End of Days (6 page)

“No,” Donahue said. “We had nothing to do with that.”

“You didn’t?” Markell exclaimed.

“Then who did?” Sheppard asked.

“We believe those events were facilitated by Mr. Fitchett himself. That he took his own life to punctuate his message to the world.”

“And do you
really
expect us to believe that?” Markell asked.

Hay looked confused. “We’re telling the truth.”

“Like you’ve told the world the truth for the last seven years?” he demanded.

Donahue let out a big sigh. “Think about it—prior to his death, we still had the ability to deflect his claims. It is
his very death that has given him credibility. Do you think we wanted that to happen?”

“So you’re saying he
is
dead?” another one of the scientists asked. Apparently Markell and Sheppard weren’t the only ones to have the same thought.

“Not by our hands, although, quite frankly, we can’t absolutely state that he is dead. That is simply our assumption based on the available information.”

“Yes,” Donahue replied. “We had nothing directly to do with his death.”

“And indirectly?”

“It could be argued that our failed attempt to capture him triggered the announcement that subsequently led to his death,” Hay said. “We were not responsible beyond that. We did not set the fire.”

“And you think that Fitchett set the fire himself, that he took his own life?” Sheppard asked.

“That is the most plausible explanation, although not the only one,” Hay admitted.

“And will you share that other explanation?” Sheppard asked.

Hay and Donahue leaned together and spoke quietly so that they couldn’t be overheard. Finally they broke their huddle.

“As you are all well aware, we have provided you with the best possible environment to allow you to proceed with your work. As part of this environment we have tried to keep distractions to a minimum,” Hay noted. “Included in this is information about certain individuals or groups operating in the larger community.”

“So you’ve been keeping us in the dark about some things,” Markell said.

“Some things,” she admitted. “It is time, for your safety, that we reveal one of these issues. We want to show you a broadcast that was shown after Fitchett made his announcement but prior to the fire.”

The screen on the wall came back to life. It was filled with a choir singing an uptempo song. The cameras panned around a modern-looking church, or more accurately, a cathedral. It was huge and ornate and every seat was filled. The scene shifted to centre stage, and dry ice was released as strobe lights pulsated.

A lone figure walked onto the stage as the audience’s excitement reached a fevered pitch. And then … nothing. The noise, the lights, the choir all stopped. All eyes were focused on the man in the white suit, his head bowed in silence.

“Brothers and sisters, the world is in turmoil. All around people have stopped and have turned their eyes skyward. Are they looking for Heaven? Are they looking for the Lord? Are they looking for salvation? No!” he screamed. And then he paused before beginning again in a soft, almost whispering tone. “They do not look for these things because they do not believe, because they have no faith, because they do not trust in the Lord.

“Today we were told about the end of the world. A man spoke to tell us the time of the end, in seventeen years. But more importantly, he spoke to provoke fear in us.

“I fear nothing. Why? you may ask. Why does he not fear? Why is the Reverend Abraham Honey so brave?
Because I have been told of the coming of this end. The end of the world was prophesized over 2,500 years ago. God has spoken. He predicted, in the Book of Revelation, that the stars shall fall down to the Earth and every mountain and island shall be moved from its place. He spoke. Judgment Day is coming. The end of this world is coming, as God predicted. He is ending this world so that a new Heaven and a new Earth may rise in its place. This is not a thing of fear. This is a thing of celebration. I want you all to put your hands together and cheer!”

The cameras panned around the cathedral and showed the people on their feet, wildly clapping and cheering. Sheppard was stunned. Were these people really cheering for their own deaths?

Reverend Honey raised his hands and the audience fell into silence. “I do not fear this end, for it is being done according to the word of our Lord,” he began, his voice sweet and smooth and filled with confidence. “And as was prophesied, all people, living and dead, shall be judged. He will find the people who have followed His word, who have not lied or cheated, who have not taken God’s name in vain, and these people shall be saved. God in His wisdom will save the righteous. God has told us that He will save 144,000 people. These people have their names written in the Book of Life and they shall be saved. Looking around, I know—I
know
, that I can see people who will be coming with me. People who will be going with me. People who will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. How do I know? Because God has spoken to me. He has whispered their names in my
ear. Look around. Look at your neighbours. Look at those sitting beside you and behind you and in front of you. Look at yourself in the mirror when you go home tonight. You will have seen many faces whose names are written in the Book of Life.”

A murmur rose throughout the cathedral. Again the cameras panned around the audience, focusing on specific people, their faces filling the entire screen for a few seconds. Were they the faces of the saved?

“What of the others? They shall run and they shall hide. They will hide themselves in the darkest and deepest of caves, but this will not save them. They will be thrown into the lake of fire. They will be no more!” he screamed.

There were beads of sweat pouring down Abraham Honey’s face. His cheeks were red and he was straining for oxygen. As he was talking he had been moving energetically across the stage, back and forth. Now, spent, he staggered and took a seat at the very edge of the platform. There was total silence as he gathered his breath and then again began to talk.

“I want to tell you all a little story,” he started in a soft, gentle voice. “A long time ago, man began to see himself as so good and so wonderful that he thought that he was God’s equal. He set about to build a tower. A tower whose top might reach unto Heaven. Those men believed that they could enter into the Kingdom of Heaven by means of their knowledge and skill rather than by virtue of their faith and good deeds. These people believed that they could reach up and touch God! Can you believe that? Can you
believe
that?” His voice rose in a crescendo. “Can you
believe that?
Touch God!”

He shook his head, and his expression, which filled the entire screen, was one of disbelief. The camera panned to the crowd, shaking their heads, their faces filled with disgust that mirrored the expression of Reverend Honey.

