Tyndale House - The Mark - The Beast Rules the World

Hickman stared at him, apparently not accepting the dodge.

"I could look into it," David said. "But-"

"I knew I could count on you, David. Good man. Let me know first thing in the morning, 'cause the word I get is that the big man is going to assign me that today."

"Oh, you haven't even heard from him about it yet?"

"No, this is what you'd call a heads-up from a colleague who cares."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah. Guy like me tends to accumulate friends all up and down the corporate ladder. Buddy told me today he was in on a meeting with Fortunato and Carp-oh, forgive me! I know better'n that. I should never use those names, especially in front of a subordinate. I'm gonna direct you to disregard that, Hassid, as your superior officer."

"Jury will disregard, sir."

"Yeah, good. Anyhow, this guy's in a meeting with His Excellency and the Most High Reverend, and he says they're agitated-you know what that means? Exercised, I guess you'd say."

"Understood, Commander."

"They're upset, up in arms, whatever you wanna call it, about the Judah-ites."

"I've heard of them, sir."

"I know you have. Their top guy, who Peacekeeping thought they had flushed out and sent packin', turns up now in a new place-we don't know where, which doesn't have Carp-the potentate, any too cheery, if ya know what I mean-and this Judah guy's turnin' out more and more of this anti-Carpath-well, I guess, yeah, it's OK in that context. This guy's disseminatin' anti-Carpathia stuff everywhere. He's predictin' and says the Holy Bible prophesies that Antichrist-which is what he calls His Excellency, imagine-is gonna defile the temple and sacrifice a pig on the altar."

"You don't say."

"I do say, and while I wasn't there, my buddy tells me the potentate is fiery mad; I mean he's hoppin'."

"I can imagine."

"Me too. He says to the Reverend, he says somethin' along the lines of, 'Oh, yeah, well, maybe I will show them.' You know how he talks, never usin' contractions and like that."

"I do."

"So, and this is the genius of Nicolae Carpathia, if you'll forgive the familiar reference. He's gonna like, get this, fulfill this prophecy-the one in the Bible and the one by Ben Judah-ite, or, um-"

"Tsion Ben-Judah."

"Right! He's gonna sacrifice a pig on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem on purpose, knowing what the guy and the Holy Bible are sayin'. Sorta in yer face, wouldn't you say?"

"That's for sure." In God's face, no less.

"Well, see I don't know this yet, you follow?"

"Sure. It's on the QT from your buddy."

"Exactly. But when he, you-know-who, asks me can I get him a pig, I want to be able to tell him no problem. Can I tell him that? You're going to check with, with, ah, your people or whatever, and I'm gonna get him this pig, right?"

"I'll do my best, sir."

"I knew you would. Hot dog, you're good." "You said that on purpose, didn't you, sir?" "What's that?"

"Talking about a pig, and you said 'hot dog.' " Hickman disintegrated into gales of laughter, then tried to pretend he had indeed said it on purpose. When he regained control, he said, "You know what I want, Hassid?" "Tell me."

"I want a pig, are you ready-?" "I'm ready."

"-big enough for His Excellency to ride." "Sir?"

"You heard me. I want the biggest pig you've ever seen in your life. Big as a pony. Big enough to put a saddle on, not literally, but you know what I mean." "Not sure I do, Commander." "I'm tryin' to earn a few points here, understand, Director? Just like you're doin' without tryin', 'cause you're just that good. But I wanna be able to suggest to His Excellency that if he's gonna take the gloves off and go toe-to-toe with his worst enemies, he oughta go 'em one better."

Take the gloves off to go toe-to-toe? Annie would have loved that mixed metaphor. "One better?" "He ought to ride that pig into the temple!" "Oh, my." David could not imagine Carpathia, even at his basest, lowering himself to such a spectacle. "Oh, my is right, Hassid. You read the Bible?"

"Ever?" "Yeah." "Some."

"Well, isn't there a story about Jesus ridin' into Jerusalem on a donkey and people singin' and throwin' leaves and whatnot?"

"I was raised Jewish."

"So no New Testament for you. Well, anyway, there is that story, I'm pretty sure. Picture His Excellency havin' fun with that. Ridin' a pig with people paid to sing and throw stuff."

Lord, please! "I can't imagine."

"I can come up with 'em, can't I, Hassid?"

"You can, sir."

"Hey, I'd better get in there. Get on that pig for me, will ya? I'm gonna tell him it's as good as got." "I'll let you know."

David was on his way out the door when Hickman called after him. "I forgot to tell you," he said, turning pages on his pad again. "There's a gal in Medical Services, a nurse. Here it is. She used to be a vet or something and she's shot biochips into dogs and cats."

"You don't say," David said.

"You might want to check her out, see if we can take advantage of her expertise. You know, in training people how to do this."

"I'll check her out. What's the name?"

"I don't think I have it right, Hassid. Some kind of a funny name. You'll be able to track her down."

"I'll ask for the nurse with the funny name, sir."

Rayford couldn't sleep. Pacing various floors in the cavernous Strong Building, he happened by Chaim's room. The door was wide open, and in the darkness he noticed the old man's silhouette. Chaim sat motionless on the bed, though Rayford knew he had to hear and see him in the corridor. Rayford poked his head in.

"You all right, Dr. Rosenzweig?"

A loud sigh through the wire-bound clenched teeth. "I don't know, my friend."

"Want to talk?"

A low chuckle. "You know my culture. Talk is what we do. If you have time, come in. I welcome you."

Rayford pulled up a chair and sat facing Chaim in the darkness. The botanist seemed in no hurry. Finally, he said, "The young woman takes my wire out tomorrow."

"Leah, yes. You can't tell me you're worried about that."

"I can hardly contain myself waiting."

"But something else is on your mind."

Chaim fell silent again, but soon he began panting, then leaned to his pillow where he was racked with great sobs. Rayford pulled his chair closer and laid a hand on the man's shoulder. "Talk to me."

"I have lost so much!" Chaim wailed, and Rayford strained to understand him. "My family! My staff! And it is all my fault!"

"Little is our fault anymore, sir. Carpathia is in charge of everything now."

"But I was so proud! So skeptical! Tsion and Cameron and Chloe and you and everyone who cared about me warned me, tried to persuade me. But oh, no, I was too intellectual. I knew better!"

"But you came to the Lord, Chaim. We must not live in the past when all things have become new."

"But look where I was not, that long ago! Tsion is joyful in spite of it all, so happy for me, so encouraging. I dare not tell him where my mind is."

"Where is it?"

"I am guilty, Captain Steele! I could do as you say, put the past behind me, if all I was dealing with was my pride and ignorance. But it led me down paths I never believed I would walk. My dearest, most trusted friends are dead because of me. Slaughtered in my house!"

Rayford resisted platitudes. "We have all lost much," he whispered. "Two wives and a son for me, many friends-too many to think about or I'd go mad."

Chaim sat up again, wiping his face with both hands.

"That is my problem, Rayford. I have gone nearly mad with grief, but mostly remorse. I murdered a man! I know he is Antichrist and that he was destined to die and come back to life, but I didn't know that when I committed the act. I murdered a man who had betrayed my homeland and me. Murder! Think of it! I was a beloved statesman, yet I stooped to assassination."