Tyndale House - The Mark - The Beast Rules the World

Simultaneous with a soft knock, the door opened and closed. "Your Excellency," she said, to the sound of rustling.

"Sandra," Carpathia said, 'you need not kneel every time you-"

"Pardon me, sir," she said, "but I beg of you not to deprive me the privilege."

"Well, of course not, if you wish, but-"

"I know you don't require it, sir, but to me it is a privilege to worship you."

He sighed without a trace of impatience, David thought.

"What a beautiful sentiment," he said at last. "I accept your devotion with deep satisfaction."

"What may I do for you, my lord?" she said. "Do me the honor of asking anything of me."

"Merely that I want several full-length mirrors in the remodeled office. I will leave it to those in charge of such matters to position them, but I believe it would add a nice touch."

"I couldn't agree more, sir. I shiver at the thought of multiple images of you in here."

"Oh, well, I thank you. Run along and deliver that message now."

"Right away, sir."

"And then you may go for the day."

"But your meeting-"

"I will welcome them. Do not feel obligated."

"As you wish, sir, but you know I would be more than happy-"

"I know."

The door opened and shut, and it sounded as if Carpathia rose once more. Just loud enough for David to hear he said, "I too shiver at the thought of multiple images of me, you homely old wench. But you do know how to make a man feel worshiped."

Now it sounded as if he was moving chairs into position. "Akbar, Fortunato, Hickman, Moon. No, Moon, Akbar, ah… must let Leon wonder about his proximity and access, keep him nimble. Hickman needs assurances. All right."

Back to his intercom. "Are you still out there, Sandra?"

"Yes, sir."

"Before you go, get Mr. McCullum on the phone for me, please."

David froze, then chastised himself. He didn't care that Nicolae communicated with Mac. If David couldn't trust Mac, he couldn't trust anyone.

"Captain McCullum," Carpathia said a few minutes later. "How good to speak with you. You are aware, are you not, that 10 percent of all weapons of war were ceded to the Global Community when we were known as the United Nations?… The rest were destroyed, and I am satisfied that our monitoring has confirmed that this was largely carried out. If any munitions remain, they are few and are likely in the hands of factions so small as to pose little threat. My question to you is, do you know where we stockpiled the armaments we received?… You had nothing to do with that?… Well, yes, of course / know, Captain! The question is merely probative. You are former military, you are a pilot, and you get around. I want to know if the word has leaked out where we inventory our weapons… Good. That is all, Captain."

Clearly, Mac had told Nicolae he had no idea where the weapons were. As far as David knew, that was the truth. But what a massive operation that had to have been, and how was it pulled off without word getting out? And what might Carpathia be planning now?

"Gentlemen!" Carpathia said a few minutes later, welcoming the four visitors. "Please, come in."

"Allow me to be the first to kneel before you," Leon said, "and kiss your hands."

"Thank you, Reverend, but you are hardly the first."

"I meant at this meeting," Fortunato whined.

"And he won't be the last!" Hickman said, and David actually heard the smack of his lips.

"Thank you, Supreme Commander. Thank you. Chief Akbar? Thank you. Chief Moon? My thanks. Oh, Reverend, no, please. I would appreciate it if you would sit here."

"Here?" Leon said, clearly surprised.

"A problem?"

"I will sit anywhere His Excellency wishes, of course. I would even stand, if you asked."

"I'd kneel for the whole meeting," Hickman said.

"Right here, my friend," Carpathia said, devoting much time and energy to putting people where he wanted them.

"Sir?" Leon began when they were settled. "Have you been able to sleep, get some rest?"

"You are worried about me, Reverend?"

"Of course, Excellency."

"Sleep is for mortals, my friend."

"Well spoken, sir."

"I'm sure mortal, boys, er, gents," Hickman said.

"Slept like a rock last night. Out of shape, I guess. Gotta do something about this gut."

An awkward silence.

"May we begin?" Carpathia said. Hickman muttered an apology, but Nicolae was already addressing Intelligence Chief Akbar. "Suhail, I have become convinced that the location of our armaments remains confidential. Would you concur?"

"I would, sir, though I confess it baffles me."

"Baffles is right!" Hickman said. "Seems to me we had hundreds of troops involved in this thing and-oh, my bad, I'm sorry. I'll wait my turn."

David could only imagine the look Carpathia must have given Hickman. He had to have known whom he was putting in such a lofty position. Having Hickman share space with Sandra and become primarily an errand boy with a big title proved Carpathia knew exactly what he was doing.

"Peacekeeping Forces prepared to go on the offensive, Chief Moon?"

"Yes, sir. Ready to deploy, anywhere and everywhere. We can crush any resistance."

"An update, Reverend?"

"On loyalty mark, Jerusalem, religion?"

"Jerusalem, of course," Carpathia said, dripping sarcasm.

Leon was clearly hurt. "On top of it all, Excellency," he said. "Program is prepared, loyalists ready, should be a triumphal entry in every sense of the word."

"Commander Hickman," Carpathia said condescendingly, "you may put down your hand. You need not ask for the floor here."

"I can just jump in then?"

"No, you cannot just jump in. You have each been invited here because I need updates from your areas."

"Well, I'm ready. I have that. I-"

"And when I want your input, I shall call on you. Understood?"

"Yes, sir; sorry, sir."

"No need to apologize."

"Sorry."

"Suhail or Walter, what kind of resistance may we expect in Jerusalem?"

There was a pause, during which, David assumed, the two were looking at each other to avoid interrupting.

"Come, come, gentlemen," Carpathia said. "I have a planet to rule." He chuckled as if joking, but it wasn't funny to David.

Akbar began, slowly and articulately. David thought that in another setting, Suhail could have been an effective intelligence chief. "Frankly, Potentate, I do not believe the Judah-ites will show their faces. I am not discounting the effectiveness of their movement. Their numbers still seem large, but they are an underground cause, networked by computers. You will not likely see the mass public rally similar to the one at Kolleck Stadium when Tsion B-"

"I recall it well, Akbar. Tell me, is part of the reason they are not likely to make a fuss in Jerusalem because many of their ranks have been dissuaded by seeing a real resurrection-one that does not require blind faith?"

Silence, except for the clearing of a throat. David assumed it was Suhail's.

"No?"

"Surprisingly not, sir. That would certainly have persuaded me of your deity, except that I was already convinced of it."

"Me too!" Hickman said. "Sorry."

"Of course," Fortunato said, "I had personal experience that proved it. And now-well, it's not my turn, is it?"

"The truth is, Excellency," Akbar continued carefully, "our monitoring of the Judah-ite Web site reveals they are even more entrenched. They believe, ah, that your resurrection proves the opposite of what is so patently obvious to thinking people."

David flinched when he heard a loud bang on the table, the rolling back of a chair, and a string of expletives from Carpathia. That was something new. The Nicolae of before always kept his composure.

"Forgive me, Holiness," Akbar said. "You understand that I am merely reporting what my best analysts-"