Chapter 6

     The day after the storm and the appearance of the comet, Sam had received a most welcome phone call from an old Marine buddy Will Sanders who had traveled up from Georgia on business and was going to be in town a few days. Sanders wanted to meet up with Sam and catch up on all his news. Sam was thrilled to bits, as he hadn't seen Will Sanders for about two years.

     Sanders was Will Elliott's Godfather and whenever 'Uncle Will Sanders' came to the ranch on a visit it was really exciting. Sanders was a terrific guy to have around and Young Will was looking forward to seeing him so much. Sanders had been a marine pilot and a prisoner of war.

     Sam looked around his kitchen to see what could make and decided on barbecuing a few steaks. He'd make his own 'Fourth Of July', potato salad and his famous steak sauce that he boasted to everyone about. He'd send Young Will into town to get a bottle of Sanders' favorite scotch. Sanders was partial to a particular brand that was specially imported from Scotland by a liquor store in town.

     Sam got organized in other ways after the call from Sanders and gave Colette his daily help an afternoon off.

     "Hey dad it will be swell to have Uncle Will here." Sam Junior said.

     "It sure will."

     "Is Linda coming with him?"

     "Not this time." Answered Sam.

     "Let him try some of Old Charley's 'shine'. Give him a call."

     "Hey no! Charley is trying to reform and find the Lord and I don't want him caught in possession with 'shine' on him." Sam said.

     "He's down at the Catholic church right now fixing Old Father Ben's car!"

     "Dad! Are you really going on this commitment to Jesus course again? The introductory night sure was good. I kind of wondered if you were going to go on it?" Sam Junior asked.

     "Yep and so are we all. The last introductory meeting was real good so I reckoned I would give it a go. Charley and Sue are going and taking Charley Junior also. You and Melissa want to come?"

     "I guess she has made up my mind for me and I know that Sue Jackson is expecting us all to go." Sam Junior answered.

     "We are all going together and we are going to make a Christian statement to the town." Sam told him.

     "Heck dad the place will fall down around Old Charley when he walks into that church hall again." Chortled Sam Junior.

     "Well son I don't reckon Charley's sins are any worse than anyone else's. We can never judge. Hey maybe Cynthia Washington will bring Gene and that will really be something." Sam said.

     "Yeah he and Charley would likely come to blows and Charley would be arrested." Chortled Sam Junior.

     Young Will arrived back at that moment with the special scotch for Sanders.

     Sam liked a good scotch himself and was proud of his Scottish name and his Scottish ancestry and this was the best scotch that they could get imported from Scotland.

     "Hey dad. You ought to see the special UN police that are in town. Some of them are directing traffic and others are sitting in patrol cars watching everything and some are walking around the town in pairs."

     "It must be some exercise that they are having." Sam told Will.

     "Yeah dad there is one long queue outside of that now re-opened chip implementation center. Gee they are fighting with each other about who was before who." Will told him.

     "Wonder if they'll still be pushing and jostling when they are queuing up to get into hell?" Sam replied.

     "I don't want any truck with the chip. It is the mark of the beast as far as I am concerned. You wait and watch son and you'll see what I mean." Sam avowed.

     "Hope they all like the heat for that's where they are all headed."

     "Yeah dad I can imagine 'Old Nick' out with a fork telling them all to get back and get into line." Chortled Sam Junior.

     "As long as none of us are going to be there son."

     Meanwhile at a roadside cafe off the interstate Sanders had stopped for a coffee. The place was busy and a group of marines were having hamburgers and coffee. One of them spotted Sanders' 'ex- marine hat' and called him over.

     They asked him when he had been in the service and when Sanders told them that he'd been on three tours of duty to Vietnam and on the fourth he'd been shot down and captured, the younger marines were absolutely wowed. They asked Sanders to come sit with them. He was only too willing to do this and they started to share their experiences.

     As they were speaking a whole detachment of strangely dressed troops came into the fast food place and started to queue up at the service point. They were well armed and were wearing battle fatigues with a strange logo on their hats, shoulders and arms. Both Sanders and the young marines stared in disbelief.

     "What's all this?" Sanders asked quietly.

     "Heck sir! We don't know what is happening anymore. Even some of our officers have been replaced with guys that we don't know and that nobody has even heard of." Another young marine told Sanders.

     "You're kidding?"

     "No sir!" Another told him.

     "In our base we now have three flags flying. The US flag, the Marine Corps flag and this new regime flag. It has the same 'equilateral triangle logo'on it that I see some of these guys are wearing."

     Another marine leaned forward to Sanders and whispered.

     "And that weird flag is higher than the other two!"

     "We've heard Russian and German and other foreign languages being whispered." He continued.

     "Last week one of our buddies heard a conversation between two of the officers and our buddy said they were speaking fluent Russian. He was also sure that he heard one say that they would need to speak English, as they didn't want to upset anyone. Others have heard French and other foreign languages, including Dutch and Norwegian definitely being spoken. We personally think this is a UN force that has been duped into being the world police force of the guru." The first young marine said.

     Sanders felt a distinct unease at all of this. Something was wrong.

     He then took his leave of the young marines and they all shook his hand vigorously. He needed to move on if he was to get to his buddy Sam's place whilst it was light.

     As he got up to go he pushed his way through a group of the strange soldiers. He heard two of them speaking and he deliberately banged into one of them.

     "Izvenitchi pozhalsta!" Sanders said to the soldier.

     "Polzhalsta !" The soldier answered easily.

     Sanders walked away. Now he knew! Foreign troops were legally on the streets of the US. Sanders spoke quite a few languages and he could hear a mixture of other languages being spoken as well as Russian.

     He went out to the car lot and went towards his car. The car lot was filled with strange military vehicles all having the strange equilateral triangle logo on them.

     He got into his car and set off on the last leg of his journey.

     When he reached Fort Wayne there was a roadblock over the river and quite a few tollbooths had been set up.

     Sanders wondered when all this had happened. He could see military vehicles everywhere and strange police vehicles with an equally strange a pyramid logo and the words 'one world governmental police'. Alarm bells started to ring again for Sanders.

