Читать книгу The Curtain - David T. Maddox - Страница 10

CHAPTER 2

CONFLICTING AGENDAS

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other…”

—Galatians 5:17

Thursday, January 31 – MD Minus 115 days

THE CURTAIN HAD not been fully opened for Paul Phillips as he slept. He had seen much in his dream which had not been apparent when he attended the funeral. Much of the forces of darkness present at the funeral had been revealed in the dream, but he had drawn a wrong conclusion. He cried out in fear at what he saw because to him, it appeared that he was in great danger when in fact he was being delivered and shielded from the influence of his Keeper, who had influenced his thoughts and controlled how he saw things for many years. Reality is rarely as it seems.

Had Paul been able to see the complete scene of which he was apart, he would have witnessed the forces of light also present, but in reduced numbers, for there were few servants of the light present that day at Taylor Jones’s funeral. As he viewed the crowd looking back from the coffin, he would have seen some who radiated light from within as if they were inhabited by light⁴ – a fact which he would not have understood, even as he did not understand the dark beings he could see. Those few, although in the presence of all the mass of Keepers, had no huge yellow hands resting on their heads or long fingers piercing their skulls with direction from the Dark Master. They received their direction from the light inside, from the Holy Spirit⁵, who obtains the messages it transmits directly from the Father, another name for God whom the forces of darkness call the “Enemy.” What had actually occurred was that a Keeper’s great hands and long fingers were removed from Paul’s skull by Simeon, a Guardian with the forces of light. It was Simeon’s strong arms that forced the Keeper away. Paul’s momentary and partial view behind the Curtain revealed the conflict between Simeon and the Keeper as the Keeper’s hands were forcibly removed from Paul’s head. Paul also didn’t realize that something like scales had fallen from his eyes and that his ears were now opened because the Keeper’s hands no longer covered them. He could now see, hear and seek to understand, rather than simply accept the Dark Master’s steady diet of deception. The Father had chosen him to be a searcher and had placed within him a passion for understanding what he had seen and experienced, and that made him a very dangerous human being to the forces of darkness – and search he did.

Argon had not missed the events following the funeral. The Keeper assigned to Paul had blazed across the sky to report Simeon’s actions. Some of the messages which had been sent were intended to deal with this new threat directly. The Dark Master had made it clear that a searcher was not to be feared unless the search could not be directed to those living under their influence. The most logical possibilities had been sent detailed messages on the “truth” the Dark Master wanted Paul to find. Since Paul’s chest did not reveal the light inside, there was still great hope that he would continue to be a useful instrument for advancing the Dark Master’s agenda for Williams and ultimately, for America. The coming days would determine much.

Argon had been promoted to head the Dark Master’s forces in Williams for a reason. He had studied the human creatures since the rebellion and knew what to expect from one without the light inside. Paul’s first inquiry would be to his girlfriend, Samantha. She had been prepared by her Keeper. Paul was unknowingly walking into a trap – the first of what Argon hoped would be many leading him back to the camp from which he had been momentarily freed. His Keeper stayed close, waiting for the opportunity to again seize the place of influence, but for now, Simeon, his Guardian barred the way. Unknowingly Paul had been freed at the funeral, but freed for what?

The plan for the conversation with Samantha was simple and followed what the Dark Master had worked from the start in that garden of the Enemy’s long ago. It was easy then to cause the first two human creatures to respond to emotion. They reacted to their perceived needs, and in reality, planted desires. It was all a lie, but that didn’t matter because their feelings told them it was true, and when feelings rule, anything is possible. Without much effort, the Dark Master had turned that first woman called Eve to believe that the Enemy had lied to her and that she needed knowledge to be free of dependence on the Enemy. In those moments, she actually came to believe that she could replace the Enemy and become like Him. The man, Adam, stood there in silence doing nothing because of his feelings for the woman and ultimately joined her in her rebellion.⁶ He didn’t want to offend her. Peace with the woman was more important to him than the fact he was offending the Enemy.

