Into the Storm (9 page)

“Couldn’t get his gun,” the boy shouted.

“Open that window!”

Jake was on it.

“It’s stuck,” he said.

Lionel heard coughing and sputtering outside, then a shout from the man at the van.

“Don’t do this,” Lionel said.

“Too late now,” the boy said.

“You’re in this as much as me.”

The boy yanked at the window. The second time, the window broke from its hinges, leaving a small opening.

“You Just,” the big kid said to Lionel.

“No way,” Lionel said.

“Suityourself ,” the boy said.

Jake went out, then the bigger boy. Lionel heard footsteps, then gunfire. If he stayed, he might get hit.

Lionel hopped up to the opening and fell to the ground in some bushes.

He easily caught up with the other two as they crossed a creek.

In the distance Lionel heard the door break and more shots.

He was glad to be alive, but he had no idea what trouble he Judd was anxious to leave the hangar and be with his friends, but he couldn’t leave without the secret documents.

They were the only hope for Mrs. Stahley and Taylor Graham.

As the hours passed, his hope faded.

He spent most of the day on the computer, answering questions and sending material. Every chance he got, he moved around the room looking for the entrance to the house.

He was at the computer when he heard a noise. Voices. People moving around. Knocks on the wall.

Judd sat still. He could hear himself breathe.

“It sounds hollow here,” a man said on the other side of the wall.

“It sounds hollow in a lot of places,” another said.

“Keep looking.”

When the men moved on, Judd let out a sigh of relief. He had to have a plan of escape in case the GC

discovered the entrance to the hangar.

Lionel and the other two boys ran through the night. When they came to a swampy area, Lionel warned them of snakes.

“They have water moccasins down here,” he said.

“They’re not out this time of year,” Jake said.

“Are they?”

The boys went around the swamp and came upon an abandoned farmhouse. Lionel couldn’t see inside and didn’t want to chance going in. With no flashlight or matches, they huddled on the porch and waited for light.

Something moved inside.

“Probably a raccoon,” the big boy whispered.

“Maybe a possum.”

A bat flew through the window, and the boys heard an earsplitting screech.

“I’ll take my chances with the snakes,” Jake said, as all three fled the house.

Lionel said very little as he and Jake followed the bigger boy. By morning they were tired and hungry.

Lionel was covered with burrs from head to foot.

“You think they’ll get the police on us?” Jake asked the big boy.

I hope they do, Lionel thought. Then I can tell them what really happened.

“They won’t chance using the cops,” the big boy said.

“What they’re doing is illegal.” The boy looked at the sunrise.

“I have a good feeling. If we’ve made it till now, we’re probably all right. “

The boys followed a dirt road that eventually led them to a small general store. Lionel had enough change for one bottle of soda. They were sharing the drink when Lionel saw the van. Jake and the other boy ran. Lionel just stood by the store and waited.

Vicki assigned the articles for the Underground and worked late into the night on each one. Judd had done an excellent job providing material from Dr. Ben-Judah. Chaya was editing Bruce’s sermon notes from the memorial service. Mark had written about the “wrath of the Lamb” prophecy and what damage a worldwide quake would do.

She hoped to add these to Buck Williams’s material and an article about taking the mark. If it all came through, it would be the most convincing newspaper the kids had ever published.

Vicki talked with Buck after reading an advance copy of his Global Community Weekly article.

“As you can see,” Buck said, “I’ve tried to take an objective viewpoint.”

“But there’s enough truth in here for people to figure it out,” Vicki said.

“How does this kind of reporting compare with the other things you’ve done?”

“I’ve done Man of the Year stories, covered famous personalities, breaking news events,” Buck said,

“but I’ve enjoyed this more than all the others combined.”

“You have everybody in here,” Vicki said.

“Nicolae Carpathia, faith guides from around the world...”

“But the scoop of the year is getting Tsion Ben-Judah,” Buck said.

“How are you going to explain getting an interview with him to your bosses?” Vicki said.

“Simple.” Buck smiled.

“Dr. Ben-Judah learned about the story over the Internet and submitted his view from a secret location.”

Vicki could see the excitement in Buck’s eyes. Within a week, millions of people would read what she held in her hands.

