The Mark

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

That stuff is way over my head. I just trust that Blackmore will let us know what we have to know and leave the rest in God's hands. Ultimately, I'm called to love you and provide for you and the kids. That takes up most of my time."

"That and golf." She smiled. "Golf inspires me to love you more."

Robin opened her door and got out of the car. As Thomas un buckled his seat belt, she ducked back in and looked at him. "That one was pretty lame."

"I tried." He got out of the car and the two of them walked toward the café. "I'm not a pastor. I don't really understand a lot of the Bible. I get the basics, but I guess I just don't really read it that much to know it better. I wish I had more time to read."

Thomas felt Robin reach for his hand. She patted it and said, "That's okay, Thomas. You have so much on your plate. You do the best you can."

They entered the restaurant and settled in to a booth by the win dow. Thomas pushed aside his feelings of inadequacy. He really was a good husband and father, and that was enough.

Now, what looks good for lunch...

Charlie West sat across the kitchen table from Dave Conover and Henry Greer. In front of each of them was Charlie's summary report on the life and times of Alexander Magorum. Charlie had diligently worked for a few months on this dossier and was anxious to share his findings. He hoped they would come to the same conclusions as he.

"To date, he is closely aligned with China and Germany." Charlie worked his way through his notes with the other men scribbling in the margins of their own copies. "There are rumors that Magorum is working on a larger alliance that would include the EU, as well as simplifying the monetary system through Europe to Asia. Photos and articles were easy to come by-not a day has gone by where he hasn't been quoted or mentioned in the news."

Charlie slid a file of newspaper clippings and Internet articles across the table. Dave reached for the folder, opened the cover and started flipping through the clips as Charlie continued. He was pretty sure that his thoroughness was impressive to say the least.

"Of course his most visible and recent accomplishment was secur ing the Temple Mount for Israel to rebuild the temple on. Details from the negotiation process were sketchy and vague at best. But as we all well know, the temple is up and running, all thanks to Magorum."

Charlie watched as Dave pulled out a few pictures of the new tem ple and handed them to Henry. He knew that Dave had often talked of traveling to Israel.

"Any plans on seeing it firsthand?"

Dave shook his head. "Don't I wish. I just can't pull myself away from the compound. We are in the basic supply phase, but I worry a bit that we didn't allot enough storage space." "

"You can always store supplies in the garage, Dave," said Charlie. "I just don't want to give any indication that there is a community beneath the ground. If we eventually have to use the garage, boxes of food and toilet paper will be suspicious." Dave sighed and reached for his drink. "Enough about this-back to the matter at hand. What about Magorum's childhood? What did you find?"

"I couldn't find out much about it, but here goes. He was born in Russia to middle-class parents, Fedyenka and Galina Magorum." Charlie slid his finger down the page as he listed the facts. "They passed away sometime in his youth and Alexander was sent to a boarding school with the money left for him. There were no aunts or uncles, no siblings and not even an observant neighbor who could give insight into his childhood years. He entered boarding school at age thirteen. His grades were on record and he was an above-average student. But again, there were no roommates... no teachers... and

no coaches to testify to his time in boarding school." Henry scratched his head. "It's all too strange that such a high profile politician has such an empty history page."

Charlie knew that Henry was wondering the same things he had, and he nodded in agreement. "Then, he emerged onto the political scene at twenty-five, when he was hired to work as a research assis tant to Yuri Babkov, a Russian ambassador to Germany. From there he worked his way through the ambassador system, spending a ma jority of his time in Arab nations. Go figure. By the time he was forty seven, Magorum was the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and set his sights on the presidential election three years later. One exhausting campaign, and his three P's platform-Peace, Pros perity, and Principles," he counted them on his fingers, "earned him the presidency."

Dave flipped through the Internet articles and paper clippings. "Could you find any negative press?"

"Everything I found was pretty positive. I will admit, the ease at which Magorum maneuvered peace in war-ridden relationships is a mystery to most. The media as well as the pundits scratch their heads at his success rate. As for negative press, there was the occasional comment on his height. At five-foot-seven, he seems a rather average build for a man who speaks with such authority."

"Whoa, I didn't realize he was shorter than me," said Henry. "He looks a lot taller in the pictures."

“Bottom line," Charlie continued, "Alexander Magorum has his sights set pretty high-a lot higher than just ruling Russia. He talks of world peace more often than a blonde at a beauty pageant, but his words have force behind them-the force of a world power and the force of a proven track record. He is definitely a character to keep an eye on. He could very well be the one Daniel the prophet called the abomination of desolation-the Antichrist."