Deceived (32 page)

Vicki sat perfectly still, silently praying for her new friend. Manny told Hector about his interrogation by the Global Community and what they had promised if he testified.

Hector sipped coffee and listened. When Manny described his escape from the GC jail, Hector looked at Vicki. “Why would you risk going to jail for someone like him? Do you know what he would do to you if he had the chance?”

“Manny is our brother now,” Vicki said. “We couldn't leave him behind.”

Hector gently placed his mug on a wooden table. “What if your brother is a murderer?”

“He's told us about the things he's done. He's changed.”

Hector sat back and folded his arms. “And what brought about this
change?”

“Did you hear about the man who chose to take the blade instead of Carpathia's mark?” Manny said.

Hector nodded. “The fool. It's just a little tattoo, nothing to worry about.”

“Whatever you do, don't take that mark,” Manny said. “It will seal your destiny forever.”

The man holding the gun in the corner laughed and Hector joined in. “Did you get religion in that jailhouse?” Hector said. “Is that why you want me to trust you and help you with some Morale Monitor whose soul you're also trying to save?”

“What I heard in prison made me want to risk my life and come here to tell you the truth.”

Vicki glanced over her shoulder. The sun was an orange ball peeking over the horizon. Hector seemed intrigued. “So if I search you three, I won't find a recording device or a locator. The GC aren't going to be bursting in with guns blazing?”

Manny stood and pulled up his shirt. “Search all of us. I swear to you, we're not working with the GC.”

Hector rose and turned to the man with the gun. “Make sure they're clean and get them something to eat.”

“Don't you want to hear what I have to say?” Manny said.

“Get something to eat. I'll be back.”

Lionel watched eagerly as Westin took a small road through the Dung Gate and headed for the Mount of Olives. Two of their passengers were believers going to Petra, the rest to Masada. People streamed past, heading for the Mount, passing ancient trees and historical sites along the winding road. Westin drove around the Kidron Valley and pulled as far up on the Mount as he could.

Lionel and Sam got out to help two elderly believers climb the rest of the way to the shuttle area. The view took Lionel's breath away. From here, he could see a panorama of the Old City of Jerusalem, the walls, the new temple, and a line of thousands moving into place on the Mount.

Operation Eagle volunteers greeted people and gave them instructions. “Helicopters will move into position here within a few minutes,” one man said through a bullhorn. “Be patient with us as we try to go as quickly as we can.”

“How long do you think it will take to move this many people?” Sam said.

“Depends on how many choppers they have lined up,” Westin said. “Let's go.”

They hopped back in the Hummer, headed toward Masada, and picked up three more passengers who had mistakenly come to the Mount of Olives.

Westin's phone rang and he looked at the readout. “Brace yourself—it's him.” He turned the speaker on and answered.

Z-Van yelled a string of profanities at Westin. When the man took a breath, Westin interrupted. “I take it you're not happy with me.”

Z-Van groaned, clearly in pain. “Get back here right now! We're playing tomorrow for the potentate's celebration. I want you ready to leave when we're done.”

“I don't think you should plan anything with the potentate right now,” Westin said. “From the amount of people I see leaving Jerusalem, he's going to have his hands full the next few days.”

“When I want your opinion, I'll ask. I want you to make sure the plane's ready.”

“With all due respect, you sound awful,” Westin said. “How are you going to perform with sores all over your body?”

“How did you know I had sores?”

“Lucky guess.”

“It doesn't matter. The potentate assured me personally that the problem would be gone within a few hours.”

“How can he do that?” Sam whispered.

Lionel shrugged as Z-Van ordered Westin to return to the airport.

“No can do, sir. I'm driving some people to Masada. You can probably hire a pilot for a lot less than you pay me.”

Z-Van cursed again. “I've paid you to do a job. You're under contract! I can sue you for everything you're worth.”

“Which is not much, sir. I think it's time we go our separate ways.”

“I'll decide when that is,” Z-Van screamed. “Just finish whatever you're doing and get back here, understand?”

“I'll check back after my trip.”

Click
.

“You could have just told him you were a believer now,” Sam said.

Westin smiled. “Want to hear my wild dream?”

“What?” Lionel said.

“We wind up using Z-Van's plane for believers.”

As they drove south, Judd listened to Mr. Stein explain the truth about the disappearances to Rabbi Ben-Eliezar and his wife.

After a few minutes of conversation, the rabbi asked him to stop. “You're asking me to do the same thing my daughter wanted me to do.”

“If you put your hope and trust in Christ, you will see your daughter again.”

“We may not survive the night,” the rabbi said. “You expect me to believe that Carpathia will live up to another agreement?”

“Carpathia is a liar at heart,” Mr. Stein said. “You cannot trust anything he says. Besides, I already know he is going to break his agreement.”

Mrs. Ben-Eliezar turned. “How could you know that?”

“This is from careful reading of Revelation, chapter 12. Tsion Ben-Judah agrees. In that chapter we are told that Israel will be given two wings like those of a great eagle. Israel flies to a place prepared for her in the wilderness. She will be cared for and protected there.”

“But what makes you think Carpathia will attack?” the rabbi said.

