Read Online Blue Star Rapture by JAMES W. BENNETT - Free Book Online

much of her speech with her eyes closed and her arms raised.
    â€œDeath will have no dominion,” she was telling the listeners, “when the Rapture comes. On that blessed day we will join the Lord in the air. Those who know the Lord, those who belong to His flock, He will take unto Himself. Those who mingle with the goats will be left behind; know now who are the sheep and who are the goats, for the company you keep today will determine how you will spend eternity.”
    The woman was beautiful, especially in the glow of the track lighting suspended from the ceiling above her position on the stage. She didn’t speak aggressively, in a fire-and-brimstone mode, but with a certain mystical serenity. She repeated her assurance that “In the Lord’s flock, Death will have no dominion. That is his promise to us.”
    The long, reddish-blond hair that rested on her shoulders shimmered in the light; the lettering on the front of her gown constituted an optical trick—what looked like a haphazard maze of Magic Marker lines when her body was turned in one direction formed the word JESUS in capital letters when she turned another.
    Her mesmerizing presence caused T.J. to stay longer than he intended. By the time he thought to slip away, the woman was finished speaking and people were leaving the shelter. There were massive tree roots where he stood, which threatened to trip him up, so he moved slowly near the others, in the direction of the bridge, hoping nobody would speak to him and LuAnn wouldn’t notice him.
    It didn’t work. She spotted him and in a loud voice called, “T.J.! Over here, T.J.”
    He felt like an idiot. He wanted only to get away as quickly as possible, but he couldn’t pretend like he hadn’t heard her voice. He came to a stop while she approached. “You came,” she declared.
    â€œJust don’t try to convert me,” he said tightly, in a low voice.
    â€œYou came,” she repeated. “Why did you come?”
    â€œI have no idea.” He turned to face her. Her large breasts nicely filled out a T-shirt with a graphic portrayal of the crucifixion; the lettering below the artwork proclaimed, THIS BLOOD ’ S FOR YOU .
    â€œI really didn’t expect you to come,” she said, beaming. “Why did you come?”
    â€œI already told you, I have no idea. I guess it was just curiosity. It’s an old habit of mine. I better be going now.”
    â€œPlease, I want you to meet Sister Simone first.”
    T.J. didn’t know which one Sister Simone was, but he guessed it was the speaker. “No, I better go,” he said again. “If they find out I went AWOL, they might bench me.”
    It was irony lost on LuAnn. She gripped his hand. “Come on,” she tugged. “Just for a minute. I want you to meet her.”
    There were other people around; it was easier to submit than to break away from her and make a scene. He let himself be pulled to the edge of the pavilion where Sister Simone was tucking some folded papers inside a well-worn Bible.
    LuAnn conducted the introduction while they shook hands. Sister Simone was an inch or so taller than T.J. and even more beautiful up close than from a distance. Her complexion was clear and her makeup was expertly applied. She looked straight into his eyes as she said, “I’m happy to meet you, T.J.”
    â€œThe same here,” he mumbled awkwardly, and then he asked her why her name was Sister. “Are you, like, a nun or something?”
    Sister Simone laughed before she replied. “Something like that, you could say. At Camp Shaddai, we’re all simply brothers and sisters in Christ.”
    â€œOh, yeah.”
    â€œRuth Ann was talking about you earlier today,” Sister Simone informed him.
    â€œWho is Ruth Ann?” he asked.
    â€œThat’s me,” said LuAnn, with a giggle and a smile.
    â€œHow is it you?” T.J. asked her. “You