Frantic (23 page)

The guard pulled Dan from the room and slammed the door. Nada put her head on the table. A few moments later the door opened and the deputy warden joined them. He held up his hands in disgust. “I'm sorry you had to hear that. You can see what we have to deal with.”

Nada sobbed. “Why did he speak that way? Why couldn't he tell me something?”

“This man is a religious zealot,” the deputy warden said. “I knew he wouldn't cooperate, but I understand you had to try.”

When they were in the car, Nada said, “What do you think Dan meant?”

Judd put a finger to his lips. He drove through the gate and a few minutes later pulled to the curb and stopped. Judd searched under the seats and throughout the car. “I want to make sure they didn't plant some kind of listening device. He was definitely trying to send us a message, but he knew we'd be in big trouble if we just talked.”

“I don't get it,” Nada said. “Was he saying Kasim became a believer?”

“I'm not sure,” Judd said.

Judd took Nada to Pavel's apartment and told the others what had happened. Mr. Rudja had called the prison shortly after Judd and Nada left. “You did well. They don't suspect anything.”

Judd repeated exactly what Dan had said.

Lionel grabbed a Bible and opened to the book of Matthew. “Let's assume he was trying to tell you something and the ‘Jesus is Lord' was him getting the GC's attention off of you.

“The second part is from John 3:16,” Lionel continued. “It's probably the most famous verse in the Bible.”

“Do you think that means Kasim became a believer?” Nada said.

“It's a good guess,” Judd said, “but maybe there's more.”

“Yeah,” Lionel said as he flipped pages, “the next part is about what the angel said to the women at the tomb.”

Lionel searched passages in all four Gospels and concluded that Dan had to be talking about Luke 24. The kids gathered around and read the passage.

“But very early on Sunday morning the women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. So they went in, but they couldn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. They were puzzled, trying to think what could have happened to it. Suddenly, two men appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, ‘Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He has risen from the dead!' ”

Nada smiled. “That's it! Dan was telling us that though Kasim died in the earthquake, he's alive spiritually. He must have believed!”

“Maybe,” Judd said, “but Dan could have come right out and said that and not endangered us.”

“Maybe the answer is in the last verse Dan gave you,” Lionel said. He opened the Bible to Matthew 7:7.

“ ‘Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.' ”

“I know he's telling us that Kasim became a believer!” Nada said.

An alarm rang in Pavel's room. Judd ran to the boy's side and found Mr. Rudja on his knees by the bed. Doctors in the monitor barked orders.

Pavel's face was ashen. His pulse was weak and erratic. Suddenly, the line went flat and the machine sounded a piercing beep.

“Do something!” Judd yelled.

21

WHILE
Shelly kept watch for anyone moving around the house, Vicki met Omer at the back door. He looked around the kitchen nervously. “You sure my mom didn't put you up to this?”

Vicki shook her head and whispered, “I didn't tell her anything. Everybody's asleep except for our friend Pete. He's at the gas station.”

Omer sat in front of the screen and entered a few codes.

“Where did you learn to type that fast?” Vicki said.

“Just because I'm from Tennessee doesn't mean I'm stupid,” Omer said.

“I didn't mean it that way,” Vicki said.

Omer winced in pain from the locust bite and pointed to the screen. “I put a block in here on the satellite phone.”

“You have a satphone?” Vicki said.

“One of the toys I was into back when the disappearances happened,” Omer said. He changed some codes and tried to dial. “Who are you trying to reach?” Omer said.

“Some friends in Illinois,” Vicki said. “We haven't had contact with them since—”

The back door opened and Pete walked in, out of breath. Vicki introduced Omer, who stood to leave.

“Stay where you are,” Pete said to Omer. He looked at Vicki and Shelly. “You'll be glad to know our new rig is lined up. We can head out tomorrow morning.”

Omer continued working, determined to fix the problem. He grabbed a screwdriver and took the back off the computer. As he tinkered with the inside, Vicki saw someone out of the corner of her eye.

“O?”

Omer turned. “Mom.”

The woman, in her bathrobe, hugged her son and wept. “I didn't know if I'd ever see you again.”

Omer looked at the floor.

“It's okay,” his mother said. “What's important is that you're back.”

“I'm not staying.”

The woman looked stunned. She glanced at Vicki and Shelly. “I must look a mess. Let me get you all something to eat.”

“I'm not hungry,” Omer said. “I'm just going to get this computer going for these girls; then I'm leaving.” Vicki and Shelly turned to leave.

“Don't go,” Omer said. “I'm going to hook you up with your friends.”

