THE REVEALING Nephilim Series Vol. 2
Lynn Marzulli
The Revealing Copyright © 2004 by Lynn Marzulli Requests for information should be addressed to: Zonderan! Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 Library of Congress Cataloging"in"#ubli$ation %ata Marzulli! L& '& (Lynn '&)! *+,0 -he reealing . L& '& Marzulli& p& $m& /1 0"3*0"2405"6 (soft$oer) *& 7uman8alien en$ounters89i$tion& 2& Middle ast89i$tion& 3& 'nti$hrist8 9i$tion& /& -itle& #3,53&;66R4 2004 *3<&,48d$22 20040*34, 'll $ripture quotat=ons! unless other>ise ind=$ated! are ta?en from the Holy Bible: Ne !n"erna"ional #ersion$% /@A& Copyright © *+63! *+6! *+4 by /nternational 1=ble o$iety& Bsed by permission of Zonderan& 'll rights resered& 'll rights resered& o part of this publi$ation may be reprodu$ed! stored in a retrieal system! or transmitted in any form or by any means 8 ele$troni$! me$hani$al! photo$opy! re$ording! or any other 8 e$ept for brief quotations in pr=nted reie>s! >ithout the prior permission of the publisher& !n"erior design by &a'ra (lyns"ra )rin"ed in "he *ni"ed +"a"es o -.erica 04 0, 05 06 0 0+ *0 .3D %C. *0 + 6 5 , 4 3 2 *
's >e hurtle for>ard to the past! >e Eust might find ourseles in the days of oah on$e again& /t
Lynn Marzulli is paying attention under the guise of fi$tion& Fne $an only hope he has more listeners than oah did& Michael S. Heiser, h.!. Au"hor o# The Facade
/<e been in full"time ministry for t>enty"fie years and hae neer seen su$h rap=d deployment of 1ible prophe$y& -he push for pea$e in /srael! the $all for a one">orld order! a reied Roman mpire! buying and selling through alphanumeri$ systems inEe$ted beneath the s?in! >idespread earth"qua?e a$tiity& -hen! Eust >hen / thought it $ouldnonders in the heaens& Thomas Horn Au"hor o# Return to the Stones of Fire
Author's Note -his the third and last boo? in the ephilim series& / hae spent oer a de$ade eamining the B9F phenomena& Ghile the ephilim series is fi$tion! / beliee that B9Fs are a real part of the end"time Lu$iferian agenda& More spe$ifi$ally! that that agenda is one of de$eption& -he de$eption is multi"fa$eted in its s$ope and manifests itself in dierse >ays& Let us be a>are && & L. A. Marzulli Sprin$ 2%%&
Acknowledgments / >ould li?e to than? the follo>ing people >ho helped ma?e this boo? possible: My father! Lynn H& Marzulli & & & yIu too! MomJ #astors and ylia F>en and the Malibu @ineyard Christian 9ello>ship& -han?s %ae on$e again to %ae Lambert and Lori @anden1os$h! t>o of the greatest editors liing and breathing on the planet todayJ 1ill Myers! Mi?e 7eiser! -om 7orn! Kary $hultz! %ae 9lynn! im -etlo>! Chris #into! tee and /liana $hoel?opf! 'ntoinette %i$?! -om and Cherie %oherty! %ale and Carol ornrei$h! %& %aid Morin! Mar? %un$an! and Linda& ' spe$ial than?s to Chris 7eeber! >ho proofread the manus$ript and gae me some great feedba$?& -han?s to Kary Zethraeus for his input on the ?=ngdom of fear ersus the ?ingdom of faith& -o aren 1all! ue 1ro>er! oy$e Fndersma! Cindy Gil$o! and the rest of the great fol?s at Zonderan for their help& -o the artist >ho brought the $oer idea to life &&& Kreat EobJ Most of all to my >ife! #eggy! and my t>I daughters! Corrie and arah&
Prelude: Nazi Germany the !ast "ays of the Third Reich
'olfgang @on $herdt hurried up the last fe> steps of the 9uehr erbun?e! the ast underground $omple that 'dolph 7itler had $onstru$ted for his prote$t=on! and had made his home for the last *0, days of his life& #ushing open a heay steel door ! he sa> an oer$ast May s?y! his f=rst glimpse of daylight in oer a >ee?& -hen he gasped in astonishment at the t>isted steel! bro?en $on$rete! and rubble that surrounded him &&& all that >as left of the Rei$hs$han$ellery& -he 'llied bombing had been unrelenting! pounding 1erlin day and night >ithout letting up! until mu$h of the $ity had been redu$ed to ashes& 'n ubiquitous layer of dust and smo?e! $ombined >ith the smell of rotting $orpses and seared flesh! $reated a liing hell& @on $herdt breathed the foul air deeply! enEoying it! tasting it >ith the tip of his tongue& 7e loed the smell of >ar! relished it! >as born for it& ! only "ha" .ad.an, Hi"ler, had no" proven "o be s'ch a ea/ vessel, "hings .igh" have been dieren"% ! only so.eone else i"h .ore vi"ali"y had been chosen % % % 7e let his thoughts slip a>ay as his adEutant! >ho $arried t>I oerstuffed sat$hels of papers! $aught up >ith him& @on $herdt pi$?ed his >ay through the rubble to >here the garden had on$e been& -here he $ame upon a small group of azi >ho >ere dousing t>I bodies >ith gasoline& ' $aptain >ho noti$ed @on $herdt snapped to attention& N7eil! 7itlerJN he shouted as another soldier thre> a mat$h on the gasoline >hi$h eploded in a rush of flames& NLoo? around you! you idiotJ -he >ar is oer!N @on $herdt said! and glared at the man& -he $aptain! unsure ho> to rea$t! remained at attention& @on $herdt >al?ed $loser to the shallo> pit and loo?ed at the bodies of 'dolph 7itler and a 1raun! his mistress& 7e gathered a mouthful of salia and spat to>ard the flaming bodies! then pioted on the heels of his boots and >al?ed a>ay& 7e turned up the sleee of his bla$? leather great$oat and glan$ed at his >at$h& /t >as almost fie& 7e had less than an hour to meet the 'meri$ans and surrender& ' burst of ma$hine gun fire sounded ery $lose! and he rea$ted >ith a start& The R'ssians ill be he re soon% -hat realization made him hurry to>ard a $ar that >as >aiting nearby& hortly after 7itler had $ommitted sui$ide by shooting himself! Keneral Golfgang @on $herdt had made a series of telephone $alls to the 'meri$ans from his priate room in the 9uehrering that $apture by the Russians >ould mean imprisonment or death& -hose remaining in the bun?er had all agreed that it >ould be better to surrender to the 'meri$ans than to fall into the hands of the Red 'rmy& @on $herdt stepped net to the >aiting $ar& 7e glan$ed at the drier& &i""le .ore "han a boy, he thought&
NOe=l! 7itler!N the youth blurted& @on $herdt smiled >ith feigned affe$tion& N7eil! 7itler!N he responded! and returned the salute& 7is adEutant! 7einz! struggled >ith t>I bulging sat$hels! put them do>n a moment to rest! and then! getting a fresh grip! $ontinued to>ard the $ar& @on $herdt leaned against the $ar and >at$hed as the man approa$hed& N #ut them in the ba$?!N @on $herdt ordered as he stepped a>ay from the $ar& 1a vol,2 7einz puffed! as he set the brief$ases do>n and opened the rear door of the $ar& 7e lifted one of them! set it on the floor of the ba$?seat! and then turned to retriee the other& @on $herdt >at$hed 7einzly undid the leather strap on his holster and brought the #&3 to his side! fitting the silen$er to it& !"s a pi"y, he thought! Hein has been loyal% +"ill %% % @on $herdt >aited until the man had finished his tas? and fa$ed him! a>aiting ne> orders& @on $herdt raised the handgun and 7einz too? a step ba$?>ard! a miture of terror and $onfusion filling his fa$e& No! 7err @on $heer8 N @on $herdt fired on$e! and the bullet >ent neatly through the forehead of the man! the for$e of it driing him into the rear door of the $ar! >here his lifeless body slumped to the ground& @on $herdt moed! $atli?e! to the drier at his boots! $rying out for mer$y& @on $herdt fired on$e and the boy lay still& 7e unfastened the silen$er! reholstered his sidearm! and as he did so! noti$ed that a fe> spots of blood had splattered on his boots& 7e >ent oer and >iped them off on the dead boy ith the 'meri$ans& -he drie >as trea$herous& More than on$e he fired his gun to >ard off those attempting to hiEa$? his $ar& 't one point a group of fleeing >omen and $hildren $logged the road& @on $herdt held his hand on the horn! but didn the $ar& Gomen and $hildren s$rambled to get out of the >ay& Fne old >oman tripped and fell on the road in front of the speeding $ar& @on $herdt ran oer her! not een glan$ing in the rearie> mirror as the $ar spe d on& espera"e "i.es re6'ire despera"e .eas'res, he reminded himself& Theres no"hing le" %%% Theyve des"royed every"hing, he thought! as the $ar rolled by blo$? after blo$? of leeled! smoldering buildings& 7e had trouble getting his bearings! as many of the street signs >ere missin g! and most of the familiar landmar?s that >ould hae aided him had anished& 7e stopped the $ar and loo?ed around! trying to get a sense of >here he >as& No"hing here %%% B'" ai"% 7e noti$ed the base of a statue by the side of the road! all that >as left of a beautiful bronze s$ulpture he had on$e admired& 7e turned the $ar! stepped hard on the gas pedal! and the $ar lur$hed for>ard& 7nly a e .ore .ile s and "hen, "he -.eri cans% -he thought made him andous& Ho .'ch o his or/ had been des"royed, or discovered8 7e gripped the steering >heel tighter& ' short time later he sa> a roadblo$? >ith an 'meri$an flag flying alongside it and a
dozen armed 'meri$an K/s bran"dishing rifles& -o the left a ma$hine gun nest >as lined by ro>s of sandbags& @on $herdt slo>ed the $ar and stopped t>enty yards a>ay from the roadblo$?& 7e opened the door of the $ar and stepped out! being $areful to raise his hands oer his head as he did so& Fne of the 'meri$ans shouted to him in ery bad Kerman! ihren hande hoch2 (urrender >ith your hands up&)
2*bergeben sie sich .i"
@on $herdt raised his hands higher and stood motionless& More shouting! this time from behind the roadblo$?& 9our K/s approa$hed& 'nother one $alled out! 2Beegen siesich eg von den a'"o%2 (Moe a>ay frIm the $ar&) @on $herdt $hu$?led& !dio"s, he thought& Ho co'ld "hey have bea"en 's8 7is mind ra$ed ba$? to a better time! years ago in uremberg! >hen 7itler >as $resting to the pea? of his po>er Eust before the >ar& -housands of flashlights! ea$h held by 7itler Pouth! illuminated enormous s>asti?a flags en$ir$ling the arena! >hi$h billo>ed in the $ool breeze of a Kerman spring night& ndless ro>s of helmeted soldiers melted in the distan$e& @on $herdtQ along >ith other azi party leaders! >as seated on a platform aboe the gathered throng! and! Eust in front of him! the 9uehrer himself >as in the midst of an impassioned spee$h: $oer$ing! >hispering! then his oi$e eploding in a thunderous $res$endo& 1ut not by his o>n po>er& -he for$e that filled and s>elled the di$tator >as not human& @on $herdt ?ne> only too >ell >hat it >as that $ame and filled the little $orporal >ith su$h tremendous for$ e and po>er that een he! >ho had helpe d the possession to o$$ur in the first pla$e! >as a>ed by the magnitude of its po>er! and the is$eral itality of it& -nd "his is all "ha" is le" o o'r "ho'sand years o r'le8 7'r "ho'sandyear reich8 ;ha" happened8 he mused as he >at$hed the 'meri$ans! the i$tors! dra> $loser& -he 'meri$ans stopped t>enty feet a>ay! their guns pointed at him& @on $herdt heard them as? ea$h other the Kerman >ords for N?neel do>n&N +"'pid, he thought! as he slo>ly dropped to his ?nees& -he 'meri$an soldiers surrounded him& ->I of the men too? his arms and! pinning them behind his ba$?! yan?ed him to a standing position& -hey $he$?ed his sidearm holster and found it empty& N7ey! >ill you loo? at this!N $alled one of the 'meri$ans& 7e pulled @on $herdtay from his shoulders& NLoo?s li?e >e got ourseles a general&N ' sergeant ambled for>ard! gumming the butt of a $igarette& -he others $ro>ded around! peering at his uniform& N/ a m ++7bergr'ppen'ehrer, Golfgang @on $herdt!N @on $he rdt said! in almost perfe$t nglish! but >ith a heay a$$ent& -he 'meri$ans loo?ed at ea$h other in astonishment& N/ hae ery important information there! in the ba$? of the $ar! for your superiors& -hey are epe$ting me&N 'nd he gestured to>ard the rear of the $ar& N-a?e a loo?! Charlie!N the sergeant ordered& Charlie! a sto$?y youth >ith unshaen stubble on his fa$e! hurried oer to the $ar and
opened the rear door& N->o sat$hels &&& lots of papers! arge& 7ey! heard the roadblo$?& @on $herdtould meet him& Ghen they rea$hed the roadblo$?! one of the soldiers raised the >ooden $rossbar and @on $herdt passed under it& 7e heard the sound of a Eeep gro>ing $loser from behind him& N7ey! loo?s li?e >e got more $ompany!N one of the 'meri$an soldiers! manning the ma$hine gun! yelled out& NLoo?s li?e the Russians!N someone else replied& @on $herdt sa> an offi$er emerge from the shell of a burned"out building! >ith the remains of shaing $ream still on his $hin& +having a" "his "i.e o day %%% ;here is "he disci pline o "his ar.y8 @on $herdt >ondered& N Ghoing a glan$e at @on $herdt as he bu$?led his sidearm to his >aist& N Loo?s li?e a general! sir& 7e Eust pulled up outta no>here and surrendered to us!N the sergeant replied& @on $her dt turned his head and loo?ed at the in$om ing Eeep >ith a bright red Russian star painted on the hood and flags flying from ea$h of the front fenders& -he Eeep $ame to a stop in$hes from the >ooden $rossbar& ' tall! thin man in $iilian $lothes $limbed out& Fne of the 'meri$an M#s $alled out! NGhat $an >e do you forN -he $iilian $rossed his arms in front of him& N/ am @ladimir #at$hen?o! Russian e$ret eri$e&N -he 'meri$an offi$er too? a step for>ard& NCaptain %e$?er! inth 'rmy& N #at$hen?o nodded& NGe sa> his $ar speeding through the streets and follo>ed him here&N 7e glan$ed at @on $herdt& NGe >ant him for interrogation&N Captain %e$?er shifted his >eight and remained unfazed& N-his manondered& ! so.eho "his R'ssian asser"s hi.sel over "he -.erican cap"ain, "hen .y or/, all o i", is los"% -nd ! a., .os" li/ely, a dead .an% #at$hen?o too? a fe> steps $loser to @on $herdt& NSe $an >or? something out! Captain! yesN %e$?er shoo? his head! fumbled in his po$?et! and produ$ed a pa$? of Lu$?ys& /t >as fresh and unopened& 7e tapped it in the palm of his left hand seeral times! then pried off the >rapper& Nmo?eN 7e held out the pa$? to #at$hen?o& ' smile bro?e oer #at$hen?o hy not ta?e the >hole pa$? N %e$?er held the pa$? out in front of the man& #at$hen?o hesitated a moment! then too? the $igarettes and slipped them into his Ea$?et po$?et&
