Rise of the Beast (71 page)

“OK, let’s go,” said Tom, stepping through the ring.

With the new improvements, it seemed only a few seconds before he stepped out onto the concrete floor on the far side. A few seconds later, the group followed one by one.

The air was rather brisk here. Apparently the building was not heated.

Tom turned to the left to see an unarmed security guard, an older man, step through a door to the left. He looked somewhat confused.

“We weren’t expecting a transport this evening,” he said. “Where are you folks coming in from?”

“Katafanga,” said Tom. “We’re evacuating the scientists as a precautionary measure.”

“Oh, OK,” said the guard, looking at Tom. “That’s some suit.”

“It is pretty nice, temperature controlled,” said Tom. “It’s experimental—you know, classified, that sort of thing.”

“Got ya,” confirmed the guard. “Mum’s the word.”

With the last of the scientists through, the wormhole closed behind them. It was then that the guard noticed the two injured scientists. “What happened?”

“We had an incident; bullet wounds I’m afraid,” said Tom. “Sorry, I can’t say any more than that until we finish the investigation.”

“You want that I should call an ambulance?” asked the guard. “It would only take about five minutes to get from here to Christchurch Hospital.”

“Yes, thank you,” said Tom.

The guard made the call on his cell phone. Tom listened carefully to make sure that this guy wasn’t calling backup instead. He didn’t.

“They’re on their way,” said the guard, “We can meet them up front.

“Thank you,” said Tom.

“They’re talking about this bloody wave that we might get tomorrow night,” continued the guard. “They’re saying that it could be 10 or 20 feet high. Areas within a couple miles of the waterfront have a mandatory evacuation, but the hospital is on high ground, the safe zone they’re calling it. So are we.”

“Good to hear,” said Tom.

It turned out that this facility was maintained by only three men. They were talking to the head of security. No, there would be no problem here. Already transport for the scientists to a local hotel on this side of the city was being arranged. Once this crisis blew over, these people would be able to arrange transportation back to their homes. Tom wondered what sort of life they would be returning to.

Tom and Les headed over to the hastily constructed control room in the corner of the warehouse. In a few minutes, Tom would need to be on his way back to Katafanga to resume the fight. Les powering up the small scale fusion plant and entered the coordinates into the computer.

“I think we did a better job on this one,” noted Les. “The power plant is smaller, more efficient. It takes only five minutes to fire it up. One man can operate the whole system. It’s the image of future transportation. That is, if we have a future.”

Tom shook his head. “I’ve seen a lot during the past five years, both incredible and horrifying. Now, Satan’s right here on Earth. I don’t know if I envy you your future.”

“So, where will you go now, Tom?” asked Les. “Will you be heading back to this Refuge place, back to Hell?”

“I might have to,” said Tom. “We don’t know how long our bodies will survive here. I still feel OK, but I don’t know how much longer that will last. We don’t belong here anymore.”

A green light appeared on the control panel before them. “We have power for transport,” said Les. The pressing of a single button brought the mists into the depths of the ring. He paused. “It was good to see you again, Tom. I’ll consider what you’ve told me. My God, it’s hard to believe. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you out on that altar.”

“Do yourself a favor,” said Tom. “Accept Jesus Christ into your heart. His way, God’s way, is better than man’s way. I had to learn it through the ultimate school of hard knocks. Learn from my mistake.”

“I’ll try,” promised Les, “I really will.”

The two men briefly embraced. Then Tom was on his way. He stepped from the control room and into the ring. He vanished like an apparition.

Les powered down the system and stepped from the control room to find Nabuko. He smiled.

“Has he left?” she asked.

“Yeah, he’s gone,” confirmed Les.

“Back there on the island you said something about him being dead,” continued Nabuko.

“Yes,” confirmed Les.

“You will need to explain that to me on the way to the hotel,” said Nabuko, a smile coming to her face. “I suspect there is an even more amazing story here than I know. I’ve seen so many things tonight that I just can’t explain.”

“One could almost call it a miracle,” noted Les, gazing toward the empty ring. “Yes, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“The van is waiting,” said Nabuko. “I got one room for the two of us. I hope that will be ok.”

“That will be fine, my dear,” said Les, taking Nabuko’s hand. “Let’s go.”

The two walked toward the front door, to the waiting van. They would have much to share tonight. What they might gain from the sharing was up to them.

C
HAPTER
28

Serena clung to the bars, gasping for air amidst the sulfurous smoke. Her lungs burned and she was beginning to cough up blood. She had been lowered about ten feet during the past hour, and now the bottom of the cage was about level with the edge of the pit.

The cage itself, especially the bottom had become exceptionally hot. Her bare feet were scarred by its terrible touch, and the state of her dehydration was causing her body to overheat. No, it was not the equal of the terrible pains of Hell, but it was about as close to them as this world could provide.

