Hunted (48 page)

“The GC moved into the lava tubes in Oregon,” Mark said a few days after Judd and Vicki returned.

“Lava tubes?” Charlie said.

“They're natural rock formations made by volcanoes,” Mark said. “Miles of tunnels believers have been using since we were forced to go underground. Once the plague of heat hit, GC survivors decided to move into them at night because the temperature is so cool during the day. They surprised some believers, and a bunch of them were executed.”

“Why couldn't someone have helped?” Vicki said.

“These believers were pretty cut off from anyone outside. They were living on their own.”

Other members of the Tribulation Force passed along stories of believers eluding the GC in China, the Philippines, Australia, and other locations. The 144,000 evangelists continued their preaching, and many undecided became believers. This encouraged the Wisconsin group, knowing that there were still some without Carpathia's mark, but everyone knew the numbers were dwindling.

Though Vicki didn't like to be separated from Judd, they each took separate trips as requested by the Tribulation Force to help believers with supplies, food, and new places to live. In some cases, Vicki was asked to go because she had been the main contact for younger believers who had seen her at one of the stadium events. At other locations, the Trib Force needed help loading and unloading materials, and Judd volunteered. Most of these were daylong flights or drives, so they were back with each other the next day.

As time went on, Vicki wondered what Judd was thinking about their relationship. They had become more serious, and everyone in the Wisconsin group wondered if Judd would propose. “I'm content however things work out,” Vicki told her friends, “but I'll admit I wouldn't mind being Mrs. Judd Thompson.”

Judd agonized over the marriage question. He knew Vicki was the one for him, if he did decide to get married, but things seemed to be going so well that he didn't want to mess up their friendship. Judd pored over the Scriptures and asked people's advice.

Zeke was a big help, saying that if God planted a desire for marriage, there wasn't anything to hold him back. “You have to ask yourself—are you ready to love another human being the way God loves you?”

On a trip to Tennessee to help out a group that had befriended him, Judd opened the Bible to the passage in 1 Corinthians, chapter 13. Known as the love chapter, Judd read the verses, then wrote a segment of the passage in his own words.

Love is so patient and kind that others can see it, taste it, and smell it. Love isn't jealous when someone else succeeds, isn't rude, doesn't boast, and certainly isn't prideful. Love doesn't want things a certain way and doesn't get irritated over little things. Love doesn't keep a scorecard. When a wrong is committed, a person who loves doesn't hold that over the other person's head. A person who loves isn't glad about people who are treated unfairly, but is glad when the truth is seen and welcomed. Love simply does not give up, it never loses faith or hope, and in every circumstance, no matter what that circumstance is, love keeps on going.

Judd studied the list and shook his head.
Love is pretty tough to accomplish
, he thought. As he looked over his words and the other parts of the passage, he was struck by how many of these verses Vicki lived. She was never jealous of anyone who succeeded, was never proud or boastful about her accomplishments, and seemed to always put others ahead of herself. Even when Judd was asked to go on trips for the Trib Force, she seemed genuinely excited for his opportunities.

Though it scared him, it was on that flight that Judd finally made up his mind to ask Vicki the most important question of his life.
“Perfect love expels all fear,”
Judd thought. Zeke loved quoting that verse. Maybe he was right.

Vicki was excited when Judd asked her to help him deliver supplies to a Wisconsin group she had never heard of. Judd said they would be gone a few hours and that she might want to bring some food along, so she packed a lunch and they set out after ten that morning.

They chatted about the way things were going with the group, how much help Charlie had been, and how glad they were that he had become part of the group. Vicki had received an e-mail from Wanda that morning reporting good progress by Cheryl.

“You think she'll ever come back?” Judd said.

“Wanda doesn't think it's a good idea yet, but if Cheryl keeps working on getting healthy—” Vicki pointed to her head—“I wouldn't be surprised to see her again.”

“Ryan Victor sure is full of spunk,” Judd said.

Vicki laughed and repeated a story about the boy Josey had told her the day before. Ryan had truly been the bright spot in their lives the past two years.

Vicki noticed a cloud of dust in one of the mirrors and turned. “Do you see that?”

Judd glanced back. “Looks like smoke from a building.”

“No, it came from beside the road, like someone just pulled out.” Vicki peered through the back windshield and yelped. “Judd, there's a car coming this way.”

“Well, we don't have anything to worry about, right? It has to be a believer or the car would be burning up by now.”

“I suppose you're right, but what if the plague's lifted? Or maybe the GC has figured out a way to overcome the effects—”

“I see lights on top of that car,” Judd interrupted.

“Step on it. We can lose whoever it is in this Humvee.”