%e$?er slid his hand into the other po$?et of his pants and $ame up >ith a lighter& 7e fli$?ed the s$rTt$hed $oer open! thumbed a flame! then lit #at$hen?oe shipped out from the tates&N #at$hen?o nodded and inhaled deeply! then let a stream of smo?e es$ape from his mouth& NCaptain! /ith my prisoner& F?ayN @on $herdt feigned indifferen$e and loo?ed a>ay from the men as he held his breath& #at$hen?o too? another drag and then began to nod his head in agreement& No >e hae a deal thenN %e$?er $o$?ed his head to one side! smiling as he etended his hand& N%eal!N #at$hen?o replied& -hey shoo? hands! and he headed ba$? to his Eeep& N@isit us again!N %e$?er $alled out& & #at$hen?oay& @on $herdt let his breath out! relieed at the out$ome& NPou spea? any nglishN %e$?er as?ed& N9luently! Captain!N @on $herdt replied! then added! N/ >as instru$ted by a Colonel %ougherty to surrender here& 7e assured me that he >ould be present&N %e$?er raised his eyebro> Narge! the radio& Call 7H and see if theres about this&N @on $herdt sa> the man disappear into the same burned"out shell from >hi$h the $aptain had emerged& N GhatI sat$hels of papers& N'nd thoseN N Colonel %ougherty epressed a ?een interest in them!N @on $herdt replied& N Ghat >as your $ommandN N/ered& NFnly >ith Colonel %ougherty&N -heir $onersation >as interrupted as the sergeant returned& N/tI men guard him until the $olonel arries!N %e$?er ordered& Narge! do a sear$h of the bags and ma?e sure they
NKot it! Cap&N NCaptain! please! / assure you that the sat$hels $ontain $onfidential papers! and >ill & & &N %e$?er $ut the general off and repeated his order! Near$h the bags! argeN ; soldier appeared >ith an ammo $rate and set it net to @on $herdt! >ho $hose instead to remain standing >ith both of his hands $lasped together behind his ba$?& ;ha" i "his .an 'nders"ands ha" he is loo/ing a"8 ;ha" i he sees "he draings, "he pho"os8 -he sergeant opened one of the sat$hels& Nothing but papers in this one! Cap&N
NLoo? in the other!N %e$?er ordered& @on $herdt sa> the sergeant open the other sat$hel& NMore of the same Cap &&& e$ept this one has a lot of photos& Gant to loo? at themN he said! pulling some of them out& ' oi$e rang out behind @on $herdt& NGe got $ompany&N %e$?er turned and fa$ed him& NLetard t>I Eeeps speeding to>ard him and then ba$? to theN sergeant >ho had ta?en a fe> of the photos out& N7ey! Cap! the sarge $alled& @on $herdt heard the fear in the man it!N he heard %e$?er reply& -he Eeeps pulled up and @on $herdt sa> the distin$t armband on the soldiers in the lead Eeep! signifying them to be Military #oli$e& @on $herdt re$?oned that the other man seated in the passenger seat of the se$ond Eeep >as probably Colonel %ougherty& -he M#s got out of the Eeep and stood at attent ion >hile a stout man >ith a sho$? of premature >hite hair $limbed out& %e$?er gae a snappy salute& N'tten"hutJN %e$?er bar?ed! and his men snapped to attention& N's you >ere!N %ougherty replied& -he men relaed& @on $herdt made brief eye $onta$t >ith %ougherty& NGe too? a >rong turn about a mile out from 7H& Kot us all fouled up& Ge<e got to do something about the road signs!N %ougherty grumbled& NPes! sir!N %e$?er replied& N-his himN %ougherty as?ed& NPes! sir&N @on $herdt snapped to attention! $li$?ed his boot heels together! and saluted& NKeneral Golfgang @on $herdt of the &N %ougherty returned the salute! his eyes >ere on the t>I sat$hels& @on $herdt etended a gloed hand gesturing to>ard the bags& NLi?e / said! Colonel! mu$h of the information is here! but of $ourse there is more & & &N %ougherty >ent oer to the sat$hels and pulled out a file that $ontained seeral pi$tures& @on $herdt studied the man! s$rutinizing eery mus$le on his fa$e& Gat$hing for a t>it$h of an eye! stiffening of a lip! a $rease in the bro>! or anything that @on $herdt might use for h=s adantage& 'fter a moment %ougherty $losed the file and remained motion"less for almost a full minute! his eyes do>n$ast& The .an is sha/en, @on $herdt thought& Good% NColonelN Captain %e$?er $alled out& Colonel %ougherty gathered himself together& Norry! Captain& 7ae one of your men load these into my Eeep&N 7e turned to his es$ort of M#s& NCorporal! ta?e $harge of the prisoner&N -he man saluted and dre> his sidearm as he and the other M# des$ended upon @on $herdt! >ho noti$ed that the $orporal had produ$ed a set of hand$uffs& NReally! Colonel! are these ne$essaryN N/as
then es$orted to one of the Eeeps! >here he >as pla$ed in the passenger seat& -he M# >ith thehandgun sat behind him& Colonel %ougherty and Captain %e$?er saluted ea$h other! then the Eeeps turned around and sped off do>n the road& UIU -he debriefing lasted for more than four hours& @on $herdt had been ta?en to a large tent at the 'meri$an 'rmy headquarters& -here! seated >ith Colonel %ougherty and t>I other men! he littered spo?e and questions& #hotographs and papers from @on $herdtered table& NKeneral!N Colonel %ougherty addressed him! Nhae you any idea of the $ondition of the &&& $raft Gith all of the bombing! is there going to be anything left of themN @on $herdt tapped his forefinger against the deathay of ?no>ing that! 7err Colonel& / $onstru$ted the underground hangar to >ithstand su$h bombing! but >ho ?no>s! 1a8 May / suggest that >e go to see it ourselesN @on $herdt sa> %ougherty eye the other men& N7o> far is it from hereN N#erhaps t>I hours! proiding of $ourse that the roads are passable& N %ougherty rea$hed for a map that had been brought in during the debriefing& Nho> us!N he said! and passed it to @on $herdt& @on $herdt studied it for a moment& N7ere& ear #eenemunde& / had the hangar N
$onstru$ted to loo? li?e you a dairy GethereN een had $o>s in as?ed& the pasture& 7e $hu$?led& No! in the morning $anbarn& ta?e us %ougherty N @on $herdt nodded& NPes! in the morn=ng& -he debriefing ended and %ougherty! along >ith seeral M#s! es$orted @on $herdt to a ma?eshift $ell >hi$h had been prepared for him& @on $herdt sureyed the a$$ommodations& ' barbed">ire fen$e en$ir$led a tent pla$ed on a de$? made of >ooden pallets& -he tenting an army $ot and one $hair& N/ trust youill bring you some"thing to eat& /t >onard to it!N @on $herdt replied as the M# $losed the gate! lat$hed it! and @on then $herdt positioned himself beside made his >ay to it& the $ot and tested it >ith the palm of his hand before sitting on it& 7e too? off his great"$oat and folded it oer the metal $hair! then stret$hed himself on the $ot& ;ha" i "here is no"hing le"8 ;ha" i "he hangar didn" hold 'p8 he >ondered& ! s"ill have "he caps'le o cyanide in "he heel o .y boo", b'" "he -.ericans are eager or .ore% ! "he cra" is 'nda .aged, "hen all ill be ell% @on $herdt $onstru$ted eery $on$eiabl e s$enario he $ould thin? of $on$erning >hat he might find >hen morning $ame& 7e $are"fully s$rutinized ea$h one do>n to the last detail! and then! >hen he felt he had ehausted all of the possible out$omes! he drifted off into an uneasy sleep& -he net morning @on $herdt a>a?ened at his $ustomary time of ,:30& %ougherty arried a short time later ! and after a hasty brea?fast of runny eggs and burnt toast! @on $herdt >as es$orted to an 'rmy staff $ar and sand>i$hed in the rear net to Colonel %ougherty and one of the men >ho had been present at the meeting the night before& -he
third satin the front passenger seat& @on $herdt had not been formerly introdu$ed to the t>I men& o names had been e$hanged! and he ?ne> nothing about them other thTV that they >ere part of an 'meri$an organization $alled the Fffi$e of trategi$ eri$es! or F& Fne of the F guyat$hed seeral of them >ith er <'ehrer at his mountain retreat! Golfas fair"s?inned >ith hardly a tra$e of fa$ial hair! so he $alled the man no> Ghite& 7e enEoyed his priate defamation of the t>I men! and it bolstered his spirits! ma?ing him feel superior& -he staff $ar >as es$orted in the front and rear by Military #oli$e Eeeps as it moed out of the 'rmy headquarterest to>ard #eenemunde& @on $herdt loo?ed out the >indo> at the raaged $ountrys=de as he ans>ered yet another of the endless questions posed to him by the men from the F& NPou mentioned that the $raft you had >as operational N %umbo as?ed from the front seat& NPes! it >as operational&N %umbo and no> Ghite e$hanged glan$es& N're you a>are that our 'ir 9or$e pilots reported this ?ind of air$raft as they >ere flying sorties oer 1erlin -hey ni$?"named them W9oo fighters& N No! / >asnare of that&N Ho .'ch sho'ld ! "ell "he. sho'ld ! gl'e "he. so.e"hing no8- li""le "idbi", so.e"hing "o he" "heir appe"i"es8 @on $herdt toyed >ith seeral bits of information& N1ut the $raft at your fT$ility >ere neer used in a $ombat"type s$enario N %umbo as?ed& NCorre$t&N @on $herdt shifted in his seat so that he fa$ed Colonel %ougherty& 2Theyve been here for thousands of years! Colonel!N @on $herdt said! and he sa> that his statement made the men ery un$omfortable& N7o> $an you be so sureN %ougherty as?ed& N1e$ause / $ommuni$ated >ith one of them&N @on $herdt >aited a moment! letting the full realization of >hat he had said begin to sin? in& NPou $ommuni$ated &&& ho>N no> Ghite as?ed& @on $herdt pointed a gloed forefinger to his temple& N-elepathi$ally& -hey are more eoled than >e are& -hey are the old ones that ma?e up mu$h of the >orldhat is your nglish >ord8mythos&N N/ you on that! N %ougherty said& N-hey $an proEe$t thoughts into your mind& -hey $an sho> you >hat has happened on this planet for thousands of years& -heir inolement $on$erning maned& Good, @on $herdt thought! ! have plan"ed a seed% -nd i" ill gro hen "hey see ha" lies ahead, Ea -hey too? seeral detours due to large $raters in the road from 'llied bombs& 1ridges >ere either burned out or missing& eeral hours later the $ars stopped at the drie>ay of >hat appeared to be a deserted dairy farm on the outs?irts of #eenemunde& -he farm >as lo$ated in a small! erdant alley seeral miles from #eenem unde! >here the @l and @2 ro$?ets had been produ$ed& 9en$ed fields that a short time ago $ontained dairy $o>s >ere
no> po$?mar?ed >ith $raters from bombs& -he farmhouse had been ransa$?ed: >indo>s bro?en! the front door half>ay off its hinges! furniture stre>n about on the un$ut lT>n& No> >e are here! EaN@on $herdt said! and he leaned for>ard >ith >orried epe$tation& -he staff $ar made its >ay up the drie>ay! >hi$h >as >ide enough to a$$ommodate t>I ehi$les& @on $herdt sa> the familiar pens! usually filled >ith liesto$?! >ith gates open and a$ant& ;ha" has happened here8 he >ondered as he stared out the >indo> 's the $ar got to the disguised dairy barn! @on $herdt that the rear half of the building >as gone! and a fire had gutted a good portion of it& -he men got out of the $ar and @on $herdt began to run to the barn& NKeneralJN he heard %ougherty $all out! but he ?ept running& @on $herdt rea$hed the $enter of >hat had been the se$ret hangar for the flying dis?s! its floor a thi$? slab of steel"reinfor$ed $on$rete& ust as he stopped! t>I M#s $ame up net to him >ith >eapons dra>n! follo>ed a moment later by an angry Colonel %ougherty& Net time /ent to the $enter of the barn and >ith his gloed hands began to $lear a>ay the dirt and burnt timbers from the floor& NColonel! hae your men help me&N N%o as he says!N %ougherty $ommanded& ->o M#s $ame alongside @on $herdt& NLi?e this!N he instru$ted! as he stood up to moe another timber& 7e dropped ba$? to his ?nees and s>ept a>ay the ash and dirt! eposing the floor! >hi$h had a bla$?ened metal band running flush to the $on$rete& NGe $lear this!N he instru$ted the M#s& N/t is our door>ay to >hat the $olonel needs to see&N N7o> does it open! KeneralN no> Ghite as?ed& N9irst! >e $lear the debris &&& then you >ill see!N @on $herdt ans>ered& Nir!N one of the M#s spo?e up& N/<e neer seen metal li?e this & & & some ?ind of alloy or something& /tanting an eplanation& NPes! ithat the $raft is made from!N @on $herdt eplained& ->o hours >ent by >ith all of the men in$luding Colonel %ougherty helping to $lear the floor of the hangar& @on $herdt had ta?en off his shirt& 7is mus$ular torso >as s>eaty and soot"stained as the last of the debris >as moed! reealing a forty"by"thirty"foot re$tangular metal seam in the floor& No> >e $an open it!N @on $herdt e$laimed! as he made his >ay to the rear of the hangar! a$$ompanied by one of the M#s& N7ere&N 'nd he pointed to>ard a panel that >as housed in a prote$tie metal en$losure& 7e pulled a ?ey from under the panel that had been hidden there and handed it to the M#& NFpen it&N 7e >at$hed as the M# fitted the ?ey into the lo$?! and a moment later the door of the panel slid open to reeal a $ontrol bo& N/ith no> Ghite and