“My hope is that people will get far enough into the article to see what a converted Jew fromNorway says about the earthquake,” Buck said.

Vicki flipped to the next-to-last page.

“No one should assume there will be shelter,” the man was quoted as saying.

“If you believe, as I do, that Jesus Christ is the only hope for salvation, you should repent of your sins and receive him before the threat of death visits you.”

As much as he liked the Bible room, Ryan hated being cooped up. Buck was able to find an old laptop computer for him, but since there was no telephone in theroom, Ryan had no connection for E-mail. He knew he shouldn’t bother the rabbi.

Bruce had equipped the room with a cable hookup, so Ryan kept up with the news. News stations ran footage of the arrest of Mrs. Stahley and Taylor Graham, but nothing more was said. They were being held in connection with the murder of Mr. Stahley.

Each day Ryan was supplied with food by Chloe or Amanda.

Ryan loved his visits with Amanda because she reminded him of his mother. Chief in his mind was Darrion’s safety.

“You don’t need to worry about her,” Amanda said.

“We have a visitor coming next week, so we asked Sandy Moore if she could stay with her. “

“Is that the computer guy’s wife?” Ryan asked.

“Right,” Amanda said.

“At first,Sandysaid she didn’t know if it would work. Then she talked with Donny, and he said he had the perfect place.”

“Good,” Ryan said.

“The GC would have no reason to look there.”

Amanda asked how Ryan felt about being alone.

“I’m OK,” Ryan said.

“I just want to get out of here as fast as I can.”

“I’m counting the days until I see Rayford again, too,” Amanda said.

“He’s in New Babylon. I enjoy the work Chloe and Iare doing, but I’d give anything for us to be together.”

“Must be tough,” Ryan said.

Amanda Steele pulled a chair close to Ryan.

“I’m not sure anything can be as tough as what you’re going through,” she said.

“You’ve lost everything you’ve ever known. Your parents. Your best friend, Raymie.”

“But I’ve gained a lot, too,” Ryan said.

“That’s what Bruce said when I talked about his family. He said it was worth losing everything just to make sure he was right with

“Bruce was right,” Amanda said.

“If he were here, he’d tell you how proud he is of you.”

Lionel had been placed in the locked van while the two men caught Jake and the other boy. The men had given up the search the night before and delivered the other kids. Then they returned.

“We knew we’d catch you kids someplace where there was food,” the guard with the bad teeth said.

“You’re gonna pay for getting’ away,” the other said.

They crossed theMississippistate line intoAlabamaand finally reached the compound. Several older teens roughly led the three into a small, dingy building. Lionel was locked in a single room with no light.

He awoke to the sound of birds. It was morning. Lionel imagined the nest of little ones breaking through their eggs, waiting for their mother to bring food. What freedom, he thought.

It had been two days since he had eaten a full meal. Lionel could tell he was getting weaker. He had always said he was “starving to death” when he was the least bit hungry. Now he felt like he really was.

Ryan finally got up the nerve to knock on Tsion Ben-Judah’s door. He was sure the rabbi was being hidden there. He just didn’t know if the man could hear his knock.

“Dr. Rabbi, sir,” Ryan called, “it’s me. Ryan. I don’t want to disturb you. I know you’re doing important stuff and all.”

Ryan sat down by the concrete blocks. If the door was as thick as it looked, the rabbi wouldn’t be able to hear a sledgehammer.

Suddenly the door opened, and a ray of light hit Ryan full in the face.

“Dr. Ben-Judah, sir,” Ryan stammered.

“Come in, Ryan,” Tsion said.

“I know I’m not supposed to come down here, and I’m awfully”—“It is all right,” Tsion said.

“But Mr. Williams and the others will be upset”—“Don’t worry,” Tsion said.

“I will tell them I needed the company.”

Ryan looked around the enclosure. It was sectioned into three rooms. There was a full bath and shower, a bedroom with four double bunk beds, and a larger room with a small kitchen on one side and a living room study on the other.

Ryan went straight to the computer. While

Tsion was talking, a message came from Judd. He told the rabbi about the voices on the other side of the wall.

“Can I?” Ryan said.

