"I'm pulling together the final details. I should be able to tell you in a couple of days."
Murphy's phone rang at 9:30 P.M. Levi Abrams was calling to say that he was being reassigned. They had found something on a terrorist's computer. "It may help us to find out how Talon is tied into all of this and who is funding him," Abrams explained.
"Where are you going?"
"All I can tell you is that there is a small town in Israel called Et Taiyiba. We think the orders for the bombing of the bridge came from there. It's a half-Jewish, half-Arab town. Over the years it's been a site for terrorist activity.
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Hamas has a headquarters there and has been instrumental in sending suicide bombers into Jerusalem from that location. The Hamas leader Sheikh Yasin is suspected to have links with the Et Taiyiba cell and also with Osama bin Laden. He underwent terrorist training in bin Laden--affiliated camps in Afghanistan. Then he returned to the West Bank and Gaza to establish terrorist cells. Some connection, and some financial support, is going to the Hamas leaders from an outside source. That source may be Talon."
"Now I'm really going to pray for you, Levi. You've got to be very careful. Talon has no conscience. He doesn't care who he kills ... he's completely amoral."
"I appreciate that, Michael. Although I don't have the same faith that you do, I can tell you care for my soul. Oh, yes, Michael--Everything is set to go in Iraq. Colonel Davis is ready to assist you in your search. Some of his men will meet you at the Baghdad Airport. After a couple of days there they'll escort you to Babylon. You be very careful too... and take care of Isis. I don't think she is someone you want to lose."
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FIFTY-ONE
MURPHY BEGAN the checklist that had almost become second nature to him as a world traveler. He pointed as he ticked items off: passport...visa...copies of passport and visa ... airline tickets ... cash... euros... credit cards... maps... contact phone numbers ... toilet articles... clothes... equipment... What are you forgetting? You always forget something!
The phone rang as he was walking to the closet to get his suitcase. It was Cindy at the switchboard at Preston University Stephanie Kovacs had called, saying it was urgent that she speak with Murphy "I told her that we have a policy to not give out home phone numbers but that I would pass on the message," Cindy explained.
Murphy took Stephanie Kovacs's phone number and thanked Cindy. I wonder what this is all about?
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After packing his suitcase and placing it in the trunk of his car, he took a moment to try to reach Stephanie Kovacs. She thanked him for calling and said, "Do you have a moment to talk?"
"Sure, what's up?"
She hesitated for a moment. "Forgive me. I'm usually not at a loss for words. I'm not quite sure where to begin .... Do you remember when you asked me if I was happy?"
"Yes."
"I haven't been able to get that out of my mind. You touched a sensitive area because I haven't been happy for some time. Anyway, that thought along with your illustration about the kite and Christ knocking at the door to my heart got me thinking."
Murphy started praying. God, You're working in Stephanie's life. Please give me the right words to say.
"The past few days have been really hard on me, and I had to make some difficult decisions that have affected my career. I did what you suggested."
"What was that, Stephanie?"
"I prayed to God and asked Him to come into my life and help me through this tough time."
"That's great, Stephanie."
"I don't know how to explain it, but something has changed. I'm not out of my problems yet... but I don't feel overwhelmed. I have a kind of peace in the midst of all this stress."
"That's God's specialty. When He changes someone's life, it's like a new birth. He implants a new way of thinking in our mind. He gives us a new attitude and a
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new perspective in how we view life. He's begun a new work in your life and will continue to help you grow in faith."
"I think you're right. Things are looking different. Well, at least most things are."
"What do you mean, most things?"
"I had another reason for calling you, Dr. Murphy. I think you may be in some kind of danger."
"Danger?" Murphy repeated.
"Yes. I'm sure that you know that my relationship with Barrington Communications has been more than just as a news reporter. I... I had a personal relationship with Mr. Barrington," Kovacs explained.
"Yes, I'm aware of that."
"For some time we haven't been getting along, and I've been observing how he conducts his business. I became suspicious. He's made a number of quick flights out of the country in the past few months. I sometimes use the same jet for news stories. In passing one day, the pilot mentioned that Mr. Barrington sure made a lot of trips to Switzerland. And in one of our conversations, Shane mentioned that he was working for a group of people who were the financial backers behind Barrington Communications."
"A group of people?"
"Yes. I don't know who they are or how many people are in the group; all I know is they are very, very powerful. They have to be to be able to control someone like Shane Barrington."
"What does this have to do with me?"
