Stung (10 page)
Vicki and the others jotted notes furiously. It felt good to study again. Tsion's words were like water on dry ground. Vicki knew people around the world were watching this very meeting.
Tsion moved close to the microphone and spoke softly. “And now let me close by reminding you that the bedrock of our faith remains the verse our Gentile brothers and sisters have so cherished from the beginning. John 3:16 says, âFor God so loved the world that He gave His onlyâ'”
Tsion stopped talking. Vicki leaned forward. There was a faint noise coming from the speakers. She turned to the doorway and noticed Melinda was gone.
Judd heard the rumble behind them and turned. A helicopter slowly came into view over the lights of the stadium. The
thwock thwock thwock
of the gleaming white helicopter drew every eye. Tsion stepped back from the podium and lowered his head, as if in prayer.
Judd recognized the GC insignia on the side of the chopper as it slowly descended. The wind whipped Tsion's hair and clothes.
“Is that who I think it is?” Lionel said.
“I'm afraid so,” Judd said, staring at the chopper as the engine shuddered and stopped. A murmur rose from the crowd as Leon Fortunato bounded from the craft to the lectern. He nodded to Tsion, who did not respond. “Dr. Ben-Judah, local and international organizing committee, and assembled guests,” he said loudly.
Thousands murmured in different languages. Finally, Judd understood. “Translators,” Judd said to Lionel. “They need translators to understand Fortunato!”
Someone in front repeated what Judd had said at the top of his lungs. Others shrugged, looked puzzled, and began jabbering.
Fortunato looked at Tsion. “Dr. Ben-Judah, is there someone who can translate?”
Tsion did not look at him.
Fortunato then called for the interpreters to come forward. Judd stretched to see the interpreters who sat near the front row on the infield. They looked to Tsion, but Tsion stared straight ahead.
“Please,” Fortunato continued, “it isn't fair that only those who understand English may enjoy the remarks of your next two hosts.”
“Two
hosts?” Lionel said. “Who else is with Carpathia?”
Tsion raised his head slightly. The interpreters hurried to their microphones. Fortunato apparently expected applause when he mentioned Nicolae Carpathia's name, but no one moved. Fortunato cleared his throat and said, “First, I would like to introduce the revered head of the new Enigma Babylon One World Faith, the supreme pontiff, Pontifex Maximus, Peter the Second!”
Judd looked at Lionel and raised an eyebrow.
“They've got to be out of their minds, bringing him here,” Lionel said.
Judd knew this was the former archbishop of Cincinnati, Peter Mathews. He was now the head of a mixture of nearly every religion on the globe except for Judaism and Christianity.
Peter the Second stepped out of the helicopter in an outfit that surprised even Judd. He wore a huge, pointed hat and a long, yellow robe with puffy sleeves. Several garments, inlaid with brightly colored stones, draped over his body. The supreme pontiff lifted his hands in a circle as if to bless everyone. When he turned to bless the people sitting behind him, Judd saw signs of the zodiac on the back of his robe.
“Looks like he wore the wrapping paper from his Christmas presents,” Lionel said.
Peter stretched out his arms and spoke dramatically. “My blessed brothers and sisters in the pursuit of higher consciousness, it warms my heart to see all of you here, studying under my colleague, Dr. Tsion Ben-Judah!”
Peter waited for the applause and cheers. None came.
“I confer upon this gathering the blessings of the universal father and mother and animal deities who lovingly guide us on our path to true spirituality. In the spirit of harmony, I appeal to Dr. Ben-Judah and others in your leadership to join Enigma Babylon One World Faith, where we affirm and accept the beliefs of all the world's great religions.”
The stadium was deathly silent. Fortunato announced, “And now it gives me pleasure to introduce the man who has united the world into one global community, His Excellency and your potentate, Nicolae Carpathia! Would you rise as he comes with a word of greeting.”
No one stood. Lionel whispered into Judd's ear, “Nicolae's always been able to win over his audience. Think he'll be able to do that here?”
Carpathia appeared on the steps of the helicopter, a frozen smile etched on his face. He nodded toward Fortunato and Peter the Second.
Someone moved to Judd's right. A man was making his way along a back wall of the stadium. Lionel saw him too and slipped out. Just before Carpathia made it to the microphone, Lionel returned.
“You're not going to believe this,” Lionel said. “That's Taylor Graham!”
AS NICOLAE
Carpathia stepped to the podium, Judd slipped from his seat. “If I'm not back before this ends, stay here,” Judd said to Lionel. Taylor Graham was still moving when Judd caught up to him.