     He continued along in the slow moving traffic until he approached the tollbooth. An officer came toward him with a clipboard and a strange device on his belt that resembled a supermarket scanner. Sanders looked at it and looked up at the guy and then rolled down his window.

     "Good evening Sir. Where have you just come from?" The officer asked Sanders.

     "Atlanta. What is going on?"

     "Nothing is going on Sir! This is just a new checking procedure and there is also a UN exercise taking place. Do you have the new identification?"

     "What new identification?" Sanders asked.

     "The biochip, smart chip, biomark, whatever you want to call it."

     "No." Sanders said.

     "What other identification do you have?" Inquired the officer.

     "I have my drivers' license." Answered Sanders.

     "That'll do fine."

     Sanders handed the officer the drivers' license, he scanned it and gave it back to Sanders. It looked to Sanders as if the officer had been photocopying it with the strange device before he handed it back,

     "Thank you Mr. Sanders. Think about the chip Sir. It is a much better system and safer. You can have it implanted at the chip center in town."

     Sanders took his license from the officer and drove away. He had many, many unanswered questions in his mind and he was profoundly concerned. He drove down the main street in Fort Wayne and couldn't help noticing that the strange flag with the triangular logo was flying higher that both the state flag and the US flag on the town hall. This filled him with disgust and anger and he wondered what the heck the people of the town were thinking about.

     As he drove past the public park he could see that there was a large queue of folk standing at a strange building and Sanders wondered what was going on. Then he saw Old Ron shouting at them all and he noticed that the crowd were laughing at him.

     Gee he thought. Sam mentioned this street evangelist and said that the old guy has been there for years and he is still at it. Sanders rolled down his car window to hear what he was saying.

     "Woe to those who receive the mark of the beast! You will come under the control of the one world people and then you will break out in sores and boils and skin rashes and that will only be the start of you sufferings. If you give praise to the beast and his image you will be lost." Shouted Ron.

     Sanders remembered that the officer had spoken about the chip center in town. That must be it he thought. With that he rolled up his window and drove on.

     There was a meeting in the public park further up and he could see that it had all the trappings of the guru.

     He looked up at the strange billboards and posters that were everywhere and was instantly filled with a strange feeling of trepidation and foreboding.

     He didn't know what to think. Things had been strange nation wide recently since the guru had arrived on the scene but something was terribly wrong in Fort Wayne.

     Will drove on through Fort Wayne and could not believe what he was seeing. There were posters and pictures of the guru everywhere and he saw many people, men women and children wearing guru hats, badges, rosettes and guru t-shirts. He saw small guru supporter meetings everywhere and started to wonder if everyone had gone mad.

     On a huge billboard in the center of Main Street Sanders could see the words 'It is smart to have the smart chip.' There was also a gigantic picture of the guru who had been taking everyone by storm. This weird guy had declared himself the fountain of all wisdom and enlightenment. The eyes in the picture made Sanders very uneasy and he looked away. He didn't know too much about this guy and didn't want to. At first he thought that the guru was just another fad but now he was beginning to wonder about him. Sanders was Methodist but hadn't attended church much recently.

     He could not help notice that the guru supporters that he had seen both in Fort Wayne and back home always appeared to be in a type of frenzy, and their ears and eyes were closed to all and everything except the guru.

     Sanders was worried. He thought that something unholy had descended on the whole nation and in particular this town. He knew that Europe had gone over to guru worship but never for a minute thought that his own country of America would have tolerated anything like this.

     Sanders drove away and headed for Sam's ranch.

     Sam came out to meet Sanders with arms outstretched.

     "Sanders! It's so good to see you."

     "It is good to see you to kid."

     They hugged each other for a few minutes then Will and Sam Junior came running and they also hugged Sanders.

     "Hey! What's with this town? It's like and armed siege down there. It is bad enough elsewhere but Fort Wayne is beyond belief!" Stated Sanders.

     "What is happening to this country Sam?"

     "Come on and we'll talk inside. Let's get you out of this heat."

     Sam called Kevin one of his workers.

     "Kev! Take Mr. Sanders' stuff inside son. Put it in the back room near my study."

     "Sure boss!"

     "Like a beer?"

     "Oh you better believe it."

     "You must be real tired?"

     "Oh nothing that a cold beer wouldn't cure."

     "Oh there will be plenty of that and when Carl comes on over we'll start the barbecue."

     "Hey Uncle Will you're going to taste dad's famous steak sauce. He won't even tell us the recipe for that or for his chili."

     "Oh I have heard all about this steak sauce for years." Sanders told him.

     They went out the back to Sam's patio and caught up on each other's news and talked about the state of things in the world and in the town.

     Meanwhile down at St. Jude's Charley Jackson and his co-worker Barry had just finished work on the van used by the church. They were also working on Father Ben's own car.

     "That should be it now Father. I don't think you'll get any more trouble from it now. The van is fine it was only a few new break pads that were needing replaced and I tightened up your parking brake."

     "You're a good lad Charley Jackson and I'm sure you must have Scottish blood in you."

     "I sure do Father." Chortled Charley.

     "Y'all ever go home to Scotland?"

     "I was there recently Charley but it is a changed country and dark days are upon my native land. They have gone over like the rest of the UK and Europe in general to this guru fellow. He has already addressed the Scottish and UK parliaments and the European Parliament and I'm afraid that he has won them over to himself."

     "Gee Father y'all think that Scotland and the rest of the UK and Ireland even will all become part of a super European state?"

     "Yes I do. Then 'Mother England' will lose her national identity and will get paid back for the centuries of persecution that was inflicted on Scotland, Ireland and Wales. What goes around comes around eventually. The big boys of Europe will make sure everyone toes their line." Father Ben said.

     "Father do you think that we will have to flee to the hills? Old Ron is telling everyone that there is going to be a great persecution and that we will have to seek refuge in the hills. He told me that I needed to start putting stuff in hiding places and get ready to shelter folks in the coming tribulation."

     "I would listen to Ron. He is a very holy man and has the gift of prophecy."

     "You think this is all true that there is a persecution coming?"

     "You better believe it. If Old Ron has given you instructions then carry them out. They are from the Lord." Father Ben told him.