%umbo& @on $herdt stood up and >aited until the men >ere net to him& NGhereer sour$eN %ougherty as?ed& N/ had eerything buried underground& -his fa$ility has its o>n generators and is po>ered by syntheti$ fuel&N NKo ahead! Keneral&N %ougherty nodded at the $ontrols& @on $herdt rea$hed into the bo and flipped a s>it$h! >aited a fe> se$onds! and then fitted the palm of his hand oer a red ?nob! giing it three turns to the right before pushing it in& -he relatie quiet of the hangar >as interrupted as the men heard a loud $ra$?& -hen! >ith a rush of air! the large $on$rete panel in the floor began to open& @on $herdt led them oer to the edge! >here the group of men >at$hed as the re$tangle dropped a foot beneath them before it disappeared& N7ere &&& the stairs&N @on $herdt rea$hed do>n and pulled up the last se$tion of handrail! then fastened it to the side of the opening& Colonel %ougherty gasped! N/ donas gien to us&N 'nd he pointed to a metalli$"loo?ing siler dis? that rested on the floor forty feet belo> @on $herdt sa> the miture of fear and un$ertainty as Colonel %ougherty as?ed! N1y themN and pointed to the s?y& NPes! but not there&N @on $herdt gestured up>ard >ith his inde finger& N-hey are beneath us! Colonel! deep >ithin the bo>els of the earth& -hey hae an etensie tunnel system that $reates a grid underneath the planet& Li?e / said earlier! they hae been here for thousands of years&N @on $herdt sa>! to his satisfa$tion! that no> Ghite and %umbo loo?ed sha?en! as did the M#s& N/ hae something / thin? you >ill find of interest! Colonel!N @on $herdt said! Nbut you must go to my priate offi$e&N 7e smiled& %ougherty loo?ed to %umbo and no> Ghite! and both gae a nod of approal& NKood! then if you >ill follo> me&N @on $herdt began to des$end the stairs! follo>ed by Colonel %ougherty and the rest of the men& -hey rea$hed the bottom and @on $herdt >aited for the group to assemble before he $ontinued& 7e flipped a s>it$h! and the lights $ame on& 'ir du$ts and >ater pipes ran along the $eiling& ' $luster of thi$? ele$tri$al $ables ran along the floor& @on $herdt >at$hed >ith satisfa$tion as Colonel %ougherty and his men >al?ed around the sau$er! tou$hing it! eamining it& NGhereer sour$e! the engineN %umbo as?ed& @on $herdt shoo? his head& N/ $an assure you that itill allIX me to sho> you my priate offi$e! mu$h of >hat you as? is there&N Colonel %ougherty loo?ed tense! as if he epe$ted some sort of trap& NColonel! >hat are you epe$ting / your >eapons! men!N %ougherty ordered! and the M#s dre> their &4, automati$s& N/ $an assure you! Colonel! that this is not ne$essary! but / understand& Pou don
%umbo $leared his throat& N/t might be a trap&N no> Ghite nodded& N/ agree! sir! the guns are $heap insuran$e&N N-he M#s< >eapons stay at ready!N %ougherty said& Nuit yourself! Colonel!N @on $herdt said! and led them do>n a $orridor past seeral prototypes that >ere in arious stages of $onstru$tion& 7e sho>ed them >hat remained of blueprints and s$hemati$s that >ere stre>n about the floor! eiden$e of a hasty departure& $ept for the distant >hine of a generator! the pla$e >as eerily still& NGe hae done some ba$?"engineering! as you $an see!N @on $herdt offered& NGhen >ere you last hereN %ougherty as?ed& @on $herdt shrugged& N->o >ee?s ago! Colonel&N 7e stopped and pointed to>ard an opened door fifty feet a>ay& NMy offi$e! Eust there!N he said& NColonel! thereay!N one of the M#s said! indi$ating the offi$e that @on $herdt had dire$ted their attention to& NGhatard the door>ay >ith his hand and a small figure $ame into ie> N/t loo?s li?e a $hild!N one of the M#s said& N/ assure you itith an enlarged head and large bla$? almond"shaped eyes! stepped into the light& /t had a thin torso and spindlY arms and pale! gray s?in& /n fa$t! the M#as a$$urate! for it did loo? li?e a helpless $hild& @on $herdt heard a $olle$tie gasp from the men behind him as they got their first loo? at an alien life"form& 7e stopped and turned ba$?& -he M#s had dropped their guns and >ere holding their heads& 7e sa> the terror in their eyes& NMa?e it stop!N one of them yelled& NMa?e it stopJN @on $herdt tilted his head to one side and obsered the men! >ho had dropped to their ?nees& Fne of the M#s had begun to $onulse! >hite foam gathering around the $orners of his mouth! >hile the other started to bang his head against the floor& NKeneral! >hat is going onN Colonel %ougherty shouted& @on $herdt raised his hands to the small figure& -he M#s $ollapsed to the floor! both men gasping for breath& N/ $ould hae had hi. ?ill you all!N @on $herdt said! as the alien $ame up net to @on $herdt& No>! Colonel! / >ant you to listen ery $arefully&N 7is fa$e hardened and too? on an air of super=ority& N-hese are my demands."
Ι
1 Mr& Gyan >as ery $leer! and so >as 'zazel! for they >ere one and the same& ' e?yl"and"7yde supergen=us manifesting itself in the three"dimensional spa$e"time $ontinuum $alled earth& Mr& Gyan moed about in the >orld of men undete$ted e$ept! perhaps! for his unusual height and ugly s$ar that ran a$ross his forehead oer his left eye& 1ut he >as truly part of another dimension& 9or he >as also 'zazel! a fallen angel! a reptilian shape" shifter& 7e! along >ith others of his ?ind! had been $ast do>n from heaen& /t had been long ago in another age >hen he had $ome to earth the first time& 7e and the other fallen angels had ta?en many >ies from the ra$e of men and reprodu$ed& -heir offspring be$ame ?no>n as the ephilim! and they had spread out oer the fa$e of the earth& Ghen the deluge $ame! 'zazel had sought refuge in the 'byss& 7e >as enraged at the slaughter of his $hildren as they dro>ned in the 9lood and be$ame disembodied sp=rits! or! as men >ould $all them later! de.ons% 7is legions >ere th>arted by the barrier that the nemy had set oer the earth& -he barrier had been put in pla$e to preent him! and the minions of the Fne they sered! from manifesting themseles on the earth& /t had been millennia s=n$e they had been allo>ed to roam there& 1ut that barrier >as finally bro?en& /t >as near midnight in the $ity of erusalem& ; $res$ent moon pee?ed out through the $louds fora moment and then diappeared& -he streets >ere deserted and Gyan moed qui$?ly! his bla$? tren$h $oat traili ng behind li?e a $ape as he >al?ed in the shado>s of the $losed shops and endors& 7e had $ome to the Fld City in sear$h of the an$ient s$roll& 7e thought about the last time he had seen it! as it >as handed to a man he had $ome to ?nIX as Ma$enzie& /n$redibly Ma$enzie! along >ith the help of others! had ruined one of his plans& -here >ere three men in parti$ular that he o>ed to destroy& Fh! ho> he hated them& 7e $on$entrated on the fa$e of the first man! 'rt Ma$enzie! and mulled oer >hat he had $ome to ?no> abo ut him& Hadn" he been a dr'n/, "ended "o by one o "he Mas"ers 'nderlings8 ivorced ro. his ie and a.ily, and alloing in selpi"y and bi""erness over "he dea"h o his son8 B'" "hen "he =ne.y had "a/en an in"eres" in "his or"hless sod, and "he .an had beco.e ree, and in s'ch a shor" "i.e had beco.e a real ne.esis% -nd "o "hin/ S al.os" s'cce eded in /illing hi.% -he thought sent a r=pple of pleasure through him& o> Ma$enzie >as under the tutelage of the se$ond man he despised! a man he had $ome to ?no> as ohanen& 1ut not an ordinary man & & & 9or some reason the nemy had gien this one po>er oer death itself& Fer the $enturies! other fallen angels had spo?en of him as the N/mmortal Fne!N saying that he had been assigned spe$ial emissaries to guard oer him! and that he had done mira$les in the sight of men and interfered >ith
many of their Masterishes& -he th=rd man in this loosely ?nit $onfedera$y >as an ar$heologist and old Messiani$ e>! lisha 1en7assen& 7e had un$oered under the -emple Mount in erusalem one of the last remaining pie$es of eiden$e of the ephilim& ' s?eleton oer ten feet in length! it >as dire$t eiden$e of the union bet>een beings li?e himself and the daughters of men& 7uman?ind! in general! had $ome to deny the eisten$e of the spirit >orld& Kood and eil! Kod and deil! had be$ome things of superstition& 1ut there >ere those >ho still ?ne> >here the battle lines >ere dra>n& Men li?e Ma$enzie! ohanen! and 1en7assen& 7e thought ho> >onderful it >ould be to ta?e these three menly $ho?e the life out of them& 7e >as nearing the pla$e >here the s$roll he sought >as being ?ept8the -o>er of %aid Museum& arlier in the dTy he had shape"shifted into one of the guards& Ghen the s$roll had arried he follo>ed it to the laboratory >here it >ould be photographed! $leaned! and f=nally translated& -he s$roll had been under $lose s$rutiny and no opportunity had presented itself to steal it& o 'zazel had left to >ait for another $han$e& o> he stood near the entran$e of the museum! >hi$h >as >ell"lit& 'zazel stopped a$ross the street and then trans"formed himself into a mist and floated a$ross the street and under the door of the an$ient to>er& 7e moed do>n the empty halls! a fogli?e spe$ter! staying $lose to the baseboard along the floor& 't one point he passed a guard >ho had no idea of the $reature that moed silently Eust a fe> feet a>ay from >here he stood& 7e found the room and slid under the door& Fn$e inside! he resumed the form of Mr& Gyan& Klan$ing around! he sa> >hat he >as loo?ing for& -he s$roll had been unrolled and >as pla$ed under a sheet of glass& 7e moed the glass aside! letting his hand run oer the surf a$e of the s$roll! and loo?e d at the strange >riting& ;ha" is "hi s8 7e didnal?ed to the door& 7e unlo$?ed the bolts and moed out into the hall& Listening! he heard a multitude of sounds: the boilers in the basement! a rat s$urrying in the >all on the floor leel belo>! the ti$?ing of $lo$?s in eery room and lab in the building! the >hine of $omputers! a passing $ar outside& 7e fo$used on the sound that he sought: the breathing of the se$urity guard on the lo>er floor& 7e lo$ated t>I other guards! one on the floor aboe him and another in the buildingal?ed do>n the hall! staying near the >all& 7e sa> the $am"era at the end of the hall and paused a moment& 7e rea$hed to>ard it >ith one hand and an in?y $loud eneloped the $amera& Coming to the stair$ase! he bounded up the three flights to the door that opened onto the roof& /t had an alarm atta$hed to it& 'zazel rea$hed his hand out again! and the >ires that ran from the alarm melted and fused together& Fpening the door! he stepped out onto the roof& -hen he spread out his arms and shape"shifted into his true form8a reptilian $reature >ith dar? >ings folded a$ross its ba$?& 7e unfolded his >ings! then leaped from the building and fle> into the night air! $lut$hing the s$roll in his $la>ed hand&
2 *0*
Art Ma$enzie
brushed a dar? lo$? of hair from his fore"head and then ran his
fingers through his s$alp& 7e had a>a?ened early! Eust at daybrea?! and >ondered for a minute >here he >as! then realized he >as at lisha 1en7assenent in sear$h of a $up of $offee& -he house >as still! and he assumed lisha had not yet risen& 7e fond the $offee and started a fresh pot bre>ing& Minutes later! hot $offee in hand! he made his >ay to lishas of boo?s that lay in all dire$tions& Most had slips of paper mar?ing parti$ular passages& Fthers >ere opened and lTy atop other boo?s in the shelf& -hree $omputers! their s$reen saers sho>ing an endless unierse! sat atop of >hat >as on$e a dining room table& ' large map of the Middle ast >as suspended on the far >all& ; fa ma$hine had spe>ed dozens of pages that >ere s$attered oer the floor! due to a bro?en tray that lay net to the ma$hine& NKood morning! Ma$enzie!N lisha said& -he old man $ame into the room holding a mug of $offee& 7e >as in his bathrobe! and his disheeled hair and trifo$al glasses made h=m loo? a little li?e instein& Ma$ smiled& NKood morning! lisha&N NGell! Ma$enzie! ho> did you sleepN N@ery >ell! thTn? you!N he lied& l=sha >ent oer to the fa ma$hine and gathered the paper from the floor& N/ >ish / $ould say the same& Restless night&N N* lied!N Ma$ $onfessed& Name goes for me& / donhat you said& / had along tal? >ith ohanen before he left&N NFh! >hat aboutN N-he net moe & & & from the nemy& 7e beliees that time is ery short& #eople all oer the >orld are tal?ing about the mysterious sign in the heaens&N NPeah! the man on the street is s$ared& 'nd >ho >ouldnas the last time anything li?e that happenedN l=sha thought for a moment& N9atima! #ortugal! in *+*6& eenty thousand people sa> something& /t >as $alled the WMira$le of the un&< /<e been resear$hing this! and / beliee it >as a pre$ursor of things to $ome& ' harbinger from the nemy! one of the signs that $ripture tells us to be a>are of in the last days&N Ma$ too? a sip of $offee& NGhat happenedN N' long story! Ma$! but the short of it is! that seenty thou"sand people sa> the sun spin and fall to the ground& Ff $ourse it >as a lo$al o$$urren$eQ the sun didnhere else in the >orld! only in 9atima&N NPou $alled it a harbingerN N Pes! / beliee that in the Last %ays $ounterfeit mira$les >ill be sho>n to those on
