The Mark

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Durbin scratched a list of names that would help his cause, Rev erend Blackmore and Thomas in the first and second place. The first would probably be a lot easier than the second. But in the end, Durbin knew it was in his power to make this happen. With a safety net in place, worst-case scenario would be putting the good old reverend on the first bus out of town to teach his congregation a lesson. And Wayne Durbin was willing to do just about anything for his little town of Creston.

Thre hree weeks after Hitler's announcement Charlie West quit his job with Chef Fredo and started working full time to fill the compound with supplies. The most important job on his to-do list was checking on the tunnels that led to the compound. The fellowship had dug two tunnels that led in opposite directions and surfaced on old dirt roads about four miles away from the compound. The purpose for these tunnels was twofold.

First, the tunnels could receive residents in a way that would not draw attention to the farm above the compound. The entrances were located in places that were inconspicuous but pretty simple to get to, depending on which town you were coming from. Since the com pound was located about eight miles south of Creston, those coming from Creston could even go on foot at night and enter through the north tunnel. If people were coming from the south, there was the south tunnel. The plan had been for an east and west tunnel, too, but they ran out of time. Also supply runners, on the possibility that late in the game more supplies would be needed, could use the tunnels. The goal was to make the farm above the compound look dormant, so any activity had to be directed away from the farm.

The second purpose for the tunnels was for after the compound was in use. If for some reason the compound was discovered, there were two additional ways out, other than straight up. That purpose was rarely discussed but still a viable option.

Charlie spent the first week of his retirement running the tunnels. They were pretty rough and he spent a lot of time cutting roots from the walls and ground, to make them easier to traverse. There were no lights in the tunnels-another project that was never realized. So his work was done with a small generator and a construction light. By the end of a week, he felt it was as safe as he could make it.

The next project was supplies. The compound was quickly filling up with MRES and nonperishables. It had two walk-in freezers as well as refrigerators, all compliments of Chef Fredo who had closed down his business and planned to cook underground. His whole utility kitchen was being moved into the compound and Dave was overseeing that personally. Charlie purchased cleaning supplies, toi letries, extra plumbing parts in case of an emergency, hundreds of pounds of meat and frozen dough for bread, and gas for the genera tors. Residents brought bedding, clothing, kitchen supplies, books, games, televisions, video systems, personal toiletries, furniture, and more food. Charlie carried with him a list that he was continually adding to and crossing off.

One other ongoing project was getting Thomas and Robin to commit. The compound was slowly filling up, actually a lot slower than Charlie had expected, but Dave told him that the Lord may even use the compound for late arrivals. They just needed to be faithful in offering help and let the Lord do the rest. Dave and Charlie came up with a system to contact the compound without giving details of the location, so that late arrivals could make arrangements to come.

April fifteen came and went, taxes were paid and Charlie decided to call Thomas again. Less than a month away from the marking day, Charlie knew Thomas needed to be pushed into a decision.

"Thanks for meeting me." Charlie stood in the doorway of the lo cal hardware store.

"This is a strange place to meet, don't you think?" Thomas shook his hand and followed Charlie into the store.

"Yeah, I wanted to show you something."

The men weaved their way to the back of the store. As they headed down the last aisle, Charlie stopped in front of a small generator. "This one runs on about seven gallons of gas and will last you: for about nine hours at a fifty percent load. Now this one," he pointed to

one down further in the row, "this one runs on eight gallons of gas and will last about fifteen hours at fifty percent." Charlie turned to Thomas, enjoying the quizzical look on his face but not showing it. He scratched his head and furrowed his brow. "I don't think either of these are a good option for you." "What are you talking about?"

"So, I was looking at one of these home standby generators. They are only a little bit more, but I was thinking that if you prepaid your gas bill-like for three years-then you could use this one at your house and get full electricity constantly." Charlie paused with a hand on his hip, the other rubbing his chin as if something had just oc curred to him. "Then again, you could prepay your electric bill and not need a generator."

Charlie stopped and waited for Thomas to ask the next question

but it never came.

"I get it. You have me meet you here at the hardware store for a little object lesson. Well, the lesson's over." Thomas turned to leave but Charlie grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the aisle.

"Last I looked, you didn't have a mark. The day is drawing near where you won't be able to pay for your utilities without one. So, what's your plan? Was it so wrong for me to do some thinking for you?"

"I've got a plan, Charlie," Thomas said as he pulled his arm away from Charlie's grip. "My church is stockpiling supplies in case things get bad. And Robin and I are storing up on food and household plies, so I'm sure we'll be fine." sup

"Will your girls go to school without a mark?" "No, Robin will teach them at home."

"So, she's quit her job."

"Well, not yet. Neither have I."

"How long do you think you can work at Smith and Brumsby with out a mark? Will they just pay you in magogs instead of direct deposit?" "I don't know. I... don't know the answer to that."

"Or maybe you want a little vacation to Camp Reconstruction. You know that's the plan-send the good citizens of Creston to a training camp to teach them the right way to think. It's very civilized. There are classrooms and bunkhouses and maybe even an incinerator in the back of the camp."

"Enough! You've made your point. I know this is serious, Charlie, but I think I'm ready for it. We'll just have to make do." "And why can't you come with me? The girls would be safe and

we'll all wait together."

"Robin is convinced we'll be raptured before anything bad hap

pens. Any time I try to discuss even the slightest possibility of trouble,

she leaves the room."

"Thomas, you're the head of your house. Make the decision. Save their lives. It's going to be a bloodbath and I'm telling you, these training camps are makeshift death camps!"

"When do you start living there?"