     "The church is wrought with confusion now and most pastors in the church are waiting for direction from the bishops, but most of them are also in confusion and don't know what to do. I am closing up here shortly and we are going to be gone!"

     "But where Father?"

     "I will know what to say at the time and I will also know where to go Charley. We will all need to flee As soon as this entity makes his speech to the world, mark my words." Father Ben told them.

     "Now have you any thing else for me Charley Jackson?" Father Ben asked with a grin.

     "Would you be meaning as in the medicinal line?" Chuckled Charley.

     "I would that!"

     Charley winked and beckoned Father Ben to the trunk of his truck. A vacuum cleaner was in the back and Charley started to dismantle the dust bag.

     "What are you doing? I already have a vacuum cleaner!" Father Ben told him.

     Charley didn't answer except to grin broadly.

     He took off the bag and opened it up and pulled two bottles of moonshine out of the dust bag.

     "Clean them off and pour on to ice and sip and enjoy!"

     "Scotsmen don't put ice on whiskey but I will certainly enjoy."

     Father Ben told Charley indignantly. Charley grinned.

     "Ice indeed!" He added.

     "You know Charley this is the nearest thing I've tasted to poteen the type of illegal whiskey that is made in both Scotland and Ireland. Only in Scotland we spell whiskey differently without the 'e'." He explained.

     "Heck but Father, shucks over there you guys do everything weird. Y'all drive on the wrong side of the road and call soccer football!"

     "Get away with you laddie. It was we Scots that helped you write your Constitution."

     Charley and Barry laughed.

     Father Ben took the two bottles away and put them inside his house. He came back out and slipped Charley some money.

     "That is for the vehicles and that is for the hooch."

     "Father that is way too much."

     "Away with you Charley Jackson."

     "Hey Father what are you doing tomorrow?"

     "It is my day off."

     "If you didn't have anything planned would you like to come with us a trip into the hills? We will stay over night and come back down in the morning?"

     "I need to get on with stocking those remnant refuges and there's no time like the present. Brent, Carl, my two brothers and I have been stashing stuff already as Old Ron suggested. We need to go back up as there is a lot of stuff to do if we are to get organized as the remnant church."

     "Sure sounds great. I will need to know where I can hide folks who will soon come to me for help." Father Ben said.

     "Ok. I'll pick you up about seven tomorrow morning. Don't worry about bringing anything as we have all we need up there. We are going to Brent's shack."

     "Sounds great."

     "Oh and there is plenty of scotch there also so don't worry."

     Just at that a strange car drove up and Father Ben tensed all his muscles up.

     "It's them! They are back!"

     "Who?"

     "The one world folks. They want access to my parish records and financial statements. Hold on till I get my gun!"

     "Father! Watch out! They are real evil these guys!" Barry whispered.

     Father Ben went into his house and came back out with a broom.

     "I'll give you guys two minutes to get out of here and then you are going to get it." Threatened Father Ben.

     "Sir! Sir! We only want to check on your assets and to have a look at your parish records. There is no need to get upset about it. This is official business." One of them told Father Ben.

     "And I told you before that the parish records are my business and highly confidential. My tax records, 'Mr. Official new world order agent,' are all up to date and were sent in at the appropriate time of the year when all the tax returns are sent in. Now get before I do go for my gun!" Yelled Father Ben.

     Father Ben made to go after them with his broom and the two men made a quick exit to their car.

     "We'll be back Father and if you don't do as we ask then we'll close your church and you will be jailed."

     "That is the same type of threat that you made to the owners of the brewery and the newspaper and to all of the farmers ranchers and ministers of religion in this whole region and if you think we are going to take it lying down then you are sadly mistaken." Ben roared.

     Charley spoke.

     "Yep Father. These are the same two that came to me. Actually I went into my garage to find them going through all my personal stuff in my office and you are right. We are not about to take this lying down."

     The second man pointed at Charley.

     "You moonshine guy! You will be sony buddy. We are going to especially get you and your buddy Elliott."

     "Anytime y'all feel like wrestling with Old Charley here just let us know. I'm sure Sam Elliott will be delighted when I pass on your message."

     "You'll be sorry!" Snarled the second man again,

     At this Father Ben started shouting in his native Scottish Gaelic. He rained down blow after blow on the officials' car with his broom. They drove off as quickly as they could and zoomed off in the direction of the town center.

     Charley and Barry stood chortling as Ben rolled up his sleeves and stormed back to them.

     "Sure fixed them out Father." Charley said.

     "Oh they've been before and they'll be back. We may need to start thinking seriously about what Old Ron has been saying. They will come and close our churches and we will be thrown into prison for not conforming to their ways. These are the times, I'm afraid lads."

     They took their leave of Father Ben and went off.

     Charley and Barry drove back to their workshop at the other side of town. As they traveled through the main street at Fort Wayne they got caught in slow moving traffic and there was Old Ron going at it as strong as ever shouting his witness to the Lord.

     Charley rolled down his window as they approached the park gate where Old Ron stood.

     "Howdy Ron. How y'all doing?" He shouted.

     Ron spotted Charley immediately and stopped what he was doing and pointed at Charley.

     "I warn you again brother. Time is short. This is the Lord's time. He is calling you to do his work. It is imperative that you prepare as I told you. You need to do as I said. Prepare as I told you and accept the Lord. Even now brother they seek to arrest you and upset the plans that the Lord Jesus has for you. Be careful!"

     Charley had to move at that moment and again Old Ron's words disturbed him.

     Barry chucked at the old man's words but Charley wasn't laughing this time.

     As they got onto the street that would take them back to the garage Charley spotted a blue light behind him.

     "Shucks Charley! It's a cop! Have you any shine on you?"

     "I've still got two bottles inside the doggone vacuum's dust bag!" Rasped Charley.

     "Oh crumbs Charley! Why didn't you give it all to Father Ben?"

     "I promised Nat two bottles. Oh well here goes. Oh Lord no. It's Washington."

     Washington cut right in front of Charley. He stopped and got out along with another police officer and stormed toward Charley. Charley rolled down his window.

     "Well hello Detective. How are y'all this pleasant evening?"

     "Shut up Jackson and get out. You! Out also!" He ordered Barry flashing his warrant card at both.

     Barry and Charley got out.

