Deceived (19 page)

The phone rang and Colin handed it to her. “It's Jim.”

Jim Dekker had escaped from the Global Community satellite operations center just before authorities came to apply the mark of Carpathia. “Before I left, I got an update on Pete in Iowa.”

Vicki held her breath.

“He's still alive, and they're saying on the news that he's talking about Judah-ite groups around the country, that some young people have a hideout in Missouri. They're even saying he's talking about the location of Tsion Ben-Judah.”

“Pete doesn't know where Tsion is. Nobody does.”

“I know that, but reporters are saying Pete's spilling his guts about everything.”

“Which means he's not giving them anything,” Vicki said.

“You know they'll make him take the mark or choose the blade.”

“Yeah. I know. Where are you?”

“Headed back to the house for a few things. As soon as they figure I've flown the coop, they'll come looking, and I don't want them to find my stash of uniforms and stuff. Should be a nice night for a bonfire. Too bad I can't stay around to roast marshmallows.”

“Any luck with Mrs. Fogarty?”

“Almost forgot. I have the address and phone number right here.”

Vicki repeated the address and phone number to make sure she had it right and told Jim to be careful. When she hung up, Colin turned and pointed to a map. “The address you mentioned is right across the state line, here. We're probably about fifteen to twenty minutes from there.”

Vicki studied the map. “Should I call her?”

While Mr. Stein found a place for Judd to sleep, Lionel went with Sam. The boy seemed excited to have someone his age to talk with. “I want to show you what has angered so many.”

Sam led Lionel to the familiar holy sites of the Old City. They passed the Wailing Wall where several Global Community guards stood watch. No one was allowed to worship or pray to anyone or anything other than Carpathia without permission.

When they neared the Temple Mount, Lionel heard construction and wondered who was still working at that time of night. They went around a corner and saw a huge staging area where the mark application would begin. It looked to Lionel like the staging area could hold several thousand. People would no doubt be herded toward the front, kept busy watching huge video screens.

“What are they going to play on that, a karaoke of ‘Hail Carpathia'?” Lionel said.

Sam frowned. “Worse. Earlier I saw them playing clips of Fortunato and Carpathia speeches. They show a segment with Fortunato calling fire down from heaven.”

“I'll bet they have old Nicolae rising from the dead too.”

“Of course,” Sam said.

A few people had camped out by the crowd-control barriers to be first in line. When the monitors flickered and Carpathia came forth from his Plexiglas coffin on the huge screen, several cheered.

“So not all in Jerusalem are against Nicolae,” Lionel said.

“Sadly, no. Mr. Stein says he believes some will be caught up in Carpathia's theatrics in the next few days and will be fooled or scared into taking his mark.”

Lionel watched as a truck backed up to the area and unloaded a heavy box. Workers uncrated wooden parts and a sharp, metal object. Lionel realized it was a guillotine. “I've only seen pictures of them.”

“Ugly, aren't they?”

Lionel shook his head. “What I can't believe is that people would willingly follow a man who would cut people's heads off simply because they believe in the true God.”

Sam pawed at the dust with his foot. “I have a feeling this ground will be stained with the blood of some very brave people in the days to come.”

A man walked toward them and Sam's face lit up. “Daniel!”

Daniel Yossef smiled and shook hands with Lionel as Sam introduced them. “I showed The Cube to Daniel three days ago and he still hasn't made up his mind.”

Daniel smiled and nudged Lionel. “These young people come up with new ideas. I have to at least hear him out.”

“What is holding you back from believing the truth?” Sam said.

Daniel waved a hand. “Let us not talk of things that divide us on this important night. Tomorrow your so-called evil ruler will visit. I have never seen him in person. If what you say about him is true, I will believe.”

“Do not put off your decision,” Sam said. “Carpathia deceives. It is his nature to—”

“You told me yourself that you cannot make this decision for me. Do you see a mark on my forehead or my hand? Let me investigate what you have said, see the man in action, and decide.”

Sam shook his head. “I do not know what else you need to see. He has come against the people of God.”

“He signed a treaty of peace, but you Judah-ites won't stop accusing him.” Daniel smiled and patted Sam on the back. “Let me do this my way. If you're right, I'll be the first to admit it.”

“All right,” Sam said. “I will be praying for you.”

As Sam and Lionel walked back to Yitzhak's house, Sam talked about Daniel and how they had met only three days earlier. “Perhaps it's that he looks so much like my father, but I have a deep concern for the man.”

“Has Mr. Stein talked to him?” Lionel said.

“No. I hope to get them together soon.”

“How are you coping with your father's death?”

Sam sighed. “Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had tried to explain my faith in some other way. I picture my father and I telling others the truth about God, speaking to anyone who will listen. But that is only a dream.”

