"It is as if we have no choice, sir."

Rayford stopped and the crowd surged past him. "What does this sound like to you, George?"

"The same thing it sounds like to you: Ming's story. "

"Exactly. And we'll know for sure from the first words that come from their mouths. If the one . . . Christopher

"Right. "

" starts out with the gospel, and the next one predicts what's going to happen to Babylon. . ."

"Nahum. "

"Right. And Caleb warns about taking the mark, well, that's all we need to know." "But where's the GC, Rayford? These guys got people saved in China, but the Peacekeepers still killed 'em."

Both men turned in their seats to watch far the enemy.

"Maybe G.o.d and these guys work differently in different parts of the world."

Leah Rose worked in the bas.e.m.e.nt of Lionel Whalum's huge home in Long Grove, Illinois. She and Hannah were making an inventory of medical supplies and a list of what was needed at various Co op locations. They were working with printouts from Chloe Williams.

"I'm looking for a place that needs more than supplies, frankly,"

Leah said.

"I hear you. Is anything more exhausting than being idle? I don't know if I want to be in the middle of combat again, but I've got to be somewhere I'm needed."

"Problem is," Leah said, "Petra doesn't need medicine or nurses.

But I'd like to at least stop by there on the way to my next a.s.signment."

"Hmm, really? Wonder who? I mean, wonder why?"

"Shut up, Hannah."

Suddenly, Leah's knees buckled and she almost fell.

"What was that?" Hannah said. "You all right?"

"Yeah. I don't know. I just went weak all of a sudden, but it pa.s.sed."

But as soon as she had said that, she dropped to her knees.

"Lea h!" "I'm okay. It's just it's just that I . . . oh, G.o.d, yes. I will, Lord. Of course."

"What? What is it?"

"Pray with me, Hannah. We're supposed to pray for Mr. Whalum. "

"Should I get his wife?"

"We're supposed to do it right now. Lord," Leah said, "I don't know what you're impressing upon me except that Mr. Whalum needs prayer right now. We trust you, we love you, we believe in you, and we know you are sovereign. Do whatever you have to do to keep him safe, and all those who are with him. He and Rayford and George and Ree should be leaving soon, so give them whatever they need, protect them in whatever way they need protection, and go before them into India."

"Here they come," Rayford said, pointing past the west end of the crowd to show George the GC. They pulled up in Jeeps and vans, maybe a hundred troops, uniformed and armed. They had bullhorns.

While Rayford drove to the other side of the crowd and parked where he could see the people, the GC, and the front of the a.s.sembly, a GC officer announced, "This is an unlawful a.s.sembly.

You are violating the law. There is no facility here for administering the mark of loyalty, and you are so many months past now that you will not be allowed to rectify that oversight.

Appearing in public without the mark of loyalty is punishable by death at the hands of any law abiding citizen, but if you will disperse

now and go directly back to your homes, we will offer a

brief extension and allow you to take the mark within

twenty four hours. An application site is available as

close as Tamel Aike or Laguna Grande, both within sixty miles of here."

The people did not stop, did not look, did not appear

troubled. The GC began again. "This is your last

warn "

"Silence!"

The commanding voice came from the front, from

one of the three, and without amplification.

"My name is Christopher, and I speak under the

authority of Jesus Christ the Messiah and Son of the

living G.o.d. He has determined that those of this com

pany who receive his everlasting gospel today shall enter

into his millennial kingdom at his glorious appearing,

just over two years from now."

The people began to murmur, and the GC were on

their bullhorns again, but the horns malfunctioned and

no one could hear them.

"My coworkers Nahum and Caleb are here with me

only to proclaim that which the Lord has a.s.signed us to