Hunted (27 page)

Because of the way the safe house was situated, not many people came and went for fear of GC raids. And with what had happened in Indiana, the last thing Judd and Lionel wanted to do was be responsible for tipping the GC off.

Vicki had protested the decision, saying they could drive from Wisconsin and pick up Lionel and Judd, but even she had finally admitted that wasn't practical. Driving near any populated area, no matter what time of day, was dangerous for anyone without Carpathia's mark. Lionel felt bad they were still separated, and as the days wore on and his health improved, he longed to go north, not just to see Vicki, Mark, and the others, but also to find Zeke and see if the man could fit him with some kind of device for his missing arm.

Lionel not only regained his strength but also learned to function with only one hand. Eating wasn't a problem since Lionel could use one hand with most of the food. The doctor and everyone else in the new safe house had been amazed at what Lionel had done.

Their routine was much the same as other safe houses they had visited. During the day, people tried to sleep and stay quiet. At night, people used outdated computer connections to plan their next supply shipments with the Tribulation Force Co-op.

“When do you think we'll head north?” Lionel asked Judd a few weeks after they had arrived.

“I want you at 100 percent,” Judd said. “It won't surprise me if this last leg of the trip is the hardest.”

Vicki and the others in Wisconsin had rejoiced when they heard Lionel and Judd were safe, but Vicki despaired when she heard it would take a few weeks before Lionel could travel.

Cheryl had recovered from the birth of baby Ryan more quickly than Wanda expected. The woman had stayed an extra few days, helping Cheryl get used to feeding the baby and training the Fogartys on raising a child without doctor's visits.

Charlie had come up with the most surprising find of their stay. Months earlier, Marshall Jameson had discovered a GC warehouse on a routine Web search. From what Marshall could tell, the metal buildings held weapons and ammunition for GC forces in the Midwest. In a daring, nighttime raid, Charlie had accompanied Mark, Conrad, and the newest member of the team, Ty Spivey, to the facility, in spite of protests from Shelly, Tanya, and Vicki.

Instead of guns and bullet clips, they found medicine and food. Mark had deactivated the main alarm so the three strolled through the compound, taking much-needed pain relievers, cough medicine, and bandages.

Charlie had broken away from the other two and had found a tiny section of the building with baby formula, disposable diapers, and even shampoo. They brought all the supplies they could carry and made it back to the hideout before sunup.

Later, Tom Fogarty found information that the supplies had been confiscated by the GC and were supposed to be destroyed.
The GC wants everyone depending on them for everything
, Fogarty wrote the Trib Force.
Maybe some GC general or higher-up decided to put that stuff away in case it was ever needed. Maybe the guy was killed. I don't know, but I do know where the stuff in those buildings can get the best use
.

A week later a convoy of fearless Co-op drivers showed up with five semitrailers. One of the semis became buried in a sandy area near the buildings. Another reached a Trib Force storage center in Iowa and provided food and medicine for hundreds of families. But the three other trucks had been chased and apprehended by the GC. The drivers were beaten and questioned before being executed.

“No more of these missions until we know it's safe,” Marshall Jameson said.

Vicki was even more depressed after the drivers' deaths. She had hoped to convince the others that Judd and Lionel needed to be in Wisconsin instead of Ohio. But with each day, a new report of GC activity seemed to block their return.

Vicki took comfort in the new life of Ryan Victor. The Fogartys were overjoyed with caring for the baby. The diapers Charlie had found were huge on the child, but Shelly rigged up a way to make them work. Everyone took turns holding him and helping Cheryl with anything she needed. It was almost like the boy had an unlimited set of brothers and sisters.

Vicki tried to stay current on the events around the world and especially news from Petra. Tsion Ben-Judah's letters continued to encourage people to stay strong as they passed the four-year mark of the Tribulation.

Sam Goldberg wrote more Petra Diaries, which made Vicki feel like she was in the ancient city. Sam's descriptions of Tsion Ben-Judah's messages, along with the testimonies of Micah and others, made her want to travel there. Sam described the battle going on for the soul of his new friend, and the kids prayed the boy would decide for God soon.

Sam Goldberg had tried everything to reach his new friend, Lev Taubman. Lev had moved with his family from Chicago to Jerusalem just before the disappearances, and they had spent the months before the escape to Petra hiding from the Global Community in secret passageways underneath the Holy City. Lev's father, mother, and older sister shared a small hut in Petra, and Sam had spent a lot of time talking with them.

They watched reports of miracles performed by devoted Carpathia followers, and Lev seemed moved by the dead raised to life and the people healed.

“You know what Dr. Ben-Judah says about them,” Sam said.

“How could I not hear?” Lev said. “Fakers. Deceivers. They are not using the power of God, but the power of the evil one. Am I right?”

“Yes, but do you understand Tsion's message? These miracle workers were sent to draw you away from the true God to worship a false one.”