“Be my guest,” Tsion said.

Ryan typed, “Hey, Judd, hang in there. The troops are coming.”

“Who is this?” Judd typed.

“Your pal, Ryan. Could you go outside and climb into a window upstairs?”

“The information I have is that the house is surrounded,” Judd said.

“I’m hoping to find the entrance,then sneak up there at night.”

Ryan signed off and thanked the rabbi.

“I won’t come down here anymore,” Ryan said.

“You were no bother,” Tsion said.

“I will pray that you are able to make it out soon.”

“I’m sure I will,” Ryan said.

On Friday afternoon, Lionel was released from the building and given food. He tried not to eat too fast, but he ate and drank all that was given to him in less than a minute.

Lionel was led to a meeting hall, where all the lads sat on the floor and listened to a man talk about the Global Community.

“You came here as boys, but you’ll leave as men,” the man said.

“Our hope is that you’ll

Ryan finally got up the nerve to knock on Tsion Ben-Judah’s door. He was sure the rabbi was being hidden there. He just didn’t know if the man could hear his knock.

“Dr. Rabbi, sir,” Ryan called, “it’s me. Ryan. I don’t want to disturb you. I know you’re doing important stuff and all.”

Ryan sat down by the concrete blocks. If the door was as thick as it looked, the rabbi wouldn’t be able to hear a sledgehammer.

Suddenly the door opened, and a ray of light hit Ryan full in the face.

“Dr. Ben-Judah, sir,” Ryan stammered.

“Come in, Ryan,” Tsion said.

“I know I’m not supposed to come down here, and I’m awfully”—“It is all right,” Tsion said.

“But Mr. Williams and the others will be upset”—“Don’t worry,” Tsion said.

“I will tell them I needed the company.”

Ryan looked around the enclosure. It was sectioned into three rooms. There was a full bath and shower, a bedroom with four double bunk beds, and a larger room with a small kitchen on one side and a living room study on the other.

Ryan went straight to the computer. While

Tsion was talking, a message came from Judd. He told the rabbi about the voices on the other side of the wall.

“Can I?” Ryan said.

“Be my guest,” Tsion said.

Ryan typed, “Hey, Judd, hang in there. The troops are coming.”

“Who is this?” Judd typed.

“Your pal, Ryan. Could you go outside and climb into a window upstairs?”

“The information I have is that the house is surrounded,” Judd said.

“I’m hoping to find the entrance,then sneak up there at night.”

Ryan signed off and thanked the rabbi.

“I won’t come down here anymore,” Ryan said.

“You were no bother,” Tsion said.

“I will pray that you are able to make it out soon.”

“I’m sure I will,” Ryan said.

On Friday afternoon, Lionel was released from the building and given food. He tried not to eat too fast, but he ate and drank all that was given to him in less than a minute.

Lionel was led to a meeting hall, where all the kids sat on the floor and listened to a man talk about the Global Community.

“You came here as boys, but you’ll leave as men,” the man said.

“Our hope is that you’ll become an asset to the brotherhood of mankind.”

Lionel saw Jake in the corner. They met after the meeting.

“Did you get any of what the guy was saying?” Lionel said.

Jake shook his head.

“My stomach’s still too empty to listen,” he said.

“But I do know one thing. Every one of us means more money to the guys running the place.”

“What do you mean?” Lionel said.

“They’ve got some racket going with the Global Community,” Jake said.

“For every kid that comes here, they get X amount of dollars of support from the GC.”

“Even if they get here the way you and I did?” Lionel said.

“The GC doesn’t know that,” Jake said.

“And there’s something else. They’re training us for something. I don’t know what, but one guy said when we leave, we get to carry a gun.”

“How’d you find that out?” Lionel said.

Jake pointed to someone sitting in the corner.

“That kid over there,” he said.

“His name’s Conrad.”

Ryan slipped into the church office. The front doors were locked, and Loretta had gone home. Ryan dialed the number and gave his address. He went out the back of the church and stayed in the shadows.

Night was falling, but he wanted to use the rest of the daylight for his trip.

When the cab pulled up in front, Ryan looked both ways,then ran. When he got in, the cabbie said,