Chapter One

     A strange wind was blowing as Sam Elliott and his sons herded the cattle and horses that morning. Sam wiped his forehead with his arm, stopped what he was doing and looked up mystified. What was this weird sounding breeze he asked himself.

     He had worked this land for over thirty- five years and knew every quirk and pattern of weather in those parts but this was one real uncanny wind that was blowing.

     "Are we going to have a twister dad?" Asked Aaron one of his young sons.

     "Oh I don't think so son. This isn't twister weather and there was nothing like that predicted in any of the weather forecasts." Sam told him.

     "Hey dad!" Continued Aaron as he brushed the mare that he was working with.

     "Kurt said that China is going to invade Taiwan. Think they will?"

     "Let's hope not son. I think China has enough problems right now along its borders with Russia."

     At this Sam reached over and switched on the radio that was anchored on the corner of the corral fence. Immediately the news of the day blared out catching the attention of Sam and some of his ranch workers who were working nearby.

     The world was in turmoil! There had been a shocking terrorist attack in the UK and an assassination attempt on members of the British Royal Family. There was more trouble in the Balkans and in many places in the Far East with further unrest along the frontiers between Kashmir, India and Pakistan and fresh instability in Afghanistan.

     China and Russia had indeed been having border skirmishes and the Middle East was a powder keg. In Europe a super state was about to be created that would unite many nations into one huge federation under the European Union with one currency and one head of state. There had been rallies for and against the formation of this new super state but it seemed as if it was going to become a reality no matter what.

     Elsewhere, the College of Cardinals had gone off to choose a new Pope with Cardinals Bayer and De Marco as the favorites with two not so well known cardinals from Africa named as possibilities according to new sources coming from Vatican City.

     At home and elsewhere the new identification system had been announced and was being promoted vigorously. It was coming into being as the solution to all identification problems and was being hailed as a medical necessity, the sensible thing to do, and the ultimate child protection scheme. It was claimed that it would be the best way to keep criminals under supervision and protect those with special needs. It was predicted that it would provide an ultimate and super proficient innovation in personal identification and was being acclaimed as a brilliant new step forward.

     Sam showed little interest in this information and was more concerned about the possibility of a war brewing between China and Russia and the potential consequences for all. His brother Luke was a major in the US Marine Corps and Carl his ranch foreman was a Captain in the National Guard, so Sam was uneasy about the possibility of both being involved in a major world conflict. Sam knew conflict only too well. He had served in Vietnam and been wounded twice. Two of his sons were about to graduate from high school and all the talk about calling boys up for military service worried Sam.

     Elsewhere in the world the Middle East remained a flashpoint as the issue of the creation of a Palestinian homeland was moving closer to becoming a reality.

     Some volcano on the west coast was showing unusual signs of seismicity but Sam missed the details as he had decided that he would call his brother Luke later on that day. As a Vietnam veteran Sam had seen enough of war and suffering and lost many friends in that particular conflict. His childhood and high school best friend, Wes, had been killed in front of him in Vietnam, something that Sam had never really gotten over.

     He had heard enough and switched over to the local news.

     The top stories told of the visit to Fort Wayne and surrounding districts of a famous Russian cosmonaut and also of the appointment of Fort Wayne's first African-American chief of police. Sam looked up interested at this announcement.

     Gene Washington a career officer and graduate of Princeton would be taking over from the current chief Dave Schniederman when he retired in three months time. Washington was young, and ambitious and very much involved in the Fort Wayne Community. His wife Cynthia was the principal of the elementary school in the town and they both were dynamic, bright and hard working.

     Sam laughed at this announcement. His buddy Charley Jackson would have a fit when he found this out. Washington had been the town's chief of detectives for about seven years and had tried in vain to find Charley's stills and put a stop once and for all to his 'moonshining' sideline.

     Sam had known for sometime that Washington was the potential next chief of police and thought he would make a good one. It was rumored that Washington was determined to make major changes in the force and in the whole town of Fort Wayne in general. Charley Jackson and Washington had clashed on more than one occasion and Washington hated the sight of him.

     "Shucks! Old Charley will have a blue fit when he hears about Washington." Sam said with a chuckle to Carl Harris his ranch manager.

     Just at that Charley drove into the courtyard in his auto business truck.

     "Talk of the devil." Said Carl with a grin.

     "Morning Sam. How y'all this morning?" Charley asked as he climbed out of his truck.

     "Gee what's with this strange weather? One minute it is warm and the next minute it's real cold, and that sure is one uncanny, spooky sounding breeze." Charley declared.

     "Maybe it's some aliens trying to beam you up Charley." Joked Will Elliott.

     "Oh I reckon it's because these are real weird times buddy but yep it is one weird breeze that's a blowing." Sam answered.