The human creatures had not changed over the centuries. If anything, it had gotten easier. Samantha would be offended, hurt and ultimately lash out at her boyfriend. The target would feel guilt and desire to change to please the object of his affections and lust. The search would end quickly with influence reestablished. At least, that was the plan, and most of the time the plan worked.

Samantha was hurting. She was possessed by feelings of guilt and anger. Anger at her now-dead father who had not been there for her and guilt for the anger she felt. She felt a desperate need to be held and reassured by Paul for he, unlike her dad, had always been there for her since they began dating at the end of the fall semester of their sophomore year. Their friendship, which had blossomed into much more over the years, was her anchor.

What she saw was not what she expected. Paul was obviously agitated, troubled and tired. Was it reality or was it just a dream – a nightmare? He didn’t know. It seemed real. He knew what he had seen and was afraid to close his eyes. He didn’t want to see the dark creatures again. He was afraid they were coming for him. Samantha saw it even in the midst of all she was feeling. “Paul, what’s wrong? You look terrible,” was all she knew to say. Her great need within was being replaced by a desire to meet Paul’s.

He trembled and reached out for her. Samantha held him close and waited for him to speak. She wanted to reassure him but had no way of knowing how because she didn’t know what was wrong. She had never seen him this way. It was disarming for she truly cared for him.

In a few moments, the trembling ceased and Paul spoke in an almost hushed voice, timidly, “Samantha, did you see anything unusual at your Dad’s funeral? Did you see something standing behind the people or near me?”

“Like what, Paul? Did I see what?” Samantha responded.

It was as if a dam broke as the dream poured out of Paul. He trembled again as he described the great yellow hands with the large fingers reaching out for him to surround his head and pierce his skull. His description and obvious fear convinced Samantha that he had seen something.

Argon was alarmed. How could this human creature have seen the Keepers? They are spirit, nothing about them is physical. They should be invisible to this human. He thought he knew what was going to happen, at least, he knew the plan, but something was wrong. Already Samantha’s reactions were not as had been inspired. Then he saw it, another Guardian from the forces of light had been pushing a Keeper’s hands away from Samantha’s head. Influence had been lost, at least temporarily. Why did the Enemy care about these two? They were totally unchurched and had never expressed any interest in religion except to criticize those who claimed to be religious.

“Did you see anything around me?” she asked, now concerned about herself.

“I was not looking at you when I saw the dark things,” Paul responded. “I don’t know if they were after you. It all happened so fast. I was so frightened that I awoke screaming almost as quickly as I saw them.”

“Look, I have no clue what you saw or what the dream means, but if it were me, I would try to dismiss the whole thing as a bad dream and just forget it. It can’t be true.”

“But it isn’t that simple,” Paul explained. “It was real. I know it was real.”

“If that is what you really believe then you better find someone who can help you work through this and find some answers.”

“Who can I ask that won’t think I am nuts?”

“Perhaps Professor Thompson could help. He seems to be someone who would listen and who knows history well enough to give some perspective to this. If it is real, you can’t be the first. If it isn’t, then maybe he can put your mind at rest. Listen, Paul, I need you. You have to get beyond this.”

Argon smiled in agreement. “Professor Thompson has been very helpful over the years, and he has already been well prepared for this conversation. I wonder if Chaplain Forest will be next,” Argon said to the seemingly ever-present Zaccur. “Watch this. The answers Professor Thompson will give won’t be enough to end the search, but they will put doubt in the human’s mind. Forest is nothing. He won’t have answers either, and even if he did, he would be afraid to say. Forest is a people pleaser – no danger to the Dark Master’s agenda. We don’t even need the inspiration of a Keeper. He is of little use to either side,” he said.

Argon was still surprised by the action of the Enemy. Why had this human creature’s spiritual eyes been partially opened in a dream? What possible purpose could the Enemy have for these two? The Dark Master must be advised immediately. They cannot be allowed to obstruct his greater plan. He would suggest that perhaps they should inspire the shooter to remove these two. He quickly wrote another note, which he entrusted to Zaccur, who immediately sped away to carry the message.