Charlie sensed a softening. "I'm already staying out there a cou ple nights a week. We have residents arriving with furniture and their personal goods, and we're trying to make places for everyone. By the end of next week, I'm sure I'll be out there full time."

"So, how would I get hold of you?"

Charlie suppressed a smile. "You've been a friend for a long time. You know my cell. When I make a run, I'll check my cell and call you back. I will probably make runs every day, or every couple of days initially. But eventually, I'll stop."

"Why can't you tell me where to go?"

"It's a protection for the people who are hiding. We can't just give the location away. Plus, we like to have runners bring you in through the tunnels so you don't get hurt. Right now families will be dropped off at the compound and cars will be taken away. It's really important that the property look abandoned. But once things get hairy on the outside, and that could be in a month, we'll only take people through the tunnels."

A man in his forties passed by and Charlie watched him peruse the aisle they were standing in. His heart began to race a bit, and something just felt wrong. He had seen him pass a few times now, but had been in deep discussion and ignored a possible danger.

"Let's go out to my car," he said to Thomas, as he motioned with his head toward the man in the aisle. "We need to talk where it's safe."

The two men headed out of the store and got in Charlie's car.

"Sorry, that guy just spooked me. For the safety of the whole group, I really shouldn't talk in public about the compound."

"I brought something for you." Thomas pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. He opened it and took a Post-it note out with a name and number written on it..

"There's a boy in Robin's class who just came from Michigan. He has a cousin in hiding and told Robin that she writes him letters. Robin asked to see one."

Charlie took the note and looked at the name. It read Dan Dough erty, followed by a phone number.

"What's this got to do with me?"

"I read the letter and it sounds a lot like your group-a bunch of Christians hiding in a cave system down in North Carolina. The girl who wrote the letter said that this man was a contact in Michigan, if her cousin ever wanted to come and hide with her and her family.

Apparently he stayed behind. I didn't know if you wanted to contact him. Robin doesn't know I copied the number." Charlie looked up from the note at Thomas's face. "You're really

afraid of her, aren't you?"

"It's not that... it's just that she has been so upset lately."

"I am sure she's worried about the girls, Thomas." "I am, too. I just don't know what else to do. I guess I am

out that things won't really change here."

"Except for the financial restraints, you might be right. But the American way of life has very cleverly been tied to receiving a mark. And whatever you do, you can't take that!"

"I know, I know. Robin and I have both agreed we won't let it that far. I just wish I could contact you quicker. Once I get her to go, I think I will need to act fast." go

"It's not that far from here-only a couple miles south of town. I'm sorry I can't tell you more. It's not that I don't trust you, but..."

"It's okay. I won't put you in a difficult position. Just pray for us.

Pray she'll let me make this decision."

Thomas opened the car door and got out. He leaned back into the

doorway and reached for Charlie's hand.

"Thanks, Charlie. I got your message loud and clear. I'm glad I have a little more time to think."

"See you around."

They shook hands and Charlie pulled out of the parking lot. As he drove away, he watched Thomas in his rearview mirror get into his car, and he wondered if he would ever see him again here on this earth. He reached for the phone number that he stuck to his dash and decided to make a call when he got home. If this guy really is doing the same thing he is, he might have some insight that Charlie had overlooked in the planning phase.

As he continued on his way, Charlie's mind raced with more de tails for the preparation of the compound. But no matter how long that list grew, he couldn't shake the despair that his friend was lead ing his family into a s*******r. He didn't know what else he could do. He just couldn't make him understand, so he finally laid his concern at the feet of his Master.

Father, I can't convince Thomas on my own. I'm out of ideas. Please intervene in a way that only You can.

Durbin looked around the room. All eight of the names on his list were in attendance-five pastors, a rabbi, a priest, and Thomas. A plate of muffins from Starbucks sat untouched on a sideboard near the door of the conference room. One of the pastors had helped himself to cof fee, but the rest just sat and waited for the meeting to begin. There was very little conversation and after Durbin rounded the table, greeting each man personally, he sat in the sole empty chair. It bothered him that Thomas refused to smile and appeared angry from the moment he walked into the room, but Durbin didn't let that shake him.

"Gentlemen, I appreciate you coming on such short notice." Durbin scanned the room and tried to make eye contact as often as possible.

"In eighteen days our banking system here in Creston will per manently change over to the One World Denomination system. Let me explain how that will affect our town. Every store in town has already received software and systems that will only operate with a scanner. When a customer wants to pay for his groceries or dinner at a restaurant, his hand will be scanned and the amount will be taken from his bank account. If one of our citizens wants to purchase gas, he'll simply hold up his hand at the pump and it will scan his hand automatically, right through his palm."

Durbin continued to look around the room, speaking slowly and clearly. He wanted to make sure he was completely understood.

"As a testament to the efficiency and competency of the Federation of World Powers, this process of converting our monetary system has been remarkably smooth. I haven't heard of even one single hiccup in the process here in town. As a matter of fact, the new systems are al ready in place, accepting, for the moment, cash and credit cards. But on May fifteen, our current system will be obsolete. Only those with chips in their hands will be able to purchase anything in town."

The men sat remarkably still. Durbin stood and began to pace around the table, taking slow, deliberate steps. In his mind, he pic tured DeNiro as he circled the table of mob bosses in The Untouch ables, with a baseball bat in his hand. Thankfully, he didn't need the bat, but he had considered leaning one in the corner of the room, just for effect.

"You men have a lot in common. You are all religious. You all have families who need food. You all own homes. And still none of you have a chip in your hand." He stopped behind Reverend Blackmore and put his hand on his shoulder. "Why is that, Reverend?"

pulled his shoulder a bit, but Durbin left his hand there for effect.

"Because none of us have taken Adolph Hitler's mark."