     "Open the trunk. Officer Lane you search the rest of the car."

     Charley had a big bundle of keys and went through the well- practiced ritual that he used to unnerve the police.

     "Gee it can't be this one. I better try another. Oh! That isn't the right key either. Shucks! I sure will need to label these keys some day detective." He chortled wasting time.

     "Get it opened or I'll have it forcibly opened without the keys!" Washington snarled angrily.

     Charley remained unruffled and just, as Washington was about to call for assistance on his communicator Charley got the trunk opened.

     Washington roughly searched everything and appeared triumphant when he found a box of bottles. He lifted the box out of the car hitting it against the vacuum cleaner as he did so. Barry shuddered and nudged Charley.

     "Hey watch the wife's vacuum cleaner. I've just fixed it for her." Complained Charley.

     "We were tipped off that you had shine Jackson."

     "Not me Detective!"

     "Oh and whilst I am at it! There was a message scrawled on the wall surrounding my house and on my garage from you! A very racist message with your name signed at the bottom of it." Accused Washington.

     "I didn't do that. I wasn't near your house." Charley said.

     "Oh yes you were! I saw your green truck being driven away from behind my house with what looked like some of your buddies in it. There's no mistaking your truck! And when if I find 'shine' on you today I am going to throw the book at you, for that, and for the racist scrawling." Washington added.

     "I have young children and I want to protect them from the racist taunts I got as a child. So if I catch you near my house or my kids you are going to be in trouble!" Washington said. " "I haven't a clue as to what you are talking about and my green truck has been off the road. It was having welding done to it. Oh and I have kids myself and I can assure you I would never frighten no kids and I did not scrawl no racist graffiti on your property."

     The other police officer intervened.

     "Doesn't sound like Old Charley Detective it ain't his style!"

     "Thank you." Charley said.

     "Yeah but I'll tell you this Detective. I will get to the bottom of the whole thing. If someone has been using my truck and been up to mischief letting folks think it is me then you better believe I'll get to the bottom of it."

     "Don't go doing anything that'll get you arrested Charley." The other police officer urged.

     "I don't do anything like that now. I'm as I told you all reformed and don't get into no trouble now."

     At this statement from Charley, Gene Washington raised his eyes.

     "Yeah. You'll be rattling a tambourine next and selling the War Cry."

     The bottles turned out to be mineral water and Washington s smile of triumph disappeared. He angrily went through Charley's rucksack and even emptied out his flask of coffee.

     "Hey! That was for my break. My wife just made that fresh for me."

     "What's in that?" Demanded Washington pointing to a huge box.

     "Spare parts for vehicles."

     "Open it!"

     Charley did and Washington again was disappointed.

     He got down and shone his flashlight under the car and examined the gas tank and the exhaust pipe.

     "Y'all don't think I'd be stupid enough to use any of those places to hide hooch?" Charley asked.

     Washington turned to Charley.

     "You're clean this time Jackson but I am going to get you one day."

     "I don't do no hooch now Detective. I'm born again and saved. Y'all go and ask Old Ron at the park gate."

     "Charley Jackson! You are as saved as a possum. You'd con your way out of a hanging and you'll probably con your way into Heaven! The judge believed you. I don't mister!"

     At this Washington and the other police officer turned and went back to the patrol car.

     "Y'all have a nice day now Detective. Hey and watch the exhaust on that patrol car. Ain't looking too healthy from here."

     Washington gave him one more exasperated look, got into the patrol car, slammed the door and drove off.

     Charley let out one loud rebel yell and he and Barry laughed their heads off.

     "So much for all his fancy forensic training. Wouldn't like to see him on a murder investigation. Gee that would have been the first place I would have looked if I'd been him." Declared Charley.

     "Let's go kid!"

     With that he drove off. It suddenly dawned on Charley that old Ron's words had come true. They had tried to have Charley arrested. He was silent and thought deeply after that.

     Sam later called Charley and asked him to come on over and meet Sanders. So Charley duly drove over to the ranch. On his way there he was aware that he was being followed. He put it down to either the possibility that Washington had put a watch on him, or that the alcohol and tobacco boys were back to following him again.

     Soon he reached Sam's ranch and forgot all about it.

     Sam was pleased to see Charley and he introduced him to Sanders and he stayed for a while. He enjoyed the food that Sam had saved for him and downed about a gallon of coffee. Charley had to miss out on the beer, as he would need to drive home.

     Just before Charley went home Sam got a phone call from Pastor Steve. He had been taking a small business trip down to Florida and was really worried about the things that he had seen and heard whilst he was there. The airports had been like armed camps and the chip was being promoted everywhere, as was the guru. Steve wanted Sam to tell everyone not to listen to anything that the guru said and to make sure that the radio television and Internet were switched off when anything from the guru came on. He told Sam to tell this to as many people as he could and spread the word. Steve told Sam that he believed the very writings of the guru were demonic. The pastor further said that he would see them all later and would try to be home in time for the course.

     With that he signed off.

     Sam was perturbed about everything that Steve had said, and felt very uneasy about the whole situation anyway. Everyone was talking about the guru as a new savior of the world and his praises were being acclaimed everywhere.

     Sam discussed all this with Sanders, Charley and Carl and his own family members and they decided that they were indeed going on the commitment to Jesus course.

     It was to be the next night and Sam asked Sanders to stay around for its first night at least. Charley shrugged in resignation. Sue would make his life unbearable if he didn't go so he decided he would try to make the best of it even if he was going to miss the football world series re -runs.

     Charley stayed for a while then he called his wife on his cell phone and told her that he would be home shortly.

     He said goodbye to Sam and the others and got into his car to begin the drive home.

     As he was traveling down onto the connecting highway that took him to the freeway he noticed that he was being followed. There appeared to be four people in the car following him and he was unsure what to do. Then without warning he saw the blue light flashing and it dawned on him that the car was an unmarked police car.

     "Oh here we go again." He said as he pulled over.

     This time however it wasn't Washington but Joe Willard and Jack Dixon and in the back of the car were the two new regime plain clothes guys that he had seen at Father Ben's church.

     Willard and Dixon got out and came towards him. Charley thought on calling Sam on his cell phone but in the next minute he decided to sit tight.

