Hunted (5 page)

Sam hit the send button and prayed that someone outside Petra would respond to the words. When he opened his eyes, Naomi Tiberius walked into the room. Naomi had become the main computer person at the site, helping train and coordinate communication with Chang Wong in New Babylon. Naomi was a little older than Sam, but he felt attracted to her. Though she had helped Sam become part of her computer team, she hadn't shown much interest outside their work together.

Sam had decided this would be the day he would talk with her about his feelings. He motioned for her and she smiled. A blip on Sam's screen showed he had a new batch of e-mail, but that could wait.

“Do you need help?” Naomi said as she walked up to him.

Do I ever
, Sam thought. He glanced at the floor, took a breath, and looked into her eyes. “I have something to ask you that's pretty important.”

Naomi sat and stared at the computer. “The monitor looks fine. Is something wrong with one of your programs?”

“No, this is not about computers. It's about us.”

“Us?” Naomi said, raising an eyebrow.

“Naomi, I don't know how to say this … I've tried not to let my feelings get in the way of our work together, but—”

Naomi put a hand on Sam's shoulder and smiled. “I have sensed that you felt something more than friendship for me.” She glanced away, then turned her chair toward him. “I think you're very sweet and kind, and you work very hard at everything you do. You have a heart for God. You're handsome, easy to talk with—”

“Okay,” Sam said, sensing bad news, “just get to the point.”

Naomi bit her lip. “I don't have the same feelings for you that you have for me.”

“Is it my age?”

“Partly perhaps, but—”

“You just said how great I am, handsome, a heart for God. Why can't you like me?”

“I do like you. You're a great friend, and a friend is to be treasured. But friends are always honest with each other. And I would be lying to say my feelings go beyond friendship.”

Sam paused. “Do you think you ever … you know … would your feelings ever change?”

“Again, I must be honest. I don't believe so.” Sam looked away, and she grabbed his chair and turned it. “I'm very flattered that you are attracted to me. I'm honored that you've talked to me in such a straightforward way. But you don't want me to lie, do you?”

Sam held up both hands. “It's okay. I won't mention it again.”

“Sam—”

“And you don't have to worry about this affecting my work. I'll keep going as long as you need the help.”

“Sam, look at me.”

Sam sighed and looked at the floor. “I feel like a fool.”

“Don't. You're very brave. You were honest with me and you risked getting hurt. I admire that.”

“Yeah. I've got a lot of great qualities, but nothing that interests you.”

“Sam—”

“It's okay. I understand what you're saying, and I thank you for trying to let me down easy. Now, I have some work to catch up on.”

“Sam, don't be upset.”

He clenched his teeth. “I'm not.”

Sam clicked on his e-mail box and pulled up several messages. Some were in response to recent editions of the Petra Diaries, and others were from kids in the Young Tribulation Force. As Naomi walked away, Sam put his head on the desk. No matter what she said, he still felt awful inside and knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate. He started to turn the computer off when he noticed a message from someone whose last name was Ben-Eliezar.

This is it
, Sam thought.
I've been waiting for so long
.

Vicki was elated about Becky Dial's reaction to the spruced-up cottage. The gesture had helped the woman's depression. Vicki had a chance to talk with her a few days later.

“It's not so much the cottage that helped,” Becky said, “but to know you guys went to all that trouble and were thinking about me really means a lot.”

Judd had called Vicki the day after, just as he had said, but news of his possible return didn't come until a few days later. Vicki took the call in the meeting room and rushed to her cabin to talk.

“I don't know how to say this,” Judd said, “but travel right now doesn't look good.”

“Is it the bounty hunters?” Vicki said.

“Yeah, I talked with Chang late last night. The GC response to the bounty hunters is positive. The guy in charge of the Rebel Apprehension Program—”

“Kruno Fulcire,” Vicki said.

“Right. He's expanding the program throughout the whole United North American States. Chang says that means bounty hunters will be everywhere. Think of it, Vick—with the GC or Morale Monitors, at least you can spot them by their uniforms. Bounty hunters won't be wearing any identifying clothing. And with the kind of money the GC is offering, you can bet these people will target believers and look for as many as they can find.”

“Any word on the two who were after you?”

“Chang got into the database and found out they were questioned. They're scouring the countryside for us, so we're on heightened alert. People are keeping watch all day.”

“I know what that's like.”

Judd paused. “I can't tell you how disappointed I am.”

“Me too. But you're safe, and at least we're on the same continent now.”

“Part of me wants to forget what the others are saying and just grab a couple of motorcycles and drive up there.”

“Sounds exciting but not very safe.”

“We also talked about finding a Co-op driver, but with the bounty hunters on the loose, the Co-op will be affected too.”

“What was the meeting like? Is everybody in agreement?”

“There are a couple of people who evidently didn't want to risk taking us in. I think they'll be okay, but we have to be sensitive to everybody's feelings.”

“So bottom line, you have no idea when—”

“I know exactly when I'll be there, and that's as soon as I can. The very second I get the chance.”

Sam found Mr. Stein speaking with a group of older believers in a cave. When he got the man alone, he showed him a copy of the e-mail from Aron Ben-Eliezar.