Judd sped up, but the car gained on them. Vicki's heart beat faster and faster.

The car was right behind them and Judd slowed.

“What are you doing? Keep going.”

“Let's see who it is.”

“What are you talking about? That guy's GC. I know it!”

Judd pulled to the side of the road and stopped. Vicki stared in disbelief as a man in a Global Community uniform stepped from the car pointing a gun at the Humvee.

Judd rolled down his window and studied the rear-view mirror. “Let's play this straight. Just do what he says and we'll be okay.”

“Both of you step out of the car,” the officer said.

Judd put a hand on Vicki's shoulder. “We'll be okay. Just get out.”

Vicki opened the door and climbed out. She looked for a place to run, but the officer motioned her to the rear of the Humvee. The air felt warm, so the plague was still in effect.

“You, redhead, walk slowly toward me with your hands up,” the officer said.

Vicki did as she was told.

“What do you want with us?” Judd said.

“Shut up and come with me, punk.”

“No!” Vicki said.

“Hands on the back of the car!” the officer warned.

Vicki turned. She couldn't believe they had been caught. They had gone through so much, too much to have it end like this.

“You,” the officer said to Judd, “on your knees.”

Judd knelt behind the car, and Vicki glanced at the officer, who slowly walked toward them. The man stopped near Judd, holstered his gun, and pulled something out of his pocket. “I believe this is yours, young man. And I think you know what to do with it.”

Vicki turned, her brow furrowed. The officer had given Judd a tiny box, and Judd smiled. The officer took off his sunglasses and pushed his hat up, showing the mark of the true believer.

“Zeke?” Vicki said.

“Pay attention to what's happening, redhead,” Zeke said.

Vicki glanced at Judd, who was still on one knee. “Vicki, I have known you almost six years, and though we've had some difficult days, the last few weeks have been the happiest of my life.”

Vicki covered her mouth with a hand as Judd opened the box, revealing a sparkling ring.

“I've come to love you, Vicki, and I want to share the rest of my days with you, before our Lord returns.” He pulled the ring from the box and held it out. His voice broke when he said, “Will you marry me?”

Tears stung Vicki's eyes as she slipped the ring on her finger. Vicki fell into Judd's arms and they kissed. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “Yes.”

45

WHEN
Vicki returned to the camp in Avery, the others had put together an engagement party for her and Judd. Zeke had told everyone what was going on, and Josey had made a cake.

Lionel could hardly contain himself. He kept slapping Judd on the back, smiling, laughing, and shaking his head. “You finally did it!”

After Vicki recovered from the shock of the creative way Judd had asked her to marry him, she socked him in the shoulder for scaring her with the GC trick. “You just about gave me a heart attack! I thought we were both dead.”

Judd smiled. “I thought it would be memorable. Who wants to tell everybody a boring engagement story?”

They both met with Marshall to talk about their next step. To her surprise, Vicki discovered there were a few at the camp who thought it wasn't a good idea for them to get married.

“I've had conversations with some who think these kinds of things shouldn't be happening,” Marshall said. “But this is a personal decision, and you two have shown good judgment through this dating process.”

“What do you mean?” Judd said.

“Let's just say people have been watching you two to see if you'd become clingy with each other. You know, to see if you'd be so ‘in love' that you wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything else. But we've been pleased with how you've handled this.”

“Vicki and I were talking about dates for the wedding,” Judd said. “Is there a set waiting period?”

“That's up to you, though I would suggest you go through a marriage counseling course.”

“What will that do?” Vicki said.

“It helps prepare you for the big changes ahead. We could set up the sessions and have them done as fast as possible.”

Judd bit his lip. “I know this is a long shot, but would there be any way to link with Dr. Ben-Judah and have him perform the ceremony?”

“We were talking,” Vicki continued, “and outside of Bruce Barnes, the person who has mentored us most is Dr. Ben-Judah, even though it's been mostly through his writing.”

Marshall scratched his chin. “Why don't you e-mail him and see?”

Judd wrote the e-mail and let Vicki read it. “Perfect,” she said. He sent it directly to Dr. Ben-Judah and copied Sam Goldberg and Mr. Stein. Vicki wrote Chloe Steele and a few others she thought would be interested in their news. Within an hour, a flood of messages came back.

I'm so happy for you, Vicki and Judd
, Chloe wrote.
I think you'll find marriage one of the most challenging and rewarding things you'll ever do. I can't imagine not having married Buck, in spite of how little time we have left.

Rayford Steele also wrote. Judd was a little anxious, but he was relieved when he read Rayford's message.
I've been married twice, and only once as a believer. Having someone share the good and bad times is one of the greatest comforts I've experienced. You two will be a great team!