Into the Storm (4 page)

“So there goes free speech,” Judd said.

“What’s he calling them?”

“I’m not sure,” Graham said.

“But he doesn’t want to use the words police or secret, though that’s exactly what they’ll be.”

“What land of power would they have?”

“They’ll carry guns,” Graham said.

“If they have reason to stop someone or question him or even search him, they can do it.”

“Their own judge and jury,” Judd said.

“Exactly. Whoever is perceived as an enemy, whoever says something negative about the Global Community, can be eliminated right there.”

“Where’s he going to get these people?” Judd said.

“All over the world,” Graham said.

“That’s why I’ve been going along with them.”

“What do you mean?”

“When they called and threatened me inIsrael,” Graham said, “they had no power. I could’ve refused and walked away. But they brought up Conrad, my brother.”

“What does he have to do with it?” Judd said.

“He had nothing to do with it until they got him,” Graham said.

“He’s in one of the camps for these new GC monitors down South somewhere. They said if I didn’t help them find Mrs. Stahley, they’d put an end to his education. “

“So you are cooperating with them,” Judd said.

“Only to buy time,” Graham said.

“How old is he?”

“About your age,” Graham said.

“Maybe a little younger. If I can find Mrs. Stahley and get those documents, I might be able to use them as barter. If not, I’ll take them to the media and hope I can find my brother before it’s too late.”

Ryan could tell Rayford Steele was near the end of his message. The pilot wiped his forehead and closed his Bible.

“The seventh Seal Judgment is mysterious because Scripture is not dear what form it will take. All the Bible says is that it is apparently so dramatic that there will be silence in heaven for half an hour. We will study those judgments and talk about them as we move into that period. However, for now, I believe Bruce has left us with much to think and pray about.”

Rayford stepped to the side of the pulpit, just behind Bruce’s casket.

He looked down and said, “We have loved this man. We have learned from this man. And now we must say good-bye. Though we know he is finally with Christ, do not hesitate to grieve and mourn. The Bible says we are not to mourn as those who have no hope, but it does not say we should not mourn at all.

Grieve with all your might. But don’t let it keep you from the task. What Bruce would have wanted above all else is that we stay about the business of bringing every person we can into the kingdom before it is too late. “

Rayford closed in prayer. As Ryan looked up, he saw the pilot sit and lower his head. Most stayed seated, while a few quietly stood and made their way out. Ryan stayed for a few moments,then went downstairs to the meeting place.

“Why didn’t they open the casket?” Ryan said.

“I think they want people to come back for a viewing later,” Vicki said.

“I’ll be with Chaya at her mom’s funeral.”

Ryan looked around and saw a boy helping an old woman down the steps.

As they moved toward him Ryan said, “Has anybody seen Judd?”

“I saw him, young man,” the frail old woman said.

“He gave up his seat for me and my ... my daughter.”

The woman took off her dark glasses and raised her silver wig.

“Mrs. Stahley!” Ryan said.

The woman put a finger to her lips and closed the door to the meeting room.

“If what you say is really true,” Judd said, “I need to get back and warn my friends.”

Taylor Graham looked away.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said.

“With the level of risk, I’m not sure you should ever see them again.”

Ryan hugged Darrion. She had cut her hair even shorter to look like a boy.

“Where did you guys go?” Ryan said.

“Wisconsin,” Darrion said.

“We have a” Mrs. Stahley interrupted her daughter.

“We can’t tell you exactly where our cottage is. It’s not safe for you to know. But we had to find out if you and Judd made it back OK.”

“You came all that way for us?” Ryan said.

“Taylor Graham is not our friend,” Mrs. Stahley said.

“He’s been with us so long, I can’t imagine him being disloyal to us, but now I think he’s working solely for the Global Community.”

“What tipped you off?” Ryan said.

“My husband’s E-mail is still on the Global Community list,” she said.

“He received a coded message that saysTayloris cooperating. He’s trying to find Judd, and in turn, trying to find me. “

Vicki put her hand on Mrs. Stahley’s shoulder.

“Judd should be hearing this,” Mrs. Stahley said.