Paul hugged Samantha one more time and then left for the campus to find Professor Thompson.

Others at Work

There were meetings all across the city that afternoon and evening with very different agendas and varying participants. At 1632 Washington Avenue, Officer Sally Johnson had completed her work on the marker board summarizing the investigators’ answer to her “WHAT NEXT” question. There were five entries which would guide the five task forces in leading the effort to stop the shooter and restore some level of peace and confidence to the city. They were:

1 Change the public perception of safety

2 Public involvement – real and perceived

3 Expand the investigation – draw on other law enforcement resources

4 Rapid response to future attacks

5 Damage control – contain the problem

It was a good list – a challenging agenda, thought Detective Samson. He liked that it attacked the entire problem, not simply focusing on catching the shooter. This problem had gone well beyond a single criminal spree and must be addressed as such. The order of priority was realistic. The most significant problem was public panic and fear, but they had to keep in mind the potential for expansion as others sought to join in, copy or use the opportunity to advance another even more violent agenda. And they still had to do whatever it takes to catch this killer.

In dividing up the responsibilities, Samson assigned himself number 3, the actual investigation. This was where he belonged by experience and where he wanted to work. He assigned Sally Johnson to number 1, change the public perception because she had a take charge personality that engendered confidence and was good before people. The other responsibilities were divided among Troy Dallas, Greg Petersen and Todd Wilson, the remaining team members.

Dallas was assigned number 2, public involvement, and was directed to organize an effort to use the public to both help with the investigation and prevent future attacks. The goal was to shift the public’s focus from fear of the shooter to working together to catch the shooter. Petersen, a former Army ranger, was assigned number 4, the rapid response team, and was directed to organize swat teams to respond immediately 24/7 with all possible force to any additional attacks. If they could kill the shooter, it would send a message to the public and to those who might be considering a similar reign of terror. Samson had no interest in catching the shooter and having to have to deal for years with lawyers, courts and the press who would victimize and excuse the shooter’s conduct. He had seen enough of that over the years. This time, he wanted a graphic example of immediate justice – an eye for an eye. They needed a body.

Wilson, the old man, was assigned number 5, containment, and was directed to utilize all available sources of intelligence, informants, wiretaps, warrantless searches, profiling, preventive arrests, detention, liberal interrogation techniques, etc. to address potential future threats. The last thing the public would tolerate was more violence. If individual rights had to suffer for a time, that was a small price to pay to prevent future violence and protect the public. They would buy into it. To live with a sense of safety was more important than to be free.

The five agreed to put together their own teams, to flesh out what would be required for each functional area and to gather again tomorrow afternoon to share their plans. They were encouraged. Although they had been working furiously for months now, the political intervention of the mayor and governor provided the backdrop on which to base a total “whatever it takes” effort. The gloves were off. This had to end, and they had just been given the freedom to bring it to an end whatever the cost.

Keeping this investigation under his control was important to the future of the Dark Master’s plans, so Argon took the time to unknowingly join the five. Already present were four Keepers and numerous Tempters on assignment. The Tempters were another of the dark wisps who were able to attach themselves to the human creatures by their invitation. As silly as it seemed, Argon thought, the human creatures’ fleshly desires and wants provided the opportunity to influence them in ways that could ultimately lead to their destruction.⁷ For those under the influence of a Keeper, there was no limitation on what could be done once temptation was accepted, and Tempters were not limited to those under the influence of a Keeper. When a temptation was accepted by a servant of the Enemy, at a minimum the Tempter would be able to limit their usefulness and cause them to have difficulty hearing the voice inside.⁸

Tempters went by the names of their temptations, and there were multiple millions of them with the same name, for the Dark Master simultaneously attacked multiple targets in different geographic locations with the same temptations at the same time. Names such as Doubt, Fear, Lust, Impurity, Liar, Hatred, Anger, Discord, Envy, Jealously, Pride, Riches, Pleasures, Worry, Tolerance, Activity, Ease, Excess and Gluttony to name a few.⁹ They were an interesting, diverse and sometimes inconsistent group, but useful to advance the Dark Master’s agenda of chaos, deception and death.