“What are you doing?” Judd whispered.
Taylor whirled, ready to fight. When he recognized Judd, he rolled his eyes and put a finger to his lips. “I came to hear Carpathia.”
“Fellow citizens of the Global Community,” Carpathia began, “as your potentate, I welcome you to Israel and to this great arena, named after a man of the past, a man of peace and harmony and statesmanship.”
Judd knew what Nicolae was doing. He was trying to win the crowd by talking about a well-known Israeli.
Judd tried to talk with Taylor, but he motioned for Judd to keep quiet. An armed Global Community guard approached them. “Take it outside,” he said sternly.
Judd nodded. Taylor followed Judd through the gate.
Vicki couldn't believe Nicolae Carpathia would interrupt the Meeting of the Witnesses. The kids groaned when they saw him arrive.
“Do we have to watch this?” Shelly said.
“He's going to schmooze them all he can,” Conrad said.
Carpathia pledged his protection and support of those who followed the teachings of Dr. Ben-Judah. “As a famous teacher of Israel once said, âBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.'”
Carpathia paused. When the stadium remained silent, he said, “We in the Global Community wish this kind of peace, not as a slogan but as a living reality.”
Vicki turned. Melinda stood in the doorway again, listening.
Judd and Taylor walked away from the stadium. They could still see the huge monitors and hear Carpathia's powerful voice.
“Why did you come here?” Judd said.
“You know why,” Taylor said. “Saint Nick.”
“You're not thinking ofâ”
“Only a fool would try to get a weapon past those guards.” Taylor smiled. “I just wanted to make sure that was Nick in the white chopper.”
Taylor opened the trunk of his car. He put on a Global Community uniform and zipped it quickly. “This is where you check out, okay?”
“Don't do this,” Judd said.
Taylor glanced around, then opened a huge, black box inside the trunk. In several pieces lay the biggest gun Judd had ever seen. Beside it was a shell the size of a loaf of bread.
“No!” Judd said.
“As soon as he takes off, that chopper's falling from the sky.”
Judd's mind reeled. He knew Rayford Steele was Nicolae's pilot. Was he flying the chopper? And if the potentate was assassinated, the Global Community would blame the witnesses. Judd couldn't let Taylor shoot it down.
Lionel was captivated by Carpathia and wondered whether he would try his mind-altering techniques. Buck Williams had described the potentate's ability to sway people, but Lionel didn't know if it would work on a crowd filled mainly with believers.
“And so, my beloved friends,” Carpathia said, “you do not have to join with the One World Faith to remain citizens of the Global Community. There is room for disagreement on matters of religion. But consider the advantages and benefits that have resulted from the uniting of every nation into one global village.”
Nicolae gave a list of his achievements: everything from the repair of cities, roads, and airports to the rebuilding of New Babylon into the most magnificent city ever constructed. “It is a masterpiece I hope you will visit as soon as you can.”
Lionel closed his eyes in thought.
One day Carpathia is going to declare himself god. With this kind of technology
,
Nicolae will be able to rule the world!
As Lionel listened, he noticed something strange about Carpathia's voice. In the past, he had been always in command, never making a mistake, never struggling to remember a name or a date. Now he had grown hoarse. He turned away and cleared his throat. “Pardon me,” he said, his voice still raspy. “I wish you and the rabbi here all the best and welcome you, â¦
ahem, ahem
, ⦠excuse meâ”
Nicolae turned to Tsion. “Would someone have some water?”
Dr. Ben-Judah didn't respond. Lionel saw someone in the front pass a bottle to the stage. Nicolae nodded and smiled. He unscrewed the cap, tipped it back for a long gulp, then gagged and spit it out. The crowd gasped. Nicolae's lips and chin were covered with blood. He held the bottle at arm's length, staring at it in fear.
Carpathia cursed at Tsion. “You and your evil flock of enemies! You would disgrace me like this for your own gain? I should have my men shoot you dead where you stand!”
Lionel saw two figures pass in the aisle near him. Both had long hair and wore tattered clothes. In unison Eli and Moishe spoke without any microphone. The crowd fell back from around them, and the two stood in the eerie light of the stadium, shoulder to shoulder, barefoot.
“Woe unto you who would threaten the chosen vessel of the Most High God!”
Carpathia threw the bottle to the ground. Clear, clean water splashed everywhere.
Lionel looked around. Other people carried water bottles containing clear liquid.
Eli and Moishe caused his throat to parch
, Lionel thought. Nicolae pointed at the two and screamed, “Your time is nigh! I swear I will kill you or have you killed beforeâ”