Shaken (35 page)

Pudgy giggled as Ginny opened the jar. “I made this last fall. One of my best batches.”

With a full mouth, Pudgy said, “I almost forgot how a home-cooked meal tasted. The GC gives us three squares, but it's nothing like this.”

“What's going to happen when you catch these kids?”

Pudgy took a long drink of milk and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “These are the worst kind. They follow that Ben-Judah guy. The one redheaded girl interrupted our satellite signal. We're mostly after her, but we'll lock all of them up.”

“How many do you think there are?”

“Our informant said at least four and probably more. We'll keep hunting till we find them.”

“Then what happens? Some kind of prison?”

“Reeducation camp is what we call it,” Pudgy said. “But their life's never going to be the same. You have more butter?”

Ginny got some as the tall man returned. Charlie came in first and sat down.

“Your boy here was telling me those tracks out in the barn are probably from your tractor.”

Bo shook his head. “I don't remember any tracks. But if there are, it's probably from the hay baler.”

The tall one turned to Ginny. “What time did you see the truck come by?”

Ginny looked at the floor. “It was just after supper, I think.”

The tall one handed her his card. “If you see or hear anything, please call me.”

Pudgy grabbed two biscuits and followed the man outside. “Thanks for the breakfast, ma'am.”

The tall one turned. “I don't see any other vehicle on your property. How do you folks get around?”

“My Suburban,” Bo said. “A couple neighbor boys borrowed it this morning.”

The two got in their Jeep and drove away. A few minutes later, Conrad and Mark returned. “I saw that GC Jeep in the driveway and we hid. What did they want?”

Vicki told them and Mark winced. “We should get out of here as soon as it's dark.”

Everyone agreed except Charlie. “If those GC people come back and I'm not here, they'll know something's up. I can't leave.”

Mark stepped forward. “Then you'll have to make a choice, Charlie. Go with us or stay here.”

Judd couldn't believe the traffic returning to Jerusalem. The drive took three times as long as their trip to Tel Aviv. The driver stopped for sandwiches, and Lionel and Judd ate hungrily.

The television in the car picked up the latest from the Global Community News Network. A reporter stood next to a scaffold where the gigantic outdoor platform was almost complete.

“This site will be the main stage for the opening ceremony tomorrow night here in Jerusalem,” the reporter said. “Tomorrow, metal detectors will be set up as Global Community Security Forces keep a tight check on the massive crowd. Already, it's estimated that nearly two million people will attend the opening session, and hundreds of millions will watch by television and listen by radio.

“As you can see, the workers are putting the finishing touches to the stage and the sound system that will boom the music and speeches to the crowd.”

The camera zoomed in on the stage with its vast green canopy. Messages in different languages were printed across the back. Judd couldn't make out the words, but he recognized the huge sparkling logo of the Global Community.

Lionel turned the sound down and leaned forward. “You want me to go with you to Kasim's place? That's what you're thinking about, right?”

Judd nodded. “I'd appreciate it.”

Judd used the car phone to check in with Mr. Stein and make sure he didn't need Judd or Lionel. Mr. Stein was happy they had gotten to see Mac McCullum, and Judd told him about the plane. Judd called Yitzhak's home and asked to speak with Jamal, Kasim's father.

“I have heard nothing from my son,” Jamal said. “Do you know where he is?”

“We're going to find him now,” Judd said. “He took a weapon from the General's house and I have to return it.”

“We will pray,” Jamal said.

Judd and Lionel thanked the driver as he let them out near the Wailing Wall. Kasim's apartment was less than a half mile away.

People milled about, trying to get a look at Eli and Moishe, the two prophets of God many blamed for the suffering of the past few years. The crowd didn't want to get too close. They had heard and seen the reports of people burned to death by those who threatened the two.

The GC had placed massive television lights over Eli and Moishe. Satellite dishes, cables, and cameras filled the space in front of the two witnesses.

“I wonder if they have this much giz at the stage we saw on TV,” Lionel said.

Judd was thrilled to see Eli and Moishe again. He wanted to stay and hear them preach, but he knew he had to find Kasim.

Judd and Lionel had walked this same route in the past, but they were surprised at all the new businesses. They passed bars, massage parlors, fortune tellers, and even pagan sanctuaries.

“Can you believe this?” Lionel said. “Chicago had these kinds of places, but you had to go out of your way to find them. This junk is out in the open for everybody to see.”

Lionel was right. These weren't run-down stores in the bad part of town. Gleaming storefronts advertised everything sinful. One busy shop run by a group of witches offered to cast spells. If you purchased one, the second was free. Many shoppers bought charms guaranteed to hurt the two witnesses. A block away, a bar played music so loud Judd couldn't believe people could go inside without losing their hearing. The lyrics of the songs were so evil, Judd took a side street to escape the noise.