The Tempters were seemingly a great advantage to the forces of darkness. Even a Guardian was prohibited from obstructing the work of a Tempter once the temptation had been accepted. Unless a target actively opposed the temptation or admitted they had succumbed and cried out for help, the Guardian could only watch and await a changed heart.¹⁰ What was really frustrating to the Guardian was the knowledge that the Tempter’s purpose was to attach himself to the target and create an insatiable appetite for the particular fleshly desire. Worse yet, a victory over a Tempter was often short-lived. Tempters were free to return with their temptations at what they viewed to be a more opportune time, and they could, and did, target the most holy and pure of all the Enemy’s servants. No one was immune from attack. The Dark Master had himself tempted Jesus continually.¹¹

“The really wonderful thing about temptation as an offensive weapon,” Argon said to Zaccur, who had just returned, “is that the Enemy really is holy and just and must respond to one who accepts temptation in a way that is consistent with who He is. When the Son, Jesus, became one of the human creatures, He revealed that the Enemy considers even accepting thoughts of committing an action the same as having fully succumbed to the temptation and committed the act. Jesus said lust equals adultery and anger equals murder.¹² Can you believe that? He made it almost too easy. Throw in a little “righteous” confusion and these human creatures ignore what Jesus said and convince themselves that the act is all that matters. When that happens, they can be led into almost any thought as long as you stop short of trying to make them do it. They think they are perfectly fine, but the Enemy sees their thoughts as evil and thus their usefulness to advance His purposes is limited. Those without the light inside are easily drawn into acts following temptation. We actually rule the world through temptation. It’s fun – a game which these fools are too stupid to see.”

“And you, as the ruler of a city, can order Tempters to attack humans so they can be used for our purposes?” Zaccur asked enviously, wanting to have this authority himself someday.

“Absolutely,” Argon responded, again his pride causing him to ignore any possible future threat by Zaccur. “Look at this crowd trying to find the shooter. See the one that Lust has? Lust has been all over this human for years. He is so into pornography that it is beyond addiction. He can’t look at a woman – any woman – including Sally Johnson without a sexually explicit fantasy going off in his mind. Think about what interesting possibilities that offers,” he said smiling.

“Yes, but don’t you see that she is not alone and she has the light inside,” Zaccur observed. “Can that be overcome?”

“We will see what the strength of her faith is,¹³” Argon responded. “She must be the focus of the fight to control this group. She is a bad influence and will be a bad example. Perhaps we can motivate a rape. After all, she is only a woman.”

Zaccur was right again to consider her a threat. The forces of light were not entirely unrepresented that afternoon. A Guardian was present, standing over Sally Johnson as she received her direction from the light within. Sally was also blessed to be under the influence of several Providers, members of the forces of light, who under the direction of the Holy Spirit both negate the Tempters and enable the servants of the light to accomplish His purposes by providing them with specific abilities. Like the Tempters, they took their names from what they were intended to accomplish in and through those to whom they had been given. Their names included Faith, Boldness, Wisdom, Discernment, Truth, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control, Purity, Contentment, Perseverance, Humility, Servant and Love.¹⁴

The specific lineup at 1632 Washington Avenue that afternoon included several Tempters, named Doubt, Fear, Anger, Envy, Jealously, Lust and Pride, who had four targets to work with. But, also present were Providers for Sally Johnson named Wisdom, Peace, Faithfulness, Humility and Love. The Tempters tried to attach themselves to Sally Johnson but failed. Her faith was strong. Like Jesus had, she rejected their advances. The battle was on.

“Johnson is the concern,” Argon continued, “but fortunately she is only one and she is a woman. She is not in charge of the investigation. Even so, the Dark Master must know” so Zaccur was off again to carry the news.