     "These are strange times guys but yep that is a bizarre sounding wind. It is enough to chill you to the bone. I don't know what it is but don't like it." Sam Said as he put another mare into the corral.

     "Makes me feel uneasy."

     "Gee Sam it's due to global warming and is just a new peculiar weather quirk. That's all." Carl, ever the scientist reassured him.

     "Heard on the news as I drove up here that Mount Rainier was rumbling all yesterday and the folks around Seattle, Tacoma and surrounding areas are getting kind of worried." Charley told them.

     "Rainier? You're kidding!" It'll cover Seattle if it erupts!" Carl exclaimed.

     "Wow! Can you imagine the upheaval if they have to evacuate Seattle or Tacoma or any city? It doesn't bear thinking about." He added.

     "Sign of the times if y'all ask me." Remarked Sam.

     "Oh gee and my wife is going on and on about me receiving the Lord. She says that this is only the beginning and that the Lord is coming soon." Charley said as he got out his toolbox.

     "Could be." Agreed Sam.

     "Ok boss. Let me see what y'all want me to do. I'm working on my own till midday as Barry has a doctor's appointment this morning and then he is to go to Mass as it is some kind of special thing that they are having over at St. Jude's but I'll do what I can." Charley said rolling up his sleeves.

     Charley was already dressed in his working overalls and was unloading his toolbox.

     "Thought I'd work on those tractors to start with but is there is anything else you want me to look at for you Sam?"

     "Yes there's a truck that has been causing me some bother and one of the pick-ups is slipping a clutch." Sam told his buddy.

     "Fine I'll get started on that right now."

     Sam then turned to his ranch workers.

     "Ok guys coffee's up. Let's get out of this heat for a while."

     Everyone stopped what they were doing and headed for the shift room. Will Elliott Sam's second son had organized the coffee and had donuts, bagels and muffins for everyone. The radio was still blaring away in the background and Gina, Sam's secretary went over to it.

     Sam sat at his desk on his comfortable swivel chair and grabbed a coffee and donut.

     "Gee it's good to sit down."

     "Y'all need to watch it dad. You've been up since the crack of dawn and this is the first time that you have stopped." Will reminded him.

     Sam said nothing but only raised his hand in dismissal at Will's comment.

     Gina switched back to the world news to hear the latest international state of affairs.

     "The lottery numbers ain't announced on this channel Gina." Teased Charley.

     "Shhh! I'm listening for news from the Vatican." Gina told him in a whisper.

     The radio blared away still announcing the latest developments in the world situation. There was nothing new from Vatican City but the commentator told everyone that the exciting and charismatic person known to everyone simply as the guru was planning to come to the United States in the next few weeks. He had been invited by some of the peace groups as his apparent words of wisdom were raising many eyebrows on the world scene. He was said to have an answer and solution to every problem and had acquired a huge army of followers. His writings and tapes were in high demand and many people, both young and old, were totally wowed by him.

     He was highly sought after for interviews and TV talk shows and such like.

     Sam was suspicious of the guru and had no time either for his teachings or any new age teachings declaring that they all came from Satan. He had banned guru t-shirts, hats and badges from his ranch and would not have the guru on the televisions or radios on his premises. Sam Junior joined them and they all sat around the table and drank their coffee

     "Hey boss who do y'all think is going to be the new Pope?" Asked Carl.

     "I haven't a clue." Said Sam disinterested.

     "Me!" Charley said gesturing with his hands in mock blessings and chortling as he did.

     "Pope Charley the first! Auto specialist to the Vatican and sole supplier of hooch to the Holy Father and the College of Cardinals and to the Swiss Guard's officers' club." He added.

     "Charley! Gina is Catholic and so is Kevin. Don't be so insulting!" Chided Sam.

     "Oh it's alright Mr. Elliott. I know he doesn't mean it." Laughed Gina.

     "I would just tell Sue if I thought that he did and she would kill him."

     Just then a news flash blasted out details of further incidents on the River Amur between Russian Marines and regular Chinese Red Army troops. It sounded serious.

     "Shhh!" ordered Sam as the details unfolded.

     "Getting serious Sam!" Carl remarked.

     Just at that. without any warning or reason everything became dark outside. Nobody moved or said anything but sat stunned, puzzled and still. They all got up silently and went to the door and looked out.

     The sky was dark. as night and the sun looked as if a gigantic black sieve had been placed over it. Because of the time of year and the particular lunar phase they were in the crescent of the moon still appeared visible and it appeared blood red in the darkened sky.

     "What in the name of heavens is that?" Asked a shocked Charley.

     "Black sky at this time of day?" Went on Sam Junior.

