Shaken (22 page)

Vicki gasped when she saw the detail of Charlie's work. The painting had intricate details of the New Babylon skyline. The kids and Lenore clapped when they saw it. Little Tolan giggled and laughed as Charlie held him in his arms.

“Almost looks like you could walk right into it,” Darrion said.

Vicki winked at Conrad. “Let's get started.”

Since Mark had the deepest voice, Vicki had him read a brief introduction. Mark tried to sound like a GC announcer, but laughed when Conrad made a face. After a few tries he got through the introduction, and Conrad played it back.

“In cooperation with the Global Community Department of Education, we proudly present the new ambassador to the next generation, Connie Goodwill.”

Conrad found an instrumental fanfare and mixed it under Mark's voice. The kids were amazed. “This is where we fade up on Vicki—”

“You mean, Connie,” Shelly said.

“Right,” Conrad said. “We'll start with Connie sitting in front of Charlie's painting.”

Lenore slipped out and returned with something on a hanger. “Charlie's not the only one with talent. Z sent some material in his last supply shipment, and I tried to match that Damosa character's suit. Here's what I came up with.”

Lenore unveiled a new outfit for Vicki that looked almost exactly like Dr. Damosa's suit. On the shoulder was the insignia of the Global Community.

“Where did you get the insignia?” Vicki said.

Lenore smiled. “Just get dressed and record your message, Ambassador.”

Judd shook his head as he walked into the courtyard of Solomon Zimmerman's home. When he had seen the man the night before, the General looked like any other person off the street. Now, standing in the midst of what seemed like a tropical garden, Judd saw that he was a man of great wealth and stature.

A man in uniform led Judd and the others inside. They waited in a foyer until General Zimmerman met them and showed them into his massive library. While Mr. Stein talked about using the house for the next meeting, Judd studied the volumes that lined the man's bookshelves. There were biographies of great military leaders, works of fiction about warfare, volumes of reference material, and even different translations of the Bible.

The General said he would be delighted to have them meet in his home. Before they left, Mr. Stein asked how the General had heard of their meeting.

“One of my aides found a flyer on the street. I have seen much death and bloodshed in my career, but these last few years have been extraordinary. I was curious to hear your explanation last night, and in the process, I discovered the truth.”

“Weren't you in command when the nuclear attack against Israel began?” Yitzhak said.

General Zimmerman closed his eyes and nodded. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I suppose that's when I first began to think there might be a God.” The General looked at Judd. “I saw you looking at my books. Are you surprised I have copies of the Bible?”

Judd nodded. “If you didn't believe in God, why would you have them?”

“I studied the Bible because to me it was a book of warfare. In my military history classes I learned, and later taught, about the many battles described in what you call the Old Testament. There is great wisdom in the way Gideon divided his men, the way King David attacked the Philistines, and of course, God's soldier Joshua, and the way he took Jericho. In all the time I studied those battles, I never considered them of any spiritual importance. They were simply stories. Now that I know the truth, they are much more than stories.”

“What happened when the Russians attacked?” Lionel said. “We studied this in school, but I'd like to hear your version.”

General Zimmerman smiled. “I suppose we have my neighbor to blame.” He pointed out the window. “If Dr. Rosenzweig had not created the formula that literally changed the landscape of our country, perhaps we would not have been attacked.”

“The Russians wanted the formula?” Lionel said.

“Russia's economy had been devastated. All they had was military might. When Israel prospered, they were determined to occupy the Holy Land. We had an inkling something bad was coming, but we had no idea it would be an all-out attack.”

“Didn't it come in the middle of the night?” Judd said.

General Zimmerman nodded. “I was awakened and told missiles were heading toward our largest cities. Fighter-bombers with nuclear weapons flew overhead as I reached our defense headquarters. We had no time to ask for help. We were outnumbered one hundred to one. But we had to act.

“We launched surface-to-air missiles toward the enemy, and the first ones hit their targets. But the number of missiles attacking us was overwhelming. Our radar screens were filled with targets we could not possibly destroy.

“Then the explosions began. Planes slammed to earth. We knew the end was near. But we discovered the planes were falling from the sky without us shooting them down. The Russians' nuclear weapons exploded high above the earth. The sky was on fire and night turned to the brightest daylight. You cannot imagine the heat.”

General Zimmerman ran a hand through his hair. “I went outside the bunker. I figured we were all dead anyway. Then came the hail, which turned to freezing rain. After a few minutes, the fire in the sky went out and darkness settled in, along with deathly silence. The entire Russian air attack was consumed in fire that night.”

“What did you think happened?” Lionel said.