earth&N N'nd the sign that >e sa>8the supposed reemergen$e of the 1ethlehem star8is Eust su$h a sign&N N-he /nternet is buzzing >ith $hat about it& -@! radio! eeryone has an opinion on it& en the pope $ommented on it& Ff $ourse! >e ?nIX >ho is behind it and ho> it is going to be used to de$eie the nations&N Ma$ and lisha >ere dis$ussing a false sign that had appeared oer the $ountry ofPemen a fe> days earlier! a sup"posed reo$$urren$e of the star of 1ethlehem& Ma$ and ohanen had seen it firsthand and ?ne> that it >as part of an elaborate s$hem e designed to de$eie& N/ thin? it already has! to some degree!N Ma$ said& N#eople are belieing the lie from the nemy be$ause they hae abandoned the truth of Kodritten do>n for eerybody to see for themseles! but most people still donise >ill understand&N Ma$ as?ed! NGhatith l=shaor?ed >ith lisha resear$hing the B9F phenomena& NGe need to dis$uss the sign in more detail and also the s$roll >hi$h >as stolen& 'nd there are other deelopments that hae my ear to the ground&N Nu$h asN N-roop moements in neighboring $ountries& /t >as one of the reasons / had little sleep& /t seems that /ran is engaging in military maneuers& othing unusual about that! e$ept that they >ere Eoined by gypt& o> that /ran is armed >ith nu$lear $apability it be$omes unsettling&N N'ny >ord on the s$rollN Ma$ as?ed! referring to the an$ient s$roll that had been handed off to him by a mysterious robed figure in Pemen! then! someho>! stolen from the -o>er of %aid Museum t>o nights ago& ohanen had belie ed that the s$rol l $ontained ital information that might help them in their ongoing $onfli$t >ith the Cadre& lisha turned a>ay from Ma$enzie& Nothing yet& 1ut ohanen beliees that the Cadre has something to do >ith it&N N7o> $ould they hae bro?en into the museum and stolen itN Ma$ as?ed& Ma$ >at$h ed lisha adEust seer al boo?s on the shelf in front of him& N-ruly a mystery!N lisha began& N-here >ere no signs of a brea?"in& Fne of the se$urity $ameras suddenly $louded oer! but the people >ho eamined it beliee it >as most li?ely a transmission malfun$tion& 'nd the guards reported nothing out of the ordinary8yet the s$roll is gone&N lisha >earily san? into a $hair& NGe need to ?eep a >at$hful eye! Ma$enzie& ohanen beliees! as / do! that the time is ery near for them to begin the Kreat %e$eption& /n some >ays it has already begun >ith the appearan$e of the sign& -he time of the end appears to be upon us&N No >hatait and see&N
3 U0U
(ome on! ora! hurry it up!N a lan?y bla$? man $oaed! his bloodshot eyes darting oer his shoulder and up the garbage"infested alley>ay& NPou >ant t] do itN ora $hallenged ba$?! letting her hands fall to her sides& No >ay! man& / ?nI> nothing al? outta here and >e not gonna get nothin<& Pouay& Nomebody gonna hear you >ith that $razy laugh 0< yours and then they gonna find us here&N NGe done noth=n< >rong & & & yet!N she said! loo?ing at him >ith a grimy angeli$ fa$e and a shoulder"length mane of un?empt! dar? bro>n hair& N/led ba$? at her& No >ay! man! / ainhi$h splattered ba$? on his pants as he sent it flying against the alley >all& No> loo? >hat you made me do&N ora laughed again& N-hat laugh 0< yours gets more $reepier by the day!N the bla$? man said& NPou been ta?in< your pillsN ora ignored the question& Nay youas $om=ng do>n from amphetamines and he needed to get more& 7is body >as beginning to a$he and his hands trembled un$ontrollably for a se$ond or t>o as he angrily eyed the >oman! >ho! in his mind! had made su$h an unreasonable demand on him& 'fter all! he hadned him a tired smile! >ith a fe> missing teeth& he pulled her hands from her po$?ets and on$e again set to >or? on a padlo$? that held a thi$? $hain that >as >rapped around the ba$? door of a $onenien$e store& erry too? a fe> steps so that he >as right behind her& 7e >at$hed her deli$ate iory fingers >or? the lo$? pi$?& ' moment later ora pulled do>n on the lo$? and it opened& NPou amazing! you ?no> that!N erry said!^ genuinely astounded at ora! be ready to get out here! soon as you see me&N 7e pulled an old pillo>$ase from the ins=de of h=s s>eatsh=rt! then slo>ly un>ound the $hain and slipped into the store& erry let his eyes adEust to the dimly lit room& Co$?ing his head! he listened to the
muted $onersation and the blare of a radio that $ame from the front of the store& -hen he made his >ay to one of the sheles that held $anned foods! some of >hi$h >ere still in half"opened boes& 7e pi$?ed up one and $arefully slipped it into his sa$?& -hen he grabbed the net one and $arefully set it against the first $an! at the bottom lest he should ma?e any un>ant ed noise& !"s .y l'c/y day, he thought! as he filled his sa$? up and glan$ed ba$? at ora& >ray chic/% 7e >ondered >here she had learned to pi$? lo$?s li?e a pro& -he bag nearly full! he grabbed for another $an! and as he did his hand trembled un$ontrollably& -he $an slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor& erry froze and >aited! eyeing the door that led dire$tly to the front $ounter& 7e sa> it begin to open& 7e pi$?ed up another $an as he made for the ba$? door& N7ey! youJN a fat old orean man shouted at him& erry thre> the $an and it slammed into the manay and into the alley& ora >as running net to h=m! laughing li?e a $razed >oman& NCrazy $hi$?!N erry muttered under h=s breath as he made for the ba$? of the alley& 7e sa> ora go oer the $hain"lin? fen$e! $atli?e& erry got to the fen$e& Klan$ing behind him! he sa> that the angry orean gro$er had made it to the door>ay and had a gun& NPou stop& / shootJN Fn the run! erry tied the top of the pillo>$ase and thre> it oer the fen$e into oraaiting arms& 7e s$rambled up the fen$e! and as he rea$hed the top! he heard the gun go off&
-he bullet >hizzed oer his head& erry >as no> really s$ared& Hes gonna /ill .e over a e cans o ood, he thought! as he dropped to the ground& 7e grabbed the sa$? from ora and the pair began to run do>n another alley>ay& -hey du$?ed into a door>ay and >ere hidden from sight& NPou thin? he usN ora as?ed! her breath $oming in little pants& N7e too fat ay! man!N erry said! and he grinned at ora& 7e peered around the bla$?ened bri$?& N7eTi` his gun around&N NPou hear thatN ora said! and she grabbed erryeat"shirt& N-heY ainard the poli$e sirens that e$hoed through the labyrinth of buildings near e> Por?ith a $ouple of mole people&N 7e grinned& 7e motioned for her to stay $lose and! $rou$hing lo>! they made their >ay along the >all of the alley& NBp here&N erry pointed to part of a rusted fire es$ape that had been gerry"rigged oer the alleyall& -he pair $limbed oer the >all and fell into the rear of a burned"out shell of an apartment building! >hi$h! in spite of the fen$e! had been a $at$h" all for the $ommunityanted items& NLoo? at all this!N erry said as he pi$?ed up a torn mattress& NGe $an use it ba$? at the $ondo!N ora said& NPeah! /e eat & & &N erry pushed ora do>n& N7ey! >hat are you doingN ora said& N-hey ?no>s >e here& Loo?! they in front of us!N erry pointed to a squad $ar >ith its lights flashing in front of the lot& N-heyhispered! and she moed $loser to erry& Nothin< gonna happen &&& they ain
erry pointed to one that s$urried a fe> feet past them& ; bullhorn $ra$?ed to life& NGe ?nI> you t>o are in there& Come out >ith your hands up&N NPeah! li?e /hisper& N/ dones somethin< that they donith his inde finger ?no>ingly& NLi?e >hatN ora as?ed& N
Pou ith that stuff <$ept my ol< lady! an< you ain & & & this is the poli$e & & & youith my hands up and eerything! N erry mo$?ed& N'll right! /ing more nerous >ith the poli$e presen$e& NKood & & & o> staY lo> an< follo> me!N erry ordered as he $rept for>ard on his hands and ?nees! holding the sa$? in front of him& 7e made his >ay past a huge pile of bro?en $on$rete and bri$?s and then to>ard a large pile of s$rap >ood and building materials& N N/ donhined as she $ra>led behind him& N-hey ain
get me and / ain t goin< ba$? to that pla$e&N N%ort >orry! nobodyhere is itN ora as?ed again& N-im told me about it! an< he neer lied ed himself to $hu$?le& N-his is the poli$e & & &N erry laughed& N7ey! man! these guys really thin? >e mu$h fartherN ora as?ed& N/tas thro>ed into that ?inda basement thereN NPeah&N N-hereer&N erry led them into the basement! >hi$h >as surrounded by the remains of bri$? >alls that rose seeral stories aboe them& N/tall& #ushing it aside he $hu$?led again& N/tould be&N ora sl=d past him into the tunnel& erry follo>ed but put ba$? the hood to $on$eal the entran$e& -he t>o of them sat for a moment! allo>ing their eyes to adEust to the dar?ness! before s$rambling do>n the tunnel& NGhereer&N -hey $ra>led for a fe> minutes more in >hat no> >as $omplete dar?ness& -heir s$uffing shoes and panting breath e$hoed do>n the pipe& N7ey! ithispered& Nust li?e -im said it >ould be!N erry added& -he pipe interse$ted into a main se>er! allo>ing them to stand upright and >al? through an?le"deep se>er >ater& NGhen you >ant to pop upN ora as?ed&
NGe go a little more >ays Eust to ma?e sure!N erry responded& NGhat did you getN ora as?ed& NLots of $anned stuff& Pams! beans! oriental egetables! / don8itard >hi$h made a fe> of the $ans Eostle in the bag& NGhat about this oneN ora as?ed! pointing to a shaft of light that poured through a manhole $oer& erry shoo? his head sageli?e& NLetal?ing and $ame to another manhole $oer& NS<** go up first!N erry said! handing ora the bag& 7e $limbed the rusted ladder and pressed up>ard on the man"hole $oer& N/tn tight!N he muttered as he heaed against it >ith his shoulder& 9inally the $oer loosened and he held one $orner of it& Light poured in and! for a moment! stunned him& 7e blin?ed his eyes and then squinted outside and loo?ed around& N GellN ora as?ed impatiently& erry didner& 7e moed the other side of the lid up>ard and loo?ed around some more& 9inally he pushed the >hole thing oer the side and it >as gone& N7and the bag!N he ordered& ora handed him the bag and erry too? it and thre> it out of the manhole then follo>ed after it& ora s$rambled up the ladder after him& -he t>I stood in a small side street& erry elbo>ed her to loo? at a fe> startled pedestrians >ho ga>?ed at their sudden appearan$e from the under>orld& erry set the lid ba$? oer the manhole and grinned& NLoo?s li?e >eo set off and seeral blo$?s later $rept through a hole in a $hain"lin? fen$e that led to a littered a$ant lot that bordered the underground sub>ay tra$?s& -hey slid do>n the angled $on$rete emban?ment! dropping almost thirty feet to the single set of train tra$?s belo>& NGe did it! ora!N erry laughed! as they >al?ed leisurely along the tra$?s& NPeah& 7ey! train $oming!N ora >arned! and a fe> moments later the headlight of a train $ould be seen in the re$ess of the tunnel that opened up before them& -hey moed to the mouth of the tunnel and >aited& erry grabbed the bag as the train strea?ed past& 7e loo?ed up Eust as the last $ar >as going by and $aught a glimpse of a man reading a ne>spaper! obliious to him and ora Eust a fe> feet a>ay& No pla$e li?e home!N erry said! as he and ora moed ba$? into the tunnel! follo>ing the tra$?s that disappeared under the streets of e> Por? City&
4
)rian 9itzpatri$? too? another breath of air in t>o distin$t gulps timed >ith the stride of his legs! as he ran up a hill that he had Eo?ingly named 7eartb rea? 7ill! in e> Por? Cityere pistons that >ere tied to the rhythm of his breath! he let out the air in one long stream that too? up t>o more strides& 7e snat$hed another breath of air and leaned for>ard into the hill! feeling the burn in the ba$? of his thighs as he passed the half>ay mar?& >eat poured do>n his forehead and he yan?ed his s>eatband! pulling it do>n to>ard his eyes& 7e passed another Eogger! a >oman! >ho >as ta?ing the hill in short! almost babyli?e steps& 7e shouted! NPou $an do it!N as he passed $lose to her& ->o minutes later he $rested the hill and let his body rela into an easier pa$e! as this part of his run >as flat& 7e loo?ed for>ard to morni ngs >hen he didnor?! >hen at the $ra$? of da>n he >ould Eump out of bed! don his s>eats! and head to the par?& 7e relished the time alone! a>ay from the $onstant demands of the %oomsday Clo$? #roEe$t -hin? -an?& N-he -an?!N as it >as ni$?named! $onsisted of a staff of people >ho monitored >orld eents t>enty"four hours a day and fed the information into a state"of"the"art $omputer& in$e the /ndustrial Reolution! progress and te$hnology had in$reased eponentially to the point that no one person $ould get a de$ent oerie> of all that >as happening& Life had be$ome a $omple interlo$?ing >eb of $ommer$e! industry! and art& ' negatie by"produ$t to this te$hnology >as that humans had su$$eeded in gaining the potential to annihilate eery liing soul on planet earth &&& many times oer& 9itzpatri$? had been employed at the -an? for his ?no>ledge of es$hatologi$al prophe$ies from different $ultures spanning thousands of years& 7e had read and studied eerything from 7opi /ndian legends to 7ebre> apo$alypti$ s$rolls& 1e$ause by personal preferen$e he lied in e> Por? City een though the -an? >as based near Gashington! %&C&! it >asn and then to >ard off fatigue& /n fa$t! he had Eust finished a three"day shift& 7is mind started to run off on a linguisti$ problem inoling translation from an an$ient Canaanite tet& 1ut he firmly stopped it! shoing it ba$? to the $ompartment that it belonged in as he loo?ed at the brilliant hues of a maple tree that >as ba$?lit by the rising sun& 7e qui$?ened his pa$e! nearing the end of his run& 9or the last fifty yards he sprinted for all he >as >orth! imagining himself at a tra$? meet at his former high s$hool& 't the finish line he slo>ed! >al?ing in a large $ir$le on the grass holding his hands aboe his head& ' sudden nip of $old fall air made him turn up his $ollar on his Ea$?et& 7e dropped
