The Mark

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

She had called Henry on the way home and asked if he would go church with her the next morning. He agreed and on Sunday morn ing Henry picked her up. She was glad when she heard his car pull into her drive. That was the first positive event of the day. The second came when Anna and Henry walked into church. Knowing that her church's doctrine was more liberal than Henry's beliefs Anna cautiously looked around at her fellow congregants and then smiled. There was not a mark in sight. Granted, it had only been four days since the press con ference, but already marks were showing up here and there.

As they walked into the foyer of the church, a young girl who was looking behind her as she ran, bumped into Henry's knees and fell to the ground.

"Are you all right?" Henry reached down and picked the girl up, set ting her back on her feet. Anna saw her face as she looked up at him, and tears started to well in the little girl's eyes. "Don't cry. You have the prettiest green eyes."

With that the little girl smiled. Anna loved that Henry was gentle at heart.

"Do you see her parents?" Henry asked Anna, who started to look around. She spotted a man making his way toward them.

"That's probably her dad," she said, pointing in his direction. Anna

knelt down and wiped a tear from the girl's cheek. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I just want my dad."

By then the man had reached them and he swooped the little girl into his arms. Turning to Henry and Anna, he said, "I'm sorry about that. Sometimes she gets away from me. Are you okay, Sarah?"

The little girl nodded.

"Do I know you?" Anna asked the man. "You look so familiar."

"I don't think we've met, but I've seen you over at Smith and Brumsby. Actually, I think I've seen both of you."

"We both work there," said Henry, extending a hand toward the man's empty one. "My name is Henry Greer, and this is Anna Warners. I work in accounting and she's up a couple of floors in personnel."

"Thomas Larson, acquisitions. It's a big firm, isn't it?" Thomas shook Henry's hand with a smile. "Actually, I think we may have a mutual friend. Charlie West? He told me his friend Henry worked at my firm. I mean, how many Henry's can there be?"

"Well, you've got the right guy! Charlie's a very good friend." A petite blonde approached with identical green eyes to the little girl's, holding the hand of another daughter.

|"This is my wife, Robin. And these are our daughters. You've al ready met Sarah," he pointed to the one he was holding, "and this is Christie, Robin, this is Henry and Anna. Henry is Charlie's friend who works over at Smith."

"Nice to meet you."

Anna smiled and shook her hand, but couldn't help notice a cool ness about the wife.

"It's been quite a week, hasn't it?" Anna asked.

"No kidding," answered Thomas. "I was here Thursday night for Reverend Blackwell's meeting, but now that the dust has settled, it will be interesting to see what he has to say."

"We should get the girls to their classes, Thomas." Once again Anna noted the coolness in Robin's voice. "It's almost time for church to begin."

Suddenly, from across the foyer a small voice could be heard.

"Mrs. Larson! Mrs. Larson!"

All four of them turned and a little, dark complected boy ran over to Robin, waving a piece of paper in his hand. Anna saw recognition on her face as Robin turned and said, more to her husband than to the others, "Oh, that's Isaiah Hamilton-the new boy I was telling you about." Then to Anna and Henry she added, "I teach fourth grade. He's one of my students."

The boy was out of breath by the time he reached Robin. She knelt down to speak with him.

"Good morning, Isaiah. I'm so glad to see you here at church." Her demeanor had changed. Suddenly she was warm and kind.

"Mrs. Larson, I think I know who is trying to kill my cousin!" Robin glanced around nervously and Anna looked at Henry.

"It's Hitler! Emma said the man would tell the world to worship him and that's what he did this week. I think Hitler wants to kill her because she won't worship him."

"Calm down, Isaiah. Where are your parents?"

"I have to go find them, but I brought this for you. It's one of her letters. It will help you understand."

Robin took the paper from his hand, and he turned and ran off. She stood, looking at the paper, which was covered with printed hand writing on both sides. The three other adults stood waiting for her to explain, and Anna instinctively cleared her throat. Robin looked up from the paper.

"Oh, I'm sorry. That was... just... a... well, it's just a child. He told me his parents think his cousin and her family are in a cult. Ap parently they're hiding and he's worried about her."

"Hiding isn't such a bad idea right now," said Henry.

Anna looked at him, hoping he wouldn't start with complete strangers, but Thomas kept her from objecting.

"Charlie sure thinks so, too. You're part of the fellowship, right?"

Henry nodded.

"Charlie wants us to come, but we're just not sure about what's really going on." "We really need to go," interrupted Robin. "It was nice meeting

both of you."

She pulled on Thomas's arm and he added, "I'm sure I'll see you around the office." Then he was gone.