Public events would be required to accomplish the investigators’ agenda, and thus, the teams headed by Sally Johnson and Troy Dallas would need to work together to some extent. It was agreed, as a goal, to set a press conference for next Tuesday to announce the new efforts, and a community forum for next Friday to initiate public involvement, hoping to begin to change public perception. Much would be out of their control between now and then, but they had to move forward and they couldn’t announce what wasn’t yet decided. Tomorrow’s meeting would be important – more important than they knew. They left to gather their new teams and to flesh out the details of their areas of responsibility.

The Greater Threat

In an old rent house off of Bell and 17^th, a group of eleven committed and trained Jihadists prepared for action. They were part of a much larger effort intending to bring America to its knees, but their charge was not to cripple the economy or kill millions. That assignment had been given to others. Their job was to create terror by removing any remaining sense of peace and safety, while targeting those among the infidels who were declared enemies of the faith, the Christians and Jews, and others whose death would so traumatize the masses that they would be paralyzed with fear for the safety of those they loved – and would demand their government bow to the requirements of the Jihad. It would be a glorious victory over America – the Great Satan.

The house was rented by three college students who had been sent to enter the United States legally on student visas. This was all part of a new strategy intended to make discovery more difficult and to protect the greater plan if a portion failed or an individual was captured. The three students’ sole contribution to the effort was to provide a safe place for ten of the eleven warriors to sleep, plan and prepare their attacks. The three would never be told anything about the plans. They were not allowed to attend any of the planning meetings or to discuss operations with any of the eleven. They had been directed to attend classes, work hard, do well in school and stay out of trouble. They were to keep their Jihadists views to themselves. They were to socialize and seek to make non-Arab friends. They were to be Americans in dress, language and custom. The goal was to present themselves as secular Muslims to break the American stereotype of young Arab males being dangerous religious fanatics. They would be forgiven for what they did against the purity of the faith for it was only done to facilitate killing infidels.

Of the eleven, one had remained in the country after finishing graduate school and now was teaching history in a local junior high. The ten had come into the country through America’s soft underbelly – the Mexican border. They were in Williams illegally but possessed ample identification, including multiple social security cards, drivers’ licenses, passports, credit cards, and lots of cash. With multiple identities, they had the security of movement and protection from a mistake using any particular ID. The credit card accounts were addressed to post office boxes in multiple cities other than Williams, but the bills were picked up online and paid by bank transfers.

There were many such groups that had been sent in over the past two years as part of the greater plan. The goal was that no state containing a major city would be without such groups, each operating independently, yet simultaneously. Williams had been chosen as the place to test the operational concept and work through the bugs before it went national. For now, the others must wait.

Of the eleven, only Abdul Farsi understood the outline of the greater plan, but few of the operational details. Those were known only to an elite council, meeting at that very moment far beneath the earth in a safe room constructed in a cave on the Pakistani/Afghan border. After the death of Osama bin Laden, the leadership had returned to the safety of the caves where the drones could not see or go. What Farsi knew was that cells were being established in college towns throughout the United States. Mosques were being constructed near all major college campuses by friendly Arab governments. Teachers were being sent to either convert young infidels or change opinions. Eyes were always to remain open, searching for recruitment possibilities.

The other major effort Farsi knew of was in American prisons. This was the place to find angry, experienced men and women of violence who could be used almost immediately. Teaching hate and revenge would not be a problem, and it could be done under the flag of religion. Chaplains were recruited and trained to advance the cause of the faith and the agenda of the Jihad.

The outline of the greater plan, as Farsi understood, was to establish two kinds of operational units in the United States. Others would target Americans and American interests outside. The first was a tactical terror unit, which was what Farsi headed in Williams. The second was an economic destruction unit which would use the selected domestically available weapon of choice to inflict significant damage on the economic infrastructure of America. Again, not a single attack, but a coordinated campaign. It would take patience, persistence, and much blood to bring America to its knees – but it could be done, and quickly.