to the ground and stret$ hed his legs! ta?ing $are to massage the ba$?s of his $ales& No" bad or so.eone over or"y, he mused& 's he headed out of the par? he spotted a homeless per"son sleeping on a par? ben$h& 7e detoured a little out of his >ay and loo?ed at the sleeping figure of a man& ' shopping $art >ith a e> Por? Mets< flag atta$hed >as par?ed near the ben$h& 7e smelled the al$ohol and sa> the empty bottle tossed a fe> feet a>ay from the ben$h& Remembering that he had a fie"dollar bill in his Ea$?et earmar?ed for a tarbu$?s< latte! he retrieed the $ash and stu$? it in the threadbare sleee of the manay to Columbus Cir$le! >here he noti$ed a bla$? limo par?ed on the $orner ahead of him& 't first he didn nearer! the bla$?ed"out >indo> disappeared and he re$ognized the fa$e of 'nthony -it>ell! his drier& 7e tightened his lips and straightened his ba$? as he dre> $loser to the ehi$le& N7o> did you find meN he as?ed as he stood a fe> feet from the limo& -it>ell grinned& NPou got your >at$h on! donn at his >at$h and remembered that it had a global positioning dei$e that enabled its >earer to be found >ith pinpoint a$$ura$y& Nmergen$y! thenN 9itzpatri$? as?ed& -it>ell got out of the $ar and opened the rear door& N-hathy / that -it>ell >ouldn >hat the $all >as about& 7e >as Eust doing his Eob in finding him& N-han?s! -it>ell!N 9itzpatri$? replied! as he slid into the ba$? of the limo& N%o / hae time to sho>er and $hangeN -it>ell put the limo in gear and pulled a>ay from the $urb& Nope&N N-he airport thenN NPep& Pour Eetay >aiting for you&N 9itzpatri$? settled ba$? in the seat and >ondered >hat >as so important that his >ee?end >ould be interrupted& 7e too? the satellite phone off its $radle and made sure the oi$e s$rambler >as on before he pun$hed in a series of numbers& NKood morning! 9itzpatri$?& N ' oi$e >ith a heay Kerman a$$ent $ame oer the re$eier& NKood morning! sir!N 9itzpatri$? ans>ered& NGe<e got something that needs your attention immediately&N N/ay!N 9itzpatri$? replied& NGhat is itN NLet& uffi$e it to say that ithat language it isN N-hathy youhen you hae any information on it&N N/or?ed for& 7e didnay eeryone at the -an? >as treated as an inferior underling& 7e too? umbrage at the >ay the man flaunted his >ealth and position! and ho> he >ent out of his >ay to ma?e the point that his an$estors >ere Kerman royalty and had been in the seri$e of the aiser& ' little oer a year ago! the man had >ooed him a>ay from a modest uniersity tea$hing position! offering a si"figure in$ome that
9itzpatri$? had found irresistible& 9itzpatri$? planned to >or? for a fe> years! ban? the money! and then retire to Rome! >here he $ould s$our the ast ar$hial @ati$an libraries& 9itzpatri$? had found the -an? to be an enigma& -here >ere soldiers li?e -it>ell! and military M#s! but they >eren >hom he a$tually >or?ed for 8the Bnited tates goernment! the priate se$tor! a rogue element! or een the Chinese! for that matter& 'll he ?ne> for $ertain >as that the man he reported to! ni$?named the 7ag by eeryone in the -an?! >as in $harge& 'nother unsettling fa$t >as the realization that he didn >hat be$ame of his >or?& Fr for that matter! >hat interest his emplo yer >ould find in tra$?ing $ertain prophe$ies from dierse $iilizations! and loo?ing for some uniersal $onstant in them& /t sobered him to realize that the information that $ame his >ay >as ery $lassified and >as ery up"to"the"minute intel& 'n hour later his unmar?ed Eet tou$hed do>n on a spe$ial run>ay near Gashington! %&C& 9itzpatri$? >as hurried to a>aiting $ar and motored to a building Eust outside the Gashington 1elt>ay& -it>ell stopped at the gate to the under"ground par?ing garage and pun$hed in the $ode& -he gate opened and the $ar >ent do>n into the par?ing area& eeral turns later it rea$hed a >all8at least! >hat appeared to be a >all& 9itzpatri$? loo?ed out his >indo> as the $ar gae a little Eolt! and then the se$tion of the floor that the $ar rested on began to go do>n into the earth& 'fter seeral minutes it $ame to rest& 'n M# opened the door and 9itzpatri$? got out and >aited! holding his right hand in front of him& -he M#s grabbed his hand and slipped it into a ma$hine that $oered his hand gloeli?e! to his >rist& 9itzpatri$? felt an almost imper$eptible sting! as a needle pri$?ed his s?in and >ith"dre> a tiny amount of blood& Githout a >ord the M# too? the sample to a ma$hine that >as imbedded into a large stainless steel door& 7e >at$hed the monitor as the blood sampleas mat$hed& NPouaited as the stainless steel doors slid noiselessly open& Gal?ing alone do>n a dimly lit $orridor! he nodded at seeral $o>or?ers he passed& 7e opened the door to his department! a large room filled >ith des?s and $omputers& 1oo?sheles $oered three >alls! and the fourth >all held a digital map of the >orld& 9itzpatri$? unbuttoned his s>eat Ea$?et and glan$ed around the room& ->o men and t>o >omen >ere busy at the terminals& -he -an?! as al>ays! >as in session& NMorning! 9itz!N Za$h mumbled! as he typed on his ?ey"board& 7e >as the grouporld population gro>th and the relationships bet>een emerging industry in those $ountries and the impa$t on the enironment! surrounding nations! and the global e$onomy& NCoffeeN Mary as?ed! holding out a steaming $up and smiling& 9itzpatri$? too? the $up and sipped& Mary >as a tall! blond"haired >oman >ho >as approa$hing forty and had neer married& he >as still attra$tie >hen she >anted to be! and this morning she had ta?en the time to put on ma?eup and >ear a s?irt and s>eater that flattered her trim figure& ' graduate of Pale Medi$al $hool >ho had sered a de$ade >ith the Center for %isease Control! she spe$ialized in the resear$h of rare diseases& NGhat do >e haeN 9itzpatri$? as?ed! as he too? another sip of his $offee&
NLoo? at this!N @innie ans>ered! using his mouse to high"light an area on his $omputer monitor that $orresponded to the digital map on the >all& -he image $hanged on the digital s$reen against the far >all& @innieas superte$hnology& Ghile still in $ollege! he had designed a faster $omputer $hip that >as bought by a leading $ompany& NGhat is itN 9itzpatri$? as?ed! noting that the images appeared to hae been shot >ith a night"ision $amera& N/nfrared satellite image of an in$ident that happened in Pemen forty"eight hours ago& / thin? youas an epert in the paranormal& 9or oy$e to thin? it etraordinary meant that it >as more than the typi$al B9F footage! or mutilated $attle $ar$asses! or apparitions of the @irgin Mary& 9itzpatri$? settled in his $hair as the footag e rolled& ' fiery obEe$t enter ed the $ameraat$hed as the obEe$t slo>ed do>n and then too? off again& NClose"upN he as?ed& NPeah &&& here it $omes&N @innie typed in a $ommand on his ?eyboard& 9itzpatri$? stared >ith genuine >onder& N/n$redible! N he >hispered& N/t loo?s li?e a $raft of some ?ind! but >here >as it made and by >homN N-he press is hailing it as the reemergen$e of the 1ethlehem star!N oy$e added! Nbut itorld hae heard about it!N Za$h said& N'n -l ?aeera film $re> $aught it on tape& -hey<e been sho>ing it nonstop&N <'nd our media pi$?ed it up from themN 9itzpatri$? as?ed& Za$h nodded& NPeah! 9o e>s and C are running >ith it&N <'ny idea as to >hat it isN Mary as?ed& 9itzpatri$? shoo? his head& N'nything in the an$ient prophe$ies about itN Mary as?ed& 9itzpatri$? shoo? his head& Nothing that $omes to mind&N N/t seems to hae been $entralized oer the $ountry of Pemen&N 9itzpatri$? nodded& NMideast update 'nything affe$tedN Nyria moed some troops around to their border >ith Lebanon& -he /ranians are doing military eer$ises in the #ersian Kulf& Fther than that! status quo!N Za$h stated& -here >as a ?no$? on the door and a military atta$he entered $arrying a sealed pa$?et& NMr& 9itzpatri$?!N he said! as he pla$ed the pa$?et in 9itzpatri$?ere on him as he opened the pa$?et and unfolded the $opy of an an$ient s$roll& N-his is >hy the 7ag interrupted my >ee?end!N 9itzpatri$? said! as he got his first loo? at the strange >riting& NPou re$ognize itN oy$e as?ed& No! / donay to his des?! so absorbed in the ne> find that he forgot his $olleagues&
5
Art Ma$enzie and
lisha 1en7assen arried in front of Mossad headquarters! haing
been informed that a top"se$ret $ommunique a>aited Mr& Ma$enzie& -hey >ere going to see lishaho had helped found the /sraeli Mossad! the /sraeli ersion of the C/'& Ma$ sa> seeral armed guards in front of the building& -he street >as fairly $ro>ded! and people bustled about their business in the early morning hour& N-ight se$urity!N he said! motioning to the armed guards as they headed to>ard the entran$e& NGe $annot let our guard do>n for a moment! Ma$enzie!N lisha said! pushing his trifo$als up on the bridge of his nose& Ma$ glan$ed up the street at a handful of people >aiting for a bus fifty yards a>ay& Nhalom!N lisha said to one of the guards as he produ$ed his $redentials& ' >oman yelled from the bus stop up the street& uddenly one of the guards shoed lisha do>n onto the paement& 1oth guards then bolted to>ard the $ommotion& NKet do>n! Ma$enzieJN lisha shouted& Ma$ had one ?nee on the paement >hen he heard another s$ream& 7e stood up to get a better loo?& 7e sa> people diing into shops! >hile others du$?ed behind any shelter they $ould find! leaing a young >oman >ith a eil struggling >ith an older >oman >ho >as tearing at her $lothes and yelling& Ma$ sa> the $ro>ded bus $ome to a stop beside them& ;ha" are "hey igh"ing over8 he >ondered& NMa$enzie! get do>nJN lisha yelled! and Ma$ felt the manoman! follo>ed by a blinding flash and a iolent eplosion& Ma$ >as thro>n off his feet as the sho$? >ae from the blast thre> him to the paement& -here >as a moment of eerie silen$e and a thi$? $loud of dar? smo?e eneloped him& -hen the shrie?s of the >ounded erupted& Ma$ >iped his eyes and then to his horror! noti$ed the seered lo>er part of an arm net to him& /t loo?ed surreal to him! as if it >ere part of a mannequin or a doll! and not the >arm flesh and blood that! moments ago! had been part of a human being& 7e stared at the >edding band on the bla$?ened finger& 9ighting the urge to omit he turned the other >ay as another >ae of bla$? smo?e >ashed oer him& NMa$enzieN N/ly got to his ?nees and tried to get his bearings& 7e loo?ed do>n at his $lothes and sa> that his pants had been torn and his shirt ripped& N Fer here! Ma$enzie!N lisha $alled out through the smo?e& ' siren blared in the distan$e& Ma$ stumbled to>ard lisha& -hen his ears began to ring& 7e >or?ed his Ea> up and do>n trying to $lear his ears! but he $ouldn
-he >ind s>it$hed dire$tions! reealing the spot >here the sui$ide bomber had destroyed herself& 7e sa> the littered remains of dead and >ounded people s$attered oer the street and side>al?& hop >indo>s had been shattered and the bus that had pulled up to the stop >as on fire! its side ripped open li?e it >as no more than a soda $an& 'n ambulan$e strea?ed by follo>ed by seeral poli$e $ars! but Ma$ $ould barely hear the sirens& 7e put his fingers in his ears! trying to $lear them& lisha hurried oer! >aing to him and tal?ing& Ma$ shoo? his head and pointed to his ears! then yelled! N/ $an him mouth the >ords! Nsui$ide bomber&N Ma$ nodded and felt the room spin around him for a moment& lisha rea$hed out and steadied him& NGill you be all rightN he mouthed& Ma$ nodded! made a gesture for something to drin?& lisha hurried a>ay do>n the hall& Ma$ let his head fall ba$? so that it rested on the >all behind the ben$h& ' flurry of men and >omen hurried in all dire$tions! bringing >ounded people into the building and setting them near him& lisha returned >ith a paper $up full of >ater& Ma$ sipped the >ater! grateful that the a$rid taste in his mouth >as >ashed a>ay& 7e s>allo>ed and felt his ears unplug! but the ringing $ontinued& NMy ears are ringing!N he mumbled to lisha& N/t >ill go a>ay in a >hile!N lisha offered& N1ut your hearing is fineN N/ thin? so!N Ma$ said! putting a finger inside his ear and moing it around& N/ sa> her &&& she loo?ed right at me Eust before she ble> herself up!N Ma$ said& Nhe >as young &&& in her t>enties &&& and pretty& Ghat a >aste of life&N lisha nodded& N're you able to get to the MaEorn the hall&N Ma$ nodded and lisha helped him to his feet& Nlisha! Ma$enzie! are you all rightN Ma$ sa> the MaEor running do>n the hall to>ard them& N7e >as stunned by the blast!N lisha said as the MaEor rea$hed them& NPou see!N the MaEor said! Nthis is >hat >e lie >ith& -hey donant pea$e& -hey >ant eery e> dead&N Nasy! old friend!N lisha $ounseled& Not eery 'rab hates us& -here are many >ho >ant pea$e! and some een re$ognize that >e hae a right to the land&N -he MaEor shoo? his head! then turned to Ma$& N're you sure youor?ed his Ea> again to see if it >ould stop the ringing& N7o> soon $an >e see the $ommuniqueN N's soon as >e get to my offi$e&N -he MaEor led them through a re$eption area to his priate offi$e and motioned for lisha and Ma$enzie to ta?e a seat& N7ere it is! Ma$enzie!N the MaEor said! as he handed him a sealed enelope& Ma$ opened it and blin?ed his eyes a fe> times before beginning to read& N7e >ants me to $ome to Rome&N 7e handed the letter to lisha& N9ran?ly! / >ish he had summoned me instead!N lisha said&
N%o you thin? it has something to do >ith the s$roll %oes ohanen ?no> it >as stolenN Ma$ as?ed& N/ sent a $ommunique to him! ia the MaEor! shortly after >e re$eied the ne>s!N lisha said& NPou told me that you belieed the same people >e shut do>n in Pemen >ere responsible for the theft!N the MaEor stated& lisha shrugged& N-he eiden$e points to them& 'fter all! >e disrupted their broad$ast and th>arted their plans to reeal the etraterrestrial presen$e &&& at least temporarily&N NPou ?no> >hat is really strange^ Ma$ as?ed& Maggie >as supposed to fly in! and at the last minute she $an$eled be$ause my daughter! arah! had $ome do be$ause >ith appendi$itis&N NKod is loo?ing after you! Ma$?enzie!^ lisha stated& Ma$ nodded! >ondering >hat a>aited him in Rome >ith ohanen&
6