“This is one of the sons of the rabbi we helped escape Jerusalem?” Mr. Stein said.

“I'm sure of it. I didn't tell him where I was. He must think I'm in Israel because he asks to see me in Tel Aviv. Read what he says.”

Sam
,

I finally received your note. Thank you for writing. I'm glad to know my parents are safe, but I don't believe they are followers of Ben-Judah. I know they aren't foolish enough to buy what Carpathia says, but they wouldn't turn their backs on our faith
.

Joel and I would like to talk with you, but not by email or phone. And please, don't tell my parents about contacting me. If you can come late tomorrow night, we will wait for you
.

Shalom,
Aron

Aron gave a location and a specific time at the bottom of the page. Mr. Stein folded the paper and took a deep breath. “Something about this troubles me.”

“You think they are loyal to the Global Community?”

Mr. Stein shook his head. “No. I think they are lost lambs who need a shepherd, but I don't know what to do.”

“Let me go see them. I'll talk with them and tell them the truth.”

Mr. Stein pursed his lips.

“The Co-op has pilots. I could ride with one of them.”

“Wait here,” Mr. Stein said. He climbed down the steep stairway cut into the rock and disappeared.

Sam leaned against the wall and looked out on hundreds of thousands who had made their home in the ancient city. He looked toward the computer building and sighed.
I guess Naomi was kind with what she said, Lord, but it still hurts
.

A few minutes later Mr. Stein returned, his face tight. “I have spoken with the elders about the matter, and they are praying for direction. Unless they disagree with the plan, I will accompany you and we will find Aron and Joel together.”

5

SAM
shook hands with Mac McCullum and boarded the plane that had carried more materials to Petra. The Tribulation Force didn't have to worry about feeding the people here, but there were still ongoing computer and building needs.

Mac talked loudly and didn't hide the fact that he thought it was dangerous to send two believers into Israel. “But if the elders have given their approval, they must have a good reason.”

“We all submit to their authority,” Mr. Stein said. “If they had told us not to go, there would have been no question.”

“Who are you looking for?” Mac said.

“They are sons of a rabbi and his wife who are now in Petra,” Mr. Stein said.

Mac asked why the parents weren't going to talk with them, and Sam explained Aron's e-mail. “We're asking God to help us reach them and bring them out safely.”

“Well, I'll be prayin' for you,” Mac drawled. “But if those two have resisted the truth this long, I don't hold out much hope for them. How do you know they haven't taken Carpathia's mark?”

“From Aron's e-mail, it sounds like they hate Carpathia like many of the undecided in Petra,” Sam said.

“I hope it's not some kind of trap,” Mac said.

Mr. Stein asked Mac why he hadn't stayed in Petra, and Mac smiled. “I'd get too fat eating all that manna. Plus, I'm having more fun than a coon in a cornfield flying all over the place with Albie.”

“Who's Albie?” Sam said.

“Another Trib Force pilot. I moved in with him after I left the Strong Building in Chicago. We're staying in Al Basrah now, when we aren't flying, which is pretty much all the time. Albie's an expert at trading on the black market.” Sam scrunched his eyebrows and Mac said, “You know, getting things without the GC knowing about it and for as little cost as possible. Albie can find just about anything if you can pay the price. That's where this plane came from.”

“Do you have phony identification?” Sam said.

“Nah, after what happened in Greece, I know God's looking out for us flyboys. He's got things in control.”

Sam watched the Tel Aviv skyline come into view and dialed the number Judd had given him for the man known only as Sabir. Sabir had agreed to pick up Sam and Mr. Stein at an airfield Mac and Albie used. When they landed, Mr. Stein spotted a small car at the end of the runway and Mac slowed the engines. “Should be fine from here. Check with Chang when you want to head back to Petra.”

Sam and Mr. Stein thanked Mac and made their way through a chain-link fence that had been cut with wire cutters. Sabir, a short, Middle Eastern man with graying hair and glasses, welcomed them and as they drove told his story of being a former terrorist. Sam hadn't heard about Judd and Lionel's close call with the GC in Jerusalem, and he was thrilled at Sabir's version of the story. Sabir's wife had flown to Petra, and he handed Sam a note to give to her when Sam returned.

As they drove toward Tel Aviv, Sabir gave tips for avoiding the GC. Both Sam and Mr. Stein had hats on and wore long-sleeved shirts so no one could tell they didn't have the mark of Carpathia.

“Why don't you come back to Petra with us after we are through here?” Mr. Stein said as Sabir stopped the car in an alley. “You can take the message to your wife yourself.” “I would like that very much, but so far God hasn't given me peace about leaving. Just the other day I woke up from a sound sleep and felt urged to get in my car. I started it and sat behind the wheel for a good five minutes asking God where I should go.

“I heard no voices, no signs from the sky, so I started driving. A half hour later I was in front of a darkened storefront. I stopped at the curb to get my bearings and saw movement inside. Three people walked out a door and scurried into the night. Something told me I should follow, and I did, with my lights off.

“When they discovered I was there, they began to run. I got out and said, ‘In the name of Jesus, stop!' All three stopped dead in their tracks. They turned and walked toward me, and when I turned on my headlights I saw all three had the mark of the believer.”