Judd and Lionel quickened their pace and finally made their way to the festival site, where in less than twenty-four hours, Nicolae Carpathia would speak. Judd found Kasim's building and waited until someone went inside. He darted behind the man and caught the door before it closed. “I don't want to scare Kasim off by ringing the buzzer.”

Lionel followed Judd up the stairs. They reached Kasim's apartment and caught their breath. As Judd started to knock, someone screamed inside.

“So that's the way you want it?” a man shouted. “You want us to kill you?”

Vicki sat at the kitchen table with Charlie. The others crowded around. Conrad put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Finally Vicki said, “What's going on?”

Charlie took off a hat Bo had given him and sighed. “I've always wanted to live on a farm and do outdoor stuff. And these people are so nice. They've treated me like I was their son.”

Bo stepped forward. “We'd be awfully proud to have you stay. I could use the help.”

Charlie smiled. “Plus, if those GC guys ever come back, they're going to wonder what happened to me. They'll ask questions. And … and I could help teach Mr. Bo more about the Bible and get on your Web site and show them around.”

Vicki nodded and put a hand on Charlie's arm. “If you decide to stay, I don't know if we'll be able to come back for you.”

Charlie took her hand. “I don't want to leave you guys. You've been so good to me. You put up with all my questions.” Charlie shrugged. “For some reason I think God wants me to stay here.” He turned to Ginny. “I can sleep on the couch or even out in the barn—”

Ginny waved a hand. “We're going to fix up Amelia's room for you.”

“No, you can't—”

“It's time I let go of that little girl. I'm going to see her in heaven someday. I know that for sure. There's plenty of room for you in there.”

Vicki wiped away a tear. Charlie sat forward and said, “Oh, I didn't think about you, Vicki. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.”

“You didn't,” Vicki said. “I'm happy you've found a place to stay before the Glorious Appearing. But I'm going to miss you.”

Charlie stood and put an arm around Vicki. “If you ever need me, you know where I'll be.”

Judd wanted to break down the door and help Kasim, but footsteps from inside approached, and he signaled Lionel to move away. The two found a closet down the hall and ducked inside.

Judd left the door open a little and saw two burly men walk out of Kasim's apartment, past them, and down the stairs. When they were sure the men were gone, Judd and Lionel crept toward Kasim's apartment.

The door was open slightly and Judd walked inside. The apartment was dark except for light coming from the street. In the distance Judd saw the huge stage where the opening ceremony was to be held. He picked up a pair of binoculars on the windowsill and read the writing printed on the backdrop. The largest read One World, One Truth: Individual Freedom for All. Judd scanned the plaza. Everywhere the Global Community could find a space they plastered the slogan Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Utopia.

“Judd, in here,” Lionel whispered.

Judd hurried into the tiny bedroom and found Lionel kneeling beside Kasim's body. Judd flicked on a light. Kasim's mouth was bloody and his face bruised. Lionel felt Kasim's neck for a pulse.

“Is he dead?” Judd said.

32

JUDD
was relieved to discover Kasim wasn't dead. He helped Lionel carry the boy to the bed. Lionel got a cool rag and wiped blood from Kasim's face.

“Who do you think those guys were?” Lionel said.

Judd shrugged. “I don't know, but at least we know Kasim wasn't in Tel Aviv today.”

Kasim awoke a few minutes later and cried out. Lionel left and returned with two cans of soda. “There was no ice, so I figured this would help.”

Kasim took a can, wrapped it in the wet rag, and held it to his head. “I didn't think they'd ever find me here.”

“Who were those guys?” Judd said.

Kasim sat up. “I bought a gun and some other things from the black market. They—”

“What's the black market?” Lionel said.

“It's like an illegal store,” Judd said. “You tell somebody what you want and how much you want to pay, and they get it for you.”

“And these guys don't like to wait for their money,” Kasim said.

“Why didn't you give back the gun?” Judd said.

Kasim held the can tight to his forehead. “Please, I don't want to talk about it.”

Judd looked around the apartment for General Zimmerman's rifle. He walked close to the bed and said firmly, “Give me the gun.”

“Your friend will get his precious weapon back tomorrow night.”

“Not good enough,” Judd said. “I want it now.”

Kasim moaned. “You said you'd keep this between you and me. Why did you bring Lionel into it?”

“I talked with one of Carpathia's people today and—”

“You what?!”

“He's one of us. He said the GC will execute you if they discover your plan.”

“They're not going to—”

“If you don't give me the rifle, I'm telling them myself.”

Kasim stared at Judd. “You'd do that to a fellow believer? Someone who wants to rid the world of that evil man?”

“You're not thinking clearly,” Judd said. “And if you did get away with it, they'd trace the weapon to General Zimmerman and he'd be in trouble.”