Armageddon's Slaves Chapter twelve

 Samuel discovered he enjoyed the new job. He spent the day working on streamlining operations around the state. He did have to admit that meeting with the accountant and bookkeepers for half a day wasn’t the best part. But they hammered out a more efficient way of tracking invoices, payments, and income sources. They also worked out standardized accounting codes and methods to apply to the whole company.

It wasn’t exciting work, but he enjoyed solving problems. After the upset he’d given himself looking at the Foundation’s website he decided to take a break. Instead of stewing about his findings, he threw himself into work. It beat stewing about his religious and family problems.

He knew that he was running away from a problem he didn’t want to face. More research would mean making life changing decisions. If he put off the research, he could put off the decision. For many days he simply stopped thinking about it. He went to midweek Gathering and let the information presented there simply roll over him, without letting it penetrate his mind. He sat through Sunday Gathering in a nearly mindless state, his senses numb.

Monday evening, after the accounting meeting he came home to Judith waiting for him, with an expectant look on her face.

“Did you hear the news?”

“No.” He knew that she meant news from the Gathering, or some other Gathering, or perhaps New Jerusalem. She rarely paid attention to world events, unless something happened that might signal the start of Armageddon.  He also knew she’d tell him about it immediately.

“Ricky Halbert was arrested Saturday night.”

“What for?”

“We don’t know. Luke and Caleb are trying to find out. There’s something about a girl in his car. I can’t imagine what he might have done. His uncle is an Apostle after all.”

Samuel could imagine several things Ricky could have done, but didn’t say so. He couldn’t see how having an Apostle for an uncle immunized one from sin. Shortly Caleb would get home, Sophia would pump him for information, and within minutes, Judith would know everything, no doubt filtered and flavored by her sister’s opinions. In the meantime, he and Judith sat in the kitchen, talking quietly over a cup of coffee.

“You’re going to let David go to college aren’t you?”

She said it as a fact, not an accusation. The sudden change of topic took him by surprise. He pointed out that he’d already said he didn’t think he had a choice. David planned on an education, whether they agreed or not.

“He’s growing up to be his own man,” Samuel said, “he’s going to be beyond our headship soon.”

Judith stared into space for a moment, before agreeing with him. Then she sighed and said she missed Charlene.

“What is all this research you’re doing lately? I’m just curious.”

He replied that he was slowing down now, but after his trip, he wanted to brush up on a few points of doctrine and history. His travels left him with a different opinion of Outsiders, and a feeling that he wasn’t explaining The Word well. 

“Outsiders need to learn The Word. What else is there?”

“I met some nice people. They live decent lives, they raise good families. They aren’t as bad as we talk about sometimes. I have a hard time believing The Lord will kill them.”

“If they want to live by The Lord’s standards, he won’t have to. They’ll become Disciples before the final battle.”

“But what if they don’t?”

“Then they didn’t love The Lord.”

Samuel decided not to pursue that line of thought. He was still struggling with the idea that God would clear billions of people, clearly Judith didn’t want to think about it. She just parroted what they said at the House.

“So did you find some good points to make with people like that?”

He hesitated to answer her. What he found had produced more questions and fewer answers.  He didn’t have the strength to start a battle at home.

At that moment, his cell phone chimed, the caller ID showed Caleb’s name. He said he needed every Servant at the Gathering House immediately. He gave no hint of the problem, but insisted on speed, don’t even bother putting on a tie.

A short time later, Sameul walked into the House to find Robert and Sergei already there. The first arrivals turned chairs around so they could face each other. A few minutes after Samuel arrived, Tim Sorenson, a Servant from a Gathering out in the Valley showed up, explaining that Caleb wanted as many Servants as possible to attend the meeting. Over the next few minutes, several men from other Gatherings in the area arrived.

Obviously, something big was going on, probably Ricky Halbert’s arrest. No one had facts, just rumors. They chatted about other matters, but small talk wore thin. Finally, Luke came through the door, and took charge of the meeting. Samuel could not help noticing Caleb attempting to hide a self-righteous smirk.

He thanked everyone for coming, gave a brief opening prayer asking for The Lord’s guidance in difficult times. He then immediately plunged into the meeting.

“We have a mess. Tomorrow the trouble shooters from New Jerusalem will be here. Saturday night, Ricky Halbert, I assume most of you know him, was arrested after a traffic stop. He had an underage girl with him, and maybe alcohol.”

He grimaced before continuing. “Our big problem is the family connection to the Apostles. The media will jump on the story, it’s possible that Apostle Halbert will have to step down.”

Samuel thought that might be a stretch, it seemed like a thin connection him to him. Just like Phil Peterson’s suicide, Caleb and Luke thought only of protecting The Foundation.

“What are all of us supposed to do?” Sorenson asked.

“New Jerusalem ordered me to take over the South Hill Gathering, at least temporarily. Norm was the 

Senior Servant, he may have covered up his son’s sins for a long time. We need to make sure that everyone there was doing his job. Assuming the reports about her age are true, we need to show the Outsiders we don’t allow this behavior. Halbert may have talked the other Servants into ignoring it. Ricky had a lot of young women chasing him.”

 Samuel wondered if Luke counted Gloria Lighthorse in that group. Something was seriously wrong with this picture but he didn’t know what. He tried to keep a neutral expression outwardly, he suspected the South Hill Servants were about to be thrown under a bus. He caught another loose thread in what Luke said.

“Who was the girl? Is she all right?”

“I don’t know her name, her parents are in the middle of a divorce. The mother started a studying the Bible when contacted in Disciple-making. The daughter is practically an Outsider. It’s no wonder she got us into this mess.”

Samuel fought down his rage. He looked at the other men, trying to gauge their reactions. They nodded in agreement with the Area Servant. The problem was not possible sexual assault on a young woman, it was a public relations issue for the Word.   

“I brought you here so we can prepare a response. The media are going to get a hold of this story, like they did with Phil Peterson. It will be a big splash to make the Word look bad.  While we sort it all out, New Jerusalem has suspended the South Hill Servants from their duties. I will need four of you to take charge in South Hill, the rest will have to pick up the slack in your home Gatherings.

“We may need to appoint review committees to examine the Servant’s behavior.”

He looked around the circle of men, looking at them, making sure they understood the importance of what he was about to say. Samuel could only hope his true emotions didn’t show on his face. The rest of the group apparently agreed with the plan.

“Gentlemen, The Apostles know important times are close. I can’t say more than that, but big things will happen soon. We need dedicated men to guide the Gatherings through the tasks The Lord Almighty is about to assign us.

“If you know an Assistant Servant ready for full responsibilities, or a qualified hardworking Disciple ready to become an Assistant Servant, please send the names to me. I will contact New Jerusalem, we need the help. Thank you.”

They spent another hour sorting out assignments. To his relief, Samuel would stay in the East Spokane Gathering. He suspected that Luke didn’t trust him to go into a sensitive situation, probably with some justification. He only half heard the conversation, he was now determined to continue his research as soon as he got home.   

Armageddon’s Slaves © Jeffrey Thomas  All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. All events and characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.