Sam put a hand on Lionel's shoulder. “Reality is that I now have a heavenly Father and brothers and sisters in the faith who care about me.”

Vicki's hands shook as she dialed Josey Fogarty's home phone. She wondered what would happen if Tom answered. Were they making a mistake to bring Josey into their problem?

After four rings, the answering machine picked up. Tom's gruff voice said, “You've reached the Fogartys. As you can tell, we're not able to answer your call. Leave a message. He is risen.”

The last phrase startled Vicki for a moment and she realized her stuttering was being recorded. “Uh, Josey? I don't know if you'll remember me or not, but I really need to talk. I'll try back in about—”

The phone picked up and a woman said, “Hello? Who is this?”

“Is this Josey?” Vicki managed.

Vicki could tell the woman had been crying. “Yes, it's me. Go ahead and come for me. I don't care anymore.”

“I don't understand—,” Vicki said.

“Yes, you do. Well, I don't care what you do to me!”

“Josey, it's Vicki Byrne.”

The woman sniffed and caught her breath. “Vicki? I don't believe it.”

“I'm only a few minutes from your house. Do you mind if I come see you?”

The woman sobbed. Finally she said, “Yes, I would love to see you again.”

18

IT WAS
after midnight when Lionel found a place to sleep. He was grateful that God had led them to Yitzhak's house and that they had reconnected with their friends. Before Sam left, Lionel asked about General Zimmerman, the man who had opened his home up to so many believers.

Sam looked at the floor and whispered, “We were speaking openly in the streets with some of the undecided when a band of Global Community officers approached and asked the General to follow them. He looked at us, not knowing what to do. Finally, when he saw things might get violent if he refused, he went with them.

“Mr. Stein and I came here to begin a time of intense prayer. The next night, one of the General's servants who had become a believer rushed to tell us that the GC had surrounded his home. We believe everyone got out before they set it on fire.”

Lionel shook his head. “Have you heard anything from him since?”

Sam nodded. “We continued to pray that God would protect him and have him released. However, when the GC began marking their prisoners, the newspaper carried the story of General Zimmerman's choice of the blade.”

Lionel bit his lip. “You know, we were responsible for putting him in that situation.”

Sam smiled. “You and the others helped him see the truth, and today, though it pains us to lose him in such a terrible way, he is with God.”

Lionel went to bed with thoughts of Carpathia and what would happen the next day. Would he and Judd be treated the same way as General Zimmerman? As Lionel fell asleep, he was praying for Vicki and his friends back home.

As they drove closer to Josey's home, Vicki studied the countryside west of Rockford. Some areas still showed the effects of the great earthquake. Trees and grass had been scorched by the plague of fire, and residents had done their best to try and bring back some of the beauty of the city.

Mark continued his protest of the plan, though he admitted some curiosity about seeing Josey and finding out what had happened to her. He had talked with Judd many times about the sting operation against Cornelius Grey and LeRoy Banks, two bad guys the kids had helped catch. Mark's main concern was that they not be anywhere near Global Community officers who were sure to be on alert.

Vicki felt a tingle down her spine as they came closer. She had often thought of Josey and hoped to one day meet again.

“Turn left here,” Colin said.

Josey's street seemed similar to Judd's in Mount Prospect. The houses were nice, with big, fenced-in backyards, but the place seemed deserted.
All this space and no children
, Vicki thought.

Mark drove past the house and turned around, making sure everything looked okay. He parked on the street and the kids unbuckled.

“Let Vicki go first and talk with Mrs. Fogarty,” Colin said. Everyone agreed and Colin gave Vicki one of the handheld radios from their operation in Iowa. “If anything goes wrong, call us. We'll be waiting.”

Josey opened the door before Vicki could knock. Vicki recalled first meeting the woman and being blown away by her simple beauty. Though Josey didn't wear makeup, not even lipstick, her pale blue eyes, sandy blonde hair, trim figure, and huge, easy smile were striking. Now, only three years later, Josey appeared to have aged ten years. Her hair was tinged with gray, her face, cutely freckled before, was wrinkled. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. The woman was still trim, and Vicki couldn't help thinking she looked gaunt.

“Come in, Vicki,” Josey said in her familiar husky voice.

Vicki hugged her. “It's been a long time.”

“Too long. Are you with friends?”

Vicki nodded. “They thought it would be best for us to talk alone first.”

Josey showed her into the living room and brought her a hot cup of tea. She wiped away a tear and sat next to Vicki. Vicki wanted to tell her everything, but she sensed the woman needed to talk.

“I need to ask first about your husband,” Vicki said quietly.

“I understand. He's not a believer, if that's what you mean.”

Vicki scooted forward. “And he works for the Global Community?”