Judd and the others stayed outside Pavel's room as the doctors gave instructions to Mr. Rudja. Judd wanted to run for a doctor or get some medicine. All he could do was wait.

A few minutes later, Pavel's father walked slowly out of the room.

“Is he . . . ?” Judd said, but he couldn't finish the sentence.

“The doctors have him stabilized,” Mr. Rudja said, “but he's unconscious.”

Nada put a hand to her mouth. “Oh no!”

“He may come out of it,” Mr. Rudja said, “or he could slip into a coma. They're sending a helicopter to take him to the hospital.”

Judd felt guilty for not spending more time with Pavel. He had been so concerned about Nada and finding out about her brother that he hadn't been there for Pavel.

Mr. Rudja put a hand on Judd's shoulder. “Would you mind staying with him while I prepare for the transport?”

“Sure,” Judd said.

The man paused. “You coming here has been a great gift to Pavel.”

“I could have done more,” Judd said.

Mr. Rudja shook his head. “You may still have a chance.”

Late at night Mark watched for news coming from the Global Community about Johnson City, Tennessee.
No news is good news,
he thought. Several times Mark had written Vicki but there was no answer. He tried contacting Pete in the truck but got a recorded message.

Charlie joined Mark and the two scanned the latest news stories. Mark was amazed at how much Charlie had changed since understanding the message and becoming a true believer. He seemed more confident.

A bulletin from the East Coast GC headquarters in Baltimore popped up on the screen. A picture of Chris Traickin accompanied the flash. Underneath the photo was the word
Escaped
.

“Former Senator Chris Traickin, arrested for subversive activities with a group of religious rebels near Baltimore, attacked two Global Community Peacekeepers and escaped early today in a specially equipped GC van. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.

“Officials say Traickin overpowered two Peacekeepers who were transporting him to a different holding facility.

“Anyone who sees Traickin is urged to avoid confrontation and phone Global Community officials immediately,” the report said.

“Wow,” Charlie said, “that's great!”

Mark frowned. “It's not right.”

“What do you mean?” Charlie said. “He got away from the GC! That's good, isn't it?”

Mark turned to Charlie. “Think about it. He got loose this morning and they're reporting it now?”

“Maybe they just found out.”

“If he'd really overpowered two Peacekeepers
and
stolen a van, it would have been all over the news as soon as it happened. Doesn't make sense.”

“You think they let him loose? Why would they do that?”

Mark shook his head.

“Isn't there a chance that you're wrong?” Charlie said. “Maybe this guy is a true believer—”

“The whole Traickin thing stinks,” Mark said. He turned back to the keyboard and quickly typed an e-mail. “Maybe Carl can find out what's going on.”

Charlie sat back. He scrunched his eyebrows.

“What?” Mark said.

“I feel like we need to pray for Vicki.”

While Omer worked on the computer, Vicki asked his mother to step into the next room. “I know this isn't really any of my business, but I think Omer just needs to be left alone for a while.”

The woman turned. “How could you possibly know what's best for my boy?”

“He talked to us about what happened to him after the Rapture,” Vicki said. “I think he's coming around to the truth.”

“If he would have realized the truth sooner, he wouldn't have been stung by those locusts,” the woman whispered.

“I know,” Vicki said, “but if you keep after him, you're going to drive him away. I think deep down he knows what you're saying is true, but he has to accept it for himself. I'm afraid he's going to hide again.”

“Where?” the woman said.

“I promised I wouldn't say,” Vicki said.

The woman looked away. “I've heard him out there in the middle of the night. He must live like an animal.” She turned to Vicki. “Do you know the story of that guy in the Old Testament who went crazy and lived out in the wild?”

Vicki shrugged. “Don't think I've read that one yet.”

“He had a really long name. He wouldn't give God the credit he deserved, so God made him eat grass like a cow. He went crazy and I think that's what's happening now. God's trying to get my son's attention one more time. I just don't want him to miss it.”

Vicki nodded. “He knows the truth. It's up to him.”

The woman nodded and went back to the kitchen. Omer didn't look up from his work. His mother put a plate near the keyboard and leaned close. “You're welcome to stay here anytime you like. I'm praying for you, and I still love you.”

With that, she kissed her son on the forehead and went back to her room. Omer didn't turn around until she had closed the door. He glanced at Vicki. “She does make a pretty mean ham sandwich. Just wish I felt hungry enough to enjoy it.”

Vicki smiled. “Any progress?”

Omer took a bite of the sandwich. “Get some sleep. If I figure it out, I'll wake you.”

Vicki thanked him and headed down the hall.