Maria woke with a start just as the first rays of predawn light began to lighten the landscape. There was someone in bed beside her. Slowly she started to reach for the pistol she kept under her pillow. As she touched the grip, she remembered. Of course there was someone beside her. She had gotten married yesterday. She turned her head, and found Bob lying on his left side, with his back to her. In the dim light she could make out the scar that ran across his right shoulder blade. Gently she traced the scar with her finger as she remembered how he had taken the hit, while getting her out of the line of fire. She knew he could have dodged the other way, and there was even better cover in that direction than the way he pushed her. He didn't have to do it. At the time they hadn't even known each other very long, but he chose to risk his life in order to protect her.

"Yeah, that's Dad." Alex had told her, while he was out after Kathy had stitched him up on that day. "Always thinking of the other person first. One of these days, that's going to catch up with him, if he isn't careful. Did you ever hear the whole story about the generator, the storm, and Tim and Kathy's' food?"

She shook her head.

"We still had power after the storm. A friend of Dads' didn't, so he loaned him the generator. Three days later we lost power. It seems that the power company was taking sections of the grid off line, one at a time and clearing the lines. Dad fought with Mom for about twenty-four hours about the generator. She wanted him to get it back right away. He said that his friend had small children and needed it more than we did. Anyway, as it worked out, the other guy was able to return the generator on the forth day, and we had power. But Dad wasn't about to break his word and take the generator back, even if we needed it."

Since that time, Maria had learned for herself, that Alex was right. That was Bob. She held up her left hand, and looked at her ring. It wasn't all that fancy, but to her it was priceless. Bob and Alex had locked themselves away for three days, not giving anyone a clue about what they were up to. Then yesterday each of them presented their wives with a hand made wedding ring. The man was certainly full of surprises. That is when she heard him moan in the dark. Suddenly he sat bolt upright in bed, and was shaking.

"Bob, what's wrong?"

Startled by the sound of Maria's' voice, Bob jumped at the sound. Then he came to himself, smiled and said,

"Oh. Good morning, Sweetheart. I'm used to being alone. I almost forgot."

"I did the same. What's going on? You jumped up like you'd been shot."

His face changed into a grim look. "I have to talk to Jim." He started to get out of bed.

"Bob! It's only first light. The sun isn't even up yet. What is so important you have to kick him out of bed?"

He looked out the window and realized Maria was right. "Well, I guess it can wait until before church."

"Good. Now come back to bed and tell me what happened?"

"I had a dream. Trouble is coming, and it is coming here."

What kind of trouble?"

"The kind that speaks Chinese."

---

The church, was in fact a sort of community center that had been built by the people who used to live in the town. It had been used for everything from town dances, and get togethers, to sheltering animals in extreme weather. As Jim finished the service for that morning, he closed his Bible and addressed the congregation.

"Brothers and Sisters, our friend and leader, Bob, has heard from The Lord. He has asked that you remain while he tells us what our Father has shown him. Brother Bob."

Bob took the stage, and looked at the expectant faces. Nobody had made a move to leave.

"Friends, I come to you with disturbing news. The Lord has shown me that trouble is on its' way to our town. That trouble comes in the form of the invading Chinese Army."

That caused a stir in the crowd. They waited to hear what he had to say next.

"I have been shown that we have been chosen to stand where we are and meet them. Meet them and defeat them."

"Brother Bob!" A call came from the crowd, followed by a man standing up to be seen. "There are only a little over fifty of us here. How are we supposed to stand against the Chinese Army? They don't take prisoners. If we stay here, we're going to die in very short order. Why would God lead us here, and then not protect us?"

"I'm sorry, Sir. I don't recall your name."

"Foster, James Foster."

"Mr. Foster, do you remember what happened when the Children of Israel first entered the promised land? I'll tell you. They were charged with the task of driving everyone out of the land God had promised to Abraham. In every case, the battle and the victory belonged to The Lord."

"That's what I'm talking about. Why do we have to fight the Chinese?"

"As I said, the battle was The Lords'. But tell me Mr. Foster, who did the killing?"

"Well, the people did. Um...never-mind. I see your point. Sorry to interrupt."