     Willard immediately pulled open the door and ordered Charley out.

     Charley looked up at Willard and got out of his car.

     "You! Jackson. You're wanted!"

     "Who wants me?"

     "Just come and find out."

     With that said, Willard grabbed Charley and frog marched him into the unmarked police car. One of the plain clothes guys got out and Charley was pushed in beside the other plain-clothes guy. The first one then got in and Charley found that he was sandwiched between these two sinister new regime guys. Willard got back in the front and Dixon started up the car and drove off.

     Charley had been arrested many a time and usually he wound the police officers up but something made him sit quietly. This was no usual arrest.

     He was driven to the chip implementation center in town and taken around the back to the car park of the new building. Willard and Dixon grabbed him out and he was taken into the building. Charley was led along a corridor and into a room that had bars on the window. The two plain-clothes men came in and ordered Willard and Dixon to stand by.

     "Coffee Mr. Jackson?" Asked one of the plain clothes men going forward to a coffee percolator.

     "Why have you brought me here?" Demanded Charley.

     "Because you wouldn't have come in any other way Mr. Jackson and we wanted to speak to you."

     "Did you need to use those two degenerates to get me here?"

     Willard moved forward as if to hit Charley.

     "Eh Sergeant that will be all. I will call you if I need you."

     "Yeah go play with the rattlesnakes." Charley suggested.

     Willard and Dixon were itching to hit Charley but seemed to be wary of the two plain-clothes men. They went out of the room glaring at Charley all the time. Charley just grinned his usual grin and folded his arms.

     "So who do I have the honor of addressing?" Inquired Charley.

     "I am Colonel Meadows and this is Lieutenant Sheppard." " Well then Colonel just what do you want with me?" He asked.

     "Just what is all this about?"

     "We need good men Mr. Jackson and we need to recruit a good sound, experienced auto-mechanic like you to oversee our official car pool. Someone that we can rely on to have our own personal vehicles and our official vehicles serviced and worked on."

     Charley grinned at this.

     "And what makes you think I would want to work for you?"

     "We could present you with opportunities that you can only dream about right now."

     Again Charley grinned.

     "Is that why you brought me here forcibly?" '

     "We needed to get you here one way or the other as we wanted you to listen to us. We also knew that your mind has been poisoned against us. We have been looking at your record Mr. Jackson. May I call you Charley? Our information on you points to you being popular and well liked in this community. You seem to be respected and have leadership qualities. Oh yes we know about your record. We have been watching you Charley and we need men like you."

     Charley started to chuckle.

     "Colonel I've already seen some of the kind of folk that you have working for you." Charley chortled.

     Meadows ignored him and continued talking.

     "A new golden age is coming for the people of this nation and you should consider becoming part of it. We are interested in recruiting you to our cause."

     "Which cause is that Colonel Meadows?" Charley asked sardonically.

     "And what makes you think that I would want to have anything to do with your cause?"

     "Because you are smart Charley. You and your buddy Sam Elliott have a lot of influence in this community and it is only a matter of time before Sam joins us. He is thinking of it just now." Lied Meadows.

     Charley smiled at this comment but said nothing.

     "We could use good men like you that have their heads screwed on and are not held down by religious beliefs and other hang ups. We could arrange for your children to go to new highly prestigious schools, select schools where their education would be above first class. If you were to be our man in this town you would be given certain privileges and perks that would make you the envy of your neighbors and you would have authority over your own area and be responsible for their well being and welfare. You come into contact with a large number of people due to your work. Oh and we know about your moonshine. We were told that it is really good stuff and that you are wasting your talents,"

     "Heck if this is what it is all about, then a regular bottle costs fifteen dollars and a liter is twenty dollars." He informed them amusedly.

     "You know Mr. Jackson we have been reading and re -reading your record and you have some track record. You have a lot of sway in this community both you and your buddy Sam Elliott. I wish you would come join us."

     "Join what?" Charley asked with a laugh.

     "Charley! May I call you Charley?" Meadows asked again.

     "Tell me Colonel. That is mighty strange American accent you have? Where y'all from?"

     "I am from Texas."

     "Texas south of Moscow?" Charley inquired with a chuckle.

     Meadows didn't answer but it was obvious that Charley's question bothered him.

     He quickly changed the subject.

     "Moonshine production is quite a profitable sideline for you. Huh? How would you like it to be out in the open be made a legitimate liquor distilling company with you as the director?" Sheppard asked.

     Charley grinned at this proposal.

     "Heck no! That would take all the fun out of it and anyway it would mean that I would have to give y'all my recipe and that is a 'no no'. The recipe is a secret handed down from a few generations ago when my ancestors arrived here. The formula is an ancient Scottish recipe. Hey and I am already the director!" Emphasized Charley.

     "You have leadership qualities Charley. We need neighborhood leaders to interact with us and provide stability and order."

     "Y'all mean you are looking for folks to grass to y'all."

     Meadows gave a short laugh at this comment from Charley.

     "Oh yeah and you expect us to take the chip of course."

     "Well yes. That is the way now Charley. You would be required to be an upright citizen and example to the others by taking our smart chip on the hand or on the forehead, if you so wished. You would of course have to acknowledge the guru as the new messiah and your lord and master. It is the new way. It is the new identification system that the government is gradually introducing. Fort Wayne and Silver Creek are to be the two model towns for its implementation. Without it you will not be able to buy, sell or get currency, drive; pay your bills or anything. You will require to have the chip before you can get medical treatment, pay your taxes and other bills or travel anywhere. It will double as a passport and ID card. It will contain all information about you, your medical and banking records and all your financial details, social security number and in fact everything that there is to know about you."

     "Sounds to me like the mark of the beast and I ain't taking no chip."

     "You misunderstand the purpose of the biochip Charley. There is no harm in it. It will bring only good things and will change our world for the better. We know that this commitment to Jesus course that is being held in the town is being done so in defiance of the aims and work of the new regime, and they have been telling you not to take the biochip. They are telling you all sorts of bad stuff about it. It will be one giant leap forward." Meadows continued.