Each day, as Tsion or Chaim followed the main teaching with an evangelistic message, Sam prayed for Lev and his family and the others who still had not believed in Christ. Each day he searched the foreheads of Lev's family for the mark of the believer, and each day Sam was disappointed.

Nothing could stop Sam from singing, praying, and celebrating with the people who had been turned around by the preaching and teaching. But Sam's heart ached when he thought of Lev and his family, who were so close to the truth.

Sam had found another new friend in Chang Wong, the teenager in New Babylon Judd talked so much about. Chang had written Sam about one of his Petra Diaries, and the two had struck up a friendship. Sam asked Chang his opinion about unbelievers in Petra.

Chang wrote:

Let me remind you that these people are just like you and me before the disappearances. There was a cloud over our understanding. You know this from Tsion's message. We are in a war for people's souls
.

Paul writes, “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” There is something holding back your friend, and I will pray that God will break through before it's too late
.

My sister told me what happened to her in China recently. Three angels visited a group of unbelievers and preached the Good News to them. Some twenty-five of them received the mark of the believer before they were executed. God is at work. He is still calling people to follow him, so do not give up
.

A few weeks later, Sam invited Lev to listen to Dr. Ben-Judah's teaching. That day, Tsion was to speak of the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians.

“I'll go with you if you'll go with me later,” Lev said.

“Where?”

“Into the Negev. I hear a miracle worker is visiting us.”

Sam frowned. “I have heard the rumors too.”

“You don't believe he'll come?”

Sam shook his head. “I'm sure he will. Nicolae will try anything to get people to believe the lie that he is god—”

“I knew you would close your mind to this. My father said there was no sense inviting you.”

“You and your family are in grave danger, and you don't understand it.”

“My father read about the miracle workers in Mr. Williams's
The Truth.”

“And Mr. Williams made it clear every time he mentioned them that they are fakes. You can't trust them.”

“My family will go, and we will at least hear them out. My father thinks they may give us a reprieve about the mark—”

“You're still considering taking Carpathia's mark? After all you've seen and heard here?”

Now it was Lev shaking his head. “You're so closed minded. You probably wouldn't even come to the debate they're talking about.”

“What debate?”

“The one between your Dr. Ben-Judah and Leon Fortunato. Don't look at me that way. It's from a reliable person. They said it would be televised so the whole world could hear.”

“I would welcome such a debate,” Sam said. “Maybe you will finally see the truth.”

“I still don't know who or what to believe, but getting out of this place for a couple of hours and walking into the desert to see a show, that interests me.”

Sam thought of all he had seen God do while coming to Petra. People had been protected from bullets, missiles, and an army sent against them. What more did Lev need? Sam's lip trembled, and he looked away.

Lev grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. “Why are you crying?”

Sam stared. “I beg you not to go. You must convince your family not to follow the false messiahs. It could mean death to you.”

Lev smiled. “I appreciate how much you care. I'll talk to my family.”

Sam wandered back to camp, walking a different way than normal and praying, asking God to show him something new to speak to Lev. He spotted a man in his early thirties sitting by a campfire. Sam recognized him as a pilot friend of the American Rayford Steele. Sam walked closer, and the man motioned for him to sit.

“You look troubled, my young friend. My name is Abdullah.”

Though he didn't know this man, Sam poured out Lev's story easily.

Abdullah listened and leaned forward when Sam finished. “I am not an outgoing person. Some would call me shy. But what you talk about has troubled me too. I have been pleading with those who are undecided, asking them not to go out. I've told them the only safety they can be assured of is here in Petra, and the only safety for their souls is in accepting the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.”

“But what if they don't listen?” Sam said. “What if they go out anyway?”

Abdullah took a stick and traced it in the ashes surrounding the campfire. “There is only one way I know to make this piece of wood catch fire.” He stuck it in the yellow blaze until the stick burned, then pulled it out. Flames licked at the wood and ran to the end. “The fire of God is ignited through the prayers of his people. I don't mean that God only acts on what we ask, but I have never seen a person come to God without prayer somehow being a part of it.” Abdullah threw the stick into the flames. “How much have you prayed for your friend?”

“Every day.”

“Good. Double that. Triple it. Pray every hour. I will add him to my list as well. Ask others to join you. Get on that e-mail thing the young people have—”

“The Young Trib Force?”

“Yes. Ask everyone to pray with lots of hardness.”

“But what if nothing happens? What if we pray and Lev still goes out there?”

Abdullah stood. “When you are at war, you do not know how it will end. However, in this one, we know God wins, so we have the advantage. But we do not know what will happen in these battles for people's lives. Keep praying and asking God to work—pray that the eyes of Lev's heart will be opened. Pray that God will receive glory from Lev's life. And that he will finally understand the truth.”

Abdullah's eyes twinkled in the firelight. “The results are not up to you. You can't make people believe. You must simply be faithful. If God brings someone to you, pray for them. Speak to them. Love them.”

Sam watched the stick burn. “Why don't we pray right now?”

Abdullah smiled, clapped Sam's neck with a hand, and shook him gently. “Now you're talking with my language.”