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"One night he said to me, 'You see, these people I work for, these people who own me, are hell-bent on establishing a one-world government. And a one-world religion too. And people like Murphy, they see it all coming, in the Bible. So they have to be stopped. Before they can persuade others to resist.' I think that when he said 'have to be stopped,' he was talking about eliminating you permanently. You must be very careful."
Murphy paused while he was processing what she had said. "Stephanie, I appreciate you alerting me. I'll be on my guard... but something concerns me. What if Barrington finds out that you've talked to me? What kind of danger does that put you in?"
"I don't know for sure. All I know is that I've been going against my conscience too long. I have to take a stand for what I know is right. The attempted bombing of the George Washington Bridge challenged me to join with those who stand against evil of every kind. I hope that God will give me the strength."
"I know He will. I have to leave town today, but let me encourage you. Do you have a Bible?"
"No."
"When you get a chance, go to the bookstore and pick up a copy. A good place to start reading is in the Gospel of John. It helps you to understand who Jesus really is. Then try to find a church where you can go and be encouraged and grow in your new faith. And keep on praying. Prayer will become a real source of comfort for you during tough times."
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"Thank you, Dr. Murphy. I appreciate your patience with me. And thank you for sharing with me about Christ. It's changed my life."
"Stephanie, you be very careful. I'll try to touch base with you when I return."
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FIFTY-TWO
MURPHY COULD FEEL a mixture of emotions as he approached the security check-in station. Security at Dulles International Airport had tightened dramatically since the attempted bombing of the George Washington Bridge. More airport security staff had been added, and the U.S. National Guard was stationed there, fully armed and alert.
I thought security was bad after 9/11 I can't believe we've had to get here three hours earlier than the flight.
As he looked at Isis, he could tell that she was apprehensive. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I guess. I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to go through one of those pat-down searches. I've only had one, and it was humiliating and embarrassing. It was done before they made the screeners use the back of their hands instead of the front of their hands. As a woman you almost feel violated. It's hard to explain to a man. It's just plain awful."
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Murphy began to survey the crowd, imagining what he would look for if he were a security guard. Would it be
a little old woman with a knitting bag, or would he be drawn to someone of Middle Eastern descent? After the bombing of the bridge, racial profiling had increased rather than decreased. Everyone was on edge, and many innocent people were being questioned. Tensions were running high.
"I almost feel sorry for those of other cultures who are being looked at as potential terrorists," Murphy began, "but I think there's no way to stop that. Look at us. We're innocent passengers, yet we have to stand in line and be treated like potential terrorists. Everyone is in the same boat. We're just going to have to get used to it. Life will never be the same as it was before 9/11."
As he looked over the crowd, he saw Wilfred Bingman toward the end of the line. Murphy smiled and nodded. I'm looking forward to getting better acquainted with him.
While Murphy was putting their luggage in the overhead bins, Isis slid over to the window seat and began to get comfortable. She looked out the window and watched the men loading the plane from below. Murphy sat down in the aisle seat next to her. He didn't like window seats. They were too confining. Besides, he liked to get up and walk around every now and then without climbing over people. He enjoyed traveling to foreign countries and meeting new people, but he hated the long plane flights
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to get there. Soon Bingman arrived and sat in the aisle seat across from Murphy.
"This has already been a long day, Michael. Can you believe that it's already eleven P.M.? I sure hope we can get some sleep on the way over."
Before attempting to get some sleep, Isis turned to Murphy. "Michael, do you ever think about Noah's Ark?"
"Actually, I think about it a lot. It was the dream of a lifetime to be able to see it and explore it. I'm so angry that Talon covered it with an avalanche and killed some good people in the process."
At his words, Isis thought back to nursing him back to health in the cave.
"I long for the day that I have some time and can get the financial backing to go back to the Black Sea and look for the backpack," Murphy continued. "Those bronze plates and crystals could be a great source of inexpensive energy."
"I think about it too. Growing up, I thought the story of Noah's Ark was a good child's story," Isis said. "I had no idea that it was real. And then to see it in person and to walk on the deck--it was almost beyond description. What scares me is the judgment of God on the wickedness of men. What you say about the Bible seems to be accurate."
"The ark proves it is real, just as the Handwriting on the Wall will."
Isis was quiet for a while. Murphy could tell she was thinking. "Michael, do you think there will ever be an end to all these horrible terrorist bombings? When I think of the thousands of people who could have died at
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the George Washington Bridge bombing, I'm so saddened."
"I wish I could say yes, but in all honesty I think they will get worse."
"Why do you say that?"
"For several reasons, I guess," Murphy explained. "The nature of man is selfish and often cruel. All you have to do is look at human history to prove that. It's punctuated with war as far back as you can look. In fact, I've read that there have only been three hundred twenty years of recorded human history where no wars were mentioned. There are always men and women who want to control other people."