*ohanen paused at the iron gate that led to the small $ourtyard and rose garden that had on$e been tended by the late Cardinal 9iorre& 7e ran his hand oer the brass handle and prayed! as?ing for strength and >isdom& 7e had gone >ith"out sleep for the last t>enty" four hours! flying from /srael to aples and then to his $astle in the 'lps& -here he >as informed of the Eailhouse sui$ide of tephan! on$e one of his most trusted aides! >ho had betrayed him and his organization ?no>n as piral of Life& 7e >as greatly troubled further by the ne>s that Cardinal 9iorre! a longtime trusted friend and @ati$an informant! had apparently died of a massie stro?e& 9iorre had left him some papers! but no tra$e of the papers $ould be found at the $astle& ohanen belieed that tephan had destroyed them& o no> he had $ome in haste to Rome! to see if 9ather -homas ?ne> anything about their $ontent& 7e unlat$hed the gate and entered the $ourtyard& ' small fountain gurgled in the far $orner and the s$ent of roses and freshly turned earth filled the air& 7e stopped! gathered a $ream"$olored rose in his fingers! and inhaled its fragran$e& 7e then made his >ay to the heay >ooden door! grabbed the head of a hideous"loo?ing gargoyle! and let the ?no$?er fall >ith a muffled thud& ' young priest >ith a boyish fa$e and a sho$? of red hair opened the door& NohanenN he as?ed! a smile spreading a$ross his fa$e& ohanen etended his hand& NPes! good to meet you! 9ather -homas& / $ame as soon as / got your >ord&N NCardinal 9iorre spo?e often of you& Come in! >onith papers and boo?s& N/ >ill miss him!N ohanen said as they seated themseles& -homas nodded! then leaned for>ard in his $hair& N7e >as li?e a grandfather to me& 1ut something ery pressing is happening&N -homas lo>ered his oi$e& N/ hae >anted to tell someone & & & but & & & there has been an in$ident $on$erning 7is 7oliness&N ohanen fro>ned and >aited for the man to $ontinue& N/t hours ago & & & / only ?no> be$ause / >as >or?ing late at the @ati$an! in Cardinal 9iorreas saying Mass in his priate $hapel >hen it happened& -hey rushed him se$retly to a hospital&N N/t >onind of it!N ohanen replied& NCardinal 9iorreas s$heduled for tomorro>! but no> & & & >ho ?no>sN N/f the pope dies! then! / agree! most things >ill be put on hold until his su$$esso r is ele$ted&N <'re you a>are that 7is minen$e requested an autopsy to be performed in the eent
of his deathN 9ather -homas said! $hanging the subEe$t& No! / >asnare of that& 7as it been $arried out N NPes& -he results $onfirmed that he died of a massie stro?e& 1ut there&N ohanen >aited& N/ sa> the body! and his fa$e >as $ontorted & & & 7e loo?ed li?e a man >ho had seen the il Fne himself&N NGhat did the $oroner say about thatN N-hat fa$ial $ontortions often a$$ompany seere stro?es& 1ut thereall there& N 7e pointed behind ohanen& <'nd >hathere the $ross hit& Loo?&N -he man got out of his $hair and >ent oer to the >all& 7e pla$ed the $ross net to the indentation& N/tas thro>n >ith great for$e! yesN -homas stated& ohanen got up from his seat and >ent oer to get a $loser loo?& 7e let his finger tra$e the indentation& N/ agree! this $ertainly is ery strange&N <'nother thing that is ery odd& 7is minen$e >as >or?ing on something that had been dire$tly $ommissioned by 7is 7oliness&N NCardinal 9iorre spo?e to me of the manus$ript he $ompleted!N ohanen said& N/<e sear$hed eery>here and the manus$ript is gone!N -homas said& N/ re$eied a message that he >as going to send me a $opy of it&N NPes! / >as a>are of that!N -homas said& NPou said you neer re$eied itN N/ beliee it >as destroyed&N N7e left some ery spe$ifi$ instru$tions in the eent of his death& / >as entrusted >ith an enelope& / >as told in the eent of his death to mail it immediately&N NGhere >as it addressedN N-o an address in e> Por?& /t >as addressed to a 1rian 9itzpatri$?&N N%id the $ardinal eer mention him to youN N7ere&N -homas too? a photograph from the sideboard behind him& N/tas ta?en almost ten years ago&N ohanen loo?ed at the photo& N/s this 9itzpatri$? >ith the $ardinalN NPes&N N-hen he >as ordainedN ohanen said >ith surprise as he loo?ed at the $ollar around the manas a %omini$an!N -homas ans>ered& NGasN N7e left his holy orders& -here >as something in his past that haunted him& / beliee Cardinal 9iorre ?ne>! but 7is minen$e neer $onfided in me&N N/t appears that they >or?ed $losely together!N ohanen said& N7is minen$e $onfided that they >ere very $lose &&& but the man fell a>ay&N ohanen fitted the $ross into the indentation that it had left in the plaster& Nomeone other than Cardinal 9iorre is responsible for this&N ohanen sa> -homas loo? at him questioningly& N/ $annot imagine Cardinal 9iorre thro>ing the obEe$t that he enerated for any reason&N No you suspe$t &&& someone else >as responsibleN -homas as?ed&
NPes! / do&N N1ut >hoN ohanen handed the $ross ba$? to -homas& N-hose >ho >ant to ma?e sure that Cardinal 9iorreor? neer rea$hed 7is 7oliness&N
+
Nora sat around a small $ampfire in front of erry the streets of e> Por? City& 'round her! a half a dozen people of dierse ethni$ity and age >armed themseles& ora eyed the t>o tra$? rabbits that >ere slo>ly $oo?ing on a spit oer the fire& -hey >ere in fa$t t>o rats that >ere a little smaller than rabbits! and >ere $onsidered a staple by those >ho d>elled in the subterranean >orld ?no>n as the Condos& -he Condos >as a natural $aern! separated from the underground sub>ay tra$?s by a large out$ropping of ro$?s that dimmed the frequent roar of passing sub>ay trains& Fer one hundred homeless men and >omen lied here! in a loosely ?nit $ommune& omeone had dierted an ele$tri$al >ire and rigged it to light lamps that illuminated the interiors of a smattering of $ardboard huts! ma?ing them loo? li?e misshapen apanese lanterns& Gater $ame from seeral pipes that lea?ed oerhead and >as $olle$ted in $ans and bu$?ets& ora ?ept her eye on erry! as he >as busy opening seeral $ans that they had stolen from the gro$ery store& 7e had already traded seeral $ans for some speed! and the drug had put him in good spirits again& NPou shoulda seen her&N erry nodded to>ard ora& NLi?e a real pro&N 7e lifted his $an opener and used it as a prop for oraas nothing&N 7e snapped his finger& N-ell them ho> you almost got shot!N ora reminded him& N'inoman and a Eun?ie! groaned& N-hathite man >ith a battered fa$e& N/ don ho> you manage to do it!N said a man >ho loo?ed li?e he $ould hae been a ban?er& N/tent out&N ome of the others nodded their agreement& N'>! itith a pair of fire" bla$?ened pliers! he pla$ed the $an on the fire& N-hey donant to mess >ith us mole people&N -his ni$?name $ame from the sub>ay >or?ers and poli$e! and the tunnel d>ellers used it as >ell& -he $an settled do>n on the $oals and the group >at$hed as the flames li$?ed its sides! burning off the label& 9ie minutes later ora said! N%onas done& N/tas finished& -he mole people produ$ed $ups and plates seemingly from no>here& erry pulled out the metal spit that had s?e>ered the rats oer the fire& 7e motioned to ora and she held out her plate! >hi$h had a faded pi$ture of 1arney on it& erry dropped t>o ery thin sli$es of the meat! along >ith seeral hot yams from the tin! onto it& ora too? the food and then hurried a>ay from the fire to erry
-he ban?er >hispered as he held out his plate! N7er lights are going off again&N Nhe ainith herN the old man >ith the battered fa$e as?ed! as he spooned a mouthful of rabbit into an almost toothless mouth& erry shrugged and too? the first bite of his dinner& 7e >as ora asn >as that she al>ays had a supply& 7e had read the label! hoping that they >ere drugs he $ould maybe use& -he label had a long name that he $ouldnat$hed >ith admiration as! moments later! the door opened! and ora had entered! returning qui$?ly >ith an armful of donuts& 7e had follo>ed her! and >hen it >as night and she had $urled up on a ben$h in the par?! it >as he >ho had $hased off a >ould"be rapist & 7e then too? her underground and introdu$ed her to the group at the Condos& 't first she >as a big hit be$ause of her lo$?"pi$?ing s?ills& 1ut soon the others noti$ed that ora >as Na real $razyN ora too? to liing in the tunnels! but she often snea?ed a>ay at night! leaing erryould sit in the house and ro$? ba$? and forth! staring into spa$e! not eating or sleeping& erry >ould spoon"feed her $hi$?en broth and nurse her as best he $ould& 't first! these episodes >ould last a fe> days! but they >ere gro>ing more frequent as time >ent on& erry had learned oer the months that >hen ora too? her pills she >as some>hat normal& 1ut >hen seeral days elapsed >ithout her ta?ing them! her errati$ behaior >ould return& erry finished his meal and >iped his plate >ith an old to>el& N/ better go an< $he$? on her!N he muttered! moing a>ay from the fire to>ard his $ardboard house& 7e sa> that ora hadnaited for a moment but there >as no ans>er& o he >ent in& Nora! >hat are you doin<N he had ta?en a razor blade and >as sitting in the semidar?ness pulling strands of her hair and $utting it $lose to her s$alp& NChatN 7e shoo? his head& ora didner& he Eust stared out into spa$e and played >ith a length of hair that she hadnhat am / gonna do >ith youN erry grabb ed a blan?et and put it around her shoulders& NGhere are your pills! girlN he ignored him! so erry loo?ed oer at a little sta$? of bri$?s >here ora ?ept her stuff& 7e found the pills! popped the lid! and offered one of them to ora& NCome on and ta?e it! girl!N he $oaed& he finally too? it out of his hand and put it in her mouth and s>allo>ed& NLet me see!N erry said& ora opened her mouth and stu$? out her tongue! sho>ing him that she had s>allo>ed the pill&
7e >at$hed her until the $andle burned do>n almost an in$h& -hen he gently pushed her do>n into her bed of papers and pulled the blan?ets oer her& 7e >ent to his bed and lay there >onderi ng >hat he >as going to do >ith this $razy >oman! until the effe$ ts of the speed began to lessen and he >ent to sleep&
Art Ma$enzie follo>ed a line of people of dierse nationalities through the boarding tube to the terminal gate in the Rome /nternational 'irport& 'lthough he >as trael >eary! he loo?ed for>ard to seeing the man >hom he $onsidered his spiritual mentor and friend! ohanen& Ma$enzie sear$hed the $ro>d& ;ha" a oo, he thought! as he heard half a dozen languages being spo?en >ithin earshot& ' turbaned #a?istani >ith a bushy beard and a $ell phone glued to his ear hurried by& ' Moslem mother! her abaya $on$ealing her body e$ept for an opening reealing her >ary eyes! led her $hildren through the throng of people& 'n 'meri$an $ouple! perhaps on their honeymoon! >ere dis$ussing the star of 1ethlehem& N/ sa> it on C!N the petite ne>ly>ed said& N/t >as frea?y"loo?ing&N 7er husband shoo? his head& NPeah! / ?no> >hat you mean& / thought it loo?ed li?e something out of the @here! and then anishing&N N-he ne>s said it >asnas lost as the $ouple moed out of earshot& Ma$ fought the urge to $omment& 'fter all! he had been there! in Pemen& 7e had seen the 1ethlehem star and ?ne> >hat it >as & & & a false sign from the nemy! sent to de$eie the nations of earth into belieing that etraterrestrials >ere someho> lin?ed to the birth of esus& en though ohanen and he had destroyed the bogus tomb of esus and interrupted the broad$ast that >as supposed to reeal to a sele$t $adre of people the etraterrestrial presen$e! the sign had been pi$?ed up by the 'rab ne>s agen$y -l ?aeera% /t then found its >ay to ngland! ia satellite! and finally! to the 'meri$an mainstream press! >ho had a field day >ith it& -he pundits on C! 9o e>s! and the maEor net>or?s all had $ommentary and theories on >hat it might hae been& Ma$ realized that the de$eption had begun& 7is mind flashed ba$? to Pemen! and he inoluntarily shuddered& o ! s"ay here and ai"8 Ma$ >ondered! as he $arried his small bag! made his >ay to a $on$rete $olumn! and leaned against it& 7e loo?ed do>n the main $orridor $ro>ded >ith people! but >hat dre> his attention >as a group of Roman Catholi$ $lergy& -hey >ere hurrying en masse to>ard him! and as they passed he heard them tal?ing in grae tones& 7e oerheard N7is 7olinessN seeral times and >ondered >hat to ma?e of it& 7e felt a tap on his shoulder that startled him& NGel$ome to Rome! Ma$enzie!N the familiar oi$e of ohanen greeted him& Nohanen!N Ma$ gasped! and the realization of >ho he >as standing in front of pressed in on him& The beloved discipl e, ?ohn "he apos"le, is here a" Ro.e !n"erna"i onal -irpor", and he gree"s .e li/e an old school ch'.% ohanen rea$hed out and! grabbing Ma$
