Chapter 10

     "Morning! Sleep well boys?" He asked.

     "We sure did."

     "I slept like a bear in hibernation." Stated Charley stretching his arms.

     "How is Carl?" Ziek asked.

     "I am fine Sir thanks to you." Carl replied.

     "Sit down and help yourselves to coffee and breakfast will soon be ready."

     The radio was blaring away and some beautiful sacred music was being played.

     "This is radio remnant. It is the only thing that is safe to listen to. Try not to listen to any of the beast regime's propaganda and do not listen to the anti-Christ's voice, as it is demonic. Don't have any beast material around you and seek out the remnant refuges that have been prepared for you. Above all pray, hope and don't worry. These are the words of a wonderful saint of God, 'St. Padre Pio'. Remember it and pray together as well as on your own. Above all do not look on the beast or its image. Trust no one with the mark even if they be family members and relatives."

     Old Ziek then served breakfast to the boys and sat back reading his Bible as they ate.

     Later when the washing up was all done the boys went back into the living room where the old man was still praying. He looked up and smiled. Charley felt a pang of remorse for his former ways and looked down. Old Ziek seemed to know what he was thinking and caught him by the arm.

     "The Lord Jesus has forgiven you Charley and so have I." Ziek stood up at this.

     "Charley do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?"

     "Yes." He answered.

     "Do you repent of your sins and hope in the Lord? Do you renounce Satan and all his works and all his evil spirits?" He suddenly asked him.

     "Yes." Charley answered wondering what was coming next.

     Ziek then turned to Carl and asked him the same questions. Carl hesitated at first and then to Sam's astonishment he replied.

     "Yes."

     "Then come to the creek with me now and receive baptism. I am a lay preacher and I have the authority to baptize."

     Both guys stared at Ziek wide eyed.

     "How did you know that we weren't baptized already?" Carl asked.

     "Do you want to do this? Time is short!" Demanded Old Ziek ignoring Carl's question.

     "Yeah I do." Answered Charley.

     "Me to." Replied Carl almost in a whisper.

     "Then your must repent of your sins and ask the Lord Jesus into your lives."

     Ziek led them both outside to the creek and led both in till they were almost waist deep. He started praying in a loud voice. He beckoned to Sam to come help him. Sam readily did this. Ziek asked both men to open their hearts and receive the Lord. Both did this whole-heartedly.

     Ziek turned to Charley.

     "Charley! Do you accept the Lord Jesus now and forever?"

     "I do!" Answered Charley.

     "Do you reject Satan and all his evil spirits and all his works and empty promises?"

     "I do."

     "Then by the authority invested in me I baptize you Charley."

     At this he along with Sam pushed Charley back and under the water.

     "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit! I claim you for the Lord Jesus Christ and for the Father and welcome you into His Kingdom of light, love peace and order." Charley was pulled back out. Ziek put his hand of Charley's head.

     "Receive you the Holy Spirit!"

     Old Ziek took a small bottle of special oil from his pocket and marked Charley's forehead with the sign of the cross.

     "Be you sealed with the Holy Spirit!"

     Charley was filled with the Holy Spirit and was shouting his praises to the Lord and was laughing and crying at the same time. His eyes shone and he was radiant and totally overflowing with joy.

     Ziek then led Charley out of the water and in that beautiful mountain stream he joyfully repeated the same process with Carl.

     After this the two guys had strange exhilarated looks on their faces. Sam Elliott stared in disbelief. He had never seen his two buddies like this. They prayed and praised out aloud as if it was second nature to them. Both were indeed children of the Lord now and were in wonderful blessed states of ecstasy. They looked radiant in the early morning light and the water seemed to sparkle and shine all around them. The drops of water in their hair sparkled like drops of silver. The birds were singing and the crickets were chirping so loudly that one would have thought they were aware of the baptisms that had just taken place. Just then the metallic sound of the locusts call rang out louder than those there had every heard it. The whole of God's wonderful creation seemed to be joining in the joy.

     "That is the locusts giving glory to God." Ziek told them.

     The guys all hugged each other in turn and tears of joy coursed down Charley's cheeks. He held on to Mr. Stevens his broad shoulders heaving with wonderful emotion. Old Ziek ruffled his dark hair and hugged him some more. He did the same with Carl and then led them inside to dry off.

     Sam and Will stared in disbelief at their buddies. The change in them was almost instantaneous.

     After they dried off, Mr. Stevens didn't waste any time. He went away to an old chest and came back with two bibles.

     "Carl. I want you to take this Bible and Charley I have this one for you also."

     "But we can't take your bibles." Carl started to say.

     "Boys there are more bibles in this house than you know. I want you to take them and make use of them. Start with the Gospel of St. John and then the other three gospels. Then start on the Acts." He went on.

     Now I've filled your van up with gas. I have also packed some ood and other things you will need. There is one more thing I want you to do though."

     "Just name it." Sam said.