Farsi liked teaching school because it gave him a priority work permit, allowing him to remain in the United States and eventually become a citizen. He could travel in and out of the country without suspicion, as long as he chose his destinations carefully and used other ID for travels to meet with the Jihad leadership in countries that would raise concerns. It was really not that difficult. He would fly from the US to either an adjoining country or to a Western European nation and from there, use false ID to travel to his real destination. He would return the same way leaving no record of suspicious activity.

Much thought had been put into this new approach, and he had been privileged to be part of developing the initial concept. He had been in that cave as part of the meeting when the domestically available weapon of choice had been selected. It had been his recommendation. Having been educated in America and having lived among the infidels for all these years, he understood their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. He knew what would work and what was readily available.

As the teams prepared to meet separately, Farsi left on a walk to pass by the selected sites for the initial attacks to gather additional operational details and to think through escape scenarios. He drew no attention, appearing to be a graduate student walking between classes on campus. The team leaders had already been briefed, and his presence was no longer necessary for the moment. His physical contact with the group would be minimal. He had become a most valuable asset to the Jihad and must be protected in the event of discovery or failure. He would not be involved in the actual field operations and lived elsewhere in the city.

The leader of the first team was Kalb Sawori. His team met downstairs. Sawori understood from Farsi that his team’s mission was to begin a concentrated effort to attack the enemies of the faith by striking selected churches and synagogues, killing some of the infidels indiscriminately while striking terror in the hearts of others who worshiped this enemy of the faith. They needed to be shown that their god could not protect them. For now, the cover would be to kill people of color if they had the opportunity. This, they hoped, would create confusion and misdirect the investigation into who was responsible for the killings. In the Williams’ test, they would not publicly take responsibility for their acts. Ensuring proper tactics and learning how people and the authorities would respond was what leadership was seeking to confirm before releasing a much larger national effort. When the effort went national, they would go public and claim responsibility.

The leader of the second team meeting upstairs was Allahabad Doeg, a hardened veteran of the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. He knew how to kill Americans from experience and hated all Americans of any age with an unholy passion. His view of how to deal with Americans was how the ‘Jewish God’ told their first king to deal with the Amalekites who had opposed them on their exodus from Egypt. The whole exodus thing was just fiction in his eyes, but the instruction was what he liked. The command was to go and attack and completely destroy everything they had – to kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.¹⁵ Doeg joyfully accepted his current assignment to kill children and infants. That would send a message that these infidels needed to hear – convert or die. Surrender to the Jihad or be destroyed by its power. Nothing would be able to stop them. America must pay for its interference in the homeland and its opposition to the faith.

Had the Curtain been parted for even a moment, darkness would have been revealed so complete that it would have appeared impenetrable. Present for the meetings were Keepers and Tempters galore including those named Liar, Anger, Hatred, Jealously and Pride. Also present was the one called Death, a direct report to the Dark Master. He was here because of the importance of Jihad to the overall plan that the human creatures perish. Success would require much blood, but it also required a one world government and religion. Both were in play through the Jihad.

There were no Guardians and no Providers present, for none in attendance at the meetings sought guidance from a light within. There was no light in any of them. That did not mean, however, that the forces of light were unrepresented. Present, but uninvited was Barnabas, the leader of the forces of light in Williams. He was parallel in authority to Argon with whom he was well acquainted, having opposed him all the years there had been a Williams.

Also present was the light itself, for God the Holy Spirit is present everywhere. ¹⁶ The agenda of the light at that moment focused on those who were planning to kill. There was no anxiety in Heaven over the intentions of the eleven for they could not proceed unless the Father allowed¹⁷ and the future had not yet been revealed. The concern was that those under the influence and temptation of the darkness needed an opportunity to understand the evil they were seeking to do and be drawn to make another choice. None of those made in the image of God were unimportant to Him, including those now meeting and planning death and destruction.¹⁸ Even the most evil, like Saul, who became Paul, ¹⁹or David, who murdered Uriah in seeking to cover up his adultery,²⁰ could be changed if they were willing. It was here that the invisible battle was also being fought, and there was already some success as doubts began to arise in the hearts of some of those chosen to kill children.