“Where is he?”

“Maybe he’s back talking with Rayford or Buck,” Ryan said.

“I’ll go get him.”

“No, you stay here,” Vicki said.

“I’ll look.”

“I don’t have much time,” Mrs. Stahley said.

“I know the GCare looking for me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were somewhere in that crowd this morning.”

“But I have to get back to them,” Judd said.

“If you let the others know where you are, you’ll put them in as much danger asyou’re in,” Taylor Graham said.

“You can’t do that. I’ll get a message to them for you.”

Something felt wrong. If Graham was working for the GC, it would make sense that he would want to find the other kids.

They might lead him to Mrs. Stahley. But Graham could be telling the truth. What he said next sent a shiver down Judd’s spine.

“There’s also a report that your friend, Buck Williams, has Tsion Ben-Judah with him,” Graham said.

“Is that true?”

Rayford Steele told Vicki he hadn’t seen Judd all morning.

Vicki ran to the parking lot and spotted Buck and Chloe getting into their car. Before she could reach them. Buck’s co-worker, Verna Zee, arrived.

Vicki knew from her talks with Verna at Loretta’s house that the woman did not believe in Christ. Vicki also knew that Buck was nervous about Verna and her knowledge of what he believed. She stood a few feet away and listened as Verna said, “I recognized Tsion Ben-Judah!”

“I’m sorry?” Buck said.

“He’s going to be in deep trouble when the Global Community peacekeeping forces find out where he is. Don’t you know he’s wanted all over the world? Buck, you’re in as much trouble as he is, and I’m tired of pretending I have no idea what you’re up to.”

“Verna, we have to go somewhere and talk about this,” Buck said.

“I can’t keep your secret forever. Buck,” Verna said.

“Do all these people believe Nicolae Carpathia is the Antichrist?”

“I can’t speak for everyone,” Buck said.

“Verna, I took a huge risk in helping you out the other night and letting you stay at Loretta’s home.”

“You sure did. And you may regret it for the rest of your life.”

Vicki turned and slowly walked back to the church. She heard Verna threaten Buck. If Verna told her superiors about Buck’s beliefs, he could lose his job or even his life. She would talk with Chloe after the funeral and find out what happened.

If Judd was reluctant to give information about his friends, he was even more hesitant to talk about Tsion Ben-Judah.

Judd knew the Global Community would stop at nothing to silence this man who had caused such a stir around the world.

“Why are you asking about him?” Judd said.

“I have to know what I’m up against,” Graham said.

“I don’t think the GChave put you and this Williams guy together yet, but if they do, it could be bad news for everybody.”

Judd silently prayed. He had acted so quickly in talking with this stranger. Now if he said the wrong thing, not only could Judd endanger his friends but the adult Trib Force as well.

“I’m not giving you any information,” Judd finally said.

“Maybe you’re who you say you are, and maybe you’re not. I’m not taking the chance. “

Taylor Graham stood and walked to the other side of the room.

“Let me go, and I’ll be careful,” Judd said.

“Or you can lock me up here, I don’t care. You can kill me if”—“I’m not going to kill you,” Graham said, slamming his fist against the wall.

“I’m helping you, can’t you see that?” The man moved closer.

“What can I tell you that’ll prove I’m telling the truth?”

Judd shook his head.

“Then I’ll go back and get your friends,” Graham said.

“And I’ll bring them here one by one if that’s what it takes.”

Ryan noticed that Mrs. Stahley looked tired. Even though she wore heavy makeup and the wig, he could see there were big circles under her eyes.

“What are you going to do?” Ryan said.

“They’ll find us sooner or later,” Mrs. Stahley said.

“I could try to hide, but I’m tired. And I don’t like the thought of cooping Darrion up for the next few years. I have a plan.” Mrs.

Stahley said she wanted Darrion to stay with the kids.

“She could live with Vicki and you, couldn’t she?”

Chaya nodded.

“We’d be glad to take her in,” she said.

“Mother, why didn’t you tell me this?” Darrion said.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to give myself up,” Mrs. Stahley said.

“No!” Darrion shouted.