Anna turned to Henry. "That was strange. She had no interest in talking with us."

"My friend Charlie has told me about them. They're high school acquaintances of his. Apparently he's concerned and willing to con sider hiding, but she'll have no talk of it."

"Well, we'd better get a seat. Church is filling up quickly."

They made their way into the sanctuary. As the congregation qui eted down, the music began and Anna soon found herself struggling again. An anxiousness over the recent events was returning. As the songs were sung, Anna fought to focus on the words. When Reverend Blackwell finally took the pulpit, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her favorite part of the service was the music, but today she just couldn't pay attention. There was too much at stake. She needed to be com forted by her pastor and though she knew it was selfish, she didn't have the strength to put her fears aside.

"We are living in difficult times," he began. "I must be honest with you, I don't like the things I am seeing. Over the past few days I have slept but a few hours and have fielded hundreds of phone calls and e-mails. Last night, I spent four hours with the pastors, priests, and leaders of the local churches here in Creston. We also invited Mayor Durbin to attend. The consensus is that we are heading into a time of international change which, unfortunately, will have direct impact

on our daily lives here in Creston.** Anna reached over for Henry's hand and he readily took it. She looked at him, but he kept his eyes on Blackmore.

"Some feel we are in the last days. This is very confusing for me, as my understanding of the last days are very different from what I see going on today. But I was reminded that even the disciples were confused when Jesus was crucified, even though Jesus had clearly warned them of his purpose." Blackmore looked down at his notes, as if to find something he specifically wanted to share. "Perhaps the imam from the mosque on Ridder Street said it best, when he said, *We cannot understand what is impossible to grasp. The will of God is exactly such a thing.' I don't know that we can fully understand what is happening, but we must walk in faith and press on."

Anna noticed some people near her nodding in agreement and she wondered if she was missing something. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out what Blackmore was saying. She squeezed Henry's hand and he glanced over at her. She raised her eyebrows and he nod

ded back toward Blackmore, as if to say, "Let me listen." "I know you are looking for answers. The best answer I can find is that we need to keep our eyes on the heavens, for Jesus is coming soon." A few "amens" were called out from around the room. "But until that happens, I must encourage each and every one of you not to take this mark that Hitler has instructed the world to take. If you take the mark, you are buying into his system. I don't know if he is the Antichrist or not, but I am not playing a game and imprinting the number of Satan on my head."

A man from the back stood and called out, "But what about our money? I heard that we can't access our bank accounts without a mark!" A few more men called out in agreement. Anna was alarmed at the b*a zen manner in which the men yelled out their responses. This was still a church service and they should have been respectful of that.

"I understand. We have some time, though, to figure this out. In the meantime, stocking up on supplies in case we run into some problems probably isn't a bad idea."

"Supplies? For how long? How long until Jesus returns? We've got families to care for!" It was the same man who called out the first question. She was really getting annoyed with his tone, even though his questions were valid.

"I wish I had all the answers. I'm just not sure how much life will change here in Creston. Last night, Mayor Durbin listened to our con cerns. At this point, the United States is on schedule to join the FWP and switch over to the One World Denomination system. It is unclear whether or not the mark will be associated with the banking system, but I know God is in control of this and will provide for us no matter what. We just have to wait a bit to see how this is all going to play out."

The question and answer format continued for another twenty

minutes until Blackmore ended with a time of prayer. When it was all done, the people filed out of church rather quietly. Anna and Henry sat for a while in silence.

"He didn't really give any answers, did he?" Anna's heart sank. "I don't know what I was thinking he would say, but he really didn't say anything."

"He's unprepared, Anna. He had no idea something like this would happen. I am sure the counsel from other churches is even more lib eral than what he is thinking. But Anna, this church is in big trouble if they don't come up with a plan. I agree God is in control and I think He was gracious to give people two months to prepare. But soon you'll be down to just weeks and counting."

"Henry, I just can't disappear. What about my mom?"

"Bring her along."

"I've asked and she thinks it's a ridiculous suggestion." "And what happens to the two of you when you don't mark up?"

Anna shook her head. "I don't know."

"That's the problem, Anna. I do know. What did Hitler say? 'Fol low me and live. Follow God and die.' He's not just talking, Anna, he's dead serious."

Anna could feel her chest tighten. Deep down she knew he was right, but it was such a rash decision to up and disappear. And she could never leave her mother. She was grateful for a couple of months to figure things out.

As Anna and Henry walked out of the church, the cold March air blew through Anna's open jacket, which she quickly zipped in re sponse. Across the parking lot little Isaiah climbed into the backseat of his parents' car.

She wondered what was in that letter.

She wondered what his cousin knew that she didn't know.