Frantic (14 page)

“How are they going to get all those people into custody?” Vicki said. “There's no way these two vans can hold them.”

“Maybe they're bringing in buses once they bust them,” Conrad said. “Or maybe they don't plan to take them into custody at all.”

“What do you mean?”

Conrad looked at Vicki. “Maybe there won't be believers left alive after they're through.”

Vicki shuddered. “That guy at the truck stop said he saw a stack of guns inside the vans.”

“Come on,” Conrad said, “let's cut across the field.”

Vicki nodded and they made their way down the hillside.

Judd reeled at the news that his friend was going to die.
Why didn't Pavel tell me?

Mac's information about the Global Community brought Judd back to the conversation.

“That's why those of us who are believers have to stay together and look out for each other,” Mac said. “Carpathia and Leon are plotting against Mathews. I've heard the whole thing and it's ugly. It's just like Tsion said in one of his e-mails. This is not just a war between good and evil. It's also a war between evil and evil.”

Lionel asked Mac how he became a believer and Mac quickly told the story. Rayford Steele had been there shortly after he had prayed.

“We're heading for some dark clouds up ahead,” Mac said. “Maybe you guys had better head to the back and buckle up. We'll talk after we get through this.”

Lionel opened the cockpit door and gasped. “I don't believe it. Judd, you'd better come see this.”

Vicki and Conrad rushed inside and saw people sitting in chairs and even in the bowling lanes. One by one they took turns praying over the sound system. A man came up to Vicki and looked at her forehead.

“If you're a believer, you're welcome,” the man whispered, “but the meeting won't begin for another hour. We spend this time—”

“You have to get out of here,” Conrad said. “The GC are onto you.”

“What?”

Conrad pulled the man inside what used to be a bar. He pointed out the window. “Two vans are filled with Global Community guards. They were sent here to arrest you, or worse.”

The man smiled. “Even if there were GC guards up there, the locusts would take care of them.”

“They have special suits to keep the locusts out,” Vicki said.

The man checked their marks again and said, “You kids aren't from around here, are you?”

Vicki sighed. “Illinois. But we're wasting time. Who's in charge?”

The man stiffened. “Listen, I know you mean well, and as I said, you're more than welcome—”

Vicki ran for the front of the building. A woman was at the microphone in the middle of her prayer. She stopped when Vicki jumped over the front desk.

“Amen,” Vicki said. She looked out over the audience. People were streaming through the front door. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but you have to listen.”

Vicki's heart beat furiously. “A friend of ours told us to warn you. There are two vans filled with GC guards on the hill. They're waiting—”

“That's enough!” the man with Conrad said, grabbing the microphone.

“Let her talk,” another man said, stepping forward. He looked at Vicki and Conrad and asked their names. Vicki told him, then explained what Carl had told them.

People hurried for the doors. The man put a hand in the air and said, “Hold on. If those are GC, we can't leave all at once.”

“What do we do, Pastor?” a young man yelled from one of the lanes.

Others echoed, “Yeah, what do we do?”

“First we're going to pray for those people in Maryland. Then we're going to ask the Lord to show us exactly what we should do.”

Judd pushed Lionel aside and walked into the cabin of the airplane. A box of pamphlets was open, and a few pieces of paper littered the floor. Someone knelt to pick them up.

Judd's heart sank.

“Hi, Judd!” Nada said.

Vicki wiped away a tear as the pastor finished his prayer. A few more people entered the bowling alley and asked what was going on. The pastor asked everyone to sit.

“I don't think we have time to wait,” Conrad said.

The pastor nodded. “We need to do something fast. That's true. But if we—”

The alley fell silent. Vicki shuddered at the sound outside. Rumbling. Air brakes. The noise shook the building.

“They're here,” Vicki said.

13

VICKI
Byrne heard rumbling outside the bowling alley and desperately wanted to make a break for the motorcycle. But she couldn't run. At least a hundred people inside needed her help.

She and Conrad had seen Global Community guards nearby. Demon locusts buzzed around the specially equipped vans. The guards inside wore protective clothing.

People whimpered and cried as the pastor tried to calm them. “No matter what happens, we trust in the Lord!”

Conrad ran to the front of the building. “I don't see anything in the parking lot!”

“They must be around back!” someone shouted.

Vicki took the microphone and explained what the kids had heard from Carl Meninger, their friend working as a Global Community Peacekeeper. “The GC has discovered where believers are meeting. They want to make examples of us and a group in Maryland.”

“Are they going to kill us?” a woman said.

“We don't know,” Vicki said, “but we have to get out of here.”

Someone banged on a metal door in the back.

Conrad shouted, “The white vans are still on the hill.”

“Then who's at the door?” Vicki said.

Someone shouted and pounded on the door again. Vicki thought she recognized the voice.

Judd Thompson Jr. couldn't believe his eyes. Lionel Washington and Sam Goldberg stood by an empty box in the airplane. Beside it stood his friend Nada.

“How did you get here?” Judd said.

Nada stared at him. “Aren't you happy to see me?”

Judd glanced at Lionel and Sam. “Of course, but—”

“I stowed away in a box of pamphlets,” Nada said. “I wanted to be with you when you meet your friend in New Babylon.” Nada explained how she emptied a box of pamphlets and marked it “Main Cabin.”

The plane dipped and lightning flashed. The pilot, Mac McCullum, spoke through the intercom. “Better buckle up and hang on.”

Nada sat by Judd. “You look angry.”

“I'm not! I'm just concerned. You've put us in a bad situation.”

“How?”

“This is Nicolae Carpathia's plane. We were only cleared for three people in New Babylon. When four of us get off, we could be in trouble. Or we could put Mac in a tight spot.”

Judd explained what Mac had said about Judd's friend Pavel. Their visit had been cleared because “it's his last wish that I visit him.”

“Pavel is dying?” Nada said.

Judd nodded.

“What's going to happen when we get there?”

The plane dropped suddenly and Judd felt his stomach surge.

“Sorry about that,” Mac said on the intercom. “This is a rough one. Stay in your seats.”

“I have to talk with you,” Judd said.

Mac came on the intercom. “Wait till we get out of these clouds, Judd.”

Judd looked at Nada. Could Mac hear everything they were saying? Could he also hear Nicolae Carpathia when he was on the plane?

“I'll let you know when it's safe,” Mac said.

Lightning flashed again. Nada whispered something. “What did you say?” Judd said.

Nada turned. Her eyes were red. “There's another reason I had to come with you.”

“What?” Judd said.

Nada put a hand to her forehead. “I can't go home. I'm running away.”

Vicki ran to the back door. Conrad and the pastor told her to stop, but she ignored them. The door wouldn't open.

“What are you doing?” Conrad shouted.

“Hang on!” Vicki said, finally opening the door.

Sunshine poured in and Vicki saw her friend Shelly. Behind her was Pete's huge truck and trailer. Pete ran to meet them.