Mrs. Stahley put her hand on Damon’s shoulder.

“It’s the best for all of us. If I come forward peacefully, maybe I can convince them I was just concerned for you when I went into hiding.”

“But you know what they’ll do,” Darrion said.

“Your safety means more to me than my own life,” Mrs.

Stahley said.

“Why do you have to choose?” Darrion said.

“We can both be safe.”

Mrs. Stahley shook her head.

“I have to go now,” she said.

“At least tell us where the secret documents are,” Ryan said.

“We might be able to use them to free you.”

Mrs. Stahley shook her head.

“I have never seen them,” she said.

“I only know what my husband said about them.”

“And you told us they could be used to help fight the GC,” Ryan said.

“I also told you they were in a secret place,” Mrs.Stanleysaid.

“I know the combination is in a file in Maxwell’s upstairs office. I never asked, and he never told me where the safe was located.”

“Mother, I won’t let you go!”

Mrs. Stahley hugged her daughter.

“Do not riskyourself for me,” she said to Ryan.

“Take care of my daughter.”

When Vicki returned, the group brought her up to date on what had happened. Mrs. Stahley and Darrion were hugging and saying good-bye. Vicki was concerned that Judd still hadn’t shown up.

Vicki made sure Darrion would be OK at Loretta’s house until they returned from Chaya’s mother’s funeral.

“What can I expect?” Vicki said as they drove towardSouth Barrington.

“I expect my father to be cold,” Chaya said.

“He won’t look at me. He’ll be upset the burial has taken so long.”

“Why?” Vicki said.

“Jewish custom is to bury the dead quickly,” Chaya said.

“Because of the bombing, he no doubt had difficulty getting her body released.”

“What about the service?” Vicki said.

“You won’t see anything fancy,” Chaya said.

“Jewish law forbids it. We are taught we are all equal in death, so the coffin is plain wood. My mother will be dressed in a simple linen shroud.”

“You told me something about prayers for people who have died,” Vicki said.

“Will they do that?”

“You mean shivah,” Chaya said.

“Another form of that Hebrew word means ‘seven.” For seven days we mourn the person who has died. People will come and sit with the family and pay their respects. There are morning and evening prayer services at the home. “

By the time they arrived at the service, Chaya had explained more about Jewish beliefs. Vicki left the flowers she had brought in the car, since Jews believe a funeral is not a time for decoration.

“I can tell this is going to be different from Bruce’s funeral,” Vicki said.

As Vicki and Chaya walked toward the group, a man met them.

Chaya seemed to recognize him.

“I am sorry for your loss,” the man said.

“I have been asked to do a difficult thing.”

“My father ...,” Chaya said.

“Yes. He requested if I saw you, that I tell you it would be best for you not to be here.”

Chaya looked sternly at the man.

“This is my mother,” she said.

“Your father says you have left the faith,” the man said.

“Out of respect for him and your mother, I beg you. Please go.”

“Out of respect for my mother,” Chaya said, “I will stay.”

Instead of going to the front, Chaya and Vicki sat in the back. The rabbi related a psalm and read a passage from the Scriptures, and the group chanted a memorial prayer.

The coffin was carried to the grave site and lowered.

Chaya’s father, weeping uncontrollably, took a shovel and placed some dirt on the coffin. Then people formed two lines, and the mourners passed through.

“They’re saying something to your father,” Vicki said.

A tear fell down Chaya’s cheek. She related the greeting,then translated it.

“May God comfort you together with all the mourners ofZionandJerusalem,” she said.

Vicki noticed Chaya’s father did not look at them during the entire service. When the group had left for their cars, Chaya slowly went forward to the edge of the grave. She picked up the shovel and let some dirt fall on her mother’s casket. Then she pulled a small Bible from her pocket and opened it to the New Testament.

“Your mother isn’t in that box,” Vicki said.

“I know,” Chaya said.

“I believe she is with God.”

She held the Bible up and read with a trembling voice, ‘”When this happens—when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die—then at last the Scriptures will come true:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Chaya wept, and Vicki stayed with her until she was ready to return home.