"Don't you think that the peace talks will do any good?"
"Perhaps. They seem to delay conflict or prevent it for a period of time, but eventually it returns. As we draw closer to the end of days, the Bible suggests that trouble will increase."
"What do you mean, 'the end of days'?" Isis asked, curious.
"It refers to a conversation that Jesus had with his disciples. He told them that one day there would be a judgment for sin and that He would come again to rule the world. I could show you something from the Bible that talks about this if you're interested."
"Yes, Michael, I would like to know more about the end days."
Murphy opened his briefcase and took out a Bible. "Let me show you the conversation. It's found in the Book of Matthew, Chapter Twenty-four. It reads as follows:
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Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
"That sounds sort of bleak," Isis concluded.
"Yes and no. The wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes are not pleasant at all. Nor is being hated by people or betrayed. The point is that one day all of the evil in the world will come to an end. That will be a great day for those who are ready to see God. You see, it's possible to have peace and hope in the midst of a world filled with turmoil."
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"Michael, you keep talking about the judgment of God. You talked about it when we were on Ararat looking for Noah's Ark. You said that the worldwide flood was God's judgment against the wickedness of man. And you've talked about God judging Belshazzar for his evil with the Handwriting on the Wall. That's pretty scary stuff."
"Yes, it is, Isis. You see, most people think that war is terrible. They think that terrorist bombings are hideous ... and they are. War can cause shortages of food in a country, which creates widespread famine. Most developing nations barely have enough food for their people. It is estimated that half a billion people on earth are seriously malnourished. Famine can also be caused by cyclones, floods, droughts, pests, plant disease, or even tsunamis. We saw this in the Indian Ocean earthquake that created a hundred-foot tidal wave. The findings suggest that it was an earthquake of a 93 magnitude."
"It was terrible! I had to stop watching the news for weeks afterward," Isis put in. "It was too emotionally draining. I heard the estimates for loss of life could reach 310,000 people."
"That's true. Earthquakes have killed a lot of people. The earthquake in Syria in A.D. 1201 claimed the lives of more than a million people. The one in Hausien, China, in 1556 killed 850,000. The Great Chilean earthquake was a 9.5 quake. In fact, the top twenty-five earthquakes have killed more than six million people over the years. Scientists tell us that eighty-one percent of the world's earthquakes take place in what is called the Ring of Fire tectonic plate."
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"Why are you telling me all of this?" Isis asked.
"I'll explain in a moment. Let me just mention one more thing. The Bible talks about wars and rumors of wars, famine, and earthquakes. It also talks about pestilences. That doesn't refer to just crop damage. It includes all kinds of diseases. What do you think is the biggest and most devastating disease today?"
"HIV/AIDS."
"Right. It's killed millions, especially in Africa. In Malawi it's estimated that almost twenty percent of the population is afflicted with HIV/AIDS. But have you heard about the new 'super strain' of AIDS called 3-DCRHIV? It was found recently in a forty-year-old man who was a drug user and had hundreds of partners in the past several months. This particular strain has never been seen before. It's unimaginably aggressive and resistant to almost all treatments. Nineteen of the twenty drugs in use today are ineffective against it
. But here's the real kicker. In the past, most HIV infections didn't turn into AIDS until nine or ten years later. This new virulent strain moves at lightning speed. From the onset of the HIV infection, it only takes two to three months to develop into a full-blown AIDS case. Another man in San Diego has been diagnosed with this new strain. The news is causing a panic in the gay community."
"I can see why."
"You asked me what was the point of all of this. All of these things are terrible. They unnecessarily destroy human life, and they are of great concern. The question is, if we are overwhelmed by these tragedies... shouldn't we be even more concerned with sin, which destroys the human soul and separates us from a holy God? Jesus stated
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it this way in Matthew, Chapter Ten: 'And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.'"
"I need to think that through, Michael," Isis murmured. "As you know, I don't have a Christian background. All this is new to me."
Murphy nodded. He was falling in love with Isis, and she had not yet come to the point of faith in her life. He did not want to lose her or have her meet God without settling the issue of receiving Christ into her life.
Isis closed her eyes and laid her head on Murphy's shoulder. She felt safe, comfortable, and protected next to him. She had never met anyone quite like him.
What if all he was saying about the end times were true? What if the judgment of God is a reality? I don't think I'm ready for that.
As Isis tried to sleep, Murphy closed his eyes and began to pray.
Murphy was starting to drift off when he heard Bingman speak.