     "Looks like..." Will started to say but was interrupted by his father Sam.

     "Sackcloth! It looks like sackcloth!" Declared Sam.

     "Sackcloth? What's that mean?" Asked Carl the ranch manager.

     "Oh it says in the Bible that in the last times the sun would be darkened and become as sackcloth and that the moon would become blood red." Sam announced.

     "This is awesome dad!" Shouted Young Aaron.

     All over the ranch the ranch workers had stopped what they were doing and were riveted to the spot looking up to the sky.

     "Hey dad is this the end of the world do you think?" Aaron asked with boyish excitement.

     "Well we're in those times son but there's some things need to happen before the end and before the Lord Jesus returns for his church."

     Just at that the sun started to shine again and everything went back to normal.

     Carl shook his head and laughed.

     "Gee boss. Guess you've been listening to Old Ron at the public park again or Pastor Steve has been getting to y'all. I reckon it is all something to do with pollution." Carl stated amusedly as he went back into the shift room and helped himself to another bagel and more coffee.

     "You'll likely read in the newspaper or hear on the news that it was some chemical cloud that covered the sun." He added.

     "Could be and then maybe I'm right." Said Sam.

     "C'mon boss!" Said Carl with a chortle.

     They all went back inside and sat down again.

     At this one of Sam's young hands came into the room. He filled out some coffee and grabbed a bagel. Sam looked up at him and then looked up again.

     "What's it say on the hat?" Sam challenged him.

     "It's a guru hat!" Lee answered defiantly.

     "You know the rules Lee. What y'all do in your own time is ok by me but I don't want guru t-shirts, badges and hats worn on this ranch." Sam informed him.

     "Hey boss! As long as my work is ok then you really can't tell me what to wear and what not to wear." Lee snarled.

     There was an icy silence.

     "Who said your work was ok?" Sam Junior cut in.

     "Hey I don't need to take this harassment. I'm going into town to the Cattlemen's Union!" Yelled Lee.

     He stormed out and went towards his motorbike, started up and zoomed off taking a short cut into town via one of the back roads.

     "Oh shucks! This is the last thing I need right now. I am sick of problems with this kid." Sam said with a groan.

     "I'm surprised you let him off with that Sam." Carl exclaimed angrily.

     "He really is pushing his luck and he is smelling of booze." Kevin said.

     "I don't want that guru stuff on my ranch." Sam stated again.

     At this a police patrol car came up the driveway.

     "Oh! Oh! Charley. Here are your buddies." Joked Will.

     They watched in silence as the patrol car came to a halt and two cops got out.

     "Oh gee it's only Mike and Bobby." Shouted Charley.

     "Howdy y'all! Just in time for a coffee if you have a few minutes." Sam informed them.

     "Thanks Sam." Said Mike Douglas the lieutenant.

     "Sounds great!" He replied sitting down.

     Will got two mugs and filled out some coffee and got a chair for the sergeant.

     "Thanks'." Both said.

     "So what brings you two guys up here?" Sam asked them.

     "Oh we'd like to have a word with Mr. Mitchell." Mike answered.

     "What's he been up to now?" Inquired Sam.

     "Oh let's say that we are just making routine inquiries right now." Mike went on.

     "We'd just like to have a word." Bobby MacDonald told them.

     "You've just missed him guys. He's off to town." Will said.

     "No problem. We'll catch up with him at his house then." Bobby said.

     "Might try the 'Cowboys Rest' first." Carl remarked with a sneer.

     "Enough Carl!" Chided Sam.

     "Hey! What was with the darkened sky a while back there?" Asked Will.

     "Some sort of cloud seemed to be obliterating the sun and causing the moon to be discolored." Carl declared.

     "It was no cloud." Mike Douglas said.

     "What do you mean Mike?" Carl asked him.

     "Well Carl these are the times spoken of in the Holy Scriptures. If you read the Gospel of St. Matthew you will see that we are told that in the last days there would be signs in the sun and in the moon before the great and terrible day of the Lord. These are just the birth pangs." Mike explained.

     Charley chuckled as he swung in his chair.

     "Y'all sound just like my wife Lieutenant. She's always nagging at me to get baptized. Told me I need to do some serious thinking and accept the Lord before it is too late."

     "Shucks Charley and you still haven't gone and got saved?" Joked Mike.

     "Sure Lieutenant. I am all born again and saved." Laughed Charley.

     "Yeah that's what y'all told the judge last time you were up in front of him." Mike replied grinning. He had a soft spot for Charley.

     "Heck I just might join a church sometime." Charley said as he shoved yet another donut into his mouth.

     "You better start behaving now that Detective Gene Washington has been made chief of police?" Bobby said.

     Charley stopped swinging on his chair and came back down with a bump.

