most sane thing he's ever done in his life. He will be desperate but cunning. To get close enough to the potentate to inflict this kind of wound will be an impressive accomplishment.”

When they had finished talking among themselves, Kasim came to Judd. “We need to talk.”

“Later.”

“Tonight.”

Over the next few days, Vicki taught Melinda as much as she could about the Bible, prophecy, and what they would experience in the Great Tribulation. Melinda soaked up the information. She asked good questions and took notes in a small, red notebook she kept with her at all times.

After their studies one afternoon, Vicki took Lenore's baby, Tolan, so Lenore could take a break. Vicki had always loved kids and figured that one day she would get married and have some of her own. She enjoyed babysitting, except for the wild kids in the trailer park where she used to live.

As she played with Tolan in front of the schoolhouse, she thought about the kids she used to run with and where they were. Most of them had probably died in one of the plagues.

Shelly brought Tolan's food and sat beside her. Vicki told her what she was thinking, and Shelly nodded.

“Sometimes I play the what-if? game. You know, what if the Rapture hadn't happened? What if the Young Trib Force had never gotten together? What if I hadn't become a believer?”

“What are the answers?”

“For all the bad stuff that's happened to the world, I wouldn't change anything because now I know the truth.”

Vicki nodded. “I was just thinking about who I might have married if things had stayed like they were.”

“Did you have a steady boyfriend?”

“There were a bunch of guys I used to party with. I'm not proud of it, but it's the truth. If I'd stayed mixed up with them, I'd be an alcoholic or in jail or both.”

“What about now? Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?”

“I don't know,” Vicki said. She took Tolan by both hands and pulled him to a sitting position. “This is probably the most eligible bachelor among us.”

“And the cutest,” Shelly laughed.

Conrad drove the sports car up the long driveway. Vicki elbowed Shelly. “Did something happen between you and Conrad during the trip?”

“We did have a lot of time to talk.” Shelly smiled. “Conrad's a nice guy. He sure cares a lot about you and the others.”

Conrad sat down and asked to hold Tolan. Vicki handed the boy to him, and Conrad lay back and put him on his chest. Tolan giggled and tried to grab Conrad's nose.

“He's good with kids too,” Vicki whispered.

Shelly rolled her eyes.

“What did you find out about the satellite school?” Vicki said.

Conrad handed Vicki a pamphlet. “Plenty. First session is a week from today. Kids are actually lining up to register.”

Vicki studied the pamphlet. On the front was the insignia of the Global Community. Nicolae Carpathia's face was at the top. Pictures of teenagers from around the world were shown underneath.

ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF GLOBAL
COMMUNITY SATELLITE SCHOOL #1134.

The date of the opening sessions was given as well as registration times.

ALL STUDENTS TWENTY YEARS OF AGE
AND YOUNGER MUST SIGN UP. COME PREPARED
WITH AT LEAST TWO PIECES OF IDENTIFICATION.

“Are they fingerprinting?” Shelly said.

Conrad shook his head. “I don't think so. But they were unloading some big machines as I left. One of the workers said a new ID system is in the works.”

Vicki felt a chill. “You know what that means. Pretty soon Carpathia will unveil his plans for making everyone take his identification.”

“The mark of the beast?” Shelly said.

Vicki nodded and flipped the pamphlet open.

The world we see today is very different from the one we knew a few years ago. People of all ages are looking for answers. For young people, this is a stressful time. You've lost family and friends. You want to know what will happen in the future
.

That's why Potentate Nicolae Carpathia and the leaders in education around the world have teamed to bring you Global Community Satellite Schools. You don't need math and science right now. You don't need tests in English composition. You need to know how to survive
.

Potentate Carpathia wants every young person to fulfill his or her destiny. He says, “If you want to make a difference for the good of humankind, attend the opening session of the new satellite school in your area. You are the future of the Global Community. We need you.”

The pamphlet gave more specific information about times and locations. “What about the plague of the horsemen?” Vicki said.

“The building they're using used to be some kind of civic center. They're claiming that it's airtight and smoke-proof.”

“How can they claim that when the smoke even gets into airplanes?” Shelly said.

“They seem pretty confident,” Conrad said.

The kids met later to finalize plans on who would attend. Vicki and Darrion already had fake IDs that Zeke Jr. had made for them. They all felt it too risky for Conrad to go, since he had been a Morale Monitor.

“I've decided I'm going,” Melinda said.

“What?” Vicki said. “No way”.

“I've been praying about it, and I think God wants me to get in the game again.

“You're in the game,” Mark said, “but you have to be smart about how you play. The GC wanted you and Felicia dead.

“I know that. But it's been so long, they've probably forgotten about me. If not, I can get a phony ID just like you guys.

Mark shook his head. “I think you'd be more valuable to us here than in some GC prison.

“I appreciate your concern, but—”

“Let's let the group decide,” Vicki said.

Everyone voted that Melinda should stay away from the satellite school.

Melinda sighed. “If that's what everybody thinks …”

“What's the plan once we're inside?” Darrion said.

“Spread out and see if we can find other believers. Our main job is to figure out the GC's agenda. If we get a chance to share God with somebody, we'll do it. But we have to be careful.”

Janie walked in holding one of the GC pamphlets.

“Did you guys see this? I want to go.”

Vicki looked at the others. “I wouldn't recommend it.”

Janie slammed the paper down on a table. “You guys think you know everything. You think Nicolae's the problem. Well, I think he's the answer. And if you're too stubborn—”

Vicki put up a hand. “Janie, you broke out of jail. You're a fugitive. That's why I don't think you should go. The GC will nab you. You don't want that.”

Janie looked stunned. “Right. Well, I was going to put on a disguise. I'll do anything to get out of this place.”

When Janie left, Mark said, “Maybe Janie going would be the best thing. The GC would catch her, and she becomes their problem.”

“I've been praying for that girl ever since I became a believer,” Lenore said. “I'd hate to see anything happen to her.”

“How long do you keep praying for somebody?” Vicki said.

The room fell silent. Vicki wondered if there was any chance that Janie would ever believe.

11

JUDD
was able to avoid Kasim that evening and the next morning, but Kasim cornered him the next night. Judd agreed to talk with him alone in a secluded room downstairs. Kasim's face had healed from the abuse he had taken at the GC jail, but he seemed in pain.

Before Kasim spoke Judd said, “I've been meaning to talk with you about Nada.”

“This is not about her—”

“Please. It would help me.”

Kasim crossed his legs and sat back. “What do you want to know?”

“We didn't have much contact in the final few weeks.

Did she talk about me?”

“We couldn't get her to shut up about you. It was Judd this and Judd that.” Kasim looked away. “I hurt her feelings.”

“How?”

“She told us some story about the two of you meeting in a garden in New Babylon.”

“I remember that.”

“She went on and on about her feelings for you. I'd finally had it and said something like, ‘Why don't you get married?'”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. I tried to apologize, but she wouldn't talk. My mother said not to bother her. We weren't together again until the GC cornered us.”

“What happened?”

“Nada heard something suspicious, and my father went to check it out. We heard the commotion and ran for the fire escape.

“We were on the ground when they burst into the apartment. The squad cars found us with their lights. At the end of the street was a chain-link fence. Nada climbed it, but my pant leg caught at the top.” Kasim shook his fists and closed his eyes. “It was such a stupid thing.”

“It wasn't your fault.”

“She came back to help. I yelled at her to go, but she was determined.”

Judd looked at the floor.
That was Nada.

“If she hadn't come back for me, she probably would have gotten away. And if she had gotten away …”