Ma$enzie&N 7e then pointed to the $luster of $lergy! >ho >ere distan$ing themseles from them& 7e leaned $lose and >hispered! N-he pope is on his deathbed& 7e&N Ma$ >histled bet>een his teeth& Nomething else! Ma$enzie& Cardinal 9iorre! a ery dear frien d >hom / hae ?no>n for years! >as found dead in his house a fe> days ago& 't first it appeared to be a stro?e! but his protege! 9ather -homas! and / beliee he >as murdered& -he manus$ript that 9iorre had labored on for years has been stolen& 9ather -homas informed me that a $opy >as sent to me! but / neer got it& / beliee tephan inter $epted it and destroye d it! or allo>ed it to fall into the >rong hands& 1y the >ay! tephan $ommitted sui$ide &&& hung himself in his Eail $ell&N N%id you hae a $han$e to tal? to him before he &&& N ohanen shoo? his head& No! / did not&N 7e loo?ed troubled& N1ut getting ba$? to 9iorre& 9ather -homas informed me that there >as a dis?! along >ith photographs and papers! that he sent to someone in the tates& e>Por? City! to be pre$ise& 'pparently the re$ipient >as at one time ery $lose to Cardinal 9iorre&N N%o you thin? the dis? is a $opy of 9iorre do the fallen angels figure in this &&& or donat$hed ohanen fro>n& N/ am not $ertain! Ma$enzie! but / hae a feeling that someho> they >ere inoled in Cardinal 9iorreas >or?ing on inoled the identity of the man >hom atan >ould possess8the 'nti$hrist 8and the group of men >ho >ould be essential in implementing his plans& 7e had names&N NFf those in the CadreN Ma$ as?ed& NPes! Ma$enzie! and / thin? he had a good idea of their timetable& -he information alone is >hat got him ?illed&N N/f thathy >e are headed to e> Por? >hen >e finish our business here&N -he t>o men >al?ed the rest of the $on$ourse! entere d the main terminal! and found their >ay to the $urb! >here ohanen hailed a $ab& 7e gae a running $ommentary of the arious statues! fountains! ar$hite$ture! and sights that fle> by as the $ab made its >ay to>ard @ati$an City& ' short >hile later! Ma$ and ohanen $limbed out of the $ab& ohanen paid the fare& N-his >ay! Ma$enzie&N ohanen opened a de$oratie >rought iron gate that led to an en$losed rose garden& -hey made their >ay to the front door! >here ohanen too? the gargoyle ?no$?er and stru$? it seeral times& -he door opened and ohanen made the introdu$tions as 9ather -homas led them into the house& N7ae you been able to learn more about this man in e> Por?N ohanen as?ed& 9ather -homas nodded& N1rian 9itzpatri$? >as ordained almost ten years& 7e is a man of great intelle$t& 7e spea?s oer a dozen languages and holds t>o do$torate degrees& 7e is a linguist and is able to read! erbatim! from many an$ient manus$ripts& 7e also has a photographi$ memory& Cardinal 9iorre and he had >or?ed ery $losely until the day of his departure&N
N'nd he Eust left! in the middle of the resear$hN Ma$ as?ed& 9ather -homas nodded! then the telephone rang and he e$used himself to ans>er it& NGhat >ould ma?e a man leae his $alling li?e thatN Ma$ as?ed ohanen& N/ am not $ertain! Ma$enzie& / must admit it puzzles me&N 9ather -homas hurried ba$? into the room& Ma$ sa> that all of the $olor had drained from his fa$e& N7is 7oliness has Eust died!N the father blurted& 7is eyes filled >ith tears as he $rossed himself! bo>ed his head! and began to pray&
-
Nora dreamed she >as alone in a big $hur$h and there >ere many $andles& -hen a strong >ind ble> the flames so that they started a fire that burned do>n the $hur$h& -hen she found herself in a small room >ith padded >alls and eery time she tou$hed them she re$eied a sho$? of ele$tri$ity& he a>a?ened >ith a start and sat upright! her mind a Eumble of thoughts and ghostly images& -he sounds of a snoring man net to her brought her ba$?& Tha"s ?erry, she told herself& he >ondered ho> she had gotten to bed the night before and $ouldnas shaed $lose to her s$alp and >ondered ho> it had happened& Creeping out of the $ard"board house! she loo?ed around& Most eeryone >as still sleeping e$ept Laerne! >ho >as hun$hed near the fire >hi$h she had ?ept going >ith the supply of papers and s$raps of >ood that erry and some of the others brought to her& ora didnay out of the Condos and into the sub>ay tunnel& ' train approa$hed and she stayed $lose to the >all as it >ent by& 'fter>ard! she >al?ed do>n the length of tra$? to>ard the mouth of the tunnel! being $areful to aoid the third rail! >hi$h $arried the high oltage ele$tri$ity that po>ered the trains& erry had told her that he on$e sa> a man ele$tro$ute himself on it& -he man had been drun?! tripped! and landed >ith his eposed arm on the third rail& -he bottle he had $arried bro?e and the liquid >et his arm& -here had been a sho>er of spar?s! the smell of burning flesh! and then it >as oer& 'll of the mole people had run a>ay& o one had een bothered to go for help& ora shuddered and ?ept >al?ing! al>ays a>are of the third rail& he tou$hed the shaed spot on her head again and thought about going ba$? to get a hat to $oer it! but de$ided against it& 7alf an hour later she >as at the entran$e to the tunnel& /t >as morning! and the $ity >as in the grip of rush hour as a pro$ession of $rammed $ommuter trains rushed by her li?e ghostly phantoms from another >orld& he >aited for another train to go by! then >al?ed out of the tunnel and s$rambled up the emban?ment that she and erry had slid do>n the day before& he hopped oer the fen$e and >al?ed through the a$ant lot& 't the smell of ba$on and eggs $oo?ing! her stoma$h gro>led& he slippe d up the alley and sa> the stray dog that she had named 1oy& -he mangy"loo?ing animal >agged its tail but ?ept its distan$e from her& NCome on! 1oy!N she $alled! as she bent oer trying to $oa him to her& -he dog!
ho>eer! remained steadfast and >ouldnhen / $ome ba$?! and /here she follo>ed a Eogging trail& he ?ept her eyes lo>! aoiding the glan$es of Eoggers >ho moed to the other side of the path to stay $lear of her as they ran by& he rea$hed the end of the trail and left the par?! hurrying past t>o >inos on a ben$h >ho >ere stirring from sleep& 't +0th treet she put her hands in her po$?ets and >al?ed qui$?ly! staying $lose to the buildings& -here >as a $lo$? to>er at the interse$tion! and she glan$ed at the time& Big hand on "he seven, she thought! and she realized that she had better >al? faster or she >as going to miss her opportunity& he qui$?ened her pa$e! rounded a $orner! and >al?ed for another half blo$?& '$ross the street >as an apartment building >ith a forest" green $anopy outside the lobby& ' se$urity guard >as stationed in front! >hile a doorman sat on a stool net to the door& ora >aited for the traffi$ to $lear and then >al?ed a$ross the street& he $rept $lose to the building and stopped fifty feet a>ay! then moed $loser until she >as behind the guard& N7ello! ora!N the guard said in a $heerful oi$e! een though his ba$? >as turned from her& N7o> did you ?no> / >as hereN ora as?ed! as she s$urried around to the front of the man& -he guard! >ho >as a retired do$?>or?er in his sities! glan$ed at the $one mirrors that >ere pla$ed oerhead in the frame>or? of the $anopy! enabling him to see behind him& N/thi$h she tore open qui$?ly! putting t>o sti$?s in her mouth& NPou be $areful upstairs! and use the seri$e eleator!N he said& ora nodded& N1ye! Mr& en?ins!N she $alled! as she hurried around the side of the building do>n the alley to the seri$e entran$e& -he door >as lo$?ed li?e al>ays! so she fished into her baggy pants and brought her lo$? pi$?s out& he sele$ted one and set it into the lo$?& Moments later she >as inside the building& he needed another pi$? to a$$ess the eleator& he a$tiated it! the doors opened! and she entered! pressing the button for the fourteenth floor& -he eleator stopped at the tenth and a painter entered! pushing a $art filled >ith paint $ans! brushes! and other equipment& ora moed to the rear of the eleator& -he doors $losed and it started its as$ent& Fn the eleenth floor it stopped! the doors opened! and he rolled his $art out& Ghen the doors opened on the fourteenth floor ora bolted do>n the plush $arpeted hall& he stopped at apartment *403 and loo?ed up and do>n the hall! noti$ing the ideo sureillan$e $ameras on opposite ends of the hall& Bsing her lo$? pi$?s she opened the door and entered the apartment& he $losed the door! stood >ith her ba$? against it! and listened to the ti$?ing of an antique grandfather $lo$? a fe> feet a>ay& 7er eyes >andered oer the ri$h Friental $ar"pet that gra$ed the polished hard>ood floors& 'ntique $hairs! an ottoman made of an elephantarm mustiness of
old boo?s& he moed a>ay from the door and ran her hand along the boo?$ase that lined one entire >all of the room& -hen she made a beeline for the ?it$hen& Fpening the refrigerator door! she stu$? her head in and began to sample the ariety of $old $uts and $heeses that >ere stuffed into the dra>ers& he tossed onto the floor seeral pa$?s of hot dogs! some $heese! and t>o loaes of bread (one of >hi$h she earmar?ed for 1oy)& -hen she turned her attention to the pantry! >here she grabbed numerous $ans of soup! egetables! and beans& Leaing the ?it$hen! she >al?ed ba$? do>n the hall and opened a linen $loset! >here she grabbed a pillo>$ase& Reentering the ?it$hen! she gathered the food from the floor into the pillo>$ase! and >as about to leae >hen she noti$ed a bo>l of fruit on the table& he >ent oer to it and too? seeral apples& he sat do>n! pla$ed them on the table in front of her! and then arranged them in a pattern! that of a $ross& he got up! loo?ed at her handi>or?! then thro>ing the plunder oer her shoulder! retra$ed her steps& 's she >as about to leae the apartment she heard a noise on the other side of the door& -he mail slot opened! and a flood of letters! magazines! and bills fell to the floor& ora >aited a moment& he put her ear to the door and heard the mailman >al?ing a>ay& he then turned her attention to the mail on the floor& he sat do>n! $rossed her legs underneath her! gathered the mail! and set it on her lap& he started >ith a magazine! Biblical -rcheology Revie, and! not finding anything of mu$h interest! tossed it aside& he opened the telephone bill& eeing nothing but numbers on the paper! she $rumpled it into a ball and thre> it oer her head behind her& Fne letter in a manila enelope $aught her eye be$ause of the ro> of $olorful stamps& he brought it $lose to her and loo?ed at the stamps! slo>ly sounding out the >ord! N/t & & & a & & & ly&N he s$rat$hed at the $orner of one of the stamps! hoping to peel it off so she $ould sho> erry ba$? at the Condos& -he stamp >ouldn onder >hat it >as& he pressed her dirty fingers against it and tra$ed the outline of it& he loo?ed around to ma?e sure no one >as >at$hing and then she tore the enelope open and! bringing it $lose to her fa$e! peered into it& he >as disappointed& he rea$hed in! too? out the bla$? square thing of plasti$! and stared at it& -hen she loo?ed again at the pretty stamps and >ondered to herself >hy there >as nothing fun inside& he turned the enelope upside do>n! and a folded letter fell to the floor! >hi$h she ignored& he then put the plasti$ thing ba$? into the enelope and! folding it in half! stuffed it into the po$?et that she ?ept her lo$? pi$?s in& -hen she got to her feet! pi$?ed up the bag >ith the food! and opened the door& Nobody, and "ha"s good, she thought! as she peered do>n both >ays of the $orridor& he $rept out! $losed the door behind her! and ran to the seri$e eleator& Ghen it arried she hurried into it and pressed the NLN button oer and oer again until the doors finally $losed& -he eleator lur$hed as it began its des$ent! and a fe> moments later it opened& ora got out! and at the entran$e to the seri$e alley she >aited until Mr& en?ins! the se$urity guard! had his ba$? turned& -hen she darted from the alley! una>are that en?ins sa> her in the ideo monitor! and >as $hu$?ling to himself at that ery moment&
%
The MaEor hun$hed oer his des? in his priate offi$e! deep underground in -el 'i& 7e rubbed at the $orners of his mouth >ith his fingers and spo?e into the phone that >as $radled bet>een his head and shoulder& N're you sure our ro$?ets ?illed eeryone in the $arN NPes! sir! / am& Ge hae $onfirmed it&N N%o the /ranians ?no> >hat has happenedN N-hey hae ne>s indire$tly& 1ut he shouldn dead&N 'nother phone rang& N7old on for a momentQ itn the re$eier and pi$?ed up the red phone& NMaEor! this is the prime minister& / hae ery disturbing ne>s& 7ae you heard /9 for$es hae ?illed an /ranian $leri$&N N/ ?no>! / am on the phone >ith our intel!N the MaEor replied& NPes! but do you ?no> >ho this $leri$ isN the prime minister as?ed& N7e >as the number"t>o man in line net to their prime minister& 7e Eust re$ently $ame into prominen$e&N NGhat >as he doing here illegallyN NGe donN N-he stri?e >as supposed to be on 7amas leadership in retaliation for the sui$ide bombing outside Mossad head"quarters a fe> days ago& Pou ?no> about our poli$y to eliminate their leadership& -he $leri$ >as in the >rong pla$e at the >rong time& Ghat are the /ranians sayingN the MaEor as?ed& N-heir ambassador is liid! and there is tal? of unrestrained retaliation& / >ant you to drop eerything until >eent dead& -he MaEor pi$?ed up the other phone& N-he prime minister said that the /ranians ?no> about >hat happened&N N-his might be the e$use they hae been loo?ing for to stri?e us&N -he MaEor thought a moment then said! N%ouble the patrols on the borders and put the reseres on standby&N 7e hung up the phone then opened the top dra>er of his des?& 7e pulled out a bottle of o"%oze and popped seeral of the pills into his mouth& !" is going "o be a long nigh"%%% a very long nigh"%
/itzpatri$? sat at the $onferen$e table >ith the $opy of the s$roll he had re$eied from the 7ag in front of him& NGellN Mary pressed! as she leaned $loser to the table to get a better loo? at the s$roll& 9itzpatri$? >anted to ignore her! but glan$ed in her dire$tion and gae the briefest of smiles& N/<e neer seen any"thing li?e it& 7ereith any of the an$ient emiti$ languages! li?e umerian or Chaldean& /t rootsto$?! a ne> language&N NCan you de$ipher itN oy$e as?ed& 9itzpatri$? shrugged& NGith enough $omputer time any"thing fast $an you load this inN @innie toyed >ith the stubble on his po$?mar?ed fa$e! too? a bite of a donut! and mumbled! NMaybe an hour or t>o&N NKood!N 9itzpatri$? said& NLet! but he thin?s that itn here after a three"day stint&N No mer$y!N Mary ?idded& None!N 9itzpatri$? agreed& Za$h! the grouporn $lipboard& N/<e finished the $al$s you as?ed for! 9itz&N < 'nything of interestN N Ghat $al$sN Mary inquired& N-he probability that prophe$ies from different $ultures! >ritten in different $enturies from dierse religious and ethni$ $ultures! >ould someho> doetail together into >hat W
