Thank you for your understanding.
Just before he had spoken, Bob had holstered his pistol, and was glad he did. When he did speak it took all of the girls by surprise. Linda recovered first and said,
"Where did you come from?"
"Oh, I've been here a while. I'm a member of a group that has been led to this place. We've been on the move for a while now. We were west of here in the mountains, but we've had to move out of where we were."
"We? Who is we? I only see you." Jesse wanted to know.
"Oh there are quite a few of us, just over the hill. We've been waiting here for a couple of days. I think I know why now."
"What reason would that be?" Linda spoke again.
"You, I believe. Tell me something girls. Here we are out in the middle of nowhere, and all of a sudden, you show up. I heard you speaking as you came up the hill. Did Michael lead you here?"
"How do you know about that?" Amie asked.
"For now, I'd say that it is enough to say that you aren't the only ones that Michael has been speaking with."
"That sounds good. How can we be sure?" Linda again spoke.
"I'll tell you what. I know you have most likely been running for your lives lately. You have no reason to trust me. That being the case, I'm going to turn around and walk back up to the top of the hill. You ladies stay as far back from me as you like. When we get to the top, you can see for yourselves that I'm not alone, and that maybe you can trust me. Come on."
With that, Bob turned and began slowly walking. He listened carefully for a moment, and then heard the sounds of footsteps behind him. He smiled to himself. These girls were being cautious. Good for them.
At just about the time that Bob reached the hilltop, he heard his name called. Looking down the other side of the hill, a noticeably pregnant Michelle came walking towards him. He called to her as the girls came up behind him, still keeping their distance.
"Michelle. What are you doing out here girl? Are you trying to make yourself sick?"
"There you are. Alex is busy helping Mom get things ready for another night here." She stopped speaking for a moment, noticing the girls for the first time. "Oh, hi there. Are you girls out here by yourselves?"
"Not any more it seems." Jesse answered. She looked at her sister and Linda. They both nodded their heads, slightly. The sight of a pregnant woman was the last thing they expected to see coming towards them. And the fact that she not only knew this man, but seemed to be comfortable with him, helped to put them all at ease.
"Well, are you guys hungry? I'm sure we have enough to have some company for supper."
"Starving." Answered Jesse.
"Then come on. Supper is still hot." Michelle looked at Bob. "I think you need to speak with Kathy. There are some things she wanted to talk to you about."
"Later. Right now, supper seems like the most important thing. Ladies, will you join us?"
When he first heard of the capture of that town, Director Ives was quite happy. Then he was told that only six people had been taken prisoner. After that he was told that none of them had lived through the night. That was when he became angry. The people in the outer office started looking for reasons to be anyplace else. They heard how angry he became, and they heard how he took out his anger on his secretary. They heard his screams, and trembled. After a short time, Ives came out of his office and looked at the nearest functionary.
"YOU are my new secretary. Clean up the mess in my office. Then I want to know how far the forces moving into the areas that have to be cleared have gotten."
"Yes Sir." The man said, "I'll have that information for you shortly."
"Make sure it is shortly."
Ives left the building. As he walked down the street he realized just how much had already been accomplished. In the short time he had been on earth, he, and the other directors had managed to reduce the American population by at least two thirds or more. America was certainly a third world country now. That was evidenced by the fact that the most common form of transportation and the most frequently stolen was the horse. In some of the outer regions the Americans had reverted to the wild west sort of law enforcement. Horse thieves were hung when ever they were found.
Food production was at an all time low, not only because of the lack of not only fertilizers, but farmers as well. Not only that but much of the food that had been grown this past season had rotted in the field because of the lack of transportation.
Christians were becoming very hard to find, but it was odd to say the least that just when he thought that all of them had been eliminated in an area, suddenly more of them would be found. It was frustrating to him that in many cases it seemed that the Nazarene was doing things to make people that had never even considered that religion or any religion for that matter to start believing overnight. Not only that but these new believers were absolute fanatics. He had personally overseen the torture of a number of them. It didn't matter how badly he hurt them. They would not give up their faith, and often died with the Nazarenes name on their lips. He hated it when they did that.
And now, just when he thought that he had finally gotten rid of the ones that had been so protected by the Nazarene, he finds out that the town was virtually empty and because of the weather all traces of their trail had been wiped out, leaving them free to roam the countryside without concern for their lives. It was maddening.
On the other hand, the plan for introducing the Mark was going along quite well. Even Ives had been amazed at how many of these monkeys were ever so happy to stand in line for however long it took to get their chip. He smiled when he thought about how many of them actually had a party to celebrate the acceptance of the Mark. According to figures that he had seen of the remaining ninety million, more or less, Americans fully one quarter of them already had the Mark, and the majority of the rest were already on the waiting list to get their chip.
Yes, that part of the plan was going well now that the Christians weren't there to speak out against it. Once the master managed to defeat the plan of the Nazarenes Father, then any of those people left would become easy prey for those who followed his master. It was just a matter of time.
Bob found the tent being used by Kathy, Tim and their family. He knocked on the tent pole and called out to them.
"Anyone home?"
"Sure Bob. Come on in."
He ducked his head as he entered the tent, and found the parents were alone inside.
"Evening. I was told that you wanted to speak to me Kathy."
"Yes, I do. Bob, I don't know for sure just how far this has gone but I've been hearing a lot of remarks about this little trip of ours. People are complaining that we are just wandering aimlessly, and you don't have a clue as to where or when we are going to stop and settle down again."
"Well, they are partially right. I don't know where, when, or even if we are going to settle down. I just know that it is like it has been from the beginning. Without our guide, I don't try to go anywhere. What are they saying about the fact that so many people had the same dream on the same night which told us to hit the road?"
"Honestly, I think that is the only reason that nobody has stepped up to the plate to try to take your job. You should hear some of those conversations. Unbelievable. Several people will get together, start criticizing you and blaming you for what is happening and then one of the dreamers will show up and announce that they know you are doing what you are led to do by The Lord. They will point out that they know because of their dream, and they have full confidence in you. After that the talk just kind of dies out until next time."
"I guess I should have expected this. Makes me wonder how Moses put up with it. At least there are two good things. I don't have to deal with as many people as he did. Secondly, nobody is just sitting around waiting for the rapture anymore."
Tim spoke up. "You mean that you don't know?"
"Know what?"
"About the pool. Some of the people have started a pool of sorts on just how many days are left until we are taken out of here."
"What! Aside from the fact that the rapture isn't going to happen until the second coming, according to what Jesus Himself said in Matt. 24, what do they have that they could use to bet with?"
Kathy smiled. "They are betting on who will have to pour the wine for each other at the wedding supper."
Bob shook his head. As he started to speak again, something changed. Bob suddenly looked upward and said,
"I'm here."
After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
"I understand. I will do as He wants."
Bob then slumped into a chair. Kathy rushed to his side, asking,
"BOB! Are you alright?"
"What? Oh, Kathy. Yes I'm fine. Michael had something to tell me. It's kind of overwhealming when it happens. You guys need to get ready to move. We need to leave, tonight!"
"What? Bob, we don't have enough daylight left to get everthing packed."
"I'm sorry Kathy. We don't have a choice."
There was a commotion outside the tent. Loud voices were heard. Major Ferguson suddenly burst into the tent.
"BOB! Did you hear?"
"Yes major. Michael was just here."
BW, Vietnam Vet