     "Yeah and it will bring everyone under control of the guru and the new regime. He wants folks to worship him and although I ain't much of a Christian Colonel, I will never worship no one but Jesus."

     "You know nothing about the guru." Chipped in Sheppard.

     "I know enough to know I don't like him. In fact I believe he's the anti-Christ foretold in the Holy Scriptures." Continued Charley.

     "Oh now Charley! I did not expect to hear this kind of thing from you. nor did I think you would consent to go on a course of religious instruction."

     "Look! I want out of here. I need to get home so can I go?"

     "Of course. We are only sorry that you won't join us Charley. You know, we could have had your criminal record erased from the chip for you as a special perk."

     "Know something Colonel Meadows? Sometimes when I come home at night my wife tells me about the coming of the great tribulation and of the anti-Christ and his cohorts. I usually say 'yes dear' and switch off. She'll haul me to the church on a Sunday if she can catch me and makes me sit and listen to the whole thing again from the pastor, when I'd rather be away fishing and I don't claim to be all that religious. Then again some of it must have rubbed off because I'd rather go into the hills and hide in the caves and in the thickets before I would take your chip or worship your guru. Can I go?"

     Meadows shrugged his shoulders.

     "Why certainly. You are free to go."

     "Ok bye y'all! Oh and by the way. America don't need no new regime. We've managed nicely since 1776 with the one we already have thank you! In God We trust and God Bless America!" Charley said with a sardonic chuckle.

     Charley got up and went toward the door and then he turned to Meadows.

     "Oh one more thing. Tell your henchmen never to pull me in off the street again or next time I'll break a few skulls."

     Charley went outside and crossed the car park and made toward the exit. Suddenly he heard a noise behind him and turned sharply to find six guys coming toward him swinging riot sticks.

     "Oh here we go again." Muttered Charley.

     They set about Charley with their riot sticks and their fists and their feet. He was doing rather well against them though until another man came out brandishing a hypodermic syringe.

     "Pin him down." He ordered.

     "You doggone cowards!"

     "Shut up!" Ordered the man with the hypodermic.

     "Hold him I said!"

     "You possum face rattlesnake. I'll get each of you for this!" 'Threatened Charley.

     "I don't think so!" The man with the hypodermic syringe said with a sneer.

     With this said the hypodermic syringe was stuck into Charley's arm. He kicked out but before he could do anymore he was thumped over the head with a pistol and he lost consciousness.

     Sometime later he blinked his eyes and tried to shake off the grogginess that overwhelmed him. He didn't know where he was and could not focus his eyes. There was a sound of rushing water all around him and he found that one of his hands was handcuffed up high above him to some kind of metal bar. The little room he was in was circular and its walls seemed to be extremely thick. He pulled at his handcuffed wrist but it would not give in anyway and the noise of the water was getting louder. Blood from a head wound was running down his face into his eyes and he felt sick and dizzy. He drifted in and out of consciousness for some time until he was wakened by the chilling sensation of water seeping through his clothes. He could not imagine where he was and started to look around for something that would give him an idea as to where he might be. He had been in his working clothes, a short-sleeved t-shirt and dungarees when the beast cops had abducted him. There was a sort of door above him to one side but he could not reach it. He shouted a few times but nobody heard him. The urgent sound of fast flowing water started to panic the usually calm Charley and he became more and more aware of the intensity of the sound. The volume of water inside the little circular room increased and then it dawned on Charley just where he was. He was trapped inside the dam in one of the engineering inspection chambers and the water was rising. Charley looked about frantically to see if there was anything that could be of use to him.

     "Hey C'mon Lord! Charley here! This ain't funny. If I'm to work for you then it has got to work both ways." He said trying to shake off the grogginess.

     He reached into his pocket to see if he had any screwdrivers or blades. There was nothing he could do and there was no way he could climb up to where his wrist was handcuffed above him.

     "Lord c'mon you got to get me out of here. I feel weak as a kitten and there's no way out. If you don't get me out of here there's going to be another Saint Charley up there and I'm sure you've enough of them to be going on with right now."

     By this time the water was up to his ankles. Then he remembered.

     His first cell phone had been stolen from his garage right under his nose so he didn't leave the new one lying around now. Sue had made a special holder inside the bib of his dungarees.

     He hoped that the phone was still there and that he hadn't left it in his truck. To Charley's delight he could feel it inside his shirt. He hoped that it had enough power and that he was able to use it ok with one hand, his left hand at that. He was still groggy and would need to be careful. If he dropped the cell phone there was nothing that he could reach it with. He whispered another prayer calling on the Lord to help him. In his half drugged state he could not even remember any phone numbers and he started to panic. Trying to shake off the dizziness he got the cell phone and tried to wedge it between his wrist and his chest. He would need to be careful. His mind was swirling and he felt as if he was going to faint. Numbers were swimming around in his head and he just wanted to sleep.

     "Lord! Come to my help." He managed.

     He could think of phone numbers but could remember the first part but not the next, or he could remember the second part but not the first. He tried to dial 'nine one, one' but thought that there might be a conspiracy against him and that Willard or Dixon might be responsible for overseeing the dispatchers. He frantically tried to think and a number came to him. He dialed it and hoped and prayed.

     A strange but familiar voice answered on the other side of the phone. He knew this voice.

     "Hello St. Jude's Father Ben speaking."

     "Ben! This is Charley. I need help. I am trapped inside one of the dam inspection chambers and I can't get out; the water is rising__." Before he could say anything else he dropped the phone and it fell into the water.

     There was nothing he could do now but sit tight, hope and pray. He was unsure if Ben had heard the message, as the reception was poor.

     He must have fallen asleep again for the next he knew there was a lot of noise and he was being pulled out of the deep water by Mike Douglas and Bobby MacDonald. Mark Chan and Zack Elliott were there and so were Father Ben, Sam and Will Sanders.

     The water had reached to Charley's shoulders and neck by the time they had reached him. Ben had got his message and had immediately called Mike Douglas and Mark Chan and Sam.

     He was taken out of the water and Bobby MacDonald checked him over.

     "Can't you stay out of trouble for a minute?" Said Mike Douglas as he put a blanket around Charley's shivering shoulders.

     Charley could see the concern in Mike's brown eyes and was so grateful to God for them all.