“It says the dragon will try to drown Israel with a flood that comes from the dragon's mouth. Dr. Ben-Judah believes this flood refers to the Antichrist's army.”

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Ben-Eliezar said.

“But the Scripture goes on to say that the earth will help Israel by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushes from the dragon's mouth.”

“What could that mean?” the rabbi said.

“I don't know exactly, but as the Lord has shown himself faithful in the past, I believe it means he will somehow overcome this military operation.”

Judd checked his watch. If he was right, the plague of boils would end at about nine that evening. Would Carpathia test God again? He phoned Chang and thought he heard Nicolae's voice in the background.

“Hang on,” Chang said, putting down the phone. When he came back on the line, he said, “I've just heard a conversation between Sick Nic and his top people.”

“Sick Nic?”

“If I had time to play this back, you'd understand. It gave me major goose bumps. Where are you?”

“Headed toward Masada. Lionel and I got separated, so—”

“You may want to rethink that.”

“Why? What did Carpathia say?”

“It's not only what he said, but what he did. You were at the Temple Mount when the head of the Morale Monitors tried to kill Dr. Rosenzweig, right?”

“Yeah, Loren Hut.”

“Right. He's dead.”

Judd gasped. “What happened?”

“Hut talked back to Carpathia, was sarcastic, and Nicolae shot him.”

Judd shook his head. “Carpathia's out of control.”

“He sure is. And he says once the curse is lifted, his enemies will be bunched up in four places or in the air.”

“Mount of Olives, Masada, Mizpe Ramon, or Petra.”

“Exactly, and he's declared all of Israel a no-fly zone at 9:15.”

“There could still be planes and helicopters in flight.”

“And my guess is, the GC will try to shoot them down. They're also planning an attack on Masada at 9:30.”

“What?” Judd said.

“Carpathia wants to wipe out the Orthodox Jews and the Judah-ites wherever they are.”

“Then everybody needs to head to Petra,” Judd said.

Mr. Stein asked what was happening and Judd held up a hand.

“Carpathia says Petra is just as defenseless against their weapons as Masada,” Chang said. “Judd, if God doesn't do something miraculous, you guys could all die out there tonight.”

30

VICKI
ate some fruit and toast and tried to fight fatigue. She didn't know how long she had been up or how long she had been running on adrenaline. It had to catch up soon, but she reminded herself of their mission. Claudia Zander was out there, running from the GC, and needed help. At least, that's what she said.

Vicki drank coffee and winced. It perked her up a little but left a bad taste. Another gang member walked into the garage and came out a few minutes later and spoke to the man with the gun.

“What do we do about Claudia?” Vicki said.

“If they let us go,” Mark said, “I say we go get her.”

Vicki put the cell phone in her lap and redialed the Wisconsin hideout. Darrion answered and sounded like she had been asleep. Vicki spoke softly and told Darrion what had happened. “Have we gotten any more messages from Claudia?”

“I'll check,” Darrion said. The girl asked someone to wake up.
Probably Janie
, Vicki thought.

“Okay, it looks like a message came in from her a few minutes ago.”

“Read it.”

“ ‘Dear Young Trib Force, it looks like time is running out. I don't think I can wait much longer. Please tell me if you're coming or not. Claudia.' ”

The man with the gun stirred, walking closer.

“Write her back and tell her—”

“Hey, no phone calls!” the man yelled.

“—to stay where she is. We'll be at her place as soon as we can get there.”

“I said, no phone calls!” the man said, grabbing the phone and turning it off.

“She's not calling the GC,” Manny said.

“Shut up, traitor!”

Manny stood, eyes flashing. “I'm a traitor? I'd like to see how long you would last in a GC jail cell, Carlos. How long would you hold out until you squealed on your friends and turned them in?”

“I know one thing,” Carlos answered. “I wouldn't use religion as a crutch.”

Manny shook his head. He was about to say something when a door opened and a young woman walked in.

Carlos smiled. “Now let's see what a tough guy you are.”

The girl was dressed in a jogging suit and wore a scarf over her brown hair. Her brown eyes locked on Manny as she marched across the room. She stopped inches from his face and stared.

Before Manny could speak, the girl slapped him hard. The blow left a handprint on his face. He turned his head slightly, then looked into her eyes.

The girl clenched her teeth. “That was for getting caught!” She swung again. “And this is for leaving me alone!”

Manny caught her right hand in midair. She swung the other and he blocked it. They stood facing each other until the girl's shoulders shook. Manny let go of her arms, and the girl hugged him tightly and wept. “I thought you were dead.”

Mark whispered to Vicki, “Looks like he had more people to talk with than Hector.”

“Anita,” Manny said, “I told you to leave and go to—”

The girl put a hand over his mouth and shook her head. “I couldn't leave. I knew you'd find a way to get back.”

“I'm sorry you got involved in this. Have they taken care of you?”

The girl nodded. “Hector brought me here soon after you were arrested.” Manny grabbed her shoulders and Anita smiled. “They haven't hurt me.”

A wave of relief showed on Manny's face. He turned to Vicki and Mark. “I want you to meet my new friends.” He put his arm around the girl and kissed her cheek. “This is my sister, Anita.”