Free Into the Storm by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

forgiveness.” Judd outlined a prayer and then watched as Pavel bowed his head.
    “God, I am sorry for what I have done,” the boy said quietly, “and I have done so many bad things. I believe you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for me. And I believe he did rise from the dead. Please forgive me. Amen.”
    Pavel looked up.
    “Was that all right?” he said.
    “That was great,” Judd said.
    “Does that mean when I die I will see my mother again?” he said.
    “It sure does,” Judd said.
    Lionel awoke, his head bobbing up and down with the bouncing of the van. He saw the exit forTupelo, Mississippi. Then the van pulled into a rest area.
    “You boys have two minutes each,” the driver said.
    “We’ll take you in groups of three.” The man held up a gun and shoved in a cartridge.
    “In case you get any ideas, we both have one of these.”
    As the men exited, the boy in front of Lionel turned.
    “This is it,” he said.
    “Whoever is with me helps me jump these guys, all right?”
    The kids around Lionel nodded. Lionel stiffened. He didn’t mind giving his life for a good cause, but this one seemed stupid.
    “Why don’t we just see where they’re taking us first,” Lionel said.
    The bigger boy turned and held up a fist.
    “I hope you’re not in my group,” the boy said, “but if you are and you don’t help, I’ll get you.”
    “I’m just saying we might be making a mistake“ “ You’ll make a mistake if you don’t help,” the boy said.
    The first group went into the rest area with the driver and quickly returned. The man named Tom herded the next three Lionel, Jake, and the bigger boy. He sneered at Lionel.
    “Better do what you’re told,” the boy said.
    The driver was a wiry-looking man with a stubbly beard and bad teeth. He mumbled for them to go to their right, sticking the end of the gun deep into his coat pocket and waving it.
    The lobby was empty. There were slots with maps and brochures of vacation destinations. Pictures of Elvis Presley dotted the walls. Lionel went into the bathroom first, followed by Jake. The last boy stumbled, dropped something on the floor,then knelt in the open doorway.
    “Giddup,” the man with the gun said.
    “Can’t without some help,” the boy said.
    “Wait!” Lionel shouted from inside the bathroom.
    But it was too late. As the man looked up, the boy on the floor punched him hard in the stomach. The man wheezed and fell backward. The boy jumped to his feet, pulled the bathroom door closed, and locked it.
    “Couldn’t get his gun,” the boy shouted.
    “Open that window!”
    Jake was on it.
    “It’s stuck,” he said.
    Lionel heard coughing and sputtering outside, then a shout from the man at the van.
    “Don’t do this,” Lionel said.
    “Too late now,” the boy said.
    “You’re in this as much as me.”
    The boy yanked at the window. The second time, the window broke from its hinges, leaving a small opening.
    “You Just,” the big kid said to Lionel.
    “No way,” Lionel said.
    “Suityourself ,” the boy said.
    Jake went out, then the bigger boy. Lionel heard footsteps, then gunfire. If he stayed, he might get hit.
    Lionel hopped up to the opening and fell to the ground in some bushes.

    He easily caught up with the other two as they crossed a creek.
    In the distance Lionel heard the door break and more shots.
    He was glad to be alive, but he had no idea what trouble he Judd was anxious to leave the hangar and be with his friends, but he couldn’t leave without the secret documents.
    They were the only hope for Mrs. Stahley and Taylor Graham.
    As the hours passed, his hope faded.
    He spent most of the day on the computer, answering questions and sending material. Every chance he got, he moved around the room looking for the entrance to the house.
    He was at the computer when he heard a noise. Voices. People moving around. Knocks on the wall.
    Judd sat still. He could hear himself breathe.
    “It sounds hollow here,” a man said on the