Free Arrived by Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

GC, you wouldn’t be staying here. And you wouldn’t have those special lenses to help you see.”
    The man gave Westin two master keys, and Judd helped lead the group quietly to the elevators.
    Judd had never seen such luxurious rooms. The room he and Zvi found was so big it even had a grand piano in it. A television screen took up most of one wall.
    Judd fell asleep quickly and minutes later, or so it seemed, Westin and Gunther were standing over him, telling him to wake up.
    â€œYou’ve got time for a quick shower,” Westin said.
    Judd showered, dressed, and met them downstairs where the same manager was still on duty. They tiptoed out the entrance and headed for the meeting.
    Something had bothered Judd about Westin since they had teamed up to rescue the people in the Indiana library. He seemed to have no problem lying to the GC or to members of the Tribulation Force. Judd tried to bring up the subject.
    Westin frowned. “Look, this is war. Life or death. These people will chop our heads off. And pretty soon they’ll be gunning for us with nukes.”
    â€œThe GC is one thing, but to lie to Rayford Steele about me—”
    â€œI was trying to do you a favor and keep you out of trouble.”
    â€œI know, and I’m grateful you wanted to look out for me—”
    â€œThen drop it. If you have a problem with it, let me go my way and you go yours.”
    Judd felt frustrated that the conversation had turned into a fight, but he still felt bad about Westin’s lies.
    Gunther got them focused on the task ahead and explained that the meeting would most likely be in the first floor conference room they had passed the night before.
    Not wanting to arouse suspicion, they parked a few blocks away and headed for the facility on foot. The streets looked the same as the night before. They passed several bodies. Those who were alive were in agony.
    The ones who could walk looked like they were drunk, tipping one way, then the other. Judd noticed one man walking quickly toward a building, heading straight for a descending stairway. Judd called out, but it was too late. The man fell like a rag doll to the bottom. Judd shouted and raced down the stairs.
    â€œWho is that?” someone said behind him. “Are you with the Global Community?”
    Judd kept quiet and felt the man’s neck for a pulse but found none. He guessed the man had broken his neck on the way down.
    Then he heard it.
    The sound began as a soft, crackling noise wafting through the streets. As Judd reached the top of the steps he made out the strains of a recorded version of “Hail Carpathia,” sung by the 500-voice Carpathianism Chorale:
    Hail Carpathia, our lord and risen king;
Hail Carpathia, rules o’er everything.
We’ll worship him until we die;
He’s our beloved Nicolae.
Hail Carpathia, our lord and risen king .
    Judd’s stomach turned when he heard the song. Then a voice Judd didn’t recognize came over the loudspeakers. The man sounded like he was in pain as he said, “Loyal subjects of the Global Community, please move toward the sound you’re hearing for food and water. We have a supply station nearby where you can find rations.
    â€œAlso, for those attending the joint staff meeting, please come to the aid station and move directly up the stairs to the conference room. The meeting will begin in ten minutes.”
    Westin came up beside Judd. “You notice anything about these people?”
    â€œThey’re in a lot of pain,” Judd said.
    â€œYeah, but they’re not singing along. Usually they’d be chirping with the choir, praising Carpathia.”
    Westin was right. Some were even grumbling against the potentate. “Carpathia’s always told people the big advantage of worshiping him was that he was a god you could see,” Westin said. “I guess the real God took care of that for a while.”
    Judd found the aid station, which was