     "Washington? You're kidding me!"

     "Nope! We will soon have our first African-American chief of police in this town. Gene Washington will succeed the present chief Dave Schniederman on his retirement in three months." Mike added.

     "Gee Washington will put me out of business. He'll likely send a swat team up into the hills to find my still."

     "He ain't so bad. He's a really a good guy." Declared Bobby.

     "Bet some folks said that about Genghis Khan." Chortled Charley.

     "I better start looking around for a new location to practice my hobby in peace." Charley went on.

     "Why don't you quit all that stuff anyhow Charley and get yourself really saved and straightened out?" Mike asked him.

     "Plenty of time for me to do that when my kids are in college."

     "No Charley! Time is short. You need to decide for the Lord now."

     Charley just shrugged and grinned.

     "I tell him the same thing." Sam added.

     "Think I might just go join the Catholic Church and then Father Ben down at St. Jude's can teach me all his card tricks. He is some player. He and I could play poker all day and he's one real good bowler also."

     "As long as you embrace Jesus and get yourself right with him.

     Join a church." Mike urged.

     "You also Carl." Mike said.

     "I don't really believe in that kind of stuff." Carl announced.

     "Oh I agree with Mike." Sam told them.

     "I think the Lord will return real soon cause this world is one real mess and we can't go on like this. We have all these murders and drug abuse and violence like never before and then there's all this child abuse, hatred, arrogance and greed. And the Lord must be furious about all these abortions. The killing of all these babies is another form of child abuse and as for the cloning, it doesn't bear thinking about." Sam continued,

     "Oh gee that is just the way of the world and not signs of the times." Carl blurted.

     "There ain't going to be no anti-Christ or second coming." He added amused.

     "Gee Barry is always going on and on about time being short and how 'The Blessed Virgin' is always appearing here there and everywhere, telling folks to turn back to her son. Then I have to listen to Kevin and Gina backing him up. Then Pastor Steve goes on about the guru being the man of perdition, and then he starts on about the rapture and the return of Jesus. Think I'll go live on an island somewhere and worship the sun. This baloney is getting to me."

     "Carl! You would not believe the things that are taking place in this town alone. Very shortly there is going to be very disturbing changes." Mike declared.

     Charley cut him off.

     "Yeah! Washington as chief of police is going to be the biggest disturbing change," Laughed Charley.

     "You guys need to go downtown and listen to Old Ron Jeffries the old street evangelist who stands at the entrance to the park." Bobby suggested.

     "That old guy is away with the fairies." Replied Carl.

     Charley laughed and nodded in agreement.

     "Fruitcake!"

     "Listen to him." Bobby urged.

     "Yeah and I'll be a gator's uncle." Charley replied with a laugh.

     Mike spoke again.

     "Guys! I can't give you anymore information at this time and I really shouldn't be telling you anything but there are some things afoot in this town that are going to cause real major changes and problems for everyone. Wait till you guys hear what the mayor is going to say in his broadcast. We are going to have to be vigilant and get ready to go."

     "Vigilant? Ready to go where?" Will Elliott asked curiously.

     Mike Douglas turned to them all with a serious look on his dark tanned face.

     "I have been in law enforcement since I was eighteen and I know you guys pretty well and I have been a committed Christian for the same length of time. It is my opinion and that of some of my closest friends that we are in those times. These are the times spoken of in Holy Scriptures. Believe me we are in those times."

     "Which?" Asked Carl.

     "The times predicted in the Bible that tells us that when all these things start to happen we are to run to the hills and that we are not to go back for anything but flee as the great tribulation will be upon us. The man of perdition is about to be revealed." Mike declared.

     Again Carl scoffed quietly and laughed to himself.

     "Believe me."

     "I thought that the church was to be raptured first before the anti- Christ arrived on the scene?" Will asked.

     "There are many theories and I personally believe that we will see him and I think that we will all experience the tribulation and especially the great persecution. There will be no more standing on the sides. You will have two choices Jesus Christ the son of God or the anti-Christ man of perdition." Mike added.

     Just then the strange sounding wind started to get up again. There was a severe rumbling and Sam and the others could not begin to imagine what it was but they seemed to feel it inwardly as well as hear it. The noise grew louder and louder and the guys all looked at each other apprehensively. Was indeed a tornado touching down after all? They all jumped to their feet and got ready to dive for cover. There was however no tornado. They stood staring in trepidation, disturbed by the mysterious weird sound.

     Just at that the sky grew dark for the second time. The sun looked as if it had been covered in black cheesecloth and the crescent of the moon was a deeper crimson red than before.

     Rev 6 Verses 12:

     Then I watched while he broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth and the whole moon became like blood.