“Some believed it was a meteor shower, but how could such a thing happen and not harm one living soul on the ground? How could so many planes crash and burn without killing anyone except the pilots? I have asked that question many times, but I have not come up with a believable answer until now. Now I know that God protected Israel like he protected us last night.”

The General explained what had happened since the rise of the Global Community. Zimmerman said he had never fully trusted Nicolae Carpathia, and now that he knew the truth about God, he cringed at what would happen during the Gala.

“We have other plans while that celebration occurs,” Mr. Stein said.

“Tell me,” General Zimmerman said. “I want to help tell others the truth.”

It took Vicki a number of takes to get through her message. She felt nervous with others watching her and asked them to leave the room.

“Hundreds of thousands are going to see this,”

Conrad said.

“I know it's silly, but I'd feel better if it was just you and me in here.”

When she finished, Conrad began editing. “Shouldn't take me more than a couple days to have the final product.”

“How did you learn how to do this?”

“My brother had a pretty sophisticated computer with a lot of video and editing software. He used to let me play around on it.”

Conrad's voice trailed off. It had been a while since Vicki had asked about Taylor Graham. She said, “I bet you miss him.”

Conrad nodded. “When we're in the middle of a project like this, I stay focused. But at other times, like when we were driving cross-country, I think about him a lot. I wish I'd had more time to talk with him.”

Vicki put a hand on Conrad's shoulder. “Maybe what you're doing here will help a lot of kids know the truth.”

For the next few days the kids watched the news and the countdown to the return of the satellite schools. Conrad finished Vicki's recording and played it for the entire Young Trib Force. Charlie beamed when he saw his painting. Everyone was impressed with Vicki and for fun called her “the Ambassador.”

Finally the day arrived when Dr. Neal Damosa appeared before cheering crowds around the world. The kids watched closely and took notes on the latest teaching from the Global Community.

Mark tapped Vicki on the shoulder and asked her to come upstairs. His face was grim.

“The helicopter's not back, is it?” Vicki said.

Mark shook his head. “When we brought the stuff in from the truck we must have damaged the satellite. We can't get the signal to Carl.”

“What does that mean?”

“Unless we come up with another plan, no one will see your recording but us.”

21

OVER
the next few weeks, Judd and the others held meetings nightly at General Zimmerman's home. Some nights there were only ten or fifteen people, but as time went on and more heard about Mr. Stein's teaching, General Zimmerman's house began to look like a convention center. People hungry for the truth returned with neighbors and friends. Mr. Stein was elated.

Judd spent little time at Yitzhak's house and hoped Kasim would forget his assassination plan. But a conversation with Jamal changed that.

“Kasim came here late last night looking for you,” Jamal said.

“Did you tell him where we're meeting?”

“I mentioned the General's house, and his eyes lit up for some reason. I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up for a meeting there.”

That night Mr. Stein asked Judd to tell his story. As the meeting began, Kasim walked in. He smiled at Judd.

“You thought you could avoid me, Judd? Aren't you going to help me with the plan?”

“No,” Judd said. “I'm sorry. And I think you should—”

Kasim interrupted. “But you led me here, right? You're helping me without even knowing it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“General Zimmerman is known for his collection of military weapons. Where does he keep them?”

General Zimmerman had given Judd and the others a tour of his home and had shown them guns dating back to the American Civil War. There were swords and shields from the Roman Empire. And, as Kasim believed, the collection upstairs also contained some of the most recent weaponry.

“Come to the front and tell your story,” Mr. Stein said. People turned and looked at Judd.

“Don't do this,” Judd whispered to Kasim.

Judd was almost finished with his story when Kasim walked down the steps with something under his arm. He caught Judd's attention and held out a rifle. Seconds later Kasim was out the door and gone.

Vicki wished she could help Mark and Conrad with the satellite feed, but the maze of wires and electronic equipment overwhelmed her. The kids worked frantically to link up, but nothing worked. The next satellite school transmission was hours away, and the Gala was fast approaching.

“Can't we mail the recording to Carl?” Vicki said.

“The GC inspects all the packages,” Mark said. “We should have taken it to him.”

Conrad talked with Carl in Florida and tried different switches. “Let me put you on the speaker.”

“Isn't this dangerous for you, Carl?” Vicki said.

“I'm off duty in a truck parked next to our main studio,” Carl said. “I'm okay as long as they don't catch me.”

“What do we do now?” Conrad said.

“Try it again. If we can get this to work, I'll record here and then figure out how to put it on the main feed to the stadiums.”

Tolan crawled into the room and bumped against the door. He wailed. Conrad yelled, “Get that kid out of here!”