David Robbins - Twin Cities Run

“But you refuse to apply them to the Porns?” Joshua interrupted.

“Our situation is unique,” Paul responded. “We are…” He fell silent, gazing absently at the floor.

Joshua turned to John, Chapter Five, Verse Twenty-four. “‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.’”

“They are our enemies,” Paul said softly. “They are.”

Joshua found Chapter Ten, Verse Nine. “‘I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.’ Note that Jesus stresses ‘any man.’”

“True,” Paul said, struggling with an intense, personal revelation.

Joshua tried another quote, from Chapter Twelve, Verses Forty-six and Forty-seven, in John. “‘I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.’”

Paul stared at Joshua with fresh respect. “You certainly know the Scriptures.”

“I have spent the greater portion of my life studying the Bible and other special writings.”

“I am impressed,” Paul conceded.

Joshua leaned toward Paul. “Are you impressed enough to send an envoy to the Porns and request a meeting to iron out your differences?”

“They would laugh in our faces.”

“You don’t know that.”

“They’ll kill anyone we sent,” Paul objected.

“But if someone did go, and they agreed to meet with you, would you talk to them?” Joshua said, pressing.

Paul nodded, very slowly. “Yes. I would. If there is any chance we can reach a peace, I am bound by my allegiance to our Lord to try it.”

“Good.”

“But you won’t find anyone willing to go,” Paul remonstrated. “No one wants to die uselessly. I’d go, Brother Joshua, but they would kill me on sight. Their current leader. Maggot, has boasted he will crucify me on a flaming cross.”

“It was I who convinced you to attempt a reconciliation with the Porns.” Joshua reached out and placed his right hand on Paul’s left shoulder. “I wouldn’t think of requesting that you impose on one of your brethren, or asking that you jeopardize your own safety.”

“Then who will be the envoy you mentioned?”

“I will.”

“What?” Paul stood, gesticulating with his arms. “You will not! I won’t allow it.”

“You have no other option.”

“Yes I do. I can forbid you to go.”

“I am not a member of the First Church,” Joshua reminded Paul.

“Rightfully, you lack authority over my actions.”

Paul vigorously shook his head. “No. You don’t understand. It is precisely because you are not of the First Church that I can’t allow you to go. Don’t you see?” Paul began nervously pacing the floor.

“All these years of trying to maintain our moral and spiritual integrity in the face of civilization’s decay have exacted a horrid emotional toll on us. In recent years, I have detected a growing restlessness in my congregation. Their collective faith and enthusiasm is faltering, and who can fault them? We struggle for the basic necessities, hunting what little game there is, salvaging what we can from the ruins of the city, growing meager quantities of food where feasible, and resisting the depredations of the Porns and the Wacks and the animals. The one essential element conducive to spiritual growth we lack, and that is peace, the peace necessary to pursue our lives without hindrance and interference.”

“What does all this have to do with your forbidding my going to the Porns with a peace proposal?” Joshua asked.

Paul ceased his pacing, his shoulders sagging. “My flock believes in the reality of our Lord and our eventual reward on high. This cherished hope sustains us in our travail. What we don’t have, however, is a hope for our immediately earthly future. What do we have to look forward to? A lifetime of interminable conflict, periodic bouts with rampant disease, and, more often than not, a slow, painful death. But you change all this!”

“How?”

“You are our hope for our earthly future!” Paul exclaimed. “Just knowing that there is another group somewhere, similar to us in their beliefs, is immensely encouraging. It means we are not alone in this world!

Can’t you see how much that would mean to us?”

“I believe I can,” Joshua said thoughtfully.

“You are the key to our future,” Paul said excitedly.

“I am?”

Paul came up to the bed. “I was going to wait, but now is as good a time as any. I have a proposal for you.”

“What proposal?”

“I humbly beseech you to allow us to come and live at the Home.”

“What?” Joshua, startled, swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

“You heard me.” Paul stared into Joshua’s eyes.

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely,” Paul stated earnestly.

“But you have lived in the Twin Cities all these years,” Joshua pointed out.

“And hated almost every waking minute of our miserable existence.”

“But the Home isn’t large enough to accommodate all of the First Church members,” Joshua objected.

“I’ve thought of that,” Paul responded. “We could enlarge the Home, couldn’t we? Erect wooden walls and make a new perimeter? You said the soil is fertile and easy to till, and that game is plentiful. We could become pastoral in our lifestyles, become farmers and hunters and live as your Family lives. We could start a new center for mankind’s progress! We could begin a new society, a new culture, and a new hope for mankind!”

Joshua grinned at Paul’s bubbling vitality. “You’ve given this considerable thought.”

“Yes, Brother Joshua, I have. What do you say?”

“It isn’t up to me,” Joshua informed him.

“Oh.”

“Don’t look so downcast,” Joshua said, encouraging him. “The final decision on a matter of this import must come from the entire Family. A vote must be taken, and the Elders must be permitted to express their views.”

“What do you think they will say?” Paul asked hopefully.

“I have no way of knowing,” Joshua admitted.

Paul, dejected, sat down on the bed. “I was so hopeful,” he mumbled.

“You have no reason to be so depressed,” Joshua said. “I haven’t said no. The Family may agree to the idea.”

“You really think so?” Paul brightened.

“We’ll never know unless I return to the Home.”

“And how will you accomplish that?”

Joshua hesitated. Despite his affinity for Paul, he’d wisely withheld telling about the SEAL. There was always the possibility the First Church of the Nazarene might arbitrarily assume possession of the transport if they became aware of its existence. “I will find a way. But first, I must ascertain if my friends have perished. I must return to the site where the Wacks attacked us.”

“I don’t know…”

“I will not return to the Home until I learn the fate of my comrades,” Joshua said. “And you will never have the opportunity to leave the Twin Cities if I do not make it back.”

Paul nodded. “We could assist you in finding your friends. My men found you wandering, almost senseless, near dozens of bodies. They were attracted by the ravens circling overhead. We could take you there, and see if there are any clues as to their fate.”

Joshua smiled, pleased with his subterfuge. “Would you?”

“Of course. I will arrange for it now. Are you up to the exertion required?”

“I won’t have any problem,” Joshua stated. “My head is sore, but beyond that, I’m fine.”