Amidst her suffering she prayed. “Lord, don’t let me seem to have lived in vain,” she gasped. “You gave me life again. I gladly give it back to you.”

Through it all, Satan watched intently. Indeed, he was in his glory. “Was it worth it, Serena?” he asked. “Were all of your years of reaching out to the lost worth this?”

Serena looked toward Satan. She could no longer see him clearly. “Yes, it was worth it,” she gasped. “And I’d do it again. I’d do it a thousand times. To deprive you of so many souls, it was worth it. I’ve won. Admit it, I’ve won. And you hate me for it.”

“Should I lower her still further my lord?” asked one of the demons.

“No,” said Satan. “She will suffer longer, more exquisitely, if she remains
right there. I want this moment to last. I want to wring the life out of her slowly. I want her to pay. And when I’m done with her, I’ll do her pathetic excuse for a husband.”

“You should know all about pathetic,” said Chris.

Satan turned to Chris and laughed. “Your time is coming, I promise you.”

From the corridor, one of the security guards summoned Lielani. She drew back into the darkness.

“Ma’am, I fear that something is amiss,” he said. “We have been unable to make contact with our sentries at the fusion power plant. Another patrol reported that the scientists had left the resort and were trying to make their way up to building one. They were ordered to round them up and confine them to their quarters. We haven’t heard from them since.”

“How long ago?” asked Lielani.

“The sentries at the fusion plant missed their hourly report nearly an hour ago. The other report, the one regarding the scientists was 43 minutes ago. There was even a report of shots being fired.”

“And you’re only coming to me now?” said Lielani, anger in her voice.

“Ma’am, over half of our security personnel left for Europe through the ring this morning. We’re working with a skeleton crew,” said the officer.

“We either have our scientists in revolt, or we have uninvited guests on our island,” said Lielani. “Contact our main security office in Paris; inform them of our situation. I want 20 armed security people on this island within the hour. Tell them we are looking at possible hostile forces on our island. Now, move.”

The officer quickly departed, and Lielani returned to the chamber. She was not about to inform the master. Not now, not in his moment of glory. She would see to this problem herself.

Bedillia, Leland Senior, and Krissie had reached the perimeter fence surrounding the compound. Unfortunately the area beyond here was illuminated by security lights. This was the tricky part of the plan. Leland took the wire cutters and began to cut their way through the fence. It would be better than
a one hundred yard run across open country to reach any cover. Bedillia was amazed that they hadn’t encountered any further resistance. She’d seen a single sentry by the chapel door about ten minutes ago, but now he was gone. Perhaps the security was lighter than they had at first thought. If only they were so lucky.

But they had another problem; Bedillia was beginning to feel ill and achy. The others were beginning to feel it too. Tesla had said that this would be the first sign of cohesive deterioration. They didn’t have much time.

“That’s it,” announced Leland Senior, “we’re through.” He tossed the pieces of fence to the side.

They were about to take off across the open field when they heard the sound of a vehicle engine. They dropped into the high weeds.

It was less than 20 seconds later when two jeeps with four heavily armed security guards each shot past on the road, 80 feet away, at high speed. They were on their way toward the resort and the science facility.

Immediately Bedillia went for her communicator. “Tom, can you copy?”

A second later she heard his voice. He had only just returned from New Zealand. Now he would have to face eight armed security guards on his own. Should he try to hold the building, cover their escape, or retreat into the woods?

On this mission, Bedillia’s word was final. She ordered Tom to retreat into the woods. Lusan’s people knew something was going on. Right now they didn’t know what. The team would need to remain invisible for as long as possible. Tom complied. He would wait in the woods until further orders. Perhaps the security forces were spread thin. Perhaps they wouldn’t choose to occupy the science facility.

Now Bedillia’s team made the run across the open field. Bedillia was thankful for the power suit. She doubted that she could have made very much speed without it. She wondered just how much time she had before her body simply fell apart. “Lord God, give me strength,” she whispered.

The team reached the shadows of one of the dormitories. They moved cautiously forward until Bedillia could see the front entrance to the chapel. She ducked back quickly. Then she turned to the others. “There is a guard at the door,” she announced. “And it’s not just any guard, it’s a winged demon. I don’t think he saw me.”

“Why don’t we just blast him?” said Krissie.

“Because we’d lose the element of surprise,” said Bedillia. “We lose that, it’s all over. Satan will kill the prisoners.”

“So, what do we do?” asked Leland Senior. “Our time is running out.”

“We wait,” said Bedillia. “I feel like I’m being told to wait. Trust me on this one.”

“OK,” said Krissie, “but I’m feeling worse by the minute. If we wait too long, we won’t be able to pull this thing off.”

Bedillia didn’t need anyone to tell her that. She didn’t know how much longer she would be able to hold out either. Still that voice within pleaded for her to wait. She would follow its leading.