     "Who did this Charley?"

     "Oh two guys called Meadows and Sheppard had me arrested and brought to the chip center by your two heavies Willard and Dixon."

     "I'll have them!" Snarled Mike Douglas.

     "They'll only deny it!"

     "They didn't mean for you to be found." Bobby MacDonald told Charley.

     At this George the power station manager came hurriedly toward them. His deputy had called him at home.

     He took one look at his buddy Charley and sized the whole thing up.

     "God help us Charley! Who did this?"

     "Oh it was some of those new regime guys. They wanted me to join their cause and when I refused they set some of their heavies on me with a hypodermic and I ended up here. Praise the Lord for cell phones." He said with a laugh.

     "You need to go to the hospital and be checked out Charley!" Stated Mike Douglas.

     "I will see to Dixon and Willard and I am going to see the boss about these two guys Meadows and Sheppard."

     "No hospital guys! They may get to hear that I am there and come finish me off properly. They have recruited so many people and we are going to have to watch who we are talking to. Tell you this though. There's nothing going to stop me from going on that course tomorrow night." Declared Charley.

     "We will all go!" Affirmed Sam.

     Sam took Charley back to the ranch and called his own doctor Lyle Lindsay. Lyle was a Christian and a buddy of Sam. Officials of the new regime had also approached Lyle and tried their best to recruit him. He came over right away and checked Charley over. Lyle was sure that Charley had been given an almost fatal dose of barbiturates and took some blood. Charley's symptoms smacked of near barbiturate poisoning according to Lyle.

     "Gee Charley. I think these guys meant to do away with you kid. I want to find out what they gave you so I am going to take some blood. It does seem to me as if you have been given barbiturates. I'll give you something that'll make you feel better. Sam can he stay here tonight as I think he is going to start sleeping again almost anytime?"

     "Yeah that'll be no problem and Carl and Will are away over to stay with Sue and the kids for the night just incase some of the new regime thugs decide to turn up at his house. Mike is also going to have Charley's house put under watch. They won't dare come here but Sanders, the boys and I will be here if they do. My stable foreman George is also staying here tonight and we will all be vigilant. They mean to do us harm."

     Lyle stayed for a while and then went home. He would see Sam and the others the next night and it was arranged that they would all go together to the commitment to Jesus course.

     The next night everyone set off in his or her cars at the pre - arranged time. They were to drive across town, assemble at the car lot at the side of the public park and go together.

     When Sam and his boys and daughter's in law arrived at the car park they were delighted to see many of their friends had indeed turned up. Steve had made it after all and both he and his wife were there. Charley and Sue and Charley's two brothers Nathan and Wade were there and many more. Cynthia was with Lindy Mitchell the wife of Sam's troublesome ranch hand and Lindy had a black eye and bruised face. Sam's heart went out to her and he was so glad that Cynthia Washington had taken her under her wing. They saw old Ron come over to the entrance to the car park.

     "God's blessing on all of you. Go in His name and evangelize!" He said raising his hands in a blessing.

     "Thanks Ron." They all answered.

     Ron was greatly respected and admired by all denominations of Christians in the town. He spotted Sanders and went over to speak to him.

     "Yes the Lord knows that you have suffered and that your were treated badly by the communists but He wants to make use of that suffering and you will be needed very much in this tribulation. You will help many in His name. Ask for healing. The regime that is coming to power will make the communists seem like altar boys. Stop turning your back on the Lord and get busy with His work. There is no time left."

     With this said, Ron turned his back on them all, walked back to his usual perch and got on with preaching.

     Sanders was dumbfounded and wondered how this old guy could have known anything about him.

     Sam introduced his brother Zack to Sanders and Zack in turn introduced his partner Mark Chan to him. Mark was anxious to shake hands with Sanders and speak with him.

     "The war is over now Mr. Sanders but we are all needing to be healed. We have all had terrible sorrow and terrible trauma all of us. It is time that we gave it all over to Jesus and ask for His healing." Sanders looked at this sincere Vietnamese American and in the next minute they were hugging each other.

     Mike Douglas came into the car lot with his wife and young son and in the next moment they were ready to set off. Everyone had commitment to Jesus stickers on their vehicles and one of the vehicles had been rigged up with a special CD player and loudspeaker and would play a melody of Christian music. The driver meant to announce to all that would see along the route, that Jesus Christ was indeed Lord. They would drive past the town hall and take the longer route so as everyone would know that the Christians were hitting back.

     As they were driving along the main street they could see crowds of people lining up to see what was going on. Pastor Steve and Pastor Woods and Father Ben also had loud speakers and confidently witnessed to Jesus Christ. There were a few guru supporters out in force but most people lining the route seemed to be on the side of the Lord that evening. The three pastors were in fine form and their words resounded throughout the warm evening air announcing that Christ Jesus had already won the victory.

     "Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forever!" Shouted Pastor Woods.

     On the way Sam spotted something that made him look back. It looked to Sam as if the US flag had been replaced by the strange ensign of the guru. He got on his cell phone and told this to Charley and Mike and the others. Sam could feel the anger rising within him. He was not about to let them get away with this and Sanders agreed whole-heartedly with him. Pastor Steve was an ex-serviceman also and a patriot and he must have spotted the imposter flag, for in the next minute the music had change and 'God Bless America' was being played.

     When they reached St. Jude's Catholic Church they went into the hall where the course was to be held. Coffee was being served so as to allow everyone to meet and get to know each other as all denominations were represented. Everyone was irate about the flag being removed and from where they were in the church hall they could see the guru's flag fluttering over the town. A US flag had flown there since just after the Civil War when their state had come back into the Union and that was the way everyone liked it.

     Charley, Sam and some of the others got together and started whispering about it. Mike Douglas sensed their mood and went over.

     "I hope you guys are just talking here. I don't like it any more than you do but I would hate to see you getting arrested as they are looking for any excuse to send folks to this new place up at Fairview Point. We think it is going to be used as a detention center for those who oppose the new regime. Stand back guys! We are the remnant church and we can't afford to lose anyone! Go easy!" Advised Mike.

     Charley and the others shuffled about and looked down at their feet and Mike knew that they were not going to take it lying down.