“But it failed. They failed. God scattered these people and He separated them by giving them different languages so that they could no longer understand one another. They failed! Imagine, people being so misguided as to believe that they could interfere with God or His plans. Imagine. Could we stop God? Well, could we?”

A chorus of “No … no … no!” swelled up in a deafening roar from the audience.

“Today we have heard about so-called scientists. These scientists, from all countries across the globe, speak but one language. They all speak the language of science. We have been told that the very high priests of science, the leaders of this religion of science, this false god of science, have been gathered to explain how they would reach into space and change God’s master plan. These puny mortals believe that they can stop Judgment Day.

“Imagine. Man still has the gall to believe that he can control God. God shudders and the world shakes and quakes and buildings fall to the ground. God sighs and storm winds engulf the world. Now God has chosen to send a small puff of space dust toward his people and we are powerless. God’s will shall be done, in Heaven and on Earth.
God’s will shall be done!”
he screamed to thunderous applause.

The screen was filled with bursts of dry ice, and powerful strobe lights pulsated. In the clouds of fog the Reverend Honey disappeared from view, and then he reappeared atop the altar at the very centre of the stage.

“We have been told that scientists will try to avert God’s plan. They will embrace
their
god, the
false
god of science that they worship, so that we can all be saved. God will strike these people dead, like a bolt of lightning, an avenging fire. They will not be safe even in their very own beds.”

Obviously he was talking about Fitchett … but hadn’t this been broadcast
before
the fire?

“In the days to come we will witness a parade of scientists offering false hope and false information about the plan to save our lives.”

Sheppard looked at Markell. How had this guy known there was going to be an official response? Sheppard had the strangest thought—had God whispered all this in his ear?

“Although these scientists will speak in big words and with brave voices, I can hear what they will really be saying. They will be saying, ‘I am afraid. I am afraid.’

“We are here today, and I have said to you that I have no fear. Fear of death? Fear of Judgment Day? No!” he screamed. “It is not I who will be flung into the lake of fire.”

His image filled the screen again, as though he were looking straight at the scientists in the boardroom. “It is those scientists who need to fear!”

Sheppard felt a shiver go up his spine.

“You may ask yourselves why God has chosen to end His world. You may ask why He sent down the rains from
which Noah was saved. The answer to both questions is the same: purification. Purification by either fire or water. Purification. Look around at the world. Are we not in need of purification?”

The dry ice haze had all but gone. The house lights were turned up, and the reverend walked slowly across the stage. On a podium sat a glass filled with clear liquid. He moved forward and drank from the glass. He took a towel and wiped the sweat from his face and hands.

“All of you who know me know that I am a fan of the grand game of football. Many are the locker rooms in which I’ve led athletes in prayer. In the game of football there is a signal, the two-minute warning, signalling that the game is almost over. It is the last chance to change things, to play better, to do what is necessary to win.

“The game of life is now almost over. God has given us seventeen years. This is his two-minute warning. He is saying, ‘Change your ways and follow My word before it is too late.’ God, in His kind, gentle, loving, forgiving manner, has given us a warning. Are you listening? Are you willing to change? It is not too late. Time is running out but there is still time for you to win at the game of life. To win and find your eternal reward. It is not too late!”

The audience broke into a wild and spontaneous roar of approval. The cheering rolled on and on and on, getting louder and louder. Finally the reverend raised his hands and the audience obediently fell silent.

“Many are the times and many are the ways that God has told us how to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Remember, it has been written that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven. Do not love your money or your possessions. These are false idols too! Love your Lord. Shed your earthly possessions. Pass them forward into God’s hands. Help God, through my ministry, through
our
ministry, to reach out and spread the word. Remember, it is not too late for salvation. God is watching and God is listening and, most important, God is coming. Are you ready to be saved? Are you ready for Judgment Day? Praise the Lord!” he screamed, and then the choir, the lights, and the dry ice filled the screen. “That’s enough,” Dr. Hay said, and the screen went black.

“Do you really think we should believe that man arranged for Fitchett to be killed?” Markell asked.

“Our intelligence sources indicate that he is part of an organization that has over one hundred thousand members around the world,” Donahue said. “They have been aware of our actions for the past five years, and we suspect that they have been responsible for the deaths of at least thirty-five scientists and the sabotage of at least sixty-five facilities, including two of ours.”

“But these people … they’re just religious nuts. They can’t present any real threat or danger,” Markell said.

“They do present a vital threat. They have been responsible for deaths and destruction.”

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just have this guy arrested or kidnapped or killed?” Markell asked. “It’s certainly not like you people don’t know how to do that.”

“There was discussion about some form of intervention,” Hay admitted. “But in the end, we realized it would probably not be effective.”

“He is simply the mouth, not the mind or the muscle,” Donahue added.

“What does that mean?” Sheppard asked.

“Essentially, he is not able to act on his own,” Donahue explained.

“We felt it was best to observe, listen, and learn,” Hay said. “No point in making him into a martyr for others to rally around. It’s better to simply let him be. Our intelligence gathering has started to construct a profile that would lead us to believe that he is not a true believer, simply somebody taking advantage of the limelight.”

“But remember that there are true believers who are prepared to sacrifice their lives, or yours, to make sure that we do not interfere with God’s plan,” Donahue said.

“If this is truly God’s plan, do they really think that we would have the
power
to interfere with it?” Markell asked. “These people are lunatics.”

“This is just crazy,” Sheppard added.

“Crazy or not, we have to react. You have now all been publicly identified as the leading members of this organization. Within five hours of that announcement by Fitchett of our location there was an armed assault on our complex by these so-called lunatics.”

Everybody looked around in shock, confusion, and fear.