     "I want you to go back to Fort Wayne and rescue some of the Lord's people. They are in dire need at this time."

     "Fort Wayne?" Retorted Charley and Carl together.

     "Yes. The Lord needs your help and you really have to go back."

     "Where to in Fort Wayne?"

     "Just park at the front of Main Street across from where Old Ron usually stands. It will then become obvious to you who you are to rescue."

     "Oh we are friends of Old Ron and would love to help him." Sam told Ziek.

     Ziek said no more either to confirm or deny that it was Old Ron that they were to help.

     "You got it." Charley said.

     "Try to avoid the main highways and stick to Charley's old moonshine routes."

     Charley was gob smacked at this.

     "How did you know about the routes?"

     Ziek just smiled and said no more.

     "From there you will be led and shown what to do. Have no fear but go now in His name." He hugged each of the guys in turn.

     "Oh there are three others after Fort Wayne that will need your help. You will recognize the Lord's people, as they will have the mark of the Lord's Cohorts on them."

     Sam had heard Old Ron talking about this and thought deeply.

     "You have the gift of prophecy? Haven't you?" Sam asked him.

     "We all have gifts brother and they will become evident as the tribulation progresses."

     He took them outside and helped to carry some of their things and gave them a few bags of stuff.

     "There are things there that you will need now go in His name and pray for me boys."

     Again he hugged each of the four in turn and they got quickly into their vehicle too overcome by emotion to say a proper good bye. Charley would drive. They waved and watched the old man until they turned a bend and he was out of sight. They left the old man with their hearts heavy and each prayed silently for help and guidance and thanked the Lord for Ziek. They traveled on in silence for sometime.

     They continued for a long time passing through smaller towns and hamlets on the outskirts of Fort Wayne. They were traveling through the mixed crop area of Fort Wayne when they suddenly became aware

     of something different about the fields. They stared for a moment wondering what it was.

     "Locusts!" Carl said.

     "Millions of them."

     "Look!" Shouted Will pointing.

     A thick black cloud of locusts descended on a fruit orchard and very soon they had stripped all the green foliage and even the bark of the trees. The guys watched in horror as all the green was destroyed by the minute.

     "Let's get out of here guys." This was Sam.

     When they started to near the town they could see evidence of beast worship. Charley drove on without stopping and soon they were crossing the bridge that led into the town center.

     "Be prepared for the unexpected. The anti-spirit is at work and we need to put on all the armor of our God." Sam warned.

     "Avoid looking up at these beast posters and pictures and don't read any of his writings as the whole lot are demon ridden."

     They continued through the town and could not believe how much the place had changed almost overnight.

     At the beginning of Main Street they were horrified to see the burned out shells of the Zion Baptist Church and the Catholic Church. Further down the street they saw the smoldering remains of the Salvation Army Citadel and the Jewish Synagogue. As they traveled on they also saw the remains of both the Methodist and Episcopal churches.

     The boys stared in silent horror. Across the street they could see the crowds queuing up at the chip implementation building near the park and there was old Ron berating the crowd and proclaiming the word of God. Charley pulled over and parked.

     "Gee Sam. This isn't a good place to be. We are illegally parked and we are outside the cop precinct. Gee it would just be our luck if someone like Joe Willard came and booked us and hustled us away also."

     They saw a black car pull up near Ron and knew that it had plain- clothes beast cops in it. Charley wondered if they should just start up, pull over and snatch old Ron in front of them and take him to safety. Sam stayed his action.

     "Let's ask the Lord to enlighten us."

     A few minutes later they were alerted by someone coming towards them from the direction of the side door of the police station. Sam looked around and started shouting.

     "Guys its Mike and Bobby." He threw the van door open. Mike spoke.

     "We need help Sam."

     "That's why we are here. Get in."

     Mike turned to someone who was standing in the shadows.

     "Please come to safety Bro."

     Without another word Gene Washington came out of the shaded area where was standing in. Charley Jackson spied him and his eyes widened.

     "Oh Lord! You've got to be kidding? Not Washington?" He prayed in protest.

     "What are y'all trying to do to Old Charley here Lord?" He added. Washington spied Charley and stopped in his tracks.

     "Jackson?"

     "It's ok Gene get in!" Sam urged.

     "You are safe!"

     Without saying another word Washington got in and sat down. Charley started the van up. For a minute they all stopped and started at the scene that was unfolding across the street. Old Ron was being led away by two men from the black car. He was still proclaiming the Lord aloud and admonishing the mocking crowd that was enjoying his predicament. Sam noticed that Old Ron seemed to glance over at them momentarily and then a smile spread over his face. He instantaneously went back to proclaiming the word of the Lord loudly as they led him away.

     "Can't we go help him?" Charley asked.

     "There's nothing we can do Charley. Drive on. Ron's arrest is detracting from us! They have an 'all points' out for you guys!" Mike Douglas informed him.

     Charley said no more but accelerated up Main Street and off onto the interstate.