"Not at all Mr. Foster. It is a valid question. Brothers and Sisters, I'm not going to tell you this will be easy. I can't promise you that we will all survive. But this much I know. If I'm going to die, I would much rather die standing for The Lord, against any number of His enemies, even if I have to stand alone."

Another voice from the back of the room called out.

"There can't be thirty of us to stand against them. How do you expect to win?"

"I count twenty seven of us who can fight. Not including women and small children. Even if I'm alone, with The Lord on my side, He and I outnumber them. I know this is something that each of us must think and pray about. That is all I ask you to do today. Go to your homes and pray about what God wants you to do. If you will fight, be back here at nine tomorrow morning"

From one side of the hall, came another voice.

"Mr. Bob, can I say something?"

"Certainly Sam."

Sam climbed up on a chair, to be seen, and faced the group.

"O.K. I admit, I'm fifteen, but I've been here since the beginning. I don't know what anyone else is going to do, but as far as I'm concerned, Mr. Bob isn't going to be alone. I'll be with him." He turned to face Bob. "I guess that's all." he jumped down from the chair, and walked through the crowd and out the door.

"I think that is really the truth. That's all. Go home, and pray. Those who will stand for The Lord, be here tomorrow."

---

Later that evening, Alex stopped by to see his father.

"That was some speech this morning. Do you think anyone is going to join us?"

"Us? Are you sure you want to be there?"

"Dad, when I was a kid, you always said you would rather be at ground zero with The Lord, than any place else without Him. Have you changed your mind?"

"No."

"Neither have I. I'll be there."

"What about Michelle?"

"Dad! She's pregnant. You don't expect her to fight do you?"

"You misunderstand. I mean, what does she have to say about it?"

"Oh. She doesn't like the idea, but we both agree there really isn't any other choice."

Bob nodded. "Well, whatever happens, tomorrow is certain to be an interesting day."

---

Director Ives waited in his office for the report from the communications office to arrive. It was taking too long for Winston to report in. Unlike most of the other infiltrators that had been sent out, Winston was punctual about reporting in his whereabouts, and plans. When he was late reporting in, Ives had ordered his last report be brought to him. There was the expected knock at the door.

"Enter."

Ives assistant came in with papers in his hand. "I've got the report you asked for, Sir."

"So what can you tell me?"'

"It seems that Mr. Winston was following up on some of the missing infiltrators, based on intelligence that we've gotten. We sent three infiltrators into the mountains to the east northeast of Reno. A place called 'Trinity'." Unnoticed by the assistant, Ives winched at the word. "That town was evacuated before the invasion, but there were at least three people who were known to be there that didn't make it to the camp. Those three infiltrators went out there, looking for them. They went missing, but R.F.I.D. tracked their car some two hundred fifty some odd miles east of Trinity."

"STOP saying that word!"

"Sir? Which word?"

"The name of that town. I can't stand it."

"Yes Sir. I'm sorry, I didn't know it bothered you."

"I hate anything associated with that Nazarene. Go on."

"Yes Sir. Mr. Winston went out there, planning on picking up the trail of the other three, and that is when we lost his R.F.I.D. tag. One other thing, Sir. From reports of other people that have been to that area, there is a check point about a mile or so outside of Trin...er...that town, with Bio-Hazard warnings. It doesn't seem like anyone would be going there."

"You think not? Do you think at all? Why would our Chinese allies waste a Bio-Weapon on a town that had already been evacuated? Why would the American military waste time and personnel guarding an empty town? I believe we have found one of those peoples outposts."

Ives paused to think for a moment.

"This is what I want you to do. Inform the Americans at the pass closest to that town, that we have intelligence the Chinese are going to make a major attack at this pass, one hundred and fifty miles to the south. They need to leave only a token force, and move everyone else south. Then contact our allies. Tell them they need to make an attack on the southern pass. If they break through, fine. If not, it is only a diversion from that attack on the northern pass, where I expect them to break through. Once that is done, they are to make directly for that town. They can have any women they find, but nothing male is to leave there alive. Understand?"

The assistant nodded.

"Then what are you waiting for? You have your orders, get to it. I expect the attack in two days."

As the assistant left, Ives poured over his map. How clever, he thought, for the Nazarene to hide people in a town with that kind of name. Well, Ives would show Him just how clever He was, by wiping them of the face of the map.


BW, Vietnam Vet