     "Then be careful and don't get caught." With this said Mike walked away.

     Ben came running in.

     "Uh folks we are going to be running a little late. Sister Mary- Josephine's car has broken down at the edge of town and she is going to be a bit late. She said to hold tight and she will get here as quickly as possible. As she is the guest speaker tonight we can't really do much with out her."

     Charley spoke up.

     "Father! Call her back and tell her to sit tight and I will come out and see what is wrong and get her back here. I have all my tools with me as I was working on a neighbor's car before I got here."

     "Oh Charley. My mind must be slipping. I clean forgot that you were an auto-mechanic."

     "So is Sanders here so we will both go get her."

     Charley beckoned to Sam, Sanders, Carl, Brent and George and they all got up and all went off together. They found Mary-Jo easily and Charley and Sanders were able to fix the car between them.

     Carl and Sam meanwhile had gone into the supermarket to buy something and told everyone that they would only be a few minutes. When they returned Mary- Jo's car was ready and waiting and all repaired.

     "Uh Sister. Brent here is going to sit with you just in case there is any more bother and we will be right behind you. Just tell them all to get on with the meeting, as we will need to kind of clean up. We won't be too long. Is that ok?" Charley asked.

     "Of course it is Charley and don't get caught." She told him with a twinkle in her eye.

     Sometime later Mary-Jo and Brent arrived back in the hall and the meeting was able to begin. When Sam and his group didn't return with her and Brent, Mike Douglas and Bobby were a bit edgy. They shuffled their feet and exchanged worrying glances. Then one of the course members looked out of the window and let out a triumphant roar.

     "Hey folks. You ain't going to believe this but there's a huge, brand new looking American flag floating over the town once more."

     There was a shout of approval from everyone there.

     Just at that Sam and the others came in looking as if they had been at an altar boys' outing and took their places among the others as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouths. As they sat down the others applauded and Mike and Bobby breathed sighs of relief

     The night was a success and everyone enjoyed the course. Mary- Jo was an excellent speaker and her witness to the Lord was so touching and powerful that the others there got a lot of strength from it. They went away home determined to come back the following week. The guru was soon to make his broadcast and this group was determined to inform and warn everyone and implore many to switch off and not to listen to his words.

     Cynthia Washington was one of the course leaders as was Sue and Mary-Jo and they were determined to do their bit for the Lord. She wanted to warn everyone including her students about the guru but she would be putting her career in jeopardy if she even mentioned it. She would need to think things out.

     Most of the people on the course set off to go back home together again. They were so charged with the Holy Spirit that they resolved to go back through the town center again and show everyone that they were united and strong.

     On the way through the town they all passed the town hall and were gratified to see that not only was the US flag back but that the words 'God Bless America' and 'Jesus Christ is Lord' had been painted in large letters for all to see. There was a caricature of the guru and underneath were the words 'beast' and 'man of perdition'.

     Many of the passers by that were in the street applauded the Christians' vehicle procession as it made its way through the town. The Christians declared for their savior and had made their mark.

     The next few days Charley and some others including Father Ben went up into the hills with supplies and stashed them in the dens and hideouts that Charley had built some time before when he was on the wrong side of the law. He could never have imagined in those days that he was being trained to work for the Lord.

     Charley was to find out that Lee Mitchell had been doing work for Luke Mason the welder that Charley had asked to fix his green truck. He went to see Luke who told Charley that he had indeed been out of town and had left Lee Mitchell in charge. Charley went to the ranch and got hold of Mitchell who was back clearing out his locker early next morning.

     Mitchell was a coward and he denied that he had been up at Washington's house and also denied that he had signed Charley's name on the wall along with racist graffiti.

     "You better be telling me the truth kid or I'll make mince meat out of you. If I ever catch you near my truck or near my garage I'll play quarter back with your head. You hear me?"

     "Sure Charley. Sure! I wouldn't do that."

     "Hey and don't think we don't know that you're grassing us all off to the beast cops."

     "Not me Charley."

     Charley was about to throw him into the duck pond but Sam came out and stopped him and told Mitchell to hurry up, clear his locker and get off his ranch for good.

     Charley would bide his time. He would get this guy Mitchell for what he had done to Lindy his wife and his own little daughter but that would wait for now.

     Just at that there was another severe rumbling and the sky grew dark and another bizarre sounding wind started to howl.

     Mitchell cowered in terror at this and ran to the bunkhouse with a pint of whiskey that he had stashed in his locker. Sam let him go. George, Carl and the others went outside to look at the sky.

     Sam had just heard on the news that armies had surrounded Jerusalem. He knew that this alone was one of the signs predicted in the Bible about these times.

     The new pope had taken the name of Pious and was making his first broadcast to the world. He was the youngest ever pope, at least in recent times, being only in his mid thirties. He said that he wanted to appeal to all young people and would need their help to make the church into 'their' church. Reform would come he assured everyone and in a big way.

     One of the first things the new pope did was to promote the guru and tell the world how wonderful a person that the guru was. He pledged to work with the guru to end world poverty, hunger and disease and bring peace and harmony to the whole of mankind.

     "Gee he's the false witness from the Book of Revelations just as Old Ron said he would be. Guess we better get used to this kind of thing Charley. These are the times right enough." Sam said. At that there was an overwhelmingly bright flash in the darkened sky. Everyone shielded their eyes and looked away. They were already spooked by the strange rumbling and by the uncanny sound of the wind.

     "Wow! What the heck was that Sam?"

     "I don't know."

     When they looked again there was a huge cross in the sky for all to see. It could not be mistaken. Sam thought that he could see light streaming from certain parts of the huge cross and he knew at that moment that this was not from the guru it was the sign of the Lord. He was just letting everyone know that He indeed was the 'Lord of creation' thought Sam.

     Carl pointed to an overwhelmingly beautiful meteorite shower. They would have missed it in the daylight.

     The whole thing lasted for a few minutes and then the sun's light returned to normal. Sam and the others knew that these things were unprecedented and were outside of the realms of known science. They would be explained as being due to global warming, unusual seismic activity, solar flares and quirks of the weather. Sam knew different. Words from Holy Scriptures kept resounding in his mind.