appears be an slo>ly& end"of"the">orld"as">e"?no>"it< Marytonodded NCan you repeat thatN s$enario&N 9itzpatri$? $hu$?led& N-hathat do you haeN N -he atie 'meri$an 7opi /ndians beliee that it hap"pens during >hat they $all the inth ign& 'pparently the other eight hae already happened! so >e& 'ny>ay! the inth ign tal?s of a d>elling pla$e in the heaens that falls >ith a great $rash& /ith the >inter solsti$e& /n the year *,*4 #ope Leo / said it >ould be another fie hundred years! so that ma?es it 20*,8$lose to the Mayans< date&N N -hatay! and /elfth $entury! predi$ted all
of the popes in su$$ession until the end of the >orld&N N Pes! after this $urrent pope! / beliee >e hae one left to go!N 9itzpatri$? replied& Za$h tapped his $lipboard& Na$tly& 'nd that puts Mala$hye hae no $ollusion bet>een these people! and yet their predi$tions $onerge ery $lose in the time line& -hey all predi$t that something is going to happen! and donat$h by it! but it loo?s li?e it may happensoon& 1y the >ay! >e may be loo?ing at the last in the line of 9ather Mala$hys& NReally! did he $he$? into it furtherN Za$h shoo? his head& N-hat&< / >as up to my $erebral $orte >ith this!N and he tapped his $lipboard& N1a$? to >hat you >ere saying!N 9itzpatri$? began again& NGhat are the $al$s of any of this happening anytime soon && & as far as you $an ma?e them outN N/tith about sity zeroes after it& /t $ould happen at any moment&N N-hatorld is on our doorstep and / haenhat had only seemed li?e a ague! entertaining theory& NMaybe these seers! prophets! $ould someho> see through time!N 9itzpatri$? suggested& N-hey all tapped into the same eent! but be$ause of their dierse ba$?grounds they ie>ed the same eent in different >ays! filtered by their o>n >orldie>&N Za$h shrugged& NGho ?no>s& 'ny>ay &&& /eas a super$omputer that had been espe$ially $onstru$ted for the -an?& /t >as lin?ed to all the maEor ne>s seri$es so that as the dayould be sorted! analyzed! and then fa$tored into the mi& -he .iA >as the end result of all the data8spe$ifi$ally! ho> the eents of the >orld >ould mi together to rea$h a $lima! or! in other >ords! a li?ely end"of"the">orld s$enario& Ghen 9itzpatri$? had begun >or? at the -an?! the doomsday $lo$? had been set at t>enty minutes before midnight& Gith the ongoing tension in the Middle ast! the instability of the former oiet Bnion! $iil unrest in many 'fri$an nation s! the /raqi >ar! orth orean nu$lear $apability! the ongoing /sraeli.#alestinian $onfli$t! and random a$ts of iolen$e by terrorists! the doomsday $lo$? had moed so it >as Eust ten minutes before midnight& NPeah! it should be interesting to see ho> it affe$ts the mi!N 9itzpatri$? replied& N-he 7ag >ill be ery interested in this!N Mary added& Npea?ing of >hi$h! Mary told me that the 7ag inited you to the gala!N Za$h said! as he >al?ed ba$?>ard a>ay from 9itzpatri$?& N-he 7agN >as the name that thin?"tan? members used to refer to their boss& -his negatie nom"de"plume >as besto>ed on the man due to seeral fa$tors! the least of >hi$h >as his horrifi$"smelling breath and lier spots that blot$hed the manhi$h he tried to hide >ith thi$? ma?eup& 9itzpatri$? nodded& N' first! / assure you&N N/ heard they get really >ild!N Za$h remar?ed! and he turned and >al?ed a>ay! not >aiting for an ans>er& 9itzpatri$? >ondered about the 7ag! the man >ho >as hosting the gala& ;hy o'ld
he invi"e .e8 ;ha" does he an"8 he thought& 7e >al?ed to>ard his des? and slid the apanese hoEi s$reen in pla$e for a modi$um of pria$y& -a?ing a seat at his $omputer! he logged on using a ery elaborate pass>ord& 7is $ompu ter! li?e the other s in the -an?! >or?ed on multileels of se$urity& Fne pass>ord allo>ed him a$$ess to the main"frame of the $omputer! but no farther& 'nother allo>ed him to naigate the Geb! another allo>ed sear$hes of goernment files& -here >ere layers and layers of top"se$ret files! a >orld >ithin a >orld& 9itzpatri$? typed in a $ommand! and then authorization $odes allo>ing him a$$ess to se$ret goernment files from *+40 to the present& 7e typed in the date *+4, and began to loo? at ery old bla$?"and">hite photographs of some of the azi hierar$hy& et to the pi$tures he found entries li?e eceased 9CD% as loo?ing for his boss8Golfgang @on $herdt! the 7ag& 9itzpatri$? had been some>hat relu$tant at first to inestigate his employer& 1ut oer the months he had a gro>ing feeling that something >asnhat it >as! but the feeling made him uneasy& ' de$ade earlier! he might hae used religious terms to define that feeling! but he had abandoned his Christian& >orldie> as being too dogmati$ and narro>& 7e no> embra$ed a potpourri of spirituality! belieing all religions >ere! in fa$t! based on a synthesis of uniersal truth& 7is ability to study and read an$ient do$uments had opened his eyes to >hat he had termed N-he Bniersal -ruth of Man&N Kone >as his former dogmati$ thin?ing that a aior! esus of azareth! >as the only >ay to salation& 7e had $ome to realize that through the ages human?ind had been gien information& 7is resear$h had led him step"by"step to the unmista?able $on$lusion that there >as a for$e that seemed to meddle in the affairs of men& -his for$e had manifested itself in the li?es of 1uddha! Muhammed! and rishna& Fther manifestations >ere obs$ure! liing in remote areas of the globe >ith only a small band of deotees& Pet! in$redibly! they all seemed to say the ery same thing: that Kod >as >ithin ea$h of us& 'll human?ind needed to do >as to someho> ma?e the lin? that >e >ere all! in fa$t! diine& en the >ords of esus e$hoed the ery same thing! didnas >ithin youN and Nyou >ill do greater >or?s than /N upporting do$uments had $ome to light in the t>entieth $entury! su$h as the obs$ure manus$ript The Gospel o Tho.as% Fn$e suppressed by the $hur$h! it >as no> being read by the $ommon man! $ausing the dogma and do$trines of all religions to be questioned& 7e felt that he >as $harting a $osmi$ diale$ti$! >here the $onfli$t of religious diersity >as about to be resoled in a synthesis8that synthesis being a ne> one">orld religion& 7e had put the pie$es together and published an arti$le through the uniersity >here he had been employed at the time& 9rom that one arti$le he had been $onta$ted by the 7ag himself! and landed the head position in the -an?& 1ut after a year he >ondered >hat ends his talents >ere sering! >hi$h had gien him the impetus to start his o>n inestigation on his enigmati$ employer & & & the 7ag& 9itzpatri$? had been able to pla$e the 7ag in Kermany during Gorld Gar //! but as of yet he had been unable to find any dire$t lin? >ith the azi party& 7e s$rolled do>n through another list of azis& 7e eamined their fa$es! reading the $omments posted! and then! >hen he >as $ertain that there >as no resemblan$e! or that the person he >as loo?ing at didnould note the entry! delete it from his database! and
moe on to the net& -here had been seeral hits >here the 7ag might hae been the man pi$tured& 9itzpatri$? had the fa$e aged! using the latest $omputer"imaging pro$ess! but so far his hunt had turned up nothing& 7o>eer! seeral days ago he had stumbled onto something that had $aught his attention& 7e had been loo?ing at Kerman s$ientists! >ho! after the >ar! be$ame inoled in the Bnited tates spa$e program& 7e realized that although one set of re$ords sho>ed that the men had been inoled in the death $amps! a later one seemed to hae any su$h indi$ation of heinous a$ts remoed from the files& 7e had $ross" $he$?ed his information seeral times! and noti$ed that on the top of the page t>o >ords had been typed: paper clip% 't first he had >ondered >hat it $ould mean! but after a brief sear$h he dis$oered that the files of azis that had been differentiated >ith the $ode >ord paper clip had been integrated into the 'meri$an s$ientifi$ $ommunity& o no> 9itzpatri$? narro>ed his sear$h to the paper"$lip azis only! assuming that the 7ag had been a azi! >hi$h 9itzpatri$? >as in$lined to thin? he >as& -he telephone rang and 9itzpatri$? pi$?ed it up& N9itzpatri$? here!N he replied! as he $radled the phone >ith his $hin against his shoulder& 7is attention >as still on the s$reen and he had s$rolled do>n to the net name on the list& N7i! 9itz! itas no mista?ing the flirtatious oertones in her oi$e& N%o / hae a $hoi$e hereN 9itzpatri$? as?ed as his eyes flashed ba$? to the s$reen& N/ thought maybe >e $ould go together!N Mary suggested& 7aing been a %omini$an priest! he had missed the basi$ rudiments of dating! so he >as ta?en aba$? by the >omanardness& NGell! uh &&&N Mary interrupted! N-he 7ag is sending a $ar for me& / $ould pi$? you up&N @innie popped his head oer the hoEi s$reen& N9itz & & & the pope at$h& NLess than half an hour&N 9itzpatri$? thought a moment& NKie me a minute and / his sear$h& 9ollo>ing the lin?s out of the database! he se$ured his terminal& ' moment later his s$reen saer8an an$ient yria$ manus$ript8appeared! and 9itzpatri$? left his des?&
12
Nora tried to thro> the pillo> sa$? oer the $hain"lin? fen$e that fen$ed in the a$ant lot at the end of the alley! but it >as too heay for her and boun$ed off the fen$e ba$? at her& he tried again but met >ith the same results& -hen she remembered seeing a fe> dis$arded tires a little >ays ba$? do>n the path& he loo?ed around! ma?ing sure no one else >as near! and left the sa$? by the fen$e! then hurried do>n the path to >here the tires >ere& ele$ting one! she pi$?ed it up& /t >as filled >ith >ater and some of it splashed out and got her pants >et& he dropped it and pi$?ed up one end! allo>ing the rest of the >ater to drain& he heard a dog bar? and sa> 1oy at the end of the alley">ay! >agging his tail& 1oy!out/ got ya! all right!Nit!ora said!out anda she >ent the sa$?<'ll andright! brought the somethin< pa$?age offor bread! opened and too? sli$e& heoer heldtoit out in front of her& NCome and get it! 1oy!N she $oaed& -he dog lay do>n! >agged his tail! and moed a foot or t>o to>ards her& NCome on! 1oy! you $an do it!N she said again& 1oy bar?ed at her and ?ept his tail >agging and moed another foot& 9inally! ora gae up and thre> the bread at him& -he dog fielded it in his mouth and >as ba$? do>n the alley and out of sight in an instant& he >ent ba$? to the tire and pi$?ed it up again! rolling it do>n the path to the fen$e >here she propped it up against it! using it as a ma?eshift stepladder& he grabbed her sa$? and got up on the tire& /t gae her the added height she needed to get the sa$? oer the top of the $hain lin?& he then s$rambled oer the top! snat$hed the sa$? up! and headed for the Condos& 't the entran$e of the sub>ay tunnel she stopped and listened as she let her eyes adEust to the dar?& -he of aastrain in the distan$e e$hoed and to shethe $ould the slight trembling of sound the earth it approa$hed& Ma?ing hereerily! >ay oer sidefeel of the tunnel! she ?ept >al?ing& ' minute later the train passed& he loo?ed at the $ommuters! in the brightly lit $ars that flashed by! li?e a ghostly intrusion& -urning into a $onne$ting tunnel she sa> someone $oming to>ard her& he held the heay pillo>$ase tightly! ready to use it to fend off anyone >ho >ould try to ta?e it& ' fe> steps later! ora realized that it >as a >oman! and relaed& 's she got $loser! she re$ognized Lizzie! a heayset older >oman >ho didn steps& ora heard the >oman $lear her throat& NGho >ants to ?no>N a graelly oi$e ans>ered& N/teetie! ho> you doin
ora set her pillo>$ase do>n and opened it& NGant some of this stuffN he too? out seeral of the $anned foods& Lizzieal?>ay& Lizzie set do>n a >eather">orn shopping bag from ord"5troms! stuffed >ith useless mis$ellaneous items& ora loo?ed at Lizzie ollen dirty feet tu$?ed into bedroom slippers& -he heels >ere bloodied! and seeral toes sho>ed through the fabri$& N7o> you feelinly bent oer and eamined one of the $ans& NFh! yams! / loe ith a dreamy epression& NGhen / >as a little girl! #appy >ould ma?e a gar"den in the summer and plant $orn an< tomatoes an< squash an< green beans! Eust li?e this& /as going do>n behind the trees at the end of the field& /ed ould see me starin< at the sun and shehi$h eoled into a >heezing $ough& he $lut$hed her hand to her $hest! spat on the tra$?s! then $ontinued! N/aited for the >oman to go on >ith the story! but she sa> moisture gather in the $orner of her eyes& NPou gonna $oo? those beans and eat al? you ba$?&N Lizzie sighed and pi$?ed up her bag! and the t>o >omen started to >al? do>n the tunnel& NPou shouldnn here! ora!N Lizzie said! after they had >al?ed a >ays& N-his pla$e isnant to&N ora loo?ed at the >oman but remained silent& N/n! and / ainay from the pimps and drugs! thatill >re$? your life! and / should ?no> be$ause thathy /ith the pimps and allN Lizzie nodded& N/ $ame here right out of high s$hool& / >as tired of the little to>n in Gest @irginia / gre> up in& %idn beans about the big $ity& Gasnn and out& -he net thing / ?ne>! some man offered me money for & & &N he paused a moment& NPou ?no>! the first time >as hard and / $ried after& 1ut after a >hile / got used to it& -hen $ame the drugs& 1ut! ora! you gotta ?no> that it ta?es your soul right out of your body& -hathat all of it does& /t ma?es you empty and ashamed and you need more of the drugs to ?eep you goin<& 'nd then one day you >a?e up and the men donant you no more be$ause youhile& %id a >aitress Eob& #ar?ed $ars! >or?ed in a gro$ery store& 1ut / didn
here & & & so here / am& 1ut! ora! you don
